CaughtOffside

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Reading defender Andre Garcia.

The 16-year-old is highly rated across England and he has a bright future ahead of himself. His performances have attracted the attention of the Premier League clubs, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for him in the near future.

The Reading left-back has already established himself as a first-team player and he is expected to develop into a top-class defender in future. As per TBR Football, the English clubs are scouting him regularly ahead of a potential move and it remains to be seen whether they follow it up with an official offer to sign the player.

Reading legend Mick Gooding has recently heaped praise on the 16-year-old and revealed that he has an incredible future ahead of himself.

“[Garcia’s] future is in his own hands. He can be whatever he wants to be,” he said to BBC Radio Berkshire. “To be 16 and playing the way he is playing is incredible.

“What a future he has got, and it’s in his hands if he listens and works hard. He has got pace, great feet. You can see he is really enjoying what he is doing, not fazed by it.

“He has got an incredible future, should he decide that it is what he wants to do. [Garcia must] work hard, stay humble and do the right things. He can go wherever he wants.”

It will be interesting to see where the 16-year-old ends up. The opportunity to move to the Premier League will be quite exciting for him. Spurs and Chelsea are among the biggest clubs in the country, and he will be excited to join them if there is a concrete opportunity ahead of him.

They could nurture him into a quality Premier League player in future. Both clubs have a proven track record when it comes to grooming young players.

Timo Werner’s second loan spell at Tottenham has drawn significant criticism, with pundits and fans questioning the decision to bring the German forward back to the Premier League following his underwhelming performances this season.

ESPN FC analyst Don Hutchinson recently criticised the decision to bring Werner back to the Premier League, citing his minimal impact since arriving in North London.

Werner, who returned to Spurs on loan from RB Leipzig for the second season, was anticipated to add depth and experience to the attack. However, his displays have failed to meet expectations, particularly when it comes to goal-scoring.

In 13 appearances across all competitions this campaign, the former Chelsea forward has recorded just one goal and one assist—a contribution that falls short for a player of his calibre.

His Spurs tenure began on a positive note in January 2024, assisting Rodrigo Bentancur’s equaliser in a draw against Manchester United.

He later delivered critical goals last season against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, raising hopes of consistent performances.

However, this campaign has told a different story, with Werner’s sole goal coming in a League Cup win over Manchester City in October. He has missed several one-on-one chances, causing fans to get frustrated with him and even calling on for him to be replaced by Moore.

His inconsistency has cast doubt on his immediate future at the club, with a recent report claiming that the club are ready to let him go in January.

Hutchinson says Timo Werner has been a pointless signing

Hutchinson suggested that Tottenham might have been wiser to prioritise younger prospects, such as academy talent Mikey Moore, or prepare for the arrival of promising South Korean winger Yang Min-hyuk, who is set to join the squad in January.

During the Way Too Early Premier League Awards on ESPC FC, the pundit said:

“Just a weird signing. I mean, Tottenham knew what they were getting or when they signed him [Werner] on loan in the summer.

“I mean, what was the point? He didn’t do particularly well last season. They could have given that job to Mikey Moore or a young player coming through.

“I just didn’t see the point in the sign. And then when he plays, he doesn’t impress.”

Tottenham’s management now faces a pivotal decision: continue with Werner or shift their focus toward players with greater long-term potential.

While maximizing Werner’s output during his loan remains a priority, his future at the club looks increasingly uncertain as Spurs evaluate their offensive strategy for the seasons ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that summer signing Wilson Odobert will miss a significant chunk of the season following surgery on his right hamstring.

Odobert, who joined Spurs in a £30 million move from Burnley in August, had shown flashes of brilliance early in the season. His standout debut in a commanding 4-0 win over Everton had fans excited, as it showcased the 19-year-old’s huge potential.

However, he picked up a hamstring injury during the League Cup match against Coventry City and has been out ever since.

He made a brief return, coming off the bench to feature for a few minutes for their Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar recently, but it aggravated his issue, forcing the player to undergo surgery last weekend.

The club announced that Odobert’s recovery will be closely monitored, with no definitive timeline set for his return. Medical staff are expected to reassess his progress over the coming weeks.

Ange Postecoglou: Wilson Odobert to miss a major chunk of the season

Speaking ahead of Spurs’ crucial clash against Manchester City this Sunday, Postecoglou provided updates on Odobert and other injured players, including Richarlison, Mikey Moore, and Micky van de Ven.

Postecoglou said (via Football London):

“Obviously, Wilson will be out for a fair chunk of the season.”

“Richy hopefully will be back in the new year but similar to Micky, we just need to be careful every step of the way, and Mikey will still be out for a little bit of time.”

Tottenham’s struggles with injuries continue

Richarlison, who has endured a challenging season with recurring injuries, is another blow for Spurs. After making a promising return in recent weeks, the Brazilian suffered yet another setback during Tottenham’s win against Aston Villa and is now sidelined until the new year.

Micky van de Ven continues his recovery after picking up a hamstring injury during their win against Manchester City in the League Cup. While Mikey Moore is currently unavailable due to a virus.

Odobert’s absence is a significant loss for Spurs, as the teenager had begun to show glimpses of his potential. The club remains optimistic that the surgery will resolve his recurring hamstring issues, allowing him to return stronger in 2025.

Former Tottenham Hotspur legend, Harry Kane, returned to North London on Monday to see his statue finally unveiled at The Peter May Centre.

Kane had added another goal to his England tally during the Three Lions 5-0 win over Ireland at Wembley on Sunday, and whilst back in Blighty, the opportunity to bring the bronze out of storage presented itself.

As BBC Sport noted, the statue had been commissioned back a few years ago at a cost of £7,200, but had remained in storage since completion as the local council hadn’t agreed on to where to place it.

Harry Kane sees statue unveiled in North London

The Peter May Centre is in Walthamstow, just a stone’s throw from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Kane’s first-ever club, Ridgeway Rovers.

Though The Sun were one of a number of outlets to ridicule the statue, Kane appeared delighted, telling reporters: “It’s quite humbling to see it here now knowing there’s going to be loads of kids walking past.”

He also took to his X account to acknowledge the unveiling.

A real proud moment for me to go back to where my life in football began and unveil a statue. I hope it helps inspire the next generation to work hard and believe in themselves. ?? pic.twitter.com/rbAs8RrZgS

— Harry Kane (@HKane) November 18, 2024

‘A real proud moment for me to go back to where my life in football began and unveil a statue. I hope it helps inspire the next generation to work hard and believe in themselves,’ he wrote.

Having gone out on loan to Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City before making it big with the Lilywhites, Kane’s story is one of perseverance and hard work.

At the age of just 31, he is Tottenham and England’s greatest ever goal scorer, and has a sensational record at Bayern Munich.

Some of his recent records were detailed by BBC Sport after the Bavarians dismantled Dinamo Zagreb earlier in this season’s Champions League:

Top English scorer in Champions League or European Cup history with 33 goals in 45 games, passing Wayne Rooney’s old mark of 30

First English player to score four goals in a Champions League game

First English player to score a hat-trick or more for a non-English team in the Champions League

First player to score a hat-trick of penalties in a Champions League or European Cup match

Scored his 50th, 51st, 52nd and 53rd Bayern Munich goals – in his 50th appearance for the club

Netted the 24th hat-trick of his career, the fifth time he has scored back-to-back trebles (or quadruples)

Scored his ninth goals in five games this season for Bayern – as well as two in two for England

Tottenham Hotspur are set to miss out in the race for Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena, according to the club’s former scout Bryan King.

Baena has been in immense form for Villarreal so far this season, registering five assists in 11 La Liga appearances, with only Barcelona duo Raphinha (6) and Lamine Yamal (7) providing more.

In 127 appearances for the Yellow Submarine across all competitions, Baena has 20 goals and 35 assists.

The 23-year-old played twice for Spain at Euro 2024 and now has eight senior caps to his name for La Roja, scoring twice.

Spurs are among the clubs to have been linked with the winger, who can also play as an attacking midfielder.

But they’re not the only ones, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle United also understood to be interested per CaughtOffside sources.

Aston Villa to beat Spurs in Alex Baena race?

Of course, Baena has already played under Villa manager Unai Emery 37 times during their spell together at Villarreal, thriving with 10 goals and eight assists

And according to King — who served as a scout at Tottenham between 2002 and 2008 and worked at Aston Villa before that — that may well prove the edge in the race for his signature.

“I think he’d find it easy to join Villa and come into a club with a manager that he knows,” said King (via The Spurs Web).

“Baena has worked with Emery. Therefore, I see no reason why Emery wouldn’t push for that transfer, and tell the club that Baena is a great prospect, a good player, and the player that he wants.

“And as a player who has worked with him, I think he’d be eager to join Villa and continue his career in the West Midlands.”

Spurs and Villa are 10th and ninth in the Premier League table, respectively, separated by just two points, with each holding Champions League qualification as their aim.

Tottenham’s ongoing injury crisis has taken another hit, with French winger Wilson Odobert set for an extended spell on the sidelines following surgery for a recurring hamstring problem.

Odobert, who joined Spurs in a £30 million move from Burnley in August, had shown flashes of brilliance early in the season. His standout debut in a commanding 4-0 win over Everton had fans excited, as it showcased the 19-year-old’s potential and justified the club’s significant investment.

However, recurring fitness problems have hindered his ability to fully integrate into the squad.

The most recent setback comes after Odobert struggled with thigh issues, which have kept him out of action since late last month, resulting in five missed matches. This follows an earlier period when a hamstring problem sidelined the 19-year-old, causing him to miss an additional seven games.

These ongoing fitness concerns have limited Odobert’s chances to make a consistent impact and demonstrate the skill set that led Tottenham to invest in him.

Tottenham confirm Wilson Odobert injury setback ahead of Manchester City clash

Tottenham confirmed on X that Odobert underwent surgery on his right hamstring last Saturday. The procedure aims to address the lingering issues that have plagued the youngster’s debut season in North London.

The club stated that Odobert’s recovery will be closely monitored, with no definitive timeline provided for his return. Medical staff will assess his progress in the coming weeks to determine when he can resume training.

The statement read:

“We can confirm that Wilson Odobert underwent surgery to his right hamstring yesterday (Saturday, November 16). The 19-year-old will continue to be closely monitored by our medical team to determine when he can return to training.”

We can confirm that Wilson Odobert underwent surgery to his right hamstring yesterday (Saturday 16th November).

The 19-year-old will continue to be closely monitored by our medical team to determine when he can return to training. pic.twitter.com/vxAZdot4y3

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 17, 2024

This injury is a setback for manager Ange Postecoglou, who has already been navigating a season riddled with fitness issues affecting key players. With a challenging set of fixtures ahead, the absence of promising talents like Odobert adds pressure on maintaining squad depth and competitive performance.

Tottenham will now focus on ensuring Odobert’s smooth rehabilitation, hoping for his timely return to boost their attack in the latter stages of the season.

Jamie O’Hara has made the bold claim that Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven would ‘walk into Manchester City’s team’.

Van de Ven has caught the eye since joining Spurs from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2023, with his pace proving an invaluable asset to Ange Postecoglou’s defence.

Unfortunately, the Netherlands international has suffered lengthy absences with hamstring injuries, which are common for extremely fast players.

But that hasn’t stopped Van de Ven from becoming very popular among Spurs supporters, while he’s even drawn links to perennial European champions Real Madrid.

Is Micky van de Ven ‘world-class’?

Whether or not Van de Ven can be truly labelled ‘world-class’ is a matter of debate, most recently between former Spurs midfielder and his talkSPORT co-host Dean Saunders.

But O’Hara is adamant he would be a sure starter under Pep Guardiola at Man City.

O’Hara and Saunders came to blows over Van de Ven in the following conversation (transcribed by TBR):

Jamie O’Hara: “I think Van de Ven is a world-class player.”

Dean Saunders: “Van de Ven? He has had one season playing in the high line. World class? Van de Ven?”

Jamie O’Hara: “Van de Ven is world-class.”

Dean Saunders: “He ain’t getting in Manchester City’s team. He is not getting in Liverpool’s.”

Jamie O’Hara: “What are you talking about? He would walk straight into Manchester City’s team. He walks into it.”

Dean Saunders: “No chance.”

Jamie O’Hara: “He walks into any team.”

Dean Saunders: “He needs to show for a couple of years yet that he can keep playing in the Premier League at that level without making mistakes. No mistakes. Top players don’t make mistakes.”

Jamie O’Hara: “Of course, they do.”

Dean Saunders: “Van Dijk hardly makes a mistake. He does now and again, but not as many as others. And that’s why he is Van Dijk. Konate doesn’t make that many mistakes. Man City’s centre-backs.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a surprising move to bring former midfielder Harry Winks back to the club during the upcoming January transfer window.

Following an active summer transfer window, Spurs are now targeting experienced additions to their midfield. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Tottenham are “determined” to re-sign Winks, a move that could result in a net financial loss of approximately £22 million compared to his initial transfer fee.

Reports suggest that the North London club is prepared to pay around €38m (£32m) to secure the services of the 28-year-old midfielder, who is currently excelling at Leicester City.

Winks has been a key figure for Leicester City since joining them in July last year on a three-year contract for around £10 million.

Winks made his debut in a 2-1 victory over Coventry City and delivered a standout performance against Norwich City, where he achieved an impressive 100% passing accuracy.

His contributions were instrumental in Leicester’s Championship-winning campaign last season, which secured their return to the Premier League and also marked Winks’ first major trophy win.

His performances with Leicester have attracted interest from other top clubs as well, with Manchester United also recently linked with a move for the Englishman.

Harry WInks: Time at Tottenham Hotspur

Winks’ journey with Spurs began in their youth academy and saw him progress to the senior team, where he became a reliable midfield option, particularly under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

His time at the club included standout moments such as starting in the 2019 Champions League final. Throughout his time at Spurs, he made 203 appearances, contributing five goals and six assists.

Re-signing Winks would not only bolster Tottenham’s midfield depth but also enhance their quota of homegrown players—a critical aspect of squad building in the Premier League.

That said, knowing Daniel Levy and his strong focus on the finances in every decision, it is unlikely that he will sanction a move that will see the club suffer a significant loss.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Brighton defender Tariq Lamptry.

According to Football Transfers, the 24-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season, and Brighton could sell him in January to recoup some money from his departure.

Tottenham are looking to secure his services for a knockdown price and it remains to be seen whether they can get a deal across the line. They will face competition from Everton and West Ham United.

The 24-year-old was highly rated in the Premier League a few seasons ago, but his development seems to have stalled. Regardless, Lamptey remains a talented young defender with impressive potential and he could develop into an important player for Tottenham in the long term.

Pedro Porro has been linked to the move to Real Madrid and Tottenham are probably preparing for contingencies if the Spanish international decides to move on in the near future. Lamptey is capable of operating as the right back, left back as well as a wing-back. Apart from his defensive qualities, he is quite impressive going forward as well.

Lamptey could be a useful option

With the right guidance, he could be a key player for Tottenham in future. The opportunity to join Tottenham will be quite attractive for the player as well. He might get to compete in European football with them and fight for trophies.

Tottenham have a talented squad at their disposal, but they need to add more depth in order to truly compete with the elite clubs. Players like Lamptey could prove to be very useful options for them.

With Brighton looking to sell, agreeing on a deal should not be difficult for Tottenham. They have the resources to get the deal done, and it remains to be seen whether all parties can come to an agreement soon.

Although Chelsea are seven places ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table just three points separate them, and both clubs will rival the other for the signature of a talented Premier League centre-back.

CaughtOffside sources have indicated that despite Bournemouth having only recently tied down Ilya Zabarnyi to a deal which keeps him with the Cherries until 2029, they will listen to clubs willing to offer around £50m for the Ukrainian.

Tottenham and Chelsea want Zabarnyi

Sources indicate that the North Londoners have been tracking the player for a while and are eager to add him to their squad.

Ange Postecoglou certainly has the Lilywhites playing some of their best football in many a year, however, the same could be said of Enzo Maresca’s impact at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian is also thought to be a huge fan of the defender’s playing capabilities and would make room for him in an ever-expanding Chelsea squad.

Of course, Bournemouth’s financial demands are factors that could complicate the transfer process, notwithstanding that sources further advance that both Tottenham and Chelsea are apparently willing to meet those requirements.

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Chelsea are already looking at beating Arsenal to one of their prime targets, whilst Tottenham could agree a pre-contract with a former Man United ace.

Zabarnyi has played in all 11 of Bournemouth’s Premier League games this season (transfermarkt), and his excellence in defence has see the South Coast side beat reigning champions Man City amongst others.

Andoni Iraola and his board clearly see the player as someone that should be staying at the club for the longer term, but are not in a position to keep him if any of their opponents come up with an offer that they can’t refuse.

From the player’s point of view, sources understand that he would be willing to make the move to the capital but is equally content at the Vitality Stadium, should any of the rumours come to nothing.