Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly one of the clubs interested in signing Ajax star Mohammed Kudus. 

The Lowdown: Previous PL interest in Kudus

The 22-year-old was linked with a move to the Premier League during the previous summer transfer window, only for Everton to have a £15m bid for him rejected by Ajax.

Having stayed at the Dutch club, the midfielder now finds himself in Qatar representing Ghana at the World Cup. Now though, it appears that Spurs are the latest club to show an interest in signing the player.

The Latest: Spurs in the race to sign Kudus

According to a recent report from Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Spurs are one of the clubs, alongside Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and AC Milan, that are interested in signing Kudus.

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The report also adds that the midfielder’s price tag could increase significantly if he were to find himself impressing for Ghana during the World Cup.

The Verdict: An exciting signing for Spurs?

Across the 68 appearances Kudus has made for Ajax across their senior and youth sides, the midfielder has scored 20 goals and delivered six assists along the way.

10 of those goals have come in the 21 appearances he’s made for the club this season across all competitions including the Eredivisie and the Champions League whilst predominantly playing in the centre-forward role.

Having had 33 attempts at goal across all competitions this season, 14 of them have been on target, leaving Kudus with a goal-per-shot ratio of 0.27, the third-highest at the club.

Hailed for a “ridiculous” pass he made in a game earlier this season by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, the Ajax star has been touted by ex-Ajax defender Keje Molenaar to be worth up to €70m (£60m), which could make a potential transfer move for him quite an expensive investment.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that given the attacking talent he has shown at club level this season, securing a transfer deal for Kudus could be a very exciting move for Tottenham to make.

Leeds United failed to make it three wins on the bounce in their Carabao Cup meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening, with Jesse Marsch’s side falling to a 1-0 defeat at Molineux.

Indeed, despite the Whites enjoying more possession of the ball, hitting the target with more shots and completing more passes than the hosts, Adama Traore’s thumping finish in the 85th minute proved to be the difference between the sides on the night.

And, while there were a number of bright performances from the youngsters selected in the starting XI, with Sonny Perkins, Mateo Joseph, Drako Gyabi and Leo Hjelde all impressing, some of Marsch’s first-team regulars very much let the side down.

Indeed, as has now been the case for a matter of months, Jack Harrison once again offered the Whites extremely little going forwards, with Wednesday marking the 11th game without a goal or assist for the 25-year-old.

Over the course of his 90 minutes on the pitch, the £23m-rated winger failed to make any real impact in the final third, finding his man with just one of his eight attempted crosses, being successful with just two of his 11 attempted dribbles and completing just 24 of his 30 attempted passes – at a success rate of 80%.

The £60k-per-week attacker was also beaten by an opponent twice, lost possession of the ball on 26 separate occasions and won just six of his 20 duels – a success rate of a mere 30%.

These returns saw the player who the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth claimed endured “one of those games” earn an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.0 – ranking the former England U21 international as the worst player to feature in the fixture.

As such, considering the quite frankly shocking form that Harrison has been in over recent weeks, the 25-year-old’s display against Wolves must surely have convinced Marsch that the winger simply must be dropped for the meeting with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, as the Englishman is quickly becoming a liability in the Leeds attack.

Aston Villa are set to offer former Liverpool coach Pako Ayestaran the chance to become Unai Emery’s assistant at Villa Park.

The Lowdown: Arias in?

Emery is set to take charge of his first game as Villa manager against Manchester United next month. However, before then, Villa will be looking to add to his backroom staff, with reports from Spain suggesting that young coach Jaime Arias has already signed for Villa.

Arias won’t be the only arrival, though, and it looks as if NSWE are working on another off-field move in Ayestaran.

The Latest: Another Villa move?

Dominic King and Tom Collomosse revealed for The Daily Mail in the last 48 hours that Emery has offered Ayestaran the chance to be his Aston Villa No 2 in a move considered both important and shrewd.

King shared the news on Twitter, labelling it as ‘a significant move by Emery’, while Collomosse also took to social media to praise the coach’s experience.

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The Verdict: Good news?

Ayestaran has previous experience in the Premier League with Liverpool where he worked under Rafael Benitez, helping the Reds win four trophies in three years.

The 59-year-old also has plenty of experience as a manager, so a move to work alongside Emery could prove to be a coup in the long run.

We saw first hand with Steven Gerrard how important backroom staff can be, with Michael Beale’s departure over the summer coinciding with Villa’s form plummeting during the current campaign, so hopefully, Ayestaran will have a positive impact.

Liverpool parted ways with the recruitment genius behind Jurgen Klopp’s talented squad at Anfield as Michael Edwards left the club this summer after masterminding years of both incoming and outgoing transfers behind the scenes.

In the last six years, the Reds have celebrated some of their biggest successes at the hands of meticulous attention to detail and smart recruitment choices made by the former sporting director including the first Premier League title back in 2020.

There have been many players that have come and gone on the red side of Merseyside but rarely do players have a better career when they make the move away from Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez and Suso are a handful of the players who went on to succeed beyond their days wearing the famous red shirt.

In most cases, Edwards sanctioned moves away for various players for a very good reason and one player he certainly had a masterclass with was Jordon Ibe.

Ibe was sold to Bournemouth for a club record transfer fee of £15m back in 2016 after making 58 appearances, scoring just four goals and delivering seven assists over his time in the Liverpool team.

The quick-footed winger was tipped for big things when he first joined the club, being dubbed “the next Raheem Sterling” in some circles, while some even suggested he could usurp the current England international.

One such claim was courtesy of Jamie Redknapp, who speaking in July 2016 said:

“I think he has more natural ability than Raheem Sterling. Anything Raheem Sterling struggles with, Jordon Ibe can do. I would hate to play against him with his pace and power.”

Unfortunately, the attacker never lived up to that potential, enduring a rather sorry time with Bournemouth.

After four years, 92 appearances, a stint in rehab and just five goals scored for the Cherries, the winger was then moved on to Derby County on a free transfer in 2020, putting his nightmare tenure on the south coast behind him.

Sadly, Ibe was unable to make his presence known at the Rams either, making just 25 appearances and within one year was released from his contract by mutual consent following a struggle with depression.

In January 2022, the 26-year-old forward made his return to football following a legal dispute with Bournemouth over image rights payments, joining Turkish second division Adanaspor where he penned a three-and-a-half-year deal. Aptly, he is yet to make an appearance.

It’s safe to say that Ibe has had a rough ride since he left Merseyside six years ago with the player frequently speaking out about suffering from mental health issues over his career so far, but he may now have the chance to brighten his future in football whilst over in Turkey.

With that being said, selling the player for £15m was a great piece of business from Edwards when you consider how his career has regressed on the pitch after leaving Liverpool.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the most recognisable clubs in the world, but do you know which celebrities and sportsmen you’re likely to spot at 3pm on a Saturday in this particular part of north London?

Spurs have got off to a fantastic start to the 2022/23 Premier League season under the guidance of manager Antonio Conte and managing director Fabio Paratici. After seven matches, the Lilywhites sit third in the league table with 17 points, trailing Manchester City only on goal difference.

The international break gives Tottenham the chance to recharge as they look to maintain their strong start to the season, in which they are yet to lose in the top flight.

Fans will be hoping to see their favourite stars, the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, fit and firing when club football returns with the highly-anticipated north London derby on October 1 – a difficult test against the Premier League leaders.

In the meantime, why not put your Tottenham knowledge to the test? It’s simple! All you have to do is tell us which celebrities are really Spurs fans in the quiz below!

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a surprise move for Daniel James this week…

What’s the word?

According to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, Spurs have targeted the Leeds United and Wales winger heading into the final week of the summer transfer window.

“Spurs shock interest in Dan James,” he tweeted.

At this early stage, it remains to be seen exactly how much the 24-year-old would command or if the Yorkshire side would even be open to a sale, having paid around £25m for him only last August.

Alasdair Gold of football.london has also revealed that Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici is a fan of the Leeds star and that he would not be considered as a homegrown player.

Paratici’s first disaster

You have to wonder what the Italian supremo has been watching since his arrival in England because James hasn’t been good enough since his step-up to Premier League football and subsequently, the former Manchester United flop would be something of a disaster for Spurs too.

Indeed, the Welsh international has provided only ten goals and 12 assists across 84 top-flight appearances, which works out to be one contribution every 265 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.

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By comparison, Dejan Kulusveski – who is likely to cost Spurs just £4.2m more than what James cost Leeds – has averaged a goal or assist every 110 minutes despite only playing 23 games in England since his arrival in January.

The diminutive 5 foot 7 winger has appeared lightweight coming up against many a Premier League defence, having won just 39% of his duels per game last season, whilst former striker Darren Bent once dubbed him “headless” in his decision-making.

Whilst his international teammate and current Spurs star Ben Davies might be a fan of his, once dubbing him a “top player” and a “really grounded kid,” it seems unlikely that this move would be beneficial to manager Antonio Conte.

James has really struggled in the big time and his arrival would not help their homegrown quota whatsoever, so there seems little point in taking the risk on the £50k-per-week dud.

When compared to other wingers in Europe, the Leeds man ranks outside the top 45% of players for every key attacking metric, ranging from passes attempted, where he’s in the lowest 1%, to total shots and successful dribbles, via FBref.

Those disastrous returns should really put Paratici off a move, otherwise, he would be making one of his first big mistakes in north London.

Tottenham could do far better than James and as such, the Italian must not take their shock interest any further.

AND in other news, Paratici could end Spurs’ summer with a bang in £50m swoop for “extraordinary talent”…

Nottingham Forest will turn their attention to another Premier League star, after completing two huge deals…

 What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, Everton have actively made a move to sign Southampton striker Che Adams.

However, they will have to battle it out with Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, who are all also interested in the £52k-per-week ace.

With the Tricky Trees closing in on deals for both Emmanuel Dennis and Remo Freuler, this could be their final signing to finish bolstering their incredibly deep squad.

Imagine him & Dennis

The signing of the 24-year-old Watford star Dennis – who impressed in his debut season in the Premier League last time out – will certainly excite fans around the City Ground. However, signing Adams – a proven talent in the league over numerous seasons – could be even more important in transforming the Reds’ squad into one capable of survival.

The 26-year-old scored seven and assisted three last year for a Saints side that slumped to 15th, suggesting that he can perform for a team that are at the lower end of the table.

This, combined with ten goals and six assists from the Nigerian, will give Steve Cooper a solid foundation of goals to hopefully prop them up in the league.

Dennis also ranked in the top 5% for aerials won, and with the “relentless” Adams used to playing off another striker and picking up the pieces of knockdowns from the likes of Armando Broja, the two could form a fine partnership with blistering speed and an aerial threat.

The Scottish international has proven that he can score when given the chance, however, his 0.9 key passes per game and six big chances created last term suggest that, alongside a more prolific forward like Dennis, his creative numbers could explode.

His 6.85 average SofaScore rating outlines him as one of the top six performers for an underwhelming Southampton team, and his consistency will be a useful asset for a side who could be battling at the bottom of the table for most of the campaign.

Adams and Dennis, whilst both regarded as fine if unspectacular Premier League strikers, could combine to see both of their numbers increase exponentially. They could bring the best out of one another, and in the process steer Forest well clear of the drop.

Everton are reportedly in contact over a move for Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet, according to The Athletic. 

The lowdown: Attacker wanted

Following the sale of Richarlison to Tottenham, the Toffees have already been extensively linked with a number of attacking options this summer, including Chelsea starlet Armando Broja and Inter Milan veteran Edin Dzeko.

The Brazilian’s departure has left a significant hole in the Goodison Park squad, with only Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Salomon Rondon currently at Frank Lampard’s disposal as senior centre-forward options.

However, after Burnley were relegated to the Championship, Ivory Coast international Cornet could seemingly be edging towards a move to Merseyside…

The latest: Everton ‘in contact’ over Cornet

As per The Athletic, Everton are believed to be ‘working on a deal to sign’ the 29-cap forward.

It’s claimed that the two clubs are ‘in contact’ regarding the transfer, with Goodison Park currently the ‘most likely destination’ for the 25-year-old.

The report added that there is ‘interest from other clubs’ in the player, who was hailed as a ‘different class’ by new Everton signing James Tarkowski during their time together as team-mates in Lancashire.

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The verdict: Shrewd move

Signing Cornet for the mooted €21m (£17.5m) release clause would represent a superb piece of business from the Everton hierarchy, particularly given the current financial constraints brought about by Financial Fair Play.

During his debut Premier League campaign, the former France youth starlet scored nine times and provided two assists in 29 appearances across all competitions for a Burnley side who struggled for the most part last term.

Predominantly operating as a centre-forward, Cornet – who showcased an eye for the spectacular with a long-range volley against Crystal Palace last November – can also play on either wing and as a makeshift full-back, supreme versatility which would be a welcome addition to Lampard’s ranks.

Sharing a close stylistic match with the likes of Che Adams, Kasper Dolberg, Callum Wilson and reported Everton target Broja (FBRef), the Ivorian’s impressive range of attributes and affordable fee, along with the Toffees’ need for a powerful striker, make this potential move a no-brainer for Kevin Thelwell this summer.

Southampton are conducting their transfer business quietly this summer, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has claimed.

The Lowdown: Three signings so far

The south coast club have already strengthened their squad in the current transfer window, having made three signings so far.

With a rearrangement of goalkeeping options towards the end of last season, the Saints made a fantastic swoop, securing the signature of highly-rated 20-year-old Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City, also adding Mateusz Lis from Altay SK to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s ranks.

More recently, Southampton announced the arrival of young defender Armel Bella-Kotchap from Bochum, who joined the club for £8.6m.

The Latest: Crook’s claim

Crook believes that deals are being done behind the scenes, but the Saints are keeping their cards close to their chest.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, he claimed: “I haven’t been able to get any firm information out of Southampton yet, but I do know they’re working on lots of targets that haven’t come out yet.”

The Verdict: Additions will be crucial

Hasenhuttl’s team visibly declined towards the end of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, having lost their last four games, including a 4-1 annihilation at the hands of Leicester on the final day of the season.

Finishing in 15th, Southampton came close to dropping down to the relegation zone, ending the season just five points clear of Burnley in 18th.

Therefore, if the Saints are to see a big change next term and realise ambitions of a top-half finish, it is imperative that the club look to bring in a number of additions, whilst keeping hold of prized, in-demand assets like James Ward-Prowse.

Otherwise, a relegation battle could be on the cards if they are unable to strengthen their squad or keep hold of key players.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag knows Denzel Dumfries ‘so well’ but no talks are currently taking place over any transfer to Old Trafford, Fabrizio Romano has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

Goal journalist James Robson reported earlier this month that the Inter Milan defender is a target for Ten Hag at United, as the new Red Devils manager wants to ‘address’ the right-back position in his first transfer window in charge of the club.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a return to Crystal Palace on loan, and while Ten Hag has apparently assured Diogo Dalot that the youngster have a chance to prove himself, he seemingly wants another option at his disposal.

It was only last summer that Inter paid £12.3m to sign Dumfries from PSV Eindhoven. Formerly of Heerenveen, the 26-year-old faced Ten Hag’s Ajax during his time in the Eredivisie.

The latest

Romano has said that Ten Hag is closely familiar with Dumfries but added that United have yet to step up their interest. He added that Inter could look to nearly triple their money on the Dutch defender, for whom they could seek somewhere between £30.2m and £34.5m.

The journalist stated: “Dumfries, he’s a player that Ten Hag knows so well, but at the same time, [it] is not something that at the moment is being negotiated between the clubs. For sure, Inter want €35million-€40million for Dumfries.”

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The verdict

Dumfries actually operated as a right wing-back for the most part of last season, with Simone Inzaghi favouring a 3-5-2 system at Inter.

Ten Hag has shown a preference for a 4-3-3 shape so far as a manager, but clearly he believes that the 26-year-old could still thrive in a four-man defence.

Dumfries has been highly effective going forward, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in all competitions last season. Indeed, he ranks in the top three percentiles among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for goals, non-penalty xG, shots and touches in the attacking penalty area.

Labelled ‘outstanding’ by Italian football expert Mina Rzouki, the Netherlands international would be aiming to compete with the numbers posted by the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.