Tottenham turn transfer attentions to former Liverpool midfielder Suso

According to TMW (via talkSPORT), Tottenham are considering a move for former Liverpool playmaker Suso, who has impressed during his time with AC Milan.

What’s the Story?

Tottenham are pondering a move for former Liverpool midfielder Suso, but AC Milan have suggested that their player is ‘unsellable‘. The 23-year-old is thought to be well respected at his Italian club, who are keen to keep the Spaniard as part of their team going forward. Spurs are yet to make an offer for the 23-year-old, whose last spell in the Premier League was far from productive. Suso featured on a handful of occasions for Liverpool but failed to live up to expectations and was swiftly moved on.

How good was Suso last season?

It was a truly remarkable turnaround for Suso during the 2016/17 campaign. The Spaniard had a phenomenal season, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in 36 appearances for Milan. The 23-year-old, who is valued at £12.75million by Transfermarkt,  was one of the standout players at the San Siro and looked a completely different player to the one who left Merseyside in 2015.

Suso was used predominantly on the right of a forward three and flourished in that position and looked more like a striker than an attacking midfielder. His finishing was sublime, as was his passing ability.

Would Suso be a good signing for Spurs?

While Spurs are desperate to strengthen their wide midfield options, Suso may not be the right choice for a number of reasons. The Spaniard has tried the Premier League before and failed spectacularly. Perhaps more importantly though is Suso’s prowess as a striker last season, which means that his skills are not exactly what Spurs are looking for anymore.

Three Ross Barkley alternatives Chelsea could sign after injury setback

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton midfielder Ross Barkley could miss out on a switch away from Goodison Park this summer after picking up a hamstring tear in training.

The Toffees star had been expected to leave the club this summer after turning down the chance to extend his contract which is due to run out next summer, with the Merseyside outfit keen to cash in on the £30m-rated player now instead of risking losing him for nothing in 2018.

The Daily Mail says that Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were all keen on the 23-year-old, but they may have to turn their attentions elsewhere with the England international facing a fight to be fully fit again by the start of October.

The Blues in particular are in need of strengthening their midfield following the departure of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United, new boy Tiemoue Bakayoko still returning from injury and Cesc Fabregas being sent off in the defeat against Burnley on Saturday, and they will need to turn their attentions elsewhere.

Here are three Ross Barkley alternatives Chelsea could sign…

Nabil Fekir

While he is a versatile attacking player that is comfortable playing as a centre-forward or as a winger, the Lyon star is starting to make his name in a more central attacking midfield role.

The 24-year-old was a key man for the Ligue 1 outfit last season after scoring 14 goals and providing a further 12 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions, and it seems as though the France international will stay in his new role after an outstanding start to the current campaign.

Fekir has scored two goals and provided one assist in the first two French top flight games of the new season, and he certainly looks as though he could make a big impact for Chelsea in the Premier League and in the Champions League, too.

Thorgan Hazard

Because he is Eden’s brother it is perhaps a lazy and obvious link, but Thorgan has done enough in the last few seasons with Borussia Monchengladbach to suggest that he is destined for bigger and better things, with all due respect.

The 24-year-old scored 11 goals and provided a further seven assists in 33 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit last term, and like Fekir he can play in a number of roles across the frontline or in central attacking midfield.

Whether Chelsea would have planned to use Barkley alongside N’Golo Kante or further forward is unclear, but the Belgium international could bring a spark to a Blues side that was so disappointing in their defeat to Burnley last weekend.

Jean Seri

The Nice midfielder was one of the stand-out performers for the French side as they secured an impressive third-place finish in Ligue 1 last term.

The 26-year-old scored seven goals and provided a further nine assists from central midfield while he has also started the current campaign in fine form after picking up two assists in three outings – including a brilliant back-heel in his side’s Champions League qualification fixture against Ajax.

The Guardian says that Seri is available for £34m, but the report adds that Chelsea would face competition from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur if they wanted to bring the Ivory Coast international to the Premier League, and he would likely play an attacking role alongside N’Golo Kante in the middle of the park with the Blues.

Do you agree, Blues fans? Let us know below.

Leeds United fans slam Hadi Sacko after Port Vale win

Leeds United cruised through to the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night after beating Port Vale 4-1 at Elland Road, but Whites fans were not happy with the performances of all of their players.

While Samu Saiz stole the show after scoring a hat-trick on his competitive debut for the club, and fellow new boy Caleb Ekuban also got a goal, Hadi Sacko failed to make an impact on the wing.

The 23-year-old moved to Elland Road on a permanent basis this summer following a successful loan spell last season, but he struggled to have an influence on the left-hand side against the League Two team on Wednesday and was replaced by Ezgjan Alioski in the 57th minute.

Sacko even got a few boos as he left the pitch and Leeds supporters were quick to have their say on the performance of the former Sporting Lisbon man via social media, with someone describing him as a “waste of space” and others believing that he may not even play for the Yorkshire outfit again.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Tottenham fans urge club to sign Demarai Gray after impressive goal

Reported Tottenham Hotspur target Demarai Gray was on the score-sheet for Leicester City during their 4-1 win against Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night, and Spurs fans have urged the club to sign him before the transfer window slams shut next week.

The north London outfit were linked with a move for the unsettled winger earlier in the summer but despite the fact that the 21-year-old was frustrated at a lack of starts last season, he has played just two minutes of their opening two Premier League fixtures of the current campaign.

However, the England Under-21 international certainly staked his claim for a first-team spot during the success against the Blades, cutting in from the left and weaving his way through the defence before finishing well, while he also set up Islam Slimani for the striker’s second goal of the evening.

Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on Gray’s performance via social media, with many saying that they would love to see him in a Spurs shirt as he would add some much-needed pace to their team.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

In Focus: Important for Celtic and Rangers to keep best Scottish talent in Scotland

As reported by The Daily Mail, both Celtic and Rangers are showing interest in signing in-form St Mirren midfielder Lewis Morgan.

What’s the story?

Both Glasgow clubs have been active in the transfer market this summer with players from far and wide arriving to do battle in the Scottish Premiership.

Just as important as signing the best talent available from around the world though is also securing the best home-grown players available.

One Scottish starlet impressing Brendan Rodgers and Pedro Caixinha is apparently St Mirren’s Lewis Morgan.

The Daily Mail say both clubs are rivalling English Premier League outfit Swansea City for his signature.

The paper reckon he’ll have plenty of suitors in January ready to tempt him away from Paisley, with less than 12 months to go until his contract expires at the Buddies.

Who is he?

Morgan isn’t quite a household name in Scotland yet, but is definitely making a name for himself at high-flying St Mirren, who find themselves in second place in the Scottish Championship after six matches as they look to make a return to the top-flight.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has played a massive part in that, scoring six goals for his side in all competitions, following up on his return of nine goals and six assists last term.

He’s played his way into the Scotland U21 set-up and is currently one of the brightest prospects at his age level in the country.

It’s important for Celtic and Rangers to keep these talents North of the border rather than see them head to off to England so it makes sense both would be in for him, especially if he’s available for relatively cheap in January due to his contract situation.

Bale could miss Tottenham Hotspur showdown, fans react

Gareth Bale was expected to face his former club Tottenham Hotspur in two weeks’ time when Real Madrid hosted the North London outfit at the Bernabeu.

The two clubs will go head to head in the group phase of the Champions League, with both on six points apiece.

The build up would have been focused on Bale, but now injury looks set to rule him out of the match.

The Guardian reports that the 28-year-old is facing four weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury, which has forced him out of Wales’ two crucial World Cup qualifiers.

If Bale is unable to feature against Tottenham, where he spent six years of his career before moving to Madrid for £85m in 2013, then it will be a big boost to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Spurs were arguably handed the toughest group, but they have already overcome Borussia Dortmund and APOEL.

The Premier League club will be underdogs heading into the encounter, but without Bale, Madrid are weaker.

After the reports emerged, Tottenham gave their reactions on Twitter.

Chelsea fans desperate for Willian to be snubbed for Roma clash

Willian has been under fire from some Chelsea fans for a while, but the Brazilian did not help his case on Saturday.

The 29-year-old put in a lacklustre performance against Crystal Palace and he was at fault for one of the goals conceded.

After the winger lost the ball, Roy Hodgson’s team went on the attack and Wilfried Zaha netted what would turn out to be the winner in a 2-1 triumph.

The result marked Palace’s first win of the season and the first Premier League game in which they have scored, while Chelsea have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the top flight.

The result has dropped the reigning champions further behind in the title race; eight points in fact as Manchester City lead the way at the top.

Attention now turns to the Champions League, with Roma scheduled to face Antonio Conte’s men at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

The Blues are hunting for their third consecutive win in Group C, and one thing is for sure – the fans do not want Willian in the first XI.

Mourinho will have been impressed with Mkhitaryan’s industry in win over Benfica

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s form still hasn’t quite reached the levels expected since moving to Manchester United at the start of last season.

The Armenian international was billed as a flagship Premier League talent in the making but it took him much of 2016/17 to cement a place in the starting XI, while his form has dipped this season since claiming five assists in three games back in August.

Last night witnessed another underwhelming performance from the attacking midfielder as the Red Devils scraped a 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League, dependent on an incredibly costly error from the Portuguese outfit’s teenage goalkeeper, and United supporters were quick to express their displeasure on Twitter.

“We were the team that was positive and we were always in control. I never felt that we could concede a goal, we were very solid defensively – sometimes I feel that to be good defensively is a crime but it is not a crime.

“To be good defensively is one step to get results. We knew the Benfica pressure could not stay for 90 minutes.”

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But upon an evening in which Jose Mourinho praised the defensive resilience of his side, who have conceded just once in the Champions League’s Group Stages so far this season, the United gaffer was likely more impressed with what Mkhitaryan offered off the ball – chiefly, three tackles, three interceptions and even one clearance.

To put that into some perspective, the 68-cap midfielder is yet to make a clearance in the Premier League this season, while he’s averaged just 1.1 tackle and 0.8 interceptions per match.

“Some players find it very easy whereas others need more time. They need time to feel the intensity, the aggression, the game without the ball and the competitiveness.

“The realities are often different, particularly in terms of the competitiveness. It doesn’t matter who you are against, you have to play at the highest level otherwise you will not be able to do it. Micki needs time to become the top player he knows he can be.”

Although he didn’t state it explicitly, defensive work-rate appeared to be one of the reasons Mourinho issued Mkhitaryan just 107 minutes of playing time in the Premier League at this point last season.

So, while some United fans are inevitably disappointed the 28-year-old didn’t have more impact offensively last night, especially considering how laborious the match was, Mourinho was surely pleased to see Mkhitaryan put the work in even when he wasn’t playing well.

Three Celtic selection dilemmas Brendan Rodgers must get right for Bayern clash

Celtic may have only targeted third position in their UEFA Champions League group, but they’ll also know that victory against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night puts them right back into the hunt for a second place spot.

Recognising the difference in resources between their club and the likes of Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain, Celtic fans have accepted their group stage was effectively a two legged tie with Anderlecht to determine who would grab the Europa League qualification spot.

Nonetheless, it’s Celtic Park in Europe and these occasions inspire a hope in fans that battles hard against the logic that will likely dictate that the Germans are victorious on Tuesday night.

If the Hoops are to have any chance at all of three points, or even a draw, then Brendan Rodgers must get his team selection absolutely spot on. It was arguably incorrect in the first meeting between the two sides, some questioning the decision to start Cristian Gamboa and Leigh Griffiths.

What does he need to do this time?

Here are the three selection calls he must get right…

Moussa Dembele over Leigh Griffiths

After a slow start to the season, fans were beginning to worry a bit about Moussa Dembele. Injuries meant he missed the first couple of months of action and on his return he was struggling for fitness and form.

The Frenchman is undeniable though and in the big match settings of a national semi-final against Hibernian and an away match against Aberdeen he came to the fore again, reminding everyone why he is considered to be Celtic’s outstanding talent.

Four goals in those two matches and a rest at home to Kilmarnock means he’ll be raring to go on Tuesday night and he must start in the group stages for the first time this season.

Leigh Griffiths is an excellent player but as shown recently, when Dembele is at the top of his game he can bring the Celtic attack to another level and if he performs as he did against Manchester City last season then Tuesday’s match could be closer than the majority think.

They need him at his best and he’s finally at that level again.

A midfield three of Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong & Callum McGregor

The midfield combinations Brendan Rodgers has at his disposal are plentiful. There’s the mercurial talent of Tom Rogic, the vision of Olivier Ntcham or even the rough diamond that is Eboue Kouassi.

Getting this combination right on Tuesday is arguably Rodgers’ most important decision and it should be as pragmatic as possible. That means that Celtic’s Scottish contingent should be deployed to counteract the threat of the German champions.

Scott Brown starting isn’t up for debate and the Celtic boss knows that. He’s their anchor, their leader and their everything on these nights. If he plays poorly then so will Celtic. Sitting in front of the defence he has the unenviable task of frustrating Bayern’s talented midfield but it’s something he can raise his game to do.

In Stuart Armstrong they have a player who has been ever improving for over a year now and who can not only pass efficiently but also link up with players further up the field, often showing a desire to run beyond the defensive line or latch onto second balls around the penalty area.

Callum McGregor provides the legs and the guile. While Tom Rogic is a born match winner, he can often drift out of games where the Hoops are not dominating possession but McGregor will get stuck right in and then carry the ball 40 yards.

All three provide the balance Celtic need to not only defend but also find joy on the counter-attack and they must start together.

Nir Bitton alongside Dedryck Boyata

There’s no getting around it. Celtic’s defence will be weakened on Tuesday night no matter which line-up Brendan Rodgers goes for. Save for the return of Erik Sviatchenko, who hasn’t played for months, the Hoops will have a central defender who is playing out of position.

The question is, who should that be?

Last time against Bayern, Rodgers moved natural right-back Mikael Lustig into the middle and handed Cristian Gamboa a rare start. It didn’t exactly go to plan though and the Costa Rican had an exceptionally difficult night up against Kingsley Coman. Can Lustig deal with him more effectively? Pace is an issue with the Swede but he does have vast experience and has coped with threats at this level for Celtic before.

That means that the obvious contender to play alongside Dedryck Boyata is natural midfielder Nir Bitton. All of his 11 starts this season have been in defence and he actually seems to be growing into the role. He was exceptional against Aberdeen last week and if he can carry that kind of form into Tuesday night, albeit against much better players, he can provide a performance to remember

Lennon keen to extend stay at Everton

Off the field, Aaron Lennon had some personal issues to work through after being detained under the Mental Health Act in May.

The 30-year-old has since returned to the fold at Goodison Park, and has no desire to slow down.

Under Ronald Koeman at the start of the season, Lennon remained on the fringes, but since the Dutchman’s departure, the winger’s fortunes have changed.

David Unsworth, who was appointed as Koeman’s temporary replacement, has played Lennon in every one of the four games that he has overseen.

The former Tottenham Hotspur player particularly impressed against Watford prior to the international break.

Lennon played a vital role when he came off the bench to help the Toffees come back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Hornets 3-2 on the night.

Now, the ex-Leeds United man has spoken of his future, claiming that he wants to continue playing at the top level.

He told Everton’s official website:

“My aim now is to play as much as possible. I will keep working hard and, hopefully, the gaffer will pick me. I am ready to play. I have enjoyed every moment here. I am only 30, so certainly have no intention of hanging up my boots yet! I feel physically good. I have loved every moment of being here and, hopefully it will continue. I want to play for a long time.”

The Merseyside outfit sit just two points above the relegation zone after 11 games.

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