Celtic Could Hire Dream Ange Heir In 4-3-1-2 Manager

Celtic are in the market for a new head coach as they prepare for the 2023/24 campaign after they were rocked by the loss of Ange Postecoglou this week.

The Hoops enjoyed a terrific weekend as they beat Inverness at Hampden in the Scottish FA Cup final to secure the domestic treble, after winning the double with the Australian boss last term, and it only took a few days for that joy to turn to disappointment.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur came calling and Postecoglou was officially confirmed as their new manager on Tuesday, as they finally landed their replacement for Italian boss Antonio Conte.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chairman Peter Lawwell, along with the rest of the board, must now appoint his successor. 90min recently reported that Brendan Rodgers, Jesse Marsch, Matthias Jaissle, and David Moyes are possible candidates.

Who is Matthias Jaissle?

Desmond could find the dream Postecoglou replacement by appointing 35-year-old RB Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle, who has been in charge of the Austrian giants for the past two seasons.

The now-former Hoops boss is a proven winner who has been able to manage successful teams throughout his career. He has a points-per-game average of 1.92 and has won 177 of his 306 domestic league matches, while losing just 73 in his time in Australia, Japan, and Scotland.

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

This allowed him to be a huge success at Parkhead as the 57-year-old won 2.64 points per game across 66 regular season Scottish Premiership outings, which led to two titles for the club.

In comparison, Jaissle, whose coaching was once hailed as "top quality" by journalist Josh Bunting, has only been in senior management for three years, after spending two seasons at U18 level, but has averaged 2.47 points won per game across 103 matches in his career so far.

The young tactician has only lost three of his 63 Austrian Bundesliga fixtures with Salzburg and has won the title in both of his seasons in charge, to go along with one Austrian Cup.

These statistics show that the German, who typically deploys a 4-3-1-2 formation, knows how to instil a winning mentality and is capable of leading teams to back-to-back titles, much in the same way that Postecoglou did with Celtic before his move to Spurs this week.

Therefore, Jaissle could be the dream replacement for the Australian; he is a young, up-and-coming coach who has already shown promise as a manager who turns his teams into winning machines, something the Hoops should be looking for to continue their dominance of Scottish football.

Whilst the German boss is a young head who has not proven himself in a major European league, or in Scotland, his work at Salzburg suggests that he has the qualities required to be an excellent appointment for Celtic.

Man Utd Interested In Signing £17m World Cup Winner

Manchester United are believed to be eyeing a move for Bayern Munich defender, Benjamin Pavard, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Pavard to Man United?

As per transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils are said to be one of the clubs who are showing an interest in the World Cup-winning ace, with the 27-year-old seemingly intent on a change of scenery with just 12 months left to run on his existing deal in Bavaria.

Writing on Twitter, the respected source stated: "Benjamin Pavard informs Bayern Munich of desire to leave. Man Utd among interested clubs keen on the French star, as @90min_Football revealed back in April. "

In his attached piece for 90min, Bailey – alongside colleague Scott Saunders – revealed that the Old Trafford outfit are said to have already held talks with the player's agent regarding a summer switch, with Erik ten Hag's side said to be seeking cover at both right-back and centre-back.

Who could Pavard replace at Man United?

The signing of the France international – who has been valued at around €20m (£17m) – could seemingly allow United to kill two birds with one stone, due to the 48-cap ace's ability to feature both at full-back and in the centre of defence.

With the Red Devils having only recently tied down Diogo Dalot to a new long-term deal – and with Aaron Wan-Bissaka also reportedly set to stay at the club this summer – it would appear that Pavard would be more needed to provide cover and competition at centre-back, however, particularly with club captain Harry Maguire believed to be on his way out.

Therefore, the former Stuttgart man could prove something of an upgrade on Victor Lindelof in that role, despite the Swede having impressed of late after starting the last nine Premier League games of the season in the absence of Lisandro Martinez.

Man United's Victor Lindelof

Not only would Pavard's versatility potentially make him a better option for Ten Hag, but the £84k-per-week machine also appears to offer greater quality in an attacking sense having chipped in with eight goal contributions in all competitions this season, with Lindelof failing to register a single goal or assist.

The Bayern ace also appears to be more adept at playing out from the back as he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries, while the current United man ranks in just the top 41% and the bottom 48% for those same two metrics, respectively.

Perhaps more importantly, however, is Pavard's superior defensive quality as he ended the recent Bundesliga season with a strong average of 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game from his 30 outings, with Lindelof averaging just 1.1 for both tackles and interceptions per game from his 20 Premier League appearances.

That would suggest that the signing of the perhaps "underrated" Frenchman – as described by manager, Thomas Tuchel – could provide Ten Hag with a centre-back upgrade for next season.

Neymar Says Goodbye To Lionel Messi After 2-season PSG Spell

Lionel Messi has called teammate Neymar a "beautiful person" in his goodbye message after the Argentine played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain.

What did Messi say to Neymar?

Having already sealed the Ligue 1 title, the 35-year-old took the pitch for the final time as a PSG player on the weekend – in a 3-2 loss at home to Clermont Foot.

His now former side confirmed the news on their official Twitter page, writing: "Paris Saint-Germain would like to warmly thank the seven-time Ballon d'Or, winner of a Trophée des Champions and two French championship titles wearing the Red & Blue colours."

Oddly enough, despite being universally loved for all his footballing achievements, the PSG fans actually booed Messi at his final game – apparently still unhappy with his performances in the Champions League and his recent unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia (via Daily Mail).

However, it seems teammate Neymar still has the utmost respect for the World Cup winner as the Brazilian sent an emotional message on Instagram.

He wrote: "Brother… it didn't turn out as we thought but we tried everything. It was a pleasure to share two more years with you.

Good luck in your new stage and be happy. I love you."

To which Messi replied: "Thanks Ney! Beyond all that remains, that we enjoyed playing together and sharing the day-to-day. I wish you all the best. Besides being a crackhead, you're a beautiful person and that's all that matters at the end. I love you so much."

Where will Messi end up next?

Obviously, it catches the eye that Messi appears to call Neymar something which is interpreted as something derogatory in English but this is just a mistranslation as he writes "Aparte de ser crack". Crack is a phrase often used in Spanish as a compliment, so if you were saying someone is good at football, you might say: “Sos un crack en futbol”.

Of course, the Brazilian doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to his off-field behaviour. According to French paper Le Parisien (via The Sun), he has been throwing house parties this season that have "infuriated" his neighbours of late. And that same article claimed he threw a party that didn't finish until 5am after PSG sealed the Ligue 1 title last season.

But Messi isn't referencing any of this as he calls Neymar "a beautiful person" and points out that this actually matters more than anything he's done on the pitch.

All in all, it's quite a sweet interaction between the players, which is nice as they haven't quite achieved what they set out to in Paris – with the club still unable to win the Champions League.

The big question now is, though, where will Messi end up next? Barcelona, Inter Miami and teams in Saudi Arabia have all been touted.

Aston Villa handed Oxlade-Chamberlain boost

Aston Villa have been handed a boost in their reported pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the Englishman seemingly set to depart Anfield this summer.

What’s the word?

Villa have regularly been linked with a move for the former Arsenal man in recent months, with Steven Gerrard keen on bolstering his midfield options at Villa Park.

Paul Joyce, a journalist for the Times, has now reported that Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for the 28-year-old and will allow him to depart should they receive a suitable bid, with previous reports suggesting that he would be available for as little as £10m.

Therefore, the green light has been signalled for any willing suitors to swoop in and seal his exit from Merseyside.

Lange must act

Although Oxlade-Chamberlain has endured some serious injury problems during his time at Liverpool, he was a key part of Klopp’s squad in the past, particularly in the 2019/20 title-winning season, when he made 30 appearances in the Premier League.

His game time last season may well have been limited, perhaps due to the quality Klopp has in his Liverpool midfield, but in his six Champions League appearances, he averaged an impressive 7.07 rating from WhoScored, while he also impressed with his performances in the League Cup.

He also popped up with two goals and one assist in just 17 Premier League appearances, with eight coming from the bench, which shows that he can add goals from midfield.

This emphasises that he still possesses a lot of quality and he could be a consistent regular in Gerrard’s side at Villa Park next season.

Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for Oxlade-Chamberlain after he scored twice in a Champions League win against Genk in 2019, saying:

“He’s a fantastic footballer and it’s all about decision making there. He offers something totally different in the midfield for Liverpool.”

The former England international would certainly add a lot of energy and dynamism to Gerrard’s midfield next season, and given his vast experience in the Premier League, this seems like a no-brainer deal for Villa to complete.

Therefore, Villa director of football Johan Lange should act quickly to bring him in for £10m, as there will undoubtedly be plenty of Premier League suitors for Oxlade-Chamberlain at that price.

And, in other news… Gerrard can land Coutinho 2.0 as Villa now eye £50m wizard, “goals are his speciality”…

Spurs now eyeing Bastoni alternative

Tottenham Hotspur could seal a perfect alternative to Alessandro Bastoni as another Serie A titan is targeted this off-season…

What’s the word?

According to reports in Italy, Spurs are eyeing up a move for Torino centre-back Gleison Bremer.

“#Tottenham strong on #Bremer: the contacts between the player’s entourage and the Spurs continue. There is talk of a first offer around 35m € + bonus. On the Brazilian also #PSG and #Inter and other English clubs including Leicester (but Champions priority for him),” Toro newspaper Corriere Granata tweeted.

Bastoni alternative

The Lilywhites’ pursuit of Bastoni has been quite frustrating with Inter Milan asking for a fee in the region of £51m and the player seemingly not willing to make the switch to the Premier League.

Bremer could be a very strong alternative, indeed.

As per WhoScored, the 25-year-old colossus ended the 2021/22 season as Torino’s best-performing player, averaging a rating of 7.22.

Over the past 365 years, the Brazilian ranks inside the top 1% of his positional peers across Europe’s top-five divisions for aerial duels won (4.80 per 90) and blocks (2.68 per 90) and the top 2% for pressures (16.85) and interceptions (3.64 per 90), via FBRef.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-latest-news-updates-transfer-rumours-gossip-spurs-thfc-conte-paratici” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Not only that but he offers just as big a threat in the final third for his team, ranking inside the top 1% for non-penalty expected goals (0.13 per 90) and top 3% for touches in the opposition’s box (1.68 per 90).

This shows that the 6 foot 2 titan a defensive animal and also a massive nuisance in attack, too, which has to be a mouthwatering prospect for manager Antonio Conte, who must view him as a perfect option.

It’s no wonder that Bremer has been lauded as a “monster” by journalsit Maxi Angelo, as well as being “faultless” and “unbelievable” by Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor.

If Spurs cannot secure a move for Conte’s former Inter gem, then the £27m-rated Torino titan is certainly a viable, solid and far cheaper alternative at around £30m.

AND in other news, Spurs now eyeing £60m-rated “absolute tank”, he’d solve Conte’s two biggest problems…

Newcastle: Big Neymar transfer claim emerges

A major Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged on PSG winger Neymar heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that the Ligue 1 superstar is keen on the Magpies and that he held the information back because of how unlikely a deal is.

Talbot Tweeted: “Two months ago I heard noise about Neymar fancying Newcastle but didn’t release it as the club would just never go for a player like him – not to mention his ridiculous wages.”

This was in response to a Sports Witness article link that reads: “Neymar | ‘Only Newcastle…’ – Magpies pushed forward as possible destination, with it thought other clubs won’t be keen.”

Supporters will be delighted

Toon supporters will be delighted by this claim for multiple reasons.

Firstly, they will be buzzing with the suggestion that Neymar is potentially interested in a deal to join Newcastle from PSG. It shows how much of an attraction PIF have made the club with their ambitions and this is hopefully a sign of things to come in the future.

If a player of the Brazilian’s ability and pedigree is keen on the club then who would not be? The winger has enjoyed a stellar career and would arrive at St. James’ Park as a certified star.

In 186 games for Barcelona, he produced 105 goals and 76 assists before leaving to join PSG. Since moving to France, he has scored 100 goals and provided 60 assists in 144 matches, showing that he has consistently scored and assisted goals at a stunning rate throughout his time in Europe.

This is why fans will be delighted to learn that a player of his quality is open to the switch. Although, they will also be pleased with Talbot’s claim that he is not someone PIF will want to bring in.

SalarySport report his wages to be £606k-per-week in Paris, whilst they report Newcastle’s top earners to be Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier on £100k-per-week each respectively. This means that the club would be obliterating their wage structure by bringing him to the club and taking on a huge financial commitment that would impact their ability to spend in other areas due to Financial Fair Play.

Neymar is also 30 and heading into the final years of his career instead of being a player who can grow alongside the club in the years to come. This is another reason why the fans will be delighted with the club from Talbot as it shows that they are sticking to their project and will not blow it up just to land a big name.

AND in other news, PIF plotting Newcastle swoop for “scary” £30m “freak”, he’s a major Almiron upgrade…

Man City: Foden can seal the title for Pep

Manchester City can seal yet another Premier League title with victory over Aston Villa this afternoon, and Phil Foden can play a crucial part in getting them over the line.

On the Chalkboard

Pep Guardiola will face a selection dilemma as he prepares for his side’s biggest game of the season today. Just one point separates City and Liverpool heading into the final day and Guardiola will need to pick his best 11 to ensure there are no slip ups.

With a large squad to choose from it’ll be difficult to decide who deserves to start, but we think that their star attacking midfielder Phil Foden can make all the difference and should be brought back into the line-up after being benched last time out against West Ham United.

Yesterday the £100k-per-week Stockport born star was named the Premier League’s young player of the season for the second successive year, with his teammate Kevin de Bruyne picking up the more senior award.

He already has three league titles to his name and has been key in City’s run to try and retain the trophy. He’s made 27 league appearances in 2021/22 and directly contributed to 14 goals.

Given the amount of young talent in the Premier League, the fact he’s been named the best for two years running shows just how good he is, which makes it a no-brainer to start him against Villa.

He’s been described as “incredibly talented” by his manager and he certainly lives up to that billing.

Pep likes his team to put their opponents under huge pressure and if they are to nullify the threat Villa can pose then they can’t give them time on the ball.

When you compare Foden to other Premier League players in his position he ranks in the top 3% for pressures in the attacking third this season, this is key in allowing City to win the ball high and score as much as they do.

It’ll be goals that will ensure they don’t drop points and allow Liverpool to beat them to the trophy this afternoon. If they lose the title then there will be huge question marks over how City have come away with no silverware this season.

Those questions shouldn’t arise if Foden is unleashed by Guardiola.

IN other news: Forget Carney: Gerrard must unleash “world-class” AVFC ace, he’ll give City nightmares…

Celtic set to announce Carter-Vickers deal

Celtic showed during the previous summer window how efficient they can be in the transfer market when it comes to securing deals for players and bringing them to Parkhead.

Now that Ange Postecoglou’s side have ended their season as SPFL champions, their attention can now turn to the next summer window and what business they could look to do in it ahead of their next campaign.

With that in mind, it seems as though a big clue has emerged regarding one deal that could be set to take place at the Parkhead club in the coming weeks.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham had this to say about the situation surrounding Cameron Carter-Vickers and the chances of him signing a permanent deal with Celtic from the Premier League club.

“I think it is just a matter of time at this point. The fact they are back in the Champions League gives them the money to get it done.

“He came in there and has barely missed a minute. He’s an Old Firm goalscorer, a cup winner and a title winner.

“He is worth the money Tottenham will be asking for, the money is there. I expect an announcement or significant progress to be made very soon.”

Fans will be thrilled

During his season with the Hoops on loan away from the north London club, the American quickly became a crucial figure for the title-winning Bhoys.

With 45 appearances under his belt across all competitions, the 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes in all of the 33 league games he played in.

To further highlight how significant the centre-back was in Celtic’s title charge, he racked up more interceptions (43) than any other Hoops player as well as the highest average for clearances per game (4.2) in the league.

This shows how much of an impact his arrival had on the team and why they ended their campaign with the best defence having conceded just 22 times in 38 games.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to suggest that should the Hoops secure a permanent deal for Carter-Vickers in the coming weeks, the Celtic fanbase will undoubtedly be jumping for joy over the team being put in the best possible shape to be successful once again next season.

In other news: Ange can land dream Rogic heir in Celtic swoop for “unbelievable” £1.5m “class-act”

Tottenham: Club chief offers five players in London meeting

Tottenham Hotspur have held a London meeting with Bologna sporting director Riccardo Bigon as he offers out five players, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Big few months ahead…

Spurs face off against arch rivals Arsenal today in the Premier League, a blockbuster derby clash which may well determine who is playing Champions League football next season.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Antonio Conte’s side, if they’re victorious this evening, could be given a major boost in so many ways – including the potential for bigger pull in the summer transfer market and the financial windfall which comes with it.

As the Italian prepares his side for their most important match of the 2021/2022 campaign, Lilywhites officials will be contemplating how to strengthen Conte’s team this summer with or without a top-four finish.

Now, according to Calcio Napoli 24, it appears the club have held talks with Bologna chief Bigon as he travels to England.

The Latest: Bigon in London ‘to sell five players’…

Their sources claim the high-ranking Serie A official was in London yesterday ‘to sell five players’ with the aim of ‘meeting’ several clubs including Spurs, holding talks and ‘probing their intentions’.

Naming the players in question, it is believed Mattias Svanberg, Jerdy Schouten, Aaron Hickey, Arthur Theate and Riccardo Orsolini are all on offer as the Italians look to deal their most valued assets.

The Verdict: Svanberg a must…

Of all the men reportedly on offer from Bologna and Bigon, we believe Svanberg stands out as the main man and he has been linked with a move to N17 before.

Described as ‘one of the top four or five’ number 8’s in Europe by an iNews source, it was claimed that the Lilywhites and Paratici were even favourites to sign the Swedish ace ahead of title contenders Man City.

As Svanberg’s club seemingly look desperate to offload this summer in a bid to raise funds, Tottenham shouldn’t hesitate in snapping up the midfield gem who Conte ‘would enjoy working with’, especially given the boss’ reported desire to sign two new midfielders.

In other news: Conte could now convince ‘phenomenal’ 6 foot 3 powerhouse to join Spurs! Find out more here.

Tottenham: German source make Hofmann claim

German sources have now shared a big update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach star Jonas Hofmann.

The Lowdown: Hofmann on the move?

The Premier League top-four chasers have been linked with a move for one of Monchengladbach’s most crucial players in recent months.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte wants to make new additions this summer and has allegedly earmarked signings for many positions, including further forward (The Telegraph).

Sport Bild (via Sport Witness), sharing news in early March, name-dropped Spurs as an interested party to sign Hofmann who has been a ‘figurehead’ and crucial in-form player under Adi Hütter this season.

However, the 29-year-old’s deal expires in 2023 with no sign of an extension, throwing his future at the club into disrepute.

The Latest: German sources share Hofmann update…

Now, Sport Bild (via Sport Witness) have again shared some news on Spurs’ interest in Hofmann as the Lilywhites now make contact.

As Spurs regularly approach Monchengladbach over the attacker, according to this report, it is believed that the Bundesliga side will green-light his exit in the event of a suitable bid.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Given Hofmann’s contract situation, transfer chief Fabio Paratici may well be in a strong negotiating position to force their hand and ease the German side into accepting a lower price tag.

The international winger would be worth the hassle, especially going by his previous plaudits from big names and form over 2021/2022.

According to WhoScored, he’s racked up the most goals and assists combined domestically out of anyone in the Monchengladbach side whilst also reigning superior in terms of shots and key passes per 90.

If that wasn’t enough, Hofmann has also averaged their highest match rating in the Bundesliga, leaving little wonder Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once called him ‘extraordinary’ and ‘perfect’ (via Borussia Dortmund reporter and Buzz 09 founder Sandra Goldschmidt).

If Paratici can seal his signing for Conte, there is little doubting he could add something.

In other news: Tottenham expected to move for ‘phenomenal’ £101m star after Conte request, find out more here.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus