Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly now eyeing up a potential summer move for Jordan Veretout.
The Lowdown: January transfer failure
Spurs were strongly linked with a deal for the 28-year-old in the January transfer window, but ultimately a move never came to fruition, so he has stayed put at AS Roma.
Under former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, who dubbed him a ‘quality’ player last month, he has four goals and nine assists in 33 games across all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt) – handy numbers indeed for a central midfielder.
No Lilywhites midfielder has more than three goals or assists combined in the Premier League this season, so it is an area where they could certainly improve.
The Latest: Spurs eye summer move for Veretout
As per Roma Today, Tottenham are now eyeing a move in the summer for Veretout, as are Newcastle United
Antonio Conte is an admirer of the Frenchman, but it would cost Spurs no less than €25m (£20.9m) to land his signature.
The Verdict: Bargain
Given that his market value is currently rated at £27m by Transfermarkt, signing Veretout for less than that figure would be a bargain for Spurs.
At 28 years of age, he is in his prime, so now is the best time to go and get the £91,000-per-week playmaker, who already has Premier League experience from his time at Aston Villa.
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Also, Conte will know him well from his time in the Serie A, so the Italian should be able to get the most out of the player should he make the switch to north London.
In other news, Spurs are ready to sign this ‘world-class’ Mauricio Pochettino favourite
Stuart Dallas struggles to ‘cope’ with the demands of playing as a full-back for Leeds United, former Whites goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has told Football Insider.
The lowdown
The 30-year-old started as a right-back in Jesse Marsch’s first game in charge of the Whites against Leicester City on Saturday. It was the 21st time that he has started on either side of the back four this season (11 on the right, 10 on the left).
Over the course of his career, Dallas has played most of his minutes as a left midfielder, but like his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa, it seems that Marsch views him as a versatile option.
The latest
Kenny has urged Marsch to restore Dallas to a midfield role, warning that he is easy meat for ‘top wingers’ at full-back. The 43-year-old also suspects that the Northern Irishman is finding the experience ‘a bit embarrassing’.
The former Premier League goalkeeper told Football Insider: “He’s better in midfield rather than full-back. Yes, he’s got loads of energy and dynamism, but you can tell he’s spent most of his career as a winger at times.
“Look at his body positioning, he gets squared up by top wingers and too flat-footed, which is a bit embarrassing at times.
“His skills are best in midfield, where he is good on the ball and a runner who does the dirty week. He couldn’t cope always at full-back.”
The verdict
Against Leicester, Harvey Barnes did find a lot of joy on their left flank, completing four out of his six dribbles, winning five of his seven ground duels and scoring the winning goal (via SofaScore).
However, it’s worth noting that Dallas was only playing at right-back because Luke Ayling had moved into the heart of defence following an injury to Diego Llorente.
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In an ideal world, Leeds would perhaps have two natural senior right-backs, but instead Dallas is the utility man. Until he gets a chance to reinforce the squad in the summer, Marsch can only work with what he’s got, even if Kenny has his misgivings about the 30-year-old in that role.
In other news, read this injury expert’s claim on Liam Cooper
Since joining from Dutch giants Ajax back in August 2017 in a club-record deal, Davinson Sanchez has struggled to hit the heights expected of him at Spurs.
At the time of his arrival, Jermaine Jenas waxed lyrical about what the centre-back could bring to the table, saying: “Sanchez is a top player. His performance in the Europa League final, when he came up against Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, was pretty special. Spurs have got someone they can mould and turn into what they want.”
Those expectations have proven far too lofty for Sanchez to match however.
The Colombian has come under intense criticism for his regular mistakes, with former Premier League ace Kenny Cunningham once describing him as a “real liability”, while his former manager at international level, Jorge Luis Pinto, claimed that Sanchez “does not have the talent” to succeed.
And, it was only in the summer of 2020 when Football.London’s Alasdair Gold revealed that the defender found himself in a difficult spot.
He said: “The Colombian is in a strange situation at Spurs. He was the club record signing and had a manager in Mauricio Pochettino who believed he could be one of the best centre-backs in the world. Now he has a manager in Mourinho who admitted his Manchester United team targeted Sanchez in the Europa League final as the weak link in the Ajax defence due to his technical ability or lack of.”
Despite Mourinho’s subsequent departure, and the arrivals of both Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte, things haven’t gotten better for Sanchez and he has continued to struggle for consistent game-time at the club – his performances have left a lot to be desired too.
This season in the Premier League has seen him make 18 appearances in the Premier League, but finding himself in and out of the side – after being dropped from the side following Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Wolves, he has since played just 39 minutes of top-flight football.
Since his £42m move from Ajax, and earning wages of £65k-per-week, Sanchez has cost the north London club a whopping £57.5m in fees over the 238 weeks he has been at the club.
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Considering the princely sum they shelled out to sign Sanchez, Daniel Levy no doubt would have hoped, if not expected, for the Colombian to be the kind of game-changing defensive signing that could be a part of this Spurs back-line for the years to come.
Instead, things have fallen completely flat for him at Spurs.
AND in other news: Sold for £18m, now worth under £1m: Levy played a blinder with shocking Spurs disaster
Newcastle United have been handed a big injury lift over Joelinton ahead of their Premier League match today…
What’s the latest?
Magpies reporter Jordan Cronin has claimed that the Brazilian central midfielder has travelled with the squad to Stamford Bridge ahead of their clash with Chelsea.
The former Hoffenheim forward missed out on Thursday night as the Toon beat Southampton 2-1 at St. Mary’s and he now looks set to make his return this afternoon.
Delight
Eddie Howe will surely be delighted with this news as it suggests that Joelinton will be available against the Blues today. It also means that the midfielder has not sustained a long-term injury and will not be out for a number of matches.
This is a major boost for the Magpies as he has been in terrific form since the ex-Bournemouth boss came in to replace Steve Bruce. He has been moved into a midfield role, after playing up front and out wide under Bruce, and is now thriving in black and white.
In the Premier League this season, he has made 3.4 tackles and interceptions and won 7.7 duels per game. This shows that he has been a powerhouse in the middle of the park as he is consistently winning the ball back for the side and working his socks off to beat the opposition in his individual battles.
He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.9 or higher across each month from November to February and this illustrates the difference Howe has made to his performances. In October, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.0 across the month under Bruce and this suggests that he was struggling to find his best form for the now-West Brom manager.
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Howe has been able to get the best out of the Brazilian and his statistics show that he has been a key player for the club in recent months. This is why the head coach will be delighted to have him available for this clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Joelinton’s combative play in the middle of the park will be crucial for Newcastle if he is selected from the start. His ability to make tackles and intercept passes will allow him to dampen the effect Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho have on the game as he would be cutting out their attempts to find the likes of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount on the ball.
AND in other news, Worse than Almiron: Howe must axe Newcastle “cheat” who averages 32.1 touches per game…
Pundit Paddy Kenny has been giving his reaction to the latest news on Newcastle United ace Ryan Fraser ahead of the Magpies’ final match before the international break.
The Lowdown: No call-up
Fraser has not been called up by Steve Clarke for Scotland’s upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Austria or Wales, having not played for his country since the 1-0 win away at Faroe Islands in FIFA World Cup qualifying back in October.
Speaking to the media before Fraser joins his Toon teammates at Goodison Park against Everton tonight, as quoted by Sky Sports, Clarke revealed that Fraser has now apologised after turning down a call-up last year, but has still decided not to put him back in the squad.
The Latest: Kenny reacts
Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds and Sheffield United goalkeeper Kenny has given his reaction to the news, with the 43-year-old suggesting that he should now be in the squad:
“That news is a bit surprising, to be honest.
“He’s been brilliant. He made that decision last time, he felt he wasn’t fit and footballers know their own bodies.
“So I think it’s poor that they are holding that against him, that’s not on. He’s had injury issues in the past.
“It looks like he has made the right decision as well because he has had a really strong run in that Newcastle side.
“His form has been very, very good and you would think Scotland want him there.
“Newcastle will be at the club, he can have a few days off if he needs them.
“That will then give him the platform to have a really good end to the season which is what everyone wants.”
The Verdict: Should be in
If the reason that Fraser is not in the squad is because of his snub a few months ago, then they should not hold that against him, as solely based on current form, there is simply no better option for the Tartan Army than the Magpies star.
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He has scored two goals and made a further two assists in his last seven matches in the Premier League, with the club having only recently ended a brilliant undefeated run away at Chelsea (Transfermarkt).
The winger is proven at international level too, with a goal or assist every other game for Scotland, and with important World Cup knockout rounds to come, Clarke must find a way to get him back onside.
In other news, find out what ‘massive’ NUFC update this Sky Sports man has now heard here!
Former Premier League goal machine Kevin Phillips has given his reaction to some big Everton news that has now emerged.
The Lowdown: No relegation clauses
Writing in their latest piece for The Athletic, Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe have revealed that only some of the squad at Goodison Park have relegation clauses in their big-money contracts, with some earning up to six figures in wages per week.
The Merseyside club are currently lurking in 17th place in the Premier League, a mere three points away from the relegation zone, and are now in serious danger of going down to the Championship, where those sorts of massive salaries would be extremely damaging.
The Latest: Phillips reacts
Speaking to Football Insider, Sunderland legend Phillips, who also works as a pundit for Sky Sports, has given his reaction to the news, claiming that it is now a ‘huge worry’ for the Toffees if they find themselves relegated:
“That is a huge worry for the club.
“I like a lot of people expected Everton to have a good season. I never envisaged this situation.
“The club clearly never envisaged this either otherwise players would have relegation clauses in their contracts. It just goes to show that no club is too big to get relegated. Everton have not been good enough this season.
“The parachute payments would make it a little easier but it would be far from ideal.
“[Frank] Lampard has a huge task in front of him between now and the end of the season with the fixtures they have got coming up. They have to stay up.”
The Verdict: Unthinkable
It is simply unthinkable for a club of the Blues’ size, with the brand new stadium being built as well, to be going down from the Premier League this season. Yet, this is now the reality, given their league position as a result of their poor run of results.
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The fact that there are no relegation clauses in some of the player’s contracts suggests that the club thought that they would never be in this situation, but years of bad recruitment has left them in this position.
Of course, if they were to go down, it would represent a huge financial loss on behalf of the club, and it may take a long time for them to bounce back – just look at Phillips’ old club.
In other news, find out what ‘massive blow’ has now emerged for EFC here!
Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to sign exciting young Fulham midfielder Fabio Carvalho in the summer transfer window.
The Lowdown: Carvalho linked with January move to Liverpool
The Reds brought in Luis Diaz in January, a transfer which has already proven to be a masterstroke, but they were also strongly linked with a mid-season move for Carvalho.
In the end, the 19-year-old stayed put at Fulham, and he has thrived for the Championship leaders this season, scoring seven goals and adding six assists for good measure.
Liverpool’s interest in the teenager was expected to be revived in the summer, and that looks highly likely to be the case.
The Latest: Transfer reportedly agreed
According to Football Insider, a recruitment source has informed them that Liverpool have an ‘agreement in principle’ with Carvalho over a summer switch to Anfield.
The Reds will sign the youngster on a free transfer when his current Fulham deal expires at the end of June.
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The Verdict: One for the future
It is vital that Liverpool continue to build towards the future, and Carvalho is an exceptional talent who could be a great signing, having last year been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Fulham manager Marco Silva.
The forward’s seemingly imminent move to Anfield would have echoes of the Reds’ 2019 signing of Harvey Elliott, who also swapped Fulham for Liverpool as a teenage starlet; and the pair could prove to be two of the Reds’ creative forces for many years to come, dovetailing to devastating effect.
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Carvalho would likely come in as a squad player for starters given his tender age, but he could mature into a key figure at Anfield as some current Liverpool stars pass their peak and wane, wreaking havoc in a number eight role.
In other news, Liverpool are one of the clubs to ‘position themselves’ for this player. Read more here.
Manchester City are in the Premier League title race. They are just two points behind Arsenal, and whilst the side at the top of the table at Christmas does win the Premier League more often than not, this City team will not lie down and will be completely ruthless.
To do that, they may well look to sign one or two players in January. Antoine Semenyo is a player strongly linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with the club deciding whether or not they should activate his £65m release clause, which expires on the 10th of January.
But why exactly are City looking at signing Semenyo?
How Semenyo can help City
Few players have been as good as Bournemouth winger Semenyo in the Premier League this season. The Ghanaian has been on fire for Andoni Iraola’s side and has been a real driving force for the Cherries going forward.
He’s bagged eight goals already this season, which includes scoring twice at Anfield on the opening day of the Premier League season and a goal at Old Trafford. Semenyo also has three assists to his name, highlighting his final third threat.
One of the real positives about the Bournemouth number 24 is that he is so versatile. Should Guardiola choose, he would be able to play him on either flank, with the winger predominantly right-footed, but also more than capable on his left, too.
On top of that, he’d be a weapon in different game states. City are mostly going to have to break down low blocks, with most sides choosing to sit deep against them. Whilst Semenyo can be a threat against teams who sit deep, he is also a “powerful carrier on transition” according to scout Ben Mattinson, adding another string to his bow.
Of course, City are not the only team interested in signing the 25-year-old. If they do miss out on him, there is perhaps an ideal option waiting in the wings.
Man City's dream Semenyo alternative
If City do fail to sign the Bournemouth star this winter, then next summer could see them make a sensational move for Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior.
According to TEAMtalk, the Citizens ‘have been keeping very close tabs’ on the Brazilian, who is reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League. This would not be a cheap deal, with one report suggesting he’s worth a whopping £131m. That would make him the most expensive player in Premier League history.
It goes without saying that Vinicus would be an astronomically good signing for City. Described as a “world-class” footballer by Owen Hargreaves, he has 11 goals and assists in 18 La Liga games this season.
The former Flamengo player has been in even better form across his career, too. In the 2022/23 campaign, for example, he grabbed 35 goal involvements in just 39 games. One of those came in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund as Real Madrid lifted the trophy at Wembley.
As well as Semenyo has played this season, Vinicius’ underlying numbers are unsurprisingly far better. For example, the Brazilian is averaging 2.93 completed dribbles and 0.75 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to the Ghanaian’s 1.56 successful take-ons and 0.44 goal-creating actions each game.
Vinicus vs Semenyo key stats 25/26
Stat (per 90)
Vinicius
Semenyo
Key passes
1.77
1.13
Progressive passes
4.29
3.56
Goal-creating actions
0.75
0.44
Dribbles completed
2.93
1.56
Progressive carries
7.89
3.69
Stats from FBref
The Brazilian winger himself has highlighted some of his real strengths, which would certainly add a lot to the City team. He said that sometimes, “opponents don’t know how to defend against me” because of his ability to drift into central areas from out wide.
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Vinicius is a real weapon against low blocks as a result of this, because he is able to quickly shuffle the block and find openings to exploit. He would certainly be a huge asset to City in that sense.
£131m is a huge fee, but Vinicus is one of the most reputable players in the world. If they miss out on Semenyo, City could do a lot worse than the Los Blancos star.
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Chelsea travelled to St James Park on Saturday lunchtime to face Newcastle United, and came away with a point to show for it. The West Londoners played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Eddie Howe’s men, showing good character to earn a point despite being 2-0 down at half-time.
It was a tough start to the game for the reigning Club World Cup champions. Nick Woltemade scored twice inside the first 20 minutes, and it certainly felt like both goals could have been prevented. The first came from some sloppy defending, and the second was a well-worked free kick.
After a disappointing first 45 minutes, Enzo Maresca’s side came back out for the second half and dominated Newcastle for most of it. They had nine shots in the second period and scored twice. The first was a wonderful free-kick from captain Reece James in the 49th minute.
Chelsea’s equaliser came from Joao Pedro with just under 25 minutes to go. It was an intelligent piece of work from the Brazilian, who turned Malick Thiaw with a clever header, before keeping his composure in the one-on-one against Aaron Ramsdale and scoring.
The Blues couldn’t find a winner, but a point away to Newcastle from 2-0 down is still impressive. It was also another step closer to Cole Palmer’s full return.
How Palmer fared against Newcastle
With each passing game, Chelsea star Palmer gets closer to full fitness. Last weekend, he scored for the first time since his return and started a second consecutive Premier League game, on what was an overcast Saturday lunchtime at St James’ Park.
It was certainly not the easiest game against the Magpies for Palmer. His side were outplayed in the first half, and he struggled for much involvement, through no fault of his own. His second-half showing was better, with more involvement, but he was certainly not at his best.
That was noted by Bobby Vincent, senior Chelsea writer for Football London. He gave the England star a 5/10 rating for his efforts, and described it as a “frustrating” afternoon’s work for Palmer.
Indeed, the stats somewhat show that he was not at his fluid best in the North East. Palmer only had 49 touches, a lower number than you may expect in 79 minutes. He still created a chance and made four recoveries.
Palmer will certainly get back to his best before long. However, he was outshone against Newcastle by a Chelsea teammate who was excellent.
Chelsea’s standout player at St James’ Park
It was not Palmer’s finest performance, but when they needed him most, club captain Reece James stood up for the count. Playing in midfield before moving to full-back later in the game, the Englishman had some standout moments across the 90 minutes.
Of course, his free kick, which started the comeback, was a pivotal contribution. The Blues skipper was a good 25 yards away from goal, but lifted his strike over the Newcastle wall, before it crashed in off the woodwork.
His work was not done there, though. At the other end of the pitch, Chelsea’s number 24 made a goal-saving tackle on Harvey Barnes. The winger had been slipped through and seemed certain to score, but James came out of nowhere to slide in and dispossess him.
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Such a wonderful performance earned an 8/10 rating from Vincent. The numbers back up such a high rating, with James having 64 touches of the ball, winning 100% of his tackles, and completing 84% of his passes.
James key stats vs. Newcastle
Stat
Number
Touches
64
Pass accuracy
84%
Passes completed
41/49
Duels won
3
Tackles won
2/2
Goals
1
Stats from Sofascore
It would not be too far-fetched to suggest that the Cobham academy graduate is Chelsea’s best player. Of course, you have the likes of Palmer in Maresca’s squad, but James is incredibly versatile, exceptional on the ball, and a true leader, offering quality at both ends of the pitch.
His goal-saving tackle and his free-kick were essentially worth two goals, which shows how he can influence matches with vital moments at both ends, something that Palmer cannot do as an attacking player.
As football content creator Lyes Bouzidi said, the 26-year-old is “out of this world.” He offers so much to the Chelsea side and is a key player for a multitude of reasons. James could be considered their best player, especially after his all-round contributions against the Magpies.
Chelsea's "terrible" signing has been an even bigger waste than Gittens
Chelsea have a player who has massively struggled to prove his worth at Stamford Bridge.
Internazionale defender Maicon has ruled out joining Manchester City after declaring his intention to move to Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old full-back is keen to follow former Inter coach Jose Mourinho to Spain despite interest in the £20million-rated Brazilian from the big-spending Premier League club.
Mourinho has been confirmed as the new coach of Madrid this week after leaving Inter following their Champions League final success over Bayern Munich.
Maicon is rumoured to be one of the players on his summer wish-list and the Brazil international has now admitted that a move to Madrid would be an appealing prospect.
"What I want is to play for Madrid and it would be an honour for me to be there because I have said it would be a great opportunity in my career," he told AS.
"With Manchester City I have nothing, I can assure that. I will make it very clear to prevent misunderstandings: I want to play for Madrid, I do not want to go to Manchester City.
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