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Glasgow Rangers managed to sign three new players during the January transfer window, as Fabio Silva, Mohammed Diomande and Oscar Cortes all arrived in Glasgow.

The main talking point was the failure to bring in another centre-forward on deadline day, yet it appears as though Philippe Clement is comfortable with the players he currently has until the end of the season.

The Ibrox faithful will continue to place their trust in the Belgian, especially after his wonderful start to life at the Light Blues. Not only has he guided the club to their first League Cup trophy since 2011, but also to the last 16 of the Europa League, along with dragging the Gers back into the title fight.

His three signings will all offer something different, and they may even prove to be the difference between finishing the season with one trophy or ending it with three.

Diomande is the obvious standout, as the young Ivorian joined from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy and his future looks extraordinarily bright.

Mohammed Diomande has a big future at Rangers

The midfielder is set to cost the Ibrox side a fee in the region of £4.3m, indicating that Clement is clearly confidence the player will be a success at Rangers.

During his spell in Denmark, the 22-year-old made 111 appearances for Nordsjaelland, scoring 13 goals, and grabbing 14 assists in the process, demonstrating his forward-thinking abilities.

With an average pass success rate of 89% in the Danish top flight during the 2023/24 campaign, Diomande is also excellent at dictating the play, while he ranked fifth among the squad for tackles per game (1.4) and fourth for interceptions per game (0.8), suggesting that he does not shirk away from his defensive responsibilities either.

It looks as though the Gers have managed to sign a midfielder who can not only contribute going forward but is also able to provide a defensive barrier when Rangers don’t have the ball and these skills could be vital over the next few months.

He was not the only midfielder that the Light Blues were interested in, however, as Clement was reportedly keen on making a move for Croatian gem Marko Bulat last month, and he may indeed have been a more attractive option than Diomande to feature in the midfield.

Rangers were showing interest in Marko Bulat

According to Football Scotland, the Gers ‘checked on the conditions’ of Bulat during the winter window as they looked to bolster their midfield area.

The report stated that the 22-year-old was keen on a move away from Dinamo Zagreb, yet the Croatian side were valuing him at around the £5m mark and this was perhaps the only stumbling block for the Light Blues.

His profile certainly fitted the bill with regard to what Clement was hoping to build in the future; a young and hungry midfield with plenty of passion and the potential to make the club a big profit over the next few years.

The Belgian manager faces the prospect of six players leaving for nothing at the end of the season due to their contracts expiring.

Ryan Jack and John Lundstram are among those six and while the Englishman deserves another year at least, the Scot has suffered from too many injury issues recently and should be thanked for his services and moved on this summer.

Bulat, then, would have made an ideal Jack heir should he have joined Rangers last month.

The stats that show why Marko Bulat would have been a good signing for Rangers

Since joining the club, Jack has made over 200 appearances for the Gers, winning every major honour in Scotland over the previous seven years.

The 31-year-old has also missed a grand total of 118 matches through injury since 2017 and these niggles are unlikely to stop as he ages.

3

1

22.1

25.1

1.4

0.6

2.8

0.6.

1

0.2

While Diomande is a more forward-thinking central midfielder, Bulat prefers to operate in a slightly deeper role, similar to that of Jack, and this suggests he would have been an ideal replacement for the former Aberdeen starlet.

The youngster was even compared to Croatian midfield icon Ivan Rakitic by Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson, who said:

“From watching Bulat and looking at the numbers, he reminds me of a young Ivan Rakitić. He’s a box-to-box midfielder who is a very capable defender and a goal scoring threat. Technically gifted and intelligent in and out of possession, hence the Rakitić comparison.”

Bulat has already played 173 senior matches since making his professional debut in the 2017/18 season, which demonstrates how much experience he has already racked up in such a short space of time.

For Zagreb this season, Bulat ranks highly across a range of metrics, including third for shots per game (2.2), sixth for key passes per game (1.4) and for goals and assists (five), made even more impressive due to the fact he has missed a few matches due to injury.

There was no way Clement could have splashed out £5m on Bulat alongside signing Diomande and, while the Ivorian may be an excellent option to call upon in the middle of the pitch, might the 49-year-old manager have missed a trick by missing out on the Croatian?

Only time will tell in that regard, but the statistics certainly suggest that the 22-year-old could have been the ideal long-term replacement for Jack, who looks certain to leave Ibrox this summer.

Rangers may have a bigger talent than Jefte in 20y/o "surprise"

Rangers may have a bigger talent than Jefte with a talented academy gem in their system.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 2, 2024

With a busy few months ahead, Diomande will need to hit the ground running if he looks to impress the Ibrox faithful and, considering his past performances, there is no doubt he is capable of shining in Scotland.

Like any transfer window, there are always players that clubs miss out on and eventually go on to play at a higher level. Bulat could perhaps be one such name who will star at a level above the Scottish Premiership in the next few years.

If Clement does have the budget in the summer, and Bulat is keen, a concrete move should be made for the midfielder, who is set to enjoy a wonderful career.

Aston Villa have boxed themselves into something of a corner when it comes to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, with the club forced to at least contemplate the sale of a big-name first-team player.

Jacob Ramsey has been attracting interest from Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, and German giants Bayern Munich are keen too. In their current situation, Villa have to at least consider any proposals.

There's also a possibility that the PSR will play a key role as Villa assess the future of Nicolo Zaniolo. The Italian arrived on loan from Turkish club Galatasaray with a conditional obligation to buy worth £38m when including all initial loan fees and add ons, but that would be a particularly significant outlay in the current circumstances.

Villa make Zaniolo decision

According to Turkish outlet Aksam, Villa have already decided not to sign Zaniolo permanently. Galatasaray were hopeful of a "huge" windfall from his exit, but a long-term switch could now "officially" be ruled out. The Super Lig club will have to be content instead with their €5m (£4.3m) loan fee from Villa as they aim instead to sell him to one of the Serie A sides who have been showing an interest.

4/10 Aston Villa star let Unai Emery down against Man Utd

Aston Villa suffered a late defeat to Manchester United on the weekend

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 12, 2024

The report adds that Zaniolo is regarded as a "disappointment" behind the scenes in the Midlands, with the 24-year-old unable to meet expectations. As such, with three and a half months of the season still remaining, he's "preparing to leave" come the summer as both parties look to move on.

Zaniolo may no longer be "very happy" at Villa

Emery has used Zaniolo in as many as six different roles since his arrival, and while the positive spin on that would be that he's an invaluably versatile player, the cynic would argue that he hasn't performed well enough to nail down any specific spot.

Left wing

5

Attacking midfield

3

Right wing

3

Left midfield

3

Centre-forward

1

Second striker

1

In all, he's played 27 games in claret and blue, with 16 of those coming in the Premier League. Emery has handed him seven starts and named him on the bench 13 times in the top flight, opting not to use him at all on four occasions.

Zaniolo was picked in the XI for half of Villa's Europa Conference League games, but hasn't made it for any of their four domestic cup matches this season, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly where he stands in the squad.

What's clear is that he's regressed in recent times – he enjoyed a good run in the autumn with seven starts from 10 between 21 September and 5 November, but he hasn't begun a game since the 1-1 draw with Zrinjski in the final Conference League group game, when he scored his first goal for the club.

After he hit his second to salvage a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in stoppage-time later that month, he said he was "very happy" at Villa Park, but that stance may have changed in the weeks since.

West Bromwich Albion will go into the next round of Championship fixtures bare in the striker department, with Carlos Corberan having to use Jed Wallace up top against Hull City last time out in the second tier.

The ever-extending injury list at the Hawthorns involving centre-forwards sees Josh Maja, Daryl Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante all in the treatment room currently, a less-than-ideal situation for the Spanish manager in the Baggies dug-out to resolve.

It's not as if this loaned-out attacker would add much firepower to the striker ranks in the West Midlands if he was recalled either, the once statement £15m buy now on shaky ground when it comes to his West Brom future.

Karlan Grant's time with West Brom

Karlan Grant would join West Brom full of promise, departing Huddersfield Town off the back of a prolific one-season spell at the John Smith's Stadium.

Finding the back of the net 19 times in his final full campaign with the Terriers, the Baggies must have thought they'd struck gold landing a potent Grant when they did.

Yet, it has turned out not to be a smooth sailing move for the former Huddersfield man with the £15m transfer fee above his head now looking rather extortionate.

Grant would be immediately thrown in at the deep end under then Baggies boss Slaven Bilic on his arrival to the Hawthorns, recruited to help West Brom stave off relegation from the Premier League with some important strikes.

The now 26-year-old would bag just one goal during his side's dismal 2018/19 top-flight campaign, however, but bounced back to justify his price tag the season after in the second tier with 18 goals managed from 45 appearances.

Season

Games played

Goals

Assists

2022-23

35

5

1

2022-21

45

18

6

2021-20

21

1

0

Failing to set the world alight last season in the West Midlands – amassing just five strikes from 35 games – Grant found himself on the fringes in Corberan's starting eleven and chucked out on loan to Cardiff City to prove himself.

With Grant further going on to struggle with the Bluebirds this season away from the Baggies, it's no shock to see that Grant's transfer value has taken a significant dent.

Karlan Grant's decreased transfer value in 2024

According to Football Transfers, the misfiring 26-year-old attacker's value has decreased all the way down to a measly €3.6m (£3m) which is a far cry from the excessive millions West Brom once forked out on the 6 foot forward.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

When looking at his £15m transfer fee, Grant is now embarrassingly worth £12m less.

Predominantly playing as a left winger for Cardiff hasn't allowed Grant to fully get into his goalscoring groove in Wales, but there's still no real impetus for Corberan to recall his failing loanee based on these weak numbers anyway to solve his promotion-seeking side's issues.

The Baggies must curse their luck when it comes to paying way over the odds for exciting stars in attack, with lightning unfortunately striking twice now with Daryl Dike who has seen his value fall dramatically all the way down to €2.7m (£2.3m).

Grant could prove to be useful again in the future for West Brom as a utility figure – with football pundit Carlton Palmer once praising the 26-year-old for being "versatile" owing to his ability to switch between playing down the wing and up top – but he's nowhere near being the hero in attack the West Midlands outfit crave currently.

If anything, the major fee next to his name has been his undoing with Grant never being able to reach the heights expected of him.

For the time being, Corberan will have to keep his faith in the limited strikers he has at his disposal while praying no more injuries are forthcoming.

As Oliver Glasner prepares for his first summer in charge at Crystal Palace, he is reportedly set to face the difficult task of keeping hold of one of his best players, with one Premier League club already opening talks for a star player.

Crystal Palace transfer news

In a difficult season at Selhurst Park, the likes of Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi have still managed to stand out, much to their credit. Even as Palace suffered another disappointing Premier League result, drawing against Luton Town late on, it was Eze who almost stole the headlines with his fantastic effort from range very nearly finding the back of the net.

Talking about the effort, Glasner said via Ed Aarons:

It is a quality that the Palace boss may need to appreciate whilst he still can, with Eze's ability to play at the very top level clear for all to see so far this season. The same can be said for Olise and Guehi too, with reports suggesting the latter could be heading for the exit door this summer.

According to TeamTalk, Liverpool have now opened talks to sign Guehi in the summer window, much to the concern of all those involved at Selhurst Park. The central defender could become one of the first Liverpool signings in the post-Jurgen Klopp era if the Reds meet Palace's reported price tag of at least £50m this summer.

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ByCharlie Smith Mar 8, 2024

If Palace did lose their star defender, they would face a tough task in replacing him, creating an instant problem for Glasner this summer. The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss certainly has his work cut out for him at the London club in the coming months.

"Amazing" Guehi has earned a big move

Whilst it's far from ideal for Palace, there's no doubt that Guehi has earned the chance to play at the very top level. And there's arguably not many better than Liverpool in Europe both in history and the present day. With the chance to possibly partner Virgil van Dijk too, the England international could only get even better with a move to Anfield.

Earning plenty of praise, Manchester United captain and England teammate Harry Maguire previously spoke highly of Guehi, saying:

"Marc has done amazing. I think he left Chelsea at an amazing time when he had to play football. When you watch him play he doesn't look like a young boy playing football.

"He's a captain of Crystal Palace. He’s going to have a long career in the game. He has all the attributes you need to be a centre-back. The friendly in the first half at Scotland unfortunately he had to come off. He's such a young boy playing with so much maturity."

That said, it doesn't take away from the task on the Eagles' hands if they lose their defender this summer. It is a task that Glasner and all those at Selhurst Park must get right.

Chelsea continue to be an enigma this season.

Mauricio Pochettino's men can bounce from a brilliant result to a terrible one and back again in a couple of weeks.

The Argentine has a promising squad at his disposal but hasn't been able to crack it this year, although the absence of club captain Reece James for large parts of the campaign hasn't helped.

The fan favourite is one of the Blues' best players, but his inability to stay fit has seen his value tumble, and now he's worth less than a star who left west London in 2021, who Pochettino probably wishes didn't.

Reece James' transfer value at Chelsea

James joined the Blues' academy as a youngster, and after spending several years battling through the various youth sides and moving from striker to defence, he was loaned to Wigan Athletic for the 2018/19 campaign.

The Redbridge-born gem thrived with the Latics, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 46 games before returning to Stamford Bridge in the summer and transitioning into the first team after recovering from an ankle injury.

GK – Willy Caballero

RB – Reece James

CB – Marc Guehi

CB – Kurt Zouma

LB – Marcos Alonso

CM – Ross Barkley

CM – Billy Gilmour

RM – Christian Pulisic

LM – Callum Hudson-Odoi

CAM – Pedro

ST – Michy Batshuayi

In his first season with the Pensioners, the 5-foot-10 defender made 37 appearances, scored two goals, provided three assists, and established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs in English football.

In all, the 24-year-old has made 156 appearances for the Blues, scored 11 goals, provided 21 assists and won the Champions League, but there has been one significant problem: his injury record.

Across the five seasons he has regularly played for the club, James has missed 111 games or 561 days of action due to 18 separate injuries.

This genuinely concerning record has seen his value collapse in recent years. Football Transfers' expected value model priced the Englishman at around €68m, or £58m, in May of last year, whereas it now prices him at around €40m, which is about £34m.

James' dramatic fall in price has seen a former Chelsea defender, and one Pochettino could surely use at the moment, surge past him in value.

Fikayo Tomori's transfer value in 2024

Yes, the player in question is fellow England international and Cobham graduate Fikayo Tomori.

Just like James, the Calgary-born wall fought his way through Chelsea's various youth sides before being sent on several loans to Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City, and finally Derby County, where he caught the eye of Frank Lampard.

When the Chelsea legend was named the club's new manager for the 2019/20 season, one of his first decisions was to bring the 6 foot 1 titan into the first-team squad. Over the course of that season, he made 22 appearances.

However, the "fantastic" gem, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, couldn't quite nail down a starting spot, made just four appearances in the first half of the following season, and opted to join AC Milan on loan in January.

Tomori decided to remain in Milan that summer after the Italians activated the £25m buy option in his deal. He has since made 132 appearances for the Rossoneri, playing a vital role in the club's first Scudetto triumph in 11 years.

Date

Valuation

July 2018

€5m (£4m)

January 2021

€27m (£23m)

July 2021

€32m (£27m)

September 2022

€38m (£32m)

April 2023

€42m (£36m)

November 2023

€46m (£39m)

March 2024

€42m (£36m)

His consistently impressive performances for the red and black half of Milan have seen his value steadily rise over the last few years. Football Transfers' expected value model priced the five-capped international at €32m, about £27m, when he made his move to Italy and at €42m, or about £35m now, slightly higher than James'.

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The talented star has cost the Blues a lot of money over the years.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 12, 2024

Ultimately, while Tomori's decision to leave Chelsea in 2021 has worked out brilliantly for him, there is every chance he would've become the Blues' star defender had he stayed.

Glasgow Rangers brought in Nils Koppen as their head of recruitment ahead of the January transfer window to finally replace Ross Wilson, who left his post as sporting director in April 2023.

The former Light Blues chief left to join Premier League side Nottingham Forest after mixed success throughout his time running the football operations at the club.

He made some fantastic signings, including the likes of John Lundstram and Calvin Bassey, but also had his fair share of failures, including Aaron Ramsey and Cedric Itten.

One signing he made for the future that now looks to be emerging as another success was the addition of Zak Lovelace from Millwall in the summer of 2022, as his value has soared.

How much Rangers paid for Zak Lovelace

The Athletic reported that the Gers agreed a compensation of around £100k to bring the talented teenage marksman to Ibrox, after he had made five Championship appearances for the Lions.

Then-sporting director Wilson described the young gem as an "exciting" talent and his electric performances for Rangers B show that the now-Forest chief was right to be excited.

Lovelace has racked up a staggering 17 goals and six assists in 32 B team outings for the club, along with two goals and four assists in six matches in the UEFA Youth League.

He is a bigger talent at the top end of the pitch than current first-team star Ross McCausland, as he outperformed the Northern Ireland international in the academy set up.

The 20-year-old winger produced 14 goals and five assists in 50 matches for the club at B team level and in the Youth League combined before his first-team breakthrough, which is a return of one goal contribution every 2.6 games on average.

Whereas, Lovelace racked up 19 goals and ten assists in 38 clashes, which is a return of one goal or assist every 1.31 outings on average for the academy.

Zak Lovelace's current market value

At the time of writing (17/03/2024), Transfermarkt values Lovelace at £428k (€500k) and this means that his value has soared by 328% from the £100k that they reportedly paid Millwall to sign him almost two years ago.

Rangers and Wilson, therefore, struck gold with the signing of the teenage dynamo as he has been an outstanding performer at youth level, and his value has skyrocketed as a result.

Unfortunately, he has missed over 100 days with a hamstring injury this season, having suffered the blow on his full first-team debut as Steven Davis handed him a start on the right wing against St Mirren.

The 18-year-old speedster produced a dangerous cross that forced Ryan Strain to commit handball, give away a penalty, and get sent off, which allowed James Tavernier to make it 1-0 from the spot.

Lovelace then pulled up with a hamstring issue before the break – replaced by McCausland – and has not been seen in a Gers shirt since.

Appearances

22

Goals

1

Assists

2

Big chances created

2

Penalties won

1

As you can see in the table above, the Northern Irish youngster has not provided consistent quality in the final third and his former B team teammate could eventually offer more, given the gulf in their respective outputs in the academy.

Lovelace could make a greater impact at the top end of the pitch with his superior quality as a scorer and a creator of goals, but it is now down to him to get fit and then prove it on the field for the first-team.

Overall, though, Rangers have struck gold with the 18-year-old starlet, who appears to be a great prospect given his rising value and excellent output in front of goal, and, hopefully, he will go on to enjoy a successful career in Scotland.

West Ham United have been handed some unsavoury news surrounding their latest defensive star Konstantinos Mavropanos in the last couple of days.

Moyes and Mavropanos a match made in heaven

After plenty of speculation, Mavropanos finally became a West Ham player last summer after a move for Premier League outcast Harry Maguire broke down over personal terms, leaving Moyes with the Greek giant instead.

The Ex-Arsenal man had rebuilt his career in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart, and at 26-years-old is just entering his prime years, convincing the Hammers to shell out around £20m to take him to the London Stadium in a bid to reinvest the money raked in from Declan Rice's sale wisely.

"Excellent" West Ham player on £140,000-a-week set to leave this summer

He won’t be staying at the club past this season.

ByBen Browning Apr 3, 2024

And after a tricky integration period in which he played just two Premier League games before December, he has gone on to nail down a spot in Moyes' starting XI, and has played the full 90 minutes 11 times in the last 14 Premier League outings, only substituted in the 6-0 thrashing against his former side.

Mavropanos vs West Ham centre backs PL 23/24

Statistic

Mavropanos

Nayef Aguerd

Kurt Zouma

Appearances

16

20

26

Goals

1

1

3

Tackles + Interceptions per 90

3.29

2.04

1.43

Blocks per 90

1.5

1.58

1.19

Aerial duels won %

66.1%

61.1%

57.1%

Pass accuracy %

73.8%

79.5%

82%

With the defender now firmly a first-choice option ahead of Nayef Aguerd in David Moyes' backline, results have improved and there remains a chance that the Hammers end the season with Europa League silverware and a spot in next season's European competitions through either that or their Premier League finish, with the club currently 7th in a congested Premier League table.

Bump in the road ahead

However, there could be problems this summer for Moyes and co, with the latest reports offering concerning updates on Mavropanos and his London Stadium future.

His form has not gone unnoticed, and reports have claimed that Serie A sides are sitting up and taking stock of his situation in east London, despite the Greek having signed a deal until 2028 just months ago.

Get Football News Italy claimed last month that Italian league leaders Napoli in particular were keeping tabs on the defender as they looked for a future beyond Francesco Acerbi this summer. Now, CalcioMercato have offered further insight into the situation, and it could well come as a blow to the Hammers. As per their report, Mavropanos is 'thinking about saying goodbye' to the London Stadium already following interest from both Roma and Inter.

Of course, West Ham are in a strong bargaining position for the defender, with a mammoth deal still to run in east London. It remains to be seen whether any Serie A side could put together an offer that would tempt the Premier League side to cash in on their summer addition, but with Mavropanos' head seemingly turning at the opportunity, there could be trouble ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur do not have fond memories of St. James' Park, having been clubbed 6-1 at the ground in the Premier League last season, but will be confident that they can defeat Newcastle United this afternoon.

Ange Postecoglou's side reclaimed a place in the top four last weekend at Aston Villa's expense after winning at home against Nottingham Forest.

And while Unai Emery's side face Arsenal away on Sunday afternoon, Tottenham will be determined not to slip up and create some nice space heading into the final phase of the campaign.

Spurs team news

Postecoglou will have to compete without Richarlison's services once again this weekend, with the Brazilian centre-forward ruled out for the second match running after feeling discomfort in his knee – he returned from a three-match layoff from a knee injury last month and appears to have aggravated his problem.

Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, and Fraser Forster all remain long-term absentees but, that aside, Spurs have a wealth of options available to compete against Eddie Howe's injury-hit squad.

With Richarlison out, Heung-min Son will lead from the front once again, and while Brennan Johnson has been one of the club's most in-form outlets over the recent period, he might find himself benched on Tyneside.

Why Ange could drop Brennan Johnson

Johnson signed for Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5m package on transfer deadline day last summer and has enjoyed comparative success in London so far, lifting his level over recent games, posting five goals and seven assists from 17 top-flight starts under Postecoglou.

And while he has been a real threat of late, praised for being his side's "game-changer" by The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare, it is actually for this reason that he should be benched.

Dejan Kulusevski has not started either of the past two matches and will be eager for a recall, while Timo Werner was emphatic in his performance against Forest, remarking "I love it here" as he continues to go from strength to strength after his loan arrival in January.

Luton Town (H)

2-1 win

45'

1

0

Crystal Palace (H)

3-1 win

27'

0

2

Wolves (H)

2-1 loss

19'

0

0

Brighton (H)

2-1 win

28'

1

0

Brentford (A)

3-2 win

45'

1

0

Looking at the table above, it's clear that Johnson is an extremely effective substitute, with blistering speed and deft dribbling skills that make him a menace against tired opposition.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and blocks per 90, showcasing his rounded ability, but he's also an incredibly difficult winger to contain, and is sharpening his goalscoring instinct down N17.

Johnson hardly struggled to make his mark when not featuring from the outset, and his penetrative, multi-functioning style does appear suited for second-half football, with Kulusevski's cultured feet enriching the balance and chemistry that will be needed to quiet the Newcastle faithful.

Not the only star who must be dropped, however, Johnson could sit alongside Yves Bissouma on the sidelines today, with the Malian midfielder guilty of a poor performance last time out.

Yves Bissouma must now be ditched

While Johnson's possible shift to the bench could be made with a positive view of the Welshman's danger off the bench, Bissouma has been ebbing and flowing from form for too long now and must be axed to enhance and aid Tottenham's fluency.

Last time out, despite starting strongly, the 27-year-old was withdrawn at the break as Postecoglou sought to enforce a different kind of steel to his midfield, struggling to contain and control Nuno Espirito Santo's Tricky Trees, and put in a flat showing.

Writing of his performance, football.london's Alasdair Gold branded Bissouma with a 6/10 match rating and said: 'Started the game brightly with a couple of shots and it was his dribble that was key in the build-up to the opening goal. However, he faded at the end of the half, did not track back for Forest's goal and did not reappear for the second period.'

A bright start he might have made but the Mali international is failing to produce the same quality of performance that had cemented him as one of the division's finest performers in the early stage of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-1 win

6/10

West Ham United (A)

1-1 draw

7/10

Luton Town (H)

2-1 win

5/10

Fulham (A)

3-0 loss

3/10

Aston Villa (A)

4-0 win

7/10

His patchy form has been going on for too long now and Tottenham's second-half success against Forest on Sunday will have served Postecoglou a clear message that his side is capable of thriving without Bissouma, who was once dubbed a "monster" by journalist Aaron Stokes, on the field.

Of course, when he's at his best he's a clear starter, ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 5% for tackles, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 7% for interceptions and the top 135 for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

But stats can be misleading and he is suffering from a prolonged dip. Introduced at half-time in a brazen reshuffle of Postecoglou's engine room, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur both received 8/10 match ratings by Gold for their controlled and formidable performances.

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The Australian is a real admirer.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 12, 2024

Command and composure were present, allowing Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro to bag goals and clinch three points to lift Tottenham back into the top four.

Bissouma will play a big role in the closing period of the campaign but Newcastle will throw fire at their visitors tomorrow afternoon and the industriousness and balance that last weekend's substitutes appear to provide will have given Postecoglou more than a little food for thought.

This is why the Australian head coach must brutally ditch the Mali international from the starting XI alongside the Welsh whiz Johnson for this match.

Everton have been dealt yet another blow in a terrible season, with the Blues believed to be unable to afford a high-earning player's contract this summer.

Everton suffering season continues

The Blues' woeful season hit another low point on Monday evening, with Sean Dyche's side thumped 6-0 away to Chelsea in the Premier League.

It was an alarming performance throughout, with a lack of quality and application on show, and it means they are still far from safe in the relegation battle. Everton are only two points clear of the drop zone with one game in hand, ahead of a huge meeting with struggling Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.

Away from the Blues' on-pitch struggles, there is also so much going at the club, whether it be point deductions, issues with the Bramley Moore Dock stadium move or slow progress regarding the takeover at Goodison. Nothing seems to be going right currently, and in fairness to Dyche and his players, it can't be easy for them to keep their focus.

The hope is that Everton avoid relegation and then make new signings this summer – young Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika has been linked with a move, for example – but there is also the threat that others will leave, from Jarrad Branthwaite to Amadou Onana. Now, a new update suggests that one established Blues man will be on the move come the end of the season.

Everton will let high-earning player leave

According to a new claim from Football Insider, Everton will have to let Idrissa Gueye leave on a free transfer this summer for financial reasons. The Merseysiders are "not likely to activate the one-year extension clause" that exists in his original deal, hoping instead to clear his £80,000-a-week (over £4m a year) off the books.

This is another sign of Everton's financial woes currently, in terms of not being able to justify Gueye staying on for another year, and seeing him leave this summer will be a shame, especially as they will not receive a transfer fee.

Granted, the midfielder is now 34 years of age, meaning he is both past his peak and not a long-term option, but he has great experience and could have continued to be a solid squad player, having racked up 165 appearances for Everton to date. Meanwhile, Dyche lauded him earlier this season, saying: "I thought Idrissa Gana Gueye was excellent. We only took him off because he’s put so much in recently. He just looked tired."

The fact that the Blues can't justify retaining Gueye's services does speak volumes about the current situation at the club, and it does feel as though they desperately need to battle their way through this Premier League season or face real disaster.

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Hopefully, no further point deductions will come their way and 777 Partners' takeover will eventually go through, but for now, staying up feels more important than anything, given the all-round ramifications of going into the Championship.

If you ask any Tottenham Hotspur fan what period in recent times was the most enjoyable and successful, almost every individual would say the run from 2015–19.

The core of that success involved the likes of Heung-min Son, Harry Kane, and Jan Vertonghen, but there was one player who was just as influential.

The player in question is Christian Eriksen, who featured in 305 matches for the Lilywhites, scoring 69 times and providing 90 assists.

New boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, and on his radar is a highly-rated Eriksen clone.

Spurs’ search for a new midfielder

As per a recent report from Ben Jacobs via CaughtOffside, Spurs are seriously interested in signing Giorgiy Sudakov.

The Ukrainian star plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, who are known to be difficult to deal with in regards to transfers.

Despite having an incredible £128m release clause in his contract, it’s reported that a fee of around £60m will likely be enough to secure his services in the summer.

However, if Spurs do go ahead with attempting to sign the midfielder, they will face competition from European giants such as Inter and Juventus.

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This star could rival players such as James Maddison for a spot in Postecoglou’s first-team in good time.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 17, 2024 Sudakov would be a James Maddison rival

James Maddison’s start to life at Tottenham couldn’t have gone any smoother, with the £40m man scoring twice and assisting twice in his first four league matches.

However, an injury against Chelsea earlier this season saw him miss 13 games of action, and since then, he’s not been quite as impactful, failing to register a goal contribution in his last five matches.

Nonetheless, the interest in Sudakov highlights one of two things: either Postecoglou isn’t entirely happy with Maddison being his first choice number ten, or he intends to tweak the system next season.

The 21-year-old star is an attacking midfielder by trade, but he’s already shown that he can comfortably play as a left midfielder or slightly deeper as a box-to-box this season.

Goals

1

Key passes

2

Passes completed

40

Touches

62

Successful dribbles

2/2

As you can see by the table above, the number 10 has shown that he can compete against the very best, as he starred in the Champions League against Barcelona earlier this season.

Playing away to Barca is often a daunting prospect for the most experienced players, but Sudakov proved that he’s not afraid of any challenge, as he was constantly a threat against the La Liga side.

What this game highlighted in particular was that the Ukraine star doesn’t only create, but he’s also a goal-scorer. The fact that he’s netted seven goals in 28 appearances this season further supports that.

Another aspect that was impressive was the way he dazzled the Barca midfield with his dribbling, completing 100% of his take-ons, which certainly highlights his technical ability.

Furthermore, the fact that he had 62 touches and completed 40 passes proves that he’s an extremely confident individual who is desperate to put his stamp on the game, which is what Tottenham need right now in particular.

What makes this potential move even more interesting is the fact that football scout Jacek Kulig has previously compared Sudakov to Eriksen, with the player's range of passing, creativity, and set piece mastery alike.

Sudakov, therefore, is most definitely a promising talent, but surely Spurs wouldn’t spend £60m on a Maddison backup? Either way, the thought of welcoming another Eriksen to north London will be a tantalising one.