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Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says events such as Anthony Joshua’s fight against Oleksandr Usyk could help Tottenham sell the naming rights to their stadium for the £250,000,000 they are looking for.

The Lowdown: Spurs host huge bout

Recently, Joshua’s heavyweight boxing bout with Usyk took place in front a full capacity crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua lost the fight, but the glamour of the event can only be good news for Tottenham as a brand.

The Latest: Maguire impressed

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire discussed Tottenham’s ability to attract naming rights offers for their stadium. He said:

“I think it helps Spurs from a negotiation perspective.

“It was a spectacular event, with the exception of the result. That can only enhance the club’s ability to broaden the global scope of what they can offer.

“That therefore makes it more attractive to a sponsor. But it seems a lot of money, however, £25m.

“Man City got more than that, but that was on the back of the stadium that people were looking for a name for.

“But they are calling it the Tottenham stadium deliberately. As soon as people start calling it White Hart Lane, it becomes much harder to get a deal.

“That’s because people will not refer to it by its new name. That means the sponsor doesn’t get as much publicity.

“If you can’t persuade people to use the corporate name, that is to the detriment of their negotiating position.”

The Verdict: Financial boost

It was recently revealed Tottenham are looking for £25m per year over 10 years, which would end up seeing Tottenham receive a fee of £250m. As per 90min.com, that would make Spurs’ ground the most lucrative in terms of sponsorship.

Of course, that is a huge amount. However, given the stadium is already luring in massive corporations like the NFL (nfl.com), it is clear it can be used for more than just football matches, which makes it an interesting proposition for plenty of companies. For Daniel Levy and co, therefore, a financial boost could be just around the corner.

In other news, this man has been urged to leave Tottenham.

Many Everton fans have been left fuming over some news involving one of their upcoming fixtures in the Premier League.

As per the official Twitter page of the Goodison Park faithful, their trip to Newcastle United in February has now been rescheduled, after being selected for live TV.

It will now be played on Tuesday 8th February at 7:45pm, in what is an ridiculously inconvenient time for supporters hoping to go to the game on Tyneside.

The late kick-off makes it difficult for Toffees to travel back, especially in a midweek when they are likely to have work the next day, and there will be fewer public transport options at that time of night.

Nonetheless, the anger also comes after a poor run of form on the pitch, which has seen the Merseyside club win just one of their last 10 matches in the Premier League.

Everton fans on fixture change

These Blues fumed as the news of the fixture change was shared on Twitter, with one EFC fan even going as far as to claim that it was ‘awful’:

“Why?”

Credit: @efc_1878___

“Keep going @premierleague – kick us when we’re already down”

Credit: @SpecterAndGold

“We’re actually never playing a game on a Saturday again”

Credit: @joejohnson1202

“Everton are not allowed to play Newcastle in broad daylight”

Credit: @jamesc_422

“Absolutely awful date change for Newcastle away that”

Credit: @Lammylad88

“Half the fan base just suffered an injury reading this tweet”

Credit: @SchneiderErnie

In other news, find out what injury news has Evertonians fuming here!

Transfer insider Dean Jones has now dropped some big news with regards to summer plans at Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Targets lined up

The Ibrox faithful are reportedly now considering moves for both Ross Stewart and Gareth Bale in the summer, so they are clearly already eyeing up ways to strengthen with the current season drawing closer to an end.

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They find themselves six points behind leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, but are in the UEFA Europa League semi-final after they knocked out Braga over two legs – if they can win the competition and secure Champions League football, new quality and depth in the market will be a necessity.

The Latest: Planning already

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has shared that the hierarchy at the Teddy Bears have ‘already been speaking’ about possible transfer targets for the summer, while other clubs have not got that far yet:

“I know they’ve already been speaking about potential targets for the window, which is quite interesting given we’re still only halfway through April.

“A lot of clubs aren’t that far down the road in terms of defining where they want to head.”

The Verdict: Big

The fact that the Light Blues are planning ahead already is big for their ambitions for next season.

It looks as if they are going to miss out on the SPFL title, but should they end up winning the Europa League, then they would automatically qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Thus, they could potentially attract big names like Bale to the football club, and so deals will need to be in place in order to fight off the likely competition.

Nonetheless, it is always better to get your business done early in the window, so that everything is prepared in time for the start of the new campaign.

In other news, find out who Gers’ three worst performers were against Braga here!

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left lauding some early team news ahead of their game at home to Livingston in the Scottish Premiership tonight.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has revealed that Ryan Jack is now available for selection in the squad, as is Scott Arfield.

While having another player in Arfield back is a boost in itself, members of the Ibrox faithful were particularly pleased with the news regarding Jack, who has been victim to too many injury problems during his time at Ibrox.

He has no doubt been a key part of the team over the years, scoring nine goals and supplying a further nine assists in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, while he made 19 appearances in their title-winning season.

Nonetheless, it will be great just to see him out on the pitch again, having missed 64 matches through injury since the beginning of last season.

Rangers fans on team news

These Gers lauded the early team news as it was shared on Twitter, with one RFC supporter claiming that it was ‘great’:

“A fit Ryan Jack would see us canter to 56.”

Credit: @drummybear

“Great news”

Credit: @walterwalk

“Ryan Jack!!!!!”

Credit: @cameron56689617

“Jack is back”

Credit: @gregmcarthur55

“DE DE NA NA NAAAAAA”

Credit: @1872_KK

“A fit Ryan Jack for the rest of the season is just what we’re needing.”

Credit: @smudginthefunk

In other news, find out what injury update has been bemoaned by Gers here!

Many Glasgow Rangers fans were left fuming as some news emerged before their game at home to St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Boxing Day.

As per the official website of the Teddy Bears, there will now be a reduced capacity at Ibrox following an announcement from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The game will still go ahead despite concerns over rising Covid-19 cases, which has already seen two matches in the English Premier League in Liverpool versus Leeds United and Wolves versus Watford already being called off.

Nonetheless, there will now be a reduced amount of tickets available for the fixture against St. Mirren, much to the dismay of the Light Blues faithful, in what has put a damper on an otherwise celebrated football tradition.

Rangers fans on Ibrox restrictions

These Gers were left fuming as the news was shared on the club’s official Twitter page, with one RFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘disgraceful’:

“The bemusement surely must be sarcasm, the restrictions being imposed on everyone here has NO place in SCIENCE. Sturgeon has gone too far.”

Credit: @1rskl

“Is that it? Where is Stewart Robertson? As an @spfl board member he needs to explain to fans why the decision to move the winter break didn’t follow the 11/1 vote when curtailing the season 2 seasons ago did. From the outside it looks like corruption to benefit 1 club.”

Credit: @Northernger

“Limiting capacity to less than 1%, with absolutely NO DATA to support this action, DISGRACEFUL! And what happens if ALL of those with a ST or match ticket turn up??? The police will be forced to let the fans IN to avoid a public disturbance outside …. Just saying…”

Credit: @KenM_inCzechRep

“Not a word of anger about bringing the shutdown forward. Just new dates with times. This is detrimental and disadvantageous to Rangers going forward successfully this season.”

Credit: @ultrateque

“Is that it? Why are we not kicking up a fuss at the fact the break was brought forward so fans could have chance to see games yet now our fans won’t get that at all on Sunday! Absolute farce! We should be asking for compensation”

Credit: @crawford_hume

“Joke”

Credit: @JoshMcsorley72

In other news, find out what claim from this Rangers player’s father has fans talking here!

Tottenham Hotspur have managed to dig themselves a gaping hole just at the moment in which everything appeared to be falling into place, but Daniel Levy could yet hand Mauricio Pochettino a timely boost to catapult the club back onto flat ground. 

When it rains it pours. Tottenham are in the midst of a crisis in their season which is both damning and familiar in its character.

An annual crisis of football existentialism is a theme which habitually perpetuates in north London, with the narrative surrounding Pochettino’s failure to break his silverware duck and it’s correlation with Levy’s apparent reluctance to part with a penny in the transfer market painting a gloomy outlook for the future.

In the midst of a mini injury crisis and following a cataclysmic trio of results which ended Spurs’ realistic hopes of mounting a title bid and seen them crash out of both the Carabao and Fa Cup, there is an endless stream of reasons for supporters to vent at the club’s hierarchy.

Demands for new signings have fallen on deaf ears in the past but there is a growing feeling that Spurs simply cannot afford to draw a blank this month with a Champions League encounter against a slick, fresh and title-chasing Borussia Dortmund side looming on the horizon.

The final hours of the transfer window are sure to be characterised by intrigue and a strong sense of pessimism amongst the supporters, but that negativity could transform into optimism if a recent report from the Daily Mail comes to fruition.

Indeed, the report claims that Tottenham transfer target Ante Rebic has publicly declared his interest in moving to the Premier League.

“The Premier League is attractive and it would suit my style. I’d like to experience it.”

While the arrival of Rebic would not entirely dispel the problems which have plagued the club in the past twelve months, it would go along way to easing the current crisis and solving Tottenham’s long-term second striker conundrum.

The Croatia international played a starring role in his nation’s journey to the World Cup final in the summer, dribbling with infectious tenacity and working relentlessly hard off the ball to recover possession for his side.

His style is tailor made for the Pochettino mould and his versatility would give Spurs another option at centre-forward to utilise in Kane’s absence.

Rebic is not a natural centre-forward, but his preference to operate slightly behind a natural number nine and his goal scoring return this season suggest that he is perhaps better suited to a role at the spearhead of the attack than the likes of Dele Alli, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min.

Eintracht Farnkfurt’s talisman has continued his excellent form from the World Cup and started the Bundesliga campaign in style, with seven goals and three goals to show for his efforts from 14 fixtures.

In the modern climate it is difficult to find a player boasting that type of return who is valued at anything other than an extortionate price, so the fact he is reportedly valued at £35 million should be giving Levy plenty to ponder over ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Rebic is a perfect fit for Spurs – particularly given current circumstances – his potential asking price is not unreasonable and he clearly has personal motivation to make the switch to English football.

Time to act, Levy.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

A number of Aston Villa supporters have laid into Tyrone Mings’ erratic performance in the first half away to Arsenal.

Dean Smith’s side have had a week to reflect on their shock 3-2 defeat at home to Wolves last Saturday, on a day when it looked as though three points were in the bag.

Instead, Villa suffered one of their most disappointing Premier League losses in recent memory.

Smith’s men are back in league action this evening, making the trip to north London to face an Arsenal side still flattering to deceive under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners were the better team from the off however, and one player who struggled to impress in the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates was Mings.

The England international was diving into tackles, completed a poor 71 per cent of his passes and was eventually booked for a mistimed challenge on Alexandre Lacazette.

Aston Villa fans react to Mings’ first half

These Villa supporters gave their thoughts on Mings’ display on Twitter.

“Mings carries on just like he finished last week”

Credit: @brian_seadon

“Mings try not to hoof the ball challenge!”

Credit: @YoungArevalo

“Mings is struggling”

Credit: @jimmydoris1986

“I love Tyrone Mings but he is TRASH in a back 3”

Credit: @avfcPJR

“Omg Mings no”

Credit: @JamieeAVFC

“Mings is so reckless. Incredibly naive at times “

Credit: @SandbrookNick

In other news, some Villa fans have slammed a piece of Premier League news that has emerged. Read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for an ‘unprecedented’ transfer spending spree in the upcoming January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to an inside source, who revealed the information to Football Insider earlier this week, and claims that manager Antonio Conte is pushing the club’s hierarchy to land multiple signings after identifying several key areas since arriving in the dugout.

It’s believed that the Italian, along with sporting director Fabio Paratici, are plotting for the “biggest January window in the club’s history”, as per the report.

There could be several major signings, as well as some departures, whilst it is thought that a new central defender is amongst the 52-year-0ld’s priorities.

An exciting winter?

In the past, Spurs have hardly been notorious spenders in any transfer window, let alone in the winter. After all, the north Londoners did go 18 months without a single signing during the Mauricio Pochettino era, ending it with the £15m addition of Jack Clarke.

For instance, this time last year, there were no additions to Jose Mourinho’s squad in January, even with the side struggling to force their way into the top six.

A year earlier, only Steven Bergwijn was their ‘major’ splash, joining in a £25m deal from PSV Eindhoven – and funnily enough, he is one of the players who could seemingly depart next month, according to Mike Verweij on De Telegraaf’s football podcast (via Sport Witness).

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There was no signing in 2019 or 2017, whilst Lucas Moura (£23m) was the sole addition on deadline day in 2018.

As you can see, any sort of substantial change in playing staff in January would represent a change in attitude from the club, and particularly chairman Daniel Levy, though that could suggest that it’s truly Paratici in charge of such decision-making now.

Despite a change in manager and some pretty drab performances – leading striker Harry Kane has even bagged just once – the Lilywhites somehow still sit in fifth place, just two points adrift of the top four, with a game in hand.

Bringing in some much-needed reinforcements could be exactly what Conte needs to steer Spurs back into the Champions League, and that would be quite some feat with this current squad.

As such, this latest development from an inside source should leave supporters around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium absolutely buzzing with excitement.

It’s no secret that the squad needs a freshen up – last season’s error-prone backline remains, Kane is out of sorts and several players have overstayed their welcome.

Backing a world-class manager like Conte will pay serious dividends and the prospect of that actually happening, as the report suggests, should leave fans – as well as the Italian himself – rather encouraged heading into next month’s window.

AND in other news, Spurs source drops major behind-the-scenes update at Hotspur Way, Conte will be fuming…

Manchester United are keen on signing Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn in the summer.

That’s according to The Telegraph, with a number of Red Devils fans giving their thoughts to the news on social media.

United aren’t expected to be busy during the January transfer window, with the club turning their attentions towards a busy summer.

Midfield is thought to be an area where United want to strengthen, with McGinn featuring against Ralf Rangnick’s side in a 1-0 FA Cup defeat last week.

The Telegraph’s James Ducker revealed on Monday that the 27-year-old is admired by Old Trafford technical director Darren Fletcher and could be valued at around £40m. Should his contract situation remain the same in the Midlands, the Scot would have two years left on his deal in the summer, although he is expected to be offered new terms.

United fans react

@utdreport shared the links regarding McGinn on social media. Here is what these United fans had to say in reply, with a mixture of responses available to view below, where one supporter labelled it as ‘ridiculous’.

“Wow”

Credit: @3112Christian

“This is fantastic”

Credit: @Bosun_Betiku

“This is ridiculous when he costs as much. He does why not get someone more suited to the manager like Zakaria whilst saving a lot of your money for a better player and get them now, I don’t really just see the point, just trying to throw us off surely!”

Credit: @detectivechimpR

“These are the types of players we need ‘work horse’ ”

Credit: @Jornwathe4

“Shame on Man United.”

Credit: @manutdtimes

“If we’re even looking at this it’s absolutely ridiculous”

Credit: @henryja04492394

In other news: ‘Conte at it again’ – Lots of Man Utd fans react as Spurs now eye move for £120k-p/w ace

Reliable journalist Phil Hay has outlined three key factors which could ensure that Leeds United sign Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson this summer.

The Lowdown: Aaronson linked with Leeds move

The American has already become a key player for Salzburg at the age of just 21, starting all eight of their Champions League matches this season.

Back in the January transfer window, he was strongly linked with a move to Leeds, and that was before his former manager Jesse Marsch had replaced Marcelo Bielsa in Yorkshire.

It could be that the Whites’ interest in the midfielder returns in the summer, as Marsch looks to further make his mark at Elland Road.

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The Latest: Hay discusses possibility of Aaronson to Leeds

Writing for The Athletic, Hay claimed that a move to Leeds for Aaronson could easily materialise for three key reasons, with the Whites planning to try their luck with him again. The reporter stated:

“The intention is, or certainly was, to bid again for Aaronson. He’s interested in the move, he’s played under Jesse Marsch before and Salzburg are likely to be more open to bids in the summer than they were in January.”

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The Verdict: Ideal midfield addition

On the face of it, Aaronson looks like an ideal player to come in and make Leeds stronger in the middle of the park, bringing more guile to that area of the pitch.

Along with averaging 1.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season, he has also scored 12 goals and registered 15 assists throughout his time with Salzburg, showing what an effective all-round footballer he can be.

The fact that Marsch is now in charge surely only increases the chances of Aaronson joining him at Elland Road, with the American compatriots knowing each other well from their mutual time at Salzburg.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has revealed a key Leeds transfer update. Read more here.