Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United’s get out of jail free card.

How often, with the Red Devils seeking a moment of inspiration, a moment of magic, does the Portuguese genius pull a rabbit out of the hat, having come to the aid of a succession of managers in his almost six-year stay at Old Trafford.

As captain, the 31-year-old has managed to keep this sinking ship afloat in recent seasons, notably ending 2024/25 with 38 goals and assists in all competitions, having looked a man possessed under compatriot Ruben Amorim.

Even in a deep-lying role this time around under the ex-Sporting CP, Fernandes is still at the centre of everything good about this current United side – but for how much longer?

What Bruno Fernandes said about his Man Utd future

The United skipper produced one of his finest moments of the campaign in the 4-4 thriller with Bournemouth last week, rifling home a free-kick to drag the hosts back level in that topsy-turvy contest at the Theatre of Dreams.

Even while ultimately left to settle for a point, there was an air of positivity in the aftermath of that game, with Amorim appearing to have finally taken the handbrake off following a subtle switch to a 4-3-3 set-up.

As is the way in the modern Manchester United era, however, the balloon was burst somewhat soon after, with comments from Fernandes’ prior interview with Canal11 filtering through.

Having previously spoken openly about coming close to joining Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer, ahead of his 300th United appearance, the midfielder was far more explosive with his latest comments, accusing the club of wanting him to sell him, but lacking the “courage” to do so.

The £300k-per-week playmaker – who also hinted at having received offers to leave in 2024 – then flirted with the idea of winning titles in Spain, alongside revealing a possible desire to return to Italy, having previously played in Serie A with Udinese.

With just 18 months left on his contract, Fernandes’ future will be a major talking point now heading into 2026. If he does depart, a suitable replacement needs to be found.

Man Utd could turn to the new 'Keane & Scholes' to replace Fernandes

Even without the uncertainty over Fernandes, the midfield unit has been a real priority for INEOS regardless, with the club having been linked with a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba over the summer.

The suggestion is that the Seagulls star remains a target heading into the new year, although he has since been joined by England and Nottingham Forest sensation, Elliot Anderson, with the ex-Newcastle United man now attracting notable interest.

Valued at potentially somewhere in the region of £100m, the 22-year-old wouldn’t come cheap, although he could represent the perfect, long-term successor to Fernandes in that deeper midfield role.

His quality has been on show in the early months of this season, in particular, with Anderson appearing to nail down a starting role alongside Declan Rice at international level, ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

This is no safe and steady Jordan Henderson or Conor Gallagher style partner for Rice, however, with the Geordie superstar looking like a player of all-round brilliance, both in and out of possession.

Indeed, in the Premier League this season, the one-time Bristol Rovers loanee ranks in the top 4% of midfielders for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, highlighting how he can both pick out a pass, while also gliding his way up the pitch at will.

There is steel to match the silk, however, with the £100m man also ranking in the top 18% for tackles and the top 7% for blocks made, with those traits having been on the show as he dazzled in the 2-2 draw with United at the City Ground not too long ago.

Anderson vs Man Utd (01/11/25)

Stat

Record

Minutes

90

Touches

84

Pass accuracy

75%

Key passes

3

Possession lost

25

Dribbles

2/2

Tackles won

1/1

Recoveries

14

Total duels won

7/14

Stats via Sofascore

Comparisons to figures of the past might be cheap and unhelpful, but glowing reports are now flooding in regarding the discarded Newcastle man, with talkSPORT’s Max Scott even going as far as to suggest that he is “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.

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Whether he has the real match-winning, game-changing quality is another matter, although with United now boasting an array of forwards who have somewhat lifted the burden on Fernandes, there is no expectation for Anderson to directly fill the shoes of the Portuguese talisman.

Instead, the fleet-footed Englishman could provide greater balance and control in Amorim’s midfield department, with there only so long that the club can go on relying on agent of chaos, Fernandes, to bail them out of trouble.

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The bombshell news broke earlier this week that Premier League sensation, Antoine Semenyo, is likely to be on the move next month. Unfortunately for those at Manchester United, however, the Ghanaian looks to be heading to the Etihad.

Yes, despite suggestions that United had been one of the frontrunners for the 25-year-old’s signature, it would appear that ex-Bristol City man has been swayed by the pull of Pep Guardiola and co, with a £65m deal now set to be struck.

Such developments come at a time when the Red Devils have been left looking desperately short on attacking options, a fact that was no more apparent than in Friday’s narrow win over Newcastle United.

With Ruben Amorim chopping and changing his side in the dying embers, the hosts were left with a forward line that contained Patrick Dorgu on one flank, and Diogo Dalot as the highest point on the opposite side, with the absence of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo keenly felt in that hard-fought encounter.

That being said, last season’s losing Europa League finalists still managed to get the job done against the Magpies, with there certainly reason for positivity among the Old Trafford faithful.

Man Utd's best performers vs Newcastle

It would be remiss to begin this section without mentioning that man Dorgu, with the 21-year-old Dane looking much improved in his new role down the right flank in that promising first-half.

Having scored three of his five Lecce goals while operating off the right, as per Transfermarkt, the youngster showcased why that perhaps should be his permanent home in a United shirt, rifling in his first goal for the club in stunning fashion against Eddie Howe’s side.

The January arrival also saw another effort denied by the sprawling Aaron Ramsdale, while also picking out Benjamin Sesko with a delightful reverse pass early on, only for the Slovenian striker to squander the opening.

Dorgu was then the star attraction on a night all about Amorim’s young guns, with fellow 2025 signing, Ayden Heaven, also putting in a commanding display at the heart of the backline, even amid so much change around him.

Signed for just £1m, the 19-year-old continues to make that deal look such a coup, having won 100% of his duels on the night, as per Sofascore, while boasting a 94% pass accuracy rate.

Like the returning Lisandro Martinez alongside him, Heaven was central to United earning all three points, with the Englishman more than seizing his chance in the absence of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.

At the other end of the pitch, too, the loss of Mbeumo, Amad and captain Bruno Fernandes has allowed another leading light to emerge, with Amorim having a new attacking figurehead to hang his hat on.

Man Utd already have a bigger talent than Semenyo

With United’s absentee list worsening following Mason Mount’s withdrawal at half-time, it appeared almost inevitable that the home side would drift toward yet another defeat, having been forced to cling on amid a frantic second-half at the Theatre of Dreams.

There was encouragingly, however, a real grit and fight shown by those in red, with that will to win perhaps epitomised best by summer signing, Matheus Cunha, in his number ten berth.

Operating both centrally and off the left, the 26-year-old was so often the driving force for United in an attacking sense, having drawn a save himself from Ramsdale with an effort from the angle, while flashing a handful of attempts wide.

Yes, there is an erratic quality to his game, but time and again, the Brazilian is at the heart of the action, showcasing why journalist Samuel Luckhurst has previously described him as a “maverick” and a “workhorse” following his promising start to life in Manchester.

While club-led comparisons to Eric Cantona may be unhelpful and somewhat hyperbolic, a closer similarity may well be to fellow South American ‘maverick’, Carlos Tevez, with the Argentine having also been such a relentless presence in Sir Alex Ferguson’s feared forward line.

Operating alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, the ex-West Ham United man wasn’t always the star attraction in his two-year stay at the club, although he was just as crucial to that glittering period of success, racking up 48 goals and assists in 99 games in total in all competitions.

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Cunha, in the modern day, has been somewhat overshadowed himself by the goalscoring form of both Mbeumo and Fernandes, but as was evident on Friday evening, he can be equally as instrumental, registering one key pass and successfully completing four of his six attempted dribbles.

Cunha vs Newcastle

Stat

Record

Minutes

90

Touches

52

Pass accuracy

81%

Shots

3

Key passes

1

Dribbles

4/6

Total duels won

5/15

Recoveries

3

Interceptions

3

Stats via Sofascore

While Semenyo might have been earmarked as another option off that left flank, with Cunha repurposed more centrally, the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers hero showcased why he should be a nailed-on starter in his preferred role, having begun to pick up where he left off at Molineux.

Only three goals have come his way in a United shirt, although the £62.5m addition did record 15 league goals last term, after hitting 12 the year before that. For comparison, Semenyo scored just 11 and eight goals, respectively, across the last two top-flight campaigns.

The Bournemouth star’s stock is soaring, but it is Cunha’s ceiling that appears to be even higher.

At a time of such chaos again under Amorim, United’s new Tevez will have to shoulder much of the attacking burden. There’s no denying he’ll relish that.

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Eddie Howe’s stance has shifted, with a number of injuries to key personnel in recent weeks forcing Newcastle United to place fresh emphasis on the January transfer window.

Tino Livramento is out for two months, and Fabian Schar has injured his knee and is targeting a return before the end of the campaign. Dan Burn and Emil Krafth are also sidelined.

A crowded fixture calendar has done anything but help matters, but Howe is now determined to make this a successful year for the Magpies, and that might require some help from afar.

Defence is the priority, but United have their eye on various areas of the pitch. In December, technical director Ross Wilson said Newcastle have money to spend, albeit far less than last summer, having invested heavily and now been hit by PSR restrictions.

Where Newcastle plan to invest this month

So, Newcastle do want to add a defender or two to their squad, especially if they hope to wade deep into FA Cup and Champions League competitions while keeping apace with the top-four pack in the Premier League.

More defensive depth is needed, for sure, but the Toon also need more firepower in the final third. Nick Woltemade is suffering a mid-season dip, and Yoane Wissa, 29, hasn’t got going after joining from Brentford for £55m last summer, with injury hampering him across the early months.

Howe knows his side cannot afford to peter out this season, so while the backline takes precedence, that hasn’t stopped him and Wilson from assessing the market for a tempting attacking signing.

According to Sports Boom, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race for Canadian striker Jonathan David, whose move to Juventus on a free transfer last year has not gone to plan.

The former LOSC Lille star would only leave if the Old Lady received an ‘irresistible’ offer.

David shares a stylistic likeness to Alexander Isak, who left Newcastle for Liverpool in a record-breaking £125m deal last year.

The Tyneside outfit have missed their free-scoring forward, but in David, they could land a new version.

How Jonathan David would play for Howe

David was one of the most clinical strikers in France across his five seasons in Ligue 1 with Lille, scoring 109 goals from 232 appearances, assisting 30 goals too.

In France, he was a “superstar”, as described by international teammate Jonathan Osorio, a deadly finisher with electric movement.

Having moved to Juventus last summer, the 26-year-old has been out of sorts, but he’s still a top player and, like Isak, isw punching below his weight class.

By moving to Newcastle, perhaps David could take that number-nine vacancy that has not quite been filled this season.

His time at Juventus has been up and down, but David has scored in each of his past two Serie A and Champions League matches, and entrusted with a starring role at Newcastle, he could return to the kind of form that drew so many plaudits in France.

One of David’s most underrated strengths is his crisp and clever passing. The Canadian forward is more creative than most, but not at the expense of fluency in general build-up sequences.

His pace and dynamism combine elements of Woltemade and Isak’s game, but he does share many properties with the Sweden international, and in this, he could become Newcastle’s new version.

Jonathan David vs Alexander Isak (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

David

Isak

Goals scored

0.44

0.46

Assists

0.27

0.09

Touches (att pen)

5.85

5.13

Shots taken

2.55

2.77

Shot-creating actions

3.53

1.85

Pass completion (%)

81.8

75.4

Progressive passes

2.55

2.59

Progressive carries

1.67

2.22

Successful take-ons

0.61

0.74

Ball recoveries

2.99

1.71

Aerial duels won

0.68

0.79

Data via FBref

As you can see, Isak has probably been edged in the metrics by David over the past year. The Liverpool man might have endured a rocky start to his new career, but he’s still one of the finest forwards in the world, and he rode into Arne Slot’s system on the crest of a wave.

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David, let’s not forget, hasn’t been in the finest form since joining Juventus, but he’s still a talented and dangerous striker with a wide-ranging skillset.

His progressiveness, both on the ball and in ferrying it forward, could bear dividends for Newcastle, whose attacking line has been out of kilter this season.

Recent weeks have shown us for the first time this season that Newcastle really do miss their former talisman. Isak was a one-of-a-kind striker for the St. James’ Park side, and this period of adaptation has had an unwanted effect on fluency and verve in the final third.

Woltemade has plenty of talent, but he’s inconsistent and slow. In David, Newcastle would land a ready-made goalscorer whose playing style would allow Howe to implement his tried-and-tested system.

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Nottingham Forest have now made contact over a deal for a “phenomenal” striker, who is likely to leave his club in the January transfer window.

Forest searching for new striker after Chris Wood blow

Chris Wood is yet to make an appearance since the arrival of Sean Dyche back in October, and having now undergone surgery, the centre-forward is set for an extended spell on the treatment table.

Writing on Instagram, Wood said: “The Christmas I didn’t expect, you can never know what football throws at you,

“From the highs of last season to now the battles and the lows personally of this season. You have to be ready for anything.

“Truly gutting and frustrating that I’ll be on the sideline for another period of time. It’s what’s needed to come back stronger and better to help my team-mates do the job needed in the Premier League and in Europe.”

As such, Dyche is left with the likes of Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo to choose from at striker, but the latter could be leaving the City Ground this month, as concrete talks have now been held with Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

Consequently, the manager could be left a little light on options at striker, meaning he may need to bring in a new option, and Nottingham Forest have now made contact over a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Strand Larsen is now deemed likely to exit Molineux this month, given that the Old Gold are almost certainly going to be relegated from the Premier League, and Forest have now lodged an initial enquiry.

A deal could be on the expensive side, however, with it being revealed Wolves are planning to hold out for a fee of £40m, and forking out the full asking price would make the Norwegian the most expensive signing in Nottingham Forest’s history.

"Phenomenal" Strand Larsen needs to leave Wolves

The 25-year-old isn’t having the best of campaigns, having only scored one Premier League goal, but it must be noted he is playing in an extremely poor side, with Wolves collecting just three points all season.

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Previously, the 24-time Norway international has proven he is capable of delivering in the Premier League, chipping in with 14 goals and four assists in 35 matches last season.

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The Wolves striker also played a key role in his side avoiding relegation last season, as noted by former manager Vitor Pereira, who said back in March: “Jorgen was phenomenal out there. His ability to find the net at critical moments has revitalized our team and given us a renewed sense of hope as we fight to stay in the Premier League.”

Strand Larsen definitely needs to leave Wolves, as his previous exploits suggest he is too good to be playing in the Championship, and the centre-forward could help fire Nottingham Forest to safety.

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Tottenham Hotspur are unwilling to match Leeds United’s valuation for Jack Clarke, per the Yorkshire Evening Post.

What’s the word?

Clarke is, the report states, being monitored by Spurs ahead of a potential summer move.

The 18-year-old made his breakthrough at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa in 2018/19 and went on to make 25 appearances in all competitions.

He scored two goals and laid on two assists as Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion.

But the report states that Spurs are not currently likely to match the Whites’ asking price for the teenager as they look to complete their first signing since January 2018.

The Daily Mirror claim that the Championship club are seeking to recoup £20m.

A fearful start

This does not bode at all well for Spurs.

Of all the deals that have been mooted – including those for elite midfielders Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, of Lyon and Real Betis respectively – Clarke appeared to be the most doable.

But if chairman Daniel Levy isn’t going to pay up for him, that spells trouble for the rest of the window.

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Ndombele would cost over £70m while Lo Celso has an £88.9m release clause.

If a deal for Clarke at £20m is too much of a stretch for Levy, hopes won’t be raised at the club regarding any other moves.

As a result, fans shouldn’t hold their breath when it comes to transfer announcements.

The date is 19 January 2022 at the King Power Stadium and the scene is set on a blisteringly cold night in the Midlands for the revival of one of Tottenham’s largely forgotten men.

Steven Bergwijn was slid through deliciously by Harry Kane after Youri Tielemans was robbed of possession and through he went, rounding Kasper Schmeichel before finding the net via the post.

It was a dramatic late goal as Spurs defeated Leicester 3-2 in the early weeks of the new year and it looked like a new beginning for the Dutchman too.

However, since penning terms with the north Londoners back in January 2020, the forward has failed to elevate his career with moments like his last gasp strike against Brendan Rodgers’ men coming few and far between.

We have only seen rare glimpses of the Netherlands international’s dangerous qualities and on that evidence, it is hard to argue that he has ever been worth the money.

Daniel Levy shipped out a seismic £27m for his services two years ago and in the 109 weeks he has been in English football, all you can say is that Bergwijn has been draining the owner’s bank account for a considerable period of time.

When you consider his weekly salary of £73k and his annual wages of £3.8m, he has set Levy back around £35m, a staggering amount of money for a player who hasn’t provided Tottenham with much on the field of play.

The 24-year-old is still young and possesses clear potential but he has found the net on just seven occasions in Spurs colours, meaning he’s cost them £5m per goal. Furthermore, his tally of only ten assists since signing means he has cost the Lilywhites £3.5m per assist.

Those numbers make for some pretty grim reading and with that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that he’s attracted some negative critics.

Only a few months ago, club insider John Wenham blasted the Dutch attacker for being “terrible all season.” What makes things even worse is that the current manager doesn’t rate him either.

Journalist Mike Verweij claimed on De Telegraaf’s football podcast (via Sport Witness): “Conte is also the one who opposed Bergwijn’s transfer from PSV to Italy. Inter were an interested club at the time, but Conte did not need him. Conte has only said two words to Bergwijn in two weeks at Tottenham Hotspur.”

That is a damning indictment of the player’s ability and attitude, meaning that this is a transfer that will only get worse with time.

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Of course, Conte’s desperate situation at the club could hand Bergwijn a lifeline if the boss does pack his bags and leave Spurs, but it would be a surprise if any new manager could extract more than the likes of Jose Mourinho and their current Italian head coach.

To put it simply; this is a transfer that hasn’t panned out well.

AND in other news, Spurs still paying price for Levy’s 2017 blunder over £53m “animal”, Conte isn’t happy…

Crystal Palace have the chance to progress through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup tonight if they manage to beat Championship side Stoke City at Selhurst Park.

In terms of which players Eagles boss Patrick Vieira will have at his disposal for the match, the Frenchman revealed in his pre-match press conference that right-back Joel Ward will still not be available to play after missing their three previous league games through injury.

With that in mind, here’s how we feel Palace will line up tonight, with five changes anticipated from the team which started against Burnley on Saturday.

After recovering from an injury and being an unused substitute for the 1-1 draw against Burnley, we think Vicente Guaita will start in goal, with Jack Butland dropping out.

In defence, we think the only change Vieira will make from the back four which started against Sean Dyche’s side will see Martin Kelly come in to replace Nathaniel Clyne at right-back, after the 31-year-old made his only senior appearance this season in their previous FA Cup game against Hartlepool United last month.

In midfield, we expect a couple of changes taking place. Will Hughes and Cheikhou Kouyate coming in for Luka Milivojevic – who is currently picking up £80k-per-week according to Salary Sport but lasted only an hour on Saturday before being substituted – and James McArthur. That leaves Conor Gallagher as the only midfielder to keep his place in the team from the weekend.

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For the front three, we can see Eberechi Eze getting a chance to show what he can do after being in the starting XI for both of Palace’s previous FA Cup games in the hope that he can get his first goal or assist of the season. He replaces Jeffrey Schlupp on the left, with Michael Olise starting on the right and Wilfried Zaha through the middle.

In other news: Palace dealt injury setback ahead of Stoke clash, Vieira will be gutted

Leeds United must make a ruthless call on Tyler Roberts this summer amid Gabby Agbonlahor’s verdict on the forward.

What’s the story?

Amid The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealing that the Wales international will be out for the rest of the season through injury, former Premier League striker Agbonlahor has now claimed that it could be the end for his career at Elland Road.

He said: “First of all, it’s a shame with his injury. But he’s not a Premier League player. Sometimes when you come to the big league you find your level and the Premier League is not his level. I’m sure next season he’ll be in the Championship.”

Radrizzani won’t be happy

Towards the end of the January transfer window, Hay mooted the possibility of a loan move, suggesting that it would take him “out of the firing line”.

It was telling that towards the end of Marcelo Bielsa’s reignat the club, the £7.2m-rated Roberts saw his game-time for the Yorkshire club become increasingly limited, playing just over 100 minutes of Premier League football in the past seven top-flight games.

Earning a reported £45k-a-week, the forward just hasn’t shown anywhere near the kind of form that would justify the Whites paying him that sort of money.

To put that into context, Joe Gelhardt earns less than half that amount but has proven in the little game-time he’s been given that he can be a real threat for Leeds going forward.

With just nine goals and ten assists in a whopping 108 games of football for the club, Roberts’ record is dismal to say the least.

Dubbed as “shocking” by Agbonlahor, it’s high-time the Whites moved on from the under-par Welshman.

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Given Andrea Radrizzani will be keeping an even closer eye on the finances this summer depending on whether Leeds stay in the Premier League or not, getting rid of Roberts’ contract would save some a decent chunk of money.

Keeping someone as poor as the 23-year-old at Elland Road surely won’t keep him happy.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have been handed a boost in their chase for this star…

Gio van Bronckhorst’s Rangers sealed their place in the last eight of the Europa League in spite of their 2-1 loss on Thursday night.

The Gers failed to react from a short corner as Glen Kamara allowed his man to bring the ball down 10 yards out and fire it past Allan McGregor after Alfredo Morelos missed the initial header.

Ryan Kent made the score on the night 1-1 and 4-1 overall as he raced away on the counter-attack and saw his deflected effort nestle in the back of the net early on in the second half.

Allan McGregor was forced to make a string of superb saves to keep Red Star Belgrade at bay but he could do little about a stoppage-time penalty – given away by Kamara – winning the game for the Serbian outfit on the night.

Forget Kamara

Whilst Kamara will be disappointed in his part in both of Red Star’s goals, another player almost cost van Bronckhorst Europa League qualification – Joe Aribo.

The ex-Charlton man endured a rough evening as he struggled throughout the match and he was lucky not to cost the Gers their three-goal lead.

He was consistently losing physical duels and failing to do his job defensively, leading to a number of chances for Red Star that McGregor was forced to brilliantly save time and again.

Off the ball, he left plenty to be desired. As per SofaScore, he lost a whopping 16 individual battles out of the 22 he contested in 68 minutes on the pitch. This shows that the lightweight was abysmal out of possession as he was constantly bullied by the opposition and that allowed them to dominate his side and continually create openings in the final third.

On the ball, he made little impact. Via SofaScore, he completed just 58% of his passes and failed 100% of his attempted dribbles. He also ended the game without a single key pass or successful cross, which shows that he was unable to stamp his mark in the final third.

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Therefore, he let van Bronckhorst down badly on the night and should consider himself thankful that McGregor saved him from being the villain of the piece alongside Kamara.

Hopefully, he will be able to shake off this performance and return back to his best against Dundee FC at the weekend and for whoever the Gers draw in the quarter-finals of the competition.

AND in other news, Sold at £4m, then became the “best forward ever”: Rangers had a howler on 274-goal gem…

Alasdair Gold has delivered a transfer update on a potential Tottenham swoop for Juventus star Paulo Dybala this summer.

What’s the story?

The Argentina international’s contract with the Turin club comes to an end at the climax of this season, and speculation has unsurprisingly arisen about where his future destination could be.

During a Q&A for football.london, Gold revealed: “The whole Dybala thing is an interesting one. It feels very 2019! The fact that he’s expected to be a free agent means you can’t rule anything out, but it feels like a slightly more awkward fit for Spurs in this moment than it did three years ago.

“There’s no doubting he’s talented and still scores goals, with 13 this season from 29 matches – eight in Serie A – but I’m not sure Fabio Paratici is as desperate to sign him as is being reported in some quarters.

“If Spurs do end up moving for him, it might well be because Antonio Conte has requested them to, although I’m not entirely whether Conte’s physical demands during and around matches will suit Dybala either with his last couple of years’ worth of injury problems.”

A statement from Spurs

While Dybala’s injury history is certainly worrisome, that doesn’t detract from the fact that, when he’s fit and on form, he remains an enviable talent who would certainly walk into most teams in Europe.

With 113 goals and 48 assists in 283 games for Juventus, the Argentine has performed at the very highest stage for a number of years, delivering multiple league titles and also competing for the Champions League.

Indeed, Gold himself has said that signing Dybala would be an “eye-catching” signing for the north Londoners, but questioned whether the 28-year-old would be the right fit for Conte’s tactical demands.

On a free transfer, though, it’s difficult to argue against certainly exploring a potential move for the Argentina international, and maybe it could help him rediscover his form and fitness away from Turin.

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Whatever the case, it would certainly be a very intriguing and exciting move for Spurs to make.

AND in other news – Left in 2019, now worth £50m: Levy suffered shocking Spurs howler over “insane” star