All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur have endured an impressive start to life under Thomas Frank over the last couple of months, as seen by the club’s current sixth-place standing in the Premier League.

The Dane took the reins from Ange Postecoglou during the summer and has made an immediate impact in changing the Lilywhites’ fortunes within the final third of the pitch.

His side have already found the back of the net on 17 occasions in the first ten outings of the campaign, with such a tally being the fourth best of any team in the division at present.

The goals have been massively spread out across the first-team squad, with nine players already getting themselves on the scoresheet in England’s top-flight in 2025/26.

Centre-back Micky van de Ven and centre-forward Richarlison are currently sitting at the top of the goalscoring charts on three goals, but the latter has failed to score in any of his last five league outings.

Whilst Frank’s men have impressed during the early stages of the current campaign, their tallies within the final third will no doubt have been massively boosted if they had one player at their disposal.

Bukayo Saka’s record against Spurs & how he compares to other PL wingers

Winger Bukayo Saka has been a player Spurs supporters have no doubt envied over the last few years, with the attacker often providing the goods for bitter North London rivals, Arsenal.

The England international has netted a combined 100 goals and assists in the Premier League throughout his professional career, numerous of which have come against the Lilywhites.

Many of his efforts have directly affected the Spurs faithful, even coming up with goods in the North London Derby and securing countless victories for Mikel Arteta’s side.

After his breakthrough in 2020, the Arsenal star has featured against Spurs on ten separate occasions, subsequently being on the winning side in 60% of the outings.

Saka has also found the back of the net five times against the Lilywhites, with his last strike in such a fixture coming in September 2024, subsequently securing a 1-0 triumph for the Gunners.

In 2025/26, the 24-year-old has only netted twice in the Premier League, but his underlying stats highlight the top-level quality the winger possesses within the final third.

He’s completed 2.4 successful take-ons per 90 to date, a tally that has placed the Englishman in the top 10% of all players in England’s top-flight at present.

Saka has also achieved an average of 31.4 touches in the final third and 3.1 carries into the final third per 90, with both figures ranking him in the top 5% in the Premier League for 2025/26.

Such numbers further reaffirm the 24-year-old’s talent within attacking areas, with Frank no doubt wishing he had his own version of the winger within his own first-team ranks.

The Spurs star who’s similar to Saka & better than Johnson

Brennan Johnson was seen as a huge investment for Spurs in the summer of 2023, after the hierarchy forked out a staggering £47.5m for the attacker’s signature from Nottingham Forest.

Eyebrows were raised at the time, given the nature of the transfer fee, but a couple of years on from his switch to North London, he’s been unable to match the expectations that were placed upon him.

The Welsh international may have scored 18 times in all competitions last campaign, but his performances left a lot to be desired – even being subject to abuse from supporters on social media.

Johnson was responsible for one of the club’s biggest moments in recent history, as he netted the winner against Manchester United in the Europa League final back in May 2025.

Frank’s arrival could have handed the 24-year-old a new lease of life, especially after the Dane previously tried to land his services during his time as Brentford manager.

However, despite netting two goals in each of the first two league games of the season, he’s since dropped down the pecking order, often being unreliable when called upon by the manager.

Such a situation was apparent in the recent clash with FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, where Johnson found the back of the net, but was also sent off after a reckless challenge.

His drop down the pecking order has no doubt been as a result of the summer addition of Mohammed Kudus, with the Ghanaian joining the Lilywhites in a £55m transfer during the off-season.

The 25-year-old has cemented his place on the right-hand side in the starting eleven, already registering one goal and four assists in the Premier League to date.

Kudus, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, netted his first goal against Leeds United, with such a performance seeing the attacker attempt six take-ons – leading to Ben Mattinson claiming he’s “very similar to Saka”.

Given the levels he’s produced in recent weeks, Frank has certainly made the right call in opting to utilise Kudus over Johnson, with the Ghanaian massively outperforming the Welshman this campaign.

Games played

10

10

Goals & assists

5

2

Pass accuracy

74%

66%

Progressive carries

3.2

2.2

Progressive passes

2.8

1.3

Key passes completed

1.4

0.6

Take-ons completed

3.2

1.4

Crosses completed

7.2

3.4

Alongside the better tally of combined goals and assists at present, he’s also achieved more progressive passes and carries per 90 – offering Frank’s men a more all-round presence with the ball at his feet.

His chance creation is further highlighted in his higher tally of passes completed and key passes registered per 90 – numbers which have seen him notch the joint-highest assist tally of any player in the division.

Other areas, such as more take-ons and crosses completed, further highlighted his ability to cause carnage to the opposition – similarly to how Saka has for Arsenal in recent years.

After Kudus’ immediate impact in North London, there’s no reason why he can’t be the club’s own version of the Englishman – especially after Mattinson’s praise and comparisons.

Should the winger continue on his current trajectory under Frank at Spurs, he certainly could play a huge part in any future success and help the club reach the next level domestically and continentally.

Not Kolo-Muani: Spurs have signed a "hidden gem" who can end Solanke's stay

Tottenham Hotspur have a teenage striker who could put an end to Dominic Solanke’s career at the club.

ByDan Emery Nov 6, 2025

When approaching a transfer window, whether it is in the summer or January, Glasgow Rangers should be looking to do one of two things with their signings.

They should be making signings with a view to improving the team in the short-term, as they should always be competing for trophies every season.

As well as those impact signings, the Gers should also be looking for young players who have the potential for big development, with a view to selling them on for a substantial profit in the future, to carry their player trading model.

In the summer transfer window just gone, Kevin Thelwell led the recruitment drive and it is hard to see many signings that fall into either of those categories at the moment.

In terms of short-term impact, Rangers are currently fifth in the Scottish Premiership after finishing second last season, which shows that they have regressed on the pitch.

Meanwhile, there are not too many players who were signed in the summer who currently look like they will go on to be sold for a profit in the future.

Rangers summer signings who are most likely to be sold for a profit

Thelwell, who was moved on from his position on Monday, swooped to bring in seven players on permanent deals to Ibrox in the summer, along with the pre-agreed permanent deals for Oscar Cortes and Lyall Cameron that were agreed before he joined in April.

Rangers have a fairly decent record of selling players for big money in recent years. Calvin Bassey joined Ajax for £19.6m, Joe Aribo joined Southampton for £6m, and Nathan Patterson signed for Everton for £11.5m in 2022, whilst Hamza Igamane was sold to Lille for £10.4m this year.

Excluding Cortes and Cameron, as they were not sanctioned by Thelwell, it would be bold to confidently predict that any of the seven permanent summer signings will be sold for profit.

Djeidi Gassama feels like the most likely, at this moment in time, because he was signed from Sheffield Wednesday for £2.2m and has produced six goals and two assists in all competitions, per Transfermarkt. No other summer signing has scored more than twice.

Because none of the others have provided much of an attacking threat, Emmanuel Fernandez, despite playing just four matches, may rank second. Signed for £3.5m, he has scored two goals in four matches and won 88% of his aerial duels in two league outings, per Sofascore.

1

Djeidi Gassama

2

Emmanuel Fernandez

3

Oliver Antman

4

Thelo Aasgaard

5

Youssef Chermiti

6

Bojan Miovski

7

Joe Rothwell

As you can see in the table above, Joe Rothwell and Bojan Miovski, who both started on the bench against Livingston last weekend, rank in the bottom two because they have been bit-part players at the ages of 30 and 26, which does not suggest that they are likely to kick on and be sold for a big profit.

Oliver Antman, with three goal contributions, and Thelo Aasgaard, with two goal contributions, rank just ahead of those two because they are 24 and 23, respectively, and still have time to improve.

Youssef Chermiti ranks in fifth because he has plenty of time to develop, at 21, but was signed for a whopping fee of £8m and has only produced one goal in 13 matches as a striker, per Transfermarkt, which makes it seem unlikely, on current evidence, that they will recoup that outlay.

Meanwhile, there is a player in the current Rangers squad, signed before Thelwell arrived, who does look likely to be sold on for a substantial profit, and potentially for even more than the likes of Joe Aribo and Hamza Igamane.

Chalkboard

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

Nicolas Raskin was signed by former Gers boss Michael Beale under the previous ownership at Ibrox, whilst they were between sporting directors, in January 2023 for a reported fee of roughly £1.5m from Standard Liege.

Why Rangers could sell Nicolas Raskin for a profit

Given that the Belgian midfielder was signed for a fairly small sum of money, certainly in comparison to a player like Chermiti, it will be ‘easier’ for Rangers to bank a profit on him if they ever decide to cash in.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Leeds and Tottenham are two of a number of clubs across the Premier League and Europe that are eyeing up a possible move for Raskin, but that the Gers want a “big fee” for their star.

This shows that there are teams keen on snapping the Belgium international up from Ibrox in the winter window, which means that Rangers could, if they wanted to, cash in on him to fund new signings for Danny Rohl, not to say that is what they should do.

TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that it would take a fee of £18m to £20m to tempt the Gers to sell Raskin, which would be a substantial profit on the £1.5m they signed him for almost three years ago.

Selling him for a fee in that region would mean that Rangers would get more money for him than they did for Igamane, Patterson, and Aribo, as aforementioned, although it would take a fee of £20m for him to take Bassey’s crown as the most expensive sale in the club’s history.

Appearances

33

10

Sofascore rating

7.43

7.39

Goals

4

1

Assists

10

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.4

2.8

Ground duel success rate

57%

53%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

56%

As you can see in the table above, Raskin’s performances as a box-to-box midfielder in the Premiership have been exceptional since the start of last season, as he has provided quality in the final third and defensive strength out of possession.

The 24-year-old maestro, once praised as “unbelievable” by ex-Gers striker Kris Boyd, has proven that he can provide consistent performances for the club, which is something the batch of summer signings this year have failed to do thus far.

That is why Raskin may end up being sold for a huge fee, as possibly the most or second-most expensive sale in the club’s history, amid interest from several teams in January, whilst it is hard to say if any of Thelwell’s signings will go on to be sold for a profit.

"Rotten" Thelwell signing is Rangers' biggest waste of time since Dowell

This summer signing by Kevin Thelwell has been as bad as the deal to bring Kieran Dowell to Rangers.

ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025

Whilst Rangers supporters may not want to see the Belgian move on from the club in January, his story and the fact that there is the possibility that he is sold for huge money is an example that Thelwell’s replacement should look to follow.

Mikel Arteta is now driving Arsenal’s move to sign Scott McTominay, with the manager of the belief the Scot would be the perfect addition to his midfield, and Napoli’s asking price has been revealed.

Arteta is already blessed with a wide array of options in central midfield, having signed Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi in the summer, while Declan Rice also continues to impress, receiving plaudits from Gary Neville after the recent 4-1 North London derby victory.

Neville said: “The only player you would be worried about losing for a period of time would be Declan Rice because you cannot replace that,”

“That is your Roy Keane, that is your Rodri, the player that holds you together. There is only one of them.”

However, despite strengthening considerably in the summer, the Gunners have struggled injury-wise this season, with Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus being ruled out against Tottenham Hotspur, meaning Mikel Merino had to lead the line.

As such, it could be a wise idea to bring in another central midfielder in the transfer window, and Arteta is personally a fan of a Serie A star…

Arteta driving Arsenal move for Scott McTominay

According to a report from Spain, Arteta believes McTominay could be the ideal addition to his midfield, with Arsenal closely monitoring the Napoli star’s performances over the past few months.

The Spanish manager rates the Scotland international highly due to his ability and press forward, and there are signs that a deal could be possible, though Andrea Berta will have to stump up £60m.

The 28-year-old is under contract until 2029, meaning Napoli are in a strong negotiating position at present, but interest from elsewhere is growing, with Manchester United also joining the race to re-sign their former player.

The Napoli star has certainly taken his career to new heights since leaving Old Trafford, with football writer Mark Carruthers praising him for the part he played in the Serie A side winning the title last season.

The former Man United man displayed his attacking quality as Napoli went on to win the league, picking up 12 goals and six assists in 34 Serie A outings, and he recently scored a remarkable bicycle kick as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to qualify for the World Cup.

It may be difficult for McTominay to force his way into the Arsenal starting XI ahead of Rice and Zubimendi, but he would certainly provide Arteta with fantastic depth in the middle of the park.

Scott McTominay has been named as one of the best midfielders in the world The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

5 ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Two of Manchester United’s biggest summer signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, are starting to get into full flow for the Red Devils.

Mbeumo, in particular, has started life at Old Trafford quickly, with eight goals and assists in 16 games across all competitions.

As for his Brazilian teammate, things haven’t been quite as smooth sailing. He’s struggled with a few minor injuries and hasn’t been at his best.

The United number ten only has one goal and one assist in 12 Premier League games, but has shown flashes of his best form.

United are not done there when it comes to strengthening in attack, and could dip back into the market this winter.

United’s latest attacking target

It is not just in attack that the Red Devils might be looking to strengthen their side, with midfield a focus area too.

Transfer Focus

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

They are reportedly plotting to sign Elliot Anderson and are even linked with a sensational, if expensive, move for Jude Bellingham.

Looking further up the pitch, the Mancunian giants are linked with a move to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, United are able to meet the Ghanaian’s release clause and could make a move for him.

This, of course, will not be a cheap deal. Semenyo’s release clause is worth a reported £65m, a fee Ruben Amorim’s side ‘would be able to match’ this winter.

However, they would face tough competition for his signature, with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all interested in signing him, too.

Why Semenyo would be a good signing

There is no doubt about 25-year-old Semenyo’s quality. The versatile forward, who can operate on either flank, has been described this season as a “world-class” operator by Cherries teammate Justin Kluivert.

Indeed, the numbers he has put up are reflective of someone deemed an elite winger. This season in the Premier League, Bournemouth’s number 24 has played 14 games, scoring six goals and assisting a further three.

There have been some real standout moments for the 25-year-old, too. He’s scored twice and assisted the other in a 3-1 win at home to Fulham, and scored a sublime solo goal against Liverpool at Anfield on the opening day of the season.

United would love for the winger to have the same sort of impact as Mbeumo if he were to join. The Cameroonian attacker has been one of their most consistent players this season, even winning November’s Premier League player of the month award.

His most recent goal came on Monday against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Mbeumo and his new teammate Cunha can have a “big impact” on the club if they are able to “find a way to click,” according to United great Gary Neville.

If the Red Devils were to acquire Semenyo in the winter window, they would love for him to add to that threat with their two summer recruits.

You could certainly make a case that the Ghanaian is a hybrid of both players. At least, according to FBref, he has similar underlying numbers to Mbeumo over the last year and to Cunha in the top flight this term – noted as statistically similar both men in those respective fields.

Well, to factor in both, let’s look at numbers from the last two Premier League seasons. A standout number is their combined goals and assists per 90 minutes, with Semenyo averaging 0.5, Cunha 0.6 and Mbeumo 0.65.

0.5 goals & assists

0.6 goals & assists

0.65 goals & assists

1.29 key passes

1.78 key passes

1.79 key passes

1.85 take-ons complete

2.09 take-ons complete

1.22 take-ons complete

3.85 progressive carries

3.63 progressive carries

3.26 progressive carries

4.6 ball recoveries

4.36 ball recoveries

3.98 ball recoveries

It is easy to see how the three players are similar, based on those numbers.

If Semenyo – who, like the United pair, is Premier League proven – can offer the goal and assist numbers of Mbeumo, and the threat carrying the ball which Cunha brings, he would be a dangerous addition to Amorim’s side.

£65m is not the most unreasonable fee for a player of his class, and United fans will be hoping he can have a quick impact at Old Trafford.

The new Ji-Sung Park: Man Utd star is fast becoming as important as Bruno

Manchester United have another star who is becoming as important as Bruno Fernandes.

ByEthan Lamb 6 days ago

In stark contrast to this time last month, the mood around Chelsea at the moment is a good one.

Enzo Maresca has overseen three wins on the bounce, including an incredible result at home to defending Premier League champions Liverpool.

However, while the team has generally been performing well, there are a few players who continue to underwhelm.

One of those is undoubtedly Alejandro Garnacho, and therefore he should be dropped for someone previously compared to a young Callum Hudson Odoi.

Garnacho's slow start to life at Chelsea

It would be fair to say that the signing of Garnacho was not universally welcomed by the Chelsea support.

After all, while he’s an undeniably talented footballer, he doesn’t have the best of reputations and left Manchester United on poor terms.

Unfortunately, while there have been glimpses of the talent who racked up 21 goal involvements for a terrible Red Devils side last season, they have been nothing more than that, glimpses.

Appearances

58

Minutes

3568′

Goals

11

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

169.90′

Overall, the Argentine international has been somewhat disappointing, as in his six appearances thus far, totalling 273 minutes, he has produced a grand total of zero goals and zero assists.

Worse yet, while some of the games have been against top opposition, he also failed to turn up in the EFL Cup game against Lincoln City and offered very little against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

In fact, he was so underwhelming against the Tricky Trees, that he was taken off at half-time with a combined expected goal and assist figure of just 0.01, no key passes, just seven accurate passes, zero shots and a match rating of 3/10 from the Standard’s Dom Smith, who wrote that he ‘ran down blind alleys and failed to produce anything dangerous.

In short, Garnacho is showing no sign of improving, and therefore, Maresca should take him out of the team for the game against Ajax.

The player who should replace Garnacho

Two names might stand out as potential replacements for Garancho against Ajax: Jamie Gittens and Estevao.

Chalkboard

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

However, the former has arguably been just as disappointing so far this season, and the latter is primarily a right-sided player and deserves another start in his favoured position.

Therefore, Maresca should do what he did against Benfica and bring Tyrique George in from the start, but instead of playing him up top, put him out on the left.

Now, it would be fair to say that the young Englishman hasn’t exactly blown anyone away this year, but it’s equally true that he has shown more in his limited minutes than the former United star.

For example, he was the one who saved the club from a massively embarrassing defeat to Lincoln by scoring and assisting a goal.

On top of that, he has also simply looked more engaged and threatening in games, which could be down to him being an academy graduate or him having a better attitude.

Moreover, despite being just 18 years old at the start of last season, the academy gem, who respected analyst Ben Mattinson once described as a “young Hudson-Odoi,” was able to amass a tally of three goal involvements in 12 Conference League appearances.

Finally, while Ajax are not going to be pushovers, they are also going to be one of the easier Champions League opponents the West Londoners face this season, so it makes sense to give youth players a run-out in these fixtures.

Ultimately, George might not end up being a better player than Garnacho, but at the moment, he is offering far more, and therefore, MarEsca should start him against the Dutch giants.

Chelsea have a "joke of a footballer" and he's now just "like Cole Palmer"

The Chelsea star is becoming as crucial to Enzo Maresca’s side as Cole Palmer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 21, 2025

Manchester United are now willing to outbid Real Madrid to win the race for Tijuana wonderkid Gilberto Mora, who starred at the recent U20 World Cup.

It was recently revealed that Ruben Amorim is putting a heavy emphasis on bringing young players through the ranks, having introduced a number of academy stars to first-team training, with 18-year-old winger Shea Lacey particularly catching the eye.

Amorim plans to rebuild the link between the academy and the senior squad, and Lacey is one of the main youngsters who could push for a place in the match-day squad before the season comes to a close.

Bringing players through the academy has always been a part of United’s DNA, and their current manager has made it clear he wants to continue that tradition, saying: “We want to maintain it. The past of Manchester United is built on kids.

“I don’t want to be the guy that breaks that.”

The Red Devils have also set out to sign impressive up-and-coming talents from elsewhere, with it recently emerging they are in concrete talks to sign AIK Fotboll striker Kevin Filling, and they are now looking to sign another young attacker.

Man Utd willing to outbid Real Madrid for Mora

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United are willing to put a lot of money on the table to win the race for Tijuana attacking midfielder Mora, following his impressive performances at the recent U20 World Cup.

Such is United’s level of interest, they are willing to raise the price to a point where Madrid would be forced to back out of the race, but there could be competition for his signature, with Paris Saint-Germain also prepared to spend big.

In order to win the race, the Red Devils are aware they will need to move swiftly, with a deal expected to amount to €4.5m (£4m).

The 17-year-old certainly caught the eye at the U20 World Cup, receiving plaudits from scout Jacek Kulig courtesy of his performances in the group stage.

Not only that, but the teenager has already gained a plethora of experience for Tijuna at first-team level, having made 44 appearances for the Mexican side, during which time he’s amassed seven goals and two assists.

Mora is yet to prove himself in a major league, but his performances for both club and country have been extremely impressive, and it would be a real statement if Man United were able to beat Real Madrid to his signature.

Man Utd now enter race for Jeremy Monga Man Utd now enter race to sign new forward dubbed "England's Ousmane Dembele"

The Red Devils are looking to sign a “deadly finisher”.

ByDominic Lund Oct 29, 2025

Crystal Palace are now eyeing Lyon starlet Tyler Morton as a possible replacement for Adam Wharton, amid a new update on the midfielder’s future at Selhurst Park.

Wharton’s future at Selhurst Park remains up in the air, with a number of Premier League clubs emerging as potential suitors for the midfielder, including Chelsea, and it has now been revealed the Blues are “actively in talks” over a deal.

The 21-year-old was recently called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel, having remained a key player for Oliver Glasner’s side this season, with perhaps his most impressive performance coming in the 2-1 win against Liverpool, creating two big chances and making four key passes.

Unfortunately, the Eagles have become accustomed to losing some of their best players in recent years, with Michael Olise moving to Bayern Munich and Eberechi Eze joining Arsenal, and the former Blackburn Rovers man will also continue to attract attention from top clubs if he continues his current performance levels.

Consequently, Glasner & co may have to start thinking about bringing in a replacement, and a report has now given an update on their chances of signing a former Liverpool player…

Crystal Palace eyeing Tyler Morton

According to a report from Jeunes Footeux (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace are now eyeing a move for Lyon midfielder Morton, a matter of months after he left Arne Slot’s side to sign for the Ligue 1 club.

The French side are currently experiencing financial difficulties, which means they may be tempted to cash-in, should Palace be willing to come to the negotiating table with a ‘substantial offer’.

The Eagles are currently monitoring the 23-year-old closely, as they are preparing for Wharton’s departure in 2026, amid interest from a number of unnamed clubs.

The Wallasey-born midfielder, who is represented by the same agent as Borna Sosa, found it difficult to establish himself as a first-team regular at Liverpool, but he has been a key player for Lyon this season, most recently picking up an assist in a 3-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

Scout Ben Mattinson has also provided a positive review of the Englishman’s key attributes, saying: “Morton is a complete midfielder with an all-round ability to dictate tempo with his passing, carry forward and win the ball. Particularly his long passing stands out.”

Game time may have been hard to come by at his former club, but the Liverpool academy graduate did manage to impress when given the opportunity, having been singled out for praise for his performance against West Ham United last season.

Morton is at the right age to be a solid long-term replacement for Wharton, but Crystal Palace’s main priority should be to keep hold of their current central midfielder.

Crystal Palace identify Ezri Konsa as Marc Guehi replacement

In search of a consistent goalscorer, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly preparing a £40m+ offer to sign Georges Mikautadze from Villarreal in 2026.

The great weakness in Thomas Frank’s side this season has been their goalscoring struggles. With Dominic Solanke yet to return to full fitness, the likes of Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani have struggled to truly take hold of the starting role – handing the Lilywhites a frustrating problem.

Kolo Muani has particularly struggled since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain and is still searching for his first Tottenham goal. With the North London derby against Arsenal up next, however, the forward has been passed fit and has the perfect opportunity to find the back of the net for the first time in the Premier League.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Arsenal game, Frank revealed early team news which included an update on Kolo Muani’s unexpected return to action after suffering a jaw injury before the break.

If the PSG loanee continues his run without a goal, then many around North London will be asking big questions. Tottenham chiefs are already reportedly searching for a striker and the Frenchman’s struggles could accelerate their plan to welcome La Liga star Mikautadze in 2026.

Tottenham readying Mikautadze offer

According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now preparing a €50m (£44m) offer to sign Mikautadze from Villarreal in 2026. A player who’s been compared to the great Diego Forlan by Spanish media, the 25-year-old has shown glimpses of his best form so far this season – scoring five goals in 14 games – and has entered Spurs’ radar as a result.

Tottenham's eye-watering 'initial offer' for Rodrygo after contacting Florentino Perez

Spurs reportedly mean business.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 21, 2025

After becoming a transfer flop at Ajax, the Georgian striker reinvented himself at FC Metz, before starring at Lyon to earn a summer switch to Villarreal. Now, he could be about to make the biggest move of his career courtesy of Tottenham.

Dubbed “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig, Mikautadze has only kicked on since then to attract the interest of the Premier League. As Tottenham’s forwards continue to struggle, the 25-year-old should be seen as a serious option to consider next year.

Tottenham eyeing 'dream' move for striker likened to Diego Costa after Frank request

Gary Neville has criticised one aspect of Arsenal’s performance in the 4-1 North London derby victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

It was ultimately an easy day at the office for the Gunners against their bitter rivals, with Eberechi Eze, who Tottenham were keen on signing in the summer, scoring a hat-trick, after Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the first half.

Speaking after the game, Jamie Carragher admitted he underestimated just how important Eze would end up being for Mikel Arteta’s side, who put in a fantastic all-round performance to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

However, a fellow Sky Sports pundit wasn’t particularly impressed with one aspect of Arteta’s side’s performance…

Gary Neville criticises Arsenal's set-pieces against Tottenham

Arsenal have been phenomenal from set-pieces this season, with Gabriel looking particularly impressive in the opposition penalty area, picking up two goals and three assists in all competitions.

However, while Neville was complimentary of the overall display, the 50-year-old has suggested the Gunners weren’t quite as threatening from dead-ball situations against Tottenham as they have been previously.

Arteta’s side proved they have what it takes to end the long wait for a Premier League title with their performance on Sunday, limiting their opponents to an xG of just 0.07, with only a Richarlison wonder goal catching them out.

Eze certainly sent out a major statement with his performance too, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 10 after scoring a hat-trick and making a number of other key contributions.

Eberechi Eze’s key statistics vs Tottenham

Number completed

Big chances created

1

Duels (won)

10 (7)

Interceptions

2

Tackles

2

Arsenal also displayed that they aren’t one dimensional, with none of their goals coming from set-pieces, and they managed to cope despite having a number of important players out injured, namely Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel.

As such, Arteta will no doubt be confident his side can go on to have a successful season, but there are some tricky fixtures on the horizon, taking on FC Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday, prior to a trip to second-placed Chelsea at the weekend.

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After the saga surrounding Alexander Isak during the summer transfer window, it was crucial that Newcastle United navigated their way past the situation.

The Swedish international netted 23 Premier League goals last campaign, helping the Magpies secure Champions League football, but that wasn’t enough to keep the striker happy on Tyneside.

Eddie Howe was left with no choice but to cash in on the 26-year-old’s services during the summer transfer window, subsequently taking in an English record £125m for his services.

However, it no doubt left a huge hole that needed filling within the final third, leading to over £100m being splashed on numerous players to soften the blow of his departure.

Despite the recent spending spree, the hierarchy appear to be targeting numerous attacking reinforcements to take the club to the next level in the months ahead.

Newcastle’s hunt for new attacking signings in January

Over the last couple of days, Newcastle have been just one side credited with an interest in landing Stuttgart star Bilal El Khannouss ahead of the January window.

The Moroccan international joined the German side on loan from Leicester City in the summer window, already making an immediate impact – as seen by his tally of five goals and assists in 10 outings.

However, Howe’s men could strike a permanent deal with his current employers this winter, which could result in a £25m switch to St James’ Park for the attacking midfielder.

He’s not the only player currently on their radar, with Brentford striker Igor Thiago another player currently being considered ahead of the upcoming window.

According to TEAMtalk, the Magpies are just one Premier League club monitoring the Brazilian, after his tremendous start to 2025/26, which has seen him score 11 times to date.

However, the report also states that Keith Andrews’ side are unwilling to sanction a move, but may be forced to consider a move if a huge offer is made for his signature.

Why Newcastle’s latest target could be bad news for Woltemade

In an attempt to soften the blow of Isak’s summer departure from Newcastle, the board backed Howe by spending a reported £69m on the signature of striker Nick Woltemade.

The German’s transfer fee certainly raised eyebrows across the division, but a couple of months on and the deal now appears to be an excellent piece of business by the board.

He’s already featured in 11 Premier League matches to date, scoring on five separate occasions, whilst also managing to lay on one assist for his teammates.

The 23-year-old’s latest effort came in the 4-1 demolition of Everton, with Woltemade producing an outrageous lob over Jordan Pickford to cement all three points for the Magpies.

However, despite his excellent start to life in the North East, he could struggle for consistent minutes if Thiago arrives, with the Brazilian man in tremendous form in recent weeks.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats, the Brazilian has managed to outperform Woltemade in key areas, showcasing why it could be bad news for the German.

Thiago, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by boss Andrews, has scored almost double the number of goals netted by the Magpies star – showcasing his clinical edge in front of goal.

Games played

14

12

Goals & assists

11

6

Shot on target accuracy

50%

30%

Shots on target per 90

1.1

0.5

Passes into final third

0.9

0.6

Take-on success

56%

38%

Aerials won

2.9

1.5

Aerial success rate

43%

34%

He’s also registered more shots on target per 90, whilst achieving a better accuracy rate with the chances he’s been presented with – arguably making him a more consistent option in the final third.

However, he’s also demonstrated a more all-round skill-set than the German star, as seen by his higher take-on success rate and higher tally of passes into the final third per 90.

The Brazilian’s dominance over Woltemade is further reflected in his aerial presence, which no doubt makes him a better focal point than the number 27.

It’s unclear how much the Bees would demand to part ways with their talisman, but it’s clear he’s currently a leading talent in the Premier League this season.

Such a move could be harsh on Woltemade, but the added competition in the months ahead could allow the youngster to find the next level in his career as a result.

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