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The career of Mikey Johnston has flattered to deceive on many an occasion at Celtic with several Hoops managers now failing to get the best from him at Parkhead.

Whether that is down to the coaching, the player, or positional rivals is very much a cause for debate.

This term, the 22-year-old has had to compete with the likes of Jota, Liel Abada and even Kyogo Furuhashi on the flanks meaning game time has been severely limited.

However, he has very rarely grabbed his opportunity with both hands. After Jota was ruled out through injury, Ange Postecoglou challenged the young Scot to grab the bull by the horns.

“Ultimately, we need guys like Mikey and Liel (Abada) to step up, that’s why they’re here at the club.

“And if the opportunity exists for them it’s up to them to take it,” the Australian said.

However, just as a chance presents itself, Johnston is out injured again. He missed the club’s last gasp win over Ross County last night and after that, there should really be no way back for the Celtic man in Glasgow.

In the words of Frank McAvennie, this is a problem that’s been going on “for years now.”

He told Football Insider this week: “He’s barely getting a game and when he does play he is really struggling.

“Sell him. I would like to see him moved on for the benefit of his own career. Ange gave him a chance with Jota out and he’s not done anything.

“Some fans might disagree but he’s simply not good enough for what Ange is trying to build.”

It’s hard to disagree with those sentiments. Johnston has scored just 11 times in his Hoops career and is yet to find the net for Postecoglou this term.

In the process of amassing that disappointing number, the attacker has spent over 557 days on the treatment table and has missed around 68 fixtures.

He may only earn a weekly salary of £7.9k-per-week but that money is surely better spent on someone of greater quality or even a player who doesn’t take up so much time with the physios.

It seems harsh but ultimately, the winger has not delivered on the pitch with his performances or with his fitness.

After breaking on the scene in 2018, divisive figure Chris Sutton tweeted the following: “Is Mikey Johnston the new Ryan Christie? Celtic’s fringe players at the start of the season coming to the fore when it counts.”

Sadly, he has not stood up and been counted on too many occasions since and just like Christie, he must seek a new club.

AND in other news, Forget Abada: Celtic gem who won 67% duels proved he’s now someone “Ange can’t ignore”…

Manchester City have submitted an official bid of £100million for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, claims Fabrizio Romano via City Xtra.

Building for 2021/22, the Citizens face the enormous task of replacing club legend Sergio Aguero after his departure to Barcelona at the start of this month [Sky Sports].

In keeping with negotiations, City are also said to have offered players alongside the fee quoted for the 27-year-old goal machine. Thus prompting a swift rebuttal from his current employers, which Romano documented in his latest Here We Go podcast appearance [City Xtra].

City are set to return with a second bid, however they may not be willing to meet the Londoners’ enormous rumoured £150 million asking price [City Xtra].

In light of this, no wonder loads of City diehards took to Twitter to react to these developments.

No categories

City fans react:

Replying to the City Xtra Twitter page, here is how some fans summarized their opinion on the news:

“we aren’t getting him or Haaland, everyone needs to move on”

Credit: @Ethan4707″This is so dumb…. Easily reject”Credit: @harrythestarrr”we don’t care”Credit: @MoSakoooo”£100m for Harry Kane is RIDICULOUS Look how many clubs are waiting in line to pay that amount for his signature. Absolutely ridiculous.”Credit: @nwuba_snr”Haaland please”Credit: @TheDiasDynasty”100 million in this financial climate a massive bid, just walk away city spend the money on haaland”Credit: @MANCITYFC47In other news, City fans react to a Sergio Aguero update.

Xisco Munoz’s Watford look set to release Achraf Lazaar this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to The Athletic, who claimed that the left-back looks unlikely to be kept on at Vicarage Road despite the club having an option to extend the 29-year-old’s contract for a further 12 months.

It is reported that Watford simply viewed the former Newcastle United defender as a stop-gap backup to first-choice left-back Adam Masina, with the newly-promoted side potentially looking to bring in a new player in the position this summer.

Get him gone

Having joined Watford on a free transfer back in February, after being released from his contract early by the Magpies, it is fair to say that Lazaar failed to make a significant impact within Xisco’s side.

Since joining the Hornets, the £18,000-per-week left-back has featured in just four games, with the defender losing possession of the ball an average of 9.8 times per match, a rather staggering statistic considering he averaged just 33 minutes on the pitch over these four appearances.

In terms of his overall level of performance, Lazaar has averaged a SofaScore match rating of 6.58 so far at the club, ranking him as Watford’s third-worst player in the Championship, with his rating only bettering those of Stipe Perica and Ignacio Pussetto.

As such, it is hardly surprising to learn that Watford do not plan to extend the Morocco international’s contract beyond this season, despite Houssine Kharja, Lazaar’s former international team-mate, claiming that the 29-year-old has “great qualities” as a footballer.

Indeed, considering just how ineffectual Lazaar has been, it would be most advisable for Watford to offload the left-back this summer, and to look at bringing in a substantially better replacement in the summer if Xisco wants his side to have any chance of surviving in the Premier League next term.

In other news: Watford must avoid repeat of Jokanovic disaster after intriguing Xisco claim emerges – opinion

Crystal Palace are now stepping up their interest in Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Aribo profiled

Aribo has been with the Scottish giants since 2019 and is primarily a left-footed central midfielder, attacking midfielder or right-winger.

The Nigeria international, labelled as ‘phenomenal’ by Steven Thompson, will be entering the final 12 months of his Ibrox deal in the summer.

The 25-year-old has played a whopping 50 times this season, scoring eight times and providing ten assists, and it looks as if sporting director Dougie Freedman is keen on Aribo’s services.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story regarding Aribo on Sunday evening after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that Palace had scouts in attendance at Ibrox last Thursday to watch Aribo in Europa League action, labelling that as the Eagles stepping up their interest.

The Verdict: Impressed…

Rangers ran out 3-1 winners over Braga to book their spot in the Europa League semi-finals, and Palace scouts would have left impressed by Aribo’s display.

Turning out in an attacking midfield role, Aribo was Rangers’ second-best performer, as per SofaScore. He provided two assists, made six key passes, won 15 duels and completed three successful dribbles.

Conor Gallagher looks set to return to Chelsea in the summer following his productive Selhurst Park loan, so Aribo could now be viewed as the ideal replacement heading into Patrick Vieira’s second season in charge.

In other news: Crystal Palace now want to sign ‘Rolls Royce’ who Sir Alex Ferguson loves. 

Newcastle players have been granted a raft of days off despite their dismal defeat at Brighton, with players left stunned that Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley have not dismissed Steve Bruce.

A Daily Mail exclusive from Craig Hope claims that the Toon Army will report to Darsley Park on Tuesday for the first time since that 3-0 loss at the Amex.

That will kick-off a period of three days’ training, but there are then no sessions pencilled in between Friday and Monday.

The report says that players have become ‘increasingly concerned’ at the amount of time off they have been given in the midst of their battle to stay in the Premier League.

Hope also claims that parts of the squad are ‘shocked’ Ashley and Charnley haven’t pulled the trigger on Bruce after the loss to Brighton, with this latest raft of days off only adding to the sense of bemusement.

A club source defended the plan, citing the ‘mental and physical wellbeing’ of the squad. The hope is that it will ease the feeling of the pressure ahead of the run-in.

Six senior players are currently away on international duty – Martin Dubravka, Emil Krafth, Ciaran Clark, Jamal Lewis, Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser.

Transfer Tavern verdict

If you were a Newcastle fan, you would probably want to see your players on as strict a regime as possible over this break.

After all, there were signs in that Brighton game that certain players’ focus had wavered, and that is unacceptable in these circumstances.

It feels like the last thing this squad needs is more time for their focus to shift away from what really matters, which is likely what these increased days off will do.

In other news, Graeme Souness offered a bleak warning in the wake of Saturday’s game.

Leeds United will not be making a move to bring Ben Brereton to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Chilean media outlet BioBioChile (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite earlier reports suggesting one of Marcelo Bielsa’s scouts was watching the Blackburn Rovers centre-forward in action at the Copa America, Victor Orta is not currently considering a move for the 22-year-old.

The initial report by Red Gol claimed that the £4.5m-rated man has been on Bielsa’s radar for a number of seasons, following a meeting between the two sides in the Championship in which Brereton is said to have impressed the Argentine.

Bielsa will be gutted

If Bielsa has indeed been keeping a close eye on Brereton for the past couple of years, as the report by Red Gol suggests, the fact that Orta does not appear to be considering a move for the forward this summer is sure to have left the 65-year-old gutted.

And, considering how impressive the 22-year-old was for Blackburn last season, as well as having played a key role for Chile in the Copa America so far this summer, it is easy to understand why Bielsa would be keen on a deal to bring Brereton to Elland Road in the current transfer window.

Indeed, over his 40 Championship appearances for Tony Mowbray’s side last term, the versatile striker scored seven goals, registered four assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £6.5k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as Rovers’ sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

Brereton has also impressed while on international duty this summer, making four appearances for Martin Lasarte’s Chile side in the Copa America, scoring one goal, registering one assist and making an average of 0.5 key passes per game.

These metrics have seen the man dubbed a “wonderful talent” by Mowbray earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.88, ranking him as the country’s joint-fourth best performer – level with Arturo Vidal – in the competition, playing a huge role in helping Chile qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.

As such, considering how well Brereton has made the step up into international football, we would not bet against the 22-year-old doing the same if a move to the Premier League were to happen.

However, for now, this potential move does not appear likely to be to Elland Road.

In other news: Orta closing in on Leeds swoop for £19.8m-rated “machine”, Bielsa will be buzzing

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Norwich City midfielder Todd Cantwell.

And a number of Villa supporters have been sharing their positive thoughts to the rumour on social media.

According to reliable reporter Mike McGrath of The Telegraph, Villa have been monitoring Cantwell and Tottenham’s Harry Winks as they eye central midfield reinforcements.

Cantwell is capable of playing on the left, right and as an attacking midfielder and has 12 months remaining on his Carrow Road deal.

The 23-year-old is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt and has made over 100 appearances for Norwich in total.

Villa have already brought in Emiliano Buendia from Norwich in a club-record deal worth £34.56m this summer, and it seems as if they may well like what they see in Cantwell as well.

Villa fans react

@villareport shared the links to Cantwell and Winks on social media on Wednesday.

These Villa fans all seemed up for a potential swoop for the Norwich man, with one labelling a possible transfer as ‘great’.

“Cantwell let’s gooooooo”Credit: @prgrssiveacct”Cantwell yes please”Credit: @DJNathyB”Cantwell would certainly be a great signing, especially if Jack leaves. Not a massive fan of Winks but I would love us to sign a deep midfielder with good interception and duel numbers… maybe Skhiri?”Credit: @george_bwh”Cantwell I like. Winks not so much.”Credit: @Zeus_AVFC”Cantwell would be a nice signing. Couldn’t care less about Winks though”Credit: @KishinJay”I would love Cantwell however I don’t see what Winks offers us”Credit: @ReeceTay_29

In other news: Many AVFC fans react to Mark Goldbridge’s post on Jack Grealish, find out more here. 

It isn’t often that a seemingly bargain transfer turns into an absolute disaster for the buying club.

However, that’s exactly what has transpired with Leicester City’s signing of Eldin Jakupovic from Hull City.

The Swiss stopper joined the Foxes in a reported £2m deal at the beginning of the 2017-18 campaign in what looked a shrewd move at the time.

He was fresh off the back of an impressive personal campaign despite the Tigers suffering relegation from the Premier League.

Playing 17 out of the last 18 league games, he kept four clean sheets, two of those coming in impressive results against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Jakupovic looked like the perfect man to provide competition for undisputed No. 1 Kasper Schmeichel.

He made four appearances in his debut campaign at the King Power Stadium, conceding six goals and collecting two clean sheets. However, he has not been seen since.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-leicester-city-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more-mcgregor-iheanacho-soyuncu-dewsbury-hall-rodgers” title=” Latest Leicester City news, transfer rumours and more… “]

Leicester elected to bring in Danny Ward from Liverpool the following summer, with Jakupovic now restricted to appearances for the Foxes’ U23 side.

His pay of £23k per week means that the East-Midlanders have spent a grand total of £6.7m keeping him at the club for the past four years.

Whilst that is not the most considerable amount in the world, it takes on a more shocking complexion when noting that figure averages out at approximately £1.7m per appearance.

Now at the age of 36, rated at just £360k and also out of contract at the conclusion of the current campaign, it seems next to impossible that Leicester will recoup any of the money that they have spent on Jakupovic.

It goes without saying then that his signing, whilst seemingly a bargain at the time, has slowly but surely morphed into a costly disaster for Jon Rudkin.

AND in more news, find out which Leicester star has handed Rodgers a boost ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final…

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Celtic midfielder David Turnbull.

And, as to be expected, the news regarding the Hoops star had plenty of Villa fans talking online.

According to The Scottish Sun, Villa are lining up a £7m offer for the 21-year-old, who recently won the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.

The report claims that Villa have watched the attacking midfielder on numerous occasions this season, and they clearly like what they see in the Scot.

Turnbull made the move to Celtic Park from Motherwell in a £2.7m deal last summer. He was a shining light in a difficult season for the Scottish giants, scoring nine times and registering eight assists in 35 appearances.

Dean Smith has received glowing reports on Turnbull, with Villa looking to bolster their creative ranks with Ross Barkley returning to Chelsea and Jack Grealish linked with a Villa Park exit.

Villa fans react

@villareport shared the news on the club’s interest in Turnbull on Twitter late on Thursday evening.

This is what these Villa supporters had to say to the links, with one describing it as ‘sensational’.

“unbelievable baller”Credit: @AVFCNoah_”I believe that squad depth should come from replacing your starters. Not a fan of this move.”Credit: @DOUGLASLUlZ”please no”Credit: @AVFCHarry_”This would be a sensational deal, shame about the source”Credit: @avfc4_alex”Yeah this summer looking another stinky one”Credit: @M10Packed”Why? What’s the point?”Credit: @_kjs1874

In other news: European club enquire over a deal for Villa ace, find out more here. 

West Ham United will be looking to continue their impressive start to the 2021/22 campaign when they return after the international break on Saturday with a trip to Southampton.

The Irons ended the transfer window with a bang by signing two players, taking their total to four new additions – but with the incomings, it hands manager David Moyes a fresh selection headache.

His side are currently unbeaten in the Premier League, where they occupy second place on seven points and are the division’s leading scorers having found the net ten times in three matches.

But what is now Moyes’ best starting line-up following deadline day? Football FanCast take a look into what could be the strongest XI available at the 58-year-old’s disposal…

The Scot has plenty of options to consider, especially tactically as he now has enough depth to consider other formations – for instance, his three-at-the-back formation has been bolstered by the addition of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea.

In what has to be considered quite the coup – landing a Premier League and Champions League winner – the 26-year-old colossus is likely to come straight into the side and should pair Angelo Ogbonna over Craig Dawson or Issa Diop.

They’ll undoubtedly be joined by Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal on either flank.

But in goal, there’s a big decision to make, having signed PSG’s Alphonse Areola on a loan deal.

It’s surely only a matter of time before the young shot-stopper replaces Lukasz Fabianski, 36, between the sticks.

If Moyes wants to see if he’s the man for the long-term, then he’s going to have to be given a fair crack. The Polish veteran has long been the no.1 favourite, ever since the Manuel Pellegrini days, but considering his age, the club must find a suitable replacement sooner rather than later.

In midfield, deadline day addition Alex Kral is unlikely to feature due to the impressive form and partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. His time is likely to come in the Europa League when the group stages get underway in a few weeks time.

However, Nikola Vlasic is likely to come straight into the side after the Irons committed an initial €30m (£26m) plus €9m (£7.5m) in add-ons to sign the former Everton flop, per Sky Sports.

The Croatian playmaker is likely to take up the ‘Jesse Lingard’ role in attacking midfield, with the creative wide man Said Benrahma and the £96k-per-week beast Jarrod Bowen providing the threat from the wings and Michail Antonio in the attack.

He’s started this campaign on fire, bagging four goals and three assists to top the Premier League’s charts.

Moyes’ best XI: Areola; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Zouma, Coufal; Soucek, Rice, Vlasic; Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio.

AND in other news, GSB can correct West Ham’s summer transfer blunder by signing £15m “incredible talent” in January…