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It's set to be a big transfer window for Tottenham Hotspur this summer as Daniel Levy and Co look to land the right players for Ange Postecoglou's exciting project.

The Australian managed to bring the team back into European football last season, but a collapse towards the end of the campaign meant it was the Europa League, not the Champions League.

To take that next stop, the North Londoners will need to sign some quality additions over the next couple of months, and based on recent reports, that may well happen.

The latest star touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly exciting winger who would help bring more goals to the side and challenge Brennan Johnson for a spot in the starting lineup.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are interested in signing Juventus and Italy star Federico Chiesa this summer.

The 26-year-old's £150k-per-week contract expires next summer, and according to the report, the Lilywhites have matched the €6m-per-year offer the Old Lady have made him, which converts to around £5m.

However, it's claimed that the winger wants a wage of closer to €8m-per-year – £7m – and, according to reports earlier this week, it'll cost North Londoners around £25m if they want to prise him out of Turin a year early.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Chiesa's quality, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he could be a fantastic rival for Johnson.

How Chiesa compares to Johnson

So, if Spurs can get their hands on Chiesa this summer, he'd likely come in primarily to play off the right of a front three, as that is the position he has played most in his career.

In which case, Johnson would be one of his main competitors for a place in the starting lineup, but how do they compare?

Well, when it comes to their raw output last season, the Welshman just about edges it, scoring five goals and providing ten assists in 38 matches for the Lilywhites, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.53 games.

In contrast, the "unstoppable" former Fiorentina ace, as dubbed by Giorgio Chiellini, scored ten goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances, producing a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 2.84 games.

However, when it comes to their underlying numbers, the tables turn, and it's the Italian "wizard", as dubbed by football media personality Roger Bennett, who comes out ahead.

Chiesa vs Johnson
Stats per 90	Chiesa	Son
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists	0.49	0.73
Non-Penalty Goals	0.33	0.19
Assists	0.08	0.39
Progressive Passes	2.87	2.83
Progressive Carries	4.55	4.07
Shots	3.03	2.05
Shots on Target	1.02	0.74
Passing Accuracy	69.9%	71.7%
Key Passes	2.21	1.78
Goal-Creating Actions	0.37	0.62
Shot-Creating Actions	4.79	2.98
Successful Take-Ons	1.43	1.05
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

For example, while the former Nottingham Forest ace produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, more actual assists, higher passing accuracy and more goal-creating actions, he's comfortably second best for actual non-penalty goals, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, key passes and shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Ultimately, if Chiesa is available for the reported fee, then Spurs cannot afford to miss out. While he might not be clear of Johnson, for example, he is clearly talented and could push the other wingers in the team to improve, if not outright replace them in time.

Spurs hit gold on "astounding" teen who's worth way more than Mikey Moore

The incredible talent has a massive future ahead of him.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 18, 2024

When a transfer window comes around Chelsea get busy. That has always been the motive since Todd Boehly took over.

However, rather than throwing the book at big-money names this summer, the Blues have been shrewd, planning for the future by wrapping up a number of deals for future stars.

Chelsea: Deals in summer 2024
Player	Transfer fee	Age
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall	£30m	25
Omari Kellyman	£19m	18
Marc Guiu	£5m	18
Estevao Willian	£28m	17
Renato Veiga (still TBC)	£11.8m *	20
Caleb Wiley (still TBC)	£8.5m *	19
Aaron Anselmino (still TBC)	£17m *	19
* = moves not yet formally announced.

Still, there could be room for one big expenditure if they can sell players like Conor Gallagher and Romelu Lukaku in the forthcoming weeks to raise funds.

Nico Williams continues to be linked with a move, as does Borussia Dortmund sensation Karim Adeyemi.

However, a striker continues to elude Boehly who will no doubt be keen to add to Enzo Maresca's firepower.

Chelsea still targeting a new striker

Last summer, Nicolas Jackson was brought to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £30m from Villarreal.

It took a while for the Senegalese striker to get up to speed but he did actually enjoy a pretty impressive debut campaign in England despite criticism from various corners, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.

So, is a striker really necessary? Well, it depends who it is you'd imagine. Newcastle forward Alexander Isak was linked a few weeks ago but the Toon don't want to sell and with the PSR deadline now having passed, they no longer need to cash in on their prized assets.

Who else is of interest? Well, Chelsea lodged a bid for Atletico Madrid's young striker Samuel Omorodion earlier this week. There's also a certain Victor Osimhen.

The latest on their interest in the Nigerian comes from Football.London who report that it is a deal the Blues could still 'look to do' before the window closes.

That comes after talks involving a possible swap deal including Lukaku fell through.

The trouble is that it could take a fee north of £100m to draw him away from Napoli and the Serie A.

How Osimhen compares to Alexander Isak

Now, who would turn their noses up at either striker? Certainly not us. However, there is a question to be asked, who is the better option?

Well, Isak has Premier League experience and has shone in English football already, scoring 25 goals from 40 matches in all competitions last term.

So, he knows where the back of the net is. Sadly, just like Osimhen, he doesn't have the greatest fitness record.

Osimhen v Isak: Scoring & injury record since 2021
Season	Osimhen goal tally	Isak goal tally
2021/22	18 (63)	10 (5)
2022/23	31 (50)	11 (106)
2023/24	17 (92)	25 (12)
Total	66 (205)	46 (123)
Days out injured in brackets. Data from Transfermarkt.

Besides the 2022/23 campaign, the Swedish striker appears to have a better fitness record, but even with Osimhen missing more days through injury, he has scored more goals.

Therefore, the next comparison should be in how well-rounded their game is. Let's take a look at the numbers in a bit more depth.

Osimhen vs Isak: 2023/24 numbers
Stat (per 90 mins)	Osimhen	Isak
Goals	0.68	0.84
Assists	0.14	0.08
Shots on target	1.64	1.43
Key passes	1.05	1.08
Shot-creating actions	2.45	2.87
Progressive carries	1.55	2.71
Touches	25	28.9
Aerials won	1.68	0.40
Aerials won %	44%	20%
Tackles	0.41	0.20
Data via FBref.

In some key areas for a striker, it's Isak who looks like the more captivating asset. He scored more goals per 90 minutes, registered more shot-creating actions and was more likely to carry the ball forward in a progressive manner.

That said, it's Osimhen who looks like the stronger of the two physically, reigning supreme in the air and doing his fair share of defensive work, winning more tackles.

What other factors can we take into consideration? Well, the ability to perform on the big stages should be something that Maresca and Co look at.

At the age of 25 (Isak is 24), the Napoli forward has been scoring at a bigger and more consistent rate for a number of years now. He's taken his side to a historic Serie A triumph too. In short, there is a reason that Joao Cancelo once hailed him as "one of the best strikers in the world."

Further boasting nine goals in 17 Champions League fixtures – with Isak having scored just once at Europe's top table – there is a reason to believe that Osimhen is the more likely of the two to help Boehly meet his dizzying ambitions for Chelsea.

Newcastle's star man is no doubt still a fantastic option but Osimhen, with his power and goalscoring ability, could be perfect, ushering in a new era under Maresca and taking them to the next level.

Top priority: Chelsea hold talks to sign their own Musiala in £60m phenom

A host of Premier League sides are vying for this prodigious talent’s signature.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 8, 2024

Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim insisted he isn't at Pep Guardiola's level despite leading Sporting CP to a 4-1 win over Manchester City.

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Amorim's side shine in his final home gameVictor Gyokeres hat-trick stuns Man CityMan Utd welcome new boss on November 11Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Amorim enjoyed a fairytale final home game in charge of Sporting CP as a Victor Gyokeres hat-trick helped the Portuguese side defeat Man City 4-1 in the Champions League. The game will have left Man United supporters extremely excited ahead of Amorim's switch to Old Trafford next week, but the 39-year-old tried to downplay expectations after the win.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Amorim is trying to revive a United side that currently lies 13th in the Premier League and is struggling in Europe as well. He's performed heroics at Sporting but as Erik ten Hag will attest, United presents an entirely different challenge. However, there's no doubt that Tuesday's result over one of the favourites to win the Champions League will give him plenty of confidence – even if he tried to stay modest at full-time.

WHAT AMORIM SAID

"He's so much better than me at the moment," Amorim said, in reference to Guardiola. "But I believe a lot in my new club. We will start from a low level, and we will improve the team, the club."

The Portuguese coach is also aware that his next job will be a bigger challenge to the one in Lisbon.

"When I'm at the next club, the approach will have to be different. Not much is taken from here because we will have to play differently in the future," he added. "Both are historic clubs. It will certainly be a different game."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?

Amorim will oversee Sporting's trip to Braga on November 10 before taking over at United a day later. His first game in charge of the Red Devils will be at Ipswich Town on November 24.

Chelsea continue to hunt for a lethal goalscorer in the transfer market, to challenge Nicolas Jackson coming off the back of a good first season for the Blues.

In his first season, the Senegal international scored 14 Premier League goals, provided five assists, and played 2,813 minutes. Bettering the numbers of Chelsea all-time great Didier Drogba in his first season at the club.

Jhon Duran from Aston Villa seems to have been the most concrete name in recent weeks, but many names are appearing as Chelsea do their due diligence to acquire competition for Jackson.

Chelsea transfer news

According to reports from The Athletic's David Ornstein, Chelsea have now held talks with the representatives of Lille striker Jonathan David.

There has been no approach to Lille so far, according to the reports. However, the two clubs have "good relations" and Chelsea are exploring the possibility of a summer move for the 24-year-old Canadian.

This signing could provide somewhat of a more known quantity, compared to others names such as Duran and Samuel Omorodion, who have been linked in recent weeks.

How David compares to Jhon Duran

On the surface level, David is the clear option for a striking reinforcement, scoring 26 goals for Lille last campaign, providing four assists and playing 47 games in all competitions. Not only does this prove his tendency to score goals, but also his availability.

Compare this to Duran who, despite making 37 appearances in all competitions, played 2500 fewer minutes than David. The Colombian managed eight goals in those minutes, five of which came in the Premier League.

David has also got a track record of scoring goals behind him, managing 26 in the 2022/23 season, 19 in the 2021/22 season, and 13 in his first season at Lille in the 2020/21 season. Therefore, it would make sense as to why Chelsea are interested, as they look to bolster the squad with a natural goalscorer up top.

Much like Jackson, the Canadian can drop in and link up play. Making 2.7 progressive passes per 90, 1.61 progressive carries per 90, and supplying 1.81 passes into the final third per 90, showing his ability to drop in deep, as well as affecting the game in the box.

Compare this to Duran, who is a riskier move due to sample size, not being an established goalscorer like David, and possibly even costing more money.

However, what the 20-year-old Aston Villa forward does offer is a physical profile that Chelsea lack. Standing at 6 foot 1, Duran has a powerful build which allows him to often get his own way against defenders, winning duels, not prevailing with 3.79 aerials per 90.

When you compare Duran's 3.79 aerials per 90, with the 0.72 of David, and the 1.13 of Jackson, it is clear to see a profile like the Colombian would provide something Chelsea currently don't have in the squad.

Both strikers clearly offer assets to this Chelsea squad. It will eventually come down to the decision of adding a different profile in Duran, or a proven goal-scoring option in the "fantastic" as dubbed by Micah Richards, David.

Chelsea are now on the verge of signing their answer to Olise

Chelsea are making early moves in the transfer window.

By
Matt Dawson

Jun 23, 2024

Young pacers Mavi and Nagarkoti make quick work of the Royals’ batting, with a little help from Pat Cummins

Deivarayan Muthu30-Sep-20202:05

Agarkar: Nice to see KKR backing their young Indian pacers

Jofra Archer ambushed Shubman Gill and Dinesh Karthik with blistering pace and bounce, but a collective effort from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ quicks trumped Archer’s 2 for 18 and handed the Rajasthan Royals their first defeat in IPL 2020. The result meant the Knight Riders jumped from seventh to second on the points table, opening up the tournament further.After Steven Smith swiped at Pat Cummins and nicked him behind for three in the second innings, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti scythed through the line-up to leave the top-heavy Royals at 42 for 5 in the eighth over and effectively kill off their pursuit of 175.Earlier in the evening, when Archer was rushing both Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell, it appeared like 174 was beyond the Knight Riders’ reach. Morgan was also pinged on the helmet by Ankit Rajpoot, but he shook that off and provided the finishing kick with an unbeaten 34 off 23 balls. Dinesh Karthik then rifled through his bowling options and made that total look a whole lot bigger as the Royals meandered to 137 for 9 in their 20 overs. That the margin of defeat was only 37 was thanks to an unbeaten 36-ball 54 from the Royals’ No. 7 Tom Curran.Archer’s spell from hell
Archer had first crack at Sunil Narine and immediately had him hopping with a 149kph rocket that flew past his outside edge. He then breached 150kph the next ball to beat another swish from Narine outside off. Narine, though, found his release against the lesser pace of Jaydev Unadkat and Rajpoot before the left-arm seamer knocked him over for 15 off 14 balls.Gill, the other opener, was more assured and set to work with a lofted six over long-on off Rajpoot. His best shot, though, came in the ninth over off legspinner Shreyas Gopal. After the bowler darted a slider that wasn’t short enough for the pull, Gill, having already pressed on the front foot, adjusted to the length and swatted it away between deep square leg and deep midwicket for four.Enter, again, Archer. He bowled what looked like a legcutter, clocked at 140kph, drew a leading edge, and snapped up the return catch, dismissing Gill for 47 off 34 balls. He then tested Russell, who was bumped up to No. 4 with a near-150kph lifter that burst past his helmet. In his next over, Archer nailed another legcutter, this one at 147kph, hit a Test-match line and the outside edge of Karthik. He proceeded to rattle Morgan, too, with the short stuff and could have had his England white-ball captain on 8 had Curran not dropped a catch at deep backward point.Russell and Morgan tee off
Having somehow survived that Archer burst and a blow on the helmet from Rajpoot, Morgan punished Curran by muscling a slower offcutter over midwicket for six. Morgan then flitted around his crease, messing with the lines and head of Curran. The seamer bowled three wide yorkers past the tramline and ended up conceding 16 off the final over.Russell also did his part, lining up Gopal and the short leg-side boundaries. After viciously slog-sweeping a wrong ‘un with the spin into the top tier beyond square leg, he whipped one over the midwicket boundary. Both balls disappeared and they had to be replaced. Russell’s fun, however, ended in the 15th over when Rajpoot shifted his lines much wider and had him carving a catch to deep backward point 24 off 14 balls. The two big-hitters had done enough to haul the Knight Riders past 170.The chase that wasn’t
In the chase, Smith stabbed at Cummins’ first ball and missed. The second ball nearly kissed the edge. The third one was plinked over mid-off. Smith then had a massive swing at Cummins’ fourth, so much that he lost his shape and fell away down the leg side. The resultant inside edge was snaffled by Karthik.Jos Buttler, though, used the extra pace of Cummins to his advantage and pulled off a signature ramped six. Just when it looked like Buttler was finding a higher tempo, Mavi took him and the in-form Sanju Samson down in successive overs.Samson was the first to go, flapping a hard-length delivery to midwicket while Butter reached out to a wide delivery outside off and picked out short third man for 21 off 16 balls. Cummins and Mavi bowled five of the six overs in the powerplay, returning combined figures of 5-0-24-2. By the time Kamlesh Nagarkoti entered the attack and got Robin Uthappa and Riyan Parag in the same over, Royals were 42 for 5 and the asking rate 11.Curran struck 54 not out off 36 balls around the slide, 27 of which came off 12 balls from Narine. Varun Chakravarthy, the other mystery spinner, was more impressive, coming away with 2 for 25 in his four overs. In the end, the Knight Riders needed just three overs from Kuldeep Yadav and none at all from Russell.

After a deal to sign Jose Cordoba collapsed, Rangers have turned their attention towards another South American defender, who already reportedly has an offer on the table from Ibrox.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers looked destined to sign Cordoba, before a deal ultimately collapsed with Norwich City now the leading candidates to land the young defender's signature. He would have followed Jefte through the door to complete Rangers' second signing in a matter of weeks to start their summer transfer window with a bang, but Philippe Clement has now been forced to find another option.

That's not to say that Rangers have given up on the South American market following their Cordoba failure, however. In fact, it's quite the opposite. According to Chilean outlet Despliegue Fútbol, Rangers have presented an offer to Thomas Galdames, who has reportedly played his final game for Godoy Cruz in Argentina, winning 4-0 against El Porvenir this week.

Clement already personally eyeing new Rangers moves after Cordoba collapse

The Gers aren’t wasting any time…

By
Tom Cunningham

May 29, 2024

The 25-year-old left-back, who can also play as a centre-back, also reportedly has offers from Belgium and must now make his decision. With Rangers looking to fill the role that many believed Cordoba would, Galdames could emerge as the perfect option at Ibrox this summer.

Having already filled their left-back role with the arrival of Jefte, it will be interesting to see whether Clement would opt to turn Galdames into a central defender on a permanent basis if he completes a move to Scotland this summer. On paper, it's a risk, but it could be one worth taking if the Chilean finds his feet quickly and becomes the defender that the Gers are clearly after.

"Confident" Galdames can make up for Cordoba collapse

The Gers certainly aren't wasting any time feeling sorry for themselves after missing out on Cordoba, turning their attention straight to Galdames. And if Nathan Joyes' praise is anything to go by, dubbing the defender as "confident in the final third" among other positives, then those at Ibrox should be hoping to see Rangers get this one over the line.

If the aim isn't for Galdames to arrive and step into the centre-back role, then he will be left competing with Jefte and question marks will naturally begin to rise regarding the future of Ridvan Yilmaz, who has been linked with an Ibrox exit in the past.

It's certainly solid planning from Rangers, either way. On the one hand, they'll have a left-back ready to compete if Yilmaz leaves, and on the other, Clement could mould a top centre-back.

The Red Devils dominated the first decade of the new millennium, only to lose their way – but who have been their best performers?

Manchester United began the 21st century on the beaches of Brazil. They were there to compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup and arrived as the official best team in the world after beating Palmeiras in the Inter-Continental Cup. In order to participate, they took the seismic decision to withdraw from the FA Cup, the competition they were the holders of.

A quarter of a century on, and United have restored their reputation in the FA Cup, which they won in May. The Club World Cup, however, is no longer their domain, and they were not even close to qualifying for FIFA's rebranded competition, which takes place next year.

That says a lot about how United have fallen as the century has progressed. The Red Devils won eight out of the first 14 league titles of the new millennium, but ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, they have been on a downward curve. They have finished outside of the top four more times than they have made it in and won just five major trophies. In the first half of the new century, they lifted 13.

It should be no real surprise, then, that a list of the best United players from the first 25 years of the 21st century draws heavily on the Ferguson era. Only performances since January 2000 count, so the likes of Denis Irwin, Jaap Stam and Teddy Sheringham fall short, even though they straddled both centuries.

But who has made it in, and who has failed to make the cut?

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images25Antonio Valencia

When United sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a then world-record fee of £80 million ($104m), not many fans expected that the club would look to Wigan Athletic for his replacement. Antonio Valencia sure was no Ronaldo, but he proved to be a solid and versatile club stalwart.

The Ecuadorian spent 10 years at Old Trafford, beginning as a right winger before switching to right-back. For years he spoke almost no English, but by the end of his career with United he was one of the most experienced players in the squad, captaining the team in the Europa League final and in his final season.

AdvertisementGetty 24Darren Fletcher

When Ferguson learned that Darren Fletcher, aged 15 at the time, was considering leaving United for Newcastle, he launched a furious tirade at him down the phone, angering the player's mother, and then drove straight to Edinburgh to convince him to stay. Fletcher knew never to risk Ferguson's wrath again and stayed at United for the next 13 years.

He was the ultimate squad player but grew into an undisputable starter in the 2008-09 season, cruelly missing the Champions League final through suspension after diving into a tackle against Arsenal late in the semi-final despite the victory long-being secured. That moment epitomised Fletcher's selfless attitude.

A worse struggle came when he battled a debilitating stomach illness for around two years. The Scotland international kept fighting, as was his way, and was able to eventually continue his career. He has remained loyal to United since retiring, working as a technical director and assistant coach, while his twin sons currently play for the club's Under-18s.

Getty 23Louis Saha

How good could Louis Saha have been were it not for the injuries? The Frenchman had a stunning debut for United against Southampton following a £12m ($15m) move from Fulham in January 2004, and scored seven goals in his first 10 starts.

Injuries interrupted his next season and he only scored twice, but once he returned to full fitness he showed his true value, notching 28 goals and 13 assists in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns combined.

Saha fired United to League Cup glory in 2006 with six goals in five games and played a big part in the Premier League success the following season. But more injuries meant he could not finish the campaign and severely disrupted his progress the following season, when he also had to compete with Carlos Tevez. Despite the constant setbacks, he averaged a goal every three games.

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Getty22Dimitar Berbatov

Ferguson was so determined to make sure Manchester City did not sign Berbatov that he picked him up from the airport on transfer deadline day in 2008 and drove him straight to Old Trafford to complete the transfer from Tottenham. And the Bulgarian was an utter joy to watch.

He often seemed to play at walking pace and at times looked on a whole different level of class to his peers. As an example, early into his United career, Berbatov had the whole of Old Trafford eating out of his hand after an insane piece of skill against West Ham's hapless James Collins.

Berbatov had impressed without tearing up any trees in his first two seasons with United, but he really found his feet in his third, finishing as top scorer in the Premier League while leading the Red Devils to the 2010-11 title with 20 goals. However, he inexplicably did not even make the substitutes' bench for the Champions League final against Barcelona.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) vice-president K Mathivanan has quit his position with the board, as he and the remainder of the SLC executive committee made accusations of impropriety against each other. Jayantha Dharmadasa, a longtime administrator who failed in his bid to be elected SLC president in February 2019, has been appointed to Mathivanan’s vacated post.An SLC release stated that Mathivanan’s resignation had come “in the wake of the recent unanimous decision of the executive committee to hold an inquiry against Mr. Mathivanan for indulging in unethical practices in his capacity as an office bearer”.Mathivanan, the only office bearer elected from outside the Thilanga Sumathipala-backed faction at the most-recent SLC polls, was understood to have had a deteriorating relationship with several others at the board, over the past year. The ethics inquiry is believed to have been about leaks to media – allegations Mathivanan denies.Following his resignation, Mathivanan himself issued a release alleging that “the current administration carries out their duties without transparency and integrity in such a manner which makes it impossible for me to remain in such a set up”. Mathivanan said that the board had made “unsavoury decisions” despite his objections, and had also failed to provide him with “notice of meetings, with the agenda and board papers”.SLC is set to hold another election next year, at which Mathivanan is again expected to contest. As vice-president, he had been in charge of domestic cricket, which presently stands suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Declan Rice's controversial red card against Brighton has been explained by a VAR expert.

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Rice sent off for two yellow cardsNo intervention from VARRule has now been explainedWHAT HAPPENED?

Rice was dismissed for two yellow cards against Brighton on Saturday. The England international was first booked for a clumsy late challenge, but his second was far more controversial; he appeared to kick the ball away before Joel Veltman took a free-kick, but the defender then swung his leg and kicked Rice. The Brighton star was not punished, but Rice was shown a second yellow and sent off.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE EXPLANATION

Now, Dale Johnson of has explained why Rice was carded and the VAR process involved. While there was a VAR review for a red card for Veltman, he was not adjudged to have committed serious foul play, as his attempted kicking of the ball did not possess the required force or brutality for a sending off. He likely should have been booked, nevertheless.

Rice was shown a second yellow for "kicking or carrying the ball away, or provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play," and for delaying the restart. Rice has admitted he can have no complaints over the issue, despite the controversy.

SHOULD JOAO PEDRO HAVE BEEN BOOKED?

Many Arsenal supporters complained after the game that Joao Pedro had committed a similar offence – he kicked the ball away after it had run out of play – but received no booking. explains that this is because he did not effectively delay the restart, as there was an Arsenal player within close proximity who was able to receive a ball from the sidelines and take a quick throw-in, if they had wanted to.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Arsenal are next in action against Tottenham in the north London derby, after the international break. Rice will be suspended and will play no part.

Tottenham could now look to sell a new name who hasn't been linked with the exit door until very recently, with lots of Spurs players facing uncertain futures.

Spurs open to offloading over a dozen players this summer

According to reliable Spurs source Paul O'Keefe, the club have identified over a dozen players they'd be willing to entertain bids for when the transfer window reopens – with manager Ange Postecoglou already beginning to swing his axe ahead of 2024/2025.

Tottenham now ready to sell £110,000-per-week star for just £13 million

The Lilywhites could take a slight loss.

ByEmilio Galantini May 8, 2024

The most obvious names who stand out are Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Troy Parrott, Joe Rodon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Richarlison, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon, Japhet Tanganga, Manor Solomon and Djed Spence – who have all been linked with Spurs exits at some point within the last six months.

A good portion of the aforementioned crop are currently out on loan elsewhere, and decisions will have to be made. Leeds are apparently keen to keep Rodon beyond his loan spell, while the likes of Spence and Reguilon are not in Postecoglou's plans moving forward.

Djed Spence

Genoa

Tanguy Ndombele

Galatasaray

Japhet Tanganga

Millwall

Alejo Veliz

Sevilla

Alfie Devine

Plymouth

Ashley Phillips

Plymouth

Sergio Reguilon

Brentford

Troy Parrott

Excelsior

Joe Rodon

Leeds

It is pretty frank that chairman Daniel Levy will listen to offers for Ndombele and Tanganga as well, with the former set to go down as one of the biggest transfer flops in Spurs history and latter's contract expiring next year.

In terms of current squad members, it is now believed Tottenham are willing to sell Emerson Royal for around £20 million, with Spurs also ready to entertain £15 million bids for Gil.

Given that over a dozen are up for the Spurs chopping block, you cannot rule out more squad members being mentioned, and a new head-turning nominee for the transfer list has emerged this week.

Tottenham now willing to sell Yves Bissouma this summer

Indeed, mainstay midfielder Yves Bissouma is now thought to be unsafe. The Mali international has made 27 Premier League appearances under Postecoglou, with 25 of them being full starts. It would arguably be more if it wasn't for the mid-season Africa Cup of Nations as well.

His form has somewhat tailed off compared to early on in the campaign, though, with The Times claiming Tottenham are willing to sell Bissouma if a suitable offer arrives for the midfielder. This would be disappointing for teammate Pape Sarr, who spoke of the £100,000-per-week ace's importance.

“It really was a big help,” said Sarr on Bissouma's infuence at N17. “I was settling in to a new life, not just a new club. I benefited from the advice of a lot of team-mates, not just Yves, although he was a big help: Hugo Lloris, Pierre Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic. It was a tough time because I wasn’t playing regularly.

“Yves is a guy I appreciate a lot. We’ve both come over from Africa and he gives me lots of advice. He behaves a lot like my big brother. He has such an important role within the team and the club. I always listen to what he’s got to say."