All posts by n8rngtd.top

Mason Greenwood has been warned he could be kicked out of Marseille at the end of the season if he does not react to Robert De Zerbi's criticism.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• De Zerbi frustrated with Greenwood
• Has benched his top scorer recently
• Forward sent warning about Marseille future

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Greenwood has scored 15 Ligue 1 goals for Marseille this season but has found himself on the bench in recent weeks after falling out of favour under manager Roberto De Zerbi. The Marseille boss has been "irritated" by his striker's attitude and application and revealed he was left out against Paris Saint-Germain because he was "not in the right physical condition to play".

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De Zerbi has also accused Greenwood of "not doing enough" at Marseille, despite his impressive goal-scoring record, while the striker has now been warned to heed his manager's advice.  journalist Florent Germain believes the former Manchester United attacker must improve or he faces being kicked out of the French club in the summer.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Germain told BFM Marseille: "He is a player that can make a big difference but honestly, if he doesn’t react, questions will be asked about a departure for Greenwood this summer. “If he isn’t able to understand that his manager and his directors fought against a risk – more than a sporting risk – in bringing him, to give him a visibility, because OM isn’t Getafe."

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GREENWOOD

  Marseille return to action after the international break against Reims and it will be interesting to see if Greenwood is back in the starting XI. The forward has reportedly attracted interest from clubs including Liverpool and Barcelona, meaning he may not lack for offers if he does leave Marseille in the summer. United would also profit from any sale as the Red Devils have 50 per cent sell-on clause on their former forward.

Things haven’t exactly been plain sailing for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have suffered from poorly timed injuries to key players, questionable suspensions in big games, and an overall downturn in form just when Liverpool seem to have found theirs.

However, the last week or so has seen the Gunners get back to somewhere near their best with three impressive wins on the bounce and brilliant performances from defence to attack, particularly out wide.

Bukayo Saka has been utterly sensational, and Gabriel Martinelli has found himself on the scoresheet a couple of times to boot, so fans should be particularly excited about reports linking them to a player who’s been compared to the pair of them.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Arsenal are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s incredibly exciting Bradley Barcola.

The report claims that the Gunners are keen to add another dynamic winger to their ranks in 2025, and the young Frenchman is one of the players they have identified.

Interestingly, while the report claims that a transfer for the 22-year-old looks unlikely at the moment, rumours of a growing split between him and manager Luis Enrique could provide the North Londoners with an opportunity to strike in the future.

In all, signing Barcola could prove complicated, but given his ability, potential, and comparisons with Saka and Martinelli, Arsenal should still try to get it done.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Barcola's comparisons to Saka and Martielli

So, before looking at Barcola’s performances for PSG over the last few seasons, let’s examine these comparisons to Saka and Martinelli and where they come from, for that matter.

While there are apparent similarities in the fact that all three are young and exciting wingers, the comparison in question actually stems from FBref.

The statistical hub compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman this season, while the Brazilian comes in fifth.

We can see this similarity best by looking at the underlying metrics in which the players rank closely. For example, the PSG ace and Hale End dynamo rank closely for statistics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, expected assists shots, live passes and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Likewise, the former Lyon ace ranks closely with the former Ituano gem in metrics such as goals per shot and per shot on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, tackles and aerial duels won, all per 90.

So, with it clear that the 11-capped international shares clear statistical similarities to both Arsenal stars, does he have the raw output to suggest he’d be able to keep up with them on the pitch? Absolutely.

In just 18 appearances this season, the Lyon-born dynamo has scored ten goals and provided two assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games and lending credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of the best LWs in Europe.”

Moreover, in 42 appearances last season, only 29 of which were starts, the 6 foot phenom scored five goals and provided nine assists, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was just 20 years old at the start of the campaign.

Ultimately, while it could prove complicated, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Barcola next year, as he already looks like a superstar at just 22, and with players like Saka and Martin Odegaard around him, the sky would b the limit for his potential.

Saka loves him: Arsenal must unleash amazing star who Man Utd nearly signed

The incredible star is undroppable for Arsenal ahead of their match with Manchester United.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 4, 2024

Barcelona attempted to hijack Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid by meeting the Liverpool star's agents earlier in the season.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Barcelona wanted to sign Alexander-Arnold
• Met with his agents earlier in the campaign
• Liverpool right-back on the verge of joining Real

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report from (h/t SPORT), Barcelona attempted to hijack Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid this summer by meeting the Liverpool right-back's agents earlier in the season. The Catalans have been actively looking to sign a new right-back to bolster their backline for next season and have been reported to be interested in Alexander-Arnold for a few years.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Alexander-Arnold is into the final few months of his existing contract at Liverpool, and hasn't penned a new deal with the Reds. Real Madrid, for months, have been leading the race to sign the England international on a free transfer. Transfer experts Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic's David Ornstein both confirmed the news earlier this week that Los Blancos were in advanced stages of completing the signing of the Reds' star this summer, with only the final details such as length of the contract and wages left to be sorted out.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  However, it turns out that the 26-year-old could have joined Madrid's eternal rivals Barcelona instead. Per scoop, the Catalans were interested in signing him when Xavi and Jordi Cruyff were still a part of the club.

  Their latest attempt, meanwhile, came earlier in the season, with Barca sporting director Deco holding a meeting with Alexander-Arnold's agents to understand the feasibility of signing him this summer. However, due to the Blaugrana's well-documented financial constraints, the England international's move to Catalonia was deemed unrealistic.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?

  It has been all but confirmed that Alexander-Arnold will leave Anfield and arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu next season, reportedly on a five-year deal where he will earn €15 million (£13m/$16m) per season.

  The full-back will be key to Arne Slot's plans for the remaining nine Premier League games. Liverpool hold a healthy 12-point lead at the top of the table and will next face local rivals Everton next Wednesday, April 2, in what promises to be a riveting Merseyside derby.

Liverpool continue to fly high top of the Premier League table, despite Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Fulham at Anfield, which was, remarkably, just the fourth time in 23 matches since Arne Slot’s arrival that the Reds have failed to win in any competition.

This is truly remarkable given the aforementioned change of manager as well as Liverpool’s lack of outlay during the summer transfer market.

Federico Chiesa, who joined from Juventus for a fee of £12.5m, was the only senior addition to Slot’s squad.

The Italian has, to date, had a minimal impact since arriving on Merseyside however, making just three appearances totalling a miserly 78 minutes due to a persistent muscle injury, which was flagged as a potential issue when he arrived, with the winger himself admitting that injuries have “slowed down my career”.

Meantime, a reported £30m was spent to secure the services of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, but he was immediately loaned back to Valencia, set to arrive next summer, which sets up an interesting dynamic as the Georgian, as well as Alisson and Caoimhín Kelleher, all battle for the number one shirt.

Thus, in summary, Liverpool’s success so far has been built upon a bed-rock of Jürgen Klopp’s core players, and it may have been the sale of one of Klopp’s most trusted lieutenants that has proved to be the best piece of business the Reds have done in recent times.

Jürgen Klopp's key players

Back in May, Klopp departed Liverpool as a true club legend, on par with Bob Paisley, Bill Shankly and Kenny Dalglish.

During nigh-on a decade on Merseyside, the German hoisted aloft a Community Shield, two EFL Cups, the UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, an FA Cup, reached the Champions League Finals, winning one of them, and, most notably ended the Reds’ 30-year wait for a Premier League title, a draught that had defined the whole club’s identity for generations.

During this incredibly successful stint, Klopp certainly relied upon many tried and trusted figures, who will also go down as club icons.

Of course, Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Alisson and Gomez all remain, with the other seven players in the table above all having departed, one of which brought in an extremely high fee.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Fabinho's post-Liverpool career

Back in July 2023, Fabinho was sold to Al-Ittihad for £40m, which more or less saw the Reds break even, despite the fact the Brazilian was now 30 years old, having spent five seasons at Anfield.

While on Merseyside, Klopp called him “one of the best in the world at number six”, hence why he was reluctant to sell.

During the summer of 2023 though, Saudi Pro League clubs spent over £750m, making the money difficult to turn down, although spending, attendances and general interest in the league have all plateaued in recent months, with the high-profile players who’d moved to the Middle East disappearing into obscurity.

For Fabinho specifically, when he arrived at Al-Ittihad, they were reigning champions, but finished fifth last season, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo replaced by Marcelo Gallardo, but he only lasted 33 matches before returning to River Plate.

Now led by Laurent Blanc, the Jeddah-based outfit are top of the table, following Friday’s 2-1 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

The Brazilian’s time in Saudi Arabia has been blighted by injury, making 45 appearances but missing 19 games since his debut, underlining that Liverpool really struck gold by cashing in on Fabinho when they did, replacing him with Ryan Gravenberch for a similar fee, who is nine years his junior.

The Dutchman has been widely praised for his performances this season, Dinesh Kumar describing him as “absolutely sensational” against Fulham on Sunday, also ranked as Liverpool’s joint-third best player by Sofascore, and Gravenberch may not be at Anfield had it not been for the well-timed sale of Fabinho.

Dream Salah replacement: Liverpool in talks to sign "Europe's best player"

Liverpool reportedly have this exceptional star on their radar.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 15, 2024

Fulham are now getting closer to losing a member of Marco Silva’s squad this January, according to one report, as discussions progress over a potential sale.

Fulham flying high

Fulham are enjoying an excellent campaign under Silva, with the Cottagers going to start 2025 in the top half of the Premier League, and they could yet threaten the European places come the end of the campaign.

The west London side have recovered from losing both Joao Palhinha and Tosin in the summer transfer window, adding quality across the board to improve their squad despite such major players departing.

Fulham now keen to sign "special" Man City star ready to leave in January

He’s a man in demand…

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 28, 2024

Silva had nothing but praise for his summer signings after the win over Chelsea, a result that made it 10 London derbies unbeaten for Fulham. “The players who have come in have settled really well and the help from the players that we already had was big for them”, the Portuguese coach explained.

“The progression has been really great from ourselves. The way we are responding.”

Now though, that good feeling around Craven Cottage could come crashing down midseason.

Fulham in danger of losing star creator

That comes as reports in Brazil, relayed by Sport Witness, claim that Palmeiras are progressing in talks over a move to sign Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira in the winter window.

The Fulham man has been long-linked with a move away, and quizzed on his future Silva refused to rule out a sale, though he stressed his importance to Fulham.

“He’s very important for us, I won’t hide it. He’s a different player, a player who gives us other things”, he explained, before adding “this Palmeiras thing isn’t for a conversation between me and him.”

Indeed, Andreas is the key creator for Silva’s side, with no other player in the Cottagers squad, with only Alex Iwobi providing more shot creating actions than the Brazilian, while only Tom Cairney and Reiss Nelson average more per 90 minutes (having played more than one game).

It had been reported last week that Palmeiras had tabled a £16m bid for the midfielder, and that they were willing to increase that to almost £18m to get a deal done.

Now, the player who Silva has previously hailed as “outstanding” is reportedly closer than ever to an exit, with fresh reports claiming that “Palmeiras president Leila Pereira is ‘confident of the deal’” and that ‘negotiations [are] progressing’, albeit slowly.

It is added that there is no agreement yet between the two sides, but that Palmeiras are “optimistic of getting this operation over the line in the upcoming window”.

Any departure would come as a major blow to the Cottagers, who have a chance at European football next season on current form. However, given Pereira’s outspoken desire to leave in the future, combined with his current £50,000-a-week deal coming to an end in 2026 and Fulham’s recent history of replacing their key men and still growing, a sale may well be the best outcome for the long term future of the club.

EXCLUSIVE: The American defender spoke to GOAL about an obsessive hobby, the USMNT center-back race, life in Glasgow

Cameron Carter-Vickers can't fully explain what keeps him so drawn to LEGO, but he can confirm one thing: he is, in fact, obsessed. There are worse things to be addicted to than construction with miniature bricks, for sure, but the USMNT and Celtic center-back does acknowledge that it's become something of a problem in his home life.

He's built several LEGO stadiums: Old Trafford, the Bernabeu, Camp Nou. If a Celtic Park set ever comes out, he'll be the first one in line. Hogwarts Castle has been completed, as has the Roman Coliseum. Name a big set, and he probably has it sitting somewhere in his house. His recent passion has been Lego cars, particularly the F1 sets, one of which he finished just before jetting off to Los Angeles for the recent U.S. men's national team camp.

The building of them isn't the problem anymore, though. Now, the hardest part of all of this is figuring out where to put them once they're done.

"I've had to streamline it," he tells GOAL with a laugh. "I've probably built most of the big sets. There was a period where I was just buying everything but now they're in boxes back home just sitting there. Someday, when I have a place I'm going to be living for a while, I'll build a display board or something."

That's the situation as it stands. As for the "why" – well, there are multiple reasons. He started as a kid, maybe about six or seven, he says. His mom used to buy LEGO sets for Christmas, and it would never take him particularly long to get them built. It was his hobby away from the field, one of the things he could do to refocus even as the pressures on him ramped up. The sets have gotten grander, of course, as have those on-field pressures, but, in some ways, that's made this hobby all the more important.

"I'm a chill guy" he says. "I'm quite aware that I look quite stern or angry or annoyed at something, but most of the time. I'm pretty chill. I'm just trying to enjoy life. I just find it quite relaxing. I'll throw something on the iPad and just sit there and start building. I quite like that little sense of accomplishment you get when you finish it."

There's a metaphor here, for sure. Carter-Vickers isn't just building towards having the best LEGO collection of any footballer; he's building towards more on the pitch, too – especially with the 2026 World Cup looming.

In Scotland, he's emerged as a leader and stalwart for a trophy-winning Celtic team, one that recently stared down Bayern Munich in the Champions League and didn't blink before falling valiantly against one of the world's elite. At Celtic, though, falling valiantly is never really good enough. Winning is the expectation in Glasgow, and Carter-Vickers has done plenty of it during his time in green.

As for the USMNT, Carter-Vickers has his sights set on a second World Cup run. After missing the start of this new era with injury issues, he returned for his first camp since the Copa America, reuniting him with a familiar face in Mauricio Pochettino. It was the Argentine who gave the defender his professional debut many years ago at Tottenham. The recent Nations League run didn't go to plan for anyone on the USMNT side, Carter-Vickers included, but, again, there's something to be said about building from it.

Now, it's Pochettino who will be the one to determine whether Carter-Vickers is one of the lucky few who will represent the U.S. next summer in a home World Cup – and it's Carter-Vickers' job to keep putting together the pieces in a crowded center-back race.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Reuniting with Pochettino

  Ironically, Carter-Vickers doesn't even remember his professional debut. He can't recall the competition or the match. "Gillingham – Carabao Cup" Wikipedia confirms. An 18-year-old Carter-Vickers started in an one-sided 5-0 win.

  "I don't even remember much about that game," he says. "I do remember that – maybe it was the next one after that – was Liverpool away at Anfield, which was a big occasion for me to experience at such a young age."

  He does have fond memories of the man who gave him that debut and the subsequent trial by fire at Anfield: Pochettino. The Argentine was in charge of Tottenham back then, in year three of a five-year stretch that would see the club reach new heights. Carter-Vickers, ultimately, wouldn't be a big part of that era, spending the next several years at six different Championship clubs.

  Still, when he finally arrived in Los Angeles for the recent camp, jet-lagged from his flight across the Atlantic, Carter-Vickers was given a warm greeting from a crew of familiar faces. It had been a while since he'd seen Pochettino or his staff. Much has changed since that debut nearly a decade ago. Then again, though, Carter-Vickers said, so much hasn't.

  "He's still the guy that I remember from Tottenham," he says. "So is his coaching staff as well. All of them are really great people, great guys, great coaches, and that's all you can really ask for as a player."

  And like LEGO bricks, the coaching staff give players the pieces to develop their games.

  "Mauricio and his coaching staff, they were really big at the time on player development and how they could improve a player," he said. "They gave you all the tools, and those are tools that I still use now to do things. It's how I still try to develop my game now, how I train now, how I'm still trying to improve."

  Carter-Vickers has grown immensely in the past few years. If you have any doubts about that, just look at his performances in the Champions League.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Big games, big stages

  In just about every game they play in Scotland, Celtic are levels ahead of the opposition. That gives Carter-Vickers a certain part to play.

  "At Celtic, a lot of games, we do have a lot of the ball," he says. "As a center-back, you're asked to handle the ball as much as possible. When it does turnover, you're defending big space most of the time because you're all the way out on the halfway line and you've got half a pitch behind you. It's about protecting space but, if something does pop up in front of you, you have to be ready to squeeze and win it back. It's a different way of defending."

  When you're playing against Bayern, though, that isn't the case. Most teams hold on for dear life. Celtic didn't. They gave the German giants all they could handle.

  Bayern ultimately won 3-2 on aggregate due to a heartbreaking late Alphonso Davies goal. Carter-Vickers was right there at the end. He was a split second away from clearing, but couldn't sprint past roadrunner Davies. It was a tie defined by the tightest of margins. It was also a tie that proved that Carter-Vickers and Celtic could compete at that level.

  "Something I always say to myself before big games against big teams is that it's 11 human beings against 11 human beings on a pitch," he says. "You've played hundreds of times on goals that are the same size that they always are. No matter who you play against or what the competition is – I understand the importance of competitions and what they mean to fans and stuff like that – but, at the end of the day, it's just 11-vs-11 and you have to just go out there and try to do the best you can."

  Patience and persistence are both key.

  "We always have that belief that we can play big teams and get results," he said. "Over the last three or four years in the Champions League, we've been getting steady improvement and we've all grown in belief and confidence. Maturity, too. In previous years, we were maybe a bit too eager to get after games and we got picked off. I think now we're more patient. We know that, when we do get the ball back, we're good enough to play and keep it and hurt teams."

  Carter-Vickers, since he's arrived in Glasgow, has been a key figure in that steady improvement. Over the last few years, he's established himself as a critical cog in Scotland's most finely-tuned machine.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Life in Glasgow

  Now in his fourth season at Celtic Park, Carter-Vickers is often recognized when he ventures out around Glasgow. For those who understand Scottish soccer, you know what that means – he's either a hero or a villain, and it all depends on whether the person he's meeting is wearing blue or green.

  "It's something that's hard to explain unless you live there and experience it," Carter-Vickers. "The whole city lives and breathes football. It could be a 30-year-old male or a 70-year-old woman. They all know who you are and the results of the games. The city is crazy about football. It's hard to do anything without someone coming up and saying something but, to be fair, I haven't had too many negative experiences. Mostly, people are positive, which is nice to see!"

  The move to Glasgow, in many ways, has defined Carter-Vickers as a player. For the first several years of his career, he was stuck in the loan wilderness. Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Swansea City, Stoke City, Luton Town, Bournemouth – all were home, at least for a while. He started regularly at each, he points out, so the experiences were mostly good. But, as the old saying goes, there's no place like home, and he's found one at Celtic.

  It was easy to see his skill set upon his arrival. The 27-year-old defender is built like a tank and, having survived the rough and tumble Championship, has never struggled with throwing his size around. At Celtic Park, though, he's had to round out his game.

  According to FBRef, compared to all other defenders in the Big Five leagues, Champions League and Europa League, Carter-Vickers is in the 99th percentile in passes attempted and pass completion. He's in the 82nd percentile in progressive passes and 91st in progressive carries. The defensive stats are good, too: he's in the 85th percentile of aerials won and 64th percentile in tackles.

  "It's a boring answer," he says with a smile, "but the only stat I truly care about is wins. How many wins can my team get? How many trophies do we have at the end of a season? Of course, there are other stats and they help you improve and see weaknesses in your game, but if we win a game, I'm happy. If we don't, I'm not happy. If I perform average and we win, I don't care. If I'm great and we lose, I'm not happy. That's how I've always been."

  Those stats, though, paint a picture of a fairly complete player, one that can do a job on both sides of the ball. Complete players don't often stay in Scotland. When you play outside of the Big Five leagues, you're judged almost exclusively on a handful of games. Most aren't watching you play day in and day out. Many form opinions without much justification.

  It's why you can go on social media and see Carter-Vickers described as "the best defender outside of the Big Five" and "totally overrated" in consecutive posts. It's why opinions shift so quickly depending on whether you see him on a good day or a bad one, having not witnessed any between.

  "Since I've gotten older, I'm someone that just doesn't listen to any of that stuff, whether it's positive or negative," he says. "If I'm getting feedback from somebody, it's a coach or someone that watches me regularly. Even the positive stuff doesn't affect me really emotionally at this point in my career. If someone has something to say, I'd like to have a conversation with them, asking why they say that to find out more. I don't read too much into anything, good or bad."

  The most important opinion now belongs to Pochettino, as Carter-Vickers is one of several central defenders fighting for a spot under the new coach.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The USMNT center-back race

  There's a competition brewing at the center-back position and, at the end of it all, someone is going to be left out. There are only so many spots in a World Cup squad and only so many center-backs that can be in a team. Carter-Vickers was fortunate enough to get his number called in 2022, but that doesn't guarantee anything for 2026.

  The competition, therefore, is ongoing – and intense.

  "You mentioning that competition is probably the first time I've thought about competing, like really competing like that, for spots on the roster," Carter-Vickers says. "For me, it's just about making sure you do the best you can. The decision, at the end of the day, is up to the coach. As a player, you have to respect a coach's decision. As long as I've put it all out there, I'll be happy with that."

  He was joined by Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Mark McKenzie for Nations League, with the former two starting the first match, a1-0 loss to Panama. Carter-Vickers and McKenzie, then, were given their chance against Canada and both had some tough moments in what ended as a 2-1 defeat.

  That'll open the door for others in the pool to reenter this competition as well. Players such as Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman have track records both with the USMNT and in MLS. Youngsters such as Noahkai Banks will look to take a late-cycle leap into the picture.

  And then there's Carter-Vickers' club teammate, Auston Trusty, who would have been in the team for the Nations League if not for injury. The two have formed a formidable partnership for Celtic, helping the Scottish giants remain at the top of their country's table.

  "As the season has gone on, I think we've gotten there with our partnership," Carter-Vickers. "It takes time to learn how each other move and what positions the other takes up. That's something we're still trying to improve upon now. Auston, for me, has done really well since he's come in. He's hit the ground running."

  His skill on the ball is extremely valuable, especially when you account for the fact that Ream's passing ability has kept him in the USMNT heading towards his 38th birthday. Under both Pochettino and prior coach Gregg Berhalter, there has been an emphasis on having center-backs be comfortable on the ball, which is something Carter-Vickers does regularly at Celtic.

  He also brings size and physicality to the field, although he'll have to clean up some of the mistakes that have prevented him from ever truly breaking through as a top-tier player for the USMNT.

  "I think he adds a little bit of a different dynamic to the rest of us," Ream said of Carter-Vickers. "He brings a bite. He's also good on the ball at the same time and he's played in some high-level matches over the past couple of years. He brings a lot of experience from a club standpoint, even if there's maybe not as much as some of us at the national team level. Again, he's a newish face with Mauricio here now and if he steps in, he knows his role."

  Carter-Vickers may not be thinking about the competition much, but he's in it and it'll all be decided over the next 12 months.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hailed Kevin De Bruyne for his brilliant performance in Saturday's thrilling win over Crystal Palace.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Pep hails De Bruyne for match-winning display
• Belgian midfielder starred with goal and assist
• Man City thrashed Palace 5-2

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Bruyne starred with a goal and an assist as the reigning champions came back from an early two-goal deficit to beat Crystal Palace 5-2 in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. City boss Guardiola was full of praise for the Belgian midfielder as he rolled back the years to produce an inspirational performance.

Advertisement

• WHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the game, Guardiola said: "The Kevin we have known for many years. I know he's struggled the last year and a half. He's free without pain and completely different. The way we played helped him a lot with incredible runners, the young lads, the full-backs."

• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De Bruyne has been plagued with multiple injuries since the summer of 2023 and has performed sporadically for his club in the last one-and-a-half seasons. With the player now all set to exit the club at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, he would aim to finish his 10-year-long journey with the English champions on a high. In the current campaign, the 33-year-old has scored five goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

  Guardiola's side will be back in action in the Premier League on April 19 when they take on Everton at Goodison Park.

We are halfway through the season, and it already feels like Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League campaign is over.

Ange Postecoglou’s side slipped down to 12th place following their defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday and are currently 12 points off Chelsea in the final guaranteed Champions League spot.

However, the North Londoners have a League Cup semi-final to come tomorrow night, an FA Cup game on the weekend and remain in the Europa League, so there is still plenty to play for.

With that said, to stand any chance in those competitions, the club need to sort out their biggest weakness, which is their defence, and based on recent reports, that could be happening as they’ve been linked to someone who could finally replace Radu Dragusin.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in Udinese centre-back Thomas Kristensen.

In fact, the report claims that it’s currently felt that the most substantial interest is coming from the North Londoners, although the likes of Leicester City and Bayer Leverkusen are also noted as keen parties.

While the potential competition isn’t ideal, the good news is that, according to the story, the promising defender will likely be available for around £16.5m, which could leave some funds for more deals this month.

Overall, this seems like it could be a rather straightforward and relatively inexpensive transfer to get done and, considering Kristensen’s ability, one Spurs should be getting done, especially because he’d be a dream Dragusin upgrade.

How Kristensen compares to Dragusin

So, the first thing to say is that, given the importance of both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to Postecoglou’s system, the former for his leadership and experience and the latter for his lightning speed and decision-making, Kristensen would not be signed as genuine competition for them.

Instead, the Danish international would almost certainly be viewed as a rival for Dragusin to be the team’s first-choice backup, and based on their respective campaigns this season, it would be a competition the Udinese ace would win hands down.

Now, given where they play, we can’t show this through goals and assists like we would an attacking player, but instead, we can see the Dane’s superiority by comparing their underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, the Aarhus-born titan comes out ahead in the vast majority of relevant metrics, including but not limited to progressive passes and carries, key passes, tackles, tackles won, clearances, aerial duels, and he makes fewer errors leading to a shot, all per 90.

Moreover, on top of being far more impressive from a statistical perspective, the 22-year-old should be able to add more physical stature to the Lilywhites’ backline.

For example, he stands at a massive 6 foot 6 to the Romanian’s 6 foot 3, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, is “a unit at the back.”

Ultimately, while Dragusin can sometimes be a scapegoat for Spurs, he is clearly not of the level required to cover for Romero and Van de Ven, whereas Kristensen looks like he could be.

Therefore, Daniel Levy and Co should act fast to bring him in this month before someone beats them to it.

An upgrade on Son: Tottenham chasing £29m phenom with "an eye for goal"

The incredible winger would be a brilliant signing for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jan 6, 2025

Glasgow Rangers Old Firm victory last week was meant to be a turning point in their season, especially given how well they played against their rivals.

Instead, it proved to be yet another false dawn for Philippe Clement and Co. A trip to Easter Road is never easy at the best of times, but this was a chance for the Ibrox side to follow up the 3-0 win over Celtic with another three points.

Despite going two goals ahead due to Hamza Igamane, Hibs pegged the Gers back to 2-2, before scoring a late equaliser to snatch a point.

Several members of the starting XI struggled, including defender Robin Propper, who hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons.

Robin Propper’s season in numbers

On the surface, Propper’s statistics, particularly regarding his passing, have been excellent. Indeed, the centre-back has an average pass success rate of 90% in the Premiership this term, while succeeding with over half of his long ball attempts.

This is all fine and well, but Propper has failed to adapt to the physicality of Scottish football since joining the Light Blues. In the top flight, he loses possession 8.5 times per game while committing 1.1 fouls every match.

The former Twente captain simply does not look robust enough to cope with the demands of football in Scotland, something which will constantly hurt the side if he continues to play.

With Clement’s defensive options limited at this moment in time due to injuries, perhaps he could save millions in the transfer market by unleashing an academy graduate over the next few weeks.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rangers can save millions with Propper replacement

A few years ago, Leon King was being talked about as the next big thing to come out of Auchenhowie, especially as he played in all six of the club’s Champions League games during the 2022/23 campaign.

Indeed, Manchester United and Newcastle United sent scouts to monitor the youngster, but he ended up signing a new contract at Ibrox.

Across his six games in the Champions League, King won 50% of his total duels while averaging a pass success rate of 79%, not bad for someone thrown into the deep end aged just 18.

Before that season, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton lavished the defender with praise, saying: “I think when I did watch him last season, he was like a big Rolls Royce, very elegant on the ball. He came out, kept possession and looked very comfortable for someone of such a young age.”

Since the start of last season, however, King has made just seven first-team appearances, with his progress seemingly stalling.

The 20-year-old only made his first senior appearance this term during the 3-3 draw with Hibs. There is no doubt how good King can be, but the Scotsman needs a chance to display his qualities in the starting XI.

Instead of splashing millions on a couple of centre-backs this month, if Clement managed to sign one while giving King much-needed game time, it could work wonders for his development.

Worse than Kelly: Rangers man who lost the ball 16 times let Clement down

The Glasgow Rangers defender let Philippe Clement down with a poor display.

1

By
Dan Emery

Jan 5, 2025

Manchester United legend Roy Keane slammed Bruno Fernandes for his reaction to the club's thumping defeat at Newcastle.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Keane not happy with Fernandes' comments
• Newcastle thrashed Man Utd 4-1
• Red Devils next face Lyon on Thursday

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Harvey Barnes starred with a brace, while Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes scored a goal each as Newcastle registered a thumping 4-1 win over United at home in the Premier League on Sunday. After the game, club captain Fernandes reacted to the defeat as he told , "We are in this position because we have not been consistent in the performances we put out. We lack being more fearless, being more brave. Today was not the case because we ended up conceding goals by trying to be brave. It's easy to criticise because this club has never suffered like this, so it's normal. You have to be aware you play for United and criticism will be there. Our fans have been there all season during bad moments, today they were there at the end trying to cheer us up. It is time we give something back."

Advertisement

• WHAT ROY KEANE SAID

  In response to the Portuguese's reaction, Keane told : "It is not easy and, to be fair to Bruno, he does front up and the club push him out because he is the best player and captain. To me, it is just soundbites from him now. Let’s hope they win on Thursday by the way – that’s all they are talking about. Lyon are sixth in the French league, I fully expect United to beat Lyon.

  "He's talking about his teammates there and belief, but what about his right back who didn't put a leg up or try and tackle for the goal from Dalot? I hope he's pulling him into the dressing room, because he keeps talking about belief in the players and my teammates. A really good teammate puts their hands on each other, whether that's on the pitch or in the dressing room or on the training ground during the week."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Keane added: "When I listen to Bruno, and I have been harsh on Bruno, he is an amazing player. But I still have question marks about his leadership. He is certainly not getting enough help. It must be tough playing in that midfield when there are expectations on him to turn up week in, week out. That's unfair on him. Because when you are playing for a big club like Man United, you need a helping hand. But no one is doing these chats about the supporters and all this. Again, to me, it's just soundbites. There's not even meaning to it.

  "Because I don't know how we can listen to the Man United players doing interviews anymore, because I'm not sure they're an honest group. So why should we listen to them? I don't think we're going to get real honesty from this group of players when we're not seeing it week in, week out."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Ruben Amorim's side will now aim to beat Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final fixture on Thursday at home and qualify for the last-four stage.