Heart of Midlothian have so far endured a tough start to the 2023/24 season, despite enjoying a positive first couple of weeks.

Since defeating Partick Thistle in the League Cup 4-0 on 20 August, Hearts proceeded to lose their next four matches, scoring just one goal and conceding eight as they crashed out of Europe at the hands of PAOK while suffering Premiership defeats to Dundee and Motherwell.

Steven Naismith now has a massive job on his hands and if he is aiming to retake third spot which was cruelly taken away from them towards the end of last season, then something has to change at Tynecastle in the coming weeks.

Over the course of the summer, the Scot managed to bring in seven new arrivals, with a mix of permanent and loan signings, in order to bolster his squad.

The likes of Alex Lowry and Frankie Kent could prove to be inspired signings, yet some of the better performers this season are players who were signed by former manager Robbie Neilson.

Lawrence Shankland has continued where he left off last term, already scoring five goals and grabbing an assist in the first nine games of the season.

Defender Kye Rowles is also improving all the time and the centre-back has also seen his value rise since joining the club last summer.

What is Kye Rowles market value?

Having reached the Scottish Cup final and finishing third in the Premiership table during the 2021/22 season, Neilson was looking to strengthen his side ahead of another tough campaign.

Shankland was one of the key arrivals, yet it was Rowles who has gone on to become a key performer for the Jambos recently.

Neilson snapped him up from Central Coast Mariners and their manager, Nick Montgomery, praised him, despite losing one of his best players.

He said: "He was outstanding for us over the course of the whole of last season. We had a really young team but even though he's young himself, he showed fantastic leadership.

"He's a fantastic person and was outstanding in the qualifiers for Australia. To step in and perform the way he did spoke volumes for him and Hearts is a great move for him. I'm so excited for him.

"It's a good time for young players to be in the national team. They could stay in it for the next 10 years and hopefully for the country, it can keep producing players like Kye.

"Hearts are getting an honest, good defender who's hard-working. As a manager he's a joy to work with. He trains hard and he puts 100% in. That's what the Hearts fans will love. He puts his body on the line, 100%."

According to Football Transfers, the Australian is valued at €1.3m (£1.1m), although this has dipped slightly from the €2.4m (£2m), that he was valued at in July, but more strong performances, and he should see his value continue to rise again.

Why is Kye Rowles valued that much?

Before joining the Gorgie outfit, the 25-year-old had shone in the A-League, winning the Players’ Player of the Year and Coach’s Player of the Year awards at Mariners during the 2021/22 season and he clearly felt moving to Hearts was the best place to continue developing.

Last season, the defender averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96, which was good enough to rank him fourth among the Hearts squad, while he also ranked first for accurate passes per game (43.9) and clearances per game (5.1), demonstrating his passing abilities.

Not only that, but Rowles showcased his physical presence by winning 4.3 total duels per game – a success rate of 55% – and his displays during the early part of the season even secured him a spot on the Australian squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On the global stage, he exuded the qualities which allowed him to shine in Scotland, playing 90 minutes across all four of their games as the Wallabies reached the last 16 at the World Cup for just the second time in their history, and the first since 2006.

They lost out to Argentina, yet Rowles was a monster at the heart of the defence, winning a staggering 70% of his total duels, while losing possession only 5.8 times on average per game.

The former Brisbane Roar defender was ranked second only to Fran Karacic in terms of overall Sofascore rating (7.1), while also finishing second for accurate passes (41.3) per game, third for tackles (two) and first for interceptions per game, clearly emerging as one of his nation's finest players on the global stage.

These performances naturally attracted attention, yet Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay warned off potential suitors following his heroics in the Middle East, saying: "Kye played all four games at the World Cup, played well and got to the last 16, so you think he would attract attention.

"But we've had no approaches and we don't welcome any approaches for any of our players. We budgeted for no player sales this year and we are genuinely not in a situation where we have to sell anyone.

"Anyone who does leave this club, it would have to be on our terms. I don't want to put a number on it but Kye's worth a lot of money, in my opinion. I am not encouraging (bids) at all. But it would be a mind-boggling offer that would even make us think it was something we would consider.”

Rowles has continued to impress for the Jambos during the current campaign, despite their poor form, forging a solid partnership with fellow defender Kent.

Indeed, the duo rank in the top three with regard to Sofascore rating (7.48 and 7.25), while they also currently lead the way in terms of accurate passes per game (76 and 61.8) as the pair exude their forward-thinking nature that allows the club to work the ball out well from the heart of defence.

Rowles has been a masterstroke of a signing and there is no doubt when he does leave Hearts, the defender will make them a massive profit in the process.

Leeds United have endured many outstanding problems over the last few years, with the culmination of their failure to address them being last season's relegation.

However, there could finally be a surprise answer to one of those issues at left-back, should Daniel Farke seek to continue his experiment.

Who is Leeds United's left-back?

Whilst most teams would be able to tell you who their first-choice left-back is with ease, for the Whites it has marked a truly tumultuous role that few have managed to fill ever since the departure of Ezgjan Alioski.

Having joined from Swiss side Lugano, he swiftly became a mainstay under Marcelo Bielsa as part of his backline that seldom stuck to their defensive positions. Tasked with mirroring their opposite winger with immense precision, he also boasted a keen attacking impetus that helped him to thrive in English football, where the full-backs are evolving in importance with every campaign it seems.

The North Macedonia international enjoyed four successful years in Yorkshire, with the pinnacle arguably coming during the 2018/19 term, where they marched into the playoffs only to be dumped out by Derby County.

All stats via Transfermarkt

Despite that, his Championship performances were truly exceptional, as he maintained a 7.03 average rating buoyed by his seven goals, five assists, 1.9 key passes and 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

However, it must be noted that the season following he was also a key player in their title crusade, scoring some integral goals as he posted another admirable eight goal contributions from left-back, all while retaining his quite bonkers personality.

Whilst the 31-year-old still held his own within the Premier League, a failure to reach an agreement with the club over a new deal saw him depart for Saudi Arabia, thus creating a vacancy in a position he had made his own over the years.

For Bielsa to stride into Barcelona and snag Junior Firpo marked an initial masterclass at first, as it seemed like the legendary Argentinian tactician had produced one of the great coups in their recent history to secure a successor.

Just £12.8m was expended to bring the 27-year-old to Elland Road, with the Dominican Republic international billed as an all-action attacking full-back perfect for the football on display in Yorkshire.

However, he quickly garnered a reputation as a defensive "liability", as noted by journalist David Anderson, with his two years in the English top flight meriting a 6.55 and 6.60 average rating, via Sofascore.

Pascal Struijk, a natural centre-back, was even enlisted to play in his place at times during last year's miserable campaign.

It's fair to say he has hardly staked a strong claim for the position, which still remains there for the taking. So, step forward an alternative. Jamie Shackleton, anyone?

How good is Jamie Shackleton?

One man who could step up is Shackleton, who despite being an attacking midfielder by trade has started this campaign by showcasing his immense versatility and quality in a number of roles.

Just last game saw him stand out in their 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, as a keen creative threat from left-back with the athleticism to retain solidity too.

Having been handed a 7.6 rating, his 99 touches, 89% pass accuracy and three key passes help to emphasise his continued involvement in the play, via Sofascore. Not to mention he managed to also post two tackles, one clearance and six duels won too.

The £1m-rated dynamo seems set for a run of first-team games after this showing, as he slowly grows into his role following a fine term last year on loan with Millwall. Farke even outlined him for praise, recently noting:

"I really love Jamie. So I think he's sometimes really underrated because he can play all positions wherever he plays, he's always reliable, always solid, always a good teammate, gives us everything."

It seems that Shackleton is gearing up to finally fix that problem position once and for all, with the outstanding traits of the 23-year-old suggesting he too could be the next creative defender to emulate the success of Alioski.

Sometimes new caps are like buses. You wait ages for one, and then three come along at once.So it was today at Loughborough, as England Women’s squad to tour India in the forthcoming ODI and T20 tri-series was announced, and not one but three new names appeared on the list: Hampshire’s 18-year-old left-arm seamer Katie George; Bryony Smith, Surrey’s 20-year-old opener; and Alice Davidson-Richards, the 23-year-old all-rounder who has represented Kent for eight years, four times winning the County Championship title, but whose name will still not fit on most scoreboards.The man pulling the strings is of course coach Mark Robinson, who has plucked the three from county obscurity in a move that nobody – not least George, Smith and Davidson-Richards – was quite expecting.George is fresh from completing her A levels. Davidson-Richards has a degree from the University of Leeds in Human Physiology, and works as a personal trainer. Smith is a secondary school teacher. These are players who one week were jobbing county amateurs (lest we forget, there is still almost no money to be made in English women’s domestic cricket), and the next have had the possibility of a glittering career in international cricket dangled before their eyes.”It’s really weird,” Davidson-Richards (known to her team mates as “ADR”) said in the ensuing press conference. The three have spent the past two months up in Loughborough training almost full-time with the full England squad, something that is still alien to her: “It’s such an odd concept that you train, and then you’re done for the day.”It has been a marker of Robinson’s tenure as coach that, unlike the previous incumbent, he is prepared to blood new players. Spinners Alex Hartley and Sophie Ecclestone have both made their debuts; Fran Wilson has been brought back in from the cold, after five years’ absence from the international scene. All have experienced success, with Hartley and Wilson both integral to England’s World Cup win last year.And yet Robinson’s selections, this time around, seem bolder; more unexpected.Katie George, who debuted for Hampshire in 2013, has spent her entire county career playing in Divisions 2 and 3 of the Women’s County Championship; in 38 matches for the county she has taken 32 wickets at a nothing-special (in women’s county terms) economy rate of 3.59. Bryony Smith has represented Surrey for the last four seasons, since the age of 16. In that time she has hit 797 runs at an average of 17, with a highest score of 70. On paper, these numbers are far from spectacular.Davidson-Richards’ selection is in some ways the most surprising. Perhaps it shouldn’t be, but given the dearth of career opportunities, 23 – in women’s cricket terms – is old. Davidson-Richards was one of only a handful of players to survive a recent cull by Robinson of the Women’s Senior Academy squad, in which several players of her generation lost out, including Georgia Adams (24), Eve Jones (25) and Sophie Luff (24).”I definitely thought my time had passed me by,” she admitted today. “When I finished university it was like, ‘what am I going to do with my life? No idea!’ I went and played for six months in Australia, enjoyed the game again, which is the important thing for me. And from there it’s somehow got me to here!”Then there is the fact that should Smith or Davidson-Richards make their debut in India – and with three ODIs and the potential of five tri-series matches (assuming England reach the final), the likelihood is that they will – either one would become the first batsman to debut for England in five years.So why these three? And why now?Robinson was, as ever, frank in his assessment: “We’ve got to address some areas that we haven’t done very well in T20. The youngsters are there to wake a few people up. What we’re doing at the moment isn’t going to win you a World Cup, and we have to change that.”Smith, he suggests, “gives it a good hit”; Davidson-Richards – who bats at No.5 for Kent and Yorkshire Diamonds – offers “power down the order”. For an England side which has struggled to acclimatise to the new era of women’s T20, in which scores of 160-plus are the new norm, these are potentially crucial assets in what is, after all, a World Cup year.Of Smith in particular he was clear that her role lay in attempting to answer the as-yet unsettled question of who might open alongside Danni Wyatt in the World T20 in November: “We haven’t been able to find that partnership. Bryony will chuck herself into the ring as a potential opener.”His most effusive praise, though, was reserved for George, who he described as “a junior Katherine Brunt”. Brunt herself will be missing the India tour with a back injury; and at 32 will in any case not be around forever. There is perhaps no better time to attempt to blood a possible replacement.Another factor has been the importance of their ongoing performances in the Kia Super League, a competition which has helped expose players to the kind of high-level opposition which has sometimes been lacking from women’s domestic cricket. George and Smith both shot to national attention during the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2016: George, at age 16, stood out in particular as being the youngest player to feature, yet still looked right at home in Vipers’ world-class bowling attack. For Davidson-Richards her time came last season as, in front of the TV cameras at Headingley, she scored 22 not out and took 3 for 20 for Yorkshire Diamonds, securing the Player of the Match award.”The KSL’s fantastic,” Robinson said. “Watching Katie George bowl [for Vipers] in last year’s final, I absolutely loved it. She raced in, she bowled quick. She absolutely went round the park” – she bowled three overs and finished with figures of 1 for 34 – “but she kept running in fearlessly and bowling.””Live on TV, 5000 people at Hove – what brilliant exposure. That wasn’t a player shrinking, that was a player having a proper go, and that’s what you want.””And I watched Bryony Smith, again on TV, hit four consecutive fours against Katherine Brunt in that first year. And you’re thinking – wow, she’s taking on the big girls, it’s brilliant!”Certainly Smith did not shy away from the idea of “taking on the big girls” in today’s press conference. Asked what she saw as her role for England, she was unequivocal: “I want to open. That’s where I want to be, at the top.”For all three, one thing that will need to be carefully managed is their possible future transition into full-time professionalism. For now, both Davidson-Richards and Smith will continue to juggle paid employment outside cricket with their international commitments. “It’s a really big step up,” Davidson-Richards admitted. “I like going back to work on a Monday. It brings me back to the centre.” It highlights the dilemmas for a women’s game which, in England at least, is still caught somewhere between its amateur history and the professional present.For Robinson, the important thing right now is to broaden the talent pool: “We’ve got to improve our depth and we’ve got to get players up and running.” For the players concerned, meanwhile, the tour represents nothing more or less than an opportunity to represent their country. That, for now, is more than enough.

فتح أحد نجوم فريق مانشستر سيتي الباب أمام إمكانية رحيله عن بطل الدوري الإنجليزي، في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي لهذا العام.

ونجح مانشستر سيتي، الشهر الماضي، في التتويج ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي 2023/24 للموسم الرابع على التوالي.

ويرتبط أكثر من لاعب من صفوف مانشستر سيتي بإمكانية مغادرة ملعب “الاتحاد” هذا الصيف.

وارتبط جوليان ألفاريز مؤخرًا بإمكانية مغادرة مانشستر سيتي، للبحث عن فرص لعب بشكل منتظم في نادِ آخر بعدما تراجع دوره تحت قيادة المدرب بيب جوارديولا.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية تفيد بأن كل من أتلتيكو مدريد، باريس سان جيرمان وتشيلسي يتنافسون على ضم الأرجنتيني.

اقرأ أيضًا | البريطاني الأعلى أجرًا في التاريخ.. مانشستر سيتي ينوي مكافأة لاعبه بعقد ضخم

وسُئل ألفاريز عن تلك التقارير، حيث رد في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “ياهو سبورتس” الإنجليزية: “هذه أشياء تُقال، ولكنني هادئ”.

وأضاف: “أشعر أنني في حالة جيدة، وأنا سعيد في مانشستر سيتي، لكننا سنرى ما سيحدث”.

ويستعد جوليان ألفاريز للمشاركة رفقة منتخب الأرجنتين في بطولة كوبا أمريكا، التي ستنطلق يوم 21 يونيو الجاري.

South Africa had been scheduled to play three Tests in Sri Lanka in July, but one of those Tests has been traded for a five-match ODI series and a T20I.

• First Test: July 12-16, Galle

• Second Test: July 20-24, SSC

• First ODI: July 29, Dambulla

• Second ODI: August 1, Dambulla

• Third ODI: August 5, Pallekele

• Fourth ODI: August 8, Pallekele

• Fifth ODI: August 12, Khettarama

• Only T20: August 14, Khettarama

Earlier, too, South Africa Tests in Sri Lanka have been either postponed, or commuted to limited-overs matches, most notably in 2013. The reasons, then as now, are commercial: Sri Lanka Cricket loses money on all Test tours not involving India, England, Australia and Pakistan. As such, the board insists that three-Test series against most teams are unsustainable, particularly if unaccompanied by the more profitable ODI and T20I games.The revised tour will begin with Tests in Galle and at the SSC – which had also been the venues of South Africa’s most-recent Tests on the island – before moving to Dambulla, Pallekele and finally Khettarama for the limited-overs leg. The first Test begins on July 12, just under two weeks after Sri Lanka return from their three-Test tour of West Indies, and the one-off T20I is scheduled for August 14, four days before Sri Lanka Cricket’s new franchise T20 tournament is set to begin.For South Africa, the Sri Lanka Tests will be the first since their just-concluded series against Australia. They are the only non-Asian side to have defeated Sri Lanka in a Test series on the island over the past six years, having won their 2014 series 1-0.

MatériaMais Notícias

No início da última semana, o Corinthians anunciou seu novo preparador físico, Flávio de Oliveira, que já passou pelo clube em 2009. Sua chegada se deu após a saída de Anselmo Sbragia, que foi para o Cruzeiro. O profissional já foi integrado à comissão técnica com a missão de aperfeiçoar a performance do elenco, especialmente em uma semana sem jogos, só para treinamentos.

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Após a vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Vasco, na última quarta-feira, o Timão passou a ter um período de seis dias para descanso e treinos, já que a partida foi antecipada para o meio de semana e o próximo compromisso será apenas na próxima quarta-feira, diante do América-MG, pela Copa do Brasil. Oportunidade rara para colocar a preparação física dos atletas em dia.

-Em um calendário difícil e complicado como é o brasileiro, ainda mais neste ano com a situação da Covid, quando a gente “acha” uma semana para trabalhar, a gente tem que aproveitar e o aproveitar não é sobrecarregar, não é fazer demais, fazer de menos, é ter equilíbrio – explicou o preparador físico.

Segundo Flávio, a busca por melhorar a performance do elenco não acontece por conta dos resultados, mas por ser um objetivo constante no clube, não só na questão física, mas também técnica, tática e psicológica. Nesses momentos, o que ajuda é ter vindo de uma vitória, pois o trabalho fica mais leve.

-O foco é sempre melhorar a performance, a gente sempre tem ajustes a fazer, independente da situação, ou na derrota, ou na vitória, a gente tem que ter cuidado e sempre ser crítico em todos os momentos, então o ajuste que tem que ser feito em qualquer situação é melhorar a performance. A gente sabe da grandeza do Corinthians, a grandeza da nossa responsabilidade, também da importância de a gente estar brigando lá em cima, então sempre pensando em melhorar, em crescer – ponderou antes de completar

– Isso é o que a gente está passando para o atleta, também o aspecto anímico também neste momento é muito bom você ter vitória, ter alegria para trabalhar, que é gostoso você trabalhar leve, porque trabalhar pesado é muito ruim, então essa semana de trabalho a gente está vendo essa situação, melhorar performance em todos os sentidos, técnico, tático, físico, psicológico, de grupo, de unidade, para a gente seguir juntos e terminar bem o ano.

Na última sexta e no último sábado, o Corinthians treinou em dois períodos e em um só na manhã deste domingo. Nos próximos dois dias o elenco segue a preparação para enfrentar o América-MG, nesta quarta-feira, às 21h30, na Neo Química Arena, pela partida de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil.

continua após a publicidade

He signed off the Dhaka Premier League campaign with an unprecedented fifth century, but could not stop another loss for his side who went down by six wickets to Brothers Union in the relegation playoff

Mohammad Isam01-Apr-2018

Mohammad Ashraful signed off his Dhaka Premier League campaign with an unprecedented fifth century. However, he could not stop another loss for Kalabagan Krira Chakra, who went down by six wickets to Brothers Union in the relegation playoff fixture. Mizanur Rahman struck a 104-ball 115 that took Brothers Union to their 253-run target in 44.3 overs.Mizanur struck 11 fours and six sixes in his knock. He added 69 runs for the first wicket with Junaid Siddique, 49 for the second with Myshukur Rahaman and 58 for the third wicket with Alok Kapali. Mizanur fell in the 31st over, before Yasir Ali and Nazmus Sadat completed the win with an unbroken 75-run fifth-wicket stand.Earlier, Kalabagan posted 252 for 3 in 50 overs. Ashraful added 116 runs for the second wicket with Waliul Karim who made 79 with five sixes and six fours. Ashraful added 78 runs for the third wicket with Munim Shahriar before putting together an unbroken 53 for the fourth wicket with Faruque Hossain. Ashraful’s unbeaten 102 included 10 fours.Ashraful’s ton was his third in a row, having made 127 and 103 not out in his previous two innings. He finishes the tournament with 665 runs from 13 matches at a batting average of 66.50. But of his five centuries this season, only one came in a Kalabagan win.Ashraful becomes eligible for BPL and international selection from August this year.

It would be hard to describe this season as anything other than a failure for Tottenham Hotspur.

The North Londoners have had to deal with an astounding number of injuries to key players, but even then, their domestic form has been nothing short of shambolic, with a run to the League Cup semi-final their only saving grace in that respect.

Moreover, while the club backed Ange Postecoglou with three first-team additions in the winter transfer window, we can’t help but think he needed one or two more.

Alternatively, perhaps the club were too quick to sell a player in the summer who has since won comparisons to the incredible Jude Bellingham.

Spurs' 2024 departures

Quite a few first-teamers finally left Spurs during the summer, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth seeing how a couple of them got on, starting with Emerson Royal.

The Brazilian full-back joined the Lilywhites in August 2021 but was never quite able to justify his £25.8m price tag and, after consistently underwhelming, eventually became something of a scapegoat, with former Tottenham player turned pundit Jamie O’Hara going as far as calling him a “liability.”

He was finally sold to AC Milan for around £13m in August, and it would be fair to say that his start to life at the San Siro was somewhat rocky, with Italian football expert James Horncastle writing that his move looked ‘like the biggest donation in the history of Fondazione Milan as the club charitably tries to make his wish to become a footballer come true.’

Appearances

26

Starts

22

Wins

14

Draws

5

Losses

7

Points per Game

1.81

Goals

0

Assists

0

However, he has since become a reasonably important part of the first team, and before his recent calf injury, he had made 26 appearances across all competitions, of which 22 had been starts.

Another defender who left the club in the summer was Joe Rodon, who moved to Leeds United on a permanent deal for around £10m after spending last season on loan with the club at the same time as Archie Gray went the other way.

Thus far, it looks like a move that has panned out perfectly for the Welshman.

Thus far, the centre-back has started 100% of league games for the Whites and played 100% of the minutes, which, when combined with his one start in the FA Cup and League Cup, means he’s made 35 appearances this season for a team that looks destined to win promotion at the second time of asking.

With that said, while both Rodon and Royal are doing well for their respective teams, we can’t imagine Ange regrets letting them leave, which might not be the case for a player who has won comparisons to Bellingham.

The former Spurs ace compared to Bellingham

As a modern midfielder, there probably isn’t a more complimentary modern-day comparison than that of Jude Bellingham, as the former Birmingham City gem has already established himself as one of the best in the world and played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League triumphs last season.

So, it might surprise some Spurs fans that their former player, Giovani Lo Celso, who was eventually sold back to Real Betis for just £8m in the summer, has recently been likened to the Englishman.

The comparison primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in La Liga this season, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the former Borussia Dortmund star is the ninth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Argentine dynamo.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.45

0.49

Shots

2.09

2.16

Completed Medium Passes

17.0

17.3

Goal-Creating Actions

0.43

0.50

Tackles + Interceptions

2.96

2.87

Successful Take-Ons

1.22

1.38

Carries

41.0

43.6

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, tackles plus interceptions, successful take-ons, carries and more, all per 90.

On top of their statistical similarities, the pair can also fulfil a few different roles in the middle of the park, such as attacking, central, or even, at times, defensive midfield.

However, away from the comparison to one of the game’s most exciting superstars, the former Spurs ace has also been having a great season from an output perspective, as even though he’s playing for a midtable side, he’s been able to rack up a haul of eight goals and one assist in just 20 appearances, totalling 1363 minutes.

That comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.22 games, or every 151.44 minutes.

Ultimately, Spurs had to clear out a number of players over the summer, so while it was probably the right choice in the long term, we imagine Postecoglou would love to have Lo Celso in his squad today.

Sold by Conte: Spurs dud has seen his valuation soar 2300% since leaving

The talented attacker has enjoyed a relatively successful few years since leaving Spurs.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 20, 2025

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Juventus star Adrien Rabiot, and a fresh report has revealed that PIF have taken their first step towards signing him in January.

What type of player is Adrien Rabiot?

At the Allianz Stadium, Rabiot is naturally a central, box-to-box midfielder who first joined the Serie A side from Paris Saint-Germain back in 2019, where he’s since gone on to make a total of 183 appearances to date, but there’s a chance that he could soon be heading for the exit door.

The France international’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and having firmly established himself as Massimiliano Allegri’s overall top-performing player so far this term with a WhoScored match rating of 7.50, he won’t be short of a potential suitor should he depart.

Back in June, Eddie Howe’s side saw an offer turned down for the 28-year-old, but recent reports have claimed that the black and white stripes remain interested and are, as it stands, the second favourites to secure his services behind Manchester United.

Now, a new update has emerged which would suggest that the northeast outfit are indeed firmly in the running to land their target and they have made a significant stride towards registering their admiration ahead of the window opening at the start of the new year.

Are Newcastle signing Adrien Rabiot?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato.it (via Sport Witness), Rabiot has "received requests" from the Premier League, including one specifically from Newcastle United.

The Magpies are "looking at the possibility of exploiting" the central talisman's contract situation knowing that he could be available for a cut-price, and whilst it's stated that he is currently in negotiations over signing fresh terms, Allegri's side are "shaking" knowing that his long-term admirers could "make a move" in January.

How many trophies has Adrien Rabiot won?

Since the start of his career, Rabiot has secured an outstanding 24 trophies for both club and country so he knows exactly what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level, possessing the winning mentality required to come in and push a young Newcastle squad up one more level.

Sponsored by Adidas, the left-footed ace is strong in the defensive aspect of his game having made 16 tackles so far this season which is more than any of his fellow teammates, via FBRef, highlighting his desire to get stuck in, but he’s equally capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch.

Juventus’ £149k-per-week earner already has three involvements (two assists and one goal) to his name in six outings in the Serie A, with his recent form over in Italy having seen him hailed a player “reborn” by members of the media.

Finally, Rabiot has the ability to operate slightly deeper in front of the backline and on the left-side of the midfield alongside his usual role in the centre of the park, so his versatility will be yet another attractive attribute to Howe, making this a no-brainer of a deal to pursue.

Former Spurs striker turned pundit Darren Bent has made a "bonkers" James Maddison claim at Tottenham Hotspur.

Who have Tottenham signed this summer?

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy moved to bring in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, striker Alejo Veliz and forward Brennan Johnson over the summer.

The north Londoners sealed seven major signings in total; bolstering Postecoglou's squad to great. Meanwhile, star striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele all moved in the opposite direction.

It was quite the busy transfer window for Tottenham before it shut on September 1, with Postecoglou orchestrating a major overhaul to reshape the Spurs squad in his own image.

So far, the Australian has been totally justified in his decisions off the field. Spurs currently sit second in the Premier League table, just behind last season's imperious treble-winning Man City.

The Lilywhites, during that time, have won three out of their opening four league matches; scoring nine goals in the process with brilliant victories over Man United, Bournemouth and Burnley.

Maddison, after joining from Leicester City in late June, has been one of the shining lights in this exciting, new-look Postecoglou side at Tottenham.

The England international has dazzled with two goals and two assists already in a Spurs shirt; putting in Man of the Match performances whilst truly justifying his £45 million price tag.

Maddison, speaking in a recent sit-down with The Telegraph, explained his love for the beautiful game and how he is overjoyed at being a Tottenham player.

"When you start playing football as a kid, you don’t play for anything,” said Maddison.

“There’s no politics, nothing like that. You play because you love playing football and you do the things you love and you become the player you become because of what you do and what you’re good at.

"And that will never change for me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s how I play. I’m never going to change and that’s why my journey has gone like this and I’m happy to have ended up at Tottenham.”

What's been said about James Maddison?

The former Norwich City star and Spurs are seemingly a match made in heaven; as the club have long missed a serial creative playmaker in the mould of Christian Eriksen.

Pundit Bent, speaking live on talkSPORT this week, has heaped praise on Maddison for his start to life under Postecoglou.

The former Aston Villa striker has also made a "bonkers" claim involving the 26-year-old, amid his imperious run f form in the top flight.

As transcribed by TBR, when asked if Maddison is now worth £90 million, Bent said: “Easy, because he’s been that good, that impressive."

He also called the £45m fee paid for his services an absolute "bargain".

“For James Maddison, I think it’s a bargain, even at £45 million. It sounds bonkers, it’s a bargain."

If the Englishman can maintain these superb run of performances through the 2023/2024 season, it's safe to say chairman Daniel Levy has pulled off a masterstroke.