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Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski put on an attacking masterclass as he terrorised Norwich City to secure Champions League football in N17 next season.
The Sweden international bagged two of Spurs’ five goals before he was substituted in the 68th minute but by then, he had long made his mark, allowing Heung-min Son to swoop in and capitalise on a broken Canaries backline.
Indeed, the South Korean sensation also bagged himself a brace, which was enough to see him share the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah but it was the Juventus loanee who was arguably the clear-cut standout at Carrow Road.
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Earning an 8.9 rating on SofaScore, the 22-year-old dynamo was a constant threat in the final third, not only registering a total of three shots but also managing a whopping five successful dribbles from six attempts, easily bypassing Dimitrios Giannoulis on the right flank.
Kulusevski also provided two key passes, meaning he created a pair of chances for his attacking counterparts, Son and Harry Kane. Furthermore, he amazingly won eight of his nine duels (88%), only further emphasising how he had his way with Dean Smith’s defence.
Elsewhere, the £31.5m-rated marksman also put in one tackle and one interception as he capped off his fine half-season at the club in style.
His contribution took his total tally for Spurs to five goals and eight assists from 20 appearances, averaging a direct contribution once every 97.5 minutes – almost one every game.
It’s no wonder manager Antonio Conte was able to turn things around to guide the north Londoners back into Europe’s top competition.
As The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick wrote in his post-match ratings column, Kulusevski was “decisive again” before going onto praise his selfless nature.
Once lauded as a “monster” by Italian Football expert Nima Tavallaey Roodsari, Juventus’ loss has certainly been Tottenham’s gain and we got to witness yet another fine display from the young winger.
Kulusevski absolutely terrorised the Canaries with his attacking exploits as he helped secure a lucrative top-four finish in the Premier League.
AND in other news, Spurs dealt Cristian Romero injury setback…
Manchester United have made contact over a possible cut-price move for RB Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele.
Mukiele, who has been hailed as an “unsung hero”, is primarily a right-back who can also play as a centre-back or as a right-midfielder.
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The 24-year-old signed for Leipzig back in 2018 and has gone on to make 145 appearances since then, scoring 10 times and providing 11 assists.
The France international is heading into the final 12 months of his contract with the Bundesliga side, though, and it looks as if a summer exit could be on the cards.
Sports Witness relayed an update from well-known French outlet L’Equipe regarding Mukiele on Friday.
They claimed that Mukiele’s future ‘is probably written elsewhere’, with United looking to take advantage of the ‘opportunity’ by initiating first contacts. The report adds that the right-back is valued between €10m (£8.5m) and €15m (£12.7m).
Erik ten Hag will be at the heart of an Old Trafford rebuild this summer and doesn’t have Aaron Wan-Bissaka in his plans, according to Sky Sports.
Therefore, should the Red Devils find the Englishman a new home either on a temporary or permanent basis, then Mukiele could be viewed as an ideal replacement.
Ajax defender Jurien Timber also appears to be closing in on a move to United, and although he can play at right-back, you’d expect he’d be preferred in his natural centre-back role, opening the door for Mukiele, valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, to sign in a cut-piece deal.
In other news: Reliable journalist leaks Man Utd talks as Ten Hag now eyes ‘terrific’ Englishman.
West Bromwich Albion are interested in signing Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Amer Gojak this summer, according to Germanijak.
Gojak enjoyed an eye-catching pathway to senior football after netting 20 goals as a teenager in a 2013/14 Under 17 league campaign in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Following a move to Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, the creative maestro amassed 200 outings for the club, being scouted by Barcelona and Manchester City during the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League campaign.
Since then, the 25-year-old has spent a spell at Serie A outfit Torino on loan before heading back to Zagreb, where a permanent departure could now be on the cards…
As per Germanijak, West Brom are believed to be in the mix to sign the Bosnian international.
It’s claimed that Gojak ‘wants’ to head to the Hawthorns this summer and the Midlands club ‘would have no problem obtaining a work permit’ for the 29-cap ace.
The report also states that Dinamo would sell the star for ‘less than’ €2million (£1.6million) this summer after Torino rejected an option to buy.
During the 2021/22 season, Gojak scored twice and provided one assist in 39 appearances across all competitions, winning 2.3 duels and completing 22.4 accurate passes on average per game whilst earning a 6.69 Sofascore rating.
Now predominantly operating as a defensive midfielder, the Bosnian has played in a plethora of positions during a stop-start career so far and would therefore provide Steve Bruce with much-needed versatility in the squad.
Having allowed Romaine Sawyers to leave the club, signing the £2.25million valued Gojak to follow the addition of John Swift from Reading would be a superb piece of business as the Baggies plan for a successful Championship campaign next term.
In other news, Joseph Masi has confirmed West Brom’s interest in one player. Find out who it is here.
Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn.
In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, following reports that suggest the 24-year-old could be set to leave Spurs this summer, there is indeed a serious chance that the Netherlands international moves onto pastures new in the coming weeks – particularly since Fabio Paratici’s capture of Ivan Perisic.
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In his tweet, the transfer insider said: “There is a serious chance for Steven Bergwijn to leave Tottenham in the summer, as Perisic is joining the club too. The plan is still the same. Ajax have his name on their list since January but there are many clubs interested in him, race still open.”
While it is undeniable that Bergwijn is a player who boasts a great deal of talent and potential for future growth, when considering his current market valuation, hefty weekly wage and lack of game time under Antonio Conte, the news that the winger is set to depart north London this summer is sure to have left the Tottenham faithful buzzing.
Indeed, the £26m-rated forward has started just one Premier League fixture since the Italian’s appointment as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor last November, playing a total of 275 league minutes over the past six months.
Furthermore, with the Dutchman reported to be earning around £75k-per-week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – ranking him as the club’s seventh-highest paid player – it is clear that if the 24-year-old is set to remain a backup option for Conte in 2022/23, this is money that could easily be put to better use by the 52-year-old in the summer market.
As such, while Bergwijn has provided Spurs with some memorable moments during his two and a half year stay – including a stunning volley in a 2-0 win over Manchester City on his debut and a stoppage-time brace to seal an incredible 3-2 comeback victory over Leicester City earlier this season – the fact that the former PSV Eindhoven starlet looks set to move on to pastures new this summer is undoubtedly a good move by Paratici, Conte, Daniel Levy and the club.
AND in other news: Contact made: Paratici in talks for £99k-p/w Spurs target, he’s “similar to Laporte”
Reliable West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee has now shared some ‘great news’ for supporters ahead of what will be an interesting 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.
Having just missed out on a Europa League place on the final day of 21/22, falling just short behind Man United, the next few months could be a crucial time for manager David Moyes.
As well as the transfer window being officially open, with the east Londoners tipped to strengthen before starting next campaign, club owners GSB and the Irons head coach have some current player decisions to make.
West Ham have already confirmed that the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko, Ryan Fredericks, David Martin and the retiring Mark Noble won’t be in claret and blue next season but, according to Ex, there are two first team stars who definitely will be.
Speaking to The West Ham Way, Ex claims that mainstay pair Angelo Ogbonna and Lukasz Fabianski have put pen to paper on one-year extensions to keep them at the club next season.
He explained:
“So firstly Mark I believe that both Ogbonna and Fabianski have signed one year extensions to their deals so will be with us again next season, which is great news. I am not sure why this hasn’t been formally announced but the club recently do like to keep renewals quiet.”
Tying down both defender Ogbonna and untouchable goalkeeper Fabianski is a big boost for both Moyes and West Ham.
The Hammers number one is a fixture in Moyes’ starting eleven, playing more minutes in the top flight than any other player, meanwhile Ogbonna is also a crucial star when fit and available.
Over the last two seasons, West Ham’s colossal centre-half has emerged as a ‘leader’ of the team and his presence could well be crucial as Moyes’ aims to maintain his side’s phenomenal rise.
In other news: ‘Moyes loves him’…Journalist says West Ham are eyeing a ‘huge’ signing! Find out more here.
Newcastle United have already got the ball rolling in the summer transfer window with a deal to sign Matt Targett on a permanent basis.
Eddie Howe had the left-back on loan from Aston Villa in the 2021/22 campaign and has now moved to tie him up on a long-term deal.
The club will now be looking at other targets to bolster further positions in the squad and it will be interesting to see how much PIF are willing to spend and who they will spend it on.
Former Premier League midfielder Jack Wilshere recently claimed that the Magpies will be interested in Gabriel Jesus if he becomes available, saying: “I think they will be queuing up (for Jesus).
“I think Arsenal will have a big chance of signing him because of his relationship with his manager. I think Newcastle would go for him. But I would love to see him at Arsenal.”
Newcastle must now swoop to sign the Manchester City striker, who is reportedly valued at £55m, as Dan Ashworth can land the Toon boss his own version of Saka by doing so.
FBRef list the pair as being similar players based on their statistics in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days.
In the Premier League, Jesus was lethal in the final third as he managed eight goals and eight assists in just 21 starts last term. The attacker played in a variety of roles across the frontline as he showcased both his versatility and his quality in the English top-flight.
He was previously dubbed a “monster” by journalist Roberto Rojas and Pep Guardiola lauded his work rate earlier this year, saying: “He (Jesus) can play in the three positions up front, and when we need players who can help a lot, he’s the best in the world.
“(With him) we can be so aggressive, we can get extra rhythm for midfield players, can stay high.”
These quotes and the aforementioned statistics show that Jesus is a proven player in England who can be relied upon at the top end of the pitch, just like Saka.
In the 2021/22 campaign, the England international produced 11 goals and seven assists in 36 games – playing on both the right and the left flanks. He consistently delivered in the final third – as the Brazilian did for City – and proved himself to be an outstanding performer in the Premier League.
Therefore, by signing Jesus, Howe would have his own version of the Arsenal dynamo to select in his Newcastle XI next season. This is why Ashworth must now strike a deal to sign the Manchester City predator in the coming weeks…
Arsenal are believed to have cooled their interest in Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to the latest reports.
As per Goal’s Charles Watts, a deal to bring the Belgium international to the Emirates Stadium has been ‘put on ice’, with the Gunners said to be focusing on ‘other targets’ at present.
The report suggests that the 25-year-old would be ‘open’ to a move away from the King Power Stadium this summer should a suitable offer emerge, with Mikel Arteta and co said to have previously held discussions with the player’s representatives – although have now parked that interest for the time being.
That could open the door for the 51-cap gem – who has just a year remaining on his existing deal – to join north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, amid reported interest from Antonio Conte’s side, while a possible contract extension with the Foxes has also been mooted.
It will seemingly come as a great source of frustration for supporters that the club could potentially be set to miss out on the former Monaco man, particularly with the centre of midfield seemingly an area that needs addressing.
Persistent injuries to Thomas Partey since his £45m arrival in the summer of 2020 has frequently left Arteta short of options in the middle of the pitch, with young Albert Sambi Lokonga also failing to earn a regular role last term, making just 12 Premier League starts in his debut campaign at the club.
That largely left the Gunners boss reliant on the midfield pairing of Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny in the final weeks and months of the season, although the former remains an infuriating asset at times due to his dismal suspension record, while the latter man is seemingly just a useful squad player.
The pending addition of Porto’s Fabio Vieira has added increased quality and competition to the attacking midfield ranks, although there will no doubt be concern that sporting director Edu could potentially be overlooking the problems further back, amid suggestions that the 22-year-old may be their only midfield capture.
In Tielemans, the club would be able to add a player who provides both quality in possession and defensive nous, with the £49.5m-rated star having scored six goals and provided four assists in 32 league outings last term from his deep-lying role, while also chipping in with 1.1 clearances and 2.3 tackles per game.
Equally, the £120k-per-week maestro also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues for his ball-playing quality, ranking in the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 17% for attempted passes, while also proving himself a threat in the final third as he ranks in the top 6% for total shots.
Such an all-round talent is rare to find – particularly for a reported fee of around just £30m – with Arsenal risking the wrath of their supporters should they opt against a move this summer.
The hope will be that this is simply a pause to proceedings, rather than the total end to negotiations.
IN other news, Arsenal now plotting record-breaking bid for £100m gem, he’d be a “superstar” signing