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Speaking to talkSPORT, journalist Alex Crook has dropped a ‘surprise’ bit of possible exit news involving Tottenham Hotspur defender Matt Doherty.

The Lowdown: Doherty endures mixed first year at Spurs…

Signed in the summer of 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for ex-Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, Doherty endured a mixed first full season at Tottenham.

The Republic of Ireland international started less Premier League games than fellow right-back Serge Aurier and was vilified by pundits in the press for some of his performances.

However, he hasn’t been linked with an exit from Spurs until now, with the Lilywhites making as many as six players available for transfer in Serge Aurier, Davinson Sanchez, Moussa Sissoko, Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Toby Alderweireld (The Athletic).

The Latest: Crook drops ‘surprise’ bit of Doherty news…

Speaking to talkSPORT, Crook has now dropped a ‘surprise’ bit of possible exit news involving Doherty.

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Indeed, the reporter claims that new manager Nuno Espirito Santo could in fact deem him surplus-to-requirements despite their good relationship at Wolves.

“I’ve been told this morning that Eric Dier and Matt Doherty could also be surplus-to-requirements,” Crook explained (via Twitter).

“Maybe that’s a bit of a surprise in the case of Doherty, cause he performed so admirably under Nuno at Wolves.”

The Verdict: Time to go?

Compared to Aurier, who has been made available for sale by Tottenham, the 29-year-old made far less tackles per 90 and less clearances over 2020/2021 whilst also proving less effective going forward (WhoScored).

The Ivorian also averaged more successful dribbles, key passes per 90 and shots on goal when compared to Doherty (WhoScored) – but we believe he could potentially shine again under Nuno, as he never really got a fair crack with Mourinho.

Doherty has been praised by Tottenham’s head coach during their time together at Molineux, with Nuno once lauding him as ‘fantastic’ with a ‘big heart’ (wolves.co.uk).

You can’t rule out Spurs’ new manager getting the very best out of him again and a possible switch to his preferred 3-5-2 formation could utilise the defender effectively, as also believed by former England international Danny Mills.

In other news: ‘News regarding Tottenham’…Sky Sports drop live TV transfer claim, find out more here.

Marcelo Bielsa may look to bring in a striker this summer to offer cover for Patrick Bamford after he played all 38 Premier League games last season, and someone that could be a smart signing is Michy Batshuayi, according to former Leeds midfielder David Norris.

Batshuayi made a name for himself at Marseille under Bielsa so reports linking him with a move to Elland Road may come as no surprise as Bielsa will know how to get the best out of him.

The Belgian striker arrived with a lot of hype in 2016 after starring for Belgium at the European Championships, however he has only played 78 times since arriving at Stamford Bridge and has constantly been sent out on loan to the likes of Crystal Palace, Borussia Dortmund and Valencia.

Leeds don’t have a recognised back-up striker so bringing in someone who knows where the back of the net is could help Leeds if they are looking to finish higher than ninth next season – that’s according to Norris, who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“If they had a good relationship before and then he moved on because it was for a better move, then managers and players normally have a good relationship.

“He is proven but he just hasn’t played enough games at Chelsea. He’d be coming from a big club who have got a lot of money and are doing things so, I think on paper that’s a good signing.”

During his time at Marseille, Batshuayi managed to score 33 goals in 78 appearances when he was 22-years-old which shows why he was such a sought-after talent in 2016.

Bielsa will know that he can play in his systems from his time at Marseille therefore, it would not be as big of a risk to bring him into the club, unlike when Leeds splashed the cash on Rodrigo last summer.

Rangers centre-back Nikola Katic was recently spotted hard at work in training as he continues his recovery from injury and the Croatian could have a huge role to play at Ibrox next season, as Steven Gerrard’s side look to secure title number 56.

The centre-back was unfortunately ruled out for the entirety of the 2020/21 season after picking up a cruciate ligament injury in July 2020 but the Gers were able to perform superbly in his absence, with their impressive defensive record one of the key factors in their title win this season.

Since signing from Slaven Belupo in 2018 the powerful centre-back has gone on to make 59 appearances for the Gers, in which he has contributed six goals and three assists.

Gerrard has a number of excellent centre-back options in his Rangers squad ahead of next season, with the likes of Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun all playing a huge part in their success this season, whilst youngsters Jack Simpson and George Edmundson have also shown that they can fill in when needed.

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Therefore Katic faces a real battle if he is going to re-establish himself as a starting centre-back at Ibrox next season but if he can rediscover the sort of form that made him a fan and manager favourite before his injury, he will surely prove to be vital next season, when Rangers will be confident of retaining the Premiership title given the distance between themselves and their Old Firm rivals Celtic this year.

After his goal against Celtic back in 2019, in a game where Katic also gave away a penalty, Gerrard was full of praise for him after the game, saying:

“The kid is a winner and a warrior. We know what he gives. Anyone his age, after giving the penalty away, might have gone into their shell. It might have affected their performance.

“But if you knock Niko Katic down, he’s gonna get back up and come again. That’s the man, that’s the player.”

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Whilst it will be some time before the 24-year-old is fit enough to feature in a competitive match for Rangers, the fact that he is working hard in training will surely delight Gerrard, as his defender will definitely have a part to play next season.

And, in other news… Rangers dealt huge transfer blow with “brilliant” 9-goal gem, Gers fans will be gutted

It may be ‘several weeks’ before Celtic are able to complete the appointment of prospective managerial candidate Ange Postecoglou, according to the Daily Record.

The Lowdown: 100 days managerless

Undoubtedly, Celtic fans are desperate for some clarity as the 2021/22 season fast approaches. Manager-less since February, it has now officially been 100 days since Neil Lennon resigned from the position [Irish Times].

After long-standing rumours involving Eddie Howe collapsed [BBC], the Glasgow giants have seemingly turned their attention towards Yokohama F. Marinos boss Postecoglou [The Celtic Bhoys].

Relatively unknown in Scotland, the 55-year-old has won the Asian Cup with the Australia national team, alongside A League and J League titles in Australia and Japan [Scottish Sun].

The Latest: There are complications within the deal

Initially, it looked as if the Celts were set to appoint Postecoglou in a ‘matter of days’ [Fox Sports AU]. However, there has been a major twist thrown into the works.

He does not hold the prerequisite UEFA coaching licenses needed to manage in Scotland, meaning there could be a delay in the timeline of his potential hire [Glasgow Live].

The Scottish club have launched an exemption appeal for Postecoglou in order to secure his signature swiftly, citing his experience and qualities in Asia and Oceania. However, the process could take a few weeks to complete, potentially leaving interim boss John Kennedy in charge for pre-season training [Daily Record].

The Verdict: The Postecoglou situation must be resolved imminently

Without question, Postecoglou would be a great fit for Celtic. Known to play attacking football and develop young players, he may be the perfect tonic at Parkhead after a grim 2020/21 campaign.

Former Celt Brendan Rodgers dubbed him as ‘outstanding’ and ‘similar’ to himself when in charge of Liverpool, citing the aggressive playing style the Aussie utilised for his previous employers Melbourne Victory when the two clashed in a 2013 friendly [Scottish Sun].

Conversely, Celtic cannot afford to wait any longer for a new leader in the dugout. Should the Postecoglou saga drag on long into the summer towards the Champions League qualifiers, the Hoops should move on to other targets.

 In other news, Celtic are set to miss out on a landmark appointment.

Crystal Palace have frustrated some fans on their official Twitter channel after posting a clip of Andros Townsend’s thunderbolt in their 2-0 win vs Burnley in 2018 as their Goal of the Day.

Still without a manager after the departure of Roy Hodgson last month [Independent], the south Londoners face a worrying situation following their decision to release 22 players upon the expiration of their contracts earlier in June [The Sun].

Lucien Favre is currently believed to be the front-runner for the position as they look to replace these individuals, while Nuno Espirito Santo, Frank Lampard, Steve Cooper, Valerian Ismael and Patrick Vieira have all previously been evaluated for the role [Sky Sports].

Directionless heading into 2021/22 pre-season, no wonder many Crystal Palace fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the decision to post the goal as the club hangs in limbo over a manager and the playing squad:

Crystal Palace fans react:

Replying to the Eagles’ official Twitter account, here is what some fans had to say regarding the clip, with many demanding an end to the managerial uncertainty:

“New contract?”

Credit: @cpfc_sean”Favre pls”Credit: @bradhcpfc”Good goal but it’s not Favre”Credit: @BenM_CPFC”Isn’t Favre is it”Credit: @chr1s_cpfc”@cpfc please stop tweeting! Every time I think it’s an announcement!”Credit: @Kriss_dean”It’s a bullet…. I can see the fire following the ball”Credit: @JimCoulter15In other news, many Crystal Palace fans weren’t pleased with this off-field update.

Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City side are interested in bringing Taiwo Awoniyi to the Bet365 Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Goal, who claim that Liverpool have held talks with Stoke, along with West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, regarding a potential summer transfer of the 23-year-old.

Goal also report that the Reds have previously rejected a £5m offer from Anderlecht for the centre-forward, with Jurgen Klopp’s side believed to value the Nigeria U23 international at around £8m.

O’Neill would love him

Having joined Liverpool back in 2015, Awoniyi has spent the last six years on a series of European loans away from Merseyside due to the striker failing to achieve a UK work permit.

The latest of these temporary deals saw the £4.05m-rated man spend the season with Union Berlin, where the youngster has impressed for Urs Fischer’s side.

Over his 20 Bundesliga appearances thus far, Awoniyi has scored five goals, registered two assists and created one big chance for his teammates, with his returns helping Union to be in with a real shout of qualifying for the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League via a seventh-place league finish – despite a hamstring injury suffered back in February ruling the youngster out for a number of weeks of the club’s campaign.

However, with Goal now reporting that the 23-year-old has now gained a permit that would allow him to play his football in the UK, it is claimed that Liverpool would be open to allowing the forward to leave the club on a permeant basis.

This has opened the door for Stoke, and, if John Coates and Peter Coates can go on to land the signing of Awoniyi – whom Mergim Vojvoda claimed is an “excellent player with great qualities” – this summer, it would easily be seen as something of a coup for the Potters, as well as a signing that O’Neill would love.

With experience from the top flight of German football, as well as the benefit of having trained under a wide range of European coaches for a number of years, it would appear as if Awoniyi has the potential to truly flourish in the Championship, with his potential addition to the Stoke side bringing with it the real chance of a push up the second tier table next season.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has been handed a significant boost at Southampton in the last week, with Michael Obafemi back in training after a lengthy injury, and the youngster could well feature in the game against Leicester City on Friday night.

The 20-year-old has been out of action since January following ongoing surgery on a leg muscle injury, which prevented him from joining Swansea City on loan.

Although the young striker made just two substitute appearances for Southampton earlier in the season, his return could prove to be an important one for Hasenhuttl, who will be without top scorer Danny Ings for the game against Brendan Rodgers’ side due to injury.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international has found himself behind fellow youngsters Dan N’Lundulu and Nathan Tella in the pecking order this season, and considering that his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, he has a lot to prove in the next 13 months or so.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see if he gets much game-time between now and the end of the season, as the Saints are likely safe from relegation and have little to play for, so there seems no harm in giving him further opportunities to impress.

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Certainly, his “unbelievable pace” could prove to be a factor on Friday night if Hasenhuttl decides to utilise him, as in the absence of Ings, the Saints will need some pace alongside Che Adams up front if they want to test the Leicester defence.

Although Hasenhuttl has questioned his attitude in the past, Obafemi has clearly worked hard to get back to fitness before the end of the season and deserves a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League, having already scored four top-flight goals in his career.

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He could even prove to be Hasenhuttl’s game-changer against the Foxes, especially if he is used as an impact substitute, as he could trouble a tired Leicester defence with his pace late on, so it is definitely a boost to have him back available.

In other news… Southampton handed big boost in pursuit of £8.1m-rated beast, Semmens must deliver

Slavia Prague president Jaroslav Tvrdik has revealed that Glasgow Rangers tried to get the Czech champions knocked out of the Europa League following the racism row involving Glen Kamara.

Tvrdik makes Rangers claim

On the same night that the Gers were beaten 2-0 at Ibrox by Slavia in March, Kamara accused Ondrej Kudela of racially abusing him towards the end of the match.

Kudela has since been given a 10-game ban from European competition (The Guardian), although Slavia themselves deny the allegations (slavia.cz). Speaking to Seznam Zpravy, Tvrdik accused the Gers of trying to get his club kicked out of the competition. He said:

“By the way, the Scottish side was working hard on this [exclusion] at the very beginning.

“It’s like reminding us that we can actually be happy in a way that Slavia is not affected in any way, and we have to draw a thick line in this and we have to work if I say it simply, not only on the signs and videos, but we have to think about it.”

Outrageous

This once again seems like another tactic from Slavia to deflect attention. They continually denied that Kudela had racially abused Kamara, even suggesting the Finland international was the only one at fault for assaulting the 34-year-old in the tunnel after the game. Kudela and those around him are sticking to their story no matter what is thrown at them.

It seems unlikely that the Gers would have really pushed for Slavia to be kicked out of the tournament. That would have set an uncommon precedent, and given UEFA’s sometimes negligent response to such claims, such a punishment was never going to happen. It seems as if Slavia are absolutely desperate to hold on to an image of themselves which is already in tatters.

In other news, Ally McCoist slams this man’s comments.

Reported Celtic target Siriki Dembele is set to be transfer listed by Peterborough United, according to the Daily Record.

The lowdown

Dembele, the older brother of Celtic player Karamoko, was instrumental in Peterborough’s promotion from League One to the Championship.

He was the Posh’s third top-scorer with 12 goals and ranked second for assists with 10.

Dembele was hailed as a ‘destructive’ frontman by manager Darren Ferguson, and former Scottish international Alan Hutton says he would be ‘an unbelievable signing’ for Celtic.

According to Football Insider, the Hoops are battling with sides like Rangers, Fulham and Crystal Palace for his signature.

Crucially, Dembele only has one year left on his contract, and Director of Football Barry Fry admits there’s little prospect of renewal (via This is Futbol).

The latest

Peterborough will apparently look to sell Dembele after he turned down a new deal, the Daily Record reported on Monday (14:06).

It’s Fry’s policy that any player in the last 12 months of their deal will be placed on the transfer list to ensure they don’t walk away on a free transfer.

As a result, Dembele ‘looks set for a move away in the coming weeks’.

The verdict

According to The Scotsman, Eddie Howe will look to green-light three transfer deals almost immediately after taking over at Parkhead – one has to wonder if Dembele could be one of them given these favourable circumstances.

What is clear, though, is that they must move fairly quickly, because another suitor will surely pounce on a cut-price talent who has performed so well this season, is still young, and can player in a variety of positions across the attack.

In other news, read about the other appointments that could be made at Celtic this week.

Rangers take on Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday as they look to continue their unbeaten run in the Premiership, and Steven Gerrard should unleash Joe Aribo from the start.

The Nigerian international has been one of the top performers in this impressive Rangers side so far this season, contributing six goals and four assists in 26 league appearances.

This has helped him average a superb 7.40/10 rating from WhoScored, which puts him level with Ryan Kent as the Light Blues’ joint-second best performer in the league this season, with James Tavernier currently leading the way.

It’s clear to see the impact that the former Charlton Athletic man can have from a midfield position, as he has averaged 1.9 dribbles per game in the league this season, which is tied with Kent as the best of any Rangers player.

He has also averaged an impressive 1.3 key passes per game and 1.6 tackles per game, which rates him highly amongst the Rangers squad and demonstrates both his attacking and defensive qualities.

After the international break, during which Aribo featured for Nigeria in their 1-0 win against Benin, he was left on the bench for the Gers’ 4-0 win against Cove Rangers in the Scottish Cup last weekend, but he deserves a starting spot against Hibs.

Jack Ross’ side currently sit third in the Premiership table after an impressive season and took points off Gerrard’s team earlier in the campaign when they earned a 2-2 draw at Easter Road.

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Therefore, it won’t be an easy game for the Light Blues on Sunday, and Gerrard should ensure that he has his best XI out there, which means restoring Aribo to his starting lineup.

Earlier in the season, after an impressive performance against Dundee United, the 40-year-old manager was full of praise for the midfielder, saying: “He is a fantastic kid, you can’t get him off the training pitch, he’s always working on his game.”

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The 24-year-old, who reportedly earns £7,500 per week at Rangers, has clearly progressed during his time at Ibrox and has established himself as a key player so far this season. Gerrard should unleash him against Hibernian on Sunday, as his ability to control proceedings from midfield immediately marks him out as someone who can change the game in Rangers’ favour.

In other news… Rangers reveal huge boost over “unbelievable” 16-goal gem, Gerrard surely buzzing