Dean Jones "Slightly Sceptical" About Tottenham Manager Target

Tottenham Hotspur's number one manager target should not be Burnley boss Vincent Kompany, journalist Dean Jones has recently told GiveMeSport.

What's the latest on Vincent Kompany to Tottenham?

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has recently clarified that Kompany will be a target for Tottenham this summer, saying:

"But on Vincent Kompany I already told you a few days ago and I'm still saying here that, from what I understand, he is one of the names considered by Tottenham for the future head coach for the long term project."

Spurs may have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the Belgian, as it has now emerged he is "ready to listen" to offers from the club, with chairman Daniel Levy said to be "blown away" by what he's seen in his first full season at Turf Moor (The Sun).

However, in a recent interview with GiveMeSport, Jones did not appear to be as convinced by the Burnley boss as Levy, indicating there are other names on the shortlist who would do a better job.

The journalist said: “I think it's logical that his name comes into the conversation given the way he has made a mark as a coach so far, and one good contact told me there is something in Spurs' interest. But as a number one target, I am slightly sceptical. He hasn't managed in the Premier League and he is currently employed. I can't see why he would be ahead of other targets that have a stronger CV."

Should Tottenham appoint Vincent Kompany?

The former Manchester City captain has done a fantastic job in his first season with Burnley, leading them to promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and they are almost guaranteed to win the Championship title.

Vincent Kompany returns to Manchester City as his Burnley side visit in the FA Cup.

That said, Jones is right to point out that the 37-year-old has never managed in the top flight, which would make his appointment a risk when you consider the other options available, such as Mauricio Pochettino, who took charge of 353 games during spells with Spurs and Southampton.

Hailed as having "elite playing ideas" by sections of the media, Kompany is showing a lot of promise, and he could go on to be a top manager, however it is probably too soon for him to be offered a job at a 'big six' club, and Levy should focus on targets with proven experience managing at the top level.

Leicester City Rejected By "Brilliant" Manager

Leicester City have been dealt an immediate blow in their search for a new manager, as Graham Potter has rejected the opportunity to take charge, according to a recent report from talkSPORT.

Who could Leicester appoint as manager?

Leicester confirmed the sacking of Brendan Rodgers on Sunday afternoon, with the Northern Irishman leaving his role after four years at the King Power Stadium, and there have already been a plethora of names linked with the vacant job.Rafa Benitez has reportedly been made an offer, with the Spaniard having been out of work since leaving Everton, however, the Foxes are yet to receive a response, meaning they have continued to run the rule over other potential options.

Graham Potter enters Selhurst Park ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.

The Daily Mail claimed Leicester would be interested to know Potter's plans after being sacked by Chelsea, as he was admired by the hierarchy at the club long before he moved to Stamford Bridge, but they have now received a very disappointing response.According to a report from talkSPORT, the Englishman has rejected an approach from the Foxes, as he is set to take a break from the game after his recent sacking.The east Midlands club reached out to representatives of the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss, but he has decided against making an immediate return to management.As such, Leicester will now need to turn their attentions elsewhere, and whoever takes over has a very difficult task on their hands, with the club currently sat 19th in the Premier League table.

Would Graham Potter have been a good appointment?

Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha will consider it a real blow to have missed out on the 47-year-old, as although his time at Chelsea was short-lived, he did an excellent job in his previous role with Brighton & Hove Albion.Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, the Solihull-born tactician left the Seagulls fourth in the table upon moving to Stamford Bridge, with chairman Tony Bloom claiming: “He leaves an excellent legacy for his successor with the club in its highest-ever position, and on the back of leading us to our highest finish in the club’s history last season.” Although they may have missed out on Potter for the time being, he could still be tempted by a move to Leicester at the end of the season, should they make a short-term appointment to see them through, akin to Crystal Palace hiring Roy Hodgson.

Leeds transfer update on Weston McKennie

Leeds United’s permanent move for loanee Weston McKennie would collapse if they were to suffer relegation from the Premier League, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Loan with an option to buy

McKennie, as we know, made the move to Elland Road from Juventus during the January window when Jesse Marsch was still in charge as one of three first-team additions alongside Max Wober and Georginio Rutter.

The 24-year-old arrived in Yorkshire on loan with an option to buy for around £30m in the summer. He has gone on to make eight appearances for the Whites but dropped to the bench under Javi Gracia in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Brighton in the Premier League.

As per WhoScored, McKennie has averaged a match rating of 6.47/10 for Leeds, their 16th-best performer. He has come in for praise during his short stay at the club, though, with Phil Hay admitting he was ‘impressed with McKennie’s movement and interplay’ midway through an FA Cup meeting with Fulham last month, whereas Adam Pope described the midfielder as ‘excellent’ at half-time.

The Latest: Transfer update

FI reporter Pete O’Rourke provided an update on McKennie’s long-term future in the last 48 hours.

He’s heard ‘that it would be financially impossible to keep him and maintain his wages if the club was demoted to the Championship’. Leeds are ‘big admirers’ of the player and would reportedly trigger the clause if they remain in the top flight.

The Verdict: A worry

Knowing that McKennie’s move could be in jeopardy is a worry, but it did always seem that relegation would throw a spanner in the works du to the vast finances involved in making a move permanent.

You’d expect that he has a big part to play under Gracia between now and the end of the season, though, so he could help Leeds stay up which would result in him becoming a full-time squad member at Elland Road.

Fellow countryman Tyler Adams is now out injured with a hamstring problem, and with Adam Forshaw also still out, McKennie and Marc Roca are the only senior central midfield options available to Gracia.

You’d expect that the pair will be relied on heavily over the coming months, starting with this afternoon’s trip to Wolves, and should Adams’ injury be worse than first feared after seeing specialists in recent days, McKennie and Roca may have a crucial role to play to secure the club’s top-flight status.

Chelsea: Kante poised to sign new contract

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is poised to sign a new contract until 2026, with an option of an extra year, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Kante targeted

It has recently been reported that both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Kante, with the midfielder’s current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The same report claims that Chelsea have been hesitant to table a new contract to the Frenchman due to his repeated injury issues, however it now appears as though he will be spending the next few years at Stamford Bridge…

The Latest: Set to stay

According to a report from Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), the 31-year-old is poised to sign a new contract to keep him at the club until 2026, with the club retaining an option to extend it by an extra year.

The last few details still need to be ironed out, but the player himself is said to be ‘happy’ about the way things have progressed, as he was always prioritising remaining with his current club.

The Verdict: Great news

The Paris-born ace has endured a difficult season, having made just two appearances in the Premier League because of a hamstring injury, however when he is back to full fitness, it will be a real boost for Graham Potter.

Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by members of the media, the 53-time France international is most well-known for his defensive attributes, ranking in the 86th percentile for interceptions and 91st percentile for blocks per 90 over the past year.

This would make Kante a fantastic option playing alongside the more attack-minded Enzo Fernandez in the engine room, and Potter will be hoping he can return to full fitness in March, as expected.

Newcastle transfer news: Goncalo Inacio

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Sporting CP central defender Goncalo Inacio this summer.

The Lowdown: Bid rejected

Newcastle reportedly had a bid rejected for Inacio last summer, thought to be worth €33m (£28.1m).

They were told that they had to pay his €45m (£38.4m) release clause in full if they wanted to sign him, but a move never materialised.

The Latest: Interest remains

As per Portuguese news outlet Correio da Manha (via CaughtOffside), Newcastle are still said to be interested in Inacio ahead of this summer.

However, Premier League rivals Liverpool are believed to have sent scouts to watch him in action for Sporting, ahead of a potential move in the next window.

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The Verdict: Depth needed

The Magpies need to increase their depth at centre-back for next season, especially if they are competing in Europe as well as the domestic competitions.

Eddie Howe currently has four at his disposal in the senior squad, but Jamaal Lascelles is reportedly set to leave this summer, while Dan Burn has mainly been used as a left-back.

Hailed as a ‘sensation’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, 21-year-old Inacio is growing to be one of Europe’s best ball-playing defenders already, ranking in the 99th percentile for shot-creating actions, passes attempted and progressive passes per game outside of Europe’s top five leagues, as well as placing highly among a number of other key metrics over the past year.

The Portuguese maestro would be a welcome addition to the Toon squad, especially if Lascelles leaves.

Leeds receive Andoni Iraola manager update

Leeds United are weighing up whether to make a second approach for Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Manager hunt underway

After sacking Jesse Marsch earlier this week, there have been several names linked with the vacant manager’s post, including Iraola, but a deal seemed to be off the cards, with Guillem Balague telling BBC Sport that his current club have blocked the move.

Other managers in the running for the job include Rafael Benitez and Arne Slot, however the latter has since ruled himself out of contention, and as a result Leeds could now go back in for the Vallecano boss.

The Latest: Second approach?

According to a report from The Guardian, the Whites have renewed their interest in the Spaniard, who is said to have a release clause of between £7m – £10m in their contract, an amount they are now prepared to pay.

It is detailed that Victor Orta has already been on an unsuccessful trip to Madrid in the hopes of securing the 40-year-old’s services, but the sporting director has reason to hope that he is still within reach.

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The Verdict: Right man?

Journalist Nick Emms has described the young manager as a ‘Bielsa disciple’, making reference to the fact that he played under the former Leeds boss at Athletic Bilbao, while he has also been hailed as ‘fantastic’ and a ‘really exciting’ option.

Vallecano were only promoted back to La Liga in 2021, but Iraola has already managed to lead a charge towards the Champions League places, with his side currently sat in fifth, just three points behind Atletico Madrid.

That is quite the achievement for the Usurbil-born manager, who has averaged 1.53 points per game in charge of the Spanish club, far more than the figure of just 1.16 averaged by Jesse Marsch during his time at Elland Road.

As such, it is fantastic news that Leeds could still bring in Iraola, and they will want to get the deal done as soon as possible, to give them the best possible chance of preserving their Premier League status.

West Ham transfer approach slammed

Transfer insider Dean Jones has slammed the West Ham United ‘scattergun’ approach to the transfer market suggesting that it could negatively impact players wanting to join them.

What’s the latest? With the winter window now open, the Hammers have been linked with a number of names already. For instance, they had been strongly linked with Terem Moffi before the club then pulled off a deal with Aston Villa for Danny Ings.And while it remains to be seen if the club retain an interest in the Lorient forward, this latest development proves how West Ham like to have a number of deals going on at once.And while this may help the Premier League side move from deal to deal quickly should they encounter any problems, they do run the risk of leaving transfer targets feeling as those they are just one name amongst many on a list – as opposed to being the one player the Hammers really want to sign.While speaking on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones made this point, saying: “I mean, West Ham just look at too many players. It’s simple. They literally like scattergun across Europe and then they see where they land.”And they genuinely do go after two or three players at the same time to see which one progresses in the way that best suits them, and then they’ll narrow it down and just start pushing them aside to narrow in on the one they actually want.He continued: “Even for the players, I think it’s quite frustrating, because it sounds like, from agents I speak to, it is difficult to get a grasp on whether you’re the player they even really want or whether you’re just a player they might want.”Too many options?Of course, every team will have a list of primary targets they want and they will no doubt have alternatives should one transfer fall through for any reason, but it does seem as though West Ham perhaps take this method a little too far.Still, with David Moyes’ men struggling down towards the very bottom of the league table, it’s no shock that reinforcements are wanted.At least for now, Ings has arrived and has over 100 senior goals to his name at club level across the span of his career, the former Villan should at least bring some immediate firepower to the club’s ranks.As for Moffi, well if Michail Antonio does leave this month – amid talks of a switch to Wolves – then perhaps the club will be glad to have another striker already lined up and ready to move for.

Rangers ‘ready’ another Nicolas Raskin bid

Belgian football journalist Sacha Tavolieri says that Glasgow Rangers are ‘ready’ to make another bid to bring Nicolas Raskin to Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Bid rejected

It was reported earlier this week that Rangers have had a six-figure bid for the 21-year-old rejected by Standard Liege which is thought to be ‘well short’ of their valuation of the player.

The Belgian club reportedly want around £1.5m to let him go this month, with Raskin already agreeing personal terms on a four-and-a-half year deal with the Premiership giants and undergoing a medical last week.

The Latest: Another bid ‘ready’

Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri says that Rangers are ‘ready’ to make another bid for the Belgian ‘in the next hours’, but added that it is a ‘race against time’ to get this deal over the line.

The journalist tweeted: “#Standard makes it difficult for Nicolas #Raskin as all formalities on player side already been completed last week. Just waiting for agreement between clubs. 2d bid rejected yesterday but #RangersFC ready to make another in the next hours. Race against time.”

The Verdict: Meet the valuation

Raskin’s valuation is already likely to have been cut given that his contract is up in the summer, so with all other formalities already agreed, Rangers should just pay the asking price and get him in. That way, Michael Beale can work with him ahead of two games next week against Hearts and Ross County in the Premiership.

The Light Blues manager has already expressed his admiration for the Belgium under-21 international, dubbing him a ‘very good’ player after watching him face the Teddy Bears for Standard Liege last season.

He has also been hailed as ‘monstrous’ and a ‘leader’ by his manager Ronny Deila, having played nearly 100 matches in the Belgian top flight by the age of just 21, scoring five goals and providing another 13 assists (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, with a bid already submitted and another one looking likely to come, Raskin is clearly a player that Beale wants, so the Ibrox board should be looking to clinch this deal within the next few days.

Wolves: Lopetegui should unleash Guedes

Goncalo Guedes has been at the centre of Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news this week with reports suggesting that he is looking to cut his time at Molineux short but Julen Lopetegui should hand him one final chance vs Liverpool.

The Portugal international joined the Old Gold in a deal worth £35m from Valencia in the summer but has struggled immensely in the first half of the season, managing just one goal and one assist in 13 Premier League appearances, averaging a shocking 6.38 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This ranks him as the 17th-best performer at Molineux so far this campaign, so it seems clear that he hasn’t lived up to expectations and it is perhaps no surprise to see him linked with a move back to the Mestalla Stadium this month.

However, it was no surprise that the former Paris Saint-Germain ace was struggling in such a goal-shy Bruno Lage side and under Lopetegui, he has shown some small signs of improvement, scoring in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the initial fixture.

Although Alisson passed the ball straight to Gueudes in the penalty area, he still did well to finish the chance and looked dangerous for large parts of that game, also testing the Brazilian shot-stopper with a long-range effort.

It was something of a surprise when he was left out entirely against West Ham at the weekend, having only played 45 minutes against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup in midweek.

He has clearly struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League but there is no doubt that Guedes is a talented player, as he hit 11 goals and six assists for Valencia in the Spanish top-flight last season.

When Wolves confirmed his signing in the summer, the versatile attacker earned plenty of praise from talkSPORT’s European expert Andy Brassell. He said:

“For Wolves I think Guedes will be absolutely fantastic, they need that little bit of extra bang up front, maybe they could be in a bit of trouble if they’re not scoring goals.

“He’s someone who can play as a striker or as a winger, lightning quick, on his day as good as it gets.”

Although Wolves did move out of the relegation places with a 1-0 win over the Hammers at the weekend, they are still in a battle at the bottom this season and Guedes could still have a big part to play, especially if he starts to rediscover the form he showed in Spain.

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Therefore, after his goal against Liverpool last time out, Lopetegui should unleash the 26-year-old forward once again on Tuesday night.

Chelsea deal for Fernandez breaks down

Chelsea are no longer in contact with Benfica over the signing of Enzo Fernandez, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

The midfielder, who won the Young Player of the Tournament award as Argentina lifted the World Cup in Qatar, has a €120m (£106m) release clause, though Benfica were previously adamant that they would not accept anything below this valuation in January.

Liverpool and Manchester United are also interested in the 21-year-old, but Chelsea looked close to a transfer after agreeing personal terms with the player.

However, Romano has revealed on his YouTube channel that the clubs are no longer in contact as the deal has broken down, with Chelsea attempting to negotiate a lower fee for Fernandez.

He said: “As of now, Chelsea and Benfica are no longer speaking and there is no new meeting scheduled between the two clubs.

“Last week, Chelsea had an agreement with the Benfica player, Enzo Fernandez, they had an agreement on the contract, a long-term contract for Enzo, everything in place on the player’s side – but not on the club’s side.

“In the last 7-8 days, Chelsea accepted to negotiate with Benfica around that value [of the release clause]. So this is why the two clubs were in direct contact and this is why the deal was verbally advanced between Chelsea and Benfica.

“They never triggered the clause and they never submitted an official proposal for €120m – they always discussed verbally of negotiating around the value of the clause with different payment terms.”

A good decision?

Given what Romano has revealed, the deal broke down simply because Chelsea were unwilling to pay the huge fee upfront, despite offering a large fee broken down into instalments.

Paying the release clause would have seen Fernandez become a British record signing, and this is a 21-year-old midfielder with half a season of experience at Benfica.

Whilst his supreme talent was on display at the World Cup, it is hard to justify such a large fee for an unproven player, and there are alternative options Chelsea could target now or in the summer.

A long-standing interest in Declan Rice could be explored, and he would arrive as a much more proven option, for potentially a lower fee.

It remains to be seen whether Fernandez will be on the move in January but it seems unlikely that anyone would spend the required funds in the middle of the season.

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