Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou reportedly wants to "replace" two players of his players as Spurs eye a move for one "incredible" star.
Spurs' form under Postecoglou
Nobody could have envisaged such a bright start to the season for Postecoglou, nor could they guess that Spurs would be making their best start to a campaign since their double win in 1961. The Lilywhites have clinched victory in six of their opening eight league matches, remaining unbeaten over that period while sitting top of the Premier League table. Tottenham faced tough, tough tests against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in that time, but came through both matches unphased and undeterred.
Speaking after their 2-2 draw away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last month, Postecoglou heaped praise on his Tottenham squad for a growing will and desire to improve as a team.
"There's a real will and desire to become the team we want to be, which includes making sure that you're disciplined and you're buying into the team ethos and we had a really young team out there," said Postecoglou to Tottenham's official website.
"Vic, that's his first derby, Destiny, van de Ven, Pape Matar Sarr, Brennan, they're all in their early twenties, Porro, even Kulusevski is only 23, so it was a young team but just super proud of the experienced players we did have in there. Romero was outstanding, Bissouma has been brilliant all year, Maddison, and Sonny was just on a different level, not just his goals, although they were outstanding, but his work rate, his work ethic was incredible."
Who could Spurs sign in January?
Despite their electric form right now, it has been claimed that the north Londoners could move to strengthen their ranks in the new year. Indeed, one of the rumoured transfer targets is Al-Ittihad winger Jota, who could well be on the move back to Europe after very little time in Saudi Arabia.
Former Celtic stars Josip Juranovic and Jota.
There are reports that the former Celtic star is keen to reunite with his ex-boss at Tottenham (90min), and it is believed the feeling is very much mutual from Postecoglou. Now, a new report has shed light on this, with journalist Rudy Galetti sharing a Jota transfer update for Tribal Football. He says that Postecoglou's "priority" is to "replace" both Ivan Perisic and Manor Solomon on that side with another option, leading to Tottenham's interest in signing Jota next year.
Nothing is added beyond that point, but we believe Jota could be an excellent alternative to the Spurs duo. Pundit Alan Hutton, speaking last year, revealed he is a big fan of the "incredible" Portuguese.
"Jota's only 23-years-old, he's still developing," explained Hutton to Football Insider.
"He's probably only going to get better, I think he can get better. What he's done this season has been incredible, for him to come from his parent club, where he's not really been playing. Benfica are a big club in their own right but to come to another club where there's a lot of pressure, to perform at such a young age, he's stood up to that task.
“Jota's that player fans want to see. He's exciting, he takes people on, he makes things happen, he scores goals and ticks all the boxes."
Chelsea and Arsenal don’t just share a desire for supremacy in the capital as Premier League rivals, as there has been a surprising number of players who have donned both blue and red over the years.
With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of the 18 players to have represented both teams since 1992.
1 Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal 1997-1999; Chelsea 2008-2012)
Nicolas Anelka Chelsea
The first name on our list is none other than Nicolas Anelka. While many players on this list enjoyed success with one of the clubs and not the other, Anelka enjoyed significant success at both teams.
He joined Arsenal in February 1997 but failed to make much of an impact until an injury to Ian Wright in the 1997/98 season opened up a spot in the team for him. He was a pivotal player in the club’s double that year and was subsequently voted the PFA’s Young Player of the Year.
He would leave north London in 1999 and spend the next nine years playing for a handful of teams, including Real Madrid, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Bolton, before finally signing for Chelsea in 2008.
He won the Premier League, two FA Cups, and a Community Shield during his time in west London. However, he also missed the decisive penalty against Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final.
2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal 2018-2022; Chelsea 2022-2023)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goalscoring ability and general attitude made him a hit with Arsenal supporters almost immediately when he joined in 2018. That he almost single-handedly won the club an FA Cup during that period – beating Chelsea in the final – also helps.
However, during his final year at the club, his goal-scoring dried up, and he was eventually let go after seemingly falling out with manager Mikel Arteta. The Gabonese forward joined Barcelona in January 2022, so while Arsenal fans were sad to see him leave, they weren’t hurt by the club he opted to join.
However, that very summer, he made a surprise move to Chelsea, which drew the ire of his former fans. He made the situation worse when he filmed a promo for BT Sport (now TNT Sports), essentially taunting Arsenal fans, so when his former side did the double on his new team, fans were quick to mock and jeer him.
Ultimately, his time in west London was a total disaster, and he later left to join Marseille in Ligue 1.
3 Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea 2010-2013; Arsenal 2011-2012)
After a reasonably successful three-year stint with Liverpool, Israeli footballer Yossi Benayoun joined Chelsea in 2010, but regular injuries made it difficult for him to nail down a place in the starting XI, a problem only made worse by the arrival of the incredibly talented Juan Mata.
So, a year after joining the club, Chelsea made the unusual decision to send him on a season-long loan to rivals Arsenal. He played more games for the Gunners in this one loan move than he did at the Blues across his three years there.
Benayoun would end up being an integral part of the side that finished third ahead of Tottenham and a sixth-placed Chelsea – who would, of course, win the Champions League that year. A late winner against Aston Villa and a goal in the qualification-clinching victory at West Brom were among his highlights in red and white.
He left the west Londoners in 2013, moving to Queens Park Rangers for a year before returning to Israel to finish his career.
4 Petr Cech (Chelsea 2004-2015; Arsenal 2015-2019)
Peter Cech dons his protective head guard for Chelsea.
Petr Cech is one of the best Premier League goalkeepers and arguably the greatest in Chelsea’s history. The Czech Republic international was a man mountain and looked impossible to score against during his time in blue.
He was a part of the team for over a decade and ended up winning it all, including the Champions League, four league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields and the Europa League.
When he left Chelsea to join Arsenal in 2015, he did so as one of the most decorated players in the club’s history. However, he wouldn’t enjoy the same success in north London.
Unfortunately, Cech would leave Arsenal with just an FA Cup, and his final game ended up being a humbling 4-1 loss in the Europa League final against Chelsea.
He wasn’t terrible for the Gunners, but he was clearly past his best.
5 Ashley Cole (Arsenal 1999-2006; Chelsea 2006-2014)
While most of these transfers have been relatively uncontroversial, Ashley Cole’s switch to Chelsea in 2006 was the complete opposite.
Cole came up through the Arsenal youth system and made his debut for the team in November 1999. He would go on to win two league titles, three FA Cups and two Community Shields with the club, but in 2006, he did the unthinkable as he signed for Chelsea.
The famous story is that he was driving home from training one day and received an offer for a new deal that he deemed so low he nearly swerved off the road in anger. From there, he signed for the recently wealthy and reigning league champions (amid an alleged tapping-up scandal) and the rest, as they say, is history.
6 Lassana Diarra (Chelsea 2005-2007; Arsenal 2007-2008)
Lassana Diarra, a man more known for his three years at Real Madrid, did play for both Chelsea and Arsenal early on in his career, although, for whatever reason, it didn’t really work out at either club for him.
He joined the Blues in 2005 but only played a handful of games over the next couple of years before being sold to the Gunners in the summer of 2007 before his contract was set to run out in January 2008.
He didn’t fare much better in red, though, as he would sign for Portsmouth just five months later to get more game time.
7 Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal 2003-2011; Chelsea 2014-2019)
Former Chelsea man CescFabregas
Another player that kicked up a storm signing for his second of the two sides was Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish World Cup winner joined the Arsenal youth system from Barcelona in 2003 and made his debut for the senior side in the same year.
While he was at the club during the Invincible era, he was not given a league winners’ medal as he did not make a single appearance in the league. He did, however, win an FA Cup and Community Shield with the club. He was given the captaincy in 2008, but just three years later, left to join boyhood club Barcelona.
After spending three years there, he wanted to come back to Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger famously turned him down, which gave Chelsea the opportunity to sign him up, which they were more than happy to do.
From 2014 to 2019, the former Arsenal captain won two league titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup with the Blues.
10 memorable Cesc Fabregas moments
Following Cesc Fàbregas’ retirement, Football FanCast brings you 10 memorable moments from the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barca midfielder’s career.
ByMark Marston Jul 3, 2023 8 William Gallas (Chelsea 2001-2006; Arsenal 2006-2010)
William Gallas moved to Chelsea from Ligue 1 side Marseille in 2001 and would go on to become a vital part of the Blues team that welcomed in the Roman Abramovich era.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, he made over 150 appearances and won two league titles, a League Cup and a Community Shield.
His move to Arsenal in 2006 was part of the deal that saw Cole move the other way, and it was suitably dramatic as Chelsea claimed that Gallas threatened to score own goals should he not be allowed to leave.
Upon his arrival at Arsenal, he rather bizarrely took the number ten shirt following the departure of Dennis Bergkamp. In the end, though, his time in north London was a massive failure as he left empty-handed and with a rather poor reputation following some fairly public spats, causing him to relinquish the Gunners captaincy to fellow former Blue, Fabregas.
9 Olivier Giroud (Arsenal 2012-2018; Chelsea 2018-2021)
Olivier Giroud joined Arsenal from Ligue 1 outfit Montpellier in 2012 and spent the next six years at the club, winning three FA Cups and three Community Shields. While he was relatively successful in north London, he was also criticised for not being prolific enough in front of goal.
He signed for Chelsea in January 2018 after the Gunners signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to take his place. While his move wasn’t met with the most enthusiasm by fans, he ultimately proved to be a valuable player for the Blues and left the team with an FA Cup, a Champions League and a Europa League to his name – scoring in the final of the latter against his former club.
10 Kai Havertz (Chelsea 2020-2023; Arsenal 2023-present)
Kai Havertz joined Chelsea from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 with a lot of promise and expectation that he would go on to be a world-beater.
Unfortunately, after three years at the club, it’s probably fair to say he underdelivered on his promise somewhat despite scoring the winner in the 2021 Champions League final.
So it was quite a surprise when Arsenal paid £65m to sign the German in 2023, becoming yet another player to cross the red-blue divide.
Leeds United have enjoyed a strong start to the current Championship campaign as they sit in third place and chasing an automatic promotion spot.
Daniel Farke's side beat Huddersfield Town 4-1 on Saturday and have now racked up 25 points and 24 goals scored in their 14 league matches so far.
The form of the talented Georgino Rutter has played a significant role in the club's success on the pitch as the former Hoffenheim man has taken the division by storm this term.
Georginio Rutter's statistics this season
Farke hailed the talented gem as "unplayable" at times after the victory over the Terriers as the French attacker registered his fifth assist of the season.
The 21-year-old whiz has now created a staggering 14 'big chances' for his teammates in 12 starts and has showcased his ability to carve open the opposition's defence on a regular basis.
Leeds forward Georginio Rutter.
However, one criticism that could be levelled at the terrific maestro is that he does not offer a significant goal threat on his own. Rutter has only scored two Championship goals and has had the opportunities to add to that tally with five 'big chances' missed so far.
Meanwhile, the player whose spot in the side he has taken up through the middle of the pitch – Rodrigo – has outscored him at league level this season.
Rodrigo's goal record for Al-Rayyan
The Spain international, who was once dubbed "brilliant" by pundit Micah Richards, reportedly had a release clause of £3m that allowed Al-Rayyan to swoop in to secure his services ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Since moving on from Elland Road, Rodrigo has racked up three goals and three assists in six Stars League appearances for the Qatar-based outfit.
The 32-year-old marksman has also scored two goals in two Stars Cup clashes for Al-Rayyan and this means that the excellent attacker has five goals and three assists in eight games in total for the club.
Former Leeds striker Rodrigo.
Whereas, Rutter has only scored two goals in 27 appearances for Leeds in all competitions since the start of the year, which is a less-than-impressive return for a player who looks to make an impact in the final third.
Marcelo Bielsa splashed out a club-record fee of £26m to sign Rodrigo from Valencia in the summer of 2020 and he went on to score 28 goals in 97 clashes for the English side in total.
The Spanish ace scored 13 goals in 23 Premier League starts last season and only missed four 'big chances', which is a tally of misses that Rutter has already surpassed after 12 Championship starts.
Leeds' current forward sensation is not able to offer the same level of threat in front of goal as Bielsa's former brilliant dynamo in terms of his finishing ability, as shown by their respective statistics.
However, Rutter has been a consistent creative menace for his side and is contributing on a regular basis in ways outside of just scoring goals.
Hopefully, the French phenom will be able to find his goalscoring touch and add a Rodrigo-esque goal threat to his arsenal over the coming weeks and months to become a complete forward.
Leeds United are enjoying a successful season after suffering relegation from the Premier League this year, but manager Daniel Farke is keen to consolidate the flourishing fortunes.
Championship table-toppers Leicester City recently fell to Farke's blade at the King Power Stadium in a display that underscored the Whites' credentials for promotion and exhibited the cohesion and resilience that has not been present at the club for the past few years in the Premier League.
Leeds transfer news – Nadiem Amiri
According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Nadiem Amiri has expressed regret over snubbing Leeds in the summer, with Farke's side presented with an opportunity to sign him once again in January.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
The five-cap Germany international was the subject of an accepted €6m (£5m) bid from the Elland Road club earlier this year, with Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso not deeming the midfielder a core part of his vision.
Whether a deal is resurrected lies in Farke's hands, but it would certainly be a good move given the quality he could bring, and the supposed willingness to now forge ahead with a move to Yorkshire.
Nadiem Amiri's style of play
Amiri, aged 27, has completed 142 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 12 goals and supplying 20 assists across all competitions.
As per FBref, the £47k-per-week ace ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 7% for total shots, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, emphasising the kind of positive qualities that could be injected into the burgeoning fold at Leeds.
The metrics-led site likens Amiri to Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, referencing the pairs' likeness in progression on the pitch – indeed, Villa's £120k-per-week machine ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for successful take-ons per 90.
John McGinn
Described as an "exceptional" midfielder by former manager Dean Smith, McGinn's energy and ceaseless pursuit of driving the play forward has been crucial to Aston Villa's ascendancy under Unai Emery – with seven goals and assists already this season – and Amiri could emulate this for United.
Amiri was dubbed the "ideal" addition in midfield for Farke's project back in the summer by Leeds presenter Oscar Marrio, which really is starting to click into full gear and could be augmented tremendously through the signing of such a creative and forward-thinking central presence.
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri.
Marrio said: "Amiri is absolutely ideal for Farke, press resistant & prioritises keeping the ball rather over trying to play defence splitting passes (although he is capable of this as well). Also takes the ball on the back foot, combines & create angles to get the wingers in dangerous areas."
Doubters might put forth the point that such a talented player might be dissuaded from joining a squad plying its trade in the second tier of English football, but Leeds have put in the groundwork previously to win him over.
Moreover, Amiri might be enticed by joining this new-look Leeds team which seems to grow in confidence and cohesion with each passing fixture; Farke and the 49er Enterprises must now throw the kitchen sink at securing his signature, taking a major stride in their push for an instantaneous return to the top-flight.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp succeeded in rebuilding his squad last summer after the 2022/23 campaign brought little to sing home about, with years of illustrious success halted as the midfield withered and the cohesion dissipated.
While the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner have all been staples of this prosperous modern era on Merseyside, there was a clear waning in strength and the struggle to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League confirmed a miserable end to the term.
Klopp rebuilt the midfield over the summer and the aforementioned stars have all now been shipped on, but more work is needed to return the Anfield side to its former imperiousness.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The backline requires attention, with a left-sided defender of particular interest, while the continuing question mark over the head of Mohamed Salah's future remains despite warding off lucrative attention from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in the summer.
Out of contract in 2025, Liverpool will need to replace the 31-year-old one day, and while it's unfathomable to even dream about, recent reports suggest that moves have been made to bring Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe to English shores.
Liverpool transfer news – Kylian Mbappe
According to Spanish outlet AS – via Paisley Gates – Liverpool have submitted an opening offer to sign Mbappe following Real Madrid's apparent fears regarding the finances involved in bringing the France international to the Spanish capital.
Further, Carlo Ancelotti's side are considering a move for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams on a free transfer next summer, with Vinicius Junior already performing brilliantly on the left wing.
While Liverpool's chances of completing a deal are slim, not least because of the exorbitant wage demands that would come after the player departs Paris on a Bosnan in the summer, the Anfield chiefs will monitor the situation in case an opportunity does arise.
There have, however, also been recent claims from the Spanish publication regarding Real Madrid's pursuit of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, and if such a deal was to be pulled off, the road to Manchester may be opened for the Parisien phenom – a daunting thought indeed.
Kylian Mbappe's style of play
It's unlikely that Liverpool would have submitted a concrete offer for the Les Bleus sensation, but that's not to say that negotiations haven't been made in some format to establish conversation.
Mbappe is one of world football's finest players and has scored 227 goals and supplied 99 assists across 275 outings for PSG, having been praised as an "alien" by Poland international Piotr Zielinski for his incredible qualities.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Finishing
Offside awareness
Passing
Defensive contribution
Key passes
Ball retention
Long shots
Dribbling
Through balls
*Sourced via WhoScored
As per FBref, the Frenchman ranks among the top 7% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.
Thus, not only is Mbappe one of the most clinical players in world football, but he is progressive and electric in his forward-surging motions, and the impact he could have in Liverpool's squad, against Premier League opposition, is frightening.
Kylian Mbappe's extraordinary goal tally
Notions that he has yet to test his craft outside of Ligue 1 are, frankly, absurd. Mbappe has 42 goals from 65 Champions League appearances, 17th on the all-time record – at 24-years-old, he is nine goals from surpassing eighth-placed Thierry Henry's 50.
And if that isn't enough, his exploits on the global stage with Les Bleus speaks for itself. He has 12 goals from two World Cup tournaments; feasibly, he will play in two or three more of the prestigious competitions before he retires and is just five goals away from eclipsing Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 goals.
Chuck in the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy, and it's clear that this incredible attacker is on a pathway to prominence as one of the most devastating players of his generation, hailed as a "generational talent" by scout Jacek Kulig.
Club
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
G/A Rate
PSG
23/24
11
13
1
1.27
PSG
22/23
34
29
6
1.02
PSG
21/22
35
28
19
1.34
PSG
20/21
31
27
7
1.12
PSG
19/20
20
18
7
1.25
PSG
18/19
29
33
9
1.44
PSG
17/18
27
13
7
0.74
Monaco
16/17
29
15
11
0.89
Monaco
15/16
11
1
1
0.18
*Sourced via Transfermarkt
As the table delineates, Liverpool would secure a monstrous goalscoring figure, one of the most prolific in the game, should Mbappe be brought to the city, and while he has indeed yet to ply his trade outside of his homeland domestically, there is little question of his world-class ability.
Joining Klopp's side, the rekindled optimism for silverware would be bolstered exponentially; he would augment the offensive threat and then some.
Both clinical and creative, Mbappe would be a starring figure in the Premier League and could even bring Darwin Nunez's game to new heights, with the Uruguayan talisman really growing into his skin this year.
What signing Mbappe would mean for Darwin Nunez
Liverpool signed Nunez from Benfica in an £85m club-record transfer in the summer of 2022, and while he had posted 34 goals from 41 matches with the Portuguese giants across the 2021/22 campaign, he cut a divisive figure the following year in England.
The £140k-per-week machine has been sharper since the summer, having played a central role in Liverpool's revival, scoring seven goals and supplying five assists from only nine starts so far.
Given that he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for assists and progressive carries per 90, he could drive into the forward areas and supplement Mbappe's threat, with the £1.2m-per-week PSG jewel repaying the favour.
The fact that Nunez also does a job when shifted onto the left wing could further enhance the Anfield appeal for Mbappe, who could flourish in a new partnership of interchangeability, bamboozling defenders and forever providing new days of inflicting misery on opponents.
It's not like this is something Klopp has yet to implement across his Liverpool tenure; Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – remarked to be unstoppable by Gary Lineker – often floated across the frontline, with the trio's deadly interplay propelling the Reds to illustrious success.
Once described as an "agent of chaos" by the Liverpool Echo's Theo Squires, Nunez really does erupt onto opposition in a cauldron of confusion, deftly weaving through the lines and combining his finishing and predatory instinct.
There's still work to be done to bring him to his apex, but with Mbappe alongside him at the front, the potential is limitless and Liverpool's new chapter under Klopp's guidance could be one of extraordinary success.
Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action with a mouthwatering match-up against an in-form Aston Villa side on Sunday, with the two clubs currently separated by just a point in what is likely to be an intense top-four battle this season.
The Lilywhites go into tomorrow's clash at N17 having lost each of their last two league outings, however, notably suffering a shock late collapse away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, prior to the recent international break.
In need of a positive result to help stop the rot, Ange Postecoglou's task has not been made any easier as a result of the mounting injuries and absences that have impacted his squad, with options rather thin on the ground all across the park.
With that in mind, the Greek-Aussie could make three changes from the side that lost at Molineux, ahead of the visit of Unai Emery's men…
1 GK – Guglielmo Vicario
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
A lesser-known quantity before his arrival in north London, Guglielmo Vicario has been an "absolute revelation" since his £17.2m move from Empoli – as per Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher – and is a certainty to start once again this time around.
2 RB – Pedro Porro
Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro.
Having started every game this season since the opening-day draw with Brentford, Pedro Porro – who has racked up two assists thus far – will keep his place at right-back.
3 CB – Eric Dier
alfie-dorrington-eric-dier-tottenham-opinion
With Cristian Romero still suspended – while Micky van de Ven remains out with injury – Eric Dier will have to keep his place at centre-back, despite having been tipped for an exit in January.
4 CB – Ben Davies
ashley-phillips-ben-davies-tottenham-opinion
Alongside the long-serving Dier will be fellow stalwart, Ben Davies, with any thought of shaking up the backline having been hampered by the further loss of 18-year-old, Ashley Phillips, due to injury.
5 LB – Destiny Udogie
Destiny Udogie for Tottenham.
One of the few positives for Postecoglou will be the likely return of Destiny Udogie at left-back, with the Italy international having served his one-game suspension against Gary O'Neil's men last time out.
Previously touted for an exit over the summer, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could once again be able to establish himself as a key figure in the side, with Yves Bissouma set to miss out tomorrow after already picking up five yellow cards this season.
With James Maddison also out until the New Year and with doubts persisting over Pape Matar Sarr's fitness, Hojbjerg will likely retain his place in midfield.
7 CM – Rodrigo Bentancur
Alongside Udogie, the second alteration could well be the inclusion of Rodrigo Bentancur, the Uruguayan international seemingly nearing full fitness after featuring for his country during the international break.
Having been sidelined for much of 2023 with an ACL issue, the £75k-per-week "unsung hero" – as dubbed by Jamie Redknapp on the Sky Sports Football Podcast – may be in contention for his first start of the campaign.
8 CAM – Jamie Donley
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
In the absence of Maddison, a new creative spark will need to be found in Spurs' playmaking berth.
Spurs have "fantastic" 18 y/o with 11 assists ready to take Maddison's place
This “fantastic” teenager with 9 assists in 9 games could be the perfect replacement for James Maddison.
ByAdam Scully Nov 8, 2023
After registering 11 assists already this season in the youth ranks, 19-year-old Jamie Donley could be deserving of his first senior bow as the final alteration from the side that lost at Wolves – with football.london's Rob Guest suggesting that the teenager is now 'impossible to ignore'.
In truth, the lack of attacking options – amid Richarlison's injury woes – will ensure that the frontline essentially picks itself, with Dejan Kulusevski lining up on the right flank to continue his run of starting every game in the top flight in 2023/24.
10 ST – Heung-min Son
florian-wirtz-heung-min-son-liverpool-opinion
Fresh from scoring three goals on international duty for South Korea, Spurs' top scorer and captain will lead the line once again, having found a neat new home for himself through the middle.
Newcastle United have already made contact to register their interest in an overseas striker, and a fresh report has now revealed that he's made one specific transfer demand that could determine whether he'll join in January.
Newcastle's attacking options
The Magpies have Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson as their natural options at centre-forward in the building as it stands, but it appears that the club are looking to bolster their attacking frontline ranks during the upcoming transfer window due to injury issues.
PIF and Eddie Howe are reportedly keeping a close eye on Paris Saint-Germain’s Hugo Ekitike and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the latter being more of a target for the summer, chiefs have identified an alternative should a switch for the former fail to come to fruition at the start of next year.
At Santos, Marcos Leonardo has firmly established himself as Marcelo Faria Fernandes’ best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Santos statistics), and the 20-year-old’s impressive form has already been catching the eye of clubs in the English Premier League.
Brazil’s youth international has emerged as a target for Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham so far, but if the following update is to be believed, he’s also been brought onto the radar of the black and white stripes at St. James’ Park.
PIF given demand from Marcos Leonardo
According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have already made an approach for Leonardo ahead of January, but he's reportedly made a demand over any possible transfer.
Arsenal and Real Madrid are the two other clubs to have also made their interest known in the striker, and whilst he waits to receive an offer from one of his potential suitors, it’s believed he’s told his entourage that his aim is to compete in next year’s Olympics.
The Santos talisman wants to strike an agreement with any potential new club before signing a contract, and whilst talks are only “informal” at this stage, he’s serious about his fresh move being a long-term project to progress his career.
Santos striker Marcos Leonardo.
Leonardo could be a "natural goalscorer" for Newcastle
Since the start of his career, Leonardo has posted 65 contributions, 54 goals and 11 assists, in 164 appearances which shows how prolific he can be in the final third (Transfermarkt – Leonardo statistics), and he’s constantly posing a threat even if the end product isn’t always there.
Sponsored by Nike, Itapetinga’s native has recorded 70 shots over the course of this campaign which is more than any of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Santos statistics), highlighting his desire to hit the net and his striker’s instinct in the opposition’s area.
Furthermore, Howe’s target has even received four Man of the Match awards this term in the Serie A (WhoScored – Leonardo statistics), so it’s clear to see that the individual contribution he makes to a side is recognised and deservedly rewarded.
As described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Leonardo is a “natural goalscorer” so it’s no surprise to learn that there are so many clubs interested in him, and that’s why it would be a huge coup if he was to choose Newcastle as his next destination in January.
West Ham United were heavily linked with a move for Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke over the summer, and a journalist has now shared the chances of him joining in January.
The stats that show why West Ham want Solanke
Back in 2019, Solanke put pen to paper on the south coast from Premier League rivals Liverpool, and during his four years at the club, he’s gone on to become a regular feature of the squad, having made 193 appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Solanke statistics).
The Cherries striker has firmly established himself as Andoni Iraola’s best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Bournemouth statistics), already notching up his best top flight goals tally in a season with eight.
Number Of Appearances
16
Shots Per Game
3
Aerial Wins Per Game
1.8
Dribbles Per Game
1.1
England’s former international was the subject of an enquiry and even an offer from the Irons during the previous transfer window, and while that proposal was swiftly rejected, that hasn’t stopped chiefs from wanting to take a second bite of the cherry. According to The Mirror, David Moyes’ side are preparing an improved bid for the 26-year-old ahead of the new year, but if the following update is to be believed, it won’t be an easy task to prise him away from the Vitality Stadium.
Fabrizio Romano says Hammers still "tracking" Solanke
Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that West Ham remain interested in Solanke, but as it stands, he’s more than happy at Bournemouth.
“I’ve been impressed with him this season as he always looked like an excellent player with great potential, but he’s now showing it more consistently. In terms of a transfer, he’s happy at Bournemouth but many clubs are tracking him, including West Ham. Let’s see what will happen, but for the moment I understand he’s happy there and performing very well.”
Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.
In the Premier League this season, Solanke has posted nine involvements (eight goals and one assist) in 16 appearances, showing how prolific he can be in the final third, but he’s constantly posing a threat to the opposition’s defence no matter if he hits the back of the net.
The Reading-born talent has recorded 48 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Bournemouth statistics), highlighting how much he stands out in the attacking areas compared to his peers.
Sponsored by Adidas, the centre-forward is also a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even as an attacking midfielder, which will be yet another attractive attribute and reason why he's been on the radar for so long.
Standing at 6 foot 2, Solanke could be an ideal target man with his height up top and would be able to provide a real physical presence, making himself a handful to deal with, so should the opportunity present itself, the manager shouldn’t have to think twice about trying to get this deal over the line.
It's been reported that a Tottenham Hotspur bid to sign one club's star centre-back is now "ready", and finances don't appear to be an issue.
Spurs chasing new centre-back in January
It's almost common knowledge that Spurs want to sign a central defender next month, as a plethora of reliable media sources have stated as much.
Levy could meet asking price to sign star new centre-back target for Spurs
He’s one of the most aggressive defenders in his league.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 21, 2023
Sky Sports have backed that bringing in a centre-back is top priority for Tottenham and manager Ange Postecoglou, coming after a long-term hamstring injury for Micky van de Ven seriously exposed their lack of options. The Spurs head coach has even admitted that the club need to sign a new centre-back, despite the brilliant form of makeshift centre-back Ben Davies.
"Ben’s still adapting to it," said Postecoglou on Davies recently (via football.london). "He’s done remarkably well. Centre-back is still a position where, especially in our structure, it is one of the few positions where you need guys with outstanding attributes in there. We’ve been very fortunate that he’s been able to fill in for us there.
"He’s really good at taking in information, he really understands the game, not just his own role but how we want to play and that’s helped him. Having Romero next to him helps in that sense and Vic because he’s taken a bit of a leadership role back there as well. Ultimately, we still need to sign another centre-back because at the moment we are a little bit on tenterhooks because if something happens again we are short and we are already short."
One such option, according to recent reports, could well be Genoa star Radu Dragusin.
The Romanian is currently heavily linked with a move to Spurs, despite a proposed new deal at his current club. Reports out of Italy have been claiming that the north Londoners are preparing a bid for Dragusin, and now another update says that offer is "ready".
Tottenham bid for Dragusin now "ready"
According to TUTTOmercatoWEB and journalist Andrea Losapio, Spurs' offer to sign Dragusin is coming and there is a belief that the Lilywhites won't have any issue paying his £26 million price tag.
They apparently have a proposal ready and raring to go, as they attempt to reach an agreement for the "complete" 21-year-old starlet. Atalanta, who are also interested, recently made a bid of their own for Dragusin but it is believed Genoa turned their noses up.
Radu Dragusin up against Victor Osimhen for Genoa.
Tottenham have sent "emissaries" to watch him regularly this term, according to this report, and the player's agent Florin Manea is quoted to have admitted interest from Spurs.
“The people from Genoa know (that he will soon leave),” Manea explained to Fanatik last month.
“I have been in London for some time and have almost weekly meetings with important teams. We are getting closer. I spoke with Newcastle, with Arsenal, with Tottenham. I also have the messages with them, conversations. There are teams that ask."
Liverpool have reached the midway point of the 2023/24 Premier League season and are three points clear at the top of the table, still in with a shot across the different cup competitions too.
League football takes a bit of a pause through January, with the upcoming weekend's action taking place in the FA Cup before the following two match weeks are split into halves to provide each team with a break.
With so much at stake, Jurgen Klopp would be forgiven for being somewhat short-sighted and ensuring that the January transfer window is utilised properly, and with Joel Matip suffering a season-ending ACL injury in December, it certainly seems like the defence will receive priority.
But, according to reports, plans are being drawn up to complete last year's midfield rebuild with a marquee signing at the end of the campaign, with Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich targetted.
Liverpool transfer news – Joshua Kimmich
According to a report from Spanish outlet AS in the days preceding the winter transfer window, Liverpool and Manchester United are poised to battle for the signing of Kimmich, with Barcelona still interested after failing to sign the Germany international last summer.
The 28-year-old is out of contract with Bayern in 2025 but is yet to enter negotiations for fresh terms, and suitors have picked up on the knowledge that he is considering his options.
Valued at £48m by Football Transfers, Klopp and Liverpool's technical director Jorg Schmadkte – who has many Bundesliga connections – may well be enticed by the chance of doing business for a bargain fee; if Kimmich refuses to put pen to paper, then the Bundesliga champions will have little choice but to cash in.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Joshua Kimmich's style of play
Bayern signed Kimmich from Stuttgart as a teenager in 2015, since winning every honour available at club level across 367 appearances, posting 41 goals and 100 assists.
The 82-cap international has been regarded as one of the finest players in world football for some time, with erstwhile Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declaring him the "very embodiment of world-class."
This season, Kimmich has only played 11 times in the German top flight after missing fixtures due to injury and suspension, but he has played 20 matches across all competitions and racked up important assists against Manchester United and Galatasaray in the Champions League.
He would bring new levels of creativity to Liverpool's midfield, ranking among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
While some Reds supporters might feel that he doesn't offer the kind of defensive security that is needed to complete Liverpool's new engine room, the £322k-per-week star actually averages the second-highest number of tackles in the entire Die Roten squad this season.
It would be a brilliant signing, providing Liverpool with a specialist No. 6 to rival Wataru Endo in the anchor, perhaps even mirroring title rivals Arsenal's summer swoop for Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham United for a staggering £105m fee.
How Joshua Kimmich compares to Declan Rice
Said to be a "passing master" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kimmich has never plied his trade outside his homeland at club level but could now be preparing for a move to England to try his hand in the Premier League.
And should it be Liverpool that get their hands on the player, Klopp could indeed hold the perfect weapon to match Rice, aged 24, in the centre, who has chalked up 28 displays so far.
Football Transfers list Rice as the second-most comparable Premier League player to Kimmich (behind Manchester United's Casemiro), with the pair's innate passing prowess, intelligence and energy surely something that would win Klopp over in his pursuit for Kimmich, especially after registering an interest in Rice last summer.
Over the past year, the England international ranks among the top 19% of midfielders in Europe for goals, the top 15% for pass completion, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 11% for progressive passes, the top 6% for interceptions and the top 17% for clearances per 90.
Matches played
11
20
Goals
1
3
Assists
3
1
Pass completion %
90%
92%
Shots per game
1.2
1.4
Key passes per game
2.7
0.8
Tackles per game
2.0
2.1
Interceptions per game
0.8
1.5
Clearances per game
0.5
1.7
Ball recoveries per game
6.3
5.1
Duel success rate %
56%
51%
So what can be ascertained from the table above? While both midfielders offer similarities, crisp in their passing and active in tackling and recycling possession, Rice is utilised in a more industrious role, far more active in his defensive duties across the park.
Kimmich, however, is the more creative distributor, though his deeper-lying role facilitates such inventive passing. If Liverpool signed the German, Klopp would need to find a way to increase his activity in such phases.
Kimmich would play a similar role to Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara – who has yet to feature this season due to injury and is out of contract at the end of the campaign – which only adds fuel to the fire when considering the possibility of a summer swoop.
arthur-vermeeren-declan-rice-tottenham-opinion
Kimmich and Rice are not identical, but there are comparisons to be drawn and the Bavarian phenom could have a transformative effect on the Reds' centre in the same manner as Rice at the Emirates Stadium, having been hailed for his "sensational" displays by journalist Matt Scott.
The transfer would not come cheap, but with so many young, exciting stars rising to the fore in the Liverpool engine room, perhaps Kimmich could be the general to command illustrious success over the coming seasons.