All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is excited to play under new manager Ange Postecoglu and wants to stay and fight for his place next season.

How long has Eric Dier been at Tottenham?

Since the Englishman joined Spurs from Portuguese side Sporting CP for a bargain €5.00m (£4m) in July 2014, Dier has had a very mixed bag of a career in north London.

Under Mauricio Pochettino, the Kent-born player grew into a promising defensive midfielder in the division, forming a "monstrous" partnership with Victor Wanyama and being the perfect defensive counterpart for Mousa Dembele.

Dier was a crucial part of the Tottenham side that finished second in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season, making 36 appearances in the league and scoring two goals.

Towards the end of Pochettino's tenure at Spurs, the English international began to transition to centre-back, where he has played since Jose Mourinho's stint at the club.

Since the 2019/20 season, the former Everton youth player has made 132 appearances for the north London outfit at the heart of the defence, in addition to 10 appearances at centre-half for England.

It's not been plain sailing since the transition for Dier, with him making a number of high-profile mistakes, most notably last season against Liverpool and Brentford, and receiving plenty of criticism from fans, journalists, and pundits alike, with journalist Ryan Taylor stating earlier this year that Dier is a "very poor" defender.

However, every manager that comes through the door at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium seems to consistently pick the Englishman, so he must be doing something right to keep the support of elite managers such as Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Sky Sports editor and journalist Lyall Thomas revealed that Dier intends to stay and fight for his place this season under new boss Postecoglu amid reports suggesting he could potentially leave:

"I think Dier will stay, as I understand it that is absolutely right that he does want to stay and fight for his place and play under Ange and I think Dier could still be a useful player for Spurs."

Will Eric Dier play for Tottenham Hotspur next season?

It will be interesting to see if Dier plays as much next season as he has done in previous campaigns due to a number of factors.

Spurs look set to attack the market in search of at least one centre-back addition this summer, with reports linking them to names such as Micky Van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba, and Marc Guehi. All three options that have been heavily linked play on the left side of defence, which is the position that the 29-year-old looked set to take up this season as Argentine defender Cristian Romero appears to be the first choice on the right-hand side.

Another issue that faces Dier is a potential system change. New boss Postecoglou plays a very open and expansive style of football with a higher defensive line, which is a stark contrast from the football that Spurs have become known for in recent years. The Australian manager also prefers to set up with a back four rather than a back five, which is a defensive shape that Dier has very rarely played in, with both club and country opting for the five defenders in recent seasons

The former Sporting man has come through adversity and fought his way back into the England squad last year, and you could easily see him doing it again and starting ahead of the new signings. However, this is shaping up to be his toughest test yet when considering all the factors going against him.

West Ham United are currently in the driving seat when it comes to a potential deal for Yunus Musah, according to a report from CalcioMercato, via Sport Witness.

How many games has Yunus Musah played for Valencia?

The midfielder was given his league debut for current club Valencia back when he was just 17-years-old, which already showcases how much talent the La Liga outfit believed he had.

He went on to feature 32 times in that campaign, despite his age, as his side finished 13th. He has since gone on to establish himself as a regular member of their team and managed another 33 showings in Spain during the 2022/23 season, with two assists along the way. He has now racked up almost 100 appearances for the club – and is only just out of his teens.

Musah has also become an integral part of his national team too, playing 24 times for the USA. He did come up through the youth ranks with England, but opted to switch his allegiance to America and has been rewarded with regular minutes for their team.

Are West Ham United signing Yunus Musah?

Having become a key member of the Valencia team, he has now caught the eye of other clubs. West Ham have already been linked on a few occasions, as have other sides from the Premier League.

However, according to a fresh report from CalcioMercato, via Sport Witness, the Hammers are the team that are in "first place" in England in terms of securing his signature.

It won't be completely straightforward to land the American, with AC Milan also keen to snap him up. It seems the Italian side will be battling West Ham all the way for his signature, with the Serie A giants planning to use the funds from Sandro Tonali's sale to try and seal a deal for the 20-year-old. Valencia have set his asking price at just 20 million Euros (or £17.2m), so a fee will not be too steep for either team.

Musah is already highly regarded when you consider the praise he has received. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him a "jewel" for Valencia and added that he keeps getting "better and better" to boot.

Despite his age then, he already has shown his ability and the potential is clearly there for him to keep improving. If the Hammers can snap him up, then they could have both a player for the here and now and for plenty of years ahead too.

Tottenham Hotspur have “asked about” signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and it’s “likely a deal will happen”, according to reports.

Will Spurs sign a defender this summer?

At the back, it was a season to forget for Spurs last campaign, with the Lilywhites conceding more top flight goals than any other side above 15th in the Premier League table.

One of new manager Ange Postecoglou’s main priorities will surely be reinforcing what has proven to be a fragile defence, with Tottenham also thought to be closing in on highly-rated Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for £16.4 million.

Postecoglou, as per recent rumours, has given the green-light for his club to sign a star central defender this summer – leading to interest in the likes of Man City defender Aymeric Laporte among others.

Tapsoba, who has been a mainstay under Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso in the Bundesliga, is thought to be another top target.

The 24-year-old is at the centre of interest from Spurs, as backed by reliable sources like renowned transfer journalists like Fabrizio Romano, who says that he is one of the options shortlisted.

Now, The Daily Mail and journalist Simon Jones have a small update on the matter, claiming that Tottenham have “asked about” signing Tapsoba – presumably meaning there has been contact with Leverkusen.

The Burkina Faso international is apparently “eager to join” Spurs and it’s “likely a deal will happen” once an official approach is made.

It’s further added that Tottenham are long-term admirers of Tapsoba as Levy and co commence the hunt for fresh defensive options.

Who is Edmond Tapsoba?

The colossal defender featured over more league minutes than any other Leverkusen outfielder last season, with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky coming as the only player to be selected more (WhoScored).

Tapsoba appears to be a crucial player for Alonso, and defensively, he is rock solid – with both him and Jonathan Tah making more clearances per 90 than any other Leverkusen player (WhoScored).

Presenter and pundit Jack Collins, writing on Twitter, has seriously endorsed the African in past seasons – branding him “absolutely sensational” for his performances all the way back in 2020.

It’s clear Tapsoba has starred at Leverkusen for quite some time, and this summer may well be the one where he finally gets his big money move, if Spurs do make that official approach.

Newcastle United are reportedly in talks to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison this summer – a transfer that will only help further unlock the potential of Alexander Isak.

Newcastle United transfer news – will they sign James Maddison?

After suffering relegation from the Premier League with the Foxes last season, Maddison's exit seems a guarantee this summer, given his proven quality at the top level.

With that said, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies will 'insist' on a deal for the England international this week, who is a top target for Eddie Howe.

"Newcastle will insist on James Maddison deal this week as they don’t want a long saga — he’s top target but decision has to be made soon," he tweeted.

The northeast giants may need to act quickly to secure Maddison's signature, however, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly still interested, with Romano adding:

"Tottenham are also working on player side, still pushing and into the race; no bid was submitted last week despite reports."

A deal for the Leicester man would cost Newcastle in excess of £50m, according to Sky Sports, in what would be their first transfer of the summer window.

How would James Maddison fit into Newcastle United's side?

When you take a look at the current Newcastle midfield, adding Maddison into the middle of the park almost spoils the on-watching fans at St James' Park.

Howe has already got Bruno Guimaraes and a transformed Joelinton at his disposal. Add Maddison into the mix, and you've suddenly got one of the most exciting trios in the Premier League.

Between them last season, they were involved in 37 goals in the last campaign, with Maddison scoring 10 goals and assisting a further nine, Joelinton scoring six and assisting three, and his Brazilian teammate scoring four and assisting five.

Speaking about Maddison back in 2020, then Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers saiD (via Sports Mole):

"He's got immense quality. You saw his right foot at Manchester City, he has that technique with both feet. That was a sensational strike tonight."

Maddison, in particular, can supply and score goals from midfield, as proven in a struggling Leicester side last season.

The former Norwich City "magician" – as lauded by analyst Statman Dave last year – managed nine assists without a potent striker in front of him, too.

As good as Jamie Vardy once was, he was a shadow of his former self for the Foxes last season, scoring just three Premier League goals.

The more you look at it, the more you start to believe that Maddison worked miracles to get nine assists to his name.

If he does make the move to Newcastle, however, then he'll be in assist dreamland.

Not only will he have 18-goal England teammate Callum Wilson to endlessly supply, but an always-improving Isak will also be on hand to tap home any pinpoint passes placed his way.

As per FBref, last season Maddison played 5.47 progressive passes per-90, which was 1.08 more than Joelinton managed. A player with his ability to play such passes should only increase the goals of Isak.

Last season, the Sweden international scored 11 combined goals for both Real Sociedad and Newcastle, with 1.29 shots per 90.

By comparison, with Maddison's progressive passing ability, Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho shot 3.04 times per 90.

With that said, it is clear that if the Englishman does make the move to the Magpies this summer, Isak will benefit from his passing range, getting more shots off, and, therefore, have the potential to score more goals.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Leicester City full-back Timothy Castagne this summer as Mikel Arteta looks set to improve his defensive options.

What’s the latest on Timothy Castagne to Arsenal?

According to Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg (via Sport Witness), the Gunners are keen on making a move for the right-back this summer, although unnamed sides from Italy and Spain have also looked at the player and Arteta will be wary of this competition for his signature.

Due to the Foxes' relegation at the end of the season, Castagne will be available for between €15-20m (£13m-£17m) as per the report, which could represent a bargain for the Spaniard who clearly needs some reinforcements at right-back heading into next season, especially with the Champions League group stage beckoning.

Should Arsenal sign Castagne?

Last season, the north Londoners lacked serious depth at right-back, having to utilise Ben White out wide as opposed to his usual position at centre-back, although he did perform well, playing all 38 matches, registering five assists, creating six big chances and making 1.6 tackles per game, showcasing his attacking abilities.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, the backup full-back, didn’t enjoy the greatest of league seasons, ranking 18th in the squad for overall match rating, 19th for goals and assists, sixth for tackles per game and 15th for big chances created, suggesting he failed to leave an imprint on the first-team when he got his chance.

In contrast, Castagne ranked 7th in the Leicester squad for goals and assists, second for tackles per game and fourth for big chances created, suggesting he could offer a bigger attacking output than the Japanese player should he join Arsenal this summer.

Defensively, the Belgian ranked in the top 9% for clearances per 90 (3.04), top 17% for aerials won per 90 (1.52) and top 25% for tackles won per 90 (2.41) across Europe’s big five leagues over the previous 365 days, proving himself to be more than capable in the Premier League.

Tomiyasu did rank in the top 10% for tackles per 90 (3.22) and aerials won per 90 (2.29) while ranking a lot lower for clearances per 90 (1.86), although this could be skewed due to the fact he played only 1063 minutes compared to the 3254 minutes that Castagne played last term.

Jamie Vardy lauded the Belgian for being “brilliant” during his debut for the Foxes a few years ago and given his attacking qualities are clearly better than what Arteta has at the moment, it could be a shrewd investment to secure him before next season.

Arsenal are "looking at" signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Moussa Diaby in the upcoming transfer window, according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

Who is Moussa Diaby signing for?

According to a report from The Evening Standard, Arsenal were interested in signing Diaby during the January transfer window, but Leverkusen were reluctant to lose one of their star players mid-way through the season.

However, now the winger has just over two years remaining on his contract, this summer may be the German side's last opportunity to cash-in, and there have been multiple Premier League teams named as potential suitors.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has claimed that Newcastle and Manchester United have also shown an interest in the Leverkusen star, with the Bundesliga club set to demand a fee of around €70m – €80m (£60m – £69m).

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Taylor has now provided an update on Arsenal's summer transfer business.

The Daily Express journalist said: "I'm not quite sure they have the financial muscle to pull off both Rice and Caicedo. But, at the same time, I do think we can expect Arsenal to be shopping in a market where they're looking at players that will also interest a lot of clubs.

"An example would be someone like Moussa Diaby, who is clearly highly-rated. Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested. He ticks that under-25 box and is a player that can reach a new level at Arsenal.

"That's what I expect to see, but I don't expect to see scattergun recruitment. It's going to be concise and I believe Arsenal already have a clear shortlist of targets."

How many goals has Moussa Diaby scored?

The France international racked up 14 goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season, including two in the Champions League, with that figure ranking him as the top scorer in the squad.

Not only that, the 23-year-old is also clearly a very creative player, weighing in with nine assists, the second-highest total behind Jeremie Frimpong, who has previously been linked with a move to north London.

Hailed as "incredibly dangerous" by former teammate Nils Petersen, the £37k-per-week dynamo is very well-known for his sprint speed, with football scout Jacek Kulig lauding his "electric pace" and "unreal acceleration".

That said, £69m is a large sum of money for a player who would not necessarily be a guaranteed starter, considering Bukayo Saka's output at right-wing last season, and Mikel Arteta may be better off strengthening other areas of the squad.

Chelsea suffered a major blow in the early phases of an imperative transfer window after Manuel Ugarte's prospective transfer to Stamford Bridge collapsed, but securing Moises Caicedo's signature could reinstate central stability.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to a report from Ecuadorian outlet Teradeportes (via the Mirror), Brighton & Hove Albion's Caicedo has agreed personal terms with Arsenal but remains undecided about where his future lies with three Premier League outfits vying for his signature.

Chelsea are indeed suitors for the 21-year-old, while Liverpool also maintain an interest in the robust ace's services but are believed to be behind in the race with qualms over the £75m price tag.

The Blues had a £55m offer rejected by the Seagulls in January, before a succession of offers culminating in a £70m approach from the Gunners also bore no fruit, but now at the end of the season, he is available if the valuation is met.

Why should Chelsea sign Moises Caicedo?

Chelsea suffered their lowest Premier League finish since 1993/94 this year after a shambolic season that belied the affluence of the club's transfer activity in its sheer capitulation across every department.

A mass exodus is expected to stem from west London this summer, but with the deadwood shifted out the welcoming of first-rate and diligently thought-out replacements can steady the ship and unearth the riches to build success at Stamford Bridge once again.

And in Caicedo, what a tenacious and unwavering midfielder new manager Mauricio Pochettino would have at his disposal, with the engine one of the centrepieces in Albion's resounding feats this season, finishing sixth and qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history.

As per Sofascore, the dynamic "machine" – as he has been lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – recorded an impressive average rating in the top-flight of 7.08 this year, having started 34 matches, completed 89% of his passes, averaged 1.3 key passes, 2.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, also winning 58% of his duels.

Such an imperious and inexhaustible gem could quite swiftly eradicate concerns over the Blues' failure to complete the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who had looked set for a move to Chelsea before Paris Saint-Germain took the lead in the race at the eleventh hour, with Fabrizio Romano now confirming that the Ligue 1 champions are poised to finalise the swoop.

Ugarte ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Men's 'Next 8' – the divisions beneath the established European big five – leagues for pass completion, as well as the top 1% for tackles, 3% for interceptions and 10% for blocks per 90.

The "special" Caicedo – as dubbed by Football.London's Chris Davison is a bit more dynamic and less of an anchor than Ugarte, but the Brighton phenom still ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 13% for rate of tackles and the top 11% for interceptions per 90.

Indeed, it's clear that with his signing, already tried and tested in the Premier League and the World Cup, Ugarte's links will be a long-forgotten memory.

Hailed as his country's "crown jewel" by Ecuadorian football expert Enrico Castro-Montes, Caicedo could yet emerge as one of Europe's most prominent names at Chelsea; he is exactly what they need to return to the top.

Sunderland could reportedly now sell Ross Stewart to one of their new Championship rivals.

The Lowdown: ‘Incredible’ season

As Black Cats legend Kevin Phillips has pointed out, Stewart has had an ‘incredible‘ season at the Stadium of Light, scoring no fewer than 26 goals in total over all competitions, double the next best in Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead with 13 (Transfermarkt).

Fittingly, he also scored their final goal of the campaign as well, the one that sealed promotion back up to the Championship in the 2-0 League One play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers.

The Latest: Clubs swarming

As per the print edition of The Daily Mirror (via The Sunderland Echo), fellow Championship sides Middlesbrough, QPR and Sheffield United are all now in the hunt to sign Stewart, as well as Glasgow Rangers.

However, Alex Neil’s team would like to tie him down to a lucrative new contract that would make him their best-paid player.

The Verdict: Keep at all costs

There is no denying how important Stewart is to the team with his goal output, and if they are to have the best possible chance of staying in the division next term, then there is no doubt that the striker would have to stay.

At 25 years of age, it is scary to think that Stewart’s best playing days are ahead of him, and so tying him down to a new deal would be huge.

Nonetheless, selling the Scotsman to a Championship rival would surely be seen as unforgivable by the Wearside club’s supporters.

In other news, find out who SAFC will now ‘hold talks’ over signing here!

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has dropped a worrying injury claim regarding winger Jack Harrison ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with Brighton.

The Lowdown: Marsch’s comments

Harrison was withdrawn in the first half of the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday evening. Jesse Marsch admitted after the match he was hoping the injury wasn’t too serious, describing the issue as a ‘contusion’ that ‘limited him from moving’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-43/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The 25-year-old, described as a ‘big influence’ by Marcelo Bielsa, has missed just three Premier League games all season and none under Marsch but was due to have a scan on Thursday morning.

However, it looks as if he could join a number of senior stars on the sidelines due to injury and suspension for the final home game of the campaign.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Hay shared a story for The Athletic following another night to forget for Leeds against Thomas Tuchel’s side. When it came to injuries, he stated that Harrison is ‘probably beyond Marsch’s reach for the meeting with Brighton’.

Raphinha was also taken off with a slight hamstring concern in the second half, but that was thought to be simply as a precaution.

The Verdict: What next?

Leeds are running out of time, games and players in their attempts to avoid the drop, so should Harrison miss out on Sunday, Marsch will be left with limited resources in attack on what would be another big blow.

Providing Raphinha makes it, he could be the only senior wide man available at Elland Road. Youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood, who are suited to more central roles, could be Marsch’s only options.

An even narrower formation could be deployed as a result, and who knows, Patrick Bamford may make a timely return to the squad in a rare injury boost, should he return to team training today as expected.

In other news: Phil Hay says £15k-p/w Leeds man will now leave Elland Road over the coming weeks. 

Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is ‘destined’ to move from Molineux to Barcelona this summer, according to journalist Josh Holland.

The Lowdown: Neves linked with Wolves exit

The 25-year-old has proven to be a wonderful player for the Old Gold, producing moments of magic from midfield and maturing into a formidable player.

Unfortunately, Neves’ superb form this season has seen him linked with a summer move away, with numerous clubs keen on acquiring his signature.

Barcelona are arguably the front-runners to sign the Portuguese maestro, as Xavi looks to build a successful new era at the Catalan club.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-5/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Journalist drops Barcelona claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Holland claimed that Neves’ rumoured move to the La Liga giants feels inevitable. He stated:

“The history and the name Barcelona, that’s pulling power in itself. And you look at what Xavi is doing at the club, there’s always going to be the whole if he goes and works with Xavi, how good will he be?

“No disrespect to Wolves, but you’d rather live in Barcelona than Wolverhampton. I think that’s more or less destined to happen.”

[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]

The Verdict: Matter of time

As great as it would be to see Neves remain at Wolves, there almost seems to be an acceptance that he will trade Molineux for Camp Nou this summer.

The lure of playing for such a special club could be too great to turn down, especially for Portuguese players, with past legends such as Luis Figo and Deco representing the Blaugrana.

The hope is that Neves will extend his stay at Wolves, but with European football looking unlikely for Bruno Lage’s team next season and elite clubs interested in the 25-year-old, it seems as if the Molineux faithful should be prepared for the midfielder’s exit.

In other news, Wolves are interested in signing an exciting wide player this summer. Find out who it is here.