With Danny Rose heading out on loan to Newcastle in the January transfer window, and Ben Davies yet again struggling with injuries and fitness, Jose Mourinho hasn’t got the greatest depth or quality in the left-back position at Tottenham.
Reports in recent days have claimed that the Portuguese man is keen on making a move for Benfica star Alejandro Grimaldo, but that Spurs are unwilling to meet the asking price demanded by the Liga NOS giants.
Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?
After hearing about their reported stance on the left-back, fans of the north London side took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation, with many unsurprised by the latest update.
One Spurs fan revealed his frustrations at how the north Londoners continued to repeat the same mistakes of not paying the asking price, and then ending up with cheaper, poorer alternatives.
If Spurs are genuinely serious about improving and making a challenge for titles and trophies, then refusing to splash the cash on a player who could come in and be a part of the first-team for the next few years or so is certainly not the way to go.
Understandably, some fans are frustrated with their club for not being proactive in their chase for Grimaldo, and unless Daniel Levy changes his thinking, then Spurs could be left to rue missing out on the defender.
Meanwhile, Alasdair Gold has provided a major update on this AVB signing.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Liverpool are now all but qualified for the next round of the Champions League.
The Reds were in action against Genk on Tuesday, and prevailed 2-1 thanks to goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
They now top their group in Europe’s premier club competition, five points clear of third-placed Red Bull Salzburg with just two matches left.
Jurgen Klopp made several changes to the side that won 2-1 against Aston Villa at the weekend, but one of those to keep his place was Trent Alexander-Arnold.
One of Liverpool’s stars under the former Borussia Dortmund manager, he displayed both experience and naivety against de Smurfen.
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First, let’s look at the positives. Defensively, he had some good moments, winning three tackles and making three interceptions. In both aspects, he led the way among his teammates. Going forward, too, he shone at times, creating four chances and landing a game-high two crosses.
However, just two of 12 found their target, and that was not the only area of his game that was below his usual high standards. The seven-time England international lost possession an astonishing game-high 32 times, with the next worse being Joakim Maehle with 24. James Milner, the next Liverpool player, lost the ball on just half as many occasions.
The stats won’t tell the whole story either. For example, the 21-year-old will be credited with an interception for the way he took the ball off Mbwana Samatta’s head just before the visitors equalised, but he was only forced to make such a last-ditch challenge after he failed to track the Tanzania international’s run quickly enough. Had he been marking his man properly, he may have even been able to avoid the corner that led to the leveller which he instead gave away.
We often forget that he is just 21 years old, but considering he already has 100 first-team appearances for the Reds and has a Champions League medal, there is only so much slack he can be cut when using the argument of his youth.
Against Genk, it was not necessarily an issue – Liverpool could afford to be slightly off the pace and still dominate. But it will be a much different story against Manchester City at the weekend.
The £72m-valued right-back – as per Transfermarkt – needs to eradicate this type of sloppiness immediately, otherwise the likes of Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero will be waiting to take advantage.
This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.
When Nottingham Forest signed Lewis Grabban from AFC Bournemouth back in 2018, they probably didn’t expect him to have quite the impact he is currently having. However, fast forward to November 2019, and the London-born forward is spearheading the side’s chase for promotion to the Premier League.
Grabban has scored six goals in 14 Championship appearances for Sabri Lamouchi’s side, and while it doesn’t seem like much, there is a running theme with his contributions which is proving invaluable.
His first major impact came in the game against Leeds United at Elland Road, and to be honest with you, Forest were lucky to leave with a draw as the Yorkshire side peppered their goal with 15 shots compared to their six (via BBC). Still, the Jamaican-native popped up in the 77th minute to score a crucial equaliser in a game that started off a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions (via WhoScored)
The next set of goals came in the 2-1 win away to Fulham as Grabban helped himself to a brace. At the time, it was billed as a shock win due to the form of the west London side at the time, showing the importance of his contribution (via BBC).
You can also add Swansea City, Stoke City and Luton Town, all away from home, to the list of games the forward has made a major impact in, scoring goals against the Potters and the Hatters and providing the assist in the 1-0 win over the Swans.
From an attacking point-of-view, Grabban proves to be the go-to man for Lamouchi, averaging the most shots per game (2.2) and scored double the number of goals as the next highest scorer prior to this weekend.
With promotion to the Premier League being valued at £170m by Deloitte (via The Daily Mail), Grabban’s contribution to a potential promotion in difficult games would make the £6.12m (via Transfermarkt) paid for him look like daylight robbery.
Nottingham Forest fans, what do you make of Grabban’s contribution this season? Let us know your thoughts!
After a long international break in which Manchester United were forced to sit on back-to-back losses against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool, they came back with a win over the weekend.
The opposition may have only been Southampton, but Erik ten Hag’s side ensured it wasn’t three losses on the bounce on Saturday as they weathered the hosts’ early pressure to emerge 3-0 victors.
The three-time European champions still look some way off being a free-flowing team capable of beating the Premier League’s big boys, but it was certainly a step in the right direction, and it might have eased the pressure on the manager somewhat.
However, with the season in full swing, the Red Devils must prepare for another match tomorrow night, as they play host to League One side Barnsley in the League Cup.
The level of competition means Ten Hag can afford to make several changes, and due to the number of games coming up, he could make up to eight and, in the process, hand an academy gem his first start.
1 GK – Altay Bayındır
So, starting between the sticks, we come to our first change as Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır comes in for Andre Onana.
As with most of them in this XI, this change is more about giving Ten Hag’s fringe players a chance to play than anything else.
This would be Bayındır’s second appearance for the Red Devils, but he’s far from inexperienced, with ten caps for Turkey and 145 appearances for Fenerbahçe under his belt.
2 RB – Diogo Dalot
Diogo Dalot for Manchester United
Diogo Dalot is staying in the right-back position.
The Portuguese international didn’t have a great game against the Saints on Saturday.
ESPN’s Adam Brown gave him just a 5/10 for his ‘careless challenge’ that led to the home side’s penalty, but he was a reliable performer last season and should play again tomorrow night.
3 CB – Harry Maguire
The first entre-back position brings the second change as Harry Maguire comes in for new boy Matthijs de Ligt.
The Dutchman put in a fine performance on Saturday but came off with five minutes to go with cramp, later saying, “it’s the first time I think in five months that I played three times in a row.”
So, for a game against League One opposition, Ten Hag should do the sensible thing, rest his new star defender, and play the more-than-capable Maguire, who should hopefully be fit after limping somewhat himself, in the final moments against Southampton.
4 CB – Johnny Evans
It’s the same story in the other centre-back position, as the recently returned Lisandro Martínez makes way for veteran defender Jonny Evans.
The Northern Irishman may be 36, and may have almost quit over the summer break, but he has proven himself to still be a useful player, and should be fine against the Tykes.
5 LB – Harry Amass
The final position in the defence brings us to the first full debut in the team, as 17-year-old Harry Amass comes in for summer signing Noussair Mazraoui.
The “exciting” youngster, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, impressed during preseason and has played for the club’s U18s and U21s in recent years, but is yet to make his competitive first-team debut, and what better time to do it than against a team from two divisions below.
6 CM – Casemiro
It’s all change in the midfield, and the first of the three players to come into the starting lineup is the immensely experienced Casemiro.
Now, the five-time Champions League winner has received plenty of somewhat justified flak over his underwhelming performances as of late, and while he may no longer be of the level required to match the best teams in the Premier League, he should be able to control a game against significantly weaker opposition, so long as he has mobile players around him, which he will do.
7 CM – Manuel Ugarte
The next ace to start in the middle of the park is Manuel Ugarte, who could be set to make his first start for the Red Devils after coming off the bench at the weekend.
The Uruguayan’s two starts in the international break should quell any fear Ten Hag may have had over his fitness, and the prospect of seeing him breaking up play and disrupting opposition attacks should excite fans.
The 23-year-old may well develop an impressive relationship with Kobbie Mainoo in the long run, but with the Englishman getting a well-earned rest for this match, his job will be to help Casemiro maintain control.
8 CM – Toby Collyer
The final midfielder in the lineup is another youngster who could be making his first start for the club, Toby Collyer.
However, unlike Amass, the 20-year-old talent, whom former Brighton U18 coach Mark Beard described as someone “who plays like two men,” has already made his competitive debut for the club, coming off the bench in the Community Shield and the loss to Liverpool this season.
9 RW – Amad Diallo
Keeping his place on the right of the front three is Amad Diallo.
Like Dalot, the Ivorian dynamo didn’t have his best game against the Saints, receiving a 6/10 from ESPN’s Brown, but was still a threat on the counter and looked lively throughout.
If Ten Hag wants to get the best out of the 22-year-old gem, then he needs to start him in a run of games, including the one tomorrow night.
10 ST – Joshua Zirkzee
It should be no surprise to see Joshua Zirkzee keep his place in the starting lineup, as with Rasmus Hojlund out injured, there isn’t another recognised striker the manager can turn to.
However, that doesn’t mean the former Bologna ace doesn’t deserve to keep his place, as while he’s not been prolific yet, he has looked dangerous here and there and has consistently found himself goalscoring areas.
Tottenham have handed a member of their first team a late transfer ultimatum as they look to trim their squad further in the final days of transfer windows around the globe.
Tottenham's summer transfers – trimming the fat
There was plenty of activity in north London over the summer, with Ange Postecoglou's side seeing several players leave and breaking their transfer record as they look to improve on their fifth placed Premier League finish from last season.
Four new first team players arrived, headlined by Dominic Solanke, who made the switch from Bournemouth to Tottenham in a deal worth £65m, a club record deal for the Lilywhites and a record sale for Bournemouth.
They also shelled out £60m on Championship pair Archie Gray (20-years-old) and Wilson Odobert (19-years-old), while Lucas Bergvall joined as part of an agreement completed in January, setting the club back a further £8.5m. But there were plenty of exits too. Midfielder Oliver Skipp left to join Leicester City, while Emerson Royal joined AC Milan and Joe Rodon completed a permanent move to Leeds United.
Giovani Lo Celso also completed a late move to Real Betis and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg swapped Tottenham for Marseille. Elsewhere, all of Japhet Tanganga, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and Tanguy N'dombele were released and Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil both left on loan.
It followed a clear plan of removing deadwood, with few of those let go having featured heavily for Postecoglou during his first season in charge.
Starts under Ange by Tottenham's 2024 summer exits
Player
Starts (all competitions)
Oliver Skipp
7
Emerson Royal
13
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
10
Giovanni Lo Celso
6
Manor Solomon
3
Ivan Perisic
1
Bryan Gil
2
Other
0
Defender given Turkey transfer ultimatum
Now, The Sunday People [via Football Insider] report that Sergio Reguilon has been given a transfer ultimatum by Spurs in recent days not dissimilar to Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell's. Both left-backs are out of favour at their current sides and need to complete a move away, with Turkey the only nation whose transfer window remains open (it closes on Friday September 13th).
The Spaniard is down to the final year of his £53,000 per week deal and Ange Postecoglou has deemed him surplus to requirements, leaving him out of the club's UEFA Europa League squad for the first half of the season.
Ange could unearth his next Bentancur in "top" Spurs academy teen
The Lilywhites talent looks like a promising young player for Ange Postecoglou to work with.
ByDan Emery Sep 9, 2024
He spent last season out on loan with Manchester United and then Brentford, with his performances for the Red Devils coming in for plenty of praise.
"Reguilon’s done fantastic getting forward. He’s a good athlete with his forward runs. He’s been up and down [the flank]," Owen Hargreaves explained on TNT sport after Manchester United's 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
However, he is now facing months without first team football should he stay in north London, with Spurs having tried to sell him "throughout the summer" and now turning to Turkey as a last resort. With Chilwell also eyeing a move to Turkey, a late deal could be a tricky one to strike, but it is the Spaniard's last chance at regular football in the prime of his career.
The last couple of years have been a dream for Aston Villa football club, especially considering the precarious position they found themselves in just a couple of years ago.
They only secured survival on the final day of the 2019/20 season away at West Ham United, with the club undergoing a huge overhaul in recent years.
Significant investment into the playing squad has allowed for a huge turnaround, with Unai Emery’s side qualifying for the Champions League during the 2023/24 campaign after finishing in the Premier League’s top four.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Emery has been the man at the helm for their recent success, providing the supporters with memories to last a lifetime – with European football a distant dream before his arrival in November 2022.
He’s formed a fantastic squad with the help of President of Football Operations Monchi, with the pair working together to form a squad without one of the club’s most high-profile academy graduates.
Jack Grealish’s time at Aston Villa
After joining the club as a six-year-old, Jack Grealish rapidly developed through the club’s academy setup, before making his first-team debut back in 2014 following a successful loan spell at Notts County, where he registered 12 goal involvements in 39 games.
Manchester City's Jack Grealish
The forward is the definition of a modern-day club legend, staying at the club after relegation from the Premier League in 2016, and becoming a spearhead in the squad that eventually claimed promotion three years later.
He was named as club captain during the promotion-winning campaign, producing numerous moments of magic – including against bitter rivals Birmingham City after he was attacked by a supporter.
It was fitting that Grealish scored the goal to keep Villa in the Premier League back in 2020, with the boyhood fan going on to join Manchester City in a record-breaking deal 12 months later, departing Villa Park with 213 appearances to his name.
The attacker joined Pep Guardiola’s side in a £100m deal – the most expensive transfer for an English player at the time, before Declan Rice's £105m move to Arsenal last summer.
1. Jack Grealish
2021/22
£100m
2. Moussa Diaby
2024/25
£50.5m
3. Douglas Luiz
2024/25
£43.3m
4. Christian Benteke
2015/16
£39m
5. Stewart Downing
2011/12
£19.2m
Whilst it was a big call to let such a talented player leave Villa Park, the fee was too good to turn down, with the club currently having a player who is worth more than the English international in 2024.
Jack Grealish’s market value in 2024
Villa star Ollie Watkins enjoyed his best top-flight goalscoring campaign last season, bagging 19 goals in his 37 appearances – helping the club finish in the top four.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
The 28-year-old “nightmare”, as described by Conor Coady, has been a constant source of goals for Villa after his £28m move from Brentford back in 2020, with Dean Smith's signing going on to register double figures in every campaign he’s featured in for the club.
His excellent form last season saw him receive a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2024, scoring the winning goal off the bench during the semi-final victory over the Netherlands.
Watkins’ superb showings over the last 12 months has seen his market value soar, with the striker now valued at £55m as per Transfermarkt – a figure that is higher than former fan-favourite Grealish, who’s now only valued at £50m just three years after his record-breaking move.
The striker is just one example of the club’s excellent recruitment in recent times, with his goalscoring abilities allowing the club to reach heights that were unimaginable just a couple of years ago.
The supporters and Emery will desperately be hoping that he can replicate his sensational form from last season in 2024/25 as the club embark on an unforgettable European adventure in the coming months.
Aston Villa struck gold on free signing who's now worth more than Martinez
West Ham United have their sights set on Joao Palhinha and are now preparing to make an initial offer for the player, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Are West Ham United signing Joao Palhinha?
The Portugal international, who currently stars for Fulham, had an excellent first campaign in the Premier League in 2022/23. The Cottagers surprised many by not battling near the relegation zone after their promotion from the Championship and instead bursting into the top ten in the top flight. Palhinha had a key role to play in that success, as he featured on 35 occasions for the club in the league and even bagged three goals along the way.
Not only did he produce a joint-best individual year in terms of his goal haul but he also had plenty to contribute in defence too. When you compare Palhinha to others in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe, he is one of the most eye-catching prospects out there at the moment. With a superb rate of 4.26 tackles per 90, it means that he sits in the top one percent in that area for midfielders. With 2.06 aerials won too, he also sits in the top eight per cent for that category.
The 27-year-old then has certainly caught the eye of other clubs and it's the Irons who are the most heavily linked. According to reliable journalist Romano, an initial opening bid be made soon. He states that the Hammers are lining up an offer and that he is seen as a good replacement for Declan Rice, who appears to be heading out of the exit door.
Fulham's Joao Palhinha
Romano said: "West Ham are preparing their first approach for João Palhinha. Not an easy deal with Fulham but he's top of the list for West Ham to replace Declan Rice. Edson Alvarez remains in list but Borussia Dortmund are pushing to agree personal terms after proposal sent."
What is Joao Palhinha's transfer value?
There is no potential fee or asking price mentioned in terms of a bid and although CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be about 20 million Euros (or £17m), one would expect that to be much higher in reality considering the Cottagers paid £20m for the player last summer and he's only gotten better since.
It could well be worth splashing out big though when you consider how well he has performed. He's been hailed for his form in the Premier League for example, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling the midfielder "outstanding" and adding that he is "top class" in a variety of different areas. David Moyes then would no doubt love to add such a fantastic player to his side and if he can get a deal done, the worries over a Rice departure might ease for the Hammers.
Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski may have to win over new manager Ange Postecoglou who, as things stand, is "not too convinced" by him.
Who could leave Spurs this summer?
Chairman Daniel Levy finally landed on Postecoglou to replace Antonio Conte last week, after over two months of searching for the Italian's replacement.
The 57-year-old set to officially start work on July 1, and Levy has explained exactly why he opted for the ex-Celtic boss in an interview with the club's official website.
“Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said Levy.
"He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."
Tottenham are now tasked with backing Postecoglou in the transfer market whilst reshaping the team in his image, with the club identifying targets for their goalkeeping, central defensive and attacking midfield positions.
However, there are a few faces who could also depart N17 to make way, and it will be very interesting to see who Postecoglou does and doesn't fancy.
Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Lenglet, Eric Dier and Ben Davies have all been tipped for the axe. Meanwhile, Spurs are also thinking of selling Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks with Tanguy Ndombele's future uncertain (The Telegraph).
According to a new report by 90min, they are not the only ones, with defender Eric Dier's talks over a new deal stalling. As well as the Englishman, there is a very interesting line concerning Kulusevski, who starred under Conte during the 2021/2022 season.
Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski
As per their information, the Sweden international "may have to win over Postecoglou", with the Australian "not too convinced" by him right now.
Kulusevski's loan-to-buy deal from Juventus is still yet to activated and the 23-year-old is still very much there on a temporary deal.
Who is Dejan Kulusevski?
The forward, despite a mixed 22/23, seriously impressed under Conte the season prior after signing in January of that year.
From February 2022 onwards, Kulusevski chipped in with five goals and eight assists as Tottenham secured Champions League qualification.
The former Parma star has showcased his serious ability on more than one occasion and we believe he'd be a useful asset for Postecoglou.
Even last season, talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist was blown away by some of his showings, even calling Kulusevski "absolutely different class" after a performance against Chelsea in February.
Coventry City are interested in bringing in Wrexham midfielder Thomas O'Connor in the summer window, according to a report from the Mirror.
Who is Thomas O'Connor?
O'Connor came through the Southampton youth system after joining the club in 2015 from the Republic of Ireland, where the highlight was captaining the Southampton under-21 side throughout the majority of the 2018/19 season.
The Irish midfielder enjoyed two separate loan spells at then-League One side Gillingham across both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns, where he made 67 appearances, scoring one goal and assisting six. O'Connor began to show his versatility throughout this loan spell, making appearances at left-back, left midfield, central midfield, and central defence.
Despite a positive loan spell, Southampton decided to release O'Connor at the end of the 2020/21 season and Burton Albion picked up the midfielder on a free transfer, where he signed a two-year deal to continue playing at the League One level.
The Irishman only made 21 appearances during his six-month spell at Burton, where he began to demonstrate his goal-scoring prowess, before sealing a January 2022 deadline day move to Wrexham, who were competing in the National League at the time.
The 24-year-old's Wrexham career has been very stop-start, making just 36 appearances out of a possible 79 across his 18-month spell with the Welsh club which has resulted in promotion to the Football League.
Despite his injury problems, the number 22 has received praise from journalist Mark Griffith, who noted that the player had begun to put in 'heroic' performances after settling into the club.
Would O'Connor be a good signing for Coventry City?
Coventry just narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season, losing on penalties in the play-off final to Luton Town, and as a result are expected to lose a number of key players this summer including Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres.
Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.
O'Connor has shown in the past that he can perform when he faces Championship level opposition, with his 8/10 performance against Sheffield United in the FA Cup this season where he recorded a goal and an assist a testament to his quality and level of performance.
There will be question marks about if the Irishman would be a success at the Championship side, however, his positional versatility and his previously impressive performances in League One should give manager Mark Robins the confidence that should he be able to get over his injury problems, the left-footed midfielder could well be a success at the Sky Blues, and can potentially replace Hamer.
West Ham United have made themselves known to hold an interest in bringing Villarreal striker Boulaye Dia to the Premier League, according to reports.
Are West Ham signing Boulaye Dia?
The Senegal international is owned by Villarreal having joined back in 2021 but spent last season out on loan at Salernitana, who do have the option to buy him available, and it’s fair to say that he made quite the impression during his time at the Arechi Stadium.
During his 33 appearances, the 26-year-old established himself as both Paulo Sousa’s overall and offensive top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.88, and this impressive form has seemingly grabbed the attention of David Moyes.
Back in May, Italian outlet Calciomercato reported that the Irons had shown an admiration in the centre-forward and were in pole position to secure his services, with the plan being that Salernitana would permanently purchase him to immediately sell him on for a profit where his expected price tag has now been revealed.
According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), West Ham, alongside top-flight rivals Everton and Serie A side Fiorentina, have all "come forward" to sign Dia ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Irons do indeed hold an "interest" in the striker, but Salernitana will "try to resist" offers for their prized asset and are likely to demand "at least" €30m (£25m) to sanction his sale.
The Nike-sponsored star has recently undergone surgery on a knee injury, though it's stated that he'll only be on the sidelines for four weeks and therefore will be fully fit in time for the start of pre-season.
Senegal striker Boulaye Dia.
Should West Ham splash the cash on Dia?
In January, Michail Antonio reportedly told one of his close friends that he could have left West Ham in the closing stages of the transfer window, so there’s always a chance that he may depart over the summer, and should that be the case, Dia could be the perfect replacement, so it’s definitely worth the board testing the waters with an offer.
The Africa Cup winner was a force to be reckoned with at Salernitana, racking up a remarkable 22 goal contributions (16 goals and six assists) in 33 appearances where his outstanding form was rewarded by receiving four man-of-the-match trophies.
The Oyonnax native, who is a “handful to deal with” according to journalist Josh Bunting, is also always looking to produce moments of quality even if he’s not on the scoresheet having recorded 64 shot-creating actions last term which was the second-highest total throughout the whole of his squad, as per FBRef, so should the opportunity present itself, this really is a no-brainer of a deal to complete.