"In recent days" – Tottenham showing sudden desire to sign £50m Brazilian

Tottenham have displayed a sudden interest in signing a £50 million Brazil international "in recent days", as Spurs look to back manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of his second full season in charge of the club.

Spurs targeting new central midfielder for Postecoglou

Widespread reports indicate that a new midfield number six is firmly on the agenda in north London this summer, coming amid the uncertainty surrounding a few squad members in that position.

Postecoglou really wants £35 million star at Tottenham with talks ongoing

The Australian is personally eyeing a move.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 9, 2024

Denmark international Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is keen to leave Spurs after losing his starting place under Postecoglou last season, as reported by Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg.

Hojbjerg actually featured in 39 games across all competitions, but only a handful of those cameos were full starts. The 28-year-old's contract expires next summer as well, so now is the right time for chairman Daniel Levy to sell Hojbjerg and make some money back off the £20 million they paid to bring him in from Southampton.

Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Giovani Lo Celso also struggled for consistent opportunities in Postecoglou's debut managerial season. Multiple reports from reliable sources state that Tottenham want to use Lo Celso in a player-plus-cash bid to sign Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa but it remains to be seen whether Unai Emery's side will give in to their advances.

Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey

In any case, Lo Celso's future appears far away from N17, with the Argentine's contract also set to expire next summer. Postecoglou is rumoured to want a new midfield number six more tailor-made to his system, leading to Tottenham's interest in Chelsea star Conor Gallagher among others.

Gallagher's own expiring contract, which is also set to run out in 2025, could make him a transfer opportunity for Spurs and other interested sides with Chelsea under some pressure to sell this summer or agree on an extension.

Conor Gallagher's best Premier League games for Chelsea last season

Match Rating (WhoScored)

Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

8.78

Chelsea 6-0 Everton

8.64

Chelsea 5-0 West Ham

8.39

Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea

8.22

Chelsea 3-0 Luton Town

7.90

The history between Tottenham and Chelsea as bitter rivals could make this a complicated deal, though, so the Lilywhites do have alternative options to pursue.

Tottenham show sudden interest in signing Joao Gomes

According to South American reporter Valentin Furlan, Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes is somebody Tottenham are considering.

Pedro Neto and Joao Gomes

The Brazilian, who's estimated to be worth around £50 million, impressed under Gary O'Neil last season and even managed to earn call-ups to the national team. Tottenham have shown a sudden interest "in recent days" to sign Gomes, according to Furlan, and it is believed the Molineux side are open to selling him for good market value.

Gomes joined Wolves from Brasileirao side Flamengo for just £15 million in January 2023, making 34 league appearances in his full debut season last campaign.

“He’s tenacious, he’s a brilliant ball winner and he’s someone who wanted to be at Wolves and wanted to go out there and perform in gold and black," said Wolves reporter Liam Keen on the 23-year-old.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic hails Milan for 'special win' against Real Madrid, praises 'electric' fans who have made San Siro 'amazing'

Christian Pulisic spoke about Milan's big win over Madrid on USMNT media availability ahead of their Nations League quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon.

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  • Christian Pulisic raves about San Siro
  • Praises Yunus Musah for Madrid performance
  • U.S. on Nations League duty
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    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Christian Pulisic helped spearhead a stunning AC Milan victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Nov. 5, assisting the opening goal en-route to a 3-1 victory over . Ten days on from the performance, he's looked back at that "special" evening, and has offered praise for how his team performed, and in particular, his international teammate Yunus Musah – who was tasked with playing against 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up Vinicius Jr.

    "I've realized that I've played against Real Madrid like eight times already in my career, which is insane, in the Champions League. This last one, truly an amazing team effort from our whole team," Pulisic said. "Obviously, Yunus [Musah] was put in a pretty unique role in that game. Everyone can see what he can do and how important he was for us to win that game and to especially hold their left side. He kept it quiet down there, which can be a tough challenge. We played an amazing game. It's really special to go to a stadium like that and win."

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    Since his 2023 summer arrival to Milan, Pulisic has flourished in Serie A, and currently leads the team in both goals (five) and assists (three) in regular season action. Part of his success he attributes to the fans of the club, and how they've turned their home ground into a brilliant atmosphere every single time the step onto the pitch.

    "I'd say my favorite part is playing at the San Siro regularly, it's amazing," relayed Pulisic. "The atmosphere is pretty special. The field, it's a great place to play. It's challenging… as one of the bigger teams, it's the biggest game for them, so you go away and you play in some of these environments, maybe the pitch isn't great, but the fans are electric. It can be really difficult."

    In the Champions League, Pulisic has an additional two goals and one assist in four matches.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    In his last two appearances for the USMNT, Pulisic has ended up on the scoresheet with either a goal or an assist. In September, he scored in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand, and in October, recorded an assist against Panama in a 2-0 victory.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    Pulisic and the U.S. clash with the Thursday in Kingston at "The Office" in Jamaica in leg one of their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal first leg affair. After that, they return home Monday for leg two in St. Louis.

Arsenal desperate to keep "in-demand" gem as Bayern Munich push to sign him

Arsenal are working hard to stop an "in-demand" Gunners gem from leaving, as European heavyweights Bayern Munich push to steal him.

Players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer

So far, in terms of Arsenal exits, both Mohamed Elneny and defender Cedric Soares departed upon the expiry of their contracts late last month – with a few more players following them since then.

Real Madrid man's entourage urge him to leave as Arsenal make offer for him

He’s being told to depart the Galacticos.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 17, 2024

Young striker Mika Biereth re-joined Austrian side Sturm Graz in a £4 million permanent deal last week, while both midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga and left-back Nuno Tavares moved elsewhere on loan.

Lokonga put pen to paper on a season-long stint at Sevilla, while Tavares signed a five-year contract at Lazio despite only joining on an initial temporary deal. The agreement includes a mandatory £7.5 million buyout clause, meaning the Portuguese will inevitably depart for good.

Many more squad members have been tipped to follow the likes of Lokonga and Tavares out of the Arsenal exit door, including some pretty big names. Emile Smith Rowe, Thomas Partey, Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus and Kieran Tierney are other players who Arsenal could still sell this summer, according to various reports.

One man they're very keen to keep hold of, though, is highly-rated starlet Chido Obi-Martin.

Arsenal working hard to keep Obi-Martin as Bayern push

The 16-year-old has been in absolutely scintillating form at academy level, scoring 32 goals in just 18 league appearances for Arsenal's Under-18s last season.

His stellar performances have attracted attention from Europe's elite. Bayern Munich are pushing to sign Obi-Martin from Arsenal, but the Gunners are working hard and determined to keep him at the Emirates with a first professional contract the moment he turns 17.

That is according to journalist Charles Watts, who shared an update on Obi-Martin's future for CaughtOffside.

“Arsenal are working hard to try and keep Chido Obi Martin at the club,” Watts said.

“We’ve seen strong links to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund this summer, and it’s no secret that both German clubs are pushing to lure Arsenal’s bright young talent away after his exceptionally prolific form at youth level.

“But Arsenal remain in talks with Obi Martin’s camp and as far as I’m aware nothing has been decided yet when it comes to the striker’s future. Arsenal do not want to lose him and they have made that clear during recent talks. A first professional contract is on the table that could be signed the moment he turns 17.

“But he is not 17 until December and so Arsenal remain vulnerable to the in-demand striker leaving before then. They are hoping, however, that all the groundwork that has been done over the last few months will prove successful and he will stay and continue his development in North London.”

Offer ready: Spurs targeting £25m Son rival who’s like Martinelli

As campaigns go, last season was one full of ups and downs for Tottenham Hotspur as new boss Ange Postecoglou got to grips with life in the Premier League.

The Australian had his side playing incredible football at times, but a mixture of injuries and a collapse in form towards the back end saw the Lilywhites slip from a nailed-on Champions League place to the Europa League.

To make sure the same thing doesn't happen again this year, Daniel Levy and Co must bring in some quality additions to the squad over the coming weeks who could come in when players start to dip or even start games at times.

Ange Postecoglou

The good news is that, based on recent reports, it appears they are doing just that, as the latest player heavily touted for a move to N17 would be the ideal Son Heung-min rival and, interestingly, has been compared to Gabriel Martinelli in the past.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Italian journalist Gianni Balzarini, Tottenham are incredibly keen on signing Juventus star Federico Chiesa this summer.

Juventus' Federico Chiesa

Balzarini claims that the Lilywhites are ready to make an offer in the region of €30m – £25m – for the dynamic winger, a fee that would more than please the Old Lady.

It wouldn't be a cheap transfer, but in the modern market, it does feel like a reasonable fee for a full international.

Federico Chiesa

Moreover, as the intention may well be to use him as competition or Son, Levy and Co should definitely get over the line on this transfer – his comparison to Martinelli is just a nice bonus.

How Chiesa compares to Son and Martinelli

The first thing to look at here is this comparison to Arsenal's Martinelli. While he might not be the most popular of characters on the white side of North London, he is a talented player.

For example, even with a slightly down campaign last year, he scored eight goals and provided five assists in 44 games for the Premier League runners-up.

So, while the pair's most apparent similarity is that they play on the wing, this comparison, in particular, stems from FBref.

federico-chiesa-liverpool-transfer-news-premier-league

They examined players in similar positions in the 2022/23 Europa League, created a list of the ten most comparable players for each position, and concluded that the Brazilian was the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Chiesa.

This conclusion was reached by looking at how closely the pair ranked in several underlying metrics, including assists, progressive carries, shots, short passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and carries, all per 90.

Chiesa & Marinelli

Stats per 90

Chiesa

Marinelli

Assists

0.22

0.18

Progressive Carries

3.78

3.64

Shots

2.23

2.37

Short Passing Accuracy

87.0%

86.1%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.85

3.87

Goal-Creating Actions

0.48

0.39

Carries

30.9

34.4

All Stats via FBref for the 22/23 Europa League

With all that said, how well does the Genova-born "wizard", as dubbed by football media personality Roger Bennett, stack up to the player he'll be tasked with rivaling?

Well, unsurprisingly, the Lilywhites' captain does come out on top when it comes to output, but that isn't to say the Juve ace is an unproductive player.

In 36 appearances last season, the South Korean superstar scored 17 goals and provided ten assists, whereas the Italian scored ten goals and provided three assists in 37 games, which would've been enough to make him the joint-fourth most effective attacking player at Spurs last season.

Ultimately, for the reported fee, signing Chiesa to provide some more competition for Son feels like a no-brainer, and while the Spurs faithful don't particularly like, the comparison to Martinelli is a positive sign.

Deadline set: Spurs race to land "sensational" £40m ace who's like Havertz

The impressive talent could be a serious boon to Postecoglou’s squad.

2

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 25, 2024

Reece James sends out emotional 'respect' message after Chelsea star is sidelined once again with fresh hamstring injury

Reece James vowed to come back "against all odds" after the Chelsea captain was hit with yet another injury blow.

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  • James ruled out with new injury
  • Played just four times this season
  • Vows to bounce back from upset
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Thursday that the full-back has been ruled out after suffering a new hamstring injury in training. The 24-year-old had only just returned from injury in October and has made just four appearances this season.

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    Injuries have plagued James' career in recent years. Knee and hamstring problems limited him to just 16 league games in the 2022-23 season and his appearances were cut to just 10 in the top-flight last term. The latest upset resulted in many fans calling for him to simply retire, but the England international insists he will not give up.

  • WHAT JAMES SAID

    "This message is to the people that understand and have respect for what I'm going through," he wrote on an Instagram Story. "I appreciate you so much, your support and kind messages go further than you could ever imagine.

    "And just to touch on me… I'm okay, been better and also been worse. Another challenge ahead accepted. Eventually I'll come out on top. Against all odds.

    "Lastly, I'd like to touch on the festive period coming, these times are tough for everyone! I wish you all a happy and peaceful festive season."

    instagram/reece

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  • WHAT NEXT FOR JAMES?

    The Chelsea academy graduate will hope to make a quick recovery and get back on the field before long.

Dream O’Riley replacement: Celtic targeting swoop for "invisible" £10m star

Celtic are less than 48 hours away from kicking off their 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign with a game against Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Sunday.

The Hoops have added three new signings to the squad ahead of the opening game of the season, with the latest being Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal from Benfica.

Brendan Rodgers has also brought in two goalkeepers to fill the void left by former England international Joe Hart, who retired at the end of last term.

Danish titan Kasper Schmeichel arrived on a free transfer to be the new number one for the Bhoys, whilst 22-year-old Viljami Sinisalo has been snapped up from Aston Villa to provide competition between the sticks.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the fans.

Celtic do still have a few weeks left before the summer transfer window officially slams shut, though, and this means that there is plenty of time left for more ins and outs for the Scottish giants.

They will still be concerned about the future of one of their star players – Matt O'Riley – amid speculation over his future at Parkhead, and they are reportedly looking at potential targets to come in if he departs.

Celtic eyeing up midfield talent

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, the Premiership champions are likely to dip back into the market for another midfielder if the Danish star moves on before the end of the window.

The reporter claims that Celtic are looking at players who could come in to bolster the squad at Paradise in the event that a team secures a deal for O'Riley in the coming weeks.

He states that Philadelphia Union’s Daniel Gazdag, Southampton’s Shea Charles, and Venezia’s Tanner Tessmann are three of the names on their list of targets.

Sky Sports then posted an update on the story adding that Philadelphia have also held talks with Turkish side Trabzonspor over a potential deal for Gazdag.

The report also claims that the MLS outfit are set to demand a fee of around £10m from any interested side to part ways with their star midfielder.

That would represent a club-record deal for Celtic as their current highest outlay stands at the £9m they paid to land Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2018.

The Scottish giants may need to splash the cash if they want to land a dream replacement for O'Riley, though, after his incredible season in the Premiership.

Matt O'Riley's exit would be a huge blow

The Denmark international is attracting plenty of interest from elsewhere as Atalanta have reportedly had three bids rejected for his services, and Premier League side Southampton are said to be plotting a second offer for him.

This comes off the back of his sensational form in the Scottish top-flight during the 2023/24 campaign, as the midfield ace produced consistently impressive performances in the division.

The former MK Dons starlet had racked up three goals and 12 assists in 38 games for Ange Postecoglou during the Australian's final Premiership season at the club and stepped up under Rodgers' management last term.

23/24 Premiership

Matt O'Riley

Squad rank

Sofascore rating

7.91

1st

Goals

18

1st

Assists

13

1st

Big chances created

14

1st

Key passes per game

2.5

1st

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, O'Riley was the outstanding player for Celtic at the top end of the pitch as he led the team in goals, assists, and 'big chances' created.

This shows that he was pivotal to the team's success in the division due to his sublime ability to provide consistent quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a midfield position.

He was one of two players in the squad who scored more than eight Premiership goals, alongside Kyogo Furuhashi (14), and scored at least four more than any of his teammates.

These statistics illustrate how difficult it will be for Celtic to replace O'Riley if Atalanta or Southampton, or any other team, swoops in to sign him before the end of the window.

The Hoops would need to find a midfielder who can make a big impact in the final third to make up for the goal contributions that would be lost by the Dane's exit, and that is why they should splash the cash on Gazdag.

Why Daniel Gazdag would brilliantly replace Matt O'Riley

£10m would be a huge outlay for the Bhoys, as it would be a club-record deal, but it could be one that is value for money if the Hungary international can translate his MLS form over to the Premiership.

The 28-year-old star has an impressive goalscoring record that suggests that he could come in and replace the goals that Celtic would lose through O'Riley's potential exit.

In 140 appearances for Philadelphia in all competitions, Gazdag has racked up an eye-catching 65 goals and 19 assists from an attacking midfield position.

Daniel Gazdag

2023 MLS

2024 MLS

Appearances

35

21

xG

14.68

13.07

Goals

15

14

xA

6.32

2.66

Assists

6

1

Key passes per game

1.7

1.5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the midfield sensation has been a terrific goalscorer in the MLS with 29 goals in the last two seasons, with the current campaign still ongoing.

Gazdag was described as being "invisible" to opposition defenders in the way he ghosts into goalscoring positions by his manager Jim Curtin, which is backed up by his excellent record for the club.

The £24k-per-week marksman, who scored a staggering 24 goals in the MLS in the 2022 campaign, could come in and replicate O'Riley's success in front of goal by offering a consistent threat in the final third for Celtic.

He may not offer as much creativity but, as shown by his aforementioned statistics over the last two years, the Hungarian gem can still create plenty of chances for his teammates to score.

Celtic turn attention to £3m star who'd be a better signing than Idah

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a swoop for the Premiership star this summer.

4

By
Dan Emery

Aug 1, 2024

Therefore, Rodgers must swoop to sign the MLS star for £10m if O'Riley moves on from Parkhead this summer, as he could brilliantly replace him as a terrific goalscoring midfielder who also has an eye for a pass.

Man City player ratings vs Liverpool: Woeful Kyle Walker exposed yet again as champions' defence falls apart while Erling Haaland has another quiet game as champions' Premier League title bid suffers fatal blow

No one was backing the visitors to win at Anfield, and they were proven right as they barely put up a fight in a fourth league defeat in a row

Manchester City have had many miserable trips to Anfield, but Sunday's has to rank among their worst as they sank to a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool which felt inevitable from the first whistle.

The Premier League champions made the short trip to Merseyside with their confidence on the floor and fell behind in the 12th minute when Cody Gakpo took advantage of a wonderful cross from Mohamed Salah and a huge lapse in concentration from Kyle Walker.

City could have been four goals down at half-time, but they got a grip on the play in the second half. Still, they were given a huge let off by Salah before Walker played his part in a team effort in car-crash defending which led to Liverpool winning a penalty.

Salah scored it to clinch a victory that left City 11 points behind their rivals in the title race, a gap that even the most optimistic of Blues will know is too big to make up.

GOAL rates City's players from Anfield…

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    Goalkeeper & Defence

    Stefan Ortega (5/10):

    Got his first league start in the biggest game of the season and looked more solid than Ederson until he mistimed his challenge on Diaz.

    Kyle Walker (3/10):

    Asleep at back post when Gakpo scored and had a tough first half. Rounded off another miserable day with his howler of a clearance in build-up to the penalty.

    Ruben Dias (5/10):

    His return couldn't lift the defence and despite making some good blocks, he succumbed to the virus himself with his role in the litany of errors leading to the penalty.

    Manuel Akanji (4/10):

    Not alert enough in or out of possession. Two giveaways led to big Liverpool chances while he gave Salah too much respect for the opening goal.

    Nathan Ake (5/10):

    Made a good tackle on Salah and gave City a little more security down the left hand side than Gvardiol.

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    Midfield

    Bernardo Silva (5/10):

    Showed signs of life in the second half but overall was underwhelming.

    Ilkay Gundogan (4/10):

    Overwhelmed yet again playing a holding role he's never been suited to.

    Phil Foden (5/10):

    Made no noticeable contribution in attack.

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    Attack

    Rico Lewis (5/10):

    Worked hard to try and keep City in the game, although he missed a huge chance to equalise, unwisely shooting with the outside of his foot.

    Erling Haaland (4/10):

    Got eaten alive by Van Dijk and barely got a look in.

    Matheus Nunes (6/10):

    Worked hard defensively to try and keep the score dignified. Booked for chopping down Alexander-Arnold and made an excellent tackle on Gakpo.

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    Subs & Manager

    Jeremy Doku (6/10):

    Looked most likely to create something.

    Savinho (5/10):

    Gave City more spark but struggled to add substance to his style.

    Jack Grealish (5/10):

    Created a couple of nice moves that came to nothing.

    Kevin De Bruyne (5/10):

    Should have done better after Van Dijk gifted him a shot.

    Pep Guardiola (4/10):

    Made two big calls by leaving out Ederson and Gvardiol and his tactics screamed damage limitation.

WATCH: What is going on at Wolves? Furious Rayan Ait-Nouri carried off pitch by team-mate as tempers flare after Ipswich defeat

Rayan Ait-Nouri lost his temper and had to be carried off the pitch after Wolves' loss to Ipswich Town on Saturday in the Premier League.

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  • Had to be carried off the pitch
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The defender was visibly angry after being sent off in the 95th minute of the Premier League match between Wolves and Ipswich Town on Saturday. Ait-Nouri almost got involved in a fight only to be carried off the pitch by teammate Craig Dawson.

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    This was the second game in a row that a Wolves player lost his cool on the ground and almost got involved in an on-field skirmish. Last week, former Wolves captain Mario Lemina got into an altercation with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen after the final whistle. He shoved his teammates as they attempted to cool down the situation before Lemina clashed with Wolves assistant coach Shaun Derry. The player was later stripped of the captaincy.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR WOLVES?

    Wolves' misery continued as they remain in 19th position on the league table after the 2-1 loss against Ipswich. Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was spotted at Molineux as pressure mounts on manager Gary O'Neil after yet another disappointing outing.

Crystal Palace could sign "elite" defender who’d brilliantly replace Guehi

Having already lost one of their jewels in the crown in Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze, also subject to interest from top Premier League clubs, Crystal Palace could be set for a season-defining transfer window, as they look to replace them.

But, it seems to be getting even worse for Oliver Glasner, as defender and often captain on the pitch, Marc Guehi, is also attracting interest, notably from Newcastle, who are closing in on a £60m deal for the 24-year-old.

England defender Marc Guehi

Guehi made 29 appearances in all competitions for Palace last season, providing one assist, and contributing to eight clean sheets, with his stellar season even earning him a Euro 2024 starting spot for England, after the injury to Harry Maguire.

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to L'Equipe, Crystal Palace are interested in Wolfsburg defender, Maxence Lacroix, as a potential replacement for Guehi, should he leave the club this summer.

The report states that the two parties are in talks over a move, with Lacroix speculated to be available for around £17m per other claims. However, Wolfsburg are expected to attempt to secure the best possible deal, to ensure they can replace him, as they are already beginning to look for replacements.

Lacroix made 31 appearances in all competitions for Wolfsburg last season, scoring four goals, providing one assist, and contributing to eight clean sheets in his 2,665 minutes played.

Lacroix vs Guehi comparison

Labelled as an "elite defender" by journalist Tobias Kröger, Lacroix stands at 6 foot 3 tall, with exceptional physical attributes, including blistering speed for a defender, making him perfect for the Premier League.

The two defenders offer different assets, as Lacroix is more of a physically imposing and aggressive defender, whilst Guehi has to be more calculated due to his smaller height and therefore having less of a physical presence.

Lacroix vs Guehi comparison

Stats (per 90 mins)

Lacroix

Guehi

Passes Attempted

46.9

50.6

Pass Completion %

84.7%

86.9%

Progressive Passes

3.02

2.98

Progressive Carries

0.19

0.67

Tackles

1.83

1.24

Blocks

1.34

0.98

Interceptions

0.91

0.72

Aerials Won

2.44

1.29

Stats taken from FBref

You can see from these metrics that Guehi is slightly more comfortable on the ball, averaging just under four more passes attempted per 90, and having 2.2% more passing accuracy per 90. However, Lacroix still managed 0.04 more progressive passes per 90, averaging 3.02 to Guehi's 2.98.

The disparity in their ball-playing qualities, at least according to the stats, isn't too dissimilar. However, their defensive metrics are further apart, with Lacroix averaging more tackles, blocks, interceptions and aerials won per 90.

Lacroix nearly doubles Guehi's 1.29 aerials per 90, which is expected given their difference in height, and would add much-needed aerial prowess to their defensive ranks. Palace only scored five goals from set pieces last season, which was joint bottom with Burnley for this metric in the league.

Whilst losing Guehi would feel like another big piece lost for Glasner, the physical presence of Lacroix could bring extra solidity to that Palace backline, and provide them with certain assets the team doesn't currently have.

Crystal Palace hit gold on "outstanding" star who's worth more than Guehi

Crystal Palace continue to strike gold on prior signings

By
Connor Holden

Aug 7, 2024

Imagine him & Solomon: Leeds plot move for "terrific" ace who’s like Rutter

After a slow start to the season saw two draws picked up against Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, alongside a humbling 3-0 defeat in the EFL Cup to Middlesbrough, Leeds United finally got their 24/25 campaign underway with a 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

The Championship promotion hopefuls will pray there are no more major missteps ahead, as they aim to finish near the top of the division, and secure a return to the Premier League after last season's agonising near miss.

Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon are likely to be at Daniel Farke's disposal for upcoming second tier games, as Ramazani sat out the victory at Hillsborough and Solomon is soon to be announced, with a growing possibility that another attacker could also enter the building alongside the new duo before the close of the month.

Leeds working on signing Georginio Rutter replacement

As per an exclusive report from Football Insider, Leeds are eyeing up the services of Queens Park Rangers gem Ilias Chair, as they go about further strengthening their attacking positions.

With Solomon and Ramazani adequately bolstering the second tier side down the wings, the number ten spot is now a position of priority to add numbers to, considering Georginio Rutter's departure is yet to be addressed with any new faces in through the door.

QPR forward Ilias Chair.

That's where Chair could potentially come to the rescue, with Football Insider revealing that the West Yorkshire side are set to test QPR's resolve surrounding their Moroccan gem, with his contract now into its final year at Loftus Road.

Chair could fill the hole left behind by the Frenchman packing his bags for Brighton and Hove Albion, as he is known in Hoops quarters to be a tricky menace on the ball for Championship defences to contain, much like Rutter used to be for the Whites.

What Chair can offer Leeds

Leeds fans will be all too aware of Chair's ability to conjure up a moment of magic from nothing, having scored this sublime solo strike last season against Farke's downtrodden troops, on the way to a miserable 4-0 defeat being inflicted on the promotion chasers.

Away from that sickening sucker punch, however, Chair could soon be scoring sumptuous goals like this on a regular basis for Leeds if he is snapped up soon, with the Hoops number ten bagging 34 strikes across 217 second tier games to date in West London, alongside registering 34 assists.

Chair's Championship numbers for QPR (23/24)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Chair

Games played

44

Goals scored

7

Assists

8

Shots*

2.6

Big chances missed

2

Big chances created

11

Ball recoveries*

5.4

Total duels won*

4.0

Stats by Sofascore

As can be seen, looking at the table above, the QPR star was a lively attacker for many a Championship defence to contain last campaign, with seven goals and eight assists managed from 44 games.

Creating 11 big chances across the full season too, with Rutter creating double that remarkably, the "terrific" attacking midfielder – as he has been described by his boss Marti Cifuentes – could come into his own even more playing for a team fighting for promotion up near the top of the division, as opposed to ensuring they remain afloat in the league.

Chair could end up striking up a terrifying partnership with Manor Solomon in attack, therefore, who will be excited at the potential prospect of linking up with the EFL wizard.

Solomon needs a confidence-boosting season to come at Elland Road after having injury issues dominate his playing days of late, and might well find that he's even more devastating going forward dropping down a division with Chair next to him, having picked up four goals and two assists from only 24 games in Premier League action when fit and firing.

Bagging his own sensational screamer against Leeds in the FA Cup last year, both could make Leeds an even more stunning team to watch in attack, and would make Rutter moving on firmly a thing of the past.

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Leeds United remain in the hunt for this midfield gem.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 25, 2024

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