According to The Telegraph, Danny Rose’s exit from Tottenham seems to no longer be happening, after impressing manager Mauricio Pochettino. 

It has been widely speculated over the summer that Rose would be leaving The Lilywhites, with French outfits PSG and Marseille being the likely destinations for the left-back.  However, the Argentinian manager has been impressed with how his player has responded to criticism.

The England international is willing to stay in north London and fight for a place in the first team. This is brilliant news for Tottenham fans, particularly after a summer where no new players joined the club.

Both Rose (valued at £27m on Transfermarkt.co.uk) and Toby Alderweireld looked certain to leave at some point during the transfer window, so to keep hold of those key players is perhaps as important as any transfer that they could have made. Tottenham would have looked very stretched in the left-back position had the 28-year-old left.

Kyle Walker-Peters would have been used as the back-up option to Ben Davies had Rose left, but that would not have filled fans with a lot of confidence. Walker-Peters is still yet to prove himself at the highest level, and would be regarded as a gamble without Rose. Now there is a good level of competition in the left-back position, which will only boost performances.

Rose even earned his first start of the season on Monday against Man United at Old Trafford. However, his performance was rather shakey, epitomised by a wayward pass that should have been punished by Lukaku. But with this new confidence that Pochettino seems to have in his player, his performances will only improve.

Wolves have got going in the Premier League and have had a solid week, with a 1-1 draw with Manchester City followed up by an excellent away win at West Ham this weekend.

Manager Nuno Santo has got his team adjusted to the Premier League it would seen, and some of their summer signings appear to be settling in nicely.

However, there is always room for improvement, and as Santo will know, the club do not always need to go massive in the market, with the Championship hosting some top talent in itself.

One player who we at the Tavern think Wolves should take a punt on is Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck, who has been simply superb for Chris Wilder over the last two seasons, and continues to impress this term with his form.

Despite a Scotland call-up continuing to elude him, Fleck is a class act, and there is little doubt he has the ability and talent to play in the top flight.

While many Wolves fans might see Fleck as a bit of a suprise suggestion, the Blades midfielder does have quality. The likes of Neves and Moutinho are going to need help through the season, and the signing of someone like Fleck would add competition and provide a quality midfield option should either be injured.

United will not want to sell, but money can talk, and Wolves are certainly not short of that.

Wolves fans, what do you think? Would Fleck be a decent punt? Let us know in the comments!

Nottingham Forest supporters have been pretty despondent in the Transfer Tavern in recent times after seeing their side suffer their first defeat of the Championship season on Saturday.

Aitor Karanka’s men went into their clash with Brentford at Griffin Park having won one and drawn the other four of their opening five league matches, thus generating some optimism among supporters after a summer of encouraging business. Yet the East Midlands giants suffered disappointment at Brentford on Saturday in going down 2-1 to the Bees, with goals from Lewis MacLeod and Ollie Watkins either side of a Matty Cash equaliser sealing all three points for Dean Smith’s team.

Thus, there have been many downbeat Forest fans up and down the country in recent times, some of whom have taken to Twitter to criticise the arrival of midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis on a free transfer.

And while there are likely to be a few doubts regarding the £1.35 million-rated midfielder (as per Transfermarkt), those Forest fans may well be wrong as the 27-year-old could well prove to be a very shrewd addition indeed.

Ultimately, Forest were extremely busy during the summer transfer window in overhauling the playing squad at the City Ground, with the central midfield department one area that was heavily bolstered by manager Karanka.

As such, it does seem somewhat strange for the former Middlesbrough boss to bring Greece international Tachtsidis to the club, but given what the 27-year-old can offer both on and indeed off the field, he could prove to be a fine signing.

The midfielder has over 200 club career appearances to his name of which 128 have come in Serie A, thus underlining the fact that he has produced the goods at the highest level during his professional career.

Add in the odd appearance in European competition, as well as 25 caps for Greece, and Tachtsidis can offer a great deal off the pitch for the Reds, while his ability with the ball at his feet, specifically in picking out a pass, will surely help on the field as well.

And luring him to the City Ground on a free means that the East Midlands heavyweights have nothing to lose from such acquisition, but they could well reap the rewards if the 27-year-old can produce his best form at the Championship side.

As such, while some Forest fans are underwhelmed at the addition of the Greek star, he could well turn out to be a very shrewd addition indeed given what he can offer the Reds both on and off the pitch.

Forest fans… what do you think? Let us know!

When Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool meet at Wembley Stadium on Saturday it is likely to be an encounter that is won and lost in the middle of the park.

Both sides can draw from a wealth of top class, experienced, international midfielders who will be tasked with taking control of the game. 

Mauricio Pochettino is likely to call upon Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen to provide his side’s creativity and attacking threat from deep. Behind them, one of Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele or Victor Wanyama will be selected to shield the defence.

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The visitors, meanwhile, will likely set their midfield up in a similar configuration. Jurgen Klopp may ask club captain Jordan Henderson to sit deep in the holding role or, alternatively, summer signing Fabinho could be brought in to make his Premier League debut.

Meanwhile, the in-form Georginio Wijnaldum, the experienced James Milner and the energetic Naby Keita will all also be battling for inclusion.

If Football FanCast were to create a side combining both teams, we would select a midfield three of Eriksen, Milner and Keita. but let us know below who would form your midfield contingent for this select XI by giving each player a thumbs up or thumbs down…

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Loads of Celtic fans have been giving their verdict on the defeat at Kilmarnock, and they’re pleasantly surprised by the performance of Youssouf Mulumbu.

Celtic fell to their second Premiership defeat of the season on Sunday, as once again the players looked sluggish and uninspired.

Jack Hendry is taking the brunt of fans’ criticism, but the entire team was relatively poor.

Chris Burke equalised for the hosts with a wonderful strike after Leigh Griffiths had given the Hoops a first half lead, and Stuart Findlay’s stoppage time winner compounded Celtic’s misery.

Mulumbu was impressive though, covering loads of ground and showing he isn’t afraid to stick a few feisty tackles in.

The 31-year-old of course spent last season at Rugby Park, where he scored once in 18 Premiership games, and he was certainly one of the Hoops’ best players on his return.

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Fans liked what they saw from the veteran summer signing, so is it time for him to nail down a place in the midfield?

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Liverpool’s perfect start to the season hit a blip on Wednesday night when the team suffered their first defeat of the season.

After winning seven games on the bounce in all competitions, Jurgen Klopp’s men were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in the third round of the EFL Cup.

The result was disappointing for the Reds, but should not have worried the manager given that he did not field his strongest side.

Over the next seven days, Liverpool have plenty of tough battles to contend with as they take on Chelsea and Manchester City in the Premier League, as well as Napoli in a Champions League group match.

It is a hugely important week for the Reds, but their run-up to the New Year has been relatively kind.

On paper, their most difficult challenges will be facing Arsenal twice, and playing Everton and Manchester United in the league.

The club also have a Champions League group clash against Paris Saint-Germain, but they have plenty of winnable fixtures in their calendar.

Twitter account @AnfieldExpress posted the schedule, which prompted a reaction from fans.

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Tottenham put their name in the hat for Saturday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round draw after emerging victorious against Watford but it was not a comfortable tie for the Lilywhites.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side fell behind to Isaac Success’ goal but turned the tie on its head following late goals from Dele Alli and Erik Lamela, though Etienne Capoue’s dramatic late equaliser led to extra-time in the fixture at the home of League Two side MK Dons.

Spurs emerged as victors following Paulo Gazzaniga’s penalty heroics, where he saved two from the spot, but there was a lot about the performance from the ‘hosts’ that left a lot to be desired for the supporters.

Midfielder Victor Wanyama, who earns £70,000-a-week according to The Sun, was handed his first start of the season against the Hornets but the 27-year-old Kenya international failed to impress, earning plenty of criticism on social media from fans who were not pleased with his display.

We have gathered some of the best reactions below.

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Lots of Leeds fans have been giving their verdict on Saturday’s draw against Brentford, and they’re delighted with the return to form of Ezgjan Alioski.

Leeds are on the brink of something very special under Marcelo Bielsa, and when it all clicks their attack looks incredible.

The injury to Pablo Hernandez has just thrown things out of kilter a bit though, and Alioski’s form has been particularly poor in recent weeks.

The 26 year-old seems to spend more time offside than he does creating chances, and plenty of fans have called for him to lose his place to young Jack Clarke.

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The Macedonian international was fantastic in the 1-1 draw against Brentford though, providing the assist for Pontus Jansson’s goal as well as making a remarkable seven tackles.

To put that number into perspective, no other player on the pitch made more than four tackles.

His deliveries were also much better, and he looked brilliant when he moved back to left back for the last half an hour.

Fans are heaping praise on the little playmaker, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

According to a recent report from The Sun, Liverpool are one of several sides keeping tabs on Jadon Sancho. The 18-year-old currently plays his football at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund having left Manchester City in the summer of 2017, and he has since proven his worth in the German top-flight.

In fact, his recent fine form has earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain, and it appears to have interested several Premier League teams as well with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool one of many reportedly keen on the £18 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt).

And while there is little doubting that he could be an asset to Klopp’s side going forward, Sancho should forget about a move to Anfield, and indeed stay exactly where he is in a bid to continue his development.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the 18-year-old made the move away from City little over 12 months ago in a bid to earn the regular football he was unlikely to get under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, and while it took him time to get going at Dortmund, get going he certainly has now.

The attacker mustered just one assist in his first six games for the club last season, yet he finished the campaign very strongly indeed with a goal and three assists in his last six appearances, form which he has transferred into this season with a staggering one goal and seven assists in seven Bundesliga matches.

What’s more, Sancho has only started one of those games to underline the incredible impact he has when he is on the field, and it’s an impact which England manager Southgate clearly wants in his side given the 18-year-old has been named in the most recent senior squad.

And Liverpool are one side reportedly seeking to lure him back to the Premier League, but with things going well at Dortmund at present, Sancho should seek to stay exactly where he is.

Clearly, the 18-year-old is enjoying his football in Germany and is certainly producing the goods on a regular basis, but he has yet to nail down a regular place in Lucien Favre’s first team – this weekend saw him make his first start of the season in the Bundesliga.

Thus, there is still a long way to go for the attacker at the German club and much developing to be had, and given the struggles Phil Foden currently has in getting in the City team under Guardiola, one wonders whether Sancho would be able to go to one of the Premier League’s top sides and command regular football.

Arguably, that is much more likely at Dortmund in a team which plays attacking football and scores goals for fun – Sancho appears to be in his element at the German outfit, and will continue improving as a player in the Bundesliga.

Add in the pressure that may be heaped on his shoulders were he to return to the Premier League, and while Klopp’s Liverpool may be a project that excites the 18-year-old, he should stay exactly where he is for the benefit of his long-term career.

Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Manchester United paid Spartak Moscow £7m in January 2006 to sign their Serbian centre-back Nemanja Vidic, and it could now be considered one of the bargains of the 21st century after the career he went on to have at Old Trafford.

Vidic was a brick wall and alongside Rio Ferdinand he formed one of the greatest ever centre-back partnerships, with both of them becoming United legends in the process.

Perhaps then, looking at the history of the club, current United boss Jose Mourinho was right to stand his ground so firmly in the summer as he attempted to bring a new centre back into the club.

The Red Devils were linked with Harry Maguire, Toby Alderweireld, Jerome Boateng, Yerry Mina and Diego Godin during the summer transfer window as the Portuguese boss desperately searched for an upgrade on his current options, but the only defensive addition ended up being full-back Diogo Dalot.

Since the summer, the current crop of central defenders have set about proving just why Mourinho was right to target almost anyone to add to his squad. For example, in the embarrassing 3-2 loss away at Brighton, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof were laughably bad and would have had Vidic and Ferdinand seething at their legacy.

Vidic ended up spending eight and a half years at Old Trafford, playing 300 games for the club in all competitions before leaving on a free transfer in 2014 and finishing his career at Inter Milan.

The now 38-year-old was probably one of the most feared defenders in English football, and his tough tackling and robust style helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to five Premier League titles, three League Cups and one Champions League title among others.

In a team full of stars, Ferdinand and Vidic maybe didn’t hit the headlines as much as United’s centre-backs are right now, but they were crucial as the base of Ferguson’s side and there is no doubt that if Mourinho could have them both in their prime, he would be shipping Bailly, Lindelof, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo on the first bus out of Manchester.

The United boss has come in for plenty of criticism in recent weeks, but Ed Woodward’s stance on the centre-back situation during the summer must now be reviewed as it is clear that Mourinho needed reinforcements.

If a manager is no longer able to add the players he feels are necessary then maybe they shouldn’t take all of the flack when things don’t go as well as expected on the pitch.

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