da betsson： Still looking to turn their season around, Wolverhampton Wanderers look set to welcome their second signing of the January transfer window, with a new midfielder thought to be on his way to Molineux.

Wolves transfer news

da stake casino： Those in the Midlands have already added one reinforcement this month in the form of Emmanuel Agbadou, who has finally ended their search for a much-needed central defender. But they’re seemingly not done there and rightly so.

As things stand, Vitor Pereira’s side are destined for a Premier League relegation scrap right up until the bitter end, which could end in disaster if they fail to welcome further key additions before the end of the month.

On the transfer front, the rumours have continued to arrive regarding potential moves for the likes of Renato Veiga, who has found himself on the fringes of Enzo Maresca’s strongest Chelsea side.

It’s not the versatile Swiss midfielder who’s stealing the biggest headlines, however. Instead, those in the Midlands have reportedly turned their attention towards Portugal in what has become quite the trend at the Molineux over the years.

According to reports in Portugal (as relayed by Sport Witness), Wolves have now all but sealed a deal to sign Manu Silva from Vitoria Guimaraes – with the midfielder already “on his way” to the Midlands to join up with Pereira’s side, as per Jornal de Noticias.

In a package worth a reported €12m (£10m) this month, Wolves look set to get their man, and in doing so, an ideal replacement for Mario Lemina, who currently looks destined for Saudi Arabia.

Related Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

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Signing from Portugal has certainly gone well in the past, and after earlier reports indicated their interest, it looks as though Wolves are set to sign Manu Silva and hand Pereira another welcomed boost this month.

"Strong" Manu Silva brings key versatility

Whilst he is likely to be used primarily as a midfielder, Manu Silva’s ability to also play as a centre-back will undoubtedly help a Wolves side often left short on defensive options, even after the arrival of Agbadou earlier this month.

The 23-year-old has unsurprisingly found himself at the centre of praise since Wolves’ interest emerged, with Rising Star, which takes a closer look at emerging talents, praising his “strong” aerial ability and “effective ball distribution” earlier this week.

For just £10m, Manu Silva could quickly become a bargain buy at Wolves if he goes on to play an integral part in their survival. Potentially following the same path as Ruben Neves from Portugal to the Midlands, the young midfielder will be one to watch at the heart of Pereira’s side.

Potentially two signings down, Wolves have so far enjoyed a successful January transfer window, to say the least.

A thrilling six, push-ups to celebrate victory, and an Afridi star-man celebration feature among our top 10 moments from the second season of the PSL so far

Danyal Rasool, Osman Samiuddin and Umar Farooq04-Mar-2017Grant Elliott on repeat0:33

WATCH – Elliott’s match-winning six and a bat drop

The six in Auckland against South Africa was certainly more iconic: a World Cup semi-final, a full house in front of a home crowd, and Dale Steyn steaming in. But the celebration after Grant Elliott nervelessly dispatched Islamabad United’s Mohammad Sami over the long-on boundary with Lahore Qalandars needing six to win and one wicket in hand was unmatched. As the ball soared into the stands, Yasir Shah came rushing towards his team-mate to give him a bear hug. Elliott barely noticed; he held his bat in the air out in front of him horizontally at eye level, before letting it fall to the ground. If there is a cooler variation of the mic drop, we are yet to see it.Mickey Arthur’s hairdryerSohail Khan struck twice in an over after a scolding from Mickey Arthur•PCB/PSLSir Alex Ferguson was feared by players across generations for his severe half-time dressing-downs, but at least he used to wait until his side were back inside the privacy of the changing rooms. When Karachi Kings’ head coach Mickey Arthur saw his players’ intensity levels drop dramatically in what looked like being an embarrassing defeat against Quetta Gladiators, he gave his players no such hiding place. Calling for a timeout after ten overs, he charged onto the field, his face like thunder. After getting his team into a huddle, he gave them the most public of admonishments; it was not unlike a headmaster speaking to a group of schoolboys who knew when they had been naughty. Poor Sohail Khan seemed to come off worst, but it seemed to have worked somewhat, given three wickets fell in the next over he bowled. It perhaps sent a message not just to Karachi’s players, but also the national team’s, that Mickey Arthur isn’t a man to be crossed.Baz or bust1:16

WATCH – Yasir Shah takes 4 for 7

Brendon McCullum as captain of Lahore was always going to be a delicious sub-theme this season. A naturally – perhaps recklessly – attacking captain, leading Pakistan’s most fun-loving city (sorry Karachi; not even close Islamabad) – what could possibly go wrong? Well, on days like this, plenty. McCullum began it himself, pulling the last ball of the first over when it wasn’t short enough straight to deep midwicket. Just over nine overs later, they were all gone, for 59, the second-shortest innings in T20 history. Game over right? Wrong. The defense of such a low total merely heightened McCullum’s attacking instincts. A brilliant, relentless spell from Yasir Shah sparked a Peshawar collapse from 47 for 3 to 51 for 7. Somehow, they scraped through but this was Lahore and McCullum at their most bewildering and brilliant.Sammy’s stunnerPlease line up behind me•PCB/PSLIt would be safe to lend Darren Sammy some money, because this PSL he proved if he has debts to pay off, he doesn’t wait around. In the tournament’s opening match, the Peshawar captain dropped a Dwayne Smith sitter in the slips, with Smith going on to score a half-century and winning his side the game. Less than 24 hours later, Sammy paid his dues off. Hasan Ali drew a thick outside edge from Karachi’s Babar Azam, with the ball seemingly racing to the third-man boundary. Sammy at first slip, however, threw himself to his right and flung out an arm. The ball nestled straight into his palm, and the catch, while outstanding enough, was superseded by the celebration. He got his team together, held out an imaginary smartphone at arm’s length, and snapped a selfie. The camera might have been imaginary, but the moment had been captured.Corruption scandal dents PSLPakistan cricket in the last three decades has been hit with many controversies and fixing scandals. Since the 2010 spot-fixing debacle, PCB had made extensive efforts to eradicate corruption from the layers deep down but the disease resurfaced to dent the second edition of PSL. On the second day of the second edition, it stunned the entire league when Islamabad players Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were allegedly caught in a spot-fixing affair. Both were suspended with immediate effect and sent back home. Both were booked and could face a lifetime ban from cricket. Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Zulfiqar Babar were questioned after the trio reported false approaches for fixing.Birthday boy Sami defends five off final overWhere’s the cake? Mohammad Sami made sure all focus was on him in the final over•PCBFew can manage to make their birthday as special as Sami did on his 36th. It was an inauspicious start to the day for Sami as he spent his afternoon vomiting in a hotel room with a stomach bug ailing him. But by the evening, he regathered himself for the game. A contest which Islamabad had virtually lost while Quetta were cruising to victory, requiring 17 off 18 balls with eight wickets in hands. But suddenly things started to slip away and it all came down to Sami needing to defend five off the final over. He stunned everyone by doing so successfully to make the impossible possible. “It was a game we had lost but I went with the plan without being complacent and the rest I left to chance,” he said later. “When you are defending five runs in T20, you only impose yourself and press batsman to make a mistake and that’s exactly we did.”Pollard takes ownershipDo I have to do 10? Kieron Pollard celebrates after hitting the winning runs•PCB/PSLTen to win off the last two balls and ten to stay alive in the PSL and at the crease, Kieron Pollard. He had had a quiet-ish tournament until then, emblematic of a Karachi side that had the individual parts but had not yet gelled into a unit. Even against Lahore, they had always looked slightly behind the asking rate and with 14 needed off the last over, were likelier to lose. With ten needed off two, Aamer Yamin missed an outside-off yorker by a few inches, which was all Pollard needed to get under it and loft over wide long-off. Four needed off the last ball and this time Yamin fluffed the line as well, going a little straighter and again not as full. Pollard shoveled it over square leg for a maximum and promptly set off in wild celebration, beginning with some push-ups. “I own Karachi,” he said later in a video from the team bus: he wasn’t wrong.The star-man shinesThat typical Shahid Afridi celebration•PCB/PSLIt has been a rich season for celebrations in the PSL. Elliott’s bat-drop was streets ahead of anything else. Rumman Raees’ elegantly posed mannequin caught the eye too, as did Mohammad Amir’s response when Karachi knocked Islamabad out. But one had been missing throughout – perhaps the most iconic Pakistani celebration of the modern age. Until the penultimate game of the league stages, Shahid Afridi had done little to warrant bringing out the patented star-man pose. There was a maiden PSL fifty in a losing cause against Karachi, but he had taken just two wickets until then. Then, in a low-stakes game against Quetta, he came in at 52 for 6, with 77 still needed on a sluggish surface in just over ten overs. He was a sedate 15 off 12 when Mohammad Hafeez fell and as he began to lose partners, he opened up to the extent that he hit 30 off his next 11; two fours from the first two balls of the last over sealed a two-wicket win, but more importantly, allowed him and us, one more time, that star-man pose.Nawaz holds his nerve0:50

WATCH – Nawaz’s unbelievable last over

Big-game pressure makes big-game players, goes the old cliché. Mohammad Nawaz was one of the finds of the first PSL, earning him a spot in the Pakistan side. His international experience has been underwhelming but here came a night that potentially could be the making of him. The conditions in the first qualifying game between Peshawar and Quetta were treacherous for bowlers. The surface was pristine for strokeplay and the dew, especially when Quetta bowled, was unmanageable. Gripping the ball was impossible, as Nawaz discovered while being dispatched for 46 runs in his first three overs. As he came on for the last over, Peshawar needed only seven, with Sammy on strike. A dot first up was cancelled out by a four next ball. And with half the over gone, only two were needed. Nawaz quickened his pace to dismiss Chris Jordan and then, after multiple discussions with captain and seniors, somehow gripped the ball well enough to bowl two inch-perfect yorkers which caused two run-outs. And so was sealed a remarkable win, and perhaps Nawaz’s graduation.Akmal senior rolls back the years1:47

WATCH – Kamran Akmal’s hard-hitting century

The Akmal brothers have been the butt of more than their fair share of jokes over the years, but Kamran ensured that it was only the Peshawar fans who were laughing by the time the third qualifier was over. After showing flashes of form over the course of the tournament, the diminutive wicketkeeper was at his free-flowing best in the must-win game against Karachi. His intent – and form – were apparent after the first two balls of the contest, both exquisitely-timed off-side drives for four. This wasn’t unusual; what really surprised was that he turned that elegance into substance, converting a promising start into a destructive hundred. He was unstoppable in the last overs, hitting sixes with an effortlessness that would have had bigger men envying him, wrenching the game away from Karachi. It was the PSL’s only century this season, and the acclamation he received upon being dismissed – by the opposition players and fans alike – said plenty about how impressive he had been.

Chelsea hold a Premier League star in very high regard, and it is believed they’re prepared to battle for his services, as those within Stamford Bridge believe he could be an imperative addition to the squad.

Chelsea prioritise centre-back with Wesley Fofana out for a long period

Enzo Maresca confirmed the news that Chelsea supporters really didn’t want to hear, with mainstay centre-back Wesley Fofana facing a lengthy absence for the second time in his career at the club.

PSG willing to table stunning £150m+ offer to sign "fantastic" Chelsea star

The French giants are not messing around…

4

By
Tom Cunningham

Jan 3, 2025

The Frenchman has partnered Levi Colwill to brilliant effect so far this season, but Maresca will now have to cope without him for a very long time, which could even be for the rest of this season, despite Chelsea’s boss originally predicting he’d miss just “three, four, or five weeks”.

“Unfortunately, he could be out for the season, so we don’t know exactly for the entire season, but unfortunately he could be out for part of the season,” said Maresca on Fofana’s injury at Chelsea.

“And we are together here since we start, and every time you ask me about Wes, I said many times that I’m in love with Wes.

Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures	Date
Bournemouth (home)	January 14
Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)	January 20
Man City (away)	January 25
West Ham (away)	February 3
Brighton (away)	February 14

“I was in love with Wes, also because Wes is that kind of defender that gives you the chance to press and be aggressive and to leave him 1v1 with Watkins on pitch.

“We did exactly the same when Wes was injured with Benoit Badiashile, 1v1 with Solanke on pitch, and they can deal with that, and it’s very difficult to find that kind of defender, but now unfortunately both are injured. We are trying to find different solutions, but for sure for us Wes is a huge loss.”

Chelsea are believed to be prioritising a centre-back in January, even before Fofana’s injury, but there are also some suggestions that they have their eyes on reinforcing their forward options.

Ipswich Town star Liam Delap is a target for Chelsea, and they’ve had some contact with his club in the build up to this window (Simon Phillips).

Chelsea view Newcastle star Isak as "key" potential signing

According to reports out of Spain, Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is on their striker shortlist too. It is believed Chelsea view Isak as a potential “key” signing for Maresca, and they’re “ready to compete” with Atlético Madrid and Arsenal for his signature.

The Magpies will demand a price tag of around £99 million, or perhaps even more going by other reports, which is hardly surprising given Isak is arguably the division’s best centre-forward right now.

“Alex is a world-class talent,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe recently.

“The way he took his goals, he has that coolness and composure very few have. When you add into the mix his technical skills, I think he’s got it all. He has unique skills, and the challenge is to get him into the game as much as we can. Earlier in the season we weren’t doing that, but now the team are performing much better.

“He’s a player with a real confidence and we’re seeing a return to his really best levels – that’s highlighted by the goals he has scored.”

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has told the Gunners they need to make changes after being beaten by PSG in the first leg of their Champions League tie.

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PSG win first leg in north LondonHold the advantage ahead of return in ParisHenry says French side were the better teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mikel Arteta's side face an uphill task if they want to qualify for the Champions League final after losing the first leg 1-0 of their semi-final tie at the Emirates on Tuesday night. An early goal from Ousmane Dembele did the damage, although the visitors also hit the woodwork twice in an impressive showing.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Arsenal defender William Saliba has admitted PSG made the Gunners "suffer" but has said he's hopeful the team can turn things around. Former striker Henry feels Arsenal will have to make plenty of changes if they are to prevail in Paris and says Luis Enrique's side will be even stronger in front of their own fans at the Parc des Princes.

WHAT HENRY SAID

He said on CBS Sports: "PSG were much superior, for me, in this match. There are a lot of things that need to change for Arsenal to beat PSG. You never know what can happen. I think of PSG against FC Barcelona last season . Everyone thought it was over, but they [Paris] ultimately won the return leg easily."

DID YOU KNOW?

Only two teams have reached the final of the Champions League after losing the first leg of their semi-final tie at home – Ajax in 1995-96 and Tottenham in 2018-19.

It has been a year of upheaval and cleaning up for the BCCI and its glitzy T20 league, but the IPL’s popularity with players and fans offers it a shot at redemption

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Apr-20164:07

Agarkar: Won’t be very difficult for new franchises to build fan base

On the eve of the World T20 final, West Indies allrounder Andre Russell was walking back from the nets towards the dressing room at Eden Gardens. It was about eight in the evening. Sweat glistened on his muscular arms, and dripped off his face.Suddenly, Russell saw a man he recognised in front of him. The Jamaican’s face lit up instantly. He exchanged pleasantries with the man, who was an official from his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. About 15 minutes later, Russell walked into West Indies’ dressing room with the purple kit bag of Knight Riders.The day before the final of the World T20, Russell was already gearing up for the next big event: the Indian Premier League – event the cricketing world waits for. Or, at least, the players involved do.Like cherry blossoms in Japan every spring, the arrival of IPL is eagerly awaited by many. The colours are more garish, the scene anything but peaceful. Administrators are averse to halting the cricketing treadmill and so, this year, the IPL starts just six days after the World T20. The players might want rest, but they cannot afford to ask for time off because millions are at stake. And so IPL 9 begins on Saturday in Mumbai.This IPL has some new elements. One of the biggest is the acceptance of its importance by England, no less. The mention of the IPL in the past forced the majority in England to look the other way. And, despite a well-rounded domestic structure, England was behind countries like India, Australia and South Africa in the T20 race.As soon as former England captain Andrew Strauss took over as the managing director of cricket at the ECB, he decided to allow England players to participate in the IPL without imposing restrictions that had discouraged them in the past. And so Kevin Pietersen will not be the solitary flag-bearer of the English contingent at the IPL. He will be joined by Jos Butler (Mumbai Indians), Sam Billings (Delhi Daredevils) and Eoin Morgan (Sunrisers Hyderabad).

As soon as Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli walked out wearing RCB’s new jerseys, the cacophony created inside the small ballroom by about 200 delirious fans revealed why the IPL continues to be a strong brand

The IPL tree has sprouted two new branches after the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals – two of the original bunch of eight franchises, one of which especially cultivated a dedicated and distinct following. It was hugely significant moment in Indian sport when the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee decided to suspend Super Kings and Royals, having acted upon the ample evidence of wrongdoing by influential officials at both franchises.The BCCI, under the N Srinivasan administration, had not even blinked when the Delhi and Mumbai Police triggered investigations into the corruption that had taken root in the IPL in 2013. But the Lodha panel thought otherwise and, by suspending one of the biggest and most successful franchises, made it clear that the league needed to be cleaned up.Chief priest of Super Kings, MS Dhoni, is now the captain of Rising Pune Supergiants. He still has by his side head coach Stephen Fleming and strike bowler R Ashwin. But Dhoni is bound to miss the quartet of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo and Brendon McCullum, who are now part of the second new franchise: Gujarat Lions. If Dhoni’s test will be to inspire a new set of players, Raina will face the onerous task of leading a franchise for the first time, on the back of a season in which his poor form made his place in the Indian team vulnerable.Elsewhere, former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan will join his former India captain Rahul Dravid at Delhi Daredevils to forge a new beginning. The franchise overhauled virtually its entire squad at the pre-season auction in an attempt to finally win the IPL crown; Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab remain the only franchises to have not won the IPL from the original batch of eight.Defending champions Mumbai Indians and Knight Riders, who will look at becoming the first franchise to win three IPL titles, enter the tournament with question marks over their best bowlers. The injured Lasith Malinga is doubtful and is likely to miss a big chunk if not all of the tournament, while Sunil Narine is likely to be circumspect with his freshly cleared bowling action.The IPL was struck a big blow when the Lodha Committee suspended one of its most influential franchises, but it will live to tell the tale•BCCIThere is a new set of challenges for the organisers, too. For the first time since its inception, the tournament will be headed solely by the BCCI. Lalit Modi presided over decisions on his own till 2010. Sundar Raman, Modi’s operating arm, took charge once the latter was suspended by the BCCI, and remained the one-point contact for franchises and the BCCI as the league’s chief operating officer till last year. Under these two men, with global sports management company International Management Group (IMG) in the background, the IPL became a pioneer of franchise-based sport in the country, and a trendsetter for T20 leagues globally.However, with Raman now part of the business empire that owns Mumbai Indians, this will be the first season in which BCCI administrators play decision-makers for the IPL. Paradoxically, the BCCI has been pulled up by the Supreme Court for failing to establish a professional structure despite being one of the richest governing bodies in sport.These are fragile times for the BCCI. In January, the Lodha Committee unveiled radical recommendations to reform the governance structure of the BCCI. Although the board has opposed most of the recommendations, the Supreme Court has forced the BCCI to kneel down like an naughty schoolboy for failing to adhere to the rules of professional conduct. A soft-spoken man, TS Thakur, the chief justice of India who is presiding over the case, has told the BCCI with a smile: Indian cricket does not belong to you.Two days before the tournament opener in Mumbai, a two-judge bench of the Bombay High Court asked the BCCI whether cricket really was that important in times of drought in Maharashtra, where a total of 20 IPL matches are scheduled to be played across three cities – Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. Although it gave its permission to play the opening match in Mumbai on April 9, the court reminded the BCCI, “Ultimately, the question is, what you give priority to: a game or people who’ll die without water?” The judges observed: “Is it necessary to maintain grounds and pitches when people are dying? If this is the argument, we are very shocked.”Elsewhere, some politicians in Delhi want the BCCI to be charged a higher rate for consuming power and want the board to invest in solar energy. Yes, indulgent, pampered, autocratic till now, the BCCI remains on shaky ground.But the goes on. Rohit Sharma rings the opening bell at the Bombay Stock Exchange. Dwayne Bravo is on a “Champion” ride across the country. Ajinkya Rahane is breaking coconuts to inaugurate a cricket stadium in rural Maharashtra. For the next two months, Indian papers will be awash with the colours of the IPL. People with sensibilities of a different kind are bound to be annoyed reading about IPL with their morning cup of tea. Former sports minister of India, MS Gill, said the BCCI “have made the Indian public zombies of cricket”.Like it or not, the “zombies” and the IPL are here to stay for a while yet. On Thursday evening, Royal Challengers unveiled their new home and away kits. As soon as Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli walked out wearing the new jerseys, the cacophony created inside the small ballroom by about 200 delirious fans revealed why the IPL continues to be a strong brand.

A Sky Sports panel has given their verdict on Chelsea now targeting a striker capable of scoring “40 goals a season”, with contact made between clubs as manager Enzo Maresca looks to bolster his forward line.

Chelsea could now sign forward as Bayern Munich chase Nkunku deal

Credible media sources report that Chelsea will push to sign a replacement for Christopher Nkunku if he leaves, and that is starting to look like a serious possibility as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich earmark the Frenchman as a top January transfer target.

Chelsea table January bid to sign "flamboyant" under-£20 million forward

The west Londoners have made their first offer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 15, 2025

Nkunku has racked up 13 goals across 28 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this term, standing out as one of their chief goalscorers, but he’s a bit-part Premier League player under Maresca with the vast majority his strikes coming in cup competitions.

The 27-year-old’s squad status is said to be really frustrating him behind-the-scenes, and Vincent Kompany senses an opportunity to tempt him with a move to Germany.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)

January 20

Man City (away)

January 25

West Ham (away)

February 3

Brighton (away)

February 14

Aston Villa (home)

February 22

So much so, that Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reports that Nkunku has already verbally agreed personal terms on a move to Bayern – so this transfer looks like a very serious potential one to watch if Chelsea and the European heavyweights can agree on a fee.

The national press claim Chelsea want around £65 million to sell Nkunku before deadline day, so the Bavarians will have to pay up if they wish to shake hands on a deal with Maresca’s side.

Interestingly, the likes of Fabrizio Romano have stated that the west Londoners are considering a potential swap deal, with versatile Bayern striker Mathys Tel heading the other way.

The 19-year-old has struggled for game time under Kompany this season, and some reports suggest that Tel would be willing to entertain a move to Chelsea this month.

Sky Sports react as Chelsea make contact to sign Mathys Tel

Tel can play as a centre-forward, as well as on either flank, which could make him a very useful option for Maresca, similar to Nkunku. Sky Sports reiterate that Chelsea have made contact with Bayern over a deal for Tel, whilst also giving their verdict on the Frenchman – and it is a glowing one at that.

“They’ve contacted Bayern Munich to ask about the availability of Mathys Tel,” said the panel host on Sky.

When asked about what Chelsea supporters could expect from the teenage sensation, one panel member said: “He’s seen as one of the best young strikers in Europe.

“He can play left-hand side, he can play up front as well, I think he’s got the physical presence to play up front, when you see him play he’s lean, he’s mobile, he’s got good pace, which is why most of his opportunities have come from the left-hand side.

“His problem, I guess, is that Harry Kane is ‘the’ striker given how much Bayern spent on him. Last season, he was a real consistent player coming off the bench for Thomas Tuchel, but this season his opportunities have been stunted a little bit.

“When Julian Nagelsmann was there, he said that he was capable of scoring 40 goals a season, they know how good a player he is and I feel like it might be quite difficult for Chelsea to get him out of Bayern at this stage. But, he’s a player who Chelsea have watched for a little while.”

With the January transfer window ticking away and Dominic Solanke sidelined, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly working on a deal to sign a forward who has already impressed their scouts.

Tottenham transfer news

The Lilywhites have welcomed just one fresh face in the form of Antonin Kinsky so far this month, and it’s that lack of activity which could quickly come back to bite them in the second half of the season.

Ange Postecoglou hasn’t shied away from his side’s need for reinforcements either, telling reporters as relayed by The Standard last week: “I have daily communication with Johan [Lange, technical director] in particular and he’s trying everything he possibly can to get the help we need.

“I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious and for me to come here and say something else would be disingenuous: this playing group needs help.”

Sat in the depths of the Premier League’s bottom half, the rumours have been coming thick and fast as to the reinforcements that the Lilywhites could turn to this month, including Ajax star Brian Brobbey and now one other attacking option.

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are now working on a deal to sign Hamza Igamane from Rangers this month after scouts were in attendance to watch the forward score a hat-trick against Hibernian earlier this year and then score once more in a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen.

With the forward hitting his best form at the perfect time, Spurs could yet welcome an ideal solution to their attacking problems as Solanke fights back to fitness in the coming weeks.

Tottenham interested in "decisive" ace who Arsenal are confident of signing

They could battle their North London rivals…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 26, 2025

With just one week left until the transfer window slams shut though, those in North London will have to act quickly if they want to lure Rangers into a January sale and welcome a much-needed fresh face in Postecoglou’s frontline.

Tottenham should take a chance on "rough diamond" Igamane

Whilst Igamane is still far from the finished product, there’s no doubt that he’s shown plenty of potential at Rangers – scoring 13 goals in all competitions which includes his effort against Spurs in the Europa League. Still just 22 years old, Spurs should take a gamble on the young forward who already showed exactly what he can do in front of the travelling Spurs fans earlier this season.

Earning plenty of praise as a result of his form, Rangers boss Philippe Clement told reporters when asked about Igamane, as relayed by The Daily Mail: “I spoke with a lot of people before bringing Hamza in to the club. People in Morocco I knew from before. I’m lucky in that way that people knew him. They said he’s a rough diamond.”

That “rough diamond” is now shining brighter than ever and could yet steal the show in North London if Spurs push on and seal Igamane’s signature before the deadline this month.

da winzada777： An “incredible” Liverpool player who featured against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night could still exit Anfield before the February 3rd transfer deadline, according to a report.

Reds finish top of the Champions League

da fezbet： Despite failing to win for the first time in the Champions League this season, the Reds finished top of the league phase after collecting a very impressive 21 points in eight games.

Arne Slot’s side now advance straight to the round of 16, standing them in good stead to win Europe’s elite competition for the seventh time, and they will be pleased to avoid having to play an additional two games in the play-off round.

With the Premier League title-hopefuls still competing on all fronts, they can now turn their attention back to their pursuit of domestic glory, with everything also still to play for in the league and both cup competitions.

Related Liverpool make enquiry over "outrageous" £20m star who's wanted by Man Utd

The midfielder’s agents are keen to secure him a move to a new club.

Posts ByDominic Lund Jan 29, 2025

Having already secured their place in the round of 16 prior to yesterday’s fixture, Slot handed minutes to some lesser-used players, with Tyler Morton coming on in the second half, appearing for the first time since the FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley.

Morton has struggled for game time this season, and The Mirror report the 22-year-old could still exit Anfield before the transfer window comes to an end, after recently admitting he has found it difficult not being in the team.

Slot is now set to make a decision on the midfielder’s future, most likely partially based on what he saw on Wednesday night, with a move elsewhere on the cards prior to the February 3rd deadline.

Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures

Date

AFC Bournemouth (a)

February 1st

Tottenham Hotspur (h)

February 6th

Plymouth Argyle (a)

February 9th

Everton (a)

February 12th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

February 16th

Another loan move could suit Morton

The Wallasey-born midfielder has spent a lot of time out on loan in the past, enjoying impressive spells with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City, where he solidified his place as an important part of the team.

However, it was always going to be a difficult task for the central midfielder to force his way into starting contention at Liverpool, and there is unlikely to be an increase in game time on the horizon.

With the Reds performing at such a high level both domestically and in Europe, Slot is unlikely to want to make too many changes to his side, meaning the Englishman may not be handed many more opportunities.

Having expressed how difficult it is to not be regularly involved, another loan move until the end of the season could suit Morton, at which point his contract is set to expire, and the club can re-assess his future.

Considering the Liverpool academy graduate has been lauded as “incredible” in the past, it is clear he possesses a lot of potential, but he is not going to develop if he doesn’t receive consistent game time.

Well, that was just what Tottenham Hotspur needed.

After Sunday’s dreadful defeat to Leicester City in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s side had to pick up all three points in their home Europa League clash with Elfsborg last night, which is just what they did.

Now, genuine chances were few and far between for the Lilywhites in the first half, but the team stuck to their plan and eventually ran out 3-0 winners.

The victory, on top of news about an offer for Bayern Munich’s sensational Mathys Tel being accepted yesterday, has really lifted the mood around the club.

That said, while youngster Dane Scarlett has understandably grabbed the headlines for his impact off the bench, another standout performer showed why he could save Daniel Levy and Co from spending millions on the Frenchman.

Dane Scarlett's game vs Elfsborg

So, while the mood after the game was an understandably positive one, and the win was fully deserved, it would be fair to say that for the entirety of the first half and much of the second, it felt like Spurs were never going to score.

However, in the 66th minute, Postecoglou was forced into a substitute when Radu Dragusin went off injured – yes, another one – and opted to bring on the recently returned Scarlett. What a decision that was.

Just four minutes after stepping onto the pitch, the 20-year-old forward found himself perfectly positioned between two defenders in the opposition’s penalty area, jumped to meet a pinpoint accurate cross from Dejan Kulusevski and headed the hosts in front.

He wasn’t done there, though, as 14 minutes later he was involved in a lovely passing move that saw him provide fellow academy graduate Oyindamola Ajayi with the assist for his first senior goal to take the game out of sight for the visitors.

The Hillingdon-born poacher left quite an impression on Spurs writer Alasdair Gold, who awarded him a 9/10 match rating at full-time and wrote that the academy graduate was ‘terrific’ during his time on the pitch.

However, while Scarlett was certainly superb, there was another youngster who shone on the night, a youngster who played the full 90 and might have put in a performance good enough to tempt Levy into not splashing the cash on Tel this month: Mikey Moore.

Mikey Moore's game vs Elfsborg

Yes, the player in question is, of course, none other than academy star Moore.

The 17-year-old prodigy started the game out on the wing and looked entirely at home in senior football, so much so that he was undoubtedly one of the Lilywhites’ best players.

The “outrageous” talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was a constant threat throughout the game, making a couple of dangerous dribbles in the first half and then topping off his performance with a sensational run in the final minute of the game that ended in a goal; his first in senior football and the third scored by an academy graduate on the night.

Now, we would argue that this is the wrong conclusion to take from the incredibly exciting attacker’s display, but there is a chance the board might reassess their need for a new wide player after watching him boss the game from the word go.

With that said, someone who was very impressed with what he saw was Gold, who gave the teenage dynamo an 8/10 at full-time and praised him for his close control, goal and application.

Minutes

94′

Expected Goals

0.23

Goals

1

Expected Assists

0.09

Shots on Target

3

Shots Blocked

1

Successful Dribbles

3

Touches

64

Key Passes

1

Fouls Won

2

Unsurprisingly, the Southwark-born gem’s statistics from the game more than back up the praise he’s since received, as in 94 minutes of football, he produced a combined expected goals and assists figure of 0.32, took three shots on target, took 64 touches, completed three dribbles, played one key pass, won two fouls and, of course, scored the final goal.

Ultimately, for his goal and assist, Scarlett deserves all the praise he’s received since full-time, but for his efforts across the 90 minutes, Moore’s display was arguably just as impressive.

Their own Rogers: Spurs hold concrete interest in "unplayable" £60m phenom

The exceptional talent would be a game-changer for Spurs.

5 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 30, 2025

Ramírez says team’s poor form has directly impacted Hernández, who has scored just three goals in 33 appearances

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Chivas currently sit in 12th place with 17 points
• They haven’t won a Liga MX title in eight years
• During span, América lifted the trophy four times

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Although Javier Hernández’s second stint with Chivas hasn’t gone as fans, the board, or the player himself would have hoped, club legend Ramón Ramírez has come to his defense, saying the striker has been dragged down by the team’s poor form.

  “We all wanted to see him (Javier Hernández) finish his career on a high note,” Ramírez told TUDN. “He’s a successful player, with all the credentials and a great attitude. Unfortunately, he’s caught up in the dynamics of a team that rarely wins and is suffering because of it, so ‘Chicharito’ is being dragged down in that sense.”

  Ramírez, a key figure for Chivas in the 1990s, pointed out that the team’s overall struggles have directly impacted Hernández, who has scored just three goals in 33 appearances.

  “Regardless of what’s happening in Guadalajara and how his career ends, I won’t take away the merits he’s earned, but I would have loved to see him in a winning, proactive Chivas – succeeding and achieving important things. He’s not exactly a victim, but he’s definitely being dragged along by the negative inertia surrounding Guadalajara.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Club América is enjoying a golden era in its Liga MX history after winning three consecutive league titles, Chivas still lives in the shadow of its last championship, which came eight years ago in the Clausura 2017, when Matías Almeyda was the team’s head coach.

  El Rebaño has lost its standing in Mexican football and has struggled to find an identity and playing model that can bring them back to the top. Ramírez, a club legend, expressed his frustration over the state of the team, which remains second on the all-time list of Liga MX title winners with 12 – though they’ve fallen behind their archrival, América, who now boast 16.

  “Yes, it hurts that your biggest rival is doing things right,” said Ramírez. “Chivas should commit to playing one or two tournaments with young players and really withstand the blows if results don’t come. Right now, with no promotion or relegation, you have that opportunity… Guadalajara needs to be a contender.”

• Getty
  

  WHAT RAMÓN RAMÍREZ SAID

  "Guadalajara has to do things right, and they should be hurt by what América is doing. That's what we’d like to see from Chivas. For many years, I saw instability in América, but today they’re setting the example… Right now, head-to-head, Chivas can’t compete," Ramírez said.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHIVAS?

  With two matches left to play in the Clausura 2025, the team coached by Gerardo Espinoza risk missing out on the Liguilla once again. El Rebaño must take all three points when they host Puebla in Matchday 16 to keep their hopes alive and avoid another disappointing campaign.