Celtic Exploring Conditions of Permanent Saracchi Stay

Celtic are looking into making on-loan defender Marcelo Saracchi’s stay a permanent one. The Uruguayan signed late in the summer window from Argentine giants Boca Juniors, and has made 23 appearances as the Parkhead side manage Kieran Tierney’s fitness. A deal will reportedly not be concluded until a new manager is in the Celtic Park dugout, yet interim manager Martin O’Neill admits it is a deal that makes sense. “I think they should try [sign him]. Kieran Tierney is playing brilliantly, back to the level Arsenal paid for. “But this little lad scored for us. He’s a strange character, I call him Manuel from Fawlty Towers because he hasn’t a clue what I’m saying! “He just says ‘Yes’ to everything! But the club should be looking at something like that.” Saracchi has scored once in a 2-1 home win over Livingston, and has chipped in with two assists. The player himself is said to be keen to extending his stay to life in Glasgow, but would need reassurances on game time amid other options being presented to him.

Man Utd 2-1 Brentford: Champions League in Sight for Hosts

Manchester Utd 2-1 Brentford Casemiro (11′) Sesko (43′)      Jensen (87′) Manchester United moved one victory from Champions League qualification after edging out Brentford at Old Trafford. The hosts established a two-goal lead in an entertaining first half to deliver Michael Carrick’s ninth win as interim head coach. Casemiro headed the opener in the 11th minute from a narrow angle, after Harry Maguire kept a deep cross alive. Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead after a swift counter-attacking move. The Slovenian showed poise to finish high into the net after collecting a pass from Bruno Fernandes on the stroke of halftime Brentford offered their own threat in the first half. A last-ditch Ayden Heaven tackle, and several stunning saves by Senne Lammens denied Igor Thiago from netting his 22nd goal of the league season. Keith Andrews’ side set up a nervy ending for United after a powerful Mathias Jensen strike from 25 yards, but the hosts would eventually see out proceedings, taking another positive step forward towards the promised land of the Champions League. Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw (Yoro 73′) Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbuemo (Mount 74′) Fernandes, Diallo (Mazraoui 46′) Sesko (Zirkzee 88′) Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Damsgaard, Schade (Nelson 73′) Ouattara, Thiago

“I don’t think it’s an impossible task” – Mikey Moore

Rangers loanee Mikey Moore still believes Rangers are firmly in this title race following their setback against Motherwell. After Rangers’ defeat to Motherwell on Sunday, they now sit four points behind league leaders Hearts and one point behind Celtic. Danny Rohl’s men take a trip to both Tynecastle and Celtic Park in the coming weeks, in what is now two must win games if there is any hope for Rangers to win the title. Moore, who has recently won Rangers young POTY and was nominated to the PFA Scottish young POTY, is adamant that Rangers have “more than enough to win every game left.” He said: “It’s not an impossible task. If we show the best versions of ourselves, we have more than enough to win every game left.” Moore has been an influential factor in this Rangers side since Danny Rohl’s arrival in October. The on-loan Englishman has eight goal contributions to his name in the league and is one of Rangers’ most prominent driving forces in the team. He also spoke about his future beyond the season. Moore said: “For me, I want to be playing. I want to play as much football as possible. I want to keep playing games. I want to know that every week I’ve got a chance of playing. “I’m not going to rush into playing somewhere higher than I can play, where I’m going to maybe sit on the bench and not get as many minutes. I want to keep building on what I’ve built this year.”