All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Happy returns for birthday boy Arne Slot. Liverpool breezed past AC Milan at the San Siro in their first taste of Champions League action this season.

Liverpool’s centre-halves showed the likes of Diogo Jota how to score, with both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate heading past Mike Maignan before half-time, cancelling out Christian Pulisic’s ferocious early strike.

Jota endured another testing contest, having not looked near his clinical best in recent weeks. He was eclipsed by the performance of Cody Gakpo, whose dynamism was far too much for the Milan defence to contain.

Cody Gakpo's performance vs AC Milan

Gakpo’s starting to show that he’s best equipped to wreak destruction on Liverpool’s opponents when placed on the left. He was rather brilliant under the European lights on his first start of the season.

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed him a whopping 9/10 match score, writing: ‘Looked threatening whenever he had the ball and was too strong and powerful for Milan at times with his running and dribbling. Had a few shots that worked Maignan in the first half and low cross almost brought a goal from Salah. Brilliant run set up Szoboszlai for the third.’

It was indeed the upswing in energy and enterprise that was the most attractive part of the Dutchman’s display. We’ve all seen flashes of brilliance over the past couple of years but he doesn’t mesh it all together with the consistency that is desired.

He claimed a wonderful assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s second-half goal, carving the hosts open like a shark through a school of fish. As per Sofascore, Gakpo hit the target twice and made two key passes, also winning seven of 11 contested duels and completing four of his seven dribbles.

Slot revealed post-match that his countryman was supposed to start against Nottingham Forest last weekend but wasn’t quite fit enough, and Luis Diaz thus reprised his role.

Could have been the difference-maker, that. It’s great to see the Reds boasting such strength in depth though, with Gakpo’s excellent effort diverting eyes from the resurgent Mohamed Salah, who appears to have put his one-match blue patch behind him.

Mo Salah was quietly excellent

Salah was rubbish during Saturday’s Anfield loss against Forest, really, really, rubbish. But that’s okay, the Premier League great can be afforded an off day. After all, he had previously posted three goals and three assists across three matches to start Slot’s tenure off with a bang.

The £34m signing was far more like his imperious self on the continental stage, albeit finishing the match without a goal or an assist to his name – though he did almost everything that he could to achieve that.

Salah hit the woodwork twice – twice – while threatening with some sharp deliveries and a combativeness that isn’t always a part of the Egyptian’s repertoire. Pit his attempt against that of last weekend, and it’s pleasing to see normal service resumed.

Okay, he might not have rediscovered his shooting boots just yet, but the 32-year-old superstar did raise the bar across all the meaningful underlying metrics.

Minutes played

90′

89′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Shots (on target)

3 (2)

5 (2)

Hit woodwork

0x

2x

Touches

56

32

Accurate passes

28/40 (70%)

15/19 (79%)

Possession lost

20x

5x

Key passes

1

1

Dribbles (completed)

5 (1)

4 (3)

Tackles

0

2

Total duels (won)

8 (2)

7 (6)

Gakpo’s masterful attacking display took the limelight away from the club’s best forward, but this was a constructive performance for Salah, who has found his feet once again and will be raring to take on Bournemouth at the weekend.

Margins. Fine margins. On another day, with the slightest of tweaks to the aerodynamics, he might be returning to Liverpool with the match ball.

Liverpool man sold by Klopp for just £4.3m is currently outperforming Salah

Liverpool fans will be surprised to hear how well this dud is now doing.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 16, 2024

Newcastle United have enjoyed a solid start to the 2024/25 campaign, going undefeated over their opening four matches.

Two wins and a draw in the Premier League has the club currently sitting in fifth place on seven points, while Eddie Howe also saw his side prevail over Nottingham Forest in a penalty shootout to reach the next round of the EFL Cup.

This start comes amid arguably one of the most disappointing transfer windows in recent times for the Magpies, as they failed to sign any marquee names to bolster their squad.

Perhaps the main thing was keeping hold of those key players who could spur the club back into the top four of the Premier League, securing qualification back to the Champions League in the process.

The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordan and Joelinton will all have vital parts to play under Howe, while Alexander Isak is the main man in front of goal.

The Swede has been a wonderful signing for the Magpies. Can he take things up a notch this season?

Alexander Isak’s Newcastle record

After scoring 44 goals for Real Sociedad during a productive spell in Spain, Newcastle splashed out a club-record fee of £63m to bring him to the club in the summer of 2022.

It was clear Howe was attempting to build a team which could threaten the Premier League elite, and they went on to finish that season in fourth place.

Isak was impressive when he featured for the Magpies, scoring ten goals in 27 appearances that term, but it was last season in which he really delivered on his potential.

If his debut campaign was about him finding his feet at Newcastle, then last year saw the 24-year-old really come into his own.

Not only did the centre-forward find the back of the net 24 times in all competitions for the club, but he also helped himself to two assists.

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

Goals

10

21

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

Big chances missed

5

21

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

1.4

Total duels won per game

4

2.4

Additionally, Isak also created five big chances, averaged 0.9 key passes per game while succeeding with 1.4 dribbles each match – a success rate of 60% – in the Premier League last term.

The Swede did manage to miss 21 big chances, however, which means if he was more clinical in the opposition penalty area, then the former Borussia Dortmund man could have scored over 30 league goals for the club.

Regardless, it was still an excellent season on a personal level for him and Isak will be hoping for more of the same throughout 2024/25.

His performances have seen his market value grow, as at the time of writing, Isak is currently worth €75m (£63.3m), as per Transfermarkt, and this will only continue to rise should he maintain his recent form.

Indeed, Isak is the second-highest valued player in the entire Newcastle first-team squad, yet more evidence of his importance to Howe.

The club did sell someone a few years ago now, however, who would have been worth twice the valuation of the Swede in 2024 money – Andy Carroll.

Andy Carroll’s Newcastle statistics

The Englishman began his career with the Magpies, making his debut during the 2006/07 campaign, but it wasn’t until two years later that he scored his first goal for the senior side.

Despite Newcastle suffering relegation during 2008/09, Carroll notched three Premier League goals in 14 games, indicating that he had the potential to lead their charge to secure promotion from the Championship in 2009/10.

Indeed, the youngster helped the Magpies make a swift return to the top flight with 17 goals in 39 games, adding another 12 assists, emerging as one of the finest young strikers the club had produced in years.

Returning to the Premier League with experience certainly aided Carroll, who helped himself to 11 goals during the first half of the season, as Alan Pardew not only aimed to keep the side up, but to crack the top half of the table.

It was clear that one day, Carroll would be making the move elsewhere, especially displaying this kind of form, yet I doubt even Pardew expected him to leave that season.

Towards the end of the January transfer window in 2011, Liverpool came calling and made an offer the club couldn’t refuse…

How much Newcastle sold Andy Carroll for

The Anfield side had already secured the signature of Ajax striker Luis Suárez for a fee in the region of £22.7m having lost Fernando Torres to Chelsea.

The Reds weren’t finished there, however, as a bid of £35m was submitted to Newcastle in order to bring Carroll to Merseyside, which was a then British-record transfer fee that sent shockwaves around the country.

There was no way Pardew could have rejected the offer, especially considering the profit Newcastle were going to make on the striker.

Adjusting for inflation, this fee in 2024 would see Carroll valued higher than some of the best players in the world right now.

How much Andy Carroll would be worth in 2024

In 2024, money, however – with Totally Money having adjusted for inflation over the years – this £35m transfer fee would be worth a staggering £101m if he made the same move today.

This is just over £40m more than what Isak is currently valued at and shows just how much Liverpool paid to bring him to the club 13 years ago.

There is no doubt that they overpaid, as the Englishman scored just 11 goals for the Reds during his brief spell there.

Newcastle hit the jackpot by moving him on for such a high fee, however, paving the way for Pardew to use the money wisely that summer in order to strengthen his first team squad.

The 2011/12 season saw the Magpies secure a top five finish, which allowed them to qualify for Europe the following campaign.

Carroll failed to live up to this £35m fee back in 2011, yet he did shine for Newcastle during his time on Tyneside.

Sold for £500k: Newcastle must rue losing ace who's worth more than Tonali

The club certainly made a mistake in allowing him to leave.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 6, 2024

Tottenham are keeping a close eye on a former Premier League defender as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of the transfer window slamming shut.

Spurs stumble in season opener

Ange Postecoglou's side looked as though they were set to thrash Leicester City on Monday night as they rounded off the first weekend of Premier League action, but were wasteful and duly punished by evergreen striker Jamie Vardy, which forced them to settle for a draw at the King Power Stadium.

"It is a disappointing outcome. We were very dominant first half but really wasteful in front of goal. We started the second half similar", Postecoglou explained after the game.

"But you know at 1-0 there is always an opportunity for the opposition to come back into the game. That's what happened and we lost our way for 15 or 20 minutes. We lost our composure and the crowd got behind them, but again we finished strong.

"I am just really disappointed as we lacked a little cutting edge in the front third and made some poor decisions. We lacked some composure and didn't get the reward our football deserved."

Tottenham hold talks to sign £50,000-a-week forward who Pep called incredible

Spurs face competition from a Billionaire-owned club.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 12, 2024

So far, Spurs have added six new faces to their ranks this summer, breaking their transfer record to bring Dominic Solanke to the club and also shelling out on Championship talents Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert from Leeds United and Burnley respectively.

Tottenham's transfers this summer (via Transfermarkt)

Player

Fee

Dominic Solanke

€64.3m

Archie Gray

€41.25m

Wilson Odobert

€29.3m

Lucas Bergvall

€10m

Min-Hyeok Yang

€4m

Timo Werner

Loan

Now, they have been linked to add another in the final days of the transfer window in a surprise move.

Tottenham and Man Utd eyeing move for Barcelona defender

That comes courtesy of reports from Spanish outlet Sport, relayed by Sport Witness, who claim that Spurs are one of the sides keeping tabs on Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen in what they describe as a surprise target.

The ex-Chelsea man is on the market as Barcelona look to trim their squad, with the report revealing that both the Dane and Eric Garcia are candidates to depart before the end of the transfer window, depending on the offers received for the pair.

Though Barcelona want to make more signings, they must sell first and value Christensen at €25m (£21.2m), while some reports claim that they cannot even register new signing Dani Olmo until they have made further sales.

This mess has caught the eye of Manchester United and Tottenham, both of whom are said to be "on the lookout" for the Danish defender and could move before the end of the summer window.

As it stands, Tottenham have Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven and Radu Dragusin on their books, as well as out of favour defender Ben Davies and young talent Ashley Phillips, who is expected to leave on loan in the final days.

Though his Chelsea links may well count against him, should Spurs be able to land favourable terms for the Danish international, it could be a shrewd move with Postecoglou's side back in Europa League action this season and likely to need more cover at the back.

Newcastle United have identified West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths as a potential signing, with the club targeting several names for the future, according to Dean Jones.

Having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in two decades, the Magpies have a crucial summer ahead, with plenty of talent on their radar as they look to bolster their squad.

Eddie Howe's side has done an incredible job in the transfer market since the club was taken over by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021, and don't expect that to change this summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

With Champions League football on the horizon, the Magpies have been linked to several high-profile names as they strengthen the squad ahead of their return to Europe's elite competition.

In a sensational move, the club are currently agreeing terms with AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, ahead of a move to St James' Park, according to the Daily Mail.

The club have also been linked to Leicester City's James Maddison with the English midfielder looking for a way out of the Foxes after they were recently relegated from the Premier League, but according to Sky Sports, any deal for the star might be hurt by the signing of Tonali.

Newcastle aren't only targeting superstars for right now, though, with the club also having a firm eye on the future as they navigate the transfer market.

West Brom's young goalkeeper Griffiths has been identified as a potential signing by The Sun, with Jones believing the club will look at numerous names for the future.

What has Dean Jones said about Newcastle United's transfer business?

Having been linked to the likes of Tonali and Maddison, many will have been surprised to see the latest reports suggesting Newcastle were interested in a prospect like Griffiths, but Jones believes the club will be targeting more names of the future going forward.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "I think you should always remember that, every now and then, Newcastle aren't going to be linked with big names. They're going to be linked with names for the future. It's kind of a two-tiered approach here."

Furthermore, he compared the reports to the Magpies' previous interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike as proof that the club continue to have an eye on the future, saying:

"Goes all the way really back to when we first read about Ekitike, who we spoke about for months never actually arrived, but he was always seen as a striker for the future. And so they'll be continuing to look down that path actually unveiled a signing last week along the same lines. So yeah, definitely more signings like that coming too."

How did Josh Griffiths perform last season?

Having spent half of the season on loan at Portsmouth, the 21-year-old caught the attention of many in football after an impressive spell at the south coast side, that saw him keep seven clean sheets in 22 games.

His performances for Portsmouth caused West Brom to recall the goalkeeper, and he made his Championship debut shortly afterwards against Blackburn Rovers, and in his 10 league games for the Baggies, he kept another four clean sheets, bringing his seasonal tally to an impressive 11.

The 21-year-old also showed his fine ability as a shot-stopper, pulling off an average of 2.2 saves a game throughout all competitions, a similar number to Nick Pope's 2.3.

Leeds United seem to be honing in on the man to finally fill their dugout vacancy, with only a few key names left to choose from…

What's the latest on Daniel Farke to Leeds United?

That's according to journalist Phil Hay, who penned an article regarding the 49ers' search for a new manager.

As their first major move as the new owners of his huge establishment, there is understandable hesitation to potentially make an error. That could explain why it has been nearly three weeks since Sam Allardyce left his post and kickstarted this search which is yet to bear fruit.

Writing for The Athletic, he claimed that Daniel Farke is one of the names set to be interviewed, with his experience in the Championship vital alongside his status as a free agent.

Is Daniel Farke similar to Marcelo Bielsa?

Although three other candidates are also being sounded out, it could be argued that the German poses their best opportunity to gain an instant return to the Premier League, in a style that is closest to their last promotion legend, Marcelo Bielsa.

Having already masterminded two title victories in the Championship with Norwich City, only Scott Parker upon that aforementioned list can compare with the pedigree of the 46-year-old promotion specialist.

His 4-2-3-1 system is a huge part of that success, which prioritises a heavy metal football synonymous with many German coaches. He likes to push his players forward, risking leaving space in behind their defence with the confidence that, should they regain possession high up the pitch, they will then stand a better chance of scoring.

Such a philosophy, whilst likely not quite as drastic as his, does draw similarities with their old Argentine boss who helped mastermind their 2020 Championship title. It was one which caught the eye, but had its downsides. After all, they did ship 79 goals in the campaign where he was dismissed.

Farke's work, however, has caught the attention of his compatriot Jurgen Klopp, who went as far as to brand him a "world-class" manager.

When delving deeper into the German's time in a Championship setting, it is clear that he is the leading candidate for the role who will not only bring back consistent success but also that feel-good factor that accompanies such an exciting and all-action brand of football.

Across his 138 games whilst managing in the division, he boasts 71 wins and a points-per-match average of 1.82. This has even culminated in the scoring of 217 goals (via Transfermarkt), further emphasising the potency of such a style.

The hope will be that he can make Leeds' stay at this level a short one, and once again have fans excited to watch their team thrive rather than the struggles they endured in the top flight.

In the past two seasons, Crystal Palace have built a solid foundation largely based upon the ever-present and reliable central defensive partnership of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi.

The Eagles kept nine clean sheets last year, as their solidity has been one of the principal reasons for the consolidation of their mid-table Premier League status.

However, the latter could be set for a departure after impressing since his £18m move to Selhurst Park, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool all circling around the Englishman.

The 22-year-old has built a formidable reputation as one of the league's most consistent assets, who since playing for Palace, has also made his England debut.

Guehi’s possible exit would open the door for a defender in South London and Perr Schurrs has been tipped to be his replacement.

What’s the latest on Perr Schurrs to Crystal Palace?

According to the Daily Mail, the Eagles have stepped up their interest in the Torino centre-back, who is also being keenly tracked by Napoli and Newcastle United.

Even if Guehi chooses to stay, Schuurs may still move to the Premier League to reinforce the club's backline.

Can Perr Schurrs replace Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace?

Across 30 Serie A outings this term, the Dutchman has been a commanding pillar of reliability and has averaged 3.2 clearances, 1.7 tackles and was only dribbled past 0.4 times per game, without committing any errors leading to shots or goals.

The former Ajax man has, therefore, performed tremendously within his club, managing the most tackles and clearances within the Torino squad, as per WhoScored.

Described as a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, the titan possesses all the attributes to replace Guehi, should he leave in the summer.

When comparing these two mercurial talents, the £29k-per-week titan has averaged more tackles per 90 (1.97 vs 1.41), clearances per 90 (3.95 vs 3.62) and aerials won per 90 (2.32 vs 1.46), to show that he has the physicality to fill Guehi’s shoes.

As well as this tenacity, Schuurs is also confident with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for pass completion, whilst Guehi only ranks in the highest 53%.

It is difficult to find a weakness in his game, and he looks perfectly suited to English football.

Having played in 73 of the Eagles’ 76 Premier League games since he arrived, the Cobham graduate would undeniably be a monumental loss for the club, but Schuurs’ profile, attributes and relatively spritely age means he is more than capable of filling his void should Steve Parish make a move.

Wolverhampton Wanderers ended the 2022/23 campaign with a relatively comfortable 13th-placed finish in the Premier League table.

Julen Lopetegui's side were never in any serious danger of being relegated down to the Championship as they finished seven points clear of the bottom three, with Leicester, Southampton, and Leeds United all dropping out of the division.

The Spanish head coach now has a full summer transfer window to improve his squad with a view to competing further up the table, and potentially challenging for Europe again in 23/24.

One player who could come in is Stuttgart ace Konstantinos Mavropanos, who is a reported transfer target for the Old Gold as they look to improve their defensive options.

Who is Konstantinos Mavropanos?

The 25-year-old Greek centre-back enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Bundesliga in 22/23 and could come in to form a terrific partnership with current Wolves star Max Kilman.

The English defender played 37 of the club's 38 Premier League matches in the season just gone and averaged a solid Sofascore rating of 6.85. He proved himself to be a solid option at the heart of the defence and dominated opposition attackers as he won 63% of his duels.

This means that Kilman is capable of bullying opponents and keeping them quiet for the majority of games when it comes to battling for the ball, which is particularly useful in physical games where there may be a barrage of set pieces and balls into the box.

Mavropanos could form a "monster" pairing with the Wolves ace as Borussia Monchengladbach chief Pellegrino Matarazzo previously described the Greek gem, whilst also hailing him as a "gladiator".

The colossal Stuttgart enforcer averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.26 across 28 appearances in the Bundesliga, which would place him top of the Wolves squad for outfield players, and won an impressive 66% of his battles, including 70% of his aerial contests.

This suggests that the former Arsenal prospect, who also made four tackles and interceptions per match, is also a dominant defender who does not give much away when competing with opposition strikers.

Therefore, the £22k-per-week brute could be an exceptional addition to Lopetegui's side as his form in the German top-flight suggests that the potential is there for him to be an outstanding performer for the club, whilst his dominance at the back could make him and Kilman a formidable pairing for strikers to come up against next season.

Manchester United are believed to have made contact regarding a summer move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker, Randal Kolo Muani, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Kolo Muani to Man United?

As per journalist Laurie Whitwell – in his piece for the Athletic – the Red Devils are said to have held 'discussions' regarding a move for the former Nantes man, despite having also shown an interest in Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund.

The respected insider revealed that United's director of football, John Murtough has 'held talks' with the Bundesliga outfit regarding a potential move for the 24-year-old, with a new centre-forward seemingly a real priority for Erik ten Hag this summer.

Whitwell also goes on to note that the seven-cap international would command a fee of around €80m (£69m) if he was to be sold ahead of next season, having only made the move to Germany a year ago.

Should Man United sign Kolo Muani?

Hailed as a "future superstar" by German icon, Lothar Matthaus, the Frankfurt speedster has unsurprisingly caught the attention of the Old Trafford hierarchy after contributing 40 goals and assists in just 46 games in all competitions during his debut season at Waldstadion.

That breakout campaign – which also saw the Bondy native score in Les Bleus' World Cup semi-final triumph over Morocco – would suggest that Kolo Muani would be an astute capture, helping to provide an ideal replacement for Anthony Martial, for instance, with the latter man having been linked with a departure.

That being said, however, United supporters may be concerned to learn that the one-time Boulogne loanee is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Romelu Lukaku, according to FBref.

That likeness between the pair is best illustrated by their ability to offer a creative outlet when leading the line, with Lukaku ranking in the top 2% in Europe among those in his position for assists, while Kolo Muani ranks in the top 3% for that same metric.

Equally, the latter man also ranks in the top 15% for progressive passes received to further showcase his creative prowess, with the current Inter Milan ranking just ahead in the top 7% in that regard.

While a comparison to the latter man – who is the all-time leading scorer for Belgium and boasts 280 club career goals – is not solely negative, the 30-year-old did not exactly enjoy a happy stint at the Theatre of Dreams, having been shipped off to Italy in 2019 after just two years in Manchester.

The one-time Chelsea man did score 42 goals in 96 games for the Red Devils, although was criticised by journalist Samuel Luckhurst for his "woeful and costly finishing" during the start of his second season at the club, having seemingly failed to win over the Old Trafford faithful.

To think then that Murtough may sanction a move for a similar player to that of Lukaku in the form of Kolo Muani may have alarm bells ringing, with United no doubt wanting to avoid a repeat of that transfer mistake.

Leeds United are interested in making Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson their next manager this summer, according to a new update.

Who is in the running for Leeds job?

The Whites are experiencing a busy time of things at the moment, with so much happening both on and off the pitch, including 49 Enterprises' potential takeover of the club.

The search is also on to find a new manager before the start of next season, with Sam Allardyce departing earlier this week after a short stint in charge, in which he failed to keep them n the Premier League.

A number of individuals are believed to be in with a chance of landing the job, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Corberan all thought to be in the running. A new name has now been thrown into the hat, though, as Leeds look to ensure that they nail their next appointment and seal a quickfire return to the Premier League.

Is Tomasson a target for the Whites?

According to Football Insider, the Whites "have shortlisted Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson in the search for their next manager", with the Dane "on their shortlist of targets". The report goes on to add that "Blackburn are braced for an approach from the recently-relegated giants and are already drawing up a list of potential replacements for the 46-year-old", with those inside Elland Road viewing Tomasson as "the next Bielsa".

Tomasson, who plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been in charge of Blackburn since last year, arriving in June, having previously been in charge of Swedish side Malmo, and he guided the former to a seventh-place finish in the Championship and within touching distance of finishing in the playoff positions.

He could be an interesting appointment by Leeds, not necessarily being as big a name as Gerrard and Rodgers, for example, but showing in a short space of time that he knows how to get positive results in the Championship, averaging 1.6 points per game in the competition. Tomasson also has experience at international level, albeit in an assistant manager role with Denmark between 2016 and 2019, meaning he knows how to work around big personalities and help get the best out of them.

It could be argued that a more proven manager could be needed at Leeds, such is the importance of this appointment, but the former striker did win two Swedish league titles in charge of Malmo, further highlighting his pedigree and why he is a contender to head to Elland Road.

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign Leicester City's Harvey Barnes, with the winger set to leave this summer, according to a report from The Sun.

Who will Tottenham sign this summer?

Tottenham are keen to bolster their attacking options in the upcoming window, and it has recently been reported they are ready to snap up James Maddison, with the Leicester midfielder set to be sold following the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League.

Despite not yet having a new manager in place, Spurs are still active in the transfer market, and they are set to complete a permanent deal for loanee Dejan Kulusevksi, having been impressed with the Juventus winger's performances.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that Barnes was "on the list" of targets for the Lilywhites way back in February, having looked at him for a long time, and The Sun have now provided an update on their pursuit of the Leicester star.

According to the report, Tottenham and Newcastle United are the clubs pushing hardest to sign the 25-year-old, as well as Maddison, with both players set to leave Leicester after the relegation to the Championship.

Both players could command fees of around £40m in the upcoming window, but Leicester are hoping that a bidding war will break out, which will drive their prices up even further.

Having qualified for the Champions League, Newcastle are tipped to have an advantage in the race for Barnes' signature, while Spurs have no European football on offer, and they are currently without a permanent manager or director football.

Should Tottenham sign Harvey Barnes?

After being hailed as "incredible" by Micah Richards back in 2021, the 25-year-old has since developed even further, performing very well for Leicester this season, despite the club's relegation.

On a personal level, it was a fantastic campaign for the Englishman, registering three assists and 13 goals, with the latter proving to be the highest figure of any player in the Leicester squad.

The Burnley-born winger has most commonly featured on the left throughout his career, but he is also capable of playing through the middle, an area that Tottenham will need to strengthen, given that Rodrigo Bentancur is out until at least November.

Barnes could be a solid signing for Spurs, but the lack of European football and a permanent manager is likely to make it very difficult to win the race for his signature.