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Tottenham Hotspur have around a week left to go to complete any more business that they would like to do before the January transfer window slams shut.

Ange Postecoglou has bolstered his playing squad with two new signings so far this month as he looks to secure a top four finish in the second half of the season.

Liverpool

1

21

48

Manchester City

2

20

43

Arsenal

3

21

43

Aston Villa

4

21

43

Tottenham

5

21

40

West Ham

6

21

35

Spurs are currently three points adrift of the Champions League places and have swooped to sign Timo Werner, on loan from RB Leipzig, and Radu Dragusin, on a permanent deal from Genoa, to improve their chances of breaking into the top four.

The club are reportedly still looking at attackers to join the group, despite the signing of Werner, as they have been credited with an interest in a Serie A marksman.

Tottenham's search for a new striker

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Spurs are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a deal to sign impressive Bologna centre-forward Joshua Zirkzee.

The report claims that Italian giants Milan and fellow Premier League sides Aston Villa and Arsenal are also keen on the 22-year-old finisher.

It states that the talented dynamo has a release clause in his current contract that would allow the interested clubs to secure his services for a fee of €40m (£34m). However, it remains to be seen whether or not Tottenham are prepared to splash out that kind of fee on the Serie A attacker.

It states that Bayern Munich, who sold him to Bologna, are entitled to 50% of his future resale from the Italian outfit and this means that they could, essentially, snap him up for €20m (£17m) if they decided to bring him back to Bavaria this month or in the summer transfer window.

Postecoglou must now push for Spurs to win the race to land his signature, as the the Dutch hotshot has the potential to be a terrific signing for the club.

He could be an exciting partner for creative whiz James Maddison to link up with during the second half of the Premier League season due to his impressive finishing and link-up play.

James Maddison's creative brilliance

The England international was brought in from Leicester, after they were relegated to the Championship, last summer and hit the ground running in North London.

He arrived as a proven Premier League performer and this allowed him to make an instant impact in midfield with his ability to score and create goals.

The 27-year-old maestro, who has missed 11 matches due to an ankle injury, produced three goals and five assists in 11 top-flight appearances for the club during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Maddison has been one of the most progressive and creative midfielders in the division this season. He currently ranks within the top 1% of his positional peers for progressive passes (9.91) and shot-creating actions (8.17) per 90.

This shows that he has been one of the best in his position at progressing the play through his forward passes and has facilitated an impressive number of attacks that have ended in shots for his side.

He also ranks within the top 6% of Premier League wingers and attacking midfielders for assists (0.51) per 90 this season, which illustrates his creative brilliance at the top end of the pitch.

The former Leicester star has the quality to consistently split open opposition defences to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Along with his ability to create for others, Maddison also has the potential to be a lethal scorer. He ranked within the top 2% of Premier League midfielders for non-penalty goals (0.33) per 90 for the Foxes during the 2022/23 campaign – with ten strikes – and that came after he placed in the top 3% of midfielders with 0.44 per 90 the previous season – with 12 goals.

The stats that show why Zirkzee could thrive alongside Maddison

Zirkzee could be an exciting partner for the English magician in the final third as he is a dynamic centre-forward who has the quality to score and create goals in the final third.

Firstly, he has been an efficient finisher in the Serie A so far this season and could thrive on the top-quality service that Maddison has proven he can provide from midfield.

Appearances

19

18

Goals

Seven

Seven

Expected Goals

5.25

6.39

Big chances missed

One

Six

Big chances created

Eight

One

As you can see in the table above, the Bologna star has scored as many goals as Richarlison this season despite being provided with 1.14 less xG.

He has only missed one 'big chance', in comparison to the Brazil international's six, and this suggests that the talented forward could find the back of the net with regularity if Maddison can continue to create those opportunities, given that the ex-Norwich starlet has created six 'big chances' in 11 Premier League matches this term.

Zirkzee showcased his prolific potential at youth level with 40 goals in 49 appearances for Bayern Munich's U17, U19, and Youth League sides combined, and the England international's creativity could help him to become a lethal marksman once again.

The Bologna whiz, who analyst Ben Mattinson claimed is an "insane" athlete with "elite potential", also has the creative quality as a number nine to provide Maddison with chances of his own to show off his goalscoring prowess.

He has created eight 'big chances' – seven more than Richarlison – in the Serie A and ranks within the top 15% of forwards in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for shot-creating actions (3.13) per 90.

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This suggests that he has the ability to provide his teammates with opportunities to find the back of the net, along with his own finishing quality, and that is why he could be an exciting partner for Maddison as they could link up in the final third on a regular basis to punish opposition defences.

It's no real surprise that the Premier League endured a fairly quiet January transfer window, given the recent crackdown on Financial Fair Play and the league's profit and sustainability rules. An expert has since revealed Arsenal's position regarding potential FFP sanctions and their frustrating decision during the winter window.

Arsenal's FFP position

Among the clubs to have already been charged with breaching FFP rules are Everton and Nottingham Forest, with the former potentially facing a second point deduction of the season to perhaps all but end their survival hopes.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are also reportedly in danger of breaching the rules unless they make some significant sales. The same can be said for Newcastle, who are walking a fine line after recording £155m in losses over the last three seasons, though it remains to be seen whether they will be in danger of punishment.

Arsenal, however, are not one of those sides left walking a tightrope. According to financial expert Stefan Borson, Arsenal could have spent in the January transfer window without breaching FFP rules. Borson told talkSPORT:

“You have a combination of teams who have chosen not to spend, so that’s teams like Arsenal. Because Arsenal could have spent if they wanted.

"If they were to invest in the necessary equity, they could push their limit up to the £105m from the £15m that it is now. But they opted to stay out of the market.

"Well it’s always very, very hard to calculate the exact amount. Certainly tens of millions pounds on a player – they could have bought the striker that everybody thinks they need. If they would have chosen to, it would have required the owners to have put in a very considerable amount of equity.

“They would have had to put their hands in their pockets, and ultimately, I think in line with most in the game around Europe, there is a limit. And people are saying, ‘Actually, I don’t want to do it anymore.”

Who Arsenal could have signed

It's a fairly open secret that Arsenal's two biggest transfer targets are a striker and a defensive midfielder to replace the injury-prone Thomas Partey. And as it turns out, the Gunners were in a position to spend the money and solve Mikel Arteta's two biggest problems during the January transfer window.

Among those linked with a move was Ivan Toney, who Brentford reportedly valued at £100m in what would have been the biggest deal of the winter window. Seemingly ready to wait until the summer to potentially make their move, Arsenal stuck with what they've already got in the form of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.

Meanwhile, when it comes to midfielders, one of the main names mentioned was Amadou Onana. Alas, like Toney, Onana failed to complete a move to The Emirates and remains an Everton player after the Toffees reportedly set a price of around £90m. Currently sat third and six points adrift of leaders Liverpool, Arsenal may regret their decision not to spend during last month's window.

Manchester United have had numerous fantastic duos over the years, such as Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, and of course Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

However, one that stands out above all is Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney, who developed a telepathic relationship as youngsters.

Erik ten Hag is attempting to reinstall the focus on developing youth and recreate that famous duo, with a handful of players becoming key to the Red Devils rebuild.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the dangerous pairing that could become Man United's next Rooney and Ronaldo.

The Rooney and Ronaldo dream duo

Sir Alex Ferguson's signing of Ronaldo and Rooney in consecutive summers during the early 2000's for a combined fee of £43m is arguably the best piece of business the club has completed in modern memory.

From 2006 to 2009 – when Ronaldo left for Real Madrid – Rooney, or the Portugal legend, was the top scorer across all competitions, with the 2007/08 season being the highlight of their time together. The number seven scored an insane 42 goals in 49 matches across all competitions, while Rooney registered 32 goal contributions in 43 games.

To sum up just how remarkable they were together, their combined goals over five seasons was 236 across all competitions, which is absolutely crazy.

With the two stars in the Red Devils attack, United notably won three Premier League titles and the Champions League, and Ten Hag will be hoping his new version of the duo can deliver similar success in the near future.

The new version of Rooney and Ronaldo

This season for United has been both frustrating yet somewhat promising, with the recent form of Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund bringing excitement back to the Red Devils faithful, and the latter two have shown signs of becoming the next deadly duo to become heroes for their club.

Their relationship has particularly blossomed since the turn of the year, with them both taking most of the attacking responsibility in the side, despite Hojlund being just 21 and Garnacho being 19.

Since Boxing Day, the Argentine has scored four goals and provided two assists, while the Dane has become a record breaker, holding the status of the youngest-ever Premier League player to score in six consecutive games with an output of eight goals and two assists in his last eight.

Putting their team on their back, showing the courage to never let their head drop despite making mistakes, and continuously wanting to improve are admirable traits of the duo, and they’re very much like both Rooney and Ronaldo in that sense.

Starts

17

17

Goals

7

5

Assists

2

3

xG

6.48

5.30

Total shots per game

1.4

2.6

Former United player Michael Owen called Garnacho "incredible, – with the winger having also been dubbed a "young Cristiano" by Paul Scholes – while broadcaster Joe Thomlinson said that Hojlund is “ridiculous,” and in truth, they’re certainly living up to that reputation.

The future of Man United is extremely exciting, and for once, there is a sense of progress at the club. If the Red Devils are going to become the giant that they used to be on the field, then Garnacho and Hojlund will both be at the forefront of it.

Leeds United have been dealt a "massive problem" after it emerged that their "technically gifted" star will miss the upcoming clash with current Championship leaders Leicester City after picking up yet another injury.

Leeds chasing down promotion

Relegated from the Premier League last season, Leeds are eyeing an immediate return to the top flight, but are being pushed all the way in what is one of the highest quality chasing packs in second tier history.

Daniel Farke's side have lost just six times all season and boast the best joint-best defensive record in the competition, but remain in a close-fought battle to ensure that they manage to occupy an automatic promotion spot come May, and now face a Leicester City side that have swept all before them so far this season.

In second place, Leeds are likely to be looking down rather than up as it stands. They sit nine points behind Friday's opponents with 13 games of the season left to play, but sit level with Ipswich (3rd) and just two points ahead of Southampton (4th) in what is shaping up to be a tightly-fought end to the season.

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A win over Leicester would allow them some breathing room, but defeat could see them slip out of the automatic promotion spots over the weekend, and could leave them looking at the prospect of the play-off lottery, with one of the four leading sides in England's second tier guaranteed to still be in it come the beginning of next season.

Team

Wins

Losses

Goals scored per game

Goals conceded per game

Points

Leicester City

25

5

2.09

0.79

78

Leeds United

21

6

1.85

0.79

69

Ipswich Town

20

4

1.97

1.33

69

Southampton

20

6

1.94

1.21

67

Bamford out of Leicester clash

The Elland Road outfit have seen their preparation for the top-of-the-table clash with the Foxes disrupted through injury, and it star man Patrick Bamford who is set to be forced to sit out the home match against the league leaders.

Bamford was once considered one of the shining talents of English football, but has seen his recent career ruined by injury. The 30-year-old has managed just six Championship starts so far this season, and only made his first on New Year's Day.

In the games since though, he has found form with four goals and an assist to help Leeds in their long winning run, leading to rumours Bamford is one of several Leeds stars in line for a new contract.

Now former Rangers and Tottenham defender Alan Hutton has had his say, with the BBC pundit backing Bamford to come back stronger despite yet another setback but ruing his seemingly injury-prone nature.

“It’s been a massive problem for him,” Hutton told Football Insider.

“Injuries have been a huge issue for Bamford through the years and it’s not ideal for him considering his form. But there’s nothing he can do about it. He can’t tell when he’s going to get injured and it’s just a real shame for him. We all know he can be an outstanding football player and has been recently."

“He’s technically gifted and I think he will come back as strong. But as soon as he hits form, he seems to get injured."

It is not all bad news for Bamford, and fortunately the injury doesn't seem too serious this time around, with Leeds boss Farke revealing that the striker will 'definitely' be fit for the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Chelsea in a week.

Aston Villa haven’t just been successful in the transfer market over the last few years but they’ve also unearthed some fantastic gems from the academy.

Jack Grealish is always looked up to as a role model after he progressed through the Villa ranks to stardom, and Unai Emery is hoping the youngsters in his squad can have a similar impact as the Manchester City star once had at Villa Park.

Tim Iroegbunam and Jacob Ramsey are two exciting prospects who have been included in the first team, with the latter – who registered 13 goals and assists in the Premier League last season – becoming a key player.

However, there is a figure in the ranks who could surpass them both and become the dream successor to Ollie Watkins.

Ollie Watkins’ 2023/24 PL season

Simply put, Watkins is absolutely instrumental to the way Villa play, their chances of picking up three points, and their overall success.

This season in the Premier League, the England international has started every game, scoring 13 goals and picking up 12 assists, which makes him an extremely valuable asset.

Watkins is currently the joint-top assister in the league, alongside Kieran Trippier, and his ability to win games on his own makes him such a frightening forward to have, as proven by Villa’s recent 2-1 win over Fulham when he scored a brace.

Unfortunately for Villa, his incredible consistency and performances have piqued the interest of other Premier League rivals, with Arsenal being the main club reportedly interested in signing Watkins, and therefore, let’s take a look at who could be the heir to the number 11.

Louie Barry could become Watkins 2.0

Louie Barry is a name that both Villa and Liverpool fans will be very aware of, with the young striker scoring against the Reds in a 4-1 FA Cup defeat back in 2021.

Since then, the “incredible” gem, as per Declan Rice, has yet to receive a real opportunity with the Villa first team, spending most of his time on loan at numerous EFL clubs.

This season, the 20-year-old was starring for League Two leaders Stockport County before picking up a serious hamstring injury, which has kept him out since October.

Any injury is extremely disappointing, but it’s even more frustrating when in excellent form like Barry was. The attacker had scored nine goals and picked up two assists in 15 games. The Villa loanee even holds a club record, scoring in seven consecutive league games.

Minutes per game

77

Goals

9

Assists

2

Shots per game

2.5

Key passes per game

1.1

As can be seen in the table above, he was influential for the Hatters at the start of the season, terrorising defenders with his elite movement and direct approach.

A frequent attribute of Barry’s is the ability to drift out wide to the left-hand side, where he can dribble directly at the defender, cut inside, and either curl an effort into the far corner or pull it to the near post. Even the Stockport admin in a live match report said he’s “unstoppable” when he does the above.

Overall, Barry has the potential to become the perfect successor to Watkins, and if the star does leave Villa Park, Emery will know who to call on.

Tottenham are rumoured to be "laying the groundwork" to sign a "marquee" striker this summer, and ex-managing director Fabio Paratici is set to play a big role.

Spurs linked with Harry Kane replacement

Despite coping well without club-record goalscorer Harry Kane in their first season without him, Spurs are rumoured to be on the lookout for a natural number nine who can step into the Englishman's shoes.

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Richarlison may feel hard done by given the Brazilian's imperious return to form in recent months, but the case remains that Spurs are looking for a long-term Kane stand-in who can bag 20-plus goals per season. The Lilywhites have been linked with high-profile options like Brentford star Ivan Toney for the role, as well as lesser-known names like Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.

Aston Villa (away)

March 10th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Luton Town (home)

March 30th

West Ham (away)

April 2nd

Whatever the case, it appears manager Ange Postecoglou is after a proven scorer, with ex-managing director Paratici ready and waiting to assist the Lilywhites in their transfer dealings.

It is perhaps one of the worst-kept secrets in English football that Paratici is advising Spurs on a consultancy basis, with Postecoglou recently lifting the lid on contact with him.

"I don't have a lot of dialogue with too many people. That's how I structure my working life, I keep these things to a minimum," said Postecoglou on Paratici.

"Obviously I know Fabio and every now and then we'll exchange messages or calls. He's a smart guy and you can see that he's got a great eye for talent but within the workings of the club and what I do, I don't have that kind of engagement. Not just with Fabio but with most people.

"It's more about what the priority is right now, this week, and my focus is on the football and the football department."

The former Juventus chief is still serving a ban from football served up by FIFA last year, but it appears Paratici is set to play a key role in Spurs' hunt for a new marksman.

Tottenham laying groundwork for striker with Paratici contacts in use

According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Tottenham are "laying the groundwork" to sign a "marquee" striker this summer.

It is believed Paratici will lead the club's pursuit of a new number nine by using his network of contacts and expertise in the market, despite the presence of official technical director Johan Lange and Chief Football Officer Scott Munn.

Paratici is a trusted advisor of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, and the club are apparently keen to acquire the 'next Kane' in an effort to maintain their status as one of English football's high-flying sides.

According to other reliable reports, though, Tottenham also really want a new wide forward this summer, so it will be interesting to see if they can heavily invest in both areas over the coming months.

Since earning promotion back to the Premier League in 2018, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been a consistent performer.

Their maintained status as a top-flight club is due to numerous reasons, but one of the biggest is their ability to sign gems in the transfer market.

Wolves have also successfully been able to gather funds via player sales, with Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes serving as evidence for that.

However, there is one player who they have perhaps not struck gold with. Indeed, he even earns five times more than Rayan Ait Nouri.

Rayan Ait Nouri’s salary at Wolves

Algerian defender Ait Nouri has been fantastic this season, with new boss Gary O’Neil helping him go to a whole new level.

The 22-year-old has featured 24 times this season in the Premier League, thriving in a left-wing back role as well as in the standard left-back position, as highlighted by his goal at the weekend in Wolves’ 2-1 win over Fulham.

Ait Nouri joined the Old Gold permanently in 2021 after enjoying a loan spell from Angers in the season prior. The deal cost Wolves just £9.5m, which is already looking like a steal.

Despite being a consistent performer, the number 3 is one of the lowest earners in the Wolves squad, with his salary sitting at £10k-per-week, which is far less than that of one fringe player who occupies a similar full-back role.

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ByTom Lever Mar 7, 2024 What Matt Doherty earns at Wolves

There’s no two ways about it: Matt Doherty will always be a Wolves hero for the role that he played in their promotion and brilliant first season back in the Premier League.

The Irish "menace," as described by journalist Jamie Weir, played 45 matches in the second tier, with nine goal contributions. Meanwhile, during their first year back in the top flight, Doherty played in every single game, scoring four goals and picking up seven assists.

In 2020, the 32-year-old left the Midlands for Tottenham Hotspur in a £15m deal. However, he struggled to perform at Spurs, and in January last year, the 6 foot 1 ace joined Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.

After a difficult spell in Spain where Doherty played just twice, he returned to Wolves in the summer on another free transfer, with the Wanderers making him one of the highest earners, with a wage of £50k-per-week, staggeringly five times more than what Ait Nouri earns.

Weekly wage

£10k

£50k

Starts

21

3

Pass accuracy

86%

76%

Tackles (per game)

2

0.6

Successful dribbles (per game)

1.9

0.2

However, it’s clear that Doherty is far from the first choice for O’Neil, with the Republic of Ireland international starting just three times in the league all campaign.

When you compare the statistics and what he’s offered compared to the Algerian, for example, it seems that Doherty is rinsing the club by earning £2.6m over this season.

The number two is also contracted to the club until June 2026, which means that unless he displaces either Nelson Semedo or Ait Nouri in the team, he will continue to cost Wolves a hefty number, despite offering very little on the pitch. Evidently, his best years are behind him.

The chances of Manchester United now sneaking into the top four and securing a Champions League spot now seems extremely unlikely.

Last weekend’s game against Brentford was the perfect opportunity to build some momentum going into the final stages of the campaign, but a last-minute equaliser spoiled the party.

The pressure is ever-increasing on Erik ten Hag, with his position under intense scrutiny, and the recent injury to arguably his finest centre back, Lisandro Martinez, has most definitely arrived at the wrong time.

The Argentine is set to miss up to a month of action due to a calf injury, just days after returning from a knee injury that had kept him out for nearly two months.

Nonetheless, with that recent news in mind, let’s take a look at three options Ten Hag could replace the World Cup-winning defender with…

1 The Obvious Option Harry Maguire

The Dutch boss will have feared the worst when Harry Maguire was forced off early against Brazil for England, but luckily, his injury is already in the past.

United’s former captain was fit enough to feature on the bench against the Bees, and at half-time, he was called upon after Raphael Varane picked up a knock.

Due to the injuries at centre half, it’s all but guaranteed that Maguire will be involved in the starting lineup, which is a huge boost for United.

In the former Leicester City man's most recent start against Fulham, he had one of his best performances of the season, scoring, making two key passes, and making five clearances.

2 The Tactical Tweak Casemiro

This is arguably the most unlikely option out of the three, but starting Casemiro at centre half is certainly an idea that Ten Hag has toyed with in the past.

Last season, during United’s EFL Cup clash against Burnley, the defensive midfielder by trade was fielded alongside Victor Lindelof at the heart of the back line, where he impressed.

Clearances

4

Blocked Shots

2

Touches

125

Passes completed

90

Duels won

3/4

Although the Red Devils dominated the game and the possession statistics, the one-time Real Madrid man starred both on the ball and off it, as you can see displayed in the table above.

However, the Brazilian has struggled at times this season in midfield – notably being dribbled past 2.2 times per game in the league – and the tactical tweak of putting him at centre-back could see him return to the “monster” he once was, as dubbed by journalist Muhammad Butt.

3 The Wildcard Option Willy Kambwala

The final option that Ten Hag could utilise is the young Willy Kambwala, who has been heavily involved in the first-team squad this campaign.

Although the academy defender is only 19 years old, he’s already been handed four Premier League appearances, even making his first start against West Ham United earlier this season.

Kambwala is a dynamic defender who’s comfortable on the ball, as shown by his 95 touches and 90% accuracy on his debut, but his lack of experience will most likely keep him on the bench.

However, if Ten Hag does decide to trust the talented Frenchman, then he will be surrounded by experience, which would massively help him through the tie.

Either way, all three options are far from ideal considering the crucial nature of this week's meetings with both Chelsea and Liverpool, with Ten Hag left to rue rushing Martinez back into the fold.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag may have had the final "nail in the coffin" at the club after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's recent antics, according to former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Ten Hag under pressure at Man Utd

The Dutchman is coming towards the end of his second season at Old Trafford, but after an impressive first season at the club, this has been a really disappointing campaign.

United are currently languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, and while the recent 2-2 draws at home to Liverpool and away to Bournemouth may not have been awful results, the performances in both have been nowhere near good enough.

There is mounting pressure on Ten Hag, with many fans beginning to wonder if he is the right man to lead the club forward under Ratcliffe, ahead of what is hopefully a memorable summer in the transfer market. Graham Potter is just one of numerous candidates reportedly being lined up to replace the former Ajax boss, should he be relieved of his duties.

These remaining weeks of the season feel key for the Dutchman, who continues to flatter to deceive with his all-round management, from his people skills to his tactical nous.

Sky Sports pundit makes big Ten Hag claim

Speaking on Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson feels that Ten Hag is close to being sacked by Manchester United, with Ratcliffe not having plans for him while looking to make many backroom changes since arriving at the club.

"With the football side of things, you can see that Ratcliffe is putting his own stamp on things. You can see things are changing. You can’t change things on the pitch immediately because of the transfer windows and the manager that’s in charge.

"I just think that with all this restructuring and with Dan Ashworth coming in, Sir David Brailsford, [former Southampton chief] Jason Wilcox – the whole board – I think it’s just another nail in the coffin for ten Hag. He’s not the manager that the board want – he’s not their man. He’s not part of that new team.

"Ten Hag has one big job on his hands before the end of the season – convince the board that he is the right man for the Man United job. At the moment, I don’t see him being there much longer, certainly past the end of the season."

The Bournemouth game was just the latest sign that Ten Hag isn't the right man for the United job, with his side once again giving up at least 20 shots, and generally being outplayed by the Cherries.

The backroom additions that Ratcliffe has made have been exciting ones, but things will only run smoothly if they have the perfect manager in charge to work alongside the new additions seamlessly.

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There is enough evidence this season to suggest that Ten Hag can be improved upon, and unless the season ends superbly – an FA Cup win, for example – it would be the right call to move him on and find a more ideal choice.

Next summer will be an extremely important period for Tottenham Hotspur, with the challenge of competing in the Champions League looking increasingly likely.

Luckily, Spurs have the perfect model to follow, having smashed the previous transfer window, bringing in the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, and, of course, Ange Postecoglou.

However, one new signing that has particularly stood out in recent weeks is Brennan Johnson, who’s developed brilliantly throughout the campaign.

Despite his upturn in form, the Lilywhites are still keen to improve their wide areas at the end of the season, with one target potentially being an even bigger talent than the Welsh forward.

Spurs are keen to sign another winger

According to a recent report from The Telegraph, Tottenham are “keeping an eye” on exciting attacker Nico Williams.

The Spaniard plays for Athletic Bilbao, where he has developed into a key player despite being just 21 years of age.

The report states that there is a £42.8m buyout clause in his contract at the La Liga club, which makes him relatively affordable for all top sides.

Therefore, the competition for his signature is expected to be “intense,” with Chelsea being another Premier League club monitoring the ace.

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ByTom Lever Apr 10, 2024 Why Williams is a bigger prospect than Johnson

The former Nottingham Forest ace has been fantastic since joining in the summer, scoring five goals and providing seven Premier League assists in 28 appearances.

The attacker has played on both flanks, but he’s settled on the right wing in recent weeks, displacing Dejan Kulusevski in the team.

Johnson’s best attribute is his direct approach to attacking, often driving at defenders with the intention to either shoot or fire a dangerous cross into the box.

This sounds very similar to Williams, who can comfortably thrive on both wings just like the 22-year-old, which could make them a dangerous duo for years to come.

However, their respective league statistics from this season indicate that the Spain international could be even more talented than Spurs’ number 22.

Assists

0.43

0.36

Shot-creating actions

5.21

3.01

Key passes

2.07

1.66

Successful take-ons

3.29

1.14

Touches (Att third)

28.96

23.19

Carries into final third

3.29

1.40

As you can see by the table above, it’s instantly clear that Williams is an absolutely frightening winger who’s a “dazzling” dribbler, as per Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

On every single statistic, the 21-year-old has a better score than Johnson, which just gives an indication of how dangerous he truly is.

In the current Tottenham squad, they don’t currently have an attacker in the side who looks to take players on continuously, with Timo Werner, Kulusevski, and Johnson offering alternative traits.

The pacy forward's biggest strength is the fact that he causes chaos against any defence and that he can simply create something out of nothing, as shown by his extremely high shot-creating actions, assists, and successful take-ons.

With Johnson and the Spaniard on either flank, Spurs would be deadly on the counter-attack in particular, with the duo having blistering pace and excellent ball-carrying ability.

Williams is already a star, but his potential is huge, which does make the £43m seem quite the bargain, especially considering Johnson cost £47.5m.