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Celtic have made contact with Jeando Fuchs regarding a deal to bring the 24-year-old to Parkhead.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with French media outlet Foot Mercato, the Dundee United midfielder revealed that he is considering his options before making a concrete decision on his future at Tannadice, with the Cameroon international’s contract at the Premiership side set to expire at the end of the season.

Fuchs went on to claim that a number of clubs have already made contact with him regarding a potential switch next summer, including the likes of Celtic, Rangers, VfB Stuttgart, a plethora of EFL clubs and an unnamed Premier League side.

Regarding the interest in his services, the midfielder said: “I am at the end of my contract in May. I’m waiting to see something concrete and see if I have a choice to make at that time. I am not in a hurry.

“There has been contact with Blackpool, Peterborough and Wigan. Stuttgart have taken information since the summer. There has been contact from Celtic and Rangers as well, but nothing more. A Premier League club as well. England would be good.”

Disaster

While there are undeniable traits in Fuchs’ game that would suggest the defensively-minded midfielder is a very decent player in the middle of the park, whether or not the 24-year-old is up to the standard required to be a starter for Celtic is another matter altogether.

Indeed, over his 15 Premiership appearances so far this season, the £720k-rated man has made an average of two interceptions – the joint-highest in the league – 2.3 tackles – the joint eighth-most in the division – and won an impressive 5.8 duels per game.

However, the £3.1k-per-week midfielder’s passing – something that is an incredibly important factor in the way Ange Postecoglou likes his side to play – leaves a lot to be desired, with Fuchs completing a mere 20.9 passes – with a success rate of just 71% – per fixture.

It is more than likely this shortcoming that has contributed to the former Deportivo Alaves player averaging a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.74, ranking him as Thomas Courts’ 13th-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, considering the options that Celtic currently have in his position, such as Ismaila Soro, Nir Bitton, Liam Shaw and James McCarthy, it would very much appear as if signing the man who the Dundee United boss dubbed a “top player” would be something of a disaster for Postecoglou, as the Cameroonian would not seem to be much of an upgrade – if any – on the current crop at Parkhead.

In other news: Ange can save millions with “Roy of the Rovers” who’s got a “big future at Celtic”

Taking to Twitter, a number of West Ham fans have slammed the rumours suggesting that Andy Carroll could return to the club, following the news that he was pictured at the Hammers’ Rush Green training ground.

Shared by WestHamFans.org (via Claret & Hugh), images of former Hammers player Carroll at West Ham’s training ground have recently emerged, sparking rumours that he could be making a shock return to the club.

The 6 foot 3 striker made 142 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 34 goals during his tenure at the East London side.

In November last year, the 32-year-old joined Reading on a short-term contract. However, this contract has now expired, and the former Newcastle man is without a club. As a result, it remains to be seen what lies in the player’s imminent footballing future.

These West Ham fans react to the Carroll news

Club insider ExWHUemployee downplayed the rumours of Carroll’s return on Twitter, claiming that he has ‘been told the deal isn’t on’, further stating that he was ‘not sure why this Carroll rumour has so much legs’.

However, this still doesn’t explain why the player was pictured at the club’s training ground.

Consequently, fans flocked to the comments to share their disbelief, many slamming the club for entertaining such a prospect.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

“It’s baffling he is playing in the championship for a reason IMO even if we were in the bottom 4 it’s the wrong move and there are better options out there.”

Credit: @AshBarton70

“Don’t need to sign him ( we do need a striker). That’s a step backwards for us . Leave him in our history & move on .”

Credit: @SkeltonTony

“We’re desperate. That’s why hahahahaha”

Credit: @breggertelli

“Think it’s more about just how low our expectations still are!”

Credit: @richards_shaun

“Would be my last day as a West Ham fan”

Credit: @altgram

“Why on earth would they even consider it, are our fans deluded or something???”

Credit: @BKhammer1

Premiership giants Celtic are on red alert as West Ham United have now mandated agents to work on helping the club secure the services of Odsonne Edouard.

Edouard has previously been linked with a move to other Premier League clubs like Brighton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Monaco had a bid rejected in the past too. It now seems as though West Ham are leading the way to sign the Frenchman.

Agents to work for West Ham in Edouard deal

Football Insider have dropped the latest about Edouard, saying that West Ham are set to mandate agents to help them work on the deal for the Frenchman in the summer.

Sources have allegedly told Football Insider that David Sullivan wants to see his club move for the striker and is sending agents to negotiate on the Hammers’ behalf.

The report claims that Edouard’s actions of switching agents was a sign of the fact that he is set to leave the club in the summer.

The Hoops have tried multiple times to hand him a new contract, but he has knocked back these attempts every single time. As a result, his value has fallen and West Ham now want him as an option alongside Michail Antonio.

Celtic should part ways with Edouard in the summer

Edouard has racked up a non-penalty goals per 90 minutes tally of only 0.66 in the Premiership this season. That is his lowest ever tally in his Celtic career (as per FBRef).

His contract at Parkhead runs out in the summer of 2022, meaning that the upcoming summer would be Celtic’s best chance of earning a good fee from his sale.

Considering that he hasn’t had a great season by his own lofty standards, perhaps it will be a good time to part ways, ensuring the Hoops get a good fee which they can reinvest into a new manager’s rebuild, rather than losing him for free in the not-so-distant future.

In other news, Chris Sutton picks out three players for new Celtic boss to build around – read more here.

A big Rangers transfer development has emerged over their interest in signing a young Scottish prospect…

What’s the talk?

According to the Scottish Daily Express, Gio van Bronckhorst is plotting a six-figure bid to sign Aberdeen diamond Lancelot Pollard this summer.

The report claims that they want to get a deal done quickly to avoid missing out on him as he is attracting interest from south of the border.

Liverpool and Manchester United are both said to be keen on the young talent, with Jurgen Klopp’s side holding an ‘active’ interest in him. It remains to be seen whether either side are willing to join Rangers in making a bid for his services.

Supporters will be excited

The supporters will surely be excited by this news as it shows that the club are attempting to snap up future stars to improve their academy.

Fans will be delighted that Ross Wilson and the head coach have an eye on developing the youth ranks at Ibrox as well as making additions to strengthen the first team. They will want to see a blend of experience and youth come through the door in the summer to bolster van Bronckhorst’s team now and in the years to come.

The likes of Leon King and Alex Lowry have made their way through to the senior side this season after impressing in the academy, whilst Nathan Patterson was sold for a club-record fee in January to Premier League side Everton.

This highlights the value in maximising the potential of the B team. Not only can Rangers develop players, like Lowry, who can break into the team to make an impact for the Gers but they can also find gems who they can sell on for a huge profit in the future.

Therefore, attempting to sign Pollard will excite the fans as he could be a player who goes on to be a huge success at Ibrox in the years to come. Although, there is very little data available on him so it is difficult to judge whether or not he will be able to make it in Glasgow.

However, the youngster must be catching the eye for Aberdeen as he is now a sought-after talent, which suggests that he has shown great potential with his performances this season in the youth ranks.

AND in other news, Body blow: Van Bronckhorst now set for huge Rangers disaster over £27k-p/w “rock”…

He may only have just returned from injury, but Rodrigo simply has to start when Leeds United welcome Chelsea in the Premier League on early Saturday afternoon.

The Spaniard has been out of action for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in recent weeks due to a groin injury picked up against Leicester, but came on as a second half substitute against West Ham last week.

Naturally a striker who can play out wide, the £22.5m-rated flier has been playing in a more withdrawn role at Elland Road, but with the licence to push forward and support Patrick Bamford.

After an impressive cameo against Arsenal earlier this season, former Leeds man Noel Whelan explained just how important Rodrigo is to this side: “He’s always looking for it, he’s never ever standing still, he’s always on the move and that’s what I like about him. He can’t be marked, he’s always looking for a space – very much the next Hernandez.

“He is a player that looks like he can make things happen. He’s very intelligent, he brings other people into play and makes space for them.”

Whelan also delivered his verdict on why the Spaniard should start against the Blues on Saturday, saying: “If you ask 100 Leeds fans who they would prefer in that position, Rodrigo or Tyler Roberts, they would all say Rodrigo all day long.

“He’s your star signing, your record signing. He’s the one player that if he is fit then you’ve got to have him in your side to give you that extra opportunity. Roberts didn’t do anything wrong but I just think it brings a different dimension to the game when Rodrigo’s out there.”

Given Roberts’ poor form in recent weeks, Rodrigo’s return to full fitness could not have come soon enough. The Spaniard has managed five goals in 23 games in all competitions in his debut campaign in English football, showing flashes of brilliance.

Dubbed “extraordinary” by former Barcelona boss Quique Setien, Rodrigo simply has to come into the starting line-up against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.

With Leeds in a bit of rut – they’ve won just once in their past five games – bringing a real live-wire like Rodrigo into the team could be the kind of game-changing move to tip things in Leeds’ and Bielsa’s favour.

Meanwhile, Leeds must drop this £70k-p/w flop vs Chelsea…

Liverpool are in need of a new midfielder after seeing influential star Georginio Wijnaldum leave for free this summer, and former Liverpool ace Paul Stewart believes that Wolves’ Ruben Neves would be a good signing.

Neves has been with Wolves since they were in the Championship but it has been no surprise to see how easily he’s taken to life in the Premier League considering he was captaining Porto in the Champions League before his move to England and he could be the sort of midfielder Liverpool go for, especially at a snip of £35 million, the fee he could be available for according to The Athletic.

Wijnaldum proved himself to be one of Jurgen Klopp’s best signings during his tenure at Liverpool after arriving for £25 million from then relegated Newcastle United, and with consistently good performances and important goals like his header against Barcelona, the Dutchman certainly paid back his price tag.

Klopp will know that he must replace Wijnaldum’s energy, quality and strong mentality and Neves has proved during his time at Wolves that he has all those attributes as well as a deadly set-piece, and Stewart believes that the Portuguese international would be a great signing as he told Football FanCast:

“I think Neves has proved himself in the Premier League for me. So I think he’d be a really good signing at that price because for a player of his quality it’s nothing.”

Neves has formed a formidable partnership with Joao Moutinho over the last three seasons but with the Fosun group now willing to sell Neves so Bruno Lage has more funds to spend in the transfer window, it could be the end of the road for the 24-year old at Molineux.

Liverpool have held an interest in Neves for a number of years now and with his price now very affordable, Klopp could see this as the perfect time to strike a great deal for a superb technician on the ball.

An update has emerged about Wolves centre-back Dion Sanderson, it could affect Sunderland’s transfer plans this summer.

What’s the talk?

According to the Sheffield Star, Slavisa Jokanovic has identified Sunderland target Dion Sanderson as a player he would like to bring to Brammal Lane this summer. Jokanovic has drawn up a list of transfer targets for the Sheffield United board and Sanderson is one of the players he is hoping to land.

Earlier this month, Football Insider claimed that Wolves are now ready to sell Sanderson on a permanent basis and would like £2m for his services. The report stated that Sunderland are keen on signing the centre-back for a second spell at the Stadium of Light and believe personal relationships could help get a deal over the line.

Back in February of this year, Sunderland boss Lee Johnson hailed Sanderson as a “Rolls-Royce” of a defender for his age. He told Chronicle Live:

“I’ve been very impressed with him, he’s really stepped up.

“He’s recognised that Bailey Wright is out, and that he needs to up it another five or six percent and talk to the players around him.

“He has got a really good attitude, and it’s consistent with his personality.

“He’s a centre-half and at his age level he is an absolute Rolls-Royce.”

Fans will be fuming

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is facing a disaster with this transfer saga and it will leave fans fuming. The Black Cats have had the inside track on Sanderson after working with him throughout the 2020/21 campaign and they are now allowing other clubs to join the race and diminish their chances of signing him permanently.

Instead of acting quickly, as soon as Johnson made it clear that he would like Sanderson to return, Speakman has seemingly been slow out of the blocks and it could now lead to the ‘Rolls-Royce’ moving elsewhere.

Sanderson now has suitors from the Championship and that could appeal to him more than a transfer back down to League One. Sheffield United have just been relegated from the Premier League and have a manager in Jokanovic who has been promoted to the top-flight twice in his career, with Fulham and Watford. This means that Sanderson could have the opportunity to join an exciting project in Sheffield, with the prospect of playing Premier League football in the 2022/23 campaign being a more than realistic target for the Blades.

The £2m beast impressed during his loan stint with Sunderland. He averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.88 in 17 starts at centre-back, showing his consistency and quality despite only turning 21 last December.

Given that Speakman has had since the end of last season to negotiate a deal with Wolves and has been unable, or unwilling, to do so, Sunderland fans will be fuming that he has not acted quicker to make sure that other clubs are not able to swoop in and snap him up.

AND in other news, Speakman heading for big error if SAFC land £1.5k-p/w dud, fans would be livid…

It may be some years since Leeds United fans saw Harry Kewell light up Elland Road in his pomp, but the club could very well go a long way to recreating the feeling of watching the Australian by landing England U21 international Noni Madueke.

Reports in recent days have revealed that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are one of a number of clubs across Europe who have already put feelers out about potentially signing the PSV starlet.

When Kewell burst onto the scene at Leeds, the fleet-footed winger was a real breath of fresh air, displaying a real sense of fearlessness.

FootballWhispers noted: “The Australian youngster immediately stood out in Leeds’ youth ranks, exuding a confident swagger that would go on to define his on-field demeanour. With his pace, flair and guile, the young winger looked a natural fit in the immaculate white of the three-time English champions.”

And in the 19-year-old Madueke, there are a lot of remarkable similarities.

Former PSV midfielder Tommie van de Leegte said: “He’s fast and has the capability to trick his opponent. He brings creativity and is very explosive in his actions. That’s what PSV needs.

And, PSV boss Roger Schmidt raved about the young winger after a particularly impressive display against SC Verle, in which he scored a superb hat-trick.

He said: “I’m not surprised. He already scored a lot of goals in training. He feels comfortable up front and doesn’t have to be a winger. Noni’s timing is often very good and he has a good feeling for free space. I’m also very happy with his mentality. He is a good fighter and is capable of reading the situation.”

Meanwhile, England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd has tipped the £12.6m-rated Madueke to enjoy a bright future, and much like Kewell, pointed to his vibrant personality.

He said: “He’s certainly a very talented young man, really excited to be called up by the Under 21s, and a little bit like Phil (Foden) last time, nobody had really heard of him until he came and played in the tournament.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Latest Leeds transfer rumours and news”]

“They knew a little bit about him but that set him off on a trajectory and we’re hoping Noni can create even more positive attention for the way that they play. He’s got a lovely infectious character that comes out even over the phone.”

With that same penchant for producing the spectacular, Madueke could well light up Elland Road just like Kewell did all those years ago.

Meanwhile, Leeds must keep this man at all costs this summer…

Former Premier League manager Lawrie Sanchez has exclusively told Football FanCast that Brendan Rodgers will be thinking long-term amid speculation surrounding his future at Leicester.

The former Liverpool boss has done an exceptional job since replacing Claude Puel two years ago, and is on the verge of leading the Foxes back into the Champions League having narrowly missed out on the final-day 12 months ago.

Leicester’s victory at Manchester United, who denied them a place in July, means that Rodgers’ team require just four points from their two remaining Premier League matches to guarantee a place in the top four.

However, should Liverpool lose at Old Trafford on Thursday, then the Foxes would need just a single point against either Chelsea or Spurs.

Rodgers has also led Leicester to their first FA Cup final since 1969, with his incredible work at the King Power Stadium leading to strong reports that Tottenham want him to replace Jose Mourinho.

But he’s since revealed that he’s “very happy” at Leicester, and Sanchez told Football FanCast that the 48-year-old will have a long-term plan.

He told Football FanCast:

“Brendan is very strategic. He left Watford to come to Reading and left Swansea to go to Liverpool.

“So, I wonder whether Brendan is thinking strategically if a couple of years at Leicester, could he go to Arsenal? Someone that can really be top of the tree.”

Queens Park Rangers are closing in on a deal to bring Martell Taylor-Crossdale to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by West London Sport, who claim that QPR have taken the 21-year-old centre-forward on trial following his release from Fulham earlier this summer, with the former England U20 international able to join the Championship club outside of the transfer window due to his status as a free agent.

The report goes on to state that the youngster has featured for the QPR U23 side in their recent fixtures, and scored in the 2-1 loss against Barnsley at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Tuesday.

Exciting signing

While it is true that things did not exactly work out for Taylor-Crossdale following his move from Chelsea to Fulham in the summer of 2019 – with the centre-forward rejecting a move to Hoffenheim in order to join the Cottagers – the 21-year-old nevertheless proved during his time with the Blues that he is a player who boasts a considerable amount of potential.

Indeed, having joined the Chelsea academy back in 2008, the youngster impressed across the various age groups of the Premier League side’s youth setup, scoring 35 goals and providing six assists over his 53 appearances for the U18s, two goals over six appearances for the UEFA U19 side and seven goals across 29 appearances for the U23s.

And, while the striker failed to establish himself in the Fulham first-team during his spell at Craven Cottage – making just one senior appearance for the west London side – he did manage to score five goals and provide one assist over his 15 Premier League 2 appearances for the club’s U23 side in their 2019/20 campaign.

As such, it would very much appear as if there is a prolific goalscorer within Taylor-Crossdale, he just needs to find the right environment in which to finally make the step up to first-team football.

And, considering the development of players such as Ilias Chair, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Eberechi Eze under Mark Warburton at QPR, the 58-year-old could well be the coach who finally manages to get the best of out the striker – with his potential signing undoubtedly being an exciting one.

In other news: QPR confirm transfer development which has left Warburton over the moon