All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Roy Keane has the ‘personality’ required to lead Celtic going forward, according to former Hoops manager Martin O’Neill.

O’Neill, who led Celtic to three Scottish titles and a UEFA Cup final over five years in Glasgow, was speaking to BBC Scotland Sportsound.

Betting was suspended on Keane’s potential appointment on Friday, but The Times reported two days later that the Manchester United legend was ‘unlikely’ to take up the post.

O’Neill seems to fear that it would be a mistake to overlook the 49-year-old, who has worked under the ex-Hoops boss as assistant manager in the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest setups.

£30m Champions League prize on the line for Celtic

“Next season is really big because it’s automatic qualification for the Champions League,” O’Neill said.

“That’s a massive extra prize. It’s the 30 million. Maybe it bolsters the argument that Celtic are taking their time – that whoever is in there is able and capable of facing Rangers in the big contest.

“Roy Keane’s got the personality, for a start. A massive player, iconic figure in the game. He’s also very strong-willed. But he’s got the capacity to motivate the players.

“Roy’s learned a great deal over the years. Dermot [Desmond, Celtic’s principal shareholder] is a strong-willed man himself. He’ll know what is necessary.”

Keane has been out of the managerial hotseat since 2011, when he left Ipswich Town.

Whoever succeeds Neil Lennon at Celtic Park faces a daunting task. The Hoops trail their arch-rivals Rangers by a full 20 points in the table, and Steven Gerrard’s men have not lost a league game all season.

Transfer Tavern verdict

With £30m potentially on the line as O’Neill has outlined, Celtic probably shouldn’t be taking this big a gamble on their next manager.

Eddie Howe, who did a remarkable job at Bournemouth and is now the favourite for the job, would appear a more sensible appointment, given his impressive track record at Premier League level in recent times.

In other news, what will the new boss have to say about this potential transfer?

Many Aston Villa fans are reacting to the very positive news that Matt Targett could have a chance of being called up to the England squad in the near future.

According to @MirrorFootball and tweeted out by @villareport, Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate is considering giving Targett an England call-up during the next international break this month. Following this news, one fan said: ‘He’s been fantastic.’

Villa are a team that the Three Lions boss should be looking at closely as they are only six points away from the Champions League spots with two games in hand (SofaScore). They also have 13 clean sheets this season (Premier League) and this is the second-best in the division – their entire first-choice back-four are all English.

This would be a huge achievement for the left-back. He has improved massively this campaign, managing 2.2 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 2.1 clearances (WhoScored) per game. The 25 year-old would also be making his club and supporters proud, and they could not contain their excitement following these reports.

Here is what they said following the news:

“What he deserves”

Credit: @Catrinedwards18

“MY GOAT”

Credit: @avfc_jf

“He’s been fantastic this season”

Credit: @RonAldoRMFC2016

“He’s been fantastic all season for us and most improved Villa player this season imo”

Credit: @UTVilla

“So he should.”

Credit: @jeanstshirt

“You just love to see it”

Credit: @enstrod

In other news, fans have flocked to some of Dean Smith’s latest comments!

A number of Liverpool fans have been reacting negatively to claims that the Reds are interested in a move for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele.

Jurgen Klopp could potentially be in the market for a new wide player this summer, as he looks to add more depth and quality to his squad.

Both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane turn 29 years of age this year, and while they still remain at their peak of their powers, long-term replacements need to be lined up eventually.

[freshpress-poll id=“348883″]

Diogo Jota arguably falls into that bracket, with the Portuguese only 24, but another addition could also come in to bring in a new era of Anfield attacking heroes.

Dembele is a player who has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past, but he has stayed put at Barcelona, albeit struggling for playing time and making just 12 La Liga starts this season.

Speaking on the Here We Go podcast [via Anfield Watch], journalist Fabrizio Romano talked up Liverpool’s interest in the 23-year-old France international:

“They [Barcelona] can’t lose this kind of player for free, they spent over €100m to sign him from Borussia Dortmund years ago. So they are going to negotiate with Dembele, they want to keep Dembele.

“They know that important clubs from the Premier League are looking at him. I’ll mention Juventus in Italy, I’ll mention Liverpool and Manchester United who were looking at him last summer and they’re always interested in this player, but it’s up to Barcelona, they will decide and they will negotiate with Dembele, because they want to keep Ousmane Dembele.”

Liverpool fans react to Romano’s Dembele claim

Here’s how some Liverpool fans reacted to the news on Twitter, with those in question not keen on the Reds acquiring Dembele’s signature.

“Noooooooo!!!!”

Credit: @datknownguy

“No chance, another matip great when he players but legs made of bread sticks”

Credit: @CraigSim

“He’s absolutely terrible, don’t go near him”

Credit: @Rowley_13

“Another injury prone? Oh come on”

Credit: @YungKenReds

“God forbid!!!!!”

Credit: @chrissadiku

“My goodness, absolute NO for this move”

Credit: @mukherjjeee

In other news: Liverpool fans react to update on Reds’ pursuit of Kylian Mbappe. Read about it here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Sheffield Wednesday legend Carlton Palmer has questioned the Owls’ decision to re-sign Sam Hutchinson this week.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who can also play in defence, returned to Hillsborough Stadium on Monday and subject to international clearance, he will be available for Wednesday’s crunch match with Coventry.

Hutchinson left the Owls in the summer after a six-year stint in south Yorkshire, joining Cypriot outfit Paphos FC on a free transfer but after only five appearances, he had his contract terminated in December.

And after a month without a club, he has made a return to Wednesday.

However, former Owls midfielder Palmer is baffled by the decision…

He told FFC:

“Listen, I’ve always liked Sam in terms of what he gives the team when he plays, but he doesn’t play an awful lot of games because he’s either suspended or injured.

“I really don’t understand. Again, this [decision] would be the chairman and his advisors. Why would you go and sign a player you’ve let go? You’ve let him go for a reason, so why would you re-sign him again? It just doesn’t make sense.

“Don’t get me wrong, when Sam plays he gives 110% – he’s all in. I like that about him, but he picks up a lot of injuries and misses a lot of games.

“I don’t see the benefit in re-signing somebody like Sam.”

The former Chelsea youth product made 151 appearances in an Owls shirt before his exit in the summer, contributing immensely to those two playoff campaigns under ex-boss Carlos Carvalhal.

During the 2016/17 season, Wednesday finished fourth, their highest position since relegation from the Premier League over 20 years ago and Hutchinson started 34 matches where he picked up seven WhoScored Man of the Match awards.

He was also their second-highest rated player (7.13) behind current central defender Tom Lees (7.17).

The 31-year-old could make his second debut on Wednesday night.

AND in other news, this TWO-time promotion winner could be a dream Owls appointment…

According to a report from Football Insider, Liverpool have been keeping tabs on Leeds United winger Raphinha after his arrival in English football.

The Reds are finding life difficult without attacking players like Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota and are looking to pad out their attacking roster with a player of Raphinha’s calibre.

Their attention has turned to the 24-year-old who has taken to life in the Premier League expertly.

Leeds must keep hold of Raphinha

A lot of the pressure falls on Patrick Bamford when it comes to scoring Leeds’ goals, the Englishman scoring 11 goals and tallying up five assists. Behind him is winger Jack Harrison with five goals and four assists, followed by Raphinha with four goals and four assists, as per BBC Sport.

The winger’s input is highly important to the Whites, who are making it their priority to avoid facing a trip back to the Championship.

Liverpool are looking at new recruits to support superstars Mane and Mohamed Salah. Raphinha is one of their main interests ahead of the summer transfer window with the £60k-per-week wide-man featuring in all but one Premier League tie since he arrived at Elland Road, showing how vital he is to Bielsa’s set-up.

Further to this, Noel Whelan also waxed lyrical while speaking to Football Insider about the flying winger, hailing him for his quick feet and eye for goal. The former Leeds ace also hailed the Brazilian’s blistering pace on the flanks.

According to stats-based website WhoScored, Raphinha averages more shots towards goal per match and completes the highest amount of dribbles compared to attacking teammates Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich. That’s certainly an indication of just how much intent and directness he has played with.

The Liverpool target also has the highest overall rating thanks to his impressive performances on the wing, even despite scoring fewer goals than Harrison. As a result, Victor Orta can’t afford to let the £17m summer signing leave just one year after starting his Leeds journey.

It’s exactly why the Spanish director should do everything in his power to stop Liverpool from getting their hands on him. Bielsa’s only just beginning to work with the summer signing, and it would be a real shame if he was allowed to go so soon.

David Moyes must urge West Ham United to sign Matias Vecino in the January transfer window amid rumoured interest in the Inter Milan midfielder.

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercato, the Hammers have offered Vecino a move away from the San Siro as the east London outfit look to improve Moyes’ midfield unit in the winter market.

Aston Villa are also keen to sign the Uruguayan, who has been deemed unsuited to Antonio Conte’s tactics at the Serie A heavyweights as the Italian strives to end the Nerazzurri’s 11-year wait for a 19th top-flight title.

Vecino is yet to feature for a single minute across all competitions this season after knee surgery in the summer, and is likely to fall further down Conte’s pecking order with the former Chelsea head coach now eying replacements.

The 29-year-old is believed to be nearing a return to full fitness, after which he intends to force his way back into Conte’s plans despite being offered to SSC Napoli in the off-season after a potential move to Everton fell through last winter.

Chelsea were also linked with a £23m deal to sign Vecino earlier this year, while Manchester United saw a loan approach rejected in January after targeting the 41-cap international as a short-term stop-gap following injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba.

Farwell Noble, hello Vecino

Vecino still seeing his future at the San Siro could prove problematic in the upcoming January window should Moyes urge David Sullivan to open his chequebook, but West Ham would acquire a deep-lying playmaker blessed with a “terrific range of passing” should a deal go through.

The Uruguayan has all the capabilities of replacing Mark Noble in the Hammers’ first-team fold with the 33-year-old’s £50,000-per-week contract due to expire in the summer, and showing no signs of deserving renewed terms with his recent performances at the London Stadium.

Vecino made 20 appearances in the Serie A last season before seeing his campaign called short through injury, in which the 6 ft 1 brute offered a box-to-box threat with two goals and two assists from 1.1 shots and 0.8 key balls a game, per SofaScore.

He also missed four big chances to find the back of the net, made 0.3 successful dribbles with a 71% success rate, and helped defensively with 1.6 successful tackles, 1.3 clearances and 0.8 interceptions while never committing an error that led to a shot or goal.

Moyes could benefit well from a player with Vecino’s ability and experience with Noble struggling to influence proceedings, leaving 21-year-old Declan Rice and 25-year-old Tomas Soucek to play all 1,350 minutes of West Ham’s Premier League campaign thus far.

AND in other news, a West Ham gem who’s “not been at the races” betrayed David Moyes vs Brighton.

Given Marcelo Bielsa’s unconditional trust in his Leeds United players, it’s no surprise to see that so many of his key first-team stars have been playing week-in and week-out for a number of years now.

The likes of Kalvin Phillips, Luke Ayling and Mateusz Klich have been virtual ever-presents for the Argentine at Elland Road, with the latter in particular now having played a whopping 115 games under Bielsa.

Klich will turn 31 later this year, and yet he remains an integral part of Leeds’ midfield, featuring in every single Premier League game this season – in fact, such has been his importance to the side, even when he has been an injury doubt before a game, Bielsa has thrown him straight into the starting eleven.

However, a succession plan must already be in the Leeds boss’ mind, and it’s why 18-year-old starlet Jack Jenkins could be the player to fill that role in the years to come.

Described earlier this season as someone who has “quietly been establishing himself as one of the most promising players in the Thorp Arch set-up”, the teenager seems to have all the tools in his locker to become a real force for the Whites.

Traditionally a number eight, Leeds Live revealed that he has blossomed into one of the most important players for the club’s U23s, and that he has “already displayed a lot of maturity this season in terms of his tactical understanding and discipline, qualities which no doubt appeal to Bielsa and helped his promotion to the first-team squad.”

The 5 foot 9 starlet, of course, has just the one senior appearance for Leeds under his belt, a 45 minute appearance in the FA Cup against Crawley Town earlier this month.

Whilst Nohan Kenneh appears to be one of the stand-out players of the Whites’ youth system – Phil Hay even described him as “supremely-gifted” – Jenkins could well develop into one of the most important academy products to come out of Thorp Arch.

Replacing a player of Klich’s importance promises to be a tall order, but at 18, Jenkins has got all the time in the world to develop and grow under Bielsa’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are facing a transfer battle for this Serie A sensation…

David Moyes is on course to repeat one of Manuel Pellegrini’s gaffes as West Ham United boss by signing Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to Sport, via Sport Witness, Real Madrid are moving to put Mariano in the shop window amid building interest from West Ham and AC Milan.

The Premier League and Serie A outfits are said to be monitoring the Dominican Republic striker’s situation, as Los Blancos chiefs have decided for once and for all that the 27-year-old is not who they need 26-months on from re-signing Mariano for £29.7million.

Zinedine Zidane handed Mariano rare starts in Real’s recent La Liga draw with Villarreal and 2-0 Champions League Group Stage win over Inter Milan to raise the striker’s profile ahead of the mid-season market.

Real had sought to sell Mariano this summer but saw their efforts fall short, as the striker rejected a potential move to SL Benfica as the Liga NOS giants could not match his demands for a €5m-a-year (£86k-p/w) contract.

Mariano, who earns €4.5m-a-year (£77.4k-p/w) at the Santiago Bernabeu, continues to have the final say on any potential transfer, but is beginning to warm to the idea of leaving as his future in the Spanish capital is seemingly determined regardless of his performances.

Zidane saw Mariano net just his sixth goal in 28 La Liga appearances when fielded at Villarreal last weekend, having overcome surgery for tonsillitis that saw him lose eight kilos.

Lucas Perez 2.0

While there is no doubt in Mariano’s resilience to fight for his Real Madrid future, despite seeing the number seven shirt torn away for Eden Hazard and almost being forced to accept a move to Benfica this summer, he would not offer a smart signing for West Ham in January.

The Hammers are said to have been offered his services on an initial loan, but Moyes will need a player capable of scoring more than once in a league season – something Mariano has only achieved once with Real Madrid when he netted three in the 2018/19 campaign.

Instead, by signing Mariano – who Lyon assistant boss Gerald Baticle previously described as “a real goalscorer” – Moyes would just be repeating Pellegrini’s mistake of signing Lucas Perez from Arsenal in 2018 and handing the forward an £80k-p/w contract.

The Spaniard had failed to hit any heights at the Emirates Stadium and left for east London after just seven goals in 21 games, a figure he failed to match in claret and blue with a mere six goals and 19 appearances to his name before being sold to Alaves after just one season.

AND in other news, West Ham must bite the bullet and get rid of a £40k-p/w “good character” facing an uncertain future.

In recent comments made on Twitter, Alasdair Gold has been raving about Tottenham Hotspur youth prospect, Harvey White.

A product of the Spurs youth setup, White made his first-team debut for Jose Mourinho’s side this season, in the club’s 4-0 Europa League victory over Ludogorets Razgrad back in November.

And, while, at present, this is White’s only senior outing for Tottenham, the midfielder has nevertheless impressed for the club’s U23 side this term, with the defensive midfielder scoring three goals and providing five assists over his 10 Premier League 2 appearances.

The latest of these five assists came during the side’s recent 3-2 defeat to Chelsea’s U23 team, a game in which the 19-year-old highly impressed Football.London’s Tottenham correspondent, Alasdair Gold, who took to Twitter to praise the former England U18 international.

He said: “Very decent month for Harvey White as well. Got a new contract with the club after making his first-team competitive debut in the Europa League. Very talented midfielder as that delightful pass above shows. He’s been impressing the first-team coaching staff.”

Transfer Tavern Take

With White operating from defensive midfield, should he continue his progression at his current rate, Mourinho could end up with somewhat of a selection headache in the future, albeit for good reasons.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has highly impressed for Spurs since his summer move from Southampton, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.01 over his 12 Premier League appearances for Tottenham thus far, while Oliver Skipp, who is currently on loan at Championship side Norwich City, has also been impressing in defensive midfield, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 6.70 over his 18 appearances in the second tier.

As such, come next season, with the possibility of Hojbjerg, Skipp and White all competing for the same position, it would seem that Tottenham will have great depth in their defensive midfield options.

In other Tottenham news, one former Spurs star revealed the player he thought the club were missing in their draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday, find out more here!

A number of eyebrows were raised when Fulham loaned Alfie Mawson out this summer.

The Whites didn’t have the most depth in the world at centre-half, and they just loaned out a £20m signing who has been deemed good enough for the England squad in the past.

Mawson certainly has the quality to shine in the Premier League, Spurs chased him after he was relegated with Swansea, so when he is at his best he’s good enough to impress some of the biggest clubs in the division, his main problem is staying fit.

Mawson has struggled with injury ever since joining Fulham, he appeared just 15 times during his first season with the Cottagers after sadly injuring his knee trying to put on his boots, an issue that had to be resolved with surgery, while last season he only managed 27 appearances, with injury again never too far away.

He’s had two surgeries on that knee, and it’s been a problem that’s plagued him for years at this point.

He was sent out on loan to Bristol City this term, and he started his career with the Robins brilliantly.

The centre-back was given the captain’s armband after just two games and he played a massive part in helping them to four wins in a row to start the season, but after just 418 minutes of action, everyone’s worst fears were confirmed.

Mawson went down against Middlesbrough and he had to be stretchered off, and while we still don’t know the extent of that injury, suffice to say it didn’t look good at all.

It seems as though Tony Khan was right to not rely on him this season, his body seemingly can’t keep up with the rigours of being a professional footballer week in, week out, and that is a massive shame.

Just look at Khan’s words when Mawson was announced as a Fulham player, and you’ll see just how highly he was thought of at the time, and how injuries have hampered his development.

“Alfie is an exciting young player with a strong future at a position of major importance to our club,” Khan said.

“Alfie is also very highly regarded by our scouting department and our data analysts, giving us great confidence in our back line as we prepare long term for Premier League competition.”

That bright future that Khan once spoke about is in danger of being ripped away from Mawson, and that’s incredibly sad, but fortunately for Fulham, they haven’t fallen into the trap of relying on an injury-prone player in a key position.