The Sun

THE mood inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is likely to be mutinous - from BOTH sets of fans.

Anger has only grown among the Spurs and Manchester United supporters as their clubs’ seasons of debacle have continued to plummet downhill in recent weeks.

At best, it will be 14th versus 13th, with Spurs having suffered morale-sapping and embarrassing exits from both domestic cups last week and United having escaped by the skin of their teeth against Leicester.

Two clubs that have lost their way and all conviction.

It means the pressure on Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim is mounting.

But you do not need a long memory to recall that we have been here before, for the same two clubs, barely three years ago.

On that occasion, the loser “won”. Because it brought a change of manager and, for a few months at least, a sense of direction.

While the winner missed out on the obvious managerial replacement, staggered on for three weeks before bowing to the inevitable, and ended up more than 30 points behind their two most bitter rivals.

October 30, 2021. United coming to N17 on the back of a 5-0 home drubbing by Liverpool, with just one point from their last four Prem games.

Under the rocking, ragged, and doomed reign of a genuine Old Trafford hero, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

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Spurs, just a few months under the helm of Nuno Espirito Santo, who appeared to end up with the gig because nobody else wanted it after the forced departure of Jose Mourinho the previous season.

While Nuno’s possession-lite tactical approach is working a dream at Nottingham Forest this season, it had already set the Spurs fans on edge.

They made no bones about their wish to see a team that wanted the ball, not wanted to play a less enjoyable version of the same reactive football that had been on offer under Mourinho.

When Spurs lost three London derbies on the bounce, scoring just once across them and conceded three in each game to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal, before wins over Villa and Newcastle, it felt like the next blip would be the final one.

A week before, that blip came. Another derby defeat, 1-0 at West Ham.

The heat was on. And Nuno - and his team - melted.

It was only when Marcus Rashford scored United’s third, four minutes from time, after earlier goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, that the home fans stopped chanting for Nuno’s head.

But only to turn their ire on chairman Daniel Levy - a groundswell of disgruntlement with him which has barely abated since.

Levy acted in the way many club bosses do when the fans turn on them - he sacked Nuno and replaced him with Antonio Conte - the man who would have been the preferred candidate to replace Solskjaer had United lost.

Solskjaer was, by then, long gone. In the initial aftermath, reflecting on a “difficult week”, the Norwegian said it showed that the club and fan-base “connected together”.

Within three weeks, that had unravelled, a crushing 4-1 loss at Watford bringing the end.

Of course, Conte’s relationship with Levy and the club foundered and eventually splintered into tiny bits, the incendiary Italian dropping a nuclear bomb in the dressing room the following March and walking away to leave the ashes of the fall-out for others to fix.

In truth, Postecoglou still had all that to deal with when he arrived, plus filling the giant Kane-sized hole in his squad.

Last season, despite a slew of injuries, fifth place was a massive step forward. This term, with the injury situation even worse, has been a debacle.

Yet it has been little better for United under Amorim, with just 14 points in his 13 Prem matches, merely three more than Spurs over the same period.

And unlike Postecoglou, whose belief that his side will pick up results when the massed ranks of the injured brigade return to active service does have some credence, the past few weeks appear to have shown what this United side really are.

Able to play when the pressure is off away from home. Utterly incapable of performing when they have to “make” the game at Old Trafford.

So far, it seems that neither board will push the button at this stage - although a gutless mauling by either team could bring a change of heart.

Yet where things were bad in October 2021, they are arguably worse ahead of this meeting of the miserables. Two clubs, united in despair.

ANGE POSTECOGLOU was left with his head in his hands after being grilled about Tottenham's alarming form.

Spurs' season went from bad to worse last Sunday when they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa.

The fourth-round exit came just three days after they were battered in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie with Liverpool.

Postecoglou has shown signs that Spurs' woeful form is getting to him on several occasions this season and did so again when it was put to him that his troops aren't playing in his image.

After putting his head in his hands, the Aussie said: "I don't know how else to explain it.

"I don't know how else to explain it if you can't see that this team is just trying to play its hardest in the most extreme of circumstances.

"Two and a half months of asking 18-year-olds and 17-year-olds and senior players, with no rest, to play Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday.

"I'll keep going for two-and-a-half months and if you think that is not at all a factor of how this team is performing then there's nothing else I can say.

"There's nothing else I can explain."

When asked if it's wise to stick with his current style of play, the 59-year-old added: "No, because they're tired mate.

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"Do you think they can press like [we would]. If we hadn't played Thursday night and I hadn't rotated that team we wouldn't have been pressing aggressively today?

"Fair chance, unless you don't think they're human beings.

"Unless you're superhuman and you think no, after playing Liverpool on Thursday night they should be flying tonight. It doesn't happen. They're human beings.

"Why do you think Liverpool and others rotate 11 players? Why? There's a reason and I wish I could do the same.

"So you can bring a freshness to the team. Of course they're not playing anywhere near the levels that we want or expect, but that's not because they're not trying.

"It's because they can't. I think this group of players once we get the rest of the group in, will be an outstanding team.

"I have no doubt about that. Whether other people can't see that, that's of no interest to me.

"If you want to measure anything on what they're doing at the moment, other than the extreme situation they're dealing with then I think your analysis is skewed and it's not objective. That's my opinion.

THE misery just continues for Ange Postecoglou.

Although the moment his team conceded after 58 seconds with his keeper producing a howler, the beleaguered Aussie must have known it was going to be another rotten day.

His spell as Tottenham manager is now turning into a proper nightmare.

Three days after Spurs were annihilated by Liverpool in their Carabao Cup semi-final, Postecoglou’s team were beaten fair and square by Villa and the situation is becoming toxic to a point where a change is inevitable.

Jacob Ramsey’s first minute goal was followed by the second by the outstanding Morgan Rodgers’ in the 64th minute.

Tottenham’s new striker Mathys Tel, who did not have a kick all game, set up a nervous couple of minutes with a lovely finish in injury time but anything other than a home win would have been a robbery.

As the home fans celebrated the second goal, Marcus Rashford arrived as a substitute for his debut along with fellow new boy Marco Asensio.

Rashford’s first action was to accidentally elbow Kevin Danso in the head with the Spurs defender needing treatment.

Yet for the on-loan Manchester United forward, he is only just getting his feet under the table at his new club although how much longer Postecoglou remains at Spurs is the big question.

Aston Villa’s fans sang ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning.

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Meanwhile, Tottenham’s increasingly angry supporters sang for chairman Daniel Levy to leave their club. In fact, they chanted it nine times during the game.

Although they were a bit better in the second half, this was still poor from Spurs. Postecoglou should survive for next Sunday’s home match against Manchester United and then an away trip to Ipswich.

Again, you had to have sympathy for Spurs as they were without an entire team. In total, 11 players were out plus the cup-tied Dane Scarlett.

They have been forced to put out the type of team Liverpool decided to do at Plymouth - but every week.

The only blow for Villa was the first half loss of Ezri Konsa, their only available centre-back, went off with an injury and he was replaced by Lamare Bogarde, the nephew of Winston Bogarde who famously flopped at Chelsea.

Yet Villa’s defence were hardly given a tough test. And Tottenham’s manager will have hoped his team would, at the very least, remain solid at the back while finding their feet in the game.

Instead, they were put on their backsides in under a minute.Rogers had too much space when receiving a pass from Youri Tielemans.

He navigated his way past Lucas Bergvall - a bit too easily for the Tottenham manager’s liking you would image - and threaded a pass through to Ramsey with Spurs right-back Pedro Porro having gone walkabout.

Ramsey took the ball into the area with his first touch and while his shot was not particularly good, it still squeezed through keeper Kinsky. What an utter disaster for Spurs.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would have expected that the club’s fans, at some stage during the evening, would be chanting for him to leave the club.

But even he would have thought this would occur a bit later than only the second minute.

Spurs struggled to get the ball out of their half and they kept handing Villa chances on a plate.

New Villa arrival Donyell Malen blazed his shot into the North Stand while visiting keeper Kinsky, in fairness, did push away a decent shot from Leon Bailey

As Tottenham’s fans sang: “‘we’re f****g s**”, Tielemans had a free run on goal before his strike bobbled wide while Ramsey also dragged a shot beyond the far post.

In their only meaningful attack of the first half, Spurs should have scored but Son Heung-Min struck his effort at Emiliano Martinez after an outstanding first-time pass from Mikey Moore.

In fact, the finishing from both teams was pretty rubbish. Bailey shot straight at Kinsky, Ramsey hit the post with the follow-up while Malen hammered an effort into the side netting in first half stoppage time.

Spurs did improve after half-time although they could not be any worse.

Son was denied by a decent block from Bogarde, which is something we did not see from his uncle all those years ago, although he only played 12 times in four years in England before leaving in 2004.

Ramsey should have made it 2-0 but Kinsky struck out his right arm to save.

Yet with Rashford and Asensio waiting to enter the field of play, Villa got the second when Porro scuffed a clearance from Malen’s cross and Rodgers had an easy finish.

Spurs defender Danso had a terrific chance to pull a goal back but he somehow missed the target from close range.

Rashford had a chance at the end but Archie Gray took the ball off his foot.

And then Mathys Tel delivered a cracking finish in stoppage time to put away Kulusevski’s cross.

Yet for Spurs, it was far too little, too late.

ON Thursday night, after covering Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Tottenham, I pulled into a service station on my way home and bumped into a big group of Spurs fans.

It was nice of them to say, but to me, that is embarrassing.

Fans of a club like Spurs think a retired 36-year-old – who has never played at a club at that level – is what is needed.

I was briefly linked with a move there in 2020 when Jose Mourinho was boss. It never materialised.

But do I think I could have made a mark on that club, those players? Yes, because I don’t pussyfoot around. It doesn’t matter if it is Jose at Spurs or Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

I know I wouldn’t be a starter, but I could impact a culture, by training to the best of my ability, calling out people who are late to meetings or not pulling their weight.

I would get in that dressing room, shut the door, and take a sledgehammer to it – metaphorically, of course – to show them what we need to do.

Losing a Carabao Cup semi-final – one that was so important to the club – in that manner is entirely on the players.

In games gone by with Spurs, you can blame the boss Ange Postecoglou, his tactics, the set-up is too gung-ho. But at least then they have had a bit about them.

At Anfield, I was speaking to a few ex-Spurs players – proper legends. I asked them: Are you seeing what I am seeing? I thought I was being too harsh in my analysis.

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One of them turned to me and simply said: No character, no fight, no chance.

As captain, Son Heung-min was null and void. At 0-0 – and 1-0 up on aggregate – the team looked nervous but there was no belief they were ever going to win.

When it goes to 1-1 on aggregate, the same thing. No reaction, gone into hiding, doing the opposite of everything you should do in that moment.

After Cody Gakpo’s goal in the 34th minute, while all the Liverpool players were celebrating, I would have got everyone in and told them: The next 10 minutes, we kick it into the corner and solidify until we get to half-time.

Instead they self-imploded. They played quickly from kick-off before everyone was set. They conceded a stupid corner. No one took responsibility.

I would get in that dressing room, shut the door, and take a sledgehammer to it – metaphorically, of course – to show them what we need to do.

That midfield of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr is meant to be a decent trio, but not one of them put their foot on the ball and said: Don’t worry, I’ll keep things ticking over.

It was left to the kids to show a bit of leadership in Djed Spence and Archie Gray – a bit of quality, fight, determination. They weren’t great, but at least they didn’t quit.

Anyone who has played the game will tell you most of those Spurs players quit, gave up. Not on each other or themselves, but quit on the manager, the fan base, everything.

I made headlines by once saying Arsenal lacked ‘cojones’, but just look at this Tottenham team. They bottled it. They collapsed through fear.

If that group look at themselves in the mirror and say: ‘We gave it everything’, then they’re liars. They’re lying to themselves and they’re lying to the fans.

And that’s why they are where they are.

How many of those players will admit any of that performance was their fault? I’ll tell you: zero.

Where are the leaders? I was in the tunnel at full-time around all the post-match interviews. I only saw one player do one, and that was Son. Other than that, Ange did all of them.

That to me says it all. One of the experienced lads should have taken a few of those off the manager’s hands. Take ownership.

If you’re an average player and get the chance to move to Spurs, you would be buzzing. You get paid extremely well, really nice stadium, good fans and there’s no pressure to win anything. Perfect, right?

They beat Brentford last week and celebrated like they had won the FA Cup. They beat Swedish minnows Elfsborg in the Europa League and were posting on social media about ‘togetherness’.

Where are all those posts now? You know what they do? They run, they’re scared. This is the problem, not just with Spurs, but with the new footballer.

They only want to hear the good stuff. They want to be pally-pally.

When people talk about Tottenham now, what do they say? Oh what a lovely set-up. The training ground, the facilities, the stadium is world class.

In other words: Weakness. Softness. Comfort.

I played with Richarlison at Watford. He is naturally a rough and ready bloke. A ‘you’re going to get it’ player. He would run over you to get the ball. A scrapper. The same when he left for Everton.

Spurs then bought him for £50m to change their culture, but because everything is so nice and laid on, you subconsciously become that type of person. It creates weakness.

I remember talking to a rugby friend of mine at Saracens. He said when they went away with England, they would stay in a four star, not a five, purposely to make them a little bit uncomfortable.

That will make you strive for more. What are you striving for at Spurs?

If you’re an average player and get the chance to move to Spurs, you would be buzzing.

It’s the best place to be. You get paid extremely well, really nice stadium, good fans and there’s no pressure to win anything. Perfect, right?

TOTTENHAM have announced their renewed Europa League squad... and there are a few surprises.

Spurs punched their ticket straight into the Last 16 after finishing fourth in the league phase.

The North Londoners were allowed to make three changes to the squad ahead of the knockouts.

Manager Ange Postecoglou added two January signings in Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel.

Danso, 26, moved to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on loan from Lens with an obligation to buy for around £21million.

Tel, 19, also joined on loan from Bayern Munich with an option to buy for about £52m, which would then lead to a six-year contract.

The forward initially rejected Tottenham but changed his mind after a long phone call with Postecoglou, who won him over after he explained how he plans to use him on the pitch.

Danso and Tel were joined in the Europa League squad by Djed Spence, who has shone bright this season amid Spurs' injury hell, as the third change.

Postecoglou had to make two major omissions to make space for the aforementioned trio.

That led to Timo Werner and another January signing in Antonin Kinsky being axed.

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Kinsky, 21, joined Tottenham from Slavia Prague after a £12.5m deal as an emergency transfer following Guglielmo Vicario's injury and a series of gaffes from back-up goalkeeper Fraser Forster last month.

However, Vicario is expected to return from an ankle injury and Postecoglou decided to have Brandon Austin as the Italian shot-stopper's back-up after also axing Forster.

Werner has fallen down the pecking order following a series of below-par performances.

The winger, who earns about £200,000 per week amid his loan stint from RB Leipzig, recently received some brutal criticism from Postecoglou, who claimed: "He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should”.

The Germany international is also dealing with a hamstring injury, which could have contributed to his omission.

ANGE POSTECOGLOU declared Mathys Tel WILL be a Tottenham player beyond the end of the season.

The French striker, 19, completed a deadline-day loan move from Bayern Munich to Spurs, who hold a £45million option to sign him permanently.

German reports had suggested the player could still choose not to join the North Londoners in the summer, despite that option.

But SunSport understands Tel is happy to stay should Spurs trigger it and a six-year contract has already been agreed.

Asked if he could clear up the confusion and if Tel would remain at Tottenham beyond the current season, bullish Postecoglou replied: “He'll be a Tottenham player.

“I think he'll show everyone he's going to be a Tottenham player in the next six months. I didn't bring him here for six months.”

Tel has been cleared to make his Spurs debut at Liverpool tomorrow having trained and received his work permit.

The same goes for 26-year-old centre-back Kevin Danso, signed on loan from RC Lens on Sunday, who is likely to start the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

Tel had initially rejected a switch to Spurs when a straight £50m deal was on the table.

But he had a change of heart on Monday, having had a persuasive exchange “purely about football” via phonecall and on text over a couple of hours with Postecoglou.

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The Aussie joked: “I felt that if I kept him on the phone long enough, I would wear him down. He was falling asleep by the end!

“I got a sense pretty early on that there was a connection there and he was hearing what he wanted to hear. It is a big decision.

“He is a 19-year-old man at a fantastic football club. They would have been quite happy to keep him there I am sure but he also knew he needed to play.

“But not just play. Play where he is going to develop. I think it is a credit to him that rather than just jump at what came at him, he was very thorough in the way he made his decision.”

Tel had interest from other clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, but was convinced, in the end, by Spurs.

Postecoglou said he was “100 per cent” certain Tel is happy to be at Spurs and sees the move as a coup for Spurs, who are in all cup competitions but 14th in the Premier League.

The ex-Celtic boss added: “He is very, very exciting.

“When you meet him you realise he’s got that bit about him as a person who has enormous self-belief and confidence in what he can do and what he wants to do.

“Even though he’s young, physically he’s already in a place where he can take on the enormous challenges of being an attacking player in the Bundesliga and I think he can handle the Premier League.

“He’s a goal-scorer, he can take people on, he’s got speed.

“I’d be very surprised if there was a club that wouldn’t be interested in somebody like him.”

JACK GREALISH came close to signing for Tottenham, claims the North Londoners' former technical director Steve Hitchen.

Grealish, 29, left Aston Villa for Manchester City for £100million in 2021.

Three years earlier, however, Spurs failed in a £25m bid.

In September 2018, Grealish even admitted: "I thought I was leaving. Before the new owners, Villa needed the money so I kind of accepted that me going would save the club."

Hitchen played a major role in Tottenham's recruitment at the time, before going to leave in 2022 following Fabio Paratici's arrival.

Recently appearing on the Decision Makers podcast, the 48-year-old relived Spurs' failed bid for Grealish.

He said: "We were very close to getting Jack Grealish, which would have been probably one of the best signings.

"Jack Grealish was a 'Tottenham player'. He would have set the place alight.

"He had the skills, he would have got the fans off their seat. He would have been a difference in that time.

"We had Dele at that time and I think those two would have pushed each other as well.

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"To miss out on that player was massive in that period."

Astonishingly, Tottenham did not sign a single player in that 2018 summer transfer window.

They then failed to recruit anyone in January 2019, despite Mousa Dembele leaving for Guangzhou R&F.

Hitchen went on to reveal that Spurs nearly pulled off a huge deal for a Dembele replacement.

He added: "We were really close to getting Frenkie de Jong.

"I think Frenkie de Jong, again, is a 'Tottenham player'. I think he would have made a big difference for us.

"We had to replace the irreplaceable in Dembele. Probably Frenkie could've gone into that position and really succeeded at Spurs."

Since leaving Tottenham, Hitchen has become director of football at talent agency Unique Sports Group (USG).

Live Blog

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Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd dealt Tel blow with forward set for Deadline Day SWITCH, Arsenal ‘STILL in for Watkins’

DEADLINE DAY is HERE as the January transfer window rapidly heads towards a frantic finale at 11pm TONIGHT!

Manchester United have received a major blow in their pursuit of Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel, with the 19-year-old set to join Tottenham on loan for the rest of the season.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are reportedly STILL eyeing up a blockbuster move for Aston Villa superstar Ollie Watkins after having their opening bid rejected earlier in the window.

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Follow all the latest moves with our live blog below...

Spurs bid for Burnley star

Tottenham have launched a £20million bid for Burnley defender Maxime Esteve.

The Frenchman has been a key player under Scott Parker, playing 27 times in the Championship.

Spurs are hoping to lure him to London tonight, according to L’Equipe.

But their £20m offer may not be enough with Burnley holding out for £30m.

Newcastle keep tabs on Kluivert

Newcastle are looking at a move for Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert.

Dad Patrick spent one season at Toon in 2004.

And Justin could become the latest Kluivert to move to St James’ Park after a barnstorming season.

He netted a hat-trick in the Cherries’ 4-1 win against Newcastle earlier this month and is highly rated by Eddie Howe.

Done Deal - Asensio to Villa

Aston Villa have completed the stunning signing of Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spanish winger joins on a loan deal until the summer.

Asensio won three Champions Leagues during his time at Real Madrid.

And he could make his debut alongside fellow new loanee Marcus Rashford in Sunday's FA Cup tie against Tottenham.

Fofana back at Chelsea

Chelsea have recalled striker David Datro Fofana from his loan at Goztepe.

The 22-year-old has suffered a major knee injury that will keep him out for the season.

And Fofana will undergo his rehab at Stamford Bridge.

The Ivorian joined Chelsea in 2023 for £10million from Molde but has played just four times for the Blues amid loans at Union Berlin and Burnley.

Exclusive – no further United signings

Man United are not expecting to make any further signings - but there could be more outgoings, SunSport can exclusively reveal.

Red Devils chiefs are pleased with the three deals they have completed for Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon.

A source told SunSport that United were not prepared to pay over-the-odds for other targets, including loanees with no buy option.

But the club is braced to lose at least one more first-team star tonight following Marcus Rashford and Antony's exits.

Holding set for Palace exit

Rob Holding is set to end his Crystal Palace nightmare with a loan move to Sheffield United.

The defender has barely featured since joining the Eagles from Arsenal.

And he is now set to drop to the Championship as the Blades battle for promotion.

Coventry were also keen on Holding but he wanted to work with Chris Wilder, who has just signed a new long-term deal.

Garnacho staying at United

Man United have decided NOT to sell Alejandro Garnacho amid links with Chelsea and Napoli.

The Argentinian winger was thought to be up for sale this month.

Chelsea and Napoli were both in talks over a deal that could reach over £60million.

But following Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa loan, Garnacho will remain at Old Trafford tonight.

Exclusive by SunSport’s Jack Rosser

Sunderland have launched a bid for Southampton striker Adam Armstrong.

The Championship promotion chasers have lodged a loan bid with Saints for the boyhood Newcastle fan.

There is a lot of Championship interest in the striker, who has struggled for minutes under Ivan Juric and has just two Premier League goals this season.

Southampton do not want to lose the forward on the cheap and he is thought to be reluctant to join Sunderland.

Napoli beat Spurs to striker

Napoli have reportedly won the race for AC Milan striker Noah Okafor.

The Swiss star was a target for Tottenham, who are now set to sign Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel instead.

It means Napoli are unlikely to follow up interest in Man Utd’s Alejandro Garnacho, who remains in Chelsea’s sights.

While their move for ex-Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin may also be in doubt, leaving the Frenchman stranded at Fenerbahce.

Luiz to stay in Italy

Douglas Luiz is unlikely to return to England today.

The former Aston Villa man was being lined up by both Man City and Chelsea after struggling at new club Juventus.

But City are set to sign Nico Gonzalez from Porto, while Chelsea are set to have a quiet end to the window.

And it means Luiz is set to stay in Serie A until at least the summer.

United suffer fresh blow

Man United could be in the market for late defensive reinforcements.

That’s after Lisandro Martinez was potentially ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

The ace was stretchered off clutching his knee during yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

And it could force United into moving for a short-term centre-back before tonight’s deadline.

Chelsea ‘blocked’ Felix’s Villa move

Chelsea reportedly refused to allow Joao Felix to join Aston Villa.

Fabrizio Romano claims the Blues did not want to strengthen a direct rival in the league.

It means Felix is now set to join AC Milan on loan.

Chelsea also took the same stance when Villa bid for Axel Disasi, with the Frenchman still a target for Tottenham.

Malacia set for Dutch return

Tyrell Malacia is heading back to Holland with PSV Eindhoven.

The Dutch champs are close to wrapping up a loan deal for Man United’s misfit left-back.

Malacia came close to joining Benfica last week before a move collapsed.

But PSV have come to his rescue after United signed a replacement in Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu.

Everton line up forward

Everton are reportedly hopeful of landing a new striker today.

And it’s reckoned they are targeting Nottingham Forest ace Taiwo Awoniyi.

The ace has played second-fiddle to Chris Wood this season.

But Forest may be reluctant to let him go in case their Kiwi star suffers an injury.

Kelly's Juventus move 'in doubt'

Lloyd Kelly's Juventus move from Newcastle in doubt.

The centre-back has agreed a loan move to Italy, with the option to make his deal permanent in the summer.

However, Kelly is regarded as a non-EU player and needs a work permit.

And Di Marzio claims Juve are in a race against time to sort his paperwork, which could potentially see the move collapse later tonight.

Disasi to Spurs back on?

A deal to bring Axel Disasi to Tottenham on loan from Chelsea could well be back on!

Earlier in the day, that ship appeared to have sailed given the French defender was holding out for a move to Aston Villa.

But a temporary move from the west of the capital to the North is now a possibility before 11pm.

Tel to Spurs latest

Tottenham are still in discussions over the terms of Mathys Tel's loan switch from Bayern Munich.

German sources seem clear that it will be just a straight loan.

But sources close to Spurs have told SunSport that talks are ongoing over the structure of the deal.

Tel, 19, is in London looking to tie up his shock late switch.

Wolves skipper set to depart

Wolves have agreed an escape-route for former skipper Mario Lemina who is on his way to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

The Molineux club have agreed a fee of just under £3million for the 31-year-old Gabon international.

Lemina has not played since telling Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira he wanted to quit the club at the start of January.

The midfielder, whose contract was set to expire this summer, has since apologised and made himself available for selection until his future was resolved.

Now, both parties appear to have settled their differences, paving the way for Lemina to join Galatasaray

Blues land new midfielder

Chelsea have reportedly agreed to sign St-Étienne midfielder Mathis Amougou.

However, the Telegraph claim he will go straight out on loan.

When his move to Chelsea is completes, the teenager is expected to be loaned back out immediately to RC Strasbourg, according to L'Equipe.

Strasbourg is also under Todd Boehly's BlueCo ownership so the club has a close relationship with Chelsea.

Breaking - Coady/Dawson swap collapses

Talks over a potential swap deal between Wolves' Craig Dawson and Leicester City's Conor Coady have collapsed, reports our man Graeme Bryce.

The double-deal was always regarded as a long shot and have not progressed to the satisfaction of all four parties.

It means there will be no fairytale return to Molineux for former Wolves skipper Conor Coady.

While Dawson is likely to remain sidelined by Vitor Pereira at Molineux.

Arsenal still keen on Watkins

Arsenal have not given up hope of signing Ollie Watkins today.

The Independent claims Aston Villa’s star striker remains on Arsenal’s list.

That’s despite the Gunners having a bid rejected for Watkins last week.

Villa have no intention of selling after parting ways with Jhon Duran and want Watkins to stay at Villa Park.

From SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse

Middlesbrough have confirmed Samuel Iling-Junior has signed on loan from Aston Villa until the end of the season.

The winger, 21, spent the first half of the campaign with Serie A side Bologna and featured in the Champions league for the Italians.

The England youth international signed for Villa from Juventus last summer after four years at the Italian giants.

Boro also hope to add former Man City and Leicester star Kelechi Iheanacho to their ranks.

City strike Gonzalez deal

Man City have agreed a £50million deal to sign Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez.

The Barcelona academy product will become City's fourth major signing of the window.

Gonzalez had already agreed personal terms with the champs before Porto accepted a £50m bid.

He plays in the No6 role currently vacated by the injured Rodri, but is also capable of featuring in a more advanced role.

Arsenal urged to sign Vlahovic

Philippe Senderos has told former club Arsenal to pull out all the stops for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

He told CasinoHawks: "Dusan Vlahovic could take Arsenal closer to the title, but Mikel Arteta has a clear idea of how he wants to play and who he wants in that nine position.

"We’ve seen Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz there, but Vlahovic is a fantastic player who has performed in the Italian league and been a success.

"It’s difficult to judge him this season, but he could certainly have a big impact in the Premier League, why not."

MATHYS TEL has made a dramatic U-turn after agreeing to join Tottenham on loan, reports say.

Tel and his agent Gadiri Camara shared pictures of them travelling to London in a private jet today on deadline day.

Tel will join Spurs until the end of the season, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

It is a straight loan deal, with NO option to buy in the forward's short-term clause, meaning he will return to Germany in the summer.

The structure of the deal is still being negotiated but Bayern have accepted Tel's decision to try his luck in the Premier League.

Agent Camara posted snaps of him and Tel looking suited and booted in a luxury private plane on Instagram hours before the close of the window at 11pm tonight.

It comes just days after Tel snubbed the chance to switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 19-year-old allegedly turned the North London club down, with Manchester United and Arsenal both interested at the time.

Spurs had been negotiating with the French teenager after reportedly agreeing a £50million deal with Bayern.

And chairmanDaniel Levy even jetted to Germany to help try to seal a deal before Tel refused it.

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But now the teenager has seemingly gone back on his decision to reject Tottenham and will join Ange Postecoglou's side.

They are expected to cover his full salary until the deal expires in June.

Tel has been a fringe player at Bayern this season, playing only 344 minutes across their Bundesliga and Champions League campaigns.

He is yet to score this term, but at 19 remains a thrilling talent.

He scored nine goals and provided six assists across the Bundesliga and Europe last season - and mostly as a substitute.

Bayern paid roughly £23m to land him from French side Rennes at the age of only 17 in 2022.

Once confirmed, Tel will be Spurs' fourth signing of the January window.

His addition would come as a huge boost to boss Postecoglou, who has been calling for “help” to his frontline all transfer window.

Kevin Danso was signed from RC Lens on Sunday on an initial loan with an obligation to buy for £20m in the summer.

And 18-year-old Korean star Yang min-hyeok came during the first days of the window.

Before young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was thrown straight into the starting XI after signing for £13.3m from Slavia Prague.

Tel might jump start into Prem duties too, with Tottenham currently suffering from a horrific injury crisis.

Spurshave NINE first-team players sidelined through injury, including Radu Dragusin and defenders Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.

Keeper Guglielmo Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison are also out.

Postecoglou's men sit 14th in the Prem, after winning just eight of their 24 games this season.

Spurs had hoped to bring in Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain, but the France international joined Juventus instead.

They currently have £65million striker Solanke sidelined and not expected back for another couple of weeks due to a knee injury.

I’m not going to talk about any individuals.

“We are actively looking to find a solution in that position and we will see what the market brings.

“I’m very confident with the work the club is doing, exploring every single opportunity that can have an impact on the team. If we can agree something we will. If we can’t, we won’t.

“We are trying everything that we can, but I don’t want to give any reassurance or not. It doesn’t depend only on us. Our intentions are clear but the possibilities are affected by three parties.

"We look at what we have in the squad, what we are lacking, what can make an impact and make us much better, regardless of age or background. It’s just a belief that player can be really good for us over time.”