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Celtic have seen numerous players leaving Parkhead during this summer’s transfer window.

One man who remains in Ange Postecoglou’s squad but who we feel should be joining the likes of Tom Rogic, Nir Bitton, Karamoko Dembele and Ismaila Soro in leaving the Hoops before the transfer window closes is Albian Ajeti.

After starting just six of his 17 appearances across all competitions last season, the 25-year-old has not been included in any of Celtic’s three Premiership matchday squads this term, which shows just how far down the pecking order he has fallen.

In fact, former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie said back in March that it was “unbelievable” that the Swiss marksman is still at the club.

With the last two weeks of the transfer window in mind, it should be a priority for the Hoops to not only get Ajeti out of the club but bring in another striker who would likely have a better chance of making an impact on the team.

One player who has been mentioned with a move to Celtic and who could help in this regard, possibly pushing the Switzerland international out the door, is Marseille’s Bamba Dieng.

Having made 42 senior appearances for the French club, the 22-year-old has nine goals and three assists to his name.

In his 25 Ligue 1 games last season, the striker racked up 37 shots at goal (18 on target), leaving him with the highest percentage for shots on target (48.6%) in the squad.

Even though Celtic outcast Ajeti only had nine shots at goal in the league last season, his percentage for shots on target (44.4%) still ended up being lower than Dieng’s.

Described as a “serious talent” by journalist Graeme Bailey, the Senegal international has a reported price tag of €15m (£12.6m), which shows the sort of investment that it would take from Celtic to get him to the club.

If the Bhoys and Postecoglou can cash in on Ajeti and any other players they may want to offload before the transfer window closes, launching a move for Dieng could be a very smart move for the Parkhead club as they look to retain the Premiership title and make a mark in the Champions League this season.

Liverpool are interested in signing RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer, according to 90min’s Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Laimer’s contract

Having made the Red Bull switch from Salzburg to Leipzig in 2017, the Austria international has just ten months remaining on his current contract.

As a result, a number of big European clubs have been monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation, with the player potentially available on a cut-price deal.

Laimer made 43 appearances across all competitions last season. This illustrated his reliability and consistency to perform at the highest level during a hectic playing schedule, which involved fixtures in the Bundesliga, the Champions League, Europa League and DFB-Pokal.

The Latest: Liverpool links

With the Reds now on the lookout for a new midfielder before Thursday’s transfer deadline, Liverpool scouts put together a number of reports on players who could realistically join the club. According to 90min, one of the few names returned was Laimer’s.

It was said that with the Austrian’s contract situation, concerning his reluctance to sign a new deal, Liverpool became interested in his transfer status.

However, after receiving interest from German giants Bayern Munich earlier this summer, Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff claimed: “I assume that Konny will stay. But the transfer window is still open and we’re still holding a few conversations.”

The Verdict: He’d be a great signing

Looking at Laimer’s underlying figures, it is easy to see why Liverpool scouts recommended the midfielder to Jurgen Klopp.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the 25-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for pressures, the 95th percentile for assists and the 93rd percentile for non-penalty expected goals.

As a result of these incredible numbers, the official Bundesliga site compared the Austrian to Premier League star N’Golo Kante, with former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit having claimed: “Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is water, the other 30 percent is covered by Konrad Laimer.”

Former Salzburg head coach Adi Hutter also joined in the praise for the 25-year-old, stating: “He is incredibly aggressive on the ball, challenges opponents very hard and brings established professionals to the ground. He knows exactly what he wants.”

Therefore, if the Leipzig gem does turn out to be available for a cut-price fee this summer, this could be a brilliant signing for Klopp’s injury-hit squad.

Everton are reportedly ‘pushing now’ with a ‘late attempt’ to sign Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz.

The Lowdown: Fulham end interest

It was recently reported by Sky Sports that Fulham have now ended their interest in signing Brereton Diaz, after having two previous offers rejected by Blackburn.

However, a move away from Rovers to another club has not been ruled out before the deadline.

The Latest: Everton ‘pushing’

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett has revealed that the Goodison Park outfit are ‘pushing now’ to sign Brereton Diaz, in a ‘late attempt’ to try to get a deal done for between £15-20m:

“#efc try to trump #fulham with a late attempt at a deal for #brfc Ben Brereton Diaz. Everton pushing now after failing to get #watford Joao Pedro. Talks ongoing re structure of a deal that suits Everton and Blackburn -who don’t want to sell but would take a £15-20m bid seriously.”

The Verdict: Time ticking

Time is certainly ticking to get this one over the line, so the Merseyside club need to act fast.

Hailed as a ‘beast’ by former Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray, six-foot-one striker Brereton Diaz would further bolster Frank Lampard’s attacking options, having already signed Neal Maupay from Brighton and Hove Albion.

He scored an impressive 22 goals in the Championship last term, while he already has three to his name from his first seven games in the Championship this season (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, the Chile international is clearly ready to make the step up to the Premier League, and the Toffees could give him the platform needed in order for him to succeed.

Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks to sign recruitment expert Jeff Vetere, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Vetere’s career

Vetere has not held a senior recruitment position since being sacked as Birmingham City’s director of football in March 2018, which came at the same time as manager Steve Cotterill losing his job in a major club reshuffle.

The 56-year-old has extensive experience in Premier League recruitment, having worked for the likes of Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Fulham whilst they were all in the English top-flight.

He also has experience working as a scout for Real Madrid, aided by the fact he speaks five languages.

The Latest: Close to joining Spurs

According to a report by Football Insider, Tottenham are now in advanced talks with Vetere with the view for him to come in and oversee their Under-21s recruitment.

It is claimed he is a close ally of Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici, who has given the green-light on the appointment.

Negotiations are said to be close to completion, with Vetere ready to join the north London club immediately.

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The Verdict: Academy needs a reshuffle

The Lilywhites have faced criticism in recent times having failed to bring through a number of top talents from the academy all the way to Antonio Conte’s first-team.

This criticism became all the more prominent last week when Tottenham academy graduate Marcus Edwards stunned his boyhood team whilst playing for Sporting CP as they beat Spurs 2-0 in the Champions League.

Edwards was even awarded the player of the match for his dazzling display, throwing in the question as to why the north London club allowed his departure in the first place.

Therefore, Paratici will have high hopes in Vetere’s reshuffling of the academy’s operations, because, at the moment, it is failing in its production.

Aston Villa target Mauricio Pochettino is keen on potentially taking over from Steven Gerrard, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Pochettino rumours

Speculation first emerged towards the end of August regarding Pochettino and Villa. FI stated that Pochettino was on a list of targets for NSWE, stating that they wouldn’t be afraid to part ways with Gerrard, should results fail to improve.

Gerrard has guided Villa to a draw with Manchester City and a win over Southampton since then, however, rumours regarding the former Tottenham and PSG manager moving to the Midlands are still circling.

The Latest: Update

FI shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Pochettino after he turned down the job at Ligue 1 side Nice.

They claimed that the Argentine ‘would be very open’ to the possibility of taking over at Villa Park, with his next role in management not depending on Champions League football.

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The Verdict: Pressure still on Gerrard?

Villa may have picked up three points prior to the international break, however, it wasn’t a convincing display.

The much-needed victory took Villa into 15th place with seven points from seven games, but the six games in October could be crucial in regards to Gerrard’s future.

If things don’t improve further, then perhaps NSWE would be willing to pull the plug and step up their interest in Pochettino, especially as he is now keen on a possible return to England.

Manchester City star Phil Foden is closing in on a new long-term contract with the club, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Foden’s City career

As a Manchester lad and a boyhood City fan, the 22-year-old has been fulfilling his childhood dream in recent years under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

Since graduating into the first-team squad in 2017, the England international has already made 180 appearances for the club, contributing 51 goals and 35 assists to the Premier League champions’ success.

Foden became even more of an Etihad Stadium hero this weekend after scoring his first career hat-trick against rivals Manchester United in an emphatic 6-3 victory.

The Latest: Foden’s contract

With contract talks delayed due to a change in the player’s management, Ornstein has now shared a fresh update on Foden’s situation.

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist claimed: “Man City hope Phil Foden will sign his new contract until 2027 this week. Once last details agreed #MCFC plan to confirm 22yo’s deal – finally achieving what all parties wanted after protracted negotiations & tying down another key player @TheAthleticUK”

The Verdict: City’s future

At just 22 years of age, Foden has already established himself as a crucial part of City’s incredible success under Guardiola.

Having earned stylistic comparisons to the likes of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the Sky Blues winger ranks in the 91st percentile for non-penalty goals and the 89th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area and for progressive passes received.

Those figures mark him out as a player who frequently gets into the box and can make a telling impact once there.

Hailed as a ‘very special’ player by England teammate Declan Rice, Foden looks destined to play a major part in City’s setup for years to come, especially if he commits his long-term future to the club.

Therefore, news of his impending contract renewal will surely come as a huge relief to City fans.

Manchester City have a more ‘important’ prodigy than on-fire summer signing Erling Haaland, according to reporter Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Haaland from heaven…

Since putting pen to paper on his summer move from Borussia Dortmund, the Norway superstar has been an absolute revelation – already breaking countless Premier League records at Eastlands.

Alan Shearer, the division’s best ever goalscorer, has already had one of his snatched away by Haaland.

The Match of the Day pundit did hold the record for most hat-tricks in as many top flight games, bagging three in ten league matches, but City’s new superstar has managed to half that number.

Indeed, Haaland has already managed three hat-tricks in five so far, smashing Shearer’s previous record.

The scintillating 22-year-old could have many more in his sights, but according to Jones, City starlet Phil Foden may actually be seen as a more significant prospect in Manchester than the former Salzburg powerhouse.

The Latest: Journalist makes Foden and Haaland comparison…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the reporter says Foden could be seen as ‘more important’ than Haaland given his cultural significance and what he represents as a boyhood fan.

“Foden is the local hero. To some, he is even more important than Haaland because of what he represents to the area. Foden’s going to be around for a long time; Haaland probably won’t. City won’t have Haaland forever.

“To be honest, they’re privileged to have him for this period of his career and they’re aware of that. They don’t know if he’s going to be there for two years, three years or five years.”

The Verdict: Exciting times…

Regardless of whom will be remembered more ten years from now, City supporters will feel very lucky to watch both men play under one of the best managers of all time, Pep Guardiola.

So far, the pair have struck a devastating understanding – scoring a combined 19 goals and five assists in the English top flight alone (WhoScored).

As highlighted by City’s 6-3 drubbing of arch rivals Man United in the latest derby, Foden and Haaland are truly unplayable when at their imperious best.

Considering both are just 22-years-old, their form is truly frightening.

West Brom finally sacked Steve Bruce after last weekend’s stalemate with Luton Town left the Baggies in the Championship relegation zone but they could have avoided the former Newcastle United man altogether had they hired top choice Tony Mowbray.

Before the sacking of Valerien Ismael in February, the Baggies were heavily linked with Mowbray, who was impressing with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship at the time.

Rovers were challenging for promotion for much of last season until a poor run of form saw them drop out of the playoffs towards the end of the campaign, with Mowbray departing when his contract at Ewood Park expired in the summer.

He could have been available at a cut price for West Brom due to his contract situation and it was suggested that he was definitely on the Baggies’ shortlist, with journalist Dean Jones reporting that a move to the Hawthorns looked likely for Mowbray in an interview with GIVEMESPORT.

He said: “My verdict on this is that the club are now seeking alternatives and are looking into options of who they could get right now.

“Tony Mowbray, I know, would be their top choice. He’s somebody that they definitely have at the top of the list if they could have anyone.”

In the end, Lai Guochuan would opt to appoint Bruce, and it turned out to be a nightmare, as the former Manchester United defender won just eight of his 32 games in charge. 

Mowbray is now impressing with Sunderland having returned to management at the Stadium of Light outfit following the switch that saw Alex Neil move to Stoke City.

The 58-year-old has well and truly steadied the ship, with the Black Cats winning two and drawing three of his opening seven games, which sees Sunderland sit comfortably in mid-table – an impressive feat considering they were only promoted last season and were rocked by the departure of Neil.

Mowbray has a huge amount of experience in the Championship and showed last season with Blackburn that he is still capable of delivering results, whereas Bruce looked to be well past it during his time at Newcastle, with their progression since his departure perhaps emphasising his limitations as a manager.

Mowbray’s points per game average in his previous spell at West Brom was 1.46, compared to Bruce’s 1.13, despite the former being in the Premier League for much of his time in charge, which again suggests that he would have been the better option.

Therefore, Lai got it badly wrong in appointing Bruce over Mowbray, and Baggies fans will be hoping that he does a better job when choosing the next manager to take over at the Hawthorns.

Sheffield Wednesday trio Jack Hunt, Dominic Iorfa and Mallik Wilks could all start against Leicester City Under-21s, according to journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Sheff Wed in cup action

The Owls have a brief respite from League One commitments on Tuesday night, as they host the young Foxes in an EFL Trophy clash at Hillsborough.

In truth, even Darren Moore would admit that this competition certainly doesn’t take precedence this season, although a win still isn’t to be sniffed at.

While numerous changes are expected to the starting lineup, it could be that Moore’s team is stronger than some expect.

The Latest: Trio could all start

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Yorkshire Live‘s Howson claimed that key trio Hunt, Iorfa and Wilks could all feature prominently against Leicester:

“There is a strong chance Jack Hunt, Dominic Iorfa and Mallik Wilks will be involved in Sheffield Wednesday’s Papa John’s Trophy dead rubber with Leicester City’s Under-21s tomorrow night.”

The Verdict: Needlessly strong?

This is an intriguing update from Howson, considering the EFL Trophy feels more like a competition to give youngsters playing time in, rather than risk senior figures.

An injury to an important player at Hillsborough would likely cause much frustration among the fanbase when they could instead have been at home recharging the batteries.

That being said, Wednesday do arguably have the biggest squad in League One and Moore will want to retain match fitness in his players, so Hunt, Iorfa and Wilks could all benefit from the minutes, retaining sharpness ahead of the bigger matches to come.

Nottingham Forest are set to rival Premier League rivals Fulham in the race to sign Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia.

The Lowdown: Maia profiled

Maia is just 20 years of age and can play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder or centre-back.

The Brazilian holds a career-high £4.5m Transfermarkt valuation and is under contract until September 2023.

Maia has made 57 senior appearances for Sao Paulo after progressing through their youth system, and it looks as if a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

The Latest: Forest offer

Sport Witness relayed an update from Brazilian outlet Lance regarding Maia on Monday, name-checking both Forest and Fulham.

The report claimed that Forest have hinted they should be making an offer for the midfielder ‘in the coming days’, with Sao Paulo wanting around €10m (£8.7m).

The Verdict: One to watch

Forest were extremely busy over the summer, but it looks as if they are already making plans ahead of the January window when it comes to Maia.

He appears to be a potential future star and already has plenty of first-team experience under his belt, as well as being able to play in multiple positions.

This could be one to watch over the coming weeks, and who knows, Forest may pip Fulham to Maia’s signature and have a transfer all but sealed before the new year.