Spurs Plot Late Swoop For Sanchez 2.0 In £4m-rated Rock

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be keen to add their defensive ranks on transfer deadline day, amid reports that Ange Postecoglou's side are eyeing a surprise late move for a current Premier League centre-back…

Who will Tottenham sign on Deadline Day?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites are believed to be mulling over a potential swoop for Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, with the suggestion being that the north London outfit would even be willing to include long-serving asset Eric Dier as part of a deal for the 24-year-old.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Writing on Twitter, the respected journalist stated: "EXCL: Tottenham considering possible move for Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth in last 24h. No formal bid/concrete yet as depends on outgoings, Spurs need players to leave. Bournemouth would need to replace Kelly, not easy; also Eric Dier could be offered as part of deal."

How good is Lloyd Kelly?

While Postecoglou and co have already bolstered the backline with the signing of Micky van de Ven earlier in the summer, there had been previous claims that the club were interested in signing at least one more central defender before the close of the window, amid prior links to the likes of Clement Lenglet and Edmond Tapsoba.

Having shipped a dismal tally of 63 league goals last term, it is easy to see why those at N17 are so eager to find increased depth for the defensive unit, with the ex-Celtic boss currently set to be particularly reliant on both Van de Ven and Cristian Romero for the remainder of the campaign.

Lloyd Kelly

With that in mind, it does appear to make sense to push to bring in a new recruit before tonight's deadline, although whether Kelly is a suitable target is another matter altogether, with Spurs supporters likely to be concerned at the fact that the Englishman has been likened to Davinson Sanchez as part of Football Transfers' 'Similar Players' list.

That comparison will spark a sense of trepidation among the Tottenham faithful as Sanchez has endured a miserable time of it of late in the capital, with the Colombian international memorably being booed by the home crowd following a short, erratic cameo against the Cherries last season.

Branded "one of the worst players" to have played for the club, in the eyes of talkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara, the 27-year-old appears to be a player that Postecoglou is desperate to get rid of over the coming hours, having only recently missed the crucial spot-kick in the penalty shootout defeat to Fulham in the Carabao Cup, with the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick writing that the player 'struggled with and without the ball in a desperate first-half display'.

To think then that a possible clone of Sanchez could be about to be snapped up in the form of Kelly – who has been valued at just €5m (£4m) by CIES Football Observatory – is a real worry, with the pair also alike due to their statistical record in recent times.

That likeness can be seen by the fact that the duo are hardly adept at winning back possession for their respective sides, with Kelly ranking in just the bottom 29% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for interceptions made per 90, while his Spurs counterpart ranks in the bottom 36% in that regard.

Equally, the Bournemouth brute – who has at least been lauded for his "aggressive" style in the past by former boss Scott Parker – has hardly set the world alight so far this term after making just a solitary league start for the south coast side, with it hard to see the wisdom in Tottenham making the effort to bring him to north London.

Sistema ofensivo do Athletico apresenta uma queda de rendimento

MatériaMais Notícias

Nas duas primeiras rodadas do Brasileirão, o Athletico foi a sensação com 100% de aproveitamento e a esperança que o Furacão poderia lutar entre os primeiros colocados.

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Seis jogos depois o cenário é totalmente diferente. A equipe caiu de rendimento, despencou na classificação, flerta com a zona de rebaixamento e até mesmo o técnico Dorival Júnior já foi mandado embora.

Se a defesa começou a ser vazada, um dos motivos para o baixo rendimento é o desempenho do ataque, que não conseguiu corresponder diante dos rivais.

Nos seis jogos sem vitória, o ataque do Athletico balançou a rede contra o Santos e Bragantino. Diante do Palmeiras, Fluminense, São Paulo e Vasco, o grito de gol não saiu.

Na próxima rodada, o Athletico terá mais uma chance para quebrar a seca de gols e vitórias. O rival é o Botafogo, na Arena da Baixada.

Man United could "accelerate" transfer move for 6ft 3 exciting player

Manchester United are 'expected to accelerate' their attempts to sign young goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, according to Dharmesh Sheth.

The Japanese shot-stopper will only be signed once Dean Henderson's future is resolved, however.

Who is Zion Suzuki?

Suzuki is a 20-year-old goalkeeper who currently plies his trade for Japanese J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds.

The United States-born player has been with the club for the entirety of his senior career and has made 28 appearances for the first-team squad since his debut in March 2021. However, he has struggled for game time this season compared to previous seasons, managing just five appearances in the J-League Cup and zero appearances in the league so far this campaign.

The goalkeeper is also a fully capped Japanese international, making his national team debut in a 6-0 win against Hong Kong in 2022.

Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Suzuki, who stands at 6'3, is thought of very highly at his club, with current coach Maciej Skorza stating in an interview: "The Reds have four very interesting goalkeepers. Among them, Shusaku [Nishikawa] and Zion [Suzuki] are of a very high level, I think Zion is taller than Shusaku, and I think he’s a young player with a lot of future potential."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sheth revealed that Suzuki is someone that manager Erik ten Hag is considering, and that any potential transfer deal should "accelerate" when the situation around Henderson's future is more clear: "Of course, Andre Onana will be the number one, he’s been the one that Erik ten Hag has chased the whole summer and potentially Zion Suzuki as well. So, I’d expect that to probably accelerate a little bit more once there’s a degree of certainty on Dean Henderson’s future.”

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Will Zion Suzuki join Manchester United?

It is clear to see why Manchester United are interested in Suzuki.

Reports state that he first caught the clubs eye during the U17 World Cup back in 2017, with the Red Devils now preparing an offer to bring in the Japanese goalkeeper after "witnessing his growth against the Dutch national team" where he had a strong performance in a U21 international clash. The Japanese shot-stopper has also drawn comparisons to United's new signing Andre Onana due to their similar styles of play and attributes, especially how both of them are extremely comfortable playing out from the back with their feet. Bringing in Suzuki would represent a commitment to a more traditional Erik ten Hag style of football, with both goalkeepers being involved in the build-up play in comparison to David De Gea last campaign, who was routinely criticized for his poor distribution.

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The move may not happen, however, with reports stating that the youngster has turned down the move, as he believes he needs regular first-team football ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games if he is going to be Japan's first-choice keeper, which is not going to be available at Old Trafford. The report also states that due to Suzuki's unwillingness to make the move, the club may shift their focus on signing Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to provide competition for Onana next season.

SA first-class calendar to feature two-month pause for T20 league

The Global T20 League will find a dedicated block in South Africa’s cricket calendar which is set to accommodate three touring countries before April 2018

Firdose Moonda04-Sep-2017

Cricket South Africa President Chris Nenzani speaks at the inaugural player draft of the T20 Global League•T20 Global League

South Africa’s six domestic franchises will compete in all three formats – including a T20 event – in the 2017-18 summer, which will be headlined by the inaugural T20 Global League.To accommodate for the privately-owned glamour competition, there will be no domestic cricket for almost two months, between October 26 and December 20, while the T20 Global League is played. In that time, all South Africa’s national players will be available, but their likelihood of featuring for their franchises has been reduced by a packed international calendar that sees them hosting Bangladesh, India and Australia.The domestic season begins with a round of first-class fixtures which start on September 19, nine days before the Test series against Bangladesh begins on September 28. Four more rounds of first-class cricket will be played before the format takes an extended break until February 8. That means South Africa’s cricketers will be without immediate long-form practice before the Test series against India. Dates are yet to be confirmed but that series is expected to start in January 2018 and CSA are considering other opponents to fill the gap over Boxing Day.India are understood to want at least two tour matches before the series, which could delay the traditional New Year’s Test, but will provide an opportunity for some South African players to get back into the red-ball mindset after six weeks of T20 cricket.The T20 Global League will be played from November 3 until December 16, after which the domestic one-day cup will kick off. It will run from December 20 until February 4, and will follow the usual format of a league round, semi-finals and a final.The second-half of the first-class competition will be played between February 8 and March 11, by which time South Africa will be involved in a four-Test series against Australia which will also coincide with the franchise T20 tournament. From March 14 to April 15, the six franchises will compete in two sets of round-robin matches against each other, semi-finals and a final.For the second season in succession, the T20 competition is set to be played without a sponsor. In the 2015-16 summer, courier company RAM put their name to the event which was broadcast internationally for the first time. It was marred by a corruption scandal which saw seven players, including former internationals Alviro Petersen, Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Gulam Bodi, banned for between two and 20 years, for their roles in attempting to fix matches. RAM did not back the competition in 2016-17 and it was played with CSA’s sole funding. It appears that will be the case again in 2017-18.

Leeds: Farke Can Find His Next Buendia In 5 ft 7 Magician

Daniel Farke's Leeds United kick off their Championship campaign with a clash against Cardiff City at Elland Road in less than two weeks.

Who have Leeds signed so far this summer?

Versatile ace Ethan Ampadu is the only official addition to the German head coach's squad to date after he joined on a permanent deal from Premier League outfit Chelsea.

However, Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara is reportedly closing in on a £5m move to west Yorkshire and Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow could also arrive as a third signing ahead of the opening match against the Welsh team.

That may not be the end of their business, though, as they have recently been linked with interest in Coventry star Gustavo Hamer, who is a player with the potential to be Farke's next version of current Aston Villa magician Emiliano Buendia.

How many goals did Gustavo Hamer score last season?

The 26-year-old wizard scored 11 goals in 44 Championship appearances for the team that lost in the play-off final to Luton Town at Wembley.

Hamer, who was once lauded as "unbelievable" by former teammate Marko Marosi, proved himself to be capable of making a huge impact at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position with both his ability to score and create goals at that level.

The 5 foot 7 maestro racked up ten assists to go along with his strikes and created 16 'big chances' for his teammates in total, which shows that the talented gem was able to offer a significant goal threat whilst also being able to open up the opposition's defence on a regular basis.

Hamer averaged a superb Sofascore rating of 7.35, which is 0.35 higher than any Leeds player produced in the top-flight last season, and would arrive at Elland Road as a proven Championship performer with time on his side to get even better.

Former Norwich midfielder Emiliano Buendia.

He could, therefore, become Farke's next Buendia as the Argentine wizard, who stands at 5 foot 8, was a prominent figure in both of the manager's promotions to the Premier League during his time at Norwich City.

The 26-year-old sensation scored eight goals and assisted 12 in 35 matches throughout the 2018/19 campaign before he enjoyed a phenomenal 2020/21 season, which saw him plunder a staggering 15 goals and 16 assists from a wide midfield position.

Buendia was also a hard-working attacker who liked to win possession back for his team, with 3.5 tackles and interceptions per match during the second title win.

In the most recent term under Farke's management, the Argentina international created 18 'big chances' for his teammates and earned himself the Championship Player of the Season award for being the most impressive star within the division.

Hamer, who made 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game last season, is a player with similar qualities to Buendia, albeit in a more central position in midfield, as they are both combative – despite being small in stature – workhorses who also provide immense quality in possession as scorers and creators.

Farke and Leeds must now push to win the race for the Dutch phenomenon's signature as he could slot straight into the team as a proven Championship star over the coming weeks and months.

Villa Could Sign Coutinho 2.0 £51m "Diamond"

Aston Villa are reportedly leading the race to sign Juventus forward Federico Chiesa, however the move could prove to be a repeat of the past for the Villans.

A report from Italian outlet Calciomercato earlier this week claimed that Villa have ‘led above all’ in the pursuit for the Italian winger, with the Turin giants reportedly keen to sell the 25-year-old this summer.

A separate report from the Daily Mail claimed that Juventus have ‘offered’ the former Fiorentina whiz to Premier League clubs, with Villa named as one of those interested.

Unai Emery is keen to equip his side with star quality this summer after securing European football next term, however not all stars are worth aiming for, as seen in the Midlands before.

Would Federico Chiesa be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Lauded as a “diamond” by scout Antonio Mango, Chiesa was once regarded as a shining light in Italy for his time at Fiorentina.

The 25-year-old was snatched up by Juventus back in 2020 on an initial two-year loan deal before making the move permanent last summer.

In his final full Serie A campaign with Fiorentina, the versatile attacker contributed to 19 goals in 34 appearances, scoring 10 and assisting nine in a dominant individual year to showcase his breakthrough as one of the continent's best.

The 2020/21 season marked his first in Turin, where he made 30 appearances and both scored and assisted eight goals in the process.

Since that campaign, the Italian has failed to hit over 30 appearances in a league term for Juve, in an unfortunate sequence of events that have seen him miss a host of game time due to injury.

An anterior cruciate ligament rupture in January 2022 saw the 25-year-old sidelined for 36 games, with his record not getting easier for the player, missing a total of an additional 55 days of action since his recovery.

Players that face individual battles with staying fit face cruel paths, whether that be struggling to rediscover form after time away from action, or returning to find their spot no longer vacant, with Chiesa discovering such hardships at Juventus.

Making just six starts in Serie A last season, the Genova-born gem has fallen down the pecking order in Massimiliano Allegri’s side, not helped by him scoring just four goals over the previous two league campaigns.

Villa could learn from past mistakes before opting to take the £51m plunge to sign Chiesa, who despite his fitness woes is a superb talent, but could present the Villans with more burdens than success.

Villa Park has seen such disappointment with Philippe Coutinho, who arrived in the Midlands in January 2022 with an extensive injury history and has struggled to perform since trading Catalonia for Birmingham permanently last summer.

In 2020, the Brazilian sustained a rupture to his knee, leaving him sidelined for a total of 220 days, which like Chiesa, didn’t mark the end of his injury woes, with the 31-year-old missing an additional 81 days on separate occasions after.

Since returning to England, the former Liverpool gem – who has been linked with a move away from the Midlands side this summer – has scored just six goals in 41 appearances in all competitions, while starting just seven league games for the Villans last campaign.

Spending on Chiesa could implement a repeat of the woes surrounding the fitness and lack of performance from Coutinho, using funds that could allow for a better-suited individual to grace Villa Park.

Man United "Exploring" Goalkeeper Options Despite Onana Links

Manchester United are looking at "many goalkeepers" in the transfer market despite concrete links with Inter's Andre Onana, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest on United's goalkeeper search?

Erik ten Hag still has big decisions to make before the Premier League season begins in mid-August, one of which being who he wants as his goalkeeper at Old Trafford.

With David de Gea's contract situation still unclear, all attention has been on who may come in to replace the Spaniard in between the sticks.

Inter's Andre Onana has been the man most frequently linked with being De Gea's successor, with the Italian side braced for an official bid from United for their stopper.

However, transfer insider Romano has claimed that the Red Devils are keeping their options open at the moment, with plenty of goalkeepers on their radar.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Still no bid [for Onana] from Manchester United, as I'm speaking. Inter are still waiting for that bid because they are convinced that Manchester United will bid, and they know that Man United are exploring multiple options, not just Onana.

"It is true that they are considering many goalkeepers and many solutions, including the possibility of speaking again to David de Gea. So, they want to consider all the options, but among these options there is for sure Andre Onana."

He added: "Still time for internal discussion before attacking any situation for goalkeepers. So, this is the reality for Onana, still no bid on Monday morning."

Ten Hag is interested in a goalkeeper who complements his passing philosophy more than De Gea, much like Onana does, but a number of factors such as price, age and availability will naturally enter discussions surrounding a new number one at Man United.

Inter want somewhere around the £45m mark for Onana who was instrumental in the club's journey to the Champions League final last season and Coppa Italia triumph.

Who are United's other goalkeeper options?

One of the most obvious options available to Ten Hag is simply offering a new contract to De Gea, who has reportedly agreed to a pay cut to stay at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old won the Premier League Golden Glove award last season, keeping 17 clean sheets for the Red Devils.

Brentford's David Raya could be an alternative with the Spaniard desperate to leave the Bees this summer. The 27-year-old, who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, was linked with Tottenham but the Lilywhites have since brought in Guglielmo Vicario, which likely means any deal would now be off the table.

Erik ten Hag is supposedly a huge fan of MLS goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic as well (via MEN), with the 23-year-old New England Revolution shot-stopper a name to keep an eye on at Old Trafford.

Liverpool Set To Prioritise £35m-Rated Signing Next

Liverpool know who they want to add to their ranks next according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Reds believed to be targeting Manu Kone over the often linked Ryan Gravenberch.

Will Liverpool sign Manu Kone?

The midfielder currently plies his trade for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany and has already become a regular in their first-team, despite only joining them two campaigns ago. In 2022/23 for example, the 22-year-old featured on 30 occasions for them in the Bundesliga and even managed a goal and an assist from midfield. It means he has already managed more games in Germany than he did over the entirety of his time in France.

This added gametime has led to the Frenchman developing even further as a player. Kone now ranks nicely compared to other midfielders across Europe in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues, with his 1.97 successful take-ons per 90 actually putting him in the top four percent in that area. It shows that, despite being a more defensive-minded player, he regularly takes on opposition defences and can then drive the ball forward (he has an average of 2.04 progressive carries per 90).

It's this form that has now led to interest from elsewhere. The midfielder is wanted mainly by Liverpool, and it now seems as though they are going to try and snap up the Monchengladbach man next after sealing a deal for Khephren Thuram.

That's according to respectable journalist Romano (via Caught Offside), who states that they are keen to add both Thuram and Kone next to their midfield, more so than Ryan Gravenberch. It seems that the Reds are most eager to wrap up deals for those two as their next two pieces of transfer business and bring them to the Premier League.

manu-kone-borussia-monchengladbach-liverpool-premier-league

What has been said about Manu Kone?

It appears as though Kone would be an excellent addition to the Liverpool midfield based on the high praise he has received. Football journalist Josh Bunting for example called the player "absolutely immense," which shows how capable he is on the ball and how commanding he can be in the centre of the field.

The player then could certainly boost a rocky Liverpool midfield if he joins ahead of next season, especially if he's partnered by the arrival of Thuram.

The Reds are expected to bid for the OGC Nice midfielder once he has finished his international duties with France next month.

Tottenham Academy Coach Approached By New Club

Tottenham could be handed an immediate blow to their pre-season planning with the “huge news” that youth coach Yaya Toure has been approached to become the new assistant manager at Standard de Liege.

What's the latest Tottenham news?

The Lilywhites are sure to be busy this summer as they prepare for Ange Postecoglou’s first season at the helm, with a number of outgoings and incomings expected both on and off the pitch.

Eight senior players are returning from loan spells – including the likes of Djed Spence, Bryan Gil and Destiny Udogie – while Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski will make their loan moves permanent, and that’s all before you even start looking at new players.

Off the pitch meanwhile, the new boss was expected to bring in his former Celtic number two, John Kennedy, but that move has been met with stern resistance from the Glasgow club.

And it looks like Postecoglou and Daniel Levy could be shopping for a new academy coach soon too, with Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealing Toure could now leave.

“Huge news for Standard Liege,” he said. “It is Yaya Toure who has been approached to become Carl Hoefkens first assistant.”

Is Yaya Toure a good manager?

The Manchester City legend joined the Spurs youth ranks back in August of 2022, and has certainly left a positive impression on coaches who know him, with former Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira saying Toure will now “easily” become a top level manager.

The 40 year-old has recently admitted however that he would like a “new challenge”, and an assistant role for a senior top flight side is certainly a logical step up from academy coaching, and could then lead to his first chance at the helm somewhere.

With that admission in mind, it seems quite likely that Toure will jump at Liege’s approach, handing Postecoglou early upheaval in his backroom staff very early into his Tottenham reign, and it will be interesting to see where the new boss turns for a potential replacement.

Leeds Eye Move For ‘Outstanding’ £17m Championship Star

Leeds United have finally confirmed their 49ers takeover, but there is still plenty of work to be done at Elland Road and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Viktor Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese news outlet A Bola, Leeds are one of many clubs interested in signing Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.

As per the report, the recently relegated side will need to compete with West Ham United, Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Southampton for the talented player's signature this summer, with Coventry expected to command a €20m (£17m) to part ways with Gyokeres.

Who would Viktor Gyokeres replace at Leeds?

Whilst Leeds are still without a sporting director and manager to lead their transfer window and campaign in the Championship next season, it will be important to identify players who can replace those departing as soon as possible.

Rodrigo is one of the latest players to be heavily linked with a move away from Elland Road this summer, with journalist Ryan Taylor revealing to GIVEMESPORT:

"I think Marc Roca is definitely one that will move on. Rodrigo Moreno as well."

As a result, the signing of Gyokeres could be the perfect opportunity to replace the Spanish forward and provide quality competition for Patrick Bamford next season in the Whites' pursuit to instantly bounce back to the Premier League.

Over 46 Championship appearances, the 25-year-old handful – who was dubbed "powerful" by Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray – scored 21 goals, registered ten assists and created nine big chances in a seriously impressive campaign.

He also averaged three shots on goal, 1.8 key passes, 2.1 successful dribbles and won 6.2 duels per game, proving that he is a huge attacking threat.

Gyokeres – who was the second top goalscorer in the second tier this season – is an explosive forward with incredible finishing ability and a wealth of Championship experience that could make him a huge asset to Leeds next season.

viktor-gyokeres-championship-leeds-transfer-news

The Swedish striker's prolific goal-scoring has captured the attention of many and led to huge praise from his peers with Blackburn Rovers defender Dom Hyam full of compliments for Gyokeres:

"I think he's so good at what he does, his attributes are so rare as well. Obviously strikers have their qualities, but there's nothing he's bad at.

"He's good in the box, he's tall, he's big, he's strong, he's technically good as well. I think as long as he keeps grounded, which I know he will, I know him personally, yeah, I think he's got a massive career ahead of him."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Leeds to snap up the services of Gyokeres this summer, as he could be the dream Rodrigo heir and his huge influence in front of goal could be the linchpin to securing instant promotion back to the top flight.

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