Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to build on their recent results as they continue to thrive under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.
Indeed, the North London club remain in the race for the Premier League title and they find themselves in a promising position in the Champions League, so things are going perfectly right now.
Daniel Levy may already have his eye on making moves in the summer transfer window after failing to spend a single penny in the previous two transfer windows, and one player who has been of interest to Spurs in recent times is AS Roma’s Cengiz Under, according to Calciomercato (via HITC).
Interestingly, the 21-year-old was a straight replacement for Mohamed Salah at AS Roma when the Egyptian departed for Liverpool, so that just goes to show how how much faith the Italian club have in Under.
The winger has established himself as one of the shining lights in Italy in the current campaign, having produced an impressive six goals and nine assists up until this point.
Of course, one thing that has irritated fans in recent transfer windows has been the club’s lack of spending, while other clubs in the Premier League have gone out and splashed the cash.
Levy can make up for recent transfer windows by securing the services of an exciting talent like Cengiz Under as he’s the kind of player that would thrive under the guidance of Pochettino, and the Argentine could definitely aid his development, with the winger having all the ingredients to become one of the world’s best attackers in the future.
Tottenham should be in the market for a new right-back when the transfer window reopens in the summer.
Spurs have opted to keep their chequebook closed during the last two transfer windows but a squad overhaul could be on the cards in the summer. After moving into their new stadium, Mauricio Pochettino will be forced to strengthen his squad – especially given the lavish spending from their Premier League rivals. Right-back could be an area where the Argentine looks to improve.
After a wonderful World Cup campaign with England, Kieran Trippier has failed to replicate his form with the national team since returning to north London. His excellent performances have been few and far between allowing Serge Aurier to state his claim for a starting berth. However, question marks remain over his defensive ability when playing as a full-back rather than a wing-back.
Therefore, Spurs should make a move for PSG star – Thomas Meunier. Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the Belgium international joined the French champions in a cut-price deal from Club Brugge back in 2016. After establishing himself as a first-team regular during his first two seasons in Ligue 1, he has slipped down the pecking order under Thomas Tuchel, starting just 13 games in all competitions so far during the current campaign.
The allure of regular first-team football at the new White Hart Lane could prove tempting and Meunier would be an excellent addition to the Spurs back line. PSG too, face potential FFP sanctions, so perhaps those behind the scenes in North London should try and engineer a move.
The 27-year-old loves to get forward to help out the attack and possesses fantastic crossing as well as dribbling ability. Averaging an impressive 1.1 key passes per game (stats from WhoScored) from defence, his arrival could mean even more goals for Harry Kane in the attack.
Now approaching the prime of his career, this move could prove to be a masterstroke from the Lilywhites.
Jesus Perez is set to become Tottenham Hotspur manager.
It is, of course, only a temporary measure, with Mauricio Pochettino suspended for the next two games against Southampton and Liverpool, after an altercation with referee Mike Dean following the 2-1 defeat to Burnley – as reported by London Evening Standard.
However, supporters need not worry. Perez – who will assume the Tottenham gaffer’s role in the dugout – is a key Pochettino lieutenant and will be able to bring the best out of an XI that already respects him.
Here are five reasons why Spurs fans should rest easy…
Perez knows Pochettino’s plans inside out
Perez and Pochettino go back a long way. They first worked together at Espanyol, in 2010, with Perez initially coming in as a technical analyst. He earned his way into the manager’s good books and became technical first-team coach before following the Argentine to Southampton and then to Spurs.
The pair are sure to be in contact during the games against the Saints and the Reds, but they may as well not be; Perez has an inherent knowledge of Pochettino’s gameplans and tactics.
A cool head
Perez is rarely seen without a notepad on the sideline and he has the cooler head than Pochettino. While he was involved in the altercation with Dean, he also looked to move Pochettino away, and he is more reserved than the boss on the sidelines.
That is not to say he is without passion; he has a ferocious stare and has been seen getting caught up in the celebrations when Spurs score.
But he is more reserved and will assess the game from a distance, something that may benefit Spurs with Pochettino in the stands.
Genuine tactical insight
Perez is Pochettino’s point man when it comes to assessing the dangers of the opposition.
He shows the players videos and analysis both before games and during them, regularly showing them clips during half-time, per Football.London.
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Perez has been in his job with Pochettino for nearly a decade and knows exactly what the Spurs boss will be looking for.
He can then transmit that to the players, and raise their games; against Southampton and Liverpool, there should be very little drop-off from the norm.
A superb motivator
Ryan Mason, a player given his big break at Spurs by Pochettino after numerous loan spells, still hears Perez’s voice in his head, having spent two years working under the pair at White Hart Lane.
Speaking to ESPN in 2018, he said: “I still hear Jesus’ voice now.
“When I’m training or playing and my body is telling me, ‘You’re knackered’, I still hear his voice saying, ‘You’re a strong boy, Mase!’ That stuck. It’s always there. He’s amazing at his job, he really is.”
Mason added that Perez is meticulous about absolutely everything, and that little goes on at Spurs that he isn’t aware of.
He said: “He knew everything! I’m not a clubber, I don’t go out drinking, so I felt pretty safe.
“But I’m sure if a couple of the lads fancied a night out and the odd drink, Jesus would know about it. He always knows.”
Familial Ties
Perez and Pochettino live in each other’s pockets.
The pair can, per the aforementioned reports, spend up to 12 hours a day together at Spurs’ training ground.
Not only that, they live just a minute apart, with their families having become close, and regularly drive to work together.
If Perez cannot oversee two victories, you can bet your bottom dollar Pochettino will remind him about it every day on their commute!
Sheffield United maintained their momentum in the Championship promotion race with a 2-0 win over Rotherham United in the south Yorkshire derby at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
The vital goals for the Blades came courtesy of Jack O’Connell and Mark Duffy. Sheffield United fans will be especially delighted to have seen the latter score on his return to the starting XI.
On the chalkboard
The 33-year-old attacker produced a fine strike from range to double the Blades’ advantage over Rotherham. His goal also sent a message to manager Chris Wilder, who may now be regretting having ever taken the veteran out of the limelight.
Who would make a combined Sheffield XI? Ingood Nick makes his picks in the video below…
The Liverpool-born ace has notched four goals and six assists in the Championship this season, as per Transfermarkt’s stats.
However, Wilder benched Duffy for Sheffield United’s two games prior to Saturday’s triumph, including the goalless draw against bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
Many fans were furious to see Duffy left out of the line-up for the Steel City derby, and took to Twitter to make their feelings on the matter clear. However, the head coach now looks to have seen the light and is already benefitting from having the star back in his plans.
Making room for Duffy
The experienced and versatile midfielder brings a great deal of creativity and guile to Wilder’s side. Despite his age, he still also has plenty of energy and stamina. With him in the team, the Blades are certainly less predictable in the final third.
Whilst Everton loanee Kieran Dowell has impressed since his January arrival, Wilder should recognise that Duffy still offers something that the 21-year-old can’t. So the manager must continue to make room for the senior man in his starting XI, and fans will certainly be glad to see their boss doing this.
Is it true safety, or just a brief cover up? The recent form of Newcastle has been uplifting for the fans, there’s no doubt about that. But, as every Toon fan reading this know will know, the Magpies never make things easy.
Indeed, only sitting 6 points above the drop zone, there is no time to relax.
With less than 10 games left to play, there are plenty of survival points to be picked up, however with a run in against teams that sit roughly around the same position, it will be a true fight to the death for Newcastle, who surely need to stay up to have any hope of keeping Rafa Benitez.
Here we take a look at a couple of games that may just unease the Toon.
Arsenal (away)
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Given the importance to pick up points for the Gunners, the Emirates will become one of the toughest places to go for the ‘lesser’ teams towards the latter stages of the league. After already succumbing to a 2-1 home defeat earlier this season, Arsenal will look to make sure they make no mistakes against a side like Newcastle.
The Magpies will look to away performances like a 1-2 win over a stubborn Burnley earlier this season for inspiration to go to the Emirates and really fight for the points. It can be argued that even a draw for the Toon would leave fans travelling back up North satisfied.
Brighton and Hove Albion (away)
After already tasting a 0-1 home defeat to Brighton this season, Newcastle will be wary of the threat that Chris Hughton’s side will have on their own patch. With the dangers of Glenn Murray up front, Brighton will feel that they have more than enough talent to overcome Newcastle and hopefully go for a higher finish than the Toon.
It could be Benitez’s penultimate game in charge of the club – with his contract up this summer – so it’ll need to be all hands on deck to try and repeat the infamous Tottenham game in 2016 to ensure he stays.
Surely, this season can’t be turned into a panic final day for the Magpies, but with these two fixtures included in the run in, it’s not time to start celebrating for Premier League football next season. As we all know, anything can happen.
If there’s one player Arsenal fans all unanimously love, it’s Tomas Rosicky.
The Czech Republic icon spent 10 years in north London and is often regarded as one of the most talented players to play for Arsenal this decade. Dubbed ‘Little Mozart’ for his ability to dictate the midfield and bring out the best in those around him, Rosicky’s retirement in December 2017 was a sad day for those who watched him.
An underrated player plighted by injuries, Rosicky was a player who succeeded in north London in the grand scheme of things, winning two FA Cups and playing big roles in the path to both honours, yet every Arsenal fan knows that had it not been for those injuries, the Czech captain could have been something more.
This is a player who missed an entire season during the prime of his career, yet after his return, Rosicky came back better than ever. Although he was not the biggest goalscorer in the team, only scoring 28 goals in his Gunners career, the attacking midfielder was an influential part of the Arsenal squad.
Technically superb and unorthodox with his passing and shooting as he always preferred using the outside of his foot, Rosicky’s impact on and off the pitch was always felt. And during the big games, his presence was always significant.
Rosicky was instrumental in Arsenal’s first 5-2 win against Spurs in the 2011/12 season where the Gunners fought from 2-0 down the claim a massive win over their north London rivals, and two years later in the same fixture the Arsenal no. 7 scored one of the best goals in the history of the rivalry to seal another vital win against Spurs.
He was also involved in one of the best goals Arsenal have scored in the Premier League era, as the playmaker started and finished a vintage Gunners team goal in a 4-1 win against Sunderland.
With such a big impact on the team, it always felt like Rosicky could do more for Arsenal. Had he been luckier with injuries there is no question that the now 38-year-old would have been considered a modern-day legend of the club.
On his final game as an Arsenal player, he received a guard of honour from the Arsenal players and staff, who all wore Rosicky shirts to celebrate his legacy at the club.
Rosicky is still remembered fondly at the club. A player with all the talent in the world, and a conductor on and off the pitch.
Arsenal fans, what is your favourite memory of Rosicky?
Instead of being destroyed by it, Unai Emery’s embraced Arsenal’s limitations since arriving last summer. Many managers would complain about the meagre investment, yet Emery’s made the best use of whatever he received while also using his new signings really well.
The Spaniard’s impressed many by bringing spirit into Arsenal’s game and making them play thrilling attacking football. However, the constant loses and embarrassment have happened due to Arsenal’s squad lacking in individuals. With Aaron Ramsey leaving, the Gunners need to get replace him with someone with similar potential.
According to reports (via Daily Mirror) they might’ve found it in a relatively unknown player. They’re keen on Charlton Athletic’s breakout star Joe Aribo, who’s been a standout in the League One. The 22-year-old’s proven himself as a dynamic central midfielder, who can not only distribute the ball around, but also open things up for his attackers.
Aribo’s scored 6 goals and assisted quite a few for the Addicks this season, being a vibrant figure in the middle. Going by his playing style, the youngster almost mimics Adrien Rabiot, while also having traits of Mesut Ozil. He’s quick, alert, has an eye for goal and can carry the ball forward, something which Emery needs to polish in his system.
Yes, it’s a fairly underwhelming name right now (one of our writers is particularly annoyed about it), but think of a certain Dele Alli and his impact across the road in North London…
He could be purchased fairly cheap and allow Arsenal to invest their funds on improving their defence. While signing an untested player like Aribo is a big gamble, Emery’s tendency to elevate promising talents means he can mould the electric 22-year-old into something special.
Arsenal fans, do you think Aribo can be a successor to Ramsey? Join the discussion by commenting below.
Barnsley may not be guaranteed automatic promotion back to the Championship just yet, but they’ve had four players named in the League One Team of the Year. Boss Daniel Stendel has meanwhile picked up the award for best manager.
Midfielders Alex Mowatt and Cameron McGheehan were both included in the team, as were defender Ethan Pinnock and ‘keeper Adam Davies.
Some supporters were delighted with the news, with one claiming they were blessed to follow such a good football team.
However, despite having four of their players in the team some fans still had bones to pick over the selection. A few called for Dimitri Cavare to be included and another individual wanted Cauley Woodrow to be in the side.
Barnsley were relegated from the Championship last season but could be set for an immediate return. They currently sit in second place in League One, five points behind leaders Luton. The Reds are meanwhile four points ahead of their main challengers Portsmouth for the final automatic promotion place.
Manager Daniel Stendel has done a fabulous job with the club since taking over, guiding them to 22 wins in 29 matches this term.
Here’s the best of the reaction from Tykes supporters.
After an already brilliant season that has seen Pompey claim the EFL Trophy and potential snatch a promotion spot to the Championship, it’s only natural that some of their star players catch the eyes of the teams in the higher divisions, and one figure who is attracting interest is Matt Clarke.
According to the Times, the defender is wanted by Championship sides Leeds United and Stoke City after an impressive season at Pompey that saw the 22-year-old be picked in the League One Team of the Season.
Reportedly valued at £4 million by Portsmouth, Clarke is a player with the potential to go all the way to the top in English football, but for at least this summer it is vital the south coast club keep hold of their prized defensive asset for another season.
If Pompey are promoted to the Championship this season, the club must do everything they can to keep hold of Clarke.
The defender has been with the club since their League Two days and would relish representing Portsmouth in the second-tier of English football if the club can make it this season.
Not only would another season with Pompey in a better league be beneficial for Clarke in terms of his development and getting regular minutes in the Championship, it will also be a smart move for the club, who could get a few more millions out of their defender should they decide to cash in on him in 2020.
Clarke is a player who can go far in England, at just 22 and over 150 first-team appearances in the Football League not many players in that age bracket can bolster the CV the defender already has, but it would be a smart move for both him and the club if he was to remain a Pompey player at least for another season.
Portsmouth fans, would you cash in on Clarke this summer? Let us know!
Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in the title race with defender Virgil van Dijk expected to return for the Reds clash against Southampton on Friday night.
Needless to say, there is one player Liverpool cannot afford to lose at this stage in the season, and only one that fans would surely kiss goodbye to their title hopes in his absence, and that is Netherlands international Virgil van Dijk.
After an impressive game, summarised by an excellent piece of defending at the end of the contest to deny the onrushing lummox Moussa Sissoko and help Liverpool secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Van Dijk needed treatment on a supposed ankle injury. And Liverpool fans were surely thrown into meltdown when he appeared with an icepack strapped to his leg during post-match interviews.
Though the defender reassured supporters that nothing was wrong at the time, sometimes the wishful words of a player aren’t enough to convince the more pessimistic individuals.
All concerns have now happily been dispelled following the positive news that he has returned to training this week, with the Liverpool Echo posting an image of the Dutchman flying through the air as a temporary keeper (just in case there were any doubters).
Van Dijk is primed to continue his remarkable record of appearing in every single Premier League game this campaign – the first player, alongside Salah, to achieve this feat since Martin Skrtel in 2011.
Liverpool fans, just how important is Virgil van Dijk to your title hopes this season? Let us know in the comments below…