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The transfer window officially opened two weeks ago today, and while Tottenham Hotspur haven't made any additions in the last fortnight, they have been hard at work.

For example, just a month ago, the club opted to re-sign Timo Werner on another loan deal for the upcoming campaign with an option to purchase.

The German could be a useful addition to Ange Postecoglou's squad throughout the campaign, but based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co might already be about to sign the perfect upgrade to the former Chelsea man.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Tottenham have a 'concrete' interest in Hull City's incredibly exciting young talent, Jaden Philogene.

It's not just the Lilywhites who are keen on the young winger, as the report has claimed that West Ham United have entered into preliminary talks over the player. At the same time, a story from earlier this week revealed that La Liga giants Barcelona are also interested in the 22-year-old prospect.

Football Transfers currently value the former Aston Villa gem at just €9.6m, which converts to around £8.1m, but based on his form last season and the level of interest, it seems practically guaranteed that Hull will demand significantly more than that.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but with how well he performed in the Championship last season, it's one worth pursuing, especially as he could be the ideal upgrade to Werner.

How Philogene compares to Werner

One of Philogene's biggest strengths is his positionally versatility. He played on the left and right for Hull last season, but with Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson already battling for a place on the right, it seems far more likely that the Englishman would be looking to stake a claim to be the second-choice left-winger behing Son Heung-min, which would put him up against Werner.

So, how do the pair compare? Well, from a pure output perspective, there is not much competition.

In just 32 Championship appearances for the Tigers last season, the "astonishing" gem, as podcaster Ant Northgraves dubbed him, scored 12 goals and provided six assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 1.77 games.

In contrast, the Lilywhites' German winger scored two goals and provided three assists in 14 appearances, equating to a goal involvement every 2.8 games, and when you include his 14 matches for Leipzig in which he scored two goals and provided one assist, that average becomes 3.5.

When looking at their underlying numbers, the competition is a little closer, but the Hammersmith-born dynamo still comes ahead.

For example, the Stuttgart-born forward edges it in some metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, actual assists, progressive passes and carries, and goal-creating actions per 90.

However, the England U21 international scores more non-penalty goals, maintains a higher passing accuracy, takes more shots and shots on target, scores more goals per shot and shot on target, produces more shot-creating actions, succeeds in more take-ons, wins more aerial duels, and completes more ball recoveries, also per 90.

Maddison will love him: Spurs declare interest in £25m "monster"

The “magnificent” ace could be transformative.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 28, 2024

Ultimately, based on his form last season and his underlying numbers, Philogene looks like a better player than Werner. While the German will be a useful squad player, Levy and Co should do what they can to sign the Englishman this summer, as he could well be more than that.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their interest in Juventus central midfielder Weston McKennie ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that the Whites are one of the clubs who have sent scouts to watch the USA international in action for the Old Lady.

He Tweeted: “Juventus are open to sale for the right price (£20m+). But Spurs (& Antonio Conte in particular) still undecided whether to move. McKennie’s form has been inconsistent. He does have huge potential and is particularly well-suited in a 3-5-2, which Conte has been using.”

The reporter added: “Several Premier League clubs have scouted McKennie, including Newcastle, Leeds, Everton and Arsenal. But none have advanced interest yet. He’s a player who could well move to England in January but right now there is nothing advanced from any potential Premier League suitors.”

Forshaw upgrade

Victor Orta could land an upgrade on Leeds’ Adam Forshaw by securing a deal to sign McKennie from Juventus in January, as the American gem has much more to offer in the middle of the park.

Last season, Forshaw played 22 times in the Premier League and averaged an unimpressive SofaScore rating of 6.73 – placing him 13th in the squad. This shows that he was far from being one of the top performers for the club in the division.

The underperforming midfielder has played three of the Whites’ top-flight matches so far this term and is averaging a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.53, which shows that he is not improving and, if anything, is getting worse.

McKennie, meanwhile, has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.85 or higher in all three of his Serie A campaigns with Juventus since joining them at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

This suggests that he has the talent to perform at a much higher level than Forshaw on a week-in-week-out basis, as he has proven his quality over the course of two-and-a-bit years in Italy.

He could also offer more at the top end of the pitch as he ranks in the 87th percentile among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 365 days for non-penalty goals per 90 at 0.24, whilst the Leeds man has averaged 0.00 non-penalty goals per 90.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig previously described him as being “incredibly underrated” but his statistics suggest that the supporters at Elland Road would appreciate his performances more than Forshaw’s.

At the age of 24, he is also seven years younger than the current Leeds dud and that is another reason why he could be an upgrade on the former Middlesbrough man, as he has room to grow and develop as he gains more experience.

Liverpool host Leeds United at Anfield tonight in their latest Premier League clash, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his team can show some resilience by channelling their performance from the Champions League victory over Ajax on Wednesday night.

The Reds may now be qualified for the last 16 in the prestigious European tournament but their form in the Premier League has been poor, shipping a third top-flight defeat of the season to bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Liverpool are now eighth in the league after a slow start to their domestic campaign, but a win over Leeds could see them move up to seventh depending on other results this weekend, and it would certainly be a boost in their efforts to close the gap to the top four.

However, another defeat this weekend could be troublesome for the Merseysiders, as in the worst-case scenario they could drop out of the top half of the table by 6:30pm tomorrow evening.

In terms of injuries, Luis Diaz, Joel Matip, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and Arthur Melo remain unavailable for selection, but Klopp did offer a huge fitness boost which could make a positive difference in the middle of the park.

In the Liverpool manager’s pre-match press conference, it was revealed that Thiago Alcantara will return to action following a severe ear infection which left him unavailable to play in the Reds’ last two outings.

Klopp told the media (via Liverpool Echo): “I expect Jordan Henderson to be okay. Thiago will return too. It’s still soon for Naby Keita and Matip is still out. You don’t have to ask about Diogo or Luis for a while.”

With all that considered, this is how Football Fancast expects Liverpool to line up against Jesse Marsch’s side tonight…

We expect to see three changes to the team which beat Ajax in the Champions League this week, with Klopp again deploying his recently-utilised 4-4-2 formation.

The first change we expect to see is Ibrahima Konate reprising his role in an otherwise unchanged Liverpool back line alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson and Virgil van Dijk.

The second change we predict is the return of Thiago alongside Jordan Henderson in midfield, with the talented playmaker making an instant return from illness to the starting XI as he could provide a real threat to Leeds from the centre of the pitch.

The 31-year-old, who was dubbed a “coach’s dream” by former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac, was noticeably missing in the defeat to Nottingham Forest, and Klopp will be hoping that the Spaniard’s inclusion can inspire a better result when his side host Leeds tonight.

The third and final change we expect to see is Fabio Carvalho returning to the left-hand side of midfield to offer creativity in the channels to assist Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah in the most advanced roles in the final third.

The mooted inclusion of both Carvalho and Thiago means that one starting midfielder from midweek will be subjected to a place on the bench against Marsch’s side, and we predict that it will be Brazilian talent Fabinho who loses his spot in the starting XI.

The 29-year-old – who journalist Hamzah Khalique-Loonat has said looks “jaded” of late – hasn’t been on top of his game this season and could lose his central role if Klopp feels that Henderson can be more reliable to cover the deep-lying defensive role.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can inject their Champions League form back into their Premier League performances when Leeds visit Merseyside tonight, as it could be catastrophic if the Reds drop more points domestically.

Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action tomorrow following the conclusion of their Champions League campaign, which ended with a 3-1 defeat last Tuesday.

They make the trip to Perth on Sunday to take on St Johnstone and it is another must-win league clash for the Ibrox side. With just three more matches to play before the hiatus for the World Cup begins, Giovanni van Bronckhorst will only be thinking about getting nine points on the board.

The Dutchman would have liked to rotate his squad ahead of the match tomorrow, but an ongoing injury crisis at Ibrox prevents him from having that luxury, and he might make just one or two changes from the defeat to Ajax in midweek.

One player who must be unleashed is John Lundstram, with the Englishman becoming a key part of the Rangers midfield this season.

Lundstram has an average SofaScore rating of 7.28/10 which ranks him fourth in the Rangers squad this season and he has been pivotal in the Ibrox engine room, especially in league action.

The 28-year-old has chipped in with four goals while also taking a staggering 85.2 touches per game as he always demands the ball and looks to create opportunities whenever possible.

With a 70% dribble success rate, his attacking nous is regularly on show. However, this doesn’t mean he shirks his defensive responsibilities – far from it.

The Englishman makes 1.4 tackles per game while winning 52% of his duels, proving to Van Bronckhorst that he can be relied upon at both ends of the field.

Former Rangers boss Alex McLeish dubbed Lundstram as a “trojan”, while Van Bronckhorst claimed that the midfielder “has so much energy”; and with the midfielder missing just two matches this season (one due to suspension), the Dutchman is spot-on.

It could be a tense affair against the Saints tomorrow, but if Lundstram is in the mood, he could play an important role for the Gers as they aim to secure three valuable points.

Everton fell to a disappointing defeat to Leicester City over the weekend, and although it was against a resurgent Foxes side their all-around performance was largely inexcusable.

Whilst the midfield arguably lost them the game, allowing James Maddison far too much space to assist both of the goals, the front three was decidedly toothless throughout.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was his usual workmanlike self but missed a huge chance to put them ahead in the first half, whilst the wide men were yet again disappointing. But what often gets Goodison Park most riled up is a lack of effort.

Demarai Gray may have been lacking offensively, but he would certainly give his all to at least try and win the ball back after being dispossessed.

Anthony Gordon meanwhile has come under fire at times this campaign for often abandoning his defensive duties, leaving Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman out to dry on numerous occasions.

Perhaps, with the World Cup and a large break on the horizon, Frank Lampard could look to teach the youngster a lesson by leaving him on the bench for both of their games against AFC Bournemouth this week.

Both will be regarded as must-win affairs, with the first meeting on Tuesday being in the EFL Cup, and the latter being a 3pm kick-off on Saturday in the Premier League.

After his four-goal haul last season in the league, Gordon looked poised to demolish that record when he scored two in his first five matches of this campaign.

However, just one in the following eight, partnered with a lack of general threat in game has led to ever-growing scrutiny surrounding his starts over Dwight McNeil.

Although perhaps a less exciting option, the former Burnley man at least averages 2.29 tackles per game and ranks in the top 18% for blocks per 90.

He also has scored twice this season, suggesting he is just as much of a goal threat as the homegrown talent.

After his simple finish against Crystal Palace, he himself admitted with regard to a relentless work ethic: “I’ve not been good enough at it this year.”

With this damning self-assessment, perhaps a spell on the bench could be the impetus to see him return on Boxing Day with a newfound appreciation for his place in the starting lineup. 

With West Bromwich Albion having finally begun to pick up crucial points in the Championship, it seems like the enforced World Cup break has come at the completely wrong time for Carlos Corberan and his men.

Boasting three wins from their last three, and clean sheets in all those games too, it seems that in a short time he has almost revolutionised the club and got everyone moving in the right direction.

Although a lot of the core principles remain from Steve Bruce’s regime, with a focus on holding possession combined with a solid defence, the Spaniard has actually managed to execute these aspects to finally make the Baggies a threat to the opposition this season.

What makes this feat even more impressive is that he has walked into another man’s squad, and is yet to have any actual impact on either incoming or outgoing transfers.

He will likely have plenty of ideas on positions that need improvement, with a goalkeeper likely high on his list.

Earlier in the season, Bruce made the decision to swap from David Button to Alex Palmer, with the former having endured a torrid season that culminated in his 6.33 average SofaScore rating.

Whilst his recent form has been better, his replacement was hardly spectacular too. In Corberan’s first game in charge, he would make zero saves and concede with just the two shots on target that Sheffield United mustered.

Perhaps instead of dipping into the market to solve this issue, he need look no further than Portsmouth, where one of West Brom’s academy hopefuls is earning huge senior experience and excelling whilst there too.

Josh Griffiths has already featured 16 times in League One for Pompey and boasts just 18 goals conceded during this time.

His exploits have been imperative in their playoff push, as only five teams have conceded less than them.

It marks the 21-year-old’s third loan in as many seasons, with the most impressive likely being whilst at Cheltenham Town. There, he would concede just 45 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions, winning the league in the process.

His manager at the time, Michael Duff, praised him for the numerous “vital” saves he would pull off for his side.

Touted to have a “big future” by the Robins chairman Andy Wilcox, and clearly enjoying yet another fine season in a higher division, there must surely come a time when he is unleashed for the Baggies, thus fixing Corberan’s issue without spending a penny.

New Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui will no doubt be keeping a close eye on how his players perform at the World Cup in Qatar but he may have been disappointed with the performance of captain Ruben Neves.

The former Porto man, who has been comfortably Wolves’ best performer in the Premier League so far this season with four goals to his name, started in midfield for Portugal as they took on Ghana on Thursday afternoon.

The 25-year-old was expected to provide the defensive cover in an otherwise attacking midfield featuring Otavio and Bernardo Silva but he struggled to cope with Ghana’s direct runners, with Mohammed Kudus in particular, causing him problems with his pace and dribbling ability.

This was emphasised by a performance analyst EBL 2017 on Twitter, who suggested that:

“Kudus’ operation speed with the ball is abnormal. He’s left Ruben Neves chasing shadows all night.”

As per Sofascore, the Wolves star would earn a poor 6.5/10 rating for his performance, which was the worst of any outfield Portugal player to start the game.

During his time on the pitch, Neves was dribbled past on three occasions, made just one tackle and lost 67% of his duels, which suggests that he wasn’t at his best against the Black Stars.

While the midfield maestro was accurate with the majority of his passes, recording a 92% success rate, he failed to contribute a single shot on target or key pass, which suggests that he didn’t really have an attacking impact against Ghana.

With Wolves bottom of the Premier League, Neves may well be viewing the World Cup as an opportunity to showcase his talent on the world stage ahead of a potential transfer, but his disappointing performance may well work in the Old Gold’s favour, as they look to keep him at Molineux until the end of the season to aid them in their relegation battle.

Lopetegui will certainly be hoping for more from his captain when he returns to Premier League action with Wolves in December.

Celtic, like any club, have no doubt had their fair share of missed opportunities and transfer heartbreaks over the years, with one notable case of what might have been having come in the form of current Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian starlet had seemingly been a target for the Hoops back in January 2015, with then-boss Ronny Deila seeking a reunion with the precocious talent having previously handed the playmaker his senior debut for Stromsgodset at the age of 15.

The suggestion at the time – as per Deila – was that the Old Firm outfit were one of “20 clubs” interested in signing the teen starlet, with compatriot and international colleague Stefan Johansen stating that he had been attempting to persuade the youngster to join him at Parkhead:

“I’ve talked a lot with Martin. We keep in touch and speak on the phone a lot. I’ve told him that Celtic can be a good choice for him. The way we play would suit him. We have the ball a lot and that’s what Martin likes. He wants to be on the ball and creating chances. Every team needs a player like that.

“He also knows the gaffer at Celtic but it’s difficult when so many clubs want you. What can I say? He’s a patient boy and is very mature in the way he thinks.”
While Johansen went on to suggest that a move to an elite European club – such as Real Madrid – could prove “difficult” for the emerging prospect, Odegaard ultimately did not heed that warning and joined the La Liga giants for a reported fee of just £2.3m in that winter window.
Deila subsequently admitted that he had been in contact regarding a move for the midfielder although the lure of the Bernabeu ultimately proved too much, while the Bhoys were then unable to secure a loan move for the exciting asset later that year, despite claims that a deal had been agreed.
That failure to get a deal over the line has more than come back to bite those at Paradise, with the 46-cap sensation having gone on to blossom since then, proving a particularly impressive force since his switch to the Emirates, initially on loan, in January 2021.
Still only 23, the £115k-per-week menace has overcome a tough spell in Spain – where he made just 11 first-team appearances – to emerge as a leading figure in north London, boasting a tally of 15 goals and nine assists for Mikel Arteta’s side to date.
That includes a haul of six goals and two assists already this season, with the Gunners skipper – who has previously been dubbed a “genius” by Dan Levy – having played a vital role in his side’s surge to the top of the Premier League table.
Such has been the 5 foot 10 gem’s remarkable rise since that failed Celtic Park switch, he has now said to be worth as much as £70m – according to CIES Football Observatory – with that value only said to rise if his rich vein of form continues.
That will only rub further salt into the wounds as far as the Scottish Premiership side are concerned, with that transfer failure having proven a truly, notable howler.

Former Tottenham and England number one Paul Robinson has urged Jordan Pickford to move on from Goodison Park and refrain from signing a new deal, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Sixth season finale?

Now in his £30m Pickford may be looking to use his reputation as England’s number one to leverage a move to a more competitive football club.

At the age of 28, he is yet to win silverware, and will surely be analysing his prospects with Everton now in another relegation battle, having recently been linked with a move away.

The Latest: Pickford urged to leave

According to a report from Football Insider, Pickford has been urged to avoid extending his time at Everton and instead “push on” from the club, with Robinson saying:

“I think the time has come for Jordan Pickford to push on.

“If he has a good World Cup, I’m sure there will be takers for him in the summer. His stock was high going into the World Cup anyway.

“He has been performing at a very high level for a long time now. He has earned a new contract at Everton. For Everton, he has been a big influence on and off the field.
“I think now is the time for him to push on though. Everton aren’t going to be playing European football anytime soon. Pickford is not getting younger, and I’m sure he has ambitions to play in the Champions League. He is capable of doing that.”

The Verdict: Needs a move

Robinson’s latest admission is a fair one.
Pickford certainly has the ability to operate at a higher level and is in danger of wasting that talent if he is to avoid pushing on from Goodison Park and instead commit his long-term future.
Ultimately, this comes down to his ambitions in the game.
If the England World Cup star aspires to win silverware, he should be looking to make the move to a side higher up the Premier League table, or even abroad.

His spell at Everton has been great for his development, but with the star now in and around his prime years, he should cash in on his current ability and leverage a move to a silverware-chasing side.

Leeds United have recruited intelligently for the most part in recent years, with Victor Orta the mastermind behind many of those deals.

The Spaniard has not been afraid to return to his homeland for some deals too, with the likes of Junior Firpo, Joel Robles and Rodrigo just a few of the Spanish contingent to have graced Elland Road.

Of those three, the latter has been shining of late, and already boasts nine Premier League goals this season. He has surpassed his tallies in the previous two seasons after just 13 games.

And, if reports from last week are to be believed, Orta could be set to welcome another of his compatriots to join up with Rodrigo.

According to 90min, the Whites are set to battle with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore, who has just seven months left on his £46k-per-week deal.

Although he has notoriously ‘lacked end product’, his blistering speed poses a threat to any defence he faces. He cannot be ignored no matter how accurate he is.

This is proved by Jetro Willems, who admitted: “I have played against some very good players in my career, but no one as fast as Adama Traore. He’s unbelievable, a beast. Not only is he incredibly fast, he is so, so strong as well.”

As such, adding the £13m-rated talent to the fold would likely free up even more room for the free-scoring 31-year-old. He had clearly impressed Martin Keown, who told talkSPORT that “he has got everything in his game” and that “he’s electric”.

Also, with 3.17 shot-creating actions per 90, he is not as imprecise as people would have you believe. His 28% crossing accuracy from this season is higher than that of Jadon Sancho and James Maddison, and only 1% lower than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Traore has made 347 appearances across a career that has graced Barcelona, Aston Villa, Middlesborough and Molineux, providing 87 goal contributions across this period.

Yet it is his dribbling that is his main draw anyway, of which he ranks in the top 1% for successful ventures.

With the goalscoring form of Rodrigo, paired with the devastating physicality of Traore, these two are certain to terrorise defences.

This move could be perfect for the 26-year-old to finally silence his critics alongside so many of his compatriots.