Liverpool and another Premier League club are interested in signing a highly-rated young defender, according to his current club's president.
Liverpool transfer news
It remains to be seen if the Reds will do any key transfer business during the January window, but they have certainly been linked with plenty of players of late. For example, Anfield chiefs are reportedly looking to hijack Manchester United's move for impressive young Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, as Jurgen Klopp weighs up whether to bolster his defensive options or not.
Joel Matip's season-ending injury has acted as a major blow to the Reds manager, making it absolutely vital that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stay fit for long periods this season.
Away from the defence, Liverpool have been linked with a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha, with the former Leeds United man potentially leaving the La Liga giants in the near future. A stunning move for Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar Kylian Mbappe has been mooted, too, but it appears as though Real Madrid are in pole position to snap him up.
Liverpool want Kevin Mantilla
Speaking to La Voz [via Sport Witness], Talleres president Andres Fassi claimed Liverpool and Brighton are interested in signing centre-back Kevin Mantilla.
“It’s true, they have been following him for four months now. And they asked us for information about his physical records."
A report last year claimed that the Reds were keen on signing the 20-year-old, but a move has failed to come to fruition until this point. He is contracted to his current club until the summer of 2027, so it may take a hefty bid to prise him away any time soon.
Mantilla is still very much a player who is maturing, given his age, but he could be viewed as a long-term investment by Liverpool, coming in as a good backup option to begin with, and learning from playing alongside the likes of Van Dijk and Konate.
He is a 23-time capped Colombia Under-20 international, and assuming he continues on his current trajectory, he will surely make the step up to the senior international team at some point in the future.
Mantilla now has nine first-team appearances to his name for Tallares, and the fact that he can also slot in at both left-back and right-back at times could act as another reason to sign him for Klopp. The Liverpool manager is a fan of versatile players – the Reds have been linked with Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio numerous times, who can play centrally and on the left-hand side of the defence – so it is a move that would make sense.
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Admittedly, the improved form of Joe Gomez this season and the emergence of youngster Jarell Quansah does mean the Reds are well-stocked at the back, even without Matip fit, but bringing in Mantilla at this point in his career would represent good business.
Tottenham Hotspur swooped to appoint Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach at the end of the 2022/23 campaign after his treble-winning season north of the border.
The Australian head coach was brought in from Celtic and backed in the summer transfer window, with the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Manor Solomon, Guglielmo Vicario, and Brennan Johnson all coming through the door.
Injury and suspension issues have caused problems for Spurs throughout the season but they are currently fifth in the Premier League and one point outside of the top four as it stands, as they look to compete for a place in the Champions League for next term.
Liverpool
1
45
Aston Villa
2
42
Manchester City
3
40
Arsenal
4
40
Tottenham
5
39
West Ham
6
34
The January transfer window opened for business last week and have already brought in Timo Werner on loan from German side RB Leipzig, whilst Radu Dragusin is closing in on a permanent switch from Genoa for a fee in excess of €30m (£26m).
Spurs transfer news – Morgan Gibbs-White
Postecoglou may not be done there with those two additions, though, as the head coach could look to bolster his options in the middle of the park.
At the end of 2023, The Daily Mail named Nottingham Forest central midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White as one of the players on the club's radar heading into January.
They claimed that Tottenham had sent scouts to watch him in action for the Tricky Trees against Manchester United on the 30th of December.
The England U21 international scored the winning goal, as shown above, in a 2-1 victory for his side with a stunning finish from the edge of the box in the 82nd minute to secure all three points for his side.
It was reported by The Daily Mail that Spurs wanted a centre-back, a forward, and a midfielder in January. They already have the forward – in Werner – and look set to secure the centre-back – in Dragusin – and that leaves a midfielder as the last piece of business on their to-do-list.
Tottenham should now push ahead with their interest in Gibbs-White as the impressive gem is a proven Premier League performer who also has the potential and room to improve and develop over the years to come.
The club could repeat the masterclass they played with Maddison last summer by looking further down the league to land a terrific creative midfielder.
Maddison's season in numbers
The England international is currently out of action with an ankle injury that has caused him to miss ten matches but his start to the campaign was electric.
Spurs snapped him up on a five-year deal for a reported fee of £40m from Leicester City after they were relegated to the Championship last year.
Cole Palmer
1
Phil Foden
2
Heung-min Son
3
Mohamed Salah
4
Julian Alvarez
5
As you can see in the table above, Maddison's impressive start to the season has kept him in excellent company as his statistics have been similar to some of the best players in the division, including teammate Heung-min Son.
The former Foxes star currently ranks within the top 1% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for progressive passes (9.91) per 90 and the top 1% for shot-creating actions (8.17) per 90. This shows that he has been one of the most progressive and creative players in his position in the division this season.
Maddison, who has racked up three goals and five assists in 11 league games this term, arrived in North London off the back of a return of ten goals and nine assists in 30 top-flight matches for Leicester during the 2022/23 campaign.
He had, therefore, already proven himself in the Premier League for a team competing at the opposite end of the table and this allowed him to hit the ground running for Spurs before his ankle injury.
The statistics that show why Spurs should sign Gibbs-White
Forest signed Gibbs-White from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2022 in a deal that could reach £42.5m including add-ons and he has been a terrific addition to their squad.
During the 2022/23 campaign, the English whiz racked up five goals, eight assists, and nine 'big chances' created in 37 Premier League appearances, to help his side avoid relegation from the top-flight.
He ranked within the top 16% of the league's attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.24) per 90, which also placed him within the top 6% of forwards.
This season, Gibbs-White has chipped in with two goals and three assists in 20 Premier League games. The talented gem has also created five 'big chances' and produced 1.8 key passes per match in that time.
U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed him as a "menace" in the final third and described his style on the pitch as "arrogant", which suggests that he could carry the same swagger that Maddison carries himself with in matches.
His form at Championship level for Sheffield United during the 2021/22 campaign, prior to his move to Forest, also indicates that he has another level to get to at the top end of the pitch.
Gibbs-White, who still has plenty of time left to develop and improve at the age of 23, racked up 11 goals, nine assists, and 16 'big chances' created in 35 league outings for the Blades, on loan from Wolves.
This suggests that the potential is there for the 23-year-old ace, who can play as a number eight or ten, to reach Maddison's level of contributions in terms of goals and assists.
It would be a gamble, given that he is yet to reach the very top end of those statistics in the Premier League, but it is one that could be worth it if Gibbs-White fulfills his potential and turns out like the former Leicester star has.
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Therefore, Postecoglou could repeat his Maddison masterclass by swooping for another mercurial English playmaker from a team struggling at the bottom of the table this month.
Tottenham Hotspur have quietly climbed back into form after a testing period in the Premier League, with a multitude of absences derailing a fantastic start to the campaign.
Ange Postecoglou will not be content with the recent purple patch, however, with the Australian attentive to the fact that, with so many rivals pursuing a spot in the top four, the squad must be firing across all cylinders.
But this has been rather tricky given the Lilywhites' deluge of injuries to key members over the past few months, with the situation exacerbated by the imminent departures of captain Heung-min Son (Asia Cup) and midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr (African Cup of Nations) – all could miss over a month of club action.
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Nonetheless, Tottenham are just a single point behind fourth-placed rivals Arsenal after 20 matches and will be brimming with confidence after winning four of their past five matches, but the January transfer window must be used to strengthen.
With this in mind, rumours suggesting Spurs' interest in Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher may well hold some credibility…
Spurs transfer news – Conor Gallagher
According to reports from 90min at the end of 2023, Gallagher is one of Tottenham's main targets this month, with Postecoglou reportedly handing chairman Daniel Levy a shopping list requesting a midfielder, among other positions.
Chelsea's Conor Gallagher
The reputable Fabrizio Romano has stressed recently that there are no active discussions between the London outfits at this stage, though this could change as the window rages on.
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And with Chelsea looking to collect £50m for their youth graduate's signature, facilitating lucrative spending on a centre-forward, Spurs could have a rare opportunity to sign one of their rivals' best players.
Conor Gallagher's season in numbers
Spurs actually attempted to sign Gallagher in the summer, offering £40m on deadline day, but saw the advance rebuffed as the Blues held out for more.
While Chelsea's stance on the England international's possible sale has been met with incredulity within many of the supporter circles in west London, Mauricio Pochettino loves the player and will fight to see him remain at Stamford Bridge.
But with Gallagher out of contract in 2025 and investment needed, Spurs could now capitalise to bolster their squad with a dynamic new centre-midfielder.
Rising to prominence with Chelsea last season after a successful loan spell with Crystal Palace in 2021/22, the 23-year-old played 43 times across all competitions but was unable to prevent the landslide in form that sank the club to an abject 12th-placed Premier League finish.
This year, however, having captained his squad on 11 occasions in the league, Gallagher has been immense in the Premier League, supplying four assists from 19 appearances, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 1.3 key passes, 1.4 interceptions, 2.7 tackles and 6.8 ball recoveries per match while succeeding with 77% of his 1.1 dribbles per match, as per Sofascore.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher
Pronounced to be a "pressing and transition monster" by one analyst, his functionality and fluidity in the engine room allow him to prosper across the various roles, with this dynamism reflected through his statistics above, showcasing skill in energy, command, control and creativity.
Spurs have an impressive contingency of stars in the engine room but are seeking to offload Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who is attracting attention from Serie A, with Giovani Lo Celso also out of contract in 18 months, with both player and club 'considering' his exit according to reports.
Conor Gallagher's style of play
What this means, when partnered with the knowledge that Postecoglou wants a midfielder, is that a formal approach for Gallagher really could crystallise over the coming weeks.
And given the dynamic and intricate nature of his skill set, Gallagher could prove to be the perfect player to complete the rebuild. ranking among the top 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 19% for successful take-ons, the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 18% for tackles and the top 1% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.
The £50k-per-week's rare blend of qualities could even allow him to serve as a sort of hybrid of James Maddison and Bissouma, enhancing the team and providing a conduit of sorts in the centre of the park, threading the thirds together.
1
Rodrigo Bentancur
Tottenham Hotspur
2
Boubacar Kamara
Aston Villa
3
Lucas Paqueta
West Ham United
4
Sandro Tonali
Newcastle United
5
Tomas Soucek
West Ham United
6
Joao Palhinha
Fulham
7
Cheick Doucoure
Crystal Palace
8
Scott McTominay
Manchester United
9
John McGinn
Aston Villa
10
Kalvin Phillips
Manchester City
*Sourced via Football Transfers
As the table shows, the 11-cap England international is comparable to a range of midfielders, with Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United and tough-tackling Joao Palhinha diametrically opposed stylistically.
But through this data, it can be deduced that Gallagher could emulate traits from both Maddison and Bissouma, with the former signing from Leicester City in the summer and winning the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August after dazzling with his inventive displays.
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Creating 2.9 key passes per game, the 26-year-old's creativity could be replicated somewhat if Gallagher was brought to the fold, with his four assists in the league this season the joint-highest of any Chelsea player in the league.
Similarly, his pass completion (91%) and defensive stats mirror Bissouma's, who has had his disciplinary issues this season but has been hailed for his "immense" displays by journalist Jordan Elgott nonetheless.
The £55k-per-week Spurs titan ranks among the top 1% of midfielders for pass completion, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 3% for tackles per 90, and while he's labelled more restrictively as a defensive midfielder than Gallagher, the Blues star can protect the backline with the same ferociousness.
Yves Bissouma.
Gallagher is a Premier League-proven player and would provide versatility in his craft to succeed under Postecoglou, and with the club getting three for the price of one with a successful move, efforts must be made to secure his signature swiftly.
Rangers have scored 77 goals in their 37 SPFL games this season, making Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men the second-highest scoring side in the top flight.
One player that has been a rather prominent attacking figure at Ibrox for the Gers is Ryan Kent.
In 24 league appearances, the winger has scored two goals and provided 11 assists along the way.
To further highlight how dangerous the Englishman has been in this campaign, no other Rangers player has averaged a higher number of dribbles per game than Kent (2).
Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, this could give the Ibrox outfit the chance to sign one player, in particular, that could go on to form a deadly attacking duo with the 25-year-old.
Back in April, it was reported that Rangers are one of the clubs interested in signing Sunderland striker Ross Stewart this summer.
After spending time with St. Mirren and Ross County, the striker joined the Wearside club in the 2021 January transfer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £300k.
Since then, the 25-year-old has scored 28 goals in 64 appearances for the Black Cats across all competitions.
To further highlight how much of a dangerous centre-forward he is, only three other players have racked up more shots on target than Stewart (56) in the entire league.
Labelled as a player “who never gives up” by Kevin Phillips, Stewart could be an ideal summer signing for Rangers as they will be aiming to take the SPFL title off their Old Firm rivals Celtic.
This would also give Gers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst the chance to create a scary attacking pair at the top of the pitch between the Sunderland hitman and Kent.
With the winger’s talent for creating goalscoring opportunities for his side and Stewart’s impressive ability to put the ball in the back of the net, this could be just what Rangers need to bolster their attack and launch another title charge.
Moving forward, with Sunderland in the mix to gain promotion to the Championship, should the Wearside club fail in their attempt this time around, Rangers should definitely make a move to bring their star striker back to Scotland for a chance to bring the SPFL title to Ibrox again.
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Does Tottenham’s summer business leave them in a position to challenge towards the very top of the Premier League?
Spurs’ two major summer additions came in attacking positions, recruiting Mohammed Kudus from fierce rivals West Ham for £55m, as well as bringing in Xavi Simons for £51.8m from RB Leipzig.
On the pitch, after swatting aside the aforementioned Hammers 3-0 on Saturday evening, Thomas Frank’s team have now won three out of four in the Premier League.
Next up, Spurs will commence their Champions League campaign with Villarreal the visitors to North London, set to feature in UEFA’s top-tier competition for the first time in three years.
However, would Frank’s team be even more imposing and imperious had Spurs not allowed a 16-year-old academy kid to leave a few years ago. As it happens, he may not be better than the aforementioned Kudus.
Mohammed Kudus' start to life at Spurs
Kudus was certainly the central figure of Saturday’s clash with West Ham, not exactly receiving a warm welcome back to the London Stadium, having become the first player to make the controversial switch since Scott Parker in 2011.
The Ghanaian is yet to score in five appearances for Tottenham, but did register two assists during the opening day victory over Burnley.
So, let’s assess his statistics from the start of this season.
Minutes
427
7th
Assists
2
1st
Shots
7
2nd
Key passes
9
1st
Shot-creating actions
16
1st
Goal-creating actions
3
2nd
Attempted take-ons
29
1st
Successful take-ons
12
1st
Big chances created
1
1st
Touches
168
8th
Average SofaScore rating
7.43
2nd
As the table documents, Kudus has certainly been one of Spurs’ most dangerous players this season, ranked first for assists, key passes, shot-creating actions, dribbles and big chances created.
Thus, there is no doubting his quality, but did an even better winger move in this transfer window for a very similar amount, one that Tottenham had on their books, but let go?
Former Spurs winger starring elsewhere
Born in Barnet, Noni Madueke actually spent four years in Tottenham’s academy, making one appearance for the club in the U18 Premier League, before leaving in 2018 due to a lack of first-team opportunities, making the bold decision to join PSV Eindhoven as a 16-year-old.
Well, over in the Netherlands, he scored 20 goals in 80 first-team appearances for the Eredivisie giants, including a brace during a 4-0 Johan Cruijff Schaal victory over Ajax in Amsterdam, earning a £28.5m move back to London in January 2023, joining Chelsea.
After netting 20 times for the Blues, Chelsea’s continued relentless spending under Todd Boehly’s ownership saw Madueke deemed surplus to requirements this summer, thereby making the surprise move to Arsenal, the Gunners paying £52m for his signature.
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This, largely due to the fee involved, raised a few eyebrows, but the 23-year-old has certainly impressed since swapping West London for North.
Last Tuesday, Madueke scored his first-ever England goal, on target as Thomas Tuchel’s team annihilated Serbia 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade.
Then, the winger’s performance during Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday earned even greater plaudits.
Speaking during TNT Sports’ coverage, former Spurs striker Peter Crouch labelled him “unplayable”, while ex-Manchester United defender Paul Parker has gone so far as asserting “I actually think he’s better than Bukayo Saka”, a bold claim indeed.
In fairness, in the Premier League last season, Madueke ranked fifth for touches in the opposition box, fourth in terms of shots per 90 and third for both progressive carries as well as carries into the attacking penalty area, so no one should actually be surprised by the level of his quality.
Nevertheless, he has seemingly gone to another level since joining Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, which has surely got to sting for Spurs supporters.
Thus, of course, Tottenham are pleased to have Kudus in their ranks, but perhaps Frank’s side would be even better if Madueke was the man operating on the right flank, which he could well have been, had he not departed for Eindhoven seven years ago.
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It’s been a summer to remember for Chelsea so far this year.
Enzo Maresca’s side capped off a great season by winning the revamped Club World Cup, and the board have been incredibly busy in the transfer market.
For example, the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens were all through the door before they lifted the rather extravagant trophy in the US last month.
Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy as he celebrates withChelseamanager Enzo Maresca and teammates after winning the FIFA Club World Cup
However, the Blues aren’t done there, as they’ve almost wrapped up the signing of Jorrel Hato and are closing in on another young talent who could be an even more exciting acquisition.
Chelsea close in on exciting talent
As things stand, it looks like the next transfer Chelsea are set to complete this summer is the one for Hato.
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The deal was given the ‘here we go’ treatment by transfers expert Fabrizio Romano yesterday evening, who revealed that the Dutchman has agreed to a “long term deal” at Stamford Bridge, and is set to cost “in excess of €40m,” which is about £35m.
There is no doubt that signing such a highly-rated young defender is exciting and will give Maresca plenty of options at the back, but the Blues aren’t finished there, and now look set to close a deal for another, even more exciting young player.
At least that is according to a recent report from Sports Zone, which claims that Chelsea are very interested in signing Emanuel Emegha.
In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the West Londoners are now “closing in on an agreement over personal terms” for a transfer that would take place next summer.
It’s not clear how much the Strasbourg striker would cost the Conference League champions, but Transfermarkt value him at around €25m, which is about £22m.
He might not be a well-known name to Premier League fans, but Emegha looks to be a tremendously promising young striker, and someone who could well be an even more exciting signing than Hato.
Why Emegha would be a more exciting signing than Hato
So, the first thing to say is that we’re are not disputing that Hato is a seriously exciting addition to this Chelsea squad, as at just 19 years old he already has 111 senior club appearances to his name.
Emanuel Emegha
However, two things really get fans on their feet in football, and they are goals and players that can make things happen in an attacking sense, which just so happen to be two things Emegha can do.
For example, when it comes to the first, he managed to rack up an impressive tally of 14 goals and three assists in just 27 Ligue 1 appearances, totalling 2307 minutes, last season.
Appearances
27
Minutes
2307
Goals
14
Assists
3
Goal Involvements per Match
0.62
Minutes per Goal Involvement
135.70′
In other words, despite starting the campaign at just 21 years old, the Dutch centre-forward was able to average a goal involvement every 1.58 games, or every 135.70 minutes.
When it comes to the latter point, we can see in his underlying numbers that he is more than just a poacher as well.
According to FBref, he also sits in the top 11% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for carries into the penalty area per 90.
This suggests that, in addition to finishing chances at a reasonable rate, the “simply phenomenal” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also brilliant at getting the ball into dangerous areas.
Finally, according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the 22-year-old dynamo is also a “pacy runner” who’s brilliant at getting “in behind” defences, which is always the kind of player who’ll get fans up on their feet.
Ultimately, both Hato and Emegha are seriously promising talents, but given his position and goalscoring ability, it’s hard to deny that the latter would be the more exciting signing.
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Leeds United are eight points adrift of the automatic promotion places after they were beaten 2-1 by Preston North End at Deepdale on Boxing Day.
The Whites failed to pick up any points in Lancashire in the early kick-off as an Illan Meslier red card was followed by goals from Alan Browne and Liam Millar on either side of an equaliser from Pascal Struijk.
Ipswich Town dropped points later in the day against Leicester City and that meant that Daniel Farke's side would have been five points off the top two had they beaten Preston.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
Instead, they are now fourth in the table – below Southampton who moved up to third – and eight points behind the Tractor Boys in the hunt for promotion back to the Premier League.
The January transfer window is open from the start of next week and Farke could dip into the market to give his team a boost ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Leeds transfer news – a number ten
Journalist Dean Jones recently told GIVEMESPORT that he could see Leeds being tempted to enter the market for a natural number ten next month.
The Whites do not have an out-and-out attacking midfielder in their squad as it stands, and the reporter suggested that, whilst there is no guarantee anything will happen, it would not be a surprise to see something come up in that area of the pitch.
Dutch centre-forward Joel Piroe has been utilised in the number ten role so far this season and Farke could land an instant upgrade, just months after his arrival last summer, by swooping to sign Celtic's Matt O'Riley in January.
Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.
The Scottish Sun reported in August that the Hoops rejected an offer from Leeds for the Denmark international, who was also wanted by Italian side Bologna.
It was claimed that the German tactician was keen to bring the attacking midfielder to Elland Road to link up with the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara, who was close to a move to Yorkshire from Rangers at the time.
The Whites must now reignite their interest in the former Fulham whiz to bolster their squad in January as he could be a big upgrade on Piroe, who struggled again on Tuesday.
Piroe's performance against Preston in numbers
The summer signing from Swansea lined up as the number ten in Farke's 4-2-3-1 formation as Georgino Rutter once again led the line.
He played the opening 55 minutes of the match before being substituted as the left-footed attacker failed to make an impact on the game.
Piroe lost 100% (2/2) of his duels as the opposition found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests and he failed to engage in many battles to help his team out.
The Dutch gem also created just one chance for his teammates, which was not a 'big chance', and did not manage a shot on target in his 55 minutes.
Analyst Louorns on X went as far as to say that Piroe is "invisible" 90% of the time and that Leeds should have spent money on a player who offers more during matches than him.
Piroe's season in numbers
The 24-year-old marksman has been solid but unspectacular since his summer switch from Championship rivals Swansea earlier this year.
Piroe has racked up nine goals and one assist in 24 league matches for the Swans and Leeds combined, which is less than a goal involvement every other game on average.
Appearances
45
43
Three
Goals
22
19
Zero
Assists
Six
Two
Zero
Big chances missed
11
19
One
As you can see from the table above, he was a prolific scorer during his time in Wales but rarely contributed as a creator for his teammates and missed plenty of good opportunities in front of goal.
His finishing has left a bit to be desired so far this season for the Whites as the forward has only scored nine goals from 9.90 and missed seven 'big chances' across his 24 league outings.
He has also only managed one assist and produced 0.9 key passes per game, and this shows that the makeshift number ten does not provide his fellow attackers with chances to score on a regular basis.
These statistics highlight how underwhelming Piroe has been so far this season and O'Riley could now come in as an instant upgrade on him if Leeds can secure his signature.
The statistics that show why Leeds should sign O'Riley
The 23-year-old midfielder has been in fantastic form for the Scottish giants so far this season and could be an excellent signing for the Whites.
He has been superb in front of goal with nine goals in 19 Scottish Premiership matches for Brendan Rodgers' side, which means that the talented gem has as many goals as Piroe in five fewer appearances. This suggests that they both offer a similar level of goal threat from a midfield or number ten position for their respective sides.
Appearances
32
Sofascore rating
7.30
Goals
Three
Assists
12
Big chances created
16
The Denmark international, who was hailed as "complete" by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this season, can provide goals from midfield but he is also a sensational creator for his teammates.
O'Riley has produced 2.6 key passes per game and assisted five goals in 19 league outings this term, following on from 12 assists and 16 'big chances' created in 32 matches during the 2022/23 campaign.
Only Crysencio Summerville (three) has managed more than 2.1 key passes per clash in the Championship this season and this suggests that the Celtic star would be one of Farke's outstanding creators at the top end of the pitch.
These statistics show that the 6 foot 2 magician has the quality to come in as a big upgrade on Piroe, given their similar goal output and the drastic difference in creativity between them.
The Hoops whiz could help Leeds to unlock opposition defences, like Preston's on Boxing Day, more frequently than the Dutch forward, who is not a natural creator in the number ten role.
Aston Villa are now keen on signing a “quality” £40 million striker who former Arsenal striker Ian Wright is a big fan of, according to a new report.
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Aston Villa are the latest team to show an interest in a player who has a low release clause until the end of July.
1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 21, 2025
Now that issue has passed, and the Premier League edges closer to getting underway, Villa could be about to start making an impact in this transfer window. The Villans are keen to add more power to their forward line, and one player who has emerged as a target is Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentine is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, as the Red Devils don’t consider him a part of their plans, and he’s been left behind in Manchester as the club have jetted off to Chicago for their pre-season preparations.
Manchester United's AlejandroGarnachoreacts
It was reported last week that Villa made an approach to Garnacho about a move to Villa Park, as United look to get around £70 million for the winger. Now, in a boost to their pursuit, Garnacho is said to be open to the idea of playing for Aston Villa and working under manager Unai Emery. It just remains to be seen if the club can agree a transfer fee with United.
Aston Villa and Wolves in race for Mika Biereth
As the club works on a potential deal for Garnacho, according to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are also interested in signing striker Mika Biereth from AS Monaco.
Mika Biereth scores for Monaco
The report states that Biereth’s fine form since joining the French side has now caught the attention of not just Villa but Newcastle United, Wolves and Everton from the Premier League. Indeed, the forward joined Monaco in January and scored an impressive 13 goals in 16 Ligue 1 games.
Despite the fact that he is under contract until 2030, Caught Offside reports that Biereth can leave Monaco for a fee of £40 million, which would mean Monaco would make a huge profit after paying Sturm Graz just €13 million (roughly £11 million) six months ago.
The 22-year-old is already known in England, as he started his career at Fulham, and while he didn’t play for the first team, he earned a move to Arsenal. Biereth didn’t play again in the first team, but he scored 11 goals in 21 Premier League 2 games in the 2021/22 season.
Apps
16
Starts
16
Goals
13
xG
11.32
Left-footed goals
1
Right-footed goals
12
Shots per game
2.6
Chance conversion
31%
Assists
2
Big chances created
8
During his time in the UK, Biereth had a spell at Motherwell, during which he was dubbed “quality” by manager Stuart Kettlewell. Meanwhile, after his spell at Arsenal, Ian Wright was left very impressed by his performances and stated he was “incredibly proud of him”.
Well, that probably wasn’t the return from the international break that Tottenham Hotspur fans had been hoping for.
Ange Postecoglou’s side travelled to West London to try and get one over Chelsea in the Premier League last night, but instead of coming out swinging as they have so often, and sometimes to their own detriment, this season, they were utterly dismal.
Granted, it looked like Pape Matar Sarr had equalised in the second half, but he fouled Moises Caicedo in the buildup, and it was chalked off, much to the chagrin of the increasingly under-pressure Australian, who made his feelings clear after the game.
There were incredibly disappointing performances across the pitch for the visitors, but there was one player who might as well have stayed in the dressing room and, as such, has to be dropped ahead of the weekend’s game against Southampton.
Spurs' poor performers
Before getting to the player in question, it’s only fair we go over some of the other starters who let the fans down last night, as, unfortunately, there were quite a few, including Cristian Romero.
The fiery World Cup winner can sometimes be exactly the sort of player you want in an intense derby, but instead of marshalling the backline and making life difficult for the Blues’ attack, he seemed off the pace, overly emotional, and was running back towards goal more often than he should have been and picked up a 5/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold.
However, there is an argument that the Argentine’s defensive partner, Micky van de Ven, had an even worse game at Stamford Bridge.
The former Wolfsburg gem was ironically starting his first league game since the reverse fixture against the Pensioners in December, and whether it was rustiness or something else, he looked even more lost than Romero.
For example, it was his clearance that came off Jackson early in the first half and almost opened the scoring, and then in the second half he was pulled out of position by the striker for Enzo Fernández’s goal and was fully deserving of the 5/10 rating he received from Gold.
At the other end of the pitch, it was another night to forget for the club’s record signing, Dominic Solanke.
The former Bournemouth star did make the right runs at times but simply wasn’t a factor for the vast majority of the game, and while he has to rely on the service of his teammates to an extent, the best strikers in the world will often make their own chances.
Dominic Solanke and Ange Postecoglou
However, while the Basingstoke-born poacher was certainly ineffective, another starter was even worse and must be dropped.
The Spurs star who has to be dropped
In reality, you could make a serious argument about any of the aforementioned players being dropped for the weekend, but when it comes down to it, James Maddison put in the most frustratingly dismal display for Spurs last night.
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The former Leicester City star, who is a part of the club’s leadership group, started in a midfield three with 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur, so while they can certainly help out with attacks, the onus to get the midfield ticking was on him.
Unfortunately, he did not achieve this in the slightest, and instead of pulling the strings and taking advantage of a Chelsea side who had won just four of their ten league games since the turn of the year, he practically disappeared from the encounter.
It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by Gold, who also awarded the Englishman a 5/10 on the night, writing that even when he did try to make something happen, ‘nothing came off for him.’
Unsurprisingly, his lacklustre showing is reflected in his statistics.
Minutes
81′
Expected Goals
0.05
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.06
Assists
0
Touches
41
Key Passes
1
Crosses (Accurate)
2 (0)
Shots on Target
0
Duels (Won)
5 (0)
Dribbles
0
Lost Possession
4
Offsides
2
In 81 minutes of inaction, the 28-year-old amassed a paltry combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.11, failed to score or assist a goal, took 41 touches but played just a single key pass, failed in 100% of his crosses, failed to take a shot on target, didn’t attempt a single dribble, lost the ball four times, lost 100% of his duels and was offside twice.
Ultimately, it was a dreadful performance from the entire Spurs team, but Maddison was particularly disappointing and, therefore, must be dropped from the starting lineup.
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Sunderland are said to be talks with a European club about signing one of their most exciting young players in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.
Sunderland pushing for promotion amid transfer rumours
It has been an impressive season for the Black Cats, who didn’t necessarily begin the campaign as one of the favourites to be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League.
Instead, Regis Le Bris’ side have remained near the top of the table all season long, and while automatic promotion is now looking hugely unlikely, a place in the playoffs seems nailed on, giving them a chance of returning to the top flight for the first time since 2016/17.
Sunderland'sJobeBellingham
Away from on-pitch matters, Sunderland continue to be linked with potential new signings, with Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland an exciting rumoured target. The Scotland international has been a prolific figure for his current club, scoring 63 goals in 129 appearances. He would be available on a free transfer this summer, too.
There is also concern that the Black Cats could lose some of their best players, however, with Chris Rigg among the most exciting teenage talents in the country currently. Reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid are still reportedly eyeing a move for him, which sums up his potential.
Sunderland in talks to sign teenage ace
According to a new report from Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are in talks with Fiorentina to sign defender Eddy Kouadio before the end of the season.
While there is yet to be an official proposal sent for the 18-year-old, the Black Cats see him as a genuine target, wanting to reach an agreement sooner rather than later.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus watching sunderland in the championship.
Sunderland fans are unlikely to be experts when it comes to Kouadio, given his age and the fact that he is yet to make a single senior appearance for Fiorentina.
That’s not to say that he wouldn’t be a hugely exciting signing for the Black Cats, with the centre-back already winning four caps for Italy at youth international level – two apiece for the Under-19s and Under-18s.
Kouadio has also played 86 times for Fiorentina in underage teams, rising through the age groups impressively, and his versatility allows him to thrive as both a centre-back and a right-back.
Fiorentina Under-19s
41
1
1
Fiorentina Under-18s
20
1
0
Fiorentina Under-17s
25
0
2
Planning for the future is something that Sunderland should always be looking at, rather than simply focusing on signing players who can come in and be instant stars, and snapping up the young Italian would be shrewd business in that respect.
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He’s a man in-demand.
ByCharlie Smith Mar 14, 2025
He has shown that he is a player with plenty of promise for both club and country, and in the likes of Rigg and Jobe Bellingham, the Black Cats have shown that the Stadium of Light is a good place for youngsters to come in and be given an opportunity to shine.