All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton are now pushing to sign a £83m midfielder this month, but they are set to face competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Everton eyeing new midfielders for Moyes

Back in December, it was reported that two of Sean Dyche’s main aims in the January transfer window were to bring in a new right-back and winger, meaning they are still likely to be considered priority positions under the helm of new manager David Moyes.

However, the Toffees clearly feel signing a new central midfielder could aid their survival chances this season, as they are now in talks over a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jakub Moder, who has found game time difficult to come by for the Seagulls.

Newcastle Untied’s Sean Langstaff has also been identified as a January target, with the 27-year-old now in line to become Moyes’ first signing.

The Merseyside club have been looking at midfielders since the summer, and at one point they were targeting Palmeiras’ Ricardo Rios, but the Colombian ultimately ended up remaining in Brazil.

Everton eye "creative" Newcastle academy graduate as Moyes' first signing

Eddie Howe once said he has a “really nice way of linking play”.

2 ByBarney Lane Jan 13, 2025

Now, however, there has been a development in Everton’s pursuit of Rios, with Caught Offside reporting they are pushing hard to get a deal over the line in the January transfer window.

It is unclear how much Palmeiras would be looking to receive for the 24-year-old, but there is a €100m (£83m) release clause in his contract, so he is unlikely to come cheap, especially considering he has just put pen to paper on a new deal.

Interest from elsewhere could also drive the midfielder’s price up, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest also in the running for his signature, having been impressed with his consistency in the Brazilian Serie A.

What Rios could offer Everton

Scout Ben Mattinson has previously given an overview of what type of player the Colombia international is.

Back in the summer, Mattinson also explained that the central midfielder has “sky high potential”, but wasn’t ready for a big move due to a lack of experience.

However, the former Flamengo man continued to impress last season, being ranked as the fifth-best performing player in the Palmeiras squad by WhoScored, and he places in the 89th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, compared to his positional peers in similar leagues.

It would be a risk to sign Rios, given that he is unproven outside Brazil, but his performances last season indicate it could be a gamble worth taking assuming that release clause number is whittled down, as Moyes looks to steer Everton to safety.

Chelsea are renowned for having one of the very best academies in English football, developing some elite-level talents who either go on to impress in the first team or earn them a huge profit.

Mason Mount is a prime example of a player who has done both during his time at the club, making 195 appearances at Stamford Bridge, during his four years in the first-team.

He was part of the Champions League winning squad during the 2020/21 season under Thomas Tuchel, scoring twice in his 11 appearances during the competition.

However, he would depart his boyhood club in a £60m deal to join Manchester United last summer, a decision that was an unpopular one with the supporters.

Tammy Abraham is another star who featured in West London, making 82 appearances, scoring 30 times before leaving to gain more valuable first-team minutes elsewhere.

The striker would join Italian side Roma in a £34m deal back in 2021, an excellent deal for both parties considering he was mainly a backup option during his time at the Bridge.

Two other academy graduates have also left the club in recent times, going on to star in the Premier League after their transfers away from the club.

Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento’s stats since leaving Chelsea

Left-back Lewis Hall made his first-team emergence during the 2022/23 season, making 11 appearances in all competitions – appearing to be a long-term option in the full-back area.

However, his time with the Blues would be short-lived, joining Newcastle last summer on an initial loan with an obligation to buy for £35m, a move that has taken his professional career to the next level.

The 20-year-old has featured in 11 league outings for Eddie Howe so far this campaign, catching the eye of temporary England boss Lee Carsley, leading to a call-up during the ongoing international break.

He’s featured for 135 out of 180 minutes for his nation in the last outings, looking to be an outstanding option for his nation in a position that has caused so many issues over the years.

He’s not the only former Chelsea youngster to have recently made his England debut, with right-back Tino Livramento also rewarded for his excellent performances alongside Hall at St James’ Park.

The 22-year-old originally left the Blues for just £5m in the summer of 2022, joining Southampton before also moving to Newcastle last summer after the Saints’ relegation during the same campaign.

He started and played the entire 90 minutes in the recent win over Ireland, looking assured in the full-back role under Carsley.

However, despite the duo’s recent rise away from the club, there’s also another player who has impressed after his move away from Stamford Bridge.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

The player who Chelsea must regret selling

Attacker João Félix moved to Chelsea on a permanent basis this summer after previously spending the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at the Bridge.

However, the deal saw midfielder Conor Gallagher end his 18-year association at the club, joining Atlético Madrid in a £38m deal, preventing them from losing on a free transfer next summer.

The 24-year-old has already made 15 appearances for the Spanish side, scoring twice and becoming a regular under Diego Simeone at the Wanda Metropolitano.

As a result, the “sensational” talent, as dubbed by journalist John Cross, has featured in Carsley’s plans at international level, starting both matches this break – scoring his first England goal in the win over Ireland on Sunday night.

However, it’s his stats for Atletico that have caught the eye, winning 68% of the tackles he’s entered this campaign, whilst also winning 43 duels – an average of 6.5 per game.

Given his form away from his boyhood club, there must be an ounce of regret by the Blues in allowing such a talent to leave – with Gallagher still having the potential to play ahead of someone like Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.

As far as Hall and Livramento are concerned, however, they would find it a struggle to break in ahead of Euro 2024 winner Marc Cucurella and club captain Reece James.

Games played

11

Minutes played

600

Goals scored

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Fouls won

15

Tackles won

13

Duels won

43

Unfortunately, he will remain as a case of what could’ve been for Chelsea, with their loss undoubtedly Atlético’s gain.

Drinkwater 2.0: Chelsea ace is now one of Boehly's most "pointless" deals

Chelsea must regret “pointless” £30m signing who was supposed to be the next Kante.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 19, 2024

That’s how you win a football match. Newcastle United ripped Ipswich Town to shreds on Saturday afternoon, looking as fluent as they’ve been in a long while and claiming a third successive victory in all competitions.

Newcastle’s patchy Premier League form this season has been a real frustration for Eddie Howe, whose tactical acumen and interpersonal skills remain closed to question. Still, something was missing.

Was it a lack of intensity? Burnout? A loss of direction after a testing, injury-hit campaign that preceded an uninspiring summer of missed opportunities?

Whatever has been out of kilter across the past few months, the Magpies seem to have reoriented themselves now. Howe’s side look as good as they’ve been in 2024, and there’s one man above all others who stood out at Portman Road. You know who.

Alexander Isak's stunning performance

Alexander Isak bagged a hat-trick at Ipswich to extend his brilliant run of clinical form, nine goals and three assists from nine Premier League matches, to be precise.

The Sweden international is bound to have a wealth of high-profile suitors looking jealously toward Tyneside and checking purses to ascertain the practicality of a bumper bid in 2025.

Correspondent Lee Ryder hailed the ‘ruthless display’ in his post-match player ratings, of which Isak received a perfect 10/10 score, but the 25-year-old did miss a glorious chance to grab another and might have been a little tame with one other shot.

1.

Mohamed Salah

13

1=

Erling Haaland

13

3.

Cole Palmer

11

4.

Alexander Isak

10

4=

Bryan Mbeumo

10

4=

Chris Wood

10

Isak might steal the headlines – rightly so, to be fair – but he wasn’t actually the finest performer for the Toon on Saturday afternoon. Jacob Murphy was the architect of the success and certainly looks like a man playing with the foresight of a Newcastle swoop for a right winger.

Jacob Murphy was Howe's real hero

Newcastle’s interest in a new right winger has been well documented since the summer, with a £50m bid rejected for Anthony Elanga in August and reliable reports that Brentford’s Bryan Mbemuo is being eyed this winter.

Miguel Almiron is on the periphery with no way back, but Murphy is definitely fighting for his place in the squad – and if his recent purple patch is anything to go by, he might just continue to play a big part in the year to come. Perhaps longer.

At Ipswich, Isak benefitted from the 28-year-old’s steady stream of playmaking, for Murphy created three big chances to complement his goal-and-assist display, as per Sofascore.

A wonderful back-heeled assist for Isak capped off the dream performance, with Ryder awarding him with a 9/10 match score that spoke clearly of his faculty for success in this competitive Newcastle side. The reporter singled out the winger’s “incredible work” for the assist.

Murphy also made an important tackle and won his only contested ground duel of the afternoon. He’s willing to fight and, now having notched three goals and three assists apiece from as many Premier League matches, has made Isak unplayable and himself undroppable as the festive period hits full swing.

He's like Isak: Newcastle can axe Wilson by signing PL "nuisance" for £45m

Newcastle are finding their feet but need more firepower up front.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 20, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur are now holding internal talks over landing a new forward for Ange Postecoglou this January as they look to bolster their ranks in hopes of an improved second half of the Premier League campaign.

Tottenham lose again

After illness and injuries ransacked the Tottenham squad, the Lilywhites fell to another home Premier League defeat as Newcastle edged past them 2-1.

Despite an early Spurs goal from Dominic Solanke, goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon proved enough for Eddie Howe’s side to escape north London with all three points, and condemn Tottenham to their 10th league loss in just 20 games.

Without key men across the pitch, Postecoglou’s side have already moved to sign a new goalkeeper this transfer window and are likely to strengthen further and are thought to be targeting a defender and a forward this window.

Both Richarlison and Wilson Odobert have been sidelined for much of the season, leaving Postecoglou low on options in attack, something that has resulted in Timo Werner continuing to start despite a public dressing down from the Spurs boss.

Brennan Johnson

Heung-min Son

Timo Werner

Dejan Kulusevski

Dominic Solanke

Postecoglou dubbed his performances “not acceptable” after replacing him at half-time in the 1-1 Europa League draw at Rangers just under a month ago, but the German has since featured in every game whether as a substitute or a starter.

It is clear that fresh blood is needed in attack, with Heung-Min Son having seen his form drop off a cliff so far this campaign and Dejan Kulusevski preferred in central areas by the Tottenham boss. Now, discussions have taken place over a new potential addition to their frontline.

Tottenham hold internal talks over attacker

That is according to Ben Jacobs, who reports that Tottenham have held internal talks over a move to sign PSG talent Randal Kolo Muani this January after the player’s camp contacted Spurs last month.

Unwanted by the French champions, it had previously been reported that Kolo Muani had offered himself to the Lilywhites, but now it appears that this is an option Spurs are taking seriously.

Jacobs claims that the French international is “expected to leave PSG in January” and that “several clubs across Europe are interested.” One of those is Postecoglou’s side, who have “discussed” a deal internally, though it is stressed that they are “yet to make an approach”.

It is added that PSG are “open to a loan, but ideally with an obligation”, while the “French champions prefer a permanent exit”, something that seems highly unlikely in January given the price likely needed to sell him plus his hefty £202,000 a week wages in the French capital.

Fewer touches than Werner: Ange must sell 3/10 Spurs flop who won 0 duels

Tottenham fell to another Premier League defeat against Newcastle United.

4 ByAngus Sinclair Jan 5, 2025

Though things have not worked out for Kolo Muani since his big-money move to PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt, he has remained a key part of the French national team and is highly regarded by his teammates.

Indeed, former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi put him among the best forwards in Europe, explaining that “Randal has the qualities. A confident Randal is one of the best strikers in Europe. I hope he gets a lot more playing time because he will help them a lot more.”

Could Tottenham be the side to provide that confidence, and reap the rewards?

Tottenham Hotspur have seen a shift in their recruitment strategy over the last few years – something which Fabio Paratici no doubt was at the centre of.

The Italian spent two years at the club between 2021 and 2023, subsequently turning the hierarchy’s attention to investing in younger talents for the immediate and long-term future.

In the summer of 2022 alone, the 53-year-old completed deals for full-backs Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence – that’s despite the latter being unwanted by then-boss Antonio Conte.

However, in the present day, both players have become key members of Thomas Frank’s first-team squad, showcasing the impressive work done in the transfer market.

The aforementioned duo will be hoping they achieve more sustained success than one player who demonstrated glimpses of quality during the early days of his career in North London.

The real reason behind Dele’s decline at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, Spurs forked out a reported £5m for the signature of attacking midfielder Dele – with many supporters unaware of the youngster.

At just 19, many anticipated the Englishman to join the youth setup in North London, but he would make himself an immediate fan-favourite as a result of his tremendous displays.

For the first three years of his stint at the Lilywhites, he was a regular starter – racking up 146 appearances, scoring on 46 occasions and laying on 35 assists for his teammates.

Such form saw Dele claim the PFA Young Player of the Year two years in a row, becoming just one of five players to achieve such a feat in the history of the Premier League.

However, in a remarkable interview with Gary Neville back in the summer of 2023, the former Lilywhites star opened up on his trauma from his younger years, which no doubt had an effect on his footballing career.

He was often called into question by José Mourinho for his attitude and laziness, also suffering numerous injuries, which plagued his progress in North London.

Dele suffered 11 separate injury setbacks in his seven-year period in North London, with such issues preventing his progress and seeing him miss 44 first-team matches.

His time with the Lilywhites came to a disappointing end back in January 2022, subsequently joining Everton on a free transfer – an unthinkable ending given his previous form.

The Spurs star who’s their best teenage star since Dele

Many supporters questioned Dele’s attitude during his time with Spurs, but after his courage to speak out about his mental health struggles, it’s safe to say many fans empathise with the midfielder.

Such issues have taken a huge toll on his professional career, with the former Lilywhites star now without a club at the age of 29 after leaving Como this summer.

However, there’s no denying he will forever be remembered by the fans for his countless moments of magic that gave everyone involved with the football club memories to last a lifetime.

From Goal of the Season strikes against Crystal Palace, to his memorable double against Chelsea that ended the Blues’ unbeaten 2016/17 record at White Hart Lane.

Such levels are rarely seen from such a young talent, but there’s current generation of supporters has their next remarkable youngster in the form of Lucas Bergvall.

Like Dele, he joined the Lilywhites for less than £10m, arriving as an unknown quantity to the majority of supporters after previously plying his trade for Djurgarden.

However, the Swedish youngster has rapidly developed into one of the club’s best players, a simply remarkable feat given he’s still just 19 years of age.

Despite his tender age, the midfielder has already racked up 56 appearances for the first-team and has subsequently featured in all but one game since Frank took the reins.

Bergvall even netted his first Premier League goal in the win over West Ham United last month, leading to head of scouting Rob Mackenzie labelling him as “a genuine generational talent”.

His underlying stats from 2025/26 highlight that the praise is certainly warranted, with the teenager completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted to date, whilst also ranking in the top 12% of all players in the league for assists registered.

However, out of possession, the Swede has been just as impressive, winning 2.6 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in a total of 5.5 duels per 90 – stats which make him the perfect box-to-box option.

Games played

7

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.6

Duels won

5.5

Recoveries made

3.8

Shots taken

1.2

Frank and Co will desperately be hoping Bergvall can continue on his current trajectory in North London, with the youngster having all the tools to be a key member of the squad in their hunt for added silverware.

There’s little doubt that he’s the best teenage star they’ve had on their hands since Dele’s emergence, but everyone will be hoping that the end to his story with the Lilywhites is a happier one.

Not Simons: Spurs flop is becoming their biggest waste since Ndombele

One Tottenham Hotspur player is rapidly struggling to match the fee paid for his signature in recent times.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 21, 2025

Leeds United are back in action once again in the Championship as they prepare to travel to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in the early kick-off.

They are second in the division after Sheffield United’s win over Sunderland on Friday night and a win in Lancashire would see them move back to the top.

Daniel Farke’s side come into this match off the back of a terrific 3-0 win over recently-relegated Luton Town on Wednesday night, thanks to goals from Sam Byram, Joel Piroe, and Dan James.

Despite that superb victory, there is one Leeds star who could be ruthlessly ditched from the starting XI after an underwhelming individual performance – Brenden Aaronson.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international started in the number ten position for the Whites but was not directly involved in any of the three goals, as he ended the match with zero goals and zero assists.

Aaronson did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates and failed with two of his three attempted dribbles, whilst he also could not find the back of the net with either of his shots.

The former Union Berlin loanee has now gone four matches without a goal contribution to show for his efforts in the Championship, and six matches without one for club and country.

With the likes of Manor Solomon, Gnonto, James, and Largie Ramazani all fit and available for selection, Aaronson may not be able to afford to have multiple matches without any direct contributions, which is why he could be brutally binned from the XI this afternoon.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Farke must now drop the American attacking midfielder from the line-up to unleash James from the start on the right wing, with Gnonto moved into a central position.

Why Dan James should be unleashed

Firstly, the Wales international came off the bench on Wednesday night to score a terrific goal, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper from Jayden Bogle’s ball over the top.

His pace offers Leeds a huge threat in transition, as was evidenced by his contributions against Swansea in the previous match, and that could be a useful weapon against Blackburn today.

In the 4-3 win over the Swans last Sunday, James assisted Solomon and Gnonto for goals, whilst he also provided the cross that Ben Cabango scored an own goal from, essentially creating three of the four goals.

Appearances

11

Starts

7

Goals

3

Big chances created

5

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the £50k-per-week wizard has contributed with eight goals and ‘big chances’ created in 11 league games this term, despite only starting seven times.

James, who pundit Sanny Rudravajhala described as “electric” last season, has assisted two, three if you include the own goal, and scored one goal in his last two Championship matches, which shows that he is in-form and thriving at the moment.

Leeds must sell Elland Road flop who was "really exciting" under Bielsa

The Leeds United centre-forward should be moved on in the January transfer window.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 27, 2024

Whereas, Aaronson has not provided a goal or an assist in his last four starts in the division for Leeds and must be binned from the XI to make room for the former Manchester United forward to start.

The role and importance of a modern-day fullback is very much changing before our eyes, with quotes such as “no one wants to be a Gary Neville” beginning to lose their meaning.

Top sides and coaches, largely because of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, are beginning to use their full-backs in a variety of ways both on and off the ball, often becoming wingers, central midfielders or even attacking midfielders (number 10s) on the ball to aid their team.

Tactical flexibility is becoming more important, and with this, the importance of having high-quality and versatile fullbacks is becoming a key factor for elite sides to operate.

Guardiola has led the charge for using his fullbacks in midfield, and he could well be getting another special player this month with the skill set to do this.

Man City looking at their new Cancelo

According to reports from Football Insider, talks have been advancing in recent days between Manchester City and Juventus for their versatile defender, Andrea Cambiaso.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The feeling is that an agreement for the 24-year-old will be reached either this month or in the summer.

The Italian can play a range of different positions, playing as a right and left fullback, inverting into midfield zones from this position, and even starting as a right-winger on a few occasions this season for Thiago Motta’s Juventus side.

Cambiaso has made 26 appearances for the Italian giants this season, scoring two goals, providing two assists, contributing to 12 clean sheets and totalling 1,859 minutes played.

Cambiaso vs Cancelo comparisons

One player Guardiola has had in his time at Manchester City who played a similar role to Cambiaso, is João Cancelo. The Portugal international signed for City in 2019, joining from Juventus for a fee of around £60m.

Cancelo made 154 appearances for City in his time at the club, scoring nine goals and providing 21 assists. Whether he started at left-back or right-back, the Portugal international offered Guardiola tactical versatility, tweaking his position on the ball in order to set his team up as he liked.

That’s exactly what he could now with Cambiaso, a player who has been compared to Cancelo by Peter Young of Football Italia.

Goals + Assists

0.19

0.24

Progressive Carries

3.68

2.88

Progressive Passes

4.75

7.86

Pass Completion %

88.8%

85.7%

Key Passes

3.04

5.79

Passes into Pen Area

1.27

2.51

Crosses into Pen Area

0.39

0.37

Shot-Creating Actions

3.33

3.07

Tackles + Interceptions

2.60

4.34

Ball Recoveries

4.71

6.32

When analysing both players (Cancelo’s 2020/21 season at City) you can see both players ooze class on the ball, offering excellent progressive numbers, being key creators despite being fullbacks for their sides, and still making high numbers of defensive actions per game.

Cambiaso has been described as “uber-press resistant” by Ben Mattinson, due to his ambipedal qualities (two-footed) and small turning radius. This allows him to receive the ball in all zones of the pitch, playing line-splitting passes with both feet, having no angle bias and therefore making it hard for defenders to trap him to one side.

City could finally replace Cancelo with an extreme technician in the form of Cambiaso, who, alongside Rico Lewis, could give Guardiola the wide defensive pairing he wants in order to dominate games and make tactical tweaks at his own leisure.

Worth way more than Marmoush: Pep has struck gold on Man City "superstar"

Man City have a youngster in the squad who is worth more than Omar Marmoush

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 18, 2025

With Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United future more in doubt than ever, INEOS are reportedly set to prioritise the signature of a £60m option to replace their academy graduate.

Man Utd transfer news

Amid struggles to find his best form for the first time in a year or so, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly ready to sell Rashford for as little as £40m in 2025, with Barcelona among the clubs now eyeing a move. In a shock decision, the England international could find himself shown the exit door, allowing Manchester United to welcome reinforcements who suit Ruben Amorim’s system.

The Red Devils have already seen glimpses of just how difficult it will be to transition into life under their new manager, with Andre Onana’s mistake in midweek gifting Viktoria Plzen an opening goal when attempting to play out from the back as instructed.

The former Sporting boss will rightfully stick to his ways, however, and hope to eventually reap the rewards. There’s no doubt that he will need reinforcements if he is to be successful, though.

With that said, according to reports in Spain, INEOS now want to prioritise signing Evan Ferguson to replace Rashford at Manchester United. The Brighton & Hove Albion forward, who is valued at as much as £60m, would slot straight into the sole striker role in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system in which Rashford has struggled.

Barcelona lining up move for "great" Man Utd star Ratcliffe's ready to sell

The La Liga giants could take full advantage.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 14, 2024

Alas, at £60m, it remains to be seen whether Manchester United will be in a position to spend such money when 2025 arrives, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League once again. The last thing that INEOS need is to run into trouble with profit and sustainability.

"Amazing" Ferguson suits Amorim more than Rashford

If Rashord isn’t going to play in one of the wingback roles, which seems to be the case, then it’s difficult to find a place for him in the current Manchester United side. Amorim has so far turned towards Rasmus Hojlund to lead the line and question marks remain over Rashford’s ability to play in either advanced number 10 roles behind the Dane.

Ferguson, meanwhile, could hand the new manager a new version of Viktor Gyokeres. The powerful and clinical Swede was the star of the show in Amorim’s Sporting side, becoming one of the best goalscorers in Europe.

Now, Ferguson could follow suit. A striker who has a similar build and running power, Ferguson’s best years are yet to come and United could take full advantage by landing an early deal.

Whilst he has struggled for minutes at Brighton & Hove Albion in the last year or so, the praise has always poured in for the 20-year-old, including from former teammate Alexis Mac Allister.

The current Liverpool midfielder told BBC Sport in 2023 after Brighton’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth: “Evan is an amazing player. He was not having his best evening, but he showed his quality. We are really happy for him, we know how important he is.”

Tottenham Hotspur have now made contact over a deal for an “outstanding” defender, having emerged as the club showing the most interest in his signature.

Tottenham struggling defensively

Given Ange Postecoglou’s attacking style of play, it will always be difficult for Tottenham to keep a great number of clean sheets, and they have often looked poor defensively in the first half of the campaign.

Spurs’ 6-3 defeat at home to Liverpool in the Premier League displayed their frailties at the back, and their defensive struggles may soon be exacerbated further by a number of defenders being sidelined with injuries.

With the likes of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie all currently on the treatment table, Postecoglou may be forced to enter the transfer market for a new defender this month.

Tottenham eyeing bargain January move for "pure quality" £54,000-p/w star

Ange Postecoglou is keeping tabs on a midfielder.

1 ByDominic Lund Jan 2, 2025

A number of targets have been identified by the Australian, with AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori now on the list, alongside the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ko Ikatura and Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov, having opened talks for the latter two players.

Tottenham clearly have a number of options in mind, and there is another player on the shortlist, with journalist Alessandro Giovanni Pagliarini reporting they have made contact with Atalanta to ask for information about Ben Godfrey.

“Not only #Wolves and #NFFC, also #Tottenham asked for information for Ben #Godfrey. The defender did not convince Gasperini and will leave #Atalanta in the January market.”

The 26-year-old, who cost £10m in the summer, has not done enough to convince manager Gian Piero Gasperini and is set to leave the Serie A club this winter, potentially opening the door for a move to north London, although Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest are also keen.

Journalist Rudy Galetti has confirmed that Spurs have shown “the most interest” in Godfrey, as they look to reinforce their defence this winter.

Godfrey could reignite his career at Tottenham

Things may not have worked out exactly to plan for the centre-back in Italy, but he has put in some impressive performances over the past year, showcasing his defensive attributes.

The York-born defender ranks in the 99th percentile for clearances per 90, and the 97th percentile for aerials won, when compared to his positional peers, displaying his dominance in the air.

During his time with Norwich City, the defender was hailed by former manager Daniel Farke, who said: “You can speak about the best centre-backs in the world now but at 19 and 20 they will have made mistakes.

“The best ones learn. Ben is playing without mistakes and that is outstanding. He is a pretty emotional player and I like that a lot because it means you are capable of finding another gear.”

The Englishman has a great deal of Premier League experience, making 112 appearances in the competition, and he could be a solid signing for Tottenham as they look to fix their defensive issues between now and the end of the campaign.

Crystal Palace suffered their first loss since before Christmas at the weekend, losing 2-1 to Brentford at Selhurst Park. On the bright side, Romain Esse made his debut, marking it with a goal from the bench with his first touch as he gave the Palace fans their first glimpse of the young star.

The Eagles are currently sitting 13th in the Premier League after 23 games played, now 11 points off the relegation zone and only six points off of a top-half spot.

Oliver Glasner will be hoping for some last-minute acquisitions in this January window to give his side a little push heading into the second half of the campaign, looking to continue their strong vein of form from their last six games before Brentford.

Crystal Palace shopping for new left back

According to reports from Football Insider, Crystal Palace are plotting a move to sign Chelsea left-back, Ben Chillwell on loan.

With Trevoh Chalobah being recalled earlier this month by the Blues, Palace now have the opportunity to fill that loan spot with another player.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Back in November, reports had stated Palace were searching for a new left-back option to compete with Tyrick Mitchell, compiling a list of possible January targets ahead of the window.

Previously lauded as “exceptional” by Brendan Rodgers, Chilwell’s stock has fallen of late, only making one appearance this season for Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca favouring inverted full-backs in his side, therefore not finding a place for Chilwell in the side.

How Chilwell would benefit Eze at Crystal Palace

In Glasner’s 3-4-3 system, Chilwell would suit perfectly, being the left-wing back, providing width on the outside of Eberechi Eze who is in the left half-space playing as a number ten/inside forward.

Eze has made 24 appearances so far this season, scoring six goals, providing six assists and totalling 1,938 minutes played.

Whilst Mitchell can provide that overlapping run, his qualities are more in the defensive sector, meaning Eze can find himself isolated on the left side of attack, allowing defenders to double-team him much easier, which is something Chilwell could perhaps help to prevent.

Goals + Assists

0.08

0.11

xG

0.14

0.02

xAG

0.26

0.16

Progressive Carries

2.62

1.98

Progressive Passes

2.98

2.12

Shots Total

1.15

0.31

Key Passes

1.67

1.17

Shot-Creating Actions

2.62

2.21

Tackles + Interceptions

2.38

3.18

When comparing the Chelsea defender to Mitchell last term, you can see how the England international provides a great deal more attacking threat, taking more shots per 90, playing more key passes, averaging more shot-creating actions and overall helping in progression more for his side.

Mauricio Pochettino praised Chilwell as “one of the best left-backs in the world” when he is fit and on-form, which was shown in his Champions League winning campaign at Chelsea in the 2020/21 season, making 42 appearances that season, scoring four goals, providing seven assists and totalling 3,358 minutes played.

The addition of Chilwell would allow Eze more support in the attacking third and could even facilitate a move to left centre-back for Mitchell, allowing the manager to play both of them, still getting the defensive qualities of the latter into the team, whilst also adding extra attacking threat out wide with the Chelsea wing-back.

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