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Celtic are close to completing the Parkhead arrivals of three players in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Japanese publication The Mainichi, who claim that Celtic are nearing deals for all three of Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate ahead of the winter market.

The report goes on to state that the club are progressing well in discussions with Yokohama F Marinos and Gamba Osaka, the respective clubs of Maeda and Ideguchi, regarding deals, as both sides are happy to sanction the sale of their respective stars.

However, it is also said the Bhoys talks with Kawasaki Frontale, the club of Hatate, are at a less advanced stage, as the J League side are currently demanding much more for the 24-year-old than Celtic are prepared to offer.

Ange will be buzzing

With Ange Postecoglou openly stating that he is willing to raid the Japanese top flight of its most impressive players in January, the fact that Celtic appear close to signing three of Japan’s brightest talents is sure to have left the 56-year-old buzzing.

Indeed, over his 36 J League appearances this season, centre-forward Maeda scored a whopping 23 goals, registered three assists and created four big chances for his teammates, with these returns seeing the £990k-rated man average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09 – ranking him as his club’s joint sixth-best performer in the top flight of Japanese football.

Meanwhile, over Hatate’s 30 league fixtures, the versatile midfielder scored five goals, provided two assists and created three big chances, with these metrics seeing him average a SofaScore match rating of 7.16, while central midfielder Ideguchi averaged a SofaScore match rating of 6.76 over his own 29 J League appearances.

As such, should Celtic indeed go on to land all three of these players in January, not only would they continue Postecoglou’s Japanese revolution at Parkhead – following the summer signing of Kyogo Furuhashi – they would also represent a huge step in the 56-year-old’s revolution of the Bhoys first-team squad – something that would only appear to bode well for the club’s title chances this season.

In other news: Major blow: Ange confirms injury update that will surely devastate Celtic fans

Journalist Phil Hay has confirmed that Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw has only picked up a minor injury, hailing the update as ‘good news’.

The Lowdown: Forshaw limps off at West Ham

The Whites secured a brilliant 3-2 win away to West Ham on Sunday afternoon, in what was arguably one of their best results of the season.

Forshaw limped off in the first half at the London Stadium with a hamstring injury, however, and it was feared that he would be missing for a chunk of action given his previous woes.

With Kalvin Phillips already sidelined, as well as numerous others, it was a blow that Marcelo Bielsa could do without.

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The Latest: Hay confirms positive news

Thankfully, Forshaw took to Instagram on Monday to confirm that the issue is only a minor one, with Hay reacting to it on Twitter:

“Good news from Forshaw on the hamstring front. Looks to have avoided a bad one.”

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The Verdict: Big boost for Leeds

This is a rare positive in the injury department for Leeds this season, with Forshaw claiming in his post he could potentially even be back for Saturday’s visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The 30-year-old has been a revelation since returning from an extremely lengthy injury absence, starting ten league games and averaging 2.3 tackles per game, a tenaciousness in midfield they would be desperately lacking without him and Phillips.

Forshaw will remain a crucial figure in the middle of the park until the England star returns, as his hugely pleasing comeback from a career-threatening situation continues.

In other news, Hay has also given another positive Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Many Southampton fans were far from happy with the performance of Moussa Djenepo during their FA Cup semi-final defeat on Sunday.

The Saints faced Leicester City at Wembley as they attempted to reach the final of the world’s oldest cup competition. However, despite it being a huge occasion for the south coast side, they failed to muster even a single shot on target during the 90 minutes as they eventually lost 1-0 (SofaScore).

Djenepo was selected by Ralph Hasenhuttl to start the match and he was disappointing on the left of the midfield four as he completed just 15 passes and prevailed in only three of his 10 duels. Given the importance of the game, his manager will have been expecting so much more from him before he was hauled off in the 73rd minute.

These Southampton supporters far were far from happy with that they saw from him and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts, with one Saints fan even branding the 22-year-old’s display as “useless”.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Djenepo

“Djenepo is terrible. Watching him is painful. I’m sorry but that’s my opinion.”

Credit: @C0AKESY

“How long is Ralph gonna keep Djenepo on he’s been the worst player on the pitch”

Credit: @brandanpoole

“I’m always optimistic. But today was nothing short of embarrassing, can’t see how Ralph can defend that performance. Simple as, if the premier league didn’t have Sheff UTD or WBA we’d be down. Redmond / Djenepo / Bertrand / Diallo… pathetic”

Credit: @GeorgePlank

“I don’t agree. Today we couldn’t pass the ball behind the press of Leicester. There was a lot of space but we just trying to pass from one side to another. Redmond and Djenepo are useless when you can’t give them ball on free space..”

Credit: @bubinmikolaj

“Djenepo plays with steel toe caps on, his touch is awful. I still cant believe he’s a professional footballer paid thousands a week! Would’ve rather had Tella on or called Sims back”

Credit: @Leosfc85

“Djenepo is on a different wavelength to every other player, including himself.”

Credit: @HackedOffStuart

In other news, this man has been urged to leave Southampton.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have been informed by Borussia Dortmund that Jude Bellingham is not for sale this summer. 

The lowdown: Interest building

Since making the switch to Germany, Bellingham has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence and is now a regular for the Bundesliga side and England despite his tender years.

The Reds have been extensively linked with the 18-year-old midfielder for some time now and a big-money swoop had appeared to be on the horizon.

However, an immediate move may well have been taken off the cards if this latest update is anything to go by.

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The latest: FI drop a major update

As per an FI recruitment source, Dortmund have informed both Liverpool and Manchester United that the teenage sensation ‘will not be sold’ this summer.

The report claims that the Anfield club and arch-rivals United have made contact about signing the 12-cap England starlet.

But, as Jurgen Klopp’s former employers prepare themselves for the departure of Erling Haaland, there is said to be ‘no intention’ of allowing the midfielder once hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Gareth Southgate to follow suit.

The verdict: Worth the wait

The prospect of no summer move being forthcoming for Bellingham is undoubtedly a disappointing one for Liverpool as Klopp and incoming sporting director Julian Ward are likely to attempt to strengthen the midfield department.

With current incumbents, James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago all over 30 and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stuck on the periphery of matters, signing a truly supreme star of the future such as the ex-Birmingham academy prospect – who can operate in various roles – would’ve been the ideal option to bolster the Anfield ranks.

Now the recruitment team and indeed FSG face the dilemma of whether to move on to different targets or wait for the Englishman.

Statistics on this don’t lie and Bellingham has scored six times and registered 11 assists in 40 appearances this season – we feel he would be worth the wait.

In other news, one Liverpool player has been backed to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United face West Ham United this evening and Phil Hay has dropped an exciting development on long-term absentee Gaetano Berardi before the match.

What Phil Hay had to report

The Athletic journalist reported that: “Gaetano Berardi has also made the trip and this would be his first appearance in a matchday squad since damaging his ACL at Derby last season.”

Indeed, the right-back ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament last summer towards the end of the Whites’ promotion-winning campaign and has been out of action ever since.

This is great news for Berardi and Leeds

The 32-year-old Swiss international is now close to getting a glimpse of the Premier League for the first time, a fitting reward for his lengthy service at Elland Road.

Back when he was fully fit, Bielsa praised the defender, saying: “Berardi is a loyal player and he gives everything on the pitch. When you give everything on the pitch, the players can arrive late, but you have to analyse every red card. Maybe the red card today is different to another.”

It is fantastic to see the right-back travel with the Leeds squad and, while it seems unlikely that he will feature tonight after so long out of action, at least Bielsa has one player set to return amid a plethora of injury issues elsewhere in the squad.

In other news, Leeds have received a positive update in regards to a reported transfer target!

It’s fair to say that Scotland is still buzzing despite their difficult start to the tournament. EURO 2020 marks the long awaited return of fans in stadiums cheering on their home nation and with the first kick-off imminent, former Scotland international Alan Hutton sat down with Instagram sensation Munya Chawawa for Just Eat’s Home Advantage video series.

Just Eat’s Home Advantage looks to bring the best of food and football together, as Munya orders a takeaway with some of the UK’s favourites footballers each week throughout the tournament.

Like many Scottish fans, the memories of Euro 96 remain with Hutton. “As a Scottish person, Euro96 sticks in my memory.  I just remember watching that Switzerland game. Ally McCoist scoring, everyone going wild and I remember being in the house with my Dad; it was a family event. … The kilts start coming out, the bagpipes start coming out. Those memories, they live with you forever.”

Hutton believes the current crop can still make a push in the competition despite their unlucky start. “I still think they’ve got a chance to get out of the group. Their last game is at Hampden park so they have a real opportunity to win that. If they get out of the group I think they will all go down as heroes.”

The former Villa man is all too aware of the risks posed by England though, going as far to say that Gareth Southgate’s men could go the distance. “England has a fantastic team, one of the favourites. They may well be looking to go all the way.”

Hutton, though, regards Belgium as the outright favourites. “I think Belgium has got a good opportunity. They have done well in the previous euros, they have done well in the world cup. I think the group of players they’ve got are at a very good age now. They have been around these big tournaments for a long time and they are really ready to push and some of the players are outstanding. So I think I am going to back them.”

Catch this week’s full episode of Just Eat’s Home Advantage below…

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has hailed Nicky Butt after his departure from Manchester United, telling Football FanCast that he has saved the club hundreds of millions in the transfer market.

Butt has left United after nine years spent in the academy system, working as both the head of the academy and the head of first-team development.

Butt is now set to embark on a new challenge, with reports suggesting that he could move to Celtic to link up with their potential new manager Roy Keane.

Fry believes that the 46-year-old deserves a huge amount of credit for the club’s pathway from the academy to the first-team.

Having taken the role in 2016, the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Scott McTominay have gone from the youth team to the first-team.

And Fry thinks that Butt has ultimately saved United a fortune in transfer fees.

He told FFC: “When you look at the young players that have come through at Man United, wow, he’s done a hell of a job and he’s saved the club hundreds and hundreds of millions in my opinion.”

United have restructured somewhat this month, appointing Darren Fletcher as their technical director and Richard Murtough as football director.

And Fry thinks that those appointments may have played a key role in Butt’s departure.

He added: “United’s made a few decisions lately that have obviously upset one or two. Nicky Butt’s gone after nine years. Nicky Butt’s obviously done a fantastic job over the last nine years. He didn’t only play 400 times nearly for United as a player, and played great, he’s also been in the recruitment side of it for the last nine years.”

Many Everton fans have been left to fume as some early team news has emerged ahead of their game away at West Ham United in the Premier League.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match on Sunday afternoon, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed (via Phil Kirkbride) that James Rodriguez will not be able to play any part in the fixture.

The former Real Madrid star is clearly a key player for the Goodison Park faithful, with no fewer than six goals and a further nine assists in 25 games in total over all competitions so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt), and his creativity and flair will be greatly missed as the Merseyside club look to chase European qualification for next season.

Rodriguez has already missed plenty of games for the Toffees through injury, and it seems as if several Blues are growing increasingly frustrated with him.

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Everton fans on Rodriguez setback

These EFC supporters fumed as the update on the Colombia international was shared on Twitter:

“James absolute liability… he may be talented but his injury record is abysmal… offload in the summer you just don’t need the hassle, he should be playing every game.”

Credit: @maximossilver

“Good to see Doucoure back but James is a waste of time.”

Credit: @10538R

“Made of plasticine is James”

Credit: @toddlonsdale

“Of course he’s out. Dude is fragile”

Credit: @BlakeEM_

“One step forward…two broken legs”

Credit: @BufordTJustice

“Bit of a joke this now. As good as he is, he’s fit barely half the season”

Credit: @paulwithe

In other news, find out what transfer update has left Toffees buzzing here!

Former Rangers defender Michael Ball has exclusively told Football FanCast that teenager Nathan Patterson could eventually take the mantle from captain James Tavernier in the coming years.

With the Scottish Premiership title already in the bag, the 19-year-old has been given the chance to impress in the first team by Steven Gerrard in recent matches.

Patterson only made his league debut as a late substitute against Kilmarnock back in August but has since been rewarded with eight starts in all competitions for the Glasgow giants.

The right-back has also been trusted in two Old Firm outings, including 90 minutes in the Scottish Cup victory at Ibrox last month, having netted his first domestic goal against Cove Rangers in the previous round.

Patterson’s only other professional goal came against Royal Antwerp in the Europa League, and having gained some valuable experience throughout Rangers’ European campaign, Ball has predicted the youngster for a big future, especially learning off the skipper.

He told Football FanCast:“Tavernier has been a massive captain for the club. He’s been fantastic and if he can learn as much as he can off Tavernier and take the mantle then it’s going to be a great club to play for is Rangers.”

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has dropped a behind-the-scenes claim at Aston Villa about what Johan Lange is pushing for from Dean Smith.

What’s the story?

The Midlands club enjoyed a busy summer transfer window which saw numerous players come in and Jack Grealish head to Manchester City, but one man who has kind of been lost in the shuffle over the past few months is Morgan Sanson.

Writing for The Athletic, Evans revealed: “It’s understood that sporting director Johan Lange was very keen for Sanson, who made his first appearance in 149 days for the under-21s last night, to be given a chance to show what he is made of, too. It was Lange who pushed hard for that particular move, with CEO Christian Purslow agreeing that a £14 million deal last January represented good value for money.”

He added: “Whether a perceived fragility comes back to bite Villa in their quest for the top half remains to be seen. Can Luiz pull it all together to become the defensive midfielder Villa are missing? Will Nakamba find some consistency? Or does Sanson fill the gap? The weeks and months ahead should provide some answers.”

Villa fans may be fuming

In what was a rather frustrating first half-season in English football for Sanson, the Frenchman made just nine appearances in the Premier League totaling 291 minutes worth of football.

Following his disappointing displays, former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny said: “I don’t see why they wouldn’t sell him if he’s not producing. It’s only six months and sometimes you’ve got to give players a little bit more time. Not everyone settles well in this country.

“But if they are interested in a couple more midfielders then that could be a sign. There’s no shame in cutting your losses and moving on. People make mistakes. You’re never going to get every signing spot-on.”

Such has been the disappointment surrounding him that reports emerged even in late March that Villa chiefs felt they had made a big mistake in bringing Sanson to the club, and that “he is said to be very difficult to manage, and proved to be so much trouble for two of his former agents they decided to let him go.”

The report added that “there is a feeling in the corridors of power the club ‘haven’t done their homework’ over the 26-year-old Frenchman.”

Given that Villa were after the likes of James Ward-Prowse over the summer transfer window, it was clear that Smith was looking to bring in a new central midfielder. The fact that they haven’t done so, and may need to turn towards a player who both the coaching and recruitment staff seemingly feel isn’t up to scratch, is sure to leave fans fuming.

Lange pushing for Sanson to be given a chance is understandable given that he has only been here for a few months, but should that have been at the expense of potentially pushing the boat out for landing one of their big targets like Ward-Prowse?

Villa fans may be livid over this latest update from Evans.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has confirmed a major boost…