All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

After a campaign full of ups and downs last year, Tottenham Hotspur are in for a massive season.

Ange Postecoglou will want to ensure the Lilywhites make it back into the Champions League after just missing out last year, and while his team have endured a mixed start to 24/25, they have shown real glimpses of brilliance.

The Australian will need his team to be firing on all cylinders to get them over the line come May, although another season like the last from club captain Son Heung-min should be enough to cover for any underperformers.

The South Korean was incredible in the league last year and proved that, even at 32, he's one of the best attackers in the country, although interestingly, one of his teammates, who former coach Antonio Conte signed, is actually worth more than him.

Son's recent form

As mentioned above, the 23/24 campaign was an odd one for Tottenham, as they looked unplayable at times and alarmingly easy to play at others.

However, while many of his teammates endured quite dramatic shifts in form throughout the year, Son remained a reliable figure in the team, and his incredible output shows as much.

In his 36 games for the Lilywhites, the South Korean phenom scored 17 goals and provided ten assists, meaning that he managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement once every 1.33 games.

Appearances

36

Minutes

2967'

Goals

17

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.88'

What makes this even more impressive is that he was constantly shifted from left-wing to centre-forward during the season, and at 32, he is well past what The Athletic consider to be the peak age for a winger in top-flight football.

However, for as outrageously effective as he was last year, Football Transfers has valued him at just €28m, or about £24m, which is considerably less than one of his fellow wingers is worth.

Dejan Kulusevski's valuation in 2024

The winger in question is, of course, Dejan Kulusevski, who first joined the club on an £8.3m 18-month loan deal under former manager Conte in January 2022.

The Swedish international's move was then made permanent in July for around £26m, which was supposedly slightly less than the initial option to buy included in the loan deal, per the Standard.

Now, it would be fair to say that in his time with the Lilywhites, the former Juventus star has both amazed and frustrated fans, although the reason he occasionally does the latter is that he's clearly an immensely talented footballer who, on his day, can give any defence a run for their money.

Appearances

99

Goals

15

Assists

20

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

For example, in his 99 appearances for the club, the "special" talent, as dubbed by Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, has found the back of the net on 15 occasions and provided 20 assists for good measure, equating to a reasonable average of a goal involvement once every 2.82 games.

This undeniable quality has seen his valuation remain high since joining the North Londoners, and according to Football Transfers, he is currently worth around €57m, which converts to about £48m, or at least double that of Son's valuation.

Now, this drastic disparity is likely down to two things. The first is age; at 32, the South Korean is approaching the end of his career, while at 24, the Stockholm-born dynamo should be approaching his peak years.

The second reason is probably down to their contracts, as the £190k-per-week deal the North Londoners captain is on is set to expire next summer, while the Swede's £110k-per-week contract is set to run for another four years.

Ultimately, both Son and Kulusevski are incredibly talented footballers and could be incredibly important for Tottenham this season. Still, due to the aforementioned reasons, it seems likely that the former's valuation will continue to come down over the coming years, and the latter's will continue to rise, especially if he hits his potential.

Poch sold Spurs flop for £4.5m in 2019, now he's outscoring Richarlison

He was electric last season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 7, 2024

Liverpool are interested in completing a double signing during the January transfer window in two problem positions, according to a new report regarding their upcoming business.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds are still stinging after their 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest last Saturday, as Arne Slot suffered his first defeat in charge. It was the kind of result that can make supporters criticise a lack of summer business, with Federico Chiesa the only signing made for the here and now, alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has remained at Valencia on loan for the time being.

There is still a chance for Liverpool to sign free agents, should the chance arise, and one transfer report has said that Adrien Rabiot’s representatives approached the Merseysiders over snapping up the Frenchman. They didn’t take up the offer, though, even though many fans would have loved to see another midfielder come in.

Sunderland pair Chris Rigg and Anthony Patterson have also been linked with moves to Anfield, with the former a massive talent who is also wanted by Real Madrid, despite still only being 17 years of age.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Patterson is being looked at as a potential replacement for Caoimhin Kelleher, who could leave Liverpool at the end of this season, at which point he will only have one year remaining on his current deal.

Liverpool eyeing double January signing

According to a new report from Football Insider, Liverpool want to make two new signings in January, as sporting director Richard Hughes looks to work his magic. It is claimed that a “defensive midfielder and left-sided centre-back” are being targeted by the Reds, having also been “priorities” during the summer, despite no players coming in there.

Liverpool supporters will be buoyed by this update, during a time in which there is plenty of unrest about FSG’s inability to provide managers with enough transfer funds. That being said, the money was made available to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, but he decided to stay put.

A midfielder of the Spaniard’s ilk is still needed, with the Reds not possessing an elite No.6 in the mould of Rodri, even though Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have been largely excellent so far this season.

Hughes and Michael Edwards appear to be picky when it comes to nailing an addition in that area, but there comes a point where signing someone there is paramount, with many strong defensive midfield options all over the world. Ideally, though, Zubimendi would become available again in January, with a transfer sealed at that point.

Slot should drop Salah by unleashing Liverpool ace for the very first time

The Reds need to bounce back…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 17, 2024

Meanwhile, a left-sided central defender also makes complete sense, at a time when Virgil van Dijk is 33 years of age and needs to be handled with care. There is no natural backup option in his role currently, so snapping up an understudy is imperative, especially if he can also shine as a left-back.

Today could be a huge day in Everton’s season as they attempt to pull further clear of the relegation zone after their excellent end to last season.

However, they’ve endured a torrid start to the new campaign, with Sean Dyche’s side losing both their opening Premier League outings, failing to score a single goal whilst conceding seven in the process.

Deadline day is always a frantic spectacle, with incomings and outgoings expected across the board, but it’s pivotal that the Toffees make additions that would allow for the club to turn around their woeful start to the new campaign.

The club are targeting various players in numerous positions to provide added quality and depth to Dyche’s squad – with Orel Mangala set to be the latest addition, as he undergoes his medical ahead of a proposed loan move.

He could be joined by one player on Merseyside, with his current side looking to offload the star before tonight’s 11pm deadline.

Everton offered deal to sign Championship star

According to GIVEMESPORT, Everton have been offered the opportunity to sign Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill at a cut-price on deadline day.

The 28-year-old, who’s also been offered to fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, could leave Turf Moor, with the Toffees able to sign the ace for just £5m.

Brownhill has enjoyed an excellent start to the 2024/25 campaign under Scott Parker, scoring two goals in his first three Championship games – with his qualities evidently too good for England’s second tier.

He would be a superb addition to Dyche’s squad, potentially reuniting himself with the talented midfielder – allowing the club to land a star who’s a mixture of two talents who have captured the hearts of many at Goodison.

Why Brownhill would be a hybrid of Garner and Onana

Amadou Onana was a fan-favourite during his two-year stint at Everton, excelling with his ball-winning ability at the heart of the club’s midfield.

However, after their recent troubles with PSR, the Belgian had to be sold, joining Aston Villa for £50m – leaving a huge hole in Dyche’s side.

James Garner could therefore be handed the opportunity to stake his claim to be a replacement for the 23-year-old, with the Englishman a fantastic box-to-box option for the Toffees, as demonstrated by his stats last season.

However, the potential signing of Brownhill could allow for the Blue half of Merseyside to sign a player who is an excellent hybrid of the pair – with FBref ranking the Burnley ace as a similar player to the duo based on their stats from last season.

Games played

33

30

37

Goals + assists

6

2

3

Pass accuracy

77%

84%

77%

Shots on target

0.44

0.26

0.30

Tackles won

1.4

1.6

1.3

Interceptions made

1.36

0.91

1.35

Take-on success

54%

44%

46%

The “fabulous” talent, as described by former professional footballer Lee Hendrie, managed more goals and assists than the aforementioned duo, potentially contributing to aiding the club’s attempts to increase their offensive output.

He also completed more interceptions per 90 than Onana and Garner, whilst making more tackles per 90 than his compatriot – showcasing he has the ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

The rumoured £5m fee for Brownhill’s services would be a phenomenal deal, with the 29-year-old having the ability to transform the club’s midfield.

Whilst he may not provide the presence of Onana, his ability to regain possession and cause a problem in the final third could allow him to follow in the Belgian’s footsteps and be a huge hit at Goodison.

Bid pending: Everton plot late move for £15m star who has shades of Gordon

The Toffees desperately need attacking reinforcements before Friday’s deadline.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 29, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Fulham's free transfer bid to sign forward Manor Solomon following his impressive Craven Cottage loan spell, according to reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

Who will Spurs sign after Maddison?

Spurs, much to the delight of new manager Ange Postecoglou, have moved swiftly for some of their top targets in this last fortnight.

Guglielmo Vicario joins from Empoli to shore up their goalkeeping options, while chairman Daniel Levy also managed to sign playmaker James Maddison from Leicester City for £40m.

These two transfers, coupled with the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus, mark a solid start to this summer transfer window and reports suggest they're also after a star centre-half.

Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and others have been linked with moves to north London while there is a belief that Postecoglou wishes to add attacking reinforcements as well.

The departures of both Arnaut Danjuma, who has returned to parent club Villarreal, and winger Lucas Moura on a Bosman have left Spurs slightly short of wide forwards.

As a result, the north Londoners are said to be keen on a move for Shakhtar Donetsk's Solomon, coming after a FIFA ruling allowed players to leave Ukraine freely amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The legislation allows Solomon to halt his contract, without approval from Shakhtar, and move wherever he pleases – meaning Tottenham can sign him for free.

As a result, The Evening Standard and Kinsella claim Spurs are "interested in hijacking" Fulham's "free transfer bid" for the Israel winger, as the Whites are also keen on him following his 2022/23 loan spell in west London.

While not much is added beyond that, it does appear Postecoglou and Levy are eyeing fresh faces in the forward areas.

Who is Manor Solomon?

Solomon scored in five straight games between February and March, bagging four overall in the league, with the 23-year-old impressing during his temporary Fulham spell last campaign.

The winger has also been heralded by sections of the Israeli press, as sports journalist Josh Halickman describes Solomon as an "exceptional athlete" and puts him up there with his country's most influential sportspeople of recent times.

Fulham boss Marco Silva also praised Solomon for his flair and capability in one-on-one situations.

"He has scored some important goals for us," said Silva.

"His one-v-one situation is really strong and coming from the left he is important."

Nottingham Forest have made contact to enquire about a loan deal for Everton defender Mason Holgate, according to reports.

Who is Mason Holgate?

Holgate is a centre-back who currently plies his trade at Goodison Park having moved there from Barnsley all the way back in 2015, making him the club’s second longest-serving player after Seamus Coleman, but he’s recently been out of favour on Merseyside.

The Toffees veteran, who is eligible to play internationally for Jamaica, only made five starts last season in the Premier League so is significantly low down in Sean Dyche’s pecking order and his potential availability has alerted Steve Cooper, but not for the first time.

Back in January, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett revealed that the Reds were “considering” a swoop for the 26-year-old to strengthen their defensive ranks but they ended up completing a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Felipe, though the Forest boss is looking to be successful on his second attempt.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Holgate?

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest have "registered their interest" in a loan deal for Holgate alongside Sheffield United this summer. Everton have "agreed" to sanction the defender's temporary exit ahead of the new campaign, with Dyche having "told" him that he is free to leave to get more minutes under his belt.

Cooper is "looking for new additions" to bolster his ranks further to ensure that his side don't find themselves in another relegation battle this time next year.

What could Holgate bring to the Midlands?

Nottingham Forest are clearly serious about signing Holgate to be targeting him once again and it’s no surprise considering that Liverpool ECHO's former reporter Sam Carroll previously labelled him “Mr Dependable”, so whilst the centre-back has been out of favour, he still has plenty to offer and that could be showcased with the regular game time he'd receive at The City Ground.

The New Era Global Sports client, who pockets £70k-per-week, averaged 3.3 clearances and 1.4 tackles per top-flight game last season, via WhoScored, showing the positive instant impact he made at the heart of the backline when given the opportunity to play.

Holgate, who has posted ten senior goal contributions during his time at Everton, would also provide Cooper with plenty of versatility with his ability to operate anywhere across the defence and even two roles in the midfield, so he would definitely give Cooper another solid option should he put pen to paper in the weeks ahead.

Chelsea have scheduled a meeting this week to discuss a deal to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

When does Victor Osimhen's contract expire?

Osimhen is a striker who currently plays his football at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium having moved there from Lille back in 2020 ,where’s he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of the first-team, clocking up 101 appearances to date.

The Nigeria international still has another two years to run on his contract in the Serie A, but having established himself as Rudi Garcia’s both overall and offensive top-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.45, has grabbed the attention of Mauricio Pochettino.

Back in May, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed that the Blues were “pushing” to sign the 24-year-old who is at the “top of the list” for attacking targets in the final third, and it sounds like club chiefs are now planning to take their interest one step further.

Are Chelsea signing Osimhen?

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Tavolieri revealed that Chelsea, alongside Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, have all arranged meetings with Osimhen’s representatives this week to present their project. He wrote:

“The Victor Osimhen saga will move on the market! #ManUnited, #ChelseaFC & #Liverpool have meetings planned with the entourage of the top scorer of #SerieA. Next week should define the intentions of his 3 clubs. The priority of #Osimhen is #PremierLeague.”

Chelsea are believed to be close to confirming the arrival of Villarreal centre-forward Nicolas Jackson after he completed his medical over the weekend. And having been dubbed “lethal” by journalist Josh Bunting, Osimhen could be a fantastic recruit should he follow in his footsteps, a more natural number nine than the versatile Jackson.

The Nigeria star posted a remarkable 31 goal contributions (26 goals and five assists) in 32 Serie A outings last season, form which saw him receive five man-of-the-match awards and named his division’s top goalscorer for the 2022/23 campaign.

Napoli’s £90k-per-week earner also recorded a total of 132 shots over the course of the previous term which was higher than any other member of his squad, as per FBRef, highlighting the prolific threat he poses when leading the line.

Finally, Osimhen would also add wonderful versatility to Pochettino’s ranks with his ability to operate everywhere across the frontline, despite his natrual dominance through the middle, so it would be a massive coup if he was to put pen to paper.

Liverpool could be a side to look out for in the potential race for the Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer.

How much is Nicolo Barella worth?

The Reds have already kick started their summer window off in style through seeing a number of players depart at the end of their current deals with the Merseyside club.

However, it has not just been exiting players at Anfield with the former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister making the move to join Liverpool.

However, it has been claimed Jurgen Klopp is looking to bring in more than just the one midfielder this summer as it is a major area for improvement.

And one player who has been heavily linked with a potential move away this summer is the long-standing Liverpool target, Barella.

Indeed, the Italian midfielder has been linked with a potential move to Newcastle United this summer after reports suggested the Toon were closing in on a deal worth in the region of £50m.

This is a player who the Reds have been heavily linked with for a long period of time now with the 26-year-old still having three years remaining on his contract.

However, it has since been reported the suggested £50m bid from the Toon would not be anywhere near enough to prise Barella away from the San Siro.

But speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has suggested the Merseyside club could be one to watch this summer:

"I would also keep an eye on Liverpool because Liverpool have always been following the player. Jurgen Klopp has always been a big fan of Barella and so let's see what happens at Liverpool.

"We know they are now busy with Khephren Thuram, Manu Kane and Gabri Veiga so they're they're speaking to agents of many midfielders because they will sign at least another important midfielder this summer. But they're also informed on the situation of Nicolo Barella."

Will Inter sell Barella?

The 26-year-old – who has been hailed "magic" by some in the media – played a huge role in Inter's 2022/23 campaign having made 35 appearances in Serie A where he was able to provide them with six goals and seven assists (via Transfermarkt).

And as a result, reports in Italy (via InterNews) have claimed the Serie A giants would be unwilling to listen to any offers for their midfielder.

The report suggests no bid will be enough to prise Barella away from the San Siro this summer, however, it is no secret that the Italian side have endured some financial difficulties of late.

Amid their issues, the likes of Alessandro Bastoni have been linked with a potential move away in the not-so-distant past, but it seems as if he could be soon to ink a new deal.

Even if Inter were willing to sell Barella, it would be intriguing to see whether the Reds would be able to stretch their transfer budget to compete with the likes of Newcastle.

Newcastle United are about to enter their fourth transfer window since the new ownership took control, and it promises to be a big one. After all, they now boast a place in the Champions League after finishing 4th in the Premier League.

Their rise has been rapid, with some massive signings that transformed the team under Eddie Howe. They haven't signed every player they hoped for, however, and Football FanCast has taken a look back on some of their near-misses over the last 18 months.

Here's what could have been…

8 Cody Gakpo

Chronicle Live claims Newcastle were big, big fans of Gakpo before his move to Liverpool. They'd actually been watching him pre-takeover and continued right the way through the World Cup.

It always looked likely that Gakpo would move on from PSV Eindhoven in January, and Newcastle were a common name linked. Anfield would be his ultimate destination, however.

7 Mykhailo Mudryk

Just about every Premier League club wanted Mudryk – or at least, it felt that way to start the year. Newcastle were among those, says The Athletic, but they couldn't justify his ultimate fee as Chelsea swooped in.

6 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Kvaratskhelia arrived at Napoli a year ago and absolutely stormed it in Serie A, leading his side to their first title in decades. Naturally, Newcastle were amongst the clubs hoping to sign the now-superstar – according to The Times. All reports suggest he's staying put after signing an extended deal, though.

5 Enzo Fernández

Enzo was one of the biggest stories coming out of the World Cup, with Benfica under pressure to sell the player they'd signed just a few months prior. A Bola in Portugal believed Newcastle wanted him, too, and that they could trigger his release clause. As it turned out, Chelsea would be the ones to do that.

4 Jude Bellingham

Bellingham was quite possibly the most in-demand player on the planet ahead of this summer. Sport Bild claimed that the Magpies were hoping to get involved and make the midfielder a marquee signing. He does feel like the perfect player to build around given his age and quality.

Instead, he has now signed for Real Madrid, but perhaps a Premier League move beckons in the future.

3 Neymar

Okay, so maybe it's time to take these ones with a pinch of salt. Still, rumours swirled this season that Paris Saint-Germain wanted to sell Neymar. Few clubs could actually afford the Brazilian – but Newcastle are one of them.

90min made the link, and while Neymar is ultimately still with PSG, you can expect to hear this one again. Speculation is louder than ever that the playmaker will depart this summer. Maybe Champions League football in the north-east appeals?

2 Kylian Mbappé

There was a lot of drama around Mbappé ahead of the World Cup, with suggestions in France that he wanted out of PSG. Much like Neymar, the number of clubs that could afford the superstar is very small. Newcastle would again be up there, though.

And journalist Ben Jacobs claimed they were a potential destination at the time. Now, again as with Neymar, nothing ultimately happened. But the striker doesn't seem too happy and Newcastle may just have a chance to try again someday soon.

1 Lionel Messi

One PSG star who was on the move was Lionel Messi – he's joined Inter Miami. But there was talk in Spain this year that Newcastle were planning to make a monster offer to arguably the greatest player of all time.

That's what Sport claimed. Barcelona also wanted Messi back but Newcastle were seen as a genuine threat. As it is, Messi will leave elite European football behind and take his talents to South Beach.

Olympic champion Usain Bolt has claimed that Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford could actually beat him in a 20-yard sprint.

What's the latest on Manchester United and Marcus Rashford?

It was a pretty impressive season all told for the English forward. After all, not only did he help the Red Devils win the League Cup and secure Champions League football, he also netted 30 goals in all competitions – making him the first MUFC player since Robin van Persie in 2012/13 to hit that total.

So what does all this have to do with Bolt?

Well, the world’s fastest man – who holds the 100m, 200m and 4x100m records in both the Olympics and World Championships – is taking part in Soccer Aid this weekend and will captain the World XI who take on England at Old Trafford.

Consequently, he's been in the UK this week and has taken the time to talk about Man United, the club he supports, recently on talkSPORT.

During the interview, co-host Darren Bent asked him who would be quicker in a race between Bolt and Rashford, and the Jamaican came up with a bit of a surprising answer.

Bent said: “I read an article where you said that Rashford could beat you over 20 yards, is that correct?”

Bolt replied: “Yeah! Rashford is quick out the blocks, that is what he does.

“He has that burst of speed but after that, I told him, you could probably get me in 20 [yards].

“But after that, it is over!”

How fast can Usain Bolt run?

So there you have it, Rashford might be quicker over a shorter distance but if they were racing 100 yards, the Englishman probably wouldn't be able to keep up.

According to Speeds DB – a database that can tell you the top speed of anything – the Man Utd winger can run at 33.30 km/h (or 20.69 mp/h), while Bolt's top speed is 44.72 km/h (27.79 mp/h), which shows the real disparity between the two.

Bolt also provided his thoughts on how the Red Devils have been playing of late, saying: “[The season] has been positive. I wish we won the FA Cup but it is just one of those things.

“We got one trophy and we are in the top four. The way we were looking for the past couple of seasons, this is just positive moment.

“I am just happy that we have a great coach that is really getting the team together. Hopefully, we can get some good players to add to the team and challenge for the league because it is going to be tough.”

Leeds United could make a move for Steven Gerrard to replace Sam Allardyce as manager, according to a recent report from The Sun.

Who could Leeds appoint as manager?

Leeds are said to have held talks with Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola, but there will be stiff competition for the Spaniard, as the likes of Sevilla and Villarreal are also given a mention in the update.

The Whites are set for crunch talks with Allardyce about his future at the club, and the 68-year-old could potentially remain at Elland Road, having impressed several members of the board, although that scenario is deemed to be unlikely.

However, according to a report from The Sun, the players are keen for the manager to stay, which could impact the board's decision, although the club currently remains in limbo until Andrea Radrizzani agrees a sale to the San Francisco 49ers.

The report gives an overview of a number of potential manager targets for Leeds, with Brendan Rodgers getting a mention, but it is detailed that the Northern Irishman may not be keen on dropping to the second tier.

Another possible option is Gerrard, who has been unemployed since being sacked by Aston Villa in October, but he has been linked with a number of jobs in the meantime, including Paris Saint-Germain and Poland.

Should Leeds appoint Steven Gerrard?

It is fair to say the Liverpool legend did not impress in his first Premier League job, averaging just 0.82 points per game last season with a Villa team that clearly had quality, given that Unai Emery went on to secure a place in the Europa Conference League.

As such, there may be some understandable concern about the 43-year-old being linked with Leeds, but it is also important to highlight the fantastic job he did at Rangers, winning the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership in style ahead of Celtic.

The Gers amassed a remarkable 102 points that season, winning every single home game, indicating that Gerrard is more skilled at managing teams competing near the top end of the table, something Leeds will be hoping to do next season.

That said, a move for Rodgers would undoubtedly be preferable, as the former Leicester City boss has far more experience, winning nine trophies throughout his career, so he could be a better target for the Whites, but it looks as if Gerrard's name could be another to keep an eye on.