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Conor Coady could follow Nuno Espírito Santo to London, should the 47-year-old land the vacant position in the Tottenham Hotspur dugout, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Spurs get set for new season

As Spurs get their ducks in a row ahead of the 2021/22 season, their fans will be seeking clarity over the direction in which the club is heading.

Still managerless after the departure of Jose Mourinho in April [BBC], Nuno now looks to be odds-on favourite to take the reins ahead of pre-season, with talks progressing well [Sky Sports].

If that move comes to pass, could he be set to raid former club Wolverhampton Wanderers for his first acquisition in charge of Tottenham?

The Latest: Coady wanted by Nuno

Nuno is said to want the 28-year-old as a leader for the Spurs defence should he take on the managerial reins in N17 [Football Insider].

Tottenham are set to be in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer, with one or two central defensive incomings potentially being mooted for the Europa Conference League club [Football Insider].

Nuno reportedly wants the Liverpudlian defender to be his “lieutenant” at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, owing to Coady’s leadership qualities and familiarity with the England international.

The Verdict: Coady would be an ideal addition for Tottenham

Sensibility comes to mind with regards to these developments. Prospectively tasked with revitalising a fragmented Tottenham side, Nuno bringing in players who embody reliability would create an ideal environment for footballing progression if he takes charge.

A virtual ever-present in 2020/21, Coady made 40 appearances for Wolves, registering a solitary goal [Transfermarkt].

Illustrating his prowess within the backline, the 6 foot 1 colossus made more clearances in the calendar year than any other player for his current employers; averaging 3.5 per game [WhoScored].

Previously labelled “outstanding” by England manager Gareth Southgate [Rob Dorsett], he would represent the ideal profile of signing for a Spurs team in need of leadership and fresh impetus, and Tottenham should look to finalise a deal for the former Liverpool ace.

In other news, Spurs have opened talks with this Serie A defender.

Leeds United are reportedly lining up a bid for John Swift this January…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim the Yorkshire giants are keen on landing the Reading midfielder during the winter transfer window as he enters the final six months of his current contract.

The Championship outfit previously put a £7m price tag on his head amid interest from Marcelo Bielsa and co in the summer but that valuation may well have dropped given his contractual situation – January will be the last time the Royals can secure a fee for him.

It’s thought that director of football Victor Orta is scouring the market for an attacking no.8 and it seems as if Swift fits the bill nicely.

Hernandez heir, finally?

Indeed, the 26-year-old maestro – once on the books at Chelsea – has been one of the second flight’s best players this season.

After missing the bulk of last season with a pair of serious hamstring problems, Swift has bounced back in an exciting fashion by providing the Championship strugglers with eight goals and nine assists from 21 appearances.

It somewhat echoes his form from the 2019/20 campaign, where he directly contributed towards 16 goals across 41 games.

He is by far and away Reading’s best talent, topping the WhoScored charts with a 7.40 average rating. Swift is also managing a whopping three key passes per game, making him the Championship’s most creative talent, on top of 1.9 dribbles per match, too.

That makes him a prime candidate to solve Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking midfield woes. It could be argued that United failed to replace the reliable influence of Pablo Hernandez, who left in the summer.

Only five teams have scored fewer goals than Leeds this season. No player has registered more than two assists, with Raphinha leading the way for key passes per game (1.8) – still some way off Swift’s impressive form.

Bielsa is said to be a huge fan of the Reading dynamo, according to the reliable Phil Hay of The Athletic, so he should be trusted if he wants him at Elland Road in January.

“[It] was interesting to see John Swift linked over the weekend because Swift is someone Bielsa quietly admires,” he revealed last month.

Therefore, the attacking midfielder who has been lauded as a “grafter” and as being “super-talented”, should be one of Orta’s biggest priorities heading into 2022.

Leeds could well finally replace Hernandez with a bargain swoop for Swift this winter.

AND in other news, Bielsa can finally axe Leeds’ “absolute disaster” by signing “spectacular” 5 ft 9 gem this winter…

Both Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne and striker Danny Ings are expected to be fine after the former was withdrawn early in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat away at Wolves whilst the latter missed the game.

What’s the story?

Villa boss Steven Gerrard confirmed to the press after his side’s defeat that Digne was withdrawn because the Frenchman was dealing with a stomach issue but is expected to be in contention for next week’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.

The 28-year-old managed just 13 minutes at Molineux and had only recently returned from a hamstring injury that saw the Frenchman play just ten minutes against West Ham and miss the home defeat to Arsenal prior to the international break.

As for Ings, the 29-year-old became a father for the first time and had had little sleep, with Gerrard preventing the Englishman from playing.

Supporters will be buzzing

Having paid Premier League rivals Everton a reported fee of £25m for Digne’s services in January, there’s no doubt that the Frenchman is Gerrard’s first-choice left-back by some margin and thus, news that his issue is not long-term will leave the fanbase elated.

Initial first-choice Matt Targett subsequently joined Newcastle United on loan for the remainder of the season, making 36-year-old Ashley Young the only other option on the left-hand side of the defence.

Moreover, the veteran scored an own goal against Wolves on Saturday after replacing the Frenchman and is yet to sign a contract extension with his current deal set to expire this summer. Digne’s position is incredibly settled.

Therefore, any more absences from the winter signing could prove detrimental to Villa’s plans for the remainder of the season as the West Midland’s outfit targets their first top-half finish in the top-flight since the 2010/11 season.

According to SofaScore, the 28-year-old has averaged a rating of 6.91 in the Premier League this season whilst also making 1.7 tackles per game as well as 1.1 interceptions and 1.9 clearances.

Moreover, Digne wins over half of his duels with a 54% success rate as well as completing over a third of dribbles at 38%. However, his passing could be improved with the left-back’s current accuracy at 76%.

The France international has also kept three clean sheets in nine appearances for the Villans as well as registering an assist against his former employers Everton.

As for Ings, the striker was also subject to a £25m fee when bought from Southampton last summer, however, his start to life in the West Midlands hasn’t gone exactly to plan.

Having scored 13 goals last term and 25 the season before, the Villa forward has just five goals this term in claret and blue.

Since taking over from Dean Smith at Villa Park, one of the biggest puzzles Gerrard has tried to solve has been trying to find a system that compliments the strengths of both Ollie Watkins and Ings, with the former scoring his eighth club goal of the season against Wolves as well as netting for England on Tuesday.

Naturally, the English manager will want as many of his players available for the run-in and knowing that both Digne and Ings will be okay will be a relief to all those associated with Aston Villa.

In other news: Forget Young: “Stupid” Aston Villa dud who lost 71% duels was a liability v Wolves

Antonio Conte wants to bring Gareth Bale back to Tottenham Hotspur for a third time, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda has told Spanish outlet El Chiringuito, via OKDARIO, that the 52-year-old rejected the opportunity to sign Real Madrid flop Eden Hazard on loan following a suggestion from chairman Daniel Levy and instead asked for the former Spurs star.

“He wanted to sign Eden Hazard, but Conte has told him no because he knows him from when he trained at Chelsea and says that he has little intensity and that he is not a very hard worker,” he claimed.

“The most striking thing is the player that Conte has asked Levy to take him to London is Gareth Bale. Bale ends his contract at the end of the season, but in winter it would not be free.”

There are no plans to extend the Welshman’s contract at the Bernabeu, so there is an increasing possibility that he will be looking for a new club come to the summer and after a successful loan stint in N17 last term, perhaps another reunion could be on the cards.

Imagine him and Kane

This would be an intriguing decision from Conte and co but one that does make sense. You could argue that the Lilywhites failed to replace Bale during the summer as he actually provided plenty of goals and menace in the final third.

And that’s where the Italian’s biggest issue lies right now.

His side have not registered a shot on target in the Premier League in nearly four hours, with their last goal coming over five hours ago.

Only one team has scored fewer goals (nine) this season, Norwich City (five) and similarly, the north Londoners rank last for average shots per game (10.1), as per WhoScored.

Last season, Bale was their third-highest goalscorer with 11 goals in the Premier League and three goals in the Europa League, with only Heung-min Son and Harry Kane managing more.

After the trio, no other player found the net more than three times in the league, which is rather damning. It seems that is a problem that still lingers in N17 as Son has scored four goals in the top-flight, with four other players sitting on the solitary goal.

In total, Bale found the net 16 times and averaged a direct contribution once every 87 minutes, via Transfermarkt, which is pretty outstanding and is more reason to suggest why he could fix Conte’s big issue.

After a hat-trick against Sheffield United, former Premier League marksman Alan Shearer waxed lyrical about the 32-year-old on Match of the Day. “It was a magnificent performance. It was the very best of Gareth Bale, it had everything, the running off the ball, work rate and his finishing was lethal,” he said (via football.london).

Even ex-manager Jose Mourinho dubbed the 6 foot 1 winger “remarkable” for his “incredible” impact at the club, both on and off the pitch, so that’s certainly another factor that bolsters Spurs’ claims to re-sign him for the third time.

Capped 99 times by Wales and valued at just £9m by Transfermarkt, Bale could be exactly what’s needed to help get Kane and co firing again.

Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici could form a deadly duo up top by bringing the Wales star and the England skipper together again.

AND in other news, “One of Conte’s requests”: Spurs plot “extraordinary” signing, fans should be thrilled…

Manchester United are ready to trigger Erik ten Hag’s release clause at Ajax and announce the Dutchman as their new manager next week, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Previous announcement rumours

Ten Hag appears to be the club’s first choice to replace Ralf Rangnick following ‘positive’ talks with Red Devils chiefs last month.

Reports had suggested that United were holding off over a formal announcement, with one not likely until the end of the season.

However, it looks as if the club have made a major U-turn when it comes to confirming the 52-year-old, judging by a reveal from a United source.

The Latest: Source drops Ten Hag update

As per Football Insider, Ten Hag is now expected to accept United’s proposal, with the Red Devils set to finalise discussions with Ajax.

The club are planning to announce Ten Hag while the season is still live, with a possible announcement coming as early as next week after Ajax’s KNVB Cup final against PSV on Sunday.

The Verdict: Good news for Man Utd

Should this latest report prove accurate, then it is extremely positive news for United ahead of a summer shake-up.

Confirming Ten Hag as the new manager for the 2022/23 season early will give him the chance to evaluate the squad and make a head start on some early transfer business.

This could prove to be crucial instead of the club looking for a new manager during the summer window, and Ten Hag will have a lot of work to do before he takes to the Old Trafford dugout for the first time.

In other news: ‘Interesting’ Man Utd news has pundit talking; says Leeds supporters ‘will be devastated’

As per a report by The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur seem to already have a plan in place when it comes to potentially signing West Bromwich Albion ace Sam Johnstone.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target Baggies ace…

Amid the speculation surrounding Hugo Lloris’ future at N17, with the France number one still yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, the Lilywhites could add a new ‘keeper to their ranks.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-updates/” title=”Spurs updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Despite already signing Pierluigi Gollini on loan with the option to buy, Spurs have been linked with Baggies ‘keeper Johnstone as his future at West Brom hangs in the balance.

The Latest: Spurs offer ‘pencilled in’ for Johnstone…

As per The Sun, Tottenham already have an offer ‘pencilled in’ for Johnstone if he does leave The Hawthorns next summer, as his contract is set to expire in 2022 as it stands.

West Brom have let the player know that there will be a ‘lucrative deal’ if he stays in the Midlands as Spurs eye a swoop, with Southampton the only prospective suitors willing to pay a fee in January rather than waiting until he becomes a free agent.

The Verdict: Great option…

Signing the England international for free next summer would certainly come as a great bit of business for Spurs considering his exploits in the Premier League last season.

The 28-year-old was lauded a ‘world class’ player by Wolves legend Steve Bull to This is Futbol, while former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle hailed him as ‘outstanding’ in a column for The Evening Standard.

It’s clear that Nuno Espirito Santo and co could certainly do far worse in the search for a possible heir to Lloris.

In other news: Spurs rejoin race to sign ‘world class’ 171-goal striker who Pochettino wanted in 2016, find out more here.

Everton are hopeful of intervening in Nabil Fekir’s contract negotiations with Real Betis, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.net. 

The lowdown

Fekir has contributed two goals and two assists so far in 2021/22 for a Betis side that sits 10th in La Liga.

The name will ring a few bells on Merseyside given that Fekir came very close indeed to signing for Liverpool in 2018.

The 28-year-old is valued at £22.5million by Transfermarkt and his current contract runs until June 2023.

The latest

Negotiations over a new deal are said to be ‘advanced’, with the Frenchman ‘very happy’ in his current surroundings and confident in the project.

However, his ‘excellent’ start to the season has ‘sparked the interest’ of ‘several’ Premier League clubs, and the landscape could change if a ‘powerful financial offer arrives’.

Marcel Brands and co have ‘great aspirations’ in the transfer market and have added Fekir to their list of targets – they of course spent very little in this summer’s window.

They face competition from two London outfits in the form of West Ham United and Arsenal.

The verdict

Where would Fekir slot into this Everton team if Brands gets a deal over the line? Well, you’d naturally assume that he’d play just behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Demarai Gray may have thrived in that role recently but he can be shifted out wide if needed.

You don’t look at the rival suitors here and worry that Everton may get blown out of the water. In fact, Rafael Benitez probably holds more pulling power than David Moyes or Mikel Arteta.

In other news, Michael Ball has lavished praise on this Everton star who has ‘everything’.

Former Nottingham Forest defender Michael Dawson has announced his retirement from professional football. 

The 37-year-old was most recently with Chris Hughton’s side, but departed when his contract reached a conclusion at the end of the 2020/21 season.

But he didn’t make a single appearance for the Reds in the 2020/21 league campaign, as Forest finished 17th in the Championship table, in what was a disappointing season for the City Ground faithful.

In the campaign prior to that, Forest finished seventh in the second-tier standings, with Dawson making 19 appearances in total for the Reds in that campaign.

Dawson signed for Nottingham Forest in his second spell back in 2018, and made 121 appearances in total for the Reds over two separate spells with the club.

Speaking after his departure from the City Ground was confirmed this summer, Nottingham Forest Chairman, Nicholas Randall issued high-praise for Dawson, and labelled him as the ‘model professional’.

Now, plenty of Nottingham Forest supporters have taken to social media to react to the news of Dawson’s retirement, with many wishing him well for the future.

Take a look at the best of the reaction from Twitter, via the Nottingham Forest social media account, below….

Forest fans hail Dawson

“Need to find a space for him on the sidelines, the passion he shows is infectious.”

Credit: @PearceWh97

“Glad that he finished his career where it all began. All the best for whatever the future holds.”

Credit: @Willh1985

“Love the man. Get in the coaching staff!”

Credit: @NFFCRY

“Forest legend.”

Credit: @Hughtxn

“Legend. Great career and right time to bow out.”

Credit: @Trickyred1

“Absolute legend.”

Credit: @rbikysx

“Hero x.”

Credit: @mattnffc_

“My Captain.”

Credit: @carpo_yeah

Liverpool are reportedly looking to tie left-winger Sadio Mane down a new contract. 

Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Reds are preparing to meet with the player’s camp to discuss fresh terms.

Mane last signed a contract extension back in November 2018, and his deal is up at the end of 2022/23.

Mane’s LFC career recapped

Mane joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2016 has gone on to make 234 appearances, scoring 106 goals and winning four major trophies.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has showered Mane with praise, calling him ‘unbelievable’ and ‘world-class’.

The Senegalese international is the Reds’ second top-scorer this term with nine goals in 16 outings.

Mohamed Salah leads the way on 16 goals, and intriguingly his contract is also up in 2023.

Fan feed Anfield Edition relayed Romano’s claim, and here’s how a selection of supporters responded.

Fans flock to Mane contract news

“Mo Salah next inshallah”

Credit: @lfc_football66

“The OG front three must stay”

Credit: @qaz1f

“YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS”

Credit: @SeanMG27

“GO GET THAT BAG KING”

Credit: @RoloRed05

“Give him 200k a week, he won’t be asking for more since he’s a great human being who uses the money for others and not himself”

Credit: @Tierniesta

“Yay!!”

Credit: @nimalamap

In other news, fans were pleased by this team selection hint ahead of Porto.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has made an interesting claim in regards to Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips… 

What’s the talk?

Former Premier League forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed that Liverpool are looking at Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. The ex-Villa attacker has stated that he will be on everyone’s radar and labelled the England international as “outstanding”. 

He told Football Insider:

“It’s not just Liverpool, I think he’ll be on everybody’s radar.

“He’s an outstanding player and was one of England’s stand-out performers at the Euros. Every team in the Premier League and teams in Europe will be looking at him and will definitely try to sign him.

“It’s going to be a bit of a headache for Leeds to try and keep hold of him because he’s been outstanding.

“I’m sure Liverpool are definitely looking at him. But the price tag will be high to get him out of there.”

Bielsa needs him

Victor Orta must avoid making a huge howler this summer by rejecting any interest in Phillips. He must ensure that the local lad is still at the club come the start of September as he is a crucial player for Marcelo Bielsa and should only be sold if a ridiculous amount of money was thrown at him, which could then allow the Argentine coach to bolster his squad.

Only three outfield players averaged higher WhoScored ratings for Leeds than Phillips last season in the Premier League. Patrick Bamford, Raphinha and Liam Cooper were the only players who could better the midfield’s score of 7.01, whilst Phillips also topped the midfield ranks for tackles and interceptions per game to emphasise his dominance in the middle of the park.

This shows how important he is to Bielsa as he is the best defensive midfielder at the club and has proven that he can perform consistently, to a high level, in the top-flight. He also proved his worth at the European Championships for England, starting seven times on their way to a penalty shoot-out loss to Italy in the final at Wembley. The 25-year-old averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.82, showing that he can compete at the very highest level.

The £35k-per-week beast is, therefore, still needed by Bielsa at Leeds and Orta must work hard to keep him at the club next season. If Leeds harbour any ambitions of pushing on and challenging for Europe they will need to keep hold of their top players and Phillips’ statistics certainly suggest that he falls into that category, meaning that selling him would be a nightmare for the club.

And, given his ties to the club, selling him to a fellow Premier League club would have fans absolutely fuming.

AND in other news, Get rid: Leeds must finally axe £70k-p/w “massive flop” who’s rinsing Radrizzani dry…