There has not been very much to shout about for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side are still in three cup competitions, but in the Premier League, they have slipped down to 15th, and unfortunately for the fans, it’s a position that accurately reflects the team’s performances.

With that said, one of the few positives this season has been how summer signing Dominic Solanke has adapted to life under Postecoglou, as the former Bournemouth ace has already hit double digits for goals and sits second on the club’s top scorers list.

However, the problem for the club is that they have nobody to genuinely challenge him for a place in the team, and now he’s out injured, they might have to rely on the injury-prone and inconsistent Richarlison for at least “a few weeks.”

Fortunately, that may not be the case, as recent reports have linked Spurs with one of the most exciting centre-forwards in the league, a striker who could solve their Solanke problem.

Tottenham target Premier League star

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Lilywhites are ‘considering a blockbuster move’ for the Englishman this month but could be set to face competition from London rivals Chelsea.

However, the report also claims that the Tractor Boys are understandably reluctant to sell their star asset this month and that to get the deal done, the North Londoners would have to make an offer in excess of £40m for a player who cost just £20m in the summer.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line this month, but given Delap’s incredible ability and potential, one well worth fighting for, especially as he could also solve their Solanke problem.

Why Spurs should sign Delap

So there are two primary reasons that Spurs should be looking to sign Delap this month, with the first being that he’d be able to solve the club’s problem of having no real backup to Solanke.

We say that the Englishman could fulfil this role perfectly as the only other player he might be up against, if he’s not sold, would be Richarlison.

The former Everton forward is undoubtedly a talented player, but he’s had his fair share of injury problems in North London, and even when he’s played, he’s not been good enough, as exemplified by his lacklustre haul of 17 goals and nine assists in 75 appearances for the club.

Appearances

22

Minutes

1626′

Goals

8

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.45

Minutes per Goal Involvement

162.6′

In contrast, the former Manchester City prospect, whom Opta Analyst dubbed a “one-man battering ram”, has already racked up a tally of eight goals and two assists in just 22 appearances for Ipswich, which is a frankly sensational return for a relegation-threatened Premier League team.

This astounding rate of return for a newly promoted side leads to the second reason the Lilywhites should be looking to splash the cash on the Winchester-born gem this month: potential.

If the club are going to push ahead with the Postecoglou vision and build a team of young hungry potential superstars for the Australian to develop, then they’ll need to have a genuinely special successor in place for when Solanke ends up on the wrong side of 30, and considering he’s set to turn 28 this year, that isn’t all that far away.

Moreover, with the absurd number of games teams have to play nowadays, there are more than enough minutes to share between both strikers, which could, in turn, help prevent injuries.

Ultimately, Spurs already have a brilliant centre-forward in Solanke, but they need a backup and long-term heir to help Postecoglou’s project progress, and the perfect candidate for both of those roles is undoubtedly Delap.

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The last few weeks have been manic, to say the least, for Chelsea in the transfer window, with countless names touted with a move to join Enzo Maresca’s squad.

However, as of yet, the Blues are yet to complete any deals for any new players, but that could all be about to change in the last few days of the month.

Alejandro Garnacho is the player who has been constantly rumoured to be of interest to the club, with Manchester United demanding £55m to part ways with their young attacker.

The Argentine could well leave Old Trafford after failing to nail down a regular starting role under new boss Ruben Amorim following his appointment a couple of months ago.

He could join the Blues before the closure of the window, providing a new dynamic to the front line, which could see him form another deadly partnership with one other player widely linked with a move to West London.

Chelsea hold talks for European talent

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are in talks to sign Bayern Munich youngster Mathys Tel ahead of a late move before deadline day on February 3rd.

However, they will still face competition for his signature, with six other sides also in the race for the young Frenchman who desperately needs game time away from the Allianz Arena.

It was reported earlier this week that the 19-year-old wants to leave the Bundesliga outfit this month, with Chelsea a team who have constantly been monitoring his progress.

Tel has failed to score in any game during 2024/25, but has been restricted to mainly substitute appearances, hence why he wants to depart his current employers this month.

However, despite his lack of tangible success, the teenager has produced some impressive underlying stats, whilst also previously showcasing his talents when given an opportunity at Bayern.

Why Tel would be a superb signing for Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu and Christopher Nkunku are the three current centre-forward options at Maresca’s disposal for Chelsea as he looks to secure a top-four finish in his first Premier League campaign.

However, the latter wants to leave West London in the coming days for a new opportunity after his lack of starts, whilst Spaniard Guiu has only made two league appearances – often featuring in the Conference League.

As a result, Jackson is the only real senior option who the Italian could rely on after the closure of the window, highlighting the need for another striker addition.

Tel could provide solid competition to the Senegalese international, offering an immediate short-term option along with a long-term project for him to develop given his tender age.

The 19-year-old scored ten times across all competitions last season, evidence that he’s capable of starring if given the opportunity – making him a solid option for the Blues and providing Maresca added strength in depth.

Tel, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best young strikers in Europe” by journalist David Reed, has still produced some eye-catching figures, many of which have been better than the outgoing Nkunku – showcasing what a phenomenal addition he’d be for the West London outfit.

Games played

8

19

Goals & assists

1

3

Progressive carries

2.2

1.5

Progressive passes

3.2

2.3

Shots taken

3.6

3.1

Goal-creating actions

0.7

0.4

Take-on success

50%

38%

Carries into final third

2.5

0.8

Whilst he’s registered fewer combined goals and assists, the Bayern star has registered a higher tally of progressive carries and progressive passes per 90 in 2024/25 so far – highlighting his ability with the ball at his feet.

He’s also registered more successful take-ons, along with a higher goal-creating action rate, posing an added threat in attacking areas, to help boost the options currently on the book at the Bridge.

It’s unclear whether any deal for the talent would be a loan or permanent deal, but it’s evident from the aforementioned figures that he would be a superb signing.

The move would allow Tel to link up with Garnacho should he complete his own transfer, with the United ace likely to operate in his natural left-hand role at the Bridge.

The Argentine may have struggled to nail down a regular role since Amorim’s appointment, but stats such as 1.3 chances created and 1.1 successful dribbles per 90 could aid Tel within the final third as he looks to recapture his goalscoring form from 2023/24.

Garnacho could too benefit from Tel’s arrival, with the Frenchman completing 2.1 successful dribbles and his 87% pass accuracy also handing the fellow new addition the ammunition to show United what they’re missing if he was to leave this month.

Transfer Focus

The pair could link up together in the final third before the deadline, with both of them benefitting from one another’s move, subsequently aiding Chelsea’s hunt for a top-four finish come the end of the season.

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A background on Glenn Phillips, the 20-year-old Auckland wicketkeeper-batsman who has been named as Martin Guptill’s replacement for the T20 against South Africa at Eden Park

Andrew McGlashan15-Feb-2017Only 20, is Glenn Phillips the Next Big Thing?Steady on, let’s give him a chance. Weather permitting, he’ll have one innings against a strong South Africa attack, so expectations should be tempered. However, he has impressed at every stage of his cricket education, making his Auckland debut as an 18-year-old and playing for New Zealand Under-19s at the 2016 World Cup where he made two half-centuries in six innings.Okay, but why has the call-up come now?Phillips was the leading run-scorer in the Super Smash, New Zealand’s domestic T20 tournament, with 369 runs in 10 innings at an average of 46.12 and strike-rate 143.02 in what was his first season of T20. That included 116 off 57 balls against Central Districts. Such has been his white-ball impact, that his New Zealand debut could come before his first-class debut. He has also put himself forward in the IPL auction.Hang on, apparently he was born in South Africa. What’s the story there?Indeed, he was born in East London but moved to New Zealand with his family when he was five and has played his entire cricket career in the country. He went through all age-group levels at Sacred Heart College in Auckland.Has he played for any teams overseas yet?Yes, he had a stint on the MCC Young Cricketers’ scheme at Lord’s in 2016 – a path that Martin Crowe and Ross Taylor also followed. He made headlines when he hit six sixes in an over playing for MCC against the Duke of Norfolk’s XI in Arundel. That day, Phillips finished with an unbeaten 201 off 123 balls in the MCC’s total of 299 for 5.How’s he responded to his call-up?Unsurprisingly with delight, and a little surprise. He was on the selectors’ radar having been named in the New Zealand XI side to face the South Africans in the T20 warm-up match which was abandoned. “I got the news at about 7.40 last night … it was the biggest call of my life so far, I can’t believe it really,” Phillips said on Wednesday. “Getting that call at that time in the evening was a bit of a shock but definitely one I’m really happy about it. I haven’t been given any expectations, which is nice on new shoulders. I’m feeling good, I will just be keeping things as simple as possible.”What have others said about him?Gavin Larsen, the selector, is clearly excited by what he sees. “He bats with power; has shown he can clear the rope, and gets a deserved opportunity to showcase his skills on the international stage.” His coach at Auckland, Mark O’Donnell, revealed he has been likened to a very famous New Zealand name. “He has very good hand-eye co-ordination and is a very natural ball-striker, he is very much a natural,” O’Donnell told . “I know he reminds [Auckland captain] Rob Nicol in a few ways of a young Brendon McCullum. He is aggressive with the bat and if he thinks he can hit it he will, rather than defend.”Does it look like he’ll be fast-tracked into the ODI side as well?Not at the moment. Dean Brownlie, who played against Australia recently, has been named as Guptill’s replacement for the start of the ODI series. However, if there was another injury to the squad his name would likely be discussed. It remains to be seen if Phillips makes his first-class debut when the Plunket Shield resumes.

Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table back to 13 points on Wednesday night with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Dundee.

The Hoops made light work of their opponents at Parkhead and are one step closer to winning the top-flight for the fourth successive season.

Jota, who rejoined the club in a move from Rennes last month, started his first match under Brendan Rodgers and ended the game with an assist to his name.

The star of the show for the Scottish giants, however, was not the Portuguese sensation. Instead, it was the team’s Belgian wizard in the middle of the park.

Arne Engels' performance against Dundee

The summer signing from Augsburg was selected alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate in midfield and caught the eye with a masterful showing.

Engels kicked off the scoring for the Hoops in the 18th minute by coolly converting from the penalty spot after Auston Trusty was fouled inside the box.

The Belgian midfielder then turned provider for the fourth goal with an assist for Daizen Maeda, before he added his second of the match with a fine, albeit slightly deflected, effort from the edge of the box that sailed into the back of the net.

Engels, who completed 88% of his attempted passes and created two chances, was a crucial part of the impressive victory for Celtic with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Performance in Numbers

However, there was a player at the other end of the pitch who was just as important as the Belgium international on Wednesday night – Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Cameron Carter-Vickers' performance against Dundee

The USA international did not provide a goal or an assist in the 6-0 thumping and that is why his impressive performance at the heart of the defence may have gone unnoticed, or underappreciated.

Having a rock solid defence provides the attacking players with a platform to build from and the former Tottenham Hotspur titan’s defensive work provided the perfect platform.

Carter-Vickers was just as important as Engels to the performance because he was almost faultless defensively, which allowed the Belgian, alongside the likes of Maeda, Adam Idah, and Jota, to thrive in the final third.

Minutes

90

Touches

126

Pass success

96%

Tackles

2

Interceptions

4

Dribbled past

0x

Duels won

8/11

As you can see in the table above, the American man mountain was almost unbeatable at the back, winning the vast majority of his duels, and was not dribbled past a single time.

This allowed Celtic to assert dominance in the game, as he consistently won the ball back and prevented Dundee from building attacks, to then go on and score the goals that they did.

Carter-Vickers also provided reliability in possession, taking 126 touches and completing 96% (108/112) of his attempted passes, which allowed the Hoops to build out from the back without giving away any chances through sloppy passes.

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Therefore, Carter-Vickers, despite not being directly involved in any of the six goals, was just as important as Engels and Rodgers should be delighted with his showing.

da imperador bet： Rangers have altered their strategy in pursuit of one of Scottish football’s most promising young talents, according to a new report.

Gers advance in Europa League as deadline day looms

da dobrowin： Rangers secured their place in the Europa League last-16 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox on Thursday evening. Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny scored for Rangers, with Ibrox buzzing at full-time as the team’s position was confirmed.

Speaking after the match, Gers boss Philippe Clement said that he is “super proud” of his team having booked their spot in the competition’s next round.

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“From the top eight, we played against four teams in Olympiacos, Lyon, Manchester United and Tottenham so it makes the performance even bigger,” said the Belgian.

“It is massive for the whole squad,” he explained. “It shows that this squad is really working hard together, and everybody wants to give everything to get the results for this club.”

Raskin, whose goal against Union Saint-Gilloise was his first of the season, echoed Clement’s comments.

“We’re very proud about the performance but also the whole campaign,” said the midfielder. “We knew we had a small chance to be top eight and we just had to do the job, so we’re very proud tonight.”

Rangers change Cameron approach

To bolster their chances in the latter stages of the Europa League, Rangers were reported to be close to securing the services of Dundee star Lyall Cameron this month. Cameron has been one of Scottish football’s standout young stars this season, scoring eight goals and producing seven assists in 29 games for Dundee.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Rangers were on the verge of landing Cameron, whose contract at Dens Park runs out in the summer. The Gers were said to be ready to meet Cameron’s wage demands and land him on a bargain deal.

A new report from Football Insider suggests that Rangers have shifted their focus and abandoned plans to secure Cameron on a permanent deal this month. Instead, they are now in discussions with the midfielder regarding a pre-contract agreement.

The report indicates that Rangers are looking to finalise an agreement for a summer move, hoping to persuade Cameron to turn down any renewal offers and commit to joining Ibrox in the upcoming transfer window.

Lyall Cameron SPFL Stats 2024/25

Games

22

Goals

5

Assists

4

Chances Created

36

Successful Dribbles

13

FotMob Rating

7.39

Stats via FotMob. (As of January 31, 2025)

Whether Rangers land Cameron this month or in the summer, Clement has made clear that he is a big admirer of the 21-year-old.

“Cameron also, a very good midfielder, creative midfielder, with decisive action in the last pass and a good solid base behind him also,” he told reporters in his press conference when Rangers drew 1-1 with Dundee a few weeks ago.

Potentially welcoming more star power, Aston Villa have reportedly opened talks with a Paris Saint-Germain player who desperately needs to rediscover his most scintillating form.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans currently sit ninth in the Premier League as they prepare to commence a new year under Unai Emery and one that they will once again hope to end in the Champions League. Given their current struggle for consistency, however, they may well need to return to the transfer market if they want to make a return to Europe’s biggest stage for a second season running.

On that front, it’s Donyell Malen who has been threatening to steal the headlines more than others. Reports have even gone as far to suggest that Aston Villa have already sent an offer Borussia Dortmund’s way with negotiations ongoing and the German giants ready to show their winger the door in 2025.

It seems as though attacking reinforcements have become the priority at Villa Park this month in an attempt to share the goals around rather than relying on Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran to seal the points. And that means Malen isn’t the only one to have seemingly caught the Villans’ eye.

According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now in talks with Marco Asensio over a January move away from Paris Saint-Germain. The former Real Madrid star has struggled for game time in the current campaign and is now willing to complete a departure away from the Ligue 1 giants this month.

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Whilst Aston Villa would prefer a loan move, PSG are reportedly looking for between €25m-€30m (£21m-£25m) to part ways with their midfielder at the halfway mark.

With the likes of Morgan Rogers, Ross Barkley and the returning Emiliano Buendia already providing enough depth in Asensio’s role, it remains to be seen whether they’ll be willing to splash out to secure the Spaniard’s signature.

"Great" Asensio needs January move

In danger of becoming a forgotten star after rising to stardom at Real Madrid and earning a move to PSG, Asensio should be desperate to steal the headlines once again and complete a January switch to Aston Villa. Only rare cases have struggled to impress Emery and only few have not gone on to make an impressive impact at Villa Park. Now, Asensio could become the next to benefit.

Despite his current struggles under Luis Enrique, the right-winger did once find himself at the centre of the manager’s praise during his time in charge of Spain’s national team.

Enrique told reporters, via Madrid Universal, in 2022: “We’ve worked with him on the things we wanted him to improve and he has done just that. When he plays as a ‘9’ he initiates the pressure and that requires effort and great responsibility.

“It’s a pleasure to see how our six forwards press, they give us guarantees. Marco is a guarantee and he’s in great form for the World Cup.”

Enduring three starts in Ligue 1 under the Spaniard at PSG just three years later, Asensio is no longer a player at the centre of Enrique’s thoughts and must move on in 2025.

da cassino online： Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign an “extraordinary” midfielder this summer and have a £21m bid in the works, according to a report.

Tottenham keen to strengthen in multiple areas

da bwin： Amid their ongoing injury woes, Tottenham made moves to sign a number of players in the latter stages of the January transfer window, although their only high-profile arrival was Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Spurs made a late £70m bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was knocked back by the Premier League side, while they have also held talks over a move for Lille striker Jonathan David, with the Canadian’s contract set to expire in the summer.

As such, it is clear Ange Postecoglou feels he needs to strengthen in a number of different positions if his side are to be more competitive in the Premier League next season, having massively underperformed in the ongoing campaign.

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According to a report from Football Insider, Postecoglou has picked out defensive midfield as the priority position to strengthen in the summer, and Tottenham are now planning to activate the £21m release clause in Johnny Cardoso’s Real Betis contract.

Spurs hold a major advantage over rival suitors, having secured a priority option to sign the midfielder when they agreed to sell Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis.

Aston Villa are also interested in Cardoso, but the Lilywhites are seemingly leading the race for his signature due to the first-refusal option.

There is also a feeling a deal could be straightforward if the release clause is triggered in June, as agreeing personal terms with the highly rated 23-year-old is not expected to be an issue.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Manchester United (h)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (a)

February 22nd

Manchester City (h)

February 26th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

March 9th

Fulham (a)

March 16th

"Extraordinary" Cardoso flourishing in La Liga

With Postecoglou keen on a defensive midfielder this summer, the Betis star could be the perfect addition to the squad given his performances for the Spanish side over the course of the past year.

The American has been flourishing from a defensive standpoint, ranking in the 98th percentile for interceptions per 90, the 95th percentile for clearances and the 86th percentile for aerials won when compared to his positional peers.

Such is the maestro’s ability, he has been lauded as “extraordinary” by Betis president Angelo Haro, and he has been a key player for the La Liga side this term, having started the last seven matches in the Spanish top flight.

Daniel Levy has received his fair share of criticism from Tottenham fans this season, but the agreement to include a priority option to sign Cardoso in the deal to sell Lo Celso could prove to be a masterstroke.

علق أسامة نبيه المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر للشباب، على المباراة التي جمعته اليوم أمام الأهلي وديًا، ضمن الاستعدادات لبطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا.

وخسر منتخب مصر للشباب أمام الأهلي، في المباراة الودية التي أقيمت مساء الأحد، بهدف دون رد، سجله السلوفيني جراديشار.

طالع | جراديشار يقود الأهلي للفوز على منتخب مصر للشباب وديًا

وقال أسامة نبيه في تصريحات صحفية عقب المباراة: “تجربة كبيرة ومفيدة ورائعة أمام فريق كبير ومنظم، والتجربة أضافت لنا الكثير رغم الهزيمة”.

وأضاف: “النادي الأهلي يمتلك نجومًا، التجربة أكدت أننا نمتلك جيلاً واعدًا من الشباب المتميز، ولم أتردد في خوض المباراة”.

وأكمل: “لدي مجموعة من العناصر أريدهم أن يستفيدوا من اللاعبين الكبار ويتعلمون منهم، بغض النظر أنه كان من الممكن أن تكون النتيجة كبيرة ومحبطة للاعبين، لكني لم أتردد لحظة في مواجهة الأهلي لأنهم في النهاية سيستفيدون فنيًا ومعنويًا”.

وتابع: “قدمنا مباراة جيدة، وصلنا لمرمى النادي الأهلي، لكن قلة خبرات اللاعبين وقلة ثقتهم ورهبتهم في أنهم يواجهون فريقًا كبيرًا مثل النادي الأهلي، كل هذه الأمور كانت لها تأثير نفسي عليهم، ولكنها تجربة كانت مفيدة”.

واستمر: “مصطفى شوبير أخرج كرة صعبة خلال المباراة كان من الممكن أن تسكن الشباك وأتعادل بها”.

وأردف: “وضعت سيناريوهات للمنتخب، واللاعبون سيكتسبون خبرات من هذه المباريات، وأي فريق في الدوري يريد أن يواجهنا نحن سنرحب”.

وأتم: “عمر سيد معوض لاعب مميز ويمتلك خبرات، الإصابات عطلته لكني وضعت برنامجًا يوميًا للاعبين يجعلهم جاهزين وكأننا نلعب كل يوم، وأحضر نفسي لأي شيء في الفترة القادمة”.

ويستعد منتخب مصر للمشاركة في كأس العالم بتشيلي من 27 سبتمبر إلى 19 أكتوبر، والذي يشارك فيه أحفاد الفراعنة ضمن مجموعة تضم: تشيلي، اليابان ونيوزيلندا.

This season has not gone to plan for Arsenal so far.

Mikel Arteta’s side came into the campaign hopeful of finally dethroning Manchester City in the Premier League, and while they are comfortably ahead of the defending champions, they’re six points off leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

On top of that, the Gunners have had to deal with a plethora of injuries to key players, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus out with long-term issues.

So, with all of that in mind, it’s incredible to think that the club are yet to make a single signing this month, especially with the transfer window set to shut in less than a week.

However, there might yet be cause for optimism, as on Wednesday night it was reported that Arsenal had made an audacious £60m offer for Ollie Watkins, and while it was rejected, there’s a chance the club could go back in for him, although even if the Gunners got him for around that price, he’d be worth millions less than one of his potential rivals at the Emirates.

Why Arsenal want to sign Watkins

So, let’s say that Arsenal continue in their pursuit of Watkins and reach a price suitable for Villa before the window slams shut, why would he be worth chasing?

Well, simply put, he’s a sensationally talented striker who can both score and assist goals with ease.

For example, in just 32 appearances this season, the former Exeter City gem has already scored 11 goals and provided nine assists, meaning he’s currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.60 games.

Appearances

169

Minutes

14252′

Goals

69

Assists

31

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

Minutes per Goal Involvement

142.52′

Moreover, in his 169 Premier League appearances for the Villans, he has racked up a brilliant haul of 69 goals and 31 assists, which means that in arguably the toughest league in world football, the Torquay-born dynamo has produced a goal involvement on average every 1.69 games.

Interestingly, and this may be one of the reasons Arteta wants to bring him in, the 29-year-old has also developed a real knack for scoring against the Gunners in the league.

For example, in the ten games against the North Londoners, he has scored six goals, won four times, drawn once and lost five times.

In short, Watkins is a sublime centre-forward and would undoubtedly help Arsenal reach that next level in attack, yet even if he does move to the Emirates for slightly more than £60m, he’ll be worth millions less than one of his new potential teammates.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Watkins

So, to get straight to the point, the Arsenal player in question is none other than Kai Havertz, who joined the Gunners for £65m in June 2023.

Despite the mountain of criticism the German receives from fans and pundits alike, he has recently been valued at up to a staggering €121m by Football Transfers, which converts to about £101m, or at the very least £41m more than the initial offer the North Londoners made for Watkins this week.

Now, there will likely be a significant portion of you who don’t think the former Chelsea ace should be worth anything near that price, and while you’d probably be right, his record as a centre-forward for the Gunners is perhaps better than most people would assume.

For example, in 18 appearances up top last season, the “sensational” international, dubbed by Mikel Arteta, scored eight goals and provided seven assists, meaning when playing a number nine, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.2 games.

This season, the Aachen-born dynamo hasn’t been quite as effective but has still managed to score ten goals and provide four assists in 26 appearances as a striker, which means he’s currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.85 games.

Appearances

18

26

Minutes

1509′

2265′

Goals

8

10

Assists

7

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.83

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.6′

161.78′

Another reason for the massive valuation is likely the fact that he plays most games for the club, and his contract is set to run until the summer of 2028.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Watkins before the window slams shut next week, but for all the stick he gets, they do already have a decent striker in Havertz, but he needs the help the Englishman could provide.

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Talk of a quadruple’s back. Joy.

Liverpool have been here before, but there’s no denying that things feel a bit different with Arne Slot at the helm. The Dutch tactician has been a revelation in the still-warm seat of Jurgen Klopp.

Six points clear of second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand in the Premier League, finishing first in the opening phase of the Champions League and thus bypassing the extra knockout round, into the Carabao Cup final and awaiting an FA Cup showdown against Plymouth Argyle, there’s every reason to be excited at Anfield.

It’s all to play for, but the Reds know all about the agony of falling within a whisker, of coming within a week of true immortality. As the likes of Virgil van Dijk keep on saying: it’s one game at a time. Then we’ll see.

Van Dijk is leading the charge, and though he’s coy about Liverpool’s chances of silverware, he knows that the Anfield side is in a fantastic position.

However, will it be his final few months as the club captain?

Virgil van Dijk's Liverpool future

Van Dijk – along with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold – is out of contract at the end of the season. We all know the score by now.

Richard Hughes certainly does. The sporting director will be working tirelessly to reach a breakthrough and ensure that Slot does not lose his lifeblood as an exciting new era begins to hit its stride.

The Liverpool skipper might turn 34 after the end of the season, but he’s the best centre-back in the world and has shown little sign that he’s set to nosedive in the immediate future.

Slot, for what it’s worth, wants to retain his countryman’s services and keep working with him, but Liverpool need to be prepared for any eventuality as kitchen-sink time approaches.

If Van Dijk leaves, Liverpool will need to break the bank on a successor. It’s a shame that a shrewd heir has already been sold.

Liverpool may have sold a shrewd Van Dijk heir

FSG routinely come under the kosh for their perceived hesitance in the transfer market, failing to make the signings that fans want. However, Liverpool have avoided any truly debilitating injuries this term as they skip into the business months.

The first-team squad is balanced and has depth. However, Slot could lose Liverpool’s core chassis before the autumn months are upon us.

That’s why Sepp van den Berg might have been a shrewd option to have been kept on Merseyside, for he is an athletic and skilled defender with plenty of growth still to come before he reaches the apex of his development.

Liverpool have banked plenty over the past few transfer windows, only signing Federico Chiesa and the out-on-loan Giorgi Mamardashvili since Klopp capped his remarkable nine-year run of spending, with Ryan Gravenberch a jackpot signing if there ever was one.

Van den Berg did leave to the tune of £25m, as Brentford met Liverpool’s valuation after weeks of back-and-forth. The Dutch defender, only 23, had excelled on loan with Mainz in the German Bundesliga last season and had been praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his “promising and complete” qualities.

Liverpool’s scouting department returned a glowing endorsement of the then-teenage talent in 2019, with FSG authorising the £1m signing of Zwolle’s rising defender.

His value has skyrocketed and there’s no question that Liverpool struck gold from a financial perspective, but Van den Berg has the quality to have made an impact in Slot’s squad, challenging Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah for minutes.

Over the past 365 days, Van den Berg has ranked among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won (4.14) per 90, as per FBref, illustrating his suitability to step into Van Dijk’s boots.

Moreover, he’s proved under Thomas Frank this season that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League, starting 19 matches for the Bees since joining.

Quansah, 22, will hope to make the requisite improvements over the coming years that would see him emerge as a starting member of Slot’s project week in, week out, but in Van den Berg, Liverpool might have lost the perfect option.

It’s also worth noting that while Quansah impressed under Klopp’s wing last season, he’s scarcely been used by Liverpool’s new head coach, playing five top-flight fixtures this year and starting just two.

There’s no telling whether Van den Berg would have received more chances to impress had he remained on Merseyside, but given that he’s completed 84% of his passes and averaged five successful duels per Premier League match, as per Sofascore, there’s a good chance that he has the robust and composed approach to the defensive game that Slot covets.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

17 (13)

Goals

3

2

Clean sheets

8

2

Pass completion

81%

89%

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

2.5

Clearances*

4.7

2.3

Ball recoveries*

5.3

4.2

Total duels (won)*

7.0 (65%)

4.5 (64%)

As you can see from the defenders’ contrasted metrics from last season, Van den Berg was outperforming Quansah by a smidge, owing to his rangy and robust style.

Ultimately, Liverpool claimed £25m for a young player who had only made four senior appearances, and thus it’s difficult to say that selling him was a blunder. However, should Van Dijk leave this summer, his might be a signature that was worth keeping around, especially given the strong financial position that FSG are in after several windows of careful planning.

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