All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic could now make a move and sign an “excellent” 19-year-old, who is taller than every Hoops player, according to a new report.

Celtic begin preparations for the summer

The Hoops will be slowly turning their attentions to the summer, as they plan a recruitment drive that can not only help them stay top of the Scottish Premiership but can also help them when it comes to competing in the Champions League.

Rodgers must drop Idah to unleash Celtic star who "raises the bar"

Rodgers must drop Adam Idah from the starting line-up to unleash this Celtic star.

ByDan Emery Apr 26, 2025

It’s been reported that Celtic remain interested in signing Million Manhoef from Championship side Stoke City, despite the fact that he is valued at £10 million. The Hoops are also in the race to sign striker Moussa Soumano from AC Ajaccio, but they face stiff competition as Premier League-bound Leeds United are also keen on the player.

Signing a striker seems a priority for Brendan Rodgers this summer, as West Ham’s Danny Ings has also been mentioned as someone the Scottish champions could look to sign at the end of the campaign.

But as well as looking at proven players, Celtic are also in the market for young, exciting talents, and according to TBR Football, the Hoops have spoken to the representatives of Jesse Derry, who currently plays for Premier League side Crystal Palace. There are several teams from Britain and abroad who are chasing the signature of Derry.

Celtic could sign 19 y/o gem who is taller than every Hoops player

Derry is not the only young star the Hoops are chasing ahead of the summer, as according to George Shields, manager of Tayport, Celtic could be interested in signing goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu.

Nwosu is currently playing for Tayport, who are a team in the sixth tier of Scottish football, and the shot-stopper claimed his fourth clean sheet in a row on Wednesday evening. Shields has revealed that the Hoops could be about to make a move for his goalkeeper.

“He’s six foot eight, and I can see him getting a contract someplace, especially in Scotland,” he told The Herald.

“I don’t think he’ll have a problem getting a contract up here if I’m being honest. He’s only 19 years old, so he has plenty of growing to do. Maybe not physically, but he can clearly play at a good level. There is some word that Celtic might want a look at him, as well but we’ve not had confirmation of that yet.

“He has done really well playing for me at Tayport up to now, and we’ve put him in the shop window for these clubs. There’s no question that he has all the attributes to play at a high level.”

Nathaniel Nwosu

1.93m

Adam Idah

1.90m

Auston Trusty

1.90m

Viljami Sinisalo

1.90m

Nwosu, who has been dubbed “excellent” by Sheilds for his distribution, could join Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo and Scott Bain at Parkhead.

This is it, then; Tottenham Hotspur’s season comes down to this.

Ange Postecoglou’s side take on Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final and sit three games away from an incredible achievement.

However, to ensure they get to the final in Bilbao, the North Londoners will need to perform substantially better than they did on Sunday.

To ensure that happens, the manager needs to make some significant changes to the starting lineup, changes that should see Djed Spence and several others dropped.

The Spurs players who should be dropped

So, starting off, it should go without saying that Postecoglou should be looking to drop both Kevin Danso and Ben Davies for tonight’s game, as while they were not the worst offenders at Anfield, they are no match for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Likewise, while he’s undoubtedly going to have a big future at the club, Archie Gray should come out of the side, as he looked far from convincing on Sunday, earning a 3/10 match rating from the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick and completing just 12 passes in the first half.

Finally, Spence should also come out of the team, as he was another player who had a seriously torrid time against Liverpool.

The usually impressive full-back earned a dismal 4/10 match rating from Kilpatrick, who wrote that he was poor in possession and was ‘ran ragged’ by Luis Diaz.

While it might sound harsh, it’s an opinion backed up by the statistics, as in 94 minutes, he amassed an expected goal plus assists figure of 0.05, made a single tackle, lost seven of eight duels, lost the ball 20 times, was accurate in 16 of 27 passes, misplaced 100% of his crosses and five of his six long balls, took a single shot off target and failed in 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

94′

Expected Goals

0.02

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.03

Assists

0

Tackles

1

Duels (Won)

8 (1)

Passing Accuracy

16/27 (59%)

Key Passes

0

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Long Balls (Accurate)

6 (1)

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (0)

Shots on Target

0

Shots off Target

1

In all, it was a dreadful attacking and defensive display from Spence, and given the importance of tonight’s game, one that should see him start on the bench.

The Spurs star who should replace Spence

While Bodø/Glimt have taken some impressive scalps en route to this game, it would be fair to say that they’ll be massive underdogs against Spurs, and as such the hosts will likely spend most of the game attacking.

So, with this in mind, it seems like the perfect game to start Pedro Porro ahead of Spence.

Now, it’s certainly true that the Spaniard has a defensive mistake in him – as we’ve seen on numerous occasions this season – but it is equally true that he’s an incredible passer of the ball, and when on song, an unreal outlet from the right-hand side.

For example, even though he’s not had the best of campaigns this season, the former Sporting CP star has managed to rack up an impressive tally of eight assists and three goals.

Moreover, FBref places the “titanic” ace, as dubbed by The Athletic’s former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, in the top 1% of full-backs in the Premier League for crosses into the penalty area, the top 2% for key passes, passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions and general crosses, the top 5% for touches in the attacking third, the top 6% for switches and more, all per 90.

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.95

Top 1%

Key Passes

1.97

Top 2%

Passes into Penalty Area

2.01

Top 2%

Crosses

6.98

Top 2%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.80

Top 2%

Touches in the Attacking Third

27.37

Top 5%

Switches

0.51

Top 6%

Blocks

1.61

Top 6%

Total Shots

1.35

Top 8%

So, if Postecoglou’s side are likely to have far more of the ball at home, then it makes far more sense to start someone whose primary strength is chance creation.

Ultimately, Spurs have the chance to essentially win the tie tonight, and the best way to do that is by starting their most dangerous players, including Porro.

Spurs can forget Frank & Ange by hirinig "the best manager in the world"

The legendary coach would be an excellent hire for Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 30, 2025

A position often heavily scrutinised in Enzo Maresca’s system at Chelsea are his wingers, who are tasked with holding the width in the early stages of build-up, pinning opposition fullbacks and looking to isolate them 1v1 at any given chance.

However, the profiles of wingers Chelsea currently have at their disposal aren’t the exact archetype Maresca would favour, apart from Noni Madueke who fits the bill.

Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho are slightly different in style, therefore offering a plan B when needed.

Chelsea looking to improve their attack

Adding another direct type winger who is more akin to Madueke on the opposite side could take Chelsea to another level next season, giving them directness on both flanks to force the issue and create high xG chances.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

So, it will come as no surprise to learn they’re after one of the finest wingers in European football right now.

Indeed, according to reports from Spain, Chelsea are one of three teams who are ‘ready to make a move’ for Barcelona forward, Raphinha, with the Blues identifying the Brazilian winger as a “priority target”. The other two clubs interested are Manchester City and Saudi side Al Hilal.

The Blues were in for Raphinha back in 2022 prior to his move to Barcelona, with the Brazil international opting to join the Spanish outfit instead after leaving Leeds United for a fee of around £55m.

Raphinha has made 49 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions this season, scoring 30 goals, providing 21 assists and totalling 3,952 minutes played.

Barca are still on for the treble this season, and achieving this could see the 28-year-old become the front-runner for the Ballon D’or.

How Raphinha could benefit Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has found himself in a bit of a rut this second half of the season, still having 14 goals and nine assists in 39 appearances this campaign, but going without a goal for the past three months, last scoring against Bournemouth back in January.

This campaign has been very different for the 22-year-old star, often being man-marked and focused on by opposition pressing schemes, limiting his time and space on the ball.

One thing that could help to open up those alleys of space Palmer loves to operate within is the addition of more relentless runners, something the Blues have missed at points this season. This is where Raphinha comes in.

Goals

0.68

0.39

Assists

0.48

0.22

xG

0.56

0.52

xAG

0.48

0.30

Progressive Carries

3.24

4.66

Progressive Passes

3.31

6.26

Progressive Passes Received

10.8

5.28

Shots Total

3.68

3.60

Key Passes

3.03

2.49

Shot-Creating Actions

5.49

5.80

Successful Take-Ons

1.61

1.44

When looking at the Brazilian’s underlying numbers alongside Chelsea’s central creator, you can see the former receives 10.8 progressive passes per 90. This is a big indicator that he is a focal point and outlet for Barcelona, often looking to penetrate the opposition’s defensive line with runs in behind.

This is exactly what Palmer needs in order to stretch the spaces between the opposition’s first two lines of contact, the first being their forwards/midfielders in the pressing unit, and the second being the defensive line.

Raphinha has even been labelled as “the best player in the world” this season by Statman Dave, and his incredible willingness to be direct and run beyond is one of his key characteristics as a player. Not to mention he’s scoring by the bucket load and creating heaps of goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

Palmer has looked at his best when linking up with Nicolas Jackson and Madueke this season, Chelsea’s two most relentless runners in the front line, willing to run in behind in order to create space for the England international.

As a result, another with Raphinha would only benefit the England international, making it harder for teams to cut off his preferred zones of space.

Chelsea have signed "future Ballon d'Or winner" who's going to stunt George

Tyrique George could find his first team minutes at Chelsea are halted by the emergence of this sensational forward.

4 ByKelan Sarson Apr 22, 2025

Newcastle United are pushing to complete the signing of a player who Eddie Howe has worked with in the past, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Newcastle eyeing new goalkeeper this summer

The Magpies have enjoyed a season to treasure, thanks to their memorable EFL Cup triumph last month, and there is also still hope that they can finish in the top four in the Premier League, sealing a return to the Champions League in the process.

New signings will be needed to aid Howe moving forward, and it looks like a new goalkeeper at the top of the summer wishlist at St James’ Park, as Newcastle look for a long-term replacement for Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka. Burnley stopper James Trafford has been consistently mentioned as a leading option, following an impressive season at Turf Moor.

The Clarets have conceded just 12 goals in 40 Championship matches in 2024/25 to date and Trafford has started 39 of those matches, highlighting why he is seen as one of the most promising young ‘keepers in the country.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara has been mentioned as an alternative option for Newcastle, with the Pole now plying his trade at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, and current Reds ace Caoimhin Kelleher is also a name who has been thrown into the mix. Now, another target has emerged for the Premier League outfit.

Newcastle pushing to sign "phenomenal" player

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are “weighing up” spending £25m on Southampton ‘keeper Ramsdale this summer, with Howe a “big fan” of the England international. Ramsdale effectively became available for purchase this weekend, as he has a relegation clause in his Saints contract.

The Magpies boss worked with him during their time together at Bournemouth, and he could be viewed as the right man to replace Pope between the sticks.

Ramsdale has indeed experienced a disappointing first season at Southampton, officially suffering relegation from the Premier League on Sunday after Saints’ 3-1 defeat away to Tottenham.

The 26-year-old surely won’t be entertaining the idea of playing in the Championship next season, however, having been lauded by Arsenal legend David Seaman in the past: “People forget he’s only 24. So that is amazing for me because I didn’t join Arsenal until I was 26 – what he’s doing now at 24 is just phenomenal. He’s making big saves all the time.”

England

5

England Under-21s

15

England Under-20s

5

England Under-19s

12

England Under-18s

2

While Ramsdale’s time at Arsenal ultimately didn’t work out, with Mikel Arteta preferring David Raya, he is good enough to be an astute signing for Newcastle, especially as Howe rates him highly and knows him so well.

Newcastle now offered chance to buy "unique" £20m ace from Juventus

Eddie Howe could turn to Serie A once again as Newcastle build for next season.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 5, 2025

At 26, he is still young for a goalkeeper and could develop far more in the coming years, and his ability on the ball is arguably more natural than Pope, which could be a benefit for Newcastle, allowing them to shine more as a ball-playing team from the back.

Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes still has work to do as his side look to guarantee their league status, but he already has a keen eye on the summer window with plates beginning to spin in pursuit of one particular target.

Queens Park Rangers look to rebuild in the summer window

Finding themselves above the drop zone but not mathematically safe from relegation, the R’s will be keen to secure their EFL Championship status before a summer window that could provoke changes at Loftus Road.

Tapping into that theme, Sheffield United are set to return for QPR defender Jimmy Dunne in the off-season following their unsuccessful attempt to land the Republic of Ireland international in January.

Setting out their stall, the west Londoners will hold out for a fee of £3 million. Journalist Graeme Bailey recently shed light on the situation, stating: “Don’t be surprised if the Blades come back, but I do know a number of their Championship rivals like him a lot. I really think QPR will find it hard to keep him. He has done really well at right-back.”

Evaluating where QPR arguably need to strengthen most, Cifuentes will surely prioritise brushing up on his forward line due to recent injury troubles involving trio Rayan Kolli, Michael Frey and Zan Celar.

Karamoko Dembele deputised through the middle in their defeat to Stoke City last weekend, though it is clear that experiment should only be short-lived due to his slight stature.

Sheffield United to go back for "amazing" defender after failed January deal

The Blades tried and failed to land him earlier in the year.

ByBarney Lane Mar 25, 2025

A dismal run of form has left little to shout about for a support that continues to turn up in their numbers. Still, that could be about to change amid recent developments on the recruitment front.

QPR submit offer for Macarthur FC star Kealey Adamson

Per Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph on X, QPR have made an offer for Macarthur FC full-back Kealey Adamson and will look to fend off competition from several Championship clubs for his signature.

He stated: “QPR have made an offer for Macarthur FC right-back Kealey Adamson. It’s understood the Australia U23 international is attracting interest from a number of clubs in the Championship. Adamson, 22, has two goals & three assists in his 23 appearances in the A League this season.”

Enjoying a rapid rise to prominence, Adamson was commended for his “wonderful” journey by Northern Tigers chief Jason Eagar following his call-up to Australia’s Under-23 side last year.

Making his mark in the A-League, the versatile defender has created 16 chances and completed 32 successful dribbles and occasionally features further up the right-hand side when required under Mile Sterjovski.

With Dunne potentially set to leave this summer, QPR appear to be on the lookout for a replacement to fill any potential void left by the Irishman.

A billionaire candidate who looked at buying the club has reportedly made his decision on completing a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, as their initial deadline nears.

Sheffield Wednesday near initial deadline

Whether it was optimistic or not, Sheffield Wednesday’s co-administrator Kris Wigfield initially set a soft deadline of December 5 to find a preferred bidder for the club. That is just one day away, however, and it seems unlikely that the Owls will have their answer in the next 24 hours.

Instead, it’s been a frustrating week. The club has been dealt an additional six-point deduction thanks to the lingering consequences of Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership and must already turn their focus towards Championship relegation and a campaign in League One next season.

After a decision that only adds salt to their wounds, Wednesday will hope to see some progression regarding their takeover sooner rather than later.

On that front, several rumours have emerged about a number of interested candidates and one report even claimed earlier this week that some parties may choose to put a joint bid together.

It would be quite the move to match the Owls’ £30m valuation, but whether that move is deemed acceptable by Begbies Traynor remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, reports have also claimed that Mike Ashley has already seen one offer rejected for the club, having fallen below Sheffield Wednesday’s valuation. The former Newcastle United owner is one of interested candidates, albeit one who is yet to match other bidders.

However, the same can’t be said for Anders Holch Povlsen, who has dealt those at Hillsborough a frustrating blow with his latest verdict on buying the club.

Povlsen makes Sheffield Wednesday takeover decision

According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, as relayed by The Star, Povlsen is not among the final candidates to buy Sheffield Wednesday. The Dane may have taken a look at the club, but has decided against putting his name in the hat ahead of the Owls’ crucial decision.

For those at Hillsborough, his interest would certainly have been welcomed. Povlsen already owns Midtjylland and a Forbes profile claimed his estimated networth was $11.3 billion (£8bn) in 2022.

Simon Jordan reveals Sheffield Wednesday "consortium" as next takeover step shared

The Owls have set a soft deadline of December 5.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 28, 2025

The 53-year-old inherited a majority stake in ASOS and is reported to be the largest individual private landowner in the UK thanks to his land in the Scottish Highlands. So, to say that money is not an issue would be a major understatement.

Alas, it’s not just his money that made Povlsen an attractive takeover candidate before he decided against a move. The Dane also ticks the box for experience in the world of football – something other rumoured candidates do not have. In many ways, he was the ideal man for the job, but Wednesday must now look elsewhere.

Sheffield Wednesday candidates now considering shock move to complete takeover

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl recently revealed that he needs players who “understand” what it means to play for the Ibrox giants.

With the January transfer window less than a month away, the German manager said that he has learned which of his players are up to the task of playing for the club.

Whilst he said that he knows which players need to improve, the window will provide him with a chance to replace those players instead of trying to help them improve.

Rangers lining up move for new midfielder

Despite sporting director Kevin Thelwell’s departure at the start of last week, there is already work going on in the background to bolster the former Sheffield Wednesday manager’s side.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Glasgow Rangers are one of the clubs eyeing up a deal to sign exciting Tromso central midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl in the upcoming January transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues have sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old talent in action in recent weeks, as Rohl lines up a move to sign the midfield whiz.

It adds, though, that Premier League side Sunderland are also interested in Hjerto-Dahl, which means that there could be some stiff competition for his signature in January.

GIVEMESPORT also reports that the Norwegian youngster is not expected to cost a fortune, although no exact price tag has been mentioned.

Why Rangers should sign Hjerto-Dahl

Rangers should push to beat Sunderland to a deal for the 20-year-old central midfielder because he could be a Nicolas Raskin repeat for the Scottish Premiership giants.

The Gers signed the Belgian star from Standard Liege in January 2023 for a fairly modest fee of £1.7m, in a move that could be replicated by Hjerto-Dahl, who could sign in January for another modest fee, given that he is not expected to cost a fortune.

On top of the Tromso midfielder potentially joining in a similar transfer deal, the Norwegian gem could also offer similar qualities to Raskin in the middle of the park with his performances.

Hjerto-Dahl, who was described as a “unicorn” by Belgian scout Elijah Michiels, is another central midfielder who can make an impact at both ends of the pitch as a natural number eight.

The Rangers and Sunderland transfer target has been a regular for Tromso in the Eliteserien in the 2025 campaign, starting 28 of his 30 appearances, and has shown some promising signs with his displays.

Appearances

30

33

Goals

4

4

Assists

4

10

Successful dribbles per game

1.3

1.0

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

3.4

Possession won in final third

0.6

0.5

Duels won per game

5.1

6.6

As you can see in the table above, he has some fairly similar statistics in comparison to Raskin’s full season in the Premiership last term, with his work in and out of possession, which is why he is such an exciting prospect.

Given that Hjerto-Dahl is four years younger than the Belgium international, his statistics in comparison to the Rangers star’s are fairly impressive, as they show that he can impact games as a scorer and a creator of goals, without neglecting the defensive side of the game.

The Norway U21 international could arrive in January and use the first five months to adjust to Scottish football and life in Glasgow, as Raskin did in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, before being ready to shine in the 2026/27 campaign.

Whilst supporters may not want to hear about long-term signings and preparing for next season, the reality of the situation is that the Gers are already nine points off first place in the league, have not won a game in the Europa League, and are already out of the League Cup.

Worse than Miovski: Ibrox flop just played his worst game for Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers flop played his worst game for the club in the 2-1 defeat to Dundee United on Wednesday.

ByDan Emery Dec 4, 2025

Instead of chasing short-term results and signings, Rangers need to ensure that they have a long-term strategy in place that will ensure that they are competitive in the long run, which Hjerto-Dahl will, hopefully, be a part of.

Sean Dyche has now personally requested the signing of a “fantastic” Istanbul Basaksehir defender Jerome Opoku at Nottingham Forest, and his current club may be tempted to cash-in.

Reinforcements may be needed in the January transfer window, given that Forest are looking like they could be involved in a relegation battle this season, although there has been an uptick in results since Dyche arrived just under a month ago.

The 54-year-old has made a solid start in the Premier League, collecting four points from his opening three games in charge and signing off before the international break with a 3-1 win against fellow strugglers Leeds United, which could be an important result come May.

The former Everton boss has experience in relegation battles, having managed to guide the Toffees to safety in the 2022-23 campaign, while also stabilising Burnley in the Premier League, so Evangelos Marinakis should have full trust in his manager as we approach the January transfer window.

Sean Dyche requests signing of Jerome Opoku

Given Dyche’s impressive start, Marinakis may be willing to back him this winter, and the Nottingham Forest boss has now personally requested the signing of Istanbul Basaksehir defender Opoku, according to a report from Africa Foot (via Sport Witness).

The 27-year-old has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs as of late, with Everton making an offer in January, while Fulham are also in the race, so the Tricky Trees may have to fend off competition from elsewhere to secure his signature.

Such is the level of interest in the centre-back, he could become ‘one of the hottest topics’ of the upcoming window, and the Turkish club may be tempted to cash-in, given that his current contract is set to expire in 2027.

The Basaksehir defender hasn’t played in England since a spell at Plymouth Argyle in the 2020-21 campaign, at which point he received plaudits from manager Ryan Lowe, who described the 6 foot 5 colossus as “fantastic”.

Since then, the Ghana international has gone on to establish himself as an important player for Basaksehir, making 14 appearances in all competitions this season and helping his side keep clean sheets in three of their last four matches.

Opoku is yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s top leagues, meaning it would be a risk for Nottingham Forest to make a move, but Dyche knows what it takes to avoid relegation from the top flight, so if the manager wants to make the Basaksehir star his first signing, Marinakis should back him.

Nottingham Forest make contact to sign midfielder Dyche called "terrific"

Celtic have now been told how long they’ll have to wait to appoint Kjetil Knutsen with their search for a new manager taking another frustrating blow.

The Bhoys have been in no rush. After Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit, they know that they can’t afford to get their next appointment wrong and have handed Martin O’Neill the position on an interim basis to buy themselves some time.

Pumas now happy for Juarez to join Celtic as Hoops eye secret release clause

A boost for the Bhoys…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 8, 2025

To the 73-year-old’s credit, he has so far rolled back the years in the dugout. A Champions League defeat at the hands of Midtjylland aside and victories over Old Firm rivals Rangers and Falkirk have represented a step in the right direction.

Even after those three games, however, O’Neill has continued to distance himself from the permanent job. In midweek, he told reporters that he’ll be at Celtic until they no longer need him, before revealing that he’d be “absolutely fine” if Sunday’s Kilmarnock clash is his final game.

Alas, as the search for the next Celtic manager has continued, so have the rumours that they could yet turn to O’Neill until at least the end of the season. And it’s easy to see why. The Northern Irishman is about as experienced as it gets, representing a safe option until the right candidate emerges.

A decision to keep their interim boss until at least next year would also allow Parkhead chiefs to play the long game and perhaps land a frontrunner for the job in the long-term.

Celtic handed fresh Knutsen problem

As Graeme Bailey told 67 Hail Hail, Knutsen wants to finish his Champions League campaign with Bodo/Glimt before taking any job with Celtic. This means that the Bhoys could be forced to wait until next year with the Norwegian side’s last group game coming in 2026.

As things stand, they sit 29th and unlikely to qualify for the next stage. This means that their final Champions League game may well be against Atletico Madrid in January before Bodo take a break from football altogether until March. It’s then that it would make perfect sense for Knutsen to take the job.

What also helps Celtic’s pursuit is that the 57-year-old is reportedly keen to take the job if he gets his Champions League wish. So, the big question for Celtic will be whether he’s worth the wait.

A deeper dive into his history suggests that the Bodo/Glimt boss is certainly an interesting option. Having managed the club since 2018, Knutsen can boast four Norwegian league titles and showed his managerial expertise in full with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on the European stage this season.

Andy Robertson makes Celtic return decision

West Ham have reportedly held discussions over signing a Brazil international duo who’ve both impressed in front of goal this year, with Nuno Espírito Santo badly in need of a new focal point up front.

The club’s January transfer window plans are becoming increasingly focused on three key priorities — a defender, midfielder and forward (Sky Sports).

The urgency for a striker stems largely from the ongoing issues surrounding Niclas Fullkrug’s persistent injury problems, which have severely limited his availability and impact for the Hammers since his move last year.

Fullkrug was brought in with high hopes as a reliable goal-scoring option to lead the line, but his torrid injury record has prevented him from consistently delivering those expected contributions.

Time and again, injuries have sidelined Fullkrug, and this inconsistency has left West Ham very short of choices upfront.

Callum Marshall, while tipped for a promising career, is too inexperienced to lead the Irons’ forward line, while it is believed that Nuno privately doesn’t rate summer signing Callum Wilson.

This has resulted in Nuno experimenting with Lucas Paqueta as West Ham’s false nine in their last two Premier League matches — which both ended in defeat.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

The lack of a dependable number nine is a major concern for Nuno as he looks to avoid a dreaded drop back down to the Championship, which is now a serious possibility.

In the last fortnight alone, David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board have been linked with a host of intriguing options.

Real Madrid sensation Endrick is apparently a top target for West Ham, but they’ll have to move quickly as Ligue 1 giants Lyon have already made a formal approach with the player himself keen.

Journalist Alan Nixon has said that West Ham have already worked on a loan deal for Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney as well, with the Irons also holding discussions over Gonzalo Garcia (Graeme Bailey).

West Ham "offered" Brazil duo Pedro and Kaio Jorge

Now, according to Hammers News and journalist Graeme Bailey, you can add Brazilian strikers Pedro and Kaio Jorge to West Ham’s list of potential targets this winter.

Pedro, who’s scored 15 goals for Flamengo during this 2025 season, once plied his trade for Fiorentina in Europe but has spent the majority of his career in South America — where he’s earned six caps for the national team.

Jorge’s scored a seismic 20 goals for Cruzeiro this year, and the 23-year-old ex-Juventus sensation is still yet to reach his prime.

Jorge only has one senior appearance for Brazil so far, but considering his stellar 2025 campaign, Carlo Ancelotti will certainly be keeping a keen eye on the striker ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Bailey reports that West Ham have held discussions with agents about signing Pedro and Jorge, with Nuno’s side “offered” the duo by representatives.

That is as far as it’s gone, but there is reason to believe shopping in the Brazilian Serie A market could prove fruitful.

Jorge carries a market value of just £15 million according to Transfermarkt, while Pedro’s value comes in at around £17.5 million — making them pretty affordable options.

They’re also both represented by Bertolucci Sports, an agency that’s helped Brazilian talents like Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes and Matheus Cunha seal moves to the Premier League in recent years.