Celtic have decided who their first-choice manager target to succeed Martin O’Neill is this summer, according to journalist Mark Guidi.
Celtic chiefs have known since Wilfried Nancy was relieved of his duties in January that they needed to decide who the club’s next permanent manager was going to be for next season.
O’Neill returned to interim charge for the second time this term following the Frenchman’s sacking, remaining in the post until the end of the campaign.
The indications are that the 74-year-old won’t be staying on at Parkhead, although both parties’ stance could change if he can lead the club to the Scottish Premiership title.
The Hoops are up against it though, given they lie five points adrift of leaders Hearts with seven matches left to play following their unexpected 2-0 defeat to Dundee United last week.
Celtic Ready to Appoint Robbie Keane
While Guidi believes that O’Neill has earned the right to be asked if he wants to stay on as Celtic manager next season, the journalist believes that Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane is the club’s preferred candidate over Motherwell’s Jens Berthel Askou.
The reporter believes that if Keane doesn’t end up at Tottenham Hotspur, where he is also a candidate to be the next permanent manager, then a move to Parkhead ‘could well happen’.
Spurs currently have a decision to make on the future of Igor Tudor, who is teetering on the edge following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
Whether Keane would be willing to take the job now is unclear, and his chances of getting it would surely be boosted if they did actually drop into the Championship with Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi their two main summer candidates, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.
The Guardian reported earlier this month that Keane was the new frontrunner for the Celtic job, and that club chiefs believe he would be keen on the role.
Keane Better Than Berthel Askou
Not only does Keane have experience of winning multiple league titles abroad – he could win his third with Ferencvaros this term – but he is already thought fondly of by the Celtic Park faithful following his successful loan spell there previously.
The ‘amazing’ 45-year-old looks to be ready to cut his teeth in the United Kingdom now, and Celtic could be the perfect club for him to do exactly that.
Berthel Askou has impressed at Fir Park this term, leading Motherwell to fourth in the standings, but perhaps the Celtic job has come a little early for him after one good season in Scottish football.
How Would Robbie Keane Set Celtic Up?
GIVEMESPORT leveraged AI-assisted analysis to deep-dive into Keane’s tactics and how Celtic would look if he was their next manager.
If Robbie Keane was setting up Celtic, it would likely reflect his attacking instincts and modern coaching influences:
Formation: Flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, focused on fluid attacking movement
High Press: Aggressive pressing from the front to win the ball early
Quick Transitions: Fast, vertical play after regaining possession
Mobile Front Line: Interchanging forwards, with emphasis on movement in behind
Creative No.10: Playmaker operating between the lines to link midfield and attack
Full-Back Overlaps: Attacking full-backs providing width and crossing options
Compact Midfield: Energetic midfielders to press, recover, and recycle possession
Finishing Focus: Emphasis on sharp, clinical attacking in the box (reflecting his striker background)
Adaptability: Willingness to tweak shape depending on opponent
Overall: proactive, attacking football with intensity and forward momentum.
Liverpool have added Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh to their transfer shortlist as a back-up option if they are unable to agree a deal for top winger target Yan Diomande, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
The Reds have beaten Premier League rivals Newcastle United to the signature of the Spain international, who is currently representing his country at the 2026 World Cup and has already completed a medical in America.
The Merseyside outfit have identified the wide positions as a key area they need to strengthen in this summer transfer window, with two new players expected to arrive.
The transfer plan is of little surprise given the Reds are losing Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with a serious long-term injury.
The left-sided Munoz is set to be the first through the door at Anfield, but now club chiefs want to sign Salah’s long-term successor too.
Jacobs: Liverpool Add Minteh to Transfer Shortlist
via Reuters
Liverpool are working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande, who they have identified as the top target to replace Salah.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign for the Bundesliga club, and he has carried his club form into the World Cup by winning the man of the match award in his first-ever appearance at the tournament as the Ivory Coast beat Ecuador.
While Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are near the top of the club’s wishlist, there are other names on there too, as revealed by Jacobs on the latest episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast.
He said: “Diomande is the preference. Diomande is the one that Liverpool are working on, and it could develop as a consequence, but if it isn’t to be Diomande, I can give you some other targets.
“One, as we’ve known for quite some time, is Bradley Barcola and PSG, if they win the race for Yan Diomande, may suddenly become open to selling Barcola, even though, as of now, their stance is basically not for sale. But it’s not impossible if another player comes in that PSG’s perspective changes.
“Then there are some new names I can give you on the Liverpool shortlist as well. Said El Mala is one at Koln, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh is another, and Lillle’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is a third name. All three of those players are also on Liverpool’s radar and have been discussed and presented to new manager Andoni Iraola.”
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Pace is Key for Liverpool and Iraola
via Reuters
There is one thing that all of these key targets have in common, and it is their explosive pace.
Minteh has been recorded as one of the top 10 fastest players in the Premier League previously, and Dutch football writer Lentin Goodijk has described him as being ‘lightning quick’.
While Liverpool and Iraola have some good technical forwards to pick from right now, the Spaniard obviously feels that he wants to add some real speed to his attacking options as they look to significantly improve on their performances this season.
Whether it be Diomande, Minteh or any of the other names on the shortlist, Liverpool’s plan is clear.
Tottenham are bracing themselves for their transfer move to sign Sandro Tonali this summer to be hijacked by Manchester City.
Spurs have been one of the busier clubs already this summer, bringing in two new players on free transfers, as well as agreeing a deal for another.
Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson will link up with the Lilywhites from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively after their World Cup adventures with Argentina and Scotland are over, while Jan Paul van Hecke looks set to arrive in a £52million deal from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Lewis Family vowed to invest in the Tottenham squad
Vivienne Lewis of the Lewis Family who are in charge of Tottenham Hotspur
Roberto De Zerbi and Spurs already mean business in the summer transfer window, with the Lewis Family vowing to back the Italian with investment into the squad.
GIVEMESPORT understands that the Spurs owners want to make a statement signing this summer and there are talks ongoing over a deal to bring Savinho to the club from Manchester City.
But any move for the forward would be surpassed by a transfer for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. Spurs burst to the front of the queue to sign the 26-year-old earlier this week when news emerged of a planned £80million to £85million move for the Italian.
Newcastle want in the region of £100million to sell the midfielder and there is a feeling around St James’ Park that he will depart the club this summer.
Tottenham are keen to get a deal over the line for Tonali to strengthen the middle of the park, with reports surfacing that the player is keen on the move to north London too.
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England World Cup Quiz
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But Spurs are not the only club interested in signing him this summer. Manchester United have been linked with a move, given their plan to sign two central midfielders this summer. Arsenal were linked in January, although a move never came to fruition and the Gunners could make another move this time around.
And then there’s Manchester City, who lost Bernardo Silva this week and could well say goodbye to Rodri too, with question marks over his future at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City aiming to bring in two midfielders this summer
Elliot Anderson waves to the Nottingham Forest fans
City’s attention for now, is on signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with two bids of more than £100million already rejected by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Any suggestion that City are only planning for one midfield arrival appear to be wide of the mark, however. GMS understands that City, like Spurs, are in talks to sign Tonali and Teamtalk reporter Graeme Bailey has gone even further in saying: “I am told City made it clear during the process that they don’t see Tonali as some sort of alternative to Elliot Anderson – ideally they want both.”
Tottenham may have thought they would have it all their own way in the race to sign Tonali with United put off by the price, City going all out for Anderson and Arsenal appearing to move for Manu Kone, but they may face a battle to complete the £100million deal after all.
Barcola to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali’s transfer race, England’s World Cup win and Brazil’s hopes all feature in this special Market Madness.
Kate Mason and Ben Jacobs are live as the World Cup gets underway and the transfer window heats up. GiveMeSport’s Sam Cohen sits down with Sir Geoff Hurst, England’s 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero, to discuss what it really takes to win football’s biggest prize.
We also hear from Brazil and AC Milan legend Kaká on whether Brazil can finally end their long wait for World Cup glory.
Ben reacts to England’s opening World Cup win over Croatia and delivers the latest transfer updates in his weekly mailbag, including Barcola to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali interest from Spurs, Manchester City and Manchester United, Yan Diomande to Liverpool, Mateus Fernandes, Adam Wharton and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
