Celtic FC
Al-Ittihad contacted Celtic About a possible Jota comeback; the club closed the door
Al-Ittihad’s strategy to Celtic concerning the attainable return of winger Jota to Parkhead looks to have hit a monetary roadblock.
The Saudi Pro League club’s proposed phrases for a January loan deal, which includes a obligatory buy clause for subsequent summer, have reportedly been deemed too high-priced by means of the Scottish Premiership side.
Jota, who left Celtic ultimate summer for a moneymaking £25 million switch to Al-Ittihad, has experienced a difficult time in the Middle East. Initially sidelined from the Saudi Pro League squad, he saw restricted action, in the main in the AFC Champions League and Club World Cup. Despite a short resurgence underneath new manager Marcelo Gallardo, following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure, Jota’s future with Al-Ittihad stays uncertain.
Saudi news outlet HiHi reviews that Jota is among six players Al-Ittihad is searching to offload to European clubs this January.
Celtic, approached as a attainable destination for Jota, has baulked at the financial demands of the deal. [WinWin via RecordSport]
The “exorbitant” expenses worried have led Celtic to close the door on this opportunity, notwithstanding the player’s preceding success at the club.
Celtic should truly do with Jota in their side at the moment, however the actuality is that his return was once never probably to happen.
Andy Halliday identifies three Celtic players who have deteriorated under Brendan Rodgers, calling them “gone backwards.”
Watching Celtic this season has been a bit of a tough slog. Especially over the closing few weeks.
Long gone are the days of Ange Postecoglou’s swashbuckling football. It has now been replaced with a slow, snails-paced recreation that the Celtic fans have no longer seen because Rodgers’ ultimate season at the club.
What is additionally missing is these character players who would light up a game at a moment’s notice. Jota has been changed with Luis Palma.
And whilst Palma is doing ok, he’s simply not obtained the electric powered tempo and dribbling the Portuguese ace had. Aaron Mooy has been replaced by Odin Thiago Holm.
Whilst I recognize Mooy wasn’t a dribbler, he could select out moments of magic that ought to free up the nice of defences.
But the bulk of the treble-winning squad is still there and Andy Halliday has named three gamers he says that are playing worse now than they had been beneath Ange Postecoglou.
Halliday said [Clyde SSB], “Kyogo for me, as it stands proper now, he’s been a shell of the participant we’ve seen remaining year. What used to be it, 35 goals?
“We’re now sitting in December and he’s scored one extra aim than Dessers who has had nothing but criticism for months.
“And I assume again, I ought to go thru a list. Alistair Johnston for me has went backwards. I think Greg Taylor is the same.
“I suppose there’s a proper few gamers that, right now, Brendan Rodgers now not getting the excellent out of.”
I hate to say it, however Halliday is correct. These three have regressed beneath Rodgers and it’s tough to see how they going to get out of it.
Normally ever reliable, this trio of gamers look to be struggling from a disaster of self assurance added on by way of attempting to play a gadget that is totally alien to them.
Rodgers need to do some thing and rapidly to alternate that due to the fact with the next two video games coming up, the Celtic gaffer is going to want them performing if he needs to select up all six points.
“The same is true for Celtic.” Brendan Rodgers sent a message to Manchester City
Neil Lennon has in contrast Celtic’s current troubles with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the English Premier League.
Both Celtic and Manchester City have dominated their respective leagues in recent years, but they haven’t started this current campaign as they would have liked.
Pep Guardiola’s side are sitting fourth in the Premier League table and have only gained one recreation in six, whilst Brendan Rodgers watched his Celtic side suffer back-to-back Scottish Premiership defeat.
The feeling inside Celtic Park wasn’t excellent on Saturday, with chants of ‘sack the board’ ringing around the stadium.
There is a lot of strain on Brendan Rodgers now, but Neil Lennon feels that he is going to be up to the ‘challenge’, as he told PLZ Soccer.
What Neil Lennon was once additionally keen to spotlight is that there is now a title race on, something which didn’t appear to be the case six weeks ago.
That simply adds to the pressure, with Neil Lennon comparing Celtic’s contemporary scenario with Manchester City.
Celtic and Manchester City
“Rodgers will seem to be forward to the challenge,” stated Lennon. “There is no question there is a title race on. Sometimes that’s what you want as a neutral.
“There’s nothing come to me that says ‘Celtic can’t win the league’. They are simply going thru a awful run, at the minute. But due to the fact the bar has been so high for so long. A little blip, or perhaps more than a little blip like this, it’s something the followers aren’t used to. But it’s part of football.
“I was down at the Etihad, they gained the Treble closing season. They have one game in five. They have been 2-0 up (against Crystal Palace). Drew 2-2. Fans came off and there used to be a little bit of unrest.
“But there is an acceptance there that the manager has the team to kind this out. I experience it’s the identical with Celtic.”
Celtic will bounce back
A lot has been stated following that defeat to Hearts. You ought to recognize the frustration of the fans from inside the stadium.
But now it’s time to cross on and do the speaking on the pitch. No need to panic. Just supply the factors against Livingston.
Yes, Rangers can overtake the Bhoys through triumphing their two video games in hand. But there is nonetheless that assembly at Parkhead on December 30.
It used to be Celtic who received at Ibrox before on in the campaign and there is no reason why it can’t appear again.
And if it does, then the mood will exchange and the team will head into the New Year and the January switch window top of the table.
Pundit: Celtic star is excellent for Leicester City Replacement for James Maddison
Leicester City have rekindled their interest in Celtic playmaker Matt O’Riley
HIGHLIGHTS
- Leicester City is headed for an immediate return to the Premier League after a strong overall performance in the Championship.
- Despite dropping James Maddison, Leicester has now not felt the have an impact on thanks to their gifted squad.
- Leicester is considering Danish participant Matt O’Riley as a plausible substitute for Maddison, however faces opposition from other Premier League clubs.
Leicester City are apparently crusing toward an instant return to the Premier League after simply one season back in the 2d tier.
While many argue that Enzo Maresca inherited a squad that was capable of taking the Championship by means of storm, even with the calibre of players that had been misplaced for the duration of the summer, the Foxes have been a pleasure to watch almost each passing week.
Leicester City rekindle activity in Danish playmaker
Despite the loss of James Maddison in the summer, Leicester are yet to virtually sense the ache of losing such a talented person despite no longer necessarily replacing him as yet.
Back in June, TeamTalk reported that Maresca had centered Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley as a replacement for the man who would join former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglu in North London, earlier than any deal between the two events failed to materialise.
However, the same guide has revealed recently that Enzo Maresca has set his points of interest on the Danish global yet again, with the January transfer window quick approaching.
Potential stumbling blocks for the Foxes
Whilst the thinking of becoming a member of a membership that have only dropped eleven factors all campaign and therefore, a return to the top-flight seems inevitable, O’Riley’s performances this season mean that the Foxes ought to pass over out on their goal yet once more as a end result of hobby from a range of hooked up Premier League and European outfits.
Back in October, TeamTalk but once more revealed that the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Brighton and West Ham United are all interested, but would have to pay a club-record charge to prize him away from Celtic Park. This would be the most difficult stumbling block of all for the Leicester hierarchy, as if Premier League clubs are not potentially prepared to pay such cash for his services, the possibility is even less for a modern-day Championship side.
Carlton Palmer troubles rave overview on Matt O’Riley’s Leicester links
At simply 23 years of age, to be attracting that type of pastime indicates the contemporary potential and ceiling which Celtic consider O’Riley has at his disposal.
Therefore, it’s comprehensible that when speakme solely to FLW, Carlton Palmer used to be excited about the possibilities of a attainable deal to carry the midfielder into the Championship.
“He’s been very remarkable this season, both in the league and Champions League – registering 9 goals and eight assists in 24 competitive appearances.” Palmer continued.
“Leicester have been eager on him at the begin of the season. Matt, it would seem, would be an best substitute for James Maddison. He would be a real asset in the ultimate 1/3 of the pitch as Leicester seem to be to seal a top-flight return at the first time of asking.
“At 23, he’s solely going to get better, and given his Champions League performances, they endorse he’d be in a position to cope in the top flight have to Leicester be promoted.” Palmer ended.
This is a fair assessment, however given the opposition Leicester face, it may additionally be a stretch too some distance at current – even though the thinking of him playing alongside some of Leicester’s modern-day innovative exploits is a mouth-watering prospect for Foxes supporters.
‘Waste of money,’ Brendan Rodgers, according to pundit, does not regard the £3 million Celtic player
Gustaf Lagerbielke has been told that he hasn’t executed adequate to persuade Brendan Rodgers that he’s exact adequate to play for Celtic.
The Swedish defender has been touted for a move in the January window after less than six months at the club and pundit, Hugh Keevins, says that’s due to the fact Rodgers does no longer charge him.
Keevins said [Clyde SSB], “For me, Lagerbielke’s absence tells you Brendan Rodgers virtually does now not fee him.
“The whole crew that was assembled on Wednesday night time used to be out of necessity born of a squad that is not accurate enough.
“And I think Brendan Rodgers will be cleansing the place come January. Because it’s no longer accurate enough for Celtic.
“And Lagerbielke, the speak ultimate night time was once Celtic will hear to offers for him.
“He has been, I’m sorry to say, a waste of money.”
After his Champions League heroics on Wednesday night, Lagerbielke inexplicably found himself out of the photo in the matchday squad against Hearts.
The Swedish Defender of the Year appeared to perhaps have grew to become his luck after his last-minute winner ended Celtic’s Champions League hoodoo but the fans were left perplexed after he was left out in the cold once once more this weekend.
Lagerbielke’s time at Celtic does appear to be up. Mark Guidi told two weeks ago how people internal the membership informed him that the £3m summer season signing was once deemed now not correct enough.
Let’s hope Celtic can recoup the majority of the cash that’s been spent on the 23-year-old so that Rodgers can reinvest it lower back in the squad.
“We shall see,” Brendan Rodgers responds to the reports A £3 million Celtics player might depart in January
Brendan Rodgers has addressed the latest hypothesis that Gustaf Lagerbielke should depart Celtic in January.
The £3m summer time signing from Elfsborg had dropped off the face of the earth after being thrown in at the start of the season due to a protective damage crisis at the club.
Lagerbielke himself has advised how he doesn’t be aware of why Brendan Rodgers isn’t enjoying him and after reviews this morning cautioned that the membership are open to provides for him, the Celtic manager answered to these prior to the go to of Hearts.
Rodgers said [BBC Sportsound], “Well, we shall see. Gus got here in and scored the triumphing intention throughout the week, so yeah I suppose what will take area in January will sort itself out.
“I assume in the meantime the gamers are working very hard. I suppose you see with the introduction of Stephen Welsh and Gustaf that they come in and help the team and they can’t do that if the spirit and their center of attention isn’t right.
“That is a very alluring component of the recreation the other night, even guys like Mikey Johnston. A lot of they guys haven’t featured early on but to win a Champions League game with all these elements I tip my hat to the players.”
It sincerely is a bizarre scenario the Celtic defender finds himself in. After having a exquisite season with Elfsborg, Laberbielke was named the pleasant defender in Sweden at an awards ceremony in November.
But now he looks set to go away the club after much less than six months and you have to say it is notably not likely Celtic will recoup something near what they paid for the 23-year-old.
It looks that the Swedish worldwide defender’s time is up at Celtic and in a way, I can’t assist but experience sorry for Lagerbielke. He has been put into this situation thru no fault of his very own and after a brief spell in Glasgow now finds himself surplus to requirements.
A couple will go: Kennedy exposes the sources of his anticipated Celtic departures
At least one central defender will be shifting out of Celtic in January as nicely as Nat Phillips who is on loan from Liverpool.
The dimension of the squad has become apparent over latest weeks with summer season signings struggling for sport time and frequently to make the replacement bench on matchdays.
Liam Scales has been a constant presence in defence considering the fact that August, mostly alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers however in midweek in opposition to Feyenoord he was once partnered by means of Stephen Welsh for seventy five minutes before Gus Lagerbielke’s dramatic appearance.
At £4.3n from Lech Poznan Maik Nawrocki used to be the most high priced summer season signing but talking at today’s media conference John Kennedy admitted that it used to be one location of the squad where he expected to see departures.
About the centre-back scenario with Carter-Vickers coming back into full fitness now, you have as many as six or seven centre-backs. How do you view that, and do you suppose there will be a major pairing that will emerge? Scales has played in reality nicely so some distance this season. Cameron’s been right here for two years and has been brilliant. What do you see?
It’s a function the place we have a lot of players. In January there’s going to have to be a couple that will go and get game-time some other place and trim the squad down a little bit. If anything, we’re carrying a lot of numbers, so there will be a lot on the periphery who we just want to go and get game-time or possibly cross on. Everyone will have their own agenda on that.
Yuki Kobayashi looks sure to return to the J-League in January but it looks like two from Welsh, Nawrocki and Lagerbielke will continue to be as opposition and returned up for Scales and Carter-Vickers.
Tomorrow’s team-sheet should give an indication of who will be last next month with Welsh and Lagerbielke having made sturdy instances to continue to be concerned following their name ups towards Feyenoord.
“Scandalous”… Feyenoord midfielder was rather irritated following the match against Celtic
Celtic’s win over Feyenoord left the players, the fans and the manager feeling extremely joyful at subsequently recording a win in the Champions League.
Not considering the fact that beating Anderlecht in 2017 has Brendan Rodgers tasted victory in Europe’s pinnacle competition. So when the last whistle went last night, the Hoops gaffer would have been elated at his team’s ability to make a late sprint for a winner.
However, one participant who wasn’t impressed used to be Feyenoord midfielder, Mats Wieffer. Just like Arne Slot, he used to be definitely raging at his crew and said it used to be ‘scandalous’ that they allowed Celtic to nick all three points at the end.
Wieffer said [Glasgow Times], “Everyone is very frustrated. Celtic have been better in the first 20 minutes and then we had it pretty an awful lot below control. We created a lot of chances, in particular in the 2nd half.
“I don’t understand how many desires we have conceded like the one Celtic scored late on in the Champions League, however that’s now not possible. It’s surely scandalous.
“These are the moments you educate to forestall when every body has a man. This need to now not happen.
“It’s all very well pronouncing we played first-rate football and have won, however if that takes place time and time again, you will by no means win anything.
“We can solely blame ourselves.”
I have the world’s smallest violin playing here simply for Wiefferr! But in all seriousness, Celtic were due a bit of luck in the competition.
Against all three teams, Rodgers’ crew suffered both from a late aim conceded or a dodgy refereeing decision so it’s true to see Celtic getting a bit of a rub of the green.
Unfortunately, it was once too little, too late for Celtic but at least now the pressure is off to get that win and optimistically Rodgers can construct on this for Europe next season.
Chris Sutton responds to Celtic’s Champions League victory, saying, “The rot has stopped.”
Chris Sutton stored tabs on Celtic’s Champions League conflict against Feyenoord from the London International Horse Show tonight.
The former striker has watched his old membership suffer a decade of distress in UEFA’s elite competition as they took some heavy beatings while coming close to breaking the long going for walks mission for their first home win considering the fact that October 2013 towards Feyenoord.
There used to be nothing at stake tonight besides for a 2-8m euro payout with Celtic anchored in backside spot with Feyenoord looking ahead to Europa League football in the new year.
Well at least the home record rot has stopped even if it was a dead rubber. Worst ever as a player going into a game with just pride to play for and to the player’s credit they did that🍀
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) December 13, 2023
Luis Palma opened the scoring with a 33rd minute penalty however the Dutch champions regarded to have secured a factor in the 82nd minute when Yankuba Minteh shot home unmarked from 12 yards out.
That looked like any other difficult success story for the hoops however right on the 90th minute Gus Lagerbielke headed home from shut range after being picked out through a extraordinary go from Matt O’Riley.
After eight minutes of stoppage time Celtic, and Sutton with the horses, had been able to celebrate.
Kyogo’s goal drought is not his fault, Brendan Rodgers tells Celtics critics, explaining in detail why the star isn’t scoring
Kyogo hasn’t hit the goal for the Hoops considering the fact that a 6-0 win over Aberdeen in November.
Brendan Rodgers has revealed Kyogo Furuhashi will lead Celtic’s assault towards Feyenoord – and insisted he’s not to blame for the striker’s current intention drought.
Rodgers left the Japanese talisman on the bench for Sunday’s shock defeat at Kilmarnock after losing him out of the group for remaining week’s home win over Hibs. But the Parkhead boss tested on Tuesday night Kyogo will be pitched again in from the begin for his side’s final Champions League game of a catastrophic marketing campaign against the Dutch large guns in Glasgow’s east end.
And he rubbished any suggestion that his own tactical approach has been immediately to blame for a miserable run which has considered Kyogo net only as soon as in Celtic’s last 10 games. Asked if Kyogo will change Oh Hyeon-gyu in his assault Rodgers replied: “He will play. We have to be truthful to Kyogo and some of the other boys as well. They can’t play in every single game. You lose that speed and intensity.
“Oh’s executed well when he’s come into the game. A bit like Mikey, he gets his start and then obviously the team performs nicely in opposition to Hibs so you let that beginning crew begin apart from Cameron Carter-Vickers with a view to making changes.
‘But you need a properly squad and you need to give some relief to players, mainly with him and the quantity of work he receives through.”
Rodgers has been blamed for this drop off for deploying Kyogo in a deeper function than the one which was once earmarked for him through former boss Ange Postecoglou. But the supervisor hit lower back by insisting Kyogo has gone against his personal instructions.
He said: “We went via his video stuff the other week. We appeared chiefly at the fact I don’t need him shedding in so much. When you’re playing in a lot of video games where groups are sat deep, you don’t get a kick of the ball actually until it comes into the box.
“So what do you do? You begin wandering. His energy is his penetration. That’s his strength, running in in the back of and timing his runs. You have to make 10 runs maybe to solely get in once however that’s your job as a striker.
“So there’s been nothing changed in that. There’s been without a doubt nothing different asked of him due to the fact his power is enjoying off the ultimate line, timing his actions and being instinctive in the box.
“He’s now not a dribbler, he’s now not any one who does drop in. He can do it however it’s not his strength. And that’s continually the assignment for a striker who wants to affect games. But he’s very receptive. He’s not a baby, remember, he’s 28 years of age.”
![](https://topsport4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/0_JS318865480-2.webp)
Kyogo and Oh celebrate
Rodgers additionally printed that neither Cameron Carter-Vickers nor Daizen Maeda will make the squad for tonight’s tie, notwithstanding rejoining the squad in training the previous day after harm layoffs. He said: “They won’t be concerned tomorrow. Cameron trained this morning, however it is probable too an awful lot of a risk. He will be reachable for the weekend.”
That capacity Nat Phillips is likely to begin towards the Eredivisie champs regardless of a shaky performance capped off by an personal purpose in the Rugby Park defeat. But Rodgers insist the blame for that loss stops at the manager’s door.
He said: “Listen, I think it is a collective. It can by no means be pointed at one player. I thought in the first half we performed very well. We played with exact velocity and should have scored extra than one goal.
“But from the very outset of the 2d half of we didn’t play. If there is all of us to blame for the result, blame me. It is down to the manager to pick out the team. No, it was a disappointing result.”
Another team has now formally offered to sign a “outstanding” Celtic player in the bidding battle – report
One Celtic player is starting to come to be a target remote places beforehand of the New Year, with any other club making an offer for his services.
Celtic switch update
The Hoops have been busy over the summer following Brendan Rodgers’ return to Parkhead, with a range of additions being made in multiple areas of the pitch.
Alongside all the arrivals, there were also some departees, and the club without a doubt made a profit in the summer, mainly due to Jota’s big-money exit to Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad. As nicely as Jota, Celtic additionally obtained prices for Carl Starfelt, Albian Ajeti and Conor Hazard, and via the looks of things, the club ought to soon convey in cash for another player in 2024.
Celtic outcast Yosuke Ideguchi made the cross again to Japan until now this year, joining Avispa Fukuoka back in February. Since then, reports have claimed that the J1 League prefer to secure his services on a permanent deal.
However, in a new Celtic switch update from Japan, relayed via The Glasgow Times, the Hoops have already obtained an provide from Avispa Fukuoka and now fellow Japanese aspect Vissel Kobe are also stated to have made a “formal offer” for the midfielder.
Yosuke Ideguchi’s profession at Celtic
Ideguchi arrived in Glasgow returned in January 2022 and is under contract until 2026, however, things haven’t worked out for the Japan international. He has ignored a variety of video games via damage due to the fact placing pen to paper in Scotland and has made just six senior appearances in inexperienced and white. His injury problems have endured while on mortgage at Avispa Fukuoka.
Former Greuther Furth boss Damir Buric previously heaped reward on the player, though, saying:
“In regards to Yosuke, I can only speak the best. He is an exquisite individual with top notch character. First of all I was very impressed with the way he got here returned from that serious injury. What impressed me most was once the way he was working for the duration of his time out with the injury.
“It was simply unbelievable, nearly like soldier. He confirmed such a remarkable attitude and high-quality approach. He was extraordinarily disciplined, took in each and every additional coaching session of bodily rehabilitation and invested all of his time in getting returned as quickly as he perchance could.”
He appears to be a player with quality when fully fit, however, unfortunately, Celtic haven’t viewed that model of the participant enough, so a everlasting exit ought to make sense for all involved in 2024, whether that be with Avispa Fukuoka or Vissel Kobe, making this one to watch.
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