Tottenham have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of a top summer transfer target, as it appears he has a specific club he would prefer to join over a switch to north London.
Spurs transfer news
The Lilywhites are expected to be busy this summer as Ange Postecoglou plots a charge on the title in his second campaign in charge. The Australian was quick to dismiss rumours he could replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, telling Spurs fans he's only just getting started as they aim to secure Champions League qualification in the closing weeks of the season.
Daniel Levy and Johan Lange are already hard at working scouting and shortlisting possible targets, and are believed to be in pole position for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, who could be sold by the Midlands outfit as they look to avoid any more Financial Fair Play sanctions.
Samuel Illing-Junior is also thought to be a target, having scored a brace for England U21s during the most recent international break, while Timo Werner's loan move is expected to become permanent.
It's not all plain sailing for Lange, Levy and Co however, with the Spurs board taking a hit this week as they learn the desires of a midfield target.
Gudmundsson prefers Serie A giant over Spurs move
Spurs have been chasing Albert Gudmundsson for months, with reports back in November claiming they were in pole position to bring him in to soften the blow of James Maddison's injury. They made contact again in March, reinforcing the long-term interest and aiming to beat Internazionale to his signature.
Those efforts may all be for nothing though, as this week's update reveals the 26 year-old attacking midfielder wants to join Inter (via Sport Witness). He has apparently already said "yes" to the Serie A giants, and is simply waiting for them to agree terms with his club, Genoa.
Bye bye: £70,000-a-week Spurs talent pushing for exit behind the scenes
Daniel Levy is ready to sell the “unhappy” individual.
ByHenry Jackson Apr 1, 2024
Capable of playing anywhere across the advanced midfield positions, the Iceland international could have been an excellent capture for Spurs, scoring 11 times in 28 league appearances this season, also grabbing a brace in one substitute appearance in the Coppa Italia.
Likened to Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah for his work rate and desire to reach the elite level by teammate Kevin Strootman, his mentality, end product and versatility will be sorely missed if Spurs miss out this summer.
Leeds United believe one Championship star would be a "valuable" addition to Daniel Farke's squad this summer, whether they're promoted or not.
Leeds' summer transfer plans as Farke chases promotion
The Elland Road side are firmly in the thick of an extremely exciting automatic promotion race, with Leeds, Leicester City and Ipswich Town all neck-and-neck as we approach the final few games of this second-tier season.
"I'm told" – Leeds United target open to joining on promotion condition
Daniel Farke’s side have further incentive for promotion.
ByBen Browning Mar 11, 2024
All three sides have been near-unstoppable over 2023/24, and whoever misses out on that immediate climb back to the top flight will feel very hard done by.
Leeds are among the firm favourites to secure a place back in the Premier League at the first time of asking, though, and boast the division's best defensive record out of any team on paper.
Middlesbrough (away)
April 22nd
QPR (home)
April 26th
Southampton (home)
May 4th
Somebody out of Leeds, Ipswich and Leicester has to settle for third and a place in the Championship play-offs, with Farke desperately hoping to avoid that scenario.
Off the field, Leeds are also plotting ways to strengthen their ranks this summer. As widely reported, Farke is keen to keep Joe Rodon for next campaign following a successful season on loan from Tottenham.
Leeds are said to be determined to keep Rodon as we approach the summer window, but it is also believed that they could reinforce their attacking options as well.
Indeed, one player who is said to be attracting their interest is Southampton star Che Adams, who could even have a major say on their promotion push considering he is set to face Leeds on the final day.
Leeds eyeing "bargain" Adams move they think could be "valuable"
The Scotland international has been in fine form for Russell Martin's side overall, and TEAMtalk claims Leeds are eyeing a "bargain" summer move for Adams as his contract ticks down towards expiry.
Called a "phenomenon" by Ralph Hasenhuttl previously, it's added that Leeds think Adams would be a "valuable" signing when the window reopens, as the cost of a deal would be non-existent when he's available as a free agent. And this is regardless of whether or not they go up.
Southampton striker Che Adams.
Interestingly, Leeds have been told to sign the striker for quite some time.
"I tell you what everybody, how to strip a rival's asset. We saw that with Newcastle last year when they stripped Chris Wood away from Burnley," said YouTuber Conor McGilligan.
"How incredible would it be if Leeds were to go to Southampton with an offer that they can't refuse and Leeds go and get Che Adams and strip them of an asset?
"I think that'd be a really good tactic. I can't ever see Leeds doing that because we're not bullish in the market at all, I don't feel. But listen, I think Che Adams would be a really good addition for that No 9."
After failing to make it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League this season, Newcastle United are reportedly set to turn their focus towards the summer transfer window, when they could pounce to hijack a player Chelsea are currently leading the way for.
Newcastle transfer news
After previously walking a fine line with Financial Fair Play rules, the rumours have circled regarding potential departures at St James' Park this summer, with Bruno Guimaraes at the centre of that. Reports have even suggested that the Brazilian is expected to leave Newcastle this summer, with the likes of Manchester City among those interested in securing his signature, though he has recently bought a house on Tyneside.
Newcastle could land dream Gordon partner this summer in £60m "magician"
The club are looking for reinforcements in forward areas this summer.
ByEthan Lamb Apr 23, 2024
It would be quite the blow to lose a player of Guimaraes' calibre, there's no doubting that, but his exit would at least hand PIF further license to spend in the coming months, resulting in some much-needed improvement for Eddie Howe's side.
douglas-luiz-bruno-guimaraes-liverpool-opinion
After a summer transfer window to forget last year too, with Sandro Tonali stealing the headlines for all the wrong reasons since completing a move, the Magpies will aim to make up for lost time, which could see a top forward arrive.
According to Sports Lens, PIF and Newcastle chiefs are lying in wait for their opportunity to hijack Chelsea's summer move for Ivan Toney, who will reportedly cost between £55m and £60m in the coming months.
It would be quite the full circle moment for Toney, who left Newcastle as a player who failed to cut it in the Premier League back in 2018 after several loan spells away. Now an England international and player in demand, Toney could make his St James' Park return to become the perfect partner to Alexander Isak, showing Callum Wilson the door in the process.
"Amazing" Toney can make Newcastle return to partner Isak
Toney has already shown glimpses of his quality once more since returning from a lengthy ban due to breaching betting rules, and a full pre-season would likely see him return to his very best. And if anyone needs reminders of what that best looks like, only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane scored more than Toney's 20 goals in the Premier League last season.
Given that Wilson is still struggling with injuries and not getting any younger, now is the time for Newcastle to strike when it comes to getting the best out of Isak by welcoming a fresh partner to lead the line.
Starts
12
21
Goals
4
17
Expected Goals
4.7
15.9
Assists
1
1
Brentford manager Thomas Frank will be well aware of the type of player he is likely to lose this summer, having previously said via Brentford's official website: "Ivan is amazing in many, many aspects.
"The way he copes with pressure and distractions is amazing. He’s been scoring goals, performing for the team and driving the team. He’s remarkable. I can only talk about the Ivan that I see every day around the place and he’s a fantastic person around the group. He’s got that unique emotional intelligence to be aware of all the players, and every staff member."
West Bromwich Albion will want to get back to winning ways against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, knowing that their spot in the Championship play-off picture isn't concrete just yet.
Hull City's entertaining mid-week win over Coventry City will have troubled the Baggies somewhat, knowing that the Tigers could be level on points with Carlos Corberan's promotion challengers if the West Midlands outfit lost to Danny Rohl's Owls at the end of play this weekend.
Corberan will want titan-like performances from his defenders away at Hillsborough subsequently, knowing that Wednesday will be going full-throttle to attempt to win themselves in their bid to stave off relegation.
West Brom will also know that one of his centre-back heroes, Cedric Kipre, could be nearing a summer exit even if do they go up, walking out of the building on a potential free transfer – with the Baggies at least cashing in sensibly on another former star in the heart of defence back in 2008.
Curtis Davies' time at West Brom
Remarkably, Curtis Davies is still lining up for League One outfit Cheltenham Town at 39 years of age, with Baggies supporters fondly remembering the veteran defender more for being a spritely young star.
Davies would make his West Brom debut all the way back in 2005, the 6 foot 2 warrior plunged straight in at the deep end at the Hawthorns by making 33 Premier League appearances that same campaign.
Scoring two goals during that season too, Davies' name would start to be uttered by higher-up suitors as a potential transfer target when the Baggies were relegated to the Championship.
Under Tony Mowbray during the 2006/07 season in the second tier, in which West Brom failed to clinch promotion, Davies would star again with 32 appearances accumulated before near neighbours Aston Villa swooped in for his services.
Reportedly signing on the dotted line at Villa Park for £9m, after initially joining on loan for the 2007/08 campaign, the Baggies would end up winning with this sale by offloading Davies for such a high price which would be even higher in today's inflated market, according to TotallyMoney's Transfer Index.
Curtis Davies' transfer value in 2024
If that same deal went through by 2024's inflated standards, West Brom would have pocketed significantly more at an eye-watering £23m, as per Totally Money.
Regardless, the West Midlands outfit would have been pleased with the original amount Villa coughed up especially when evaluating how much their ex-centre back ended up struggling away from the Hawthorns.
1. Salomon Rondon
£16.5m
2. Matheus Pereira
£16m
3. Saido Berahino
£12m
4. Nacer Chadli
£10m
5. Jay Rodriguez
£10m
Davies' new bumped-up fee would see him become West Brom's record departure in a theoretical world, the Baggies hitting the jackpot anyway by making the 6 foot 2 defender Villa's problem.
Admitting his debut performance for his new club was that of a "pub player" in 2007, his full three seasons at Villa Park would be very underwhelming with the move now seen as a major flop.
Davies would make 68 appearances in total before becoming public enemy one by moving on to Villa's arch nemesis in Birmingham City, relocating to St Andrew's controversially after playing just three games during his final season for The Villans.
Amazingly, the now-veteran defender would be a hit for the Blues to add even more salt into Villa's gaping wound by netting 12 goals from 106 games.
West Brom will hope that they can tie down Kipre to a new contract soon, not wanting to fall victim to a transfer blunder in the here and now involving their current crop of defenders after having the last laugh over Davies.
West Brom can solve Kipre situation with 21 y/o who “leads by example”
West Bromwich Albion will have to prepare for life without Cedric Kipre soon.
After missing out last summer, Manchester United are reportedly ready to finally make a concrete offer to sign what could prove to be a key reinforcement for Erik ten Hag's side.
Man Utd transfer news
It looks set to be a busy summer at Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to make his mark. Already, the Red Devils have been linked with moves for both Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong in a double raid of Barcelona, and the transfer rumours will undoubtedly only continue to steal the headlines. The aforementioned duo would certainly improve Ten Hag's side, though it remains to be seen whether United will be in the position to seal both arrivals.
Man Utd now in pole position to sign £50m+ "wonderful" talent for Ten Hag
He’s enjoyed an excellent season.
ByTom Cunningham May 3, 2024
De Jong, in particular, would be an impressive arrival, but at 26 years old and with two years still remaining on his current contract at Barcelona, negotiations will be far from simple for those at Old Trafford. That said, midfield remains an area in which United are reportedly looking to improve, with or without De Jong this summer, with Ratcliffe and co turning their attention towards a long-term target as an alternative option.
Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong
According to TuttoSport (via Sport Witness), Manchester United are ready to make a concrete offer to sign Adrien Rabiot, who is set to become a free agent upon the expiry of his current Juventus deal at the end of the season. The Frenchman was of course the subject of interest from United last summer, before a deal failed to come to fruition and he remained a Juventus player.
This time around, however, the Premier League giants are seemingly not wasting any time as they look to finally land Rabiot, adding a hefty reported £148,000-a-week salary to their wage bill in the process. After such a wait, if the deal reaches completion, United fans will be desperately hoping to see Rabiot help transform Ten Hag's side.
"Elegant" Rabiot won't solve all of Man Utd's problems
Whilst the fact that Rabiot is a free agent makes the deal far more risk-free, he is not a player who is going to single-handedly change things at Old Trafford. Manchester United need a gamechanger; they need a player of De Jong's calibre, rather than Rabiot and only Rabiot. So, the Frenchman should be the start of their summer spending, rather than the only investment they make in the middle of the park.
Progressive Carries
60
21
Progressive Passes
106
57
Goals
4
7
Ball Recoveries
136
79
Nonetheless, earning the praise of former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris highlights that the Frenchman has shown signs in the past of stepping up on the big stage. Lloris said via The Daily Mail in 2022: "There's an opportunity for him at this World Cup. It's arrived at the right time and he's ready. Technically he's a very elegant player and he really can help us go far."
Rabiot's arrival would be a solid start, but United must ensure that their summer transfer window features more than just the Frenchman.
Newcastle United will be aiming to end the Premier League campaign with a win, as they travel to face Brentford later this afternoon.
Eddie Howe’s side fell to a defeat last time out, as Anthony Gordon’s 11th league goal of the season and Lewis Hall’s first Premier League goal for the Magpies wasn’t enough to prevent a 3-2 loss to Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United outfit.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
However, with a European spot still within their own hands, it’s pivotal that the club come away from the meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium with another victory.
The Magpies have a 100% record in the Premier League at the Bees’ new stadium, however, they did suffer a defeat there in the Carabao Cup back in 2020.
22/12/2020
1-0 (L)
Carabao Cup
26/02/2022
2-0 (W)
Premier League
08/04/2023
2-1 (W)
Premier League
Today is a crucial game for Howe’s side, with the Newcastle boss desperately needing to drop one player if his side are to walk away with three points and a place in Europe for the second consecutive campaign.
Why Sean Longstaff needs to be dropped against Brentford
There’s no disputing that midfielder Sean Longstaff has been a reliable figure for the club during what can only be described as an injury-hit season for the club, but his display against the Red Devils on Wednesday was one of his worst in recent times.
The 26-year-old started the outing alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Elliot Anderson in the heart of the Magpies’ midfield, but was replaced just after the hour mark as a result of his dismal showing.
Longstaff, who’s a product of the club’s academy system, only managed 33 touches during his 77 minutes on the field, with the midfielder only having one more than goalkeeper Martin Dubravka – a real indication of his lack of impact.
He appeared to be a passenger throughout the encounter, not even contesting any duels and failing to make any tackles or interceptions, with the midfielder ineffective for the most part.
Minutes played
77
Touches
33
Tackles
0
Interceptions
0
Big chances missed
2
Possession lost
6x
However, when he had the chance to make a mark on the meeting, he failed miserably, with Longstaff squandering two big chances – the most of any player in Howe’s squad during the defeat.
He also gifted possession away six times within his 33 touches, an average of once every five times he touched the ball, with the Magpies boss needing to replace him with one player who deserves a start following his recent return from injury.
The man to replace Longstaff against Brentford
Brazilian midfielder Joelinton came on with just under 30 minutes remaining in the tie for youngster Anderson, with the 27-year-old making a huge impact despite featuring for over half an hour less.
The former Hoffenheim talent, who earns £150k-per-week as per Capology, won seven times more duels than Longstaff, whilst completing 100% of the dribbles that he attempted during the defeat.
Minutes played
77
28
Touches
33
24
Key passes
0
1
Total duels (won)
0 (0)
11 (7)
Big chances created
0
1
He also managed to create one big chance and hit the woodwork, a real indication of how impressive he was during his brief cameo off the bench on Wednesday.
Joelinton, who’s previously been described as a “monster” by Newcastle journalist Liam Kennedy, has been a revelation since swapping the forward line for a midfield role, with the Magpies dearly missing his presence at the heart of the side.
With today being such a crucial outing for the club, it’s a no-brainer that Howe should look to recall him to the starting lineup, with his combative approach giving his side the edge in what’s undoubtedly going to be a tough afternoon in London.
Howe must drop Anderson and unleash "phenomenal" Newcastle star
Newcastle must defeat Brentford and hope Chelsea slip up in order to claim sixth spot in the league table
Since the end of the Premier League season, Newcastle United have turned straight to the transfer market and have now reportedly sent club officials to London to seal a bargain deal for Eddie Howe.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies have wasted little time when it comes to reinforcements, with a deal to sign Lloyd Kelly upon the expiry of his Bournemouth contract reportedly on the cards. The centre-back, who can also play left-back, enjoyed an excellent season under Andoni Iraola, but informed the Cherries of his decision to depart in the coming weeks nonetheless.
Taking full advantage, Newcastle's defensive depth problem should be somewhat eased by Kelly's arrival, given his versatility to cover for the likes of Dan Burn and the injured Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman. He's not the only one reportedly on his way in a bargain deal, however.
Newcastle interested in signing "wonderful" ace amid rival's PSR struggles
The Magpies could take full advantage.
ByTom Cunningham May 23, 2024
According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Newcastle officials have travelled to London to seal a free deal for Tosin Adarabioyo with his current Fulham contract coming to an end.
Having rejected several attempts from those at Craven Cottage to extend his deal, the defender is on course to leave as a free agent despite holding a market value of £12.8m. The Magpies will apparently triple his current £40,000-a-week salary, which would put him on par with Kieran Trippier as the Tyneside club's third-highest earner.
Suddenly, Howe will have two young, solid centre-backs to choose from and any previous concerns or circumstances in which Burn was forced into the role should be ended.
AFC Bournemouth'sLloydKellylooks dejected after the match
As the Magpies seek a return to the Premier League's top four, they've certainly made a good start when it comes to summer recruitment so far.
"Special" Adarabioyo will hand Howe a positive selection headache
It's set to be quite the change in mood for Howe, who was left desperately seeking defensive cover throughout the current campaign, only for injuries to pile up and options to fall short. Now, with Kelly and Adarabioyo on their way, he'll have a positive selection headache. Adarabioyo, like Kelly, won't be arriving to just sit on the bench, which hands Fabian Schar and Botman, when he returns, plenty of healthy competition.
Starts
18
35
15
Progressive Passes per 90
3.44
3.92
2.29
Tackles Won per 90
0.61
0.71
0.85
Ball Recoveries per 90
2.39
5.13
4.58
Fulham boss Marco Silva will be disappointed to see Adarabioyo heading for the exit door, having praised his centre-back earlier this season. He told beIN Sports: “He is a key player for us. He is one of the leaders in our dressing room and we need these guys to step in in the right moments and he did it.
“We missed him a lot, we missed him because he didn’t play the first three months of the season. Tosin is a special player for us, I can’t hide that situation. The way he can defend the box but also on the ball he is a special player for me, the way I want to play, the way he can build (from the back)."
A Premier League side have opened talks to sign a high-earning member of Mikel Arteta's squad at Arsenal, and it is believed he's set to leave.
Arsenal players who could leave before next season
As already confirmed by the club, both Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares are the first casualties of this summer window, with the Gunners duo departing after the expiry of their contracts on June 30.
£150,000-per-week ace unhappy at Arsenal and could now leave this summer
The Gunners are open to selling.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2024
Arsenal have opted not to extend their deals, and it's reasonable to assume that the likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga, Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares could well follow them out the door after spending last season on temporary deals away from north London.
Lokonga has admitted to the press that he is likely to leave Arsenal as well, but the aforementioned bunch are by no means Arteta's only men up for the axe. Indeed, Aaron Ramsdale, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko have also been linked with Arsenal exits at various points over the last few months.
Bukayo Saka
7.67
Declan Rice
7.38
Martin Odegaard
7.37
Kai Havertz
7.16
Gabriel Magalhaes
6.99
Zinchenko is apparently unhappy at Arsenal and seeking more game time, after falling down the pecking order behind both Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu. As per Fabrizio Romano, Partey will be sold by Arsenal as well, but another relatively high-profile potential exit comes in the form of striker Eddie Nketiah.
The Englishman started just 10 league matches last term, making the vast majority of 27 appearances off the bench. He chipped in with five goals and two assists as Arsenal fiercely contended right to the last day for a Premier League title.
However, as Arsenal are heavily linked with the addition of a world-class new striker like RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, Nketiah's role looks set to be reduced further next campaign.
Nketiah set to leave Arsenal this summer with Fulham in talks
That is according to TEAMtalk, who go on to claim that Fulham have opened talks to sign the £100,000-per-week forward. The Whites are preparing an official offer for him, and it is added that Nketiah is set to leave Arsenal this summer as they attempt to sign Sesko from Leipzig. Wolves and Crystal Palace are also in the race to sign Nketiah, but it is Fulham who are in pole position as things stand.
“One of the best athletes we’ve got on our books in terms of his attitude and commitment,” said Athletic Development Club director Chris Varnavas on Nketiah.
“He’s just on another level. His goal was to build a bit of muscle, build some strength, improving his overall athleticism so his strength, his speed, his power. We sat down with the family, with himself, we put a plan together. What we do in the gym, can we transfer it to the pitch? That’s the most important thing."
Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement has already made his first addition of the summer transfer window, which officially opens for business later this month.
Brazilian left-back Jefte has agreed to join the club on a permanent deal from Fluminense and will compete with Ridvan Yilmaz for a starting spot next season, after Borna Barisic's exit on a free transfer.
The Light Blues recently confirmed that the Croatia international is one of a number of players moving on from Ibrox this summer; alongside Jon McLaughlin, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, and Ryan Jack.
Loanee Fabio Silva, who scored four goals in 18 league games, has also returned to Wolverhampton Wanderers after his short spell in Glasgow.
Fabio Silva
This means that there is plenty for Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen to do between now and the end of the window to replace those who have departed and strengthen the squad to ensure that they can compete with Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership next term.
A new striker appears to be on the agenda for the Light Blues after Roofe's departure and Cyriel Dessers' mixed success in his first season with the club, as they are reportedly targeting a signing in that position.
Rangers' interest in signing £6.8m marksman
Earlier this month, Romanian outlet Digi Sport reported that Rangers are interested in a summer swoop to sign FC Rapid București marksman Albion Rrahmani.
The report claimed that Czech giants Slavia Prague are also keen on a deal to snap up the 23-year-old centre-forward and have already submitted an offer of €3m (£2.5m) to secure his signature.
However, that is significantly lower than the €8m (£6.8m) that the Romanian side are seeking in order to allow their prized asset to walk away from the club ahead of next season.
It added that Rangers are currently willing to offer €6m (£5.1m) for Rrahmani but it remains to be seen whether or not common ground can be found between that €6m and the €8m asking price.
Digi Sport also claimed that Koppen has already held talks with the player's representatives at the recent TransferRoom summit in Mexico, which suggests that progress has been made in their pursuit of the forward.
Rangers appear to be in the driving seat, ahead of Sparta Prague, but it still remains to be seen if they can reach an agreement with Rapid before the end of the window.
If they can, however, then they could land a lethal partner for Todd Cantwell at the top end of the pitch, as they could form an exciting relationship for the Scottish giants.
Todd Cantwell's attacking potential for Rangers
Despite having been at Ibrox for around 18 months already, Rangers may not have seen the best of the English attacking midfielder as of yet.
This is because he has yet to play with a consistent and excellent centre-forward who can help to get the best out of the former Norwich City star.
During the 2023/24 campaign, Dessers was the main number nine ahead of the Englishman and the 29-year-old forward left a lot to be desired with his performances.
Cyriel Dessers
The Nigeria international scored 16 goals from 21.72 xG in the Premiership, an underperformance of -5.72. No Rangers player underperformed against their xG by more and he missed a staggering 18 more 'big chances' (27) than any other forward in the squad.
Meanwhile, Cantwell scored seven goals from 5.49 xG and only Rabbi Matondo (five from 2.93 xG) overperformed his expected tally by more than the attacking midfielder.
Appearances
30
Goals
7
Assists
5
Big chances created
7
Key passes
51
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old magician also only recorded five assists from 51 key passes and seven 'big chances' created in 30 appearances in the Premiership.
This suggests that his teammates did not make the most of his creativity in the final third, which is backed up by Dessers' significant underperformance as a finisher in the top-flight.
Clement could unlock Cantwell's full potential in a Light Blues shirt by bringing in a striker who is more likely to finish the chances that are created for him, whilst also being able to create opportunities for the midfielder to showcase his efficient and impressive finishing more often.
Why Rangers should sign Albion Rrahmani
This is why the Scottish giants should push ahead and beat Sparta Prague to the signing of Rrahmani from Rapid as he has the potential to be a big upgrade on Dessers and a lethal partner for the midfield maestro.
The 23-year-old whiz, who has scored an incredible 51 goals in 95 career games at club level to date, was in fantastic goalscoring form this season and could offer more than the Nigerian liability as a finisher.
Appearances
25
35
Goals
17
16
Big chances missed
18
27
Conversion rate
22%
16%
Minutes per goal
125
143
As you can see in the table above, Rrahmani scored more goals despite missing nine fewer 'big chances' and had a far better conversion rate and minutes per goal ratio at league level.
The Kosovo international, who Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson dubbed "powerful", appears to be a striker who would be more likely to make the most of Cantwell's creativity than Dessers, who was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, did this season.
Fabio Silva and Todd Cantwell
Along with his ability to potentially finish chances that the attacking midfielder creates, the £6.8m-rated marksman could also help the ex-Canaries whiz to flourish as a goalscorer.
Rrahmani created an eye-catching 13 'big chances' for his teammates and made 2.0 key passes per game across his 25 Superliga appearances during the 2023/24 campaign.
Whereas, Dessers created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per match in his 35 Premiership outings for Rangers, which suggests that the Kosovan star could provide far more creativity alongside being a better finisher.
Rangers want to sign "exciting" 5 ft 10 replacement for Ryan Jack
The Light Blues recently confirmed that a number of first-team stars will be moving on this summer.
ByDan Emery Jun 6, 2024
This is another reason why he would be a lethal partner for Cantwell as the 23-year-old ace could create opportunities for the English ace to showcase his excellent finishing, and vice versa, which is why Clement and Koppen should look to get a deal over the line for him.
After a roller coaster of a season that saw Ange Postecoglou eventually secure Europa League football for Tottenham Hotspur, it's the recruitment team's turn to step up and deliver in the coming months.
Daniel Levy and Co have to bring in the right players to help the Australian guide the Lilywhites back closer to the top of the Premier League while simultaneously helping him flush out those not good enough to do so.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
Luckily for the former Celtic boss, that may well happen as the latest player touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly exciting youngster who could be the perfect upgrade to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Tottenham Hotspur transfer news
According to a recent report from football.london, Tottenham Hotspur have a 'strong interest' in Leeds United star Archie Gray.
The report has revealed that, alongside several other Premier League sides, the Lilywhites have monitored the 18-year-old's progress for some time and view his positional flexibility as a massive plus.
The report does not mention a potential price, but considering his importance to the team and his £5k-per-week contract, which runs until June 2028, it could be a costly transfer to get over the line.
Archie Gray
However, according to The Athletic, following their failure to win promotion back to the Premier League, the Peacocks now need to sell this summer, which could help Levy and Co swipe Gray for below his market value, which could be bad news for Højbjerg.
How Gray compares to Højbjerg
Now, if Gray does move to North London this summer, he'd most likely do so under the promise of game time in the centre of midfield, as while he played well at right-back last season, that was more through necessity than design.
For example, in his 89 appearances for the senior and junior sides since the start of the 2021/22 season, the Durham-born prospect has started 41 games in attacking, central, and defensive midfield and 30 on the right side of the defence.
Therefore, his arrival at Spurs would put him up against the club's current crop of central midfielders, including Højbjerg, so how do the pair compare? Well, despite being a decade his junior, the Englishman stacks up very well, coming out ahead in more metrics than not.
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.04
0.13
Assists
0.05
0.00
Progressive Carries
1.80
1.16
Progressive Passes
4.15
9.18
Progressive Passes Received
2.42
1.99
Passing Accuracy
82.8%
87.2%
Goal-Creating Actions
0.15
0.14
Shot-Creating Actions
1.55
2.68
Tackles
2.30
2.19
Tackles Won
1.51
1.24
Clearances
1.00
2.05
Errors Leading to a Shot
0.00
0.21
Successful Take-Ons
1.07
0.82
Ball Recoveries
4.90
8.29
For example, while he produced a lower non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, fewer clearances, progressive passes, ball recoveries, and shot-creating actions, he provided more actual assists, completed more progressive carries while receiving more progressive passes, made and won more tackles, made considerably fewer errors, produced more goal-creating actions, and completed more successful take-ones, all per 90.
What's even more impressive is that most of his metrics came while he was playing fullback, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect his progressive passes to increase considerably when in a more central role.
Ultimately, given how impressive Gray looked last season and the fact that data analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a "future £100m cm," Levy and Co must do what they can to bring him to North London this summer.
He may still be a little raw, but the talent is undeniable at this point, and as he has already surpassed Højbjerg in a number of key underlying metrics, he might be the long-term future of the Lilywhites' midfield.
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