Celtic are fighting it out to secure the Scottish Premiership title for a third season in succession as they currently sit one point clear at the top of the table.

The Hoops travel away from Parkhead to take on their closest rivals in the division, who also have a game in hand over Brendan Rodgers' side, on Sunday, and could either move four points clear or drop down to second.

Having been knocked out of the League Cup and all European competitions during the first half of the season, Celtic only have two more chances – the Premiership and the SFA Cup – to lift silverware before the end of the campaign.

The Scottish giants have not been at their best in the league this term, with five draws and three defeats already, and they reportedly already have one eye on the summer transfer window with a view to improving the quality within the current playing squad.

Celtic interest in English Championship star

It was recently reported by Football Insider that the Hoops are interested in a possible deal to sign Blackburn Rovers sensation Sammie Szmodics.

At the end of last month, the outlet claimed that Celtic and Premier League side Brentford are both set to battle it out to land the Republic of Ireland international ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The report also stated that other teams from the bottom half of the top division of English football could be in the race to land his signature in the upcoming transfer window.

Football Insider then posted an update at the start of April that claimed that Celtic will find it incredibly difficult to get a deal done for the forward, due to the financial advantage the teams in the Premier League have over them in regards to a transfer fee and wages.

The update added that Blackburn will find it hard to keep hold of their star forward, due to the interest in his services, but did not reveal how much it would take to get a move over the line in the summer.

There is, however, no guarantee that the interested teams from the Premier League make a concrete move for him, and this means that there is still a chance that the Hoops could swoop in to get a deal done if an opportunity arises over the coming months.

Rodgers could, if Celtic do snap up the Rovers star, land a dream upgrade on faltering forward Kyogo Furuhashi, who has struggled at times this season.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles this season

The Japan international came into the current campaign off the back of a sensational return of 27 goals in 31 Premiership starts under Ange Postecoglou last term.

He earned the PFA Scotland Men's Player of the Year award for his efforts throughout the season, which speaks to how impressive the former Vissel Kobe gem was for the Hoops.

Celtic may have hoped that his prolific scoring would have carried over into Rodgers' second tenure at Parkhead, but that has not been the case.

Appearances

31

36

Starts

25

31

Goals

10

27

Big chances missed

20

16

Minutes per goal

206

86

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo's form in front of goal has dropped off a cliff as the Japanese forward has been far more wasteful with the chances that have come his way – with four more 'big chances' missed in five fewer appearances so far.

In fact, the 29-year-old striker has scored ten goals from an Expected Goals (xG) of 14.21. No player within the Hoops squad has underperformed their xG by as much as Kyogo (-4.21), with Daizen Maeda's underperformance of -3.69 the second worst.

This shows that the experienced number nine has received plenty of service in the box this season but has not done enough with the quality chances that have been created for him by the likes of Luis Palma, Matt O'Riley, Alistair Johnston, and others.

Along with his wasteful finishing, the 5 foot 7 forward does not offer much in the way of a physical presence as he has lost 61% of his duels and only won 1.5 per game on average, which means that the attacker does not make up for his attacking struggles with strong hold-up play.

Why Sammie Szmodics could be a Kyogo Furuhashi upgrade

Like the Japan international, Szmodics, who stands at 5 foot 6, is not a traditional – tall and strong – number nine who is going to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

The 28-year-old star is a versatile forward, who has been deployed as a striker and as an attacking midfielder at times this season, who could either lead the line or play behind 6 foot 3 Adam Idah, should he also sign for Celtic on a permanent basis, as Kyogo has this year.

This would make him a dream signing to take the former Premiership Player of the Year's place, as he can be deployed in multiple positions across the frontline.

Blackburn's star attacker has lost 58% of his duels and only won 2.5 per match on average, which shows that he is similar to the current Hoops marksman in that respect, as they both struggle with the physical side of the game.

When it comes to scoring goals and finishing chances, however, there is one clear winner between the two throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far, which shows why Celtic could land an upgrade on their current marksman.

Appearances

38

31

Goals

23

10

Big chances missed

14

20

Minutes per goal

146

206

Assists

4

4

As you can see in the table above, Szmodics has been on fire in front of goal as a scorer in the English Championship for Rovers this season, with 13 more goals and six fewer big chances missed in comparison to Kyogo.

The Irish sensation, who has scored 29 goals in all competitions for his club this season, has found the back of the net 23 times from xG of 17.9 in the second tier.

This means that the 28-year-old star, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is "dangerous" at finding space in the box, has outperformed his xG by 5.1, whilst no Celtic player has outperformed their xG by more than 1.74 so far this season in the Premiership.

These statistics suggest that Szmodics, whilst being a huge upgrade on Kyogo, would also come in as the most lethal and efficient finisher in Rodgers' squad.

Therefore, the Northern Irish boss must push to secure a deal for his services, if a Premier League team does not snap him up first, in the summer to improve his attacking options.

Glasgow Rangers suffered a massive setback on Sunday afternoon in the Highlands, losing 3-2 to Ross County.

This shock defeat not only hands Celtic the advantage in the Premiership title race but also ensures that the race for the league crown is out of Rangers’ hands, as they will still be one point behind their Old Firm rivals even if they defeat Dundee on Wednesday.

In truth, the performance had been coming. Against Celtic last weekend, the Ibrox side were lucky to secure a share of the points following a dreadful first-half display.

Again, the starting XI failed to produce the goods during the opening 45 minutes in Dingwall, despite taking a one-goal advantage into the break.

Philippe Clement clearly failed to inspire his team prior to the second half as they conceded three goals in just 18 minutes to lead 3-1 as the shellshocked Rangers players looked lost and certainly not like a team who were fighting it out for the title.

This display should tell Clement that there are a few first-team players who either aren’t up to the required quality or have simply lost the bottle.

One notable example is Borna Barisic, who looks like he could have played his final match for the Gers after a horror show on Sunday.

Borna Barisic’s game in numbers against Ross County

Due to Ridvan Yilmaz missing the game through injury, Barisic was given the nod against the Highland side, despite only making the bench for the clash against Celtic last week.

The left-back only lasted 54 minutes before Clement took him off, replacing him with Dujon Sterling as it was clear he failed to have any real influence on the team.

Borna Barisic's stats vs Ross County

Assists

0

Passes (accurate)

21 (14)

Key passes

3

Possession lost

9

Total duels won

3/3

Via Sofascore

While he may have won 100% of his total duels contested, Barisic lost possession nine times, and managed to complete just 14 of his 21 attempted passes (fewer than Jack Butland's 18) while succeeding with just three of his eight long ball attempts, showing how careless he was in possession.

Going forward, the Croatian was even more of a liability, delivering just two accurate crosses, attempting zero dribbles and creating no big chances, failing to offer anything meaningful to an offence which needed a spark.

Glasgow World gave him a rating of just 3/10 for his woeful display against the Staggies, with journalist Lewis Anderson claiming Barisic ‘offered next to nothing in attack’ while also stating that the defender was ‘very poor’ during the encounter, and it is hard to disagree with him.

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, this performance sums up his final few months at the Light Blues.

Borna Barisic’s statistics this season

There is no doubt that Barisic has been a fantastic stalwart for the club since joining in the summer of 2018, becoming one of Steven Gerrard’s first signings, yet his performances have deteriorated this term.

Barisic has started 26 matches this season, but the large bulk of these arrived prior to Christmas, making only six starts thus far in 2024.

Among his teammates, the 31-year-old currently ranks tenth for accurate passes per game (28.5) in the top flight, while also ranking 16th for successful dribbles per match (0.4), third for possession lost per game (15.2) and 17th for big chances created (one), showing how poor he has been when called up this season.

The defender has made 232 appearances for the Gers over the previous six years, winning the Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup, but his standards have slipped since last summer and perhaps the club should have cashed in on him when they had the chance.

Thankfully, Clement has a few options he can call upon for the left-back spot when Barisic does depart the club, suggesting he won't need to dive into the transfer market to replace him.

The players who could replace Borna Barisic

The obvious answer is, of course, Yilmaz, who has been superb since finally gaining a consistent run in the starting XI.

Not only has he created more big chances (six) in the Premiership than Barisic this term, but the 22-year-old has also succeeded with more dribbles per game (1.3), which proves he is far more effective going forward than the Croatian.

His injury arrived at the wrong time, as Yilmaz has missed crucial matches of late, but hopefully he will be back in the starting XI sooner rather than later.

Sterling has also deputised on the left side of the defence a few times this season, showcasing his impressive versatility.

The Englishman may not have delivered the performance he wanted to against County, but since being offered regular game time under Clement, there is no doubt he has improved.

Taking a look beyond the senior players, there are a couple of academy starlets who could also force their way into the first team in the next 12 months.

Robbie Fraser is captain of the B team, making 53 appearances for them over the last three seasons, chipping in with 14 goal contributions too, certainly showcasing his ability to burst forward on a regular basis down the left flank.

Another youngster, Johnly Yfeko, made his senior debut for the Light Blues during the League Cup clash against Morton back in August 2023, performing well by all accounts.

These two players have bright futures at the Ibrox side and, over time, Clement will surely integrate them both into the first team setup, giving them minutes in certain competitions.

Following Barisic’s underwhelming display on the weekend, it is evident that he must be dropped for the remaining six matches of the league campaign, especially if Rangers want to overcome this disappointment and win their 56th domestic title.

The Croatian left-back has played his part in three trophy successes during his time with the club, yet it looks as though his spell in Scotland is going to come to a relatively limp ending.

There is no room for passengers, however, and Clement knows that making tough calls like this will win him more admirers and certainly some more trophies, without a shadow of a doubt.

Related Clement must finally drop wasteful Rangers man who was worse than Lundstram

The Light Blues attacker put on a horrorshow against Ross County on Sunday.

Posts ByDan Emery Apr 14, 2024

The 21-year-old batsman had taken a mental-health break ahead of the Test summer against Pakistan and New Zealand

Daniel Brettig29-Jan-2020Will Pucovski will make his return to representative ranks after taking his most recent mental-health break ahead of the Test summer against Pakistan and New Zealand, as captain of a Cricket Australia XI. The side will face the England Lions in a three-match 50-over series to begin their developmental tour of Australia in February.Having been considered extremely close to selection for his first Test in November, Pucovski chose to withdraw himself from contention for the team while playing in a pre-series tour match against the Pakistanis in Perth.After subsequently playing for Victoria, Pucovski has been spending the Big Bash League playing club cricket in Melbourne and also leading the Victorian second XI in a Twenty20 carnival. He will now take the leadership reins of a mix of young fringe players and more experienced types such as Jake Lehmann and Alex Ross. Will Sutherland has also been included in the squad to play three limited-overs matches on the Gold Coast on February 2, 4, and 6.”It is pleasing to see Will Pucovski back in a national squad,” the national selector Trevor Hohns said. “Will has progressed well over the course of the summer and recently captained the Victorian second XI in a Twenty20 tournament in Queensland. These three games are an invaluable opportunity for Will to gain more captaincy experience against quality opposition.”Several members of the squad will be joining the CA XI fresh from the Big Bash League, while others will be arriving from state-based competitions. The matches against the England Lions provide them all with an opportunity to impress national coaches and selectors as we look to plan ahead for the future.”Among the more experienced members of the squad is Cameron Boyce. Cameron thoroughly deserves his opportunity after several good years in domestic 50- and 20-over cricket, most recently with the Melbourne Renegades, for whom he took 14 wickets this BBL season.”The England Lions tour is seen as a pivotal part of the ECB’s preparations for the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia, with long-form matches also to be played against New South Wales and Australia A. In Pucovski, the tourists may also be seeing a player quite likely to be part of Australia’s Test team by then.CA XI squad: Will Pucovski (capt), Max Bryant, Caleb Jewell, Jake Lehmann, Alex Ross, Brad Hope, Jaron Morgan, Will Sutherland, Xavier Crone, Blake Edwards, Matthew Kuhnemann, Cameron Boyce, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge

It wasn't the best of nights for Arsenal on Tuesday, as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta's usually impeccable defensive unit looked out at sea for much of the evening, but with limited options on the bench, there was little he could do.

William Saliba was the man who gave away the penalty in the first half, but Gabriel Magalhães was just as poor, and based on reports from earlier this week, he could soon have some competition to worry about.

Arsenal on the hunt for a new defender

According to a report from TEAMtalk earlier this week, Arsenal has been given a massive boost in their pursuit of Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande, one that puts them in pole position to secure his signature ahead of cross-city Chelsea.

The report has revealed that the highly rated 20-year-old has made a transfer to the Gunners his 'preferred move' over the Blues this summer. This has now put the north Londoners in the 'driver's seat' for any potential deal once the window opens.

Therefore, the most significant obstacle left to secure the defender's services this year is his release clause, which is priced at around £69m, and while that is undeniably expensive, it isn't out of reach for Arsenal, as they demonstrated last year.

While this development has probably gone down exceptionally well with Arteta and Edu Gaspar, it might not be such great news for Gabriel, as his place in the starting lineup would suddenly look a lot less secure.

How Ousmane Diomande compares to Gabriel Magalhães

So, the first thing to say is that there are two reasons that Gabriel would be the defender at risk if Diomande joined the club.

First, he plays as the left-sided centre-back in the team, which would likely be the favoured position for the left-footed Sporting man. Second, the fact that he was left out of the starting lineup at the start of this season suggests that while Arteta rates the Brazilian, he doesn't view him as an indispensable part of the team.

That said, how do the pairs' underlying numbers stack up against one another? Is there a clear winner in that metric? Well, unfortunately for the Arsenal man, the Ivorian comes out ahead here, and by quite some way in specific statistics.

Diomande vs Gabriel
Stats per 90	Diomande	Gabriel
Progressive Passes	5.23	3.68
Progressive Carries	0.97	0.48
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists	0.08	0.17
Passing Accuracy	91.6%	88.4%
Shot-Creating Actions	1.18	0.74
Goal-Creating Actions	0.10	0.07
Tackles Won	0.97	0.77
Blocks	0.36	1.40
Tackle + Interceptions	2.31	2.28
Clearances	1.79	2.90
Ball Recoveries	6.05	4.08
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

For example, the "incredibly complete" defender, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, produces more progressive passes, progressive carries, shot-creating actions, and goal-creating actions, wins more tackles, and makes more ball recoveries per 90.

This ability to create chances as well as defend marries well with Kulig's description of the Sporting star as someone who possesses "high ball-playing and pure defender skills."

In his defence, the former LOSC Lille star does make more blocks and clearances per 90 than his potential competition, but those two areas of strength do not outweigh his relative weaknesses.

Ultimately, if Arteta and Edu can get this deal over the line in the summer, they absolutely should, and while it may hurt Gabriel's game time, it could also strengthen the squad.

Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are set to sign "important" striker

The Gunners are intending to bring in a star number nine.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 9, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O elenco do Flamengo embarcou na manhã deste sábado para Caxias do Sul, onde enfrenta o Juventude neste domingo, às 11h, pela sétima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Com nove pontos em quatro jogos, o Rubro-Negro fará sua primeira partida como visitante nesta edição do torneio e busca a segunda vitória consecutiva para aproximar-se dos líderes. Confira a classificação aqui!

RelacionadasFlamengoHá um mês sem contar com Gabigol, Flamengo vê atacantes brilharem e marcarem 100% dos gols no períodoFlamengo24/06/2021FlamengoSem Rodrigo Caio, Flamengo divulga relacionados para a partida contra o Juventude; confira a lista!Flamengo25/06/2021FlamengoMeia exalta grupo do Flamengo e vitória na estreia do Brasileirão Sub-20Flamengo25/06/2021

Para a partida deste domingo, o técnico Rogério Ceni não contará com Rodrigo Caio, preservado pela comissão técnica por conta da sequência de partidas. O time, portanto, terá uma mudança na defesa, com Gustavo Henrique sendo o provável substituto. Além dessa alteração, a escalação do Flamengo deve ser a mesma que venceu o Fortaleza, por 2 a 1 no Maracanã, na última quarta-feira.

Bom dia, Nação! O elenco rubro-negro já está no aeroporto e daqui a pouco embarca para Caxias do Sul. 👊😁 #VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/qzQQzo92e8

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) June 26, 2021

Liverpool are close to sealing their first transfer of the summer with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili set to arrive from Valencia.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Mamardashvili to sign for LiverpoolWill be Arne Slot's first signingExpected to stay at Valencia on loan initiallyWHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool have enjoyed a quiet summer in the transfer market but have stepped up talks for Mamardashvili who is set to become the first signing of the Arne Slot era, according to the Daily Mail. However, Mamardashvili may have to wait to actually move to Liverpool. The goalkeeper could stay on loan at Valencia for another season as part of the deal before heading to Anfield in 2025.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Alisson remains Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper, with Caoimhín Kelleher set to be his backup again in the 2024-25 campaign. However, Liverpool are looking to the future with Mamardashvili, who could replace either stopper. Alisson will turn 32 in October and is contracted to Liverpool until 2027, while Kelleher has admitted this summer that he wants a role as a No.1.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mamardashvili made 30 saves in four matches for Georgia at Euro 2024. The total is the second highest in Euros history, after Russia stopper Igor Akinfeev managed 32 in 2008

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL

Mamardashvili is expected to join Liverpool in a deal worth around €40 million (£34m) but Liverpool fans may have to wait to see him feature for the Reds. Alisson will continue in goal under Slot, with the Reds back in action against Brentford at Anfield.

There is no place for Mitchell Santner while Daryl Mitchell has been included as a batting allrounder cover

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2020

Ajaz Patel fist pumps after a wicket•Getty Images

Ajaz Patel is the only frontline spinner in New Zealand’s squad for the two-Test series against India, which begins in Wellington on Friday.Kyle Jamieson, who was added to the Test squad in Australia last year after Lockie Ferguson’s injury, earned a call-up on the back of his displays in the ODI series against India, while the allrounder Daryl Mitchell returned to the squad for the first time since his debut against England in Hamilton in the first half of the summer.Jamieson is expected to be the back-up quick behind the usual first-choice trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, unless New Zealand play an all-pace attack at Basin Reserve. Boult is back for the first time since suffering a broken hand during the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne.New Zealand Test squad

Kane Williamson (capt) Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling

Ferguson had marked his return from injury in the Ford Trophy, the domestic one-day competition, which his side Auckland won. However, according to Stead, his “loads aren’t anywhere near for us to be able to consider him for four-day[Test] cricket.”Matt Henry, too, had returned from injury in the Ford Trophy and was available for Test selection, but the management picked Jamieson instead because of his propensity to generate extra bounce.Kyle Jamieson in action for Auckland•Getty Images

“Matt was available and it was a tough call we had to make and in this instance we’ve gone for Kyle over Matt,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “And I guess in a squad when you can pick only 13, there is only room for so many and it’s a tough call because he does a lot of things really, really well for us. But, Kyle’s difference in height and what he does with the bounce is something that could be a point of difference for us in this series.”Patel had last played Test cricket on the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2019, and after that New Zealand had largely entrusted spin duties to his fellow left-armer Mitchell Santner, with Todd Astle – who has since retired from red-ball cricket – and Will Somerville coming in for the New Year’s Test in Sydney on the back of an illness crisis within the squad.Santner is a central member of New Zealand’s limited-overs teams, but his recent red-ball returns have been modest, with four Tests in the 2019-20 season bringing him only five wickets at an average of 83.00.”Ajaz has done really well for us in the past in overseas conditions, but also look back to his domestic form and the way he performs here in New Zealand is very, very good,” Stead said. He’s been the top wicket-taker for the last three-four years domestically and I guess it’s a slight change in role we’re looking in terms of that position being one where we can take wickets and focus hard on that.”Mitchell makes his comeback following an impressive bowling performance during the Indians’ warm-up match in Hamilton, where he took the wickets of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill with deliveries that seamed in from a fullish length, before getting Rishabh Pant to nick one that nipped away from him.”Daryl showed his batting prowess in his Test debut against England in Hamilton and he naturally offers us great versatility with the different roles he can play.”

Arsenal are ready to offer a target an Emirates contract worth just under £100,000-a-week, according to a new report.

Arsenal transfer rumours

The Gunners have been in fine form in recent months under Mikel Arteta, scoring goals for fun in the Premier League in 2024. A push for the title as well as being in the Champions League quarter-finals promises for a dramatic end to the campaign, but away from the pitch, sporting director Edu Gaspar has already hinted that the club have their summer targets.

"We already have our targets,” said the Brazilian (via TNT Sports).

"We have planned a lot ahead and I will be worried if we don’t score a lot of goals and if we’re not creating chances, which is the opposite because we create a lot and score a lot of goals.

“The plan is to try to get better every year and I think we are in a good moment. Let's see if we can keep improving. I think if you see the type of the players we have at the moment, it’s players which have a big, big commitment of [to] the club, which is very important. So the way we transmit to the fans, transmit to people our commitment – sometimes you can lose, you can win games, it’s all part of the sport – helps us perform the best way possible and show the passion we have for the club and try to be win as many games as we can.

“Many times in certain conversations to recruit the players you don't see the character of the player or the character of the player does not fit well with what we are trying to do and then you have to move on and try to find what we’re really looking for. If you see all the signings we’ve made since we started together, everyone is almost the same, young, energetic and passionate, and good talents with big, beautiful futures ahead of them.”

Some of the players to have been linked with moves to north London include AC Milan starlet Franceso Camarda, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong.

Another target is Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, and it looks as if the Gunners are ready to make their move.

Arsenal ready Joshua Zirkzee contract offer

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, relayed by TBR, Arsenal are set to offer Zirkzee an Emirates contract worth €6m-a-year (£5.2m), which works out at just under £100,000-a-week.

However, the Gunners aren’t the only side keen on the Bologna striker. AC Milan are also mentioned with an interest, whereas Bayern Munich have a €40m (£34m) buyback clause.

Zirkzee, just 21 years of age, is into double figures for Serie A goals during the current campaign and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €40m Transfermarkt valuation.

The Dutchman has also been compared to Erling Haaland, with Voetbal International reporter Souleyman Ozturk claiming that Zirkzee is a better version of the Manchester City star.

"Zirkzee is better than Erling Haaland at everything. Now you may be dismayed because of this statement. But I will frame it. (Zirkzee) has vision, technique, strength, charisma, flair, footballing ability. He is therefore better than Haaland in almost everything.

"Imagine if Zirkzee had the energy and focus of Haaland. Then he would be the best striker in the world."

He appears to be an exciting Emirates target, and by the looks of things, a summer move is one to watch.

Tottenham have made an early move to land one of their transfer targets this summer, according to reports.

Werner's Spurs future in doubt

Tottenham are keen to add some more firepower to their attack this summer, and one easy way to achieve that would be to sign Timo Werner to a permanent deal.

Tottenham's options in attack

Player

Contract until

Manor Solomon

2028

Timo Werner

2024

Richarlison

2027

Brennan Johnson

2028

Dejan Kulusevski

2028

Bryan Gil

2026

Heung-Min Son

2025

The German is on loan at the north London club from RB Leipzig, and is proving something of a success on the left-hand side for Ange Postecoglou's side. In his 13 Premier League appearances since arriving in January, the 28-year-old has found the net twice and grabbed three assists.

And it would be an easy deal to make permanent too, with there being a pre-existing option to buy the player in the loan deal.

The option, believed to be in the region of £17m, has to be activated before EURO 2024 kicks off in Germany, giving Tottenham just six weeks to decide whether or not to retain the former Chelsea man and hand him a long-term deal in north London.

"In terms of his future, like most players, the decisions will be made at the appropriate time," Ange Postecoglou explained when quizzed on the situation earlier in the season. "I think he's been a great signing. He's been a really important part of our structure and I think he can also improve."

But at 28-years-old, there may be concerns about handing him a long term deal, especially in the wider context of Tottenham's new-look transfer policy that largely targets players with their prime years firmly ahead of them. With that in mind, an alternative option is seemingly being worked on.

England youngster looks North London bound

Now, reports in Italy have revealed some insight into Tottenham's transfer plans. That comes courtesy of Tutto Juve [Via Sport Witness], who report that Tottenham have "come forward" for Juventus talent Samuel Iling-Junior as Daniel Levy and Johan Lange kick-start their first move of the summer for Ange.

Spurs have been linked with a move for the 20-year-old previously, and with just 12 months left on his contract in Turin a departure this summer looks likely.

£29k-p/w striker spotted in North London after Spurs make approach to agent

He was handed VIP access in North London for the clash with Arsenal.

ByBen Browning Apr 30, 2024

A regular scorer across England's youth teams, the winger has started just two Serie A games under Max Allegri this season and is seemingly surplus to requirements.

Now, he is being linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Spurs and Brighton both hot on his trail. Though a winger by trade, Iling-Junior has also operated at wing-back and could well provide an excellent alternative to Destiny Udogie, who did similar during his final season with Udinese.

He is valued at just 15m euros (£12.9m) by Juventus, which would make him a cheaper and younger alternative than Werner, who could potentially provide a much greater upside and versatility in the future than the German.

Now reportedly "closer to farewell" than ever with the Old Lady, could he be the perfect summer addition for Tottenham?

شن فلورنتينو بيريز هجوماً حاداً على الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، والاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، وذلك من خلال مؤتمر صحفي أجراه اليوم.

وخلال اجتماع الجمعية العموية اليوم في نادي ريال مدريد، تحدث رئيس النادي الملكي عن عدة أمور خاصة بفريقه من الناحية الرياضية والإقتصادية خلال هذا الموسم.

اقرأ أيضاً.. بيريز: رودري استحق الكرة الذهبية التي حصل عليها ميسي.. وهذه الدول السبب في خسارة فينيسيوس

وقال فلورنتينو بيريز في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم: “كرة القدم تسير في الطريق الخاطئ، يعاني المشجعون من التكلفة غير المقبولة لمشاهدة كرة القدم، القرصنة وصلت إلى مستويات غير مقبولة”.

وأضاف: “في ثلاثة أشهر فقط، أصيب لدينا 14 لاعبًا، في الدوري كان هناك 9 تمزقات في الصليبي، إثنتان منها في ريال مدريد، أسباب الإصابات الصليبية بحسب أطباء المنزل تعود إلى الإرهاق”.

وتابع: “الشكل الجديد لدوري أبطال أوروبا غير عادل، لا أحد يفهمه، مع وجود المزيد من المباريات، انخفضت قيمة كل مباراة بنسبة 30٪ تقريباً، هنالك المزيد من المباريات لكن قيمتها أقل، هذه المنافسة لن تؤدي إلا إلى الإثارة في النهاية وليس في البداية”.

وأكد: “جدول المباريات المزدحم يضر بالمحترفين ويزيد من الإصابات، هذا الموسم يمكننا أن نلعب 82 مباراة، هناك 63٪ من المباريات التي ينظمها الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم والفيفا، لقد ارتفع عدد المباريات من 22 إلى 36”.

وأشار: “بيلينجهام على سبيل المثال، سيبلغ 21 عامًا ولعب 251 مباراة، في عمره لعب بيكهام 54 مباراة فقط، الضغط الجسدي والعقلي غير متناسب، ليس هناك وقت للراحة وبالتالي يزداد خطر الإصابة”.

وعن بطولة السوبرليج، أوضح: “إقتراح رابطة السوبرليج بمنح كرة القدم مجاناً، نعم إنه مبتكر، اليوم أنا أكثر تفاؤلاً من أي وقت مضى، حكم المحكمة الأوروبية شيء تاريخي وسيتم دراسته في الجامعات، وضع حداً لاحتكار الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم”.

وواصل: “لقد اقترحنا هذا الدوري ومشاهدته المجانية لتغيير تاريخ كرة القدم ولصالح الرياضة، حيث أن هناك فرصة لإحياء كرة القدم، الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم غاضب من العديد من الأندية”.

وواصل: “إختراع السوبرليج يحاول الحفاظ على التوازن الذي يسمح لجميع الأطراف بالرضا”.

وعن مسابقة كأس العالم للأندية، اختتم: “سوف يحرم لاعبي كرة القدم من إجازاتهم التي يستحقونها، لقد قام الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم بتوسيع عدد المباريات غير المهمة في كرة القدم”.