Tag Futebol

It’s only a matter of time before Dejan Kulusevski becomes a permanent Tottenham Hotspur player.

The 22-year-old dynamo joined Spurs on an initial 18-month loan, costing £8.3m, from Juventus in January 2021 and has emerged as a standout figure in Antonio Conte’s squad, adding some more firepower to a frontline involving Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

Although still technically contracted to the Old Lady, the north Londoners are set to trigger a £25m clause before his temporary deal expires at the end of the season.

Since arriving from Italy, the Sweden international has delivered 21 goals or assists across 40 appearances, averaging one direct contribution every 132 minutes, via Transfermarkt.

Only a few players are managing a higher average WhoScored match rating than Kulusevski this term, further highlighting his importance to both the manager and the club.

How much is Dejan Kulusevski worth?

When Spurs do pull the trigger on signing Kulusevski permanently, then they’ll instantly hit the jackpot as the winger’s value has risen rapidly thanks to his form in the Premier League.

According to FootballTransfers, the £110k-per-week star is now valued a whopping €70.4m (£62m), which would represent a 148% increase on what sporting director Fabio Paratici agreed to, making the deal seem like a complete steal.

Over the last year alone, the Swede ranks inside the top 6% for assists per 90 when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s elite five divisions, via FBref, who also liken him to proven Premier League talents in Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho, in terms of statistical profile.

Hailed as “a monster” and a “non-stop machine” by Italian football expert Nima Tavallaey Roodsari prior to his switch to north London, we have certainly seen such attributes from Kulusevski, making him one of the more lethal attacking options in the top-flight in recent times.

More recently, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was the latest name to praise Spurs’ dangerman, having made a considerable impact in the 1-0 win over the defending champions.

“After we made a mistake they punished us – 1-0 down it is different, we had chances, and of course when we lose balls in transition with Kulusevski and Son, it is not easy. We dropped three points.”

As such, there is no denying that Spurs have completely struck gold with the deal to sign Kulusevski – whether he’s here to stay for the long-term or moves on for big profit in the future, Paratici has certainly played a blinder in signing a £62m-rated talent for nearly a third of the price.

AND in other news, Conte could bin £100k-p/w “liability” as Spurs plot summer swoop for “excellent” titan…

West Bromwich Albion return to Championship action tonight, as they welcome a buoyant Coventry City to the Hawthorns.

Despite having initially masterminded a turnaround in form, Carlos Corberan is arguably facing his first minor stumble since taking over, despite the context surrounding the back-to-back defeats; narrowly losing to top of the league and not showing up in the cup.

The Baggies remain just two points from the playoff spots but will be well aware of the Sky Blues breathing down their neck, just three points behind them.

Having welcomed two new faces to the club too over January, the talent pool that Corberan now has to pick from has grown even further. Not only does he have a squad that has truly bought into his methods, but finally two additions who can stamp his mark even further onto the team.

With that in mind, here’s the West Brom XI Football FanCast is predicting for tonight’s clash…

Corberan is expected to make four changes from his team that were thrashed out of the FA Cup by Bristol City.

David Button will continue in goal, behind an unchanged back four that did concede three last time out.

Despite that, Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea remain two of the best centre-backs at the club, and Adam Reach was one of the few standout performers in that aforementioned game.

Darnell Furlong will occupy the right flank.

The engine room will see one casualty from that performance, as Jayson Molumby drops out to allow Tom Rogic to feature beside Okay Yokuslu. The Turkish general again performed admirably against The Robins, but his Irish teammate let the side down massively.

Journalist Elias Burke even took to Twitter during the match to tweet: “Molumby, with an awful touch in midfield, allows Bristol to pounce and hit Albion on the counter. Sykes plays an enticing ball across a six-yard box, and Scott on hand to tap in at the far post. So poor again.”

The 23-year-old’s sloppiness saw him directly at fault for one of the goals, and he will pay with his place in the side.

John Swift will earn a recall just in front of them, flanked by a returning face and a brand-new addition.

Grady Diangana will occupy the left wing, whilst Marc Albrighton makes his first start since joining from Leicester City on loan. He brings a wealth of experience and will offer a pinpoint delivery to the focal point frontman.

Daryl Dike will retain his place up top, especially given Karlan Grant’s failed exit from the club which is indicative of his standing amongst the squad.

The American has two goals in his last three league games and will want to continue this hot streak tonight.

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on both Pedro Porro and Denzel Dumfries in the January transfer window.

Last Friday, Portuguese publication Record (via Sport Witness) revealed that Fabio Paratici had scheduled a meeting with Sporting Lisbon this week in order to discuss the possibility of bringing Porro to the Premier League – with the Liga Portugal side said to be demanding that the 23-year-old right-back’s €45m (£40m) release clause is met.

However, should Paratici fail to reach an agreement with Ruben Amorim’s side this month, FC Inter News report that Antonio Conte has identified Inter Milan’s Dumfries as an alternative to the Spain international, with the 26-year-old full-back’s agent thought to be in London in order to ‘deepen the talks’ with Spurs regarding the Netherlands star.

In terms of Dumfries’ price, the Serie A club are thought to value the defender in the region of €50m (£45m), although the latest reports from Italy are suggesting that Simone Inzaghi’s outfit would be willing to accept an offer of just €40m (£35.5m) for the former PSV Eindhoven talent – around £4.5m less than it would cost to land Porro.

Dream Porro alternative

While it is undeniable that a player of Porro’s undoubted ability would be a fantastic signing for Paratici to get over the line in January, should Sporting continue to play hardball over the 23-year-old, the argument that Dumfries would represent a dream alternative to the Spaniard is an easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 33 appearances in Serie A last time out, the £45m-rated Dutchman was in sensational form going forwards, scoring five goals, providing four assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.4 crosses per game.

The £54k-per-week right-back has been in similarly fine form going forwards over his 17 league outings this season, having already found the net once, registered two assists and created eight big chances, along with taking 1.3 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.5 crosses per match.

In comparison, over Porro’s 23 Liga Portugal appearances last season, the £22m-rated talent was also in fantastic attacking form, bagging four goals, providing four assists and creating 11 big chances for his teammates, while also taking an average of 1.6 shots, making two key passes and completing 1.8 crosses per game.

It has been a similar story over his 13 league outings in the current campaign, with the £10k-per-week defender having already scored one goal, provided five assists and created six big chances, in addition to taking 2.5 shots, making two key passes and completing 1.5 crosses per match.

As such, with Conte himself admitting he prefers his full-backs to be primarily attack-focused than defensively-minded, it is clear to see why the Italian would be interested in both Porro and Dumfries this winter, as the Sporting and Inter duo are arguably two of the most attack-minded right-backs currently playing their football in Europe.

Therefore, should Paratici fail to get a deal over the line for the Spaniard this month, it would indeed appear a wise move for the Italian sporting director to launch an offer for the “deadly” – in the words of journalist Marco Messina – Dumfries, as the 26-year-old would not only cost less than Porro, but he is also a player very much in the same mould as the Sporting star.

Crystal Palace have been linked with re-signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United this month and it seems as if the Eagles are confident that they will win the race for the right-back.

What’s the word?

Ever since Erik ten Hag arrived as the new manager at Old Trafford, it has seemed clear that Wan-Bissaka doesn’t have a future with the Red Devils, so it was only natural to see the Eagles linked with signing him, more than three years on from his £50m move from Selhurst Park.

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook provided the latest on the 25-year-old, suggesting that he could still leave on loan this month despite reclaiming his starting spot in the absence of Diego Dalot following the World Cup.

He said: “In terms of Wan-Bissaka, I know Wolves are very keen but Crystal Palace feel that if he goes anywhere, he will go back there. But I think United would need to bring in a right-back as cover because Dalot has been injured since the World Cup. To be fair, Wan-Bissaka has taken his chance quite well.”

He could be unstoppable for Vieira

This season has seen Patrick Vieira alternate between Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne as the starting options at right-back and given they are 33 and 31 respectively, it is obvious that a long-term solution is needed in that position.

According to WhoScored, the two experienced defenders have earned 6.51 and 6.27 average ratings for their performances in the top flight so far this campaign, which ranks them as the 11th-best and 14th-best players in Vieira’s squad, indicating that the Frenchman urgently needs an upgrade in the January window.

In Wan-Bissaka, they could be presented with an unstoppable force down the right-hand side once again.

While the United full-back was cast aside by Ten Hag for the first half of the season, he has really caught the eye in recent wins, helping United to clean sheets in his last five starts in all competitions, earning an impressive 6.85 rating from WhoScored for his displays in the top flight.

The strong defender, who was duly labelled “unstoppable” by Dave O’Grady back in 2019, has always had his limitations going forward but could help to make Palace a much more secure defensive outfit should he return to Selhurst Park this month.

Indeed, he ranks in the top 3% of players in his position throughout Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions and sits within the very best 1% for tackles, as per FBRef. As for Clyne and Ward, they rank poorly, sitting in the worst 10% and the worst 18% respectively for tackles.

It is clear that Vieira does need to strengthen in that position given Ward and Clyne’s underwhelming form and advanced age, so it can only be good news that Palace are reportedly confident of Wan-Bissaka’s return. He could well be an unstoppable defensive menace upon his return to London.

West Ham could sell Declan Rice in the summer for just £70m, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Rice to leave in the summer

Many clubs could well be looking to sign Rice this month to improve their side and sense an opportunity given West Ham’s shocking first half of the season, with the Hammers now sitting only outside of the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference.

However, David Moyes has come out on record to confirm that Rice won’t be sold by the Hammers this month, though the summer could well be the time he eventually departs the London Stadium.

Some reports have suggested that Rice will cost around £150m if any club wishes to take him away from West Ham in the near future.

The Latest: £70m enough to sign Rice

Despite that reported huge price tag on Rice’s head, Jacobs thinks clubs could land a bargain deal for someone so young and accomplished if they wait until the summer.

Speaking on The Done Deal Show, he said: “Now, there’s a feeling amongst suitors come the summer, Rice’s price is going to drop to maybe as low as £70m, and that is deemed to be [good] value, so then we have to wait and see who seriously comes into the mix.”

The Verdict: West Ham may lose out on millions

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If it is true that clubs believe Rice will be on the market for no more than £70m, West Ham may end up kicking themselves that they didn’t cash in on the midfielder last summer when clubs were being quoted £150m.

However, even if they don’t receive as much as they once wanted for Rice, West Ham could be happy to get a major cash injection from a player that cost them nothing.

It will be difficult to replace Rice as he leads the team in so many key areas such as interceptions, passes and progressive passes (FBref), but David Moyes will have to hope £70m can sufficiently replace him.

Leeds United could be set to lure one player from a Premier League rival, although they face increasing pressure to do so…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Napoli have now recorded an interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore.

The Serie A leaders are keen on securing the Spain forward on a free transfer as he enters the final six months of his £46k-per-week deal at Molineux.

Despite this interest, the Whites remain in pole position to land the man who nearly joined Tottenham Hotspur last January in a proposed £20m move.

Leeds’ own Rashford

Although a stigma surrounds Traore’s tenure in the Premier League, it cannot be denied that he instils fear into almost every full-back that he faces.

His unique blend of blistering speed partnered with a strength seldom seen in a winger makes him a physical marvel, with Jetro Willems claiming: “I have played against some very good players in my career, but no one as fast as Adama Traore. He’s unbelievable, a beast.”

Martin Keown has echoed that sentiment, stating: “He has got everything in his game. He’s electric.”

The 26-year-old’s size and speed draw comparisons with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, with FBRef including the Englishman on Traore’s ‘similar players’ metric. This juxtaposition is made even more complimentary when considering the 25-year-old’s World Cup campaign for England.

Despite averaging just 30 minutes per game, the attacker averaged a 7.10 rating throughout the tournament whilst scoring three times, including a wonderful free-kick against Wales.

Often arriving from the bench, Rashford became one of England’s most deadly assets in a run which was halted in the quarter-finals by holders and 2022 finalists France. 

Traore did not receive a call-up for the World Cup, having scored just twice this season for his club. Despite this, he still sits in the top 1% for dribbles completed among wingers in Europe’s top five leagues this year, with the suggestion from Joe Edwards being that, when in form, the winger is “almost unstoppable”.

He will never be a prolific option in front of goal, having scored only 13 times in 168 Wolves appearances, but the fear that he provokes and the danger that he causes can create space for his team-mates to exploit. With that in mind, the likes of Rodrigo at centre-forward could thrive if playing alongside him.

Therefore, it could actually be a smart move for Jesse Marsch to swoop for Traore and secure Leeds’ version of England World Cup star Rashford.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Davide Frattesi after the World Cup…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Il Resto del Carlino, the north London outfit are one of several teams interested in signing the Sassuolo midfielder heading into the January transfer window.

Jose Mourinho at AS Roma, as well as Premier League rivals Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion, are said to be hot on the 23-year-old’s tail too.

The Neroverdi only tied Frattesi down to a new £21.8k-per-week contract earlier in the year, with that deal set to expire in 2026, though it’s thought they would sell him if a bid in excess of €30m (£26m) was offered.

Shades of Barella

Spurs’ interest in the box-to-box maestro should come as little surprise, given their recent success stories in buying from the Serie A – both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur have been instant hits over in N17, whilst Destiny Udogie is in line to replicate that feat next season.

Another central midfielder may not be high on the agenda of some around Hotspur Way but there is no denying that Frattesi is hugely talented, having now picked up four caps for Italy at senior level,  including two against England, who unlike Roberto Mancini’s men are at the World Cup in Qatar this month.

The Italian sensation appears to be an old-school type of midfielder in the mould of a Frank Lampard or a Steven Gerrard as he has developed a knack for being in the right place at the right time in front of goal.

Indeed, his four goals in the Serie A this term – or 0.24 non-penalty efforts per 90 – sees him rank inside the top 3% of his fellow midfielders across Europe’s elite five divisions and he ranks the same for shots, averaging 2.19 per 90, via FBref.

Such form has caught the eye, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano a noted fan of his as told Empire of the Kop back in December 2021: “Fratesi seems to be the next Barella. He’s this kind of player, super talented, very interesting.”

What is most intriguing is the comparison to Antonio Conte’s former Inter Milan gem, Nicolo Barella, who himself has been likened to one of the aforementioned top-flight greats.

The fellow Italy international appeared 87 times under the 53-year-old tactician, where he provided a whopping 28 goal contributions – as well as a Scudetto triumph to boot – and Conte still remains a big admirer to this day.

But it is perhaps Frattesi that offers a cheaper alternative, given the €90m (£78m) price tag that Inter slapped on Barella during the summer.

As such, Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici could well secure Conte his ‘next Barella’ by swooping for the Sassuolo machine at the turn of the new year, where Spurs will be desperate to add quality to bolster their domestic and European ambitions.

AND in other news, Spurs keeping tabs on “special” £26.2m World Cup “wonder”, he could be the next Lionel Messi…

With an enforced World Cup break now coming at the worst possible time for high-flying West Bromwich Albion, they will now be stuck waiting nearly a month until their Championship season resumes with a trip to Sunderland.

It has been a tumultuous campaign thus far, with Steve Bruce having seen his reign come crashing to an end as his side was left adrift in the relegation zone.

However, under the new leadership of Carlos Corberan, there has been a huge turnaround. The Baggies had won all of their last three matches without conceding, delighting fans as their side finally found a solution to their plight.

One player who has massively contributed to this turnaround is Kyle Bartley, with the stalwart of a centre-back having scored two in his last two games and defended staunchly throughout.

He stands as proof that his age will make him a fine asset at the Hawthorns, as Semi Ajayi will hope to echo upon his return from injury.

It was said in the middle of September that following surgery to his ankle he would be out of action for up to eight weeks. When their trip to Wearside comes back around, calling an end to this rest period, the 29-year-old could finally be back in contention.

Having moved to the Hawthorns in a £1.5m deal, Ajayi had played every minute of their season before being struck down. In total, he has featured 117 times for West Brom.

His performances have been so consistent that he has been linked with moves away from the Midlands. Kevin Phillips sang his praises earlier this year when those rumours intensified, dubbing him: “a big, powerful centre-half with leadership qualities.”

Ajayi’s solidity has led to an unsurprising surge in his value, which peaked only last year when he hit €6m (£5.2m) in June of 2021.

That marks a sensational 246% increase from when he first signed for the £13k-per-week titan.

It marks yet another player who West Brom have struck gold on in recent years, and now under the guidance of Corberan, there will likely be plenty more to rise up to earn the club added acclaim.

Wolves could be eyeing up Corinthians manager Vitor Pereira as their new incoming boss at Molineux, according to a new rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Manager search ongoing

Bruno Lage was sacked by Wanderers earlier this month, following a below-par start to the Premier League season, in a big change at the club.

Wolves have been patient when it comes to nailing the Portuguese’s replacement, however, with his successor not yet confirmed over three weeks later.

Now, a fresh report is doing the rounds, however, as the club look to find the ideal replacement for Lage.

The Latest: Pereira rumour emerges

According to Sport Witness, Band host Neto has confirmed that Pereira may end up at Wolves, saying the Old Gold could snap him up.

The 54-year-old reportedly won’t be staying at Corinthians for another season and his current deal runs out at the end of this year.

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The Verdict: Left-field target

This is a rumour that seems to have come from nowhere, with Pereira not someone who has necessarily been identified as a primary managerial target.

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The Portuguese could be an intriguing option, however, having won the Primeira Liga with Porto twice – not to mention a Greek Super League title with Olympiakos and a Chinese Super League title with Shanghai SIPG.

Pereira would bring with him a proven winning mentality in Europe and he has been renowned for his attacking style – something that would be a refreshing change from Lage, and Nuno Espirito Santo before him.

Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo looks set to return from injury against Arsenal this weekend.

The Lowdown: Palace absence

Firpo, hailed as ‘strong’ in the past by La Liga pundit Kevin Campbell, has had a frustrating campaign so far after suffering an injury during pre-season.

The Spaniard has made just one Premier League appearance for the Whites, coming on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa earlier this month.

He wasn’t included in the squad that lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace on Sunday, though, with Phil Hay relaying news of a new problem following his cameo against Villa.

The Latest: Arsenal return

LeedsLive journalist Oliver Jones shared a story on Tuesday, looking at the Whites’ injury list ahead of the meeting with Mikel Arteta’s side on Sunday.

He stated that Firpo will be back for Leeds this weekend after missing the trip to Palace with a knee problem.

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The Verdict: Good news

Jesse Marsch is short of left-back options and has relied on Pascal Struijk, primarily a centre-back, in Firpo’s absence.

Struijk scored his first goal of the season at Selhurst Park and has actually been the club’s best-rated player this season, as per WhoScored.

However, having Firpo back in the squad will still come as good news for Leeds. Providing he takes a place on the bench, Firpo will give Marsch an option to tinker with his side as the game goes on, something he took advantage of against Villa, changing the system when Leeds went down to ten men.