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Leeds United are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Anderlecht midfielder Josh Cullen this summer, according to a new transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Cullen thriving in Belgium

The 25-year-old was once a youngster at West Ham but he has since traded England for Belgium, having joined Anderlecht back in 2020.

Cullen is impressing at his current club too, starting 32 Jupiler Pro League games, as well as appearing in eight 2022 World Cup qualifiers for the Republic of Ireland.

It could be that a return to the Premier League is on the cards this summer, however, with a fresh update suggesting his form has caught the eye of several teams in the English top flight.

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The Latest: Leeds eye up move

According to TEAMtalk, the Whites are one of many keen on acquiring Cullen’s services at the end of the season, with his current deal expiring in 2023.

Wolves, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Burnley, Norwich, Fulham and Sheffield United are all mentioned in report, as well as West Ham possibly re-signing their former youngster too.

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The Verdict: Possible Phillips replacement?

Cullen has proven to be a strong performer at both club and international level over the past couple of years, so he could be a shrewd addition by Jesse Marsch this summer.

He has excelled in a deep-lying No.6 role, averaging 2.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game in the league this season, as well as one key pass per match.

Described as ‘outstanding’ by Lee Bowyer, it could even be that he is viewed as a potential replacement for Kalvin Phillips, should the Leeds hero decide to move on to pastures new, though perhaps Cullen’s lack of experience in a truly elite league would cause worry for Leeds supporters.

In other news, an injury expert has made a key claim regarding one Leeds player. Read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur coach Antonio Conte has been dealt bad injury news ahead of their clash with Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites in form…

In recent weeks, Spurs have managed to build a consistent run of form under Conte following a mediocre start to the New Year.

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The Lilywhites have won five out of their last six Premier League games, including impressive wins against the likes of Man City, Newcastle and Everton.

Tottenham are aiming to qualify for the Champions League ahead of 2022/2023, a feat which could majorly boost Conte’s chances of staying in north London and increase their pull in this summer’s transfer market.

As they take on Aston Villa today, though, it appears Conte and co will remain without a key midfield in Oliver Skipp despite reports earlier this week he was set to return to the grass.

The Latest: BBC relay team news…

As relayed by the BBC and confirmed by Tottenham’s head coach, the English capital giants have been dealt some bad news as Skipp suffers a setback in his recovery from a hip problem.

The relapsed physical issue extends his spell on the sidelines with Spurs’ academy starlet now missing Villa today alongside Japhet Tanganga – who is out for the season.

The Verdict: Blow for Conte…

While both Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have proved a capable partnership in Skipp’s absence, his unavailability remains a blow for Conte.

The 21-year-old hasn’t featured since a defeat to Chelsea in late January and Spurs must surely be getting worried given the long-delayed return to full fitness.

Former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke described his 2020/2021 loanee as a ‘perfect’ player and it’s safe to say Tottenham could really use his presence in the final run of crunch matches.

According to WhoScored, he’s averaged a higher pass accuracy than any Spurs starter in the English top flight this season, backing his real composure and class at such a young age.

Indeed, a setback in his recovery may come as a big blow for Conte.

In other news: Tottenham eye agreement ‘in the coming weeks’ as they make offer for exciting midfielder! Find out more here.

Jordan Campbell has dropped an update on Glasgow Rangers’ bid to bring Danilho Doekhi to Ibrox in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

In a recent article for The Athletic, the journalist revealed that, following the pre-contract signing of John Souttar, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are also in a strong position to secure a deal for the Vitesse Arnhem centre-back this month, with the Gers manager keen to bolster his numbers in the heart of defence prior to the closure of the transfer market.

In his piece, Campbell wrote: “Rangers are also keen on Vitesse captain Danilho Doekhi and are in a strong position to land the Dutch defender.”

Fans will be buzzing

Doekhi has been impressive in the Netherlands this season, and Van Bronckhorst is in rather desperate need of defensive reinforcements ahead of the restart of the Premiership season given the injuries to Filip Helander and Leon Balogun out, as well as the latter and Connor Goldson being out of contract at the end of the current campaign. Therefore, the news that Gers appear to be closing in on a deal for the 23-year-old is sure to have left the Ibrox faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 14 Eredivisie appearances this term, the £2.7m-rated Vitesse defender has helped his side to keep three clean sheets and scored one goal, as well as making 1.6 interceptions, two tackles, 3.6 clearances and 39.1 passes per game and winning 65% of his duels.

These returns have seen the £3.4k-per-week centre-back average a SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Vitesse’s joint-seventh best performer in the Dutch top flight.

As such, it is clear for all to see that Doekhi would make a fantastic addition to Van Bronckhorst’s current options in the heart of his defence at Ibrox. The prospective arrival of the 23-year-old would undoubtedly provide Rangers’ chances of going on to retain the Premiership title with a considerable boost, an outcome which would delight everyone involved with the club.

In other news: Rangers dealt fresh transfer setback on “crazy” January transfer, Van Bronckhorst will be fuming

After what has been a frustrating start to life at Aston Villa, Leon Bailey now deserves the opportunity to receive a run of regular games in Steven Gerrard’s side.

With nine matches left in the Premier League season, the Villans will be looking to finish the campaign as strongly as possible in order to secure their first top-half finish at this level in 11 years.

Furthermore, Gerrard will be keen to see the season draw to a positive close in order to lay down foundations to build upon for next season, with the West Midlands club possibly investing heavily once again.

Having been one of last summer’s big-money transfers when sealing a £25m move from Bayern Leverkusen, Bailey’s place is by no means secure but, amid injury issues, the Jamaican now deserves the chance to improve his status in the pecking order.

Bailey deserves his chance

The 24-year-old has only made 14 appearances in the Premier League, with just four starts, in which time he has scored once and set up two goals. However, during his time at Leverkusen, the Jamaica international scored 39 goals and set up another 26 in 156 appearances, an average of one goal contribution every 2.4 matches.

At 24, the winger has bags of experience, having played in both the Champions League and Europa League, also racking up 119 Bundesliga appearances, so there is no doubt that he can still be a huge asset for Gerrard’s side.

Indeed, after scoring in a 4-1 win over Hoffenheim in January 2018, his then-manager Heiko Herrlich gushed: “Leon Bailey can do anything at the moment.”

Last summer, the Jamaican wasn’t the only winger to join the West Midlands club, as Emi Buendia became the club’s record-signing when joining from Norwich City for a whopping £38m. Unfortunately for the Argentine, there hasn’t yet been much evidence of that fee being justified, with the 25-year-old scoring just twice and supplying four assists in 28 appearances.

The addition of Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona has made a huge difference, with the Brazilian already doubling Buendia’s goal tally, having scored four goals in just ten Premier League appearances for the club thus far.

Coutinho’s place in the team is guaranteed but Bailey could certainly pip Buendia to a regular starting spot for the remainder of the campaign. However, if the 24-year-old is to succeed in doing so, he must prove to his manager that he’s fit and ready to start matches in order to show him and the Villa fans what he can do.

A strong conclusion to the campaign should certainly get Bailey’s spell in the West Midlands back on track.

In other news: Aston Villa open transfer talks over 105-goal machine, Gerrard will be buzzing

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According to Sky Sports, a Chinese club have begun negotiations with Manchester United over a deal for midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

Then-Red Devils manager David Moyes brought Fellaini to Old Trafford for a fee of £27.5 million in 2013, as per BBC. The 6’4” Belgian has since made more than 150 appearances for the club, according to Transfermarkt. He became a particularly effective player during the Jose Mourinho era at old Trafford, when the Portuguese coach regularly used the 31-year-old as an impact substitute or auxiliary forward.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

So impressive was Fellaini under Mourinho that the Belgium international was handed a new contract by the club in June 2018.

However, Fellaini has barely featured for the club since the interim appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the time has come for him to move on to pastures new.

When the story of Belgian’s potential departure emerged, plenty of United fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on his seemingly imminent exit…

Tottenham Hotspur now also want to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans while they weigh a move for Christian Eriksen as fresh transfer news emerges.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites enter Eriksen chase…

Links to their former superstar playmaker have been prevalent in the last few weeks as Tottenham reportedly eye a move to re-sign Eriksen on a free summer deal.

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90min recently claimed that Tottenham are interested in a move for the 30-year-old, as did reliable iNews correspondent Mark Douglas, with big name source The Times also backing these reports.

Journalist Gary Jacob, making a Tuesday night claim, says Spurs are weighing a move for Eriksen but, as per his information, he isn’t the only midfielder on their radar.

The Latest: Paratici eyes Tielemans move…

Writing for The Times, he claims that Spurs want to sign Leicester’s star midfielder as they keep tabs on his situation.

He comes as a fellow target alongside Eriksen, with Tielemans about to enter the last year of his contract at the King Power Stadium, potentially putting Paratici and co in a strong position to move.

The Verdict: Good candidate…

While Eriksen on a free could come as the more romantic move, certainly amid supporters at least, you cannot rule out Tielemans as a good candidate to strengthen Antonio Conte’s midfield options.

The 24-year-old, who wants to play in the Champions League as Spurs compete for a place there next season, has been lavished as ‘one of Europe’s top midfielders’ by Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers this season.

In another promising claim, Leicester could let him go this summer for as little as £35 million, coming after they demanded as much as £60m last year (Het Nieuwsblad via The Metro).

Amid this £25m drop in price, it’s little wonder Spurs are now eyeing a move.

In other news: Conte personally approves ‘monster’ player move as Tottenham take pre-summer action, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur will face a Brentford side in the Premier League this evening that doesn’t include Ethan Pinnock, with the centre-back ruled out with a hamstring injury.

What’s the latest?

As quoted by West London Sport, Bees manager Thomas Frank said to the media: “Ethan will, hopefully, be only a couple of weeks, so that means Manchester United is borderline, but let’s see.”

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The 28-year-old limped off in the first half of the west London outfit’s 2-1 win at Watford last Saturday whilst fellow defender Zanka will also be sidelined with Spurs set to face a side with limited resources at the back.

Conte will be buzzing

After last weekend’s slip up against Brighton, Tottenham can no longer afford to make mistakes if they are to secure Champions League football for next season with just six matches left this term.

Spurs have dropped out of the top four temporarily after Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United, although the Lilywhites will return to fourth place with victory at the Brentford Community Stadium.

However, their place is hanging by a thread with goal difference the only factor separating the two sides if Conte’s side are victorious at Brentford.

Therefore, the prospect of playing a side struggling for options at the back is certainly a huge boost for the north London outfit.

The Bees are in inspired form though, winning five of their last six which has ultimately extinguished any nerves regarding an instant return to the Championship.

Moreover, Pinnock has settled into the top flight expertly, playing in 32 of the Bees’ 33 league matches, keeping seven clean sheets in the process.

After Brentford, Spurs face three tricky tasks with Leicester at home as well as a trip to Liverpool whilst a home North London Derby that could ultimately decide who between them and Arsenal take fourth place.

As a result, victory this evening is crucial which means that Brentford’s injury woes will certainly leave Conte buzzing.

And in other news: Conte unleashes “amazing” £58k-p/w gem, “pathetic” £43m flop axed: Spurs predicted XI

2021 was an extremely unkind year to Celtic Football Club and the Hoops’ supporters.

It was a year that saw Neil Lennon lose his job as the Bhoys surrendered their dominance of Scottish football, handing over the title to their fiercest rivals.

Ange Postecoglou did arrive and sealed a League Cup victory but 2022 hasn’t exactly started out perfectly.

The Australian coach has added the likes of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi to his ranks but there is a feeling that more transfer business could be concluded.

That’s because Celtic may already be working with a depleted squad just two matches it into the calendar year.

Callum McGregor suffered a severe facial injury in the win over Alloa Athletic on Saturday while Liel Abada had to hobble and Ideguchi also sustained some sort of injury too.

Couple that with Maeda’s international call up for Japan just in time for the Old Firm and it doesn’t paint a vibrant picture of availability in Postecoglou’s ranks.

Thus, the window could be exploited once again before it slams shut next week.

In order to combat injury blows to McGregor and Ideguchi in the middle of the park, the Glaswegian outfit must try their best to force through a late move for Ahmed Kendouci.

Also touted with Rangers, it’s thought the Celtic-linked midfielder handed in a transfer request earlier this week. That’s a situation Postecoglou simply has to take advantage of in the coming days, luring what would be another exciting signing to Parkhead.

The Algerian is just 22 years of age but has a plethora of qualities and attributes that would benefit Celtic.

First and foremost, the youngster is capable of playing all across the midfield, whether it’s in a holding role or more advanced. That has seen him score an impressive three strikes from a deep-lying role for ES Setif in the top tier of Algerian football this term.

Furthermore, stats first shared in September demonstrate how he’s not just effective in the final third, but also supremely combative in physical battles. He had made 96 recoveries and 46 interceptions, showing his ability to win back possession. With that in mind, he’d have loved the contest against Alloa just a few days ago.

Bullish in defensive duels, Kendouci is also a graceful midfield player. Known as a risk-taking ball carrier who can play defence-spitting passes, talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed his mesmerising feet last summer, saying that his left foot is “made of gold.”

With that in mind, Kendouci very much appears to be a sensible signing for Celtic this winter, especially when you consider the long-term blow to McGregor.

AND in other news, Celtic can finally axe the “new Ryan Christie” by signing £3.5m “Jota-type trickster”…

An update has emerged involving Newcastle United and their efforts to sign Jesse Lingard this month…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves has revealed that the Magpies have failed in their attempt to land the midfielder on a temporary basis.

He tweeted: “#nufc tried to get Lingard on loan ahead of trip to Leeds as talks continued into the night. #mufc favour permanent deal. Gonna take a substantial offer to both club and player to force this one through before deadline day.”

Fans will be worried

Newcastle fans will surely be left feeling worried by this update, as it does not suggest that the club are close to reaching an agreement with Man United for Lingard’s services. Instead, it casts doubt over whether or not they will be able to sign him this month, with the Red Devils seemingly wanting a hefty fee to allow him to leave Old Trafford.

Supporters will be worried and frustrated by this, as Lingard could be an excellent signing for the Magpies. They are 19th in the Premier League table and in desperate need of an injection of quality, which is exactly what the England international could offer them on Tyneside.

The 29-year-old joined West Ham on loan last season and produced nine goals and five assists in 16 games. This highlights the level of talent he is able to bring to the table in the English top flight and shows why signing him could improve Eddie Howe’s chances of keeping Newcastle in the division, which is why the Toon Army will be worried about missing out on him.

However, it is worth noting that Lingard is out of contract at the end of the season, so the Magpies could bide their time and attempt to sign him for nothing in the summer. Whilst the fans may not appreciate it in the short-term, given the severity of their situation in the Premier League right now, it could make greater financial sense for the club if they are set on him as a transfer target.

Instead of shelling out a ‘substantial’ fee in January, Newcastle could wait until the end of the campaign and then snap him up without having to pay a penny in transfer fees. However, they may not be able to do that if they fail to avoid relegation, and that is why fans will be worried by this news and what it means for the current window, as well as their prospects for the remainder of the campaign.

AND in other news, Terms agreed: NUFC could land masterstroke with gem whose “shorts look like underwear”…

Tottenham Hostpur have entered into negotiations over a deal to bring Gleison Bremer to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claimed that Tottenham’s transfer team have recently travelled to Italy in order to begin talks with Torino regarding the transfer of the centre-back, with initial contact thought to have already been made by the north London club.

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The report added that Fabio Paratici has identified the 25-year-old as a transfer target due to the Brazilian possessing characteristics which make him well-suited to Antonio Conte’s style of football. It is also claimed that Torino themselves would be willing to part with Bremer for a fee in the region of €50m (£41.5m).

Big coup for Spurs

Bremer has been in remarkable form for Torino this season, with the centre-back’s performances reported to have caught the eye of the likes of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal. Therefore, it is clear to see that it would be a big coup for Spurs if Paratici is able to get a deal over the line for the 25-year-old this summer.

Indeed, over his 29 Serie A outings this term, the £27m-rated defender has been imperious in the heart of Ivan Juric’s backline, helping his side to keep eight clean sheets, in addition to making 3.4 interceptions (the most in the league), 1.4 tackles and 3.9 clearances and winning 6.7 duels per game.

The £53k-per-week Brazilian has also chipped in for his team going forwards, bagging three goals and providing one assist, along with making 36.7 passes, playing 2.8 long balls, completing 0.6 dribbles and taking 0.9 shots per match.

These returns have seen the 6 foot 2 centre-back average a breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.18, ranking him as the third-best defender in all of Serie A.

As such, it is clear to see that Bremer would make a fantastic addition to Conte’s current options at the back, leading us to believe that Paratici simply must do everything in his power to try and get a deal for the Torino titan over the line this summer.

AND in other news: “I can say…” – Italian journalist drops huge Spurs transfer claim, Conte will be fuming