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Tottenham are thought to be in regular discussions to make a third January signing after Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner, with the player's club also willing to sell.

Spurs seal Werner and Dragusin deals

This first two weeks of the winter window has been one of the best in recent memory for Spurs, with manager Ange Postecoglou given real backing in his pursuit of early signings.

Tottenham could now make move for "tough" centre-back to replace Eric Dier

The 29-year-old has officially joined Bayern Munich.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 12, 2024

Indeed, the Australian was public in admitting that he wants new recruits through the door in quick fashion this month, with Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy obliging.

"The January window, like for every club, is an important one," said Postecoglou on the January window last year (via football.london).

"My view on the January one is that if you can get your business done early in the window it certainly is more helpful because you leave it until the end of January and sometimes what you train to gain you've missed that opportunity by waiting a whole month."

Earlier this week, Spurs confirmed the signing of Werner from RB Leipzig on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy of around £15.5 million, while Dragusin joins in a £25 million deal from Genoa.

These two quick-fire moves come as a real boost for Postecoglou, with Dragusin coming in to shore up Spurs' back line which has been starved of options.

Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been absent for long periods over the last few months, leaving Postecoglou with little choice but to deploy a makeshift centre-back pairing of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies.

Meanwhile, Werner's arrival will provide another attacking outlet for Tottenham and versatility in the forward area.

Following Spurs' capture of the aforementioned duo, attention now turns to Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, with widespread reports suggesting that Postecoglou is keen on the 23-year-old.

Indeed, it is believed that Tottenham want a new midfield number eight and running man, with Gallagher fitting the bill in that respect.

The Englishman has been a star for the Blues this season, becoming a key player under manager Mauricio Pochettino. However, it is still believed that Chelsea could sell Gallagher in a shock move to fund their own transfer activity.

Spurs in "daily dialogue" over Gallagher

Football Insider have an update on this and Spurs' links to the midfielder, and it comes as a bit of good news. The outlet claims Tottenham are in "daily dialogue" over signing Gallagher, with Chelsea also "willing to sell" if their valuation of around £45-50 million is met.

A potential stumbling block is the tension-filled relationship between Spurs and the west Londoners, but chairman Levy and co are working on a deal regardless as they eye "another marquee signing".

It will be interesting to see if they can get Gallagher through the door, and if they do, this January window would go down as a very memorable one at N17.

Former Real Madrid youth coach Ruben de la Red has revealed why Kylian Mbappe failed to impress during his trial at the club as a youngster.

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• Mbappe had a trial at the age of 13
• Had been recommended by Zinedine Zidane
• Wasn't signed by Los Blancos

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe was called in for a trial at the age of 13, after being recommended by Los Blancos legend Zinedine Zidane. Of course, the Spanish club opted not to sign him as a teenager, and have instead parted with an exorbitant amount of money to bring him on a free transfer, making him the highest-paid player at the club.

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  Mbappe was coached during his trial by De la Red, who has now explained that the World Cup winner was a slight, small kid and that numerous players of his build simply fall away as the demands of the professional game grow too intense. For the ex-PSG star, that is not what happened, however.

• WHAT DE LA RED SAID

  De la Red was aked about Mbappe's trial by AS and replied: "Everyone keeps calling me about this. Just like any other kid who comes to train at Valdebebas. Every now and then a player would come, and look how far he's come! And how hard he must have worked to get there.

  "Zidane brought him because he was a boy he knew. He came to try him out. He had his little things; speed and dribbling. Physically he was very thin and tiny. He hadn't developed yet and at the end of the day when you're 12 or 13 years old, it's very difficult to know if you're going to make it in the professional world. Many players like Mbappé have fallen by the wayside."

  Asked if he expected the superstar to develop as he has, he replied: "Neither he nor anyone else. In the end, history tells you that very few make it to the professional world. And at Mbappé's level, just imagine. That is a long-distance race in which he has been lucky and has worked hard."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  France head to Euro 2024 this week and will play Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland, with Mbappe surely out to further his legend in Germany. He has already won the World Cup, after all.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are set to bid for Scottish midfielder Marc Leonard from Premier League side Brighton, per a report

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• Whitecaps tracking Marc Leonard
• Midfielder linked with Wrexham
• Willing to bid $610k

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Daily Record reports that the Whitecaps are tracking the Brighton midfielder, who spent 2023-24 on loan at League One side Northampton.

  The Western Conference MLS side are set to offer $610k for the Scottish midfielder, per the report.

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  Leonard scored five goals and notched six assists across the campaign last year, and as a result, is drawing transfer interest from abroad.

  Other clubs interested in the former U21 Scotland international are Oxford United and Birmingham City, per the same report.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Leonard has also been linked with a move to Wrexham this summer. The Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds-owned club are tracking the Scottish midfielder.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VANCOUVER?

  The Whitecaps will take on the Portland Timbers Saturday evening in MLS action. The Western Conference foes will take part in the clash, with the cross-border rivals meeting.

Aston Villa have already made one January signing, completing a deal to sign defender Kosta Nedeljkovic and it might not be the only player that arrives at the club this month.

Unai Emery has his eyes on a few other players, but could it be someone from the Championship who will be next through the Villa Park door during the January transfer window?

Aston Villa’s search for new signings

A few days ago, Villa failed with a second bid for Middlesbrough forward Morgan Rogers as Emery looks to add some depth to his attacking options.

They have submitted an improved offer for the Championship starlet and the Teesside club value him at around £10m as they face the prospect of losing one of their most prized assets before the end of the month.

Villa may have to offload a player or two before they make any more signings and one current first-team name that is being linked with a move is Jhon Duran.

West Ham United have had a loan move with an option to buy turned down by Emery, while Chelsea are still showing an interest in the striker.

Aston Villa could sign Ollie Watkins 2.0 after Fabrizio Romano reveal

Unai Emery is eyeing up a move for a new star to bolster Villa’s attack.

By
Tom Lever

Jan 21, 2024

With just ten days remaining of the current window, could Emery jettison Duran while bringing in the Boro forward? Only time will tell.

How Morgan Rogers compares to Jhon Duran

Duran has struggled for game time under the Spaniard this season, starting just seven times across all competitions and scoring four goals in the process which indicates that a fresh start could be the best thing to revive his career.

There is no doubting his talent, but with the form that Ollie Watkins is displaying this term – scoring 14 goals and registering ten assists – he won't be displacing him in the starting XI anytime soon.

Rogers, however, is more versatile than the Colombian striker, as he has been utilised as an attacking midfielder this season, along with playing some matches on either wing or as a centre-forward and this could appeal to Emery.

In 32 games, the 21-year-old has scored six goals and tallied up nine assists, showcasing how impressive he is in the final third and adding another player who can take the pressure off Watkins could be a wise move.

Hailed as a “huge talent” by his manager Michael Carrick, Rogers has impressed when compared to others in similar leagues to the Championship.

When compared to positional peers, the youngster currently ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions (4.27) and for successful take-ons (2.13) per 90, along with ranking in the top 7% for assists per 90 (0.25) and these statistics clearly show how wonderful he has been over the previous 12 months.

Although not the most prolific, Rogers brings other attributes to the table that can benefit Villa and combined with his positional versatility, Emery could give him the licence to shine in the Premier League.

£10m won't break the bank at Villa and if Rogers comes to the club and performs well, he could well generate them a stunning profit in the next few years.

As another punishment awaits Everton for breaching the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules for a second time, the Toffees have reportedly turned their attention to finding long-term signings who can help build a pool of valuable talent, including one who could partner Jarrad Branthwaite for years to come.

Everton's FFP situation worsens

Everton have of course already been hit with one punishment for breaching FFP rules this season, having been handed a ten point deduction to deal Sean Dyche a major blow. Now, after fighting back to leave themselves on course to avoid the drop, those at Goodison Park could be hit with more bad news.

The Premier League confirmed that Everton had been found guilty of breaching the rules once again, releasing a statement, which read via BBC Sport that Nottingham Forest and Everton: "Have each confirmed that they are in breach of the league's profitability and sustainability rules.

"This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23. In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction."

Everton make contact to sign Branthwaite partner

Amid a difficult season, it is Branthwaite who has stood out at Goodison Park. The 21-year-old has risen to stardom and become a vital part of Dyche's side. And now, they could hand their star defender a partner for years to come. According to Planeta Boca Juniors, via Sport Witness, Everton have made contact to sign Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors.

The 6 foot 1 in centre-back, who is still only 18-years-old, now reportedly has a release clause of $20m (£16m) after Boca Juniors acted on Everton's interest by tying their youngster down to a new deal. Given the Toffees' financial situation, the Argentine club may have done enough to fend off the Toffees until at least the summer, but they could then be in a better position to make their move.

It's certainly a positive sign that Everton have turned to the South American market, given the success that the likes of Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion have had in recent years, welcoming Julian Alvarez, Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and others. Meanwhile, finding a player to step up alongside Branthwaite for years to come could be the key to success for those at Goodison Park.

Branthwaite's stats show just how important he has been for Dyche this season, standing in the top 84 percentile for tackles per 90 and the top 86 percentile for interceptions per 90. Add Anselmino to that and suddenly Everton could put their defensive troubles to bed and ensure that their relegation fears are a thing of the past, whether they welcome the young defender this month or in the future.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy revealed he took the decision to retire after watching young Harry Kane in action.

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• Murphy retired after watching Kane in action
• Ex-Liverpool star last played for Blackburn
• Hopes England win Euro 2024 under Kane's leadership

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Murphy, who spent seven years at Anfield between 1997 and 2004, decided to bring the curtain down on his career in 2013. He was plying his trade with Blackburn in the Championship when he came across Kane for the first time.

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  The 47-year-old recalled being in action against Leicester City in 2013 where Kane was playing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. During the game, he was left in awe of the teenager who managed to go past a very strong defender named Scott Dann. Murphy further wished the Three Lions luck and hopes they would lift the Euro 2024 title under the leadership of the Bayern Munich forward.

• WHAT DANNY MURPHY SAID

  In his column for the , the ex-England international wrote, "Coming up against Harry Kane in the Championship helped persuade me it was the right time to hang up my boots. I quickly realised there was something special about the young striker, although it would have been a stretch to predict he’d become the greatest English striker of his generation.

  "If England win the Euros, I’d be happier for Harry than anyone. To have any chance, we need him on the ball as much as possible, which is why I’m sure he’d love Trent Alexander-Arnold in the team to give him ammunition."

  He added, "Back to February 2013 and I’m finishing my career with Blackburn when we face Leicester away, including a little-known teenager they had just signed on loan from Tottenham. We had strapping 6ft 4ins centre-half Scott Dann, who was strong as an ox. He went in early to let Kane know he was there, and Harry just got hold of the ball, bounced off him and spun away.

  "I thought to myself ‘Whoa, who is this kid?’ Besides scoring, he also did a couple of other little things that stood out as being top level. I was next to him when he dropped deep, turned and hit a beautiful pinged pass with his laces inside our full-back onto the feet of his winger. It was done with a calmness and authority that you wouldn’t have expected from a 19-year-old making his way. Leicester beat Rovers 3-0 and the way Kane and Danny Drinkwater ran rings round me made me realise my career was done. I called it a day at the end of the season. The total self-belief Kane showed from the start has served him well. He’s obviously had an outstanding career and I sincerely hope this summer is the pinnacle of it by lifting a trophy for England."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HARRY KANE?

  The 30-year-old will be next seen in action for Gareth Southgate's men when they begin their Euro 2024 journey on Sunday at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia.

Kylian Mbappe is reportedly unhappy with his face mask at Euro 2024, with that covering different to the ones sported by Victor Osimhen and Co.

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• Forward took blow to the face against Austria
• Broken nose needs to be protected in matches
• Real Madrid-bound star seeing vision impacted

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The France international, who is captain of his country, suffered a nasty injury to his face in Les Bleus’ opening game of Euro 2024. The Real Madrid-bound forward was left sporting a broken nose following a heavy collision during a 1-0 win over Austria.

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  Medical tests confirmed that no operation would be required, but Mbappe does need to wear a protective mask when taking to the field. He had that new accessory in place – having sat out a meeting with the Netherlands – when converting from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw with Poland.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe had been warned by Robert Lewandowski heading into that game of the issues that protective masks pose. now report that the 25-year-old is frustrated with the one that has been produced for him – as his peripheral vision has been “severely limited”.

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  TELL ME MORE

  That is because the mask in question is 5mm thick – much thicker than those worn by the likes of Napoli and Nigeria star Osimhen – as added mousse has been required in order to limit the impact of any more blows to the face.

As much of a shock as the announcement that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season was, FSG were told at the start of the campaign, and thus are already planning for life without the German. The last thing that the owners will want is to face a painful transitional period, and they will hope that last summer's midfield rebuild and upcoming transfer plans will help to avoid that.

With Joel Matip set to leave at the end of his current contract, Liverpool's first priority may well be set on finding a new centre-back, leading them to a player they're "already" monitoring a move for, according to reports.

Liverpool transfer news

Whilst those at Anfield look unlikely to make any last-minute moves in the January transfer window, they've turned their attention towards the summer transfer window. With a new manager in charge, whether that be Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann or another option, Liverpool will be well aware of just how important it is that their next man in charge is handed time and resources to build their side. And that could start with another central defender.

According to Sport Bild via Sport Witness, Liverpool are "already monitoring" Willian Pacho ahead of a summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt, who value their defender at €60m (£51m). The Reds aren't alone in their interest, however, with Manchester United and Arsenal also eyeing moves to sign the 22-year-old this summer, creating a tight race for his signature.

Given his hefty price tag, it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool are willing to splash the cash on another defender, especially after Jarell Quansah's rise into the first team so far this season. Keeping tabs on Pacho nonetheless, the Ecuador international could yet become Liverpool's first signing in the post-Klopp era.

"Clever" Pacho would be an upgrade on Matip

As Matip approaches his mid-30s and leaves Liverpool, the Reds could not only replace the former Schalke man but even find an upgrade in the form of Pacho. When compared, it is Pacho's stats which come out on top so far this season:

At 22-years-old, Pacho is likely to get better from here to hand Liverpool the ultimate long-term option. Certainly earning fans in the Bundesliga, former Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche praised Pacho via the league's official website, saying: "Willian is a very clever player, who listens well and is quick to implement what's asked of him. His speed and strength in the tackle are what make him stand out."

If it is to be Alonso who replaces Klopp, then the current Bayer Leverkusen manager could benefit from the arrival of a player he's familiar with and one he's seen play at a level that his current side are thriving in. No matter who comes in, however, Pacho looks like an ideal option to replace Matip and perhaps even more as the years tick by at Anfield.

Spain wonderkid Lamine Yamal has matched an incredible La Roja record with a briiliant assist in their quarter-final against Germany.

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• Yamal assists Spain opener
• Gets third assist of Euro 2024
• Matches four Spaniards in record book

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Throughout Euro 2024, Yamal has been setting the stage alight for Spain and at the age of just 16 years old, the Barcelona youngster has matched a European Championship record held by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Dani Olmo. As per OptaJose, Yamal garnered his third assist of the tournament, the most in a single European Championship tournament by a Spaniard.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal has been having possibly the best season by a teenager in the 21st century and the 16-year-old has already racked up over 50 appearances for Barcelona and Spain in his first full professional season. His performances with the Blaugrana made it difficult for Luis de la Fuente to ignore as he became the youngest player to play in the Euros.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Yamal has also become the teenager with the most assists in the European Championship with his assist tonight helping him break the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal in 2004.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

  Spain managed to win 2-1 in extra time and will now play the winners of France's titanic clash with Portugal in the semi-final.

Arsenal's resurgence as a force in the Premier League over the last few years has been built upon a succession of generally successful transfer windows.

Mikel Arteta and Edu have, more often than not, got it right in the market over the last few years.

That said, you don't have to go too far back to find a period in history in which the Gunners kept making costly mistakes, with perhaps Shkodran Mustafi being a name that sticks out in fans' minds.

However, there was a player that the club signed in the summer of 2018 who was arguably a bigger flop than the German – and he was free.

Stephan Lichtsteiner at Arsenal

The player in question is Swiss veteran and Juventus legend Stephan Lichtsteiner, who made the surprise switch to Arsenal in June 2018 after his contract with the Old Lady expired.

Lichtsteiner had just come off of a Serie A-winning campaign with Juventus – as he had every season he was at the club – and so there was quite a bit of expectation that he would be able to carry over some of his know-how and no-nonsense style to an Arsenal side who had just seen Arsène Wenger leave the club after 22 years at the helm.

Gunners legend Ian Wright welcomed the arrival of the experienced right-back, tweeting, "Great business by the club. Loving what's happening at Arsenal." In all, it certainly looked like an intelligent bit of business to sign a player with a remarkable history of winning league titles, especially with the upheaval the Gunners were enduring at the time.

However, as most Arsenal fans will tell you, the former Lazio ace's time in north London did not go quite as swimmingly as most were expecting – to put it mildly.

In all, he made 23 appearances for Unai Emery's side in the 2018/19 season – 19 of which were starts – registered just two goal involvements and, in his 14 Premier League appearances, he won just six games and averaged a match rating of 6.27, as per WhoScored.

Whether it was his age or just a lack of preparedness, the man who had been one of the best defenders in Italy for years just looked utterly out of his depth in English football, with former Arsenal player Alex Scott claiming he was "all over the place" in one particular outing against Manchester City.

Stephan Lichtsteiner's post-Arsenal career

With the writing firmly on the wall, the then-35-year-old left the club in the summer of 2019 and joined Bundesliga outfit FC Augsburg.

Unfortunately, however, he didn't fare much better in Germany and made just 17 starts across the 2019/20 season, although he did manage to help the club just about stave off relegation, as they finished in 15th place on 36 points.

Ultimately, while fans might label the £35m signing of Mustafi as the worst transfer in Arsenal's history – and not without reason – Lichtsteiner's time in N5 will always feel more disappointing.

After all, the German, for all of his nightmare-inducing antics at the back, did help the club win two FA Cups, playing every game up to the semi-finals in 2017 and then playing 87 minutes of the semi-final against City in 2020, a game the club won 2-0.

So, while he was never good enough to play for the club, his 151 appearances, two FA Cups and a Community Shield constitute a legacy the Swiss full-back simply doesn't have in N5.

Thankfully, such additions now look resigned to the past in the Arteta era…