Claims £55k-p/w Wolves Man Didn’t Deserve VAR Penalty

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has claimed that Adama Traore went over too easily when looking for a penalty for Wolves in their most recent match.

What's the latest on Wolves and VAR?

Julen Lopetugui's men travelled away from home to take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this weekend but had to settle for just a point after a fiercely-contested match.

Indeed, Steve Cooper and co took a first-half lead thanks to Brennan Johnson, but Wolves then managed to pull themselves level thanks to Daniel Podence.

That was enough to see the game end 1-1 but perhaps things would have been different had referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot when Traore went to ground in the box.

When speaking about the challenge from Forest defender centre-back Felipe, Sutton told BBC radio show 606 that he agreed with the call made by the officials.

He explained (18:26): "I thought he went over easily there. I've seen that a lot, and what he does is he decelerates, and the Forest defender was Felipe I think, and there's contact, there's not enough contact. He's looking for a penalty. It's simulation.

Sutton added (18:58): "Why doesn’t Traore, with all his pace and his strength and his ability, not try and finish it anyway. He is looking for contact.

"And you know, the referee didn't didn't award a penalty, obviously, but he didn't go and check it on the monitor, it wasn't enough to overturn it. So, I'm totally with the referee on that."

Did Adama Traore deserve a penalty for Wolves?

As you can see in the Sky Sports highlights of the incident, there is a bit of a tug from Felipe on Traore, and you have seen those kinds of challenges punished before.

However, the £55k-p/w Wolves winger could probably stay on his feet and get the shot away if he really wanted to. In the end, it was a marginal decision and with referee Kavanagh not giving it live, it was never likely to be overturned by VAR.

No doubt, some Wolves fans will be frustrated by the decision but seeing as Podence seemed to spit at Johnson but still managed to avoid a red card, perhaps they can count themselves lucky on that front.

The draw leaves Lopetgui and co 13th in the league on 28 points, one place and one point above Forest who have a game in hand.

Tottenham Eyeing Summer Move For £50m Star

Tottenham Hotspur owners ENIC will look to sign James Maddison in the summer, regardless of who they appoint as manager at the end of the season, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Will Tottenham win the race for James Maddison?

With Maddison's contract set to expire at the end of next season, this summer will be the last opportunity Leicester City have to cash in on their star player, and there is growing interest in his signature, from a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Tottenham are said to have leapfrogged Newcastle United into pole position, although Liverpool are also interested in the midfielder, while Manchester City have been linked, so a bidding war could be on the cards in the summer.

Given that the Englishman is likely to have a number of top clubs to choose from, it could be vital for Spurs to finish in the top four, so they can offer him Champions League football next season, but they are currently sitting three points behind Manchester United and Newcastle.

As per a report from Football Insider, the Tottenham board are dead-set on signing the 26-year-old this summer, and they will not wait for the new manager's approval before sanctioning a deal.

The Lilywhites are among the favourites to sign the £50m-rated Leicester star, and they're not going to slow their pursuit while they are without a manager, as they do not want to risk losing their lead in the race for his signature.

A new creative midfielder was identified as a priority signing while Antonio Conte was at the club, and Spurs believe he could go on to be a superstar in the Premier League.

Should Tottenham sign James Maddison?

Tottenham are very keen on a new creative force in the midfielder, and the two-time England international ticks plenty of boxes, ranking in the 89th percentile for assists per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers, averaging 0.35.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.

Having also averaged 0.46 non-penalty goals per 90, there is clear evidence that the maestro would be a real attacking threat for Spurs, particularly considering he has managed to perform at that level in a struggling Leicester side.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media earlier this season, Maddison would be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, and they must now focus on securing Champions League football, in order to make sure they win the race for his signature.

Liverpool: Klopp Could Unearth Next Gem in 19 y/o "Huge Threat"

Liverpool have struggled to maintain their high standards this season and a complete overhaul of the squad this summer would be a warmly welcomed endeavour by the supporters after several lacklustre performances and inconsistent form over the last nine months.

The Reds have lost out on every opportunity to add another trophy to their illustrious collection and are currently nine points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the Premier League top four with just eight games remaining, meaning that it is looking less and less likely that they will be participating in the prestigious European competition next season.

As a result of the rapid downfall at Anfield, the club's hierarchy will be feeling the pressure to invest in new additions this summer to bring the team back to life next season with several players already linked with a move to Merseyside.

However, supporters of the club will be under no illusion that their American owners will spend competitively to keep up with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, with FSG much more likely to stick to their strict budgets and only spending where absolutely vital.

Jurgen Klopp will surely be hoping there is now an opportunity to build his next generation of success at Anfield in a few weeks and could repeat this season's Stefan Bajcetic masterclass by unearthing more talent from the club's youth set-up to add depth to his squad.

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One player who is on course for a breakthrough opportunity in the first team is James Balagizi, a talented midfielder who has already been in Klopp's matchday squad twice.

Who is James Balagizi?

The 19-year-old rising star joined the Reds U11s from Manchester City and has been rising through the ranks of the academy ever since featuring in the U18s, U21s and U23s.

In June 2022 was rewarded with a brand new professional contract to secure his future on the red side of Merseyside after featuring on the bench for the senior team twice in the 2021/22 season.

Balagizi earned a fantastic opportunity to join League Two side Crawley Town on loan in the first six months of this season and gave a glimpse of exactly why he would be a fantastic prospect for the future at Liverpool.

Over 14 league appearances, the Manchester-born rising star scored two goals, registered one assist and tallied up an 82% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 44.4 touches, 1.6 tackles and one clearance per game, proving he is an effective attacking midfielder who has no trouble making his presence known on the pitch.

Thanks to his keen eye for attacking opportunities, the youngster's style of play has even already been compared to that of Yaya Toure, with The Secret Scout claiming (via Liverpool Echo):

"James can operate in all three positions in midfield as a number six, eight or 10.

"He is a versatile player who can use his passing qualities to help build from the back. If used as an eight, he can drive his team forward with powerful surging runs with the ball. As a 10, he can be a huge threat in the box.

"There are similarities in his play, like Yaya Toure – even down to how his sleeves are covered over his hands while playing – and he has a languid, effortless running style. He is the kind of midfielder that we don't often see coming through in England."

With Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to leave the club due to contract expiration this summer, it could be the perfect time for Klopp to give Balagizi his opportunity to become part of the squad depth in midfield next season to ensure there is enough cover in vital roles.

£65k p/w Spurs Ace Booed Before Coming On At Weekend

Tottenham Hotspur fans were even heard booing the arrival of Davinson Sanchez as the replacement for the injured Clement Lenglet on Saturday.

What did Sanchez do on Saturday?

Despite initially taking the lead through Son Heung-min, Saturday proved yet another disappointing afternoon of football for the watching Spurs fans.

It looked as if they had snatched a point from the game late on with Arnaut Danjuma levelling the proceedings with just minutes remaining.

However, it was the Cherries which left north London with maximum points as they scored a last-gasp winner through Dango Ouattara.

Despite the result, perhaps the biggest talking point to come from the game was the boos heard from the home end towards their own player, Sanchez.

It was a poor outing for the Colombian who was substituted after just 23 minutes of action after coming on as a substitute in the first half (via SofaScore).

And speaking on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed he was informed that actually, the booing had even started before the £65k-per-week ace had taken a touch of the ball:

(21:00) "So apparently I didn't hear this but apparently there were suggestions that was some boos when he came on, as well, Sanchez for Lenglet.

"It's a difficult one because I don't really know, the only other sub that we thought maybe we could have taken place was [Japhet] Tanganga.

"But let's be honest, I wouldn't say Japhet Tanganga is probably the most popular player among the Spurs fan base in the world right now either rightly or wrongly."

Do Spurs need to sell Sanchez?

After the events which took place on Saturday, it is hard to imagine Sanchez remaining a Tottenham player beyond the summer as he was left visibly upset after being taken off.

The Colombian does only have one-year remaining on his deal and Gold has recently suggested the defender has actually been open to leaving Spurs for a while now.

It is apparent a lot of the Spurs fans also feel as if it is time for the 26-year-old to leave in the summer with many clearly not pleased with the options Spurs have off the bench.

Spurs defenderDavinson Sanchez

And perhaps the frustration came from the manager's unwillingness to change formation and adopt a back four instead of insisting with a back three.

There is certainly an argument that this may have proven a risk on the weekend given the club have not played with a back four since Antonio Conte took over.

However, this is perhaps one of the issues that has hindered Spurs over recent years in being unable to change formation depending on the scenario they find themselves in.

Of course, Ivan Perisic may not be trusted as the left-back with the veteran having never played in that position over his career.

But there is a real feeling that this Spurs outfit are unable to adapt to the situations they find themselves in, especially as they struggle with injuries currently.

Youngster Pape Matar Sarr excelled in his opportunity at the San Siro in February, yet since that game, he has barely been handed an opportunity in the Spurs side.

Although it was not a pleasant scene to witness in north London on the weekend, perhaps the boos were aimed as much towards the manager as they were the player.

Celtic Considering Swoop For £2.5k-p/w Left-Footed Striker

Celtic are keeping tabs on Swansea City striker Liam Cullen ahead of a potential move to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

What's the latest on Cullen's future?

The Hoops have striker Kyogo Furuhashi attracting significant interest from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, who could potentially be set to make an offer for the Japanese superstar at the end of the season. Should he depart, Ange Postecoglou will need to find a suitable successor, and it seems the 24-year-old Cullen could be just the candidate he's looking for.

The Welshman is an academy graduate of Russell Martin's side, where since returning from a short loan spell at Lincoln City, he has become a regular feature of the senior first-team, making 68 appearances to date. The Championship forward, however, will be out of contract next summer, meaning that the upcoming window will be the final big opportunity for his boyhood club to cash in should he not agree to signing a new deal, and being his side's second best-performing offensive player, he won't be short of a potential suitor if he was to move on.

According to Football Insider, Celtic, alongside English second-tier sides Middlesbrough and Sunderland, are all "tracking" Cullen in a bid to secure his services ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Swansea's £2.5k-per-week striker's performances have placed him firmly "on the radar" of the Hoops, Boro and the Black Cats, with all three admirers hoping to bolster their attacking ranks this summer.

Swansea City striker Liam Cullen.

Should Celtic make an offer for Cullen?

Celtic will know that Cullen's contract expiring next summer could mean that there is a cut-price deal available at the end of the season, and having been hailed as a forward who "drags defenders apart" with "underrated" movement by journalist Josh Bunting, the board should absolutely test the waters to see whether he wants to make the move north of the border.

The left-footed ace has clocked up 63 goal contributions (51 goals and 12 assists) in 165 appearances throughout his career so is prolific at taking his chances in the final third, and he also ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, which highlights that even if he's not always on the scoresheet, he constantly looks like a threat in and around the opposition box.

Finally, Cullen is an extremely versatile operator having played in six various positions since bursting onto the professional scene, including anywhere across the frontline, out wide on both flanks included alongside his natural centre-forward role, so this should be a no-brainer of a decision for the hierarchy to make should the opportunity to sign him arise in the weeks and months ahead.

Rangers: £25k-p/w Talent Could Be Next Todd Cantwell

Glasgow Rangers are 13 points off the top of the Scottish Premiership and have already been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and Europe heading into the final month of the campaign.

It has been a disappointing season for the Light Blues as Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale have both failed, barring a sensational collapse from their Old Firm rivals in the final five games, to bring home a trophy.

Planning has already begun to right the wrongs in 2023/24 and one player who appears set to be on his way to Ibrox in the summer is attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell.

The Daily Record recently claimed that the Englishman will sign a three-year deal with the Scottish giants upon the expiry of his contract with Norwich City this summer, after already passing a medical.

Who is Kieran Dowell?

The £25k-per-week gem is a midfielder who can play out wide, as a number eight or in the hole behind the striker, and has been playing in the Championship for the Canaries this season.

Beale could now repeat the trick he played with Todd Cantwell, who arrived from Norwich in January and also plays in the attacking midfield positions, by bringing in the 25-year-old's former teammate.

Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell.

Since joining in the winter window, Cantwell has caught the eye with a string of impressive performances in the Premiership.

The English dynamo has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.33 and chipped in with two goals and four assists in ten starts, after failing to produce a single goal or assist in nine Championship starts for Dean Smith in the first half of the campaign.

How has Kieran Dowell performed this season?

The Canaries no.10 has had more success in the second tier of English football than Cantwell this term.

The 25-year-old has scored five goals and assisted three, whilst creating six 'big chances', in just 14 starts for the Yellows, which shows that the mercurial playmaker has the quality to be a goalscoring threat while also consistently creating chances for his teammates.

Dowell, who was once hailed for his "beautiful technique" by journalist Josh Bunting, has provided 23 key passes in the Championship and could – like Cantwell – be an exceptional option for Beale to call upon in the Premiership.

His former Norwich teammate has already taken to the Scottish top-flight like a duck to water and that bodes well for the chances of Dowell translating his impressive form over to Scotland next season.

Therefore, the Gers head coach could repeat the masterclass he played in securing Cantwell's signature in January by swooping to sign the former Everton academy graduate to bolster his attacking options this summer.

£200k-p/w Star Unlikely To Betray Spurs For Chelsea

If Harry Kane does leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, it is unlikely that he would go to Chelsea, given how much anger it would cause amongst the fans, Julien Laurens has claimed.

What's going on with Harry Kane?

The England striker has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 26 times in the league, despite Spurs struggling as a whole.

There has been a lot of speculation over the 29-year-old's future, as despite his goal tally continuing to rise, he is yet to win a major trophy, and the chaos at Spurs means that he is probably better off moving elsewhere in search of glory.

It remains to be seen whether he will leave this summer, with his contract expiring in 2024, but whilst high-spending Chelsea may be an option, the backlash it would cause if he was to be sold to a major rival means a move to Stamford Bridge is unlikely.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Laurens described Kane as "incredible," and claimed that staying at Spurs or moving to Manchester United were both more likely options than joining Chelsea, even if Mauricio Pochettino becomes the Blues' manager.

"There's still a chance of course, a big chance that he stays, even if he doesn't extend his contract, they keep him then he can go for free during summer 2024," he stated.

"Spurs may feel they have to do that because they can't do without him. I think there's also obviously a big chance that he moves, I would go 50% to stay 40% to go to United and 10% to go to Chelsea, just because Pochettino will be there.

"I know that to be the betrayal of all betrayals, of course, and I don't think that Daniel Levy can sell him to Chelsea either. Otherwise, I mean, Daniel Levy's house will be burned down."

Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes competing in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.

What should Spurs do with Kane?

Spurs are currently in chaos, with no deal for a new manager being close to completion, no replacement for recently banned director of football Fabio Paratici and a lot of holes in the squad.

They will need a big rebuild of the squad no matter who comes in as manager, and given that they now look set to miss out on Champions League qualification, selling Kane now may be better than losing him for free next year.

Spurs look highly unlikely to challenge for the title next season, and without Champions League football, the £200k-per-week star may want to play at the highest level in his prime years and may see a move away as the only possible way at this point in time.

If Spurs keep Kane for another season, they will likely be delaying his inevitable departure if he cannot be convinced to extend his contract, and they could gain a large fee this summer to help rebuild the squad, compared to nothing next year.

Crystal Palace Expected To Bid For £13m "True Warrior"

Crystal Palace are now expected to make a bid for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey this summer, according to recent reports from Turkey.

Who is Sacha Boey?

Boey has caught eye with his fantastic performances for Galatasaray this season, averaging a 7.26 match WhoScored match rating in the Turkish Super Lig, which ranks the right-back as the second-best performer in his squad.

The Frenchman is coming to the end of just his second season in Turkey, and he is still contracted until June 2025, however he could be on the move this summer, with a number of teams looking to sign him in the upcoming transfer window.

According to a report from Fotomac, a whole host of clubs from across Europe are expected to make bids for the 22-year-old this summer, including Palace, Arsenal and Wolfsburg, meaning competition for his signature is going to be fierce.

Galatasaray are set to demand at least €15m (£13m) to sanction the departure of the defender, who is now set to leave the Turkish club, and they have already set their sights on potential replacements, including former Arsenal man Hector Bellerin.

Will Crystal Palace sign Boey?

It is clear that Palace will need to sign a new right-back in the summer, given that both Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward are set to be out of contract at the end of the season, with no new deal seemingly on the horizon for either player.

Given that both players are approaching the latter stages of their career, a younger option may be required even if one of them ends up staying at Selhurst Park, and Boey could prove to be an excellent signing.

Soccer Football – Europa League – Round of 16 Second Leg – Galatasaray v FC Barcelona – Turk Telekom Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey – March 17, 2022 Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey in action with FC Barcelona’s Pedri REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Hailed as a "true warrior" by members of the media, the former Rennes man has done a stellar job defensively for Galatasaray this season, averaging 2.7 tackles per game in the Super Lig, the second-highest amount of any player in the squad.

That figure is a huge increase on the amount of tackles any Palace player has amassed in the Premier League, with Ward averaging 1.8, and Clyne just 1.2, while Boey also scores higher than both of them for interceptions.

It is no guarantee the Galatasaray ace would be a success at Selhurst Park, given that he is unproven outside of the Super Lig, but he has shown very promising signs this season, and the Eagles should at least test the waters with a bid.

Journalist Shrugs Off "Ridiculous" Everton Transfer Claim

Everton re-signing former player James Rodriguez in the summer transfer window would be "ridiculous", according to journalist Paul Brown.

How did Rodriguez fare at Everton?

The 31-year-old made the surprise move to Goodison Park back in 2020, coming in as arguably one of the most high-profile signings in the Blues' history. After a bright start to life on Merseyside, his influence gradually diminished, however, with a combination of injuries and inconsistent form proving to be a problem for him.

In the end, Rodriguez only made 26 appearances for Everton, scoring six goals and registering nine assists, prior to joining Qatari side Al-Rayyan in 2021. The Colombian has been linked with a shock return to Goodison in recent days, with the Toffees touching based with intermediaries.

He is currently without a club, having seen his contract at Olympiakos terminated earlier this year, so he would be available on a free transfer.

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Could Rodriguez make Blues return?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown admitted that Rodriguez returning to Everton would not be a good idea, mainly because of his physical limitations:

"Now the player is even older, hasn't exactly been ripping it up in the leagues he's played in since, and doesn't suggest that his body has performed any kind of remarkable transformation, I think it would be a ridiculous idea for Everton to try and bring him back."

Brown is spot on in his assessment here, with Rodriguez someone who Everton shouldn't even consider going near once this season reaches its conclusion. There is no denying his talent as a footballer – he was once hailed as "world-class" by Alvaro Arbeloa – but his best days are long behind, hence the situation he finds himself in.

The Blues would be far better off looking to sign younger players who are more likely to possess a strong work ethic and buy into Sean Dyche's style of play, rather than a potential luxury addition who is often out injured. Not only that, but the 90-cap Colombia international would also likely demand high wages, at a time when Everton aren't exactly in the strongest financial position they have ever been in.

It is a move that simply has too many negatives to it, and while some Blues supporters may still like the idea of Rodriguez returning to the club, given his natural ability, it is a transfer that would likely end in tears for all concerned.

Celtic To Ward Off Significant Interest in 57 y/o Key Figure

Celtic have 'no interest' in letting manager Ange Postecoglou depart the club despite interest from south of the border due to his impressive work in Scotland, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Ange Postecoglou?

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that Postecoglou was on a four-man shortlist to replace Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur, stating on Twitter: "Negotiations between Nagelsmann and Tottenham have not resumed, at this stage. No changes: he'd only consider the job with supportive sporting director. Arne Slot, concrete option discussed internally; while Luis Enrique, Amorim and Postecoglou remain on Levy list."

Football Insider have also claimed that Postecoglou is 'wanted' by Spurs and Leeds United and that Celtic 'fear' that the 57-year-old may join an 'elite' Premier League club this summer.

He is on a 12-month rolling contract at Parkhead, meaning every day his deal stands at having a year to run, a model that Celtic have operated with over the years with numerous different bosses.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou did make some telling comments on his future earlier this year, as per The Sun, following his side's 2-1 victory over Rangers to secure the Viaplay Cup trophy, stating: “When people say, ‘He’s going to go down the road or somewhere else with the first offer he gets’, it’s not how I’m wired, it’s not how I think. For me, what it’s about is just trying to leave a mark wherever I am. I have done that with every football club I have been at. I want to do that at this club too and that is all that consumes me. I don’t think about the next step or I need to go somewhere else, or I need to do this or I need to consider other things."

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that it is inevitable that Postecoglou will attract Premier League interest due to the job he has done at Celtic.

Jones told FFC: "Obviously, Celtic have got no interest in hearing about any of these rumours. They love what he's been able to build, It'd be a massive loss and they don't want to entertain any of this and rightly so. They're in a good moment, but it's inevitable that any manager that does well at Celtic or Rangers starts to get linked to jobs in the Premier League and there is genuine interest along the way, so it's part and parcel of the football food chain, unfortunately."

What has Ange Postecoglou achieved at Celtic?

Postecoglou has won four trophies from a possible five at Celtic, including back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles and is one game away from making it five from six at the Scottish giants if his side can defeat Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup final in early June, which would also net the Hoops a record-breaking eighth domestic treble in their history.

Inheriting a side that finished 25 points behind Rangers in 2020/21, the former Australia national team coach has managed to enact a rapid-fire turnaround at Parkhead.

Celtic attacker Kyogo Furuhashi.

Recruitment has been a real area of strength for Postecoglou, having brought in players such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota under his guise, who have all gone on to be major players in his reign in the east end of Glasgow.

As per Marca via The Daily Mail, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti praised Postecoglou for the way he has structured his side tactically ahead of the Spanish giants' bout against Celtic in the Champions League last year, saying: "They play very intense. They have had a great start to the season; there will be a great atmosphere in their stadium. We've got the most difficult game of this first half of the season. We're going to be up against a team playing great football and we have to be ready."

Receiving adulation from one of the great managers in football like Ancelotti shows the mark of the man Postecoglou is, though it is also an indication of the way his reputation is heralded beyond the Scottish football landscape.

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