Spurs have a future superstar who's an "extraordinary" Son replacement

When it comes to the modern legends of Tottenham Hotspur, almost everyone’s first thought will be Harry Kane.

After all, the England captain is the club’s all-time top goalscorer and dominated Premier League defences for years and years.

However, he did so alongside the sensationally gifted Son Heung-min, who, unlike the striker, has remained in North London and shown a sort of loyalty that is increasingly rare in the modern game.

The South Korean superstar has amassed a staggering 448 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring 173 goals, providing 95 assists, and making himself an icon of the club and league.

However, as he’s turning 33 in the summer, Ange Postecoglou and Co need to start thinking about who is going to replace him, and they might already have the answer.

Son's potential replacements

So, before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other options Postecoglou could but probably shouldn’t turn to next season.

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Up first is Mathys Tel, who may only be on loan at the moment but has a £45m option to buy in his deal, and based on comments earlier this season, it feels like an option that could be activated.

However, while the Frenchman most certainly can play out wide, his long-term future should probably be down the middle, as across his career to date, that has been his most played position, and it was only a few days ago that he scored two goals for the French U21 side there.

The other candidate to step in for Son next season is Hotspur Way’s own Mikey Moore.

The up-and-coming talent has played in a number of positions in the academy, but without a doubt, his most natural is off the left, where he has also made most of his appearances for the first team.

However, at just 17 years old, he has the opposite problem to the South Korean, in that he’s still going to be too young to start the majority of games next season and likely the season after.

Fortunately, there is another tremendously exciting left-winger in the squad who is a few years older than Moore and could very much be Son’s replacement next year and beyond.

The Spurs ace who should replace Son

While the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Timo Werner and even James Maddison can all play out wide, we are willing to bet that no Spurs fan wants to see them there.

Therefore, the best option to replace the captain in the starting lineup on a consistent basis is summer signing Wilson Odobert.

Now, it would be fair to say that as debut seasons go, this has not been a great one for the £25m Frenchman, but that is not his fault, as he’s suffered two hamstring injuries which saw him miss 34 games.

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However, in the few minutes he has played, he has looked explosive and dangerous, as if he can make something happen, which is just the sort of winger Postecoglou needs in his all-action system.

For example, it was his brace against AZ Alkmaar that put the team into the next round of the Europa League.

Moreover, despite playing for a Burnley team that were ultimately relegated last season, the “extraordinary” 20-year-old, as dubbed by football journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos, scored three goals and provided three assists in 29 appearances.

Odobert’s FBref Scout Report

Statisitcs

Per 90

Percentile

Progressive Carries

4.38

Top 1%

Progressive Carrying Distance

125.22

Top 1%

Carries into Final Third

2.40

Top 3%

Successful Take-Ons

2.27

Top 5%

Carries into Penalty Area

2.06

Top 5%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.21

Top 7%

Crosses

1.50

Top 9%

Ball Recoveries

4.03

Top 11%

Expected Assists

0.15

Top 15%

All Stats via FBref

Finally, the Meaux-born ace’s underlying numbers from last season further indicate he’s a superstar in the making as, per FBref, he was in the top 1% of forwards in the Premier League for progressive carries and progressive carrying distance, the top 3% for carries into the final third, the top 5% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for crosses into the Penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Son is a Spurs icon, but given his age, he needs to be slowly taken out of the team next season, and when he is, Odobert could be just the man to step up and replace him.

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Liverpool keen on £200,000-a-week Real Madrid star who could replace Salah

As Mohamed Salah continues to be “more out than in” at Liverpool, the Reds have reportedly emerged as one of the main candidates to sign a Real Madrid winger who could replace their Egyptian star.

Liverpool transfer news

Yet to sign a new deal ahead of his current contract coming to an end in the summer, Salah was quick to reiterate that the ball is in Liverpool’s court rather than the other way around and that he is yet to receive an offer. Fresh from sparing the Reds from a shock defeat at the hands of Southampton and sending Arne Slot’s side eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, Salah’s statement has certainly sparked concern at Anfield.

The winger is not the only one in such a situation either, with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also currently heading for the exit door as free agents this summer as things stand in what would be an undeniable disaster for the Reds.

Their own Vinicius Jr: Slot must now unleash Liverpool's "special" talent

Anfield welcomes Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

ByAngus Sinclair

Whilst those contract dilemmas roll on, however, those at Anfield have seemingly turned their attention towards potential replacements. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have now emerged as one of the main candidates in the race to sign Rodrygo. The Reds have been credited with interest in the Real Madrid attacker before, but now look to be among his top suitors should he depart the La Liga giants.

Anfield could, of course, get a preview of the Brazilian’s ability in the Champions League as soon as tonight in what could prove to be his audition to replace Salah in the summer.

"Special" Rodrygo could be handed impossible Liverpool task

On current form, there’s simply not many, if any players in world football who could replace Salah at Liverpool. His consistency over the last seven years – hitting level after level – has been truly extraordinary.

In truth, a player of such calibre should never reach the final year of his contract, let alone near the six-month mark if he does want to stay put, which seems to be the case. Major questions would rightly be asked of Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards if one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players walked out of Anfield as a free agent at the end of the season.

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If nothing changes though, then the Reds may be left with no choice but to turn towards Rodrygo. And the £200,000-a-week Madrid man wouldn’t exactly be a bad choice. A player who scored 17 goals and assisted a further nine in all competitions last season, the Brazilian is certainly capable of reaching similar output levels to Salah in what instantly makes him an ideal candidate.

Previously described as “special” by Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, Rodrygo could instantly solve Liverpool’s potential Salah problem this summer.

Crystal Palace in talks to sign a "freak" Olise replacement

After losing one of their jewels in the crown, Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner will have a huge task this summer to replace Michael Olise after his move to Bayern Munich.

Palace finished tenth in the Premier League last season, and the challenge will now be for Glasner to improve upon this after a good second half of the year when he was appointed to take over from Roy Hodgson.

Reinforcements have already been made, with the signings of Chadi Riad from Real Betis, and Daichi Kamada from Lazio, but the next step is replacing Olise, and bringing in a forward who can offer a similar level of output, which the Frenchman bought for the team.

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to reports from LondonWorld, Crystal Palace are in discussions to bring Marseille winger Ismaila Sarr to the club. This would be a return to the Premier League for Sarr, who previously played for Watford from 2019-2023 in the top flight, and the Championship.

Marseille are said to be willing to let Sarr leave the club for "the right price", as new manager Roberto De Zerbi looks to build his own squad in his image. Sarr is said to be keen on a return to the Premier League, as his agents and Palace look to find a solution.

That solution appears to be edging closer with personal terms agreed between club and player already according to the Athletic.

Sarr made 35 appearances in all competitions last campaign for Marseille, scoring five goals, providing six assists, and totaling 2,074 minutes.

Sarr vs Olise comparison

To compare the output of both, you need to look at Olise's numbers last season for Palace. The Frenchman made 19 appearances for Palace in 2023/24, all coming in the Premier League, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in 1,278 minutes.

In Glasner's system, Olise was often deployed as the right attacking midfielder, somewhat of a hybrid between a right-winger, and a number ten. This role, of course, has some different requirements than a touchline winger, and this could actually suit Sarr, and allow him to increase his output.

Sarr vs Olise comparison

Stat (per 90 mins)

Sarr

Olise

Non-Penalty xG

0.27

0.33

Progressive Passes

2.39

5.51

Progressive Carries

3.01

4.80

Touches (Att Pen)

5.54

5.65

Fouls Drawn

2.72

3.04

Stats from FBref

Now, whilst Olise excels in pretty much all metrics over Sarr, you are talking about an elite talent that has just signed for Bayern Munich. The likelihood of finding a player of that level that is ready-made is extremely unlikely.

Instead, you need to approach the transfer market differently, especially with a club like Crystal Palace who need to spread their funds and assess other areas too. Sarr offers a similar threat on the counter as Olise, being able to offer himself as an outlet receiver, winning fouls and dragging his team up the pitch.

Sarr is also extremely fast, offering that on the break, and can use that to his advantage when progressing the ball via his carrying, which is a more direct style than the coordinated style of Olise.

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The 26-year-old also has good non-penalty xG numbers, which could be further exploited in that inside forward role under Glasner. Let's also keep in mind that while his output at Marseille wasn't huge, he did once contribute with 16 goals and assists for Watford in the 2022/23 season. That was form that subsequently saw Ben Foster label him as a "freak".

What Sarr doesn't offer to the level of Olise, is the creative passing and shot-creation for not only himself, but for others. However, as we said, this is where you need to find other ways to replace those metrics, and this has been done with the signing of Kamada.

Daichi Kamada

Kamada brings an average of 5.44 progressive passes per 90 to the squad, and 1.25 key passes per 90, which gives Palace an extra creative boost, with the loss of Olise.

This move and having big boots to fill could bring the best out of Sarr, as Jean-Louis Gasset made the claim that "he will become a very big player" when talking about Sarr last season.

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"Different class" star may be open to Spurs move but Levy needs £80m+

As Daniel Levy looks set to give a huge vote of confidence to Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market this summer, it appears that one of their top targets would only join for a huge salary package.

Spurs' search for depth in attack

Whilst the Postecoglou revolution at Tottenham Hotspur has been swift and effective, there is still a lot of work to do to get Spurs ready to compete with the Premier League's title chasers.

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Postecoglou has brought free-flowing attacking football to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium however, it feels as if improvements in attack are essential to take Spurs to the next level. Just three players have scored over five goals for the Lilywhites this season with injuries to James Maddison and Brennan Johnson leaving their attack lacking energy at times.

James Maddison applauds Spurs fans.

It has previously been reported that Spurs have expressed an interest in Premier League duo Pedro Neto and Eberechi Eze however, it has now transpired that Levy and co may need to break the bank to secure the services of one of their targets.

Spurs will have to spend big to sign Eze

According to TeamTalk, Spurs have been told that they will have to offer a bumper contract to Eberechi Eze if they are to secure the services of the 25-year-old. The outlet reports that the North London outfit would need to offer a minimum of £120,000 per week across a five-year deal for Eze to be open to signing.

eberechi-eze-wolverhampton-wanderers-transfer-gossip-deadline-day-live-updates-jean-ricner-bellegarde-gary-oneil

This would represent a major pay rise for the Englishman who is currently earning a modest £47,000 a year at Crystal Palace, as well as the opportunity for him to play European football. On top of spending almost £30million on Eze's wages, Levy would have to fork out a £50million transfer fee to tempt the midfielder to make the short journey across London, meaning Eze's openess to sign depends on the chairman splashing out over £80m in total.

Levy may have been tempted to throw his hat into the ring for Eze after the midfielder scored an excellent freekick against Spurs at the weekend, taking his tally to six goals in the league this season.

Whilst Levy would have to spend uncharacteristically big to get the deal over the line, Spurs would be signing a quality player if Eze was to make the move to North London. Since making the move to Palace, Eze has provided 21 goals and 12 assists for the Eagles, becoming an integral part of the team. Suffering multiple injury setbacks during his time in South London, Eze has always bounced back with aplomb, earning praise from former manager Patrick Viera for his resilience. The Frenchman told the press he was "really pleased, Eze in that action showed his talent".

Crystal Palace'sEberechiEzein action

With Spurs' need for depth in attack evident and Eze one of the league's most exciting players, it would be a match made in heaven if Levy can get the deal over the line regardless of what it will cost.

Arsenal: Arteta eyeing swoop for £91k-p/w "monster" who’s outscoring Saka

Arsenal have maintained their spot at the forefront of the Premier League after falling short in the title race last season against Manchester City, who leapfrogged Mikel Arteta's men at the business end to secure their third successive title en route to a seasonal European treble.

It was a gallant, inspiring, effort from a team that had failed to qualify for Champions League football for six successive seasons, but the sense of poignancy at failing to secure the trophy stung.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Arteta has ensured that the previous woes have been used to continue the increments made since his appointment in December 2019, and after nine league matches this season, the bid for a first league triumph in over two decades is very much on.

That being said, the club are prowling the market for a new, free-scoring centre-forward, and if rumours are to be believed, Napoli revelation Victor Osimhen is among the chief candidates.

What's the latest on Victor Osimhen to Arsenal?

Before the summer transfer window closed, Football Transfers reported that Arsenal had registered a concrete interest in Osimhen, having held preliminary talks after the Nigerian ace rejected a contract extension with the Serie A champions.

While he has been valued at a staggering £150m by the Italian outfit, the 24-year-old star's contract with Napoli expires in 2025, meaning 2024 is the crucial window of opportunity; Arsenal could seek to exploit a growing acceptance that his sale must be granted.

The Serie A champions could risk him running down his contract throughout the 2024/25 campaign before leaving for nothing in 2025 if they opt against cashing in on him during one of the next two transfer windows.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, transfer insider Dean Jones penned his thoughts on the reported interest, highlighting the fact that while the allure of signing the striker is profound, the technicalities in the way make completing a deal challenging.

Jones said: "They play it down if you try to get any official quote on Arsenal going for Osimhen, but obviously if that time does come, they've got to be smart because Osimhen is valued at a ridiculous price and rightly so by Napoli.

"But also, there's going to be a huge wage and everything that comes in turn with that. So this is really ambitious if they do go for Osimhen, but if you're an Arsenal fan, this is the dream, this is the guy that can lead you properly towards title talk and properly into the Champions League conversation."

Are Arsenal hoping to sign Ivan Toney?

Given the Gunners' £105m acquisition of Declan Rice this summer, there is a discernible willingness from the powers that be to strengthen in accordance with Arteta's vision, stemming from the fantastic strides taken under the Spanish manager's tutelage.

Rice was the tailor-made midfield signing required to upgrade on the team, and now swooping for a new, prolific forward appears to be the primary port of call on the transfer front, and while Osimhen is the coveted name, the difficulties surrounding a deal could prompt the Emirates side to further their interest in Brentford's Ivan Toney.

One of England's most impressive strikers over the past few years, Toney is currently serving a lengthy suspension following a breach of betting regulations. Enforced in May, the 27-year-old will not return to competitive football until January 16, 2024.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal – alongside Chelsea – are informed on Toney's situation as the England international targets a transfer this winter, though Thomas Frank's Bees will demand a ballpark "£60-65m" for his sale.

There would be worse ways for the Gunners to splash their cash, though, with Toney hailed for his "remarkable" qualities by his manager.

Since Brentford achieved promotion from the Championship in 2021 – with Toney leading the line and posting 33 goals and ten assists – he has scored 32 goals and supplied nine assists across 66 Premier League appearances, with his commanding presence in the final third exactly what Arsenal need as a counterweight to Gabriel Jesus' creative role.

The £20k-per-week ace would prosper supplemented by the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and while Osimhen is likely rivalled only by Manchester City's Erling Haaland in terms of cutting edge in front of goal right now, Toney would not be a bad fallback option. Not one bit.

How good is Victor Osimhen?

Described as a "monster" for his exploits by ESPN journalist Colin Udoh, Osimhen was the centrepiece of Napoli's sensational Scudetto triumph last season, winning the Serie A title with 90 points, 16 points ahead of second-placed Lazio.

I Partenopei were positively electric in their forward efforts, with the £91k-per-week sensation plundering a whopping 31 goals and five assists from 39 matches across all competitions.

These statistics show that the talented number nine proved himself to be a reliable goalscoring option for his team as part of a title success, which could make him the dream signing for Arsenal as they eye a title of their own.

This season, while Napoli have not been quite so imperious so far, Osimhen has retained his innate predatory sense and has scored six times from eight Serie A outings.

His rate of scoring is exactly what the Gunners need, with the prodigious Saka in stunning form this season but his tally of five is still bettered by Osimhen's six.

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Saka, who has been praised as a "ruthless" presence in front of goal by his England manager, Gareth Southgate, is also one of the Premier League's most creative forces, ranking among the top 12% of positional peers for assists per 90.

As per FBref, the 6 foot Naples sharpshooter ranks among the top 3% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues and European competitions over the past year for non-penalty goals, the top 1% for total shots taken, and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, making him indisputably one of the finest finishers in the business.

Victor Osimhen: Similar Players (Football Transfers)

Player

Club

Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona

Christopher Nkunku

Chelsea

Andre Silva

Real Sociedad

Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Should Arsenal fail to sign Osimhen at some point over the coming transfer windows remains to be seen, but the fact that the London giants are in such a good position that falling back on players such as Toney is within the realm of possibility illustrates just how emphatic the ascent to prominence once more has been.

That being said, the work is certainly not done and Arteta's renaissance will only be etched into history as an unmitigated success should one of the most coveted prizes be brought back to the Emirates.

With Osimhen serving as the arrowhead, there is every chance that the years still to come will be filled with prosperity and silver-laden success.

Therefore, the Gunners must reignite their interest in the Napoli star and ditch any plans they have to swoop for Toney ahead of the January transfer window.

Sky Sports: Two More Possible Arsenal Signings After Rice and Timber

Arsenal could look at signing a new right-sided attacker and another central midfielder this summer, according to Sky Sports.

How much have Arsenal spent this summer?

The Gunners and Mikel Arteta have been busy in the transfer window so far ahead of the 2023/24 season, looking to go one step further in the Premier League.

The club have brought in Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a deal worth £65m, whereas Jurrien Timber has made the move to north London from Ajax for £38m.

Those two deals take Arsenal’s summer spend to £103m, and that will double with a move for Declan Rice. West Ham have confirmed that the England international has left the club and is poised to join Arsenal in a deal worth a guaranteed £100m plus £5m in add-ons.

There could still be more to come at the Emirates, though, with a transfer update emerging in the last 48 hours. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth provided transfer news on Arsenal, claiming that the focus will now be on departures due to the money they have spent in recent weeks.

However, the reliable reporter did claim that a new right-sided attacker and another central midfielder could be deals to potentially keep an eye on before the window closes.

“The focus will be on departures simply because they have probably spent close to £200m once the Rice and the Timber deals go through.

“But, the right-sided attacking position, that is something I think Arsenal will be trying to look at. They’ve been focusing at that position in the past couple of transfer windows, so maybe just keep an eye on that.

“And maybe on the central midfielder area as well. I know that Declan Rice is on the verge of coming in but Granit Xhaka has left. But if Thomas Partey was to potentially leave, because we know that there is a lot of interest. It is just at an interest stage at the moment but if that was to develop then maybe Arsenal would potentially look into recruiting there as well.”

Who else could Arsenal sign?

With more than £200m spent so far this summer, Arsenal, as Sheth mentions, could be looking at moving payers on before bringing anyone else in. However, there have been players linked with moves to join Arteta’s side, including Gremio central midfielder Bitello.

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Arsenal are “actually moving seriously” for Bitello, and reports have suggested that the club even have officials in Brazil to “analyse and send an offer” for the 23-year-old.

In attack, a player who has been linked with the Gunners is Barcelona’s Ferran Torres. It is believed that Arsenal would be willing to sign the forward on loan, and the La Liga champions would approve any temporary deal for him. Arteta previously worked with Torres at Manchester City, so moves for the Spaniard alongside Bitello could well be ones to keep an eye on over the coming weeks. Some players may need to be moved on first, though, so it may still be a busy few weeks in the market for Edu and co.

Chelsea Lining Up "Shock" Manager Swoop

Chelsea are considering a wide range of world-class manager options as their heir to Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge, yet few would have expected Frank Lampard's name to be in the running to take over.

Could Chelsea re-hire Frank Lampard?

Contenders for the job, Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, might be keen on waiting until the end of the campaign to start their potential tenures at Stamford Bridge, considering the mess that the Blues currently find themselves in ahead of two games against European champions Real Madrid this month.

As a result, according to talkSPORT, Lampard "is a shock contender to return to CFC if they decide to appoint a caretaker manager until the end of the season."

Since that news, The Athletic's David Ornstein suggested this evening that Chelsea are in fact "close to appointing" their former boss.

Tuesday's stalemate against Liverpool, where the 44-year-old was in attendance, meant that Chelsea have now managed just 29 goals in 29 Premier League games this season, so it is no surprise that they occupy a bottom-half spot in the top flight.

By comparison, Lampard's previous spell at Chelsea was fantastic, especially when you consider that the money that has been spent under Boehly simply wasn't available under the former England international. A lack of funds, and of course, a transfer embargo led to young talents such as Reece James, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham establishing themselves as regular first-team players.

He led Chelsea to a fourth-place finish in the 2019/20 campaign but struggled the following year, and was sacked with the Blues in ninth position.

A move to Everton would follow and he kept the Toffees up by the skin of their teeth last season but looked to be leading the Merseyside outfit towards relegation this year as they sat in 19th position before he was sacked and replaced by Sean Dyche.

Todd Boehly walks outside of Stamford Bridge ahead of a Chelsea game.

Journalist Ronan Murphy labelled the Chelsea legend a "terrible" manager in September 2022 and it certainly feels like his playing career influenced the Blues' decision to bring him in after one season at Derby County.

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To repeat that mistake would be unforgivable by Boehly, especially when you consider how dreadful Everton were under his management, as they had managed the fewest number of wins in the Premier League before his sacking, as he earned an average of just one point per game in his spell at Goodison Park.

One of Chelsea's biggest issues this season has been getting the enormous dressing room on the side the manager and Boehly need only to look at Manchester United's experience with caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick to understand that this would be a terrible decision.

Lampard is still regarded as a Chelsea legend by many but for him to return to the club and potentially see them drop even further in the league would surely be a mistake for everyone involved.

Arsenal close to ‘sensational’ Kiwior deal

Polish journalist Tomasz Wlodarczyk has been left buzzing as Arsenal are set to sign Poland international centre-back Jakub Kiwior in a ‘sensational’ deal.

The Lowdown: Busy Gunners

The Gunners have certainly been busy over the last few days after missing out on the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea, with Leandro Trossard set to sign from Brighton and Hove Albion and potentially even being able to feature against Manchester United on Sunday.

It now looks like they are going to make another signing very soon, after a recent update from Poland.

The Latest: Kiwior ‘very close’

Taking to Twitter, Wlodarczyk has revealed that the North London club are also ‘very close’ to sealing what he calls a ‘sensational’ deal for Spezia central defender Kiwior:

“Sensational transfer very close to completion! Spezia and Arsenal are in very advanced talks about Jakub Kiwior. Jakub Kiwior will be one of the most expensive sold Polish footballers in history!”

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has added that contracts are already being signed for a fee in excess of €20m (£17.5m) plus add-ons on a five-year deal, with a medical to be completed ‘in the next 48 hours’.

The Verdict: Gunners mean business

After the signing of Trossard, the Gunners have moved quickly onto securing another signing, showing that they mean business in terms of getting their hands on the Premier League title.

22-year-old Kiwior is very highly-rated, having been dubbed ‘extraordinary’ by his international team-mate Robert Lewandowski, while Polish football expert Ryan Hubbard thinks that he is a ‘huge talent’.

Serie A analyst Matteo Bonetti has noted the ‘impressive’ season that he is having so far, as no Spezia player has averaged more interceptions, clearances or blocks per game in the Italian top flight than him (WhoScored).

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Kiwior can cover at left-back and defensive midfield as well as at centre-back, and will provide healthy competition for Gabriel Magalhaes, who has played in every minute of the Premier League campaign so far.

Nonetheless, this looks to be another astute piece of business from Mikel Arteta and Edu.

Why Mitrovic wasn’t sent off vs Everton

The Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas has revealed why VAR did not intervene over a possible red card for Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic against Everton on Saturday.

The Lowdown: Yellow card given

The Serbian striker launched a dangerous challenge on Idrissa Gueye in the 24th minute of the 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening and was given a yellow card by referee John Brooks.

His studs were showing as he trod on Gueye’s ankle, missing the ball altogether, with suggestions that the 28-yea-old could have been given a straight red card instead.

The Latest: ‘Lacked intensity’

Taking to Twitter, Thomas has revealed that, even though VAR did check for a possible red card, they did not deem it necessary to intervene, as they claimed that Mitrovic’s challenge ‘lacked intensity’.

He stated: “Understand the Mitrovic tackle on Idrissa Gueye was checked for a possible red card by VAR, but intervention was not deemed necessary as the challenge apparently lacked intensity.”

Expanding in his article for The Liverpool Echo, the journalist adds that while the fact that there was a check going on was not made clear by Sky Sports in their live broadcast, VAR did look at the challenge but thought that it was too ‘low’ and came from a ‘close proximity’. Therefore, the intensity was ‘not sufficient’ enough to warrant telling on-field referee Brooks to look at the monitor.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-8/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: On another day…

On a different day, another referee could have shown a red card to Mitrovic, so Everton can count themselves unlucky that he was only given a caution.

It is one of those challenges which does not seem ‘clear and obvious’ to overturn as per the thresholds of VAR, so if Mitrovic was sent off, VAR would be unlikely to recommend the referee to change his decision.

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Given that it was midway through the first half, Frank Lampard’s side could have played the rest of the game against 10 men, therefore increasing their chances of winning.

In the end, they had to settle for just a point, but Everton supporters will surely be wondering what could have been.

West Ham: ExWHUemployee makes Youri Tielemans claim

West Ham United insider and reliable club source ExWHUemployee has made an interesting transfer claim involving Leicester City star Youri Tielemans.

The Lowdown: Moyes makes transfer demand…

Speaking to the media recently, David Moyes made no secret of his desire for more new signings despite clinching deals for Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Alphonse Areola (loan made permanent), Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet.

West Ham are said to be monitoring a host of targets with just a few weeks remaining of the summer transfer window, and as highlighted by their 2-0 loss to Premier League champions Man City at the weekend, Moyes could need more depth in his squad.

The east Londoners are said to be keen on a new centre-back signing amid fitness worries in West Ham’s backline, while a new midfield option is also believed to be on the agenda.

The Latest: West Ham could move for Tielemans…

Making an interesting claim, ExWHUemployee has stated that the Irons could move for Leicester star Tielemans.

Taking to Patreon, the West Ham insider believes that the 25-year-old playmaker could emerge as a ‘possible target’ for Moyes amid doubts over the Belgium international’s future at the King Power Stadium.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Reports suggest that Tielemans could cost as little as £25m due to his contract situation, and on that note, it’s surely wise to at least attempt negotiations.

As per WhoScored, the 25-year-old finished last season as one of Leicester’s top six performers whilst recording their third-highest amount of key passes per 90.

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Racking up six goals and four assists from midfield in that time, Tielemans has also received plenty of plaudits for his form at the King Power Stadium.

Daily Telegraph reporter Sam Dean called him ‘scary’, while former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan described Tielemans as a player who’s ‘got everything’, so the thought of him possibly lining out in claret and blue in east London is an exciting one.

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