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Celtic are the reigning Premiership champions and still a huge club across Europe, with some iconic celebrities avidly supporting the Hoops.

This is a hugely exciting period in the club’s fabled history, with Ange Postecoglou’s side playing an attractive brand of football and winning trophies along the way.

Last season’s title triumph was richly deserved and the hope now is that the Hoops can retain their crown in 2022/23 and also excel in the Champions League, looking to progress past the group stage.

When it comes to Celtic, some of the most well-known celebrities around follow the club, from singers to sportspeople, with many supporting the Bhoys since childhood and remaining match-goers to this day.

We’ve created a new quiz asking you to identify whether the celeb in question is a Hoops fan or not – it’s time for you to showcase your knowledge of all things Celtic!

Good luck, here we go…

QPR look to have finally settled on their successor to Michael Beale, as reports suggest that Neil Critchley is now in pole position to take over at Loftus Road.

According to Football League World, the former Blackpool boss is now closing in on the job with the west London side, after they decided against paying Coventry City a compensation fee in order to prise Mark Robins away from the Sky Blues.

The report claims that a definitive decision will be made in the next 24 hours, as the Hoops look to announce their new boss ahead of this weekend’s fixture against Burnley, when Championship football returns following a month’s break.

Critchley made the somewhat controversial decision to swap a managerial position at Blackpool for an assistant manager position at Aston Villa during the summer but was sacked alongside Steven Gerrard after a disappointing start to the campaign.

During his time at Bloomfield Road, the 44-year-old would earn promotion to the Championship in his first season, going up via the playoffs after a third-place finish in League One, before leading the Tangerines to a solid 16th-placed finish the following campaign.

In total, Critchley would average an impressive 1.52 points per game with Blackpool, compared to Beale’s 1.41 points per game with QPR, which suggests that he could be an upgrade on the new Rangers boss.

Before his strange summer move, the former Liverpool academy coach was highly regarded by his players at the Lancashire club, with Chris Maxwell particularly complimentary last season.

He said: “His work ethic is second to none… hours and hours of endless drills… he will work behind the scenes and prepare sessions as well.

“I go back to a conversation I had with Gary Madine, and we said we feel like we’ve been taught how to play football wrong for the whole of our careers.”

The “fantastic” manager – as dubbed by Gerrard – was always likely to earn another job in the Championship after things went sour at Villa Park and if he can replicate his performance at Blackpool, with an arguably higher standard of squad at Loftus Road, then his appointment could prove to be a managerial masterclass.

Arsenal are not in contact with Dusan Vlahovic’s representatives over a potential January move, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Vlahovic speculation

The Gunners appear to be on the search for an attacking addition in the New Year after an injury blow to star striker Gabriel Jesus.

Reports in recent days linked Mikel Arteta’s side with a move for Vlahovic, with speculation the club are speaking to the Juventus man’s representatives once more. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case, with Romano providing an update.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

In his daily briefing for CaughtOffside, Romano shared what he’s been told regarding Vlahovic, insisting there is no contact at this stage, while also providing an update on another target, Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk.

“Dusan Vlahovic speculation goes on. I’m told there are no contacts with Arsenal as things stand, then let’s see in January but it’s quiet now. Vlahovic is focused on recovering from his injury, this is a key point; he’s not 100% fit yet. I think Vlahovic is always a good idea for top clubs but Juventus should not sell him after just 11 months.

“At the moment it’s Arsenal pushing for Mykhaylo Mudryk but there’s still no advanced negotiation on the fee.”

The Verdict: Could be key

Jesus could be out of action for around three months in what will be a crucial period for the Gunners, who currently lead the way at the top of the Premier League by five points.

Arteta will know how demanding the second half of the season will be, though, so landing a marquee forward in January could be vital.

A swoop for Mudryk instead of Vlahovic seems to be more likely at this stage, so that may well be one to watch heading into 2023.

Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth is believed to have made an approach to sign Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, according to reports in Spain.

What’s the word?

As per Mundo Deportivo, the Magpies are looking to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding the Dutchman’s future at Camp Nou, with the 28-year-old having just six months remaining on his existing deal in Catalonia.

The report suggests that it does not appear that the Netherlands international will be handed a new contract by the La Liga giants, ensuring that Xavi Hernandez and co are looking to cash in during the January transfer window.

The piece goes on to note that the Tynesiders have offered a fee in the region of €20m (£17.5m) for his services, with that something of a surprise considering the 86-cap ace can move to St James’ Park for nothing in the summer.

Howe’s own Rashford

The former Manchester United man – who previously made just 53 appearances for the Red Devils during his brief stint in England – has struggled to truly enjoy a consistent run in the side at his current club, although still boasts a solid haul of 14 goals in just 41 games for La Blaugrana to date.

Prior to joining the European giants back in the summer of 2021, the “tortured genius” – as described by journalist Jonathan Liew – had enjoyed a particularly fruitful spell at Lyon, scoring 76 goals and registering 55 assists in just 178 games across all fronts.

The one-time PSV Eindhoven sensation proved during that stellar stint in France just what an elite attacking force he can be, with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe likely to welcome such a creative and clinical talent into his squad with open arms.

Interestingly as far as the former Bournemouth head coach is concerned, Depay shares a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with a current Premier League star in the form of Marcus Rashford, as per FBref, with the northeast side having previously made an enquiry about the Englishman over the summer.

With the 25-year-old having since seen his deal extended at Old Trafford – amid talk of a longer-term contract being in the pipeline – a move for the Three Lions star may now appear fanciful, although signing his former United teammate Depay could well be an ideal alternative.

That likeness is illustrated not only by the fact that the pair can both operate in a central role and off the left, but the two men also surprisingly offer a real threat in the air, with Rashford averaging 1.18 aerial duels won per game, while Depay is just behind on 0.88 for the same metric.

Such a comparison is noteworthy due to the form of the Red Devils academy graduate this season, with the pacy marksman having scored nine goals and provided three assists in 20 games in all competitions, having also scored three times at the World Cup in Qatar.

To be able to land a player who is Rashford-esque would certainly be an attractive prospect for Howe and co, with it perhaps time for the Barca star to try and chance his arm in the Premier League once again.

David Moyes is undoubtedly on thin ice at West Ham United but the Scottish manager could save his job by unleashing Flynn Downes in upcoming fixtures.

A 3-1 defeat against league leaders Arsenal on Boxing Day has left the Hammers precariously above the relegation zone in the Premier League, with last season’s flirtation with a top-four finish now a distant memory for the Irons.

While the east London side have had to deal with injury problems throughout the season, with new signings also flattering to deceive, the recent performances have been far from good enough, with Tomas Soucek among the guilty parties.

The 27-year-old midfielder would highlight his inefficiencies at the Emirates once again on Monday evening, completing just eight passes in his 78 minutes on the pitch, registering a woeful pass accuracy rate of 42%.

For a midfielder, this is absolutely criminal, and it seems clear that Moyes needs a partner for Declan Rice who is far more reliable in possession, otherwise the Hammers have no hope of keeping the ball and progressing things from midfield to attack.

Since arriving at the club from Swansea City in the summer, Downes has made just three starts in the Premier League but has averaged a far more impressive pass success rate of 87%, completing on average 16.7 passes per game, despite spending far fewer minutes on the pitch than his Czech teammate.

The Englishman has also caught the eye for Moyes’ side in the UEFA Conference League, with Joe Cole singing his praises on BT Sport after a win against FCSB earlier in the season.

He said: “(He’s been) outstanding. He’s been the bright spark for West Ham in the whole campaign.

“The one big positive that will have come out of this for David Moyes is Flynn Downes. He’s proven that he’s ready, he’s been like a senior player at (23) years of age.

“He nearly scored, he’s been involved in everything, an outstanding find for West Ham.”

Moyes clearly has to change something if he wants to turn West Ham’s fortunes around and with vital games to come against fellow relegation candidates Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton to come in January, he might consider finally giving Downes more regular game time in the top flight.

If he can keep the ball and allow West Ham’s attackers to flourish against struggling defences, then the Hammers could pick up enough points to keep Moyes in a job.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a bid to bring Ferran Torres back to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a recent report from Spain which claims that Fabio Paratici has now submitted a €35m (£31m) offer to Barcelona for the versatile forward.

However, the LaLiga side are believed to be set to reject this bid out of hand – with the Catalan club said to be demanding a figure closer to €50m (£44m) in order to part with the 22-year-old.

The report goes on to suggest that both Arsenal and AC Milan are also keeping a close eye on the situation of the Spain international ahead of potentially launching their own move for the attacker this winter, although it is claimed that Spurs are considered the favourites to seal the former Manchester City starlet’s signature.

Son 2.0

While it is true that Torres has fallen down Xavi Hernandez’s attacking pecking order at the Camp Nou this season – starting just two league fixtures so far in 2022/23 – considering just how impressive the 22-year-old was last time out, it is not difficult to understand why Paratici would be keen on a deal to bring the Spaniard to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this winter.

Indeed, over his 18 LaLiga appearances last season, the £106m-rated talent was in fantastic attacking form, scoring four goals, providing four assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.9 shots – 1.1 of which hit the target – making 0.7 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 35-cap international – who is capable of operating from any position across a front three – average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Barca’s 14th-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football in 2021/22.

The £165k-per-week forward also impressed over his six outings in the Europa League last term, scoring two goals, registering two assists and creating one big chance, as well as taking an average of 2.8 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per match – with these metrics seeing the 22-year-old average a Sofascore match rating of 6.92.

Putting these numbers into context, FBref currently rank Torres in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for shots per 90, in addition to the top 8% for non-penalty xG, the top 16% for passes completed, the top 15% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the top 7% for progressive passes received.

Furthermore, with the player who Xavi previously dubbed “spectacular” and “marvellous” being a right-footed left-winger who is a danger in both a creative and goalscoring capacity in the final third, it is hardly surprising to see FBref list Spurs’ own Son Heung-min as one of Torres’ most comparable players.

As such, should Paratici manage to get a deal over the line for Barcelona star this winter, he could well be rewarded with the discovery of Tottenham’s next Son-esque talent on the left flank – something that is sure to be an extremely tantalising prospect for everyone involved with the club, not least Antonio Conte himself.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s tenure at the top of the club has not quite started emphatically on the pitch, but he is certainly making waves in the transfer market…

What’s the word?

Having already littered Stamford Bridge with a wealth of fresh faces over the summer and during the weeks preceding the January window, Chelsea are now seemingly set to conclude a deal for Argentina’s World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are now ready for direct talks on Tuesday to finalise a deal, after pipping the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United to his name, with reports suggesting he holds a £106m release clause. 

Romano said this morning: “Chelsea and Benfica will hold new direct talks today for Enzo Fernandez. The deal is advanced as reported last week, but Rui Costa’s final approval is still pending – as key step to get it done.

“Enzo has agreed terms with Chelsea last Wednesday. He wants the move.”

A new beast for Chelsea

Losing four of the five matches preceding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Chelsea manager Graham Potter will have spent the international break attempting to wedge some cohesion into the heart of his side, and distinguish new ways to bolster the efforts.

Fernandez, 21-years-old, would be a fine addition to an ambitious Premier League outfit seeking clarity over their future as one of the finest, most formidable teams in Europe. 

Having clinched the Best Young Player award alongside the coveted gilt-cloaked trophy that the select few get to taste, there was no question surrounding the intensity of the transfer rumours that would lay siege to SL Benfica for their starlet.

As per Sofascore, Fernandez’s impressive rating of 7.10 in Qatar was reference to the slick passing play and assured leadership and control that belies his tender age on the pitch.

Registering a goal and an assist, averaging 1.1 shots per match, 0.9 key passes and his 88% passing accuracy underlines the creative genius that will only blossom further at Stamford Bridge.

And by chipping in with 3.1 tackles and 1.0 interceptions every outing, his beastly, robust and all-encompassing attitude to his game is evident.

And having made 25 appearances for his Portuguese outfit this term, scoring three goals and providing five assists – following his move from his homeland in the summer – he had already established his name as one of the brightest in the division before raising the level for his country.

Quite simply, the ten-cap international would be a “game-changer” for Chelsea – as lauded by Roy Nemur – and a centrepiece to the new age at the club, dictating the pace of the club’s exploits for potentially the next decade. 

And with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho both currently set to depart Stamford Bridge upon the expiry of their respective contracts at the end of the term, the arrival of the “beast” – as hailed by reporter Ives Galarcep – that is Fernandez could signal a changing of the guard, and one that could indeed bear fruit for his new, exciting era at Chelsea.

Everton will make the short trip to Old Trafford this evening for an FA Cup third-round clash with Premier League rivals Manchester United, though a gutting injury blow has emerged…

What’s the latest?

Toffees boss Frank Lampard took to his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon to reveal that Nathan Patterson will be out of action for six weeks.

Lampard told the media:

“Nathan’s out for six weeks, unfortunately. It’s a medial ligament injury.

“It’s a blow for us. He’s a young full-back who’s come in, broke through and done really well for us. We know that.

“Now it’s time for others to take that mantle and he’ll be back in six weeks.

“It seems a long time now but he’ll be back.”

Lampard will be gutted

There is no doubt that Lampard will surely be frustrated with Patterson’s injury after already suffering from fitness issues earlier in the season and with pressure mounting on the 44-year-old it could be a devastating blow.

Everton are now firmly in the Premier League relegation zone following their 4-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at Goodison Park earlier this week with just 15 points collected from a possible 54 over their first 18 outings.

Patterson has been one of the stand-out performers in the team since becoming the perceived successor to club captain Seamus Coleman this season, so losing him ahead of the clash with Man United is not ideal for the Everton boss.

Over 13 Premier League appearances, the 21-year-old Scotsman has created one big chance and has been successful in completing 44% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 53.9 touches, three tackles, 2.1 clearances and 4.9 duels won per game.

The Toffees right-back hasn’t had his huge presence for the Merseysiders gone unnoticed, with Danny Murphy lavishing praise on the youngster and hailing him a “diamond” on Match of the Day back in September 2022:

“He’s got this desire to get forward and have an impact on the game, which I think is great. His defensive work is good, you can see the strength to keep the ball under pressure.

“He is a diamond, they really have got themselves a good player in the market. He is a terrific young player.”

With that being said, the Goodison Park faithful will be hopeful that Patterson can make a speedy recovery as the battle with the bottom three is looking challenging for Everton over the second half of the season.

A claim has emerged on Glasgow Rangers attacker Ryan Kent and his short-term future at Ibrox during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke does not believe that the potential signing of Todd Cantwell from English side Norwich will speed up an exit for the Gers winger.

The reporter has also stated that the Englishman is expected to remain in Glasgow until the summer, when his current contract is due to expire.

He told Football FanCast: “I don’t expect Cantwell’s arrival to push Kent out of the door.

“They are slightly different players. Kent is more of a winger whilst Cantwell is a central midfielder, but I think Ryan Kent is still on to stay at Rangers until the end of the season.”

Imagine Cantwell & Kent

Keeping Kent and signing Cantwell this month could leave Michael Beale with the chance of forming a frightening attacking pairing for opposition defences in the Premiership to fear during the second half of the season.

The current Gers attacker has proven himself over the course of a number of years in the Scottish top flight and is a nightmare for defenders to deal with.

Since arriving at Ibrox from Liverpool, initially on loan, in the summer of 2018, the Englishman has racked up 25 goals and 32 assists in 120 Premiership appearances for the club, with 32 goals and 54 assists in 202 matches for the Light Blues in all competitions during that time.

The flying dynamo has proven that he has the quality to be a big threat in the final third, both in terms of scoring and assisting goals, and he could be exciting to watch alongside Cantwell if the club are able to strike an agreement to sign the Canaries man in the coming weeks.

Although the Norwich midfielder has failed to score or assist a single league goal since the start of last season, his form in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns offers hope that he could be an exceptional addition to Beale’s attacking options.

The 24-year-old struck six goals and assisted two in the 2019/20 Premier League season and followed that up with six goals and six assists in his club’s Championship promotion campaign the following year.

These statistics show that the £25k-per-week gem, who was once hailed as “magic” by Radio Norfolk presenter Rob Butler, has the quality to score and assist goals, like Kent, if Beale can get him back firing at his best.

Therefore, Cantwell and the current Gers left winger could frighten Premiership defenders with their technical ability and quality in the final third to form an exciting partnership for the fans to enjoy watching on the pitch.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is one of the contenders for the Manager of the Year Award in the Premier League this season. His side is not only in the mix for a top-four finish, but it may also have a chance to win the title.

Howe was appointed as the Toon boss in November 2021. At the time, the primary target was to avoid relegation. The former Bournemouth manager did that with ease in the end, which meant the club was able to invest in their squad during the summer transfer window.

Eddie Howe 👏 pic.twitter.com/5SbUjmS0WI

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 10, 2023

Newcastle attracted high-quality players in the last two transfer windows, so the expectation from Howe’s team was much higher in the 2022/23 campaign. A push towards the top end of the table was the goal and the Englishman has overseen that.

The World Cup break came at a bad time for the Magpies as they had won five consecutive Premier League games when the league took a break. However, since the resumption, they have returned in great form, as they have not conceded a goal in their opening three games, including an impressive 0-0 draw away to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Newcastle are now odds-on at 10/11 for a top-four finish in the campaign. Those unfamiliar with betting terms can read more about fractional odds in this guide. If the denominator in the fraction (second number) is larger than the numerator, like in the case of Newcastle in the Champions League qualification, it means they are rated more likely to achieve something than not, as their probability is higher than 50%.

Unfortunately, the North East-based club are only 50/1 in the Premier League outright market for the title this season. They remain underdogs at those odds, but if they can keep up their excellent form, they could continue to close the gaps on Arsenal and Manchester City, keeping themselves in the mix in the closing stages of the campaign.

Toon Chasing First Major Domestic Trophy Since 1955

As well as being in a good spot in the Premier League table going into the second half of the season, Newcastle are also in contention for the Carabao Cup. A 2-0 victory over Leicester ensured they progressed through to the semi-final of the competition. They will now face Southampton over two legs in the last four.

Newcastle haven't won a major domestic trophy for 68 years.

Eddie Howe's side are three games away from glory in the Carabao Cup 🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/jWW9b59YEJ

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 10, 2023

Newcastle have not won a major domestic cup competition since 1955. They lifted the FA Cup that season, beating Manchester City 3-1 in the final at Wembley. Since then, their supporters have had very little to shout about.

The Toon will be expected to qualify past Southampton, and they could meet Manchester United in the final in March. Dutchman Erik ten Haag is in his first season with the Manchester club, and he has also made a good start to his reign.

Newcastle’s wait for another FA Cup success will have to go on until at least next season. They were stunned by Championship club Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of that competition.

The Best May Still Be to Come for Howe and Newcastle

Whatever happens this season, Newcastle fans can be very excited about the club’s future. They will be expected to strengthen once again this summer. If they qualify for the Champions League, that will open the door to an even bigger pool of world-class players.

Newcastle have been linked with Brazilian defensive midfielder Danilo recently. If they add two or three players of his calibre in the summer, it could make a big difference toward their title credentials next season.

Howe has shown he can get the best out of the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sven Botman. Those players have all made a difference since arriving at St James’ Park following big money transfers. They all appear to be enjoying playing for their manager and in the system he adopts for his team.

The 45-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest English managers in the sport today. Some pundits are predicting him to be the man the FA target as Gareth Southgate’s replacement when the national team boss decides to walk away from his role. Before then, Howe will want to win trophies at Newcastle and help develop the club into one of the best in Europe.

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