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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who scored 306 goals for Wolves, believes Sergio Aguero may have spat his dummy out earlier this season when Pep Guardiola was keeping him on the bench.

Earlier this week Aguero announced that he would be leaving Man City at the end of the season when his contract expires, and he will depart as the club’s all-time top scorer.

He is set to have a statue erected outside of the Etihad alongside fellow ex-teammates Vincent Kompany and David Silva. Aguero will always be remembered for his famous last-minute winner against QPR which won City their first-ever Premier League title.

Speaking on why Aguero has not been happy for a long time at City and how the fans should treat him when he leaves, Bull told FFC:

“I think he may have spat his dummy out about five months ago when he wasn’t in the first team and he’s never put it back in since, and he’s been a little bit unhappy.

“He’s a bit like Podence and Neto with a low centre of gravity and they can stand tall while not getting pushed off the ball.

“All the Man City fans should pat him on the back and say ‘thanks for everything that you’ve done for us mate you’ve been absolutely unbelievable’.”

Aguero has been linked with a number of clubs this summer, but it’s Barcelona who appear to be lining up a move for the Argentine to link up with Lionel Messi.

Man City may look to replace the £230,000 per week striker this summer with Harry Kane or Erling Haaland if Pep Guardiola doesn’t trust Gabriel Jesus to lead the line for a full season.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer has suggested that Celtic could look to loan Liam Shaw out after his pre-contract move from Sheffield Wednesday was confirmed last month.

Shaw, whose time at Hillsborough is coming to an end, has agreed to join Scottish giants Celtic in the summer on a free transfer.

With Celtic expected to compete for the league title next season and set to feature in Europe, moving to Glasgow is a huge opportunity for Shaw.

Palmer, though, believes it may have come too soon for the 20-year-old, feeling that he could struggle to get game time at Celtic Park.

Discussing Shaw’s transfer to Celtic, Palmer told FFC:

“Liam is going to struggle going to Celtic that age to play. He’ll probably end up going there and going out on loan, I’m assuming, I don’t know.”

Speaking on the midfielder’s move further, the former Wednesday player added:

“If I was Liam, I’d be wanting to get out on loan somewhere where it’s guaranteed that he’s going to play because you can do that. I’ve done it before where I’ve taken a player when I was manager at Stockport and the manager’s come to me and said, ‘right, listen, I’ll let the player come, but he’s got to play.’ Bit like David Beckham when he went to Preston, that’s how they develop. They’ve got to play.”

Whoever is in the Celtic Park dugout next season will be demanding a lot from Shaw and his future team-mates. The Bhoys have been extremely underwhelming this term, surrendering their title to rivals Rangers while crashing out of the Europa League in disappointing fashion.

If you’re a striker that’s played for Celtic in the last few years and your name isn’t Odsonne Edouard, it’s unlikely you’ll go down in history as a roaring success.

That isn’t necessarily the fault of the players, more the fault of Edouard who has been a red-hot goal-scoring machine for the Hoops.

He hasn’t enjoyed his greatest campaign in green and white but the Frenchman has still found the net on 20 occasions in 2020/21.

Unfortunately, after a year without a trophy, he could leave for the Premier League.

Finding his replacement will be imperative but the Bhoys will also need to find a successor for Patryk Klimala.

He is one of the aforementioned strikers who failed to ever get going in Glasgow. Signed in January 2020, he’s just left for New York Red Bulls after scoring just three goals in 28 games. In a few years time, it won’t be a surprise if supporters forget who he was.

If Edouard and Klimala both depart, it will leave Celtic fairly light on options in attack. Fortunately, they have a shrewd deal potentially right up their sleeve.

The Glaswegian outfit have been linked with a move for Peterborough forward Siriki Dembele over the last few months and if he fails to sign a deal south of the border, he’ll be available on a free transfer in the summer.

Brother of Karamoko Dembele, he shares plenty of similar traits. He is quick, energetic and can beat players for fun.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast this week, Posh Director of Football Barry Fry only had praise for the 24-year-old; “Siriki can get the ball in his own half and with dazzling dribbling ability, he can beat four or five players and score a wonder goal or cross it for somebody else to score.”

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-lampard-klimala-ajer-gossip” title= “Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Fry added: “He’s very, very exciting. He’s got the best stats outside the [English] Premier League, I think. We’ll try to keep hold of him if we go up, and we’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse! So watch this space.”

A player blessed with enormous quality, he has scored 11 goals in the third tier of English football this term. He’s also provided 12 assists for his teammates.

Evidently, there is more of a buzz to Dembele’s game than there ever has been with Klimala.

He is electric in possession and can finish chances with a sensational degree of confidence. For Celtic’s former Polish striker, everything looked a little sluggish and off the pace.

If Celtic can secure his signature on a free transfer, it would be an inspirational piece of business from Dominic McKay.

AND in other news, Forget Howe: Celtic should hire jaw-dropping 47 y/o instead, he’s shades of Rodgers…

Liverpool have reportedly been joined by Juventus in the race for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have been linked to the Frenchman on numerous occasions, with Klopp reportedly keen to add to his midfield ranks especially with the expected departure of Georginio Wijnaldum.

However, they are set to be in a battle with Serie A giants Juventus for his signature according to TuttoSport.

Liverpool need to make sure they are victorious in their pursuit of Aouar.

At just 22 years of age, the midfielder has forged a reputation as one of the most promising players in Europe.

He has accumulated plenty of experience despite his tender years, racking up 163 appearances for Lyon, scoring 30 goals and providing 31 assists.

The £45m-rated midfielder has also already been afforded opportunities on the international stage, making his international debut in a 7-1 thumping of Ukraine in October 2020 – a game in which he racked up two assists.

Aouar’s performances have not just earned him admirers in the recruitment departments of some of Europe’s biggest clubs though. Even his fellow professionals are taking notice.

Following Lyon’s 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium in the UEFA Champions League group stages this season, Manchester City creator Kevin De Bruyne hailed the Frenchman’s “fantastic” performance.

So with Georginio Wijnaldum seemingly set to depart Anfield and Aouar only having two years left to run on his current contract, there does not seem a better time for Michael Edwards to move for the midfielder.

It will not be easy to combat the likes of Juventus in the transfer market but he needs to make sure that the Reds secure Aouar sooner rather than later or miss out on him to a European rival.

AND in more news, take a look at which Liverpool starlet has been handed a devastating injury blow ahead of the latest round of international games…

Southampton travel to Goodison Park on Monday evening in the hopes that they can pick up their first Premier League win since early January with three points against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have endured a woeful recent run of form which has seen them slide down the table, with a relegation fight not out of the question, despite the South Coast club going top of the league earlier in the season after a 2-0 win against Newcastle.

The Austrian manager has had to cope with a number of injury issues to key players in recent weeks and looks set to be without the likes of Oriol Romeu, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo and Takumi Minamino for Monday’s game against the Toffees.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Hasenhuttl to line his side up against Everton, with four changes from the team that started against Leeds last time out, as well as a change in formation…

After keeping clean sheets in all of his appearances so far this season, it is time Hasenhuttl gave Forster the opportunity to start in the Premier League, in the hope that he can help turn their form around.

There’s one change in defence, as the Saints switch to a five-at-the-back formation, which allows Jan Bednarek to move back to centre-back, whilst Kayne Ramsay comes in at right-back.

With Romeu and Diallo both unavailable, Stuart Armstrong is perhaps likely to start in central-midfield alongside James Ward-Prowse.

After being rested against Leeds United, Moussa Djenepo comes back in on the left-hand side for Nathan Tella, whilst Nathan Redmond moves to the right-hand side after playing as a striker in recent fixtures.

Finally, the out-of-form Che Adams is unsurprisingly replaced by Danny Ings, who will have to be at his best in a lone striker role if Southampton are to get anything from this game.

And, in other news… Saints should unleash rarely-seen academy beast vs Everton; he can help stop the rot

Many Everton fans were critical of the performance of Mason Holgate in their 2-1 home loss to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

The Merseyside club got off to the worst start possible at Goodison Park, with both Chris Wood and Dwight McNeil netting superb goals in the first half before Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled one back for the hosts with a bullet header after a Tom Davies cross.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men could not find a way to equalise and ended up emptyhanded in what was another disappointing performance at home.

Holgate was one player who did not cover himself in much glory, losing out on four of his duels and failing to record a single successful dribble, clearance, interception or key pass from the right-back position, as well as losing possession of the ball no fewer than 17 times, the joint-third most out of any player to have set foot on the pitch (Sofascore).

Everton fan reaction to Holgate display

These Toffees supporters slammed Holgate’s performance on Twitter, with one Blues fan even going as far as to call the former Barnsley man’s efforts ’embarrassing’:

“As long as Iwobi, Holgate, Gomes & Davies are in our first 11, I don’t want to see us near a European competition… also DCL minus his heading ability is still a bottom-half striker.. #EFC”

Credit: @JohnEgan1111

“Iwobi can’t cross. Holgate can’t cross. There is the right side nullified straight away. Then there is the centre backs standing with a foot on the ball watching nothing happen in front of them. Terrible #EFC”

Credit: @Zeph32

“I never want to see Iwobi, Holgate and Gomes ever starting again #EFC”

Credit: @Hugodrax0077

“Telling that Holgate is in acres of space on the right and that no-one will pass to him. #EFC”

Credit: @quigley81

“Embarrassing dive that from Holgate #EFC #EVEBUR”

Credit: @chriswatson187

“Mason Holgate having an absolute stinker tonight. #EVEBUR”

Credit: @mdriver11

In other news, find out what Paul Joyce update has left some Everton fans fuming!

Diego Laxalt is unlikely to extend his Celtic stay beyond the summer, according to Italian outlet Sempre Milan.

Reports back in January claimed that the Uruguayan rejected a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal worth ‘almost’ €3m a season, as it was his ‘priority’ is to join Celtic in the summer.

Laxalt’s Milan future addressed

However, it doesn’t seem as if a permanent switch to Parkhead will materialise, going off the latest report.

Sempre Milan also add that is it unlikely the left-back will remain with AC Milan, so it seems as if the 28-year-old, who has made 24 appearances in Scotland this season, will have a new side for the 2021/22 campaign.

Transfer Tavern take

Laxalt has been in and out of the side in recent months but has regained his place ahead of Greg Taylor in Celtic’s last three games due to the latter’s injury issues.

Taylor, statistically, has actually outperformed Laxalt in the Scottish Premiership, as per WhoScored. The Scot has averaged a league rating of 6.96, higher than Laxalt’s average of 6.82.

The South American’s Milan wage is also thought to be around £57,000-a-week. Scott Brown is Celtic’s highest permanent earner on £23,000-a-week, so we don’t see Laxalt not returning in a permanent deal next season as a huge blow due to his high salary and average displays.

In other news: Roy Keane’s potential No.2 at Celtic revealed, find out more here. 

Celtic are set to be busier than we first envisaged on transfer deadline day. Olivier Ntcham has been linked with the exit door while there is the possibility of numerous new arrivals too.

What’s the word?

Celtic are seemingly in the market to sign defenders on deadline day. The club are on the verge of welcoming Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny to Parkhead.

They are also reportedly interested in taking Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga on loan but there was the possibility of another defender signing for the Hoops earlier in the window.

According to The Daily Record, Celtic were interested in landing United States international DeAndre Yedlin from Newcastle.

The right-back is now set to sign for Galatasaray in Turkey so there is zero chance of him arriving in Glasgow.

Perfect Frimpong heir

It’s a shame that the Bhoys didn’t pursue this one further. After all, he had the potential to be Celtic’s dream Jeremie Frimpong successor.

The Dutchman left for Bayer Leverkusen last weekend and thus, the Hoops require a full-back as his replacement.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-celtic-transfer-news” title=”Read this week’s Celtic transfer news!”]

But why would Yedlin have been perfect? Well, just like Frimpong, he is rampant going forward and possesses a truly incredible amount of pace.

During the 2018/19 campaign, he was clocked as the fifth-fastest player in the Premier League. Similarly to Frimpong, he can also play on the right of midfield and at right-wing back. Thus, the 62-cap international would have been an immediate like-for-like replacement.

To set him apart from the former Celtic man, Yedlin is more competent defensively too. He has made 1.9 matches per game during his career. Frimpong, on the other hand, has managed 1.1 tackles per match during his two years at Celtic.

They may have even landed an upgrade here, but it was not to be.

AND in other news, Forget Duffy: Celtic must swoop for £25k-p/w gem “with pace” who “sees things quickly”…

Glasgow Rangers extended their lead over Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership after inflicting Neil Lennon’s second Old Firm defeat of the season.

Granted, it wasn’t the prettiest of affairs but the result was all that mattered in the end.

The home side struggled to get a foothold in the game at an empty Ibrox Stadium but a deflected effort from Joe Aribo proved to be enough to defeat the defending Scottish champions.

Steven Gerrard’s side looked a little off the pace to start with, but they gradually grew into the game, especially in the second half after their Premiership rivals were reduced to ten men.

Rangers were indebted to a fine performance from Allan McGregor as the veteran goalkeeper put in a hard graft to deny the likes of Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard and keep them in the game.

However, that doesn’t mean that Aribo’s latest showing should go unnoticed, as the Nigeria international showed grit and determination to dominate his individual battles in the midfield.

Aribo proved to be a commanding figure in the midfield, winning two out of his four aerial duels and won countless ground duels (5) as well, as per SofaScore.

He hustled and harried Celtic across the pitch, and produced a moment of good fortune after he flicked a corner at the front post that took a deflection off Celtic skipper Callum McGregor and spiralled into the back of the net.

SofaScore graded the 24-year-old with a high rating of 7.4 out of ten for his efforts – higher than any Rangers player on the pitch other than James Tavernier – despite the fact his passing accuracy was only 61%. However, he made four tackles, three interceptions, blocked one shot and was fouled twice, as he proved to be a real thorn in Neil Lennon’s side.

Although Celtic had their moments, this potential banana peel did little to disrupt Rangers’ momentum, as Aribo’s intensity levels never dipped. It was arguably the Gers’ best performance of the season, as they dug deep and grit their teeth to shut out Celtic and they thoroughly deserved the victory.

Gerrard will have been delighted to see Aribo contributed at the back and in attack, even if he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers should reward Kai Kennedy with a new contract…

According to a report from the Daily Telegraph and reliable journalist Mike McGrath, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is set to receive significant backing this summer with the club willing to spend £200 million on the right players to bolster his squad – with many Citizens buzzing as this ‘great news’ emerges.

The Sky Blues are ticking back into full gear following a slow start to the Premier League campaign, with Guardiola’s side now reigning victorious in seven of their last nine league encounters.

Investment in their backline over 2020 appears to have paid dividends as summer signing Ruben Dias continues to form a stellar partnership with the rejuvenated John Stones, backed up by the pair keeping seven clean sheets in City’s last nine in all competitions among the plethora of victories.

Now, as per the Telegraph, City are willing to spend a further £200m in the summer to further reinforce the squad if primed targets are made available – coming as the Sky Blues are heavily linked with the likes of Erling Haaland. 

In reaction to this development, as relayed on social media by Man City Xtra and Man City Report, it’s safe to say plenty of fans are overjoyed – find all of their best verdicts down below.

Man City fans buzz as £200m transfer kitty touted

“Rival tears incoming”

Credit: @mcfcadam_

“I love this club”

Credit: @trendz_football

“Great news”

Credit: @AdamKDB123

“I CANNOT WAIT”

Credit: @mxnciteh

“OIL MONEY BUYING THE LEAGUE AGAIN!!!

I LOVE IT!!!!!”

Credit: @bruynedekevin17

“The fume this is gonna cause, it’s beautiful”

Credit: @olicoulsxn

“Music to my ears”

Credit: @tristangwade

In other news: Man City fans didn’t like this alleged decision from Txiki Begiristain, find out more here.