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Tottenham Hotspur gem Bryan Gil could yet make a late statement to make Spain’s squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar…

Son setback

The north London outfit managed to top their Champions League group in midweek by defeating Marseille, thanks to midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s last-minute winner at the Stade Velodrome but it came at a worrying cost.

Heung-min Son picked up a nasty and concerning facial injury, one that has now ruled him out of Spurs’ remaining games before the domestic break, including this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Liverpool. He is now in a race against time to be available for South Korea at the tournament.

According to the Telegraph, the 29-year-old underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured eye socket but he has only two weeks to recover before the World Cup kicks off with the host nation playing Ecuador on November 20.

Gil’s golden chance

Son isn’t going to be the only Lilywhites star at the World Cup.

England skipper Harry Kane, Argentina colossus Cristian Romero, the aforementioned Denmark monster and France no.1 Hugo Lloris are just a few other players set to feature in the greatest international competition there is to play in.

One player who would’ve been targeting a breakthrough at the tournament but is very much a major doubt is Gil, who has already picked up four senior caps in Luiz Enrique’s tenure.

The 2020 summer Olympics silver medalist and UEFA Nations League runner-up is surely a potential surprise wildcard for the La Roja boss given their poor attacking options.

They are no longer the Spain they once were and whilst they still head into the tournament amongst the European favourites, a likely frontline containing Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata, one-cap Betis star Borja Iglesias and an injury-hit Ansu Fati.

So with a spot opening up in Spurs’ attack, due to the big blow to Son, the 21-year-old dynamo – who was once dubbed as a “big talent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – could make a late run at making the 2010 World Cup winners’ squad, if manager Antonio Conte opts to unleash him – something he has rarely done.

He may now have to as Dejan Kulusevski has been injured for the past few weeks, Richarlison is unavailable too and there are also doubts over the fitness of Lucas Moura, as per football.london.

Tottenham paid Sevilla £21.6m for the young 5 foot 9 winger, also including Erik Lamela in the deal, but he has been restricted to only 25 appearances in a Lilywhites shirt, of which five have come this season.

It was the dynamism and pace of Gil that saw the Spanish starlet win his side a penalty in their 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt back in early October and it’s exactly those qualities that both Conte and Enrique can benefit from this month, and heading into 2023.

At one point in his career, the £40k-per-week hotshot, who has played only 47 minutes this term, was compared to Neymar – another player set to light up the World Cup this winter.

“[Gil] is right now the best player in Spain and I compare him with Neymar,” once claimed FC Barcelona scout German Vaya Ballabriga (via football.london). “He is so versatile, he can play at full-back, through the middle, on the left wing. He’s impressive.”

That versatility adds another element to both Spurs and Spain as he could emerge as a plug-and-play option for either side, and his “creative” qualities and “livewire” presence makes him a huge threat on any given day.

Gil could be the “game-changer” – in the words of Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir – that Spurs need, in the absence of Son, against a team like Liverpool and if he delivers, then Enrique will surely be keeping a watchful eye heading into his squad announcement next week.

Conte must now unleash the 21-year-old Spaniard this afternoon.

AND in other news, Forget Emerson: Conte must ditch Spurs liability vs Liverpool, he’s an “accident waiting to happen”…

Michael Keane is reportedly set to leave Everton on loan in the January transfer window and has even secured an Irish passport to increase his chances of exiting Goodison Park.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

The 29-year-old has fallen out of favour under Frank Lampard this season, having made just two first-team appearances and none since August (Transfermarkt).

The Goodison Park outfit signed Conor Coady and James Tarkowski from Wolves and Burnley respectively in the summer, which has left Keane very limited in terms of his minutes on the pitch.

The Latest: January exit?

As per The Daily Mail, Keane is ‘set to leave’ Everton on loan in January and could make a move to Europe after securing himself an Irish passport, for which he qualifies through the birthplace of his father.

The EU passport means that Brexit regulations can be swerved, although a move to another club in the Premier League is not ruled out.

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The Verdict: Get rid

Having brought in Coady and Tarkowski, Everton have six senior centre-back options in the squad at the moment including Keane, so they can afford to let him go in January given his lack of game-time.

The England international is currently earning £80,000 per week at the Toffees and is one of the higher earners in the squad.

Getting Keane off of the wage bill would help Everton in terms of increasing their budget to bring in other players in January too, and if he impresses at his loan club, a potential permanent deal could then be negotiated in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to open talks with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg over a potential new contract. 

The Lowdown: Spurs’ recent contract extensions

The north London club have seen the likes of Son Heung-min, Hugo Lloris and Ben Davies all sign contract extensions with the Lilywhites over the past 18 months.

The club have also been reportedly looking to get Antonio Conte to pledge his future to Spurs by offering him a new deal. Now though, it appears that another player could be in line to get a new and improved contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Latest: An improved deal for Hojbjerg

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Hojbjerg is set to be offered a pay hike as well as an extension to his current deal, which is set to expire in 2025.

The report also adds that the club are keen to tie the midfielder down to as Conte sees him as an important figure for his side.

The Verdict: A positive move for Spurs

Since joining the north London club from Southampton back in 2020, the 27-year-old, who has been described as a “colossus” for Conte’s side by journalist Andrew Gaffney, has made 122 appearances for Spurs across all competitions.

Across those appearances, the Danish international, who Gaffney also praised for his “sensational” performances for Spurs, has chipped in with nine goals and 13 assists.

This season has seen the £100k-per-week midfielder appear in all but one of Spurs’ games this season across all competitions, completing the full 90 minutes in the majority of them, which highlights just how vital he is for Conte.

With an overall performance rating of 7.07/10 from WhoScored, only three other Tottenham players have a higher rating than him, further showcasing how impressive the player has been for his side in the league this season.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why the club are looking to secure a contract extension for the former Southampton star.

Newcastle United are believed to be interested in signing Stuttgart defender Borna Sosa, with the Croatia international said to be open to a departure from his current side.

What’s the word?

According to German outlet, Bild, the Magpies have been named as one potential suitor for the 24-year-old, alongside Inter Milan and Atalanta, with the highly-rated full-back believed to be open to a new challenge in the near future.

The report does suggest, however, that the eight-cap sensation – who is set to feature for his country at the upcoming World Cup – is not seeking an exit in January, with a departure more likely to occur in the summer.

The piece goes on to add that the former Dinamo Zagreb man – whose current deal in Germany is set to expire in 2025 – could command a fee of around £17m were he to be sold, having previously been linked with a move to St James’ Park over the summer.

Trippier-esque

Sosa could well prove to be the long-term fit for Eddie Howe at left-back were he to make the switch in 2023, with the former Bournemouth boss currently utilising Dan Burn as something of a makeshift option in that role, with former Aston Villa man Matt Targett having been reduced to a bit-part status, making just four league starts this season.

While the use of Burn has been a success of late – with the 30-year-old’s form having seen him tipped for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad – there are arguably limitations to having the towering figure in that full-back berth, with the former Brighton and Hove Albion man having failed to provide a single goal involvement this season.

That is where the arrival of the Stuttgart sensation could seemingly bolster the Tynesiders in an attacking sense, with the £10.7k-per-week gem having racked up eight assists in just 12 games so far this term across all fronts, as he unsurprisingly ranks in the top 1% in that metric in Europe among those in his position.

That stunning form has been a continuation of the 6 foot 2 man’s displays in recent seasons, having now racked up 31 assists in just 96 games for the Bundesliga side to date, offering a real creative threat from his left-sided berth.

Dubbed a “crossing machine” by journalist Ronan Murphy, Sosa is arguably a striker’s dream as a result of his willingness to get the ball into the box at every opportunity, showcased by the fact that he ranks second in the German top-flight for crosses from open play (51) so far this term.

Adding a player with such quality delivery  – who has been compared to David Beckham for that trait – to Howe’s ranks could well provide greater balance to the backline, with the Croatian able to mirror the talent of Kieran Trippier on the other flank.

The 32-year-old has been a revelation at right-back since his January arrival from Atletico Madrid, going on to register seven goal involvements in just 24 games in that time, while also taking on the captain’s armband ahead of peripheral figure Jamaal Lascelles.

Much like Sosa, Trippier’s stunning delivery has also seen him likened to the aforementioned Beckham by pundit Rob Green in the past, with Newcastle – and the club’s strikers – set to thrive on having two lethal attacking assets from both full-back berths.

If the Zagreb-born ace can go on to replicate the impact of the former Tottenham Hotspur man, then the northeast side could be in for a real treat.

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo has been criticised for his performance in Portugal’s 3-2 win over Ghana in the World Cup. 

The Lowdown: Portugal beat Ghana

Portugal managed to secure a victory in their first group game of the tournament thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.

In the starting XI, Portugal manager Fernando Santos included three of City’s squad figures, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Cancelo.

Unfortunately, for the City right-back, his performance caught the attention of one journalist, in particular, but for all the wrong reasons.

The Latest: Cancelo slammed

In a Twitter post, journalist Josh Bunting had this to say about Cancelo and his display, labelling the full-back as ‘dreadful’.

“Portugal defensively have been a mess, that needs adjusted ahead of the Uruguay game on Monday. Cancelo has been dreadful both defensively and offensively, allows the cross to come in and Osman Bukari heads in for 3-2.”

The Verdict: A disappointing start

Having completed the full 90 minutes of the game, the 28-year-old had 85 touches of the ball in total but only racked up a passing accuracy percentage of 83%, which is lower than any other Portugal defender on the day.

From an attacking point of view, Cancelo only attempted one dribble in the game and failed to complete it successfully. He also didn’t manage to have an attempt on goal in this game, despite having 15 for City in the Premier League this season.

Then on the defensive side of his game, the full-back was beaten by Ghana’s Abdul Baba Rahman in the lead up to their second goal. Taking all of this into account, it seems that Cancelo didn’t have the best opening game in terms of his individual performance.

Moving forward, he’ll be hoping that he can improve from this first match and carry on winning as many games as he can with his country before returning to club football at the end of next month.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Jakub Kiwior to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport, who claim that Juventus have now joined the race to sign the Spezia Calcio centre-back this winter, with the Serie A giants willing to sign the 22-year-old in January before loaning the defender back to Spezia for the remainder of the current campaign – a prospect that is thought to tempt the 17th-placed side.

This is sure to have come as a blow to Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte, with an earlier report by Spanish publication AS revealing that Tottenham are one of a number of Premier League clubs hoping to land the Poland international this winter – with Spezia believed to be demanding a figure in the region of €30m (£26m) in order to part with the youngster.

“Very positive surprise”

Considering just how impressive Kiwior has been in Italy so far this season, coupled with Conte’s well-documented desire for defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window, it is not hard to understand why Paratici would be interested in a deal to bring the 22-year-old to north London this winter.

Indeed, over his 15 Serie A appearances in the current campaign, the £17.5m-rated talent has been a rock at the back for Spezia, making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 3.7 clearances and winning 3.0 duels per game.

The £22k-per-week defender has also impressed in possession of the ball, creating one big chance for his side, in addition to enjoying an average of 59.2 touches, completing 38.9 passes – a success rate of 86% – and playing 3.6 long balls per match.

These returns have seen the player who Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig claimed has been a “very positive surprise” and Fabrizo Romano previously dubbed “untouchable” average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.83, currently ranking him as Luca Gotti’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of Italian football.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the left-footer also ranks in the top 7% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for blocks per 90, as well as the top 20% for interceptions, the top 21% for tackles and the top 17% for dribbles over the last 365 days – highlighting just how strong the 22-year-old is at the back, as well as his comfort in bringing the ball out from defence.

As such, considering just how much ability Kiwior already possesses, in addition to the youngster undoubtedly boasting huge scope for further development, it is indeed easy to see why Paratici and Conte would be keen on the Poland starlet in January, as the defender would certainly look to make an exceptional – if not surprising – addition to Spurs’ current defensive options.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has suffered a challenging start to his tenure at the club, currently riding a three-match losing skid and subsequently spending the World Cup devising a plan to counter the lapse in form. 

Despite the club’s struggles, several rays of light are shining through, with 18-year-old starlet Lewis Hall starting to break into the first-team reckoning after impressing for the development squad.

A versatile left-flanker, enjoying success both as a full-back and within a more offensive-minded position, Hall made his first-team debut for the Blues last season, earning Man of the Match against Chesterfield, in a performance of quality beyond his years. 

Praised for his “mature” nature by Potter, Hall is certainly on the way to earning more opportunities for the Blues, having made two appearances for the Blues in the matches preceding the World Cup in Qatar. 

Enduring a challenging outing against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, recording a match rating of 6.3, Hall returned with a steady performance against Newcastle United in the Premier League, and despite losing the match offered glimpses of prowess that Potter will be confident in developing over the coming months. 

Against the Magpies, Hall completed 81% of his passes, making three interceptions and one tackle, as per Sofascore.

And at just 18 years old, earning two starts for Chelsea is no small feat, with his quality and potential clearly two factors that the hierarchy hold close, believing that with the right tinkering, a star of supreme quality might arise in the coming months. 

It’s worth noting that against City, Hall impressed with bursting runs and deft dribbling patterns, but ultimately succumbed to the supreme quality of the English champions. 

His ability on the ball, almost intrinsic, offers shades of esteemed former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, who is regarded as one of the greatest to adopt the position and flourished for years with his darting forward runs, excellent defensive skills and a knack for providing brilliant attacking assistance. 

With Cole making 337 appearances for Chelsea, scoring seven goals and providing 37 assists, winning the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League during his stay, Hall has some way to go before successfully replicating the 41-year-old’s endeavours, but he’s off on the right foot. 

Indeed, if Hall is to continue his development, and continue building the blocks at Chelsea, then the club might just have found the regeneration of their iconic full-back.

With Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella both ahead of the young Englishman in the pecking order, Hall clearly won’t assume the regular starting role for some time yet, but with a diligent, hard-working approach, he can absorb the wisdom of his seniors and make use of the impeccable training facilities that Chelsea boast, possibly rising to the highest level at the club.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will be looking to use the January transfer window to add a couple of new faces to his team and assemble his squad how he sees fit ahead of a vital few months.

He might not be under severe pressure just yet, but the previous few weeks before the World Cup break saw the London side defeated by Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Arsenal in the Premier League and improvement will be needed after Christmas.

What’s the word?

Not only do they face competition on the pitch, but Chelsea are in a fight with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential move for Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol.

That’s according to Corriere dello Sport, who claim that the defender has caught the eye of Tottenham with Potter facing a battle to secure the services of the youngster.

Indeed, Chelsea had an offer rejected in the summer and a move for the RB Leipzig star would now cost around €80 (£68m), which considering his potential and performances already this season, could be a very shrewd investment for the future.

Shining in Qatar

The 20-year-old has shown maturity beyond his years in the Bundesliga this season, losing possession on average just 6.5 times per match, while winning an impressive 2.5 duels per game at a success rate of 62%.

The £68m price tag will now surely be down to his World Cup displays for Croatia, as Gvardiol has been a key part of a defence that has conceded just once in three matches.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.3/10, making 1.7 interceptions per game, 1.3 tackles, and taking a staggering 88.3 touches on average across the three group stage matches.

This clearly suggests he is extremely comfortable on the ball despite playing in high-pressure situations and by winning 64% of his total duels over the games, his physicality is one of his main strengths.

It’s no wonder he has been decreed the Erling “Haaland of defenders” by talent scout Jacek Kulig. The youngster has clearly had the same blistering impact on world football as the Norwegian striker, just at the opposite end of the pitch.

Journalist Zach Lowy even dubbed him as a “sensational centre-back” while declaring that the player had been the best player on a pitch that contained Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modric, no mean feat.

If Potter wants to remain with the club for the long haul, signing talents like Gvardiol will make his job that little bit easier, while also signalling a massive statement of intent toward the rest of the league.

Manchester United are still thought to be interested in signing Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, with his future set to be decided next week.

The Lowdown: Gakpo ‘agreement’

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Red Devils have reached an ‘agreement in principle’ with Cody Gakpo. A further update then claimed that the club are increasingly confident of signing the PSV forward in January instead of waiting until next summer, and are in regular contact with the 23-year-old’s camp.

Gakpo doesn’t appear to be the only Netherlands attacker on the radar at Old Trafford, though, with news now emerging on Depay’s future.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Spanish outlet Sport regarding Depay on Thursday. They claimed that Depay’s future will be known next week, with the 28-year-old having offers on the table.

The report also adds that United, Tottenham, Juventus and Roma are all interested in a deal.

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The Verdict: Why not…

Gakpo has shone in recent months for club and country, however, he has been plying his trade as a left winger, whereas Depay, who played alongside Gakpo at the World Cup in Qatar, tends to occupy more of a central role.

A replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo appears needed in the New Year, so a swoop for former man Depay, lauded as a ‘different beast‘ now by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst, could be a smart idea considering he has scored plenty of goals for Lyon and Barcelona since leaving United.

He could be available on the cheap over the coming weeks and contact has already reportedly been made, so it may prove to be Dutch delight for United in 2023 under Erik ten Hag with Gakpo and Depay in attack.

Glasgow Rangers claimed their first win under new manager Michael Beale with a second-half performance which delighted the Ibrox crowd to seal a comeback 3-2 victory last Thursday on their return to Premiership action.

While the 42-year-old was a first-team coach under Steven Gerrard between 2018 and 2021, during which time he tasted victory on many occasions, this was his first competitive game as the Light Blues’ manager, and there is no doubt he will be wanting more.

The focus now turns towards tonight’s match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, which will represent a different challenge, and Beale will be hoping that his team can carry the momentum from that excellent final 45 minutes against Hibernian into this game.

Alfredo Morelos was excellent against the Edinburgh club, scoring the winner while taking four shots in total, and he looked more comfortable in Beale’s new tactical system. Ryan Jack also impressed, receiving a Sofascore rating of 7.5/10 while chipping in with the second equaliser.

It wasn’t all positive though, with the centre-back pairing of John Lundstram and James Sands allowing Hibs to score twice and almost ruin the manager’s first match in charge.

The 22-year-old didn’t exactly click with the Englishman at the heart of defence, and with the American being moved between midfield and a defensive role under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, he hasn’t had time to properly settle into one position.

He wasn’t particularly bad against Hibs, although he lost possession ten times on the night. However, when the squad is back to full fitness, he will most likely return to the bench.

The American was miles out of his depth in the Champions League this autumn, receiving a Sofascore ranking of just 6.2/10 across his four matches in the group stage, losing possession eight times per match and winning just 41% of his ground duels.

Journalist Josh Bunting summed up Rangers’ lack of defensive options following a 4-0 thrashing away to Ajax in their first game of the group stage, saying: “The board have a lot to answer for, not just Giovanni van Bronckhorst. I don’t know how van Bronckhorst said he’s happy with the squad he has this time last year Scott Wright and James Sands couldn’t get near this team now they are regulars. Absolutely ridiculous.”

The quicker that Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Ben Davies are back fit and firing, the better for Beake. Sands is a useful option to have, but when he isn’t settled in a particular position, it can have quite an impediment on the team.

His lack of chemistry with Lundstram nearly cost Rangers against Hibs last week, and if he starts again tonight, it might be the same old story.