Celtic: Hoops ace may quit Parkhead before deadline
Celtic could be set to lose one of their first-team players…
Celtic have an unhappy player on their hands who could be set to push for a departure before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.
What’s the latest news concerning Celtic?
The Hoops are in the midst of an injury crisis at present and are said to be on the hunt for another defensive recruit after Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh were ruled out with various injury concerns for the next two months, as per The Daily Record.
Rodgers has confirmed his intention to add to his backline in his pre-match press conference before Celtic take on St Johnstone this weekend, stating: “We have to look at it, no doubt. It’s an area we are light on and when you are losing three players for that length of time knowing the number of games we have and the importance of every game, it’s something we have to look at. Especially at centre-back, it’s a specialised position where the experience always helps.”
Celtic have made six summer signings since Rodgers returned to Glasgow earlier this summer in the form of Marco Tilio, Odin Thaigo Holm, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Yang Hyun-jun, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Nawrocki, as per Transfermarkt, though it seems as if they may look to add a few more bodies in the latter stages of the window.
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has given an update on X detailing areas of the squad that Celtic may look to strengthen between now and the deadline, stating: “Celtic are likely to be busy before the end of the transfer window, with the club targeting a goalkeeper, left-back and left winger as priorities. They would also be keen to bolster their centre forward options.”
According to The Daily Mail, Celtic have submitted a £3.5 million bid for Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma as they continue to look for a replacement for now-departed Portuguese attacker Jota, who left the club to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad earlier this summer for £25 million.
Wage expenditure concerns have put the breaks on the Hoops’ advances to try and acquire Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence and Newcastle United outcast Ryan Fraser, and they have now turned to Honduras international Palma, who has also been courted by arch-rivals Rangers.
Who could leave Celtic?
Palma’s proposed arrival may lead several Celtic wingers to be pushed further down the pecking order at the Scottish champions, not least out-of-favour ace Sead Haksabanovic, who has flickered in and out of consistency at the club.
According to Football Insider, Haksabanovic is unhappy with his involvement at Celtic and is now pushing to quit the club before the transfer deadline next Friday.
Several clubs around Europe are believed to be open to offering the Montenegro international an escape route from the Glasgow giants and he could quit in order to become a regular starter in a different environment.
Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou labelled Haksabanovic as “brilliant” earlier this year, though he has struggled to make a lasting impact at Parkhead, registering five goals and four assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Finding himself down the pecking order under Rodgers, it may be time for both parties to shake hands and move on if a suitable destination is found for Haksabanovic.
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Liverpool: £60m “prodigy” is a dream Matip heir
The Reds still need a defensive reinforcement this summer…
Liverpool have justifiably been focussing on the rebuild of their midfield this summer after a lacklustre campaign, but there is still a requirement for defensive reinforcement.
What’s the latest on Piero Hincapie to Liverpool?
German outlet Sport Bild has claimed that while Liverpool are interested in Bayer Leverkusen centre-half Piero Hincapie, the Bundesliga outfit would only listen to exorbitant offers and have set a ballpark price tag of £60m.
According to Spanish sources, Jurgen Klopp views the talented Ecuadorian defender as perfect to complement the established pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
It now remains to be seen whether the Anfield side would acquiesce to such demands, but undeniably, the club would immensely benefit from a fresh face to bolster the backline.
How good is Piero Hincapie?
Last season, the Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League after seven successive years and shipped 47 goals – having finished second on 92 points the season prior, conceding just 26 strikes.
While Hincapie would not arrive and revolutionise the defence, the 21-year-old would provide cover for the aforementioned central defenders and grow into his skin under Klopp’s stewardship, edging closer to a starring role at Anfield over the next few years.
He already boasts the skills requisite for success at a top-class outfit, ranking among the top 16% of positional peers for passes attempted, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 15% for successful take-ons and the top 11% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.
Hailed as a “prodigy” by editor Jose de Jesus Ortiz, the £34k-per-week talent could serve as the perfect heir to Joel Matip’s position in the Liverpool defence, with the veteran Cameroonian ace now in the final year of his contract with the Premier League outfit.
Matip, aged 32, also plied his trade in the German top-flight before moving to Liverpool, joining the side from Schalke on a free transfer in 2016, since making 187 appearances and winning the whole gamut of silverware under Klopp.
Like Hincapie, Matip offers much to his team’s offensive efforts, ranking among the top 4% of centre-backs for goals, the top 12% for passes attempted and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90.
Because of this, the Leverkusen gem looks to be a tailor-made replacement for his distinguished confrere, and given that he is also left-footed, he would slot right into the desired transfer plans of the Anfield side.
Matip favours the right side, but by replacing him with a naturally efficient left-footer, the domino effect could pay dividends for the squad’s cohesion and fluidity, allowing Van Dijk to shift onto his right and perhaps finally restore the equilibrium.
Matip also fell further and further into obscurity last season, starting just three of the final 15 league matches of the season as the Reds enjoyed a late-season purple patch, and was criticised for his “awful” displays by CBS reporter Nico Cantor.
The time for change is now on Merseyside, and given Hincapie’s age and profile as a centre-back, he would surely be the perfect option to strengthen Liverpool’s defence.
It now just remains to be seen whether Klopp and co will discuss terms with Bayer Leverkusen when the German side are demanding such an exorbitant fee.
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