All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

While 2023 marked the beginning of what could be the 'Ange Postecoglou era' at Tottenham Hotspur, it also coincided with the end of Harry Kane's stellar spell in north London, with the academy graduate finally moving on after over a decade in the first team.

The 30-year-old is currently staring down the barrel of a trophyless first season at Bayern Munich, although with 24 Bundesliga goals to his name already in 2023/24, it is easy to recognise just how far he has come since arriving on the scene with the Lilywhites.

For all Tottenham's record scorer has gone on to achieve in the game, such individual success did not always look to be on the cards, however, particularly amid a difficult start to life in senior football amid a handful of loan spells across the English football pyramid.

It wasn't until the 2014/15 season that Kane – who scored 21 Premier League goals that year – truly announced himself to the wider world, with his Spurs debut having actually come a few years prior at home to Hearts in a Europa League Qualifying Play-offs round second leg tie.

That goalless draw with the Scottish Premiership side back in August 2011 was the striker's first taste of senior action as a mere teenager, as he lined up alongside an eclectic mix of names who have gone on to endure far less fruitful careers elsewhere…

1 GK – Carlo Cudicini

Lining up in the sticks on the night was former Chelsea man, Carlo Cudicini, with the Italian shot-stopper having arrived at the club two years earlier after almost a decade at Stamford Bridge.

After spending just three years with the Lilywhites, the veteran 'keeper swiftly retired in 2013 following a brief stint in the MLS, before joining the Republic of Ireland U21's coaching staff.

Since 2019, the 50-year-old has been working back with the Blues as one of their 'loan player technical coaches', having initially made his return as an assistant coach to Antonio Conte in west London.

Chelsea

36

12

LA Galaxy

Retired

2 RB – Ryan Fredericks

One of the few players on this list who is still plying his trade in the Premier League, Ryan Fredericks was also handed his debut for Spurs on the night alongside Kane, acquitting himself well as the home side kept a clean sheet.

Despite going on to make just two more appearances for the club prior to sealing a permanent exit in 2015, the 31-year-old has since enjoyed stints at the likes of Fulham, West Ham United and Bournemouth, albeit while having yet to feature for the latter side this season.

Academy

3

0

Bristol City

Bournemouth

3 CB – Michael Dawson

Now part of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday panel, Michael Dawson was one of the more senior members of the side against Hearts, leading the club as captain at the centre of defence.

After spending nine years at the club following his arrival in 2005, the former England international eventually ended his playing career with Nottingham Forest in 2021, having previously risen up through the youth ranks at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest

321

10

Hull City

Retired

4 CB – Sebastien Bassong

Lining up alongside Dawson on the night for Harry Redknapp's side was the club's £8m signing, Sebastien Bassong, with the Cameroon international having joined from Newcastle United two years earlier.

Despite previously winning the Magpies' 'Player of the Year award, the Paris native was unable to replicate those feats during his three years in north London, making just 70 appearances in all competitions in that time.

After leaving White Hart Lane, the 37-year-old spent time at the likes of Norwich City and Peterborough United, before calling time on his playing career in 2019 following a brief stint at Greek side Volos.

Newcastle United

70

3

Norwich City

Retired

5 LB – Vedran Corluka

While typically a centre-back, the Croatian ace lined up at left-back for the visit of the Jambos in what was one of just eight appearances he made that season, prior to joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan in January 2012.

A friend and international colleague of Luka Modric, the 6 foot 4 brute was "a very tenacious, uncompromising defender" – according to teammate Roman Pavlyuchenko – albeit having swiftly tumbled down the pecking order under Redknapp.

Having ended his career in 2021 after almost a decade at Lokomotiv Moscow, the 38-year-old is now assistant coach of the Croatian national team.

Manchester City

108

1

Lokomotiv Moscow

Retired

6 DM – Tom Huddlestone

The man with a cannon of a right foot, Tom Huddlestone enjoyed a respectable albeit unspectacular seven-year stint at White Hart Lane, racking up 47 goals and assists in 209 games in all competitions for the club, after signing from Derby County in 2005.

A second-half substitute during Spurs' last trophy win in the Carling Cup final back in 2008, the Englishman eventually moved on to Hull City in 2013 – prior to ending his career with the Tigers in 2022 after a stint back at Derby.

Now 37, the Nottingham native is currently on the books at Manchester United in a unique player-coach role for the U21s, having been brought in by the Red Devils to pass on his experience to the club's emerging talent.

Derby County

209

16

Hull City

Man Utd U21's

7 CM – Tom Carroll

At one stage tipped to be the 'next Luka Modric, Kane's former academy colleague wasn't quite able to establish himself with the Lilywhites, eventually falling by the wayside amid the rise of the likes of Harry Winks under Mauricio Pochettino.

Having been sent out on a string of loans during his time at N17, it wasn't until 2017 that Carroll eventually left permanently for Swansea City, prior to featuring for the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town.

Now 31, the 5 foot 10 playmaker now plies his trade for League One side Exeter City, albeit having provided just one assist and no goals in 30 league games this season.

Academy

53

3

Swansea City

Exeter City

8 CM – Jake Livermore

Completing the midfield triumvirate was another promising English talent, Jake Livermore, with the academy graduate even scoring in the 5-0 first-leg thrashing of the Edinburgh-based side.

That was, however, the only goal that he would score in 58 games for Spurs in total, with much of his time at the club spent out on loan, prior to leaving permanently for Hull in 2014 – linking up with Huddlestone with the Tigers.

The 34-year-old is now on the books at Watford following a six-year spell with West Bromwich Albion, the seven-cap England international having scored three goals for the Hornets this season in the Championship.

Academy

58

1

Hull City

Watford

9 RM – Roman Pavlyuchenko

With the likes of Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart afforded a rest on the night, Redknapp handed what proved to be a rare outing that season to Pavlyuchenko – the Russian striker scoring just four goals in 14 games in 2011/12.

In total, the towering forward recorded a respectable haul of 42 goals in 111 games following his arrival in 2008, albeit while only once reaching double figures for Premier League goals – scoring ten times in 2020/11.

That proved to be the marksman's only stint outside of his homeland, as he eventually hung up his boots in 2022 at the ripe old age of 40.

Spartak Moscow

111

42

Lokomotiv Moscow

Retired

10 LM – Andros Townsend

Described as the 'star turn' against Hearts by BBC Sport's Sam Lyon, Andros Townsend looked destined to make the grade at Spurs, particularly after a fruitful loan spell at QPR in 2012/13 in which he netted a stunning volley at home to Aston Villa.

Alas, the breakthrough at his parent club never truly came as the Englishman moved on to Newcastle United in 2016, before subsequent stints with Crystal Palace and Everton.

Now on the books at Luton Town, the 32-year-old has enjoyed something of a renaissance with the Hatters alongside the likes of Ross Barkley, notably scoring against former club Newcastle back in December – that diet of chicken feet seems to be working out well for the part-time talkSPORT pundit…

Academy

87

9

Newcastle United

Luton Town

Tottenham have mapped out a first team plan for one teenage talent yet to make his debut, and Spurs apparently hold him in extremely high esteem.

Postecoglou breeds positivity at Spurs

Ever since manager Ange Postecoglou's arrival last summer, the north Londoners have undergone a very positive upward trajectory, both on and off the field.

Tottenham "expected" to sign "A-list" Harry Kane heir with 27 y/o available

Spurs are eyeing a new striker this year.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 14, 2024

Postecoglou's electric brand of high-pressing, aggressive football has won plenty of admirers as Spurs fiercely contend for a top-four place and subsequent Champions League qualification.

They sit among the English top fight's highest goal-scoring sides, losing just five times so far, and you could argue that a large part of that was down to Postecoglou losing the likes of Micky van de Ven and James Maddison to injury for months.

Pundits like Ian Wright have expressed their surprise at Spurs' sheer transformation under their popular manager, with Tottenham's head-turning form even helping them to beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona to January transfer targets.

Timo Werner

Arrival (loan)

Lucas Bergvall

Arrival (buy-to-loan-back)

Radu Dragusin

Arrival (permanent)

Djed Spence

Exit (loan)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan)

Alejo Veliz

Exit (loan)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan)

Radu Dragusin was chased by Thomas Tuchel's side while the La Liga giants had their eyes firmly on young midfielder Lucas Bergvall. However, Spurs eventually beat both in races for each player, with Postecoglou's side hijacking Barca's deal for Bergvall on deadline day.

"It felt better in the stomach. They are both incredible clubs," said Bergvall on why he chose Spurs over Barca.

"It was a very difficult choice, it was 50-50 for a very long time, but it felt like the next step for me was Tottenham. It was not very easy to say no to Barcelona, it took a very long time to decide. It was a tough decision.

"We talked a little before. In general, how the club works, how they work, how they train, what the days look like. It wasn't a persuasive talk like that. He just said the club was great and I noticed that when I got there. I got an incredible reception, it's a very family club but incredible people."

Currently back out on loan at Djurgardens IF, the 18-year-old will link up with Spurs properly in the summer.

Tottenham map out first team Bergvall plan

Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey have an update on the youngster and how he could be utilised in north London.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham are planning to integrate Bergvall straight into Postecoglou's first team later this year, and those within Spurs view him as a "generational talent".

The Swede penned a five-year deal worth around £8.5 million in the winter window, yet despite his tender age, there is a belief at the club that he's more-than capable of being thrusted straight into senior action.

As the fixtures begin to come thick and fast once more, Rangers will hope to keep ahold of their spot at the top of the Scottish Premiership whilst also navigating a way through Benfica in the Europa League. But that's certainly easier said than done, especially after Philippe Clement's latest injury update.

Rangers injury news

The Gers already have a lengthy injury list, making Clement's recent work even more impressive to leapfrog Celtic at the top of the league. Even before the latest update, Rangers were on course to be without as many as five players ahead of their next game against Motherwell.

Rabbi Matondo

Unknown

Abdallah Sima

Mid April

Alex Lowry

Mid-late March

Kieran Dowell

Late March

Todd Cantwell

Late March

Danilo Pereira

Early April

With Celtic sitting just two points behind in the Scottish Premiership, Rangers can't afford a single slip-up in the next few weeks. As their injury list grows and fixtures keep coming, however, that may prove to be more and more difficult for the Gers.

Making matters worse, Clement confirmed that Oscar Cortes suffered a muscle injury against Kilmarnock and will now see a specialist, with his return date unknown.

Given that the former AS Monaco boss couldn't give an answer as to when those at Ibrox can expect their January loan signing to return, he looks likely to miss Rangers' Europa League last 16 tie against Benfica. The first leg, which comes in Portugal, is as soon as next Thursday, whilst the second leg takes place on March 14 at Ibrox in a crucial clash for Rangers' European ambitions.

Cortes has already impressed at Rangers

With reports suggesting that Rangers will look to make Cortes' loan move a permanent deal this summer, it's fair to say that the 20-year-old RC Lens winger has impressed since arriving in January. Clement hasn't shied away from handing the loanee plenty of praise.

"He is somebody who can help the team and who feels good in his way of football. He had six months in Lens, where they had a different style and he didn’t play many minutes – or almost nothing – but it’s good that our recruitment knew him already for a long time and they said he would fit the team and the squad and he could give something that we need for the next couple of months

"It’s clear already from the first training that he can help us with achieving our goals."

In many ways, Cortes' positive impression makes his injury blow all the more frustrating for Rangers, especially as they prepare to square off against Portuguese giants Benfica. Clement will desperately be hoping to be handed some positive news when the winger sees a specialist over his muscle issue.

The latest round of Premier League fixtures are right around the corner, and it has been revealed which referees will be officiating each game and who will be in charge in of VAR.

With a thrilling title race shaping up and the battle for survival getting tighter with every passing week, referees will know that their decisions over the next few weeks and months could be season-defining, as the pressure mounts on teams to deliver heading into the business end of the campaign.

Football FanCast has created a handy list of each game, who the referee and VAR officials will be, as well as their statistics for the season so far, per Transfermarkt.

Manchester United

vs

Everton

9th Mar, 12:30pm

Crystal Palace

vs

Luton Town

9th Mar, 3pm

Bournemouth

vs

Sheffield United

9th Mar, 3pm

Wolves

vs

Fulham

9th Mar, 3pm

Arsenal

vs

Brentford

9th Mar, 5:30pm

Aston Villa

vs

Tottenham Hotspur

10th Mar, 1pm

West Ham United

vs

Burnley

10th Mar, 2pm

Brighton

vs

Nottingham Forest

10th Mar, 2pm

Liverpool

vs

Manchester City

10th Mar, 3:45pm

Chelsea

vs

Newcastle United

11th Mar, 8pm

Bournemouth

vs

Luton Town

13th Mar, 7:30pm

Manchester United v Everton Simon Hooper

17

83

2

1

0

We kick off this weekend's action with a lunchtime game between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford.

The referee in charge will be Simon Hooper, with David Coote taking up the reins as the VAR.

Manchester United have won one and lost one with Hooper in charge of their Premier League matches this season, while Everton have just lost one in their only game officiated by him.

Bournemouth v Sheffield United Anthony Taylor

19

95

1

2

10

Two teams in the bottom half come head-to-head on Saturday afternoon as Bournemouth welcome a Sheffield United side who are fresh off the back of a thumping 6-0 defeat against Arsenal.

Anthony Taylor will be in charge of the game, with Michael Salisbury selected to rule over any contentious decisions from Stockley Park.

Out of these two, Sheffield United are the only team who have featured in a game officiated by Taylor, as they drew 1-1 with Aston Villa.

Crystal Palace v Luton Sunny Singh Gill

0

0

0

0

0

Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace side will welcome a Luton Town side who have proven to be tricky away from home at times this season.

Sunny Singh Gill will be the man in the middle, with Peter Bankes on VAR duty.

This is Sunny's first time refereeing in the Premier League, so best of luck to him.

Wolves v Fulham Tony Harrington

4

14

0

1

0

Gary O'Neil will be desperate for his Wolves side to bounce back this weekend against Fulham, after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Newcastle United last time out.

In charge of this one will be Tony Harrington, while the VAR official will be John Brooks.

Due to Harrington only having refereed four Premier League games so far this season, neither side have featured under him.

Arsenal v Brentford Rob Jones

15

68

3

1

3

Arsenal will head into this one full of confidence after a humiliating 6-0 win over Sheffield United, while Brentford could only manage a draw at home to Chelsea.

Rob Jones will be in charge at the Emirates, with Paul Tierney assisting with all VAR matters.

Brentford have one draw and one loss so far this season in games refereed by Rob Jones, while Arsenal have one draw.

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Chris Kavanagh

14

64

1

0

7

Sunday kicks off with a tasty fixture in the battle for a Champions League spot, as Aston Villa welcome Tottenham to the Midlands.

Chris Kavanagh is the man in the middle for this clash, while Tim Robinson will be on VAR.

Aston Villa are yet to be refereed in the Premier League by Kavanagh this season, and Spurs secured a thumping 4-1 win over Newcastle United in their only game officiated by him.

Brighton v Nottingham Forest Michael Salisbury

10

38

1

1

9

Two sides who have been struggling a little bit in recent times go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon, as Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest to the AMEX.

Michael Salisbury is entrusted with keeping the peace on Sunday, with Craig Pawson on VAR duty.

Neither side have won in a game officiated by Salisbury this season, with Brighton drawing and Forest losing in their only game apiece.

West Ham United v Burnley Darren England

6

32

0

0

1

West Ham United are in a bit of a purple patch at the moment in the Premier League, but the same can't be said about the opposition for this weekend's clash, as Burnley look nailed on for relegation.

Darren England is the man with the cards, while in the VAR room will be Andy Madley.

Due to England only refereeing in six games in the Premier League so far this season, neither side have experienced a match controlled by him.

Liverpool v Manchester City Michael Oliver

18

76

2

2

4

In what is arguably the game of the weekend, Manchester City will travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in a top of the table clash.

Michael Oliver is the man with the cards for this vital clash, while in the VAR room will be Stuart Attwell.

Liverpool are unbeaten in games officiated by Oliver this season, with two wins and one draw. On the other hand, the Citizens don't have an unbeaten record as they've won one but lost to Arsenal.

Chelsea v Newcastle United John Brooks

16

73

2

2

4

This gameweek's Monday night game will feature two of the Premier League's big spenders, as Chelsea welcome Eddie Howe's Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge.

John Brooks is the man with the cards, while in the VAR room will be Jarred Gillett.

Newcastle have won one and lost one in games refereed by Brooks this season, while Chelsea have a losing record of one loss.

Bournemouth v Luton Town Sam Allison

1

5

0

0

0

There's an extra game in this matchday as the likes of Bournemouth and Luton Town are set to meet once again after their clash earlier on in the season was abandoned after Tom Lockyer collapsed on the field.

Sam Allison is the man with the cards, while in the VAR room will be Michael Oliver.

Luton had the pleasure of picking up a win in Allison's only Premier League game to date, as they beat Sheffield United away from home back in December.

West Ham are thought to be weighing up a £35 million "leader" as they draw up a shortlist of potential Lucas Paqueta replacements.

Paqueta tipped to leave West Ham this summer

One of the shining lights of their season has been, without doubt, Paqueta and his sublime form at times.

West Ham signing Eddie Nketiah now possible as Arsenal make decision

The Hammers are a serious destination for him.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 17, 2024

The Brazil international was a statement signing from Lyon back in the summer of 2022, and he has since gone on to showcase his sheer quality week in, week out at the London Stadium.

This season, Paqueta has been West Ham's best-performing player per game, averaging a match rating of 7.17/10 according to WhoScored – which is the highest number of any Hammers player, including Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham 3-0 Wolves

8.88

West Ham 3-2 Nottingham Forest

8.20

Luton Town 1-2 West Ham

8.02

West Ham 2-2 Burnley

7.97

Burnley 1-2 West Ham

7.86

Bagging three goals and five assists over 22 league starts this term, things could've been very different if it wasn't for the midfielder's alleged off-field betting scandal. Paqueta was actually nearing a move to Man City last summer, but Pep Guardiola's side pulled the plug on a deal following the player's betting investigation (Fabrizio Romano).

That certainly wasn't the end of it for West Ham, though, as reports suggest a host of top clubs including City could come back in for Paqueta this summer.

The 26-year-old's future remains uncertain, and according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Tim Steidten is making contingency plans in case their star man does depart later this year.

West Ham eyeing Morgan Gibbs-White to replace Paqueta

According to Crook, Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is being weighed up behind the scenes. The Englishman, who cost Forest an initial £35 million, boasts three goals and five assists over 28 league appearances as one of Nuno Espirito Santo's star players.

However, the club may have to sell a prized asset of theirs this summer in an effort to comply with PSR and FFP regulations – which could well hand Steidten and co a boost in pursuit of the playmaker.

West Ham are eyeing Gibbs-White as a potential Paqueta successor amid Forest's financial woes, with London rivals Spurs also keeping tabs.

It is unclear what Forest would demand to sell the 24-year-old, but his quality is clear as day.

"I'm a big fan of his. I think he is always positive, he gets on the half-turn and plays defence-splitting passes," said pundit and former Brighton striker Glenn Murray on Match of the Day this month (via BBC Sport).

"He's just always looking to progress the team.

"He's just always positive. He's got another side to his game – he doesn't shirk his responsibilities and fights back. For me, that's why he has become a really positive leader for Nottingham Forest."

The business end of the season is well and truly here, and Arsenal are in with a real chance of winning the Premier League, or Champions League – or both.

Mikel Arteta's side may have technically dropped two points away to Manchester City on Sunday, but picking up one point at the Etihad – the club's first since 2016 – should, and likely will serve as the encouragement the north Londoners need to push on and win the league this year.

However, with no margin for error, the Gunners will need everyone in the squad firing, so Arteta should rest one of his most important players this evening and give some much-needed minutes to an attack-minded ace who could come in handy as the tension keeps growing.

Why Jorginho should be rested for Luton

So, the star player who should be rested against the Hatters tonight is Italian star Jorginho. He played 66 minutes against City on Sunday and received a 7/10 rating from the Standard's Simon Collings for his efforts.

The former Chelsea ace has been instrumental in Arsenal's title push this year. He's started and thrived in most of the Gunners' high-pressure clashes in the league, picking up a Man of the Match award against Liverpool and Newcastle United.

His ability on the ball and brilliant footballing mind have been essential parts of the Gunners' game plan for these must-win encounters. As the campaign continues, he'll likely remain one of the most important players for these games, but the manager can afford to rest him for a match against 18th-placed Luton.

Now, this isn't to say the meeting with the Bedfordshire outfit will be a cakewalk – the reverse fixture showed why that's unlikely – but when goal difference could well be the differentiator come May the north Londoners should be looking to play as many attack-minded players as possible in home games against the newly promoted teams.

That said, allowing Jorginho to rest and improving the team's goal difference aren't the only reasons why the 32-year-old should sit on the bench for this evening's game.

Why Fabio Vieira should start vs Luton

Portuguese gem Fabio Vieira is the midfielder who should come in for Jorginho against Luton this evening.

Now, allowing the Italian international to rest up for the more challenging games to come is reason enough for the former Porto ace to start at the Emirates. Still, the other, arguably more important reason is his match sharpness or lack thereof.

The 23-year-old ace has made 14 first-team appearances this season, but with just three of those being starts, and only two of those coming in the league, he is severely lacking in genuine sharpness, and as the games start to come thick and fast over the next two months, Arteta will need to know he can call on anyone in his squad to come in a do a job.

So, by starting the 5 foot 7 dynamo this evening, the Spaniard can help him better prepare for the onslaught of must-win games to come. Moreover, if the Santa Maria da Feira-born star can get back to his best before the end of the season, he won't simply be just another body in midfield.

Appearances

39

Goals

7

Assists

16

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

In his final season with the Dragões, the "exceptional" player, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, scored seven goals and provided 16 assists in just 39 appearances, with only 18 of those being starts, so he could make a genuine difference to the North Londoners' title push.

Ultimately, Arteta should look to rest Jorginho this evening, both to allow him to recover from Sunday and to give Vieira a much-needed start, in the hope that he can become a reliable option as the season comes to a thrilling crescendo.

Arteta must boldly drop 6/10 Arsenal ace and unleash "sensational talent"

The Arsenal boss has a big decision on his hands.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 3, 2024

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reportedly has a new “superstar” at the top of his summer transfer wishlist.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

The Spaniard has enjoyed a brilliant first full season in charge of Villa, with his side currently on course to finish inside the Premier League top four. NSWE have backed Emery in the transfer market over the last 12 months, and if they guarantee Champions League football, may do so once again.

Aston Villa signings 2023/24

Fee

Pau Torres (Villarreal)

£33m

Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen)

Undisclosed

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)

Free

Rico Richards (West Bromwich Albion)

Free

Nicolo Zaniolo (Galatasaray)

Loan

Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough)

Undisclosed

Kosta Nedeljkovic (Red Star Belgrade)

£6.5m

Joe Gauci (Adelaide United)

Undisclosed

Lino Sousa (Arsenal)

Undisclosed

However, there are major Villa concerns when it comes to PSR, with the club recently announcing a pre-tax loss of just under £120m for the year.

Despite this, it looks as if Monchi and Emery are looking at potential targets ahead of the 2024/25 season, with Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville a rumoured target following his starring season in the Championship.

Meanwhile, speculation is increasing over a free transfer for Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso and there have even been rumours of a sensational return to the Midlands for Jack Grealish.

A new target has now emerged at Villa Park, and it seems to be a player who Emery personally wants to sign.

Unai Emery keen to sign Ferdi Kadioglu

According to reports in Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Fenerbahce left-back Ferdi Kadioglu this summer.

It is claimed that Emery has put the player ‘at the top of his transfer list’ ahead of the upcoming window, with Fenerbahce ‘expecting’ €30m (£25.7m) from any deal.

Kadioglu is 24 years of age and has previously been linked with Arsenal, Fulham and Newcastle, so he could finally get his move to England with Villa.

Primarily a left-back, Kadioglu has actually played all over the pitch during his career and has been with Fenerbahce since 2018. During that time, he has gone from strength to strength, with his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing from just over €1m to a career-high €20m.

Aston Villa eyeing move for "brilliant" Premier League youngster

He’s impressed in recent weeks.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 2, 2024

He is closing in on 200 Fenerbahce appearances and is a regular for Turkey, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig previously labelling Kadioglu as a “future superstar”.

A move could be one to watch, and who knows, Kadioglu could replace Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno as Emery’s first-choice left-back.

Leeds United can bounce back to winning ways as they return to Championship action at Elland Road tonight with a clash against Sunderland.

The Whites head into this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Coventry City at the CBS Arena on Saturday, which has left the side in third place in the division.

A win would have left the Yorkshire-based outfit top of the table, having played one more game than Leicester and the same number as Ipswich, but they now have to play catchup with their rivals in order to secure automatic promotion.

Goals from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright landed all three points for Mark Robins' men at the weekend, and Daniel Farke could now look to make some changes to his starting XI from that defeat to freshen his team up against the Black Cats.

After Saturday's loss, FFC urged the German head coach to drop Patrick Bamford, who has struggled in recent games, to the bench but the former Norwich boss must also ruthlessly ditch Glen Kamara from the lineup.

Patrick Bamford's struggles in front of goal

The former England international has hit a rough patch of form in recent weeks and has let the team down at times with his wasteful finishing.

Farke hailed the distance Bamford ran against Coventry to help the side in and out of possession with his pressing and his runs in the channels and in behind.

However, the 30-year-old striker needs to produce quality in the final third alongside that work rate to ensure that Leeds pick up vital points in their attempts to win automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Over the last four matches, the left-footed dud has not been directly involved in any goals – with zero goals and zero assists – and has missed three 'big chances'.

His teammates provided him with 1.34 xG worth of chances in front of goal over those four outings, yet he was still unable to find the back of the net.

The Leeds forward, who has produced one goal and zero assists in his last six league appearances for the club, must now be ditched from the starting XI, and FFC selected Mateo Joseph as his replacement in a predicted XI for the clash with Sunderland.

As well as Bamford, Farke must ruthlessly ditch Kamara from the team after his poor display against Coventry last weekend, which was a far cry from his average performance level in the Championship this season.

Glen Kamara's season in numbers

Signed from Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers on a permanent deal last summer, the experienced midfielder has been a metronomic figure in the middle of the park for the German boss so far this season.

He has provided reliability and quality in possession to keep things ticking in midfield for Leeds, whilst also having the strength and awareness to be a solid presence off the ball to keep the ball out at the other end.

As you can see in the chart below, Kamara ranks within the top 2% of Championship midfielders for pass success rate (92.4%), and the top 6% for progressive passes (7.02) per 90.

These statistics show that there are not many better than the Finnish star when it comes to retaining and progressing possession with passes, as he rarely gives the ball away and constantly looks to play forward to move his team up the pitch.

Kamara, who has averaged 1.1 key passes per game and racked up three assists, has also been strong off the ball with 2.0 combined tackles and interceptions per match and a duel success rate of 58% across 33 league outings.

This shows that the 28-year-old whiz has come out on top in the majority of his physical battles with opposition players throughout the Championship season so far.

Overall, the Whites midfielder has been a fantastic presence in and out of possession in the middle of the park over the course of the campaign, but his best qualities were not on display in the defeat to Coventry on Saturday.

Why Glen Kamara should be ditched from the XI

After the match, Farke revealed that Kamara has been "suffering" with an illness and that his energy levels were not where he wanted them to be during the first-half.

The German boss claimed that he wanted more energy and intensity from his players during the second-half, and that is why the Finland international was brought off the pitch at the break and replaced by Connor Roberts.

Sofascore rating

6.7

7.08

Pass accuracy

88%

93%

Key passes

0

1.1

Duels won

2

3.4

Tackles + interceptions

1

2.0

Long ball accuracy

0%

72%

As you can see in the table above, his display against Coventry was off the pace in comparison to his average performance level in and out of possession.

Kamara did not provide any creativity to help his team to open up the opposition defence, with zero key passes and zero long balls completed, and only won two duels off the ball to win possession back for the Whites.

As Farke explained, the Finnish star has been suffering with an illness of late and did not have the energy required to produce a quality performance at the CBS Arena.

With this in mind, and Leeds playing tonight and then again on Saturday in the early kick-off against Blackburn Rovers, the manager must drop him to the bench to avoid another fatigued showing.

Farke could bring Connor Roberts back into the starting XI to lineup at right-back, and this would then free up 18-year-old starlet Archie Gray to be deployed in midfield next to Ilia Gruev, which would allow the boss to ditch Kamara.

Leeds should not want a repeat of his poor display last time out against Coventry, and that is why the £26k-per-week dynamo should be ditched for this clash with the Black Cats.

It would provide him with an opportunity to rest and fully recover from his illness, hopefully, to then be back and ready to start again against Blackburn, unless Gray does enough alongside Gruev to keep his place in midfield.

Jurgen Klopp's reign at Liverpool has seen both peaks and valleys, but there is an ominous sense that the lionised manager's final few weeks on Merseyside will be categorised by misery and rueful resignation.

Failing to defeat Manchester United in commanding positions across recent trips to Old Trafford in the FA Cup and Premier League has unravelled Liverpool's thrilling campaign like a loose kite in the wind, with the buffeting struggles of the past few weeks resulting in successive Anfield losses against Atalanta (in the Europa League) and Crystal Palace (in the top-flight).

The Carabao Cup was won in February in what seemed like a galvanising tone-setter for the months to come, with the Reds fighting with such fervour amid persistent injury blows to fire on all cylinders. After overcoming such obstacles, Liverpool have inexplicably collapsed.

At Craven Cottage on Sunday, against Fulham, Klopp simply has to spark his team back into life, with Manchester City starting the weekend two points clear of their two contenders, with Arsenal also falling to an unexpected defeat last weekend.

Liverpool have an unusually near-clean bill of health, though Conor Bradley continues to recover from an ankle injury that will keep him out for a few more weeks.

Klopp has to rebound from the midweek Europa League exit against Atalanta, where the Merseysiders sparked spark and initiative, and might make three changes to the starting XI.

1 GK – Alisson

Alisson's return from injury has come at the perfect time for Liverpool, even if he has not quite had the happiest of returns over the past few games.

The Brazilian is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and is marginally behind Alphonse Areola in the most reliable shot-stopper in the division, having saved 75.3% of the shots faced this season (Areola has saved 75.8%).

2 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool might have won at Atalanta on Thursday but the damage was done and it was a bleak performance, lacking the electricity and snap that was needed. Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to the starting line-up was a bright spark though.

The inventive right-back is always looking to make things happen and will provide his profligate forwards with everything they need to rediscover their shooting boots, hailed as a creative "genius" by reporter Neil Jones.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate has done a superb job this season after Joel Matip's season was cut short by injury back in December, but the France international has been guilty of some poor performances recently.

He will need to have his wits about him against in-form shooter Rodrigo Muniz.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has cut a disconsolate figure over the past few matches but he called for the fans to rally around the squad on Thursday night and, if Liverpool are to turn things around, he will be at the heart of the success.

5 LB – Andy Robertson

Possibly Liverpool's best performer throughout this recent poor patch, Andy Robertson will be crucial against Fulham, pumping energy and creativity into the team.

It's been a bit of a stop-start campaign for the Scotland skipper, but he's returning to his best recently and could be the catalyst on Sunday.

6 DM – Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo signed for Liverpool from German side Stuttgart in a surprise £16m deal last summer, after missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, and while he's largely been fantastic, the Japanese's recent showings have left much to be desired.

Still, he must anchor the midfield against the Cottagers, doing the groundwork for a few other midfielders to supply the forwards ahead of him.

7 CM – Harvey Elliott

Dominik Szoboszlai has fallen by the wayside, and while he can pick himself back up, he must be ditched for Harvey Elliott in this one, with the dynamic midfielder more than deserving of a spot in his favoured position.

The 21-year-old is truly a first-class prospect and has started to prove why he can play a lasting role in this Liverpool team, having been described as a "special talent" by The Athletic's James Pearce.

8 CM – Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister has been a monster of a signing for Liverpool and will need to harness the full scope of his world-class ability if he is to lead the club back toward the light.

Matches played

27

Matches started

26

Goals

4

Assists

5

Pass completion

88%

Touches per game

76.3

Shots per game

1.3

Key passes per game

1.4

Tackles per game

3.0

Ball recoveries per game

6.4

Duels won per game

6.0

He's clinched seven goal contributions from his past eight outings in the Premier League and he might just be the difference-maker once again at Fulham.

9 RW – Mohamed Salah

What has happened to Mohamed Salah? The Egyptian talisman has been out of sorts for a while now and has toiled through recent fixtures.

That said, he's one of the deadliest forwards in Europe, having scored 24 goals and supplied 13 assists in all competitions this season.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

With electric pace and deft dribbling, Luis Diaz will be an important presence down the left channel, causing Fulham a host of problems and driving the play into promising positions to ensure Liverpool hit prolific form once again.

Tottenham could look to their Premier League rivals to bolster their frontline this summer, it has been reported.

Spurs set for Europa League?

A disappointing defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Arsenal in their most recent outing has left Champions League football out of Tottenham's hands heading into the final month of the season.

Ange Postecoglou's side currently sit fifth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, though they do have two games in hand on Unai Emery's side.

However, they are still relying on the Villans to slip up in their final three games of the season, with Villa needing to drop points on at least one occasion for Spurs to have any chance of Champions League football.

Meanwhile, their own fixtures are not easy; they head to London rivals Chelsea and fallen title challengers Liverpool in the coming days, while they also face reigning champions Manchester City in their final five games, alongside matches against already-relegated Sheffield United and relegation battlers Burnley.

The battle for Champions League football

Game

Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur

34

N/A

Chelsea (A)

35

N/A

Liverpool (A)

36

Brighton (A)

Burnley (H)

37

Liverpool (H)

Manchester City (H)

38

Crystal Palace (A)

Sheffield United (A)

Regardless of where they finish this season, summer business seems certain, with the attack an area that the club are keen to strengthen. Timo Werner has enjoyed a strong loan spell but there is no indication as to whether the deal will be made permanent.

Now, Spurs have been linked with an audacious move for a Premier League star that could be an alternative to the German.

Could Marcus Rashford really be a target?

The latest links come courtesy of reports in Spain, which name Spurs as one of three clubs keen on Manchester United star Marcus Rashford.

The Manchester United academy graduate has struggled this season after a fine campaign in 2022/23, and recent reports have suggested that the Red Devils are open to parting ways with him this summer with Rashford among those thought to be transfer listed by the Red Devils hierarchy.

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That is in part for financial reasons, with Rashford's £315,000-per-week salary among the highest at Old Trafford, while his homegrown status means that any sale will be recorded as pure profit in a boost for Financial Fair Play compliance.

As per a report in Spain, PSG and Bayern Munich are among the clubs keeping tabs on the Englishman, but so too are Tottenham, who don't want 'to be left behind in the race to acquire the services of the versatile attacker'.

They add that Rashford is an attractive option due to 'his ability to perform both as a winger on both wings and in the number 9 position', in a way similar to Son Heung-min, who has played across the frontline for Postecoglou this season.

He would certainly be an exciting addition in north London and add some serious firepower, with Xavi pointing out just how dangerous he can be before United's clash with Barcelona last season.

"In the transition he is very, very dangerous so, yes, we need to take care of all of them, but especially Rashford," he claimed.

"He's one of the most dangerous players now in Europe, yeah. He's very fast, he has a very good at dribbling in one-versus-one."

However, the reported £70m asking price combined with wages is almost double that of second-highest earner James Maddison, making a move wholly unlikely barring a major shift in circumstances or demands.