Category Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur are now in talks to extend the contract of winger Romaine Mundle, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Mundle impressing Conte

Mundle was pictured training with the Tottenham first team squad earlier this season after coming through the youth system at the club, and while he is yet to make an appearance in the first team, he must be showing some promising signs to be involved in the setup.

Spurs are now looking to tie the 19-year-old down to a new contract, and so his first team debut may not be too far away…

The Latest: Deal offered

According to Fabrizio Romano, a new deal has already been offered to the youngster, whose current contract with the club is set to expire in June 2023.

The Italian claims that a host of Bundesliga clubs are interested in the Englishman, naming the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Koln, but Tottenham are keen for him to stay.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-updates-2/” title=”Tottenham latest updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-tottenham-fans.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Great news

It is still early days in the starlet’s fledgling professional career, but he has already exhibited some very promising signs at youth level, showing a good eye for bringing his teammates into the play with nine assists in 35 appearances for the U18 team.

After making 37 appearances at U21 level, it is clear that the London-born winger will soon be ready for the step up, recently being lauded as ‘brilliant’ by journalist Rob Guest for his performance in the UEFA Youth League against Marseille.

Of course, Spurs have a breadth of options in attack, so it will not be easy for Mundle to break into the team, but he is showing all the right signs, and the interest from abroad only goes to show the impression he is making at youth level.

Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino has been offered a ‘big-money’ new contract to stay in the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Atletico interest

The Brazilian’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning that should he not put pen to paper, he will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January onwards.

Atletico Madrid are the primary suitor to have been credited with an interest in the 31-year-old, though rather than leaving, it sounds like he could be about to extend his stay at Anfield.

The Latest: Liverpool make offer

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have tabled Firmino a ‘big-money’ new contract in a bid to ‘keep hold’ of him and fend off external attention.

Discussions are already ‘underway’ over a deal that would see the forward having his salary reduced, with his current agreement worth £180k-per-week.

The Reds veteran, however, will be able to ‘hike up his pay’ from bonuses based on number of appearances and goals.

Jurgen Klopp ‘remains a huge admirer’ of his attacker and insists that he still has a ‘big role to play’ on Merseyside.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-35/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Fully deserved

Liverpool’s manager has dubbed Firmino ‘world-class’, and him being offered fresh terms is nothing less than he deserves given the impact he’s made this season.

The Maceio native has racked up 13 goal contributions in 21 appearances across all competitions so far and is a useful option to have with the ability to operate in four different positions (Transfermarkt).

Firmino is one of the longest-serving members of the squad, and despite not getting any younger, he will very much remain an integral part of the club’s success moving forward.

If you are a football fan, you definitely know that the World Cup in Qatar is in its final stages. The audience simply cannot wait for the quarterfinals, and we will definitely see some rather interesting matches. People are searching for ways to watch the games and make use of the best offers for betting on the World Cup, but that is not what we are going to discuss today.

In this article, we are going to look into the future and picture the World Cup that will take place in the United States of America in 2026. Precisely, we will discuss how that World Cup will be a huge contrast to this one in Qatar. Here are the things that will be different in the USA.

There Will Be No Need For Too Many New Stadiums

As you know, for this World Cup, there were many stadiums that needed to be built. Before the World Cup, the place was only desert where the stadiums are now, and many people lost their lives building the stadiums for the World Cup. This will not happen in the US. Why? Simply because there are many wonderful stadiums in America that were built many years ago. Maybe some of them will need renovation, but there will be no need for many new stadiums. This will make things easier for the hosts and, most importantly, there may not be any casualties resulting from putting up facilities under inhumane working conditions.

It Will Be More Enjoyable For The Crowd

One of the things that bothered people the most during this World Cup in Qatar is the prohibition of alcohol. For many fans, the fact that they cannot drink beer while watching football was devastating. Also, there were many dress codes people had to respect due to the Muslim culture. The situation in the United States of America will definitely be different. People will be able to drink alcohol in stadiums and they will definitely be able to dress any way they want.

It Will Be A Summer World Cup

One of the best things about the World Cup is the fact that it is usually played in the summer. This is good for both players and the audience. This will definitely make things easier for players who are playing in the best European leagues. It will give them a much-needed break before the competition.

These are the ways the World Cup in America will be different from this one in Qatar.

Photo by Unsplash

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore has admitted that he is ‘worried’ and ‘concerned’ by Ben Heneghan’s injury, according to journalist Joe Crann.

The Lowdown: Enforced change

The Owls earned a 1-1 League One draw against Lincoln on Saturday, but spirits were dampened when the centre-back was forced off the pitch inside the final 20 minutes.

The 29-year-old has established himself as an integral member of Darren Moore’s starting XI since his arrival over the summer, but it now sounds like the boss will have to cope without him.

The Latest: Heneghan injury update

Taking to Twitter after the game, Crann relayed Moore’s injury update on Heneghan, though it doesn’t appear to be the news that supporters were hoping for. He wrote:

“Darren Moore admits that he’s worried about Ben Heneghan… It was his knee, and he’s currently got ice on it in the changing room. They’re hoping it’s not a bad one, but are concerned.”

The Verdict: Blow for Moore

If Heneghan does end up facing a spell on the sidelines, this will be a huge blow to the Wednesday boss whose defender has been a rock at the heart of his backline.

The 6 foot 2 colossus currently averages 6.1 successful aerial duels alongside 5.3 clearances per league game (WhoScored), and has contributed to his side keeping eight clean sheets in their opening 15 games.

The Owls have a very strong squad so they should be able to continue their impressive run of form without Heneghan if needs be, though Moore will undoubtedly be hoping to have him back as soon as possible.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be given at least two more games to prove himself before any fear of the sack, reliable journalist Ashley Preece has claimed.

The Lowdown: Gerrard feeling the heat

The Villans hosted Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon but it proved to be another bad result as the Blues walked away 2-0 winners.

In fairness to Villa, they actually played well in patches, but a combination of individual mistakes and a lack of ruthlessness ultimately proved costly.

Gerrard is now under huge pressure to keep his job, amid chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ on Sunday and reports of boardroom talks being held over the possibility of his dismissal, and a pivotal run of games lay ahead for him.

The Latest: Preece makes Gerrard claim

Writing in a Q&A for Birmingham Mail, Preece said that the 42-year-old will be in charge for Villa’s upcoming games against Fulham and Brentford, at which point a decision could then be made if their fortunes don’t improve.

The reporter stated:

“Fair to suggest SG will be given the next two games at least to transform Villa’s fortunes. After this week (Fulham/Brentford) it’s then Newcastle (a), Man Utd (h), Man Utd (a) and Brighton (a). It’s now or never isn’t it really.”

The Verdict: Make-or-break week

It feels like Villa need an absolute minimum of three points from these next two matches, although four or six would have Gerrard feeling far safer in his job.

A couple of massive performances are required against Fulham and Brentford, and if the desired results aren’t achieved, a managerial change may well be needed.

Gerrard has been shown plenty of support from the owners to date after significant summer investment, but there will come a point when his position becomes untenable. The next seven days could give a far clearer picture of the 42-year-old’s situation in the Midlands.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers could be a possible target for Aston Villa if they decide to part was with Steven Gerrard, according to The Daily Express’ Charlie Gordon.

The Lowdown: Gerrard under pressure?

Villa once again failed to win on the road in the Premier League on Monday, with Gerrard’s side drawing 1-1 with Nottingham Forest.

The point at the City Ground resulted in some travelling supporters booing at full-time, with speculation mounting regarding Gerrard’s position in charge in the Midlands. Villa chiefs are thought to be ‘considering’ the manager’s future, with talks ‘ongoing for some time’.

The Latest: Rodgers a target?

Gordon looked at four options for Villa to possibly replace Gerrard in a story for The Daily Express on Tuesday.

One of those is Rodgers, with the journalist believing the Northern Irishman’s future at the King Power is far from safe.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-updates-copy/” title=”Aston Villa latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: One to watch?

Rodgers, who likes to play a 4-2-3-1 system, has won nine major honours, enjoying plenty of success with both Celtic and Leicester.

However, his Foxes side currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League, so if results don’t improve for Villa or Leicester, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Gerrard and Rodgers were relieved of their duties prior to the New Year.

That could well result in Rodgers becoming of interest to Villa due to his past achievements, so it could be one to monitor over the coming months.

Sunderland are currently thriving upon returning to the Championship, and have lost just once in their last five league games.

Despite the exit of Alex Neil, his successor Tony Mowbray has done well to steady the ship and keep the Black Cats tight at the back.

Across those five games, they have only conceded three goals, keeping three clean sheets including Saturday’s bore draw with Preston North End.

With Ellis Simms seemingly still missing due to his injury, the 58-year-old will be dreaming of a man who scored plenty of goals for the Wearside club when he was signed back in 2009.

Steve Bruce had forked out a large £10m fee for Darren Bent, but he came from Tottenham Hotspur with a fine reputation.

Although his stay was brief, he did not disappoint.

36 goals in just 63 appearances mark a return of over a goal every two games, and he also chipped in with four assists too. He was a pure marksman, and his pace and power were unstoppable when he was on form.

During his stint at Aston Villa, Jermaine Jenas labelled the forward as “lethal” and he proved that in front of the Stadium of Light, particularly in his debut season where he bagged 24 goals in the Premier League.

17 the season following again marked a fine return before he was snapped up by the Villans for a whopping £24m.

He only spent two years at Sunderland, but his goal-scoring impact was second to none.

Over the weekend in their draw with the Lilywhites, Mowbray was forced to play without a recognised striker and if he could bring anyone from the past to play for his side now, there is no doubting that Bent would be up there.

His short impact at the club helped fire them to 13th and 10th-placed finishes and with Simms still out, a top striker could be just the player to fire them to an unlikely promotion push.

Fans will be dreaming of a return to the top flight sooner rather than later, and if they had a prime Bent their chances would surely increase exponentially.

Everton are believed to have made an approach to sign Cork City goalkeeper, David Harrington, according to recent reports.

What’s the word?

As per Echo Live, the Toffees are said to have made a concrete offer to sign the 22-year-old this summer, with a bid of around €50k (£42k) plus add-ons having been lodged by the Premier League outfit.

The report suggests while the League of Ireland side are likely to reject that initial offer, the Merseysiders will move again with a second bid for the youngster before the September deadline, with the player potentially set to make the move to Goodison Park in January.

The Republic of Ireland U21 international has just a matter of months remaining on his current deal, with Frank Lampard’s side set to have to pay a compensation fee if they move once his contract has expired.

Coleman 2.0

It would appear that Lampard and co are keen to bolster their goalkeeping ranks with a new youthful addition, with the current challengers to first-choice stopper Jordan Pickford that of veteran pair Andy Lonergan and Asmir Begovic.

While Harrington’s arrival would likely be a nod to the future, the eye-catching starlet has already sparkled in his embryonic senior career thus far, having notably been lauded as “very impressive” by Cork boss, Colin Healy.

The highly-rated prospect boasts a strong record at first-team level to date, having made 30 appearances in all competitions for the club, conceding just 15 goals and keeping 17 clean sheets in that time.

That tally includes 26 outings from the 2022 season, conceding just 14 goals and keeping as many shutouts to showcase his obvious talent, with his arrival potentially set to help provide increased competition for that man, Pickford, in the years to come.

The hope will be that Harrington can emulate the success of compatriot Seamus Coleman, with the current Everton skipper having gone on to become a key figure at the club after being plucked from Sligo Rovers for just £60,000 back in 2009.

Since then, the reliable right-back has racked up 385 appearances in all competitions during his 13-year stint at Goodison, scoring 27 goals and providing 33 assists in that time after emerging as a real key figure under a succession of managers.

Much like the young Cork stopper, Coleman had limited experience prior to his move to England having made just 60 appearances across all fronts for Sligo, although that ultimately mattered little as he has since go on to become a leading asset for both club and country.

The experienced, 65-cap titan remains arguably one of the most astute pieces of business that the club have ever pulled off, with another potential bargain in store if they can get a deal for Harrington over the line.

Everton are one of several clubs in for Tanguy Ndombele, according to reports… 

What’s the word?

French publication Foot Mercato claim that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is desperate to find playtime, having struggled to assert himself in north London since his 2019 move.

Napoli and Villarreal are noted as the two most interested parties, with the toffees joining a long list of other suitors which includes Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

It remains to be seen how much Spurs would demand for their one-time club-record signing, but with three years left of his £120k-per-week deal, it may be tough to tempt him away from this comfortable situation.

He could complete Lampard’s team

Whilst seemingly keen to add some defensive security to his side, the addition of this creative midfielder could add a different dynamic that would make Frank Lampard’s side much more complex and difficult to beat.

The signing of Amadou Onana, plus the touted addition of Idrissa Gana Gueye adds strength, steel and a tough-tackling core, whilst Ndombele would offer something much different.

Full of skills, the Frenchman ranked in the top 1% for dribbles completed last season, as well as in the top 4% for progressive carries per 90. He is unlike anything at the club, and his mindset to always go forward would make him a distinctive feature in their midfield.

In the heart of an Everton side lacking creativity from the engine room, this desire to drive with the ball forward would be a huge upgrade on Allan’s 4.37 progressive carries, and even the recently-joined Onana’s 2.89.

Labelled a “serious baller”, there are no doubts that he would get fans at Goodison Park off their seats with his sensational flair. Backed up by a hard-working team, he could be allowed to shine, putting less pressure on his defensive deficiencies.

In what must have been a tumultuous season for the 25-year-old, where he spent half of last season with Spurs and the other on loan with Lyon, he made 30 appearances and gave a respectable six goal contributions.

If Lampard could fit him into his midfield, perhaps he could recapture his form from the 2018/19 season, where his 11 goal contributions and 7.04 average SofaScore rating outlined him as one of the hot prospects in Europe.

Perhaps with a little consistency and the right structure in place to surround him, he could take this Everton side to the next level with the skill and style that saw him earn his big-money move in the first place.

Therefore, director of football Kevin Thelwell must make a move for Ndombele before deadline day on September 1st.

Former Premier League striker now Sky Sports pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Newcastle United to sign Armando Broja.

The Lowdown: On the list

Broja is reportedly on the list of striker targets at St. James’ Park, as his long-term future at Chelsea is unclear after he was sent out on loan to Southampton last season.

And the 20-year-old did impress at St. Mary’s, scoring a total of nine goals (Transfermarkt), and so could have earned himself a permanent move to another Premier League club.

The Latest: Agbonlahor stance

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor has now urged the Magpies to act on their interest in Broja by signing him:

“I think Broja is a top, top player but maybe his form in the second half of the season put a few suitors off.

“Clubs will want him, but he tailed off in the second half of the season.

“But if I was Newcastle or Leeds, clubs who need strikers, I’d be doing everything I could to get him in.

“He’s shown what he can do in the Premier League. He’s a threat, he’s big, he’s strong.

“The clubs will just have to hope that he can do it over a whole season, not just six months.”

The Verdict: Get it done

After signing goalkeeper Nick Pope, central defender Sven Botman and left-back Matt Targett, the North East club can now focus on attacking additions.

They have recently been linked with moves for James Maddison and Maxwel Cornet, and if they can sign Broja on top of them, it would really be the icing on the cake.

Callum Wilson will need someone to help ease the goalscoring burden off of him next season, and with just two goals since arriving on Tyneside from Burnley in the January transfer window, Chris Wood is struggling to provide that.

Thus, bringing in Broja, who has the comfort blanket of playing top-flight football last term, makes a lot of sense.