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Micky van de Ven is only 22 years old, but Tottenham Hotspur supporters will tell you that he is one of the Premier League's finest central defenders, most influential summer signings.

Sure, he's not infallible but the Netherlands international has been ever-so-impressive since signing from German team Wolfsburg in a £43m transfer last summer.

It bears testament to the managerial prowess of Ange Postecoglou, the front-footed, proactive approach to rebuilding a squad that had fallen by the wayside last term like an elephant from a tree.

There were a host of factors contributing to Antonio Conte's demise, the serial trophy winner dismissed in razor-edged circumstances just over 12 months ago after a loss of confidence, cohesion, identity.

The problem underpinning it all was some terrible defensive solidity, or lack thereof, with Tottenham finishing with the sixth-worst goal concession rate of the season.

Such fortunes are indeed much improved this term with Van de Ven partnering Cristian Romero in central defence, but last year certainly will have elicited a sense of longing from the Lilywhites faithful, who will have fondly recalled the dynamism and fluency of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

The latter spent less time in north London than his compatriot but he proved himself to be one of the Premier League's standout defenders during his time at the club.

How much Spurs paid for Toby Alderweireld

Tottenham had been making gains under Mauricio Pochettino's leadership but needed a top-class partner for Vertonghen, and so forged ahead with the £11m signing of Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid following the Belgian's impressive loan spell with Southampton in the Premier League.

Former Spurs man Alton Thelwell was left gushing over the partnership, saying: "Both of them have been exceptional. They complement each other very well and literally they’re all-round quality defenders. They read the game well, they get on the ball and they play the Tottenham way.

"Vertonghen likes to pass the ball with elegance – he’s like the Rolls-Royce of defending. He gets on it with his left foot, he’s got excellent ability and the same goes for Toby as well. I’d say he’s probably a bit more tenacious than Vertonghen but overall they’ve got all the attributes that you want.

"They’re good all-round defenders and that shows with only 22 goals conceded in the league this season. They provide the perfect balance for Tottenham."

20/21

7th

25

45

19/20

6th

33

47

18/19

4th

34

39

17/18

3rd

14

38

16/17

2nd

30

26

15/16

3rd

38

35

During Alderweireld's finest days as a Tottenham player, during those first few seasons, he was an almighty presence at the back, robust and energetic with deceptive pace and crisp, crunching challenges.

The 35-year-old chalked up 236 appearances for Spurs, more than for any other team he has played for, and while he didn't win any silverware, the former Belgium international played a crucial role in an exciting and adventurous period of Tottenham's modern history.

Ledley King is another to have been struck by such sublime defensive performances from the pairing, remarking: "They're well rounded – both of them. They don't have any obvious weaknesses. Sometimes you can get someone who is very good in the air, very physical but not so great with the smaller, nippy players. They can deal with all types of forwards."

Spurs hit the jackpot on flop who cost £0 & was sold for more than Eriksen

This player is now worth just £3m and has had disciplinary issues abroad.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 6, 2024

Tottenham's defensive displays last season were certainly a far cry from the one-time fortitude of the Belgian duo, and while the club are improving in that regard under Postecoglou's wing, Romero and Van de Ven haven't reached the same level – yet.

How much Spurs sold Toby Alderweireld for

Like all good things, Tottenham's time with Alderweireld had to come to an end, and it was always going to be a tall order replacing the man who had been compared to Harry Kane by pundit Rio Ferdinand, with the Manchester United icon even claiming that he was just as important as the goalscoring talisman.

But with Tottenham on the decline after losing in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2019, Alderweireld failed to capture the essence of his world-class mettle as he approached his twilight phase in the Premier League, sold by Nuno Espirito Santo in 2021 with focus on landing Romero from Atalanta for £42m that same window.

While it was a poignant departure, Alderweireld was 32 years old and Espirito Santo understandably wanted to reshape the backline after successive seasons of comparative defensive struggle – not quite so heavy as last season's woes, mind – and when Qatari side Al-Duhail offered £13m for his services, it was something of a no-brainer to let him leave.

Especially so considering that he is now – understandably – worth only £5m, placing him at a lower market valuation than Spurs struggler Bryan Gil, who is unhappy at the club and hopes to leave in the summer, with the winger having started just two Premier League fixtures this season.

Gil was purchased from Sevilla for £22m in 2021, around the same time Alderweireld took his leave, and while he's only 23 years old and has been said to be capable of "moments of magic" by Spurs correspondent Rob Guest, Football Transfers has marked him at a lowly £8m price tag.

It's impressive that Spurs claimed the finest years of Alderweireld's career and still made a profit when he was on the edge of decline, though he's still enjoyed some fine moments since leaving England.

What Toby Alderweireld is doing now

Alderweireld only spent one year in Qatar before heading back to his homeland and signing with boyhood club Royal Antwerp, but if it was thought that he was content on winding down, such beliefs were proved remarkably incorrect.

Across two campaigns in Belgium, the veteran centre-half has chalked up 90 displays and scored 11 goals, incredibly scoring the last-gasp winner to win his team the Belgian Pro League last season.

It's a stunning story, but Tottenham fans have always known of the tenacity, desire and quality that has allowed Alderweireld to forge a high-class career for himself.

Overall, while a massive profit was not made, Alderweireld's signing can only go down as an unmitigated blinder. He's one of the finest to lace the boots in Tottenham's modern history.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Thiago Silva made his debut for Fluminense on Monday as he finally returned to his boyhood club from Chelsea this summer.

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Silva made his debut for Fluminense Returned to boyhood club this summer from ChelseaPenned a heartfelt note for his team WHAT HAPPENED?

After his Chelsea contract expired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Thiago Silva decided to return to his homeland and join his boyhood club Fluminense. The veteran player received a stunning welcome at the Brazilian club last month as 55,000 people turned up at Maracana to welcome their legend.

AdvertisementDivulgação/FluminenseTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 39-year-old proved to be the club's lucky charm as they registered their first win in 10 matches across all competitions in his debut game for them. At the end of the match, the former Selecao star penned a heartfelt note for his new team.

WHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

On Instagram, the former Chelsea and AC Milan defender wrote, "It's been 16 years since I experienced such a beautiful feeling to wear this shirt on the field. Without a doubt, this is a moment I will never forget and I thank God for being by my side and helping us get the victory tonight. I also want to thank my family and the tricolour team for their support and care. We keep striving for more winnings LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER I love you Fluminense!"

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Leonardo Brasil/Fluminense FCWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

Silva will be next seen in action on Thursday as Fluminense take on reigning champions Palmeiras in an important Brazilian Serie A clash.

Luis Suarez saved Uruguay for perhaps the final time as his late equalizer helped his country to a shootout win over Canada in the Copa America.

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• Suarez scores late equalizer
• Canada missees twice in shootout
• Uruguay finish third at Copa America

• (C)GettyImages
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Saturday's clash was a bit more lively than typical third-place games as a heavily-rotated Canada team really tried to dictate the match. The Canadians came out determined from the opening whistle, which forced Uruguay to turn things up a notch themselves.

  You wouldn't blame Uruguay for checking out a bit, particularly after the events that unfolded following their semifinal loss to Colombia. However, Marcelo Bielsa fielded a strong XI that included the likes of Darwin Nunez, Rodrigo Bentancur and Jose Gimenez, all of whom were among the main characters of the chaos midweek.

  Uruguay scored first thanks to Betancur, who finished just eight minutes into the match. The lead lasted just 14 minutes, though, before Canadian youngster Ismael Kone's spectacular flick leveled the match.

  From there, Canada continued to push and were rewarded late on after tossing their stars into the match. Jonathan David scored what was thought to be the match-winner in the 80th minute, seemingly sealing third place for Canada. It wasn't to be, though, as Suarez scored a last-gasp equalizer to send the match to a penalty kick shootout.

  Once there, both Ismael Kone and Alphonso Davies missed from the spot while Uruguay went a perfect four-for-four to win the shootout 4-3.

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• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  This was Canada's first-ever Copa America, and they finished in fourth place. Les Rouges had previously failed to qualify for the 2016 Copa, which was the last time this tournament was held on U.S. soil.

  Uruguay, meanwhile, has won this competition 15 times, finished runners up six times and, now, snagged third place on 10 occasions.

• Getty
  

  THE MVP

  Luis Suarez:

  One more ride for El Pistolero.

  If this was it for him a Uruguay shirt, and it very well could be, Suarez went out with one more magic moment. His last-gasp equalizer was his 69th goal in an Uruguay shirt and, while he's scored more memorable, it felt like it could be a fitting end.

  Suarez is a legendary figure, one who has carried Uruguay on his back for years. And, on Sunday, he did it one last time with a late goal to help his country to a podium finish.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIG LOSER

  Darwin Nunez:

  You know he was just itching to score. After everything that happened midweek, it would have been easy for Nunez to be on autopilot, but that's just not who he is. This felt like a big game for him, but it never really happened.

  The Liverpool star was taken off at halftime, having been relatively ineffective throughout his 45 minutes. His big moment never came. In fact, it never felt close.

  Who knows when we'll see Nunez in an Uruguay shirt again as suspensions and sanctions loom large. A goal would have been a nice message to send but, unfortunately for him, it wasn't to be.

The players themselves have gone on strike demanding better pay but the CWAB has done little to help them

Mohammad Isam22-Oct-2019FICA, the international cricketers’ association, has lent its support to the striking Bangladeshi cricketers while hitting out at the role of the Bangladesh players body FICA itself counts as a member for over a decade.Tony Irish, FICA’s executive chairman, criticised the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) – which, in theory represents Bangladesh cricketers – for some of its office-bearers also holding positions in the Bangladesh board, and called for a review of the affiliated body’s membership at FICA – membership granted in November 2007.”FICA commends the players in Bangladesh for their unity and for taking a stand together in order to secure fair conditions applicable to them as professional cricketers,” Irish said in a press release. “This has happened despite the challenging environment for players to collectivize in Bangladesh and it is a clear indication of the need for change in the way players are treated in what we regard as an important cricket country.”Irish said that the CWAB was not doing enough to properly represent the Bangladeshi cricketers, who, as they went on strike asked, for a change in leadership at the players body. It was the first of their 11 demands.The CWAB has been run by the same committee for more than ten years. Its president Naimur Rahman and vice-president Khaled Mahmud are BCB directors while general secretary Debabrata Paul works as the BCB’s match referee coordinator, for which he draws a monthly salary.”It is also clear to us that the players in Bangladesh don’t feel heard or respected in relation to important issues that affect them in their careers and that affect their livelihoods,” Irish said.”It is the role of a players’ association to be the voice, and collective representative, of the players, and it is a matter of concern to us that the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) does not appear to be fulfilling this role at a very critical time for the players. It is of further concern that it appears that office bearers of CWAB hold positions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.”Irish has also offered help to the Bangladeshi cricketers. “Given the collective nature of the issues we believe that it’s important for FICA to offer its support and assistance to the players during this time.”But the CWAB hasn’t really committed to the cricketers’ cause during this strike. Naimur has said he won’t resign, and voiced his displeasure on a number of occasions in the last 24 hours, saying the players were being “selfish”, and should have taken their demands to the board instead.

West Ham United could do with a little dusting of magic right now to counter the landslide that has dominated the last few weeks of action.

A scintilla of doubt surrounding David Moyes' managerial acumen in the Irons dugout has festered into something damaging, with the 6-0 home defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend indicative of the present malaise at London Stadium.

West Ham have not tasted victory in any competition since beating the Gunners in their own backyard in late December, and having crashed out of the FA Cup to Bristol City, the need for a spark of… something, has never been greater.

Lucas Paqueta, infectious and influential in his playmaking prowess, has been on the sidelines since the start of January and his creativity is sorely missed, though there are plenty of former phenoms to would make a marked impact right now.

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Moyes will continue to plot and ponder, turning the rough coals of an idea into the diamond of a polished plan, but time is running out for the Scotsman, who will be in big trouble if his Irons outfit fall to Nottingham Forest in the top-flight on Saturday afternoon.

Some fine talents could indeed improve the squad right now. Hark back to Dimitri Payet, or to Jesse Lingard. One of the finest, who perhaps ultimately disappointed, is none other than Felipe Anderson. At his best, the silky Brazilian would be the perfect solution to the club's developing crisis.

West Ham's signing of Felipe Anderson

July 2018: Moyes had been let go after saving West Ham from relegation during a short-term stint and Manuel Pellegrini was two months into his tenure in east London.

The Chilean boss, Premier League 2013/14 champion with Manchester City, was the perfect fit to complete a summer of exciting acquisition and the standout deal was for Lazio winger Felipe Anderson, who completed a club-record £36m move.

Dubbed "one of the most exciting talents in European football" by then Director of Football Mario Husillos, Anderson was regarded as a major coup after some excellent campaigns in Serie A and was the perfect offensive star to root into the core of Pellegrini's system.

Player

Signed from

Fee

Ryan Fredericks

Fulham

Free

Issa Diop

Toulouse

£21m

Lucasz Fabianski

Swansea City

£7m

Jack Wilshere

Arsenal

Free

Andriy Yarmolenko

Borussia Dortmund

£17.5m

Fabian Balbuena

Corinthians

£6m

Felipe Anderson

Lazio

£36m

Xande Silva

Vitoria de Guimaraes

£1m

Lucas Perez

Arsenal

£4m

Carlos Sanchez

Fiorentina

Undisclosed

Anderson had been a menacing figure down the flank for Lazio over several years and had racked up 51 goal contributions across four seasons in the Italian top flight, looking like the man to take West Ham to new heights under Pellegrini's wing.

And while he tasted with breakneck abandon, Anderson flagged early and failed to replicate a brilliant debut campaign with his consequent efforts, ultimately remembered as a player who failed to cut the mustard in the long run.

Felipe Anderson's West Ham career

Now aged 30, Anderson is back plying his trade in Rome, and while he has impressed at the Stadio Olimpico, he will never be able to shake the disappointing decline in the Premier League.

Of course, it certainly didn't start that way, with Anderson plundering ten goals and five assists across all competitions during the 2018/19 term, leading erstwhile Hammer, Robert Snodgrass to hail him as a "terrific talent".

The two-cap Brazil international really was fantastic that maiden season, also averaging 1.8 key passes, 2.1 dribbles, 2.5 tackles and 6.3 successful duels per match in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, showcasing his application and eagerness to perform.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Crossing

Dribbling

Defensive contribution

His second season in the English capital was significantly worse than his first, with the 5 foot 9 whiz scoring just one goal across 28 appearances, also creating just four big chances in the Premier League.

There are many reasons that the South American endured such an acute downfall, his third year on Hammer books spent on loan in Portugal with Porto, where he featured just ten times and registered one lonely assist.

Given that Anderson was earning a pretty penny during his time at West Ham – a base salary of £82k-per-week across three years – he bled the club dry of as much as £44m when including his transfer fee, and while he impressed at the start, his performances devolved into alarming ineffectiveness.

Of course, Porto might have covered some of his wages during the 2020/21 term, but given that he was sold back to Lazio for just €3m (£2m) in 2021, it was hardly the investment of the era.

It really is a far cry from his glowing beginnings, with his early performances leading teammate Aaron Cresswell to state: "I can see him becoming a fans’ favourite like Dimitri [Payet]. He’s a similar type of player, coming off the left, creating things and scoring goals. He is our top scorer now, he has been fantastic for us.”

Payet has etched himself into West Ham lore forever, his feats transcending the temporal restraints that throw most Premier League players into the past after playing their last. The Frenchman is quite simply one of the division's most iconic players.

Dimitri Payet's West Ham career

Anderson had many qualities that drew these comparisons to Payet and while there was a likeness, Payet sits in a league of his own when at the top of his game in London.

Signed from Marseille for just £10m back in 2015, Payet arrived with a weight of expectation and duly delivered, posting 12 goals and 15 assists during the 2015/16 campaign, thriving under Slaven Bilic and spearheading his side toward a seventh-place Premier League finish.

Much like Anderson, Payet failed to reach the same level in his second season and became afflicted with a severe bout of homesickness, demanding an exit in January 2017 and receiving his wish the upcoming summer, re-joining Marseille for £25m.

To be fair, West Ham made a healthy profit on the playmaker and have some breathtaking moments indelibly woven into the club's highlight reel.

But the same cannot be said for Anderson, who cost more, was sold for less and ended up being a bigger disappointment, remarked to be "unplayable" by Juve correspondent Adam Digby several years back – referencing both his electric ability and ability to produce such terrible efforts that he cannot be handed a starting berth.

Ultimately, it was right for Anderson to move on just like it was necessary to grant Payet a return to his homeland; both players came and conquered but failed to cement their legacies.

A snapshot of brilliance portended the recent riches under Moyes' leadership, and while few can emulate the sheer skill and art of such players' craft, West Ham have now achieved incredible success across multiple campaigns.

Still, just imagine the likes of Anderson competing on the left for the club right now; at his best, he's just what Moyes needs to turn the tide.

Ahead of the start of the January transfer window, the suggestion was that Tottenham Hotspur were looking to sign a new centre-back and a striker this month, with strength in depth needed in those areas, in particular, heading into the second half of the season.

There may be those feeling that those gaps have now been plugged following the additions of Genoa defender, Radu Dragusin and RB Leipzig forward, Timo Werner, with Ange Postecoglou having got his business done early to avoid a mad late scramble.

That being said, the jury is out on whether Werner – who scored just ten Premier League goals in two seasons during his time at Chelsea – is the clinical striking solution that Spurs are craving, with the German having thus far featured off the left against both Manchester United and Manchester City of late.

With it looking as if the 27-year-old is viewed as more of an option from the flanks than through the middle by Postecoglou, there is a case to be made that the signing of a centre-forward is still needed before tomorrow's deadline, with the club yet truly fill the void of club record goalscorer, Harry Kane.

Richarlison, to his credit, has stepped up of late with six goals from his last six league games, yet after scoring just once last season in the top flight during his debut campaign, the mercurial Brazilian is hardly the most reliable goalscoring presence for the Lilywhites.

With that in mind, speculation is growing that the north Londoners could make one last big move in the winter market by snapping up a Premier League-proven striker over the next 24 hours or so.

Spurs plotting bid for Premier League star

There had been claims made earlier this month that Daniel Levy and co were among the clubs interested in signing Ivan Toney from Brentford following the 27-year-old's return from suspension, although it is another English talent who appears to have caught the eye of late.

According to a report from The Sun, Spurs are considering making a late swoop for AFC Bournemouth talisman, Dominic Solanke and are said to be 'ready to push through' a £50m-plus deal for the former Liverpool and Chelsea man.

The piece notes that the Cherries have already knocked back an enquiry from Newcastle United regarding the 26-year-old's availability, although Tottenham are keen to 'test the resolve' of the south coast side by making a sizeable offer.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 23, 2024

The suggestion is that Andoni Iraola's side are already looking at potential replacements for the one-cap England international – who is valued at €40m (£34m) by CIES Football Observatory – thus hinting that an exit for Solanke could be on the cards before the deadline slams shut.

How Dominic Solanke compares to Kane

The Lilwyhites are no doubt hoping to recreate the partnership involving last season's 30-goal hero, Kane and current skipper, Heung-min Son, the pair combining for 47 goals prior to the Englishman's exit in the summer – the best record of any duo in Premier League history.

With Kane operating as the clinical yet creative presence through the middle, Son could provide that devastating outlet off the left, albeit while having since largely operated in a more central role this term prior to Richarlison's recent renaissance.

That shift to operating as an unorthodox number nine has worked nicely for the South Korean star, as his 12 league goals can attest to, yet getting the 31-year-old back onto his natural home on the left could prove fruitful – hence the need to snap up a number nine like Solanke.

A notable benefit of signing the £50k-per-week menace would be his apparent likeness to Kane, with that comparison having been made by his former Bournemouth teammate, Charlie Daniels, who noted the "similarities" between the pair:

“Dom combines the role of a No 9 and a No 10, a bit like Harry does. He wants to stretch the game in behind but can also receive it to feet. His movement’s the same as Harry’s and they’ve the same intelligence.

“They both hold the ball up, they’re quite strong. Harry’s a more natural finisher but you can see the similarities.”

Like Kane – who has previously been dubbed "a complete all-round player" by ex-Spurs boss Harry Redknapp – Solanke has more to his game than simply putting the ball in the back of the net, with journalist James Nalton describing him as a "proper roaming forward" in the past.

With the £50m man dropping deep – in a manner akin to Kane – it could give Son the license and space to get in behind, thus reviving a tactic that has been so fruitful for Tottenham in years gone by.

Dominic Solanke's season by numbers

For all those similarities, Solanke does still have a way to go before he hits the levels of his prolific compatriot, with the in-demand talent boasting just 22 top-flight goals in his career to date – Kane had already surpassed that tally by the end of 2014/15.

That being said, it is hard to ignore the impact that the Cherries star is having this season under Iraola, having netted 12 times and contributed one assist in 20 league outings, taking on Kane's mantle of being the highest-scoring Englishman in the competition.

Such a stellar tally notably includes a dazzling hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest last month, while he was also central to Iraola's side romping to a 3-0 win away at Old Trafford in early December, running the home defence ragged and getting on the scoresheet.

That dominant showing led pundit Owen Hargreaves to suggest that Solanke would be a welcome addition for United, while his manager subsequently lauded him as a "really complete player" having been "really dangerous" up against Erik ten Hag's men.

Solanke's performance in numbers vs Man Utd
1 goal
1 'big chance' missed
2/3 successful dribble attempts
40 touches
8 total duels won
3 fouls won
2 clearances
1 tackle
7.5 match rating
Stats via Sofascore

Evidently not overawed by the big stage, Solanke could therefore be the perfect figure to slot into Postecoglou's title-chasing outfit, with Levy able to end the window with a bang by bringing the next Kane to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ending the window in dramatic fashion, Fulham took advantage of Chelsea's U-turn to sign Armando Broja on loan in a deal reportedly worth up to £4m. After welcoming the forward, however, the Cottagers are now reportedly set to lose one of Marco Silva's other attacking options, as a European club stop off in London as part of a double swoop.

Fulham transfer news

After putting pen to paper on the loan move, Broja told FFCtv: "It feels amazing. I'm really happy to be here and I can't wait to get started, meet the players and manager and play for the fans.

"The fans always play a big role and I can't wait to go to Craven Cottage and meet them all. I'm going to work hard for the team and create a real bond. I'm really honoured and excited to be here."

The arrival of Broja looks likely to have a knock-on effect elsewhere, however, with the London club now set to lose an attacking option after the conclusion of the January transfer window. According to Fabrizio Romano, Galatasaray have reached a verbal agreement to sign Carlos Vinicius on loan from Fulham until the end of the season in a double deal that will also reportedly see them sign Nottingham Forest's Serge Aurier.

Swapping Vinicius for Broja, Silva will hope that the latter gets firing straight away to finally hand Fulham a consistent goalscorer once more.

"Strong" Vinicius struggled at Fulham

After a year and a half at the club, Vinicius' loan move away from Fulham comes at the perfect time. Truth be told, the forward has struggled since completing the move, with Aleksandar Mitrovic's exit failing to provide the former Tottenham Hotspur man a springboard into Silva's starting role. Given the praise that Jose Mourinho once held for Vinicius, Fulham fans may have been left frustrated by his form.

Appearances

48

Goals

8

Assists

3

Mourinho previously said via To the Land and Back during the forward's loan spell at Spurs: "He is a big boy, a strong boy, and needs to be more physical in the Premier League but I am happy. It is good for the team to have that because for example last season if Harry Kane needed a rest – we couldn’t and because Vinicius is here, the squad is much more balanced."

Vinicius will now hope to rediscover his best form at Galatasaray, before potentially returning to finally make a significant impact back at Craven Cottage in the next campaign. It could be a vital few months for the striker's career.

Manchester United are keen to bolster their squad in a few key positions this month, with the striker role being the most talked about.

However, a centre-back is also a priority position to purchase, with the 2-2 draw against Spurs highlighting their vulnerability at the back at times.

In that game, Lisandro Martinez received a warm welcome back to the field, but Erik ten Hag still needs to scan the market to find the Argentine a partner.

Man Utd’s centre-back search

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg recently took to X to state that Man United could move for Matthijs de Ligt, as he is on Ten Hag’s wishlist.

The Dutch centre-half is reportedly unhappy at Bayern Munich, with Thomas Tuchel favouring others in his defence.

Any move is likely to occur in the summer rather than in January, especially considering United’s limited budget this winter.

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Posts ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How De Ligt fits into the Man Utd team

With Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, and Harry Maguire all dealing with injuries and failing to nail down the right centre-back role this season, that spot is open for a new defender to thrive.

In truth, the aforementioned trio aren’t the most reliable, yet a player that the boss can rely upon is De Ligt, who he knows extremely well from their time together at Ajax.

De Ligt's record under Ten Hag

Games

70

Goals

8

Assists

5

Yellow cards

7

Red cards

0

Minutes played

6,198

Clean sheets

30

Stats via Transfermarkt.

However, the 24-year-old has only played 12 matches across all competitions this campaign, yet five of those were only cameos off the bench.

Since bursting onto the scene at Ajax in 2017, his career hasn’t really progressed, but he has the chance to revive it at Old Trafford under Ten Hag, who knows how to get the best out of him.

The table below displays De Ligt’s statistics from the last year across the top European competitions and how they compare to his positional peers.

De Ligt's Stats

Metric

Stats (per 90)

Ranking in Europe

Aerials won

3.48

Top 7%

Touches

83.69

Top 11%

Passes completed

68.55

Top 9%

Pass completion %

91.3%

Top 8%

Passes into final third

6.01

Top 5%

Progressive passes

5.50

Top 8%

Stats via FBref

De Ligt is the very definition of a “monster,” as per football writer Ben Mattinson, with his 6 foot 2 frame allowing him to bully opposition attackers. He is a dominant defender who is particularly untouchable in the air, as shown by his ranking in the top seven % of defenders in Europe for aerials won, which would be important next to Martinez, who can be targeted due to his lack of height for a centre back.

That said, the Red Devils' number 6 excels with the ball at his feet, as displayed by his 3.92 passes into the final third per ninety, and the former Juventus rock also thrives in possession, with the above passing statistics all ranking in the top 10% for centre backs.

The above also certainly sounds like it could be used to describe Virgil Van Dijk, and even Nathan Ake alluded to the fact that De Ligt shares plenty of similarities with the Liverpool captain, saying: "

“He's quick, strong for his age, very good in the air and on the ball he is very good. He scores so many from set-pieces so he's got a lot of the same attributes as Van Dijk."

FBref supports the Man City player's claim, with the Bayern defender being classed as a similar player in their similar players model.

In short, De Ligt would elevate United to an entirely new level, and Old Trafford could be the perfect environment for the Netherlands star to thrive.

Liverpool are believed to be the "hottest club" in the race to sign an exciting young player, with scouts sent to watch him in action.

Liverpool's January targets

The January transfer window is edging closer all the time, at which point the Reds will have an opportunity to bolster their squad options between now and the end of the season, as they look to beat Manchester City and Arsenal to the Premier League title. Injuries have started to creep in more as a busy festive period kicks into gear, with Joel Matip out for the season after knee surgery and the likes of Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota also absent in recent times.

Jurgen Klopp seems content with the squad that he has at the moment, having gutted the midfield and rebuilt it during the summer, but there is always a chance that he could look for a sprinkling of extra magic in certain areas next month.

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At centre-back, Matip's injury means that there is huge pressure on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to stay fit, and Crystal Palace ace Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Liverpool. A defensive midfielder and a young backup option in attack are also potential possibilities – Fluminense middle man Andre has been seen as a target for some time – and a new update has emerged regarding the hunt for a new forward too.

Liverpool eyeing Momodou Sonko

According to Expressen [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are showing an interest in signing Hacken youngster Momodou Sonko, having sent scouts to watch him play. They viewed him in the Europa League against Qarabag FK last Thursday, and Barcelona and RB Leipzig are also credited with interest.

It is the Reds who are described as the "hottest club" when it comes to snapping up the 18-year-old, however, suggesting they are at the front of the queue to secure a move for him.

Liverpool's attack is littered with five fantastic options in Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Jota, but bringing in Sonko as a young squad player could be shrewd long-term planning. Predominantly a left winger, Sonko has 13 goals and eight assists in 43 appearances for Hacken, not to mention netting once in five caps for Sweden's Under-19s.

At some point, Liverpool's attack will be the area that is rebuilt, with Salah turning 32 next year and Diaz not necessarily looking like quite the same player since his knee injury last season, although at 26, there could still be plenty to come from him.

The Merseysiders could even snap up Sonko and then immediately loan him out elsewhere, allowing him to continue maturing as a player, rather than potentially getting stuck at Liverpool for a while and not playing as much as he would like.

Clare Connor to head Women’s Cricket Committee as ICC announce age group World Cup for women

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2019

Clare Connor talks to the media•Getty Images

The UAE will host the men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in 2019, while Scotland will host the women’s edition, the ICC has confirmed.The ICC has also announced plans for an age group Women’s World Cup and a Women’s Cricket Committee, to be headed by former England captain Clare Connor.Qualifying for the 2020 men’s T20 World Cup will be staged from October 11 to November 3, 2019, the fourth time the event will be held in the UAE after the gulf nation played host three consecutive times in 2010, 2012 and 2013.At 24 days, this year’s qualifier is also by far the longest edition of the tournament, especially compared to the 2010 edition in which the two finalists, Ireland and Afghanistan, each played six matches in five days, including two matches on the last day for the tournament final. After criticism by then Ireland coach Phil Simmons, more rest days have been factored in with each successive tournament.The 2019 edition will have 14 teams competing, with each team expected to play six round-robin matches over the first two weeks before the playoff rounds. It will also mark the first time that Full Member nations will be a part of the qualifier. Zimbabwe and Ireland were the lowest ranked Full Members on the ICC’s T20I rankings table at the December 31, 2018 cutoff date.They will be joined by four other teams who played in the opening round of the last T20 World Cup in India – Scotland, Netherlands, Oman and Hong Kong – as well as eight other teams who advance from regional qualifiers taking place between March and August.The women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier will be held in Scotland from August 31 to September 7 this year. It is the second straight time that a European site has hosted following Netherlands in 2018. The women’s qualifier will be an eight-team event with the hosts joined by the two lowest-ranked finishers from the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup – Ireland and Bangladesh – along with Thailand, the winner of the Asia regional qualifier in February, and four other winners of regional qualifiers to be played between May and June.The ICC did not confirm whether the women’s age group World Cup would be U-19 level in line with the men’s U-19 World Cup or whether it could be a lower cutoff such as U-17 for women. However, the ICC has stated its intention to form the tournament during the current commercial cycle, which would mean before 2023.The Women’s Cricket Committee, chaired by Connor, will have 11 members in all. They will be tasked with driving female participation growth, female fan growth and promoting leadership opportunities for female administrators, as well as creating competition pathways for women.