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Sunderland continue their search for a new permanent head coach after parting ways with former boss Michael Beale more than 100 days ago.

The Black Cats dismissed the ex-Rangers tactician earlier this year and decided to go with Mike Dodds as an interim until the end of the Championship season.

However, they have failed to find a successor to the English coach over the last three months and do not yet have a manager nailed down ahead of next season.

They have reportedly, though, narrowed down their shortlist of potential candidates to three managers, which suggests that progress is being made.

Sunderland eyeing up former Eredivisie boss

According to Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, former AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen is one of three names in the final frame to land the job at the Stadium of Light.

The reporter claims that St. Mirren chief Stephen Robinson and Dave Challinor, who currently manages Stockport County and just won League Two, are the two other men in the running.

Jansen is the only one of the three out of work, as it stands, and this means that he could be the most attractive option for the Black Cats, as they would not have to pay any compensation to land him.

Sunderland could land a manager who current star midfielder Dan Neil would love by landing a deal to bring the English-born tactician to Wearside, ahead of Robinson and Challinor.

Why Dan Neil would love playing for Pascal Jansen

The 51-year-old boss, whose style was dubbed "exciting" by journalist Brian Wijker, typically deploys a 4-3-3 formation and his midfield consists of one anchor and two box-to-box midfielders who have license to buzz around the pitch.

In his last full season with Alkmaar, during the 2022/23 campaign, Jansen got the best out of central midfielder Tijjani Reijnders in a box-to-box role.

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch manager had his compatriot operating as an effective number eight who could make an impact at both ends of the pitch, with goals, assists, dribbles, tackles, and interceptions.

You can also see that Neil offered similar qualities in the middle of the park for Sunderland with his ability to make things happen in and out of possession.

Reijnders' form for Alkmaar during the 2022/23 campaign earned him a €20m (£17m) move to Italian giants AC Milan in the summer of 2023, possibly due to the fantastic platform that Jansen's 4-3-3 system provided him with.

The Dutch boss' two box-to-box midfield positions allowed the young star to thrive in the middle of the park in the Eredivisie, which then attracted interest from Milan.

Neil could now love playing for Jansen for the same reason as he could use his quality in and out of possession, as well as his athleticism, to thrive as one of the two number eights in the 4-3-3.

Sunderland eyeing move for Van Aanholt 2.0

Sunderland could potentially have their next Patrick Van Aanholt in the making with this buy.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 6, 2024

He could help the English youngster to take another leap forward by making more key passes and dribbling more to show off his ability in transition, as Reijnders did, to put himself in the shop window for a bigger move in the future.

Tottenham are "expected to bid" for a £50 million Premier League player, who reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano said manager Ange Postecoglou "really" likes.

Spurs identify new midfield signing as key summer priority

Bringing in a new midfielder is thought to be among Spurs' chief transfer priorities for this summer window, as uncertainty surrounds the futures of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso and a few others.

£21m star gives Spurs green-light as talks advance for signing after Werner

The player would agree to join Ange Postecoglou’s side.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 6, 2024

Hojbjerg has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs, and was given very few opportunities in Postecoglou's starting eleven during the Australian's debut campaign in the Lilywhites dugout. As a result, the Denmark international is expected to part company with the club – four years after being signed by ex-Spurs boss Jose Mourinho from Southampton in 2020.

Lo Celso is unhappy with his situation at Spurs, meanwhile, and is reportedly attracting interest from European clubs and sides in Saudi Arabia. The Argentine midfielder has entered the final 12 months of his contract as well, so the writing appears to be on the wall for both men this summer.

Postecoglou needs to bring in a replacement if either of the duo depart. Atalanta star Ederson has been monitored by Spurs ahead of a potential swoop this window, while Chelsea star Conor Gallagher remains a key player of interest to the Lilywhites.

The England international has been linked with a move to north London since last year. Chelsea may be forced to sell Gallagher as well, given the player's contract situation and need to balance the PSR books before June 30.

Fabrizio Romano stated in January that “Tottenham have been interested in Gallagher since August 2023 because Postecoglou really appreciates the player" (via GiveMeSport), and Sky journalist Kaveh Solhekol has shared that Spurs remain in contention for him now.

Tottenham "expected to bid" for Conor Gallagher

As per Solhekol, writing on X, Tottenham are "expected to bid" for Gallagher this summer – but Chelsea are set to demand £50 million despite his contract situation.

"Chelsea won’t let Connor Gallagher go for less than £50m," said the reporter.

"Mason Mount went for 50+5 and Gallagher is captain and regarded as better all-round player. Gallagher has been model professional. Not agitated for big new deal. Aston Villa and Atletico want him. Spurs expected to bid."

The 24-year-old started 37 league games for Chelsea last season as a mainstay of Mauricio Pochettino's XIs and seriously impressed in that time.

"Really think Conor Gallagher is a very underrated footballer," said broadcast commentator Stephen Doyle.

"Spills his guts in every game and he’s always going forward. Good touch, scores goals."

The summer signing from Brighton scored a quickfire double to fire Marc Skinner's side to a third-straight win of the new campaign

Elisabeth Terland opened her Manchester United goal-scoring account with a quickfire double as the Red Devils beat Tottenham 3-0 on Sunday to maintain their perfect start to the Women's Super League season.

Spurs made a ferocious start as their high-press caught the home side unawares, with goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce having to make two excellent stops early on. United were, in fact, second-best for much of the first half, but grabbed a stunning opener through Terland's volleyed strike in the 44th minute.

The Red Devils, who thumped Tottenham 4-0 in May at Wembley to win last season's FA Cup, then doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time as ex-Brighton ace Terland once again finished off Celin Bizet's cross into the box.

The result was put beyond doubt when fellow former Seagull, Maya Le Tissier, converted from the spot in the 59th minute after Ashleigh Neville handled in the box, meaning Marc Skinner's team have won each of their three league games to start the campaign, leaving them level on points with defending champions Chelsea.

GOAL rates United's players from Leigh Sports Village…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Phallon Tullis-Joyce (9/10):

  Spread herself really well to deny Thomas early on and then made a great fingertip save to keep out Spence's long-range effort. She seems a first-rate successor to Earps.

  Celin Bizet (8/10):

  Provided two sumptuous assists for team-mate Terland, but sometimes struggled with the attacking runs of Thomas and England in the first half. Improved in that regard in the second period.

  Maya Le Tissier (8/10):

  Made some important tackles at the back but her passing sometimes got her team into a spot of bother. Took her penalty with aplomb, though.

  Millie Turner (8/10):

  Pulled off some key interceptions in defence and largely kept the roaming Naz and England in check.

  Gabby George (8/10):

  Most of Tottenham's threat came down the left, but when she was called upon, she was neat and tidy at the back and linked up with her team's attack well.

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  Midfield

  Dominique Janssen (8/10):

  Showed her energy and leadership in the centre of the park. Manager Skinner talked up her qualities pre-match, and he was right to do so.

  Lisa Naalsund (8/10):

  Worked hard off the ball and did well to snuff out some driving bursts from the dangerous Naz. Helped her team gain the upper hand in midfield as the match wore on.

  Ella Toone (7/10):

  Had a quieter game than United fans have come to expect from the England international, but her work off the ball was impressive.

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  Attack

  Grace Clinton (8/10):

  At times, the England international was an unstoppable driving force with the ball at her feet; skipping past defenders at will. On another day, could have had a couple of goals.

  Elisabeth Terland (9/10):

  Showed just how clinical she can be in front of goal with a terrific volley and then a well-directed header late in the first half. Came agonisingly close to a hat-trick, only for goalkeeper Spencer to push her shot onto the post.

  Leah Galton (7/10):

  Was the quietest of United's frontline, but put in a shift for her side and popped up with some good defensive headers as well.

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  Subs & Manager

  Rachel Williams (7/10):

  Nearly scored again off the bench, but Spencer did well to beat away her shot.

  Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):

  Showed some nice touches when introduced into the action late on.

  Simi Awujo (7/10):

  Looked lively when she came on and was very comfortable on the ball.

  Aoife Mannion (N/A):

  Had no time to make an impact.

  Marc Skinner (8/10):

  His side struggled in the first 30 minutes as Tottenham's press caused them all sorts of problems. But Terland's goal changed everything as Skinner's team grew in confidence and then managed to outmanoeuvre the away side. United have now scored seven and conceded none in the league – an impressive start.

Leeds United could be left concerned about the latest talk surrounding Archie Gray, at least in the opinion of Sky Sports man Paul Robinson.

Sales needed at Elland Road

Daniel Farke's side need to raise around £100m via player sales this summer, according to reports, after missing out on promotion from the Championship.

Though the number was not confirmed by the chairman of the Yorkshire side Paraag Marathe, he did admit "trade-offs" were necessary this summer, name-checking Gray in the process.

"It's a little too early to answer specific questions. I can't talk on specific players right now. If I can paint the big picture for you, there are certain things we need to do and we will make sure we are fully compliant with P&S as we always have been, and there are certain trade-offs that we have to make. We will get to the drawing board and figure out which moves we have to make to make sure we are compliant. It is too early to say, obviously Archie is a tremendous player, as all the players who have put so much effort in for us, but every season brings change. I can't yet comment on it, but we'll see what happens."

Free transfer: Leeds could now move to sign "immense" £35k-p/w PL player

He could prove quite the bargain this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Jun 6, 2024

Crysencio Summerville is the man everyone expects to leave, while Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter have also both been strongly linked with moves away from the club in the two weeks since playoff heartbreak.

But there is one man they desperately won't want to lose.

Robinson concerned over Gray's future at Leeds

Now, Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson, talking to Football Insider, said he is worried about the future of premier talent Gray, who could be one of those sold to help balance the books at Elland Road. Indeed, he suggested that the fact the youngster was named by Marathe could be a bad omen for the summer.

“They won’t be able to keep the squad intact. We know about the financial situation the club is in and the losses they have recorded. We also know about the unpaid transfer fees, which is going to be a problem. FFP and PSR are going to become an issue.

“The fact the chairman has said there are going to have to be tradeoffs and deals done, and he actually namechecked Archie Gray in that statement.

“That will be worrying for Leeds fans, they will hate this, because he’s a player they will be keen to keep hold of. You are looking at the likes of Gray, Gnonto and Summerville potentially leaving."

Gray was an emerging star over the most recent campaign, appearing 44 times in the Championship and starting all three play-off games. Traditionally a midfielder, he has been deployed at right back for the majority of the campaign but could move back to a more central berth in the future, and he is thought to have caught the eye of Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich among other clubs.

Leeds and their fans may well be desperately hoping that they make enough through sales of other players to keep Gray for at least another season, when his value could increase even further and, more importantly, he could play a key role in their push for promotion once more.

Pedro Neto admitted that "no one can sleep" at Chelsea due to the intense competition for places after completing a £54m transfer from Wolves.

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• Neto joined Chelsea in the summer
• Faces stiff competition from Madueke, Sancho & others
• Scored against Barrow to stake his claim

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The forward, who was brought in to bolster the London club's attacking options, has quickly realized that securing regular game time at Stamford Bridge is no easy task. With the rise of young talents such as Noni Madueke alongside big names like Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk, Neto knows that the pressure is immense.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  On Tuesday night, Neto made a significant impact, staking his claim for a regular spot in the Chelsea attack after he scored his first goal for the Blues in their emphatic 5-0 victory over Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round. He was used by Maresca on the right wing, while Mudryk slotted in at the left flank with Christopher Nkunku leading the lines.

• WHAT NETO SAID

  Reflecting on the competition within the squad, Neto told reporters that, “With the amount of quality that we have here, no one can sleep. As the coach has said, 'Everyone will not play every game.' So we have to work hard and push ourselves every weekend, every training session, every game. That’s the mentality that can take us to the top.”

  He added: "Everyone has to work hard. When you arrive at a big club, it is a new adaptation. Maybe in Wolverhampton, I was going to play maybe 90% of the games. Here I have to work even more or maybe I'll not play because the coach will rotate the players. It makes you play even better because you know that you have to work. But even at Wolverhampton, if I was playing 90% of the games, I would go into every training session to be the best."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Neto missed Chelsea's pre-season in the United States, meaning he still has work to do to build his fitness levels. However, he remains determined to improve and contribute to the team's success.

  "I continue to work," Neto said on his fitness. "I continue to work on my confidence, on my football, on the adaptation, and I hope to be [fully fit] as soon as I can. I'm settling in really good. I needed time. I needed the pre-season. I went to the European Championship without playing many games. But I am here. I am working hard to get into my best shape, and I will continue to work to give happiness to this club and to bring this club to where it deserves to be."

It was another bittersweet ending to a Premier League season for Arsenal this year as, despite coming on leaps and bounds, they once again just fell short in the face of the indomitable Manchester City.

It might take another summer of significant investments from the Kroenkes to help the club finally get over the line, but fans shouldn't forget the myriad of incredible talents they already have on their books, welcomed in by Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar.

Talents like Declan Rice, Ben White, and even Kai Havertz had a storming end to the campaign, but there is another crucial player who has come to life at the Emirates, a player who is currently worth ten times more than veteran midfielder Thomas Partey.

Martin Ødegaard's Arsenal career

The star in question is captain fantastic himself, Martin Ødegaard, who has become one of Arsenal's most important players both on and off the pitch over the last few years.

The Norwegian first joined the club on a six-month loan deal from Real Madrid in January 2021, and while he wasn't poor by any stretch of the imagination, it would be fair to say that his return of two goals and two assists in 20 games was somewhat underwhelming in the eyes of many.

However, Arteta and Edu, being the footballing masterminds they appear to be, opted to sign the former wonderkid on a permanent deal that summer for just £34m, and to say that was a brilliant decision today would be a colossal understatement.

In the three seasons since, the "exceptional" midfielder, as described by Pep Guardiola, has gone on to make another 133 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 32 goals, providing 36 assists, and taking on the captain's armband, all while still being just 25 years old.

Not only is the mercurial talent efficient in what he does and a brilliant leader on and off the pitch, but he also plays the game beautifully, often pulling off mesmerising feats of close control to beat a player, keep the ball, or play an inch-perfect through ball to Bukayo Saka out wide.

In all ways imaginable, Arsenal have a genuine world-beater for their club captain, and with his performances improving year-on-year, it's understandable to see his impressive valuation today.

Martin Ødegaard's valuation in 2024

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Odegaard is worth €100m, which comes to around £85m, or a whopping £51m more than Arsenal paid to sign him almost three years ago – talk about value for money.

Unsurprisingly, this new price makes the Norwegian the fourth most valuable player in the Premier League, alongside Cole Palmer, Gabriel Martinelli, and William Saliba.

It also means he is now worth considerably more than teammate Partey, or about ten times more, to be more specific, as the CIES price the Ghanaian international at just €10m, which converts to just under £9m.

This low valuation of a player who cost the Gunners around £45m in the summer of 2020 is likely due to three things: he is set to turn 31 next month, his contract expires next summer, and he has missed a colossal 72 games for club and country since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

In all, while the former Atlético Madrid ace is clearly a talented player, he's too unreliable and on the wrong side of 30, so it's not all that surprising to see reports linking him with an exit this summer.

That said, while it's a shame that one of the side's star midfielders has seen his value plummet in the last season or so, Odegaard's soaring price is an excellent sign for the future, and with him as the captain, there is no telling what the Gunners will be able to achieve in the coming years.

Arsenal can supercharge Saka by signing "exceptional" £55m "goalscorer"

The incredible prospect could alter the Gunners’ attack for a decade.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 21, 2024

27 league wins. That's quite the tally, isn't it? Well, it's the most Arsenal have ever recorded in a single Premier League campaign.

Even better than the Invincibles you say? Yes. Even better than the double winners of 2001/02? Indeed.

Yet, it may not even be good enough to win a title. Should Mikel Arteta's merry Reds secure victory over Everton next Sunday then they will end the term on 89 points. It beggars belief that they could still finish second.

Alas, that is the eventuality that will befall them if Pep Guardiola's Manchester City juggernaut win their remaining games.

Arsenal will have to rely on a favour from their chums down the road. City face Tottenham away from home on Tuesday with that encounter likely the last plausible opportunity for them to drop points. They won't slip up against West Ham on the final day, surely? David Moyes and Co may as well be the Ibizan sun already.

Not winning the league will likely leave a sour taste in the mouths of supporters, but as Arteta put it in his post-match press conference on Sunday, we have witnessed history. Be proud of it, embrace it, lap it up, we are truly watching one of the greatest Arsenal sides in history; they now just need their crowning moment, their moment in the sun, to confirm it.

There have been many outstanding players in this Arsenal side. Bukayo Saka is chief among them on 20 goals but the defence deserve a shoutout; no team has kept more league clean sheets than the Gunners. Then there's summer signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, even Leandro Trossard, the scorer of the all-important goal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

You can't fault many players, although the display against United over the weekend was somewhat questionable. Who was to blame? Well, there was a disjointedness to central areas we haven't really seen very often. Rice was still productive, Martin Odegaard was perhaps a little off the pace but Thomas Partey did well to last as long as he did.

Thomas Partey's performance in numbers

This has been a funny old season for the former Atletico Madrid star. In the opening stages of the campaign he was fielded as a right-back. Yeah, remember that? Bizarre.

Anyway, the Ghanain picked up an injury in the first few months and it took until the Premier League run-in to re-establish himself in the side.

He has been absent for 26 matches in 2023/24 but has slowly started to remind fans of why he was such a well-valued player.

In the north London derby with Spurs, he was superb, notably succeeding with 93% of his passes, completing both of his dribble attempts and making two tackles.

Against United, however, he was wildly off the pace, very nearly costing Arsenal dearly in their bid to be crowned champions.

The central midfielder set the tone in the first half, gifting the ball away on a couple of occasions in dangerous areas. United could have punished the visitors, should have punished the visitors, but for some wasteful attacking plays.

Another nervy first-half moment came when Amad Diallo looked to have gone down under a clumsy challenge from Partey on the edge of the box. Fortunately, the Ivorian winger looked as though he merely stepped on the Arsenal man's foot. Still, he was a lucky boy. He didn't need to go to ground at all.

There was a further cause for concern in the second half. Partey tried to clear the ball but slipped inside his own penalty area. Thankfully, Arsenal were able to avoid danger.

On that evidence, you'd think the 30-year-old had come out of the game with poor statistics. He did not, however. The £45m signing still completed 93% of his passes, won both of his ground duels and only ceded possession on four occasions. However, the eye test told us all we needed to know.

Football.London's Kaya Kaynak handed him a 5/10 match rating, while the best summary came from CBS reporter James Benge who suggested that the midfielder was "playing like a relic from last season's Arsenal."

What he means by that is that there was an element of jeopardy to the side when he was in control of the ball. It's the same feeling supporters have felt with Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, and as such, why he has been benched in recent weeks.

Arteta has tried so hard this season to eradicate that, to get rid of all elements of risk. Yet, Partey demonstrated that very characteristic on Sunday. For the final game of the season, he should be given the boot, and with that, it could well be the last we see of him in Arsenal colours.

With just a year left on his deal, there are murmurs he will be shipped off permanently.

95% passing: Arsenal star was just as sensational as Saliba vs Man Utd

William Saliba was in top form as Arsenal beat Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

May 12, 2024

Hansi Flick has warned Lamine Yamal that there is no time to rest if the Barcelona wonderkid is determined to become a 'great champion'.

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• Barca coach believes Yamal can still 'improve'
• Flick brushes off concerns over rest for youngster
• Winger must 'keep going' after blistering start to season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Flick was full of praise for Yamal, having seen the 17-year-old continue to establish himself as a key player for club and country in recent weeks. However, the German coach insisted Yamal still had more to do if he wanted to fulfil his potential of becoming a Barcelona great, with the wonderkid having recently been compared to club legend Lionel Messi.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal played in 37 of Barcelona's 38 La Liga games last season, prompting concerns from some observers who are worried the teenager could suffer from fatigue and burnout without rest. Barcelona have already seen youngsters Gavi, Pedri and Ansu Fati suffer serious injuries at a tender age, having played a substantial amount of football upon their breakthrough in the first team.

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  WHAT FLICK SAID

  Flick said: "I think Lamine is at a high level but, at his age, he can and still has to improve. It's great to see him training day after day. But he has to move forward, improve, work hard. Champions don't rest. And I think that's good advice. If he wants to be a great champion, he can't rest too much, he has to keep going and going."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL AND BARCELONA?

  Barcelona face off against Girona on Sunday looking to continue their 100 per cent start under Flick, with Yamal likely to start as he has done for every game so far in the new season. Barca know a win against their local rivals would extend their lead at the top of the table to four points.

  Yamal, meanwhile, will be hoping to continue his own fine start to the season, which has seen the teenager score once and grab four assists in his opening four La Liga appearances.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have a bit of “leeway” at Wrexham and their award-winning documentary series would survive a “dip” in results.

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• Hollywood co-owners made quite the splash
• Overseen thrilling back-to-back promotions
• Intend to guide club towards Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hollywood co-owners at SToK Racecourse have opened up a window to the world for the Red Dragons, with their surprising sporting venture capturing the imagination of a global audience. Wrexham’s fan base continues to grow, with their popularity in the United States soaring.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Results on the field have aided that cause, with back-to-back promotions lifting the club out of the National League and into the third tier of English football. Success is easy to sell and provides plenty of positive emotion for the cameras that continue to monitor every move on and off the pitch.

• WHAT TRUNDLE SAID

  Wrexham are now thriving in League One, but would interest be retained if they hit a wobble? That question has been put to Lee Trundle, with the former Red Dragons striker – speaking in association with – telling GOAL: “I think they can dip a bit, especially with them going into League One. There is a bit of leeway for that to happen. I don’t think the fans will have headed into the league and expected to run away with it – although they have started off unbelievably.

  “I think there is a bit of leeway for them to go through a bad patch. But, once you are on that run and used to winning games, it’s gets into a habit. Teams are coming to Wrexham now and looking and thinking it’s a big game for them, never mind just Wrexham coming into League One. Other teams will be seeing Wrexham as a big game. Other players will be seeing it as a desirable place to go and play. They will want to perform with hopefully getting the chance of getting a move there. You look at the football club and it’s only going in one direction.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  That direction could soon be the Championship, with Wrexham taking up a perch at the top of the League One table. There is still a long way to go in 2024-25, but more shrewd recruitment has ensured that Phil Parkinson’s squad remains fiercely competitive while Reynolds and McElhenney have never shied away from the fact that they want to guide the club into the Premier League.

Whilst Ange Postecoglou and his team prepare Tottenham Hotspur's players to take on Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend, work is going on behind the scenes ahead of the summer transfer window.

The focus of the coaching staff and first-team stars should be on the action on the pitch in their bid to secure Champions League qualification by finishing in the top four ahead of Aston Villa.

However, Daniel Levy and the Spurs chiefs behind the scenes are already laying the groundwork to manage the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

They are now reportedly pushing to ensure that one player – Giovani Lo Celso – remains part of Postecoglou's playing group moving forward.

Tottenham want to keep frustrated star

Earlier this year, it was reported that Lo Celso was pushing for an exit from north London as he was frustrated, and seemingly annoyed, with his current situation at the club given the lack of minutes the manager has provided him with.

Now, in a twist to the story, Spurs want to keep hold of the Argentina international and offer him a new contract, according to Tutto Mercato Web, as relayed by Sport Witness.

The report claims that Tottenham are hoping to extend his current deal, which is due to expire in the summer of 2025, by another two seasons to preserve his future in England.

It states that they are looking to adjust his wages to ensure that Lo Celso is happy and willing to remain with the club beyond the summer window.

Spanish giants Barcelona are said to be admirers of the central midfielder, along with fellow La Liga outfit Real Betis, and Spurs are now attempting to scare away potential suitors by pinning him down to a contract extension.

Why Spurs may want to keep Giovani Lo Celso

The Lilywhites may want to keep hold of the World Cup winner as he has shown glimpses of promise in his limited time on the pitch this season.

Lo Celso has seemingly been frustrated, per the earlier report this year, that Postecoglou has barely used him in the Premier League, and his statistics in the few games he has played suggest that the midfield star has reason to feel aggrieved.

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old whiz has provided quality in and out of possession, with four direct goal contributions in 17 appearances despite only starting four times.

His 63% duel success rate also shows that the left-footed maestro has held his own in physical battles to either retain possession or win the ball back for his side, whilst his pass accuracy suggests that the talented ace rarely gives it away.

These attributes make him an attractive player for a team that wants to dominate possession, as he has the quality to provide goals and assists as a box-crashing midfielder whilst being solid off the ball and a reliable passer.

Spurs lining up "monster" striker to end their no.9 problem

Tottenham would close the gap on those at the top of the Premier League by securing this signing.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 25, 2024

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not Lo Celso is willing to put pen to paper on an extension amid his frustration at the lack of minutes given to him by the boss.