All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Taking to Twitter, these West Ham United fans have been left excited by an ExWHUemployee transfer update involving Sparta Prague striker Adam Hlozek.

Manager David Moyes and recruitment chief Rob Newman have set their sights on a forward signing before January 31 with Hlozek one of the many names recently linked.

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Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s recent purchase of a 27% stake in West Ham has only accelerated reports of the 19-year-old potentially moving to east London, with 90min reporter Toby Cudworth saying his influence could ‘sway’ an agreement (Twitter).

GSB, as a result, may have the opportunity to back Moyes with Hlozek’s acquisition and this is reiterated by reliable club insider ExWHUemployee.

He claims that West Ham could sign the prolific teenager and a ‘deal is there to be done’ (via West Ham Views) if Newman and Moyes opt take it further.

West Ham fans excited…

Reacting with their opinions on Twitter, these Irons supporters have been left excited by the fact an agreement to sign Hlozek is indeed possible this month.

He has been making waves for Sparta, notching an impressive 21 goals and 24 assists since the start of 2020/2021 and earning call-ups to the Czech Republic national team so early in his career.

Taking this into account, it’s little wonder these Hammers fans believe he could be a ‘quality’ addition – find all of their best reactions down below:

“Get him to the bowl”

Credit: @Adamsoitis

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Hlozek and David up top together would be deadly, add Kamara to that and we’d be set for a decade”

Credit: @arrrrrrrchie

“So doooooo itttttt”

Credit: @NStampar

“PLEASEEE!”

Credit: @WestHamNRU

“Get it done West Ham.”

Credit: @PakistanHammers

“Absolutely get it done. Quality striker.”

Credit: @chris31demons

In other news: ‘I know for a fact’ – talkSPORT reporter makes on air West Ham transfer claim involving £17m ace, find out more here.

Celtic face Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park this afternoon, with Ange Postecoglu eyeing his first trophy since taking over at Parkhead in the summer.

The 56-year-old is missing a handful of players, with some facing last-minute fitness tests, so who will make the Hoops’ line-up for the cup final?

This is how Football FanCast predicts Celtic to set up against Hibs later today, with two changes from Wednesday’s starting line-up which faced Ross County.

There are no changes at the back after the midweek 2-1 win, with Celtic having the Premiership’s best defence, having conceded just 11 goals in 18 league matches so far this season.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart has been a significant part of that feat. The 34-year-old has been superb since making the move to Glasgow and will be looking to add another trophy to his impressive CV.

In midfield, Tom Rogic comes in for Nir Bitton after being rested in midweek. The Australian has been key for Postecoglu’s side this season, making 25 appearances in all competitions already, and his experience could be vital if Celtic are to be victorious today. He also boasts a potent presence, with three goals and five assists to his name in 2021/22.

Fellow midfielder Callum McGregor will be eyeing his 16th trophy for Celtic, and his first as captain of the club.

With the chances of James Forest and Kyogo Furuhashi being able to prove their fitness in time for kick-off too close to call, Liel Abada and Josip Juranović retain their places, with Mikey Johnston returning from a knock in time to start on the left. He replaces Adam Montgomery, who did not convince in an unfamiliar wide attacking role in Dingwall.

Johnston’s fitness was in doubt but the 22-year-old was pictured in training on Friday, which suggests that he could be fit to play, whether that’s as a starter or a substitute.

In other news: Postecoglou drops teasing Celtic team news before Hibs showdown, fans will be buzzing

Celtic midfielder Ewan Henderson could join his brother Liam in Italy after being told that he can leave Parkhead in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: One appearance all season

The 21-year-old has made just one appearance this season under Ange Postecoglou, scoring in a Europa League dead rubber against Real Betis last month.

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He is out of contract at the end of June and could be among a number of players to leave the club over the coming weeks as the Hoops look to free up room for more potential arrivals after securing the services of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi.

Hibernian want to bring Henderson, who has been described as ‘incredible’ by former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner, to Easter Road on a long-term deal.

The Latest: Move to Italy?

The Scotsman relayed reports from The Scottish Sun on Monday morning, discussing the possibility of multiple winter departures from Celtic.

Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw are two players who are set for Parkhead exits, while an interesting claim emerged regarding Henderson.

The outlet revealed that a move to Italy for the attacking midfielder cannot be ruled out, with his brother Liam on the books at Empoli.

The Verdict: Who else could go?

You’d expect that Urhoghide and Shaw would leave on loan after only joining in the summer, whereas the Hoops may not receive much for Henderson due to his contract situation.

However, offloading the likes of Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and Boli Bolingoli could be where Celtic free up some wages and space in Postecoglou’s squad to make further signings.

The club are ready to cut their losses on Ajeti, whereas they are also willing to offload Barkas and Bolingoli. Should they prove successful when it comes to selling the trio, Michael Nicholson could then look at more targets, with another defender and winger thought to be a possibility.

In other news: Celtic may swoop for 6 foot 1 beast this month who had Sadio Mane in his ‘pocket’. 

Playing almost any sport in general can and does have several positive impacts on our body, mind, and social skills. However, can the same be said about people who watch sports? With football being the most popular and the most watched sport globally, several studies have been conducted to find out whether watching football has a positive impact on fans of the sport. As it turns out, there are indeed pros of even watching the game being played on TV or at the stadium.

Entertainment

It is common to undermine the importance of entertainment and relaxation until it’s too late and life begins to feel like a chore. Football is the most watched sport in the world because it is also the most entertaining sport to watch for billions of people across the planet. The satisfaction of watching your favourite team win after a tiring day at work is nothing short of stress relief. If you are into sports betting, then that’s another reason to watch more relevant matches, follow the players, and stay updated with team progress, changes, transfers, etc. for making accurate predictions.

Peace

The infamy surrounding some fanatic fan groups in football may not make you feel that football can bring about peace, which is understandable. However, football as a sport has managed to bring about peace on a much larger scale than a few ruffians occasionally acting unruly. Several parts within the United Kingdom itself have managed to keep their historic enmities limited to football derbies, whereas the past was much darker and violent.

On an even larger scale, wars have been temporarily halted because of football, or in one particular case, because of Pele. As one can imagine, if the powers that be did not watch football and love it as much as they did/do, it wouldn’t be possible. Also, if the people they preside over did not support the decision in favour of football, they would not be able to make such decisions either. It might get rough on and off the field sometimes, but in the end, football does help in keeping the peace.

Socialising

If you are a fan of club football, socialising will never be an issue for you. Not only can you talk and argue about football with even strangers, but you can also become part of a much bigger sports community. Local fan clubs are abundant, and socialising is a common aspect of such clubs. They hold exclusive events, fundraisers, etc. to encourage socialising among fans too. Going to a derby with a group to support your team at the stadium is always a grand experience for anyone who loves watching football and socialising at the same time.

Aside from that, staying updated with what is going on in the world of football can help you break the ice in awkward social situations. It can turn a dull party into something interesting, help you make a friend, and perhaps even land a date! Contrary to popular belief, there are a lot of female football fans these days than there was a decade ago.

Intelligence

Yes, it’s true that watching football can enhance our brain functions quite significantly. Unlikely as it may sound, neuroscientists at the University of Chicago published a report way back in 2012 that confirms the theory which originated in the 90s. The aforementioned study, as well as several others which point to finding similar results, defines the principle of increased brain function through watching sports like football as embodied cognition.

Apparently, when someone truly engages himself/herself in watching a match with full attention, their brains show activities which would normally be seen in someone who is actually playing the sport in question. It is a partial activation, as compared to someone who is physically playing football, but even watching the game with attention will boost your brain function and create brand new neural links. These new links are often found to be beneficial in terms of language comprehension, which is directly related to IQ points.

Not that sports fans need an excuse to watch football of course, but just in case you do, now you have several! From increased intelligence and socialisation, to stress busting relaxation, it seems as though football has more to offer than watching mindless entertainment.

Image from: unsplash.com

Many Manchester City fans ripped into Nathan Ake during their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on Tuesday night. 

City were already assured of top spot in Group A as they headed to the Red Bull Arena given that they held a four-point advantage over second-place Paris Saint-Germain prior to kick-off.

Opponents Leipzig were looking to secure third and avoid crashing out of Europe altogether.

Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to make six changes from the side that beat Watford 3-1 on Saturday evening.

Zach Steffen took Ederson’s spot in goal, while John Stones, Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko were brought into the back four in place of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo.

Rodri dropped out of the midfield for Fernandinho, Kevin de Bruyne came in for Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling gave way to Riyad Mahrez.

Recapping Ake’s tricky night vs Leipzig

It was Ake’s seventh start of the campaign in all competitions and his first in the UCL since the Matchday One meeting with the same opponent.

The game presented an opportunity for the Dutchman, then, but he missed a chance to equalise ten minutes before half time, heading off target from a set piece.

What’s more, only two of the six long balls he attempted were accurate (via SofaScore), while City gave up seven shots inside their own box and two ‘big chances’ in their 2-1 defeat.

These City fans lambast Ake

“Aké is God awful. He’s dragging the whole team down.”

Credit: @scottjerbi2

“Ake looks lost man”

Credit: @HeadieOne17

“Nathan Ake isn’t good enough for City”

Credit: @Antzharris10

“Ake – Head like a Sheriff’s badge “

Credit: @Mulvaney1Kevin

“Why is ake the one going for headers from corners? You’re useless at it”

Credit: @chapsisverycool

“Everything is bad when Ake plays”

Credit: @matthewmeyers21

In other news, there’s been an update on a key striker target.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has dropped an update from behind-the-scenes about the current state of affairs at Leeds United.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side picked up only their second win of the Premier League season when they beat fellow strugglers Norwich City at the weekend, and Hay has now suggested that there remains an internal belief that the Whites will turn the corner sooner rather than later.

He said: “The attitude of the club is very much that the team will play better when key players return from injury (for a sustained period) and individual form picks up. One of the main messages from yesterday and Wolves is that the players are fighting for this – in comparison to Norwich who really looked like they threw the towel in at 2-1.”

Looking forward with Bielsa

While the start to this Premier League campaign has been nothing short of disastrous – whether that’s been through a lack of results or a number of injuries to key players – the momentum that the win over Norwich could bring could be seismic.

Leeds face a home clash against Leicester City this Sunday, with the Foxes of course coming off the back of a disappointing defeat at home to Arsenal last weekend, and with the added obstacle of having to navigate a Europa League encounter against Spartak Moscow tomorrow.

Once that game is done, the Whites will have the international break to get through, and arguably, it has come at a very good time. The extra time Bielsa will get to work with the players on the training ground could prove to be invaluable, while perhaps more importantly, it gives an extra two weeks or so for some of his injured players to close in on a return to fitness.

The likes of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips have been in and out of the side in recent weeks due to injury, so if they don’t get called up for the international break, the extra rest could prove to be vital. The same can also be said of Patrick Bamford, and getting the club’s starting striker back could ensure the Whites come into that game against Spurs with a bit more spring in their step.

It’s exactly why Hay’s update from what people are thinking at Thorp Arch is sure to excite Leeds fans going forward.

Meanwhile, Leeds have been handed an encouraging transfer update on this star…

Leeds United are unlikely to make any new signings in the upcoming January transfer window, according to journalist Joe Donnohue.

The Lowdown: Leeds struggle early on

The Whites were hoping to kick on from their ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, but instead the 2021/22 campaign has been disappointing thus far. Marcelo Bielsa’s side are 15th in the table with 11 matches played, winning just twice in the league and often struggling to fully convince.

It could be that January reinforcements will bolster Leeds’ squad, but a fresh update suggests that a quiet winter should be expected around Elland Road.

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The Latest: No new signings expected

Writing for Leeds Live, Donnodue claimed that it would be a surprise if any news faces arrived at the turn of the year. In his article, he outlined:

Leeds United’s injury troubles this season have made it increasingly easy to link the club with January signings, especially in attack. This does however contravene the club’s public stance on the January market, as one they prefer not to operate in unless absolutely necessary.

Leeds remain alert to transfer opportunities, where prices fall to a palatable sum or a player becomes unexpectedly available, such as the deals which brought Raphinha and Daniel James.

Although, the likelihood of sealing any incoming business during the January 2022 window appears slim.

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The Verdict: A big risk?

There is certainly an element of risk behind the Whites’ apparent reluctance to sign any new players mid-season, especially if they are firmly embroiled in a relegation fight when January rolls around.

That being said, key figures such as Luke Ayling, Robin Koch and Patrick Bamford have all suffered injuries of late but should be back in the fold by that point, giving Bielsa considerably more options.

There should still easily enough quality in Leeds’ squad for them to pull well clear of the relegation zone – five points from their last three games suggests better times could be on the horizon – but they may need to compromise on their January transfer window principles if the need for mid-season reinforcements becomes glaring.

In other news, one Leeds player has been tipped to lose his place in the team. Find out who it is here.

Rumoured Leeds United transfer target Noa Lang could leave Club Brugge in the January transfer window, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Lang move

Lang, who has been likened to Neymar due to his close control and finishing, was linked with a move to Elland Road a number of times during the summer, but he ended up staying put at Brugge.

The 22-year-old has made a superb start to the 2021/22 season, already chipping in with three goals and four assists in the Jupiler Pro League, while winning the man of the match award in a 1-1 draw against PSG in the Champions League group stages.

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The Latest: Fresh update emerges

Leeds have been boosted in their potential efforts to sign Lang, with Voetbal International [via Sport Witness] claiming that he could move on in January.

Brugge are thought to be ‘realistic’ about the interest in the attacker, with the report adding that he could leave ‘as early as this winter’.

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The Verdict: Ideal attacking addition

Lang is a player with a huge amount of promise, having been described as a ‘phenomenon’ by Belgian sports journalist Peter Vandenbempt in the past.

His start to this season shows how much attacking quality he could bring to Leeds’ team, giving them extra guile in central areas but also capable of thriving out wide.

If the Whites managed to snap up the young Dutchman in January, it could give the squad a much-needed injection of class midway through the campaign.

In other news, Leeds could make a move for a defender, according to one report. Read more here.

Celtic have been dealt a major injury blow concerning centre-back Carl Starfelt.

What’s the latest?

In a recent interview with Swedish publication Aftonbladet (via The Scotsman), the defender revealed that the hamstring injury he suffered in the second half of the 0-0 draw with Livingston on Saturday afternoon looks set to keep him out of action for a “couple of weeks.”

However, the report goes on to state that Celtic are yet to receive the official results of the 26-year-old’s scans, although Starfelt’s comments would not appear to bode well for the chances of the centre-back featuring in the Bhoys’ crucial Europa League clash against Ferencvarosi on Thursday.

Major blow

Considering just how impressive Starfelt has been since making a £4.50m move to Parkhead this summer, the news that the defender looks set to miss this week’s Europa League fixture, as well as the clash with Dundee this Sunday, is sure to have left Celtic fans gutted.

Indeed, over his 11 Scottish Premiership appearances so far this season, the £2.7m-rated man has helped his side keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 3.7 clearances and winning 6.3 duels per game.

These returns have seen the Sweden international average a SofaScore match rating of 7.23, ranking him as the club’s fifth-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, being without the defender for any amount of time will undoubtedly come as a major blow to Ange Postecoglou and his side, especially as the Bhoys are approaching a crucial period of the season.

Indeed, with the fixture against Ferencvarosi this Thursday very much being a must-win if Celtic are to have any chance of qualifying from their Europa League group, the absence of Starfelt significantly reduces the Hoops chances of picking up three points against the Hungarian side – something that could well be a season-defining result for the 56-year-old manager.

In other news: Get it done: Nicholson must seal Celtic deal for 10 G/A machine, Ange would love him

Lots of Everton fans have been left raging as some news emerged involving them and the 2021 Football Business Awards.

As per the official website of the Goodison Park faithful, the Merseyside club and Everton In the Community have won five honours, including two Gold awards, at the event.

However, with things currently not working on the pitch for Rafa Benitez’s side at the moment, given that they have lost their last two games to Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers (on penalties) in the Premier League and Carabao Cup respectively, it seems a lot of Toffees were not overly impressed with the awards won.

Supporters instead feel as if more time and effort should be spent on improving results for the football team, rather than what is going on in the background.

Everton fans on club news

These Blues supporters were left fuming as the news was shared by the club on their Twitter page:

“This absolutely outlines what’s wrong at the club, more effort goes into useless accolades, when the core business is football…..not to take away from the achievements of this team”

Credit: @Wazza23666

“I for one have had enough of this. Business awards, Charity awards blah blah. How about putting more effort and time into winning trophies. Cynical I know but sick of it.”

Credit: @pocartmel

“Are they for real? Convinced now this is The Truman Show.”

Credit: @Gwedlid

“Surely our community trophy cabinets full now. Focus on the footy bit maybe”

Credit: @Jakewood91

“Pity you can’t take football seriously.”

Credit: @ianclynch

“Business awards for the worst ran business in the Premier League, makes sense”

Credit: @LiamReed99

In other news, find out what transfer news has Evertonians raging here!