Emile Heskey Exclusive Interview: Semenyo, Van Dijk, Palmer & Celtic

Speaking exclusively with Casinolyze, England icon Emile Heskey has given his thoughts on the Premier League, Champions League, Nations League internationals and more. 

Heskey has given his thoughts on Man City’s potential punishment and discussed Virgil van Dijk’s links to Real Madrid as his Liverpool contract comes to an end.

Other topics include Cole Palmer’s England career under Thomas Tuchel and whether Martin O’Neill can turn things around at Celtic this season.

Q: Will Man City players already be talking to their agents and queuing up to leave?

“Man City players will all be talking to their agents about potentially leaving. Let's be honest, this isn't something that's just dropped onto everyone's lap, this is something that's been going on for a while. 

“Every player they've signed would have had that on their mind. Their minds would have been eased through conversations with the hierarchy and the club. Now it's come to a head. 

“They likely would have had clauses in their contracts that allow them to leave or address the situation would be my thinking, this hasn’t come out of thin air.”

Q: Would relegation be a bare minimum for Man City?

“Everyone's pointing towards that. I think a points deduction is the bare minimum, a huge points deduction, and then take it from there and see where they end up. 

“You're looking at a substantial points deduction where they might struggle to stay up anyway. I don't know what you do after that, it's just a minefield. 

“It'll be an interesting one to see how it pans out. There are a lot of stakeholders involved in this who are looking to see where this goes to know what their next moves are. Only time will tell.”

Q: Who would be your dream Man City player to join Liverpool?

“Which Man City player would I love at Liverpool? Antoine Semenyo for me. Liverpool were actually in for him and he’s done so well since joining Man City.

“Who else? Most City players would be signed by any other team at the drop of a hat, they are full of fantastic talent. Look at Elliot Anderson for instance who has only just joined, he’d dominate in a Liverpool midfield.

“Essentially all Man City players are now targets of other clubs, not just Liverpool.“

Q: What have you made of England under Thomas Tuchel this break? Is he desperately trying to win over fans after the summer?

“I think when it comes to losing tournaments, there is a lot of hurt and this is no different. 

“Having said that, as fans, we get over things fairly quickly as long as the performances that follow are up to the standard that we want.

“It doesn't have to be 3-0, 4-0, or 5-0 in games but a convincing win with some good football is what England fans want. I think that's all Thomas Tuchel has got to concentrate on, getting the structure right, getting the players playing their best football, and building confidence. 

“You don't want this negative football to creep back in, I think he just needs to focus on that.”

Q: Is it time for Thomas Tuchel to let Rio Ngumoha shine against Croatia after his cameo appearance?

“There's a new generation of players that don't really feel the pressure and Rio Ngumoha is one of them. He's an exciting player, very tricky. 

“Whether to start him or not in the next two games is a tough call because starting a game and having an impact is different from coming off the bench, where players might be at a different fitness level. He might be better suited coming off the bench right now.

“It might be a little bit too soon to start him straight away. But as we just mentioned, he doesn't feel the pressure. I don't think he'd feel pressure if he started, he seems like a very confident lad. So I think he'd be very confident, but at the moment it’s still great to be coming off the bench and having an impact.”

Q: Real Madrid are waiting for Virgil van Dijk to become a free agent, will that be heartbreaking for Liverpool?

“Virgil van Dijk, he is coming to the end of his contract at Liverpool, but we've got to remember that when certain clubs come calling they turn your head whether you’re under contract or not, and Real Madrid is one of them. 

“So I'd be surprised if his head's not turned. The only thing is that Liverpool letting another big star go at the end of their contract doesn't sit well with me and it won’t with the fans either because despite his age he still has value.

“That’s something that Van Dijk has to consider given his status at Liverpool.”

Q: How hostile will Anfield be for City when they come to play Liverpool after the international break? What’s your prediction for the game?

“I think when you go into any game as Liverpool Football Club, you've got to be looking at winning, but this is a massive, massive distraction for City, and that'll be on the players' minds as well. 

“Liverpool have got to look at capitalizing on that. Two new managers going head-to-head with different philosophies and styles of play. 

“I think Maresca is more about dominating the ball, whereas Iraola is a bit more practical in terms of dynamic chance creation. So it'll be interesting to see them match up against each other. I’ll go for a draw. 1-1.”

Q: Would it feel too hollow if Liverpool were given the titles where they came second to City in recent years? 

“What would I do if I was given medals after Man City were stripped of titles? For me, it would feel hollow. I've moved past it. I wouldn’t want them. 

“The Premier League has let us down by how long it has taken to get to the bottom of it, I’d want to move on and move forward. It just wouldn’t feel the same.”

Q: Who would fit Erling Haaland best if he were to leave City if they’re punished with relegation or worse? Barcelona? Real Madrid?

“Erling Haaland will have offers from all over the planet if Man City get relegated. Every top club in every top division will be seeing what their finances are like to actually put a package together.

“Haaland has done it in Germany, he battered Germany, and he's battered England. Why not Spain next with Barcelona or Real Madrid? He’d fit in at either, so why not.”

Q: Do Liverpool’s best chances of keeping Dominik Szoboszlai long-term lie in giving him the captaincy?

“Dominik Szoboszlai is a future Liverpool captain. As someone who's a leader and takes control, you've got to start looking at that and try to nail him down as the number one priority.

“Not just for that, but you can also use him as a tool to attract players. He's a fantastic player, a great individual, and a great leader, or at least looks like one from the outside. You can use players like that to entice others. Keeping Szoboszlai is vital.”

Q: Will Jude Bellingham end up in the Premier League?

“I would love to see Jude Bellingham in the Premier League. But again, he's got his own pathway that he's taking, and it's proven fruitful for him. 

“Even the other night when he came on against Czechia, he was outstanding, just pure energy, getting people up, making tackles, and geeing up the crowd. 

“He's brilliant at that sort of stuff. So yeah, it would be lovely to see him in the Premier League. It'd be interesting to see who he'd suit, he wouldn’t be short of offers.”

Q: Can he become as big a global icon as David Beckham as a Galactico? What will it take to reach that level?

“Jude Bellingham is getting close to it, especially on the football side, but David Beckham was a bit of a brand icon.

“It wasn't just football for Becks, it was everything. He was selling aftershave, clothes, he could sell anything. Brand Beckham is huge. It was probably bigger than football. 

“Jude is getting towards that, but it's going to take time. He's only twenty-three but his brand is growing.

“What he does on the pitch will help that, especially playing up front of England because he offers something different. It's good to have people like Jude who gives flexibility to England while being so consistent for Real Madrid.”

Q: What advice would you give JJ Gabriel over his future, and is it a mistake leaving Man Utd?

“The funny thing with this is that he's a big star and a big name for a while despite his age, which is why it's come out. 

“In general this has been going on for a while, players deregistering, not signing their scholarship, and going abroad to jump from one club to another because compensation is so cheap at a young age.

“I think you're going to see more and more of this, especially with the bigger clubs. Premier League teams will come in and sell young players dreams of being in the first team.

“This is the biggest profile case to date because he's close to first-time football and we've known about him as a star prospect for years. So he's the biggest one to date, but the practice has been going on for years and it won’t be the last time.”

Q: Rio Ngumoha has been linked with a move to Arsenal - could you see this happening and how huge a blow would that be for Liverpool?

“He was linked to Arsenal but Rio Ngumoha staying at Liverpool is massive for the club and massive for him because he's showing he's ready for the fight to stake a claim for the first team starting spot.

“He's showing his versatility, he's now playing on the right wing and doing well. Where before we only knew him as a left winger cutting in and doing tricks, he's now doing it on the right-hand side, showing the adaptability required which is great to see.”

Q: Would Arsenal have walked the league if they had Morgan Rogers in their team this season?

“It would have been interesting to see how Morgan Rogers got on at Arsenal given how well he has done at Chelsea. Squad-wise, Arsenal are very powerful at this moment in time and having him would’ve made them even bigger favourites.

“I've said for a while that he's an exciting player, he picks up great positions and has excellent ball manipulation in tight areas. Now he's adding goals on a regular basis too. 

“Don't get me wrong, he was scoring goals at Villa, but doing it on a regular basis now means the sky's the limit for that lad. I think he's fantastic.”

Q: Can you see Chelsea winning the league over the next few seasons, and is Xabi Alonso the man to ensure success comes back to Stamford Bridge?

“There's an expectation when you're at the bigger clubs. In the first year, I'd say you're bedding in, but you still need a cup. In the second year you challenge, and in the third year you have to win, it’s the same with Xabi Alonso.

“Winning things eases the pressure a lot. Securing the League Cup or the FA Cup early on

Eases the pressure and the burden on you. 

“When I was playing, I went to three cup finals at Leicester, not many teams played their strongest eleven in the League Cup, and you could win it by March. It's an early trophy you can take pressure off on.

“With Xabi and the way results are going, pressure is always going to be there, that first trophy eases pressure, it eases the burden on. The League Cup could be the start of a successful period there.”

Q: Barcelona are monitoring Estevao, would you love Liverpool to snap him up if he can’t get game time at Chelsea?

“I think other Premier League clubs will definitely be looking at Estevao. He's a fantastic young talent, so you'd like to think he's hungry to have a go and play regular football.

“I'm not sure about Liverpool specifically, but other clubs should definitely be looking at bringing him in and it’s something Chelsea might have to look at, because he’s not going to get in the team at the moment.”

Q: Should Arsenal cut their losses with Viktor Gyokeres?

“You've got to feel for Gyokeres if he's sitting on the bench, but you've got to offer something that the manager can't leave out. Even when Kai Havertz was at Chelsea, I used to watch his movement during games and think, ‘Wow.’

“People might miss some of the subtle movements he makes and the space he creates, but I understand why he's getting accolades now, the manager is probably understanding what he brings to the table. 

“He's not your typical forward who stands up top, gets booted all over the place, and just holds up the ball. He does that work, but in a different way.

“I've liked him since his Chelsea days, to be honest. I thought some of the criticism directed at him was a bit harsh, but he's continuing to progress and I like seeing that, so it’s no surprise that Arteta is preferring him to Gyokeres.”

Q: What has gone wrong for Benjamin Sesko at Man Utd?

“I think it's horses for courses. The tactical structure of the team doesn't really suit Benjamin Sesko just playing up top on his own. 

“As players, we've got to make the manager's decision hard to drop us, we have to do enough to stay in that team and he hasn’t done that so far.

“That being said, if Man Utd keep struggling you have to think that Carrick will go for Sesko, he’ll then have to prove his manager right.”

Q: How big is the pressure on Michael Carrick at Man Utd?

“It's a huge game for both of them. For Michael Carrick, the pressure is always going to be on at Manchester United when the team isn't performing and results aren't what you want. 

“I think he's done well since going in there, but fundamentally, you have to get the best out of the bodies the club has got in the door and it’ll be a tough place to be if Man Utd lose to Spurs.

“Whoever wins is going to feel a huge relief, and it'll be a tough week for whoever loses. It’s a very hard game to call, I can see it being a draw.”

Q: Do you think Cole Palmer has harmed his England career by pulling out of international duty after his World Cup snub?

“The question with Cole Palmer is what is wrong physically? Why can't he train and play week in, week out? What sort of injury is he carrying, and how long until we see him playing and training consistently? 

“He is a phenomenal talent who steps into most squads. Probably most squads in the world. So we've got to figure out what's going on with his body that prevents him from training the way he wants and missing out on England setups.

“If your manager isn't happy, then yeah, it can harm your England prospects. But there's got to be an explanation, he's not pulling out just for the sake of it. 

“We need to nail down why he can't train every day. We knew with Ledley King that he couldn't because of a specific issue, so it was managed accordingly. We need to find out what the situation is with Cole.”

Q: Should Marcus Rashford consider a move away from one of the big leagues and look outside the box, like MLS or Saudi Arabia or has he still got more to offer?

“I think Marcus Rashford can get back to his best and ease the pressure on Michael Carrick. He just needs to focus on himself rather than worrying about doing X or Y to get into the England setup or catching the eye of other teams.

“He should focus on playing and getting 100% fit, because a fit Marcus Rashford would be challenging Anthony Gordon for a spot with England and always starting for Man Utd.

“We just need him to focus on himself, ignore the outside noise, and get back to the standard we know he's capable of reaching.

“It’s too soon for MLS or Saudi. He still has a lot to offer, with no disrespect to those leagues. He still belongs at the elite end of European football. 

“Look at what he did at Barcelona last season, a player doesn't just fall off a cliff in one season. He just needs to focus on himself.”

Q: Could you see Harry Kane being a success in NFL once his football days are over after he hinted at a career in America?

“Harry Kane in the NFL would be huge for the sport in the UK and also for his brand out there.

“I think Johnny Wilkinson came close to making the switch from Rugby. The last person to do something crazy like that was probably Michael Jordan when he went into baseball. 

“It would be fascinating to see him crossover when he’s done in football to see if it can actually be successful, but he’s got a lot to give in football before that happens.”

Q: Should Max Dowman leave Arsenal on loan to Celtic or Rangers, or do you see him being a big player for the Gunners this season in the Premier League?

“Max Dowman going out on loan? I could see huge benefits, but you'd have to pick the right team for him to go and play for, taking a real hands-on approach. 

“That kid is the real deal, so you need to ensure he gets the right game time and environment in a structure that suits him.

“The sky's the limit for him. Even if he went on loan in January, I think by next season he could return and be a regular at Arsenal. 

“The only question is, where do you want to play him, and what position suits him best? Celtic or Rangers would be an interesting move.

“It'd be tough, but as the two biggest clubs up there, their style of football would likely match what Arsenal want to do, and he'd get regular game time. 

“It would be a physical test as a young English lad, but it might help him grow.”

Q: Did Martin O’Neill make a mistake staying on at Celtic for another season given he has already mentioned potentially stepping away?

“Martin O’Neill has shown his quality time and time again, so he doesn't have to answer to anyone. 

“Results speak for themselves at times and it has been difficult in the last few weeks, but he's done fantastic work overall since going back there. 

“Sometimes you ride a wave and sometimes things get difficult, but he's a fantastic manager. I'm sure he will turn it around and lead Celtic to the title again, he has the ability and has proven it repeatedly, never rule him out.”

Q: Do you ever wish you played for either Celtic or Rangers in your playing career, and get a taste for the Old Firm - and what do you make of the level of Scottish football now?

“Celtic were interested in me when Martin O’Neill went up there, but you're playing in the Premier League during your prime, it's difficult to leave that to go play anywhere else, including Scotland.

“Don't get me wrong, Celtic are a huge, absolutely massive club alongside Rangers, but it would’ve been really hard for it to really turn my head at the time.”

Q: You played under Neil Lennon at Bolton and he is the bookies’ favourite to replace O’Neill - would he be a good appointment for the Hoops?

“Neil Lennon back to Celtic? Celtic are showing a preference for bringing people in who know the club well and understand what it means to coach there and get the players going. He's done a fantastic job there before. 

“He’s at Dunfermline now, but it does seem an easy option because you know he'll slot in very well. Whether he's keen on the job, I don't know, but it's really about getting the players ready for the task in hand and he knows a lot about that.”

Other
Q: Barnet have opened the door for Dele Alli to return to football - would this be a good move for him or should he be aiming for higher up?

“It'd be great to see Dele Alli at Barnet. It'd be massive for the league, massive for him, and massive for the club. 

“He's gone through a hell of a lot that people probably don't fully understand, so it's just great to see him come out the other side still having that hunger for football, with Barnet now giving him the chance to scratch that itch. It would be so exciting to see how he gets on.

Q: How big of an addition has Barry Bannan been to Sheffield Wednesday, on and off the pitch? What was he like as a teammate and how big is his Hillsborough homecoming?

“Barry Bannan going back to Sheffield Wednesday is huge. He was missed massively when he left. My son was there, so I watched a couple of games and saw the difference after he departed. 

“He's huge around the club, he keeps the fans and players engaged. On the pitch, he's the one player who always seems to have plenty of time on the ball and understands how to manoeuvre and find space. So yeah, it's fantastic to see him back there.”

Q: What have you made of the criticism Russell Martin has received, and is he the man to turn Leicester City’s fortunes around? 

“We've seen it before. You've got to remember where Leicester were before the owners came in. Their main goal this season has to be stability under Russell Martin, bring in some young lads, stabilize everything, and play attractive football for the fans.

“Let's play football that the fans can appreciate and get behind, because once they do, the players get confidence. They have some fantastic young lads who are still learning their craft, some have only played thirty or forty career games and are new to this. 

“Allow them to grow with the club, and Leicester will get back to where they're supposed to be. They need time to grow. Big spending hasn't worked, so now it's about stabilizing everything and growing as a club again.”

Q: Could you see Tom Brady owning a football team in MLS given his stakes in Birmingham and Las Vegas Raiders?

“One hundred percent Tom Brady will have found things easier as an MLS owner. It's so competitive in the Championship, and anyone can beat anyone, which is what you want in a league. 

“Everyone is putting money in and chasing that Premier League dream. You just need that little bit of luck and a sprinkling of quality that gives you an edge. Coventry did it.

“Spending money with a big name involved isn't enough, you need something extra, Tom Brady is learning that.”

Q: Harry Kane is now second favourite to Lamine Yamal in the Ballon d’Or race, will that be hard for him to take?

“The Ballon d’Or race? Unfortunately for Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal really stands out. He's the next face of football that everyone is pushing, so it makes sense for whoever is voting to lean that way.

“I would love to see Kane win it, especially since Yamal is still young and has plenty of years ahead to win one, but I’d think he’ll get the nod this year.”

Q: What do you think should happen to Manchester City if their appeal fails and their guilty verdict is upheld? How should they be punished?

“The punishment should be huge, especially given how long this has gone on for. The reality is, if you asked everyone to be honest with themselves, they're not shocked by this, are they? 

“Having said that, the amount and the magnitude of it is significant. Where will they end up, is it League Two? Is it the National League? 

“It's going to be interesting and a huge points deduction is the bare minimum, then I wonder where it will end because clubs will say they got relegated on the back of it, clubs will say they could’ve had Europe.

“Players will say they missed out on bonuses or had their salaries cut, this could go on for years.”

Q: What do you make of Florian Wirtz struggling at Liverpool? Do you think he will ever succeed there, or is he a lost cause?

“Florian Wirtz? I still think he's yet to find his feet and where he actually fits within this system. I mentioned that he looks similar to Coutinho, and Coutinho had a fantastic spell at Liverpool, so I was hoping that he could actually emulate that. But he's a totally different type of character.

“The only worry is, how long do you give someone to find their feet? That's the problem, especially at a club like Liverpool where they don't have time for you to find your feet, you've got to hit the ground running. So he's found it difficult in that sense. 

“Liverpool fans are forgiving. They've given him more than enough time and plenty of opportunity to get up to speed but that patience will run out.

“He is finding it difficult because it's a totally different mindset, a totally different game, and a totally different structure to the German Bundesliga.”

Q: Do you think England/Thomas Tuchel have shown anything against Spain and Czechia that suggests they've learned lessons from their World Cup mistakes?

“It's difficult to emulate the pressures that go into semi-finals and finals. I mean, I've never played in a World Cup final, but emulating the pressures that go into that and the required mindset is tough.

 “Managers need to be very, very strong and very particular on what they want going into those games, rather than making a knee-jerk reaction. 

“These games, with all due respect to the Nations League, I don't think are going to give you that same pressure and understanding of what's needed. These are not the games that we were worried about, were they? And they never have been. 

“We sailed through a lot of these, especially qualifying, and now obviously the Nations League games. If you look at the Spain game, it was only our mistakes that really cost us in that sense. 

“Don't get me wrong, they created a lot of chances, and that's one of the things we've probably got to look at and ask, how do we mitigate teams creating so many 1v1s against us and having to count on our goalkeeper to bail us out?

“Apart from that, it was mistakes from us that cost us. But going into the Czech Republic game, you're expected to win those games, and they did exactly what was expected of them. 

“Does that bring up any challenges for later stages in a tournament that will help us? No, I don't think so.”

Q: Is selling Luis Diaz one of the biggest mistakes by the club in recent years? 

“Selling Luis Diaz was a huge mistake. When you look at their recruitment area, they have people who look at ages and everything, assessing how people will progress. 

“Obviously, when you get to a certain age, there will generally be a slow decline. But then you get anomalies like Mo Salah who continue well into their thirties.

“Kane is in his 30s and still doing really well. We've missed Diaz because of the tenacity he had. You've got to remember we had Mo and we had Mane on the wing. 

“Mane was outstanding. When he left, everyone was worried because they realized what he gave, not only going forward, but coming back. Diaz had that same tenacity to win the ball and chase everything.

“He would chase lost causes. Diaz could play centrally as well, there were times when Jurgen Klopp played Diaz centrally and he was such a threat because he gave you something different. 

“Now we've been so blessed with that, but then you take that out, and you're really trying to plug a gap with something that isn't what we're used to. We definitely have missed that. It just looks a little bit different, and we're not used to how it looks without that.”

Q: Bradley Barcola is being touted as the player to become Mohamed Salah’s replacement for Liverpool but is the real need for Barcola to play the role that Luis Diaz did?

“When you look at PSG, they play in a similarly aggressive way. So you'd like to think that, coming through that system and playing there for a while, Bradley Barcola has that quality to replace what was left by Luis Diaz.

“It's up to the manager to get that out of him and really put pressure on him to produce it week in, week out. It’s still early days but I think there are really positive signs.”