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Former Celtic striker Jorge Cadete believes that the Hoops could end up landing loanee Jota in a cut-price transfer, as reported by The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Jota clause

Ange Postecoglou made three signings on deadline day over the summer, one of which was Jota, who shares the same agency as Cristiano Ronaldo. He arrived from Benfica on a season-long loan with an option to buy, with the fee required to make a move permanent thought to be just over £6m.

The 22-year-old has been a regular in green and white in recent weeks, scoring the winner against Aberdeen prior to the international break.

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The Latest: Cadete’s comments

In a report from The Daily Record, Cadete had his say on whether or not Celtic will make a permanent move for Jota, hinting that the reported fee could well drop over the coming months for the ‘exciting’ winger. The 53-year-old said:

“It’s too early to talk about the value of Jota if Celtic want to buy him. It’s normal for clubs when they loan a young player abroad, they fix the buy clause at a high price.

“Jota has been mentioned at six or seven million Euros.

“But after the season, this figure is normally not the same as it was before. It might well be lower than that by then.

“I’d like Jota to stay at Celtic in the long-term because I think it can be good for both parties. The Celtic supporters have an exciting player so it keeps them happy.”

The Verdict: Looking good so far…

Postecoglou has used Jota on a regular basis over recent weeks, with the majority of his starts coming from the left wing.

The 22-year-old also showed his versatility by playing off the right against Real Betis, and at £6m in today’s market, a permanent deal for that figure could prove to be a snip.

The Hoops have had a habit of making profits on players over the past decade, most notably Moussa Dembele, so maybe Jota could be the next in line to reap Celtic an eye-catching profit in the future if a clause of £6m or less is activated.

In other news: Sky Sports pundit thinks Celtic may land seven-figure fee as transfer news emerges

Wolves are still eyeing up a potential move for Renato Sanches in the January transfer window, according to journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Sanches links persist

The 24-year-old spent the summer being linked with a transfer to Wolves, while those stories have persisted in the early months of this season.

Sanches has stayed put at Lille for the time being, however, where he has only managed eight Ligue 1 starts so far this season, as injuries have again hampered him.

It could be that the 32-time capped Portugal international moves on in January after an up and down campaign in France and it appears as though Wolves are eyeing up a move.

The Latest: Fresh rumour emerges

According to Crook on talkSPORT [via Molineux News], Wolves are looking “quite closely” at signing Sanches in the imminent transfer window, as Bruno Lage looks to bolster his midfield.

The Lille man’s current deal expires in the summer of 2023, so the Ligue 1 champions could be willing to sell him while they can still receive a decent fee.

The Verdict: Worth a punt?

There is no denying Sanches’ quality as a footballer, with former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell describing him as ‘incredible’ earlier this year.

The idea of him in a Wolves shirt is hugely exciting – he famously won the prestigious European Golden Boy award back in 2016 and starred at Euro 2020 for Portugal – but injuries are the one thing holding him back.

Lage would have to accept that signing him would involve a clear risk element, with Sanches never starting 20 league matches in a season in his career. If a player of that calibre is potentially available, however, it is worth the gamble.

In other news, some Wolves fans are fuming after one piece of news emerged. Read more here.

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has made a claim regarding midfielders Adam Forshaw and Kalvin Phillips, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Forshaw out, Phillips back

It has been a case of one in one out at Thorp Arch in recent weeks, with Phillips making a first start since December against Crystal Palace on Monday.

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However, one man who didn’t feature at Selhurst Park was Forshaw, who will now miss the rest of the season after fracturing a knee cap in training.

That leaves Jesse Marsch with a shortage of central midfielders for the run-in, with Mateusz Klich and Robin Koch playing 45 minutes each alongside Phillips earlier in the week.

The Latest: Whelan’s comments

Whelan, talking to FI, labelled Forshaw’s injury at Thorp Arch as ‘unfortunate’ and ‘disappointing’.

He then added that Phillips is going to ‘have to step up and perform’ for the final five games, labelling his return from the off as a ‘massive plus’.

“Adam Forshaw was so unfortunate to get that training injury.

“He’s been one of the best players, for me, this season – and you can see what a difference he’s made since coming back in.

“It’s disappointing because we could have done with both Phillips and Forshaw. But now Kalvin is going to really have to step up and perform for these last games of the season.

“Everyone knows what is required of them, and Kalvin being back is a massive plus no matter how you look at it.”

The Verdict: Not ideal

Phillips and Forshaw featured together briefly against Southampton at Elland Road, and the duo may well have been Marsch’s first-choice pairing, making the latter’s setback a frustrating one.

That will have to wait until next season, and hopefully, Marsch will be able to find a solution in midfield with Phillips and one other between now and the end of the season.

Koch was Leeds’ worst-rated performer on Monday, as per SofaScore, so perhaps Marsch will go with Klich once again from the off when the Whites take on Manchester City on Saturday.

In other news: Radz and 49ers will now reward Marsch if he keeps Leeds up by moving for 29-goal forward. 

Newcastle United are reportedly now the ‘most interested’ in signing Seko Fofana in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Standout season

Fofana is having a standout season in Ligue 1, starting off by winning their Player of the Month Award (POTM) in September.

He ranks as one of the best central midfield players in the division to have made 10 or appearances this season, and the second-best player at Lens, scoring five goals and averaging the most shots and dribbles per game out of his teammates (WhoScored).

Described as the ‘heartbeat’ of the team by journalist Josh Bunting, it is not a surprise at all to see the St. James’ Park faithful now linked with a move for Fofana this month.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘most interested’

As per Foot Mercato journalist and transfer expert Santi Aouna, the North East club are now the ‘most interested’ in signing Fofana, but there is also ‘real interest’ from both Leeds United and Burnley for his signature.

However, Lens have not received any offers for the Ivory Coast international as of yet.

The Verdict: Sign him up

With Fofana thriving in Ligue 1, he is surely ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

Dubbed a ‘phenom’ by journalist Zach Lowy after a dominating performance against PSG’s midfield last month, the six-foot-one star would really freshen things up in the middle of the park for Eddie Howe’s team, and at 26 years of age, he has likely not yet hit his prime.

Nonetheless, if there is a deal that can be done within the next few weeks, especially with the competition that they face, surely it is a no-brainer to bring him to Tyneside.

In other news, find out who Howe is now ‘pushing’ to sign here!

After succumbing to a disheartening 2-0 defeat against Preston North End in their latest Championship clash, West Brom are back in action again this afternoon with an away game against Millwall, who are currently ten places and 12 points below the Baggies in the league table. 

With Valerien Ismael revealing that Sam Johnstone will not be in the squad this afternoon but that Andy Carroll should be available, here’s how we feel West Brom will line up for today’s clash against Millwall with the likes of Kean Bryan, Dara O’Shea and Daryl Dike out injured and Semi Ajayi still away on international duty. 

In goal, with Johnstone still not involved, it seems likely that David Button will keep his place in the team to try and keep a clean sheet for the Baggies. 

In a back three, we think Ismael will keep Kyle Bartley and Cedric Kipre in the side but put Conor Townsend in the left wing-back position with Adam Reach, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £23k-per-week according to Salary Sport, dropping out and Matt Clarke coming back in. 

For the right wing-back position, we can see Darnell Furlong keeping his place in the team to see if he can have any attacking impact on the team after providing an assist in their recent 3-0 win over Peterborough United.

In the two central-midfield positions, we predict Ismael will stick with the duo of club captain Jake Livermore and Alex Mowatt.

Then for the front three, we could see the duo of Karlan Grant and Grady Diangana keeping their places in the team on the wings but see Matt Phillips drop out in place of Callum Robinson, with Carroll on the bench to come on as a substitute to make his debut if needed. 

Whether Ismael goes with this exact starting XI that we have suggested or not, this is still an important game for the Baggies to secure all three points, climb a step closer to promotion and put their spotty run of form in recent weeks behind them. 

Also, with West Brom unable to make even one shot on target in their defeat against Preston, they will certainly need to show a bit more attacking intent this time around if they want to have any chance of securing a win.

In other news: Ismael must unleash £18k-p/w WBA gem who “gives his all”, his job could depend on it – opinion

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According to the Daily Record, Celtic are close to completing a £1.75 million deal for Karpaty Lviv winger Maryan Shved.

What’s the story?

The Ukrainian right-winger has been in fine form so far this season. According to Transfermarkt’s statistics, the 21-year-old has scored eight goals and racked up three assists in seventeen appearances in the Ukrainian top flight, the Premier Liga.

Shved is clearly a player with plenty of talent and capable of producing end product. With so much of his career still ahead of him too, he could improve a great deal in the future.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

The once-capped Ukraine international would face a challenge in making the step up to the Scottish Premiership, but he could also provide the boost of quality and fresh attacking ideas that Brendan Rodgers’ side currently needs.

A much-needed boost

So far this season, the Bhoys have struggled to consistently show their best form. The reigning Scottish champions have at times looked stale and in need of an overhaul of their squad. Too many players have failed to regularly reach the required standard.

The likes of Scott Sinclair and Leigh Griffiths have failed to shine for the most part this season. Shved’s arrival could provide the level of competition that they need in order to get back to their best, or the young Ukrainian could usurp them in the starting XI at Celtic Park altogether.

For such a small fee, the gamble on Shved is one worth taking for the Hoops this month.

Everton could finally replace Idrissa Gana Gueye after being linked with a move for RCD Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Baba.

What’s the story?

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the 25-year-old’s early-season form has caught the eye of Toffees manager Rafa Benitez, and the Premier League outfit are now weighing up an offer ahead of the January transfer window.

The report states that: “After his great start to the season, Iddrisu Baba is rewarded with the interest of Everton FC. Rafa Benítez wants the Ghanaian at Goodison Park.”

It’s believed that Baba has a €45m (£38.2m) release clause inserted in his Mallorca contract, a fee that Everton are apparently ready to meet in order to secure his services.

Rafa Benitez needs him

Baba has been one of the revelations of the season in Spanish football during the opening weeks of the current campaign, featuring 11 times as Luis Garcia’s charges have climbed to 12th in the La Liga table.

The Ghana international has been appreciated from within his club for a number of years, though, with his former boss lauding his tenacity in the centre of the park last term.

“Baba is an important player for us, a hard-worker in as a midfielder who is reliable and able to provide defensive skills,” said ex-Mallorca manager Vicente Moreno back in 2020. “He has grown strongly as a player, and I hope he can help us achieve our goal for the season.”

With Everton currently struggling to cope without the injured Abdoulaye Doucoure, it seems as though Benitez is searching for extra options to bolster his engine room over the winter window.

And in Baba, the Spanish tactician could finally secure the Merseyside outfit’s long-term successor to Gueye, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain back in July 2019.

As per fbref.com, the Mallorca ace has won 3.04 tackles per 90 throughout 2020/21, made 1.57 interceptions and completed 6.76 successful pressures. Whereas Gueye has put up figures of 2.41, 2.07 and 5.86, respectively.

It’s clear the defensive-minded pair are similar in their output, and the qualities that both men bring to the team are what’s desperately missing from Everton’s play at this moment in time.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin was brought to Goodison Park following Gueye’s exit two years ago, but horrendous luck with injuries have prevented him from playing anywhere near his full potential during his time on English shores.

Therefore, Benitez is in desperate need of some extra bite in his midfield, and Baba could be the player to provide it.

And, in other news…Heir to Mina: Everton plot £20m move for 6ft7 “quality footballer”, fans will love him

Celtic have reached a ‘general agreement’ with Kawasaki Frontale for Reo Hatate, according to Japanese outlet Hochi.

The Lowdown: Hatate profiled

Hatate has recently just helped Kawasaki Frontale win a second consecutive J1 League title, making 38 appearances in 2020/21.

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He turned out in a number of positions, mainly in midfield and at left-back, with Celtic reportedly seeing Hatate as a midfield addition, with his current contract set to expire at the end of January.

The 24-year-old is on €38,000-a-year (around £625-a-week) with his current employers, but it seems as if a move to Glasgow to join countryman Kyogo Furuhashi is on the cards.

The Latest: Agreement reached

Japanese outlet Hochi posted on Twitter on Sunday evening, shortly after Celtic’s 1-0 win over Motherwell, claiming Hatate is set to ‘move’ to Scotland.

A ‘general agreement’ has been reached between the two clubs, so it seems as if the Hoops will pay a small fee to the J1 League side for Hatate’s services.

The Verdict: More good news

The Hoops have also agreed on a fee with Gamba Osaka for midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, so Celtic are now closing in on two January signings already.

That can only be good news, especially with the number of injuries Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with in recent weeks, while the fact everything is in place so soon shows impressive planning from a club who have often been lacking in the boardroom in recent years.

Postecoglou will know just what Hatate and Ideguchi will bring to Scotland following his time as a manager in Japan, and the quicker Celtic can complete their January business, the better, with Japanese forward Daizen Maeda another on the club’s winter window wishlist.

In other news: Devlin claims ‘special’ Celtic ace may have broken bone amid ‘conflicting’ info. 

Transfer insider Dean Jones has expressed his shock whilst sharing what he knows as some Tottenham Hotspur transfer news comes out of N17 involving Leicester City star James Maddison.

The lowdown: Spurs linked

This comes following reports linking Spurs with a move for the 25-year-old when the market reopens at the end of the season.

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As manager Antonio Conte and recruitment chief Fabio Paratici attempt to strengthen the squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, speculation is going to be rife with multiple names linked with a move to north London.

However, it would appear that Maddison is unlikely to be making the move anytime soon…

The latest: Jones rules out Spurs switch

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones was quick to dismiss the idea of the English attacking midfielder joining the Lilywhites, whilst also expressing his surprise at the development.

He explained:

“I don’t really know where that one’s come from, it seems a bit left-field that report.

“I’ve texted two people, and they basically said there’s no chance that Tottenham are going to sign James Maddison. So, it’s pretty much as we would expect.”

The verdict: An early blow

Although the deal was far from at an advanced stage, adding a player of Maddison’s quality to the Tottenham ranks was an exciting proposition.

So far this season the once-capped England ace has scored 14 times and provided nine assists in 45 appearances across all competitions and would’ve provided much-needed creativity to an otherwise workmanlike midfield department.

Should the interest in Maddison indeed be fanciful, Spurs supporters may be hoping Paratici and Conte have a signing of a similar ilk lined up.

In other news: Tottenham ‘insider’ urges club to target Premier League striker,  find out more here.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has hailed Tom Rogic’s performance in the Hoops’ massive 2-1 derby victory on Sunday, describing him as a ‘magician’.

The Lowdown: Famous win for Hoops

Ange Postecoglou’s side went into the trip to Ibrox three points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of the Premiership, highlighting how big a win would be.

Celtic achieved exactly that, going 1-0 down to Aaron Ramsey’s early strike but responding through goals from Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers, putting them firmly in pole position to win the title.

The Latest: Sutton lauds Rogic

Rogic’s all-round performance was superb even aside from his goal – as per Sofascore, he won five ground duels, made one tackle and completed 76% of his passes, ranking as Celtic’s second-best performer overall.

Taking to Twitter after the match, Sutton waxed lyrical over the Australian’s display, stating: “Nothing won yet. Daizen Maeda is a one man closing down machine. Rogic really is a magician. Carter Vickers and Starfelt immense.”

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The Verdict: Magnificent servant

On a day of outstanding individual performances in green and white, Rogic was undoubtedly a standout figure, taking his goal with aplomb and helping Celtic to dominate the midfield battle.

The 29-year-old has been a great servant for the Hoops down the years, making a total of 265 appearances for the club, and he continues to be a key figure judging by the standards he set in such as crucial encounter on Sunday.

Rogic’s current Celtic deal expires at the end of next season and the Hoops should be looking to tie him down to a new contract in the near future or risk losing him on a free transfer eventually. He showed against Rangers just how important he is to Postecoglou’s team.

In other news, Kieran Devlin has hailed a key aspect of Celtic’s win over Rangers. Read more here.