Three emerging Celtic transfer headlines as Ambrosino gets second chance and Hoops 'lead' chasing pack for Man City kid
The Italy U21 star was linked with a move to the Hoops earlier this month after catching the eye on duty for his country at the European Championships in Slovakia.
The striker spent the whole of last season on loan at Frosinone in Serie B and with just 12 months remaining on his contract, has an uncertain future with the Scudetto winners.
READ MORE: Celtic see clearer Champions League play-off picture as five projected rivals revealed
READ MORE: Jamie Vardy to Celtic transfer can't be ruled out amid 'box office' endorsement
Ambrosino's chances of forcing his way into Antonio Conte's plans were plunged into further doubt when he was left out on a training camp trip to Dimaro in the north of Italy.
But it's now being claimed that the 21-year-old is set to be given a lifeline at Napoli.
According to Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno (via tuttonapoli.it), the forward will be included in the squad that travel to Castel di Sangro in the heart of the Apennine Mountains for another training camp ahead of the new season.
Napoli kick off the defence of their Serie A crown with a trip to Sassuolo on August 23.
Meanwhile, Celtic are now said to be leading the race to sign Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan.
The champions' interest in the 19-year-old has emerged in recent days and the Manchester Evening News now report that Brendan Rodgers' side are confident of pipping clubs in England's second tier to bring the defender north of the border.
Simpson-Pusey has made six first team appearances in total for Pep Guardiola's Etihad giants, including two outings in the Champions League.
Another player who is reportedly Celtic's radar is Go Ahead Eagles' Danish winger Jakob Breum.
The Hoops are alleged to have seen a bid of £1.5million knocked back by the Eredivisie club and their technical director Jan Willem van Dop has now gone public with details of the bid.
Fellow Dutch outfit FC Twente are also very keen on the player. Speaking to Oosttribune, van Dop said: "Well, obviously that's something to talk about if the price is right.
"And we didn't get out of that. What to me was the only positive of that was, that they (Twente) offered at least already above the official offer that was ever made by Celtic.
'Because that was one and a half million. So his thinking was higher.
"I at least indicated that we did not go along with the bid that they made. And coincidentally this morning, obviously we still had the agent on the line who hopes that he will go that way.
"And we are, I think, really not the hardest club, but it has to fit. And if we don't come out of it financially better, we also have that that right, I think, to then say, 'Well, then it's not going to happen.'"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
9 minutes ago
- Forbes
Ligue 1 McDonald's TikTok Masterclass: Lessons On How To Crack The TikTok Code
How this French Football league mastered the art of building global fandom In a sports media landscape overflowing with content, how does a top-tier league not just compete but dominate? France's top football league, Ligue 1 McDonald's, has cracked the code with a reimagined TikTok strategy designed to turn a social platform into a global engagement engine. In just a year, this bold pivot hasn't just enhanced the Ligue 1 McDonald's international profile; it has significantly bolstered an entire ecosystem of teams, broadcasters, and athletes. With an astounding 20 million followers and over 1.6 billion video views, Ligue 1 McDonald's has emerged as one of the most influential sports publishers on TikTok, proving that even in a saturated market, strategic innovation can generate unparalleled reach. Here, we unpack the key lessons from their winning formula. The Ligue 1 McDonald's TikTok strategy is all about scale and consistency. By posting more than 25 times per week (sometimes exceeding 50), they feed TikTok's recommendation system a constant stream of rich signals — from high completion rates and shares to comments and the use of trending sounds — optimizing for maximum reach, engagement, and relevance. The insight is simple: More posts mean more "For You" placements, especially when the content is timely, tailored, and genuinely engaging. This consistent output is fueled by a robust, continuously updated clip library that allows the league to satisfy fan obsession with a diverse mix of formats. Think match highlights alongside behind-the-scenes glimpses, trending memes, and intimate pre-game rituals — all coexisting seamlessly in one consistent feed. In addition, Ligue 1 McDonald's delivered more than just traditional highlights, expertly integrating diverse formats, including creator-style edits, engaging voiceovers, and trending sounds. This creative range ensures their content not only avoids viewer fatigue but actively captures the attention spans and preferences of different fan segments, from those seeking quick match highlights to those craving deeper player insights or trending cultural content. One of Ligue 1 McDonald's most impactful strategic moves has been its commitment to creating localized content. Rather than segmenting into separate feeds, they leverage strategic geofencing not to limit visibility but to amplify it by delivering additional, audience-specific posts tailored to the region, language, and cultural relevance. These geofenced posts are published in addition to Ligue 1 McDonald's regular global content, serving as an extra layer of targeted distribution that precisely amplifies reach among international fanbases. This strategy has significantly boosted the team's visibility outside of France, with international views accounting for a remarkable 61% of all #ligue1 views, totaling 3.6 billion. The lesson here is clear: use geofencing to expand reach and maintain a strong global presence by connecting with local audiences through tailored content. Ligue 1 McDonald's achieves this by creating dedicated posts for every player, every target market, and in every relevant language. For example: as part of their successful Arabic strategy, the league localized content by specifically spotlighting Arab players and tailoring posts entirely in Arabic, which ensured they appeared directly to fans in Arabic-speaking countries. This targeted approach strengthens emotional connections, celebrates regional heroes, and has proven exceptionally effective in expanding the league's fanbase across the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. Ligue 1 McDonald's approach offers a replicable playbook for sports publishers and leagues worldwide: In today's dynamic digital landscape, building global fan communities is a vital element of any winning strategy. Ligue 1 McDonald's TikTok success proves that nurturing direct, personalized connections worldwide translates into unparalleled visibility and engagement. For any brand aiming for sustained growth — empowering and deeply connecting with your community is the key to transforming fleeting fans into loyal brand advocates.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pedulla Ponders: ‘Who Kicked Up A Worse Fuss At Atalanta – Koopmeiners Or Lookman?'
Alfredo Pedulla wonders who kicked up a worse fuss at Atalanta out of Teun Koopmeiners and Atalanta Lookman. The SportItalia transfer market expert mused on the parallel situations in two consecutive transfer windows for La Dea. This summer, Inter Milan's pursuit of Ademola Lookman has become perhaps the most high profile transfer soap opera in Serie A. It's not just that the Nerazzurri are trying to sign a big name player from their rivals. The fact that Lookman has very publicly pushed for the transfer – going so far as a to deliver a public transfer request on social media – has turned it into a circus. Last summer, meanwhile, Juventus had chased Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners for the entire summer. The Bianconeri did end up signing Koopmeiners. But only right at the end of the transfer window. Pedulla: 'Who Kicked Up A Worse Fuss At Atalanta – Koopmeiners Or Lookman?' BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 20: Teun Koopmeiners of Atalanta BC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona at Gewiss Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by) SportItalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla ponders, 'Who do you think kicked up a worse fuss?' 'Koopmeiners, who presented a medical certificate just to join Juve, or Lookman, who decided yesterday to use social media without any certificate, after the chaos and unsettled situation of last summer?' 'With Atalanta having guaranteed him a transfer,' Pedulla notes. 'But for a fee that the club would set.' He then recalls that 'Koopmeiners became a soap opera because, starting in December of 2023, Juve had promised they'd bring him to Turin for any fee.' 'They hadn't agreed on one beforehand,' Pedulla notes. 'Is it better to present a medical certificate? Or to take to social media to try and turn the tables?' Pedulla then observes that 'we're in the crucial week.' 'And considering that there's no longer a deadline, which was missed in spectacular fashion as there was no agreement on figures, everyone can think what they want about Lookman's value.' 'I think he's worth at least €50 million based on the figures I've seen.' Pedulla predicts that 'I don't think we'll have to wait very long.' 'Percassi isn't mad at Lookman. He's mad at his agents.' 'They've been sending messages about him that aren't credible, and don't reflect reality. Namely, those about a price being agreed-upon.'
New York Times
39 minutes ago
- New York Times
Joao Palhinha to Tottenham: Everything you need to know
Tottenham Hotspur have signed Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich. The deal for the 30-year-old includes an option to make the transfer permanent for €30million (£25.9m, $34.2m). As part of this summer's transfer coverage on The Athletic, in addition to breaking news, tactical analysis and in-depth reads, our Transfers TLDR series (you can read them all here) will bring you a quick guide to each of the key deals. A Portuguese international whose career has taken a wrong turn over the past year. In 2023, Palhinha, then of Fulham, nearly joined Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, but the move fell apart. He eventually moved to the German side a year later. By the time he arrived, Thomas Tuchel had been replaced by Vincent Kompany, and his role in the side no longer really existed. Palhinha was asked to be a more front-foot player, not the anchorman he was at Fulham, and he never found any rhythm. Advertisement It left him out of favour this summer and available to Spurs. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor He's an old-fashioned No 6 in many ways, in the sense that he's a ball-winner first. Palhinha built his reputation last time he was in the Premier League off the back of his defensive qualities — he's one of the few footballers to have compilations built entirely out of tackles — but he's no deadweight with the ball. True, he's not a penetrative passer, but he's accomplished in possession and capable of showing shades of technique alongside his more rugged qualities, even if that's not what he's known for. But Tottenham are certainly getting a competitor. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor Given the lack of defensively robust midfielders in Tottenham's squad, Palhinha is a smart addition. He has a keen eye for how moves develop and knows when to make a defensive action, even if his hard tackling can occasionally result in fouls and yellow cards. In 68 league games for Fulham between 2022 and 2024, he attempted 300 tackles, the highest across the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga across that timespan, and at least 76 more than any other player. Among central and defensive midfielders, his 92 interceptions ranked fifth. Palhinha is not very comfortable breaking the lines or lifting the tempo of play with carries and risky passes, but if Thomas Frank pairs him with a more progressive option in Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr, or Rodrigo Bentancur at the base of midfield, Palhinha can recycle possession and protect the back line. Anantaajith Raghuraman Certainly nothing to worry about, but he suffered a very badly timed abductor tear in November last year, which kept him out for six weeks and forced him to miss part of mid-season training camp during the winter break. Long-term, it was of no consequence, but at the time, with Palhinha trying to build his confidence and others' trust in him at Bayern, it could not have occurred at a worse moment. Advertisement Still, a clean bill of health since then. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor 'Physically, (Palhinha's) a beast,' his former Braga team-mate Rui Fonte told The Athletic last year. 'He added quality of his passing and his vision. Most of the time, he keeps it simple and that helps. He knows where he is strong and where he is not so strong. His range on the pitch was his main characteristic that I saw. He would help us everywhere on the pitch.' Fonte also said Palhinha's hard-tackling style is well-suited to the Premier League. 'In Portugal, he had to learn the hard way. At the beginning, he would get quite a few yellow cards. But he's an intelligent player. He started to time and choose when to tackle. In England, it's a little bit aggressive — in a good way. He was in a league where he's more comfortable, because the referees allow the game to flow.' Cerys Jones Palhinha has joined Spurs on a season-long loan deal, whereafter his new club will have the option to make the move permanent for €30m. Spurs will cover Palhinha's wage in full during his time in north London. Palhinha joined Bayern Munich for €51m a little over a year ago on a four-year deal. Chris Weatherspoon If we take it that Spurs, as has been reported, have paid a €5m (£4.3m) loan fee for Palhinha, all of it will be booked as a cost in their 2025-26 accounts. Likewise, they'll pay 100 per cent of Palhinha's wage for the next year, which won't be an immaterial amount. Palhinha's new side can make his move permanent in a year if they choose to, with the €30m option to buy looking likely to ensure Bayern wouldn't take a loss on him if he were sold then. Based on The Athletic's calculations, his book value in a year should be pretty much in line with that €30m figure. In the meantime, Bayern will book all of any loan fee received into their 2025-26 financials, as well as enjoy the savings on wages. Chris Weatherspoon
