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Tottenham have made a move to sign Lewes FC winger Ollie Tanner, according to The Athletic.  

The Lowdown: Tanner profiled

The 19-year-old has been labelled ‘special’ by his manager Tony Russell labelled as. The 6 foot 1 left winger is under contract until the end of the 2022/23 campaign, with his impressive form attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Brighton have had an offer rejected for the former Arsenal schoolboy, and it seems as if it will be Spurs who secure the teenager’s services.

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The Latest: Spurs’ bid set to be accepted

According to The Athletic, Spurs are looking to pip Brighton to Tanner’s services, having submitted an offer on Saturday.

Russell confirmed it was a ‘really good’ offer, with The Athletic believing that Lewes are set to accept Tottenham’s bid for the teenager.

Tanner has been training with Spurs over the last two weeks and it could now be just a matter of time until he is officially a Tottenham player.

The Verdict: Good news

Tanner is clearly a player in demand, so Spurs winning the race for his services can only be viewed as good news in the long run.

Even though Tottenham are in need of senior reinforcements in the final days of the transfer window, it’s good to see that the club are still working on bolstering their youth ranks.

The likes of Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga are recent examples of players establishing themselves in the first team after coming through the academy, and maybe in the next few years, Tanner could be the next in line for that big breakthrough.

In other news: Check out this morning transfer development from Fabrizio Romano with Spurs now ‘confident to complete’ key signing.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Inter centre-back Milan Skriniar.

What’s the talk?

According to The Daily Mail, the Magpies and Tottenham are both interested in a deal to sign the central defender in January.

CIES ranked him as the third-best defender in the world in 2021, behind Real Madrid’s David Alaba and Manchester City’s Ruben Dias.

The Daily Mail reacted to this by profiling some of the players in CIES’ rankings, mentioning in their section on Skriniar that Newcastle and Spurs have been looking at him.

Best signing since Wilson

The Toon Army fans will surely be delighted with this update as the defensive enforcer could be the club’s best signing since they landed Callum Wilson from Bournemouth last summer.

Joe Willock was the club’s only signing of the transfer window just gone and he has struggled to find his best form this season. He has averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.45, with zero goals and zero assists to his name in 15 appearances.

In terms of permanent additions, Ryan Fraser, Wilson, Jamal Lewis and Jeff Hendrick came in during the 2020/21 campaign. Of those players, Wilson (6.84) was the only player to average a higher WhoScored rating than 6.38 in the Premier League.

The signing of Skriniar could, therefore, be the best move the club has made since they brought the hitman over from the Cherries. CIES’ report ranks him as one of the top players in world football and his statistics in the Serie A have been very strong, with the defender averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.99 across 16 starts.

His former under-17’s coach, Tibor Goljan, once hailed him, saying: “He has always been the leader on and off the pitch.”

It was reported earlier this year that Skriniar is competing with Nicolo Barella to be named the new club captain of Inter, highlighting his huge influence behind the scenes and in the changing room too.

The Slovakia international averaged a rating of 6.90 in the Serie A last term, playing 32 times, which shows that he also has consistency in his performances – stretching back to the start of last season. He has been previously described as an “absolute beast” and a “monster” by journalists David Amoyal and Siavoush Fallah, highlighting his defensive strength. 

Therefore, he could be a sublime signing for Newcastle as he appears to have the leadership skills off the pitch and the footballing ability on it to be a success in the Premier League. If Eddie Howe is able to get a deal over the line for the Inter gem then it could be their best addition since Wilson…

AND in other news, NUFC liability who lost 83% duels badly betrayed Howe, Shearer thinks he’s a “danger”…

Merry Christmas! We’ve created a Leeds United quiz to test your knowledge of the 2021/22 season so far – why not come and show us what an expert you are on the club!

The Whites are almost midway through their second year back in the Premier League, playing 18 times, but it has been a struggle so far. Marcelo Bielsa’s side are currently 16th in the table, with a relegation battle potentially on the cards and a glut of injuries not helping matters in the slightest.

All is not lost for Leeds, though, with their fitness woes hopefully easing soon and confidence possibly returning in the second half of the season.

We’ve decided to create a quiz to help get you through Christmas Day, should you be experiencing a lull from the excessive eating or tiring of talking to a distant relative!

There are 10 questions, so come and show how much you know about the Whites and be sure to share your scores on social media.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Liverpool’s UEFA Youth League line-up may have given clues as to who’ll be involved against FC Porto, The Athletic’s Simon Hughes writes. 

The lowdown

Liverpool are due to the face the Primeira Liga side on Wednesday night knowing that they’ve already secured progression to the Round of 16 as group winners.

That could give Jurgen Klopp the chance to rotate his side prior to the weekend’s Premier League clash with Southampton.

Klopp said in his pre-match press conference he would think about ‘ourselves, our schedule and the situation of our players’ when choosing his side.

The latest

Hughes points out that Marc Bridge-Wilkinson selected Kaide Gordon, Owen Beck and Connor Bradley for the Under-19s’ corresponding clash with Porto earlier in the day.

“I can’t see them playing tonight,” he says.

However, ‘interestingly’, Tyler Morton and James Balagizi are ‘not involved’ against the Portuguese side.

In theory, then, they should be available for the senior clash at Anfield.

The verdict

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Morton feature from the start in what is effectively a dead-rubber fixture.

The midfielder has played in both of Liverpool’s EFL Cup ties and made his Premier League debut last weekend with a brief run-out in the 4-0 victory over Arsenal (via Transfermarkt).

In his programme notes for Wednesday’s game, Klopp described the 19-year-old as ‘very special’.

Perhaps the signs are pointing towards a full Champions League debut.

In other news, fans react to the club’s January transfer decision.

Leeds United should expect offers from Liverpool and Manchester United for Kalvin Phillips, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Phillips linked with Leeds exit

The 25-year-old has matured into one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders in the last year or so, also becoming a regular starter for England.

Phillips’ form has seen him linked with an exit from Elland Road numerous times in recent weeks and months, as he potentially looks for a fresh challenge in his career.

The £36m-rated Englishman’s current Whites deal expires in the summer of 2024 but there has been no sign of an extension being agreed.

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The Latest: O’Rourke gives Phillips transfer update

Both Liverpool and United are thought to be among Phillips’ potential suitors, and speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke said that Leeds should brace themselves for offers in the near future. He outlined:

“Kalvin Phillips will definitely have offers for him. I think he is probably one of the best midfielders in Europe.

“The likes of Manchester United and Liverpool are both looking to strengthen in that area.”

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The Verdict: Final season at Elland Road?

In an ideal world, Phillips would see out the rest of his career at Elland Road, considering that he has been a stalwart of the Marcelo Bielsa era, making 226 appearances for the club in total. However, the harsh reality is that he may feel he has outgrown Leeds, with Liverpool and Manchester United both more likely to guarantee Champions League football and silverware.

Granted, a move to either club likely wouldn’t go down well with Whites supporters, but Phillips may feel that he warrants going wherever he wants, considering the service he has given to the Yorkshire outfit.

Given his level of loyalty, it wouldn’t necessarily be a shock if he signs a new deal at Leeds, but fans should be prepared for the worst next summer.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a January move for one player. Find out who it is here.

Rangers returned to winning ways on Sunday lunchtime as Steven Gerrard’s men put on a clinic in attacking football as the Gers hit their opposition for six.

The Glaswegian outfit slipped up last week and allowed their city rivals back into the title race. However, they were able to extend their lead at the summit again this weekend after hammering Motherwell 6-1.

It was a highly impressive victory from Rangers who actually went 1-0 down before dazzling their supporters at Fir Park.

Alfredo Morelos was charged with leading the line but it was his offensive colleague in Fashion Sakala who stole the show.

The Zambian had only scored one prior to their clash this weekend but the striker well and truly announced himself as a Rangers player.

He scored a wonderful hat-trick, putting the Motherwell defence to the sword. However, he couldn’t have done it without their unsung hero of the day; James Tavernier.

The skipper’s place in the side hasn’t always been stable over the last few campaigns with Nathan Patterson staking his claim last season and the right-back upsetting supporters back in 2019/20.

Yet, he has bounced back and proved why he is so valuable to Gerrard and the team.

As Rangers scored six times this week and opened up their gap to four points at the top of the Premiership, it was their flying defender who gave them a huge helping hand.

Some of the statistics he amassed were incredible as he lost the ball on a whopping 41 occasions. However, the story behind that tally is easy to see. He was a creative marvel from the right-hand flank, attempting no fewer than 29 crosses.

With that in mind, it was hardly a surprise to see that Tavernier had more touches (133) than any other player on the field.

The £7.2m-rated gem scored a precise volley at the back post to level the score just before the interval and then helped himself to two assists, supplying a mesmerising eight key passes in the process.

It was a complete display from the captain going forward but he also weighed in defensively, winning four of his physical duels.

All of that led to a SofaScore match rating of 9.6 for the 30-year-old which happened to be the second-best behind their goal-scoring sensation; Sakala.

He will no doubt receive most of the plaudits, something he undoubtedly deserves, but Tavernier deserves equal praise for what was a remarkable performance that typified a modern-day full-back.

AND in other news, Gerrard could unearth Charlie Adam 2.0 in Rangers gem with “great future in the game”…

Noel Whelan has given his reaction to Newcastle United’s expected bid for Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Bid expected

As per Sport (via Sport Witness), Barcelona are ‘expecting’ a bid from the St James’ Park club for the Brazilian in January and would accept a loan offer which includes an obligation to buy.

However, that could leave them and Coutinho in an awkward position at the end of the season if the Magpies find themselves relegated from the Premier League.

The Brazil international is a decorated player who will not want to be playing Championship football under any circumstances, so a separate clause may need to be added if Newcastle do end up losing their top-flight status.

The Latest: Whelan reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United and Coventry City striker Whelan has since given his reaction to the transfer news, suggesting that Coutinho could make a difference in the Magpies’ relegation fight. The 46-year-old said:

“They are going to need these creative players this season to create chances for a front three who could bail them out of trouble.

“I think when you’re looking at bringing a player like Coutinho in, there is always going to be question marks over the effort levels he is going to bring. It’s down to him how he rises to the challenge.

“I’m sure the fans will be excited by the signing; they will probably have the memories fresh in their minds of his last spell in the Premier League.

“He needs that fresh challenge, and if it’s Newcastle then the fans could be in for a real treat.

“If he’s playing at 100% then he can be a match-winner and difference-maker for them.”

The Verdict: Risky, but worth it

It would certainly be a risk to bring Coutinho to Tyneside, especially if Newcastle find themselves relegated at the end of the campaign. However, as Whelan points out, the 29-year-old could be the difference-maker to help turn their season around.

It is no secret how well he did in the Premier League with Liverpool, with a total of 78 goal contributions in 152 games in the division (Transfermarkt). His former Reds teammate Roberto Firmino heaped praise on him in October 2020, claiming in an interview with FIFA.com that Coutinho is ‘one of the very best players in the world’ and has ‘magical powers’.

Nonetheless, at 29 years of age, the Brazil playmaker will feel as if he still has a point to prove, and what better way to do it than by returning to a league that he lit up just a few years ago.

In other news, find out what ‘transformational’ changes Eddie Howe has made to training

Leeds United defender Robin Koch is expected to return to ‘serious training’ in around four weeks’ time, according to a fresh report which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Koch missing since opening weekend

The Whites lost 1-0 away to Southampton on Saturday afternoon as their disappointing start to the Premier League season continues.

Koch was among several key Leeds players who weren’t available, with the German ruled out since injuring his hip at Manchester United in the first game of the campaign.

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The Latest: Return edging closer

The 25-year-old has now undergone surgery in America and an update has been provided on his progress.

According to SPORT1 [via Sport Witness], Koch is aiming to be in full training in four weeks, with ‘rehabilitation training’ starting in the next 10 days.

That means his likely return to the pitch will come in November, although not until the back-end of the month, and even that depends on him not suffering any further setbacks in the meantime.

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The Verdict: Key for squad depth

Koch’s return will be vital for Marcelo Bielsa in terms of allowing him to rotate his squad as the fixtures become even more relentless in the winter months.

The £15.3m-rated German has been a miss in that respect, particularly with some of his defensive colleagues also succumbing to injuries in recent weeks, and the hope is that he can stay injury-free upon his return, helping Leeds get their season back on track.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a key update regarding Raphinha’s Leeds future. Read more here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Manchester City supporters have erupted over some news involving Paris-Saint Germain star Marco Verratti.

Pep Guardiola has overseen a magnificent start to the Sky Blues’ campaign so far with his side going on an impressive unbeaten after losing their first game of the season to Tottenham.

Given some of the brilliant all-round performances since then, including a 1-0 victory away to table-toppers Chelsea, City’s opening day defeat seems like a lifetime ago.

The Champions League remains one hurdle to overcome at Eastlands for Guardiola and he faces a very challenging group, including last year’s semi-final opponents Paris-Saint Germain, Belgian champions Club Brugge and Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig.

However, in what could be a boost for City as they gear up for their next outing against PSG later next month, some news has emerged on Italy international star Verratti.

The 28-year-old, as confirmed by the Ligue 1 side (via Football Italia), may now miss their trip to Manchester due to a hip injury – with Verratti sustaining ‘a deep lesion in the oblique muscles’ – he be out for four weeks.

Flocking to this news, it’s safe to say many fans see this is a mighty boost for City as they aim to conquer Group A.

Find all of their reactions to the development down below.

Man City fans erupt over Verratti news…

“Bigger loss for PSG than any of their attackers. Verratti is a beast in midfield.”

Credit: @MolyneuxLuke

“Yesss”

Credit: @Raqib_12345

“BIG WWWWWW”

Credit: @MCFCTSaucy

“Good news”

Credit: @Gre22855119Jack

“We will win now”

Credit: @Anonymous584238

“GET INNNNNNNNN”

Credit: @TottiMCFC

“He’s PSG’s most important player. This is huge”

Credit: @tsgmcfc

“YESSSSSSS”

Credit: @HariSaisrikant

In other news: ‘Noooo’, ‘This can’t happen’, ‘Absolute joke’…Man City fans fume over ‘brutal’ blow, find out more here.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has confirmed a major injury setback for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson.

What’s the story?

The Frenchman had only recently returned to first-team action following another difficult spell out with injury, and it appears that his appearance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge could be his last for a little while.

In response to a question from a fan, Preece confirmed: “Out for a month now. Gutted for him.”

Villa fans might be fuming

Having spent an entire summer being linked to new midfielders like Pape Sarr from Metz and James Ward-Prowse from Southampton, the failure to sign a new enforcer in the engine room is perhaps the only blot in the copybook when it comes to Villa’s business in the transfer window.

Dean Smith was left to rely upon his current options once again, and may have even felt that perhaps the return from injury of Sanson could offset the decision not to spend big on a new central midfielder.

The 27-year-old played just nine times in the Premier League last season following his January arrival from French side Marseille, and would surely have been hoping for a better start to life at Villa Park in his second campaign at the club.

Instead, Sanson is set to be out for yet another month according to Preece, meaning he is likely to miss clashes against the likes of Tottenham, Wolves and Arsenal.

Preece’s latest update is sure to have some Villa fans fuming about the fact they put their faith in an injury-prone midfielder who’s once again been ruled out of action for them.

Meanwhile, Gregg Evans drops an Aston Villa update on this star…