All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Celtic have agreed a fee to sign forward Yang Hyun-jun from Gangwon FC, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops have already been busy in the transfer market this summer as they look to build on a brilliant 2022/23 season under former manager Ange Postecoglou which resulted in a historic treble.

Brendan Rodgers is the new man in charge at Parkhead, returning for a second stint, and the club have brought in midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and winger Marco Tilio from Valerenga and Melbourne City respectively, with both players signing five-year deals.

Another target in recent weeks has been Yang, who previously admitted he would give up his salary to force through a deal with the Scottish Premiership champions.

"Celtic is a good offer, so I want to go. I have to do my best as a member of Gangwon. But I think the desire to go will still be there.

"I want to go to Celtic this summer. I hope Gangwon will allow me to transfer. If the transfer fee isn’t enough, I’ll even give my salary."

Reports earlier this month suggested that Gangwon were stalling over a deal as they believe Yang could help them avoid relegation and wanted to keep their forward until January when their season finishes. Talks were continuing over a £2.1m deal, and it looks as if there has now been a breakthrough over an immediate summer switch.

Joseph took to Twitter on Friday morning to share an update on Celtic and their attempts to sign Yang. He revealed that a fee of just over £2m has been agreed, with no issues in regards to personal terms expected.

“UPDATE: Celtic are closing in on the signing of Gangwon FC winger Hyun-jun Yang. It's understood the clubs have now agreed a fee of just over £2m.

“Personal terms with the 21-year-old are not expected to be an issue.”

How good is Yang Hyun-jun?

Yang is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle so should offer Rodgers a versatile option in the final third.

Aged 21, the South Korea U23 international once caught the eye against Tottenham in a pre-season meeting last year and was hailed as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following his display.

He has made 71 senior appearances in total for his current employers, scoring nine times and registering five assists, and it looks as if he will be aiming to take his game to the next level in Glasgow.

Celtic recently lost star winger Jota, who has signed for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m, so the club may see Yang as a potential replacement. If he can make a similar impact to the likes of Kyogo Furhashi and Daizen Maeda, two forwards who swapped Asia for Scotland in recent years and have starred in Glasgow, then a move may turn out to be a smart one, and by the looks of things, he could be a Hoops player ahead of the new season.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has forgiven Spurs star Son Heung-min for Asian Cup final moment.

What moment is Ange Postecoglou referencing?

The Australian manager is referring back to the Asian Cup final in 2015, when as manager of the Australian National Team, he faced off against the Son-led South Korea.

The game was a classic, and in the 92nd minute, with Australia leading 1-0 and on the brink of securing the trophy, the then Bayer Leverkusen player was played in and fired South Korea level.

The game went into extra time, and a lone goal from Australian James Troisi won the match for Postecoglou and his side, whilst Son is still yet to win the tournament, but he will have the chance to do so this season with the tournament taking place from January-Feburary 2024.

Eight years on from that memorable final, The Australian manager is set to coach the South Korean goalscorer and has jokingly revealed that he had forgiven him for that late equaliser in a fan Q&A on the Tottenham Hotspur official YouTube channel.

The new manager was asked a question by the Spurs official South Korean supporters club about his personal relationship with the late great Ferenc Puskas, and before answering the question he said:

"First thing is I also have a relationship with Sonny, because he scored against me for Korea in the Asian Cup final. We were one minute away from winning it and Sonny scored the equaliser. Then we got him in extra time, so I've already said to him, he's forgiven for that."

Where will Son Heung-min play under Postecoglou?

Postecoglou is expected to bring the biggest overhaul to Tottenham tactically since the arrival of Jose Mourinho back in 2019.

Spurs have mainly deployed a back three in recent seasons, however, the Australian could be set to play his preferred set-up of 4-3-3 that he showcased at Celtic.

Not only does this change directly impact the defenders, but the forwards at Spurs could also benefit from this change in setup, with the addition of a third midfielder opening up a wider range of possibilities in the attacking phase of play.

At the moment, it looks like Son will play in his preferred role, the left-hand side of a front three, with Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski the most likely to join him in completing that front three.

Postecoglou has shown at Celtic that he has the ability to unlock the potential in wingers, with Al Ittihad's newest signing Jota being the finest example of this. Last season the Portuguese winger enjoyed the finest season of his young career, scoring 11 and assisting 11 in 33 appearances, earning himself a WhoScored average rating of 7.48 which was the highest in the entire Bhoys squad.

Son had a disappointing campaign last time out by his usual high standards, scoring only 10 goals in 36 games which was his second-lowest goal return in his Spurs career. In previous years under Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho when employed as an inside forward, the South Korean produced his two best seasons, with 23 goals and 17 goals respectively.

Should Son manage to return to his previous high standards, Postecoglou could help further unlock the quality of the 30-year-old in the clubs quest to return to the top four.

Liverpool are "speeding things up" in regard to signing Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram this summer, according to reliable journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Thuram likely to join Liverpool?

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the Reds' primary midfield targets this summer, as Jurgen Klopp looks to make significant additions in the middle of the park.

Alexis Mac Allister was an early-summer arrival, in what looks like an exciting piece of business, while the club recently announced the arrival of Dominik Szoboszlai.

It could be that Thuram is seen as the third addition to bring in, which would be a huge transformation of Liverpool's midfield, with the £14,000-a-week Nice star enjoying an eye-catching 2022/23 season. He registered four assists and scored twice in Ligue 1 – while the Reds are not the only ones apparently interested.

While the Szoboszlai news has dominated the headlines in recent days, it looks as though Thuram could now return to the forefront of the Reds' thoughts, following a new update.

What's the latest on Thuram to Liverpool?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti claimed that Liverpool are now trying to make a move for Thuram happen quickly, with Newcastle United hovering ominously:

"Liverpool are speeding things up for Khephren Thuram. LFC want to close the gap with OGCNice soon to anticipate the competition of Newcastle, which are starting to move concretely for the player: evolving situation."

This is great news, with Thuram someone who could be a devastating addition to Liverpool's midfield, potentially adding something that was not there last season as the Reds missed out on Champions League qualification.

The 6 foot 4 Nice ace is a towering player with great physical attributes, but he is also technically strong, using the ball intelligently and with purpose, as seen in his 86.9% pass completion rate in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaign.

Nice teammate Aaron Ramsey has said that Thuram is "very dangerous, very powerful, a very strong dribbler of the ball", adding that he is "another player that can go all the way to the top", which says a lot about his ability.

If Liverpool could bring in Mac Allister (24), Szoboszlai (22) and Thuram (22), it would have to be considered a wonderful summer – completely rebuilding a problem area of the pitch and solving the issue for years to come, considering the ages of the players in question.

Aston Villa could “go in” for Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone this summer, as Unai Emery bids to bolster his midfield.

Both Emery and Monchi will hope to take Villa to further heights next season, making this transfer window a crucial one for potential progression.

Villa have been linked to the 22-year-old previously in this window, with a fresh update regarding their stance given this week.

Journalist Dean Jones recently revealed to GIVEMESPORT that the Midlands club could “go in and make an offer” for the French midfielder, who is currently valued at £35m by Borussia.

Earlier this month, a report from the Daily Mail revealed Villa’s interest in the rising talent, with Jones telling GIVEMESPORT:

“There's been a lot of umming and ahhing over targets like Manu Kone, and I feel like at some point Villa are just going to go in there and start making offers for these players to really give them something to think about and see if those other clubs react."

What could Manu Kone offer to Aston Villa?

Emery has unlocked the talents of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara in midfield, possessing two masters of the engine room at Villa who complement each other perfectly.

The Spaniard could take his midfield to the next level by signing Kone, who could be the missing ingredient to unearthing a monstrous trio to contest with opposing midfield combinations in the Premier League.

Dubbed a “one-man army” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman has similar and opposing strengths and weaknesses to the Brazilian and fellow Frenchman at Villa Park, suggesting that they could work efficiently as a trio.

When comparing the three dominating players via FBref based on their respective 2022/23 league campaigns, it’s clear to see their individual strengths and how they could complement one another.

Kamara tops the charts in terms of average number of tackles per 90, with 2.94 to Luiz’s 2.24 and Kone’s 2.55, as well as claiming the top spot for most blocks on average with 1.92 per 90.

Praised as “intelligent” by journalist Zach Lowy, Villa’s Brazilian was their highest-rated performer last season as per Sofascore, and could shine in terms of his reading of the game, scoring highest in terms of interceptions.

The 25-year-old warrior averaged 1.23 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League this term, tipping the Villa target who scored narrowly behind in the Bundesliga making 1.10 per 90, and Kamara who averaged 0.96.

Emery could add a creative spark to his defensive duo in Kone, who prevailed as the best progressive player out of the three last term, as well as averaging the highest pass completion rate with 86.2% per 90.

The Colombes-born midfielder recorded an average of 5.73 progressive passes and 2.04 progressive carries per 90, dominating the Villa duo in this area with Luiz averaging 4.55 passes and 1.48 carries, and Kamara just 0.81 carries and 4.25 progressive passes, as per FBref.

Indeed, this paints the picture that Villa would have every based covered should the big-money signing arrive. A player on the watch list of both Liverpool and Wolves as well as Villa, this would be a big statement of intent from Monchi and Co.

Glasgow Rangers waved goodbye to Alfredo Morelos at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, as he departed the club alongside Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield and Filip Helander following the expiration of their contracts.

It was the end of an era for the quintet, who all played an integral role in the Ibrox side claiming their 55th league title back in 2021, however, Michael Beale is keen to move away from sentiment and build a squad which fits with his ideologies.

Morelos’ goals will be sorely missed, with the Colombian hitman netting a total of 124 across 269 games during his six-year association with the Light Blues, and although his input dropped last term, scoring just 12 times, he emerged as something of a cult favourite along the way.

He will be hard to replace, and this is the challenge that Beale should embrace: aiming to find a forward who can offer as much as Morelos, without having to break the bank in the process.

The Gers have been linked with a move for striker Benie Traore, alongside Old Firm rivals Celtic, and he could cost the club around £4m, which seems reasonable given his age and vast potential.

Could Rangers sign Benie Traore this summer?

They may have to swat aside Celtic in the process, but there is certainly nothing stopping them from luring the youngster to Glasgow, and it could well be a repeat of the deal to sign Morelos back in 2017.

Traore currently plays for BK Hacken in Sweden, while Morelos was at Finnish side HJK Helsinki, having impressed after his arrival from Colombia – and exploring the Scandinavian market could pay dividends yet again for the club.

Since joining Hacken in 2021, Traore has established himself as a proper out-and-out scorer, netting 24 goals and grabbing nine assists in 56 games for the Swedish outfit. He is even able to operate on either wing if so required, which could be a bonus for Beale.

Adding more goals to the starting XI should be a key priority for the manager, as despite scoring 93 times across 38 Premiership games last term, the Ibrox side still fell way short of the 114 efforts that Celtic notched.

The 20-year-old has also gained international recognition, appearing once for the Ivory Coast U23 side, and in order for him to keep improving, a move to Rangers could be the spark which allows him to progress into a striker that can eventually replace the goals of Morelos.

Having snapped up the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Casemiro in recent years, it looks as if Manchester United could be plotting to sign another high-profile, experienced figure this summer, amid current speculation regarding the club's interest in Antoine Griezmann.

According to reports in Spain last week, the Red Devils are said to be among a raft of elite European sides who are interested in prising the 32-year-old from Atletico Madrid ahead of next season, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan also showing an interest in the playmaking forward.

The suggestion is that the former Barcelona man has a release clause worth in the region of just €25m (£21) in his current deal with the La Liga side, ensuring that the Old Trafford outfit could well be able to snap up the 121-cap maestro on the cheap in their quest to bolster their attacking ranks.

It is not the first time that United have seemingly shown an interest in signing the one-time Real Sociedad man in recent times, with Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy having suggested that Erik ten Hag and co had enquired about the prospect of signing the World Cup-winning Frenchman last summer.

With Ten Hag seemingly keen to strengthen his forward line and midfield ranks over the coming months, the Dutchman could perhaps kill two birds with one stone by snapping up the versatile sensation…

Should Man United sign Griezmann?

The £206k-per-week asset could well follow in the footsteps of his compatriot, Varane and last year's summer arrival, Casemiro, in making the move from the Spanish capital to the Theatre of Dreams, with the hope being that Griezmann can replicate the success of the latter man, in particular.

The Brazilian has made a "huge difference" since his arrival from Real Madrid on a £70m deal back in August – according to club legend Gary Neville – having proven himself to be a truly "great football player", in the words of his manager, after chipping in with seven goals and six assists in 51 games across all fronts last season.

Much like there may be with Griezmann, there were initial doubts about the 31-year-old midfielder joining towards the latter stages of his career – with pundit Graeme Souness describing the fee as "too much money" at the time – although the experienced machine has seemingly firmly quashed any such concerns.

The aim then will be for Casemiro's old Madrid adversary to also make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if he is to make the move this summer, with the 5 foot 9 magician having the ability to showcase to those in England just why he is a "super talent", according to Alan Shearer.

Having arguably been his nation's "key player" after taking on a surprise deep-lying midfield role at the World Cup in Qatar – as per ex-United man Diego Forlan – Griezmann continued that impact at club level in Diego Simeone's side, having operated behind the striker for much of the 2022/23 campaign.

It is not wrong to suggest that the Macon native perhaps even outperformed Bruno Fernandes in his playmaking role having contributed 15 goals and 16 assists in 38 La Liga games last season, while the Portugal international, by contrast, registered eight goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League games.

That haul of 31 goal involvements ensured that Griezmann was able to record a standout average match rating of 7.74 – as per Sofascore – with that again putting him ahead of Fernandes (7.56), showcasing just what an astute addition he could be for Ten Hag.

Whether the fleet-footed ace is to operate as an option through the middle or in an advanced midfield role, such a quality recruit could potentially be able to emulate Casemiro's influence on the Red Devils.

Aston Villa have been linked to another Premier League ace, after the Villans sealed their first signing of the summer in Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Unai Emery is expected to have a busy transfer window following his incredible first season in charge at Villa Park, in a bid to build upon the success of this term and prepare the squad for Europe.

Latest news has suggested that the Midlands club are looking to replicate their move for free agent Tielemans in another Premier League star out of contract.

What’s the latest on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Aston Villa?

As reported by talkSPORT, Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way to Villa Park.

The report states that sources close to the outlet understand that the 29-year-old is ‘on the verge’ of completing a move to Aston Villa.

The £125k-per-week Englishman will become a free agent this summer after no new contract was established on Merseyside.

What could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offer Aston Villa?

Hailed by BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan as “superb”, the former Arsenal ace has shown spells of his potential at Liverpool in a period tainted by injury.

During his six years at Anfield, the Portsmouth-born ace missed a total of 88 games due to injury as per Transfermarkt, contributing to him losing his spot as a regular in the side.

Starting his career as a dynamic wide player, Oxlade-Chamberlain was unleashed by Jurgen Klopp as a central midfielder, in a switch of position that paid off greatly for the Englishman.

Emery could land himself a force to be reckoned with in his midfield, with the Premier League and Champions League winner posing as a perfect fit for the Spaniard’s plans.

Following the arrival of Tielemans, the Spaniard has added significant depth to the middle of the park and by introducing Oxlade-Chamberlain as well, it could mean bad news for Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian has failed to find his best form at Villa, and having been linked with the exit door of late could be forced out of Emery’s plans entirely should another central talent arrive at Villa Park.

Comparing their statistics from last season when both players accumulated sufficient game time, the Englishman could offer a significantly greater threat to Villa’s midfield both going forward and as a defensive presence.

As per FBref, the Liverpool gem acts as more of a threat in the final third than Coutinho, averaging in the 2021/22 campaign 7.22 progressive passes received per 90 to the Brazilian’s 4.20, showing his ability to pop up in threatening positions.

In terms of actually distributing the ball, the 'Ox' averaged 6.99 progressive passes per 90 to the 30-year-old’s 6.37 per 90 as well averaging 3.99 progressive carries to his 3.25, via FBref.

The 29-year-old could rediscover his impressive form between his injury woes under Emery, and pose as a valuable member of his plans at Villa Park, being a better fit than the out-of-favour Coutinho to the Spaniard’s demands of his midfielders.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ready to look for reinforcements as the transfer window approaches, as Julen Lopetegui prepares for his first summer in charge.

Wolves will require a number of signings to bolster their side during the break, despite concerns of FFP that will almost certainly place constraints on the Spaniard’s ability to spend.

One area integral for improvement at Molineux is the striker department, with the club cementing themselves as the Premier League’s lowest scorers this season, however, a potential suitor has been identified.

What’s the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Wolves?

As reported by Sky Sports last month, Coventry City forward Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a potential signing for Wolves.

The report stated that the club were ‘leading the race’ to sign the striker at the time, with Coventry’s promotion status a factor in his decision.

With the Sky Blues missing out in the play-off final to Luton Town, the chase could be on for Lopetegui to get his man who is reportedly valued at £20m.

What could Viktor Gyokeres bring to Wolves?

At just 25-years-old, the Swedish striker was integral to Coventry’s push for promotion this season, establishing himself as one of the Championship’s most prolific strikers.

In a total of 46 appearances in the league, the young forward made 32 goal contributions, registering 11 assists and scoring 21 himself as the Championship’s second-highest scorer – as per Sofascore.

To put into perspective the impact he could have on Lopetegui’s side, the talisman scored just ten goals fewer than the entire Wolves squad in the Premier League, as the club suffered a dreary campaign in the final third.

While the Swedish ace’s numbers in the second division are impressive, there is always some anxiety as to whether a star can make the jump from the Championship to the English top tier, where some of the best stars in world football opt to play.

The Coventry City attacker has a claim to his ability, with his numbers showing that he is a natural goalscorer. Indeed Transfermarkt reveal that the forward has scored a total of 123 goals in 293 appearances in his career spanning from youth to senior level.

Hailed as not having a “ceiling” to his potential by former teammate Dom Hyam, the Blackburn Rovers defender revealed that the forward he has played both with and against is bad at “nothing”, saying in full:

“Obviously strikers have their qualities, but there's nothing he's bad at. He's good in the box, he's tall, he's big, he's strong, he's technically good as well.”

At Wolves, the forward could follow in the footsteps of Ivan Toney, and be Lopetegui’s answer to the Championship graduate, who has netted 32 Premier League goals in his first two seasons since promotion.

In the campaign that saw Brentford’s progression to the top division, the Englishman scored 31 goals in the Championship, sculpting the pathway for a Championship talisman to follow.

So successful has the Bees forward been that he is now even a fully-fledged England international; that is quite the achievement for someone who like Gyokeres, has learnt his trade in the EFL.

The impact that Toney has had on Brentford’s success in the Premier League is huge, and that could be replicated by Gyokeres in Lopetegui’s side should he make the switch to Molineux this summer.

Speculation continues regarding just who will be named as the next permanent manager at Leeds United, with the Whites likely seeking to secure an instant return to the Premier League next season following their recent relegation.

With Sam Allardyce no longer at the helm following his brief, four-game stint in charge, recent reports have suggested that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard could be the man to take his place in the dugout, with the 43-year-old already said to have held talks with the Elland Road outfit.

The former England international has been out of work since October following the end to what was a rather underwhelming, 11-month stint at Aston Villa – where he lost 19 of his 40 games in charge – although prior to that the up-and-coming coach had done a "magnificent" job during his first managerial post at Rangers, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The iconic midfielder notably guided the Ibrox outfit to the Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 season as the Gers went the entire league campaign without tasting defeat, having finished 25 points clear of bitter rivals Celtic at the summit.

For all that previous success, however, it is seemingly a different kettle of fish trying to guide a club out of the Championship – as Gerrard would need to do at Leeds – with pundit Ally McCoist only recently sounding a word of warning to the Englishman, after describing the second tier as "completely different dynamic to the top flight".

As such, the Yorkshire side may be better served finding a suitable alternative who has greater experience at trying to push for promotion, with former Fulham and AFC Bournemouth boss, Scott Parker – who has been named among the list of contenders – perhaps the man for the job.

Should Leeds appoint Scott Parker?

Much like his former England colleague, the 42-year-old is currently out of work after enduring a miserable stint abroad at Belgian outfit, Club Brugge, having lasted just 12 games with the Pro League side before being sacked back in March.

Prior to that, however, the youthful coach did impress due to his fine work in the Championship, having notably led the Cottagers to promotion at the first attempt back in the 2019/20 season, following a play-off final victory over Brentford.

Lauded as a "special" managerial talent by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, Parker did suffer a swift relegation in the following campaign in west London, albeit while again repeating his promotion heroics in the 2021/22 campaign with the Cherries.

As per The Telegraph, that experience of steering clubs back into the promised land that is the Premier League is a 'huge plus', even if the highly-rated coach did somewhat sour his reputation having been dismissed at the Vitality Stadium back in August after criticising the club's recruitment policy.

With Parker's time in Brugge having also failed to pan out, the 4-3-3 tactician will likely be chomping at the bit to get back in the game sooner rather than later, hence the need for Leeds to consider handing him the task of securing a rapid return to the top flight.

Chelsea could give a newly relegated Premier League ace a lifeline, as the Blues have shown interest in the midfielder.

It’s been a difficult year at Stamford Bridge, however the good times could return sooner than expected with Mauricio Pochettino set to take the wheel.

One area that the Argentinian will hope to bolster is the side’s competitiveness in midfield, which he could do almost instantly in signing this gem.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Chelsea?

As reported by The Times, the Blues are one of the clubs monitoring the availability of Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia this summer.

A report from GIVEMESPORT with journalist Rudy Galetti claims that “talks” have started over the midfielder.

The Belgian has had a £40m price tag placed on him by the Saints, who signed him from Manchester City’s academy last summer for a fee in the region of £14m.

What could Romeo Lavia bring to Chelsea?

At just 19-years-old, Lavia was a stand-out performer for the south coast side in a dreary season at St Mary’s.

As per FBref, the midfielder ranks in the top 4% of players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of blocks per 90 in averaging 1.90, showing his innate reading of the game and ability to break up play.

Once hailed as a “diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Brussels-born gem is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park, being competent in both offensive and defensive duties in the engine room.

If the Saints star is to make the move to Chelsea, it could be bad news for the club’s current midfielders, most prominently Conor Gallagher who is already on the fence between being a starter and a rotational player.

In terms of the attributes that are essential to being a strong defensive midfielder in the Premier League, the Englishman falls short of the young Belgian, as noted by their statistics based on this season’s averages.

The 19-year-old gem averages an 86% passing accuracy to the Chelsea man’s 85%, as well as making 1.1 interceptions to his 0.7 per game, as per Sofascore.

Most prominently, the teenager averages 2.1 tackles to the Englishman’s 1.3 per game, showing his ability to win the ball in a critical area.

Having been slammed as a “fish out of water” by Darren Bent on talkSPORT, Gallagher has struggled at times in Chelsea’s midfield in areas where Lavia has blossomed, with the Saints hero dubbed an “absolute monster” by journalist Benjy Nurick.

Pochettino must make changes to the team he will inherit, both significant and those that will improve the quality of the depth that Stamford Bridge has in its arsenal.