Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that he wants Callum McGregor to stay at Parkhead, but admitted he’s good enough to play in the Premier League.
Likes many of his Celtic teammates, McGregor’s form has dipped this season, although he’s still started every Scottish Premiership match, and has worn the captain’s armband in the absence of Scott Brown.
With Brown moving on at the end of the campaign, McGregor would be the obvious choice to take the armband on a full-time basis, but the midfielder has been strongly linked away from Parkhead.
Reports earlier this month have suggested that McGregor’s former manager and current Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is plotting a summer move for the midfielder, which would see the pair reunite following their stint in Glasgow.
McGregor is currently tied down to a long-term contract at Celtic, although McAvennie told Football FanCast that he’s the only Celtic man that’s capable of making the step up to the Premier League:
“At the moment he’s the only one that could make it in the Premier League. We don’t know if he wants to leave or not, but it’s never come out too much about McGregor.
“He’s not played well since he got the captaincy, but I think he’s a wonderful talent and I want him to stay.”
In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Dean Windass has dubbed Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as “disgusting” following his lateness ahead of Sunday’s north London derby.
Aubameyang was dropped from the starting line-up, having been previously set to start the match against Tottenham, and ended up being an unused substitute, with Nicolas Pepe and Willian deployed as Arsenal’s two attacking changes.
It was a brave decision from Arteta, with the Gabonese striker not only the club’s captain, but is Arsenal’s top goalscorer in all competitions and best source of goals.
But it paid dividends after goals from Martin Odegaard and Alexandra Lacazette cancelled out Erik Lamela’s outrageous opener to move the Gunners four points behind their arch rivals.
And Windass told Football FanCast that it was a strong move from Arteta, who he thought addressed it perfectly.
He said: “It tells you a lot about the manager. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re the captain, or you’re the biggest earner, rules are rules. As a footballer I was always early, there’s no excuse.
“Fair play to Arteta, he’s stamped his authority on it, but he’s done it in the right way. He’s not hammered him, yes he’s left him out, yes he’ll get fined, but it will hurt him for leaving him out the team. He will probably have had a meeting, even though they won the game.
“You don’t know if he’s been in a traffic jam, which isn’t an excuse, nobody knows what goes on. But it’s disgusting you can be late for a football match, when you’re earning so much money. That’s your job, that’s your profession. Can you imagine if Roy Keane was in that changing room?”
Aubameyang will be hoping to make a return to the XI for the second-leg Europa League clash against Olympiacos on Thursday.
Leeds United have been linked with Wolves winger Adama Traore for some time now, and Phil Hay has dropped an update on how true these links are.
The latest on Traore
The journalist for The Athletic was asked by a fan during a Q&A before Friday’s game against Wolves if the club were interested in the Spaniard, to which Hay replied: “I asked the question when the links came up but was told there was nothing in it.”
This will be a blow for supporters
It was reported earlier in the season by Graeme Bailey that Leeds Director of Football, Victor Orta, “loves” the winger after previously signing him for Middlesbrough. A lot of people in the footballing world have praised the player, like Jurgen Klopp, who hailed him as a ‘big, big talent’.
Leeds saw his quality first hand on Friday night as he was a constant threat for Marcelo Bielsa’s side and created the only goal in the match.
This season in his 24 appearances in the Premier League (eight from the bench), the £36m-rated Spaniard has managed 1.4 key passes and 3.8 successful dribbles (WhoScored) per game, and his ability to carry the ball forward at tremendous speed and take defenders out of the equation could benefit the fast-flowing Bielsa-ball Leeds fans have become accustomed to.
Therefore it will be gutting for fans of the club to see that this possible signing seems to just be a rumour for the time being.
In other news, Agbonlahor has praised one Leeds ace, have a read who it is here!
Many Everton fans were delighted with Alex Iwobi’s short cameo against Southampton on Monday night.
The Toffees edged their clash against the Saints 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Richarlison. It was an important victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s men – they are now just two points away from the top four with a game in hand over fourth-placed West Ham United (Sky Sports).
£22.95m-valued Iwobi (Transfermarkt) was only introduced with three minutes left on the clock, but he impressed even in that short period of time. No player attempted more than his six dribbles during the match (SofaScore), and the three he completed also led the way (along with Abdoulaye Doucore and Andre Gomes). One moment in particular, when he beat three Saints players in a tight space near the corner flag, was exceptional.
These Everton supporters were delighted with his “magic” and took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts. One even drew excited comparisons with Brazilian Ballon D’Or-winning legend Ronaldinho, so impressed were they with Iwobi’s display.
Let’s see what these fans had to say about Iwobi below
“Iwobi has these moments of ludicrous brilliance that are so endearing”
Credit: @trueblue265
“Never mind all that what about Alex twinkle toes iwobi”
Credit: @Andy91005720
“Iwobi Wan Kenobi at it again!!!”
Credit: @jimmyefc95
“I’ve really grown to like iwobi”
Credit: @Efc1878toffees
“Where’s The video of iwobi turning into prime Ronaldinho in the corner, admin?”
Credit: @EvertonMnw
“I don’t think we are over achieving at all. I’ll settle for the points all day but I have to be honest we are a hard watch mate. I know its unfashionable but I love iwobi. That last minute keep ball was truly magic”
Credit: @CarlRei49848972
In other news, Ancelotti is ready to sanction the bargain sale of this ace.
By Wolves’ very high standards, they have been particularly abject this term. They haven’t scored enough goals and thus, European football is set to desert them.
Therefore, the transfer window will be incredibly important for the Old Gold.
What’s the word?
Wolves have been linked with a couple of forwards in recent weeks but arguably, none will be more appealing than Dwight McNeil.
The Burnley winger continues to catch the eye at Turf Moor and as a result, he’s someone the Molineux outfit are being urged to sign.
That’s courtesy of Wolves legend Steve Bull, someone who opened up on the winger when talking exclusively to Football FanCast last week.
“It’s very rare that talented players like that go under the radar, Leicester found one in James Maddison. So, yeah all day long I’d take him,” he began.
“Put him in a good side full of talented and skilful players like we’ve got and it might bring him on leaps and bounds,” Bull concluded.
Bye-bye Neto
Wolves were unable to convince Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota from leaving for the jaws of the Premier League’s big six last summer and they could face the same eventuality in a few months time.
Dynamic forward Pedro Neto has been linked with a massive £50m move to Manchester United and if that does happen, Nuno Santo should look no further than McNeil as his replacement.
Like Neto, the Burnley winger possesses a mesmeric left foot and has a wonderful final ball to add to that.
For the Clarets this term, the £47k-per-week earner hasn’t amassed the greatest of numbers but it’s hard to really nail down regular goal involvements when you play for a team that operates in a more defensive manner.
He has two goals and three assists to his name this term, but has 14 assists in the last three seasons, a handy number for a player who is so rampant down the left.
McNeil has averaged 1.2 key passes a match this season, a tally that puts him behind only Neto, Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho at Wolves.
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It’s hard to forget just how young he is too. The Burnley forward is still only 21 and has plenty of improvement left in his game. With that in mind, he ticks a pretty large box when Jeff Shi chooses who to sign.
Words from Harry Redknapp only add further appeal to his signature: “Dwight McNeil is such a good player, lovely left foot, doesn’t stop running,”
Redknapp added: “Every time I watch him he gets better and better, he’s got real quality and certainly a player that the top six to eight clubs will be looking at, and that’s no disrespect to Burnley because I don’t like saying that sometimes, but he is that good.”
Bearing those remarks in mind, Wolves must act quickly if they want to secure McNeil’s services.
It surely won’t be too long before he’s outgrown Burnley.
AND in other news, Wolves could find their new Goncalves with swoop for “unpredictable” 20-goal wizard…
Sam Allardyce faces an uphill task to keep West Brom in the Premier League this season.
And one of their biggest problems seems to be at the back as they have leaked a whopping 39 goals in 17 matches, six more than any other top-flight team this campaign.
It surely makes defensive reinforcements an absolute priority during the January transfer window and whilst the Baggies have been linked to the likes of James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho, it’s another mooted target they should be plumping for.
Last month, the Daily Star reporter that Albion were keen to take Manchester United outcast, Phil Jones, on loan for the remainder of the season with the Red Devils expected to pay the bulk of his £120k-per-week wages.
That would suit West Brom immensely as Big Sam is working on a very restricted financial budget – according to the Telegraph’s John Percy, ‘moves for players who will cost in excess of £2 million are rated as seriously doubtful.’
The Baggies only have one domestic loan space left, so using it on a vastly-experienced defender like Jones could make the world of sense.
Similarly, Albion have struck gold with United before when taking on Jonny Evans, who was also struggling for game time at the Premier League giants.
For £6m, the Midlands outfit got every penny back with three consistent seasons where he played at least 28 matches each campaign before they were relegated to the Championship.
Jones would certainly be shades of that very move and he’s a player that Allardyce knows very well too, which is merely another reason to why a stint at the Hawthorns is beneficial.
The 66-year-old unearthed the Englishman at Blackburn Rovers prior to his £16.5m switch to Old Trafford, even tipping him for international stardom in an interview with the Telegraph in 2011, he said:
“He is already growing into what I consider to be a leader. When he gets more experience he will be able to control his team-mates and eventually he will wear the armband for England. It’s a lot to ask of such a young man but he has the all-round outstanding ability to be a very top player.”
Now valued at just £5.4m by Transfermarkt, Jones needs to find another club as he’s only started 17 matches since the beginning of the 2018/19 season.
Despite only being 28, he has proven to be a reliable influence over 200 appearances in the big time, he’s averaged a whopping 5.3 clearances and 1.9 tackles per game during the past decade, via WhoScored, which ranks him above all of Semi Ajayi, Dara O’Shea and Branislav Ivanovic in this current Baggies squad.
Luke Dowling simply has to sanction a swoop for what could be West Brom’s next Evans.
AND in other news, Baggies’ “total nightmare” in GRAVE DANGER of becoming another Nacer Chadli…
Mohammed Salisu looks to be in contention for his first appearance in a Southampton shirt on Monday night when the Saints face Brighton and Hove Albion away from home.
It was confirmed by Ralph Hasenhuttl earlier in the week that the Ghanaian, who joined from Real Valladolid during the summer, could make his first appearance for the first-team against Graham Potter’s side.
The Austrian manager has suggested previously that Salisu needed to learn how to play in this Southampton side and improve his fitness before he could be considered for selection, but it seems as if he has done enough to convince his manager that he is ready to play against the Seagulls on Monday.
Following Southampton’s collapse against Manchester United last weekend, which saw them lose 3-2 despite winning 2-0 at the break, Hasenhuttl must consider making some defensive changes to his side, and that includes handing 21-year-old Salisu a start.
Jannik Vestergaard was full of praise for the young defender earlier this year, saying:
“He looks comfortable on the ball, has an amazing physique and is just generally a nice guy.
“Quiet for now, but it’s always difficult coming as a new player, so maybe he’s just saving up his words for later!
“But I think he’s a big talent and he has a lot of years ahead of him.”
However, the Danish international might not be too happy if Salisu takes his place in the first-team, after what was a nightmare display from the 28-year-old last time out, as he earned a 5.97 rating for his display.
Therefore, Vestergaard, who earns £60k per week at Southampton, would certainly be lucky to keep his place, and Hasenhuttl must hand Salisu a spot in his starting XI on Monday evening.
Brighton have produced some very solid performances recently and showed against Liverpool last weekend that they can get in behind a defence, so it would make sense for the Saints boss to entrust Salisu to start alongside Jan Bednarek, rather than Vestergaard, who isn’t the most mobile of defenders.
Hopefully for Salisu, who is valued at £10.8 million by Transfermarkt, this can be the first of many appearances in a Southampton shirt, as he looks to have a big future ahead of him at the South Coast club.
And, in other news… Saints club update could spell bad news for 26 y/o Hasenhuttl is “not always so happy with”
According to Sky Sports, Timothy Fosu-Mensah has rejected a new contract offer from Manchester United.
What’s the word?
Fosu-Mensah is approaching the last six months of his contract with the club whilst he has attracted interest from abroad.
It’s claimed French Ligue 1 side Marseille and Bundesliga underdogs Hertha Berlin are keen to land the 22-year-old defender who will be available for little more than a compensation fee in a few months time.
However, it appears both clubs are prepared to part ways with a small fee in January to fend off competitions for Fosu-Mensah, who made just four starts in 2020.
Get rid of him, Ed
Every club has them. The prospects who become professional footballers, the academy players who had no hopes of making the first-team in the first place, the ones who never even got the opportunity to prove themselves. And it’s fair to say that the Dutch defender is one of an unlucky number who it seems were just never quite cut out for the big stage.
Former Red Devils defender Clayton Blackmore told MUTV, as quoted by United in Focus: “He’s got great pace, great strength. He can’t be overlooked.
“He might be someone the manager has a headache about in the not so distant future.”
If anything, it’s in actual fact the total opposite, as he has arguably done very little to justify such a billing. In three appearances across all competitions this season, Fosu-Mensah, who earns around £15,000-per-week at Old Trafford, is averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and a paltry 0.3 clearances on average per game, via WhoScored.
To be brutally honest, there are simply better options out there, as Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and to some extent Axel Tuanzebe have delivered for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season.
But this latest rejection should be the final straw, as it’s becoming clearer and clearer that his future lies elsewhere, and it may be in the best interests of all parties involved if the club were to sever their ties to the academy graduate.
AND in other news, Man Utd chief Ed Woodward can upgrade Daniel James in Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic…
It wasn’t quite the embarrassing night of the 1986/87 season but Wolves tried their best to fluff their lines against Chorley on Friday evening.
Nuno Santo’s team have been desperately poor in recent weeks, and after their win over the National League North side have now only won three of their last 11 outings.
If anything summed up their abject performances of late it was the display they put in as they made it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
On paper, this was a mismatch. Wolves should have been easily out of sight given the opposition, but although they didn’t lose as they did to Chorley over 30 years ago, they were incredibly poor.
Going forward, Nuno’s side were devoid of confidence and authority. For large spells of the game, their non-league hosts looked comfortable and dare we say it, they even looked the better team.
Wolves’ only shot on target in the entire game produced the goal. It was a special one too from Vitinha who let fly from range, but beyond that, there was nothing to write home about.
The Old Gold completed just 25% of their crosses and carved out fewer goal-scoring opportunities than Chorley. A large reason behind that was the performance of Patrick Cutrone.
This was the Italian’s first start since returning from a loan spell with Fiorentina and on his big audition to Nuno, he completely failed. This was a week where Cutrone simply had to prove himself to the manager too.
Willian Jose has arrived from Real Sociedad on loan and thus, the Italy international could be heading for the exit door. After this performance, it proved why.
The striker isn’t good enough and cut an isolated figure against non-league opposition. Truth be told, Cutrone was anonymous.
He completed just 11 passes from 18 attempted, finishing with a success rate of only 61%. For context, only goalkeeper John Ruddy and substitute Adama Traore completed fewer passes in the Wolves side.
The 23-year-old’s tally of 24 touches, meanwhile, was the same as Ruddy’s and only more than Traore and another of Nuno’s substitutes in Pedro Neto.
Against opposition like Chorley, Cutrone should have run riot. Instead, his effort was minimal, registering just two attempts at goal.
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It would be extreme to call this a horror show but Nuno must be incredibly fed up of the Italian now. He has scored three goals in 27 outings for the Molineux outfit. Time and time again he has not been at the races.
Wolves need to get rid of him as soon as possible.
AND in other news, Wolves could find their dream Traore successor by landing “extremely quick” 31-cap ace…
Glasgow Rangers failed yet again to win an Old Firm derby under Philippe Clement. This was the fifth time the Belgian had led the Ibrox side into this fixture, coming out with just one draw for his troubles.
The stark reality is, Rangers' fierce rivals in Celtic were far too good. The Light Blues started brightly, yet once Daizen Maeda scored the opener, there was never going to be a way back into the tie for the Gers.
Rangers vs Celtic
The international break perhaps comes at the right time for Clement, who will need to have a long think about what is continually going wrong in these matches.
Several of the players who shone vs Ross County last weekend were dismal when the pressure was on, particularly Rabbi Matondo.
Rabbi Matondo’s statistics vs Celtic
The Welsh winger shone against County, scoring twice while grabbing two assists, but playing Celtic at Parkhead is a completely different story indeed.
Matondo was unleashed on the left wing over the weekend, with Clement hoping he could replicate his feats from the previous match.
He only lasted 38 minutes, hobbling off holding his hamstring, but his time on the field lacked any meaningful impact.
The 23-year-old had one shot (off target), missed a big chance, failed with his only dribble attempt and took just nine touches overall.
This plus his injury combined to make it a horrible experience for the player. It remains to be seen how long he will be missing, but his spell at Ibrox has failed to yield any sort of consistency.
Goals
0
Assists
0
Accurate passes
4/5
Touches
9
Key passes
0
Possession lost
3
Aside from his excellent display against County, Matondo has been off the pace so far this season for the Ibrox side. Perhaps it is time for Clement to unleash Oscar Cortes when he is fit instead.
Rabbi Matondo’s statistics this season
His performance against the Highland side has certainly skewed his statistics, as across the other three Premiership matches, Matondo has been poor.
The winger has missed two big chances already this term, winning only 36% of his total duels per game along with being dribbled past on 0.8 occasions each match. His displays are a far cry from that wonderful goal he scored against Celtic last term. Why can't we see more of that?
Add in the fact he has lost possession 27 times after just four games, and it is clear that while Matondo’s pace might be a great asset, defensively, he is failing to contribute when required.
Cortes appears to be near a return to full fitness. Hopefully, by the time the Light Blues take on Dundee United in the league once the international break is over, the Colombian will be ready to be unleashed.
Oscar Cortes
Although less experienced than Matondo, the 21-year-old has shown flashes of his abilities during his time in Glasgow. A run in the starting XI could allow him to build his confidence, establishing himself as the main option on the left flank.
It is all fine starring against the likes of Ross County, but when it comes to high-pressure games such as the Old Firm, Matondo has failed to showcase anything near his best form.
Fewer touches than Butland: Rangers must drop a star who lost 9/9 duels
The Light Blues attacker may have just played his way out of the starting line-up.