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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.

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.

Frank Lampard may have overseen a successful survival bid last season, but it quickly became apparent that he would be dragging the Toffees into another. Step forward Sean Dyche as the man to breathe new life into an inconsistent outfit that was crying out for stability.

Anxious

Progress under a new management team is steady, rather than spectacular, and it won’t have gone unnoticed to those betting on Premier League markets that those on the blue half of Merseyside are shooting anxious glances over collective shoulders.

The battle to avoid tumbling through a trapdoor into the Championship has become tighter than ever, with Everton priced at 2/1 in Premier League relegation odds to slip out of English football’s top flight for the first time since 1951.

If they are to avoid suffering that fate, then Dyche will need to build on solid foundations. He is famed for making his teams tough to break down, and he currently has the perfect last line of defence at his disposal.

Jordan Pickford is an established England international and a man that would not look out of place as the first name on any team sheet.

Fortunately for Toffees fans, he has committed to a new contract that is due to take him through to 2027. He has said of those terms: “Everton is a massive club. The past few seasons have not been what we wanted but we now have a manager who I believe will point us in the right direction and get us up the table. It’s definitely my aim to be successful at this club.”

Pickford has been a mainstay at Goodison since 2017, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in British history when a move from Sunderland was made, and he remains fully committed to the cause despite obvious difficulties.

Pickford added on future ambitions: “This contract will take me to more than 10 years at Everton and I want to build a legacy here to put myself up there with the likes of Neville Southall to be one of the best keepers to have played for Everton.”

That will be music to the ears of Toffees followers everywhere, but it remains to be seen whether such dreams become a reality. If Everton were to lose their Premier League status in 2023, would Pickford stick around to help them bounce back?

Transfer

Hugo Lloris is slowly edging his way towards the exits at Tottenham, and there has been plenty of speculation to suggest that Pickford figures prominently on recruitment radars in north London and may become the subject of another big-money transfer at some stage.

Spurs’ cause would certainly be aided if they were trying to do business with a second-tier club. Everton supporters will, as they continue to clutch at any straw which falls within reach, want to give no thought to losing their No.1, but will Pickford’s new deal end up lasting four years as intended or a mere four months?

Photo by Unsplash

West Ham United fans were left fuming with Thilo Kehrer’s latest performance against Aston Villa at the weekend.

The Lowdown: Held to a draw

The Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw against Villa on Sunday, with David Moyes insisting that it was two points dropped for his side, given the amount 0f chances they created.

It was yet another frustrating result for West Ham fans, with their side now sitting in 17th place, outside of the relegation zone on goal difference alone, and one player received particularly scathing criticism on social media…

The Latest: Kehrer slammed

Fans took to Twitter during the game to express their frustration with what they deemed to be another very poor performance from Kehrer.

They said:

“Kehrer is a terrible player!” – @TerryD_

“Thilo Kehrer is a walking liability – horrific decision making and should be nowhere near a starting spot. He was tragic for PSG and how he gets near the Germany team is a mystery.” – @i_am_seamus

“How on earth does Kehrer have caps for Germany he’s awful” – @brad_hass4

“Kehrer is useless.” – @GEORGEALLXN

“Kehrer being targeted, positional/decision making terrible.” – @Stannystan

“Kehrer has been shocking, not getting close enough to Moreno allowing too much time on the ball. Watkins should’ve buried that chance such a massive let off for us.” – @AzamWHUFC

The Verdict: Must improve

It is not the first time that the German has received criticism for his performances this season, with journalist Stefan Bienkowski describing a performance for his national side as ‘horrendous’ back in November.

With an average Sofascore rating of 6.65, the 26-year-old is ranked as the worst-performing defender in the entire West Ham squad, which is extremely disappointing from a player who is clearly talented, given that he has 24 caps for Germany.

As such, Moyes will have to carefully consider whether to start Kehrer in West Ham’s next Premier League match, which is at home against Southampton at the beginning of April.

Liverpool could turn their entire season on its head with a victory over Real Madrid in tonight’s Champions League last-16 clash.

They find themselves currently languishing midtable in the Premier League with their defence of both domestic cups ending before the quarter-final stage, it has been a transitional season for the Anfield side that’s for sure.

The enormity of the tie could mean Jurgen Klopp makes a few changes to his starting XI from the victory over Newcastle United at the weekend, and adding in some freshness could give the Reds an ideal chance to secure a positive result under the Anfield floodlights this evening.

What could Liverpool’s starting XI look like against Real Madrid?

The back four will remain unchanged from the confidence-boosting victory at the weekend, with the defence keeping their second clean sheet in a row. Alisson starts in goal and will be hoping to keep his fourth clean sheet in the competition this season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will occupy the full-back positions, with Virgil van Dijk once again partnered with Joe Gomez at the heart of the defence. Against Newcastle, the duo made eight clearances and were dribbled past just twice combined, showing their effectiveness as a pairing.

The midfield three will see one change from the weekend, with Stefan Bajcetic dropping to the bench. He has been arguably Liverpool’s brightest spark recently but was statistically their worst performer against Newcastle with a rating of 6.4/10 via Sofascore. Jordan Henderson and Fabinho will retain their places, while Harvey Elliott will come in for the young Spaniard.

Mohamed Salah will be aiming to add to his excellent haul of seven goals in the Champions League this season while Cody Gakpo will start on the left wing as he makes his first appearance in the competition for Liverpool.

Roberto Firmino will come in for Darwin Nunez who could miss out through injury, with the £180k-per-week frontman leading the line instead.

Dubbed “unreal” by This is Anfield’s Jack Sear, he could be a nuisance to the Madrid defence having netted 23 times in Europe’s elite competition throughout his career and this experience will be vital for Klopp’s men this evening.

Manchester United are set to rival both Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Striker shortage

Erik ten Hag only has just two senior centre-forward options on the books at Old Trafford at this moment in time, one of which is loanee Wout Weghorst. There is no option to make a move for Weghorst permanent in the summer, whereas Antony Martial has missed large parts of the season trough injury.

That has resulted in Marcus Rashford moving in from the left to a more central role from time to time, but the England international has been starring on the wing so the manager really needs to find a focal point for him to play off of.

The Latest: Martinez update

FI reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story regarding Martinez in the last 48 hours, claiming that Martinez is on the wanted list at Old Trafford.

United look set to battle Chelsea and Arsenal for the World Cup winner, who ‘would be very keen on a potential move to the Premier League at the end of the season’.

O’Rourke added that a fee in the region of £70m-£80m would be enough for Martinez’s services.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Martinez has contributed to 120 goals in 212 appearances for Inter Milan and is still just 25 years of age, so you could argue that he is about to enter the peak years of his career. Lionel Messi has also hailed the player as “spectacular”, with Martinez contributing to 22 goals in 31 games during the current campaign.

He has been Inter’s best-performing player this season with a match average rating of 7.28/10, as per WhoScored, a score which outperforms every United player apart from Bruno Fernandes.

Therefore, you could say that Martinez and Fernandes could form a frightening duo in Manchester next season, with Rashford able to continue his fine form on the left-hand side, so hopefully, a transfer will gather pace over the coming months.