In his sixth exclusive column for CaughtOffside, British agent, Haydn Dodge, discusses where Julian Nagelsmann is likely to end up next, whether Harry Kane will stay in London, what the future holds for calamitous Man United duo, Harry Maguire and David de Gea and whether Declan Rice and Mason Mount will finally team up once again, plus much more…

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Tottenham need a clear out – is Nagelsmann the man to do it?

I gather that Daniel Levy and Julian Nagelsmann had a meeting during the last few days in London, so Nagelsmann seems to be wanting to take the Tottenham job. I don’t know whether he sees that as a project or whether he will get the assurances he needs from the board at Tottenham. If it were me and I was a manager going in there then I could probably discount a lot of players. They’ve got two goalkeepers that aren’t good enough, they’ve got a right-back on loan in France that’s going ok in Djed Spence, but Pedro Porro who they’ve signed hasn’t been great and Emerson Royal is saying that he wants to leave.

They’ve got four centre-halves that aren’t good enough and probably only one that is good in Romero, they’ve got a left-back who is 34 and isn’t good enough, Ryan Sessegnon isn’t good enough… so you need another left-back in the building. I think Sergio Reguilon is still contracted to the club and he’s nowhere near, Son’s been absolutely horrendous this year, Dier is  dead wood, Sanchez is dead wood… so realistically Spurs only have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – a decent but average Premier League player – and Rodrigo Bentancur. In their right mind, I’m not sure who takes the players that Tottenham currently have in that team. 

You can’t self motivate people, you have to be motivated yourself to go and succeed. A lot of these players say that they want to go and play for X, Y and Z club, but you have to be self motivated if you want to succeed at the top of this division. If you look at the camaraderie between the Brighton players and Brentford players for example, that’s the reason why they’re doing so well.

Nagelsmann went into Bayern Munich and already had a stock of players that were serial winners, or had players if they weren’t serial winners at Bayern they had been in the past and with their country… it’s very clear to see that Spurs as a club does need a bit of a revamp. Whether or not Nagelsmann comes in with a sporting director for that, I don’t know. It all depends on one thing and one thing only for these men and that’s money. My issue is not that Tottenham haven’t spent, but they’ve done so in the wrong areas.

If I’m Harry Kane I’m sitting there going ‘why am I doing this to myself and if United are going to put a £100m bid in then why wouldn’t I go…’ Whether or not Kane’s representatives are good enough to go and push through the move that they would want, I don’t know. The fact that Pochettino is going in at Chelsea is a little bit of a killer for Tottenham fans already, and as a Spurs fan you’d rather he’d go to United than to Chelsea, because that would be the ultimate no no. The fact that Poch will probably attract someone like Kane, and the fact he’s already going there, for Tottenham fans it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth anyway. Clearly Tottenham have a big decision to make in the sense of what do they do moving forwards, because if there is to be a big squad overhaul it’s not going to happen overnight and it’s not going to happen in the summer. 

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Rice and Mount to get the band back together?

Declan Rice has always been a recruitment target for Liverpool, but I’m also being told that he would like to stay around London. I know Mason Mount was a big target for Liverpool around the same time, but both Mount and Rice may be Arsenal bound, and I know there are some communications with Arsenal to have those two based in their midfield. I think Rice suits Arsenal’s style of play and has everything needed as a modern day midfielder, but that equally applies to Chelsea and Liverpool. For example, If I’m a Liverpool fan and I’ve potentially got a midfield of Harvey Elliott, Declan Rice and Mason Mount, plus the other players they’ve already got there, that’s a real big positive and could potentially be an England midfield for years to come.

Jude Bellingham is always going to be in there for England of course, and I mentioned in my last piece that Liverpool went to their max with add-ons and everything – to around the £97m mark. I think there’s more than meets the eye here potentially though. If they can get both Rice and Mount for the same price as one player, two Premier League stars who’ve played over 200 games between them, it’s always going to be more beneficial. Then go out and get Bellingham next summer. I know Mason has signed with Virgil van Dijk’s agent, and his dad is looking to do the agency exam aswell for the longer term. That says that there could be some truth in the rumours of Mount to Liverpool and I know he’s been quite high on their priority list with Chelsea are willing to let him go. In fact, I do see a bit of an exodus at Chelsea, with maybe even Conor Gallagher on the way too. A lot of people are valuing Bellingham at £80m-£85m and I appreciate he’s a very, very good player and I really rate him, but I’m not sure Liverpool will overspend just for the sake of it. Once one deal like that gets agreed, the Man City’s and Real Madrid’s of this world will come in, and I don’t think Liverpool want to get into bidding wars.

Is Alexis Mac Allister another potential option for Liverpool down the line if they miss out out on a Rice or a Mount? I know everyone has been talking about Caicedo lately, but Mac Allister has just won a World Cup and keeps everything ticking. If you look at the way Brighton are set up, their whole recruitment strategy and the way that they sell players, Mac Allister fits in that model. He fits the way that Liverpool want to play. He’s very technical, keeps the ball down, and although he’s not going to be a Henderson, he’s not going to run ragged and run all over the pitch, he’s one that potentially links play together especially if you’re playing a 4-3-3. Much like Kante at Chelsea and Leicester when they interlock play but equally help to drive the team forward. Mac Allister can sit in front of the back four as well as being a box to box player which could be interesting. 

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Maguire is doomed at Man United and de Gea could follow him out of the exit door

Man United won’t be scared of dropping £30m-£50m on a keeper if they need to but it depends who they want. They won’t mind going losing a goalkeeper at a minimum retail value either, but David De Gea has been there quite a while so his value isn’t really determined on a transfer fee, it’s determined on his performances. I actually thought he did alright in the Brighton game. He made a couple of really good saves and I still think he’s a solid goalkeeper. Alisson Becker’s got a mistake in him, Aaron Ramsdale’s got a mistake in him, Hugo Lloris is in the top five worst goalkeepers in the Premier League in my opinion, and his number two isn’t much better. David Raya and Rob Sanchez are probably the next cusp of top level keepers coming through, but even those have got mistakes in them if they’re playing for teams who want to play a certain way. Liverpool have got Kelleher sitting on the bench who has been absolutely fantastic, and Dibu Martinez hasn’t set the world alight in the Premier League but he’s won the World Cup.

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Centre-half issues become a more difficult conversation. Harry Maguire is one of four or five, with Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw who has been playing left side centre half, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are injured… if you’re Man United, do you go into the summer and assess or do you say to Maguire that you need to go? I still think there’s an appetite for the likes of Palace, Villa, Leicester and maybe Sheffield United to take a punt, so potentially if he’s on too much money, a loan becomes the conversation, or Man United just sell him for £40m and they’ll have to play around with FFP over the next three years rather than the next one. Let’s be honest, he doesn’t even get in the top four centre-backs when everyone is fit, which says it all in terms of what the club think of Maguire and his performances. You don’t particularly want his atmosphere around the squad if he’s not playing well and not confident, and so he becomes surplus to requirements.

The post Agent’s column: Nagelsmann’s next club, why Tottenham need a serious overhaul, Harry Kane’s future, Mount and Rice to team up again, and more… appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In his fifth exclusive column for Caughtoffside, British agent Haydn Dodge discusses which manager is most likely to succeed the recently dismissed Antonio Conte permanently at Spurs, which club has offered £100m for Jude Bellingham and why Bukayo Saka’s contract extension talks with Arsenal have stalled, plus much more…

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One manager is the clear favourite at Spurs…

The ongoing saga at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which for a lot of Spurs fans, was an extremely long week, finally drew to a close on Sunday as Antonio Conte’s position became untenable.

With big characters in the dressing room and the transfer saga due to commence over Harry Kane in the coming weeks it was the right time to make a change. It is clear to me that Mauricio Pochettino may not be the first choice in Daniel Levy’s eyes, especially as he isn’t the biggest fan of admitting mistakes, but then again who is?

Julian Nagelsmann has seemed to be made a clear favourite and target for ENIC, which would obviously come with payments to Bayern Munich for an appointment before the summer. It confuses me how Bayern have let him go, but shows the elite mentality of clubs not sitting at the top of every tree possible despite only being a point behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, still in the cup competitions and Champions League quarter-finals.

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It is also clear to see that the decision to appoint Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason until the end of the season suggests there is a lack of planning. The club must not wish to reappoint Pochettino because even though he is currently out of work and available, they have not acted. The suggestion of a return for the Argentine seems to be just an idea the Spurs board flirt with but never follow through on. Similar to their poor recruitment and impulse decisions, which they continue to do, instead of sustaining the longer-term success of the football club by winning trophies year in and year out.

Arsenal have reached stalemate in Bukayo Saka’s contract talks…

Bukayo Saka is getting close to signing a new contract with Arsenal. The hold-up at the moment is to do with a previous release clause being renegotiated between club and the player’s representatives.

The word in the industry is that Arsenal want to insert a £120m clause, which is understandable, especially considering he has just 12 months left on his deal, and is arguably the hottest prospect, not only in England but also in European football.

Liverpool are going all out for Jude Bellingham…

It’s known that a bid just shy of £100m has been submitted for Jude Bellingham ahead of this summer’s transfer window. A revamp in the middle of the park is exactly what Liverpool, their fans and Jurgen Klopp need so it is not surprising to see them going all out for Bellingham.

It also seems to be interesting that Declan Rice and Mason Mount are being mentioned, with the latter choosing to be represented by Virgil Van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliot’s agents. I’m sure Chelsea will have something to say about it but Mount will be highly sought after as the consistency of the Chelsea team and the midfielder’s game time come into question.

Another player to throw into the mix with regards to the central midfield role at Anfield is the price tag being placed on Moses Caicedo’s head at Brighton despite the player signing a new deal. It would be interesting to note whether or not a record release clause has been entered into the contract to enhance his value.

Lastly, in terms of outgoings at Liverpool, it’s quite well known that Newcastle United have long admired defender Joe Gomez as they look to bolster their centre-half options ahead of several players being out of contract this summer.

EPL clubs won’t like the new World Cup format…

The news breaking over the weekend regarding the World Cup in 2026 smells of more controversy, especially after the damaging documentary released on the conspiracies and bribing that has been happening in the governing body for years.

It doesn’t surprise me that the negotiations and agreements on this “landmark” have been led by PSG’s Qatari group head, Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

FIFA’s compensation is to be paid to clubs who release players for the men’s World Cup and has been increased by nearly 70% to £335m for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments. This for me is a fallback to the controversial news surrounding the 32-team Club World Cup to also be played every four years from June 2025, meaning even more games in a regular season.

My view is that the Premier League clubs will be most aggrieved, especially as they hold weight around Europe as one of the most competitive so their players will always feel the negatives towards larger tournaments and more games.

The post Agent’s column: EPL side have bid for Bellingham, Newcastle want Liverpool defender, Levy has clear managerial favourite and why Saka’s talks with Arsenal have stalled appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In his fourth exclusive column for Caughtoffside, British agent Haydn Dodge discusses Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount’s contract situations at Man United and Chelsea respectively, Tottenham’s summer targets and Harry Kane’s future, plus much more…

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Spurs working out summer priorities but new number one inevitable…

There’s some debate within the club about what positions should be their priority. Some believe they need two centre-backs and others are pushing for a top central midfielder, obviously, their need for a new midfielder has been highlighted recently by Rodrigo Bentancur’s injury, which looks like it’s going to keep him out for eight or nine months.

A lot will depend on whether or not Antonio Conte stays but the Italian market probably has the most attractive targets. They really liked Nicolo Zaniolo before he moved to Galatasaray and Milan Skriniar is another one they’re keen on, but obviously, Paris Saint-Germain want him too, so he’ll be a tough target to land.

When it comes to a midfielder, they’ve been tracking Leicester’s James Maddison for a long time. They see him as the type of player capable of taking them to the next level but I guess it hinges on whether or not they want to play three or four at the back.

In defence, a change of goalkeeper is inevitable. Hugo Lloris is 36 years old and with inconsistencies and injuries creeping into his game, Spurs have already started looking for a new number one. I know Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou is right at the top of their list so I expect them to try and do something there in the summer. I’d also expect Jan Oblak to come into the picture considering Spurs’ strong relationship with Atletico Madrid.

Harry Kane facing career-defining summer…

When it comes to possible outgoings, obviously there is a lot of speculation surrounding striker Harry Kane but one thing is for sure, if wants to leave the Lilywhites, he has to go this summer.

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He’s actually giving off all the right signals when it comes to the prospect of staying, but I think that’s because his agent, who is his brother, isn’t strong enough to go head-to-head with Daniel Levy, so Kane has taken control of the situation a bit himself.

It’s becoming a strange situation because I’m not convinced any club will want to pay more than £60m or £70m for him now. He’ll be 30 years old in the summer and clubs will be worried about the problems he’s had with his ankle. As time goes against him, his injury problems could become more apparent so it’ll be a risk for any club to splash the cash on him.

Marcus Rashford’s form could change Man United’s mind…

On Kane, I know Man United have been heavily linked with signing him for several seasons now but with Marcus Rashford showing the world exactly what he’s capable of, I think Erik Ten Hag’s plans may have changed slightly.

I think he will go for a younger, more upcoming striker in the summer instead of Kane. Ten Hag won’t want to bring a new player to the detriment of his most in-form attacker, which is why the club are already in advanced talks to renew his contract.

I’m hearing positive things – it looks like he’ll end up signing the extension so I expect Rashford’s role at the club to become even bigger from this point.

Mason Mount would fit Liverpool’s system perfectly…

Some of Chelsea’s British players look like they’ll be the ones who are forced out.

Mason Mount’s contract talks have stalled and Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher aren’t really viewed as Chelsea-calibre midfielders so they’ll have decisions to make – hang around and see if they feature, or go in the summer.

Mount is an interesting one though – he’s been at Chelsea since he was a young lad but he’ll be looking at the Blues’ project and wondering if he’s going to be a guaranteed starter for the foreseeable future. His camp will be aware that he’s an England International too, and therefore be trying to maximise his next contract, so it’ll be interesting to see what the outcome is.

I know Liverpool quite like him and I personally believe he’d be perfect for Jurgen Klopp and his system. You’d also assume Mount would be a cheaper alternative option to Jude Bellingham, so they may well be keeping very close tabs on his situation to see how it develops.

The post Agent’s column: Rashford in advanced talks with Man United, Spurs want EPL midfielder, Mount’s Chelsea future, and more… appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In his third Exclusive Column for caughtoffside, British super-agent Haydn Dodge discusses Marcus Rashford’s contract situation at Man United, the good work Eddie Howe is doing at Newcastle, Joao Felix’s ‘strange’ move to Chelsea, plus much more…

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All signs point toward Marcus Rashford renewing his Man United contract…

With only an option left on Marcus Rashford’s deal, Man United should be in place to renegotiate a longer-term contract.

If Rashford has the right people around him then they should be in constant dialogue with the club about the player’s motives, depending on what they are behind closed doors. For example, does he want to play as well as possible and then move abroad or does he want to stay in Manchester? – I personally think he wants to stay. It makes sense. His life with his family is in Manchester and the way his form is at the moment, he’s in a solid position to negotiate his future.

From a contract perspective, it’s about maximising the opportunity that is likely to come his way. This is where some inexperienced agents come unstuck, so I hope he has good people in his corner for the player’s sake. It’s worth noting that he isn’t, but if he were my client, I’d be advising him to stay at Man United, especially with Erik Ten Hag and the financial backing the club will still and has historically received.

They’re still arguably one of the biggest clubs in the world. They’re in the Premier League, which is by far the best league in the world, so going abroad would probably be a bit of a cop-out. I know PSG may be seen as an attractive option, but Ligue 1 isn’t challenging enough for players of this ilk and Rashford is never going to be a nailed-on starter when they have a front three of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi. Then you’ve got the likes of Barcelona, who are struggling financially, and then there’s Bayern Munich but they’ve just signed Sadio Mane, so they won’t be in the market for a new left-sided winger anytime soon, all of this obviously depends on what position they see as Rashford’s best. But I personally think all signs point towards a contract renewal at United.

Joao Felix to Chelsea is a panic signing…

Their deal for Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix is a strange one. He’s been a great player in Spain and for Portugal, but Chelsea are paying an astronomical fee for a ‘sexy signing’ just to please the fans, some of which will fall for the antics but the majority will see right through it.

I’m not convinced Felix is even what they need. My only real concern is that because his move is a short-term loan, he will have to hit the ground running and we see it so often how players from other leagues need time to adapt to the Premier League. Liverpool’s Fabinho was a perfect example of that. It took him a season or so to get up to speed, and once he did, he became one of the country’s best defensive midfielders, but Jurgen Klopp could afford to be patient with him because he signed him permanently, Chelsea don’t have that luxury with Felix, so it’s a high-pressured move that may not work out quite the way they hoped.

Full-back heading for Newcastle exit but don’t expect any Galactico incomings…

Dan Ashworth has been a really good appointment for Newcastle United. He knows what he’s doing and he knows how to run a football club. Admittedly, it isn’t just him, there are others there too who turning that club around, but in terms of signings, they’re not going to sign a megastar just because they’re currently sitting third in the Premier League or their owner’s bank accounts are bigger than most.

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They’ll stick with the same model that’s worked so far for them, and that is, of course, improving what they have with the likes of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton, and making solid, but not Galactico, signings, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes, for example. It’s worth noting that Eddie Howe has done a remarkable job in the Northeast though.

In terms of future incoming and outgoings, I know Jamal Lewis is a player they’re keen to move on as he hasn’t lived up to any expectations.

The type of player that fits their model perfectly, in my view, is Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse. He’s English, Premier League proven and he’d fit their system perfectly.

One thing I’m sure of though is that whoever they go for, they’ll sign them permanently, and avoid loans. Eddie Howe has such a tight-knit squad there that in that environment, a temporary player wouldn’t fit. But whatever they do, now or in the summer, one thing is for sure – the future at St James’ Park is very bright.

Spurs love Brighton’s Leandro Trossard…

Brighton’s Leandro Trossard is one to watch. He has 18 months left on his contract and obviously, the Seagulls would like to keep hold of him but he’s very high up on Antonio Conte’s shortlist at Spurs. They really like him, and in my personal opinion, Trossard is a player who could not only provide cover in attack, but he has the right attributes to be able to drop back into midfield would be able to complement the likes of Pierre Emile Hojbjerg.

The post Exclusive: Rashford should renew Man United contract, Felix is a strange signing, Spurs love Trossard, and more… appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In his first Exclusive Column for caughtoffside, British super-agent Haydn Dodge lifts the lid on what’s really going on in professional football, including which two Man City players are trying to convince Jude Bellingham to join them at the Etihad and which player Gareth Southgate is relying on to get the best of France (if England get that far), plus much more…

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Man City duo are doing everything to convince Jude Bellingham…

Jude Bellingham is definitely on course to become football’s next big transfer saga. So many clubs are watching him but despite the interest being shown in him now, including from Real Madrid, who I have already spoken about, he may actually wait and move for free. I know it’s crossed his mind, but I also know that Erling Haaland and Phil Foden have been in his ear about moving to Manchester City.

Haaland is absolutely desperate to link back up with him again and when it comes to Foden, it’s clear to see how well he gets on with Bellingham, England fans saw that for themselves on Tuesday against Wales.

Not only that, but with the Financial Fair Play pressure on Man City, there are talks in the industry that Jack Grealish may be the player that is sacrificed if they do decide to go in for Bellingham – from what I’m hearing too, Aston Villa could look to bring Grealish back. It’s certainly a possibility and one that won’t be ruled out.

Marcus Rashford isn’t guaranteed England start against Senegal…

Marcus Rashford made all the headlines for his performance against Wales. He did play really well, especially in the second half, and it’s nice to see him in good form because he hasn’t been at his best for the last couple of seasons.

In my opinion, he became a bit stale at Manchester United. He’s a hybrid player – someone who can play as a centre-forward or as a winger, but when it comes to England, he’s not going to play up top because Harry Kane is the poster boy.

The fact he did so well against Wales is all because Gareth Southgate made a minor tweak and swapped Rashford and Foden and stopped them from being inverted wingers and allowed them to operate on their more natural sides. It worked well against Wales, but put it this way – if Southgate doesn’t keep this same momentum going, he’s going to come back from Qatar with his P45.

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As for Rashford and whether or not his performance against Wales will be enough to nail down a starting spot against Senegal on Sunday, I’m not so sure.

He could be a really impactful substitute at around the 60 – 70 minute mark. I’m just not sure he’s guaranteed a starting spot. I can see Southgate going back to his usual front three of Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Kane.

Gareth Southgate already has a plan for France…

Another player who came in and did well was Kyle Walker.

I think Walker was used against Wales as a way to give him some minutes to prepare him, not just for Senegal, but for France, and Kylian Mbappe in particular.

I definitely think Southgate’s mind is already on facing France in the quarter-finals.

In two games’ time (fingers crossed we get there), I bet he will go to a back five and instruct Walker to play on the right side of three centre-backs and cover for Kieran Trippier.

But when it comes to what lineup Southgate will go with against Senegal, which is our first hurdle, we can speculate as much as we want, but in my opinion, if he opts for Jordan Henderson alongside Declan Rice over Bellingham then massive questions will need to be asked.

The post Man City duo playing agent, Marcus Rashford isn’t nailed onto start against Senegal and which player Gareth Southgate is relying on the most appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In his first Exclusive Column for caughtoffside, British super-agent Haydn Dodge lifts the lid on what’s really going on in professional football, including Bayern Munich’s plans for Harry Kane, Real Madrid’s promise to Jude Bellingham, the three new employees heading to Chelsea, and much more…

Bayern Munich about to go bet big on Harry Kane…

Antonio Conte is pushing and pushing for more players. His lineup last weekend against Liverpool was him sending a message to Daniel Levy.

Djed Spence is a perfect example. The club made the decision to sign him in the summer, but the manager wasn’t 100 per cent sold on the idea.

The deal to bring him to Spurs was a nightmare. It was a really, really tough transfer to conclude. His agents worked wonders and don’t get me wrong, it turned out to be a good deal for everyone involved but Brentford were waiting for Levy to pull the plug so they could swoop in and maybe, in hindsight, moving to the Bees would have been better for the player. Nevertheless, a number of Premier League clubs are interested in him now so it isn’t like he doesn’t have options.

Another player Conte doesn’t want is Emerson Royal but Spurs know no one is interested so in a way, they’re stuck with him, which is why Matt Doherty is beginning to get a lot more game time.

They also want another centre-back, so there is a lot there for Conte and Fabio Paratici to try and work out. Support from technical performance director Gretar Steinsson, who is very good at what he does, is going to be key in this process.

It isn’t all bad news for them though. Dejan Kulusevski is their best player by some distance at this moment in time, with that evident on Spurs’ current form. He was on the bench against Liverpool and in my opinion, shouldn’t have been, because if you’re fit enough to sit on the bench, you’re fit enough to start the game.

I know some fans will argue and say ‘well, what about Harry Kane? – He’s Spurs’ best player’ – Yes, of course, Kane is up there. We all know he’s a top-class player but Bayern Munich are preparing to make a big play to sign him.

Chelsea miss Marina Granovskaia but three new employees incoming…

The one thing that amazes me most about Todd Boehly is how accessible he is. Most owners are very difficult to get hold of, but Bohely is different. He has removed his entire hierarchy and just said ‘right, I am running this the way that I want to run it’. He isn’t even doing it subtly either. There is a reason why a lot of agents have steered clear of him a bit, however, with that being said, money always talks.

Jonathan Goldstein is a director but he’s a massive Tottenham Hotspur fan, which is common knowledge, so he can’t be at the forefront of Chelsea. Don’t get me wrong, from what I have heard, Goldstein is a great guy but Bohely should know he can’t have him running the club.

I do think that the departure of Marina Granovskaia was a huge blow for Chelsea. She was unbelievable – seriously professional.

Granovskaia, throughout her nearly 20 years at the club, had a clear plan in place from day one and I know some deals didn’t work out as planned, but one thing she made sure of was that their academy continually turned a profit. She made sure all of their extended academy deals, whether loan or transfers, all made sense for the club from a financial and longer-term perspective.

But Granovskaia has gone now and even though there is still some work to be done in terms of senior-level staff, Boehly is about to put an executive board consisting of three people in place.

From what we‘ve been told, the three people in discussions are Stuart Webber from Norwich City, Christian Vivelli from RB Leipzig and Joe Shields from Southampton.

All of them have the pedigree and know the model of bringing young players through from their time spent at Norwich, Leipzig and Southampton, respectfully.

Once this change takes place, one of the players at the top of their list to bring in, in January will be Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, who, in my opinion, is a superstar in the making and Belgium’s future captain.

Tough to manage Chelsea winger is Spurs’ missing piece…

If I were Daniel Levy, I would be offering a deal for Hakim Ziyech because he is potentially their missing piece.

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Although prior to them signing Antony, Ziyech could have been linked with a move to Man United due to the connection he has with Erik Ten Hag from his days at Ajax, the player himself, from what I have been told, is quite a difficult character to manage.

I am not sure he would have been a good fit at Old Trafford, but the set-up at Spurs is different and under Conte, things you’d like to think would be different.

All is not well between Anthony Martial and Man United…

On the subject of Man United and potential January signings – every penny will always be scrutinised and chastised due to their public nature. Old Trafford needs a revamp as well, so that’s a big problem and the owners know they are continually under the microscope.

There are talks taking place to sell the club with investment companies in the United States but, as usual, everyone involved has been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements. The Glazers’ valuation is just under £4 billion.

But in terms of current players, it is very obvious that Ten Hag will not play a system that suits Cristiano Ronaldo. You have the likes of Anthony Martial, who isn’t playing, with injuries concerns ongoing for weeks and months at a time. Something clearly isn’t right between the player and the club.

Fitness and injury problems aren’t just exclusive to United though. It’s common knowledge that most of the best medical staff in football have all left clubs and have either set up or now work for private clinics, so now the void is being filled by staff lower down the hierarchy. That is how football clubs are working now. It’s unfortunate, but that’s just the way it is.

Real Madrid doing all they can to scupper Liverpool’s transfer plans…

It’s no secret – Jude Bellingham is wanted by Liverpool, but even though he fancied the move a little while ago, he’s having some doubts now and that’s because Real Madrid have made him aware of their interest.

They have said they view him as part of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos’ replacement. They want Bellingham to make up a midfield three alongside Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga, and that is a frightening prospect.

He could still go to Liverpool as early as January, but Real Madrid are certainly doing their best to make it difficult for Jurgen Klopp.

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