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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has received a major update in his pursuit of Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma as speculation continues to rumble over his future, according to reports.

Is Luis Palma joining Celtic?

Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos has issued a major update on the future of Palma amid reports linking the 23-year-old with a move to Celtic, as he stated on X: "Not confirmed 100% yet, but seems Luis Palma will be out of Aris Thessaloniki squad for the match v Lamia on Sunday. Celtic and two non European clubs offers are on the table. Palma wants Celtic."

The journalist, who works for Greece-based outlet Sportime, has since dropped further insight on Palma's potential next career steps and has indicated that the Honduras international is now closing in on a switch to Parkhead, stating: "Celtic are really close to sign Luis Palma from Aris Thessaloniki. Agreement in principle between the clubs, €4,1m. plus some bonuses. Palma 's contract €650.000 per season, probably for a 4 years contract."

Palma has been a coveted presence this summer, attracting interest from the Hoops' city rivals Rangers, Anderlecht and Watford among others; however, he now looks set to link up with former Liverpool boss Rodgers in Glasgow following a whirlwind couple of days where swift negotiations between both parties now look to be veering toward their conclusion.

Of course, Celtic have been in the hunt this window to find a replacement for Portuguese winger Jota, who was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for £25 million earlier in the summer, as per Sky Sports.

Rodgers has already signed off on six signings since returning to Parkhead in the form of Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Yang Hyun-jun, as per Transfermarkt.

In light of Palma's seemingly impending arrival, Celtic fringe man Sead Haksabanovic could find himself further down the pecking order at Parkhead and Football Insider claim that the Montenegro international is looking for an exit before the transfer deadline.

Is Luis Palma a good fit for Celtic?

Palma certainly fits the profile in terms of the style of recruitment Celtic have adopted this window, which has entailed bringing in young stars with potential with the aim of eventually selling them on in the future for a considerable profit.

His statistics also make for pleasant reading in his time at Aris, where he has notched 17 goals and 11 assists in 52 appearances for the Greek outfit encompassing all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The Honduran arriving at Celtic would also spell the end to a long, drawn-out search for another wide option at Parkhead. Wolverhampton Wanderers star Daniel Podence was considered according to reports; however, it always seemed unlikely that the Hoops would fork out anywhere near the funds needed to satisfy his mooted £12 million price tag.

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Scotland international Ryan Fraser was also courted by Celtic, though he is on the verge of completing a season-long loan move to Sky Bet Championship side Southampton, as per The Daily Echo.

Celtic will "try to the end" for one highly-rated player in particular this summer, as journalist Rudy Galetti provides a key update.

Is Dominik Livakovic joining Celtic?

While The Bhoys transfer window may have gotten underway in perhaps the worst way possible with the departure of the incredibly dynamic and engaging Jota leaving Celtic Park for the Saudi Pro League's riches, things have started to look up for Brendan Rodgers' side.

The contract extensions given to Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, along with the signings of several new and exciting players, have given the club a real boost as the season gets underway in Scotland. However, there are still areas of the team that could be improved upon, including the goalkeeper.

The number one the Hoops have been chasing for much of this window is Dinamo Zagreb stopper Livakovic. However, with transfers expert Fabrizio Romano reporting that Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbache were days away from securing the Croat's signature last month, it looked like any hope of a deal was off.

However, in the month since the sides reportedly agreed on a deal, the Croatian international has remained in Zagreb, making five appearances for the club he was supposed to be leaving.

This stalemate between the two sides could work in Celtic's favour, and according to journalist Rudy Galetti, the Glaswegian Giants are looking to take "advantage" of the current situation.

What has journalist Rudy Galetti said about Dominik Livakovic to Celtic?

Galetti confirmed that whilst the Hoops are looking for a new left-back, they are also working to capitalise on the stalemate between Fenerbahce and Zagreb, even if it's proving to be "complicated."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Celtic are working for a new left-back and started contact with LOSC Lille for Gabriel Gudmundsson.

"Celtic need to sign a new goalkeeper as well, and they are trying to take advantage of the stalemate between Fenerbahce and Dinamo Zagreb for Livakovic. It's a complicated option, but Celtic will try to the end for him."

How old is Dominik Livakovic

Born January 9th, 1995, in Zadar, Croatia, the 28-year-old, who has been described as a potential "wonderful" signing, is certainly a player who, whilst never playing for a club outside of his home country, has shown himself to be a classy operator.

So far, the Dinamo Zagreb star has made 45 appearances for the Croatian national team and became something of a national hero for his unbelievable performances at the World Cup last year.

The 6 foot 2 shot-stopper made seven appearances in the competition, conceding an average of just one goal a game, making 3.6 saves per game and preventing 3.52 goals a game, all while averaging a match rating of 7.33, per Sofascore.

However, his best performance – and probably the best goalkeeping performance of the entire tournament – came in their quarter-final tie against one of the competition favourites, Brazil.

Over the course of the game, the Selecao forced him into making 11 saves, which was the most saves a Croatian keeper has ever had to make in a World Cup match as well as the most saves any keeper had to make in a World Cup game since Tim Howard in 2014 against Belgium, per the Analyst.

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He was also the key man when the game came down to penalties, winning the game for the 2018 runners-up by saving Rodrygo's spot kick.

His exploits were greatly appreciated by manager Zlatko Dalic who heaped praise on him following the game, saying:

"But he made the difference for us through the whole match. Brazil created some chances through their quality and speed but he prevented goals because he was in top shape – he was there in the crucial moments to save us."

Whilst Livakovic's lack of club football outside of Croatia may worry some potential suitors, his performances at the World Cup should be evidence enough of his sheer quality and were Rodgers and Celtic able to get this deal over the line, it could go a long way in helping them keep hold of the title for another year.

Liverpool have tabled yet another fresh bid for highly-rated young Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, having seen a £46m offer rejected, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

How much does Romeo Lavia cost?

The Reds' interest in the 19-year-old has been one of this summer's biggest transfer sagas, as they look to make further midfield signings ahead of the new Premier League season.

While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have come in as exciting-looking additions, no other signings have been made, despite losing Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the same time.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

It is Lavia who is seemingly considered Liverpool's No.1 option to come in and replace Fabinho in the defence midfield role, however, and on Monday they saw a third offer worth £46m turned down by Southampton, as the Championship side continue to hold firm.

Saints are demanding somewhere more in the region of £50m for the Belgian's services, and it looks as though the Reds may have finally bid that amount, following a new update.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

Writing on Twitter on Monday night, Jacobs claimed that a fourth bid for Lavia has now been made by Liverpool almost immediately after the third, as they wait to hear Southampton's latest response:

"Understand Liverpool have already made another improved offer for Romeo Lavia after Southampton rejected their last £46m bid."

This whole situation has become rather painful at this point, with Liverpool making a mountain out of a molehill, in terms of continually bidding below the asking price when it is clear that Southampton aren't going to budge. The Reds must either stump up the £50m needed to get Lavia, or walk away from the deal and look at bringing in a different option in the No.6 role.

For Liverpool to be heading into their Premier League away to Chelsea on Sunday with no recognised defensive midfielder in their squad is a fairly ludicrous situation to be in, and even if Lavia does arrive before that game, it seems highly unlikely that he will feature, considering how late the Reds have left it.

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Should this latest bid be accepted, though, the Merseysiders would be acquiring the services of a hugely exciting young footballer with a very high ceiling – one who Pep Guardiola has described as "incredible" in the past, with journalist Jacob Tanswell hailing him as "ridiculous".

At 19, it would be unfair to expect too much from Lavia straight away, as he gets used to playing for such a massive club – another No.6 with a little more experience is needed, too, but it remains to be seen if that will happen – but he showed last season that he can excel in the Premier League, arguably outperforming every other Southampton player and doing his best to keep them in the top flight, prior to their relegation.

An average of 2.1 tackles per game across 29 league appearances highlights his off-the-ball quality, but he is also a class act in possession, proving to be good in tight spaces and receiving the ball on the half-turn, completing 86.4% of his passes in a struggling Saints team last term.

Celtic are reportedly targeting a move to sign West Ham forward Michail Antonio during the final weeks of the transfer window.

Are Celtic signing Michail Antonio?

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers have made six new signings so far this summer, two of which have been attackers in Hyun-jun Yang and Marco Tilio from Gangwon FC and Melbourne City respectively.

Yang and Tilio are primarily wingers, though, with Celtic losing the services of star wide man Jota earlier in the window after he completed a move to Saudi Arabia.

Centrally, Rodgers currently has Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyeon-gyu Oh and Albian Ajeti as his current options, with Daizen Maeda also capable of turning out as a striker from his natural left-winger role.

Signing a new striker appears to be on the club’s to-do list, though, and it looks as if Antonio, who is actually quicker than both Kyogo and Maeda, is a potential target.

Football Transfers shared an update regarding Antonio’s future on Monday, claiming that the Jamaica international is pushing to leave the London Stadium.

The 33-year-old is into the final 12 months of his £85,000-a-week Hammers contract and has no shortage of possible suitors, with Celtic and Championship side Leeds United both named with an interest.

The report adds that a small fee would be required to secure Antonio’s services, and West Ham won’t sanction any exit until the club bring in a new forward of their own.

How good is Michail Antonio?

Antonio may well be past his prime with his Transfermarkt valuation on the decline over the past three years, however, he could still prove to be a shrewd signing for the Hoops in the short term.

The versatile forward has made over 275 appearances for West Ham, scoring 75 times and registering 43 assists. In total, Antonio has made more than 500 senior club appearances, turning out in a variety of positions from a full-back to a centre-forward.

As mentioned previously, the player has been known for his speed and is quicker than Celtic’s current pacey forwards, clocking up a top speed of 35.48 km/ph last season, the fastest of any Hammers player.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has also previously waxed lyrical over the striker, labelling him a “handful” and comparing him to Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku due to his power and speed.

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"He's a handful, very, very difficult. He's a little bit like Lukaku in terms of the power and the speed but also a very good finisher."

Therefore, he could well provide Rodgers with a different attacking option at Celtic Park due to his presence and power. Over the past 12 months, as per FBref, Antonio has drawn 2.13 fouls per game and has averaged 1.78 crosses per 90, putting him in the top 14% and 10% compared to other forwards.

Antonio also ranks highly for progressive carries, average shot distance and successful take-ons, showing what he could offer Rodgers both domestically and in Europe, especially after he helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League last season, and by the looks of things, a move could be one to watch.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been able to bolster his side with five new additions ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Bhoys boss completed his fifth signing last week as central defender Maik Nawrocki arrived on a permanent deal from Polish side Legia Warsaw.

This came after South Korean duo Hyun-jun Yang and Hyeok-kyu Kwon joined on the same day earlier in the week, from Gangwon and Busan IPark respectively.

Australia international Marco Tilio and Norwegian maestro Odin Thiago Holm were the Northern Irish head coach's first signings of the summer transfer window.

However, the ex-Leicester City tactician may not be done there as the club still have plenty of time left before the deadline passes to make further additions.

Another player the Hoops have been linked with this summer is Red Star Belgrade midfielder Kings Kangwa, who could be Youri Tielemans 2.0 for Rodgers.

How good is Kings Kangwa?

The €3m-rated (£2.6m) ace is an all-round ace who has the potential to be the manager's next version of the Belgium international due to his ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch from a number eight position.

Kangwa enjoyed a fantastic 2022/23 campaign and could be a terrific signing for Celtic if he is able to translate his form over to Scottish football this season.

The 24-year-old wizard plundered eight goals, which is two more than any Hoops players in his position managed, and three assists in 32 league games for Red Star, despite only starting 20 of those matches.

This suggests that he could be like Tielemans in midfield for Rodgers as the now-Aston Villa ace proved himself to be a reliable scoring option in that area of the park with six Premier League goals in each of their last two full campaigns together in 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The Belgian gem also provided his teammates with chances to score as he averaged 1.2 key passes per game throughout the 2021/22 season.

Kangwa has the potential to be an excellent provider as the Zambia international averaged 1.4 chances created per match last term, which would have placed him second amongst Celtic's midfielders in the Premiership – only behind Matt O'Riley (2.1).

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This suggests that the Red Star magician could make a significant impact going forward in comparison to the manager's current options, as both a scorer and creator.

The 5 foot 7 technician can also hold his own out of possession. He won 55% of his duels and 51% of his aerial battles during the 2022/23 campaign, whilst Tielemans came out on top in 51% of his contests throughout his last full season with Rodgers.

This shows that he will not be bullied and could be able to cope with the physical demands of Scottish football, whilst also having the quality on the ball to make things happen on a regular basis.

Therefore, the Bhoys manager can uncover his next version of the former Anderlecht prodigy by signing Kangwa, who was dubbed a "great ball-carrier" by player analyst Chris Kearney, from Red Star before the summer transfer window slams shut due to his all-round midfield play.

Mark Goldbridge believes personal terms between Manchester United and Sofyan Amrabat have been agreed following Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla's update on a potential deal.

Is Amrabat joining United?

Fiorentina were just two games away from winning their first piece of silverware since 1996 last season.

La Viola reached the Coppa Italia and Europa Conference League final after a brilliant campaign under Vincenzo Italiano in which the club battled with some of the best while playing attractive, possession-based football. There was immeasurable heartbreak in Florence as the club narrowly lost both finals 2-1.

One of the key cogs in the seamless Fiorentina machine was Amrabat, the club's holding midfielder. The 26-year-old, who captured minds and hearts at the 2022 World Cup with Morocco, was the orchestrator in the centre of the park, starting attacks with his wonderful passing range and press resistance, and breaking up play with his biting tackles and physicality.

Impressive performances always attract attention in football and unsurprisingly Amrabat is now being courted by some of the world's biggest clubs – one of whom is Man United.

Alfredo Pedulla's latest update suggests that a deal is close with Amrabat reportedly having agreed to join the Red Devils, while a fee in the region of €30m including add-ons could persuade La Viola to sell one of their star men.

Reacting to Pedulla's reports on The United Stand YouTube channel, Goldbridge believes that United must have agreed personal terms with Amrabat, paving the way for an exciting deal.

Goldbridge said: "Within a few minutes of me finishing the eight o'clock show last night, this came out: 'Amrabat has chosen Manchester United after contacts today'.

He added: "This to me sounds like personal terms agreed. That is what I interpret that as because we have definitely not agreed a deal with Fiorentina. We might be about just starting that, but we've definitely not agreed the deal with Fiorentina. But this reads like terms agreed."

Despite Pedulla not implicitly stating that Amrabat has agreed terms with Manchester United, the fact that the midfielder has supposedly given the green light to make a switch to Old Trafford is certainly positive news for United supporters.

With Fred and Scott McTominay potentially leaving the club in the near future, midfield reinforcements are essential for Erik ten Hag's United plans.

At 26-years-old and with a wealth of experience at the highest level already, Amrabat would be a player capable of making an immediate impact for the Red Devils and easing the burden on Casemiro's shoulders.

How good is Amrabat?

While traditionally though of as a destroyer in defensive midfield, Amrabat is a player with the capacity to influence the game across the field.

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One of his major strengths is his passing ability and, when compared to other midfielder in Serie A last season, the Moroccan ranked in the top seven percent for passes completed per 90 (59.59), the top one percent for total passing distance per 90 (1203 yards) and the top three percent for successful pass accuracy (88.8%).

He also ranked in the top three percent for medium (93.9%) and long (84.1%) passing accuracy, progressive passes per 90 (7.93) and passes into the final third per 90 (7.12).

His defensive abilities are superb as well, something showcased at the World Cup in a team that utilises a low block and defensive strategy. Compared to other midfielders at the tournament per 90, he ranked in the top three percent for tackles in the defensive third (2.05) and 12% for recoveries (7.77).

Amrabat is an incredibly well-rounded central midfielder and, despite not being the most glamourous signing Ten Hag will ever make, the Fiorentina man would undoubtedly improve the Red Devils next season.

An update has emerged on Celtic's attempts to add further reinforcements to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Football Scotland, Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers is closing in on a deal to sign Legia Warsaw central defender Maik Nawrocki ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Hoops are pursuing a swoop to sign the 22-year-old enforcer for a fee within the region of £4m, whilst they are also set to include a 15% sell-on clause for the Polish side.

However, it states that Turkish giants Galatasaray remain in the race to land the talented youngster, which could put pressure on the Bhoys to push this over the line as quickly as possible.

How good is Maik Nawrocki?

The German-born titan enjoyed an impressive campaign for Legia Warsaw throughout the 2022/23 campaign and could come in as an immediate upgrade on Yuki Kobayashi.

Celtic's Japanese centre-back arrived at the club in January from Vissel Kobe but struggled to adapt to Scottish football during his first six months in Glasgow.

The 23-year-old colossus averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.80 across six Scottish Premiership outings for Ange Postecoglou last season, which is a score that 21 of his teammates were able to beat.

Meanwhile, the Poland U21 international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 25 Ekstraklasa matches for his current club, which would have ranked him six places higher than Kobayashi within the Hoops squad.

Nawrocki, who is proficient with both feet, made more tackles (1.3) and interceptions (1.2) per game than the ex-Yokohoma warrior, who made 0.3 and 0.7 per outing respectively for Celtic.

In fact, no Bhoys central defender managed more of either defensive intervention per clash than the Polish titan, which illustrates how impressive his work at that end of the pitch was for Legia Warsaw.

The 6 foot 1 monster also showcased his ability to dominate opposition players with a sublime duel success rate of 61% in the air.

This shows that he is able to rise above forwards to win key battles and could be a threat from set-pieces in both boxes, given that the promising talent scored four league goals – in comparison to his potential competitor's zero strikes in his last 54 league games for Kobe.

Kobayashi, however, struggled to deal with the physicality of Scottish football. He lost 64% of his aerial contests and 63% of his duels in total, which shows that the former Japan U20 international was a lightweight at the heart of the defence.

The weak centre-back was dominated by attackers instead of the other way round.

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Therefore, the £4m-valued Celtic target could be a significant upgrade on Kobayashi in that aspect of the game due to his impressive display of strength in Poland last term.

Nawrocki's aforementioned defensive statistics also indicate that he would offer the Hoops more quality in terms of his ability to make vital contributions to cut out opposition attacks.

The superb battler, who was once dubbed a "revelation" by scout Jacek Kulig, is able to make tackles and interceptions to stop his goalkeeper from being worked more frequently.

Kobayashi's disappointing performances for the club this year could be one of the reasons behind Rodgers insistence on another player coming in to bolster his options in that position, with the Polish brute looking like an upgrade on paper.

Liverpool have an advantage in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone due to the fact their sporting director Jorg Scmadtke's son Nils is the Bundesliga side's Head of First Team Football, according to BILD journalist Christian Falk.

Will Liverpool go back in for Manu Kone?

Earlier this year, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano writing for The Guardian, reported that Liverpool were considering making a move for Kone this summer to bolster their midfield.

Sky Sports claimed last month that the club had monitored Kone as they weighed up cheaper alternatives to the likes of failed target Jude Bellingham, now of Real Madrid, alongside now teammate Aurelian Tchouameni and Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella.

Liverpool sporting director Scmadtke knows the £31k-a-week ace well from his time at Borussia Monchengladbach amid speculation that Manchester United were also keen on Kone in the off-season.

Last term, Kone, who has been hailed as a "one-man army", made 31 appearances in all competitions for Borussia Monchengladbach, notching one goal and a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Snapping into challenges, the 22-year-old managed to win around 2.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions in the Bundesliga per match over the course of the campaign, according to WhoScored.

Of course, Liverpool have already moved to strengthen their midfield by bringing in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig, respectively.

Nevertheless, BILD journalist Falk hasn't counted out the prospect of Liverpool reviving their interest in Kone and thinks that Scmadtke's son Nils may hold the key to directing the France Under-21 to Anfield, in light of his role in the Borussia Monchengladbach set-up.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Falk stated: “He’s also on the list of Liverpool. You know, Schmadtke has an eye on him for six months. Funny thing is that his son is working at Gladbach as a manager, so you see, the direction is very short.”

Who else could join Liverpool's midfield before the season commences?

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been on a mission to streamline his squad this window and several more signings could be likely at Anfield between now and the close of play in the market.

According to Football Insider, the Reds are confident that Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia would be more reeled in by the possibility of moving to Liverpool than any other interested party.

Despite this, Klopp and company face competition from Chelsea and Arsenal for his signature, with the latter being prepared to push them all the way to land the Belgium international.

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Experienced duo Fabinho and Jordan Henderson look like they could be on their way out of Liverpool amid attraction towards their services from Saudi Pro League outfits Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq, which could pave the way for Klopp to strengthen his engine room further.

Taking to Twitter, Liverpool correspondent for The Athletic, James Pearce, dropped an update namechecking several midfielders that Liverpool could target, stating: "In terms of replacing Fabinho, Moises Caicedo is not viewed as a serious option with the Brighton midfielder expected to join Chelsea. Romeo Lavia, Sofyan Amrabat, Ryan Gravenberch and Kalvin Phillips are among those under consideration."

Movement will be expected in the coming days that may shape the trajectory of the Reds' focus during their remaining time in the transfer window before the door eventually slams shut on business.

Celtic are thought to be interested in a move for Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops have been working hard behind the scenes ahead of Brendan Rodgers’ first season back as manager, with two new players already signed at Parkhead.

Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm has arrived from Valerenga and winger Marco Tilio from Melbourne City, with the pair both agreeing to five-year deals in Glasgow. More new faces could soon be on the way, especially after Celtic lost Jota, who has signed for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

An attacking player who could come in for the Portuguese winger is Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun, with a fee of just over £2m now agreed between the two clubs. Another South Korean player who could follow Yang to Glasgow is Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu. The Hoops have been tracking the player for some time and even made an offer in the winter window, but it looks as if they could now get their man after making an improved bid.

Celtic also still have their eyes on the European market, and by the looks of things, Livakovic could be the latest player the Hoops make a move for.

Joseph took to Twitter on Friday evening to share a further transfer update from Parkhead, this time on a new goalkeeper. The club are thought to be eyeing Livakovic, who is into the final 12 months of his Dinamo Zagreb deal.

“Celtic are in the market for a goalkeeper this summer. It’s understood one target being monitored closely is Croatia & Dinamo Zagreb No1 Dominik Livakovic, who has a year left on his contract.

“Fiorentina’s interest has cooled recently. Villarreal & Fenerbahce are also keen.”

However, the Hoops may need to be quick if they are to sign the shot-stopper, with Fabrizio Romano since claiming that Fenerbahce are close to a move and have agreed on personal terms.

Who is Dominik Livakovic?

Livakovic, on £15,000-a-week, is 28 years of age and has been with Dinamo Zagreb since 2015. The Croatia international is valued at €12m by Transfermarkt and has made 283 appearances for Zagreb, keeping an impressive 131 clean sheets.

The club captain has won eight major honours during his time with Zagreb and he has also played in two World Cups, helping Croatia to the final against France back in 2018.

He also starred in a penalty shootout in Qatar last year against Brazil, where he was praised by some major figures in the game, including former Bayern Munich chief Oliver Kahn, who called him a “hero”.

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"The man who stopped Brazil will always be a hero to me,

"Livakovic is worthy of praise. Such a goalkeeper must play at a top club. I have no doubt that this will be the case in the new season, but at the same time, he is not within the scope of our interests."

Should Livakovic move to Celtic Park, he would bring plenty of experience at the highest level to Rodgers' side, and at the age of 28, you’d like to think he has plenty of years left in the tank, so could be a long-term replacement for Joe Hart, who turned 36 in April.

Since the club's takeover at the end of 2021, Newcastle United have invested hefty sums on several highly-talented players.

Notably, this list includes Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and most recently, Sandro Tonali.

Spending has increased as the club prepares for one of the biggest summers in its history as it prepares to compete in the Champions League.

However, in the tenure of the new ownership, the most important signing could arguably be their first – the acquisition of Kieran Trippier in January 2022 for just £12m has emerged as an inspired piece of business.

The 32-year-old has oozed quality, composure and leadership. He is now the club captain and an indispensable component of Eddie Howe’s machine.

Nevertheless, his age cannot be escaped, and whilst he is in the most fruitful form of his life, he is nearing the twilight years of his career.

But the Magpies hierarchy has already begun the process to pinpoint a long-term successor to the Englishman, with Tino Livramento suggested as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Tino Livramento to Newcastle United?

According to the Telegraph, the Magpies have already submitted two bids for the Southampton gem, but have failed to reach an agreement.

The Saints, who were relegated to the Championship, value the 20-year-old at more than £30m, whilst Newcastle have only offered around £21m.

The outlet describes the player as 'very keen' on the move, but the club may need to wait until the sale of Allan Saint-Maximin has been completed for a timely cash injection, whilst also easing Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns.

It was previously reported by the Daily Mail that Chelsea supposedly has a “surprise interest” in Livramento, with a £40m buy-back clause as part of his departure in 2021.

However, with the immovable Reece James and the recently-signed Malo Gusto already in their ranks, it seems unlikely that a transfer back to west London will ever materialise.

If Newcastle can just match Southampton’s asking price then a deal is very much a possibility.

Can Tino Livramento emulate Kieran Trippier at Newcastle United?

Within the Chelsea youth system, the quick right-back forged an esteemed reputation for his class and potential.

In 30 appearances during the 2020/21 season, Livramento registered ten assists and was named as the Blues' Academy Player of the Year, winning the award alongside the likes of James, Mason Mount, and Billy Gilmour.

He was then unexpectedly sold to Southampton for the next season, and in 28 top-flight outings, he averaged 1.9 tackles and 1.1 dribbles per game (third-highest ranking for each metric in the squad) to showcase his impressively competent all-round game.

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But, a devastating ACL injury against Brighton in April 2022 massively derailed his progress and kept him out of action for over a year.

Now back to full fitness, he is the subject of interest from the high-flying Magpies, and Howe could train him as Trippier’s heir to the right-back throne.

Last term, Trippier was simply sensational.

He was named in OPTA’s team of the season, playing in every fixture, creating the most chances from set plays (76), and playing the most passes into the opposition box (551) in a single season since 2004. The former Tottenham Hotspur man also recorded 138 successful crosses, the most in a single season since 2006.

Having a man of this calibre to mentor the “fantastic” Livramento – as once lauded by former teammate Theo Walcott – can continue Newcastle’s reputation as a rapidly improving asset.