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Tottenham aren’t having the greatest spell of form under Mauricio Pochettino at the moment.

The London club suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich as Spurs lost 7-2 at home to the Bavarians.

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However, despite this poor run of form, some pundits still believe that Spurs are one of the most talented squads in England.

ESPN’s top pundits were asked if Spurs still have the third best squad in the Premier League, and their answer was unanimous.

It’s hard to argue with that. On their day they have a number of world-class players at their disposal, as the likes of Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane have proven over their careers that they’re top quality players.

There’s no doubting that Spurs are going through a bit of a lull at the moment, but the squad strength is still there, and if Pochettino can get them back reading off of the same hymn sheet they should have what it takes to turn this around.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Liverpool’s decision to offload Dominic Solanke in January for a whopping £19m is already looking like an absolute masterstroke from the club.

Sporting director Michael Edwards has overseen the arrivals of players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, and has helped transform the club during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.

His work in sending players the opposite direction is just as impressive though, and Solanke may just be his finest piece of business yet.

While the England international is still just 22 years of age and so has time to develop, his impact since joining Bournemouth has been almost non-existent.

After grabbing just one assist for the Cherries last term, he has played seven times in the league this season, and has no goals and no assists, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers make for even more worrying reading, as he boasts just 1.4 shots per game, 0.4 key passes per game and 0.6 dribbles per game, while also completing a truly horrific 69% of his passes.

It’s not as if his team aren’t creating an environment for strikers to succeed either. Callum Wilson has five goals and completes a vastly superior 1.4 key passes per game, while Josh King has managed two goals, two assists and a whopping three dribbles per game.

And if King is the dribbler and Wilson is the creator out of their forward options, then surely Solanke is the aerial threat, right? Wrong. King also wins more aerial duels than his English counterpart (3.7 to 2.9).

Quite simply, Solanke is not making an impact in any area of the game, is massively inferior to the other striking options in front of him and is showing no signs of moving up in the pecking order.

£26m for Mamadou Sakho was good business for the Reds, but the Frenchman is a Crystal Palace regular and arguably still a solid player. £20m for Danny Ings was more good business, but he certainly knows where the back of the net is, grabbing 12 goals for the Saints since joining, and even Jordon Ibe for £15m doesn’t look that ridiculous considering he has five goals and nine assists at the Vitality Stadium.

With just one assist and no goals in 19 games for his new club in all competitions though, Solanke’s departure takes the cake.

If the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist, then the greatest trick Edwards ever pulled was convincing Bournemouth that Solanke is worth £19m.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

While Barcelona were busy all summer chasing huge targets like Antoine Griezmann and Neymar, Real Madrid only claimed one Galactico of their own in the form of Eden Hazard.

But, if Sport is to be believed, there’s a clear reason for that and his name is Kylian Mbappe.

What’s the word, then?

We all know what kind of a soap opera the whole Neymar saga turned out to be. Barcelona were banging on the door of Paris Saint-Germain all summer long in hopes of re-signing the Brazilian.

And while there certainly were reports confirming Real Madrid’s interest, Sport claim there was a clear reason why they took a backseat in the whole operation.

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Namely, they intend to go all-out for Mbappe next summer and that’s why they didn’t really push for Neymar in the summer. This information was then reportedly conveyed to Barcelona in one of their meetings with Paris Saint-Germain. Both Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane are big fans of the young starlet and Sport even state that Real Madrid’s coach would prefer the forward over Paul Pogba.

If these reports are indeed true and we see a great offensive in 2020, Galacticos would once again be true to their name.

A statement of intent

Throughout the whole year, the Madrid media were obsessed with Real Madrid’s “revolution”: a total revamp of the team that would once again conquer the world after a rather lacklustre 2018/19 season. Of course, that revolution would have to be kick-started by some mega-signings and while Hazard is certainly a step in the right direction, Los Blancos are only halfway there for now.

The signing of Mbappe, however, would not only get their revolution fully underway but it would also be a clear statement to the footballing world that the kings want their throne back.

The 20-year-old forward doesn’t really need much of an introduction. At such a young age, he’s already been tipped to win the Ballon d’Or in the not so distant future, has a World Cup trophy under his belt and has already scored 62 goals and assisted 33 in a total of 91 games played for Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe clearly warrants this reported “desire” of both Perez and Zidane to incorporate him into the Los Blancos’ team.

Let’s see if they actually manage to get him and initiate the desired revolution next summer.

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To suggest that the Newcastle United faithful aren’t having the best of times at the moment would be an understatement.

The genius that engineered the club’s Premier League survival for the previous two seasons, Rafael Benitez, left for China after failing to agree an extension with Mike Ashley, and that’s just the beginning of their problems.

Much to the disappointment of many supporters, former Black Cats manager Steve Bruce is the latest man to be elected Magpies boss after leaving Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, where he spent just five months in charge, in July.

And while the department store tycoon seemingly continues to do the bare minimum to keep his club afloat, it’s the fans who are suffering the most.

The lads from Playmaker FC’s Magpie Channel have weighed in on the subject and discussed how they’re planning to fight back next term.

Check out their video above.

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Arsenal made a positive start to the season as they beat Newcastle United 1-0 at St. James’ Park last weekend.

However, there is still one thing that is hanging over the Gunners squad: the lack of a clearly designated captain.

Since Laurent Koscielny left to join Bordeaux, the Emirates outfit have been without a clear leader. Whilst Unai Emery likes to have a group of players who head the squad, the former France international was the first choice and now needs to be replaced.

Could Gabriel Martinelli become Arsenal’s star striker in the not too distant future? Deluded Gooner thinks so in the video below…

Several names have been mentioned, such as Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal but, as of yet, no choice has been confirmed. And now, it has been revealed that Xhaka will write as “a voice from the dressing room” in the programme for tomorrow’s game against Burnley.

Gunners supporters appear to be getting frustrated by the lack of a decision and have taken to Twitter to share their opinions. You can see some of the best comments below.

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As the Tanguy Ndombele excitement builds amongst Tottenham fans, it might not all be plain sailing. The most recent article on his impending move came from The Sun and the story also claimed his arrival may see Eric Dier leave North London this summer.

This is one that could potentially split the fan base. From a nostalgic point of view, Eric Dier has been at the club throughout the entire Mauricio Pochettino era, with the versatile defensive midfielder being the man to score the first competitive goal after his arrival, a late winner away at West Ham.

However, when you look at the England man’s talents it’s hard to see a way in which he fits the mould of a Tottenham star in the current regime.

When you compare that trio, Dier, Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko, the England man comes out comprehensively 3rd. Using WhoScored’s player comparison tool, Dier ranks last of that trio in assists, pass completion per 90 minutes, times dribbled past per 90 minutes and key passes per game. Added to that is the fact he’s picked up more bookings than the other two and also averages fewer key passes.

Getting away from pure statistics, Dier doesn’t exactly have pundits on his side either. The England and Tottenham man came under fire when Ray Parlour took aim at him back in September. The Arsenal legend questioned what Dier brings to the table when he plays in midfield, via TalkSport, and it’s hard to argue with him when looking at last season’s contribution.

The midfielder is on wages of around £60,000 p/w, Spotrac, and the club could have avoided having to offload him this summer had they been savvier and shipped him off in 2017 when Manchester United took an interest in the £36m rated star, valuation via Transfermarkt. Instead, the Lilywhites slapped a £50m price tag on his head which United ultimately failed to match, according to The Guardian.

Having made only 20 league appearances last season (though injuries did play their part) and Pochettino previously speaking of a ‘painful’ rebuild, perhaps it’s the right time to bid farewell to one of their key men during the early part of his project in north London.

Tottenham fans, would you be happy to see Dier leave? Let us know, comment below!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs chasing Jordan Hugill this summer.

The Whites are in need of a striker after their inability to put away chances cost them a place in the Premier League.

Indeed, the Yorkshire club had the worst conversion rate of any team in the Championship.

Marcelo Bielsa’s system hasn’t steered Leeds too far wrong, and it would be surprising to see him veer away from the 4-1-4-1 formation he has favoured since his arrival at the club.

The above infographic takes stats from one of Hugill’s performances last year that perfectly encapsulates what he would bring to Elland Road, but also why he wouldn’t fit into Bielsa’s system or solve the Whites’ problems up top.

The first thing to note is that Hugill was playing up top on his own on this day, and his pass success rate was just 37.5 per cent. The striker is strong and can hold up the ball, but when he is up top on his own the majority of his passes don’t find the mark.

Even the passes he did make weren’t all that effective as he failed to a make a single key pass at Pride Park in January.

He did win an impressive 10 aerial duels however, but Bielsa’s side aren’t reliant on winning headers up top as they contested only 44.9 aerial duels per game last season, which is one of the lowest tallies in the Championship.

He also took three shots in that match and managed only one on target indicating that he wouldn’t be a huge help when it comes to Leeds’ conversion rate problems.

Hugill isn’t best equipped playing as a lone striker, and it is hard to believe that Bielsa will change his entire system to accommodate a forward who scored just six times last term.

While it may not be an overly popular idea when first raised, hear us out. Newcastle United might be better off potentially replacing the popular (yet 29-year-old) Salomon Rondon with a young forward ready to take the club into a new era. Now, whether or not that involves Rafa Benitez and a takeover remains to be seen, but perhaps it does feel like a new beginning for the club, as the futures of both the Spaniard and the on-loan striker in question obviously remain uncertain. 

Indeed, surely they need someone with their best years ahead of them, with the capability of helping the club make big strides forward.

As a result, the Magpies are apparently tracking one of the most menacing young goalscorers in the country. According to reports (via Football League World) Che Adams is someone they’re following closely. So, rather than just sitting coy tracking him, it’s time Newcastle act up to seal his deal.

Obviously, the 22-year-old’s has earned a huge amount of attention from all around (the Mirror linked him with Arsenal and Manchester United in February, after all) thanks to his fantastic work at Birmingham City last season. Impressively, he netted 22 goals in the Championship, proving his worth in front of goal, despite struggles behind the scenes.

Yes, there’s an obvious step-up in quality between that and the Premier League but there’s a goalscoring talent there for all to see. When you consider the fact that Newcastle only scored 42 goals as a whole last season, you start to get a feel as to exactly why a finisher of this ilk would fit in.

Frankly, a skilfull, hard-working individual with natural goal-scoring talent is exactly what, we believe, Newcastle need.

As for Rondon, no one is doubting his impact on Tyneside. However, considering some of the reservations Mike Ashley is previously reported by the Daily Star to have considering his age and wages, as well as links (Wolves were mentioned by the Express and Star a few days ago) with other clubs, perhaps battling to keep him next season is more hassle than its worth.

There’s also got to be a contingency plan in place here. Clearly, Rondon suits the current system but if there’s a new boss, maybe they’d go cold on him. Surely the idea of an up and coming striker such as Adams is more universally exciting, rather than a striker who fits one certain system best.

Clearly, Adams is a really exciting forward, who has so long yet to develop. The 22-year-old’s impressive movement coupled with clever link-up play makes him a player every attacker would want to play alongside and the Telegraph’s links to the likes of Crystal Palace, Southampton and Burnley in April speak to the calibre of club thought to be looking at him.

While he’s got a long way to go before he can consider himself in the same bracket as some of the famous No.9s who have thrilled on Tyneside, he’s worth a shot.

Newcastle fans, do you think Adams can be an adequate long-term replacement to Rondon? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Without a doubt, Jean Michael Seri did not have the strongest of seasons following his £27m move from Nice to Fulham last summer.

After a particularly bright 2016/17 Ligue 1 campaign and previous interest from Barcelona, much was expected of the 27-year-old. However, in the end, he proved to be a huge disappointment, though that has not stopped his name from being linked with a host of clubs this transfer window.

And that includes Crystal Palace, with Football.London one outlet to report that the Premier League outfit are interested in signing the Ivorian midfielder.

Roy Hodgson, though, faces fighting a losing battle, with Napoli and both Milan clubs also said to be keen (Calcionapoli24.com via Football Italia).

Not only can the likes of Napoli and Inter Milan offer Seri the chance to play in the Champions League, but they also look like much better fits for the former Nice man than Crystal Palace.

One of Seri’s biggest strengths is his passing, something Football.London highlighted earlier in the season when things were going right for both him and Fulham. At either Napoli or Inter, the Ivory Coast international would surely be in a better environment to utilise that compared to Crystal Palace.

Inter and Napoli were the two highest ranked teams for possession in Serie A, averaging 56.9% and 56.8% over the course of the campaign. The Eagles, in contrast, ranked 15th in the Premier League with a significantly less 46.6% (as per WhoScored). They, of course, have lesser players than the two Italian giants.

Still, based on that and the lure of Champions League football, it is hard to imagine Seri opting for an England stay over a move to Italy if reports are true.

Crystal Palace fans, do you think the club can get this deal over the line? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan has gone on record to say that Leeds United should be hesitant to use Gaetano Berardi again.

Berardi’s last appearance for the Whites was a shocker. The defender was sent off against Derby in the playoff semi-final second leg, and that game has seen the 30-year-old receive a lot of backlash.

The BBC Radio Leeds pundit doesn’t believe he should be given a second chance though, and he has urged his former club to rethink their stance on the Switzerland international.

What’s been said then?

Whelan didn’t hold back in his criticisms of the versatile defender.

“It was a stupid challenge from Berardi when he was on a yellow,” the ex-Leeds striker told Football Insider. “You can’t afford to have players like that.

“He looked like he was playing for rag-a****d Rovers. He has got previous when it comes to rash tackles and daft mistakes. Just when Leeds needed their experienced players to keep a nice steady head and regroup, that happens.”

Can’t be trusted

Whelan is right about Berardi, and despite him being a good player he costs Leeds with these silly errors far too often.

The former Sampdoria man can play anywhere across the back four at a competent level, and his numbers when he plays as a centre-back tell a huge story.

Before the Derby game, he had an impeccable record when stepping in as a centre-half this season, but this most recent incident of indiscipline could be the final straw as it once again highlights the main problem in his game.

This is becoming far too often of an occurrence for the Whites. The Swiss man has now been sent off more times than anyone else in the club’s history except for Alan Smith.

Perhaps there is still a place for him at the club, but he certainly shouldn’t play in such high stakes matches in the future. Leeds’ interest in Yoann Barbet may mean he drops down the pecking order next season, and he will most likely only be called upon in the most desperate of times.