Arsenal are now very keen on signing an “extraordinary” midfielder, who has been likened to former player Granit Xhaka.

Gunners join race for midfielder despite summer rebuild

Following Thomas Partey’s departure, it was necessary for Mikel Arteta to rebuild his midfield in the summer transfer window, and Martin Zubimendi was undoubtedly the headline signing, with the Spaniard arriving from Real Sociedad.

The midfielder has made a fantastic start to life at the Emirates Stadium, perhaps most impressively bagging a brace in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest back in September, which led to high praise from Arteta.

Zubimendi isn’t the only new arrival either, as Cristian Norgaard joinied from Brentford, and attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze arrived from Crystal Palace, with the 13-time England international picking up two assists in his first five Premier League outings.

Despite the scale of the rebuild that has taken place, the north Londoners have now joined the race for another central midfielder, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Arsenal are looking to sign FC Porto’s Victor Froholdt.

In fact, despite widespread interest in Froholdt, with Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Atletico Madrid also in the race, the Gunners are said to be ‘particularly keen’, viewing him as a potential ‘cornerstone’ of their future midfield.

Arteta’s staff have been left particularly impressed with the Dane’s ‘passing range and intelligence’, and his ability to dictate the tempo of the game has led to comparisons to Xhaka, who spent seven seasons at the Emirates Stadium.

Porto are open to offers for the 19-year-old, but the Portuguese club would be looking to hold out for a relatively high fee of around €50m – €60m (£43m – £52m).

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Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 13, 2025 Froholdt could be "extraordinary" long-term addition for Arsenal

Once dubbed “extraordinary” by a Danish analyst, the teenager is a very well-rounded central midfielder, as showcased by his performance across a number of important metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.23 (96th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.43 (97th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.71 (97th percentile)

Blocks

1.58 (86th percentile)

After impressing for FC Copenhagen, amassing eight goals and six assists in 62 games, the Dane has since gone on to establish himself as a key player for Porto, starting all eight Liga Portugal games so far this season.

The youngster went on to bag his first goal for Denmark in his side’s 6-0 victory against Belarus last week, while also picking up an assist and maintaining a 93% pass-completion rate.

Having signed Norgaard and Zubimendi in the summer, there isn’t a pressing need for Arteta to bring in a new central midfielder, but Froholdt is starting to prove he could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.

It is fair to say that the end of the summer transfer window did not go exactly to plan for Celtic in their attempts to bolster the attacking options in the squad.

Brendan Rodgers wanted to add more firepower to his frontline by bringing in a new number nine, whilst he also allowed Adam Idah to leave to sign for Swansea.

The Ireland international scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Hoops last season, per Transfermarkt, and his exit left Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada as the only natural strikers at the club.

Unfortunately, Celtic were unable to bring a new centre-forward to Parkhead on deadline day. Instead, they signed Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer the day after deadline day, and he has scored three goals for the club to date.

The Nigeria international has scored one goal from open play, along with two penalties, and missed four ‘big chances’ in six appearances so far, per Sofascore.

Celtic did make a signing on deadline day, though, as they brought Sebastian Tounekti in from Hammarby for a fee of around £5m, and he has hit the ground running in Glasgow.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Sebastian Tounekti

Typically, crowds love to watch exciting wingers who take their man on and make things happen with the ball at their feet, because it creates excitement and gets fans off their seats.

Tounekti is that sort of winger. The Tunisia international could be described as fearless in the way that he is willing to try and try and try again to dribble past opposition defenders.

He completed five of his eight attempted dribbles and created four chances for his teammates against Kilmarnock, per Sofascore, on his debut for the club in the Scottish Premiership last month.

The 23-year-old star, who scored his first goal for the club in the League Cup against Partick Thistle, has completed 14 dribbles in five appearances for the club in the Premiership and the Europa League to date.

He has been an electric figure on the left flank for the Scottish giants with his ability to whiz past opposition full-backs with ease to get into promising positions in the final third.

Sebastian Tounekti

5

14

James Forrest

9

11

Benjamin Nygren

9

7

Daizen Maeda

9

5

Colby Donovan

4

4

As you can see in the table above, Tounekti has the most completed dribbles of any player in the Celtic squad, despite playing four fewer matches than the three players who are closest to his tally.

One thing that you may notice about that table is that summer signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who is a winger, does not make it into the top five at the club for completed dribbles.

That is because he has not completed a single dribble in five appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, per Sofascore, which shows that he has been a bit too timid with the ball at his feet so far for the Bhoys.

Whilst that suggests that he is unlikely to follow in Tounekti’s footsteps as an exciting and dynamic wing wizard, Rodgers does have another Celtic player who can get supporters off their feet with exciting wing play.

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Jota suffered an ACL injury in May against Dundee United that ruled him out of action for up to nine months, which means that the Hoops may not have him back until the second half of this season.

Once the former Rennes and Al Ittihad star does return to the field at Parkhead to play for Rodgers, though, the manager could have another Tounekti at his disposal.

Why Jota is the original Tounekti

The Portuguese starlet signed for, left, and rejoined Celtic before Tounekti arrived in Glasgow on deadline day at the start of September, but is currently on the sidelines because of his injury.

Jota produced 25 goals and 23 assists in the Premiership and European competitions across his two seasons at the club under Ange Postecoglou’s management, which attracted interest from Al Ittihad.

The electric forward joined the Saudi Pro League side for a fee of £25m in a move that was a blow for the Scottish giants, because he was their most exciting attacking outlet.

1

Jota – 1.7

Jota – 1.5

2

Tom Rogic – 1.6

Alexandro Bernabei – 1.5

3

Mikey Johnston – 1.3

Anthony Ralston – 1.0

4

Anthony Ralston – 0.9

Reo Hatate – 0.8

5

James Forrest – 0.9

Greg Taylor – 0.8

As you can see in the table above, Jota was the most prolific dribbler in the squad in both of his first two seasons at Parkhead with Postecoglou in the dugout, which shows that he was the original Tounekti.

Of course, the Portugal international returned to Celtic in the January transfer window this year, joining from Rennes, and he hit the ground running at the start of his second spell in Glasgow.

The 26-year-old star scored four goals and provided two assists in 11 Premiership appearances in the second half of last season, whilst completing 1.6 dribbles per 90, per Sofascore.

Jota, who pundit Michael Stewart described as a “game-changer” who “raises the bar”, gets fans off their seats in anticipation because he takes defenders on and makes things happen in the final third.

Along with his dribbling skills, the Portuguese talent also has the output, with his return of goals and assists, to give supporters the belief that he will score or create a goal when he gets the ball in dangerous positions.

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Therefore, Rodgers will be patiently waiting for Jota to be available for selection once again, because the manager will then have two electric and exciting wingers to select on the flank in Tounekti and the former Benfica star.

The search for Rangers’ next manager is heating up and, as such, a new name has reportedly emerged as the “favourite” to take the vacant role at Ibrox.

Rangers manager update

Some may still be in shock at Rangers that it’s not set to be Steven Gerrard in the dugout when domestic football returns. The Liverpool legend looked destined to return to Ibrox, before dealing the 49ers their latest blow. Forced back to the drawing board after their top candidate cited bad timing for rejecting the job, the new owners have quite the task on their hands.

Given that the Gers already sit as many as nine points behind Celtic and 11 behind unexpected leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, to say that they can’t afford to get things wrong with their next appointment would be an understatement.

So far, similar names to the summer as well as some new faces have emerged as candidates. Danny Rohl, for example, has reportedly been discussed once again, whilst the likes of Graham Potter and Raphael Wicky have been mentioned for the first time.

It’s a case of choosing experience or youthful exuberance for those at Ibrox. Rohl would be an exciting choice, but not the safest option in current circumstances amid his inexperience. Potter, meanwhile, has the experience but would also be coming in off the back of failing at both West Ham United and Chelsea.

Other options include Hearts boss Derek McInnes. For Rangers, if they can’t match the league leaders, then hiring their manager may be their next best option. Former Ibrox star Kris Boyd believes the ship has sailed on that front, however.

It may also be none of those aforementioned options, with fresh reports now indicating that another name has emerged as the “favourite” to take the Rangers job.

Kevin Muscat now "favourite" for Rangers job

As reported by talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Kevin Muscat is now emerging as the “favourite” for the Rangers job, overtaking Rohl in the process. The 52-year-old is currently in charge of Shanghai Port, but may yet be on his way to Scotland.

Whether the Gers wait until the Chinese Super League season concludes on November 22 or target the manager right away is the big question. After such a poor start to the campaign, the Gers could certainly do with an immediate boost, but the ball may be in Muscat’s court on that front.

It’s also not the first time that Muscat has been linked with a move to Rangers. In previous years, the likes of Philippe Clement have beaten him to the job, but this time could finally be different.

Having won the Australian league twice and the Australian cup with Melbourne Victory, the Japanese league and Japanese Super Cup with Yokohama Marinos, and the Chinese league and cup with Shanghai Port, Muscat has won everywhere he has been. Now, Rangers could be next.

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The favourite for the job has also worked as Ange Postecoglou’s assistant with Australia in the past and may yet hand the Gers similar success that his compatriot gave the Bhoys.

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro is in no doubt: Florian Wirtz "definitely" would have joined Real Madrid rather than Liverpool during the summer had he been offered the chance to follow Xabi Alonso to Santiago Bernabeu. "But Xabi has less say at Madrid than he did with us," Carro pointed out in an interview with Sport1. "One of Alonso's greatest strengths was his ability to work with our scouting department to define who needed to be in our team, but Florentino Perez decides the transfers at Madrid – not Xabi Alonso."

Consequently, Wirtz was left with three serious suitors to choose from: Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. After careful consideration, he went with the latter.

However, as Wirtz wonders – just like the rest of us – whether he'll start for Liverpool in Sunday's massive Premier League showdown with City, it is worth asking if he made a mistake moving to Anfield? And might he actually have been better off at the Etihad instead?

Getty'Wanted to be a part of this team'

There were many reasons why Wirtz picked Liverpool over City and Bayern. He was struck by both the quality of Arne Slot's side – and the club’s facilities – after Leverkusen were routed by the Reds in last season's Champions League. He was also blown away by the stunning scenes of celebration on Merseyside that followed Liverpool's record-equalling 20th English title triumph in May. "I just wanted to be a part of this team," he told the club's official website.

What really won Wirtz over, though, was the promise of not just becoming a part of Slot's side, but being absolutely integral to it. According to Liverpool sources, it was the Dutchman's detailed plan for Wirtz that effectively sealed the deal.

Whereas Wirtz reportedly had doubts over whether he would play regularly as a No.10 at Bayern because of the presence of Jamal Musiala at the Allianz Arena, he would literally be central to attacking strategy at Anfield, deployed in his preferred position just behind the centre-forward. However, Slot's plan for Wirtz appears to have already been scrapped – or at least shelved – because of Liverpool's incredibly erratic form.

AdvertisementGetty Images'Damages' Liverpool's balance

Wirtz started Liverpool's first four games of their 2025-26 Premier League campaign – and in his familiar attacking midfield role. However, he wasn't involved in a single goal during that winning run, which inevitably led to online mockery and intense media scrutiny of his transfer fee.

So, when the Reds' results took a serious turn for the worse, Wirtz became something of a scapegoat, even though his obvious struggles with the pace of the Premier League had absolutely nothing to do with his team's far more costly inability to deal with set-pieces.

"I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play," former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said on his podcast. "He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better – but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that. I've seen players come into this league and it takes time.

"But it's not the price tag. It's not the player or his ability. I just don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that [4-3-3] system. Is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he's more of an attacking player. So, if I have to choose between him and [Dominik] Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai."

Worryingly for Wirtz, Slot is now favouring the Hungarian too.

Getty Images SportUpstaged

Amid all of the excitement surrounding Liverpool's unprecedented summer of spending, Szoboszlai became something of an after-thought. The versatile No.8 may have played a major role in last season's title triumph with his remarkable work-rate, but the presumption was that Wirtz would take his spot in Slot's starting line-up.

The German was widely regarded as a massive – and necessary – upgrade on Szoboszlai, whose end product has been repeatedly criticised by the likes of Jamie Carragher. Even Slot stated earlier this year that he wanted more goals and assists from Szoboszlai.

In that context, Liverpool's willingness to push the boat out to sign Wirtz made perfect sense. He was the most coveted No.10 on the market, a young man who had already proven himself highly adept at both scoring and creating goals.

However, while Wirtz has yet to get off the mark for his new club, Szoboszlai has already scored twice, including a fantastic free-kick winner against Arsenal. Even more surprisingly, Szoboszlai, Liverpool's undisputed player of the season so far, also has twice as many assists (four) as Wirtz in all competitions.

When one also considers that the Hungary captain played a starring role in last season's win over City at the Etihad, there appears little doubt that Slot will field his trusted title-winning trio of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister on Sunday – particularly as they laid the foundation for the wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid that arrested the Reds' recent slide.

So, is Rooney right, then? Is there no room for Wirtz in Liverpool's strongest side? And if so, should he have pushed to join City despite his alleged doubts over Pep Guardiola's long-term future at the club?

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AFPCity a better fit?

It's been widely reported that Guardiola identified Wirtz as the ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and it would be easy to understand why. Wirtz, with his mix of industry and innovation, fits the profile for Pep’s perfect 10. So, why didn't the German end up at the Etihad?

Well, that very much depends on who you talk to, because there are those that claim that City felt that Wirtz was overpriced at £100 million ($130m), while others insist that the player walked away from the deal because Guardiola could offer no guarantee that he'd extend his stay in Manchester beyond 2027.

If Wirtz really did reject City, it is possible that he's regretting that decision now, given he probably would have immediately settled into one of the two attacking midfield roles in Guardiola's 4-1-4-1 formation. After all, Rayan Cherki is already enjoying a more productive start to his Premier League career than Wirtz. Despite being hindered by a thigh problem that ruled him out of action for more than a month, the Frenchman has already racked up eight direct goal involvements since signing for City just before the Club World Cup.

As plenty of critics have been quick to point out, Liverpool were also considering signing Cherki if their audacious move for Wirtz failed to come off – and it would certainly be hard to argue against the £30m ($42m) signing from Lyon looking like a better-value buy right now.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is personally in awe of a marquee player who he believes is the ideal player for his Spurs system, and the Lilywhites are also reportedly prepared to table a bid for him in January.

Tottenham's reported January transfer plans

We’re now 11 games into Frank’s tenure as Spurs boss, and the Dane appears to already be transforming the North Londoners into a far more resolute side.

Despite some recent concerns from a section of the fanbase after their ‘narrow escape’ draws against Brighton, Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham displayed real grit at Leeds United last weekend to end their run of seven straight defeats in games just prior to an international break.

Goals from Mohammed Kudus, who was the player of the match, and fellow summer signing Mathys Tel sealed a 2-1 in Yorkshire to also end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten run in the league at Elland Road.

Mohammed Kudus

8.4

Mathys Tel

7.8

Noah Okafor

7.0

Sean Longstaff

7.0

Jayden Bogle

6.8

via WhoScored

The win means Spurs sit third in the Premier League table with the joint second-best defensive record in the division, with only table-topping Arsenal conceding fewer goals – a stark contrast to Ange Postecoglou’s final season in charge when they were far more fragile at the back.

So far, ex-chairman Daniel Levy and the board’s decision to appoint Frank is paying off, despite Simon Jordan urging Levy to consider Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner before Spurs hired their current boss.

The reshuffled Tottenham board following Levy’s departure, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham taking a more prominent role in the day-to-day running of the club, are also poised to try and back Frank in the January transfer market.

Spurs are reportedly keen to sign another winger and centre-back when the winter window opens, after they tried and failed to sign Man City forward Savinho in the summer, with the Brazil international since extending his Eastlands contract and ending all hope of a potential deal.

One of their rumoured targets for 2026 is Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who also signed fresh terms earlier this year, and this has elevated his market value to north of £75 million.

Tottenham preparing January bid for Antoine Semenyo amid Thomas Frank belief

That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that Tottenham are positioning themselves to make a major January move for Semenyo and could be “next to bid”.

The winger’s explosive form so far this season has made him one of the Premier League’s most sought-after wingers.

Semenyo has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first seven league games, including a brace against Liverpool at Anfield, helping Bournemouth to a surprise top-four position and attracting attention from England’s top clubs, including Arne Slot’s side, Manchester City and Spurs.

Frank is said to view Semenyo as the “perfect fit” for his squad, particularly given the inconsistent displays from Brennan Johnson and the club’s need for more dynamism out wide.

Semenyo’s ability to play on either flank — combined with his raw pace, directness, and clinical finishing — makes him a tailor-made fit for Frank’s tactical system.

Tottenham’s pursuit of the Ghanaian international is expected to intensify in mid-season as a result, with an offer exceeding £60 million likely to test Bournemouth’s resolve, despite their price tag of £75m.

The Cherries, after extending his deal until 2030, are in a very strong position — and it is even believed that Semenyo rejected an approach from Arsenal in the summer.

However, the 25-year-old’s camp are apparently open to exploring other moves in January if a top side can meet Bournemouth’s lofty demands.

One of the most exciting talents on Leeds United’s books right now is certainly Harry Gray. The 17-year-old centre-forward comes from a long line of Leeds players.

You can trace that back as recently as his brother Archie, who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur, and his grandfather, Eddie, a Leeds legend.

The England under-17 striker is an excellent talent. He’s shone for Leeds’ academy this season, with four goals in four Premier League 2 games, impressive in itself but even more so given he’s playing four years up.

Last season, Gray – who recently put pen to paper on a new deal in Yorkshire – was given his first-team debut by Daniel Farke, although he has not had that opportunity this term.

That might be due to Farke’s reliance on experienced players.

Farke’s reliance on experience over youth

Whilst the Leeds manager gave the youngest Gray brother his first taste of senior football at the end of last season, he isn’t one to turn to youth players a lot.

In fact, when he played former academy star Archie Gray 52 times in 2023/24, that was certainly more of an outlier.

This season, in Leeds’ battle for Premier League survival, Farke has relied on a more experienced group of players. The Whites have the seventh-highest average age in the top flight in 2025/26, at 27.1 years old, according to FBref.

There is only one player under 25 who has made an appearance this season, namely Wilfried Gnonto, who is 21 years of age.

In theory, that experience should certainly help the West Yorkshire outfit in the top flight.

Some players have years of Premier League football under their belt.

Yet, Leeds are just three points above the relegation zone, and things are not really working out for Farke’s experienced squad this season.

Perhaps it is time to take a punt on someone younger, like Gnonto or Gray.

Well, if recent reports are to be believed, Farke could soon be out of a job and replaced with someone who trusts the youngsters.

Why Leeds could benefit from a change of manager

There have been reports this week which have tipped the Whites to replace Farke with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior. Whilst former Leeds star Aidy White says that the appointment would be a “huge gamble,” there are plenty of merits to the move.

Firstly, the former Hull City manager has an impressive record in Ligue 1. He’s coached 42 top-flight games in France, winning 21, drawing ten and losing the other 11.

His average of 1.74 points per game is a real standout and a testament to his ability to churn out results.

Games

42

Wins

21

Draws

10

Losses

11

Goals for/against

73/54

Points won

73

Average points per game

1.74

The London-born manager is certainly a highly rated coach. Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley said he is “one of the best emerging British coaches,” which he proved during his time in the Championship with Hull.

He guided the Tigers to seventh in 2023/24, including fantastic performances like this. His side narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rosenior try and bed the younger players into the first-team fold at Leeds. He is known for trusting those with less experience, as showcased in the average ages of his squad at Strasbourg this season.

The French side have comfortably got the youngest squad in Ligue 1, fielding a side with an average age of just 21.6 years old. However, this is not an anomaly.

The situation at Hull was the same. In his only full year on Humberside, his squad was the joint sixth youngest, with an average age of 25.4.

It is easy to see why Rosenior could be the perfect head coach for someone like Gray. The homegrown star is a talented youngster who is putting up some excellent performances in the academy.

A coach like Rosenior, who values the academy players and the breakthrough stars, could well give him a chance to shine at senior level.

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If Farke is removed from his post, the Strasbourg boss could be the dream man to take charge and really shake things up at Elland Road.

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Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0-0 draw by Monaco in the Champions League last time out, but it was the hosts who had the better chances to win the match.

The French side created five ‘big chances’ in the game, compared to Tottenham’s one, and Guglielmo Vicario prevented a whopping 2.68 xG with eight saves.

Whilst Thomas Frank will be concerned that his goalkeeper needed to make so many saves, the Spurs head coach should be concerned about the lack of potency in the final third.

Tottenham have struggled at the top end of the pitch under the former Brentford boss in the Premier League so far this season, as shown in the table below.

25/26 Premier League

Rank

Big chances created

Big chances missed

1

Crystal Palace – 33

Crystal Palace – 22

2

Man City – 27

Man City – 17

3

Liverpool – 24

Liverpool – 17

4

Chelsea – 23

Leeds – 14

5

Arsenal – 22

Man Utd – 14

6

Man Utd – 22

Arsenal – 13

7

Brighton – 18

Newcastle – 11

8

Leeds – 17

Nottingham Forest – 11

9

Newcastle – 15

Chelsea – 10

10

Everton – 15

Everton – 10

Stats via Sofascore

Spurs do not rank within the top ten Premier League sides for ‘big chances’ created or missed, as they sit 15th in the division for ‘big chances’ created with 13, per Sofascore.

On top of struggling to create chances on a consistent basis, it also remains to be seen whether or not the Lilywhites have a striker who can provide consistent quality in front of goal.

Ranking Tottenham Hotspur's striker options

Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and Dominic Solanke are the main centre-forward options at Frank’s disposal this season, although Solanke is currently making his way back from an ankle injury.

Despite scoring a goal against Leeds United last month, Tel may rank at the bottom of the manager’s options in the number nine position, because he is still a young and inexperienced player.

The France U21 international has scored four goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for the club, per Sofascore, which shows that he still has development to go through before he can offer a consistent threat.

Richarlison is currently the first-choice number nine, in Solanke’s absence, and he has scored eight goals in 37 matches since the start of last season, per Sofascore, including three goals in eight Premier League outings this term.

24/25 Premier League

Dominic Solanke

Appearances

27

Starts

25

xG

10.97

Goals

9

Big chances missed

12

Minutes per goal

245

xA

1.15

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Solanke scored more goals in the Premier League alone last season than Richarlison has managed in all competitions since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

This suggests that the England international is the best striker in the current Spurs squad, but the club are reportedly keen on a player who is even better than him.

Spurs ready to pay up for Serie A striker

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by TuttoJuve, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic.

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The report claims that Fabio Paratici is eyeing up a potential swoop for the Serbia international, but will face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

It adds that all three clubs are willing to pay the fee that Juventus are looking for, which is up to £22m, as they look to move on from Vlahovic in the upcoming January transfer window.

The experienced striker’s contract in Turin is set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, which is why the Old Lady are keen to move on from him in January to avoid losing the forward for nothing in the summer.

Why Spurs should sign Dusan Vlahovic

Paratici should push to secure a deal for Vlahovic ahead of both Chelsea and Manchester United because he could arrive in North London as an instant upgrade on Solanke.

The Serbian number nine’s form last season and throughout his career at the top level suggests that he would offer a far more clinical and lethal presence at the top end of the pitch for Spurs.

Vlahovic scored 17 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, including the summer Club World Cup, and hit double figures for goals in the Serie A, per Sofascore.

24/25 season

Vlahovic (Serie A)

Solanke (Premier League)

Starts

21

25

Goals

10

9

Minutes per goal

180

245

Shots on target per game

1.0

1.0

Assists

4

3

Aerial duels won per game

1.3

1.7

Aerial duel success rate

48%

43%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Vlahovic was far more prolific than Solanke at league level, as shown by their respective minutes per goal ratios, whilst he also won a higher percentage of his aerial duels and provided more assists.

These statistics suggest that the Juventus striker, who was described as an “absolute monster” by reporter Carlo Garganese, would provide more quality than the Englishman in the final third.

That is further backed up by their respective career finishing statistics. Per UnderStat, Solanke has scored 38 goals from 52.23 xG in his top-flight career, whilst Vlahovic has 89 goals from 90.73 xG in his time in the Serie A with Fiorentina and Juventus.

This suggests that Vlahovic would provide a level of clinical finishing and goalscoring prowess that Frank does not currently have at his disposal in North London this season.

Therefore, Paratici needs to do all he can to convince the Serbian marksman to turn down potential moves to Manchester United and Chelsea to join the Lilywhites in the upcoming January transfer window, as he would improve the current first-team squad.

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There’s no point sugarcoating it: Liverpool are in a spot of bother.

This is not a crisis in the overblown sense it has been made out to be across some pockets of punditry and social media, but Liverpool and Arne Slot are in a spot of bother nonetheless.

The beauty of football is that the football never stops. Liverpool slumped to a fourth successive defeat at Anfield against Manchester United last weekend, but a confident win over Eintracht Frankfurt this week before taking on Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday could rewrite the script and settle more than a few stomachs.

Of course, the Reds need to turn up, and their bleak Champions League defeat in Istanbul against Galatasaray will remain freshly pressed in the club and their fanbase’s memories.

All eyes will be on team selection. Will Slot persist with the horribly out-of-form Mohamed Salah? How will the Dutch tactician deal with his side’s glaring weaknesses across the defensive flanks?

There’s an even graver problem to contend with, though. Ryan Gravenberch’s injury-threatened campaign could see him sit this one out.

The latest on Ryan Gravenberch's fitness

In the build-up to Liverpool’s recent loss against Manchester United, Slot confirmed Gravenberch was fully fit after being substituted at half-time of the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Finland during the October international break.

But he was forced off with an ankle issue against the Red Devils, and now Liverpool may need to find a new solution at number six, a big concern given the pre-existing imbalances across central midfield.

Alexis Mac Allister, in particular, has flattered to deceive, with analyst Raj Chohan even claiming the Argentina star “cannot” address these current difficulties in regard to build-up play and physicality across the engine room.

As much as Liverpool have struggled this season, Gravenberch has developed his game even further after playing such a pivotal role in Slot’s success last year.

Matches (starts)

37 (37)

7 (7)

Goals

0

2

Assists

4

1

Touches*

66.5

75.4

Pass completion

89%

88%

Key passes*

0.9

0.9

Dribbles*

1.0

1.0

Ball recoveries*

5.2

4.0

Tackles + interceptions*

3.5

3.2

Total duels (won)*

5.0 (57%)

5.1 (65%)

Replacing him will be no easy task, and though Mac Allister’s tough-tackling faculties suggest he could move into the deep berth he has held before, there’s another Liverpool star whose skillset lends itself to Gravenberch’s duty, and he must start in Frankfurt.

The Liverpool star who could replace Gravenberch

Mac Allister has been well out of sorts since his disrupted summer break, but Liverpool’s issues are endemic, and Dominik Szoboszlai’s services may be required at right-back for this trip to Germany.

If that is to be the case, Mac Allister may well reprise his role. But what of Gravenberch? Well, Liverpool have a solution in Curtis Jones, who could fit into the anchoring role in midfield and perhaps open up new possibilities for Liverpool’s hat-wearing talent.

A boyhood red and an academy graduate, Jones has played 189 times for Liverpool, and came into his own last year as Slot’s side cantered to the Premier League title, playing 33 times in the league and notching seven goal contributions.

Jones, 24, is criminally underrated in his dynamism and controlled approach in the middle of the park, notably hailed by Jamie Carragher as “Wijnaldum-esque” a few years ago.

According to FBref’s data, he ranks among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, but also the top 14% for through balls, the top 7% for goal-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive passes per 90.

As well as this, Jones’ athleticism and ball-carrying quality make for another string to the bow.

But the real marker of the England international’s bearing in this Liverpool squad is his passion. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now plying his trade with Real Madrid, Jones is the Scouser in the team.

A dynamic and committed midfielder, he has played here, there, and everywhere, but ample game time in the six role suggests he could fill in for Gravenberch and maybe free Mac Allister up while doing so.

Without question, Liverpool’s wretched form cannot continue, with the poor performances stemming further back than this recent winless run. Indeed, Liverpool were reliant on late goals and tenacity throughout the early weeks of the campaign, and that wellspring has since dried up.

Analyst Sam McGuire said after the United defeat that Jones’ introduction during the second half “helped with our intensity”. Moreover, he’s been noted in the past as a “physical machine” by Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant Pep Lijnders.

These are two elements of Liverpool’s midfield play that have left plenty to be desired this term, and Slot might restore a semblance of balance and robustness to his Liverpool team by placing Jones in the deep, connective role, rather than a Mac Allister who has fallen by the wayside this year and has shown little to suggest he is the solution to the woes.

Plenty of food for thought for Mr Slot. For Liverpool to slump to a fifth defeat on the bounce would be incomprehensible, and a bitter blow to their Champions League aspirations.

Jones has been entrusted with nothing more than a bit-part role so far this year, starting only once in the Premier League (at St. James’ Park).

That needs to change, lest Liverpool’s poor patch devolve into something far more critical.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 18, 2025

تحدث كلاوديو جيرالديز المدير الفني لفريق سيلتا فيجو عن مواجهة برشلونة في الدوري الإسباني، وعلّق على تصريحات الألماني هانز فليك بشأن مستوى الفريق.

ويحل برشلونة ضيفًا على سيلتا فيجو، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثانية عشر للدوري الإسباني “الليجا”، غدًا الأحد.

وقال جيرالديز في مؤتمر صحفي بحسب ما نشرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “لامين يامال من أفضل اللاعبين في العالم حاليًا؛ علينا الحد من خطورته دفاعيًا وجماعيًا، لكن برشلونة لا يعتمد عليه وحده، لديهم فيران توريس، وليفاندوفسكي، وفيرمين، وأولمو، وهجومهم مذهل”.

وأضاف عن غيابات برشلونة: “غياب بيدري ورافينها له تأثير كبير على إيقاع برشلونة، لكن لديهم بدلاء من الطراز العالمي، ويظل الفريق قويا بغض النظر عن من يتغير”.

وواصل: “التوقيت مثالي لمواجهة برشلونة بعد نتائجنا الإيجابية الأخيرة؛ نحن في حالة بدنية ممتازة ونريد الفوز في بالايدوس، الفريق في حالة بدنية وذهنية ممتازة بعد سلسلة مباريات قوية، وسنلعب بثقة وحماس كبيرين ضد برشلونة”.

واستطرد بشأن أسلوب هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة: “أسلوب فليك واضح، يدافعون بخط دفاع متقدم ويخاطرون، وعندما لا يكون التنسيق مثاليًا، تنفتح المساحات، لكن برشلونة يبقى فريقًا متكاملًا بفكرة واضحة”.

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وتابع: “سنهاجم بحركات من الخطين الثاني والثالث وبالعرضيات، لأن دفاع برشلونة متقدم جدًا ويضغط للأمام باستمرار، ضد برشلونة، نحتاج إلى لاعبين يتمتعون بطاقة عالية، وقدرة على الجري والدفاع والاستحواذ؛ التوازن هو الأساس”.

وعن تصريحات مدرب برشلونة، فليك، علّق: “قال فليك إننا في وضع أفضل من برشلونة؟ ربما يقصد النتائج، ولكن لكي يفوز سيلتا، يجب أن يكون في أفضل حالاته وفي يوم يكون فيه برشلونة دون مستواه المعتاد”.

وأشار جيرالديز: “برشلونة فريق صعب للغاية، ويجبرنا على التفكير بسرعة؛ علينا أن نكون بلا أخطاء لتقليل الأخطاء إذا أردنا الفوز”.

وحول الغيابات في صفوف سيلتا فيجو، أفاد: “بورخا وأسباس وبرايان يسجلون الكثير من الأهداف ضد برشلونة؛ آمل أن يفعلوا ذلك مرة أخرى غدًا لأن ذلك سيقربنا من الفوز”.

وأسترسل: “يعاني كارلوس من التواء خفيف في الكاحل ولن يلعب؛ رادو جاهز، وويليام يعاني من تورم خلف وتر أخيل، ويواصل هوجو وويليوت ورويدا تعافيهم – نأمل في عودتهم بعد فترة التوقف الدولي”.

وأكمل: “إصابة ويليام ليست خطيرة، لكنه لا يزال يشعر بالألم؛ استغرق تعافيه وقتًا أطول من المتوقع، سنقرر غدًا وضع برايان وإياجو وبابلو؛ تأخر انطلاق المباراة يساعدهم على التعافي، لدينا نقص في الهجوم، لكن الجميع سيلعب، سواءً أساسيين أو احتياطيين”.

وأتم جيرالديز: “يلعب الفريق دائمًا بنفس الفكرة؛ لا فرق بين الأساسيين والبدلاء، الجميع ينفذ ما نطلبه، وهذا هو معنى الفريق الحقيقي، لدينا خطة للتبديلات، لكن الأمر يعتمد على كيفية تطور المباراة، إذا كنا متقدمين أو متأخرين، فإننا نقرأ الشعور العام قبل اتخاذ القرار”.