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Last year, Todd Boehly and Chelsea bought close to a 100% stake in French club Strasbourg for a sum of around £65m, and the Blues have already been able to use the link between the two sides to their advantage.

They sent Angelo Gabriel to Ligue 1 on loan last summer, and in January, Andrey Santos joined him in Alsace after he was recalled from an unsuccessful temporary stint further down the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.

Boehly intends to build a multi-club network with Chelsea at the centre in the hope of developing new first-team pathways for young players. In addition to France, the Blues have looked at opportunities in Belgium, Portugal and South America, and it's only a matter of time before they acquire another team.

Chelsea close in on Josh Marsh appointment

Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closing in on a key appointment for their BlueCo group. Josh Marsh is set to join from Championship side Swansea as the new loans manager, with a deal described as "imminent".

Marsh, who's only 32, will look to strengthen the aforementioned connection with Strasbourg and the hope will be that he can oversee the movement of Chelsea players within an extensive multi-club network further down the line.

Marsh has already had dealings with Chelsea

Marsh started out as a scout at Wolves and Southampton before working his way up to a head of scouting role at Huddersfield. After four years with the Terriers, he left to join Swansea as their managing director of sport in 2022.

Chelsea made huge mistake releasing 6ft1 ace now worth more than Caicedo

The former Chelsea gem has been unreal since leaving.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 16, 2024

As part of his role in south Wales, Marsh has overseen player recruitment, and there have been a number of notable success stories. To begin with permanent deals, centre-backs Harry Darling and Nathan Wood, signed from MK Dons and Middlesbrough respectively in the summer of 2022, have already played 62 games apiece, while left-back Josh Tymon has notched five assists in 29 games since his arrival from Stoke last year.

Crucially, the Swans also seem to have mastered the loan market during his tenure, certainly when it comes to incoming deals. Brighton's Carl Rushworth has kept six clean sheets in his 32 games this season, Jamal Lowe has netted six times in his second stint at the club (on loan from Bournemouth) and Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino has notched seven direct goal contributions in 24 games. The club also did a bit of business with Chelsea last summer as they signed centre-back Bashir Humphreys, and they'll be pleased to see he's played 23 league matches so far.

Matthew Sorinola

22/23

Union SG

31

Luke Cundle

22/23

Wolves

34

Armstrong Oko-Flex

22/23

West Ham

13

Fin Stevens

22/23

Brentford

5

Carl Rushworth

23/24

Brighton

34

Charles Sagoe Jr

23/24*

Arsenal

2

Jamal Lowe

23/24

Bournemouth

23

Harrison Ashby

23/24

Newcastle

16

Charlie Patino

23/24

Arsenal

26

Bashir Humphreys

23/24

Chelsea

25

Chelsea's multi-club model remains very much in its infancy compared to say, the City Football Group, but Mauricio Pochettino will hope that Marsh can soon deliver a string of first-team-ready players who have garnered valuable experience elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches with a dramatic 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

A stoppage-time winner from Brennan Johnson, who tapped in at the back post from Heung-min Son's excellent cross, secured all three points for Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou has enjoyed an impressive first season with the club so far, with his side currently sitting fourth in the top-flight, and player development has been one of his big strengths.

A number of Tottenham stars have taken a leap forward this term under his management, including the likes of Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski, who have both improved upon their returns at the top end of the pitch in comparison to the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst Kulusevski has caught the eye with better performances this season, Spurs may still be kicking themselves as they fumbled their own homegrown version of the Sweden international many years ago.

Tottenham decided to part ways with young winger Marcus Edwards in the summer of 2019 as the talented gem joined Portuguese side Vitoria for an undisclosed fee, although it is listed as a free transfer by Transfermarkt.

How Marcus Edwards is similar to Dejan Kulusevski

Like Postecoglou's current forward, the former Spurs academy prospect is a left-footed attacker who is predominantly deployed on the right flank.

He likes to dribble and cut inside onto his stronger foot from the right wing to cause constant problems for opposition defences as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

WhoScored lists key passes (chances created) as Edwards' biggest strength, which they also have as Kulusevski's biggest strength, based on their respective statistics over the last two seasons.

The stat-led website also describes the English winger's style of play by stating that he likes to dribble, likes to play short passes, and is a counter attack threat.

Meanwhile, WhoScored describes Kulusevski's style of play by stating that he likes to dribble, likes to play short passes, and commits fouls often.

This suggests that they both have a similar style in terms of what they like to do with the ball at their feet, to go along with both being left-footed right wingers.

Therefore, Tottenham already had a player with a similar profile to the Sweden international and decided to cash in on him before they ended up swooping for the Juventus attacker later on.

Kulusevski's Spurs career in numbers

Spurs initially signed the talented whiz on an 18-month loan deal from the Italian giants in January 2022, which was then made permanent for a reported fee of £25m in the summer of 2023.

Kulusevski caught the eye in his first six months on loan with the club as he hit the ground running in the Premier League with a string of impressive displays.

The left-footed maestro racked up five goals and eight assists in 18 appearances, which included 14 starts, in the top-flight during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

However, the Swedish ace did not kick on from that superb start to life in England as he only managed two goals and seven assists in 30 Premier League outings in the 2022/23 season.

Four fewer goals and assists combined in 12 more appearances in comparison to his first campaign with the club was a disappointing return for the attacker.

However, the 23-year-old has thrived under Postecoglou this season and appears to be back at his best at the top end of the pitch for Tottenham.

Kulusevski has produced five goals, two assists, and eight 'big chances' created in 22 appearances. He has provided his teammates with 4.86 xA worth of chances, which suggests that they have massively let him down in front of goal, given that the winger only has two assists to his name so far.

The Sweden international has been a threat to opposition defences as both a scorer and a creator, as shown by the statistics, above, but Sprus already had their own version of Kulusevski in their academy and fumbled him, which may make the £25m spent on the Juventus wizard look wasted with the benefit of hindsight.

Marcus Edwards' impressive progression

After Edwards made just one first-team appearance for Spurs, having emerged through the academy set-up, the tricky winger has gone on to forge an impressive career for himself in Portugal.

The 25-year-old magician produced 20 goals and 14 assists in 96 appearances for Vitoria and that convinced Sporting to snap him up in January 2022, which was the same window in which Tottenham signed Kulusevski on loan from Juventus.

Since his big move to Lisbon, the former England U20 international, who was hailed as a "joy to watch" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has consistently proven himself to be a big threat in the final third with his ability as a scorer and a creator of goals.

Last season, the 5 foot 6 dynamo scored seven goals and assisted five in 33 league matches for Sporting. However, he created a whopping 15 'big chances' for his teammates, which suggests that his fellow attackers let him down in front of goal.

To date, Edwards has fired in 21 goals and assisted 23 in 95 outings for Sporting in all competitions, which is a return of a goal or an assist every 2.16 matches on average.

Whereas, Kulusevski has racked up 12 goals and 18 assists in 82 games for Tottenham, during his time on loan and as a permanent player, which is a direct goal contribution every 2.73 clashes on average.

Appearances

22

17

Goals

Five

Four

Big chances created

Eight

11

xA

4.86

4.84

Assists

Two

Three

Key passes per game

2.1

2.6

As you can see in the table above, Edwards has provided a greater threat at the top end of the pitch in his respective league this season, with more goals, big chances created, xA, and assists per game on average.

These statistics suggest that the former Spurs whiz had the quality to offer more than Kulusevski on the right flank for the club had they persisted with him and helped the young gem to fulfill his potential in North London.

Of course, this is all with the benefit of hindsight and there is no telling how his progression would have gone had they loaned him out more and then tried to integrate him into the first-team.

However, it does appear to be one that slipped from their grasp and caused them to possibly waste £25m on Kulusevski, given that they could have had a similar player, both in style and quality, in Edwards.

It might still be early doors, but Chelsea look like they are back on track in 2024; following their pitiful display in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve, they have been almost faultless – just don't think about that League Cup semi-final first leg.

Mauricio Pochettino has overseen five wins and a draw from their last seven games and guided the Blues into a cup final, something that seemed a million miles away just a couple of months ago.

However, for as good as the Pensioners have looked over the last month or so, their misfiring frontline will remain a problem for the rest of the season, lest they do something about it in the dying embers of the transfer window.

The two-time European Champions have the second-worst underperformance in the league by Understat's expected goals model, and the fact that they have scored nine goals fewer than they should have could come back to bite them in May.

This is obviously a concern for Todd Boehly and Co as numerous number nines who could replace Nicolas Jackson have been touted for a move to Stamford Bridge this month – let's take a look at three of them.

1 Callum Wilson – Newcastle United

The first name on the list is a relatively recent development and potentially represents the most straightforward transfer to complete: Newcastle United's Callum Wilson.

The Englishman was linked to the west Londoners earlier this week, and while the Toon would rather keep a hold of one of their most effective players, FFP is forcing their hand somewhat regarding the future of several key players.

The Magpies reportedly value the former Cherries man at around £18m and would prefer a straight transfer if he were to leave this month, while the Blues are after a loan, although with a price as reasonable as that, their approach could change very quickly.

Whatever the fee, signing the "ruthless" Wilson, as journalist Chris Waugh described him, would be a massive upgrade on Jackson, as despite multiple injury problems throughout his career, the 31-year-old professional has remained a clinical Premier League striker, something that is reflected in his brilliant top-flight career statistics.

While the aforementioned injuries and age would usually be a pair of massive red flags in a player, for £18m, it seems well worth the risk, especially if the money saved by signing the Toon forward could be spent on a new long-term striker in the summer window.

Ultimately, with 86 goals and 23 assists to his name in just 215 appearances, this seems too good of an opportunity to pass up for the Pensioners.

215

86

23

0.40

74

89

52

2 Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan

The second name on the list is a World Cup winner, currently the top scorer in Serie A, who came agonisingly close to winning the Champions League last season; that name is Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez.

The Argentine sensation was linked to the club earlier this month and would reportedly be available for a sum of £80m-£100m as he is still yet to sign a new deal with the Italian giants.

Described as a "mix of Aguero & Falcao" for his "great close control & technique" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 26-year-old would instantly elevate Pochettino's middling strike force.

Just this season, he has netted 22 goals in 24 starts for the Nerazzurri across all competitions and is showing no signs of slowing down.

His underlying numbers are just as impressive, with FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 1% of strikers for interceptions, the top 3% for non-penalty goals, the top 5% for total shots, the top 9% for non-penalty goals all per 90.

Interestingly, Jackson does rank a little higher for non-penalty expected goals and non-penalty expected goals and assists, but this, combined with the number of non-penalty goals the pair have scored this season – Jackson has seven, Martinez has 17 – just further proves that the Inter star is clinical and the Senegalese international is not.

Martinez

Stats vs CFs in Europe

Jackson

Top 1%

Interceptions

Bottom 28%

Top 3%

Non-Penalty Goals

Top 10%

Top 5%

Total Shots

Top 37%

Top 9%

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

Top 6%

Top 9%

Tackles

Bottom 45%

Top 12%

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

Top 9%

Top 14%

Blocks

Top 36%

Top 15%

Shot-Creating Actions

Top 19%

3 Dušan Vlahović – Juventus

The third and final name on this list is another striker having a brilliant personal season in Italy this year, Juventus' Dušan Vlahović.

The Serbian international was linked to Chelsea earlier this month when journalist Simon Phillips revealed that the club had been holding internal discussions about the former Fiorentina ace and the possibility of signing him this month.

The 24-year-old "goal machine", as u23 scout Antonio Mango described him, took some time to adjust to life in Turin but has been like a man possessed this season, with his 12 league goals only bettered by Inter's Martinez.

However, where the Argentine could cost the Blues anywhere up to £100m, reports at the start of this month revealed that the Old Lady would be willing to listen to offers for their number nine starting in the region of €60m, which is about £51m.

Player

Goals

Club

Assists

Lautaro Martinez

19

Inter Milan

2

Dušan Vlahović

12

Juventus

3

Olivier Giroud

10

AC Milan

7

Domenico Berardi

9

Sassuolo

3

Hakan Calhanoglu

9

Inter Milan

3

While that isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, it would represent a good deal in a January window, especially considering that Jackson cost the club £30m.

Three midfielders Chelsea could sign to finally move on from Gallagher

The Blues could sell their homegrown talent this month.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 30, 2024

Ultimately, while the league campaign might just about be beyond saving for Chelsea this season, they have a genuine chance to win two trophies, and signing any of these strikers to start over the profligate Jackson would be a surefire way to improve their chances of success.

Newcastle United are interested in signing a highly-rated "athletic" Championship starlet who "likes a tackle", according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have been linked with so many players of late, although it is bizarrely outgoing January transfer business dominating the recent headlines, amid their unpredictable form in the Premier League.

Rennes midfielder Desire Doue is believed to be of interest, with the youngster seen as a prodigious talent, while Everton ace Amadou Onana appears to be considered a good option to come in and make up for the absence of the injured Joelinton, albeit an expensive one. The middle of the park does look to be an area that the Magpies are keen on strengthening in, with Bournemouth's Philip Billing another individual who is reportedly being looked at, too.

There are also potentially significant departures on the cards at St James' Park this month, with Bayern Munich still pushing to complete the signing of the hugely popular and influential Kieran Trippier. It remains to be seen if he will leave, but it is a concerning siuation, and striker Callum Wilson is also wanted by Atletico Madrid before the end of the month, while Miguel Almiron is strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Newcastle want Jordan James

According to an update from Corriere Della Sera [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are interested in signing Birmingham City youngster Jordan James.

Fellow Premier League clubs Brighton and Brentford are also believed to be keen on snapping up the 19-year-old, while Championship side West Brom are also in the mix. James could be a brilliant long-term purchase by Newcastle, considering he is seen as one of the brightest players that Wales have produced recently, being lauded by current international boss Rob Page:

"He reads the game well, he’s athletic, he likes a tackle, he can pass the ball, he can head it. He ticks a lot of boxes; he has got everything. He is a great lad and he wants to work hard. He has got potential and we’re going to help him achieve that."

This outlines what a talent he James is, and he could be viewed as a fantastic long-term prospect who could end up becoming a genuine star at Newcastle. He has spoken about his friendship with Real Madrid and England superstar Jude Bellingham in the past, having played together at Birmingham, so he may have learned a trick or two from the now world class midfielder:

“Jude? He wasn’t a bad player. He would run the most, run through everyone. I know his mess-around side, the football banter. The brothers are big personalities in the dressing room and like to crack jokes."

Newcastle set to submit offer for highly-rated prodigious midfield ace

His name has previously been “on everyone’s lips” at his current club.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 21, 2024

James already has eight caps for Wales, despite still being so young, so he isn't simply one for the future, and could immediately be a solid squad player for Eddie Howe.

The January transfer window has been open for business for over three weeks and Celtic have, so far, made one addition to their first-team squad.

German winger Nicolas Kuhn has been brought in from Austrian side Rapid Wien on a permanent deal on a five-and-a-half-year contract to bolster Brendan Rodgers' options at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

16

Goals

Two

Assists

Five

Big chances created

11

Key passes per game

1.8

The 24-year-old wizard, who caught the eye in the Bundesliga earlier this season as you can see in the table above, may not be the only signing made by the Scottish giants this month.

Football Insider previously reported that the Hoops head coach would also like to add a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a new centre-forward to his squad before the window slams shut.

Celtic may also need to replace one of their current first-team performer as Liel Abada has been linked with a transfer away from Parkhead this month.

Celtic's need to replace Abada

According to The Mail, the Israel international is a target for a number of clubs outside of Scotland ahead of a potential loan exit from Glasgow before February's deadline.

English Championship sides West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, and Watford are all interested in a loan swoop for the exciting young winger as they look to bolster their respective attacks ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Clubs in Germany and France are also keen on a deal to sign the 22-year-old wizard, who has only started three Scottish Premiership matches so far this season.

His campaign has been severely disrupted by a torn thigh muscle that caused him to miss a staggering 22 competitive games for Celtic between September and December of 2023.

The Hoops could need to find a replacement for the forward if they allow him to depart on loan to one of the many interested clubs before the deadline, and they may already know who could step up to fill that void.

Instead of dipping into the market to sign another attacking midfielder, Rodgers could unearth Rocco Vata from the B team as the club look to tie him down to a new contract.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has revealed that the Bhoys have opened talks with the 18-year-old prospect over an extension at Parkhead.

His current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and the Scottish giants are now scrambling to ensure that his future remains in Glasgow.

The reporter claims that Vata is keen to stay at Celtic if the right pathway is there for him to make a breakthrough at senior level, which Abada's potential exit could provide him with.

Rodgers could offer the Irish youngster more first-team minutes, that would otherwise have gone to the 22-year-old winger, and convince him to commit his future to the club.

Liel Abada's Celtic goal record

The right-footed forward joined the Hoops in the summer of 2021 and quickly established himself as a reliable and impressive option at the top end of the pitch.

Abada has racked up 29 goals and 22 assists in 109 appearances for the club in all competitions over the last three-and-a-half-years, which includes 21 goals in 67 Premiership outings.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the exciting whiz caught the eye under Ange Postecoglou with a return of ten goals and six assists in 36 league matches.

He followed that up with ten goals and five assists in 34 Premiership games throughout the 2022/23 season under the Australian head coach, although only 13 of those appearances came as a starter.

His thigh injury has halted his progress under Rodgers this season as Abada has only contributed with one goal and one assist in six league games.

The young dynamo has previously proven his quality in the Premiership, under Postecoglou, but his injury has been a huge setback and going out on loan for the second half of the campaign could be ideal for him.

It would allow Abada to go and play regular first-team football to regain his fitness and form ahead of a possible return to Celtic for the 2024/25 campaign, whilst it would also open the door for Vata to be provided with a pathway to senior minutes.

The stats that show why Vata could be Abada's replacement

Rodgers could replace the current first-team winger by bringing the 18-year-old starlet up to the senior squad on a regular basis over the next few months.

The Ireland U21 international has already shown glimpses of his quality for Celtic in a smattering of appearances since the start of last season, the latest of which came against Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.

Vata, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once claimed has an "exciting" future ahead, found the back of the net from close range as he displayed his fantastic positioning within the six-yard box to score his first goal for the club, as you can see in the video below.

His goalscoring potential has been on display throughout his time with the B team in Glasgow as the Ireland U21 international has scored a whopping 23 goals in 34 appearances for the young Hoops.

Abada hit double figures for goals in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Premiership campaigns and these statistics suggest that Vata could provide a similar threat when it comes to scoring goals from an attacking midfield or wide position, as he can play out wide or through the middle.

Appearances

Four

Minutes played

44

Key passes

Four

Big chances created

Two

Pass accuracy

88%

As you can see in the table above, the teenage dynamo was provided with a chance to impress in the Premiership last term and took his chance with an outstanding creative output in just 44 minutes of action.

He created two 'big chances' in those 44 minutes, and it has taken Abada 288 minutes of league action this season to create two for his teammates.

Therefore, Vata could also offer creativity for Celtic in the final third if he can translate that form over a prolonged spell of matches in the first-team.

So, whilst allowing Abada to depart on loan could be seen as a blow, it could also be viewed as an opportunity for the club to keep hold of Vata by offering him first-team minutes as the forward's replacement during the second half of the campaign.

As Alex Neil’s Sunderland side prepare for a potential pivotal League One final day clash with Morecambe on Saturday, the club’s supporters would be forgiven for having more pressing matters to attend to than concerning themselves with who they did or didn’t sign over the past decade or so.

That being said, had the Black Cats made smarter moves in the transfer market during their Premier League days. they may not have found themselves where they are at present, facing a fifth successive season in the third tier unless they can navigate their way out of the play-offs.

One notable missed opportunity of recent times was the club’s failure to secure the signing of current Paris Saint-Germain star Georginio Wijnaldum, with the midfielder having appeared close to a deal back in 2015 during Dick Advocaat’s stint in charge at the Stadium of Light.

How Sunderland missed out on Wijnaldum

As reports at the time revealed, Sunderland held concrete interest in the then-PSV Eindhoven skipper and even submitted an £11m offer for the player, with Advocaat keen to use his Dutch connections to tempt his compatriot into a move to Wearside.

The then 24-year-old opted against the move, though, with the club suffering the ignominy of seeing the Rotterdam-born playmaker instead choosing to join bitter rivals Newcastle United in a £14.4m deal.

Despite the Magpies’ eventual relegation at the end of his debut campaign, Wijnaldum more than showed his suitability to English football in what was a stellar season on an individual note as he netted 11 Premier League goals.

That form alerted the attention of Liverpool, who moved for him after just a solitary season at St James’ Park, with the all-action midfielder going on to claim Champions League and Premier League honours during his time at Anfield.

Such was the Dutchman’s impact at the Merseyside club prior to his 2021 departure, Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness suggested that the 5 foot 9 star had been the “driving force” for the Reds’ success under Jurgen Klopp in recent years, alongside Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

While the 31-year-old has somewhat struggled since his free transfer to PSG last summer – with just a 6.65 average match rating in Ligue 1 – the 86-cap international is still held in high regard. His Oranje colleague Ryan Babel insisted that the £19.8m-rated colossus has “lungs for days”, such is his intense work ethic.

As for Sunderland, the club are no longer anywhere close to signing a player of that calibre, with the Black Cats having found it immensely difficult to climb their way out of the lower divisions.

Had they managed to secure Wijnaldum’s services that summer – rather than ending up with the likes of Yann M’Vila and later Jan Kirchoff – who knows where they could be right now.

AND in other news, Speakman howler: Sunderland may now be on the verge of repeating brutal Hugill disasterclass…

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs have now set their sights on one of Aston Villa’s rising stars after an appeal from club officials, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Paratici weighs top talent…

Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici, as per recent claims, also has one eye on future talents with there being many on his radar.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Peterborough United duo Ronnie Edwards and Benjamin Mensah, a central defender and right-wing-back respectively, are just two names Tottenham have been linked with recently.

Middlesbrough ace Djed Spence, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, was the subject of multiple Spurs bids in January and there is reason to believe they could return to the charge this summer.

The Latest: Tottenham hierarchy plot Patterson move…

According to Football Insider, Tottenham are now ‘plotting’ a move for Villa’s exciting young left-back Travis Patterson.

The 16-year-old is regarded as one of the ‘top-level’ youngsters coming through in the Midlands with Spurs club officials and ‘talent spotters’ scouting Patterson.

It is believed that these employees have now ‘recommended’ the England Under-17 international to Tottenham’s ‘hierarchy’ – appealing for his signing behind-the-scenes.

The Verdict: Make a move?

Patterson is certainly emerging as one to watch, having already made his Villa Under-23s debut at just 16.

This is a real indicator of his talent, and going by Spurs’ homegrown quota issue, they should be looking to get as many top English talents through the door as possible.

His development has been described as ‘rapid’ and there is no sign of it slowing down, and going by his real rise, he may well be a Tottenham left-back of the future if club chiefs decide to tempt him across the Premier League to north London.

In other news: Tottenham officials dispatched to club as they allegedly eye ‘unbelievable’ £33m man for Conte! Find out more here.

Harry Kane. The greatest goalscorer in Tottenham Hotspur history. Perhaps their greatest ever player too.

The prolific striker left Spurs behind in 2023, finally departing after scoring a swashbuckling 280 goals in 435 games for the Lilywhites.

For too long, Kane had failed to win a trophy, to pick up an award that his performances for well over a decade deserved.

That curse continued during his first campaign in Germany. Now of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen topped the German heavyweights’ monopoly on the title.

Kane’s first piece of silverware finally came last term, his side victorious in the league. England’s greatest centre-forward has his major trophy, he can rest easy.

However, might there be thoughts of returning to Spurs?

Spurs targeting £86m Harry Kane alternative

Reports emerged late last month that Spurs were ready to launch a move to re-sign their former talisman if given encouragement on the player side.

Kane’s contract in Munich ends in 2027 and there is a release clause of £56.7m in his terms that could reportedly be activated at the end of the current season.

Sadly for those of a Tottenham persuasion, a move looks to be unlikely. Speaking to the press this week, Kane revealed that he could definitely see himself remaining in Germany.

With that move off the table, if Spurs have desires of improving their forward line, something they need to do given the injury-prone Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, an alternative will be required.

Reports from Spain this week suggest that Porto striker Samu Aghehowa could be that man.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, it is claimed that Spurs are one of the major contenders to sign the Spanish striker in 2026, but they do face a few obstacles.

The first is Samu’s £86m release clause. The second is competition from further Premier League clubs, primarily Aston Villa and Newcastle.

His former club, Atletico Madrid, are also keeping a close eye on his development, perhaps regretting the decision they made to sell him to Porto.

Why Samu is such an exciting striker

Kane is the best goalscorer Spurs have ever seen, but he’s remarkably taking his game to new heights since moving to Germany.

Spurs

435

280

England

107

74

Bayern

106

103

Millwall

27

9

Orient

18

5

Leicester

15

2

Norwich

5

0

Last term, the England international bagged 41 goals in 51 games. This season, he’s in the form of his life, netting 18 times in ten outings. It’s Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo levels in their pomp.

Such form has seen calls for Kane to win the Ballon d’Or, but as the player himself has admitted, he may well need to win the Champions League or World Cup to be in the conversation. Wouldn’t that be something, eh?

Despite that, Kane is now 32 and while he only looks like he’s getting better in front of goal, there is no resale value here for Spurs and you do have to doubt just how long he will be able to do it at this rate of knots.

Spurs fans will no doubt lust after his return to north London but it’s not exactly a signing for the future. Samu, however, certainly would be.

He’s no mug in front of goal either. Just 21 years of age, the Spain international scored on 27 occasions in 45 fixtures throughout 2024/25.

The young attacker has been similarly rampant this season, scoring five goals in eight fixtures. As European football expert, Zach Lowy, has alluded to, Samu “has everything it takes to be one of the best strikers in Europe.”

Lowy mentions that while Porto’s star man is certainly still “rough around the edges” at his age, he holds the ball up brilliantly and chases the ball down “like a madman”.

Combine that with his ability to score goals on a regular basis and you have a complete package ready to take one of Europe’s top five leagues by storm.

There is a reason Chelsea nearly signed him too. They’ve been busy hoovering up some of the best young talent in the world in recent years and had agreed a deal worth £35m before the move collapsed. That could be to Spurs’ gain if they do seal Samu’s signature next year.

Some might be concerned about the fact that the striker is unproven in a major league. Viktor Gyokeres has had an indifferent start at Arsenal since swapping the Portuguese top-flight for the Premier League.

He was more prolific than Samu, too, notching 54 goals last season, but it’s key to remember that the Spurs target is younger. His future in the game looks immense and while it’s a stretch to suggest he’d replicate Kane, he can certainly help them forget about making a move for a player who will be in his mid-30s by the time his contract in Germany expires.

Samu, on the other hand, will still only be 23. He has the world at his feet and he’s ready to dominate European football for years to come.

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On Tuesday evening, Unai Emery's side will look to get revenge over Newcastle after they defeated the Villans 5-1 all the way back in August.

Last Friday, Aston Villa held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup, with a replay making their hectic schedule even busier.

With the number of upcoming matches increasing, the Spaniard must look to reinforce his squad before the end of Thursday.

The latest on Villa's Morgan Rogers chase

According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Villa have submitted a third bid for Middlesbrough forward Morgan Rogers.

The attacker is Monchi and Emery's priority this month, with the player also wanting to move to the Premier League club.

David Ornstein subsequently revealed on Monday that an offer of £15m including add-ons had been made with negotiations set to continue.

Why Morgan Rogers could replace Jacob Ramsey

Since breaking onto the scene in the 2020/21 term, Jacob Ramsey has developed into a key player for Aston Villa.

The academy youth product has already featured 115 times for the team he supports, including 14 matches this campaign where he's netted just once. A foot injury has seen him miss eight games in 2023/24, but he is finally working his way back into the side.

However, earlier this week, David Ornstein of The Athletic announced that Newcastle had made an approach to sign the midfielder, with Spurs and Bayern Munich also interested parties.

Therefore, if Ramsey were to leave the club, Rogers could just become the ideal replacement in the second half of the season.

The former Man City player only joined Middlsebrough in the summer, but he has become a vital cog in Michael Carrick's system incredibly swiftly.

Rogers has played 33 matches across all competitions, netting seven times and providing nine assists, with his performance against Villa in the FA Cup igniting their interest, even if Boro did suffer a 1-0 defeat.

Therefore, let's look at Rogers' statistics from this season and how he compares to his positional peers in the Championship.

Goals

0.14

Bottom 72%

Assists

0.41

Top 2%

Key passes

2.55

Top 5%

Shot-creating actions

4.82

Top 9%

Progressive passes

5.50

Top 10%

Tackles won

1.38

Top 15%

Although the 21-year-old is a forward by trade, Rogers also has the attributes to thrive as a third midfielder due to his versatility and off-the-ball work rate. The attacker has played in five different roles already this season, including at left midfield, which is where Ramsey currently operates.

The fact that he ranks in the top 15% for tackles also shows that he is proactive out of possession, which is important for all individuals in an Emery team.

However, Rogers' main strength is in the final third, where he can score goals and create for others, with his current boss labelling him as a "dangerous" player. All his passing statistics, assists, and shot-creating actions indicate that he's a creative outlet, and his addition to the side would significantly improve the output of those around him. He's also the current top scorer in the EFL Cup with five goals, which shows he is more than capable of getting on the scoresheet.

Signing such a well-rounded, versatile attacker would be the perfect replacement for Ramsey, who's also played in four different roles this season. Rogers would be an excellent purchase for the Villa team.

Liverpool kicked off their pre-season tour in Asia with a 4-2 loss against AC Milan. Results do not matter in pre-season, of course, but it is interesting to see the likes of Florian Wirtz in action.

The attacking midfielder, who joined the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee in June, was all neat flicks and cute turns and intelligent one-twos. The German maestro is the real deal, all right, and could be the difference-maker as Arne Slot looks to defend his Premier League title while chasing glory across other fronts.

Hugo Ekitike didn’t feature, for he only played out his first training session with his new club on Friday, having finalised his £79m move from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the week.

You can be sure to expect the Frenchman’s participation in the weeks ahead. Though in what capacity remains to be seen, with the Reds chasing a deal for Alexander Isak, who has informed Newcastle United that he wants to sign for the Merseysiders.

However, one player who won’t be taking part is Joe Gomez, who has been dealt another cruel injury blow and has been forced to head home.

Liverpool's defensive situation

Jarell Quansah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last month, thinning out Slot’s backline. In Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have an elite pairing, but little else in the way of depth.

However, Gomez does have a chance to shine at the rear next year, having been utilised centrally by Slot last term after principal full-back displays across Jurgen Klopp’s final term.

Well, that was the case until the England international had to withdraw from Liverpool’s summer camp due to what has been reported as a ‘minor Achilles injury’.

There’s no doubt that this blow exacerbates Liverpool’s comparatively frail defensive depth, and may well see sporting director Richard Hughes forge ahead with plans to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

Liverpool emerged as leading contenders for Guehi in June, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the Anfield side’s interest in the centre-back.

With just one year left on his current deal, the Reds are optimistic that they can sign the 25-year-old in a cut-price £40m package. Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.

Why Liverpool must sign Marc Guehi

It’s funny that Liverpool have spent so heavily this summer and yet still feel fragile and thin at the back.

And with the non-committal Konate entering the final year of his £70k-per-week deal, and with Real Madrid hoping to snap him up, it feels crucial that the Reds add a player of Guehi’s quality to their ranks.

The one-time Chelsea prospect has made quite the name for himself at Selhurst Park, playing 132 games in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup last season, keeping a clean sheet against Manchester City in the final.

Liverpool need a centre-back, but Guehi isn’t any old defender. He’s perfect for Slot’s expressive yet composed system, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as “England’s best player” at the 2024 European Championship and described as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi.

Indeed, as per FBref, Guehi ranked among the top 9% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal contributions, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for through balls and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

The 6 foot titan, not the tallest, made up for his so-called weakness in regard to stature by winning 63% of his ground duels in the Premier League last term, as per Sofascore, underscoring the kind of first-class defending Slot would be welcoming to his ranks.

There’s even a case to be made for Guehi being a more important signing than Isak.

Make no mistake, the Sweden forward is a world-class player. Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even said that he was “the best striker in the Premier League” last season, and it’s praise that many would agree with.

Mohamed Salah, as is so often the case in the record books, was the only man to have outscored Isak in the league last year, and the Newcastle man played just 31 matches altogether, bespeaking his clinical style.

Now, while Isak would prove an incredible, level-raising signing, have Liverpool not already added Ekitike to their ranks? Data-led site FBref even reveal that the Newcastle man is one of Ekitike’s most statistically comparable players.

And with Liverpool already such a devastating attacking force, the French forward is in the perfect place to foster his burgeoning skills.

1.

Liverpool

1st

80

2.

Man City

4th

66

3.

Newcastle

3rd

65

4.

Arsenal

2nd

63

5.

Tottenham

16th

62

However, Liverpool are but a Van Dijk injury away from disaster at the back, and it would be inconceivable to enter the fresh campaign, primed to defend their title, having sold themselves short in spite of such heavy spending.

That’s why Guehi’s signature could prove such an important one for Slot’s vision. Gomez simply isn’t reliable enough to serve as the skipper and Konate’s deputy, having missed the entire second half of the 2024/25 campaign with a hamstring injury; he returned in May but failed to make it off the bench.

Liverpool know that they need to get their purse out once again this summer, turning away from the spending up front and fashioning a complete and deep defensive line.

There are many centre-halves who could make a difference, but Guehi would be the pick of the bunch, and he might even prove a more important signing than Isak when the campaign is well and truly underway.

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