Celtic look to have secured the future of a bright young teenage star at Parkhead as Brendan Rodgers and his staff build for the long term in Glasgow's east end, according to reports.
Celtic latest updates: Lagerbielke stars, Yang disappointed
Celtic's stars are on international duty following a strong start to Scottish Premiership action, which has seen the Hoops climb to the summit of the league standings with seven draws and one loss from their opening eight encounters, enabling them to claim a seven-point lead over rivals Rangers in second.
Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke netted his first goal for Sweden during the break in a 3-1 victory over Moldova, as he rose high to power home from an excellent delivery from Jesper Karlsson.
Speaking to Fotbollskanalen after the victory, Lagerbielke reacted to what will be heralded as a landmark moment in his career, stating: "It’s a childhood dream to play here at Friends for the national team and then scoring a goal is a bonus. I’m very happy right now. I have scored a few goals in training and then there have been no goal gestures. When you get the chance, you have to try to take it. I think I made a good effort."
Hoops winger Yang Hyun-jun has been talking to Celtic TV about his start to life in Glasgow following his summer move from Gangwon FC and has reacted in honest fashion to his side's disappointing defeat at home to Lazio in the Champions League last week, as he said: "It was such an honour to play in the Champions League. It was a shame I couldn’t show all of my ability as I was feeling a bit nervous since it was such a big game."
Nevertheless, the South Korea international has shown signs of promise since moving cross-continent back in July and has registered one assist in his opening ten appearances for Celtic (Yang statistics – Transfermarkt).
Celtic contract update – Jacob Donnelly
According to a recent Celtic contract update from The Glasgow Times, Hoops youngster Jacob Donnelly has signed a pre-contract at the Scottish champions ahead of penning a three-year deal at Parkhead next summer on professional terms.
The report states that Celtic have managed to fend off competition from several clubs in England to tie down the midfielder, who will join the likes of Mitchel Frame by committing his future to the Hoops for the foreseeable future with the hope of being able to break into the first-team squad.
Offering up chances for young players to break through at Celtic is not something boss Rodgers is immune to at Parkhead when the opportunity presents itself.
Despite not seeing much evidence of that yet, more than likely due to the combination of a pressure-cooker environment and win-or-bust culture in Glasgow, Rodgers was responsible for introducing the likes of Anthony Ralston and Mikey Johnston to the senior picture during his first spell north of the border.
Rocco Vata, MacKenzie Carse and Kyle Ure are among other highly-rated talents at Celtic who look close to making a sustained breakthrough under Rodgers, and it will be intriguing to see who is given the opportunity to step up and stake their claim for a first-team berth in the near future.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly look to make a new boardroom appointment if he becomes Manchester United's new partial owner, but The United Stand presenter Beth Tucker is not overly convinced by the latest links.
Man Utd takeover latest
Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson ended his legendary stint as Red Devils manager back in 2013, it has often been a turbulent time at Old Trafford, even though some success has still been achieved along the way, including Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup triumphs.
The likes of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all tried and failed to be the answer in the dugout, while Erik ten Hag finds himself under pressure after a disappointing start to the season.
One thing that hasn't helped any of those managers is the ongoing ownership situation at United, with the Glazers proving to be hugely unpopular among a vast chunk of the fanbase, and a change needed at the top. It looks as though Ratcliffe could be that man, with reports suggesting he is confident of earning at least a 25% share in the club he supports.
Should that happen, the Englishman would then have a major say on big decisions happening at United, including the potential appointment of a new sporting director, with nobody currently in that role.
Man Utd want Paul Mitchell
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Tucker was not impressed the idea of rumoured new director target Paul Mitchell to Manchester United, however, with the Red Devils needing to look at higher calibre options than the current Monaco man:
"Paul Mitchell is somebody who I admire for the names that he has brought into certain football clubs, but I also think people may be getting a bit ahead of themselves.
"Yes, he has been at Spurs, Leipzig and Monaco, but they're not the top, top elite clubs in the world. I think Manchester United need to be aiming for the best, but we will have to wait and see what happens with that.
"But some of the names he has scouted across the years are miles better than what Manchester United have done, so it is the start of something, I suppose."
While there is definitely some truth in Tucker's comments that Mitchell is yet to prove himself at a genuine European footballing powerhouse in his career, he is still a relatively young man and has to start somewhere when it comes to being given a chance to prove his worth.
The 42-year-old is thought of highly in the game by many, with Monaco's director of performance James Bunce hailing him as "one of the best sporting directors in world football" – he is also a boyhood United fan, like Ratcliffe – and it is the type of bold decision that needs to be made by the Red Devils if they are to return to the top of English football.
That's not necessarily saying that Mitchell is the guaranteed answer to United's problems, but he should certainly be seen as a strong contender to come in and work effectively alongside Ten Hag when it comes to signings.
Everton are, pound for pound, one of the worst-ran clubs in England. That is a fact largely irrefutable, given their tendency to spend big and underperform in recent years.
The change in ownership that saw Farhad Moshiri take a majority stake in the Toffees offered huge promise of a brighter future strewn with money and success.
Whilst the former has certainly been present in their transfer and managerial appointments, they have arguably veered further away from the latter as misinformed moves have stunted growth and led them down a very dark path.
They are now forced to wallow around the relegation zone, constantly battling the drop and wondering where the next win will come from. Sean Dyche is trying his best to turn them into a side to be feared once again, but so far it is a failed venture that seemingly nobody can fix.
Even the news that the Iranian billionaire was ready to sell up has been received poorly due to the problems that the potential buyers, 777 Partners, continue to be linked with.
No matter who it is that succeeds Moshiri, Goodison Park will be glad to see the back of him at least, with his hotly anticipated tenure one of the most promising, and therefore easily the most disappointing.
Who is Everton’s worst-ever signing?
To narrow down the worst acquisition of this era is a near-impossible task, due to the sheer volume of failures they have played host to.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin was one expensive flop who saw his career curtailed by injuries, whilst Davy Klaassen marked a clueless signing that left the club overloaded with number tens.
1
Gylfi Sigurdsson
€49.4m (£42.5m)
2
Richarlison
€39.2m (£33.7m)
3
Romelu Lukaku
€35.4m (£30.4m)
4
Amadou Onana
€35m (£30.1m)
5
Alex Iwobi
€30.4m (£26.1m)
Even Sandro, who was signed for just £5.25m, still managed to disappoint whilst absorbing plenty of finances through his lucrative wages.
A myriad of duds have come and gone from Merseyside, but unfortunately, some still remain.
Arguably the outstanding flop that has refused to depart is Michael Keane, who traded Burnley for the Toffees back in the summer of 2017. The hulking centre-back was one of numerous acquisitions from Ronald Koeman’s summer of vast overhaul, in which they broke their club record signing and also brought in stars such as Jordan Pickford and Wayne Rooney.
It was expected that the calm, cultured titan who had been at the heart of Dyche’s staunch backline at Turf Moor would help underpin the Dutchman’s defence for the next decade.
However, such an eventuality has not come to fruition, with the 30-year-old having spent six painful years on Merseyside without really making a positive mark.
A 6.45 average Sfoascore rating during this season is indicative of a man low in confidence and quality, with his only real campaign of success coming under Carlo Ancelotti.
Error-prone and often too slow to make up for his mistakes, talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves issued a particularly scathing rant back in 2022 after one torrid showing: “He always looks to me like he's not in control of his own body. You know when someone's always struggling or trying to make last-ditch tackles.
“He looks like he's always struggling. He's always a little bit nervy and not having a clear thought process. His positional play hasn't been great.
"I know Everton as a team haven't been particularly brilliant and haven't been particularly well structured but as you get older and more experienced you get better in terms of your positional play, he's actually got worse, he's gone the other way.”
Keane’s continued presence at the club is a searing indication of both their transfer missteps of the past and the despicable present it has brought on for this fanbase, where they are yet to find a replacement within their shoestring budget.
However, his failure is not solely saved for on the pitch.
How much did Everton pay for Michael Keane?
The fiscal ramifications of the defender’s signature have been almost as lofty as the technical deficiencies they have been forced to endure on the pitch.
After all, the £30m spent to pry him from Turf Moor marked an astronomical fee for the time, made even more ludicrous given they spent the exact same on Pickford in that same summer, who has grown to become England’s number one goalkeeper and one of their few relegation heroes.
Meanwhile, Keane has only regressed, with his market value, as per Football Transfers, now sitting at just €7.4m (£6.3m).
How much does Michael Keane earn?
To exacerbate the failures, the 6 foot 3 titan also has a similarly lucrative salary to go alongside the bumper fee paid to sign him.
Sitting comfortably on his £80k-per-week wage, with every passing year Keane drains the Toffees of more precious funds that they seemingly cannot afford to spend.
Especially given the lack of return he offers, Moshiri and the fans must be furious. When adding the £21.8m earned from wages alone to the aforementioned transfer fee, in total this deal has cost the club £51.8m.
How much has Michael Keane earned in his career so far?
Having started his career with Manchester United, they swiftly worked out that the bumbling defender might not have a future for a side with aspirations at the pinnacle of the game.
Burnley were willing recipients of his services, where their low block played perfectly into his hands given the defence-first play style he boasted.
With a deal at Everton that seemingly continues to extend, Keane has actually amassed a huge sum of money throughout an admittedly fine career. In total that figure has now reached £25.5m, which is still less than the £30m paid for the Merseyside outfit to sign the defender.
When does Michael Keane’s contract expire?
As if to add to the frustration surrounding Koeman’s big disaster, that aforementioned purple patch under Ancelotti spurred the club to offer Keane a new deal.
Given his performances, it was not a decision widely scrutinised at the time, despite settling on an extra five years being somewhat ridiculous given his age.
Soccer Football – LaLiga – Rayo Vallecano v FC Barcelona – Estadio de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain – October 27, 2021 FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman looks on REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Another move that has unsurprisingly backfired, the Toffees will have to continue paying the former Blackburn Rovers loanee until 2025, when that £80k-per-week deal expires.
Does Michael Keane deserve to earn £80k-per-week?
It is fair to say that few at Everton are deserving of their big-money contracts given the recent performances, which have seen the last two seasons devolve into relegation scraps with narrow escapes on both occasions.
Given they are without a win in five Premier League games thus far in the new term, it is poised to once again be a year of immense turmoil.
Keane is just one in a long line of expensive failures that have set the club back years, and the hope will be that by the time they have moved into their Bramley-Moore Stadium, the bulk of this deadwood has been expunged in order to usher in a new, brighter era.
Newcastle United are finally in a position where they can beat mega clubs to top signings, and a recent update suggests that could happen with one exciting young star.
Do Newcastle need more signings?
The Magpies have made giant strides with Eddie Howe in charge as manager, quickly becoming a real force in the Premier League, and finishing fourth in the table last season. That saw them return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, and they will begin their campaign in Europe's biggest club competition later this month.
Granted, Newcastle have made a surprisingly poor start to the season, losing three of their four league games, but it must be stressed that their opening to the campaign has arguably been tougher than any other team's.
New players have arrived at St James' Park, in order to go up another gear, with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento adding more quality and depth to the squad.
The money is there for Newcastle to continue spending well into the future, however, and the hope is that further upcoming arrive in the January transfer window, giving them an extra boost of quality heading into the second half of the season.
It could be that attacking reinforcements are looked at as a priority, giving the Magpies as much firepower as possible, and it looks as though they are turning to La Liga for a potential signing.
Spain'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their sixth goal
Will Newcastle sign Nico Williams?
According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are battling with Barcelona for the signing of Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, who continues to shine for the Basque club. They could trigger his €50m (£43m) release clause in January, in order to beat any free agent auction when the 21-year-old's current deal expires at the end of this season.
Liverpool are also mentioned as potential suitors in the report, as are Aston Villa, but the Magpies appear to be showing the most interest and intent, with Barca more keen on signing him for free next summer.
Williams could be an exciting signing for Newcastle in January, should they be able to convinced him that a move to England is best for his development, rather than a switch to Barca.
At just 21, the Spaniard is still very much an improving player with a high ceiling, but that's not to say he hasn't already become a key figure for Bilbao, being hailed as "simply amazing" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Strong dribbler
Inconsistent delivery
Versatile across the attack
Defensive contribution
Possesses blistering pace
Inconsistent finishing
Williams has already registered 23 goal contributions (12 goals and 11 assists) in 89 appearances for the La Liga side, despite his tender years, and he has also netted twice in ten caps for Spain, showing that he can cut it at international level.
Predominantly a left-sided attacking player, the Bilbao ace could provide competition for the likes of Barnes and Anthony Gordon, while his versatility allows him to play on the right-hand side and in a central role, which should be seen as an added bonus for Howe.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has named the one Ange Postecoglou favourite who is still to convince him at Spurs.
Who are Tottenham's star players?
Spurs supporters have been spoiled for choice in terms of their star players this season, as nearly every member of Postecoglou's traditional starting eleven have played a big role. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has made some pretty important saves after coming in to replace Hugo Lloris, while centre-back pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have formed an incredible understanding.
Wing-backs Pedro Porro, and especially Destiny Udogie, have seriously impressed as Postecoglou's inverted full-back regulars while both Yves Bissouma (before his suspension) and Pape Matar Sarr shine in front of them. However, there is an argument to be made that winger Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and summer signing James Maddison are the trio most dazzling on the eye. Indeed, all three have been revelations for Tottenham's new manager, with both Maddison and Son blowing opposition away in the attacking areas.
While nearly every member of the Spurs eleven are impressing, one man who is still dividing opinions is former Everton star Richarlison. Signed in the summer of 2022, the Brazilian has chipped with just a handful of goals in all competitions since his arrival. He has played more of a role this season, though, especially against Sheffield United. His goal and assist deep into added time gifted Spurs a dramatic win against the newly-promoted Blades last month, and Richarlison has been to play a big part this term.
What's been said about Richarlison?
Postecoglou has lavished praise on the "fantastic" South American already, saying this after their win over Sheffield United (via TEAMtalk):
“We’ve got to maintain a balance in life and even for him, he needs to understand his football is still good, he’s a fantastic footballer, he’s got so much to give and that can help ease the burden he’s feeling in other parts of his life, like so many of us.
“I’m really pleased for him – I thought he did really well. We were obviously chasing a goal and getting some balls in the box and he’s always a threat in the air.”
Seemingly a favourite of Tottenham's new manager, Richarlison has played in every single league match so far this term, scoring one and assisting three others. However, despite this, former Spurs boss Redknapp has told talkSPORT that the forward still has a lot of work to do.
“I think he’s got a bit to do for me still to convince me," said Redknapp on a Tuesday morning broadcast.
“To be honest I was like that with him at Everton. There was something about him that didn’t endear him to me that much. Listen, if they feel they need to bring someone in on that side and they’ll be looking then they’ll go out and do that.
“Hopefully, he’s turned the corner, he needs a goal or two doesn’t he really? His confidence is key, if you haven’t got the confidence it’s an impossible game.”
There is little, if any, doubt that Jurgen Klopp has been a sensational manager for Liverpool since he arrived on Merseyside during the 2015/16 campaign.
The German head coach has won the Premier League, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and the League Cup once each over the last eight years.
He has brought plenty of success to the club, including their first Premier League title, and deserves plenty of praise for the way he has got the team competing at the top of the game again.
Virgil van Dijk
£73.8m
Darwin Nunez
£69.7m
Dominik Szoboszlai
£61m
Alisson
£54.5m
Naby Keita
£52.3m
Whilst the ex-Borussia Dortmund tactician has not been blessed with an unlimited transfer budget throughout his time in England so far, Klopp has been able to make a number of big-money signings to bolster his squad.
However, one lavish addition that the German boss will be thankful he did not go through with was the potential signing of Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal in the summer of 2022.
Were Liverpool interested in Arnaut Danjuma?
Liverpool were keen on the Netherlands international that year as the player himself revealed that he had been told that Klopp and the Reds were tracking his performances for the Spanish side during the 2021/22 campaign.
The Daily Mail reported that Manchester United had been scouting the forward ahead of the summer transfer window in 2022 and claimed that the player had a release clause of £62m, which was included in his contract that was due to expire in 2026.
Their article claimed that Danjuma had earned comparisons to Paris Saint-Germain winger Kylian Mbappe due to his pace and direct play as a right-footed player who predominantly plays off the left side.
Former Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma.
Klopp's interest in the attacker came after his stunning displays for Villarreal throughout the 2021/22 season, as he showcased his ability as a big threat at the top end of the pitch.
Danjuma, who had been signed from Championship side Bournemouth in 2021, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across 23 LaLiga outings that term.
He started 17 of those matches and contributed with an impressive ten goals and three assists from a wide position, which is an average of one goal involvement every 1.31 games.
The Dutch wizard, who ex-Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips hailed as a "nightmare" for defenders, also proved his worth at Champions League level with six goals and one assist in ten starts for the Spanish outfit, which suggested that he was able to consistently deliver quality at the very top level.
This means that he ended the season with 16 goals and four assists in 27 starts across those two competitions and this shows that Danjuma was a constant threat for Villarreal in the final third with his ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis.
Who did Liverpool sign instead of Danjuma?
Liverpool and Klopp ultimately opted against a move for the ex-Cherries star and swooped to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica to improve the attacking options at the club.
The Uruguay international enjoyed a respectable first season at Anfield as he plundered 15 goals and four assists in 42 matches for the club in all competitions, which included nine goals and three assists in 19 Premier League starts.
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez.
Nunez had a fair case to be frustrated with his teammates for his low assist tally as the 24-year-old attacker created 11 'big chances' for his fellow attackers, only to be rewarded with three assists.
His form for the Reds last term came after he racked up an outstanding 34 goals and four assists in 41 matches in all competitions for Benfica throughout the 2021/22 campaign.
Whilst Nunez was unable to replicate his ridiculous scoring rate for the Portuguese side after his move to England, the former Almeria ace was still able to score and create goals at a respectable rate.
What happened to Danjuma?
Whereas, Danjuma's 2021/22 form fell off a cliff as the former Bournemouth man struggled during the first half of the following season with Villarreal.
He scored two goals and failed to provide a single assist, along with zero 'big chances' created, in ten LaLiga matches, and that led to a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur for the second half of the campaign.
The 26-year-old scored one goal and only created one chance, which had an xG of 0.06, in nine Premier League outings for Spurs at the start of this year.
Former Spurs forward Arnaut Danjuma.
His dreadful form for Villarreal and Tottenham throughout the 2022/23 season, which included three goals and zero assists in 19 league matches, resulted in another loan move for the current campaign.
Everton completed the season-long loan signing of the Dutch international during the recent summer transfer window and the left winger has struggled since his move to the Toffees.
How much is Danjuma worth now?
At the time of writing (09/10/2023), FootballTransfers has placed his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €10.8m (£9.3m) and this is a staggering fall from the £62m release clause that he had at the time of Liverpool's interest in his services.
Danjuma has not been able to recapture his immense form in the 2021/22 campaign and has not hit the ground running at Goodison Park this season.
The 26-year-old flop has scored two goals and failed to provide a single assist in nine appearances in all competitions for the Toffees so far, which includes one goal in seven Premier League outings.
Everton forward Arnaut Danjuma.
He has averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.69, which is the 14th-highest score within their squad, and created zero 'big chances' in those seven league games.
Danjuma was an unused substitute for their recent 3-0 win over Bournemouth and this illustrates just how poorly the last 12 months or so have gone for the attacker.
The former Villarreal star has gone from being linked with a move to Liverpool and being compared to Mbappe to sitting on the bench for 90 minutes for Everton, who are 16th in the Premier League table.
Therefore, Klopp and Liverpool avoided a big blunder by opting to go with Nunez ahead of Danjuma one year ago as the Uruguay international, despite not being as prolific as his Benfica days, has offered far more to the Reds than the Netherlands international has for Everton, or Spurs last season.
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.
Tottenham have now entered pole position to sign a European club's star attacker as the north Londoners look to January in search of more options.
Spurs hit by injury crisis
It's been seven days of turmoil at Spurs, and this international break couldn't have come soon enough for popular new boss Ange Postecoglou. Losing both star playmaker James Maddison and defender Micky van de Ven is a huge blow to Spurs, with both summer signings looking set to be out until 2024.
Tottenham must make do without the electric pace of van de Ven and the creative spark of Maddison, with both men being sorely missed last Saturday as Postecoglou suffered his second consecutive Premier League defeat. Spurs' bitterly disappointing and dramatic 2-1 loss to Wolves at Molineux highlighted just how pivotal the duo are to Postecoglou, as replacements Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg just couldn't come anywhere near to replicating their influence.
Spurs struggled to assert themselves often enough in the final third, thanks partly to the absence of Maddison's ingenuity in midfield, with the Lilywhites looking nowhere near their imperious best going forward.
Tottenham enter pole position for Gudmundsson
While Postecoglou should have the England star back by January, this past week has exposed Tottenham's glaring lack of depth in key areas, and the winter transfer window represents an opportunity for new sporting director Johan Lange to sign much-needed alternatives to star men.
According to La Repubblica, as relayed by Genova Today and Sport Witness, Spurs are now "in the front row" to sign Albert Gudmundsson from Genoa as one option. The Serie A side are well aware of growing interest from London, Roma and Inter Milan – as they aim to tie Gudmundsson down with a new deal and fend off growing suitors.
This comes after reports that Postecoglou is keen to sign a left-winger, but most interestingly, the Iceland international can also slot into Maddison's position as a central attacking midfielder. Gudmundsson has often been deployed in a central role for Genoa this season too, playing as the supporting striker behind number nine Mateo Retegui.
The 26-year-old has five goals in 12 Serie A appearances so far under manager Alberto Gilardino, with his form attracting real praise from teammate Kevin Strootman.
Crossing
Passing
Dribbling
Long shots
Taking set pieces
Defensive contribution
“If he keeps improving, he won’t stay at Genoa for long,” Strootman told Il Secolo XIX newspaper (via Football Italia).
“He reminds me of Salah when he was at Roma, in that every now and then he disappears. Much like Salah then, he would have four or five chances per match and only score at most one.
“They used to say that if Salah was more clinical, he would be playing for Liverpool, and that is exactly what happened. All joking aside, Gudmundsson is a devastating player and also an exemplary professional.”
Gudmundsson could come as an excellent potential signing for Spurs, with his ability to play in a variety of positions being a particularly huge draw.
Leeds United currently feel like a different team compared to the one that was relegated from the Premier League last term. The Yorkshire club are sitting third in the Championship and have been piling pressure on Ipswich Town and Leicester City above them.
Goals are flying in and the team are keeping plenty of clean sheets as of late, yet perhaps head coach Daniel Farke isn't receiving the plaudits that he truly deserves. When he took over, Leeds seemed like a toxic wasteland, with a bloated squad on extortionate wages. Now, after one transfer window, there seems to be a togetherness once more in the team.
Farke acted quickly to clean house, removing players from the squad who either wanted to leave or overstayed their welcome. One player in particular, who was part of Farke's vigorous clearout, has had a disastrous time at his new club.
Tyler Roberts' time at Leeds
In 2018, one of Thomas Christiansen's last acts as manager of Leeds United was to sign Tyler Roberts from West Bromwich Albion for an initial £2.5m, with the fee expected to rise to £4m in add-ons.
The attacker arrived at Elland Road with a slight knock, ruling him out for the first few weeks. However, things went downhill rapidly for Roberts as he cracked his shin bone while recovering from his initial injury, which kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Nevertheless, Roberts eventually made his competitive debut for the Whites under the legendary coach Marcelo Bielsa and went on to make 108 appearances for the club, including 50 in the Premier League.
However, in his 108 games with Leeds, the Welshman bagged merely nine goals and recorded ten assists.
In contrast, Crysencio Summerville has managed 15 goal contributions this term in 18 matches and is just four from Roberts' tally.
Season
Appearances
Minutes
Goals
Assists
2018/19
31
2,081
3
6
2019/20
23
1,084
4
1
2020/21
34
1,742
5
4
2021/22
27
1,187
2
1
2022/23
20
1,228
4
0
After a loan move to Queens Park Rangers in the previous campaign, Roberts was eventually sold during the most recent summer transfer window to Birmingham City for a fee rumoured to be worth just £750k, having become nothing but a bit-part player at Leeds.
Tyler Roberts' stats this season
Roberts was handed a four-year contract with the Blues when former manager John Eustace was in charge, a decision which seems questionable in hindsight. The 24-year-old made his debut on the opening day of the Championship campaign away at Swansea City, lasting 61 minutes on the pitch before being subbed off. Unfortunately, this was Roberts' only appearance for the Blues.
The ex-Leeds star suffered a calf injury in training a few days before he would play his former club back in August and has been absent from the Birmingham squad ever since, a time period which has seen a new manager take charge in the St. Andrew's dugout in the form of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.
Roberts has now missed 21 matches through injury this season which is more than at any other stage over the past five seasons, the second-longest being an 81-day absence with a torn thigh muscle during his spell with Leeds two years ago.
The 20-cap Wales international endured a lot of criticism from the Leeds fanbase, particularly during the side's spell in the Premier League under Bielsa. The Athletic journalist Phil Hay admitted that the coach persevered with the young forward because he "obviously rates him" but Roberts has been proving the critics right since leaving Elland Road, seeing little over an hour's worth of action at Birmingham City.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has personally made an "underrated" international attacker one of his top transfer targets, and he's also keen on joining.
Edu tipped to sign new striker for Arsenal
Perhaps the worst kept secret at Arsenal right now is their desire to sign a new striker, with sporting director Edu reportedly shortlisting a host of targets.
Arsenal could sign "dream" £50m striker in repeat of Rice masterclass
The 26-year-old could be the clinical striker Arsenal need this season.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 18, 2023
Santos striker Marcos Leonardo, Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic, Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez and even Salternitana ace Boulaye Dia are some of the strikers linked with moves to Arsenal ahead of January, but one name who stands out among all the others is Brentford star Ivan Toney.
The Englishman, who scored 20 league goals last season before his ban for alleged gambling breaches, is set to return to action mid-way through next month's transfer window.
Ivan Toney
Toney is one of the most highly-rated and coveted Premier League strikers right now, and it's reported that Arsenal have held talks over a move with his representatives already.
The Gunners want a proven goalscorer to upgrade their forward options, especially as they chase a first league title in 20 years, and a prolific option like Toney could prove a real difference.
Arteta wants Toney at Arsenal
The 27-year-old, according to TEAMtalk, is a personal top target of Arteta's. Indeed, it is believed Arsenal's manager wants Edu and co to make a move for Toney next month.
Brentford's star front man is even being chased by Galacticos Real Madrid, but as per TEAMtalk again, Arsenal could have a real advantage over Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Toney is prioritising a move to Arsenal above all others in the January transfer window, regardless of Madrid's interest, with the England international very keen to play under Arteta.
While Brentford are keen to tie down Toney with a new deal, if that were to happen, the proposed contract would apparently include a £70 million release clause. That would be quite a climb down on what Sky were reporting on the number nine's price tag, which they claimed is around £100m for the winter.
Commenting on Toney's ability after he got a nod for one of Gareth Southgate's England squads, Arsenal captain Declan Rice suggests the Bees star is similar to Spurs legend Harry Kane.
"I think from the moment he stepped in the Premier League he's taken it by storm," Rice told talkSPORT.
"If you look at what he does for Brentford, how consistent he is and what he does for his team, he's fully deserving of a call-up. He's kind of like Harry Kane in a way where he's not only an out-and-out striker, he's a playmaker as well – his left and right footed passing, the way he picks out his teammates is a special technique to have.
"I'm looking forward to playing with him."
Also called "underrated" by football analyst Statman Dave, Arsenal look like one of the favourites to sign Toney as things stand, and it's feasible to believe Rice could be playing with him at club level soon.