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Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been handed an exit claim on midfielder Giovani Lo Celso amid his current loan stint at Villarreal.

The Lowdown: Lo Celso shines…

The Argentina international, who is hopeful of appearing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has been thriving during temporary spells with Villarreal over the last 11 months, with The Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan hailing his turnaround in fortunes as “amazing”.

Lo Celso played a key role in their run to the Champions League semi-finals last season and has continued in that vein this season when available and fit.

As per WhoScored, the midfielder ranks in Villarreal’s top four in terms of shots at goal, completed dribbles and fouls drawn per 90 in La Liga, which shows his splendid contribution to the team.

It isn’t impossible to think that the South American’s solid form could be catching the eye of Spurs boss Antonio Conte, but according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Lo Celso’s future seems written.

The Latest: Romano shares Lo Celso exit update for Spurs supporters…

The transfer reporter claims that, despite his good form, the Argentine is still perilously close to the permanent Spurs exit door.

The 26-year-old’s good form at Villarreal last season didn’t prompt Conte to keep him at Hotspur Way for 2022/23, and it appears that the manager’s stance has not changed.

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Writing for Caught Offside, Romano claims Lo Celso’s seems destined to leave north London.

He explained: “I expect Giovani Lo Celso’s future lies away from Tottenham. His price tag around €20-25m stopped Villarreal from signing him on a permanent deal this summer, but they love him and he’s key player since returning on loan.

“As of now, there are no talks with Tottenham and the player also wants to focus on the World Cup.”

The Verdict: Time to move?

While Lo Celso has impressed in Spain, the midfielder has never quite managed it consistently enough in the Premier League, starting only 28 top-flight matches across two-and-a-half years, so we believe that it could be time for Spurs to cut their ties with him for good.

The only point of contention remains his price tag, and chairman Daniel Levy will be looking to make back a decent portion of his original investment in the Argentine.

Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip has been ruled out of the Reds’ Champions League clash with Napoli, as confirmed by reliable journalist Neil Jones.

The Lowdown: Revenge on Napoli?

Jurgen Klopp’s suffered a dire 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday but attention now turns to European commitments.

On Tuesday evening, Liverpool welcome high-flying Napoli to Anfield, knowing they must win by a four-goal margin to top their group.

In truth, it feels like a dead rubber, with numerous changes expected by the Reds, allowing key players to enjoy a much-needed night off, but Klopp could be forgiven for wanting revenge after such a horrific night in Naples.

The Latest: Matip ruled out

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Jones confirmed that Matip is still out, having not featured since the 3-2 defeat away to Arsenal earlier this month because of a calf issue:

“Matip is still out.”

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The Verdict: Bad to worse…

This current period sums up Matip’s Liverpool career, with the 31-year-old an outstanding centre-back when fit, but proving to be injured far too often.

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Supposed short absences seemingly turn into lengthy spells out of the team and there comes a point when Klopp must start to think about life without the defender.

With so many injuries ravaging the squad, tonight would have been the perfect chance for Matip to get some sharpness back, but the manager may now be forced to use Virgil van Dijk again, who has already racked up 1,620 minutes on the pitch this season.

One has to wonder if Matip is one of many ageing players who could find themselves out the door soon, with his contract expiring in 2024 and the injuries getting worse by the season.

Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Sunday as they face Chelsea at Villa Park, with Steven Gerrard still under pressure after a poor start to the season.

While the Villans are now unbeaten in their last four top-flight games, they have endured disappointing draws against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest in their previous two outings.

Gerrard’s side will have to be much better if they are going to take anything from Sunday’s game against Chelsea, who are unbeaten since Graham Potter arrived as their new manager.

Here is how Football FanCast expects Gerrard to line his side up on Sunday, with two changes from the team that started against Forest.

Emiliano Martinez looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks after a strong start to the season which sees him ranked as their second-best performer according to WhoScored.

With Lucas Digne still injured, Ashley Young will continue at left-back, with Matty Cash on the opposite flank, while Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa will maintain their partnership in the middle.

There is one change in midfield, as Leander Dendoncker making his first start after his summer switch from Wolves, in the hope that the Belgian can provide some steel in the middle of the park against tougher opposition, with John McGinn dropping out in what is a refresh to the central areas.

He is joined in midfield by Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz, fresh from the Brazilian signing a contract extension in midweek.

Finally, in attack, the “magical” Philippe Coutinho – as dubbed by Roberto Firmino – drops to the bench after another game without a goal or assist, with Cameron Archer finally getting his chance to start up front. The forward has 17 goals in 36 outings for the U21s and deserves an opportunity to showcase himself.

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The youngster will be flanked by Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia, in the hope that Villa can finally find their attacking rhythm, in what promises to be a tough game against Chelsea this weekend.

Newcastle United are currently enjoying a solid start to the new season with five draws and one win from their opening seven league games, with manager Eddie Howe having impressively stabilised the club following his appointment last year.

After the turbulence and doom and gloom that surrounded his predecessor Steve Bruce’s stint in charge, the former Bournemouth boss – as well as a change of ownership – has renewed belief among both the club and its supporters, with the Magpies no longer merely looking over their shoulder.

For all the plaudits that the 44-year-old has been receiving of late – having been praised for the “top-class job” he has done by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola – there is still a long way to go before the newly-ambitious Tynesiders can truly begin to threaten at the top half of the table.

Despite having only recently signed Alexander Isak for a club-record fee to help bolster their attack, the northeast side still appear somewhat light on attacking options, with far too much responsibility still on the shoulders of the mercurial, Allan Saint-Maximin, who led the way last term for the club with ten goal contributions in all competitions.

The Frenchman had enjoyed a fine start to the season prior to his recent injury absence, with one goal and two assists from his opening four league games, with his average match rating thus far of 7.53, as per Sofascore, the highest among the Newcastle squad, as well as the eighth-best record in the Premier League.

The former Nice man offers a real potent threat down the left flank as a result of his devastating speed and sheer unrivalled trickery, with his innate quality in possession seeing him rank in the top 1% among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles completed.

The £36m-rated ace could well benefit from having another figure to also chip in creatively, however, with Miguel Almiron seemingly not a natural fit on the right flank, with a potential icon from the past in Hatem Ben Arfa one man that may well have been a possible solution in his prime.

Although it may appear something of a creative overload to have two maverick talents in the side in the form of the former France international and his compatriot Saint-Maximin, the latter man’s importance to Howe’s side would seemingly illustrate that the Magpies boss would also allow Ben Arfa to flourish.

The now-veteran playmaker had originally been signed by the St James’ Park outfit on an initial loan deal back in August 2010, with manager Chris Hughton bringing him to England from Ligue 1 side Marseille.

While the “majestic” fleet-footed star – as dubbed by journalist Liam Canning – was not able to remain consistent during his time at the club, for a brief time he was simply a true genius, notably registering 11 goal contributions in just 26 league games during the 2011/12 season.

The former Lyon man – who had been snapped up permanently by Alan Pardew in January 2011 – notably netted a stunning solo goal in a win over Bolton Wanderers in April 2012, picking the ball up from inside his own half before expertly weaving his way through the opposition.

With the club already having a figure such as Saint-Maximin who can produce such moments of quality, it would pure, joyful attacking carnage to also see Ben Arfa terrorising defences with his sheer brilliance, with it a mouthwatering thought as to having both men lining up on either wing.

Of course, the latter man’s time at the club ultimately ended in frustration as he struggled for form and fitness, before departing in 2015, although supporters would likely jump at the chance to have a peak version of the now-35-year-old back at Newcastle.

The football season has just started again. And the recent Champions League draw has had fans on the edge of their seats. But the main football event of the year is just around the corner. The upcoming FIFA World Cup will be underway from November 20 to December 18, leaving supporters worldwide to prepare for an unusual winter tournament. So, who will emerge victorious in Qatar? We look at five teams that might make it to the top.

France

The French head into the competition as the defending champions. Coached by Didier Deschamps, who already led Les Bleus to victory in 2018, France appears ready to repeat the feat. However, no nation has claimed back-to-back titles at the World Cup since the Brazilian squad in 1958 and 62. Still, the French squad looks threatening enough to pull it off. While some of the 2018 champions have been out of form lately, such as midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, the attacking line boasts two of the most prolific players at the moment. Thus, PSG star Kylian Mbappé will undoubtedly shine alongside Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema.

Argentina

Argentina has already won the World Cup twice in the past century. But a final triumph keeps eluding the Albiceleste for decades. The Argentinian team tasted victory again in 2021 with a narrow win over Brazil at the Copa America. In 2022, Messi and his co-stars beat Italy in the first-ever Finalissima. What’s more, the squad managed by Lionel Scalani hasn’t lost a single international game since 2019. So, could it be Argentina’s lucky year? With a blend of experienced players like Ángel Di Maria and young talents like Lisandro Martínez, the Albiceleste can aim for the title. And it would only be fitting for Lionel Messi to land, at last, the only prize yet missing in his trophy cabinet.

England

England came close to securing the European title in 2021. At the Russia World Cup in 2018, English fans buoyed their national squad all the way to the semi-finals. But the Three Lions failed to reach the top and end an ongoing trophy drought since their first and only World Cup win back in 1966. Still, the English national squad is up in arms to bring a 56-year wait to a much-anticipated close. On top of seasoned players such as Harry Kane and Kyle Walker, the Three Lions boast promising young talents like Phil Foden and Jack Grealish. And in a pool comprising Iran, Wales, and the United States, England should find a fairly straightforward way to the knock-out stages. So, has Gareth Southgate’s squad what it takes to bring it back home? English fans certainly hope so.

Brazil

Vinicius Jr., Neymar, Lucas Paquetá, Gabriel Jesus. The skills and creativity among the Brazilian squad are unparalleled. And the defending line-up is proving more solid than ever, with players such as Marquinhos and Thiago Silva gaining maturity over the years. Brazil is heading to Qatar in dazzling form as they haven’t lost a match since their Copa America final. Twenty years after their last triumph, the Seleção could knock a sixth World Cup title. And bookmakers have made it clear the Brazilian squad was one to watch out. So, from South America to Asia, punters can place their bets on the best football betting sites in 2022. Even in countries where gambling is illegal, such as Vietnam, football fans can find the perfect platform online. Experts have scoured the internet to single out the most favourable odds on a range of reputable betting sites. Better yet, newcomers and seasoned punters alike may claim hefty bonuses to keep their bankroll in the green.

Belgium

Keen football observers already knew of the tremendous potential of the Belgian squad. Still, Belgium appeared as the surprise team of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Bested by France in the semi-finals, and again during the 2021 League of Nations, Belgium is yet to secure any international title. But the Red Devils are looking to make history at the upcoming tournament. From Kevin De Bruyne to Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, their golden generation is going strong, still. And while they slipped to second place in the world FIFA rankings, the Belgian squad could prove hard to beat, anyway.

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Leeds United transfer target Kai Wagner ‘seems to prefer’ a move to Elland Road over both Benfica and Dinamo Zagreb, according to journalist Manuel Veth.

The Lowdown: Leeds talks

The Whites have been linked with bringing in a new left-back before the deadline following Junior Firpo’s injury in pre-season.

Jesse Marsch has used centre-back Pascal Struijk at left-back for the opening two matches of the Premier League campaign but is reportedly driving a move for Wagner.

Talks are thought to be going well for the Philadelphia Union player, who has been labelled ‘very creative’ by Ben Jacobs, and Leeds chiefs have been handed a further boost in their pursuit of the German.

The Latest: Veth’s claim

Veth took to Twitter on Sunday evening to reply to Jacobs’ update on the full-back.

He claimed that Wagner’s camp ‘seems to prefer Leeds United’ over both Benfica and Dinamo Zagreb.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Both Benfica and Dinamo Zagreb are in the Champions League play-offs, so Wagner’s preference for a move to Elland Road is huge for Victor Orta and co.

Veth has stated that Marsch is a ‘big fan’ of the 25-year-old, who can also play as a left midfielder, and a move appears to make sense due to the left-back situation in Yorkshire.

A transfer may not be too expensive either, as Wagner is out of contract with the MLS club at the end of 2022, so hopefully the full-back will arrive in England before the transfer deadline, alongside a new striker.

Antony remains a top target for Manchester United this summer but it could prove difficult for Erik ten Hag to lure his former player to Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

The Red Devils have been strongly linked with the Brazilian winger in recent weeks, which is no surprise considering his impressive form under the 52-year-old at Ajax.

However, the Eredivisie champions have already sold star players Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui, Sebastien Haller and Lisandro Martinez this summer, so they are under no pressure to partw with Antony.

In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano provided the latest update on United’s interest in the 22-year-old.

He said: “Antony has always been a top target, but Ajax have already sold many important players and the last one was to Manchester United – Lisandro Martinez, of course. This is why, at the moment, it is not easy to negotiate with Ajax.”

Supporters will be gutted

While Ten Hag has made three promising signings so far this summer, strengthening the defence and midfield, he is yet to bring in a new attacker.

Last season was a particularly disappointing one for United’s wingers, as Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford managed just seven Premier League goals between them.

Meanwhile, Antony contributed eight goals and four assists in just 23 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax, averaging a superb 7.47 rating from WhoScored for his performances, so he could definitely add some quality out wide for Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

The United manager will be desperate to add some more quality in the wide areas this summer, but with less than two weeks to go until the new Premier League season begins, it seems as if time is running out for United to sign Antony, unless they increase their bid for the Brazilian.

Given that Ten Hag has made it clear in the past that he wants to bring the former Sao Paulo gem to Old Trafford, supporters will be gutted to hear this update from Romano.

AND in other news: Man United have “genuine” interest in signing £25m “phenomenon”, forget about De Jong

Tottenham Hotspur are not close to agreeing on a deal to sign Djed Spence, contrary to reports…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Daily Mail reporter Sami Mokbel, who delivered the claim to the ‘Last Word On Spurs’ podcast earlier this week.

“The views I was getting from Tottenham today is that [the Djed Spence] deal wasn’t close at all and there’s still quite a way from coming to an agreement,” he revealed.

It comes after the Telegraph suggested that the north London outfit were ‘poised’ to sign the England U21 international in a £15m deal from Championship outfit Middlesbrough.

Conte will be fuming

It is also believed that manager Antonio Conte would like the arrival of Spence sorted by the weekend when Spurs are expected to fly out to South Korea to begin their pre-season preparations for the new Premier League campaign.

The Italian is therefore not likely to be happy to learn that the deal isn’t close at all, especially as there are only a few days left until his squad depart the English capital for Heung-min Son’s home country.

If the move is complete whilst everyone is in Asia, then it seems unlikely that the 21-year-old will be able to sort out everything required to link up with the team out there, only putting a setback in both Conte and the player’s own plans.

Spence’s arrival would go a long way in resolving one of the club’s long-standing issues – that right wing-back spot.

Matt Doherty ended last campaign with a pretty serious injury, whilst reports have always hinted at Conte being unconvinced by Emerson Royal, who was signed by his predecessor Nuno Santo last summer.

Back in January, The Times claimed that the Italian head coach wanted to sign Adama Traore to solve the problem. He went on to join his boyhood club, FC Barcelona, on loan instead.

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The young defender, dubbed “combative” and “swashbuckling” by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, would be a decent fix to the issue, especially considering the fact that he made six goal contributions in 41 starts, which suggests he’s a better threat than Emerson in the final third.

Therefore, Conte will surely be raging that a deal for Spence isn’t actually as close as some have made it out to be, even more so heading into Saturday’s departure to South Korea.

AND in other news, Spurs can seal “extraordinary” signing as Conte eyes swoop for Bonucci-like £45m titan…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are plotting a move for highly-rated Hull City winger Keane Lewis-Potter this summer but face competition from several other Premier League clubs.

What’s the story?

According to Football League World, Wolves are interested in signing the 21-year-old starlet but West Ham United are the club currently in pole position for his signature.

The player’s eye-catching performances for Championship side Hull last season sparked interest from many top clubs with Brentford making a move for him in January only for a bid to be rejected.

However, it looks like he will leave this summer, and if a club matches the Tigers’ asking price of £20m then it’s likely they will accept.

Lage needs him

If he did move then he would be a welcome addition at Molineux, further adding to the crop of exciting young talent at the club. He’s a player that would certainly suit Bruno Lage, so Wolves should do everything than can to sign him.

He was directly involved in 16 goals in the league last season and was the top scorer for the East Yorkshire outfit, given this it’s no surprise that they are commanding a high fee to secure him.

Lewis-Potter’s former manager Grant McCann has dubbed him a “special talent”, and with him recently making his debut for the England U21 side he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.

Hull have a record of producing top talents, most recently Jarrod Bowen secured a Premier League move to West Ham and has since gone on to become one of their best players.

If Lewis-Potter can replicate the success he has had then it would be well worth the investment required.

The Wanderers are also in need of attacking reinforcements or they could find themselves in trouble next season. They scored just 38 goals in the league last season, with their top scorer Raul Jimenez only netting six.

Signing Lewis-Potter would help increase that tally and he will only improve the older and more experienced that he gets.

Lage needs to make attacking signings, and although some might say this one would be a risk, it’s worth taking and would see Wolves gain an advantage over their rivals.

AND in other news: Shi can solve big Bruno Lage headache with Wolves swoop for “world-class” machine…

A big transfer tease has emerged over Christian Eriksen’s future amid speculation that Tottenham are interested in signing him… 

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the player is set to make a final call on where he will be playing his football next season.

He Tweeted: “Brentford have submitted a serious, important personal terms offer to Christian Eriksen – but the player is considering his options with many clubs interested. Eriksen will make his decision on the future club in the coming days.”

It has previously been reported that the midfielder wants to play Champions League football in 2022/23, with Antonio Conte keen on reuniting with him.

Supporters will be excited

Spurs supporters will be excited by this claim from Romano as it suggests that a decision is now imminent from the player.

Brentford making a ‘serious’ offer will not concern Tottenham at this moment in time if the reports of him wanting European football are to be believed. The Bees do not have Champions League, or even Europa League, football to offer him and this is where Spurs may have a huge edge on their opponents.

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Although, Thomas Frank’s side are the ones that offered Eriksen a chance to return to the Premier League after his cardiac arrest last year and his gratitude for that may make him consider re-joining them.

Tottenham, however, also have a strong connection with him as he played 304 times for the club earlier in his career before joining Conte at Inter. This means that he has a pre-existing relationship with both the team and the manager, which is a boost for the north London side.

These factors all point towards a return to Spurs being on the cards for Eriksen and that is why supporters will now be excited by the prospect of the Dane making a decision in the next few days.

The 30-year-old has proven that he still has what it takes to be a significant player in the Premier League as he showcased his quality with Brentford this year.

In 11 top-flight outings, he averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.53 as he chipped in with one goal and four assists. He created an eye-catching 2.8 chances per game and Spurs fans will be buzzing with the thought of him being back at the club and delivering teasing crosses for Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

AND in other news, Paratici and Conte now eyeing Spurs swoop for £45m-rated “machine”, he’s Eriksen 2.0…