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Tottenham Hotspur’s academy production is revered across the country, having most recently earned particular praise as Harry Kane continues to smash records. The English marksman is now the club’s all-time leading scorer, having started from within the youth setup with the Lilywhites.

Whilst other products such as Oliver Skipp, Japhet Tanganga and even Harry Winks might go under the radar, they all represent capable assets who could do a job for the club or fetch them a decent sum at the very least.

However, given the precariousness of their current top-four hopes as a resurgent Liverpool are breathing down their neck, it now leaves them perhaps needing to rely on an injection of power, dynamism and hunger to come from the youth setup given this lull Antonio Conte finds himself in.

The Italian’s future has been thrown into doubt of late and his commitment to the cause questioned, so as they enter the run-in there is cause to believe that he could start making some rogue decisions to take fans by surprise.

Given the midfield vacancy left by the injured Rodrigo Bentancur, that is one such spot where the 53-year-old could spring a surprise and unleash a more unknown commodity like Nile John.

Who is Nile John?

The 20-year-old central midfielder has spent time at the north London outfit since he was seven and is billed as a skilful two-footed maestro who has impressed at every level he has featured at.

With a touch of class and plenty of attacking impetus, perhaps the youngster could prove to be the perfect partner to sit beside the ever-present metronomic general Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The 27-year-old enjoys dropping deep to dictate the play and does so with incredible proficiency. He currently boasts a 7.19 average rating in the league, underpinned by his 1.5 tackles, 1.7 clearances and 89% pass accuracy per 90, via Sofascore.

To place beside this a trickster who has featured on both wings this season could offer the perfect formula to unlocking the attacking potential of this side, which has garnered criticism for its lack of firepower despite the talent on show.

This season John boasts two goals in the Premier League 2 as he looks to build on his impressive seven-goal and three-assist campaign from the year earlier.

Clearly boasting an eye for goal too, his touch of “real quality” that football.london journalist Alasdair Gold once saw in him further sets him apart from other academy hopefuls as truly ready for the next step.

With two senior appearances under his belt already, the absence of Bentancur should see the young dynamo push to earn even more as this season reaches its climax.

Bakary Sako was once a devastating winger in Wolves’ side but his career since leaving Molineux suggests that the Old Gold got rid of the Malian at the perfect time.

Did Wolves get rid of Bakary Sako at the perfect time?

Wolves signed Sako back in 2012, with the powerful wide man arriving in a £3m deal from St Etienne, where he managed 17 goals and 15 assists in 128 appearances, including when he returned to France for the 2021/22 campaign.

Sako was an instant hit at Molineux as despite their relegation to League One, he would fire in a superb nine goals and 11 assists in just 37 Championship appearances.

The former Mali international certainly made an impression on ex-teammate Kevin Foley, who praised the winger in an interview with the Express and Star.

Foley said: “He’s brilliant. He can go by the full-backs with ease at times and I personally wouldn’t like to play against him. He’s explosive and he’s got a great shot on him.

“He’s very powerful and it’s good to have players like that at this level. He can open up gaps for other players.”

He was unsurprisingly fundamental to their promotion back to the second tier the following season, registering a phenomenal 12 goals and 15 assists in the third tier.

Sako showed no signs of slowing down upon his return to Championship football, managing another 15 goals and ten assists in the 2014/15 campaign, but it wasn’t enough for the Old Gold, as they finished outside of the playoffs on goal difference.

Wolves were understandably keen to tie Sako down to a new deal at Molineux but he reportedly demanded as much as £80k-per-week, which was unthinkable for the Midlands club before their takeover by Fosun International in 2016.

Where is Bakary Sako now?

After failing to sign a new deal at Molineux, Sako would complete a free transfer to Crystal Palace but he failed to rediscover the form he showed with the Old Gold, managing just eight goals and one assist in 54 appearances for the Eagles.

A disappointing loan spell with West Brom in the 2018/19 season saw him feature just six times, scoring once, with the Malian perhaps regretting his decision to leave Molineux given his career since then.

The 34-year-old has since played for his old club Saint Etienne and Pafos FC in Cyprus, where he registered a combined two goals in 14 appearances, before his move to Greece last summer, as he joined APO Levadiakos.

His goalscoring trend has sadly continued there, as he finds himself without a goal contribution in his first six appearances for his new side.

While Sako will be fondly remembered by Wolves fans for his performances on the pitch, he could have made himself a legend at Molineux if he hadn’t asked for an excessive wage back in 2015, although his displays since then suggest that he was certainly not worth that sort of money. Indeed, he was let go at the perfect time.

Aston Villa’s signing of Douglas Luiz looks to have certainly paid off, as the Brazilian’s market value has rocketed in his four-year spell with the Midlands club.

How much is Douglas Luiz worth?

Villa would sign the defensive midfielder from Manchester City in 2019 in a deal worth £15m, with the youngster having impressed in loan spells away from the Citizens after failing to earn a work permit during his time with Pep Guardiola’s side.

Now 24, the former Girona loanee has made 137 appearances for Villa’s first team, in which he has contributed eight goals and 13 assists, including five assists in just 23 Premier League outings so far this campaign.

This has helped him to earn a strong 6.77 average rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top flight, which ranks him as the third-best performer in Unai Emery’s squad, emphasising just how important he has become since the Spanish manager took over at Villa Park.

Under Steven Gerrard, Luiz had lost his regular starting place in the team and looked likely to complete a move away, with Arsenal reported to be extremely interested in signing the midfielder on deadline day during the summer.

However, he would later commit his future to the club in October 2022, signing a new deal until the summer of 2026, and he has been a mainstay in the side ever since.

Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor was full of praise for the Brazilian last year after a strong run of form, with the former England striker complimentary of the way he had adapted his game.

He said: “Douglas Luiz has been very good. He’s flying forward and getting into the box. He’s been outstanding and transformed.”

Luiz has certainly maintained that consistency from last season, as he would also earn a 6.77 rating from WhoScored in the 2021/22 campaign, and Villa fans will be hoping that he can only get better with more regular starts under Emery.

However, the Villans can be safe in the knowledge that if he ever leaves the club, they will make a significant profit on the £15m they paid in 2019.

Since joining the club, Luiz’s Transfermarkt value has shot up from €2.5m (£2.2m) to €35m (£31m), which represents a remarkable 1300% increase, so Villa deserve a huge amount of credit for spotting his talent as a youngster and helping develop him into an established Premier League player.

Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu could return to the team for today’s trip to Leeds United, Ruben Selles has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Salisu injured

Salisu has made 20 appearances for Southampton in the Premier League this season, emerging as a very important player, however he missed last week’s 1-0 victory against Chelsea.

The centre-back picked up a knock prior to the trip to Stamford Bridge, meaning he was omitted from the matchday squad, however there has now been a promising update, which indicates he could return this weekend…

The Latest: Set to return?

As quoted by Hampshire Live, recently appointed manager Selles clarified that the defender could be a part of his plans this afternoon, saying:

“We had [Mohammed] Salisu back in training this week. And we’re’ not sure that he will play but he has the option to play tomorrow and the rest of the squad is fit and ready to go.”

The Verdict: Good news

Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by members of the media, the 23-year-old has very much impressed in recent weeks, being ranked by Sofascore as the best player on the pitch against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, despite the Saints losing 2-1.

The 6 foot 3 colossus put in a performance of a similar standard in the 2-0 EFL Cup victory against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, winning all of his aerial duels and making five clearances.

Selles’ side managed to keep a clean sheet in the Ghanaian’s absence last weekend, shutting Chelsea out to secure a vital 1-0 victory, but the new manager will still be very happy to have his first-choice centre-back available again.

Given the level of Salisu’s displays in recent weeks, it would not be a surprise to see either Jan Bednarek or Armel Bella-Kotchap drop to the bench, but it will be a tough call for Selles, after the much-improved performance last time out.

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is ‘destined to stay’ at the club beyond this summer despite recent reports to the contrary.

The Lowdown: Firmino’s contract running down

The Brazilian icon has been a wonderful player for the Reds, mastering the false nine roles and forging a legendary front-three combination with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Firmino is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of this season, however, and he has been linked with a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan in recent days, with the Italian press even believing he has been in contact with the San Siro club.

However, a new update suggests that the Reds’ No.9 will be going nowhere.

The Latest: Twist in the tale

According to FC Inter News [via Sport Witness], Inter are now unlikely to sign Firmino this summer despite their interest because he is ‘destined to stay’ put on Merseyside.

It is claimed that ‘talks’ have started between Liverpool and the 31-year-old over a new deal, with a two-year extension more likely than the three years he wants.

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

Firmino isn’t quite the force he was, with age not allowing him to press as relentlessly as he once did – he averages 0.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season, compared to 1.9 last term – but he remains an important player moving forward.

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For that reason, giving him a new short-term contract is an absolute no-brainer, allowing him to take up a squad role and proving to be an effective impact substitute when legs are tiring.

Some may be unhappy at Liverpool retaining an ageing player who is currently earning £180,000 per week, but he has been hailed as ‘world class’ by Jurgen Klopp in the past and squad depth is vital moving forward.

At 31, he is far from ancient, too, and there is no reason why he can’t produce many more telling contributions in the coming years, prior to leaving when his potential extension runs out.

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Jason Knight to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Leeds Live, who claimed that the Whites and recently-relegated Burnley, are considering a move for the Derby County midfielder in the off-season, before relaying comments made by the 21-year-old concerning a potential move to the Premier League this summer.

Regarding his future, the Republic of Ireland international said: “Whenever I step out there I always mix it with anyone. If that offer comes in, it’s something you have always dreamt of, playing in the Premier League and at the highest level.

“At the moment I’m still a Derby player. Everyone knows it’s been a tough year with things behind the scenes at Derby. I’ve played a lot of games so I was happy with that aspect but what the future holds I don’t know. I’ll see what happens.”

The next Mason Mount

While it is true that Derby have been in something of a downward spiral in recent years – something which ultimately saw the Rams suffer relegation to the third tier of English football this year – Knight has undoubtedly been one of the few bright sparks at Pride Park.

Indeed, despite his tender age, the 21-year-old has already made 119 first-team appearances for the Midlands club, scoring 11 goals and registering four assists across all competitions.

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The £4.5m-rated talent has even captained his side on occasion, with Wayne Rooney suggesting that the academy graduate’s attitude both on the pitch and in training was the reason for him handing Irishman the armband.

The 36-year-old said of Knight: “He’s a manager’s dream. He gives everything. He’s great for the younger and older lads to take note of, but I still want more from him. But in terms of what we’re trying to build, he deserves the armband – whether he’s 19 or 30.”

As such, considering his leadership qualities, his undoubted ability and his impressive positional versatility – being comfortable operating in defensive, central or attacking midfield, and on either flank – it would appear as if Knight could well be on course to follow in the footsteps of one of Derby’s former loan starlets in Mason Mount.

Indeed, the England international made his name over 38 Championship appearances with the Rams in 2018/19, with the £103m-rated Chelsea midfielder scoring eight goals, providing four assists and creating seven big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.6 shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

As such, should Victor Orta be successful in his pursuit of Knight this summer, and the 21-year-old continues his impressive career progression at Elland Road, the Spaniard could well have unearthed the next Mount for Leeds. That is sure to be an incredibly exciting prospect for Whites supporters and Jesse Marsch.

AND in other news: Orta can land “the next Declan Rice” as Leeds eye talent who’s “getting rave reviews”

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are seemingly looking to strengthen again this summer, with Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis one name that appears to be of interest.

What’s the word?

According to respected journalist Alan Nixon, the Hoops are still keen on a move for the 20-year-old this summer, as manager Ange Postecoglou looks to bolster his defensive ranks ahead of next season.

Asked about a possible switch for the Englishman on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed that the Old Firm outfit are monitoring the centre-back, although there has been little movement in recent days: “Nothing since last week … there IS an interest … no decision for a couple of weeks.”

This follows a report from Sky Sports last week that suggested the Stockport-born gem was being considered by the Glasgow side, with further reinforcements needed amid reports that Christopher Jullien could be on his way out of the club.

Supporters will love it

Those at Parkhead will be hoping that the England U21 international can be another young prospect who proves a success after making the jump from the Etihad to Scotland, with the likes of Patrick Roberts and Jeremie Frimpong two of the most notable names to have starred after arriving from City.

Although a relative unknown to many, Harwood-Bellis has already gained vital senior experience at the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht and most recently with Championship outfit Stoke City, making 22 appearances for the Potters in the second half of the 2021/22 season – all of which came as starts.

That run of games will likely have proved vital to his development, while he proved his worth after recording a string of impressive statistics, recording an average of 1.9 interceptions, 3.5 clearances and one tackle per game, while also winning a solid 60% of his aerial duels.

Having also enjoyed a taste of life under Pep Guardiola, with the serial-winning coach lavishing him with praise in the past, the 6 foot 2 colossus is likely to be able to adapt to Postecoglou’s attacking style of play, while his 81% pass accuracy rate last term illustrates his comfort with the ball at his feet.

His former Rovers boss Tony Mowbray has also highlighted his strengths both in and out of possession, the one-time Celtic man stating that the youngster is an “old school” defender in one sense, although he can also “play football if that’s the game infront of him”.

Schooled by Guardiola, and briefly managed by Premier League legend Vincent Kompany in Belgium, the £6m-rated ace likely can’t have had a better footballing education, with now the time for him to properly nail down a permanent home.

It may be too unrealistic to expect him to make an instant impact north of the border were he to be signed this summer, although Hoops’ supporters will no doubt be excited by the undoubted potential on offer, while Postecoglou has already proven his knack for developing and improving any incomings.

In other news: Ange can land his own Van Dijk as Celtic eye bid for “tremendous” £4.05m-rated machine

According to reliable journalist Tom Barclay, Southampton transfer target Liam Delap would ‘definitely’ fit the profile of player that manager Ralph Hasenhuttl might be tempted to sign during the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: Delap profiled

The 19-year-old first joined the academy at Manchester City as a scholar three years ago and has worked his way up through the ranks at the club, which saw him rewarded with his first-team debut in the Sky Blues’ 2-1 Carabao Cup victory against Bournemouth in September 2020.

The forward put pen to paper on a new three-year contract extension with the Etihad Stadium outfit last summer, but he has recently been touted with a move away from the Premier League champions in a bid to get some much-needed game-time and further his development.

In a recent report from The Sun, it’s claimed that the teenager is on Southampton’s shortlist as they desperately look to bolster their attacking ranks; and after raiding Chelsea’s academy to sign Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu last year, the Saints have been backed to pull off a similar move by tempting Delap into a south coast switch in the coming months.

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The Latest: Barclay backs Southampton links with Delap

Barclay has suggested that Delap could be the perfect fit for Hasenhuttl’s plans at Southampton, given the Saints’ previous raids for young prospects from the Premier League’s top brass.

Wnd when asked whether he thought he could see any parallels in their swoops for the aforementioned ex-Chelsea youngsters, he told GiveMeSport: “Yeah, definitely. They’ve targeted Chelsea’s academy in recent history with great success, with obviously Livramento being the standout one, Broja as well.

“Dynel Simeu, who went on loan to Carlisle and did well, although he’s not been as much of a standout player; he was signed more for the B team but is another player they signed from that club’s academy.

“And I think we’ve talked about Tino Anjorin as well as another possible target in the future. So, they’ve looked at that area.”

The Verdict: Perfect replacement for Long

With veteran striker Shane Long set to depart St Mary’s upon the expiry of his contract next month, Delap could be viewed as the ideal candidate to take the Irishman’s place in the squad, either on a temporary or permanent basis.

The Winchester-born talent, who was once dubbed a “special” player by City manager Pep Guardiola, has been in excellent form in Premier League 2 this season. With eight goals and two assists in just ten appearances at that level, as per Transfermarkt, he has shown just how prolific he can be in the final third regardless of his age.

After a disappointing 15th-place finish in the top flight this season, the possible addition of someone like Delap up top could be just what Southampton need if they are to start making a serious push towards a top-ten finish next time around.

In other news… a talkSPORT reporter has made this huge Saints transfer claim involving one of their summer targets

Rangers must wipe away the tears after the heartbreak in Seville earlier this week, as they have the chance to end the season on a high in the Scottish Cup today.

The Gers can win a trophy in their final match of a gruelling campaign to give the club a much-needed lift after the loss on penalties in the final of the Europa League on Wednesday night.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s men were held to a 1-1 draw by Eintracht Frankfurt over 120 minutes after Joe Aribo opened the scoring in that game, losing in the penalty shoot-out as Aaron Ramsey failed to score from 12 yards.

They now come up against Hearts in the final of the Scottish Cup, and one player that Van Bronckhorst must bring into the starting XI is academy midfielder Alex Lowry.

Gio must unleash Lowry for Rangers

He was an unused substitute in Seville but has the potential to be Rangers’ big cup hero today. Lowry can put down a marker ahead of next season by making the difference for the Glasgow giants on this occasion.

The 18-year-old played against Hearts on the final day of the Premiership season and was absolutely outstanding throughout the match. As per SofaScore, he completed 33 of his 38 passes, created one ‘big chance’ and made two tackles whilst playing on the left of the front three.

He ended the match with a goal and an assist to his name, brilliantly rolling the ball into the corner for his goal and setting up Cedric Itten to score with a precise corner.

Van Bronckhorst has now handed the youngster four appearances in the top flight this season and Lowry has averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.05 in those matches. The Scottish starlet is showing that he can perform at first-team level in spite of his tender age, and he has the quality to be the hero of today’s final.

Scottish coach Andy Goldie hailed the youngster as “care free and gallus” in an interview with The Athletic, whilst he also said that the midfielder is a “master” of the ball in a way unlike many young players in the country.

These quotes suggest that Lowry has the playing style to make him standout in a cup final. He has the magic touch in possession to make things happen, as proven in the team’s last clash against Hearts, and that is why Van Bronckhorst must place him in the starting XI for this game.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst eyeing Rangers swoop for “phenomenal” £1m destroyer, supporters would love him…

Manchester City will be set to say goodbye to Fernandinho this summer after he revealed this would be his last season with the club.

Having signed back in 2013, the Brazilian has gone on to make 382 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions.

In those appearances, the midfielder has scored 26 goals, provided 33 assists and won numerous trophies along the way.

As he was so keen to join the club all those years ago, it was revealed that the player paid £4m of his own transfer fee to make his move to the Etihad Stadium.

Looking ahead to the next summer window, it seems as though another midfield talent is willing to make a financial sacrifice to force his way to the Manchester club.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Sun, Barcelona midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, is reportedly willing to kiss goodbye to nearly £6m in unpaid wages to clinch a move to City this summer.

Having made 135 appearances for Ajax across their senior side and U21 team, the Dutchman joined Barcelona in the 2019 summer transfer window after striking a deal worth £65m for him back in January.

It’s thought the player may cost around £59.6m this summer.

Great news for Man City

Since arriving at Barca, the 25-year-old has played in 139 games for the La Liga side across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and providing 17 assists along the way.

To highlight what a useful midfield option he could be for Pep Guardiola, de Jong is listed in the top five at Barcelona for passes made while under pressure from an opponent and key passes. He is also among the best five for shot and goal-creating actions in La Liga this term.

This shows just how much of a talented figure he is on the ball and how he can create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. It also shows why Barca boss Xavi previously described him as a “genius.”

With City averaging more possession and passing success in the Premier League this season than any other side, adding the Barcelona star to their ranks could be a match made in heaven for both parties.

Now that the £63m-rated midfielder’s willingness to forget about his unpaid wages from Barcelona to join City has been reported, this surely represents good news for the Manchester club.

It should consequently push them into making a move to sign him as soon as possible.

In other news: Imagine him & Foden: Pep can form scary MCFC duo by signing gem Haaland called “crazy”