A partir das 21h30, a bola rola no Morumbi para a partida entre Flamengo e São Paulo, pela 38ª rodada do Brasileirão. Dependendo de uma vitória para conquistar o Octa, o Rubro-Negro está escalado para o duelo sem surpresas por Rogério Ceni, que busca seu primeiro título do torneio como treinador.
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Nesta quinta-feira histórica, os onze titulares do Flamengo são os seguintes: Hugo Souza; Isla, Rodrigo Caio, Gustavo Henrique e Filipe Luís; Gerson, Diego Ribas, Everton Ribeiro e Arrascaeta; Bruno Henrique e Gabriel Barbosa.
Acompanhe a transmissão em tempo real da decisão pelo site do LANCE!!
FLAMENGO ESCALADO! Rogério Ceni manda a campo o time esperado, o mesmo que venceu o Internacional no domingo. #lanceMORUMBI pic.twitter.com/HIP7Ivp759
— Matheus Dantas (@matheusdantasfr) February 25, 2021
Quinton de Kock breezed to 121 off 108 balls before the South Africa middle order propelled the team to 331 for 5, and following a rainy Kingsmead evening, the adjusted Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target was ultimately 72 too many for Sri Lanka.Following a rain delay of several hours, which arrived when Sri Lanka were 75 for 2 after 16 overs, the visitors were posed with an incredibly challenging required rate upon resumption, needing 118 off 48 balls. With Kusal Perera out of commission due to a torn hamstring that will now rule him out of the series, Sri Lanka were unable to make a serious charge at the target. Kusal Mendis – who had looked in good touch before the rain break – mustered a couple of sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi after play resumed, but was outwitted by Imran Tahir soon after. No other batsman could hit a boundary after resumption, with Tahir taking another wicket to finish with figures of 2 for 19.The result means that South Africa wrap up the ODI series, and have now won each of the last four bilateral series between these sides. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are yet to win a one-dayer in 2019 in six attempts.Earlier, apart from de Kock, every batsman who came to the middle made an important contribution for South Africa, apart from opener Reeza Hendricks who had been out for 4. The best of the middle-order innings, perhaps, belonged to Andile Phehlukwayo, who exploited some modest Sri Lanka death bowling to clobber 38 not out off 15 balls. Thanks to largely Phehlukwayo, South Africa plundered 53 off the last four overs.Sri Lanka’s fielding fell apart towards the end of South Africa’s innings, but before that, it was their indiscipline with the ball that hurt them. Thisara Perera was wayward – his five overs costing 38 runs. Kasun Rajitha was even more expensive, his economy rate up at 8.62 from eight overs, even if he did get de Kock’s wicket eventually. The best of their bowlers was perhaps debutant Kamindu Mendis – the ambidextrous 20-year-old allrounder – who delivers both offspin and left-arm ortherdox. One of his left-arm deliveries even brought him the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen – the only South Africa batsman to make a half-century apart from de Kock.De Kock himelf had been fluent from the outset. The first delivery of the innings – a length ball on middle stump from Lasith Malinga – he clipped serenely through midwicket for four. Two balls later, a wider delivery he sent scorching past point.Composed and hungry against the new ball, de Kock laid a platform and then embarked on a mini-rampage twelve overs in. He clubbed Akila Dananjaya down the ground for six, smoked two fours off Rajitha next over (bringing up his half-century with the first), before crashing Dhananjaya for another six and a four, then finally putting Thisara away for three successive boundaries – two of them in the fine-leg region. The salvo yielded him 39 runs in the space of 17 balls faced, and South Africa appeared to be headed towards a truly gargantuan score.Sri Lanka managed to wrest back some control at this point – Malinga injecting himself into the attack and dismissing Faf du Plessis, while Dhananjaya also produced a couple of tight overs at the other end. But de Kock gritted his way through this period, and continued to advance single-mindedly towards that elusive triple-figure score. He got there in the 25th over – off the 89th delivery he faced – crashing Thisara past point. He had made six half-centuries – including 94, 81 and 83 in his three most-recent international innings – since his last ODI ton. The relief of finally achieving the milestone was writ across his face as he celebrated.De Kock was eventually out edging a fuller, wide delivery from Rajitha, as he attempted a to sock the bowler over cover. But by this stage South Africa were 187 for 3 after 31 overs, and beautifully placed to push for a giant total. Van der Dussen accumulated smartly, hitting only three fours in his 50 off 67 balls. David Miller also produced a steady innings rather than a blockbusting one, making 41 not out off 46 deliveries.Phehlukwayo, though, ensured the South Africa innings got a fast finish. He hit five fours, all of which came behind square, and also tonked Isuru Udana high into the grass banks beyond midwicket. He should have been caught in the final over, when he swung a ball high into the air on the legside, only for the converging fielders to mis-communicate, and leave the catch for each other. Miller had also been dropped in the previous over.Sri Lanka began the chase of 332 poorly, with Niroshan Dickwella holing out to mid on for 2, in the third over. Asitha Fernando played a few attractive shots but was also caught at mid on, for 23 off 26. Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis seemed to be building a half-decent partnership when the rains came, but if a Sri Lanka victory seemed unlikely before the break, it was nearly impossible when play resumed – tbhe required rate up near 15 an over. With Tahir’s overs in reserve, South Africa were almost certain to win at that point.
Tottenham Hotspur marched into the FA Cup fourth round with a hard-fought victory over Premier League rivals Burnley on Friday night, and while Ange Postecoglou's side weren't at their best, victory is all that matters at this stage.
There was a certain profligacy to the hosts that will undoubtedly place a sense of unease within the squad and its supporters with Heung-min Son absent at the Asia Cup for – likely – the next month.
James Maddison's return from an ankle injury that has kept him out for nearly two months does come at the perfect time, however, with the England international an upgrade on Giovani Lo Celso, who was poor last night.
Giovani Lo Celso's game vs Burnley in numbers
Lo Celso has been an important player at Tottenham over the past few months, scoring two goals and supplying two assists (last time out in the Premier League), and providing the creative spark from the centre in Maddison's absence.
Hooked before the hour mark, the Argentinian midfielder suffered one of his less influential showings despite maintaining the technical prowess that has led to a revival on English shores.
Giovani Lo Celso vs Burnley in Numbers
Stat
#
Minutes played
58'
Touches
52
Accurate passes
38/40 (95%)
Key passes
1
Dribble attempts
1/1 (100%)
Ground duel %
5/9 (56%)
Tackles
2
Clearances
1
*Sourced via Sofascore
Handing him a 5/10 match score, football.london's Alasdair Gold wrote: 'A muted performance from the Argentine and he came off in the second half walking a bit gingerly.'
While his creativity was not at its apex, the blame can hardly be attributed to Lo Celso given the lifeless effort of Richarlison up front, who regressed after his recent purple patch.
Richarlison's performance vs Burnley
Richarlison has scored five goals from his past five Premier League games in a resurgence that has been most pleasing to those of a Tottenham persuasion, but he was bailed out by Pedro Porro's rifled effort late in the second half against Burnley.
As per Sofascore, the 26-year-old took two shots, failed to attempt a single dribble, only took 24 touches all night (fewer than Guglielmo Vicario between the sticks) and failed with his one attempted cross.
Furthermore, he lost all four contested duels as he failed to strike fear and formidability into the arrowhead, also offside once and committing two fouls.
TalkSPORT host Ally McCoist has said in the past that he is a "very frustrating" forward to watch at times, and this was encompassed through last night's wayward performance.
pape-sarr-richarlison-tottenham-opinion
Gold was even more scathing in his post-match remarks when concerning Richarlison – whom he handed a meagre 4/10 match rating – writing: 'Fluffed a couple of early efforts when put into the box. Yes, the service into him wasn't great but he made a mess of what did come his way in the final third so the ball never really stuck up top for Spurs. Postecoglou will need more from him while Son is away.'
The Brazilian will now need to step up, and with recent news filtering through that former Chelsea striker Timo Werner is on his way to Tottenham on a six-month loan deal, he will need to ensure that he returns to top form.
That possible arrival of the German could have the one-time Everton man fearing for his place in the coming weeks, with there an argument to be made that he should be dropped ahead of next weekend's clash with Manchester United, such were his woes on Friday night.
As Tottenham Hotspur look to leapfrog North London rivals Arsenal in the race to finish inside the Premier League's top four, the January transfer window could quickly prove to make all the difference for Ange Postecoglou. Following Cristian Romero's injury, alongside Micky van de Ven's spell on the sidelines and Eric Dier's potential Bayern Munich move, to say that the Lilywhites are crying out for defensive reinforcements would be an understatement.
Postecoglou has already been forced to field makeshift defensive partnerships this season and will be well aware of the need to avoid a repeat of that, making this month all the more important. And whilst Spurs' Radu Dragusin deal looks to be gradually progressing alongside a move for forward Timo Werner, they could still do with one more fresh option, which could see them land one particular La Liga player.
Tottenham transfer news
Spurs recruited well in the summer across the pitch, welcoming Van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Pedro Porro in an impressive window. Injuries quickly exposed their remaining squad depth problem, however, with Ben Davies left as the only senior central defender in Postecoglou's backline, and he's spent most of his career at left-back. Entering the season with just three centre-backs never seemed wise and now Spurs look set to solve that problem.
PSV Eindhoven's Ibrahim Sangare and Ismael Saibari in action with Sevilla'sLoicBade
According to journalist Gonzalo Tortosa via The Spurs Express, Spurs are ready to make an offer to sign Loic Bade in the coming days. The Sevilla defender reportedly has a release clause of €55m (£48m), which Spurs may be forced to pay if they want to push on and secure his signature this month. It should be seen as a successful January transfer window if the Lilywhites welcome not one but two new centre-backs in the form of Bade and Dragusin. As the weeks tick by, it's certainly one to keep an eye on.
"Fantastic" Bade could get Premier League redemption
After failing to make an impact on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, Bade could get the chance to redeem himself in the Premier League just one year after seeing his stint cut short by Stade Rennais. Discovering his best form at Sevilla ever since, the defender has more than earned the interest of Spurs, who may now need to pay just under £50m to secure a player once deemed a transfer to forget at the City Ground. Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig was full of praise for Bade during his Stade Rennais days, posting on X:
If Spurs land the defender this month, Postecoglou will no doubt be hoping to see the Sevilla version of the defender rather than the one who struggled at Forest. Bade's stats certainly show that he's ready for the Premier League this time around, with more progressive passes, tackles won and passes into the final third made than fellow Spurs target Dragusin this season.
As the legendary German manager bids farewell to Anfield, GOAL counts down the best buys of his nine-year tenure
Jurgen Klopp's time as Liverpool manager is almost at an end – and it's been one hell of a ride. The Reds were in utter disarray when he took over from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, a once-great club in real danger of becoming an irrelevance. Klopp quickly set about arresting the decline before eventually putting Liverpool back on their perch, winning a first English title for three decades, in the summer of 2020 – just one year after leading the Merseysiders to their sixth European Cup.
His charisma, coaching skills and powers of motivation were all key but, in conjunction with Liverpool's transfer team, he also bought ridiculously well, making one smart signing after another.
Below, GOAL ranks Klopp's best buys during his nine-year tenure…
Getty
10Luis Diaz (January 2022, £47m)
Liverpool intended to sign the Colombian in the summer of 2022, but Tottenham's move for Diaz during the January window forced the Reds into the market earlier than anticipated. It didn't take long for the fans to realise just why Klopp & Co. felt they couldn't afford to miss out on the Porto winger, either.
Diaz hit the ground running at Anfield, playing a pivotal role in the quadruple bid as he rapidly went about establishing himself as the best dribbler at the club – and the team's best attacking option on the left flank. The heroic way in which he dealt with his father's kidnapping in 2023 only further endeared him to the club's supporters.
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9Joel Matip (July 2016, free)
The former Cameroon international may never have received universal acclaim in England, but he'll forever be a cult hero at Anfield, beloved for both his quirky personality and impressive performances in defence, most notably during the quadruple bid of 2021-22.
Matip may have been cruelly plagued by injury, which almost inevitably brought a premature end to his time at Liverpool, but the Reds got eight seasons of service out of the free transfer from Schalke, who will always be fondly remembered for his assist in the 2019 Champions League final win over Tottenham.
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8Diogo Jota (September 2020, £41m)
Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool paid such a significant sum of money for a player that had scored just nine Premier League goals the season before. However, the Reds had done their homework on Jota, who wasn't just a forward of enormous potential, but also a perfect fit for Klopp's pressing football.
Were it not for injuries, Jota would have an even better strike-rate for Liverpool, but he's already done enough to be considered one of the finest finishers to have ever played for the club.
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7Gini Wijnaldum (July 2016, £23m)
Liverpool took advantage of Newcastle United's relegation to snap up Netherlands international Wijnaldum, who proved his valuable versatility and incredible footballing intelligence by adapting to a deeper role at Anfield to become a key contributor to the team that conquered Europe – and then the world.
Wijnaldum sealed legendary status for himself with his two-goal salvo in the miraculous Champions League win over Barcelona in 2019, but many supporters arguably only realised the true importance of Wijnaldum, whom Klopp described as "a manager's dream", as the Reds struggled to replace him after his departure on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Gary Lineker has proposed an idea to solve the issues surrounding VAR amid calls to remove it from football.
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Lineker offers VAR solution
Wolves submit official complaint
Premier League clubs set to vote on removing VAR
WHAT HAPPENED?
Lineker, 63, has suggested that video assistant referees (VAR) operate on an appeal-style system. Other sports such as basketball and cricket use a similar method, which aims to limit the amount of times each side can request the intervention of VAR.
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WHAT LINEKER SAID
Speaking on theRest is Football podcast, Lineker said: "The only way out of this mess, and I think they should keep offside and goal-line technology.
"But I think you either scrap the rest of it or, more realistically, you take it to an appeal system.
"You limit the amount of times that VAR can intervene. It can not intervene unless someone appeals.
"It has to be the captain and they have got to tell you what they are appealing for.
"It does not mean there is a goal and you have got to find some kind of foul somewhere.
"They have to stipulate what the foul is, the captain does it, and if it is a foul then it is a foul, there is no bar.
"It is the decision that the VAR and the referee come to. Maybe one appeal a half, but it stops VAR coming into every possible corner that comes in. It stops all those things.
"You can have 20 seconds to do the appeal and it would add to the drama. You can get it on the screens and all that kind of stuff. It won't be where every single goal is looked at."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The discussion arrives as the Premier League now face a vote to scrap the use of VAR in the sport. All 20 member clubs will vote at the annual general meeting on June 6. The situation was triggered after Wolverhampton Wanderers submitted a resolution to the Premier League in midweek.
According to the BBC, Liverpool – as well as three other clubs – are not in favour of scrapping the system.
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WHAT NEXT FOR VAR?
As previously noted, Premier League clubs will now vote on whether or not VAR will be removed from the top flight of English football next season. The league itself remains in support of VAR and will implement semi-automated offsides next season if it is not removed.
Any rule change would need 14 of the 20 teams to vote in favour of removing it.
Chelsea picked up their first away victory since the start of November last weekend, as they beat Luton Town 3-2 in their final clash of 2023.
Mauricio Pochettino is still yet to find his best side, with numerous inconsistencies putting the Blues tenth in the Premier League.
However, he still wants to add to his squad in January, with a new left-back on the Argentine’s wish list.
Chelsea transfers latest – Valentin Barco
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are keen to sign a left-back, with Valentin Barco on their list of targets.
Valentin Barco against Marcelo for Boca Juniors.
However, they will have to battle Man City for his signature, with Pep Guardiola’s side the favourites to sign the Argentine.
Barco’s contract expires in December 2024, and he has a release clause of just £7.9m, which makes a move this January quite likely.
How Valentin Barco compares to Ben Chilwell
Barco has been one of the most talked-about youngsters in world football over the last six months, and according to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, the Boca Juniors star is "one of South America’s biggest jewels."
With Ben Chilwell suffering from various injuries since joining the Blues and missing 17 games since September through his third hamstring injury in a year, Pochettino wants to acquire a reliable youngster who can provide the attacking threat of the ex-Leicester man and potentially replace him.
This is where Barco comes into the equation, and the table below compares the two left-sided players based on stats from the last year. As you can see, Barco is the definition of an attack-minded player who can do almost everything with the ball at his feet due to his immense technical ability.
Barco vs Chilwell Stats
Stats (per 90)
Barco
Chilwell
Progressive passes
5.21
2.74
Progressive carries
3.31
2.74
Successful take-ons
2.58
0.70
Shot-creating actions
3.01
3.15
Tackles won
1.41
1.34
Interceptions
0.86
0.99
Stats via Fbref
The 19-year-old can progress the play through his excellent passing range and vision while also carrying the ball up the field courtesy of his progressive style. Furthermore, he is a direct dribbler who seems to be able to glide past opponents due to his slender 5 foot 7 frame.
That is very reminiscent of Chilwell, who loves to drive forward and support the attack. Another trait that is similar to that of the England star is that he is extremely versatile and can operate anywhere on the left, even in midfield, which we have seen Chilwell do before his injury.
Barco has played as a left-back, a left midfielder in a 4-4-2, and even a left-winger this season, which would allow Pochettino to be tactically flexible, playing Axel Disasi as a right centre-back and pushing Barco on in possession.
Boca Juniors defender Valentin Barco.
However, the only downside to his game, which is the same as the current Chelsea full-back, is that he doesn’t boast particularly great defensive statistics. This is going to be the case for someone of his age and build, but his attacking benefits certainly outweigh his slight defensive liabilities.
Overall, signing Barco for less than £10m has the potential to be one of the bargains of the last few years, never mind the season. Although he may not make an instant impact at Chelsea, he would be a signing for the future who can be relied upon when needed.
Playing at home is always an advantage. The familiar conditions give you the chance to dominate the opposition. Except when you are Delhi Capitals (or Daredevils). Out of the 69 IPL games they have played at Feroz Shah Kotla over the years, they have won 30, giving them a win percentage of just 44.1.Capitals have done marginally better this time. Their home record in IPL 2019 stands at three wins and three losses from six games. The other things they have done well this time is qualifying for the playoffs – for the first time since 2012 – and now have a chance to throw their hat in the ring for a valuable top-two finish.
Form guide (last three completed games, most recent first)
Capitals: Lost to Super Kings by 80 runs, beat Royal Challengers by 16 runs, beat Royals by six wickets Royals: Beat Sunrisers by seven wickets, beat Knight Riders by three wickets, lost to Capitals by six wickets
However, when they face Rajasthan Royals at home on Saturday, they will once again be without Kagiso Rabada, out for the remainder of the tournament after picking up a back injury. Moreover, Royals have a better overall record at the Kotla, with four wins and as many losses from eight games.A win will take Capitals to 18 points, and if Mumbai lose their last league game – against Kolkata Knight Riders – Capitals will likely finish second on the points table. But a loss may jeopardise their chances given their negative net run-rate (-0.096).Royals, on the other hand, are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a washout against Royal Challengers Bangalore. To make it to the playoffs, they not only need to beat Capitals but also hope that Sunrisers Hyderabad lose to Royal Challengers Bangalore, and for the winners of the Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders to lose their last match.But Royals must be confident as they are coming into this game on the back of two successive wins in their last two completed games while Capitals had a heavy defeat against Chennai Super Kings in their previous match.
In the news
Rabada has been ruled out of the IPL. He had complained of discomfort after Capitals’ match against Royal Challengers on April 28, then missed Capitals’ last match, against Super Kings on Wednesday, and has since gone back to South Africa.For Royals, with Steven Smith having returned to Australia, Ajinkya Rahane will once again assume the captaincy role.Shreyas Gopal takes off after another top order strike•BCCI
Previous meeting
When these two sides met earlier in the tournament, Rishabh Pant’s scintillating 78 not out off 36 balls outshone Rahane’s unbeaten 105 as Capitals chased down Royals’ 191 with four wickets and as many balls in hand.
Chris Morris has conceded 180 runs in the 18 overs – for an economy of 10.0 – he has bowled in the first 15 overs of an innings so far. In contrast, his returns at the death – where you would normally expect a bowler to leak runs – have been exceptional: ten wickets at an economy of 8.4. In Rabada’s absence, it makes sense for Capitals to use Morris as much as possible at the death.
With five wickets in three matches, Oshane Thomas has lived up to expectations. Among the Royals pacers to have bowled this year, Thomas has the best average (13.2), best economy (7.3) and best strike rate (10.8). Thomas has picked up wickets in all three phases too. Therefore, Royals should use him in short bursts.
Stats that matter
With 18 wickets in 13 matches, Shreyas Gopal is currently the third leading wicket-taker this season. Shreyas has picked up 13 wickets with googlies, the most by a spinner in IPL 2019. And significantly, all his wickets have been of top-order batsmen (No. 1 to No. 5).
Rahane needs 14 more to bring up 5,000 T20 runs.
Shikhar Dhawan is four short of 100 sixes in the IPL.
Manchester United will only play three fixtures in January, which gives Erik ten Hag a chance to increase his work with his side at Carrington.
The Red Devils next game is away to Newport in the FA Cup, 14 days after their 2-2 draw against Spurs.
However, between now and then, United could have at least one new face in the building as they look to reinforce their squad.
Man Utd’s search for a centre-back
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Man Utd have recently been monitoring Leny Yoro of Lille, who is “one of the hottest transfer targets" around according to the journalist.
Man Utd transfer target Leny Yoro in Ligue 1 action for Lille.
Therefore, United will face competition from numerous big clubs, with Bayern Munich being the main competitor.
The defender is contracted to the French club until 2025, yet a move to United this winter is extremely unlikely.
How Yoro compares to Raphael Varane
The common transfer talk regarding United has been mainly strikers or centre-backs, however, the profile of the latter has usually been a right-sided player.
This suggests that the individual to make way for a potential signing would be Raphael Varane, who operates as the right centre-back and has had an injury-hit time in Manchester.
Indeed, the World Cup winner has unfortunately suffered two setbacks already this campaign, meaning that the boss has been unable to field a consistent centre-back pairing with Lisandro Martinez also on the treatment table until that draw with Tottenham.
Yoro, therefore, is the player that could replace Varane in the starting XI, as the 18-year-old has made that right centre-back role his own in Ligue 1 this season.
The Lille youth star has played 17 matches this term in the league, helping his team keep nine clean sheets with him in the starting XI, which happens to be the second-best defence in the French top-flight. Nonetheless, the table below shows Yoro’s stats from the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign, and how he compares to his positional peers.
Yoro's 2023/24 Ligue 1 Stats
Stats (per 90)
Yoro
Ranking in Ligue 1
Passes completed
61.68
Top 13%
Touches
76.26
Top 18%
Pass completion %
91.3%
Top 9%
Carries
59.38
Top 15%
Goals
0.13
Top 9%
Stats via FBref
As you can see, Yoro is a player that would be an excellent partner for Martinez, while also elevating United’s ability to play out from the back via Andre Onana.
Despite being 18 years old, he displays bravery on the ball, as highlighted by the high volume of completed passes, touches, and carries. However, the defender also retains possession extremely well, and it is rare for him to give the ball away cheaply, as shown by the fact he ranks in the top 9% for pass completion % in the league. That differs greatly from Varane who ranks in the top 33% in the Premier League according to FBref.
The Lille prospect is also a threat in the opposition box, which would improve United’s output from set pieces. Yoro has netted twice already this season, the same number of goals as Rasmus Hojlund in the Premier League, and he ranks in the top 9% for goals among central defenders in Ligue 1.
Lille defender Leny Yoro.
Overall, the signing of Yoro would put question marks over Varane’s future at United. Ten Hag is desperate to create a formidable centre-half partnership that he can rely on, and Varane ultimately cannot provide the assurance of availability.
Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have their eyes on a "special" centre-back alongside the heavily linked Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
Postecoglou makes defender admission ahead of January
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has brought attention to the club's lack of centre-back depth on more than one occasion over the last month. The Australian's currently bereft of star options behind favoured pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, with the former still out injured due to a hamstring problem.
International could push to join Spurs for one key trait Postecoglou has
The Australian is seriously tempting Tottenham’s transfer target.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 23, 2023
Makeshift centre-back Ben Davies has partnered Romero to great effect at the heart of Postecoglou's defence in recent weeks, as Spurs win three of their last three Premier League games.
However, just one or two more defensive injuries could put Tottenham in a very precarious situation. Postecoglou expressed his desire to sign a centre-back at Spurs earlier this month, but also explained to Sky that whoever comes in must be the perfect fit.
"When you think about it, we let Davinson Sanchez go after the [summer] window closed," said Postecoglou on Tottenham signing a new defender.
"We kind of knew we were taking a bit of a risk; we couldn't get the extra centre-back that we were trying to get in, and for the early part of the year that was fine.
"But once we lost Micky [van de Ven], and Eric Dier's had some issues as well, we don't have another centre-back. Young Ash Phillips had just joined the club, so it's fair to say that we can't run the risk of that happening again, so that's obviously a priority for us in January.
"But again, we've got to get the right person. It's not just about bringing another body in, it's about getting the right one in and hopefully that'll happen."
In terms of named targets, one player they're already moving for is Todibo. The 23-year-old, according to reliable media sources, has held talks over joining Tottenham with the January window just days away from opening.
Tottenham eyeing Tosin move ahead of January
However, while Spurs are seriously pushing ahead for Todibo, the Frenchman is by no means the only option on Postecoglou's radar Indeed, Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is another defender very much liked by Spurs.
Journalist Rudy Galetti, taking to X, says Tottenham are "working" and have eyes on Tosin alongside Todibo. The Englishman has started to feature more under Marco Silva recently whilst also impressing, and his contract is set to expire in the summer as things stand.
Tosin Adarabioyo for Fulham
Proven in the Premier League and a potentially cheaper option, the 26-year-old has also been called a "special player" by his manager.