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Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane was dubbed “utterly anonymous” by Danish Spurs podcaster Andreas Thau Loftager.

The Lowdown: Spurs nightmare

Spurs were left on the end of a hammering at the hands of Leicester City as the Lilywhites threw away a one goal lead to run out 4-1 losers at the King Power.

Rodrigo Bentancur gave Antonio Conte the best start following his return to the dugout after surgery to remove his gallbladder (BBC), but it went downhill quickly for the Italian’s side as they conceded two in two minutes midway through the first half to see the game completely turn against them.

A win would’ve seen Tottenham leapfrog Newcastle United into the top four of the Premier League but couldn’t take the opportunity.

The Latest: Loftager’s criticism

Host of a Danish Spurs podcast channel called Lyden af White Hart Danes, Loftager ripped in Spurs’ dismal performance on Twitter, singling out players including Spurs new all-time record goal scorer Kane, saying:

“Worst game in a Spurs shirt from Kulusevski. Son is back to his League 2 level. Kane completely and utterly anonymous today; worse than Haaland last weekend. This is abysmal offensively. Don’t even get me started on Perisic, man.

“Conte’s reaction. Absolutely nothing. #LEITOT”

The Verdict: Afternoon to forget

Just six days after becoming Tottenham’s greatest-ever goal scorer, Kane was unable to inject anything to Spurs’ performance for one of the only times this season, with him bagging 17 times in just 22 Premier League games previously.

Spurs saviour in times gone by was unable to show his magic with him having just 24 touches, the same as goalkeeper Fraser Forster as the lowest of the Tottenham starters (via Sofascore), making a messily 12 accurate passes in 90 minutes.

Kane won just five out of nine duels during the game and was caught offside twice as he tried in vain to battle and force Tottenham’s way back into the game, with AC Milan and London derbies against West Ham United and Chelsea to come, he’ll have to snap back to his best soon.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Aston Villa’s interest in Athletic Bilbao striker Nico Williams but believes that the player won’t be leaving the La Liga side in the coming days.

The Lowdown: New forward wanted after Duran

NSWE have brought in teenage forward Jhon Duran this month from Chicago Fire but have sold Villa’s top 2022/23 scorer in Danny Ings to West Ham.

Duran and Ollie Watkins are the club’s only centre-forward options available to Unai Emery, although the club still want to bring in a new striker before Tuesday’s deadline.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Villa have been linked with a move for Williams this month, with The Daily Mail claiming that the Spaniard – who has been dubbed ‘phenomenal’ by Football Talent scout Jacek Kulig – rejected a move to Villa Park.

Romano shared what he’s been ‘told’ about the situation to GiveMeSport, confirming the Villans’ interest in the 20-year-old, but he added that a winter exit from Bilbao is unlikely.

The Italian said in relation to Villa: “I think they will try for many players; for Nico Williams, it’s true that they have an interest, but from what I’m told, Nico Williams is not leaving now. So he’s not leaving in January unless something crazy happens in the final days.”

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The Verdict: Look elsewhere?

It looks as if Villa could be chasing a lost cause when it comes to Williams, who has outperformed Ollie Watkins this season, as per WhoScored metrics.

They have already brought in an exciting young forward in Duran, so it could be wise for Emery and NSWE to move on to alternative targets, potentially a forward who has plenty of experience.

Lyon’s Moussa Dembele has been linked in recent weeks, and with the Frenchman out of contract in the summer, he could be a smart stop-gap addition for the second half of the season.

The 26-year-old has scored goals on a regular basis for Celtic and Lyon, so you could make the argument to pursue Dembele instead, with an approach already made and a bargain £3m fee mooted.

There has been an update regarding Celtic’s reported interest in Danish sensation, Casper Tengstedt…

What’s the word?

According to Rosenborg chief Mikael Dorsin, via the Glasgow Times, the Old Firm outfit will seemingly need to fork out a sizeable sum if they are to land the 22-year-old this month, with the striker’s current side understandably reluctant to lose their prize asset on the cheap.

Amid reports that the Hoops – among others – are considering an approach for the prolific marksman, Dorsin stated:

“He’s one of our key players. So if we have to sell him now, something extraordinary will be needed. I can’t talk about amounts, but it will be something incredible if we were to sell him this winter.

“Casper has also been here for a short time, so I think he also understands that. There has been a lot of interest, which is natural when he has produced such a great season. But from there it is a long way before there is anything concrete. In football, you always hear about a lot of rumours and interest, but it’s a long time before anything official happens.”

The Norwegian side are no doubt in a strong bargaining position with the former AC Horsens man still having three-and-a-half years left to run on his current contract.

Big Maeda upgrade

While the Parkhead giants may need to break the bank in order to bring Tengstedt to Glasgow, pundit Frank McAvennie has previously stated that it could well be worth bringing in a more costly asset – potentially in the region of “£8/10m” – in order to help provide further firepower for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The signing of the ruthless Dane would certainly do just that with the dynamic gem having scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in just 14 games for the Eliteserien outfit, after previously providing 30 goals and assists in 57 games during his previous spell in his homeland with Horsens.

Such “crazy numbers” – as per talent scout Jacek Kulig – have unsurprisingly caught the attention of the Scottish champions, with the former FC Midtjylland ace also offering the benefit of being able to feature on the flanks, as well as in his usual centre-forward berth.

That versatility and clinical nature in front of goal could well see Tengstedt prove a notable upgrade on Daizen Maeda at Paradise, with the Japan international unable to match such rampant form with ‘only’ 11 goals and assists in 27 games across all fronts this term.

Although the 25-year-old has been in remarkable form in recent weeks, with three goal involvements in his last three games, the former Yokohama F.Marinos ace has not always proven reliable in the final third during his time at the club, having missed three big chances in the Champions League this term.

The relentless asset has also been dubbed a “headless chicken” by journalist Casey Evans after at times failing to combine his elite work ethic with an end product.

Tengstedt, by comparison, appears to have a greater cutting edge, having been described as a “born finisher” by Portuguese coach Frederico Pereira Morais, something showcased by his 73 club career goals.

With Maeda also being linked with a move to Premier League strugglers Southampton, the addition of the Rosenborg marksman could prove an ideal replacement for Postecoglou.

Leeds United slipped to a third successive Premier League loss with defeat at home to Manchester City on Wednesday evening, with the visitors running out 3-1 winners courtesy of a typically clinical double from Erling Haaland.

While it may be hard to contend with a figure who now has 20 goals to his name in just 14 league appearances this season, the Elland Road outfit were no doubt architects of their own downfall at times, having conceded just moments before half-time after being exploited on the counter.

Pep Guardiola’s men were then gifted the opportunity to extend that lead after the break as Liam Cooper’s under-hit pass sparked a City breakaway, with the aforementioned Haaland duly converting following unselfish play from Jack Grealish.

The away side then bagged a third soon after to all but confirm the win, with a late strike from Pascal Struijk proving nothing more than a mere consolation as Jesse Marsch’s men were unable to mount what would have been a remarkable comeback.

On what was a frustrating night for the Whites, captain Cooper was a particular villain due to his shaky display in the backline, with the 31-year-old having won just three of his six total duels, while also recording a measly 5.5 match rating, as per Sofascore.

Although the Scotland international’s ‘horror pass’ – as described by Leeds Live’s Beren Cross – may have been the most obvious blunder for the hosts, the centre-back was not the only one among his teammates to have wilted against the champions.

Summer signing Marc Roca was especially underwhelming in his midfield berth, with the Spaniard appearing to struggle amid the absence of the suspended Tyler Adams in the centre of the park.

The former Bayern Munich man was particularly ‘wasteful’ against the Etihad outfit – as per 90min’s Michael Graham – having squandered possession on 18 occasions after regularly handing the ball back to the opposition.

That ensured that the 26-year-old recorded a pass accuracy of just 75% from his 57 touches in total, having also won just four of his ten ground duels and been dribbled past on two occasions as a marker of his struggles defensively.

That limp showing ultimately saw Roca record a match rating of just 6.1, as per Sofascore, with that figure the joint-second worst of any Leeds player on the day, illustrating just how ineffectual he truly was.

While the strength of the opposition may well have been a factor, it is hard to overlook what was a worryingly nervy display from the one-time Espanyol man last night, as he simply failed his manager.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte will only commit to a new deal if he is backed by the club in the transfer window, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Talks ongoing

The Athletic reported back in October that talks had already commenced between Daniel Levy and Conte regarding a new deal, which would extend the Italian’s stay in north London beyond June 2023, when his contract is set to expire.

A fourth-placed finish was overseen by the 53-year-old last season, securing Champions League football at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and with them now qualifying for the last 16, the negotiations now appear set to continue.

The Latest: Conte’s demand

The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke has now broken the story that talks are set to start again from Monday, with the club having confidence that the former Inter boss will commit to a long-term deal with the club.

It is detailed, however, that any agreement will be determined not just by wages, duration and exit clauses, but by what the board are able to offer Conte in terms of new arrivals in the January transfer window, and they will need to show the manager that they have the same desire to win as he does.

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The Verdict: Back him!

Not only did the £288k-per-week earner secure qualification for Europe’s elite competition last season, but he is in a good position to do so again, with the Lilywhites currently sitting fourth in the Premier League standings.

With Harry Kane’s contract due to expire at the end of next season, the Italian extending his stay could prove crucial in the club’s bid to keep hold of their talisman, as he will want to have the assurance that an elite-level manager is in the dugout, given his desire to win trophies.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has described the tactician as a ‘serial winner’, as evidenced by him having nine trophies to his name in his managerial career, including two with Chelsea, highlighting his ability to compete for major honours in England.

As such, Conte being at the helm gives Tottenham their best chance of competing for the biggest trophies, and it is absolutely vital that Levy ties him down for years to come.

Newcastle United target Christian Pulisic ‘wants to stay’ at Premier League rivals Chelsea despite being linked with an exit, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Monitored by the Magpies

The USA forward is close to entering the final 18 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge, and having not been offered a new deal, he has been attracting interest from elsewhere.

PIF made an initial enquiry for the American over the summer, and some outlets have recently suggested that the Magpies are still monitoring developments, although an update has now emerged which contradicts those reports.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s update

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg denied all claims linking Newcastle to Pulisic by revealing that the player wants to fight for his place at Chelsea after the World Cup.

The Sky Sport reporter tweeted: “News #Pulisic: Rumours about Dortmund, United & Newcastle not hot. Been told that he wants to stay at #CFC in winter! He really tends to this plan. But: Talks could take place if he would receive a great and interesting offer after the World Cup. But it’s unlikely.”

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The Verdict: Blow for Howe

Newcastle missing out on Pulisic in January will come as a huge blow to Eddie Howe, who will have seen what the American is capable of since arriving in the top flight in 2019.

The 24-year-old has clocked up 47 goal contributions during his time at Chelsea and has the ability to operate in five different positions (Transfermarkt), which surely will have been a striking attribute to the Magpies boss .

Newcastle have got off to a flying start this season, so they should definitely be able to attract some big names in the winter, but it seems that they will now have to turn their attention to other targets following this fresh claim on Pulisic.

Newcastle United are preparing to make an offer for Lille striker Jonathan David in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Previous interest in David

The Canadian still has more than two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with the Ligue 1 club, but following his impressive performances under Paulo Fonseca, he has been the subject of strong interest.

The Magpies eyed a move for the 22-year-old last year, and even though a deal failed to materialise before the deadline, PIF are now taking a second bite at the cherry in a bid to bring him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Newcastle readying David offer

According to French outlet Media Foot (via Sport Witness), Eddie Howe ‘wants an extra man’ up top in 2023, with the 44-year-old having identified David as ‘that player’.

Newcastle are reportedly set to ‘make a new attempt’ to land the forward by ‘making an offer’ in the winter after a previous failed approach.

Whilst the exact amount they are willing to cough up ‘hasn’t filtered’, it’s stated that Lille will find it ‘very difficult’ to keep hold of their star striker.

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The Verdict: Wood replacement?

Chris Wood has failed to make a serious impact at Newcastle this season with only two league starts to his name, so David would most certainly be an upgrade should he depart St. James’ Park.

Dubbed ‘mind-blowing’ by Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 9 Canadian attacker has nine goals and three assists in 15 appearances this term and is averaging 3.3 shots per game (WhoScored).

Even taking into account their disparity in game-time, David has far more goals and shots per 90 minutes than Wood, along with a better rate for shots on target and successful passes (FBRef), so he could certainly be considered an upgrade on the New Zealand target man.

The Magpies are currently third in the Premier League after a remarkable start to 2022/23, and the potential arrival of David should only increase their chances of nailing down a top-four spot come the end of the campaign.

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has said that a Newcastle United move for James Maddison is still ‘one to watch’ in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Tottenham interest

There have been recent reports of interest from Tottenham Hotspur in Maddison, who could look to do a deal in January.

The St. James’ Park outfit have also shown an interest in the Leicester City attacking midfielder since the summer, even having a formal bid rejected.

The Latest: ‘One to watch’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs has shared that the North East club’s valuation of Maddison in the summer was up to £15m under, but despite Spurs’ emerging interest, they are still ‘one to watch’ in January:

“The valuation was, as I understand it, 10 or 15 million under Leicester’s at the point when they made the bid last window, but they’re one to watch still to see if they reignite that interest and are prepared to pay above valuation for a player with huge potential.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Given how close Tottenham and the Tynesiders are in the Premier League table, signing Maddison ahead of their rival could give the latter an edge for the second half of the season.

Hailed as a ‘monster’ by journalist Josh Bunting, the midfielder boasts an impressive six goals and two assists in the top flight in a side struggling near the foot of the table (Transfermarkt), and as alluded to by Jacobs, still has a massive potential at just 25 years of age.

The Magpies should be able to afford his £110,000-per-week wages as well, and so they should not be thinking twice about a deal if Maddison becomes available in January.

Leeds United’s American influence could give them the edge when trying to sign Weston McKennie from Juventus, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: McKennie linked with Leeds

The 24-year-old has struggled to make himself a key figure at Juventus, even though he has started eight Serie A games this season, so an exit from Turin could be imminent.

Leeds are one of the clubs who have been linked with acquiring McKennie’s signature as Jesse Marsch looks to bolster his squad options, potentially in January.

A new update from another journalist has further suggested that the USA international could end up in a Whites shirt.

The Latest: Leeds could have one advantage

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke backed Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta to sign McKennie because of the strong American contingent already at Elland Road in the form of manager Jesse Marsch, fellow players Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, and the stakeholding of 49ers Enterprises.

The journalist outlined:

“I’m sure Leeds will try and use that American connection to try and help any deal to get over the line if they do pursue a move for McKennie.”

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The Verdict: Could certainly help

While the American factor clearly won’t be the only reason for Leeds potentially signing McKennie, it probably can’t do any harm overall.

The fact that Marsch, Aaronson and Adams are all compatriots could make it easier for the Juventus man to settle if he comes to Elland Road, and a move to the Premier League may also appeal to him.

It isn’t overly difficult to envisage McKennie joining Leeds, although the fact that he is currently at a Champions League club could mean that he wants the same elsewhere, having been described as ‘dangerous’ on set pieces by Clint Dempsey.

The Whites’ cause may also be hindered by their current struggles, which have seen them plummet into the Premier League relegation zone.

Sunderland spent four years in the third tier of English football as they struggled to get out of League One following their relegation from the Championship in the 2017/18 campaign.

In the 2018/19 season, the Black Cats brought in a host of players as they looked to bounce straight back to the second division at the first time of asking.

They signed the likes of Tom Flanagan, Jon McLaughlin, Charlie Wyke, and Will Grigg and had mixed success with their business, although they failed to land promotion at the end of the season.

One of the players they snapped up that summer was central defender Jack Baldwin, who arrived at the Stadium of Light from Peterborough.

Jack Ross was the manager at the time and said: “Jack is proven in this league and he’s at a good age with his best years ahead of him, and he has a hunger to improve and do well. He sees this as a big opportunity and has the core attributes we have been looking for.”

He quickly established himself as a regular fixture in the team and played 34 times in the third tier throughout the course of the campaign, making 42 appearances in total, with journalist Josh Bunting once describing him as “outstanding.”

However, they then opted to loan him out to Salford in League Two, much to the frustration of some of the fanbase, before the Black Cats decided to release him in 2020, allowing the defender to join Bristol Rovers on a free transfer, as Phil Parkinson seemingly did not have the player in his plans.

After a year with Rovers, Baldwin sealed a move to Premiership side Ross County in the summer of 2021 and then-manager Malky Mackay claimed that he is in the “prime of his career”, which has been proven by his impressive performances on the pitch.

He averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.88 in his debut campaign as he played 30 times in the Scottish top-flight, making 5.2 clearances per game. This term, he has averaged a rating of 7.02 across six outings – making 4.2 clearances and 5.4 tackles and interceptions per match.

Meanwhile, no natural Sunderland centre-back with five or more appearances has averaged a score higher than 6.88 in the Championship this term and that was also the case in League One last term – with Bailey Wright leading the way on both fronts.

This suggests that Baldwin would be the club’s top performing central defender, or at least on par with Wright, in his current form, which is why allowing him to leave for nothing was a blunder by the Black Cats.

Sunderland could have held out hope for the 6 foot 1 defender until he hit the prime years of his career and then enjoyed his impressive defensive talents on the pitch. Instead, they received £0 for him and Ross County are now benefitting on the pitch in Scotland from their mistake.

They should regret ditching the enforcer and may be wondering how well he would be doing in the current team under Tony Mowbray.