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It feels as if Celtic have been linked with Eddie Howe for a lifetime, however, the Englishman is still yet to put pen to paper on a Parkhead move.

Reports had suggested at the beginning of the month that the 43-year-old had verbally agreed on a move to Celtic Park before having second thoughts.

Howe appears to be a man in demand as he has spoken to Crystal Palace and is also on the radar of Brighton.

Nixon’s Howe update

Reliable reporter Alan Nixon has shared an update regarding Celtic and Howe on social media.

Nixon, who writes for The Sun, was asked by a Hoops supporter for the situation on Howe on Monday morning.

He swiftly replied, claiming ‘Howe is stalling’ – three words which could spell trouble for Dermot Desmond.

“Howe is stalling. But at least there’s a legit reason. Even if you do wonder. Keane doesn’t think he gets it. No sign of Celtic going elsewhere yet. But it’s dragging. Need director of football sorted.”

Transfer Tavern take

Desmond was the man who met Howe in London at the beginning of the month, but this latest development could be a worry for the 70-year-old.

One issue as to why Howe is stalling could be to do with former Bournemouth colleague Richard Hughes.

He reportedly wanted Hughes to join him in Glasgow, however, it doesn’t look as if the Hoops are willing to grant his request.

It remains to be seen as to how crucial Hughes is to any deal for Howe, but at the minute, it doesn’t look great for the Bhoys, especially seeing as there is ‘no sign’ of them moving to different targets according to Nixon, which would put them in a tricky position if the Howe deal does fall through.

In other news: Celtic interested in signing African striker, find out who it is here. 

The Welsh side comfortably beat a young United team, but the win was tainted by the striker suffering a punctured lung in San Diego

It may only have been the youngsters, but Wrexham's players will always remember the day they outclassed Manchester United. The Red Dragons overpowered the Red Devils in San Diego, leaving with a well deserved 3-1 win.

However, the game threatened to be overshadowed by the sight of Paul Mullin writhing in agony on the floor after being brutally knocked over by United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop. Mullin eventually got up and was able to walk off the pitch, with fans chanting his name and booing Bishop for his over-the-top challenge. After the game, coach Phil Parkinson revealed Mullin had suffered a punctured lung, confirming fears that he would miss the start of the League Two season.

Wrexham barely missed Mullin for the rest of the game, though, as Elliot Lee and Aaron Hayden struck twice in the first half after United failed to deal with the League Two side's crosses into the box.

United, who were fielding their Under-21s side with the exception of veteran Jonny Evans, pulled a goal back before half-time through Spanish teenager Marc Jurado, but were then reduced to 10 men early in the second half when captain Dan Gore was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Andy Cannon.

Wrexham changed their entire outfield line up for the second half, but their substitutes made the most of their numerical advantage as Sam Dalby made sure of the victory.

GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at the Snapdragon Stadium…

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  Mullin injury an unmitigated disaster for Wrexham

  It is no exaggeration to say that, with United fielding a team compromising of U21 players (not including Evans), Mullin was the player the majority of fans would have been most looking forward to watching live.

  The striker is one of the stars of 'Welcome to Wrexham' and scored a stunning 47 goals last season in all competitions to help secure promotion. But he only lasted 12 minutes on the pitch here after being cleaned out by United 'keeper Bishop.

  The injury looked to be serious as Mullin stayed down on the floor for several minutes and needed medical attention, including being made to wear an oxygen mask. There was some relief when he was able to get back on his feet and walk off the pitch to be substituted, but he was quickly taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a punctured lung.

  Missing their star man for the start of their first season back in the Football League for 15 years was the last thing Wrexham needed, and the injury threatens to taint what has been an enormously successful tour.

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  You'll win nothing with (just) kids

  As was to be expected due to Wednesday's match against Real Madrid, United fielded their U21 side here, and while some of the players who lined up were already part of Erik ten Hag's squad for the tour, 15 flew in for this game alone.

  The team fielded by U21s coach Travis Binnion still contained some high-profile players such as Alvaro Fernandez, Hannibal Mejbri (who were both on loan at Championship sides last season) and veteran Evans, but Wrexham had far more power and experience.

  The League Two side bullied their younger opponents for much of the game and dominated them physically. The match will be a good learning experience for a lot of the United players, especially those who have only tested themselves against fellow academy sides in Premier League 2, but it was also a reality check.

  Even the youngsters of Manchester United cannot really compete against a proper, hardened professional side, even one in English football's fourth tier.

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  United taking friendlies a bit too seriously

  Lisandro Martinez sparked an on-field clash in United's first match in the United States against Arsenal with a crunching tackle on Bukayo Saka, showing the Red Devils were taking the friendly deadly seriously. And Bishop's clash with Mullin seemed to underline their intentions in pre-season.

  Ten Hag, who was present at the game but left Binnion in charge, wants the team to make the most of the pre-season tour and has prioritised training over commercial activities. He was pleased with the intensity his side showed against Arsenal.

  Opposition players and coaches, however, might feel differently about the Red Devils' approach in what are supposed to be warm-up games. Wrexham boss Parkinson said he was "fuming" with the Mullin injury and called Bishop's challenge "reckless" while warning him to stay away from his side's dressing room.

  Bishop was booed by a lot of fans inside the stadium after clattering into Mullin and some supporters even whistled substitute goalkeeper Radek Vitek early in the second half, not realising he had replaced Bishop.

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  McElhenney gets pally with Ten Hag

  With Ryan Reynolds filming in London, Rob McElhenney was the Wrexham owners' only representative at the Snapdragon Stadium, and he made the most of the occasion by networking with key United figures.

  The 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' star enjoyed a friendly chat with Ten Hag on the pitch before kick-off and was also deep in conversation with John Murtough, United's sporting director.

  He also spoke with Denis Irwin, one of United's greatest ever full-backs and who was a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson's treble-winning side in 1999. McElhenney had previously had a hilarious interaction with Ferguson in the promotional video he filmed with Reynolds when the fixture was announced earlier this year.

Everything you need to know about the scintillating center-back

It isn't often that a youngster shows maturity at such a high level that it seems the player has been around for years. Matthijs de Ligt was one such youngster, showing immaculate leadership qualities and defensive acumen even before he had legally turned an adult. De Ligt having a bright future was written in the stars.

Born on August 12, 1999, in Leiderdorp, Netherlands, De Ligt began his youth career at the renowned Ajax academy, where he quickly rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut at the age of 17.

De Ligt's playing style is characterized by his exceptional defensive abilities and composure on the ball. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.89 meters), he possesses great physical strength and aerial prowess, making him a formidable presence in both penalty areas. His positioning and reading of the game are remarkable for a player of his age.

Not only is De Ligt solid defensively, but he is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. He displays excellent passing range and distribution, often initiating attacks from the back with precise long balls or carrying the ball forward himself. This ability to contribute to the buildup play has earned him comparisons to some of the great ball-playing center-backs of the past.

De Ligt's leadership qualities are evident both on and off the pitch. Despite his young age, he captained Ajax during their impressive run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2018-2019 season. His maturity, confidence, and ability to organize the defense have earned him respect from teammates and opponents alike.

In July 2019, De Ligt made a high-profile transfer to Italian giants Juventus, where he continued to showcase his defensive skills in Serie A.

His performances have cemented his reputation as one of the most promising young center-backs in the world, attracting interest from top clubs across Europe, which earned him a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in 2022.

GOAL takes a look at some of the most interesting facts about the Dutch defender.

• Started playing tennis before football

  Even though it's not surprising to see how well De Ligt plays, the fact that the Dutchman played tennis before he started playing football just goes to show how good an athlete he is.

  De Ligt started playing tennis at the tender age of five and had never touched a football till he was six. However, when he turned eight years old when his local club in Abcoude, a town outside of Amsterdam, informed Ajax about him.

  According to Dutch soccer writer Henk Spaan, Ajax first viewed De Ligt as too slow and out of shape, but a scout was reassured about his future body type when he saw De Ligt's slim father watching from the touchline.

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• Stood up for bullied children at school

  In an interview with AjaxShowTime, Frank de Ligt, Matthijs' father, recalled how Matthijs would stand up for children who would get bullied.

  "If someone was being bullied in class, he didn't go with the crowd, but he stood up for the bullied boy. According to the high school teachers, he grew up quickly compared to other boys of fourteen or fifteen years old," Frank revealed.

• Could have been a midfielder

  De Ligt, who is currently regarded as one of the best center-backs in the game, might have easily been playing higher up the pitch, possibly as a midfielder.

  "Until I was 15, I was an attacking midfielder," he explained to UEFA.com.

  "I played a lot in midfield, I scored some goals, gave some assists, and then suddenly they said to me it would be better for my career to go one position back, to center-back.

  "At the beginning, I was thinking: 'I don’t like being a defender,' but now I’m starting to realise that the way I was brought up like a midfielder is helping me. So I’m really happy that this was the development I had to go through."

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• Didn't want to get a driver's license

  In the same interview with AjaxShowTime, Matthijs' father Frank recalled the time when the defender refused to get a driver's license.

  "He is also not busy with getting his driver's license. He doesn't want a car; 'focus first, it doesn't fit into my schedule,' [Matthijs] says. I then have to push him to go to a driving school. He lets it all come to him."

Here's where you can watch Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders in the MLS on TV or live stream.

The Seattle Sounders will make their first MLS visit to America First Field on Saturday, looking for their first regular season away victory against Real Salt Lake since 2011.

These teams are currently separated by 10 points in the Western Conference table, after RSL defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 last weekend, a win which pushed them into the final playoff spot, while the Rave Green are tied for first with St Louis City after defeating Minnesota United 1-0 in their previous league game.

▶ Watch every MLS match, including the playoffs, here

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We've seen two sides of Claret and Cobalt in eight games this season, the home version scoring six goals in two games and the away version losing three in a row, surrendering several times in each of those games.

Another component that requires improvement is their defensive structure. Salt Lake is tied for the most goals conceded at this point in the season in MLS history (17). RSL has now gone 13 league games without a clean sheet.

A week after surrendering four goals in a 4-1 loss to the Portland Timbers, Seattle rebounded with a comfortable victory over Minnesota at home.

The Sounders' backline has been relatively impenetrable in Seattle, allowing only one goal this season, but they have conceded at least one goal in 13 consecutive regular season away games dating back to 2022.

Brian Schmetzer has had plenty of solid chance-creators this year, with eight players setting at least one goal, but he may be without Raul Ruidiaz, one of his most consistent goal-scorers for the foreseeable future due to an injury.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and how to stream it live online.

• Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders date & kick-off time

  Game:	Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders
  Date:	April 29, 2023
  Kick-off time:	9:30 pm ET / 2:30 am BST (Apr 30)
  Venue:	Rio Tinto Stadium

  Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders face off at the Rio Tinto Stadium on April 29. The kickoff for the game is set for 9:30 pm Eastern Time (ET), or 2:30 am BST (Apr 30).

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• Where to watch Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders on TV & how to stream it

  Fans in the United States and across the world can watch MLS with Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	N/A	Apple TV
  UK	N/A	Apple TV

  • Check out GOAL's football on UK TV guide
  • Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guide

• Team news & squads

  Real Salt Lake team news and squad

  Axel Kei and Zack Farnsworth are out through injury. Jefferson Savarino has been the club's top scorer so far with three goals to his name.

  Real Salt Lake possible XI: MacMath; Pierre, Glad, Holt, Oviedo; C. Gomez, Loffelsend, Ruiz, Savarino; Kreilach, Rubin

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	MacMath, Gomez
  Defenders	Oviedo, Vera, Brody, Holt, Rivera, Glad, Silva, Pierre
  Midfielders	Meram, Savarino, Ojeda, A. Gomez, Ruiz, Luna, Chang, Caldwell, Nyeman
  Forwards	Kreilach, Rubin, Julio, Musovski, Paul

  Seattle Sounders team news and squad

  Seattle Sounders will be without Obed Vargas and Kelwyn Rowe, but the rest of the squad is available for selection. Jordan Morris is the MLS top scorer with eight goals.

  Seattle Sounders possible XI: Frei; Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Nouhou; Rusnak, Atencio, Roldan, Lodeiro, Ruidiaz; Morris

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Frei, Cleveland
  Defenders	Tolo, Arreaga, Andrade, A. Roldan, Cissoko
  Midfielders	Lodeiro, Rusnak, Morris, Chu, Roldan, Paulo, Leyva, Teves
  Forwards	Montero, Heber

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• Useful links

  Live football on UK TV

  Live soccer on U.S. TV

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  Buy MLS tickets with Ticketmaster

The Brazilian struck late as Jurgen Klopp's side dealt the Gunners' Premier League title hopes a significant blow at Anfield

Liverpool dealt a significant blow to Arsenal's Premier League title hopes as they fought back to secure a 2-2 draw at a raucous Anfield.

Substitute Roberto Firmino's 87th-minute header ensured Jurgen Klopp's side took home a share of the spoils as they recovered superbly after a dreadful start to the game.

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus had the Gunners 2-0 up inside half an hour, but Mohamed Salah's close-range finish gave the Reds hope before half-time.

Salah fired a penalty wide after the break as Liverpool dominated, but just when it looked like time would run out on Klopp's men, Trent Alexander-Arnold stood up a terrific cross which Firmino headed home at the back post to send the Kop into raptures and leave Arsenal facing a nervy run-in as Manchester City close the gap at the top of the table.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield…

• Goalkeeper & Defence

  Alisson Becker (7/10):

  Helpless as his defence crumbled early on. Played some lovely passes out to Salah and his handling was spot on.

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10):

  Had a tough first half hour but a brilliant second half, capped by the assist for Firmino's leveller.

  Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

  Up against it early, but rose to the challenge at 2-0. Crunching tackle on Xhaka stood out. How did he not win the game in stoppage time?!

  Virgil van Dijk (5/10):

  Dreadful for the first two goals, and looks a shadow of his former self at times. Much better second half.

  Andy Robertson (6/10):

  Not close enough, often enough, to Saka in the first half. Took an elbow from an assistant referee which needs to be looked at. Good second half including a big intervention to deny Saka.

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• Midfield

  Fabinho (7/10):

  Took half an hour to wake up, but was good when he did, helping Liverpool pin Arsenal back and picking up loads of second balls. More of this needed.

  Jordan Henderson (7/10):

  Started terribly but got better, and had a hand in the Salah goal. Showed character when he might have crumbled.

  Curtis Jones (5/10):

  Did well for Salah's goal, but took too many touches and didn't show enough confidence at times. Rightly replaced as Liverpool chased the game.

• Attack

  Mohamed Salah (7/10):

  Dangerous from the off and got Liverpool back into the game before half time. But then squandered another penalty and might have done better with a couple of other chances. Played well generally.

  Cody Gakpo (7/10):

  Played with confidence and fight, and looks like he'll have a big role to play going forward.

  Diogo Jota (6/10):

  Helped create Salah's goal and won the penalty. Not bad considering he's still nowhere near his sharpest.

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• Subs & Manager

  Thiago Alcantara (7/10):

  A welcome, and lively, return from injury.

  Darwin Nunez (5/10):

  Missed a huge chance to make it 2-2.

  Roberto Firmino (8/10):

  The hero with the equaliser, and got stuck right in when he came on. The Kop loves him, and no wonder.

  Jurgen Klopp (7/10):

  Saw his side start poorly again, but they came alive as it went on. Subs were the right ones and helped secure the result.

Many Arsenal fans have been left to slam an update from Fabrizio Romano on Mikel Arteta.

As per the Italian football journalist and transfer guru (via ZRAFC), the North London club are ‘really happy’ with the Spanish manager and are ‘planning for transfers’ with him in charge, suggesting that there is no plan whatsoever to let him go before the end of the 2020/21 term.

That is despite the Emirates Stadium faithful currently sitting in 10th spot in the table in the Premier League and coming off the back of very disappointing recent results against Liverpool and Slavia Prague.

There is certainly a divide among Gunners supporters over whether he is the right man to take them forward, and some have expressed their anger at the update.

Arsenal fans on Romano’s Arteta update

These Gooners slammed the update on Arteta after it was shared on Twitter, with one AFC fan even going as far as to claim that it was ‘outrageous’:

“Blind backing is delusion”

Credit: @JarvisSBrantley

“If they truly are happy with him result wise, fact is even darker days are coming”

Credit: @hearmeoutW

“We are so finished…happy with a man who has us 10th in the league and no European competition??”

Credit: @scarface300_

“This club’s dusted at the top level”

Credit: @arsenal_truths

“I give up with this team. We’ll forever be mid-table”

Credit: @ChrisTheGooner

“This is outrageous. This club is in for a very bad ride.”

Credit: @nnaemekn

In other news, find out who was slammed for his display versus Slavia here!

Although Europe's top club competition can produce some incredibly competitive match-ups, it is not immune from one-sided encounters

The Champions League loves to present itself as the pinnacle of sporting competition in the club game. And while it often does create some of the most intense sport on the planet, it has also thrown up some pretty unbalanced affairs.

Things weren't always this way, but the widening financial chasm between the haves and have-nots in European football means blowouts have become increasingly common in the 21st century.

GOAL takes a look at the biggest Champions League victories – or losses, depending on your perspective – of all time…

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  14Manchester City 7-0 RB Leipzig (March 14, 2023)

  Drubbings in the group stages are somewhat understandable, given the gulf in class that often exists between some teams. However, one would expect that a blowout could never happen in the round of 16?

  Manchester City defied this logic in 2023, putting RB Leipzig to the sword in the second leg of the pair's knockout tie.

  The reverse fixture ended 1-1, and before kick off there were even whispers that the Bundesliga side could complete an unlikely upset. Two goals in 78 seconds from Erling Haaland ended those foolish notions, with the Norwegian netting three more times before being hooked in the second half.

  Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne also converted to complete a famous rout.

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  13Manchester City 7-0 Schalke (March 12, 2019)

  Considering their struggles during the 2020s, it is hard to believe that Schalke were in the Champions League as recently as 2019.

  Fans of Die Knappen will likely want to forget it too, as they were handed a spanking by Man City – again in the round of 16. Six different scorers compounded Schalke's misery, with Sergio Aguero grabbing a brace and Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus also getting on the scoresheet.

  The German side have not returned to European competition in any capacity since that disastrous night in Manchester.

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  12Liverpool 7-0 Spartak Moscow (December 6, 2017)

  This was the season when Liverpool finally arrived under Jurgen Klopp, and their dominant victory over Spartak Moscow in the Champions League group stages offered a hint of the things to come.

  Philippe Coutinho was the standout performer, helping himself to a hat-trick, while Sadio Mane registered a brace. Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah netted, too.

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  11Maribor 0-7 Liverpool (October 17, 2017)

  Just weeks before they tore Spartak Moscow apart, the Reds also humiliated Maribor in the Champions League.

  This 7-0 victory was even more impressive in some ways, as Liverpool were away from home – it remains the biggest win ever recorded by an English team on the road in Europe.

  Again, the goalscoring was shared around. Firmino and Salah each grabbed two, while Coutinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Trent Alexander-Arnold added gloss to the scoreline.

  After the game, Klopp was understandably delighted, telling reporters: "I was told about the record after the game and I didn't know. The wonderful history of this club can feel like a backpack at times, so it is nice to write our own good piece of the history. It will be difficult to beat that record."

Chelsea are one of the most successful English clubs in the 21st century, with the Roman Abramovich era truly transforming them into a continental giant. Five Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, interspersed with multiple FA Cup wins, have only highlighted that fact.

However, Chelsea have some magical moments even before Abramovich took over. They won their first English title in 1955 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 and 1998.

There have been some absolute legends who have donned the blue shirt of Chelsea over the years. While the likes of Ron Harris, Bobby Tambling, Kerry Dixon and Peter Bonetti were the darlings of Stamford Bridge in the past, players like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, John Terry and Eden Hazard were some of the superstars who wrote themselves into the annals of Chelsea's history in the 21st century.

Safe to say, then, that Chelsea fans have quite a few heroes over the years.

Only 11, however, can take their place in GOAL’s greatest ever Chelsea team…

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  GK: Petr Cech

  Petr Cech is an absolute legend at Chelsea, having made 494 appearances for the Blues and helping them win multiple honours. However, his choice as the goalkeeper of the Ultimate Chelsea XI was not so straightforward.

  It wasn't easy to ignore Peter Bonetti, who spent almost 20 years at Chelsea between 1959 and 1979. However, the sheer amount of success that Cech enjoyed at Chelsea was staggering.

  The former Czech Republic international played a key role in four Premier League title-winning seasons, their shock 2012 Champions League success and a Europa League triumph. He also lifted the FA Cup four times, and claimed the Premier League Golden Glove award on three occasions.

  Cech, then, is our Chelsea Dream Team No.1!

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  RB: Cesar Azpilicueta

  The current Chelsea captain is an automatic choice at right-back. Though Branislav Ivanovic could stake a claim, it is safe to say that Azpilicueta has earned this spot after a decade of exemplary service, featuring nearly 500 appearances in all competitions.

  The Spaniard has won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two Europa League trophies. More importantly, Azpilicueta led Chelsea to victory in the 2020-21 Champions League.

  A reliable defender who wore the Chelsea shirt with pride, Azpilicueta is an obvious inclusion.

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  CB: John Terry

  Captain. Leader. Legend. If there was ever a Chelsea player who fit this description, it was John Terry. This warrior of a centre-back was considered one of the greatest defenders of his generation.

  A Chelsea youth product, Terry made over 700 appearances for the Blues in a trophy-laden career. A no-nonsense defender known for his strong tackles and commanding style of play, Terry was a captain who truly led by example.

  The former England international was part of all of the club's five Premier League triumphs, while he also won the Champions League and the Europa League.

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  CB: Ron Harris

  The all-time appearance record for Chelsea, with 795 games, but longevity is not the only reason why Ron Harris makes our Ultimate Chelsea XI. He was the face of the club during the '60s and '70s, holding the team together with his tenacity and commitment to the cause.

  The tough-tackling defender, who also played as a full-back and a defensive midfielder, led Chelsea to their first major European trophy in 1971: the Cup Winners' Cup.

  Harris makes this line-up just ahead of Ricardo Carvalho, who had a very successful stint at Stamford Bridge from 2004-2010 but never quite achieved the same mythical status as the man known as 'Chopper'!

Are we finally moving closer to finding out who the new manager of Celtic will be? Certainly, if you believe various sources and reports, there has now been a major development in their search.

What’s the word?

Celtic have been dealt numerous setbacks in their hunt to find a new manager this week. Jesse Marsch has been ruled out of the running while Rafa Benitez wants a return to the Premier League, rather than moving to Scotland.

As a result, they have now ramped up their pursuit of a new manager by opening discussions with Roy Keane.

That’s according to Football Insider who claim talks have taken place with the Irishman in a bid to bring him to Parkhead. It’s thought the Hoops hierarchy are now even sensationally prepared to offer him the job.

That news came just shortly after Celtic podcaster Paul John Dykes revealed that Keane could take over.

He told listeners on Go Radio: “There seems to be an open secret, and I may be proven wrong, that Fergal Harkin is coming in as a Director of Football, and then we’ve heard the head coach maybe one of either Enzo Maresca or Roy Keane, and the information we have been getting today is Roy Keane is potentially going to be that man.”

Not good news

As Dykes continued, this was not going to be news taken well by Hoops supporters.

“That that seems to have gone down like a lead balloon amongst the Celtic support today when we were talking about that on A Celtic State of Mind,” he added.

You can certainly see why too. Keane has not managed a football club for the best part of ten years, a period dating back to when he was in charge of Sunderland.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-boupendza-mcgeady-marsch-mccarthy” title=”Latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Of course, Keane has since been involved with Nottingham Forest and Ireland as Martin O’Neill assistant but it represents an almighty risk to hand someone such a large job when they’ve been out of the game for so long.

What Celtic need right now is stability. They’ve just lost the title for the first time in a decade and the club is full of so much uncertainty. A new director of football and CEO are set to arrive this summer so surely they need someone with a bit more experience?

After all, Keane doesn’t particularly have the most glistening of records. Although the 49-year-old got Sunderland promoted from the Championship in 2006/07, he has nearly lost as many games (69) as he has won as a manager (70).

With people like Roberto Martinez and Ralf Rangnick spoken about as people who could replace Neil Lennon, Celtic can do far better than Keane.

AND in other news, Celtic star could leave after worrying phone calls emerge, Desmond must be scared…

Monaco has had few star players represent them before leaving for pastures new. Which of them will make it into the ultimate XI?

Ligue 1 outfit Monaco are widely regarded as one of the best clubs in the world at developing and improving players.

They also have a reputation for signing potential superstars and later selling them for a huge profit.

A fair few stars of the modern game have turned out for Monaco in the past, including the likes of James Rodriguez, Youri Tielemans, Bernardo Silva, Thierry Henry and more.

And then there are players such as Kylian Mbappe and Layvin Kurzawa who have come out of the Monaco academy.

Of all the stars who have played for the club, who will make it into an ultimate Monaco dream team?

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  Fabien Barthez | Goalkeeper

  The first-choice goalkeeper for the French national team for a long time, Barthez was possibly more known for his stint with Manchester United.

  But he played for Monaco before that and made a big impact.

  After turning out for the likes of Toulouse and Marseille, Barthez moved to Monaco in 1995, making 189 appearances in all competitions for the club, winning two Ligue 1 and a Trophee des Champions titles.

  Characterized by his bald head, Barthez was not a tall goalkeeper, but had good physical ability and amazing reflexes.

  He spent five years at Monaco before joining United in 2000.

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  Maicon | Defender

  In the late 2000s, Maicon was praised as "the world's best full-back" for his overwhelming attacking abilities.

  He played at Monaco for two years from 2004 to 2006 and made 81 appearances. Although he failed to win a major title at Monaco, he caught the attention of Inter with his fine performances.

  Maicon was known for physicality, speed, and stamina to run up and down the right wing. He also had the ability to send in high-precision crosses and had a powerful shot on him.

  During his six years at Inter, he won Serie A four times and won the Champions League.

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  Lilian Thuram | Defender

  Legendary French defender Lilian Thuram, who is famous for scoring two spectacular goals in the 1998 France World Cup semi-final against Croatia, was a Monaco youth product.

  He became a regular player shortly after making his professional debut in 1991 and made 186 appearances in all competitions before moving to Parma in 1996.

  A defender who could play as a right-back and a centre-back with no issues whatsoever, Thuram was one of the best in the world during the '90s and early '00s.

  He ended up playing for the likes of Juventus and Barcelona during his career.

  With 142 national team caps, he is still holds the record of having made the most appearances for France.

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  Eric Abidal | Defender

  Abidal, one of Barcelona's sextuplet winners of 2008/09 season, also played for Monaco in his youth and made his first-team debut at the age of 21.

  He was a bit of a late bloomer, though, and only really established himself as a world-class player after leaving the club, impressing for Lille and Lyon before earning himself a move to Camp Nou.

  At Barcelona, he played nearly 200 official games between 2007-2013 and was part of Pep Guardiola's great Barcelona side, winning 16 titles.

  He had a liver tumor in 2011 that nearly put him on the verge of retirement, but he made a miraculous comeback and continued playing. In 2013-14, he returned to Monaco for one season.

  After retiring in 2014, he held several directorial positions at Barcelona.