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Nuno Santo’s return to UEFA Europa Conference League action on Thursday evening as they welcome Slovenian champions NS Mura to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Things have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks, having lost three straight heavy defeats in the Premier League after Sunday’s north London disappointment.

The Portuguese head coach blamed himself for his team selection at the Emirates Stadium and he will have plenty to ponder ahead of kickoff this evening.

One of Spurs’ biggest issues right now is in the final third – they look lacklustre in attack and have really struggled to score goals, even when they were winning, it was merely by a 1-0 margin.

After six league games, Spurs rank last for average number of shots per game (9.3) and sit second-bottom for expected goals (5.47 xG), which only goes to show just how severe the problem is at the club.

The likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli have consistently failed to step up to be the team’s main creator in attacking midfield. It’s been a massive, and underlying, issue ever since Christian Eriksen departed for Inter Milan in January 2020.

However, the difference is, Nuno could well have a solution right under his nose, thanks to the moves sporting director Fabio Paratici made in the transfer market this summer.

He managed to offload the injury-prone Erik Lamela and in return, secured a promising Spanish gem in Bryan Gil – a flair player capable of pulling the strings and linking the midfield to the attack.

The 20-year-old wizard simply has to start this evening if the Portuguese is to turn things around. He’s now under mounting pressure to deliver results and Gil would aid his chances substantially.

Valued at £27m, the Spain U21 international has already been likened to the Danish playmaker, as well as another former Spurs midfield dynamo, Luka Modric.

“I think they’ve just got to nail down that role for him. As soon as they nail down that role, I think we’re going to see a very talented young player coming to the fore. He’s kind of got a bit of everything: he can pass, he can dribble, he’s very creative, he has clever movement,” said football.london’s Alasdair Gold.

“They’ve just got to decide, is he a guy that can ultimately become the new Eriksen, because the more and more I watch him play, I think the ability’s there to do that. Some have even made a Modric comparison and said, maybe he could end up coming even deeper and becoming that kind of player.”

Gil averaged 1.7 crosses and 1.9 key passes per 90 in La Liga last season, as per WhoScored, which certainly suggests that he’s a player that looks to create chances frequently.

This season, Heung-min Son and Steven Bergwijn top the charts, managing 1.5 key passes per 90 but these are returns still below that of the young prodigy.

As a player that has been described as a “big talent”, “exciting” and one with “unbelievable amounts of technique”, it’s time for Nuno to unleash the rarely-seen gem a lot more often.

There’s only so long he can continue to count on his more senior figures, especially as they continue to let him down.

Gil must start against Mura this evening. It could be a game-changing call from a manager under intense scrutiny right now.

AND in other news, Nuno could finally axe Dele Alli if Spurs secure “explosive” £36m-rated “young Salah”…

Newcastle United journalists have been left buzzing after some injury news emerged in the build-up to the clash with Leicester City involving Kieran Trippier.

The Lowdown: Ahead of schedule

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Leicester in the Premier League, Eddie Howe has revealed that Trippier is now ‘very slightly’ ahead of schedule in terms of recovering from his injury, and he is ‘beginning’ to run back outside on the grass.

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The former Burnley and AFC Bournemouth manager warned that he still needs to ‘build up his fitness’, but says that he is in a ‘good place’, albeit not available for the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes on Sunday.

The Latest: Journalists buzzing

Taking to Twitter, The Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr claimed that it is a ‘big positive’ that Trippier is now back out on the grass.

Newcastle World journalist Jordan Cronin also gave his reaction, claiming that it is ‘excellent news’ that he is ahead of schedule.

The Verdict: Big boost

The fact that Trippier could be back sooner than expected is a big boost for Howe and the St. James’ Park faithful.

The right-back currently ranks as their best performer in the top flight so far this season, and also tops his teammates in terms of average tackles, interceptions and crosses per game (WhoScored).

The North East club will not feel that they are completely safe yet, and so having Trippier back for the majority of the run-in would certainly help in putting the points needed on the board.

In other news, find out what worrying Allan Saint-Maximin update has now been dropped here!

Aston Villa are looking to land Rangers defender Leon King in a cut-price deal, Ashley Preece reports.

The Lowdown: King profiled

King is 17 years of age and is primarily a centre-back who can also line out at left-back when required. He has made two senior appearances for Rangers and was promoted to first team training during Steven Gerrard’s time at Ibrox, with the current Villa boss labelling him ‘superb’.

The teenager’s contract in Glasgow expires at the end of the season, and although Rangers are in talks with King over a new deal, it seems as if Villa are looking to take full advantage.

The Latest: Preece’s update

Preece took to Twitter hours before Villa’s game with Manchester City on Wednesday, revealing that Gerrard is looking to take advantage of the defender’s contract situation, with a cut-price deal in the region of £200,000 thought to be on the cards.

The journalist tweeted: “Some transfer news into @birmingham_live prior to kick-off as Gerrard looks to take full advantage of Leon King’s contract situation at Rangers. The 17-year-old was promoted to first-team sessions under SG. Cut-price deal for #avfc.”

The Verdict: Shrewd move

Gerrard is thought to be after a centre-back in the New Year, and although King may not be an immediate first team signing, you’d expect that he could break into his plans over the coming years.

The teenager is clearly a player who the 41-year-old rates after promoting him to first team training at Rangers, and the defender may prove to be a bargain for villa in a six-figure deal.

Manchester United are also thought to be keen on the youngster, which further shows how big a deal it could be in the long run if the Midlanders pull it off.

In other news: ‘Gerrard out’ – Many Villa fans erupt over club’s plans for ‘brilliant’ beast

Rangers are monitoring Racing Santander’s Pablo Torre ahead of the January transfer window, according to The Daily Record. 

The lowdown

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has featured five times for Spain at under-19 level, along with scoring three goals and providing five assists in 15 appearances in the Spanish third tier this season.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has raved about the teenager, labelling him an ‘amazing talent’ and a ‘magician’; and he has already been compared to the likes of Euro 2020 winner Marco Verratti and Ballon D’Or recipient Luka Modric.

The latest

According to The Daily Record, Torre has apparently been recommended to Rangers’ scouts, who will now be watching him.

His contract, which runs until 2025, contains a £4m release clause, but Racing are said to be in financial trouble and could therefore possibly accept a lower offer.

The Gers aren’t the only club interested in the teenager, though, with Spanish giants Real Madrid also admirers of his, along with clubs in Italy.

The verdict

If Torre is to live up to his evident potential, £4m could end up looking like a massive bargain, and that’s assuming the club who sign him are forced to pay the full extent of his release clause.

Rangers could theoretically end up selling him on for a huge profit after a few years at Ibrox, which might factor into the club’s thinking.

Real Madrid represent daunting competition, but perhaps there’s a scenario where Los Blancos sign him and then loan him out, as they have done with a whole host of their Castilla players this season.

In other news, could this Gers forward be lured south of the border?

A new loan ruling that is set to be implemented next season could have a big impact on Wolves, according to reliable journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: New loan ruling

According to The Athletic, clubs will be limited on the number of international players they can have out on loan in the future.

From next season, teams will only be allowed to have eight players on temporary moves elsewhere and that number will drop to six by 2024.

Wolves currently have ten players out on loan, highlighting how clubs will be affected by the new venture moving forward.

The Latest: Spiers reacts to claim

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Spiers gave his thoughts on the news, discussing how it will impact on Wanderers’ business:

“New loan rules coming in next season which will impact Wolves, who had 10 players on loan overseas in the first half of the season (max of 8 next year then max 6 from 2024) and four at Grasshoppers (max 3 at one club).”

The Verdict: Good decision

In truth, it is healthy to see this ruling introduced, with the report correctly stating that it is a good way of preventing clubs from ‘stockpiling talent’.

It is good to see that players aged 21 and under won’t be affected, however, as loan moves can be healthy for their development, such as Wolves forward Theo Corbeanu, who is currently at MK Dons.

It will make teams think more about recruitment in general and potentially ensure they get the most out the players already in their ranks, rather than stockpiling players for purely financial reasons.

In other news, some Wolves fans have reacted to an exit rumour regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

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Liverpool fans on Twitter are absolutely delighted with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, with the Frenchman reportedly preferring a move to Liverpool instead of Tottenham should a Premier League switch materialise, according to Paris United.

The 23-year-old midfield star has been the subject of strong interest from Spurs and boss Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly even spoken to the player in a bid to get him to north London.

He would be teaming up with his former teammates in Lucas Moura and Serge Aurier if he were to arrive at Spurs, however Rabiot appears to be more interested in linking up with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Naturally, fans of the Merseyside-based club loved this news, and find it a source of enjoyment for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they would be getting an exceptional young player on a free transfer, as he has just six months left on his contract with the Parisians.

Secondly, they would be beating a title rival to a marquee signing, signalling a change from the days when they’d have their best players pinched from them by fellow Premier League clubs, such as when Raheem Sterling moved to Manchester City.

Let’s see how fans of the Reds reacted on Twitter…

Emerson Royal, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura all struggled for Tottenham against West Ham United on Sunday as the Irons prevailed 1-0.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were facing a London rival and early on they showed signs of promise. However, in the second half they failed to even register a single shot and ultimately succumbed to a Michail Antonio strike.

Here, we take a look at Spurs’ three worst players statistically on the day, according to SofaScore rankings.

Emerson Royal

The right-back featured for the full game at the London Stadium but he lost seven of his 15 duels and lost possession of the ball 13 times throughout his time on the pitch. He was also dribbled past four times by opponents on Sunday, a damning indictment of his defensive performance.

Son Heung-min

The South Korea international is usually one of Spurs’ best players but he did not enjoy himself at the London Stadium. He failed to win any of his six duels, lost possession of the ball 13 times and failed to land a single one of his six crosses. When the former Bayer Leverkusen man does not perform, Spurs are a weaker team, and that was the case against the Irons.

Lucas Moura

Moura was also disappointing against David Moyes’ side. He won eight of his 16 duels but lost possession more often (25 times) than any of his teammates, while he completed an underwhelming 71% of his attempted passes. He must do better if he is to convince Nuno that he is worthy of a place in the starting XI.

In other news, this man wants to leave Tottenham

Moussa Niakhate is reportedly now ‘attracting interest’ from Newcastle United ahead of a potential move in the summer.

The Lowdown: Solid season

Niakhate is having a solid season at Mainz, where they currently hold the joint-third best defensive record in the Bundesliga.

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The captain and leader of his side, the six-foot-three colossus has been hailed as a ‘key player’ and a ‘role model’ by sporting director Christian Heidel and head coach Bo Svensson, and so may not be easily let go, valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per The Daily Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath, Niakhate is now ‘attracting interest’ from the St. James’ Park faithful, as well as both West Ham United and Everton.

However, the latter will only be in the running for him if they manage to stay in the Premier League for next season.

The Verdict: Upgrade

Niakhate would seemingly be an upgrade on Eddie Howe’s current centre-back options.

He is currently averaging more tackles and interceptions per game than Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles in their respective domestic leagues this season, and offensively, he has scored three goals and makes more key passes than the Magpies trio (WhoScored).

Clearly then, this is an up and coming defender with the ability on the ball to fit like a glove into Eddie Howe’s system, which relies far more on progressive build-up from the back than previous manager Steve Bruce.

Of course, the top flight is different gravy, but he has already shown his worth against Liverpool superstar Mo Salah, who ‘didn’t enjoy’ playing against Niakhate in pre-season.

A senior call-up to the France national team is surely in the pipeline, and at 26 years of age, the North East club would be signing him just as he enters his prime.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now in the ‘driving seat’ to sign here!

An exciting Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged regarding Lille defender Sven Botman…

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Magpies’ pursuit of the centre-back is not dead in the water despite failing with an initial offer of €35m (£29.2m).

He tweeted: “Lille turned down €35m permanent move bid for Sven Botman from Newcastle. French club plan still to try to keep Botman even if they’re in difficult financial situation. No way for loan deal. #transfers Newcastle will try again – AC Milan are interested but no official bid.”

Fans will be delighted

Newcastle fans will surely be delighted with this news as it suggests that there is still a chance that Botman could end up at St James’ Park this month. They will also be buzzing as it shows that the club are serious about a deal for the Dutchman, given that they have been willing to submit a £29.2m bid for his services.

The Toon Army will be happy to see big-money offers going in for players, instead of lowballing clubs and waiting until the last few days of the window to make any moves. PIF are clearly working hard to try and make things happen, and irrespective of the end result, fans will surely be reassured to know that the powerbrokers are doing their best to supplement Eddie Howe’s squad.

Supporters will also be delighted with the prospect of another offer being made to sign Botman before the end of the transfer window. He could be an excellent addition to the squad who would bolster Howe’s defensive options, and that is why they must persist – as they appear to be doing – with a swoop for his services.

This season in Ligue 1, the Dutchman has averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.02. This shows that he has what it takes to perform to a high level on a consistent basis whilst playing in a top European league, which suggests that he could be a success for Newcastle if he is able to adapt to English football.

Meanwhile, no Magpies centre-back has averaged a rating higher than 6.77 from Sofascore this term. Therefore, if he can translate his form over to the Premier League, Botman could be a significant upgrade on Howe’s current options and improve the side considerably. In turn, Newcastle fans will be quite pleased with the club’s concerted efforts to bring him in from Lille.

AND in other news, “Conversations on the phone” – Luke Edwards transfer update will have NUFC fans elated…

Junior Firpo is unlikely to start for Leeds United in their Premier League clash with Leicester City, according to journalist Beren Cross.

The Lowdown: Leeds host Leicester

The Whites are back in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes side to Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side picked up a much-needed three points away to Norwich City last weekend but this is likely to be a sterner test.

That being said, Leicester are yet to get going this season and their limp defeat at home to Arsenal last time around means all is far from perfect for Rodgers and co – they currently sit 11th with a negative goal difference.

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The Latest: Firpo unlikely to start

Firpo could return to the matchday squad for Leeds after injury, but speaking in a Q&A for Leeds Live on Wednesday, Cross claimed the left-back is unlikely to start, with Bielsa being careful with him:

“Based on Bielsa’s argument for leaving [Kalvin] Phillips out of the Wolves game, Firpo will surely have had too little time on the pitch in order to start against Leicester on Sunday.”

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The Verdict: Big test of Whites’ form

It makes sense for Firpo to be eased back in, with Stuart Dallas continuing at left-back in what is an intriguing league encounter – the latter man was solid against Norwich, earning a 7.4 match rating from Sofascore, the second-best on the pitch behind Raphinha.

The Northern Ireland international also ranks 6th in average match rating for the entire season at Elland Road, while Firpo is all the way down in 17th, so this feels like a pretty smart prediction from Cross.

This is likely to tell us a lot more about where Leeds are at currently, with Norwich the worst team in the division, with all due respect.

Victory over Leicester would suggest that the Whites truly have turned a corner but defeat would mean those same doubts start creeping in again.

In other news, a Leeds transfer target has turned down a new contract. Read more here.