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Celtic could be slipping into extremely hot water following recent comments from star player Odsonne Edouard. The French striker has been out of action recently due to a positive coronavirus test and it has definitely shown in their performances of late.

The Hoops have struggled since their defeat to Rangers in the Old Firm at Celtic Park and Neil Lennon has come under a lot of scrutiny.

Things could be about to go from bad to worse, with Edouard now discussing a potential move away from the Premiership champions.

Celtic could lose Edouard

Many clubs have been linked to a move for the 22-year-old, who has firmly said that he is currently focusing on this season with Celtic. However, that isn’t to say his future lies with the Scottish outfit.

“I’ve been here for three years, and for sure when the time comes I’ll think about leaving, look for a higher league,” Edouard told Telefoot (via Daily Record). He went on to say that “when the right time comes” he will consider his options regarding a move away from Celtic Park.

This will certainly be a worrying thought for Lennon, who already has a lot on his plate. If Edouard opts to leave the club after this season, the Hoops will need to put their back into scouting out a worthy replacement. The France international already has five goalscoring contributions in seven league appearances this season, continuing his fiery form from last time out.

Last campaign, Edouard notched an astonishing 21 goals and 12 assists in 27 Premiership games (via Transfermarkt). It’s no wonder he has turned heads with these numbers and if Celtic cannot rectify their form this term, the in-form forward may be too tempted to look elsewhere for success.

Whilst the Premiership is dominated by the Hoops, this time they could fall short to Steven Gerrard’s Rangers. Should they lose out on the title to their arch rivals, that could be the deal-breaker to send Edouard into the arms of another club.

If Lennon cannot improve the club’s form, a new deal must be considered. At the moment, the striker is earning £19,000 per week, according to salarysport.com. A bumper new contract with a pay rise could be enough to keep Edouard in the team, but Lennon and co must act fast before an elite side comes knocking.

In other news, Albian Ajeti was a disappointment for Celtic in another Neil Lennon switch up…

Australian defender Matthew Jurman has reflected on his time with Sunderland and revealed that he would like to return one day.

The 30-year-old has recently seen his contract expire at Western Sydney Wanderers and is available on a free transfer this summer.

Having spent the majority of his career in his homeland winning the A-League title on three occasions, Jurman also had a spell in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad.

With Sunderland now looking to bolster their side ahead of a third spell in League One after failing to gain promotion to the Championship for a second successive season, Jurman has seemingly offered himself to the Wearside club.

Speaking to FTBL, Jurman who had a trial with Sunderland at the age of 18, said: “I’d been in Scotland trialling but after they said they wanted me back in pre-season. So I got a trial at Middlesbrough.

“Then I got a chance to trial with Sunderland. I was at Sunderland for a week. The facilities at the training centre in Sunderland were absolutely unbelievable.

“While I was there I watched one of Sunderland’s Cup games at the Stadium of Light. Honestly, it was incredible.

“I stayed near the water in Roker I think, and they really looked after me. It was a nice place.

“I have good memories. Seeing all the training facilities. Everything was really professional. I met Roy Keane [then Sunderland manager] but I was a bit intimidated by someone like him. I was excited to meet him but I mainly worked with Sunderland’s youth coaches.

“And while I was training at Sunderland, they had another young player called Jordan Henderson. I’m a Liverpool fan and now he’s their captain, so that was pretty amazing and I recall the striker Martyn Waghorn was there, too.

“It’d be a mad experience to play at a club like Sunderland.

“You don’t quite know where you’ll be with the way the world is now, but that’s also quite exciting.”

Aside from Jurman’s comments, the FTBL article also comments on Sunderland reported plans to sign Australian defender Bailey Wright this summer.

Why not have a look at Jurman if you are Sunderland? Linking him up with Bailey Wright could be a good thing.

Indeed, the Black Cats do need new recruits at centre-back given that they have already lost three players in that position this summer, including Alim Ozturk.

One thing that may halt a potential deal for Jurman to Sunderland is the fact that he has never played in English football before, and that could be a gamble in itself. But in the current climate where all walks of life are facing financial restraints, he could be worth a punt on a free.

Do you think Jurman would be a good signing for Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below…

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

Tanguy Ndombele’s future at Tottenham Hotspur hangs in the balance, while several of his teammates are set to leave the club in the summer.

Jose Mourinho is acutely aware that he will be hampered by a tight budget in the transfer market, which means he will have to offload players to fund new signings, focusing on free agents and swap deals to revamp his squad.

However, fans should be reassured that Dele Alli is one player who won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Ever since he arrived at White Hart Lane from MK Dons in February 2015, Alli has established himself as a firm favourite with the Tottenham fan base.

Alli moved to north London from Milton Keynes for £5m and was loaned back to the Dons for the rest of the 2014/15 season as part of the deal. The midfielder, who was also wanted by Newcastle United at the time, scored 16 goals in 39 games in the Championship for Karl Robinson’s side.

He picked up the Young Player of the Year award at the Football League Awards which arguably set the tone for the rest of his career. A year later, he beat his teammate Harry Kane to the PFA Young Player of the Year trophy for the 2015-16 season.

Despite the fact he wasn’t expected to immediately break into the first team, Alli netted 10 goals in 33 appearances in his first full season in the Premier League. He scored his first league goal for Spurs in only his second game, coming off the bench to head home the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City.

His heroics on the pitch didn’t go unnoticed as he was soon called up for international duty. He started for England for the first time in November 2015, scoring against his clubmate Hugo Lloris in the 2-0 victory over France.

Perhaps aware of lingering interest from some of the club’s closest rivals, Daniel Levy convinced Alli to sign a new deal, keeping him at the club until at least 2021. Signing the extension spurred him on to even greater heights as he subsequently agreed to sign another contract, which extended his stay at Spurs for another year.

He bettered his tally of the previous season by scoring 18 goals in 37 league games in 2016/17, although the Lilywhites missed out on the Premier League title.

During Mauricio Pochettino’s final full season in charge, Alli only scored five times in the three assists as Spurs mounted a surprising charge towards the final in Madrid.

The Englishman picked up two assists and Lucas Moura bagged a last-minute winner to round off a resounding comeback against Ajax in the second leg of the semi-final. Although Alli and his team-mates ultimately fell short in their attempts to lift the coveted trophy, that Spurs came so close bodes well for the future.

It is fair to say that the England international has achieved so much in such a short amount of time, as it is worth remembering that he is still only 24 years old.

He struggled with a hamstring injury at the start of the season and he missed two games as a result. Nevertheless, Alli is the club’s third-highest goalscorer this term, just behind Kane and Son Heung-min, as he has scored nine goals in all competitions so far.

Evidently, all of his hard work has certainly paid off, as his valuation has risen sharply ever since he arrived at White Hart Lane. Starting at a mere £4.5m in July 2015, his market value has skyrocketed to £72m by March 2020. He is currently valued at £57m via Transfermarkt, but this slightly reduced figure is likely a consequence of the coronavirus crisis.

As Alli is still only young, his valuation will no doubt increase if Spurs can reach the lofty heights of some of their fiercest rivals. Nevertheless, signing him for just £5m was a stroke of genius by Daniel Levy, as he has been rewarded with three consecutive top three finishes and a historic Champions League final appearance.

The midfielder has had a stellar career at Tottenham so far and there could be plenty more to come from him.

Tottenham fans, do you think Dele Alli has been an absolute bargain? Let us know in the comments below!

The transfer window is always an exciting time of the year for fans as they hope for the team they support to add some good additions to the squad, and a lot of Sheffield Wednesday fans are reacting to their club’s transfer links with Chey Dunkley.

The Star journalist Dom Howe tweeted: “Led to believe #SWFC are interested in signing former Wigan defender Chey Dunkley. The 28-year-old is available on a free transfer, having left Wigan at the end of last season.”

The centre-back is at a good age to be signed and he has good experience in the Championship. He played 26 times in the division last season, keeping seven clean sheets and averaging 3.9 clearances a game, per WhoScored.

The player is valued at £1.08m by Transfermarkt, so the fact that Sheffield Wednesday could get him on a free transfer would seem an astute piece of business. The only worry, however, is that he is only recently fit again after suffering a double leg break in February, so he would need time to recover in order to get match-fit for the 2020/21 season.

Here is what these Owls fans said following the tweet from Howson:

Owls fans, what are your thoughts on the possible signing of Dunkley? Comment below with your views!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

West Bromwich Albion find themselves in a very similar situation, and it may well have come at the worst possible time as they currently occupy the top spot in the Championship going into a hectic festive period, which could well decide their true potential this season.

Just like Izzy Brown, just like Louie Barry and very nearly just like Rekeem Harper, the Baggies have faced a long battle to keep hold of their promising young talents.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

So why would this season be any different?

Nathan Ferguson is the next player mooted for an exit, one that in any situation is entirely out of their hands.

The 19-year-old is yet to accept the five-year contract offered to him a couple of months ago, and the Express & Star have since revealed that if there is no change come January, then he is likely to be sold.

His contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he is able to effectively leave the club for free in the summer.

Premier League duo Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace have shown interest in the versatile defender as too have European giants Juventus and Atletico Madrid.

Earlier in the season, Albion were reportedly keen on young Coventry City left-back Sam McCallum, which has only been strengthened since the appointment of ex-Sky Blues academy boss Richard Stevens.

Speaking in an interview more recently, the 19-year-old said: “I have been aware of it but the gaffer has been keeping my feet on the ground and keeping my head at Coventry. He just wants to keep my head down and progress at Coventry. It’s flattering and shows I must be doing something right. It’s always nice to hear but I just want to do well for Coventry.”

McCallum would offer more of a physical presence to the team as he averages 3.2 aerial duels won and 2.3 clearances per game, which is more than Ferguson.

He also provides more crosses per match at 0.9 compared to the Albion starlet’s 0.2, which suggests he could be even more of a threat going forward.

There’s plenty to like about the Coventry man as he’s a more natural left-back, and at the same age, he could be absolutely ideal in ensuring that any departure in January does little to impact their promotion hopes.

They’ll just have to find a way to cough up a “hell of a lot of money.”

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Sun (print version, 15th November, page 74), Southampton have flocked to the City Ground to take a look at Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash, along with Crystal Palace and Everton.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Cash has enjoyed an excellent campaign so far since Sabri Lamouchi took over back in the summer.

Lamouchi cleverly decided to transform Cash – who was an energetic right-midfielder in the 2018/19 campaign – into a right-back upon being appointed as the Forest manager, and it has been an inspired decision from the 48-year-old.

Cash has scored two goals and grabbed two assists in his new role across 14 Championship appearances, winning an impressive 2.8 tackles per game as well as making 3.5 clearances per game.

The Daily Mail’s secret scout had this to say about Cash when going to watch him:

“I wondered what prompted Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi to convert him from an energetic midfielder to a comfortable right back with a lot of responsibility within the team.

“From the start of the game, Matty Cash was positioning himself to cover others. He kept a sensible distance from his centre back but also got out quickly to challenge his opposing winger when threatened by a cross-field pass.”

The 22-year-old has also displayed efficiency at the other end of the pitch with his four goal involvements.

A move for Cash would see 50% of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s January plans complete

If the Saints did manage to get Cash to put pen to paper this winter, then half of Hasenhuttl’s reported transfer plans for this January would come true.

The Mirror (print version, 12th November, page 53) reported that the former RB Leipzig boss wants to sign a ‘top quality’ centre-back as well as a new right-back this winter as he looks to help Southampton avoid relegation.

The south coast side are currently the worst defensive outfit in the Premier League, with 29 goals conceded in just 12 games, so it makes sense for Hasenhuttl to target reinforcements for his backline.

Just days after that report emerged, to see another that identifies Cash as a target is encouraging.

The need for another right-back at St Mary’s is a pressing one given Cedric Soares’ interview, in which he revealed that he wants to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Cash seems like he would be a good signing due to his form so far and his young age – if Hasenhuttl can get this one done, half of his reported desires for January will be complete.

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Glasgow Rangers are still looking to catch up to their fierce rivals Celtic.

The previous decade was not a good one for the Gers. In 2012, they were demoted to the fourth tier of Scottish football after encountering financial problems, and they had to battle to drag themselves up to the top flight once more. Now there, they have found it easy enough to establish themselves once again in the top two, but they have failed to give the Bhoys a real fight so far – they are currently 13 points behind in the league table.

Some of their transfer business has made their task an awful lot harder – the signing of Carlos Pena, for example, is one they will rather forget. Before making the move to Ibrox, he previously plied his trade at Club Leon and Deportivo Guadalajara – he had scored 52 goals in 188 games for the former despite being a central/attacking midfielder, with him costing £6.75m when he moved to the latter. Rangers themselves paid £2.2m for his services in 2017.

On paper, his spell in Scotland was not a disaster – he managed to hit the back of the net five times in just 14 matches – but off the field, he was a loose canon. His main struggles were with alcohol, and the problem was that he was never fit enough to show his true ability often enough.

After just six months, he was shipped out on loan to Cruz Azul and, although he was still on the books of the Gers until March 2019, he never played for the Gers again. When he departed, it was on a free transfer, meaning that a considerable fee had been thrown down the drain. Even now, questions must be asked of Pedro Caixinha – why did he sanction this transfer?

Let us know what you think below!

Celtic fans on Twitter have been feeling rather smug after they scored a controversial goal in their Betfred Cup game against Hibs.

Indeed, the Bhoys’ second goal came under some rather questionable circumstances as Odsonne Edouard was quite clearly in an offside position when he received the ball before assisting Callum McGregor for the Hoops’ second goal.

Watch Celtic Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

With Scotland not having VAR in place there was no check after this goal and with the linesman failing to flag up this offside Neil Lennon’s side were able to go 2-0 up with relative ease.

The fans didn’t seem to care that their goal had been scored illegally, in fact, they seemed rather smug about it.

One fan sarcastically thanked the Scottish FA, while another joked that Lennon had bribed the referee before the game.

Others felt that this was just the match levelling itself out as they believed that the Scottish champions had been denied a stonewall penalty minutes earlier.

Here’s what the Celtic Park faithful have been saying on social media…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Isco is one of those Real Madrid players that is slowly but surely fading into obscurity.

The now 27-year-old Spaniard no longer enjoys a major role in the club but according to AS, some big Premier League fish, such as Manchester City and Arsenal, are extremely interested in his services.

What’s the word, then?

Life didn’t use to be so harsh for Isco in the Spanish capital.

A couple of years back, he was one of the most important players Real Madrid had in their squad. After all, we’re talking about a former star who started in ten out of 12 Champions League clashes and 21 La Liga games just two seasons ago and then abruptly faded into the background.

Of course, injuries did play their part as he has already missed a total of six games in the ongoing 2019/20 campaign and was absent for ten in 2018/19 due to various different issues.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

By all accounts, luck hasn’t been on his side for a while but if the reports from AS are true, and Isco wants to reignite his career in order to be ready for the national team’s ventures, he should make the most out of Manchester City and Arsenal’s interest.

AS claim that both Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery are really fond of the Spaniard and, if that proves to be true, this could be huge for the 27-year-old and he shouldn’t let this opportunity pass him by.

A new beginning

Not many players in modern football are lucky enough to get second chances.

Even though Isco is still a well-known name within the Real Madrid squad, the fact that he is no longer a key part of the team definitely doesn’t look good on his resume.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

But the reported interest from the likes of Guardiola and Emery is exactly what the good doctor had prescribed and what his career is currently missing.

It could reinstall that long-forgotten spark that he used to carry in his performances.

AS mention that the Galacticos are keen on letting certain players go in order to land some other major targets but that is definitely good news for the Spaniard – his club seemingly won’t stand in his way.

From his point of view, and from Real Madrid’s as well, this is a no-brainer.

Not to mention that these opportunities often don’t come knocking twice.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin has returned to the Everton squad having missed the win against West Ham United through injury.

On the chalkboard

The 29-year-old, along with Fabian Delph, is fit and raring to go for Everton after they were declared fit by Marco Silva. The former Watford manager praised the two, claiming he has a “good headache” with his selection dilemma.

Silva said in his press conference: “[Delph and Schneiderlin] have worked until now full sessions with their teammates so they are both ready.”

“It’s a good headache,” said Silva. “It’s what I want. When this happens and we achieve good results, when players get their chance and they perform well and help the team, it’s a very good thing for me as a coach.

“I like to have these types of headaches. That means the players on the bench have the quality to play and are working hard to play.”

If it’s not broke don’t fix it

Last weekend’s win over the Hammers was just Everton’s third in the Premier League and it subsequently forced them out of the relegation zone.

As a result of such a positive performance, you would expect Silva not to change too much of his current winning formula. With just six goals scored and 13 let in prior to last week, the Blues’ clean sheet could end up being a significant stepping stone in their season.

In the West Ham win, it was Andre Gomes and Tom Davies in the centre who formed an impressive partnership. Both men controlled the game, making 37 and 34 passes respectively in the match. On the other hand, Schneiderlin has averaged a 6.07 rating so far and was part of the team that lost four on the bounce prior to this win.

It doesn’t make sense for Silva to change his side after such a great victory, and he needs to build on this display, not change it.

Indeed, it’s time for the Frenchman to watch Gomes and Davies flourish from the bench.