All posts by z3u9t.icu

Whether it’s the Battle of the Bridge, Tottenham Hotspur’s last piece of silverware or even Ange Postecoglou’s tactical stubbornness last season, Spurs v Chelsea rarely disappoints. And as the two London rivals prepare to square off yet again in the Premier League, we’ve taken a look back at the best games between the two sides.

Todd Boehly's worst transfers at Chelsea… so far

There are plenty to choose from, but who has been Boehly’s biggest mistake at Stamford Bridge?

2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 10 Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham (2022) Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte's firm handshake

It feels somewhat strange that it’s been just two years since Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte created a famous Premier League moment as Chelsea and Tottenham battled out a dramatic 2-2 draw.

It was the Blues who struck first through Kalidou Koulibaly before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s effort levelled things up just after the hour mark.

The drama really began to heat up when Conte and Tuchel were booked over a disagreement about Anthony Taylor’s failure to award Chelsea a free kick following Rodrigo Bentancur’s challenge on Kai Havertz prior to the equaliser.

Tuchel then stoked the fire by sprinting past Conte to celebrate Reece James’ strike to regain the Blues’ lead, only for Kane to head home a late leveller.

If those at Stamford Bridge thought the drama was about to end there, a firm handshake between both managers soon proved otherwise, resulting in a red card apiece.

9 Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham (2007) Blues bounce back to earn replay

Taking their battle from the Premier League to the FA Cup, Chelsea were forced to come from behind to earn a dramatic replay against Spurs in 2007, albeit one that Jose Mourinho wanted to avoid.

The majority of the drama arrived in a frantic first half, with Dimitar Berbatov’s effort handing his side a swift lead in the opening five minutes, only for Frank Lampard to level things up in the 22nd.

The sides weren’t level for long thanks to Michael Essien’s own goal and Hossam Ghaly’s strike, giving the Lilywhites some breathing room.

The Blues looked down for the count up until the very last when Lampard rose to find his brace with 19 minutes remaining and Kalou equalised in the remaining four minutes of normal time to force a replay, which they went on to win 2-1.

8 Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham (2017) Matic stunner shows Spurs the door

Another FA Cup thriller to remember, it was unlikely star Nemanja Matic who stole the headlines in the semi-final clash between Chelsea and Spurs in 2017, as the Blues advanced to the final at Wembley.

Level after the hour mark thanks to Willian’s first-half brace and a goal apiece from Harry Kane and Dele Alli, Chelsea took things up a level and soon soared to victory.

Eden Hazard regained his side’s lead – as he often did – with 15 minutes of normal time remaining before a loose ball fell the way of Matic, who simply could not resist the chance to unleash what proved to be an unstoppable thunderbolt.

For all of their efforts and Jermaine Jenas’ verdict that they had been the better side, Spurs found themselves dumped out of the FA Cup by their rivals once again.

7 Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea, 2023 Jackson punishes chaotic nine-player Spurs

In between Nicolas Jackson keeping the linesman busy and earning what felt like an inevitable hat-trick, the main question that many sent the way of Spurs was whether it was brave, stupid or honourable to stick to their high-line principles when down to nine men against a Chelsea side that could not believe their luck.

The Lilywhites initially found the lead as early as the sixth minute through Dejan Kulusevski, but things never got better from there. Instead, the chaos began.

Brennan Johnson’s goal was ruled out by VAR, as was Raheem Sterling’s, before Moises Caicedo suffered the same controversial fate. But in amongst the constant line-drawing at Stockley Park, Cristian Romero was caught red-handed on the replay of Caicedo’s effort and was given his marching orders following a reckless challenge on Enzo Fernandez.

Cole Palmer’s equaliser from the penalty spot finally denied VAR the chance to intervene, as did Destiny Udogie’s second yellow card of the evening after the break.

Down to nine men and level, some would rightly assume that the wise tactic would have been to hold what you have, but that’s not the way of Postecoglou, who forced his side to suffer an eventual and inevitable Jackson hat-trick.

6 Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea (2012) Chelsea fuel goalline technology debate

Whilst the main topic of debate these days is whether to scrap VAR, it wasn’t so long ago that the Premier League was crying out for the goalline technology which has since proved to be a great success.

When Chelsea put five past London rivals Spurs in merciless fashion at Wembley, it was once again at the centre of debate when referee Martin Atkinson awarded Juan Mata’s effort despite replays appearing to show that the ball has not crossed the line.

From there, even Gareth Bale’s response to Didier Drogba and Mata’s initial strikes couldn’t stand in the way of a Chelsea victory, who sealed a five-star display through Ramires, Lampard and Florent Malouda in the second half to send the Blues to the FA Cup final yet again.

5 Chelsea 4-3 Tottenham (1994) Stein wins seven-goal thriller

To find one of the most high-scoring games between Chelsea and Tottenham, we have to go all the way back to 1994 when the Blues defeated their London rivals 4-3 thanks to Mark Stein’s last-minute winner from the penalty spot.

Once the floodgates were open, they never slammed shut at Stamford Bridge to create a true Premier League thriller.

Spurs initially thought they were on course to secure victory when Steve Sedgley opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Jason Dozzell instantly doubled their lead a minute later.

But that was only the start, with Chelsea fighting back through Mal Donaghy, Stein’s equaliser and John Spencer’s 40th-minute effort to turn the game on its head before half-time.

Adding one last crescendo, Andrew Gray’s penalty to level things up in the 73rd minute almost foreshadowed what was to come, given that Stein sealed a dramatic brace from 12 yards to find a last-minute winner for Chelsea.

4 Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham (2008) Spurs secure silverware

It may be difficult to imagine these days given how it’s become the stick to poke those in north London with, but 16 years ago, Spurs found themselves lifting the League Cup after defeating Chelsea at Wembley to end a nine-year chase for silverware.

Little did they know, of course, that their victory over the Blues would be their last trophy win to this day.

What that does mean, however, is that as things stand, Jonathan Woodgate holds quite the place in the Spurs history books after scoring an extra-time winner to defeat the Blues all those years ago.

3 Tottenham 5-3 Chelsea (2015) Kane shocks leaders Chelsea

Despite eventually being crowned Premier League champions in the 2014/15 campaign, Chelsea couldn’t find a way past Mauricio Pochettino’s side at White Hart Lane, as Harry Kane inspired the Lilywhites to a thumping 5-3 victory, scoring twice.

The Blues initially set course for another win over their rivals after Diego Costa found the opener, only for Kane to level things up after half an hour.

By the time the break rolled around, the Lilywhites had flipped the game on its head to lead 3-1 courtesy of Danny Rose and Andros Townsend from the spot. As if things then couldn’t get any worse, Kane found his second and Spurs’ fourth right after half-time.

Eventual champions Chelsea had been given their wake-up call in violent fashion even as goals from Eden Hazard and John Terry in between Nacer Chadli for Spurs’ fifth restored some pride.

2 Tottenham 4-4 Chelsea Spurs and Chelsea share points in eight-goal thriller

A year after they shared a stunning 3-3 draw in the FA Cup, Tottenham and Chelsea entertained us all in the Premier League with a 4-4 draw.

An eight-goal thriller which began with Drogba’s opener within three minutes and Woodgate’s leveller just nine minutes later, the eight-goal thriller remains one of the best games between the two London clubs.

Despite the early goals, the majority of the drama came in the second period. With Chelsea in the lead thanks to Michael Essien’s goal in the 20th minute, those at White Hart Lane were forced to wait until just before the hour mark for the drama to pick up again, courtesy of Joe Cole. The midfielder extended his side’s lead to commence a dramatic Spurs comeback.

Coming through Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone, Spurs stunningly had the scores level with 15 minutes to go.

However, in a manner which can only be described as vintage Spurs, Cole found his brace just minutes later to hand Chelsea a 4-3 lead before Robbie Keane finished the drama with two minutes of normal time remaining to end the game at four apiece.

1 Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham (2016) Battle of the Bridge ends Spurs title dream

It may not be the most high-scoring game on this list, but it is arguably the best, so much so that it even has its own name.

The Battle of the Bridge took place on the field of Stamford Bridge and featured as many as 12 yellow cards between the two sides – and a crowning moment for Leicester City. It remains one of the most entertaining spectacles in one of the most historic seasons of English football.

In truth, the Blues had no right to even secure a point against a high-flying Spurs side that year, especially whilst they sat in mid-table and were quickly 2-0 down against the Lilywhites. Kane and Son Heung-min’s efforts left their side on course for three points, only for Eden Hazard’s best form to reveal itself for the first time that season.

Following Gary Cahill’s goal to halve the deficit, Hazard took hold of proceedings and curled a sensational effort beyond Hugo Lloris to secure a point for Chelsea and an odds-defying Premier League title for Leicester. In a battle between Chelsea and Spurs, it was the Foxes who truly came out on top.

The Premier League matches with the most cards

Here are the feistiest, card-happy matches in Premier League history.

1 ByLewis Thompson Sep 14, 2024

Arsenal are believed to be seriously weighing up the possibility of signing a Real Madrid player in January, with Carlo Ancelotti and co beginning to pull a U-turn over letting him leave when the transfer window reopens next month.

Arsenal's rumoured transfer plans for January in bid to back Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta is currently attempting to resurrect his side’s faltering Premier League title bid, as the Gunners currently lie six points adrift of table-toppers Liverpool, with Arne Slot’s Reds also possessing an advantageous game in hand.

Arsenal hold talks with £58m striker via reps as January deal possible

The Gunners want an alternative to Kai Havertz.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Dec 12, 2024

In what was seen as a real blow for the Gunners, Arsenal dropped points away to Fulham last weekend, where they failed to score from open play for the second time in successive top flight matches.

Arsenal now face a must-win game at home to Premier League strugglers Everton this weekend, with Arteta hoping his side end their run of domestic games where they’ve relied on set-piece specialism.

Everton (home)

December 14

Crystal Palace (away)

December 21

Ipswich Town (home)

December 27

Brentford (away)

January 1

Brighton (away)

January 4

They go into the contest with their tails up after a convincing 3-0 win over Ligue 1 title challengers Monaco, but anything but a victory over Sean Dyche’s side could spell major trouble for them in the title race, especially with Chelsea in imperious form right now as well as Liverpool.

Injuries have been a consistent theme of Arsenal’s season, which has seriously hampered their form in parts, given the absences of numerous key players at various points.

Arteta, speaking to the media earlier this week, suggested that Arsenal could make signings in January – dependent on the glaring needs of his squad.

There have been reports that Arsenal have held talks over signing a new midfielder next month, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton on their agenda (CaughtOffside).

Wharton isn’t the only name on their agenda either, with Real Madrid playmaker Arda Guler also linked in the last few weeks.

Arsenal seriously considering signing Arda Guler on loan in January

Ancelotti stated to the media earlier this week that Guler won’t be leaving in January, but according to The Boot Room, Europe’s champions are starting to begin pulling a U-turn over the Turkey international’s potential exit.

Indeed, this comes as Guler becomes increasingly frustrated with his lack of consistent opportunities in the starting eleven, with Real prepared to consider letting him leave on loan in January as a result.

Arsenal are “seriously” weighing up a loan move for Guler in light of their softening stance, as the north Londoners keep very close tabs on this developing situation in the Spanish capital, with hope that an opportunity could open up to sign the “special” teenage sensation.

Leeds United will end 2024 at the top of the Championship table after they travelled to Pride Park to secure a 1-0 win against Derby County on Sunday.

The Whites are two points clear of Sheffield United in second and three points ahead of Burnley in third, which illustrates how tight it is at the top of the division.

Daniel Farke’s side will need to remain consistent in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign to ensure that they do not drop off into the play-offs, as they did last season.

The West Yorkshire outfit failed to secure automatic promotion and eventually lost 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley in May, after they finished third in the regular season.

Leeds will be hoping for a different outcome this time around and they could use the upcoming January transfer window to make additions to their squad to bolster their chances of promotion.

Interestingly, the Whites have reportedly set their sights on a player who currently plays for one of the teams they are competing with for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds eyeing up Burnley star

According to The Boot Room, Leeds are one of a number of clubs in the mix to sign Burnley attacking midfielder Josh Brownhill in one of the next two transfer windows.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that Fiorentina and Lazio have both made offers to sign the Clarets skipper, whilst Rangers and Celtic are both weighing up bids of their own for the Englishman.

Brownhill’s contract at Turf Moor expires at the end of the season and he has yet to put pen to paper on the extension that has been offered to him, with the two Serie A teams now putting pre-contract deals on the table.

Clubs in England will have to wait until the summer to negotiate a free transfer for him, however, and may need to see if they can strike an agreement for a permanent deal in January, allowing Burnley to recoup some money for his services.

The Boot Room adds that Everton, West Ham United, Leeds, Crystal Palace, and Brentford are the teams in England looking at a potential swoop for the central midfielder.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites can strike a deal for him in January or on a free transfer in the summer, amid tough competition for his signature, Brownhill could come in as a fantastic addition, and an even better option than Brenden Aaronson.

Brenden Aaronson's form this season

The USA international scored the winning goal against Derby County on Sunday, with a fantastic run and a perfect finish to secure the 1-0 win in the second half.

It has been all about redemption for the American midfielder this season after he decided to ditch the team to go out on loan to Union Berlin for the 2023/24 campaign. After being part of the Leeds side that got relegated from the Premier League in the previous season, Aaronson did not want to play a part in helping the club get back to the top-flight and moved to Germany.

This summer, however, the 24-year-old whiz returned to Elland Road in an attempt to redeem himself and help the Whites to get back to the big time.

He worked hard in pre-season to earn the trust of Farke, who brought him into the group, and has emerged as a regular starter for the club so far this season in the Championship.

Starts

22

xG

7.19

Goals

7

Big chances created

5

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the American gem has started 22 of the club’s 24 league matches and contributed with 12 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined.

He has been unfortunate, with five ‘big chances’ created, to only record two assists, and has been relatively effective in front of goal, matching his Expected Goals tally.

Whilst Aaronson has been a solid contributor for Leeds at the top end of the pitch, and scored the all-important goal against Derby on Sunday, Farke could secure an even better player in that position by winning the race to bring Brownhill to Elland Road.

Why Josh Brownhill would be even better than Brenden Aaronson

Firstly, the 29-year-old Burnley ace is an experienced star who has played in the Premier League and the Championship, which means that the club would be signing someone who does not need time to adjust to either division and could hit the ground running.

This means that signing him would be less of a risk than spending millions on a player from another league with no prior experience of football in England, as there is no telling how they would adapt to the country or league.

Brownhill’s form at Championship and Premier League level also suggests that he would offer more than Aaronson as a central or attacking midfield player.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the £45k-per-week whiz produced four goals and two assists in 23 top-flight starts, to go along with 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game and a 56% duel success rate.

Whereas, Aaronson managed one goal and three assists in 28 Premier League starts, losing 60% of his duels, in the 2022/23 season, which suggests that Brownhill could have more to offer in and out of possession at the top level.

Appearances

23

24

xG

4.69

7.19

Goals

9

7

Big chances created

3

5

Assists

3

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the Burnley star has also been far more clinical in front of goal than Aaronson in the Championship this term, whilst providing more from a defensive perspective each match.

These statistics, from the Premier League and the second tier, illustrate the difference in quality between the two players and suggest that Brownhill could come in to improve the team, in and out of possession.

Therefore, Farke should push to sign the 29-year-old gem, who was once hailed as “energetic” by pundit Lee Hendrie, either in January or in the summer, as he could be an excellent addition.

Leeds could land Piroe upgrade by signing star who's a "beast on the pitch"

Leeds United have been linked with an interest in the £4m-rated attacker.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 27, 2024

Glasgow Rangers will be looking to complete some business in the January transfer window when it opens in the new year.

However, Philippe Clement might not have much money to work with at Ibrox, indicating that he could be forced to sell a player or two in order to raise some funds to strengthen his first-team squad.

Rangers' most expensive sales of all time

Who left Ibrox for the most money?

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 9, 2025

While the mid-season window isn’t one for dramatic overhaul, if a few players could be moved on, combined with a couple of incomings, it could set the team up nicely for the second half of the season.

With this in mind, we have taken a look at five players who the manager could potentially sell in January…

Player

Club signed from

Oscar Cortes

Lens (loan)

Fabio Silva

Wolves (loan)

Mohamed Diomande

FC Nordsjaelland (loan)

Todd Cantwell

Norwich City

Nicolas Raskin

Standard Liege

Aaron Ramsey

Juventus (loan)

Mateusz Zukowski

Lechia Gdańsk

James Sands

New York City (loan)

Amad Diallo

Man United (loan)

Scott Wright

Aberdeen

1 Cyriel Dessers Linked to: Saint-Etienne

Heading into the last game of the year, Cyriel Dessers has scored 12 goals and registered four assists across all competitions this season, which represents a decent return in front of goal.

Having a player who is able to chip in with these sorts of numbers is surely valuable for Clement, but the reality is that Dessers is out of his depth in the current squad.

With Danilo returning to full fitness and the improvement of Hamza Igamane with every passing match, Clement already has two strikers who could be his main options between now and the end of the season.

According to reports, French side Saint-Etienne are reportedly keen on signing Dessers as Clement looks for a way to move the forward out of Ibrox.

The Ligue 1 side will need to stump up £3.3m if they wish to sign the Nigerian, and this might prove to be a major stumbling block. If a fee can be sorted, the move could work well for both parties and give the manager some much-needed funds which can be used to bolster his team.

2 Hamza Igamane Linked to: Everton

Unlike Dessers, Hamza Igamane shouldn’t be a player that Clement looks to sell during the winter transfer window. The African gem has forced his way into the Belgian’s plans in recent months, particularly shining in Europe for the Light Blues, scoring four goals in the Europa League.

This has attracted attention from Everton, who reportedly sent scouts to watch the player during the European clash against Tottenham Hotspur before Christmas.

The Light Blues paid only £1.7m to sign the youngster from AS FAR during the summer, and this fee is now turning into a bargain, especially considering how good he could become.

There is no doubting that his long-term future lies away from Scotland, but the best course of action for Igamane would be to remain at Rangers for the next few years in order to develop and hone his skills.

Of course, if any offer arrives for the player that is simply too good to turn down, would the Ibrox side be able to reject it given the financial issues at the club?

3 Ridvan Yilmaz Out of favour

During the summer, Brazilian left-back Jefte was brought to the Gers as competition for Ridvan Yilmaz. The Turkish defender suffered an injury early on in the season, which saw Jefte fill in on the left side of defence.

He suitably impressed, showing maturity way beyond his tender years and could be someone who raises a substantial profit for the Light Blues when he inevitably moves on.

Last January, several clubs were keen on signing Yilmaz, including Serie A side Hellas Verona. While there was no doubting his ability, the fact that Yilmaz spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch was a cause for concern.

Besiktas were even showing interest in the defender just a few months ago, and while he has recovered from his latest setback, it could be the ideal time to cash in on the Turk, especially with Jefte able to slot in with ease in his absence.

Much will depend on whether there are any suitable admirers during the winter window, but it is something for Clement to ponder.

4 James Tavernier Turkish clubs previously interested

Following the end of last season, it looked as though James Tavernier’s spell at Rangers was naturally coming to an end.

He was coming off the back of a campaign which saw him register 36 goal contributions in all competitions – a feat among one of his finest at Ibrox.

Fast-forward a few months and the captain has scored just three times all season. He was subject to interest from Besiktas during the summer, while fellow Turkish side Trabzonspor were also keen on signing him, but he remained at the club.

If there is continued interest in his signature during the winter window, Clement should surely be looking to move him on, especially as it represents the final chance to secure a decent fee for the right-back.

5 Rabbi Matondo Could be deemed surplus to requirements

Like Tavernier, Rabbi Matondo was also wanted during the summer window. Just a week before the transfer window closed, English Championship side Blackburn Rovers were showing some interest in luring Matondo down south.

Nothing materialised and he stayed at Ibrox for the first half of the campaign. While he may have scored twice and grabbed three assists, the Welsh winger has been injured since the middle of September, taking weeks to get back to full fitness.

He is in a similar situation to Tavernier in that his contract expires in 18 months, which means he could be heading into the final year of his deal should he remain at the club until the summer.

Clement can call upon Oscar Cortes, Nedim Bajrami and even Igamane as options on the left wing, which means Matondo could be considered surplus to requirements.

Much will depend on whether there is interest in Matondo or not given his recent injury issues. If there is, the Light Blues could look to move him on.

This would raise a decent fee which could be put towards bolstering the squad ahead of the second half of the season, freeing up some of the wage bill in the process.

The January transfer window is now officially open for business and is set to run for the next four weeks or so, giving Leeds United a chance to make changes to their squad.

Daniel Farke’s team are currently sat at the top of the Championship table, two points ahead of Sheffield United, after the first 24 matches of the campaign.

This shows that they do not need wholesale changes to the playing group, as they are already on course to achieve their ultimate goal of promotion, but that does not mean that they will not do anything.

They are three points ahead of Burnley in third place, ahead of today’s clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, and this means that they could easily end up in the play-off places if their standards drop.

Therefore, Farke may want to add one or two players to his arsenal to ensure that competition for places remains high in the second half of the season.

That does appear to be the case because Leeds have already been linked with an interest in bringing in a new central defender to bolster the manager’s options.

Leeds eyeing up Bundesliga titan

According to GIVEMESPORT, the West Yorkshire outfit are considering a bid to sign Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back Nico Elvedi in the January transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that Farke is keen to reunite with the defender, whom he worked with during his time as manager of Monchengladbach in the 2022/23 campaign, ahead of the second half of the season.

It states that there is a belief within the club, however, that the Switzerland international will not want to join a Championship team and that they may have to wait until the summer transfer window to secure a deal for his services.

GIVEMESPORT adds that Borussia Monchengladbach are willing to allow the 28-year-old star to leave if an offer of £10m is placed on the table, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are prepared to offer that kind of money to snap him up.

The report reveals that Elvedi plays in one of the three positions that Leeds are interested in recruiting for this month, as they are also in the market to sign a left-back and an attacking midfielder.

Farke does, of course, already have a player starting regularly in the Swiss star’s position. Joe Rodon joined permanently from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and has been a regular starter at the heart of the defence in the right-sided centre-back role next to Pascal Struijk.

Joe Rodon's performances this season

The Wales international joined the club on a long-term contract in the summer after he spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Elland Road, helping the team to reach the play-off final.

Rodon played 43 times in the regular season for Leeds last term and provided a dominant presence in the backline, winning 69% of his ground duels and 67% of his aerial battles throughout the season.

The 27-year-old was a consistent performer for the Whites and ended the campaign with zero errors that led to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition, which illustrates how impressive and almost faultless his defensive work was for the club.

Appearances

43

24

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.3

1.5

Clearances per game

4.5

3.9

Ground duel success rate

69%

60%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

54%

Error led to shot/goal

0

2

Penalties committed

0

1

As you can see in the table above, however, he has allowed his standards to drop since joining Leeds on a permanent basis, as pretty much all of his defensive numbers have fallen off.

He has already made two errors that have directly led to shots or goals for the opposition and given away one penalty, in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road, after not giving any away last season, and has not been as dominant in his duels on the deck and in the air.

This suggests that Leeds could benefit from bringing in another centre-back to seriously compete with Rodon for a starting spot in the

team, as it could motivate the Welsh ace to get back to his best form from the 2023/24 campaign.

Why Leeds should sign Nico Elvedi

The Whites should push to convince Elvedi to make the move to the Championship before the end of the January transfer window, despite the feeling that he may wait until the summer for Premier League offers, because he could come in as a big upgrade on Rodon.

His form in the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach since the start of last season shows that the Swiss star is a defender who can perform consistently well in a major European league, which suggests that he would thrive as a star in the Championship – a second tier in England.

Firstly, Elvedi has already played under Farke before and knows the system and tactics. He is suited to playing in a ball-dominant team that wants to progress the ball out from the back, as the centre-back ranks within the top 10% of his positional peers in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries (1.24) per 90.

This shows that he is comfortable at bringing the ball out from defence to start attacks, but it is his defensive work that shows the £10m-rated star could come in as a big upgrade on Rodon.

Appearances

9

24

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

1.5

Error led to shot/goal

0

2

Ground duel success rate

76%

60%

Aerial duel success rate

55%

54%

Clearances per game

5.2

3.9

As you can see in the table above, Elvedi has significantly outperformed Rodon as an out-and-out defender this season, winning a higher percentage of his duels, making more defensive interventions per match, and making fewer clear errors.

Elvedi, who was once hailed as having “incredible composure” by former sporting director Max Eberl, also won 65% of his duels across 30 appearances in the Bundesliga during the 2023/24 campaign, which shows that he has been consistent in his defensive dominance over the last 18 months.

Leeds could, therefore, bring in a big upgrade on Rodon and create real competition for the right-sided centre-back position by securing a £10m deal for the Switzerland international, whose form this season suggests that he could improve Farke’s defence.

Leeds could land bigger talent than McAtee in move for "game-changing" star

Leeds United could find a better alternative to James McAtee by signing this star.

ByDan Emery Dec 31, 2024

Marcus Rashford looks set to leave Manchester United this month, and the club could already have his replacement in mind, as they hold transfer talks with a new attacker, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd transfer news

There are over two weeks left in this January transfer window, and Ruben Amorim will be hoping the club can do some sort of business between now and the deadline. Despite money being tight for the Red Devils, it looks as though the club have transfer targets in mind should they be able to move some fringe players out first.

Man Utd seriously consider "superstar" deal after offer to sign him for £0

INEOS are weighing up whether to take advantage of a transfer situation that has been offered to them.

4 ByBrett Worthington Jan 14, 2025

One player who they hold a serious interest in is Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes. The 22-year-old is a player Amorim knows well from his time at Sporting CP, and the Portuguese is keen on reuniting with the speedster at Old Trafford, as he looks to solve United’s left wing-back issue.

United have been in talks with Mendes over a possible switch, and a new report has stated that they want to accelerate those talks, as Real Madrid and Manchester City are also interested in a move.

As well as looking at Mendes, the Premier League giants are also seriously considering moving for striker Jonathan David after being offered the chance to sign him. David is a free agent in the summer, and his services were offered to United for when his deal expires. The Red Devils are said to be considering a move for the forward but face competition from the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool and Juventus.

Man Utd hold talks for new playmaker – Romano

The transfer news doesn’t stop there for Amorim’s side, as Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester United have held talks over the signing of Nene Dorgeles from RB Salzburg, and a move could happen this month.

The 22-year-old has been on the books of the Austrian side since January 2021, when he joined from Malian outfit Guidars FC. Dorgeles has enjoyed a few loan spells during his time with Salzburg, his last being a season-long loan deal at Belgian side KVC Westerlo, where he scored eight goals and provided four assists in 29 JPL games.

Since then, he has been a key player for Salzburg, scoring plenty of goals and providing several chances for his teammates. His performances in Austria and in Europe have now caught the attention of United, who are monitoring the attacker after adding him to their list of targets.

Apps

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Goals

11

Assists

10

Romano states that a move for Dorgeles could happen either this month or in the summer transfer window, but either way, talks have been held to get an understanding of the price and package for a deal to happen. Dorgeles could potentially be seen as a replacement for Rashford due to his ability to play anywhere besides or behind a striker, as the England star looks closer to joining Serie A side AC Milan.

Celtic are ready to make a move for an “exciting” forward in what remains of this transfer window as they prepare to sell Kyogo Furuhashi, according to a new report.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops secured their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League on Wednesday night for the first time since 2013, after beating Young Boys 1-0 at Parkhead. Celtic can now look forward to an exciting two-legged game against a top European side in February, as well as continuing their pursuit of another Scottish Premiership title.

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Despite the fact they are in the next round of the Champions League and sit pretty at the top of the table, Celtic look set to lose one of their key players, Kyogo Furuhashi. French side Rennes are closing in on the Japan international’s signature, with it reportedly being a deal worth £10 million. The 30-year-old has been a key player for the Hoops, and captain Callum McGregor was hopeful the club can keep hold of him.

McGregor said: “I understand there is a lot of speculation. But he’s a Celtic player at the minute, and obviously we want to keep him for as long as we can.

“He’s a top player. Again, you see his quality tonight, his movement, and the way he sets the tone for the team. All our good players, we want to keep them for as long as we can. Generally, when there’s speculation, then people have done well.

“We want that as well. It gets people talking about Celtic and the players that we’ve got. I’m sure the club will do everything they can to keep him because he’s a top player and a top person as well.”

Celtic to make a move for £8m forward as Kyogo replacement

Despite reports of Jota coming the other way from Rennes, according to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are ready to rekindle their interest in Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden as they search for a replacement for Kyogo.

Brendan Rodgers was keen on signing Kvistgaarden during the last January transfer window as well as during the summer, but a deal never materialised. This report states that interest hasn’t disappeared, and Celtic are ready to make a new offer to Brondby for the striker, who is valued at £8 million.

Kvistgaarden, who has been dubbed “exciting” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, has told Brondby that he plans to leave the club either in this transfer window or the summer and is keen on a move to Scotland, meaning the Danish side may be forced to sell if they receive a suitable offer.

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Assists

17

This is good news for the Hoops, as Kyogo’s potential departure would see them heavily depend on Adam Idah as their senior centre-forward. With Champions League knockout football on the way, Rodgers will be keen to add more firepower to his side, and given Kvistgaarden has scored 10 goals in 15 league games this season, he could be the perfect new arrival. The 22-year-old, who has 17 Denmark under-21 caps to his name, can also play on either side of the centre-forward, meaning he provides more options for Rodgers in attack.

It’s been a challenging old season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have struggled for consistency in the Premier League and have had to deal with a mountain of seemingly never-ending injury problems.

These problems likely forced Daniel Levy and Co to act in the winter transfer window, as while they perhaps didn’t get in as many players as the fans would have wanted, they did address some key areas.

Antonín Kinský has instantly become the club’s number one in place of the injured Guglielmo Vicario, Kevin Danso can come straight into the backline, and most excitingly of all, Mathys Tel could and should come into the team for the game against Liverpool, which means the manager has to ruthlessly drop someone from the lineup.

Why Mathys Tel has to start against Liverpool

Now, there might be some of you out there who raise the valid point that, at 19 years old, it could be risky throwing Tel into the starting lineup for a semi-final away at Anfield, but from what we’ve seen of him in the last year or so, he looks ready.

For example, while Vincent Kompany barely gave him a chance this season, he was exceptional in his cameos last year, racking up a sublime haul of ten goals and six assists in 41 appearances, totalling just 1406 minutes.

That breaks down to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, or more crucially, every 87.87 minutes, which is just the kind of incisiveness Postecoglou is going to need from his players if they are going to come away from Merseyside with a Wembley appearance to look forward to.

Appearances

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Minutes

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Goals

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Assists

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Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

87.87′

Moreover, the “mind-blowing” forward, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is more than just an output machine; he’s also a nightmare for defenders when he’s on the ball.

For example, FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Bundesliga last season, placed the teenager in the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons and progressive passes received, so if his teammates can get him the ball, he’s more than capable of going straight at defenders.

In short, while he hasn’t got a massive body of work to draw conclusions from, Tel looks like the perfect winger for Postecoglou, someone who can be trusted to finish his chances and craft plenty for his teammates, which means he has to start, and someone has to make way for him.

The Spurs player who has to make way for Tel

So, to get straight to the point, the starter Postecoglou should be looking to drop for the game against Liverpool tomorrow night is club captain Son Heung-min.

Now, the £190k-per-week superstar has been a superb player for Spurs over the last decade or so and is undoubtedly an icon of the Premier League to boot.

Still, as most fans would probably now attest, he’s significantly less effective than he once was.

In his defence, the “incredible” international, as dubbed by Postecoglou, is still an excellent finisher, but his ability to take players on and influence games outside of the penalty area has dramatically decreased.

For example, FBref has placed him in the bottom 46% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League this season and the bottom 39% for successful take-on percentage, which is even more disappointing when you consider the system in which he’s currently playing.

However, fans should not get on his back for this downturn in form, as according to research carried out by The Athletic, wide players peak at 26 years old and experience a sharp decline in their ability to take players on once they pass 30, so the former Bayer Leverkusen star, who’s set to turn 33 by the end of the campaign, is simply a victim of time.

Ultimately, Spurs have a golden opportunity to reach a final on Thursday night, but to do so, they’ll need to beat the incredible Liverpool. To do that, they’ll need dynamism and energy, which Tel can provide, but Son just can’t.

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As they aim to restore some pride to their season, Southampton are now reportedly closing in on a move to sign a much-needed defensive reinforcement for Ivan Juric.

Southampton transfer news

Sat bottom of the league and on course for almost certain Premier League relegation, Southampton at least provided fans with a positive to celebrate with victory over Ipswich Town this weekend. Still eight points adrift of safety nonetheless, those at St Mary’s still have it all to do before the January transfer window slams shut if they want to build on victory over the Tractor Boys.

On that front, the Saints have certainly been busy – welcoming Joachim Kayi-Sanda, Wellington, Rento Takaoka and Albert Gronbaek who will all be looking to make immediate impacts in their own right in the coming months.

Gronbaek, in particular, could be one to watch. The 23-year-old midfielder arrived from Stade Rennais and made his first start as his new side put an end to their miserable run of defeats and overcame their relegation rivals in shock fashion.

Meanwhile, even after welcoming as many as four fresh faces, those at St Mary’s have been tipped to welcome one more. According to Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio, Southampton are now set to sign Abakar Sylla from French club Strasbourg.

The Sky Sports reporters dropped a live update, saying as relayed by GiveMeSport: “Sylla is a defender at Strasbourg. He is going to Southampton and the two clubs are trying to close this deal, including an option to buy.”

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Still just 22 years old, the central defender could be handed the instant responsibilty of stepping into Juric’s side and helping a backline which has leaked as many as 54 goals – the most in the Premier League this season.

"Monster" Sylla could ease Southampton's woes

There’s no denying that he’ll have some job on his hands, but Sylla has certainly earned enough fans to suggest he’s more than capable of making his mark at St Mary’s in the coming months, should his deal reach a conclusion in the coming hours. Dubbed a “monster in the making” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the defender remains one to watch.

Swapping the Champions League and Ligue 1 for the Premier League, if Sylla makes a similar impact to Gronbaek then Southampton’s attempt to restore pride could yet turn into a gradual comeback in their impossible race to survive.

As the window comes to a close, the Saints have at least handed Juric the fresh faces he so desperately needed to finally kickstart his tenure.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be among the many clubs contending to sign in-demand Lille striker Jonathan David on a free transfer, with the player now allegedly making a decision on his next landing spot.

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After June 30th, the Canada international will be free to move on to new pastures at zero cost, with his contract expiring at the end of this season.

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David, who’s scored 20 goals across 34 appearances for Lille in all competitions already this season, has entered the final few months of his career at the Ligue 1 club – which has piqued interest from a host of top European sides.

The 25-year-old Brooklyn-native stands out as, potentially, one of the summer’s biggest bargain transfers. Despite barely reaching the peak of his career, David’s already hit over a century of goals for Lille, 104 to be exact, not to mention 27 assists to go with that truly impressive tally.

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

The former Gent sensation’s record in front of goal speaks for itself, and while you could make a case that he hasn’t been tested in a truly elite division like the Premier League just yet, that argument can be somewhat quashed by David’s record in the Champions League.

This term, he’s managed six goals in eight Champions League outings. They’ve come against big-name opposition as well, with David bagging a brace against Atlético Madrid, grabbing Lille’s winner in a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid and even scoring at Anfield – alongside another strike against Juventus.

There is little denying that David can be considered an elite-level marksman at this point, making the prospect of signing him for nothing a very tempting proposition.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for David, as have an array of other top European clubs, with journalist Graeme Bailey now sharing a potentially important update on his future.

Jonathan David makes Tottenham transfer decision after contact

According to Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, suitors believe that David has already chosen his preferred next club.

Tottenham held talks with the player’s representatives recently, alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham, but it is Barcelona who are leading the race to sign him.

Bailey claims that David has chosen to join Barcelona over Tottenham as his preferred choice, and talks are at an advanced stage. A Barça deal for the centre-forward is said to be close, so if the Lilywhites wish to pull off a hijack, or turn the tide like they did with Mathys Tel, they’re already running out of time.

Given Barca are the team David grew up supporting, by his own admission, so Spurs could be facing an uphill battle to beat Hansi Flick’s side to his signature.

“[Barcelona] was always the team I grew up supporting,” said David in 2024. “When you grow up supporting a team, it’s a dream to play for them.”