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Celtic have agreed a £2.1m transfer fee with Gangwon FC for forward Yang Hyun-jun, however, a move is proving complicated.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

It has been a busy few weeks off the pitch at Parkhead, which began when Ange Postecoglou left the cub to join Tottenham. Since then, Brendan Rodgers has been brought in for a second stint in charge of the Hoops, and new signings have been made.

The first player to arrive was midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, who joined from Eliteserien club Valerenga and signed a five-year contract in Glasgow. As well as Holm, Australian winger Marco Tilio has also penned a five-year deal with the Hoops, joining from Melbourne City.

There has been a major departure, though, with star winger Jota joining Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

More attacking additions could be on the cards as a result, with Yang a player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead. Reports last month claimed that Celtic made a significant transfer offer for the K-League winger, with journalist Jason Lee saying:

“According to Korean media, Celtic have sent an official transfer offer to Gangwon FC for Yang Hyun-Jun. The offer is believed to be "significant and final" as Celtic await Gangwon's response. The player is eager to move to Celtic.”

There has now been a further update from Football Scotland, who say that Celtic and Gangwon have in fact agreed on a £2.1m deal which includes a 12% sell-on clause.

The player is keen to move to Scotland, however, Gangwon are now stalling over a deal as they believe Yang could help them avoid relegation. Gangwon want to keep their forward until January when their season finishes, but Yang is even willing to give up his salary to push through a move to join Rodgers’ side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Yang Hyun-jun?

Yang is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, so would bring plenty of versatility to Rodgers’ attacking options and may rival current right-wingers James Forrest and Liel Abada, although the latter of the two has been linked with a move to Sporting Lisbon.

He was described as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season display against Tottenham last year and has contributed to 14 goals in 69 senior appearances for Gangwon.

The 21-year-old is under contract until the end of 2025 and has been described as an unpredictable and eye-catching player in the media, labelled as Gangwon’s up-and-coming star last year by the K League media.

Celtic have enjoyed plenty of success by bringing players in from the Asian market over recent years, and it looks as if Rodgers is keen to continue looking in that direction. Former manager Postecoglou signed the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-gyu from Japan and South Korea, and with a deal agreed for Yang, hopefully, he’ll be the next to arrive in Scotland.

Liverpool have "spoken to" Chelsea defender Levi Colwill's camp about a summer move, however the Blues have reiterated he is not for sale, and they are set to offer him a long-term contract, according to journalist Felix Johnston.

Is Levi Colwill leaving Chelsea this summer?

There have been reports that Chelsea have already offered Colwill a long-term contract, however he is yet to put pen to paper, and remains open to a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he impressed on loan during the 2022-23 campaign.

The Blues have already rejected a bid of £30m for the defender, such is their intention to keep him, and they are set to hand him assurances over his first-team involvement next season, with Mauricio Pochettino planning to make him his first-choice left-sided centre-back.

Despite Chelsea's reluctance to part ways with the 20-year-old, there is growing interest in his services, with Manchester City recently being named as potential suitors in a report from The Evening Standard, which also name-checks Liverpool.

The Reds have been tracking the former Brighton loanee for quite some time, and there are now reports they have made their first move to secure his signature.

Chelsea journalist Felix Johnston recently took to Twitter to provide an update on Liverpool's pursuit of the youngster, saying: "Understand despite being told Colwill is not for sale, Liverpool have spoken to Levi Colwill’s camp again, stating even at a record price they would be interested.

"He’s one reason they haven’t signed a CB. Liverpool also enquired to Chelsea directly. Chelsea reiterated he is not for sale & will offer him a long term contract, but will have to be within new wage structure. Colwill will talk with Poch after U21 Euros. Southgate told Levi he wants to start him at Euro 2024, but he has to be a regular starter this season."

What position does Levi Colwill play?

The Englishman has predominantly featured at centre-back throughout his career so far, however he is also capable of playing at left-back on occasion, having made seven appearances in that area of the pitch, so could be perfect on the left of a back three if Jurgen Klopp adjusts his system to push Trent Alexander-Arnold higher up.

Last season was the young centre-back's breakthrough year in the Premier League, making 17 appearances for Brighton, and he impressed considerably, particularly in the air, averaging 2.6 aerials won per game, the highest amount in the Seagulls squad.

In May, the England U21s international was hailed as "astonishing" for his performance against Arsenal, with his passing ability being branded "incredible", and he ranks in the 99th percentile for passes attempted per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

At the moment, Chelsea seemingly have no plans to sell the £15k-per-week defender, however he is open to leaving, and he would surely consider a move to Liverpool, if Klopp gave him assurances over playing time.

Colwill could be an excellent addition for Liverpool, having already proven himself in the Premier League at just 20-years-old, and Klopp will be hoping Chelsea begin to soften their stance as the transfer window goes on.

Manchester United could have been in for England international Declan Rice if the proposed “takeover had actually happened”, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

The West Ham United captain has been linked to multiple clubs over the last few months, but United have been notably absent from rumours.

Manchester United transfer news – What’s the latest on Declan Rice?

Rice’s expected departure from the Hammers was confirmed in the aftermath of the team’s historic Europa Conference League win earlier this month when chairman David Sullivan told the media his player was promised he could leave.

The club most heavily linked to the Kingston upon Thames-born player has been Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The Gunners have made two bids for the player so far, with the second offer of £90m being rejected by the east London club as they look to get the maximum they can for their prized asset.

Worse still, the Red Devils’ cross-city rivals Manchester City have entered the race, with David Ornstein reporting that this morning the club is “expected to submit an offer for Declan Rice today [Thursday].”

Where, in all of this, have United been?

The club do have the imperious Casemiro as their starting number six, but with Scott McTominay not being of the required level and few other options, a player like Rice could be transformative for the side.

What did transfer insider Dean Jones say about Declan Rice to Manchester United?

Jones was very quick to point out that the process of the potential takeover has thrown a spanner in many of United’s transfer plans, including any plans they may have had for Rice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “I don’t think they’re in the race for Rice right now. I think in an ideal world, they would be, maybe if the takeover had actually happened, they could have been. But as it stands right now, don’t think Rice is going to come into their thoughts.”

Would Declan Rice have been a good transfer for Manchester United?

The £60k-per-week West Ham captain is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after midfielders in the league – hence all the interest from other clubs – and for that reason, he would surely have improved United.

There is an argument that the England international wouldn’t get into the team as an out-and-out defensive midfielder due to the immense performances of Casemiro last season.

However, he could have performed well as a number eight whilst the Brazilian was still a part of the team.

Last season the Irons “destroyer”, as labelled by ex-Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson, achieved an average match rating of 7.01 across his 37 Premier League appearances, just slightly below the Brazilians’ 7.17, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are equally impressive.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues, Rice was in the top 5% for interceptions, the top 15% for progressive carries – suggesting he could fulfil the eight role – and the top 19% for pass completion, all per 90.

The United faithful will surely feel even more ire for their owners if they have missed out on a player of Rice’s quality due to the circus surrounding the takeover.

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.

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.

West Indies T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite has urged newcomers Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran to play their natural game ahead of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.Both Powell and Pooran had promising performances in CPL 2016. Powell, the 23-year old batsman from Jamaica, scored 228 runs in 13 matches for Tallawahs. Pooran, the 20-year old wicketkeeper-batsman from Trinidad, played for the Barbados Tridents and belted 217 runs in 10 matches at 27.12 and a strike rate of 197.27. Pooran also effected eight dismissals behind the stumps.”Go there, express yourselves, continue to be exciting and eventually win games for the West Indies. It’s a big task to represent the West Indies, and away from home is probably a little easier because you don’t have family in the stands with that extra pressure,” Brathwaite advised. “You’re just surrounded by your team-mates and it’s a good team to be in at the moment, so it’s just about going there and continuing to do the things that they did to get themselves here and do it for longer periods – it’s a higher stage, more pressure, but I’m sure they can continue with it and do well.”Brathwaite also credited the selectors for ensuring that youngsters got the best exposure possible. “The selectors were very big in ensuring that some young players are blooded and rubbed shoulders with some of the best T20 players in the world so we can continue our legacy of being dominant in this format, and those were two of the guys who fit the bill at this point in time,” he said.West Indies were in Dubai earlier this year when they held a preparatory camp ahead of the 2016 World T20, which they went on to win, so while they might know a bit about what to expect from the surfaces, Brathwaite acknowledged that the weather at this time of the year was a lot harsher.”It wasn’t as hot early in the year, but, apparently, we’re smack dab in the middle of their summer, so it can get very, very hot,” he said. “It’s for the players to prepare well, manage themselves well off the field, rehydration-wise, get enough rest, and each and every one of us is a professional and we know what our body needs to be an optimal thing to perform, so it’s just about us doing things we do off the field, planning well, preparing well, and evidently performing well when the games come.”The first T20I will take place in Dubai on September 23. The T20Is will be followed by a three-match ODI series, before the tour concludes with three Tests. This is the first series for West Indies after the WICB sacked coach Phil Simmons earlier this week. The team will be under the supervision of former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner for this tour, along with assistant coaches Henderson Springer and Roddy Estwick.

Mauricio Pochettino would like Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister at Chelsea this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Mac Allister leaving Brighton?

The 24-year-old's future is a key talking point at the moment, with an exit from the Amex Stadium expected at the end of the season. He has enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Seagulls, scoring 10 goals in the Premier League and proving to be a vital player.

Mac Allister has also tasted World Cup glory with Argentina, starting six matches in the competition, and it feels as though he believes now is the right time to make a step up in his career. With Chelsea looking for new signings this summer, and with Pochettino coming in as the new manager, additions in the middle of the park are vital.

The £50,000-a-week Brighton hero is someone who has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, although he looks most likely to join Liverpool, as things stand.

Are Chelsea still keen on Mac Allister?

Taking to Twitter, Romano admitted that the Reds could be closing in on the signing of Mac Allister, but made it clear that Pochettino remains an admirer, should the chance arise to snap him up:

"Personal terms are almost agreed between Liverpool and Mac Allister — after project presented in April. Deal not done yet, there are still details left — Pochettino appreciates him. No issues with Brighton — been told there’s fixed price for Alexis’ exit in June."

Mac Allister would be perfect for Chelsea this summer, coming in and adding the youth and legs that have been missing at times this season, with age beginning to catch up with the likes of N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.

While it looks as though he is off to Liverpool, the Blues should still do all they can to get him, considering he has averaged 2.1 tackles per game in the league this season, chipped in with 11 goal contributions and been hailed as a "very intelligent" player by former Manchester City and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.

He has the rare ability to provide defensive stability and box-to-box quality, much in the way City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan does, and he could be a lovely foil for international teammate Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea next season. If they fail to get him, as looks likely currently, bringing in a player with similar qualities is vital in the coming months.

Ilkay Gundogan's potential move from Manchester City to Barcelona is stalling because a deal can't be reached on the player's wages according to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness.

What is the latest on Ilkay Gundogan's Man City departure?

The midfielder has been with Pep Guardiola's side since the 2016/17 season and has managed 186 Premier League outings for the club during that time. He's claimed four league titles during that time and his team are heading for a fifth this campaign, with the side currently top of the standings.

It could be a nice send-off for the German too, with the player expected to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer. With his contract set to expire, and no new deal agreed to keep him at City, he looks likely to find pastures new when the window opens. Whilst the German himself has previously stated that no decision has been made over his future yet, reports claim he is probably set to head out of the exit door.

In terms of who will snap up the 32-year-old, the club most heavily linked to his signature is Barcelona. The Spanish giants are on the hunt for new midfielders following the news that Sergio Busquets will be bringing his time at the Camp Nou to an end. The Catalans then will be desperate to bring in Gundogan this summer but reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, state that talks are at a standstill because of the player's wages. It mentions that there is "disagreement" over the finances involved in his contract, with what the player wants being too much for Barca to offer currently.

Whilst a deal could still happen then, it looks as though fresh dicsussions are needed in terms of hashing out the terms of a contract with the Spanish giants in order to get a deal done.

Should Man City let Gundogan go?

The midfielder has given plenty to Pep Guardiola's side since arriving at the club seven years ago. He's often led City to victories on his own with his offensive drive and finishing ability, as showcased by him bagging 42 goals during his time there, as well as notching up 15 assists.

Even during the current campaign, when he has featured much less frequently for City, he has shone when given time on the field. The 32-year-old has a WhoScored rating of 7.06 in the Premier League, which puts him within the top ten best performers at the club this year.

Gundogan still has plenty to give then and even Pep Guardiola has previously admitted his admiration for the player. The manager labelled the German as "exceptional," which is high praise from a boss who has not only led some of the best teams in Europe to silverware but has also played for Barcelona himself.

If City do let the German depart, then they will be losing a player who still has a lot left in the tank and can still perform to a high standard most weeks too. It would be a blow for the Etihad-based side but with their financial power, they could certainly find an adequate replacement.

Arsenal will surely be a busy outfit during the summer transfer window as they will likely have to respond to missing out on a surprise Premier League title, having led the division for much of the 2022/23 campaign.

Declan Rice is among the primary targets to bolster their threadbare engine room and he won’t come cheap, with West Ham United commanding in excess of £70m.

The Gunners have plenty of needs, though, and perhaps they ought to put more eggs in the defensive basket as arguably, their failure to have strength in depth at centre-back has cost them dearly.

Injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba meant the burden was stowed upon Rob Holding, who to his credit has done an admirable job but he isn’t the title-leading presence you want in the big games, such as against Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Who is Evan Ndicka?

Whether he remains contract to the club past the summer is irrelevant, he must be replaced in and around the periphery of the lineup and Evan Ndicka, who is set to leave Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer, could prove to be a bargain solution, especially if Edu Gaspar and co pull the trigger on Rice.

Back in December, reports in Italy suggested that the Gunners had already agreed a deal to sign the Frenchman in June, whilst as recently as last month, the Mirror claimed that they were monitoring him ahead of the summer.

Once lauded as a “great talent” by scout Antonio Mango, it’s rare that a 23-year-old gem comes so freely available on the market but one team’s mistake is another team’s gain and Arsenal must ensure they win the race for his signature over the likes of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

The 6 foot 4 Frenchman has been a regular fixture for the German outfit over the past few seasons, starting 32 times in the league last term and 26 so far this season, as well as all eight of their Champions League encounters too, via WhoScored. These are impressive considering he’s far from reaching his peak as a central defender.

His potential and quality has been highly praised by those around him in the past too, as ex-Frankfurt man Alexander Schur once claimed that his former teammate “shows no nerves” and “plays with great authority,” via Bundesliga.com. And that may also help in his adaptation to the Premier League.

To further bolster that, the young colossus is also comparable – per FBref's statistical model – to Manchester United star and multi-UCL winner Raphael Varane, who – when fit – has more than looked the part following his switch from Real Madrid.

By bringing in some much-needed quality to Mikel Arteta’s defence, the Gunners could well be City’s nearest challengers for the title once more and perhaps this time, they can get it over the line with Ndicka proving to be a far more valuable backup or starter than Holding.

Tottenham Hotspur's search for a manager can be broken down into various necessities that the new man must have; essentially, it largely details the antithesis to the likes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho.

Whilst their trophy-winning pedigree is favourable, alternative assets that should be preferred are an attractive play style, a history of winning and progressing clubs forward, and not so old as to suggest they will not be around for the long project. Perhaps a calmer presence than the aforementioned bosses would be ideal too.

Few fit this bill from Daniel Levy's ever-changing manager list, but to discount Brendan Rodgers as a fine option is to forget all the good work that had gone into his career before this miserable campaign somewhat tainted that legacy.

Having impressed at Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester City, the Northern Irish coach has a glittering CV that details all of the aforementioned characteristics; even the section regarding silverware.

The 50-year-old remains a free agent following his sacking, boasts pedigree at top clubs, and has the demeanour needed to calmly cull this squad full of losers.

With some actual financial backing too, who knows where he could take the Lilywhites. This is likely why Rodgers reportedly remains high on Levy's list.

Would Brendan Rodgers succeed at Spurs?

Having employed a possession-based 4-2-3-1 style reliant on an aggressive counter-press, the philosophy already aligns with what the fans want: anything other than Conte's turgid football.

What makes things even more attractive is his work in Scotland, where the former Swansea City boss completed back-to-back trebles with Celtic. This desire for silverware was translated into his work in the Midlands, where his Foxes side also claimed the most unlikely of FA Cup wins too.

Few could argue that during his near-four year stint at the King Power Stadium, he did anything other than succeed, with a lack of investment clear for all to see as their performances dwindled.

Despite that depreciating form, with relegation potentially looming, Rodgers still managed to oversee the demolition of Conte's Spurs team back in February as they ran out 4-1 winners.

In a display that perfectly sums up the style that the 5 foot 7 tactician aims to encourage, the hosts put the European-chasing outfit to the sword. Should this be translated onto Spurs' side, which boasts far more quality, the sky really is the limit.

Pundit Alan Brazil even suggested back in 2021, after Nuno Espirito Santos' dismissal, that it would be a "masterstroke" to pull the experienced manager away from Leicester. Now, he needn't worry about any such obstacles.

Having passed Levy's big test with that aforementioned drubbing, perhaps the Spurs chairman could reward Rodgers – who journalist Sid Lowe once dubbed as a "football genius" – by tempting him to north London for his next big project.