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Jota would face a ‘big challenge’ in Tom Rogic’s position but watching him there could be ‘exciting’ for Celtic supporters, according to The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin.

The lowdown

Rogic faces at least two weeks on the sidelines after he was forced off with a hamstring injury in Celtic’s midweek victory over Hibernian (via The Daily Record).

It’s certainly a blow for Ange Postecoglou given that his compatriot has featured in every Scottish Premiership game so far.

SL Benfica loanee Jota has predominantly been used as a left winger in Postecoglou’s 4-3-3 since arriving at Celtic Park.

But Postecoglou suggested in his pre-match press conference ahead of Celtic’s clash with Livingston that the Portuguese ‘has the capabilities’ to slot into the midfield three in Rogic’s place, and Devlin has now also hinted at that ‘interesting’ change.

The latest

In The Athletic’s matchday discussion, Devlin admitted Postecoglou’s comments caught him by surprise, but that Jota could find joy ‘driving at defences’.

“Yeah it’s an interesting possibility, certainly an option I hadn’t considered before his comments,” he wrote.

“It’d be a big challenge for his defensive recovery, but it’d be exciting seeing him picking the ball up in the middle and driving at defences, and the space that might open up.”

The verdict

There’s also a possibility Callum McGregor shifts into Rogic’s position, with Postecoglou noting that he has played there before.

That would probably be the lower-risk, more sensible move given that, according to Transfermarkt, Jota has only been deployed centrally 14 times in his career, and even then it was a second striker or a centre forward.

You don’t want to spurn the chance to go above Rangers, for 24 hours at least, by upsetting the balance of the team, so we feel Jota should remain on the flank.

In other news, Kevin Campbell reacts to this Celtic transfer link. 

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has revealed a major injury boost for Aston Villa ahead of their Premier League game against Arsenal on Friday night.

What’s the story?

Dean Smith’s side slipped to an agonising late defeat against Wolves in the top-flight at the weekend, with Matty Cash one of the absentees from the match-day squad.

But now, during a Q&A for The Birmingham Mail, Preece has confirmed that the full-back should be all fine for the clash away at the Emirates later this week.

He said: “As someone has mentioned, expect Matty Cash to shake off a dead leg for Arsenal on Friday. Sanson back on the bench vs Wolves was a positive. It’s just Leon Bailey now with an update expected on Thursday via Smith’s presser.”

Dean Smith will be delighted

Speaking last season, former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips dubbed Cash as “sensational”, while adding: “Cash has come in and he has been flawless. He has taken to the club like a duck to water. You have to give credit to the player and the recruitment department. They have obviously done their homework. He has been one of their shining lights this season.”

Just a couple of weeks ago against Everton, the right-back finally got his first goal for the club, netting a thunderous strike off his weaker left foot in the 3-0 victory the Toffees at Villa Park.

The fact that he’s now being touted with an international call-up with Poland ahead of next year’s World Cup is a real statement on just how high his stock has risen, and full credit must be given to both him and Smith.

With Villa slipping to a disappointing defeat against Wolves, bouncing back with a positive result against Arsenal will be key, and Cash’s return is sure to have Smith buzzing.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa could have their own Raheem Sterling in this academy starlet…

An update has emerged on Bristol City defender Taylor Moore, regarding Portsmouth’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Portsmouth are eyeing up a deal to sign Taylor Moore on loan from Championship side Bristol City.

The report claims that Pompey, Wigan and Hearts are all showing an interest in the 24-year-old defender, who the Robins are willing to loan out.

Fans would love him

Portsmouth head coach Danny Cowley must sanction a deal for Moore before the end of the window. He could be an excellent addition to the squad and one who fans would love as he would arrive with bags of experience at higher levels, whilst still having the potential to improve.

In terms of his playing career to date, he has already played competitive games in Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and the Championship, whilst also having played in League One and League Two. He began his career in France with RC Lens, playing four games in Ligue 1 as a teenager – an exceptional learning curve for a young defender playing top-flight football.

Moore played on loan for Southend, Blackpool and Bury in League One, making 61 appearances in the third tier of English football. This shows that he knows what it takes to perform at Portsmouth’s level, along with the experience he has in the division above them – the Championship.

Last season, the defender averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.60 in 22 appearances in the second tier. He won 52% of his duels and made 1.4 interceptions per game for the Robins. This suggests that he has the quality to put in competent performances in the Championship whilst not having the ability – at present – to be a standout, indicating that he could excel by dropping down to League One.

Former Bristol City head coach Dean Holden hailed him as a leader in 2020 after the defender put pen to paper on a new contract at Ashton Gate. He said:

“Taylor is really stepping forward to establish himself in the first team as a player and a leader. He’s had a great start to the season and I’m pleased that he has secured a contract that will keep him here for the next few years.”

This shows that the Championship side have faith that the £2.6k-per-week beast will develop into a viable option for them in the future, with him displaying plenty of positive signs already in his young career. At the age of 24, he still has plenty of years left to continue his progress, with his next step potentially being a short-term move to Fratton Park.

Pompey fans would love to have him at the club as he has the requisite experience and quality to thrive in League One. If he can come in and hit the ground running then he could become a fan favourite at centre-back, but Cowley needs to work hard to get this deal over the line first-and-foremost.

AND in other news, Cowley must sanction deal for 20y/o gem, Portsmouth fans would be delighted…

Crystal Palace are interested in ending Nicolas Pepe’s nightmare spell at Arsenal in January, with the Gunners interested in selling.

What’s the talk?

Pepe joined the north London side in a club-record £72m deal in the summer of 2019, signing a five-year contract with the side after an excellent season with Lille in Ligue 1 the previous year where he scored 23 goals and got 12 assists in 41 games. But after just 25 goals in 98 appearances for the club Pepe has fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.

The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international hasn’t featured since being given five minutes against Leicester at the end of October, with Eddie Nketiah getting the call from the substitutes bench in recent games ahead of him.

Palace were linked with a move for Pepe on loan with the option to buy, and it’s believed that the Gunners would be open to such a deal to free up space and cash in their squad for a player who is out of favour and currently valued at just £31.5m.

Vieira’s Gunners links

Eagles boss Patrick Vieira is an Arsenal legend, captaining the side through their “Invincibles” season and playing 406 times for the Gunners. With his good relationship with the club, it’s very possible that they will have an advantage in any race for the Ivorian winger.

The move would allow him to stay in London, while his international teammate Wilfried Zaha is widely regarded as a top player at Selhurst Park.

With Vieira opting for a 4-3-3 formation for much of this season, Pepe’s arrival on the right wing can allow him to get back to his best which was described by former coach Freddie Ljungberg as “lethal”.

He has great pace and his ability to beat players one-on-one is very good, it’s just the end product that has suffered since moving to England so playing for a team with more space to attack and less expectation could be exactly what he needs.

As Palace continue to struggle in front of goal, scoring just 19 goals in 15 games so far in the Premier League, an attacker with top-level experience is something that they probably shouldn’t shy away from. He will have a point to prove to English football fans and under Vieira could find his best form once again.

Despite a lack of goals, there has been a revolution ensuing under the guidance of Vieira who has engineered wins over both Manchester City and Spurs this term. Adding Pepe, a man who once scored 23 in one season for Lille, would not only continue that revolution but get them into a higher gear, laying a platform for more goals and consequently, more points.

AND in other news, Palace must win race for Sven Botman.

As per L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), West Ham manager David Moyes may have just been handed a transfer boost as the club eye Bayern Munich midfielder Corentin Tolisso.

The Lowdown: West Ham in signing hurry…

The summer transfer window deadline closes on August 31 and West Ham have confirmed just one major summer signing so far, with Paris-Saint German keeper Alphonse Areola joining on a season-long loan.

West Ham have had no shortage of links to players, however, with Bayern ace Tolisso emerging as a target for the Hammers in recent days despite no concrete offer just yet.

However, L’Equipe bring some news in what could be a boost for Moyes.

The Latest: Bayern slash Tolisso price…

The reliable French news source backs West Ham’s interest in the 27-year-old whilst also claiming that Bayern are willing to offload for quite a reasonable fee.

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Tolisso, who has won the Champions League at club level and World Cup with France, could now leave the Allianz Arena for as little as €10 million (£8.4m).

L’Equipe say that the Bundesliga giants will sanction his sale for an offer around that figure as they try to sell ‘as quickly as possible’ before the summer transfer window deadline.

West Ham, Juventus, Arsenal and Manchester United all like the player as Bayern seek to offload.

The Verdict: Priority for Moyes?

Tolisso, despite possessing plenty of experience at the top level and being called ‘very strong’ by Hansi Flick, shouldn’t be a priority for Moyes despite this boost on the price tag.

The centre-midfielder has a tendency to be sidelined often, missing 23 games for Bayern Munich in total last season (Transfermarkt), not to mention his position is already well stacked by Mark Noble, Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Manuel Lanzini in a makeshift deeper role.

However, if West Ham want to add a bit more quality to that position, Tolisso is arguably ripe for the picking for such a meagre £8.4m tag.

In other news: West Ham weigh swoop to sign ‘world class’ striker, club prepared to sell…find out more here.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith could sign the club’s new John Carew in Burnley striker Chris Wood this summer.

What’s the story?

Football Insider recently claimed that the £7.2m-rated marksman is being lined up by Smith as someone to add more firepower to go along with Ollie Watkins, adding that Villa “are one of three top-12 Premier League clubs keeping close tabs on Wood.”

Former Newcastle ace Steve Howey exclusively told Football FanCast that Wood could be a smart signing for Smith’s side, saying: “He’s awkward to play against. If I’m being critical, not the best at holding the ball up, but very good at flicking on and gets his goals. Strikers that score goals, the amount that he’s scored in the Premier League, is a good striker.

“And if he goes to a team that are more creative, he could get a lot of goals.”

A new Carew for Villa

Wood has been hailed as a “natural goalscorer” in the past by former Leeds manager Garry Monk, while former Millwall team-mate Scott Malone even dubbed him “frightening” to play against.

Since he made the step up to the Premier League, the New Zealander has shown that he can certainly handle this level, bagging 47 goals in 136 games in the division. That has led to praise from Newcastle icon Alan Shearer.

The former Magpies striker said: “I like him, I like what he does for the team and he is the focal point for them. He is very good at occupying two centre halves. He is a get out for Burnley if they want because they are not afraid to knock it long.

“He can keep hold of it and bring other players into the game. He is horrible to play against and he won’t give defenders a moment’s peace.”

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Just like Carew – who scored 48 goals in 131 games for the club – Wood is a real handful up front, as Shearer says, and he would give Villa someone with real physicality along with the technical ability to find the back of the net.

While Wesley may offer a similar sense of size, the Brazilian hasn’t really shown himself to be a real guarantee of goals in the Premier League, with that major knee injury naturally stalling his progress – he managed six goals in 25 goals before that lengthy convalescence.

Given Wood’s Premier League experience and his ability to make himself a nightmare for opposition defences, Smith could certainly find Villa’s new Carew in the New Zealand international.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a move for this Premier League star…

Many Everton fans have been left fuming over some injury news on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

As shared by the official Twitter page of the Goodison Park faithful, Rafa Benitez has revealed that the former Sheffield United striker has broken his toe after problems with training.

The Spaniard added that he has an injury to his quadriceps and so the Merseyside club will now have to wait between two and three weeks or more to see if he where his fitness is.

It is a big blow to the Toffees, given that Calvert-Lewin has already notched up three goals in as many games in the Premier League so far this season (Transfermarkt), and will be sorely missed ahead of their match away at Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

Everton fans on Calvert-Lewin injury news

These Blues fumed as the injury news was shared on Twitter, with one EFC supporter going as far as to claim that it is a ‘huge blow’:

“WHAT?”

Credit: @blue_toffees

“That’s a big blow”

Credit: @cholphela

“Oh no”

Credit: @EFCHarry0711

“Nooo”

Credit: @donmaidonmaii

“Big, big blow”

Credit: @AdamEFC9

“Huge blow. Lack of depth instantly exposed”

Credit: @spirit_blues

In other news, find out which Evertonian has been blasted by this pundit here!

BBC pundit Danny Mills has called Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy a ‘shrewd operator’ after his appointment to the executive board of the European Club Association (ECA).

The Lowdown: Levy appointed to ECA board

During the international break, it was confirmed by the ECA that the 59-year-old had been appointed to the association’s executive board.

It is the first time there has been an English club representative on the board since the failed plans for a European Super League, with Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward resigning from the board in April.

Levy competed for the role with Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano, but the latter pulled out before the vote, leaving the Spurs chief with the opportunity to be elected.

The Latest: Mills welcomes Levy appointment

Speaking to Football Insider, former England defender Danny Mills has hailed Levy as a ‘shrewd operator’ and believes that the Spurs chief is the best man to replace Woodward, who resigned following the Super League collapse.

Mills said of the Tottenham chairman: “Well you know he’s not going to back down!

“As long as he goes in with the right messages from the clubs, you know that he’s going to fight his corner.

“As long as he’s fighting for the right things, and that’s for the whole of English football and the Premier League, not just Tottenham, then yes, why not.

“He’s a shrewd operator, so it’s a good appointment and good luck to him.”

The Verdict: Chance to redeem

Levy has been at the centre of arguably the summer transfer window’s biggest transfer saga involving Harry Kane and he will be hoping for a quieter few months as he settles into his new role and watches Nuno Espirito Santo’s team continue their good start to the campaign.

Ensuring the right decisions are made for the Premier League are essential for everyone involved, and after 20 years as chairman of Spurs, he has the experience to fight his corner for the English top flight among the ECA.

Indeed, given Levy’s reputation as a notoriously tough negotiator, Mills may well be right in championing his appointment to the ECA board.

In other Tottenham news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update involving one Spurs summer target. Find out more here.

A major update has emerged on Celtic’s pursuit of Charlie Wyke, it could affect Ipswich’s transfer plans this summer.

What’s the talk?

According to the Northern Echo, Scottish Premiership side Celtic are growing increasingly confident of landing Charlie Wyke from Sunderland this summer. Wyke is out of contract at the end of the month and the Hoops believe that they will be able to prise him away from the Stadium of Light ahead of other interested parties, with an offer set to be lodged by the club in the coming days.

Last month, Football Insider claimed Ipswich are interested in a deal to sign Wyke on a free transfer. The Tractor Boys are reportedly ready to offer Wyke a lucrative contract to come to Portman Road, but now look set to miss out on his signature as Celtic close in.

Earlier this year, Sunderland’s assistant manager Jamie McAllister lauded the “brilliant” centre-forward. He told Chronicle Live:

“The big man has been brilliant.

“He gives us a lot, a platform to play off, he can run in behind, he has good touch, and he is dangerous in the box.

“His all-round game is good, but he has now added goals to it. He’s full of confidence and he’s scored 25 goals this season now.”

Cook will be livid

Ipswich manager Paul Cook will be livid with this update as it means that he now looks set to miss out on a deal for Wyke this summer.

This could be a major blow to Ipswich’s transfer plans, as Football Insider claimed they were ready to drop a hefty sum of money on a contract for the striker – suggesting that he is, or was, high up on Cook’s list of transfer targets. Therefore, the boss will not be best pleased if Wyke ends up crossing the border to sign for Celtic in the coming weeks.

Ipswich have a goalscoring problem that they need to deal with in the window. James Norwood ended the campaign as Ipswich’s top goalscorer on nine goals, with no player managing to hit double figures. Alan Judge (four) and Gwion Edwards (six) were the club’s next two highest scorers and both players have since departed Portman Road. This shows that Ipswich desperately need to bring in added firepower in the summer and Wyke could have been the forward they need.

The £6.4k-per-week goal machine, Wyke, scored 26 goals in League One for Sunderland. He also averaged a sublime WhoScored rating of 7.35, with 4.8 aerial battles won per game for the Black Cats.

The tall forward scored 17 more than any Ipswich player managed throughout the entire campaign, highlighting how he could take Cook’s side to the next level with his ability up front. This is why the manager will be devastated at this latest development.

AND in other news, Cook heading for disaster with “outstanding” £2.3k-p/w ace, Ipswich fans will be livid…

A French source has dropped a fresh update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte.

What’s the talk?

According to a recent report by Le10 Sport (via Sport Witness), a close friend of the 52-year-old Spurs coach has revealed that, despite widespread claims that the Italian is in negotiations to replace Mauricio Pochettino as the Paris Saint-Germain manager this summer, no such talks are taking place, nor has Conte declared his interest in the position at the Parc des Princes.

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However, the source goes on to confirm that PSG are interested in the Tottenham head coach, although, considering the Ligue 1 leaders would be forced to pay a figure in the region of €15m (£12.5m) in order to release the former Inter Milan manager from his contract in north London, plus a similar fee to sack Pochettino, there would be a great many obstacles for the Parisians to overcome in order to get a deal done.

Big twist

Considering the sheer volume of reports suggesting that Conte is very much hoping to secure a move to PSG this summer, the news that a source close to the 52-year-old has all but rubbished this switch is certainly a big twist in the tale – albeit one that Tottenham supporters, as well as Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici, will be delighted to learn of.

Indeed, the Italian has done a stellar job since taking over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November of last year, with Spurs climbing from ninth in the Premier League standings to currently sitting just two points off fourth – very much being in with a chance of securing Champions League qualification for the first time since 2018/19.

And, with Levy and Paratici having already committed the best part of £60m on the January signings of both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, it is clear that the Tottenham hierarchy are not only willing to back the 52-year-old in the transfer window, but they also have already done so.

As such, it is undeniable that this latest update is fantastic news for everyone involved with the club, however, with Conte not exactly being known for his longevity, it would appear wise for Spurs supporters to not begin counting their cockerels just yet.

AND in other news: “Not going to be at Tottenham…”: Gold drops update on £118m Spurs talent, time’s up