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What a time it is to be associated with Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta's side still marching on in the hope of landing a first Premier League crown in 20 years, having also booked their place in the last eight of the Champions League after narrowly edging past a stubborn Porto side.

After years of frustration in the late Wenger years and under Unai Emery – as well as in Arteta's early stint in charge – the Gunners are now reaping the rewards of their patient approach, as well as their improved record in the transfer market under the watchful eye of Edu Gaspar.

The £105m addition of Declan Rice, for instance, has swiftly paid off with the Englishman arguably the 'signing of the season' – as per pundit Danny Murphy – while even the oft-maligned Kai Havertz has begun to catch fire, boasting nine goals and three assists in all competitions to date.

With those two high-profile deals looking like undoubted success stories so far, perhaps the Emirates outfit may be keen to spend big again this summer to take yet another step toward achieving domestic and European dominance…

Arsenal's plans for the summer

According to a latest report from Spanish outlet, Sport – via Sport Witness – the north Londoners are said to be plotting a move for Real Madrid sensation, Rodrygo, with both the Gunners and title rivals Liverpool said to have made contact with Los Blancos regarding a potential summer swoop.

The piece suggests it may prove a tricky task trying to prise the Brazilian – whose current deal expires in 2028 – from the Bernabeu any time soon, with any prospective deal likely to cost in the region of €100m (£86m).

That being said, all may not be lost for Edu and co as the 23-year-old is said to be aware that his game time could be hampered in the Spanish capital next term if Kylian Mbappe is to arrive as expected, with his young compatriot Endrick also set to be added to the mix.

With competition for places set to be rife, perhaps Arsenal can entice the former Santos to make the move to England…

Rodrygo's season in numbers

It would certainly be a real statement if the Gunners were to snap up the £86m man ahead of next season, particularly due to the fact that the South American star typically operates on the right flank – the same role that Bukayo Saka occupies in the capital.

While the lack of a centre-forward has seen Rodrygo move centrally this season – where has netted 13 times and registered eight assists – it is on the right where he has normally been utilised in Madrid, ensuring that Saka may be left looking nervously over his shoulder.

Just a year older than the Englishman, the in-demand ace has already plundered 18 goals and 11 assists in just 47 Champions League games to date, proving just what an effective and reliable presence he is at the top level.

Lauded for being "terrifyingly good" with regard to his "finishing levels" by journalist Sam Tighe, Rodrygo's case is enhanced even further by his apparent likeness to the man who may replace him in Spain, Mbappe, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

The pair are particularly alike with regard to their ability to breeze past and bamboozle defenders with ease, with Rodrygo ranking in the top 1% among his fellow forwards in Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries (5.78), as well as in the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90 (2.60) – Mbappe, meanwhile, ranks in the top 2% for both of those metrics.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2019/20

19

2

0

2020/21

22

1

6

2021/22

33

4

5

2022/23

34

9

9

2023/24

29

8

5

What also sets the duo apart from the rest is just how effective they are at retaining possession despite their willingness to create in the final third, with Rodrygo ranking in the top 1% for pass completion (88%) while Mbappe ranks in the top 2% in that regard.

For comparison, Saka ranks in just the bottom 45% for pass completion (74.7%) among his fellow attacking midfielders/wingers, and while he does rank in the top 15% for progressive carries (5.10) , his record at actually beating his man is rather inferior, as he ranks in just the bottom 46% for successful take-ons (1.63).

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Of course, this record can be easily overlooked when considering the Hale End graduate's 29 goals and assists this term in all competitions, although it does indicate that he may have a fight on his hands for a regular role if Rodrygo is to arrive in the near future…

Glasgow Rangers face a quick turnaround from their midweek victory at Ibrox over Ross County as they travel to Perth to face St Johnstone in the Premiership this afternoon.

Philippe Clement’s side have yet to drop points in the league this year and the momentum is certainly with the Gers as they look to secure a first title since the 2020/21 campaign.

With the fixtures coming thick and fast, the Belgian manager may look to make a change or two to his starting XI to take on the Saints.

Rangers team news vs St Johnstone

The 49-year-old coach spoke to the media prior to the match today as he gave an update on the squad, saying:

“Rabbi (Matondo) has a small muscle issue, why he was changed at HT. He had a scan and will miss this game, I think he will be back short-term.”

Aside from this, there are no new injury issues thankfully, but that won't mean Clement will rest on his laurels ahead of what could be a tricky test in Perth.

Tom Lawrence started the tie against Ross County and was impressive, yet his recent injury issues indicate that he should be dropped to the bench given the sharp turnaround in games and this could see a first Premiership start for Mohamed Diomande.

Mohamed Diomande could be ideal for John Lundstram

Against County in midweek, Lundstram dropped slightly deeper and allowed Lawrence freedom to roam, culminating in the Welshman succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts, taking six shots and making two key passes during the tie.

Diomande could provide a similar attacking output should he start against the Saints. The 22-year-old arrived off the bench against the Staggies and completed 100% of his passes, made one key pass and took 14 touches.

The 6 foot maestro could benefit from playing the full 90 minutes as he works his way back up to match fitness and his statistics during the opening half of the season for FC Nordsjaelland.

Indeed, the “aggressive” midfielder – as so dubbed by analyst John Walker when profiling him last month – created three big chances and averaged 1.1 key passes per game in the Danish top flight, while his passing was also impressive, averaging an 89% pass success rate per game.

These statistics were clearly enough to see Clement make a move to bring him to Ibrox and, although it will take a few weeks for him to get up to speed with Scottish football, initial signs are promising.

Mohamed Diomande's stats vs Ross County
Minutes	11
Touches	14
Passes	10
Key passes	1
Possession lost	2
Via Sofascore

With a plethora of options to choose from with regard to who partners Lundstram in the midfield, it is certainly a nice problem for Clement to have and this could see him rotate players on a regular basis.

A trip to Perth is never easy, but it will be a good match for Diomande to be thrown into and, with the experience of Lundstram alongside him, there is no doubt the Ivorian can perform well.

Three points is all that matters for the Ibrox side as they look to keep up with Celtic at the summit of the league.

Modern football is consumed in a completely different way than it used to be, with social media allowing supporters to find a voice and share their opinions around the globe.

YouTubers and podcasters now play a prominent role in football for many fans, becoming household names around the world, offering their views on the game and often proving divisive. Arsenal Fan TV is perhaps the prime example, with the famous Arsenal fan site often as popular with opposition supporters as Gunners fans, depending on the result.

Then there's Mark Goldbridge, covering all things Manchester United and the Premier League – but who is exactly is The United Stand presenter?

Mark Goldbridge and Man Utd

Goldbridge has arguably become one of the most recognisable and successful YouTubers around when it comes to football coverage, offering regular thoughts on his beloved United.

His watchalongs during Red Devils matches have provided so much entertainment down the years, with his Alan Partridge-esque mannerisms and hilarious reactions to United conceding goals often having the potential to go viral.

Intriguingly, there are persistent claims that Goldbridge is actually not a United fan at all, with Nottingham Forest rumoured to be his team of choice growing up. He actually began supporting United through his Grandad on his mother's side after his parents split up, explaining the confusion in an interview with FourFourTwo.

Mark Goldbridge real name Brent Di Cesare

Perhaps the one thing that many don't know about Mark Goldbridge is that it isn't his real name, with the United supporter actually called Brent Di Cesare. A quick search on Companies House proves this, with the 44-year-old's real name listed with The United Stand, his YouTube channel.

Interestingly, he actually had a career in law enforcement before his current job became a full-time occupation – he was a police detective investigating financial fraud, which meant he needed to create an alias when he wanted to start posting his videos.

Mark Goldbridge net worth

There is a reason why being a successful influencer is something that kids crave to be at school these days – something that was simply impossible when sitting down with your careers officer back in the day! It can be an extremely lucrative job, depending on the level of success achieved, and it appears as though Goldbridge is making a great living out of keeping the masses entertained.

Incredibly, Goldbridge has a reported net worth of €5m (£3.9m) and earns around $250,000 (£196,000) per year, which sums up how big his following is and the success he has achieved as the years have passed.

Mark Goldbridge Twitter

Goldbridge is a big presence on Twitter/X, with over 800,000 followers to his name as of March 2024, and he will often be found providing his latest thoughts on all things United, even providing a balanced view on rival clubs in an age when so many have wild opinions simply to generate clicks.

Twitter/X

807,700

Instagram

460,000

YouTube

342,000

TikTok

813,000

Mark Goldbridge wife

Away from the public eye, Goldbridge is a married man with a family. He met his wife when he was 20 while living in Ireland and working in insurance. They're married and have three children – two daughters and a son.

Mark Goldbridge age and height

One thing that can often come as a surprise to many is Goldbridge's age, with the Nottingham-born personality currently 44, turning 45 in April 2024. For whatever reason, it is easy to envisage him being younger than that when viewing his content. Goldbridge is 5 foot 8 inches tall.

Mark Goldbridge Liverpool

While Goldbridge is clearly a big United fan, he will often spend his time discussing their rivals, like any other level-headed football supporter.

The 44-year-old has had plenty to say about Liverpool down the years, but while some may mock his opinions on other matters, Reds supporters actually appear to think relatively highly of him.

Goldbridge has appeared on Liverpool fan site The Redmen TV in the past, for example, speaking fairly and concisely about United's adversaries, and it is a reminder that some of his antics during games can often be part of the character he has developed, often for comic purposes more than anything else.

In fairness to him, it looks as though he has realised that there is a space in the market for someone more measured than the classic Twitter tribalism nonsense most content creators opt for.

It takes a lot for any United supporter to praise Liverpool, especially given their success during the Jurgen Klopp era, not to mention online when millions of people can view your thoughts. For that reason, Goldbridge deserves praise for this.

Overall, he may not be to everyone's taste, but once you realise much of his schtick is tongue-in-cheek and appreciate that he can also talk plenty of sense, it becomes far easier to simply sit back and enjoy those Partridge-esque moments.

Gareth Southgate admits fielding Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield is "an experiment" and claims England lack a replacement for Kalvin Phillips.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• England held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark
• Three Lions' midfield under the scanner
• Southgate moans about lack of resources

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England's bid to secure top spot in Group C of Euro 2024 hit a stumbling block as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark in Frankfurt. Despite taking an early lead through Harry Kane, the Three Lions struggled to maintain their momentum with Morten Hjulmand's stunning long-range strike erasing their advantage.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After a lacklustre performance against Serbia, Alexander-Arnold was handed a second opportunity to prove his critics wrong but the Liverpool player once again failed to live up to the task and was substituted for Conor Gallagher just ten minutes into the second half. Naturally, Southgate was bombarded with questions on Alexander-Arnold's role in the team and the England manager could only muster a bizarre answer to the queries.

• WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

  When asked about the substitution decision, Southgate explained, "I wanted to get Conor on; we needed some energy and to press better. He's (Alexander-Arnold) had some moments where he's delivered what we thought he would. We know it's an experiment. We know we don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Philips. We're trying different things and at the moment we're not flowing as we'd like."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Phillips, who missed out on the tournament following a disappointing loan spell at West Ham, has left a gap in the midfield that Southgate has struggled to fill. The lack of a like-for-like replacement for Phillips has led to tactical adjustments, including the controversial deployment of Alexander-Arnold in midfield – rather than his natural position at right-back.

Joe Denly scored his first century of the Specsavers County Championship campaign and moved Kent into a 319-run lead going into the final day of their Division One clash with Nottinghamshire in Tunbridge Wells.When bad light halted play Kent were sitting pretty on 273 for 3 after 67 overs, with Denly – who only last month missed out on selection for England’s World Cup 2019 squad – unbeaten with 111.The right-hander went out to bat in the home side’s second innings of this basement battle having mustered only 44 runs in his five Championship knocks of the summer at a paltry average of 8.8.Four hours later, however, Denly had hit 13 fours having featured in stands worth 75 with Zak Crawley, 152 in tandem with Daniel Bell-Drummond and then an unbroken 31 with Heino Kuhn that ensured a draw or a Kent victory.After securing a useful 42-run first-innings lead, Kent lost Sean Dickson just before lunch then first-innings century maker Crawley was caught on the drive in the mid-session.After a watchful start, Denly started to unfurl the trademark cover drives that won him England Test caps in the Caribbean during the winter.By mid-afternoon Bell-Drummond also started to blossom in the best batting conditions of the match. Denly reached his 50 from 82 balls while Bell-Drummond reached the landmark from only 70.The return of the skilful James Pattinson accounted for Bell-Drummond to a catch at the wicket for 79, but Denly ploughed on for the 28th first-class century if his career.”We’re in a really good position going into the last day,” said Denly. “We started well this morning with the ball and the seamers all put in a fantastic display.”In previous years, teams have tended to get away from us when some tail-enders have wagged a little, but this morning we were ruthless. Matt Milnes showed what a good signing he has been and I’m delighted that he got his first five-for against his old club.”With the bat, it was about trying to go out and be as positive as I could. They were going to attack me, so I tried to capitalise on any width or anything short and the plans worked well. I enjoy playing at Tunbridge Wells and this is a massive game against a team down the bottom yet still close to us. We’re in a great position now and hopefully we can put them under some real pressure tomorrow.”Earlier, Kent’s bowlers made the most of overcast, humid conditions to pick up Nottinghamshire’s last six wickets for 59 runs with Milnes claiming career-best figures of 5 for 68.Matt Milnes of Kent appeals•Getty Images

Kent made their first breakthrough after 20 minutes when Milnes plucked out the off stump of his former captain Steven Mullaney, sparking exuberant celebrations by the bowler.Samit Patel batted on unphased to reach an uncharacteristically slow half-century in from 141 balls. But, down the other end Notts No. 7, Tom Moores underwent a testing examination at the hands of Milnes, who beat the left-hander’s outside edge three times and had a strong leg before shout turned down all in the same over.In his next over, Milnes finally ended Patel’s three-hour stay for 52 with a shooting off-cutter that thudded into his pads. Two balls later, Milnes was celebrating his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket when Pattinson edged to slip.Wiaan Mulder got in on the act by having Mullaney caught behind. After a short rain break, Mulder returned to have Matt Carter caught at slip to secure a precious 42-run lead for the hosts. Mulder finished with 3 for 35.Patel said: “Denly batted excellently, showed how good he is and took the game away from us. It’s always hard when you’re trying to force it and they got away from us a little bit.”The bad light at the end tonight makes sure they’ll have to bat on for a bit on the morning and it will take some overs out of the game. Then we’ll see. If we can get two people in maybe we can knock them off.”

When Leeds signed Djed Spence on loan from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, the initial plan was for him to stay at Elland Road for the entirety of the season. However, early in the January transfer window, the decision was taken to cut the loan short and send him back to North London early.

Manager Daniel Farke appeared to hint that disciplinary concerns were at play when asked about the matter in a press conference, implying that he'd fallen short of "expectations" when it came to "professionalism" and "workload". While he may feel that parting with Spence will be good for the atmosphere within the camp in that respect, he does still need to find a replacement at full-back for the remainder of the campaign to ensure he's not caught short.

It appears that Neco Williams at Nottingham Forest has been identified as a potential solution. Williams made his first-team breakthrough at Liverpool, but after a six-month spell on loan at Fulham in the first half of 2022, he made a permanent switch to Forest for around £17m.

He's racked up 49 games for the club so far, including 13 this season, and was finding game time hard to come by before Steve Cooper was sacked. Williams started just three Premier League games, and appeared in eight, under his compatriot, but has been involved in all three of Nuno's matches, starting one.

Phil Hay update on Neco Williams interest

Speaking on The Square Ball Podcast, journalist Phil Hay says "a few people have been telling" him that Leeds "like" Williams, but he stressed that it would be a tricky deal to execute. That's because, right now, it doesn't look like "there is any scope for Forest letting him out", with Williams seemingly "well in the plans of Nuno".

Williams may well have grown frustrated with his lack of opportunities so far this season, and that may mean he's open to the possibility of dropping down a tier to play more regularly. To further smooth things over on the player side, Leeds already have a relationship with his agents, who represent Crysencio Summerville. The challenge comes in convincing Forest.

Williams would be perfect for Leeds

Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold has called Williams an "amazing talent" who "will have a bright future no matter what", and perhaps the best demonstration of that came when he got a taste of the Championship with Fulham. As the table below shows, he ranked inside the league's top six defenders (minimum ten games played) for completed dribbles, accurate final-third passes, accurate crosses and shots per game

Neco Williams for Fulham	Stat	Rank vs Championship defenders
Successful dribbles	1.36	6th
Accurate final-third passes	13.21	3rd
Accurate crosses	1.21	6th
Total shots	1.36	1st

He was a potent offensive threat in the full-back positions and someone who's also capable of the spectacular – one of his four direct goal contributions for the Cottagers was a goal-of-the-month nominated strike against Swansea.

This, then, would be a perfect signing for promotion-chasing Leeds given that Williams has proven how effective he can be in the second tier. They may, however, have to see how things pan out for Williams over the course of this month, and hope for a late change of heart from his club.

Jhye Richardson has made peace with the bitter disappointment of being ruled out of the World Cup due to the dislocated shoulder he suffered against Pakistan in the UAE and now has his sights set on returning for the Ashes tour later in the year.Jhye picked up the injury diving on the boundary during the second ODI in Sharjah and though he avoided needing surgery, the time has run out on him to be ready for the World Cup. Since Australia went into camp in Brisbane, it has looked unlikely he would recover having not yet resumed bowling although right up the moment of being ruled out he remained positive about the prognosis.His next target is to be able available to join the Australia A tour of England which runs concurrent to the latter part of the World Cup and the build-up to the Ashes in a bid to make the Test squad for the series which starts on August 1. Kane Richardson has been called up to Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad in his place.”If I’m going to be brutally honest, it hasn’t been that easy to accept,” Jhye said before leaving Australia’s camp in Brisbane to return to Perth. “World Cups don’t come around every day, so it’s been tough. I’ve got the right people around me. The guys are fantastic, they’ve been really supportive every step of the way. I’ve done everything I can, it just wasn’t meant to be and I’m at peace with it.”It helps a lot to know there is something just as big around the corner and to have that to aim for it puts a lot of clarity in my mind. I’ll do everything I can to get up for firstly the Australia A tour and then the Ashes.His World Cup absence is a blow for Australia with him having made an impressive return to the Australia one-day side during the home summer. In his young ODI career, he has taken 24 wickets in 12 matches so far at an average of 26.33.”This is obviously very disappointing news for the team and for Jhye, who has been exceptional throughout his rehabilitation process,” David Beakley, Australia’s physiotherapist, said. “After his most recent assessment and attempting to bowl in the nets, it was clear that Jhye was not progressing as fast as required and therefore, in consultation with selectors, we made the decision to withdraw him from the squad.”Jhye added: “I honestly thought I could get up and I was determined to do everything I could. It was always going to be touch and go, we knew that from the day I did it. I was optimistic all the way through even though bowling wasn’t going the way I would have liked. I still thought I had a chance. Even though people around me were telling me it wasn’t going as well as they would have liked, I was trying to keep positive.”He also insisted he would have no doubts about throwing himself around the outfield again in the future even if it risked another injury. “That’s the way I want to play my cricket. I want to be able to put my body on the line, that’s what it means to me, and if I get injured doing so then so be it. I can accept that. If I’m trying to save runs for the team and do everything I can then that’s the way I want to go about it and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”For his namesake, Kane, the World Cup call-up completes a notable one-day comeback having drifted out of the reckoning until a prolific BBL – where he was the leading wicket-taker – earned him another chance, firstly for the India tour, which he was then ruled out of with injury, and then the Pakistan series in the UAE where he played two matches.He was wicketless in the opening match against the New Zealand XI in Brisbane but was named for the second match.He has been called up ahead of Josh Hazlewood who was the other quick confirmed as a reserve when the squad was named last month. Hazlewood has been out of action since the final Test against India in early January but was bowling off a full run and at a good pace in the nets on Wednesday.Sean Abbott and Michael Neser, who are both part of the Australia A squad, were included in the Australian XII for the second practice match at Allan Border Field, while Mitchell Starc got his first outing since the final Test against Sri Lanka when he suffered a pectoral injury.

Tottenham Hotspur, it won't be a surprise to hear, are targeting a defender in January, with Ange Postecoglou revealing in December that the backline will receive "priority" ahead of the January transfer window, which has now swung open its shutters.

But the craggy-faced manager's attention will not end there, with chairman Daniel Levy handed a sheet detailing requests for fresh faces across the thirds. How much of this becomes reality this month remains to be seen, but efforts will be made regardless.

It's all relative, and having finished eighth in the Premier League last season, losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, Spurs have been excellent in perching in fifth place – one point behind Arsenal in the top four – after 20 games.

And that's with Spurs having to contend with a range of injuries to influential first-team stars and with both of Postecoglou's first-choice centre-backs out injured right now, it's understandable that a winter signing is desired.

Spurs transfer news – Jean-Clair Todibo

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham and Manchester United have been joined by rivals Chelsea in their pursuit of OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, with ballpark offers of £40m expected to be considered.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Spurs' pursuit for the player could collapse amid the pursuit for Genoa's Radu Dragusin, with the deal for the Romanian close to being tied up and transferred this week, fitting Postecoglou's wish for a swift transaction.

Nonetheless, with Eric Dier headed for the exit when his contract expires in June and Spurs' squad thinness proving to be the Achilles heel this term, efforts could still be made to bring the France international to Tottenham.

Jean-Clair Todibo's season in numbers

It would take a herculean effort to topple the Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain this season but Nice are giving it a good shot, five points behind the table-toppers after 17 matches and boasting the best defensive record in the division with only nine goals shipped.

Todibo has been an integral part of this effort, making increments to his game to now stand as one of French football's foremost defenders after signing for his outfit from Barcelona in 2021, where he failed to make his mark but absorbed many ball-playing qualities that have sculpted his game to this day.

Across 14 displays in Ligue 1 this season, Todibo has completed 91% of his passes, incredibly made 7.9 ball recoveries and 3.2 clearances per game and won 71% of his dribbles and 65% of his aerial duels, as per Sofascore.

Passing

Discipline

Tackling

Aerial duels

*Sourced via WhoScored

With traits that would make him a custom-made addition to a squad such as Spurs', it's not surprising that there has been such a vested interest in a deal, and while talks have halted, there must be a reluctance to allow him to fall into rival clutches.

Jean-Clair Todibo's style of play

Long considered to be a talent capable of reaching the upper echelon of the European game, Todibo has successfully positioned himself in a prominent standing after ebbing and flowing from form over the past several years.

Standing at 6 foot 3 and comfortable in both attacking and defensive phases, Todibo has been described as the "complete" player by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

As per FBref, Todibo ranks among the top 6% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and successful take-ons, the top 18% for progressive passes, the top 20% for interceptions and the top 5% for tackles per 90.

Such metrics highlight his ball-playing skill, true, but also showcase the defensive aptitude that would facilitate his success in the English top-flight, having been said to be a "Rolls-Royce" of a player by journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango.

While the Lilywhites bosses might be inclined to sign Dragusin given the Romanian defender's ostensible availability for transfer this week, Todibo certainly seems to be the most established player at present, and while he would cost more – Levy is reportedly hoping to agree a £25m deal for Dragusin – he could be the difference-maker in the charge for top-four this term.

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Especially considering that Todibo bears similarities in his game to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who is arguably the best centre-half in the world right now.

How Jean-Clair Todibo compares to Virgil van Dijk

Even Liverpool supporters would find a tough time arguing that Van Dijk was at the top of his game last season, with the Netherlands skipper mired in suffering as Jurgen Klopp's side sank to unprecedented lows, but he has returned with vigour since the summer break.

Across 18 Premier League outings in 2023/24, the 32-year-old has completed 91% of his passes, averaged five ball recoveries and 4.5 clearances per game and succeeded with a whopping 82% of his aerial duels, infallible in the skies.

Listed as a comparable player to the Redman via Football Transfers' player comparison model, Todibo has demonstrated a similar level of aerial dominance this season (winning a respectable 65% of his duels) and of course, offers a rangy style that has been the nucleus of his success in his homeland.

While the £20k-per-week Les Aiglons star does not jump into aerial battles with the same frequency, he clearly picks his moments and this highlights a footballing intellect that Postecoglou would only bring further to the fore.

Further, Micky van de Ven, for all his brilliance, has only won 44% of his aerial duels in the Premier League and this is something that could patch over such a weakness, partnering Todibo with Cristian Romero, perhaps.

Ultimately, it's clear that Postecoglou has options to choose from and the bottom line is that a central defender will be signed this month, but perhaps a little prudence in waiting to sign Todibo would be a beneficial move in the long-term, sealing the strength of the Tottenham defence in iron-clad resolve.

The France international playmaker was superb at his best, but a real handful at his worst. He will never be forgotten in east London, though…

Dimitri Payet has gone down in history as one of the finest, most skilful players to ever grace the West Ham shirt. A brilliant, mercurial playmaker with the skill to thread the needle, as well as the dip in his shoulder to beat a man in the centre of the pitch, not only was he integral to the success of Slaven Bilic’s Hammers, he earned plaudits from across Europe.

During his time in east London, he was both West Ham’s best player and eventually a Ballon d’Or nominee – capping a rise that began on the island of Reunion, in the Indian Ocean.

What perhaps isn't known is that he had a false start to his career, having been snapped up by Le Havre, who had an existing relationship with his club in Reunion, Saint-Pierroise. He spent four years there as a youth player, but he was accused of a lack of motivation and professionalism, and subsequently returned to the island to play for Excelsior.

It would not be the last time that Payet had his attitude and behaviour called into question; as gifted and talented as he is, it is fair to say that he has left under a cloud at more than one club. A tortured genius, perhaps, but at his best, the attacking midfielder was not just worth indulging; he was worth building an entire team around.

Getty ImagesComeback kid

Even Payet admits that his return to Reunion came about because he “wasn’t an easy person to handle”, and he felt that his dreams of a professional career were in tatters. Not only had he struggled to adjust to life in France, but he was also small, and his youth coaches felt he was simply too weak to play in the top-flight.

When he played for Excelsior, Reunion’s best team, he stood out, but one report claims that Nantes only happened upon him by chance. A scout visited the island for a seminar and happened to see Payet playing while he was there. He insisted that the player be brought with him to France, and Nantes struck a deal.

Having gone through with the move, Payet starred briefly in a documentary about young players on the up, and his time at Nantes came with no end of difficulties, as he had a public row with Manchester United legend Fabien Barthez and could not save his side from relegation.

Their going down allowed him to demand a transfer, and Saint-Etienne were interested, striking a deal for £4m, but again they were almost relegated to Ligue 2, with Payet’s main contribution being a staggering loss of control in which he headbutted his team-mate Blaise Matuidi.

But he was playing at the top level, and across 148 appearances for the club, he contributed 57 goals, either scoring or assisting.

AdvertisementGetty Images'Next Eden Hazard'

After a 13-goal season in 2010-11, Lille took a punt on Payet. They had just lost Eden Hazard to Chelsea and Payet, both in terms of his profile and his ego, fitted like a glove as a replacement. Nineteen goals and 31 assists add up to 50 goal contributions in 95 appearances, at a rate of a contribution every 0.52 games; Hazard’s average was one every 0.53 games.

One superb effort against Reims was illustrative of Payet’s quality; he took the ball 40 yards from goal, ran forward, shimmied, and unleashed a drive into the top corner. Solo talent and a piledriver of a finish.

He was voted into the Ligue 1 Team of the Season, having finally taken the mantle of main man, and bet on himself when he joined Marseille for a fee of around £10m and from there, he eventually hit unforeseen heights.

A middling first season led to a second in which he registered 21 assists and scored seven goals. Only two players had as many assists that season in Europe's top-five leagues: Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne.

Magic tricks in east London

It was in 2015, upon his move to West Ham, when Payet exploded into the consciousness of a global audience, as he became the main man at a club playing in the biggest league in the world.

His age – Payet was 28 when he moved to England – meant the Hammers did not face the competition they might have done had he been a couple of years younger, and they were able to snaffle him up from Marseille for just £10m. Payet said upon his arrival that he had “been given a lot of responsibility”, and he paid it back in spades.

In 2015-16, Payet was one of the Premier League’s best players; he scored nine goals and registered 12 assists in just 30 games, and some of them were truly outrageous.

His free-kick against Crystal Palace is arguably the greatest set-piece in modern English top-flight history; on the edge of the box, he hit the ball so hard, and with such dip, that it appeared to be heading over the crossbar until the very last moment, when it suddenly nestled in the top corner. It was as much a goal as it was a magic trick.

That wasn't his only brilliant goal of the game, either, as Payet followed it up by sitting goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey down before chipping the ball into the back of the net having been sent clean through.

The season ended with West Ham's final game at Upton Park, and Payet played a key role, as the Irons beat Manchester United, with the France international providing the cross for Winston Reid’s winning goal.

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During his time with West Ham, Payert earned a call-up to France's Euro 2016 squad, and he was nothing short of brilliant. He scored three goals – the pick of which came in the tournament opener against Romania, as he unleased a sensational drive into the top corner with his weaker left foot – and provided three assists as Les Bleus reached the final on home soil.

Playing primarily as a left winger, Payet's driving pace and penchant for the spectacular saw him become indispensable throughout the tournament, although it would ultimately end in disappointment, as the hosts were beaten by Portugal in the final.

Tottenham Hotspur shifted away from the old managerial strategy and appointed Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou in the summer, with the craggy-faced Australian engineering a welcome resurgence over the first months of the campaign.

It was the best of times down the N17, with the staunch Spurs faithful roaring in adulation as the players – energised by exciting summer signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven – clicked into gear and launched an unlikely charge to the forefront of the Premier League table.

The dog days appeared to have returned after this period of bliss, with injuries and suspensions ravaging the progress and leaving Tottenham engulfed in a five-match winless run, which was finally ended in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United.

But the fact that Postecoglou has been forced to contend with a startling lack of defensive cover has hindered the progress, and this has to be the top priority in January.

Tottenham transfer news – Illia Zabarnyi

According to the Mirror, Tottenham have identified Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi as the perfect player to strengthen Postecoglou's side's defensive ranks in January.

It's understood that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was interested in signing the player in 2021 following his performances in his Ukrainian homeland with Dynamo Kiev, but the Cherries won the race and snapped him up for £24m in January 2023, when he ultimately felt the time was apt to make the move to the Premier League.

Still only 21-years-old, it's said that Fabio Paratici is a huge admirer of the player with Zabarnyi having impressed with his integration into life on England's south coast. While Bournemouth have paved a solid foundation for his future career, Spurs would only be too happy to swipe the starlet away from the Vitality Stadium.

Illia Zabarnyi's season in numbers

Bournemouth didn't convince all when they decided to sack Gary O'Neil at the end of the 2022/23 campaign after he kept the Cherries afloat, but the appointment of Andoni Iraola was projected to be a progressive and impactful move.

A slow start did little to quell fears that the upheaval might backfire, but with Bournemouth now picking up 13 points from a possible 15 in the league after suffering a 6-1 defeat against Manchester City, sights have been set up the table.

Zabarnyi has been crucial, starting all 16 matches and actually having yet to miss a minute, as per Sofascore, having also completed 82% of his passes, averaged 4.3 ball recoveries and 3.8 clearances per game and 57% of his contested duels.

Bournemouth defeated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on a historic afternoon for the club last time out, and Zabarnyi underscored his credentials as a top-class defensive prospect with a commanding display, making five clearances, blocking three shots, and winning two tackles and interceptions apiece.

Much was made for Iraola's side's incisiveness in Manchester, but such feats would have been rendered impossible had the base not done its job and held the squad together.

Illia Zabarnyi's style of play

Zabarnyi still has a long road to travel but he can take much confidence from his exploits across the maiden stage of his career, where he has been described as "composed & intelligent" and "complete & dominant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 19% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 10% for blocks per 90, showcasing his ability to progress the play with the ball at his feet and noting his positional security.

Illia Zabarnyi: Key Characteristics

Strength

Weakness

Blocking

Passing

*Sourced via WhoScored

Such attributes are not too dissimilar to that of Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, with the world-class Dutchman the player who Zabarnyi has moulded his own game from, as he once stated in an interview.

Physically imposing and strong in the air, the 32-cap international's aerial dominance is something that is not easily replicated, but he has invested time into establishing control in this regard and could grow into a player of first-class stature with a transfer to Tottenham.

It is important to stress again that Zabarnyi is only 21, having already cemented a starring role in an impressive Premier League side; when Van Dijk was the same age, he plied his trade for Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie.

While that is certainly nothing to sniff at, it's an illumination of how much a player will grow, and Spurs might be wise to snap Zabarnyi up before the price tags touted get somewhat exorbitant.

Moulding him into a player of Van Dijk's standing, Postecoglou may well provide his London club with a rock-solid leader in the rearguard to ensure the years come are fruitful, with the Liverpool captain even considered "the best centre-back of all time" by the likes of pundit Michael Owen.

While several erstwhile professionals might have a thing or two to say about that, the £220k-per-week monster has been the heart of Liverpool's backline since signing from Southampton for £75m in December 2020, having now amassed 237 appearances, scoring 20 goals and supplying 14 assists for good measure.

Van Dijk ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for passes attempted, the top 12% for goals, the top 5% for assists and the top 3% for aerial wins per 90.

This season, in the Premier League, he has averaged 4.7 ball recoveries and 4.9 clearances per game, completed 91% of his passes, won 72% of his ground duels and 79% of his aerial duels.

Such statistics underscore the unparalleled calibre of his skill set, and while Zabarnyi has a long way to go before he reaches the same level, he has the talent to shoot right to the top over the coming years.

With a manager such as Postecoglou honing his craft and stars such as Van de Ven and Cristian Romero to absorb knowledge from, this is exactly the kind of move Tottenham need to make to fortify their defensive ranks.