Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur are ‘ready to open negotiations’ for Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat as sources from Italy share Spurs’ chances of signing him.

The Lowdown: Paratici interested…

Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici is thought to hold a serious interest in signing the Morocco international, who played a starring role in the African side’s run to this year’s World Cup semi-finals.

The Premier League side are eyeing a move for Amrabat after his brilliant individual campaign in Qatar, but they’re not the only ones, with Liverpool also thought to be in the mix.

Antonio Conte is tasked with clinching a second-successive top four finish for Spurs and potentially silverware, highlighting the need for quality reinforcements ahead of January.

The Latest: Spurs ready Amrabat talks…

Italian reports now share Paratici’s chances of signing the 26-year-old next month as the club prepare to enter discussions.

La Repubblica claim the north Londoners are in fact ‘ready to open negotiations’ for Amrabat with Spurs, and Paratici by extension, ‘trying’ to make a move.

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Fiorentina, it appears, are very reluctant to sell mid-season but an offer of ‘at least’ £44 million could sway them.

The Verdict: Right man?

There is little denying Amrabat’s quality given he has emerged as one of this World Cup’s breakout stars, with footballer Jamie Smith calling him ‘sensational’.

However, Conte already has many quality options in central midfield, including Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp – making the need for another body questionable.

Instead, perhaps Paratici should focus his efforts on the signing of a central defender or further attacking options to support the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison.

Sunderland striker Ross Stewart is being monitored by Middlesbrough ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Stewart’s future up in the air

The Scotland international led his side to promotion last term after netting the second goal in the League One play-off final against Wycombe, and he has been a revelation in the Championship ever since.

However, the 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the campaign, and with recent reports suggesting that the club are open to selling him in the winter should he not sign a new deal, he is now being linked with an exit from the Stadium of Light.

The Latest: Middlesbrough eyeing Stewart

According to the Daily Record late on Monday night, Stewart has emerged as a ‘target’ for northeast rivals Middlesbrough ahead of the transfer window opening in the New Year.

Boro manager Michael Carrick is believed to have ‘identified’ the Black Cats forward as a player who can help push his team higher in the table after catching the ‘attention’ of clubs following his displays last season.

The Riverside Stadium boss is ‘keen to sign’ the Sunderland talisman, and whilst Rangers were credited with an interest over the summer, that is ‘unlikely’ to be renewed.

The Verdict: Time to cash in

Stewart has been described as Sunderland’s ‘threat’ by Josh Bunting, but despite his incredible impact in the final third, now would be the right time to cash in on the 26-year-old.

The attacker has racked up eight goal contributions in just seven appearances this season and is averaging 3.9 shots per game (WhoScored), form which will allow the Wearside hierarchy to increase his valuation .

The Black Cats have already made an enquiry to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer on loan, so he could be an ideal temporary replacement should Stewart depart.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Rodrigo de Paul to the Premier League in January.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER (via Daily Express), who claim that, after Atletico Madrid failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, Diego Simeone’s side now desperately need to raise funds in the winter transfer window, with the LaLiga side reportedly putting four players – including De Paul – up for sale.

The report goes on to state that the forward-thinking midfielder’s most likely destination could be Tottenham, with the 28-year-old – who was reported to have rejected Fabio Paratici’s advances this summer – now looking set to reassess his options ahead of the January market.

Bentancur 2.0

It is true that De Paul has not been at his free-flowing best since joining Atleti in a €35m (£30.5m) deal last summer – something which has been attributed to the attacking midfielder being played in a more reserved role under Simeone – but considering just how impressive the Argentine was at Udinese, it is easy to see why Paratici would be keen.

Indeed, across his 36 Serie A appearances in 2020/21, the £52m-rated talent was in sensational form for Le Zebrette, scoring nine goals, registering nine assists and creating 20 big chances for his team-mates – the joint-most in the league – along with taking 2.3 shots, making 2.3 key passes and completing 3.4 dribbles per game.

The £111k-per-week playmaker also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, averaging 40.7 passes, 0.5 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 4.5 long balls and winning 8.1 duels (at a success rate of 60%) per game.

These returns saw the 43-cap international, who Roy Nemer dubbed “unplayable” and a “monster”, average an astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.53, not only ranking him as Udinese’s best performer in the division but also as the second-best player in the league as a whole, behind only Lorenzo Insigne.

As such, should De Paul be able to rediscover this level of form following a potential move to Tottenham this winter, it is undeniable that signing the 28-year-old would very much appear to be the answer to Antonio Conte’s lack of creativity in the middle of the park.

Should Atletico be willing to part with the Argentine for a cut-price fee – something which has been suggested – the forward-thinking midfielder could even prove to become Paratici’s next Rodrigo Bentancur-esque capture in the transfer market. The Italian’s £15.8m January signing is already worth a whopping £52m after highly impressing at Spurs.

West Ham United have been dealt a blow after learning that Middlesbrough won’t be selling Isaiah Jones this season, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Attracting interest

Premier League side Crystal Palace, alongside the Irons, were both interested in a move for the winger heading into the summer, and it’s clear to see why given his bright start to life at the Riverside.

However, the 23-year-old still has three years remaining on his contract in the northeast, and it appears that the newly appointed Michael Carrick will be holding onto his starlet until next summer at the earliest.

The Latest: West Ham suffer Jones setback

According to Football League World, West Ham and Palace have received ‘disappointing news’ after Boro made it clear that they have ‘no intention’ of selling Jones before the end of the current campaign.

It’s stated that David Moyes’ side are ‘still tracking’ the winger, though are set to be left ‘empty handed’ in their pursuit, at least for this season.

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The Verdict: Worth a second attempt

The Irons missing out on Jones will be a blow to Moyes, but he should try to sign him again next summer as he has the potential to be a really exciting addition at the London Stadium.

The ‘full-backs nightmare’, as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, already has three assists and two league goals to his name this term, and is averaging 1.7 dribbles and 1.5 key passes per game (WhoScored).

Middlesbrough are currently hovering above relegation, and if they are still in a bad place at the end of the season, Jones could be tempted to look elsewhere to continue his development.

Nottingham Forest made 22 new signings over the summer with the newly-promoted Premier League club showing the ultimate ambition to build a team that can compete at the highest level.

However, the fairytale promotion success has been short-lived as Steve Cooper’s new-look side have struggled to pick up points in their first 11 league outings with just six points collected out of a possible 33.

The Garibaldi Reds have scored the joint-second fewest goals in the entire Premier League and are currently just one point off the bottom of the table, which has ultimately led to the sacking of the head of recruitment and the head scout at The City Ground.

Evangelos Marinakis put trust and ambition into the powers appointed to make the best decisions to build a team that could retain the club’s Premier League status for years to come, and after spending £150m during the summer, there is no doubt that the owner would have high expectations.

As a result, many of the players acquired over the transfer window have not been up to scratch and although there were many acquisitions made, it will haunt Marinakis when he considers not only the money that could have been saved but the players that could have been retained.

One of the biggest concerns Nottingham Forest are showing in their performances is a lack of attacking threat, goals and poor work ethic in the forward line, which is a huge contribution to their current league position in the relegation zone.

There were several players that shined for the Tricky Trees last season whilst on loan with the club in the Championship but didn’t ultimately make their stays permanent, including James Garner and Djed Spence. However, the biggest loss has arguably been Philip Zinckernagel, who was key to the team’s formidable attacking threat last season.

Over 42 league appearances, the Danish winger scored six goals, delivered seven assists and created seven big chances during an impressive campaign. He also contributed defensively and worked hard, making 1.4 tackles and winning 4.4 duels per game. Since then, he has continued to flourish on loan from Olympiacos with Belgian side Standard Liege.

The 27-year-old ace who was dubbed “brilliant” by former Watford boss Xisco Munoz, has scored two goals and created three big chances, making 1.2 key passes, one tackle and winning 4.8 duels per game over five appearances so far.

Back on Trentside, the forward’s replacement in Jesse Lingard has delivered no goal contributions whatsoever so far, despite being the highest-paid player on £200k-per-week, which will be incredibly frustrating for the manager, supporters and Marinakis.

It has been reported by The Guardian that the Forest boss rejected the opportunity to keep hold of Zinckernagel which will surely be a decision that he regrets in hindsight. Indeed, it could well haunt Cooper if his side are unsuccessful in retaining their Premier League status at the end of the season.

Following an injury sustained during the international break, Everton have now received a positive update regarding the fitness of right-back Nathan Patterson.

The Lowdown: Patterson’s emergence

Having arrived at Goodison Park in January in a deal worth £16m, the 20-year-old failed to make an instant impact at the club before undergoing ankle surgery, which kept him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

Going into the new campaign, the Scotland international was yet to make his Premier League debut. However, the full-back must have made a great impression during pre-season because he has since started every single top-flight game for the Toffees.

Patterson was thus included in Scotland’s squad for their UEFA Nations League fixtures taking place during the international break.

The Latest: Positive update

Worryingly for Blues fans, the Scotsman succumbed to injury within just 25 minutes of his side’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine on Wednesday, for which he taken off the field on a stretcher.

However, according to Scottish Express Sport, the injury to the Everton man is not as bad as first feared, meaning he is not facing a lengthy period on the sidelines.

The player will see a specialist on Tuesday to confirm the extent of his injuries, but he is only expected to miss a short period.

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The Verdict: Promising youngster

Having signed a long-term deal with the Toffees, it is clear to see Frank Lampard thinks highly of the youngster, as he is seemingly destined to take over the right-back role from club legend Seamus Coleman.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the full-back ranks in the 96th percentile for tackles, in the 91st percentile for pressures and in the 83rd percentile for dribbles completed – illustrating his ability to push forward, as well as defend.

Therefore, with Everton preparing for their away visit to Southampton on Saturday, Lampard will be hoping Patterson can make it back fit as soon as possible, with the Manchester United clash also just round the corner.

Rangers had one of their better summer transfer windows in recent memory, adding in some much-needed quality to boost the Ibrox side ahead of a busy campaign.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst signed Malik Tilman, Ben Davis, John Souttar, Ridvan Yilmaz, Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, and Rabbi Matondo this summer and with four wins from five in the Premiership and qualification for the group stages of the Champions League, there has been an instant impact from some of the new arrivals.

It could have been better though, with the manager concluding early on deadline day that there would be no last-minute arrivals. It was slightly disappointing news for the supporters, especially with the Champions League riches that are sure to line the Ibrox coffers.

One player that the club missed out on was Billy Gilmour, who joined Brighton and Hove Albion for £9m on deadline day, and it was a tough one as the Gers had been linked with a move for the player during the summer.

The Scot actually started out his career at Rangers, being developed through the Ibrox academy before Chelsea secured his signature when he was just 15.

His spell in London has allowed him to develop properly and he got his opportunity under Frank Lampard, with Roy Keane lavishing praise upon him following an FA Cup tie against Liverpool in 2020, saying it was a “world-class” performance.

Under Thomas Tuchel, Gilmour won the Champions League in 2021 but spent last season on loan at Norwich to gain regular game time.

The Canaries were relegated but Gilmour was one of the better performers when he got a chance in the side, making one key pass per match while on average, taking 61.9 touches each game, showing his desire to constantly get on the ball.

His experience in the Premier League and at international level for Scotland – where he was man of the match against England in Euro 2020 – would have made him an important signing for Rangers if he returned to Ibrox.

Henry Winter has described Gilmour’s move to Brighton as a “steal” for the seaside club and despite the Light Blues receiving around £1m from the transfer, the Dutchman would much rather have the 21-year-old in his squad.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Yeremy Pino throughout the transfer window so far, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to popular Spanish news outlet Marca (via Paisley Gates), Liverpool are competing with Arsenal to secure the signature of the Villarreal winger this summer.

As per the report, both Liverpool and Arsenal remain interested in the young player who has a transfer valuation of €50m (£42m) and would be a club-record transfer for the La Liga side should a deal materialise over the coming weeks remaining before the transfer window shuts.

Divock Origi repeat

This summer Liverpool have been ruthless with outgoings in their forward line as Sadio Mane, Taki Minamino and Divock Origi have all made an exit from Anfield over the last few months, as a result, there may be an opportunity to strengthen the depth in the attacking prowess of the team.

If Villarreal’s rising star who predominantly plays on the right wing did make a move to Merseyside it would be unlikely that he would get a starting role in the team as his position already boasts one of the biggest attacking talents in the world, with Mohamed Salah occupying the right flank in the Liverpool team.

The 158-goal Egyptian winger recently signed a new contract to extend his stay at the club until 2025, so Pino could take up a more of an Origi-style role in the forward line as the player has experience across the forward line, not just out on the right.

Origi was just 19 years old when he joined the Merseysiders and ultimately became a cult hero for the supporters after delivering fantastic performances coming off the bench with his most infamous appearances coming in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2019.

The Belgian goal machine converted one of the most iconic Liverpool set-pieces in the club’s history from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner to send them into the Champions League final where they beat Tottenham Hotspur to collect their sixth trophy in the prestigious competition.

Indeed, Pino is no stranger to iconic performances himself in European tournaments with the talent, who like Origi could also be 19-year-old when he joins the Reds, becoming the youngest ever player to win the Europa League when Villarreal took the trophy in 2021.

He has also been the recipient of high praise from his manager following his development at the club.

Unai Emery hailed the playmaker “competitive” after his performance against Espanyol last season when Pino scored four goals in just 53 minutes to become the youngest ever individual to score a first-half hat-trick in La Liga history, highlighting his already iconic status in Spain.

“Yeremy is a 19-year-old boy who has a lot of maturity for certain things. He is competitive, brave and always wants more.”

Also hailed as “special” by Fabrizio Romano, it’s clear this talented prodigy boasts all the tools to go far in the modern game.

With that being said, the signing of Pino could be a great piece of business for Liverpool, especially when looking at the future of the team beyond the current squad. For now, he could step into the shoes of Origi by delivering the super sub performances the team has thrived from.

Liverpool are preparing to face their Premier League title rivals a little earlier than usual, as the Reds lock horns with Manchester City in the Community Shield this weekend, and a team news update has emerged which has put a dampener on the occasion from a Kopite perspective.

What’s the latest?

As per Sky Sports News, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker will not be available for selection on Saturday.

In a clip shared via Twitter, their presenter confirmed: “Breaking news from Liverpool, and it’s bad news ahead of the Community Shield which is this weekend because Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the goalkeeper Alisson will miss the game, but he will be available for the Premier League opener.”

“Diogo Jota, by the way, he is still missing as well.”

 Supporters will be gutted

Despite the Community Shield being treated more like a friendly than a competitive game, there is no doubt that Liverpool supporters will be gutted that they won’t see some of their stars in action and getting a good runout before the Premier League returns the following weekend.

With Alisson out of the squad, the usual next in line to play in goals is Caohimin Kelleher. However, the Irishman is injured, and according to the club’s official website, Kostas Tsmikas, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calvin Ramsay also remain on the injury table with no confirmation on their returns as of yet.

With the two first-choice ‘keepers out of the team, it will now mean that third-choice Adrian will be entrusted with protecting Liverpool’s goal this weekend, something the Spaniard should be more than capable of doing, with 25 appearances for Klopp’s side in total.

There is no doubt that Jota, who scored 21 goals last season, will be a big miss in the team against Man City, but it would present the perfect opportunity for Darwin Nunez to get a feel of playing against his new club’s biggest competitors for domestic success during the upcoming campaign.

Liverpool have a number of new signings on board and the Community Shield will be a great opportunity to give Klopp a good look at where his squad is at when they come up against the current Premier League champions, to whom the Reds lost out on the title by just one point at the end of last season.

Of course it will be disappointing that there are so many injuries already accumulated ahead of the new season, but it gives those players a further rest to get back to fitness as soon as possible and hopefully in time for the Premier League’s return next weekend.

Nonetheless, Kopites may be gutted to hear of the body blows to Alisson and Jota in particular.

AND in other news: Klopp can land his ideal Firmino replacement with £34m bid for “high-level” star

Rangers centre-back Calvin Bassey is set to leave the club for a record-breaking fee this summer, with Brighton and Ajax tussling for his signature.

The Lowdown: Bassey on the move

The Nigerian has been a dominant figure for the Gers since joining from Leicester City back in 2020, proving his mettle on the big stage by making 14 appearances in last season’s Europa League and performing heroically in the final defeat to Frankfurt.

Bassey’s influential showings in Europe have caught the eye of a number of clubs though, and a summer departure from Ibrox now looks almost guaranteed to be on the cards.

A new update suggests that the 22-year-old’s exit could be record-breaking, in what could be a big boost for the Gers.

The Latest: Key update emerges

According to a late-night update from the reliable Sam Wallace of The Telegraph, Rangers will earn a club-record amount for Bassey’s services once he moves on.

Nathan Patterson currently holds that title after joining Everton for £12.6million earlier this year, but that figure looks set to be easily eclipsed and even potentially doubled.

It is claimed that Brighton and Ajax are locking horns over a move for the central defender, who has been hailed as ‘astonishing’ by Owen Hargreaves in the recent past.

The Verdict: Spend it wisely…

Losing Bassey is clearly a big blow for anyone of a Rangers persuasion but there is an element of inevitability about it, given his potential as a player, and adding £20m or more to the coffers would be some silver lining.

The key now is that Giovanni van Bronckhorst spends the big sum of money wisely on new signings, bringing in a similarly formidable centre-back and also improving in other areas.

Sometimes, losing a star man and replacing them with three or four excellent signings can end up being more beneficial – Rangers must make sure that is the case, as they look to wrestle back their Scottish Premiership title from Celtic.