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Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici could be about to deliver another masterclass in the transfer market.

The Italian chief has had mixed success since he took the helm in north London a little over a year ago but on the whole, it’s edging towards success so far.

Bryan Gil has failed to make his mark, though he’s still young, whilst Emerson Royal has flattered to deceive despite regular game time but the same cannot be said for the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur.

All three have made an instant impact in Antonio Conte’s squad, emerging as three regular starters for the former Inter Milan coach.

Now, as Spurs close in on the signing of Clement Lenglet from FC Barcelona, Paratici could well have struck gold once again, even if it doesn’t look like it beforehand.

Indeed, the arrival of the French flop is hardly going to excite many around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the same was said for Bentancur, and to some extent, Kulusevski.

These so-called European misfits have hit the ground running with a bit of love and affection from those at the club, and they have since thrived from it.

“Lenglet’s situation with Barcelona reminds me of Bentancur’s at Juventus,” claimed Spurs podcaster Charlie Parrish. “A talented player in need of a fresh start (and a bit of love from fans and coaches) after getting slightly lost in the shuffle playing for a mega club going through a weird period of their own.”

That’s all Lenglet needs to refind his former glory – after all, he’s still ranking as a solid option when compared to his peers across Europe.

The 27-year-old centre-back, who is now valued at £26m by CIES Football Observatory, only managed to play 724 minutes in LaLiga in 2021/22 but according to FBref, he’s amongst the top 1% of central defenders for passes attempted, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 minutes.

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They also liken his playing style to that of Premier League champion Ruben Dias and to some extent, Spurs’ very own Ben Davies, so that only goes to show that he could well be the perfect fit in not just England but in Conte’s system too.

Lenglet is likely to replace the Welshman in the starting XI in that left-sided role, given he is a natural centre-back.

The FC Barcelona flop could be a “smart” addition for the north Londoners, just as Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano explained to GIVEMESPORT this week. He said:

“It’s a loan deal, so it’s a smart deal for Tottenham because they’re not spending crazy money on the centre-back, on a player who has good experience. Conte wanted him, so he’s a smart deal for Tottenham.”

Whilst Lenglet isn’t going to thrill many supporters, Paratici has earned the right to be trusted with his signings, certainly if it’s had the seal of approval from Conte himself, too.

Just like with Bentancur, the Italian chief could be onto yet another masterclass with this low-risk move.

AND in other news, Fee agreed: Spurs get green light to seal “incredible” signing, Conte will be buzzing…

Journalist Dean Jones has been reacting to Leeds United’s interest in Club Brugge attacking midfielder Charles de Ketelaere.

The Lowdown: Leeds links

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for De Ketelaere over the last seven days after Fabrizio Romano broke the news last week.

Described as ‘complete’ by legendary Club Brugge midfielder Gert Verheyen, the 21-year-old is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play further forward if required.

A journalist in Belgium believes Leeds will make an opening €30m (£25.8m) proposal for De Ketelaere, with Club Brugge holding out for a figure closing to €40m.

The Latest: Jones reacts

Jones, talking to GiveMeSport, said that De Ketelaere is ‘definitely’ on Leeds’ radar and would be a ‘massive coup’ and an ‘unbelievable signing’, should a move go through.

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“De Ketelaere would be an unbelievable signing and he is definitely a player of interest.

“I’m personally not sure that Leeds can lure him in because this is a player with a big future ahead of him and I know he is hugely ambitious.

“Honestly, he could probably arrive at any Premier League club and look to make an impact, so it would be a massive coup if Leeds could get him.”

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

De Ketelaere has just come off the back of a stellar campaign with 28 goal contributions.

He’ll be able to play as an attacking midfielder, out wide or as a centre-forward, something which could come in extremely handy for Jesse Marsch.

It looks as if Leeds may need to pay a club-record fee for De Ketelaere, so it would certainly be an eye-catching move and show some serious intent as both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha move closer to the exit door.

Are you a big fan of sports betting? We do understand your desire to make things even more entertaining! The online world has transformed the sports betting world completely. But you also need to understand that not all online bookmakers from Ireland are legit.

There are many characteristics that you need to be aware of before creating an account. If you pick the wrong one, there are certain consequences you will probably have to deal with. For instance, you won’t get your winnings, the data you share won’t be completely safe, etc.

To protect yourself from any potential issues, we suggest you continue reading this article. We will answer all the questions that the average Irish bettors have.  We will explain how to choose the best sites, what are the main characteristics you should follow, etc. So, let’s go!

How to Choose the Best Sports Betting Sites in Ireland?

Finding the most appropriate betting platforms is not as difficult as it seems. You only need to pass through a couple of steps to reach the final goal.

Fortunately for you, there are people that love to share their knowledge with others. You can find hundreds of betting experts that have tried different betting sites and expressed their objective opinion. For example, on www.bestcasinosites.net/ireland/sports-betting/, you can find some of the best online betting sites Ireland. The experts there analyze every single detail which lets you make a selection of those websites that meet your expectations. Cool, isn’t it?

No one says that you should blindly listen to pieces of advice provided by experts. We don’t want to say their pieces of information are incorrect. It is important to say that each participant has different requirements and expectations. What if the betting site someone suggests does not have adequate payment methods for your needs? What if bonuses are not suitable for your way of betting?

These are all the answers you need to give on your own. After you determine what you want, compare a couple of betting sites and make the perfect decision!

Which Are the Best Online Bookmakers in Ireland?

Before we end this article, it would be good to name some of the best betting sites in Ireland. You can also find them on the link we attached to the review pages. But, if you want to hear our opinion, then we would be more than happy to share the results of our research. The betting platforms that deserve your attention are

• 22Bet
• 888Sport
• Betway

But, as we stated, the experts know better, and they explained things better. So, we strongly recommend you read the review we attached at the beginning of the article.

What Are the Most Important Features of Betting Sites?

The leagues start earlier this season because of the World Cup in Qatar. That only confirms that this summer is going to be way more interesting compared to the previous one. But, as a bettor, you need to prepare yourself properly! Finding the most appropriate betting sites is one of the options that you have.

Generally speaking, there are a couple of features you should put into consideration when looking for the best betting platform. Let’s find out more about them!

License

The license must be present! It is the only document that confirms the legacy of any betting site. There are regulatory bodies from and outside of Ireland that test every betting site. They look at the tiniest details. After the in-depth check, they issue a license to a betting site.

In most cases, the betting platforms will place the license (together with the license number) in the footer of the website. Apart from that, more details about this document should be written on the About Us page.

Bonuses and Promotions for Betting

If you find a betting site with no bonuses, simply move to another one. In today’s world, bonuses and promotions are normal things. Most first-time visitors will get a certain deposit or no-deposit bonus immediately after they create an account. You should check out how much money each betting site offers for free.

But you also need to check the wagering requirements. If they are unrealistic, the bonus won’t mean anything to you. Check how many times you need to wager the bonus money and what is the time limit.

Odds

It is not a secret that odds are constantly changing. Online bookmakers have the full right to do that before the match starts. On the other hand, the odds of live games are changing every minute based on the situation on the court.

But you need to find those online bookmakers that use an appropriate algorithm that determines the odds for every match. If they are too low, that won’t allow you profit even if you guess some crazy outcomes. On the other hand, if they are higher compared to other betting platforms, you need to find an answer to why that difference exists.

Customer Support

Do you have any questions? Are you dealing with an issue that you can’t solve independently? Well, the only option you have in those moments is to contact customer support. But what if customer service is not professional? What if you need to wait for a response the entire day? These are all the details you need to check to find the best option for your needs.

Conclusion

We did recommend some sports betting sites that feature quality. However, that doesn’t mean you should not check all the relevant features mentioned in this article. Some of them may be more suitable for your expectations. After you find the best solution, work on your betting strategy and self-control. That is the only way to become a pro!

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Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has been reacting to the club’s interest in Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Villa linked with Oxlade-Chamberlain

Villa have already made four summer signings and appear to be closing in on a fifth in Rangers forward Rory Wilson. However, Steven Gerrard isn’t planning on stopping there and has reportedly made Oxlade-Chamberlain a ‘top priority’ for the remainder of the summer.

Liverpool are reportedly willing to cash in on the 28-year-old as he enters the final 12 months of his Anfield contract and could be available for around £11m.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments on Oxlade-Chamberlain

Hutton, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding Villa’s interest in the Anfield ace.

The Scot believes that Villa’s current midfielders will be ‘worried’ at the possibility of ‘someone with the quality of Oxlade-Chamberlain’ coming in.

Hutton said:

“They’re well-stocked in that area.

“Oxlade-Chamberlain will have to prove himself. But Steven Gerrard has got the best out of the likes of Philippe Coutinho before when he’s been out of form, and this is a similar situation.

“You’d be worried if you’re a midfielder at Villa right now. I’m just saying how I would feel if I was in that position and someone with the quality of Oxlade-Chamberlain came in.

“They’ve got to embrace it and see it as an opportunity to show what you’re worth.

“It’s competition for places, and you need that if you’re going to be going for those European spots. That’s where Aston Villa see themselves.”

The Verdict: Shrewd signing?

Oxlade-Chamberlain has played in 10 different positions throughout his career, with the majority of his appearances coming as a central midfielder or on the right. [Transfermarkt]

He would therefore add plenty of versatility to Gerrard’s midfield ranks, with the Villa boss tinkering with narrow and wide formations last season.

An £11m move for Oxlade-Chamberlain could also be deemed a cut-price one due to his £14.4m Transfermarkt valuation, so this could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

In other news: Villa and Gerrard now want ‘unbelievable’ ace on free transfer alongside Suarez. 

A big Rangers transfer twist has emerged that will leave supporters at Ibrox unhappy amid uncertainty over who will be the club’s number 1 next season.

What’s the news?

That’s according to the Glasgow Evening Times, who reveals that Rangers have dropped their interest in Bosnian goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic despite having him scouted him on numerous occasions.

The player has two years left on his current contract and the Ibrox side would have had to pay a fee to secure his services, but it appears the club are moving on to other targets in a fresh twist to the tale.

Supporters will be gutted

One area that Giovanni van Bronckhorst will need to strengthen ahead of next season is between the posts, with the future of Allan McGregor still uncertain, there will likely be a new keeper arriving in Glasgow to provide competition for Jon McLaughlin and Robbie McCrorie.

The club have earmarked a host of players who could arrive in the position over the previous few weeks, with names such as Jack Butland, Sam Johnstone, and Martin Fraisl all being linked with the jersey.

But it is the news regarding Kovacevic that will leave the supporters gutted, as the 24-year-old appeared to be an excellent fit.

He kept 11 league clean sheets in 27 appearances this term, conceding 0.9 goals per match, similar stats to McGregor (12 clean sheets, 0.9 goals conceded per 90).

This area is a priority for the Dutchman and even though competition between McLaughlin and McCrorie would be beneficial for both, a new ‘keeper really needs to be brought in.

Despite the Europa League run boosting the Ibrox coffers substantially, it appears that the club doesn’t want to be spending big fees on players, that’s unless there is an outgoing or two.

It will be tough to replace McGregor, who made his Gers debut in 2002, but life moves on and the manager will have a big ask to fill a position that the club has been well versed in over the years.

AND in other news, “Rangers will…”: Jordan Campbell drops big transfer update, supporters will be livid…

Leeds United are among the clubs credited with an interest in Paris Saint-Germain full-back Colin Dagba, according to Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Trophy haul

Having joined the French giants in 2016, the 23-year-old has lifted three Ligue 1 titles, two Coupes de France, one Coupe de la Ligue and three Trophees des Champions in what is already an illustrious career.

Despite the impressive trophy haul, the marauding right-back has hardly played a key role in any of the aforementioned successes, only making 77 first-team appearances for the Parisiens in six years at the club and never starting more than 15 league games in a single season.

With regular first-team football still at a premium in the French capital, the former France youth starlet is now hoping to move on, and Leeds could be in the mix…

The latest: Leeds interested in Dagba

As per Foot Mercato (translated by Sport Witness), Leeds, Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz are all keen on signing Dagba from the French champions. However, it’s fellow Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg who currently lead the race to sign the 23-year-old after making ‘first contacts’ with PSG.

The report did state that all the clubs interested in the man who was hailed by Presnel Kimpembe for a ‘hyper-focused’ Champions League showing against Bayern Munich last year have the means to satisfy both the player and the club.

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The verdict: Too many cooks?

Following the capture of Red Bull Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen last week, Jesse Marsch has seemingly addressed a major area of weakness from last season in the Elland Road squad, having been ravaged by injuries, suspensions and loss of form in the right-back department throughout.

However, should regular right-back Luke Ayling continue as a makeshift centre-back, and given Stuart Dallas’ lengthy rehabilitation timescale, adding another option to the ranks may well be a worthwhile venture for Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta.

The Frenchman can also play on the left-hand side and in more advanced positions. Indeed, he could be viewed as somewhat of a utility man in the mould of Elland Road fans’ favourite Dallas and could fill that void in the absence of the Northern Irishman for the first half of the upcoming season.

Valued at £6.3m and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), Dagba certainly fits the profile of an attainable target and should represent a wholly affordable candidate for Leeds, particularly after only making six fleeting appearances during 2021/22.

In other news: Leeds now won’t sign ‘superb’ midfielder despite Phil Hay revealing talks

Luke Edwards has now dropped a big Newcastle United claim regarding Hugo Ekitike, also sharing some transfer news involving Nathan Ake and Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: Ashworth in at Newcastle

As per the club’s official website, Dan Ashworth has now started his role as Sporting Director at St James’ Park after they received formal approval from the Premier League for him to move from Brighton and Hove Albion.

It means that he can work on transfers ahead of the start of the summer window, with the mega-rich Magpies expected to be busy in the market.

The Latest: Edwards’ transfer update

Taking to Twitter, Daily Telegraph journalist Edwards has revealed that Ashworth’s arrival at Newcastle ‘should speed up’ a deal for Ekitike, while Ake and Botman are at the ‘top of the list’ for centre-back targets.

He stated: “The arrival of Dan Ashworth should speed up the completion of the Ekitike deal. #nufc will then focus their attention and money on landing one of their centre-back targets with Ake and Botman at top of the list.”

The Verdict: Exciting

The reports that Newcastle are now seemingly closer to signing Ekitike following Ashworth’s arrival is very exciting for the Toon Army.

Dubbed the “next Mbappe” by some in France, the Reims striker – just like the Paris Saint-Germain superstar – has burst onto the scene in French football with 11 goals and four assists in 26 matches across all competitions this season (Transfermarkt), and he is a hot prospect at just 19 years of age.

As for Ake and Botman, the former worked with Eddie Howe before at Bournemouth, while the latter – hailed as a “golden boy” by his agent Francesco Miniero – is one of the most promising centre-backs in the game at just 22.

Signing one of them on top of landing Ekitike would be a great start to the transfer window for the Magpies.

In other news, find out which ‘superb’ colossus Ashworth is now eyeing here!

West Ham United could pounce on Bologna defender Arthur Theate, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

Bologna brought in Theate from homeland club KV Oostende last summer on an initial loan with an obligation to buy.

The 22-year-old Belgian, who’s been capped twice by his country, played 31 Serie A matches in his first season at the club.

A report from The Evening Standard has already revealed that David Moyes wants to buy ‘at least one’ new centre-back during the summer transfer window.

The latest

The report states that Theate ‘could be sacrificed’ if manager Sinisa Mihajlovic opts to play with four at the back next season.

He would be made available for a fee of around €10million, the equivalent of £8.5million.

David Moyes and West Ham ‘like’ the Belgian and they could be in position to take advantage.

The verdict

What attributes does Theate offer as a centre-back?

Well, he makes a high number of progressive passes, ranking in the 74th percentile in Europe, and his 2.64 interceptions per 90 minutes (85th percentile) suggest he reads the game well too.

But perhaps his standout asset is his ball carrying, with Theate in the 85th percentile for progressive carries and as high as the 94th for dribbles completed.

In terms of a stylistic profile, he’s a close match for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him as ‘one of Serie A’s biggest revelations’ and suggested in December that he could be worth up to €18million (£15.3million). West Ham could end up signing him for nearly half what some would consider his true worth.

Theate, then, looks like a potential bargain that would help to address one of Moyes’ transfer priorities.

In other news, David Moyes has stepped up this transfer pursuit.

Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested that Liverpool forward Sadio Mane might not sign a new contract at the club unless particular demands are met.

The Lowdown: Huge update from Liverpool source

The 30-year-old has been part of the furniture at Anfield since arriving in a £34m move from fellow Premier League club Southampton six years ago, with an outstanding return of 168 goal contributions in just 268 appearances for the Reds, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite still having just over one year remaining on his current contract on Merseyside, the Senegal star has been the centre of attention recently amid rumours that Bayern Munich have registered interest in his services.

However, in a new update just last week, it was revealed that a Liverpool source told Football Insider that Mane was keen to remain a Reds player. However, whilst FSG want to do everything within their power to keep him, they are not willing to offer him a ‘huge’ pay rise.

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The Latest: Agbonlahor full of praise for Mane

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor admitted that he can’t see Mane committing his future to Liverpool unless he receives what he’s asking for, but the 35-year-old’s was full of praise for the African’s ‘phenomenal’ displays in red.

The talkSPORT pundit said: “I don’t think Mane signs unless he gets exactly what he feels he deserves. If Liverpool doesn’t pay that, I don’t feel he will sign. He knows he will not be short of options.

“He’s been phenomenal this season and since he’s joined Liverpool. I’m sure he will demand what he’s worth.

“If he sees Salah is getting £300,000-a-week, he’ll want £250,000-a-week and he deserves it. With the numbers he’s getting, it’s huge but he deserves it.

“These players will know what other players in the league are getting and they will make Liverpool pay the same.”

The Verdict: Seventh piece of silverware?

The 86-cap Senegal international is such an integral member of Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI and is one of the main reasons why Liverpool have enjoyed so much success over the past few years.

This season alone, Mane has found the back of the net 23 times in all competitions and has provided five assists, showing just how much of a threat he poses in attack for the Reds.

Therefore, while FSG may be looking at the logic of handing big wages to a player who is now in his 30s, Agbonlahor makes a fair point about Mane’s enormous contribution to Liverpool over the years, and indeed during the last few weeks of what has been a hectic and memorable season.

In other news… Liverpool appeared to have suffered a huge blow in the hunt for one of their ‘top’ summer transfer targets

Everton were unable to see out their disastrous season with a win on the final day at the Emirates and will be thankful that their tight relegation battle didn’t go down to the last day after today’s performance.

Frank Lampard secured safety in the Premier League with the Toffees earlier in the week at Goodison Park against Crystal Palace, so going into today’s game there was no pressure on the side to take all three points from the game in North London against Arsenal.

Everton were completely dominated by the Gunners throughout with only 29% possession, 20 fewer shots on goal and over 400 fewer accurate passes than Mikel Arteta’s side who went out to win to compete with Tottenham Hotspur for the fourth spot but failed at the final hurdle despite their overwhelming 5-1 win.

It was a free for all in terms of scoring goals, Alex Iwobi gifted Arsenal their first opportunity with a handball inside the box leading to Gabriel Martinelli opening up the score-line 27th minute of the game.

After the hosts got their first goal they found their way to kill the game with Eddie Nketiah, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard all finding the back of the net to take their victory.

However, one returning player did make his mark on the game with Manchester United loanee Donny van de Beek finding the back of the net in the final moments of the first half, but it wasn’t enough for Everton to bow out with a positive result.

One player who failed to take his opportunity to prove his worth today was Dele Alli, who has already been linked with a move away from the club following a disappointing five months since signing on Deadline Day in a deal believed to be worth £40m.

According to SofaScore, Alli who was dubbed a “waste of space” by Simon Jordan made just six passes, losing 100% of his aerials duels and losing 80% of his ground duels. He also lost the ball every 2.7 touches before being brought back to the bench by the Toffees boss in the 67th minute.

With that being said, Farhad Moshiri must let Alli go this summer and invest in players that can be effective when they are called upon as major improvement is needed next season to ensure Everton doesn’t find themselves in a similar situation they have been in during the current campaign.

AND in other news: Lampard plotting Everton bid for £158k-p/w dynamo, he’d be a “joy to watch”