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Tottenham Hotspur have made contact with Ousmane Dembele regarding a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), who claim that Fabio Paratici has made progress in his discussions with the Barcelona forward about a summer switch to Spurs, with the 24-year-old able to agree to a pre-contract in January as a result of his contract expiring at Camp Nou next summer.

The report goes on to state that the likes of Chelsea, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are all monitoring the situation of the France international, while Barcelona are also reported to be keen for the World Cup winner to extend stay in LaLiga.

However, it is then said that Dembele’s agent is well aware that his client is viewed as one of the “big bargains” of next summer, something which gives the winger the upper hand in his contract talks with Xavi’s side – which, at present, do not look likely to come to a resolution.

Paratici must seal Dembele deal

While it is true that, since Dembele’s £135.5m move to Barcelona back in 2017, the winger has failed to hit the heights of his time at Borussia Dortmund, it is undeniable that the 24-year-old would be a magnificent deal for Paratici to get over the line this winter, particularly on a free transfer.

Indeed, while a series of serious injuries have severely limited the £45m-rated man’s game time at Barcelona, he has still scored an impressive 30 goals and registered 21 assists over his 122 appearances for the Spanish giants.

However, should Spurs go on to sign the £287k-per-week forward, Antonio Conte will undoubtedly be hoping the Frenchman can refind the form he displayed over his 32 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund back in 2016/17, a season in which the versatile winger bagged six goals, provided 12 assists and created a whopping 17 big chances for his teammates.

The player who Lionel Messi dubbed a “phenomenon” also took an average of 1.7 shots and made 2.2 key passes per game that season, metrics which saw the 24-year-old earn an astonishing seasonal SofaScore rating of 7.34 – ranking him as the joint 10th-best performer in the German top flight.

This level of form would appear to lend some weight to Joan Laporta’s recent claim that Dembele is “better than Mbappe,” and also proves exactly why Paratici simply must simply do all he can to seal a deal for the forward in the coming months.

In other news: Antonio Conte set for huge Spurs boost “in a few days”, fans surely buzzing

Since Bruno Lage was appointed as Wolves manager back in June and the Midlands club have brought in players such as Jose Sa, Francisco Trincao, Yerson Mosquera and Hwang Hee-chan as well as January signings Hayao Kawabe and Chiquinho, showing that club are not shy in backing their manager and giving him players to build his squad with.

One player that has been linked with a move to Molineux in recent times is Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, who it seems could still eventually join Wolves at some point soon.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Alex Crook had this to say on Wolves’ reported interest in Sanches and the possibility of the club making a future attempt to sign him again.

He said: “He’s definitely someone who’s on their radar. But I think this is where, if they can sell someone like Adama Traore, then it gives them some funds for Bruno Lage to be able to bring in his own players because he hasn’t really done that.”

Lage’s biggest swoop?

Since joining Lille back in 2019 from German club Bayern Munich, the 24-year-old has made 77 appearances for the French side across all competitions, scoring six goals and providing seven assists along the way, showing the attacking and creative skills he has on the pitch.

Looking at the players that Wolves have signed under Lage so far and taking into account Crook’s claim that the Old Gold boss hasn’t been able to bring his own targets to the club yet, a permanent move for Sanches could not only arguably be seen to be a massive coup for Wolves as a whole but as Lage’s biggest transfer deal yet.

After all, the midfielder has tremendous pedigree of playing for a trio of big clubs in three of Europe’s top leagues as well as being a fully-fledged Portugal international with 32 senior caps under his belt.

When you consider his tender age too, there is not only a high degree of potential in his bones but also a significant amount of re-sale value in him, particularly if he thrives in the Premier League.

As a result, this move makes sense for plenty of reasons and should be wrapped up swiftly if Jeff Shi has any sense.

With Crook also mentioning a potential sale of current Wolves winger Adama Traore, if the Midlands club sold the winger either this month or most likely in the next summer transfer window, they should definitely use the money to launch a move for the £27m-rated Sanches if Lille would be willing to shift the midfielder on a permanent basis.

They may not play in the same position but signing somebody as good as the Portugal international in return would be an impressive piece of business.

In other news: Forget Trincao: Wolves plotting swoop for “the new Iniesta,” he’d be a big upgrade – opinion

Barry Fry has told Football FanCast that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer firmly deserves his potential new contract at Manchester United.

A report has claimed that the Norwegian is set to earn a new deal whether he wins a trophy this season or not.

United’s only chance of silverware, realistically, comes in the Europa League, where they will play Roma in the semi-finals after dispatching Granada over two legs.

There is the potential of another semi-final defeat – United lost in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League semis last season – but Fry insists that Solskjaer’s future should not hinge on whether he wins silverware this term.

Indeed, he believes that Solskjaer has done an excellent job in making United an exciting team once again, after the “very dull” football served up by Jose Mourinho prior to the former striker’s appointment.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “I think the rot started with Mourinho really, United for the last two years under Mourinho were very poor, very dull, very boring, it wasn’t a typical United side.

“They brought Ole in, obviously with his connection with Manchester United as a player, I think they felt that it was a real big, big job for Solskjaer to get it sorted out and they’re happy with the way he’s gone about it and the way he’s changed things, with playing some of the younger players, coming on strong, United are traditionally good at that, in the long distant past anyway.

“I think they like that about him. He’s made a couple of great signings and obviously, they’re going to back him now.”

Fry also thinks that Solskjaer has overperformed this season, with a number of supporters believing that the club would only be fighting to finish in the top four, though they are almost certain to finish second.

He added: “The Man United supporters are up in arms really in one way but in another way, they’re saying they didn’t expect this year to be anywhere near the top, they thought they would be out for the top four. And it looks as though United will finish second.

“Second to Man City who are arguably the best side in the world at the minute so they don’t see that as failure. I don’t think the Manchester United hierarchy feel it’s failure, they feel it’s progress. And they obviously felt that what Ole had to do was far, far bigger than everybody outside the club felt it was. I think that’s why United are going to reward him with a new contract.”

Tottenham Hotspur colossus Cristian Romero was the only shining light as the north London outfit were held by Brentford on Saturday evening.

Antonio Conte’s side were struck an almighty blow in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League as they couldn’t find a way past Christian Eriksen and co, failing to even register a shot on target all game.

It now puts the Lilywhites two points behind their arch-rivals, Arsenal, with only five matches left to play – including the derby on May 12th – meaning it is now out of Spurs’ hands completely.

Despite dominating possession (56%), Tottenham failed to create anything of note, whilst their former playmaking Dane effectively ran the show for the Bees.

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Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were starved of service from the Italian’s wing-backs, the former even putting in a last-ditch goal-line clearance to save the clean sheet, at the very least.

Although it was the Argentine defender, who has been lauded as an “animal” in the past by his teammate Pierluigi Gollini, who ensured that Spurs walked away with a point rather than nothing whatsoever.

The £36m-rated warrior was an absolute rock defensively, often mopping up behind the error-prone Emerson on the right side of the defence.

As per SofaScore, the 23-year-old centre-back earned a ‘Man of the Match’ 8.1 rating, having made a game-high five interceptions, on top of three blocks, two clearances and one tackle.

Not only was he solid at the back, having won 75% of his ground and aerial battles but he was also influential with the ball at his feet, registering 74 touches, which included one key chance created – as many as Kane and Dejan Kulusevski combined – from 51 successful passes (93% total accuracy).

Romero’s performance earned quite the praise indeed, justifiably so.

Alasdair Gold of football.london graded him an 8/10 in his post-match ratings column and claimed that he ‘was by far Spurs’ best player on the day.’

There weren’t many players that could come away from such a display with their head held high but on the above evidence, the Argentina international was a cut above his teammates and without him, they may well have returned to N17 with an even worse result.

Romero was certainly Conte’s one and only positive from such a drab display.

AND in other news, Forget Emerson: “Really poor” Spurs lightweight who lost possession 19x failed Conte…

Many Aston Villa fans have been reacting to Rico Henry’s comments on social media, with the left-back revealing his experiences with the club as a youngster.

Recent reports have suggested that the Brentford ace remains on Dean Smith’s transfer radar ahead of the summer window.

Henry a possible Taylor replacement?

Smith worked with Henry in London prior to moving to Villa Park, and the 23-year-old has gone on to make more than 120 appearances for the Bees.

Should a move to Villa go through, Henry could come in to replace the ageing Neil Taylor, with the Welshman – who has made just one league appearance this season – out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Henry, talking to Brentford’s YouTube channel (as cited by Birmingham Live) shared his story of how he started out as a Villa fan before switching his allegiances to Birmingham City.

“You know what, people don’t know this. (I supported) Aston Villa because my dad supported them.”

“I went on trial at Villa and didn’t get signed so my dad stopped supporting them. So we were kind of forced to watch Birmingham. It was crazy.”

“I’m quite detached now. Brentford is my team and you don’t want to think about other clubs. Now I don’t really support anyone.”

@AVFC_News shared the story on social media on Sunday morning, which – as to be expected – received plenty of attention from numerous Villa supporters.

Here is what they had to say regarding Henry, with one fan describing him as an ‘excellent’ left-back.

Villa fans react

“This to me if true sounds like he’s hinting that he would love to play for us. The fact that he said he don’t support anyone hints he would snap our hands off if we came crawling. I say sign the kid, He’s a very good left-back and would do very well for us”

Credit: @joebaker_1998

“It’s a whole different story when wages of 40k+ come into it”

Credit: @WatkinsOffside

“Think that wound soon change if we signed him”

Credit: @AV7689983427

“Love the part where he says after he stopped supporting Villa they were “kind of forced to watch Birmingham” Clearly not the most favourable option.”

Credit: @JackJenningss_

“Just because he didn’t get signed, they switched to the rivals. Bit daft”

Credit: @JBulman24

“Still an excellent LB, who he supports won’t matter if Smith & Lange really pushed hard enough, we’ll soon see, but our club’s signings tend to come from where we least expect, but I’d like to see n have said for a while is Dwight McNeil”

Credit: @OgeeDj68

In other news: Villa learn price for in-demand Premier League midfielder, find out more here. 

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey after his rather underwhelming stint in Serie A.

What’s the story?

The Wales international is currently lining up for his national side at the European Championships, but a summer switch could be on the cards after the tournament’s conclusion.

According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Talk), Ramsey wants to leave Juve over the coming months to make a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and West Ham United set to rival Palace for his signature.

Parish must swoop

After making just 24 Serie A starts in a two-year stint with the Turin giants, Ramsey is reportedly ready to return to English football.

The 30-year-old has enjoyed a stellar career in terms of winning trophies at Arsenal and then Juventus, winning three FA Cups, a Scudetto and an Italian Cup.

When at the peak of his powers, Ramsey can be a top-class operator and he was once described as an “outstanding technician” by former Gunners defender Martin Keown.

However, after finding game time hard to come by in recent years, the experienced maestro could be ready to move to a side where he’d be guaranteed a place in the starting XI.

Palace are in desperate need of new recruits ahead of the upcoming transfer window. Roy Hodgson’s departure has left the south London outfit in a precarious position.

The former England boss may have brought stability to Selhurst Park during his four-year stint at the helm, but he’s left the playing squad in a far from healthy state.

Experienced duo James McCarthy and James McArthur are set to become free agents at the end of the month, leaving a sizeable gap in the capital club’s engine room.

Therefore, chairman Steve Parish must swoop for Ramsey as he plots a mass overhaul of the first-team squad.

Whether the Welshman would be prepared to join Palace and battle against relegation is up for debate, but an opportunity to bring in someone of his stature and quality is something the club’s hierarchy cannot afford to turn down.

And, in other news…Get it done: Parish must sanction CPFC swoop for 19 y/o prodigy, fans will be buzzing 

Tottenham Hotspur may need to act soon if they are to land one of their mooted summer targets…

What’s the word?

Earlier this month, the Mirror’s chief football correspondent John Cross claimed that Spurs were interested in signing Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Ben White, but that they faced major competition from several of their Premier League rivals.

The situation has been ramped up tenfold in recent days as arch-enemies Arsenal have actually submitted a £40m bid for the England international, one which has subsequently been knocked back, according to Sky Sports.

However, it is thought that talks between the Gunners and the Seagulls are ongoing, with Brighton holding firm over their reported £50m valuation.

Spurs have even been handed another setback in their hopes to secure White as Football Insider claim the 6-foot defender has told those around him that he expects to move to the Emirates Stadium before the end of the transfer window.

A perfect solution

The Lilywhites recently announced Fabio Paratici as the club’s managing director of football and he’s walked into a right mess.

Harry Kane’s future is just one emerging problem, as is the seemingly never-ending manager hunt but Paratici will need to fix Spurs’ troubling backline if his club are to stand any chance of being a success

As explained perfectly by The Athletic and football.london, individual mistakes and a lack of cohesion in the backline have been the Achilles’ heel of Spurs’ season. It ultimately cost Mourinho his job, having tried 16 different defensive combinations.

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Signing a player of White’s calibre would certainly aid those prospects but the club will have to react quickly amid Arsenal’s firm pursuit.

The 23-year-old centre-back, who is valued at just over £25m by Transfermarkt, was in fantastic form throughout the 2020/21 campaign, which ended up in him being called up to Gareth Southgate’s final Three Lions squad.

He’s capable of playing anywhere along the backline and in midfield, which should be of great appeal to whoever comes in as the club’s manager.

White’s average of 1.7 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.4 aerial duels won per league outing suggests he’s a very all-rounded option, whilst a passing success rate of 83.2%, via WhoScored, proves he’s just as solid on the ball, and that will again suit the Portuguese’s out-from-the-back system.

These qualities have been reinforced by those around him too.

Seagulls academy coach John Morling dubbed him a “winner” that you’d “want in your team” to The Athletic. He also added: He’s so calm, nothing fazes Ben. Any hurdles, he just jumps over. He just looks like he’s been there for years.”

Whilst he has also been dubbed a “special talent” by Sky Sports and a “warrior” by football scout Jacek Kulig.

Time is running out to secure him, so Paratici and Daniel Levy must launch their own bid to sign the Brighton sensation before it’s too late.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops worrying Fonseca claim ahead of likely appointment…

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw carried his club form onto the international stage in England’s 2-0 victory against Albania.

The Red Devils’ left-back, who has starred for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men throughout 2020/21, was selected from the start by Gareth Southgate in Tirana and turned in a hugely impressive performance.

In what was just his ninth appearance for his country and his first since September 2018, Shaw produced three tackles throughout the 90 minutes according to WhoScored. Only Three Lions midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Mason Mount could match those numbers, with no player on the pitch surpassing them.

The 25-year-old also contributed a further two clearances for the Three Lions.

In all, only Declan Rice managed to surpass Shaw’s five total defensive contributions for the away side. Whilst not the most challenging opposition from a defensive perspective, it was certainly a very solid evening for Shaw.

However, as he has done for the Red Devils this season, the left-back was also hugely threatening when going in the opposite direction, too.

He was a constant outlet for England, having 100 touches of the ball and completing a further 75 passes.

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One of those passes was key in the Three Lions sealing victory as his dangerous left-footed cross was perfect for captain Harry Kane to nod home.

In all, it was Shaw’s seventh assist for club and country throughout the season in what is turning into an extremely productive campaign.

As a matter of fact, in teeing up Kane, Shaw managed to notch an assist in a fourth consecutive competitive international for England – an absolutely outstanding rate of productivity for a left-back.

It is no wonder then that following his recent strike against Manchester City in the Premier League, United boss Solskjaer hailed Shaw as “unstoppable”.

So, having most certainly taken his form onto the international stage, the left-back will hope to continue that back with his club once the international break draws to a close.

AND in more news, Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani must make a decision on his future sooner rather than later…

Jurgen Klopp ‘increased the pressure’ on Virgil van Dijk to sit out this summer’s European Championships.

That’s according to Friday’s print edition of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Former PFA Player of the Year Van Dijk has been out of action since mid-October after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Liverpool initially coped well in his absence, topping the Premier League at Christmas, but Klopp’s side unravelled at the turn of the year and now trail Manchester City, who have regained their title, by a whopping 23 points.

However, the Reds were boosted this week by the news that Van Dijk has abandoned his Euro 2020 hopes in favour of readying himself for pre-season.

The latest

De Telegraaf claimed (via Sport Witness) that Klopp helped to force Van Dijk’s decision and adopted a deliberate media strategy of raising doubts about the centre-back’s availability.

Whilst it was unlikely that he would feature in the group stage of the competition, which will see the Oranje face Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia, he could have been in contention for the knockout stages if Frank de Boer’s side made it that far.

The verdict

This was clearly a difficult decision for Van Dijk as the captain of his country, who have not been to a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup, but the nightmare scenario for Liverpool was the 29-year-old’s progress being undone by an all-too-hasty return to action.

The Netherlands, for their part, can still call upon the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij and Nathan Ake at centre-back, but they may sorely miss Van Dijk’s leadership during the summer showcase.

In other news, Liverpool are set to do battle with another Premier League club for this player’s signature.

An injury expert has now dropped a ‘hopeful’ Wolves claim involving Ruben Neves.

The Lowdown: Not as serious

Speaking to the media, Bruno Lage revealed that Neves’ injury setback was ‘not as serious’ as they initially expected.

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The Portugal international has been missing since March, but will now be hoping to make a swift recovery in time to play the final few games of the season.

The Latest: Dinnery reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in both medicine and data analysis, has claimed that he is still ‘hopeful’ that Neves will return in ‘early to mid-May’, despite this ‘new info’ from Lage:

“My understanding initially hasn’t changed a great deal even with this new info.

“We’re talking about an MCL here. The indication that it was a grade two.

“I was working on the premise that we could maybe see a return around early to mid-May. I am still fairly hopeful that is the case.

“It happened against Leeds. He tried to continue but he couldn’t. He then went out to Portugal for some rehab and recovery.

“The target was always going to be around game week 35. I think there is a strong possibility that he’ll play again this season somewhere around there.”

The Verdict: Big boost

The fact that Neves’ injury is not as serious as previously expected, and that he could return for the last few matches of the campaign, is certainly a big boost for the Midlands club.

He currently ranks as their fourth-best performer in the Premier League so far, scoring four goals and making two assists, while also picking up two man-of-the-match awards (WhoScored).

The 25-year-old also ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles, interceptions, shots, passes, long and through balls per game (WhoScored), and will clearly be an important player for them if they are to finish the season strongly, and potentially challenge for a European place.

In other news, find out which ‘electric’ star the Wanderers now ‘want’ to sign here!