Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be keen on a move for Feyenoord captain, Orkun Kokcu, amid the speculation surrounding the north Londoners' interest in his current boss, Arne Slot.

What's the latest on Kokcu to Tottenham?

According to journalist Sean Walsh, writing on Twitter, the Lilywhites are said to be "looking at" the Turkey international ahead of the summer window, with the aforementioned Slot having also emerged as a leading managerial candidate for chairman, Daniel Levy.

In his attached piece for 90min, Walsh reveals that Spurs were eyeing a swoop for the Netherlands-born playmaker even prior to contemplating a move for his manager, with reports as far back as 2021 also outlining the club's interest.

This follows similar claims made by the Dutch media in recent days, with 1908.nl revealing that Kokcu could command a fee of around €40m (£35m), amid the interest from Levy and co.

What is Kokcu's style of play?

The promising midfielder is noted as a similar player to Borussia Dortmund and England sensation, Jude Bellingham, according to Football Transfers, with that likeness an indication of just what a talent Spurs could have on their hands.

In the case of Bellingham, the 19-year-old appears set for a high-profile switch to Real Madrid this summer following another sparkling season in Germany, having scored 14 goals and registered seven assists across all fronts for the title hopefuls.

The eye-catching teenager seemingly raised his profile even higher after shining for the Three Lions at the World Cup in the winter, with ITV pundit Roy Keane stating that the former Birmingham City starlet is "going to be a superstar".

While perhaps not at the same level as a player who could reportedly cost as much as €150m (£130m) this summer, Kokcu does no doubt share similar traits to that of the Englishman, having also dazzled in his midfield berth this term with 12 goals and five assists in all competitions this season.

The 20-cap maestro also appears to share Bellingham's maturity despite his relative youth, having captained the Rotterdam outfit of late and been hailed as a "true leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the Dortmund gem also described as a "leader" by manager, Edin Terzic.

The comparison can also be made between the pair due to their creative prowess and ability to surge forward from deep, with Bellingham averaging 8.18 progressive passes and 3.06 progressive carries per 90 across the last 365 days, as per FBref, while Kokcu has averaged 12.33 and 2.87 for the same two metrics, respectively.

Much like Bellingham – who has been a "talisman" at Westfalenstadion of late, as per James McManus – Kokcu has also been the real "driving force" for Feyenoord in recent seasons, according to journalist Marcel van der Kraan, with the hope being that he can replicate such an impact in north London.

That notable similarity between the pair should be of real excitement to those back at N17, with it potentially set to be a real coup if Levy can wrap up a deal over the coming weeks and months.

Everton are in desperate need of reinforcements this summer following a troubling Premier League campaign and now reports are emerging that the club could be set to reunite with a former star.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in James Rodriguez?

According to journalist Christian Martin, Everton are one of the clubs interested in securing the services of former Olympiacos attacker James Rodriguez, who is currently a free agent.

Whilst speaking on the El Futbolero Youtube channel, Martin claimed:

"The English clubs have the money, the greats of Scotland too. No one would be deprived of at least evaluating the possibility of repatriating James to the UK. From our sources, the inquiries have been, through intermediaries, by Crystal Palace, by Bournemouth, by Everton itself."

Will Everton reunite with James Rodriguez?

There is no doubt that big changes need to be made at Goodison Park ahead of next season, especially if they do manage to retain their Premier League status over their remaining fixtures.

Sean Dyche will surely be keen to strengthen many areas of the squad but could be restricted to a tight budget due to financial concerns surrounding the club at present, which could put limitations on how the manager executes his business during the summer transfer window.

It is fair to say that Everton have had no qualms about reuniting with players of the past and Idrissa Gana Gueye has been the latest to return to the blue side of Merseyside in a move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Now Dyche could spark another reunion at Goodison with a swoop for Rodriguez, a player who never really hit the ground running in his first stint but could now be given a second chance.

The 31-year-old – once hailed a "joy to watch" by talkSPORT's Adrian Durham – was shown the door during Rafa Benitez's tenure when a move to the Middle East was sanctioned in 2021 and, despite his struggles, Everton haven't been better off for it with consecutive relegation battles following his exit.

Rodriguez joined Olympiacos in the summer of 2022 and, over 20 league appearances this season, tallied up five goals, registered six assists, created five big chances and successfully completed 80% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 2.1 shots on goal, two key passes and 64.9 touches per game, proving that he is still a huge attacking threat.

One of Everton's biggest issues has been their inability to score goals, lacking both creativity and big chances in front of goal, which has heavily contributed to their struggle to comfortably compete in the Premier League.

However, the "magic" Rodriguez – as dubbed by sports writer Paul Brown – could potentially improve their fortunes should he return this summer.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if the Everton hierarchy takes a chance on the 90-cap Colombia international, as the opportunity to snap up his services for free will be hard to ignore amidst their financial worries.

Liverpool are now unlikely to move for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka, journalist Dean Jones has revealed.

What's going on with Ndicka?

The centre-back is out of contract at the end of the season, and is set to leave Frankfurt. At 23, he could be a player that interests a lot of clubs, as a left-footed central defender.

Liverpool were previously linked with a move for the Frenchman, but it now seems that he is set to move elsewhere.

Ndicka has been described as "exciting," and with wages of £20k-per-week, it could have been a fairly cheap deal to pull off.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones revealed that Ndicka could join Napoli, and that he is unlikely to move to Anfield this summer.

"Liverpool have been linked with Evan Ndicka as a potential solution to helping their defensive depth for next season, but it seems Napoli is a more likely destination" he stated.

"It’s an interesting one because the profile of the player seems a good fit, but over the past couple of weeks I have struggled to find anyone that believes it is going to be a deal Liverpool push for.

"And now in Italy, there seems to be confidence that Napoli are looking at him and are putting themselves in a good position to make a proposal. So it feels like we can probably scratch him off the list."

Do Liverpool need a centre-back?

Despite an impressive recent run of form, Liverpool have suffered a large drop-off from last season, and reinforcements are needed across the pitch.

Virgil van Dijk has come in for criticism over his form this season, as the once flawless Dutchman has started to look vulnerable, and extra cover for the 31-year-old could be useful this summer.

Ndicka could have been the long-term successor for Van Dijk as a left-sided defender, and he could have formed a partnership with fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool could still look at a defender, as Joe Gomez has also come in for criticism, and Joel Matip is ageing. A younger option who could rotate, and perhaps eventually start next to Konate could help pad the squad.

Klopp's side still have a shot at Champions League qualification, but may be forced to settle for a Europa League spot, and a large squad will be needed regardless of which competition they qualify for.

The primary focus for Arsenal at present will be on maintaining their push for the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta's men facing a real battle on their hands to fend off Manchester City in the race for that league crown.

Beyond this season, however, the onus will be on sporting director Edu to plot ways to further improve the squad this summer, with the aim to ensure that this season's title charge is no mere anomaly.

One area of the park that the Brazilian may be looking to strengthen is in the centre of the park, despite having only recently brought in experienced gem, Jorginho, from rivals Chelsea on a £12m deal.

According to 90min, one player who could well help to bolster Arteta's options in midfield is Borussia Monchengladbach ace, Florian Neuhaus, with the report suggesting that the north London outfit have done scouting work on the 26-year-old of late.

While the piece does add that the Germany international is not set to be a priority target for the title hopefuls this summer – amid concerns over the playmaker's only relatively recent return from a knee injury – he is set to be someone that the club will 'keep an eye on'.

Would Neuhaus be a good signing for Arsenal?

The hope would be that Neuhaus can ultimately emulate another man to have made the move from Gladbach to the Emirates in the form of Granit Xhaka, with the Switzerland international having emerged as a key figure under Arteta of late after initially arriving on a £30m deal in 2016.

Although the previously polarising ace has endured his fair share of ups and downs during his time in England – having notably been stripped of the captaincy back in 2019 – the 30-year-old is now helping to lead the charge toward the title.

The tenacious left-footer has proved himself to be a real "fighter" in recent years after enjoying an "amazing turnaround" – as per pundit Alan Hutton – having now racked up 291 appearances in all competitions, providing 21 goals and 27 assists in that time.

The 113-cap ace has been particularly impressive so far this term with five goals and five assists in 31 Premier League outings, with pundit Paul Robinson hailing him as a "revelation".

While the aforementioned Neuhaus may not wish to follow quite as turbulent a path as that of Xhaka, the aim would be for the "outstanding" talent – as lauded by teammate Marcus Thuram – to also establish himself as a leading figure in Arteta's side.

Although the £27k-per-week maestro has scored just twice so far this season in what has been an injury-hit campaign, prior to that the 6 foot 1 ace was particularly impressive last term, scoring four goals and providing four assists in the Bundesliga.

The elegant talent also possesses the ability, like Xhaka, to feature in a variety of midfield roles, having taken on a deep-lying berth at times, while also operating in more of a playmaking role on occasions.

That versatility and flexibility would seemingly be appealing to those back in north London, with it set to be another Xhaka-esque masterclass for Arsenal if Edu can pull off a deal.

Alex McLeish endured a very Jekyll and Hyde spell as manager of Glasgow Rangers, with periods of success intersected with some of the worst seasons in the Ibrox side's recent history, however, he must surely go down as one of the club’s finest-ever bosses considering the financial constraints he had to work with.

The Scot won five of the first six trophies available to him, including a stunning treble during the 2002/03 season, yet the next campaign was woeful as the Light Blues finished empty-handed while having to resort to free transfers and selling some of their best assets, notably Barry Ferguson.

Come the summer of 2004, it appeared as though Celtic would begin an era of dominance given they had just cruised to the league title months before and McLeish would have to do something very special to reclaim it.

He managed to lure Dado Prso to the club on a free transfer and signed Dundee forward Nacho Novo for just £450k. Little did he know that the Spanish dynamo would become one of his finest-ever signings with the Gers certainly hitting the jackpot with his arrival.

How did Nacho Novo perform at Rangers?

The 5 foot 7 forward enjoyed a wonderful six seasons at the Glasgow side where he won three league titles and five domestic cups.

He will certainly go down as a fan favourite and although he wasn't the most talented player on the pitch, the Spaniard had an endless determination which saw him chase down every lost cause and fight for every ball.

The forward netted the title clincher against Hibs in 2005 as Rangers sealed an unlikely league triumph, forming a ‘little and large’ partnership with Croatian giant Prso and despite the following two seasons ending trophyless, he still scored plenty.

Under Walter Smith, Novo often found himself deployed out wide, yet he didn’t complain and got on with the task at hand, earning the respect of every supporter.

Novo finished his Rangers career in 2010 and ended up scoring 71 goals in 255 appearances, even finding the back of the net against Celtic six times, enduring cult hero status as a result.

The Gers hit the jackpot on the striker, with every goal he scored costing the club just £6k, proving he was a wonderful investment.

Every team needs a player who won't just score goals, but will also show the utmost commitment. The former Gers man certainly fits the bill regarding these traits.

Southampton should keep Ruben Selles as manager even if they get relegated to the Championship, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Saints struggling

The Saints continue to be involved in the Premier League relegation battle, currently sitting bottom of the table, two points from safety, having also played one game more than 17th-placed Leicester City.

Selles was given the manager’s job on an interim basis after the departure of Nathan Jones at the end of February, and while there has not been a major turnaround in results, there have been some promising signs, recently drawing 3-3 against Tottenham Hotspur.

As such, there have now been calls for the manager to be offered the job on a permanent basis, regardless of what division Southampton find themselves in next season.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

In an interview with GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Sport Republic should look at offering the interim boss the full-time role as manager. The journalist said:

“I think Rubén Sellés would be a good shout to get it. I think of the continuity, he knows the club and obviously knows the players as well. I’m sure Southampton fans would see him as somebody who could get them straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

“He’s very good at working with younger players, which he’s got a previous track record of and that would only be good for Southampton.

“I think he’d be a tailor-made fit to stay at Southampton, if they do go down and to try and lead a rebuild of the club and get them back to the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Right call?

There has certainly been an improvement in Southampton since the 39-year-old took the reigns, digging out a vital 1-0 win against relegation-threatened Leicester City, and picking up a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United.

Journalist Jacob Tanswell has previously claimed the young manager is ‘ambitious’ and ‘wants to coach at the top’, while also adding that the players have been ‘impressed’ ever since he arrived at the club.

However, whether the Spaniard is worthy of being offered the full-time job depends on his performance for the remainder of the season, as it is still early days in his managerial career.

If Selles manages to orchestrate a great escape in the final 10 games of the Premier League season, then there is no question he should be offered the job on a permanent basis, potentially making this one to watch.

Phil Hay has admitted he would be tempted to hand Rodrigo the chance to extend his Leeds United stay.

The Lowdown: Finally found his feet and form

Rodrigo had struggled for form and to justify his £26 million price tag prior to this season managing just 13 league goals for Leeds, but this season under Jesse Marsch was totally different for the Spaniard.

The forward is the club’s top scorer with 12 goals to his name in all competitions but has been plagued by injury as of late having not stepped onto the pitch since January 28, so is yet to work with new boss Javi Gracia.

However, given the lack of goals and good performances from the likes of Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter during his short stint at Elland Road so far, Leeds are very dependent on Rodrigo’s goals.

The Latest: Rodrigo could sign a new contract

Hay has claimed on The Phil Hay Show that Leeds could well look to offer Rodrigo a new deal if he does manage to refind his form post-injury under Gracia as he’s been dependable this term.

He said: (47:15) “I think he would even say himself that he’s been better this season than he has been in the previous two and at this stage, he’s starting to get into the latter stages of his contract.

“I actually think I’d be quite tempted to extend it if he carries on playing like this.”

The Verdict: New contract must be on sensible terms

Given that Rodrigo is set to turn 32 later this month and pushing on into the twilight years of his career, a new deal could be tricky to negotiate as Leeds wouldn’t want to be trapped into a long-term contract, whereas the striker would likely want reassurances which would be understandable as he’d want a final big payday and also because he’s been ‘excellent’ this term.

Rodrigo has indeed been Leeds’ best player this season with 12 goals across all competitions and the Whites have certainly become dependent on him as they’ve won just one game when he hasn’t been starting.

The Spaniard may be keen to extend his stay if Gracia is afforded the job on a long-term basis and also if Leeds maintain their top-flight status because if they drop into the Championship there will be next to no chance that he’s eager on playing in the second-tier of English football.

Southampton interim manager Ruben Selles could ‘carry on’ if he impresses in the role, according to transfer reporter Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Selles placed in charge

After the departure of Nathan Jones last week, First Team Lead Coach Selles was placed in temporary charge of first-team training, and was in the dugout for this afternoon’s game against Chelsea.

With the Saints missing out on Jesse Marsch after a dispute over the length of his contract, their current coach claimed he is ready to take over as manager, and an update indicates that it is a real possibility.

The Latest: Could carry on

In an interview with GiveMeSport, transfer journalist Jones claimed that the 39-year-old could continue in the role if his side impresses enough in the upcoming matches, saying: “He’s kind of on trial to see if he can handle this job. It’s a really strange situation for him, but I think they quite trust him to steady things at the moment and, if he gets off to a good start, I wouldn’t even rule out the fact that he might carry on.”

The Verdict: Right call?

One potential advantage in offering the job to the Spaniard is that he knows the players well, having been working with them all season, after initially joining as part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s backroom staff back in June.

Furthermore, journalist Jacob Tanswell has claimed that Selles is ‘highly regarded’ amongst the players, and this existing relationship could mean they are willing to give their all for the manager during the rest of the campaign.

The Saints are currently battling Premier League relegation, meaning there is a lot of work to do to preserve their top flight status, and so giving the job to someone with little experience would be a risk, but it is probably a better option than bringing in someone from abroad who does not know the group.

Tottenham Hotspur definitely have an interest in potentially bringing in the Ecuadorian centre-back Piero Hincapie in the summer.

What’s the latest?

Over the January transfer window, Spurs did not bring in a new centre-back despite the north London club having such a poor defensive record this season.

Antonio Conte himself admitted that it was not a position that he felt needed to be addressed over the course of the January window.

However, there have been reports suggesting the Lilywhites do hold an interest in the Bayer Leverkusen defender, Hincapie, over the summer.

And speaking on The Tottenham Way podcast, journalist Dan Kilpatrick has claimed Hincapie is on the list for the summer transfer window:

(54:30) “I think Spurs need a top centre-half and there’s talk of this guy from Leverkusen, he’s definitely of interest, Piero Hincapie.”

“I think he’s kind of on the list for the summer. I think two top centre-halves.”

‘Neymar-like’

Despite being a strong centre-back, Hincapie has previously likened his style of play to that of the Brazilian Neymar given his comfort on the ball:

“I used to score a lot of goals. I was like Neymar, I didn’t dribble as much as him but I was a great goalscorer. I even took free kicks! Maybe that’s why I’m now a centre-back who likes to go forward,” Hincapie said.”

Reports have suggested Conte is now keen to strengthen his defence in the summer and has a long-standing interest in the Ecuadorian centre-back.

This is a player who has been an integral part of Leverkusen’s side this season with 21 appearances to his name across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

In comparison to Eric Dier, Hincapie has provided Leverkusen with more tackles per 90 minutes with the England defender not even recording an average of one per game (via Fbref).

With the belief that Spurs will look to bring in two centre-halves over the summer transfer window, it would suggest Spurs are looking for a central and left-sided centre-back.

And Hincapie is a player who could cover both positions with the 21-year-old having played both centrally and at left-back this season.

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Porto’s Pepe in this month’s transfer window and the versatile Brazilian could be a big upgrade on Jeffrey Schlupp at Selhurst Park.

According to reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness), Palace sent scouts to the Estadio do Dragao at the weekend to watch Sérgio Conceição’s side take on Familicao, a game they won 4-1. 

Pepe was thought to be the centre of Palace’s attention, with the Eagles having been linked with the 25-year-old in 2022, and considering his impressive performances so far this campaign, it is easy to see why Patrick Vieira might be keen on bringing him to Selhurst Park this month.

Featuring in a number of positions across defence, midfield and attack, the Porto star has contributed an eye-catching two goals and four assists in 16 appearances for Porto, averaging a superb 7.21 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Considering Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha are ranked as the top performers at Selhurst Park so far this campaign with a 6.91 average rating, it is clear the quality that Pep would add to Vieira’s squad should he join this month.

It may be difficult to prise Pepe away from the Dragons in the transfer window, given he only signed a new contract until 2027 a few months ago, a decision which was praised by journalist Fernando Campos.

He said:

“Pepê also signed until 2027 with the Portuguese team. Getting better and more important in Sérgio Conceição’s team.”

Some reports in Portugal also suggest that he has a £65m release clause, making any potential move a rather difficult one for CEO Steve Parish to sanction.

Versatility is a quality that managers often look for in their players and currently Vieira relies upon Schlupp as the most versatile option in his squad, with the former Leicester man having featured predominantly at full-back, central midfield and on the wing during his time at Palace.

However, the Ghanaian’s contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire at the end of the season and the 30-year-old has disappointed in his performances in the Premier League this season, averaging a 6.51 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Pepe has also averaged far more interceptions (1.6 vs 0.9), key passes (1.4 vs 0.3) and dribbles (1.6 vs 0.5) per game than Schlupp this season, which suggests that he would be a big upgrade in Vieira’s side.

Therefore, if the French manager is looking for a younger, more versatile option in his side in the January window, then he and Parish should definitely look at bringing the Porto star to south London.