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da betsson： Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is enjoying the Lilywhites’ best spell of form for a long time, with Spurs sealing a third-consecutive Premier League win for the first time this season after their 4-1 victory at Ipswich.

Ange Postecoglou praises Tottenham after 4-1 Ipswich win

da imperador bet： The north Londoners were set for a tough task against Kieran McKenna’s relegation-threatened side at Portman Road, but they weathered periods of pressure to eventually round off a superb win away from home.

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A first-half brace from Brennan Johnson, combined with late goals from in-form defender Djed Spence and star winger Dejan Kulusevski, cancelled out Omari Hutchinson’s impressive curled effort to hand Postecoglou’s side another much-needed three points on Saturday afternoon.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Tottenham next face off against Man City at home, and the Sky Blues’ topsy-turvy form gives Postecoglou some hope they could make it four straight victories against the English champions.

Spurs’ head coach heaped praise on his squad after their win at Ipswich, especially their clinical and exciting forward play.

“A couple of times in the first half we lost a bit of concentration, in terms of the second ball and duels. Disappointing goal we conceded but aside from that I thought we handled that side of the game really well, which we had to,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s triumph at Ipswich.

“But I always felt we were a threat when we had the ball. Sonny was unplayable in the first half. So good to get Brennan back in those areas where he’s always a threat. All four of our goals were quality goals. We had to do the hard things, but the fruits of that labour was that our front third play was super, exciting and clinical.”

Another real plus-point from the game was new signing Kevin Danso, who put in another solid performance at the heart of Postecoglou’s backline.

There were some doubts surrounding Danso’s ability after Tottenham signed him from RC Lens on loan with an obligation to buy for around £21 million, but the Austria international defender is proving his worth at N17.

Kevin Danso emerging as leader behind-the-scenes at Tottenham

As per reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, speaking on his YouTube channel, Spurs did their homework on his personality after hijacking Wolves’ winter deal for the 26-year-old.

Gold says that Danso is emerging as a leader behind-the-scenes at Tottenham, with the £25,000-per-week centre-back standing out as a bubbly and strong character among the squad.

“He’s just a really bubbly, strong character Danso and he’s fitted in so well,” said Gold. “Often we talk about the talent of players and how well they play but maybe don’t give enough credit when the scouting setup also identifies the character and personality of a player.

“Danso in that mould has been brilliant, as Postecoglou said, to fit into a team as a senior player despite making such a big step up – he just looks like a man determined to grab this opportunity with both hands.

“I think the young group of players are really benefitting from having him there but I also think people like Vicario are benefitting from having another leader and organiser there. I would not bet against Danso in the next 18 months or so becoming part of that leadership group.”

Against Ipswich, Danso won three aerial duels, completed 91 per cent of his passes, made six clearances and succeeded in 100 per cent of his tackles (WhoScored).

da prosport bet： It’s fair to say tonight’s Championship contest between Leeds United and Sheffield United is a hotly anticipated one, as the second tier’s top two do battle at Bramall Lane.

da realbet： The Blades could well topple the Whites off their perch at the top of the division with a special win, with South Yorkshire also winning itself bragging rights in the process.

Of course, Chris Wilder’s men might find Leeds too difficult of a team to break down, on the contrary, with Daniel Farke and Co potentially five points clear at the summit come full-time.

It will be a fascinating match to take in, with the 57-year-old left with many a selection dilemma too ahead of Leeds’ visit as various injured personnel could be back fit and ready to go.

Sheffield United's selection dilemmas

One face that could be back in contention for this second-tier humdinger is Tom Cannon with the nine-goal striker in the Championship this season nowhere to be seen last time out versus Luton Town owing to injury.

Now, however, he could be fast-tracked back into the first team fold to try and catch a staunch Leeds defence cold, with the ex-Stoke City loanee yet to get off the mark in his new surroundings after a potent stint at the Potters.

It would be quite the dramatic stage for Cannon to start to recapture his Stoke best, with Wilder also potentially boosted by experienced head Kieffer Moore being back fit as another body he can call upon up top.

Amazingly, the Welshman has never scored against Leeds from nine career contests, but unwanted records like that are made to be broken, with the ex-Cardiff City man on five strikes for the season when fit.

But, away from the two named strikers, there is another figure who could make a timely return from the treatment room that would really hurt Leeds, having previously been on their radar as a transfer target.

The Sheffield United star who could really hurt Leeds

Leeds have definitely kept a keen eye on proceedings at Bramall Lane in recent years when it comes to their incoming transfer business, with Jayden Bogle poached from South Yorkshire last summer to defect over to Elland Road.

In the same window, Farke and Co were allegedly interested in snapping up second-tier star Gustavo Hamer, but no such deal came to be, leaving the high-flying Blades with a top talent for the level.

The table-toppers eventually landed Manor Solomon’s signature, who has taken to life in the Championship swimmingly with seven strikes and seven assists in league action, but Hamer feels as if he would’ve been a sterling buy long-term for the Whites especially if promotion is reached.

Indeed, the 27-year-old managed to tally up an impressive four goals and six assists across 36 Premier League appearances last season for Wilder’s men – even as a rock-bottom finish was confirmed in the top-flight – on top of the fact he is only two goal contributions off Solomon in the here and now.

Top five G/A players at Leeds – 24/25

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

1. Joel Piroe

33

14

6

2. Daniel James

27

10

6

3. Manor Solomon

26

7

7

4. Brenden Aaronson

33

8

2

5. Wilfried Gnonto

30

5

5

Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, his seven goals and five assists would place him among Leeds’ top five performers if he had entered the building, with Farke’s men even more of a terrifying prospect potentially if Hamer was thrown into the side down the left or as an attack-oriented body centrally.

Hamer could have the last laugh later on, however, if he is fit enough to start, as the “beautiful” Blades ace – as he’s been heralded in the past by football journalist Josh Bunting – goes about delivering a reality check to the league leaders

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da 888： Mikel Arteta was appointed to take charge of Arsenal back in December 2019, and while he has led them on three Premier League title charges in a row now, things have not always been so easy.

da esport bet： For example, despite lifting the FA Cup at the end of his first campaign, the Spaniard led the team to an eighth-place finish in the league, and in the early stages of the following season, it looked like things were set to get worse.

The North Londoners were bottom of the table by the first international break, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn’t win a league game.

Arsenal’s League form 8/11/20–26/12/20

Opponent

Result

Aston Vila (H)

3-0 (Loss)

Leeds United (A)

0-0 (Draw)

Wolves (A)

2-1 (Loss)

Tottenham (A)

2-0 (Loss)

Burnely (H)

1-0 (Loss)

Southampton (H)

1-1 (Draw)

Everton (A)

2-1 (Loss)

So, with little left to lose, Arteta opted to start one of the academy’s most exciting prospects, Emile Smith Rowe, who, alongside Bukayo Saka, helped to steer the club back in the right direction over the next year and a half.

The midfield maestro moved on to Fulham in the summer, but it looks like Arsenal have found their new Hale End duo.

Smith Rowe and Saka's amazing partnership

In the Boxing Day game against Chelsea, Arteta started Smith Rowe in attacking midfield with Saka out on the right, and it was the former who picked up the assist for the latter’s goal that secured all three points for the team.

By the end of the campaign, the Croydon-born ace had racked up a tally of four goals and seven assists, while his fellow Hale Ender ended up with seven goals and seven assists.

It would be more of the same the following year, with the former Gunners’ gem producing 13 goal involvements from the middle of the park and on the left, while the club’s “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, did even better, producing 19 goal involvements primarily from the right wing.

Smith Rowe & Saka’s 20/21

Player

Smith Rowe

Saka

Appearances

33

46

Minutes

2220′

3606′

Goals

4

7

Assists

7

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

0.30

Minutes per Goal Involvement

201.81′

257.57′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Unfortunately, injuries and the club’s rapid progression saw the 24-year-old eventually lose his place in the team, leading to his sale to the Cottagers in the summer.

However, while it ultimately didn’t work out in North London, the emergence of Smith Rowe alongside Saka cannot be understated, as the pair of them helped to kickstart Arteta’s revolution at the Emirates, so much so that the fans would often sing about the pair of them.

Interestingly, it would appear as if Hale End has now delivered another dynamic duo to the manager this season, a duo who could also help bring in another phase of his long-term ambitions in N5.

Hale End's next Smith Rowe and Saka

While things haven’t entirely gone to plan this season, at least domestically, there have been a few bright spots, notably Ethan Nwaneri’s and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s emergence.

The two teenagers have gone from picking up limited minutes at the end of games earlier in the campaign to starting crucial encounters, such as last night’s match against PSV Eindhoven.

While one of the reasons for that is the immense number of injuries the squad have had to deal with, both youngsters, like Smith Rowe and Saka before them, have shown through stellar performances that they deserve to be regular starters.

For example, the Gunners’ “special” number 53, as dubbed by respected football analyst Ben Mattinson, has already amassed a brilliant tally of eight goals and one assist in 27 appearances, totalling 1019 minutes.

That means the Enfield-born dynamo is averaging a goal involvement every three games or, more impressively, every 113.22 minutes.

Nwaneri & Leiws-Skelly’s 24/25

Player

Nwaneri

Lewis-Skelly

Appearances

27

23

Minutes

1019′

1154′

Goals

8

1

Assists

1

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

0.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113.22′

1154′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For his part, the “unplayable” number 49, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, has already made 23 first-team appearances this term, 12 of which have been starts.

Moreover, while he has been a little rash at times, the Islington-born gem looks to have already surpassed Riccardo Calafiori as Arteta’s go-to option at left-back.

Ultimately, while it is so early in their careers, it does not seem like hyperbole to say that in Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, Hale End has delivered Arteta his next Saka and Smith Rowe.

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da brwin： Newcastle United have made contact over the signing of a hugely experienced international midfielder this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Midfielders who could sign for Newcastle this summer

da bet vitoria： The Magpies will be hurting after their FA Cup exit to Brighton on Sunday, but on the plus side, they are being linked with plenty of potential new signings, as Eddie Howe has been given the green light to add to his squad in the summer window.

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Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is reportedly tempted by a move to Newcastle at the end of the season, having been a top target for Paul Mitchell in January. A return to the Premier League could aid the former Manchester United player’s chances of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans with England.

Juventus ace Douglas Luiz is another midfielder who has been backed to seal a move to the Magpies, with the Brazilian possessing plenty of Premier League experience from his Aston Villa days. The 26-year-old has been limited to just three starts in Serie A this season, highlighting why a fresh challenge may appeal to him, especially at this stage in his career, not wanting to waste his peak years.

Newcastle pushing to sign Xavi-like ace

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Newcastle have made contact over the signing of Inter Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

It is stated that the Magpies have “carried out some surveys” for the 95-cap Turkey international, with Bayern Munuch also showing a willingness to snap him up.

Calhanoglu is a player who possesses so much natural ability, enjoying a great career that has seen him win one Serie A title, two Coppa Italias and many other trophies.

The Turk has always been renowned for being one of the best free-kick takers in world football, while Nihat Kahveci has even compared him to Barcelona and Spain legend Xavi, saying: “If we do 60% of what we did against Gibraltar against Montenegro, we will win. In this match we did everything. And Hakan Calhanoglu made those passes like Xavi used to do.”

Calhanoglu would certainly represent an exciting signing because of the talent in his locker, but there are certain things working against him. For starters, the midfielder is now 31 years of age, meaning he may no longer quite be in his prime, or be able to cover the kind of ground required in the Premier League, meaning Newcastle would be taking a risk.

For that reason, it would arguably make more sense for the Magpies to bring in a younger alternative – someone who could be a key man from the off, but also remain that way for the foreseeable future.

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If Calhanoglu did end up joining Newcastle, it wouldn’t be a bad thing by all means, with some wonderful moments potentially coming supporters’ way, but the likes of Gomes could be smarter investments, especially considering the England international will be out of contract.

da 888： It’s not been a great week for Arsenal.

da roleta： Mikel Arteta’s side fell to a poor 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League, and then, while it ultimately didn’t matter, a much-changed team drew 2-2 with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

However, aside from going through to the competition’s quarter-finals, which was all but sewn up the first leg, there was some positive team news: Gabriel Martinelli made his second substitute appearance after missing about a month of football with a hamstring injury.

The Brazilian ace could play a big role for the Gunners in the closing stages of the season, but his place in the team may be less assured next year, as recent reports have linked the club with a potential upgrade.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Bild, as relayed in a report from Spain, Arsenal are interested in Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.

Transfer Focus

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In fact, the report has revealed that it’s Arteta who is pushing hardest for the club to sign the German superstar once his €288k-per-week contract – about £243k – expires in the summer.

Now, the former Manchester City ace has expressed a desire to stay in Munich beyond the end of the season, but no progress has been made on a renewal, leaving the door wide open for the North Londoners and other sides.

While Sané won’t cost Arsenal a fee, he could be a costly addition to the wage bill, but given his immense ability and experience, he is one worth taking on, especially as he could be the perfect Martinelli upgrade.

How Sané compares to Martinelli

The first thing to say is that while Sané has the ability to play off either flank, he’d almost certainly come into the team primarily as an option off the left – his most played position – as with Bukayo Saka and now Ethan Nwaeri, the right seems totally locked down.

Therefore, the German’s primary long-term rival for game time at the Emirates would more likely than not be Martinelli, and for our money, that’s a competition he’d come out on top in.

For example, despite seeing his game time decrease at Bayern this term, the former Manchester City star has still been able to score eight goals and provide four assists in 34 appearances, totalling 1711 minutes.

That means the “world-class” winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is averaging a goal involvement every 2.83 games, or, more crucially, every 142.58 minutes.

In contrast, the former Ituano gem has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2421 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 220 minutes.

Sane vs Martinelli

Statistics per 90

Sane

Martinelli

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.80

0.44

Non-Penalty G+As

0.81

0.54

Progressive Passes

3.33

1.69

Progressive Carries

3.58

5.00

Shots

3.24

1.75

Shots on Target

1.14

0.91

Passing Accuracy

82.0%

69.2%

Key Passes

1.87

1.51

Passes into the Final Third

1.06

0.36

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.79

1.20

Shot-Creating Actions

4.22

2.47

Goal-Creating Actions

0.57

0.18

Successful Take-Ons

1.95

1.51

Ball Recoveries

4.63

3.43

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The one-sided nature of the comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

The Essen-born star comes out ahead in practically every relevant metric, including but not limited to actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shots and shots on target, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Martinelli is a talented winger and someone who could still be an important squad player for Arsenal, it’s clear that Sane is the far better winger.

Therefore, Arteta and Co should do what they can to bring him to North London this summer.

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da betsson： Following a second successive Old Firm derby defeat, it is set to be an international break of introspection for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side.

da 888casino： On Sunday, Celtic were beaten 3-2 by Rangers at Parkhead, the visitor’s winner coming in the final minute of normal time, thereby condemning the Hoops to back-to-back Premiership derby defeats, in front of supporters, for the first time in 16 years.

The Celts remain a whopping 13 points clear at the top, with only nine fixtures still to play, on course for a sixth treble in nine seasons, but Rodgers has much to ponder ahead of their next fixture, a home game against Hearts in a fortnight.

So, could an early front-runner to be Celtic’s player of the season, whose form has tailed off lately, lose his place in the team to a rising star?

Nicolas Kühn's mixed campaign at Celtic

With Celtic 2-0 down, Nicolas Kühn was hooked at half-time during Sunday’s derby defeat, replaced by Adam Idah, and his performance has come under widespread scrutiny.

Speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, former Rangers striker Krid Boyd said Kühn is “due a big performance” but “was really poor that first half”, while ex-Celtic forward Chris Sutton labelled his display “sloppy”, adding “he was miles off it.”

Nicolas Kühn vs Rangers

Statistics

Kühn

Match rank

Pass completion %

71%

15th

Shots

0

=11th

Touches

24

19th

Key passes

2

=2nd

Possession lost

9

=12th

Dribble success %

25%

=8th

SofaScore rating

6.5

=21st

All statistics are courtesy of SofaScore

Meantime, former Celtic captain and manager Neil Lennon believed Kühn “lacked belief”, unable to get the better of Rıdvan Yılmaz at any point, also looking “lethargic”, understanding why Rodgers decided to take him off at the interval.

Meantime, Sourav Mahanty of Sports Illustrated notes that Kühn was ‘brilliant’ during the first half of the season, but has been completely ‘off the pace’, so let’s assess the validity of these assertions.

Nicolas Kühn 2024/25 season statistics

Statistics

Kühn in 2024

Kühn in 2025

Appearances

25

17

Minutes

1,714

1,125

Goals

14

4

Minutes per goal

122

281

Assists

11

2

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

Given the clear drop-off in Kühn’s form, as the table outlines, should Rodgers consider alternative options, with one player in particular certainly making a case for more minutes?

Celtic's in-form forward could surpass Kuhn

While many may think that January’s arrival, Jota, is the solution here, there are other ideas Rodgers could try.

Indeed, as Kühn’s form has deteriorated since New Year’s Day, on the flip side, Yang Hyun-jun has found the best form of his entire career in 2025.

The South Korean opened his account for the campaign at Dens Park in January, subsequently on target against both Raith Rovers and Aberdeen, before coming off the bench to score a crucial brace during a 5-2 victory over St Mirren in Paisley earlier this month.

Thus, Yang has scored five goals across his last ten Celtic appearances, having netted only once during his first 49 outings in hoops, this solitary strike coming all the way back in December 2023.

Korean journalist Joel Kim believes the 22-year-old is “growing and developing”, adding that he is “on fire”, form that has seen him included in Hong Myung-bo’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Jordan, hoping to add to his three caps for the Taegeuk Warriors in Goyang on Thursday.

After the victory over St Mirren, Rodgers credited Yang’s girlfriend for his upturn in form, stating she has been in the country for “a little while”, with the manager then jokingly adding he’s doing everything in his power to make sure she can stay in Scotland.

Thus, as noted by Josh McCafferty of the Glasgow Times, Yang is currently the man in form, potentially set to return from international duty with even greater confidence, so perhaps he could start over Kühn against Hearts in a fortnight.

He’s primed and ready to surpass one of Celtic’s best players in Rodgers’ starting XI.

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da dobrowin： What a week it has been for Manchester United’s number nine, Rasmus Hojlund. You wait so long for a goal, and two come along in quick succession.

da betcris： The Danish speedster had endured a dismal 21-game goal drought prior to finally getting on the scoresheet again on Sunday evening away at Leicester City, with the struggling striker showcasing remarkable composure to slot home on his weaker right foot against the relegation-threatened Foxes.

Just days on from that long-awaited goal, the 22-year-old leapt off the bench to clinch victory for his country against Portugal on Thursday night, the former Atalanta man condemning Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Cristiano Ronaldo to a 1-0 defeat in their Nations League quarter-final clash.

While a return of nine goals this season for club and country makes for grim reading for the £64m signing, he has helped to lift the pressure on his shoulders this week, not least with 17-year-old sensation, Chido Obi, waiting in the wings for a starting berth back at Old Trafford.

Selected strikers – Record for Man Utd

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

53

29

10

Romelu Lukaku

96

42

12

Odion Ighalo

23

5

1

Edinson Cavani

59

19

6

Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd spell)

54

27

5

Wout Weghorst

31

2

3

Anthony Martial

317

90

46

Rasmus Hojlund

82

24

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

That youthful pairing are currently vying to be Ruben Amorim’s main man through the middle, with the Portuguese coach still no doubt looking to find his next goalscoring talisman, in the mould of Sporting CP’s, Viktor Gyokeres.

Man Utd's interest in Viktor Gyokeres

There is an argument to be made that Amorim has found his new attacking, Gyokeres-like figurehead in the form of Bruno Fernandes, although for all the playmaker’s brilliance, there is still a need for United to acquire a reliable, prolific presence to lead the line.

Indeed, in 82 games for the Red Devils to date, Hojlund has scored just 24 goals, while young Obi is still waiting to break his first-team duck, albeit while having made just four senior appearances. Summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, has scored just six times in his new surroundings.

With that in mind, it is then no surprise that the signing of a new centre-forward appears high on the agenda, with journalist Florian Plettenberg only recently naming the aforementioned Gyokeres among a raft of targets that Amorim and co are looking at.

The Swedish goal machine has been a revelation in Portugal since arriving from Coventry City for just £17m back in 2023, having notably scored 66 goals in just 68 games under Amorim’s watch.

Unsurprisingly, ever since the new United boss made the move to England, there has been talk of a reunion. However, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell reported back in February that while Sporting could cash in for around €70m (£59m), it is ‘unlikely’ that the 26-year-old follows his former boss to Manchester.

As per Whitwell, the one-time Brighton and Hove Albion man is likely to want to join a team competing in the Champions League – something United, currently, won’t be able to offer – while the club themselves may have reservations, amid the pursuit of ‘younger signings’.

While there may be frustration at not handing Amorim the perfect attacking tool in Gyokeres, perhaps the Red Devils are already brewing the next version of the Swede…

Man Utd's own Gyokeres

As two towering, Scandinavian marksmen like Gyokeres, it could be argued that both Hojlund and Obi are primed to evolve into that type of figure for Amorim, provided they are given time to develop.

That said, there could well be another, more suitable option in the equation, in the form of academy star, Ethan Wheatley, with the 19-year-old also a “clinical finisher”, in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

As per Mattinson, the promising Englishman possesses a lot of the “typical hold-up, link-up and channel running” that Gyokeres has shown at Sporting, while he is also deemed to be a “closer fit” to the former Coventry man than fellow youth star, Gabriele Biancheri.

Currently out on loan at League Two highflyers Walsall – for whom he has actually made just three appearances since arriving in January – Wheatley has previously dazzled in the youth set-up at United, scoring ten times in just 22 U21 outings.

The Stockport native – who, like Gyokeres, stands at 6 foot 2 – was also previously the star of the U18 side, after netting 14 goals in 28 games at that age group.

While it hasn’t worked out so far during Wheatley’s temporary stint away from Old Trafford, he did score for England’s U19 side against Wales in midweek, having also been awarded a new long-term contract with United earlier this month.

That show of faith by the club has indicated how highly regarded the teenager is at Carrington, with the rising star already making four first-team appearances for his parent club, including a late cameo in the 4-2 win over Leicester in the EFL Cup back in October.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

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With Amorim having already shown his willingness to utilise the academy in recent weeks, amid the emergence of Obi and Harry Amass, United’s 250th graduate may still have hope of forcing his way into the senior reckoning next season.

Who knows, Wheatley could even prove himself to be the 40-year-old’s next Gyokeres.

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da apostebet： One of the key summer targets for Newcastle United over the next couple of weeks seems to be Liam Delap. The Ipswich Town striker is a player of keen interest to four Premier League clubs, according to TeamTalk, and are ‘holding showdown talks’ in the coming days.

da spicy bet： Whilst the Magpies are in contact with Delap via manager Eddie Howe, who is looking to convince him to make the move, they will face competition from top-flight rivals Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton. There are four different projects on the table for Delap, but he would be the same price for each club, given that he has a £30m release clause.

If the North East giants do miss out on the striker, they seem to have a backup option on the cards.

Newcastle chasing Delap alternative

So, it does seem like the Magpies are trying their very best to persuade Delap to make the move to St James’ Park over any of the other clubs interested this summer. However, if that does not work out, their next option could lie in the Premier League, too.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to a report from one Spanish news outlet, Newcastle are firmly in the race for Brighton and Hove Albion star Joao Pedro, with the Tynesiders said to be ‘willing to pay’ a fee of around €70m (£59m) to get their man.

The article suggests that Howe’s side view him as ‘as an opportunity to continue growing’ in attacking areas, although they do face a ‘huge transfer battle’ with newly-crowned champions, Liverpool, for his signature.

It is thought that the player wants to leave the Amex, with both the Reds and Newcastle ready to make a ‘good financial offer’, alongside an ‘attractive sporting project’.

Why Joao Pedro would be a good signing

It has been a strong season for Brighton superstar Pedro. Unfortunately, he could not quite help claw his side back into Europe, meaning they will once again go without continental football after finishing eighth in the top flight.

However, the 23-year-old put in some big contributions across the campaign, playing 27 times in the top flight. In that time, he managed to find the back of the net on ten occasions and also registered six assists.

One of the standout things about Pedro’s 2024/25 campaign was his ability to frequently score against the best sides in the Premier League. The Brazilian managed two goals against Arsenal, a winning goal against Man United and a goal and assist against their cross-city rivals, Manchester City. He also grabbed two assists against Aston Villa.

Of course, with Newcastle looking to compete for higher honours next term, it is surely appealing that he can score against some of the biggest clubs in the top flight. Those are sides the Magpies would have to beat to maybe even challenge for the Premier League.

Should the Magpies sign Pedro ahead of Delap, it could well be a better addition to their squad. Of course, it was a fantastic campaign for the England under-21 star despite Ipswich’s relegation; he is now wanted by clubs across the Premier League.

However, he did not notch up as many goal involvements as Pedro managed in the Blue and White stripes of Brighton. Delap scored 12 times this term, but managed just two assists.

With Pedro grabbing 16 goals and assists, he perhaps offers more with his all-around game than the Ipswich striker.

This is further backed up by the stats on FBref. Not only does Pedro average slightly more goals per game than Delap with 0.46 to 0.42, but he also ranks higher in other key metrics.

That includes shot-creating actions, where the Brazilian averages 3.32 per game compared to the Ipswich star’s 2.15.

Pedro and Delap key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Pedro

Delap

Goals

0.46

0.42

Key passes

1.39

0.73

Shot-creating actions

3.32

2.15

Goal-creating actions

0.42

0.24

Progressive carries

3.06

2.12

Stats from FBref

If Newcastle win the race to sign Pedro, he seems like a far better addition to the club than Delap, for his all-around package. Whilst he can regularly find the back of the net, he also creates chances and brings others into play, which could be deadly given the strength of their attack.

As Dougie Critchley said, he is a “special” footballer, and could be perhaps exactly what Newcastle need to take their attack to the next level.

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da wazamba： Sunderland are already finding their glorious promotion up to the Premier League to be a double-edged sword.

da bet vitoria： Indeed, the dust hadn’t even settled on the Black Cats’ Championship playoff final success before goalscoring hero Tommy Watson was heading down to the south coast to Brighton and Hove Albion, with Jobe Bellingham now the next expected departee.

The 19-year-old could now follow in his esteemed brother’s footsteps by joining German giants Borussia Dortmund, with the teenage sensation’s last ever match for the club now bittersweet, having just experienced the unbelievable high of promotion glory at Wembley.

The latest on Bellingham's future

This is one glaring negative attached to promotion – the fear that your best players will be snatched away from you after so much success.

Bellingham is reportedly on the cusp of calling Dortmund his new home for a bumper £32.8m fee, meaning he will go down as Sunderland’s heftiest ever sale when the move is officially completed.

This will, of course, be a major knock to Regis Le Bris and Co. ahead of their daunting top-flight adventure getting underway, with Bellingham’s seven goals and assists combined last season standing him in good stead to take to the Premier League confidently.

Instead, the Bundesliga will soon see what the much-talked-about Black Cats’ number seven is all about.

But, Sunderland can instantly address these gaping wounds by landing this ideal Bellingham replacement, with the star in question already well accustomed to the testing environment of the Premier League.

Sunderland's "outstanding" Bellingham replacement

Le Bris will need figures dotted all around his starting XI that know the difficult division to try and give his team a fighting chance at survival.

Tommy Doyle certainly ticks that box, considering he has amassed 51 top-flight appearances across his playing days to date, with the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder now reportedly attracting the attention of the Stadium of Light side as per a report from TEAMTalk earlier this month.

But, away from boasting plenty of experience for a 23-year-old, Doyle can also pick out a fine strike – much like Bellingham – from the midfield areas, with his senior career so far seeing him collect eight goals for Wolves, Sheffield United and Cardiff City, on top of reaching double digits with 11 assists.

The “outstanding” midfielder – as he’s been labelled previously by former youth coach Mark Kennedy – will hope the goals and assists keep flowing if he relocates to Wearside soon, with Doyle’s overall numbers last time out in the Championship with the Blades further backing up his status as an ideal replacement for the Dortmund-bound ace.

Doyle’s league numbers (22/23) vs Bellingham’s (24/25)

Stat (* = per game)

Doyle

Bellingham

Games played

33

40

Goals scored

3

4

Assists

4

3

Touches*

43.3

56.0

Accurate passes*

24.5 (78%)

34.0 (86%)

Key passes*

1.1

1.2

Big chances created

6

4

Stats by Sofascore

He might well have fallen down the pecking order under Vitor Pereira at Molineux in recent times – as seen in his three minimal starts last season in the league – but his wealth of top-flight experience will still be a major plus, away from his standout loan stint at Bramall Lane reinforcing his similarities to Bellingham, as seen when glancing at the table above.

There will be a lot of pressure on Doyle’s shoulders to succeed, but the 23-year-old has managed to forge a memorable career for himself at the top for some time now, with that hopefully continuing at the Stadium of Light.

Doyle’s addition could become key to Le Bris’ men keeping their heads above water, with Sunderland likely to be submerged in a relegation battle all season long, whilst Bellingham plies his trade at the luxurious summit of the Bundesliga.

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da apostebet： Tottenham Hotspur have had some of the greatest players in Premier League history down the years, from Ballon d’Or winners like Luka Modric to international superstars such as Gareth Bale, but former striker Dimitar Berbatov believes one Spurs star was even better than people realised.

da poker： Ending their trophy drought by winning the Europa League against Manchester United, Tottenham’s 2024/25 campaign was one of their worst ever seasons with one of the best ever endings, as Ange Postecoglou made good on his promise that he “always wins things” in his second season at a club.

The Lilywhites had gone 17 years without winning a major honour, seeing legendary players like Harry Kane go their entire careers at the club without ever winning a trophy.

Tottenham's best Premier League players in pictures

One famous player who did manager to secure silverware for the club was defender Ledley King. The Tottenham academy graduate made 268 league appearances for the club to go with 21 caps for England, and was a part of the last Tottenham team to win a trophy before the triumph in Bilbao, winning the League Cup in 2008.

However, his career was largely a case of ‘what if’, as former manager Harry Redknapp once revealed he rarely trained due to his injuries.

Berbatov: Ledley King was as good as Ferdinand and Vidic

One man who was lucky enough to play with several of the best centre-backs in Premier League history was Berbatov, who joined Manchester United in 2008 after two successful seasons with Spurs, and he claimed King may just have been the best of the lot.

Related 20 Best Centre-Backs in Premier League History Ranked

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The Bulgaria legend revealed in an interview with TalkSPORT that for all his success at United – winning two Premier League titles – it was King who was right up there as one of his best ever teammates.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is another of King’s admirers, revealing he was the “only defender” in England who could take the ball off him “without you even noticing”.

King spent the 2020/21 season on Jose Mourinho’s first team staff and has since continued his work with the club in an ambassadorial role, while his name can still be heard ringing out around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 26th minute on match days.

Hopefully, he won’t have to wait another 17 years to see his favourite club lift another trophy.