Christian Pulisic sported a 'I support sport for change' shirt ahead of kick off against Lecce in Serie A.
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Each time the Tottenham Hotspur team takes to the pitch this season, a pregnant silence falls over the swathes of rival supporters awaiting their demise. But it's a fall that is just not materialising.
After performing at such a substandard level last season, finishing in eighth place in the Premier League, Spurs are back in business with Ange Postecoglou now at the helm, the Australian manager transforming the previously struggling squad.
Indeed, Tottenham are currently flying high at the top of the table, ensconced in pole position with eight victories and two draws from the opening ten matches of the campaign.
The fact that the London club needn't worry about European competition is perhaps a good thing for in the present, with the progress on the pitch evidencing this, but attention will soon need to drift onto the transfer front following the increased competition that success on the domestic stage brings.
As such, it would be wise to deepen the ranks across the park, though if recent transfer murmurings are anything to go by, this is what the club appear to be doing.
According to Spanish sources, Tottenham are interested in signing in-form Real Sociedad midfielder Brais Méndez, with the prolific midfielder performing admirably since joining his current club from Celta Vigo in 2022.
Believed to be valued at around €30m (£26m), Méndez would offer some reliable depth to the Spurs ranks and could be a custom-made replacement for Giovani Lo Celso, who Levy is willing to part with on a permanent basis after Barcelona saw a loan approach rejected in August.
Football Transfers have alluded that Méndez, aged 26, could be a target for German giants Bayern Munich, though Postecoglou will be confident that a compelling package can be put together to convince the player to make the move to London.
Méndez would be a valuable addition to a thriving Tottenham team and would add the depth in midfield that is requisite for lasting success across multiple tournaments – which is where Postecoglou will hope to get his team to in the long term.
The £37k-per-week machine has been in sensational form this season, plundering five goals and assists apiece from just 14 appearances across all competitions.
Within that tally includes three strikes in the Champions League from three matches – his first in Europe's elite club competition; Real Sociedad have scored four goals and clinched seven points from an available nine thus far, so it's fair to say that his contribution has been enormous.
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Brais Mendez: Key Strengths (WhoScored) |
|---|
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Characteristic |
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– Excels with through balls |
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– Consistent key passes |
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– Set-piece specialist |
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– Alert and perceptive |
What's perhaps most pleasing is the evidence of growth, with Méndez already halfway toward surpassing last term's direct goal contribution tally of 19, where he played a pivotal part in guiding the Basque side back into the Champions League.
As per Sofascore, the midfield machine has completed 83% of his passes in LaLiga this season, averaging 1.5 key passes, 1.4 tackles and 5.2 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 58% of his frequent attempted dribbles, with the defensive statistics illustrating his all-action presence that would serve him well in the Premier League.
The four-cap Spain international would undoubtedly offer a new dimension to Tottenham's thriving team, but whether he would be able to cement a regular starting berth remains another question, with Spurs performing at a frightening level right now.
Regardless, he's a fantastic footballer, and has performed at a standard that warrants attention from the biggest outfits on the Premier League scene, with journalist Josh Bunting among those to take note of his displays.
Bunting said: "Brais Méndez stunning season continues at Real Sociedad. Another goal in the Champions League, just can’t stop scoring right now. Three in three in the Champions League. The profit that they will get off him will be a huge benefit, teams bound to be sniffing around already."
As per FBref, the dynamo ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 15% for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes received per 90.
Such superlative offensive metrics put the Spaniard on the same pedestal as Martin Odegaard, who could find a player of similar ilk staking a claim for the starring spot as north London's No. 1 goalscoring midfielder.
Should Tottenham sign Méndez, they would secure the services of an absolute force who has the set of skills at his disposal to emulate and rival the success of Odegaard, who if the lifeforce of Arsenal's own aspirations of the No. 1 spot in English football.
Some might feel that James Maddison already stands as Spurs' answer to a midfielder such as Odegaard, but the £40m summer signing, as incredible as he may be, offers a very different, more creative threat.
Méndez still has creativity in his locker, sure, but he finds his greatest success in bursting into the danger area and unleashing his goalscoring threat in net-bulging fashion.
Similarly, Odegaard relies on his striking efficacy to earn a place among the foremost attacking midfielders across Europe, having scored 15 goals in the Premier League last season.
The Norway star ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 21% for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 4% for touches in the attacking box per 90 – considered a similar player to Mendez by the statistics-based site.
This season, the Gunners captain has posted four goals and an assist from 14 matches, very much at the heart of Mikel Arteta's side's continuing pursuit of gleaning the Premier League title – a task that looks very much attainable.
However, Tottenham are hoping to spoil the party and mount their own pathway to the trophy, and should Postecoglou get his hands on Méndez, he will have the midfield component to perhaps sway the odds further in his favour.
Méndez is an “outstanding” – as claimed by one analyst – midfielder with his best days ahead of him, and at Tottenham, he would be an important member of a compelling project.
Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur revolution has taken a brusing blow over the last week, with Chelsea's chaotic defeat against Chelsea compounded by a late crumble against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Spurs have largely been fantastic in the Premier League this season and have been in early contention for the title, but successive losses have taken the club away from the driving seat.
And until the new year, Postecoglou's side will be forced to fight without influential summer signings Micky van de Ven and James Maddison, who both sustained injuries against the Blues, with fears that they will be unavailable until after Christmas.
It is, frankly, a sickening blow, with Maddison scoring three goals and supplying five assists from his playmaking position – winning August's Premier League Player of the Month – and Van de Ven's growing partnership with Cristian Romero bearing the mark of title-challenging quality.
With Romero still suspended for two matches following the contest at Molineux, Eric Dier and Ben Davies have claimed the starting spots in central defence, which certainly doesn't evoke the same level of confidence.
Last year, as Spurs languished to an eighth-placed finish in the English top-flight, the crux of the woes came from the leaky backline, with Tottenham's 63 goals conceded surpassed only by the relegated teams and newly-promoted sides Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
Postecoglou will be desperate to weather the injury-induced storm that may yet materialise over the forthcoming winter period, and to ensure that he can do so, the former Celtic boss might be inclined to accelerate Ashley Phillips' rise to the first-team.
Tottenham completed the signing of England U19 captain Phillips in August after chairman Daniel Levy activated his £2m release clause at Blackburn Rovers, deepening the defensive ranks following the conclusion of Clement Lenglet's loan spell – with Davinson Sanchez also departing one month on.
Joe Rodon was also granted a loan move to Leeds United following their relegation from the Premier League this year, and despite the £43m acquisition of Van de Ven from Wolfsburg, this has proved to be a prudent move.
Phillips offers an additional layer of protection in the defensive ranks and, given that he has been in amongst the first-team mix, will be aware that an opportunity to start in the Premier League could fall his way.
Phillips enjoyed an exciting breakout campaign with Blackburn and chalked up 14 senior appearances across all competitions, including eight showings in the Championship, with his performances turning the heads of those in Tottenham's transfer department and initiating the summer approach.
Despite his limited time on the pitch, Phillips showed off his skills in the second tier and completed 83% of his passes, won 50% of his ground duels and made 2.3 clearances per game, as per Sofascore. These are not numbers to set the world alight but do illustrate the 18-year-old's natural ability and assuredness in possession.
Phillips has been an unused substitute on four occasions in the Premier League this term, having also started during two convincing victories in the Premier League 2.
He has truly shone in the EFL Trophy, starting twice and catching the eye in the Tottenham U21 rearguard against League One opposition, completing 84% of his passes, making an impressive 5.5 ball recoveries and 6.0 clearances per game – showcasing his energy – and remarkably winning 100% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
With Van de Ven facing an extensive spell on the sidelines, the time may well be apt to hand Phillips his senior debut under Postecoglou's stewardship.
Football.london's Alasdair Gold has recently revealed that Phillips is "in line" for chances to impress in the Lilywhites backline in light of Romero and Van de Ven's absences.
Robust, pacy and intelligent, Phillips could be the custom-made replacement to a defender as athletic as Van de Ven, with ex-Rovers boss Tony Mowbray among those to detail his growing qualities in effusive praise.
Mowbray said: "He’s a 6’3, 6’4 magnificent cut of a guy, fast as lightning, composed with the ball, aggressive. I think this football club have a footballer on their hands, and we have to manage his introduction into our team as best we can. I just brought him to give him some experience.”
These traits really do seem to be perfect to stand in for Van de Ven, and while experience is not on his side, there is evidently quality and potential in abundance.
While Davies proved to be a competent stand-in against Wolves despite the late defeat, Phillips' skills mirror Van de Ven's perfectly and could ensure that, going forward, Tottenham's equilibrium stays settled.
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Micky van de Ven: Key Characteristics |
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|---|---|
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Strengths |
Weaknesses |
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Dribbling |
Aerial duels |
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Ball retention |
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Blocking |
|
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*Sourced via WhoScored |
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As per FBref, Van de Ven, aged 22, ranks among the top 12% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
The £50k-per-week Dutchman had been praised for his "dominant" displays in Germany by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he is certainly living up to the hype so far on English shores.
Having played a starring role in a successful start to Tottenham's season, Van de Ven's part in restoring the defence has been exemplary, having completed 95% of his passes, made 5.4 ball recoveries per game and won a whopping 74% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
To highlight how impressive this is, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk has completed 92% of his passes, made 4.9 recoveries and won 73% of his ground duels.
They are daunting boots to lace, but Phillips will fancy his chances filling in when called upon, perhaps emboldened alongside a senior veteran such as Dier.
Spurs expert John Wenham certainly believes in the teenager's talent, waxing lyrical once Spurs' summer pursuit became apparent and saying: “I looked into him, he’s a monster. He seems to have the assets and all the physique you want in a centre-half."
Ideally, Postecoglou would like to integrate Phillips into the starting fold carefully, but circumstances call for action and the teenager should be provided with an opportunity to impress over the coming weeks.
West Ham have reportedly made contact to sign a £164,000-per-week forward who Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of.
As could've been predicted, an injury to preferred striker Michail Antonio has left manager David Moyes with a small conundrum to solve over the next two weeks. While the Jamaican's injury is nowhere near as bad as first feared, West Ham will still be left short of natural forward options.
Star winger Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus can be used in more central roles as alternatives to Antonio, with Moyes having those makeshift options and the out-of-favour forward Danny Ings to choose from right now. West Ham, even before Antonio's knock, have been prioritising the addition of a new number nine with technical director Tim Steidten currently at work identifying options.
West Ham may now bid for "very special" striker after accepted summer offer
The Hammers appear to want a new forward.
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Emilio Galantini
Nov 22, 2023
Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy is a target for West Ham while there have been reports Moyes could go back in for Hugo Ekitike after failing to sign him from Paris-Saint Germain in the summer. Pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor, commenting before Antonio's latest absence, told Football Insider that a new forward is an absolute necessity for West Ham in January.
“100%. Antonio, similar to myself, struggles with hamstring injuries," said the former Villa striker.
“When you’re that quick and strong, you’re always going to get muscle injuries. It’s when, not if. Antonio shouldn’t be playing in the Europa League groups. They need another player to come in and start, but Danny Ings isn’t at that level.
“They definitely need to get another one in January, or you could be looking at bringing someone from the Under-23s or playing Benrahma as a false nine. They’ve definitely got to watch Antonio’s minutes.”
Another interesting transfer option to be mentioned by the press is former Chelsea star Timo Werner.
According to a report in the print edition of The Mirror (via West Ham Zone), West Ham have made contact to sign Werner from RB Leipzig.
The Germany international is out of favour at Leipzig and is open to making a return to the Premier League, meaning he could well contemplate a move to West Ham.
Fulham and Crystal Palace have also made approaches for Werner, who's scored 11 goals in 35 Bundesliga appearances since re-joining the Bundesliga side from Chelsea in 2022 (Werner stats – WhoScored).
Liverpool were once heavily linked with a move for the 27-year-old, and Klopp has expressed his admiration for Werner who he called a "great player".
"Timo Werner is a great player, Kai Havertz is a great player," Klopp said in 2020.
"Right time, opportunity – everything has to come together. Six, seven weeks ago, we didn't know if we could play again this year. If we hadn't played the second half of the season, we would have thought, 'OK, when can you really play football again?' And now it starts right away."
On a reported £164,000-per-week (Salary Sport), it will be interesting to see if West Ham take their approach further.
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo explained that she wants to see one big change in bestfriend and Lionesses star Ella Toone.
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Controversial officiating sadly stole the show as European champions Barca qualified for the UWCL final, to play Paris Saint-Germain or Lyon
Emma Hayes will end her Chelsea reign without the Champions League title that she and her team so craved after Barcelona won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to progress to this year's final. Goals from Aitana Bonmati and Fridolina Rolfo helped the Catalans overturn a 1-0 deficit from last week's first leg, though the main talking point at full-time was the officiating.
Bonmati levelled the tie on aggregate with 25 minutes on the clock thanks to some magical footwork creating the space for a shot that deflected off Kadeisha Buchanan, leaving Hannah Hampton with no chance. But while Barca enjoyed a good spell off the back of that goal, Chelsea had their chances, Catarina Macario testing Cata Coll with a nice volley after Melanie Leupolz hit the bar with a glorious opportunity, albeit one that VAR would've come back to and disallowed as Lauren James was offside in the build-up.
It was a well-contested game all set-up for a wonderful second half that would decide the first of this year's finalists, and then the controversy began. Buchanan was booked for a clear foul on Salma Paralluelo which did not at all divide opinion – but her second yellow just four minutes later did. A tackle on Patri Guijarro was deemed a foul and, crucially, worth another card. The Canadian was in disbelief.
Barca struggled to create anything clear-cut despite the the player advantage, until Bonmati burst into the box and went down under contact from Ashley Lawrence. The defender was adamant it wasn't a foul, alas it stood after a VAR check and Rolfo was on hand to convert and put the visitors ahead.
Hayes went for it from there, throwing on forwards in search of a goal to take the game to extra-time, but it didn't come. There will be no fairy tale for Chelsea's iconic coach in the Champions League and Barca will instead head to Bilbao next month hoping to defend their European title, with Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain to be the opponent.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…
Chelsea have seen several generational talents slip underneath their grasp and hearing about their misfortune in that regard isn't for the faint-hearted.
Whether that is letting go of Declan Rice as a 14-year-old or having a 16-year-old Jamal Musiala get snatched from them by Bayern Munich, the Blues have endured their fair share of heartache when it comes to watching some of their academy graduates prosper elsewhere.
Rice and Musiala have since transformed into world-class talents since departing Stamford Bridge, reminding Chelsea what they could have had so to speak, which is something Kylian Mbappe has also done.
The Blues famously rejected the opportunity to sign him as a 13-year-old and now they're looking to reverse that gut-wrenching decision by miraculously signing him in January.
According to Gazetta dello Sport – as relayed by French outlet Le 10 Sport – Chelsea and Liverpool are gearing up to offer the French superstar a huge contract offer with his Paris Saint-Germain future up in the air.
Mbappe's contract is set to expire at the end of the season and unless he extends his deal with the Parisiens, foreign clubs will be eligible to begin pre-contract talks with him over a free transfer in the summer from January 1st.
Whilst Real Madrid have been long considered favourites to capture the 24-year-old, Premier League clubs are set to rival the Spanish giants for his signature and offer him close to what he earns at PSG, which is reportedly £1.2m-per-week.
If the Blues were somehow able to land arguably the best player on the planet on a free transfer, he would not only become one of their greatest-ever transfers, but he'd have an opportunity to eclipse the legacy that the sensational Eden Hazard forged at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian – like Mbappe – began his career in Ligue 1 with Lille, but established himself as one of the Premier League's most talented players with 110 goals in 352 appearances for Chelsea, yet the Frenchman would surely blow his impact out of the water, especially in the goal-scoring department.
It is difficult to put into words how good Kylian Mbappe is, but considering he's already reached 300 career goals at the age of 24, doing so quicker than the greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, his talents need no introduction.
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The age it took the world's best attackers to reach 300 career goals |
Age |
|---|---|
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Kylian Mbappe |
24 years, 333 days |
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Lionel Messi |
25 years, 125 days |
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Neymar |
25 years, 238 days |
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Cristiano Ronaldo |
27 years, 89 days |
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All stats via GiveMeSport |
To put the above into perspective, when Ronaldo was Mbappe's age, he had scored 158 career goals. This is a stat that not only proves how the Portuguese superstar got better with age but one that depicts the near-unstoppable scoring talents of the PSG star.
For as long as he continues to outperform some of the greatest footballers to ever live, the plaudits will continue to stream in for the goalscoring machine, who has been lavished by many legends of the sport.
His fellow countryman, Thierry Henry, once said: “What this kid is doing is really out of this world,” while many, including his national team manager, Didier Deschamps, have labelled him as "world-class".
Given the above, it's no surprise that Mbappe, who has plundered an eye-watering 15 goals in 15 appearances for the French giants this term, has also outscored Hazard already, despite being eight years younger.
The Belgian retired this year after scoring 167 goals in 623 career appearances, which is a respectable record for any wide player, however, considering the 74-cap international has nearly doubled that particular tally, there is no doubt he'd instantly transform Chelsea into a title challenger and in turn, smash any record that Hazard set in west London.
Also a player that former PSG boss Pochettino knows well – having scored 67 goals and contributed 34 assists in just 75 games under the Argentine – Mbappe could surely flourish in a Blues jersey in the near future.
On Wednesday night, Chelsea conceded an xG of 4.07 against Manchester United which was the second-highest xG a team have managed in a Premier League game this season, second only to the Blues' 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur back in November.
However, Spurs had ten men for little over a half-hour and ended the match with nine players. Meanwhile, Chelsea had their full eleven out at Old Trafford in midweek as United peppered 28 shots at Robert Sanchez. The 2-1 scoreline potentially flattered the visitors.
The London outfit looked wide open at the back and Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly in the market for a new centre-back to rectify his team's defensive woes this winter.
According to BILD reporter Christian Falk, Chelsea are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah this season, having been excellent for Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso, with the German outfit rushing to the top of the Bundesliga.
The journalist is claiming that the Blues are eyeing up the Germany international as a replacement for veteran Thiago Silva.
Falk also reports that the 27-year-old centre-half has a release clause in his contract, although Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes revealed during the summer that Tah's £17m buyout clause had expired, allowing the side to negotiate their own asking price. The CIES Football Observatory has valued Tah at £25m which isn't too far off his original release clause.
Silva has been a tremendous servant for the Blues, having joined the club three-and-a-half years ago at the ripe age of 35. Former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter even admitted that the Brazilian's football brain is "above everybody" else.
However, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a few months before his 40th birthday, Chelsea need to start looking at replacements and Tah could be the perfect choice.
|
Jonathan Tah |
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|---|---|
|
Per 90 Metrics |
Ranking in Europe |
|
Touches |
Top 19% |
|
Touches In Middle Third |
Top 11% |
|
Successful Take-Ons |
Top 17% |
|
Carries |
Top 20% |
|
Passes Attempted |
Top 22% |
|
Passes Completed |
Top 15% |
|
Through Balls |
Top 40% |
|
Pass Completion |
Top 3% |
|
Long Pass Completion % |
Top 3% |
|
Goals |
Top 16% |
|
Shots On Target |
Top 14% |
|
Stats via FBref |
|
During his early days with Leverkusen, former teammate Christoph Kramer described the centre-back as a "defensive battleship", but it is actually his stats in possession of the ball that make the German stand out. Tah is ranking very highly when compared to all other central defenders from Europe's top-five leagues this term in a host of possession-based metrics.
What would also make Tah a useful addition to Chelsea's squad is that, like Silva, he has played predominantly as the central centre-back in a three-man defensive line in and out of possession for Leverkusen under head coach Xabi Alonso. The Blues used the 3-4-2-1 system to great success under Thomas Tuchel during the team's run to European glory two years ago.
The idea from Tuchel was for the three centre-backs and two central midfielders to play short passes between themselves to entice the opposition's midfield to press, leaving gaps in behind. One player who was integral to the side's success under the current Bayern Munich boss was Antonio Rudiger.
Rudiger became a Chelsea player in 2017 for £29m during Antonio Conte's spell in charge and operated as both the middle centre-back and left-sided central defender. His displays at Stamford Bridge led Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand to call him "immense".
The former Roma star left Chelsea in 2022 on a free transfer but the Blues never quite replaced the sheer quality Rudiger brought to the backline.
Nevertheless, Tah could finally be the man to replace Rudiger and Silva and is statistically outperforming the duo in a number of defensive areas this term.
|
Jonathan Tah vs Antonio Rudiger vs Thiago Silva |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Per 90 Metrics |
Tah |
Rudiger |
Silva |
|
Goals |
0.23 |
0 |
0.07 |
|
Expected Goals |
0.07 |
0.04 |
0.02 |
|
Progressive Passes |
3.76 |
2.65 |
2.93 |
|
Progressive Carries |
0.45 |
0.7 |
0.07 |
|
Passes To Final Third |
4.14 |
3.46 |
4.53 |
|
Tackles |
1.15 |
1.08 |
1.13 |
|
Tackles Won |
0.64 |
0.65 |
0.6 |
|
Clearances |
3.89 |
3.3 |
4.13 |
|
Interceptions |
0.47 |
0.38 |
0.87 |
|
Blocks |
1.34 |
1.19 |
1.07 |
|
Aerial Duel Win % |
82.1 |
70.9 |
77.8 |
|
Stats via FBref |
|||
Leverkusen are cruising at the top of the Bundesliga so perhaps Tah may not want to leave for a club who are going through somewhat of a crisis on the pitch at the moment. However, Chelsea would be getting a tremendous defender, should they manage to secure his services, and a player who would instantly improve their backline.
Kylian Mbappe has been advised by France legend Marcel Desailly to snub a move to Real Madrid and join a Saudi Arabian club instead.
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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner remains hopeful that Mary Earps can be convinced to stay put after savouring Women’s FA Cup glory.
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