Football League World

Highlights

Michael Dawson made 132 appearances and scored 9 goals for Hull City.

He was a key player in Hull's promotion and relegation battles during his four-season spell.

Dawson's aerial ability, defensive awareness, and leadership qualities made him a fan favorite at Hull.

Michael Dawson made 132 appearances for Hull City during his four-season spell at the club.

The central defender signed for Hull from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £3.5m in the summer of 2014, after the Tigers had finished 16th in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final the previous season.

Dawson was 30-years-old at the time of the move, having spent just under a decade at Spurs, where he had become club captain. However, he still had plenty left to give and turned out to be an excellent signing for Hull.

He arrived during the same transfer window that saw the likes of Abel Hernandez, Robert Snodgrass, Mohamed Diame, Jake Livermore, Andy Robertson and Harry Maguire sign for the Tigers under manager Steve Bruce.

Dawson was a successful signing for Hull

It did not take long for Dawson to captain Hull for the first time, as he was given the armband for a 1-1 draw against Everton at Goodison Park just a few months after making his debut.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 home win over Liverpool, when he headed home Ahmed El Mohamady's cross in the first half to secure a memorable victory for Hull in their fight against the drop.

Unfortunately, Dawson's debut season ended in relegation for Hull as they finished 18th in the Premier League, three points adrift of Aston Villa, and returned to the Championship.

The 2015/16 campaign turned out to be an iconic one for the Tigers, as they bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking. Dawson captained Hull to promotion, with Diame's stunning strike in the play-off final at Wembley sealing a 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and ensuring that the club would return to the Premier League.

Dawson scored six goals over the course of the next two seasons, as the Tigers were relegated once again before the 2017/18 Championship campaign turned out to be his last for the club.

The defender's aerial ability, defensive awareness and leadership qualities endeared him to the Hull supporters, with the victory against Liverpool and lifting the trophy after the play-off final standing out as moments that will live long in the memory of the fans.

Dawson has enjoyed success since leaving Hull

Dawson left Hull and joined Nottingham Forest in 2018, the club that he started his career with before signing for Tottenham. He spent three years at the City Ground before announcing his retirement in the summer of 2021.

He returned to Hull with Forest during the 2018/19 season and played 90 minutes as his side won 2-0. Dawson didn't lose any of the five games he played against the Tigers throughout his career.

Since retiring, Dawson has been a club ambassador for Tottenham as well as a pundit in the media. He is fondly remembered by fans of the clubs he played for, and Hull fans are no exception.

Dawson was a key figure at the heart of the Tigers' defence during four exciting seasons that were spent either battling relegation or fighting for promotion, and his passion, commitment and ability meant that he was a well-respected player during his time at the club.

Signing the defender for £3.5m from Spurs turned out to be a very good decision from Hull.

Leeds United have signed defender Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur, as they prepare for another season in the Championship.

The defender spent last season on loan at Elland Road and played every minute of Leeds' play-off campaign as they were beaten by Southampton in the final at Wembley.

Rodon has now signed permanently in a deal worth in the region of £10m as the Whites look to go one better next season and seal a return to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old has played for five clubs so far in his career. He started at Swansea City, and had a short spell on loan at Cheltenham Town, before signing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020 for an initial fee of £11m.

The Welsh international spent a season on loan at Rennes in Ligue 1 and then joined Leeds on a temporary basis for the 2023/24 campaign. Now, the Whites have become his third permanent club and he will be hoping that he can make it back to the top flight with them as soon as possible.

Rodon has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Elland Road. With the help of Capology's estimations, we've examined what the centre-back was earning at former club Tottenham and where that fits in amongst the salaries of the Leeds squad.

It must be taken into consideration that the data provided by Capology are estimations and not official figures.

Joe Rodon's earnings during his time at Spurs

According to Capology, when Rodon signed for Tottenham from Swansea, his wage increased from £8,077 per week to £9,615 per week.

That would have seen him receive an extra £80,000 per year, with an annual salary of £500,000.

The centre-back spent four seasons in total on the books at Spurs, although he spent two of them out on loan, meaning that he would have netted £2,000,000 during his time in North London.

He made 24 first team appearances for Tottenham in his time at the club and played 1,338 minutes. That means he was paid over £80,000 per appearance for Spurs, and just under £1,500 per minute on the pitch, although some of those wages are likely to have been covered by Rennes and Leeds during the seasons he spent at those clubs.

Joe Rodon's earnings compared to Leeds United players

Capology have not yet provided any figures regarding Rodon's new salary at Leeds, although many of the players' estimated wages are available to access.

Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, only five players are set to be paid less than £10,000 per week. Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford will be the Whites' joint-highest earners, receiving £70,000 per week and £3,640,000 per annum. Daniel James, Pascal Struijk, and Junior Firpo are the other three Leeds players on at least £50,000 per week.

According to the data, Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto are paid £15,000 and £20,000 per week respectively.

If Rodon has agreed on a similar salary to the one he was on at Tottenham, he will rank among the lowest earners at Elland Road next season. However, he may have negotiated a better deal amid Premier League interest earlier in the summer.

While the information above is interesting, it is important to remember that all figures used are merely estimates using data from Capology.

Highlights

Paul Robinson had successful stints at Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, and Tottenham Hotspur, making over 100 appearances for each club.

Robinson played a crucial role in Leeds' historic Champions League journey and scored a memorable goal for Tottenham.

He ended his career with Burnley, making three appearances, but his impact on the former trio will be most remembered.

Veteran goalkeeper Paul Robinson had long stints at three English clubs and his performances mean he will be remembered fondly by each of the trio.

He made well in excess of 100 appearances for each of Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur in a career that spanned 16 years.

A brief stint in the 2016/17 season saw him end his career with Burnley, making three appearances for the then-Premier League side, but it is the former trio that he will be most remembered for.

Ever-dependable, he is relatively rare in that he left a strong impression on every club he turned out for.

Strong beginnings at Leeds

As is so often the case with a young talent from Yorkshire, Robinson came through the academy at Leeds and managed to put himself in the frame for the no.1 spot in the 1998/99 season, making five Premier League appearances that season.

It was two seasons later, in 2000/01, that the stopper would next progress to stardom, turning out 16 times in England's top flight and taking the Whites on an incredible Champions League journey. He helped the side earn draws against heavyweights like Barcelona, AC Milan and Real Madrid, whilst also providing clean sheets in a win and a draw against Lazio and Besiktas respectively.

Those years represented a historic chapter in Leeds' story, and Robinson was right there, in the thick of the action.

The goalkeeper sparked back into life in 2002/03, becoming Elland Road's main man for two consecutive seasons before being lured away by Tottenham.

He made 118 appearances in total for Leeds and even managed to bag himself a goal; an injury-time header against Swindon Town in the League Cup.

Robinson was heavily relied on at Spurs

Having nearly moved to White Hart Lane months earlier, Robinson completed a £1.5million move to Spurs in the summer of 2004.

He would go on to be the Lilywhites' main man between the sticks for the following four seasons. He'd already made his England debut, but it was during his time with the north London club that he truly nailed down his place as the main Three Lions gloveman, playing every minute of their 2006 World Cup campaign.

As he was so consistent at each of his three clubs, it's difficult to conclude where Robinson peaked, but his time at Spurs would provide a strong case when considered alongside his international career.

Quite incredibly for a goalkeeper, Robinson also scored for Spurs, this time in the Premier League from a free-kick deep inside his own half that fortuitously bounced over the head of Watford's Ben Foster.

Seeing out his career with Blackburn

Aside from his handful of appearances for Burnley, the main era of Robinson's playing career drew to a close at Blackburn Rovers.

He signed for the Blue and Whites in July 2008 for a reported fee of £3.5million and went on to have three full Premier League seasons with the club, before Rovers suffered relegation in the 2011/12 season.

Robinson stuck by Rovers and remained at the club for the following three seasons, appearing less regularly and seeing out the final years of his career in the Championship.

He made 201 appearances for the Lancashire club, the most he made for any single team throughout his career.

Solid and dependable, Robinson was one of the early figures between the sticks who could also contribute to the team in a footballing sense, alongside the bread-and-butter work of stopping shots, where many 'keepers that had gone before him saw their talent stop.

With a solid career comprised of lengthy stints at three huge clubs, plus a very respectable England career; it is easy to see why Robinson will remain fondly remembered in equal parts at the trio of clubs that he spent most of his career.

Highlights

Birmingham City, Oxford United, and Luton Town are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jamie Donley on loan.

Donley's playmaking ability could help Birmingham City bounce back to the Championship.

The loan deal would provide flexibility for Birmingham City's future signings and squad composition.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Birmingham City are said to be one of a number of EFL clubs monitoring the progress of Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jamie Donley this summer.

The Blues are said to be fighting the likes of Oxford United for his signature this summer, as well as recently relegated Luton Town, upon their return to the second tier.

The 19-year-old made three brief appearances for the Premier League outfit in the previous campaign, and looks set to head out on loan for the following season to gain experience in the professional game.

The Midlands outfit could hold a key advantage in the fact that the midfielder will be well known to City boss Chris Davies - given the 39-year-old’s former position at the club - although they will have a task on their hands to make him theirs this summer.

Oxford United, Luton Town and Birmingham City all looking to capture Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Donley

Donley is a player who has caught they eye while with Spurs’ academy, having had a major influence on the youth side winning the PL2 championship in the 23/24 campaign.

The midfielder chipped in with five goals from the middle of the park during his time with the youth team, as well as setting up a further ten goals for his teammates, as he provided a creative outlet as his team pushed forward.

That playmaking ability would be a welcome addition into the City ranks this summer, with Davies looking to reinvigorate a squad that suffered relegation from the Championship in May.

With reports of Juninho Bacuna potentially leaving the club in the coming weeks, the Midlands outfit will need replacements in that area of the park, and Football League World Blues' fan pundit Mike Gibbs thinks it would be a great deal to get over the line this summer.

Gibbs said: “I think Donley would be a fantastic signing. Obviously, he worked previously with Chris Davies at Spurs, and Chris Davies is going to know him well, and know what he can bring.

“From what I’ve read about him and some of the clips I’ve watched, he seems a very, very competent footballer, and I think there will be plenty of movement in terms of players going out from those attacking positions, so I think having someone we can bring in to complement the team makes a ton of sense.

“It’s a loan deal as well. We haven’t brought in any loan deals so far, and I always think it’s good to have a mix of loan players and permanent signings.

“You don’t want to go too far with the loans rather than permanent signings, because it gives you a problem at the end of the season, but at the same time, using loan players for the last couple of spots in your team gives you a bit of flexibility the following summer.

“So I think it will be a great signing, I’d like to think we can absolutely compete with Oxford, I think the challenge is Luton, think they’ll be playing at the top end of the Championship so if you’re a player in the Premier League and a top Championship side comes knocking, you would take that over League One would be my view.”

Jamie Donley deal can add to impressive Birmingham City transfer business ahead of League One campaign

City have been flexing their muscles in the transfer market ahead of their upcoming League One campaign, with Davies adding a wealth of experience and quality to his squad ahead of the season-opener next month.

Goalkeeping pair Ryan Allsop and Bailey Peacock-Farrell will make sure the battle to be number one rumbles on throughout the campaign, while the new Blues boss has also addressed issues at the other end of the pitch.

The arrival of 23/24 League One top scorer Alfie May [pictured] from Charlton Athletic will make sure City have a potent threat in and around the penalty area for the next campaign, with the former Addicks man netting 23 goals in the previous campaign.

Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray has left the club after just one season to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, where he will hope to realise more of his potential under Ange Postecoglou.

The Whites' crown jewel has penned a six-year deal with Spurs, after they agreed a fee of around £40 million with the Whites for the 18-year-old, with Joe Rodon returning to Leeds in the other direction for around £10 million on a permanent basis, having been a hugely successful loan signing last year.

What Spurs can expect from Archie Gray

At the age of just 18, Gray is already a well-rounded player. His ability to carry the ball and his first touch is already top drawer. He is a player that is mature beyond his years and capable of imposing himself on a game at either right-back or in his preferred central midfield role.

He is calm and composed on the ball, and demands it from his teammates. Gray's decision-making and speed of thought will only improve in time, as will his physicality; but they are all strong areas of his skill-set for a player of his age. He may have occasionally struggled against some of the second tier's best wingers, but was largely a diligent defensive player for most of the campaign with Leeds.

Crucially, Gray is only going to improve from here, but his priority should be with a club that will offer him regular game time and a clear pathway into the first-team, albeit Spurs could be the best of the Premier League's elite in that sense under Postecoglou. Regular enough game time is paramount for him to realise his enormous potential.

If they can offer Gray the footballing opportunities he requires to continue his development and to continue improving, then this could be a perfect fit for the youngster, who was almost ever-present with Leeds during their promotion push last season.

The fee for Gray's services makes selling him easier to stomach for Leeds fans, despite his family's legacy at Elland Road and the fact that he is one of the most exciting talents to have emerged through the club's academy in a generation.

However, their financial situation dictates the need for sales this summer, and it's fair to suggest that some of the funds raised will need to be put towards an aggressive approach to the transfer market, with Rodon the ideal start in that sense.

Dewsbury-Hall, Chelsea deal makes Archie Gray deal look even better

Making the deal even more palatable was to bring Rodon back to the club, but Gray has also become one of football's most expensive ever 18-year-old's in the process.

Indeed, he has also become one of the Championship's record sales, and the highest ever fee paid for a player in the second tier who is without top-flight experience as well.

Selling an academy product of such talent is always going to be a difficult situation to navigate for a club's hierarchy, but all of that combines to soften the blow for Leeds.

However, one other deal will also be making Leeds fans feel a whole lot better about Gray's departure.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was arguably Leicester City's most valuable financial asset, with the midfielder already proving how vital he was to Leicester’s promotion push this year with his dazzling performances in the Championship, where his overall goal contributions have underlined his quality.

If Leicester were to find themselves in the promotion picture, then their best midfielder was always going to be pivotal to that.

The 25-year-old is a player who was surprisingly gracing the Championship this term, with many expecting him to have gained a move back to the top-flight over the summer. That's quite clearly been Leicester's gain, though.

Having said that, Dewsbury-Hall has left the Foxes, despite promotion, for a bargain fee of around £30 million to help ease their financial worries, whilst also linking up with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.

The 25-year-old was their crown jewel last year, scoring or assisting 27 goals in 49 games in all competitions as they won the league.

Of course, you are partly paying for potential with Gray, over the ready-made Premier League player in Leicester's best player, Dewsbury-Hall - but to sell Gray for £10 million more than Chelsea's new-man will be of some comfort to Leeds fans who were also pipped to promotion by the Foxes last term.

Leeds will hope that Gray realises his potential in North London, but there are no guarantees about how he will develop and if he can remain on the steep trajectory he is currently on forever.

Spurs have a future England star on their hands for a deal which appears to have suited all parties involved, at least from a financial point of view.

Birmingham City face a huge summer transfer window as they begin to adapt to life in League One under new boss Chris Davies.

Blues are set to face their first campaign in the third tier since 1994/1995, with plenty of change afoot on and off the pitch already happening, not least with Davies' appointment on June 6 following Gary Rowett's departure and Tony Mowbray's decision to stand down from his manager post, amid recovery from surgery.

Neil Etheridge, Gary Gardner, Scott Hogan, Marc Roberts, Ivan Sunjic and John Ruddy have all been allowed to leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts, while Alex Pritchard left to join Sivasspor on July 1.

Davies has already moved to make some key additions to his squad too, with Alfie May, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Ryan Allsop and Emil Hansson all arriving from Charlton Athletic, Burnley, Hull City and Heracles respectively - an ambitious set of additions indeed.

City are certainly set to be busy on the transfer front in the coming months, and have recently been credited by Football London with a loan interest in Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jamie Donley, alongside two Championship clubs.

Prior to taking the Birmingham job, Davies was senior assistant coach at Spurs under Ange Postecoglou, so his links to the club will surely give them a boost in their pursuit of Donley's signature this summer.

Jamie Donley, Birmingham City transfer latest

Birmingham are looking at taking the 19-year-old on loan for the season, according to football.london, but face fierce competition from a host of clubs that can offer second tier football.

Tottenham are not believed to be willing to sell Donley, but football.london reports that Luton Town, Oxford United and Bristol City are all also interested in giving him a first taste of professional football away on loan from North London.

While a move to a Championship side may seem like it makes more sense for Donley on the face of things, the chance to work with Davies, who was reportedly impressed by him last season after he broke into Postecoglou's first-team, should give Blues a huge advantage in potential talks.

The England youth international is very highly-rated at Spurs and shone for their under-21's side last season, prompting the Australian to hand him four first-team appearances throughout the campaign.

He is set to be involved with the first-team in pre-season and could even be taken on Tottenham's upcoming summer tour to Japan and South Korea at the end of July, as per the report from football.london, yet could make a move before he has the chance.

As it stands, Birmingham should have the upper-hand when it comes to negotiations regarding Donley - Davies is a familar face to the 19-year-old, and will likely also be able to offer more regular first-team minutes than their Championship counterparts.

Jamie Donley would be a good fit for Chris Davies' Birmingham City rebuild

While it is still unclear as to which formation Davies will deploy while at St. Andrew's, many would point to Spurs' consistent use of a 4-2-3-1 while he was at the club last season as a possible indication of what he may go with.

If that is the case, Blues will need a new signing to come in to play just behind new striker Alfie May, and the 19-year-old is a perfect fit, given his favoured position is as an attacking midfielder that likes to find key passes and link the play to the attack.

Davies does not currently have such a player in his squad, with Koji Miyoshi and Keshi Anderson both able, but more suited to the wings, and Juninho Bacuna seemingly set to follow Alex Pritchard to Turkish side Sivasspor, according to BirminghamLive.

Donley could also provide a back-up option as a striker, after previously playing there before gradually moving further back into midfield over the last couple of years, or even as a box-to-box player in a midfield three, given his tendency to drop deep and receive the ball on the turn.

Along with Bacuna, there could be more midfield outgoings in the coming months with Paik Seung-ho and Jordan James possibly also set to leave, so Blues must get their recruitment spot on if they wish to bounce back to the second-tier at the first time of asking.

Highlights

Leeds United's Archie Gray joins Tottenham Hotspur for £25-30 million.

Gray's transition to the Premier League may be challenging, as recent EFL signings struggled.

Gray's versatility and adaptability could help him succeed at Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou.

Archie Gray was one of the young stars of the EFL last season, starring for Leeds United as they accumulated 90 points in the league and reached the play-off final.

Despite this, the Whites' failure to get promoted meant that they were under pressure to make a lucrative sale in order to comply with financial fair play stipulations.

The 18-year-old was the player selected and on Tuesday, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed that they had agreed to sign the dynamic midfielder for a fee in the region of £40 million, with Joe Rodon heading the other way for £10 million.

For Leeds fans, the departure of such a young talent with a name synonymous with the club will hurt, but the signing of Rodon will at least sweeten the deal somewhat.

Now it is just a case of wishing him well, and fans will be hopeful that Gray does not turn out like some of the other EFL stars who have moved to Spurs for big money.

Gray will want to avoid Ryan Sessegnon's failure

The transition to Premier League football is often not a smooth one for those making the jump from the Championship. But, in recent history, Spurs have not given ample opportunity to those they have signed from the division below, with Djed Spence, Ryan Sessegnon and Rodon all struggling to make the jump from the second tier.

Whilst Leeds' newest recruit and Spence received little opportunity in North London, Sessegnon did get the occasional chance to display his ability on the pitch but never wowed as he struggled to make an impact.

Signed for a similar fee to that of Gray, the multifaceted full-back came with a big reputation after putting in strong performances over a three-year stint at Fulham.

His spell at Craven Cottage saw one particular standout season in 2017-18, where he picked up both the EFL Young Player of the Year and the Championship Player of the Year awards. To earn that, he scored a remarkable 15 goals and provided six assists as he featured in every game of the league campaign.

This seemed like a sure deal for Tottenham then, but after an injury-hit first three seasons, he was still yet to make his mark as Antonio Conte arrived at the club in 2021.

The Italian's arrival did lead to more appearances for Sessegnon, but in a defensively-minded team, it didn't suit his game. As a wing-back, he had to concentrate more on defending than on attacking, which limited his effectiveness in the final third.

Conte continued to play him the following year, but once again a hamstring injury plagued him, and 18 months before his contract was due up, he made his final league appearance for Spurs in a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

Gray will hope his Spurs career follows a different path

At 18-years-old, heading to North London and playing for one of England's biggest clubs will be a daunting prospect. But, having played in front of a packed Elland Road numerous times, you sense that pressure is an environment in which Gray thrives.

In addition, with the strict regime of Conte now over, Tottenham's players have more license to go and express themselves under the more positive and efficacious Ange Postecoglou.

For Gray, this may prove a seamless adaptation and the Spurs midfield has been crying out for a player to play alongside Yves Bissouma in a double pivot.

In addition, his ability to play right-back and the number eight will allow Ange to change his system at will, with versatility being one of the youngster's most critical aspects.

Gray will be wary of the EFL stars that have come before him, but if his confidence remains, then he should prove an astute signing for Tottenham Hotspur.

Adel Taarabt rightly occupies a place on the Championship's pantheon.

Often labelled as a 'streets won't forget player' - the terminology used to identify memorable crowd-pleasers who provided brief, but long-lasting moments of joy - the Loftus Road legend is more than just that if you ask supporters of the second-tier.

He didn't have the longevity of other Championship greats such as Billy Sharp and Cardiff City icon Peter Whittingham, for example - but that doesn't diminish the legendary status that remains intact to this very day.

However, had the dominos fallen in a different direction then Taarabt's brilliance may never have graced the division.

QPR hero Adel Taarabt could've joined Arsenal instead of Tottenham Hotspur

Snubbing Arsene Wenger's advances for their bitter North London rivals surely dictated the trajectory of Taarabt's career.

Despite earning rave reviews for occasional cameo appearances from the substitutes bench, Taarabt, who joined Spurs at the age of 17 from Lens and claimed he could've moved to "any of the big three (teams) in any league), failed to establish himself in the first-team foray.

Speaking on the Arsenal transfer collapse in 2021, Taarabt told talkSPORT: "To me it was almost all done that I would go to Arsenal and then after Damien Comolli, who was working at (Tottenham), convinced me to come.

Indeed, at the time of his Spurs exit, Taarabt publicly expressed his regret at opting to join Spurs over Arsenal.

Given the variety of options available to Taarabt at the time, you could cynically - but not wrongly - say that his move to Spurs was an ill-fated one.

But then again, we wouldn't be left with eternal memories of Taarabt making the division his own playground, would we?

Wenger's esteemed expertise with working with young players, particularly mavericks of Taarabts' ilk, makes you wonder if the pathway to senior stardom would've been more tangible at the Emirates Stadium - ruling out moves to the Championship.

Taarabt initially joined QPR on a season-long loan deal for the 2008/09 campaign, which was extended to the following season after scarcely featuring through injury, and it's actually rather understated how impressive that season was, too.

Overshadowed by his future exploits, Taarabt's return of seven goals and 11 assists at the age of 19 makes for seriously impressive reading.

Admittedly, though, it does pale in comparison to the wizardry that he conjured up to single-handedly orchestrate QPR's Premier League promotion the following year.

Adel Taarabt revived his career after eventual QPR disappointment

Unfortunately, Taarabt was the architect of his own eventual downfall at QPR, with issues pertaining to the former Moroccan international's temperament and application sparking a sorry state of affairs well after the dust had settled on his promotion heroics.

And there are few who would deny that Taarabt should've had a superior and more-sustained career than he really did, a reasonable school of thought given the mercurial and often mind-bending ability in his possession.

He never quite hit those same heights as he did in West London again, but a 2015 transfer to Portugese giants Benfica did offer some much-needed stability and resurgence to a career that was at real risk of falling away altogether.

Frequently utilised in an unfamiliar yet surprisingly-effective deeper midfield role, Taarabt racked up over 100 matches for Benfica across a seven-year stay, all of which came after his first three seasons with the club.

He's still kicking it at the ripe old age of 35, currently plying his trade in the United Arab Emirates for Al-Nasr SC.

Taarabt, who weighed in with eight goals and nine assists this past season, is accompanied in the Pro League by familiar faces on English soil such as Allan, Manolo Gabbiadini, Neeskens Kebano and ex-Swansea City playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo, as well as former Barcelona duo Miralem Pjanic and Paco Alcacer.

And whilst he's living out his days in the Middle East, Taarabt will always be remembered more for what he did in the shirt of QPR as a true showboating king of the Championship.

Highlights

Robbie Keane's time at Leeds United was marked by financial struggles and underwhelming performance.

His move to Tottenham Hotspur revitalized his career, becoming a club legend with 122 goals and 35 assists.

Keane's final stats at Leeds include 56 appearances, 18 goals, and a price per goal of £666,667.

Robbie Keane is a name synonymous with football fans across England for his exploits for various clubs in the Premier League.

A clinical finisher, the former Irish international has over 300 career goals to his name and is best known for his time at Tottenham Hotspur, where he became a club legend.

But, had his move to Leeds United worked out, then we may never have seen him play for the North London club.

His 2001-02 season in Yorkshire was one of the most barren in his career and the financial ruin the club were about to experience meant that he had to be sold to Tottenham for a cut-price fee.

For Leeds fans, the promise he displayed while on loan from Inter Milan the previous year may still be fresh in their memories and the £12 million transfer of Keane should still be viewed as what could have been.

Robbie Keane's Leeds loan-spell

After impressive spells at both Wolves and Coventry City, Keane made a huge jump to sign for Italian giants Inter Milan for a fee in the region of £13 million. Manager Marcello Lippi was believed to be a big fan of the striker, and it was he who pushed for the Inter hierarchy to sign the 20-year-old prodigy.

Unfortunately for Keane and Lippi, just one game into the new season the manager was sacked and new arrival Marco Tardelli quickly determined that he did not see a future for the expatriate.

This outcome meant that in December of that year, Keane was searching for a move away from the San Siro and Leeds came calling in search of a new striker.

Now plying his trade at Elland Road, he quickly made his mark, scoring a penalty against Middlesbrough in just his third game for the Whites.

Keane continued to score and his arrival was also met by an upturn in form for Leeds as they lost just four of the 18 league games the striker featured in.

All this success was enough for David O'Leary to pursue a permanent move and, in May 2001, he secured the signing of Keane for £12 million.

Keane struggled after signing permanently for Leeds

Having accumulated £25 million worth of sales over the past two transfer windows, the striker was one of the most expensive men in football.

Seemingly this burden laid heavy on Keane, as in the following campaign he managed a meagre nine goals in 33 games, with just three of those coming in the Premier League.

As the 2002-03 season arrived it was clear that the Yorkshire club were in financial ruin with debts running up to the value of £80 million. This was a result of some ridiculously expensive signings that included the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Olivier Dacourt, Robbie Fowler, and Keane.

These signings were all made in a bid to make Leeds the powerhouse of England, but it never came to fruition and former chairman Peter Risdale was essentially gambling away their future.

The majority of the big-money signings were sold way under their valuation and Keane was one of these as they took a £5 million loss after he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £7 million on deadline day.

For the striker, this brought a sorry end to his time at Elland Road, never fully making his mark on the club.

Keane fared much better at Tottenham

His move to Spurs proved the highlight of his career as Keane went on to spend eight years at White Hart Lane across two spells.

During that time, he became a real modern-day legend as he netted 122 goals and provided 35 assists across 306 games.

Persistently scoring over 10 goals each season, the Tottenham faithful always knew they could place trust in the Irishman, who eventually left the club permanently in 2011.

Post Spurs, he spent time at West Ham and Aston Villa, but it was at LA Galaxy where he found a home once again, as he netted 104 goals in 165 games towards the end of his career.

Looking back, it is clear that Leeds did not get the player that many other sides received. However, had financial ruin not impacted the club as heavily as it did, he may have been given more of a chance to display his goalscoring prowess across an extended period.

Highlights

Millwall close to signing Japhet Tanganga on a permanent contract.

Ex-Tottenham defender's decision ends interest from multiple clubs.

Two-year deal at The Den to strengthen Neil Harris' backline for 2024-25 season.

Millwall are closing in on a significant transfer coup as Japhet Tanganga is set to sign a permanent contract with the South Bermondsey outfit.

The Lions have been waiting on a decision from the ex-Tottenham defender for well over a month, with multiple clubs keen on his services, including Luton Town and Parma of Italy.

However, as first reported by Luca Bendoni, Tanganga is poised to pen a two-year deal at The Den, which will significantly strengthen Neil Harris' backline for the 2024-25 season.

Tanganga graduated from Tottenham's academy and made 50 appearances across all competitions prior to his departure, while he endured a tough loan stint with Bundesliga outfit FC Ausburg prior to making the January switch to Millwall.

Millwall set to complete Japhet Tanganga coup

The defender spent the second half of last season on loan at Millwall and played an instrumental role in their survival, helping them to win eight of their final 13 league outings as Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town joined Rotherham United in League One instead.

Should the move go through, Tanganga will be ineligible for Millwall's opening three matches against Watford, Bristol City and Hull at the start of next term after receiving a direct sending off in their clash with Swansea City on the final day of the season.

Nonetheless, he is set to be unveiled as Millwall's opening signing of the summer transfer window, which represents an extremely strong start from the Lions ahead of next campaign, where they will be looking to improve on last season's 13th-placed finish.

Japhet Tanganga signing will significant strengthen Millwall

Given how well Millwall ended the season under Neil Harris, there is every reason to be optimistic going into the 2024-25 season.

And adding Tanganga on a permanent basis will only give the club's fans more reason to be a bit cheerful and be expectant of a push on the play-offs once more after they struggled for the majority of 2023-24.

Tanganga has top level experience and at one point was tipped to really make a breakthrough at Tottenham, but he soon fell down the pecking order and now finds himself rebuilding in the Championship.

Alongside Jake Cooper, Tanganga could build a formidable partnership and be a fearsome duo for many Championship attackers, and given there was interest from overseas in his services too, Millwall have done well to get him tied down to a multi-year deal.

Now, Harris and his coaching staff must kick on in preparation for the new campaign, with further additions likely to come - the future of Zian Flemming may be uncertain, but at least they have got one major deal over the line.