Burnley have issued a statement as the club explained the decision to allow Vincent Kompany to leave for Bayern Munich.
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Outside of the top four and struggling to get results in the Premier League this season, Newcastle United are in desperate need of some good news in the January transfer window. PIF must strengthen Eddie Howe's squad if they are to revive their campaign and qualify for at least the Europa League come May. But with the transfer window open, they must also be wary of losing some key players without the promise of Champions League action.
With that said, reports suggest that one top European club are willing to make a major offer to sign one Newcastle star, whose exit would leave a gaping hole in Howe's side at St James' Park.
The last thing that Newcastle need is for a top player to leave the club this month, given their recent form. The Magpies have lost three consecutive Premier League games, which has included defeats against relegation candidates Luton Town and Nottingham Forest, before being convincingly beaten by Liverpool.
Add a major exit onto that form and Newcastle could find themselves languishing in mid-table come May, especially if one European giant get their way in the transfer window this month.
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According to ESPN, Paris Saint-Germain have made Bruno Guimaraes their top target in the January transfer window. The Ligue 1 champions could be boosted by the fact that the midfielder's agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, recently worked with the club in their deals to sign Lucas Beraldo and Gabriel Moscardo.
With Guimaraes' release clause sitting at a reported £100m, it remains to be seen whether PSG will splash the cash to welcome the Brazilian, but given that money is rarely an obstacle for them, Newcastle could be in danger of losing one of their best players. As the transfer window progresses, Guimaraes will certainly be one to keep an eye on.
If Newcastle want to progress into a club consistently competing for a place in the Premier League's top four, then keeping hold of a player like Guimaraes is a must. The Brazilian was at the heart of their Champions League qualification last season and could be vital to the Magpies turning their current campaign around.
Guimaraes' stats certainly make for impressive reading. The former Lyon man is in the 88th percentile for progressive passes and 91st percentile for take-ons completed when compared to midfielders in Europe's top five leagues via FBref.
It's no surprise that Newcastle boss Howe is a fan of his star man, previously saying: “Yes, they love him and rightly so after today’s performance. He was magnificent in every discipline of the game. I think the biggest compliment I could give him is that on 95 minutes, with tired legs, for sure, for him – he’s getting used to the Premier League – but he’s managed to get himself in the box to score that header.”
At the halfway point, Newcastle will now hope to keep hold of Guimaraes amid interest from PSG, but it could be quite the battle for the Premier League side.
Tyler Adams has explained why Christian Pulisic is “one of the best in the world”, with the USMNT star adding “numbers” to his game at AC Milan.
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Leeds United have just over two weeks left to complete any business that they would like to do before the end of the January transfer window.
Speaking in his most recent press conference, ahead of the clash with Cardiff, Daniel Farke stressed that it is important to be careful in the market this month.
The German tactician outlined the difficulties of finding appropriate deals in the winter window – citing that some players who are available have not played much football this season and others are incredibly expensive.
|
Current Championship top six (via Sofascore) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Club |
Position |
Matches played |
Points |
|
Leicester City |
1 |
26 |
65 |
|
Ipswich Town |
2 |
26 |
55 |
|
Southampton |
3 |
26 |
52 |
|
Leeds United |
4 |
26 |
48 |
|
West Brom |
5 |
26 |
42 |
|
Sunderland |
6 |
26 |
40 |
He did not say outright that Leeds are looking to bolster in the full-back positions but did say that it is 'obvious' where the club need to strengthen if you look at the depth of the squad.
The Whites sent Djed Spence back to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, five months earlier than expected, after his loan move from the Premier League side, and Luke Ayling has been sent out on loan to Middlesbrough.
FootballScotland reports that Glasgow Rangers left-back Borna Barisic is an active target for Leeds this month, which would align with their need to add to their options in that area of the pitch.
The outlet claims that the Yorkshire-based side are 'hopeful' of a swoop to bring the Croatia international down south of the border before the end of the window.
Farke is looking to lure the experienced defender away from Ibrox but it remains to be seen how likely a deal is this month for a number of factors.
Firstly, the report states that no final decision has been made by the 31-year-old ace on his future and this suggests that Barisic has not made his mind up as of yet, which means that Leeds could need to convince him to make the switch.
FootballScotland also claim that Rangers want to offer the full-back a new contract to fight off interest from elsewhere as they want to keep him at their club.
However, his current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and this means that Barisic is free to speak with other teams to put pen to paper on a pre-contract.
Clubs from Ligue 1, LaLiga, and the Serie A have already made approaches to check in on his availability, and this shows that Leeds face serious competition for his signature.
The Whites will need to convince the Croatian dynamo that a drop down to the Championship is more worthwhile than possibly playing in one of Europe's major leagues – possibly with the carrot that promotion to the Premier League is still on the cards.
If Farke and Leeds can strike a deal to sign Barisic from the Gers this month, to provide them with a fee instead of losing him for nothing in the summer, then the German boss would land a huge upgrade on Sam Byram at left-back.
The 30-year-old defender was brought in on a free transfer from Norwich City last summer, seemingly as a back-up option at the time, and worked his way into being a key player for the manager.
Byram, who is naturally right-footed, has established himself as the first-choice left-back option when fit and has started 18 of the club's 26 Championship matches so far.
Last season, the ex-West Ham enforcer only featured in 15 league matches and started 11 times for the Canaies throughout the entire campaign, which has made his consistency – in availability and performances – somewhat of a surprise.
He has been a solid defensive presence with 3.2 tackles and interceptions per match and a duel success rate of 51% in the Championship this term. Only Ethan Ampadu (1.5) has made more interceptions per game than Byram (1.4) for Leeds.
However, the Whites stopper has not provided outstanding attacking quality from left-back, possibly due to being a naturally right-footed player.
Byram has created one 'big chance' and averaged 0.7 key passes per match. He has also averaged 1.97 shot-creating actions per 90 and racked up 0.06 Expected Assisted Goals per 90 in the second tier this season.
These statistics suggest that the experienced gem has been a reliable option defensively but that there is room for Leeds to bring in an upgrade in possession, which is where Barisic could improve the team.
At the age of 31, the Rangers star may not be a long-term solution for Farke but he could be a difference-maker in the club's fight to win promotion with his ability to create chances from left-back.
The Croatia international has showcased his creativity in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues this season with two assists and 2.2 key passes per game across 11 appearances. This means that he has created 1.5 more chances per match than Byram has in the Championship for Leeds.
|
22/23 Premiership |
Borna Barisic (via Sofascore) |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
30 |
|
Assists |
Nine |
|
Big chances created |
12 |
|
Key passes per game |
2.3 |
As you can see in the table above, Barisic was also a sublime creator for the Scottish giants throughout the 2022/23 campaign and his current form is not a flash in the pan.
He has also showcased his attacking prowess on the European stage. In the Europa League this season, the Gers star ranks within the top 9% of full-backs for shot-creating actions (3.60) per 90 and averaged 0.14 Expected Assisted Goals (xAG) per 90.
This indicates that the £21k-per-week maestro has the quality to be a huge upgrade on Byram in possession, as he can provide far more at the top end of the pitch when it comes to assists, key passes, 'big chances' created, shot-creating actions, and xAG.
The Leeds target, who was once hailed for his "magic" play by ex-boss Steven Gerrard, does not avoid the defensive side of the game, either, with 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game and a duel success rate of 61% in the Premiership.
These statistics show that he can also make defensive interventions to cut out opposition attacks and, interestingly, wins a higher percentage of his physical battles in comparison to Byram, which means that he could be a harder opponent for forwards to get past.
Therefore, Barisic would come in as a huge upgrade at left-back for Leeds and provide the team with another exceptional attacking outlet down the left flank behind Crysencio Summerville.
Manchester United are reportedly among four Premier League sides targeting Lille striker Jonathan David.
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West Ham United completed their first signing of the January transfer window last week as they unveiled England international Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City, but their next move has now taken a hit.
The Sun reveal that Hammers boss David Moyes now has his eyes set on the signing of a winger to bolster his attacking options before the deadline passes. He wants another wide forward to compete with the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen at the top end of the pitch during the second half of the season.
This report states that the club will not pursue a deal to sign English centre-forward Callum Wilson from Premier League rivals Newcastle United, as they are prioritising a swoop for a wide player.
The Sun add that West Ham are keen on a deal to sign FC Nordsjaelland forward Ibrahim Osman and have already made their first offer to secure his services. They swooped in with a bid of £16m to sign the talented young attacker, but it has already been turned down by the Danish side, who are looking for a fee of £18m.
The Hammers have failed in their initial approach to snap up the 19-year-old whiz, who is valued at £18m plus bonuses and a sell-on clause by his current club.
However, West Ham have not been deterred as the report claims that they will still try to land Osman before the window slams shut on Thursday. It also states that fellow Premier League sides Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford are also interested in the teenage dynamo, which means that Moyes could face late competition for the exciting gem.
There is no mention of whether or not the Hammers are now prepared to up their offer to the £18m that Nordsjaelland want for their prized asset, though there are reports of alternative targets, with the Hammers also eyeing former Celtic forward Jota.
On paper, it appears to be a signing that would firmly be for the future as the young magician has not been outstanding in the Danish top-flight so far this season.
|
2023/24 Superliga |
Ibrahim Osman (via Sofascore) |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
16 |
|
Starts |
14 |
|
Goals |
One |
|
Assists |
Four |
|
Big chances created |
Six |
As you can see from the table above, Osman has been solid, if unspectacular, with his return in front of goal as he has not provided impressively consistent quality as a scorer or a creator of goals. Six West Ham players have scored more than one goal and three Hammers stars have produced more than four assists in the Premier League so far this season.
This suggests that the promising talent would not be an outstanding option for the Scottish manager for goals or assists even if he could translate his current form over to the English top-flight, of which there is no guarantee.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
By
Luke Randall
Feb 1, 2024
However, at the age of 19, Osman, who was dubbed "electric" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has plenty of time on his hands to develop and improve over the years to come and Moyes could look at this potential deal as one that has long-term benefits for West Ham.
He may not make a huge impact on the pitch in the short-term but could grow into an important player for the club further down the line if he can build on his current promising displays, which is why this could be an exciting addition for the Hammers.
Adam Wharton revealed that Prince William spoke with the England squad immediately after the Denmark draw at Euro 2024.
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Leeds United enjoyed a relatively quiet January transfer window as they ended it with just the one addition to Daniel Farke's first-team playing squad.
The Whites secured a deal to sign right-back Connor Roberts on loan until the end of the season from Premier League side Burnley, having been promoted as a winner from the Championship last term.
That came after Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham Hotspur earlier than expected from his loan at Elland Road, and Luke Ayling was allowed to join fellow second division side Middlesbrough in search of more regular game time.
Farke did not need to change much in his squad after being backed by the club last summer with the signings of Ethan Ampadu, Joel Piroe, Joe Rodon, Ilia Gruev, and Jaidon Anthony, among others.
Ampadu may have been brought in to finally fill the void left by Kalvin Phillips' departure to Manchester City in the summer of 2022 in the holding midfield position but he has recently caught the eye in a different role.
An injury to Pascal Struijk has forced the Wales international to be utilised at centre-back next to compatriot Joe Rodon and he has seamlessly transitioned into that position with ease.
The versatile enforcer has started five of the club's last six games in all competitions at the heart of the defence and Leeds have kept four clean sheets and conceded one goal in those five matches.
Playing in this position has suited his game as Ampadu has the pace to recover the ball regularly when teams attempt to play in behind and down the channels to stretch the defence.
His terrific passing ability also means that having the game in front of him at all times allows the former Chelsea gem to dictate play in possession.
Ampadu currently ranks within the top 13% of Championship midfielders for pass success rate (87.3%) and in the top 44% for progressive passes (4.80) per 90, which shows that he is reliable on the ball and able to progress the play for his side to find teammates in dangerous positions.
Leeds have won all four of the Championship matches that Ampadu has started at centre-back in 2024, with three clean sheets and one goal conceded, and they appear to have found the recipe for success with him and Rodon as a pairing.
If performances and results continue on the same track, it will be increasingly difficult for Struijk to win his place back in the side as it is hard to argue with the current structure at the back.
Ampadu's transition to centre-back has also opened the door for Gruev to finally earn regular minutes in the first-team since his summer move from Werder Bremen.
The Bulgaria international has been in impressive form at the base of the midfield since coming into the team and Farke could now unearth the club's Phillips 2.0 in the exciting gem.
The England international played a pivotal role in the club's promotion to the Premier League from the second tier under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2019/20 campaign.
He started 37 of their 46 league matches and caught the eye with his impressive play in the middle of the park, thanks to his contributions on and off the ball.
Phillips ranked within the top 5% of Championship midfielders for passes attempted (63.75) per 90 and made 5.48 progressive passes per game to push his side up the pitch by finding his teammates in dangerous positions.
The now-West Ham United loanee also made an impact at the other end of the pitch with his strong defensive work at the base of Bielsa's midfield.
He averaged 2.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per match to go along with a duel success rate of 54%, which shows that the talented gem came out on top in more duels than he lost throughout the campaign.
Phillips ranked within the top 18% for both tackles (2.71) and interceptions (1.41) per 90 among midfielders in the Championship that term as he displayed his ability to cut out opposition attacks on a regular basis.
Farke now appears to be on his way to finding the club's next version of the England international as Gruev has emerged as an impressive figure in midfield for the German tactician in recent weeks.
The 23-year-old dynamo had to bide his time and wait patiently over the first few months of the campaign as Glen Kamara and Ampadu had nailed down their respective places in the team.
He has now started five of the club's last six Championship matches and is finally making his mark on the side with excellent displays for the Whites.
Like Phillips, Gruev is a strong defensive midfielder who can put his foot in to stop opposition attacks whilst also being reliable and progressive in possession to help his team to build attacks.
The Bulgarian whiz currently ranks within the top 3% of Championship midfielders for his pass success rate (90.6%), and the top 15% for passes attempted (63.61) per 90, whilst he has also made 4.88 progressive passes per 90.
This shows that the young talent has the quality on the ball to rarely give possession away to the opposition, as very few other players in his position complete a higher percentage of their passes in the division.
|
Ilia Gruev vs midfielders (via FBref) |
|
|---|---|
|
23/24 Championship (per 90) |
Percentile rank |
|
Tackles (2.44) |
Top 18% |
|
Interceptions (1.37) |
Top 22% |
|
Blocks (1.07) |
Bottom 45% |
|
Progressive passes (4.88) |
Top 43% |
As you can see in the table above, Gruev excels at making tackles and interceptions to cut out opposition attacks at source to prevent Illan Meslier from being worked.
The former Werder star has, therefore, showcased his qualities in and out of possession with his exceptional passing at the heart of the midfield as well as his tough-tackling, ball-winning, exploits.
Gruev, who analyst Ben Mattinson recently hailed as a "revelation" for Leeds in a double pivot with Kamara, has also won 53% of his duels across 15 Championship appearances, which shows that he can hold his own in physical contests.
Overall, Ampadu's transition to centre-back has allowed the £15k-per-week maestro to flourish in midfield and Farke now has the chance to unearth the club's new Kalvin Phillips with another reliable passer and tough-tackling ace emerging at Elland Road.
Tottenham Hotspur fell to defeat in the FA Cup last month – against holders Manchester City – and Ange Postecoglou's hopes of securing silverware in the first year of his tenure now hinge on the Premier League.
Pragmaticism can be disheartening but even the most optimistic Spurs supporters will admit that the league title might be out of reach this season, table-toppers Liverpool seven points clear of the London club, Manchester City two points behind with a game in hand.
Crucially, Postecoglou has triumphed in breathing life back into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and has made a marked improvement on a squad that had fallen by the wayside last year.
Jurgen Klopp, for example, required four years of progress before finally tasting a trophy on Merseyside; Pep Guardiola needed a year to stamp his brand onto Manchester City.
The key factor has been ridding Spurs of the deadwood that had weighed the team down like an anchor, the sunlit shore tantalisingly out of reach.
On that note, it's hardly surprising that one of the Australian's first ports of call was to wave goodbye to Tanguy Ndombele, a player at the very epicentre of Tottenham's recent troubles.
It was July 2019 and Spurs were still nursing the wounds of the month prior, reaching the Champions League final in extraordinary circumstances before falling to defeat against Liverpool.
It was the beginning of the end for Mauricio Pochettino, who sought to make resounding improvements to his talented team, unaware that he had entered the final months of his reign.
Indeed, in an attempt to assuage the loss, Tottenham completed the club-record £63m signing of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon, the 22-year-old only joining the French cub in a £7m deal 12 months before.
It was a necessary addition, with Lucas Moura the last player to arrive in north London 18 months before. Tottenham were endowed with first-rate players in Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Heung-min Son, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris… the list goes on.
But such players needed silverware and Ndombele was viewed as the marquee, honour-gleaning addition to take Spurs to new heights, praised as "potentially the most complete box-to-box midfielder in the world" by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke after signing.
|
Tanguy Ndombele: Key Characteristics |
|
|---|---|
|
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
|
Passing |
Concentration |
|
Dribbling |
|
|
Aerial duels |
|
|
Source: WhoScored |
|
To say that Ndombele had flattered to deceive would make a mockery of the idiom. It is quite possibly one of the worst pieces of business forged under the chairmanship of Daniel Levy.
Ndombele completed 91 appearances for Tottenham before departing last summer, scoring ten goals and supplying nine assists for his teammates.
Hardly shameful numbers, but then they do not tell the story of his lack of energy, absence of application and inconsistency. Fitness issues have plagued the Frenchman's career and one source close to the issue at Tottenham commented that for such an "incredibly talented" player, his inability to do the basics was bewildering.
At his best – the side of the coin that Tottenham saw and were initially enticed by – Ndombele is a masterful No. 8 with technical brilliance, defensive strength and unstoppable progressive surges when in possession. Essentially, he had the raw physical attributes to emulate an iconic Premier League phenomenon like Yaya Toure.
But this failure to combine the cogs together proved damning and after joining Napoli on loan for the 2022/23 campaign and after starting just eight times in Serie A as Luciano Spaletti's side won the Scudetto, Postecoglou seemed to make the swift decision to ship him on.
Given that he is now valued at just £7m by Football Transfers, Spurs might lose around £56m on their investment if Gala choose to snap him up for good by the end of the season, but with just four starts in the Turkish Super Lig thus far, that doesn't look likely.
And so he sailed away, signing for Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray (on loan with an option to buy) alongside Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez.
Sanchez moved to Turkey on a permanent £13m transfer and there are definitely similarities to the stuttering Spurs career of Ndombele, now plying his trade beside him at RAMS Park.
Similarly thriving before joining Tottenham, Sanchez won Ajax's Player of the Year during the 2016/17 term and moved to England for a club-record £42m, with all the trappings of a world-beating centre-half for years to come.
Branded "one of the worst players" in the Premier League side's recent history by pundit Jamie O'Hara, Sanchez only managed to start eight times in the top-flight last season despite Tottenham's woes – shipping 63 goals, only the three relegated sides and newly-promoted Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest yielded higher concession rates.
Also 27, Sanchez is at least thriving in Turkey, impressing across his 20 appearances with two goals and two assists, albeit missing a big portion of the campaign with injury.
He also earned his keep across the first few seasons at Tottenham – and at £42m didn't cost quite as much either – but was perhaps a victim of circumstance, injuries scattered across his time in London not exactly helping his case either.
It is no coincidence that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy oversaw the sales of both Ndombele and Sanchez last summer as Postecoglou sought to shape his squad.
Eric Dier's winter exit to Bayern Munich further underlines this new incisiveness, rebuilding a team that had performed admirably in the past but was in dire need of more than a bit of tinkering.
Ndombele's acquisition once held such promise, sent a frisson of excitement down the N17 as Pochettino continued to show ambition.
It came to nought and Ndombele will be used as the touchstone for dismal transfer business at Spurs for years to come, a reminder that this new, shrewd approach must not slip, lest the state of affairs devolve once again.
Canada international Maxime Crepeau – who is turning out in MLS and Copa America – has reacted to the “insane” challenge of facing Lionel Messi.
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