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Jose Mourinho has confirmed Tottenham Hotspur will be without defender Toby Alderweireld for Thursday night’s Europa League tie with Ludogorets Razgrad after sustaining a muscular injury against Manchester City.

The issue forced Mourinho to substitute the centre-half off in the 81st-minute of last weekend’s 2-0 win and now expects to be without him for two to four weeks, but is relieved the issue is not as bad as first feared.

Tottenham continue to wait on further news of Matt Doherty’s fitness after he was forced to miss the Premier League clash with Pep Guardiola’s Citizens after testing positive for coronavirus, while Erik Lamela will not be available to face Ludogorets or Chelsea on Sunday due to a foot issue.

Alderweireld and Doherty’s absences for the midweek UEFA affair will force Mourinho into changes from the side which beat Ludogorets 3-1 earlier this month, keeping Spurs top of Group J on goal difference to Royal Antwerp and Linz ASK in a three-way tie on six points.

So, with changes on the cards, here’s a predicted XI the Portuguese tactician could favour…

Mourinho has thus far called on summer arrival Joe Hart to start in goal for two of Tottenham’s three Europa League Group Stage ties this term, and would be expected to stick with the former England international at home to Ludogorets in order to afford Hugo Lloris a rest between key Premier League tests with Manchester City and Chelsea.

But the former Blues boss will need to turn to Davinson Sanchez to partner Eric Dier in defence without the injured Alderweireld and with Joe Rodon ineligible in Europe, offering the Colombian what Paul Robinson believes will be a “big chance” for him to impress after being frozen out this season.

Mourinho has also confirmed that Doherty will fall to the bench after only returning to training earlier this week, allowing for Serge Aurier to return to the matchday squad after being omitted from the 18-man teamsheet when Spurs visited Ludogorets.

Harry Winks will be hoping that Mourinho opts to name a repeat midfield unit from the side which beat their Bulgarian opposition at the start of the month, with the England international concerned by his lack of game time yet a 100% member of Spurs’ Europa League Group Stage efforts to date.

No player for either side registered more touches (101) of the ball in the previous meeting between Tottenham and Ludogorets than Winks, with the 24-year-old enjoying an 8.1% share of the possession and playing the highest number of accurate passes (81), per WhoScored.

Giovani Lo Celso also registered a team-high three key balls at the Huvepharma Arena and netted his side’s third before being replaced in 72nd-minute, but has not opened a Premier League match since his sole start in September’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

With Ludogorets bottom of Group J and without a point after three games, Mourinho may feel safe in rotating his starting forwards from this month’s 3-1 win and resting captain Harry Kane ahead of Sunday’s derby clash with Chelsea.

The England international had featured for just 32 minutes over Spurs’ opening two Group Stage ties, though is an integral aspect of Mourinho’s league plans with nine starts in nine and only trails Heung-Min Son (9) for goals scored (7) in the top-flight.

Mourinho has options to turn to in favour of resting Kane, though may favour a central role for Lucas Moura, having been full of praise for the winger’s previous efforts at striker and with the £80,000-per-week Brazilian boasting two goals and an assist in the Europa League this season.

“Lucas is probably one of the few players that was here the day I arrived and never stopped, apart from some extreme fatigue he had because he was playing every match,” Mourinho told the official Spurs website this summer.

“He did everything for us during the season. He played in every position. He played as a striker when we had no strikers. He had no rest, he had to play every match in every competition. It’s really amazing and shows the team player that he is a team player, a consistent player, a player who sacrifices himself for the needs of the team.”

Moving Lucas into a central position for the first time this season – and handing him his first start since October 26 – will open the door for Mourinho to hand Steven Bergwijn a second chance to impress after his struggles against Manchester City at the weekend.

The Dutch forward was invisible before his early withdrawal and would have been frustrated with himself for failing to impress, given Mourinho had only awarded the 23-year-old one Premier League and one Europa League Group Stage start prior to the visit of the Sky Blues.

AND in other news, an £80k-p/w Spurs man’s struggles may have re-opened the door for a “perfect” outcast to return.

Tottenham Hotspur’s preparations for the new campaign began over the weekend with them romping to a 3-0 victory over League One outfit Ipswich Town.

And whilst very little can be taken from the fitness exercise, the performance of Ryan Sessegnon simply can’t be ignored. The 20-year-old delivered the opening strike early in the match and was one of only two to complete the whole match – an opportunity taken.

Those in north London saw glimpses of why they paid an initial £25m to secure him from Fulham in 2019 when he scored their only goal of the game during a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Since then, it’s been reported that the north Londoners have rebuffed advances from Celtic and even Barcelona, so surely it’s time for the young Englishman to be unleashed on the Premier League.

Where he might play very much remains to be seen but that’s the huge positive with Sessegnon – you can swap Ben Davies out for him at left-back or stick him further up the pitch as a winger.

The potential has always been there so it is on Mourinho to hand him such chances to fulfil that promise.

Former Cottagers teammate Stefan Johansen said three years ago that Sessegnon could “become one of the world’s best in his position,” also claiming that he’s a “huge talent” but those at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are yet to truly see this come to fruition.

Mourinho has even likened him to his former Chelsea mainstay Ashley Cole, he said back in November:

“He was fantastic and Ryan has lots of similarities with Ashley [Cole], and he can learn how to defend. In the future I think he can, but in this moment he is not ready to play as a left-back.”

Sessegnon is now valued at £22.5m and has only racked up a total of 12 appearances in the year he’s been at the club, surely this season is his time to show the Premier League exactly why he’s one for the future.

Instead of pursuing a new left-back or left-winger this summer, the Portuguese boss ought to finally utilise one of Mauricio Pochettino’s final signings.

AND in other news, Jose Mourinho urges Daniel Levy to make Spurs enquiry for La Liga outcast…

West Ham United could quickly forget the Grady Diangana if they manage to clinch the latest name linked with a transfer to the London Stadium…

What’s the word?

According to Le10 Sport, the Irons are in the race to land exciting Brentford sensation Said Benrahma before next month’s deadline but they face strong competition from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

They claim that the Championship outfit are asking for £25m for his signature and the offers received so far fall below €20m (£18m).

It’s expected that Benrahma makes the switch to the top-flight before the end of the summer transfer window.

Diangana replacement

Given the options at David Moyes’ disposal, this really would be a signing that gets fans back onside in east London, especially after raking in £18m from Diangana’s sale.

The 25-year-old has dazzled in the Championship as one of the Bees’ many examples of their perfect recruitment. Last season, he provided 17 goals and nine assists as they fell one game short of the big time.

But he’s known for so much more than his goal contributions. Sam Saunders, coach of the B team, claims Benrahma “could nutmeg a mermaid” – which does appear to ring true as he averaged a whopping three dribbles per game last term.

No player in the second tier managed more shots per game (3.8) than the Algerian wizard either.

Whilst his current boss Thomas Frank has previously hailed him everything from “magnificent” to being a “top player” in the Championship.

The trio of Felipe Anderson, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini combined for just two goals all campaign with the majority being picked up on by Michail Antonio – though four of which game during just one match.

For just £25m, the Hammers would be getting one hell of a player and one that would actually have fans wanting to watch their side compete.

Think of him as the second coming of Dimitri Payet. There isn’t too much difference between the two.

AND in other news, Audacious swap deal for £40m “wonderful talent” would be incredible Hammers business…

Tottenham are keen to take advantage of Wigan Athletic’s administration by planning a double swoop for Joe Gelhardt and Jensen Weir, according to recent reports.

The Sun claimed that Spurs are seeking to exploit the situation by making moves for the 18-year-old duo, and Noel Whelan believes that the Londonders will have to ‘compete’ with Celtic if they want to sign the teenagers in the summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds United striker has backed the duo to leave the Latics. After being asked if the teenager will leave in the summer, Whelan said: “Gelhardt and Weir, because of the administration, are in a very good position to get a move away from Wigan at the end of the season.

“They are going to have to compete with Tottenham and some other clubs as well. These two young players are wanted by some of the top clubs in Britain.”

“The club need to take the shackles off and allow these two young players to go. They will get some money back which is needed to help that club survive.”

It is difficult to disagree with Whelan here, as Wigan’s financial woes have put them in a precarious position. The Latics confirmed last week that the club are in dire straits following administration, meaning that it will be hard for them to keep hold of some of their talent.

According to Football Insider, Celtic are also closely monitoring Gelhardt as his valuation is expected to plummet in the wake of the news about the Championship club. The striker has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the DW Stadium, scoring once in 18 games, which has put him on Tottenham’s radar.

Weir, who is the son of Everton legend David, is also wanted by Spurs, and Wigan administrators have confirmed they have received an official approach for the pair.

Mourinho is well aware that his budget has been limited in light of recent events and he will have to resort to sorting out swap deals, signing free agents and pursuing cheaper options this summer. Spurs will likely be eager to wrap up a deal as quickly as possible, amid interest from Celtic, Everton and Leicester.

Scouts are confident that Gelhardt can be groomed into a similar style to Harry Kane who is the club’s top scorer this season. However, the Lilywhites will have some convincing to do, as Troy Parrott has been marginalised for the majority of the campaign.

Whether or not they will be able to offer Gelhardt the game-time that he would like remains to be seen.

Tottenham fans, do you think Daniel Levy should sign Joe Gelhardt and Jensen Weir in the summer? Let us know by commenting below!

Brighton defender Haydon Roberts is reportedly in the club’s long-term plans but could be loaned out for the 2020/21 season.

That’s according to a report from The Athletic, which claimed that the 18-year-old is in contract talks at the Amex Stadium but is likely to spend the next few months out on loan in order to gain experience.

According to The Athletic, the League One trio of Blackpool, AFC Wimbledon and Sunderland are all interested in a loan move for the young centre-back.

Roberts, who has five caps for England at under-18 level, made his senior debut for Brighton in last season’s Carabao Cup and scored in that game against Aston Villa but that remains his only appearance in the first team, while he has not yet been loaned out to gain experience elsewhere.

As a centre-back, he has a lengthy queue of players ahead of him at the Amex, including club captain Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Shane Duffy, returning loan duo Ben White and Matt Clarke and summer arrival Joel Veltman. Even with Duffy and Clarke touted for moves away, either permanently or on loan, that is still an extensive level of competition for places in Graham Potter’s line-up.

Roberts has shown at underage level for Brighton that he is flexible, having also played at left-back and in defensive midfield on a few occasions, while a return of six goals in 59 appearances between the Seagulls’ first team and youth sides is respectable for a defender (as per TransferMarkt).

The 18-year-old seems a talented prospect judging by those figures and Brighton’s desire to extend his contract but, with such frenetic competition for just two centre-back berths in Potter’s line-up, he cannot realistically expect to be in first team contention at the Amex any time soon.

Therefore, a loan spell to a League One side should be beneficial for him in terms of giving him exposure at senior level before coming back to his parent club as a more mature and developed player who still has his whole career ahead of him.

Brighton fans, where do you think would be an ideal loan club for Roberts? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

The following article is a special report; all information presented has been gleaned from Football FanCast sources unless stated otherwise.

Juventus are hopeful of signing Christian Eriksen from Tottenham Hotspur but may wait until the summer to take him to Italy, sources have told Football FanCast.

The Denmark international is out of contract at the end of the season and has thus far shown no indication that he would like to extend his stay at the club.

The Italian giants are said to be “sniffing” around the midfielder prior to a potential swoop, and their chances of signing him could be supported by the fact that Spurs would like to snap up Juve’s Turkish centre-back Merih Demiral.

The 21-year-old was signed from Sassuolo in the summer but has made just four appearances for Juve this season, even providing an assist in the 3-1 Serie A win over Udinese.

Those familiar with Spurs’ recruitment have made it clear that manager Jose Mourinho would like to sign a defender in one of the next two transfer windows and Demiral is a target. Scouts have watched him play for both Juve and Sassuolo.

Watch Spurs vs Brighton Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

Thus, there is a possibility that Demiral could play some role in determining Eriksen’s future.

Of course, Spurs do not have a great deal of agency over his future – he can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club next month – but there is the prospect of negotiations opening the door to talks over the Turkey international, who has won 11 caps for his country.

Sources within the club believe that Eriksen will leave in the summer because he wishes to receive a signing-on fee when he moves to a new club.

Spurs could feasibly open the lines of communication to Juve now, then, with a view to both finding out their plans for Eriksen – allowing them to prepare for his exit – and also making an enquiry as to their target’s availability. Sources have suggested talks may take place in January.

An exit for Eriksen in the next transfer window would be preferable for Spurs, allowing the club to receive a fee, but there has been no indication that the Dane would countenance such a possibility.

Manchester United had been linked with a possible January move but sources claim there is “nothing” coming from the Red Devils ahead of the winter window.

Nonetheless, there is the potential for a tacit quid pro quo between Spurs and the Italian champions; they do nothing to disrupt and possibly even help facilitate Juve’s discussions with Eriksen, in return for smoother negotiations over Demiral.

Juventus, of course, have signed a number of high-profile players on free transfers in recent seasons, including Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal and Emre Can from Liverpool.

Juve paid just €18m (£15.2m) for Demiral’s signature and one assumes that they would want to turn a profit.

Eriksen has previously told the club that he wishes to play abroad in order to broaden his horizons and it was anticipated that interest would come from Spain, namely Real Madrid and Barcelona, in the summer.

Mourinho’s produced some incredible footballing stars – how much do you know about them?

However, there were no bids forthcoming and a move to Italy now seems a realistic proposition for the want-away playmaker.

It could be a perfect situation for Spurs, who could use the Italian club’s interest to swoop for their little-used defender, Demiral.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have been reacting to a link with a swoop for a Championship star. 

Tottenham have failed to fill the void left by Kyle Walker ever since he left for Manchester City. 

While Kieran Trippier had his moments, the former Spurs star struggled for form in his last season with the club after his heroics at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Although Serge Aurier is currently available, his conduct has come under scrutiny as he has been investigated by the Lilywhites for breaking the government guidelines during the nationwide lockdown.

Jose Mourinho has been left short of options at right-back and is now looking to make amends.

As per usual, Spurs have been linked to some of the biggest stars in the world as the transfer window approaches, but none have been as exciting as Norwich City’s Max Aarons this season.

Norwich have struggled to settle down in the Premier League and are surely set for a return to the Championship.

According to talkSPORT, Aarons will most likely not be joining them, which has handed Spurs a major boost.

Tottenham have been chasing the 20-year-old for a number of months now, amid interest from Arsenal, but it appears the Gunners have fallen short of Norwich’s asking price.

The Canaries are demanding £30m for the talented defender and Spurs are ready to resume their charm offensive when everything goes back to normal in the summer.

Mourinho is in the market for a new right-back as the club’s hierarchy have grown tired of Aurier’s antics.

While the 27-year-old has received a higher WhoScored rating than Aarons this season, the youngster has averaged more blocks per game and drawn more fouls.

As Aarons is still only young, he could turn out to be a shrewd investment in the future, as his valuation will surely increase if he continues to put in impressive performances.

Tottenham fans, should the board sign Max Aarons in the summer? Let us know down below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Speaking to The Evening Standard, Mike Phelan has delivered his verdict on Manchester United’s transfer plans going forward into the future.

What’s the word?

The Red Devils made just three permanent signings in the summer transfer window, bringing in Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire. Though the trio cost well in excess of £100m combined, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side also saw major departures, including Romelu Lukaku for £74m.

And with reports in recent weeks claiming the club are very much interested in signing the likes of Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, Phelan insisted that the Red Devils are still targeting “superstar” players, despite looking to develop homegrown talent.

He said: “I think there has got to be a blend. I think Manchester United still do want superstars, but I think they still want to see them coming through and progressing and being part of something special.

“The fans are changing all the time. We’ve got senior fans, old age pensioners, young fans, but it’s become far more global than it’s ever been and I think all those people understand what Manchester United is all about otherwise they wouldn’t support them. They don’t just support them for the superstars, they support them because they can embrace the whole tradition of the football club.”

Encouragement

For any United fan out there perhaps concerned that the days of signing marquee players were over, then Phelan’s comments should offer some encouragement. Looking to develop the club’s academy players and buying homegrown talent is all well and good, but it doesn’t mean the net shouldn’t be cast wider. The Red Devils’ history and allure is second-to-none, particularly in English football, and that means they can attract the very best around.

So whilst signing someone like Daniel James from the Championship at a relatively cheap £15m is shrewd business, that kind of approach to the transfer market should be backed up with some moves for some truly stellar names and individuals. Phelan’s verdict bodes well for what United are trying to accomplish over the coming windows.

Meanwhile, a BBC Sport pundit has revealed the one man who Manchester United “precisely” need.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Ian Holloway has spoken about Lee Bowyer’s current predicament at Charlton Athletic, highlighting where they need to strengthen in January, as reported by Football League World.

What did he say?

Charlton have had a tough time of it in recent months, having failed to win a single one of their last nine games.

This comes during a period in which they have been crippled by injuries, as was highlighted most when Bowyer was only able to field five substitutes in the 3-1 loss against Sheffield Wednesday.

Players have begun to return, most notably Lyle Taylor, though Holloway has suggested things still need to be done to help Bowyer in January: “Without studying all the injuries, what he will know is that he has a shortage in certain areas.

“He has a lot more shopping to do than a lot of other managers and to be honest I feel for him as he’s going to have almost every position to look at right now.

“Maybe one winger, maybe one central midfielder, maybe one striker, he’s going to need at least four or five players.

“Now Charlton have got new owners, maybe they will bring some in.

“He deserves massive credit, he has united that club, all of those supporters now go to the Valley very proudly.”

Reinforcements are needed

The slight influx of players returning means that Bowyer has at least been able to fill his bench in recent times, though he has still had to rely on youngsters, with big players such as Josh Cullen still out.

Against Huddersfield Town, this was perhaps best highlighted by the substitution of Alfie Doughty for James Vennings.

With the current predicament being faced by Charlton and the lack of options Bowyer has at his disposal, he could certainly use reinforcements.

Following the aforementioned barren run, the Addicks currently sit 17th in the table, so a January window boost could be exactly what Bowyer needs.

In other news, Bowyer has spoken about his striker’s transfer situation ahead of the winter window.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Daily Mail, Liverpool have joined the race to sign Jadon Sancho.

What’s the story?

The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet is said to be ready to leave the Bundesliga club. He was subbed off against Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker, Germany’s biggest game, after just 36 minutes, which is sure to have had a negative impact on his mindset.

The Reds are not the only team to be interested in the England international, though, with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Real Madrid all still said to have him on their radar.

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A better fit

In recent days, there has been a lot of talk regarding the Anfield outfit’s desire to sign Kylian Mbappe. The PSG star would cost an absolute fortune – €250m (£214m) was even quoted – and as such, it is being said that Jurgen Klopp and co would be willing to move on Mohamed Salah to Real in order to take the World Cup winner to Merseyside.

Whilst the 20-year-old is a marvellous footballer, that is a huge amount of money to spend on one player and, with the Egypt international valued at £135m by Transfermarkt, his transfer would unlikely cover the cost of the Mbappe fee.

Sancho, though, with a Transfermarkt value of £90m, would surely come in an awful lot cheaper, especially considering that recent incident.

Considering the way Liverpool play, Sancho would be a signing that makes more sense. He is far more of a team player than Mbappe. Last term, the former Monaco man may have scored 33 goals in Ligue 1, but he only managed seven assists.

Sancho, though, scored a more than respectable 12 goals in 26 Bundesliga starts, but racked up a huge 17 assists during that time as well. No-one in Germany managed as many. This season, he’s registered four goals and eight assists already.

The teenager, who moved to Die Schwarzgelben from Manchester City for £8m in 2017, could also be moulded by Klopp into the player they want him to be considering he has just one full season of professional football under his belt.

Mbappe, meanwhile, is already a superstar, and considering his goal tally at Le Parc des Princes, he is unlikely to take kindly to to the 52-year-old trying to modify his game in certain areas.

They are both fantastic players, but Sancho’s arrival would make more sense than Mbappe’s. It remains to be seen, though, exactly what the future holds.