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Tottenham Hotspur are ‘doing everything’ to keep teenage starlet Mikey Moore and are attempting to tie him down to a long-term deal, according to John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s youth policy…

Spurs have seen many bright and exuberant youth prospects blossom into potential first-team stars, most notably Oliver Skipp and Dane Scarlett in recent years.

The former has been labelled a ‘future Spurs captain’ and already has a few noteworthy performances in the bank. Meanwhile, the latter has been likened to Marcus Rashford by former Lilywhites boss Jose Mourinho, with the promising Englishman currently on loan at Portsmouth.

The Latest: Spurs ‘doing everything’ to keep Moore…

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham ‘expert’ Wenham claims that the club hold another youngster in Moore, who is yet to make a first-team appearance, in very high esteem.

Spurs are currently attempting to tie down the 15-year-old with a long-term contract and are believed to be ready to give it their all to keep him.

Wenham explained: “I thought the selection of players was very interesting when the club shared an image of Alan Shearer at the training ground. Tottenham chose some academy players to line up next to Shearer. You had Jamie Donley there, a very highly-rated striker.

“Luca Gunter, a very highly-rated England youth goalkeeper. Then two 15-year-olds, one of which being Mikey Moore.

“Tottenham are trying to tie him down to a long-term deal. We can only do so much, we are involving him in everything that we can.

“He’s started in the Youth Champions League and the Under 18s’ League this season. I get the indication that he will stay and the club are doing everything to make sure that happens.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

The 15-year-old has already displayed real promise in the youth leagues, not just for Spurs but also at international level.

The England under-16 international has two goals in two caps for the young Lions and has plundered three goals and four assists in nine appearances for Tottenham’s under-18s (Transfermarkt).

Moore has attracted huge praise from those who follow the Spurs academy with real intrigue, not least Wenham, who has previously raved over the teenager before this latest appraisal.

The striker has been called a ‘hugely promising’ and ‘hugely impressive’ youngster by the Spurs expert before, and Wenham claimed in another interview last year that the teeanger put in ‘outstanding’ displays in the UEFA Youth League (Football Insider).

If recent form and plaudits are anything to go by, Moore is another hot prospect who could soon emerge from the Hotspur Way academy.

Tottenham Hotspur are sweating over the fitness of both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of tonight’s Premier League meeting with Fulham.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Simon Collings, with the journalist revealing in his latest article for the Evening Standard on Monday that the duo face a race to be fit for this evening’s encounter.

It follows comments from Antonio Conte who appeared to be unsure as to whether the forward and central midfielder will be fit for the trip to west London this evening, as the duo have both only recently returned from injury and endured a strenuous test against Manchester City last Thursday.

Speaking about the condition of the duo during Friday’s press conference, the 53-year-old said: “It is difficult to answer because only yesterday [Thursday] night we played. I think no [new injuries], but sometimes after one day can happen something you need, especially the medical department need time to make a valuation.

“But I hope not [any injuries] and we finish with all the players, a bit tired, especially the players recovering from injuries like Rodrigo Bentancur, like Deki Kulusevski and only fatigue.”

Huge blow

Considering just how important both Kulusevski and Bentancur have been for Spurs this season, should either of the duo be unavailable for selection this evening, especially against an extremely impressive Fulham side, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Conte.

Indeed, over Kulusevski’s 12 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, the £62m-rated talent has been one of Tottenham’s most creative outlets, scoring two goals, registering five assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 2.0 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

For context, the winger’s five assists and five big chances created rank the 22-year-old joint first and third in Conte’s squad in the two respective metrics, while his average of shots, key passes and dribbles per match rank him third, first and first at Tottenham in each stat respectively.

More generally speaking, the Sweden international averages an extremely impressive Sofascore statistical rating of 7.03, currently ranking him as the 53-year-old manager’s fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Meanwhile, over Bentancur’s 15 Premier League outings this season, the £50m-rated midfielder has done a little bit of everything in heart of the Spurs side, scoring four goals and registering two assists, as well as making an average of 2.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 0.6 key passes and completing 41.4 total passes – at a success rate of 86% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the Uruguay international average a simply sensational Sofascore statistical rating of 7.22, not only ranking the 25-year-old as Tottenham’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 25th-best player in the English top flight as a whole so far this term.

As such, it is clear to see that the absence of either player would indeed come as a huge blow to Conte’s chances of picking up a much-needed three points at Craven Cottage this evening – especially as a Fulham win would see the west Londoners leapfrog Spurs into fifth place in the Premier League standings.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that Arnaut Danjuma could be open to joining West Ham United on loan this January despite past issues with the club.

What’s the word?

It was recently reported in The Athletic that the Villarreal winger was in London to try and sort out his future with a six-month loan to a Premier League side looking likely.

While Bournemouth are named as a possible destination it seems as though West Ham could be an option too. However, in the past, there were rumours that the club were concerned about Danjuma’s attitude.

Despite that, Ex has now claimed that the player’s agent would view that as water under the bridge if the Villarreal man was approached by the Hammers for a move.

Indeed, while talking on The West Ham Way, the insider said: “​​I think Danjuma is another that we liked the look of. I spoke to his agent, I actually know his agent quite well, and he was the one that filled me with all the information last year about what the club have said about his attitude and why it had gone through.

“Basically, David Moyes chose to sign Max Cornet over him because he wasn’t convinced of the player’s attitude and whether he would be the right fit for the squad in terms of personality.

“Well, that was on a permanent deal. Now, he’s available on a six-month loan, so we could take the gamble, so potentially if he doesn’t fit, we can get rid of him and we’ve not lost anything.

“The only problem with him is obviously we’ve got that on the record, that the club were unhappy. Because Carlton Cole came out and spoke about this. And then his agent was unhappy that employees of West Ham were saying derogatory things about his client.

“But the agent has said to me that they would be prepared to forget that if the player chooses to come to the club.”

Worth the risk

Danjuma’s agent Michael-Moses Jarman certainly wasn’t happy with the suggestion that his client had a bad attitude and publicly took to Twitter last summer to challenge such claims.

Since then, however, the winger has gone from a key man at Villarreal – scoring 16 goals and providing four assists in 34 outings last term – to having a bit-part role with just six La Liga starts so far this term.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that he is now looking for a new move and if his options are limited, West Ham may well seem like an attractive option.

It will certainly be interesting to see if the Hammers are keen on a move and if Danjuma has really laid any past grudges to rest.

West Ham have been urged to sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire in the January transfer window and the centre-back could be the ideal man to replace Craig Dawson in David Moyes’ squad.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s breakfast show, former West Ham man Stuart Pearce declared that the England international would be a quality addition to Moyes’ side, as the Scottish manager looks to rectify their woeful recent form and keep them in the Premier League.

He said: “If I was West Ham, if I was Newcastle, if I was Aston Villa, I’d be all over trying to get Harry Maguire out of there. I’d be asking the question whether he’s available. He’d be a brilliant addition to a football club.

“He’s the right age, the right stature, right experience. He might just need another challenge now as he’s not getting regular football.”

Maguire has lost his regular spot in United’s side this season, with new manager Erik ten Hag preferring a centre-back duo of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, but on his recent appearances in the Premier League, he has done fairly well, helping the Red Devils to clean sheets and wins against Bournemouth and West Ham.

Paul Pogba was full of praise for the defender, who earns £190k-per-week at Old Trafford, in 2019.

He said: “I call him ‘The Beast’. Honestly, as you saw, he was really impressive. He is a leader. He fit right in with us in training.”

Considering Lukasz Fabianski has managed just three clean sheets in the Premier League this season, it seems clear that defensive additions are required if the Hammers are going to push themselves back up the table in the new year.

They may need a replacement for Dawson, who was widely expected to leave in the summer transfer window as he sought a move to a club in the north of England, with the experienced defender expected to fall down the pecking order with the summer additions of Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd.

Like Maguire, Dawson was much-maligned by his own fans during his time at Watford and while it didn’t seem like an attractive signing at the time, he has gone on to establish himself as a cult hero at the London Stadium, earning the nickname ‘Ballon D’awson’ after his incredible performances in the run to the Europa League semi-final last season.

Both Dawson and Maguire excel at aerial duels and the Manchester United man could certainly replace the former Rochdale man’s dominance from set-pieces should he move to the London Stadium this month.

Indeed, the Hammer has scored a whopping 53 goals in his career compared to the England stalwart’s 28 strikes and 24 assists, demonstrating their offensive prowess.

If the Hammers do lose the English defender to another Premier League side in the transfer window, then Maguire looks to be the ideal replacement and given enough support by fans, there seems no reason why he couldn’t reignite his career in London and have a similar impact to Dawson in the Hammers’ defence.

Aston Villa return to competitive action for the first time since November as they take on Liverpool at Villa Park in the Premier League this evening.

Unai Emery only enjoyed two league matches, beating Manchester United and Brighton, prior to the break for the 2022 World Cup after taking over from Steven Gerrard and is now set for his third as he prepares his team to take on Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

The Villans played four friendlies during the break and won one of them as they lost to Villarreal and Cardiff, beat Chelsea, and held Brighton to a 2-2 draw.

They now play host to a Liverpool side who are sitting just four points ahead of them in the Premier League table as it stands, which means that a win for Emery’s men will take them to within one point of last year’s Champions League runner-ups.

However, they head into the match without Jacob Ramsey after the Villa manager confirmed that the midfielder will not be in contention to play, saying: “His injury came before we went to Dubai, he didn’t play the friendly matches but now he is starting to train on the pitch. I think he is going to be ready, maybe, in ten days or two weeks.

“But for the match on Monday, he’s not available. It’s a pity for us because he was a very, very good performer before the World Cup and is an important player.”

Ramsey started the club’s last Premier League match against the Seagulls before the break and Emery will now have to find a replacement for the Englishman.

The former Arsenal head coach must now finally unleash attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho from the start to take the academy graduate’s place, as the Brazil international has been back in training since the middle of this month.

Steven Gerrard hailed his “magical” form last season and Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino once claimed that his international teammate has “magical powers” on the pitch.

The 69-cap Brazilian maestro has not featured for Villa since October and must now be unleashed in place of the injured Ramsey as he has the quality to be a match-winner on his day.

He is yet to register a goal contribution in six Premier League starts this season but his five goals and three assists in 16 starts, whilst averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.09, for the Villans last term proved that he still has the quality to be a difference-maker.

Coutinho has the attacking quality to produce a moment of magic, through a goal or an assist, to win matches for Villa and a clash with his former club Liverpool could be the motivation he needs to burst into life for the first time in 2022/23, which is why he should start this evening.

Aston Villa have been boosted in their efforts to sign Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, with the Frenchman unhappy at his lack of playing time in Spain.

The Lowdown: Villa keen on Kessie

In recent times, the Ivorian has emerged as a reported transfer target for Villa, as Unai Emery looks to make some significant reinforcements.

Kessie moved to Barca from AC Milan during the summer transfer window but his time there has been disappointing, with just two La Liga starts coming his way to date.

A new update suggests that Villa’s hopes of signing the 25-year-old may have been enhanced.

The Latest: Villans receive boost

According to Il Giorno [via Sport Witness], Kessie is ‘already tired’ of life at Barca and is looking for a fresh challenge and more minutes elsewhere.

It is mentioned that a return to Milan could be on the cards, which wouldn’t be good news for Villa, but his unhappiness does certainly suggest that they could be in the mix. Kessie’s agent ‘would like’ to send his player to England, which is a clear positive.

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The Verdict: Could be a great signing

Kessie may have his heart set on a return to Milan, but if that doesn’t prove to be the case, he could be an ideal midfield signing for the Emery era at Villa.

Despite his struggles, the 60-time capped Ivory Coast international still has an 88.5% pass completion rate in the league this season and has one goal to his name in the Champions League.

Kessie would add drive and power to Villa’s midfield, as well as a wealth of experience, and he could prove to be a perfect replacement for Douglas Luiz, should the Villans man move on.

Newcastle United are believed to have made an offer to sign Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, in the January transfer window, although the Magpies are likely to face competition for his signature.

What’s the word?

According to Mundo Deportivo, via Sports Witness, the Tynesiders are believed to be one of several clubs who have made an approach for the 28-year-old, with the Premier League outfit’s financial might seemingly placing them ahead of Sevilla in the race for the Dutchman.

The suggestion is that the Catalan giants are potentially looking to part ways in the New Year in order to get the former Lyon man – who only arrived at Camp Nou last year – off their wage bill, with the La Liga side seemingly keen to free up space for their own new additions.

The report also adds that the former Manchester United man – who was linked with a move to St James’ Park in the summer – is seeking a ‘lucrative contract’ if he is to move on in the winter window, something which PIF would seemingly be able to offer.

Imagine him and Wilson

While Depay’s previous stint in English football arguably did not go to plan – with the explosive gem scoring just seven goals during his time at Old Trafford – the dynamic ace has more than shown his quality since then, notably scoring 76 goals and providing 55 assists in just 178 games during his time in France.

Even amid what has been a turbulent spell with La Blaugrana, the one-time PSV Eindhoven starlet has still made his mark when he has featured for Xavi’s side, boasting a respectable haul of 14 goals in 41 games for his current side to date.

That has ensured that the fleet-footed “enigma” – as described by journalist Jonathan Liew – now has an overall club career record of 147 goals at senior level, having also plundered 42 goals and 30 assists in just 81 games for his country to date.

The £175k-per-week sensation will likely be looking to add to that tally at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, having become something of a talisman for Louis van Gaal’s men in recent times in his creative, attacking berth.

The playmaker’s arrival in the northeast could well add further firepower to a forward line that is already thriving at present under Howe, with Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson having scored eight and six goals, respectively, in the top-flight this term.

Adding Depay into the mix could well add another string to Newcastle’s bow, with the 5 foot 9 ace typically lining up in a left-wing berth in his career to date, while also operating in a more free role off of a centre-forward.

That could well see the Moordrecht-born menace form an exciting attacking partnership with the aforementioned Wilson, with the latter man currently leading the line in the striking berth in the absence of the stricken, Alexander Isak.

With the second half of the season set to see Howe’s men maintain their push to secure Champions League football, adding such an experienced and quality asset to the current ranks could well prove to be the difference, helping to ease the goalscoring burden on both Wilson and Almiron.

West Ham United manager David Moyes has shared a fitness worry before Liverpool with an update on defender Kurt Zouma.

The Lowdown: Hammers travel north…

The Hammers travel to Anfield this evening as Moyes aims to maintain his recent unbeaten run.

West Ham haven’t tasted defeat since their last trip to Merseyside, losing 1-0 to Everton in mid-September, with the east Londoners enjoying five matches without defeat in all competitions.

This includes crucial victories against the likes of Wolves and Fulham but Moyes will be disappointed his side couldn’t pick up all three points at Southampton on Sunday.

A much tougher Premier League test now awaits against Jurgen Klopp’s men and West Ham have some concerns ahead of tonight.

The Latest: Moyes shares Zouma worry and team news…

It appears former Burnley star Maxwel Cornet will miss tonight, having not returned to training yet, whilst fellow summer signing Nayef Aguerd has trained but still not ready just yet.

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Doubts also surround defender Craig Dawson, and according to Moyes, another central defensive star could miss Liverpool tonight.

Indeed, Zouma is another doubt, with West Ham’s manager claiming they are ‘not sure’ about his involvement.

He explained (via Claret and Hugh):

“Kurt has done a little bit of training, we’re not sure yet. Craig Dawson we’re unsure about. Maxi is getting closer, he’s probably going to train this week. It’s really good news he’s on his way back.”

The Verdict: Potential blow…

Called a ‘colossus’ by Moyes, missing the former Chelsea star tonight would be a blow given just how undroppable he appears.

As per WhoScored, Zouma played in every single top flight game for West Ham before his recent illness – making more clearances per 90 and winning more aerial duels than any Hammers teammate.

If West Ham are to come away from Liverpool with anything, Moyes will need every quality player possible at his disposal.

The FIFA World Cup is a competition that does not happen very frequently. Only once every four years do thirty-two of the world’s top soccer teams come together. Because of this, the tournament is consistently one of the major occasions on millions of fans’ sports betting calendars.

The 22nd World Cup is scheduled to start on November 21 and end on December 18 in 2022. Soon, 32 nations from around the globe will congregate in Qatar for one of the sports’ most thrilling competitions. Brazil, Argentina, and the current World Cup champion France are the favourites to win in 2022.

You should visit smartbettingguide.com to know about the teams and players’ odds of different betting sites. In addition, you can also learn how to place different types of bets.

2022 world cup favourites

Brazil

The tournament’s favourite this year is Brazil and probably have the best odds to win the world cup. With Vinicius Junior, Neymar, and probably the best goalkeeper in the world, Alisson Becker, the team has a solid core. Despite having more World Cup victories than any other nation, it is still working to repair its image after a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 quarterfinal match. Nevertheless, it performed admirably in the preliminary rounds and won the CONMEBOL Libertadores. In Group G, Brazil is likewise the clear favourite.

Argentina

In this year’s World Cup, Argentina is also a favourite for a number of reasons. The team’s defeat of Italy in the Cup of Champions in June resulted in a 3-0 victory for Messi and the Argentinians. It serves as evidence that the combination between the midfield and attackers is at its peak right now. Having already gone 32 games without a loss, the South American team is now only five games away from the all-time record. This would most certainly be his final World Cup appearance. His expertise could be the driving force behind Argentina’s victory, but the defensive unit will probably falter if rivals break through quickly.

France

Argentina is closely followed on the odds board by France. It won its group easily and went undefeated in the European Qualifiers. Although this squad has a lot of fresh talent, it cannot take anything for granted given the history of returning champions. Star forward Kylian Mbappé was instrumental in the team’s success in 2018 and has since developed into one of the most dangerous players in this competition. France won the UEFA Nations League in 2020–21 after defeating Spain in the championship match, after its victory in 2018.

Spain

With a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in 2010, the Spaniards now had experience winning the World Cup. Spain performed admirably in the Nations League this year, and despite falling to France in the championship match, it easily qualified. It is not the same team that it was between 2008 and 2012 when it was undoubtedly one of the most gifted squads in soccer history. Between Pedri, Gavi, and Torres, it has some young Barcelona prospects making names for themselves on the world stage. One of the top outside backs of all time, Jordi Alba of Barcelona will assist anchor the defence and provide passes to Rodri in the middle of the field.

England

Following its performance in the Nations League, England is now a hot topic. Nevertheless, England advanced to the 2021 Euro final as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. The team is deadly on experience alone. Harry Kane, the nation’s highest scorer all-time, will try to shut down the defence. While centre-back and captain Harry Maguire will do the same. Raheem Sterling and Declan Rice are two further elite athletes. With successive major tournament semi-final and final appearances, they will bring a mix of young talent and experience to Qatar. But they will need to overcome a recent slump in play after England was demoted from Nations League A.

Germany

The opening encounter of the World Cup will be between Germany and Spain, which will be the rematch of a lifetime. The most recent match between these two teams took place in the Nations League in November 2020, when Spain humiliated Germany 6-0 in what was the heaviest defeat for Germany since 1931. But six years earlier, in 2014, Germany won the World Cup against a capable Argentina squad led by Messi. All of this would crumble in 2018 when Germany tried to defend their World Cup crown but failed to advance past the group stage. This team needs to iron out some kinks, and playmakers Joshua Kimmich, Kai Havertz, and Serge Gnabry will be crucial.

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Tottenham Hotspur could be in for a ‘sizeable’ financial windfall following news of a sell-on clause in Sporting winger Marcus Edwards’ contract.

The Lowdown: Edwards shines…

The former Spurs starlet absolutely dazzled against his ex-side in the Champions League on Tuesday, perhaps most notably going on a mazy solo run and nearly haunting the north Londoners with what would have been a sensational goal.

Edwards has been at the centre of real praise following his performance against Antonio Conte’s side with The Telegraph sharing news of a seismic Spurs sell-on clause in the player’s contract.

Indeed, the reliable outlet and journalist Matt Law claim Tottenham could land £26 million if Sporting decide to sell the 23-year-old.

This is because Edwards’ contract contains a whopping 50 per cent sell-on clause, and if any club decide to trigger the player’s £52m exit clause, Spurs would be on to bank half of that.

The Latest: Bridge shares sell-on update…

Taking to social media, when asked if Edwards’ deal really does contain a 50% sell-on, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge shared what he knows.

He says that while the ‘50%’ aspect needs to be confirmed by his sources, there is indeed a sell-on and it’s a ‘sizeable’ one.

Bridge explained:

“Need to confirm if it’s 50% but it’s certainly sizeable.”

The Verdict: Good business…

While some Lilywhites supporters will be gutted over losing Edwards, who is certainly showing to be a remarkable talent, there is at least some comfort in the fact Tottenham have protected themselves financially with the clause.

£26m through one contract line is certainly a credible bit of business but much will depend on whether any side elects to trigger the winger’s £52m exit clause.

That being said, if Edwards continues in this fine form, we doubt there will be a shortage of suitors.