Category Uncategorized

It’s been a difficult season in the Premier League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, who sit 14th in the table and seven points above the drop zone.Before Julen Lopetegui took charge, Wolves were near the relegation zone however, taking 10 points from a possible 18 in April the Midlands side will almost certainly remain in the top division next season.This campaign has been one of change for the encouraging squad, who have adapted to new players, changing managers and the ups and downs of the Premier League.It has however been a successful year for the academy, who at U-23 level have managed to remain in the Premier League 2 first division following their promotion in 2021/22.Wolves’ academy boast some real potential for the future, whether it be in the PL2 or away from the club and through loan experiences.One player has had a season to remember in his budding career, gaining promotion to the Championship with League One champions Plymouth Argyle.

Who is Nigel Lonwijk?

Although yet to feature for Wolves’ senior team, Dutch centre-back Nigel Lonwijk has shown glimmers of a potential future star throughout the season in the English third division.The 20-year-old was captured by the Midlanders in 2020, leaving his home club of PSV for a new challenge in England to develop as a player. The defender followed in the footsteps of his older brother Justin Lonwijk, who too left PSV’s academy in the search of career progression in Europe, the 23-year-old is a midfielder for Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv.Despite not playing any senior minutes for Wolves, the defender was trusted to feature 22 times in the Eredivise for Fortuna Sittard, where he spent a season on loan last year. The centre-back has racked up 41 appearances for Argyle this campaign, where he gained promotion to the Championship with the club and impressed his fans and colleagues.The 6 foot 4 defender has had a lot asked of him during the testing laborious schedule of League One, playing as a centre-back and as a fullback in Argyle’s favoured back three system. Speaking to the Plymouth Herald on his need for versatility when called upon, the Dutchman explained that the loan has seen him “growing through the whole season”.

Despite not being a consistent starter for the Devonshire club, the 20-year-old has been praised for his “calm” nature in defence by Argyle manager Steven Schumacher.Speaking earlier in the season to PlymouthLive, his manager applauded him for his introduction to the side and league: “He hasn’t really put a foot wrong. He’s so calm for someone so young. He’s 19-years-old and nothing fazes him.”It’s praise indeed for his first senior season in English football when taking into consideration the demands of the demanding schedule of the Football League. Wolves snapped up the talent before his loan move, extending his contract in Wolverhampton to the summer of 2025, with the option of an additional year.At just 20-years-old with over 60 senior appearances under his belt both in England and the Netherlands, he will certainly be one to watch in the future.

Everton have not played host to many legends in recent years.

It is a label thrown about far too easily in today's modern game, often used to describe someone well-liked by the fans but without the requisite quality to truly deserve such a title.

In Seamus Coleman, the Toffees propose a perplexing option within that category.

The Irish defender has spent 14 long years at Goodison Park, having been an ever-present cog across the numerous managers to grace the dugout. Despite his age and slowly dwindling quality, it seems no boss can shake the intangible qualities the Premier League stalwart boasts.

But is the 34-year-old a legend?

With no trophies to his name, having overseen one of the club's most barren periods, many would rush to claim no. Yet Leighton Baines must surely be regarded as one, given his longevity and sustained quality at the top level.

To tarnish these full-backs because of their lack of silverware is to degrade them to the standard of their failing teammates. Their level has often been high enough to demand success, yet their love of the club often prohibited it.

This should not be a detractor in deciding what kind of legacy Coleman leaves Merseyside with.

How has Seamus Coleman played for Everton over his career?

Due to the demands of his ageing body, the once dynamic defender has had to adapt his game throughout his stellar career. Many would argue that the peak of his powers came during that outstanding 2013/14 campaign, where Roberto Martinez's high-flying blues narrowly missed out on the top four.

Down that right flank, the club captain would record six goals and two assists in the league, leading the Spaniard to even claim: "I think that he can improve and can become one of the best full-backs that we have ever had in this League."

Having joined for the infamous fee of just £60k, of which his infectious chant has been born, at the very least Coleman represents one of the best pieces of business in the league's history.

He has made 408 appearances for the club now, meaning that the £55k-per-week hero has cost just £147 per appearance; a startling sum for someone so important to a top-flight club.

It is a testament to the relentless nature of their leader that he has remained a staple even during this campaign, with fans desperate for his return given the lack of superior alternatives.

To further exacerbate just how revered the former Sligo Rovers star is, all it takes is a mere stroll through the words of his former bosses.

Carlo Ancelotti was quick to compare him to some of his legendary former players, noting: "I’ve had a lot of captains in my career but how Seamus expresses his love for the shirt is really top. He is a great captain, honestly. I don’t want to forget anyone [I have worked with] but he is up there as a captain with Paulo Maldini, John Terry and Sergio Ramos."

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard arguably reserved the greatest praise, saying: "I was being honest [when declaring Coleman one of the best people I’ve met], I have never met anyone who has his morals and standards and he is an incredible player. You talk about legends of football clubs and he is certainly one of those.”

This was a sentiment echoed by teammate Dele Alli, who also lauded the defender as a "living legend". This cumulative praise should dispel any suggestion otherwise.

Who has a bigger legacy than Seamus Coleman?

Of all the accolades Coleman boasts, the emptiness of his trophy cabinet will remain the primary stumbling block on his road to being branded a true legend.

It, therefore, suggests that those who have done so are to enjoy a greater legacy than the Republic of Ireland captain, like Everton's 1995 FA Cup winning team.

As the last side to bring silverware back to Goodison Park, many remember this squad with fondness despite their poor league standing. Of the impressive figures throughout that squad, few were as memorable as Daniel Amokachi.

Having been brought in as a key signing for Mike Walker, a dreadful start to the season would see the manager dismissed. Joe Royle would come in, and although the Nigerian was impressive in the comfortable semi-final victory over Tottenham Hotspur, he was anonymous during his cameo in their following win over Manchester United.

Despite joining with big expectations upon his shoulders, the 50-year-old would score just 13 times in 49 appearances for the Toffees and left with a reputation as a potentially unstoppable forward without the consistent proficiency to take them to the next level.

So, would Amokachi be regarded as more of a legend than Coleman despite spending just two uninspiring years in Royal Blue?

It remains wholly dependent on what someone's definition of a legend is, but given their respective impact on the club as a whole, it should be a no-brainer.

Despite that, and the fact the latter has featured 359 more times for the Toffees in a consistently dedicated and passionate way, the results-driven nature of the modern game means that trophies will always be the defining factor of someone's legacy.

It seems that Coleman has failed in his final chance for a silverware push, as his deal is set to expire this summer.

At the very least he will seek to ensure he does not add a relegation to his CV; that certainly would tarnish any chances of leaving a memorable and favourable legacy.

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have a new managerial target in Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Spurs manager news?

Spurs have an array of in-work and free-agent managers on their radar as chairman Daniel Levy weighs his next move carefully. The Lilywhites are currently contending with a plethora of issues both on and off the field, with Harry Kane's contract situation and the worldwide ban of director Fabio Paratici coming as real concerns.

At the front of Levy's queue of tasks, though, is Tottenham's long and drawn-out search for Antonio Conte's replacement. In terms of readily-available bosses, Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, Zinedine Zidane and even Brendan Rodgers have all been linked to the vacant post.

Meanwhile, currently employed tacticians from abroad, like Eintracht Frankfurt's Oliver Glasner and Feyenoord's Arne Slot, are impressing and have earned Tottenham's admiration.

Even names like Christophe Galtier, who could leave Paris-Saint Germain at the end of this campaign, and Celtic's Ange Postecoglou are Tottenham-linked options for Levy.

Now, as per journalist Galetti, writing on his personal website, it appears a new target has entered the frame.

According to the Italian transfer reporter, Napoli boss Spalletti is now being eyed by Tottenham's management – presumably meaning Spurs club chiefs. Indeed, the 64-year-old is apparently attracting Spurs interest alongside Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.

This apparently comes amid a 'stalemate' with Pochettino as the 51-year-old is waiting to see what happens at Real Madrid in regard to Carlo Ancelotti's future.

Should Tottenham attempt Spalletti move?

The former Roma boss comes as quite an exciting fresh link when looking at the superb job he has done at Napoli.

Spalletti's side are currently storming to the Serie A title, 16 points out in front of second-placed Lazio whilst winning an incredible 23 of 28 matches this season.

The 4-3-3 attacking coach also has a Champions League quarter-final tie against rivals AC MIlan to look forward to, but this isn't his first trophy-chasing campaign.

Indeed, the Italian has won three domestic trophies in his homeland – clinching the Coppa Italia with Roma in 2007 and 2008.

Spalletti also boasts an Italian Super Cup from his time at the Stadio Olimpico and would come to Spurs with plenty of experience.

Called an 'elite' coach by BBC Sport reporter John Bennett, going by his credentials, it's pretty hard to deny that Spalletti would be a solid Spurs candidate.

Chelsea have lost out on some great players over the years, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah the obvious examples of elite footballers who have struggled at Stamford Bridge before establishing themselves elsewhere.

Fikayo Tomori could be the latest former Chelsea star to be included in that group, as the England international continues to star with current Italian champions AC Milan.

How much is Fikayo Tomori worth now?

Tomori was a product of the youth academy at Stamford Bridge and looked destined for big things with the Blues when he first broke into the senior team under Frank Lampard.

The centre-back had starred on loan with Derby County in the Championship the season prior, featuring 47 times in the second tier under Lampard as the Rams lost out to Aston Villa in the playoff final.

It was no surprise therefore that when Lampard got the Chelsea job, Tomori would become a regular in the Blues' starting side, making 22 appearances in all competitions in the 2019/20 campaign.

However, he struggled for game time the following season and was sent on loan to the San Siro in January 2021, quickly establishing himself as a fan favourite with the Rossoneri.

Later that summer, he would complete a £30m move to the Italian giants having established himself as a regular in Stefano Pioli's side, and he would play a huge role in them winning the Scudetto the following season, averaging an impressive 6.98 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Serie A.

Joe Cole was full of praise for Tomori on BT Sport when he returned to Stamford Bridge with Milan earlier in the season.

He said (via Eurosport): “He’s an outstanding young player and young man.

“He has taken a massive gamble going there, there’s no better place to learn your trade. That club is steeped in it, [Franco] Baresi, [Alessandro] Costacurta, [Cesare and Paulo] Maldini, their ghosts are going to echo through that club and there will be people at the club from that era and there will be pearls of wisdom he has picked up.

“The Italians are the masters of defending. He has gone there and been outstanding. He is coming back with a point to prove.”

Unsurprisingly, Tomori's performances at Milan and call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad have seen his market value shoot up since initially leaving Chelsea.

As per Transfermarkt, the young defender's value has increased from €17m (£15m) upon his exit from London to €50m (£44m) which represents a huge 193% increase.

Therefore, his exit looks like it will be another one which Chelsea end up regretting.

Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia could explore the possibility of playing both Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford against Chelsea, Phil Hay reports.

The Lowdown: Rutter against Fulham

Record signing Rutter made his first start under Gracia against Fulham in the FA Cup on Tuesday. The 20-year-old had a goal disallowed and hit the post, as he was one of Leeds’ best performers on the night behind Marc Roca, as per SofaScore.

He made way for Bamford just after the hour mark, but it looks as if Gracia is considering playing them both from the off in the Premier League.

The Latest: Hay’s post

Hay was at Thorp Arch for Gracia’s pre-Chelsea press conference on Thursday, where he was asked about the decision about Bamford or Rutter as a centre-forward.

He said ‘it’s a real option to play with two options up front’, with Joe Donnohue saying that Gracia was ‘sufficiently impressed’ by Rutter on Tuesday.

The Verdict: Something different

Leeds have only played with two up front on one occasion in the Premier League this season against West Ham back in January, as per Transfermarkt.

The Frenchman wasn’t a Leeds player at that time, so playing both Bamford and Rutter at Stamford Bridge would be interesting.

The Whites have been defensively sound under the Spaniard so far and haven’t given their opponents a ‘big chance’ in his opening two games, so you could say that playing two up front may impact those defensive improvements, and it’ll be one to watch heading into this afternoon’s trip to Stamford Bridge.

Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Antonio Conte has to drop out-of-form Tottenham Hotspur ace Son Heung-min.

The Lowdown: Shocking drop off in form

It’s quite shocking what has happened to Son this season, as he was crowned as the top scorer in the Premier League last May, while he’s only managed to score in two league games this term.

Son took until mid-September to get his first Premier League goals of the season as he netted a hat-trick against Leicester City despite starting the game on the bench.

Last night’s Champions League match against Milan was yet another game to forget for Spurs and Son, as the South Korean failed to register a single shot on target and was sloppy in possession, losing the ball 13 times during their defeat (as per Sofascore)

The Latest: Son to be dropped

Agbonlahor has seemingly had enough of Son this season and wants to see him dropped, mentioning the likes of Arnaut Danjuma and Richarlison as potential replacements on TalkSport.

He said: “I feel they’ve got to get Son on form. He’s not been himself this season. Last season, joint top goalscorer, but I feel like Danjuma, the new signing; Richarlison, hasn’t scored a Premier League goal this season… they need a chance.

“Freshen it up, get Son on the bench and maybe give Danjuma a chance, and Richarlison.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-4/” title=”Tottenham latest news” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-tottenham-fans.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Conte has to make bold decisions

Conte has only benched Son once in the Premier League this season, which was a huge call at the time given how impressive the attacker has been on a consistent basis for Spurs over the last few years. Indeed, he had been hailed as ‘incredible’ last summer by former England goalkeeper David James after he picked up the Golden Boot award.

However, that one game saw Son come off the bench with something to prove and net an impressive hat trick, so perhaps that is what he needs again to try and reignite some life into his season.

Spurs splashed out £60m on Richarlison over the summer and brought in Danjuma last month, so both of those players will be itching for more minutes, and this weekend against West Ham could well be the perfect time to rotate after a midweek game out in Italy, particularly as Tottenham’s disappointing form continued on the continent.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has previously told Jamie Redknapp that he would like to stay at Spurs, but they have to match his ambition.

What’s the latest?

The England captain’s name made the headlines over the weekend after his winning goal against Manchester City saw Kane become Tottenham’s record goalscorer.

However, there are concerns over the player’s future in north London with just over one year remaining on his deal with his boyhood club.

The likes of Manchester United have been linked with potential interest in the 29-year-old ahead of the summer with Spurs hoping to tie him down to a new deal.

And speaking to Sky Sports, Redknapp has admitted the striker has previously told him he wants to remain put in N17 but the club’s future has to be pointing in the right direction:

“This is what he said to me in 2020, that I want to stay, I love the club, but I’ll only stay if I believe the club are going in the right direction.

“Now, the fact that it hasn’t quite signed yet tells me that he’s still not quite sure, you know, he wants to see a little bit more he wants to club to match his ambition.”

Is it time to go?

There have been reports in the past suggesting Kane has come close to leaving the club with Manchester City making an approach back in 2021 to sign him.

And it is believed the England captain was open to the move and had indicated to Spurs that, actually, he would like to make the move to the Etihad Stadium.

So in that sense, it does seem as if Kane would be willing to leave north London if he feels as if the right opportunity was to present itself.

There could also be a lot riding on the future of Antonio Conte who is yet to commit his future to Spurs with his contract set to expire at the end of the current season.

Some reports have suggested he is likely to allow his deal to run out and make a return to Italy where his wife and daughter reside.

This does beg the question of whether Kane views Spurs’ future in a positive light with Conte potentially walking away from the club.

And now Kane has broken Tottenham’s goal record, this could potentially enable him to walk away from the club having etched his name in the club’s history.

But with Alan Shearer’s record still to break, it will be interesting to see whether the striker feels as if he is at the best place to do so over the coming years.

West Bromwich Albion are working on a move to sign Lewis O’Brien but the deal isn’t as close as suggested, according to Lewis Cox.

The Lowdown: O’Brien future

O’Brien only joined Nottingham Forest in the summer alongside Harry Toffolo in a double swoop from Championship side Huddersfield Town for £10m.

However, after only six Premier League starts and just one coming after the fifth game of the campaign, where he was hooked at half-time in the 4-0 defeat at Leicester City, the 24-year-old may be on the move again.

It was reported by the Express & Star that the Baggies are keen on bringing the centre-midfielder to The Hawthorns on loan until the end of the season to aid their promotion bid.

The Latest: Cox’s comments

Speaking during Express & Star’s post-match analysis of West Brom’s dismal 3-0 FA Cup defeat against Bristol City, the West Brom correspondent give an update on the club’s swoop for the former Championship star, Cox said:

(5:26) “A lot of excitement around that, everyone knows what a player he is in this division.”

“Listen if he’s available as we read he is from Forest then Albion should be at the front of the queue shouldn’t they.”

“Our information on the back of that was it’s not as close as suggested but he’s certainly a target and Albion are trying to make it happen, trying to do that deal.”

The Verdict: Great addition

A move for the Baggies to bring O’Brien in for the remainder of the season could be a great piece of business with the Englishman playing majority coming under current West Brom boss Carlos Corberan.

He played the full 90 minutes in both legs of the semi-final and the final loss to Forest in the Championship play-offs last season with him pivotal in the Terriers’ season.

Corberan’s side currently lie just a point outside of the top six among a tightly packed crowd on the cusp of the play-off spots.

The addition of a player who has the experience of being part of a play-off side under Corberan could prove invaluable come the end of the season.

Arsenal look set to secure the signing of Ukrainian sensation Mykhailo Mudryk as Mikel Arteta aims to give his side the boost they need as they chase their first Premier League title in 19 years.

There could be another one or two new faces this month too, with a midfielder and centre-forward high on the manager’s wish list to improve squad depth.

The Gunners are interested in a deal to bring Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic to the Emirates Stadium in order to ease the burden on Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal were also linked with the Juventus marksman last year, but with Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the next few months due to an injury suffered at the World Cup, adding another forward is now a must for Arteta.

The Serbian hitman has lit up Serie A with his goalscoring exploits over the previous few years, netting 57 goals in just 123 appearances in the Italian top flight, and it’s no wonder he is attracting interest from England.

Indeed, his devastating ability in front of goal has seen him compared to Erling Haaland via FBref’s similar player model, with the Norwegian superstar the sixth-most comparable player to Vlahovic.

Haaland – who joined Manchester City for £51m last summer – has sparkled in the Premier League this season, scoring a quite remarkable 21 goals in just 17 matches, and it’s certainly not a bad comparison for Vlahovic to have.

This season, the two strikers have registered similar statistics with regard to shot-creating actions per match (2.54 to 2.41), dribble success rate (41.7% to 35.7%), assists (three to one), and aerial duels won (48.5% to 47.2%).

Both players clearly offer an excellent attacking threat, and if Arteta wants to keep Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, investing in a player like Vlahovic could be a wise move.

The £220k-per-week striker was dubbed “clinical” by CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs following a goal against Switzerland in the World Cup and he knows how to deliver on the highest stage, so he could settle in at Arsenal with ease.

The 22-year-old could soften the Jesus injury blow over the next few months, and it might just lead to Arsenal claiming the league title with Arteta unearthing his own Haaland in the process.

Newcastle United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Attacker wanted

Given recent links to the likes of Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Leeds United’s Jack Harrison and PSV’s Cody Gakpo, it is clear that the St. James’ Park outfit would like to bring in another attacker in January, to help them push all the way for a UEFA Champions League place come the end of next season.

Having largely been a missed out on Brazil’s FIFA World Cup squad in Qatar, Cunha is likely to seek a move away this winter, which could give a number of clubs an opportunity to pounce on his signature.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘offered’ Cunha

Co-writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Magpies have been ‘offered’ Cunha in January alongside Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, as Atletico are ‘desperate’ to offload his wages, and would be ‘prepared’ to sanction a loan move.

However, Everton, Aston Villa and Leeds United have made contact with Cunha’s representatives over a potential deal, and are ‘actively trying’ to strike one for him, while the player himself is ‘interested’ in working with Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, but ‘sources’ have claimed that he would like to explore all of his options first of all before making a final decision on his future.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Look elsewhere?

Eddie Howe’s side have had no real problems in the attacking third of the pitch this term, with their 29 goals scored in the Premier League the fourth-highest in the division.

Dubbed ‘something special‘ by former Hertha Berlin head coach Bruno Labbadia, after impressing with the German club, where he managed 23 goal contributions in 40 games (Transfermarkt), in truth Cunha has struggled for form since moving to Atletico,  failing to find the back of the net so far in this campaign.

Lauded as a player who is ‘very fast’, with ‘great technical skills’, ‘unpredictable gameplay’ and an ‘excellent goal instinct’ by his former manager at Swiss side FC Sion Maurizio Jacobacci, Cunha boasts a similar playing style to Tyneside striker Alexander Isak, but the former would likely have to be pushed out wide in order to accommodate the Sweden international.

Sharing the same agent as Toon central midfielder and fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes, a deal could certainly be pushed through, but the North East club may want to think twice about whether Cunha is the right fit for them.