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It's probably fair to say that many thought Champions League contention would be out of reach for Tottenham Hotspur this season, having lumbered to an eighth-placed Premier League finish last term and waved a forlorn goodbye to Harry Kane in August.

But Ange Postecoglou said no, and stemmed the grungy flow that has seeped into the confidence of the staunch Spurs support, instilling life and a verve that had wandered astray; ten matches in, Tottenham top the table.

But disaster struck and Postecoglou's side faltered with a raft of absences exposing the frailty and thinness of the Lilywhites' squad, who have now suffered three league losses on the trot.

The forthcoming winter period threatens bleakness – especially with clashes against Manchester City and Newcastle United around the corner – and while Spurs have enough quality to stay in the race for top four, it's imperative that the January transfer window is used to fortify the fold.

Tottenham transfer news – Jean-Clair Todibo

According to a recent report from the Evening Standard, Tottenham have registered an interest in OGC Nice star Jean-Clair Todibo, with the Frenchman excelling in Ligue 1.

It's understood that Spurs are desperate for defensive reinforcements after losing both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero against Chelsea highlighting the lack of depth.

However, with Liverpool and Manchester United also eyeing a move for the 23-year-old, who has been valued at around £39m by his side, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have his work cut out to present an enticing package.

Todibo's style of play

Todibo is a tall and imposing defender with a modern style that allows him to blend physicality and power with style and progression, always seeking to influence play from an attacking standpoint.

Only last month, Todibo set the record for the most touches in a Ligue 1 match since the records began in 2006/07, and given that Postecoglou is building a free-flowing, pass-proficient team in Tottenham, a transfer could work wonders for all involved parties.

It could also spell danger for Eric Dier, whose career down the N17 already hangs by a thread, having only started one game across all competitions this season and currently playing his final season, out of contract in June.

The 29-year-old Englishman ranks among the bottom 9% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes for 90, which evidences his incongruity within the new system.

As per FBref, Todibo ranks among the top 8% of central defenders for passes attempted, the top 18% for progressive passes, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 5% for tackles per 90.

Proclaimed to be "solid as a rock" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Todibo has been a centrepiece within Ligue 1's strongest defence this term, with second-placed Les Aiglons having shipped just four goals from the opening 13 matches.

Todibo has indeed been instrumental, completing 90% of his passes across 11 outings, averaging two tackles, 2.8 clearances and 7.8 ball recoveries per game, and also impressively winning 62% of his duels and 88% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.

The £20k-per-week ace was once a prospect in Spain with Barcelona and has clearly developed his passing prowess from his time at the club, which has been a key factor behind the recent wave of Premier League interest.

How Todibo compares to the Premier League's best

Dubbed a "Rolls-Royce" of a centre-back by journalist Antonio Mango, Todibo has earned his stripes in France and cemented his name as one of the finest in the country, but after 114 appearances with Nice, it's perhaps time to take the leap onto the Premier League scene.

Ange could forget about Dier by unleashing Spurs academy star

Tottenham have been forced to contend with a wave of setbacks after a stunning start to the campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 15, 2023

The Evening Standard's report reveals that the player himself is actually keen on the move but, having made his Les Bleus debut in September, will be seeking assurances that his playing time will not be hindered by making such a decision.

Tottenham's defensive axis does consist of Van de Ven and Romero and proved to be as formidable as any in the division before that fateful match against former boss Mauricio Pochettino, but aside from the pair Postecoglou doesn't really have much to work with in regard to senior and reliable options.

Player

Club

Fikayo Tomori

AC Milan

William Saliba

Arsenal

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

Sven Botman

Newcastle United

Andreas Christensen

Barcelona

*Sourced via Football Transfers

It's an interesting mix of defenders that Football Transfers has listed as Todibo's most comparable players, with the similarities between Arsenal sensation William Saliba particularly eye-catching for those of a Tottenham persuasion.

Saliba and Todibo were actually heralded as "diamonds" by Kulig for their partnership with Nice several seasons ago, which only further strengthens the claim that he could thrive on English shores.

The Gunners centre-half, aged 22, spent several seasons on loan in his homeland after signing for Arsenal from Saint Etienne for £27m in 2019, but he has been a mainstay since the start of last season and has chalked up 52 appearances, with his rise coinciding with his club's certainly not a coincidence.

The £190k-per-week colossus ranks among the top 7% for pass completion and the top 11% for passes attempted per 90, showcasing his first-class ball-playing talent that has led to Mikel Arteta describing him as "exceptional."

With Arsenal boasting the best defensive record in the English top-flight this season while also currently topping the table, Saliba's role has been vital, making 5.7 recoveries per match and winning 61% of his ground duels.

Todibo offers a skill set that really does look custom-made for Postecoglou's fluid system, actually noted for his strength in passing and tackling by statistical site WhoScored – indeed, such attributes bolster claims from Statman Dave that he has "complete control" on the field.

£39m is certainly no small sum and would eclipse the £27m January acquisition of Steven Bergwijn in 2020, but it would be an impactful addition that could shape the success of Tottenham's exciting season under Postecoglou's guidance.

Leeds United have found their groove since being relegated from the Premier League as Daniel Farke's tactical blueprint continues to propel them closer to the automatic promotion places.

With eight points currently separating them from their ultimate aim, the Whites have a lot of work to do in the second half of the season to achieve it and the January transfer window could play a pivotal role.

Although several names have been linked with a move to Elland Road, including Wimbledon striker Ali Al-Hamadi, speculation continues to surround Wilfried Gnonto's future in Yorkshire.

The latest on Wilfried Gnonto's future

Last month, TEAMtalk reported that Roma, Lazio, and Everton are all weighing up a possible swoop to sign the Italy international at the turn of the year, with a price tag of £25m placed on the Italian.

With only one goal and one assist to his name in ten Championship appearances this term, it remains to be seen whether his inconsistent returns in front of goal will put any potential buyers off in January.

If he does depart the club, Leeds could save millions by looking to their academy for a replacement, with 16-year-old sharpshooter Lewis Pirie making a strong case for a future first-team berth.

Lewis Pirie's statistics in 23/24

Pirie was captured from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen in the summer for a fee in the region of £200k.

The teenage sensation was highly thought of by the Dons and chief executive Alan Burrows revealed he did "everything we could" to keep hold of him.

He said: “We are obviously disappointed to be losing Lewis as he is one we had high hopes for, but at the same time we wish him all the best for the future.

“We did everything we possibly could to convince Lewis and his family to stay with Aberdeen, but he has decided to go to Leeds."

Since arriving at Thorp Arch, Pirie has shown why he was held in such high regard north of the border, beginning life at his new home in exceptional fashion.

Despite relocating miles away from home, he's took no time to settle in, scoring three goals and supplying one assist in five matches in the U18's Premier League.

Such form isn't out of the ordinary for a player who was labelled by his former manager Jim Goodwin as an "exciting prospect" and the early signs suggest he could reach the ceiling of his potential, although he has the unenviable task of dislodging the talismanic Georginio Rutter for a place in the senior team.

Georginio Rutter's season in numbers

The French forward has been in phenomenal form for the Whites this term but has lacked that clinical edge in the final third to reward his efforts.

In 15 Championship appearances, Rutter has only found the back of the net three times, making up for those measly goalscoring numbers by showcasing his creative prowess.

Statistic

Figure

Assists

5

Big chances created

15

Key passes per game

2.6

Touches per game

39.7

All stats via Sofascore

.

Having created 15 big chances and supplied five assists term, as highlighted by the table above, the Leeds star has shown he's able to consistently split open defences with his exceptional passing range, allowing the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Dan James to thrive on the wings.

Although it isn't a major concern given how well he's performing, if Rutter can find his goal-scoring touch to go alongside his invention, Farke will have an unstoppable force capable of firing the Whites to promotion in 2024.

In the long-term, however, the former Hoffenheim man could find his place in the side threatened by the emerging Pirie.

Glasgow Rangers will curse the timing of the recent international break as the Ibrox side look rejuvenated under new manager Philippe Clement.

Under the Belgian – who replaced Michael Beale last month – the Gers have won five of their six matches, while conceding only three goals, and not only has he got the club brimming with confidence, but he has established a clear playing style.

This has all come using the same players that Beale had access to, and it suggests the previous regime was clearly missing something.

Clement has inherited Beale’s summer signings and while several have underperformed – most notably Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers – the likes of Jack Butland and Danilo have impressed at opposite ends of the pitch.

With this foundation, the 49-year-old could build his squad around these two summer arrivals and with the January transfer window approaching, could he be tempted to delve into the market for a player or two.

He will have his own targets, of course, and plenty of ideas on how to vastly improve the squad. The key question is, will the finances be there to adequately meet his ambitions?

With this in mind, it looks as though the Light Blues are showing an interest in a Premier League defender who is struggling for game time in his current team…

Rangers transfer news – Ben Godfrey

According to 90min, the Glasgow side have reportedly shown their interest in Everton centre-back Ben Godfrey just weeks until the transfer window opens.

The Toffees are open to selling the player they purchased for a fee in the region of £20m just over three years ago, especially considering he has featured just once this season in the league.

Fellow Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also interested in the defender, however, and these two sides indicate the Gers have some stiff competition on their hands.

Throw in the likes of Burnley, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, and it’s clear that if Clement really wanted the Everton player, he is going to have to make an impressive pitch.

Todd Cantwell

2023

Nico Raskin

2023

Aaron Ramsey

2022

James Sands

2022

Amad Diallo

2022

Mateusz Zukowski

2022

Scott Wright

2021

Jack Simpson

2021

Ianis Hagi

2020

Florian Kamberi

2020

Via Transfermarkt

He does have 18 months left on his current contract and this could potentially knock down the asking price, but it remains to be seen just how low Everton will drop with regard to a price tag.

If Clement does somehow manage to pull off this signing, it could be reminiscent of the Gers swoop for Connor Goldson back in 2018 and Godfrey could be just like the current Rangers defender.

Connor Goldson’s Rangers statistics

The former Brighton and Hove Albion defender joined Steven Gerrard’s revolution just over five years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

He has become a mainstay in the heart of the Ibrox defence, missing a total of just 17 matches through injury during his half a decade in Glasgow, and has gone on to win a Premiership title along with the Scottish Cup, while making 283 appearances in the process.

His highlight was featuring in all 38 matches during the title-winning 2020/21 season, where he won 71% of his total duels and was dribbled past just 0.2 times per game, demonstrating how impressive he was physically and proving to be one of the best defenders in the country.

Injury disrupted his 2022/23 season, but he has roared back during the current campaign and not only can be imposing at the heart of the defence, but the fact he ranks second across the squad for accurate passes per game suggests the Englishman is able to pass his way out of danger and begin attacks from the back.

Godfrey has shown similar characteristics in the past and this could give him the chance to turn into another Goldson for Rangers.

How Ben Godfrey and Connor Goldson compare

The 25-year-old helped Norwich City win the Championship title in 2019 where he won 57% of his total duels and was dribbled past only 0.3 times per game, showcasing a maturity far beyond his years as he gained promotion to the Premier League.

He significantly impressed during his first season in the top flight to secure a move to Everton and in his maiden campaign for the Merseyside outfit, Godfrey won 64% of his ground duels and he also ranked in the top ten in the squad for accurate passes, tackles and interceptions per game, demonstrating that he could become a regular fixture in the first team over the coming years.

His early form at the Toffees led journalist James Whaling to brand him a “monster” and the £20m fee was beginning to look like an incredible bargain.

His appearances started to dwindle, however, as following 36 games played during his first season, this number subsequently dropped to 27 during his second year to just 15 last term and under Sean Dyche, he has slipped way down the pecking order.

Goldson found himself in a similar position during his last two years at Brighton, featuring just 18 times across all competitions, and the move to Rangers certainly revitalised him while giving him the platform to challenge for trophies and feature on the European stage.

Perhaps a fresh start north of the border is exactly what Godfrey needs in order to give his career a jolt. What better club to join than Rangers?

If he keeps fit, there is no doubting his talents and he could even form a solid defensive duo alongside Goldson, improving the Gers backline in the process.

The next few weeks could be crucial with regard to making inroads into signing the defender and with the likes of Spurs and the Magpies interested, Clement may need to act swiftly.

He is too talented to be languishing on the bench for Everton, and he could well take notice of his former teammate, Todd Cantwell, and his career trajectory.

Once a starlet in East Anglia, he went through some rough times at the club before he joined Rangers. He now looks like a different player and one who could finally return to the form that saw him shine brightly in the Premier League, albeit rather briefly.

Godfrey has the attributes to play at the highest level, but will Rangers be the lucky side who manage to snatch him up? Only time will tell.

Arsenal could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next summer, with a report revealing he’s keen to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's summer departures

Edu and Mikel Arteta sanctioned the sales of 14 players during the previous transfer window, with the likes of Folarin Balogun, Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe being some of the bigger names to depart, whilst a further six stars were sent out on loan for the remainder of the season in order to receive more game time.

The Gunners are also receiving interest in both Thomas Partey and Jorginho from Serie A side Juventus so they are another pair who could be heading for the exit door potentially in January, but they aren’t the only ones who might be looking to move onto new pastures.

In the Premier League this season, Aaron Ramsdale has started just four games (WhoScored – Ramsdale statistics), having lost his place between the sticks to David Raya who has been given the nod for the last six top-flight outings (Transfermarkt – Raya stats), with the former goalkeeper having fallen significantly out of favour.

The England international’s situation has been recognised with Chelsea being credited with an interest in the 25-year-old, and if the following update is to be believed, both the player and the club could reach an agreement to let him go in 2024.

Aaron Ramsdale sets sights on exit

According to Football Insider, Aaron Ramsdale wants to depart Arsenal, and the board could be open to giving him the green-light next summer.

“Arsenal could now part with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale next summer, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed the 25-year-old could be sold in 2024 – with the Gunners then free to go back into the market and sign a clear number two shot-stopper.

"Ramsdale has been unhappy with his second-string status since David Raya’s introduction and wants to move elsewhere to get regular first-team football.

"It is believed Ramsdale wants regular first-team football – not just to stake his claim for the Three Lions ahead of Euro 2024, but also to keep his career on track at a crucial time in his development.”

Since joining Arsenal from Sheffield United two years ago, Ramsdale has kept 31 clean sheets from 84 appearances at the Emirates Stadium (Transfermarkt – Ramsdale stats), with some of his reflexes having seen him hailed “outstanding” by journalist Josh Bunting.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Arteta’s £120,000-a-week earner (Arsenal salaries) has also shown that he can be equally as strong with the ball at his feet as well as in-between his gloves having recorded a 100% pass success rate for all of his short and medium dispatches so far this season (FBRef – Ramsdale stats).

Therefore, N7 chiefs could be making a mistake by letting Ramsdale leave, especially considering how shaky Raya has looked on occasions since coming into the side, highlighted by Gary Neville, so this could be a decision that needs to be given a second thought in the New Year.

Glasgow Rangers went through a summer of change on the pitch as they sanctioned a number of arrivals and exits over the course of the transfer window.

Former Light Blues boss Michael Beale was allowed to bring in nine new signings to bolster his squad and endured a poor start to the season before being relieved of his duties at the start of this month.

Leon Balogun, Abdallah Sima, Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, Jose Cifuentes, and Jack Butland were all signed by the English tactician.

Kilmarnock

1-0 loss

Livingston

4-0 win

Ross County

2-0 win

Celtic

1-0 loss

St Johnstone

2-0 win

Motherwell

1-0 win

Aberdeen

3-1 loss

His signings were not enough to make the Gers a formidable force within the Scottish Premiership and the former Liverpool youth coach has since been replaced by Belgian head coach Philippe Clement.

The 49-year-old boss has arrived at Ibrox with a wealth of experience, having won four Pro League titles in Belgium, and has worked with some terrific talents during his career.

He has coached the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Benoit Badiashile, Noa Lang, Axel Disasi, and Leandro Trossard, among many other impressive gems.

The former Club Brugge tactician could now use the upcoming January transfer window to unearth his next version of one of those stars – Lang – by reigniting the club's interest in Sunderland forward Jack Clarke.

Were Rangers interested in Jack Clarke?

Football League World reported that the Scottish giants were one of a number of clubs interested in signing the English attacker from the Championship side.

The outlet named Everton, Burnley Crystal Palace, Brentford, and Wolves as some of the other teams who were eyeing up a possible swoop for the talented winger.

This shows that the Gers were facing serious competition to secure his signature as his performances had attracted plenty of interest from the Premier League in England.

Therefore, it could be difficult for Rangers to swoop for him during the upcoming January transfer window if those same clubs, and potentially others, are altered to his continually impressive displays at Championship level for Sunderland.

However, there is no harm in trying and that is why Clement must push for the board to reignite the interest that they had alongside Beale during the summer to strike an agreement for Clarke, if possible, as he could thrive under the new manager.

The Belgian coach has a track record of getting the best out of wingers and Lang is a prime example of that from his time with Club Brugge in his home country.

How many goals did Lang score for Clement?

He enjoyed a fantastic time in Belgium and caught the eye with 25 goals in 67 appearances across two seasons with Clement at Brugge earlier in their respective careers.

In total, the exciting winger produced 25 goals and 23 assists in those matches under the now-Rangers head coach and only managed 13 goals and 11 assists in 58 outings after the boss' move to AS Monaco at the start of 2022.

Lang showcased his ability to make a consistent impact at the top end of the pitch from a wide position, with goals and assists – rather than being limited to one or the other.

The 24-year-old wizard was able to be a difference-maker week-in-week-out for Clement and is now getting back to his best form after a summer move to PSV.

He has racked up four goals and one assist in seven Eredivisie appearances so far this season, and featured in both matches against Rangers in their 7-3 Champions League play-off victory.

How many goals has Clarke scored this season?

The Sunderland star has enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign with an eye-catching return of eight goals in 12 Championship matches.

Like Noa Lang, Clarke is capable of playing on either flank and has proven himself to be a difference-maker in the final third with his ability to score goals and create chances.

He is yet to register a league assist this season but has his teammates to blame for that as they have not made the most of his two key passes per game.

The Gers target has accumulated 2.14 xA (Expected Assists) and created three 'big chances' for his fellow attackers, as per Sofsacore, which indicates that he does not deserve to be sat on zero assists.

How many goals did Clarke score last season?

His impressive form this term comes off the back of his return of nine goals and 12 assists in 46 Championship starts for the Black Cats last season.

Clarke, who completed two dribbles per match throughout the 2022/23 campaign, has racked up 17 goals and 12 assists at league level for Sunderland since the start of last season.

This shows that the English whiz is able to make a consistent impact in the final third from a wide position, with his ability to find the back of the net whilst also being able to create for others.

These statistics also suggest that the 5 foot 10 gem, who was once dubbed an "exciting" player by ex-Leeds forward Noel Whelan, could be Lang 2.0 due to his goal contributions from the wing as a young right-footed magician.

Should Rangers sign Clarke?

Clement should, therefore, swoop for the Championship star to take Scott Wright's position in the team after the Scottish dud started the manager's first game against Hibernian.

The former Aberdeen man has been in dismal form since the start of last season and Clarke could arrive as a huge upgrade on him for the Gers.

Wright has produced zero goals and zero assists in three Scottish Premiership outings so far this term, despite starting two of those matches, and has been sent off once.

This has come off the back of the 26-year-old lightweight's zero goals and one assist in 23 league games for the Ibrox giants throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

The ex-Dons winger has not been able to provide quality on a regular basis for Rangers, as evidenced by his woeful statistics, and Clarke's form for Sunderland indicates that he has the potential to offer significantly more than him at the top end of the pitch.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea tenure hasn’t got off to the most seamless start and the pressure is already building after the sheer amount of money that was spent by the club in the summer.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton boss will be keen to secure a second Premier League win of the season and it is Aston Villa who will stand in their way this weekend.

Raheem Sterling has been one of the brightest sparks in blue so far this year and the English icon could well be the difference-maker when Unai Emery and Aston Villa come to town.

At Football FanCast, we have delved into the history books of this fixture and also the record that Sterling has against the Villains.

What is Raheem Sterling’s goal record against Aston Villa?

Raheem Sterling has faced off against Aston Villa 15 times in all competitions across his career in English football.

The Chelsea man has scored twice in the Premier League against them and also found the back of the net in an FA Cup clash with Villa during his time as a Manchester City player.

All three of his goals in this fixture came whilst he was at the Etihad – he never scored against Villa as a Liverpool player and is yet to get off the mark wearing the blue of Chelsea.

What is Raheem Sterling’s assist record against Aston Villa?

Sterling is quite a versatile attacking player in that he brings both goals and assists to the table.

Villa know this all too well with the Englishman assisting five goals when playing against them.

Two of these came in the only two FA Cup meetings with one league assist coming in his Liverpool tenure, and the other two being from the Manchester City days.

How many goal contributions does Raheem Sterling have against Aston Villa?

Combining the two and Sterling has contributed to eight goals in competitions from his 15 clashes with Aston Villa.

The 28-year-old has three goal contributions in the FA Cup, zero in the EFL Cup and then five from Premier League meetings.

What is Raheem Sterling's head-to-head record against Aston Villa?

Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with Liverpool, earned a big-money move to Manchester City and now plays in London at Chelsea. These are three of the biggest teams in English football and so he has enjoyed a lot of victories in his esteemed career.

When facing Aston Villa, the England international has a very solid record, winning 10 of the 15 meetings. Meanwhile, two were drawn and the other three went the way of Villa.

As a Liverpool player, Sterling won twice, drew once and actually lost three times whilst the only meeting as a Chelsea man to date saw his side win 2-0 away from home.

What is Raheem Sterling’s home record vs Aston Villa?

This weekend’s match will take place at Stamford Bridge and so it is fascinating to track how Sterling and co have performed on home soil against Aston Villa.

During his time at Anfield, Villa came and left with seven points from a possible nine, something which Liverpool won’t be keen to look back on.

Success was the motto at the Etihad though and Villa were unable to accrue a single point from their four trips to Manchester. City won all of these games and did so by a whopping aggregate score of 12-2.

Who has Raheem Sterling scored the most goals against?

He may have a solid record against Aston Villa but they are nowhere near the summit of the list of Sterling’s favourite opponents.

When it comes to goals, the four-time Premier League winner has found the back of the net 11 times against both AFC Bournemouth and Watford. Nine is his tally against Newcastle United and Southampton and then Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Arsenal and Norwich City come next with eight.

Who does Raheem Sterling have the most goal contributions against?

Having scored 11 times against the aforementioned duo, they are of course near the top of the list for goal contributions but they do not lead the way.

His 11 goals and four assists against Bournemouth, from 15 games, is bettered by Sterling’s record against West Ham. Eight goals and eight assists against the Irons has them on top and interestingly enough, with six, they are the team against who Sterling has accumulated the most yellow cards. It is worth noting too that the only red of his career was against the Cherries.

How many goals does Raheem Sterling have in September?

Sterling was on fire against Luton Town, scoring a brace, but that came at the end of August and he is yet to score this month as we head into the Aston Villa clash.

That being said, he has hit the ground running in numerous seasons previously and has a very healthy record for the month of September.

The boy from Brent has 17 goals in all competitions in the month of September since he became a professional footballer.

10 of these came in the Premier League including a brace against Crystal Palace in 2017. Meanwhile, he struck four times in the EFL Cup and also found the back of the net against Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League.

What is Raheem Sterling's overall Chelsea goal record?

Sterling is of course a recent arrival at Stamford Bridge and so his record as a Blue won’t be blowing anyone away any time soon.

He has netted 11 times for Chelsea, three in the Champions League and then eight in the Premier League.

What is Raheem Sterling’s overall Chelsea assist record?

With his previous clubs, Sterling has had a fairly balanced rate between his goals and assists but that is yet to be the case in the English capital.

For Chelsea, Sterling has four assists, three of which came in the Premier League whilst the other was against AC Milan in a 3-0 UCL group stage victory.

The Ange Postecoglou revolution continues at Tottenham Hotspur, with the 58-year-old having overseen a fourth successive Premier League victory to keep his side within touching distance of leaders Manchester City.

Faced with a struggling Sheffield United side who had picked up just a point heading into Saturday's encounter, it looked like it could be another routine victory for the Lilywhites, having hit fellow newly-promoted side Burnley for five prior to the international break.

It would, however, prove to be a far tougher test as it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock with less than 20 minutes left to play, with summer signing Gustavo Hamer powering his side into a shock lead in north London.

To their credit, the in-form hosts responded spectacularly with two goals at the death to clinch all three points, with Dejan Kulusveski completing the comeback in the last knockings of added time to spark bedlam inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Swede's rifled, right-footed effort had been teed up by substitute sensation, Richarlison, with the Brazilian enigma having been the man to drag his side level just minutes earlier with a thumping, front-post header.

For all the talk of the 26-year-old's lack of impact in a Tottenham shirt to date – with that having been just his second league goal across the last 12 months – that late cameo illustrated the role that the former Everton man can play in Postecoglou's attacking ranks.

It also looks as if there remains a need to keep Ivan Persic involved in proceedings despite the Croatian's advancing years, with the 34-year-old having also played a "key role" off the bench – as per football.london's Alasdair Gold.

How did Ivan Perisic perform against Sheffield United?

It is fair to say that the former Inter Milan man didn't exactly set the world alight last season under Antonio Conte, with The Athletic's James Maw even going as far as to suggest that the wing-back will be "remembered as a massive waste of money", despite signing on a free transfer.

Even amid those woes, the former World Cup finalist did still showcase his attacking quality after registering a squad-high tally of eight assists in the top-flight last term, while also creating 11 'big chances' from his 34 outings.

Now primarily deployed in a more advanced berth on the flanks, the experienced asset has shown that he can continue to make an impact in moments in the current campaign, as was evident in his role as a late substitute today.

Despite only making 17 touches – and squandering possession on seven occasions – the £180k-per-week veteran did provide the assist for Richarlison's equaliser with a delightful whipped corner, before again finding the Brazilian in the build-up to Kulusevski's last-gasp strike with a clever flick round the corner.

Not only a real weapon from the flanks – as he attempted six crosses in total in that brief display – Perisic was also able to contribute defensively after winning all three of his total duels, as Spurs went in pursuit of victory.

While it is unlikely that the wideman will be featuring too regularly from the start this season with the likes of Heung-min Son, Manor Solomon and Brennan Johnson all in the picture, such a game-changing performance has shown that Postecoglou can turn to him when needed to impact matches off the bench.

As for the north Londoners as a collective, such a thrilling finale has ensured that the positive momentum continues at N17, ahead of next week's north London derby.

أكد أيمن الشريعي، رئيس نادي إنبي، أن تصريحات مصطفى شلبي، لاعب الزمالك، تم تأويلها بشكل خاطئ، مُشددًا على أن اللاعب لم يقصد الإشارة إلى رفضه لعرض الأهلي ورغبته في الانتقال للقلعة البيضاء.

وقال الشريعي في تصريحات عبر قناة “النهار”: “مصطفى شلبي ترك إنبي منذ موسمين، لا أرى أن هناك شيئًا قد حدث منه لكي نتحدث عنه الآن، تابعت الحوار الذي أجراه اللاعب، وهو لم يقل هذا الكلام الذي نُشر على لسانه”.

وتابع: “هذه مشكلة تحدث معي أنا شخصيًا، عندما أتحدث في حوار يتم ترجمته بطريقة أخرى، الموضوع بمنتهى السلاسة إن مصطفى شلبي تحدث عن العرض الذي جاء له شخصيًا، وإنبي ليس طرفًا في ذلك، العقد الشخصي بين اللاعب وناديه الجديد أنا لا أعرفه ولا يخص إدارة النادي”.

وأضاف: “أتواصل مع مصطفى شلبي بشكل دائم، فهذه طبيعة إدارتي، لا أتخلى عن متابعة اللاعبين الذين يغادرون النادي، لأنّني أؤمن بأنّ العلاقة بين اللاعب والنادي تتجاوز مجرد عقد احترافي”.

طالع أيضًا | مصطفى شلبي: عرض الأهلي كان أكبر من الزمالك.. وأحب حازم إمام وأبو تريكة

وأوضح: “فسر البعض تصريح اللاعب بشكل خاطئ بأنه يُشير إلى العرض الذي قدمه النادي الأهلي لإنبي، وهذا غير صحيح، هو كان يتحدث عن راتبه في كلٍّ من الأهلي والزمالك”.

وأردف: “نحن في زمن الاحتراف، سواء على المستوى الإداري أو على مستوى اللاعبين، عمل اللاعب هو لعب كرة القدم فقط، وينتمي للفريق الذي يتقاضى منه أجرًا، وهذا هو الانتماء الحقيقي”.

وأشار: “عرض الزمالك كان أكبر من الأهلي؛ ولذلك انتقل اللاعب إلى القلعة البيضاء، سياستي معروفة، أنا أبيع اللاعبين للفرق صاحبة العرض الأكبر ماديًا، مع احترام رغبة اللاعب في حال عدم تعارضها مع رؤيتي الاستثمارية، ممكن أتنازل بنسبة 10% من أجل رغبة اللاعب، لكن لو زادت عن ذلك لا”.

واختتم: “هل الأهلي استفسر عن محمد حمدي ظهير أيسر إنبي؟ لم، لم يحدث أي استفسار من الأهلي عن اللاعب، لا بطريقة ودية أو رسمية، إنما تلقى اللاعب بوادر عرضًا من البرتغال، وخلال الفترة القادمة سيتضح الأمر”.

Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board backed Northern Irish head coach Brendan Rodgers significantly throughout the summer transfer window.

Who did Celtic sign this summer?

The Hoops added nine new additions to the group in an attempt to bolster the playing squad in spite of the treble-winning campaign last season.

Nat Phillips

Loan

Luis Palma

Permanent

Gustaf Lagerbielke

Permanent

Maik Nawrocki

Permanent

Paulo Bernardo

Loan

Odin Thiago Holm

Permanent

Marco Tilio

Permanent

Hyeok-kyu Kwon

Permanent

Hyun-jun Yang

Permanent

Seven players were brought in on permanent deals to improve the side in the long term, with Luis Palma arriving for a reported fee of £3.5m as the final addition in that bracket.

Bernardo has arrived on a season-long loan from Benfica, although the club do have the option to sign him at the end of the campaign, and Phillips has joined from Liverpool until January.

These signings have added further depth to Rodgers' squad and that has resulted in a number of players being surplus to requirements as they have too many people ahead of them in the pecking order to have a realistic chance of getting minutes on the pitch. One of those who fell victim to that is Albian Ajeti.

Why did Celtic sell Ajeti?

Ajeti is one of the players who fell into that aforementioned situation with the Hoops reportedly very keen to move him on before the Turkish transfer window closes on the 15th, amid interest from Gaziantep.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT recently, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the Bhoys were "desperate" to cash in on the Switzerland international.

The reporter also revealed that the Hoops dud had rejected two moves away from Parkhead already and was content to remain at the club on his reported £21k-per-week salary without being a part of the team if the right move did not arise.

However, Gaziantep officially confirmed the signing of Ajeti this week, and the Scottish giants have finally been unable to offload him from their wage bill.

Joseph had stated that the club would sanction an exit for a fee of just £500k this summer, although it is yet to be confirmed exactly how much the Turkish side have spent to secure his signature.

How much did Celtic pay for Ajeti?

Celtic paid a reported fee of £5m to sign the striker from West Ham United in 2020 and you could forgive supporters for having high expectations of a player when they arrive for such a significant amount of money.

Then-manager Neil Lennon described the former Hammers marksman as a "tremendous" player, despite his form for the Premier League side being less-than-impressive.

Ajeti joined the London-based club from Basel in 2019 and struggled badly in England as he ended his time with West Ham without a single goal to his name in 12 competitive appearances. This included zero goals and zero assists in nine outings in the English top-flight.

He averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.46 and lost a staggering 91% of his physical duels across those nine Premier League matches, but that did not put Celtic off in their pursuit of his services.

How many goals did Ajeti score for Celtic?

The Swiss forward ended his career in Scotland with nine goals in 46 competitive games across his three years with the Hoops, which shows that he was far from prolific.

Ajeti failed to break into Lennon's side on a regular basis throughout his debut campaign as he started only ten Scottish Premiership matches in the 2020/21 season.

The 26-year-old, who former Bhoys striker Frank McAvennie described as "lazy" due to his poor work rate, featured in 20 league clashes in total that term and found the back of the net six times, whilst he also provided his teammates with one assist.

His lack of physical strength was an issue as the former Premier League attacker lost 65% of his duels and a whopping 74% of his aerial battles, which may have been a big reason behind his lack of starts as Lennon could not rely on him to occupy opposition defenders.

Teams found it far too easy to dominate him and the Swiss finisher did not make up for it with his quality in possession, failing to create a single 'big chance' and producing 0.6 key passes per game to go along with his six goals.

Lennon moved on from Parkhead at the end of that season and Ange Postecoglou was brought in for the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

The Australian head coach did not take a liking to Ajeti either and only handed him seven league appearances. In that time, the ex-Hoop scored two goals and lost 61% of his duels for the Scottish side to go alongside a rather average Sofascore rating of 6.72.

These statistics show that the ex-Basel star struggled with the physicality of football in Scotland and was unable to earn a regular run of starts due to that and his lack of quality in the final third.

His record in European competitions was also particularly dire. He produced one goal in 14 games across the Europa League and Champions League, including qualifiers, as the misfiring forward failed to make the step up to continental competitions.

Ajeti's dreadful form for the Hoops led to him being sent out on loan to Sturm Graz by Postecoglou for the 2022/23 campaign and he struggled to make an impact in Austria.

Only four goals and one assist fell his way in 23 appearances for the club and, once again, he left a lot to be desired out of possession. He lost 60% of his physical battles and found the back of the net on three occasions in 15 Bundesliga outings for Sturm Graz.

His finishing ability also came into question in Austria as the misfiring dud spurned eight 'big chances' in front of goal in those league matches, which shows that Ajeti struggled on and off the ball throughout the season.

The £5m signing's disappointing loan spell clearly failed to indicate to Rodgers that he was worth handing a chance to at Parkhead this season, which led to his move to Turkey this week.

Celtic certinaly endured a nightmare with the Lennon signing over the course of his three years in Scotland and they will be happy that his chapter at the club has now come to an end.

Eoin Morgan is confident that Alex Hales will be able to focus on his game after being made available for selection in the wake of the Bristol incident

Andrew McGlashan06-Dec-2017England’s one-day captain Eoin Morgan is confident that Alex Hales will be able to focus on his game after being made available for selection, following confirmation by police that he is no longer a suspect in the incident that took place in Bristol on September 25, although it seems likely he won’t immediately earn his place back in the starting XI against Australia.Hales has been included in England’s 16-man squad for the one-day series against Australia which follows the Ashes, having been omitted from the last two ODIs of the home season against West Indies following events in Bristol. Ben Stokes is also currently part of the squad but his participation depends on a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service, after their charging advice was sought by Avon and Somerset Police.Hales’ position in the squad could yet come into doubt, should the CPS take no action against Stokes and the issue is handed to the Cricket Discipline Commission, but for now Hales is back in the mix and Morgan has no concerns over his state of mind.”I’m very confident he’ll be able to move on. I think that’s dictated by the performances he puts in and the hard work he puts in, but I’ve no doubt his head is in the right space to do that,” Morgan told ESPNcricinfo.”It’s very pleasing to have Alex back, when the news broke it was going to be a boost to the squad in what I think will be a tough series in the New Year and that starts off 2018 for us, which will be quite a significant year for us in growing what we’ve established as a team, and he remains a vital part of that.”Whether Hales walks back into the side remains up for debate from a cricket point of view, however, following the successful comeback for Jason Roy when he took Hales’ spot against West Indies. Roy scored 84 and 96 to finish a disappointing summer on a high after losing his spot for the Champions Trophy semi-final.Alongside the prolific introduction of Jonny Bairstow as an opener – he has scored 345 runs at 115.00 in the six matches since he replaced Roy – it means England are overloaded for top-order options. England coach Trevor Bayliss has suggested that Bairstow and Roy will both retain their positions at the top, but it is a dilemma Morgan is happy to have.”It was unfortunate that Jason couldn’t turn a corner for the semi-final or the lead into it and the opportunity fell to Jonny, which was great,” Morgan said. “He had grafted over the last two years and every opportunity he got he managed to cash in. I think the performances from Jason in the last two games against West Indies were outstanding.”It’s never easy when you’ve been dropped to come back in and score runs and it’s quite evident that when he does he’s a dominant force at the top of the order. Performances like that always create an interesting conversation in selection – it’s done that for two years now and it’s epitomised the hunger to get into the XI. It’s been difficult at times but it’s a pleasure to play in such a strong XI.”