All posts by z3u9t.icu

In a frustrating blow, Newcastle United have seen their bid to sign one particular summer target rejected in pursuit of adding to Eddie Howe's squad ahead of next season.

Newcastle transfer news

Whilst Newcastle must be cautious not to break the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, they're still seemingly in a position to welcome reinforcements this summer, with Lloyd Kelly already signed, sealed and announced. The Bournemouth defender will instantly provide the Magpies with some much-needed defensive cover following injuries to both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Speaking after putting pen to paper, Kelly told the club's official website: "It's amazing to be coming here. I know how big the club is and how much it means to all the fans, and I just want to hit the ground running and get to work.

“It’s a big move for myself and the family – of course being down south is a bit different – but I think the city of Newcastle is amazing, with the contrast between city life and the countryside. It wasn't a hard decision for me to come here. Working with the gaffer previously, I know what he wants from his players and how he wants his players to play, and I think with what I can bring it just makes sense. I just can't wait to get started.”

Newcastle now given permission to speak to "brilliant" £100,000-p/w star

He’s a player in demand.

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 20, 2024

The former Bournemouth man isn't the only defensive reinforcement that those at St James' Park are looking to add to their ranks though, following a reported £16m bid to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. According to Chronicle Live, however, Newcastle's bid to sign Trafford has since been rejected as the Clarets seek at least £20m to sell their number one this summer.

Having already reportedly agreed personal terms with Trafford, Newcastle would have been hoping for simple negotiations with Burnley, but that hasn't proved to be the case. What is seemingly not helping is Manchester City's 20% sell-on clause in the potential deal, with Burnley also adamant that they want as much of their £20m asking price as possible to be paid up front.

Newcastle must sign "great" talent Trafford

With Martin Dubravka entering the final year of his Newcastle contract and Nick Pope now 32 years old, the Magpies must start thinking about the future, and that should see Trafford arrive. Still just 21 years old, Trafford can now tick the box for Premier League experience, albeit one that ended in relegation at Burnley, despite his occasional heroics.

As things stand, Pope looks set to remain the number one, so signing a young goalkeeper who can eventually take that role would represent wise business from all involved at St James' Park. And whilst a £20m fee may seem excessive, Trafford could soon turn into quite the investment if he was to become Newcastle's starting shot-stopper for years to come.

Praised for his "great" achievement of not conceding a goal in the entirety of last summer's European U21 Championship by boss Lee Carsley, Trafford could still get the chance to show similar form at Newcastle next season if they match Burnley's asking price.

As Manchester United look to bounce back from an incredibly disappointing season last time out, they've reportedly turned their attention towards a La Liga star this summer.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, but saw their campaign partially salvaged by a shock FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City. Nonetheless, Erik ten Hag's future remains in doubt, with the likes of Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel both linked with taking over from the Dutchman this summer.

Whoever is in charge may well reap the benefits of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first summer at the club. The minority owner in charge of transfers has already reportedly eyed moves for the likes of Teun Koopmeiners and Youssef En-Nesyri in two deals that would boost the squad at Old Trafford.

Signing Koopmeiners would be particularly impressive given Liverpool's reported interest, not to mention the Dutchman's role in Atalanta's surprise Europa League run – which saw them defeat the Reds in the last eight before handing Bayer Leverkusen their only defeat of the entire season. Away from midfield, however, the Red Devils could be set to target a repeat of their 2022 Casemiro deal.

Man Utd hit gold on "superstar" who's worth more than Rashford & Fernandes

The Man United ace progressed through the academy.

ByTom Lever Jun 8, 2024

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now eyeing a move to sign Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid this summer, with the veteran shot-stopper ready to leave and the La Liga club already looking for a new goalkeeper. United aren't the only reported interest party, though, with Manchester City and clubs in Saudi Arabia also eyeing moves this summer.

Seemingly willing to put in a good offer in the coming months, United could tempt Oblak away from Spain in similar fashion to how they convinced Casemiro to make the move. However, that deal should come with plenty of warning. The Brazilian has quickly fallen away from his peak at 32 years old and Oblak isn't too unlikely to avoid a similar fate at 31, although being a goalkeeper may afford the Slovenian a few more years at the very top level.

Man Utd don't need "great" Oblak

If Ratcliffe's reported new transfer policy is anything to go by, United should avoid Oblak altogether. And that's not to say that Andre Onana enjoyed a solid enough debut campaign to put doubts over his ability to rest, but if United are to find a replacement, they must look towards younger shot-stoppers who can take the role for years to come rather than a player almost past his peak who earns a reported £340k-a-week wage.

Oblak certainly has a decision to make this summer, whether that results in a move to United or elsewhere. Either way, he will bow out as an Atletico Madrid legend, having earned plenty of praise during his time in Spain.

Diego Simeone, among those to praise the goalkeeper, once said via FourFourTwo: "He [Oblak] is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He has been working since he arrived to reach that place. There is collective defensive work that has helped the goalkeepers that we have had.

"It happened for [Thibaut] Courtois and now it is happening with Oblak. Beyond that they are great goalkeepers, and there is a collective work that helps us in defensive situations."

There are plenty of reasons why Rangers have endured a miserable season so far.

Most would blame under-fire manager Russell Martin, who has won just five of 15 matches in charge across all competitions to date, while others cite poor squad building and underwhelming recruitment.

It may not be the primary reason, but the departure of Václav Černý has to be a key factor.

The Czechia international spent last season on loan in Glasgow from Wolfsburg, joining Beşiktaş on a permanent deal this summer instead of returning, but he made quite the impression during his year in Govan.

Černý scored 18 goals in 52 appearances for Rangers, of which six came in the Europa League, a key figure as the Light Blues reached the quarter-finals, on target against Steaua Bucharest, Nice and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise before netting twice during the famous 3-1 victory over Fenerbahçe in İstanbul.

Thus, he was always going to be a near-impossible figure to replace, but has Martin unearthed the new Černý, a man who will be key to Rangers’ hopes in this season’s Europa League?

Oliver Antman's impact at Rangers

Ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Sturm Graz at Liebenauer Stadium, Oliver Antman is expected to start on the right-wing, chosen over Mikey Moore.

The Finnish international was introduced at half-time of last Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Genk, following Mohamed Diomandé’s red card, before starting Sunday’s hard-fought, last gasp 2-1 victory over Livingston, assisting James Tavernier’s opener at Almondvale.

The Finnish international was an exciting signing right from the off, having registered six goals and 16 assists for Go Ahead Eagles last season, helping them win the KNVB Beker for the very first time, the Eredivisie club’s first major silverware since 1933.

Less than 24 hours after arriving in Glasgow for around £3.5m, he was the star of the show as Rangers demolished Viktoria Plzeň 3-0 in a Champions League qualifier as the team put in, by some distance, their best performance under Martin.

However, soon after, he lost his place in the starting lineup to Spurs loanee Moore, but is seemingly the first choice once again.

However, is the winger on the opposite side even more exciting?

Rangers' new Václav Černý

In a season of few positives for Rangers, the form of Djeidi Gassama is certainly something worth being excited about.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

If Černý’s calling card last season was scoring goals in Europe, well the 22-year-old certainly took up that mantle from day one.

During the summer, after arriving from Sheffield Wednesday for a reported fee of £2.2m, the Frenchman scored four times in Rangers’ first three Champions League qualifiers, on target home and away as they dumped out Panathinaikos, before a double to down Viktoria Plzeň at Ibrox, the second of which completed a free-flowing team move, set up by Antman.

Speaking on BBC Sportscene after full time, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday labelled Gassama an “electric winger”, adding that he is “direct, quick and a constant threat, [causing] defenders a lot of problems”, while manager Martin praised his “intensity” and goal threat, noting that is something the pair had worked on in training.

So, let’s outline Gassama’s statistics so far this season.

Goals

4

1st

Assists

1

4th

Minutes

1,059

3rd

Shots

15

1st

Shots on target

5

1st

Shot-creating actions

4

1st

Progressive carries

8

1st

Successful take-ons

9

1st

Average Sofascore rating

6.87

6th

As the table documents, despite having not scored since Champions League qualifying in August, Gassama has been key to Rangers as an attacking unit, ranked first for goals, shots and shots on target as well as chances created and dribbling metrics.

The Frenchman has already shown that he is capable of linking up with Antman while, alongside Bojan Miovski, they should form a frightening front three at both domestic and Europa League level, looking to fire the Gers to victory in Austria.

Martin must drop Aasgaard to start "powerful" star in new Rangers formation

Russell Martin should drop Thelo Aasgaard from the starting XI to try out this new formation.

ByDan Emery Oct 2, 2025

After a pretty miserable month that may well have derailed their Premier League title hopes, Arsenal claimed their second victory in as many games last night.

Mikel Arteta’s side dominated Sporting CP in Lisbon and, in the process, have massively increased their chances of making it into the next round of the Champions League without having to enter the playoffs.

It wasn’t just the win that was satisfying, though; it was the nature of it, as the North Londoners found themselves 3-0 by half-time and 5-1 up at full-time.

Sporting CP (A)

5-1 (W)

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-0 (W)

Chelsea (A)

1-1 (D)

Inter Milan (A)

1-0 (L)

Newcastle United (A)

1-0 (L)

However, while there were no poor performances on the pitch, the result might have just signalled the end of the line for one of the club’s highest-paid players.

Arsenal's star performers

Now, before we get onto the star whose time as an Arsenal player is likely up, let’s look at the positives from last night and some of the team’s best performers, starting with the best of the lot, Bukayo Saka.

The Hale Ender was awarded the Man of the Match award at full-time, and it was more than deserved as he was a constant threat throughout his 92 minutes of action, providing an assist in the first half and then scoring a goal himself in the second.

However, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber also played a significant role in making the right-hand side so dangerous, with the former pulling the strings just behind the Englishman.

At the same time, the latter helped out William Saliba in defence while also bombing forward with every opportunity he got.

On the opposite flank, Gabriel Martinelli found himself in the right place at the right time to open the scoring for the North Londoners, while Riccardo Calafiori once again showed the fans that he could be the answer to the club’s left-back problems.

Lastly, both Gabriel Magalhaes and Kai Havertz deserve plenty of praise as well, the former for his immense defensive work and brilliant header, and the latter for his goal and all-round build-up play, although him being so effective again is bad news for another of the club’s star attackers.

Arsenal's biggest loser after Sporting

It feels unfair to label any Arsenal player a loser after last night’s sensational result, but in a sense, Gabriel Jesus is just that.

The reason is that, after the last week, it seems incredibly unlikely that the Brazilian forward will ever be the team’s starting number nine again, and the chance of his starting out wide seems even smaller.

Now, that might sound harsh, but it’s probably true as Arteta gave the former Manchester City ace a chance to reassert himself in the role against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but despite the team’s brilliant performance that day, the £265k-per-week star flattered to deceive.

The £45m signing was awarded just a 6/10 match rating from the Standard’s Simon Collings at full-time, and considering the fact he failed to take a single shot on target in 95 minutes of action, despite his team winning 3-0, that’s quite a generous rating.

In contrast, the journalist awarded Havertz a 7/10 last night, which actually feels a bit harsh considering the former Chelsea ace scored a vital goal, produced an expected goals figure of 1.08 and was able to occupy defenders throughout the 92 minutes of action.

That said, it’s not just the last week of action that suggests the Sao Paulo-born dynamo’s time in North London could be coming to a close either, as he’s been quite disappointing all season.

For example, despite making 16 appearances, the “frustrating” striker, as dubbed by Micah Richards, has scored once and provided one assist, which works out to a goal involvement every eight games.

Appearances

33

36

16

Goals

11

8

1

Assists

7

8

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.54

0.44

0.12

Moreover, even when you account that those appearances have only amounted to 579 minutes, the 27-year-old still has a disappointing average of a goal involvement every 289.5 minutes.

Ultimately, while Jesus is an undeniably talented player, he’s no longer a significant part of this Arsenal team, and with wages as high as his, it feels more like a matter of when and not if the club decide to move him on.

Move over Saka: Arsenal's 9/10 star was "insane" vs Sporting

Arsenal sealed an incredible Champions League win over Sporting.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 27, 2024

Manchester United’s tactical imbalances have seen Ruben Amorim caught in a headwind as he fights to lift the club back into the title contention in the Premier League.

For now, inconsistency reigns, with the draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford at the weekend marking just one win across five league fixtures. Amorim’s side are 12th, four points behind fourth-place Crystal Palace, who they beat at Selhurst Park only one week ago.

Flashes of progress are dimmed by an inability to play with the balance and gusto that is needed for true success in the English top flight, and it’s clear that INEOS need to prioritise the signing of a new centre-midfielder

Why Man United need a midfielder

Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford has become a flashpoint for an outfit struggling for consistency. Many fans are perplexed at Amorim’s decision to keep him on the fringes, given the defects within the United engine room.

Casemiro is getting on a bit, and Bruno Fernandes does not boast the deep-lying profile needed to establish fluidity and work in conjunction with a tough-tackling anchor.

This is where Adam Wharton comes in. The England midfielder has been in fine fettle since joining Crystal Palace in January 2024, and the Mirror report that United have learned they will need to pay £70m to bring him to the Theatre of Dreams in 2026.

Wharton is attracting interest from numerous suitors, but the Red Devils have made him their top target, and that follows claims from the 21-year-old’s agent that his client has ambitions to star in a Champions League-competing squad.

Why Man United should sign Adam Wharton

Wharton is still young and relatively inexperienced at the highest level, but there’s no denying his quality and potential for further growth.

Hailed as a “passing machine” by journalist Henry Winter, he has been instrumental in the trophy-winning Oliver Glasner era, and his is a technical profile that has caused a stir within many elite offices across England and Europe. United need to win this race, and making Wharton a priority will help them in their bid to sign a star midfielder, someone who would eclipse Mainoo and end the malaise around the Carrington prospect’s name.

It would be negligible to pull Mainoo’s data from the current Premier League campaign, so far on the fringes he’s been, but he excelled during a 2023/24 breakout season in Erik ten Hag’s team, and from here we can see that Wharton would be an exciting upgrade on Mainoo in his finest form.

Matches (starts)

24 (24)

13 (13)

Goals

3

0

Assists

1

2

Touches*

49.0

48.2

Pass completion

87%

81%

Big chances created

0

6

Key passes*

0.6

1.5

Dribbles*

1.3

0.5

Ball recoveries*

4.0

4.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

2.6

Duels won*

5.0 (52%)

3.5 (52%)

Though Wharton is less precise with his passing, this is principally because he is an inherent playmaker, looking to break lines and influence while protecting the backline behind him.

Wharton ranks, moreover, among the top 13% of Premier League midfielders this season for through balls and the top 16% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Less of a dribbler than Mainoo, Wharton’s stable and dynamic midfield came would provide Amorim with the style he is searching for, and it could have quite the ripple effect in giving rise to wider tactical green shoots.

His ability to ‘run the show’ is something that the Red Devils simply don’t boast in the way that Amorim needs to establish full throttle, and given his obstinacy in not giving Mainoo the playing time he and the fanbase are desperate for, Wharton would provide the missing link, the tonic for all that has been inconsistent at Man United in recent times.

A new Amad: Man Utd could sign "one of the best LWs in Europe" in swap deal

Manchester United are plotting a sensational deal for this exciting winger who could be Ruben Amorim’s next Amad Diallo.

ByKelan Sarson 4 days ago

Manchester United are still working towards having their ideal squad at Old Trafford and have been offered an intriguing swap deal scenario that could see a renowned striker arrive.

Manchester United continue their transfer mission

While the cat remains firmly among the pigeons regarding Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford, INEOS are likely to be already plotting potential additions to the squad come January and beyond, with the belief now that he will be given time to turn things around.

PSR will need to be respected, and Manchester United spent over £250 million during the summer. Hence, it remains to be seen how much wriggle room they have to invite more arrivals into the Old Trafford dynamic.

Delivering an update on someone who could opt to swap the capital for life at the Premier League giants, Ben Jacobs has claimed Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has a gentleman’s agreement to sign for the Red Devils next summer.

He stated: “I’m told that there’s kind of a gentleman’s agreement that next summer if Wharton doesn’t sign a new deal, he can leave for somewhere in the region of £60m-£65m.”

The England international may be the final piece to complete Manchester United’s midfield jigsaw, while also providing a younger alternative to an ageing Casemiro, who is into the last year of his contract.

Cost of sacking Ruben Amorim revealed as Man Utd's coaching spend surpasses Virgil van Dijk fee

INEOS would have to spend big…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 3, 2025

INEOS have shown they are willing to spend serious money, with Bryan Mbeumo becoming the Red Devils’ sixth-most expensive signing at £71 million. Nevertheless, the opportunity needs to be right for all parties.

With that in mind, Manchester United could now take advantage of a lucrative swap deal that may see one of Europe’s most renowned marksmen arrive at Old Trafford.

Man Utd could swap Joshua Zirkzee for Dusan Vlahovic

According to Tutto Juve, Manchester United are set to be offered Dusan Vlahovic plus cash in exchange for Joshua Zirkzee, and the Netherlands international could be allowed to leave Old Trafford after not featuring frequently under Amorim.

On the same token, Vlahovic is out of contract in 2026, meaning he may be part of a deal that secures Zirkzee’s exit rather than being allowed to leave on a free transfer next summer.

Joshua Zirkzee in 2025/26

Dusan Vlahovic 2025/26

Appearances: 4

Appearances: 7

Goals: 0

Goals: 4

Assists: 0

Assists: 1

No figure has been mentioned in the event of a potential transfer. Regardless, Vlahovic coming in the other direction would address Manchester United’s need for a prolific striker who can deliver in the present.

Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal

Patrik Schick

Bayer Leverkusen

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Christopher Nkunku

AC Milan

Alexander Sørloth

Atletico Madrid

Likened to Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres for their physical styles and clinical finishing, he has scored 149 career goals in total inside 347 appearances, with 62 of them coming at Juventus since his move from Fiorentina in 2022.

Now potentially gearing up for a new challenge, his arrival would take the Red Devils’ forward line up a notch despite their recent impressive signings, though it remains to be seen if a deal with Zirkzee factored in will be a solution that works for all parties.

Manchester United dropped yet more points at Old Trafford after another lacklustre performance under Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened West Ham United, failing to create many substantial chances despite having the lion’s share of the possession.

Indeed, the first half went by without the home side creating too many chances of note. The closest they came was thanks to an effort from Joshua Zirkzee.

The Dutchman, who was one of the best players in Red on the night, saw his well-directed effort cleared off the line by former United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

It took United until the second half to break the deadlock. It was a rare Premier League goal from Diogo Dalot, which was enough to put Amorim’s side ahead, and what a strike it was.

The ball dropped to the wing-back in the penalty area, and after a superb first touch, he fired the Red Devils ahead.

United never looked like doubling their lead, with Amorim making substitutions but once again opting against bringing Kobbie Mainoo on.

They paid the price with seven minutes left. The Hammers equalised thanks to a late strike from player of the match Soungoutou Magassa.

Indeed, Amorim’s underwhelming substitutions did not help United’s cause.

Amorim’s in-game management vs. West Ham

One of the biggest criticisms against the United manager throughout his 12-month tenure has been his in-game management. Well, the substitutions he made against the Hammers on Thursday night were underwhelming.

Zirkzee, who was linking up play nicely, was replaced by Mason Mount, and Manuel Ugarte was also brought on. That meant there was once again no place for Mainoo, who still cannot get the chance to showcase his skills for an extended period in the Premier League.

Lisandro Martinez also came on with the score at 1-1. It was a positive thing to see the 2022 World Cup winner coming stepping onto the Old Trafford pitch for the first time since February, but bringing a centre-back on when your side is chasing a goal to win the game is a strange call.

United social media presence, Alice said, the manager’s “subs and in-game management is shocking time and time again.” She also called out the decision to take Zirkzee off, and bringing Ugarte on over Mainoo when the Red Devils “need control” to help get over the line.

However, there was one substitution Amorim did get right, taking off one player who struggled.

The United star who's been overhyped

It was not the return from injury that Matheus Cunha may have hoped for. He was replaced by Ugarte on the 77-minute mark, after a performance which was “ineffective”, according to journalist Laurie Whitwell.

Indeed, the Brazilian struggled to get into the game against the East Londoners. He only had 46 touches across the 90 minutes, losing the ball 18 times and failing to create a chance in that time.

Off the ball, United’s number ten won just three from 11 duels.

Touches

46

Number of times ball lost

18

Pass accuracy

69%

Duels won

3/11

Key passes

0

Crosses completed

0

Expected goal involvements

0.29xGI

His disappointing performance earned him a 5/10 rating from Goal journalist Richard Martin. He noted that Cunha failed to make any sort of impact, describing his efforts at Old Trafford as ‘underwhelming’.

It remains to be seen if Amorim will keep Cunha in the starting lineup for the next game, a trip to his former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Brazilian has not really hit the ground running for the Red Devils so far, with just one goal and no assists in 11 Premier League games.

Whilst that is not necessarily just his fault, United fans may well have wanted more from one of their marquee summer additions. Perhaps there was an element of Cunha getting overhyped, with CEO Omar Berrada suggesting he could be “Cantona-esque” for the club.

That is a lot of pressure for someone to have placed on them immediately after joining a huge club, despite the Brazilian’s obvious confidence.

Things have not really gone that way for Cunha so far in a United shirt, and his performances have certainly left a little to be desired, as the game against West Ham showed.

With other options, such as Mount and Mainoo, at Amorim’s disposal, he may well make the bold decision to rotate his number 10 out of the starting 11 next Monday. Cunha can certainly add a little bit extra in the final third to make him a more dangerous option going forward.

£30m Man Utd flop has been so bad he makes Ugarte look like a good signing

INEOS have made great strides of late with regard to Man Utd’s recruitment, although it hasn’t all been perfect.

1 ByRobbie Walls Dec 4, 2025

Tottenham’s miserable form under Thomas Frank continues following a lacklustre 2-1 loss at home to Fulham on Saturday night, with the home side subjected to a chorus of boos at the full-time whistle.

Tottenham 1-2 Fulham as tepid Spurs form piles pressure on Frank

The visitors delivered a devastating early double blow to extend the North London club’s torrid run and raise fresh questions about Frank’s ability to arrest their alarming slide.

Fulham raced into a commanding two-goal advantage within the opening six minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, capitalizing ruthlessly on defensive frailties that continue plaguing Spurs despite their manager’s persistent tactical tinkering.

Kenny Tete opened the scoring after just four minutes when his speculative effort took a wicked deflection off Destiny Udogie’s leg, completely wrong-footing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and nestling into the bottom corner. The Italian stopper, helpless against the deflection, barely had time to recover before Fulham doubled their advantage.

Harry Wilson compounded Tottenham’s defensive nightmare just two minutes later, capitalizing on catastrophic goalkeeping from Vicari

The Welshman caught Vicario in no man’s land with a long-range chip from distance, and given there were no defenders there to clear it off the line, the ball floated into a completely empty net.

Tottenham dominated possession throughout the opening period but created virtually nothing of substance, managing just two shots and accounting for a paltry 0.01 expected goals during the first half.

Frank introduced attacking reinforcements during the second half, withdrawing Joao Palhinha, Richarlison and Archie Gray for Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons and Rodrigo Bentancur around the hour mark.

The changes provided brief encouragement when Mohammed Kudus lashed home a powerful half-volley in the 59th minute — his first at home in a Spurs shirt — which reduced the deficit and offered fleeting hope of a comeback.

Tottenham hold talks with Arsenal target as Frank 'craves his progressive passing'

Spurs need more creativity.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

However, Fulham expertly managed the remaining half-hour, introducing Sasa Lukic and Emile Smith Rowe to shore up midfield and nullify Tottenham’s increasingly desperate attacking thrusts.

Despite introducing forwards Mathys Tel and additional creative players, Spurs lacked the quality and conviction required to salvage anything from another disappointing home performance.

The defeat represents Tottenham’s fourth loss in their last six matches across all competitions, following humiliating setbacks against Arsenal (4-1) and PSG (5-3) in the last week.

The pressure is now seriously on Frank, who is attracting real scrutiny as critics question whether he is really the right man for the Spurs job.

Jamie O'Hara loses it with Xavi Simons in Tottenham defeat to Fulham

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, pundit Jamie O’Hara picked out substitute Simons for criticism alongside Frank, despite the fact he only had half an hour to make an impact.

The former Spurs midfielder was livid with Simons following repeated failed flick attempts when the north Londoners were chasing the game at 2-1, with O’Hara expressing his outrage at the wasteful attacking play.

After his disasterclass in goal, keeper Vicario was also booed by supporters nearly every time he touched the ball, with the tension among fans now reaching breaking point as Spurs continue to underperform.

Simons, who could end up costing the club £125 million over a potential seven-year contract when you factor in wages, agent’s fees and add-ons, needs to find his feet in England soon or risk being seen as a major flop.

The Dutchman has scarcely been given a chance by Frank lately, but the fact he’s only been given a few minutes here and there should send a pretty clear message.

Simons was often bullied off the ball against Fulham and failed to make the desired impact, even despite all of his efforts to get into dangerous positions.

For Spurs, the home curse continues, and no other ever-present Premier League side boasts a worse record on their own turf than Tottenham in 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified an alternative attacking signing to Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers after missing out on the England international, according to a new report.

Rogers was reliably reported to be an ambitious target for Spurs last summer following his imperious 2024/2025 season — which saw the forward bag 14 goals and 16 assists in 54 total appearances.

Fabrizio Romano even stated that Thomas Frank’s side, along with Chelsea, were prepared to pay “crazy money” for Rogers.

Following on from that statement, Villa have since confirmed Rogers has signed a new contract until 2031 — gifting Unai Emery a massive boost while dampening all hope of Spurs securing any deal for the foreseeable future.

Tottenham are still reportedly in the market for a new winger and could sign one as early as January, with Frank dealt multiple injury blows since taking over from Ange Postecoglou in the summer.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

Cristian Romero

Other

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus are all on the treatment table right now. Only the latter appears fairly likely to feature against Arsenal in the North London derby on November 23, considering he was ‘touch and go’ to face Man United, but Kudus interestingly hasn’t been selected for Ghana’s upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea.

Tottenham make approach to sign Everton star Iliman Ndiaye

With Rogers off the table as an attacking target, it is believed that Everton’s in-form star Iliman Ndiaye is now attracting their attention instead.

According to reports from Spain, Spurs view the Toffees sensation as an ideal alternative to Rogers, but they could have to fork out close to £70 million for his signature.

The Senegalese has been one of Everton’s players of the season and worth every penny of the £15 million used to bring him in from Marseille in 2024, bagging 15 goals in 50 appearances since joining the club and consistently standing out as a top performer.

Ndiaye has started all 11 of Everton’s league games so far and is one of the undroppables on David Moyes’ team sheet week in, week out.

However, while it may be difficult to convince the Merseysiders to sell, this hasn’t stopped Tottenham making an initial approach for Ndiaye ahead of 2026, according to one Spanish media source.

It is also believed that Spurs are “determined to move quickly” for the versatile 25-year-old who can play out wide, through the middle and even as a striker when required — potentially suggesting that an audacious January move could be on the cards.

It looks as though chairman Andrew Cavenagh was fully invested in hiring Danny Rohl as Rangers’ next manager when everyone thought Kevin Muscat would take charge at Ibrox.

Rangers make Rohl their new manager

Things have moved quickly over the past 24 hours or so, with Muscat’s talks with the Gers falling through when it looked as though he was the front-runner to come in as Russell Martin’s successor at Ibrox.

Rohl has been confirmed as Rangers’ next boss instead, with the German most recently in charge at Sheffield Wednesday, and once enjoying a coaching spell at Bayern Munich, working under legendary boss Hansi Flick.

The 36-year-old has constantly been mentioned as one of the favourites to take charge of the Gers, alongside Muscat and Steven Gerrard, with the latter another who decided not to take the job and enjoy a second stint at Ibrox.

After a dire start to the Scottish Premiership season, Rangers fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Rohl is the right choice, and it looks as though he may have been the leading option for the Scottish giants all along, following a fresh claim.

Cavenagh held secret talks with Rohl during Muscat saga

According to reports, Cavenagh held talks with Rohl last week about becoming Rangers’ next manager, amid constant claims suggesting Muscat would be the man to come in. They did then back away from the discussions when the Australian became the leading target again, prior to his move collapsing.

Only time will tell whether the former Wednesday boss is the right choice for the Gers, but there is plenty to like about him from the off, as he likely prepares to take charge of his first game away to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

At just 36 years of age, he represents a young and long-term option for Rangers, rather than going with the safer bet of an older manager who knows about getting teams out of trouble rather than adopting an attractive playing style.

As mentioned, Rohl excelled at Wednesday, coming in when the Owls looked destined for relegation from the Championship in October 2023, only to turn their fortunes around and finish the 2023/24 campaign in 20th place.

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Interestingly, it does look as though Muscat’s arrival at Rangers was never as concrete as reported by some, hence Cavenagh’s talks with Rohl last week, and hopefully, the German ends up being an inspired choice who gradually brings the glory days back to Ibrox as the months and years pass.