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      Spurs fans slam Levy but he’s built world-class stadium, hired elite boss and led club to first Champions League final

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      SO what has Daniel Levy ever done for Tottenham?Apart from building a world-class stadium and training ground, appointing a world-class manager, reaching a first European Cup final in the club’s history and constructing a squad which boasts a World Cup-winning skipper, a World Cup-winning centre-half, the captain of England, the centre-forward of Brazil..?
      Daniel Levy has been criticised by certain sections of the fanbaseCredit: Dan Weir / MatchDay Images Limited
      As Spurs’ faithful demand Levy and bankroller Joe Lewis ‘get out of their club’ and as Antonio Conte stages one of his ‘woe-is-me’ rants to increase the heat on his chairman, it is worth stating those recent achievements.
      Because it is grossly unfair to depict Tottenham’s ENIC owners as some ruinous Mike Ashley-style regime.
      Conte is a demanding workaholic and a multiple title-winning boss, he is also a professional agitator and an arch blame- deflector — a turbulent manager for any chairman to endure.
      Levy knew that when he appointed him. Spurs were the sixth richest club in the Premier League when Conte took over and now they are the seventh.
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      Seven English clubs expect Champions League qualification and only four will succeed. Managing Spurs is not an easy gig but Conte also knew that when he accepted the job.
      Meltdowns like that which the Italian staged after Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa, will happen.
      Conte performed a similar rant after defeat at Burnley last February and it had a galvanising effect on Tottenham’s season.
      But for Conte to claim it was a “miracle” for him to guide Spurs into the Champions League and that he will need another miracle to do it again, is nonsense.
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      Guiding Arsenal to a seven-point lead at the top is bordering on miraculous, getting Spurs to fourth is a good effort, no more than that.
      Conte — a man who claimed Roman Abramovich didn’t spend enough money at Chelsea — has been backed to the hilt by Tottenham’s standards.
      Last summer represented Tottenham’s best transfer window in years as Levy ripped up his own playbook to spend £147.5million on proven class and experience.
      Spurs recruited early and decisively on Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic and Clement Lenglet — this after last January’s excellent signings of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur.
      It is not fashionable to defend Levy — a remote man who cherishes his image as a ball-busting Bond villain.
      But his reign has been a qualified success. Yes, only one League Cup in two decades. But also a club which consistently punches above their weight and have an elite infrastructure to safeguard their future.
      During the early part of Levy’s reign, English football had a roped-off top four of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
      Manchester City wrecked that status quo with vast nation-state financing and Newcastle are now doing the same.
      Yet Levy’s Spurs have achieved regular Champions League football without anything like such spending.
      Conte was content at the start of the season and so, remarkably, was Harry Kane — just a year after demanding a move.
      Antonio Conte gave a passionate speech to the fans after the Villa defeatCredit: Getty
      He was impressed by Conte’s appointment and heartened by a return to the Champions League, where Spurs will face AC Milan next.
      Now, Kane is about to break the club’s all-time scoring record but must be wondering if he will ever win a major trophy.
      Kane looked lost against Villa, dropping into midfield — where he lost possession in the build-up to the second goal.
      Will he want out again next summer?
      He has 18 months left on his contract and Conte has just six months on his.
      Sure, Spurs could do with even more investment — Hugo Lloris is past his best, they are light at full-back and need more creativity in midfield.
      But injuries to players as good as Richarlison, Kulusevski and Bentancur would hinder most teams.
      This squad has not been starved of investment in the last two years — despite the cost of a magnificent new stadium, swiftly followed by the pandemic.
      Sure, any football fan without regard for human rights wants an Arab nation state to own their club.
      But until a Sheikh or an Emir turn up, Levy and Lewis are no bad alternative.
      POTT’S ON HIS TODD
      CHELSEA are reigning Club World Champions but are currently not even the leading team in the postcode of SW6, with Fulham above them in the Premier League table.
      Graham Potter’s side were lucky to draw 1-1 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday and have one win in their last seven league matches.
      There is a belief that, having made the call to poach Potter from Brighton, owner Todd Boehly will back his manager for the long haul.
      We don’t know for sure. It’s just that we haven’t heard of many billionaire American venture capitalists who believe that patience is a virtue.
      PREM DE LA CREME
      ARSENAL have finished the past two seasons in eighth and fifth, Newcastle in 12th and 11th. Yet as they prepare for a face-off tonight, Arsenal might well be champions this season and Newcastle next.
      There should no longer be any debate that the Premier League is the most competitive and unpredictable of all major leagues.
      SAU ABOUT THAT?
      NOW Cristiano Ronaldo has signed for the Saudis, with Lionel Messi already an ambassador for that vile regime, it seems nailed on that celebrity- obsessed Fifa will hand them the 2030 World Cup.
      MATURE UNITED
      WHEN striker Marcus Rashford combined his job as a Manchester United star with the role of social-justice campaigner and unofficial Leader of the Opposition, we wondered how he ever managed to catch up on sleep.
      Now we know.
      When Erik ten Hag dropped his in-form forward but Rashford came off the bench to score the winner at Wolves and admitted his ‘crime’ of missing an alarm call and a team meeting, it felt as if Manchester United were a serious and mature football club.
      And we haven’t said that in years.
      TOO ERLI TO JUDGE
      MANCHESTER CITY have added the greatest goal machine the Premier League have ever seen to a squad which won four of the past five titles, yet have somehow weakened.
      Perhaps striker Erling Haaland, with 27 goals this term, has upset the overall ecosystem of a well-balanced team.
      Or perhaps City allowed too many good players to leave in Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fernandinho.
      Not many teams win the title after making a transfer-market profit the previous summer. City might still do so but it would be no mean feat from here.
      MOYES POSER
      SHOULD West Ham sack David Moyes?
      Not unless they have an excellent manager with a proven Premier League track record — such as Mauricio Pochettino — willing to replace him.
      But would Pochettino, or any elite boss, fancy a relegation scrap at a club whose best player, Declan Rice, wants out, with a horrible stadium and a chippy fanbase?
      West Ham finished sixth then seventh and reached a Europa League semi-final with a very ‘Moyes-ish’ squad full of honest grafters, which was better than the sum of its parts.
      They have added ‘star quality’ in Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta and Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca, yet they have also lost something of what made them so good for the past two seasons.
      Keep Moyes, get a couple of centre-halves fit and West Ham will be safe. Sack him and it becomes a lottery.
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      LUIZ 2.0
      THE frizzy hair and the excellent defensive qualities, combined with an ability to do the utterly ridiculous at any moment.
      After his extraordinary double own goal at Anfield, Leicester’s Wout Faes is ensuring the spirit of David Luiz lives on in the Premier League, Lord love him. More

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      Arsenal have advantage in Joao Felix transfer over Man Utd and Chelsea as Atletico star has been speaking to Gunners ace

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      ARSENAL have been handed an advantage to sign Joao Felix in January due to him being in contact with a member of the Gunners squad.Felix, 23, is set to move on loan during the window, with a number of clubs interested in his services for the remainder of the season.
      Joao Felix is set to move to the Premier League on loanCredit: Getty
      However, the £18.5million (€21m) price Atletico Madrid have set on him has clubs holding fire for now.
      Arsenal are one such interested club following the injury of Gabriel Jesus.
      Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be interested.
      And The Athletic report that should the choice between the three clubs come down to a personal decision on Felix’s part, Arsenal hold an ace in the form of Thomas Partey.
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      The Ghanaian, who played alongside Felix in the 2019/20 season, remains in contact with him.
      He therefore represents a unique advantage for Mikel Arteta’s side if they need to convince the Portugal ace to join them.
      However, Felix revealed his favourite English club is NONE of the aforementioned sides, with him instead admitting he likes Leeds.
      Felix returned from the World Cup with a bang for Diego Simeone’s side as he scored in the 2-0 win over Elche.
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      Madrid have already lost Matheus Cunha to Wolves this window, but remain willing to let Felix leave on loan.
      Felix initially joined the club in 2020 for a whopping £113m, a deal which smashed the club’s transfer record.
      And while there have been glimpses of his potential, he has remained inconsistent since the move.
      He has 34 goals and 18 assists in 130 games for the club, and Atletico believe a spell away from the Wanda Metropolitano would be best for his development. More

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      How Benoit Badiashile compares to Chelsea defenders including Silva and Koulibaly ahead of £33m Monaco transfer

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      CHELSEA are closing in on the signing of Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile for £33million.The Blues are keen to bolster the centre of their defence in the January window and have been heavily linked with Croatia’s World Cup star Josko Gvardiol – who plays his club football at RB Leipzig.
      Benoit Badiashile broke into the Monaco team in 2018Credit: Getty
      Veteran Thiago Silva could be playing alongside Badiashile soon enoughCredit: Getty
      But that now appears less likely given his performances in Qatar have attracted interest from a host of Premier League heavyweights including Manchester City and Manchester United.
      However, Badiashile’s form for Monaco since the start of the 2021/22 campaign make him as exciting a proposition as Gvardiol.
      The Frenchman, 21, boasts some thoroughly impressive statistics compared with the Chelsea defenders he could be competing against for a place in Graham Potter’s starting XI.
      And SunSport has taken a look at just how he stacks up with the stars he may soon be calling his team-mates.
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      How Badiashile stacks up compared to Chelsea’s other centre-back options
      Chelsea have featured a host of players in a back three over the past 16 months.
      They include Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James.
      But in a number of areas Badiashile has actually outshone ALL of them.
      He averages 7.3 possessions won per 90 minutes – more than the seven players currently at Stamford Bridge.
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      And he also produces more clearances per game (3.6) than all the Chelsea stars.
      Badiashile’s duel success percentage (63.8 per cent) exceeds all of the Blues bar Silva (66.8 per cent), while he also averages 2.6 aerial duels won per game – with Fofana the only Chelsea man to manage more (2.7).
      His passing accuracy stands at 87.5 per cent – more than Koulibaly, Cucurella and Azpilicueta but less than the other Chelsea options.
      The Monaco man’s interceptions per 90 minutes stand at 1.5 – the joint-second best alongside Silva but considerably less than Fofana’s 2.4.
      He is dribbled past the least of any of the eight players in question with the exception of Silva.
      And Badiashile also poses a threat at the other end, scoring three goals since the summer of 2021 – with only James (6) and Koulibaly (4) hitting the back of the net more often.
      Kalidou Koulibaly has become a regular starter in the Chelsea XICredit: Getty More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘has shock transfer clause in Al-Nassr contract allowing him to join Newcastle if they make top four’

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has a clause in his Al-Nassr contract that means he could move to Newcastle if they qualify for the Champions League, according to incredible reports.The former Manchester United man, 37, joined the Saudi Arabian side last week after failing to secure a deal with a European club.
      Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr last weekCredit: Alamy
      Newcastle are owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment FundCredit: Reuters
      Ronaldo’s high wage demands were not met by any sides currently competing in the Champions League.
      As a result, he ended up taking a staggering £173-million-a-year deal with Al Nassr – penning a contract to play for them until 2025.
      However, his days at Europe’s top table may not be over just yet.
      According to Marca, Ronaldo’s Al Nassr contract has a clause in it which would allow him to join Eddie Howe’s Newcastle on loan if they qualify for the Champions League.
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      This is because of the Middle Eastern link – with the North East outfit owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
      Newcastle became the richest club in the world following their £300m takeover in 2021.
      And it means they are now able to afford a player with the star power of Ronaldo.
      But along with the financial incentive, Newcastle may also be able to offer Champions League football given their superb form domestically so far this season.
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      Howe’s side currently sit third in the Premier League table with 34 points from 17 matches.
      Meanwhile, Ronaldo is keen to maintain his status as the all-time top Champions League scorer.
      The Real Madrid legend has bagged 140 goals in Europe’s elite competition.
      He is currently 11 ahead of long-time rival Lionel Messi – who is still playing in the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain.
      Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United came to an abrupt halt at the end of last year following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
      He initially quashed any talk of a move to Saudi Arabia, but changed his mind after the World Cup. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo’s new club Al-Nassr ‘plot sensational double transfer swoop for Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos’

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO’S new club Al-Nassr are reportedly planning an audacious swoop to land two of his former team-matesSergio Ramos and Luka Modric are both on the wish list of the Saudi Arabian club.
      Sergio Ramos could join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the summerCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The Saudi Arabian club are also targeting Luka ModricCredit: –
      The trio played together at Real Madrid for six yearsCredit: AFP or licensors
      And with their goal to elevate the country’s footballing status they hope to convince the pair to join Ronaldo in swapping European football with the Middle East.
      According to Marca, Ramos has already been tipped to join the club when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain ends in the summer.
      However, the club have also added Croatia and Real Madrid star Modric to their list.
      The 37-year-old wants to stay in Madrid for at least one more year after this one, so a transfer could happen in 2024.
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      It would mean three Real icons of the past decade will be playing their football in the Middle East within the next couple of years.
      The trio played together at the Bernabeau for six years, winning the Champions League an unprecedented three times in a row, before Ronaldo left to join Juventus in 2018.
      Three years later he then linked up with former club Manchester United, scoring 24 goals in all competitions despite the club suffering their worst-ever Premier League campaign.
      But things turned sour going into the second season after United failed to qualify for the Champions League.
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      An explosive interview with Piers Morgan then saw Ronaldo’s contract at United terminated.
      And now Ronaldo has now jetted off to Saudi Arabia alongside partner Georgina Rodriguez.
      The 37-year-old will earn £173million per year as part of his deal with the club.
      The breakdown of Ronaldo’s sensational contract More

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      Fans all say the same thing as Klopp claims Liverpool ‘cannot play Monopoly’ and ‘splash cash’ after Cody Gakpo transfer

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      JURGEN KLOPP has lowered expectations about Liverpool’s January transfer window by insisting the club “cannot play Monopoly” or “splash the cash”.But football fans have responded by highlighting that the acquisition of Cody Gakpo brings his net spend at Anfield to £235million.
      Jurgen Klopp does not feel Liverpool will be “splashing the cash” this monthCredit: PA
      Cody Gakpo joined Liverpool for £37million from PSVCredit: AFP
      Gakpo arrived from PSV last week for £35m as Klopp looks to plug the hole left by the injured Luis Diaz.
      Following the signing of the 23-year-old Netherlands international, Klopp was quizzed about other potential signings in the January window.
      But he was quick to shut down the possibility of an influx of arrivals.
      Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of their clash with Brentford on Monday, he said: “I am now here seven years and every window is pretty much the same; we talk about these things as though money didn’t play a role.
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      “It is never like this. We sign an outstanding player like Cody Gakpo and then you read about the next player.
      “We cannot play like Monopoly. Of course we cannot just spend and never could.
      “It is a big part of my philosophy, working full of faith and trust with the players we have and not constantly telling them we need another player in the position.
      “It is clear that you need real quality in all positions and two teams with the same level that you can rotate but people are surprised when we say we cannot start splashing the cash.
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      “If there is something we can do and that means right player and financial situation, we will do it.”
      Klopp has spent £680m since taking over at Liverpool in 2015, recouping £435m in sales.
      Liverpool’s purchases include £75m on Virgil van Dijk, £67m on Alisson and £53m on Naby Keita.
      They then paid Benfica £85m for Darwin Nunez in the summer.
      And many people are not very happy with the picture Klopp is trying to paint when it comes to his club’s spending power.
      One person said: “He’s the type to enjoy a good mental game. Didn’t he just drop a hundred million on a striker?”
      Another added: “Well considering 60 per cent of the league have never bought one 60 million pound player – 4 sounds like a team spending money.”
      A third said: “Diaz, Nunez and Gakpo since last Xmas. Man talks like he’s not being given a mountain of resources as it is.”
      And a fourth responded: “He’s desperate to appear as an underdog, despite them spending hundreds of millions themselves.”
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      Liverpool beat Aston Villa and Leicester after Christmas to climb up to sixth in the Premier League table.
      A win over Brentford would see them leapfrog Tottenham and move to within a single point of Manchester United in fourth. More

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      Newcastle ‘open talks’ to sign Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda but face transfer battle with two European giants

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      NEWCASTLE have begun talks with Real Valladolid over signing Ivan Fresneda but they face competition from top European sides, according to reports.The 18-year-old is seen as one of Spain’s top young prospects and he is attracting attention from Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
      Ivan Fresneda is wanted by NewcastleCredit: Getty
      The Magpies have made the first move for the right-back, opening discussions about buying him, claims journalist Fabrizio Romano.
      Fresneda has a contract at Valldolid until 2025, however there is a release clause worth a supposed £26million.
      Newcastle reportedly value him at half that figure but could be keen on loaning him straight back to the LaLiga side for the rest of the season if they sign him in.
      It is unclear whether Valladolid would accept this but it has been reported that they could demand £10million.
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      The club, which is owned by Brazil legend Ronaldo, have admitted they could sell player but want to keep their squad as it is to avoid relegation.
      Fresneda has only ever played for the first-team ten times in his career and his performances so far suggest he is a star of the future.
      He has been capped four times by Spain’s Under-19 side and he was previously on the books of Real Madrid for four years as a child.
      Newcastle appear keen to sign a long-term alternative to Kieran Trippier, who is aged 32.
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      As for Juventus, right-back options Juan Cuadrado, 34, and Danilo, 31, are also ageing.
      Meanwhile, Dortmund could lose first-choice Thomas Meunier as his contract expires at the end of this season.
      As a result, the German side could be interested in Fresneda. More

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      Arsenal ‘trigger clause in Bukayo Saka’s contract to keep him at club for another year’ amid Man City transfer interest

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      ARSENAL have reportedly triggered a clause in Bukayo Saka’s contract to keep him at the club until at least 2024.The England international, 21, has been linked with a move to Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
      Bukayo Saka is one of the most important players in the Arsenal squadCredit: Getty
      It comes at a time when his existing deal is due to expire in the summer.
      However, according to The Mail, Arsenal have now taken the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, doing so before the clause expired at the end of December.
      And a new long-term contract could be secured sooner rather than later following reports last month that Saka is set to renew talks with Arsenal.
      Since breaking through into the first team in 2018, Saka has established himself as a regular in the Gunners’ forward line.
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      He has contributed 30 goals and 35 assists in 153 appearances for the club.
      And his sublime displays have seen him become a trusted lieutenant for England manager Gareth Southgate – already racking up 24 caps.
      He netted three times at the Qatar World Cup and was one of the Three Lions’ standout performers.
      Upon returning to Arsenal, he has scored in both of their games since the domestic season resumed – with Mikel Arteta’s men beating West Ham and Brighton.
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      Man City’s draw with Everton gave the North London outfit the opportunity to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
      And they dually obliged with a convincing 4-2 victory over Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls on Saturday evening.
      Next up for Saka and Co is a clash with top four-chasing Newcastle on Tuesday.
      They then take on Oxford United in the third round of the FA Cup, before the North London Derby against Tottenham on January 15. More