Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a summer move for Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger, according to a report.
The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing defender
Tottenham are believed to be eyeing a new defender, with the likes of Marc Guehi and Alessandro Bastoni said to be on their radar, while Piero Hincapie has also been linked with a move.
Given that Clement Lenglet is set to depart the club at the end of the season, should Antonio Conte choose to leave, Spurs will no doubt need a new option in defence, and a new potential option has now emerged.
The Latest: Plotting Rudiger move
According to reports in Spain, via CaughtOffside, the Lilywhites are plotting to bring Rudiger to north London this summer, in light of the centre-back not being a key player for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season.
It is not yet clear whether Real Madrid are willing to cash-in on the former Chelsea man, but Tottenham are said to prepared to offer him an exit route, should the Spanish club allow him to leave.
The German has received regular game time in recent weeks, starting six of his side’s last seven La Liga matches, which may indicate that Ancelotti could be willing to keep hold of him beyond the end of the season.
However, if the 29-year-old does become available, he would be an excellent addition for Conte’s side, judging by his last stint in the Premier League, ranked as Chelsea’s second-best performer in the 2021-22 campaign, averaging a 7.26 Sofascore rating.
The 6 foot 3 colossus has also been hailed by the media, with journalist Josh Bunting describing him as an ‘outstanding’ player who has a ‘top class’ mentality, and having players with the latter trait could be instrumental in Tottenham competing for silverware.
As such, Spurs should continue to monitor Rudiger’s availability between now and the summer transfer window, as he would be a brilliant signing who possesses the experience of winning top trophies.
Leeds United gave Javi Gracia the perfect start to life in Yorkshire as they squeezed out a narrow Premier League victory against relegation rivals Southampton.
In a game which followed a similar trend to many in which the Whites partake, they dominated possession but once again flattered to deceive. They boasted 60% of the ball and mustered 14 shots to the visitors’ eight, yet the final score was just 1-0 (via Sofascore).
Whilst there were a number of standout performers, once again Jack Harrison disappointed with another poor display to go along with many others in recent weeks and months. He was sloppy once again and squandered plenty of fine opportunities to put the game to bed for Leeds.
The 26-year-old’s shortcomings nearly ruined Gracia’s big day, and the Spaniard must surely be questioning the winger’s inclusion in forthcoming team selections.
How did Jack Harrison play against Southampton?
Although Sofascore offered him a 7.6 rating, with only match-winning hero Junior Firpo earning higher, the underlying statistics outline Harrison as a wasteful presence across his 90-minute stint. This rating was likely propped up heavily by his assist for the left-back’s goal, where he only touched it around the corner before Firpo’s low drive squirmed under Gavin Bazunu.
Journalist Jake Winderman even took to Twitter to plead with the manager to substitute the 26-year-old, writing: “Please get Jack Harrison off the pitch. He’s been dreadful for weeks now.”
With the winger having posted a Sofascore rating of 6.3 or lower in four of his five matches prior to today, you can see where Winderman is coming from with the latter statement.
Where the ex-Manchester City gem was particularly disappointing was out wide, as he was handed plenty of space to try and find Patrick Bamford, but to no avail. Of Harrison’s nine attempted crosses, only two were accurate, denoting an abysmal 22% accuracy.
This is compounded by how often he squandered possession, losing the ball 19 times with his 60 touches, an average of just under once every three touches.
Although the day will be remembered for a welcome victory which takes Leeds out of the relegation zone, it perhaps overshadows a larger issue in that Harrison has not scored in the top flight since August.
It is something which Gracia will want him to sort out as soon as possible, but only after the 52-year-old celebrates the perfect start to life at Elland Road.
Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has shared an injury update on Stuart Dallas.
The Lowdown: Three operations
Dallas has been out of action since April 2022 after suffering a broken leg against Manchester City. The Northern Irishman has been on the road to recovery ever since and had a third operation on the issue at the beginning of the year.
It was thought to be a clean-up issue after picking up an infection, but it seems as if he is making good progress at Thorp Arch.
The Latest: Hay’s update
Hay, talking in a Q&A for The Athletic on Tuesday ahead of Leeds’ FA Cup clash with Fulham, was asked for an update on Dallas.
He said that ‘it sounds like he’s going in the right direction’ with an aim ‘to be back before the end of the season’, describing it as a ‘major injury’.
“RE: Dallas. His aim was always to be back before the end of the season but neither he nor the club were setting any more ambitious targets like that.
“Every time I ask it sounds like he’s going in the right direction – so hopefully he’s not a million miles off. It was a major injury and was inevitably going to take a long time to recover from.”
The Verdict: Good news
Dallas has been a key man for Leeds over a number of years, helping them return to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa. He won three honours following the club’s first season back in the top flight, turning out in a number of different positions.
This update on his condition appears to be a positive one, and hopefully, he’ll be able to build up some minutes over the coming months for the U21s, potentially leading to a return to the matchday squad towards the end of the campaign.
His experience could come in handy under new head coach Javi Gracia both on the training ground and in the dressing room, while his versatility of being able to provide an option as a full-back or in midfield would also be welcomed.
Media members have slammed Antony’s performance in Manchester United’s embarrassing 7-0 defeat to Liverpool, describing his display as ‘shocking’.
The Lowdown: United humiliated at Anfield
The Red Devils rocked up to Anfield full of confidence on Sunday afternoon but they ended up enduring one of their worst afternoons ever in the Premier League.
Liverpool led 1-0 at half-time after a tight opening 45 minutes, only to score six times in a galling second half, inflicting endless misery on a United side who appeared to give up on the game after the first couple flew in.
It was an afternoon full of awful individual performances, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford anonymous by their recent standards.
The Latest: ‘Shocking’ Antony
It was Antony who talkSPORT’s Mark Goldbridge took to Twitter to rip into, however, slamming his effort levels at Anfield:
“I’ve defended Antony non stop but his effort levels today have been shocking. Not tracked back all game. If you don’t fight and work hard at Anfield then you don’t last long at United. Lot to learn.”
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day 2, Micah Richards said it was “like playing with 10 men” due to the Brazilian’s lack of running, while Darren Bent took to Twitter to compare the winger with Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez:
“If anyone tries to tell me Antony has had a decent season compared to Darwin Nunez they’re having a laugh.”
The Verdict: Simply not good enough
Antony has certainly divided opinion since moving from Ajax to United last summer, with some feeling that his game lacks substance in the final third too often while others enjoy his flair and bravery on the ball.
The former was certainly the case on Sunday, with the 15-cap Brazil international losing possession 18 times and also making no interceptions off the ball, in a horribly ineffective showing.
Antony’s work ethic was nowhere near good enough, allowing Andy Robertson to wreak havoc down the left flank, and his overall attitude came into question, too.
It’s only three goal contributions in the league all season for Antony – Mohamed Salah got four in one half against United – and much more is needed from him moving forward.
Just one week ago, the pessimism seeping out of Stamford Bridge could not have been alleviated by even the most fruitful thinkers among the Chelsea fanbase, but after successive victories against Leeds United in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, optimism is borne anew.
Manager Graham Potter has certainly received some respite after advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals and narrowing the gap on Tottenham Hotspur in fourth in the league, with the two wins coming off the back of a woeful run that left Chelsea boasting just two victories from 15 matches across all competitions.
There is fresh positivity in west London, but the situation surrounding stalwart N’Golo Kante taints the recent success, with the 31-year-old midfielder’s future at the outfit up in the air.
Signed from Premier League champions Leicester City for £30m in 2016, Kante has been instrumental in clinching a plethora of major honours including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League across his 262 appearances.
But this season, beset with a detrimental hamstring injury and consequently missing 33 competitive matches at present, the club must consider their options, with the Frenchman out of contract in a matter of months.
With this in mind, Blues technical director Christopher Vivell might be inclined to delve into the youth ranks and continue the trend that saw the likes of Reece James and Mason Mount find a home in the Chelsea starting XI.
One prudent option could well be that of Leo Castledine.
Who is Leo Castledine?
In 2020, the prodigy departed AFC Wimbledon after seven years to join Chelsea’s prestigious Cobham academy, and he has thus far impressed every step of his development, now within touching distance of a breakthrough onto the senior scene.
According to Chelsea’s official website, Castledine is “an attacking midfield player who has the ability to play box-to-box, he likes to create and score goals and is very tenacious in the tackle.”
The teenage “talent” – as dubbed by Joe Flemons – has made 72 total appearances for the Blues youth ranks, scoring 22 goals and serving seven assists, and this term has plundered 11 goals and two assists from 30 outings, lauded by creative agency KIN for one “wonder strike” this term.
Should the youngster be offered the platform to shine, he might indeed find a place in the home currently occupied by World Cup winner Kante, whose robust and combative brilliance in his sweeping duties sometimes leave the masses unaware of just how sublime his offensive work can be.
As per FBref, the £290k-per-week gem ranks among the top 8% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 17% for assists per 90, illustrating the expansive scope of his game that threads far beyond the industrious facet to his arsenal.
And with Castledine boasting ‘tenacity’ and ‘creativity’ in abundance, he could be the box-to-box prodigy capable of adopting the mantle of one of the Premier League’s greatest contemporary stars.
Considering this, Potter must consider unleashing the precocious 18-year-old talent in the coming months; while the lucrative spending spree under new owner Todd Boehly has provided a new-look sheen to the club, acknowledging Stamford Bridge’s roots and the success of the likes of James and Mount must not fall from memory.
Castledine could just be the perfect heir to replace one of the Premier League’s most stellar modern midfielders.
Barcelona are reportedly keen on a move for Portugal international Joao Cancelo, with the player thought to be heading for a summer exit.
Is Cancelo leaving Manchester City?
Cancelo made a surprising loan move from Manchester City in January after a reduction in his game time, but after an initially bright start in Germany for Bayern Munich, he is now struggling to impress.
He was described as “world-class” by Bayern president Herbert Hainer after a strong debut, but it now appears that the club will not activate the option to buy in his loan contract, and Cancelo will likely look for another route away from Man City.
Indeed, a report from Sport has confirmed that Barcelona are an option, with the Blaugrana keen to add Cancelo to their squad in what could be a loan deal.
It claimed: “Joao Cancelo’s name has gone down well at Barcelona. The Portuguese right-back is a name that is on the table for the Catalan club to sign in the immediate future, taking into account the needs of the team.
“President Joan Laporta himself explained this week that Barça would like [to] reinforce next season with a full-back, a centre-back and a striker. The options [being] considered are various, but Cancelo has emerged in the last few hours with a lot of strength.
“Both the board and the sporting committee view favourably the possible incorporation of the player, who would arrive on loan as Manchester City are willing to loan him out and Bayern Munich, his current club, have no intention of keeping him on loan or exercising the option to buy at the end of the season.”
Where could Cancelo play for Barcelona?
Cancelo is capable of playing on both sides at full-back, and this versatility could open a number of different tactical options for Xavi Hernandez.
Jules Kounde or Ronald Araujo have often played at right-back, despite both being more natural centre-halves, whilst Jordi Alba and Alejandro Balde are the two attack-minded options on the left.
Xavi could use Cancelo to either provide an alternative option on the right, which could see Kounde move to the centre, or as another rotational player to help the team in attack when in possession.
Over the past year, Cancelo ranks in the top 6% of full-backs for progressive carries, progressive passes, attacking penalty area touches and successful take-ons (as per FBref), showing what a valuable asset the 28-year-old could be going forward for Barcelona if he completes a transfer in the summer.
Liverpool are reportedly unlikely to sign Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham, but one journalist has played down the claim.
The Lowdown: Bellingham rumours rife
The future of the 19-year-old has arguably been one of the biggest talking points in football this season, ahead of a likely exit from Dortmund once the summer arrives.
A host of Europe’s top clubs are interested in signing Bellingham, from Real Madrid to Manchester City, but Liverpool have arguably been linked more than anyone.
The Reds have reportedly set the England star as their primary summer transfer target, as Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild his midfield and make him a high-profile addition.
Unfortunately, a negative update has now emerged from a Liverpool perspective, with the ongoing saga taking a fresh twist on Monday morning.
The Latest: Ornstein delivers big update
Taking to Twitter, the reliable Ornstein of The Athletic admitted that the Reds are now down the pecking order in the race to sign Bellingham, with their lack of financial muscle working against them:
“As things stand, Liverpool increasingly unlikely to sign Jude Bellingham this summer. Expected price & financial power of rivals puts #LFC hopes in doubt. Pursuit not off & no firm decisions but sense is #MCFC + #RMFC in stronger position.”
Responding to the news, however, journalist Neil Docking took to Twitter to play down the alleged “sudden new” update, questioning whether anything has really changed:
“Bit confused how Jude Bellingham’s expected transfer price being high and Liverpool’s rivals having more financial power than them is a sudden new development.”
The Verdict: Massive blow for Liverpool
To describe this as a huge blow for Liverpool is an understatement, with the Reds seemingly at the front of the queue to sign Bellingham for so long now. That is, of course, if this new update proves to be true eventually.
To miss out on him after so much speculation linking him with an Anfield switch would feel disastrous – Carlo Ancelotti has called him a ‘great’ player – once again raising serious question marks over the ownership of FSG.
If they are unwilling to finance a big-money and potentially record-breaking move for Bellingham this summer, it simply isn’t good enough, with their net spending not even close to rival clubs in recent years.
The fact that Liverpool possibly look on the verge of missing out on Champions League football could be another factor, however, with the 22-cap England international and £49,000-a-week midfielder wanting to play in Europe’s biggest club competition consistently.
The hope is that the situation changes in the coming months, but this is a major setback for the Reds, ahead of what is one of the most important transfer windows in recent memory. Huge players need to come in, and in Bellingham, they would be acquiring the services of a potential future legend of the game.
The Theatre of Dreams failed to deliver a show-stopper last season, in fact scarcely receiving even a smattering of applause from the devoted swathes of Manchester United support, who were incensed by a chastening year of misfortune and instability.
This year, under the fresh tutelage of Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils have already clinched the Carabao Cup, the club's first slice of silverware since the 2017/18 season, and have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League, pursuing glory once again.
Several high-profile signings were made last summer to instigate the change, with Casemiro signing from Real Madrid for £70m and fleet-footed winger Antony and tenacious titan Lisandro Martinez both arriving from Ajax for £86m and £57m respectively.
The latter has been a revelation in tidying up a lacklustre defence, though progress still certainly needs to be made considering United have shipped seven goals to Liverpool, six goals to Manchester City and four goals to Brentford, all on singular occasions.
With the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof now peripheral figures at Old Trafford, having been ousted for the aforementioned Martinez and Raphael Varane, Ten Hag might look to ship the duo on, and instead of parting with exorbitant fees once again, delving into the youth ranks might be the most auspicious route to success.
Does Maguire have a future at Man United?
Maguire has failed to live up to the £80m price tag at Man United, finally falling out of favour having made just five starting appearances in the Premier League this term and facing an onerous task in climbing back into contention for a regular starting berth in Ten Hag's ambitious stratagems.
With this in mind, the powers that be would be wise to unleash youngster Will Fish in his stead, if the 29-year-old gets shipped on in the summer; the 20-year-old centre-back impressed during his formative years at Carrington, and is now excelling out on loan at Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, hailed as "outstanding" by the club's women's captain Joelle Murray.
Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire in Premier League action.
As per Sofascore, the ace has recorded an impressive average rating of 7.09 thus far, scoring two goals from just nine starts and completing 75% of his passes, making 1.4 interceptions and a remarkable 5.2 clearances per match.
The "brilliant" Fish, as once heralded by Craig Fowler, has also won 71% of his aerial duels, and this is where the parallels between the defender and Maguire become more clearly discernible.
Maguire is an imposing 6 foot 4 colossus, and his aerial prowess is the foundation of his positive defensive attributes, having made an average of 3.3 successful aerial contests throughout his career, also an adept sweeper of danger in making 3.9 clearances per game, as per WhoScored.
Given that the 53-cap England international collects a salary of £190k-per-week and is now a utility figure at best, unleashing Fish would not only save United millions on an expensive new addition but also sharply cut the wage bill down, providing the established defensive pairing with a fresh and exciting new understudy to develop into a frightening force.
Everton yet again find themselves fighting for survival in the Premier League this season and Sean Dyche has now been tasked with the challenge to ensure they don't fall into the Championship.
The Toffees are just two points clear of the relegation zone in 15th and just like last season, the club faces a real threat of falling into the second tier if the tide doesn't turn over the remaining ten fixtures.
There are several variables that can be pinpointed to Everton's struggles over the last 18 months with Richarlison's exit in the summer particularly playing a huge part in the side's lack of goal contributions this term.
Everton have the joint-worst goal tally in the entire Premier League with summer signings Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil failing to convert enough chances in front of goal to compensate for the Brazilian's departure. That is further made worse by Anthony Gordon's shock move to Newcastle United in January.
However, it's not just poor transfer business that has been plaguing the performances at Goodison Park as the Merseysiders racked up the worst injury record in the entire top flight last season with numerous players unavailable for selection for months at a time.
It is without a doubt that the most impactful injury concern has been Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the striker constantly picking up injuries ever since he suffered a toe fracture and quadriceps injury back in August 2021.
How much has Dominic Calvert-Lewin cost Everton?
The 26-year-old has become one of the Premier League's most recognisable number nines over his career at Everton and even earned a place in the senior England squad after impressing Gareth Southgate with his performances under Carlos Ancelotti's guidance back in 2020.
However, in the last two seasons, the striker's injury troubles have put his promising career on a downward spiral with the player only making 30 appearances and scoring just six goals in all competitions since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.
To be exact, it has been 81 weeks since the Everton talisman – dubbed "frustrating" by Henry Winter – suffered the first major injury that left him in recovery for the rest of 2021 and has earned £100k-per-week or £8.1m in total since then, despite his lack of contribution and constant unreliability.
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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville recently slammed Everton's mentality for still depending on Calvert-Lewin to be their saviour in the relegation fight this season following the 2-0 loss to Liverpool:
"They’ve [Everton] got to stop talking about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it’s as if they’re waiting for something to sort of save them – it might never come.
"For me, this idea that they always mention, ‘when we get Calvert-Lewin back we’ll be okay,’ no you won’t. You can’t wait for him. You’ll be relegated if you’re waiting for him."
Neville's comments present a harsh truth for the Goodison faithful and for Dyche when he assesses the next steps, should Everton survive relegation this season, as the club can no longer wait for the striker to make a comeback and instead must look at their options in the transfer market to ensure they can improve next season.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Everton finally accept that their beloved goalscorer could potentially never reach the heights he once and instead invest his wages or a potential transfer fee that could provide them with a prolific and reliable striker next season.
While much of the focus will be on incomings at Manchester United this summer, for manager Erik ten Hag there also appears to be a sense of urgency with regard to outgoings, with the Dutchman potentially ready to spark something of a mass exodus from Old Trafford.
As per Manchester Evening News, the likes of Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly are among those who the Red Devils are keen to move on, with the former Ajax boss wanting his side to be more 'ruthless' with regard to selling peripheral assets.
The report also suggests that the 53-year-old is becoming 'increasingly impatient' with misfiring forward, Jadon Sancho, with the former Borussia Dortmund man having started just 12 Premier League games this season, scoring four times and providing just one assist.
While it is not revealed whether the England international will be among those to depart at the end of the season, it does appear that there is growing uncertainty regarding his position at the club, with it potentially looking as if an error was made in bringing the London-born gem back to England just under two years ago.
Has Sancho been a good signing for Man United?
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2021 and optimism was brewing regarding a potential title charge for the Red Devils, with then-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having overseen the marquee arrivals of both Sancho and Raphael Varane, before adding the cherry on top of the cake with the addition of returning hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.
After finishing second the previous season, it looked as if United were ready to take the next step up and finally end nearly a decade of hurt in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, with that trio of signings having only raised the optimism among supporters.
As it proved, however, a grim start to the campaign ultimately saw Solskjaer out of a job by the end of November, with notable defeats to the likes of Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford having called time on the Norwegian's tenure.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo comes on as a substitute to replace Jadon Sancho
Much of the blame for that shock downturn in fortunes fell the way of the main man, Ronaldo, with the serial-winning icon having been criticised by pundit Danny Blind for having a "negative" impact on the team's style of play.
That ill feeling towards the Portugal international was only heightened by his apparent desire to leave ahead of the current campaign, before the veteran asset ensured his place at the club was untenable following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan back in November.
Despite the potential relief that has come with the 38-year-old's subsequent exit, in hindsight it could be said that the formidable marksman still proved a better addition for the club than the aforementioned Sancho, with the latter man having rarely delivered over the last two years or so.
In the case of Ronaldo, despite the sour nature of his eventual exit, the 198-cap machine did enjoy a positive return to the Theatre of Dreams on an individual basis initially, having scored 24 goals in all competitions last season, including 18 top-flight goals.
Amid a grim season collectively, it was the beloved figure who provided moments of magic in the red jersey, notably scoring dramatic late winners in the Champions League against both Villarreal and Atalanta, while also scoring hat-tricks against Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City in the league.
Sancho, by contrast, has had few moments to shout about during his time at the club to date, with arguably his only memorable contribution having been the opener in the win over Liverpool back in August.
Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United
The former Manchester City man has no doubt been something of a "flop" due to his lack of impact, as per journalist Jason Soutar, with Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and now Ten Hag likely to have expected more from the £73m addition – with that fee far more than the £12.8m that was dished out on Ronaldo.
Although the latter man did have the expense of his exorbitant £515k-per-week salary, as per FBref, Sancho too has also been rather costly with regard to his hefty wages, with the struggling dud reportedly taking home around £350k-per-week.
Equally, while the age of Ronaldo ensured that he was always set to be nothing more than a short-term fix, the hope was that the young Englishman, by contrast, would be a player to build around for the future, with Solskjaer describing him as someone who "will form an integral part of my squad for years to come", at the time of the winger's capture.
At present, that belief does not look like coming to pass, with Ten Hag and co now lumbered with an expensive player who they can't so easily write off, as they did so to allow Ronaldo to move on last year.
While it is easy to see that neither of those 2021 signings have gone to plan, it does appear to be the case that the signing of Sancho was the bigger mistake, even if the 5 foot 11 man does potentially still have time to come good.