Tottenham Hotspur have been widely linked with a move for Adrien Rabiot in recent days, but the 23-year-old’s problematic history should force Mauricio Pochettino to focus his efforts on signing another reported target, Youri Tielemans. 

According to a recent report from Metro, Rabiot has already rejected a move to Spurs in favour of Liverpool. Various reports have all pointed towards a different conclusion to the ongoing Rabiot saga, but a report from TEAMtalk suggests that Daniel Levy and Pochettino have their eye on another midfield target.

According to the report, Spurs are in the hunt for Monaco’s Youri Tielemans, with Leicester City boss Claude Puel appearing to rule out a potential move following a string of reports linking his side with a January bid.

On paper, both Tielemans and Rabiot would be excellent additions to Tottenham’s squad. That Barcelona have been consistently linked with a move for the PSG misfit vindicates Rabiot’s reputation as one of the best young midfielders in Europe, but his attitude problem is a notable concern.

Rabiot’s most public display of petulance arrived shortly before the World Cup after he was omitted from Didier Deschamps’ France squad. He was selected for the standby list but he declined the opportunity to wait in the wings, a decision which was presumably born out of anger in the wake of his omission from the 23-man squad.

The presence of a player of Rabiot’s temperament would be detrimental to the harmonious environment Pochettino has created in north London, so the Argentine should target Tielemans instead.

The 21-year-old Belgium international signed for Monaco in a deal worth £21.63 million in 2017, and he has been a regular for the struggling Ligue 1 outfit this season, scoring five goals from 20 appearances.

While Spurs will undoubtedly be looking for much more than just goals in a potential midfield recruit, his tendency to find the back of the net is a factor which will naturally capture their attention.

Tielemans is best known for his playmaking qualities and his desire to influence the game in the final-third, and the fact he scored 35 goals and provided 31 assists from 185 appearances at Anderlecht proves that reputation is thoroughly justified.

The Monaco man may be two years younger than Rabiot but he already has 13 more caps at international level, and the fact his history is yet to be blighted by acrimonious displays of unprofessional behaviour suggests he would be the far wiser addition of the two Tottenham-linked midfielders.

And, if Tielemans makes the switch to Tottenham, he could yet represent the club’s long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has been speaking about midfielder Manuel Lanzini ahead of his side’s clash against Manchester City on Wednesday night, and the signs are that the Argentine star won’t be making his first start for the club since May.

What did he say?

After a long injury absence, the 26-year-old finally made his long-awaited return to action as a substitute in the 3-1 win against Fulham at the London Stadium on Friday, and no doubt Irons fans will be hoping to see their man back in the XI as soon as possible now.

Speaking prior to the perhaps daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini looks to have dampened those hopes by telling whufc.com: “We must be careful with [Manu].

“He did very well in his 15 minutes and the important thing was that he was not afraid and remembering his knee, so we will see what the best way is to get minutes in every game. You must be careful when you give more minutes.”

Will he definitely not start?

While West Ham will want to finish in seventh position and as the best of the rest this season, taking a risk on a player of the calibre of Lanzini away against City would be a huge risk given he has only just returned, and his manager seems to acknowledge that.

Yes, Pep Guardiola’s men may have played 120 minutes in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and could be a little leggy just a few days later, but Pellegrini can’t risk potentially aggravating the injury given the South American ace isn’t 100% match fit.

Irons supporters will need to be more patient in their bid to see the London Stadium hero back in the side, and they now have the squad depth for that to be an acceptable thing.

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Having smashed the world-record transfer fee for a goalkeeper when bringing him to Anfield, Liverpool immediately placed a lot of pressure upon the shoulders of £66.8m Alisson Becker (as per the BBC), but he has shaken those pressures off and further cemented his status as one of the world’s best all-round keepers.

How has he fared?

The blue-eyed Brazilian international has enjoyed a phenomenal start to life on Merseyside since arriving from Roma. Alisson has managed to keep 13 clean sheets in his 23 Premier League starts (as seen on the Premier League website), helping his new side sit four points clear at the top of the league ahead of the reigning champions, Manchester City.

Alisson’s saves have caught the eye, on the rare occasions that he has to make one due to the watertight nature of the Reds’ backline, but it is his footwork and passing range that has transformed Liverpool’s counter-attack and left opponents fearful of over-committing.

Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Along with the Citizens’ stopper Ederson Moraes, Alisson is perhaps one of the best in the world in his position with his feet, often playing a crucial part in the build up to Liverpool’s goals with his juggernaut kicks and ability to drop the ball on a sixpence.

In his 23 league starts, he has let in just 13 goals, less than any other keeper has conceded. His expert passing ability is demonstrated by his impressive 79 per cent pass accuracy, an impressive number considering how often he attempts to break through the opposition with long passes.

For comparison, Everton’s Jordan Pickford, who has also started every league game, has a 55.6 per cent success rate (per Whoscored).

The Verdict

The haunting memories of Simon Mignolet, Adam Bogdan and Loris Karius are no more. Liverpool have immediately transformed one of the weakest areas of their team into arguably the strongest area, with Alisson perhaps being the most important player for Klopp along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

Additionally, given the fact that Chelsea smashed the world-record fee for a goalkeeper not long after Alisson signed, when they bought Athletic Bilbao stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga to Stamford Bridge for a whopping £71m fee (as per the BBC), the value and significance of the modern day keeper has sky rocketed – £66.8m for Alisson, especially at just 26-years-old, could look like a snip in a couple of years.

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According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur failed with a £27m move for Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in the January transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

With Fernando Llorente’s future up in the air, it seemed likely that Tottenham would sign a new striker in the winter window to act as back-up to Harry Kane.

Kane’s ankle injury meant that Llorente stayed, however, and the Spaniard has seen a lot of football in the England captain’s absence.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs actually made a £27m bid for Mitrovic last month, with the capital outfit determined to sign the former Newcastle United forward.

Fulham ultimately rejected the offer, but it has been reported that Tottenham could return for the powerful attacker in this summer’s transfer window.

Indeed, with Llorente likely to move on at the end of the season, Mitrovic could be signed to act as back-up or indeed to play with Kane in the final third of the field.

Should Tottenham move for Mitrovic?

In short, yes. Tottenham’s results in the absence of Kane have been impressive, but they really need to sign a new forward at the end of the season.

Mitrovic has been outstanding in a struggling Fulham team this term, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old is big and strong, whilst his understanding of the game and ability to bring in teammates has been impressive this season.

It was a surprise when Newcastle allowed Mitrovic to leave, especially considering his excellent form in the second half of last season whilst on loan at Fulham.

Mitrovic will certainly depart Craven Cottage if Fulham are relegated, although it seems likely that he would move on even if they remained in the top flight.

The striker, who will not turn 25 until the latter stages of this year, would be the perfect summer signing for Tottenham.

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Crystal Palace host West Ham this weekend and will be hoping to build on their 2-0 win over Fulham last time out, where Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew played up front while Wilfried Zaha’s suspension ensured he could play no part in the victory. Both hitmen played well and Roy Hodgson must continue with two up front next time out but not for the reason you think.

On the chalkboard

Zaha’s sarcastic clapping of referee Andre Marriner in the Eagles’ clash with Southampton earned him a second yellow in quick succession of the first and so his side were forced to do battle with the Cottagers without him.

Thanks to a textbook Luka Milivojevic penalty and a Jeffrey Schlupp tap-in though, Hodgson’s side emerged victorious in their second game this season without the influential winger, while Benteke almost scored a wonder-goal to break his season-long drought.

Hodgson has chopped and changed between an orthodox 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 this season depending on his personal but, looking at West Ham’s biggest threats, it is essential that he opts for the former and deploys Andros Townsend on the right flank.

Negating Felipe Anderson

Felipe Anderson has been a standout performer for the Hammers since signing from Lazio in the summer and poses a huge threat when allowed to cut inside from the left onto his favoured right foot. While Aaron Wan-Bissaka has all the tools to deal with Anderson, Hodgson should take no chances by instructing the tireless Townsend to track back and help out his compatriot.

The Palace number 10’s wonder-strikes from distance have deservedly earned him headlines this season but he is an engine in the ranks, too. His dogged defensive work in the win over Manchester City was crucial – as was his thunderous volley – and will be once again if Palace are to negate the dangerous West Ham winger.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

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Rangers fans both love and hate the dirty side of Alfredo Morelos’ game, but former Ger Alex Rae believes the club must seek specialist help for the striker.

What’s the story?

Rangers beat Aberdeen in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, pulling five points clear of the Pittodrie Stadium outfit with a 4-2 win.

Morelos was once again the difference maker, as the 22 year-old opened the scoring by being in the right place at the right time, before showing his class with a cultured finish to add his second just before half time.

The feisty youngster was sent off before he could complete his hat-trick though, kicking out at Scott McKenna in an incident that saw both players receive straight red cards.

The Gers have since appealed the decision, as replays suggest McKenna was the aggressor, but this is still Morelos’ fourth red card of the season, and Rae’s comments are absolutely spot on.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

What’s he said?

“You have to support him first and foremost, ” Rae, who made 34 league appearances for the Gers between 2004 and 2006, told Sky Sports.

“He’s out of his comfort zone, but he must learn from this. They have to get him specialist help to try and get an understanding because if they can get on top of this behaviour you have a hell of a player on your hands.

“In terms of what he brings to the football side of things, he’s absolutely tremendous. It’s not to curtail his aggression, but he’s got to get a lid on it.”

What does he mean?

Well, what Rae is basically saying is that Morelos needs to be more like Diego Costa.

That might sound ridiculous for a player the Gers are trying to calm down, but Costa has received just four red cards in his entire career, the last of which coming all the way back in 2012 (Morelos has four this season alone).

The Spanish international is perhaps the most well-known “on-the-edge” type of player in the world, but he knows how to channel his aggression in the right way, using it to rile up the fans, harass defenders and influence the referee all without going over the top.

Rae, who was no stranger to a crunching tackle himself, is clearly a big fan of Morelos and even appreciates his nasty streak, but the Gers must take their former player’s advice if the Colombian is to fulfil his limitless potential.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart says that Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale would be wise to consider a return to the north London club.

What he said

Speaking to Cadena Ser radio station – as translated by ESPN – the 36-year-old Dutchman was asked about how Bale is doing at the Bernabeu. He said: “I think he [Bale] wants to stay at Real Madrid and play more…But I believe that a team like Manchester United or a return to Tottenham would be better for him”.

Bale has had a tough time with the La Liga giants this season. The club’s fans, and the local media, have all criticised the Welshman at times this year. 

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The 29-year-old has racked up a respectable return of thirteen goals and five assists in all competitions so far, as per Transfermarkt’s stats. However, more is expected of the man Real paid £85 million to sign in 2013 – especially since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Out of reach

The 74-cap Wales international would certainly be welcome back at Spurs. Bale would also give Mauricio Pochettino’s side a huge boost of quality. How he might combine with the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen is a frightening proposition for other Premier League clubs to consider.

However, even though Bale is not the most popular figure in Madrid, he still has a Transfermarkt valuation of £72 million and a contract set to run until 2022. The Spanish club would surely command a huge fee in exchange for the forward, far beyond what Daniel Levy would likely be prepared to pay.

A return to Spurs may well suit Bale, but he is no longer within the club’s reach.

أكد المدرب الألماني يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول، أنه لم يفكر في الدفع بالوافد الجديد، تياجو ألكانتارا، كأساسي أمام تشيلسي في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ليفربول يواجه تشيلسي في تمام الساعة الخامسة والنصف مساءً، وألكانتارا يتواجد على مقاعد البدلاء (طالع تشكيل ليفربول).

وقال كلوب لـ” سكاي سبورتس” قبل بداية المباراة: “مباراة تشيلسي ستكون صعبة حقًا بالنسبة لنا، علينا تقديم كل ما لدينا، ودعونا نرى ما سيحدث”.

وأضاف: “جلوس ألكانتارا على مقاعد البدلاء؟ لم أفكر لثانية لواحدة أنه سيلعب كأساسي اليوم، من المُضحك أنّ يُفكر الناس في ذلك!”.

وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “دور ألكانتارا هنا في ليفربول، سيكون مُختلفًا عما كان عليه في بايرن ميونخ”.

According to Sky Sports football reporter Keith Downie on Twitter, Sunderland are planning on buying striker duo Tom Eaves and John Marquis before the end of the month. 

Eaves is currently with Gillingham in League One, while Marquis is with Doncaster in the same league, and are both being eyed as replacements to Josh Maja at the Stadium of Light.

This would be a wonderful move for Eaves, who is floundering at the bottom of the league with Gillingham. Currently sitting in 19th place, The Gills are embroiled in a relegation battle this season. With 15 goals and four assists this season, Eaves has, in truth, carried his club. So much so that the next best scorer has nine fewer goals. He will want to test himself at a better club, and promotion-chasing Sunderland are certainly that team, who can offer him the prospect of Championship football. It may spell the end for Gillingham, but it will be very promising for The Black Cats.

Meanwhile, Marquis will be another huge signing for Sunderland. When a club lose the league’s joint-second top scorer in Maja, the only thing they can do to improve that is sign the top scorer, which The Black Cats are proceeding to do. Marquis has 16 goals in the league this season, and with the added quality of Sunderland around him, he will only improve and could possibly make The Black Cats favourites to secure promotion.

Maja’s loss will be huge, but by recruiting two players like this, Sunderland will be taking massive steps forward rather than backwards.

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Leeds United are currently enjoying a spectacularly entertaining season. Not only are the Whites in the thick of the Championship title hunt, but Marcelo Bielsa has also introduced a scintillating style of football to the club, and the emergence of talented youngsters like Jack Clarke has captured fans’ imaginations.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

Throw in the drama of ‘Spygate’ and it’s not hard to see why Elland Road is being packed to the rafters week in, week out. According to ex-Leeds and England full-back Danny Mills, no less should be expected from the Yorkshire club and their loyal support.

What he said

Speaking on the LS11 podcast on March 6, as quoted by HITC, Mills said of the club’s ground, Elland Road: “Everyone at Leeds and I have been there quite a lot this season, I still say to anybody, it’s still one of the best atmospheres around…It’s genuine fans, old school, getting behind their team, no matter what.”

12th man

The fans can play a huge role for Leeds this season. As the run in approaches, in a title chase likely to go down to the wire, the pressure will begin to grow on the squad. At such times, the support of the fans can give the players a much-needed boost. 

Creating a loud, passionate atmosphere at Elland Road can also help Bielsa’s side turn their ground into something of a fortress. The points they pick up at home between now and the end of the campaign could make all the difference.