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Ange Postecoglou is fighting a seismic battle at Celtic right now with the Hoops enduring their worst start to a campaign for over two decades.

It has been a slog for the Australian who’s had to revamp the playing squad but is now suffering from a number of injuries.

A Europa League tie with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday will serve as a nice distraction from their league struggles but a heavy defeat could damage morale and confidence even more.

Celtic were at their best from an offensive point of view against Real Betis, going 2-0 up before the Spaniard’s fought back and won 4-3 last time out in Europe.

That match should provide them with plenty of food for thought, particularly if they want to take the game to Leverkusen on Thursday evening.

In order to do that, how could Celtic line-up? Here’s the XI we’re predicting from Postecoglou…

We are tipping the boss to make three changes from the side that drew with Dundee United last Sunday.

Josip Juranovic picked up an injury problem in that clash and although the diagnosis isn’t as bad as first feared he misses out tonight.

Therefore, the first change is at left-back where teenager Adam Montgomery is preferred over Boli Bolingoli. We’ve championed the idea of the youngster earning more minutes so he should start again here, as he did vs Betis.

There is another alteration in the middle of the defence where Carl Starfelt is given the night off with Stephen Welsh coming into the starting XI.

Starfelt has had a troubled start to his Celtic career, being mercilessly hounded by fans and pundits for his performances. Consequently, we reckon Postecoglou should take him out of the firing line in a high pressured game.

The final change is in midfield. It’s expected that Callum McGregor will miss out again so it’s James McCarthy and Ismaila Soro who start at the base.

Soro hasn’t started a game since the clash with Betis but with Tom Rogic underperforming, he is axed.

Their £11k-per-week Ivorian hasn’t had the best of campaigns either but it would be preferable if Celtic operated with two more defensive-minded midfielders tonight.

Kyogo Furuhashi remains injured so Albian Ajeti continues up front.

AND in other news, Possession lost 21x: Celtic must ruthlessly axe “majestic” £16k-p/w gem tomorrow…

Aston Villa confirmed on Monday that a road at Bodymoor Heath will be permanently named Withe Way following an $AVL Fan Token vote.

And a number of Villa supporters have been reacting to the news on social media.

Villa revealed details regarding the launch of the $AVL Fan Token last month, with fans offered the opportunity to vote for a road name at Bodymoor Heath in celebration of the club’s 40th anniversary of the 1982 European Cup Win.

Season ticket holders and members were entitled to receive a free token, whereas it would cost others £2 to get involved.

The choices were Withe Way, Mortimer Avenue and Rotterdam Lane, with Withe Way winning in reference to the match-winner Peter Withe.

Villa fans react

Villa shared the news regarding the winner of the fan vote on their official Twitter page.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with a mixed response and one calling it ‘crazy’.

“Wow I’m sure the three currency speculators who voted are really pleased with their decision. Just cancel this total disgrace of a partnership”

Credit: @dvtavfc

“Erm”

Credit: @LeoAVFC82

“Crazy that the man who nearly missed the tap in reaps the rewards”

Credit: @EllisHines27

“Didn’t realise one player won the trophy.”

Credit: @LeeJClark76

“Love it.”

Credit: @MemoryL66809557

“Rotterdam Way is so much better than the winning name.”

Credit: @IngeniousVillan

In other news: Villa now ‘in the queue’ to sign £14.4m-rated striker; he wants to leave. 

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done a tremendous job of eradicating the many mistakes his predecessors made in the transfer market, but there are still a handful of underperforming flops lingering around the club.

During his two-and-a-half-year stay as Red Devils boss, the Norwegian tactician has shown the door to the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Marouane Fellaini and Matteo Darmian, replacing them with astute purchases that have transformed the fortunes of the 20-time English champions.

However, Solskjaer’s squad overhaul is not quite complete yet. And one player who continues to raise question marks due to his disappointing displays is Diogo Dalot.

The 22-year-old defender arrived at Old Trafford back in the summer of 2018 from boyhood club Porto via a £19.8m move, and former United boss Jose Mourinho couldn’t hide his delight after the deal was concluded.

“Diogo is an extremely talented young defender with all the qualities to quickly become a great player for this club,” said Mourinho at Dalot’s unveiling.

“He has all the attributes that a full-back needs: physicality, tactical intelligence and technical quality, combined with a Porto academy mentality which prepares players for the maturity they need at the professional level.

“In his age group, he is the best full-back in Europe, and we all believe he has a bright future ahead of him at Manchester United.”

However, things have not worked out as planned for the Portugal international. During his first two seasons with United, Dalot made just 13 Premier League starts and largely failed to impress during his time on the pitch.

Things started to look up for the youngster last term, though. He joined Serie A giants AC Milan on a season-long loan and played a pivotal part in the success that Stefano Pioli’s charges enjoyed.

Throughout his 12-month spell at San Siro, Dalot made 33 appearances in all competitions, achieving a highly respectable 6.76 WhoScored rating along the way.

And £25k-per-week earner’s contribution to the Rossoneri was sizeable, making 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, and 1.8 clearances per league game as Milan finished in second place in the Serie A standings.

Nevertheless, he’s struggled to replicate that sort of form since returning to English shores. In his five appearances for United during the opening weeks of 2021/22, Dalot has been awarded a rating of just 6.67 for his exploits, highlighting his unsatisfactory output.

The right-back’s performances levels have seen his market value plummet to just £9m despite his age and current contract not expiring for another two years, illustrating how a much-celebrated transfer has turned into a nightmare.

At 22, the best could still be to come from Dalot and he will have ample opportunity to finally fulfill his potential, but he will have to improve his game quickly if he’s to get many more chances in a United shirt.

And, in other news…Rob Dawson reveals worrying Man Utd transfer update, Ole may be concerned 

Aston Villa could have their own Raheem Sterling in academy starlet Ajani Burchall.

Having signed him from Championship side Bournemouth in the summer, it’s fair to say that the 16-year-old has already marked himself out as one of the brightest prospects at the club.

In a profile piece done by The Guardian’s Paul Doyle for their Next Generation 2021 series earlier this month, he said: “Born in Bermuda, Burchall moved to England at a young age and joined Villa in July 2021 from Bournemouth. Last season he became the third youngest senior debutant in the south coast club’s history when he came off the bench against Huddersfield.

“A fast, skillful and smart winger, he has been quick to make an impact at Villa, scoring a hat-trick in his second appearance in the U18 Premier League and also collecting three assists in his first four games for the club.”

Steve Cook, Burchall’s former teammate at Bournemouth, said after the youngster’s first team debut for the club: “You could see how special a player he is. His first involvement was checked his shoulder, cut across a player and won his foul. For a 16-year-old, that awareness, that knowhow, I think the club have produced a really good player.”

Like Sterling, the teenager seems to have that eye for goal which stands him in good stead in this era of modern wingers being the team’s chief goalscorers – the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Liverpool of course doing that better than most.

At just 16, the 5 foot 9 Burchall still has plenty of time to grow and develop, but it’s a measure of his considerable talent that he’s already dominating the under-18 scene for Villa.

Although he’s predominantly played on the right for Villa, he has also operated from the left previously at Bournemouth, and that interchangeability should catch Dean Smith’s eye at senior level.

Sterling made his Premier League debut for Liverpool aged just 17 years, three months and 16 days, so Burchall still has a bit of time left to either match or even better that feat.

One thing is for certain, the teenage starlet could be ready to make a huge impact for Villa if he continues to progress at academy level.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a move for this Championship ace…

Arsenal are facing competition over mooted transfer target Luka Jovic…

What’s the word?

Earlier this week, Spanish outlet Defensa Central reported that the Gunners were considering the Real Madrid striker as a potential replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, who seems likely to depart the Emirates Stadium at the end of his current contract.

The Frenchman is free to leave in the summer and it’s thought that manager Mikel Arteta is ‘very interested’ in the 23-year-old.

But now, according to Italian publication Calciomercato.it, Serie A champions Inter Milan have entered the equation ahead of the January transfer window.

Neither report mentions what sort of price it’ll take to secure the Serbian this winter, though Transfermarkt value him at just £18m, despite costing the La Liga side around €60m (£50.5m) in June 2019.

Alexis 2.0

The 6-foot forward would certainly be an interesting candidate to replace Lacazette in the attack, even if he’s struggled for game time at the Bernabeu, managing only 84 minutes across all competitions.

It’s easy to forget he bagged 27 goals in 48 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2018/19 campaign, form that earned him that big-money move. But the pressure and need to instantly deliver is much bigger at a club like Madrid. It’s especially tricky when you’re the back up to Ballon d’Or contender Karim Benzema.

During his time in the Bundesliga, Jovic earned a pretty remarkable comparison to former Premier League talisman Luis Suarez, who Arsenal were once keen on signing.

“He’s a classic goal-getter with great control of the ball and a good understanding of the game. I’d probably compare him to Luis Suarez,” Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic stated in an interview with T-Online (via Bundesliga.com).

“He’s courageous and dangerous at any moment because he’s always lying in wait for his chance or any inattention from the opponent.”

That sort of description could be said for Alexis Sanchez, too, particularly after Arsene Wenger once likened the Chilean dynamo to the ex-Liverpool striker.

In Jovic, Gunners chief Edu Gaspar could find another Sanchez and one that could fill a likely void in Mikel Arteta’s attack.

Furthermore, the 18-cap Serbia international has previously been lauded as a complete centre-forward by former teammate Kevin-Prince Boateng.

“He has everything to become [a world-class striker]. You see that in training. He has football in his genes, he’s a street footballer, and he has a nose for goal,” he said. “He scores with his head, right or left foot. He is technically good and can shoot well with both feet. He just has everything a striker needs.”

Meanwhile, Jovic talks himself up to be a “fox in the box”, which is certainly an encouraging sign as a striker will need that confidence when adapting to a new league.

With Lacazette on his way out, the north London giants must mull over a bid for the Madrid outcast. If he can rediscover his goalscoring boots, then he could well excite many around the Emirates Stadium.

Just like Sanchez joining from Barcelona back in 2014, this is a move that would add a lot of threat to Arteta and his squad.

AND in other news, Forget Pepe: £36m-rated Arsenal lightweight who lost 83% duels badly let Arteta down vs Palace…

Craig Hope has now ruled out Paulo Fonseca in the ongoing Newcastle United manager race.

The Lowdown: Staveley’s preference

As per Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Fonseca is Amanda Staveley’s ‘preference’ to take over as the new permanent manager at St. James’ Park, with reports last week from Sky Sports confirming discussions had taken place over a deal to bring the former Roma boss to Tyneside.

However, things seem to have moved quickly, and it now looks like the race could be wide open once more.

The Latest: Ruled out

Hope, North-East correspondent for The Daily Mail, has now revealed that based on conversations that he has had, he does not think that Fonseca will become the new manager in the North East, but claimed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium have indeed spoken to him over the role:

“I don’t think it will be Fonseca based on conversations, but of course they’ve spoken to him, for sure.”

The Verdict: Shame

It would certainly be a shame if the Tyneside outfit are not able to hire Fonseca.

He boasts a very impressive CV, having won no fewer than nine major trophies during his career so far, and averages a tally of 1.95 points won per match in 453 games of management (Transfermarkt).

In terms of his playing style, he has been branded as ‘similar’ to UEFA Champions League winning-coach Thomas Tuchel by his former player at AS Roma Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Football London), and described as an ‘international class‘ tactician by Roma chief executive Tiago Pinto.

Fonseca would certainly bring excitement back to the Magpies on the pitch, but it looks as if they may now miss out on his appointment.

In other news, find out which ‘proven winner’ is PIF’s ‘first choice’ for manager here!

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford could return for the trip to Tottenham later this month, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Bamford missing since September

The 28-year-old was outstanding for Leeds last season, scoring 17 goals and registering seven assists in the Premier League as his side finished ninth.

Bamford’s campaign has been frustrating this time around, though, with an ankle injury ruling him out of action since the middle of September. Only five league appearances have come his way since the start of the season, but the hope is that his return is edging closer.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: Hay gives positive update

That’s certainly the view of The Athletic’s Hay, who confirmed in a Q&A after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Leicester City that Bamford could be back in time for Leeds’ next match, which is against Tottenham on 21 November.

In addressing a supporter’s concern about Rodrigo being one yellow card away from a suspension, the journalist gave the informative reply that: “There’s a decent chance that Bamford will be back for Spurs.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-23/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Massive boost for Leeds

This is hugely positive news for the Whites, with Bamford’s aforementioned quality in the final third a big miss in the last two months – Leeds have only scored 11 goals in as many league games this season.

Not only have they been without the striker’s penalty box prowess, they have also missed his ability to bring team-mates into the game and link up effectively with the midfielders and wide men.

Bamford’s return should have a massive impact on the whole team, with the Whites hero very much the focal point of their attack. Hay’s confidence that the 28-year-old will be back for the Spurs game in just under two weeks’ time is very encouraging to hear.

In other news, one Leeds player is eyeing a permanent exit from the club. Find out who it is here.

Mark Douglas has revealed what changes Eddie Howe has made on the training ground at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Brutal regime

As per Craig Hope, the 43-year-old sent a lot of brutal messages to his players in first training session since taking over from the departed Steve Bruce.

Some of the messages included: ‘we train as we play’, ‘match sharp’, ‘no jogging’ and ‘if you think you’re maxed out, you’re not’, before then watching the under-11 side train.

It is clear that he is putting a stamp on his authority at St James’ Park straight away as he aims to help the Magpies fight off relegation from the Premier League.

The Latest: Changes

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Douglas has revealed that sources from the training ground have said that Howe has had a ‘transformational’ impact in the international week, with the intensity and overall mood having ‘lifted’ in the space of just a few days.

The former Bournemouth boss has been getting to know his players and staff, and one of his beliefs is that everyone at the training ground should be ‘adding value’, as he has also been talking to staff about their roles and how it fits into football operations.

The Verdict: Promising

Given the situation in which Bruce left Newcastle, 19th in the Premier League with just five points and no wins after their first 11 games (Premier League), it is promising to see Howe stamp his authority so early on in his tenure.

First and foremost, the aim for the 43-year-old will be to make sure that his team stays up before he can really sink his teeth into the long-term project. If he succeeds, there is no reason not to give him a chance of improving his squad with a big transfer budget, and then he can implement his methods on better quality players.

Judging by Douglas’ insight, Howe certainly seems like a coach who the current crop of players do not want to cross.

In other news: One former EPL goalkeeper had his say on some potentially ‘big’ transfer news for NUFC

West Ham have enquired about a move for Eddie Nketiah, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

News outlet TransferMarketWeb claim the Irons are one of several teams interested in signing the Arsenal outcast ahead of the January transfer window.

Premier League rivals Leeds United and Crystal Palace are also mentioned by the report, whilst Bundesliga duo Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach are said to be keen too.

The 5 foot 11 striker could be available for €12m (£10m), although his £45k-per-week contract is set to expire in the summer, meaning he’d cost nothing at the end of the season.

Shades of Defoe

It is no secret that a new frontline addition is required at the London Stadium this winter. Hammers boss David Moyes still only has one senior option at his disposal in Michail Antonio, 31, a player who has suffered from his fair share of injuries in recent years.

Nketiah, who possesses top-flight experience with the Gunners, could be a perfect solution as at just 22, he could one day replace the West Ham hitman in the future and learning from him in the meantime would be hugely beneficial for all parties.

Last year, the £10.8m-rated striker set the goalscoring record for the England U21 setup by bagging his 14th goal in just 12 games, a figure that has since increased to 16 goals in 17 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Interestingly, Nketiah has been likened to one of the Irons’ former stars in Jermain Defoe.

“He reminds me of another Jermaine Defoe and look at how well he did at West Ham,” claimed Noel Whelan to Football Insider. “He’s very much that similar sort of player. He plays off the shoulder, very dangerous in the box. He’s a player you can’t take your eye off because his movement’s so good.”

The young forward has bagged 43 goals in Arsenal’s youth setup and carried that natural ability into Mikel Arteta’s senior side whenever given a chance, having scored 15 times, five of which have been in the Premier League.

Nketiah has also been described as a “natural born killer” and “so incredibly prolific” by football scout Jacek Kulig in the past too.

If the Hammers’ new head of recruitment Rob Newman wants to solve this problem for Moyes, then he could do little wrong in securing the Arsenal starlet in January.

For just £10m, it could be quite the bargain.

AND in other news, Moyes can save GSB millions with 18 y/o West Ham “monster” who could be “the next Rio”…

Given how Mohamed Elyounoussi is the only Southampton winger to have scored a goal in the Premier League this season, it’s safe to say that Ralph Hasenhuttl has not been able to rely on his wide players to find the net for his team at this point in the campaign.

With this in mind and the team as a whole scoring just 10 goals in the league, it seems as though the Saints could do with some extra firepower in their line-up to push them further up the table.

In his recent press conference ahead of Southampton’s Premier League clash against Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday, Hasenhuttl claimed that a number of fringe players will get their chance to prove their worth in the team to help Southampton get through the busy winter schedule.

One such player is Nathan Tella, who coincidentally made his senior debut for the Saints in June 2020 in their 3-0 win at Norwich after joining the club’s youth ranks from Arsenal in April 2017.

During his time at Southampton, the 22-year-old winger, who is currently valued at £1.8m by Transfermarkt, has made 45 appearances for their B team, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists.

Tella, who pundit Owen Hargreaves has previously said “fancies himself” in terms of the pace he has to get past defenders, has not had many chances to shine in the first team so far this season – particularly in the Premier League, with just one start and two very short substitute appearances under his belt.

Now that Hasenhuttl has said that fringe players like Tella will get some decent minutes under their belts in the coming weeks and months, this could be exactly what the winger needs to really kick on with his career in the first team and prove to the manager that he has what it takes to be a regular figure for the Saints in the future.

Also, with Theo Walcott having very little attacking impact this season and his current contract at St Mary’s set to expire in the summer of 2023, this period now could be Tella’s chance to prove to the club that he can be their long-term replacement for the 32-year-old and save them millions in potential transfer fees for when Walcott eventually leaves. However, the youngster will need to make sure he adds some goals and assists to his tally before then – he has scored just twice in 29 senior appearances up to now.

In other news – Forget Bednarek: Ralph must unleash Southampton’s rarely-seen “fantastic character”