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Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Leeds United defender Jon Newsome thinks West Brom’s Matheus Pereira could be the ideal summer recruit for Marcelo Bielsa.

Pereira is currently being linked with a move away from the Baggies following their relegation to the Championship, with Leeds one club who are said to be interested.

The Express reports that the Yorkshire club are keen on bringing the Brazilian attacker to Elland Road when the transfer window opens, though FA Cup winners Leicester City are at the front of the queue for his signature.

Newsome, however, believes Pereira is exactly the kind of player his old side needs. He told FFC in an exclusive interview:

“I think one of the roles, I wouldn’t say they struggle with, but that 10, in behind Patrick Bamford, that No.10 role.

“Tyler Roberts has played it for predominantly most of the season and, although he’s had a decent season, he’s still not got off the mark in terms of scoring goals. I can see him [Pereira] dropping in there.

“That is an area that I think the club will be looking at.”

As well as Leicester, the Express also claims that West Ham and RB Leipzig are interested in signing the player, so bringing him to Elland Road does not look like it is going to be easy.

Pereira has been extremely impressive in the Premier League this season, scoring and creating for his side. Earlier in the campaign, he was highlighted as a major threat by Pep Guardiola before Manchester City took on West Brom.

وصلت بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك إلى القاهرة مساء اليوم الأحد قادمة من المغرب، بعد خوض مباراة الوداد المغربي أمس السبت، في الجولة الثالثة لمباريات دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وكان الزمالك قد خسر بثلاثية مقابل هدف على يد الوداد، في المباراة التي أقيمت على ملعب مركب محمد الخامس بالدار البيضاء.

طالع | أسامة نبيه يعلن عودته لجهاز كارتيرون في الزمالك

وقرر الجهاز الفني للفريق خوض مران الغد على ملعب دريم بالسادس من أكتوبر، استعدادًا لمواجهة فيوتشر في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويواجه الزمالك فريق فيوتشر مساء يوم الأربعاء المقبل في المباراة المؤجلة من الجولة العاشرة لمسابقة الدوري، والتي ستقام في استاد القاهرة الدولي.

Many fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter in which the Hammers relayed the news that Ademipo Odubeko scored a brace for the club’s under-23 side.

So far this season, Odubeko has impressed over his nine fixtures for West Ham’s youth teams, with the 18-year-old scoring eight goals and providing one assist over six appearances in the Premier League 2, as well as bagging two goals and one assist over two FA Youth Cup fixtures and netting two goals in one game in the EFL Trophy.

In a recent under-23 fixture against Everton, the Republic of Ireland under-21 international was once again in top form, scoring two second half goals to secure all three points for Dmitri Halajko’s side in the Premier League 2 clash.

After news of the striker’s brace was relayed on Twitter by West Ham, numerous fans of the club flocked to have their say on the matter, with many urging David Moyes – who currently has no fit centre-forwards in his first team squad – to field the “untouchable” teenager in the Hammers’ upcoming clash against Chelsea this Saturday.

So, what did these West Ham fans have to say in reaction to Ademipo Odubeko’s goals for the under-23s?

“He deserves to get a couple of substitutions atm. Having a blinder this year.”

@joelitt78828048

“Honestly put him in the squad this week against Chelsea (if it goes ahead). He’s been smashing at this level and it’s time for the step up.”

@whujoe18

“The man is elite.”

@gvomikez17

“FIRST TEAM NOW.”

@Kai_WHU

“What a player.”

@danwhu_

“Baller.”

@haydenrush91

“This guy is actually a joke.”

@IronsUnited2

“This geezer is untouchable at the moment.”

@GeorgeJoseph97

“Start Odubeko against London Blues.”

@BigBrexitGoat

“Give this guy a chance.”

@TWHU77

In other news: ‘What a day’, ‘My club is massive’ – Many WHU fans gush as club in line to seal £21.5m signing – find out more here!

Celtic may be without a permanent first-team manager but that hasn’t stopped the Bhoys from preparing adequately for next season.

They have already agreed a pre-contract with Liam Shaw while similar moves could be sorted for the likes of Siriki Dembele and Kwadwo Baah.

On the chalkboard

Celtic will have a list of areas they need to improve in ahead of next season. If they are to usurp Rangers again then the defence will surely be their first port of call.

The Hoops have shipped 14 more goals than the league winners this term but they could also do with more fluidity in the final third.

Besides Odsonne Edouard who has 20 goals to his name, the Glaswegian outfit have missed a regular scorer.

It hasn’t helped that James Forrest has only just returned from an injury lay-off that has kept him out since September. The Scotsman scored 16 goals and provided 22 assists last season so has been missed considerably.

Add that to the fact that Ryan Christie’s numbers are significantly down and it hasn’t helped Celtic.

The winger has netted five times all season has just a solitary strike to his name in 2021. Christie has been linked with moves to Leeds and Arsenal but his form surely doesn’t warrant a switch of that calibre.

He has been particularly abject in recent months and thus, Celtic could do with an upgrade.

Dazzling Lovric

Last summer, Celtic were linked with a move for Croatian winger Kristijan Lovric. It was reported that his current team, Gorica, turned down a bid in the region of £4.5m for his services the previous winter.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-roy-keane-nicky-butt-jesse-marsch-scott-brown” title=”Latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

The Hoops revived their interest but ultimately couldn’t conclude a deal. Clearly, there is a longstanding interest in the 25-year-old and with Celtic needing attacking recruits; they should turn to him again.

Lovric is yet to be capped by his country but has been one of the best players in the Croatian top-flight this term. The left-winger has scored on 16 occasions, taking his tally for Gorica to 42 in 88 outings.

He is a free-scoring forward with plenty of eye-catching abilities, picking up 21 assists in his Gorica career to date.

What really stands out, however, are his dribbling abilities and sprint speed. Speaking about Lovric last season, HNTV commentator Damir Petravic said: “He dribbles and scores in the style of Robben, shoots free throws like Pirlo or Pjanic, and knows how to sprint like Mbappe.”

That quote is about as glistening as they come. The statistics also paint the attacker as an incredibly dangerous player.

So far this season, Lovric has managed five dribbles and five shots per 90 minutes. On top of that, the Croat has produced 5.37 successful attacking actions over the same metric.

Those numbers are incredibly eye-catching. Take Christie, for instance; he has only produced 2.5 dribbles and two shots per game for Celtic this term in comparison.

Lovric would be a brilliant addition if the Hoops can finally conclude a deal.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Edouard: Celtic must swoop for 28-goal “sensation” who’ll “go to the very top”…

Barcelona have denied reports suggesting they have agreed to sign Gini Wijnaldum this summer as his Liverpool future remains up in the air.

The 30-year-old’s current Reds deal expires at the end of this season following five successful years at Anfield.

Wijnaldum has been a consistently influential player under Jurgen Klopp, proving to be a key presence throughout as Liverpool have clinched Champions League and Premier League glory.

Barcelona have been continually linked with signing the Dutchman on a free transfer this summer, though, and reports over the weekend even suggested that he has agreed to join the La Liga giants.

[freshpress-quiz id=“306736”]

Barcelona deny Wijnaldum deal agreed

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], however, Barca have claimed the rumour ‘is not true’, in the latest twist in the saga.

It looks set to be an interesting few months in regards to Wijnaldum’s future, with the Netherlands international seemingly still weighing up his options.

Transfer Tavern take

The hope is that Wijnaldum decides to stay put at Liverpool, signing a new deal and extending his stay on Merseyside for another few years.

He is still at an age where he can remain an important player, as hinted by his 27 league starts this season, and his brilliance would only be truly appreciated if he chose to move on in the summer.

In other news, James Pearce has provided a key injury update on one influential Liverpool player. Find out who it is here.

West Ham United manager David Moyes has emerged as a contender to become Celtic’s next manager.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Give Me Sport, who claim that the Hoops are ‘keen’ on a potential move for the Scot.

Moyes hasn’t stopped Celtic interest

The 57-year-old has led the Hammers to an unlikely push for Champions League football next season, with West Ham currently sitting fifth in the Premier League.

There have been suggestions Moyes, who is out of contract at the end of June, would be keen to extend his deal at the London Stadium. However, he hasn’t stopped Celtic from sounding him out as Neil Lennon’s potential long-term successor.

Transfer Tavern take

Appointing Moyes could well be a solid piece of business by Celtic, who will be looking to claim a 10th league title in 11 years next season.

Moyes has proven he has what it takes to lead transform a club over the last 15 months, averaging 1.51 points per game with the Hammers. However, his seven managerial stints average out to a somewhat disparaging 1.34 points per game.

West Ham were just a point off the relegation zone when Moyes arrived in the capital and he’s successfully rebuilt the Hammers with the help of several shrewd acquisitions.

Jesse Lingard and Tomas Soucek have been recent transfer masterstroke examples, and a rebuild at Parkhead seems likely after their disappointing campaign.

Several players will more than likely come and go over the summer, and having an experienced manager at the helm to help the squad gel could be vital.

Many Everton fans have been reacting after Moise Kean scored for Paris Saint-Germain during their 4-0 victory over Dijon in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Kean moved on loan to the French capital until the end of the season, and he is enjoying life in Paris at the moment. In 27 games for PSG, he now has 15 goals (Transfermarkt), and it took him just six minutes to get on the scoresheet this weekend as he dispatched a fantastic pass from Kylian Mbappe.

The Italy international struggled in his time at Goodison Park, netting just four times in 37 games. It remains to be seen what the Toffees decide to do with the 21-year-old at the end of the season. With 31 professional goals to his name, his spell at Everton appears to be an anomaly rather than the rule.

His latest effort attracted plenty of attention from Everton supporters. Twitter account @EvertonNewsFeed tweeted about the goal, and these fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Kean below

“ridiculous that 17 goals how”

Credit: @RyRolo_

“More money for us”

Credit: @AlwaysBlue7

“The price keeps going up and up”

Credit: @gflan02

“50 mill and counting”

Credit: @bobbybefc

“People really are sleeping on the quality of Ligue 1, yes there are bad teams at the bottom, but it’s still a strong league w good competition & it’s definitely nice to see Kean tearing it up”

Credit: @AndrewHelberg

“It’s a joke of a league with second always closer to relegation than PSG top it’s good to see him scoring just bumps his price up if we sell”

Credit: @marc_lloydy

In other news, Everton plot a move for this Europa League star.

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a fresh blow with Ryan Jack after he suffered a calf injury during the 4-1 win over Dundee United.

What’s the word?

Jack picked up a minor knock, which Gerrard said will keep him out potentially for up to two weeks, thus ruling him out of the return fixture against Royal Antwerp at Ibrox in the Europa League on Thursday night.

“Nothing has changed on Kemar Roofe and James Tavernier, we will work closely with our medical team to get them back as soon as possible,” said Gerrard in quotes reported by Glasgow Live.

“Ryan Jack is more positive, not any muscle damage but he is likely to be a couple of weeks but nothing long-term.”

Devastating blow for Steven Gerrard

After signing from Aberdeen in 2017, Rangers fans have become well accustomed to seeing Jack ruled out for a considerable amount of time in recent years.

Of course, Gerrard has since confirmed there isn’t any muscular damage, but it’s easy to see why the Ibrox boss is understandably being so cautious, especially considering his recent track record.

With plenty of time left between now and the end of the season, rushing Jack back from injury too quickly could have a detrimental effect on their hopes of both domestic and European success.

But there’s no doubting it will be a bitter pill to swallow for Gerrard, who will once again be without one of his key men when Antwerp make the trip to Ibrox tonight.

Despite their fine run of form, Rangers have still lost one game and drawn three that Jack has missed, while ex-Ibrox striker Jonatan Johansson has recently heaped praise on his former charge.

He said: “Ryan’s always available to receive the ball. He takes on that responsibility.

“He understands the game really well. Remember, he’s also played at right-back before for Scotland so he understands different positions and his positional sense on the pitch is excellent.

“He’s obviously very good on the ball and I think something Steven has brought out in him is getting forward.

“He gets in the box now, he shoots and scores goals. So his all-round game is getting better and better.

“I can’t stress the importance of him being in the team. He got a new contract recently and with stats like this, that’s no surprise.”

Jack, who is currently valued at £2.7m via Transfermarkt, has established himself as an ever-present under Gerrard, having made 109 appearances for the manager, and earning 10 caps for his country in the process.

His absence, therefore, will be a bitter blow for Gerrard, as he will no doubt be concerned about their chances without one of his star midfielders having conceded three against Antwerp last time out.

AND in other news, Rangers given double injury boost but Steven Gerrard will have to wait…

The latest instalment of the Manchester derby is not quite the title clash that Manchester United would have envisaged.

The Red Devils can cut the gap to Manchester City at the top of the table with a win but only to 11 points, perhaps merely delaying the precession to the title of Pep Guardiola and his men.

However, bragging rights are certainly up for offer and a key to United getting a result will be the performance of Bruno Fernandes.

As has been the case for many games since the Portuguese arrived from Sporting Clube de Portugal, he is set to be the Red Devils’ main hope.

In his time at Old Trafford so far, he has contributed 34 goals and 21 assists in just 62 matches – some seriously impressive numbers.

His contribution has even increased this season with Fernandes contributing to 49% of United’s 53 Premier League goals throughout the campaign.

He is also by far and away the most creative player in the entire Red Devils’ squad. According to WhoScored, he is averaging 2.8 key passes per match. His nearest midfield competitor is the lesser-spotted Juan Mata at just 1.1.

Even his teammates are aware of his immense influence since his arrival. Brazilian Fred has suggested that Fernandes “took over” the Manchester United midfield as soon as the ink dried on his contract at Old Trafford.

His creativity, dynamism and leadership are going to be even more important against such a good Manchester City side.

After a relatively poor start to the campaign, Guardiola has created a formidable team. The Citizens can boast the best defensive record in the Premier League having shipped just 17 goals throughout the entire season so far.

That stubbornness could suffocate United’s attacking players throughout the match, meaning Fernandes will have to be on top form if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aspires to take anything from the Etihad Stadium.

In the melting pot of the Manchester derby, Fernandes once again has to show his immense quality and display exactly why he has become the main star, not just in the United midfield, but the entire team.

If the Portuguese star struggles, it’s hard to see a way how United can penetrate what has been a fantastic City back line. If he plays well, however, then the visitors have a chance to leave the Etihad with a positive result.

AND in more news, read our opinion on why Edmond Tapsoba could be the perfect foil for Harry Maguire…

According to a recent report from Eurosport, Celtic are chasing Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy in January.

What’s the word?

It’s claimed that the Hoops have been eyeing a move for the 30-year-old Glaswegian for several months.

McCarthy is also reportedly well aware of the interest coming in his direction from Parkhead and is apparently open to a move away from Selhurst Park due to a lack of game time this season.

Roy Hodgson has some tough decisions to make regarding several Palace players, including Belgian striker Christian Benteke, who have already entered the final few months of their contracts.

McCarthy has been a loyal servant of the club for many years now but the Scotsman could be off, with the Scottish Premiership champions seeing him as a capture in the next window.

Get it done, Eagles

Should McCarthy leave south London for the north of the border as is expected in January, Hodgson will need to find a replacement who is capable of filling the void left by his potential exit.

If McCarthy does indeed depart Selhurst Park, Palace’s long-term target and Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan could be the ideal option to provide a box-to-box presence in the midfield.

The Eagles were originally linked with a move for the 55-cap Turkey international in 2018, and he recently revealed he came very close to moving to Selhurst Park after a bright start to his career at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium before a deal collapsed at the last second.

He told Goal: “Crystal Palace had showed a real interest in me a few years back and I nearly signed for them. We even had our plane tickets to England. But right before the day we planned to fly to England, Crystal Palace’s Sako got injured.

“The board had an emergency meeting and they decided to sign a replacement for him. So my move failed. They signed Alexander Sorloth instead of me. The details on this are not widely known but yes, it happened to us.”

Reports in recent times from Turkey have reaffirmed those links to Palace, amid interest from Premier League rivals Everton and Fulham.

Valued at £9m via Transfermarkt, in 13 appearances in the Super Lig this season, the 25-year-old monster has scored four goals and supplied two assists, while he is averaging 1.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.8 shots and at least one key pass per game, via WhoScored. Not bad, not bad at all.

In contrast, even McCarthy has only mustered 0.2 shots and 0.2 key passes on average per game in the Premier League, as per WhoScored, albeit he has suffered an injury-disrupted campaign.

Proving both capable of playing at the back or in the midfield, Tufan could become a vital asset for this current Palace side, especially when you consider the fact McCarthy looks likely to leave Selhurst Park.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace must avoid signing Fiorentina striker Christian Kouame in January…