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Despite fielding numerous different centre-back pairings this campaign due to enforced reasons and not choice, Erik ten Hag's Manchester United side have been a relatively strong unit on the whole, especially in the Premier League.

United have kept the joint-second-most clean sheets in the top flight, six, conceding an average of just 1.38 goals per game.

However, rumours have arisen regarding Raphael Varane's future at the club, who has had an injury hit time in Manchester, and according to Football Insider, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are willing to let the World Cup winner leave in the summer when his contract expires.

Therefore, let's take a look at three incredible centre-back replacements for Varane.

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Option 1: Matthijs De Ligt – Bayern Munich

Dutch centre-back Matthijs De Ligt is the first star who could send Varane packing in the summer. The 24-year-old is reportedly unhappy with his lack of minutes at Bayern Munich, and he could reunite with Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

According to a report from The Athletic, Man United have contacted the German club regarding a potential loan move for the former Ajax giant.

As you can see, De Ligt is a dominant defender both on the ball and off it, particularly in the air, which can be useful at both ends of the field.

His ability to progress the play and be comfortable in possession will elevate United's control, while his speed and athleticism will make the side difficult to face in transition, in a similar way to how William Saliba mops up at Arsenal.

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Option 2: Jean-Clair Todibo – OGC Nice

Jean-Clair Todibo has arguably been the most linked player to Man United in January, and CaughtOffisde confirmed that the Nice defender is among the top three targets for Ten Hag.

The French rock has been instrumental for Nice this campaign, as they have conceded the fewest goals in Ligue 1, 11, and climbed into second place.

Todibo is a defender who is extremely composed on the ball and rarely gives it away cheaply, but his high progressive passes mean he isn't passive in possession.

His tackles and interceptions combined are very high, as he is an aggressive, proactive defender, and funnily enough, his most similar player according to FBref is United central defender Martinez.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

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Option 3: Jarrad Branthwaite – Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite has been immense in his first proper campaign in the Premier League, which has led to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig labelling him an absolute "monster."

A recent report from The Mirror stated that Everton could be forced to sell their most valuable assets, which means that the £100m valued Branthwaite would be the first out the door.

The table below shows that the 21-year-old loves to defend, and he reads the game brilliantly while also having the ability to defend 1v1 situations with ease. This makes him extremely difficult to play against, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him a "physical beast".

The former PSV defender is also cool-headed and rarely makes impulsive actions, which would make him the perfect replacement for Varane, especially as Martinez is the opposite.

Erik ten Hag and Manchester United are planning to revamp the club's defence in the summer, with plenty of turnover possible. After the club elected not to activate their option to extend his contract by a further year, Raphael Varane could leave as a free agent at the end of the season, as could 2023 signing Jonny Evans. Elsewhere, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are up for sale if the Red Devils receive appropriate offers.

United are looking into some high-profile deals for possible successors like Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo, but based on a recent report, they could also go after a hidden gem to form part of their long-term vision for their back four.

Man Utd in touch over Brighton-esque signing

According to Boca Juniors news outlet Planeta BJ, Manchester United have made contact over Aaron Anselmino. He's caught the eye of the Premier League club, as well as other top sides in Europe, with his exploits so far.

Boca recently tied Anselmino down to a new contract, one that includes a release clause worth just under £16m, but there's a provision in the deal that raises that sum beyond £20m for the final days of the transfer window. The goal may be to ensure that they don't lose the player so late that they can't replace him.

The Argentine club negotited these fresh terms on the back of losing left-back Valentin Barco to Brighton earlier this month. The Seagulls only had to pay £7.8m for his signature under an outdated clause, and Boca believed that fell well below his market value. Determined to avoid a repeat with Anselmino, they will insist on his new clause being met in full.

Anselmino's breakthrough at Boca

18-year-old Anselmino has made five first-team appearances for Boca so far and they will hope there are many more to come. He earned his full debut in the cup against Racing Club in October and kept his place for the next fixture against Estudiantes before featuring against Newell's Old Boys.

In the league, he played the whole second half of a 1-1 draw with Lanus in November, and then enjoyed a brief substitute outing versus Sarmiento. Having not made the matchday squad at all until that game against Lanus, he would be named on the bench for seven of his side's last eight fixtures overall, which may be a preview of an ascension to a much more significant role next season.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

As mentioned above, Brighton have already signed a player from the Buenos Aires outfit this month, and this too would feel very much like a Seagulls-esque deal. In recent years, they've picked up players like Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo from South America and turned them into rising stars coveted by Liverpool and Chelsea.

While United's business model wouldn't revolve around selling Anselmino on for profit, it might be sensible to invest in talented players like him at source and save plenty of money further down the line, even if £20m might seem a little steep at first. Signed in tandem with a couple of the bigger names mentioned above, he could form part of an astute midfield rebuild at Old Trafford.

The legendary attacker is nearing the end – could this be Lionel Messi's final major tournament?

Time waits for no man, not even Argentinian GOATS. Lionel Messi's Last Dance is coming, and it's coming sooner than many realize. It's hard to grasp, but the world has spent the last two decades watching the boy from Rosario become a global icon. In sports, dominance can only go on for so long.

Now 20 years removed from his famous Barcelona debut, Messi's reign is coming to an end. Not today, not tomorrow, but soon. That's what makes this Copa America run so vital for the 36-year-old icon: it very well could be his last.

For years, this tournament tormented him. It famously led to a short-lived international retirement eight years ago. That summer was, coincidentally, the last time the Copa was held in the United States. Much has changed since then.

Now heading into his seventh Copa, Messi enters it for the first time as the reigning champion. He led Argentina to glory in 2021 before guiding his country to a World Cup one year later. Confidence has never been as high as it is now for Messi and the Albiceleste.

They enter this summer as favorites. The pressure will be on Argentina this time around, albeit a different kind of pressure. For years, there were questions about Messi's ability to win a title on the international stage. Those questions have been answered.

There's a new question that will define Argentina's run. Messi has finally gotten his hands on some major international trophies; before his career comes to an end, can he now get his hands on one more?

• Messi's Copa America setbacks

  It didn't take long for the news to start moving through MetLife stadium. Reporters, janitors, elevator operators – everyone was discussing it.

  After falling to Chile, missing a crucial penalty along the way, Messi had announced his international retirement.

  That retirement was short-lived, but it does offer insight into the mid of the man himself. On that night in 2016, Messi was in pain. He was unable to cope with it any longer. After facing setback after setback, Messi wanted out.

  That retirement came on the heels of a heartbreaking loss in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 Copa America final. It was followed by another World Cup heartbreak in 2018. At that point, everyone was considering the same thing: was Messi simply cursed?

  That all changed in 2021, when Messi finally tasted glory in that blue and white shirt.

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  Winning the big one… and then a bigger one

  It's hard to imagine the relief that Messi must have felt that night in Brazil. Not happiness, not joy, not elation — perhaps the best word is relief. After years of criticism, he finally had his answer.

  With a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the final, Messi had finally won an international trophy as he lifted the Copa America. He was the tournament's leading scorer with four goals, and he shared the Best Player award with his longtime friend and teammate Neymar.

  The world knows what happened next. Messi and Argentina marched into Qatar and left with a World Cup in hand. Messi, of course, was the star of the show, scoring seven goals to earn the tournament's Golden Ball.

  And with it, the haters were silenced. The comparisons to the legendary Diego Maradona were finally fair. Even Messi's biggest doubters had to admit that he'd accomplished all he could. It would have been easy for Messi to ride off into the sunset with the title of GOAT.

  He hasn't, though. He's back for more.

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  Remaining the ring-leader

  In the year and a half since Argentina lifted the World Cup, the Albiceleste have played 14 games. They've won 13 of them. Aside from a singular loss to Uruguay, no team has been able to stop Messi and Co., and plenty have tried.

  Messi himself hasn't slowed down, either. Since the World Cup, Messi's international goal total has ballooned from 98 to 108, making him the third player to hit the century mark. He's one away from passing Iran's Ali Daei, although Messi's eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has a commanding lead at the top with 130 and counting.

  Despite the fact that he'll turn 37 this week, Messi is still running laps around the competition. He isn't the same player he once was in his Barcelona heyday, but he's still as dominant as can be, particularly in that Argentina shirt. This Argentina team is still very much built around him and his magic and, until that magic slows down, Argentina will have a chance in every competition.

  That includes this Copa America, where they are massive favorites in their title defense.

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  Argentina's path

  It's not even just that Argentina are supremely talented; it's also the fact that the bracket broke heavily in their favor.

  Grouped with Peru, Chile and Canada, Argentina will certainly be tested in the group stage but, make no mistake, they'll be favorites each time. Chile, in particular, will be a personal one for Messi, who will face the 2016 Copa America winners in the same stadium they won in, MetLife Stadium. It's a chance for Argentina to bury some demons on the way to the knockouts.

  Once there, Argentina will know that Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and the U.S. men's national team are all on the other side. That's correct: Argentina won't face the second, third, fourth or fifth-best team in this tournament until a potential finale.

  Their path will go through Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela or Jamaica ahead of the semifinals. The tournament is there for the taking, which is massive for Messi – who will be eager to seize it.

Things are changing down N17. In the transfer market last month, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy bolstered his backline with the signing of 21-year-old Radu Dragusin, warding off interest from Bayern Munich, before hijacking Barcelona's move for prodigious talent Lucas Bergvall on deadline day.

Last summer, the astute appointment of Ange Postecoglou proved the right decision after an entropic spiral over the past few years called for a shift in strategy, deals for high-profile managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte not working out.

There have been some bumps throughout the campaign but after finishing eighth in the Premier League last season and losing Harry Kane back in August, this will have been expected.

The Spurs squad had undergone too little change across too many years, a liminal period with no positive exit point that devolved into calamity following last year's troubles.

But now Postecoglou is shaping his team nicely and the winter market highlighted the rekindled appeal to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, players looking to make their mark opting for north London over some of Europe's goliaths.

The work has not been done; far from it. Tottenham are already lining up an exciting transfer ahead of the summer in what would complete the midfield with a flourish.

Spurs lining up early deal

According to Italian publication Tuttosport – via Sport Witness – Tottenham have joined Juventus and Manchester United in the race for Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, whose outfit have set a €60m (£52m) asking price for his sale.

The Old Lady probably don't have the financial power to seal such a deal when the top Premier League registers interest, with the report suggesting this after revealing that Spurs and Erik ten Hag's side have made a move already.

With the Netherlands international eager to start a new chapter too, this is the perfect time for Tottenham to do the groundwork ready to land a player fit for purpose at the heart of Postecoglou's project. Indeed, it's said they are 'moving' already to try and secure the player in the summer.

Teun Koopmeiners' style of play

Postecoglou's certainly got his nous intact, mate, and will be desperate to complete his midfield with a high-class player after failing to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea for the second successive transfer window.

Spurs may already have their own Gallagher in 18 y/o “big talent”

The future sure looks bright up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

By
Angus Sinclair

Feb 5, 2024

The £32k-per-week Koopmeiners has been hailed as the "complete footballer" by former Ajax star Ruud Krol and seems to possess a range of qualities that make him a factory-built fit for Premier League football.

In Serie A this term, he has posted five goals and three assists from 19 appearances in the centre of the park, as per Sofascore, completing 82% of his passes and averaging 2.3 key passes, 1.3 tackles, 3.7 successful duels and 5.2 ball recoveries per game.

Moreover, as per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries per 90, showcasing his creative flair and aptitude at carrying the ball into promising positions to inflict damage on opposition.

Technically excellent with a high-energy approach (as his recovery rate would suggest), Koopmeiners would be an excellent addition to Tottenham's engine room, serving as a kind of alternative to James Maddison, if usually sitting deeper in his position as an “orchestrator”, as he has been labelled by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

This kind of placement offers similarities to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, and it definitely wouldn't be an ill-fated move to sign a star of such attributes.

How Teun Koopmeiners compares to Martin Odegaard

Arsenal concluded the permanent transfer of Odegaard from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 for £30m, and having now bloomed into a "world-class" phenomenon – as stated by journalist Declan Carr – it's clear that his strengths are well suited to life in the Premier League.

Indeed, after playing a talismanic role in Arsenal's title challenge against the seemingly indomitable Manchester City, the Norway captain has been in spectacular showing once again, posting four goals and three assists across 20 league fixtures this season, completing 87% of his passes, averaging 2.7 key passes 1.5 tackles and 4.,5 recoveries per match.

While he is the gold standard and it would simply be untrue to say that Koopmeiners is performing at a superior standard right now, there is little question that the Atalanta man holds his own across a spread of facets, more active in his defensive duties – crisper in the tackle – more aerially dominant and slightly more productive in key offensive areas.

Of course, the Premier League is a different pitch entirely and Koopmeiners would be met with the icy bite of English football's high-octane, unforgiving climate, but then he wouldn't be the first Tottenham star to make the move for Serie A and Postecoglou must now act.

Tottenham already boast a squad brimming with quality and Postecoglou has ushered in a plethora of new faces across the early stage of his tenure, but more work needs to be plied to rise to a position alongside those at the top of the table.

Therefore, completing the midfield with a player like Odegaard, who leads the title-challenging Gunners, is only going to be an auspicious piece of business.

With Manchester United also looking to strengthen through Koopmeiners' signing, Spurs must act fast to land their man.

Manchester United are considering a move to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich this summer.

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• Man Utd consider De Ligt deal
• Bayern contract runs until 2027
• Ex-Ajax boss Ten Hag wants reunion

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  reports the 24-year-old has emerged as a concrete target as United look to strengthen their defence. Transfer negotiations are yet to happen but Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag, who worked alongside the centre-back at Ajax, would welcome a reunion.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After Raphael Varane left as a free agent, United need central defensive reinforcements – particularly with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez missing spells of the season due to injury. The report adds De Ligt will be a more realistic summer transfer recruit than Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, who could cost more than £70 million ($89m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 6ft 2in player began his career at Ajax before moving to Juventus in 2019. After three years at the Serie A side, the Netherlands international moved to Bayern. In his relatively short career, he has won trophies with every club he has represented.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While United may push ahead with negotiations in the coming weeks, De Ligt is currently out in Germany with the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024. However, he is behind Stefan de Vrij and Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch defensive pecking order.

Ethan Mbappe, the brother of Real Madrid superstar Kylian, has been announced by Ligue 1 side Lille following his exit from Paris Saint-Germain.

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• Ethan Mbappe follows Kylian out of PSG
• Makes the move to Ligue 1 side Lille
• Signs a three-year deal with Les Douges

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It was expected that Ethan would follow his elder brother out of PSG following Kylian's move to Real Madrid as a free agent this summer. Lille had appeared as the outright favourites to sign the 17-year-old Ethan and the Ligue 1 club have now announced the deal.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lille announced that the French youth international had signed with the club on a three-year deal until the summer of 2027. It is Ethan's first professional contract as he had been kept on a youth contract with PSG and only featured five times with Les Parisiens. As per Lille's official communication, Ethan has been handed the number 29 jersey for his first season away from Les Parisiens.

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  WHAT ETHAN MBAPPE SAID

  Speaking to the club media following his contract signing, Ethan said: "I am very happy to join the LOSC. I look forward to starting this adventure and meeting my new teammates, the staff, as well as the supporters. For me, at my age, staying in France was the best option to progress. I think LOSC was the best project. It is one of the best in France. It's a real pride to be able to play here."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ETHAN MBAPPE?

  While at Parc des Princes, the 17-year-old was always viewed in the shadows of his elder brother's achievements and he will hope that their parting of ways will finally allow him to make a name for himself.

It would probably be fair to describe Crystal Palace's season thus far as disappointing – to be diplomatic.

The Eagles did manage to come away from Goodison Park with a hard-fought point on Monday night, which will surely please new boss Oliver Glasner, but with just six wins from their 25 Premier League games this season, they could still be in trouble.

What makes their position even more treacherous, however, is the growing number of injuries the team has had to contend with this season, as key players like Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise are all out at the moment, with the latter set to remain so for some time.

That said, if the Frenchman is set to miss out on a large portion of the season, Palace might already have the perfect solution in their ranks in a 19-year-old winger who has been tearing it up with the youth sides this year.

Michael Olise's Crystal Palace record

The tremendously exciting winger joined Palace in July 2021 for a fee of just £8m, and while he was a relative unknown to the wider footballing world, he has to be considered one of the best bang-for-buck signings in recent history.

While the "brilliant" Olise, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, didn't make it into the first team squad for the first three Premier League games of the 2021/22 season for the Eagles, he did come off the bench to make his debut in the fourth game, against Tottenham Hotspur on 11 September.

The "simply superb" gem, as described by Kulig, scored his first goal for the club just a few weeks later, as the south Londoners drew 2-2 at home to Leicester City. From then on, he was a regular, making 31 appearances in all competitions across the season, scoring four goals and providing eight assists.

The following season, he scored two goals – including that stunning free-kick against Manchester United – and registered 11 assists in 40 appearances.

This year, despite the club's struggles in front of goal – and his injury problems – he has managed to score six goals and provide three assists in just 11 games, which will be music to the ears of Glasner, especially as the mercurial winger signed a new deal in the summer.

In summary, the 22-year-old is a spectacular footballer, and while it would be hard to find someone exactly like him, the academy might have gotten close.

Why fans should be excited about Franco Umeh-Chibueze

Now, proclaiming a 19-year-old as the next Olise could be seen as putting undue pressure on the shoulders of said youngster, but Franco Umeh-Chibueze isn't just any youth player.

The Irishman joined the Palace setup from Cork City in February 2023 after just four appearances for the senior side.

Academy manager Gary Issott was full of praise for the then-18-year-old, describing him as "a tall, exciting, attacking player with blistering pace and a strong left-foot."

It didn't take him long to show those qualities on the pitch either, as in his first season with the youth teams, he scored six goals and provided three assists in just 13 games, which, while impressive, is even more remarkable considering he did it in 579 minutes of football, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 64 minutes.

He was so effective last season that he has played exclusively with the U21s this year. The "exciting talent", as described by journalist Emmanuel Francis, has six goals and one assist to his name in 13 appearances – or 800 minutes – and he plays out wide as well.

It's this staggeringly brilliant ability to provide goals and assists from the wings that could make him the perfect understudy to Olise in the first team.

Just imagine taking the Frenchman off to recover only to bring on another direct and dangerous attacker in his place – fullbacks wouldn't have a chance to breathe.

Crystal Palace seal another off-field appointment alongside Glasner

The Austrian won’t be the only off-field arrival.

By
Charlie Smith

Feb 19, 2024

Ultimately, the 19-year-old gem simply isn't going to be on the same level as Olise right away, but with Palace's struggles in front of goal, it wouldn't hurt to give Umeh a chance to show the league exactly what he can do.

Shocking footage from the Copa America final has shown how women and children were left screaming during a chaotic pre-match entrance crush.

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• Hard Rock Stadium in Miami hosted final
• Fans gained entrance without tickets
• Scary surges outside the ground

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  With security at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami being called into question, hundreds of ticketless supporters were able to gain entry to the venue ahead of Argentina’s eagerly-anticipated clash with Colombia. Many of those scaled fences and climbed through holes that were not being monitored.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Several more forced their way through gates that saw fans backed up in a mass scramble to get inside the stadium. Some scary scenes led to huge crushes, as swells of agitated supporters surged forward in a bid to make it inside.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Women and children that formed part of that pack were caught on camera in tears as bodies tumbled over and faced the threat of being trampled on by those behind them. The scenes have been widely condemned by those in attendance and watching on from afar.

Arsenal are "more likely" to sign one club's star assist-king over Manchester United and Erik ten Hag this summer.

Edu scouring market for new Arsenal attackers

Despite Arsenal's exceptional form in front of goal since the beginning of 2024, with the Gunners scoring 25 league goals in their last six domestic outings, it remains the case that they wish to bring in a new forward.

Arsenal make out-of-window bid to sign World Cup ace ahead of Barcelona

Xavi’s side face competition from the Gunners.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 28, 2024

Both Wolves star Pedro Neto and Brentford striker Ivan Toney have been heavily linked with moves to north London as far back as last summer, with journalist Dean Jones recently pointing out that Arsenal are convinced either would do a good job following a scouting trip.

"It was an ideal fixture for them to take in those two players. Both of them have been on the radar over the past year, and it was an opportunity to check exactly where each player is at this stage of the season," said Jones to GiveMeSport.

"To be honest, I think it's beyond the stage of gauging how good either player is. Arsenal are totally convinced that either of them or both of them could work well at the Emirates. There are not really any doubts around that."

Both men have been in fine form for their clubs, with Toney scoring four goals in his last seven league games. Neto, meanwhile, has registered an impressive team-high 10 assists in 20 appearances under Gary O'Neil this season.

Neto's exciting, direct style of play could gift manager Mikel Arteta with a very bright and capable attacking option. The 23-year-old, who'd also come with high resale value, could be a fantastic alternative to Bukayo Saka, with Fabrizio Romano even calling him "underrated" and "perfect" for the north Londoners.

"Neto was already on Arsenal’s radar years ago, he’s always been appreciated but there are also other clubs interested, so nothing is guaranteed," said Romano to CaughtOffside via OneFootball.

“Personally, I think Neto is a very, very good player, underrated at some points. He’d be a perfect fit for Arsenal, in my view. Let’s see how the situation will evolve in the next few months.”

Now, another journalist in Ben Jacobs has shared an update on Arteta's chances of landing the Portuguese.

Arsenal "more likely" to sign Neto than Man United

Other suitors for Neto include Man United and north London rivals Tottenham, but according to Jacobs, Arsenal are a "more likely" destination for Neto than Ten Hag's side.

“I think that Arsenal and Spurs are more likely destinations for Neto, at this point," said Jacobs to GiveMeSport.

"We know the Tottenham interest is historical, and I would expect Arsenal to consider Neto this summer as one of a few targets in that position. But both of the north London clubs will also be well aware that Wolves – because he is still well contracted – will be looking for a club-record sale.

“They will be very firm on price. You can understand why, in an inflated market, where many attackers and midfielders have gone for in excess of £70million.”

Celtic reportedly have a plan in place for the summer transfer window regarding a new striker, with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond plotting a "huge" investment into a new signing.

Celtic preparing for life after Abada

The Hoops will be looking to make new signings this summer, in order to go from strength to strength and not allow Rangers to gain a march on them, but Abada has joined MLS side Charlotte FC in an £8million deal.

The 22-year-old has struggled to force his way into Rodgers' plans amidst family and personal issue relating to the conflict in Gaza, starting only five league matches in 2023/24 so far this season, and Celtic were willing to cash in on him, bringing an end to a short but successful stay at Parkhead.

The Scottish Premiership giants have been linked with replacements in recent months, and in-form Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland emerged as an option during the January transfer window. The 28-year-old scored against Brendan Rodgers' side last weekend, and it remains to be seen if they will be back in for him soon.

Adam Idah is thriving on loan at Celtic curently, making an instant impact since arriving in January, and one report has claimed that a permanent Hoops deal could be on the cards for him in the summer, assuming he continues to impress. Five league goals in just four starts are a testament to how well he has done, adding an extra attacking spark to the attack.

Celtic looking for marquee striker signing

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Celtic chiefs are prepared to set aside "huge funds" to complete the signing of a new striker at the end of the season. They are looking to fill the void left by Abada to bringing in an "A-list talent".

It is encouraging to see Celtic taking such a bullish stance with regards to their upcoming business, seeing the need to not only replace Abada, but also ensure that a top-quality player comes in.

Goals haven't exactly flowed in the Hoops' attack this season, with midfielder Matt O'Riley (11) the only player to reach double figures in the league to date, highlighting the need for additional firepower.

Abada may have struggled this season, but he is still going to be a difficult player to replace within the squad, considering Rodgers has hailed him in the past, saying: "Already he has made a great contribution to Celtic, delivering some great performances and making a real impact. His energy and ability are real assets to us, and his delivery in terms of goals and assists from wide areas has been excellent. He is a fantastic young player."

Celtic ready to bid for former star this summer who would cost record fee

The Scottish champions are weighing up a move to bring back an old favourite.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 6, 2024

It remains to be seen who the player in question that comes in will be, but the money should certainly be there for Celtic to splash out on an individual.