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Neil Lennon issued a transfer update ahead of the Nomme Kalju game, and the Celtic fans are far from pleased.

The Celts boss claimed that they will look to strengthen the squad further after the two-legged clash with the Estonian champions, and also reminded everyone to be patient as transfers are “a slow process” and quality is what’s important.

“If you can negotiate this tie then we can hopefully look at strengthening the side going into the third round. It can be a slow process at times but you want quality,” he said.

The club did, however, announce the signing Hatem Abd Elhamed on Wednesday, shortly after the gaffer’s comments.

The Israeli utility man joins Christopher Jullien, Luca Connell and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo in coming to Parkhead this summer. His arrival takes the club’s spending to around £12m this window as they look to replicate the success of last season.

But Lennon’s update has worried fans, who would like bodies through the door as soon as possible.

The supporters have seen right-backs Mikael Lustig, Jeremy Toljan and Cristian Gamboa leave the club this summer, yet Abd Elhamed, who is not a specialised right-back, has been the only replacement brought in thus far.

Here’s how the supporters reacted on Twitter…

Liverpool will set their sights on the future with Southampton’s Matthew Targett, after releasing Alberto Moreno at the end of this month, according to TEAMtalk.

Indeed, the Reds are apparently ready to raid Southampton once again, after signing Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana from them in recent years.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is thought to be looking for competition for Andrew Robertson, who arguably had his best season yet for Liverpool, booking himself a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the first time, and former England under-21 star Targett is being considered.

It is reported that the Southampton youngster would consider a move to Anfield but has been encouraged by England coaches to seek regular first-team football elsewhere in a bid to stake his claim in the international first-team setup.

Targett struggled to overthrow Ryan Bertrand from the starting spot last season, making just 21 appearances in total, 13 of which were in the starting line-up. But that isn’t to say he doesn’t possess the ability to develop into a star.

The 23-year-old most definitely has age on his side, and his statistics aren’t half bad either. According to WhoScored, he produced on average 1.7 tackles (compared to Robertson’s 2.2), 1.7 interceptions (almost double Robertson’s 0.8), 1.9 clearances (Robertson: 1.3) and was dribbled past 0.9 times – the same amount as his prospective Liverpool senior.

In terms of his attacking ability, he doesn’t fare much worse, either. Targett provided 0.7 shots per game and 1.4 key passes (compared to Robertson’s 0.4 and 1.4, respectively), and while his assists and dribbling statistics do pale in comparison to the flying Scotsman’s, there isn’t many in the league that would come out on top in that contest.

One of the major themes of Klopp’s work in making Liverpool a force to be reckoned with again has been his ability to pick players up from the lower half of the Premier League and mould them into better players. Robertson himself is perhaps the key example of this but Georginio Wijandlum and Xherdan Shaqiri have fit the collective well after moving from relegated sides.

Even as a potential back-up, this move makes complete sense from Liverpool’s perspective.

Liverpool fans, would you be happy with Targett providing competition? Do you think there’s any chance anyone could dislodge Robertson? Let us know in the comments below…

تحدث كويمين كيليهر حارس مرمى فريق ليفربول عقب انتهاء مباراة الأمس أمام فريق ولفرهامبتون في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وفاز ليفربول بأربعة أهداف دون رد في الجولة الحادية عشر من البطولة، في ملعب الأنفيلد.

وشارك كيليهر في مباراة الأمس وهي الأولى له في البريميرليج، وذلك في ظل إصابة الحارس الأساسي أليسون بيكر.

وقرر المدرب يورجن كلوب مواصلة اعتماده على خدمات كيليهر بعد تألقه في مباراة الثلاثاء الماضي أمام أياكس في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال كيليهر، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “كان أدائنا من الدرجة الأولى، منذ الدقيقة الأولى كنا متحمسون حقًا ولعبنا بشكل جيد”.

وأضاف: “سجلنا أربعة أهداف وربما كان في إمكاننا تسجيل المزيد، لقد كان أداء الفريق رائعًا من جميع النواحي”.

وواصل: “تصدياتي أمام ولفرهامبتون؟ أنا هنا من أجل ذلك! أنا أحاول فقط أن أكون متواجدًا من أجل الفريق لمساعدتهم في تلك اللحظات ولحسن الحظ تمكنت مرة أخرى من التصدي لتلك الكرات والحصول على الشباك النظيفة”.

واستكمل: “الحفاظ على نظافة الشباك يُعد أهم شيء بالنسبة لنا، أنا والمدافعين، لقد قمنا بعملنا”.

وشهدت مباراة الأمس حضور 2000 مشجعًا في الأنفيلد، كجزء من خطة عودة الجماهير تدريجيًا إلى المدرجات والتي غابت عدة أشهر بسبب كورونا.

وعن ذلك، قال كيليهر: “بكل تأكيد الأمر رائع، لقد مر وقت طويل بدون الجماهير لدرجة أنه كان من الغريب رؤيتهم، لكن كان شعورًا رائعًا بعودتهم إلى الملعب”.

واختتم: “الدعم الذي يقدمونه مختلف، لقد رأيت اليوم كيف نؤدي في حضورهم، لذلك فإن عودتهم كانت إضافة حقيقية بالنسبة لنا”.

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Tottenham Hotspur have turned down the chance to sign Edin Dzeko from Roma this summer, per Football Insider.

What’s the word?

The report claims that Spurs were offered the opportunity to make a bid for the former Manchester City striker in the summer transfer window.

Dzeko scored 14 goals in all competitions in 2018/19, laying on 11 assists, and his representatives are said to have reached out to Spurs to float the idea of securing his signature.

However, Spurs decided against making a move for the 33-year-old, and he is now set to move to Inter Milan instead.

Roma are said to value the Bosnia & Herzegovina captain at £18m.

The ideal Llorente replacement

It is not known how often Dzeko would have wanted to play in England if he’d moved to Spurs.

But, in terms of profile, he could have been the ideal replacement for Fernando Llorente, another brutish forward with the ability to pop up with important goals.

The Spaniard is preparing to leave north London when his contract expires at the end of this month, and Spurs need a back-up for Harry Kane.

Securing Dzeko for a fee below £20m could have been a smart piece of business. He has a proven Premier League record – he scored 72 goals in 189 appearances for City – and would have been a fine alternative to Kane.

It isn’t clear who chairman Daniel Levy will be acquiring to bolster Mauricio Pochettino’s forward line, but one thing is sure; he has missed a trick by not bringing in Dzeko for such a measly fee.

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Tottenham Hotspur need to beat Ajax in Amsterdam to reach the Champions League final.

Spurs lost the first leg 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Mauricio Pochettino was forced to name a patched-up XI, with Moussa Sissoko on the bench and Son Heung-Min suspended.

Sissoko is fit for the return leg, however, while Jan Vertonghen, who sustained a nasty-looking head injury in the first game, could play with facial protection this time out.

Harry Kane has travelled to Amsterdam to watch the game but he is unlikely to be fit to play any part as he continues his recovery from ligament damage, but Erik Lamela is fit.

Football FanCast, then, has taken a look at how Pochettino could set up as Spurs look to face Liverpool in Madrid for the right to be called European champions.

Hugo Lloris is sure to play in goal.

Kieran Trippier is the only choice at right-back, with Serge Aurier injured and Kyle Walker-Peters untrusted on the biggest stage.

If Vertonghen is fit, he should play and, with Davinson Sanchez also injured, it makes sense for Pochettino to revert to the four-at-the-back system that almost saved his side in the first leg. Danny Rose offers more thrust at full-back than Ben Davies and should start.

In midfield, Sissoko has proved himself to be indispensable and he simply has to start, but there are question marks over who will partner him; Eric Dier endured a nightmare against AFC Bournemouth at the weekend and Victor Wanyama is perhaps the best option.

The front four surely picks itself, even when Lamela’s return to fitness is considered, with Son, despite his sending off on Saturday, sure to be champing at the bit to get out there and right the wrongs of the weekend.

After he missed the first leg, Pochettino will hope that his direct running and excellent finishing ability will prove decisive.

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s battling performances at right-back for Crystal Palace have earned the 21-year-old plaudits and admirers all over Europe, although his displays have always been deemed not quite enough when it comes to recognition from the likes of Gareth Southgate’s England and now the PFA.

The defender narrowly missed out on a call-up to the last senior Three Lions squad, with Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold named instead, and now the latter has returned to take some shine off of Wan-Bissaka’s stellar season once again.

The Liverpool man has had a fantastic campaign, make no mistake, but his inclusion in the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award means there is no room for the Eagles’ tackling king. The omission has raised eyebrows but none are more bemused than Alan Shearer, who went so far as to claim Wan-Bissaka should actually be picking up this season’s award (BBC’s The Premier League Show via Football London):

“I think his improvement has been incredible. I think that the pressure a young player is under is hard enough anyway, but to go into a team and stand out when, for a lot of this season he has been playing in a relegation battle; when you put all of that together, for him to be the standout player in that team, and what they have had to go through, and for him to keep getting better and better, and offer so much to that team, I think he deserves it. I think he has been absolutely magnificent.”

High praise indeed from the BBC pundit and comments that should somewhat ease any frustration regarding the controversial omission on Wan-Bissaka’s part.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

It seems unlikely that the number 29 will be bothered by his overlooking, though, and will continue to operate with outstanding consistency in the shadow of those performing arguably at a lower standard but for a top six club.

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Wolves are in the box seat to secure seventh place in the Premier League this season, sitting three points above Leicester.

But hints have been dropped by Nuno Santo suggesting that a couple of fringe players could play their part in the remaining matches.

The Express & Star reported that Will Norris may feature before the season is up and then the same publication reported in April that Max Kilman could soon make his debut.

However, Wolves fans didn’t take too kindly to seeing the news on Twitter, with TalkingWolves provoking debate among the Molineux faithful.

A number of fans wanted to see the club take points off of Liverpool on the final day and as such, were demanding a full strength side.

Another supporter said he wanted Wolves to achieve as many points as possible.

Kilman is yet to make his senior bow for the club but Norris featured regularly in the cup competitions last term.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper played in four Carabao Cup matches whilst also being selected in a further two FA Cup ties.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

Changes are surely coming aplenty for Newcastle United next season, as Rafa Benitez demands a proper reshuffle in shape in order to compete for bigger things.

The Magpies find themselves in risk of losing some key personnel considering the aforementioned Spaniard’s contractual situation on Tyneside and, elsewhere, influential midfielder Isaac Hayden seems insistent on leaving.

He’s not suited to life at St. James’ Park, seemingly wanting to move for personal reasons and, while it seems harsh to criticise him for that, the former Arsenal youngster would now be a big miss. Indeed, Hayden’s energy and steel in midfield have brought a new spark to Benitez’s game when it looked as if things were going stale, so his potential departure would be a blow.

So, according to reports from German outlet Bild (via HITC), the Magpies are looking for a rather unknown replacement in Nurnberg’s Patrick Erras.

While talented, the 24-year-old German is still finding his feet at the Bundesliga bottom feeders, making him quite an unusual replacement for such an influential midfielder. Erras’ only made 13 appearances for Nurnberg, including only 7 starts and would surely have to undergo a period of acclimatisation if he were to move to the English top flight.

Unlike the reliable Hayden, he’s still struggling to stand out in difficult circumstances.

If Newcastle want to move forward and become a side challenging for a European spot, getting mediocre talents like Erras won’t do. While the 24-year-old’s timely shown his ability with a few impressive appearances, stats don’t favour him at all. He’s only assisted once this campaign and boasts a relatively unimpressive 74.1% passing accuracy (stats via WhoScored).

Unlike the industrial Hayden, Erras has seemingly struggled under pressure and hasn’t been able to dominate possession as well as he’d like.

Exposing him to the Premier League’s intensity could be a huge risk, as the Magpies need to do better than getting a cheap replacement for their potentially departing workhorse.

Newcastle fans, would you be pleased with Erras’ potential arrival in the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Rangers legend Ronald De Boer believes he knows the best way for Steven Gerrard to overhaul their rivals at the summit of the Premiership table in years to come, but admits that his plan will not be an immediate fix.

De Boer is coaching the Ajax Under-19 team, and the club has seen a number of its academy graduates emerge as first team regulars — something that Rangers can benefit from, in his eyes.

Mixing youth with player investment is what helped Ajax reach the last eight of this year’s Champion’s League, and the former Rangers star is a big fan of “giving the kids time”.

It may not be ideal for the Ibrox club, as establishing success this way would take patience and time, but De Boer believes that fans would prefer to see local young players winning trophies for the club.

He told the Daily Star: “I am in favour of giving the kids time.

“At the end of the day, when you bring through your own players your club will be so healthy.

“It is also great for the fans to have local boys in their team. That is something special.

“If you put a lot of money into the youth system like we do at Ajax then in the end you will get the results.

“When that is working properly, when you have good youth coaches, then you will always be a very healthy club.”

Of course, when you are in charge of a club where your city rivals are winning titles and trophies year upon year, the need for fans to see instant success is very demanding.

Gerrard has said he wants to have funds available to buy players this summer, that can see Rangers challenging Celtic in the league next year.

To do that, he would need a sizeable budget, and is already trying to cool expectations with comments claiming an inability to pay substantial fees for players like Ryan Kent.

If that is the case, then it would seem a long way from the type of money he will need to mount a realistic title-winning campaign, so De Boer’s long-term strategy may be more prudent.

De Boer added: “Sometimes you have a good generation and you have four or five players who come through to the first team.

“But you are also doing well if you have one or if you are lucky two coming through into the first team. That is a very healthy situation.

“I think Rangers should look to do it more and not just focus on signing players for the first team.

“It always starts with the foundation and the pillars of success are the youth.”

With the talented youngsters starting to knock on the door of the first team, some of who are coming through the reserve side, while others are currently out on loan, it is something that may pay off for Rangers.

Players like Glenn Middleton and Greg Docherty are excelling this year, and could be ready to make the transition after the summer.

If Gerrard can get a good blend of youth and sensible recruitment, maybe Rangers will become the dominant force they once were in Scottish football.

What do you think of De Boer’s comments Rangers fans? Is he right to suggest your club play the long game in your pursuit of league titles? Let us know below…

كشفت تقارير صحفية إيطالية وجود حالة إصابة بفيروس كورونا في صفوف فريق إنتر ميلان.

وكان النادي الإيطالي قد أعلن، منذ قليل، إصابة اللاعب أليساندرو باستوني بفيروس كورونا، كوفيد 19، ولمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا.

وحسب صحيفة “جازيتا ديلو سبورت” الإيطالية، فإن باستوني ليس اللاعب الوحيد المصاب بالفيروس المستجد في صفوف إنتر ميلان، حيث هناك أيضًا ميلان سكرينيار.

ويتواجد سكرينيار حاليًا مع منتخب سلوفاكيا في فترة التوقف الدولي.

ولم يعلن إنتر ميلان أي شيء فيما يتعلق بحالة سكرينيار، وما إذا كان مُصاب بالفعل بفيروس كورونا أم لا.