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Chelsea are interested in signing a former Arsenal defender who has been named as one of Mikel Arteta’s worst-ever signings, according to a new report.

Chelsea latest transfer news

Despite recently recalling Trevoh Chalobah back from his loan spell at Crystal Palace, Chelsea are still thought to be in the market for a new defender this month due to injuries to both Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.

Fofana is expected to miss the remainder of the season having suffered a hamstring injury against Aston Villa last month, while Badiashile is also set to be out until at least February with a similar issue.

Caught Offside have recently reported that Chelsea are actually favourites to beat Arsenal and Bayern Munich to the signing of Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande.

Chelsea now battling Arsenal in race to sign £68m "elite talent"

The Blues are among the favourites to secure the defender’s signature.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Jan 19, 2025

The 21-year-old has a release clause of around £68 million, and though publicly the Portuguese club is insisting that this is paid, CaughtOffside claim that an offer of between £42 million to £50 million would be enough for Sporting to consider selling up.

Diomande, who was signed by Sporting while the now Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was in charge, has previously been described by scout/writer Jacek Kulig as an “elite talent”.

Chelsea make approach for Nuno Tavares

Another defender reportedly on Chelsea’s radar is Arsenal flop Nuno Tavares, who is currently on loan with Serie A club Lazio. Nuno Tavares joined the Italian outfit from Arsenal on loan with an obligation to buy, and according to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Chelsea have now made an enquiry to Lazio about signing the Portuguese full-back.

The Blues are thought to be eyeing Tavares as a potential replacement for Renato Veiga should he leave Stamford Bridge, though Pedulla claims Lazio do not want to lose him.

Tavares struggled during his sole season at the Emirates in 2020/21, which saw him make 28 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners and score one goal. So poor were his performances, he is considered to be one of Arteta’s worst-ever Arsenal signings.

He’s been doing just fine in Italy, however, producing eight assists in 16 games, with Pedulla describing him as “the best left back in Serie A to say the least”. Lazio president Claudio Lotito has also heaped praise on Tavares, saying after he got two assists in a game against AC Milan earlier in the season: “Did you see how good he is? Nuno is an excellent player.”

If Chelsea do sign Tavares, they’ll be hoping they get the Lazio version, not the Arsenal version.

William Gallas has claimed PSG lack experience ahead of their huge trip to Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Champions League semi-finals.

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• Gallas says Arsenal can learn from PSG's scare against Aston Villa
• Believes semi-final tie is '50/50' before kick-off
• Admits Champions League trophy hunt is wide open

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Arsenal defender Gallas has claimed the Champions League semi-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain could go either way but highlighted the French champions' scare against Aston Villa in the last round as a key reason for the Gunners to be confident ahead of kick-off.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  PSG were forced to dig deep in the quarter-finals in the face of a raucous Villa Park, letting a 5-1 aggregate lead slip to 5-4 before eventually seeing out the tie, and Gallas believes the club's penchant for making things difficult for themselves could be a telling factor against a more efficient and ruthless Arsenal team.

• WHAT GALLAS SAID

  Gallas told Prime Casino: "Barcelona have looked very strong from the beginning of the season, and they’re in the last four of the Champions League. Barcelona are my favourites to win it, but at this stage of the competition, it's almost 50-50. Anyone can win it. That’s why Arsenal against PSG will also be 50-50.

  "With PSG, even if they play very well, they’re missing a certain something. When we saw them against Aston Villa in the last match, they were hanging on and it told me that this is still a team that has flaws. Maybe PSG miss experienced players, but they’re a good team. They're playing great football, and we know it's a different PSG.

  "They've got rid of the superstars, but they still have some brilliant players. But there's doubts. There's still a little doubt. They're a bit flaky, like when Aston Villa started banging in the goals against them in the last round. I thought to myself, we've seen this before. I thought PSG were different. So that's why it will be a little bit different with Arsenal, because Arsenal are stronger than Aston Villa. If Arsenal score first, it could be a great night for the Gunners."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Having previously developed a reputation for being soft in decisive moments, PSG have now reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in four of the last six seasons. However, they have made the final just once, when they were beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 edition of the tournament.

Leeds United’s current striker situation is an interesting one for boss Daniel Farke, with the German crying out for added reinforcements at the top of the pitch before the end of the window.

Joel Piroe is the current number one option, but the Dutchman often likes to drop deeper, not offering that focal point despite registering 10 Championship goals in 2024/25.

As for Patrick Bamford, he’s massively struggled with injuries throughout the ongoing campaign, whilst also failing to provide the goods when called upon, unable to register a single goal in his 11 games across all competitions.

Mateo Joseph is the final option at Farke’s disposal, but the Spaniard has been unable to live up to expectations as of late, scoring just twice in 29 appearances, subsequently resorting to minutes off the bench.

That could all be about to change for the Whites, with one player now linked with a move to Elland Road ahead of deadline day on Monday.

Leeds' search for a striker

According to journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Leeds have entered talks with Southampton over a potential move to sign striker Cameron Archer to try and bolster the forward ranks.

The 23-year-old only signed for the Saints in the summer but has struggled to make an immediate impression, scoring just twice in the Premier League in his 21 appearances.

Kinsella confirmed that the deal is currently unviable, but could be revived ahead of deadline day, with the Aston Villa academy graduate open to a move away from St Mary’s.

He’s previously starred in England’s second tier after scoring 11 times in just 23 appearances for Middlesbrough whilst on loan during the 2022/23 season – potentially providing the difference the Whites have been looking for.

Such displays in the aforementioned campaign led to comparisons to one player who set England’s second tier alight, potentially allowing Archer to become Farke’s new version of the talisman.

Why Archer could be Farke’s new Pukki for Leeds

Teemu Pukki was a force to be reckoned with in the Championship during his time at Norwich City, playing a massive part in the success they achieved during Farke’s tenure.

The Finnish international moved to Carrow Road on a free transfer from Brondby IF back in the summer of 2018, while Farke was at the helm, with many people not knowing what to expect from him – but it’s safe to say he excelled beyond anyone’s imagination.

He notched 30 goals in all competitions during his debut year in East Anglia, firing them to promotion before reaching double figures in the top flight despite the eventual relegation.

Pukki would then register 26 goals as the Canaries secured an immediate return to the Premier League, before finishing his final two years at the club with yet more double-figure campaigns. In total, he netted 88 goals in 210 games for the Norfolk outfit, with 70 of those coming in just 138 games under the current Leeds boss.

It’s safe to say Farke had a huge impact on the striker during their time together, with the German able to do the same with Archer should he move to Elland Road in the coming days.

FBref ranked the former Boro loanee as a similar player to the Norwich ace based on their figures in 2022/23, further showcasing why he could follow in Pukki’s footsteps under the Whites boss.

Archer, who was previously dubbed “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, matched his tally of combined goals and assists, whilst producing a higher shot on target rate – backing up the claim about his clinical nature in front of goal.

He also registered a higher pass accuracy rate and take-on success rate, showcasing his all-round game which would be of great use to the Leeds boss in their quest for promotion in the months ahead.

Whilst it’s unclear whether any move for the striker this month would be a temporary or permanent one, it’s a risk worth taking with his goals possibly being the difference maker.

If he managed to be half as potent as Pukki was under Farke’s guidance, it would be a frightening prospect, handing other defences in the division an even bigger task of keeping the club’s potent attack quiet.

The end for Wilfried Gnonto: Leeds plotting late move for "huge talent"

Leeds United could be about to land a target who could end Wilfried Gnonto’s time at Elland Road.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 29, 2025

Everything you need to know about Scott McTominay's salary details playing for Napoli

Former Manchester United star Scott McTominay embarked on a new venture ahead of the 2024-25 season, joining Serie A side Napoli. The Scottish midfielder had previously spent seven seasons with the Premier League giants, following fifteen years in their youth system.

In Italy, McTominay has established himself as a clutch performer, scoring important and match-winning goals for the Naples-based club.

He signed a four-year contract with Napoli, keeping him at the club until 2028, with a high salary to match.

McTominay currently ranks among the top earners at the club. But exactly how much does he make?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

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• Scott McTominay's wages at Napoli in numbers

  Under McTominay's current agreement with Napoli, he commands a significant weekly salary of £91,909 ($121,434), ranking him as the fourth-highest earner in the team, on par with David Neres and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

  His annual earnings total £4.7 million ($6.3m).

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Scott McTominay	Scottish	£91,909	$121,434	£4,779,287	$6,314,558

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  Top earners at Napoli

  Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian forward, leads Napoli's wage hierarchy.

  Following him is Italian midfielder Matteo Politano, with David Neres and Scott McTominay occupying the third and fourth positions, respectively.

  Completing the top five earners at the club is Giovanni Di Lorenzo in fifth place.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Romelu Lukaku	Belgian	£127,119	$167,954	£6,553,057	$8,733,624
  Matteo Politano	Italian	£98,206	$129,515	£5,097,333	$6,734,771
  David Neres	Dutch	£91,909	$121,434	£4,779,287	$6,314,558
  Scott McTominay	Scottish	£91,909	$121,434	£4,779,287	$6,314,558
  Giovanni Di Lorenzo	Italian	£91,909	$121,434	£4,779,287	$6,314,558

• Top earners in Serie A

  None of Napoli's players feature in Serie A's top five highest-paid athletes.

  Dusan Vlahovic is Juventus' top earner, leading the league's salary chart.

  Following closely, Inter's stars Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, and Hakan Calhanoglu hold the second, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively, in the top five.

  In third place is former Juventus star Paulo Dybala, now playing for AS Roma.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Dusan Vlahovic	Juventus	£321,352	$424,581	£16,710,313	$22,078,237
  Lautaro Martinez	Inter	£275,563	$364,083	£14,329,265	$18,932,316
  Paulo Dybala	AS Roma	£214,235	$283,054	£11,140,208	$14,718,825
  Nicolo Barella	Inter	£199,027	$262,961	£10,349,391	$13,673,970
  Hakan Calhanoglu	Inter	£183,653	$242,649	£9,549,978	$12,617,758

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Despite their significant earnings, no Serie A players feature among the top five highest-paid footballers worldwide.

  The top five are exclusively from the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo, still a dominant force, leading with a remarkable salary at Al Nassr.

  His former Real Madrid colleague Karim Benzema is second, while Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City and now with Al-Ahli, holds third place.

  Rounding out the list are Senegalese stars Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,216,155	$4,210,425	£167,250,468	$218,942,120
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,608,178	$2,105,213	£83,625,234	$109,471,060
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£839,469	$1,098,921	£45,652,372	$57,43,893
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£643,271	$842,085	£33,450,094	$43,788,424
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£558,038	$730,509	£29,017,956	$37,986,458

Arsenal’s hunt for a new striker has led them to Aston Villa star man Ollie Watkins, with Mikel Arteta’s side having a £60m bid rejected earlier this week.

The Englishman has been a constant source of goals for Unai Emery’s side in 2024/25, registering 11 goals and ten assists in 32 matches across all competitions.

However, whilst he would be a good addition for the Gunners, it’s a huge fee to be paying for a 29-year-old who will be entering the final years of his professional career in the coming seasons.

As a result, Arteta’s men could return with an improved offer for the England international before the end of the window, but they may need to target other options at the top end of the pitch.

Numerous players have already been touted with a move to the Emirates this month, with the hierarchy looking to resurrect previous interest in one talisman before Monday’s deadline.

Arsenal interested in landing European talisman

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are interested in making a late move for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović to try and hand Arteta the ammunition he’s desired this month.

The 24-year-old has impressed for the Italian giants once again throughout 2024/25, registering 12 goals across all competitions, including four in the Champions League.

The report claims that RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko is Arteta’s main target after having a bid rejected for Watkins, but that Juve are open to allowing the Serbian to depart after landing Randal Kolo Muani from PSG earlier in the window.

It’s not the first time that the Gunners have pursued a move for Vlahovic in this window, with the former Fiorentina ace previously on their shortlist a couple of weeks ago.

However, should they make a move to land the striker who earns £315k-per-week, as per Capology, it would allow one current first-team member to star upon his return to action from injury.

Why Vlahovic would be perfect for Bukayo Saka

Academy graduate Bukayo Saka has developed into a leading star in European football in recent years, highlighting how crucial the club’s academy setup is to their first-team success.

The 23-year-old has now made over 250 appearances since his debut back in 2018, scoring on 67 occasions – cementing his place in the right-wing position, with Arteta playing a huge role in his development.

The England international was in stellar form during the opening months of the ongoing Premier League, scoring five but registering ten assists, still sitting second in the assist tally throughout the whole division, with only Mohamed Salah posting more.

However, he’s been missing since the middle of December after picking up a hamstring injury in the victory over Crystal Palace, with Saka still yet to return to action.

When he does, he could be aided in his efforts within the final third should Vlahovic move to the Emirates, with the Serbian international allowing the youngster to take his game to the next level.

The Juve striker, who’s been described as “world-class” by one analyst, has averaged 1.8 aerials won, providing that focal point that Saka has been craving given his tally of three chances created per 90 along with 2.2 successful crosses.

Vlahovic has also averaged 1.4 shots on target per 90 in Serie A this campaign, potentially thriving alongside the Englishman in attack, with his tally of 0.7 assists per 90 aiding the striker, whilst potentially improving his own tally.

It’s unclear how much a late move for the frontman would cost the Gunners’ hierarchy in the coming days, but the prospect of him linking up with Saka in the final third is certainly a frightening one – allowing the pair to form a deadly partnership.

Their answer to Tel: Arsenal targeting move for "one of the best talents"

Arsenal could land their own Mathys Tle in a late move for an attacking talent.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 31, 2025

Given the club’s 20-year wait for a league title, the striker is arguably the final piece in Arteta’s Arsenal puzzle, massively increasing their chances of ending the generational wait for a top-division triumph.

That could then make Vlahovic the perfect alternative to Watkins, as deadline day looms…

Everything you need to know about Josip Sutalo's salary details playing for Ajax

Croatian defender Josip Sutalo moved to the Netherlands to join Ajax in 2023, having previously played for Dinamo Zagreb after coming through their youth system.

Sutalo has been a reliable presence at the back for both Ajax and Croatia after a somewhat rocky start in Amsterdam, consistently delivering strong performances now.

He remains a key player in the current Ajax setup, with his ball-playing abilities playing a crucial role in the team’s build-up play.

In addition to his importance on the pitch, Sutalo is also one of the highest-paid players in the Ajax dressing room. His current contract runs until 2028, and he is well-compensated for his role.

But exactly how much does he earn?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

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• Josip Sutalo's wages at Ajax in numbers

  Josip Sutalo's current contract with Ajax includes a weekly wage of €48,077, making him the club's fifth-highest paid player. His annual salary is about €2.5 million.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in Euros	Annual wages in Euros
  Josip Sutalo	Croatian	€48,077	€2,500,000

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  Top earners at Ajax

  Jordan Henderson, previously with Liverpool, is the top earner at Ajax. Daniele Rugani, an Italian center-back on loan from Juventus, follows. Brian Brobbey is third, with Steven Berghuis and Croatian Josip Sutalo in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in Euros	Annual wages in Euros
  Jordan Henderson	English	€90,000	€4,680,000
  Daniele Rugani	Italian	€75,385	€3,920,000
  Brian Brobbey	Dutch	€57,692	€3,000,000
  Steven Berghuis	Dutch	€56,731	€2,950,000
  Josip Sutalo	Croatian	€48,077	€2,500,000

• Top earners in Eredivisie

  Jordan Henderson is the top earner at Ajax and in the Eredivisie, with Sergino Dest from PSV next. Daniele Rugani is third, while Brian Brobbey and Steven Berghuis are fourth and fifth.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages in Euros	Annual wages in Euros
  Jordan Henderson	Ajax	€90,000	€4,680,000
  Sergino Dest	PSV	€75,385	€3,920,000
  Daniele Rugani	Ajax	€75,385	€3,920,000
  Brian Brobbey	Ajax	€57,692	€3,000,000
  Steven Berghuis	Ajax	€56,731	€2,950,000

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Eredivisie player salaries are notable but lower than those of top global footballers, with none in the highest ranks.

  The top five earners are in the Saudi Pro League, led by Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr with the highest salary.

  Karim Benzema, formerly of Real Madrid, is second, followed by Riyad Mahrez, previously with Manchester City and now at Al-Ahli, in third.

  Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, both from Senegal, are in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages Euros	Annual wages Euros
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	€3,846,154	€200,000,000
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	€1,923,077	€100,000,000
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	€1,003,846	€52,200,000
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	€769,231	€40,000,000
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	€667,308	€34,700,000

Aston Villa moved one step closer to a potential trip to Wembley with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup at Villa Park at the weekend.

Goals from Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers secured the victory over Ange Postecoglou’s side on Sunday, with the first goal coming inside the opening minute of the match.

Whilst the main talking point was the terrific result and their progression through to the next round of the competition, it was also a big game for two of the January recruits.

Villa pushed the boat out to land Marco Asensio on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, and both players came off the bench to make their debuts for the club.

Rashford completed one of his two attempted dribbles in his 24 minutes on the pitch against Spurs, but failed to register a shot on goal or a key pass for his teammates.

Asensio, meanwhile, was introduced to the game at the same time as the England international and made a greater impression on the onlooking supporters at Villa Park.

Marco Asensio's debut performance

The Spain international came on for Leon Bailey with 24 minutes left to play and produced a magical cameo that has created plenty of excitement heading into the rest of the season.

Asensio is on loan at Villa until the end of the season, but Fabrizio Romano recently reported that both sides are open to exploring a permanent move in the summer, which means that he may currently be auditioning for a long-term move to England.

The former Real Madrid attacker will certainly be getting a call-back after his first audition, as he caught the eye with an impressive showing against Spurs.

He completed 100% (1/1) of his attempted dribbles, 100% (15/15) of his attempted passes, and 67% (2/3) of his duels in his 24 minutes on the pitch, to go along with one chance created.

As you can see in the clips above, his cameo was full of sublime touches and turns to retain possession and create openings for the Villans in the closing stages of the win.

Asensio, who has won three Champions League trophies, arrived at Villa with a terrific pedigree, having played for PSG and Real Madrid at the top level for a number of years, and his class was on full display on Sunday.

Surprisingly, however, the 29-year-old, despite his career achievements, is not one of the very top-valued players in the squad, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at €20m (£17m), at Aston Villa.

Aston Villa's most valuable players

Monchi and Unai Emery have crafted a terrific squad at Villa Park and it is one that is now chock-full of brilliant, high-valued, players who are contributing week-in-week-out on the pitch.

Whilst Asensio does not crack the top ten most-valuable stars at the club, fellow loanee Rashford has arrived as the joint-most valuable Villans ace, with a market value of £46m.

Ollie Watkins and Amadou Onana are also tied with the former Manchester United superstar and England international at £46m, as they make up the top three.

As you can see in the table above, Asensio does not make the top ten list, behind the likes of Rashford, Rogers, Bailey, and Ramsey, but he is far from the only star who is unfortunate to miss out.

Belgium international Youri Tielemans is currently valued at €30m (£25m) and this means that, despite being worth more than the Paris Saint-Germain dynamo, he is also not among the top ten most-valuable players in the squad.

That should not take away, however, from the masterclass that Villa have played with the former Leicester City man, as they have hit the jackpot with the midfield maestro.

Villa have hit the jackpot with Youri Tielemans

The 27-year-old magician first made a name for himself in England during his time with Leicester City under Brendan Rodgers, with a return of 28 goals and 26 assists in 195 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes.

In the summer of 2023, Leicester had just been relegated from the Premier League and the midfield star’s contract at the King Power expired, which made him a free agent.

The Villans swooped to sign the central midfielder on a free transfer, which meant that they spent £0 on his transfer fee, to bolster Emery’s options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Tielemans, who was once dubbed “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, produced two goals and six assists in 32 appearances in the Premier League in his first season with the Villans, but only started 17 of those matches.

This term, the 27-year-old star has started all 24 of his outings in the top-flight for Villa, which shows that Emery has trusted him to start week-in-week-out in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the table above, Tielemans has offered a constant creative threat in the Premier League for the Villans with ten ‘big chances’ created already.

His form has also helped his market value to soar. In December 2023, the Belgian maestro was valued at €20m (£17m) and this shows that his value has soared by millions in the past 13 months or so.

Villa have, therefore, hit the jackpot with the former Leicester star as they brought him in for £0 and he has developed into a consistent starter who is now worth millions more, and more than Asensio.

Emery will, now, be hoping that the midfielder can continue to shine for the rest of the season and beyond, which could help his value to increase even further to push into the top ten.

Aston Villa eye move to sign £43m striker outscoring Watkins this season

Aston Villa need a new forward, and this star could prove the answer.

By
Ben Browning

Feb 10, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now tracking a “tremendous” defender who’s “a cut above” the level he’s currently playing at, according to Carlton Palmer.

Wolves remain in relegation dogfight

It can be tricky for clubs to plan for the summer when it is unclear what division they will be in next season, and Wolves find themselves in that situation at the moment, with their Premier League status in doubt.

Despite the 2-1 loss at Liverpool last time out, the Old Gold remain two points clear of the bottom three as things stand, with Ipswich Town picking up a point against Aston Villa on Saturday.

A shaky defence is one of the main reasons Vitor Pereira’s side find themselves in a precarious position, having shipped 54 goals in 25 games, so there may be a need to bring in some new options this summer, regardless of what league they are in.

Wolves now at threat of losing "important" star alongside Cunha this summer

A concern for Pereira…

By
Tom Cunningham

Feb 14, 2025

Earlier this week, it was revealed Wolves are leading the race for Genoa’s Koni De Winter, and there has now been another update on a centre-back they could target this summer.

In an interview with Football League World, Carlton Palmer has stated the Wanderers are interested in signing Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga, who the former England international believes is too good for the Championship.

Palmer said: “Wolves and West Ham are two of the clubs who are tracking Japhet Tanganga, who continues to impress at Millwall.

“He is a cut above this level, we all know that, he’s just struggled with injuries, but the 25-year-old has managed to stay fit and has played a big role in the Lions getting out of a relegation battle under Neil Harris last season, while he’s continued to improve in this campaign.

During the January transfer window, Millwall were holding out for a fee of £12m, although their asking price could feasibly rise if Tanganga continues to perform well ahead of the summer, having already received very high praise from the media.

"Tremendous" Tanganga could improve Wolves' backline

Palmer hailed the 25-year-old for his “tremendous recovery pace”, while also claiming he is capable of playing in the Premier League, so he could be a solid signing for Wolves regardless of whether they stay in the top flight.

That said, it may be difficult to win the race for the Millwall star if the unthinkable happens and Pereira’s side drop down to the Championship, given the interest from West Ham.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man is among the Lions’ most consistent players in the Championship this season, and he has previously proven he has what it takes to succeed in the top flight, putting in a top performance in a 1-0 win against Manchester City.

Jamie Vardy has been linked with an iconic La Liga team as he prepares to bid farewell to Leicester City.

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• Vardy plays last Leicester game
• Linked with shock La Liga move
• Veteran could face Barca & Madrid

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Sun writes that Vardy is a top summer target for Valencia, with manager Carlos Corberan keen to sign the 38-year-old – who has been linked with Wrexham – this summer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vardy played his last Leicester game last weekend and is now trying to find a new club. The Foxes were relegated to the Championship last month but the ex-England international, who will become a free agent, still wants to play at the highest level. If Valencia want to sign him, that is something of a badge of honour.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The report adds that Corberan wants to use Vardy's experience and believes he is stil capable of scoring goals in La Liga, after bagging 10 goals in all competitions for Leicester this season.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Vardy's Leicester side round off their wretched season away to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. It remains to be seen who the striker will join next.

The one thing you can be guaranteed of when watching Tottenham Hotspur is goals.

Ange Postecoglou has created one of the most entertaining sides in Europe, let alone in England, and while those goals include the ones they conceded, the North Londoners still score more than they let in.

In fact, while their defensive numbers are mediocre at best, the Lilywhites are the joint second-top scorers in the Premier League despite being down in 12th.

Moreover, the goals come from all over the team, although a former player, who’s been compared to the incredible Alexander Isak, is currently outscoring some of their biggest stars.

Tottenham's top scorers

Topping the list for Spurs is Brennan Johnson, who, despite enduring a slow start to the season and a recent injury problem, has managed to rack up a reasonable tally of 14 goals in 35 games.

That means the Welsh international puts the ball in the back of the net on average every 2.5 appearances.

Just behind the former Nottingham Forest ace is the North Londoners’ record signing, Dominic Solanke.

After going through his own slow start to the campaign, the £65m man has now scored 11 goals in 29 appearances, which comes out to one every 2.63 games, and with his return imminent, we expect that average to come down.

Coming in as the club’s joint-third top scorers so far are Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and James Maddison, who all have ten goals to their names, reaching that figure in 42, 36 and 34 games, respectively.

While things haven’t gone their way this season, it’s impressive for five players to have reached double digits for goals when the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have just one, three and two, respectively.

With that said, we imagine Spurs would love to have one of their old forwards back in the team this term, a forward who’s outscoring everyone in the squad and has been compared to Isak.

Where Are They Now

The former Spurs star compared to Isak

So, when it comes to former Spurs players who could be outscoring the entire club this season and winning comparisons to players like Isak, it could only be one man: Harry Kane.

The comparison itself stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Swede is the second most similar forward to the Englishman.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, goals per shot, expected assists, key passes, shot-creating actions, shots blocked, interceptions and more, all per 90.

On top of being incredibly similar to arguably the most exciting striker in the Premier League, the former Lilywhites ace has been in sensational goalscoring form this season – as he always is.

In just 33 appearances, totalling 2575 minutes, the “world-class” centre-forward, as dubbed by Harry Maguire, has scored 29 goals and provided ten assists – more than anyone in Postecoglou’s squad.

That means he’s averaging a goal every 1.13 games or a goal involvement every 66.02 minutes.

Ultimately, Spurs had to sell Kane in the summer of 2023, but we can’t help but imagine how ridiculous his goal tally would be under a manager like Ange.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 4, 2025