Everton supporters did not have the most enjoyable evening watching the team stagger their way to a 1-0 win in the Europa League on Thursday, but they were impressed with some of the new signings.
One in particular was Michael Keane, who started the first leg of the third qualifying round against MFK Ruzomberok at Goodison Park.
The England international was selected by manager Ronald Koeman to marshall the defence alongside Ashley Williams.
Keane was consistently solid for Burnley last season, and Everton fans will be hoping that the 24-year-old continues that trend for the 2017-18 campaign.
Even though it was only his first competitive performance, fans are feeling confident in Keane’s ability to slot into the back line.
Fellow new boys Davy Klaassen, Cuco Martina, Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez all featured across the 90 minutes.
The Merseyside outfit have spent more than £100m on new faces this summer as they attempt to challenge the top four.
Celtic are busy battling in their UEFA Champions League play-off round and while no signings can be made for the second leg next week in Kazakhstan, plans still need to be put in place for two scenarios; making the group stages of the competition and dropping into the UEFA Europa League.
The kind of players the Hoops can bring to Celtic this summer perhaps rest heavily on whether they qualifying for the group stages and many fans have been suggesting that’s why they’ve been rather quiet in the transfer window so far.
The only arrivals so far have been Olivier Ntcham, Jonny Hayes and Kundai Benyu, three transfers of varying value and potential impact on Brendan Rodgers’ first team.
With just a few weeks left before the end of the window, some fans are growing anxious they won’t end up doing the business in key areas you might suggest the Hoops need.
However, there are FOUR big potential transfers still out there, players who have recently been linked with Celtic, who could still sign…
Rivaldo Coatzee
Rivaldo Coetzee was linked with a move to the Scottish champions this weekend past when The Evening Times reported that he was one of the names Celtic were looking at signing before Tuesday’s signing deadline for the Astana tie.
Still just 20 years of age, Coetzee is winning plaudits in his homeland for assured defensive displays beyond his age. He’s already made close to 100 appearances for Ajax Cape Town and has already won 22 caps for South Africa.
In 2014 he became the youngest ever South African internationalist and while that record has subsequently been broken it’s a sign of his massive potential.
Making the move to European football can often be difficult for African players but Coetzee is better placed than most with the experience already behind him and the fact he would be working with one of the best youth coaches around in Brendan Rodgers.
Is he the man to shore up a stretched Celtic back line?
Abdul Majeed Waris
Football Soccer – Paris St Germain v FC Lorient – French Ligue 1 – Parc des Princes Stadium, Paris, France – 21/12/2016 – Paris St Germain’s Blaise Matuidi in action with Lorient’s Majeed Waris. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Linked with Celtic in The Daily Mail at the start of August, Abdul Wajeed Maris is said to be tracked by multiple British clubs including West Ham, Fulham, Brighton and the Hoops themselves.
Making a name himself at Ligue 1 side Lorient, the Ghanaian international reached double figures in French football last season which would suggest he has more than enough about to be a success in the Scottish Premiership.
He made his name in Europe in Sweden, winning the Allsvenkan Player Of The Year award in 2012 after scoring a fantastic 26 goals in 35 appearances for BK Hacken.
While his he clearly has prowess as a centre-forward, perhaps crucially for Celtic he can also play on the left or right wing, potentially solving Celtic’s issue of having quality back-up for Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths without having the player waste time on the bench. If he can also provide competition in other areas, he should see plenty of game time.
Patrick Roberts
Britain Soccer Football – Celtic v Manchester City – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group C – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland – 28/9/16Celtic’s Patrick Roberts comes on as a substituteReuters / Russell CheyneLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
The Patrick Roberts saga is of course one that has rumbled on all summer and as recently as Tuesday, media outlets such as The Scottish Sun were reporting that the Hoops were locked in talks with Manchester City about a potential return to Glasgow for the 20-year old winger.
Whether on loan or on a permanent basis, Celtic fans would absolutely love to see him return to the club and find the kind of form that allowed him to score 17 goals and assist 21 more in just 18 months at the club.
He has the kind of ability to make a real impression both domestically and in the UEFA Champions League and was arguably Celtic’s best player in the final two months of last season, often providing the spark need to get over the line in matches on their way to an unbelievable unbeaten treble.
Can Celtic convince Man City to part with a player they are not utilising at the Etihad?
Steven Caulker
As noted, the centre of the defence is a big priority for many Celtic fans. The perception is that aside from Jozo Simunovic, the Hoops lack the real quality that can provide consistency in European football. They need more options and at the very least more cover with both Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko missing for the next couple of months.
In many ways Steven Caulker fits the bill; he has top-flight experience in an elite league, he’s worked with Brendan Rodgers previously and he’s in need of a club that he can make his home and rebuild his career.
Celtic could be that place with The Daily Mirror reporting last month that the Hoops were in talks to bring him to Glasgow. While those stories have gone quiet in recent weeks, he’s still not getting league games at Queens Park Rangers, playing in neither of their Championship fixtures so far. His only start this season came in a League Cup win against Northampton Town.
With the Hoops in need of a defender and Caulker in need of a new club, is it to be a match made in heaven?
As reported by The Sun, Newcastle United are ready to step up their interest in Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere this summer, with the England international coming to terms with the fact he’ll be leaving the Gunners.
Rafa Benitez will of course be keen to strengthen this summer, with his squad lacking proven top-flight quality, and Wilshere appears to fit the bill.
Although injury problems have blighted his career, he showed last season he can play consistently in the Premier League, making 27 appearances on loan at Bournemouth before suffering a leg fracture.
With The Sun reporting he is now fit and ready to go for the season ahead, he could be the perfect addition to the Magpies, who were let down by captain and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey on Sunday, highlighting they need improvement in the middle of the park.
Newcastle fans certainly seen keen on signing up the England international and took to Twitter to share their excitement about the potential deal…
New Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina played an influential part in Gabon’s crucial 2-1 win against the Ivory Coast in their latest 2018 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, scoring a stunning goal.
Having been beaten 3-0 at home by the same opponents on Saturday, the Saints’ club-record signing and his teammates knew that they needed to pick up a positive result on the road and Axel Meye gave them the lead in the 20th minute.
Things got even better 10 minutes later when Lemina curled a shot into the top right-hand corner of the goal from outside the penalty area, in what proved to be the winner.
The south coast outfit were short of goals from the middle of the park last season, with Steven Davis, Oriol Romeu, Jordy Clasie and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg netting just two Premier League goals between them, and they will be hoping Lemina brings his shooting boots back with him ahead of their clash against Watford at St Mary’s this weekend.
Southampton supporters were quick to have their say on the 24-year-old’s goal via social media, with one person even likening his strike to one Matt Le Tissier might have scored back in the day.
Leeds United booked their spot in the fourth round of the EFL Cup after beating Premier League side Burnley on penalties following a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor on Tuesday night.
The two sides could be separated at the end of 120 minutes of football, and therefore a shootout was required to determine which side would advance from the third-round tie.
It was Leeds that came through the shootout 5-3, with James Tarkowski’s miss for Burnley proving key as the Whites notched all five of their spot kicks to advance.
Failure to land a playoff spot in the Championship last season led to a lot of frustration with the Leeds supporters, but the team are currently flying high at the top of the Championship table after eight matches of the 2017-18 campaign.
A League Cup run might well have to be sacrificed in order to concentrate on the league, but Leeds will be present in round four following their win at Burnley.
As expected, the club’s supporters were delighted with their team’s performance at Turf Moor:
According to reports in the Sun on Sunday, Everton are lining up a move for Bournemouth attacker Josh King as they continue to search for their Romelu Lukaku replacement.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Sun on Sunday says that Toffees scouts believe that the Norway international has all of the right attributes to be an effective replacement for Lukaku, with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez failing to fill the void left by the Belgian’s departure to Manchester United during the summer transfer window.
King is certainly proving himself as a capable Premier League striker after a successful 2016/17 campaign with the Cherries, while he also netted the opening goal at Goodison Park on Saturday as Everton ran out 2-1 winners in the clash between the two clubs.
The Sun on Sunday report adds that Koeman is looking for a versatile forward that can add pace to his side’s attack, and King would bring those qualities.
Would King be a good signing?
While he certainly hasn’t been the most prolific player during his playing career, King showed last season when he scored 16 goals in 36 Premier League appearances that he can be prolific at this level.
The 25-year-old’s strike against the Toffees was his first in the top flight this term and he will be hoping to go on another scoring run for the struggling Cherries.
The Norwegian attacker has the versatility, height and ability to score any type of goal though and he would certainly boost a struggling Everton frontline that relied on outcast Oumar Niasse to save them on Saturday.
Hasn’t King only just signed a new deal, though?
Exactly, and that could make things difficult.
King only penned a new four-year contract with Bournemouth last month so if Everton did want to sign him during the January transfer window, they would likely have to shell out a serious amount of money to tempt the Cherries into selling.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, it is clear to see already that Everton need to sign a striker in the New Year to boost their squad, but it remains to be seen whether they will splash out on King or feel that they could better value for money elsewhere.
Leeds United have had a tough few weeks following three consecutive defeats in the Championship.Overall, though, things are looking up for the Yorkshire-based club, whose future looked bleak under the previous rule of Massimo Cellino.Now that Andrea Radrizzani has taken full control of the club, positive developments are being made on and off the pitch.A seven-game unbeaten run was the perfect start for Leeds, but losses to Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday and Reading have put a dampener on things.As it stands, Thomas Christiansen’s side sit sixth in the second tier, only six points adrift of leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.This weekend, the Whites face a trip to Bristol City, where they will hope to get back to winning ways and keep themselves in contention for a promotion spot.Ahead of the match, the club announced that full-back Luke Ayling has signed a new four-year contract until 2021.After putting pen to paper, the 26-year-old spoke to the Whites’ in-house channel.
According to Sky Sports Italy reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham United could be ready to rival Everton for former Watford manager Walter Mazzarri if they decide to sack the under-fire Slaven Bilic in the coming weeks.
Di Marzio says that the former Hornets boss is ready for a Premier League return should one of the underperforming teams in England’s top flight choose to dispose of their manager in the near future, with The Sun saying on October 3 that the Merseyside outfit were keen on the Italian.
Everton and West Ham are two of those teams right now with the former languishing in 16th position following a disappointing start to the campaign despite a big summer of spending, while Bilic is in a similar boat after his team lost four of their opening seven league games this term.
Di Marzio says that Toffees boss Ronald Koeman has been handed an ultimatum ahead of his team’s trip to newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, and should his team lose his job could be under threat.
Britain Soccer Football – Swansea City v Watford – Premier League – Liberty Stadium – 22/10/16Watford manager Walter Mazzarri before the match Action Images via Reuters / Paul ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further
However, the journalist adds that Mazzarri could choose to wait even if he was offered the Goodison Park hotseat, considering he still lives in London and with Bilic’s position looking far from secure ahead of crucial Premier League fixtures against Burnley, Brighton and Crystal Palace.
The 56-year-old is said to be on the hypothetical list of replacements for the Croatian despite his spell with Watford coming to a disappointing end when he was sacked towards the end of last season, with the team eventually finishing in 17th position.
However, his previous success with the likes of Napoli, where he played a 3-4-3 system with Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik, seems to have caught the attentions of more than one Premier League team and he could find himself back in the top flight sooner rather than later.
With ten matchdays of the new Premier League campaign already gone, we’ve probably received enough evidence by now to start considering the signings of the summer. And while we saw some eye-watering fees tabled during the last transfer window for some top-level players, arguably the best signing in terms of both quality and value for money didn’t cost a penny – Arsenal’s bosman bargain Sead Kolasinac.
The Bosnian international arrived in the Premier League with a preceding reputation from his time with Schalke, but his opening outings for the Gunners have shown how talented a player he truly is, excelling in the left wing-back role, and the north London outfit’s 2-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday provided yet another shining example.
Although Arsenal have been dominant at the Emirates Stadium this season, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Swansea were seventh in the away table before the weekend, conceding just once and taking five points from their four games. The Gunners did well to get back into the match after going a goal down and their 2-1 comeback owed much to Kolasinac bombing down the flank.
Alongside the dainty flicks and tricks highlighted by Danny Murphy on Match of the Day, the 24-year-old played a crucial hand in both goals, applying a powerful finish for the first that curled away from Lukasz Fabianski and into the inside netting before setting up Aaron Ramsey for the second with a calculated cutback.
He also completed 92% of his passes – not an easy task when you’re trying to make such an impact in the final third – and had the fourth-most touches of the ball of any player on the pitch despite coming off in the 77th minute with a hip complaint. Arsene Wenger will be desperate for Kolasinac, who Transfermarkt value at £13.5million, to recover in time for the huge clash with Manchester City in the Premier League next Sunday.
But as things currently stand, few players who arrived in the Premier League last summer have already proved to be such fantastic value-for-money.
According to reports on Spanish media outlet Marca, West Ham United are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing in-form Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu during the January transfer window.
Marca says that the Irons made an offer for Democratic Republic of Congo international in the summer but were unable to match the price tag put on the centre-forward’s head, but they are now ready to revive their interest in the prolific 26-year-old.
The report adds that the Hammers’ English top flight rivals West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on the attacker, who has scored nine goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit so far this term.
While new Irons boss David Moyes will undoubtedly be looking to strengthen his squad in the New Year considering they currently find themselves in the relegation zone, he may be better off ignoring Bakambu and targeting a deal for his club compatriot Rodrigo Hernandez.
Here are three reasons West Ham should forget about the striker and sign his midfield teammate instead…
They need a defensive midfielder more
Considering one of West Ham’s biggest issues this season is that they have the leakiest defence in the Premier League having conceded 23 goals in their 11 top flight matches, it seems mad that David Moyes would prioritise signing a striker in the New Year.
With Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Toni Martinez – as well as Andre Ayew, Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautovic if needs be – the Irons have plenty of options up top.
They would be much better off as a team if they signed Rodri Hernandez over Bakambu, who would help to strengthen a weak area in the middle of the park.
Hernandez’s qualities
Football Soccer – AS Roma v FC Villarreal – UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg – Olympic Stadium, Rome, Italy – 23/2/17 Villarreal’s Rodri in action with Roma’s Antonio Rudiger Reuters / Alessandro Bianchi Livepic
While he only turned 21 years of age in June, the Madrid-born midfielder is already a key player for Villarreal having made 15 appearances in all competitions this season, and 52 for the La Liga outfit in total.
According to WhoScored.com, the 6ft 3in defensive midfielder’s strengths are his ability to win aerial duels, blocks and intercepting, tackling and passing, which shows he is something of an all-round player.
According to Squawka, in 11 La Liga games this term the Spaniard has won 35 of the 50 aerial duels he has faced, has made 30 clearances and 27 interceptions and has a passing accuracy of 89%.
In those terms he looks to be perfectly suited to the Premier League, and could make a real difference for West Ham in the middle of the park.
Price tag
Football Soccer – AS Roma v FC Villarreal – UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg – Olympic Stadium, Rome, Italy – 23/2/17 Villarreal’s Rodri looks dejected Reuters / Alessandro Bianchi Livepic
Hernandez’s current contract with Villarreal is due to run out next summer and with no new deal yet in the pipeline, it means that he could be available for a decent fee in January if the La Liga side don’t want to risk losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
Considering West Ham would likely have to pay upwards of £30-35m if they wanted to reignite their interest in Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho in the New Year, moving for the Spain Under-21 international instead could prove to be a very shrewd move.