Tag Futebol

James Maw of The Athletic claims that Djed Spence could have some form of future with Tottenham Hotspur despite a loan move to Stade Rennes last month.

The Lowdown: Spence makes loan move

Spence left Antonio Conte’s side this month and will be on loan with the Ligue 1 outfit until the end of the season.

The deal contains no obligation or option to buy for Rennes, meaning he will definitely head back to north London at the end of the season.

Tottenham only bought the player last summer, but he’s struggled for game time this season. Spence has only featured four times for Spurs in the Premier League.

The Latest: Maw makes Spence claim

Speaking to The View From The Lane podcast, Maw claimed that the straight loan is not something you see often in football nowadays and claims the player will be at Spurs next season.

He stated (22:24), “It’s quite rare that you’ll see a loan deal like this with no option or obligation these days. Normally, it will come with one or the other.

“So maybe that’s quite telling the fact that there this is an expectation that he’ll be back at Tottenham next season, and that things will suddenly be different.”

The Verdict: An uncertain future

We believe that if Spence is to have some sort of future with Tottenham, then he’ll have to really impress on loan at Rennes between now and the end of the season.

A straight loan certainly indicates that Spurs have no intention of letting him go immediately, but in our view, there’s one factor around his Spurs move that is a concern.

Conte claimed that signing the 22-year-old was not his decision, it was the club who saw him as an ‘investment’ and not the Italian.

This could mean that the full-back will have to make a massive statement if he’s to impress Conte, he could be harder to impress if he wasn’t signed by him specifically.

What could work in his favour is if Conte leaves at the end of the season when his contract runs out, a new manager may give Spence more opportunities in the first-team next season.

Ex-footballer Trevor Sinclair labelled Spence as ‘the real deal’ when he joined the club after his loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

He told TalkSport that he ran Arsenal players Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli ‘ragged’ in an FA Cup match last season.

Spence has bags of potential and shown what talent he has last season, but he needs to grasp this loan opportunity with both hands if he is to have a long-term future at Spurs under Conte or another manager.

Manchester United appear to have developed a knack for producing promising young wingers in the recent past, with Argentine sensation Alejandro Garnacho the latest starlet to be earning the plaudits after breaking into the first team.

It was only a year ago, however, that Anthony Elanga was emerging as the new poster boy for interim boss Ralf Rangnick, with the dynamic Swede having been thrust into the action following the former Schalke man’s appointment.

In a period of doom and gloom for the Red Devils, the pacy wide man was a rare ray of sunshine for the club, having been a “breath of fresh air” with his electric presence down the flanks and willing work ethic, as per club legend Dennis Irwin.

The high point of the 20-year-old’s campaign undoubtedly came away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League back in February, with the versatile winger – who has featured through the middle this season – slotting home past the imperious presence of Jan Oblak to spark jubilant scenes among the visiting support.

Fast forward 11 months, however, and it is a much different scenario for the nine-cap speedster, with rumours abound that he could be set to move out on loan after slipping down the pecking under Erik ten Hag.

While the Malmo native has featured 18 times in all competitions this season, only seven of those outings have come from the start, with the 5 foot 10 ace now appearing to be “suffering” as a result of his over-exposure in the senior ranks, according to journalist Muhammad Butt.

The forward’s woes are laid bare by the fact that he hasn’t scored since that standout night at the Wanda Metropolitano, with it hard to see just what the £5k-per-week dud is offering to the Old Trafford outfit at present.

With Ten Hag seemingly in need of an upgrade to add further firepower to an already depleted forward line, the 52-year-old could well find a solution in the form of Elanga’s international colleague, Jesper Karlsson.

According to The Sun, the 24-year-old is one of a number of Dutch-based talents that the former Ajax boss is keeping tabs on, having already raided the Eredivisie over the summer to secure the services of Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Antony.

The “unpredictable” and “inventive” playmaker – as described by transfer insider Dean Jones – has caught the eye as a result of his standout form for current side AZ Alkmaar, having already provided seven goal involvements in just 15 games across all fronts this term.

That follows what was a particularly productive 2021/22 campaign in which the former IF Elsborg dynamo netted a staggering haul of 21 goals and 16 assists in 51 games in all competitions.

Clearly more of a threat in the final third than Elanga – who has just four goals and three assists to his name in 47 senior appearances for United – Karlsson is also something of a creative hub for his side as he has averaged 4.12 progressive passes per game over the past year, with that far beyond the average of the struggling Red Devils man (1.06).

With the Alkmaar sensation also unlikely to prove too costly for Ten Hag and co – having been valued at around €20m (£18m) – it should prove something of a no-brainer to make a move in the near future.

Leeds United are reportedly very interested in signing Borussia Dortmund star Raphael Guerreiro this year and the Portuguese left-back could be Jesse Marsch’s own Joao Cancelo at Elland Road.

TEAMtalk suggested in December that the Whites were readying a contract offer for the 29-year-old who looks set to leave Signal Iduna Park this year, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Leeds could approach the Portugal international on a pre-contract deal now but may be convinced to bring him to Elland Road this month considering Marsch’s lack of options at left-back, with “liability” Junior Firpo having flattered to deceive since joining the club from Barcelona.

It would undoubtedly be a coup for the Yorkshire outfit if they could sign Guerreiro this month, given that he has experience playing at the top level with Dortmund in the Champions League, with two goals in just four appearances in Europe so far this campaign.

This season has seen the left-back contribute one goal and two assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a solid 6.88 average rating.

Considering this would rank him as the second-best performer in Leeds’ squad, it is clear the quality he could add to Marsch’s squad, and it is easy to see why Victor Orta is reportedly so keen to do a deal.

Dortmund manager Eden Terzic was full of praise for the defender last year, saying: “[He is] an amazing player. So you see especially against a deep defending side, we want him to get on the ball because he makes things happen.”

Should he arrive at Elland Road this year, he could potentially emulate Portuguese teammate Cancelo, who has established himself as one of the world’s best in his position since joining Manchester City, contributing nine goals and 21 assists in 122 appearances for the Citizens.

According to FBref, Cancelo is the second-most similar player to Guerreiro when compared to other full-backs across Europe.

The two players have registered remarkably similar statistics this season with regard to goals and assists per 90 (0.26 vs 0.23), passes leading to a shot (26 vs 28) and blocks (14 vs 15).

WhoScored also suggests that both Cancelo and Guerreiro excel at passing and holding onto the ball, which suggests they are modern, attack-minded full-backs.

Given Cancelo’s success at City, Marsch would surely be foolish to turn down a player so similar, so he should do all he can to bring Guerreiro – who could command around £22m – to Elland Road this month.

Manchester United have illuminated the right-back department as one needing swift reinforcement, and the youthful speedster Jeremie Frimpong is top of the January shopping list.

Frimpong has been of interest to the Red Devils since before the World Cup, with Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg confirming the club’s interest in the Bayer Leverkusen starlet and stating that talks would commence following the international tournament.

Furthermore, Steve Bates, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, has claimed that the pieces to the puzzle fall kindly in the favour of United boss Erik ten Hag, who is enamoured with his offensive skill set.

Bates said: “He speaks English perfectly; he was brought up here, and he’s Dutch, so Ten Hag has got an in there let’s say that. And I think he’ll be certainly on the shortlist of players United will be looking at.”

The path to a concrete move remains hazy, obscured by rival interest from the likes of Chelsea, according to Football Transfers, and Ten Hag will indeed be to move swiftly if he is to ensure the ace’s Premier League future lies in Manchester. 

“Outstanding”

Man United are indeed prioritising the right-flank, with Frimpong’s pace and offensive prowess viewed as the ideal counterpoint to first-choice Diogo Dalot’s dynamic approach to his play.

Despite signing for Old Trafford for an initial £45m, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has tumbled down the pecking order and faces an uphill battle that teeters on a clamber up a sheer cliff edge.

Reports earlier this year indicated that United were open to selling the 25-year-old in the summer, and now, having made just two appearances and one start under Ten Hag’s tutelage, the sandglass is near empty. 

With Dalot’s position indeed cemented, the Red Devils need a more offensive-minded marauder to fight for a place in the team, and having scored five goals and three assists from just 21 appearances this term, Frimpong might fit the bill.

His youthful age of 21 years old bolsters his prospects of earning a move to one of football’s most illustrious outfits, with a spiky sheen of attacking intent fitting Ten Hag’s forward-thinking philosophy to a tee.

United’s Dutch manager is attempting to rewrite the script at the Theatre of Dreams, instilling confidence and that ‘fear factor’, fusing it together with a cohesive gel.

As per FBref, the “outstanding” – as hailed by Neil Lennon – former Celtic gem ranks within the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals, the top 9% for assists and the top 1% for dribbles completed over the last 365 days.

And, at a club brimming with offensive guile such as Man United, there is no reason why Frimpong can’t nurture his abilities and blossom into a formidable and devastating tool down the right side of the attack.

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.

Rangers are believed to be closing in on the appointment of the man who is set to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox, with Mick Beale seemingly in line to make a return to the club to take on the top job.

The expectation among his current side is that the Englishman will be reunited with the Old Firm outfit in due course, having previously worked at Rangers as assistant coach to Steven Gerrard.

That coaching duo helped to guide the Old Firm side to Scottish Premiership glory during the 2020/21 campaign, with that triumph sealing a historic 55th league title for the Light Blues, while also ending Celtic’s nine-year dominance in the process.

The task this time around will be to bridge the gap to Ange Postecoglou’s side, with the Hoops currently nine points clear at the summit following a largely dominant start to the campaign.

With Beale needing to spark an instant revival once club action resumes at the end of next month, the 42-year-old will likely be looking to stamp his authority on a squad that he will largely be familiar with.

One way in which the Bromley-born visionary could trigger a turnaround in fortunes is by ruthlessly moving on misfiring asset, Alfredo Morelos, with the Colombian striker having scored just three goals so far this term amid what’s been an underwhelming campaign on a personal note and on a collective basis.

According to pundit Alan Hutton, it looks as if the 26-year-old himself is already angling for an exit, with the former Scotland international stating: “The likes of Morelos, to me, it looks like he wants out of there. He got the opportunity in the last game and it didn’t go well for him at all.

“He still looks that moody player and he’s not giving us that aggression on the pitch where he scores goals. I think someone like him will, possibly, leave.”

As Hutton previously stated, the former HJK Helsinki man was “really poor” during the draw with St Mirren last time out, having almost looked as if he was “sulking” as his woes in front of goal continued.

The £33k-per-week “pub amateur” – as described by journalist Graham Spiers – has looked a shadow of his former self of late, having previously been something of a talisman for the club with 115 goals in 243 games to date.

Perhaps the appointment of a familiar face in Beale could lead to a change of fortunes, although the up-and-coming coach may well see the wisdom in nudging the forward towards the exit door, particularly with the 11-cap dud having just a matter of months left on his existing deal.

Should Morelos not be keen to commit himself to the club for the long term, it may well be best to trigger a parting of ways in the winter window rather than wait until the summer, with a fresh start perhaps best for all parties.

The arrival of a new boss can typically lead to big decisions having to be made, with Beale’s first big task being to simply move on the 5 foot 10 brute.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could bring Villarreal trio Nicolas Jackson, Pau Torres and Yeremy Pino to Villa Park.

The Lowdown: £152m

The trio were all seemingly important players under Emery at Villarreal and all have release clauses totalling €175m (£152m).

Forward Jackson’s termination clause is thought to be the cheapest of the three at €30m, whereas Torres’ is €65m and Pino’s the most expensive at €80m after recently agreeing on new terms.

NSWE are set to hand Emery a ‘huge’ January budget, though, despite spending over £400m since their return to the Premier League.

The Latest: All named

According to one Spanish source, Emery wants to bring all three Villarreal players to England.

Their report adds that Villa are preparing ‘a millionaire investment’, with the trio’s respective release clauses named in the update.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-news-3/” title=”Aston Villa latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Exciting

Emery enjoyed success with the La Liga side during his two-year stint, winning the Europa League during the 2020/21 season.

Torres was a regular at the back under Emery and is set to represent Spain at the World Cup later this month, whereas Jackson and Pino appear to be two exciting young forwards who could go on to become future stars.

Therefore, with the club after a new centre-back, potentially ending Tyrone Mings’ time at Villa Park, and also needing to add goals to their squad, a raid for the three Villarreal gems could be a shrewd move, but also fairly expensive.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United return to action in the Premier League this afternoon as they travel away to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

The Magpies are sixth in the table and are unbeaten in their last four games in the division, with 5-1 and 4-1 wins over Brentford and Fulham respectively in their last two outings.

They smashed the Bees 5-1 last time out, with Bruno Guimaraes (x2), Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almiron, and an own goal from Ethan Pinnock sealing the three points.

The Red Devils, meanwhile, have won three of their last four matches in all competitions and five of their last six in the Premier League heading into the game.

Erik ten Hag’s side are one point above Newcastle, having played a game less, in the table and Howe should look to put out a robust team capable of frustrating the Old Trafford crowd.

Joe Willock started in midfield against Brentford but the manager should unleash Joelinton ahead of the Englishman to improve the club’s work off the ball.

In the top-flight this season, the former Arsenal man has won 3.7 individual duels and made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per match. Meanwhile, the Brazilian enforcer has come out on top in a whopping 7.3 battles and completed 3.6 tackles and interceptions per outing, which suggests that he offers more to the side from a defensive perspective.

Joelinton ranks in the 84th percentile or higher for blocks, clearances, and aerial battles won per 90 among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days. On the other hand, Willock ranks in the 64th percentile or lower in all three categories.

Therefore, the former Hoffenheim man could be a better option in the middle of the park as he offers quality out-of-possession that could help to deal with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

Joelinton also bullied Manchester United in his last appearance against them, back in December of 2021. The Magpies held them to a 1-1 draw at St. James’ Park and the £80k-per-week machine was incredible in midfield as he made four tackles, three interceptions and two blocks, whilst also creating an eye-catching four chances for his teammates.

Former Chronicle writer Mark Smith once dubbed the Brazilian a “colossus” and his statistics, against the Red Devils in 2021 and in the Premier League this season, back that up.

He has the physical presence to be crucial for Newcastle in midfield as they potentially attempt to keep things tight before hitting on the counter with the pace of Callum Wilson, Jacob Murphy, and Miguel Almiron.

Just eight games into the new Premier League season and the managerial merry-go-round has already begun.

Scott Parker was the first victim when he was sacked by Bournemouth, with Thomas Tuchel axed by Chelsea not long after.

Wolves were forced to sack Bruno Lage after he won just one of the Old Gold’s opening eight fixtures this season, with his side managing a measly three goals, the worst of any side in the top flight.

Those at Molineux could profit from another Premier League side’s lack of patience, however, with reports suggesting that Nottingham Forest could soon part ways with Steve Cooper after the Reds slipped to the bottom of the top flight after a 4-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Leicester City on Monday night.

According to John Percy in The Telegraph, Wolves could consider a move for Cooper if he is given the boot by Forest, and while he has endured a difficult start to Premier League management, his career thus far suggests that he could be a very promising appointment.

The former England youth coach did a superb job at Swansea City, taking them to successive Championship play-off finals, and did an extraordinary job with Forest last season, taking them from the relegation places to the promised land after they defeated Huddersfield in the play-off final.

Cooper also spent time with Liverpool’s academy earlier in his career and earned a lot of praise from former player Jordan Lussey last season.

He said: “He is the most dedicated manager I’ve come across, in terms of his appetite, his eagerness, his energy, his buzz.”

While the Premier League has proven to be a tough ask for Cooper this term, he has essentially assembled an entirely new squad after promotion, and he may be able to work wonders with a more tightly-knit squad such as Wolves.

His spells at Swansea and Forest have seen him average 1.61 and 1.83 points-per-game respectively, both of which are significant increases on the 1.29 points per game averaged by Lage at Wolves.

Cooper’s experience of English football too will no doubt mean he is better suited to the job than the previous manager, even if his Portuguese nationality will have benefited their lusitanic crop of stars.

Therefore, with a move for Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim seemingly not on the cards, Wolves could take advantage of Forest potentially sacking Cooper by bringing the 42-year-old to Molineux.

Based on his ability to overachieve, the Old Gold could well strike oil by luring him across the Midlands.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of Edouard Michut in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Black Cats are set to sign the attacking midfielder before the deadline on Thursday.

He Tweeted: “Excl: Edouard Michut leaves Paris Saint-Germain and joins Sunderland, done deal. Full agreement in place on initial loan move with buy clause around €5m and future sale percentage. #PSG …and Michut is already at the stadium right now, to follow #SAFC game.”

The Chronicle’s James Hunter confirmed the last part of Romano’s claim, Tweeting: “#safc transfer target PSG midfielder Edouard Michut is here today. He is sitting below us in the directors’ box at the SoL.”

Kristjaan Speakman blinder

Sunderland have made seven additions to their squad so far this summer and Speakman is now pulling off a blinder with their soon-to-be eighth arrival.

It was reported that Scottish giants Celtic, who are in the Champions League this year, and other teams in Europe were interested in signing the midfielder, which highlights the level of competition the club have beaten off to land Michut.

The Black Cats have only been out of the third tier for a few months and are already showing the pull that they can have in the transfer market. It shows that players are aware of the size of the club and believe that the potential is there for the Stadium of Light to host Premier League football once again in the future.

Sunderland’s incredible support could help to persuade players. They have averaged 38,392 fans per home game this season in the Championship, which is over 10,000 more than Sheffield United and Norwich in second and third when it comes to attendance.

However, it may also be down to Speakman’s power of persuasion in negotiations as he has clearly convinced the player that a move to Wearside is the best next step in his development.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that he has “natural football IQ” and once dubbed him “highly technical and creative”, which suggests that he could add a touch of quality in possession.

His eight first-team appearances for PSG by the age of 19 also suggest that he has a lot of potential as he has been deemed ready to feature for the French champions in Ligue 1.

Therefore, this move is a blinder as Speakman is bringing in a talented, sought-after, young player with the scope to develop as he gains more experience.

The initial loan also covers Sunderland from a financial point of view as they can send him back to PSG if the move does not work out, which prevents the club from splashing out a significant fee if he struggles to adapt to English football.

This is another reason why Speakman has pulled off a masterclass with this deal and hopefully, Michut will now be able to back that up with excellent performances on the pitch this season.