Category Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing an “elite” Champions League goalkeeper, who could be brought in as a replacement for Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs eyeing new goalkeeper amid Vicario criticism

Tottenham have been underperforming as a collective this season, currently sitting 13th in the Premier League, having won just one of their last five matches, but their goalkeeper has received some particularly heavy criticism.

Following the 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest last month, Jamie Carragher slammed Vicario for refusing to take responsibility, saying: “Typical Vicario, he’s always blaming someone else. Every time I see him when a goal goes in, he’s throwing his arms at someone else.”

Since then, the Italian has gone on to put in some improved performances, keeping clean sheets in two of his last four matches, but Jamie O’Hara remains unconvinced by the goalkeeper.

Interestingly, a report from TEAMtalk has revealed Tottenham have ‘growing concerns’ about whether the 29-year-old has a long-term future in north London, and they have now started looking at replacements.

The report states Tottenham are now keen on signing Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who could be allowed to leave the Spanish club this year, despite being highly regarded at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Indeed, the Spanish club may now be willing to sanction Lunin’s departure, given that he has found game time hard to come by this season, and youngster Javi Navarro could be utilised as a back-up to Thibaut Courtois.

There could be fierce competition for the Ukrainian’s signature, with Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion also named as interested parties, and there is a belief a move to the Premier League would strongly appeal to the £76k-a-week shot-stopper.

Lunin could be "elite" as a first-choice goalkeeper

The 26-year-old has made just two appearances for Madrid in all competitions this season, which came in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, suggesting he may need to leave the European giants for the good of his career.

The Ukraine international being a back-up goalkeeper arguably isn’t a great sign, but in fairness, he is playing second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois, and he has impressed at Real Madrid when given the opportunity.

Related Tottenham ready double-your-money offer for player who's keen to join Frank

Spurs are preparing a bid.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini

Lauded as “elite” by scout Ben Mattinson, the Madrid ace played a major role in his side reaching the Copa del Rey final last season, keeping a clean sheet and making five saves from inside the box in a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad in the semi-final.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Spurs transfer and GK insight Stay informed on Spurs transfer targets and goalkeeper scouting by subscribing to our newsletter. Get focused analysis, transfer target breakdowns and expert scouting notes that help fans understand moves like a potential Lunin switch.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Kharkiv-born goalkeeper has also proven himself in the Champions League, making 13 appearances in Europe’s elite competition, including eight en-route to glory in the 2023/24 edition, during which time he received high praise from Carlo Ancelotti.

As such, should Tottenham decide not to persist with Vicario as their first-choice goalkeeper, Lunin could be a solid replacement.

Liverpool look set to miss out on a deal to sign Antoine Semenyo from Premier League side Bournemouth, as he closes in on a move to their rivals.

Manchester City are reportedly close to sealing a swoop for the Ghana international after positive talks with the Cherries, and the transfer could be completed in the coming days now that the January transfer window is open.

The Reds were said to be in the race to land the £65m-rated left winger at the end of last month, but the Cityzens appear to have won the race for his signature.

Semenyo’s return of nine goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, suggest that it is a blow for Liverpool to miss out on his services this month.

Liverpool set to sign £43m star in January

However, the reigning Premier League champions are reportedly closing in on another player who could be an even better signing than Semenyo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

According to the Mirror, Liverpool are set to complete a deal to sign Club Brugge central defender Joel Ordonez in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Reds are poised to wrap up a move for the Ecuador international ‘in the coming days’, as they close in on their first signing of the month.

It adds that the initial fee for the centre-back is expected to be around £35m, but it could rise to £43m if add-ons are achieved, with Arne Slot keen to bolster his backline.

The outlet explains that Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury and the fact that Ibrahima Konate’s contract expires at the end of the season have played a part in Liverpool’s move for Ordonez.

Why Ordonez is a better signing than Semenyo

Whilst missing out on Semenyo will be frustrating, because of his impressive output at the top end of the pitch this season, the Club Brugge centre-back could be an even better signing for the second half of the campaign and beyond.

Liverpool currently rank joint-fifth for goals in the Premier League this season, with 30 goals scored. Meanwhile, they rank joint-10th for goals conceded, with 26, and only eight teams have conceded more goals.

Konate’s individual errors have been costly for the Reds. Liverpool podcaster and writer Eddie Gibbs described him as “Liverpool’s most alarming fault line” who “looks like a footballer fighting his own reflection” earlier this season.

Jamie Carragher ripped into his defensive work in the 3-3 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road last month, as his defending partially led to the team giving up 2-0 and 3-2 leads.

The France international has been too much of a defensive liability this term, with six errors leading to shots, goals or penalties, per Sofascore, and Ordonez could come in to improve Slot’s backline by providing a more reliable presence alongside Virgil van Dijk.

25/26 season (all comps)

Konate

Ordonez

Appearances

24

21

Error led to shot

4

1

Error led to goal

1

0

Penalties committed

1

0

Dribbled past

6x

5x

Fouls committed

28

18

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Club Brugge star has only made one error in 21 appearances in the Pro League and the Champions League combined this season, whilst he has also committed ten fewer fouls than the Liverpool flop.

Subscribe for sharper transfer analysis and context Deepen your transfer IQ: subscribe to the newsletter for data-led analysis, scouting breakdowns and defensive/tactical context that explains why clubs target players and how signings can reshape squads.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

These statistics suggest that Ordonez is less likely to make costly errors at the back for the Reds, which could tighten up their defence and improve their defensive record in the second half of the campaign.

The 21-year-old star, who was described as “imressively complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also a consistent defender, as he only made one error that led to a shot or a goal for the opposition in his first two seasons in the Pro League with Club Brugge, per Sofascore.

Therefore, Ordonez would be an even better signing than Semenyo could have been because he has the quality to have a bigger short-term impact in an area of the pitch that Liverpool have struggled more in, whilst he is also four years younger than the attacker and has more scope to develop further in the future.

Related Liverpool now very interested in bargain deal to sign "excellent" Bundesliga star

The Reds are still chasing an attacking reinforcement.

Posts ByTom Cunningham

The Ecuador international is also five years younger than Konate, whose contract expires in the summer, and this piece of business could ensure that they have their new long-term right-sided centre-back in the building already.

Reports that the multi-million dollar deal between Allen Stanford and the ECB is under threat because of problems with Stanford’s black bats were dismissed as “rubbish” by an ICC spokesman.It was claimed that Stanford’s trademark black bats, which are central to his marketing strategy, would be outlawed by the ICC and, as a result, he would withdraw his offer to put up to US$100 million into matches in the Caribbean and London.However, matches played by Stanford are not under the jurisdiction of the ICC, who oversee international cricket, and, as such, the sides involved can agree to their own playing conditions and amendments to the laws.The Times quoted a source close to negotiations between the ECB and Stanford as saying that “we have been told that the ICC put forward this recommendation about the colour of the blades at the request of the BCCI”. The ICC spokesman pointed out that coloured bats were not even discussed by the cricket committee.

Bermuda’s Royal Gazette has reported that the indiscipline of the national team, which was of concern for some time before the World Cup, has grown worse in the two months.In the four weeks since training restarted for the national side, only three players – Irving Romaine, Kevin Hurdle and Lionel Cann – have bothered to attend, with another, Dwayne Leverock, absent because he is recovering from a tonsillectomy. A further three players – Dean Minors Saleem Mukuddem and Clay Smith – have retired.”There seems to be a certain amount of disinterest as far as the cricket and the preparation is concerned for the players to play to the best of their ability, and maybe this is something that needs to be looked at when the Board has its AGM,” Gus Logie, the coach, told the newspaper. “People have been invited to train with the squad but if they aren’t showing any interest then I think the board will have to make a decision on that.”Logie has clearly grown exasperated by the attitude of many players. “I have gone beyond being surprised by anything and I’m prepared to work with what I have.”Bermuda’s World Cup preparations were dogged by problems of the fitness and discipline of a number of players.Tell us what you think …

Lasith Malinga was a perfect foil for Muttiah Muralitharan © Getty Images

Andrew Miller on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test
Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”)
Streaming Audio: Real :: WMALasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan bowled particularly well on a day when Sri Lanka brought themselves back into the series, getting England out for 229 and getting a two-run lead in the process. Andrew Miller, Cricinfo’s UK editor, chats with Ranjit Shinde, and tells him about how this Test is perfectly balanced. Listen in.Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”)
Streaming Audio: Real :: WMA

The West Indies selectors delivered a significant vote of no-confidence in Mehendra Nagamootoo yesterday, omitting the leg-spinner from the squad for the second Test against India in spite of a bare pitch seemingly tailored for the Indian spinners.Nagamootoo was the only one dropped from the 11 that lost the first Test in Mumbai by an innings and 112 runs.Jermaine Lawson, the 20-year-old fast bowler, and his fellow Jamaican, off-spinner/batsman Gareth Breese, 26, neither of whom has yet played Test cricket, were included in the 12 from whom the final team would be named at the start.Both were expected to make their debut with Lawson gaining final preference over aging fast bowler, Cameron Cuffy, 32.Manager Ricky Skerritt said Nagamootoo was unfortunate to lose his place but added he seemed to be lacking confidence.The fourth leg-spinner used by the West Indies in the past six years, after Rajindra Dhanraj, Dinanath Ramnarine and Rawl Lewis, Nagamootoo’s five Tests have been spread one at a time (against England in England in 2000, Australia in Australia in 2001, India and New Zealand in the West Indies in 2002 and India in the first Test in Mumbai).His 12 wickets have cost an average 53.08 runs each and taken a strike rate of one every 20.75 overs. He had three for 132 from 47 overs in the first Test but his first was not until his 38th over.The 12: Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Gareth Breese, Ridley Jacobs, Merv Dillon, Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins and Cameron Cuffy.

Zaheer Khan: On the comeback trail© Getty Images

Zaheer Khan has finally sorted out his action at the MRF Pace Academy, guided by a world-renowned bio-mechanics expert who assisted him with tips about injury prevention. Press Trust of India reported that according to Dr David John, the expert, the minor changes Zaheer made to his action helped him bowl faster and without pain during match situations simulated at the academy.Zaheer’s injuries and niggles had become a source of worry for the Indian team, who have required him to spearhead the bowling attack. But during the sessions with Dr John, his bowling action was scrutinised and his run-up dissected. John said, “He was not making any good use of his front arm by jumping high in the air, which translates more power on his front leg.” He added that Zaheer’s previous action resulted in his muscles coming under a lot more stress.The news, if true, will come as welcome relief for India, who need all the fit bowlers they can get before the start of the new season. Last season, the main bowlers were constantly hampered by injuries, and India were fortunate that Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji filled in admirably.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today extended its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of former Australian Test bowler Ernie Toshack, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 88.Toshack, who made his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand at Wellington, in 1946, played 12 Tests for Australia between 1945-46 and 1948, taking 47 wickets at an average of 21.04.A valued member of the Don Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles, Toshack also enjoyed a successful career with NSW, making 48 first-class appearances between 1945-46 and 1949-50 when a troublesome knee forced his retirement.ACB Chairman Bob Merriman today extended his condolences to the Toshack family.”On behalf of the ACB, I would like to express sincere condolences to the Toshack family, including Ernie’s wife Cathleen and daughter Maria,” Mr Merriman said.”Ernie will be remembered for playing an important part in an unforgettable era of Australian cricket as a member of the late Sir Donald Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles.”

* Yet another change in England tour scheduleThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was at their favourite game of making changes to the already announced India-England itinerary on Monday. The latest change sees the fifth one-dayer being shifted from Kanpur to Mumbai. The third one-dayer scheduled earlier to be held at Mumbai will (surprise, surprise) now be held at Kanpur.The change has reportedly been made to make it easy for the England team to take a direct flight to New Zealand where they will be touring next. Meanwhile, the opening tour game at Mumbai has also been changed into a two-day affair. That the changes have followed the visit of England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Tim Lamb is noteworthy.Warm-up games: Nov 18-19 Mumbai President’s XI (Mumbai), Nov 22-24Board President’s XI (Hyderabad), Nov 27-29 India A (Jaipur)Tests: Dec 3-7 First Test (Mohali), Dec 11-15 Second Test (Ahmedabad),Dec 19-23 Third Test (Bangalore) A break for ChristmasJan 17 Practice one-dayer (Mumbai), Jan 19 Practice one-dayer (Mumbai)One-dayers: Jan 22 First ODI (Chennai), Jan 25 Second ODI (Calcutta),Jan 28 Third ODI (Kanpur), Jan 31 Fourth ODI (New Delhi), Feb 3 FifthODI (Mumbai)* Give the players a fair run: GangulyIndian skipper Sourav Ganguly reportedly feels that players must be given a longer tenure at the international level if India has to have a better team. He made the comments while talking about the way the team has failed in crunch situations.”Definitely, it’s frustrating when hopes are not fulfilled. It is natural to be disappointed. But it is also true that if you want the best performance from a cricketer, you will have to give him a good length of time. If you keep changing and chopping players frequently, you cannot build a team,” the Press Trust of India quoted Ganguly as saying to Bengali newspaper ‘Ganashakti’.The Indian skipper also felt that the openers, who did a decent job in Sri Lanka, needed to translate good starts into big scores. He though was confident that with the injured five – Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra – having returned, the team would measure up to the challenge in South Africa.”It is good that all the injured players have returned. There is no doubt it is the most difficult tour but we have a full strength team, so I am hopeful of doing well there”, he said.* Rameez Raja wields the stickFormer Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has come down heavily on India’s decision to pull-out of the Asian Test Championship (ATC).”I am sure history will see this (India’s refusal to play against Pakistan) as an immature step,” Raja told reporters. “Politics should stay away from cricket. There is no point in cricket boards making moral judgements.”The Board of Control of Cricket in India had decided to pull-out the Indian team of the tournament after the union government refused to let the team to play Pakistan in Pakistan.Raja also said that he did not see the two countries clashing on the cricket field in the immediate future. “Not in the near future… It’s a sad story… (Indian) Cricket Board is a toothless body. They want to play but are not being let to play. The problem before us in Pakistan (cricket establishment) is whom do we talk to (in India to resume cricket ties).”* Dev and Prabhakar head IT defaulters list says that the Income Tax (IT) department has found Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar and Mohammad Azharudin among others to be guilty of concealing huge amounts.The magazine says that ‘Operation Gentleman’, which the IT sleuths conducted to flush out concealed income, assets and investments of cricketers, board officials, bookies and their “associates”, has yielded findings that make shocking reading.Kapil Dev’s undisclosed income reportedly works out to be close to Rs 2.5 crores, “which could cross Rs 3 crore once the assessment proceedings begin”. The report also discloses the amounts the others reportedly stashed away: the “James Bond of Indian cricket” Manoj Prabhakar – Rs 2.5 crore; Azharuddin – more than Rs 2 crores; Ajay Jadeja Rs 1.4 crores; opener-turned-commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu – about Rs 1 crore; former Indian off-spinner Nikhil Chopra – Rs 40-50 lakh); and Ajay Sharma – Rs 20 lakh.Current Asian Cricket Council president and strongman of Indian cricket Jagmohan Dalmiya too might have to answer charges of money laundering if the report is to be believed.

DaryllCullinan Photo CricInfo

In one of the clearest indications yet that he is on the verge of a Test recall, Daryll Cullinan has been named captain of the South Africa `A’ team play Australia in a four-day match starting at St George’s Park on Friday.Cullinan, along with Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Gulam Bodi and wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, has been retained from the `A’ team which drew with Australia before the first Test match last week.After the stunning innings and 360-run defeat in the first Test match at the Wanderers on Sunday, there are bound to be changes in the Test team. That South African cricket needs to re-examine its policies and strategies is also clear, but for the moment the priority is to find an eleven capable of competing with Australia.The lack of fight shown by the South Africans at the Wanderers indicates that the wounds suffered during the 3-0 series defeat run deeper than might have been thought. It is a surelyu no accident that one of the few South African players to come out of the Wanderers Test with credit was new cap Ashwell Prince.Cullinan missed selection for Australia partly because he had undergone surgery during the off-season but also because of his poor record against Australia. He averages 44.21 from 70 Test matches, but against Australia this record drops to 12.75 from seven.At the same time, he was South Africa’s premier batsman throughout the 1990s, had an excellent series in the West Indies last year and remains one of the most astute thinkers about the game in South Africa.Along with Cullinan, Rudolph and Smith have been given a second chance against Australia while Martin van Jaarsveld, who scored 340 in two innings without being dismissed in his last provincial game, and Hashim Amla, the South African under 19 captain, have also been included.The two Test players probably under most threat are Boeta Dippenaar and Nicky Boje and in the latter’s case he could be challenged by Bodi (left-arm wrist spin) and Eastern Province captain Robin Peterson (left-arm orthodox).In the wake of Allan Donald’s retirement from Test cricket, South Africa hope to have Shaun Pollock back for the second Test, but good showings from the `A’ team’s new ball pairing of Charl Willoughby and Dewald Pretorius could bring them into contention.South African `A’ team:Jacques Rudolph (Northerns), Graeme Smith (WP), Martin van Jaarsveld (Northerns), Daryll Cullinan (Capt, Gauteng), Hashim Amla (KZN), Justin Kemp (EP), Robin Peterson (EP), Gulam Bodi (KZN), Thami Tsolekile (WP), Dewald Pretorius (FS), Charl Willoughby (WP). Twelfth man: Garnett Kruger (EP).