Looking to continue their busy summer, Everton have reportedly turned their attention towards a Serie A defender in an attempt to hand Sean Dyche a defensive boost ahead of next season.
Everton transfer news
The Toffees have already signed Jack Harrison, Tim Iroegunam and Iliman Ndiaye this summer, whilst reports also suggest that they've agreed a deal to welcome free agent Sekou Koita fresh from his spell at Red Bull Salzburg.
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The 24-year-old looks set to become a part of quite the attacking rebuild from the Toffees, who are looking to avoid yet another relegation battle in the Premier League next season.
Ndiaye spoke to EvertonTV fresh from putting pen to paper and said: “As a player, I like to dribble, show skills and get the fans out their seats. I want to score goals and get assists but I also like to work hard. I love running, chasing the ball, getting the team high up the pitch. As a striker, you're the first defender. I love doing that bit.
“I'm so excited. I want to come in and carry on from the team’s progress last season. I feel like I’ll be ready to help and I just want to give it my all to get this club higher up the table.”
Sekou Koita for Salzburg.
Everton don't seem to be stopping there or even after Koita, however. Now, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, Everton are interested in signing Jackson Tchatchoua from Hellas Verona, who are demanding €8m (£7m). The Italian club are planning on making 400% profit on their right-back, having just signed him for a reported €2m earlier this month following a season-long loan spell.
Tchatchoua can succeed Coleman
Potentially arriving to add depth to Dyche's side, Tchatchoua can provide ideal competition for current Everton right-back and captain Seamus Coleman as well as Ashley Young, before eventually succeeding the two veterans, who are edging closer to retirement at 35 years old and 38 years old respectively. Tchatchoua's arrival would represent solid planning from the Toffees, as they look to put an end to their recent problems.
Minutes
1,725
665
2,280
Tackles Won
26
14
38
Key Passes
15
3
21
Ball Recoveries
84
39
120
Whilst Young enjoyed a solid campaign last time out, he can't go on forever and the responsibility down the right-hand side should be handed to Tchatchoua if he arrives this summer. The 22-year-old, by comparison, showed plenty of signs that he's able to keep up with the former Manchester United man and take his place sooner rather than later.
Competition for places will only benefit Dyche's side next season, whether it be going forward or, indeed, within his backline.
An exciting Southampton transfer rumour has emerged, with a report claiming they are preparing to table a £20m bid for the services of a "wonderful" player this summer.
Southampton transfer news
Saints are getting ready for life back in the Premier League, with Russell Martin's side looking to avoid the same fate as last season's promoted sides, in terms of going straight back down to the Championship. New signings need to come in, with plenty being mooted of late.
Defender Charlie Taylor will reportedly complete a move to Southampton on July 1st, arriving there on a free transfer, which could be a shrewd piece of business. The 30-year-old has made 287 appearances in the Premier League and Championship combined, 161 of which have come in the former.
Burnley defender Charlie Taylor.
Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite has also been linked with a summer move to Saints, with none other than Barcelona and Liverpool legend Luis Suarez describing him as "great" in the past, highlighting the ability and experience that he possesses as a depth option up front.
Speaking of Liverpool, Reds defender Sepp van den Berg is also thought to be on Southampton's radar, as he looks to finally seal a permanent move away from Anfield after several loan spells. The 22-year-old is valued at £12.5m, and could be an exciting addition for Martin's men.
Southampton preparing £20m bid for "wonderful" ace
According to The Daily Record's Scott Burns, Southampton are preparing to table a £20m offer for Celtic attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley. The huge bid with "future add-ons included" could even "potentially take the deal past" the Hoops' record sale of £25m for Kieran Tierney and Jota.
Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.
O'Riley was a standout player for Celtic last season, playing a big role in their Scottish Premiership title triumph, proving to be a relentless source of end product. The Dane scored 18 goals and registered 13 assists in the league, possessing a wand-like left foot and being lauded by Brendan Rodgers.
Admittedly, there could be some trepidation about the money spent on O'Riley because the step up from Scotland to the Premier League is huge, but he has proven himself at international level as well, winning two caps for Denmark to date. At just 23 years of age, he will hope to significantly add to that tally in the coming years.
Appearances
37
Starts
37
Goals
18
Assists
13
Shots per game
2.9
Key passes per game
2.5
Tackles per game
1.7
Pass completion rate
83.5%
These are the calibre of signings that Southampton need to be making if they are to avoid a quick return to the Championship, and the Celtic man has the creativity and flair to become a hero at St Mary's, adding an extra dimension in attacking midfield areas.
Tottenham Hotspur, in hindsight, completed a promising first campaign under Ange Postecoglou, finishing fifth in the Premier League and rediscovering their identity after previously falling by the wayside.
Certainly, there's plenty that can be improved on. Spurs enjoyed a blistering start to the 2023/24 campaign but ebbed away from that lofty level as injuries knocked the team off-kilter.
One thing that Tottenham were not lacking was ambition – fresh faces rained in on north London and showcased Postecoglou's burning desire to lift his team to the upper echelon of the Premier League, returning to Europe and fostering a unit capable of sustaining a position at such a level.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
There was also, however, too much flotsam bobbing about, and now that fringe players are being moved on, Tottenham can invest in crucial depth, with a new defender being lined up.
Spurs transfer news
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Tottenham are one of the clubs to have made contact over a deal to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, who is currently starring for Italy at Euro 2024.
Valued at €40m (roughly £34m) by the Serie A side, who qualified for the Champions League last season, Calafiori has also attracted from Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United, with the Blues and the Magpies having also been in contact with the Italians.
Returning to European competition later in 2024, Tottenham will need depth and Calafiori boasts the kind of dynamic and versatile style to make a positive impact on Postecoglou's squad.
Riccardo Calafiori's season in numbers
Calafiori played a key part in Bologna's prosperous campaign, finishing fifth under Thiago Motta (clinching Champions League via coefficient rankings) and said to have "everything it takes to become a revelation in Italy's defence this summer" by journalist Zach Lowy.
Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori
Indeed, his efforts on the domestic front have turned Luciano Spalletti's head and earned him a starring place in the Azzurri's European squad this summer.
He might have lucklessly scored an own goal as Spain defeated Italy 1-0 last time out, but the 22-year-old won five duels, made three clearances, and won two tackles and interceptions apiece, as per Sofascore, proving himself as one of the better performers against rampant opposition after a terrific opening display against Albania.
Minutes played
90'
Touches
117
Accurate passes
99/106 (93%)
Key passes
1
Long balls
2/4
Dribble attempts
2/2
Tackles
1
Clearances
3
Such modern-tailored tactical qualities have garnered attention in recent weeks but this is simply an illustration of a year-long success story.
Calafiori kept ten clean sheets from 30 Serie A games last term, completed 90% of his passes, succeeded in 71% of his aerial battles – he's been described as an "aerial monster" by analyst Ben Mattinson – and won 1.7 tackles per game, but he also proved himself perfect for a ball-centric, free-flowing system. A system, in fact, just like Tottenham's.
Why Calafiori would be perfect for Ange
Talent scout Jacek Kulig said that "Thiago Motta is creating a top-class, ball-playing" defender at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but given that the Brazil-born manager has been anointed as Juventus' new manager, it's conceivable that Calafiori would be tempted by a move away despite Bologna having a seat at Europe's elite table.
As per FBref, the £12k-per-week ace ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for passes attempted, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons and the top 4% for interceptions per 90.
He's an all-encompassing kind of defender with an aggressive, commanding presence, and given Tottenham's past success in bringing such a defender in from Italy, it might just be worth making the move.
Most recently, Tottenham signed Radu Dragusin from Genoa for £27m, but the Romanian, while highly versatile, is more of a no-nonsense defender than Cristian Romero, who melds uber-aggression with immense technical skills.
It's Romero who Calafiori could emulate in signing for Tottenham, with the Argentinian 2022 World Cup winner transferring from Atalanta for a £42m fee in 2021, aged 23 at the time.
Having chalked up 98 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring eight goals and establishing himself as one of English football's finest centre-halves, with none other than Lionel Messi hailing him as "the best defender in the world" back in 2023.
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero
Possibly a little overzealous at times, but that does not negate Romero's staggering strength. He ranks among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 21% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 11% for tackles per 90.
The 6 foot 1 titan also won 70% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last season, showing that a partnership with Calafiori in the rearguard would provide Tottenham with a remarkable level of aerial superiority.
Moreover, both players boast high-class attacking qualities, albeit favouring different elements of the offensive game. But this is simply a depiction of the type of player Spurs would add to the fold, bolstering Postecoglou's fluid, fast-attacking style of play with a defender capable of contributing effectively to build-up patterns.
Tottenham have been moulded into a press-proficient unit under the craggy-faced Australian, instilled with a sense of energy and sharpened with a measure of athletic prowess. Calafiori embodies such traits, incredibly recovering 6.5 balls per match in the Italian top flight last year while nearly making one dribble every two outings.
Micky van de Ven celebrates for Tottenham
This is a player who is perfect for Postecoglou's system. Tottenham already have a wonderful left-footed centre-back in Micky van de Ven but the Dutchman only played 27 league matches as he was tugged back by a hamstring injury.
Calafiori would offer depth and competition; he would arrive with the air of a player capable of lifting Spurs to heights unseen in a long, long time, and possibly repeat the masterclass the club played when they snapped Romero up from the Serie A in the past.
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Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.
Leeds United’s work during the summer transfer window is naturally going to be called into question with the team currently sat in the relegation zone in the Premier League at the start of December.
Whilst two of their signings, Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, scored in their loss to Manchester City, the summer arrivals have not done enough to keep the side out of the bottom three.
For example, James Justin was brought in as an experienced Premier League defender and was beaten with ease inside the opening minute for Phil Foden’s first goal on Saturday.
Ranking Leeds United's summer signings
Unfortunately, too many of the club’s summer signings have made similar mistakes without providing much quality, at one end of the pitch or the other, to make up for it.
Leeds paid £13.9m to sign goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon to replace Illan Meslier, but he has let in 0.92 more goals than expected and saved just 54% of the shots against him in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore.
Whilst the Brazilian shot-stopper has been one of their worst additions, Sean Longstaff has provided consistency in midfield since his move from Newcastle, leading the team in ‘big chances’ created (six) and key passes per game (1.7).
1
Sean Longstaff
2
Noah Okafor
3
Gabriel Gudmundsson
4
Anton Stach
5
Lukas Nmecha
6
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
7
Lucas Perri
8
James Justin
9
Jaka Bijol
10
Sebastiaan Bornauw
As you can see in the table above, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson rank just below the Englishman with the exciting connection that they have forged together on the left flank.
At the other end of the ranking, though, Jaka Bijol has to be down there because he was dropped for the last two games after his first three starts for the club in the Premier League.
It is, unfortunately, Sebastiaan Bornauw who currently ranks at the bottom of the pile, though, because he looks to be their biggest waste of a signing since Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Why Leeds need to move on from Sebastiaan Bornauw already
The Belgian defender seemed to be a signing that Daniel Farke had a big say in, because he came from Germany, Wolfsburg, and was a transfer target for the manager during his time at Norwich in the summer of 2021.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
This meant that it felt like a long time coming for Bornauw and Farke to finally work together, yet it has not played out that way in the first few months of the season, as the defender has not played a single minute in the league.
Every Leeds fan will be familiar with the story of Augustin’s time at Elland Road, as the club had to pay £24.5m for the player after opting not to go through with an obligation to sign him permanently because he only played 48 league minutes during his time on loan in the 2019/20 campaign.
Man City
Not in squad
Aston Villa
Not in squad
Nottingham Forest
Not in squad
Brighton
Not in squad
West Ham
Not in squad
Burnley
0
Spurs
0
Bournemouth
Not in squad
Wolves
Not in squad
Fulham
Not in squad
Newcastle
0
Arsenal
0
Everton
0
As you can see in the table above, 48 minutes of league football looks favourable in comparison to how Bornauw’s season in the Premier League has gone.
The former Belgium international is out with an injury at the moment, but the Whites boss has left him as an unused substitute in the five top-flight games that he has been available for, despite having wanted to sign the star since 2021.
Bornauw’s only minutes in all competitions came in a loss to Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the League Cup back in August, per Sofascore, with the likes of Bijol, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk all ahead of him in the pecking order at centre-back in the league.
At the age of 26, the Belgian defender should be playing regular football and be a first-choice at a club. Instead, he looks set to continue watching on from the bench at Leeds unless something drastically changes in the coming weeks.
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With this in mind, it may be best for both parties to find a solution in the January transfer window, as the transfer does not seem to have worked out and it has been a bit of a waste of time for the club and the player, as was also the case with Augustin.
Manchester United’s hierarchy ensured that Ruben Amorim was well backed in the 2025 summer transfer window. Despite another season filled with inconsistencies under the Portuguese manager, the Red Devils’ owners have backed their manager, highlighted by the amount of money they spent over the summer.
Star forward Bryan Mbeumo has been the biggest success story after his £71m move from Brentford. He was one of three marquee attackers who United signed, along with Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko for £74m.
Goalkeeper Senne Lammens rounded out a busy summer where Amorim was well and truly backed.
If recent rumours are to be believed, INEOS are willing to give Amorim even more money to spend.
United’s next marquee signing
It is certainly an exciting time to be a United fan with all the incomings. They have been linked with a few big names from within the Premier League, including Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba, in recent days.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Yet, the man who the Red Devils could turn to first in midfield is Real Madrid and France international Aurelien Tchouameni. According to reports in Spain, via Football365, United have ‘put forward an offer’ to sign the former AS Monaco star as soon as January.
This is certainly not a deal that will come cheap for United. The reported bid they have played for the midfielder would see him become Amorim’s most expensive signing, at £79m including add-ons.
However, the report suggests Los Blancos are not open to the move as things stand.
Man Utd's next Casemiro in the making?
At 25 years of age, the 43-cap France international is about to enter the peak years of his career. Since moving to the Bernabeu in 2022 from Monaco, he has become a key player in midfield, helping Madrid win multiple titles, including the Champions League and La Liga.
This season under Madrid’s new head coach, Xabi Alonso, Tchouameni has featured 15 times, in all competitions. Operating at the base of midfield, he’s completed 90 minutes 12 times, racking up 1224 minutes so far.
There are a couple of smaller things in Tchouameni’s game that make him such an appealing addition for Amorim. One of those is his versatility, with the Frenchman able to slot in at centre-back. The other his his knack for goal.
England fans won’t forget this strike in the 2022 World Cup, highlighting how dangerous he can be from range.
If the Red Devils were able to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford this term, he would, in many ways, be the second coming of Casemiro. United’s number 18 has shone under Amorim this term, playing all ten Premier League games he’s been available for. Indeed, there are a couple of striking similarities between the pair.
Indeed, the fact that Casemiro was also a big money signing from Los Blancos is one of the main ways this deal feels alike. Versatility is also a similarity, with the Brazilian able to operate at centre-back too, as well as his natural role in midfield.
The former Madrid star is also prone to a goal just like Tchouameni, with three to his name already this term.
One of his best strikes in Red came last season in the Carabao Cup, when he hit this long-range screamer against Leicester City.
Tchouameni and Casemiro also share a statistical likeness, as can be seen when looking at their stats this season, as per FBref..
For example, the French star averaged 5.88 progressive passes and 3.3 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 4.41 progressive passes and 3.97 tackles and interceptions each game from the Brazil international.
Progressive passes
5.88
4.41
Tackles and interceptions
3.33
3.97
Clearances
1.96
1.76
Progressive carries
1.03
0.15
Ball recoveries
4.23
5.74
It is easy to see how this deal to sign Tchouameni could be the second coming of Casemiro at Old Trafford. They have followed a similar career path and are statistically alike. He could well be the Brazilian’s replacement down the line.
As football analyst Raj Chohan said, Tchouameni is “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet” and he would certainly add more midfield quality to United.
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Pep Guardiola celebrates 1,000th game as manager in Man City win over Liverpool
Prior to the international break, Pep Guardiola took charge of his 1,000th game as a manager as his City side defeated Premier League rivals Liverpool 3-0.
Jeremy Doku was the star of the show on the pitch at the Etihad, rounding off his performance with a goal in the second half after first half strikes from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez.
Talking after the win at the Etihad, Guardiola reflected on his managerial career, which began at Barcelona B in 2007.
“I think my period at Barcelona B is the foundation for many things. To realise that I was able to do it and learn a lot.
“I will never forget the guys in that first season. For me, it has been so special to make 1,000 games in front of my family and especially against Liverpool. I have a huge respect for that club.”
Over the last 18 years, Guardiola has won 716 games in charge and looks set to lead City in another title battle with league leaders Arsenal.
Wins
716
Draws
156
Losses
128
Trophies
40
Goals scored
2,445
Goals conceded
813
However, he will have to do that for large parts of the season without one of his trusted midfielders.
Injury update on Man City’s Mateo Kovacic
According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Mateo Kovacic underwent successful surgery last Friday on ‘calcifications’ that had grown in his heel.
The midfielder, who has made just one Premier League appearance all season following Achilles surgery in the summer, is now set to travel down to London next week to have stitches removed.
Now in a protective boot, a rehabilitation programme usually lasts four months, so Kovacic, on £150,000-a-week, will hopefully return by March as he looks to get minutes before the World Cup with Croatia.
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Between now and March, Man City currently have 22 games scheduled in all competitions plus the FA Cup third round tie that has yet to be drawn.
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is hoping to have Kovacic recovered in time for the World Cup next summer, recently saying: “I hope Kovacic won’t miss the World Cup. He has similar problems to those he had four or five months ago.
”We believe he’ll be with us at the World Cup. I’d like him to be back in March. It must be tough for him. The injury and the surgery are taking a psychological toll on him. I hope Kovacic gets through it all.”
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In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United are enjoying the rise of a truly special player. Walk around the city and ask fans for their opinion of the Italian maestro, and many would say he is the very best they have witnessed at St. James’ Park.
It’s just one masterclass after another. Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t cope on Wednesday evening, dumped out of the Carabao Cup following Tonali’s brilliant midfield performance.
Eddie Howe engineered a covert contractual renewal when the star was serving a suspension for betting breaches, and so the Magpies need not worry about their central talisman playing elsewhere any time soon.
But Tonali alone cannot uphold the midfield, and it looks like change is afoot in the engine room, with United gearing up to sign a new central midfielder.
Newcastle angling for new midfielder
Joelinton has been a stalwart at Newcastle for many years, but the 29-year-old has come under fire at times already this season, with his questionable performances leaving some, such as blogger Thomas Hammond, to question whether this is “the start of the end” for the powerful Brazilian, who seems the weak link in this evolving midfield.
The emergence of Lewis Miley certainly suggests Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up is not as secure as it once was, and the continued question marks over Joe Willock’s long-term future in the Newcastle midfield add fuel to the fire.
Well, given that Howe is determined to re-sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, it does seem the cabinet could be set for a reshuffle.
As per Spanish sources, Newcastle are rivalling the mighty Real Madrid for the Three Lions star, who has been valued as high as £120m by Evangelos Marinakis. Technical director Ross Wilson will know he needs to act swiftly.
Moreover, Football Insider have followed reports with the claim that Liverpool and Manchester United have both placed the 22-year-old at the top of their lists.
Why Howe wants Elliot Anderson back at SJP
In the summer of 2024, Newcastle were being pressured by the Premier League’s PSR parameters, and sold two top talents – Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to divisional rivals, easing away from financial bother.
Elliot Anderson for Nottingham Forest
Anderson signed for Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £35m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength at the City Ground, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “powerhouse” of a “midfield warrior”.
Indeed, you need only look at the metrics to see how he has evolved in his short time in red, with the current campaign seeing him take so many touches of the ball, creating and defending and leading by example.
Matches (starts)
37 (33)
9 (9)
Goals
2
0
Assists
6
1
Touches*
54.2
98.2
Accurate passes*
28.7 (82%)
66.4 (88%)
Chances created*
1.0
1.3
Dribbles*
1.0
1.3
Ball recoveries*
5.6
7.9
Tackles + interceptions*
2.5
3.7
Duels (won)*
6.5 (52%)
7.8 (56%)
He is the complete number eight, and in this, just like Tonali, who is now considered “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by English legend Paul Scholes.
Anderson isn’t there – yet. However, he is earlier in his development and surely on track to rival the likes of Tonali if he continues to add strings to his bow.
Now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up, Anderson is finding a home alongside the more adventurous Declan Rice. Perhaps Bruno Guimaraes could serve as this type of partner, with Tonali elegantly keeping things moving from the side.
This is all to say that Anderson could be a stunning addition to Howe’s team, and maybe even come to surpass Tonali down the line.
Pulling him back over to Tyneside won’t be easy, but Howe has already shown his hand, speaking of his desire to bring the talent back home in a press conference last month, and must now hope that Anderson is swayed toward the nostalgia of returning to his boyhood club.
In any case, that aside, Newcastle might actually be able to canvass the most compelling proposal to the English talent.
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With nine games played in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, we’ve already seen the champions’ crown slip, two sackings from one club and one Manchester United fan may just be closing in on a much-needed haircut.
But there’s still plenty more to come and an AI Supercomputer has now predicted how the final table will look come May, using data from the first nine game-weeks to predict every result and the final standings.
Relegation battle
It’s been a refreshing season down at the bottom. As things stand, none of the three promoted sides sit inside the bottom three and all have reached 10 points or above already.
For context of just how important that achievement is, Southampton finished bottom with 12 points after 38 games last season, whilst it took Ipswich and Leicester City all season to reach 22 and 25 points respectively. Sunderland have particularly thrived and sit as high as fourth in the Premier League with 17 points to their name. After nine games, it’s hard to see a world in which they don’t avoid the drop.
The Supercomputer seems to agree with how impressive the promoted sides have been so far this season and believes that, for just the fifth time in Premier League history, all three will avoid the drop. That leaves West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest – the current bottom three – in the dropzone at the end of the season.
15
Fulham
40
16
Leeds United
34
17
Burnley
33
18
Nottingham Forest
30
19
Wolves
27
20
West Ham
26
Bottom half
Away from relegation trouble, the supercomputer has predicted some comfortable campaigns for Brentford, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. Opinions will differ around those clubs whether a mid-table finish would be satisfactory, but Brentford should certainly take hold of that with both hands.
In their first season without Thomas Frank in the Premier League, many predicted the Bees to go down and although there’s still every chance that happens, victory over Liverpool proved just the positive direction that Keith Andrews is taking them. Not only has he steadied the ship, but he has also added his own pragmatic style in West London.
11
Crystal Palace
50
12
Brighton
48
13
Everton
47
14
Brentford
42
Top half
Look away now Chelsea fans, because your top four spot is up for grabs. According to the Supercomputer, the Blues are in for another frustrating campaign after spending big once more in the summer.
Despite impressing at times, Enzo Maresca’s side have largely remained inconsistent and that could leave them scrapping away to stay in the top six altogether. The same can be said for Newcastle United, who have impressed defensively but remained blunt going forward in the absence of one of the world’s best forwards in Alexander Isak.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have been on the up lately and are just two wins away from five on the bounce. After finishing in the bottom half last season, the Supercomputer believes that Ruben Amorim’s side will earn their place back inside the top six and above Chelsea.
5
Man Utd
65
6
Chelsea
63
7
Aston Villa
62
8
Bournemouth
60
9
Newcastle
59
10
Sunderland
52
Top four and Premier League winners
From the glory of champions, the most glaring prediction that the Supercomputer has made centres around Liverpool’s fall from grace. It does believe that the Reds will finish inside the top four, but as many as 17 points behind league leaders Arsenal in a title defence to forget for Arne Slot. Given that they’re currently winless in four league games, however, the Dutchman may just take that final table.
As for Tottenham Hotspur, from the chaos of Ange-ball, they’re expected to rise to as high as third in the league under Frank. The Lilywhites have started in excellent fashion under the Dane and could yet continue that to earn their way back into the top four.
For the Gunners, meanwhile, glory may finally be on the horizon. They’ve waited over two decades to lift the Premier League title again and have been forced to applaud both Liverpool and Manchester City in recent years. Now, at long last, it could finally be Mikel Arteta’s year. The Supercomputer has even gone as far as to predict that they’ll win it by 13 points.
Crystal Palace are now rivalling Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a former Real Madrid player, who “never puts a foot wrong.”
Palace keen on new centre-back with Guehi set for exit
Marc Guehi was hardly short of suitors before the international break, with the centre-back’s move to Liverpool falling through on deadline day, but the Englishman has once again put himself in the shop window courtesy of his performance against Wales.
The Three Lions haven’t conceded a single goal in World Cup qualifying, with Guehi helping his side continue their fantastic defensive record against Wales last week, while also assisting England’s opening two goals.
The 25-year-old has remained a consummate professional, having not downed tools in order to force through a move, but it appears as though an exit is inevitable, given that the Palace captain was left very unhappy with his move to Anfield breaking down.
Consequently, Crystal Palace have now started looking at potential replacements for the defender, and they have now joined the race for Lazio defender Mario Gila, who is also being targeted by Tottenham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states all the aforementioned Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Gila, who could command a huge transfer fee.
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The Italian club are only willing to listen to offers in the region of €45m – €50m (£39m – £43m), which is regarded as an affordable fee for Spurs, but would be a club-record signing for Palace, eclipsing the £32m spent on Christian Benteke back in 2016.
Gila could be exciting replacement for Guehi
Of course, no Crystal Palace fan will want their FA Cup-winning captain to leave, but given that he has shown no interest in signing a new contract, it is wise to start thinking about potential replacements.
Moreover, the Lazio defender could be an exciting option, given that he is experienced in Europe, having featured in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League with Lazio.
The ex-Real Madrid man has also received plaudits from Lazio sporting director Igli Tare, who seemed to suggest he is destined for the top level, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”
As such, it would be a real coup if Palace were able to sign Gila, but the capture of Yeremy Pino in the summer showed that Selhurst Park is now becoming an attractive destination for top players.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly entering the market for new centre-backs in January, and one target is now becoming more tempted to leave in 2025 as Spurs add him to their shortlist.
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As things stand, Radu Dragusin is manager Ange Postecoglou’s only natural senior central defensive option right now – with trio Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies all sidelined through injury.
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Postecoglou has been forced to deploy versatile summer signing Archie Gray at centre-back to partner Dragusin in the last few games as a result, and while the teenager’s done well in a very unfamiliar role, Tottenham’s current injury crisis has exposed the lack of depth in their squad.
Speaking ahead of their blockbuster Premier League clash at home to Liverpool, Postecoglou dropped a transfer hint and suggested that Spurs could go into the market for more experienced players to complement the likes of Gray.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League games
Liverpool (Home)
Nottingham Forest (Away)
Wolves (Home)
Newcastle United (Home)
Arsenal (Away)
“Moving forward, we probably need to err on the side of getting a little bit more experience, just to help the group, because we’ve got very few at that kind of sweet spot in terms of ages,” said Postecoglou in his latest press conference.
“And we want to give the guys in their teens or early twenties the opportunity to keep growing. We need to make sure we put quality around them, so how we allocate the next resources may shift a little bit. But I’d hate to be sitting here now and saying we had an opportunity to sign Archie Gray at 18, and we passed it up because maybe we could have got a player who helps us for a couple of years.”
Postecoglou has held recruitment meetings with technical director Johan Lange ahead of January, by his own admission, and reports suggest that Spurs could go after a fresh centre-back option.
There are many potential options for Spurs in this regard, with French newspaper L’Equipe claiming that Tottenham have entered the race for RC Lens starlet Abdukodir Khusanov, who his club are attempting to sell in the winter as they attempt to raise funds.
Postecoglou has also asked Tottenham to consider a move for Getafe’s Omar Alderete, as per Spanish media sources, and they’re also believed to hold an interest in Feyenoord star David Hancko.
David Hancko open to leaving Feyenoord as Tottenham eye move
The Slovakia international was a key player for Arne Slot during his time at Feyenoord, and has continued to be a mainstay, but he’s now considering a fresh chapter away from the Eredivisie side.
That is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Rudy Galetti, who report that Hancko is open to leaving Feyenoord as Tottenham express an interest in signing him.
This transfer appears to be more likely for the summer as things stand, though, and despite contrary reports of a reduced price tag, TT write that Hancko will cost around £41 million to sign in 2025.
Slovakia'sDavidHanckoin action
That being said, the 48-cap star has a glowing reputation and could be worth the investment, especially if Postecoglou is after proven reinforcements at the back.
“He is so stable and can basically do anything. I just think he is a top defender all-round,” said ex-Feyenoord ace Tim de Cler to SoccerNews.
“I think he can easily handle a club just below the top six in Europe. Then I’m talking about a club like Atlético Madrid or Liverpool. He can certainly handle that.”