Following defeat in the Old Firm derby, is is now reportedly more “realistic” than ever that Celtic replace Wilfried Nancy with a key managerial target.

Chris Sutton: Nancy will be "fortunate" to survive Rangers defeat

It’s been an utter disaster for Nancy ever since his arrival. The Frenchman had the tough task of following on from Martin O’Neill’s excellent interim spell in charge, which saw the 73-year-old lose just once, and to say that he has not picked up where the veteran manager left off would be an understatement.

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Defeat in the Old Firm derby may well be the nail in the coffin for his tenure. Celtic initially came flying out the blocks, racing into a 1-0 lead, but their fragilities soon came to the fore.

One Youssef Chermiti goal signalled an almighty collapse and Rangers had their rivals on the ropes before Mikey Moore delivered the knock-out blow to seal a 3-1 victory. The Bhoys were out for the count and there’s now every chance that Nancy’s tenure is waved off, according to Chris Sutton.

It’s hard to argue against Sutton’s verdict and Parkhead chiefs are already reportedly considering Nancy’s future, with a “realistic” replacement now emerging.

Postecoglou's Celtic return now more "realistic" than ever

According to TEAMtalk, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic return is now more “realistic” than ever in the summer after Parkhead chiefs met to discuss Nancy’s immediate future at the club.

The Australian, who favours a 4-3-3 formation, would reportedly need a number of promises to seal his return in the summer, but those are promises that the Bhoys should do everything to match. In terms of options, Postecoglou is arguably the best that Celtic have even after his difficult spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou at Celtic

Record

Games

113

Wins

83

Draws

12

Defeats

18

Trophies

5

His record speaks for itself and there’s no doubt that Postecoglou’s return would be worth the wait. In the meantime, however, Celtic must find a solution.

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Whether that means a second return for O’Neill this season is the big question. The 73-year-old almost had a perfect record in his first interim spell this season and could get the chance to pick up where he left off.

The other option, of course, is that Celtic stick with Nancy in the hope that he finally turns a corner in Scotland. But after fan protest and Old Firm derby defeat, that corner is beginning to become more and more impossible.

Newcastle United will be heading into 2026 hoping for a major change of fortunes in the Premier League.

At the moment, with seven league defeats next to their name, Eddie Howe’s Magpies are loitering in the bottom half of the tense division.

Still, they can push back into the top half of the ever-changing standings, with a win over a relegation-threatened Burnley later on.

With January also coming into view, a slightly disgruntled Howe will know he has plenty of opportunities to improve his squad in the hectic transfer window, as the Toon already begin to be linked with several intriguing names in attack…

Newcastle place Bundesliga forward on their radar

Unfortunately, Newcastle’s attack just wasn’t at the races whatsoever on Boxing Day versus Manchester United, as a 1-0 defeat angered the travelling Tyneside masses.

To solve some of their issues up top, with only a weak 23 goals scored in the Premier League so far this season, Newcastle could look to the sky blue half of Manchester to try and pick up reserve Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb, who they’re rumoured to be keen on.

He isn’t the only option down the flanks that has piqued Newcastle’s curiosity, however, with a new report from Caught Offside revealing that the underperforming top-flight club are among the sides interested in for in-demand Hoffenheim forward Bazoumana Toure, having begun carrying out ‘background checks’ regarding the teenage talent.

The report states that the Ivorian is a hot commodity as we edge closer to January, with the aforementioned Red Devils, Arsenal and Brentford all placing the 19-year-old prospect onto their radars, after a breakout season to date in the Bundesliga, alongside Howe and Co.

The report further elaborates that Hoffenheim aren’t looking to sanction a sale in January, but could well entertain a sale if a £39m bid were to come their way – a significant fee for any teenager.

However, Newcastle have shown that they aren’t afraid to splash the big bucks on some major attacking reinforcements from Germany in recent windows, with Toure perhaps going down as a sensational Nick Woltemade repeat, as the £69m centre-forward continues to light up the Premier League for Howe’s men.

Why Toure could be a Woltemade repeat

Newcastle supporters would have been taken aback somewhat by the millions splashed out on Woltemade, with the forceful 6-foot-6 attacker never being exposed to the bright lights of the Premier League before a club-record move was finalised.

Thankfully, he has made that transition from Stuttgart to Tyneside look smooth, after powering home a stunning 18 goals from only 36 appearances at the ex-employers, before adding 11 goal contributions and counting at St James’ Park.

Toure has also begun to generate a lot of hype around his name, lining up for Hoffenheim, with journalist Bence Boscak lauding him as a presence that’s “very exciting to watch”, like Woltemade has become instantly in England.

He also has the goals and assists to back up his entertaining performances, much like the Bremen-born striker, with his sudden emergence into the spotlight in Germany, after also starring at Hammarby, potentially standing him in good stead if he tries to navigate that tricky next step to the Premier League.

Toure’s league numbers for Hoffenheim

Stat – per 90 mins*

Toure

Games played

14

Goals scored

2

Assists

4

Touches

43.5

Accurate passes*

17.1 (76%)

Key passes*

1.4

Big chances created

4

Ball recoveries*

4.6

Total duels won*

5.8

Stats by Sofascore

Indeed, the table above shows off a star who will likely be unfazed by the challenges of the Premier League, with Toure instantly acclimatising to the Bundesliga after a move from Sweden, with a standout six goal contributions next to his name from 14 league appearances this season.

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But, there is a reason why Bocsak deems him to be “one of the most exciting young wingers in European football”, with the gung-ho number 29 a very well-rounded figure on the pitch, with ball recoveries and duels won aplenty this campaign, too, while also regularly bombing forward with weaving runs.

Across his last three Bundesliga contests, before going out to the African Cup of Nations, the 19-year-old would complete a stunning six dribbles, two of which came against German behemoth Borussia Dortmund.

Woltemade has also been praised for what he can offer the Toon, away from just his output, having been hailed as “mesmerising” for his link-up play by Sky Sports’ Andy Sixsmith.

It would likely cost Newcastle a pretty penny, but for £39m, they could land another very interesting import from Germany, like their unique number 27.

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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of RC Lens gem Seko Fofana… 

What’s the talk?

According to French outlet Le10Sport, the Magpies are set to battle it out with Ligue 1 giants PSG to land the Ivorian in the summer.

The report claims that PIF are prepared to make a move for the midfielder and will not ‘hesitate’ to open their chequebook to secure his services, although it remains to be seen how much money the French side want for their star man.

Imagine him & Bruno

Dan Ashworth is reportedly set to become Newcastle’s director of football in the summer and the signing of Fofana could be an incredible first piece of business for the former Brighton man.

He must ensure that he can get a deal over the line for the powerful midfielder as he would be a sensational signing for the club and potentially be an exciting partner for Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park next season.

In Ligue 1 this season, Fofana has scored seven goals and averaged 1.2 key passes per game whilst averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.93. He has also completed two dribbles per game and this shows that he is a progressive player who likes to drive at the opposition to make things happen, with his goal tally showing that he has the end product to match the build-up.

Author Tom Scholes once dubbed the £14m-rated player as “unbelievable” and French journalist Tanguy Le Seviller described him as a “monster” earlier this year. These comments and his impressive statistics for Lens highlight why Ashworth needs to bring him in as he would be a big asset for Eddie Howe to call upon with his ability to make things happen from midfield. 

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He could form a strong partnership with Guimaraes in midfield, with the Brazilian having also caught the eye in Ligue 1. In the first half of the season for Lyon, the 24-year-old averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.21 as he made an outstanding 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game.

This suggests that he will be able to provide the defensive anchor to allow Fofana to express himself going forward for Newcastle. Guimaraes would be the sturdy, reliable, operator to win possession back and then the Ivorian would be able to break and attempt to score and create goals in the final third knowing that he has the Brazilian machine behind him.

AND in other news, Howe can find his own Ake for NUFC in “special” £80k-p/w tank who’s “very underrated”…

Aston Villa secured a much-needed victory last weekend with their 2-0 win against Brighton after losing their two prior league games.

This weekend sees the Midlands club take on Southampton at Villa Park to see if they can pick up another three points and get closer to breaking into the top half of the table.

With that in mind, it seems as though Steven Gerrard could have an extra option back in his squad to take on the Saints.

What’s the latest?

According to a recent tweet from Ashley Preece, Villa winger Bertrand Traore has rejoined first team training this week after picking up an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

The Burkina Faso international joined the Midlands club in 2020 from French side Lyon in a deal worth a reported £17m.

Since arriving at Villa Park, the 26-year-old has made 45 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with eight goals and providing seven assists in the process, showing what a useful player he can be for the team in an attacking sense when he’s fit enough to play.

His debut season in a Villa shirt went rather well, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 36 league appearances and earning himself an overall performance rating of 6.85/10, making him the seventh-highest rated outfield player at the club according to WhoScored.

However, having only appeared in six Premier League games this season and just two since Gerrard was appointed back in November, the winger will undoubtedly be keen to get back out on the pitch and properly get his season going, in the same way that the 41-year-old will surely be ecstatic to have him back.

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If the attacker can maintain his fitness for the remainder of the season, not only will he provide his manager with an extra attacking option if he feels the need to change things up, but also offer a real threat in front of goal, either by scoring himself or creating opportunities for his team-mates. The extra precision he could bring is something Villa have lacked in recent games, so Traore’s impending return could be very timely indeed.

In other news: NSWE had lucky escape over “ridiculous” Villa flop who “goes past people like Ronaldo”

Wolves youngster Connor Ronan needs to seal a permanent move away from Molineux despite his undoubted ability, according to journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Ronan shining out on loan

The 24-year-old is currently out on loan at St Mirren, having joined the Scottish Premiership side on a temporary basis last summer.

Ronan has done well during his time there to date, scoring seven goals and registering three assists in 21 league starts, catching the eye in the middle of the park.

It is just the latest of many loan moves for the midfielder, however, and it could be that a permanent Wolves exit makes sense this summer.

The Latest: Spiers calls for permanent Wolves exit

That is certainly the opinion of Spiers, who took to Twitter on Thursday to laud Ronan’s quality but also admit it is time for him to leave Wanderers for good:

“Lage likes him, in fact everyone does. Not sure how you couldn’t really, his technique is so good. Just never quite fitted in and the first team standard is so high. He’s 24, the loans have been good for developing his game and he needs a permanent home now.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“388797″]

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

At 24, this is now a crucial point in Ronan’s career and he needs to be settled at a new club in order to reach his potential.

Jumping between teams on loan can be good experience for a player in his late teens or early 20s but the Irishman is now beyond that point and has to become less nomadic.

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It is hard to see how he will ever become a key figure at Wolves – he has only made 13 first-team appearances for the club – so a move away makes sense for all parties.

In other news, Spiers has also been left wowed by one Wolves player. Find out who it is here.

Wolves have battled a full-back crisis almost unheard of in the Premier League, with number one choices for each flank Jonny and Nelson Semedo both having lengthy spells out injured, while their deputies have struggled on occasion this season.

While Jonny has returned to first-team action now, Semedo is likely to be out for between four to eight weeks – meaning former Liverpool wonderkid Ki-Jana Hoever was set to take his place and have a lengthy run in the first team.

However, much to Lage’s frustration, Hoever himself suffered an injury at the weekend – causing the Portuguese manager to send a warning to the player in particular, as well as the other youngsters in and around the first-team squad.

“This warning is not only for Ki [Hoever], it’s for all the kids we have in our team,” said Lage.

“They need to understand that I don’t waste time with guys who don’t work hard every day to improve.”

Once described as a “sensational young player” by his former boss Jurgen Klopp, the defender arrived at Molineux for 13.5m in 2020 with fans hoping he could replace the outgoing Matt Doherty, who signed for Spurs that Summer.

The 20-year-old Dutchman has started just four games this season, averaging a 6.60 match rating according to SofaScore – despite making an impressive start to the campaign, achieving a 7.40 in the first game. Furthermore, he has only registered one goal involvement in his entire Molineux career.

Hoever hasn’t yet made an error that has led to a shot this season, and has won over 50% of his duels this season, but it is reportedly his unwillingness to train harder and prepare himself for senior football which is the thing that is frustrating Lage the most.

Lage said. “Injuries can happen, but this one happened because he was not prepared because Ki sometimes doesn’t work in the same intensity.”

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With Hungarian right-back Bendegúz Bolla having an impressive season at Grasshoppers Zurich in Switzerland, Hoever will need to buck up his ideas quickly before he finds himself even further down the pecking order at Wolves – and eventually on the transfer list.

In other news: Huge blow: Insider drops behind-scenes Wolves update, it’ll “worry” supporters

West Ham are still interested in signing Benfica forward Darwin Nunez this summer according to reports.

What’s the news?

Popular journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted that the Hammers could be back in for the striker in the next transfer window, saying: “Darwin Núñez will be another big name to watch in the summer.

“West Ham made an official bid for him on Deadline Day in Jan: €48m [£40.4m] turned down by Benfica. Hammers alongside other clubs will be back in the summer for Núñez, this time with good chances.”

Potential gem of a signing

West Ham could find themselves in a European competition again next season, which will most likely result in a summer transfer window full of investment from Co-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold.

Currently with just Michail Antonio the only natural striker in the first team squad, that position is one area that is likely to be strengthened at the end of the season – particularly if the club is to endure midweek ventures deep into the continent once again next campaign. Therefore, should a new face arrive to bolster their ranks, it will surely leave supporters delighted, especially if it’s a player of Nunez’s capabilities.

One man that could sign to not only give Antonio support, but also competition to try and take his place in the first team is Nunez, who scored for his club yesterday to knock out Ajax in the Champions League.

Nunez has been one of the best up and coming strikers in Europe this season, scoring 20 goals in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, making him the top goalscorer in the division, despite having made just 19 starts.

The 22-year-old’s positional intelligence, technical ability and work ethic has helped him to earn plenty of goalscoring chances, and despite having improved on his finishing massively, the forward has also missed 14 big chances in league football – suggesting there is still plenty more improvement to be made.

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However, that will be viewed as a positive by manager David Moyes, as despite the former Almeria youngster not yet being a polished product, he would already improve West Ham greatly, and with plenty of game-time in the English top-flight, he could realise his potential and become one of the top strikers in the world while playing at the London Stadium.

In other news: Signed for £15m, now worth 170% more: WHU struck gold on “superb” £47k-p/w “master”

Aston Villa are now in talks with Barcelona over a permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho, according to 90Min’s Graeme Bailey. 

The lowdown

In January, Coutinho moved from Catalonia to the Midlands on a short-term loan. Under the agreement, Villa reportedly have the option to buy the Brazilian for £33million at the end of the season.

Coutinho has scored four goals and provided three assists in his first ten appearances in claret and blue.

Only two players – Danny Ings (ten) and Ollie Watkins (eight) – have recorded more goal involvements over the entire season for Villa.

The latest

Bailey wrote on Twitter that ‘Aston Villa [are] in talks’ with Barcelona as they bid to sign Coutinho long-term.

In his attached story, he writes that the player’s form has caught the eye of ‘rival Premier League clubs’ but Villa are ‘optimistic’ that they can overcome any hurdles and win the race.

Those hurdles include Coutinho’s near £500,000-per-week salary (including bonuses) – the 29-year-old apparently knows he’ll have to take a pay cut if he’s to secure a move to Villa Park.

Villa are looking to wrap up a deal in advance of the summer so they can move on to other priorities.

The verdict

Gerrard called Coutinho ‘magical’ during their time together at Liverpool, which lasted two and a half years.

His 54 goals for the Reds included one against Villa in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley, though Tim Sherwood’s side did go on to win the game 2-1.

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To this day, Gerrard continues to fawn over the attacking midfielder, recently describing him as both a ‘quality footballer’ and ‘a great human being’, so you’d imagine that he’s pushing the club very hard to clinch the deal and see off any competitors.

The 41-year-old will also be well aware that Villa will be an even more attractive proposition for future targets if they have the former Ballon D’Or nominee on their books – players may relish the chance to link up with him.

In other news, Villa have been linked with this audacious free agent swoop.

Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam has been reacting to the club’s latest fixture change on social media.

The Lowdown: Leeds details

Palace’s home game with Leeds United has recently been moved. Initially scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 23, the meeting has been put back two days to Monday, April 25.

The clash with Jesse Marsch’s side at Selhurst Park will now kick-off at 8pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with the visitors currently flirting with relegation.

The Latest: Woosnam reacts

Woosnam took to Twitter shortly after the news was confirmed on Friday afternoon.

He admitted he ‘felt for Leeds fans’ due to such late notice and believed it ‘will only get worse’ for supporters. The Athletic writer also described the knock-on effect for Patrick Vieira’s side as ‘appalling’, as it is now a real possibility the Eagles could play three games in the space of seven days.

The Verdict: Not ideal

Palace may well have to squeeze in their rearranged Premier League clash with Everton on April 28, which would also put back their clash with Southampton to May 1.

It isn’t ideal for supporters who have already made plans in advance, and hopefully, the Premier League and broadcast giants will look to rethink their approach over live selections going forward.

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In regards to Vieira’s side, all their focus will soon be on the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea after negotiating Premier League games with Arsenal and Leicester City.

In other news: Palace keen: Vieira now wants to sign ‘one of the best’ midfielders who ‘dominates the game’. 

It’s been a period of remarkable change at Rangers in recent weeks, with the Ibrox side having been forced to react following a desperate start to the season.

Gone are Patrick Stewart, Kevin Thelwell and the much-maligned Russell Martin. Ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl – yet to taste defeat in the Premiership – has steadied the ship nicely, with Stig Inge Bjornebye also joining the party ahead of the January window.

The former Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers man has signed a six-month deal in a consultancy and advisory role, with the 56-year-old set to aid Rohl and co in seeking out potential new recruits for when the window opens next month.

After the chaos of the summer, which saw £8m dished out on Youssef Chermiti, among other errant deals, the Ibrox side need to get back on track again, replicating the deals that proved so fruitful in recent years.

From Calvin Bassey, to Joe Aribo, to Glen Kamara, the Gers have repeatedly acquired exciting young talents on the cheap and sold them on for sizeable profits, with that true none more so than in the case of one-season wonder, Hamza Igamane.

How Igamane compares to Rangers forwards this season

In what is such a pressure cooker in Glasgow, signing off on eye-watering deals for figures like Chermiti is almost a case of setting the player up to fail from the off, with the man who failed to score a single goal at Everton since netting just once in his new surroundings.

It is far more prudent and astute to seek out bargain deals instead, where possible, with the Light Blues reaping the rewards of having forked out just £1.7m for Igamane back in the summer of 2024.

It was a muted start for the promising Moroccan forward, having taken until early December to net his first Premiership goal, albeit with that kickstarting something of a purple patch, with nine of his 11 league goals coming in December and January.

The Gers’ Europa League voyage arguably brought the best out of the 23-year-old too, with Igamane registering four goals and one assist across his first four league phase outings.

In all, he chalked up 16 goals in 46 games in 2024/25, before departing for Lille on a £10.4m deal over the summer, following just a further three appearances at the start of the campaign.

Now in France, the seven-cap international has exploded in Ligue 1, netting nine goals in his first 18 games for his new club, rubberstamping why former boss Philippe Clement viewed him as a “rough diamond”.

For comparison, that tally eclipses every player at Rangers this season, with James Tavernier – as ever – leading the way with seven goals, ahead of Djeide Gassama on six.

Igamane vs Rangers forwards – 25/26

Player

Games

Goals (Assists)

Igamane

18

9 (2)

Miovski

20

5 (1)

Gassama

30

6 (2)

Curtis

15

3 (0)

Danilo

23

3 (1)

Moore

20

2 (2)

Bajrami

14

2 (0)

Aasgaard

24

1 (1)

Chermiti

18

1 (1)

Stats via Transfermarkt

Igamane’s impact in Glasgow may have been fleeting, but his talent was undeniable, with none of the new faces, evidently, having come close to hitting such heights.

Now, Bjornebye and co need to follow suit by striking gold again in 2026.

Rangers could land their biggest talent since Igamane

While Rangers may wish to be cautious about dipping into the market to back yet another new manager, there is a clear need to strengthen, with the likes of Gassama and Joe Rothwell among those who could already be moving on after just six months at Ibrox.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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In terms of potential incomings, it was reported earlier this month that the Gers – alongside Sunderland – were among the clubs keen on signing Tromso sensation, Jens Hjerto-Dahl.

The 20-year-old – who is not expected to command a sizeable fee – is courting attention following a promising season in his native Norway, having registered four goals and seven assists in 30 league games.

An eye-catching talent at 6 foot 4, the attack-minded midfield “unicorn” – as he’s been hailed by Belgian scout Elijah Michiels – could follow in Igamane’s footsteps as another high-potential, relative unknown talent who can dazzle in Scottish football.

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With his imposing frame and eye for goal, the youngster is a real box-crashing threat for his current side, typically operating as an all-action central midfielder.

While his overall record stands at just 21 goals and assists in 87 senior games, there’s certainly enough to be encouraged by, with that record not too far below Igamane’s 26 goals and assists in 56 games for AS FAR, albeit while operating as a forward.

In the view of analyst Kai Watson, he appears to be destined for one of Europe’s top five leagues, such is his talent, with Rangers perhaps able to provide a suitable stepping stone, as they were for Igamane last season.

Like Igamane too, there is an elegance and silk to the midfielder’s game which could be nurtured under the Rohl regime, with the Gers again in need of that player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck.

This does then look like a deal worth pursuing, with Bjornebye – and his expertise of the Scandinavian market – perhaps the perfect figure to lead this move for his fellow Norwegian.

Related Shades of Aaron Ramsey: Rohl must ditch "terrible" Rangers man after Hibs

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