Jude Soonsup-Bell impresses for Spurs U21s

Journalist Alasdair Gold revealed that Jude Soonsup-Bell looked a “real handful” after making an “impressive” debut for the  Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s.

What’s the latest on Spurs and Jude Soonsup-Bell?

On transfer deadline day, Spurs added a new player to their academy as they swooped in to land the 19-year-old on a deal that will run until June 2025.

The teenager had been with Chelsea from under-13 level all the way up to making his debut with the club before leaving for Spurs with one senior appearance to his name.

Manager Antonio Conte might not have Soonsup-Bell in his immediate plans, but it sounds as though the youngster is already impressing for the youth side.

Indeed, when talking on his YouTube channel, Gold explained: “The Under-21s won their third game in a row at the weekend. Romaine Mundle scored twice, Yago Santiago [scored the other]. They won 3-1 against Brighton.

“Jude Soonsup-Bell made his debut. From what I’ve been told, he was very impressive as well. Looks a real handful, a real talent.” What does Soonsup-Bell’s arrival mean for Spurs?

Before joining Tottenham in January, Soonsup-Bell had spent most of the season playing in the Chelsea academy setup and had scored two goals and provided one assist in just 205 minutes of Premier League 2 action.

Last term, he made his senior debut for the Blues, playing 45 minutes in a Carabao Cup tie against Brentford as his side won 2-0. With all that in mind, it’s clear to see the potential the 19-year-old has to go on and prove himself at the highest level.

Of course, Harry Kane is the main man at Spurs but they could do with a top talent to come in and help provide some depth for that position up front.

It’s early days yet but if Soonsup-Bell can keep impressing for the U21s, then perhaps he’ll get his chance to shine in the first team at some point in the future.

He certainly looks like someone to keep an eye out for.

Newcastle missed out on Adeyemi in 2021

Newcastle United may well be looking on enviously at a reported former transfer target who is now flourishing elsewhere, with Borussia Dortmund gem Karim Adeyemi having seemingly been on the Magpies’ radar back in November 2021.

Were Newcastle close to signing Adeyemi?

Ahead of what was to be the first transfer window following the change in ownership at St James’ Park, reports in Germany suggested that the Tynesiders had enquired about the prospect of bringing the then-Red Bull Salzburg starlet to England.

However, the suggestion at the time was that joining the Magpies was ‘out of the question’, with the Premier League club having been battling relegation at the time, and the Munich native ultimately sealed a £33m move to the Westfalenstadion ahead of last summer’s transfer window.

Having missed out on the 5 foot 11 speedster, Eddie Howe and co ultimately secured the signing of another attacking target in the form of Chris Wood in January 2022 for £25m, albeit with the New Zealand international moving on last month after just a year at the club, scoring only five goals.

How is Adeyemi getting on at Dortmund?

After previously bagging 33 goals and laying on 24 assists in 94 games for his former club – along with providing 27 goal involvements in 35 games on loan at FC Liefering – Adeyemi has now begun to fire for Edin Terzic’s Dortmund, with six goals and three assists in 24 games so far this term.

The fleet-footed youngster has notably been “flying” in recent weeks – in the words of team-mate Jude Bellingham – after an initial “tough time” following the move to Dortmund, and he has scored three goals and provided one assist in his last three Bundesliga appearances.

The versatile dynamo – who can feature on the flanks or in a more central role – most notably caught the eye last week as a result of his match-winning performance against Chelsea in the Champions League, producing a sensational solo run and finish for the only goal in that first-leg clash.

That moment of genius laid bare why the four-cap German is a player whose “quality and speed are brutal” and has “almost everything a striker needs”, according to his former Red Bull Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle.

A player who is simply “ice-cold” in front of goal, as per his national team boss Hansi Flick, Adeyemi appears destined to have a big future in the game, having produced a silky and instinctive finish on the turn in Dortmund’s most recent league triumph over Hertha Berlin.

As such, those back on Tyneside likely regretting their failure to pluck the striker from Austria just over a year ago, with dynamic gem now said to be valued at around €50m (£44m) by the CIES Football Observatory.

It would be no real surprise if the 21-year-old does emerge as a future target for Howe and co again in the years to come.

Arsenal transfer news on Ilkay Gundogan

Journalist Pete O’Rourke says Arsenal ‘could be an attractive proposition’ for Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan as his contract expires this summer.

The Lowdown: Arsenal interest

Arsenal reportedly held an interest in Gundogan last summer when he only had a year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

He has still not renewed his deal with the club, meaning that he can leave as a free agent this summer once it expires.

The Latest: An ‘attractive’ move?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke says that the Gunners ‘could be an attractive proposition’ for Gundogan should he not sign a new deal, given that he would be able to work with Mikel Arteta again, but Pep Guardiola may be reluctant for him to move to North London due to the ‘massive’ impacts both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have had this season:

Yeah, I don’t think he’d [Guardiola] ideally like to see one of his best players let go at Manchester City. He was obviously open to selling Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal.

“They’ve had a massive impact at the Emirates, so he won’t want to go and strengthen one of his rivals and see one of his top players move to Arsenal.

“But obviously, the Mikel Arteta factor is there at Arsenal as well, having worked with Gundogan before, so maybe that’s why there is a consideration on Gundogan’s part maybe if he does want a change of scenery and move to a new club, to work with Arteta again could be an attractive proposition for him.”

The Verdict: Why not…

With Jesus and Zinchenko coming in and instantly making Arsenal better, as they sit top of the Premier League table, signing up another City star in Gundogan on a free transfer would be another smart move.

Hailed as an ‘incredible’ footballer by Guardiola speaking about the German’s winner against Aston Villa on the last day of last season to hand City the title, Gundogan has shown that he can produce big moments in big games, and has that winning mentality that would add to Jesus’ and Zinchenko’s influence on the team.

Arteta can also get the best out of him, having worked with him before and lauding him as ‘tremendous’ in the past, and at 32 years of age, he would add more experience to what is a young squad, offering Arteta another solid option in the middle of the park.

Nottingham Forest make Montes contact

Nottingham Forest have made contact to sign Espanyol defender Cesar Montes this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Successors needed

Steve Cooper already has Joe Worrall, Felipe, Steve Cook, Willy Boly, Scott McKenna and Moussa Niakhate available as centre-back options but five of those have now entered the final 18 months of their contract meaning that successors could soon be needed.

The Mexican international only joined Diego Martinez’s side in January, but having already put in some impressive performances over his eight appearances, has caught the eye of two potential suitors in the Premier League.

The Latest: Forest make contact

According to Spanish outlet La Grada (via Sport Witness) Forest and Wolves both ‘have asked’ Espanyol about signing Montes ahead of the 2033/24 season.

The Reds have ‘not increased’ their interest to anything more official yet with there still being months to go before the window opens, but their target does have a €30m (£26m) release clause included in his deal.

The Verdict: Perfect for Cooper

Montes is a seasoned professional having made 273 senior appearances throughout his career and he would be the perfect defensive candidate to slot into Cooper’s backline.

The Hermosillo native currently averages 5.5 clearances and 1.8 aerial wins per 90 minutes in La Liga, highlighting the strong physical presence he provides (WhoScored).

The Adidas-sponsored gem also has an outstanding success rate of 100% for dribblers tackled, which is exactly the profile of no-nonsense player the boss should target.

Barcelona manager Xavi has claimed that Montes has a lot of ‘potential’, so should the opportunity to sign him arise, Forest have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Wolves: Lopetegui must unleash Traore

Wolves take on Spurs on Saturday afternoon and Julen Lopetegui must consider unleashing Adama Traore, given his history against the north London side.

Why should Lopetegui unleash Traore?

Spurs arrive at Molineux low on confidence, having lost out 1-0 to Sheffield United in midweek, to seemingly bring an end to their trophy chances once again this season.

Antonio Conte’s side have looked susceptible defensively throughout the campaign, with the Italian manager selecting the ageing Ben Davies and Clement Lenglet on the left-hand side of his defence on a number of occasions recently.

Ivan Perisic has also struggled to have the impact many expected him to have as a left-wing-back, and he could also struggle defensively against the pace of someone like Traore.

The Spanish winger has struggled to replicate his performances from the 2019/20 Premier League campaign when he averaged a phenomenal 7.49 rating from WhoScored for his displays in the top flight.

He boasts just one goal and one assist so far this term, with a far-less-impressive 6.52 rating to his name, but there is no doubting the power and pace he could offer the Old Gold on the counter attack.

After a loan spell with Barcelona last season, Xavi was full of praise for the powerful wide man.

The Spaniard said: “Adama has matured a lot. And physically, he is a beast, a monster… In 1v1 situations, you cannot beat him. Adama is the perfect winger for me. I am convinced that he will be great for us.”

The 27-year-old, who earns £55k per week, certainly has a history of strong performances against Spurs, as a lot of Wolves fans will remember his sensational display in a 2-1 loss at Molineux in 2019, when the wizard constantly tormented Jan Vertonghen.

BBC Sport awarded him the man of the match award in their report, as he registered three shots on target and more crosses and successful duels than anyone else on the pitch – scoring Wolves’ only goal in the game as the forward punished their weak defending.

While Vertonghen is long gone, starting the speedy winger on Saturday could have a similar impact if he is left isolated against one of Lenglet, Perisic or Davies on the counterattack, which could prove decisive as Lopetegui’s side look to earn an important three points.

Therefore, the Spanish manager should hand Traore – who has created 0.8 chances per game this season – a rare start this weekend in the hope that the gem can rediscover the form he showed in the same fixture back in 2019.

"I’m sure" – Sky Sports man hints at Rangers injury boost for Beale

Sky Sports contributor Joshua Barrie has claimed that Rangers defender Ben Davies will likely be fit for the club's next game despite a possible injury concern suffered on Sunday.

What's the latest on Ben Davies and Rangers?

The Ibrox outfit picked up a solid win at home against Raith Rovers on the weekend to progress into the semi-final stage of the Scottish Cup.

Connor Goldson opened the scoring shortly before half-time before Ryan Nolan netted an own-goal while Scott Arfield added a third late on to seal the victory.

No doubt manager Michael Beale would have been delighted with the performance but he may have had some concern when Davies seemed to suffer a knock late on.

Indeed, while speaking on the Rangers Review podcast, Co-host Derek Clark said (9:21): “You can understand a bit of anxiety from supporters when you see Ben Davies come down.

However, Barrie put any concerns to bed as he replied: “Yeah, I think it's really December since he's had any of those issues. He’s really played every game since under Michael Beale and played it really well.

"I mean, it's a conversation we can have at some point, Derek, but I think you're starting to see the best of Ben Davies and how much he can bring on the ball.

"But no, there's no mention at that [injury] post-match or anything. So I'm sure he'll be fine going into next week's game."

How important is Davies for Beale and Rangers?

The 27-year-old struggled for fitness in the early stage of the season and played in just one of the club's first seven Scottish Premiership games this term.

It's safe to say, however, since Beale has come in, Davies has avoided any further injury setbacks and has established himself as a key part of the team, starting every game in all competitions throughout 2023 so far.

With that in mind, it's easy to understand why some supporters may have been fearing the worse when he looked to have potentially suffered a fresh fitness setback.

However, by the sounds of it, Davies should be fit and ready to continue his run of starts when Rangers take on Motherwell next Saturday away from home in the league.

Wolves interested in signing 30 y/o ‘octopus’

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui scouted Atletico Madrid midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia in January and could look to issue a concrete move at the end of the campaign.

What's the latest on Kondogbia to Wolves?

According to the ever-reliable transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Wolves were mulling over the availability of Kondogbia this winter, with the La Liga star struggling for game time under Diego Simeone.

Romano said: "Understand Wolves approached Atleti for Kondogbia in January — PL clubs, monitoring him for July."

Signed for £18m in November 2020 from struggling divisional rivals Valencia – exploiting a loophole following the close of the transfer after Arsenal met Thomas Partey's £45m release clause – the Central African Republic gem could be the perfect acquisition for Molineux, who could see Ruben Neves depart from the club in a matter of months, with the likes of Liverpool enticed by the £50m-rated engine.

Does Lopetegui need Kondogbia?

Lopetegui bolstered the ranks and then some this winter, swiftly looking to wipe his sheen on Wolves' system amid relegation peril, having taken the reins in November.

Signing five first-teamers to stave off the imminent threat, Wolves have kept afloat and perch in 13th place in the Premier League after 28 matches, though the congested nature of the term stretches just four points between 12th-placed Crystal Palace and Southampton at the bottom of the pile.

Preserving top-flight status is imperative, and with Neves conducting the flow like a veritable footballing orchestrator, Lopetegui might succeed in his endeavours.

Indeed, the 26-year-old Portuguese boasts an average Sofascore rating of 7.28 this season – the highest in Wolves' squad by a considerable stretch – and has been a marvel in the ubiquity of his midfield trade, scoring five goals, forging two shots and 0.8 key passes per match and protecting the back-line with 2.4 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per outing.

Atletico Madrid's Geoffrey Kondogbia in Champions League action vs Bayer Leverkusen.

Valued at just £4m by Football Transfers, the 30-year-old Kondogbia could be a shrewd signing to provide a tailor-made replacement to hold the midfield if Neves indeed leaves, with the French-born La Liga star out of contract at the end of next season.

Having made 89 appearances for the Colchoneros, the 6 foot 2 menace has not dropped below an average of 2.2 tackles or 1.6 interceptions for the outfit, as per WhoScored, indeed ranking among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe's big five leagues for interceptions per 90 and the top 20% for pass completion.

Once hailed as an "octopus" by reporter Domingo Ortiz for his all-encompassing work at previous team Valencia, Kondogbia would bring the robustness needed to ensure Neves' ostensible departure does not detrimentally hamper the side's pursuit of prominence in the Premier League.

On £117k-per-week, Lopetegui would likely need to eclipse the salary paid to Neves, but at such a low cost and a pedigree flourishing on Europe's major stage for many years, he could be the perfect signing to stamp an instant and emphatic impact into the fold.

£140k-p/w Star Expected To Retire At Liverpool

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that club captain Jordan Henderson will remain at Liverpool until here retires.

What's the latest on Jordan Henderson and Liverpool?

The England midfielder has won essentially all he can under Jurgen Klopp. Indeed, the duo have lifted the Premier League, the Champions League, and numerous other trophies during their time at Anfield.

At 32 years of age now, however, it remains unclear how many years Henderson has left in him at the very top. He still has a contract that runs until 2025, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll see that out.

By the end of his current deal, he will be turning 35 that summer. So he may want to leave then, or even before that stage, to allow him a final few years at a new club to experience a different challenge.

However, while speaking about the player on his YouTube channel, Talbot insisted that Henderson will remain with Liverpool until he opts to retire.

The journalist explained (32:01): “Henderson won't go for a while man. Henderson is going to be at that Liverpool club until retirement because he's too much of a dressing-room presence.

"You know, the relationships he has there. And sometimes that's important. It's not just about your ability on the ball."

How long has Henderson been at Liverpool?

Klopp certainly has been a big fan of Henderson over the years. After all, the Englishman has played 292 games for his current manager – more than any other coach in his career.

And even this season, the 32-year-old has played 31 games across all competitions. However, he has started just 14 Premier League games which suggests the German may be ready to move on from over-relying upon his captain who currently earns £140,000 per week,

What's more, there has been plenty of talk about how Liverpool want to revamp their midfield in the summer with a couple of big names. For instance, the likes of Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Gavi and Matheus Nunes have all popped up in the media as possible targets.

With that being the case, Henderson could soon see his minutes diminish further and so he could eventually feel as though he'd rather join somewhere else so he can see out his career on the pitch instead of on the bench.

However, Talbot seems to think he'll remain at Liverpool regardless and after so many good years with the club – having joined from Sunderland back in 2011 – any loyalty would be understandable.

Newcastle United Scouting "Complete Package" £3k-p/w Star

Newcastle United have conducted a scouting mission to assess Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, according to a report from 90min.

Which strikers are Newcastle United targeting this summer?

Newcastle have recently discovered they will need to fork out €120m (£105m) if they wish to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos this summer, with the Portugal international tripling in value since the beginning of the season. In stark contrast to the huge amount it would take to bring Ramos to St. James' Park, Marcus Thuram will be available on a free transfer this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, and it has recently been reported that talks have already been held about a summer switch.

A report from Tutto Atalanta has also detailed the Magpies are one of the clubs in the race for Rasmus Hojlund, with Napoli and AC Milan headlining the interest from Italy, while fellow Premier League side Arsenal are willing to spend £44m to win the race for his signature.

As per 90min, Newcastle are one of the teams to have scouted Ferguson in recent weeks, although there may be competition for his signature this summer, with the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all considering moves. However, despite the level of interest in the forward, there is seemingly a decent chance he remains at Brighton for the foreseeable future, as he is said to be in no hurry to leave, and is in line for a new contract.

Will Evan Ferguson leave Brighton this summer?

Even though the 18-year-old is set for a huge increase on his £3k-per-week wages, it will surely be hard to resist a move this summer, given that some of Europe's top clubs are monitoring his availability.

Hailed as being the "complete package" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the marksman has fired home eight goals in 19 senior games this season, a stellar effort in what has been a real breakthrough season for the teenager, and he is only going to get better.

Republic of Ireland's Evan Ferguson celebrates scoring their second goal.

The Irishman also impressed on international duty recently, scoring his first goal for his country in a 3-2 victory against Latvia, which is great experience to have at such a young age.

Alexander Isak's return has been a welcome boost for Eddie Howe, with the Sweden international scoring three goals in his last two Premier League games, and Ferguson could be his perfect long-term strike partner.

Liverpool forward Nunez fit for Man City clash

Liverpool attacker Darwin Nunez is "available" for his side's crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City this weekend, according to journalist Andy Hunter.

How has Nunez fared this season?

The Uruguayan arrived at Anfield last summer as a big-money arrival from Benfica, as he looked to make up for the loss of Reds legend Sadio Mane, who joined Bayern Munich after six years on Merseyside. It hasn't always been plain sailing for Nunez in his first season on Merseyside, however, and he hasn't been helped by the team's struggles as a whole.

While some of the 23-year-old's finishing has been erratic at times, he has still scored 14 goals in all competitions.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, Nunez has been suffering with a minor injury problem during the international, leaving his involvement in this weekend's action in doubt. Jurgen Klopp's side head to reigning champions City on Saturday lunchtime, in what represents a huge challenge in their top-four battle.

While Luis Diaz won't return to the pitch yet, despite being back in training this week, some encouraging news has emerged regarding another Reds attacking hero that will buoy the supporters.

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Could Nunez start at Man City?

Taking to Twitter following Klopp's pre-match press conference, journalist Andy Hunter confirmed that Nunez is fit for Saturday's trip to the Etihad, in a much-needed boost for the Reds boss:

"Darwin Nunez available for City."

This is clearly an enormous positive for Liverpool, with Nunez someone who may still be raw as a footballer, but is so capable of producing moments of magic. His record suggests he could be a potent threat for the Reds on the counter-attack against City, especially with the hosts desperate for a win in the title race, and therefore potentially pushing men forward as the minutes tick by.

With the former Benfica man on the left wing, Mohamed Salah down the middle and Cody Gakpo linking the attack centrally – Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are also options – Liverpool could have a match-winning trio in the final third, as they so devastatingly showed in the 7-0 win over Manchester United, in which they all scored twice.

Nunez has continued to silence many critics who have been overly critical of his form since joining the Reds, and a big goal at the Etihad could further quieten the negative voices in what promises to be a thrilling game between two sides who have cooked up some classics in recent years.

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