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Tottenham Hotspur will look to continue their unbeaten run in the Premier League, after their luck with VAR against Manchester City repeated itself last week, ensuring Mauricio Pochettino and his men left the home of the Premier League champions with a point.

Indeed, Spurs will welcome Newcastle United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later on today in their next Premier League fixture. The Magpies conceded three goals against Norwich City last time out and are yet to secure their first point of the campaign, so they’ll be hungry to get themselves up and running.

Nevertheless, with Spurs’ unbeaten record at stake, how will Mauricio Pochettino set his team up?

Kyle Walker-Peters has had to step up this season because of the sale of Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid, and it’s fair to say that he’s doing a rather solid job as the academy graduate was named as Spurs’ best defender last time out (as per Express) against Manchester City, despite partly being at fault for City’s first goal.

Alongside him in defence, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld should keep their places having built a partnership in the opening two games, despite shipping three goals already. Although, Jan Vertonghen could soon enter the fray if things don’t go to plan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later on today.

With Tanguy Ndombele out, perhaps Eric Dier could come into shore up the engine room. Indeed, while the Magpies have struggled this season, the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron have averaged over 1 dribble per game, so turning to a man who averaged 1.3 tackles over the same period could be a good idea.

Indeed, with Son Heung-Min readily available after his suspension, Lucas Moura could shift out to the left and therefore force Christian Eriksen into the centre, which could result in Erik Lamela being dropped to the bench, despite receiving the highest rating (8/10) of any player for his performance against Manchester City (as per Express). The Lilywhites are set to face up against Arsenal in the north London derby next weekend, so it would make sense for Pochettino to give Son a healthy amount of minutes today in order to get him up to speed.

Harry Kane bagged a brace on the opening day of the season against Aston Villa, so he’ll be looking to build on his tally in what will be the club’s second home game of the campaign.

Furthermore, Dele Alli looks set for one more week on the sidelines, whilst summer signing Ryan Sessegnon and defender Juan Foyth remain unavailable for at least another three weeks, as Ben Davies rejoined the team this week.

West Ham are hoping that the international break has done Vladimir Coufal the world of good as they return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon…

What’s the latest?

According to Claret and Hugh, the 29-year-old right-back has been suffering from a minor injury, one that saw him withdrawn from Czech Republic duty last week.

It’s thought that his body was in need of a break after featuring week win, week out for club and country since the start of last season.

An Irons source told the website: “Coufal’s body just needed a break. He’s played non stop for 18 months.

“He’s been feeling pain for weeks and hopefully this short break will help him recover as we need him back to his best.”

Positive news

Coufal recently put pen to paper on a new three-year contract with an option of a further year, having shone since a £5.4m move from Slavia Prague in the summer of 2020.

He missed their last Europa League outing with injury but returned to feature in their final game before the international break, a late 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Brentford.

You could tell that the industrious £18m-rated dynamo was still nursing a problem as he was some way off his usual standards, as explained by Football FanCast after the game.

The Czech star has quickly emerged as a real fan favourite around the London Stadium and he must’ve narrowly missed out on the club’s ‘Player of the Year’ award after providing seven assists in the Premier League last term, a feat only bettered by Aaron Cresswell (eight).

Coufal has rarely missed games for the Hammers since arriving in east London. He played 34 times in the top-flight last season and ranked as David Moyes’ fifth-best performer, as per WhoScored ratings.

No player managed more tackles every 90 minutes (2.2) than the right-back and he wasn’t far behind for interceptions (1.2) and key passes (1.3) either.

“Coufal is a machine, he loves football,” is how club captain Mark Noble described him to ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’ earlier this year, whilst Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher once lauded him as “a manager’s dream” to Monday Night Football [4th May, 22:24pm].

On that evidence, having him back available – and fully fit – would be a big boost for Moyes as he looks to steer his side back on track with a win at Goodison Park this weekend.

AND in other news, 108 touches, 82 passes: West Ham titan may be back to his best after int’l masterclass…

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly eyeing up a potential move to sign Nicolo Zaniolo.

The Lowdown: Spurs have tried before

It has been reported that Spurs tried to sign Zaniolo back in 2019 under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, but in the end they brought in the manager’s countryman, Giovani Lo Celso, instead.

Lo Celso has of course been affected by injuries during his time with the club, as one insider noted recently that his inability to complete 90 minutes is a big problem for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Latest: Enquiry

As per Calciomercato, the North London club have ‘taken information’ about Zaniolo in recent weeks, despite the fact he looks set to sign a new deal at Roma.

He wants more money that he is currently being offered by the Serie A side, meaning that Nuno’s team could still take advantage of the situation if there is a breakdown in talks.

The Verdict: Sign

Once likened to England legend and former Lilywhites player Paul Gascoigne by his agent Claudio Vigorelli, Zaniolo is the creative spark in midfield that THFC need.

He has scored 15 goals and made a further six assists during his time at Roma, and has also scored two goals for Italy (Transfermarkt).

At 22 years of age, the £36m-rated maestro has a lot of potential, and with former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho currently managing Roma, Spurs may be able to strike a deal.

In other news, find out which Beckham-like star was close to joining THFC here!

Steve Bruce won’t walk away from Newcastle United even if he’s ‘annoyed’ by the club’s lack of transfer activity this summer. 

That’s according to Celtic great Frank McAvennie, who was speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown

Newcastle made only one first-team signing during the summer transfer window and because £26.46million man Joe Willock was on loan at St James’ Park for the second half of last season, it could be said that they didn’t actually improve their squad.

The Magpies ranked 17th in the Premier League for total expenditure, above only Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford and Everton (via Transfermarkt).

The club felt compelled to put out a statement addressing any criticisms of their predominant inactivity.

Bruce was asked for his reaction to that statement ahead of his side’s visit to Manchester United on Saturday, and he gave a response that the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope described as ‘prickly’.

Bruce made clear that he ‘wanted to bring in a couple of players, but it wasn’t possible’.

The latest

McAvennie doesn’t think the Newcastle boss will be tempted to tender his resignation despite a lack of backing. In fact, he made Bruce out to be fairly acquiescent.

“Bruce won’t walk, no chance, he hasn’t got it in him,” the pundit said.

“What makes you think he would walk away now after all the other stuff?

“Him not getting what he wants at Newcastle isn’t a new thing. He’s there until he gets sacked.

“There are few managers who would walk away on principle and Steve Bruce is not one of them.

“He can be annoyed, that’s fine. But he’s not going to do anything about it. He never does.”

The verdict

If there’s anything that could make Bruce contemplate an exit, perhaps it could be the hostility to which he is subject from the Newcastle faithful.

With much of the 2020/21 campaign played behind closed doors, he was largely shielded from any angst, but there were chants of ‘we want Bruce out’ and booes during the draw with Southampton prior to the international break (via The Guardian).

Perhaps he will eventually decide it’s an environment that neither he nor his players can thrive in.

In other news, could Newcastle pull off three deals in January?

Former Premier League striker Nigel Jemson insists that Leeds United are some way off being able to aim for a top-six finish in the Premier League.

The club have endured an inconsistent start to the season and are yet to pick up three points in the top-flight.

Leeds were utterly thumped in their opening game of the campaign, losing 5-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

They followed that result up with a 2-2 draw with Everton and Jemson thinks that they have to improve immensely to be anywhere near the top six, suggesting Marcelo Bielsa has got things wrong in this opening part of the season.

Leeds, of course, enjoyed an impressive season last term upon their return to the Premier League and finished the campaign in ninth place, six points behind sixth-placed West Ham United.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Jemson said: “Sometimes they are like that, they’re very hit and miss.

“They can be phenomenal, the manager, I think he got it wrong. As much as a good side they are, they’re not a top-six team yet. There’s a lot of work still to be done to make them a top-six team.”

Leeds are next in action against Burnley this weekend, after beating Crewe Alexandra comfortably in the second round of the EFL Cup in midweek.

An update has emerged on Cameron Burgess, regarding how much Ipswich have paid for the defender. 

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun on Sunday (15/08/21, pg. 63) (via The 72), Ipswich agreed a £750k deal to sign the 25-year-old defender from League One rivals Accrington Stanley this month.

The Tractor Boys officially confirmed the signing on Sunday, with Burgess putting pen to paper on a three-year deal with the club.

Accy boss John Coleman confirmed that the Tractor Boys are closing in on the defender on Saturday, admitting that he believes the player is being sold for less than he is worth. He said:

“It looks like he’s going to Ipswich. I think the two sides agreed [on] a fee last night.”

“Me and [Andy] Holty are generally on the same page a lot of the time but this one wasn’t my decision.

“If it was my decision I would have held out for more money and I certainly didn’t want to lose him because I think he’s worth more.

“But we have got a decent fee for him and the chairman can carry on trying to make this club a better place to come to which, at the end of the day, is what everybody wants.”

Fans will be buzzing

Ipswich fans will surely be buzzing with this news as it appears as though Ipswich have picked up a bargain deal for the defender. Coleman’s comments suggest that the club should have paid more for Burgess than they have, given that he says he would have held out for more.

Looking at his statistics for Accrington in League One over the past 12 months or so, it is easy to see why his former boss believes Ipswich are getting a steal.

Of the players who are still at Portman Road, Nsiala’s WhoScored rating of 6.96 was the highest out of the centre-backs in League One.

So far this season, Ipswich have conceded four goals in their first two league outings and Luke Wolfenden’s score of 6.79 is the highest by any central defender, with Janoi Donacien also playing out of position at centre-back in both games.

Meanwhile, Burgess enjoyed a sensational 2020/21 campaign with Accrington. He averaged a phenomenal WhoScored rating of 7.22 across 44 appearances, winning 6.8 aerial battles and making 4.4 tackles and interceptions per game.

In his first match of the current season, he achieved a rating of 7.21 as he won 10 aerial battles, made six clearances and one block. He also put in a stout defensive display against Rotherham in the League Cup, winning 13 aerial battles and making three blocks as he recorded a rating of 7.62.

This shows that he has the quality to put in consistently excellent performances in League One at centre-back, which suggests that he has a good chance of being a success at Portman Road – in the third tier at least.

To pick up a player of that ilk without breaking seven figures appears to be a terrific deal for Ipswich on paper and the supporters will be delighted with this approach from the club. They will be buzzing that their side is being shrewd in the transfer market and snapping up bargains instead of overpaying on talent.

AND in other news, 27x possession lost: Cook must ruthlessly axe 25 y/o Ipswich dud after horror showing…

A new name has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of a new creative influence…

What’s the word?

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, the North London side have made contact with Bordeaux over a potential move for attacking midfielder Yacine Adli.

Back in May, AC Milan submitted a €12m (£10m) bid for the 21-year-old but the Ligue 1 outfit are seeking more money.

It’s thought that arch-rivals Arsenal, as well as French champions Lille, are also interested in signing Adli before this month’s transfer deadline, which is merely three weeks away.

Ndombele replacement

It’s no wonder Fabio Paratici and Nuno Santo’s next priority following the arrival of Cristian Romero is adding some much-needed creativity to midfield as they relied too heavily on the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son last season.

Indeed, the lethal frontline duo topped the charts for goals, assists and key passes per game. Son and Kane scored 40 of their 68 league goals, whilst no other player still remaining at the club managed to create more than 0.9 key chances each outing, via WhoScored.

It was right-back Serge Aurier who ranked behind the pair. Not Giovani Lo Celso (0.8). Not Dele Alli (0.6). Not even Tanguy Ndombele (0.4).

You’d imagine a move for Adli would seriously hinder the prospects of one of the trio, perhaps the latter after a new bombshell was dropped on his future this week.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-team-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

The Frenchman has not featured under Nuno throughout pre-season and, as revealed by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare, he’s not injured. It’s been a selection-related issue and as a result, he is now considering his future in North London.

Considering he cost a club-record £55m fee, Ndombele has been quite a disappointment. There have been glimpses of his gifted technical ability but it has been far and few between for someone so expensive and as such, it’s not a huge shock that he could be looking for a move away.

Adli would be an interesting successor.

He enjoyed a breakthrough year in Ligue 1 last term, recording two goals and five assists in 25 starts for Bordeaux, where he ranked first for creativity, averaging 1.5 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

That was ahead of ex-Newcastle maestro Hatem Ben Arfa and is a return that would’ve seen him rank second in the Spurs squad last season.

It’s no wonder Adli has been dubbed a “great talent” and compared as a “similar” type of player to former Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen by football scout Jacek Kulig, so if the North Londoners want someone to pull the strings in the no.10 role, then the 21-year-old is surely a very viable candidate.

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Robert Pires is a keen admirer too. “He’s a talented player. I know him,” he said, via Tribal Football. “He has very good quality, he’s very fast with the ball.”

Valued at €15m (£12m) by CIES Football Observatory, Adli could be a very cost-effective and low-risk successor to Ndombele, who has flattered to deceive throughout his Spurs career.

Paratici must look to sanction a move for the Bordeaux gem before the end of the month.

AND in other news, Paratici must now ruthlessly axe Spurs’ £18m-rated “liability”, he’s a “huge problem”…

Crystal Palace are close to agreeing terms for Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

And the recent transfer update has had a number of Eagles supporters talking on social media.

Reliable reporter Alan Nixon stated at the end of July that Patrick Vieira wants to secure a loan deal for Nelson.

The 21-year-old is top of Palace’s list when it comes to reinforcements out wide, and TEAMtalk claimed on Wednesday that the club were close to agreeing terms over a transfer.

However, TEAMtalk add that whilst Palace were exploring a temporary deal, they may now look at a permanent move instead.

Nelson, who has made 47 appearances for the Gunners, has two years remaining on his Emirates deal.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared TEAMtalk’s claim on Nelson on Twitter on Wednesday morning. This is hat these Palace fans had to say in reply, with many keen to see a deal go through.

“I really, really hope we make this happen.”

Credit: @liamb0117

“A perm for Nelson would honestly be top top business”

Credit: @Kevbartleyy

“please get him in”

Credit: @localpla7tic

“If this is true I’ll be relatively satisfied with that. He’s actually a specialist right winger and still extremely young. Like lookman he proved himself in the Bundesliga, just needs a chance somewhere”

Credit: @unIocaIpIa9tic

“get him in”

Credit: @ryanwebb0

“I think he’d do really well with us”

Credit: @TalkCPFC

In other news: ‘Only we would do this’ – Lot of Palace fans react to ‘epic’ club post. 

Erling Haaland said it was a pleasure to play with Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian set up four goals for him in Manchester City's 6-2 win at Luton.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Haaland pays tribute to De Bruyne
• Belgian set up four goals for the striker
• Norwegian warns 'We're ready to attack'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Haaland struck five times in a ruthless attacking display by City. It was the second time the Norwegian had scored five times in a match for Pep Guardiola's side after blitzing RB Leipzig last season. However, it was the first occasion he had scored three or more goals in an away match for the Cityzens.

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• WHAT HAALAND SAID

  "Kevin De Bruyne is massive. He is doing what he is best at. It's a pleasure playing with him," Haaland told . "We know what we both want from each other. It clicks well. He is a smart player and I like to play with him."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Haaland and De Bruyne had such a good understanding last season that the Belgian ended up joking in a press conference before the Champions League final: "I prefer my wife". The pair have been unable to combine much this season as De Bruyne missed five months with a torn hamstring and Haaland spent two months on the sidelines with a foot problem.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Haaland said he was back to full fitness and fired out a warning to City's rivals for the title, FA Cup and Champions League as they aim to repeat last season's historic treble triumph. "I am getting back to my best," he said. "Finally I am feeling good. It's an amazing feeling. It's coming, we're coming. Exciting times ahead. We are ready to attack."

According to The Daily Star, Tottenham are interested in signing Anthony Martial from Manchester United this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs step up transfer plans

Following a long wait, even after confirming the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as the club’s new manager, Spurs have finally made their first signing of the transfer window.

They have confirmed the arrival of Pierluigi Gollini on loan from Atalanta (tottenhamhotspur.com), but they will need to bring in more new players if they want to be truly competitive at the top end of the Premier League in 2021/22.

The Latest: Spurs eye Martial

As per The Daily Star, Tottenham want to sign Martial from the Red Devils.

Manchester United recently signed Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund (manutd.com) and are therefore open to selling Martial. The Old Trafford club are said to want £50m, but the France international’s £250,000-a-week wages may be the biggest obstacle to offloading him.

The Verdict: Plenty to prove

Martial has had a mixed career so far at United. There have been highs – he has managed 78 goals and 50 assists for the club in 258 matches, with 23 goals coming during the 2019/20 campaign – but there have also been lows. For instance, he hit the back of the net just seven times last term as his influence decreased (Transfermarkt).

Last year, Owen Hargreaves showered him with praise, calling him a “Ferrari” and a “£100m player” (via The Independent).

It is easy to forget that the former AS Monaco man is just 25 years of age, and therefore has plenty of time left ahead of him to hit his peak. A change of scenery could be perfect for him moving forward and could allow him to reach his full potential.

Given his return of 61 goals across the Premier League and Champions League, Spurs could do a lot worse than acquiring the Frenchman.

In other news, this man revealed his disappointment at not being given the Spurs managerial job.