Football365

Paul Scholes believes that Mateus Fernandes will fail at Tottenham Hotspur after rejecting the chance to join Manchester United and play under manager Michael Carrick.

Man Utd wanted to sign Fernandes from West Ham United in the summer transfer window.

The Portugal international midfielder was available on the market after getting relegated from the Premier League with West Ham.

Fernandes had also gone down to the Championship with Southampton the season before.

Despite Man Utd’s pursuit of the 22-year-old, he ended up at Tottenham.

The north London club paid West Ham £85m to secure the services of the youngster.

READ: Paul Scholes says £40m Tottenham star ‘makes the team play good football’ as best summer signing named

Fernandes subsequently revealed why he has chosen Tottenham over Man Utd.

The midfielder told The Athletic: “The desire of playing for a big club, winning games, to fight for the Premier League, for the title.

“The way he [De Zerbi] spoke with me and my family was very important for me.

“He was calling me every day, so I’m very happy to work with him, and hopefully we can do great things.

“It was more about (forming a) connection, because my dad and my mum don’t speak English very well.

“It was more about feelings.

“He said he would take care of me, that he would be my second dad in England.

“I’m very happy to work with him.”

Man Utd legend Scholes has now given his take on Fernandes and has said that the youngster will flop at Tottenham.

Mateus Fernandes will fail at Tottenham

Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football when asked whether Fernandes to Tottenham will be a hit or miss: “I think I am going to say miss with this one.

“Do you know what?

“I have not seen an awful lot of him, so I am guessing a little bit.

“I don’t think, as I have not seen his name in the first few weeks of the season, and I think he did get actually relegated the last two years.

“I am not saying that’s his fault, but he was part of Southampton.

“Yeah, I think he was part of Southampton and West Ham.

“So, twice in two years he has been relegated.

“I am going to say miss on that one.”

Scholes’ former Man Utd teammate Nicky Butt said: “I think he’s a fantastic player.

“I think he’s very talented.

“At West Ham, when I watched the game live, I thought, ‘Wow, this boy is a real top, top player’.

“I think the club that he’s in at the minute is just not a club that I would want to go in and play for at the minute.

“So, I would say miss.”

Which new players have made the biggest impact in the Premier League this season and what would it look like if we put them all in one team?

To construct our XI, we’ve used average ratings from WhoScored and fit them into a formation to include the best players possible.

That means a 3-4-2-1 formation for now but we’ll be keeping this fluid as the season progresses…

GK: Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull City) – 7.57

Hull City have made a far better start to the season than any of us imagined. There were some shouts that they could rival Derby’s record for the lowest number of points in a Premier League season; in reality, they’re more than halfway to making a mockery of those predictions after just three games.

The fact they seem to have unearthed a goalkeeper they can depend upon has certainly helped. A £20m signing from Olympiacos, Tzolakis has kept clean sheets in each of his first three Premier League games – and two of those were against sides in the Champions League this season.

CB: Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea) – 7.06

After years of focusing too heavily on youth, Chelsea wised up to their need for more experience this summer, taking it to unexpected extremes with the signings of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck but finding a sensible middle ground with Lacroix.

The 26-year-old has become an instant starter at Chelsea and even marked his debut with an assist against Fulham.

CB: Tarik Muharemovic (Leeds United) – 7.38

Leeds spent big on Muharemovic this summer and the imposing left-footed centre-back has been ever-present for them so far.

He made the third-most clearances in Serie A last season with Sassuolo and has continued doing what he does best in the Premier League, also currently ranking third for clearances this season.

CB: Nobel Mendy (Hull City) – 7.43

Another Hull representative and the second left-footer in our back three, Mendy became the Tigers’ record signing when he joined from Rayo Vallecano.

He was brought in for his defensive ability, but enjoyed a dream debut at the other end by scoring against Manchester United.

RB: Anan Khalaili (Crystal Palace) – 7.33

Crystal Palace’s new wing-back leads the early running for most tackles in the Premier League this season with 17 so far – at least five more than anyone else.

He has relatively big boots to fill after Daniel Munoz’s exit and has only been on the winning side once so far, but has made an encouraging start.

CM: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City) – 7.25

You’d hope so for all that money.

In fairness, Anderson isn’t doing a bad job of silencing those of us who predicted he’d be a massive flop. And there were lots of us.

He ranks highly for passes, touches and interceptions this season after starting all three of Manchester City’s Premier League games so far.

He now faces that age-old challenge of having to add goals and assists to his game to truly win over the naysayers. Work in progress.

CM: Mamadou Sangare (Brentford) – 7.15

We’re not sure Sangare passes off as a shrewd signing given he cost more than anyone Brentford have ever bought before, but boy, he looks a find.

The £39m-or-so man (reports vary on the actual size of the fee) has started all three of Brentford’s games so far, taking just 12 minutes to make an assist on his debut against Spurs.

He’s also one of the top interceptors in the Premier League this season.

LB: Andy Robertson (Tottenham Hotspur) – 6.54

Bit of a curveball here and the lowest-rated player fitting into our XI. Nobody was exactly screaming about Robertson as a signing of the season contender when Tottenham picked him up on a free transfer after his Liverpool exit.

But it was a sensible enough move to add some experience into a squad bereft of genuine leaders.

Spurs are struggling again so far this season, with Robertson starting their first two games and coming on in their third.

AM: Morgan Rogers (Chelsea) – 7.58

You’d hope so for all that money.

Currently the highest-rated new signing of them all, Rogers has been involved in a goal in each of his three Premier League appearances for Chelsea so far.

Goals against Fulham and Arsenal have bookended his assist against Brighton. A bright start, then, for the most expensive English player in football history. Yes it still sounds weird.

AM: Christos Tzolis (Arsenal) – 7.00

In a summer of extortionate spending, the parameters for a bargain became blurry. But a £34m investment in Tzolis looks to be paying off already for Arsenal.

After his impactful debut in the Community Shield, it took until his third Premier League appearance for his next goal contribution, an assist against Chelsea.

Arsenal sold Gabriel Martinelli for a lot more money than they paid for Tzolis, but they may have made an upgrade.

CF: Gonzalo Garcia (Fulham) – 6.97

Big striker moves were few and far between in the Premier League this summer, unlike last year with your Alexander Isaks, your Benjamin Seskos, your Viktor Gyokereseseses.

Garcia following Alvaro Arbeloa to a dysfunctional Fulham from Real Madrid would have been small noise last summer, but was a fairly big deal in the year it actually happened.

Garcia headed in his first Fulham goal on his Premier League debut against Chelsea, but it is his goal only so far.

Paul Scholes has raved about Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder James Maddison, while Nicky Butt has named Sandro Tonali as the best signing that Roberto De Zerbi’s side made in the summer transfer window.

Maddison has been on the books of Tottenham since the summer of 2023 when he joined from Leicester City for £40million.

The England international is one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League and has done well for Tottenham when he has played for them.

Maddison has scored 16 goals and given 21 assists in 79 matches in all competitions for Spurs so far in his career.

The 29-year-old missed most of last season due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Maddison suffered a shoulder injury against Brentford and could return to action for Tottenham against Everton this weekend.

READ: Tottenham’s Prem ‘rejects’ ‘haven’t got the quality’ as pundit claims struggling striker must play

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes that when Maddison is fully fit and available, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi will have to include him in his starting line-up.

The pundit made the comments while analysing Tottenham with his former Man Utd teammate Nicky Butt on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast.

Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on Tottenham

Scholes noted: “They were lucky to get a point on Saturday, by the way. Did you see the goal?”

Butt responded: “It is crazy when you think of the signings they have made, but they will be, they will be in top six, no problem, end of the season.”

Scholes then stated: “We said at the start, didn’t we?

“They are in a terrible habit of losing games from last season.

“They can’t get out of that at the minute.

“Look, it’s been two years. They finished 16th, 17th.

“It’s going to take a bit of time 10 players – there are some good players in amongst that, and I think the manager is good as well.

“I think eventually that might take six, seven, eight games.”

When asked about Tottenham’s best signing in the summer transfer window, Butt said: “Tonali.”

Scholes noted: “Well, there are a few good players. Marmoush, Savio.”

Butt continued: “And also, you remember, Maddison has come back from injury.

“He is a signing basically, it’s like a new signing.

“He will come back.

“They have got some top, top players, they really have.”

Scholes observed about Maddison: “I like him.

“He is a good footballer.

“He makes the team play good football, you know what I mean.

“They need to get him involved somehow.

“Tottenham is a very negative place at the minute, and it has been for two or three years.

“They have got to try, as Nicky said, if you get two or three wins put together, then all of a sudden you are off and running.

“I think they will be fine.”

Tottenham Hotspur look set for a major boost to their attacking ranks this weekend against Everton, with James Maddison reportedly ready to make a return to action.

The north London outfit have picked up just one point from their first three Premier League games of the campaign and are also yet to score, as they currently sit in the relegation places after back-to-back 17th-placed finishes.

While Roberto De Zerbi’s side looked far more solid defensively against Nottingham Forest on Saturday than they had in their opening two losses against Brentford and Newcastle, there was still a major lack of cutting edge in attack.

The Italian has not been helped by Maddison suffering a slight shoulder fracture as a substitute at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season, while two more N.10s, Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski also remain out.

READ: Tottenham’s Prem ‘rejects’ ‘haven’t got the quality’ as pundit claims struggling striker must play

Both Conor Gallagher and Mateus Fernandes have been utilised further forward in more creative roles but failed to deliver, but that could change on Saturday when David Moyes’ men arrive in north London, with the Evening Standard reporting that the hugely influential Maddison should return to take on the Toffees.

The 29-year-old missed almost the entirety of last season due to an ACL injury and there were fears his shoulder issue could keep him out for an extended spell too. However, The Standard states the England playmaker, who has 16 goals and 21 assists in 79 games for Tottenham, should be available for selection again this weekend.

The former Leicester City star has been training since the end of last week and is expected to be in the matchday squad to take on Everton, although it’s unclear at this stage whether he will be considered fit enough to actually start a game that already feels like a must-win for De Zerbi.

Tottenham trio remain on the sidelines

Meanwhile, three more Tottenham attacking stars will remain on the sidelines ahead of the Toffees clash, although it at least appears that Kulusevski is closing in on a comeback.

The Swede has spent almost 18 months on the sidelines with a serious patella injury, although he is now back in first-team training at Hotspur Way.

Speaking about Kulusevski prior to the Forest clash, De Zerbi told reporters: “Kulusevski started [training] with us at the beginning of the week, and then the last two days, a small, small problem, stopped [him from training].

“But I think he’s in a good way. It’s going very well. I already said the medical staff is very high level.

“We can be positive with him. I’m looking forward to having Deki in the squad.”

READ NEXT: Chelsea, Tottenham in battle for Kvaratskhelia Jr as 16y/o brother of elite talent rouses with first team

As for Simons and winger Wilson Odobert, the pair are continuing to rehab their respective ACL issues.

Netherlands international Simons is on course for a return early in the new year, while Odobert could be back before the end of 2026, if all goes well.

Tottenham have been told by former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor that they have an attack of “rejects” who “haven’t got the quality” as he urged Roberto De Zerbi to start a struggling striker.

Spurs spent over £300million in the summer transfer window, and that’s before Omar Marmoush’s loan becomes permanent. To show for their spend, they have a single point in three Premier League games.

During those, Tottenham are yet to score, and in their 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest, they failed to have a shot on target.

More quality is to be expected from an attack featuring £85million Savio and £50million Marmoush.

Agbonlahor has labelled the City men “rejects” and feels Dominic Solanke has to start.

He told talkSPORT: “Savio, 31 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League last season, one goal and two assists.

“Marmoush, three goals in 29 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League last season.

“Don’t get me started on [Mathys] Tel after that free-kick. They haven’t got the quality.

“It’s alright spending this big money on Manchester City rejects who aren’t goalscorers, what do you expect? Solanke has to start the next game.”

Dominic Solanke has had problems of his own

Solanke, though, has struggled with injuries during his time at Tottenham and in 15 Premier League appearances last season was only able to score three goals.

He opened his account for the season in the League Cup victory over Charlton, and will hope that was a sign of things to come.

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi evidently knows he has some issues in attack at the moment, after comments on Mykhailo Mudryk and Tel.

He said: “He’s [Mudryk] not ready yet. He’s working to reach the best physical condition.

“He needs time, he needs work. In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential.

“But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk.”

He does feel that Marmoush has goals in him, while pundit Danny Murphy feels the striker is trying very hard to get off his duck, having missed a good chance against Forest.

De Zerbi said: “But anyway, if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals.”

Murphy added: “I don’t think it’s a problem long term, I think Marmoush is quality, but I think he’s so desperate to get on the scoresheet and get going that he ignores [Mohammed] Kudus.

“He sees him, he’ll know [Andy] Robertson on his shoulder, he’s a top player, but his desperation to get his team the winner, it’s the wrong decision at the wrong time. He missed a great chance in the first half as well.”

Paul Merson thinks Tottenham Hotspur supporters should be “worried” about head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has been compared to Enzo Maresca.

Tottenham rolled out the red carpet for De Zerbi in a desperate attempt to save them from relegation last season, making him one of the highest-earning managers in the Premier League.

With De Zerbi, Spurs just did enough to avoid relegation, and he has been backed more than any other Tottenham manager in this window. They spent well over £300m on signings in an attempt to fix their squad.

Despite this, Tottenham have struggled at the start ot this season, and De Zerbi already seems to be pretty fed up.

De Zerbi has questioned Tottenham’s mentality, and he has also hit out at their forwards and medical team after Saturday’s goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.

Now, Merson thinks the latter two statements are “worrying” for Tottenham, who could face a repeat of Maresca’s exit from Chelsea last season.

“I thought Spurs were fortunate against Nottingham Forest – if Neco Williams is a little bit braver, then Forest win. But it’s a start for them,” Merson told Sky Sports.

READ: What makes a good Premier League season? And will we get that in 26/27?

“Roberto De Zerbi had a go at his forwards after the game. He also had a go at his medical staff for dictating his substitutions. You say that in the dressing room; don’t come out and say it. You need to keep that in-house.

“That would worry me as a Spurs fan. De Zerbi does fall out with people.”

“He left a few weeks later…”

He continued: “I don’t know if he’s covering himself there with those comments about the medical staff, because that could be kept quiet.

“He’s having a go at them – and you saw what happened with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea when he started calling out the medical team for dictating his substitutions. He left a few weeks later.

“At the same time, if he’s being told to take a player off, he’s the manager. He’s in charge. If it’s not up to him how long his players get on the pitch, why shouldn’t he cover himself?

“I don’t understand having a go at the forwards, though. They didn’t have 20 chances. It’s not as if the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper was man of the match. I didn’t see that at all.”

Merson has also argued that a fifth-place finish is the best that the north London side can achieve this season.

“It’s a long way to go for Spurs. But my problem is the mentality. You don’t come 17th two years on the trot and expect to turn it around in a New York minute,” Merson added.

“I think people have got to be patient. Spurs shouldn’t worry about being eight points behind Arsenal – all they’ve got to worry about is who’s fifth, and how many points they’re behind fifth.

“They’re not finishing ahead of Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.”

“He sees him, he’ll know [Andy] Robertson on his shoulder, he’s a top player, but his desperation to get his team the winner, it’s the wrong decision at the wrong time. He missed a great chance in the first half as well.”

Omar Marmoush should have dropped deeper – Paul Merson

Marmoush played as the most advanced central player in the Tottenham side, with Conor Gallagher playing behind him in the No.10 role.

Striker Dominic Solanke was left on the bench, to be introduced later in the game.

Merson felt that rather than Gallagher starting in the 10, it should have been Marmoush who was dropped deeper.

The pundit said on Sky Sports: “I like Gallagher, but he’s a central midfielder. Surely you bring Marmoush deeper?”

Marmoush has played in that role a handful of times during his career, though not particularly often.

Gallagher, meanwhile, has played as a No.10 on 74 occasions during his career, scoring 10 goals and assisting 13 more during those matches.

While he’s largely been deployed purely as a central midfielder since he arrived in north London, the career history of he and Marmoush suggests that he Englishman is in fact the better option to play as an attacking-midfielder out of the two of them.

With a number of good midfielders in the Tottenham squad, Gallagher might indeed be required to play in the No.10 role more often instead of in a deeper role.

According to reports, Arsenal have already identified two top targets for the January transfer window after they looked to raid Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

In the summer transfer window, Arsenal strengthened by signing Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa, Piero Hincapie and Christos Tzolis.

With these signings, Mikel Arteta‘s side are stronger in defence and midfield, but they are arguably weaker in attack than they were last season.

This is becuase Arsenal offloaded Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri and only brought in Tzolis, having missed out on several targets.

Morgan Rogers, Vinicius Junior and Bradley Barcola were among those whom Arsenal targeted but ultimately didn’t sign, so they are arguably short in attack until January at least.

READ: Arsenal’s predicted XI vs. Chelsea as Arteta forced into at least one change

And a report from Caught Offside claims Arsenal are already looking ahead to January with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and AFC Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi on their ‘two-man shortlist for attacking targets in January’.

The report explains: ‘Alvarez remains the more ambitious option, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.

‘The Atletico Madrid forward can play as a striker, second forward or from wider areas, while his pressing intensity and experience of winning major trophies would make him an obvious fit for Arteta’s system. Arsenal explored a summer move, but Alvarez’s preference for Barcelona prevented negotiations from progressing.’

Inside story on Arsenal’s summer window revealed

BBC Sport, meanwhile, have shed light on how Arsenal’s summer transfer window unfolded, with several alternative targets to Vinicius Junior named as they targeted the Real Madrid star.

They explain: ‘In the meantime, however, Berta explored alternatives – Bradley Barcola, Kenan Yildiz, Yan Diomande and Nico Paz were admired. Anthony Gordon was a long-term target, but he had agreed before the World Cup to join Barcelona.’

In defence, it is stated that Konsa was always Arsenal’s ‘first-choice option’, but they also considered moves for Cristian Romero before he joined Atletico Madrid and his former Tottenham teammate.

The report claims:

‘In the event of not reaching an agreement for Konsa, it is understood Tottenham duo Cristian Romero and Micky van der Ven were identified as targets – but Arsenal’s north London rivals would not consider selling to them.’

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has given his verdict on Mykhailo Mudryk’s debut against Nottingham Forest following his move from Chelsea and has hammered Mathys Tel.

Spurs played out a goalless draw with Forest away from home at the City Ground in the Premier League on Saturday.

Forest had a goal controversially ruled out by VAR in the second half.

For Tottenham, it was their first point of the new Premier League season following defeats to Brentford and Newcastle United.

Against Forest, Tottenham manager De Zerbi included Tel in his starting line-up.

The 21-year-old French forward, who cost Tottenham £30million in transfer fees when they made his loan deal from Bayern Munich permanent in 2025, started on the left wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

READ: Evolution for De Zerbi crucial during Tottenham revolution as Spurs, Forest still wait for win

De Zerbi decided to take Tel off in the 74th minute and brought Mudryk on in his place.

It was the Ukrainian winger’s debut game for Tottenham following his loan move from Chelsea in the summer transfer window.

After the game, De Zerbi slammed Tel and gave his verdict on the display produced by Mudryk, who played his first game in nearly two years.

Roberto De Zerbi on Tottenham duo Mykhailo Mudryk and Mathys Tel

Football.London quotes De Zerbi as saying when asked about Mudryk: “He’s not ready yet.

“He’s working to reach the best physical condition.

“He needs time, he needs work.

“In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential.

“But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk.

“So, two big players, two big potential players.

“But anyway, if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals.

“Solanke, the chance header for Solanke, I consider a chance to score.

“It’s not a shot on goal.

“But how many shots did Nottingham have today?

“I think, anyway, it was a good game.”

We can’t say we weren’t warned.

Oliver Glasner and Roberto De Zerbi told the world on Friday how familiar each is with the other so no-one at the City Ground can be surprised to have witnessed Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur cancel each other out, leaving both sides still winless after three games.

That is a bigger problem for De Zerbi. Not only is what Tottenham have served up so far this season, after their most lavish summer, not a satisfactory return on their huge spend, there are too few signs of encouragement to think much better is immediately around the corner.

Tottenham were game at Forest. Both sides were. The intensity, especially through a frantic first half, made for a fascinating battle, but the quality was sorely lacking.

De Zerbi could point at Spurs’ robustness as a marker of improvement because, almost certainly, they would have lost this game last season. And making a team harder to beat is always the first step on the road from the depths Tottenham have plumbed to wherever it is they hope they are heading.

Of course, the new signings need patience while they settle in. But De Zerbi, nor any Premier League manager, has time for them all to ease themselves in gradually. ‘Underwhelming’ is perhaps as complimentary as we can be about any of them so far.

Four new boys, collectively worth around £285million, started against Forest but, in possession at least, none suggested they might break the stalemate at the City Ground.

For the money spent, De Zerbi is entitled to look at Sandro Tonali in games as tight as this to make a greater difference. The Italian managed a total of three accurate forward passes in and into the Forest half, none of which could be considered a key pass.

That has to be a concern when Tonali is the midfield’s most creative presence.

The £100million man was partnered by Rodrigo Bentancur, praised pre-match by De Zerbi for the “balance” he brings, while Conor Gallagher played as the no.10, with Mateus Fernandes again on the bench.

There is no suggestion of a fitness concern for Fernandes so Gallagher’s deployment is evidence that De Zerbi feels the need for a pragmatic approach at this stage of Tottenham’s transition.

But his attacking players, new and old, won’t thrive with the service they are currently receiving.

De Zerbi started with Savio and Omar Marmoush in attack, the ex-Manchester City pair joined by Mathys Tel. Which is unlikely to be a long-term arrangement.

Savio, we have to assume, is occupying the right-wing slot while Mohamed Kudus builds up his fitness. The Brazilian, courted for so long by Spurs, is infinitely more comfortable on the left, highlighted by plenty of positive approach play but nothing by way of end product. Yet still he carried a far greater threat than the anonymous Tel.

De Zerbi, while praising the performance, suggested his attack needed to make more of the openings they had but the forwards, while failing to record a shot on target, were fed thin gruel.

It is a challenge for the manager as well as his players. As Glasner said in pre-match: “De Zerbi has a clear way he plays with his teams. That makes it a little bit easier to prepare. The patterns are very obvious.”

Amid the revolution at Spurs, some evolution is necessary on the manager’s part too.