Loads of Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to chastise three of their own players after the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool – Christian Eriksen, Serge Aurier and Danny Rose.
The trio all started at Anfield on Sunday as Spurs threw away a 1-0 lead to lose to the European champions, and were the focus of a lot of Spurs supporters’ frustrations.
Rose made an error leading to Jordan Henderson’s equaliser after he missed his header in the box, allowing the ball to bounce nicely for the England midfielder who slammed home.
His full-back partner, Aurier, then gave away a penalty after a foul on Sadio Mane, which allowed Mohamed Salah to power the ball in from 12 yards and hand Jurgen Klopp’s side yet another win.
In Eriksen’s case, the Dane didn’t have a single shot on target, nor did he record a single key pass or a dribble on an afternoon where he was practically non-existent.
Let’s see what the Tottenham fans on Twitter have been saying about the trio…
It was May 2019, and Marco Silva's Everton had just finished eighth in the Premier League. It was the club's third successive top-eight finish, and there was plenty to admire about a team pushing to disrupt the autocracy of the so-called 'Big Six'.
The Toffees have since gone through the floorboards. Sean Dyche's appointment in January 2023 had restored comparative balance but another bad start has left fans disgruntled and concerned about the prospects this year.
Defensively, frail. Up front, promising signs, actually. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit and firing and is supported by a varied cast of players.
However, the Toffees do need some fire and fury to succeed in the fight against relegation, and Richarlison's past feats on Merseyside speak of his suitability for the task.
Richarlison's Everton career
Richarlison signed for Everton in a deal worth roughly £40m in 2017, with the 21-year-old moving to Merseyside after a breakout campaign at Watford, hailed for his "explosive" arrival by Alan Pardew.
Across 152 appearances, the part winger part centre-forward scored 53 goals and added 13 assists, a respectable tally. But it was his bullish presence in the final third that led to a £60m transfer to Tottenham Hotspur five years later under Frank Lampard's watch, a bitter deal at first but one that has proved good business for the Blues in hindsight.
24/25
Tottenham
2
0
0
23/24
Tottenham
28
11
4
22/23
Tottenham
27
1
4
21/22
Everton
30
10
5
20/21
Everton
34
7
3
19/20
Everton
36
13
3
18/19
Everton
35
13
1
17/18
Watford
38
5
4
The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare noted that Tottenham had "missed his physical presence" toward the back end of last season, and perhaps Everton have missed the Brazil international's strength over these past two campaigns.
That said, it's hard to argue that the £60m sale was not one of success, especially when considering his performances since leaving.
Richarlison's market value in 2024/25
Tottenham have not hit the jackpot with the signing of Richarlison, who scored one goal across 27 Premier League matches in his debut year and was branded a "joke" by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino.
Richarlison for Tottenham.
Last season, clear improvements. Richarlison – who journalist Alasdair Gold described as a "nuisance" – actually sprouted a ridiculous run of goalscoring form, notching nine goals across eight matches before fizzling out with no goals across seven matches afterwards. He scored during a defeat against Liverpool to close his campaign as he picked up an injury and missed the final stretch.
But is it enough to warrant that £60m figure? Perhaps not. Everton collected a pretty penny in cashing in on the forward and considering his market price today, there's evidence that the decision was indeed correct.
Tottenham forward Richarlison
According to Football Transfers' player valuation model, the 27-year-old's market worth has collapsed over the past two years, now valued at just £28m, which marks a £32m decrease since he was sold.
While there's every chance that he would have continued to cut a formidable presence in Everton's frontline, at a time of financial concern, it's hard to argue against the Toffees – and then-boss Lampard – hitting the jackpot with this one, especially so if relegation is safely swerved once again this year.
Everton must regret offloading Koeman signing who outscored DCL in 23/24
The talent has found his goalscoring touch in recent years.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has made some superb signings since arriving in the Midlands nearly two years ago, which has helped power the club to the Champions League.
Players such as Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Moussa Diaby certainly signalled a major statement of intent by the Villa Park side.
The Spaniard wasn’t the only one to make excellent signings, however, as Dean Smith managed to acquire some wonderful players during his time in charge of the club.
One that stands out is Emiliano Martinez, who joined in September 2020.
How much Aston Villa paid to sign Emiliano Martinez
The goalkeeper cost just £17m four years ago, making the move north in order to gain more first-team opportunities at Villa.
Since then, he has made over 150 competitive appearances for the club, leading them to the promised land of the Champions League.
His form has also earned him international recognition, as he starred for Argentina in their three major tournament victories over the previous three years – the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
It doesn’t look like Emery will replace him anytime soon, as he is a solid choice for the club between the sticks.
According to Transfermarkt, his valuation currently stands at €28m (£23.5m), which means Emery could make a profit should he sell him in the near future.
He isn’t the only Smith signing who has seen their valuation increase since moving to Villa, as Ezri Konsa is now worth much more than what they paid for him.
Ezri Konsa’s market value at Aston Villa
Having secured promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs in 2019, Smith spent that summer significantly bolstering his squad for the rigours of the top flight that lay ahead.
This saw Konsa join from Brentford for a fee of just £12m, which looked like a bargain given his vast potential to develop.
Smith later described the defender as a “Rolls Royce of a player” midway through last season, but in 2019, he was untested at Premier League level.
Over the next five campaigns, however, Konsa missed just 27 matches in the Premier League, becoming a regular under the likes of Smith, Steven Gerrard and now Emery.
Metric (per 90)
Premier League
Conference League
Accurate passes
51.4
62.9
Tackles
1.5
1
Interceptions
0.8
0.3
Ball recoveries
4.1
4
Possession lost
6.8
5.5
He even ranked third in the squad for accurate passes per game in the top flight last season, while also ranking third for interceptions and fifth for tackles per game, showcasing his defensive skills.
At the time of writing, his current valuation, according to Transfermarkt, stands at €35m (£29.5m), which is more than double what the club paid to sign him five years ago.
Indeed, this is also worth more than Martinez’s valuation, proving that Smith certainly hit the jackpot with the in-form defender who played for England at Euro 2024.
If Emery can make a few more signings like this, he will be able to generate millions in profit over the coming years.
Cost £0, now worth more than Duran: Aston Villa struck gold on talented ace
The club have conducted some shrewd business over the last couple of seasons.
Celtic have agreed personal terms with a £10m-rated ace ahead of a likely summer move to Parkhead, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Celtic pushing for late signings
Plenty of transfer rumours are still swirling when it comes to the Hoops, with a potential reunion with former hero Jota mooted over the weekend. The Portuguese could return to the Scottish Premiership champions on loan, as he looks to come back to British football after leaving for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in 2023.
Celtic are also reportedly in talks to sign FC Augsburg youngster Arne Engels, with the 20-year-old considered an exciting young option who can come in and bolster the midfield options at Brendan Rodgers' disposal. He is keen on sealing a move to Parkhead, which can only bode well regarding a switch there.
Then there's Sheffield United centre-back Auston Trusty, who continues to stand out as a leading defensive target for the Hoops, potentially coming in as an ideal partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers, while Barcelona youngster Alex Valle looks set to join on loan to strengthen the full back ranks.
Another player who is in talks with Celtic is Los Angeles FC star Mateusz Bogusz, who has experience of the British game after playing for Leeds in the past, admittedly only making three appearances.
Celtic agree personal terms with new midfielder
According to Plettenberg on X, Celtic have now agreed personal terms with the £10m-rated Engels, as a summer move edges closer towards being completed. The versatile youngster has even informed his current club of his decision, although a fee has not been agreed between the sides yet.
It would now be a surprise if Engels wasn't a Celtic player come the end of this week. The Belgian has the potential to be a really effective signing for the Hoops in the coming years, having picked up 30 caps for Belgium's youth sides across four different age groups. That outlines his pedigree as a gifted young footballer who could mature into a real force in the years to come, and Rodgers could believe he can improve him significantly with his coaching expertise.
Engels is also versatile, which is a priceless attribute for a player to have in the modern game, with the youngster capable of thriving at right-back, on the right wing and especially in his preferred central midfield role, which is an added bonus.
Rodgers must brutally drop Celtic man who had fewer touches than Schmeichel
The Hoops attacker did not enjoy a successful afternoon against St Mirren on Sunday.
1 ByDan Emery Aug 25, 2024
If a deal for the Augsburg man is the final piece of business that Celtic do this summer, it would be the end of a successful summer window – one that has brought in the likes of Adam Idah, Paul Bernardo and Kasper Schmeichel.
Manchester United are set for talks with the entourage of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.
Which striker will Man United sign?
Erik ten Hag is determined to bolster his squad with a world-class striker this summer, and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with Man United recently urging the England captain to hand in a transfer request.
The United hierarchy are ready to walk away from the deal due to difficulty negotiating with chairman Daniel Levy, so they could soon their attentions elsewhere, with journalist Dean Jones detailing that two forwards could be signed this summer.
Rasmus Hojlund is one potential option for the Red Devils, with Ten Hag still keen on the Atalanta forward, while they have also registered their interest in fellow Serie A striker Lautaro Martinez, who is expected to leave Inter Milan this summer.
Another striker who has been impressing in Italy is Osimhen, and Tavolieri has now taken to Twitter to claim Man United have a meeting planned with the entourage of the Napoli striker, however, they are not the only Premier League club interested.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool are also set to speak to the Nigerian, whose priority is to seal a move to the Premier League this summer.
How many goals has Victor Osimhen scored?
The 24-year-old found the back of the net 26 times in the Serie A last season, the highest number of any player, despite playing six fewer games than Martinez, who United are also interested in signing.
It was a fantastic season for the Nigeria international, who has been hailed as "world-class" by members of the media, meaning he will not come cheap, with some outlets reporting Napoli could demand as much as €180m (£154m) to sanction his departure.
Despite his fantastic 2022-23 campaign, that amount would be far too much for the Napoli star, so United's main aim should be to agree on a lower fee, after hopefully making progress on personal terms in the upcoming meeting.
With the Lagos-born forward contracted until 2025, his current employers are in a strong negotiating position, and it may be worthwhile moving on to other targets, if they are unwilling to budge on their asking price.
A move for Kane is not completely out of the question, and the 29-year-old would almost guarantee goals, having scored 30 Premier League goals in a Tottenham side that underperformed last season.
Manchester United have earmarked Napoli defender Kim Min-jae as a top target this summer, but fear they could miss out on the South Korea international to Bayern Munich.
Reports of the Red Devils' interest in Kim have flooded in of late, with Erik ten Hag's outfit believed to have been leading the race over the past few weeks.
The player's €60m (£51m) release clause activates on July 1 and with United in the market for a new centre-back, the 26-year-old has been deemed the optimum choice to bridge the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, who fought a fierce Premier League title battle this summer.
However, recent reports confirmed by Fabrizio Romano state that the Bavaria giants are getting closer to completing a deal, the German Bundesliga champions hijacking a move that seemed all but wrapped up for the Old Trafford side.
Romano does write that United are yet to present a fresh offer, and if they do look to reignite their pursuit, they could unearth their next Nemanja Vidic, at least, that's according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "United have always cried out for people to come in like Vidic, and if Kim [Min-jae] can be that character, then he'd be welcomed with open arms."
Could Kim Min-jae be the next Vidic?
Signing for Manchester United for £7m from Spartak Moscow in 2005, with the tough-tackling Serbian defender forging an incredible career on English shores, making 300 appearances, notably winning the Champions League and five Premier League titles – hailed as the most "consistent, influential player in the league" by teammate Gary Neville.
A truly fearless, unflinching centre-back, Vidic was the bedrock of Sir Alex Ferguson's success and epitomised the 'no-nonsense' tag, as he was described by the Guardian's David Pleat, often dealing with danger by meeting fire with fire.
The 36-cap Serbia star remains a coveted figure at the Theatre of Dreams and would undoubtedly steal the show if he, in his prime, was deployed into the current crop, and given that Kim has been heralded as an "iron barrel" by Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, he could adopt such a mantle.
Napoli's Kim Min-jae
The South Korean has been imperious for I Partenopei since arriving for just £16m last year, playing a central role in the club's Scudetto-winning campaign, making 35 Serie A appearances and earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.22, demonstrating his tenacity and 'no-nonsense' approach by making 1.6 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game, succeeding with 62% of his total duels.
Much like his now-retired peer Vidic, Kim could well be the "best centre-back in the world" – according to Luciano Spalletti, who recently left his managerial post in Naples – and would represent a return to defensive glory with a move to Old Trafford; an insurmountable wall to quell any threat opposition dare muster against Manchester United.
A move to Everton might be a "bit below the expectations" of free agent Moussa Dembele, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.
The ex-Lyon man would be available on a free transfer in the summer, but having been "linked to Man United in the not too distant past", a move to Sean Dyche's 17th-placed team might prove a hard sell.
What is the situation with Moussa Dembele and Everton?
After staving off relegation for the second year in a row thanks to a final-day victory against Bournemouth, the Toffees are reportedly looking to recruit 'at least two new strikers' in the summer, per the i.
Goal scoring has been a massive problem for the Merseyside outfit, with their 34 goals in the league only better than Wolverhampton Wanderers' paltry 31.
The 6 foot 'monster' as described by ex-Celtic legend John Hartson, would certainly help in that department, but a deal could prove difficult with several other Premier League clubs interested.
French outlet Foot Mercato reported earlier this year that Unai Emery's Aston Villa were considering a move for the dynamic forward.
It's also not the first time the Ex-Fulham man has been linked with a move to one of England's biggest clubs, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the player's representatives were in talks with Manchester United just last year.
The good news is that any move would be unlikely to break the bank as the player was reportedly on just £52,000-a-week in France.
moussa-dembele-everton-premier-league-transfers
What has Dean Jones said about the potential transfer of Moussa Dembele to Everton?
Jones believes that attempting to sign a player with the quality that the Pontoise-born forward possesses is a good idea, but it might be unrealistic for the club in its current state.
Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said:
"I think it's worth a go for Everton to try and get a player like this. I would again just question whether they are a bit below the expectations he would have for a transfer at this moment in time.
"Moussa Dembele has got a good scoring rate, he's obviously been in England before and understands what it takes to be successful to a certain degree. So I think he'll have his own sights set on what he's capable of.
"Again, he's Man United linked, so I think that he would certainly have his eyes set on a club that's aiming for European football next season. I think that's probably the clearest way to put it."
Should Everton sign Moussa Dembele?
Everton can't have another season in which they survive relegation by the skin of their teeth, and for that reason securing the Frenchman would be fantastic business.
Former Celtic great Frank McAvennie seems to think so anyway, telling Football Insider: "I thought he was going to the top, I really thought he was that good.
"I think Everton fans will like him if he gets back to the form he had at Celtic. Going to Everton he will score goals."
Despite having a relatively poor season last year, he has still scored a very respectable 152 goals in 353 career appearances, per Transfermarkt.
Add to that the 47 assists he has notched up along the way, and that's a goal involvement every 1.77 games, something Everton desperately need.
WhoScored gave the ex-Celtic man an average rating of 7.21 across his 25 starts in Ligue 1 in the 2021/22 campaign.
Granted, he received an average rating of just 6.32 this year, but with only eight starts to his name, it hardly represents his true ability.
If Everton do have the opportunity to get this deal done and the player himself is eager to join, it seems like a no-brainer and could go a long way in preventing the all too familiar scenes of last-day survival the fans have become accustomed to.
An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their efforts to land a replacement for Alfredo Morelos in the summer transfer window…
What's the latest on Sam Lammers to Rangers?
According to Rangers Review, the Light Blues are closing in on a deal to sign Atalanta centre-forward Sam Lammers ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The report claims that the Gers are on the verge of bringing the Dutchman to Ibrox for a fee in the region of £3m, whilst they are also attempting to sign Cyriel Dessers from Cremonese.
It states that the ex-PSV number nine is keen on a move to Scotland, and he now appears set to become Michael Beale's fourth signing of the summer, following on from Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland.
What is Sam Lammers' style of play?
The 26-year-old is a forward who has the potential to be a dream Morelos heir having shown promise as a goalscorer who can also provide his teammates with chances to score.
Former Glasgow Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.
Lammers has only registered five league goals combined in the last three seasons – playing in the Serie A and the Bundesliga – but his previous form in his home country suggests that there is still an excellent player to be unearthed as he enters his prime years.
The striker spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Heerenveen and enjoyed an exceptional campaign in the Eredivisie. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 31 games and contributed with 16 goals and created 12 'big chances' for his teammates, to go along with 1.2 key passes per match.
At PSV, he caught the eye in the youth set-up with a stunning 46 goals and 21 assists in 101 matches for their U19 and U21 teams combined.
These statistics show that if Beale can get him back to his best, the marksman has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis from a centre-forward position, which is something that Morelos was able to do during his time at Ibrox.
The Colombian racked up 124 goals and 58 assists in 269 appearances for the Light Blues in all competitions. In 2021/22, the bullish attacker averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.32 across 26 Scottish Premiership outings as he plundered 11 goals and created nine 'big chances' for his teammates.
Morelos was able to regularly contribute at the top end of the box with finishes of his own and passes to set up others, which made him a double-edged threat in the final third.
Lammers, who was once described as "perfectly two-footed" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, certainly has the potential to be an excellent replacement for the now-free agent due to his goalscoring and creative talents as a centre-forward, which could make this £3m deal a possible coup for Beale.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani is yet to hear back from Manchester United following his latest takeover bid, according to The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson.
What’s the latest on a Man United takeover?
An Old Trafford takeover saga has dragged on over recent months, with Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe seemingly the frontrunners to take control from the Glazers.
Ratcliffe was thought to be closing in on purchasing United earlier this month in a deal that would have kept the Glazers on as minority stakeholders. However, Jassim went on to launch an 11th-hour bid in a final take-it-or-leave-it offer.
His latest offer, submitted two weeks ago, was a significant increase over the initial proposal and was once again for 100% of Manchester United and would clear all the debt at Old Trafford. However, since then, it has gone quiet, and it seems as if the Qatari group are none the wiser as well.
Jackson took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share what he’s heard on Jassim and United. He said that the prospective new owner is yet to hear back from those at Old Trafford.
“As I understand it, Sheikh Jassim is still waiting to hear back from Glazers regarding his last bid for Man Utd…”
Time is ticking…
The Red Devils’ season comes to a close on Saturday in an FA Cup final showdown with rivals Manchester City at Wembley. After that, you’d expect that Erik ten Hag and co will be focusing on the summer transfer window, looking at various incomings and outgoings.
There were previous reports that those at Old Trafford were concerned the ongoing takeover saga could derail the club’s transfer plans, so hopefully, there will be further developments over a deal involving Ratcliffe or Jassim.
Despite the process not being resolved, United are already working on possible additions, with personal terms thought to be agreed with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount. Meanwhile, a new forward is also on the agenda with discussions held for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund and Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani.
Should Jassim win the race to take control in Manchester, he appears to have big transfer plans, with PSG star Neymar thought to be a player of interest to the Qatar group. It could well be a busy few months in regards to a takeover and transfers, and it will be interesting to see what the Glazers finally decide to do and when Jassim will be made aware if his bid is successful.
Glasgow Rangers finished their Scottish Premiership campaign with a 3-0 victory against St Mirren, with Michael Beale’s side ending the season positively.
The Ibrox crowd said their farewells to the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Filip Helander and Scott Arfield during their midweek draw against Hearts and the manager rotated the first team for this afternoon's tie, bringing back Robby McCrorie into the starting XI.
Rangers were bright in the opening exchanges, with Ianis Hagi dictating play by operating as a false nine, and it’s evident that the club have missed his creativity at times this season, especially during their dismal Champions League showings.
It took half an hour for the first goal, when Fashion Sakala cut inside from the left-hand side to slot a calm finish into the net to make it 1-0. He doubled the lead with his second just after halftime and the game eventually finished 3-0 to the visitors.
Sakala was clinical during his spell on the pitch, scoring twice while succeeding with two of his four dribble attempts, winning 50% of his total duels and ending his game with a 100% pass success rate, and he could still have a future at the Ibrox side next term on this form.
It was an impressive showing, yet it was Ridvan Yilmaz who took his opportunity vs St Mirren today.
How did Ridvan Yilmaz perform for Rangers today against St Mirren?
The Turkish defender hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons, missing 29 games through injury, yet he managed to take his opportunity well today, with sections of the media praising him.
The Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie lauded the youngster, writing on Twitter: “Think Ridvan’s taken his chance well these past few games after a tricky season. Really impressive pass through the gap for Sakala to break the deadlock.”
Yilmaz received a rating of 7.6/10 for his performance against the Paisley outfit, showcasing his attacking abilities which proves he could well be an ideal heir to Borna Barisic.
The 22-year-old registered two assists for both of Sakala’s goals, while he also created one big chance, played two key passes, attempted one dribble and delivered two crosses, indicating that he was regularly bombing up and down the left flank with purpose.
Ridvan Yilmaz
He also managed 56 touches throughout and his passing was virtually spot on, achieving a 92% pass success rate while succeeding with all three of his long balls. And although he clearly didn’t have much to do defensively, Yilmaz still won one duel, made a clearance and wasn’t dribbled past once during his time on the pitch.
Next season will be massive for the youngster, and he has certainly given Beale food for thought over the previous few weeks, that’s for sure.