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With a number of Leeds United's biggest names set to depart Elland Road this summer, it appears that Daniel Farke's side are already making moves to sign replacements.

Leeds look for replacements for outgoing stars

The big stories out of Elland Road have centred around the futures of some of Leeds' biggest stars. Archie Gray was the first to leave the club, with the young midfielder completing a move to Tottenham Hotspur worth an initial £30 million. Whilst Joe Rodon returned to Elland Road to soften the blow, many of the Leeds faithful will still be disappointed to see Gray leave.

Leeds United’s 10 best managers of all time ranked by win percentage

The Whites are going for promotion back to the Premier League once again under Daniel Farke, but where does he rank among the best Leeds managers?

By
Charlie Smith

Jan 4, 2025

With the Whites braced for a number of exits, the latest name linked with a move away from Elland Road is Junior Firpo. The defender is said to have agreed personal terms with Real Betis ahead of a return to Spain this summer. With the 27-year-old even willing to take a pay cut to leave Leeds, his departure seems extremely during the window.

Leeds' star player last season, Crysencio Summerville, is also subject to interest from other teams. Newcastle are the latest side to be linked with the Dutchman. The 22-year-old contributed 20 goals and 9 assists last season and would leave a massive hole in the Whites’ attack.

As far as incomings are concerned, Leeds are said to be eyeing a move for Crystal Palace's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who could help fill the void left by an outgoing Summerville. The winger has firm interest from Southampton, though the Eagles' preference for a loan deal could tip the scales in the Whites' favour.

With the higher-ups at Elland Road already working hard to find replacements for outgoing stars, it appears that the Whites have now made contact over a move for a new defender.

Leeds make contact for Ireland youth international

As reported by Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Leeds United have made early contact over a potential deal for PEC Zwolle's Anselmo Garcia MacNulty. The Whites are said to be in the market for a new left-back this summer, partly owing to the likely exit of Firpo.

A report from earlier last week suggested Leeds were considering a move for Garcia MacNulty, with the West Yorkshire outfit first linked with the player as far back as April.

The defender made 32 appearances in all competitions last season as Zwolle finished mid-table in the Eredivisie. The 21-year-old was also able to contribute two goals and two assists over the course of the previous campaign.

MacNulty's exploits in the Netherlands last season saw him earn his first call-ups to the Republic of Ireland's Under-21s squad, appearing in friendlies against England and Croatia.

Whilst the 21-year-old is a left-back by trade, MacNulty was also deployed as a centre-back at times last season, suggesting that he would be a versatile addition to Leeds' side as they look to achieve promotion next season.

MatériaMais Notícias

O atacante Rafael Navarro pode estar de malas prontas para jogar no futebol dos Estados Unidos. De acordo com o “GE”, o centroavante do Botafogo recebeu uma proposta do Minnesota United para integrar a equipe na disputa da MLS em 2022. Os representantes do jogador já receberam a proposta oficial.

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Em um primeiro momento, representantes da equipe americana negociaram com o atacante. Contudo, o valor pedido por Navarro foi recusado pelo Minnesota. As partes aos poucos chegaram a um denominador comum.

O objetivo é que o centroavante fique por três anos na equipe americana. Os agentes ainda discutem outros detalhes. Navarro chegou a ser sondado pelo Internacional e Miami FC, além de clubes como Anderlecht e Hellas Verona.

A permanência de Rafael Navarro no Alvinegro é considerada pouco provável. Mesmo com o apelo da torcida, que gritou “Fica Navarro”,seu salário está acima da realidade financeira do clube. O atacante é destaque do Botafogo na Série B e marcou dez gols na competição.

Liverpool have held talks with an "unbelievable" player over a summer move to Anfield, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, but there is a potential stumbling block.

Liverpool transfer news

It is going to be fascinating to see who the Reds sign in the summer transfer window, with Arne Slot in as new manager and the likes of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes coming in to drive the club's recruitment.

A worrying "multi-million" offer for Alisson from Saudi Arabia has reportedly emerged recently, and should the Brazilian make a shock departure from Anfield ahead of next season, Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is seen as an ideal replacement. The 23-year-old has shone for Georgia at Euro 2024 and is a 'keeper with huge potential.

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has also emerged as an option for Liverpool, with contact made for the England international who is a boyhood Reds supporter, and he could be considered an ideal choice to come in for Luis Diaz, should the Colombian suddenly complete a summer move to Barcelona.

The Merseysiders have also reportedly enquired about Real Madrid's highly-rated teenager Arda Guler, but president Florentino Perez is reluctant to sell such a prized asset. A loan move is mooted, but it doesn't feel too likely at this stage.

Liverpool hold talks to sign "unbelievable" attacker

Taking to X on Saturday, Romano said that Liverpool have held talks with Newcastle over a summer switch for Gordon after their aforementioned contact. Still, the deal is only likely if the Magpies drop their asking price:

"Liverpool appreciate Anthony Gordon, talks took place with Newcastle in the last 48h but NO agreement on the fee/value. The only way to re-activate the option is if Newcastle drop price…or no chance. NUFC prefer to sell other players like Minteh rather than Gordon."

It does appear as though Gordon could be open to sealing a summer transfer to Liverpool, given his ties to the club, and he has come on so much as a footballer in the past year or so that he could be a brilliant addition. Reports from Football Insider have even claimed that he could have a Liverpool medical in Germany while at Euro 2024, should an agreement be reached.

The £60,000-a-week attacker registered 21 goal contributions (11 goals and 10 assists) in 34 appearances in the Premier League last season, while Newcastle teammate Bruno Guimaraes has called him "unbelievable". Similarly, Eddie Howe has waxed lyrical about his player, hailing his attitude:

"From day one when he arrived at the club, you could see the passion he had and his desire to achieve and be successful. He puts the work in every day and sometimes we have to go and get him off the training pitch. Up against a very good defender today in [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka he was very good again, physically he was so good today. It was a really good battle between the two of them. I am delighted he is scoring the goals now and getting the recognition he deserves."

Chelsea ready to rival Liverpool for £27.5m star who's Havertz 2.0

They are trying to hijack Liverpool’s move

By
Joe Nuttall

Jun 29, 2024

Whether Liverpool manage to strike a deal for Gordon remains to be seen – it looks unlikely, as things stand – but at 23, there is a lot more to come from him, and he could offer more attacking end product down the left flank.

Birmingham City will be looking to enter League One next season with the aim of exiting the division again in a very swift manner, potentially lifting the third-tier title during their fleeting visit.

Of course, the Blues cannot get carried away and think the lowly division will be a breeze to get out of, with question marks over Chris Davies' suitability for the job post, considering this will be his first time in the main manager's hot-seat, having previously been assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.

Yet, if Birmingham can pull off a number of new signings – including getting a deal over the line for a former title-winner at the level – they should put themselves in good stead to instantly return to the Championship.

Birmingham eyeing up new defender

According to a report from Football Insider, the relegated Blues will begin to put the pieces together to build a promotion-worthy squad, by targeting Plymouth Argyle man Dan Scarr.

The Argyle defender joining the ranks at St. Andrew's would see the League One giants sign yet another defensive reinforcement, after recently swooping in to sign former Hull City goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Football Insider reveals further in its report that Davies' men are in talks already with a deal for Scarr, who would also bring great experience to the Blues camp, with a promotion present on his CV up from League One when playing for the Pilgrims, as his efforts were paramount in that success.

This would also be an appetising move for the 29-year-old considering he is from Bromsgrove, which is a stone's throw away from St. Andrew's, and the fact Scarr has previously had a spell with the Blues back in 2017, with unfinished business on his end.

Alongside that, the potential transfer would also be music to Dion Sanderson's ears, who could form a daunting duo with Scarr at the back in the drop-down a division.

Twine signs & PL loanee in: Chris Davies' dream lineup at Birmingham

Birmingham City will look to make a whole host of new signings to attempt an immediate return to the Championship.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 11, 2024 What Scarr could offer Birmingham

During that memorable 2022/23 League One campaign, which saw the Devon club crowned as third-tier champions, the 6 foot 2 centre-back was a brick wall for his team when needed, making 32 appearances.

From those appearances, the Argyle number six managed to collect a respectable 12 clean sheets, with a heroic 5.7 duels won on average per game, to play his part in the Pilgrims holding the League One title proudly aloft.

Games played

32

37

Goals scored

2

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

59.8

46.3

Accurate passes*

34.9 (73%)

30.7 (85%)

Interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Tackles*

0.9

1.0

Clearances*

4.7

3.3

Duels won*

5.7

3.4

Clean sheets

12

10

Scarr could get even more out of his potential new defensive partner in Sanderson when moving back down to League One, therefore, with his 6 foot 2 counterpart not a million miles off Scarr's glowing numbers from his promotion campaign, despite just experiencing the gutting blow of relegation.

Sanderson will also have a point to prove in wanting to jump straight back up, having shone with Sunderland in the third tier during the 2020/21 season, with eight clean sheets accumulated from 26 contests, before staying put in the second-tier with a number of different loan clubs, before making Birmingham his fixed location.

Labelled as the sort of defender who "heads everything" by his ex-Plymouth boss in Steven Schumacher, Scarr will endear himself instantly to his new fanbase if he puts in similar resolute displays on the way to another promotion being added to his career resume, as Birmingham become a big fish in a small pond very soon in the third-tier.

Next big sale: Birmingham could soon head for another Bellingham situation

Birmingham City will likely wave goodbye soon to their next superstar.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2024

What's that, jettisoning away from St. James' Park, leaving Newcastle United for a lofty fee without actually kicking a ball under Eddie Howe's management?

It's 19-year-old Yankuba Minteh, who has been sold to Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion for no small sum of £30m, one year on from signing for Newcastle from Danish side Odense for a peppercorn fee. Eliott Anderson has also left his boyhood club, joining Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £35m.

Given that Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes are names battered by intense speculation about their respective futures on Tyneside as United scramble to placate the all-seeing glare of PSR, it's not been too shabby a process for the Magpies.

Who needs a sporting director, ay? The Magpies have impressed, slaloming past financial obstacles obstructing their path, and now the focus can be fixed on reinforcing the talented squad, who will watch European football from home next season after Manchester United's FA Cup triumph severed a pathway to the Conference League.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

What does PSR mean for Premier League clubs?

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 16, 2024

Lewis Hall's loan move from Chelsea has been made permanent, while Lloyd Kelly has completed a free transfer after his contract at Bournemouth expired. Now, Howe needs to turn his attention to the centre of the field.

Newcastle should sign a midfielder

Pickings aren't exactly slim in the engine room. Bruno Guimaraes holds sway as the all-imposing linchpin, flanked in the central circle by Joelinton and Sean Longstaff, joined in the squad by Joe Willock, Lewis Miley and Sandro Tonali (who is suspended until August).

Newcastle need some more zest in midfield though, especially now that Anderson has left. Signing a creative-minded player is surely imperative, with such thoughts summed up by former Arsenal and Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva.

The 47-year-old said "moving to Newcastle would be good" for Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira, who is currently performing at the Copa America with Brazil, following recent reports suggesting that the Magpies could move for the £35m-rated star if midfield players are sold.

Well, Anderson has now gone, and Longstaff is being touted with a move away given his homegrown status. This is certainly one to keep an eye on.

What Andreas Pereira would bring to Newcastle

Pereira first graced the English game after signing for Manchester United in his formative years from PSV Eindhoven, going on to make 75 senior appearances for the Red Devils but always sitting on the periphery, signing for Fulham in a £10m deal in 2022.

It's been a tremendous couple of years at Craven Cottage, with the Brazilian principally playing in an attacking midfield role that could work wonders at Newcastle, connecting the middle and offensive thirds and enhancing the overall fluency of Howe's unit.

Eight goals and 15 assists across the two terms is not a bad return, providing a creative flair to Marco Silva's outfit and experience besides, living up to past praise from Jose Mourinho for his "phenomenal" level.

Matches played

33

37

Matches started

33

34

Goals

4

3

Assists

6

7

Pass completion

74%

79%

Big chances created

7

9

Touches per game

42.5

43.6

Key passes per game

1.8

2.3

Dribbles per game

0.5

0.5

The 28-year-old's playmaking quality would be a brilliant addition to the Newcastle squad, especially given the already-staggering goalscoring run of Isak and the flying runs of the likes of Gordon, who would relish such a range of passing threaded into his path.

Some might feel that Guimaraes offers that kind of skill, but the touted midfielder sits at the base of the midfield, averaging 1.7 key passes per game. Joelinton, more of a barging and mobile player, averaged 1.2 per outing last term.

Anderson, who only started ten Premier League matches last season, played in a more advanced position that could see Pereira welcomed as a natural successor, more established, sharper.

Why Pereira could be an Anderson upgrade

Anderson only averaged 0.7 key passes per top-flight fixture last year, though this is understandable given his stuttering starting berths and youth.

Still, the Toon native has been praised for his "effortless" talent in the past by former Newcastle boss Steve Bruce. Losing him is a blow; Magpies supporters will be certain that he will bloom into an impressive Premier League star at the City Ground.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 19% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 3% for progressive carries and successful take-ons and the top 6% for blocks per 90. Such metrics emphasise the rounded and progressive nature of his skill set.

It also nods toward the up-and-coming talent's budding playmaking ability, something that Pereira could mitigate and then some, given that he, having played far more football, ranks among the top 8% of positional peers for assists placed per 90.

Part of the reason that Pereira has been so effective for Fulham over the past few years has been the protection offered by Joao Palhinha, hailed as a "defensive monster" by data and video analyst Marcus Bring after incredibly averaging 4.6 tackles per game and winning 7.8 duels on average in the Premier League last season.

Guimaraes is not so defensive a midfielder from the deep layer of the midfield, but he still averaged 2.4 tackles and 7.7 successful duels per match.

Pereira would find promising conditions from which he could flourish at St. James' Park, and if Newcastle are indeed serious in their interest, he could be the dream addition to set them flying and forget about Anderson's departure pretty quickly.

Wilson upgrade: Newcastle considering swoop for £21m Euros sensation

The Magpies are reportedly keen on a deal for the impressive centre-forward.

ByDan Emery Jun 29, 2024

ألمح مهاجم ليفربول ديوجو جوتا إلى موقف عقد أحد زملائه في ليفربول، قبل فتح نافذة الانتقالات في يناير.

وتنتهي عقود ثلاثي ليفربول، محمد صلاح، وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، وفيرجيل فان دايك في نهاية الموسم الحالي.

ولم يكشف ليفربول عن وجود مفاوضات لتجديد عقد أرنولد، وارتبط باهتمام ريال مدريد الإسباني.

وأفاد فان دايك أن هناك محادثات لكن لم تحسم، فيما أعلن محمد صلاح أنه أقرب للرحيل من البقاء لأن النادي لم يفتح معه محادثات تمديد العقد.

وسيكون لدى محمد صلاح وفان دايك وأرنولد حرية التفاوض مع أي نادي خارج إنجلترا، بداية من شهر يناير.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أوين: محمد صلاح قد يحطم رقمًا قياسيًا لم أتخيل أن يصل إليه أبدًا

وفي مقابلة حديثة مع سكاي سبورتس، سُئل جوتا عما سيشتريه لألكسندر أرنولد في عيد الميلاد، وأجاب: “ورقة وقلم، حتى يتمكن من توقيع عقده الجديد”.

وعندما سُئل أرنولد عن مستقبله في بودكاست “Men in Blazers” وما الذي يود تحقيقه، قال: “بالطبع الفوز بمزيد من الألقاب، ولكن على المستوى الشخصي، بناء إرث، هذا شيء مهم”.

وأضاف: “أن يتم الحديث عني بأعلى قدر من الاحترام، خاصة بعد الاعتزال، في غضون 10 أو 15 عامًا، إذا تم الحديث عني باعتباري أحد أفضل لاعبي مركز الظهير الأيمن، أو أفضل ظهير أيمن، فهذا ما ألعب من أجله الآن وأستخدمه كحافز”.

Heather Knight says players want to rebuild momentum for women’s game after long wait

Valkerie Baynes17-Sep-2020England and West Indies Women plan to honour the Black Lives Matter movement when they begin their long-awaited T20I series next week.Heather Knight, the England captain, has been in contact with her West Indies counterpart, Stafanie Taylor, and the pair plan to further discuss how best to mark the movement during the five-game contest starting on Monday.The teams also will also wear the Black Lives Matter logo on their shirts, just as the England and West Indies men’s teams did during their Test series in July. Both teams and their support staff also took a knee before play throughout that series, as did England and Ireland during their three ODIs.But England, Pakistan and Australia opted not to perform the gesture in their subsequent series, drawing criticism in recent days from former West Indies great turned commentator Michael Holding.”We’ve had a chat as players and we definitely want to do something to honour the movement and give our support to it and keep the conversation happening,” Knight said.”We haven’t had a chance to catch up yet, it’s quite hard because we’re in two separate bubbles in one big bubble so I’ll speak to Stafanie over the next few days to work out exactly what that looks like for both teams. But us as players, we want to do something and we’re working to support it.”With India and South Africa cancelling planned tours in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Knight admitted there were times when the prospect of there being no international women’s cricket during the English summer had crossed players’ minds.In May, Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said she would be “devastated” if there were no international women’s fixtures on English soil this summer.With England’s men having crammed all 18 of their scheduled international fixtures into a truncated summer, Knight said she would have felt “jealous” if the women had not been able to play and she praised the efforts of the ECB and CWI to arrange the tour, something she believed would not have happened just a few years ago.”I think the way the ECB have been, we knew that they were going to do everything in their power to try and get some cricket on,” Knight said.”They’ve done exactly what they would have done for the guys, which is real progress. I don’t think that would have happened sort of three or four years ago. So I think we knew that there was a good possibility that we’re playing and that was great that is locked in.”England Women’s captain Heather Knight returned to individual training in June•Getty ImagesWith the England men’s season concluding at the end of their ODI series against Australia on Wednesday, the women have the international stage all to themselves.The matches will be broadcast on Sky and the third game – on Saturday, September 26 – will be shown live on the BBC, the first time an international women’s fixture has been on free-to-air TV in the UK since the 1993 World Cup final.That presents an opportunity that is not lost on Knight or her squad, to rebuild some of the momentum of the T20 Women’s World Cup, which culminated more than 86,000 fans watching Australia defeat India in the final at the MCG in March, shortly before the pandemic closed down international sport and prompted many countries around the world to go into lockdown.Joking that the “weather owes us one” after their T20 World Cup semi-final against India was washed out, allowing India to progress on the strength of finishing top of their group, Knight said her players were also keen to expand on the form they had begun to unearth at the tournament.”We’ve got a real opportunity to show what we can do in these five games,” Knight said. “I think so many people are happy to have sport and cricket back on telly and hopefully they’ll tune in.”We’re looking to really push forward now as a side. We started to see a bit of a shift towards the back end of the World Cup in terms of how we want to play as a team. Obviously the weather cut that short a little bit and we weren’t able to really see where we could go but we’ve had a lot of planning time leading into the back end of the summer.”We’ve had a chance to sit down as senior players and coaches and work out where we want to go as a side and try and really push the limit of how good we can be. That’s been quite exciting and hopefully we can show that in the five games.”

Virat Kohli travels alone on a chartered flight to Dubai after completing testing protocols in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Indian contingent reached Dubai on Friday•RCB

“It’s steaming outside,” Dale Steyn remarked after reaching Dubai at 3am on Saturday along with AB de Villiers and Chris Morris to link up with their Royal Challengers Bangalore colleagues.The venue is going to be just one aspect of the IPL experience that will be different this year, what with Covid-19-related protocols and procedures the teams must adhere to, not to mention the vacant stands. Morris confessed to being “a little bit nervous” as they checked into the team hotel where the Indian contingent of players and support staffers had settled in a day before.Virat Kohli, however, didn’t travel with the rest of the Indian players, a Royal Challengers spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo: “Yes, Virat joined the team yesterday. He followed quarantine and testing according to RCB SOP in Mumbai and took a chartered flight directly from Mumbai to Dubai.”Safety of the players and other members of the travelling party is uppermost on the agenda for all the teams, and Royal Challengers are no different. Though they need only 55 rooms, they have booked one entire wing of a luxury hotel, adding up to 150 rooms, and, in Dubai, all the visitors will serve a mandatory six-day isolation and then be tested (for Covid-19) thrice before being allowed to enter the bio-bubble. Their training sessions begin on August 29. “It’s been quite a while since we played the game that we love, so yeah, very tough, very excited to get going, but a little bit nervous too, to be honest,” Morris told the franchise’s media team, while Steyn was more focused on the weather, wondering “how it’s going to be in a couple of weeks” when the action begins.”The travelling was a bit different to normal, but we made it here. I am looking forward to my Covid tests,” de Villiers said. “Got a feel for what we are in for this year, and then I am looking forward to get to know everyone, all the new players, there’s a whole new feel in the side, so very excited.” With the South Africans reaching Dubai, the wait is on for the rest of the overseas players. Australians Aaron Finch, Kane Richardson and Josh Philippe, who are all headed for England for their white-ball exchanges, will reach around the time of the start of the tournament on September 19. Apart from them, the squad includes England’s Moeen Ali and Sri Lanka’s Isuru Udana, and Mike Hesson and Simon Katich from among the support staffers, all of whom, franchise chairman Sanjeev Churiwala said in a press interaction last week, are expected to arrive in the next few days.Along with booking the entire wing of the hotel, “gym facilities, restaurants will be permanently 100% secured for the exclusive use of the team; all hotel staff and service members will also be tested and staying in-house,” he said. One staff member will be positioned outside the bubble for this period to help the team “coordinate with the outside world”.As far as players, and others, taking their families along to the UAE, Churiwala said that the decision had been left to the individuals.”Most of the players this time are not travelling with their families,” he said. “A few of them have decided, it’s a personal choice that they have optioned for, and if at all their families travel with them – in our current assessment it’s a very, very small group – everyone will go through the same bio-bubble procedures and protocols as laid down by BCCI. Without any exception.”

Tottenham Hotspur, as a whole, is subscribed to Ange Postecoglou's vision and the direction that the club appears to be headed, having improved since his arrival last summer and returned to European-qualifying contention.

Fifth in the Premier League, six points behind Aston Villa (who have played two extra fixtures), Spurs' hopes of clinching Champions League football next season hang in the balance, though there are so many positives to take from this campaign regardless of the final position.

Some important parts are lacking, though, and chairman Daniel Levy will need to ensure that the right moves are made this summer to continue the resurgence, carry it into the 2024/25 campaign, propel the club to the next level.

Spurs eyeing new striker

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham are preparing to launch a summer bid for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, emboldened by Arsenal's suspected withdrawal from the race.

The Bees will likely play hardball over their talisman but Tottenham are eager to test the waters and present a £45m offer for the England international's services.

Toney, aged 27, spent the first half of the campaign suspended following FA betting breaches but he has returned to play an important part in his side's efforts. Tottenham would make waves with a breakthrough.

Why Spurs need a striker

Postecoglou's project was hit with a blow in the early phase but it was, at least, an expected one, with Bayern Munich signing Harry Kane for an initial £82m, ending a career-long affinity between the Lilywhites and England Men's all-time top scorer.

Kane, Spurs' record scorer too, had scored 280 goals, adding 62 assists, from 435 Tottenham appearances before leaving. He is the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League history.

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260

0.59

2.

Harry Kane

320

213

0.67

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208

0.42

4.

Andy Cole

414

187

0.45

5.

Sergio Aguero

275

184

0.67

Given that Toney's playing style has led Three Lions peer Declan Rice to remark that he is "like Harry Kane", there's little wonder why Spurs hold an interest in bringing him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Heung-min Son and Richarlison have done a good job holding up the frontline for Postecoglou's side this season but neither would appear to be the long-term heir to Kane's position at the spearhead.

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ByMark Marston Dec 23, 2023

Toney could allow Son to drift back into his favoured left-sided attacking role, with Richarlison providing cover as a foil up front, and while Levy and Spurs' transfer team would be wise to seek reinforcements out wide, for £45m Toney is a must buy.

How Ivan Toney would fit in at Spurs

Last season, Toney posted 21 goals and four assists from 33 outings in the Premier League, creating 12 big chances for his teammates, as per Sofascore. His exploits led his manager, Thomas Frank, to call him a "monster" of a player.

1.

Harry Kane

Tottenham Hotspur

14

2.

Ivan Toney

Brentford

12

3.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

11

4.

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool

11

5.

Danny Welbeck

Brighton & Hove Albion

8

And while he's failed to hit his stride in recent fixtures, Toney returned from inactivity with a bang in January to plunder four goals from his first five matches back in the top flight, reannouncing himself as one of the division's high-class marksmen.

Moreover, at Tottenham, he would embrace that Kane-esque role and produce performances that transcend the duties of goalscorer, committed to his defensive duties, ranking among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions and the top 15% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref.

According to Sky Sports, Brentford had slapped a £100m asking price on Toney's signature back in January, though this was bloated due to the flat-out refusal to allow their star striker to slip away at the season's midpoint, just returning from a lengthy suspension.

Now, £45m seems like a far more accurate and appropriate valuation of a player who has displayed moments of quality under Frank this term but certainly hasn't been at the finest, though that is more down to injury-hit Brentford's dissonance than anything.

And given Toney's prowess as a team player, he would possibly even unlock the skills of peers such as James Maddison, who is struggling to reach his early-season levels after spending a wintry spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The playmaker won the Premier League's Player of the Month in August following his transfer to Tottenham and has been regarded as being "on the verge" of becoming a world-class No. 10 by pundit Jermaine Jenas, owing to his staggering start to life in London. Thus, the addition of another high-quality forward could well see him cross from 'on the verge' to well and truly being among the elite of the game.

Maddison ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for passes attempted and the top 1% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90.

He's also tenacious and combative, with his efforts in the Premier League this term leading to an average of 5.5 successful duels per game, highlighting the robustness that could be renewed in Postecoglou's attacking third.

Son and Richarlison are fine strikers – Son is one of the very best – but he is dynamic and versatile and of a role that stretches beyond that of a centre-forward, tasked with creating and threading and leading.

Levy and co will no doubt canvass an enticing offer for Toney to chew on, and while the dynamic forward craves Champions League football, the chance to lead the line at Spurs may be too good to turn down, cementing himself as the frontman at one of the Premier League's most exciting projects.

Spurs make approach to sign "unstoppable" Son partner

The Lilywhites are reportedly interested in a summer swoop to land the attacker.

ByDan Emery Apr 24, 2024

Angry Aston Villa fans have hit out at the club's "greed" following the release of their Champions League ticket prices.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Villa release Champions League ticket prices
• Club's supporters hit out at eye-watering fees
• Fans accuse Villans of "exploitation" & "greed"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Villa fans were furious when the club revealed they would have to pay up to £97 per ticket for their side's first matches in Europe's top club competition for 41 years. Some supporters branded this decision a "f*cking disgrace", with others saying this was "exploitation" by the West Midlands outfit -who are asking matchday goers to fork out a minimum of £85 for an adult ticket for these Champions League fixtures.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  @JDpne23 tweeted: "Games we'll and truly gone," while @Fire_and_Skill wrote: "I would call it exploitation…"

  @ThomasTParker commented: "They've taken my most pessimistic guess and added an extra tenner on top. Absolutely disgusting, let's be real."

  @LeeWitney24 posted: "Genuinely, that is a f*cking disgrace. When will football fans in this country realise we don’t have to put up with this."

  And @Dutton_1986 added: "Greed continues to flow through football. That is outrageous."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Villa have reportedly been walking a fine line when it comes to not falling foul of profit and sustainability rules, charging fans these exorbitant prices is not going down well. These prices are approximately three times more expensive than the fees Villa charged supporters to watch Europa League Conference group stage matches last season. Many supporters would have been relishing the chance to see their side face Juventus, Celtic, Bayern Munich, and Bologna but now many will be priced out of going.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Aston Villa begin their Champions League campaign away at Young Boys on September 17 before hosting their first home tie of the competition against German giants Bayern on October 2 at Villa Park. It remains to be seen if this backlash will lead to the Villans altering their ticket price plan.