All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United are considering making a move for a director of football who works on a "shoestring", according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Newcastle's Ashworth replacement search

The Magpies will be looking to make plenty of new signings in the summer transfer window, but replacing sporting director Dan Ashworth is arguably more important than anything.

He will likely to join Manchester United in the near future, assuming the Red Devils pay the rumoured £20m compensation to get him, leaving a gaping void high up at St James' Park.

It is essential that Newcastle bring in a similarly impressive figure in the role, with Monaco ace Paul Mitchell emerging as a strong rumoured target in recent weeks, potentially liking the idea of joining the Magpies.

He impressed at Southampton in the past, proving to be a mastermind behind deals for the likes of Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama, with the former going on to become a world-class player at Liverpool.

Newcastle eyeing Paul Mitchell alternative

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that Brentford ace Phil Giles could be seen as Ashworth's ideal replacement at Newcastle this summer.

"Newcastle are still searching for a new sporting director, and that is why there are a range of candidates. I think Phil Giles is the other name to keep an eye on. He is at Brentford, but he and his whole family are big Newcastle fans.

"When you look at the Newcastle recruitment, I think the clue is in Dan Ashworth. Newcastle went to Brighton, not only because their model is one of the best in the business, but it is a well-run club. Brighton know how to find young talent and, at times, work within financial constraints.

"Newcastle are a massive club. If they get Champions League qualification season-on-season, things might change. But, right now, the Newcastle model requires ambition and the ability to unearth talent while working on much more of a shoestring compared to some of the other big clubs contending for European football and the Champions League."

Giles certainly stands out as a great option for Newcastle this summer, and while his expertise as a director of football or sporting director is the most important thing, the fact that he is a boyhood Magpies supporter has to be seen as an added bonus.

It would suggest that he could be even more driven to bring great success to the club, and the work he has done at Brentford has played a key role in them becoming an established Premier League team, enjoying a strong working relationship with Thomas Frank.

The fact that Giles spent seven years as the Bees' sporting director until 2022, before becoming their director of sport, shows how highly he is thought of at the club, and his expertise when it comes to recruitment, scouting players and developing young players could help make up for the loss of Ashworth at Newcastle.

Newcastle could rue selling an "incredible" talent who's outperformed Schar

He left the club for £7m back in 2018.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 17, 2024

Described as "The Man Who Helped Build Brentford FC" by the High Performance Podcast, with his focus on "risk, positivity and humility" also mentioned, he could be an exciting appointment on Tyneside.

West Ham United fans have been handed an update on what their post-David Moyes future could look like courtesy of Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Moyes facing uncertain future

The belle of the ball 11 months ago after guiding West Ham to their first major European silverware since 1965, courtesy of a dramatic winner from Jarrod Bowen against Fiorentina, Moyes faces a much less certain summer ahead.

His side are seventh in the Premier League and still in the Europa League, but all is not well in east London. Such is the congested nature of the Premier League that the Hammers are just six points clear of 13th placed Bournemouth, and the money spent over the summer has not translated to better performances on the pitch, despite what the results say.

Moyes at West Ham United

22/23 Premier League

23/24 Premier League

Points per game

1.05

1.47

Goals per game

1.1

1.63

Goals conceded per game

1.45

1.8

Wins

11

12

It means that a large portion of the West Ham fanbase are keen to see the back of Moyes, whose current deal expires at the end of the current campaign. He had been expected to agree a two-year extension earlier in the campaign, but a downturn in results put pay to that and now he is facing an uncertain future.

Performances like the one against Newcastle United won't help his case, with his side seemingly cruising at 3-1 up only for changes to disrupt their flow and see them ultimately fall to a 4-3 defeat.

"What?" – O'Hara baffled by what he's heard about West Ham's next manager

Moyes is walking a tightrope in East London…

ByBen Goodwin Apr 1, 2024 Insight provided for post-Moyes world

Fortunately, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has provided some intel on what life without Moyes could look like at the London Stadium, and it revolves largely around Tim Steidten's influence.

The former Bayer Leverkusen technical director arrived last year and owner David Sullivan described him as 'key to our wider plans to drive our football strategy forward'. He is set to have a big say on what happens if Moyes leaves too. As per Sheth, Steidten is 'likely to be at the forefront' of what happens next, and could even help West Ham transition to a more 'European' model.

“If David Moyes decides to leave, it wouldn’t be surprising to see someone like Tim Steidten exploring the European market and possibly bringing in a manager well-versed in the structure of European football teams, complete with a sporting director and a structured approach,” Sheth explained.

“This contrasts with the more traditional managerial style that David Moyes embodies, where he prefers greater control over recruitment matters, a control he has largely enjoyed during his second stint in East London.

“Given West Ham’s shift towards a more European model, this decision will likely carry considerable weight, with Tim Steidten likely to be at the forefront of it."

With a growing desire from among the fans to play more exciting football following the arrivals of players like Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, a European tactician could well allow them to do that, though it may come at the expense of results.

Change is on the cards at Anfield, with a replacement for Jurgen Klopp set to arrive and plenty of fresh faces already linked with a switch to Liverpool this summer, including a future star.

Liverpool transfer news

Before anything happens on the transfer front, Liverpool must find their replacement for Klopp in what is an almost impossible task. It looked for some time as though the next man in charge would be Xabi Alonso, who has Bayer Leverkusen unbeaten and on course for a historic season, but he has since reaffirmed his commitment to the Bundesliga champions-elect.

Man City now send scouts to watch "revelation" Ortega replacement

The Citizens are looking to get one over on their rivals off the pitch…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 13, 2024

Forced to go back to square one, the Reds have turned their attention towards Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim, who looks increasingly likely to take charge of Anfield's next era. Joining him could yet be a number of reinforcements, too. The likes of Alan Varela, who Amorim will know well in Portugal, has been linked with a move to Merseyside in a deal that would start Liverpool's summer off with a bang.

However, the focus must still be on the future, despite how important the next few months are, and Michael Edwards is seemingly well aware of that. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Gustavo Nunes from Gremio alongside Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal this summer. The Reds are reportedly seeking the next Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane and have identified the young Brazilian as an option in that regard.

The winger wouldn't be short on South American teammates at Anfield either, with Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister and Alisson Becker forming quite the contingent for a young player to learn from should they complete a summer switch. Whilst there's plenty of competition for Nunes' signature, the Reds will hope to put in a convincing enough pitch using their new era to convince the winger.

Nunes is one for the future

Although Liverpool have more than shown their willingness to hand young stars an opportunity to thrive, resulting in the emergence of some important players, Nunes' first task at Anfield would likely be to learn from Salah. One of the best wingers in the world for at least the last five years now, there's not many better to learn from than the Egyptian.

Now 31 years old and almost into the final year of his Liverpool contract, those at Anfield must start thinking about replacing the winger now before it's too late. It's some ask, but identifying players such as Nunes, who can carry that burden when in his prime, is a solid start from the Reds.

At 18, Nunes has stepped up to the Gremio first team and been involved in an impressive nine goals in 17 games, having scored four and assisted a further five. He's only likely to get better with more experience too, meaning that Liverpool should strike as soon as possible.

Ahead of a busy summer, Liverpool mustn't ignore the need for young stars whilst attempting to build their next manager's most suitable squad in the coming months.

Celtic made their way through to the final of the SFA Cup on Saturday as they came out on top on penalties against Aberdeen at Hampden Park.

The Hoops made hard work of the match, as they went 1-0, 2-1, and 3-1 up at various points on the day, only to be pegged back each time by the Dons.

It then came down to spot-kicks and Joe Hart went from villain to hero with a missed penalty followed by a crucial save from the spot to send his team through to the final.

They will now face off against rivals Rangers in the final next month as they hope to end the season with at least one domestic cup, having been knocked out of the League Cup by Kilmarnock in August of last year.

The Glasgow giants look set to be without at least one player for the showpiece at Hampden and for the Scottish Premiership title run-in, though, as Daizen Maeda's season appears to be all-but-over.

What Brendan Rodgers has said about Daizen Maeda's injury

Brendan Rodgers revealed earlier this month that the Japan international is unlikely to feature much before the end of the 2023/24 campaign due to an injury.

The Northern Irish boss said that he was "not sure" that the attacker would be seen again this term, and that he does not expect the winger to play much as there is only a small window for him to recover and return to action over the next few weeks.

After the 3-0 win over St Mirren, it was confirmed that Maeda had suffered a hamstring injury and "unfortunately" – per Rodgers – it does not look like he will be able to play any more of a role on the pitch in Celtic's bid to land the SFA Cup and the Premiership title before the end of the season.

Appearances

25

Goals

5

Assists

2

Big chances missed

12

Key passes per game

0.5

Duel success rate

44%

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old whiz has struggled in front of goal with a staggering 12 'big chances' missed and just five goals scored.

This suggests that his finishing has been below par in the Premiership as he has been wasteful with the opportunities that have been created for him by his teammates.

However, Rodgers once claimed that Maeda has the "work rate of two players" on the pitch, which speaks to the work the Japanese ace puts in out of possession for the team.

The manager must now find a reliable performer to nail down the left wing slot as a replacement for the Japan international, and James Forrest could emerge as a surprise candidate to be a regular starter ahead of Hyun-jun Yang and Luis Palma.

Hyun-jun Yang and Luis Palma's performances this year

Yang was selected to start on the left wing against Aberdeen on Saturday and did not make the most of his chance to catch the eye for Celtic.

Football Insider's Sean Fisher handed him a dismal match rating of 2/10 and described the forward as 'invisible', whilst adding that groans could be heard from supporters after several mistakes on the ball from the winger.

The South Korean whiz, 21, has failed to make the most of his opportunities throughout the Premiership season as well, with one goal and three assists in 24 appearances and ten starts.

Palma, on the other hand, has produced one goal and two assists in his last 12 outings for the club in all competitions, and that one goal came against lower league outfit Buckie Thistle in the SFA Cup.

He has zero goals and one assist in his last nine Premiership games for the Scottish giants, after a fantastic return of six goals and eight assists in his first 15 league matches of the campaign – taking him to an overall tally of six goals and nine assists in 24 outings.

These statistics, however, show that both Yang and Palma have struggled at the top end of the pitch in 2024 as neither of them have provided consistent quality as a scorer or a creator.

This suggests that there is not an obvious contender to replace Maeda as the nailed on starter on the left, which is why Forrest could now emerge as a surprise option to start during the run-in.

Why James Forrest could be Daizen Maeda's replacement

At the age of 32, the Scottish whiz is the most experienced option in that area of the pitch for Rodgers, but also the most unlikely candidate due to his lack of minutes so far this season.

The £19k-per-week star has only started two league games for the Hoops and made just 18 appearances in the division so far, whilst Palma (17) and Yang (ten) have both hit double figures for league starts.

Despite his limited action on the pitch, Forrest has made an impact in the final third for Celtic with a return of four goals and one assist in 529 minutes across all competitions, which is one goal contribution every 106 minutes on average.

Appearances

16

Starts

5

Goals

4

Big chances missed

1

Assists

2

Key passes

14

As you can see in the table above, the experienced ace also caught the eye with six goal contributions in just six league starts under Ange Postecoglou last term.

These statistics show that the veteran forward still has the ability to make a difference at the top end of the pitch in the big moments when called upon, which was evident in his performance off the bench against Aberdeen at Hampden.

Forrest was brought on for Yang, ahead of Palma, in the second half and made an almost-instant impact with a terrific strike from the edge of the box, having cut inside onto his favoured right-foot, to find the far bottom corner.

After the game, Rodgers hailed his impact as "brilliant" and described the Hoops star as a "big-game player", which is why he could be the surprise replacement for Maeda on the left flank.

Forrest has the quality and the mentality to be exactly what Celtic need on the wing over the last few matches in the race for the title and the SFA Cup trophy, particularly with Yang and Palma struggling to find their best form.

With the transfer window fast-approaching amid the end of a dramatic Scottish Premiership season, Rangers have reportedly been handed a boost in pusuit of one of Philippe Clement's summer targets.

Rangers transfer news

As things stand, Rangers are set to miss out on the Scottish Premiership title, with Celtic in the clear and on course to keep hold of their crown, but that failure should spark them into transfer action. Clement's first summer in charge is set to result in a number of changes too, with several contracts coming to an end at the end of the season.

Among those set to leave is Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic and in the most frustrating of all for those at Ibrox, John Lundstram. The Scottish giants had attempted to keep hold of their midfielder, but it now seems as though he is destined to depart as a free agent this summer. What Lundsrtram's exit will do, however, is free up room for further reinforcements, which could see players arrive in permanent deals.

Reports have already eyed Fabio Silva for a permanent switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, and it now looks as though Abdallah Sima could follow suit. Reportedly in pole position to sign the winger, the Gers have now been handed a further boost.

Rangers can save millions on Tavernier successor with "highly-rated" star

Rangers could place their trust in a young talent rather than spend millions on a replacement for Tavernier

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2024

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Brighton & Hove Albion are now willing to sell Sima for just £6m this summer in a cut-price deal that should hand Rangers a major advantage. There were previously concerns over their ability to afford the Brighton man then valued at £10m-£15m, but that new price should leave them without any issues in negotiations, especially given Sima's £8.5k per-week salary.

A key part to Clement's side, signing Sima permanently should be high up on the list of Rangers' priorities this summer, especially if they want to dethrone Celtic.

"Terrific" Sima can be the difference-maker for Clement

Sima's injury may have interrupted his loan spell at Ibrox this season – missing nine consecutive Scottish Premiership games previously and again this weekend at St Mirren – but that hasn't taken away from the impact that he's made. The fact that he returned with a goal against Celtic in a dramatic 3-3 draw sums up the success that his loan spell has been. Now, he could get the chance to have a permanent impact at Ibrox in a move that would go a long way in dethroning Rangers' Old Firm rivals.

Former Brighton coach Billy Reid tipped Sima for great things in Scotland and he has delivered ever since. Reid previously said via The Scottish Sun: "He’s a player who needs to be at his top physical level to show what he’s capable of.

"He trained well and worked really hard in every session because he wants to do well. As a lad, he’s terrific. He was one of those boys who always came in with a smile on his face. He’s an infectious character and even when his English wasn’t great, he was always a big part of the dressing room. Now he’s comfortable speaking the language, I’m sure he is popular around Ibrox.”

Anfield sang as the Liverpool squad walked onto the pitch against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but the cry of the Reds was raised a little louder than in recent weeks.

It was as if a weight had been lifted, unshackling the Liverpool squad from the cumbersome burden that had stemmed from fighting and firing on all cylinders for Jurgen Klopp's last hurrah.

The fist pumps were just as emphatic, the cheer at full-time just as triumphantly resounding. Perhaps Klopp won't get the storybook farewell that ends in Premier League gold, but this is a football club that has risen from ruin to revel in a lasting role at the forefront of European football.

Spurs were thrashed for the most part on Merseyside but did, to their credit, launch a counteroffensive that saw goals from Heung-min Son and substitute Richarlison halve the deficit and give Ange Postecoglou some consolation – a 4-2 defeat in the Premier League.

But it wasn't enough. Liverpool are back to winning ways for the final stretch of Klopp's tenure, and the future will be bright with Harvey Elliott performing so well.

Harvey Elliott's performance vs Spurs

Elliott has been regarded as one of the Premier League's most promising rising stars since before he moved to Liverpool from Fulham as a 16-year-old, but he has really come into his own this season as one of the division's most influential midfielders.

Sure, he's not a regular starter in Klopp's midfield, with his performance against Tottenham just the ninth from the outset in the top flight this term, but a goal and assist apiece in a commanding display doesn't even paint the full picture of a brilliant effort.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle was effusive in his praise for the 21-year-old, handing him a wonderful 9/10 match rating and saying: 'Pressed strongly when possible and had one shot cleared off the line by Romero and among those to test Vicario before interval. Superb second half, creating goal for Gakpo and then smashing home an excellent fourth.'

Minutes played

83'

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches

68

Accurate passes

47/53 (89%)

Shots on target

4

Key passes

5

Dribble attempts

1/1

Duels won

3/4

Tackles

1

Elliott has always been a brilliant creative threat and while that side of his game was at the forefront against sorry Spurs, he was confident and commanding in the duel and crisp in possession to speak of his quality as a high-level, all-encompassing midfielder.

While Liverpool will not secure any more silverware under Klopp, with stars like Elliott pushing for a prominent role for years to come there is surely faith from the Anfield bosses in this team's ability to sustain a position of power.

So there it is. Klopp isn't going to get his mitts on a second Premier League title but he has lifted Liverpool to the fore once more and has cemented his legacy as eternal on Merseyside's red half.

Elliott's imperious playmaking performance has set Liverpool back on track, and maybe, just maybe, he's rekindled the flame that will ensure that a late-season purple patch is crafted to give this esteemed manager the send-off he deserves.

Slot could sign "elite" £70m Van Dijk replacement for Liverpool

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes would pull off a blinder by signing this “elite” talent.

ByAngus Sinclair May 2, 2024

Truth be told, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have a gigantic task on their hands this summer as they look to return Manchester United to their glory days.

This season simply hasn’t been good enough under Erik ten Hag, with the team conceding their highest total goals since 1971 with 82.

Huge decisions will be made by the new ownership, with the manager spot under threat and plenty of players set to be sent packing.

A cultural shift is needed at Old Trafford, and Ratcliffe will look to begin by signing young talent for lesser fees, a complete change from the recent overpaying for mediocre profiles.

Man Utd’s search for youthful star

According to a report from the Northern Echo this week, Man United are lining up a bid for Sunderland’s Chris Rigg.

At just 16 years old, the Black Cat is yet to sign his first professional contract at the club, but Sunderland are hoping that he opts to continue his development at the club.

The report mentions that Manchester United “are poised to make the strongest move for Rigg,” but the potential fee is unknown.

However, the Red Devils won’t be alone in their pursuit of the wonderkid, with the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal, and Bayer Leverkusen also monitoring him.

Imagine Rigg and Mainoo

Ratcliffe will be absolutely thrilled to have Kobbie Mainoo already in his squad, who has taken his opportunity in the first team and become undroppable.

Since his Man United debut in November, the 19-year-old has started a further 21 Premier League games, scoring two goals, running the show from midfield and being handed his England debut by Gareth Southgate. Impressive work indeed.

Not just has the number 37’s quality, maturity and confidence been rewarded by his country, but a new contract is also reportedly in the works to keep the superstar at the club for the foreseeable future.

It’s clear that Ratcliffe looks set to plan ahead to ensure long-term success at the club by signing Rigg, who could thrive at the heart of the Red Devils midfield for years to come alongside Mainoo.

As you can see by the table below showcasing Rigg’s performance against Leicester City earlier this season, it’s extremely clear that the teenager has a vast skill set. He notably won seven of his eight duels and completed all three of his dribbles.

Minutes

82

Shots

2

Successful dribbles

3/3

Touches

43

Key passes

1

Tackles

2

Duels won

7/8

Therefore, the “wonderful” ace, as dubbed by former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, has already proven that he can hold his own against top players, which is extremely impressive for a 16-year-old.

Despite being so inexperienced, the number 31 has featured 21 times in the Championship this season, with an average of 38 minutes per game. However, although he’s had limited minutes, it’s obvious that Rigg has the potential to be a special player, with Richard Amofa of the Athletic saying that he’s "going right to the very top."

The Sunderland academy star is a versatile midfielder who can play out wide or more centrally due to his technical class and ability to work relentlessly off the ball, as shown by his two tackles and 43 touches in that clash with the Foxes.

Yet what makes Rigg even more remarkable is the fact that he can impact the game in the final third, whether that be via his silky dribbling, vision, or serving as a direct threat himself, as displayed via his successful dribbles, shots, and one key pass.

To conclude, the potential of having both Rigg and Mainoo on the same side for the foreseeable future is extremely exciting, and it would certainly be a sign of intent from Ratcliffe.

Man Utd must cash in on 4/10 flop who's now worth even less than Casemiro

This struggling Red Devil is not proving that he deserves a future at Old Trafford.

ByAngus Sinclair May 14, 2024

Well, what a season that was, eh Villans? Unai Emery has achieved unimaginable things with this crop of Aston Villa players, taking them from near relegation under Steven Gerrard to the Champions League.

It's important the Villa Park outfit now capitalise on this success in the transfer market and they are doing just that already.

Ross Barkley looks as though he's on his way to the Midlands, re-signing after Luton Town were relegated.

A deal is reportedly as good as done, but who's next in line for Monchi and Co? Well, it could be another midfielder.

Aston Villa looking to bolster their midfield

The addition of Barkley is a very sensible move for those behind the scenes at Villa Park. The Englishman was fabulous for the Hatters, enjoying a real career revival that even earned him shouts for a Euros call-up. In total, the midfielder contributed with five goals and four assists in league action.

However, they have actually now been offered another central player. According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Carlos Soler is the name now linked.

The player is not keen to leave PSG but he is seemingly not in Luis Enrique's plans in Paris right now. As a result, it's suggested a loan move could suit all parties.

Villa are one of the sides to have been noted of his availability this summer but it's stated that they have taken that no further at the moment.

How Carlos Soler compares to Douglas Luiz

One of the primary concerns for Emery this summer will be how he can hold onto some of the club's main men, chiefly Douglas Luiz.

Champions League football will no doubt help but the Brazilian has been consistently linked with a move away from Villa Park. Arsenal lodged several rejected bids in 2022 and they are still hovering around the midfielder.

If he does leave then Soler would certainly be a good replacement. According to FBref, the two players are noted as being 'similar' to each other, but why exactly is that?

Goals

0.17

0.27

Assists

0.27

0.15

Progressive carries

1.24

1.80

Progressive passes

6.12

5.05

Pass success %

86%

86%

Key passes

1.65

1.59

Passes into final 3rd

4.79

4.11

Passes into penalty box

1.40

1.17

Shot-creating actions

3.06

3.51

Tackles

1.24

1.74

Touches

72.1

70.6

So, the numbers are extraordinarily close in some areas. When it comes to progressing the ball, whether it be through carries or passing there is a difference but their underlying passing statistics are incredibly alike.

Their pass accuracy is identical, they made a very similar number of key passes per 90 minutes and they both seemingly occupy the same role from the centre of the pitch, playing a near identical number of passes into the final third and the penalty area.

Luiz does seemingly do more defending – hardly a surprise given Soler plays for PSG – but it bodes well that the Spaniard is adept in that department too.

Described as a "magnificent" player by The Guardian's Sid Lowe, the former Valencia man has been a bit part of proceedings at the Parc des Princes. However at Villa, particularly if Luiz departed, he could find himself one of the main men.

Deal close: Aston Villa set to sign 'unbelievable' Luiz replacement

Aston Villa will look to add more quality to their squad after an excellent season even if Douglas Luiz does leave.

ByKelan Sarson May 26, 2024

A top Manchester United transfer target has made it clear, via his representatives, that he wants to join Arsenal as a priority this summer.

Arsenal identify attacking signings for Arteta

The Gunners wish to reinforce their attacking options ahead of 2024/25 after very narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last season.

Arsenal hold fresh agent talks as they eye £34 million Sesko alternative

The Gunners could get him for even cheaper than Sesko’s £55m release clause.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 7, 2024

Arsenal pushed Man City all the way to the final day, but fell just short despite accumulating 89 points and scoring 91 top-flight goals. Kai Havertz impressed in a makeshift forward role under Mikel Arteta, chipping in with 13 goals and seven assists over 37 league appearances.

However, despite the German's form, it is believed Arteta personally wants to sign a young Havertz partner for Arsenal this summer, and one who can help to lead the line.

A new striker to alternate with the former Bayer Leverkusen starlet is on the agenda, and one name who won't stop being mentioned in tandem with Arsenal is RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

The 6 foot 5 centre-forward scored 18 goals in all competitions, and the £55 million release clause in his contract is tempting elite clubs across Europe. Arsenal chiefs are said to be confident Sesko will choose to join, though, after making him a proposal behind the scenes (TEAMtalk).

Sesko makes it clear that he wants to join Arsenal

According to HITC, Sesko has made it clear via intermediaries that he wants to join Arsenal despite serious interest from Man United, Paris-Saint Germain and Chelsea among others.

Chelsea, in particular, are working hard to sway the 21-year-old, but it is the Emirates Stadium that stands out as his preferred destination as things stand. As well as his proficiency in front of goal, Sesko stands out for his physical attributes, while he possesses top speed for such a tall player.

"It was very exciting to see such a tall player with such good coordination, good speed, not as fast as he is today, and a very soft touch on the ball. That impressed me enormously," said his agent, Elvis Basanovic, to AS in 2021.

Appearances

42

Goals

18

Assists

2

Minutes per goal

115

Minutes played

2,057

"I think he is a very complete forward who can score with his head, with his right foot, with his left foot, inside the area, from medium distance, after dribbling or completing a collective action. He is very fast, in some games he reaches a speed of over 36km/h which makes him one of the fastest forwards in the world.

"But it is also important to say that he is only 18 years old and is just beginning his career. That is why he must keep his feet on the ground, concentrate and continue working hard every day for his development. I don't want to let him think that he already did something in his career. That would be very bad."

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is ready to back Ange Postecoglou with a £100 million war chest this summer, and it is believed that one player has now verbally agreed terms to join the north Londoners.

Postecoglou gives scathing assessment of Spurs squad

Speaking earlier this year, Postecoglou gave a scathing assessment of his current squad, who eventually managed to qualify for Europa League football next season despite the absence of former star striker Harry Kane.

Tottenham could smash £63m Ndombele record with "huge" bid to sign striker

The Lilywhites want to replace Harry Kane this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 14, 2024

The odds were stacked against Postecoglou when he first took over from Antonio Conte in north London, having lost the club's record-goalscorer to Bayern Munich that summer, while also contending with a general ill-feeling after his predecessor's disastrous final campaign at the helm.

However, the Australian's brand of football and electric start to life at Tottenham turned many heads, and while they couldn't quite seal a place in the Champions League pot for next term, there are certainly positives to build upon.

Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham

Tottenham 4-1 Newcastle

Burnley 2-5 Tottenham

Man City 3-3 Tottenham

Tottenham 2-0 Man United

Postecoglou does suggest that this Spurs squad needs multiple windows of upgrades before they're contending at the Premier League summit, though.

"We've got a lot of work to do still on the squad and I don't think we're anywhere near where we want to be. It probably will take a little bit more than three windows to get there, for sure," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's current team.

"Just in terms of the robustness, adaptability, and compatibility of the squad, I think there's still a fair bit of change we need to do. I certainly don't think we're one or two players away from getting to where I want us to be, nowhere near it. Some of that will be natural evolution. Some of it hopefully means we continue to get the improvement we've had this year from some of our players. If that happens over the next 12 months, then we'll be in a great position.

"But you've got to remember, a lot of our group are in their first year of the Premier League. A good chunk of them have been ever-presents, we need them to keep improving at the rate they are. We've still got a lot of work to do with the squad. I think we're a long way away from having one or two players away from getting where we want to be."

Levy, according to Football Transfers this week, is ready to spend on behalf of Postecoglou as he looks to build a winning team.

Levy ready to spend £100m as Toney agrees terms to join Tottenham

FT claim Levy is prepared to support Postecoglou with a £100 million budget this summer, and it is believed they've made headway in pursuit of a potential Kane replacement – Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Toney has verbally agreed personal terms to join Tottenham, who Brentford value at around £65 million. However, there is a belief that a deal could be done for around £55 million given the England international's contract situation.

Spurs are said to have the financial firepower to outbid competitors in the race for Toney, but recently had their opening £40m offer rebuffed by Thomas Frank's side. While there is still work to do in club-to-club talks, it at least appears player terms have been resolved pretty early.

Multiple outlets have also backed that Tottenham are keen to sign Kane's heir this summer, so this could be one to watch.