The Hard Tackle

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur want to bring Villarreal star Ayoze Perez back to the Premier League.

According to a report from Fichajes, Tottenham are interested in acquiring the services of Ayoze Perez who has made quite a name for himself with his consistent performances for Villarreal in the ongoing campaign.

Perez joined the Yellow Submarine last summer from Real Betis and he is certainly enjoying life at his new club as he has 14 goals and two assists in his 20 outings. He has found the back of the net on 11 occasions in his 18 league appearances. The 31-year-old averages a goal every 98th minute in the league and his performances have certainly caught a lot of attention.

Tottenham want to sign Perez

Tottenham have taken note of his performances in La Liga and they are interested in bringing him back to England where he enjoyed decent spells at Newcastle United and Leicester City. While he is in the final phase of his career, Perez is certainly making the most out of his footballing maturity.

His ability to play between the lines, his finishing and his experience have helped him succeed at the Spanish club and Spurs believe those abilities could help them. As a result, they are ready to knock on Villarreal’s door for his signature.

Postecoglou is not satisfied with the attacking options at his disposal. He wants to add more firepower to his squad and feels the versatile Perez can certainly help their cause. His experience could come in handy, more importantly, he will add significant depth to their attack.

They see him as an interesting opportunity in the market and are ready to table an offer worth €8 million plus add-ons to lure him away from Villarreal. While he is a key figure in the Spanish club and his contract there runs until the summer of 2028, they are open to a move away as long as their financial demands are met.

Brentford will host Tottenham Hotspur at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, eager to build on the win over Crystal Palace.

Tottenham have been quite disappointing in the Premier League recently, and they have lost five of their last six outings ahead of the game vs Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

However, Spurs picked up a win over Elfsborg in the UEFA Europa League earlier this week, and it will be interesting to see if they can build on it and get back to winning ways here. Both teams fancy their chances against each other, and it remains to be seen who comes out on top.

Tottenham were 15th in the Premier League table heading into Gameweek 24 but have fallen further in the standings after Saturday’s results. So, they cannot afford to keep dropping points. Ange Postecoglou’s men could easily be dragged into the relegation battle if they continue to falter.

Meanwhile, the home side will certainly fancy their chances of getting a good result at home against an inconsistent Tottenham side. Brentford have picked up just one win from the last six meetings vs Tottenham, and they will look to make amends here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Brentford

Brentford will be without Joshua Dasilva due to a knee injury, Gustavo Nunes due to a back injury, Rico Henry due to a knee injury, Aaron Hickey due to a thigh injury, Igor Thiago with a knee injury, Ethan Pinnock with a thigh injury, and Michael Kayode has not received international clearance yet.

The home side will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Flekken in goal. Sepp van den Berg and Keane Lewis-Potter will start as the full-backs here. They will look to keep things tight at the back and help out in the attack. Nathan Collins will start alongside Ben Mee at the heart of the defence.

Vitaly Janelt will start alongside Christian Norgaard and Mikkel Damsgaard in the middle of the park. Janelt and Norgaard will help out defensively, while Damsgaard will add creativity and drive to the side. Finally, Kevin Schade will lead the line for Brentford vs Tottenham, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa on either side of him.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Flekken; van den Berg, Collins, Mee, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Schade, Wissa

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero is likely to miss out due to a lack of match fitness here. Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert are sidelined with hamstring injuries. Guglielmo Vicario is still recovering from his ankle surgery.

Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke has a knee injury, Radu Dragusin has a knee injury, Rodrigo Bentancur has a head injury, James Maddison has a calf injury, Timo Werner has a thigh injury and Brennan Johnson has a calf injury.

Tottenham Hotspur will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Brentford, with Antonin Kinsky in goal. Pedro Porro and Ben Davies will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Archie Gray will feature alongside Micky van de Ven in the central defensive partnership.

As for the midfield unit, Pape Matar Sarr will start in the middle of the park alongside Yves Bissouma. They will look to add defensive cover to the side. Rodrigo Bentancur will add drive to the side from the midfield.

Dejan Kulusevski will start on the right flank here, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates. Son Heung-min will lead the line for Tottenham vs Brentford, with Richarlison on the left wing.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Van de Ven, Davies; Sarr, Bissouma, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Son, Richarlison

Key Stats

Player to Watch

Dejan Kulusevski

The Swedish International is our key player to watch out for, and Tottenham will need him to step up and deliver. He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his side in the final third and find the back of the net as well.

Tottenham have looked quite mediocre going forward, and they are overly dependent on him. It remains to be seen whether Kulusevski can make a defining impact in the final third and his side grind out all three points.

Prediction

Brentford 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and neither side will want to end up on the losing side. This is likely to be a close contest, and it will be hard to separate the two teams. Both Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur have been vulnerable defensively, and there will be plenty of chances on offer.

A high-scoring contest is on the cards here, but the two teams are likely to cancel each other out and share the spoils in a high-scoring draw. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 stalemate between Brentford and Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur will host Leicester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur are without a win in their last 6 Premier League matches, and they are 15th in the table heading into the game vs Leicester City. The Lilywhites cannot afford to keep dropping points if they want to compete in Europe next season.

It has been a disappointing season for Tottenham so far, and the home fans will expect a strong reaction here. Spurs will be buoyed by their result in the UEFA Europa League earlier this week as they eked a 3-2 win over TSG Hoffenheim on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Leicester City are on a losing streak right now, and they have lost their last seven Premier League games. The Foxes have a disappointing record against Tottenham, and it will be interesting to see if the away side can make amends here.

Tottenham are up against one of the worst teams in the division, and the Foxes are 19th in the standings. So, Spurs will certainly fancy their chances of grinding a comfortable victory at home. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the upcoming game between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, and Wilson Odobert are all sidelined with hamstring injuries for the home side. Guglielmo Vicario is still recovering from his ankle surgery, Dominic Solanke has a knee injury, Yves Bissouma has a knock, Rodrigo Bentancur has a head injury, and Brennan Johnson has a calf injury.

Tottenham Hotspur will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Leicester City, with Antonin Kinsky in goal. Pedro Porro and Ben Davies will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Archie Gray will feature alongside Radu Dragusin at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Pape Matar Sarr will start in the double pivot alongside Lucas Bergvall. They will look to add defensive cover and drive to the side. The pair will help out creatively as well.

Dejan Kulusevski will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates. James Maddison and Richarlison will start in the wide areas, and they will add creativity, flair and goals to the side. Finally, Son Heung-min will lead the line for Tottenham vs Leicester City on Sunday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Davies; Sarr, Bergvall; Maddison, Kulusevski, Richarlison; Son

Leicester City

The Foxes will be without Ricardo Perreira due to a thigh injury, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku due to a long-term knee injury, Wilfred Ndidi due to a hamstring injury, and Mads Hermansen due to a groin injury.

Leicester City are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with Jakub Stolarczyk in goal. James Justin and Victor Kristiansen will start as the full-backs. They will look to stay alert defensively and hit Spurs on the break. Wout Faes will form the central defensive partnership alongside Jannik Vestergaard.

As for the midfield unit, Harry Winks will start alongside Boubakary Soumare in the double pivot. Winks will look to add composure and control to the side, and Soumare will look to break down the opposition’s attacking moves.

Jordan Ayew and Stephy Mavididi will start in the wide areas, and they will add pace and flair to the side. Facundo Buonanotte will start in the attacking midfield role. He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. Jamie Vardy will lead the line for Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk; Justin, Vestergaard, Faes, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Ayew, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Vardy

Key Stats

Leicester City have lost their last seven matches in the Premier League.

Leicester have conceded at least two goals in their last eight matches in the Premier League.

Leicester City are winless in five of their last six matches vs Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham are winless in their last six Premier League matches.

Player to Watch

Dejan Kulusevski

Embed from Getty Images

The 24-year-old Swedish international has been in impressive form for Tottenham this season, and he is our key player to watch out for. The midfielder has nine goals and eight assists in all competitions and he will look to influence the game in the final third.

Kulusevski will look to get on the scoresheet and create opportunities for his teammates as well. Tottenham are lacking in quality going forward, and they will need the Swedish international to step up and deliver here.

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Leicester City

The visitors are struggling right now, and they are completely devoid of form and confidence. Even though Tottenham have struggled in recent weeks, they are the better team on paper and they have an impressive record against the Foxes.

The home side will be under pressure to pick up a win here and they should be able to grind out all three points at home. Leicester City have been quite vulnerable defensively, and their back four is likely to let them down once again. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Ange Postecoglou and his charges.

Tottenham are in danger of missing out on defensive target Milan Skriniar due to interest from elsewhere and PSG’s issues with loan deals.

According to TBR, Tottenham could miss out on the signing of Milan Skriniar this month as PSG’s complications with loan deals are the biggest threat to their pursuit. Galatasaray are also keen on the wantaway defender, as the Spurs are looking for solutions to improve their defensive setup.

Milan Skriniar has been out of the PSG plan since the beginning of the season, with some big reports stating he could have moved out last summer. There were links to Saudi Arabia and Turkey before, but somehow, the defender has not found a solution to his problem.

The Slovakian was also linked with a return to Italy, where he played with Inter Milan before leaving the Nerrazuri on a free transfer to sign up with PSG. The summer arrival of Willian Pacho and Lucas Beraldo’s presence have rendered Skrinar surplus to requirements.

Tottenham are interested in signing Skriniar this month, with the view from north London stating they are only angling a loan deal. The proiblem here is with PSG who already have six players loaned out this season from their first team squad and have already matched the permissable limit set by Ligue 1.

This is also the reason why Randal Kolo Muani’s move to Juventus is being held up, with widespread reports stating that PSG are working towards resolving it. While the Parisians might be able to find a way to let Kolo Muani join the Italian giants, they might not be able to work out two loan deals which does put Tottenham’s persuit of Skriniar.

Tottenham still hopeful about Milan Skriniar

Apart from the loan deal issue, Spurs also face competition from Galatasaray for Skriniar. The 29-year-old Ligue 1 target could be the subject of interest from the Turkish champions, who could even present a permanent solution to sign the Slovakian.

Spurs are short on defenders and have suffered without their first-choice stars at the back. They can only sign Skriniar if PSG makes some of the loan moves permanent. They have already tried to offer Carlos Soler a cut-price deal with West Ham, but the change of manager at the London Stadium has not solved the issue. There are more players the Parisians are trying to find a solution with, as Spurs remain hopeful.

Manchester United are unlikely to entertain Tottenham’s interest in the services of their attacking sensation Alejandro Garnacho.

Alejandro Garnacho’s future has been a massive talking point since the start of the winter transfer window. He has been linked with quite a few top clubs and Tottenham have emerged as a potential destination for the young winger.

But, according to a report from Football Insider, Spurs are unlikely to strike a deal with Manchester United for the Argentine international. The Red Devils will demand a massive fee if they are to sanction his departure to a direct rival.

Garnacho has started on the bench in four out of his last five league games and his future has been up in the air ever since he dropped from the squad for the derby against Manchester City.

While he is back in the mix and has been a great option on the flanks for Ruben Amorim’s team, they are still ready to sanction his departure for the right price because of their financial concern.

United consider him a key part of their first team but could be forced to sell to ease their financial situation. The Red Devils are on the verge of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. They could be forced to sell their stars to balance their books.

Tottenham keen on Garnacho, unlikely to win the race

While Kobbie Mainoo has also been linked with a move away, there are high chances of Garnacho being the one who is sacrificed. Tottenham are the ones who are interested in the United. The North London club have been looking for a new wide player since last summer but they haven’t been able to bring in the kind of profile Ange Postecoglou seeks.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are looking to raid Barcelona for the services of their outcast Ansu Fati.

Ansu Fati’s future certainly seems to be away from Barcelona as he hasn’t been involved in their last three fixtures. With the La Masia graduate not an important part of Hansi Flick’s plans, a move away could be in the best interest of both parties.

According to a report from Sport, Tottenham and West Ham are two Premier League clubs that are interested in signing the Barcelona outcast. Fati has until February 3 to make a decision on his future, is he fails to secure a move away, he might not play any football in the second half of the season.

Fati broke into the Catalan giants’ first team in the summer of 2020. He was considered to be the next big thing but injuries derailed his progress and he hasn’t been able to get things back on track.

The 22-year-old spent the last season out on loan at Brighton in hopes of regaining his top form. But, things didn’t work out for him at the Premier League club. He returned to his parent club ahead of the 2024/25 season and the arrival of Hansi Flick was seen as a fresh opportunity for Fati.

But, it hasn’t worked out. He was injured in the initial phase and has only been on the pitch for 186 minutes so far. Not being involved in the last few fixtures makes it quite clear that he is not in the plans of the German manager.

Fati to leave Barcelona in the ongoing window

A loan spell away from the Catalan giants seems to be the most likely outcome at this stage. While things didn’t work out for him at Brighton, English clubs who are in desperate need of reinforcement in the final third could look at his a short-term fix.

Tottenham and West Ham are two clubs that seem to be interested in the 22-year-old. Graham Potter who recently took charge of the Hammers is desperate to bring in a new forward following an injury to Niclas Fulkrug. With Michail Antonio also out injured, betting on Fati will make sense.

While Spurs are well covered in the final third, they do not change things up given the kind of first half they have had. Ange Postecoglou won’t mind having another option up top and since they only have to pay his wages, it could make sense.

Apart from the two London clubs, there are other European clubs that have taken note of his situation and could knock on Barcelona’s doors.

Tottenham Hotspur will have to add a £50 million buy option to sign Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Tottenham are one of the clubs that are interested in acquiring the services of Randal Kolo Muani and according to a report from TBR, any potential deal for the French international will be an initial loan move with an option to buy worth around £50 million.

PSG forked out a massive £76.4 million to sign Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023 on the back of his impressive performances. While he has done a decent job since joining the French giants, the 26-year-old hasn’t really reached the expected levels.

More importantly, their manager Luis Enrique doesn’t consider him an important part of their plans moving ahead. With less than 500 minutes of first-team action during the first half of the season, the player has decided to part ways with the club.

Kolo Muani and PSG to part ways

Kolo Muani wants regular football as he wants to ensure his place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, PSG are ready to part ways with him as they look to bring in a new world-class forward to further bolster their attack.

While they can’t recoup the entire amount they had invested to sign him, the French giants have made their stance quite clear. They are open to a loan move as long as the interested club is willing to add a buy option of around £50 million.

Tottenham remain keen on Kolo Muani

Tottenham are looking to reinforce their attack after a poor first half and Kolo Muani is quite high on their wishlist. His ability to feature anywhere across the front line makes him just the perfect fit for Ange Postecoglou’s team.

The North London club held extensive talks for the Frenchman earlier this month and remain hopeful of signing him despite interest from other top clubs in Europe. They were hopeful of reaching an agreement with him last week but things haven’t gone according to plan for them.

While they remain interested in his signature, Spurs are not the ones leading the race. Juventus are ahead of the competition and are hoping to get the deal done early this week. Tottenham might be trailing at this stage but they do know what they will have to do to convince PSG.

Nottingham Forest will host Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground on Thursday, with the away side desperate to bounce back.

Tottenham Hotspur have been quite inconsistent this season, and they will be desperate to get their season back on track vs Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Boxing Day. Spurs will look to secure European qualification for next season, and they cannot afford to keep dropping points.

Tottenham are currently 11th in the Premier League table, and they have lost three of the last four league games. The fans will demand a strong performance from the players here, and it remains to be seen whether they can step up and deliver.

On the other hand, Nottingham Forest are fourth in the league table with four wins from the last five league games. The fans will be thoroughly impressed with the performance of the players so far, and they will look to build on their impressive start to the season.

Nottingham Forest will certainly fancy their chances of getting a good result at home vs an inconsistent Tottenham side. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Nottingham Forest

Danilo is ruled out with a long-term ankle injury, while Ibrahim Sangare is out with a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Nicolas Dominguez is suspended. Nottingham Forest will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur, with Matz Sels in goal.

Neco Williams and Ola Aina will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and help out during counter-attacking situations. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will pair up in at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Ryan Yates will start alongside Elliot Anderson in the double pivot, and they will look to add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep. Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add pace and flair to the side. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, and he will look to add creativity and goals in the final third, with Chris Wood leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, and Richarlison are all ruled out with hamstring injuries. Meanwhile, Guglielmo Vicario remains sidelined after his ankle surgery.

Tottenham Hotspur are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Southampton, with Fraser Forster in goal. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Archie Gray will start alongside Radu Dragusin in the central defensive pairing.

As for the midfield unit, Yves Bissouma will start alongside Pape Matar Sarr in the double pivot. They will look to protect the side defensively and win the ball back for their side. James Maddison will start in the central attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates.

The Englishman managed to score a goal against Liverpool, and he will look to find the back of the net here as well. Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min will start in the wide areas, and they will add pace, flair and goals to the side. Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham vs Southampton.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

Key Stats

Tottenham Hotspur have won six of their last seven matches vs Nottingham Forest in all competitions.

Tottenham have scored at least three goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.

Tottenham have picked up two wins from their last six Premier League matches.

Nottingham Forest have won four of their last five Premier League matches.

Player to Watch

Dejan Kulusevski

Embed from Getty Images

Tottenham will be desperate to win the game vs Nottingham Forest, and Dejan Kulusevski is our key player to watch out for. The Swedish international has been their best player this season, and he needs to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points here.

Despite the defeat to Liverpool, Kulusevski produced an impressive performance, and he will look to continue in his rich vein of form. He will look to help create opportunities for his teammates in the final third with his passing, vision and technical abilities. The Swede will also look to add to his goal tally for the season.

Prediction

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Both teams will be desperate for all three points here, and this is likely to be a tracking contest. Nottingham Forest will be full of confidence here, and they will look to pile further misery on Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile, the visitors have a quality squad at their disposal, and they will look to bounce back here. The two sides are likely to cancel each other out, and it will be difficult to separate them. They are likely to share the spoils here, and a draw seems quite likely.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona are plotting a raid on Crystal Palace for the signature of their full-back Tyrick Mitchell.

Tyrick Mitchell’s future could be away from Crystal Palace with his contract running down and multiple top clubs from across Europe interested in his signature.

According to SPORT via SportWitness, Barcelona, Arsenal and Tottenham are three clubs that are interested in the English full-back. They could soon knock on the doors of the London club to try and lure Mitchell to their respective clubs.

The 25-year-old has come up the ranks at Palace. He got promoted to their first team back in the summer of 2020. He has been an important first-team player for them over the years but has never really had the limelight on him.

Mitchell seems to have taken his game to the next level in the ongoing campaign and teams are taking note of his performances. While he prefers playing as a full-back, he is doing a great job for the Eagles as a wing-back. The English international has started all games for them so far and has been one of the standout performers.

Rival clubs keen on signing Mitchell

Arsenal and Tottenham are two English clubs who are quite impressed with his consistency. His performances have caught their attention and they could now look to sign him. Mikel Arteta seeks more quality on the left flank and he would love to have someone like Mitchell on his side.

With Oleksandr Zinchenko no longer in his plans, the Eagles full-back could be an ideal replacement. With Sergio Reguilón’s departure almost certain, Spurs are also looking at him as an ideal candidate to strengthen the left side of their defence.

Barcelona plotting a raid on Crystal Palace

With the 25-year-old’s contract at Palace running out at the end of the season and a new deal nowhere in the picture, both clubs are looking to sign him on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Barcelona are also interested in the services of Mitchell. They can open pre-contract talks with him in the upcoming transfer window.

While Alejandro Balde is the preferred choice at left-back under Hansi Flick, the German manager wants to bring in someone who can provide cover for him and compete with him for a place in the XI. They feel Mitchell can help their cause and with him potentially available on a free transfer, it certainly helps a club like Barcelona that are struggling with their finances at this stage.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford during the January transfer window.

They are in need of a quality backup goalkeeper who can deputise in the absence of Guglielmo Vicario and compete with the Italian international for the starting spot. According to a report from the Mirror, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has already approved a move for a goalkeeper from the Championship. It seems that Trafford is an important target for the Londoners.

The Burnley goalkeeper is valued at £20 million and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham can get the deal across the line. Newcastle United tried to sign the player at the start of the season, but they failed to get a deal done. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can secure an agreement with the Championship club.

Burnley will be hoping to secure promotion to the Premier League and they might not be keen on losing a key player midway through the season. Spurs will have to pay up in order to get the deal done. It remains to be seen whether Burnley are tempted to sell the player for a fee of around £20 million.

James Trafford to fill in for Forster?

Tottenham currently have Fraser Forster as their goalkeeping options. Forster will be a free agent at the end of the season and he needs to be replaced adequately. Trafford is likely to be his replacement if Tottenham can secure an agreement with Burnley. The goalkeeper will then compete with Vicario for the starting spot.

The Italian international goalkeeper has done quite well since his move to Tottenham and he has been a key player for the club. Replacing him in the starting lineup will not be easy, but Trafford is a talented goalkeeper with a bright future. He will certainly fancy his chances of dislodging Vicario in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, if Tottenham manage to sign the player for £20 million, the deal could look like a bargain in the long term. Trafford has the ability to justify the investment and establish himself as a key player for the club in future.