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Scottish Premiership champions Celtic may have already seen their Champions League hopes dashed, but the Old Firm outfit still have plenty to play for tonight as they prepare to take on Shakhtar Donetsk at Parkhead.

Title-winning coach Ange Postecoglou has stated heading into the match that it is simply a “must-win” game for his side, with the Hoops still having an outside chance of securing a place in the Europa League in the New Year.

With four points separating the Glasgow giants and their upcoming opponents, it is now win or bust for the hosts tonight, with anything other than three points seeing them finish bottom of the group.

The omens are arguably against the Bhoys, though, having lost each of their last seven home games in the competition, as they look to avoid becoming the first team in the tournament’s history to lose eight in a row on their own patch.

Ahead of that vital meeting, here’s how Football FanCast predicts that the home side will line up…

Postecoglou has revealed that he will once again be without Carl Starfelt and Jota due to injury, despite the pair edging closer to a return, although midfielder David Turnbull is seemingly back in contention.

With that in mind, we predict that there will be four changes from the side which edged past Hearts at the weekend, with one notable alteration set to see Saturday’s match-winning hero Greg Taylor slot in ahead of Alexandro Bernabei, with the latter having struggled at Tynecastle.

On the other flank, Josip Juranovic will likely reclaim his place ahead of Anthony Ralston, while the continued absence of the aforementioned Starfelt should see Moritz Jenz partner Cameron Carter-Vickers at centre-back, despite the pair having both given away penalties against the Jambos.

The midfield trio will likely stay the same as skipper Callum McGregor remains on the treatment table, while in-form hero James Forrest – who has four goals in his last two league games – should keep his place on the right flank.

Further tactical tweaks could well be made in the forward line. Usual starter Kyogo Furuhashi is set to replace Giorgos Giakoumakis through the middle despite the Greece international having netted four goals in his last three top-flight outings, while summer signing Sead Haksabanovic could also return on the left flank.

The “dangerous” asset, as described by journalist Sean Martin, had impressed with his cameo appearance when the two teams met in Warsaw last month, having looked “very lively” according to journalist Josh Bunting.

Newcastle United have no interest in signing Cristiano Ronaldo, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Ronaldo links emerge

The Magpies are flying high at the moment after Sunday’s 2-1 victory away to Tottenham – a result that took them up to fourth place in the Premier League.

However, Eddie Howe will still be looking to strengthen his squad further in the upcoming transfer windows, and Newcastle have been linked with a shock move for Ronaldo in recent times.

The 37-year-old has been dropped by United manager Erik ten Hag after recent poor behaviour and could exit Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

The Latest: Romano laughs off claim

Writing for Caught Offside, however, Romano said there was no truth in the rumours, with Newcastle instead looking at younger options:

“There’s plenty of Cristiano Ronaldo speculation doing the rounds, and one story stated that Newcastle have decided against signing him.

“Newcastle always wanted to go down a different path with a focus on young players. No news on Ronaldo, as things stand.”

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The Verdict: Would make no sense

There is no question that Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, but he is now a shadow of the footballer he once was – if anything, he is more of a problem at Man United these days.

At 37, the Portuguese legend is only going downhill at this point, and Newcastle signing him would feel like a marketing move rather than solely a footballing decision.

Howe has got the Magpies playing at a high intensity and that is something Ronaldo can no longer offer, with the forward seemingly not aligned with Erik ten Hag’s plans, having dropped out of the starting XI following the club’s horror start to the season.

Finance expert Dr Dan Plumley has claimed that Newcastle United could get a ‘huge boost’ by signing a ten-year sponsorship deal for St. James’ Park.

The Lowdown: St. James’ Park deal?

As per Football Insider, industry sources have claimed that the North East club could bank as much as £30m annually from a ten-year sponsorship deal for St. James’ Park.

Front-of-shirt and training ground sponsorship privileges could also be included, as they look to boost their income in order to help comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules and regulations.

UEFA are set to introduce a new system limiting clubs to spending 70% of turnover on wages, transfers and agent fees, with the Premier League expected to roll out a similar framework, so in theory the Tynesiders could spend 70% of the cash earned from a potential new stadium sponsorship deal in the transfer market.

The Latest: ‘Huge boost’

Speaking to Football Insider, Plumley has claimed that the money generated from the potential sponsorship deal would be a ‘huge boost’ and a ‘significant’ sum that Eddie Howe’s side could then go and spend in the transfer market:

“It’s a huge boost.

“I’ve heard rumours that it’s a ten-year deal. This is a significant amount of money over the long term.

“I think, even if you map this out against UEFA’s new FFP guidelines, which are a 70 per cent wages-to-turnover cost, this is still £21m you can commit off the back of this. That is before you take any other commercial deals into account.

“I’m not necessarily saying they would spend those numbers but that’s the boost it could influence the transfer market for Newcastle.

“I think it will be a slow-and-steady approach. I don’t think they will spend big every single window. But certainly, if you’re signing £30m-a-year naming rights deal and you can commit a certain percentage.“

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The Verdict: Get it done

If the Magpies can negotiate a ten-year sponsorship deal for St. James’ Park, then there is no reason why they should not get it done.

Of course, it would give them a significant financial boost, and could help them in terms of trying to tackle FFP in the future when their project really kicks on to the next level.

Whatever sponsorship is discussed needs to be agreed with the supporters first, but if everyone is in agreement, then the Toon should be looking to get this deal done as soon as they can.

Leeds United are keeping a watchful eye over Mohammed Kudus and Cody Gakpo ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by 90min, who claim that Victor Orta sent Leeds scouts to watch PSV Eindhoven’s 2-1 victory over Ajax on Sunday afternoon, with PSV winger Gakpo and Ajax forward Kudus likely to have been the Whites’ focus in the fixture.

Indeed, the Premier League side were heavily linked with a move for both players this summer, with Orta seeing a last-minute swoop for Gakpo fall through, while the director of football was also reported to be keen on a deal for the 22-year-old Ghanaian.

Former Dutch international Keje Molenaar has claimed that any side wanting to secure his services may have to pay in the region of a whopping €70m (£61m) so a deal certainly won’t be easy.

A bigger star boy than Gakpo?

While it is undeniable that Gakpo would make an exceptional addition to Jesse Marsch’s current options in attack – having scored an astonishing 13 goals and registered 17 assists over 23 appearances this season – with the 23-year-old now being reported to be uninterested in a move to Elland Road, it would appear wise for Orta to turn his focus in the transfer market elsewhere.

And, while Kudus is a very different type of player to the Dutchman – being more centrally focused – considering just how impressive the £7.5m-rated talent has been for Ajax this season, the 22-year-old would very much appear to be a fantastic target for the Spaniard to pursue this winter.

Indeed, over his 12 Eredivisie appearances this season – only four of which have come as starts – the £10k-per-week attacker has been in fantastic form, scoring five goals – all but one of which have come when deployed as a centre-forward – as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 0.5 key passes and completing 1.9 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the “star boy” who “can’t stop scoring” – in the words of Kwame Benaiah – average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.96, ranking him as Ajax’s 12th-best player in the top flight of Dutch football.

However, it was undoubtedly over the Ghana international’s six Champions League fixtures – in all of which he has been deployed as a striker – that the “really special” talent has most caught the eye this term, bagging four goals and registering two assists, in addition to taking an average of 1.3 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.8 dribbles per game.

Kudus is evidently some way behind Gakpo’s overall tally for the campaign, but his seriously impressive form against the best the continent has to offer demonstrates he could actually be a bigger ‘star boy’ than the man Leeds have chased for several months.

Indeed, the above returns have seen the 22-year-old average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.22, ranking him as De Godenzonen’s second-best performer in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

Furthermore, with the former Nordsjaelland starlet being able to operate from central and attacking midfield, as well as on the right wing and up top, Kudus’ impressive positional versatility would also appear to make him a fantastic addition to Marsch’s first-team squad at Elland Road this winter.

As such, while it looks as if Gakpo is now out of Leeds’ league, Orta simply must sanction a swoop for another Eredivisie star in Kudus in the January window, as not only does the 22-year-old potentially have a higher ceiling, but he would add some much-needed firepower to the Whites’ attacking arsenal heading into the second half of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have always had inconsistencies in the transfer market; such is the nature of the business. Not every deal is going to pay dividends or be a success but one signing in recent times has certainly been worth his salt in abundance.

Over the weekend, the north Londoners mounted an inspired comeback to seal another late Premier League victory as they defeated Leeds United 4-3 in an enthralling curtain-raiser before the Qatar World Cup.

Leading the charge was dynamic midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who not only got on the scoresheet once but found the net twice, including the all-important winner.

In the space of just three minutes, the 25-year-old – heading to this month’s major tournament with Uruguay – turned the game on its head with less than ten minutes to go.

He showed wonderful composure for his first, controlling it with ease before blasting it past the Whites’ no.1, Illan Meslier, and then moments later, he drilled another strike home after some good work from fellow ex-Juventus star Dejan Kulusevski saw him cut the ball back across goal for Bentancur to nab the three points for Spurs.

The brace makes it five goals and two assists in 21 outings in all competitions for the Uruguayan sensation, via Transfermarkt – not exactly something he’s been brought into do but a sign of just how important he has been for Antonio Conte thus far this term.

Back in Turin, Bentancur had stagnated, was a tad error-prone and seemingly wasn’t considered a star man for the engine room. However, his tenacity, high-energy, and fearlessness have made him an absolute dream for Conte-ball in N17.

Some could compare him to Mousa Dembele but the £75k-per-week powerhouse is in a league of his own, having added goal contributions to his combative nature.

Aside from a shout for Harry Kane, it’s hard to dispute that Bentancur has been Tottenham’s best player since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, with a lot of his impressive work slipping under the radar.

The more thrilling and goal-hungry Kulusevski has often taken the limelight, having joined on the same day as his former Old Lady colleague back on deadline day in January 2022.

Cristian Romero has also excelled after joining from the Serie A too but when you consider the fact that sporting director Fabio Paratici paid as little as £16m for his services, it’s clear that he has been the best bit of business from the Italian supremo yet.

He’s well on his way to eclipsing the numbers put up by Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele, who combined cost around £110m in once-club-record deals, and he’s a far greater talent than Harry Winks or the Dele Alli we witnessed towards the end of his Lilywhites career.

It perhaps comes as little surprise to see Bentancur praised from the rooftops in the last year.

“He’s such a classy operator, I’ve always described him as a Rolls-Royce midfielder,” claimed South American football expert Tim Robinson just days after his arrival at Spurs, whilst more recently, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said:

“Bentancur for Spurs has been their unsung hero. Harry Kane gets all of the plaudits, but Bentancur has been the best player for me pound-for-pound. He does things in such a quiet way.”

Indeed, on the above evidence, it’s hard to argue against the relentless Uruguayan being anything but the best signing of Paratici’s reign so far.

Tottenham better hope that their “animal” – in the words of the aforementioned Romero – returns from Qatar with a clean bill of health because he will be crucial to their fortunes in 2023.

AND in other news, Conte can unearth Bastoni 2.0 as Spurs plot move for “underrated” £35m-rated sensation…

West Ham United manager David Moyes still has the backing of the club’s board according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth. 

The Lowdown: Pressure on Moyes

After getting his side to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, this current Premier League campaign has been rather difficult for the Hammers.

Having lost nine of their opening 15 league games of the season, Moyes’ side find themselves in 16th place in the league table with just 14 points on the board, leading to reports of criticism and pressure being put on the manager.

With that in mind, it seems as though a behind-the-scenes update has emerged regarding Moyes’ current position at West Ham.

The Latest: Moyes still backed

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sheth had this to say when asked if the Scotsman still has the backing of the West Ham hierarchy following the poor start to the season.

“As far as I’m aware, in a word, yes. I think he does. I think he’s built up enough credit in the bank.

“And what happened to him the first time as well, there’s probably a feeling that, you know, David Moyes is owed that time because of what happened.”

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The Verdict: A big turnaround needed

In terms of West Ham’s failings in the league this season, only six clubs have a lower average percentage of possession than the Hammers (45.8%), as well as the Hammers being in the bottom half of the table for the percentage of accurate passes they have made.

This shows that while they don’t always dominate games in terms of possession, they aren’t always particularly careful when they do have the ball.

Also, with only Wolves (26.3%) having a lower percentage of shots on target than West Ham (26.6%), this highlights how much they have lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that a big turnaround is needed at the London Stadium to get the Hammers on track and further up the table.

Now that Sheth has claimed that Moyes still has the backing of the club’s owners, it will be interesting to see what the club gets up to during the upcoming January transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are about to embark on a new era under recently appointed manager Julen Lopetegui, with the sole aim to remain in the Premier League for next season.

The Old Gold are sitting bottom of the table following a disastrous run of just two wins from their opening 15 matches and the Spaniard could face his most difficult managerial challenge yet.

With the break for the World Cup coming at a perfect time for the club, the 56-year-old will be assessing his squad and looking ahead to the January transfer window to see what areas of his squad need strengthening.

Wolves have recently been linked with Alexis Vega and Lopetegui could land his dream first signing by bringing the Mexican to England, especially if he stars in Qatar.

Indeed, Pete O’Rourke spoke to Football FanCast regarding Wolves’ interest in the winger, saying: “Yeah, great opportunity in this World Cup to look at some players. Vega has been a target for Wolves for a while now.

“So they will be keeping a close eye to see how he can compete against the world’s elite at the World Cup as well. If he shines at the tournament, I’m sure Wolves will be desperate to try and tie up a deal as soon as possible.”

The Molineux outfit urgently requires some rejuvenation in their attacking department, with the club scoring just eight league goals so far this, the lowest total in the division.

Vega, who plays for Deportivo Guadalajara, has registered 47 goal contributions for his club – 24 goals and 23 assists – which suggests he may be the answer to Lopetegui’s prayers.

Not only that, but the 24-year-old also has pedigree at international level, scoring six times in 23 appearances for Mexico, and he certainly has the potential to shine in Qatar.

O’Rourke even dubbed the player “versatile” recently while discussing the 24-year-old with Football FanCast and this could be another advantage for the 56-year-old.

Indeed, the Wolves faithful will be keeping a close eye on the player at the World Cup and if he manages to carry his club form into the tournament, Lopetegui’s potential signing of the winger could represent a dream first signing for the Spaniard.

Arsenal are basking in a brilliant season at present, with the cogs finally clicking into place and the side challenging for major honours on the domestic and continental front. 

While the Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta will be wary of progress seeing disruption following the midseason break, making way for the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, one positive that the Spaniard manager can take is William Saliba’s maiden appearance at the tournament, with the young titan exhibiting many of the qualities that have granted his starting spot in the Premier League table-toppers side. 

Signed from Saint Etienne in a deal rising to £27m in 2019, Saliba spent his first three seasons for Arsenal back on loan in his homeland, finally making his debut for the North London outfit this season. 

And it’s no coincidence that his place in the side coincides with an upturn in form and a laudable tightening of the defence.

His fantastic performances for his club this term, earning him a Premier League rating of 7.05, as per Sofascore, have persuaded French national manager Didier Deschamps to include him in the squad as the nation targets a successive World Cup triumph. 

Failing to make an appearance across Les Bleus’ opening two group fixtures, the 21-year-old finally earned his shot in the culminating match against Tunisia, and despite the 1-0 defeat, Saliba provided defensive cover and assurance at the back after coming on in the second half. 

During his 27 minutes on the pitch, Saliba completed all 37 of his passes, bringing a sprinkle of the ball-playing prowess that Arteta demands from his Arsenal players.

The Gunners phenom also completed his one dribble and won both of his duels in the match, making one key pass as France looked to find an equaliser that ultimately failed to materialise.

With France looking to play high-intensity football with an onus on technicality, Saliba is staking a considerable claim that he is the man to start transitions from the back, with FBref claiming he ranks within the top 3% for pass completion and the top 5% for dribbles completed when compared to centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues across the past year. 

Once hailed as “untouchable” by Fabrizio Romano, the eight-cap international has certainly staked his claim to enter the starting fold for the first time in the tournament, with France topping their group despite their defeat against Tunisia and earning a knockout fixture against Poland as a result. 

Despite his youthful years, the £42.7m-rated colossus is beginning to emerge at the very forefront of global football, and if his performance in the previous match – coupled with his stunning displays for Arsenal – are anything to go by, then he could bask in further success before the tournament in Qatar draws to a close.

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Lille star and Arsenal target Jonathan David, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs transfer planning?

The Lilywhites find themselves chasing Champions League qualification for a second-successive campaign but manager Antonio Conte may need to be backed again in the transfer market to make this a reality.

Currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table, Spurs’ form before the 2022 World Cup endured a patchy spot, with the north Londoners losing three of their final five league matches.

In that time, they conceded 11 goals, potentially highlighting some vulnerability and the need to strengthen their ranks further.

Conte also has just Harry Kane as his natural senior striking option, but a recent claim has suggested that Spurs may want to change that.

The Latest: Spurs eye David move…

Italian sources state that Conte’s side hold a real interest in signing Canada international David amid his impressive season in Ligue 1.

This information comes from Calciomercato, who report that Tottenham are ‘very interested’ in signing the 22-year-old – but they’re not alone.

Arch rivals Arsenal are also hot on his trail and it is believed that a ‘heated north London derby could arise’ for David’s signature.

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The Verdict: Make the move?

In terms of back up for Kane, the French top flight forward possesses undeniable quality.

He’s bagged a quite brilliant nine goals and three assists in just 15 league starts this season, backing Iain Hume’s verdict that he is a ‘world class’ player.

However, with the presence of Arsenal, a potential auction could arise for David’s signature and any inflated price demands could thwart Conte’s attempts to bring him to N17.

This may well be one to keep an eye on heading into January.

Arsenal have been rocked by the recent injury to talisman Gabriel Jesus, with the club confirming that he has had surgery and will face an extensive spell on the sidelines.

And with the World Cup in Qatar preceding the January transfer window, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta might just now turn his attention toward signing a replacement up front.

With The Sun reporting earlier this season that Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke would grant the funds necessary to bolster the ranks during the winter window, Portugal ace Joao Felix emerges as a potential, if lucrative, option for the club. 

Indeed, Spanish outlet Relevo have reported this week that the north London outfit are set to rival the wealth of top European clubs in securing his signature.

Bergkamp 2.0

Felix, signed for an eye-watering £113m from S.L. Benfica in 2019, has not quite lived up to the hype at the Wanda Metropolitano, only scoring 33 goals and providing 18 assists across 129 outings for the Spanish giants. 

But his talent has never been in question; Spanish outlet AS recently reported that tension surrounding manager Diego Simeone and the Portuguese ace threatened to boil over, and factors surrounding the club’s style of play and polarising opinions contributed to an acrimonious atmosphere.

As evidenced on World Cup duty in Qatar, Felix possesses all the qualities required to flourish for any of Europe’s largest, most prominent outfits, with his slick, gliding movements and ability to knit the midfield and offence together offering a unique dimension to the team that most sides scarcely see. 

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old has recorded an impressive average rating of 7.33 in Qatar, offering two shots per match, completing 79% of his passes in his offensive role, and registering a goal and two assists.

With this impressive host of skills, there is certainly a resemblance to Dennis Bergkamp, one of Arsenal’s most beloved and devastating creative outlets in their distinguished history. 

Bergkamp’s ability to sit behind the likes of Thierry Henry and selflessly provide assists and attacking support was a defining factor behind the Gunners’ success during that period.

Knocking up 115 goals and 95 assists throughout his time at the Emirates Stadium, winning three Premier League trophies and four FA Cups, Bergkamp cemented his legacy as one of the greatest to ply their trade at the club.

Like Bergkamp, Felix thrives in crafting openings for his teammates, drawing defenders haphazardly across their defensive third and unlocking backlines with a mixture of creative and direct efforts. 

The Portuguese “sensation” – as journalist Sacha Pisani once dubbed him – would certainly not come cheap, with Atletico likely looking to recuperate much of the £113m that they signed him for, with Bayern Munich allegedly bidding £86m for the player previously. 

As per FBref, the 27-cap phenom ranks within the top 11% for assists and progressive passes this past year, when compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues. 

Felix is immensely talented, and he would give the Gunners a new dimension to their offensive play, one that could pay dividends in the race to clinch their first league title in nearly two decades, serving as a creative focal point, much like Bergkamp for Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’.