O Botafogo mostrou na noite desta sexta-feira (19) a lista de jogadores que foram relacionados para o clássico diante do Fluminense. Rafinha surge como a novidade do técnico Luís Castro para o confronto que acontecerá no sábado (20), às 18h30, no Nilton Santos.
RelacionadasBotafogoDiego Hernández chega ao Rio de Janeiro e demonstra entusiasmo por jogar no Botafogo: ‘Eu me sinto pronto’Botafogo19/05/2023Fora de CampoVeja quem narra Botafogo x Fluminense e onde assistir ao clássico carioca no BrasileirãoFora de Campo19/05/2023BotafogoCom retorno de Marçal, Luís Castro indica equipe do Botafogo que enfrentará o Fluminense; veja a provável escalação!Botafogo19/05/2023
O lateral-direito se recuperou de lesão e surge como uma alternativa a Di Placido.
+ Veja a tabela e os jogos da Série A do Brasileirão 2023
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
Líder do Brasileiro, com cinco vitórias em seis jogos, o Alvinegro tem desafios para poupar a equipe. Na outra lateral, estará de volta Marçal, poupado diante do Athletico-PR.
Atletas relacionados para o jogo com o Fluminense, neste sábado, pelo Brasileirão. ⚽️???? #VamosBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/7spatcB5fS
— Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo) May 19, 2023
Castro ainda tem dúvidas sobre quem escalará na equipe. Há dúvidas principalmente no meio de campo.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has admitted that even he was taken aback by the sudden departure of Daniel Levy as Spurs chairman. Levy, who had been in the role for nearly a quarter of a century, was asked to step down last week by ENIC, the Lewis family-owned group that controls the club.
Levy’s 24-year reign leaves deep foundations
Levy’s exit closed a remarkable 24-year chapter at Tottenham, making him one of the longest-serving top-flight chairmen in English football. During his time, he was instrumental in two transformative projects: the construction of Hotspur Way, Spurs’ state-of-the-art training centre, and the £1 billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, widely regarded as one of the best arenas in world football. Frank insisted those developments give Spurs the platform to stand toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite in the years to come.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
Frank heaps praise on Levy’s legacy
Frank was quick to highlight Levy’s role in modernising the club, and said: "I would say I don't think anyone expected it, but a decision has been made and we move forward. Daniel deserves massive praise. He has been here 24 years, which must be one of the longest chairman in the Premier League ever.
"The things he's built, the success he's been a massive part of, you can't praise enough, and two big things are that he has laid foundations for the future in terms of this fantastic training centre and the stadium. Both of them are at a level where we can compete with big clubs for the future."
Despite only working under Levy for three months, Frank revealed he made time to personally thank the outgoing chairman for appointing him as head coach. “Yes, I've spoken to him and of course known Daniel, but only known him the last three months,” Frank said. “Of course, I spent more time with him, but it's been brief. I said thank you because it was not only him appointing me, but he had the decisive words, and I will always be appreciative of that."
New leadership team set to guide Spurs
With Levy gone, the responsibility now falls on chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and new non-executive chairman Peter Charrington, who, alongside Frank, will be tasked with shaping the next phase of Tottenham’s story. The Lewis family, through ENIC, remain in full control and is said to be determined to translate Levy’s off-field successes into silverware on the pitch.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
ENIC underline commitment to Tottenham project
Frank was also keen to dismiss any suggestion of instability following Levy’s exit. He emphasised that this is not a change of ownership but rather a restructuring that gives ENIC greater influence.
"It is not a new ownership, it is the same ownership but it's just the majority shareholders have more influence," he clarified. "They are very committed to the club and want to build something for the future. The main thing I can do is focus on my job now and that is West Ham tomorrow."
Destaque pelos seus gols e pela qualidade técnica, o meiaFelipe Jesus teve um ótimo início de estadual pelo Dourados-MS. O jogador já possui 3 gols em 7 jogos,e será peça importante para a equipe no jogo de volta da semifinal do Sul-Mato-Grossense.
Para se classificar à decisão do estadual, o time precisará reverter o 2 a 1 da ida. Felipe Jesus falou sobre o que o grupo precisa aplicar em campo para conseguir a vaga na final:
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBragantinoLucas Evangelista vê Bragantino pronto para o Brasileiro: ‘Resultados virão’Bragantino13/04/2023Lance! BizOnde assistir à Série B do Brasileirão? Entenda a divisão dos direitos de transmissãoLance! Biz13/04/2023Futebol NacionalABC x Grêmio: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pela Copa do BrasilFutebol Nacional13/04/2023
+Vai ter quebra de tabu? Veja os maiores jejuns dos clubes no Brasileirão
+James Rodríguez fica livre no mercado: listamos 20 jogadores famosos sem clube atualmente
– Precisamos estar focados. Tanto a parte ofensiva quanto defensiva precisa de sintonia total. É importante mantermos tudo que estamos fazendo durante a competição. As oportunidades vão aparecer e precisamos ser cirúrgicos.
O atleta, com passagens por Remo, Paysandu e Tombense, utilizou sua experiência para analisar o duelo. Ele acredita que o grupo tirou aprendizados do jogo de ida da semifinal:
– O aprendizado maior que obtivemos é que não podemos desperdiçar as chances de gol. Tivemos um grande volume ofensivo, mas pecamos nas finalizações.
O segundo jogo da semifinal entre Dourados e Operário está marcado para o próximo domingo (16), às 16 horas (hora de Brasília) no estádio Douradão.
Aston Villa are beginning to pick up pace in the transfer window and have now put themselves in position to bring a proven Premier League midfielder back to English shores, according to reports.
Aston Villa look to retain key stars under Unai Emery
Unai Emery has needed to remain patient this summer due to the Villans’ ongoing battle to address their PSR concerns, which has stalled the bulk of their business from occuring early on in the window. Only Yasin Ozcan and Zepiqueno Redmond have arrived so far.
Despite Manchester United’s apparent interest in Ollie Watkins, David Ornstein has confirmed Aston Villa have ‘no intention’ of selling the England international to a direct rival, which will come as a relief to supporters.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins at Old Trafford.
He stated: “Ollie Watkins, as reported by our colleague Laurie Whitwell, is among those on Manchester United’s recruitment list. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t on the recruitment list of top clubs.
“He’s such a good striker and a good lad, and they’ve maybe held some enquiries with his camp. I’m not sure if that’s gone to Villa directly.
“From my conversations with Villa, they see themselves as having no intention to part with Ollie Watkins. They want him to continue with him up front for them.”
Aston Villa looking to sell £100k-a-week star and sign quality replacement
NSWE need to offload players.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 5, 2025
Marcus Rashford’s departure following a successful loan spell last season has opened the door for Aston Villa to make a move for Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, though he is also the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest.
Frustration has been encountered by those who want to see the Villans pull off early deals. Nevertheless, their luck could be about to change following recent developments in connection with a midfield target.
Aston Villa could advance for Douglas Luiz
According to Tuttosport, Aston Villa could look to complete a sensational move for ex-midfielder Douglas Luiz following his frustrating time at Juventus.
Saudi Arabian clubs are also in the picture to sign the Brazil international. Still, he is said to have no interest in moving to the Gulf region or Turkish Super Lig despite the Old Lady being keen to offload him as soon as possible.
Douglas Luiz at Aston Villa – should he return to the West Midlands?
Appearances
204
Goals
22
Assists
24
Como are keen suitors willing to offer Luiz an escape route while remaining in Serie A. Meanwhile, Leeds, Everton and Manchester United all have their eye on his current situation.
Aston Villa sporting director Monchi has previously shared his admiration for Luiz, stating: “Would I take him back? After his departure, we made investments and our midfield is well-stocked with Tielemans, Onana, Kamara, Barkley. But I would always take Douglas back, at any club: he’s top class.”
Indeed, the Rio De Janeiro-born man was a revelation at Aston Villa, though he wasn’t able to hit the ground running at Juventus in 27 appearances last term.
Now, with the door open for a new career chapter, £138,000 per week earner Luiz could well complete an unexpected return to the scene of his former glories.
Despite Hamza Igamane stealing plenty of headlines as of late, it could now reportedly be an alternative Glasgow Rangers player who leaves Ibrox in the coming days.
Latest on Hamza Igamane's potential Rangers exit
For a moment, it looked as though Igamane was destined to become a LOSC Lille player. The French side reportedly set their sights on the impressive Gers forward to replace Jonathan David and even held a decisive meeting to agree personal terms with the Rangers star. Yet, as things stand, talks between the Gers and Lille remain an obstacle in the way of any potential move this summer.
Igamane is now back in Rangers training and set to kick on with any pre-season plans under Russell Martin. Just how long that is the case is the big question. As Sacha Tavolieri reported, the 22-year-old wants to join the Ligue 1 club and has an agreement over personal terms in place. Lille simply must match Rangers’ demands, however.
It must be said that keeping hold of Igamane this summer would be seen as a major victory on the transfer front for all involved at Ibrox. The forward exceeded expectations last season by scoring as many as 16 goals in all competitions and would undoubtedly have a crucial role to play in a new era under Martin if he did stay put.
Meanwhile, as that transfer saga rumbles on, the Gers reportedly face the prospect of losing a different player this summer.
Jose Cifuentes close to leaving Rangers
According to Studio Futbol journalist Cesar Luis Melo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Jose Cifuentes is close to leaving Rangers and could even seal an exit with a new club in the coming days. The central midfielder spent last season on loan at Aris Saloniki, but has returned to Scotland after the Greek club decided against triggering their £4m clause for a permanent deal.
Now back at Ibrox, Cifuentes reportedly attracted the interest of Olympiacos, only for the Greek side to fail in their pursuit and for talks to break down earlier this summer. Just where the midfielder heads to next as a result of those talks breaking down remains to be seen.
Rangers agree deal to sign "fantastic" player as 49ers go into overdrive
The Gers are not messing about this summer…
ByTom Cunningham Jul 10, 2025
It’s been a difficult spell in Scotland for Cifuentes, who initially arrived hoping to make an immediate impact under Michael Beale. Ultimately, that impact never came, however, despite the former manager’s praise.
Beale told reporters when asked about his midfielder: “He is clearly a talented player and the more he plays, the more people will be aware of that. He is a player we brought in with high hopes for and this gives him an opportunity to have a run in the team now.”
Alas, a lot has, of course, changed since Beale was at the club and a new era under Martin is seemingly set to spell the end of Cifuentes’ Rangers career.
When Harvey Elliott was quizzed during England U21 duty on his Liverpool future, he responded by saying he was wary of “wasting years of my career” as an understudy in Arne Slot’s system.
The young playmaker only made two starts in the Premier League last season, ands both came in May. The boyhood Red would hope to stay on with the Merseysiders, but he’s 22 now and understandably wants to be competing regularly from the opening whistle.
Liverpool's HarveyElliottcelebrates
Maybe the signing of Florian Wirtz has had a say in the matter?
The German international rejected interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich last month, and after several weeks of negotiations, Liverpool have finally reached a breakthrough with Bayer Leverkusen for what will be a British-record signing.
Liverpool's deal for Florian Wirtz
There were understandably a few Liverpool fans dotted about harbouring concerns that Wirtz’s expected transfer to the club would fall through.
But the Reds have sealed the deal, and Wirtz, 22, will play in Liverpool red. Sure, things turned a tad protracted, but the Anfield side have pulled off a deal for a “truly generational talent”, as he has been called by sports media professional Cristian Nyari.
It was never going to be easy, with Die Werkself obstinate in their stance, ekeing out every last copper from their Merseyside counterparts. Indeed, with all add-ons included, this could prove a €150m (£127m) transfer.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtzreacts
Wirtz has been one of the most sought-after players in world football, rising from strength to strength and stronger still under Xabi Alonso’s wing. He will raise Liverpool’s frontline to the next level, and indeed, could take a fellow transfer target and turn them into something special.
Liverpool have advantage in race for Premier League star
As per Sky Sports, Liverpool have joined Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has enjoyed an excellent campaign on the south coast.
The Red Devils are in the picture, but it’s felt that the Ghana international favours a move to a club competing in the Champions League, making Liverpool the favourites over their historic rivals, who have failed to secure any level of European competition after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.
Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.
However, at this stage, Spurs have done the most work on the talented winger, who the Cherries would only sell for a £50m fee.
Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo
Mohamed Salah has Liverpool’s right flank on lock, but with Federico Chiesa prioritising a return to Italy after a difficult opening campaign in the Premier League, featuring only six times, bringing in a rising star of Semenyo’s quality could work a treat for Slot’s project.
AFC Bournemouth's AntoineSemenyolooks on
Having joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for £10.5m in January 2023, Semenyo’s stock has risen in increments, becoming a major player in Andoni Iraola’s system.
Two-footed and ferociously explosive, the 25-year-old embodies many of the tactical virtues Slot employs, not least the fact that a hard-working attitude will get you far on the field.
His intelligence and link-up play further highlight the success that could be found in a high-flying Liverpool system with Wirtz at the centre, pulling the strings.
Not just a powerful goalscorer, Semenyo has been hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson for being a “duel monster”, so tenacious and determined to win the ball back, to drive play forward.
This level of commitment and sharpness is something that Wirtz could relish playing alongside, especially since the elite playmaker would find in Semenyo a partner whose ball-striking is a relentless thing.
Having been praised by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp for mastering the art of the “Salah goal”, finding pockets of space in the danger area and pouncing with merciless hunger, Semenyo is the real deal, and given that Chiesa is being linked with a return to Italy, could prove the perfect player to challenge Liverpool’s Egyptian superstar for a place on the right.
Of course, Semenyo is more than just a one-position man.
Right winger
46
13
3
Left winger
29
7
5
Centre-forward
6
1
0
Where Semenyo’s best position would be at Liverpool, should he indeed sign, remains to be seen, but the fact that he can maintain a steady rate of scoring across both wings bodes well, especially with someone like Wirtz influencing from behind.
Wirtz, who is more than happy to roam around the park himself, has actually been described as something of a “genius” on the ball by his former Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
Despite only featuring 197 times as a professional for Leverkusen, Wirtz has already built up quite the prolific resume, having scored 57 goals and provided 65 assists, crowned the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Season after winning the league with his invincible outfit.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtzreacts
Further illustrating his creative flair: last season, he ranked among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for assists, and the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Semenyo likes to fire on goal, all right, and Liverpool could find themselves striking a sure-fire formula for success by combining the Bournemouth sensation with Wirtz, whose creative capacity knows no bounds.
Antoine Semenyo in Premier League action for Bournemouth.
Sealing this deal could prove the perfect way to add that bit of extra depth and dynamism to Slot’s ranks, consolidating Liverpool’s position as a superpower above all the rest.
Upgrade on Huijsen: Liverpool make approach to sign "exceptional" £43m star
Liverpool are in the market for a new centre-back this summer.
Celtic’s pre-season plans are starting to take shape, but will they get any new signings over the line before then?
On Monday, the club announced a green and white hoops Clásico, facing Portuguese champions Sporting at Estádio Algarve on 16 July, before confirming they’ll also take on Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden 12 days earlier.
Celticmanager BrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
With trips to Cork, Como and now the Algarve already in the calendar for July, from a destination perspective, this is poised to be an exciting pre-season schedule for the Celtic support, but will they have a new midfielder to assess by then?
Celtic's continued interest in Lennon Miller
As has been widely reported, Celtic remain interested in midfielder Lennon Miller, with French outlet L’Équipe reporting that the 18 year old is valued at around £7.5m by Motherwell, amid interest from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
On Monday evening, Miller made his full-senior debut for Scotland, assisting Ché Adams’ second goal during the 4-0 demolition of Liechtenstein at Rheinpark Stadion, with his performance earning rave reviews.
Thomas Duncan of BBC Sport noted how the teenager exuded calmness while, speaking during the BBC’s coverage, Celtic legend Scott Brown said that “Lennon is really special…nothing fazes him”, adding that he undoubtedly has the quality to break into the Celts’ first team.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, with countless other clubs courting Miller this summer, should Celtic turn their attention to another midfield target instead?
Celtic's dream Miller alternative
As previously reported last week, Celtic have ‘already initiated’ talks to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.
Demir Ege Tıknaz (Tiknaz)Demir Ege Tıknaz (Tiknaz)
As Mustafa Akgün of Karabük Postası outlines, Tıknaz spent last season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, but the Portuguese club have an obligation to buy for around £4.2m, planning to do just that before selling him for roughly double that amount.
The 20-year-old, who is currently with the Türkiye national team squad in America for friendlies against the United States and Mexico, is reportedly being courted by many big European clubs, including Celtic and Sporting CP, so the Scottish champions will need to act fast.
In an interview with the Athletic, Tıknaz compared himself stylistically to Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker”.
Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout compares him to another Spaniard, namely Rodri, labelling him a midfield “anchor”, praising his “passing, vision and football IQ”.
Analyst Ben Mattinson agrees, stating that Tıknaz ‘reads the game well’, praising his ‘timing of tackles’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’.
As a result, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, he has become one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, making 33 appearances for Rio Ave of the Primeira Liga this season, scoring four goals and registering two assists.
Nevertheless, the key question remains. How does he compare to Miller? Well, let’s find out.
Appearances
33
39
Minutes
2,340
3,398
Goals
4
4
Assists
2
8
Big chances created
2
12
Tackles won (per 90)
2.1
1.8
Interceptions (per 90)
1.7
1.3
% of ground duels won
51.1%
57.9%
% of aerial diels won
53.1%
41.2%
Possession lost (per 90)
7.3
17.4
As the table outlines, while Miller is more of an all-rounder and an attacking threat, Tıknaz does come out on top for the vast majority of defensive metrics, namely tackles, interceptions and aerial duels, giving away possession significantly less frequently too.
So, while Miller is unquestionably a big talent, possibly to such an extent that Celtic will ultimately miss out on him, the Hoops should therefore make signing Tıknaz a priority.
Celtic set to sign 14-goal star who'd be Moussa Dembele 2.0 for Rodgers
Celtic are set to complete a deal for a young star who could be a repeat of Moussa Dembele.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are brimming with confidence under Vitor Pereira and could now be set to take a step towards landing a summer bargain, according to reports.
Wolverhampton Wanderers on the up under Vitor Pereira
Incredibly, the Old Gold have won six Premier League matches on the trot and are unbeaten in seven top-flight encounters as optimism reaches new levels at Molineux.
Pereira has brought a sense of pride back to Wolves that had evaporated earlier in the season under Gary O’Neil. This could see them push to finish above Crystal Palace and Brentford by the end of play.
Not too long ago, the threat of relegation seemed like a realistic prospect at Molineux, but they are now one of the top-flight’s in-form sides and look destined for a bright future should they secure some smart additions in the summer window.
Flamengo midfielder Evertton Araujo is on Wolves’ wishlist to strengthen their impressive engine room, while Joao Felix could emerge as an unlikely capture if he fancies another shot at Premier League stardom.
On the other hand, Matheus Cunha is a leading target for Manchester United, and Pereira may have work to do should his star man leave for his reported £62.5 million release clause.
Wolves’ remaining Premier League fixtures
Manchester City (A)
Etihad Stadium
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
Molineux
Crystal Palace (A)
Selhurst Park
Brentford (H)
Molineux
Movement in both directions is just part of the reality for most Premier League sides in the off-season. PSR regulations are another caveat to potential business, though financially advantageous deals are a way to avoid market damage limitation.
With that in mind, Wolves have now held internal talks to sign a talented winger who would cost them nothing in transfer fees this summer.
Wolves hold internal talks to sign Grady Diangana
According to Birmingham World, Wolves have held internal talks about signing West Bromwich Albion winger Grady Diangana on a free transfer from their bitter rivals.
The 27-year-old is on course to leave the Hawthorns upon the expiry of his contract, and the Old Gold now have his situation under surveillance alongside a host of other targets.
80% duels won: Wolves star is now as undroppable as Cunha
Wolverhampton Wanderers have now won their last six Premier League games in a row after convincingly beating Leicester City 3-0.
ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025
Whispers have indicated there is further interest in his services from Leeds United and the United States. Diangana isn’t seen as a regular starter at Molineux, though he has desirable qualities that could offer something tangible from the bench.
Labelled “special” by Carlos Corberan, the former West Ham United star has registered four goals and three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this season.
Free transfers can never be sniffed at when the risk of PSR is alive and kicking, so Wolves may view an opening to bring in an inexpensive homegrown option as a low-risk market opportunity ahead of the new campaign.
That being said, Diangana departing West Brom for one of their adversaries would create an intriguing reception were both sides to face off in the next few years.
Celtic returned to action in the Scottish Premiership last weekend with an emphatic 3-0 win over Hearts to retain their 13-point lead at the top of the table.
The Hoops secured all three points against the Jam Tarts thanks to a brace from Daizen Maeda, either side of a close-range finish from Jota, as they bounced back from their 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the international break.
Brendan Rodgers is closing in on his second Premiership title in as many seasons since his return to Parkhead in the summer of 2023, having already won the League Cup earlier this term.
The Northern Irish head coach has a domestic treble in his sights between now and the end of the campaign, with a healthy lead at the top of the league and a semi-final against St. Johnstone in the SFA Cup booked in.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
Rodgers may, however, have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window and how he can make moves to improve his squad to perform even better next term, with the Champions League in mind.
The former Leicester City and Liverpool head coach already knows that he has a situation to deal with at left-back, after revealing that Greg Taylor is likely to move on from Parkhead.
The latest on Greg Taylor's Celtic future
Speaking after the win over Hearts, Rodgers claimed that it is more likely that the Scotland international will leave when his contract expires this summer, rather than signing a new deal to remain in Glasgow.
He told BBC Sport: “I’ve been in this position so many times and I can read situations. It’s probably more likely now that Greg will move on than stay, which is a big shame for me because I love him as a person – and I love his game because it’s suited to how we work.”
The Celtic head coach added: “It’s not financial, but I respect his position because he wants to feel he’ll play every week. Whoever is in next year with Kieran will still play a lot of games, but my feeling is that Greg may well move on.”
The former Kilmarnock man has been an unused substitute in five of the last six matches in all competitions, and was withdrawn at half-time against Hibernian in the only start during that run.
24/25
22
19
23/24
35
35
22/23
31
28
21/22
24
22
20/21
26
23
19/20
13
12
As you can see in the table above, Taylor has been a regular starter, when available, throughout the majority of his time in the Premiership at Parkhead, since his move to Glasgow in the summer of 2019.
But his lack of minutes in recent weeks, as aforementioned, may be a driving factor in his likeliness to leave on a free transfer this summer, at the same time that Kieran Tierney is due to return to Celtic.
Why Kieran Tierney is a gamble for Celtic
It has already been confirmed that the Scotland international will be a part of the squad next season after his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the current campaign.
As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic star enjoyed a terrific first spell at Parkhead after coming up through the academy system, as he won five titles and made 170 first-team appearances.
His terrific form for the Scottish giants over the years earned him a £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019, which remains one of the biggest sales in the club’s history.
Despite all of this, signing Tierney this summer is set to be a gamble by the Hoops because of his worrying injury record that could cause Rodgers problems moving forward.
The 2022/23 campaign is the only season that the left-back has not missed 17 or more matches through injury since the summer of 2018, whilst he has been absent for 39 games through injury since the start of last term.
Celtic are, therefore, gambling on his fitness as he will not be too much use on the pitch if consistent injury problems keep him away from it, which is why it is important for the club to have another capable left-back in line to play.
So, rather than viewing Tierney as the replacement for Taylor, is it Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp who should be signed permanently as a replacement for the Scottish full-back.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Why Celtic should sign Jeffrey Schlupp permanently
The experienced defender joined the Hoops on loan from Crystal Palace in the January transfer window and has hit the ground running at Parkhead in the second half of this season.
Schlupp, who Rodgers claimed has “incredible pace and power”, is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of June, which suggests that Celtic have the chance to snap him up on a free transfer this summer.
That could make him the dream replacement for Taylor, who is also due to depart for nothing, as the Hoops would not have to spend a penny on transfer fees, whilst they would also be bringing in a player who has already proven that he can perform in the current team.
Schlupp has also not missed a single game through injury since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, which suggests that he would also come in as a reliable figure who could cover when Tierney is unavailable.
Appearances
7
Goals
1
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.8
Duels won per game
4.6
Ground duel success rate
52%
Aerial duel success rate
60%
As you can see in the table above, the Palace loanee has provided defensive strength in his short time at Parkhead to date, winning the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air.
His performance against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League play-off, winning eight of his ten duels and making a staggering 11 tackles and interceptions combined, also showed that he has the quality to step up in big games against huge European teams.
Jeffrey Schlupp
This suggests that Schlupp could be a great signing for Celtic with their European hopes in mind, because the 32-year-old ace has proven that he can perform on the biggest stage.
Therefore, signing the loanee on a permanent deal could result in the Hoops having their dream replacement for Taylor, as he is not as injury-prone as Tierney and the defender has already proven his quality on the pitch for Rodgers in recent months.
It is now down to the manager and the recruitment staff to complete a free transfer for the full-back, should he not sign a new deal at Palace, to bolster the squad in the summer transfer window.
Celtic ace left for £600k, now he's similar to a future Ballon d'Or winner
The player Celtic lost for just £600k is now similar to a star who has been tipped to win the Ballon d’Or.
The allrounder has had a storied career, which he has now put into a book, but hopes there’s at least one chapter still to complete
Alex Malcolm25-Oct-2024The tone in Glenn Maxwell’s voice changes when he talks about Test cricket.It’s not what you would expect from the author of some the greatest innings ever played in coloured clothing for Australia. The 201 not out in Mumbai, which he relives in great detail in his soon-to-be-released autobiography , written with Adam Collins. The 40-ball century against Netherlands. The 51-ball 2015 World Cup century against Sri Lanka. The impossible chases of Old Trafford, Bengaluru, Guwahati and Hobart. Maxwell could quite rightly dine out on those stories for the rest of his days.There is a myriad of off-field stories, too, some deeply personal. The broken leg. The golf-cart concussion. Severe mental health challenges. A miscarriage. Maxwell speaks with honesty and vulnerability about all of it and how it has shaped him through his 36 years.Related
Cummins hails Maxwell's 201 not out as 'the greatest ODI innings that's ever happened'
Maxwell to miss England match after suffering concussion in golf accident
'It was snapped in half' – Maxwell explains how he broke his leg
But long after the words have been printed, and the book hits the shelves, Maxwell is hopeful another chapter will be written. He has not given up on his dream of adding to his seven Test matches.That sentence in itself is striking. He hasn’t played Test cricket for seven years. He has not played a first-class game since July 2023 and has played only two in the last five years.He is nowhere near the conversation to play in the upcoming series against India, despite a top-six spot being available. But the carrot of the Sri Lanka tour in January has been dangled in front of him and he is all-in on chasing it after coming within touching distance of a place in the XI on the 2022 tour.”I think if I gave up on that Test dream now, I don’t think I’d be doing justice to that younger Glenn Maxwell who was dying to put on the baggy green when he was a kid,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “And I think while there’s still a glimmer of hope, I’ll keep going for it.”Maxwell’s Test career is currently a story of what might have been. There is a sense when you speak to him, and when you read his book, that his brief tastes, and the many near-misses on Test selection that he details, have built up just as much scar tissue as the hardware holding his broken ankle together.
“If I gave up on that Test dream now, I don’t think I’d be doing justice to that younger Glenn Maxwell who was dying to put on the baggy green when he was a kid”
“I think the hard thing with Test cricket is, when I grew up, that’s all I wanted to do,” Maxwell says. “I definitely got my chance at Test level a bit prematurely. It all happened really fast when I got my chance to debut. It was just a whirlwind. I had no idea what I was doing. I probably hadn’t had the experience at first-class level that I would have liked.”And then when I came back in 2017, I felt like I was a ready-made first-class cricketer and was really at peace with my game and where I was at. A lot of these things in Test cricket are timing. Adam Voges is probably the perfect example. He came in and he averaged 60-odd [61.87] in his Test career. He got his opportunity when he was at the top of this game.”I suppose the thing I’m proud about in my Test career – I was able to sort of fight back at different times, get back in squads and be really resilient that way.”Voges’ story is a source of inspiration for Maxwell. Voges made his Test debut at 35 and played 20 Test matches, scoring five centuries, including two doubles. However, he got his opportunity in 2015 after scoring 1358 runs at 104.46 in the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield season. Only three batters have ever had a better Shield year and scored more than his six centuries in a single season.Maxwell has only made seven first-class centuries in his 69-game career, including his lone Test century in Ranchi. The lack of hundreds has been used against him from a Test selection standpoint. It is a notion that irks him. He detailed a frustrating exchange with selector Trevor Hohns in 2017-18, when he backed up his March Test century in India with scores of 60, 64, 45 not out, 278 against an international-standard New South Wales attack, and 96 across four consecutive Shield games while batting at No.3 for Victoria.Maxwell brings up his Test century in Ranchi in 2017•Associated PressMaxwell queried Hohns on why he wasn’t considered to play in the Ashes.”The answer was blunt: not enough tons,” Maxwell writes. “It’s the only time I’ve come close to losing it in a situation like that.”Maxwell no longer has to worry about such sentiments among the current Australian selection panel. They have said publicly that Shield cricket bears no relevance to Test conditions in Sri Lanka. They have also said that Australia’s ODI and T20I specialists, who miss a lot of first-class cricket due to white-ball duties, should not have their lack of Shield cricket held against them.It is the type of bespoke management that Maxwell appreciates and has led him to making a quiet return to red-ball cricket via Victoria’s second XI, where he scored 14 and 10, before hopefully making his Shield return after the two white-ball series against Pakistan. The leg injury remains a big part of his careful management.Maxwell enjoyed the red-ball return without the pressure of needing to perform and believes he can get up to speed quickly to the rhythm of red-ball batting if he’s selected on the tour of Sri Lanka.
“I might sort of have this persona on-field where it all looks confident, everything looks all sweet, but it’s not always like that behind the scenes”
“The interesting thing about last week, even just playing the second XI game, was having a few technical changes and working through them, having a few different sets of eyes looking at your batting, and just trying to work your way through that has been really enjoyable,” he says.”I remember in 2022 [in Sri Lanka] the first couple of net sessions that I had working through all those cracks, and working through your different techniques of facing spin that’s exploding, was so enjoyable. And it doesn’t take long when you’re really experienced in those conditions to work out a way to play over there.”It’s probably what makes Cameron Green’s success over there so extraordinary, the fact that it’s the first time he’s played Test cricket over there in those conditions, and he was so successful and strong-minded in the way he was going to go about it. It takes a strong mind to have success over there. I’d just love to be over there.”Maxwell’s mental-health journey is fascinatingly recounted in the book. He is very open about the challenges he has faced throughout his career.”I hope people can get a better idea of the different anxiety I’ve probably had,” he says. “I might sort of have this persona on-field where it all looks confident, everything looks all sweet, but it’s not always like that behind the scenes. There’s so much that sort of goes into it, and there’s a lot of conversations, a lot of thoughts that are going on. And it’s not always as smooth as it seems.”1:43
Where does Glenn Maxwell rank in T20 cricket?
One of his darkest periods was between 2018 and 2020, which coincided with Justin Langer’s tenure as coach. Maxwell is not shy in outlining his turbulent relationship with Langer back then, detailing his personal perspective of a series of incidents, including his omission from the 2018 Test tour of the UAE, the 2019 World Cup, where he was subjected to a bouncer barrage in the nets that he felt was coach-directed, and a fiery exchange in early 2020 when Maxwell said the coach accused him of faking an elbow injury to miss a tour.But Maxwell sees a clear delineation between their relationship as player and coach and their friendship away from the game, which included a lot of golf and some great conversations about life.”We’re still on great terms,” Maxwell says. “We had a really good friendship, and I suppose his coaching tenure at the back end, I probably didn’t get out of him exactly what I probably needed at that time.”The other roundabout relationship he writes about is with Steven Smith. He reveals that the pair did not see eye to eye when Smith was the national captain. But Maxwell also notes he was partly to blame.”I’ve learned the amount that you invest in relationships is the amount you get back,” he says. “And I think potentially, looking back on early relationships, they might have been a lot of one way. I reckon I expected a lot of things to go my way, without actually investing back in.
“Maxwell queried [selector Trevor] Hohns on why he wasn’t considered to play in the Ashes. “The answer was blunt: not enough tons,” Maxwell writes. “It’s the only time I’ve come close to losing it in a situation like that”
“Steve is probably the one who we’ve come… probably not full circle, it’s never like we weren’t friends, it was we weren’t as close as we are now. Now we’re messaging most days, we play golf together, we enjoy each other’s company, and we spend a lot of time talking about not just cricket stuff, but off-field, real things as well.”Maxwell is as comfortable as he has ever been with his place in the world as a husband, a father and a cricketer. He is adamant his story is not completely told, and has no plans to retire anytime soon. He feels he is in the perfect head space to handle a Test match recall. But he knows there are no guarantees, and he says it won’t define his career.”I’m at peace with pretty much everything,” he says. “So it sort of makes it a little bit easier to go out there and not get too wrapped up in the moment, not to put too much pressure on myself to do certain things, and hopefully that just is able to bring out the best in me.”Whatever happens at the back end of this summer, whether I get picked or not, I won’t judge that as a tick or cross on my career. It’s just going to be another thing. As I said, I’d love to be over there, and if I do get the opportunity, I won’t be putting too much pressure on myself.”