Celtic are “progressing” in talks to sign IF Elfsborg defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, and a reliable journalist has revealed where the player stands on a move to the Scottish Premiership.
Who is Gustaf Lagerbielke?
Lagerbielke is naturally a centre-back who has played his football at the Boras Arena since 2021 having joined from Vasteras SK, but having made just 26 appearances during his two years at the club as a result of being sent out on loan to Degerfors, it’s a strong possibility that he could be on the move before the end of the ongoing window.
Swedish outlet Expressen previously reported that the Hoops and Brendan Rodgers were chasing a deal for the 23-year-old and had submitted a bid worth SEK 40m, equivalent to approximately £2.9m, which would be a record fee for Jimmy Thelin’s side to receive.
The Allsvenskan outfit’s director Stefan Andreasson later confirmed that they had received an approach for their defender, but insisted that there were currently no ongoing discussions. He said:
“We've had a dialogue in this case. There's an interest, yes. But we're not in negotiation. The club must move from interest to acting concretely. We're not there right now.”
Are Celtic signing Gustaf Lagerbielke?
Taking to Twitter X, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph delivered an update on Celtic’s pursuit of Lagerbielke, who is believed to be excited by the prospect of putting pen to paper at Parkhead. He wrote:
“Talks between Celtic and Elfsborg for Gustaf Lagerbielke are understood to be progressing well. There’s a willingness from all sides to get a deal done, as the centre-back is keen to move to the Scottish champions this summer.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
How good is Gustaf Lagerbielke?
Celtic are clearly serious about signing Lagerbielke having developed their interest to the final stages of a deal and it’s no surprise considering what he could bring to the side should he sign on the dotted line, so despite having the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki available, his potentially imminent arrival could be a huge boost for Rodgers.
Elfsborg’s 6 foot 3 colossus is not only a rock at the heart of his side’s backline with his huge physical presence, but he’s also a threat when it comes to set pieces at the opposite end of the pitch having scored 12 goals in 110 appearances since the start of his career, as per Transfermarkt.
The Stockholm native additionally has the ability to operate out wide at both left-back and right-back alongside his usual role at centre-back, so he would provide the boss with wonderful versatility and be able to easily adapt should he ever want to tinker with his formation, team selection or just need to adjust for injuries.
Whilst Lagerbielke still has another two years to run on his contract, the Glasgow outfit don’t seem to be phased by the transfer fee that’s being demanded, and having been dubbed a player with “impressive” passing ability by journalist Ryan McGinlay, he would only excel further under the guidance of the Northern Irishman.
Aston Villa were dealt a frustrating blow earlier this month as Tyrone Mings suffered a serious knee injury during the 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Who could Aston Villa replace Tyrone Mings with?
It was recently reported that the Villans had made enquiries about a possible deal to sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United, after West Ham had struck a £30m deal for his services.
The Hammers' move for the England international fell through and the central defender is said to be settled at Old Trafford, which could also rule out a switch to Villa Park before next month's deadline.
90min journalist Graeme Bailey recently named Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier as a player who could emerge on the club's radar in their pursuit of another centre-back, as he stated that it would not be a surprise to see them target the Englishman.
"I think they will go into the central defender market now, maybe a loan somewhere. I was thinking there, maybe Eric Dier could be an option there, It wouldn’t surprise me," he said. "Villa were looking at Aymeric Laporte before Pau Torres. Do they go down that route again? For Laporte or even Dier."
How good is Eric Dier?
The 29-year-old titan is a proven Premier League performer who could be a dream alternative to Maguire for Unai Emery if he is able to recapture his form from the 2021/22 campaign.
Dier, who was once praised as being "strong" by former manager Antonio Conte, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.86 across 33 outings last season in the top-flight, which is a score that would have placed him eighth within the Villa squad and behind Ezri Konsa and Mings.
However, his performances during the previous term suggest that he has the ability to be a standout at the back for the Spanish head coach if he can get back to his best.
The former Sporting enforcer averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 across 35 league starts for Spurs as he delivered consistently impressive displays at centre-back. Meanwhile, no Villa centre-back has averaged a score higher than 6.91 over the last two campaigns.
Maguire has failed to average a Sofascore rating higher than 6.95 over the last two seasons with Manchester United and is coming off the back of just eight league starts last term.
Tottenham defender Eric Dier.
Dier completed 88% of his attempted passes and won 56% of his duels as his side kept 16 clean sheets, which suggests that the towering defender was reliable in possession and able to win the majority of his physical battles.
His statistics from that season suggest that the quality is there for him to be Villa's outstanding central defensive option and his experience in England, with 270 top-flight appearances, could allow him to hit the ground running in the same way that Maguire would have.
The £85k-per-week ace also won 70% of his aerial duels during the 2022/23 campaign.
This was only 2% behind Mings' dominance in the air last term and this means that he could offer a similar presence at the back in terms of his ability to deal with long balls, set-pieces, and crosses into the box.
Therefore, Dier would be a dream alternative to Maguire before next month's deadline as he is also an England international quality centre-back who is capable of delivering consistently impressive Premier League displays.
This is why Emery must swoop for the experienced brute over the coming days instead of following in West Ham's footsteps with Maguire, who seemingly wants to remain in Manchester.
Tottenham Hotspur have now been provided with a new update on their pursuit of FC Porto winger Pepe, who they have already submitted a bid for this summer.
Who are Tottenham signing this summer?
By now, Tottenham fans will be well aware that Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson has shot right up to the top of their shortlist, with journalist Alasdair Gold reporting that the winger is Ange Postecoglou's "number one attacking target."
Postecoglou believes Johnson is the "perfect fit for his Spurs system", but Gold makes it clear that it will be a tough deal to orchestrate, and if it does happen, it will be late in the window, with Forest keen to hold out for a fee of around £50m.
However, the manager does have some alternatives in mind, including Jota, who he worked with during his time at Celtic, although the Portuguese winger is not thought to be as high on the wanted list as the Nottingham Forest star.
Last week, the Lilywhites submitted a bid in excess of €45m (£38.6m), including an additional €15m (£12.9m) in goal bonuses for Pepe, but faced rejection from Porto, who are demanding a fee of €70m (£60m) if they are to sanction his departure.
Despite having their opening bid rejected, reports from Spain indicate Tottenham remain keen on signing the winger before the summer transfer window closes, with the board well aware that he could go some way to replacing Harry Kane's goal-scoring contributions (via Caught Offside).
Bizarrely, the report claims the FC Porto star has a market value of just €30m (£26m), far less than the bid Spurs initially made, which does not seem very likely, considering he has a release clause of €75m (£64m) included in his contract.
As previously mentioned, the Portuguese club are hoping to receive a fee of £60m, so you'd think there is no chance they let the Brazilian leave for less than half that amount, but it remains to be seen whether the Lilywhites come back with a higher offer.
Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE
How good is Pepe?
The 26-year-old has been a key player for Porto over the past two seasons, since arriving at the club from Gremio, and he has made year-on-year improvement, after picking up four goals and four assists in his first campaign.
Last season, the versatile winger amassed 11 goal contributions in the Liga Portugal, with journalist Fernando Campos claiming he's been "getting better and more important in Sergio Conceicao's team."
It is very impressive that the former Gremio man has regularly managed to weigh in with attacking contributions with his new club, but his main strength is his dribbling ability, ranking in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year.
When compared to his positional peers, the attacker also places in the 98th percentile for progressive carries per 90, and his attacking threat is also highlighted by the fact he is in the 94th percentile for touches in the opposition area.
Pepe could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, but he will not come cheap, considering Porto are set to hold out for a fee of £60m.
Arsenal appear to be eyeing up a late move for Torino defender Perr Schuurs, however, the Gunners aren’t the only Premier League side keen on the player.
What’s the latest Arsenal transfer news?
Mikel Arteta and those at the Emirates have been relatively busy in the transfer market this summer, with four new players brought in at a cost of around £200m.
Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya have all made the move to north London, however, Timber has already suffered a serious ACL injury and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
As a result, the Gunners, and by extension sporting director Edu, could dip into the market once again for another defensive addition but may need to sell first. Reports have suggested that Arsenal are looking to raise £100m in player departures before the end of the window. Should they do that, it appears as if Schuurs is a new name on the club’s radar, with a fresh update emerging.
Football London relayed the latest news on Schuurs and a possible move to England in the last 48 hours, with top-flight rivals Tottenham and Liverpool also seemingly keen on the defender, who appears to be valued at £35m.
When it came to Arsenal, the report said:
“Arsenal have closely followed the progress of Perr Schuurs and could soon make a move to sign the defender, but first Mikel Arteta will have to make a key decision.”
Speaking about the club’s transfer plans at the back following Timber's injury, Fabrizio Romano has claimed:
“It’s important for Arsenal to decide if they want a new centre-back or full-back, because we know Timber can play both positions.
“Arsenal need to decide what the right signing will be, and they will only act if they are convinced they’ve found the right option, that’s always their strategy – I don’t see them spending crazy money.”
Former Ajax defender Perr Schuurs.
Who is Perr Schuurs?
Schuurs is 23 years of age and is an out-and-out centre-back who journalist Josh Bunting described as a “mountain" last year.
Sponsored by Nike, the player began his career in Fortuna Sittard’s academy before moving to Ajax in 2018. Schuurs went on to make 95 senior appearances for the Eredivisie giants and joined Torino last summer.
Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…
He appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and during his time in Italy, Schuurs has turned out on 35 occasions.
Over the past 12 months, as per FBref, Schuurs has impressed in a number of areas. He ranks in the top 8% of centre-backs for long pass completion and assists per 90, while also placing in the top 20% for tackles. He hasn’t averaged an error per 90 either and is in the 83rd percentile for ball recoveries, so a move for Schuurs could be a shrewd one.
However, he appears to be limited when it comes to his versatility as he only plays as a centre-back, but by the looks of things, a move could be one to keep an eye on before the deadline.
Crystal Palace have had a quiet Deadline Day so far, however, a fresh update has revealed that the club could yet make one more move to sign a new addition before the transfer window closes.
What are Crystal Palace doing on deadline day?
According to the Daily Mail's Chief Football Reporter Sami Mokbel, Crystal are working on a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike.
Mokbel took to social media to reveal:
"Crystal Palace are working on a deal to sign PSG striker Hugo Ekitike, but the move is rated as ‘doubtful’ as it stands. Palace also interested in Che Adams at Southampton but he is likely to stay."
How good is Hugo Ekitike?
There is no doubt that boosting goal contributions would be a huge advantage at Selhurst Park this season, as Steve Parish endeavours to improve the club's competitiveness in the Premier League.
There were moments last season when the Eagles looked like they were going to be dragged into the relegation fight at the bottom of the table, which ultimately led to the sacking of Patrick Vieira late into the campaign, a situation that the Palace owner will be desperate to avoid happening again.
Following the exit of all-time top-scorer Wilfried Zaha – who joined Turkish club Galatasaray this summer – there is definitely an opportunity worth looking at to bolster the attacking threat even at this very late stage.
As a result, the signing of Ekitike – who has a reported price tag of €40m (£34m) – could be a great opportunity for the club to land another promising prospect with bags of potential who could be the next Odsonne Edouard in the south Londoners' squad.
hugo-ekitike-palace-transfer-news-premier-league
Despite struggling for game time with the Ligue 1 champions since joining last summer, the 21-year-old remains one of the hottest young talents in the top five European Leagues – ranking in the top 5% of his positional peers for interceptions, assists and pass completion per 90 minutes played, as per FBref.
When comparing Ekitike's output with Edouard's last season, the French duo shared several similarities in their attacking attributes including goal contributions (7 v 7), shots on target rate (35.3% v 38.5%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.57 v 2.20), aerial duels won (40% v 34.7%) and successful take-ons (41% v 34.8%), presenting Roy Hodgson with a worthy alternative when needed in the striker role.
Indeed, it's evident that they are both physical forwards who contribute similarly in the final third.
The Frenchman has been the recipient of high praise over his short career already, with former Stade de Reims manager Óscar García waxing lyrical about Ekitike:
"There is something very special about him. He’s young, and he has the quality to become a very good player. He’s a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on, but he works hard in training."
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for the Eagles to seal a deal for Ekitike in the dying minutes and hours of Deadline Day as he could be a real asset to the team in their pursuit to compete comfortably in the Premier League this season and beyond.
Glasgow Rangers had a mass summer clear out under Michael Beale which resulted in 11 players departing the club, including Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
One player who also looked like they would be leaving Ibrox following the expiration of their contract was club stalwart Steven Davis.
The Northern Irish midfielder signed a one-year extension towards the end of the 2021/22 season, but he suffered a season ending knee injury before Christmas last year, and it looked as though his time at the club was coming to an end.
Despite his contract expiring, Beale is allowing him to stay and continue his rehabilitation at the club before a final decision is made, but its clear the 43-year-old will need to find a long term heir for the midfielder.
There are a few youngsters in the academy who could soon make the step-up and Bailey Rice is one of the standouts who has the potential to become an ideal heir to Davis.
How old is Bailey Rice?
The former Motherwell youngster is only 16 years old and he joined the Light Blues last summer, turning down the offer of a professional contract at the Steelmen to move to Glasgow, and it looks like it could turn into a stroke of genius.
Journalist Mark Hendry even lauded him as a “prospect” amid the interest from Rangers and Manchester City in January 2022, and he has already made waves during his spell in the academy.
Has Bailey Rice made an appearance for Rangers?
Rice made a total of 21 appearances for both the B team and U19 side last season, scoring twice and grabbing one assist in the process, while even gaining experience in the UEFA Youth League, playing against the likes of Napoli and Liverpool.
Steven Davis playing for Rangers
These performances led to him making his debut for the senior side in February against Livingston, coming on with a few minutes to go as the club were strolling to a 3-0 win and this taste of first team action will surely give him a major confidence boost.
What is Bailey Rice’s style of play?
The teen starlet tends to operate in a defensive midfield position but has also played slightly further forward and its evident that he offers a similar playing style to that of Davis.
The 38-year-old likes to dictate play from the heart of the midfield with his sublime passing ability and Rice has this quality in abundance.
Rangers Review journalist Jonny McFarlane praised him during a tie against Celtic earlier this year, saying: “20 minutes gone at Ibrox and Rangers dominating Celtic here. Bailey Rice controlling the game and looks a serious talent. Ishaka powerful and technically gifted causing problems and Lyall's goal was a terrific strike.”
Sharing similar traits will only help accelerate his growth into a potential first team player over the next couple of years as it looks as though he will outgrow the B team sooner rather than later.
There is no doubt that he is the natural successor to Davis and the next 12 months will be crucial in his development.
Liverpool have recently been linked with a new transfer target ahead of the January transfer window, and journalist Bence Bocsak has been reacting to the news.
What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?
With Mohamed Salah being touted for a move to Saudi Arabia in the near future, Liverpool have been linked with a move for West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed there is no "concrete" news on that yet.
Although there has been no official approach for Bowen, Jurgen Klopp has started to make inroads towards signings in other areas of the pitch, with it being reported the manager is now pushing to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
The Merseysiders are now in advanced talks over a move for the 21-year-old centre-back, with a £47m deal on the cards, and they have also entered discussions with another defender.
The Reds have also opened new contract talks with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2025, with Klopp hoping his vice-captain down will be willing to extend his stay at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold has been a mainstay in the Liverpool backline for a number of years now, making 277 first-team appearances for the club, but there are now indications that Klopp is looking to bring in additional options at right-back.
Anfield Watch have reported that AZ Alkmaar's Yukinari Sugawara is now a target for Klopp, who is short on back-up options for Alexander-Arnold, given that Conor Bradley has been ruled out until November due to a stress fracture in his back.
Speaking on X, journalist Bence Bocsak has now reacted to the links, saying: "Yukinari Sugawara has recently been linked with LFC and he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on.
"So far this season he has created the most big chances in the Eredivisie (4) and the second most chances (16). Not bad for a right-back. He’s quite solid defensively as well. Only 23 years old."
Who is Yukinari Sugawara?
Born in Toyokawa, Japan, Sugawara made his initial breakthrough with J1 League side Nagoya Grampus, but he is now plying his trade in the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar, where he has established himself as a key first-team player.
Last season, the Japan international made 31 appearances in the Eredivisie, weighing in with a very impressive three goals and eight assists, which indicates he could be the perfect back-up option for Alexander-Arnold.
Of course, Liverpool's first-choice right-back is also well-known for his attacking contributions, having assisted 73 goals for the club, so it could be very useful for Klopp to have a rotation option who has similar traits.
AZ Alkmaar's YukinariSugawarain action with West Ham United's Aaron Cresswell
The Reds have implemented a policy of signing younger players and developing them under the ownership of FSG, and at 23-years-old, the AZ Alkmaar star is at the right age to be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.
It is currently unclear what sort of fee Alkmaar would demand, but Liverpool should continue to monitor Sugawara's development, before making an approach in the January transfer window.
Wolverhampton Wanderers may be in trouble regarding one of their star players due to their Financial Fair Play Status.
What's the latest news involving Wolverhampton Wanderers?
The Old Gold kicked their campaign into life last weekend by defeating Premier League champions Manchester City 2-1 at Molineux, courtesy of an own goal from Ruben Dias and a late strike from Hwang Hee-chan.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has urged his side to kick on and move up the league table, stating via The Express & Star: "We need to improve lots of little bits and there has been improvement. There’s areas that still need improvement, which will always be the case, and we’ll get it there. The lads are fully committed to absolutely everything we ask. We’re going to keep going and keep improving them, I have no doubts in the group whatsoever. I can maximise what we have here."
Club captain Max Kilman was also in buoyant spirits after the Manchester City victory, adding: "It’s massive. We needed the confidence and we needed a result like that. I think it will really help us push on now. We’ll play with more confidence. You always need those first couple wins and to beat City at home is a real positive. Hopefully it drives us on."
BBC pundit Garth Crooks named Wolves central defender Craig Dawson in his team of the week and complemented his admirable performance against Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, saying: "Wolves defended brilliantly on the day and Dawson in particular. They reduced arguably the best striker in the world to one genuine strike on goal."
Next up for Wolves is a renewal of their rivalry with Aston Villa at Molineux this Sunday as they aim to move further away from the relegation zone and toward mid-table security.
What's the latest Wolves transfer news?
According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, he's heard Wolves are "not totally out of the woods yet" regarding their Financial Fair Play situation, which could lead to Pedro Neto being sold next summer amid interest from Premier League high-flyers Arsenal.
Neto is believed to be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium; however, any deal occurring in January would be a hard one to complete, though more sides are expected to join the Gunners in pursuit of the 23-year-old if his outstanding early season form is to continue.
In his opening seven appearances this term across all competitions for the Old Gold, Neto has registered one goal and four assists and become a major attacking outlet for Wolves, as per Transfermarkt.
WhoScored show that the former Braga winger has averaged around 1.6 shots, 2.6 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per match in the Premier League this campaign, explaining why Wolves boss O'Neil labelled Neto as "absolutely incredible" back in September, as per BBC Sport.
Looking ahead, it seems inconceivable that Wolves could lose such an important part of their side; however, their Financial Fair Play problems may dictate Neto's situation.
An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their chances of landing one of their targets to replace Michael Beale in the dugout at Ibrox…
What's the latest Rangers manager news?
According to the Daily Record, Yokohama F Marinos head coach Kevin Muscat is keen on taking the job with the Scottish giants and is now stalling on a new contract with his current club.
The report claims that his deal with the Japanese side is due to expire within the next two months and the Gers would, therefore, not have to shell out millions in compensation to secure his services.
It states that the former Light Blues defender is 'ready' to accept the role if it is offered to him and that his name has already made it onto the club's shortlist of potential candidates, with chief executive James Bisgrove leading the charge to find the next permanent manager.
How many trophies has Muscat won?
The 50-year-old tactician has won three trophies in his managerial career to date and has proven himself to be capable of coaching a title-winning side in two different countries.
Yokohama F. Marinos manager Kevin Muscat.
Muscat, who starred for Millwall during his playing days, won the Japanese top flight with Yokohama in 2022 with a record of 20 wins, eight draws, and six defeats in 34 matches.
His side are currently four points off the top of the table in 2023 with five matches left to play, which means that he still has a chance to secure back-to-back titles unless his move to Rangers denies him the opportunity to see out the rest of the season.
The 4-3-3 boss has also won the Super Cup with Yokohama and his success in Japan followed a strong spell in Australia with Melbourne Victory.
Muscat won the top flight in his home country with a record of 17 wins, eight draws, and four defeats in 29 matches during the 2014/15 campaign.
Former Rangers boss Michael Beale.
Along with his proven track record as a winning coach, analyst Petar Petrov once claimed that he would be "perfect" for Rangers due to his attacking style of football and his ability to get the most out of 'talented' squads.
Bisgrove could, therefore, secure a masterclass by pushing for Muscat to replace Beale as he is a trophy-winning boss who seemingly deploys an attractive brand of football
In comparison, the former Gers head coach is yet to win a single trophy in his managerial career, with QPR or Rangers, and has left the club in third place with three defeats in seven Scottish Premiership matches this season.
The 43-year-old tactician failed to secure any pieces of silverware during his debut campaign with the Light Blues and endured a difficult start to the current one before his dismissal on Sunday.
Beale's side did not qualify for the group stages of the Champions League as they lost to PSV in their play-off match and that came after former boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst qualified for Europe's premier cup competition the previous season.
This suggests that Muscat could come in as an upgrade on the English manager due to his proven ability to organise a team that is capable of competing for silverware, along with his eagerness for the job suggesting that he is up for the challenge and ready to work hard in the role.
Tottenham Hotspur are a club famed for its recent failures, with Daniel Levy's relentless pursuit of silverware culminating in a sharp shift in the club's mindset.
The chairman was sick of the ridicule, and their lack of trophies was highest on the agenda for things that needed solving. Therefore, the appointments of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte made sense for that venture, but not for an outfit that had been making steady progress under Mauricio Pochettino, surely closing in on the elite honours.
Levy would admit his mistakes whilst speaking at a recent fan forum "I had gone through a period where we'd almost won. With Mauricio we went through some very good times. We didn't quite get there but we came very close and we had a change in strategy. The strategy was 'let's bring in a trophy manager'.
"We did it twice and look you have to learn from your mistakes. They're great managers but maybe not for this club. For what we want, we want to play in a certain way and if that means it has to take a little bit longer to win maybe it's the right thing for us. That's why bringing Ange in was from my point of view the right decision."
However, it was not just managerial mistakes that were made, with their ventures into the transfer market hardly proving more fruitful.
Whilst the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele mark two of their more lucrative failures, it could be argued that stars such as Clinton N'Jie marked the larger disappointment, given the excitement his arrival brought.
How good was Clinton N'Jie?
Having emerged as a clinical youngster setting French football alight, it seemed like a major coup when Spurs were the side who managed to snag his services.
After all, the £12m expended seemed like a drop in the ocean to secure ample backup for Harry Kane, as a 22-year-old seemingly set to grow into true competition for their in-form front man.
Especially after he triumphantly declared his loyalty to the Lilywhites, revealing the club that he had snubbed to join the Argentine's revolution: "I was never scared that my transfer to Tottenham would not be confirmed. I never spoke to Arsenal representatives on the phone, they simply contacted my agent. My choice was made, I was determined to join Tottenham."
A fine return of seven goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 during the 2014/15 season drew excitement, but it would be a tally he did not even come close to matching during the following two years in north London.
Football – Tottenham Hotspur Training – Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground – 16/9/15 Tottenham’s Clinton Njie, Joshua Onomah and Kyle Walker during training Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
In fact, the Cameroonian forward was only afforded a miserable 14 matches to showcase his worth, to which he unsurprisingly failed. As such, he would fail to score a single goal, assisting only once before moving on. To see such a promising career stagnate under a coach famed for his youth cultivation was desperately disappointing, especially given how the likes of Kane and Dele Alli had flourished under his leadership.
N'Jie was vocal in what he expected upon joining, and ultimately, what he failed to receive: "Here, I will be working under Mauricio Pochettino, a manager who plays youngsters and allows them to progress."
What was said about Clinton N'Jie when he signed for Spurs?
Given his nationality and the positions he took up, it took little time for the media to latch onto the blistering marksman and begin comparing him to his countrymen. Unsurprisingly, Samuel Eto'o was the first port of call.
The Cameroon legend had starred across a glittering career, enjoying spells with Inter Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea among numerous other huge clubs. Calling time on his period playing, the 42-year-old finished having scored 364 goals and won all manner of trophies, including a truly impressive four Champions Leagues, league titles in Italy and Spain, as well as a host of domestic honours too.
Former teammate Xavi would rush to praise the lethal striker, noting: "Today I do not have doubts. For me Samuel Eto'o is the best striker in the world,".
FC Barcelona
199
130
40
RCD Mallorca
160
70
9
Inter Milan
102
53
25
Antalyaspor
77
44
14
Anzhi Makhachkala
73
36
16
Then, even Pep Guardiola would laud his contribution, despite the pair not exactly seeing eye-to-eye during their tenure together: "Incredible player, outstanding striker, one of the best I met and have seen, personality, character, top scorer, more pressure, better performance. I had him for one season."
So, to see just how outstanding Eto'o became, it marks a laughable notion that sections of the media sought to force the comparisons between him and N'Jie, with The Mirror just one of many outlets suggesting he was the 'successor to Samuel Eto'o'.
Given the respective careers the two have enjoyed, it is fair to say that the media got this one horribly wrong, with the only real similarity being their shared nationality.
What is Clinton N'Jie doing now?
Seeking to shrug off his Tottenham nightmare, the 30-year-old made a desperate return to French football with Marseille, enjoying limited success – bagging 16 goals in 83 games.
It always felt like that spell in England completely ravaged what was set to be a promising lifespan in the sport, and yet he seemingly holds no grudges: "I do not regret. It’s a choice I had to make. Everyone thought it was a good solution. I gained a lot of experience during this adventure in Tottenham. It has served me a lot for the future and it still serves me. So I have no regrets."
Even if he now spends his days featuring in Turkey, and struggling at that.
The 43-cap flop has just a sole goal in the Super Lig this campaign, having only scored twice and assisted another two across an entire campaign in the Turkish top flight last term. It outlines a remarkable fall from grace for the forward, who was once regarded among some of the most talented young stars in Europe.
His career has now boasted a pitiful 34 goals across spells in England, France, Russia and Turkey, with the latter two marking a searing indication of the unfulfilled potential.
For comparison, Eto'o would match that tally across all competitions in the 2005/06 season alone, lighting up Spanish football for the Catalan giants, and proving that N'Jie was never likely to emulate the levels he posted.