All posts by n8rngtd.top

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Marcus Edwards has shown exactly what he’s capable of since moving abroad. 

For whatever reason, Edwards couldn’t force his way into the first team in north London, and he decided to move to Portugal instead.

However, he is well on his way to becoming the one that got away from Spurs in recent years.

With a deft feint, drop of the shoulder and change of direction, the talented attacking midfielder often leaves defenders trailing in his wake.

The Spurs academy graduate opened up about his life in north London in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with iNews, as relayed by @HotspurRelated.

While he enjoyed a “good relationship” with former boss Mauricio Pochettino, he admitted he doesn’t regret leaving his boyhood club, insisting “I don’t dwell on it.”

Although Edwards is arguably one of the most gifted dribblers to emerge from the academy – averaging more than three dribbles per game in Liga NOS last season – he never got a chance to prove himself.

The Lilywhites have been linked with their former charge this summer, but it appears he is paying no attention to the past and is fully focused on the future.

The 8-cap former England U20 international played 26 games in the Portuguese top flight last term, finishing the season with a tally of seven goals and five assists (Via WhoScored).

Pochettino once compared his playing style to Lionel Messi, but the youngster never established himself at his boyhood club and was allowed to leave as a free agent.

It’s hardly surprising he has attracted attention from his former club and Manchester United, as his contract clause is reportedly worth €15m (£13.5m). However, Jose Mourinho is hardly short of wide options, including wingers Son Heung-min, Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn, and it wouldn’t make much sense to splash the cash on a player Daniel Levy let go for free.

However, Spurs could still make a tidy profit if he is sold in the summer, as the club will receive half of the profits of any potential sale, so it’s all swings and roundabouts really.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Marcus Edwards in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

With all the drama that’s been unfolding concerning the transfer of Ben White to Leeds United, it doesn’t really surprise that Marcelo Bielsa has decided to look elsewhere for potential defensive reinforcements.

Apparently, the newly-promoted Premier League side have cast their gaze on Lazio’s Luiz Felipe and have even tabled an offer around £27m. However, as the newest updates from La Lazio Siamo Noi indicate, the Italians have declined the bid and are asking for at least an additional £7m.

Initially they wanted even more than £34m but would be willing to settle for that price if really necessary. But their main goal is to start a bidding war for their 23-year-old defender.

The likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are quoted as interested as well so Lazio plan to take advantage of the situation. They are not in a hurry either and are willing to let the European giants fight for their man.

Felipe, however, has seemingly become expendable in Italy and while his sale would not be extremely necessary or a priority, for such a sum, they wouldn’t mind letting him go.

The market and the current climate may dictate how much the clubs can spend but it seems that Lazio are confident a bidding war can be sparked. And in that scenario, they are the ultimate winners.

The Whites, however, might struggle to keep up with Barcelona and PSG if they really decide to enter the race.

Verdict

White was always going to be an expensive venture but Felipe might even eclipse him. Of course, it all depends on whether Bielsa will actually have to face the Catalans and the Parisiens for the 23-year-old’s signature.

With three big clubs in the race, Lazio are bound to up the price tag and do everything to get as much money as possible.

Celtic are ready to come back in with another bid for one of their mooted left-back targets according to fresh reports this week…

What’s the word?

Mail Sport (via the Daily Record) claim that the Scottish champions are set to revisit Paris Saint-Germain defender Mitchel Bakker after having an initial loan bid rejected for the young talent last week.

Over the weekend, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph revealed that Neil Lennon’s top priority was signing a new left-back before the end of the transfer window next month.

Transfermarkt currently value the 20-year-old at £810k whilst it remains to be seen whether their second bid would be another temporary offer or a permanent one.

Lofty comparisons

Currently, Lennon only really has Greg Taylor available in the role following the departure of Kieran Tierney last summer and the recent controversy surrounding Boli Bolingoli.

Therefore, it does make sense for Nick Hammond to try and bolster their defensive ranks with an addition in this position.

Bakker has only featured five times for the PSG senior side since joining on a free transfer from Ajax yet he was still nominated for the 2020 Golden Boy award.

Having come through the system at the famed Ajax academy, the young left-back has drawn comparisons to Jan Vertonghen, who recently swapped Spurs for Benfica after over eight years in the Premier League.

There was even a belief that he’d be the natural successor to Nicolas Tagliafico, but evidently that hasn’t come to fruition.

In the past, reports have lauded Bakker as “an exceptional talent and one that has a bright future” whilst his key attributes make him an “excellent tackler” with “bags of pace”.

Hammond should absolutely come in with a second bid for the PSG sensation.

AND in other news, Celtic exit on brink of stunning collapse…

Liverpool are not having the strongest transfer window as they currently have just one senior signing made so far.

They are also looking at potentially losing Rhian Brewster and Gini Wijnaldum, who have both been linked with permanent moves away from Anfield. However, this will be the least of their worries if a recent update on another Reds player has any substance to it.

According to Voetbalzone.nl (relayed via @LFCTransferRoom), Barcelona – who are very keen on Wijnaldum – have now shifted their sights towards Mohamed Salah. Ronald Koeman is reportedly looking to land a deal for him and the Egyptian would apparently like to make the move to Spain.

Salah, who is now valued at a stellar £108m, is one of Liverpool’s star players and indeed one of the best forwards on the planet right now. Since his arrival on Merseyside in 2017, the 28-year-old has tallied 97 goals and 41 assists in 154 total appearances for the Reds (via Transfermarkt), including a hat-trick in the 4-3 win over Leeds on Saturday.

Given his astronomical impact on the team, some fans aren’t willing to let him go for any amount. However, there are a few who think a move could actually materialise.

One supporter has said that, ‘knowing FSG’, they will cash in on Salah. This view clearly comes from the latest backlash that Fenway Sports Group received over their stalling of bidding for Thiago Alcantara. The club owners have been viewed as overly frugal due to their lack of spending.

Another fan has tweeted (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) ‘Mbappe in’. Liverpool have been loosely linked with Kylian Mbappe over the years and the profit made on the sale of Salah could potentially pave the way for the Reds to swoop in for the Frenchman.

Read more replies from the Anfield faithful here:

Do you think Salah could be tempted to leave for Barcelona? Join the discussion in the comments below…

Let’s paint the scene, shall we?

You’ve made a start with your Fantasy Football team, the first few game weeks haven’t proven too great, have they? Your team is lacking in points, your mates at work have all had a great start, 100+ points in the bag, lovely stuff – but not you. No, you’ve had a torrid start, red cards for Andreas Christensen, John Egan, and Kieran Gibbs, an Erik Pieters own goal, a Mo Salah stalemate – thing’s just aren’t looking too positive at the moment, are they?

Well, just your luck that FPL gives you some great little tricks up your sleeves for the season, one of those being the wildcard.

The use of the wildcard allows the user to make an unlimited amount of transfers for a game week, without incurring any point penalties or deductions for doing so – one week of unlimited transfers to completely revamp your squad, just to give you that little points boost you so desperately need to reduce the gap between you and your mates in the mini-league. The use of a wildcard can be done twice per season – during the first half of the season between GW1 and 29th December, and once again for the remainder of the season.

Now you’re probably thinking, when should I use it then? A good question, as there are a few loopholes in the Premier League calendar that allows you to get the most out of your use of a wildcard. You may feel you need to use your wildcard due to injuries across your squad, which is a great idea, as you can make quick transfers for a game week at no extra cost, in time for your injured squad to become fit again. The best time to use it, however, is during a double game week.

A double game week is where two or more teams face two separate fixtures in a single game week, giving you double the number of potential points on your wildcarded players. These double game weeks often occur due to clashes with games in other competitions, and it can prove wise to hold onto your wildcard until one may occur.

It’s simple really, and it is a great little tool to give you that needed points boost for your team – especially during the aforementioned double game weeks. It is also key to remember that these transfers don’t have to be made at once, and can be done throughout the week before the next game week deadline, as long as you’re sticking to the budget, and make sure you use the wildcard right at the start of each game week, to give yourself enough time to implement any needed changes.

So there you have it, the wildcard – a simple yet effective tool that can be very useful in FPL, so use it wisely, and good luck for the rest of the season!

Tottenham Hotspur will, as per The Telegraph, push forwards their attempts to bring in defender Joe Rodon from Swansea City ahead of the domestic deadline.

Jose Mourinho has been keen to bolster his options at the heart of Spurs’ defence. Tottenham missed out on a move for Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger, after the Blues pulled the plug on the move. Rodon has now emerged as a potential target to bring in before Friday’s domestic deadline.

Rival interest could mean Tottenham need to act fast

Tottenham have already had an offer worth around £7 million rejected by Swansea for Rodon, with the Championship club thought to be holding out for a fee in the region of £20 million for the defender, according to the Daily Mail.

It has now emerged that Leicester City are also interested in making a potential move for the 22-year-old, but they would prefer to secure any deal for the Wales international in the January window, rather than before the domestic deadline, according to The Sun.

That could give Tottenham an advantage, with Spurs ready to press ahead with a move for Rodon before the deadline and it looks like they are preparing to wait until the closing stages of the window before securing a potential deal, as per The Telegraph. Although it has been suggested that were a bidding war to ensue for the defender, it might put Mourinho’s side off any potential deal, as per Football London.

Rodon would be a strong backup

If Tottenham bring in Rodon, one would imagine it would be with an eye to the future in terms of him being a regular starter. The 22-year-old, though, has plenty of quality and potential to further develop and he has already helped Swansea record three clean sheets this term, making 7.8 clearances and 2.3 interceptions per game (via Sofascore).

Those types of stats suggest he could be a perfect fit for the way Mourinho likes his defenders to play due to his aggression and determination to clear the ball from danger and read the game well. The 22-year-old is also very reliable in possession, having averaged an 82% passing accuracy last term, via Sofascore.

Tottenham fans, would Rodon be a starter for Spurs? Let us know your thoughts below!

Celtic were unable to rectify their mistakes made against Rangers at the weekend after AC Milan handed them another loss on home soil. The Hoops were brushed aside by the feisty Italians, who rode out a 3-1 victory in their recent Europa League clash.

That’s now two losses on the bounce for Neil Lennon’s side, who haven’t registered such form since July. It appears that their Old Firm defeat has unsettled things and they will now shift attention to Aberdeen in hopes to regain some form. A poor display against Milan will see Lennon return to the drawing board, but he’ll have a tough decision to make when selecting his attackers.

Odsonne Edouard has been out of action after testing positive for Covid-19. According to the Glasgow Times, he is back in training but still not fully recovered and is a doubt ahead of Celtic’s next league match on Sunday.

Edouard a big miss for Celtic

The 22-year-old tallied an astonishing 21 goals and 12 assists in 27 Premiership appearances last season, playing a huge part in the Hoops’ ninth consecutive title. He is continuing his run of good form into the current campaign, already boasting four goals in seven games (via Transfermarkt).

Had Edouard been available against Rangers, it could have been a completely different game. Instead, Steven Gerrard’s men were victorious and extend their lead over their bitter rivals at the top of the table.

Lennon opted for a strike partnership between Mohamed Elyounoussi and Patryk Klimala at the weekend, who were both dropped in favour of Leigh Griffiths in a lone No.9 role last night. Neither of these approaches were successful, which puts a huge strain on the manager going into the Aberdeen fixture.

Elyounoussi pulled one goal back against AC Milan, which could earn him a start on Sunday, but after a poor display from Griffiths, it’s likely he will be demoted to the bench. Celtic would hugely benefit from Edouard’s influence right now and it’ll be euphoria on camp when he does finally returns to the action.

In other news, Leigh Griffiths let Celtic down in weakened Neil Lennon side against AC Milan…

TalkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair has slammed West Bromwich Albion’s reported consideration of potentially sacking Slaven Bilic after his side’s recent run of poor results.

Sinclair slams Bilic decision

The Baggies lost 2-0 to Fulham on Monday, meaning that the Midlands outfit are still yet to win a game in the Premier League since their promotion.

John Percy revealed earlier this week that the Croatian manager now faces a make or break match against Tottenham at the weekend to save his job. In response to the news, Sinclair said:

“What’s the point in sacking Bilic?

“If you’re going to give a manager money, give it to Slaven for the January window and see if he can keep you up. He’s done well enough to get them promoted in the first place.”

Be careful what you wish for

It is no surprise to see that Bilic is now under pressure – that is the cut-throat nature of the Premier League. To be without a win after seven matches puts them in the bottom three, and the fact their latest defeat was against a direct relegation rival makes matters worse.

However, it must be remembered that Bilic was able to get West Brom back into the big time – via automatic promotion as well. The manager will not, and should not hold on to his job only based on past glories, but as they sit only one point off 17th place at the moment, it could be too soon to start making such knee-jerk calls.

In other news, West Brom fans slammed this star against Fulham.

David Moyes’ failure to seal a summer deal for John Lundstram could have cost West Ham United, as Chris Wilder has admitted that the Sheffield United midfielder could now leave Bramall Lane in January.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports, Lundstram’s stay at Bramall Lane may be nearing its end after a breakdown in last-ditch talks to agree on a new contract, following the midfielder’s rejection of several improved offers.

Wilder has made it clear that he would like the 26-year-old to remain with the Blades, but United chiefs will listen to bids come the winter market after their latest offer – thought to be in line with other recent deals signed by senior players – was knocked back.

Their most recent proposal will remain on the table in hopes that Lundstram commits his long-term future to the side he helped secure promotion into the Premier League, and for whom he started 26 of his 34 top-flight appearances last term and all six to date this season.

Lundstram will also be able to negotiate with foreign clubs in January with his current terms set to expire in the summer, when the former Everton trainee will become a free agent if a winter move or a new contract is not first secured.

Wilder has stated that he would “love” Lundstram to stay at Bramall Lane after marking the midfielder as non-transferable in the summer, having been courted by the likes of West Ham, Brighton and Rangers.

The Irons remain interested in a potential deal for the £7.2million-rated midfielder, per ExWHUemployee, though it remains to be seen if the east London outfit revive their failed efforts when the January window opens.

Perfect partner for Rice

Moyes’ failure to seal a deal for Lundstram in the summer could now come back and cost West Ham, with Wilder and Sheffield United accepting that the midfielder may have to be sold in January a welcome invitation for more potential suitors to step in.

Lundstram has shown what he can bring to the Premier League in his 40 top-flight appearances since helping the Blades to secure promotion in 2018/19, with five goals and three assists last term from central midfield – including winning strikes against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth plus a brace at home to Burnley.

He further created a total of eight big chances last season, squandered four himself and averaged 1.0 shots, 0.6 key balls, 0.5 successful dribbles, 1.4 tackles and 28.6 accurate passes (83%) a game, per SofaScore.

The Liverpool-born ace is yet to score or assist this term having wasted his two big chances and not created a clear-cut chance, but has improved his tally for key balls to an average 1.7, total passes to 30.5 and successful dribbles to 0.8 per match, suggesting he could be the perfect partner for Declan Rice if Moyes can land a winter bargain.

AND in other news, David Moyes needs a “terrific” West Ham man he expects “much more” from to step up now more than ever.

Tottenham Hotspur could look to bolster their defensive line in one of the next two transfer windows, and if reports are to be believed, Daniel Levy is eyeing a freebie…

What’s the word?

According to Sport Bild (via the Daily Mail), Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome Boateng is set to become a free agent in the summer as the Bundesliga giants will not renew his contract at the Allianz Arena.

It’s already sparked a potential three-way Premier League battle to secure his signature with Spurs in the hunt alongside London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

The 32-year-old is currently valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt and is thought to be on around £205k-per-week in Germany.

Next Carvalho?

Spurs’ major Achilles heel is their leaky defence, having only kept two clean sheets in their last 14 matches in all competitions, which follows on from having the second-worst defensive record inside the top seven last season.

We’ve seen down the road at Stamford Bridge what the addition of an illustrious and experienced defender can do, Thiago Silva’s presence among the backline has seen the Blues keep six clean sheets in their last eight games.

Indeed Boateng could make a similar impact given he’s been a regular for the Bundesliga champions and at international level for Germany for the best part of nine years.

Back in 2004, Mourinho brought Ricardo Carvalho to Chelsea with him on the back of a Champions League win and that’s something the 6 foot 4 monster has just won, making him a two-time winner of Europe’s top prize, so that would bear some similarities to why the Special One would be genuinely interested in signing Boateng.

Throw in a World Cup and eight domestic titles; you’ve got yourselves a major winner here.

Bayern teammate Thomas Muller once dubbed him a “quarterback” who “has developed into a world-class player” whilst former boss Niko Kovac also waxed lyrical, claiming: “his concentration and quality is exceedingly good.”

Unlike Silva, Boateng has plenty more to give in terms of longevity and would surely be a most welcome addition in north London, especially as he’d arrive on a free transfer.

That’ll surely have Levy’s mouth watering already.

AND in other news, Spurs dealt potentially huge blow over Tanguy Ndombele…