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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Harry Kane was left stranded at the top of the pitch as Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

On the chalkboard

The England international touched the ball a mere 43 times throughout the 90 minutes and managed just two shots on goal.

One of those was a free-kick from range that flew over the bar, while the other was blocked.

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He did complete two dribbles and win three aerial duels but he didn’t really impact the game at all in the final third.

Kane had a pass completion rate of just 61%, meaning he didn’t really link play all that well, and he also didn’t manage to test David de Gea. Instead, he was the battering ram to which a number of balls were thwacked throughout the game.

That’s about it.

Not helped by the system

This is probably the wrong formation to use Kane in.

Jose Mourinho, the new Spurs manager, has given Dele Alli the freedom to roam and it was Kane’s England team-mate who scored Spurs’ goal at Old Trafford.

Featuring Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura as the two wingers who looked to hug the touchlines before moving infield also left Kane isolated, particularly as neither played well.

Son kept the ball too much, completing eight dribbles but never really offloading it in a useful manner – he did not register a key pass. Lucas, meanwhile, was execrable, completing one dribble and failing to have a shot on goal.

Throughout, Kane – who Transfermarkt value at £135m – was ploughing a lone furrow, constantly looking for a sniff of the ball or a sniff of a chance.

Neither really came and that is not his fault; it is the fault of the system in which he was placed.

Of course, this is only Mourinho’s fourth game as Spurs boss but this is a misstep that he has to right.

Meanwhile, another Spurs man was awful against Man United. 

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur are scouting Kosovo international Vedat Muriqi, per Sporx.

What’s the word?

The Fenerbahce striker has scored nine goals in 13 Super Lig games thus far this season and netted 17 in 34 last term, or one every other game.

The report states that Spurs sent scouts to run the rule over the forward as Fener played his former club Genclerbirligi, in which Muriqi netted a brace in a 5-2 win.

Lazio, Monaco, Leicester City, and Eintracht Frankfurt have also been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old.

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Unproven

Muriqi is scoring goals for Fenerbahce but the Turkish league has never been known for its quality.

He only joined Fener in the summer but his record elsewhere has hardly set the world alight.

He scored just 23 goals in 69 games for Giresunspor, 25 in 52 for Caykur Rizespor, 10 in 55 for Genclerbirligi, three in 21 for KF Teuta and three in 13 for Besa Kavaje.

It just isn’t a record that will appeal to potential employers and Spurs can surely do better.

They do need back-up to Harry Kane, who is their only senior out-and-out striker, but one has to believe their scouts can find a more consistently prolific target.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho can win over his doubters with his treatment of one Spurs man. 

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking in his side’s post-match press conference, Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has hailed his side’s character after their 2-1 victory against Wolves.

What did he say?

After falling to a 3-1 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in mid-week, Spurs returned to winning ways under their recently appointed Portuguese boss with a late winner against Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

Jan Vertonghen headed home in injury-time to give the north London side all three points, and Mourinho insisted after the game that the result was down to his team’s character rather than their quality.

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He said (as quoted by Football.London): “It’s one of these victories where quality is not enough. If you are not a team, a real team in the sense of what the word team means it’s impossible. They are very, very good. I said that before the match and I say the same after the match. They are a very good team and very difficult to play against.

“The reality is that a winning team starts with the mentality. The tactical side of it is very important, the quality of the players is also very important but the concept of a team is the base for a team that is capable of winning. To win this match, this match is a perfect example of a match that only a team can win.”

Character

An away game against Wolves after playing in Germany against Bayern Munich would have been seen as an incredibly tricky tie for Spurs. And for much of the game against the Molineux outfit, that proved to be the case. As per Sofascore, they had just nine shots on goal compared to the home side’s 18. But having been pegged back by an Adama Traore goal, they refused to let Nuno Espirito Santo’s men get on top of them, and eventually got their reward thanks to a Vertonghen header.

The win only adds to the belief the Spurs side will be getting with Mourinho in charge. If they were producing the same level of performance but not getting the result at the same time, questions would be asked. Instead, Mourinho can frame the game in a way where he can accentuate the positives of grinding out all three points from a difficult contest.

Meanwhile, Tottenham fans aren’t happy that this ace has made his return to fitness.

The Portuguese business consortium interested in acquiring ownership of Charlton Athletic has heaped praise on the dynamic of the club. 

Fernando Corte-Real, who represents Corporate Football Organisation (CFO), has spoken to the media about his interest in buying the club.

The Portuguese businessman has outlined his intent for if or when he acquires Charlton and admits it will be a long-term project to get the Addicks to where they deserve to be.

“In companies there is great rigour and control, and sometimes, in football, things are not quite like that,” Corte-Real told A Bola (via Sport Witness). “It’s a very simple idea, without any magic wand. We want to do things well and those who now work at the club can continue with us.”

CFO have been linked to the club along with former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins. The ownership of Charlton will change hands for the second time in a year after the relationship with current owners East Street Investments collapsed.

Corte-Real went on to praise the Addicks’ youth setup and he believes this can be utilised in achieving success.

“Our logic is to build from the bottom up, and Charlton have a strong academy, which, we believe, can be a smart way to balance the team and reduce the need for investment,” he continued. Indeed, Charlton boast an impressive youth system, which has seen the likes of Joe Gomez graduate and go on to conquer Europe and, inevitably, the Premier League.

The CFO businessman also believes Charlton will survive the drop this season. He has outlined that plans will change if the team are relegated but Corte-Real is confident that Lee Bowyer’s men will “stay up”.

This kind of talk is exactly what the Addicks need as they walk wearily towards a new working relationship. This year has been a turbulent one for fans and some stability and genuine belief in the club is the ideal way to start fresh.

Bowyer and his side have a fight on their hands once they return to Championship action, but maybe with some hope of potential owners joining who believe in their ability, they may be able to pull through and remain in the second tier.

What do you make of Corte-Real’s words, Charlton fans? Have your say in the comments below…

Tottenham Hotspur have made an initial approach for Rennes forward Mbaye Niang, according to L’Equipe via @TalkingTHFC.

The French outlet reports Spurs have made contact with Niang’s representatives.

Jose Mourinho is in the market to find a backup for Spurs talisman Harry Kane who can also provide the England international with some healthy competition.

Some fans will no doubt remember the club have been linked with the Senegalese in the past.

He ended up joining AC Milan instead, but struggled to nail down a place at the San Siro Stadium, and was subsequently shipped out on loan to a number of European clubs, including Montpellier and Watford FC, before being sold to Serie A rivals Torino.

It is worth noting the Hornets didn’t make a bid for the Senegal international after he failed to make much of an impression at Vicarage Road.

Niang eventually joined Stade Rennais after a successful loan spell, and he has continued to impress for Julien Stephan’s side this season, scoring 10 goals in 26 games in Ligue 1, taking 2.5 shots on average via WhoScored. Moreover, he can play in a variety of different positions, and his versatility is surely an added bonus.

However, he has failed to register a single assist all year, and has averaged a mere 0.4 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game in the French top flight (WhoScored).

Although the 25-year-old certainly has an eye for a goal, he clearly needs to make improvements to his overall game, including his passing accuracy and link-up play.

Unsurprisingly given his failed spell at the Hornets, loads of Spurs fans slammed Niang’s transfer link, with one supporter branding him “garbage,” and another labelling him as a “Watford reject.”

Meanwhile another labelled him “Clinton Njie number 2”, perhaps alluding to the fact that he too came from Ligue 1 to Spurs but failed to impress, scoring zero goals in his time at the club (Transfermarkt).

Scroll through some of the scathing responses down below…

Tottenham fans, have you seen enough of M’baye Niang to convince you? Let us know in the comments section!

With the current situation affecting the world taking its toll on football clubs and their finances, the usual summer of big-money signings and huge spending is unlikely to be the case this time around.

And as per the latest report from The Sun, Tottenham are looking to take advantage of the situation by swooping for Wigan starlets Joe Gelhardt and Jensen Weir.

It claims “Spurs have asked about the duo and the administrators running the Latics confirmed they have received an official approach for the 18-year-olds”.

Despite interest from Everton in Gelhardt, Spurs hope that they can instead lure him to north London, and believe that the young striker can be nurtured into the next Harry Kane.

And after hearing about the links to the English duo, Spurs fans flocked to Twitter to share their reactions.

A few supporters took the sarcastic approach with the rumours, and jokingly claimed that they are surely heading back for the good times.

Whilst many of these Spurs fans seem underwhelmed by the prospect of two unproven teenagers being signed this summer, it should be made clear that it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be the only two that come through the door.

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Instead, Mourinho’s side should be applauded for continuing to look towards the future of the club, and having already seen Dele Alli turn into a first-team star in north London after arriving from a lower league club in MK Dons, Gelhardt and Weir could well go on to have a similar impact.

A bit of perspective would help.

According to Football Insider, Chris Hughton has told friends that he is set to take the hot-seat at Bristol City, meaning that Glasgow Rangers’ Steven Gerrard is all but out of the picture.

Gerrard, who has now been at Ibrox for two seasons, had been linked with a move to the English Championship side along with the former Brighton boss, with him emerging as a shock target for the club’s billionaire owner Steve Landsown. However, if Hughton’s reported latest words are anything to go by, the former Liverpool man will not be moving on from his current job any time soon.

There would have been plenty of reasons why a move to England would be appealing to Gerrard. After all, that is likely where he will want to end up in the long term, and the Championship is a very competitive league. Also, he would have more funds available to him – for example, last term the Ashton Gate outfit spent £29.39m, whilst the 54-time Scottish champions have not spent that much in the last two seasons combined.

Having said that, Gerrard still has unfinished business north of the border – he is still without a trophy at the Gers and, although there have been some positive signs, such as their progression to the Europa League round of 16, the only real success that will count, at the end of the day, is silverware.

As such, it is a big boost for the club that Gerrard looks as though he will be staying put – clearly, he is still hungry and believes that he may not be too far away from reaching his goals.

Let us know what you think below!

Livingston manager Gary Holt has admitted that Glasgow Rangers transfer target Lyndon Dykes looks likely to be leaving in the summer, and former Gers forward Kenny Miller has been discussing the possible move.

The forward is attracting interest from clubs in England including Championship side Barnsley, who offered around £1 million for Dykes but Livingston want closer to £2 million.

Speaking via BBC Sport about the Gers possibly signing the striker, Miller said: “I would imagine that there must be a replacement ready to come in and lead that line on Saturday or I would definitely hope so.

“Dykes had a fantastic season at Livingston,” says Miller. “His goal record is not quite matching up as yet with Alfredo’s, but he would maybe be a good second option.”

It’s hard to disagree with Miller here as Dykes could strengthen the attacking side of Glasgow Rangers. This is emphasised by the fact that he is already showing potential to be a very good Premiership striker as he made 33 appearances in all competitions for Livingston last season and scored 12 goals whilst supplying 10 assists, per Transfermarkt.

It would help Gerrard that he is already playing in the division because the manager can already see that he is a good finisher in the division and so signing him for such a small fee would not be a risk at all.

When a forward like Miller, who has scored 220 goals throughout his career, and 132 in Scotland, per Transfermarkt, is highlighting the quality of a fellow striker, then it should be a good sign for supporters to see that he is linked to the club.

Glasgow Rangers fans, what are your thoughts on this possible signing? Let us know down below!

Name: Troy Parrott

Club: On loan at Millwall from Tottenham Hotspur

Date of Birth: 4 February 2002

Position: Centre-forward

TROY PARROT – HIS CAREER SO FAR

By now, even though he is only 18 years old, Troy Parrott is a name most football fans are aware of. The young centre-forward is largely believed to be one of the be hottest prospects that Tottenham Hotspur currently have in their squad. Still, with there being a huge need to give him much more playing time than Jose Mourinho can currently offer, Parrott was sent out on loan to Millwall for the upcoming 2020/21 season.

The Dublin-born talent started his youth career at Belvedere, one of the local clubs, but was scouted and signed by Spurs really quickly. So in 2017, he moved over to London and two years later, upon celebrating his 17th birthday, he would sign the first professional contract with the club. It was also that same year that he made his senior appearances for the club, the first of which came during Spurs’ tour of Asia in July 2019, having previously trained with the first-team on numerous occasions throughout 2018/19.

And since we are talking about an extremely talented young man, he wouldn’t exactly have to wait for too long to get his debut. It arrived in the Carabao Cup third-round tie at Colchester United, just a couple of months after his first appearance for the seniors ever in pre-season friendlies. And this is when things finally started happening for the now 18-year-old starlet.

In November, he was called up for a Premier League clash for the first time and ended up sitting on the bench as Spurs drew 1-1 with Everton. Some time later that same month, he would also debut for Northern Ireland, even recording an assist along the way. But it’s in Spurs’ youth squads that Parrott shined the most.

He played 14 games for the U18s, scoring 17 goals and assisting three. After that, he appeared 14 times for the U23s as well, tallying five goals and one assist on the side. The best stint, however, was probably with the UEFA U19 team, as he became the U19 UEFA Youth League top-scorer for the 2019/20 campaign, ending his stay with the team with nine goals in nine appearances in total.

In December 2019, Parrott would finally get his Premier League debut as he came off the bench in a 5-0 routing of Burnley at home. The most recent thing to happen was, of course, the decision to send him out on loan to Millwall for the upcoming season, where he’ll hopefully get enough game time and return back a much-improved player.

TRANSFER LATEST

At the moment, there don’t seem to be many transfer news or transfer rumours circulating around Parrott. Of course, that was not the case just a couple of weeks earlier. The 18-year-old had been linked with a potential loan deal away from Spurs and it was finally announced that he would join Millwall for the upcoming 2020/21 season.

There are no other Tottenham Hotspur transfer rumours that would suggest a major twist in this story as he is very much expected to return back home and eventually slot right into the first-team, competing in the Premier League.

For now, however, we’ll be watching the youngster in the Championship.

PLAYER PROFILE

Just a simple glance at Parrott’s earlier stints in the academy and Spurs’ U18 and U23 squads is enough to see the young striker is as lethal as they come. He combines great movement and anticipation with a lethal strike and will always be a nuisance and danger in the opposition’s box. Naturally, some of his best attributes do include good shooting and dribbling abilities.

Combined, these two traits make Parrott a very tricky player to mark, especially when he’s constantly moving across the box and the final third as a whole. His main zone of operation seems to be the penalty area but he likes to drift just outside of it where he can link up with his teammates and potentially unbalance the opposition’s defensive line by dragging markers out of their position.

This part of his player profile is largely underrated because despite often setting his teammates up for a shot at goal, he doesn’t necessarily record exceptional assist tallies. Still, he seems to be much more than just a fox-in-the-box.

According to Il Secolo XIX (via Football Italia), Celtic are interested in signing Sampdoria play-maker Gaston Ramirez.

What’s the word?

As the Hoops look to win a historic tenth league title in a row, Neil Lennon is no doubt keeping a close eye on the transfer market in order to bring in some reinforcements before the close of the window.

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And Italian publication Il Secolo XIX claim that with Sampdoria looking to offload players this summer in order to raise some much-needed funds, Ramirez could be one of the players to be shown the door.

The report adds that along with Celtic, sides like Bournemouth and Southampton are also very much interested in luring the midfielder away from Italy.

Much better than Ntcham

At 29-years-old, Ramirez hardly represents the future of Celtic’s midfield, but he does have the kind of qualities that could address a major issue for the Bhoys: creativty.

The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin explored that issue earlier this season, suggesting that when the likes of Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham don’t play, then the team can struggle to create genuine chances.

But in Ramirez, Celtic would be getting a chief orchestrator, who has proven year-in and year-out that he can be a force to be reckoned with going forward. Whilst seven goals and two assists in 26 Serie A games last season is nothing to really write home about, his underlying numbers paints an entirely different picture.

As per Whoscored, he averaged an impressive 1.5 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game in the Italian top-flight – numbers that completely blow Ntcham out of the water in particular. In his limited game-time this season, the Frenchman has managed just 0.3 shots, one key pass and 0.7 dribbles per match.

Ramirez’s creativity is something that his former teammate at Middlesbrough, Ben Gibson, waxed lyrical about, saying back in 2016: “There’s no doubting his quality. He’s one of those players who on any given day he can slice open a defence.”

If Celtic can get a deal done for the £35k-a-week ace, then they could solve one of their big concerns.