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Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen… some of the best attacking players in the Premier League, right? Then why aren’t they doing the business when Tottenham Hotspur face their fellow top six sides away from home?

Spurs travelled to arch-rivals Arsenal in the latest north London derby at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday looking to not only keep the pace with runaway leaders Manchester City, but also to increase the gap over the Gunners in the table to seven points.

Mauricio Pochettino would certainly have wanted his team to improve on their performance in the 1-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford last month, where they struggled in the absence of the injured Kane.

The Argentine would also have been well aware that prior to the clash against Arsene Wenger’s side, he had taken just nine points – including just the one win against City in February 2016 – from a possible 48 on the road against Arsenal, United, the Citizens, Liverpool and Chelsea since taking charge of Spurs in 2014.

That is a record that is simply not good enough if Tottenham want to win the Premier League title, and it became nine points from 51 following the 2-0 loss against the Gunners.

While the whole Spurs team wasn’t at their best for the fixtures against United and Arsenal, the fact that they have failed to score in either game suggests that their attacking players – who are often praised in the media – aren’t doing enough to influence the encounters.

Eriksen has found the net away against Everton and West Ham United in the Premier League this term, while Alli has scored at Newcastle and Kane at Everton, West Ham and Huddersfield Town, yet they haven’t brought that form to the big games.

Alli certainly had a decent chance to give Tottenham the lead at Old Trafford but he missed, while the front three also lacked the intensity and pressing that they have shown in other games at the Emirates.

The fact that Pochettino’s side had already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League prior to their trip to face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night means that the fixture against the Bundesliga giants can’t even be used as an excuse, and there certainly appears to be a deep-rooted issue.

It certainly isn’t a new problem though, with just one of Kane’s 29 Premier League goals last term coming away against their fellow top six sides – Arsenal in November 2016 – which was matched by Alli despite the fact that he found the net on 18 occasions – his solitary goal came in the draw against Manchester City in January of this year.

Eriksen also scored just the one – against Chelsea in November 2016 – meaning that out of 55 top flight goals between the trio last season, only three of them came against their main rivals.

Now while you can’t criticise the trio for how they are performing in general across the season, you do have to wonder why they aren’t making more of an impact and stamping their authorities on matches at Old Trafford, Anfield and Stamford Bridge like they are at other grounds.

If it is a mental issue then Pochettino needs to work out how to sort it and quickly, because there is no doubt that Kane, Alli and Eriksen have the ability and quality in front of goal to help their side win matches at the aforementioned stadiums.

So what needs to happen next?

Well, if Tottenham want to have a serious chance of being title contenders this season and in future campaigns, they need their key attacking players to improve and perhaps lose some of the complacency that may have crept into the respective games from the almost constant praise they seem to receive in the media.

Spurs face current leaders Man City away next month, and it will be the perfect opportunity for Kane, Alli and Eriksen to step up, press and take their chances on the road in order to help their side pick up what could be a crucial point, or even three.

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According to reports in The Express, Manchester United have joined Premier League rivals Chelsea in the race to sign £61m-rated Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, who would cost a world-record £61m fee for a defender.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Express says that the left-back position has been a problem ever since Jose Mourinho took the reins at Old Trafford in the summer of 2016, and he remains unconvinced by Luke Shaw despite the 22-year-old’s promising display in the Champions League during the week.

The likes of Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young and Daley Blind have all filled in there this season, but the Portuguese manager has favoured a system that incorporates wing-backs in more recent times and he wants to bring in a new specialist player there in order to try and keep the pace with arch-rivals Manchester City.

The Express says that United have been alerted by the fact that Sandro is keen to leave Juve after a summer move to Chelsea failed to materialise, but they may have to pay a world-record fee for a defender to get him with the Serie A giants said to be asking for £61m.

How has Sandro done this season?

He has done well.

The Brazil international played every minute of their Champions League group campaign – picking up an assist in the 2-0 win against Olympiacos on Tuesday – but he has been less of a regular in Serie A.

The 26-year-old has been an unused substitute on five occasions, including the 1-0 win against Napoli last Friday.

However, the left-sided player has still scored one goal and provided a further three assists in nine Italian top flight outings, and the fact that WhoScored.com says his strengths include his aerial ability, his concentration and his tackling will certainly have impressed Mourinho from a defensive point of view.

Would he be a good signing for United?

He certainly would be.

The 26-year-old has experience of playing at the very highest level for Juventus and Brazil, and he is the perfect wing-back as he has shown that he can be effective at both ends of the pitch.

Whether Mourinho and the Red Devils will be willing to spend more than £60m on a left wing-back remains to be seen though, with Tottenham Hostpur’s Danny Rose potentially available for a smaller fee if Spurs are willing to let him leave.

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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho revealed on Monday that Luke Shaw would be in the squad for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow.

United need a point to be sure of top spot in Group A, although they could technically lose by six goals and still advance to the first knockout round.

Shaw’s future has been the subject of much debate in recent weeks, with the left-back only making two EFL Cup appearances for the Red Devils this season.

He has not had a sniff of Premier League or Champions League action, but the defender is in line to feature against the Russian giants at Old Trafford.

The United supporters are desperate for Mourinho to start Shaw, who is rated at £16.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, on Tuesday night, although it is widely thought that the defender will be on the bench once again.

At 22, Shaw still has time on his side as he looks to save his Old Trafford career, and a positive performance against CSKA might be a turning point for the Englishman.

Leeds United announced via their official Twitter account on Thursday that young attacker Jay-Roy Grot had joined Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo on a season-long loan deal, and Whites fans were quick to react to the news.

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The 20-year-old centre-forward only moved to Elland Road last summer, but he struggled to make an impact as he scored one goal and provided one assist in 22 appearances in all competitions – the majority of which came from the substitutes’ bench.

The Dutchman will now go out and hopefully get some regular minutes under his belt in his home country before returning to Elland Road next summer, with his exit confirming that Marcelo Bielsa may well want two new strikers before the new campaign gets underway.

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These Leeds supporters, others of whom are annoyed by their Championship rivals looking set to snap up a proven striker, took to social media to give their thoughts on the transfer, and while one labelled it as the “best bit of business we’ll do this season”, another said “thank god, what a waste of money”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Ademola Lookman had plenty of promise when he arrived at Everton from Charlton Athletic in January 2017.

The 20-year-old, who predominantly plays on the left wing but can also switch to the right or in behind the striker, has shown glimpses of his quality.

However, circumstances that were out of his control has meant that his career at Everton so far has been stop-start.

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Lookman was bought by Ronald Koeman, but the Dutchman was sacked midway through the 2017-18 campaign.

Replacement manager Sam Allardyce ended up offloading the attacker to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on loan, where he scored five goals and created four assists in 11 league appearances.

According to a recent report in The Mirror, the Toffees have turned down a £12m bid from Leipzig for Lookman, who is believed to be keen to join the German club permanently.

Is this the best World Cup ever? Give us your thoughts here and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

We asked you if Everton could do with keeping the youngster in the squad ahead of a busy season.

With Marco Silva now at the helm, perhaps he could find a place for him, and the majority of fans polled believe that Lookman deserves it, but he may need convincing.

According to reports in The Telegraph, Arsenal are prepared to sell striker Danny Welbeck this summer, and their Premier League rivals Southampton should be ready to break their transfer record to bring him to St Mary’s seeing as they have no interest in Liverpool’s Danny Ings, as per the Daily Echo.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Telegraph says that new Gunners boss Unai Emery is ready to trim his squad having brought in five new additions since taking over, and that could include Welbeck.

The England international, who only made one substitute appearance for his country as they reached the semi-final of the World Cup in Russia, faces a struggle for selection according to The Telegraph, which is no surprise given as he will be up against the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette for a spot in his preferred centre-forward position.

The report adds that he only has a year left on his contract, which makes it even more likely that the north London outfit would be prepared to sell him for a fee now rather than lose him for nothing next year.

Why should Southampton swoop for him?

Well, it seems clear that Saints need to add to their striker options given they only netted 37 times in 38 Premier League matches last term, with Charlie Austin often struggling with injury and Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long failing to find any sort of form in front of goal.

While Welbeck has had his injury problems in the past, he made 43 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal during the 2017/18 campaign, and you have to wonder the impact he could make at a club like the south coast outfit if he started for them every week.

The 27-year-old has 41 goals and 25 assists for the Gunners and Manchester United in 198 top-flight appearances, and while he cost Arsene Wenger £16m in 2014, Arsenal could well demand a higher price than that for him this summer.

Given his age and his stature Southampton, whose fans have been debating a possible return for a former star with one saying “I’d take him back”, should be willing to break the club-record £19.1m fee they paid to sign Guido Carrillo in January to bring Welbeck to St Mary’s.

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Wolves are close to signing yet another Jorge Mendes client, Joao Moutinho, after agreeing a fee with Monaco for the Portuguese international, according to Sky Sports.

What’s the story, then?

Sky Sports report that a fee of £5m has been agreed between the ambitious newly-promoted outfit and the Ligue 1 side to bring the 31-year-old playmaker to Molineux.

They say that he will sign a two-year deal with Nuno Santo’s side after super-agent Mendes again brokered a deal for Wolves to sign a big-name player.

Moutinho scored one goal and set up a further seven for Monaco last season as they lost their Ligue 1 title to free-spending Paris Saint-Germain.

A big name, but are his best days behind him?

It is easy to see why Wolves fans would get excited about this deal; they already have a squad capable of making a splash on their return to the top flight and they are bolstering their midfield with a man who has vast Champions League and international experience, including a Euro 2016 winners medal to boot.

However, he is the wrong side of 30 and while the Premier League sometimes lacks quality, it could prove to be a tough environment for Moutinho to thrive in, especially if his best days are behind him, as Monaco clearly seem to think.

He is also a man who likes to get on the ball, with a good passing range but he has often flattered to deceive; it is tempting to think his reputation is better than his actual quality deserves.

Furthermore, Wolves will want to play on the front foot where possible, but will also be forced to defend doggedly for extended periods and Moutinho is not the man for that. There are plenty of reasons for trepidation here.

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Sunderland completed the signing of Glenn Loovens on Friday, and fans are delighted to add some leadership to their defence.

Nous and experience goes a hell of a long way in the lower leagues, and Sunderland have added to their long list of summer signings with 34 year-old Loovens.

The 6 ft 2 centre back has two Netherlands caps, and has spent the last five years with Sheffield Wednesday. His contract ran out this summer, allowing Sunderland to swoop in on a free transfer.

He captained the Owls for four seasons, making 131 league appearances during his successful stint at Hillsborough.

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Jack Ross has already added to his squad in several key areas this summer as the Black Cats look to mount an immediate promotion charge, but the centre back department was looking a little weak.

The surprise signing of Loovens will certainly help here, and will add plenty of leadership on and off the pitch.

Either way, you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Rafa Benitez has likely been somewhat frustrated so far in this transfer window, whether Mike Ashley will give him a war chest to strengthen the Magpies with remains an unknown. 

The Spanish manager did well with Newcastle last season on something of a shoestring budget, finishing in the top half of the Premier League. Benitez utilised the talent available to him, with players such as Jonjo Shelvey having excellent seasons in the Black & White stripes.

Benitez will be hoping that Mike Ashley can make his job easier for the coming season, by giving him the money to bring in some top quality reinforcements. He has spent wisely so far this summer, bringing in Martin Dubravka for £4m, which looks an excellent deal for a very solid goalkeeper. Likewise, Ki Sung-yeung on a free transfer and Kenedy on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea are smart additions.

However, when it comes to signing a top-quality forward, money is going to have to be spent. With powder-puff Dwight Gayle, Joselu and Ayoze Perez the current forward options for the Tyneside club, they need a spearhead to their attack.

With that in mind, if the Magpies are going to sign one player ahead of deadline day, it should be this player…

Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck is surplus to requirements at the Emirates. He is a quality Premier League forward, but his opportunities in North London have been limited, with top talent such as Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the Emirates, Danny Welbeck needs to move on for the good of his career.

Danny Welbeck would surely relish the challenge of being the main man at a club, after years of playing second-fiddle at giants Manchester United and Arsenal. He has real genuine pace, is an accomplished finisher and will make the runs to open up opposition defences. With players like Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie supplying him, he could have a prolific season with the Magpies.

With just two weeks to go, this would be a signing which would give Newcastle United fans some real cause for optimism going into the coming season.

According to Sky Sports News, Everton are considering a £3m offer for West Ham United youngster Reece Oxford ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.

Oxford is back at West Ham following a loan spell at Borussia Monchengladbach, and the midfielder has been involved for the Hammers during pre-season.

That said, the 19-year-old has struggled to impress, and it is understood that he could be available for transfer ahead of the new Premier League season.

Everton are said to be preparing a cheeky £3m bid, with Toffees boss Marco Silva believing that he can get the best out of the Englishman.

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The Merseyside outfit’s director of football is expected to have a busy end to the summer window, and it should be an exciting time for the Everton fans.

The majority of the club’s supporters are seemingly interested in a deal for Oxford, although one Everton fan admitted that the report was ‘surprising’.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to the transfer news can be seen below: