Todd Cantwell’s Rangers in-joke is revealed by Philippe Clement, and the midfielder brushes off teasing by Celtic fans

Twice now Cantwell has spoke back to low moments by way of producing for Rangers in their subsequent game.

At least Todd Cantwell can see the funny aspect now.

And Philippe Clement reckons his Rangers playmaker can have the remaining snicker if he continues to respond to adversity like he did on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Ibrox ace wasn’t smiling as he trudged glumly off the Parkhead pitch three days formerly to the sound of sarcastic cheers from the Celtic support. The East End trustworthy like to call the former Norwich man TikTok and they ramped up their trolling as they celebrated their side’s 2-1 triumph in their second Old Firm win of the campaign.

But Clement was delighted to see Cantwell stick a thumb in the eye of the keyboard warriors and critics as he replied with a purpose and a stand-out display in the Light Blues’ New Year stroll against Kilmarnock. It used to be reminiscent of the way the Englishman bounced back from being unceremoniously hooked just 37 minutes into the club’s November draw at home to Europa League minnows Aris Limassol – responding three days later with two assists in a win over Hearts.

Clement used to be rapid to remind the attacker of that as he afforded him a standing ovation from the appreciative Ibrox trustworthy as he used to be changed late on against Killie. Asked if he was once pleased with Cantwell’s reaction to his Old Firm criticism, the massive Belgian said: “It’s hard to take out one player.

“It’s a whole story and every player has his personal working points. It’s my job and the job of the team of workers to factor them out and work on that with them.

“So I am comfortable with the evolution Todd is making and I opt for to take him out in the 87th minute rather of the thirty seventh minute. I told him that when he came off. He discovered it funny.”

Clement has advised his gamers to relaxation up and come back refreshed subsequent week, geared up to put in some serious graft when they jet out for a warm-weather training camp in the Spanish hotel of La Manga. But the Ibrox gaffer admits he’ll going flat out over the next few days as he looks to make in addition additions after signing Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves.

“Will I get a rest earlier than Spain?” asked the former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco boss. “No, because I have different matters to do – it’s no longer solely training.

“We have a January switch window to come. So I need to watch gamers also, however I would do things with my family.

“But I don’t like to switch off. For me, it is no longer important.

“My physique don’t need to do something any more. And my Genius doesn’t explode by doing that all the time. I love it, and I will do it.

“How energetic will we be in the transfer window? Very lively each and every day, through searching at a lot of gamers together with human beings in the club.

“And then we will see what we can make happen. The matters we want. But we are not going to sign 10 players.”

Clement doesn’t idea placing in the hours if the work can pay off – and so far it has. The derby defeat to Celtic is the solely blot on the 49-year-old’s Ibrox end result sheet so a ways and whilst his side sit eight adrift of Brendan Rodgers’ Premiership pace-setters proper now, that deficit will cut back to two if they win each their games in hand on the champions.

It’s a scenario that has the Ibrox devoted eagerly awaiting the 2nd half of a season that has already delivered Viaplay Cup silver and a vicinity in the Europa League’s final 16.

And Clement is just as keen to see how it all plays out. He said: “I am still curious. I am comfortable that you speak now about the achievable of this team.

“Eleven weeks ago, I hear a lot of people saying there was not manageable sufficient in this crew to do what Rangers wants to do. So it is positive that so many gamers are growing, and that is what I want to see.

“I will hold a close eye, together with my staff, on who are the gamers staying ambitious, who are the gamers who are pushing. There are a lot of appropriate examples in that way.

“You have a young lad [Ross McCausland] who used to be just in the academy and now he is playing truely normal in the first crew because he is performing. Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, who are now taking part in in other positions. They have executed that for the team, or else they wouldn’t play.

“So, I suppose this team is in a virtually desirable way. The dressing room also. The atmosphere each day within the building, with the training, the ambition in the training. Now after our first defeat, which we knew would come one day, the response used to be how I desired it.

“We seemed at what we had to do to make good, to analyse what went wrong, what we should do better. And then we reacted without delay on the pitch once more and left the whole lot behind.”

Clement has taken the plaudits for piecing Rangers’ season back collectively after being delivered in to repair the injury carried out with the aid of Michael Beale’s calamitous summer time rebuild. But the modest manager insists it’s his squad that deserve the deposit for turning matters around.

He said: “It’s no longer about me, it’s about the team. I’m joyful that all people is announcing they see a distinctive team now with greater extra of a winning mentality.

“I see extra and extra great and that the crew knows better and better how I favor to see football, how I want to see them run together, how I favor them to create spaces for other players.

“It turns into more and extra fluid. These are things that I understand if the gamers keep on working, if they remain attentive and they stay concentrated then after a while it will become more herbal for them.

“So there are in reality high quality things. It’s now not about being satisfied. It’s about being bold to get better.”

Jota is ready to quit Al-Ittihad, and the Portuguese winger may go for nothing

Celtic hero Jota could be poised to go away Al-Ittihad on a “free” after struggling to make an have an effect on in Saudi Arabia.

This is in accordance to outlet Hi Koura which claims that the Saudi Pro League champions will attempt to “rip up the winger’s contract”.

Jota joined the Middle Eastern membership for £25million at some stage in the summer transfer window but has observed his recreation time confined due to being left out of Ittihad’s league squad.

And now it seems like the winger ought to be set to depart the Saudi Arabian side.

Meanwhile,Kyogo Furuhashi has as soon as again been snubbed by means of the Japanese national group regardless of his heroics towards Rangers at the weekend.

The striker bagged a gorgeous winner for Brendan Rodgers’ facet in the derby to extend Celtic’s lead at the pinnacle of the Scottish Premiership table.

Kyogo has now not been a outstanding determine in the Japanese set up in recent times even though and that has persisted beforehand of their involvement in the Asia Cup.

Blue Samurai boss Hajime Moriyasu named his squad today and Kyogo has no longer been picked. This is of course a blow for Kyogo personally, but a raise for Celtic shifting forward as they intention to dominate domestically in the second-half of the campaign.

Celtic duo Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have been selected in the squad and should be missing for a month with the event due to begin on January 14.

South Korean duo Oh and Yang ought to usually be missing so Rodgers will be braced to ensure his aspect has cover for a key factor in the season.

Latest Celtic transfers rumored include Araujo, McKenna, Kvistgaarden, and Solbakken

The transfer window is open and it could be a busy one at Parkhead

Tiago Araujo, Scott McKenna and Ola Solbakken

New Year brings with it optimism and hopes for the future. But a long way extra importantly for soccer golf equipment and fans, it brings the opening of the switch window.

Celtic are anticipated to do quite a bit of business after manager Brendan Rodgers admitted they want to add extra high-quality to their squad after a very disappointing summer window. A large squad desires to be trimmed first and departures are anticipated over the coming weeks however there will almost without a doubt be incomings too.

Left-back is an vicinity needing addressed and we’ve already viewed a concrete hyperlink with Estoril’s Tiago Araujo. The former Benfica man can also play similarly forward and played with Jota and Paulo Bernardo at the Portuguese giants – and a large hint was once dropped when he commented on the latter’s social media following his strike in opposition to Rangers.

His club are searching for round around £4million so the Hoops will want to cough up if Araujo is the man they favor to come in and compete with Greg Taylor.

New left centre-back may additionally be on the way too with Scott McKenna reportedly an alternative after being made handy for switch by Nottingham Forest.

Rodgers would also like to add a striker and a midfielder. In terms of the attacking area, Brondby star Mathias Kvistgaarden is one that has been mentioned after Celts failed with a bid in the summer season however the Parkhead membership have been warned they have to blow the Danes away for any provide to be successful.

Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski is some other who has been scouted while some other home talent, Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland has often been mooted as a potential goal too.

Meanwhile, social media has been awash with rumours that Celtic have been presented Norwegian winger Ola Solbakken.

The 25-year-old, linked with the Hoops in the past, has been playing on loan at Olympiacos from AS Roma and has played towards Celtic earlier than for Bodo/Glimt.

It stays to be the seen if the rumours turn into whatever concrete however it is truly an interesting one.

Goalkeeper is every other location that will perchance be seemed at and Ipswich keeper Vaclav Hladky has spoken out after hyperlinks to Celtic, while Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin is every other to have been mentioned.

Celtics star Joe Hart had a family dinner in Glasgow to celebrate the Rangers victory

Celtic star Joe Hart loved a meal with his family in a popular West End spot after Saturday’s derby.

The 36-year-old Hoops star, whose aspect beat Rangers 2-1 at Parkhead on Saturday, posed with delighted body of workers at Italian eatery Caprese Don Costanzo on Woodside Crescent near Charing Cross.

Looking blissful and sporting a Stone Island jumper. the goalkeeper is the cutting-edge in a lengthy line of celebrities to dine at the spot.

A statement from the restaurant on Instagram posted on Hogmanay read: “Last night, we had the pleasure of web hosting Joe Hart and his beautiful household for dinner.”

Last month, we reported  that the restaurant used to be visited by way of Rangers manager Philippe Clement.

The restaurant also used the Instagram put up to warn diners they would be closed until January 17.

“Many thanks to Harry”: Kewell’s influence at Celtic

On his arrival at Celtic, he used to be seen as ultimately some new blood in the teaching staff. There had been rumblings over the years about the perceived boys membership mentality at Celtic, and even though Ange Postecoglou had arrived as supervisor at Celtic, he had saved with the ordinary system. Kewell was once seen as a spoil to this device even though not necessarily some thing revolutionary.

As a player, Kewell had made a properly title for himself at clubs like Liverpool, Galatasaray and Leeds and helped to increase the popularity of footballers from Down Under.

After putting up his taking part in boots, he moved into management, and admittedly his file was overall poor. However at Celtic he had a new hazard in teaching alongside Postecoglou who was by using this time now well settled in but wished to take Celtic up a few notches.

Harey Kewell arrived at a buoyant Celtic in the summer time of 2022, and he settled in rapidly at a Celtic who were in command in the league. Initial reports on Kewell’s contributions had been positive with especially Maeda enormously praising Kewell. The advantages paid off in the World Cup with a Maeda inspired Japan surprising all and sundry finishing top of their team after wins v Germany and Spain!

“It’s thanks to him that I’m genuinely enjoying my football once more and additionally enhancing my skills. It’s down to Harry that I began to trade my strategy at Celtic and I’m now performing better. That’s thanks to Harry. He is very true at organising relationships with players,” Maeda said.

He supported the squad as they went on to win the domestic treble. Postecoglou though left in June 2023, however Kewell remained at Celtic to work beneath Brendan Rodgers, and gamers continued to publicly praise his contribution to their development.

After Celtic sealed a well deserved 2-1 victory over theRangers in the annual New Year’s Derby, performed on 30 December 2023 this time), Kewell left the next for the J League to take over at Yokohama F. Marinos from ex-Rangers player Muscat (who at one time was once rumoured for a teaching function at Celtic below Postecoglou).

Harry Kewell is seen during the Celtic Champions Training Day at Celtic Park on July 18, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

HARRY KEWELL’S TIME AT CELTIC IN QUOTES

“We will be aiming to provide our fans extra of the equal going ahead and I look ahead to playing my section in bringing this to our supporters,” Harry Kewell

“Throughout my expert career and indeed my whole time in soccer I have now not met a teach like Harry. So, it’s thanks to him that I am clearly enjoying my soccer and improving my skills. It’s down to Harry that I started to change my method and performing better. Thanks to Harry. He is very properly at organising relationships with the players. He can verbalise absolutely our true factors and terrible points. We’ll sit and watch the movies and he will give an explanation for to me very actually the place I can be better and what I need to do. It’s a appropriate situation for me. It’s because of this that I sense I am truely enjoying my soccer right now.” Daizen Maeda on Kewell (2022)

Kyogo and Harry Kewell

“The opening recreation of the season at home to Aberdeen… I’ve heard You’ll Never Walk Alone each and every week at Liverpool however that day it used to be something different. It used to be awesome,” Harry Kewell

“Harry Kewell has not only helped me but others. He helped me appreciably at the begin when it was once one sport a week for the first four weeks and I didn’t feature that much. He nonetheless made me experience a massive phase of it and even though I am one of the older gamers it used to be nonetheless absolutely appropriate that he would take you aside after coaching and do more with you due to the fact he desired you to do well when you did get the chance. He does hundreds of drills with the wingers too due to the fact that’s where he played. I suppose for me and the other wingers I have spoken to we would all say he has a actually large impact.” James Forrest on Kewell (2022)

What the experts said when Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton were given Celtic violin orders: Rangers were “killed” by a single star

A rock n roll derby delivered all the thrills and spills of classics long past through in the cutting-edge Old Firm instalment.

The railway has been hit with storm chaos this week – but it used to be the Rangers hype teach that suffered termination at Celtic Park.

Philippe Clement’s costs had the crest of a wave at the back of them amid an unbeaten begin to his reign but a Paulo Bernardo stunner set the wheels in motion for a first hitch. Alistair Johnston was at the centre of penalty debate at the damage after an alleged handball in his own field however quickly furore was ended by an offside in the build-up.

Kyogo has been quiet this time period but he ramped the noise up to full volume with his stunner much less than 5 minutes into the second half. Leon Balogun’s red card summed up a dull day for Clement’s men but a vivid crack in the Light Blue clouds emerged when a luxurious James Tavernier free-kick. It gave the packed home crowd the jitters and set up a thrilling finale.

Ultimately Rangers have been caught with cold ft and paid the rate for errors during a 2-1 defeat in the Parkhead snow. Here’s what the pundits said about the motion in Glasgow’s east-end that puts Celtic top of the Premiership by means of eight points, with Rangers conserving two games in hand.

Kris Boyd

There was some on-air trolling between Ibrox legend Boyd and Celtic hero Chris Sutton as the Sky cameras prepared to call it a day. Sutton informed his punditry peer “Can Kris Boyd keep writing Kyogo off?” Boyd wasn’t having and replied “it’s a game of opinions. You have a lot of opinions about some referees give some penalties for some teams. Enjoy the cold!”

Chris Sutton

Thee former striker persevered his analysis by means of aiming his ire at Cyriel Dessers, who he thinks was once a detriment for Clement. He said; “Celtic do have top notch players, O’Riley and McGregor grew to become up and ran the game. Rangers have expanded under Clement however the vital for Celtic is the gamers can sit down in thee dressing room and sense comfortable with the performance. Dessers killed Rangers today. Had opportunities and wasn’t decisive enough. It’s no longer like his li-up play is up to much, Rangers need to tackle that situation, which they may additionally have achieved in Fabio Silva. An possibility for him to be the predominant for Rangers.”

Pat Bonner

The former Parkhead goalie used to be on co-comms for the BBC and believes it used to be a game that put Scottish soccer in the satisfactory light. He said: “It keeps going [record towards Rangers] and getting better. All the gamers had been up for it, even [Maik] Nawrocki who has come onto the pitch and had no sport time probably.

“I don’t comprehend if he has played any jump video games or anything however he honestly did very, very properly apart from giving away that free-kick that Rangers scored from. It used to be the one blot on his replica book. Overall I assume they will be very thrilled with the performance. The goals were magnificent. This used to be a actual Scottish sport today. It was once thrilling and exceptional and what a sport we had in front of us.”

Kyogo celebrates

James McFadden

Scotland and Motherwell legend McFadden was once the middle-man between Celtic and Rangers favourites in the Sky punditry room But he couldn’t withstand a Boyd jab over his claims Lawrence Shankland is Scotland’s finishing widespread bearer. He claimed: “I idea Rangers played properly first half of and Celtic started out brilliantly, a excellent intention from the second-best finisher in the league. They then took manage of the game however when Rangers go to 10, it did end up nervy toward the end. I think because of a lot of the speak earlier than was once how correct a run Rangers had been on and how Celtic would cope with that, they have gained the recreation and that man (Kyogo), what a purpose it was.”

Neil Lennon

Celtic’s former boss had no time for Boyd’s Rangers moans with the Parkhead stands empty in the derby aftermath. The panel were reviewing refereeing decisions in the game, and the former striker stated “maybe Rangers need to simply begin moaning and possibly get some greater things.” A comedic response used to be delivered by way of Lennon who clearly put “Oh cmon” before looking over his shoulder and announcing “Where is that violin?”

Billy Dodds

It may have been defeat for Rangers however former Ibrox striker Dodds could not help but laud a moment of magic from the skipper. He advised Sportsound: “His shipping nowadays has been common at best, but that just adds to the awesome goals we have viewed today.

“Incredible from Tavernier. The two dreams Celtic have scored have been of the perfect quality. When he (Kyogo) shifted it to his left, I idea it would be a tough one to beat Jack Butland from there. He leaves him flailing. What a finish. Just strive and follow pressure and run beside him (Balogun). As soon as you touch him, you are gone.”

Tam McManus

Record Sport columnist McManus desired extra from some of Rangers’ key guys – however he posted on X that it used to be Celtic’s who did step up to the plate. He said: “Big players step up in massive video games for Celtic that’s why i surely fancied them today. McGregor head

Eleven Celtics players could leave in January due to a looming clearout

 

The Hoops have a bloated squad which desires trimmed in advance of fantastic being introduced in

Turnbull and Gustaf Lagerbielke

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It may want to be a busy January at Celtic with Brendan Rodgers admitting he wishes extra satisfactory to revive their faltering title chase.

But there ought to in reality be some distance extra outs than ins with a very bloated squad wanting trimmed first. The Hoops have a quantity of fringe players who have both not delivered when given a hazard or not even proven enough in training to be given any time on the pitch.

There are even various who were added in as lately as the summer season who are not getting a appear in and Rodgers has admitted want to do extra to be in his plans. In order to make way for upgrades to the squad, there will sincerely be a few on their way out.

So we have listed 10 gamers who ought to be at hazard of being part of the cull.

Ben Siegrist

The former Dundee United keeper has solely performed twice, both in the League Cup for Celtic, due to the fact signing in the summer season of 2022.

Having carried out properly in the Premiership before, any clubs looking for a keeper would be foolish to pass him.

It’s feasible the Hoops will add some other shot stopper in the window and that would push him even similarly down the pecking order.

Gustaf Lagerbielke

Just days after scoring a Champions League winner in opposition to Feyenoord, it emerged the Swedish centre back used to be free to go away Parkhead in January.

Having simply signed in January, Brendan Rodgers has now not appeared to fancy the 23-year-old who has not even made matchday squads at times.

He’s noticeably rated in his native land and clubs there as well as across Europe may want to offer him a clean start.

Maik Nawrocki

Another centre back who has no longer certainly had a appear in from Rodgers regardless of signing in the summer.

Along with Lagerbielke, the Pole was one the supervisor strongly hinted he wanted to see greater from in training.

Nat Phillips

Phillips has had greater recreation time than the preceding two mentioned centre backs but it’s been pronounced his mortgage from Liverpool is in all likelihood to be cut short.

The 26-year-old hasn’t lived up to his billing and back-to-back performances towards Hibs and Kilmarnock laid bare his struggles. He hasn’t been considered since.

Yuki Kobayashi

It seems high-quality to have four centre backs on this listing however that is where the Hoops are with a range of fringe men simply now not cutting it.

Kobayashi was once an Ange Postecoglou signing but hasn’t featured at all this campaign.

Celtic are ready to let him go away on loan in January with J-League golf equipment lining up to take him returned to his homeland.

Alexandro Bernabei

The Hoops have been tipped to convey in another left-back and that could spell the cease for the Argentinian.

Greg Taylor has suffered for form this season and Bernabei nonetheless hasn’t managed to challenge for his spot and the Scotland man would be the one to continue to be on to compete with any new signing.

David Turnbull

The midfield technician is out of contract in the summer and may additionally are looking for to pass on in search of more regular football.

If that is the case then January would be the club’s remaining danger to rake in a charge for him.

Inter Milan have been formerly linked whilst he used to be close to a move to Norwich before going to the east give up of Glasgow, so can also have interest from England again.

James McCarthy

The forgotten Irishman performed in the Lowland League currently for the B crew and it’s not going that used to be to get him lower back up to velocity for the first team given how some distance out of the image he is.

Therefore, it used to be possibly to allow him to get some minutes underneath the belt in advance of a January move.

Where he could potentially go would be the difficulty as he will be on a tremendous wage and would be a hazard for any membership given how little football he has played.

Kwon Hyeok-kyu

Another summer season signing with most important questions hanging over his head having no longer featured once.

Unlikely his possibilities will improve much after January and so a loan can also be the quality for all parties.

Matt O’Riley

This would be one Celtic and their followers actually WOULDN’T desire to appear but their in-form midfielder has been linked with strikes to Italy and England.

He’s delivered goals to his recreation this season as he will become arguably just as vital as captain Callum McGregor at this stage.

His modern-day form, and a recent cap for Denmark, will solely have served to heighten pastime in his offerings and it could be a nervy January for the Hoops.

Marco Tilio

There’s a theme emerging here. The summer signing has seemed twice in the Premiership, each off the bench and there has been nothing to endorse he can construct a long-term future at Celtic.

Set to join up with Australia for the Asian Cup so that should complicate matters however it would be a shock if a loan or everlasting switch wasn’t being explored.

‘He misses Reo Hatate’: BBC pundit claims to have seen that the 28-year-old Celtic is “frustrated.”

The huge game towards Rangers is coming up and the hope is that Celtic’s superstar man, Kyogo Furuhashi will be again to his best.

That consistency in front of intention just hasn’t been there this season, with the 28-year-old, who is nonetheless attempting to come to terms with Brendan Rodgers’ style.

Pat Bonner says he has noticed Kyogo Furuhashi displaying a ‘frustrated’ parent for Celtic because he isn’t receiving the ball rapid enough, as he told BBC Sportsound (26/12/23 at 2:15 pm).

Under Ange Postecoglou, the players in the attacking 0.33 had been greater like the red arrows and they would fireplace ahead at every given chance. And pass by the ball a long way quicker.

That would suit someone like Kyogo Furuhashi down to the bone because his razor-sharp moment interior the penalty vicinity and cat-like instincts would make him a terror to deal with.

But that bite has been misplaced throughout these previous few months, with the new Celtic boss preferring that extra omit and Pat Bonner spoke about the issues he has noticed.

Kyogo Furuhashi’s movement

“I watch Kyogo,” stated Bonner. “When he got here to the club, he had incredible movement. He had that double movement. He would come short. Go long. Come short and go long.

“The centre-halves didn’t be aware of how to deal with him and that movement. But, invariably, the ball was passed to him, at times. He made that movement and unexpectedly the ball was once played in behind. And then subsequent thing, he was in. He didn’t score all the time. But he was making chances.

“His other movement was across the the front post. There is no doubt that has come away from his game slightly.

“I just watch him, I watched him at the weekend in opposition to Livingston, he began off and he was once making those runs. Then suddenly, Celtic simply handed the ball these two or three greater passes. Then he stopped making the movement. I do see the frustration. I don’t recognize whether or not that’s due to the fact he misses Hatate. Maybe he is searching for any individual to hit that pass.”

Kyogo Furuhashi’s type will come through

The Japan star’s recent intention at Livingston would have done him the world of suitable because it would have just eased the pressure.

It’s nonetheless only seven desires from 20 Premiership matches this term. Not the preferred Celtic fans comprehend he can hit.

But the Rangers sport is coming up. His preferred opponent and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he is on the scoresheet at the weekend.

And then it will simply be a case of regular carrier resumes and he will be causing havoc all over Scotland again for the 2nd 1/2 of the campaign.

“More logical” – Journalist shares £4 million Wlodarczyk replacement Celtic could potentially pursue in January

Celtic are likely to be in the market for a new striker throughout the January switch window, with Mathias Kvistgaarden and Szymon Włodarczyk eyed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Celtic should enhance their squad in the January transfer window, with a striker being a priority.
•  Mathias Kvistgaarden is an alternative for Celtic, with pastime from Brendan Rodgers’ facet confirmed.
•  The rate tag for Szymon Wlodarczyk, every other attainable option, can also be too excessive for Celtic.

Celtic could be looking to make stronger their squad in the January transfer window, with a striker one of their priorities. journalist Dean Jones has now supplied an update on their attainable hobbies of Mathias Kvistgaarden and Szymon Włodarczyk to GIVEMESPORT.

It’s been an basic effective start for Brendan Rodgers’ facet this season in the Scottish Premiership, even though Celtic had been recently eradicated from Europe after finishing backside of their team in the Champions League. The Hoops have been busy in the summer season switch window, spending around £19m on 10 new additions before the deadline.

Celtic should continue their spending when the January switch window opens subsequent month, in particular with the Asia Cup around the corner. The Scottish Premiership facet have a host of Asian players in their squad, so they may want to lack a lot of cover in more than one positions as of the new year.

Rodgers has his eye on Kvistgaarden and Włodarczyk

One of Celtic’s key men in attack, Kyogo Furuhashi, Is probable to be jetting off on international duty in January for Japan. The 28-year-old has scored six dreams and provided three assists in the league this season, so Rodgers would possibly need to deliver in a goal-scoring and innovative threat in the iciness window.

According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Celtic are one of the sides who are considering a go for Kvistgaarden. Journalist Jones has also confirmed this hearsay to GIVEMESPORT, suggesting that there is obvious interest from Rodgers’ side. It used to be revealed back in November that the striker should price in the region of £4 million.

Another option for Celtic as we head toward the January transfer window may want to be Polish striker Wlodarczyk. According to journalist Mark Hendry, the younger forward is a participant of previous hobby to Rodgers. However, it is understood that his fee tag has skyrocketed to round £15 million, which may want to be out of Celtic’s attain for the upcoming window.

It’s been advised that Celtic are in a bit of a disaster when it comes to their ahead options, now not only due to Furuhashi’s global involvement come the new year, however also Oh Hyeon-gyu ‘falling out of form’. Although Celtic are presently sitting at the top of the table, they have suffered back-to-back defeats in the league and had been currently eradicated from the Champions League. which may want to increase their need to bring in reinforcements.

Dean Jones update – Kvistgaarden a greater conceivable option

Jones has cautioned that Celtic surely want a striker specially due to some of their players’ involvement in the Asia Cup. The journalist provides that Kvistgaarden might be the more conceivable option, even if his price tag has extended from the preceding time they had been showing an interest. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said…

“It truly feels like they need a striker and the Asia Cup is going to play a big section in that. But obviously, the chances of Celtic stretching to spend £15m on one seems particularly unlikely, if no longer impossible, so you have to start to contemplate who would without a doubt be attainable. Obviously, there’s somebody like Kvistgaarden who possibly appears greater logical, given the stage of his fee, even advancing on the £4m that was spoken about previously. It’s now not going to cease up elevating to be anything like the price you are talking about for Wlodarczyk (£15m). I suppose it is all about retaining that level of expectation. I really don’t assume there’ll be many Celtic followers that will be watching for their group to go and spend £15m.”

Rodgers wants to turn things around

As beforehand mentioned, Celtic are top of the Scottish Premiership table. However, Rangers are solely two factors in the back of with a game in hand after Celtic’s poor run of form, so they have each danger of leapfrogging their rivals into first place.

The two teams meet at the quit of the 12 months in the Old Firm Derby, which takes vicinity on Saturday thirtieth of December. This could be the ideal danger for Rodgers to flip things round and show to the fans at Celtic Park that he is the man to supply the Premiership trophy by means of the give up of the season.

Another dubious penalty judgment favors Celtic’s title rivals

Celtic’s hole at the pinnacle of the Cinch Premiership used to be cut to simply two points after theRangers won 2-0 at Fir Park. Goals from Kieran Dowell and Todd Cantwell secured the three factors in the Christmas Eve fixture. However, there used to be a Christmas present from the officials after a penalty was once ignored in the second half.

Dessers regarded to clutch the Motherwell player as he used to be about to snatch at a rebound in the box. No penalty was awarded and the incident was discussed after the recreation by way of the Sky Sports crew and the feeling was once pretty unanimous – even former Rangers participant Scott Arfield agreed.

Motherwell v Rangers penalty shout.

pic.twitter.com/19TKQ6wLgR

— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) December 24, 2023

Some of the officiating choices in recent weeks that have benefitted teams have been questionable to say the least; however, it is outstanding when you reflect onconsideration on that it is over 70 league games given that Rangers conceded a spot kick. Motherwell supervisor Stuart Kettlewell made his emotions acknowledged at full-time, too.

🔊 LISTEN: “I’m seeing them given as penalties constantly… Rangers themselves have benefitted from a number of incidents like that”.

🔸 Stuart Kettlewell believes Motherwell should’ve been awarded a penalty for a pull on Mika Biereth during their 2-0 defeat to Rangers. pic.twitter.com/CUVvnJYzKU

— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) December 24, 2023

Celtic face theRangers next weekend in the 2nd Glasgow Derby assembly of the season and it is shaping up to be pretty an occasion. The Green Brigade/Bhoys are lower back and there will be no away fans, which means that the Celtic guide will need to get at the back of Brendan and his team, who appear to be in a tough period at present.

Recently Brendan Rodgers referred to as for VAR to be binned and he is spot in with this . It appears to be working completely for one club who have their very own set or guidelines and are the solely club no longer to have conceded a penalty kick for the reason that it was once introduced.

The unsettling Celtic show by Daizen Maeda

Celtic secured a 2-0 victory towards Livingston, bouncing returned from current defeats.

However, concerns loomed over the health of Daizen Maeda, who seemed now not to be at his great all through the match.

Maeda, who currently lower back from an harm sustained in early November for the duration of Celtic’s 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, performed the 2nd half of against Hearts last week. This marked his comeback to the field, however at some stage in the Livingston game, he regarded unable to attain his standard velocity and sharpness. His lacklustre overall performance raised questions about his full recovery.

Brendan Rodgers has earlier stated the winger was once desperate to get again onto the pitch

Despite these concerns, there’s optimism that greater sport time could be the key to Maeda regaining his form. With a match scheduled in Dundee on Boxing Day followed via the derby on the 30th, there are hopes that these opportunities will allow Maeda to return to his common dynamic self.

Celtic players are “bored” of the SPFL, according to Kenny Miller, since the novelty has “worn off.”

Kenny Miller believes Celtic will turn their form around vs Livingston however they have faced deeper problems this season.

Kenny Miller believes that one of the real reasons for Celtic’s sudden droop in form is due to their stars turning into BORED of the SPFL – with plastic pitches being one of the motives for their downfall.

The Hoops have been high-flying in the Scottish Premiership until their home draw against Motherwell at the stop of November, in which due to the fact that the start of that game, they have solely gained two of their previous 5 in the league – backed up by their first successive league defeats in 10 YEARS having fallen to both Kilmarnock and Hearts over the path of the previous two weeks.

It’s not perfect for Brendan Rodgers’ side, who ought to see themselves knocked off the pinnacle of their perch with the aid of Rangers come the flip of the yr with an Old Firm derby to come on December 30 – and it’s had followers and pundits double-guessing why their sudden turn in form has happened. But Miller has come up with an unorthodox reason as to why they’ve hit a stoop – citing player unhappiness at plastic pitches, and the novelty of playing in front of 60,000 before heading up to the Highlands to play on astroturf carrying off.

Speaking to Clyde 1, Miller wondered the professionalism of Brendan’s boys before making his claim about astroturf and artificial grounds. He said: “I’m a wee bit extra for that older faculty type mentality where if you’re not doing your job, you need to be told. Otherwise, you will do it badly if you think you’re getting away with something.

“I would be very surprised if Celtic were talking about making a alternate to be honest with you and moving Brendan on, that wouldn’t be for me. What I would say is, these are not horrific players. There is some thing not occurring at this second in time. They aren’t responding to anything, whether or not it be the manager, or have they obtained bored?

“When gamers go to Rangers or Celtic, occasionally the novelty wears off. You’re taking part in in the front of the 60,000, enjoying in front of the large video games – and having to go away to Ross County and play away on plastic pitches just doesn’t sit right with them.

“There’s a lot of things that it could be, but the backside line is this is not a awful team of players. I stated this when Michael Beale left Rangers. Players, and these Celtic gamers at this moment in time, are not awful players. They need to take a responsibility for what they are doing when they go that white line. At the second in phrases of results, they had been bullied at St Johnstone and the 2d half in opposition to Kilmarnock as well. Absolutely bullied and they lost that recreation when they’d taken the lead.

“Last week vs Hearts, they didn’t even appear like scoring, they could’ve been taking part in now and I don’t suppose they’d have scored – now not to the degree that a Celtic team at Celtic Park need to be and the attacking soccer they favor to be seeing.

“I’d be amazed if Brendan was on the brink, but they need to get lower back to triumphing approaches the next day – I suppose they will.”

‘He has come in for criticism’: Martin O’Neill defends the “really fine” player who costs £1 million for Celtic

Joe Hart is Celtic and Brendan Rodgers’ number one goalkeeper, however you have to query for how long?

On one hand, the 36-year-old is out of contract in 2024 and his performances in Celtic colours this season have been indifferent.

From iffy performances in the Champions League to getting sent off towards Livingston, Joe Hart can’t argue in opposition to these who have criticised him.

But legendary supervisor Martin O’Neill is any one who is still a fan of the Celtic man by way of adding that he ‘still thinks he is a surely satisfactory goalkeeper’, as he told PLZ Soccer.

There are no arguments that the £1 million signing has served the club well after he was added in by using Ange Postecoglou.

Winning the Treble will by no means be topped and it’s something Joe Hart can put at the top of his listing of achievements.

But as some are indispensable of his efforts in between the sticks, he is getting the support of Martin O’Neill.

Joe Hart’s criticism at Celtic

“Joe Hart has come in for a little bit of criticism previously on,” stated O’Neill. “But I nonetheless think he is a really nice goalkeeper.”

Joe Hart’s replacement

Given the troubles Brendan Rodgers is dealing with all over the pitch, it now wouldn’t be a shock if the club waited till the summer time to convey in Hart’s replacement.

Perhaps the wise name would have been to do it in January due to the fact it then permits that player to settle in.

But given the huge modifications Rodgers desires to his under-performing squad, the center of attention will likely be elsewhere.

Rodgers and Clement want the same Portuguese striker for January, and Celtic and Rangers are “at the front of the race” for him

Celtic are set to do fighting with Rangers once again, this time for the signing of Fabio Silva from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That’s according to O Jogo, who say the Old Firm duo are both eager on the striker as he looks to leave Molineux in the January transfer window, with Parkhead and Ibrox plausible destinations for him.

The newspaper reports that Silva is ‘preparing to depart Wolves’ when the market reopens and it appears he will be directed closer to Scottish football, the place Celtic and Rangers both have their eye on him.

The 21-year-old has another unnamed Spanish facet interested in him too, however the two Scottish teams, currently first and 2nd in the table are ‘at the front of the race’ according to O Jogo’s information.

Silva wants to go away again after barely proposing under Gary O’Neil this season and repeat the success he loved out on loan with Anderlecht and then PSV Eindhoven.

It is that which has presumably attracted Celtic and Rangers as they seem to bolster their squads for Brendan Rodgers and Philippe Clement.

Both sides aren’t entirely quick of options, with Celtic having Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyeon-gyu Oh and Johnny Kenny as striker selections while Rangers have Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Kemar Roofe and Sam Lammers at their disposal, but actually see Silva as a step up on what they’ve got.

With simply two factors separating Celtic in first from Rangers in second, it’ll show to be a hard desire for Silva to make, need to they be the ones he has to pick out between as O Jogo suggest.

“I’m going to make a public statement.” Pundit believes Celtic man regrets ever joining the team

With Celtic apparently going thru a difficult spell at the moment, pundit, Ewan Cameron, believes all is no longer well behing the scenes at Parkhead.

After watching Brendan Rodgers‘ submit match interview, Cameron seen something odd about the Celtic manager and made a claim that Rodgers regrets coming again to Paradise.

Cameron stated [The Big Scottish Football Podcast], “Brendan Rodgers didn’t seem to be like he cared either. He stated he variety of anticipated it. Or it didn’t surprise him.

“I think there’s probable a combat going on behind the scenes politically. I’m additionally going to throw some thing out there.

“I suppose Brendan Rodgers these days regrets coming back. He regrets coming back. Everything about it.
“He wasn’t fully accepted when he walked via the doors. The Celtic fans had been ready to soar down his throat.

“And that’s what’s taking place proper now. And then Brendan Rodgers is now deflecting and hinting that these are no longer my players. This is now not who I favor to be playing.

“There’s Lagerbielke, they spent £3 million for him in the summer, apparently he’s up for sale in January.
“So I suppose there’s there’s a wee bit of infighting at the back of the scenes.”

Rodgers’ demeanour was once strange. Considering this was a manager who was, apparently, definitely livid with his team’s first half perfomance towards St Johnstone, the way the Celtic manager reacted after a meek home defeat in opposition to Hearts just doesn’t sit down right.

Despite bieng very honest about how the team performed, the followers would have been waiting for an agrier response from the Celtic manager.

The Celtic followers certainly made their feelings actually clear on Saturday and it seems now that Rodgers must make sure he alternatives up six factors from his subsequent two games.

With one of them being Rangers, the stress is definitely on the Celtic manager to beat his closest rival because if he doesn’t the fans will need to look at the league table over the New Year with Rangers sitting on top.