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Celtic interim boss John Kennedy is under consideration to succeed former manager Neil Lennon on a full-time basis.

That’s according to a report from Give Me Sport, who have had information revealed to them regarding the Hoops’ hunt for a new boss.

Kennedy in with a chance of Celtic job

They claim that the 37-year-old is in with a chance of landing the position permanently with Celtic looking at a ‘traditional approach’.

Celtic’s ‘traditional approach’ is thought to be based on individuals who understand the Parkhead role, with Kennedy a possible cheap option.

Kennedy has taken charge of three games as interim boss, picking up five points from a possible nine.

Transfer Tavern take

With Kennedy having no senior managerial experience prior to his role as Celtic caretaker, we feel that it would be a huge risk appointing him on a full-time basis.

It’s not as if the Hoops have become a different side under his guidance. They’ve scored twice in 270 minutes of football and failed to beat eighth-placed Dundee United.

To us, we think they need to steer clear of Kennedy when it comes to the long run.

In other news: Reliable journalist claims 43-year-old is ‘a serious candidate’ for Hoops job, find out more here. 

Many Everton fans have been left to bemoan an injury that Jordan Pickford has sustained which will mean that he will miss their next game.

As per the official website of the Goodison Park faithful, the former Sunderland ace has sustained an injury to his oblique abdominal muscle after he was forced off in the first half in their 2-1 home loss to Burnley in the Premier League last time out.

As a consequence, he has been ruled out of the Merseyside club’s next game, which is at home to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

If that match was not already going to be tough enough, Carlo Ancelotti’s team will now have to somehow find a way into the next round of the competition without their number one goalkeeper, just as he had been finding his best form of the season.

Everton fan reaction to Pickford injury

These Toffees supporters bemoaned the injury to Pickford on Twitter, with one Blues fan even going as far to say that the England international will be a ‘huge loss’:

“Dear god Virginia in goal for City let the hammering commence”

Credit: @johnocallagha11

“This is probably one of our worst injury misses. A big problem but good luck to Virginia”

Credit: @ctayts

“Team’s falling to bits. Can’t remember the last time we fielded our strongest 11. Pickford and Doucoure out will be a huge loss for us now.”

Credit: @_JakeClark_

“Hate to say it, but I can see us losing by a cricket score on Saturday.”

Credit: @PaulCarrott3

“Another injury blow, in a season that seems full of them for us”

Credit: @blue_nose_amy

“Love an injury us”

Credit: @jackph21

In other news, find out whose display against Burnley was blasted here!

Some Sunderland fans were left to blast the display of Callum McFadzean despite their 2-0 away win at Portsmouth in the EFL League One on Tuesday night.

Lee Johnson’s men raced into an early lead through Charlie Wyke before doubling their lead a few minutes into the second half as Jordan Jones ensured that all three points were going to the Stadium of Light faithful.

However, while there were some very good performances by the Black Cats, McFadzean’s flattered to deceive some SAFC supporters.

The former Sheffield United man lost out on seven of his duels in the game, and also failed to record a single successful dribble, interception, key pass or cross from the left-back position (Sofascore).

He also lost possession of the ball no fewer than 24 times in the match, the most out of any of his teammates to have set foot on the pitch (Sofascore).

Sunderland fan reaction to McFadzean display

These Sunderland fans blasted his performance on Twitter, with one fan even going as far to claim that the 27-year-old is ‘useless’:

“I’d love to know what LJ thinks of Vokins, because McFadzean is literally scared of the ball… (and useless) #safc”

Credit: @lambo_82

“God help us if McFadzean is in the 11 at Wembley… #SAFC”

Credit: @RokerPark150705

“Someone teach McFadzean to complete a 5 yard pass please #safc”

Credit: @brettd1981

“McFadzean is definitely up with the worst players I have ever seen can’t pass can’t head the ball #safc”

Credit: @Safcftm2016

“10 minutes in and can already see McFadzean is an accident waiting to happen #PORSUN”

Credit: @j_rennoldson23

“They seen McFadzean is the weak link and targeting him. You’ll get something from that.”

Credit: @widger123

In other news, find out who else was slammed for his display against Pompey here!

Reports by BUT! Football Club earlier this week claimed that the agent of Alban Lafont had contacted Allan Saint-Maximin’s representatives with a view to securing a Premier League transfer, and Steve Bruce should utilise his star winger to lure the Fiorentina goalkeeper to Newcastle United.

Lafont is currently in Ligue 1 on loan with FC Nantes and has emerged as a rare star of an otherwise bleak French top-flight season for La Maison Jaune, with the 22-year-old frequently key to preventing Raymond Domenech’s side any further embarrassment.

If he can work a deal with Lafont’s parent Serie A outfit, Nantes owner Waldemar Kita would like to retain the former Toulouse talent beyond his temporary spell. And while the shot-stopper is not expected to head back to Italy for long at the end of the season, is projected to attract an array of interest.

Clubs in England, Germany, France and Italy are all thought to be scouting Lafont, including Olympique de Marseille who may pursue the £11.5m-rated youngster this summer as they look to secure Steve Mandanda’s successor.

Lafont’s desire is to join a European side where he can continue to evolve and had his eyes fixed on a transfer to the Premier League, however the impact of Brexit and Covid-19 is seen to have placed additional hurdles in the way of a move across the Channel.

Nonetheless, his agent appears to have begun sounding out the chances of establishing a route into the country by contacting Saint-Maximin’s representatives, after they concluded a £16.5m deal for the winger to join Newcastle from OGC Nice in 2019.

Bruce should now attempt to utilise Saint-Maximin and his representatives to push United as a worthwhile destination for Lafont, as the France U21 international could easily prove to be the Toon’s long-term option in goal rather than for Marseille.

Newcastle would appear to have reformed a strong relationship with Saint-Maximin’s representatives after working on a new double-your-money deal for the winger last year, after he had reportedly grown frustrated at still being on the £36,000-per-week terms penned upon his initial arrival.

That rapport could prove vastly beneficial in any efforts to sign Lafont, who The Guardian have previously described as a cat-like ‘keeper for his instinctive reflex saves.

He may have conceded 39 times in 24 Ligue 1 games this season, keeping only three clean sheets, due to Nantes’ dire form that sees them fighting for survival. Yet the 6 ft 4 Lafont still boasts a save percentage that can rival the efforts of Bayern Munich’s UEFA Men’s Team of the Year star Manuel Neuer or Liverpool’s Allison Becker.

According to FB Ref data, Lafont has saved 69.8% of all on-target shots faced in the French top-flight this term, having turned away 74 of the 106 efforts that La Maison Jaune have allowed. Neuer, meanwhile, has saved 69.9% of the 83 shots he’s faced in the Bundesliga, while Allison boasts a 70.4% success rate from the 54 shots the Reds have given up in the Brazilian’s 19 Premier League games to date.

Still only 22, Lafont also has years to grow and continue establishing himself in a bigger environment. So, if the contact is there, why shouldn’t Bruce urge Newcastle to utilise what options are at their disposal to try and bring the goalkeeper to St. James’ Park?

AND in other news, Newcastle have an ace up their sleeves in efforts to sign a striker valued at £30m earlier this season…

Lee Ryder has shared some inside information on a new potential takeover of Newcastle United.

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, the football journalist has shared that the St. James’ Park faithful have been approached by new buyers from overseas who have enquired about the prospect of buying the North East club if they were to find themselves relegated from the Premier League down to the EFL Championship at the end of the 2020/21 term.

They have also enquired about whether there would be a knockdown in the asking price of Mike Ashley, as low as £50m in one case, and whether that kind of offer would be acceptable for the chief executive of Sports Direct should they go down.

However, his advisors have apparently been irked by those they deem as time wasters given that their fate in the top flight has yet to be decided.

Ashley still views the interest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium in buying the Tyneside club as serious, and ideally wants to sell the Magpies at a top-flight price.

Time to look elsewhere for Newcastle?

With the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) currently off of the table at the moment, it may be time for Ashley to look elsewhere in terms of other potential buyers.

If Steve Bruce’s team were to find themselves relegated, then it is less likely that the KSA group would find the prospect of taking over at the Toon as attractive, and may not want to settle on Ashley’s original asking price if they did still hold an interest.

Nonetheless, the key for NUFC is to avoid getting relegated first of all, which could then lead to a re-evaluation of the takeover process.

In other news, find out what inside claim Liam Kennedy has dropped on the potential takeover here!

After a difficult run of form saw them go win-less in their last four games in all competitions, Aston Villa got back on track with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night.

Dean Smith’s side returned to winning ways in the Premier League thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore, but amid John McGinn’s suspension against the Magpies, Marvelous Nakamba stepped up to the plate big-time.

With reports linking the Zimbabwe international with a move away in the January transfer window, the game against Newcastle seemed to have echoes of the midfielder entering last chance saloon at Villa Park.

And boy did he take his opportunity.

Partnering Douglas Luiz in the middle of the park, Nakamba was a snarling presence in front of the back four, always making sure that Newcastle couldn’t get in between the lines – he made two tackles and two interceptions a piece, both of which were triple his season average (0.6).

The Zimbabwean also kept things ticking over, winning back the ball and then just playing it simple to the likes of Luiz and Jack Grealish further forward. It was no surprise that he boasted a quite incredible 99% pass accuracy and completed the most amount of passes of any player on the pitch, dictating the tempo for Smith’s side.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece gave him a 7.5, saying: “Back in for his first start and first taste of match action since Burnley in mid-December, some five games ago. Kept possession really well in the heart of Villa’s midfield. Always offered short from goal kicks and looked unflustered against Newcastle’s midfield.

“A much welcome 90 minutes for Nakamba who proved his worth to Villa’s squad with a good performance as he broke up play whenever he could. Did well on his return.”

Nakamba sent a huge message to his boss that he can still be a key member of this squad, and it now remains to be seen whether he’s done enough to convince Smith that it would be far better for the club for him to stay put in this January transfer window.

Morgan Sanson may be arriving, but Nakamba isn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.

Meanwhile, Villa must land this Scandinavian starlet…

Leeds United have been heavily linked to Championship starlet Louie Sibley going all the way back to October, and former Premier League star Rob Lee has given his verdict on whether this would be a good transfer.

Lee’s thoughts on Sibley

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern about Derby County’s Sibley, Lee said: “Yeah, he’s a good young player. Would he go straight into their team? I’m not sure.

“They’ve got certain way of playing, and if they’re going to buy someone they need someone who’s going to go straight in, bang.

“But it would be a good signing for easing his way in because he’s a good young player.”

One for the future

Derby U23s coach Pat Lyons piled the praise on Sibley after he scored a hat-trick for the U23s against Leeds’ youngsters last season. He said: “I’m delighted for him to get the hat-trick. He was outstanding all night. His driving with the ball is unbelievable, the way he goes past players and the way he makes things happen.”

The Rams starlet looks like he has the quality to succeed and he has taken these “outstanding” performances from youth level to first team football, as he shone in the FA Cup against Manchester United and also scored a hat-trick against Millwall.

He is just 19 years-old, and the fact that Leeds have been linked suggests that the Yorkshire side feel he has the potential to succeed at a higher level in the future. The midfielder has shown some great attacking intent in his 16 appearances this season (only five were starts) and the fact he is fouled 1.3 times a game suggests that defences find it very tricky to get a hold of him fairly.

It is hard to disagree with Lee’s comments as Sibley looks to be a good young player with lots of potential, but it might take him a bit of time to cement his place into a Marcelo Bielsa side. He would however add some good depth and become a valuable asset with an eye to the future.

In other news, find out whose return from injury has been deemed ‘massive’ here!

According to The Daily Record, Bongani Zungu is set to start when Glasgow Rangers travel to take on Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday night, but Steven Gerrard should think about deploying him in the No. 10 role instead.

Despite arriving at Ibrox from Amiens on an initial loan deal on transfer deadline day, the 28-year-old has started just once so far this season in the 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Betfred Cup, and Gerrard confirmed he was impressed with what he saw from the South Africa international in a deep-lying midfield role.

However, the Ibrox boss may be better served starting the Bafana-Bafana midfielder as an advanced playmaker instead. Steven Davis would be the favourite to start in that position, but he will most likely be rested for the game against Lech Poznan, which means there will be big boots left to fill.

Ianis Hagi may be pushing for a recall, with Gerrard deploying the 22-year-old as an attacking midfielder against Falkirk, but Zungu could arguably do a better job against Dariusz Żuraw’s side.

Whilst Hagi tried his best to impress during the game against the Scottish League One leaders, he doesn’t necessarily have the guile nor the experience to impose himself as the first-choice No. 10 for Rangers quite just yet.

On the other hand, despite primarily playing as a defensive central midfielder, Zungu has shown that he is fully capable of playing in an offensive role too on a handful of occasions.

WhoScored lists some of his key strengths as his ability to shoot from distance and his high levels of concentration, which is more than can be said for Hagi, who has often been accused of crumbling under pressure.

The Ibrox boss recently described Zungu as a “dominant” midfielder, telling the club’s website: “Bongani fits the profile of player that adds further strength and depth to our midfield.”

He added “we wanted a dominant midfielder with the right profile who can enhance the team and compliment other players we have.”

Gerrard is hardly short of options in the midfield, which means that he should be in contention to start behind either Alfredo Morelos or Kemar Roofe, whilst there is little doubt he may be better suited to sitting in a a free role between the midfield and the forwards.

With Ryan Jack ruled out as he works his way back to fitness, his versatility could be an added bonus.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must cash in on Brandon Barker in January…

Steve Bruce must unleash Jeff Hendrick in a central midfield role when Newcastle United host Fulham on Saturday, after Sean Longstaff totally crumbled at Leeds on Wednesday night.

Longstaff was entrusted with opening the Elland Road affair alongside Isaac Hayden in the engine room with Jonjo Shelvey falling to the bench, yet failed to live up to his task in a torrid night for the Toon product.

Newcastle were at sixes and sevens throughout the game but found themselves still in the battle at 2-2 midway through the second half, only for Longstaff to dally in possession and gift the Whites a chance to break.

Mateusz Klich eventually delivered a teasing ball into Karl Darlow’s area that found its way through to Stuart Dallas, who darted in unchecked to head home the catalyst for a 13-minute blitz that would leave the Magpies humbled.

Longstaff’s confidence was shattered from the moment he let the ball slip from his grasps, and never managed to recover before the full-time whistle to round out another disappointing display from the Toon product.

It was not the only occasion Longstaff gifted possession away, either, with the 23-year-old losing the ball 15 times, per SofaScore, while winning just two ground duels, making one successful tackle and completing 20 of his 29 passes having failed to connect with any of his eight long balls.

Hendrick had been fielded in a right-midfield role as Bruce sought to rotate parts of his side at Elland Road and brought an impact to the position, despite often being starved of possession with just 24 touches while shackled into aiding Jacob Murphy defensively.

The summer arrival from Burnley recorded a heavy amount of his 24 touches beside Newcastle’s right-hand corner flag, penned four clearances and blocked one shot, yet managed to fire home the 26th-minute opener with his sole effort of the game.

But pace was an issue for Hendrick going forward, and must be moved back centrally after earning five of his previous nine Premier League appearances in the middle of midfield.

Bruce has always imagined Hendrick, who he considers to be a “big asset”, playing in both roles, having noted earlier in the year how the 28-year-old’s flexibility would be put to use.

“His flexibility, probably, is the reason why he doesn’t [always] play centrally,” said Bruce, via quotes by The Shields Gazette. “He’s played for us on the right, and did that very well.

“Look, he’s quietly gone about his work. That’s the sort of character he is. He’s done very well for us. I’ve been very, very pleased with him.”

Though Wednesday’s thumping at Elland Road proved it is time to take Longstaff out of the line-up, and unleash Hendrick centrally in Saturday’s meeting with Fulham.

AND in other news, a Newcastle lightweight with a “wonderful future” badly let Steve Bruce down against Leeds.

The winter transfer window will re-open in just a few weeks’ time which means that Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson will have started writing his Christmas wish list to prioritise his wants and needs.

Whether he will tread the traditional route of astute, cost-effective signings, or go out in a blaze of glory with a rather sizeable cheque to spend on new recruits for the first time since his days at Anfield, the former Liverpool manager will be keen to avoid making a similar mistake to the one that he made with infamous Palace flop Alexander Sorloth, which is why it’s quite surprising he is reportedly considering a swoop for Marcos Alonso.

That’s right folks, Palace are interested in signing the Chelsea left-back as a potential Patrick van Aanholt alternative.

According to The Daily Mail, Alonso is one of several options being considered to replace Van Aanholt if the popular Dutchman does depart Selhurst Park, with the Eagles also keeping tabs on Marseille’s Jordan Amavi.

However, the Palace gaffer should steer clear of signing the total liability, as he already has the perfect replacement in Tyrick Mitchell.

The Spaniard hasn’t featured for Frank Lampard’s side since the start of the season, as he has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge, whilst he is averaging just 0.3 tackles and 0.3 blocks per game in the Premier League so far, via WhoScored.

By comparison, Mitchell is managing 4 tackles per game in the top flight so far this season, as per WhoScored.

Rio Ferdinand recently criticised Alonso for his “silly” mistake, whilst former Blues midfielder Joe Cole was equally scathing in his assessment after he saw red during the 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season.

The Eagles shouldn’t even touch Alonso with a barge pole, let alone when you consider the fact that his market value is currently estimated at £16.2m via Transfermarkt, which implies that he won’t come cheap as his contract is set to expire in 2023. At 29 years of age, it wouldn’t make much sense, especially with Mitchell waiting in the wings.

Hodgson has been full of praise for the young prospect, saying he could become the next Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He told Sky Sports:

“Tyrick got his chance last season when Patrick dislocated his shoulder and he has taken that chance well and really continued it since the start of the new season.

“I hope he will continue to improve and I hope people won’t start to put exceptional pressure on him because he’s still a very young man and he’s still in the absolute nursery in terms of his career.

“Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] looked very much like Tyrick when he came in and took the game by storm, and he made the position his own very quickly.

“I wouldn’t disagree that in terms of being thrown in with no-one knowing much about him, I think there’s a direct parallel between the two players.”

Mitchell, who first burst onto the scene towards the closing stages of last season, is one of several players with deals set to expire in 2021. But the 21-year-old has established himself as the club’s first-choice left-back in recent weeks.  If that hasn’t earned the academy graduate a new deal, we don’t know what will.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace got rid of Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the perfect time…