All posts by z3u9t.icu

A “terrific” West Brom player has suffered an injury blow and will now join Kyle Bartley in the treatment room, according to manager Carlos Corberan.

West Brom injury updates

After such an imperious start to the season, the Baggies have faded badly over the past month or so, suffering a string of disappointing results in the Championship.

In fact, West Brom haven’t won in their last six matches in the competition, dating all the way back to the 1-0 victory at home to Plymouth Argyle on September 21st. On Saturday afternoon, that poor run continued with a 0-0 draw at home to Cardiff City, with pressure beginning to grow on Corberan.

Not only have results been disappointing for the much-fancied Baggies, but injury problems threaten to further derail their campaign. On Saturday, Bartley was absent and is now expected to potentially be out until near Christmas, acting as a big blow, given his vast experience.

Unfortunately for Corberan, the 33-year-old isn’t the only fitness concern now, with a fresh update emerging regarding his side’s current situation.

Bad to worse as McNair hamstring injury confirmed

Speaking after the goalless draw with Cardiff, West Brom boss Corberan confirmed that Paddy McNair has also picked up a hamstring injury alongside Bartley’s setback, while Semi Ajayi is also struggling.

“It looks like a hamstring injury on Paddy and looks like a knee problem on Semi and that’s when you add to the Bartley knee injury it is a more challenging moment for the defensive line. The only one I can offer is that Bartley will be four to six weeks out of the team, that is all I can confirm so far.”

When it rains it pours, and that certainly seems to be the case with West Brom currently, with so much going wrong after such a seamless start to the new season. Bartley is a massive loss, as mentioned, with the Englishman starting 10 Championship matches before his injury absence, averaging 3.1 aerial duel wins per game in the competition.

To then lose both McNair and Ajayi to injury is sheer bad luck, with the former starting in place of Bartley at the heart of West Brom’s defence alongside the latter.

The Northern Irishman is such a solid deputy to his injured colleague, not least because of his experience down the years that has seen him win 68 caps for his country, while former manager at Middlesbrough, Michael Carrick, has previously highlighted exactly the trait the Baggies will now be missing: “I thought he was terrific. Probably the best player throughout the game with his passing from the back and composure on the ball.

Games that Kyle Bartley will now miss for West Brom after new injury update

Frustrating news for the defender…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 27, 2024

Hopefully, McNair’s injury is nothing too serious, especially with fixtures coming so thick and fast in the league, starting with the trip to Luton Town on Friday evening. Hamstrings can be awkward, however, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him miss several weeks.

Manchester United are back in contact with a potential Erik ten Hag successor as they look to plan for all eventualities, it has been claimed.

Erik ten Hag running out of time

It is no secret that Ten Hag is under massive pressure at Old Trafford, just months after signing a new deal with the Red Devils.

If the FA Cup win against Manchester City papered over cracks in his management, playstyle and results, then the opening part of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign has widened those cracks to chasms.

Man Utd ace who left for only £16m is now outperforming the whole club

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled at Manchester United this season.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 14, 2024

His return of eight points in seven games is the worst in Manchester United’s Premier League history, breaking a record he himself set 12 months ago, a clear demonstration that his side are going firmly in the wrong direction.

Currently 14th in the Premier League, Manchester United have won just twice and for his side’s most recent 0-0 draw with Aston Villa he dropped almost all of the signings he has made to date, with Lisandro Martinez, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Antony all among the substitutes.

Clearly, a decision has to be made soon as United’s early blip threatens to derail their season, and now it seems that the United hierarchy are sounding out replacements once more.

Man Utd back in contact with "exceptional" manager

Now, TBR report that Manchester United have reopened contacts with free agent manager Thomas Tuchel as INEOS are “drawing up contingency plans” should they decide to sack Ten Hag.

The former Chelsea man, dubbed “exceptional” by Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley on X, has been out of work since he was sacked by Bayern Munich at the end of last season and was strongly linked with the Manchester United job over the summer.

Now, it has been reported that talks are back on, and that “Tuchel’s people have had contact once again” from the Red Devils as Ten Hag remains under scrutiny.

Thomas Tuchel’s PL record vs Erik ten Hag

Thomas Tuchel

Erik ten Hag

Games

63

83

Wins

35

43

Win %

56%

52%

Points per game

1.94

1.72

Goals scored per game

1.73

1.45

Goals against per game

0.87

1.31

On paper, it would certainly be an upgrade; during his time in the Premier League, Tuchel’s Chelsea averaged more points per game, more goals scored, and fewer goals conceded than Ten Hag’s time at Manchester United has currently produced.

England role complicates Man Utd move for Tuchel

One thing that may have prompted a resurgence in talks between Manchester United and Tuchel is the potential vacancy to manage the England national team, with the German firmly in the frame for the job.

Current interim boss Lee Carsley has done little to suggest that he wants or deserves the role on a full-time basis, and German outlet Bild report that Tuchel is “in talks to become the next England manager”, which would prevent him taking up the post at Old Trafford.

The role has been vacant since Gareth Southgate’s departure after a second consecutive EURO final defeat, and the FA will be looking to fill it in the not too distant future, which could leave Tuchel with a choice to make on his future.

For his part, he is thought to be keen on the Manchester United role, but they may have to move quickly to ensure his head isn’t turned by the lure of the Three Lions.

Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten away record in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, securing a 1-1 draw at Chelsea this afternoon.

Chris Wood put Nuno Espírito Santo’s side ahead just minutes into the second half but were pegged back less than ten minutes later after Noni Maduele fired home for the hosts.

Both sides pushed on for a winner, but excellent saves from Matz Sels and Robert Sanchez in stoppage time saw the game end level, with both teams having to settle for a point.

The result takes Forest back into the top half of the table ahead of the second international break, with a tally of ten points from the opening seven games of the new campaign.

However, it was a day to forget for one first-team member who failed to make a positive impression on the meeting at Stamford Bridge, in just his fourth start for the club.

James Ward-Prowse’s stats against Chelsea

After joining on loan from West Ham United on deadline day, midfielder James Ward-Prowse arrived at the City Ground with high expectations of bolstering Nuno’s midfield.

However, up to now, he’s yet to make any sort of positive impact, with his latest display summing up his time in the East Midlands so far this season.

The 29-year-old was sent off for a second bookable offence after losing possession, before diving on the ball and handling the ball to prevent a counter-attack from Enzo Maresca’s side.

Whilst he undoubtedly took one for the team, the mistake was an avoidable one, but up until his dismissal, he failed to pull up any trees, looking lacklustre throughout.

Minutes played

78

Touches

48

Passes completed

33/39 (85%)

Possession lost

11x

Fouls committed

2

Duels won

2/4 (50%)

Interceptions made

0

Ward-Prowse lost possession 11 times in his 78 minutes on the pitch, committing two fouls and only winning 50% of his duels.

It was certainly an afternoon to forget for the loanee, who will now miss the meeting with Crystal Palace after the international break, with Nuno having a decision to make over who could replace the midfielder.

However, despite his display in the capital, one other Forest player endured a tricky afternoon, producing some stats just as poor as the dismissed loanee.

The man who was as bad as Ward-Prowse

Whilst Forest were defensively solid throughout the draw, left-back Alex Moreno struggled against the pace and direct nature of opposition winger Madueke – often coming out second best in the battle with the England international.

The Spaniard, who’s currently on loan from Aston Villa, has cemented his place at full-back in recent matches, but his display at Stamford Bridge this afternoon was arguably his worst since his move in the summer.

The 31-year-old managed just 40 touches during his display, a tally lower than goalkeeper Sels who registered 44 – an indication as to his lack of impact during the encounter.

He also only won 40% of his duels, whilst losing possession nine times and committing a foul as he looked unable to compete with the pace of Madueke.

Minutes played

82

Touches

40

Passes completed

15/17 (88%)

Duels won

4/10 (40%)

Possession lost

9x

Dribbled past

3x

Fouls committed

1

The Chelsea wide man managed to dribble past him three times – including for their goal – unable to get close enough to the youngster, who was able to cut inside before firing home.

Whilst the point was a great result given the circumstances, Moreno failed to come away from the game with any plaudits, potentially putting his starting role at risk.

He was subsequently handed a 5/10 match rating by Nottinghamshire Live Forest correspondent Sarah Clapson, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the draw.

As a result, Nuno could look to recall Neco Williams and switch Ola Aina back to a left-back role when his side face Oliver Glasner’s Palace in just over two weeks time.

Nottingham Forest wanted to sign 66-cap star but preferred Gibbs-White

Forest nearly signed “animal” same year as Gibbs-White

ByConnor Holden Oct 6, 2024

Glasgow Rangers made it two wins from two since the return to domestic football following the international break.

Progress in the League Cup was secured by Philippe Clement’s men as they returned to Ibrox for the first time since May, delivering a solid performance in the routine 3-0 victory.

It marks the fourth season in a row that Rangers have reached the semi-finals of the competition and Clement will be keen on retaining the trophy he claimed last year – the first of his reign.

It was a far better performance than the Premiership win over Dundee United a week before, but there are still things to be worked on.

The Light Blues would dearly love an individual to dominate the game from the heart of the pitch, with Clement rotating his midfielders several times this season already.

How the Belgian would love a talent like Paul Gascoigne at the heart of his tactical philosophy, controlling the play and generating plenty of chances for not only himself but his teammates too.

Paul Gascoigne’s statistics at Rangers

Long gone are the days when the Ibrox side could sign one of the finest English players at the peak of their career, but that’s what happened in the summer of 1995.

Gascoigne had endured three injury-plagued campaigns at Lazio, failing to really gain the consistency needed to back up his prodigious talent. There were some stand-out moments, of course, including a winner against AS Roma in the derby, but a fresh start was needed.

Walter Smith had just led the club to their seventh league title the season prior, but he knew more quality was required if he was to lead Rangers to another crown, along with achieving progress in Europe.

In early July, Smith splashed out more than £4m – then a club-record fee – to bring the maestro to Glasgow, where he made an immediate impact.

The club won a league and cup double during his maiden season, with Gazza scoring a stunning hat-trick against Aberdeen to secure eight in a row. The Englishman played a key role once again during 1996/97, scoring 17 goals in just 34 matches, claiming yet another domestic title and the League Cup.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star returned to England in March 1998, signing for Middlesbrough, but his three years at Ibrox are fondly remembered by the supporters and those who played alongside him.

Across the subsequent decades, the Gers haven’t quite had a talent like Gazza in their midfield, despite various players trying to replicate his talents. His signing was certainly one of the biggest in Scottish football history.

Just a few short years ago, Kris Boyd claimed that one of the club’s January signings was the biggest since Gazza arrived, yet it turned out to be a major disappointment…

When Rangers signed Aaron Ramsey

On deadline day of the winter window in January 2022, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was desperate to bolster his squad and Aaron Ramsey’s name was linked, albeit very loosely.

As the day went on, however, it became apparent that the Juventus midfielder was edging closer to a loan deal, and he was announced late in the day to a rapturous crowd at Ibrox.

Boyd hailed the signing, saying: “I think it shows Rangers Football Club is one of the biggest in the UK. He’s turned down Premier League clubs to join Rangers. It’s a fantastic signing, not just for Rangers but Scottish football as a whole.

“The arrival of Paul Gascoigne was the last time you thought ‘woah, a real footballer has joined’.”

Arsenal

369

64

Juventus

70

6

Cardiff City

46

6

Nice

34

1

Rangers

13

2

Nottingham Forest

5

0

Being compared to Gazza certainly applied a bit of pressure on Ramsey to succeed, but given his quality and the fact he had played nearly 400 games for Arsenal, winning three FA Cups in the process, it meant that the Dutchman was signing someone who knew how to handle pressurised moments.

Despite the hype generated on his arrival, Ramsey proved to be a major disappointment in what was a brief spell in Glasgow.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Aaron Ramsey’s statistics at Rangers

In typical Ramsey fashion, he wasn’t deemed fit enough to play against Celtic just a few days after signing, as the Light Blues suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat at Parkhead, which arguably turned the title race on its head.

Over the next few weeks, he would play a bit part in both Europe and domestically, failing to start a league match until the end of March.

He netted against Dundee, before giving the club the lead after scoring an early opener against Celtic at Ibrox, giving the fans an indication of his quality and precisely why Van Bronckhorst brought him to the club.

Across seven league games, the Welshman scored twice, and averaged just one key pass per game while averaging two shots per match, showing flashes of his brilliance.

His loan spell was perhaps characterised by his penalty miss in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt. The midfielder only came off the bench with just a few minutes to go in normal time, before being tasked with tucking away a penalty.

It was a cruel end to his Ibrox spell, although he did claim a Scottish Cup winners medal just a few days later, adding it to his FA Cup triumphs.

A fit Ramsey would have made all the difference for Rangers during the last few months of the season. Unfortunately, he couldn’t remain consistent enough to really leave a lasting impression.

He returned to Juventus after just six months and is now playing for Cardiff, the club he started his career with way back in 2006.

While he didn’t have the same impact on the pitch as Gazza, the buzz when he signed among the supporters was something that hadn’t occurred much over the previous few years.

If Clement can make a few signings that would generate a similar sort of reaction, with them performing on the pitch, it could go a long way to the club winning more trophies.

Chris Sutton laid into Rangers star last season, now he's undroppable

Philippe Clement has a player in great form right now

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 23, 2024

Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Benfica player Florentino Luis multiple times last season according to Fabrizio Romano

What is the latest news about Florentino Luis?

According to reports, Italian side AC Milan are interested in bringing the Portuguese midfielder to the San Siro. Reports claim that the Milan side have already been in contact with the midfielder's representatives and that a deal could be reached with the Portuguese club for around €30m (£25.7m).

Another report, however, says that whilst AC Milan do have an interest in the player, they are joined by Arsenal and Napoli. The report also contradicts others were suggesting about the fee, stating instead that Benfica will only sell if the players €120m (£103m) release clause is met, with the sale of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea just six months ago giving the club a benchmark to go off of.

Liverpool meanwhile sent scouts to watch both Luis and teammate Antonio Silva back in March, with 90min reporting that both the Reds and Tottenham Hotspur had scouts in attendance for the Portuguese sides 2-0 victory over Famaliciao.

Speaking on the Born and Red YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that the club were interested in the midfielder however no official talks had taken place.

“I think this is one of the players that Liverpool have been watching in terms of scouting because I have been told multiple times that Liverpool scouts were around to follow Florentino Luis. At the moment I am not aware of any direct contact with Benfica so let’s see but I’m not sure that Benfica are open to that kind of negotiation for the clause, I think they really want big money.”

Where would Luis play for Liverpool?

Luis was one of the most impressive defensive midfielders in Europe last season.

The midfielder shone when it came to the defensive side of the game and breaking up play in the midfield, averaging an incredible 3.48 tackles per 90 and 2.67 interceptions per 90. Those numbers put him in the top 3% of all midfielders in Europes "next eight" leagues for those categories, showcasing that he is the perfect destroyer for any midfield.

His former coaches have spoken very highly of him, with Joao Tralhao stating "Technically speaking, it’s not easy to find a midfielder with the defensive qualities he has, I used to joke with him and say that he saw the game two seconds before everyone else. It’s amazing the amount of interceptions he makes, the way he can be in the right position all the time.

"He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important. He can play anywhere, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, anywhere. He would have no problem adapting."

Liverpool are reportedly hoping to bring in one more midfielder this summer, after already announcing the signings of midfield duo Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Luis would be a very different profile in comparison and would most likely battle with Fabinho and Stefan Bajcetic for the position at the base of the midfield alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold. Should the 23-year-old join the Reds, he could be the key in further unlocking the quality that the scouser has by giving him more freedom to focus on his attacking and creativity, as Luis will provide all the protection the midfield needs.

It does seem to be a difficult deal for the Reds to complete due to Benfica's unwillingness to negotiate a fee, but should they manage to pull it off, they could have the final piece of their midfield puzzle

Chelsea legend Ceaser Azpilicueta is "really close to joining Atletico Madrid" despite reaching a "verbal agreement" to join Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, reveals transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on Cesar Azpilicueta?

The Blues have been clearing house in a huge way over the last month, selling players like N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly to the burgeoning Saudi Pro League whilst simultaneously shopping Kai Havertz and Mason Mount off to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.

Granted, this wave of selling their players was needed as their ballooning squad has been one of many elements blamed for their terrible season last year, with reports that some players were even changing in hallways as the dressing room was too crowded.

However, one of the players set to leave Stamford Bridge is the club captain and all-round legend of the club, Azpilicueta.

The Spaniard still has one left on his £180,000-a-week contract, but interest from Italian giants Inter Milan and the aforementioned need to trim the squad made for the perfect time to say goodbye.

The deal looked to be complete earlier this week according to reports, the former Marseille man would undergo his medical in the next few days.

However, recent developments have thrown a real spanner in the works for Internazionale, as Atletico Madrid look set to hijack the deal and bring Azpilicueta back to Spain, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano broke the news on his YouTube channel, saying:

"I am told that now Azpilicueta is really close to joining Atletico Madrid. Its exclusive news, we heard about Inter in the past few days, he had an agreement, a verbal agreement on personal terms with Inter to join them, then Inter were still focused on different things, we know about Brozovic and many other things."

What did Azpilicueta achieve at Chelsea?

Azpilicueta will undoubtedly leave Stamford Bridge as a Chelsea legend. Since joining the West London club for just £7m from Marseille in the summer of 2012, he has gone on to win just about everything there is to win in club football.

During his 11-year spell with the Blues, he has won two Premier Leagues, one Champions League, two Europa Leagues, one FA Cup, one Carabao Cup, one European Super Cup and one Club World Cup.

As if that wasn't enough to be considered one of the club's all-time greats, he won one of the Europa Leagues and the Champion's League as the club's captain.

He has been a player appreciated by his managers as well, with Thomas Tuchel saying:

"He's super important, he was super important from day one."

If this really is the end of the road for his time with the Pensioners, he leaves after 508 games and nine major trophies as a modern great.

Manchester United are still leading the race for AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, who is set to be on the move this summer, according to reports from France.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

The Daily Mail report Man United are willing to part ways with up to 13 players this summer, including Harry Maguire, meaning Erik ten Hag may be in the market for a new centre-back, and there are several options available.

The Red Devils are one of the clubs interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race, while 21-year-old Goncalo Inacio has also been named as a target.

Disasi has also been routinely linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with United holding "positive" talks over a move back in April, and they remain very much in the race for his signature.

According to a report from L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United still lead the race for the 25-year-old despite other big European teams trying to convince the defender to move to their club instead.

As Kim Min-jae is seemingly on his way to Bayern Munich, the Red Devils may have to turn their attentions to the Monaco star, but there will be fierce competition for his signature, with a number of big European teams trying to convince him about a move.

At the moment, the player himself seems to have his mind set on a move to Old Trafford, but United appear to be prioritising a move for a goalkeeper, and they could make one last swoop for Kim before pursuing a deal for Disasi.

Who is Axel Disasi?

The Frenchman has played in his home country for his entire career up to this point, across spells with Paris FC, Reims and Monaco, establishing himself as a key player last season by featuring in every single Ligue 1 game.

Last season, the £12k-per-week centre-back averaged 1.5 interceptions per game in Ligue 1, the joint-second highest figure in the squad, and he did enough to impress France manager Didier Deschamps, making his debut for his national side last November.

For the meantime, Kim should remain United's top target at centre-back, considering he has been hailed as "one of the best" defenders in the world by teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but the France international could be a very solid back-up option.

Football scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Disasi as "dominant", while also likening him to Virgil van Dijk, and members of the media have praised him for his "insane strength and power."

Former Stoke City star Rory Delap has claimed his long throws could have been worth £20m alone in the transfer market.

Who is Rory Delap?

Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Republic of Ireland midfielder earned himself a reputation as having one of the most feared niche skills in the Premier League.

No, it wasn't a fancy stepover or a thunderous right foot that had defenders scrambling, nor was it an eye for a cute assist or even a penchant for particularly bruising challenges.

Well, we're sure you all remember…

Indeed, his infamous long throw-ins used to terrorise defences time and time again when travelling away to Stoke on those cold, wet and windy nights.

In a recent interview with SPORTbible, the now 46-year-old Delap recalled memories of yesteryear, noting: "We're still talking about it today so I must have done something right.”

Interestingly enough, however, he revealed that instead of spending hours on the training ground with his Stoke teammates working on the set pieces, they'd simply do "two or three on a Friday, the day before a game, same with the corners and the set plays."

Even so, his long throws still frequently caused havoc in opposition boxes – as shown by the fact that Sky Sports have a 4.37 YouTube video dedicated to every goal scored by the Potters thanks to his long throw-ins.

On top of that, Hull City goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once famously gave away a corner out of fear of handing Delap the chance to do damage with a throw-in.

Could Messi do it on a wet and windy night at Stoke?

In the interview, Delap was reminded about how Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed former Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam’s set-pieces were worth £10m.

He was then asked, if this was the case, then how much money would his throw-ins be worth?

“Ahh at least double that,” the 46-year-old said in response, with a huge smile on his face. “I played with Charlie, he had an unbelievable left foot and still does."

On top of all that, he also got onto one of football's biggest questions. Would Lionel Messi struggle on a wet and windy night at Stoke?

Delap certainly seems to think the Argentine would be just fine. He explained: “No, I think the thing you saw with the top players, we made it hard for teams but we never got a result.

“Against [Man] United, they were the top team at the time. With Sir Alex Ferguson, he'd seen it all before with the Wimbledons and the teams of that era. So, you know, he set the team up to go and win and I think they won every game when I was at Stoke so I think the top players don't let stuff like that affect them.

“Arsenal were a great side at that time, maybe it got to them a bit.

“Chelsea, we always struggled against Chelsea. They were the top three teams at that stage. They never really struggled with the cold, wet night there.

"So you're talking about Messi and players like that, I think they're just elite. They're another level. It doesn't matter where they go, they will perform.”

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is reportedly eyeing a reunion with Leicester City defender, Daniel Amartey, with the Ghanaian ace in line for a summer exit from the King Power Stadium.

What's the latest on Amartey to Celtic?

According to TEAMtalk, the Old Firm outfit are considering a move for the 28-year-old following the confirmation that Rodgers has sealed his return to the club, with the versatile asset set to be available on a free transfer amid his expiring contract.

The report suggests that while there is also interest in the 6 foot 1 gem from clubs in Saudi Arabia and in Turkey, there is a 'chance' that the 51-cap ace could seal a move to Glasgow instead, after seven years with the Foxes.

The piece also goes on to add that the Hoops are ready to make contact with the former Copenhagen man's agent, as Rodgers plots to make the first signing of his second spell in charge of the Scottish champions.

Who is Daniel Amartey?

The experienced defender – who can also operate at right-back or in central midfield – has racked up 145 appearances for the newly-relegated outfit since his arrival from Denmark back in 2016, with 80 of those outings having come during Rodgers' time at the helm with the Midlands side.

Previously described as "outstanding" by the Northern Irishman, Amartey appears to have all the attributes to be an astute capture for the Bhoys this summer, particularly on a free transfer, with the returning Celtic boss having also said of his qualities:

"He’s played as a midfield player, as a full-back, and you need your outside centre-halves to be able to have no doubt they can step in and press the game and be aggressive. He’s got all of that. He defends the box really well and then, with the ball, he has a real sufficient level of comfort. He can pass it."

The signing of the all-action machine could well prove bad news for current Hoops man, Stephen Welsh, with Football Insider having reported last month that the club were open to offers for the young Scotsman, provided that a suitable replacement could be found ahead of next season.

The 23-year-old has notably slipped down the pecking order after being restricted to just four Scottish Premiership outings under Ange Postecoglou last season, having notably been "bullied" alongside Moritz Jenz in the shock defeat away to St Mirren back in September, in the words of journalist Josh Bunting.

With Postecoglou favouring Yuki Kobayashi as the third-choice option behind Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers, Welsh has become something of a spare part in recent months, with the addition of Amartey potentially set to prove the final nail in the coffin with regard to his time at Celtic Park.

Not only does the soon-to-be free agent have the benefit of having worked closely with Rodgers in recent years, but the £20k-per-week ace also compares favourably to his fellow centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues with regard to playing out from the back, as he ranks in the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 7% for pass completion.

Amartey does appear to offer greater composure in the backline as he lost possession on average just 5.7 times per game from his 20 league outings last term, while Welsh, by contrast, lost the ball 9.5 times per game on average, showcasing the latter man is not quite as adept at building from the back.

As such, if Rodgers is looking to freshen up his defensive unit with the signing of his former Leicester asset, it could prove to be the end of the road for Celtic's 6 foot 3 academy graduate.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has said that final managerial interviews will take place early next week, with three candidates in the frame.

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are on the hunt for a fourth manager in less than 12 months, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce all coming and going.

Leeds, and by extension the 49ers Enterprises, who have agreed on a deal to take full control from Andrea Radrizzani, have made a start on their summer plans by bringing in Nick Hammond as an interim football advisor to oversee their transfer business.

However, the club’s top managerial target, Brendan Rodgers, has made it clear that he doesn’t want to drop down to the Championship and looks set to join Celtic, but Hay has shared a development he’s heard from Elland Road on the process to appoint a new manager.

Taking to Twitter over the last 48 hours, the reliable reporter said that “final interviews” are planned for early next week, with the 49ers looking to make an appointment.

“Looking like the process to appoint will run into next week, with final interviews planned on the other side of the weekend. First group of players due back for pre-season on July 2.”

Within his report for The Athletic, Hay named Carlos Corberan, Daniel Farke and Scott Parker as options.

“Final interviews are planned for early next week with West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan and former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke, recently sacked by German side Borussia Monchengladbach, two names in the frame. Scott Parker has also been considered but Leicester are also considering making an offer to him.”

Time is ticking…

As Hay mentions, Leeds’ players are set to report back for pre-season at the beginning of July, and hopefully, by then, a chosen manager will have made a start on the club’s plans for the new campaign.

After relegation from the Premier League last season, Leeds have plenty to sort out in a short space of time both in the boardroom and when it comes to ins and outs of the playing squad, with a first pre-season fixture against Manchester United scheduled for July 12.

It looks like it could be one of Corberan, Farke or Parker to arrive in Yorkshire, with Farke and Parker having a previous history of earning promotion to the top flight. Corberan, meanwhile, took Huddersfield to the playoff final back in 2022, so it seems as if Leeds are going down the tried and trusted route, and it’ll be interesting to see who impresses in final talks.