Tottenham Hotspur are set to open their transfer chequebook in January and BBC pundit Alan Hutton has tipped Ange Postecoglou to strengthen one key position in N17.
Tottenham Hotspur gear up for January…
On the face of it, Tottenham Hotspur have made a really encouraging start to the Premier League campaign under Australian boss Postecoglou, who has led his side to fifth place in the table with 26 points taken from 13 fixtures played.
Nevertheless, the Lilywhites are on a run of three straight losses in the English top flight, something that won't fill them with too much confidence ahead of their visit to Manchester City on Sunday.
Casting an eye to the New Year, the north Londoners will be keen to venture into the market for new additions, especially when factoring in the injury crisis that is currently present in N17, involving the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Richarlison, Pape Sarr, Ashley Phillips and Alfie Whiteman.
Arrivals will be necessary to help bolster squad depth in key areas and Postecoglou looks to have a central midfielder in his sights. Reports suggest that Genk star Bilal El Khannouss is on Spurs' radar and could cost around £15 million to prize away from the Jupiler Pro League outfit.
Al-Ittihad winger Jota is another face who could pitch up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January and is believed to be keen on a reunion with his old boss at Celtic; however, Postecoglou is in the process of deliberating whether the Portuguese ace would suit Premier League football, as per The Sun.
Now, BBC pundit Hutton has tipped the Lilywhites' manager to recruit in another key area to help challenge one of his first-team men for his spot in the starting lineup.
Alan Hutton reacts to Gavin Bazunu links
Speaking to Football Insider, BBC pundit Hutton has tipped Tottenham Hotspur to sign Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu in January, who is said to be a target for Spurs, according to the outlet.
Gavin Bazunu in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
18
Goals conceded
27
Clean sheets
3
Former Scotland international Hutton stated: "You absolutely need to sign someone now to challenge Vicario. But you see the problems that have happened at Arsenal with people constantly talking about [Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya].
Southampton'sGavinBazunu
“The pressure is on them to not make mistakes, otherwise they’re out! It’ll be an interesting one. I think Vicario is the number one as he’s done really well since he’s come in. He’s made some big saves in big moments and he’s really grown within the team.
“Bazunu would be good if he does come in, but he won’t be number one. Is he there to push Vicario? Probably.”
Dubbed "brilliant" by Southampton boss Russell Martin, the 21-year-old has proven his worth between the sticks in the Championship this term, maintaining a save success rate of around 60% (Bazunu statistics – FBRef).
Given the peripheral role that both Fraser Forster and Hugo Lloris now play at Tottenham Hotspur, it may make sense to bring in a younger alternative in the form of the Republic of Ireland international to challenge Guglielmo Vicario for his place in the side.
Spurs could sign a Saliba clone with move for £39m titan
Ange Postecoglou’s side will undoubtedly look to sign exciting reinforcements this winter.
Nelson Mandela Bay Giants were kept to 137 for 9 in a chase of 166 on a slow pitch in Port Elizabeth
Liam Brickhill09-Dec-2018Gihahn Cloete targets the off side•MSLAB de Villiers’ Tshwane Spartans kept their Mzansi Super League play-off hopes alive, holding Nelson Mandela Bay Giants to 137 for 9 to secure a 28-run victory at St George’s Park. Opener Gihahn Cloete’s third fifty of the competition carried Spartans to 165 for 4 on a pitch that played slightly on the slow side, and de Villiers then set the tone early in defence of the total, pulling off a stunning diving catch in the outfield. Shaun von Berg’s canny legbreaks were instrumental in maintaining Spartans’ control with the ball, and he collected 3 for 19 in four overs.While Spartans would have been even happier with a bonus point – they have yet to secure one so far this season – the victory nonetheless took them to fourth place on the points table, with two games in hand, as well as slightly improving their net run-rate. Giants remain third on 21 points with one more round robin game against Paarl Rocks on Wednesday. The inaugural MSL title race is still wide open for every team apart from Durban Heat.De Villiers did his first job right in calling correctly at the toss and opting to bat, knowing that a pitch that encouraged the spinners would be difficult to chase on. Cloete backed up the decision with a 59-ball 65 that anchored the innings and laid a platform. Pushed up to open, Cloete dealt with the early loss of Andrea Agathangelou by sharing in a 72-run stand with Dean Elgar, who hit three sixes in his 32.Together they took Spartans to 44 for 1 in the Powerplay, and even found ways to attack the spinners, hitting sixes off the captain Jon-Jon Smuts, Aaron Phangiso and Imran Tahir before Tahir had Elgar driving uppishly into the hands of Heino Kuhn at cover in the 10th over.Tahir should also have had de Villiers lbw in his third over soon afterwards. He rushed a slider on to the batsman’s pads to start the over, prompting an appeal that was turned down. There was another more vehement plea four balls later as Tahir rapped de Villiers on the pad with a legbreak only for umpire Shaun George to shake his head again. Replays showed the ball pitching in line and going on to crash into leg stump. Tahir was distraught. Even more so when de Villiers reverse-swept the very next delivery for four.De Villiers wasn’t at his vintage best, managing a slightly scratchy 33 before he was out in the final over, but Eoin Morgan gave the innings some impetus, swatting two sixes – the first via a leading edge – in a rapid cameo to push the total above par.Giants knew that a win in this game would virtually secure their place in the play-offs, but when they lost three wickets inside the Powerplay, their task looked increasingly difficult. Giants lost Jason Roy in the first over, and Rudi Second to de Villiers’ brilliant outfield catch minutes later. Seamer Lutho Sipamla overcame a no-ball and a Free Hit that went for six to dismiss Smuts for 26, and then the spinners took over.Von Berg trapped Kuhn lbw in his very first over, and Jeevan Mendis had Christiaan Jonker stumped with a ripping legbreak as Giants slipped into trouble at 73 for 5. When von Berg had Chris Morris caught reverse-sweeping to point and Duckett was run out seeking a single off a misfield for 47, Giants were 92 for 7 and suddenly a vital bonus point seemed a distinct possibility for Spartans.Sisanda Magala struck two enormous sixes to keep Spartans sweating, but he fell attempting a third off von Berg. De Villiers’ men went into the penultimate over with just two runs to play with in order to secure the bonus point and Giants’ last pair at the crease. Despite an lbw appeal and a scrambled single that might have seen Tahir run out, Sipamla couldn’t grab the vital wicket, but Spartans had already done enough at least to keep themselves in the hunt for the play-offs.
West Ham United boast a rich history of developing the next big stars through their academy.
In the professional football setting, there is something special about a club that places its faith in the next generation, plucking them out of the academy and throwing them straight into the deep end of first-team football.
It's a strategy that the Hammers have executed to perfection having seen Declan Rice join Arsenal for £105m in the summer, but it isn't the only time that the club have pocketed millions from a former youth prodigy.
In the 1990s, West Ham had arguably the most prolific academy set up in the country, unearthing a whole host of generational English talents into the first-team, including Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe.
Defoe, in particular, is someone David Moyes would love to count upon in the present day having watched him terrorise Premier League defences for nearly two decades with his clinical finishing.
Jermaine Defoe's goal record at West Ham
Defoe was snapped up from London rivals Charlton Athletic at the age of 16 in 1999 and despite his tender age, it didn't take him long to make himself a hero at Upton Park.
He made his debut in a League Cup tie at Walsall in September 2000, aged 17, and his performance in that match foreshadowed the rest of his illustrious career in the top flight.
The youngster, who starred in the under-19 team that won the Premier Academy League title in 1999–2000 and scored twice against Arsenal in the play-off final, would bag on his senior debut for the club in a 1-0 win against the Saddlers.
At the end of the 2000/01 campaign, he was handed his league debut by then-manager Glenn Roeder, replacing Svetoslav Todorov, and would go on to score 40 goals in 104 appearances for the Hammers before joining Tottenham Hotspur for £7m in 2004.
As the saying goes, the rest is history, with Defoe becoming one of the greatest strikers to ever grace the Premier League, scoring 163 goals in 496 appearances, which places him in ninth in the all-time rankings.
After graduating from West Ham's academy, Defoe's legacy of goalscoring has only inspired the next generation of strikers in east London, and one of those is current academy starlet, Callum Marshall.
Callum Marshall's goal record in 23/24
Marshall is an 18-year-old striker who has taken the Premier League 2 by storm this term, plundering a whopping 13 goals in eight appearances, including a brace in a sensational 4-0 victory over Liverpool.
Lauded as "incredible" by journalist Antonio Mango for those staggering scoring exploits, the teenager tops the scoring charts in the competition, above the likes of Chelsea's Ronnie Stutter and Manchester United's Joe Hugill.
The youngster, who won the PL2 Player of the Month award for September, is showcasing attributes that were so readily associated with Defoe throughout his career, having also netted three times in three EFL trophy outings this term – taking his total tally to 16 for the season.
He constantly lurks on the shoulder of the last defender, his sharp movement in behind is difficult to stop and his finishing this term has become unstoppable.
Perhaps more impressive, he's currently outscoring first-team star Jarrod Bowen, who – like Marshall – is currently in the form of his life.
In all competitions this term, Bowen has scored nine goals in 16 appearances, which is an impressive record in itself, but it doesn't come close to eclipsing the talented teenager's exploits.
If Marshall continues to dazzle defences in the under-21s, the opportunity to become a first-team regular, as Defoe did, will look increasingly likely.
Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a near-faultless start to the Premier League season, with Ange Postecoglou seemingly seeking to build upon such success with some January additions…
Who could Spurs sign in January?
With the summer window a largely profitable one for the new manager, welcoming stars like James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, it is unparalleled the speed with which they have hit the ground running and kickstarted the new revolution.
The Lilywhites are once again at the apex of English football, and whilst it may not last forever, the former Celtic boss will be keen to continue their fine form at least for a few more months until he can begin dipping into the market once again for additional reinforcements.
One such name that refuses to go away is Santiago Gimenez, who they reportedly did try to sign throughout the summer.
Given how the Feyenoord star has started the new season, it is set to be a far more difficult switch now, with reports suggesting his price tag has risen to €50m (£43m). However, that has not clearly put off the north London outfit, who retain an interest in the Mexican marksman who could finally allow Postecoglou to ditch Richarlison.
How has Richarlison performed at Spurs?
Of all the good work performed by the Australian, his one struggle thus far has been in attempting to get his Brazilian striker firing once again.
Having inherited the former Everton man following the doomed Antonio Conte reign, who had been purchased for a mouth-watering £60m in 2022, just one league goal across the entire 2022/23 campaign was a torrid return for such a huge investment.
Whilst it could have been chalked up to the poor management throughout a tumultuous year, his start to the new term is suggestive that he is just not good enough for the level that Postecoglou will seek to take his new side, with the 26-year-old once again having scored just a sole goal despite raining down 2.3 shots per game, enduring a woeful 6% conversion rate, via Sofascore.
Who is Santiago Gimenez?
To trade such profligacy out for the ever-proficient Gimenez could prove revolutionary for the Lilywhites, who could get a huge injection of goals at the perfect time to spearhead the most unlikely of European pushes, or even more.
After all, the 20-cap ace would finish last term on an impressive 28 goals across all competitions, having shone on his debut season in the Netherlands, and yet still seems set to demolish that tally given his start to the new campaign.
Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez.
His record of 12 goals and two assists across just eight appearances marks a phenomenal return, and one which was always bound to draw the interest of some European powerhouses. Given last term saw Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig suggest he was "on fire" for his goalscoring form, it remains to be seen how he might describe this even more impressive start.
However, the 6-foot forward offers far more than just cutting edge, with enough physicality to compete within the English game and a turn of pace to frighten defenders.
Postecoglou needs no reason to ditch Richarlison anyway, but acquiring an efficient and devastating finisher like Gimenez might just put the final nail in his coffin.
The former Australia captain reckons the current Indian captain is the best batsman in the world
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2018Virat Kohli is the best batsman in the world but he will have a point to prove when he tours Australia in November, according to former Australia captain Steve Waugh.”He’ll be putting a bit of pressure on himself, this [a win] will be the feather in the cap if he can pull this off,” Waugh told the Cricket Australia website. “Steve Smith had an incredible series [in India last year] and made three centuries and scored about 500 runs, and Virat hardly scored a run. So that would have been deflating for him, and he will look to square the ledger when he comes back to Australia.”India reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-1 but they did so without Kohli making much of a contribution. He scored only 46 runs in five innings as the Australian bowlers found a way to keep him quiet.One of them, Pat Cummins, who is currently recuperating from a back injury, was recently quoted as saying, “My brave, bold prediction; I’d say I think Virat Kohli is not going to get a hundred and we’re going to knock them off over here.” This threw back to the trend that was seen in the 2016-17 series, where tensions ran high among both teams.Cummins later clarified that his comments were mostly tongue-in-cheek. “I was almost trying to do the opposite to the way they were perceived. I was trying to pay him a huge compliment and say that my big wish list for the summer was he doesn’t score a hundred.”He’s obviously so important to the team and is such a gun batsman, so him not scoring runs would go a long way to helping us win. But I certainly didn’t mean to say he’s no good because I couldn’t hold him in higher regard.”Kohli is currently ranked the No. 1 batsman in Test cricket after a spellbinding century in tough conditions at Edgbaston last week. He was also instrumental in the Johannesburg Test in January, scoring 54 and 41 on a pitch that was characterised by spiteful variations in bounce, and has carried the Indian batting on their most recent overseas trips. Additionally, Kohli amassed 692 runs from four Tests on his previous tour of Australia in 2014-15.”He has got the game to survive anywhere, I think he’s got the best technique of anyone in world cricket,” Waugh said. “He and AB de Villiers have got the best techniques, and AB de Villiers is not playing Test cricket so that makes him (Kohli) the stand-out player.”I think Steve Smith is probably the hungriest batsman but he’s obviously not playing for 12 months, so Kohli really is the premier batsman in world cricket. And he likes the big occasion.”Like (Brian) Lara and Tendulkar and (Viv) Richards and Javed Miandad, and all the great batsmen, they want the big occasion and that brings out the best in their cricket.”As such, Waugh suggested it was up to the Australian batsmen to pile Kohli under scoreboard pressure.”I think the best way to control him is for our guys to play really positive cricket, to concentrate on executing the team plans and to score 300-plus runs in our first innings so we can put pressure on their batting line-up.”Our attack is as good as anyone’s and, in our conditions, he’ll have to be on his game and particularly if he’s chasing some big scores that Australia have put on the board. That will put pressure on his batting. I think the only thing Australia can do is really control how well we’re playing. If we play really good cricket, then it’s a bit like the last series in India where Steve Smith totally dominated him.”
A rejuvenated Chelsea showed more signs of improvement in their performance against Arsenal, racing into a 2-0 lead at Stamford Bridge before the Gunners battled back late on to salvage a point.
The Blues will have been bitterly disappointed to have dropped two points from a strong position, however, the result did see them avoid a record fourth-straight Premier League loss at home to their North London rivals.
It also saw plenty of their stars rise up to the occasion and put in a sublime performance on Saturday evening.
Who were Chelsea's standout performers v Arsenal?
Chelsea forward Mudryk.
A revived Mykhaylo Mudryk sent out a huge statement on his return to the starting XI and put in a complete performance.
The 22-year-old earned the spot kick which Cole Palmer dispatched before getting the name on the scoresheet himself as his suspected cross looped into the net over goalkeeper David Raya.
It's been an underwhelming start to his career in West London but the Ukraine international, who was described by those close to him as a "sleeping superstar" in the Chelsea squad, as per TEAMtalk, has certainly showcased those star-like qualities against Arsenal, lighting up the crowd with his pace and trickery while helping his side out in a defensive capacity.
In his 66 minutes on the pitch, Mudryk's all-action performance saw him attempt two crosses, record a shot on target and draw two fouls, but also track back for his team, winning two of his four ground duels, blocking one shot and making one interception, as per SofaScore.
He wasn't the only player to shine in the defensive third for the Blues as Mauricio Pochettino lavished praise on left-back Marc Cucurella for his impressive display against the Gunners.
The Argentine said: “He is training really well, that is why he playing like today, against a very good player like Saka."
Indeed, Cucurella limited one of the most dangerous wingers on the planet through his tough tackling and tenacious defensive work, recording the most tackles in the match (5), winning seven of his 13 ground duels, making two clearances, and blocking one shot, as per Sofascore.
After impressive performances against Fulham and Burnley, in which he completed at least 90% of his attempted passes, it was his best display against Arsenal that has begun to show why he deserves more respect and certainly a place in the starting XI.
How has Marc Cucurella performed this season?
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.
Pochettino has significantly improved Conor Gallagher but it is the form of Cucurella, who turned down the chance to move to Newcastle United and Manchester United in the summer, that has caught the eye.
The 25-year-old ace has flourished while playing as a right or left back and Chelsea are yet to lose a game that the Spaniard has started this season, shutting out the noise that came from his £62m price tag and reminding many why the Blues and Manchester City were neck on neck to sign him after his sensational performances for Brighton.
With first-choice left-back Ben Chilwell sidelined till December, Cucurella has taken his opportunity to impress Pochettino while the manner of his performance against Bukayo Saka, who failed to get any loose change out of his opponent, has accentuated that point further.
Described by Pochettino as "super professional", Cucurella's transformation from being on the brink to leaving the club as a flop to now one of Chelsea's most influential players is a testament to the dedication and perseverance that the Spaniard has shown.
During his renaissance at Stamford Bridge, the £175k per-week dynamo has been outperforming Chilwell in a defensive capacity, averaging more balls recovered than the Englishman (7.0/3.0), tackles (3.7/0.8), interceptions (1/3/0.5) and clearances (3.0/0.5) per game at league level this term, as per Sofascore.
Although Chilwell has been deployed in a more advanced role under Pochettino, it is no coincidence that Chelsea have performed significantly better in a defensive capacity since throwing Cucurella into battle with the Spanish international now undroppable due to his impressive displays.
Quinton Fortune has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo reacted to Manchester United team-mates “taking the p*ss” during his first spell at Old Trafford.
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Arrived at Old Trafford in 2003Was a tricky winger in his teensBulked up & became all-time greatWHAT HAPPENED?
The Portuguese superstar arrived in England as a tricky winger in 2003, with there plenty for the teenager to learn in order for obvious potential to be fulfilled. Those around him quickly set about kicking a hot prospect into shape, quite literally at times, but the future Ballon d’Or winner never backed down.
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Ronaldo is famed for his work ethic, with that relentless drive enhanced amid some rough treatment in Manchester. He responded in the best possible way, with a man that has gone on to become an all-time great refusing to walk away from any kind of challenge.
WHAT FORTUNE SAID ABOUT RONALDO
Fortune, who was on United’s books when Ronaldo first arrived, has told of how a rough diamond was polished into becoming “the best”: “Everyone was kicking Ronnie, but everyone was kicking everyone! Ronnie was no different, tackles were flying in before Ronnie came so it was a normal thing, that’s just how we trained. It wasn’t suddenly ‘today I’m gonna kick Ronaldo’, if it was a 50-50, you’re gonna win the ball, simple as that! But Ronaldo when he came, he obviously came from Portugal where it’s a different style off play, a different culture and you get pushed off the ball, you dive; and that wasn’t the culture at United. So, he quickly learned ‘Hold on, I can’t dive here, I can’t fake whatever’, and the boys were aggressive against him because they wanted him to be better.”
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Fortune added: “Did he take up that challenge personally? Oh my God, the guy went to the gym every day, to train harder – that was all the guys, nothing to do with us pushing him off the ball. If we pushed Scholesy off the ball we’d say ‘Scholesly you got weighted’, and he’d kick the sh*t out of you two seconds later! He’d kick the crap out of you and you wouldn’t even see him coming! But Ronaldo took that personally; ‘oh you’re gonna take the p*ss out of me? Okay!’ He went away and a couple of months later he came back with the most ridiculous body you’d ever imagine. That was his mindset anyway; he wanted to be the best.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers crashed out of the Carabao Cup after a disastrous loss to Ipswich Town at Portman Road, with Gary O’Neil’s side suffering a 3-2 defeat to the Championship outfit.
Journalist Steve Madley described the fortune of the game as “infuriating”, as O’Neil’s side looked to be the squad in the second-tier for the majority of the tie, in a result that saw them exit the cup early on.
The manager made 10 changes from his side that played in the draw against Luton Town last weekend, switches that proved to be costly as the squad struggled to maintain their fast start.
Who scored for Wolves against Ipswich Town?
It was an opening 15 minutes that Wolves could have only dreamed of considering their lacklustre start to the season, as Hwang Hee-Chan netted his fourth goal of the 2023/24 campaign after just four minutes played.
The Korean’s goal was quickly followed by the Old Gold’s second, as Toti Gomes put the visitors 2-0 up early into proceedings, marking their dominance over the heavily-rotated Championship side.
hwang-hee-chan-wolves
At the point of the second goal, it seemed as though O’Neil’s squad had already started their trip back to the Midlands, as the hosts got back into the game before halftime via goals from Chelsea loanee Omari Hutchinson and Freddie Ladapo.
After the interval, Wolves’ hard work in the opening minutes was ripped apart, as Jack Taylor put Ipswich ahead with an ambitious strike and some questionable goalkeeping by Dan Bentley, who had a shocking night.
The Express and Star’s Liam Keen stressed in his match report that the keeper “could have done better” for the third goal, as well as the second as he earned an inadequate Sofascore match rating of just 6.0.
While it was more difficult to pick out the better performers from the poor on the night, one player suffered as much as Bentley, as O’Neil handed Santiago Bueno his full-debut for Wolves.
How did Santiago Bueno play against Ipswich?
Signed on deadline day from Girona, the lightweight defender was thrown into the mix in the cup, with the hope that he could show his worth against a theoretically lesser opposition.
That was far from the case as the defender was shunned by Talking Wolves founder Matt Cooper as enduring a “tough debut”, which was matched by his notable frailties in the back line.
santi-bueno-wolves
The £30k-per-week Uruguayan won just four out of eight of his attempted ground duels, as well as losing possession five times and committing two fouls in the heart of defence, via Sofascore.
While his numbers were far from impressive, his lack of game time of late shone through, as he was beaten to the ball by Hutchinson for the Blues’ opener, where he was criticised for looking “flat-footed” by journalist Steve Madeley.
With Manchester City up next in the league, Wolves fans expressed their upset at Tuesday night’s result, as fan account ‘Official Wolves Fans’ described the squad as being “disjointed”, which was a fair account of the evening’s entertainment.
To look so out of place on his debut against a side in the Championship was a worrying sight for Bueno and Wolves, however on what was a pitiful night for all associated with Molineux, the 24-year-old will have a shot at redemption in the future.
Everton's summer of spending is over after the transfer window closed on Friday night, but they considered signing a Premier League player, according to a new update from journalist James Olley.
Have Everton had a good summer?
The Blues again found themselves in a relegation battle last season, ultimately surviving by the skin of their teeth for the second year in a row, thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth on the final day.
While there was happiness and relief at staying in the top flight among the fanbase, there was also a feeling that this cannot afford to keep happening, especially with a move to a new stadium expected to take place next summer.
It was clear that reinforcements were needed during the summer transfer window in order to give Sean Dyche the desired quality in his squad, and a number of new faces have arrived.
They include Arnaut Danjuma and Beto, who have come in to add much-needed quality to the attack, with the former joining on loan from Villarreal and the latter scoring on his debut against Doncaster Rovers in midweek.
However, it has emerged that Everton tried – and failed – to bring in defender Cedric Soares from Arsenal late on in the window.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday morning, Olley claimed that Everton considered making a move for Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares on deadline day, with Olympiacos also seen as potential suitors:
"Everton and Olympiacos showed some interest in Arsenal defender Cedric Soares this week. Didn't materialise into anything yesterday but still time for Olympiacos if they choose to pursue him – Greek transfer deadline is September 11."
Cedric would certainly have been a surprise signing for Everton this summer, and in truth, missing out on him doesn't feel like a huge blow.
Indeed, he hasn't exactly set the world alight since making the move from Southampton to Arsenal, where he has made a total of 59 appearances since his debut in 2020.
The defender was loaned out to Fulham midway through last season and only started twice in the Premier League, as he struggled to become a key man at Craven Cottage.
At 32 years of age, Cedric's best days are likely to be behind him, so he would only have been coming in as a squad option for Everton, so all in all, it shouldn't be seen as one that got away.
That being said, the right-back does still possess some positive attributes, not least having a huge amount of experience at the top level, winning 34 caps for Portugal and making 164 appearances in the Premier League.
Journalist Jacob Steinberg once called him "magnificent" during his Southampton days, and is someone who has quality going forward.
Everton should be just fine at right-back without Cedric making the move to Goodison Park, with Nathan Patterson a solid and young first-choice option at the moment, while Ben Godfrey is arguably a player who can fill in in that position when needed.
The Blues need to be in a position where they are signing players at the peak of their powers or youngsters with high ceilings, and neither of those things applies to Cedric, so not signing him could turn out to be a good decision from the club.
The transfer window slammed shut earlier this month, and with just hours to go, Wolverhampton Wanderers sold star midfielder Matheus Nunes. The Portuguese international joined Premier League champions Manchester City for a fee said to be around £53m.
Football FanCast has taken a look at the player, his transfer and what was going on at Wolves this summer.
Who is Matheus Nunes?
Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.
Matheus Nunes' age is 24, having been born on August 27th, 1998, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, his family moved to the Portuguese town of Ericeira, near Lisbon, when he was 12 years old. This is why he holds Portuguese citizenship and has represented the European country 11 times at senior level, scoring one goal.
The 6 foot tall midfielder began his career at Ericeirense in 2016 before he moved to top flight outfit Estoril in 2018. Here he would make just six league appearances before being signed by Portuguese giants Sporting CP for just €500,000.
During his time with the Leoes, Nunes would make 76 league appearances, score eight goals, provide five assists and win one league title. This excellent form would earn him a move to Wolves in the summer of 2022 for a fee reported to be £42m.
In the West Midlands, the 24-year-old's salary was around £85,000-a-week, or £4,420,000-a-year. This was the second-highest pay packet at the club, behind only Pablo Sarabia and Goncalo Guedes, who both make £90,000-a-week.
Matheus Nunes' position for Wolves varied, as he played at the heart of the midfield, in a central position, a central attacking position, on the left of midfield and the right of midfield, so his versatility was there for all to see.
What is the latest Matheus Nunes transfer news?
Matheus Nunes warms up for Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
Transfers expert Fabrizio Romano reported late on August 23rd that treble winner Manchester City had submitted an offer to Wolves for Nunes, though to be worth around €50m (£43m) with add-ons. Romano also confirmed that the Portuguese international had "accepted City" as his new club, with personal terms having already been agreed.
However, in the hours following, it was widely reported that the Old Gold had rejected the proposal from their Premier League competitors. BBC Sport claimed that the rejected deal was worth around £47m, which would have represented a profit for the cash-strapped club.
Ultimately, City would come back in with another offer in the closing days of the window and eventually secured their man in a deal worth £53m, per Sky Sports News.
Why did Man City want Matheus Nunes?
Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes.
On the surface, it might've seemed odd that the all-conquering, treble-winning, record-breaking City wanted to sign Nunes, who, for all his quality, potentially underwhelmed ever so slightly during his year at Molineux.
However, with the long-term injury to Kevin De Bruyne and a deal for Lucas Paqueta falling through, a move for the 24-year-old suddenly looked much more reasonable.
While the direct comparison to the Belgian doesn't quite work due to the pair taking up different positions on the pitch, Nunes at least adds another body to Pep Guardiola's midfield, and a quality one at that.
Journalist Alex Crook told TalkSport (via The Boot Room) that the interest in Nunes likely spells the end for Kalvin Philips, saying:
"The fact that City are looking for extra midfield cover suggests that Pep Guardiola is now coming around to the idea of letting [Kalvin] Phillips go out, maybe even on loan."
It certainly doesn't look good for the Englishman's playing time now he has another player to contend with, one the club just splashed over £50m on.
Were Liverpool interested in Matheus Nunes?
Wolves' Matheu Nunes
City weren't the only 'big six' club to express genuine interest in the Rio-born gem this year, as Liverpool were said to hold a genuine interest in him in January.
According to Sky Sports News, the Reds were 'monitoring' the midfielder, with their interest in him manifesting before he had even signed for Wolves.
Sky also reported that the club was likely to try and sign him in the summer; however, their valuation of £44m was considered well below the minimum asking price Wolves had of £50m for the former Sporting star.
That said, this 'interest' can't have been all that substantial, as the Liverpool Echo reported in early June that Jürgen Klopp's side had already moved on from Nunes and were instead focussing on other targets.
Did Wolves want to sell Matheus Nunes this summer?
With only one year under his belt at Molineux, it was clear that Wolves were not keen on selling Nunes for such a small profit, and so their reluctance to sell the midfielder shouldn't have come as a surprise to fans or potential suitors.
This desire to hold onto the Portuguese international meant that they swiftly rejected City's opening offer of £47m, and according to TalkSport, planned to only sell if they received an offer worth at least £60m. For City's part, journalist Mike Minay reported that, as with all of their targets, they would've walked away if they felt that Wolves' valuation exceed their own.
In the end, City's final offer of £53m was deemed good enough by the club – a decision likely influenced by their economic difficulties and concerns about financial regulations from the Premier League.
What did Matheus Nunes' goals stats look like at Wolves?
Matheus Nunes battles off Son Heung-min as Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
For all the attention he was courting from the country's biggest clubs, you'd be forgiven for thinking Nunes must've scored plenty of goals for the Old Gold last season; well, unfortunately, that is just not the case.
In his 37 Premier League appearances for Wolves, Nunes scored just one goal and registered one assist. However, he was playing more as a central midfielder than an attacking one, which does help to explain his poor output somewhat.
That said, the one goal he scored against Chelsea was an absolute screamer.
While it was evidently clear that Wolves did not want to sell their prized asset last month, especially so close to the end of the window, the player himself was much more positive about the move.
According to ESPN, the Portuguese midfielder was 'keen' on a move to Manchester, and with Guardiola at the helm who can blame him?
What is the latest Wolves transfer news?
It was a summer of sales for the club that had spent over £100m on signings this time last year. In all, ten players left the side permanently this summer, with several first-team players among them.
Ruben Neves was at least able to fetch the club £47m, while Nathan Collins brought in another £23m. However, former stars like Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho left for nothing.
Another name that looked like it would be added to the list of departures is that of Nelson Semedo. According to Football Insider, the full-back had attracted interest from Manchester United, with the Red Devils enquiring about his availability. Luckily for the club he's still there.
The main reason the club have had to sell so many players and so dramatically reduce their spending is the fear that they would break the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules if they repeated last summer's spending.
The regulations stipulate that no club in the league can register losses of more than £105m over a three-year period, and according to The Athletic, the club were very much at risk of doing precisely this were they not to sanction a raft of sales this summer.
Ultimately, this concern over the club's financial well-being and the generally more than fair offer from City meant that the club felt they had to sanction the sale. Hopefully, for the fans, the sales this summer mean the club can start adding players to the squad again next summer.