All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur are now in the race for an “unbelievable” England international, but they may need to qualify for the Champions League to compete for his signature, according to former goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Spurs' season hinges on Europa League triumph

The 5-1 battering at Anfield on Sunday afternoon was the latest extremely disappointing performance from Tottenham, in a season where there has been no shortage of poor results, but ultimately the loss is of little importance.

Spurs’ season now hinges entirely on their Europa League campaign, and they should be in a very strong position to reach the final in Bilbao, given that they are set to come up against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final.

A Europa League triumph would end the Lilywhites’ long wait for a trophy, while also granting them access to next season’s Champions League, which should place them in a strong position to bring in some top players this summer.

Tottenham now in position to seal "bargain signing" of "interesting" striker

They’re “well-placed” to do a deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 27, 2025

In a recent interview with Football Insider, Robinson has now provided an update on a player Tottenham could target this summer, although he believes they will only be able to compete for his signature if they win the Europa League.

The former goalkeeper said: “Tottenham are in the race for Marcus Rashford; but without Champions League football, without the Europa League trophy, and Tottenham 17th in the Premier League? Sorry, you’re not in the conversation.”

As Rashford’s relationship with Ruben Amorim has “broken down”, the England international is expected to leave this summer, with a move to Barcelona potentially on the cards, while a permanent switch to Aston Villa remains a possibility.

The 27-year-old is not the only England international Spurs have their eye on, however, with a recent report revealing they are also serious contenders to sign Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.

"Unbelievable" Rashford impressing at Aston Villa

After falling out with Amorim, it was clear the left-winger needed to leave United in January, and he has started to look more like his former self since moving to Villa, picking up four goals and six assists in 17 matches.

Having once been lauded as “unbelievable” by Harry Maguire, it is clear the £300k-per-week forward has bags of talent, but United has been a graveyard for top players in recent years, and it is good to see him reignite his career elsewhere.

Should Tottenham manage to win the Europa League, a move to north London could be attractive to Rashford, but the signs are not good heading into their crucial semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.

Spurs have lost their last three Premier League games on the spin, and even if they manage to reach the final, it will be a very difficult task to beat Athletic Bilbao in their own stadium, or three-time Champions League winners Man United in a European final.

Newcastle United are firmly in the race for Champions League football ahead of next season, but they are also plotting moves to bolster their squad with the summer transfer window around the corner.

Newcastle United look to finish campaign with a flourish

Admittedly, a heavy loss to Aston Villa last weekend wasn’t in the script for the Magpies as they seek a Champions League slot, but an opportunity to bounce back across their remaining five Premier League matches will excite supporters.

Following their EFL Cup heroics over Liverpool earlier in the year, finishing the campaign by returning to Europe’s premier competition may prove to be the ideal tonic ahead of initiating their summer recruitment drive.

Per reports, Liam Delap is on Newcastle’s radar following his sparkling form at Ipswich Town, even if stiff competition for his signature is set to exist due to his £30 million relegation release clause. Matteo Guendouzi could also move to the North East in the event that Sandro Tonali seeks a new challenge elsewhere, illustrating the level of change that could occur at St James’ Park during the off-season.

Ultimately, prospective additions may be hesitant to commit their future to Newcastle until they know what European competition the club will enter, though their favourable run-in on paper may give them a key advantage over divisional competitors.

Newcastle now targeting ex-Arsenal player who Howe has big admiration for

Newcastle are once again looking at a player who manager Eddie Howe is a big fan of.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

Nevertheless, Eddie Howe and PIF won’t wait around for scenarios to unfold in their efforts to put the Magpies on a level footing with the Premier League elite by building for the future. In light of this, Newcastle are now reportedly closing in on a talented youngster that could become one of their first signings in 2025/26.

Newcastle United set to wrap up deal for priority summer target

According to The Daily Record, Newcastle United are closing in on Rangers youngster Oliver Goodbrand, and it is becoming clear that he will leave Ibrox to sign professional forms elsewhere. The 16-year-old left-back is set to arrive on Tyneside for training compensation after emerging as one of the Magpies’ priority summer targets to enrich their pool of youth talent.

Initially, his arrival will take the course of a scholarship deal before signing on full-time once he turns 17. Rangers have tried to retain the prodigious defender, but now look set to concede defeat amid strong advances from the North East.

Premier League clubs poaching talent from north of the border is becoming a regular theme due to tightened regulations surrounding EU-based players being unable to move to England until they are 18 years old.

From a Newcastle perspective, landing another teen with potential to develop could save Howe and company millions down the line should he grow into a first-team asset.

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur and their managerial search, following another blow for Ange Postecoglou in the form of Spurs’ seventeenth Premier League defeat of the campaign against Wolves.

Ange Postecoglou comments after 4-2 Tottenham loss to Wolves

A series of calamitous goals, thanks to errors from key players, cemented yet another Spurs loss in the top flight on Sunday, with Wolves running out 4-2 winners against the Lilywhites on another lacklustre afternoon for Postecoglou.

52-year-old spotted at Spurs after Levy talks as pundit tips appointment

The Lilywhites chairman has sat down with him recently.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 12, 2025

You couldn’t have asked for worse preparation ahead of Tottenham’s vital Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, a must-win game for Postecoglou after their 1-1 draw with the Bundesliga side last week.

Rayan Ait-Nouri, Djed Spence’s own goal, Jorgen Strand Larsen’s strike and a Matheus Cunha finish compounded a miserable day at Molineux for the north Londoners. Mathys Tel and Richarlison made the scoreline less embarrassing with consolation goals in their 4-2 defeat, but Postecoglou did his best to back the players following a series of high-profile errors.

“Obviously a disappointing result,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s defeat at Wolves.

“Funny game, because for the most part, I thought our football was decent considering all the changes we’ve made. For the most part we controlled large parts of it, were a threat going forward and didn’t give them too much. But then obviously we conceded some pretty poor goals and that made it awfully difficult to get an outcome today.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

“It’s not like the players are doing it on purpose, so you have an understanding that that’s the unfortunate things that sometimes happen in a game of football. Probably be more frustrated if it was something that we did from a tactical perspective or organisational perspective, but they’re individual errors, you know, the players don’t mean to do it and, especially Lucas and Romero, I mean they’re two fantastic footballers and what’s important now for both of them is that they recover and we focus on the next game.”

In the background, chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly contemplating the sacking of Postecoglou, with Spurs on course for their worst-ever Premier League season.

Tottenham stance on appointing Thiago Motta to replace Ange Postecoglou

According to recent reports, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is Tottenham’s top managerial target after his very impressive campaign in the Cherries dugout, while both Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Marco Silva (Fulham) are also on their radar (The Athletic).

There’s also been recent murmurs of a potential Spurs move for Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, as well as former Juventus head coach Thiago Motta, who was recently sacked by the Serie A heavyweights.

The Italian failed to mount a successful title challenge, or show any signs of promise in terms of winning major silverware, prompting Juve to ruthlessly hand Motta his P45.

The 42-year-old is now without a club, and is currently linked with a move to N17, but Romano has since told GiveMeSport that Tottenham have no plans to appoint Motta as things stand.

“I’m still hearing about Iraola and Silva as two concrete options,” said Romano.

“For Motta, no contacts at this stage.”

Despite his failed stint at Juve, Motta did attract praise as a tactician during his time in Turin.

“Thiago is unique and unrepeatable: he is not at Juve, Juve is at him,” said journalist Ivan Zazzaroni.

“Inside the notebook that he always carries with him and shows during press conferences, also to note down the questions and their authors, there must be a world of ideas that he scrupulously hides from the eyes of the laymen. Motta is undoubtedly the most stimulating and original coach in the championship.”

Glasgow Rangers completed a dramatic comeback to beat Dundee 4-3 in the Scottish Premiership last time out, as they came from 3-1 down to win the match.

The Light Blues gave themselves a mountain to climb but managed to overcome it thanks to goals from Tom Lawrence, James Tavernier, and Cyriel Dessers in the second half.

Barry Ferguson should, however, be disappointed by the fact that his team were in such a difficult position to begin with, which is why he could make some changes to the team when the Gers return to action against Hibernian this afternoon.

Why Cyriel Dessers should be dropped

Despite scoring the winner in the 93rd minute, Dessers must be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up for the clash with Hibs today after his showing against Dundee.

The Nigeria international deserves credit for scoring the winner, but it is hard to ignore the rest of his performance, in which the striker missed a staggering five ‘big chances’ and scored once from 12 shots on goal – nine of which were on target.

He was incredibly wasteful with the chances that came his way, which was part of the reason why Rangers needed late goals to get anything out of the game.

Hamza Igamane has only missed five ‘big chances’, whilst scoring ten goals, in 27 Premiership matches this season, which suggests that Rangers would be better off with him as the focal point receiving service in the box instead of Dessers.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Ferguson must ruthlessly drop the wasteful Nigerian centre-forward from the XI in order to bring Ianis Hagi into the team alongside Igamane.

Why Ianis Hagi should start against Hibernian

Rangers lined up with a 3-4-1-2 formation against Dundee and this change would allow them to play a 3-4-2-1, with Hagi and Mohamed Diomande in the number ten positions behind the Morocco international.

This would make Igamane the focal point of the team and mean that the side is built to create chances for him to score, to make the most of his lethal finishing – as opposed to consistently creating chances for Dessers to spurn.

Hagi coming in could help to create those opportunities for the Moroccan sensation because he has proven his creative quality in the Premiership already this season, under Philippe Clement and Ferguson.

Starts

16

Goals

3

Big chances created

5

Assists

5

Key passes per 90

2.5

Assists per 90

0.3

As you can see in the table above, the Gers number 30 has been incredibly creative for the Light Blues with 2.5 key passes per 90 and eight goal contributions in 16 starts.

This suggests that he has what it takes to provide Igamane with the service that he needs to put Hibernian to the sword later this afternoon.

Hagi, who former Romanian international Ilie Dumitrescu dubbed “sensational” earlier this season, is an attacking midfielder who can break forward into the box to make things happen, as a scorer and a creator, which is why he could perfectly suit a number ten role in a 3-4-2-1 system.

This would also allow Dessers to come off the bench as a goal threat in the second half if needed, rather than him having the entire 90 minutes to waste ‘big chances’ in front of goal – as he did against Dundee.

Rangers must sell Ibrox star who was "one of the best talents in Europe"

As Rangers prepare for a massive squad overhaul in the summer, they should sell a star Gerrard once said was “one of the best talents in Europe”.

ByBen Gray Apr 3, 2025

It is now down to Ferguson to be brave and ruthlessly drop the former Cremonsese man from the team, despite his late winner, in an attempt to improve his side’s performance.

Gary O’Neil is a “strong contender” for the current managerial vacancy at Southampton with a recent update sharing the latest timeline on getting a new boss through the door.

After becoming the first team in Premier League history to be relegated with as many as seven games remaining last season, Southampton hoped for a swift return to the top flight. In the summer, Will Still, who carved out a reputation for himself with Reims and Lens in Ligue 1, moved to St Mary’s.

Despite an influx of summer signings, Still struggled to make things click with the Saints, winning just two out of 13 Championship games. Following three successive defeats, Still was dismissed from his position, with under-21s coach Tonda Eckert taking interim charge of the club.

Eckert, who guided Southampton to a 2-1 win away at Queens Park Rangers, will remain in charge of the team until Southampton make a permanent appointment. Now, it would appear that the Saints could be closing in on Still’s replacement.

O'Neil to take over at Southampton?

According to Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath, O’Neil is very much in contention for the Southampton job, with “admirers at St Mary’s after his work at Bournemouth and Wolves”.

O’Neil received his first experience of senior management with Bournemouth, succeeding Scott Parker and keeping the Cherries in the top flight before being replaced by Andoni Iraola.

O’Neil’s next job was with Wolves, after the 42-year-old replaced Julen Lopetegui as the 2023/24 season began. Though he guided the club to a comfortable mid-table finish, the Englishman struggled for form in the opening chunk of the following campaign, which led to his sacking.

Wolves, who themselves are seeking a new manager following Vitor Pereira’s dismissal, were linked with bringing O’Neil back to the club, only for the manager to pull himself out of the running.

O’Neil, who shares the same agent as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, tends to favour a 3-4-2-1 formation, which he found success with during his early days at Wolves. Such a set-up, in theory, would work well with Southampton and their current crop of players.

McGrath also reported that it is “still early in the process for Southampton” and their search for a new manager. Given his status as a free agent, O’Neil would be available immediately, which may further bolster his chances of getting the job.

Whoever takes over at Southampton will be expected to take the club towards the play-offs. Whether that person ends up being O’Neil, ultimately, remains to be seen.

Southampton keen on veteran manager to replace Still

Liverpool won at the weekend, but we have seen several times already this season that wins can prove to be false dawns as Arne Slot looks to restore consistency to his side.

Goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo snipped away the shocking run of form that had led to nine defeats from 12 in all competitions, six from seven in the Premier League, three from four at Anfield.

It beggars belief, so diametrically opposed is Slot’s second-season system from the slick and stylish outfit that defied everyone to romp to the league title last season, sealing the deal less than a year after Jurgen Klopp raised the microphone and waved goodbye to the red half of Merseyside.

Liverpool must stay grounded, as Slot said in his post-match interview. There is a long way to go.

One of the most curious aspects of the Reds’ victory was the boss’s call to drop Mohamed Salah. This glimpse into a brand new world has also played into rumours that FSG are looking to sign a wide forward in 2026.

Liverpool planning to replace Salah

Salah did not make it off the bench at the London Stadium, the first time the Egyptian has been an unused substitute in the Premier League since 2019/20, with Klopp’s title-winning campaign effectively wrapped up when the Reds played out a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby.

Last season, he was the best player in the Premier League. But that herculean effort has depleted the veteran’s resources, and he is struggling this year.

Goals scored

0.77

0.34

Assists

0.48

0.17

Shots taken

3.23

2.43

Shot-creating actions

4.51

3.27

Touches (att pen)

9.50

6.21

Pass completion (%)

70.6

68.1

Progressive passes

3.84

4.19

Progressive carries

4.14

3.94

Successful take-ons

1.55

0.92

Ball recoveries

2.70

2.77

As you can see, there’s been an undeniable drop-off. Liverpool’s wider crew have all slipped across the decking, but time is not on the 33-year-old Salah’s side.

To try and find a like-for-like replacement would be a fruitless task. What Liverpool need instead is a sharp and athletic winger with a flair for goal. Someone like Sadio Mane, perhaps (hardly an easy endeavour in itself).

Well, as per Foot Mercato, Liverpool have opened talks with rivals Everton for one of their star forwards, Iliman Ndiaye.

The versatile Ndiaye, 25, is both athletic and potent in the final third. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested, and the Toffees would be looking to bank around £70m for their star man.

What Iliman Nidaye would offer Liverpool

Woah. From Everton to Liverpool? Blue to red? Nonsense, right?

It’s certainly unlikely, but Liverpool have held an interest in Jarrad Branthwaite for a while now, and Everton explored a move for Ben Doak in the summer before he signed for Bournemouth.

And Ndiaye would be worth the stress. Hailed for having “magic in his boots” by Everton writer Lyndon Lloyd, he ranks among the top 5% of positional peers in the Premier League for successful take-ons and tackles won, and the top 1% for ball recoveries per 90 (as per FBref).

Presenter Jamie O’Hara has even gone as far as to claim that the Senegalese is “one of the best players in the Premier League”.

Ndiaye shares a homeland with Liverpool icon Mane, but they have more in common than merely nationality. The Everton winger, who can play across the frontline, is electric on the ball, combative when against the flow of play and devastating in the box.

Though he’s spent most of his time on the right wing this season, Ndiaye is probably a left-sided forward at heart. Considering this, there’s a good chance Ndiaye would take Cody Gakpo’s starting berth from him at Anfield, with a more protean threat than the clinical Dutchman.

The African talent was Everton’s top scorer last season with 11 goals in all competitions, and that trend has not been bucked this year, Ndiaye with four goals and an assist across 13 games.

When Mane moved from Southampton to Liverpool for around £35m in 2016, he levelled up. Ndiaye could follow his countryman in this regard, having added a range of instruments to his toolbox in recent years and in an up-and-down Everton team.

Liverpool perhaps made a mistake in failing to replace Luis Diaz with a like-for-like successor this summer, and the ramifications have been felt through Gakpo’s somewhat limited attacking approach. He scored and assisted against West Ham at the weekend, but lacked the kind of dynamism that Liverpool’s previous left-sided wingers have offered.

Mane is certainly one of them, probably the cream of the crop. It would be unfair to expect Gakpo to play such a role, but if Ndiaye were signed, Slot would have a player who could match the Netherlands star’s output while bringing so much energy and enthusiasm to the role too.

Mane, now 34 and playing in Saudi Arabia, was once one of the world’s finest forwards, deadly across so many years at Anfield and blending clinical goalscoring with physicality and an unflappable mentality.

One scout even hailed Ndiaye as being “Mane all over again”, and given this is a proven formula in the English top flight, it’s surely one FSG will be enticed in completing.

With the greatest respect to West Ham, tougher tests lie ahead for the Anfield side, whose win at Eintracht Frankfurt in August preceded defeat at Brentford. The elation over that remarkable victory over Real Madrid had crumbled after the triad of recent losses.

Liverpool are nothing if not inconsistent this season, but that can change. It has to change. Liverpool need balance and security, but they also need to be bold and courageous, offering more flair than the likes of Gakpo have been providing.

And what could be more bold than signing a rival in Ndiaye, who would elevate the skill in Slot’s team and also balance the squad’s slanting spirit level.

Shades of Thiago: "Incredible" star had his best game in a Liverpool shirt

This Liverpool star could become the new Thiago at Anfield after his best Premier League showing for the club.

ByDan Emery Nov 30, 2025

Chelsea have built a squad full of brilliant players over the last few years, with the injured Cole Palmer being the jewel in their crown.

The former Manchester City prospect joined the club over two years ago and, since then, has been nothing short of world-class.

In 101 appearances, the Englishman has racked up a monstrous tally of 45 goals and 29 assists.

So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea to an international star who could be another Palmer-type signing for them.

Chelsea target their next Palmer

Even though the transfer window is still over a month away, Chelsea have already been linked with a host of potentially game-changing signings.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The likes of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Atlético Madrid’s Julian Alvarez are just some of the names touted for a move to Stamford Bridge.

Yet, while they’re both incredible players, it would be hard to describe them as Palmer-like, which isn’t the case with Marcus Rashford.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are interested in signing the England international next summer.

The report has revealed that, while Barcelona are happy with how the 27-year-old is performing on loan this season and have a €30m buy option – £26m – they are also still considering whether he’d be worth the financial outlay, given the club’s position on that front.

Moreover, as the Spanish side have been deliberating on the matter, the report claims that the Blues have already been in contact with the player’s camp, and want to make him a key part of their attack next year.

It’s unclear how much Manchester United would charge the West Londoners, but given their desire to move him on, it could be in the region of his Transfermarkt valuation of €40m, or about £35m.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Rashford’s ability and form, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be another Palmer.

Why Rashford would be another Palmer

Now, while there certainly are some differences between the two players, such as their ages, there are still several reasons why Rashford could be another Palmer-type signing for Chelsea.

For example, and this is the most important of them all, while he has had a few down seasons since he broke onto the scene, the 28-year-old has also had more than a few in which he’s been practically unplayable.

In the 22/23 season, before the wheels well and truly fell off at Old Trafford, the Manchester-born monster racked up an utterly sensational tally of 30 goals and 12 assists in 56 games.

A couple of years before that, he scored 21 goals and provided 18 assists in 57 games, and his overall tally of 216 goal involvements in 426 games for the Red Devils is genuinely astounding.

Moreover, he is currently showing that he can reproduce such numbers in another league entirely: in 16 appearances for Barca, totalling 1134 minutes, he’s scored six goals and provided nine assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.06 games, or every 70.87 minutes.

Appearances

16

Starts

13

Minutes

1134′

Goals

6

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.93

Minutes per Goal Involvement

70.87′

In other words, the dynamic attacker, whom content creator Neal Gardner dubbed one of “the best in the world”, is someone who could have a similar game-changing impact on Enzo Maresca’s side as Palmer has.

Furthermore, it would also be another instance of the West Londoners pouncing on an incredible English player no longer wanted by one of the Manchester clubs.

Finally, just like Pensioners’ talismanic number ten, the 68-capped international is almost certainly going to be heading to the World Cup with England in the summer and will likely play a key role for Thomas Tuchel.

Ultimately, while it might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Chelsea should do what they can to sign Rashford in the summer, as he could be another Palmer.

Chelsea have signed an "alien of a talent" who could usurp Estevao & Palmer

The incredible talent could become a bigger star for Chelsea than Estevao and Palmer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 19, 2025