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Celtic have had a mixed start to the new season, with Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops side playing swashbuckling attacking football but looking lackadaisical at the back.

They have also had to contend with a host of injuries in recent weeks with Kyogo Furuhashi, James Forrest, Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor all on the sidelines in midweek.

What’s the word?

One player who has been consistently linked with a move to Celtic this year is Robbie Brady.

The left-sided player became a free agent in the summer after his contract with Burnley expired which means he can now be signed for nothing.

He wasn’t able to find a new club for himself over the last few months but it now appears as though the Bhoys are the frontrunners for his signature.

Glasgow Times suggest (via Burnley Express) that Swansea have ended their interest, leaving Celtic with a free run at signing the 29-year-old.

Forget Taylor

One of Brady’s biggest strengths is undoubtedly his versatility. The Irishman can feature on either wing and is also capable of playing as a wing-back.

With that in mind, he could be the player who finally allows Postecoglou to move on from Taylor.

The Scottish defender is currently out injured and is set to undergo shoulder surgery, which has left an opening for the likes of Josip Juranovic and Adam Montgomery to exploit.

Boli Bolingoli has been left out of Celtic’s Europa League squad but surprisingly appeared against Livingston on Sunday.

Brady. however, could improve on the Belgian as an attacking full-back or wing-back if he joins Celtic in the coming weeks or months.

Although his attacking abilities comfortably outweigh his defensive attributes, the Irishman could be a very useful weapon on the left side of the pitch.

A review from his former teammate Stephen Quinn is particularly telling in this argument, with Brady’s compatriot saying: “He is just an exceptionally talented footballer and I think that left wing-back position suits him because he is coming into plays, he will always attack.”

Possessing a wonderful delivery of the football, Brady feels like an ideal player that Postecoglou will have in his side. The Australian loves an attacking style and the former Burnley winger would undoubtedly improve their ranks.

He’d not only bolster a side of the pitch which is weak at the moment, but he’d also provide the Bhoys with huge experience.

Celtic have already signed one experienced former Premier League talent in James McCarthy; they must now lure Brady to Paradise too. Available on a free transfer, this would be incredibly low risk.

AND in other news, £6k-p/w gem has seen his value rise by 900% after leaving Celtic, he’s “very unique”…

Tottenham Hotspur are planning to bolster Nuno Santo’s midfield in the coming transfer windows…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who delivered a fresh update on Spurs’ plans to his ‘Here We Go’ podcast this week.

“They are always planning for the long term with Fabio Paratici,” he said.

“Let me say this, they will focus on the midfield. I don’t know if it will be in January or the summer, but the next position they want to improve is the midfield.

“Let’s see what happens with [Tanguy] Ndombele, if they find a solution, but they need to improve the midfield, so let’s see if January brings on an opportunity. Paratici and [Steve] Hitchen will work on this in the coming months.”

Forward-thinking

Paratici has done some great work since arriving in north London in June.

He has successfully moved on some of the deadwood, overseeing the departures of players like Serge Aurier, Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela, whilst also bolstering the playing squad in key positions.

Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal are impressive additions in defence, while youngsters like Bryan Gil and Pape Matar Sarr will be earmarked for the long-term future.

And as Romano explains on the podcast, it’s how Spurs will now operate with the Italian supremo in charge, which is hugely exciting – especially as it’s something that had faltered in recent years.

Prior to Nuno’s appointment, the only academy success stories were really only the two Harrys, Kane and Winks.

It’s also encouraging to see that Paratici and co know where the big weakness is now as Spurs have struggled with creativity in the engine room all campaign.

As per The Athletic, the Lilywhites have the lowest expected goals (xG) of any Premier League team, with a total of 4.42. They also have recorded the second-fewest shots at goal and have only created two big chances across their opening five matches.

Evidently, there needs to be a Christian Eriksen-like presence in the squad and that’ll only happen through the transfer market.

Ndombele’s future is still in doubt, as Romano hints at, whilst Giovani Lo Celso is yet to truly hit the ground running since joining in the summer of 2019. Oliver Skipp is an exciting prospect that will only improve with time. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is more defensively-minded and then there’s Dele Alli, who is some way off hitting his previous heights.

On that basis, the fact that Spurs are targeting a new midfield addition should have many supporters around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium absolutely buzzing.

January is only 100 days away.

AND in other news, Spurs “really like” £22.5m-rated beast who’s “aggressive”, he could be their next Dier…

Everton will be hoping that they can continue their impressive start to the new Premier League season when they host high-flying West Ham United this afternoon.

The Toffees are currently sitting fifth in the top-flight table after Rafa Benitez’s charges hit the ground running in the opening weeks of 2021/22.

However, injuries to key players continue to pose problems for the Spaniard. Attacking duo Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are once again sidelined through fitness concerns, giving the manager some big calls to make.

It’s not all bad news on the injury front for the Merseyside outfit, though. Lucas Digne has been declared fit alongside Seamus Coleman and Alex Iwobi, giving Benitez some much-needed strength in depth.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects the 61-year-old to line up at Goodison Park, with just the one change from the side which held Manchester United to a draw last time out…

In goal, the virtually ever-present Jordan Pickford will once again start between the sticks for the Blues, and he’ll be hoping to keep his third clean sheet of the season.

Ahead of the England international should be a familiar back four, boosted by the return of club captain Coleman. The £22.5m-rated Ben Godfrey should make way for the right-back following some poor recent performances, allowing Digne, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane to back up the defensive unit.

The engine room in unlikely to witness any changes after their impressive display at Old Trafford prior to the international break, so 20-year-old Anthony Gordon keeps his place on the left wing.

That means Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andros Townsend will form the rest of the midfield behind an attacking duo of Demarai Gray and Salomon Rondon. With Gray and Townsend both netting three league goals so far this term and Calvert-Lewin absent today, the two summer arrivals could be crucial in the final third for Everton.

In other news… “It hasn’t worked”: Journalist makes damning Everton claim, fans must be fuming with Brands 

Southampton look to have signed their replacement for Jannik Vestergaard, with it confirmed earlier this week that Lyanco had joined on a permanent deal from Torino.

What’s the word?

Following the Danish centre-back’s departure for Leicester City earlier in the window, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were linked with a host of different defenders as a potential replacement and in the end, they opted for the 24-year-old Brazilian, who joins on a four-year deal.

The Saints conceded 68 goals in the top-flight last season and Vestergaard was one of their most consistent performers, so it was vital that Hasenhuttl’s side brought in an adequate replacement for the former Borussia Monchengladbach man.

Will Lyanco be a good signing?

Lyanco began his career in his native Brazil playing for Sao Paulo before moving to Torino in 2017, where he would go on to make 53 appearances, contributing one goal and no assists.

He also spent one season on loan with Bologna, where he made 13 appearances, so has plenty of experience in the Italian top-flight, and Southampton fans will be hoping that he can quickly adapt to the demands of Premier League football.

Hasenhuttl already has Mohammed Salisu, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens, as well as young Dynel Simeu, as centre-back options in his side at St Mary’s, so the £4.5m-rated Lyanco will have to impress quickly in training at Staplewood if he is to become a regular starter for the Saints this season.

However, at 24-years-old, the Brazilian defender still has a lot of time to improve under Hasenhuttl’s coaching and he joins a relatively young Southampton squad, with the club’s focus this summer clearly on building a solid team for the future.

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Therefore, Southampton fans will surely be delighted that the club worked so quickly to bring in a replacement for Vestergaard this summer and will be looking forward to seeing Lyanco make his first appearance in a Saints shirt.

And, in other news… Forget Elyounoussi: Saints gem who played 4 key passes was Ralph’s star vs Newport

This has been a summer of unexpected events for an Everton side that appear to be heading towards mediocrity again.

They have lost Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez’s start to life at Goodison Park has hardly been an encouraging one.

What’s the word?

The Toffees have added Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend and Asmir Begovic to their ranks this summer but their latest 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in pre-season tells us they are not in good shape at all.

However, there are still three weeks of the window left for Everton to improve their ranks ahead of an assault on the Premier League’s top six.

Benitez has been striving to improve their defence and after missing out on Ben White, they have turned their attentions to Mario Hermoso.

Reports in Spain claim that Everton dream of signing the Atletico Madrid defender, but they face competition from Aston Villa and Everton.

Hermoso is currently valued at £34m via CIES Football Observatory.

Perfect for Benitez

Hermoso is a well-schooled footballer. Developed in the Real Madrid youth ranks, he now plays his football under one of the most defensively astute managers in the game; Diego Simeone.

Capped five times by Spain, the 26-year-old is a progressive defender capable of breaking the lines and offering a huge degree of balance to a team’s defence.

First and foremost, Hermoso is left-footed, a rare and sought after breed when it comes to centre-backs.

On top of that, he is a ball-playing defender, the type of footballer who can advance up the pitch and then play a delicious pass in behind the opposition’s defence.

After Thomas Partey left Atletico last summer, Hermoso took it upon himself to take up similar areas on the pitch. This may sound bizarre when you consider he was playing in defence, but such was Simeone’s high line that the Spaniard advanced and essentially played as a deep-lying playmaker.

Analysis from Robbie Dunne labels his passing as “dangerous” and it’s clear to see why.

Via FB Ref, the centre-half ranks in the 93rd percentile for passes into the final third and in the 97th percentile for progressive passes across Europe’s top five leagues. Furthermore, Hermoso is in the 98th percentile for low passes, indicating that he prefers to keep possession on the floor.

The Atletico gem is not a classic defender but this is perfect for Benitez who already has more robust players in his armoury.

Even at a hefty price tag, he’d be an excellent acquisition for the Merseyside outfit.

AND in other news, Everton target swoop for £25m “machine”, he’s a huge upgrade on Davies…

Aston Villa announced on Saturday morning that Tyrone Mings is the new club captain, and unsurprisingly a number of Villa fans were quick to share their thoughts on the news via social media.

Villa had an opening for a new permanent club captain after Jack Grealish sealed a £100m move to Manchester City earlier this month.

Mings skippered Villa in 12 successive Premier League games last season when his England team-mate was out injured, and he has now taken the armband on a full-time basis under Dean Smith. The 28-year-old still has three years remaining on his Midlands deal and is eight appearances shy of reaching 100 for Villa.

His first game as permanent captain came against Watford on Saturday, with Villa slipping to an opening weekend defeat at Vicarage Road, but the defender still gave a decent performance as he won six duels against the Hornets.

Villa fans react

Villa shared the news on Mings on their official Twitter page. Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with one labelling the update as ‘excellent’.

“Things we love to see”Credit: @JoshBuzzard”ahh finally they announced it!! so happy”Credit: @kacey04661760″Excellent choice.”Credit: @yellowmarlin”It would be impossible for someone to deserve it more than Mings does. Everything a captain should be, one of the best leaders the club has had in years. Excellent news, this.”Credit: @rad_nauseam”BOOM!!!!!!”Credit: @IanMcGr42738303″Filed under: things you love to see”Credit: @SheldonLT

In other news: ‘I’m actually done’ – Many AVFC fans react as ‘worrying’ news is confirmed.

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has been left wowed by Tottenham Hotspur starlet Pape Matar Sarr and has even dropped a Tanguy Ndombele comparison.

The Lowdown: Spurs snap up Sarr…

Tottenham managing director Fabio Paratici showcased why Daniel Levy appointed him as he managed to bring in both Sarr and defender Emerson Royal during the last fortnight of the transfer window.

The former, who has been touted as a really promising midfield gem, even attracted attention from Premier League champions Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer (Evening Standard).

Alas, Spurs won the race to sign Sarr and it’s safe to say Robinson has been left impressed by his capture at N17.

The Latest: Robinson drops Sarr claim…

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Lilywhites keeper has even claimed that the 18-year-old is an ‘improved version’ of club record signing Tanguy Ndombele and will be fighting for first team opportunities in years to come.

“He’s played 20 odd times for Metz already,” Robinson explained.

“He will be challenging for a first-team place at Tottenham. This isn’t someone who’s coming in to be part of the Under 23s.

“He looks like the finished article and he’s only going to get better.

“If you look at him and the way he plays, he looks like an improved version of Ndombele.

“For the price Sarr cost, he looks a better player.”

The Verdict: Big statement…

Likening the teenager to Ndombele arguably comes as a big statement given Sarr has just one full season of senior action under his belt.

However, if he continues at this trajectory, the starlet could well be one to watch – especially considering he averaged a rather impressive two tackles per 90 over 18 Ligue 1 starts for FC Metz last year (WhoScored).

Still very young but gaining valuable experience thriving at the top level already, Spurs supporters could be about to witness the rise of a real prospect.

In other news: Spurs chiefs left seething over N17 exit gaffe as Alasdair Gold drops behind the scenes reveal, find out more here.

West Brom manager Valerien Ismael sees Karlan Grant as a wide player rather than a striker, journalist Luke Hatfield has told Football FanCast.

Grant was signed by former West Brom boss Slaven Bilic last year and was mostly used as a No.9 under the Croatian.

In the previous Premier League campaign, Grant made 12 appearances up front, managing just one goal.

The 23-year-old was much more prolific in his last Championship season, however, which bodes well for his new manager.

During the 2019/20 campaign, Grant managed to score 19 goals for former club Huddersfield Town before his move to The Hawthorns.

On what could be in store next for the Englishman, Hatfield of the Express & Star said:

“I think Bilic saw him when he was manager as a striker. I don’t think that’s the case under Ismael. I think Ismael very much sees him as a wide player

“I think he himself probably sees himself as a wide forward as well to be honest with you, as someone who can cut in off that left flank.”

All things considered, it is definitely something worth considering once the new season commences.

Ismael needs to try and get Grant firing again and if he can, it will obviously give West Brom’s promotion hopes a massive boost.

Premier League side Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara this summer, with an Ibrox exit certainly looking on the cards as he continues to attract interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Record, the Toffees have now registered their interest in signing the Finland international, who was a mainstay in Steven Gerrard’s side last season as they finished the season unbeaten.

New Everton manager Rafa Benitez is said to be keen on signing the 25-year-old but he will face competition from two Premier League sides, likely Brentford and Watford, as well as an unnamed Russian top-flight team.

Will he leave Rangers this summer?

Although a move to newly-promoted sides such as Brentford and Watford might have been easy to turn down for Kamara, the chance to sign for an established Premier League side and work under Benitez might be difficult for the former Dundee man to refuse.

Although Rangers can offer Champions League football for next season, Kamara reportedly earns just £6.2k per week at Ibrox, whereas a number of players at Goodison Park earn over £100k per week, which again suggests that it could be difficult for Kamara to turn them down from a financial perspective.

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It has been suggested in the past that Rangers value Kamara at £10m this summer, and after The Athletic’s Rangers reporter Jordan Campbell claimed that they are looking to raise £14m through player sales, the former Arsenal youngster could perhaps be one to leave.

It would undoubtedly be a blow for Gerrard if a player of Kamara’s quality were to leave, with the 41-year-old manager labelling him a “class act” back in 2019, whilst he was extremely consistent in the Premiership and Europa League last season.

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It’d be exactly why fans would be gutted to see the Finnish star leave the club this summer given his quality.

And, in other news… Gerrard can sign his ideal Kamara heir with swoop for £1.88m-rated “genius”

An exciting claim has been made about new Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Espirito Santo this week…

What’s the word?

As relayed by football.london’s Alasdair Gold, current Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga waxed lyrical about the Portuguese coach. “Had a really enjoyable chat with @JTanganga99,” claimed the reporter. “He said he can tell from training that Nuno Espirito Santo’s Spurs will be an attacking one.”

Indeed, the 22-year-old revealed a little insight into what has been happening on the training pitch since Nuno’s arrival earlier this month, saying: “I can tell you for sure that we’re going to be attacking. That’s because we’ve been working hard on it in training and on pressing, and implementing his ideas.”

Fans were wrong?

These comments should alleviate many of the fears which surfaced when the 47-year-old former Wolves boss was first linked with the north Londoners.

Some members of the Lilywhites faithful were so against the idea of him being appointed that they actively voiced their concerns on social media, leading to a campaign against him. This was because many claimed that he would bring “negative” and “dire” football and wouldn’t be too different to what they witnessed under Jose Mourinho, as sourced by talkSPORT.

However, those who were against Nuno should now have egg on their face after this exciting claim from Tanganga, as it suggests that they were completely wrong and that the Portuguese is likely to get Spurs back to being the attacking side they once were under Mauricio Pochettino.

In fact, some of the reaction has already flipped completely, with many supporters seemingly buzzing in the replies to the tweet from Gold. One fan even claimed to be “excited for the new season” – a drastic change in attitude, that’s for sure.

Nuno’s Wolves side were amongst the lowest scorers in the Premier League last season, netting just once more than relegated West Brom (35), so Spurs fans’ fears weren’t unjustified, although there were plenty of factors behind that low scoring return.

The Midlands outfit sold Diogo Jota to Liverpool, and then Raul Jimenez suffered a cruel head injury which effectively curtailed his whole season. In the two seasons before that, Wolves were a thrilling team to watch as the Portuguese steered them to consecutive seventh-place finishes.

It’s time to get behind Nuno, as evidently he’s going to try and bring that ‘Spurs DNA’ back to the club next season.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Kane: Paratici could land Spurs’ next Robbie Keane in £75k-p/w “assist machine”…