All posts by z3u9t.icu

It wasn't too long ago that Tottenham Hotspur were competing at the forefront of the Premier League, season in, season out.

But gone are the days of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure, leading Spurs to a Champions League final and engineering a style that earned acclaim for its slickness and snap.

Ange Postecoglou is now at the helm and looks to be the perfect fit for a club desperate for a resurgence, having finished eighth last season, sacked their fourth manager in as many years and waved goodbye to club record scorer Harry Kane.

It hasn't been plain sailing (it never is) but the Australian manager has offered a glimpse of prosperity to come, with his tactical approach marrying with a rekindled astuteness in the transfer market.

Spurs transfer news – Joao Gomes

According to a report from Fla Web – via Sport Witness – Spurs are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes, who has been a force in the centre of the park this season.

The report states that Tottenham will lodge a formal offer for the centre-midfielder 'very soon' after tying up deals for defender Radu Dragusin and former Chelsea forward Timo Werner.

The Old Gold have been surprisingly good this season and Gomes has been integral, with Gary O'Neil's side demanding at least €35m (£30m) to prise him away.

Joao Gomes' style of play

Liverpool were linked with a move for Gomes in 2022 but the player ultimately for Wolves from Flamengo in a £15m deal one year ago.

Scoring off the bench on his Premier League debut away against Southampton, the 22-year-old set the stone in place for a prosperous career on English shores and started seven times across the latter half of the 2022/23 campaign.

Affectionately dubbed "The Pitbull" in his Brazilian homeland – as per The Athletic's Steve Madeley – Gomes is a tough-tackling and tenacious player with an underrated passing game, with this vigour the basis of Premier League interest.

Having now cemented a spot as Wolves' engine in the middle, Gomes has started 17 matches in the English top-flight this term, completing 83% of his passes, making a key pass every two games, averaging 3.2 tackles and 5.9 ball recoveries per fixture and winning 62% of his aerial battles, as per Sofascore.

Player

Club

Matches played

Tackles

Joao Palhinha

Fulham

17 (1)

84

Vinicius Souza

Sheffield United

19 (1)

66

Joao Gomes

Wolverhampton Wanderers

17 (1)

57

Pedro Porro

Tottenham Hotspur

19

57

Emerson

West Ham United

19 (1)

54

*Sourced via premierleague.com

The constancy in his craft is surely among the chief reasons behind Postecoglou's desire, especially when Yves Bissouma – talented he may be – is proving himself unreliable on the selection front.

To his credit, Bissouma, aged 27, is among the finest defensive midfielders in the game and ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 2% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

The Malian midfielder, though, has picked up three suspensions in the league already and consequently missed five matches, starting 15 times.

Spurs are not quite in a quagmire – he is immensely talented and the flower of the engine room at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – though this is a concern and his form has undulated as a result.

Gomes has accumulated five yellow cards in the Premier League this year and missed the defeat against Arsenal as a result, but he has refrained from any rash lunges across the past six fixtures and emits a certain composure that evades Bissouma.

Praised for his "unique" qualities – as per talent scout Jacek Kulig – the £30k-per-week titan also ranks among the top 1% of midfielders for tackles and the top 8% for blocks per 90, showcasing a skill set that could emulate the work plied by Bissouma at Tottenham.

Spurs could supercharge Maddison with move for £30m "machine"

Ange Postecoglou could sign an “insane” new talisman in this rising star.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 13, 2024

Should Postecoglou and co forge ahead with a move, it would surely come at the cost of Bissouma's place in the team, though if Gomes continues his meteoric rise then this might be the ruthless agenda to take, continuing the revival at the club.

West Bromwich Albion will look to further solidify their playoff spot with a win on their travels to Norwich City today, with Carlos Corberan's Baggies confident going into the trip to Norfolk after a 4-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers last match.

Still, the Spanish boss in the Hawthorns dug-out won't want his players to rest on their laurels and be content with what they have already – the West Midlands outfit in danger of slipping out of the top six if any complacency sets in.

With that in mind, Corberan could field this lineup for the game at Carrow Road today with two potential changes on the cards…

1 GK – Alex Palmer

Leading the way with 12 clean sheets in the Championship this season, Illan Meslier just behind with ten to his name, Alex Palmer is a shoo-in for a start away at Norwich today.

In the reverse fixture versus the Canaries on Boxing Day, Palmer made three crucial saves to shut out Norwich to help the hosts win 1-0.

2 RB – Darnell Furlong

Darnell Furlong was solid throughout the comprehensive 4-1 win over Blackburn last weekend, winning six of his eight duels in the emphatic victory.

The dependable West Brom number two registered four key passes from the back against the Riversiders, not content with just sitting back and fulfilling his typical defensive duties with a forward-thinking approach preferred.

3 CB – Kyle Bartley

Kyle Bartley was also strong against the Riversiders in the confident win, even notching up an assist for Tom Fellows to open the scoring at the Hawthorns.

The former Arsenal man was also aerially dominant in the victory, bullying the Blackburn attackers all game in an imposing display with 100% of his aerial duels successfully won.

4 CB – Caleb Taylor

Looking at how well Tom Fellows has done since coming into the team as an exuberant 20-year-old talent, Corberan could switch things up at the back with young centre-back Caleb Taylor potentially preferred over Cedric Kipre.

Kipre was poor during the Blackburn win – winning just one duel – with Taylor bettering that total with two won despite only being on the pitch for 13 minutes.

5 LB – Conor Townsend

Conor Townsend was way off the pace against Blackburn without being detrimental to his team, failing to win any of his ground duels which allowed attackers such as Jack Garrett for the visitors to shine in patches.

Yet, with Corberan faithful to the 30-year-old at left-back this season so far, the number three should be retained regardless of this off-day.

Playing versus Norwich last month, the defender was far more bright and lively with Corberan hoping this version of Townsend reappears for the trip to the Canaries – amassing two key passes in the 1-0 win from the back.

6 RM – Tom Fellows

With Grady Diangana still present at the African Cup of Nations and out of action for the Baggies as a result, Fellows has really stepped up to the mark in the Congolese winger's absence with some sterling displays from down the right-hand channel.

The 20-year-old homegrown West Brom product excelled against a leaky Blackburn defence, firing four shots on the Riversiders net with one of those efforts trickling in to open the scoring in the 4-1 win.

A livewire throughout for Corberan's promotion-chasers, the Baggies boss will want Fellows to be similarly electric against Norwich to catch a similarly susceptible Canaries defence off-guard.

7 CM – Okay Yokuşlu

Okay Yokuşlu will also be retained for the clash today against David Wagner's hosts, despite the 29-year-old central midfielder not exactly setting the world alight against Blackburn.

Yet, the Turkish number 35 has shone in other games this season away from this lacklustre individual display.

The 29-year-old notably impressed when West Brom got the better of Leeds United at the end of December 1-0, launching himself into duels and tackles aplenty with four tackles and six duels won.

Corberan will hope Yokuşlu just experienced a blip against Blackburn – passively winning just 50% of his duels – and can return back to his best at Carrow Road.

8 CM – Alex Mowatt

Whilst Yokuşlu is prone to sitting back and doing the dirty work in the central midfield duo, Alex Mowatt is far more comfortable venturing forward and setting up his teammates with countless chances to score.

Managing two key passes in the Blackburn win, the former Leeds United man was unplayable at points when the Baggies previously faced off against Norwich in December.

The number 27 dominated proceedings centrally with a staggering 127 touches managed, successfully completing 100 passes. Could the 5 foot 10 midfielder pick up an assist this swagger deserves today?

9 LM – Adam Reach

Starting three games in a row recently after being plagued with a horrific streak of injuries, Adam Reach has proven his worth to the West Brom cause playing at left wing in the absence of injury-stricken Matt Phillips.

The 30-year-old's most impactful display to date since coming into the first-team fold was against Blackburn, managing one key pass from the hour he featured on the Hawthorns turf.

Not quite ready for a full 90 minutes just yet, Reach's steady presence down the left flank could still help the Baggies when Norwich attack at will today – the ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder completing three interceptions last match when Blackburn infrequently forayed forward.

10 CAM – Jed Wallace

The second potential change to the West Brom starting lineup could see John Swift axed for Jed Wallace to come in at the number ten spot, the ex-Reading midfielder poor even despite the convincing three points his confident teammates managed to pick up.

Amassing just 34 touches in the contest before being hauled off the pitch by Corberan on the hour mark, with one off-target effort also notched up, the time could be right to reintroduce Jed Wallace to the first-team fold after an injury layover had limited his recent minutes.

Able to play anywhere across the forward positions behind Brandon Thomas-Asante, Wallace's three goals and three assists this season when played mean he could slot into this spot effortlessly and help the Baggies secure another big win in the process with his creative powers.

Labelled as having an "unbelievable" delivery by Sheffield United defender Jack O'Connell last season, Thomas-Asante will be chomping at the bit if Wallace is preferred over Swift knowing the former Millwall's man expertise on the ball can help him become even more prolific.

Celtic’s resolve appears to have been tested after a new Matt O’Riley transfer development was shared by Sky Sports.

Celtic transfer rumours

The Hoops remain on course for another Scottish Premiership title following the return of Brendan Rodgers last summer, and the club have already acted in the January transfer market to bolster their squad further.

After a busy summer, Celtic brought in winger Nicolas Kuhn earlier this month from Rapid Vienna and appear to have identified Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as a potential long-term replacement for Joe Hart.

Celtic could land big Oh upgrade in late swoop for £4.5m+ SPFL marksman

The Hoops were previously linked with an interest in the impressive forward.

ByDan Emery Jan 25, 2024

Meanwhile, there could also be a number of Parkhead exits before the month is out, with plenty of rumours circling over the futures of Liel Abada, Mikey Johnston, Benjamin Siegrist and Rocco Vata. Another star player who tends to be linked with a move away is O’Riley, and a new update has emerged with regards to his future.

Sky Sports share Matt O’Riley transfer update

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam provided an on-air transfer update regarding O’Riley on Wednesday. Relayed on X, he said that the Hoops have received a loan-to-buy bid from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid for the midfielder’s services.

“We’ve got a little bit of breaking transfer news just into us now and it’s with regards to Celtic, who have received a bid from Atletico Madrid for Matt O’Riley – the 23-year-old – Sky Sports News understands.

“The offer is an initial loan with an obligation to buy. Celtic have been prepared for bids for the highly-rated midfielder this month, amid interest from the likes of Girona and Inter Milan. O’Riley signed a new four-year contract last year, and therefore, Celtic believe they’re in a really strong position with regards to this one. Brendan Rodgers sees O’Riley as a key member of his squad.”

O’Riley has been an influential figure for Celtic ever since arriving back in 2022, and the 23-year-old has already won four major honours and made more than 100 appearances for the club. In front of goal, the midfielder is enjoying his best ever season already netting 10 times and registering seven assists in 21 Scottish premiership games.

Therefore, it isn’t a shock that some European giants are looking at landing the Denmark international, who has come in for praise from Callum McGregor, who said:

“He’s been superb. You touched on it there, probably a little bit of luck. The sooner you get a goal you feel better about yourself. He came back in the summer in incredible condition. He clearly worked really hard over the summer, and he totally deserves his vein of form and goals/assists. He's such an important player for the team, he makes us tick in that first phase of the game and then he's joining in and getting goals, coming up with big goals/assists. He's a top player, and he keeps working.”

As Sky Sports mentioned, though, O’Riley is under contract until 2027, so unless the fee is right for Celtic and the player is happy in Scotland, the power is well and truly in the Hoops’ hands.

Over time, Liverpool supporters have come to trust Jurgen Klopp's judgement in the transfer market, with the illustrious Premier League outfit often delving down a shrewder road than their rivals when improving the squad.

While staple members Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk were signed for lofty figures, deals for iconic Klopp stars such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Joel Matip – certainly not an exhaustive list – were welcomed for bargain sums in today's jaw-dropping landscape.

The remarkable accuracy in the transfer market has left certain rivals rueing their own lack of discernment and has been the foundation of the Reds' success under Klopp's wing.

But it hasn't always gone well and there are a few deals littered throughout the German's tenure that are best left in distant memory.

Indeed, three-and-a-half years ago Liverpool ventured to sign Thiago Alcantara, long considered one of Europe's superlative centre-midfielders, though the Spain international's time on Merseyside has been marred by an incredible series of injury problems.

Liverpool's signing of Thiago Alcantara

It was 2020 and Liverpool were preparing for the eventuality of Gini Wijnaldum's sale; the Dutchman has one year remaining on his current contract and renewal looked unlikely. A replacement was needed.

Wijnaldum would indeed move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer one year later but FSG moved to sign Thiago from Bayern Munich and wrapped up a deal for a fee rising to £25m.

Long regarded as a "magnificent" footballer with "outstanding technique" – as was once said by Phillip Lahm – the La Masia youth graduate had won honours in abundance throughout a glittering career, notably gleaning the Champions League with both Bayern and Barcelona, and his acquisition looked a no-brainer for a heavy metal Liverpool side transitioning toward a style with a tad more control and composure.

The one little concern was an unflattering injury record, but then there was hope that that wouldn't present too large a quandary.

Thiago Alcantara's Liverpool career so far

Thiago has completed 98 appearances for Liverpool and played a big role as Klopp chased a quadruple in 2021/22 – unsuccessfully, sure, but not without triumph in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The £200k-per-week star enjoyed success that year and actually started 17 Premier League matches during that season, completing 89% of his passes and averaging 1.2 key passes, 1.9 tackles and 4.5 successful duels per fixture, as per Sofascore.

He was important last season but fell to injury in the new year and made his final Premier League start against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the beginning of February.

Yet to feature from the outset since Thiago made his anticipated return off the bench during Liverpool's recent defeat against title rivals Arsenal, but got fans groaning after bewildering news that he had suffered a hamstring issue.

These incessant problems have caused the player's transfer value to plummet, with Football Transfers recording Thiago's current value at just £4m, which marks an 80% decrease – such has been the enormity of his decline.

Season

Apps

Starts

23/24

1

0

22/23

18

14

21/22

25

17

20/21

24

20

Source: WhoScored

Once praised for his "staggering" talents by pundit and former Liverpool man Michael Owen, Thiago has enjoyed some fine moments but all too often has watched on in shadowed obscurity as his confreres fight for honours.

He's not been the most expensive addition during Klopp's reign and while he carries the patina of a wisened and cultured veteran, he has been unable to strut his stuff with the slightest bit of regularity, and it remains to be seen if Liverpool will get more than a sliver out of his services before the end of the campaign.

Worse than Naby Keita

They say that availability is the best ability, and while this is worn-out phrasing it certainly speaks a truth regarding Thiago's Liverpool career.

Endowed with such scintillating technical ability and tactical intelligence that allows him to control matches with remarkable ease, Thiago is comfortably one of the best players to perform under Klopp at Liverpool, when going off raw quality alone.

However, raw quality is only one of many important facets down a winding path toward success and the 32-year-old's startling inability to maintain fitness has ravaged any hopes of etching his name into Premier League lore for his feats on the pitch.

This is not the first time Reds supporters have been led to get excited by a high-profile addition to the midfield, with Naby Keita's £53m acquisition back in 2018 supposed to be a game-changing move during Liverpool's primitive face under Klopp, who dubbed the Guinean "the complete midfielder."

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Aerial duels

Tackling

Blocking

Through balls

Source: WhoScored

In a similar decline, Keita managed only stuttering glimpses of the quality that prompted Klopp to grant such an expensive outlay, scoring 11 goals and supplying seven assists across 129 fixtures in all competitions for the Anfield side but, given that he completed five campaigns in England, this averages out to a measly 26 appearances per term.

To put that in perspective, Mohamed Salah averaged 51 games per season during the same period.

Like Thiago, Keita is among Europe's most naturally talented midfielders and has even been hailed for his "world-class" attributes by Virgil van Dijk in the past, but given that the former has reaped lucrative rewards across both German and Spanish pitches, it's hard to feel more aggrieved by Keita's struggles.

The end date draws ever closer and it's very hard to imagine a world where Thiago, who turns 33 in two months exactly, pens new terms and has another shot at crafting a successful campaign for himself.

There's a wistful air surrounding these closing months of Thiago's Liverpool career and it will very much go down as a transfer that offered some lovely, influential moments but ultimately failed to deliver even a portion of the goods.

Klopp's sweeping changes to the midfield last summer have allayed any fears that Thiago's exit might be detrimental but it is a real shame nonetheless. He's one of the finest footballers around.

Leeds United are back in action again this evening as they turn their attention back to FA Cup action with a trip to face Plymouth Argyle in their fourth round replay.

The Whites were held to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road in the first clash between the two sides last month and they will now battle it out again to progress through to the fifth round.

Daniel Farke's side are currently third in the Championship table and one point adrift of the play-off places, having played a game more than Southampton in second, and the bulk of their focus may be on their efforts to secure promotion to the Premier League.

This cup clash should, however, be viewed as a welcome distraction for Leeds as it provides them with a chance to give minutes to players who have not been regulars for the German head coach in the league, which could then mean that they are sharp and ready to be called upon if needed over the next few months.

With this in mind, one player who should finally be unleashed from the start for this match is 20-year-old centre-forward Mateo Joseph.

The young whiz should come in to provide Patrick Bamford, who started against Bristol City last time out, with a rest and be selected ahead of Joel Piroe up front.

Patrick Bamford's recent resurgence

Leeds' attack has been bolstered by the former England international's return to form at the top end of the pitch with a string of impressive performances.

Bamford started the season with zero goals, zero assists, and one missed penalty in 16 Championship appearances for the club, albeit they all came as a substitute.

That came after the experienced striker managed four goals from an xG of 8.61 across 28 outings in the Premier League last season as the Whites were relegated back down to the second tier.

The English attacker had gone through a rough 18 months in Yorkshire and that has made his recent resurgence all the more pleasing to see.

Bamford is currently on a run of four goals and two assists in his last seven appearances for the club in all competitions, with three goals in his last five league matches.

He is starting to establish himself as the go-to option in the number nine position for Leeds as his consistent goal contributions have made it hard for Farke to leave him out of the side, with his most recent one being an assist for Wilfried Gnonto's winner against Bristol City.

However, this cup replay against Plymouth this evening does provide one of the manager's other options with an opportunity to get minutes under their belt, whilst Bamford can rest ahead of a possible start against Rotherham at Elland Road at the weekend.

Piroe could be the obvious player to come in for him, having started the 1-1 draw last month, but he should be left out in order for Joseph to come in.

Joel Piroe's recent struggles

The Dutch forward, signed from Championship rivals Swansea last summer, has not enjoyed a particularly impressive run of form in recent months.

He has produced one open play goal and two strikes from the penalty spot, along with zero assists, in his last 13 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Farke handed him a start as the main centre-forward against Plymouth at Elland Road in January and it was a huge opportunity to show what he could do as the number nine in the German's system.

Minutes played

90

Shots

Three

Goals

Zero

Key passes

Zero

Duels contested

Seven

Duels won

One

As you can see in the table above, it was an opportunity that passed him by, much like the game did, as Piroe failed to make an impact on or off the ball with his lack of quality in the final third and lack of strength out of possession.

The 24-year-old whiz has produced ten goals in 29 Championship matches for Leeds since his move from the Swans but his recent form has left a lot to be desired.

His performance against Plymouth in the first match does not suggest that he is deserving of another chance to impress, particularly when there is a young talent in Joseph who is yet to have an opportunity.

Mateo Joseph's big chance

The 20-year-old whiz is yet to start a competitive game for the first-team this season, with nine substitute appearances in the Championship and FA Cup combined.

Joseph has not had a chance to prove his worth from the start and this cup replay is the perfect excuse for Farke to bring him in to rest Bamford, as Piroe's underperformance has been concerning.

The Dutch striker has not done enough to guarantee his spot as the second-choice number nine and a strong performance from the England youth international could add more competition for places within the squad ahead of the run-in towards the end of the season.

Joseph, who was once hailed as "fantastic" by ex-U21s boss Michael Skubala, has an exceptional record for the club's youth teams that suggests he has the potential to develop into an excellent option for Farke in the final third.

Appearances

Four

33

Goals

One

19

Asists

One

Three

As you can see in the table above, the England U20 marksman has caught the eye at youth level with his terrific goalscoring form, with 20 goals and four assists in 37 outings.

Last season, the 5 foot 11 dynamo plundered 16 goals and two assists in 21 Premier League 2 regular season and play-off matches combined in what was a prolific campaign for the Spanish-born talent.

These statistics suggest that the young gem is capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis for the club but he is yet to show that at senior level.

A first-team start, for the first time this season, tonight could be the first step on the road to proving himself in Farke's team, which is why the German head coach should finally unleash him ahead of the struggling Piroe against Plymouth in the FA Cup.

Aston Villa's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League suffered a significant blow on Sunday as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Villa Park. Douglas Luiz had cancelled out Rasmus Hojlund's opener, but Scott McTominay came on to score the winner for the visitors late on.

Villa have now dropped to fifth after failing to respond to Tottenham's dramatic 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday. That may still be enough to make it into the Champions League, but United have closed the gap to five points with their second win against the Villans in the space of seven weeks.

In general, Unai Emery's side are stuttering at the moment – either side of a resounding 5-0 win over a seemingly doomed Sheffield United, they suffered home defeats to Newcastle in the Premier League and Chelsea in the FA Cup. They hadn't lost a league game in front of their own fans since February before this recent stretch.

Rank

Team

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Manchester City

6

6

0

0

11

18

2

Liverpool

7

5

1

1

11

16

3

Spurs

7

4

2

1

3

14

4

Arsenal

7

4

1

2

11

13

5

Man Utd

7

4

1

2

3

13

6

Aston Villa

7

2

2

2

2

8

And in another devastating blow, it emerged after Sunday's game that Boubacar Kamara, who came off in the second half, has suffered a "significant knee ligament injury". Kamara will see a specialist for a full prognosis, but a long-term lay-off seems inevitable.

Villa injury luck has become a "joke"

Quoting an earlier tweet about Villa's misfortune, Sky Sports presenter and Villa fan Dan Bardell said the situation had become a "joke" following the news of Kamara's injury.

Ball-winner Kamara joins Buendia and Mings

You can certainly see why Bardell is so frustrated. Kamara is actually the third Villa player to go down with a long-term knee problem this season after Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, neither of whom have played since the opening day of the Premier League season.

Kamara's absence in particular will sting because he's been a crucial player for Emery this season. While he's been suspended for four matches (once for an accumulation of yellow cards and once for a straight red against Brentford), he's started every single game for which he's been available.

Emery could now drop £70k-p/w Aston Villa star after Man Utd defeat

There were a couple of Villa players who failed to shine against Man Utd

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 13, 2024

The 2022 acqusition from Marseille has been a vital ball-winning presence at the base of the midfield, winning more tackles (2.2) per game and notching more interceptions per game (1.1) than anybody else in the squad. It remains to be seen who replaces him in the side, but Youri Tielemans looks the most likely candidate.

Manchester United have had an abundance of players come through the doors at Old Trafford over the last decade, with it fair to say that while some have worked out for the better, others have seemingly flopped.

A recent example of this is that of Jadon Sancho, the winger signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £73m back in 2021.

Although for his first couple of seasons, the Englishman put in solid numbers by being involved in eight goals during the 2021/22 campaign and then a further ten in the following term, he was hardly a pivotal player within the Red Devils' squad.

Those woes culminated in his decline during the early stages of 2023/24, as the wideman was isolated from Erik ten Hag's squad and shipped back to Dortmund in January on a loan move until the end of the season, where, in just seven games, he has managed to assist his teammates twice.

Another of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's signings who can be included in the same sort of category as Sancho is that of Daniel James. The one-time Swansea City attacker joined the club in 2019 for a fee worth up to £18m after add-ons, before leaving just two years later.

Despite the Welshman's mixed fortunes at Old Trafford, he certainly had his moments at the club, with his strengths making him the type of player who could have thrived in tomorrow's eagerly-awaited Manchester derby.

Dan James' stats whilst at Man Utd

Whilst he only spent a couple of years in Manchester before joining Leeds for £25m, James certainly wasn't a complete disaster as he played in a total of 74 games and managed to contribute to 18 goals and assists.

That record holds up well in contrast to current flop, Antony, for instance, with the Brazilian having contributed just 13 goals and assists in 71 games in all competitions for the club to date, following his arrival on a mammoth £86m deal.

With the trip to the Etihad on the horizon, Ten Hag may wish he had a figure like James to call upon instead of the struggling Antony, with the Leeds man having that willing work ethic to be a useful asset in a one-off game like the derby.

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ByTom Lever Mar 1, 2024

That can also be seen in his potential likeness to a certain, Park Ji-Sung, with South American journalist Leo Escudeiro making that comparison between the pair due to James being "technically limited, mega-fast and very dedicated".

Park, of course, may not have been the most high-profile of players, but he cemented cult hero status at United due to his hard-working nature and ability to deliver the goods on the big occasion, with former teammate Wayne Rooney stating that the South Korean was "almost as important to our success" as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and 'Wazza' himself.

In moments, James could offer something similar, with Solskjaer previously saying of his talents: "Dan with the energy he has, the X-factor and the pace, he gives us something that must be hard to play against if you are a defender."

This level of praise from the treble-winner outlines how well the Wales international played whilst at the club and shows that he could've given the Red Devils something extra to offer against the reigning Premier League champions on Sunday.

Dan James' record against Man City

As aforementioned, United are set to face Manchester City tomorrow afternoon and will be looking to try and get one over their imperious arch-rivals.

The club currently find themselves residing outside the top four after winning four of their last five top-flight games, albeit while slipping to a meek defeat at home to Fulham a week ago.

Blast from the Past

Football FanCast's Blast from the Past series takes a trip down memory lane. Do any of your classic icons of days gone by fit into a modern-day starting XI?

With Rasmus Hojlund currently sidelined, Ten Hag may have to select a forward line of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and the aforementioned Antony, although there may be a sense that a talent like James would've been far more useful.

The 26-year-old's ability to hurt the Cityzens was notably laid bare following United's 2-1 triumph away from home back in December 2019, with James playing so well that United legend, Peter Schmeichel described his performance as "unbelievable".

As Gary Neville stated in commentary at the time, the hosts were simply "battered" on the counter-attack with the speedy winger central to that game plan, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst writing for Manchester Evening News that 'City could not keep up with his blistering pace' while awarding him an 8/10 match rating.

While James has played against City a total of ten times in his career and only managed one goal involvement – that assist coming in that 2-1 triumph in 2019 – he certainly provided Solskjaer's side with a real outlet that Ten Hag is currently lacking.

One thing is for sure, most United supporters would rather see James lining up on the right flank, ahead of the hapless Antony…

After years in the wilderness, Arsenal have firmly established themselves as one of the best teams in the Premier League once more.

Mikel Arteta inherited a mess of a squad when he took the reigns over four years ago, and while it hasn't been smooth sailing, the turnaround has been remarkable.

Much of the Gunners' current form is built off intelligent moves in the transfer market, whether buying or selling players.

That said, as well as Arteta and Edu have operated over the last few years, there have been some clangers, with one such errant signing earning more than Leandro Trossard during his dismal stint at the club.

How much Leandro Trossard earns at Arsenal

The Belgian international completed his £27m move to the Emirates in January of last year, and to say he's been a success in red and white would be a massive understatement.

Since his arrival, the 29-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in just 54 appearances, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 2.3 games.

Appearances

54

Minutes

2469'

Goals

11

Assists

12

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107'

However, he has only played a total of 2469 minutes for the club, meaning that he actually averages a goal involvement every 107 minutes, which is a brilliant level of output for a sub £30m player.

The "clinical" forward, as described by journalist Phil Costa, isn't costing the Gunners much in wages either, as he takes home around £90k-per-week, which means there are currently 15 players earning more than him, with some, like Kai Havertz, earning more than three times as much.

In all, signing Trossard last January is one of the best bang-for-buck moves Arsenal have ever sanctioned, and it makes one of the club's earlier attacking signings look even more foolish.

How much Willian earned at Arsenal

Yes, the player who will go down as one of the worst Arsenal signings in recent memory is none other than former Chelsea star Willian.

The Gunners signed the Brazilian for free in August 2020, and yet, due to his hefty wages of £138k-per-week and dreadful return on the pitch, he must be considered one of the worst value-for-money signings in the Arteta era.

Ironically, the Ribeirão Pires-born star's Arsenal career began in brilliant fashion as he provided two assists on debut as the Gunners dismantled Fulham 3-0 on the opening day of the 2020/21 Premier League season. However, it was all downhill from there.

Throughout the campaign, the former Blues star would make 37 appearances, score just one goal and provide seven assists, meaning that he averaged a goal involvement once every 4.65 games, which just wasn't enough for a player who was supposed to help raise the levels at the club.

Weekly Wages

£138k-p/w (53 Weeks)

Appearances

37

Goals

1

Cost per Goal

£7.3m

Assists

7

Cost per Assist

£1m

It was abundantly clear that it wasn't working, and so in late August 2021, 53 weeks after it was announced he had joined the club on a three-year deal, it was announced that Willian's contract had been terminated by mutual content.

In all, the "awful" flop, as described by former professional Rob Lee, cost the club £7.3m in wages, meaning that Arsenal essentially paid that much for just one goal, or just over £1m per assist, which can hardly be considered a good use of funds.

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Ultimately, while there have been a few dud signings sanctioned under Arteta, such as Pablo Mari and Alex Runarsson, the dismal performances of Willian during his one year with the club ranks as the very worst.

Tottenham legend Ledley King has privately told Spurs chiefs to make a transfer swoop this summer.

Spurs want to sign new defenders for Postecoglou

Despite already bringing in Radu Dragusin from Genoa for £25 million in January, reports in the last few weeks suggest that Ange Postecoglou's defence could look very different next season.

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Indeed, Postecoglou has already expressed the club's wish to bring in another centre-back, as the Lilywhites head coach claims it's an area which needs further reinforcement.

“If you’re saying, ‘Is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at”, said Postecoglou on Spurs signing another centre-back.

“With all these things, it’s about trying to strengthen the group as much as anything else. If you think about when I first arrived, we had maybe six or seven centre-backs at the club. So it’s not just numbers. It’s more about the ability of those players to play the football we want and to fit in to what we’re trying to build here.

Luton Town (home)

March 30th

West Ham (away)

April 2nd

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 8th

Newcastle United (away)

April 13th

Arsenal (home)

April 27th

“I think it is an area of the park we will look to strengthen, but I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That is planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.

“We’re a squad that needs to develop, and we’re looking for that younger demographic. But at the same time you’re looking for guys that have played."

As well as at centre-back, Spurs are identifying potential full-back signings, with Postecoglou believed to want alternatives to star defensive duo Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie. The pair have been crucial to Tottenham's success under Postecoglou and are a major foundation of their push for Champions League qualification next season, but there are arguably few quality alternatives to the duo behind them.

Emerson Royal stands out as the only choice behind Porro, while questions surround the longevity of Ben Davies at left-back and the torrid injury record of Ryan Sessegnon.

Tottenham told to sign Ben Johnson by Ledley King

Now, according to Football Transfers, Spurs legend King has told Tottenham to sign West Ham defender Ben Johnson to help fix their lack of depth at full-back.

The Englishman, who is now attracting interest from Tottenham as a result, is out of contract at the end of this season and could join the club for free. Former West Ham staff member Stuart Pearce highly rates the 24-year-old from their time together in east London as well.

"He's a wonderful professional to deal with and work with," said Pearce on the £20,000-a-week defender.

"We're very proud to have him out of our academy system as well, which is a real plus for us, especially with the connection to this club with the academy. I think he's just developing and getting better and better, and like with all young players, the more game time they have, the better they'll get, so I am delighted for the boy."

Tottenham have told a player that they're free to find a new club this summer, as manager Ange Postecoglou's transfer plans continue to to take shape for later in the year.

Spurs players who could leave in 2024

Postecoglou's arrival has made the futures of many players very uncertain, with a number failing to get game time or currently out on loan elsewhere.

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The likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso stand out as Spurs players tipped to leave this year, as all three don't appear part of Postecoglou's future plans.

Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon, Japhet Tanganga, Troy Parrott and Joe Rodon also face uncertainty when they return from their brief stints away.

Son Heung-min

7.40

James Maddison

7.38

Pedro Porro

7.14

Cristian Romero

7.12

Dejan Kulusevski

7.05

Reports suggest Leeds are eager to make their loan deal for Rodon permanent this summer, which is no surprise considering the Wales international's stellar form under Daniel Farke this season.

Tottenham tell Rodon to leave Spurs this summer

Now, according to HITC, Tottenham have informed Rodon that he's free to leave, as Leeds make it clear they wish to open talks over signing him permanently this summer.

Despite not quite making the grade at Tottenham, the 26-year-old's form at Leeds shows there is a player there, with former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho proving a fan as well.

“He works very hard, good professional,” said Mourinho.

"He has to do nothing. He cannot play in the Europa League so that makes his chances reduced, in relation to the other guys.

“Centre-back is a position where of course if he was in the Europa League he would have lots of chances to play in these 11 matches that we did. There's nothing. He’s perfect, works very hard, young guy, wants to learn, very enthusiastic, He played already matches that represent a lot, he played important matches against some of the best teams. He has just to wait for his opportunities and to get it.”

Meanwhile, Wales legend Ryan Giggs held special praise for Rodon as well – drawing attention to his pace.

“Joe has grown over the last year or so. He is quick. Sometimes you don’t appreciate it," said Giggs in 2020.

“It was the day after a game and we gave some players running drills, box to box. He was running with someone fast and went past them, effortlessly. I thought, ‘Oh, I hadn’t seen that.’

“It made me think a little bit of Gary Pallister. You don’t think of him as quick but when he got going at his peak, he was.

“In possession, Joe shows composure and he’s a good character. I saw him giving the ball away and being unhappy with himself. I liked that. Bit intense but set standards and if he didn’t keep to them, he wasn’t happy with himself.”