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Celtic’s forgotten man Yosuke Ideguchi still has a chance to make it at Parkhead, according to Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Ideguchi at Celtic

Ideguchi joined Celtic in the January transfer window of 2022 for a reported £850k from J-League side Gamba Osaka (via TeamTalk quoting from Yahoo Japan), arriving in the same window as fellow countrymen Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

The former Leeds United man has failed to live up to the levels of Maeda and Hatate with the 26-year-old enduring a nightmare 13 months at Parkhead, making just SPFL, amid a host of injury and fitness issues plaguing his spell.

The Latest: Joseph’s comments

However, speaking to The Celtic Exchange, Sky Sports reporter Joseph revealed that the curtains are yet to be drawn on Ideguchi’s time in Glasgow and there could still be a way for him to make it at Celtic, saying:

(11:49) “It’s only Ideguchi who’s had trouble properly settling in, although he had an injury when he first came in so it took a bit longer for him to settle.

“I haven’t totally ruled out (him leaving), it’s not worked out yet for him but who knows, he might still have a future at Celtic if he can secure a loan move elsewhere and get some game time and we can properly see perhaps what level he is up.”

The Verdict: Can he turn it around?

Ideguchi was one of the first players to take the now well-trodden path from East Asia to Parkhead when he made the move but has been forced to watch Maeda, Hatate, and Kyogo Furuhashi all thrive in Scotland with new arrivals Hyeon-gyu Oh, Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi all set to embark on their careers under Ange Postecoglou.

With Ideguchi reported to be one of the lowest earners at Celtic on £6k-per-week (via salary sport), he doesn’t concern the hierarchy at the club in terms of high wages with only Stephen Welsh on a lower salary in the first team.

After missing the start of the season due to fitness problems, Ideguchi return to the bench for just three games this season before not being involved in a match-day squad since October, failing to play a minute since last May on the final day in the 6-0 rout against Motherwell.

With the arrival of Iwata into midfield last month, the Japanese surely has to be considering his options to head out of loan with the J-League transfer window still open until March, 31 potentially offering him an avenue out.

Liverpool have enjoyed enormous success since Jurgen Klopp assumed the managerial role in 2015, and despite their recent struggles they have clinched major silverware across almost every available front with the German at the helm.

While the lion’s share of Liverpool’s transfer strategy in that time has been brilliantly executed, there is one particular missed opportunity which stands out as a major ‘what if?’.

According to The Athletic’s James Pearce (when he wrote for the Liverpool Echo), Liverpool were interested in a move for Dele Alli before the attacking midfielder completed an initial £5m transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from MK Dons in 2015, when he was only 18.

Alli went on to make 269 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring 67 goals and supplying 61 assists, with the majority of his success coming in the earlier stages of his Spurs career before a spluttering finish to his time in north London resulted in a move to Everton after being pushed for an exit from N17.

Alli, who former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho once backed to become “one of the world’s best”, plundered 37 goals and 29 assists across his first three Premier League campaigns, leaving pundits and fans waxing lyrical over the prodigious rate of goal contributions for a midfielder of such a tender age.

This season is a different story, though. Having been shipped out on loan to Turkish Super Lig outfit Besiktas by the Toffees, the 26-year-old has scored just three goals from 16 appearances, with a return to prominence on football’s biggest stages appearing an increasingly distant possibility.

For a once budding talent with the world at his feet and a ceiling stretching far beyond most up-and-comings prospects within English football, Alli’s plummet from prominence might seem inexplicable. However, an illuminating past report from The Athletic lays bare his regression, highlighting his stark decline in output and technical deficiencies as key components behind his fall from grace.

There were also question marks over his attitude and application, something that Mourinho infamously called out in one of his first training sessions as Spurs manager in November 2019.

Had he joined Liverpool in the summer of 2015, with the Merseyside outfit soon to appoint Klopp in the managerial role and duly opening the door to an illustrious period in the club’s history where Premier League and Champions League trophies were gleaned, it all might have been so different for the playmaker.

Klopp’s high-octane counter-pressing system, heaping emphasis on full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to serve as devastating, overlapping creative focal points, has been a largely unrelenting and formidable strategy.

With Alli receiving such superlative service in the form of precise looping crosses and swift, aggressive movements up the pitch, playing under the German could have given him the platform to truly cement an enduring stature as one of Europe’s most effective threats behind the frontline.

Alli’s downfall is largely down to his failure to adapt and maintain standards of performance for someone of his calibre, but if a demanding coach like Klopp could have had the chance to put his faith in the 37-cap Englishman’s abilities, he could have provided him the confidence needed to flourish at the top of his game for longer, rather than spiking so young before an alarming drop-off.

Alli’s early exploits with Tottenham serve as evidence that there is a player of immensely talented capabilities still laying dormant within, and despite his subsequent fall from grace, the 26-year-old boasts one of the most resounding entrances to the Premier League of any English starlet in the division.

Indeed, Klopp has previous when it comes to nurturing bright English talents, promoting Alexander-Arnold from the Reds’ academy and honing his talents to help the 24-year-old become one of the best right-backs in the world at his prime.

If only Alli fallen into Liverpool’s clutches around the time that Klopp came to Anfield, it all could have been so different for him; just imagine the impact that Klopp might have made had the club beaten Tottenham to the punch for this rough diamond eight years ago…

Alasdair Gold believes Tottenham Hotspur are in an awkward situation with Emerson Royal with the defender loving life at Spurs despite being offered to Sporting Lisbon.

The Lowdown: Players have to go out

Despite Antonio Conte claiming that he needed signings and several transfer windows to improve this Tottenham team, he will also have to sanction some first-team players to head out the exit door.

This is because their squad is extremely bloated and lopsided in certain positions such as right wing-back with four players already being able to play in that position, while Conte still wants to sign another one.

Emerson, who was signed for £25.8 million under Nuno Espirito Santo doesn’t appear to have the cutting edge in the final third that Conte craves from his wing backs with just two assists since the start of last season, so it’s no surprise he’s been touted as a potential makeweight in potential January deals.

The Latest: Emerson not in a rush to leave Spurs

While many may want Emerson to leave due to his lack of attacking ability, Gold has admitted on his YouTube channel that the full-back is loving his life in north London, which is leaving Tottenham in an awkward position this month.

He said: (55:40) “Convincing a regularly playing and very happy Emerson that he needs to move on when he’s loving life in London, I think he lives with friends and I think his girlfriend as well, he’s having the time of his life, why would he want to give that up?

“You could say his recent display [against Fulham] is maybe a shop window one as well it puts him out there and those interested parties in Italy and Spain may be looking at it going okay, definitely we can see there’s a player there we want.

“Do you get him out the door? It’s a really awkward situation. There is a part of me that’s starting to wonder because Matt Doherty has stated quite clearly that he doesn’t want to leave Spurs this season and from Spurs, there didn’t seem to be much interest in letting him go this January.

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“But I do wonder in this final week if we get to a point where Porro does become more likely than not and Emerson isn’t going to leave, do Spurs and Conte start to think maybe we  say to Matt Doherty you’re not going to play.”

The Verdict: Spurs must be busy these last few days

While talk of Djed Spence has been mooted recently by Alasdair Gold, he wasn’t even getting minutes which would mean that a first-team player that had been playing often would still need to be shipped off.

Conte can’t have an extremely bloated squad as it will likely only frustrate Daniel Levy to see players getting paid likely hefty wages and then just sitting on the sidelines twiddling their thumbs most games.

However, from Conte’s point of view he would surely want to have someone through the door, as they now do with Arnaut Danjuma, and then let players go come the end of the window instead of doing it the other way around in case new signings fail medicals or get a change of heart for some reason.

Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu is close to agreeing a pre-contract with Atletico Madrid, and could even move in January, Alex Crook has claimed.

What’s the word?

The centre-back has made just two appearances this season as he has fallen out of favour and struggled with injury, and looks set to depart after nearly five years at the club.

The Turkey international was sensational at times over the years for Leicester, making 125 appearances, but a fresh start is needed as he seeks to find his form again.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Crook claimed that the deal looks set to go through in the summer once his contract expires, but Atletico also want him now and could pay a fee to secure him this window.#

“Another transfer that I’ve been working on this morning, a bit of an odd one this actually, because he’s not even a starter in a fairly average Leicester side, but Soyuncu agreeing a pre-contract with Atletico Madrid.

“It looks like he’ll be off there in the summer. I think actually Atletico would like to sign him now but would need to pay for him.

“But that pre-contract, we understand, is now close to being signed for Soyuncu to go to Spain and link up with obviously one of the most defence-minded coaches in world football.”

Are Leicester making a mistake?

The 26-year-old is a rarely-seen figure in the team now, but Leicester have struggled defensively at times and Soyuncu at his best could make a huge impact on their performances.

Leicester have conceded 31 times in 18 matches this season and have persisted with a pairing of Wout Faes and Daniel Amartey.

Soyuncu arrived for around £19m, and they are now set to make a loss by his departure for free unless Atletico pay a fee now.

They would need to replace him, either with a first-choice defender or additional cover for their main defence, and with the club already potentially losing James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, this extra bit of necessary business could prove a headache.

Scottish champions Celtic delivered a much-improved performance to see off St Johnstone at Parkhead this afternoon, with the Hoops having been criticised by their manager Ange Postecoglou for their display during the narrow win over Livingston in midweek.

The 57-year-old had suggested that his side had been “not so good” against David Martindale’s men despite sealing all threee points, but that criticism appeared to have “lit a fire” in his players – in the words of journalist John McGinley – as the league leaders produced a rampant display against the Saints today.

Two goals apiece from Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate ensured that the points were well and truly wrapped up inside the opening 52 minutes, with only a late consolation from Drey Wright – and a stoppage-time dismissal for David Turnbull – somewhat blotting the copybook for the hosts.

The performance of Hatate in particular caught the eye as the Japan international produced a “masterclass” in his makeshift right-back role according to McGinley, while compatriot Kyogo was just as influential as he surged his way to the top of the scoring charts in the Premiership.

Another player who was also vital in sealing Celtic’s 11th consecutive league win was returning World Cup star Aaron Mooy, with the playmaker “strolling it” in midfield (as per journalist Sean Martin) in what was a typically classy and controlled performance.

Having been “immense” in Qatar for his country, according to journalist Josh Bunting, the Australian has seemingly brought that rich vein of form back to Glasgow, having excelled at Parkhead today.

The 32-year-old registered a simple assist for Hatate’s thunderous opener, although it was his involvement in the Hoops’ third goal which was particularly impressive, having split the defence with a delightful dinked pass for James Forrest to set up Kyogo’s finish.

That was one of three key passes that the former Brighton and Hove Albion man produced from his 88 touches, having also enjoyed an eye-catching 88% pass accuracy rate as a marker of his composure on the ball.

The ‘heart of everything’ for Celtic on the day, Mooy produced a simply ‘outstanding’ performance – as per Glasgow Live’s Ryan Thorn – having certainly made his mark on his recall to the starting line-up.

That performance, which earned the 57-cap stalwart a solid 7.3 match rating from Sofascore, will no doubt have given Postecoglou food for thought moving forward, and there is now undoubtedly some real competition for places in midfield for the Hoops.

New Rangers boss Michael Beale’s future at the helm is by no means guaranteed, according to former Gers rival Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: QPR exit

Beale sat in the Rangers hot seat less than a month after reaffirming his commitment to the Queens Park Rangers faithful. 

Of course, the dreadful form with the Championship club that saw him get just two wins from eight games would have played a part, with the boss’ prior links to Wolves seemingly damaging his ability to get the best out of his squad.

And whilst Beale has started well with a 3-0 friendly win against Xabi Alonso’s Bayern Leverkusen side, his first big test will begin upon the resumption of the season against Hibernian. 

The Latest: No room for error

Former Celtic man McAvennie is already sticking the knife in, claiming Beale was “going to get pushed out of QPR anyway” and that he will immediately be in danger if they lose to Hibs.

Speaking to Football Insider, the pundit said: “I think he was going to get pushed out of QPR anyway.

“If he does not win on Thursday night, let’s see how much the fans love him. He cannot fall further behind.

“They have got three games against Celtic to play. They lose another game then it could be over.

“I do not care how long his contract is – if he is not good enough they will get rid of him.“

The Verdict: Moving on…

Beale must draw a line under his time at QPR very quickly. 

If the boss was to repeat that feat of garnering just two wins from eight games, he would most certainly be out of the job.

Coming up against Ange Postecoglou’s side is a very tough ask, but Beale will know all too well the pressures that come with the Old Firm derby, having served as a member of Steven Gerrard’s back room staff during the successful stint, and a positive result could kick start a memorable campaign as they look to fight back from a nine-point deficit.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Manchester United are ‘scouting’ Sassuolo central midfielder Davide Fratessi ahead of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: United interest

As per Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, United have been closely monitoring Frattesi’s progress in Italy, although they could face stiff competition for his signature.

It is claimed that fellow Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are also among his admirers, and he is believed to be valued at around €35 million (£30m) by Sassuolo.

They will be in a very strong position around the negotiating table should a firm offer come their way, as his contract does not run out until 2026.

The Latest: Scouting mission

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has shared that the Old Trafford outfit are ‘scouting’ Fratessi ahead of a potential move, and does not think that he can be compared to reported summer target Frenkie de Jong:

“I don’t think we can really compare him to Frenkie de Jong, and I don’t think I’d be looking at him along those sorts of lines, but they’re scouting him.

“But we have to consider United scout a lot of people, as does every club, it’s just one of those leaks that gets out that the club have been watching him.”

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The Verdict: Bellingham alternative?

It has recently been reported that the Red Devils look out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and England superstar Jude Bellingham due to his enormous price, so Fratessi could be a cheaper alternative.

Hailed as ‘super talented’ by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 23-year-old has four senior caps for Italy, and has really come on at Sassuolo over the last year.

Indeed, he ranks in the 97th percentile for shots, 96th for non-penalty expected goals and 94th for touches out of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues (FBRef), and would offer Erik ten Hag another threat from the middle of the park.

Nonetheless, a deal looks like it could be done in January for the right price.

Glasgow Rangers dropped points in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Mirren away from Ibrox.

The Light Blues are now nine points off the top of the table heading into the World Cup break and have a few weeks to look back on the first half of the season before matches return in December.

Antonio Colak missed the match on Saturday through injury and Alfredo Morelos was handed his first start in the top-flight this season, which represented a huge chance for him to kickstart his campaign.

The centre-forward struggled throughout the 90 minutes as he failed to register a single shot on target and has now scored three goals in 17 appearances across the Premiership and Champions League combined this term.

Live on BBC Sportscene on Saturday night (12 November, 7.49pm), pundit Richard Foster hammered the Colombian after the match as he said:

“When you’re a manager, your team are struggling, and you’re in a bad spot. You don’t need the guy that’s leading your line to perform like Alfredo Morelos, because not only was his quality poor, he just looked disinterested. He didn’t look fit enough.

“What I don’t understand, it seems as if his head’s away from Rangers and he wants to leave. So go out on the pitch and show what you can do. Go and score goals, so teams are looking and going, ‘Right, I really want to sign him’.”

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and his statistics, along with Foster’s comments, suggest that he is not performing well enough to deserve an extension.

Instead, Ross Wilson must finally ditch the striker by cashing in on him in January, if there is enough interest in his services, and urging the manager, whether that is Gio van Bronckhorst or not, to unleash Robbie Ure from the academy.

The 18-year-old centre-forward magic” in an interview after the win over Queen of the South.

He has also shown plenty of promise whilst playing for the B team this season. The forward has plundered five assists in 19 appearances in the UEFA Youth League and Lowland League combined, which shows that he is excelling in front of goal at youth level with his ability to both score and create goals.

Ure, who is a Scotland U19 international, has impressed van Bronckhorst enough to make two first-team outings this season – coming off the bench against St Mirren on Saturday for his Premiership debut – but he must now be unleashed in a supporting role to Colak in the second half of the campaign.

Rangers should give the dynamo increased exposure at senior level to fast-track his development whilst allowing the club to finally ditch Morelos in the January transfer window.

Leeds United face a challenging trip to Liverpool on Saturday night, with Jesse Marsch looking to end the Whites’ current eight-game run without a victory in the Premier League under the Anfield lights.

However, with the American revealing in his pre-match press conference that a number of first-team regulars could be set to miss the trip to Liverpool – with Joe Gelhardt, Rodrigo, Luis Sinisterra, Leo Fuhr Hjelde, Tyler Adams and Liam Cooper all doubts, while Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas remain sidelined – it would seem that getting a result against the Reds will be an uphill battle tonight.

Having said that, with two attacking berths looking likely to open up in the 48-year-old’s matchday squad due to the absences of Rodrigo and Gelhardt – one of which should be handed to Wilfried Gnonto – Marsch will most probably turn to Michael Skubala’s under-21 side in order to help make up the numbers tonight.

Considering just how impressive Sonny Perkins has been for the under-21s since his move to Thorp Arch this summer, the 18-year-old centre-forward could be handed a well-deserved chance to shine on the senior stage against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Indeed, after leaving West Ham United on a free transfer at the end of his contract at the London Stadium, the England under-19 international has been in red-hot form for Skubala’s youth outfit. He has seven goals in eight Premier League 2 appearances, also bagging a further goal across two outings in the Papa John’s Trophy.

This form has seen the £1.08m-rated hitman earn a considerable amount of praise, with one-time Leeds forward Noel Whelan stating of Perkins in an interview with Football Insider in September: “This is why you bring in these youngsters from other clubs. You’re just hoping they hit the ground running, which he obviously has. He’s made a massive impact – settled in very quickly and found his feet.

“He’s also finding the back of the net and even taking that confidence into international games as well. This is what it’s all about. Even if he’s 18 – he won’t be there to make up the numbers.

“He wants to be in the mind’s eye of the manager and put himself into contention for a first-team spot. He looks sharp, confident and he’s on the right path. The only way you can be noticed as a striker is if you’re scoring goals.”

As such, with both Rodrigo and Gelhardt looking set to watch on from the sidelines tonight, as well as Patrick Bamford being yet to find the net over his nine Premier League appearances this season – not to mention missing the most big chances of any player in the top flight – a refresh in the Whites’ attack could well be on the cards.

By unleashing the “dangerous” and “explosive” Perkins – in the words of Skubala and Marsch respectively – alongside Gnonto at Anfield, the 48-year-old could well form a deadly young partnership which could help to reignite Leeds’ misfiring attacking lineup. That is undoubtedly an exciting prospect for all involved with the club.

Shortly before Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hostpur side laboured to a disappointing draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, the club’s U19 team also took on the Bundesliga outfit in the UEFA Youth League.

And, while the youngsters suffered a similarly disappointing result at the hands of their hosts, losing 1-0 at Sportpark Dreieich, there was nevertheless one player in the Spurs side who still managed to catch the eye in Germany – Alfie Devine.

Indeed, the 18-year-old midfielder came close to opening the scoring for the visitors in the opening stages of the game, being played through on goal Romaine Mundle, only to fire his shot straight at Matteo Bignetti between the Frankfurt sticks.

The £140-per-week Devine then turned provider shortly afterwards, releasing Mundle into the final third with a fine ball, only for the left-winger to see his eventual effort at goal blocked bravely by Germany U18 right-back Elias Baum.

Shortly after Ferri Julia had given Eintracht the lead on the 25-minute mark, the England U19 international created a chance that almost saw Spurs draw level, surging down the right before squaring to Jamie Donley, however, the centre-forward failed to make clean contact with his attempt at goal.

And, while Frankfurt created the better opportunities in the second half, the £810k-rated talent once again created a big chance for the visitors with 84 minutes on the clock, finding himself in a dangerous position on the left flank, before standing a teasing ball up for the on-rushing Damola Ajayi, only for the substitute to fail to make any real contact with his header.

Devine then had two chances of his own to snatch a point in the closing stages of the match, with the forward-thinking midfielder scooping a shot towards the Eintracht goal in the 89th minute, only to see Baum block his effort on the line, before picking up the rebound and unleashing a second drive at goal, that was once again blocked by a body in the box.

Unfortunately for Tottenham, this was their last meaningful action of the game, with the defeat leaving the youngsters third in the Group D standings, with work to do if they are to have any hope of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition.

However, while the trip back to north London will have been a long one after such a result, the continually creative performance of Devine – especially having recently returned from a hamstring injury – will nevertheless have been a big plus for Tottenham.

Indeed, with Conte’s first-team squad having struggled for both goals and creativity since the international break – failing to score from open play in drab performances against both Arsenal and Eintracht – it would appear the senior side could very much use an injection of creativity in the middle of the park.

As such, while it is true that the player who Harry Brooks dubbed an “all-rounder” and claimed “could play for England one day” is still very much a midfielder in the developmental stage of his career, should Conte place his trust in the teenager, he could well be rewarded with the solution to his current creative woes.