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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to add to his already-impressive collection of trophies for the club in the upcoming season.

The Hoops boss replaced Ange Postecoglou after the Australian tactician opted to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur last month and is now in his second spell at Parkhead.

He lifted seven trophies in less than three full years during his first stint in Scotland, with the upcoming campaign providing him with an opportunity to reach double figures.

The summer transfer window has well over a month left to run and the Northern Irishman could use it to bolster his squad in order to give his team the best chance of success.

Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio have both joined in recent weeks but the Hoops may not be done there, as Young Boys central midfielder Fabian Rieder has also been linked with a switch to Paradise.

How good is Fabian Rieder?

The 21-year-old's performances in his home country suggest that he has the quality to be an excellent player for Celtic if it translates over to the Scottish Premiership next term.

He is a creative midfield player who also offers a goal threat from a number eight or ten position, which could make him Rodgers' next version of Tom Rogic.

The former Hoops magician, who left at the end of the 2021/22 season, made 105 competitive appearances under the 50-year-old manager during their time together at Parkhead.

The Australian contributed with 24 goals and 20 assists in that time, including five of each in 22 league outings in the 2017/18 campaign, which works out as a goal involvement every 2.39 games on average.

Rogic proved himself to be a midfielder with the ability to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch and Rieder's form for Young Boys indicates that the potential is there for him to follow in the now-30-year-old's footsteps.

The Switzerland international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.17 – a score that would have placed him seventh in Postecoglou's squad – across 33 Super League outings last season and chipped in with seven goals along with four assists, which works out as a contribution every three matches on average.

He also created seven 'big chances' for his teammates to go with 1.8 key passes per match. To highlight how good that is, only Jota (1.9) and Matt O'Riley (2.1) bettered it in Celtic colours throughout the Scottish Premiership.

Rieder also caught the eye at the U21 European Championship as he created 2.3 chances per game over his four appearances at the tournament, which is more than any of the aforementioned Hoops players managed last term.

This suggests that the Swiss wizard, who was hailed as "tenacious" and a set-piece "specialist" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the quality to be an outstanding creator for Rodgers whilst also being able to contribute with a goalscoring threat from midfield.

Therefore, the Young Boys dynamo could be the manager's next Rogic as the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists from a number eight role on a regular basis to support the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, and Daizen Maeda.

Newcastle United could look to the summer transfer window to bolster the depth in their squad ahead of their return to Champions League football next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Goncalo Inacio?

According to Spanish news outlet AS, Newcastle are one of the Premier League clubs interested in signing Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

As per the report, the Magpies are in the race with Liverpool and Arsenal to sign the player who has a €45m (£39m) release clause, and whilst his Portuguese club is keen to hold on to him, there is potential for Inacio to make a move to the English top-flight this summer.

Will Newcastle sign Goncalo Inacio this summer?

Whilst Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the huge progress his current squad has made over the last 18 months, there is certainly an opportunity to strengthen a number of key roles on the pitch ahead of next season.

The North East club finished impressively in fourth last season which has enabled them to qualify for Champions League football for the first time in over two decades, so it will be an exciting new challenge for the Magpies but will require adding depth to ensure they can compete to the best of their ability across multiple competition.

As a result, the signing of Goncalo Inacio is a great opportunity to add a quality option for Howe in his defensive set-up, and he could even become the perfect heir for Fabian Schar.

The 21-year-old Portuguese talent – dubbed "underrated" by Zach Lowy – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers in the Men's Next Eight Leagues over the last 12 months for assists, shot-creating actions, progressive passes, progressive carries and successful take-ons, demonstrating that he is an incredibly attacking-minded ball-playing defender.

When comparing his output last season with that of Newcastle titan Schar, the youngster already has outperformed his fellow defender in a number of key attributes including pass completion rate (89.6% v 69%), percentage of dribblers tackled (56.1% v 50%), successful take-ons (85% v 60%) and aerial duels won (60.2% v 51.7%).

Indeed, it is highly unlikely that Howe will be keen to break up the centre-back partnership that Schar and Sven Botman have quickly developed as the duo had the joint-best defensive record in the entire Premier League last season alongside Manchester City, conceding just 33 goals in total.

Having said that, there will be many occasions when Newcastle require rotation and a fresh perspective in the back line next season, as well as a prospect for the future, so if Newcastle can beat their competitors to the signing of Inacio it would be a great piece of business for the future of the squad.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest on Abdallah Sima to Rangers?

According to the Scottish edition of the Daily Mail, Michael Beale is closing in on a deal to sign winger Abdallah Sima on loan.

The report claims that the Scottish giants are currently leading the race to secure the Brighton youngster's services on a temporary basis for next season and that the switch could be wrapped up in the coming week.

It states that Feyenoord's Danilo and Beni Traore of Hacken are alternative options that the Gers could turn if a swoop falls through at the last hour.

Where would Abdallah Sima fit in at Rangers?

Sima, who was once described as a "complete" player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has spent the majority of his club career as a right winger, meaning that his arrival would spell bad news for Scott Wright at Ibrox, who could now be on his way out of the club.

Since making the move to Rangers from Aberdeen in 2021, the 25-year-old has failed to nail down a regular place in the team and has been unable to make a significant impact in the final third.

Wright played 23 Premiership matches, including five starts, in 22/23 and contributed with one assist and zero goals, whilst the dud also featured in four Champions League games without being directly involved in a single goal.

His dreadful form came after the Scottish winger scored four goals and provided one assist in 19 league outings for the Light Blues in the previous campaign, which shows that he has offered very little in the final third over the last two years in Glasgow.

Sima, on the other hand, is coming off the back of five goals and two assists in 19 Ligue 1 starts on loan at Angers in 22/23 and previously showcased his attacking quality with Slavia Prague before his move to Brighton.

The £8.5k-per-week earner plundered 16 goals and seven assists in 38 outings for the Czech side, which included four goals in ten Europa League clashes in 20/21.

These numbers suggest that Sima, who the aforementioned Kulig once hailed as a "fantastic prospect", has the potential to offer far more than Wright at the top end of the pitch.

The current Gers forward has been touted with an exit this summer and the arrival of the 22-year-old from Brighton could be the final nail in the coffin for the ex-Dons dynamo.

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his defensive options.

What’s the latest on Theo Hernandez to Manchester United?

According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Red Devils are keen on making a move for Hernandez this summer, although the report claims any potential move will ‘only happen in the event of a sensational offer’ and in this regard, the Italian side are demanding at least €60m (£51m).

The Old Trafford side are said to be ‘pressing’ to sign the player as they want to ‘bridge the gap’ between them and Manchester City next season.

Could Theo Hernandez join Manchester United?

Ten Hag was able to call on both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia last season as the club qualified for the Champions League due to finishing third in the Premier League, with Shaw especially performing extremely well.

The Englishman ranked as United’s fourth best player for overall rating, third for big chances created and seventh for tackles made per game, suggesting he was influential at both ends of the pitch.

With Malacia, signed just last summer, also featuring 39 times in all competitions, do United need another left-back? Making a move for Hernandez however could spell bad news for the Dutchman ahead of next season.

Indeed, last term, the Frenchman registered more goal contributions (seven to zero), progressive passes (128 to 44), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.82 to 1.22) and progressive carries (108 to 19) than the United defender, clearly suggesting that he would be a far better attacking option at left-back than the former Ajax man.

Malacia does hold the upper hand defensively however, winning more tackles (33 to 24) and more interceptions (25 to 21), yet if Hernandez does move to Manchester, he could improve on these attributes.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli lavished praise on the defender back in 2021, saying: “He can play both phases very well, with his physical abilities it is enough to stay in the game. He can very well become one of the best.

“He has only been playing continuously for a year and a half, I always tell him that he must not be satisfied with being talented.

“He has an incredible physical strength and quality, he must prove that he wants to become the best every day."

The praise doesn’t stop there, as Jacek Kulig even lauded him as a “beast” previously and he even starred for France at the most recent World Cup, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.3/10 across six matches for his country as they finished runners up to Argentina, indicating that he can perform on the biggest stage of all.

A move for Hernandez may push Malacia further down the pecking order, yet it would certainly strengthen the squad that’s for sure.

Manchester United have another midfielder on their radar it seems, with Sport 1, via Sport Witness, reporting that the club are in the race for Felix Nmecha.

Who is Felix Nmecha?

The 22-year-old has emerged as a key player for Wolfsburg over the course of the 2022/23 season, managing more games in the Bundesliga this year than he has managed over the course of his entire career to date. The side picked him on 30 occasions and the player responded by bagging three goals and five assists along the way despite his more central position on the field.

It's been a breakout year for the young talent, with Nmecha now becoming one of the best in his position in Europe and in the Men's 'Top Five' big leaves based on his stats. His assist rate of 0.25 per 90 for example is far and away his best figure, as it puts him within the top 4% of players for that. It shows that he has a knack of finding teammates in good areas and setting them up for good chances. In addition, the midfielder is also extremely strong in the air, with his 2.16 aerials won per 90 putting him in the 93rd percentile. This will come as no surprise considering that he stands at nearly 6 foot 1.

Now, having showcased his combination of physicality and vision for Wolfsburg, he could be given a chance elsewhere this summer. According to a report from Sport 1, via Sport Witness, it states that both Borussia Dortmund and Man United are set to go head-to-head for his signature this summer, with a price tag of around 15 million Euros (or £12.9m) slapped on his head.

No official bid has been made from either party yet though but the Red Devils have reportedly spoken to the player's father – as he currently has no agent – over a potential move to the Premier League. Other reports have also claimed Newcastle United are eyeing a deal.

When does Felix Nmecha's contract expire?

The midfielder's current deal with Wolfsburg has another two years to run, with the player having only joined Wolfsburg back in 2021/22. However, the interest seems to be high and it's no wonder considering how he has fared at the top level of German football so far.

His 1.81 shots per 90 rate and 0.15 non-penalty goals per 90 mark him out as one of the most attacking and offensive players in his position, with the midfielder not afraid to get forward and have a go at goal or even tee up a teammate. Nmecha also isn't afraid to take on an opposition defender, with his 1.27 successful take-ons per 90 showing a superb ability to beat his man and drive the ball forward. In short, he is a player that would certainly add some creativity and drive to the centre of the field for the Red Devils.

Glasgow Rangers face a battle to bring Malik Tillman back to Ibrox this summer, with Rangers Review reporting that there is increasing interest from English clubs in his signature this transfer window.

Are Rangers signing Malik Tillman?

The 21-year-old spent the 2022/23 season on loan in the Scottish Premiership and really impressed for the Gers despite his age. He bagged himself ten goals in the league, with a further four assists in just 28 league games. It wasn't enough to give the Gers the title but he had a career best year.

Only once previously had the player managed a double-digit goal haul during a season and that came back when he played for the Bayern Munich U19 team. Prior to his short-term switch to Scotland, he had struggled to get regular first-team minutes too, with parent club Bayern only giving him one start in the Bundesliga. In total, he has featured just four times in the league for the German giants during his time there.

That led to the player's impressive loan stay with Rangers this season and it had looked like Michael Beale would be trying to bring the midfielder back to Scotland for good. However, according to a report from Rangers Review, there is nothing in place that would suggest a deal will be done between Rangers and Tillman yet and no agreement is in place.

Not only that, but his showings have caught the eye of other teams now too and it looks like the Gers will have to fight off English competition for his signature. Rangers still have the upper hand in that they have a £5m buy option for the youngster, but that hasn't been used by the Scottish side yet and Bayern's own £10m buy-back in that deal is causing more doubt.

When does Malik Tillman's contract expire?

His current contract with Bayern Munich expires in 2024, meaning that if the German giants have no plans for Tillman, then they may have to cash in this summer transfer window.

It appears the player could certainly have plenty of suitors now too considering his talents. When the midfielder initially moved to Rangers and helped them in Europe vs PSV for example, football talent scout Jacek Kulig called Tillman one of the club's "heroes" that night and added that he is a "very interesting signing" by the Scottish side.

Having gone on to score a double-digit amount from the centre of the field, he has proven his ability in the Scottish Premiership and at a decent level – and could now secure a permanent move away from Bayern.

Ange Postecoglou may have only just been named as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur, although there are already reports that the 57-year-old could be set to spark something of a mass clearout at N17.

As per The Telegraph, one of the most high-profile figures who is set for the axe is long-serving captain, Hugo Lloris, despite the veteran Frenchman still having a year left to run on his existing deal.

The 36-year-old – who missed much of the 2022/23 campaign due to injury – looks almost certain to be usurped as the new number one in north London, with 90min reporting that Postecoglou and co are interested in a move for Brentford's David Raya.

As pundit Graeme Souness stated earlier this year, the World Cup winner looks to be "past his sell-by date" following what was a rather dismal campaign, with the former Nice man having made the most errors leading goals of any player in the Premier League (4).

If it is any consolation to Lloris, the 145-cap stopper won't be the only figure to be axed under the new regime, with The Telegraph report also stating that on-loan defender, Clement Lenglet, could be set for a return to parent club Barcelona.

Football Insider has also corroborated those claims, with that recent report suggesting that the Lilywhites are not looking to make the centre-back a permanent fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the 27-year-old set to be the 'first to go' as part of this impending summer exodus.

Should Tottenham sign Lenglet permanently?

Described as an "imposter" by ex-Spurs man, Jamie O'Hara, it is fair to say that Lenglet's year on loan in north London has not gone particularly smoothly, with the Frenchman forming part of a defence that shipped 63 league goals – the sixth-worst record in the division.

Notably criticised by commentator Jim Belgin for his "awful mistake" in the 4-2 defeat to Manchester City back in January, the one-time Sevilla man failed to have the desired impact at the heart of the defence, with his average match rating of 6.65, as per Sofascore, seeing him only ranking 20th in the Tottenham squad.

Remarkably, the struggling outfit only kept one Premier League clean sheet with the 15-cap dud in the side, with the club seemingly "paying the price" for opting to make that cheap, temporary move, according to respected insider, John Wenham.

As such, there will no doubt be a sense of relief that Postecoglou is looking to shift the centre-back in the coming weeks, with chairman Daniel Levy likely keen to free up some funds by getting Lenglet's £145k-per-week salary off the books – with that figure equating to around 7% of the entire wage bill.

With the Lilywhites having had little return on that investment this season, it appears to be a no-brainer for the new boss to quickly ditch the defender and send him packing back to Catalonia.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has stated that Victor Orta spoke with Raphinha after what appeared to be his final home appearance for the Whites last weekend.   

The Lowdown: Taking it in

Raphinha played the entirety of the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Sunday, with Pascal Struijk’s late header lifting Leeds out of the bottom three.

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The Brazilian, who has now reportedly agreed on personal terms with Barcelona and wants to leave Leeds, came back out to an empty Elland Road shortly after the full-time whistle and sat up against the south stand goal.

He was comforted by Kalvin Phillips, who has also been linked with a summer exit. The holding midfielder picked up a fan’s homemade sign that said ‘Raphinha, make me smile’, with the pair both heading back down the tunnel shortly after, with some believing for the final time.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Hay shared a story on The Athletic regarding Raphinha on Wednesday after what appeared to be a final home appearance.

The reliable reporter revealed that Orta spoke with the winger, described as a ‘storm’ by Illan Meslier, after he made his way from the pitch.

The Verdict: Exit inevitable

A new contract for Raphinha looked to be on the cards at the beginning of the year, however, it now seems as if a summer exit is inevitable, regardless of what division Leeds find themselves in next season.

The Whites will be desperate to remain in the Premier League, which will also give them a financial boost when it comes to the 25-year-old.

Stay up and Orta and co can be in control of discussions with Barcelona over a fee, however, go down, and Raphinha will have a €25m relegation release clause become active.

In other news: Radz and Orta have had enough of Leeds ‘liability’; now set to be released from Elland Road. 

Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a potential transfer boost as they eye a move for Villarreal star Arnaut Danjuma, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Spurs in Danjuma transfer hunt…

The Lilywhites and club chief Fabio Paratici are apparently interested in a move to bring the former Bournemouth forward to the Premier League.

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Sharing news recently, 90min claimed that Spurs officials were in attendance to run the rule over Danjuma and heavily-linked team-mate Pau Torres in Villarreal’s recent Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool.

The 25-year-old has been in red-hot form in La Liga, with pundit Kevin Phillips claiming that the Dutchman is a rare type of player who can be a ‘nightmare’ for defenders when at his best (Football Insider).

The Latest: Bridge drops Danjuma transfer hint…

Speaking to GiveMeSport in sharing what he’s ‘heard’, Sky Sports journalist Bridge has now hinted that Danjuma could be open to joining Spurs.

The reporter says that the 25-year-old would ‘like to come back to England’ amid reports Tottenham have registered their interest.

Bridge explained: “The little bits I’ve heard here and there is that he’d like to come back to England. He’s enjoyed his time in Villarreal, but I don’t know how happy he is there.”

The Verdict: Make a move?

As this claim emerges that Danjuma is in fact eyeing a move back to England, we believe that Paratici shouldn’t hesitate in giving him the opportunity to sign on the dotted line.

The Dutchman is one of Unai Emery’s most potent attacking threats, ranking among the most goals and assists combined (13) for Villarreal over the 2021/22 domestic season (WhoScored).

He also attempts the most shots at goal per 90 for Villarreal (2.7), illustrating his real menace going forward and leaving little wonder that his club saw fit to include a €75m (£64m) release clause in his contract.

If Spurs can negotiate that price down in potential negotiations and persuade the La Liga outfit to sell for less, Danjuma may well be a brilliant capture if the north London club decide to advance.

In other news: Paratici tables crucial bid as Conte personally pushes for Spurs signing, find out more here

Newcastle United are back in action on Sunday with another away clash in the Premier League.

This time, Eddie Howe’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City, who are trying to secure the league title and keep it out of the clutches of Liverpool.

Newcastle’s previous outing saw them take on Jurgen Klopp’s side at St James’ Park last weekend but they ended up losing 1-0 thanks to a goal from Reds midfielder Naby Keita.

Now that the Magpies are set to take on the reigning league champions away from home, it appears as though they have been dealt a crushing injury blow which could well have an impact on how Sunday’s match goes.

What’s the news?

Speaking in his latest press conference, Howe discussed the current injury situation regarding Fabian Schar.

The 44-year-old said: “We haven’t seen him this week. We hope he’ll be back to be available, but he’s not trained yet. He got a knock on the top of his foot, so he went for a scan after the Liverpool game because it was swollen up but fortunately there’s no fracture.”

While it’s positive to hear that there’s no fracture in the defender’s foot, it’s still a worrying prospect for Newcastle fans to possibly not have him available to take on Pep Guardiola’s side. Indeed, the fact that he hasn’t trained this week isn’t a good sign for his chances of being ready to take on City.

In terms of what he offers his team and what they will now be missing tomorrow, the 30-year-old has racked up 74 interceptions in the league this season at Newcastle, which is significantly higher than any other player in Howe’s squad.

Schar also has the second-highest number of clearances (120) to his name, as well as the third-highest number of blocks (38). This highlights just how much of a defensive unit he has been for his team and why he will be a big miss for them tomorrow.

Taking into account how City have already scored 84 goals in the league last season and will be desperate to win all of their remaining matches to secure the league title after their disappointing exit from the Champions League in midweek, Newcastle may well need all the defensive strength they can muster.

Howe and all Toon supporters will undoubtedly be hoping that their side can pick up a positive result this time out and that Schar can make a recovery soon.

In other news: PIF can blow NUFC fans away with “aggressive” £29k-p/w star, he’s better than Shelvey