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According to The Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose could stay at the club until the January transfer window or even next summer.

What’s the word?

It’s claimed by Charlie Eccleshare in the transfer deadline day tracker that the 30-year-old is said to be “relaxed” about his future at the club.

Spurs are desperate to offload the veteran left-back but due to a lack of firm interest, he’s set to stay in north London, even despite not being offered a shirt number by his manager, Jose Mourinho.

He could yet leave before the domestic deadline on October 16th if an EFL club comes in for him but that remains unlikely.

Nightmare

This is quickly becoming a nightmare for Daniel Levy as it’s so clear that no one is willing to take onboard the former England international – just like in January when Rose was pushing for a move to AC Milan, one that never came, before settling for Newcastle United.

It’s awfully damning that Mourinho is willing to put him with the youth squad despite him raking in around £60k-per-week, per Spotrac.

The north London outfit are practically burning another player’s wages or even a potential target in allowing this to happen – might have they afforded Milan Skriniar with Rose departing the club?

That very much remains to be seen.

However, Rose is soon going to be the forgotten man at Spurs even despite his 13-year stint and being a much-maligned favourite of Mauricio Pochettino’s.

The 30-year-old has made a total of 214 appearances but hasn’t been seen since the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool back in January, though the writing was on the wall as it was his first start in 12 matches.

Rose is simply wasting away at Spurs and is starting to become the ultimate financial disaster that Levy just cannot shake off.

AND in other news, Spurs heading for unforgivable transfer blunder with Poch favourite…

With promotion to the Premier League secured, Leeds can look forward to an exciting post-season of being linked to players across Europe.

And one man who they will surely be excited at being touted with, is Brentford winger Said Benrahma.

The Algerian of course will be familiar to Marcelo Bielsa’s side having scored against them in a Championship fixture this season, and according to the latest reports, is now being eyed up by the Whites this summer.

The report claims that Bielsa wants the 24-year-old at Elland Road at all costs, and has made him his priority in terms of summer transfer targets. It’s further added that the Whites are readying an offer in the region of €26m (£23.6m) to lure him away from London.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…

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And when you look at the kind of season he had, it’s easy to see why Benrahma is a man in demand. With 17 goals and nine assists, the attacker has been one of the main reasons behind Brentford’s charge for an automatic promotion place – they narrowly missed out on the final day.

As per Whoscored, he has averaged a very impressive 3.9 shots, 2.1 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per game in the Championship, and that level of creativity and goal threat is something that could really elevate Leeds’ attack.

His ability to take players on is second-to-none, and it’s no surprise that several people who have worked closely with him have raved about his technique and skills – including Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

He said: “For me he’s a quality player with top skills but also finishing skills. We actually worked very hard with him to arrive in the box at the right situations. In there when he’s turning and running at people – oof, I don’t want to defend against him!”.

His teammate Henrik Dalsgaard further underlined just how much of a difficult customer he can be for the opposition, saying: “He’s such a tricky player, you think you’ve got him locked in the corner and then, all of a sudden, he’s out”.

And if you needed to sum it all up, then look no further than Sam Saunders, Brentford B’s assistant coach, who claimed Benrahma “could nutmeg a mermaid”.

Benrahma may be plying his trade in the Championship, but all signs point to him being a Premier League quality player in the future. Victor Orta and co would be foolish not to snap him up ahead of the competition.

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has one enormous job on his hands this summer as he looks to rebuild the Toffees into a side that can challenge for a place in Europe.

There were signs of promise early in the Italian’s spell but after lockdown struck, the Merseyside outfit sunk to 12th place, some ten points adrift of the top seven.

The 61-year-old pretty much needs additions across the board, so if Farhad Moshiri backs him, there could be plenty of new faces lining up at Goodison Park next season.

Here’s how the side could look after the window slams shut…

England number one Jordan Pickford is very safe between the sticks, but with Maarten Stekelenburg departing Merseyside, there’s room for a back-up.

There could be one alteration to the backline in front of him as Ancelotti gets his man, thought to be one of their top targets this summer as he swoops in for Lille colossus Gabriel. Him and Mason Holgate could become a duo for years to come in the heart of the defence. Perhaps this will become a bargain at a reported £30m.

Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne continue to operate on either side.

Ancelotti also lands another one of his key targets in his former powerhouse Allan from Napoli, meaning that Idrissa Gueye void is finally filled at long last – the Brazillian defensive midfielder could cost €38m (£34m) after Marcel Brands’ reported bid.

Whilst ahead of him Andre Gomes may remain, but with a new partner.

We predict that Tom Davies will be given a loan spell, so a new central midfielder is needed and Schalke 04’s Weston McKennie could fill that spot as a result. Lots of Premier League teams are keen on him and believe they could clinch him for as little as €20m (£18m).

On the wings, there’s another addition with the Italian raiding the Serie A once again, this time for former Chelsea starlet Jeremie Boga, who has impressed at Sassuolo. The 23-year-old is currently valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt.

Richarlison takes his place on the other side whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin is restricted to a back-up role.

That’s because the Toffees clinch Lazio talisman Ciro Immobile, thought to be one player that Ancelotti has personally requested, per 90min. He’ll cost a whopping £60m.

AND in other news, Everton must swoop for “underrated” Pogba-like enforcer

According to a Foot Mercato journalist, Tottenham are working on the signing of Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, with discussions between the club and the midfielder’s representatives having already started.

What’s the word?

The Denmark international has been the subject of intense speculation over these past few weeks, with reports that he had made it clear to the Saints that he has no interest in signing a new deal with them.

Can you name every one of Spurs’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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That prompted Ralph Hasenhuttl to strip the 24-year-old of the captaincy at St Mary’s, and as per Foot Mercato’s Santi’ FM on Twitter, talks between Hojbjerg and Spurs are well under way ahead of a potential move come the end of the season.

Upgrade on Ndombele

Whilst Hojbjerg is having his issues with Southampton, Tanguy Ndombele has been going through some difficult at Tottenham too.

The Frenchman has had a nightmare debut season in north London, with form and fitness seeing him make just 27 appearances across all competitions. His most high-profile moment in a Spurs shirt was no doubt when Jose Mourinho delivered a stinging criticism of his performance after the clash against Burnley earlier this year.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher questioned his desire and work ethic, even going so as far to say “his performance was nothing short of a disgrace”. But whilst the former Lyon man isn’t one to get stuck in, Hojbjerg absolutely is, and just the kind of player Mourinho can rely upon.

As per Sofascore, he wins 6.8 total duels per game, and makes 2.6 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match in the Premier League this season. And speaking earlier this month, former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown insisted that Hojbjerg is a “top-class player”, and judging by his defensive stats, is the kind of powerhouse that would provide everything that Ndombele has failed to bring.

It’s exactly why Daniel Levy shouldn’t hesitate to bring him in this summer.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is keen to reunite with Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma in the summer. 

According to The Mirror, Spurs will need to spend £25m on Zouma if they want to bring him to north London.

Last week The Daily Star claimed Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for the centre-back, which could pave the way for the Lilywhites to make a move.

Mourinho is adamant he wants to add to his defensive options before the start of next season, as Jan Vertonghen could leave the club in a matter of weeks, and Zouma may be the ideal solution to his problems.

The Portuguese signed the Frenchman from St Etienne for £12m back in 2014. He has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Blues, winning the Premier League twice, the League Cup and French League Cup, amid loans to St Etienne, Stoke City and Everton.

Zouma has played 22 games in the Premier League for Frank Lampard’s side this season, making 1 tackle per game, averaging 1.9 interceptions, and completing 4 clearances on average (WhoScored).

Last year he received plenty of high praise from the former Chelsea boss, who previously described him as a “champion of England.”

Meanwhile, Vertonghen has struggled for consistency so far. He was notably substituted after a disastrous display against Southampton in the FA Cup earlier this year.

The 33-year-old has made 19 appearances in the English top flight at the time of writing, registering 2.1 tackles on average, attempting 1.6 interceptions, and completing 2.9 clearances per game (WhoScored).

Mourinho is now interested in a reunion with his former player as the Belgian has fallen out of favour with the head coach.

As it stands, Zouma could be the perfect replacement for Vertonghen next season. Indeed, he is clearly an upgrade on the wantaway veteran, as he has earned a higher WhoScored rating of 6.9 for his performances this season.

Given his young age, the 25-year-old may turn out to be a shrewd investment, as he surely still has a long career ahead of him. Moreover, his experience at the top levels of the game could prove vital as Spurs resume their hunt for silverware in the future.

Furthermore, he has worked with Mourinho before, so he will already have an understanding of the coach’s methodology and tactics.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Kurt Zouma in the summer? Let us know down below!

Plenty of Newcastle United fans have discussed takeover advice given to the prospective new owners by Sir John Hall, who owned the Tyneside club before selling it to Mike Ashley.

Hall has called on PCP Capital Partners, run by Amanda Staveley, to rebuild the Magpies properly and hopes that the takeover will be the start of better times at the Toon, he told Sky Sports News.

The 87-year old sold NUFC to Ashley for £135 million back in 2007 and any deal to sell the club this time around will be closer to £300 million, as per the report.

The former Newcastle owner warned the potential new owners to take in the city and the community, and referenced Liverpool as an example. He added that he would not like the money to be spent irresponsibly, but would like to see a team built with some superstars as well as local lads to challenge the top five over the next few years.

Hall also claims that his relationship with Ashley was not an issue and that the CEO of Sports Direct was fine to deal with.

These supporters discussed the advice from their ex-owner on Twitter:

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Manuel Pellegrini is a man under pressure, especially after the poor performance his West Ham United side put in for the majority of their 3-2 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.

This has begun leading to conversations around who would replace the Chilean if he was to be sacked, with The Athletic hinting that it could be Chris Hughton.

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ExWHUEmployee has also offered an update that indicates Sean Dyche could also be in the hat:

While there are some West Ham fans who don’t want him due to the perceived style of football his side plays, many are thrilled by the thought of having him in the dugout at London Stadium.

He has already beaten the Hammers this season, his Burnley side currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and he has taken them to the Europa League in the past.

A selection of Twitter reaction to the update, including posts from thrilled West Ham fans, can be seen below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Virgil van Dijk has cemented himself as one of, if not the best defender in the world in the past year or so.

The Netherlands international had a fantastic term last time out, helping Liverpool win the Champions League whilst also contributing to their second-place Premier League finish as the Reds pushed eventual champions Manchester City all the way. The Anfield outfit conceded just 22 goals in 38 games, the lowest in the division, and the 28-year-old was paramount to that success. As such, he as been recognised by Goal, who have awarded him top spot in their Goal 50 ranking.

However, he wasn’t the only player to impress for the European champions last season. Sadio Mane, along with Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, topped the Premier League’s goalscoring charts with 22 strikes. Not only that, but he bagged four goals in that European run, whilst also providing three assists.

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He also helped Senegal to the final of the African Cup of Nations, scoring three times before they eventually lost to Algeria. Van Dijk, too, helped his side to a showpiece, but the Netherlands were beaten 1-0 by Portugal in the final of the UEFA Nations League.

Had the award been given out just for last term, then van Dijk would have rightly pipped the former Southampton man to the top prize, albeit only just. However, it has been given for the entirety of the 2019 calendar year, and this term Mane has stolen a march on the 28-year-old.

Liverpool may be top of the Premier League, but they have not not always performed fantastically as the previous term, especially defensively. In the 17 games van Dijk has started, Jurgen Klopp’s side have failed to keep a clean sheet in 14 of them. He has had nowhere near the same influence on the side, and it has often been the attack that has won Liverpool matches rather than their sturdy backline.

£108m-rated Mane – as per Transfermarkt – though, has arguably hit new heights this campaign. In his first 16 matches of the season, he has 11 goals and has also contributed four assists. Such has been his form, Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player in the game’s history, voted for him for FIFA’s The Best award recently.

No-one is suggesting that van Dijk is not a star player, but Mane can be a little underwhelmed by the fact he has not been ranked higher than not only him, but also Salah, who finished third.

Hopefully, he will soon receive the recognition he deserves.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Alex Iwobi and Bernard have been pushing for regular starts for Everton all season, and now is the time for Marco Silva to start both players together against West Ham United.

On the chalkboard

Currently, the Toffees sit in the relegation zone on just seven points from eight games which has, therefore, put heavy pressure on Silva’s shoulders.

Despite such dreadful results, the former Watford boss has been reluctant to change his team at times, keeping the same central defenders Michael Keane and Yerry Mina for each Premier League game, and starting forwards such as Moise Kean and Theo Walcott just twice and once respectively.

Two other players who have not seen much game time are Iwobi and Bernard. Iwobi has started just three Premier League games since leaving for Arsenal and has had three substitute appearances also. A similar situation has occurred for Bernard, with the Brazilian starting only four league games and coming off the bench for two.

Silva has got to change something

At the very least, Silva must change something, because whatever he is doing right now is not working.

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The club have scored just six goals so far this Premier League season, and whilst the likes of Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson each scored 13 goals last season, the Icelandic hasn’t netted this season, whilst the Brazilian has only two.

On the other hand, Iwobi has scored one goal in two fewer appearances than Sigurdsson, whilst winger Bernard has also bagged one in two games fewer than Richarlison.

It has come to a time now with Everton where it does not make sense to stay with the same team. Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin have only two league goals to their name, so perhaps it’s time to start Kean or promote Anthony Gordon, who has six goals in six games for the U23’s.

The same applies to Iwobi and Bernard. Their competition in that position is simply not doing the job, so now it’s time for a change. Silva should do himself a favour and give both of them a start at West Ham because things are not working as they are.

It will be just the second time that the two have started together for Everton – and the first time in the Premier League – following their outing in the 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the cup. Should this be the case, Sigurdsson would need to be dropped so Iwobi can play just behind the striker.

The rising cost of supporting a Premier League club has been documented through studies such as the BBC’s ‘Price of Football’ investigation, yet some Crystal Palace fans have been venting their frustration at the price of tickets for the upcoming derby clash against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Palace have started the current campaign in strong form to rise to sixth in the table, but even that isn’t enough for some Palace fans to support their club’s stance on ticket prices, with Category 1 seats for the upcoming M23 derby clash against the Seagulls priced as high as £58 because the club have rated it as a Category A game.

Some Eagles fans took to Twitter to express their frustrations that the club are seemingly out-pricing fans from supporting them, particularly those without season tickets at Selhurst Park.

Here are some of the best reactions to the latest observations regarding Palace’s pricing of tickets for the upcoming December derby in the Premier League.