All posts by h716a5.icu

Rangers are a potential destination for Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes, according to a report by MLS ‘insider’ Tom Bogert.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Ibrox could be central to a real summer of change with as many as nine Rangers players out of contract the end of this SPFL season as things stand.

Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Malik Tillman, Ryan Jack, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor and Kieran Wright are all out of contract just next month (Transfermarkt) – presenting a real headache for Ibrox transfer chiefs and manager Michael Beale.

The Scottish Premiership giants could lose all nine of the aforementioned players unless action is taken pretty soon, with reports also surrounding the future of young winger Josh McPake amid his disappointing loan spell at Queen’s Park.

In terms of incomings, Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma has recently been linked with a move to Glasgow, as has Swansea City striker Joel Piroe. The latter player could even come in as a replacement for Morelos with his contract set to expire in May.

As highlighted by links to Honduran attacker Palma, South America could be a fruitful pool of talent Rangers may look to exploit, with news emerging on Cifuentes.

The Ecuadorian, who featured in Qatar at the World Cup, could leave L.A. for free this winter with his contract expiring at the end of this calendar year. As such, MLS insider Bogert claims Rangers could move for Cifuentes alongside the likes of Leeds United and Espanyol.

The journalist also expects him to be in high demand, explaining via Twitter:

Should Rangers sign Cifuentes?

Having featured at the World Cup and possessing a fair bit of experience despite still being 24-years-old, this could be a potentially shrewd move by Rangers.

Speaking to talkSPORT (via footballscotland), South American football expert Tim Vickery spoke of Cifuentes’ real quality back in 2019, stating:

“He was the beating heart of that side and I think he’s a terrific midfielder. He’s strong, he’s got quality, he’s got a good engine – he’s one of the best all-round midfielders, potentially, that I’ve seen come out of South America in a while.”

High praise for the midfield ace, it’s a hardly surprising Rangers are now keeping an eye on his situation in the states.

Arsenal are thriving on the pitch of late, and even despite their collapse at Anfield they remain in the driving seat to claim the Premier League title.

However, nothing short of perfection will see them claim the ultimate prize over Pep Guardiola's imperious Manchester City.

Whether they fail or succeed, one thing is for certain: the Gunners will have to continue improving if they are to maintain their stay at the apex of English football once more.

Therefore, investment will be demanded this summer to bolster a squad already laden with talent.

There has been plenty of noise surrounding the undecided future of Folarin Balogun, as someone who could potentially bolster the north London outfit without them having to spend big. However, the 21-year-old is reportedly keen on remaining a first-choice forward, and that future might seem unlikely should he stick around at the Emirates.

With Gabriel Jesus already in his way, and a summer where another top forward could well join, the New York-born ace might seek to join pastures new. However, should Mikel Arteta manage to sign Jonathan David in his place, this will be of little worry to the Spaniard.

Do Arsenal want to sign Jonathan David?

Having first shone in Belgium, earning his move to LOSC Lille, the Canadian finisher has since become one of Europe's most lethal strikers in recent years for a side that has seldom challenged for elite honours.

Across 128 appearances for the French outfit, the 23-year-old has an outstanding 53 goals alongside posting a further nine assists.

This season also sees him top the Ligue 1 scoring charts alongside a certain Kylian Mbappe, further exacerbating his pedigree. Such is the continued brilliance of David, podcaster Tony Marinaro even labelled the 5 foot 9 speedster: "One of the best strikers in the world."

All of these facets culminate to justify Arsenal's interest in the ace, reported by Italian media. However, with an asking price of €50m (£44m) to overcome, this will not be an easy deal to iron out.

These funds, while likely available for a side returning to Champions League football at the very least, would still mark a huge outlay. However, with the number of suitors for Balogun only growing, it seems this young loanee could be the key to ensuring this move goes through.

With the youngster enjoying a fine goalscoring season in senior football, boasting 18 league goals, this still is below David's tally in the same division. The Gunners need instant impact if they are to continue their battle with the Cityzens over the next few years, which is what this Canada international brings given his consistent scoring record.

Should a big offer land for their on-loan superstar, it would be a no-brainer for Arteta to sanction the exit if it meant he could secure Jesus such an imposing striker to compete for a spot with.

Tottenham manager target Julian Nagelsmann appears to have his concerns over a potential move to north London, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest on Spurs and Nagelsmann?

Daniel Levy is on the search for Antonio Conte’s long-term replacement, with Nagelsmann, who recently left German giants Bayern Munich in a shock departure, heavily linked with a move to the Premier Legaue.

Reports have suggested that contact has already been made over a potential move to Tottenham for the 35-year-old, who is viewed as a top target by Levy.

Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason will be taking temporary charge of the side until the end of the campaign, beginning with a trip to relegation-threatened Everton tomorrow evening. Spurs are still in a positive position to finish in the top four, however, it looks as if Nagelsmann isn’t so sure about taking over in N17.

Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey provided an update on Spurs and Nagelsmann in the last 48 hours. He said that those close to c in Germany believe that Spurs face a huge task to entice him, with a successful swoop currently being regarded as a long shot.

The report adds that the coach has allegedly said to friends that ‘it will damage my career if I join Tottenham’ and that he doesn’t see Spurs as the ideal fit due to wanting to take over a team where he can compete immediately for trophies and make an immediate impact.

Where will Spurs go from here?

Nagelsmann is also apparently attracting interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea, so perhaps he views those as destinations where he could look to make an instant mark and compete for trophies, with both clubs still in this season's Champions League preparing to face each other in the quarter-finals.

However, with a move for Nagelsmann not looking likely over the coming months, Levy and co may need to take stock and look elsewhere ahead of a summer swoop for Conte’s long-term successor.

There have been plenty of names linked with the position, though, including former boss Mauricio Pochettino and Burnley manager Vincent Kompany. The latter of the two is regarded as a new leading contender for the job and would be interested in taking over despite taking the Clarets to the top of the Championship, so it’ll be interesting to see who eventually comes in, looking to end the club’s long wait for a trophy.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is seemingly continuing his bid to find a suitable successor to current boss, Antonio Conte, with the Italian coach looking set for an imminent exit from N17 following what has been a disappointing campaign thus far for the north London outfit.

Recent weeks, in particular, have soured the mood at the club after the Lilywhites were dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League in limp fashion, with that ill feeling then exacerbated following the former Chelsea man's explosive post-match comments after the late collapse away to Southampton last weekend.

Such woes have ensured that Levy and co are now plotting yet another managerial change amid what has been a turbulent last few years in the dugout, with the Premier League side looking for their fourth permanent appointment since the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino back in 2019.

The popular Argentine has been tipped for a return to his former club, although the 51-year-old is not the only potential candidate who could seemingly revitalise Tottenham's fortunes, according to The Telegraph, with Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou another figure who could well spark something of a resurgence in the capital.

The Greek-Aussie has undoubtedly worked wonders during his time at Parkhead to date, with the Hoops currently on course to claim a second successive league title amid what has been a rampant run of domestic form, with the Old Firm outfit having previously finished 25 points behind rivals Rangers in the season prior to Postecoglou's arrival in 2021.

That turnaround has been aided by the 57-year-old's "exceptional" recruitment record – according to former Bhoys skipper Scott Brown – while the former Yokohama Marinos boss has also earned plaudits for his "beautiful attacking football", as per BT Sport pundit, Owen Hargreaves.

Despite having been something of an unknown quantity prior to the move to Glasgow, the experienced asset is now rightfully catching the attention of clubs south of the border, with it set to be a notable coup if Levy could tempt the one-time Australia boss to make the switch in the near future.

Would Postecoglou be a good fit at Spurs?

If Postecoglou is to be snapped up any time soon, the highly-coveted coach could look to emulate the impact that another former Celtic man has enjoyed in the Premier League of late, with Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers having enjoyed a standout spell at the King Power Stadium in recent years.

While the former Liverpool and Swansea City ace had previously coached in England's top flight prior to making the move to Scotland, the Northern Irishman certainly enhanced his reputation during his time in the Scottish Premiership, having won a plethora of major honours during his three-year spell – notably guiding his side to an unbeaten domestic campaign in 2016/17.

That remarkable hot streak unsurprisingly led to interest from afar, with Rodgers ultimately taking the somewhat controversial decision to move on from the historic club to join the Foxes midway through the 2018/19 season, in order to get started early in his new surroundings.

While that certainly damaged the Carnlough native's image back in Glasgow – even irking members of his own family in the process – that mid-season switch subsequently proved fruitful, with the one-time Watford boss using that extra time to settle to good effect as he went on to steer Leicester to fifth in his first full season at the club, before repeating that feat the following season.

Although the 50-year-old – who has also been linked with a move to Spurs – has come under pressure of late with the Midlands outfit currently battling to stave off relegation, the Foxes did claim a first-ever FA Cup triumph back in 2021, before also winning the Community Shield.

That success may well indicate that Rodgers has taken the winning mentality that he fostered at Celtic to his current post, with the hope being that Postecoglou could also mirror that journey if he is to link up with Levy and co any time soon.

The latter man may wish to wait until the summer before taking a decision on his future, although a repeat of Rodgers' mid-season move to England could also prove fruitful.

Tottenham Hotspur could potentially look to replace Antonio Conte with Mauricio Pochettino over the coming months but a return may not be straightforward.

Will Spurs sack Conte?

The north London club certainly had a weekend to forget after blowing a two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes to the team slumped at the bottom of the Premier League table.

However, that was not the most dramatic thing to come out of the game on the south coast with Conte unleashing a scathing press conference after the match.

This has seemingly left Daniel Levy with a serious decision to make whether he cuts the club's ties with the Italian before his contract ends at the conclusion of the season.

But speaking on beIN Sports, journalist Gary Jacob has suggested a possible return to N17 for Pochettino may not be a straightforward answer for either side:

"There's a few options. Obviously, Pochettino is still an option but whether he goes back, I understand that's not so straightforward on either side."

Should Spurs rehire Pochettino?

There is certainly an element of risk in this potential appointment with Pochettino having already had a positive stint at the club which would leave his previous tenure at the club under threat of being tarnished.

Some Spurs fans may question whether he is the right man to take the club forward given he was unable to bring silverware to the club over his time in north London.

And although that may be true, Pochettino did bring stability and it does feel as if that is what the club need back having chopped and changed their managers since sacking the Argentine back in 2019.

It feels as if Spurs could be on the edge of some major changes with the future of Harry Kane still uncertain so bringing back a figure who won the hearts of the majority of Spurs fans could prove a positive appointment.

Since sacking Pochettino, Spurs fans have had to endure the defensive football of all three managers since and that is something which could change under the Argentine.

However, given the future of the likes of Kane is not cemented at Spurs, you do have to question whether Pochettino would be open to a return.

On top of Kane's uncertain future, the structure of the club has changed with the arrival of a director of football which is unlikely to be accepted well by Pochettino.

So if the Argentine is to return, perhaps it is something which will have to be sorted over the coming months meaning an instant swap for Conte could prove an unrealistic possibility.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has slammed the rule which means youngsters Tommy Doyle and James McAtee will not be able to play against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

What's the latest on Tommy Doyle, James McAtee and Man City?

Over the weekend, Pep Guardiola and his side managed to score five past Vincent Kompany's Burnley to reach the semi-final stage of the competition.

Also progressing in the FA Cup, Sheffield United pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon with goals from Sam

Gallagher, Oli McBurnie, and a last-minute effort from Doyle.

Of course, the match-winner is only on loan from Man City while McAtee – who started the game for the Blades – also finds himself in the same situation.

And so, when it was revealed that Paul Heckingbottom's men would be facing Guardiola and co in the semi-final, it meant the loanee duo will not be able to play in the match.

Speaking on BBC 606 after the game, Sutton slammed the ruling, saying (2:18): "That's a joke."

He continued: "I do not like it. And the reason is okay, Pep didn't want them at Manchester City, young talented players.

"They have earned the right. Tommy Doyle, what a special moment today, a brilliant goal. He will never forget that moment.

"Come on these guys deserve the right to play in the semi-final."

Why can't Doyle and McAtee play in the FA Cup semi-final?

Before the draw was made, manager Heckingbottom was hopeful that Sheffield United wouldn't draw City, telling the press: "My wish now is that we don't draw City, it would complicate things with the loans."

He seemed unsure what would happen if this was the case, adding: "It would have to be discussed but if we don't draw them they're our players. If we do, they are their players."

And, of course, this exact scenario did end up occurring and when checking the official FA rules, it's clear that both loan players have no chance of being involved.

Indeed, the law explains (via YorkshireLive): "The Association will not give permission for players on loan or work experience to play against the lending Club."

All in all, it's a real shame for the two youngsters who certainly have earned the right to play in an FA Cup semi-final but sadly will just have to watch on from the sidelines and hope for the best when the match is played on the 22nd of April.

Journalist James Copley believes Dan Neil will be playing in the Premier League with or without Sunderland – backing up what Tony Mowbray has previously said about the player.

The Lowdown: Sunderland have serious talent on their hands

In what has been a marvellous first season back in the Championship, Sunderland fans have been treated to some of the league’s most exciting talents in the form of Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke, Dan Neil and Amad Diallo.

Mowbray has been able to guide Sunderland to being in with at least an outside chance of making the play-offs this season despite not having a pre-season to work with his squad of players, which is the youngest on average in the Championship.

However, if Sunderland don’t earn promotion at the first time of asking, clubs with more money and potentially Premier League football could start taking a look at their top talents.

The Latest: Neil destined for bigger things

Copley has been speaking on The Roar podcast about how Neil is good enough to play in the Premier League, whether that be with or without Sunderland in the near future.

He said: “I love Dan Neil, I think he’s a fantastic player, I love his story; one of my favourite stories at Sunderland. I agree with Mowbray, I think he’s destined for the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Black Cats will have to match player’s ambitions

Neil is clearly a talented player as he’s a trusted and dependable member of Mowbray’s side having played 38 times across all competitions for the Black Cats despite being just 21 years of age, so he clearly has a big future ahead of him.

However, Sunderland will know what talent Neil possesses and that they must keep going on their upward trajectory if they are to satisfy him over the coming years – otherwise, they will be resigned to losing him.

It was reported back in January that Sunderland were opening talks with Neil over a new contract due to his performances and amid apparent interest from the Premier League, and this could do a lot to put off some big teams across England at least for another season as the Black Cats aim to return to the top flight.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly ‘keeping tabs’ on Danish central defender Thomas Kristensen ahead of a potential move to Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Helander replacement?

Filip Helander is out of contract at Rangers this summer, and has recently been linked with a move to Swedish side Malmo in his homeland.

Should he leave, Michael Beale’s side would need to bring in a replacement, and it looks like they have already identified their main target in that position.

The Latest: Kristensen interest

As per Football Insider, the Gers are ‘keeping tabs’ on Kristensen ahead of a potential summer move, who is also on the radar of a number of other clubs in Europe.

However, despite some reports saying otherwise, they are yet to make contact over the Aarhus GF centre-back, but he does fit the profile of a ‘young’ and ‘promising’ player that they are looking for, who is also available at an affordable fee with potential high re-sale value.

The Light Blues are likely going to have to pay a six-figure or lower seven-figure sum if they want to sign Kristensen, with his contract not expiring until 2026.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Should Helander leave, the six-foot-five Kristensen would be an affordable replacement, and so a deal for him this summer is a no-brainer.

The 21-year-old has been one of his team’s standout performers in the Danish Superliga, and still has such a high potential.

He is eight years younger than Helander, and so would be an ideal long-term successor, while also giving Beale another solid option at the back.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their reported pursuit of Lucas Paqueta in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has confirmed that the club are not interested in a deal to bring the Brazil international to St. James’ Park ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He Tweeted: “#nufc are not looking to sign Lucas Paqueta from Lyon, contrary to rumours being spread on here and elsewhere. He is recognised as a talented player but not someone they need at the moment. More transfer updates on Botman and Ekitike to follow on @TeleFootball shortly.”

This comes as a twist after it was reported, last month, that the club were ready to swoop for Bruno Guimaraes’ former teammate.

Supporters will be gutted

Edwards’ transfer twist will leave Toon supporters gutted as Paqueta, on paper, would be an excellent addition to the team.

Eddie Howe would surely love to have a player of his quality in his squad as the 25-year-old has proven his ability at the top level in Ligue 1.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the gem produced nine goals and six assists from midfield whilst averaging a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.13. This shows that he has the talent to make things happen in the final third whilst maintaining a high level with his performance week-in-week-out.

His displays are not a flash in the pan, either, as he caught the eye in his debut season for Lyon – averaging a rating of 7.17 as he scored ten goals and assisted five in Ligue 1. He is a consistent player who has proven that he has the tools required to be a top player in a major European league.

On top of that, he also has a pre-existing relationship with Guimaraes because they played alongside each other at Lyon and both play for Brazil at international level. This means that he would have had a smooth transition into life at the club, which could have helped him to hit the ground running in England.

Alas, the Magpies clearly feel that other positions are more of a priority at this moment in time. Hopefully, they will re-visit a potential move for him in a future window if they are in need of a midfielder as, for the aforementioned reasons, he would be a superb signing for Howe.

For now, though, the supporters will be gutted that Paqueta will not be a Newcastle player next season and will be hoping that the other signings the club plan to make will make them forget about the talent.

AND in other news, Decision imminent: Romano drops “serious” update that’ll leave NUFC supporters nervous…

Celtic are reportedly interested in signing Maccabi Haifa midfielder Mohammad Abu Fani this summer.

What’s the news?

According to reports in his homeland (via Daily Record), the Hoops are joined by Eintracht Frankfurt, Standard Liege and Royal Antwerp in keeping an eye on the midfielder during Israel’s upcoming Nations League matches.

A product of Maccabi Haifa’s youth academy, the 24-year-old has racked up 99 appearances for the club across all competitions. In that time, the Israel international – who is currently valued at just £810k by Transfermarkt – has scored 10 goals and delivered seven assists along the way.

With 44 appearances and 12 goal contributions this season across all competitions, this highlights just how important he is for his club and why they may be reluctant to let him leave this summer.

On the international stage, the midfielder has made 45 appearances for his country across their youth and senior teams, scoring six goals in the process.

In January, journalist Sanny Rudravajhala quote-tweeted a now-deleted clip of Abu Fani keeping possession of the ball during a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv when his side won 3-2 having been 2-0 down, with the journalist describing the passage of play as a “thing of beauty”.

Bye-bye Soro

In terms of a potential move to Celtic for the Israeli gem, this could potentially bring Ismaila Soro’s time at Parkhead to an end.

Signed from Israeli outfit Bnei Yehuda in January 2020 in a four-and-a-half-year deal worth around £2m, the Ivorian has made just 43 appearances for the Bhoys.

Taking into account how the 24-year-old only started six of the 19 games in which he appeared for Ange Postecoglou’s side this season (and none since December), it’s safe to say that he is not particularly high in the pecking order at Parkhead.

Also, with a report from The Athletic claiming that the Bhoys intend moving the midfielder out of the club this summer, this could pave the way for Abu Fani to come in and take the Ivorian’s place in Postecoglou’s squad.

Should the Hoops finally manage to get rid of Soro in the coming weeks and months, adding a player like Abu Fani to their ranks, who has experience of playing as an attacking and defensive midfielder at times, could be the best option for the club.

In other news: Ange can finally axe “unbelievable” Celtic flop by signing “feisty” 19-goal sensation