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Glasgow Celtic have been dealt a huge blow to their chances of bringing Kaoru Mitoma to Parkhead this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Tokyo Sports (via Sport Witness), who claim that Brighton & Hove Albion are in the process of finalising a deal for the Kawasaki Frontale winger ahead of a move to the American Express Community Stadium this summer.

A source close to the player told Tokyo Sports: “I heard that it was decided to go to the Premier League.”

The report then goes on to mention Celtic’s interest in the 24-year-old, with new manager Ange Postecoglou believed to be a fan of Mitoma’s following his own time in Japan while in charge of Yokohama F. Marinos.

However, with Brighton all but confirming the transfer of the Japan U23 this summer, the Celtic boss will now have to turn his attention elsewhere in the summer transfer market.

Ange will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Mitoma has been for Kawasaki Frontale in recent seasons, the fact that Celtic look to have missed out on the signing of the winger is sure to have left Postecoglou gutted.

Indeed, in the 2020 J1 League, the 24-year-old scored a whopping 13 goals, registered 12 assists and created 13 big chances over his 30 appearances, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 1.5 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £1.62m-rated man earn a rather extraordinary seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.29, ranking him as not only the fourth-best performer for Kawasaki Frontale but the ninth-best player in the league as a whole – playing a key role in his team setting a record points tally, as well as securing the earliest title win in the league’s history.

The man Juco James dubbed a “creative” player has continued his fine form over his 20 J1 League appearances this season, scoring eight goals, providing three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.17.

As such, it would very much appear as if the signing of Mitoma would have been a considerable coup for Celtic this summer, with the Japanese youngster seeming to have the talent to provide the Bhoys with a real shot of retaining their Scottish Premiership crown next season.

However, with a deal for the 24-year-old now appearing dead in the water, Postecoglou must find another target this summer who could help relight the fire at Parkhead next season.

In other news: Celtic set to offer deal to “unbelievable” gem compared to Messi, fans will be buzzing

Everton have confirmed that they have sacked their manager Rafa Benitez this afternoon after just six months in charge.

The Spaniard conceded his tenth defeat in the Premier League yesterday when the side lost to bottom of the league, Norwich City, and already names are being thrown into the hat for the next manager to take on the challenge at Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

Sky Sports journalist, Ben Ransom, has named three managers that are speculated to take over at the club live from the Everton training ground this afternoon, with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Roberto Martinez all being named as potential suitors.

Ransom spoke live on Sky Sports News on Sunday to speculate on the favourite successors;

“Obviously, Wayne Rooney has been linked straight away, given the relative success he’s managing to have at Derby.”

“Frank Lampard, out of work, his name is always mentioned when a Premier League job comes around.”

“I know that, here at Everton, there are still a lot of admirers for Roberto Martinez, he was in the frame when Benitez was given this job in the summer.”

Everton released a statement this afternoon confirming that a permanent replacement will be made in due course.

Fans will be buzzing

It’s safe to say fans will be buzzing that Benitez has been sacked with immediate effect, with protests planned, banners flown and even attempts to get to the manager in the dugout all being displayed by the Toffees fans over the course of this season.

Rooney is a clear fan favourite for the job, with many fans taking to social media to share their thoughts on appointing the Derby manager, one fan commented:

“This was always going to end in tears, I think the next @Everton manager should be the man who’s worked wonders @dcfcofficial in difficult circumstances and is a bonafide Toffees legend, the one and only @WayneRooney.”

Whoever takes over has a challenge on their hands to change the direction Everton have been heading in this season so far, with the club only picking up only five points from a possible 30 in their last 10 games under the Spaniard.

As a result, they are currently six points shy of the relegation zone, with a huge U-turn needed immediately for the club to have their season saved, so there will be big pressure to make an instant impact for the new manager.

Rooney lacks experience but he has already shown at Derby that he’s capable of reviving a club in troubled waters. With the Rams, he is providing them with a hope of Championship survival despite a haul of 21 points being deducted.

They are now off the bottom, however, on a five-match unbeaten streak. He has worked wonders and it would take something similar to wake the Toffees from their slumber. Perhaps he is the man to do so, therefore.

In other news: Doucoure wanted by Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid

Newcastle United are facing a major injury worry over Joe Willock ahead of their Premier League clash against Wolves on Friday night.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter, journalist Craig Hope revealed: “Joe Willock a doubt for Friday’s visit of Wolves with a knee injury, opening door for Bruno’s first home start. Also understand Kieran Trippier will miss Wolves & Leicester but there remains hope he’ll be back this month.”

Worrying news for Howe

While seeing Willock complete the full 90 minutes against Spurs may have offered some hope that the injury he sustained was nothing too serious, Hope’s update is certainly a worrying one for the Magpies boss.

Speaking later in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Howe delivered a further update on Willock’s condition.

He said: “Joe Willock has had a slight knee problem for a couple of weeks. He’s become a bit more aware of it in training so it’s something we need to stay on top of. We’ll make a late call on him. We don’t think it’s anything serious.”

Despite not seeing Willock hit the heady heights of last season, when he scored eight goals in just 14 Premier League games for the club following his loan move to St James’ Park, the England youth international still offers that box-to-box presence and dynamism from midfield.

The 5-1 defeat to Spurs last time out just raised a sliver of doubt over whether the Magpies have well and truly escaped from the relegation battle this season, especially with Burnley’s seismic 3-2 victory over Everton on Wednesday night.

The result in Lancashire has meant both Burnley and Everton are just seven and six points behind the Magpies respectively, having also played a game less than the Tyneside club too.

Injuries at this stage of the season, and with so much on the line too, can be incredibly taxing for managers, and for Howe, being without one of his key first-team options in midfield in Willock is something that will worry him ahead of tomorrow night.

AND in other news, Wood upgrade: PIF will be having NUFC nightmares after missing out on £20m “cult hero”…

Newcastle find themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League as they head into the last international break of 2021.

The Magpies are 19th in the table and are the only side in the division yet to win a single match, with 20th-placed Norwich on one win below them.

Eddie Howe has been officially unveiled as the new manager of the club following Steve Bruce’s exit last month and faces the unenviable task of attempting to rescue the situation over the coming months.

Dreadful

One player who has contributed to the club’s poor form this season has been Brazilian attacker Joelinton, who has been dreadful in the Premier League when called upon.

Out of all the outfield players who have started a league match this term, only Ryan Fraser and Jonjo Shelvey have averaged lower SofaScore ratings than Joelinton – 6.55. He has played ten games, starting just five, in the top-flight and has averaged 52 minutes per match.

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In that time, per SofaScore, he has lost possession of the ball a whopping 110 times. This means that he has lost the ball once every 4.7 minutes for the Magpies, which works out at roughly 19 concessions per 90.

Couple this with his lack of quality in the final third and you have a player who struggles at both sides of the game for Newcastle. He has zero goals and one assist this season, with 0.6 key passes and 0.4 shots on target per game, via SofaScore. This shows that he is not providing the goods at the top end of the pitch to make up for his lapse play in possession.

Magpies legend Alan Shearer once stated that he finds the forward ‘frustrating’ and lamented the Brazilian’s poor first touch. He said: “A lot of money he cost and he finds it really difficult. His touch is really poor and he hasn’t posed a threat.

“It’s been really frustrating watching him. I actually feel sorry for him because when the ball goes to him, it’s bouncing off him and he’s offering nothing going the other way, also.”

These comments may have come midway through last season, but they are still applicable today as his statistics show that he has not come good at St. James’ Park.

Shearer’s reference to his poor touch could be why he loses possession of the ball far too often, whilst his creative and shooting statistics align with his claim that he does not pose a threat to the opposition.

Therefore, Joelinton has been dreadful for the Magpies in the top-flight and replacing him could be one of Howe’s first tasks in the January transfer window, unless there is a sudden upturn in form over the next couple of months.

AND in other news, PIF plotting swoop for “outstanding” £67k-p/w gem, he’d solve Howe’s major NUFC issue…

Prospective Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants to make Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni one of his first signings at the club, according to ESPN journalists Rob Dawson and Julien Laurens. 

The lowdown

The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed on Tuesday evening that Ten Hag has verbally agreed to become the next permanent manager at Old Trafford.

And ESPN believe an official announcement could be made before the end of the month.

Tchouameni is a 22-year-old France international whose primary position is defensive midfield.

He’s under contract at the Stade Louis II until the end of the 2023/24 season.

The latest

Dawson and Laurens write that United have been ‘finalising shortlists’ in their target positions ahead of the summer transfer window.

Ten Hag ‘will be allowed’ to present his own list of options as he looks to put his stamp on the squad and Carrington sources have told the outlet that he’s ‘keen’ on bringing Tchouameni to Old Trafford.

Monaco are apparently willing to listen to offers in the region of £49.7million-£58million.

Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are also interested, but Tchouameni would prefer to move away from Ligue 1, and the ‘uncertainty’ over the ownership at Stamford Bridge could harm the Blues’ cause.

The verdict

Signing Tchouameni would get the Ten Hag regime off to an excellent start.

He won the official Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award in 2020/21, a clear indication of his immense promise.

And he’s continued to shine this season, winning four WhoScored Man of the Match awards, as many as PSG duo Lionel Messi and Neymar combined.

Tchouameni looks like an exceptionally well-rounded midfielder, ranking in the 74th percentile or better (relative to positional peers) for dribbles, progressive passes, tackles and interceptions (via FBRef).

He’s of a similar profile to the likes of Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara and Real Madrid’s Casemiro.

Journalist Zach Lowy has declared him ‘one of the best young midfielders on the planet’, a glowing endorsement indeed.

In other news, Rangnick could be without an ‘extremely valuable’ player for a month. 

Many Everton fans have been left buzzing as some news emerged involving Richarlison.

The Goodison Park faithful tweeted a few images of the former Watford ace, confirming he is ‘back in full training’, in what has of course come as a mighty relief to a lot of Merseyside club supporters.

Given that Rafa Benitez has been dealt a double blow with the latest injury news on both Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it is certainly positive to hear of Richarlison’s return.

The Brazil international has been such a not yet scored for his new club.

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Everton fans on Richarlison news

These Blues were left buzzing as Richarlison’s return was revealed on Twitter, with a few EFC supporters claiming that it is ‘good news’:

“Things you love to see”

Credit: @JMarleyWrites

“Good news from Everton. Inject it”

Credit: @mannie_efc

“Finally some good news”

Credit: @EFC_Eve

“At last, some good injury news!”

Credit: @BlueAndy81

“Proper sight for sore eyes that!”

Credit: @RockfallDCUO

“The league is shaking right now”

Credit: @RicharlisonR9

In other news, find out what transfer news has Evertonians fuming here!

Speaking on live TV (via Football Daily), Sky Sports have now dropped a Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.

The Lowdown: Spurs in centre-back chase…

It has been reported that Spurs are looking into signing another defender this summer even after completing a deal for 2020/2021 Serie A MVP award-winning defender Cristian Romero.

Claims emerged earlier this week of their renewed interest and contacts for Takehiro Tomiyasu, with managing director Fabio Paratici eager to land another defensive option for Nuno Espirito Santo.

They have also been in talks to sign Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic (Sky Sports), with Sky now bringing news as Spurs eye another West Ham United target.

The Latest: Sky drop live TV claim involving Zouma and Spurs…

As per the broadcast giant, via Football Daily’s post, Tottenham are now interested in signing Zouma this summer as they bring a transfer update out of N17.

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“Tottenham are interested in signing Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma,” Sky explained.

“He’s one of a number of defenders the club are looking at.”

The Frenchman now joins a growing list of Spurs transfer targets for the central defensive area as Paratici eyes yet more reinforcements to protect goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Verdict: Great option, but unlikely…

Lauded as a ‘beast of a player’ by Premier League legend John Terry (Instagram Live via Tribuna), Zouma arguably has the ability to succeed at Tottenham.

Standing at a lofty 6 foot 3, the 26-year-old averaged a higher pass accuracy (90.9%) than any Spurs player in the English top flight last year – highlighting his real composure passing out from the back (WhoScored).

However, Chelsea and Tottenham’s unwillingness to do business is well documented so it is difficult to see this transfer coming off as a result.

In other news: 66-cap ace pushed closer to leaving Tottenham, Nuno leaves him out of ECL squad…find out more here.

With just three wins under their belt from 15 Premier League games so far this season, Leeds United have only scored 15 goals in that time.

Taking this into account, it seems as though the club are keen on bringing a new attacking talent to Elland Road in an effort to bring an extra spark to their forward line.

According to a recent report from Spanish media outlet El Nacional (via MOT Leeds News), Leeds are apparently preparing a firm offer to sign Real Madrid attacker Mariano Diaz.

Since making his senior debut for the Spanish giants back in August 2016, the 28-year-old – who is currently valued at £9m by Transfermarkt – has made just 63 senior appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in the process.

With fellow Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema scoring 17 goals in 20 appearances so far this season, it’s easy to see why Diaz, who has been described as a “real goalscorer” in the past by former Lyon assistant coach Gerald Baticle, has found regular game-time hard to come by this season, making just one appearance in La Liga.

Taking all of this into account, and with Victor Orta apparently clashing with a Leeds supporter in the stands at Elland Road during their 2-2 draw against Brentford, he would surely get this disgruntled fan and any other unhappy Leeds supporter back onside if he manages to secure a deal for Diaz in January.

If this were to happen and Diaz was then able to score a decent number of goals for Bielsa’s side, he could completely turn around Leeds’ underwhelming first half of the season and finish it on a strong note away from any danger of being in a potential relegation battle.

Also, with Patrick Bamford having returned from injury and back amongst the goals with his late equaliser against Brentford, his presence alongside Diaz’s potential arrival in January could be just the tonic for Leeds going forward.

Looking ahead to January, if the Whites are indeed preparing a bid to sign Diaz, this could be a great piece of business from the Yorkshire club and give Bielsa an extra attacking option who has the pedigree of scoring goals in a top team alongside world class players at Real Madrid.

In other news – Time to shine: Bielsa must now unleash “superb” £17k-p/w prodigy after big Leeds blow

Celtic are close to completing the Parkhead arrivals of three players in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Japanese publication The Mainichi, who claim that Celtic are nearing deals for all three of Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate ahead of the winter market.

The report goes on to state that the club are progressing well in discussions with Yokohama F Marinos and Gamba Osaka, the respective clubs of Maeda and Ideguchi, regarding deals, as both sides are happy to sanction the sale of their respective stars.

However, it is also said the Bhoys talks with Kawasaki Frontale, the club of Hatate, are at a less advanced stage, as the J League side are currently demanding much more for the 24-year-old than Celtic are prepared to offer.

Ange will be buzzing

With Ange Postecoglou openly stating that he is willing to raid the Japanese top flight of its most impressive players in January, the fact that Celtic appear close to signing three of Japan’s brightest talents is sure to have left the 56-year-old buzzing.

Indeed, over his 36 J League appearances this season, centre-forward Maeda scored a whopping 23 goals, registered three assists and created four big chances for his teammates, with these returns seeing the £990k-rated man average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09 – ranking him as his club’s joint sixth-best performer in the top flight of Japanese football.

Meanwhile, over Hatate’s 30 league fixtures, the versatile midfielder scored five goals, provided two assists and created three big chances, with these metrics seeing him average a SofaScore match rating of 7.16, while central midfielder Ideguchi averaged a SofaScore match rating of 6.76 over his own 29 J League appearances.

As such, should Celtic indeed go on to land all three of these players in January, not only would they continue Postecoglou’s Japanese revolution at Parkhead – following the summer signing of Kyogo Furuhashi – they would also represent a huge step in the 56-year-old’s revolution of the Bhoys first-team squad – something that would only appear to bode well for the club’s title chances this season.

In other news: Major blow: Ange confirms injury update that will surely devastate Celtic fans

Sheffield United are reportedly interested in a deal to sign QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng, according to The Sun (8th August, page 67). 

What’s the story?

Sheffield United have already been faced with considerable interest from Arsenal for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has recently returned to the first-team squad having been away from England on international duty over the summer.

Ramsdale has been with the club since 2020, although it’s claimed that he could be heading for the Bramall Lane exit door in the near future, with the transfer window set to close on August 31st.

Therefore, the Blades are seemingly preparing for his departure by targeting a move for Dieng, who has two years remaining on his current contract with Mark Warburton’s QPR side.

He has made 44 appearances in total for the Rs in total, which includes 43 from the 2020/21 season, as QPR finished ninth in the Championship table.

The Sun report that Dieng could be on the move this summer for a fee in the region of £6million, with the Blades eyeing a move for the 26-year-old.

Dieng has been with QPR since 2016, and kept 11 clean sheets with them last season, as they finished last year’s campaign strongly under the watchful eye of Warburton.

The shot-stopper has previously been attracting interest from West Ham United, and you don’t do that by chance, so that speaks volumes about his ability at this moment in time and the exciting potential he has.

Dieng has shown that he’s more than capable of performing to high standard in the Championship, with the shot-stopper adjusting well to the demands of life in the second-tier, which can sometimes be an unforgiving league.

He had an average Whoscored rating of 6.71 from the 2020/21 season for QPR and he could turn out to be a smart signing by Sheffield United this summer.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s side will be looking to win promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the top-flight last term, in what was a disappointing campaign for the Bramall Lane faithful to witness.

The Blades haven’t been very active in the summer transfer window, but Ramsdale’s potential departure late into this summer could prompt some late movement, which is certainly needed.

Sheffield United were beaten by Birmingham City in their opener this term, and Jokanovic will be keen to see a positive response from his side in midweek when they return to action against Carlisle United in the EFL Cup.

Dieng made an error against Norwich City last term, but Warburton labelled the shot-stopper as ‘outstanding’ for his performances during last year’s campaign.

“He’s human. There’s no-one in the world [who doesn’t make mistakes]. [Lionel] Messi makes mistakes, [Cristiano] Ronaldo makes mistakes, the very, very best people in the world make mistakes.

“Seny’s had an outstanding season, he’s just human. It’s as simple as that.”

Dieng would be a smart signing by the Blades if they can get a deal over the line to secure his signature, as he’s shown that he’s capable of performing to a more than good enough standard at this level, and it’s a deal that the Bramall Lane faithful should be buzzing about.

AND in other news; Sheffield United also want to sign this in-demand star before the window closes…