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Celtic will look to “put a deal in place to try and sign” a £60,000-per-week player on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window, according to pundit Michael Stewart.

Worrying Celtic exit news emerges

While the Hoops will no doubt be eyeing up new signings once this season reaches its conclusion, they could also face a battle on their hands when it comes to keeping hold of some of their most influential players.

One individual who fits into that bracket is Nicolas Kuhn, who has been such an impressive performer for Celtic this season, providing so much quality from out wide. Leeds United are thought to be pushing to sign the German, even being hopeful of snapping him up on the cheap in the summer.

Meanwhile, Hoops right-back Alistair Johnston has emerged as a “surprise” transfer target for reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan, as they look for additions in that area of the pitch.

The 26-year-old is a hugely consistent player for Celtic, so they will not like the idea of losing him, following a season that has seen the Canadian notch four goals and seven assists in the Scottish Premiership, playing his part in Brendan Rodgers’ side building a 16-point lead at the top of the table.

Celtic will try to seal permanent summer signing

Speaking to Premier Sports [via 67 Hail Hail], Stewart claimed that Celtic will look to make Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan move permanent at the end of the season:

“From Jeffrey Schlupp’s perspective, oh my word. You are sitting on your backside doing nothing at Crystal Palace. Or, you are up at Celtic playing in games like against Bayern Munich and potentially winning things. Enjoying your football. Come the summer, I would imagine that Celtic will put a deal in place to try and sign him. His decision is ‘what better option are you going to get?’.

“You might not be playing every week, but as you see with Celtic, there are so many games. He will play a good chunk of games if he were to sign on.”

The £60,000-a-week Schlupp only joined Celtic on loan last month, but the fact that the Hoops are being linked with a permanent move already by Stewart suggests the club may like what they see.

The 32-year-old has one goal and assist apiece in the league already, also averaging 2.8 clearances and 2.4 aerial duel wins per game in the process, showing that he has been effective in and out of possession. Rodgers has also praised his early impact, saying: “You see his physique, you see his quality, and once he feels the rhythm of the team even more, you will get more out of him.”

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As Stewart alludes to, Schlupp is likely to just warm the substitutes’ bench if he remains at Crystal Palace this summer, whereas Celtic can offer him regular football and a chance to be a league champion. A permanent switch makes sense for all parties, allowing the Eagles to get him off their wage bill, so it could be one to watch this summer.

Sir Alex Ferguson was spotted FUMING in the stands during Manchester United's horrendous Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

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• Man Utd lost the Europa League final
• SAF seethes at watching the horror show
• Man Utd set to back Amorim this summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United's horror season had the chance of being somewhat redeemed if they had managed to win the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, as they would have secured Champions League football for next season. However, it wasn't to be as Ruben Amorim's side fell to the Lilywhites after a horrendous showing at San Mames. Manchester United legend Fergie was present at the stadium and was spotted seething at what he was seeing happen on the field as Spurs won 1-0 via a goal from Brennan Johnson.

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  Ferguson created a dynasty at United, having taken over at Old Trafford while the Red Devils faced a similar sort of travesty following Ron Atkinson's sacking. With the slow and steady development of the squad, the Glasgow-born manager led United to 38 trophies in a glittering 27 years that saw the club become the most successful club in England. However, the 83-year-old is now seeing his dear club fall back into the same pit that he worked to get them out of.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  The Red Devils are not planning to act instinctively after their horror season and are planning to back Amorim to stay at Old Trafford past this summer as they look to pull the club out of the downward spiral they currently find themself in. The Portuguese coach will reportedly have a transfer budget of £100 million before sales, and the ownership has now decided that they may put every single player up for sale as they are desperate to improve the squad heading into next season.

Marnus Labuschagne’s aggregate of 308 runs in the first Test against West Indies has lifted him past Joe Root to the top of Test batting rankings.

Full rankings tables

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Labuschagne scored 204 and 104* in Perth, becoming just the eighth player to record a century and a double-ton in the same Test. The knocks gave him 50 rating points, helping him regain his position at the top of the rankings table for the first time since June this year. He rises to 935 rating points, just one behind his previous best of 936. Another solid showing in the second Test, starting tomorrow, can well take him past the likes of Virat Kohli and Viv Richards, who have all-time highs of 937 and 938 respectively.Root, with scores of 23 and 73 in the run-fest in Rawalpindi, did not just lose his place at the top – he dropped three places to fourth position, with Steven Smith and Babar Azam in second and third respectively. Smith hit an unbeaten 200 and 20 against West Indies, while Babar got 136 and 4 in Rawalpindi.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

On the bowling front, James Anderson zoomed into the top three after snaring five wickets on a tough bowling track in Rawalpindi. His bowling partner, Ollie Robinson, the Player of the Match for his own match haul of five, jumped seven spots to enter the top ten in eighth position.Pat Cummins continues to lead the charts, but that could change with the Australia captain set to miss the second Test against West Indies due to a quad strain.West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is back in the top 20 among batters after scores of 64 and 110 against Australia, while Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique moved up five places to 15th with 114 and 6 against England.

Mason Greenwood has seen his latest strike for Marseille now given as an own goal, meaning he still trails Didier Drogba in the record books.

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Greenwood on target against BrestGoal now chalked off by LFPLeaves forward still one behind Drogba's recordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The former Manchester United forward thought he had struck his 19th Ligue 1 goal of the season on Sunday against Brest, matching Didier Drogba's record for a debut campaign with Marseille. However, the LFP has now awarded the goal to Brest defender Brendan Chardonnet as he deflected the shot before it hit the back of the net, leaving Greenwood back on 18 for the season so far, as Foot Mercato reports.

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Despite the setback, Greenwood still boasts a prolific record in the French top flight. He has 18 goals from 31 games and sits in second place in the Ligue 1 scoring charts, behind only PSG star Ousmane Dembele. Greenwood was praised by manager Roberto De Zerbi after the win, with the boss having previously questioned his commitment, and the Italian will be hoping his forward can add more goals in the team's final games of the campaign.

DID YOU KNOW?

Marseille have now scored at least three goals in each of their last three home matches in Ligue 1, having also beaten Toulouse and Montpellier at Stade Velodrome.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR GREENWOOD

Marseille face a crunch game next time out in Ligue 1 as they travel to fellow top-four chasers Lille. De Zerbi's side currently sit in second spot in the table, just two points ahead of third-placed Lille.

Anthony Elanga is a player who has silenced the doubters in recent weeks, starring at Nottingham Forest after his recall to the side under Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Sweden international moved to the City Ground in a £15m deal from Manchester United back in the summer of 2023, a deal that now looks to be a bargain given his recent form in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old has registered six assists and three goals in his last ten games across all competitions, now setting up the most goals of any player within the current first-team setup.

Elanga now has the second-most combined goal contributions behind only Chris Wood, highlighting the huge impact he’s made to the side in their unthinkable run of form in recent months, which sees them still sit in the top four.

However, he could’ve been aided in his attempts within the final third had the Reds agreed a deal for one of their winter targets, but a deal now looks off the cards until the summer at the earliest.

Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Matheus Cunha

A couple of weeks ago, Wolverhampton Wanderers star man Matheus Cunha was linked with a huge move to join Forest, but the Reds were in the race with some of the biggest clubs in the division for his signature.

Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester United have all also been touted with a move for the Brazilian international over the course of the winter window, but no club has been able to secure a move for the 25-year-old.

At one stage, Nuno’s side were reportedly willing to make a club-record £60m to secure his services to help aid the unexpected push for a Champions League finish come the end of the season.

However, it was confirmed on Saturday that Cunha had agreed a new deal at Molineux until the summer of 2029, but that it does include a release clause that will be active from the summer – but it’s unclear how much the fee would be.

Such a decision has undoubtedly ended the Reds’ ongoing interest in the attacking star who’s scored 11 times in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, but could see Nuno target another English top-flight talent as a result.

Nottingham Forest's perfect Cunha alternative

Previously in the current window, Forest reportedly submitted a £22m bid for Brentford ace Yoane Wissa, but the Bees immediately rejected the offer claiming he wasn’t for sale.

The 28-year-old, who only has 18 months left on his contract at the Gtech, has also been of interest to Arsenal, unsurprisingly, given his record which has seen him net 11 times – potentially offering another option to talisman Wood.

It would be a potential club-record deal for the Reds should they return to the table with another bid, with Thomas Frank’s side demanding around £40m to part ways with their record Premier League goal scorer.

However, should he move to the East Midlands between now and the end of the window, it could allow the Congolese international to form a partnership with Elanga – handing Nuno an added goalscoring threat, something which they’ve been hunting for as of late.

Wissa, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, has won 45% of his aerial duels, scoring three of his goals with his head, making the most of the Swede’s burst of pace and wicked delivery.

Elanga’s eight assists could be improved further with the arrival of the Brentford star, especially considering his average of 1.5 shots on target per 90, highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.

Games played

21

Goals scored

11

Pass accuracy

81%

Shots on target

1.5

Aerials won

45%

Touches in opposition box

4.9

Dribble success

41%

He’s also completed 81% of his passes under Frank in 2024/25, having the skill set to fit seamlessly into the Reds’ current counter-attacking philosophy, aiding the hunt for Champions League football.

It would be a huge investment from owner Evangelos Marinakis, but he’s done it before and would undoubtedly do it again to give Nuno all of the ammunition to complete the job come the end of the season.

He would likely play second fiddle to Wood in the East Midlands, but he would provide the strength in depth needed for the club to achieve their dream of bringing European nights back to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest must axe their flop who earns more than Cunha & Wissa

Nottingham Forest may need to shift the deadwood in the near future…

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 29, 2025

The race is on for Wolverhampton Wanderers to avoid relegation. The Premier League season is now over halfway complete, and the Old Gold are still languishing in the drop zone, despite new manager Vitor Pereira picking up some crucial points.

With just 16 points to their name, Wolves are slightly in danger of being cut adrift. They sit one point behind Leicester City, who are in 17th place, and level on points with Ipswich Town below them. Everton, in 16th in the table, have 23 points and seem in a comfortable position.

There is no doubt that the Old Gold have an uphill battle to stay in the top flight, but some transfers would certainly go a long way to helping their fight for survival. They have recently been linked with one defender.

Wolves target new defender

The player in question here is Austria and RC Lens centre-back Kevin Danso. The 26-year-old has impressed during his time with the French outfit, and could now depart the club before the end of the January transfer window.

Transfer Focus

According to a report from The Telegraph, Wolves are believed to be the main side leading the race to sign Danso. It is believed that he has been a transfer target for the club ‘for more than 12 months’, and they could finally get their man.

They have already placed a bid, worth £16m, and are thought to be confident that a deal will be completed in the coming days. That said, the Express and Star revealed that the offer has been rejected, while a second offer of around £18.5m has also reportedly been rebuffed.

That report suggested that Wolves remain in talks with Lens over the deal regardless, and are likely to return with an improved bid. He would be their second signing at centre-back this month, with the first being Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims, who cost £16m.

Why Danso would be a good signing

Danso has been a key player for Lens across all competitions so far in the 2024/25 campaign. He has played 14 times, including 12 appearances in Ligue 1, playing 90 minutes in each of the games he has featured in.

The Austria international has already had a taste of Premier League football, after his loan spell with relegation-bound Southampton back in the 2019/20 season. He played just ten games for the club, including 45 minutes in the 9-0 thumping by Leicester City.

However, being involved in a game like that does not sum up Danso as a player. He is actually a “colossal” defender, as Tottenham Hotspur winger Timo Werner once described him, back when the pair played against each other in the Bundesliga.

In fact, Danso’s impressive defensive ability is showcased in his stats on FBref. The Austrian is fantastic in the air, winning 3.42 aerial duels on average this term, which ranks him in the top 5% of defenders in Ligue 1. He also averages 1.67 interceptions each game, placing him in the 84th percentile.

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

% of dribbles tackled

75%

80th

Aerial duels won

3.42

95th

Interceptions

1.67

84th

Blocks

2.08

96th

Ball recoveries

4.92

75th

Should the Old Gold sign Danso, who earns £23k-per-week, as per Caplogy, he could be a perfect foil for left wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. The Algerian seems set to stay at Molineux this season despite links away, with Manchester United showing interest in the Algerian defender.

The 23-year-old has been crucial for Wolves this season and has three goals and five assists in 22 games in the top flight. That includes two assists in a 2-2 draw away from home against Tottenham.

Even though he is right-footed, the Austrian could still line up on the left side of Wolves’ back three, which might free up the Wolves number three even more.

With Danso’s impressive defensive awareness and speed, which can reach as high as 33.3km/h, it means he can cover the spaces Ait-Norui might vacate if he is essentially playing as a winger, perhaps meaning Wolves can create more goalscoring opportunities.

While more than £18.5m will seemingly be required, this seems like a brilliant deal for Wolves. Not only would they be bringing in a high-quality defender, but he is someone who could also get the best out of Ait-Nouri, one of the most dangerous players at the club.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has been handed a chance to sign one of Barcelona’s players before deadline day on February 3rd, as the search continues for Spurs’ first outfield signing of the window.

Spurs tipped to make two outfield signings before February 3rd

So far, the Lilywhites have backed their under-fire manager with the signing of new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in a £12.5 million deal from Slavia Prague, which came at the very start of the window.

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The previously unknown Kinsky has performed impressively overall, highlighting the success technical director Johan Lange can have with his data-driven recruitment model, but Postecoglou won’t be satisfied with zero outfield signings at this late stage of January.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Leicester City (home)

January 26

Brentford (away)

February 2

Man United (home)

February 16

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22

Man City (home)

February 26

Lange works silently on Tottenham’s transfer plans, with their summer deal for winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley coming very out of the blue, so Postecoglou’s lack of fresh incomings could change any moment.

However, ahead of their Europa League win over Hoffenheim on Thursday evening, the boss himself stated that nothing is particularly imminent right now.

“The club is working hard to try to get some help for the players,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s transfer window. “But as far as I know, there’s nothing imminent. But things happen quickly in the last week of the window so still hopeful.”

Tottenham are in dire need of a new forward, with Dominic Solanke expected to be out for six weeks. One of their key aims before deadline day is to bring in a fresh attacking option for Postecoglou, and Spurs did attempt to sign Randal Kolo Muani before his switch to Juventus.

Injuries to Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies over the last two months seriously exposed Postecoglou’s lack of depth at centre-half as well, forcing Archie Gray to play an unfamiliar centre-back role alongside Radu Dragusin for a period.

Davies has now returned, with van de Ven and Romero also expected back soon. Postecoglou won’t want to face a similar situation again, though, with Tottenham reportedly in the market for another defender as well.

Tottenham offered Barcelona defender Eric Garcia

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Barcelona and former Man City centre-back Eric Garcia could now be an option for them.

The £97,000-per-week Spaniard, who can also play in defensive midfield and at right-back, is a capable of plugging more than one gap for Spurs, and he’s been linked with a £21 million move away from the Camp Nou this month.

Bailey writes that Tottenham have been contacted and offered Garcia, as have a few other Premier League sides, and the ball-playing defender could be a solid solution to their backline shortage.

“Eric is a very intelligent boy – more than a boy,” said City sporting director Txiki Begiristain in 2020. “He is a good character, a solid leader. He has been great and playing on the left side against a striker with so much pace like Mane, he has done very well.”

Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Vangelis Marinakis is reportedly set to face trial in Greece for his alleged ties with criminal organisations.

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Forest owner Marinakis set to face trial in GreeceAccused of criminal ties in sports violenceMarinakis believes his is a target for the Greek governmentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Greek billionaire Marinakis, who is currently the chairman and co-owner of football clubs Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest, is set to face trial in Greece along with four other board members of the Super League side as per multiple reports.

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Following a ruling by a Greek judicial council, legal sources announced on Thursday that Marinakis will go on trial for misdemeanour charges as part of an investigation into sports violence. The investigation was started by authorities when a riot police officer was killed by a flare during altercations with a group of Olympiakos supporters outside a volleyball match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos in December 2023.

AFPWHAT MARINAKIS SAID

Marinakis released a statement soon after the announcement and took to blaming the Greek government for 'targeting' him and Olympiacos. The statement read: “This is a coordinated effort to silence me, but a hopeless one. It is not, after all, the first time that such an attempt has been made. Political and economic interests have unsuccessfully tried the same thing in the past through fabricated cases and accusations that fell with a bang.

"The obvious target is me and Olympiacos. But what they really seek is to harm Freedom of the Press, the independence of the media and ultimately Democracy itself.

"The message I am sending is one and clear: I am not afraid, I am not blackmailed, I am not negotiating, I am not giving in, I am not surrendering. The truth will shine again. Democracy will prevail. In the end, we will (as always) be victorious."

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WHAT NEXT FOR MARINAKIS?

The Greek shipping and media tycoon who also owns English Premier League club Nottingham Forest, and the four board members, have denied any wrongdoing. However, the trial will go on as the legal system continues to try and lockdown the growing sports violence in Greece.

Chelsea’s academy has provided countless talents through the years, with numerous of them having a huge impact on the club’s first team.

Enzo Maresca’s squad includes numerous academy graduates, including Reece James, who’s been constantly plagued with injuries over the last couple of seasons.

The right-back has been restricted to just 241 minutes in the Premier League during 2024/25, making just four appearances before yet another hamstring issue put him back on the sidelines.

However, centre-back Levi Colwill has been crucial to the Blues’ recent success, starting 14 of the 15 matches to date – helping keep three clean sheets in the process.

Such form has seen him earn multiple England call-ups over the last couple of months, undoubtedly increasing his price tag, which could see him set a record should he ever depart Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s record academy departures

Central midfielder Conor Gallagher was a crucial part of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad last season, featuring in all but one league match – the most of any player in the squad.

However, the Englishman wasn’t a part of Maresca’s plans after his arrival in the summer, subsequently allowing the former youth star to depart his boyhood club.

The 24-year-old would move to Atlético Madrid in a deal worth £34m, with João Félix coming in the other direction, making him one of the most expensive sales from the Cobham academy.

Left-back Ian Maatsen is another player sold after the Italian’s appointment, leaving the Blues after making just 15 first-team appearances during his time in West London.

The Dutchman would move to fellow English side Aston Villa for £37.5m – cashing in on the defender after his impressive loan spell with Borussia Dortmund that saw him reach the Champions League final.

However, despite the big money received for their respective services, one other player departed the club for a massive fee, failing to make the impact he would’ve wanted after leaving his boyhood side.

The player who Chelsea made the right call selling

Midfielder Mason Mount was seen as a hugely exciting prospect after making his debut at Bridge back in 2019 after his loan spell with Championship side Derby County.

He starred under Frank Lampard, who took the job that summer and made the 25-year-old a key player in his side – subsequently dubbing the Englishman as “exceptional”.

Mount would feature in the first team for four years, amassing a total of 195 appearances for his boyhood side, before departing in a £55m deal to join Manchester United last summer – a move that didn’t go down well with the fanbase.

However, the “outstanding” ace, as dubbed by former England boss Gareth Southgate, has massively struggled since his move to Old Trafford, with injuries plaguing his time in the North West.

He’s only made 32 appearances in the last 18 months at the Theatre of Dreams, only featuring in 12 matches in 2024/25, most of which have come off the substitutes’ bench.

As a result of his recent troubles, Mount has seen his market value plummet to just £29m, as per Transfermarkt, with Chelsea doing an excellent job in offloading him whilst his stock was at its highest.

He undoubtedly demonstrated glimpses of his quality during his time in the first team at the Bridge, playing a huge part in their Champions League triumph back in 2020/21.

Many fans will be glad to see his lack of impact since his departure, with his sale allowing for key investments which have seen the club rise up the table during Maresca’s reign in recent months.

Chelsea need to sell their £30m dud who Maresca thinks is "fantastic"

The Chelsea player unfortunately hasn’t made an impact he would’ve wanted under Enzo Maresca.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 11, 2024

And breathe. It might not have been straightforward, but Tottenham Hotspur are through to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Ange Postecoglou’s goal of winning a trophy in his second season with the Lilywhites remains a distinct possibility after his side managed to get out of their quarter-final clash with Manchester United 4-3 winners last night.

However, considering the North Londoners were 3-0 up and cruising midway through the second half, it would be fair to say that they more than made a meal of things, especially Fraser Forster.

Fortunately for the veteran and his manager, there were enough players on the pitch doing what they could to drag the team through, including one star who’s precisely the sort of player United could have done with.

Fraser Forster's game vs Man United

Now, the first thing to say is that since he’s come in for the injured Guglielmo Vicario, Forster has generally been quite good for Spurs, but his performance last night was simply shambolic.

United’s first goal came from an incredibly sloppy pass that was intercepted by Bruno Fernandes and finished by Joshua Zirkzee; their second goal came from him dilly-dallying on the ball, and while the final goal wasn’t entirely down to him, his positioning was still suspect.

Unsurprisingly, the watching press were flabbergasted, so much so that football.london’s Alasdair Gold awarded the six-capped Englishman a fully justified 2/10 match rating at full-time and wrote that he ‘changed the momentum of a game going only one way at 3-0.’

It was the sort of display that would see a goalkeeper dropped for a considerable amount of time.

However, due to the injury situation at the club, Postecoglou will just have to hope that Forster’s confidence can recover in time for the game against Liverpool on Saturday.

That said, as the team ultimately won, there were plenty of things to be happy about for the Spurs faithful, such as the performance of Dominic Solanke, who bailed out his keeper and was exactly what United needed on the night.

Dominic Solanke's game vs Man United

Yes, while there were a few other players who put in a brilliant showing, like Dejan Kulusevski and Djed Spence, Spurs’ standout performer from last night was undoubtedly Solanke.

The former Bournemouth star looked like a threat throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch, and were it not for his two strikes, Forster would likely be on the end of a torrent of criticism from fans and pundits alike.

However, while bailing out his teammate is undoubtedly a notable narrative from last night’s action, the contrast in his performance with Rasmus Hojlund’s was another.

The Red Devils’ starting number nine, while talented, looked all at sea for most, if not all, of his 56 minutes of action and, as their statistics demonstrate, put in a far worse display than his opposite number.

For example, the Lilywhites’ “monster”, as dubbed by reporter George Sessions, scored twice from two shots on target, completed 50% of his dribbles, was accurate in 100% of his long balls, won eight duels and made one clearance, one interception and four tackles to help out in defence as well.

Solanke vs Hojlund

Solanke

Statistics

Hojlund

2

Shots on Target

0

2

Goals

0

2 (1)

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (1)

1 (1)

Long Balls (Accurate)

0 (0)

12 (8)

Duels (Won)

5 (2)

1

Clearances

0

1

Interceptions

0

4

Tackles

0

All Stats via Sofascore

In contrast, the former Atalanta prospect failed to take a single shot on target, completed 33% of his dribbles, won just two duels, didn’t play a single long ball, was offside once and failed to do any defensive work whatsoever.

Moreover, the watching press took very different opinions on the pair as well, with Gold awarding Solanke a 9/10 match rating, while the Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst awarded Hojlund a 5/10, writing that he ‘never got going.’

Ultimately, last night’s game was an incredible spectacle with sublime performances and utterly dire ones all over the pitch, but it’s resulted in a semi-final for Spurs, and a genuine chance of silverware come March, in large part thanks to Solanke’s efforts in front of goal.

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