All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old Blackburn Rovers defender Ashley Phillips, according to reports. The North London club have reportedly seen their bid accepted by the Championship side.

What's the latest on Spurs and Ashley Phillips?

Spurs have seen their £3m bid for Phillips accepted, according to Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic, with the teenager set to make the step-up to the Premier League after he showed signings of breaking through at Blackburn last season, making eight appearances.

As per Eccleshare, the youngster is set to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours, before joining up with the rest of the Spurs squad for their pre-season tour.

His arrival will also reportedly not get in the way of the Lillywhites' plans to sign at least one more senior centre-back this summer, with the likes of former loanee Clement Lenglet linked with a permanent move.

Of course, at such a young age, the central defender may well find himself refined to the youth sides, rather than thrown straight into the deep end of Ange Postecoglou's first-team.

Phillips will become the fourth signing of the Postecoglou era, following in the footsteps of Manor Solomon, Guglielmo Vicario, and James Maddison, as the North London side undergo another rebuild under yet another manager.

Who is Ashley Phillips?

It's a fairly impressive move for Phillips at just 18-years-old, but it's one that he's earned after impressing for Blackburn last season.

The defender was the subject of plenty of praise throughout the last few years, with former manager Tony Mowbray saying, via the Lancashire Telegraph, back in 2021: “He’s an amazing footballer and he is going to be a mega footballer I’m pretty sure, but he’s a very young boy.

“He’s a 6’3, 6’4 magnificent cut of a guy, fast as lightning, composed with the ball, aggressive. I think this football club have a footballer on their hands, and we have to manage his introduction into our team as best we can. I just brought him to give him some experience.”

Statistically speaking, too, Phillips wasn't far off the numbers that Japhet Tanganga produced in his limited game-time last season – even making more blocks than the current Spurs man, according to FBref.

The 24-year-old Tanganga is a good example of how Spurs' academy process can benefit young players, too. Coming through the academy, though injuries have stalled his progress, Tanganga was a consistent fixture in the side at one stage.

For Phillips, it will be a case of taking his chances as and when they come, starting with pre-season. The next few weeks will give him a great chance to learn from some of his teammates ahead of the campaign, and perhaps he can nudge his way in on some of Tanganga's minutes, or even throw doubt over the need for a signing like Lenglet.

When it comes to competitions such as the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, we may see Phillips thrown into the side by Postecoglou, as we get a glimpse of the player that the teenager has the potential to become.

Hibernian manager Lee Johnson is "likely" to re-sign defender Will Fish on another loan from Man United, according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Who will Hibs sign?

Hibs have been fairly busy so far this transfer window as they build a capable side for the 2023/2024 Scottish Premiership campaign and their foray into Europe.

The Hibees qualified for the Europa Conference League play-off rounds at the end of last season after finishing fifth, and are still awaiting who they will face off against in the first leg of their second qualifying round on July 27th.

In the meantime, Johnson's side have looming friendlies against Bournemouth, with kick off later today, and FC Groningen next Friday.

So far, they've prepared well this summer in terms of incomings, having already sealed deals for Elie Youan, who joined from Swiss side St. Gallen for around £496,000, and Dylan Levitt from Dundee United for £299,000.

The aforementioned duo join striker Adam Le Fondre, left-back Jordan Obita and goalkeeper Maksymilian Boruc who have signed for Hibs on free transfers.

These additions could do wonders to fill the gaps left by star departures, most notably striker and top scorer from last season Kevin Nisbett, who joined Millwall last month for a "significant" seven-figure fee.

The 26-year-old departed Hibs alongside Marijan Cabraja, Mikey Devlin, Maciej Dabrowski, Kyle Magennis and Aiden McGeady – with Johnson seemingly orchestrating a major rebuild (Transfermarkt).

However, according to reliable reports in the English press, they may not be done there as young centre-back Fish could re-join Hibs on loan from Man United.

Journalist Luckhurst co-wrote a piece for the Manchester Evening News, sharing it on Twitter, whilst claiming Fish's reunion with Hibs is "likely" as the player agrees to make another season-long loan move.

The 20-year-old has been named in Erik ten Hag's recent friendly squads and will be again for their match against Lyon in Edinburgh next week.

He's then expected to remain in the Scottish capital and begin preparations with Hibs boss Johnson as he looks set to make the move back up north.

Fish was attracting attention from rivals, like Aberdeen, as well as clubs in the English Championship and League One. However, it is Hibs who have seemingly won the race for his signature, with the youngster keen to re-join and build upon his brilliant end to the 22/23 campaign.

How good is Will Fish?

The starlet seriously impressed towards the back end of last season with Hibs.

Indeed, Fish ranked among their top five best-performing players per 90 according to WhoScored, with the Englishman even chipping in with three league goals going forward.

He was also an indomitable presence at the back for Hibs, averaging more clearances and blocks per 90 than any other player in Johnson's squad (WhoScored).

Johnson, speaking to BBC Sportsround (via Football Scotland), heaped praise on Fish for his contribution in green and white.

"He's been fantastic. I've said before if you could build a centre-half, you'd build Will Fish," exclaimed Johnson.

He's a great student and a great lad and he's had to up his gravitas levels for this league and his on-pitch personalities.

"He's trusted by the boys, trusted by the staff and it's a great sign."

Mauricio Pochettino looks to continue his overhaul of the Chelsea squad this summer by adding to the two signings of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, however this time he will be bolstering his midfield options having already lost N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer as talks have been held with Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

Is Romeo Lavia heading to Chelsea?

Graeme Bailey of 90min provided an update regarding the chase of Lavia, saying: “Romeo Lavia is emerging as one of this summer's most in-demand players.

“Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea have all held talks, whilst former club Man City, Man Utd and Newcastle are being kept informed.

“Southampton want £50m…”

The fee shouldn’t represent too much of a problem, especially considering the money they have raised via player sales so far and with Pochettino lacking depth in the heart of the midfield, Lavia wouldn’t just be a signing for the future, but a player who could stake a claim for a first team place straight away.

Could Romeo Lavia become the heir to N’Golo Kante?

Following a lacklustre 12th place finish in the Premier League last term, their worst since 1993/94, there is plenty of change at Stamford Bridge this summer as Pochettino looks to assert his own authority on the team which certainly has the talent to be challenging for honours.

The onus will be on him to find a perfect heir for Kante, with the Frenchman departing the Premier League by joining Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Ittihad after seven fruitful years at the Blues, which include a Champions League crown and Premier League title among other trophies.

The Frenchman flourished in a defensive midfield slot for the Stamford Bridge side, making nearly 300 appearances during his spell at the club and his debut campaign saw the midfielder complete 53.8 accurate passes per game along with making 3.6 tackles per match, ranking him as second and first in the squad, showing just how effective he was across these metrics as Chelsea won another league title.

These have been the hallmarks of a great career, as the 32-year-old is able to circulate the ball extremely well while also using his tackling abilities to good use as he remained an immovable force at the heart of the midfield.

Lavia could certainly follow in his footsteps, no doubt about it as he embodies a few of the traits which made the former Leicester City star such a wonderful player.

He made 2.1 tackles per game for the Saints last term, the second most in the squad, and it would also rank him fifth in the Chelsea squad, indicating how useful his dogged nature would be to Pochettino next term.

Although Lavia made just 29.5 accurate passes per game, this would surely increase in a Chelsea side which would look to dominate the ball for long periods of time, further enriching himself as the player who could take over the mantle from Kante.

Lauded as an “absolute monster” following yet another solid performance last season by journalist Benjy Nurick, it’s clear that Pochettino should be going all out to secure his signature this summer.

West Bromwich Albion missed out on the Championship play-offs by just three points as they finished ninth in the table at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Carlos Corberan now has the summer transfer window to bolster his squad with the aim of competing for promotion to the Premier League next season.

One area in which the Spanish head coach may look to strengthen in is the forward department. No Baggies player managed more than seven goals and Karlan Grant, in particular, endured a difficult year in front of goal.

The former Huddersfield gem only scored three goals in 31 Championship matches for the club and the service to him was not the issue as he missed nine 'big chances'.

Corberan could land an upgrade on the profligate dud by signing Jerry Yates in the coming weeks, as both players are strikers who can also play on either flank.

How did Jerry Yates perform last season?

Despite Blackpool's relegation from the second tier, the 26-year-old marksman enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Tangerines and his form suggests that the potential is there for him to be a superb addition to West Brom's squad.

Yates, who is a reported £4m transfer target for the Baggies, plundered 14 goals in 41 league appearances, whilst he only missed eight 'big chances'.

The English finisher proved himself to be a reliable goalscoring option at that level, which is something Corberan did not have in his roster last term.

He scored twice as many goals as any member of the Spaniard's side and almost five times more than Grant, who played out wide or through the middle, produced. This means that the 5 foot 9 dynamo could, therefore, provide the club with a huge attacking boost.

Along with his predatory instincts in the final third, the £6.1k-per-week hotshot also showcased his creative ability with four assists and nine 'big chances' created for his teammates.

Meanwhile, Daryl Dike was the only Baggies no9 with at least one assist as Grant failed to create a single 'big chance' or register any assists in the Championship.

Yates' 0.8 key passes per match would place him in the top five performers for West Brom and above every other centre-forward at the club, which means that he provided his fellow attackers with more opportunities in front of goal.

These statistics suggest that the Blackpool ace, who was lauded as "immense" by journalist Sean McGinlay, would be a significant upgrade on Grant due to the threat he poses at the top end of the pitch as a goal scorer and creator.

Spider-Man actor and Tottenham Hotspur supporter Tom Holland has urged both Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to join Real Madrid this summer.

What’s the latest Harry Kane and Tottenham transfer news?

The England captain is entering the final 12 months of his contract this summer, so there has been plenty of talk about his future.

For instance, the likes of Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have all been linked with his name in the press of late.

However, it remains to be seen if he will push for an exit and whether chairman Daniel Levy would even be open to selling the club’s prized assets.

Well, it appears that even Spurs’ own supporters would happily see their key men leave this summer if it meant they finally had the opportunity to go and win something.

Indeed, while speaking recently to the press (via @thfc_co on Twitter), Hollywood star Holland urged Kane and Son to both move to La Liga in order to fulfil their potential.

What did Tom Holland say about Spurs?

“Tottenham have never won anything, and supporting them is incredibly difficult,” he began.

He went on to explain what he’d tell Kane if he had the chance to speak to him, saying: “I’d say go to [Real] Madrid. Go and be the best football player in the world, that you deserve to be.”

On his favourite player Son, Holland added: “I’d say go with him, go together, go win the Champions League together, please.”

Evidently, the Spider-Man actor has had enough of his team’s persistent failures over the last number of years, and seeing as they haven’t won a major trophy since 2008, it’s not hard to see why.

This, of course, means both Kane and Son haven’t won anything for Tottenham. To make things worse, neither man has even won any domestic silverware during the course of their club careers.

Despite Holland’s warning, however, it at least seems that the South Korean will be sticking around in north London for the foreseeable future.

When quizzed about his future, he recently told the press: “I have many things to do in the Premier League and the pride of playing football, to play in my favourite league is important.

“I want to play more for Tottenham in the Premier League. I’ll prepare well when I’m back to Spurs.”

“Money doesn’t matter to me now.”

Tottenham Hotspur are among the contenders for the touted Netherlands prospect Xavi Simons, who is expected to leave Dutch Eredivisie outfit PSV this summer.

What's the latest on Xavi Simons to Tottenham?

That's according to esteemed transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who claims that while PSG have the option to exercise a €6m (£5m) buyback clause for the dynamic midfielder next month, Spurs are also firmly in the mix.

Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are all considering a move too, but Tottenham will fight hard to secure the signature of a precocious talent who could assume a driving role in Ange Postecoglou's rebuilding job.

Just 20-years-old, Simons is in the maiden phase of his career but has already caught the eye with his stellar showings, and if Tottenham prevail in their bid, it would represent a major coup.

Should Tottenham sign Xavi Simons?

The Lilywhites' framework needs some tinkering over the next few months if the demons of the past season are to be exorcised, and while the appointment of Postecoglou from Scottish champions Celtic is both astute and befitting, the transfer market must be utilised aptly after a dismal year that yielded no European football.

Indeed, Spurs finished eighth and stretched their barren trophy run to 15 years, with the acrimonious dismissal of Antonio Conte in March the fourth in as many years by chairman Daniel Levy.

The time for rejuvenation is now and Simons would fortify this framework with a steely foundation, with the Dutch talent having been in sensational and prolific form for Der Boeren this year, plundering 22 goals and assisting 12 more from 48 matches across all competitions, dubbed a "magic" ace by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Typically utilised as a No. 10, Simons has also found fruit from the flanks and in a more centrally-placed striking deployment, and this level of versatility could provide Tottenham with an invaluable and "unprecedented" new option – as Simons' skill set has been described by Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Given his aptitude at both scoring and creating goals, he could be the dream heir for beloved former Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen, who also plied his trade in the Eredivisie, with Ajax, before making the £11.5m switch to north London in 2013.

Now a phenom with Manchester United, the Danish star would forge 305 appearances for the N17 side, scoring 69 goals and supplying 90 assists, and was heralded by former teammate Kyle Walker for his innate ability to salvage results, with the right-back saying you would "put your house on him".

Also heralded as a "world-class player" by Craig Bellamy, the 31-year-old has revelled in an excellent career as a reliable conduit between the central and final third, capable of devastating defences with his multi-faceted tool kit.

Praised as a gem who "has the X-factor” by journalist Antonio Mango, Simons perhaps offers more of a direct threat than his creative peer, but given Eriksen was of a similar age when he joined Tottenham and both boast a superlative talent as attacking midfielders, joining the fold at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be a stunning partnership and a rebirth of a first-rate player at the club.

Newcastle United still want to try and add Kieran Tierney to their squad this summer, and it looks like they could launch a bid for the defender soon according to Football Insider.

Are Newcastle signing Kieran Tierney?

The defender still managed to play on 27 occasions for Arsenal in the Premier League this season, despite not feeling as much of a first-team regular as he did previously. That's likely because most of those showings came from off the bench – the former Celtic man managed just six starts for the Gunners over the course of the campaign, showing he has fallen down the pecking order thanks to the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Despite that, the youngster remains a superb option at left-back, which is showcased when you compare him to other players in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. His highest ranking stat is his shots per 90 rate, which is 1.20 and puts him within the top 13% for that. It shows he is not afraid to drive forward and get into positions to test the opposition goalkeeper. Even better is that he ranks highly for converting those opportunities too, with Tierney also managing to sit in the 73rd percentile for goals per 90.

That could be why Newcastle have been so keen to snap him up – they didn't get much attacking contribution from Dan Burn this season – and it looks like they could make a bid for his services soon.

That's because according to a report from Football Insider, the Toon are still in pole position to add him to their ranks, and he remains one of their biggest priorities as they look to strengthen at left-back. It states that he is their most wanted to fill that position and they are planning to launch a "formal bid" at the end of the month, with the player keen on a move.

What is Tierney's transfer value?

CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could now be around 15 million Euros (or £12.8m) and it means that if a fee is around that amount, it could be a steal for Newcastle considering Arsenal initially forked out £25m for his signature.

He's been praised for his efforts since making the move to the Gunners, with football journalist Josh Bunting stating that the player is "brilliant" in a previous game for the side. His stats suggest he remains a solid player at left-back too and that means Newcastle would be getting both an experienced and talented defender if they do manage to sign him this transfer window.

Leeds United reportedly see Daniel Farke as a "serious" candidate to take charge at Elland Road this summer, according to a fresh claim.

Who is favourite to take Leeds job?

The search to be the next Whites boss is ongoing currently, with the club working diligently to ensure that the correct appointment is made this time around.

It could be argued that all three of Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce were the wrong choices to sit in the Elland Road hot seat, and it has ultimately led to Leeds being relegated from the Premier League.

Since Allardyce's recent departure, endless names have been linked with the vacant Whites job, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard arguably at the front of the queue, along with the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Carlos Corberan and Scott Parker, to name a few.

Farke is also a name that has recently been thrown into the hat, however, with journalist Phil Hay name-checking Leeds' interest in him on Saturday, and a new update further suggests that their interest is genuine.

Could Farke be the next Whites manager?

According to Sport1, Farke is a "serious" option to become the Whites' new boss, with "loose" talks being held over a move to Elland Road, having parted ways with Borussia Monchengladbach recently.

The takeover of Leeds by 49ers Enterprises has happened at the same time, suggesting they see Farke as more of a strong appointment that the previous owners, although the timing could simply be coincidence.

The former Norwich City manager could be a really shrewd choice as manager by the Whites, considering he has guided the Canaries to two title-winning seasons in the Championship in the past, showing that he is an expert at getting out of arguably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.

It is imperative that Leeds make a fast return to the Premier League and don't allow years of good work to completely go to waste in no time at all, and Farke is a strong choice for that reason, compared to the likes of Gerrard and Corberan, who haven't achieved as much to date.

It feels like one of the most pivotal summers at Leeds in many years, in terms of picking the right manager and making key signings to take the team forward – in the 46-year-old Farke, the Whites have a reliable choice who could jump at the chance to return to English football.

Manchester United will find it "very difficult" to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

Kane is facing an uncertain future in north London, as he has just 12 months remaining on his contract, and interest in his signature is growing, from a number of top clubs across the continent.

Bayern Munich are reportedly hopeful the England captain could be persuaded to move to the Allianz Arena, while Real Madrid have also identified him as a target, and the Spanish side are currently in the process of preparing their first bid.

Man United have made the 29-year-old their top target for the upcoming window, however transfer insider Dean Jones reports Daniel Levy does not want to let him switch to Old Trafford at any price.

Romano also believes the Red Devils do not stand much chance of signing the forward this summer, recently telling GiveMeSport: "Manchester United are aware of how difficult it will be to sign Harry Kane. It will be really complicated because Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will fight to keep the player and will make life very difficult for Manchester United to sign Kane, so that's not going to be easy for them."

Will Kane join Man United?

At this stage, it appears as though the only way the Tottenham star will be able to move to another Premier League club is if he runs down his contract, meaning he might not be on the move until next summer.

However, considering a new striker is a priority for Man United in the upcoming window, Erik ten Hag will probably be unwilling to wait that long, which indicates it is very unlikely he makes a move to Old Trafford, unless Levy softens his stance.

If the Red Devils do end up missing out on the £200k-per-week forward, it will be very disappointing, given his fantastc scoring record in the English top flight, currently second only to Alan Shearer in the all-time charts, having scored 213 goals.

Hailed as "incredible" by Tottenham coach Ryan Mason, Kane could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Ten Hag, and the Man United boss will be disappointed that he will seemingly be unavailable until next summer.

However, United still have some exciting alternative options on their shortlist, including Benfica's Goncalo Ramos, who scored 27 goals in 47 games last season.

Manchester United could end the season on a high today as they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final, with victory ensuring they finish the campaign with two trophies for the first time since 2016/2017.

Regardless of the outcome, Erik ten Hag has restored some pride in the Red Devils and with the summer transfer window just around the corner, he could further bolster his team in order to claim more prestigious prizes in the future.

Strengthening his attacking options seems to be the priority, with Rasmus Hojlund and Randal Kolo Muani key targets, however there will surely be improvements all over the pitch.

The Old Trafford side have been linked recently with defender Goncalo Inacio according to O Jogo (via Sport Witness) and Sporting CP will demand a fee in the region of £45m should Ten Hag look to make a bid for the player, which is well within their budget.

A move for Inacio could see the Dutchman move on a few defenders, with Victor Lindelof surely one that could be departing United this summer.

Could Goncalo Inacio replace Victor Lindelof at Manchester United?

The Swedish defender found himself down the pecking order behind both Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez during the opening months of the season, yet when the Argentinian suffered a season-ending injury in April, he managed to find some form.

During the win over AFC Bournemouth in May, he was lauded as “unbelievable” by journalist Liam Canning, and he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.12 across his final five league matches, looking resurgent under Ten Hag.

However, if United sign Inacio, he could find himself further down the pecking order, with Varane, Martinez and the 21-year-old potentially ahead of him next season.

Indeed, the 21-year-old possesses a bigger attacking threat from centre-back than Lindelof, registering more shot-creating actions (1.98 to 0.4) per 90 and touches in the attacking third (140 to 35) per 90, which could be a bonus for Ten Hag.

Additionally, the Portugal international also ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes and top 3% for progressive carries across Europe’s big five leagues over the previous 365 days, with the Swede ranking in just the top 59% and 48% in the same metrics, suggesting Inacio is far better at bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks from the back than the current United defender.

Journalist Zach Lowy has even dubbed the 6 foot 1 defender as “underrated” and gaining experience in the Premier League and Champions League for United next term could see the youngster break through to the next level.

Ten Hag must act sooner rather than later, as for the aforementioned price tag, the move could represent wonderful value over the coming years.