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Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has reportedly agreed terms with 50-year-old manager Brendan Rodgers to take on the vacant post at Parkhead this week.

The Northern Irish tactician is set to be officially announced as the successor to Ange Postecoglou, who joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week, at some point today.

Sky Sports recently claimed that the former Leicester City boss will be backed by the board in the summer transfer window with a view to making the team competitive on the European stage.

Who is Kwadwo Opoku?

It was recently reported that Celtic are one of the clubs interested in signing promising Los Angeles FC winger Kwadwo Opoku, who could be available for a fee of up to €4.8m (£4.1m) this summer.

He is a left-footed attacker who mainly operates down the right flank and that could make the talented youngster Rodgers' next version of former Hoops forward Patrick Roberts.

During the ex-Liverpool manager's first spell in Scotland, the Englishman spent two seasons on loan from Manchester City and racked up 12 goals and 24 assists in 65 outings for the club across all competitions under his management.

The now-Sunderland ace was a creative outlet who started on the right and used his preferred left foot to cut inside in order to make things happen in the final third.

Opoku could follow in his footsteps based on his impressive form in the MLS for LAFC throughout 2022.

The 21-year-old dynamo, whose performances last year were hailed as "magnificent" by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, scored eight goals and provided three assists in 20 starts for his side, with all eight strikes coming on his favoured foot.

However, his assist total did not tell the full story as the Ghanaian maestro created an eye-catching 11 'big chances' for his teammates and this suggests, given that Celtic's Jota registered 11 assists from 13 'big chances' created, that his fellow attackers let him down.

The MLS Cup winner, who has produced two goals and two assists across 11 MLS starts this year, has been compared to Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also listed the gem's "flair" as one of his strengths.

Opoku is an exciting young talent who could be an excellent long-term addition to Celtic's squad, whilst also being able to provide quality in the final third as immediately as next season if he can replicate his MLS form from 2022.

Therefore, Rodgers could land his next version of the left-footed wizard that was Roberts at Parkhead by working with Desmond to secure a deal for the £4.1m wide man this summer.

Newcastle United will likely be in the transfer market this summer to bolster their impressive squad ahead of their return to the Champions League next season, after qualifying for the first time in two decades.

Whilst Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the rapid progress and success the players have displayed over the last campaign, there will be no room for sentiment when it comes to competing at the highest level on the European stage with some of the biggest and most successful clubs in football.

In terms of quality squad depth, the Tynesiders have been riding their luck over the last 12 months with the attacking threat the only area of the pitch that boasts a number of players who have maintained the high standards that Howe has needed to successfully compete.

However, there is definitely room for improvement at every opportunity and Dan Ashworth will be tasked with the responsibility of bringing in new additions who can help Newcastle make the step-up to compete at the highest level consistently on both the European stage and in domestic competition.

One player who has been linked this week with a potential £70m move to the North East is RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai, a versatile attacker who can adopt a number of roles in the advanced positions on the pitch to offer Howe another modern multi-dimensional threat.

Who is Dominik Szoboszlai?

The 22-year-old has been attracting attention from not only Newcastle but league rivals Liverpool this summer, and it's not hard to see why both Howe and Jurgen Klopp – who share a similar attacking-minded philosophy – are taking an interest in the young talent.

Szoboszlai has taken on a number of positions successfully over his short career so far, most commonly featuring in central midfield, attacking midfield, left midfield, right wing and left wing with 26 appearances or more in each, demonstrating his unique versatility on the pitch.

However, considering the Hungary international is incredibly prolific in providing goal contributions – with 64 goals and 73 assists tallied up over 226 career appearances to date – it is clear that his best attributes are found in front of goal.

As a result, Howe could form an unstoppable partnership between Szoboszlai and Newcastle's popular striker Alexander Isak with the pair combining their incredible skill sets to cause nightmares for opponents in both the Premier League and Champions League next season.

Isak has taken the top flight by storm since arriving last summer and despite a slow start has shown glimpses of his explosive talent that prompted the Magpies to splash £63m on the Swedish striker, with a goal contribution tallied up every 141 minutes so far which has helped Newcastle achieve their European dreams.

On top of that, the 23-year-old plays a unique role using his pace and stamina to offer something completely different to his position competitor Callum Wilson, with the England star adopting a more classic number nine role as a target man whilst Isak gets up and down the pitch to drive the ball into dangerous positions.

The Swede ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive carries, progressive passes, tackles and successful take-ons, further demonstrating his unorthodox approach to the striker role which could see him become an ideal partner for Szoboszlai.

The RB Leipzig ace – dubbed a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller – ranks in the top 20% for his progressive passes like Isak, but ranks much higher in the top 9% for shot-creating actions proving that he could provide some much-needed creativity to really get the best from the Toon striker next season.

With that being said, it would be a big coup if Ashworth could complete the signing of Szoboszlai this summer as he could not only boost goal contributions next season but bring attributes that could improve the play of those around him too.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is seemingly eyeing a move for South Korean starlet, Seong-jin Kang, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Seong-jin Kang on Tottenham?

According to the Sunday Mirror (11/06/2023, page 70), the Lilywhites could potentially step up their interest in the promising 20-year-old, with Postecoglou's former club Celtic also in the mix for his signature.

The exciting winger is currently on the books at Korean outfit FC Seoul, where he still has over three years left to run on his existing deal in his homeland.

Who is Kang Seong-jin?

The highly-rated youngster has caught the eye as a result of his displays for both club and country of late, having also scored twice in just two appearances at senior international level, while also racking up ten goal involvements in 57 outings for his current side in all competitions.

Those at N17 may well be hoping that the 5 foot 11 dynamo can replicate the success that his compatriot Heung-min Son has had in north London, with Kang previously stating that he has once labelled himself as "little Son" when meeting ex-national team boss, Paulo Bento.

Stylistically, however, the young left-footer – who typically operates off the right flank – could offer a strong resemblance to another Premier League star in the form of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, having previously spoken of his desire to learn from the prolific marksman, stating:

"I watch videos of Salah’s routines the day before a game."

That likeness between the pair can already be seen due to their creative prowess from the flanks, with Kang having chipped in with seven assists at first team level to date, while the far more experienced Salah is also an expert provider having contributed 79 assists across all fronts during his time at Anfield.

The two wide men also appear to share the knack for being able to beat a man in attack, with the Korean wizard having averaged 1.8 successful dribbles per game from his six U20 World Cup outings, while the Reds ace averaged 1.3 for that metric in the Premier League in 2022/23 – albeit from 38 appearances.

The younger man will undoubtedly have a way to go to emulate the talent of Salah, although it would certainly be a real coup for Postecoglou if he can find his answer to the former Chelsea and Roma ace.

The 30-year-old has established himself as a leading presence under Jurgen Klopp in recent years after scoring 186 goals in just 305 games for the Merseyside outfit, helping the club to Premier League and Champions League glory since his £34m arrival from Italy back in 2017.

Previously hailed as "sensational" and "one of the best players in the world" by ex-Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, Salah is certainly a wise player to try and learn from, with the hope being that Kang can follow in the Egyptian's footsteps and becoming a shining light in English football.

Everton will need to look to the transfer window to improve their squad after a disappointing season in the Premier League, and with the prospect of key players leaving this summer, Farhad Moshiri will need to make smart moves to identify new signings who could make an instant impact.

Both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been linked with moves away from the club this summer, and they would be huge losses to the team’s goal contributions next season if Everton do not act fast in the transfer window to replace them.

Richarlison was the Toffees’ top scorer with 11 goals this season, and despite Calvert-Lewin’s numerous injury problems in recent months, he has also been a consistent and effective striker for the team.

The 25-year-old has scored 58 goals and delivered 18 assists for the Merseyside club in 191 appearances, with a goal contribution every 163 minutes. Frank Lampard will therefore be hoping that, if the England striker does move on, the 43-year-old can find someone to either emulate or improve upon the goal threat of Calvert-Lewin next season.

One player who has been closely linked with a move to Goodison Park is potential Calvert-Lewin heir Valentin Castellanos, who has been impressing in the MLS with Lampard’s former club New York City FC.

The €14m (£12m)-rated striker, who was dubbed “exceptional” by journalist Conor McGilligan, scored 22 goals and delivered eight assists in the MLS over the 2021 season, winning the league’s Golden Boot. He has continued to show his prolific nature in front of goal this year, scoring seven goals in 11 appearances so far.

Everton will likely have competition for the forward’s signature this summer, as Premier League trio West Ham United, Leeds United and Newcastle United are all named as interested parties in acquiring the services of the Argentine predator.

The Merseyside club’s interest must be ramped up by Moshiri if he wants to add depth to the forward line this summer, especially with the futures of Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison hanging in the balance. It could be a huge risk not to act upon their reported interest and get a proposal put together to sign the goal machine.

Ultimately, Everton will need to make sure that they prepare for the worst outcome of losing both their key attackers, and signing Castellanos could be a great start to ensuring that they don’t caught short with attacking options ahead of next season.

AND in other news – “Interested…”: Insider drops big Everton transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Midlands-based football journalist Josh Holland has made a claim involving Tottenham Hotspur and their former transfer target Adama Traore. 

The lowdown: Stuttering career

After spending the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan back where it all began at Barcelona, the Spain winger has reached an impasse in what was once a promising career.

Expected to return to Wolves this summer, the 26-year-old had been deemed surplus to requirements under Bruno Lage as Spurs actively pursued a move when Nuno Espirito Santo was in the Tottenham hot seat last autumn.

That interest had since appeared to have cooled from north London, although one informed onlooker believes that Tottenham could reignite their admiration for the rapid winger…

The latest: Holland on Traore

Discussing the future of Traore and Spurs-linked Ruben Neves with GiveMeSport, Holland suggested that Tottenham could foreseeably reignite their interest in the Spaniard.

He said: “I think the Traore one is a more difficult circumstance than the Neves one. I think Neves has been respectful the whole time. Traore has to the public, but we don’t know what’s happened within the changing room.

“I won’t be surprised if Tottenham swoop round for him again, or another Spanish team come in for him, but I can’t see him playing at Wolves next season.”

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The verdict: Worth the risk

Despite his ineffectiveness in front of goal, the powerful winger still possesses all of the physical attributes which make him such a threat; and if used in the right way, Antonio Conte could be adding a potential wildcard star to the Tottenham ranks.

The eight-cap Spain winger scored just once and managed only four assists in 40 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona and Wolves in 2021/22, highlighting a worrying absence of clinical end product.

Nonetheless, signing the man who Jetro Willems called a ‘beast’ and said was harder to face than Cristiano Ronaldo due to his incredible speed for anything south of his Transfermarkt valuation of £18m would remain a worthwhile move for Tottenham, as Conte and Fabio Paratici attempt to strengthen the attacking ranks in north London.

In other news: ‘Being negotiated’ – Club now want their ‘sensational’ star to join Tottenham! Find out more here

Newcastle United are reportedly ready to make a move to sign Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco, according to a report from Spanish outlet AS. 

The lowdown: Intentions signalled

Following the appointment of Eddie Howe and an influx of players in January, Newcastle enjoyed a superb second half of the 2021/22 season, and it will be intriguing to see who comes through the doors at St James’ Park this summer.

Whilst a revolutionary overhaul isn’t expected to take place in on Tyneside, the levels of recruitment and expectancy will likely go up a notch after the arrival of transfer chief Dan Ashworth from Brighton.

One man who could be on the radar for the Toon is Belgium international Carrasco, and it appears that PIF are ready to spend big to get him…

The latest: Newcastle ‘willing’ to splash out for Carrasco

As per AS, Newcastle are ‘willing’ to meet the €60m (£51m) release clause in the 28-year-old’s contract.

With Carrasco cited as one of the ‘mainstays’ in Diego Simeone’s plans, the report added that the Tyneside club have ‘put his name on the table’ ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

However, amidst the interest, it’s claimed that the man who was lauded by journalist Josh Bunting for an ‘absolutely outstanding’ start to the 2020/21 season is ‘happy’ at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The verdict: Worth every penny

Carrasco scored six times and provided seven assists in 44 outings in 2021/22, earning an impressive 7.09 Sofascore rating whilst winning five duels, completing 2.6 successful dribbles and making 1.6 key passes per La Liga game in the process.

Capable of operating on either wing and at centre-forward, the 55-cap Belgian would provide additional versatility, whilst he would be an upgrade on Newcastle’s current options given that only two Magpies players exceeded his Sofascore rating this season. Therefore, the former AS Monaco man appears to be the ideal candidate to strengthen the attacking options at Eddie Howe’s disposal.

Under a £141,000-per-week contract in the Spanish capital until 2024 (Transfermarkt), his wages will likely be attainable for Newcastle, and the easiest way to negotiate with Carrasco whilst taking Atletico out of the equation would be to simply meet the release clause.

In other news: Magpies make offer for this Serie A gem

Manchester United are preparing a sensational attempt to sign RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku this summer, according to Sport 1 journalist Florian Plettenburg (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Breakout season

Signed from Paris Saint-Germain having graduated from the club’s youth system, Nkunku had been making steady progress in Germany by directly influencing 39 goals in 84 outings prior to the 2021/22 campaign.

However, the versatile attacker took his form to a whole new level this season, directly contributing to an astonishing 55 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, the upturn in output from the France international has prompted multiple suitors from across Europe to sit up and pay attention.

The latest: United keen on Nkunku

Taking to Twitter (via Sport Witness), Plettenburg confirmed that United are interested in signing Nkunku after the Frenchman was ‘recommended’ as a target by Ralf Rangnick.

He said: “Update #Nkunku: Yes, there is a good contact between #MUFC and the player’s management. It is said that an official offer could arrive in Leipzig next week. United bosses rate him as very good. Rangnick recommended his transfer as reported. RB still won’t sell.”

The verdict: Sensational capture

Holding a market value of £58.8m and under contract in Germany until 2024 (Transfermarkt), signing the 24-year-old would be a superb piece of early business from Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

Capable of operating centrally and on either wing, Nkuku shares a stylistic likeness with such star names as Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Liverpool trio Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane (FBRef).

That illustrious company in terms of his playing style – allied with a remarkable 7.59 Sofascore rating (third highest in the German top flight) whilst completing 1.9 successful dribbles per game (joint-seventh highest in Bundesliga) – makes the prospect of adding a player of Nkunku’s calibre to the Red Devils’ squad a hugely exciting one.

Described by current Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch as a player with ‘no weaknesses’, the gifted Frenchman should certainly be considered a priority transfer target for Ten Hag and the Red Devils.

In other news: Man Utd are interested in signing one Serie A giant this summer, read more here

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou oversaw a substantial overhaul at Parkhead during last summer’s transfer window.

While several players ended up waving goodbye to Glasgow, many others came to the club to accompany Postecoglou throughout his first season in charge.

One player who was signed during this period was Josip Juranovic, who joined from Polish club Legia Warsaw on a five-year deal worth a reported £2.5m.

With 35 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions, the £16k-per-week full-back found the net five times and provided two assists along the way.

From a defensive point of view, the Croatian ended his debut Premiership season with the fifth-highest number of interceptions (22) and third-highest number of tackles (28) to his name in Celtic’s squad.

This shows that he certainly played his part in terms of seeing the Hoops end the campaign with the best defensive record in the league with just 22 goals conceded in 38 games.

Conversely, he has shown that he can be a useful attacking threat as well. In addition to the one goal and three assists that he provided in the league, the 26-year-old delivered 98 crosses in total, the fifth-highest in Postecoglou’s squad.

His versatility also came in handy, being able to play in both full-back positions when needed for the Bhoys.

Praised by Ally McCoist for his “outstanding” performance against Rangers in February, Juranovic has certainly proven his worth to the Parkhead club and shown why they were right to sign him in the first place.

In July 2020, Transfermarkt had the defender’s market value listed at £1.35m. It now stands at £3.6m, highlighting a significant increase of 135%, which also shows what a splendid piece of business it was from the Hoops to add him to their squad.

It also highlights the sort of trajectory he has been on over the past couple of years, and based on what he’s done for his new club since his arrival, there’s no reason why that progress can’t continue for the foreseeable future.

Taking all this into account, it’s safe to say that Juranovic has been a brilliant signing, not only for Celtic but for Postecoglou as well.

In other news – “I’m sure”: Big Lennoxtown claim emerges, it’s “really exciting” for Celtic supporters

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte could be ready to set up a transfer for Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Major summer ahead…

The Lilywhites and transfer chief Fabio Paratici are tasked with backing Conte in the summer transfer market and ensuring the Italian has everything he needs to maintain Spurs’ remarkable return to form.

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Just after the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo, few would’ve envisaged Tottenham in their strong Premier League position with just one point needed against the relegated Norwich on Sunday to secure Champions League football.

The north-Londoners, to appease their new miracle worker in Conte, have been tipped to target a plethora of fresh faces with just as many going the opposite direction (The Telegraph).

A major overhaul could be on the cards this summer with claim from The Mirror now surfacing involving Inter striker Martinez.

The Latest: Spurs could ‘hijack’ Martinez move…

It is believed that Spurs are ‘ready to hijack a transfer’ from rivals Arsenal if they seal a return to the Champions League on Sunday.

As they eye a move for the Argentine, The Mirror say ‘Conte could rub salt in the Gunners’ wounds’ by setting up a move for Martinez after they potentially beat their neighbours to a place in Europe’s most coveted competition.

This comes as chairman Daniel Levy is ‘on standby for major upgrades’ following Tottenham’s ‘surge to the brink’ of a European Cup return.

The Verdict: Top striker target?

The 24-year-old is finishing 2021/2022 in sublime form, scoring seven goals in his last six Serie A matches, leaving little wonder Inter won’t let him leave for less than £70 million.

That being said, Martinez could be the ideal man to partner or provide competition for Harry Kane if Levy is indeed willing to invest.

The £180,000-per-week forward has been called ‘perfect’ for England by former Man United midfielder Owen Hargreaves and it is believed that Paratici personally ‘loves’ Inter’s in-form talisman (Gianluca Di Marzio).

He’s also bagged 21 top flight goals and three assists in total this campaign and we believe he could be a big upgrade for Conte.

In other news: ‘I’ve heard…’ – Sky Sports reporter hints £64m ‘nightmare’ could be open to joining Spurs! Find out more here.

Tonight sees Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Pep Guardiola’s title chasing Manchester City side.

After Liverpool’s win last night, City have it all to do against what is the fourth-best defence in the Premier League, having conceded just 34 goals all season.

After the impressive comeback against Chelsea, courtesy of some Chiquinho magic, Lage will order his side to continue in the same vein, as the Old Gold march towards meeting their ambition of achieving a finish in the European places.

Like Manchester City, Wolves will be chasing a win and with the prospect of the best defence vs the fourth-best defence, we could be in for a well organised and tight affair, just like the last time these two sides met in what ended as a 1-0 win for the Citizens.

What’s the news?

With Lage out with illness, Wolves’ fitness coach Carlos Cachada provided an update over the health of the squad on Monday, as per BirminghamMail.

Cachada said: “At this moment we remain exactly the same, with the same injuries. The three guys are Daniel Podence, Nelson Semedo and Max Kilman.”

Though with centre-back Roman Saiss picking up a knock at Stamford Bridge, he may also be a doubt and will be assessed by the medical team ahead of the game.

It may prove to be somewhat of a late fitness test for the Moroccan who looks as though he will be departing the West Midlands side in the summer, amidst his expiring contract.

A huge blow

If Saiss is unable to feature in the game against Manchester City tonight, it will come as a huge blow for the Old Gold who will have their depth reduced to just one left-footed centre-back in Toti Gomes.

Still, in such a high profile and meaningful game for Wolves, they will surely miss the experience and know-how that Saiss brings.

Though a more positive perspective would see the 23-year-old Portuguese talent Gomes given a runout in what would be a chance to stake his claim for regular minutes next season, with Saiss likely to depart.

However, it is the absence of Podence and Kilman that will represent the biggest blow to Wolves, with the former the club’s joint-top creator in the top-flight this term with three assists and 1.4 key passes per game.

Kilman, meanwhile, has been a vital cog in what has been such a sturdy defence this term so Lage will be gutted to be without him. Today, you really do have to fear that Man City’s prominent attack could run riot.

In other news: Lage must unleash “ridiculous” prodigy vs Man City, his “explosiveness” will scare Pep