Some members of the New England Revolution squad have been hit by illness ahead of their match-up with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
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Tottenham have made some moves behind-the-scenes in their chase for a £15 million international who's been likened to Georginio Wijnaldum.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, amid his current squad injury crisis, is also facing the very real prospect of being left short in midfield at the start of next year.
Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma will be travelling to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations once January comes around, while Rodrigo Bentancur could be out until February after his ankle ligament injury.
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The pundit suggests his style is just perfect for Ange.
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Emilio Galantini
Nov 29, 2023
Coupled with the absence of James Maddison, who is expected back in January but with no suggestion as to when, Postecoglou may well be starved of options in the middle of the park soon.
Fabrizio Romano also recently revealed that Spurs are now unwilling to green-light a loan move for Pierre-Emile Hojberg, potentially as a result of Postecoglou's player shortage. Reports now claim that Tottenham are targeting a central midfield player in January (The Guardian), with Postecoglou recently lamenting his side's back luck when it comes to fitness issues.
"It wasn't a great tackle," said Postecoglou on Bentancur's injury. "I thought he started the game so well and I think it was the reason we got a real good foothold on the game. He's such a creative player. It's the last thing we needed, another injury. So disappointed to lose him but we're yet to see the extent of it."
Spurs have also been tipped to move for a new centre-back, which they are still determined to do, and a forward – but Bentancur's latest problem and a few more imminent absentees perhaps warrants more numbers in midfield.
Now, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the north Londoners have apparently made behind-the-scenes move for a new transfer target. Spurs are initiating "manoeuvres" to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Genk, with the young midfielder showing a lot of promise in the Jupiler Pro League right now.
Since being promoted to the first team in 2022, El Khannouss has played 67 matches in all competitions, racking up four goals and seven assists in that time. The Morocco international could also cost around £15 million to prise away from Genk, which would come as a pretty affordable price from Tottenham's perspective.
El Khannouss' playing style has been likened to that of Wijnaldum by Football Transfers. Given the Dutchman's past starring role for ex-club Liverpool, it's a pretty tantalising comparison.
Genk technical director Dimitri De Condé, speaking back in 2022, hailed the 19-year-old's potential as a real "pleasure to watch" when at his very best.
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Bilal El Khannouss strengths (via WhoScored) |
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Key passes |
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Through balls |
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Dribbling |
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Taking set-pieces |
“Bilal is a pleasure to watch and during my eight years at the club, I have rarely seen such a talent at KRC Genk."
Harry Kane claimed his compatriot Jude Bellingham tried to distract him while taking penalty against Real Madrid.
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Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a "world-class" manager admired by Jurgen Klopp to eventually replace Eddie Howe, as doubts creep in over his long-term future.
At the start of the season, the Magpies harboured hopes of another top-four finish in the Premier League and a strong run in the Champions League, but it has been an underwhelming campaign to date. Admittedly, Newcastle are still in the top-four hunt, but they have plenty of work to do, and they crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage in midweek.
While Howe has done a brilliant job as Magpies boss and has the overwhelming support of the fans, PIF are believed to be running out of patience with him, with a recent report claiming that there is now no guarantee that he will still be in charge at St James' Park next season.
Much will depend on where Newcastle end up finishing in the league, or if they can get some domestic cup silverware in their trophy cabinet, but the report claims club chiefs are not happy at all with their exit from all European competitions and could ignore fan sentiment to make a change.
Following those reports in a chat with Caught Offside, Stan Collymore talked up the idea of Jose Mourinho being Howe's replacement at Newcastle in the not-too-distant future.
"Jose Mourinho makes the most sense to take over as the next manager of Newcastle. Fans of the club love Eddie Howe but the more that I think about it it makes even more sense. The Portuguese coach had a great relationship with Sir Bobby Robson, he has always talked fondly about Newcastle and most importantly, he is represented by Jorge Mendes.
"The superagent has a lot of players in the Saudi Pro League and there is a situation there for the Saudis where they are getting two or three things for the price of one. They get a big-named manager for Newcastle who can lure quality players and has had success at the highest level; he spends around two years at Newcastle and then heads off to the Saudi league, a country where he recently said he will work someday; Mendes then banks on both ends so it turns into a scenario where Mourinho, the Saudis, Newcastle and Mendes all win."
It is certainly easy to envisage Mourinho being Newcastle's next manager, should Howe ultimately prove not to be the man to take the club forward into the future.
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Jose Mourinho's trophies and honours |
Total |
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Champions League |
2 |
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Premier League |
3 |
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La Liga |
1 |
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Serie A |
2 |
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Europa League |
1 |
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UEFA Cup |
1 |
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UEFA Europa Conference League |
1 |
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FA Cup |
1 |
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League Cup |
4 |
The Portuguese coach is the type of big-name figure who PIF will crave, enticing elite players to St James' in the process, and he is a born winner who has proven himself for 20 years, winning three Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns, as well as being described as "world-class" by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Granted, some may feel that Mourinho has drifted past his best as a manager, with his more pragmatic style a thing of the past compared to the likes of Klopp and Pep Guardiola, but he is still someone who knows how to win, and his charismatic personality and connection to Sir Bobby could make him an instant hero at Newcastle.
Arsenal are favourites to sign Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee in the summer amid interest from Manchester United and Italian clubs.
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Tottenham Hotspur were overpowered by Brighton & Hove Albion's high-octane approach last time out in the Premier League, snapping a three-match winning run, but Ange Postecoglou will be sanguine about his injury-hit side's chances of success over the forthcoming period.
The best way to steady the ship will be close the turbulence of 2023 with a victory over Bournemouth on home turf, with the south coast club excelling across recent weeks, now with a ten-point cushion over the relegation zone.
Spurs, who have been marred by inconsistency across the past few months, are only four points off top four at the season's midpoint and will hope that a successful transfer window and the return of key players will turn the tide after the new year.
For now, the Lilywhites must make do, and Football FanCast predict that Postecoglou will enforce three changes from the side that lost against the Seagulls last time out.
GK – Guglielmo Vicario
As has so often been the case this season, Guglielmo Vicario departed with his head held high at the AMEX Stadium despite shipping four goals, receiving an 8/10 match rating from football.london's Alasdair Gold, who noted his flurry of 'top-drawer' saves.
RB – Pedro Porro
A rogue shout for Spurs' player of the season so far, Pedro Porro has been immense down the right flank, racking up six assists from 18 Premier League appearances, also averaging 2.9 tackles and 5.2 ball recoveries per game.
CB – Eric Dier
Postecoglou's decision to field a backline made entirely of full-backs is not going to plan, and while youngsters Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorrington will be eager to earn a starting berth, Eric Dier should get the nod, replacing Emerson Royal.
The England international, 29, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and not favoured one bit, but with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both injured it might be wise to hand him a start.
CB – Ben Davies
Thumped home a header last time out but could only serve a slice of consolation after Brighton put four past his keeper's sticks, but Ben Davies has been an excellent stand-in, for the most part.
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Ben Davies: Key Characteristics |
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Strengths |
Weaknesses |
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Distribution |
Tackling |
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Ball retention |
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Aerial duels |
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Crossing |
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*Sourced via WhoScored |
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Having started the past eight Premier League matches, Tottenham's second-choice left-back will play a central role once again for his threadbare team.
LB – Destiny Udogie
Proclaimed to get "into nearly every team in the world already" by footballJOE's Hunter Godson, Destiny Udogie has been a revelation at left-back for Tottenham this season, and has started all 16 matches that he has been available for.
CM – Oliver Skipp
Oliver Skipp missed out due to injury in midweek but should return tomorrow; ranking among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as per FBref, his composure and metronomic presence will be crucial in establishing control against the Cherries.
He will replace the £100k-per-week Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the centre of the park, who was once dubbed a "monster" by Morten Bisgaard but has not reached his past heights under Postecoglou's management.
CM – Pape Matar Sarr
Still only 21 years old, Pape Matar Sarr exudes confidence and belief like a cultured veteran after starting 15 league games this term, described as a "wonderful" prospect by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
The Senegalese midfielder will be expected to produce a fine display before jetting off to the African Cup of Nations, and he will appreciate the industriousness of Skipp alongside him in the centre of the park.
RW – Brennan Johnson
Brennan Johnson flattered to deceive last time out but remains an exciting prospect after signing from Nottingham Forest for £47.5m in the summer.
The 22-year-old has posted one goal and three assists from just ten starts for his new club, and having been noted for his "frightening" pace by international teammate Joe Allen in the past, could be vital in stretching the visitors' defence.
AM – Giovani Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso looked to have finished his failed transfer to Tottenham after spending the past season-and-a-half out on loan with Villarreal and not received a starting role from any of the opening 12 matches of the 2023/24 campaign, but he has played an important role recently and scored in successive games against Aston Villa and Manchester City.
Once dubbed the "master of the last pass" by reporter Milena Gimon, Lo Celso ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion, passes attempted and progressive passes, and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90.
LW – Heung-min Son
When Harry Kane was sold in the summer, Spurs turned to Heung-min Son to assume the role as talisman, something that the newly-appointed captain has taken in his stride, scoring 11 goals from 19 matches.
Not just a goalscorer, the South Korean offers so many qualities and has created ten big chances in the Premier League this term, a number surpassed only by Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
England boss Gareth Southgate will be concerned about Kieran Trippier's fitness after the Newcastle star limped out of a friendly against Tottenham.
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Mauricio Pochettino is set to return to Stamford Bridge to take charge of the Soccer Aid World XI despite leaving Chelsea at the end of the season.
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Everton are interested in signing an "amazing" Europa League and FA Cup-winning ace, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.
The Blues have had one of their more eventful seasons in memory, with so much drama happening on and off the pitch. Sean Dyche's side were hit with a ten-point deduction in the Premier League – to which they have largely reacted well in terms of results – while there has also been the ongoing takeover situation to contend with.
It could be that new signings arrive at Goodison Park during the January transfer window, with a host of names emerging as possible targets for Everton. A recent report has suggested that the Merseysiders remain interested in signing Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, while Marseille's Iliman Ndiaye is also reportedly wanted by them.
Another name has now been thrown into the hat as a potential Everton transfer target – and one who has come up against the Blues a number of times in the past.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Everton could look to sign former Manchester United ace Jesse Lingard, in a move he could see happening.
He said: "Lingard needs to find a club soon because we are at the stage where he seems like an ex-footballer, and that’s not great at the age of 31.
"His career has really fallen away and that Nottingham Forest move seems to have played a part in this – so it would be great to see him back in the Premier League to see if he can roll back the years.
"Making it happen will depend on how open-minded he is, because this is not going to be a moment when he can command the same sort of money that he has in the past. But from checks I have made, I do think there is something to the fact Everton have been exploring his situation and the benefits of getting him on board for the rest of the season."
There is no question that Lingard's stature has fallen in recent years, compared to when he was a regular for both Manchester United and England – he started five games for the Three Lions at the 2018 World Cup – but he has since been described as an "amazing" player by Rio Ferdinand during his successful loan spell at West Ham, albeit now a couple of years ago.
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Lingard has only recently turned 31 years of age and could be desperate to prove that he still has plenty to offer at a Premier League club, having registered 46 goal contributions (29 goals and 17 assists) in 182 appearances in the competition.
Everton are in need of more attacking firepower considering Abdoulaye Doucoure is the Toffees' top scorer in the league with just six goals so far this season, and while signing Lingard would have an element of risk, it could make sense as they look to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Celtic are reportedly eyeing a move to sign a creative new attacker for Brendan Rodgers during the January transfer window, and a deal could cost around £2m.
The Hoops were extremely busy over the summer, with a number of new players arriving on permanent transfers, whereas they still managed to make a profit after Jota's big-money exit to Saudi Arabia.
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Celtic summer window signings |
Fee |
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Gustaf Lagerbielke (IF Elfsborg) |
£3m |
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Odin Thiago Holm (Valerenga) |
£2.5m |
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Marco Tilio (Melbourne City) |
£2m |
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Hyun-Jun Yang (Gangwon) |
£2m |
|
Hyeokkyu Kwon (Busan I-Park) |
£1m |
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Maik Nawrocki (Legia Warsaw) |
£4.3m |
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Tomoki Iwata (Yokohama F. Marinos) |
Undisc. |
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All fees according to Sky Sports |
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However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for plenty of the recent additions, with reports suggesting that Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei is attracting interest from Europe and his homeland, Yuki Kobayashi and Yosuke Ideguchi could go back to Japan, winger Marco Tilio is wanted back on loan by former club Melbourne City whereas, defender Gustaf Lagerbielke could also be on his way out.
Therefore, winter window signings could be on the agenda, and it is believed that Rodgers wants a striker, left winger and central midfielder this month, with Celtic potentially spending up to £10m.
Rodgers was recently asked about what can be expected this month in the market, to which he said:
“I don’t know. I’ll tell you once they’re announced, once they’re in. I’m relaxed but focused. I want quality. And that’s what we need to improve.”
One of those attacking arrivals could be a former Ajax and Bayern Munich prospect, according to a recent report.
The Scottish Sun shared a Celtic transfer update in the last 48 hours, claiming the Hoops and Rodgers are eyeing a move for Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn. The report claims that a move to Parkhead could appeal to the player, who could cost around £2m, four times the amount Rapid Vienna paid for him 18 months ago.
It is also added in the story that data and scouting site Wyscout recently named him as one of the top 12 ‘chance creators’ in world football, so he appears to be an extremely bright attacking spark after becoming a regular in Austria.
Kuhn, a left-footed forward, is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or as a centre-forward. The 24-year-old has now made 51 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring seven goals and providing 10 assists during that time. (Nicolas Kuhn stats – Transfermarkt)
Prior to his move to Vienna, Kuhn was praised by Bayern Munich campus manager Jochen Sauer, who said back in 2020:
“He is a technically strong, agile player who fits in well with us and has his share in the championship. We expect a lot from him in the future.”
He could therefore be an exciting addition for Rodgers and co as they hunt down another Scottish Premiership title, and going off the recent claim from Wyscout, Celtic could be getting themselves a creative star for around £2m.