Following Giovanni Leoni’s injury against Southampton, Liverpool are reportedly determined to sign a £40m+ La Liga defender ahead of rival interest from Real Madrid in 2026.
Leoni suffers ACL injury blow
On a night that Liverpool were forced to win late on once again, this time against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, Leoni’s injury stole a fair share of the headlines.
The young defender was stretchered off in the 81st minute courtesy of what appeared to be a knee injury and whilst Arne Slot admitted that a scan was needed to determine the extent of that injury, the worst-case scenario has now been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.
Slot had told reporters: “Normally these things don’t happen in five to 10 minutes, and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.
“Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears – Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV – and a day later it proved to be that it was right.”
Injury expert Physio Scout revealed in detail the likely recovery time for the different levels of knee injury, with the defender now unlikely to feature much this season.
With the young Italian seemingly out for the season, Liverpool are rumoured to be back in the transfer market in search of a swift replacement after failing to land Marc Guehi on deadline day.
Liverpool racing Real Madrid to sign Tarrega
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now determined to beat Real Madrid to Cesar Tarrega in 2026. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise at Valencia, who have set their price at €50m (£44m), and is reportedly seen as someone that could become a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk at Anfield.
Meanwhile, in the immediate future, the Valencia star would provide ample cover for the injured Leoni. If the Reds keep their foothold in all four competitions, then Slot will need an additional option at centre-back, especially given the added injury history of Joe Gomez.
League stats 24/25
Tarrega
Leoni
Minutes
3,026
1,199
Progressive Passes Per 90
3.35
1.58
Tackles Won Per 90
1.10
0.45
Ball Recoveries Per 90
3.10
2.56
Five years older than Leoni, Tarrega’s added experience was reflected in his numbers compared to the teenager last season. And it is that added experience which should make him a viable option for those at Anfield.
Slot not happy: Liverpool boss calls out "stupid" £200,000-a-week Anfield star
The Reds manager wasn’t impressed.
ByCharlie Smith
The fact that they came within hours of signing Guehi in the summer shows that Liverpool are willing to sign another defender and if it’s not Guehi then it may well be Tarrega in 2026.
Everton are far enough away from the top half and the bottom three that their Premier League season is basically said and done, but there’s still something bigger to play for.
This weekend, Goodison Park will sing for the Everton Men’s team one last time. Relegated Southampton make the trip, sure to enter a cauldron of chaos as the Toffees say goodbye to their long-held home ahead of the move to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.
The change of scenery represents a very real juncture in the club’s history, with David Moyes back at the helm and tasked with a rebuild that will see plenty of ins and outs before the 2025/26 campaign.
Everton manager DavidMoyesbefore the match
While fans are hoping to see a new striker walk through the gates, Everton need a variety of talent, with an exciting midfielder identified already.
Everton chasing new midfielder
According to TEAMtalk, Sunderland’s Dan Neil is on Everton’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window, although a move would likely be dependent on the outcome Black Cats’ Championship play-off final tie against Sheffield United.
That said, Neil’s contract expires at the end of next season and his side would prefer to cash in while they can. This opens a road from which Everton can travel to claim the talented midfielder’s signature.
Due to the player’s contract situation, he may even be available for a cut-price fee of £15m this summer.
What Dan Neil would bring to Everton
Neil, 23, has played a crucial role in Sunderland’s rise from League One. His breakthrough actually came during the promotion-sealing season of 2021/22, and he’s now featured 196 times for his boyhood club, clinching 32 goal contributions.
Hailed as a “joy to watch” on the field by Sunderland reporter Phil Smith and as “phenomenal” by fellow EFL star Luke Molyneux, Neil’s all-round game is something that could really impact the Everton midfield, with his sharp eye for a pass, strong defensive qualities and knack for driving the ball forward and creating space for teammates a particular skill set that Moyes has made good use of in the past.
Indeed, Neil could actually prove to be the manager’s next version of Declan Rice, who might play for Arsenal now but made his name in east London, synonymous with West Ham United’s rise in Moyes’ system, instrumental in winning the Conference League in 2022/23.
League Stats 24/25 – Dan Neil vs Declan Rice
Stats (* per game)
Neil
Rice
Matches (starts)
44 (44)
33 (31)
Goals
2
3
Assists
3
7
Touches*
57.5
57.7
Pass completion
84%
90%
Big chances created
4
16
Key passes*
0.7
1.8
Ball recoveries*
5.7
4.3
Dribbles*
0.9
0.4
Tackles + interceptions*
2.9
2.4
Duels (won)*
4.8 (51%)
3.4 (51%
Stats via Sofascore
Rice is clearly the more creative player, and he’s playing top-flight football besides, but Everton fans aren’t expecting Moyes and the board to conjure up a signing carrying the elite-level status of the Gunners’ main man in the middle.
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Rather, they just want to see progress, and that is exactly what Neil would provide if placed in the Everton centre. As you can see, he’s athletic, tenacious in the duel and willing to dribble the ball forward, with a crispness in possession that Moyes will need to help with his transitional play next year.
Moyes’ man management ability is second to none, and after several years of promise in the second tier, Neil is surely ready to step into the big time as an Everton player, where he could thrive as the centrepiece of a growing project.
He'd be Moyes' next Cahill: Everton plot move for "incredible" EFL star
Everton could be about to land a player who could follow in the footsteps of a former fan-favourite.
The January transfer window has officially been open for business for two weeks and Ipswich Town are reportedly closing in on their second signing of the month.
Jaden Philogene is reportedly set to join from Premier League rivals Aston Villa in a deal worth at least £21m, which will make him the second addition after the arrival of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta.
Bringing in new players to bolster the squad, however, could mean that Kieran McKenna will need to be ruthless with who he decides to keep as part of the group before the deadline.
Ipswich Town managerKieranMcKennaapplauds fans after the match
One player who could be ruthlessly ditched ahead of February’s deadline is winger Wes Burns, who has struggled with the step up to the Premier League.
Wes Burns' form this season
The 30-year-old forward has started ten of his 16 appearances in the top-flight for the Tractor Boys this term, and is yet to get his name on the scoresheet.
Burns, who has been utilised as a right winger and as a right wing-back at times, has zero goals and one assist in those 16 matches, which shows that he has failed to offer consistent quality at the top end of the pitch.
The Wales international has also only completed 70% of his attempted passes and has lost 60% of his duels in the division, as he has been loose in possession and struggled to deal with the physicality of the Premier League.
Ipswich can finally move on from Burns by swooping to sign one of their reported targets, Ben Doak, to replace him, freeing up the space in the squad for McKenna to ruthlessly cash in on the experienced winger.
Why Ipswich should sign Ben Doak
The Tractor Boys are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Scotland international from Liverpool, who are said to value him at around £30m – amid interest from Crystal Palace as well.
Doak, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship, has been in impressive form for club and country this season and could come in as an upgrade on Burns, as well as having more long-term potential and value.
At the age of 19, the winger is 11 years younger and would, therefore, have more time on his side to be developed by McKenna and the coaching staff, which could make him an even more valuable asset in the future.
Doak has created two ‘big chances’ in four starts in the Nations League for Scotland this season and caught the eye with his form in the Championship for Boro.
24/25 Championship
Ben Doak
Starts
18
Goals
2
Big chances created
6
Assists
6
Key passes per game
1.6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the teenage starlet, who has been described as “explosive” by Aston Villa’s John McGinn, has been directly involved in eight goals in 18 league matches this term.
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Whereas, Burns only managed six goals and four assists in 35 appearances in the Championship during Ipswich’s promotion-winning campaign last season.
This suggests that Doak, despite his age and inexperience, could immediately come in to offer more than the Welshman at the top end of the pitch, particularly as a creative threat for the Tractor Boys.
Ipswich looking to sign PL winner who'd be "unbelievable" next to Phillips
Ipswich Town would pull off a significant coup signing this ex-Premier League winner.
1 ByKelan Sarson
Therefore, McKenna could finally move on from Burns and potentially cash in on him before the end of the transfer window by signing Doak as his direct replacement this month.
While Arsenal enjoyed a brilliant summer on the pitch and have kickstarted their Premier League campaign with back-to-back wins this season, there remains some discontent among portions of the fanbase due to a lack of activity in the transfer market.
So far, the only new faces added to Mikel Arteta's first team have been Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, and Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino, which doesn't feel like enough in the face of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City juggernaut.
If you asked fans at the start of the summer about the one area they thought the team needed to strengthen, most would have answered striker. While the likes of Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard have started the season in good form, that need for an out-and-out goalscoring nine still feels acute.
Leandro Trossard scores for Arsenal
Fortunately, recent reports have touted one of the best poachers around for a move to the Emirates before the window closes, and he'd surely supercharge Trossard.
Arsenal's striker search
According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have once again entered the race for £110m Napoli star Victor Osimhen.
The report claims that following 'perceived disrespect' during negotiations, the Saudi Pro League sides interested in signing the Nigerian international this summer have now walked away from any potential deal, and while Chelsea are still a possible destination, so are the Gunners.
Interestingly, the report has revealed that in the last few days, the North Londoners have once again 'asked for information' on the striker, suggesting that there is a chance Edu Gaspar could come in with a late bid to try and secure the player's services for a cut-price fee.
Victor Osimhen
Whatever that final price ends up being, Osimhen would almost certainly be worth it, as he'd bring a mountain of goals with him to N5 and, in the process, help make Trossard even more unplayable.
Why Osimhen would make Trossard unplayable
So, to get straight to the point, there is one fundamental reason why Osimhen would help get even more out of Arsenal's incredible Belgian: his output.
The Nigerian "monster", as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, has proven over the last few seasons that when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, there are few better than him, and while Trossard was incredible at doing the same himself last season, he did see his assist tally fall to just two, which feels related to the fact that until Havertz moved up top, Arteta was struggling to find a consistent goalscorer who could play down the middle.
If we compare the former LOSC Lille star's tally over the last two full seasons to that of the Gunners' main striking options, Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, we can see just how much more of a goal threat he really is.
Osimhen vs Havertz vs Jesus
2022/23
Osimhen
Havertz
Jesus
Appearances
39
47
33
Goals
31
9
11
Assists
5
1
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.92
0.21
0.54
2023/24
Osimhen
Havertz
Jesus
Appearances
32
51
36
Goals
17
14
8
Assists
4
7
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.65
0.38
0.44
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, across the 22/23 and 23/24 campaigns, the "world-class" marksman, as dubbed by José Mourinho, scored 48 goals and provided nine assists in just 71 appearances, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.24 games for two years, and he also led the Partenopei to their first league title in over three decades.
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In contrast, Jesus scored 19 goals and provided 15 assists in 69 games, while the German scored 23 goals and provided eight assists in 98 appearances, meaning the two stars averaged a goal involvement once every 2.02 and 3.16 games, respectively.
Just imagine how much more effective the former Brighton & Hove Albion winger would be playing alongside such a clinical number nine; he'd probably still score plenty of goals himself, but he'd also see his assist tally explode, as he'd have someone there he could rely on to finish the chances he created.
Therefore, while the fee might still be significant and his £210k-per-week wages are a slight concern, Edu and Co should do what they can to bring Osimhen to the Emirates this summer.
He'd solve their Saka problem: Arsenal want to secure late £59m signing
The incredible attacker would add so much quality to the Gunners’ squad.
West Bromwich Albion haven't been the most entertaining team to watch in the Championship this season, lacking a Crysencio Summerville-style figure in their ranks like Leeds United possess to regularly wow Baggies supporters.
With the likes of Ipswich Town also scoring 90 goals plus compared to West Brom's goalscoring numbers finishing at just 70, the West Midlands outfit have been steady if a little unspectacular under the careful approach of Carlos Corberan this campaign.
Baggies supporters would love to turn back time and have this explosive star back on their books therefore to raise current excitement levels, with the player in question dazzling second-tier defences for fun when donning a West Brom strip in the early noughties.
Jason Koumas' time at West Brom
Joining in 2002 from Tranmere Rovers, attacking midfielder Jason Koumas would later go down as a cult hero in West Brom quarters for his efforts at the club.
The skilful Welshman would relocate to the West Midlands having bagged 33 goals from 200 games playing in the Wirral, keen to kick on and star for the then Premier League Baggies after leaving his former League One employers behind.
He wouldn't ever really shine at that level for West Brom – only managing to fire in six Premier League goals across his entire career – but it was in the Championship where Koumas would start to pick up stunning goal after stunning goal to add to his Baggies back catalogue.
Koumas' final campaign for West Brom would prove to be his most impactful, picking up an impressive nine goals and 15 assists from 44 games in all competitions before then moving on Wigan.
Going on to be capped 33 times by his country, the only real regret on Koumas' end – who was once described as "mercurial" by Guardian journalist Leon Barton – when his career was over must have been his ineffectiveness to continue playing at the very top in England after making the Championship his playground at points.
The Baggies certainly reaped the rewards from the bargain £2.25m deal in 2002 regardless of Koumas cursing his luck at Premier League level, pulling off the golden move at the best possible time according to Totally Money's Transfer Index.
Jason Koumas' transfer value in 2024
If the same deal between Tranmere and West Brom happened today with inflated costs taken into account, Koumas would cost £11m and no longer look like such a steal.
That would make the now-retired midfielder the most expensive asset in the current West Brom camp by some distance, with Jed Wallace coming in at an inferior £3.5m according to Football Transfers expected transfer value model as the most costly member of Corberan's troops.
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West Brom arguably got everything they could out of Koumas as the perfect possible time therefore, with the ex-Cardiff man still remembered to this day for being a maverick at the Hawthorns from his four enthralling seasons at the club before leaving for Wigan.
Grady Diangana can play this role of being an explosive and unpredictable attacker on his day like Koumas in the present, but Corberan will want more of his men to step up and excite supporters, especially with the lottery of the Championship playoffs up next.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to end their recent poor run of form as they play host to Newcastle United in the Premier League this afternoon.
Ange Postecoglou's side have failed to win any of their last five matches in the top-flight, despite taking a 1-0 lead in all five of them, and have set records in the process.
Spurs are the first side in Premier League history to pick up zero wins after going 1-0 up in five straight games, as well as being the first team to lose three successive home clashes after taking the lead in each of them.
It has been a woeful run of results for the club since they lost James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to their respective injuries against Chelsea, and Postecoglou must work to find a winning solution against the Magpies today.
Tottenham were beaten 2-1 by West Ham United last time out as the opening goal from Cristian Romero was followed up by second half goals from Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse to secure all three points for the away side.
Latest Spurs injury news
Ahead of today's clash with Newcastle, Postecoglou provided an injury update on his squad, which has been devastated by knocks in recent weeks.
Heung-min Son appeared in some discomfort after being substituted against the Hammers but the Australian tactician claimed that he was just a 'sore', which suggests that there is no major concern over his availability.
The former Celtic chief also revealed that Richarlison and Pape Matar Sarr, who have recently returned from injury, came through the game without any issues.
jarrad-branthwaite-richarlison-tottenham-opinion
However, no players will be returning to the squad this afternoon and, in fact, none of the current crop of injured stars will be back in action this side of Christmas.
This means that the likes of van de Ven, Maddison, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, and Ryan Sessegnon may not feature again for the club before 2024.
With all of this in mind, Postecoglou must bring Sarr, who came off the bench last time out, in from the start ahead of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, as the young gem – who has previously been compared to Yaya Toure – could improve the team in possession.
Why Sarr is similar to Yaya Toure
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig previously lauded the central midfielder as a player with 9/10 potential and named the former Manchester City and Ivory Coast star as a similar type of number eight.
Kulig listed pace, passing, long shots, and technique among some of the former Metz prospect's best attributes and claimed that he had an "exciting" future ahead.
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr.
Toure was a powerful midfielder who was able to drive forward from the middle of the park to influence games at the top end of the pitch. He managed 79 goals and 49 assists in 316 matches in all competitions during his time with Manchester City.
The impressive whiz averaged 1.1 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per game across his career as the ex-Barcelona man showcased his ability to consistently make things happen in possession.
Pape Matar Sarr's season in numbers
Postecoglou has placed his faith in Sarr so far this season and the Senegal international is starting to live up to Kulig's hype with Toure-esque, albeit he still has a long way to go to reach his levels on a consistent basis, performances.
The 21-year-old dynamo has averaged 3.01 shot-creating actions and 1.94 progressive carries per 90 during the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
This shows that, like Toure, Sarr is a midfielder who can create opportunities for his teammates through his passes whilst he is also able to drive forward by carrying the ball up the pitch in transition.
The Spurs youngster also ranks within the top 12% of his positional peers in the division for progressive passes (7.42) per 90 and is in the top 23% for assists (0.22) per 90.
Most similar Premier League players to Sarr in 23/24 (via FBref)
Player
Rank
Pascal Gross
5
Douglas Luiz
4
Joelinton
3
Rodri
2
Enzo Fernandez
1
These statistics suggest that the ex-Metz ace, who has completed 90% of his attempted passes across 13 top-flight matches, is a fantastic progressive option for Postecoglou in midfield.
Sarr – once dubbed a "wonderful" player by Kulig – has the quality to progress his team up the pitch, either through passes or carries, to create chances – directly or indirectly – for others to test the opposition goalkeeper.
Whereas, Hojbjerg is not as direct and creative in that position and, perhaps, limits what Tottenham are able to do in possession when he is in the team.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's season in numbers
The Denmark international is not as effective on the ball as his 21-year-old teammate and, therefore, is not able to influence games as regularly for Spurs.
He is a defensive-minded option who does not provide as much progression in his play, which is why Sarr should start ahead of him this afternoon.
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Tottenham failed to press on and find a second goal against West Ham on Thursday night and they may have been able to create more with the Senegal international on the pitch before the 84th minute.
Hojbjerg had 109 touches of the ball and attempted 100 passes in midfield against the Hammers. Yet, the central midfielder did not create a single chance for his teammates.
This shows that the experienced battler did not use the ball well enough to get at the West Ham defence in order to go and finish the game off at 1-0.
Spurs now want to replace Hojbjerg by signing Brazil international
The Lilywhites are apparently still willing to offload.
ByEmilio Galantini
The former Southampton ace has averaged 6.90 progressive passes and 1.46 progressive carries per 90 over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions.
He has also averaged 0.1 key passes per game and is yet to record a single 'big chance' created or assist for his side in 14 Premier League appearances this term.
Whereas, Sarr has averaged 0.9 key passes per match and produced two assists in his 13 top-flight outings for Tottenham this season.
Postecoglou, therefore, must now unleash his own version of Yaya Toure by bringing the 6 foot 1 whiz into the starting line-up to provide quality and drive in possession, which Hojbjerg has been unable to offer.
Once pre-season is done and dusted, players eagerly turn their attention to domestic action. A new season, a fresh chance to impress. The start of what could be a campaign of ultimate glory.So, with that said, the worst start that a player can make to a season is receiving a red card on the opening night. Unfortunately for Barcelona and Raphina, that’s exactly what happened against Getafe.The Brazilian wasn’t the only one guilty of letting tensions reach boiling point, before they spilt over, though, with manager Xavi also seeing red, as well as Getafe striker Jaime Mata.In a fiery affair to get the season underway, it was Getafe who will be the happier of the two sides, holding out for a point in a frustrating stalemate for Barcelona.Without any goals to watch, it’s Raphinha who stole the headlines, with his UFC-style elbow rightfully resulting in his dismissal.
What did Raphinha do to get a red card vs Getafe
Attempting to make a run off the ball, Raphinha was expertly marked by Getafe’s Gaston Alvarez, who received a brutal elbow to the back of the head for his troubles, before going down.
The incident was well spotted by the referee, who wasted no time in giving the Barcelona winger his marching orders.
Even so, the Getafe bench were furious and charged out of their seats, out of the technical area, and nearly onto the pitch to vent their anger – perhaps showing why the football now has stricter rules on such behaviour.
The referee wasn’t done with his red cards there, either, handing a second yellow card to Getafe’s Mata to make it 10 men apiece.
Finishing things off, the referee then handed a red card to Barcelona manager Xavi after the Spaniard reacted furiously when Abde Ezzalzouli was brought down.
The La Liga champions also got plenty of attention on Twitter after quite the hilarious blunder, as they first posted in support of Raphinha, before their next Tweet revealed his second off.
The game, itself, was full of strange moments and was perhaps best summed up when Ronald Araujo bizarrely decided to catch the ball instead of controlling it and yet still avoided a yellow card.
As far as opening nights go, it doesn’t get much more disjointed than Barcelona vs Getafe.
What is the market value of Raphinha?
Joining Barcelona for a reported £55m from Leeds United last summer, Raphinha has since gone on to show glimpses of what he’s capable of at the Nou Camp, scoring 10 goals, and assisting a further 12 in all competitions for the club.
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That said, his valuation has, in fact, decreased in the year that he has been in La Liga. According to Transfermarkt, the winger is currently worth €60m (£52m), meaning that his value has gone down by £3m since Barcelona splashed out to secure his signature in 2022.
Meanwhile, Raphinha reportedly earns a staggering £199k per week at the Spanish giants, which is a hefty figure for a player who hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts this season.
From the Brazilian’s perspective, he will hope to bounce back from his sending-off in style when he returns to prove once and for all that he belongs in a Barcelona shirt.
Heart of Midlothian secured European football for next season as they finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership table, however, since they sacked Robbie Neilson at the start of April, they won just two of their final seven games under interim boss Steven Naismith.
The former Rangers and Everton star claims he is “ready” for the job on a permanent basis at Hearts next season; however, the club could potentially look for someone with a bit more experience in order to lead their charge into Europe next term.
With that in mind, former Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder, has been linked with the post.
According to the Daily Record, Wilder is still interested in the Hearts job, with the role at Tynecastle representing an ‘attractive option’ for the Englishman according to the report.
The 55-year-old has recently left his role as Watford boss having agreed a short-term deal until the end of the season back in March, and with him back in the market for a new role, could the Hearts’ hierarchy look past Naismith and give the top job to someone who has experience managing in the Premier League?
Could Chris Wilder become the new Hearts manager?
Anything is possible, and with the Jambos entering Europe yet again, it could give the former Sheffield United coach a taste of continental football for the first time in his managerial career.
His most fruitful spell came at the Blades, whom he guided to promotion to the Premier League back during the 2018/19 season, and it was to be their first in the top flight for 12 years.
Not only did he keep them up in his first season as a Premier League manager, but they finished in ninth place, losing just 12 times. Unfortunately, 2020/21 saw the club suffer second-season syndrome as they finished rock bottom, winning just seven matches all campaign, while Wilder left before the season was over, departing in March 2021.
Across his 227 matches in charge, he won 1.59 points per match and his vast experience would certainly make him a better candidate than Naismith to the club moving forward.
Steven Naismith
With his teams scoring 863 goals in his 597 matches during his career, he could give Hearts a better-attacking edge as they look to improve on their 63 goals scored during 2022/23, with only Rangers and Celtic scoring more in the league.
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Wilder was praised by journalist Sam Tighe following Sheffield United’s promotion, lauding him as “incredible” for leading them to two promotions in three seasons and although Naismith has come in during a difficult part of the campaign, there is no doubt that the Englishman would be a big upgrade on someone with such little experience.
Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a summer move for Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger, according to a report.
The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing defender
Tottenham are believed to be eyeing a new defender, with the likes of Marc Guehi and Alessandro Bastoni said to be on their radar, while Piero Hincapie has also been linked with a move.
Given that Clement Lenglet is set to depart the club at the end of the season, should Antonio Conte choose to leave, Spurs will no doubt need a new option in defence, and a new potential option has now emerged.
The Latest: Plotting Rudiger move
According to reports in Spain, via CaughtOffside, the Lilywhites are plotting to bring Rudiger to north London this summer, in light of the centre-back not being a key player for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season.
It is not yet clear whether Real Madrid are willing to cash-in on the former Chelsea man, but Tottenham are said to prepared to offer him an exit route, should the Spanish club allow him to leave.
The German has received regular game time in recent weeks, starting six of his side’s last seven La Liga matches, which may indicate that Ancelotti could be willing to keep hold of him beyond the end of the season.
However, if the 29-year-old does become available, he would be an excellent addition for Conte’s side, judging by his last stint in the Premier League, ranked as Chelsea’s second-best performer in the 2021-22 campaign, averaging a 7.26 Sofascore rating.
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The 6 foot 3 colossus has also been hailed by the media, with journalist Josh Bunting describing him as an ‘outstanding’ player who has a ‘top class’ mentality, and having players with the latter trait could be instrumental in Tottenham competing for silverware.
As such, Spurs should continue to monitor Rudiger’s availability between now and the summer transfer window, as he would be a brilliant signing who possesses the experience of winning top trophies.
West Ham United may now look to sell Arthur Masuaku in the January transfer window, according to insiders Claret & Hugh.
The Lowdown: Masuaku at Besiktas
At the beginning of August, West Ham agreed to loan Masuaku to Besiktas until the end of the season, with a view to making the transfer permanent, should the Turkish side wish to.
The left-back started well in the Super Lig, featuring in every game prior to what is believed to be a knee injury, as per ExWHUemployee, who also states that this issue could keep him out for three months, casting doubt on whether he will depart the London Stadium.
The Latest: Claret & Hugh’s update
Despite the 29-year-old’s fitness concerns, there is still a ‘big hope’ that the club can cash in on him in January and complete a permanent transfer ‘early’, which could provide the club with a cash injection of £13m, as per Claret & Hugh.
Cash is said to be short at the London Stadium at present, with funds needing to be raised amid a £156m summer spending spree, which has so far not proven to be successful, with the Hammers 16th in the Premier League table.
The Verdict: Right decision?
Given the fact that the Hammers only spent £6m on the DR Congo international in 2016, if they are able to more than double their money on a player deemed surplus to requirements by David Moyes, it will be a very good piece of business.
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Despite once being lauded as ‘excellent’ by journalist Sam Inkersole, the defender simply isn’t up to the standard required at West Ham anymore, especially considering Aaron Cresswell is rated as the club’s third-best performer so far this season, with an average SofaScore rating of 7.07.
With esteemed 28-time Italy international Emerson providing a reliable option as a back-up to the Englishman, there is no room for Masuaku at the club, so Moyes will be hoping that he can perform well enough at Besiktas in the coming weeks to secure a move to Istanbul.