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In recent comments, John Hartson claimed that there should be no guard of honour given to Glasgow Rangers in this weekend’s Old Firm fixture.

Following Steven Gerrard’s side’s clinching of their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years earlier this month, much debate has ensued as to whether Celtic will greet Rangers with a guard of honour prior to kick-off in the upcoming Old Firm clash.

However, in recent comments made on the radio (via Ibrox News), former Celtic striker Hartson called for perspective on the guard on honour debate, claiming that Rangers have never done such a thing for the Hoops, as well as taking a swipe at the “embarrassing” actions of the Gers side in recent seasons.

He said: “Let’s have some perspective, in the last ten years Celtic have done the quadruple-treble [and there was] no word of a guard of honour. It’s never been mentioned, so why do it now? I know Rangers have come back from the dead, come back from absolutely nowhere… it’s a brilliant achievement.

“A couple of years ago when Neil Lennon took his team to Ibrox and Celtic had already won the league, Rangers beat us and celebrated like they’d won the European Cup. I thought to myself ‘that is embarrassing, what are you celebrating?’ I hope Celtic take this on board and don’t do the same thing if they win.”

Transfer Tavern Take

While there is not a great deal of humility in Hartson’s comments, perhaps his perspective will be understood by Rangers fans, as they would no doubt share a similar opinion if the shoe were on the other foot – something that was in evidence back in 2019, when Gerrard’s side did not give Celtic a guard of honour at Ibrox.

However, the fact that Rangers head to Parkhead 20 points clear of their rivals, as well as with an unbeaten record in the league, is something that is likely to cause Hartson’s former side a great deal of embarrassment, with or without giving Gers a guard of honour.

In other news: many Rangers fans have slammed this Union Bears statement – find out more here!

According to recent reports, West Ham United are one of a number of clubs tracking Sparta Prague centre-forward, Adam Hlozek, ahead of a potential summer transfer.

The report by Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) claims that a number of clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Napoli, Juventus, AC Milan and West Ham, are considering a summer move for the 18-year-old Hlozek, who has recently recovered from a long spell on the sidelines due to injury.

However, despite missing a large portion of the season, the Czech Republic international has still impressed over his 10 appearances in all competitions for Sparta Prague, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

In total, despite his tender age, the forward already has 72 first-team appearances under his belt for the Fortuna Liga side, scoring a total of 17 goals and providing 18 assists along the way in his senior career.

And, according to the reports, Hlozek would have already made a move to a top European side if it were not for his injury, with it previously being reported that Sparta Prague would demand at least €15 million (£13 million) to part with the striker.

Transfer Tavern Take

With David Moyes in rather desperate need of a new striker at West Ham this summer, having failed to replace the outgoing Sebastien Haller in the January transfer window, it would certainly appear as if Hlozek is an exciting candidate for an addition to the Scot’s attacking arsenal.

However, with a great number of top-level clubs also reported to be keeping an eye on the 18-year-old, a deal for the Sparta Prague starlet is not likely to be an easy one to get over the line for the West Ham board in the summer market.

In other news: This pundit dropped a claim on GSB’s £82k-p/w West Ham summer target – find out more here!

Ever since his arrival at Manchester United, Paul Pogba’s relationship with the club has been a tempestuous one.

The French midfielder has been linked with a move away on various occasions, with recent reports from the Daily Express indicating that Juventus are interested in bringing him back to Italy.

However, former Red Devils striker Odion Ighalo has pleaded with the club to keep Pogba at Old Trafford – advice that they should heed.

Whilst having not quite potentially hit the heights expected of him since his arrival from Juventus, Pogba has still submitted some excellent statistics in his time as a Red Devils player.

In 190 appearances since his return to Manchester, he has scored 37 goals and provided a further 38 assists. That sees him average 0.39 goal contributions per game at Old Trafford, figures which are not too far away from the numbers he accumulated in his time in Italy.

Making 178 appearances for Juventus, the £54m-rated midfielder scored 34 goals and teed up 40 assists at a rate of a 0.41 direct goal contributions per game.

Whilst it may seem like Pogba has not quite performed at the peak of his powers for United, Ighalo’s assessment of the midfielder’s “exceptional” performances isn’t actually too far wrong.

Even in the current season, a campaign which has been disrupted through injury, the 28-year-old has continued to be decisive. In the ten matches in which he has had a direct goal contribution, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have a 100% record.

His contributions this season have also been pivotal. Having struck decisively against Fulham and Burnley, it means that Pogba’s goals have been worth four points, without which the Red Devils would be firmly involved in the battle just to finish in the top four.

Meanwhile, his goal against AC Milan at the San Siro in the Europa League guided United through to the quarter-finals of the competition, in which they are now well placed to reach the last four.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-old-trafford-macheda-solskjaer-lingard-ousmane-dembele-anthony-martial-injury-rabiot-van-de-beek” title=” The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

Whilst Pogba’s future remains uncertain, Ed Woodward and the Red Devils hierarchy really need to listen to his former teammate Ighalo and keep him at the club.

AND in more news, Solskjaer has been boosted by the return of a defender at the best possible time…

Celtic’s season is done and dusted for another year and the higher-ups at Parkhead can begin preparing for next term.

It has been an arduous campaign for the Bhoys, one they won’t want to relive in a hurry. From Boli Bolingoli’s moment of madness with the pandemic at the start of the season to conceding a bucket load in Europe and protests outside the stadium, it has been a toxic environment.

Neil Lennon may well have now left his post, but it’s going to take quite something to turn this mess around.

On the chalkboard

Celtic should have romped to the title this year. Having won the nine previous SPFL crowns, many thought that there was always only going to be one winner. Though, as the campaign played out, it quickly became apparent that Rangers were the side who were going to win the league.

Indeed, that was confirmed on Sunday after the Hoops drew 0-0 with Dundee United. If there were any positives from that clash, it was that James Forrest was back in action.

The winger has been out injured since last September but is now finally back in action. Given how the season has panned out, it’s a welcome return for a man who offers so much to Celtic.

Forrest scored 16 times last term, racking up 22 assists in the process. Losing a player who offers those sorts of numbers is always going to be tough.

Though, they’ve also welcomed back another forward in recent months; Mikey Johnston. The 21-year-old missed the first half of the season with an MCL problem.

What does the future hold?

Forrest will undoubtedly be a major part of the Celtic rebuild but the future is less clear for Johnston. He has played just eight times this season but interim manager John Kennedy has teased the idea of him returning to the side.

Johnston hasn’t been in the matchday squad over the last four games but there are now hopes he could play a starring role in the not too distant future.

Kennedy commented last weekend: “We’ve certainly missed that [Forrest’s numbers]. There have been periods in games where you need someone who can unlock and have that bit of individual brilliance.

“So between him and Mikey Johnston, we’ve had guys like that missing, they’re your eliminators.

“As much as a team can set up in a structure to block you up, if you get James, guys like Mikey Johnston and your wingers in dangerous areas one on one versus full-backs then that can break any structure.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-hunt-stories-wagner-marsch-martinez-lennon-news” title=”The last stories on Celtic’s hunt for a new manager!”]

Although Forrest will have leapfrogged Johnston in the pecking order, there is a case for Kennedy to unleash him before the season ends.

A vibrant youngster, Celtic are surely better off developing Johnston’s game than someone like Ryan Christie. He has only scored twice in his last 25 outings and has been linked with the exit door. Celtic pundits have even tipped the wide man to leave the club.

The £9k-per-week Johnston has never quite had what it takes to make the senior side on a regular basis but that should change if you heed the words of Kennedy.

Possessing the ability to beat a man – making four dribbles per game in the Europa League last term – he is a dazzling ball of energy. The winger needs to be a part of Celtic’s future just as much as Forrest.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Turnbull: Celtic must swoop for 35-goal star who’s “impossible to beat”…

Wolves’ win over Arsenal on Tuesday evening was crucial. Going into the game, the Molineux outfit hadn’t tasted victory in the Premier League this year so it was a welcome return to form.

That being said, it cannot paper over the cracks of what has been a dismal few months.

On the chalkboard

Since Raul Jimenez suffered a horrendous fractured skull, Wolves have been in diabolical shape. They have won just four times in all competitions following on from that, but alarm bells started to ring well before his injury in November.

The Old Gold have kept only a solitary clean sheet in the league since October and with Nuno tinkering between his formations, it has led to inconsistency.

That has clearly been the case in central midfield – an area you’d traditionally associate with class and vigour.

However, in Joao Moutinho, they have a player who is struggling this season. The Portuguese returned to form against Arsenal by scoring a thunderbolt from long-range but before that, the veteran had failed to score this term.

He is usually the man to set the tempo and pick the locks of Premier League defences. Yet, he has been way off the boil this season and has failed to register a single assist.

It’s led to Wolves reporter Tim Spiers claiming this could be the midfielder’s final campaign as a regular in Nuno’s starting XI. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if that conclusion was reached.

Unleash Otasowie

Moutinho’s passionate display against the Gunners can’t afford to gloss over what has been a timid and tired campaign for the 34-year-old.

You can hardly blame his weary legs due to the amount of football being played on a regular basis but that’s exactly why Owen Otasowie deserves more minutes.

The American has only appeared five times for the senior side and was handed a surprising Premier League debut against Chelsea. He started behind the striker on that occasion but usually, he plays in a more holding or box to box midfield role.

He has boundless amounts of energy and for Wolves’ central area that could be game-changing. It’s hard to suggest that Leander Dendoncker, Ruben Neves and Moutinho are too mobile so the 20-year-old may add something new.

Speaking about the £1.3m-rated talent earlier this year, Scott Sellars summed up his qualities perfectly: “He’s versatile. His physicality is his biggest strength. He’s really good at protecting the ball and at one-v-ones, with and without the ball. A lot of his development has been done in cages in London and you can see that with him. He’s got a lot going for him.”

His growth in the game has been very different from the more cultured progression of Moutinho. Though, his personality is no different. Like the Portugal international, he has an infectious persona and a positive outlook on football.

Sellars added: “He’s bright, he challenges the norm, which I like about him. He won’t just say, ‘Yeah, that’s OK, I’ll do what you say’. He’s got personality. I’ve had some interesting and very honest conversations with him about where he’s at, which he appreciates.”

We’re yet to see Otasowie truly burst onto the first-team scene but it surely won’t be long before we see him making a bigger impression.

After all, the way he gallops forward is unlike many others in the Wolves team. Nuno simply has to consider the youngster over the next few months.

AND in other news, Nuno must unleash rarely-seen Wolves flop next term, Jota called him a “good signing”…

Some Liverpool fans suggested that bit-part defender Nathaniel Phillips should start against Everton on Saturday.

The 23-year-old has been ushered into the first-team setup at Anfield this season on the back of the club’s cataclysmic injury crisis, with all three of the Reds’ established centre-backs out with season-ending injuries.

Manager Jurgen Klopp admitted back in October that Phillips was almost sold before the season kicked into gear. His situation would have been far worse had he done so.

In the limited game-time he has spent on the pitch (just 495 minutes of Premier League football and five starts all season), the 6 foot 2 defender has managed to average 4.5 clearances, complete three long balls and, most importantly, win 5.2 aerial duels (Whoscored).

The latter was the critical statistic in the debate that Grizz started on Twitter, after asking the question who should be the centre-back pairing for the weekend’s crucial encounter.

Phillips wins the Kop vote

“Davies is as good as Hendo in the air so Phillips would be the better choice”

Credit: @aba23228433

“Would prefer nat partnering Kabak”

Credit: @RealmadKop

“Phillips would be a good option. Hendo can’t deal with the aerial threat.”

Credit: @AbdulKalema

“Phillips and Kabak. Put the skipper in MF”

Credit: @T7261355310

“Kobak and Philips at the back and have Hendo as a CDM could drop back between the CBs if required”

Credit: @Joshwaldron9

“Phillips would be a good shout to counter that threat”

Credit: @bfenners17

“Get phillips in, i don’t understand why henderson play ahead of him as cb. I reckon Phillips has been superb”

Credit: @Fran_13_

In other news, Liverpool in four-horse race for ‘unplayable’ talent in blockbuster deal – report.

Patrick Bamford may potentially have only suffered a dead leg in Leeds United’s draw with Chelsea, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.

The Whites drew 0-0 at home to Thomas Tuchel side’s on Saturday afternoon in what was a hard-fought Premier League contest at Elland Road.

Leeds more than held their own against a Chelsea team with top-four aspirations and they had to make do without Bamford for much of the game.

The striker was replaced after just 35 minutes, sustaining a leg injury and failing to carry on despite attempting to soldier through for a short period.

Hay offers hope over Bamford injury

Although there were concerns that the 27-year-old could miss a sizeable chunk of action after going off, beginning with Friday night’s clash against Fulham, Hay has tried to allay those fears with an encouraging update.

Speaking in a Q&A on The Athletic after Saturday’s game, the journalist stated that Bamford’s injury is possibly nothing more than a dead leg:

“Hopefully a dead leg. [Marcelo] Bielsa should be starting his presser shortly.”

Transfer Tavern take

Bamford has been a hugely important player for Leeds this season as their leading scorer, so it would be a huge boost if his injury is nothing serious.

He has 13 goals and five assists in his 28 Premier League appearances to date, with his goal tally more than double that of Jack Harrison (six) in second place.

Bamford’s form has been one of the feel-good stories of Leeds’ season and the hope is that he is fit to continue until May, possibly even forcing his way into England’s Euro 2020 squad. Hay’s update offers reassuring hope that his knock on Saturday won’t be a long-term one.

In other news, Leeds are believed to be eyeing up a move for a Premier League defender this summer. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool are continuing to be linked with a summer move for Bayern Munich centre-back David Alaba, with the Austrian available on a free transfer at the end of this season.

Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that the Reds are very interested in signing the 28-year-old but will face fierce competition from Real Madrid for his signature.

When speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said:

“For sure, they are trying for David Alaba as a free agent. As I say they are trying also with an important bid, they are in contact with his agent. They are among the five clubs trying for David Alaba but Real Madrid are leading the race so it’s difficult at this moment, but Liverpool are trying.

“So he’s an amazing player and it’s normal that his manager Pini Zahavi is working, talking with many clubs from Premier League, with Liverpool as we say, from La Liga with Real Madrid, from Bayern Munich because Bayern Munich has old people around the club saying they are trying really to keep him, they made an important bid.

“What Alaba is asking for is €12m per season as salary, with add-ons. So it’s a big salary and you have to pay commissions, huge commissions, to the agent when you sign these kinds of free agents so it’s not so easy to find the agreement. But at the moment, Madrid are leading the race.”

Jurgen Klopp confirmed recently that despite Liverpool’s current defensive crisis, they are ‘unlikely’ to sign a centre-back during this month’s transfer window emphasising that they are not keen to find a short-term solution.

Perhaps this is with the view of trying to sign Alaba, who has 73 caps for Austria, on a free transfer this summer, as he is 28-years-old and could potentially be a first-team regular with Liverpool for the next five or six years.

Alaba’s versatility could be hugely important for Klopp’s side next season, as we have already seen them struggle in defensive areas this season as a result of injuries, and the Austrian could easily fill in at centre-back, left-back or defensive-midfield if required and would be a much more reliable option than the injury-prone Joel Matip.

His performances in recent seasons emphasise that he has become a world-class centre-back with Die Roten, as he helped Hans Dieter-Flick’s side win the Champions League last season.

Sporting Director Michael Edwards must therefore do everything he can to convince the Bayern Munich man to follow Thiago’s suit and make the move to Anfield this summer.

Click here to see the full 30-minute video of Fabrizio Romano’s interview with Give Me Sport.

Crystal Palace have endured an inconsistent start to the season but reports claim that the club are set to reward Christian Benteke with a new deal at Selhurst Park.

What’s the word?

According to The Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser, Palace chairman Steve Parish has offered Benteke’s representatives a contract extension to avoid losing him for free next year.

Palace have several players who are out of contract in the summer, with Benteke, Patrick van Aanholt and Gary Cahill chief amongst them.

It’s claimed that the Belgian striker is happy at the club but he could change his mind if he doesn’t get enough game time before the end of the season.

Shrewd move

Benteke was billed with so much promise upon his arrival at Selhurst Park but has turned out to be something akin to a poisoned chalice.

The Eagles signed the Belgium international from Liverpool for a club record £27m in 2016. Since then, Palace’s record signing has been nothing short of a damp squib, having scored just 23 times in 121 appearances in all competitions, which is a pretty measly return by anyone’s standards.

However, this time there is a method to Parish’s madness, or so it may seem at least.

The 29-year-old, who is one of the club’s highest-paid players, hasn’t scored since the 3-2 defeat at home to Chelsea last season, having failed to find the back of the net for the first team so far this season.

Despite his struggles, the Eagles gave Benteke an extension last year to keep him at the club until the end of the current campaign. Whilst a move failed to materialise, despite links to Spurs, tying him down to a new deal would give Palace the chance to try and recoup even a fraction of the price they paid the Reds for him in 2016.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Darren Bent believes his former Aston Villa teammate may never rediscover his best form, saying: “I can’t believe it because I was with him at Villa. He took my place at Aston Villa. So when I think about it everything was tailor-made for him. Every free-kick we hit was ‘hit Benteke,’ every goal kick, throw in, we just hit Benteke but that season, he could not stop scoring.

“And to see him in the form he’s in now and to go so long without a goal, I can’t quite understand it because he was honestly brilliant at Aston Villa. Even some of the finishes, the chests and volleys, every time Aston Villa needed a goal, Benteke would come up with it.

“Now to see that Benteke there and to see the Benteke that we see today at Crystal Palace where he can’t buy a goal, I can’t quite understand what’s happened there. Confidence is massive but the way he’s playing at the moment it’s like he’s got no confidence left.”

Parish must cash in on Benteke at the earliest opportunity, to put it mildly, but in order to so, he needs to convince him to sign a new contract to prevent him from leaving as a free agent in the summer.

The Belgian has received plenty of interest from China in the past, including from Marouane Fellaini’s Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan. Benteke currently earns £120,000-a-week, which Chinese Super League clubs would be able to double with ease.

If a club can meet their asking price, it will then allow Parish to reinvest the funds into the first team instead. Valued at £8m via Transfermarkt, even a transfer fee in this region would go some way towards revamping Palace’s ageing squad, which is the oldest in the Premier League by quite some margin.

There’s no doubt that losing their record signing for a fraction of the price they originally paid for him would be a bitter blow, but when push comes to shove, Palace may just have to bite the bullet and accept a cut-price deal.

AND in other news, Bye Benteke: Parish must sign Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud for Crystal Palace…

Many Liverpool fans have been talking about an update involving Georginio Wijnaldum that recently emerged on social media.

In an article for EuroSport, journalist Dean Jones recently provided some information regarding the Dutch midfielder’s situation. The report stated that Jurgen Klopp is set to urge Liverpool to make a new attempt to convince the Dutchman to sign a new deal at Anfield.

The report claimed that terms couldn’t be agreed in the earlier negotiations but Klopp believes that handing Wijnaldum a new deal with higher wages would be a better option than signing a replacement. The manager was the driving force behind the club’s signature of Thiago Alcantara and he could do the same, when it comes to Wijnaldum’s potential new deal.

His current deal at the Anfield-based side runs out at the end of the season. Because of that, he would be free to agree a pre-contract deal with foreign clubs in the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old had joined Liverpool from Newcastle in the summer of 2016 for a fee of £25 million. This season, the Dutchman has made 19 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, scoring one goal so far.

The update about Wijnaldum was relayed on Twitter by Anfield Edition and many Liverpool fans gave their opinion about the news, with one supporter hailing him as ‘spectacular’.

What did Liverpool fans make of this update regarding Wijnaldum?

In other news, Liverpool fans have reacted to the club’s links with a Premier League defender – read more about it here!