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    Newcastle attempt to hijack Tottenham’s transfer for Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo but ‘have £31m opening bid rejected’

    NEWCASTLE are trying to hijack Tottenham’s bid to sign Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, according to reports.The Italy international, 23, has been heavily linked with Antonio Conte’s side in the January transfer window.
    Nicolo Zaniolo has attracted a lot of interest from Premier League clubsCredit: Getty
    Spurs were understood to be interested in a loan move with the option to buy.
    Borussia Dortmund and West Ham have also reportedly been monitoring his situation.
    However, according to journalist Tancredi Palmeri, Newcastle have now emerged as a potential destination for Zaniolo after offering Roma £31million for the Serie A side’s No22.
    The opening bid was rejected by the Italian outfit, but Eddie Howe’s men could yet return with a second offer.
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    Roma have slapped a £35m release clause on Zaniolo.
    But Jose Mourinho’s side are already monitoring potential replacements in case Zaniolo leaves this month.
    The versatile midfielder has contributed two goals and three assists in 17 appearances this season.
    He joined Roma from Inter Milan in 2018 and has since registered 24 goals and 18 assists in 128 matches for the club.
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    Newcastle and Tottenham are both in a battle for a top four place in the Premier League this season.
    The Magpies currently sit third in the table, above Man Utd on goal difference.
    But Spurs are just three points adrift of them in fifth following their 1-0 win over Fulham on Monday. More

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    Harry Kane’s impressive Dream Team season partially obscured by Erling Haaland’s nonsense numbers

    IN pretty much any other season, Harry Kane (£7.6m) would be the Premier League’s headline act for scoring 16 goals before the end of January.The 29-year-old is on track for a 30-goal campaign in the top flight, something he’s only achieved once before, in 2017/18.
    However, Kane’s mightily impressive effort has been partially obscured by Erling Haaland (£8.8m), English football’s new apex predator.
    Changing the gameCredit: getty
    Manchester City’s No9 has started writing a new chapter in the Premier League record books having plundered 25 goals from his first 19 appearances.
    At the halfway stage, the prolific Norwegian poacher is just seven goals shy of Mohamed Salah’s (£8.6m) record of 32 goals in a 38-game season and he’s nine short of the record jointly held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer for most goals (34) in a single Prem campaign, both achieved when the league contained 22 teams.
    Such has been the remarkable nature of Haaland’s nonsense, Kane’s campaign has seemed distinctly normal in comparison.
    In reality, however, the England captain has once again underlined his credentials as a world-class centre-forward.
    This is particularly true given the problems Tottenham are currently experiencing in regards to attacking fluency.
    Take nothing away from Haaland, he is unmatched at what he does, but leading the line for Man City is a considerably more desirable role than fronting up Antonio Conte’s side right now.
    Not many players could 16 league goals in half a season for this Spurs team on current formCredit: getty
    On Monday night, Kane scored the only goal as Spurs beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage, a good result given the Cottagers results upon their return to the top flight.
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    In doing so, the three-time Golden Boot winner equalled Jimmy Greaves’ record of 266 goals for the club.
    Additionally, his next league goal will be his 200th, a landmark previously reached by just two players: Wayne Rooney and the aforementioned Shearer.
    There will always be talk of trophies (or lack thereof) when Kane is the topic of discussion but to doubt his pedigree as an individual is to deny clear truth.
    Kane remains an elite Dream Team asset
    Naturally, Spurs’ No10 is set for another prosperous Dream Team campaign.
    A Star Man display in west London on Monday night moved him onto 158 points in total, making him the third-best asset in his position -behind Marcus Rashford (£5.4m) and Haaland – and the fourth-best player overall.
    He’s a full 72 points ahead of his next-best team-mate, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£3.3m), an indication of how reliant Spurs are on their top scorer this term, especially with Son Heung-min (£5m) enduring a rare fallow period.
    It’s thanks to Kane that Conte’s troops are still in the hunt for Champions League qualification and whether they finish inside the top four or not, Dream Team gaffers can rely on the Three Lions marksman to deliver plentiful returns as long as he’s fit. More

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    How Tottenham could line up under Maurizio Sarri with ex-Chelsea boss raiding former club for Pulisic and Jorginho

    TOTTENHAM could have a very different look to their starting line-up should they appoint Maurizio Sarri as Antonio Conte’s replacement.Conte is set to leave the club at the end of the season as his contract expires.
    Maurizio Sarri could head to Tottenham this summerCredit: EPA
    Antonio Conte is believed to be on his way out of the club this summerCredit: Getty
    And Sarri could re-unite with his former players Christian Pulisic and JorginhoCredit: Reuters
    How Sarri could line-up if Tottenham signed the Chelsea duo
    He has become frustrated at the North London side, while the club do not appreciate his frequent jibes.
    However, Spurs are believed to have already identified Sarri as his replacement.

    The former Chelsea boss is currently at Serie A side Lazio, who sit fourth in the table following Juventus’ points deduction.
    Should the Italian get the job, then he could move for a reunion with former players Jorginho and Christian Pulisic.
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    The duo are believed to be on the way out of the club this summer.
    Jorginho’s contract is set to expire, while Chelsea will try to cash in on the American winger as he does not feature in Graham Potter’s plans.
    This could pave a way for moves to the North of London.
    Sarri has typically used a 4-3-3 system, which would accommodate the duo quite easily.
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    Jorginho could line up in the midfield trio alongside Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.
    While Pulisic would be able to take up a position on either flank of the attack.
    Another potential that Sarri could have to deal with is the exit of star striker Harry Kane.
    The England international has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
    If Kane was to leave, then Sarri could deploy a false nine system and build his attack around Pulisic, and Dejan Kulusevski, with Son Heung-min playing centrally.
    Jorginho could then line-up with Bentancur in the middle of the park, with Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon playing as wing-backs.
    Sarri could use a false nine should Harry Kane leave More

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    Tottenham ‘attempt to HIJACK Everton’s Danjuma transfer at last minute despite Villarreal star completing medical’

    TOTTENHAM have made a late swoop to hijack Everton’s move for Arnaut Danjuma.The Dutch international, 25, looked all set to join the Toffees, who sacked manager Frank Lampard on Monday.
    Danjuma completed a medical at Everton on SundayCredit: Getty
    Danjuma was believed to have undergone a medical with the Goodison Park side at the weekend.
    But with the paperwork yet to be signed off, Spurs have made an approach at the 11th hour to steal the winger on loan from under Everton’s noses.

    Danjuma has Premier League experience having joined Bournemouth the summer preceding the season the Cherries were relegated to the Championship.
    He excelled in the second tier, netting 15 goals in 33 league appearances, which landed him a switch to Villarreal in January 2021.
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    He hit ten La Liga goals last term but fell down the pecking order this season at the Yellow Submarine, who are willing to farm him out.
    Lagos-born Danjuma, who has six goals and two goals for the Netherlands, revealed to SunSport in 2020 how he was mistakenly arrested on suspicion of attempted murder while walking through Bournemouth city centre in March of that year.
    Should Spurs snatch Danjuma from under Everton’s nose, it’ll be another blow for the Toffees, who are on the search for a new manager.
    Frank Lampard was sacked on Monday have his team won just one in their last 14 games, and Saturday’s 2-0 loss to West Ham was the final nail in his coffin.
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    Former Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelino is reportedly on Everton’s shortlist to replace Lampard.
    Spurs are trying to bolster boss Antonio Conte’s squad to boost their chances of a top-four finish.
    Conte’s men are sat fifth in the Prem after 21 games played.
    They’re sat three points behind third and fourth-place Newcastle and Manchester United.
    However, both of those teams have a game in hand over Spurs.
    Roma ace Nicolo Zaniolo has also been linked with a move to North London.
    As has Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro.
    Tottenham’s league finish could determine where star man Harry Kane plays his football next term.
    Kane is about to enter the final year of his deal in North London.
    And reports claimed on Monday that Kane would be willing to extend his stay at Tottenham if the “circumstances are right”.
    Kane said: “I am concentrating on this season.
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    “There will always be talk about my future, I just want to focus on my job on the pitch.
    “There is a long way to go, a lot to play for like the Champions League, FA Cup and that is what my focus is on.” More

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    Harry Kane expects to begin talks over a new Spurs contract in coming months – and hopes Antonio Conte signs fresh terms

    HARRY KANE expects to begin talks over a new contract in the coming months but maintains all his focus is on finally landing his first trophy this season.While the England captain, who equalled Jimmy Greaves’ Spurs record of 266 goals by scoring the winner against Fulham on Monday, hopes boss Antonio Conte signs fresh terms.
    Harry Kane celebrates after equalling Jimmy Greaves’ Spurs recordCredit: Reuters
    Kane is into the last 18 months of his present deal.
    Manchester United and Bayern Munich are among those who admire the 29-year-old, who would need to be convinced of Tottenham’s ambition if he is to renew.
    Asked about his contract situation, Kane replied: “I’m sure there will be conversations over the coming months.
    “But to be honest I’m just focused on this season and doing my best for the team.
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    “There’s still a lot to play for, trying to get in the Champions League, we have the FA Cup and the Champions League still to win. My focus is on that.
    “I know there’s going to be rumours, a lot of talk and speculation about my future but I’m just focused on what I can do.”
    Kane is a rarity in that he is a one-club man – if you discount loan spells earlier in his career.
    But despite hitting 266 goals in 415 games for his boyhood club, his trophy cabinet remains bare.
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    He pushed for a move to serial silverware-winners Manchester City in the summer of 2021 which did not come off.
    And now England’s joint-highest scorer must weigh up whether he wants to commit further to the club where he made his name and risk ending up potless.
    Yet when asked if he still wants to succeed with Spurs, his reply was unequivocal.
    Kane said: “Of course, I still want to win trophies for Tottenham Hotspur. 
    “That’s been my goal since I started playing first team football with them. It hasn’t happened.
    “I’ve been open about [how I feel about] that but I’ll continue to try to achieve that. 
    “We have a really good squad, a fantastic manager and there’s no reason why we still can’t be successful this season. We’ve just got to put everything we can into it and see where we are come May or June.”
    Spurs have had an up-and-down season both in terms of performances and results.
    Yet Monday’s 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage means they are only three points off the top four, are through the last 16 of the Champions League and have a winnable fourth-round FA Cup tie at Preston on Saturday.
    Conte’s future still very much hangs in the balance though, with his contract up at the end of the season.
    Tottenham have the option to extend it by an extra campaign, but would be unlikely to do so if they felt the Italian wanted out.
    Spurs’ win at Fulham moved them to within three points of the top fourCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Antonio Conte was delighted with his team’s victory at Craven CottageCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Some have suggested that Conte’s decision whether or not to sign a new deal could hinge on if Kane pens fresh terms – and vice versa.
    Quizzed over whether the manager committing his future would make a difference to his own, Kane replied: “I’m not going talk about the manager’s future. That’s down to him. 
    “I’m sure he’ll have conversations with the club and assess where we are as a team. 
    “He’s had a lot going on, on and off the pitch, so he probably needs time to assess it all. From my point of view, I really enjoy working with him and it would be fantastic if he did stay.”
    Conte held a team meeting in the week, having conceded 21 goals in their last ten league games.
    It was rewarded with a clean sheet and three points – while Tottenham’s team seemed to take on his advice of “getting nastier” with some full-blooded tackles.
    Kane added: “(Being nasty) comes in different ways. all fighting together, the clean sheets, grinding out those 1-0 wins, winning fouls at the end. 
    “We’re playing in a tough league so it’s about doing what we can. 
    “We don’t have to win every game two- or three-nil. One-nil is enough. 
    “We’re playing against a really good side last night away from home and I think we showed really good character to win.
    “We have meetings every week anyway but it was more just talking amongst all of us and voicing our opinions on getting back to keeping clean sheets, being strong, compact, fighting, digging deep if a fixture is like last night was.
    “There’s still a lot of games to play in the Premier League, we have an important FA Cup game at the weekend and the Champions League starts again in February. 
    “In football, things can turn around really quick and all of sudden you can be right in amongst two competitions and fighting for Champions League spots.
    “When we looked at where we were last year and managed to get in the Champions League, anything’s possible still.”
    Kane missed a chance to break Greaves’ record when Bernd Leno made a fantastic save from his header in the second half.
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    It is just a matter of time before he breaks it – and there is a good chance it happens at Deepdale on Saturday.
    Kane added: “I had a couple of chances there in the second half but I’ll be ready for the next game.” More

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    I conceded Harry Kane’s first-ever Tottenham goal on his way to fairytale record but I have my own amazing career story

    IF you have no idea who the goalkeeper was who conceded Harry Kane’s first Tottenham goal, don’t worry, he won’t be offended.In fact, the self-proclaimed “nobody” would actually quite enjoy leaving most football fans stumped by the pub-quiz question.
    Harry Kane matched Jimmy Greaves’ record of 266 Spurs goals v FulhamCredit: Getty
    The answer is Richard Brush, a Birmingham-born stopper who has spent the majority of his 22-year career playing in Ireland.
    He was between the sticks for Shamrock Rovers when a fresh-faced Kane came off the bench for Spurs in the Europa League in December 2011 and completed a 4-0 rout with what would become a typically-clinical finish.
    Two hundred and 65 goals later and Kane is one away from breaking Jimmy Greaves’ long-held record for the club.
    The England captain matched Greaves’ haul of 266 by hitting the winner in Monday night’s 1-0 win at Fulham.
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    SunSport tracked down the refreshingly self-deprecating Brush, who is into his fourth spell at Sligo Rovers aged 38 and fully aware that his claim to fame is playing a tiny part in the England captain’s story.
    The former Shrewsbury goalie said: “It is sort of a badge of honour and is definitely the highlight of my whole career since I left school and joined Coventry at 16, to have someone score against me that turned out to be Harry Kane.
    “It’s quite a sad indictment of my career and the way it’s gone!”
    The goal itself showed what a natural-born finisher Kane is. 
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    Danny Rose swung a cross into the far post, Andros Townsend nodded it down and there was Kane to bury it from six yards, giving Brush no chance.
    Yet the goalkeeper said: “I wish it had been a worldie where he had bent it into the top corner but it wasn’t. 
    “Given all the goals he’s scored, the competitions he’s scored in and the teams he’s scored against, for his first one to be against a nobody, it’s a bit of a fun fact.
    Richard Brush conceded Harry Kane’s first-ever goal for Tottenham
    “People will be racking their brains to remember the team it was against and it might be the last on their mind that it was Richard Brush, a Birmingham lad playing in the Irish leagues.
    “It will probably be an impossible question for most football fans!”
    Kane has gone on to have one of the great careers in the modern game, becoming a multi-millionaire in the process.
    Brush’s has been very different, toiling away in Ireland where the average wages are around £1,000 a week on one-year contracts, and even going part-time for half a decade where he supplemented his income by working in residential social care.
    Birmingham-born Brush has spent most of his career in Ireland
    He also has one of the most amazing comeback stories you are likely to hear in football.
    Back in November 2018, Brush was driving the two-and-a-half hour journey home after a game for Cliftonville in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
    He suddenly felt what he describes as “wooziness” at about 11.45pm.
    He tried to drink from his water bottle, but the liquid just ran out of his mouth. Then when he attempted to pull over, he was unable to push the clutch with his left foot or move his left arm when attempting to put the car into neutral.
    Brush with Carlo Cudicini for the return leg of Shamrock v Spurs
    When the car eventually rolled to a stop, one look in the mirror at his face, which had dropped on the left side, confirmed the horror.
    Two weeks shy of his 34th birthday, unbelievably, he was having a stroke.
    He could not get through to his wife so he rang his manager, who at first thought his player was joking but then said help would be on its way.
    Brush called 999 but with “the Irish not understanding my accent at the best of times”, it was unclear if the message got through.
    The road was pitch-black with no cars around.
    Brush recalled: “There was a period of 20 to 30 seconds where I was starting to slump into the seat and was thinking, ‘This is it. No one is going to find me’.
    “There are no cars coming. If the gaffer doesn’t come in the next half an hour and doesn’t understand the severity of the situation, I might slip off now. The woman on the phone can’t understand a word I’m saying.
    “I haven’t dwelt on it since it happened, but there was a little moment of, pardon the expression, ‘I am f***ed here’.” 
    Luckily, a car did eventually turn up and Brush managed to flash it down. 
    The hospital later revealed he had two blood clots on his brain due to a genetic hole in heart, which was then surgically corrected. 
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    Astonishingly, he was back playing six weeks and a day later of his own volition and is still going strong just over four years later, now working as a player-coach for Sligo.
    Brush is happy to be known best for conceding the first goal against Tottenham’s soon-to-be greatest scorer – even if his own personal story is far more memorable once you learn of it.
    Harry Kane scoring his first goal for Spurs
    Kane buries it from six yards More

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    Harry Kane quiet on Spurs future after equalling Jimmy Greaves’ record of 266 goals to become joint-top scorer EVER

    HARRY KANE equalled Jimmy Greaves’ Tottenham goal record to become the club’s joint-top scorer with a instinctive finish in the 1-0 win over Fulham.The Spurs and England striker had netted 265 goals across all competitions in 414 games before Monday’s fixture – one behind legend Greaves.
    Harry Kane equalled Greaves’ Spurs goal recordCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    It took Kane 415 games to reach the milestoneCredit: Reuters
    Jimmy Greaves scored 266 goals in 379 games for SpursCredit: Getty
    And just before half-time at Craven Cottage, Kane fired in goal No266 after being teed up by Son Heung-min.
    Kane’s killer instinct kicked in and the England captain didn’t need to look before finding the bottom right corner to win the game.
    Kane’s 20-yard strike was also his 199th goal in the Premier League.
    He said: “To get the goal and equal the record was a nice feeling. I’ve been playing football long enough to know where the goal is.
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    “That’s just instinct. That’s just being a striker, the joy of scoring goals.”
    Despite the personal accolades, Kane has still yet to taste silverware with Tottenham. but a move is not on his mind.
    Kane is about to enter the final year of his deal in North London.
    And reports claimed on Monday that Kane would be willing to extend his stay at Tottenham if the “circumstances are right”.
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    But Kane would not be drawn on his future.
    Kane added: “I am concentrating on this season.
    “There will always be talk about my future, I just want to focus on my job on the pitch.
    “There is a long way to go, a lot to play for like the Champions League, FA Cup and that is what my focus is on.”
    “We are little bit behind where we want to be but tonight was important.
    “We had a good talk amongst ourselves, just to get back to what we are good at, clean sheets, compact and hard to break down.
    “Then we know we will have a chance to score and have players who can do that.”
    Despite their recent struggles, Antonio Conte’s side are fifth in the league, and have moved within three points of fourth-place Manchester United with Monday’s victory at Fulham.

    They’re also in the knockout stages of the Champions League and travel to Preston in the FA Cup fourth round next weekend.
    But if Spurs aren’t able to convince Kane to stay, they’ll face a huge decision this summer.
    Kane’s strike was his 16th in the Premier League this season.
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    But his fine goal-scoring form has been overshadowed by the ruthlessness of Erling Haaland.
    The Manchester City striker has an astonishing 25 Prem goals in just 19 games played. More

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    Fulham vs Tottenham DELAYED by 15 minutes due to travel chaos with thousands of fans struggling to get to match

    FULHAM’S clash against Tottenham has been DELAYED by 15 minutes due to travel chaos.The London derby is now set to get underway at 8.15pm.
    The District Line has been suspended causing thousands of football fans to find alternative routes to Craven CottageCredit: Ian Whittaker – News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Thousands of fans have been forced to find a new route to Craven Cottage after the District Line was suspended.
    My London reports that this is due to signal failures.
    Another two London Underground lines have been “shut down”.
    The Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, as well as the Elizabeth line have also been completely suspended.
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    One fan said to Spurs’ announcement on Twitter: “Bit late, on the Uber now cheers!”
    Another replied: “Guess I’ll have to walk to the game then.”
    While others have likened the District Line’s suspension to that of their inactivity in the transfer market.
    Spurs advised supporters to check alternative routes, and have listed ways they can get to the stadium on their website.
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    On getting to Fulham’s stadium, a section on the Tottenham website reads: “Craven Cottage is accessible via all major transport links.
    “Putney Bridge is the closest London Underground station and is served by the District line and is a 10-20 minute walk from the stadium.
    “District and Piccadilly lines also serve Hammersmith Underground station which is approximately a 20-40 minute walk from the stadium
    “Putney station is served by Southwestern rail services and is a 17-35 minute walk from the stadium and can be easily reached from Clapham Junction and Waterloo stations.
    “Parking around Craven Cottage is extremely limited and access to surrounding streets on a matchday is restricted by a Traffic Management Order.
    “Supporters are advised to use TfL’s Journey Planner to plan their journey in advance.”
    Spurs will be hoping that all 2,299 of their travelling fans can make Monday night’s clash as they hope to keep chase of a top-four finish.
    Antonio Conte’s men are sat fifth in the Prem, but six points off fourth-place Manchester United.
    Read More on The Sun
    Fulham, meanwhile, can leapfrog opponents Tottenham with a win.
    The Cottagers are two points and two places below Spurs in the table. More