All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers have now been gifted a double injury boost ahead of a big week for the football club.

The Lowdown: Huge week

This is a huge week for the Teddy Bears, not because of their game away at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership at Saturday lunchtime, but because of the small matter of a UEFA Europa League final against Frankfurt on Wednesday night.

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Celtic have already won the SPFL title, so it would be smart for Giovanni van Bronckhorst to rest some of his key players against Hearts, thus keeping them fresh for Frankfurt in midweek.

The Latest: Team news

Speaking to the media in a post-match interview after they beat Ross County 4-1 at home on Wednesday night, van Bronckhorst revealed (via The Daily Record) that Ryan Jack ‘will be ready’ to play Frankfurt, while Scott Wright ‘is okay’ after coming off with a knock.

However, it will be a ‘close call’ whether Kemar Roofe will be able to return from injury.

The Verdict: Double boost

Despite the news on Roofe, it will be a double boost to have both Jack and Wright available, especially for the final on Wednesday.

Wright has five goals and two assists over both competitions so far this season, while Jack keeps things ticking in the middle of the park, as highlighted by his passing accuracy in both competitions (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, the Light Blues will need all of the help that they can get if they are to achieve the unthinkable and lift up the Europa League trophy.

In other news, find out who was an ‘absolute delight’ against Ross County here!

Celtic are close to snatching the SPFL title away from their Old Firm rivals as the end of what has been a storming season for the Hoops draws to a close.

With 35 league games played, the Bhoys have won 27, drawn five and lost three, scoring 81 goals and conceding 20 along the way under Ange Postecoglou.

One figure that hasn’t contributed that much to the side in an attacking sense is winger James Forrest.

Deployed just 16 times in the league, the Scotsman has only started eight of those games, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process.

To put that into perspective, 14 other players in the current squad have found the net on more occasions than the 30-year-old.

As the third-oldest player at the Parkhead club, it could be argued that his time as a first-choice option in the team is coming to an end.

Also, with a significant injury record and a current contract due to expire in the summer of 2023, his days at the club could be numbered as well.

With that in mind, the Hoops have recently been linked with a player that could come in and potentially be a long-term replacement for the veteran.

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail (via Daily Record), Bodo/Glimt winger Ola Solbakken is on Celtic’s radar as a potential summer transfer target if they can’t strike a deal for current on-loan winger Jota.

In 19 appearances under his belt across all competitions this season, the 23-year-old has scored goals and provided assists whilst playing on the left and right sides of the pitch.

This shows how versatile he is and how comfortable he is being an attacking threat on both the left and right wings.

This versatility could also make him a useful next version of Forrest, who has also played on the left and right this season.

Labelled as being “[Jose] Mourinho’s nightmare” by journalist Pablo Giralt after the 23-year-old scored two goals in the 6-1 demolition of the Italian club back in October, the Norwegian has 17 goals and 18 assists to his name in 72 appearances for his current side.

Moving forward, with a reported price tag of £1.6m on the Norway international, the Bhoys should definitely consider paying this and getting him in as a potential long-term replacement for Forrest.

In other news: Transfer accelerating: Exciting Lennoxtown update will leave Celtic supporters buzzing

Crystal Palace face competition over their potential summer swoop for Derby County winger Malcolm Ebiowei.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from the Derby Telegraph, who claim that Ebiowei is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds and Fulham – as well as German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

The Rams are not able to offer new deals for out-of-contract players until a takeover is completed, with the 18-year-old looking as though he will be available on a free, amidst his expiring contract.

Ayew upgrade

The potential free-signing of Ebiowei presents an opportunity for Vieira to plan for the long-term future of the club, whilst signing a prospect who could be seen as an upgrade on current option Jordan Ayew.

30-year-old Ayew, who has been deemed as “utter rubbish” by David Law, has somewhat misfired in comparison to the heights we witnessed back in the 19/20 season, where he scored nine goals for Crystal Palace.

With just five goal contributions, in the form of two goals and three assists, from 30 appearances for Palace, Vieira should look for a more consistent and clinical forward who can offer more to the Eagles’ front-line.

Ebiowei has not just been dubbed “brilliant” by The Athletic’s Elias Burke but also as someone with “so much talent” in the words of Derby’s first-team development coach, Justin Walker.

With that in mind, the 18-year-old would be an absolute gift for the 45-year-old Frenchman, with his two assists – across 15 games a surefire sign that he could outdo the Ghanian international if we was given the platform to do so.

Perhaps the biggest advantage that Ebiowei possesses in comparison to Ayew, besides age and potential, is his left foot.

His left-footed preference would enable Vieira to utilise the young Englishman as an inverted winger, in a similar vein to how Pep Guardiola uses Riyad Mahrez for Manchester City.

In terms of metrics, Ebiowei’s average of 1.3 shots per game is similar to Ayew’s total of 1.1 SpG, though his match average of 3.2 dribbles per game cannot be matched by the 30-year-old who maintains an average of 1.1 Drb, as per WhoScored.

As a better ball progressor who has almost matched the attacking returns of Ayew in half of the appearances, Ebiowei has the potential to be Ayew’s long-term successor.

And to top it all off, Vieira has a gift of an opportunity to sign the 18-year-old on a free contract.

In other news: CPFC now in pole position to sign “unreal” £10m dynamo, he’s far better than Ward 

BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton has tipped Tottenham Hotspur to prioritise signing a new creative midfielder this summer after a recruitment source revealed links to Christian Eriksen.

The Lowdown: Eriksen links

Antonio Conte looks set for an overhaul during the upcoming transfer window, with the Italian boss reportedly wanting two new midfielders as part of a mass signing spree.

One of the players that the Lilywhites are said to be keeping tabs on is former Spurs star Eriksen, who despite currently being on a short-term loan at Brentford, is understood to be keen on a return to north London, according to a transfer source at Football Insider.

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Now, former Spurs defender Hutton has been reacting to those links, insisting that he thinks a new playmaker like the Dane is a ‘huge’ requirement so that captain Harry Kane can focus on his role as a striker.

The Latest: New addition required

When asked what position he thinks the Premier League giants need to strengthen the most, Hutton, who now works for BBC, told Football Insider: “I think a creative midfielder. They’ve really struggled in that department for a while, if I’m totally honest.

“I would like to see them with someone within that midfield that’s exciting. Someone that can get on the ball, make things happen and leave Kane up the pitch.

“It gives the centre-halves something to think about. He’s not dropping deep. If I’m playing centre-half and Harry Kane drops to the halfway line, brilliant. Let him go down there, away from the goal.

“You know they want to get the width from the wing-backs too. Are they the answer? They’ve still got to prove themselves.

“Doherty’s come on, Sessegnon, we know is capable, Reguilon’s still got question marks above him. These are the areas when you play that system who are your biggest outlets.

“If they’re not firing on all cylinders, you’re looking for your front two, and Kulusevski, to go and make things happen.

“There are question marks above a few heads. Creative midfield and wing-back positions are huge.”

The Verdict: Reunion on the cards?

Following a magnificent recovery after suffering from a cardiac arrest in the Euro 2020 tournament last summer, Eriksen has made a sensational return to the pitch and has reignited his career with the Bees, delivering an impressive run of displays since joining in January.

The Danish international could be classed as nothing short of a Spurs legend, where he made an outstanding 159 goal contributions in just 305 appearances during his seven years at the club, as per Transfermarkt.

The 30-year-old will become a free agent when his contract at Brentford expires at the end of the season, and so a reunion with his former manager Conte could well be on the cards.

In other news… one big name at Tottenham is now facing an uncertain future! 

Manchester City are now willing to make a £70m January bid for an “absolutely incredible” Real Madrid star, with Pep Guardiola personally a fan.

Man City looking to boost title push by signing new forward

Man City have bounced back from their 2-1 loss at Newcastle United by winning their last two Premier League games on the spin, but they haven’t made easy work of it, scraping past Leeds United 3-2 courtesy of a late Phil Foden winner.

City then travelled to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham and raced into a 5-1 lead, but they only just managed to get over the line, with the hosts fighting back to 5-4, which will be a worrying sign for Guardiola.

Conceding six goals in the last two matches, against two of the weaker sides in the Premier League, suggests the Blues could do with strengthening their defence in January, and a new right-back is of interest, with Newcastle’s Tino Livramento being identified as a target.

However, Guardiola is also eager to upgrade his attacking options, with a report from Spain revealing Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one of the Man City manager’s top targets for the January transfer window.

City are determined to make a move for the Brazilian, with it being revealed they are willing to make a €80m (£70m) offer for his services, and Guardiola believes the forward would be a perfect fit in his system.

The 24-year-old’s agents have been working to secure their client a move away from the Spanish club this winter, offering him to a number of top Premier League clubs, but the Blues are making the most decisive moves to get a deal done.

"Absolutely incredible" Rodrygo may need fresh start

The Brazil international has been a fantastic servant to Real Madrid, with journalist Bence Bocsak praising him for the impact he’s made in the Champions League.

However, the former Santos man, who is regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, may be in need of a fresh start, given that he has now gone 31 games without a goal for the La Liga side, which is the worst streak ever for a Real Madrid attacker.

That’s not to say the Osasco-born forward wouldn’t make an impact at the Etihad Stadium, however, as he has previously shown a keen eye for goal, chipping in with 68 goals and 53 assists in 286 matches for the Spanish side.

Man City now favourites to sign "incredible" £88m star, Pep's captivated by him

City have taken the lead in the race for a Premier League star, with Pep Guardiola a big fan.

ByDominic Lund Dec 2, 2025

£70m would be a huge fee to pay for a player in such poor form though, and Man City should test the waters with a lower offer to begin with.

Wayne Rooney has named a “frustrating” player as his worst teammate from his time at Manchester United.

Rooney reveals "worst" teammate from his Man Utd days

Rooney spent 13 full seasons at Old Trafford, establishing himself as a club legend by amassing a whopping 253 goals and 142 assists in 559 games, during which time Man United won five Premier League titles.

United’s ability to sustain such levels of success suggests Sir Alex Ferguson made very few mistakes in the transfer market, but the legendary manager did make a few errors, with Kleberson, who arrived from Atlético Paranaense in 2003, widely regarded as one of his worst signings.

The Brazilian made just 20 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils before being sold to Besiktas, with the midfielder joining the likes of Diego Forlán, Bebe and Mark Bosnich on the list of signings that just did not work out.

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In fact, Rooney once told Alan Shearer just how angry he was about Kleberson getting ready to be brought on in his place against Newcastle United, saying: “I was p***** off. You can see it in my face. Then I saw Kleberson warming up on the touchline, ready to come on for me. I was even more p***** off that I was going to be taken off for him.”

Despite clearly not rating the midfielder, the 39-year-old once named a different former Man United star as his worst teammate, saying:

Nani's record at Man Utd

In many ways, it seems a little harsh that Nani was namechecked as Rooney’s worst teammate, given that the winger’s goal and assist record across his first five campaigns at Old Trafford is actually very impressive.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goal contributions

2007-08

26

11

2008-09

13

4

2009-10

23

12

2010-11

33

26

2011-12

29

18

In fairness, the 112-time Portugal international went off the boil towards the end of his time at Man United, failing to score across the 2013-14 campaign before signing for Sporting CP, but he enjoyed a successful career at Old Trafford, winning four Premier League titles.

The Portuguese winger also scored some iconic goals for the Red Devils, finding the back of the net 41 times and celebrating with his trademark back-flip celebration.

In fairness, the now 41-year-old’s longevity is probably why Rooney named him his worst teammate, as it is easy to forget players like Kleberson and Bosnich, who were shipped out fairly quickly after failing to adapt.

Ironically, nowadays Nani would probably be among the best players in the Man United squad, with Ruben Amorim’s side making a disastrous start to the Premier League campaign, collecting just four points from their opening four games and losing 3-0 to Manchester City.

With Nuno Espirito Santo being dismissed by Nottingham Forest just three games into the new campaign, Football FanCast have now taken a look at some of the harshest sackings in Premier League history.

5 Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno’s future at The City Ground has looked uncertain for quite some time, with the 51-year-old choosing to publicly reveal that his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis has deteriorated since last season, which left the owner “baffled”.

Initially, it appeared as though the Portuguese coach was set to keep hold of his job in spite of the comments, but a 3-0 home defeat against West Ham United in his final match at The City Ground may well have sealed his fate.

The sacking seems incredibly harsh, given that Nuno was the man to lead Forest back to Europe for the first time in 30 years, making major strides last season by finishing in seventh place, after taking over a team that only narrowly avoided relegation the season prior.

However, the writing may well have been on the wall for the former Tricky Trees boss as soon as he spoke out about his relationship with Marinakis, and he has now lost his job, with the owner believed to be keen on Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner as a replacement.

Games

73

Wins

32

Draws

15

Losses

26

Points per match

1.48

4 Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea have a history of being a ‘sacking club’, which stems from the Roman Abramovich era, with the former owner known for being particularly cut-throat, although it was not the Russian who dismissed Thomas Tuchel.

BlueCo made the decision to part ways with Tuchel after a 1-0 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, much to the German’s disappointment, saying: “I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end.

“This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. Thank you so much to all the staff, the players and the supporters for making me feel very welcome from the start.”

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The sacking felt incredibly harsh at the time, given that the 52-year-old had led the Blues to Champions League glory, while also winning the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, and the decision didn’t pan out how BlueCo would’ve been hoping.

Graham Potter lasted less than seven months in charge after replacing Tuchel in the dugout, with Chelsea going on to finish 12th in the Premier League table.

Games

100

Wins

60

Draws

24

Losses

16

Points per match

2.08

3 Ruud Gullit

Chelsea is a running theme on this list, with Ruud Gullit being dismissed back in February 1998, despite the west Londoners sitting second in the Premier League table at the time, having also been triumphant in the 1996 FA Cup final.

A variety of reasons have been given for Gullit’s dismissal, including the Dutchman’s alleged high wage demands, but he has since been revealed that he was at odds with the club’s hierarchy due to other issues.

Gullit said: “Later on I found out that there was a lot of money going around because all of a sudden the best players wanted to come to Chelsea and they were offering a lot of players that I didn’t want…I was a little bit in the way.

“You had people around you who took care of you and and then all of the sudden they backstabbed you. And that’s a horrible feeling.

“The worst thing of all was also my mum had breast cancer. So I had to go to Amsterdam all the time in order to support her. And then they said, ‘Yeah, but he’s never here because he’s always in Amsterdam’.”

After being sacked by Ken Bates, the now 63-year-old went on to manage Newcastle United, reaching the 1999 FA Cup final, while his replacement, Gianluca Vialli, won five trophies during his spell as Chelsea boss.

Games

83

Wins

41

Draws

18

Losses

24

Points per match

1.73

2 Carlo Ancelotti

Continuing the Chelsea theme is legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked by Abramovich in May 2011 after a second-place finish was deemed below the required standard by the former owner.

That is despite the fact Ancelotti enjoyed a great deal of success in his first season as manager, winning the Premier League title, alongside the FA Cup and Community Shield during the 2009-10 season.

In fairness, Abramovich’s model of regularly sacking managers certainly worked for the Blues over the years, but the Italian’s replacement, Andre Villas Boas, didn’t last long, being dismissed after just nine months in charge.

Eventually, things worked out for Chelsea, with Roberto Di Matteo leading them to a shock triumph in the 2012 Champions League final, but the decision to part ways with Ancelotti still remains baffling, having averaged over two points per match.

Games

109

Wins

67

Draws

20

Losses

22

Points per match

2.03

1 Claudio Ranieri

It will be difficult for anyone to ever top Leicester City’s achievement from the 2015-16 season, with the Foxes defying all the odds to win the Premier League title, having gone into the campaign as 5000/1 outsiders.

However, Claudio Ranieri’s side surpassed all expectations, winning the top division for the first time in the club’s at-the-time 132-year history, with the likes of Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez cementing themselves as club legends.

Just nine months after one of the biggest upsets in football history, however, Ranieri was dismissed from his post, with the club statement reading: “His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question,”

“However, domestic results in the current campaign have placed the club’s Premier League status under threat.”

Former Manchester United manager José Mourinho famously paid tribute to Ranieri in a subsequent press conference, wearing a ‘CR’ initialed polo shirt in a show of solidarity.

In fairness, things worked out in the long run, with Brendan Rodgers leading Leicester to FA Cup glory in 2021, but the decision remains hugely controversial, given the role Ranieri played in defying all the odds in the 2015-16 campaign.

Games

81

Wins

36

Draws

22

Losses

23

Points per match

1.59

With Matheus Cunha seemingly on his way to Manchester United this summer, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly set to submit a £29m bid to sign their potential replacement.

Man Utd close in on Cunha

Cunha’s Wolves departure has looked inevitable rather than possible ever since he put pen to paper on a deal which included a £63m release clause in January. The Brazilian stayed put in the winter window, but on that one condition. Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, it’s Manchester United who are set to take full advantage of that release clause this summer.

The inevitability of Cunha’s exit hasn’t always seen the forward keep his home fans onside, either, and he has done himself no favours throughout the campaign by keeping up a poor disciplinary record on the pitch.

What those suspensions have done, however, is hand Vitor Pereira a glimpse into life without Cunha. And whilst it would have been easy to assume that glimpse would spell undeniable disaster for Wolves, the reality couldn’t be more different.

Without their star man, Wolves put together an impressive three game winning run, which then turned into six once he returned. It was a run that led to their Premier League safety and one that Pereira celebrated by joining his supporters at the local pub.

Whether a toast was raised to Cunha is doubtful, but there’s no denying that Wolves will still need to replace the Man United-bound star regardless of that impressive run without him. And that has reportedly seen them turn their attention towards another Brazilian forward.

Wolves set to table Yuri Alberto offer

According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are now set to table an offer worth €35m (£30m) to sign Yuri Alberto this summer. Pereira has reportedly specifically requested the 23-year-old Corinthians forward who he worked with during his time at the Brazilian club and could now get his man when the summer arrives.

Appearances

28

Goals

11

Assists

2

A young forward who was just finding his best form at the time, Alberto has since blossomed into an impressive striker who is ready for a move into European football.

Described as “clinical” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, the Brazilian could instantly form a partnership full of promise with Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has enjoyed an impressive season in his own right under Pereira.

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Wolves are among the teams chasing a young star, who is out of contract in December.

ByBrett Worthington May 19, 2025

Get things right and Cunah will be a name of the past, rather than a regretful star lost. Pereira has already proven that he is more than capable of getting the best out of his current squad without his standout star, but the arrival of Alberto could help the Portuguese manager take Wolves beyond simply surviving in the Premier League.