Tag: Dundee United Football Club

  • Fiery star gets his wish as PL side ‘reluctantly’ confirms $99m Saudi switch: Done Deals

    Fiery star gets his wish as PL side ‘reluctantly’ confirms $99m Saudi switch: Done Deals

    Aleksandar Mitrovic joined the Premier League exodus to Saudi Arabia by leaving Fulham for a club record fee to join Al Hilal on Saturday.

    The Premier League club confirmed the Serbian’s departure following Saturday’s 3-0 Premier home defeat against Brentford.

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    Al Hilal are reported to have negotiated a £50 million ($AUD99 million deal for the 28-year-old.

    “The club can confirm that Aleksandar Mitrovic has this evening left to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for a club record transfer fee,” Fulham said in a statement.

    “The club had reluctantly accepted a revised offer as the player had consistently made his desire to leave known.”

    Mitrovic pushed for a move in order to join the growing list of players swapping Europe for a lucrative switch to the Gulf state.

    He will be Al Hilal’s latest high-profile signing after their swoops for Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Malcom.

    Mitrovic has gone to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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    Mitrovic scored 14 times for Fulham last season as he finally made his mark in the Premier League.

    Since joining Fulham in 2018, Mitrovic had played an important role in Fulham’s three separate promotions from the Championship.

    In the 2021-22 campaign he netted a Championship record of 43 goals.

    PL DONE DEALS

    Arsenal

    In

    Declan Rice [West Ham] £105m

    Kai Havertz [Chelsea] £65m

    Jurrien Timber [Ajax] £38m

    David Raya [Brentford] Loan

    Out

    Granit Xhaka [Bayer Leverkusen] £21m

    Pablo Mari [AC Monza] £6m

    Marquinhos [Nantes] Loan

    Nikolaj Moller [FC St. Gallen] Undisclosed

    Mazeed Ogungbo [Barrow] Undisclosed

    Ben Cottrell [NS Mura] Undisclosed

    Mauro Bandeira [Colchester United] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Sheffield United] Undisclosed

    Matt Turner [Nottingham Forest] Undisclosed

    Tom Smith [Colchester] Free

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Lyon] Free

    Matt Smith [Released]

    Joel Ideho [Released]

    George Lewis [Released]

    Tom Smith [Released]

    Zach Awe [Released]

    Kaleel Green [Released]

    Alexandar Kovacevic [Released]

    Tino Quamina [Released]

    Mathaeus Roberts [Released]

    Declan Rice joined Arsenal for one of the biggest fees ever seen in British football. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Aston Villa

    In

    Pau Torres [Villarreal] £35m

    Youri Tielemans [Leicester] Free

    Rico Richards [West Brom] Free

    Moussa Diaby [Bayer Leverkusen] Undisclosed

    Out

    Marvelous Nakamba [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Wesley [Stoke City] Undisclosed

    Morgan Sanson [Nice] Loan

    Kaine Kesler-Hayden [Plymouth Argyle] Loan

    Louie Barry [Stockport County] Loan

    Lamare Bogarde [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Finn Azaz [Plymouth] Loan

    Ashley Young [Everton] Free

    Declan Frith [Released]

    Hayden Lindley [Released]

    Arjan Raikhy [Released]

    Ruben Shakpoke [Released]

    Myles Sohna [Released]

    Jed Steer [Released]

    Brad Young [Released]

    Bournemouth

    In

    Justin Kluivert [Roma] Undisclosed

    Romain Faivre [Lyon] Undisclosed (sent on loan to Lorient)

    Hamed Traore [Sassuolo] £20m

    Milos Kerkez [AZ Alkmaar] Undisclosed

    Andrei Radu [Inter Milan] Loan

    Out

    Siriki Dembele [Birmingham] Undisclosed

    Jefferson Lerma [Crystal Palace] Free

    Jack Stacey [Norwich City] Free

    Brooklyn Genesini [Swindon] Free

    Ben Pearson [Stoke] Undisclosed

    Will Dennis [Kilmarnock] Loan

    Mark Travers [Stoke] Loan

    Junior Stanislas [Released]

    Josh Popoola [Released]

    Tarik Gidaree [Released]

    Matthew Burgess [Released]

    Christopher Francis [Released]

    Brooklyn Genesini [Released]

    Justin Kluivert linked up with Bournemouth. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Brentford

    In

    Nathan Collins [Wolves] £23m

    Kevin Schade [Freiburg] £22m

    Mark Flekken [Freiburg] £11m

    Kim Ji-soo [Seongnam] Undisclosed

    Ethan Brierley [Rochdale] Undisclosed

    Ethan Laidlaw [Hibernian] Undisclosed

    Romeo Beckham [Inter Miami] Undisclosed

    Erion Zabeli [Oxford United] Free

    Out

    David Raya [Arsenal] Loan

    Pontus Jansson [Malmo] Free

    Daniel Oyegoke [Bradford] Loan

    Fin Stevens [Oxford] Loan

    Matthew Cox [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Tristan Crama [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Ben Winterbottom [Welling] Loan

    Alex Gilbert [Middlesbrough] Free

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Saman Ghoddos [Released]

    Tariqe Fosu [Released]

    Joel Valencia [Released]

    J’Neil Bennett [Released]

    Lachlan Brook [Released]

    Nico Jones [Released]

    Roco Rees [Released]

    Roy Syla [Released]

    Lucias Vine [Released]

    Brighton

    In

    Joao Pedro [Watford] £30m

    Bart Verbruggen [Anderlecht] £16.3m

    Igor Julio [Fiorentina] £14.5m

    Jacob Slater [Preston North End] Undisclosed

    Mahmoud Dahoud [Borussia Dortmund] Free

    James Milner [Liverpool] Free

    Out

    Moises Caicedo [Chelsea] £115m

    Alexis Mac Allister [Liverpool] £55m

    Robert Sanchez [Chelsea] £25m

    Antef Tsoungui [Feyenoord] Undisclosed

    Taylor Richards [Queens Park Rangers] Undisclosed

    Aaron Connolly [Hull] Undisclosed

    Michal Karbownik [Hertha Berlin] Undisclosed

    Kjell Scherpen [Sturm Graz] Loan

    Abdallah Sima [Rangers] Loan

    James Beadle [Oxford United] Loan

    Marc Leonard [Northampton Town] Loan

    Jeremy Sarmiento [West Brom] Loan

    Carl Rushworth [Swansea] Loan

    Ed Turns [Leyton Orient] Loan

    Toby Bull [Released]

    Billie Clark [Released]

    Matthew Everitt [Released]

    Teddy Jenks [Forest Green] Free

    Todd Miller [Released]

    Sam Packham [Released]

    Haydon Roberts [Released]

    Casey Gabriel-Shann [Released]

    Jack Spong [Released]

    Fynn Talley [Peterborough] Free

    Lorent Tolaj [Released]

    Antef Tsoungui [Released]

    Ben Wilson [Released]

    Joao Pedro is Brighton’s biggest signing of the summer to date. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Burnley

    In

    James Trafford [Manchester City] £19m

    Dara O’Shea [West Brom] £7m

    Luca Koleosho [Espanyol] £2.6m

    Sander Berge [Sheffield United] Undisclosed

    Zeki Amdouni [Basel] Undisclosed

    Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] Undisclosed

    Lawrence Vigouroux [Leyton Orient] Undisclosed

    Michael Obafemi [Swansea] Undisclosed

    Nathan Redmond [Besiktas] Free

    Jacob Bruun Larsen [Hoffenheim] Loan

    Out

    Ashley Barnes [Norwich] Free

    Lewis Thomas [Harrogate] Free

    Wout Weghorst [Hoffenheim] Loan

    Bailey Peacock-Farrell [AGF Aarhus] Loan

    Michael Mellon [Morecambe] Loan

    Will Norris [Portsmouth] Free

    Lukas Jensen [Lincoln] Free

    Luke McNally [Stoke] Loan

    Chelsea

    In

    Moises Caicedo [Brighton] £115m

    Romeo Lavia [Chelsea] £58m

    Christopher Nkunku [RB Leipzig] £52m

    Axel Disasi [Monaco] £38.5m

    Nicolas Jackson [Villarreal] £32m

    Robert Sanchez [Brighton] £25m

    Lesley Ugochukwu [Rennes] £24m

    Kendry Paez [Independiente del Valle] Undisclosed

    Dujuan Richards [Phoenix All Stars Academy] Undisclosed

    Angelo Gabriel [Santos] Undisclosed

    Alex Matos [Norwich] Undisclosed

    Diego Moreira [Benfica] Undisclosed

    Ishe Samuels-Smith [Everton] Undisclosed

    Out

    Kai Havertz [Arsenal] £65m

    Mason Mount [Manchester United] £55m

    Christian Pulisic [AC Milan] £20m

    Mateo Kovacic [Manchester City] £30m

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek [AC Milan] £15m

    Kalidou Kouilbay [Al-Hilal] Undisclosed

    Edouard Mendy [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    N’Golo Kante [Al-Ittihad] Free

    Cesar Azpilicueta [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Ethan Ampadu [Leeds] £7m

    Kepa Arrizabalaga [Real Madrid] Loan

    David Datro Fofana [Union Berlin] Loan

    Cesare Casadei [Leicester City] Loan

    Angelo Gabriel [Strasbourg] Loan

    Dujon Sterling [Rangers] Free

    Baba Rahman [PAOK] Free

    Derrick Abu [Released]

    Prince Adegoke [Released]

    Tiemoue Bakayoko [Released]

    Nathan Baxter [Bolton] Free

    Juan Castillo [Released]

    Bryan Fiabema [Released]

    Joe Haigh [Released]

    Henry Lawrence [Released]

    Sam McClelland [Released]

    Silko Thomas [Released]

    Ethan Wady [Released]

    Jayden Wareham [Released]

    Charlie Webster [Heerenveen] Loan

    Dion Rankine [Exeter] Loan

    Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP

    Crystal Palace

    In

    Matheus Franca [Flamengo] £26m

    Jefferson Lerma [Bournemouth] Free

    Out

    Wilfried Zaha [Galatasaray] Free

    Rob Street [Cheltenham] Free

    Luke Plange [Carlisle] Loan

    James McArthur [Released]

    Luka Milivojevic [Released]

    Jack Butland [Rangers] Free

    Joshua Addae [Released]

    David Boateng [Released]

    Ryan Bartley [Released]

    Maliq Cadogan [Released]

    Reece Hannam [Stevenage] Free

    David Omilabu [Released]

    Daniel Quick [Released]

    Everton

    In

    Youssef Chermiti [Sporting Lisbon] £15m

    Ashley Young [Aston Villa] Free

    Arnaut Danjuma [Villarreal] Loan

    Jack Harrison [Leeds] Loan

    Out

    Ellis Simms [Coventry] £7m

    Yerry Mina [Released]

    Andros Townsend [Released]

    Niels Nkounkou [Saint-Etienne] Undisclosed

    Einar Iversen [Released]

    Isaac Price [Released]

    Tom Davies [Sheffield United] Free

    Harry Tyrer [Chesterfield] Loan

    Lewis Warrington [Plymouth] Loan

    Stanley Mills [Oxford] Loan

    Fulham

    In

    Raul Jimenez [Wolves] £5m

    Calvin Bassey [Ajax] Undisclosed

    Willian

    Out

    Aleksandar Mitrovic [Al Hilal] £50m

    Shane Duffy [Norwich] Free

    Kieron Bowie [Northampton Town] Loan

    Ibane Bowat [TSV Hartberg] Loan

    Luciano D’Auria-Henry [Cheltenham] Loan

    Joe Bryan [Millwall] Free

    Thorsteinn Antonsson [Released]

    Paulo Gazzaniga [Girona] Free

    Sonny Hilton [Released]

    Sylvester Jasper [Released]

    Neeskens Kebano [Al-Jazira] Free

    Ziyad Larkeche [QPR] Free

    Jonathon Page [Released]

    Steven Sessegnon [Released]

    Jean-Pierre Tiehi [Released]

    Raul Jimenez swapped Wolves for Fulham. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Liverpool

    In

    Dominik Szoboszlai [RB Leipzig] £60m

    Alexis Mac Allister [Brighton] £35m

    Wataru Endo [Stuttgart] £16.2m

    Out

    Fabinho [Al-Ittihad] Undisclosed

    Jordan Henderson [Al-Ettifaq] £12m

    Rhys Williams [Aberdeen] Loan

    Calvin Ramsay [Preston North End ] Loan

    Sepp van den Berg [Mainz] Loan

    Fabio Carvalho [RB Leipzig] Loan

    Jakub Ojrzynski [Den Bosch] Loan

    Roberto Firmino [Al-Ahli] Free

    James Milner [Brighton] Free

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Besiktas] Free

    Naby Keita [Werder Bremen] Free

    Jack Bearne [Released]

    Liam Hughes [Released]

    Oscar Kelly [Released]

    Fidel O’Rourke [Released]

    Oludare Olufunwa [Released]

    Leighton Clarkson [Aberdeen] Undisclosed

    Harvey Davies [Crewe Alexandra] Loan

    Adam Lewis [Newport County] Loan

    Owen Beck [Dundee FC] Loan

    Anderson Arroyo [FC Andorra] Loan

    Luton Town

    In

    Tahith Chong [Birmingham] £4m

    Ross Barkley [Nice] Free

    Marvelous Nakamba [Aston Villa] Undisclosed

    Tim Krul [Norwich] Undisclosed

    Ryan Giles [Wolves] Undisclosed

    Mads Andersen [Barnsley] Undisclosed

    Chiedozie Ogbene [Rotherham United] Free

    Issa Kabore [Manchester City] Free

    Thomas Kaminski [Blackburn Rovers] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Isted [Charlton] Free

    Josh Neufville [AFC Wimbledon] Free

    Sonny Bradley [Derby] Free

    Henri Lansbury [Released]

    Fred Onyedinma [Rotherham United]

    Elliot Thorpe [Shrewsbury Town] Loan

    Jack Walton [Dundee United] Loan

    Joe Taylor [Colchester] Loan

    Manchester City

    In

    Josko Gvardiol [RB Leipzig] £77m

    Mateo Kovacic [Chelsea] £30m

    Spike Brits [AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed

    Out

    Riyad Mahrez [Al-Ahil] £30m

    James Trafford [Burnley] £19m

    Shea Charles [Southampton] £15m

    lkay Gundogan [Barcelona] Free

    Carlos Borges [Ajax] £17.3m

    Terrell Agyemang [Middlesbrough] Free

    Alex Robertson [Portsmouth] Loan

    Finley Burns [Stevenage] Loan

    Rowan McDonald [Released]

    Benjamin Mendy [Released]

    Morgan Rogers [Middlesbrough] Undisclosed

    Kian Breckin [Wycombe] Loan

    Liam Delap [Hull City] Loan

    Callum Doyle [Leicester] Loan

    Gvardiol arrived to help bolster the City defence. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    Manchester United

    In

    Rasmus Hojlund [Atalanta] £72m

    Mason Mount [Chelsea] £55m

    Andre Onana [Inter Milan] £47m

    Jonny Evans [Leicester] Free

    Out

    Anthony Elanga [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Alex Telles [Al Nassr] Undisclosed

    David de Gea [Released]

    Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht] £850,000

    Fred [Fenerbahce] Undisclosed

    Ethan Laird [Birmingham City] Undisclosed

    Ethan Galbraith [Leyton Orient] Free

    Issa Kaboure [Luton Town] Free

    Di’Shon Bernard [Sheffield Wednesday] Free

    Nathan Bishop [Sunderland] Undisclosed

    Will Fish [Hibernian] Loan

    Phil Jones [Released]

    Axel Tuanzebe [Released]

    Di’Shon Bernard [Released]

    Eric Hanbury [Released]

    Charlie Wellens [Released]

    Manni Norkett [Nottingham Forest] Free

    Newcastle

    In

    Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] £52m

    Tino Livramento [Southampton] £40m

    Harvey Barnes [Leicester] £38m

    Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed

    Out

    Chris Wood [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Allan Saint-Maximin [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    Karl Darlow [Leeds] Undisclosed

    Matty Bondswell [Newport] Loan

    Yankuba Minteh [Feyenoord] Loan

    Jamal Lewis [Watford] Loan

    Kell Watts [Wigan] Loan

    Garang Kuol [FC Volendam]

    Max Thompson [Northampton] Loan

    Niall Brookwell [Released]

    Ciaran Clark [Released]

    Dan Langley [Released]

    Matty Longstaff [Released]

    Josh Stewart [Released]

    Isaac Westendorf [Released]

    Tonali scored on his Premier League debut for Newcastle. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest

    In

    Chris Wood [Newcastle] £15m

    Anthony Elanga [Manchester United] £15m

    Manni Norkett [Manchester United] Free

    Ola Aina [Torino] Free

    Matt Turner [Arsenal] Undisclosed

    Out

    Will Swan [Mansfield] Undisclosed

    Braian Ojeda [Real Salt Lake] Undisclosed

    Sam Surridge [Nashville SC] Free

    Steve Cook [QPR] Undisclosed

    Jack Colback [QPR] Free

    Cafu [Rotherham] Free

    Josh Bowler [Cardiff City] Loan

    Oli Hammond [Cheltenham Town] Loan

    Josh Bowler [Cardiff] Loan

    Andre Ayew [Released]

    Jesse Lingard [Released]

    Jordan Smith [Released]

    Lyle Taylor [Released]

    Billy Fewster [Released]

    Alex Gibson-Hammond [Released]

    Ryan Hammon [Released]

    Nicky Hogarth [Released]

    Adnan Kanuric [Released]

    Lewis Salmon [Released]

    Sheffield United

    In

    Tom Davies [Everton] Free

    Anis Slimane [Brondby] Undisclosed

    Benie Traore [Hacken] Undisclosed

    Yasser Larouci [Troyes] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Arsenal] Undisclosed

    Vinicius Souza [Lommel SK] Undisclosed

    Out

    Sander Berge [Burnley] £12m

    Illiman Ndiaye [Marseille] Undisclosed

    Sander Berge [Burnley] Undisclosed

    George Broadbent [Doncaster Rovers] Undisclosed

    Jake Eastwood [Grimsby Town] Undisclosed

    Harry Boyes [Wycombe] Loan

    Jack O’Connell [Released]

    Billy Sharp [Released]

    Enda Stevens [Stoke] Free

    Kyron Gordon [Released]

    Tottenham

    In

    James Maddison [Leicester City] £40m

    Micky van de Ven [Wolfsburg] £34m

    Alejo Veliz [Rosario Central] £13m

    Ashley Phillips [Blackburn] £2m

    Manor Solomon [Shakhtar Donetsk] Free

    Guglielmo Vicario [Empoli] Undisclosed

    Dejan Kulusevski [Juventus] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Kane [Bayern Munich] £100m

    Harry Winks [Leicester] £10m

    Lucas Moura [Released]

    Jamie Bowden [Released]

    Kallum Cesay [Released]

    Malachi Fagan-Walcott [Released]

    Marqes Muir [Released]

    Maddison joined Spurs from Leicester. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    West Ham

    In

    Edson Alvarez [Ajax] £34m

    James Ward-Prowse [Southampton] £30m

    Sean Moore [Cliftonville] Undisclosed

    Out

    Declan Rice [Arsenal] £105m

    Gianluca Scamacca [Atalanta] £21.5m

    Arthur Masuaku [Besiktas] £2m

    Nikola Vlasic [Torino] Undisclosed

    Kamari Swyer [Crawley Town] Loan

    Freddie Potts [Wycombe Wanderers] Loan

    Krisztian Hegyi [Stevenage] Loan

    Manuel Lanzini [Released]

    Brian Kinnear [Released]

    Mipo Odubeko [Released]

    Armstrong Okoflex [Released]

    Wolves

    In

    Boubacar Traore [Metz] £9.5m

    Matt Doherty [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Tom King [Northampton Town] Free

    Out

    Ruben Neves [Al-Hilal] £47m

    Nathan Collins [Brentford] £23m

    Conor Coady [Leicester] £8.5m

    Raul Jimenez [Fulham] £5m

    Ryan Giles [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Jeong Sang-bin [Minnesota United] Undisclosed

    Hayao Kawabe [Standard Liege] Undisclosed

    Tyler Roberts [Doncaster] Loan

    Luke Cundle [Plymouth] Loan

    Dexter Lembikisa [Rotherham United] Loan

    Adama Traore [Released]

    Joao Moutinho [Released]

    Diego Costa [Released]

    Michael Agboola [Released]

    Lee Harkin [Released]

    Luke Matheson [Released]

    Source link

  • Champs bolster defensive ranks with stunning $150m coup: PL Done Deals

    Champs bolster defensive ranks with stunning $150m coup: PL Done Deals

    Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol on a five-year deal from RB Leipzig, the Premier League champions announced Saturday.

    No financial details were revealed but Pep Guardiola’s side are understood to have agreed a fee of €90 million ($AUD150 million) for the Croatia international.

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    Gvardiol, 21, has impressed in his two seasons at Leipzig which he joined from Dynamo Zagreb in July 2021.

    “I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me,” said Gvardiol of joining a team which won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last year.

    “Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.” Gvardiol becomes Man City’s second signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, following fellow Croatian international Mateo Kovacic.

    Gvardiol has signed for Manchester City. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “To be joining City is something very special for me and my family,” continued Gvardiol.

    “To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me. “I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.

    “To be linking up with Mateo Kovacic will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023/24 and then beyond.” Capped 21 times for Croatia, Gvardiol made 87 appearances across two seasons for Leipzig winning back-to-back German Cups.

    He won two league titles with Zagreb before moving to the Bundesliga.

    PL DONE DEALS

    ARSENAL

    In

    Declan Rice [West Ham] £105m

    Kai Havertz [Chelsea] £65m

    Jurrien Timber [Ajax] £38m

    Out

    Granit Xhaka [Bayer Leverkusen] £21m

    Pablo Mari [AC Monza] £6m

    Nikolaj Moller [FC St. Gallen] Undisclosed

    Mazeed Ogungbo [Barrow] Undisclosed

    Ben Cottrell [NS Mura] Undisclosed

    Mauro Bandeira [Colchester United] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Sheffield United] Undisclosed

    Tom Smith [Colchester] Free

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Released]

    Matt Smith [Released]

    Joel Ideho [Released]

    George Lewis [Released]

    Tom Smith [Released]

    Zach Awe [Released]

    Kaleel Green [Released]

    Alexandar Kovacevic [Released]

    Tino Quamina [Released]

    Mathaeus Roberts [Released]

    Declan Rice moved to Arsenal for a British record fee. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    ASTON VILLA

    In

    Pau Torres [Villarreal] £35m

    Youri Tielemans [Leicester] Free

    Moussa Diaby [Bayer Leverkusen] Undisclosed

    Out

    Marvelous Nakamba [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Wesley [Stoke City] Undisclosed

    Morgan Sanson [Nice] Loan

    Kaine Kesler-Hayden [Plymouth Argyle] Loan

    Louie Barry [Stockport County] Loan

    Finn Azaz [Plymouth] Loan

    Ashley Young [Everton] Free

    Declan Frith [Released]

    Hayden Lindley [Released]

    Arjan Raikhy [Released]

    Ruben Shakpoke [Released]

    Myles Sohna [Released]

    Jed Steer [Released]

    Brad Young [Released]

    Aston Villa broke their transfer fee record to snap up Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    BOURNEMOUTH

    In

    Justin Kluivert [Roma] Undisclosed

    Romain Faivre [Lyon] Undisclosed (sent on loan to Lorient)

    Hamed Traore [Sassuolo] £20m

    Milos Kerkez [AZ Alkmaar] Undisclosed

    Andrei Radu [Inter Milan] Loan

    Out

    Siriki Dembele [Birmingham] Undisclosed

    Jefferson Lerma [Crystal Palace] Free

    Jack Stacey [Norwich City] Free

    Ben Pearson [Stoke] Undisclosed

    Will Dennis [Kilmarnock] Loan

    Mark Travers [Stoke] Loan

    Junior Stanislas [Released]

    Josh Popoola [Released]

    Tarik Gidaree [Released]

    Matthew Burgess [Released]

    Christopher Francis [Released]

    Brooklyn Genesini [Released]

    BRENTFORD

    In

    Nathan Collins [Wolves] £23m

    Kevin Schade [Freiburg] £22m

    Mark Flekken [Freiburg] £11m

    Kim Ji-soo [Seongnam] Undisclosed

    Ethan Brierley [Rochdale] Undisclosed

    Ethan Laidlaw [Hibernian] Undisclosed

    Romeo Beckham [Inter Miami] Undisclosed

    Erion Zabeli [Oxford United] Free

    Out

    Pontus Jansson [Malmo] Free

    Daniel Oyegoke [Bradford] Loan

    Fin Stevens [Oxford] Loan

    Matthew Cox [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Tristan Crama [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Ben Winterbottom [Welling] Loan

    Alex Gilbert [Middlesbrough] Free

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Saman Ghoddos [Released]

    Tariqe Fosu [Released]

    Joel Valencia [Released]

    J’Neil Bennett [Released]

    Lachlan Brook [Released]

    Nico Jones [Released]

    Roco Rees [Released]

    Roy Syla [Released]

    Lucias Vine [Released]

    Collins moved from Wolves to Brentford. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for Premier League)Source: Getty Images

    BRIGHTON

    In

    Joao Pedro [Watford] £30m

    Bart Verbruggen [Anderlecht] £16.3m

    Igor Julio [Fiorentina] £14.5m

    Jacob Slater [Preston North End] Undisclosed

    Mahmoud Dahoud [Borussia Dortmund] Free

    James Milner [Liverpool] Free

    Out

    Alexis Mac Allister [Liverpool] £55m

    Robert Sanchez [Chelsea] £25m

    Antef Tsoungui [Feyenoord] Undisclosed

    Taylor Richards [Queens Park Rangers] Undisclosed

    Aaron Connolly [Hull] Undisclosed

    Kjell Scherpen [Sturm Graz] Loan

    Abdallah Sima [Rangers] Loan

    James Beadle [Oxford United] Loan

    Marc Leonard [Northampton Town] Loan

    Jeremy Sarmiento [West Brom] Loan

    Carl Rushworth [Swansea] Loan

    Ed Turns [Leyton Orient] Loan

    Toby Bull [Released]

    Billie Clark [Released]

    Matthew Everitt [Released]

    Teddy Jenks [Forest Green] Free

    Todd Miller [Released]

    Sam Packham [Released]

    Haydon Roberts [Released]

    Casey Gabriel-Shann [Released]

    Jack Spong [Released]

    Fynn Talley [Peterborough] Free

    Lorent Tolaj [Released]

    Antef Tsoungui [Released]

    Ben Wilson [Released]

    BURNLEY

    In

    James Trafford [Manchester City] £19m

    Dara O’Shea [West Brom] £7m

    Luca Koleosho [Espanyol] £2.6m

    Zeki Amdouni [Basel] Undisclosed

    Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] Undisclosed

    Lawrence Vigouroux [Leyton Orient] Undisclosed

    Michael Obafemi [Swansea] Undisclosed

    Nathan Redmond [Besiktas] Free

    Jacob Bruun Larsen [Hoffenheim] Loan

    Out

    Ashley Barnes [Norwich] Free

    Lewis Thomas [Harrogate] Free

    Bailey Peacock-Farrell [AGF Aarhus] Loan

    Michael Mellon [Morecambe] Loan

    Will Norris [Portsmouth] Free

    Lukas Jensen [Lincoln] Free

    Luke McNally [Stoke] Loan

    CHELSEA

    In

    Christopher Nkunku [RB Leipzig] £52m

    Axel Disasi [Monaco] £38.5m

    Nicolas Jackson [Villarreal] £32m

    Robert Sanchez [Brighton] £25m

    Lesley Ugochukwu [Rennes] £24m

    Kendry Paez [Independiente del Valle] Undisclosed

    Dujuan Richards [Phoenix All Stars Academy] Undisclosed

    Angelo Gabriel [Santos] Undisclosed

    Alex Matos [Norwich] Undisclosed

    Diego Moreira [Benfica] Undisclosed

    Ishe Samuels-Smith [Everton] Undisclosed

    Out

    Kai Havertz [Arsenal] £65m

    Mason Mount [Manchester United] £55m

    Christian Pulisic [AC Milan] £20m

    Mateo Kovacic [Manchester City] £30m

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek [AC Milan] £15m

    Kalidou Kouilbay [Al-Hilal] Undisclosed

    Edouard Mendy [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    N’Golo Kante [Al-Ittihad] Free

    Cesar Azpilicueta [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Ethan Ampadu [Leeds] £7m

    David Datro Fofana [Union Berlin] Loan

    Dujon Sterling [Rangers] Free

    Baba Rahman [PAOK] Free

    Derrick Abu [Released]

    Prince Adegoke [Released]

    Tiemoue Bakayoko [Released]

    Nathan Baxter [Bolton] Free

    Juan Castillo [Released]

    Bryan Fiabema [Released]

    Joe Haigh [Released]

    Henry Lawrence [Released]

    Sam McClelland [Released]

    Silko Thomas [Released]

    Ethan Wady [Released]

    Jayden Wareham [Released]

    Charlie Webster [Heerenveen] Loan

    Dion Rankine [Exeter] Loan

    Nkunku is Chelsea’s big-money signing this summer. (Photo by Mike Stobe / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

    CRYSTAL PALACE

    In

    Jefferson Lerma [Bournemouth] Free

    Out

    Wilfried Zaha [Galatasaray] Free

    Rob Street [Cheltenham] Free

    Luke Plange [Carlisle] Loan

    James McArthur [Released]

    Luka Milivojevic [Released]

    Jack Butland [Rangers] Free

    Joshua Addae [Released]

    David Boateng [Released]

    Ryan Bartley [Released]

    Maliq Cadogan [Released]

    Reece Hannam [Released]

    David Omilabu [Released]

    Daniel Quick [Released]

    EVERTON

    In

    Ashley Young [Aston Villa] Free

    Arnaut Danjuma [Villarreal] Loan

    Out

    Ellis Simms [Coventry] £7m

    Yerry Mina [Released]

    Andros Townsend [Released]

    Niels Nkounkou [Saint-Etienne] Undisclosed

    Einar Iversen [Released]

    Isaac Price [Released]

    Tom Davies [Released]

    Harry Tyrer [Chesterfield] Loan

    Lewis Warrington [Plymouth] Loan

    Stanley Mills [Oxford] Loan

    FULHAM

    In

    Raul Jimenez [Wolves] £5m

    Calvin Bassey [Ajax] Undisclosed

    Willian

    Out

    Shane Duffy [Norwich] Free

    Kieron Bowie [Northampton Town] Loan

    Ibane Bowat [TSV Hartberg] Loan

    Joe Bryan [Millwall] Free

    Thorsteinn Antonsson [Released]

    Paulo Gazzaniga [Girona] Free

    Sonny Hilton [Released]

    Sylvester Jasper [Released]

    Neeskens Kebano [Al-Jazira] Free

    Ziyad Larkeche [QPR] Free

    Jonathon Page [Released]

    Steven Sessegnon [Released]

    Jean-Pierre Tiéhi [Released]

    LIVERPOOL

    In

    Alexis Mac Allister [Brighton] £35m

    Dominik Szoboszlai [RB Leipzig] £60m

    Out

    Fabinho [Al-Ittihad] Undisclosed

    Jordan Henderson [Al-Ettifaq] £12m

    Rhys Williams [Aberdeen] Loan

    Calvin Ramsay [Preston North End ] Loan

    Sepp van den Berg [Mainz] Loan

    Fabio Carvalho [RB Leipzig] Loan

    Roberto Firmino [Al-Ahli] Free

    James Milner [Brighton] Free

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Released]

    Naby Keita [Werder Bremen] Free

    Jack Bearne [Released]

    Liam Hughes [Released]

    Oscar Kelly [Released]

    Fidel O’Rourke [Released]

    Oludare Olufunwa [Released]

    Leighton Clarkson [Aberdeen] Undisclosed

    Harvey Davies [Crewe Alexandra] Loan

    Adam Lewis [Newport County] Loan

    Owen Beck [Dundee FC] Loan

    Anderson Arroyo [FC Andorra] Loan

    Dominik Szoboszlai adds plenty of quality to Liverpool’s midfield. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    LUTON TOWN

    In

    Tahith Chong [Birmingham] £4m

    Marvelous Nakamba [Aston Villa] Undisclosed

    Ryan Giles [Wolves] Undisclosed

    Mads Andersen [Barnsley] Undisclosed

    Chiedozie Ogbene [Rotherham United] Free

    Issa Kabore [Manchester City] Free

    Thomas Kaminski [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Isted [Charlton] Free

    Josh Neufville [AFC Wimbledon] Free

    Sonny Bradley [Derby] Free

    Henri Lansbury [Released]

    Fred Onyedinma [Rotherham United]

    Elliot Thorpe [Shrewsbury Town] Loan

    Jack Walton [Dundee United] Loan

    MANCHESTER CITY

    In

    Josko Gvardiol [RB Leipzig] £77m

    Mateo Kovacic [Chelsea] £30m

    Spike Brits [AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed

    Out

    Riyad Mahrez [Al-Ahil] £30m

    James Trafford [Burnley] £19m

    Shea Charles [Southampton] £15m

    lkay Gundogan [Barcelona] Free

    Carlos Borges [Ajax] £17.3m

    Terrell Agyemang [Middlesbrough] Free

    Finley Burns [Stevenage] Loan

    Rowan McDonald [Released]

    Benjamin Mendy [Released]

    Morgan Rogers [Middlesbrough] Undisclosed

    Kian Breckin [Wycombe] Loan

    Liam Delap [Hull City] Loan

    Callum Doyle [Leicester] Loan

    MANCHESTER UNITED

    In

    Mason Mount [Chelsea] £55m

    Andre Onana [Inter Milan] £47m

    Jonny Evans [Leicester] Free

    Out

    Anthony Elanga [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Alex Telles [Al Nassr] Undisclosed

    David de Gea [Released]

    Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht] £850,000

    Ethan Laird [Birmingham City] Undisclosed

    Ethan Galbraith [Leyton Orient] Free

    Issa Kaboure [Luton Town] Free

    Di’Shon Bernard [Sheffield Wednesday] Free

    Nathan Bishop [Sunderland] Undisclosed

    Will Fish [Hibernian] Loan

    Phil Jones [Released]

    Axel Tuanzebe [Released]

    Di’Shon Bernard [Released]

    Eric Hanbury [Released]

    Charlie Wellens [Released]

    Manni Norkett [Nottingham Forest] Free

    Mason Mount moved from Chelsea to Manchester United. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    NEWCASTLE UNITED

    In

    Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] £52m

    Harvey Barnes [Leicester] £38m

    Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed

    Out

    Chris Wood [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Allan Saint-Maximin [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    Karl Darlow [Leeds] Undisclosed

    Matty Bondswell [Newport] Loan

    Jamal Lewis [Watford] Loan

    Kell Watts [Wigan] Loan

    Niall Brookwell [Released]

    Ciaran Clark [Released]

    Dan Langley [Released]

    Matty Longstaff [Released]

    Josh Stewart [Released]

    Isaac Westendorf [Released]

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST

    In

    Chris Wood [Newcastle] £15m

    Anthony Elanga [Manchester United] £15m

    Manni Norkett [Manchester United] Free

    Ola Aina [Torino] Free

    Out

    Will Swan [Mansfield] Undisclosed

    Braian Ojeda [Real Salt Lake] Undisclosed

    Sam Surridge [Nashville SC] Free

    Jack Colback [QPR] Free

    Cafu [Rotherham] Free

    Oli Hammond [Cheltenham Town] Loan

    Josh Bowler [Cardiff] Loan

    Andre Ayew [Released]

    Jesse Lingard [Released]

    Jordan Smith [Released]

    Lyle Taylor [Released]

    Billy Fewster [Released]

    Alex Gibson-Hammond [Released]

    Ryan Hammon [Released]

    SHEFFIELD UNITED

    In

    Anis Slimane [Brondby] Undisclosed

    Benie Traore [Hacken] Undisclosed

    Yasser Larouci [Troyes] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Arsenal] Undisclosed

    Out

    Illiman Ndiaye [Marseille] Undisclosed

    George Broadbent [Doncaster Rovers] Undisclosed

    Jake Eastwood [Grimsby Town] Undisclosed

    Harry Boyes [Wycombe] Loan

    Jack O’Connell [Released]

    Billy Sharp [Released]

    Enda Stevens [Stoke] Free

    Kyron Gordon [Released]

    TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

    In

    James Maddison [Leicester City] £40m

    Manor Solomon [Shakhtar Donetsk] Free

    Guglielmo Vicario [Empoli] Undisclosed

    Dejan Kulusevski [Juventus] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Winks [Leicester] £10m

    Lucas Moura [Released]

    Jamie Bowden [Released]

    Kallum Cesay [Released]

    Malachi Fagan-Walcott [Released]

    Marqes Muir [Released]

    England international James Maddison moved to Tottenham. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP

    WEST HAM UNITED

    In

    Sean Moore [Cliftonville] Undisclosed – joining U21 squad

    Out

    Declan Rice [Arsenal] £105m

    Arthur Masuaku [Besiktas] £2m

    Kamari Swyer [Crawley Town] Loan

    Freddie Potts [Wycombe Wanderers] Loan

    Krisztian Hegyi [Stevenage] Loan

    Manuel Lanzini [Released]

    Brian Kinnear [Released]

    Mipo Odubeko [Released]

    Armstrong Okoflex [Released]

    WOLVES

    In

    Boubacar Traore [Metz] £9.5m

    Matt Doherty [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Tom King [Northampton Town] Free

    Out

    Ruben Neves [Al-Hilal] £47m

    Nathan Collins [Brentford] £23m

    Conor Coady [Leicester] £8.5m

    Raul Jimenez [Fulham] £5m

    Ryan Giles [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Jeong Sang-bin [Minnesota United] Undisclosed

    Hayao Kawabe [Standard Liege] Undisclosed

    Tyler Roberts [Doncaster] Loan

    Dexter Lembikisa [Rotherham United] Loan

    Adama Traore [Released]

    Joao Moutinho [Released]

    Diego Costa [Released]

    Michael Agboola [Released]

    Lee Harkin [Released]

    Luke Matheson [Released]

    Source link

  • Aussie’s $26m PL dream turns to nightmare; Mooy dazzles amid big Ange question: Roo Radar

    Aussie’s $26m PL dream turns to nightmare; Mooy dazzles amid big Ange question: Roo Radar

    As the dust settles on the majority of European leagues, a raft of Aussies have enjoyed triumphant title celebrations, suffered the heartbreak of relegation and just about everything in-between.

    Former Socceroos catapulted themselves back into the spotlight with several impressive performances while for others, they slowly crept further and further out of the national team picture.

    Foxsports.com.au takes a look at how the Aussies abroad performed over the course of the season in the Roo Radar Season Wrap-Up!

    Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

    Arnold confident Ange will ‘kill it’ | 05:43

    MORE COVERAGE

    Poetic moment highlights Ange’s staggering rise, 17 years after infamous live TV stoush

    Ange must solve Spurs’ problems. Sacrificing their $145m legend, or convincing him to stay, is up first

    ‘Roos Winners and Losers: Twist in heir to Ryan’s throne as forgotten hero remains in exile

    ENGLAND

    We begin our end-of-season wrap in England, the nation where the majority of our Aussies abroad are based.

    Harry Souttar ended our wait for an Australian player back in the Premier League when he moved from Championship side Stoke City to Leicester City for $26 million in the January window.

    The towering defender saw plenty of gametime after his arrival as he started nine games in a row.

    However, he was demoted to the Foxes’ bench for five games after a 3-1 loss to Manchester City on April 15.

    Although he returned to help Leicester keep a clean sheet in their penultimate game of the season against Newcastle, he was an unused substitute on the final day as the Foxes were relegated.

    With Caglar Soyuncu gone and Jannik Vestergaard likely to leave, there will be plenty of opportunities for Souttar to play next season and help his club secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

    There was also a Premier League debut for Cam Peupion at Brighton.

    The Sydney FC youth product was a constant presence on Brighton’s bench in the final six games of the season but got his first Premier League minutes in a 4-1 loss to Newcastle.

    The 20-year-old midfielder came on for a five-minute cameo and here’s hoping there’s plenty more to come next season.

    Souttar was relegated with Leicester back to the Championship. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Socceroos midfielder Alexander Robertson unfortunately did not receive any senior minutes for English giants Manchester City, but he made the matchday squads on a number of occasions.

    A loan move for the talented City product could be on the cards next season as he looks to gain more experience in senior level football.

    Dipping into the Championship and it was mixed fortunes for our Aussie contingent.

    Tom Rogic joined West Bromwich Albion on a free deal in what seemed relatively good business at the time.

    But Rogic started just four games from 26 and never really got going at the Hawthorns.

    He has since been released by the Baggies as Aussies await his next move.

    Riley McGree enjoyed a tremendous season under Middlesbrough coach Michael Carrick as a winger en route to a Play-Offs semi-final appearance.

    The 24-year-old started 35 games and looks likely to continue flourishing under Carrick’s tutelage.

    Goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic continued Australia’s proud history of goalkeepers shining overseas as the 20-year-old made six league appearances for Huddersfield Town.

    Bilokapic even registered an assist in a 2-1 win for the Terries over Birmingham City in February.

    Ange to coach first Spurs game in Aus | 01:58

    Unfortunately Kenny Dougall was relegated to League One with Blackpool but with former boss Neil Critchley back at the helm, the all-action midfielder will look to bounce back.

    In League One, Aussie duo Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess got to enjoy the sweet, sweet taste of promotion with Ipswich Town.

    Burgess was a rock at the back for Ipswich who also had the best defensive record in the English third tier.

    Luongo joined the Tractor Boys in January and proved to be an extremely influential member in the midfield.

    Although the 30-year-old is now out of contract, there’s every chance he is asked to return to Portman Road for the upcoming Championship season and beyond.

    Young goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer enjoyed a breakout season for Charlton Athletic and put his name into the conversation for Mat Ryan’s heir.

    From November 19 onwards, Maynard-Brewer 26 of 28 games and kept five clean sheets with a string of impressive performances.

    But the 23-year-old gloveman earned plenty of praise for his heroics in the Addicks’ EFL Cup fourth round clash against Brighton, with Maynard-Brewer coming up with a big stop in the penalty shootout.

    Maynard-Brewer in action for Charlton. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    SCOTLAND

    There were no less than 15 Aussie stars taking part in the Scottish top flight this season, but there were mixed fortunes involved for all.

    At the top of the table was Aaron Mooy who moved to Celtic on a free transfer.

    The midfield maestro scored seven goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for the Hoops en route to a Scottish treble.

    He enjoyed somewhat of a purple patch from December 24 to March 11, as Mooy had 14 goal involvements in 13 games.

    The big question will be where he fits into the new manager’s plans after Ange Postecoglou departed for Spurs.

    Cameron Devlin, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and Garang Kuol all played their part in helping Hearts to a fourth-place finish and a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League.

    Kuol arrived in the January window to get his first taste of senior club football outside of Australia, but struggled to make his mark.

    Devlin and Rowles, who moved to the club from the Central Coast Mariners last year, played 41 and 33 games respectively with the former scoring twice and notching seven assists.

    Atkinson made 26 appearances in all competitions but was often injected into contests from the bench.

    Mooy enjoyed a career resurgence at Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    One spot below Hearts on the Scottish Premiership ladder was their bitter Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, who boast an Aussie trio of their own in Martin Boyle, James Jeggo and Lewis Miller.

    Boyle looked in strong form since he returned from Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly but had his season ended early thanks to a knee injury suffered on October 29.

    Jeggo joined from Belgian side AS Eupen in January and started in each of his 17 appearances, while Miller featured in 16 games although 11 of those came off the bench.

    At St Mirren, Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain enjoyed breakout seasons.

    Right-back Strain was a constant presence in St. Mirren’s lineup and started 39 of 42 games.

    His four-goal haul included some stunning free kicks while he bagged five assists.

    As for Baccus, who arrived at the club from Western Sydney Wanderers, his tough-tackling performances earned him a spot in the Socceroos World Cup squad and was handed a starting berth against eventual world champions Argentina.

    Sadly for Dundee United duo Mark Birighitti and Aziz Behich, they were relegated in what was a dismal season for the Tangerines.

    Celtic pay touching tribute to Ange | 02:23

    NETHERLANDS

    Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan secured a much-needed move away from Real Sociedad and found himself at Danish giants FC Copenhagen.

    Although he enjoyed a bright start in the capital, a lingering battle with fellow Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara bubbled away in the background.

    Ryan made 11 appearances for Copenhagen and kept five clean sheets, including one in a scoreless draw against Sevilla in the Champions League.

    But once Grabara returned from injury, Ryan lost his starting spot.

    Not willing to be stuck behind his rival, who took an unnecessary swipe at the Aussie star in the wake of the Socceroos’ loss to Argentina, Ryan found himself a new team: AZ Alkmaar.

    Ryan played 25 times and recorded eight clean sheets as AZ finished fourth in the Eredivisie and were one game away from a Europa Conference League final.

    With a contract until June 2024, let’s hope Ryan has found himself somewhat of a permanent home after years of turbulence.

    Mat Ryan looks to have finally found a home. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    SPAIN/CZECH REPUBLIC

    Well, there’s only one Aussie who fits this bill and that is winger Awer Mabil.

    The 27-year-old moved to La Liga side Cadiz last summer but started just one game for the Spanish side as game time proved difficult to come by.

    He moved to Czech heavyweights Sparta Prague in January and although he started once there too, he saw more time on the pitch as an impact sub.

    Cadiz survived the wild final-day relegation shootout in La Liga to stay in the top flight for another season, but Mabil must get more game time if he is to play a continued role with the Socceroos.

    FRANCE

    After a horror run with injuries, midfielder Denis Genreau finally got to find some form with Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

    Genreau saw limited minutes in the early stages of the season, but started in all but two of Toulouse’s final nine league games.

    The 24-year-old also got to enjoy some silverware thanks to Toulouse’s stunning 5-1 thrashing of Nantes in the Coupe de France final.

    Genreau’s regular starts in the back-end of the season should provide hope for increased game time going forward.

    Also in France, 19-year-old forward Mohamed Toure made his Ligue 1 debut for Reims with three consecutive appearances off the bench in the latter stages of the season.

    If Toure can kick on next season and gain some rare starts, he’ll no doubt have a strong claim for a Socceroos call-up.

    Genreau (left) has returned to the Socceroos fold. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)Source: AFP

    GERMANY

    Alou Kuol can now say he has played in the Bundesliga, as the talented forward came off the bench for VfB Stuttgart against RB Leipzig on January 27.

    Thanks to a 6-1 aggregate win over Hamburg in the relegation play-off to preserve their Bundesliga status, here’s hoping Kuol can make even more appearances in the German top flight next season.

    In the 2. Bundesliga, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe couldn’t quite lift St. Pauli to promotion.

    Irvine finished as St. Pauli’s second-top goalscorer with eight, while Metcalfe scored three times in his first season with the club having moved from Melbourne City.

    ITALY

    Ajdin Hrustic moved to Serie A side Hellas Verona on deadline day last summer but endured a tough start to life in Italy as he started just two league games before undergoing ankle surgery in January.

    The attacking midfielder returned to the bench for Verona’s final three games but didn’t see any game time as his side now faces a relegation play-off against Spezia to stay in Serie A.

    Should the worst-case scenario occur and Verona go down to Serie B, Hrustic could seek an exit just one year into his deal.

    Hrustic’s time in Italy has been hampered by ankle surgery. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    However, one player who made waves in Italy’s second tier was Alessandro Circati.

    The highly-rated teenager, who recently earned a Socceroos call-up, enjoyed a solid season for Parma as they came agonisingly short of promotion.

    The 19-year-old may have started just ten games, but he also enjoyed the second-highest points-per-game rating in the squad with 2.00 whenever he played.

    With legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon behind him, Circati will have learned plenty from one of the greats of the game and will look to continue his development with Parma.

    One Socceroo who must be on the move to save his international future is right back Fran Karacic, who was relegated from Serie B to Serie C with Brescia.

    BELGIUM

    Jason Davidson made his return to European football with Belgian side AS Eupen after joining from Melbourne Victory.

    The defender started 30 from 33 games as Eupen finished 15th from 18 teams.

    AUSTRIA

    Veteran midfielder James Holland moved to Austria Vienna last summer and proved to be an important player as the Austrian side ultimately finished fifth in the league.

    Source link

  • Souttar’s ‘nightmare’ realised amid shock relegation as Aussie stars seal Euro spot: Roo Radar

    Souttar’s ‘nightmare’ realised amid shock relegation as Aussie stars seal Euro spot: Roo Radar

    Two Socceroos stars suffered the heartbreaking fate of relegation, while two others had significantly different fortunes.

    Meanwhile, a host of Aussies helped their respective teams qualify for various European competitions.

    Catch up on how the Aussies abroad fared in the latest edition of the Roo Radar!

    Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

    From hope to horror in 92-seconds | 00:46

    MORE COVERAGE

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    AUSSIE STAR’S PL DREAM TURNS INTO NIGHTMARE AS DREADED FATE SEALED

    Harry Souttar’s Premier League dream has sadly turned into a living nightmare as Leicester City was relegated despite a 2-1 win over West Ham United on the final day.

    The Foxes had to win and hope Bournemouth would hold Everton to at least a draw.

    Although Dean Smith’s side held up their end of the bargain, a thumping strike from Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure killed off any chance of Leicester staying up.

    Souttar was an unused substitute for the do-or-die clash as he now contemplates life in the Championship once again barely five months after leaving Stoke City for Premier League life.

    Former Socceroo Robbie Slater claimed it’s “turned out a nightmare move after what seemed like a dream move” but believes the towering centre-back is best served by sticking around at the club.

    “I think he will stay,” Slater told Fox Sports News.

    “I think for Leicester and, if it’s Dean Smith who does stay there, I think someone like Harry Souttar will be a real bonus for Leicester’s hopes for bouncing back up into the Premier League at their first shot in the Championship.

    “We have seen throughout history that it doesn’t always end up being the case that way.

    “It’s important for him or Leicester to keep him because of his experience in the Championship and what he did at Stoke City.”

    Ecstasy for Toffees… agony for Foxes | 01:03

    MIXED FORTUNES FOR SCOTTISH CONTINGENT

    Souttar wasn’t the only Aussie to suffer the cruel fate of relegation, as Aziz Behich and Mark Birighitti were sent to the second tier of Scotland with Dundee United.

    Behich played the full 90 minutes for the Tangerines in a 3-2 loss to Motherwell while Birighitti was an unused substitute.

    However, it was a more enjoyable weekend for several of the other Aussies in Scotland.

    Although he was out with an injury, Aaron Mooy was front and centre during Celtic’s league title celebrations after a resounding 5-0 win over Aberdeen at Celtic Park.

    The Socceroos midfielder will now hope to be fit enough for Celtic’s Scottish FA Cup final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle as Ange Postecoglou’s side look to complete the domestic treble.

    Down in the Scottish capital, Kye Rowles, Cameron Devlin and Nathaniel Atkinson all logged 90 minutes for Hearts against Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby.

    Hearts drew 1-1 against their local rivals in a result which secured a spot in the Europa Conference League for the former.

    Aaron Mooy was a part of Celtic’s title celebrations after the Hoops’ 5-0 win over Aberdeen. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS …

    Awer Mabil had the pleasure of lifting a trophy as Sparta Prague secured the league title despite a 1-0 loss to Viktoria Plzen.

    The winger entered the contest in the 66th minute but was unable to help his team get back in the contest, although it mattered little.

    Mabil moved to the club on loan from Spanish side Cadiz in January.

    In the Netherlands, Mat Ryan couldn’t prevent AZ Alkmaar from slipping to a 2-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredevisie.

    However, the result kept AZ in fourth place and meant the club secured a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League playoff.

    Another Aussie in relegation trouble is midfielder Ajdin Hrustic.

    Hrustic didn’t see any game time for Serie A side Hellas Verona in a 1-1 draw against Empoli which subsequently dropped the Aussie’s team into the relegation zone.

    They now face the uphill task of getting a result against AC Milan on the final day of the season and hope Roma can beat Spezia.

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  • ‘You don’t get an easy ride’: Ange Postecoglou’s honest message to fringe players after Celtic defeat

    ‘You don’t get an easy ride’: Ange Postecoglou’s honest message to fringe players after Celtic defeat

    Rangers dampened Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title celebrations by ending a six-game winless run against their Glasgow rivals with a 3-0 victory on Saturday.

    Todd Cantwell, John Souttar and Fashion Sakala scored the goals as Michael Beale secured his first Old Firm win as Rangers boss.

    “It’s been a tough season overall for the fans and that one today should send them home with a bit more oxygen and optimism for what it going to be an exciting summer at the football club,” said Beale.

    “If we can bring that energy from the stands, I’ll push the boys on the pitch to bring the same energy and then next season we can give ourselves a big chance to do something we can really be proud of.”

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    Rangers celebrate the win. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Celtic retained their title with four games to spare last weekend but defeat means Ange Postecoglou’s men now cannot set a new club record points tally.

    The roles were reversed from previous meetings between the sides this season as Celtic paid for a slow start and a failure to take their chances.

    “It was a disappointing day for us. We never really got going,” said Celtic boss Postecoglou, who gave some of his fringe players a chance to shine.

    “We had a couple of really good opportunities to get back in the game and we let ourselves down in those areas.”

    Postecoglou said the defeat served as a reminder to the fringe players.

    “They just need to understand what this football club’s about, that’s the expectations,” he added.

    “You don’t get an easy ride, you don’t get a cushy introduction into life as a footballer. It is demanding from the moment you put on a shirt to the moment you leave.

    “It is fair to say it wasn’t just about the guys who came in. Obviously the changes didn’t help but I just thought the general performance, and the level of performance, wasn’t there.”

    Ange Postecoglou spoke openly after the loss. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Cantwell smashed home the opener just five minutes in after Joe Hart parried John Lundstram’s fierce strike.

    The visitors should have been level immediately as Oh Hyeon-gyu hit the post when one-on-one with Robby McCrorie.

    Liel Abada also missed a glorious chance to equalise before Rangers doubled their lead through Souttar’s header from a corner.

    McCrorie was making just his second appearance of the season with the youngster given his chance to stake a claim to be number one next season by Beale.

    He could not have done his chances any harm as he produced another stunning save just after the break to prevent Matt O’Riley pulling a goal back.

    A bad day for Postecoglou’s men was summed up 20 minutes from time when a calamitous mix-up between captain Callum McGregor and Carl Starfelt allowed Sakala to run clean through and round Hart before slotting into an empty net.

    Todd Cantwell of Rangers FC celebrates after scoring. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Just Celtic’s second league defeat of the season sees the gap between the top two reduced to 10 points with three games remaining.

    At the other end of the table, a Jordan White hat-trick lifted Ross County off the foot of the table at Dundee United’s expense with a 3-1 win at Tannadice.

    Kilmarnock also boosted their survival hopes by beating Livingston 2-0. Motherwell are now mathematically safe after a 2-0 win at St. Johnstone lifted them up to seventh.

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  • ‘Hate to put a name on it’: Arnie makes bold claim as 20yo star compared to Socceroos legend

    ‘Hate to put a name on it’: Arnie makes bold claim as 20yo star compared to Socceroos legend

    Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has boldly likened left back Jordan Bos to Australian great Scott Chipperfield and hinted the Melbourne City defender’s inclusion could lead to a major tactical evolution.

    Bos could make his Socceroos debut having been named in Arnold’s squad for the upcoming fixtures against Ecuador, a deserved reward on the back of a highly impressive campaign for the A-League Men’s league leaders.

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    The 20-year-old has especially caught the eye for his barnstorming displays on the left flank and has one goal and three assists to his name this season.

    Arnold has been keeping tabs on the Melbourne City youngster “probably for a year-and-a-half” and lauded Bos’ attacking ability as well as his strong physical build that belies his age.

    “He’s a left full back that can get high, get forward and get some good crosses in the box,” Arnold said.

    “He’s physically a good specimen for what we need.”

    The left back position has largely been held by Aziz Behich since he made his international debut in November 2012, with the 32-year-old making 57 appearances since.

    Jordan Bos could make his Socceroos debut against Ecuador. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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    The Dundee United man’s impressive displays at the World Cup saw him linked with a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray, although that did not eventuate.

    However, Behich isn’t getting any younger and at some point Arnold must consider the heir to Behich’s throne, which Bos could very well take over in the not-too-distant future.

    For Arnold, the allure of Bos is the tactical flexibility it allows him and, if his comparison of Bos to Socceroos great Chipperfield rings true, the 20-year-old could prove to be a mainstay in the famous green and gold shirt.

    “He’s a completely different player to Aziz Behich as a left fullback,” Arnold said.

    “I don’t think I’ve seen one like this one since Scott Chipperfield. I hate to put a name on it, but he’s a very, very similar player to Scotty.

    “He gives you that extra way that we can play, that maybe we don’t need to play with an inverted full back now.

    “We can play with a fullback that can be high and wide and give us something different.

    “During a game, for example, if we are playing with that inverted fullback, we can change our style and change our way with one substitution.

    “That’s what he brings to us now.”

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  • How Ange’s emotional pre-season promise proved why he’s headed ‘right to the very top’

    How Ange’s emotional pre-season promise proved why he’s headed ‘right to the very top’

    When Ange Postecoglou was appointed Celtic manager in 2021, the Australian football community implored Hoops fans to buckle up for the emotional rollercoaster to come.

    There would be bumps, yes, but boy, would it deliver some thrills.

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    After all, Aussies had seen it first hand with Postecoglou’s renowned ‘Roarcelona’ as well as his four-year stint as Socceroos boss.

    Any scepticism from the Celtic faithful was washed away as Postecoglou’s side romped home to a Scottish Premiership title as well as a League Cup.

    But, more importantly, the club booked a spot in the lucrative Champions League group stages for the first time since 2017.

    With expectations for his first season well and truly smashed beyond oblivion, where would the bar be set for Postecoglou’s second season?

    Well, the Australian set it himself in a rousing speech when celebrating the league title triumph at Celtic Park.

    “I want everyone to enjoy today, enjoy the summer,” Postecoglou said.

    “And we’ll come back bigger and better because we never stop.”

    In many respects, Postecoglou’s second act has gone exactly as he described, with the Hoops still on track for the treble and a familiar Aussie face proving to be one of the signings of the season.

    And although the European adventure went awry, it has not deterred envious eyes from south of the border glancing upwards.

    Ange’s message to players ahead of final | 01:17

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    CELTIC ‘AT THEIR BEST UNDER ANGE’ IN STUNNING SIX WIN, 25-GOAL START

    With the carrot of guaranteed Champions League football to offer, Celtic worked smartly in the summer transfer window.

    Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota, two vital players who were with the Hoops on a temporary basis last season, were snapped up on permanent deals for a combined figure of approximately $AUD21.9 million.

    German centre-back Moritz Jenz was brought in on loan from FC Lorient to provide extra depth at the back, while left-back Alexandro Bernabei and winger Sead Haksabanovic also joined on a full-time basis.

    But the deal that piqued the interest of Celtic fans and Australians was the signing of Socceroos star Aaron Mooy.

    The 32-year-old moved to Celtic Park on a two-year deal after cancelling his contract with Chinese side Shanghai Port.

    Despite a bit-part role to begin his time in Glasgow, Mooy has slowly emerged as a vital cog in the Celtic midfield machine and has won over the doubters with his performances since.

    Hamish Carton, author of Never Stop: How Ange Postecoglou Brought the Fire Back to Celtic (released on March 13), hailed the silky midfielder and ranked him as one of Postecoglou’s most important signings to date.

    “Aaron Mooy has been a complete revelation,” Carton told foxsports.com.au.

    “This may be controversial, but I think arguably Ange’s best signing at Celtic, given the expectations and how well he’s performed.”

    After a slow start, Aaron Mooy has found his feet at Celtic. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Although it took Mooy some time to find his feet in the famous green and white shirt, Celtic wasted no time finding theirs to begin the Scottish Premiership season.

    After all, they entered the campaign unbeaten in their last 32 league fixtures.

    The Hoops scored 12, conceded just one and won all four of their opening games to extend the streak to 36 unbeaten league games, but it was the next two games that highlighted how absurdly dominant Celtic had become.

    A trip to Dundee United, who had lost three of their opening four games, was first.

    90 minutes soon passed and so too did nine goals into the back of the Tangerines’ net in an absolute mauling for Postecoglou’s side.

    “They [Dundee United] were struggling like mad at that stage, but it was Celtic at their best under Ange,” Carton said.

    “Three, four, five, six-nil up and still looking for more goals.”

    Despite the goalfest at Tannadice, there would be no time for Celtic to stand back and marvel at their work as the first Old Firm derby was just around the corner.

    It was a Rangers side who, only a few months before, came agonisingly close to winning the Europa League final.

    But that same team was sliced open with surgical precision time and time again by a rampant Celtic outfit.

    “We just completely battered Rangers,” Carton said.

    Celtic put Rangers to the sword in a 4-0 humiliation. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “Four-nil against Rangers is the kind of result we were getting under Brendan Rodgers when Rangers were in a real state.

    “For Celtic under Ange to beat them four-nil, I think it was his most impressive result so far at the club.”

    With all the momentum of a thundering locomotive behind them, it quickly became time — three days, to be precise — for Celtic’s attention to shift once again.

    But this time, it wouldn’t be for a domestic rival.

    It would be for the defending champions of Europe.

    ‘PERFECT DRAW’ ENDS IN UCL DISASTER … BUT MAJOR SILVER LINING EMERGES

    Although Celtic came flying out of the gates on the domestic front, Hoops fans had one eye on the announcement of their Champions League group.

    And on August 25, the Glasgow outfit learned its fate.

    Joining them in Group F was European giants Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk, a group Carton described as “the perfect draw in many ways.”

    But a perfect draw on paper failed to materialise into results.

    Celtic failed to win any of their six Champions League matches, with four losses and two draws — both one-all results against Shakhtar Donetsk — all they had to show for their efforts.

    Carton recalls “the vast majority of fans felt really, really disappointed after some of the games”, but it wasn’t down to the fact Celtic failed to win.

    No, it was down to just how close they took the games despite the notable differences in the quality of players.

    Postecoglou got to test his tactical nous against Carlo Ancelotti. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    There was perhaps no greater example of that than the opening game against Madrid at Celtic Park, when Los Blancos took the three points in a game where the Hoops never took a backward step before eventually being overrun.

    “I remember watching him after the defeat to Real Madrid,” Carton said.

    “The best team in Europe had ten of the 11 players who had beaten Liverpool in the final 100 days earlier start against us.

    “For the first 50, 55 minutes, Celtic gave as good as they got and were probably the better team. Then they just fell away in the final half-an-hour and lost 3-0.

    “I remember Ange walking around after the game and he looked genuinely gutted at losing a match like that.

    “I think he would feel the frustration as well because he wants Celtic to not just compete at that level, but to really compete and win games at that level.”

    Although a disappointed Postecoglou was left to pick up the pieces after the failed Champions League campaign, Carton believes the Aussie boss and the Celtic fanbase could see the silver linings from the losses.

    And it serves as evidence for why next year’s Champions League campaign, should they qualify, will be even better.

    “It showed to me that Ange’s style can work at the top level,” Carton said.

    “In five out of the six matches, we were in those matches at halftime. I think we scored in the vast majority of games and could have scored far more.

    Celtic’s European adventure ended at the first hurdle. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “There’s always a massive debate about whether Ange will change his game style when he comes up against these teams. It’s clearly not going to happen, but equally it’s not a case of two ways to play in terms of going all out and then having 11 men behind the ball.”

    Carton also pointed out the value in Celtic’s squad gaining crucial Champions League experience given only a handful of them had ever played in the group stages before.

    “I think the team will be much more used to the level and hopefully Ange will be as well,” Carton said.

    “I don’t think Ange was the issue, I think the team just wasn’t quite ready. But I think we’ll see an improvement next year.”

    ‘STICKY PATCH’ SURVIVED AS QUEST FOR ALL-TIME FEAT REMAINS ON

    Although a 2-0 defeat to St Mirren on September 18 brought an end to Celtic’s remarkable 38-game unbeaten run, which eclipsed the 36-game streak he achieved with the Brisbane Roar, Postecoglou’s side has marched on and won 18 from 19 games.

    Despite the mind-boggling win rate, Carton conceded the team had somewhat of a “sticky patch” by Celtic’s lofty standards.

    In the eight games between the St Mirren loss and the beginning of the World Cup break, Celtic kept just one clean sheet.

    The Hoops also had to come from behind against Hearts to secure a crucial three points at Tynecastle.

    But it’s the victories over St Johnstone and Dundee United Carton points to as evidence of why Postecoglou’s side are just so good.

    Celtic held a one-nil lead over St Johnstone through an own-goal before the hosts thought they’d secured a draw through a 93rd-minute equaliser.

    However, the Hoops would have the last laugh when Giorgos Giakoumakis, who left for Atlanta United in January, scored the winner two minutes later.

    Giorgos Giakoumakis may have moved on, but he saved Celtic’s bacon against St Johnstone. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Against the Tangerines, Celtic led 2-1 but conceded in the 87th minute, a complete contrast from the nine-nil destruction earlier in the season.

    But once again, Postecoglou’s mentality of never stopping proved key as Celtic scored twice to secure a 4-2 victory and leave Dundee United shell-shocked.

    “It’s almost as if the team was coasting at one stage, then the minute they know the result is in a bit of doubt, they’d turn it on and go and score,” Carton said.

    “If that’s your sticky patch and you’re still finding a way to win games, you’re not doing too bad at all.

    “I think people talk about the free-flowing football under Ange and the big results in terms of scorelines, but I think it sometimes it’s finding a way to win, even when things aren’t going your way, that is what Ange’s teams are all about.”

    After the World Cup break, it’s been very much business as usual for Celtic.

    They’ve won every league game aside from a 2-2 draw against Rangers at Ibrox, who have a new manager at the helm in the form of Michael Beale.

    Celtic have also cruised in the two cup competitions and will face Hearts in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup while a salivating date with Rangers in the Scottish League Cup on Monday awaits.

    Rangers boss Michael Beale will be out to spoil Postecoglou’s treble ambitions. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    With a nine-point lead in the league, Postecoglou’s side remain well in contention for the treble, something Carton believes is “almost expected” nowadays but knows it “only takes one off-day” for those aspirations to come crashing down.

    Should Postecoglou pull off the feat, Carton isn’t quite sure it would be as special as the Hoops’ 16/17 treble season given Brendan Rodgers’ side didn’t lose a single game in the three competitions that season.

    But, given Rangers’ resurgence since then, a treble this season “would be right up there.”

    And if that transpires, Premier League clubs will be falling over themselves in their efforts to prise the 57-year-old away from Glasgow.

    WHY ANGE COULD CHASE PL DREAM … AND WHY HE’LL STAY PUT IN GLASGOW

    It’s almost become like clockwork: a Premier League manager loses their job and within minutes the high-flying Celtic or Rangers manager is linked with the vacancy.

    In fact, it was only November 2021 when an Old Firm boss last moved down south as Steven Gerrard moved from Rangers to Aston Villa.

    Brendan Rodgers was the last Celtic manager to make the same passage, albeit the Northern Irishman left the Hoops in the lurch having moved to Leicester City in February 2019.

    Postecoglou has not been safe from the tenuous links, with his name popping up in the conversation for vacancies at Brighton, Everton, Leeds and Wolverhampton Wanderers throughout the season.

    Although Carton and the vast majority of the Celtic fanbase are aware that such rumours have become “pretty predictable at this stage”, it is undeniably a “good thing.”

    “If he wasn’t doing a good job with Celtic then he wouldn’t be getting linked to these jobs,” Carton said.

    “So I’m more than happy with it.”

    Postecoglou has been linked with a number of Premier League jobs this season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Any such talk of a departure brings up two questions, the first of which is when Postecoglou could go.

    Openings emerge in the middle of the campaign more than they do during the off-season, yet Carton remains convinced Postecoglou would keep his legacy intact in the way he departs unlike a certain former Celtic boss.

    “When Brendan Rodgers left midway through the season, it really left a bitter taste in the mouth of Celtic fans and he isn’t really remembered as fondly because of that,” Carton said.

    “I’d hate for that to happen with Ange. I think Ange would be aware of that and I think he wants to leave a good legacy whenever he leaves the club, and he tends to do that.”

    When the time comes, Carton believes Postecoglou would bid farewell at the end of a season, allowing Celtic plenty of time to scout for his successor.

    Even though there’s only a handful of months left before this season is done and dusted, Carton holds out hope the Australian boss will stick around for a little while longer.

    “Maybe I’m just naive, but I don’t really feel like I’m too worried and I’m not worried about him leaving this summer,” Carton said.

    “I think he really wants to achieve something with Celtic in Europe and everything he’s doing has been geared towards that.

    “I think he’ll take us next season as well. After that, who knows. That might depend on how well he does next season or what job comes up.”

    The other big question dominating a potential Postecoglou exit would be the location of his next team.

    Gerrard and Rodgers departed to mid-table teams and had significantly varied degrees of success.

    Brendan Rodgers has won an FA Cup with Leicester since leaving Celtic. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The former was sacked less than a year into the role while Rodgers has led the Foxes to two fifth-placed finishes and an FA Cup in 2021.

    Yet Carton firmly believes Postecoglou is in line for bigger and better, boldly declaring the Aussie could succeed one of the greatest managers of all time.

    “I would like to think that when Ange leaves Celtic, it’s to one of the bigger clubs in England,” Carton said.

    “Maybe that’s unrealistic. I think he’d probably have to do something special with Celtic in Europe, potentially take us to the last 16 or even the quarterfinals of the Champions League, or a final or win the Europa League, that would get the bigger clubs down south to notice.

    “But I think if he was to do that, and how highly he is rated by so many in the City Football Group for example, it might sound daft but I really wouldn’t write off him succeeding [Pep] Guardiola down the line if he does something special with us in Europe.

    “I genuinely think he’s that good of a manager.

    Carton added that he truly believes “Ange is on par with people like [Erik] Ten Hag and [Mikel] Arteta” purely based on “the way he comes across and the way his teams play.”

    “I could see him managing virtually any of the big teams,” Carton said.

    “I don’t think any of these jobs would phase Ange. I honestly think he’s going right to the very top of the game and I think Celtic are blessed to have him at the moment, I think he’s just been amazing.”

    There’s still several months left in the Scottish domestic season, which means more time for classic Postecoglou sound bites and resounding Celtic victories.

    But it also means more time for the Hoops boss to build a bulletproof case as to why he could — or, as Celtic fans might say, will — be a success in the Premier League.

    Win the treble, with victories against a resurgent Rangers side along the way, and the managerial whispers will turn to shouting at the top of the lungs.

    Until then, Celtic fans will continue to enjoy the Postecoglou rollercoaster with the seatbelt firmly fastened.

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