A-League rising star Garang Kuol linked with move to English Premier League club Newcastle United

One of Australian football's brightest talents has been linked with a mega move to the English Premier League only hours after being named in the Socceroos squad for the first time.

Will Graham Potter get the job? Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Teen sensation Garang Kuol’s 18th birthday just got a whole lot sweeter.

On the same day as being called up to his first Socceroos squad, for two matches against New Zealand next week, the Central Coast Mariners rising star was reported to have signed a stunning four-year deal with the club considered the richest on the planet: the Premier League’s Newcastle United.

And the deal is set to net the youngster, who turns 18 on Thursday, $43,000 a week, according to the BeIn Sport report.

Kuol has yet to start an A-League game for the Mariners, scoring four goals off the bench last season, but rose to prominence with an electric cameo against giants Barcelona for the A-League All-Stars.

The monster contract will reportedly allow Koul to remain with the Mariners for the start of the A-League season, which commences in three weeks time, before joining Newcastle – where another loan deal with a European club is likely.

Garang Kuol was all smiles after being named in the Socceroos squad.

He beat older brother Alou, currently plying his trade with German club Stutthart, to making his Socceroos debut – and didn’t miss the opportunity for a bit of sibling banter.

“I rang him, and I’m just like, ‘what happened mate?’” he joked on Wednesday.

“Nah, he was chill about it. He was just happy for me.”

Meanwhile, Tom Rogic’s World Cup plans are firmly back on track, according to Socceroos coach Graham Arnold who said there was no grudges held against the star midfielder’s Peruvian no-show.

Rogic has been in the football wilderness since leaving Scottish giants Celtic, and was a mysterious last-minute absentee for Australia’s final World Cup qualifiers, including the heart-stopping penalty shootout win over Peru in May, for unannounced personal reasons.

Newcastle United players celebrate a goal against Liverpool.

But the mercurial 29-year-old is back, signing with English Championship side West Bromwich Albion this week, and Arnold indicated he would not hesitate to throw the attacking star into his final squad of 26 when it is announced in November.

Arnold said the pair had spoken since Rogic’s return to the spotlight this week – but didn’t believe the longtime Socceroos servant needed to explain his unavailability for the Cup qualifiers.

“I’m just so grateful Tommy is back. We need our best players,” Arnold said at the announcement of a 31-player squad for two matches against New Zealand, which will not feature an underdone Rogic.

Garang Kuol in action for the A-League All-Stars against Barcelona.

“I’ve never held a grudge against anyone ever and there is no reason to have a grudge. He’s a player that is top quality, he brings a lot to the national team.

“At the moment he hasn’t been selected for New Zealand because he hasn’t kicked a ball in a game since May.”

Game time is now essential for Rogic to get up to speed ahead of Australia’s World Cup campaign – with fitness seemingly the only hurdle to his return to the national set-up.

“It’s all about Tommy getting out there, working hard, and making sure he’s in the best form of his life,” Arnold said.

“Of course (he’s indicated he wants to play). I never doubted in any way or time that that wasn’t the case.

“I’ve known Tommy for a long, long time – since 2010 – I know how Tommy is and what he wants to do. He loves the Socceroos. He’s given 10 years of commitment to the Socceroos and that’s never waned.”

APPROACH LOOMS AS AUSSIE ANGE ON EPL WISHLIST

Emma Greenwood

Scottish football giants Celtic are expecting an official approach from English Premier League club Brighton to speak to Ange Postecoglou about their vacant coaching job despite reports the Australian is not interested in moving from Parkhead.

A laughing stock when he won his first major coaching job in Europe, Postecoglou is now being mentioned among the favourites to take over at Brighton after former Seagulls manager Graham Potter left to take over as new Chelsea boss following the shock axing of Thomas Tuchel.

Postecoglou’s success at Scottish giants Celtic has made him one of the bookies’ favourites.

While the former Socceroos boss has made no official statement on the Brighton job, it’s looking unlikely he’d jump from leading the Hoops to a Premier League club that is not at least pushing for a regular Champions League place.

The former Socceroos boss led Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title in his first season at the club despite being lampooned when first appointed at the famous club.

Thomas Tuchel was sacked by Chelsea.

Postecoglou soon won over his doubters and after guiding the Hoops into the Champions League, is now seen as a hero at the storeyed club, which remains enough of a heavyweight to attract serious players.

Fans took quickly to social media to label any departure to Brighton a disaster for the club and Postecoglou, despite his suitors currently sitting in fourth place on the Premier League ladder.

An early leader with the bookies, Postecoglou now sits behind a raft of contenders including three-time Norwegian coach of the year Kjetil Knutsen, Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper and Felice Mazzu of Belgian First Division A side Anderlecht.

So if, as expected, Graham Potter gets the Chelsea job then Brighton will be looking for a Potter-esque replacement.

I’d be surprised if Ange Postecoglou wasn’t on Brighton’s longer list of potential candidates.

He’d be a good fit there. #BHAFC#GrahamPotter#PL#EPL

— James Dodd (@JamesDoddFOX) September 7, 2022

Ange Postecoglou will be linked with managerial jobs in the Premier League and I’m sure will eventually go down south but he’s only just got started at Celtic and he’s building something special. He certainly wouldn’t downgrade to a club Brighton’s size just yet… why would he?

— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) September 7, 2022

🚨🇦🇺

Ange postecoglou is the FAVOURITE to become the new Brighton and hove Albion Manager after Graham potter who was originally the manager has now joined Chelsea football club. pic.twitter.com/jikBoZ8KXl

— Inside Celtic (@InsideCeltic67) September 8, 2022

Former Celtic forward and football commentator Chris Sutton said a move to Brighton would be a “downgrade” for the Aussie.

“Ange Postecoglou will be linked with managerial jobs in the Premier League and I’m sure will eventually go down south but he’s only just got started at Celtic and he’s building something special,” Sutton posted on Twitter.

“He certainly wouldn’t downgrade to a club Brighton’s size just yet … why would he?”

Graham Potter has left Brighton to join Chelsea.

Postecoglou led Celtic to the Scottish title.

After the Hoops’ 3-0 Champions’ League loss to Real Madrid earlier this week, Sutton praised the progress the club had made under Postecoglou.

It’s inevitable the 57-year-old will continue to draw attention from Premier League clubs if his success in Scotland continues though and it may be a case of when, not if, he makes the jump.

Even being mentioned with the other candidates could be seen as a win for the former A-League and J1 Japanese league title winner, whose Celtic appointment was treated as a joke by some in Scotland just over a year ago.

“Sacked by Christmas”
“Ange postecogwho”

Double winning manager months later🤣 https://t.co/NdpfHQCwHj

— Daniel Johnson (@_DanielJohnson7) May 2, 2022

Ange Postecoglou and Celtic captain Callum McGregor with the SPL trophy.

Former Scotland striker Alan Brazil asked if the appointment of Postecoglou - whose name he butchered when attempting to pronounce it - was a “wind up” when breaking news of his new job on breakfast radio last year.

“This has got to be a wind-up,” Brazil said.

“Aww he will be a great manager. Where do they come up with these guys from?”

Brazil may since have eaten humble pie but not even Postecoglou thought things would happen as they have.

“If you’d told me 12 months ago I’d be standing here, I wasn’t even sure I’d be on this continent let alone as manager of this club,” he said after Celtic sealed the Scottish title.