Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones ahead of the summer, according to the Daily Mail.
The north London side are keeping a close eye on the 25-year-old midfielder’s situation, as he could be allowed to leave amid his limited involvement under Arne Slot.
Jones has made just 12 Premier League starts this season, as well as another four in the Champions League, where Liverpool were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.
The Liverpool-born midfielder will enter the final year of his contract in June, meaning the upcoming window could be one of the Reds’ last opportunities to sell for a substantial fee.
Tottenham Eyeing Move for Curtis Jones
According to the Daily Mail, Jones’ desire for regular minutes leaves the door open for a potential Anfield exit this summer.
Serie A leaders Inter Milan looked at signing the 25-year-old in January and have not been ruled out of resuming their interest, provided their valuation matches Liverpool’s.
Tottenham also retain an interest in the ‘incredible’ midfielder, as they could look to bring him in alongside fellow Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson.
Provided they retain their Premier League status, Tottenham are seen as frontrunners to sign Robertson at the end of his contract in June.
The Scottish international has confirmed he will depart Anfield following a nine-year spell on Merseyside and is believed to have earmarked Tottenham as his preferred destination.
A deal hinges on whether Tottenham will be able to avoid relegation, with the club sitting 18th in the standings, two points off safety, with six games remaining.
Spurs suffered a 1-0 loss to Sunderland in manager Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge and next take on Brighton at home on Saturday.
Liverpool Could Target Archie Gray
If Spurs end up relegated, a drop to the Championship would likely spark a first-team exodus, with a host of stars expected to leave.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
A heartbroken Max Verstappen completely lost his head over the Red Bull team radio after being forced to retire from the Monaco Grand Prix just moments into the race.
The four-time world champion was second on the grid for Sunday’s race but was robbed of his opportunity to compete at Circuit de Monaco after his car stalled on the grid immediately after lights out.
The Dutchman was eventually able to get his engine running, but he was cut adrift at the back of the field by the time he did so.
Verstappen took to his radio to ask his team: “What do I do?” He was told: “Bring it home, Max”, essentially confirming his retirement from the race.
As he was making his way back to the pits, Verstappen made his frustrations perfectly clear in an x-rated rant about the state of his car.
“Well. Nice. Completely f***** guys. What the f*** man. Even at the formation lap, the engine is broken.”
Verstappen was already 88 points behind Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli heading into the race. After his retirement in Monaco, he is set to lose even more ground.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Vinnie Jones, one of football’s ultimate hardmen, once named the five toughest opponents he ever faced. The former Wimbledon midfielder played in an era when blood, sweat, and tears were poured into every game, and referees often turned a blind eye to the antics of mavericks who would do anything to get inside an opponent’s head.
The most famous image of Jones came during a clash between Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang and Newcastle, when he grabbed Paul Gascoigne by the testicles to put him off. The photo became iconic, perfectly capturing his in-your-face style. But in a time that was anything but PG, ‘The Axe’, as he was nicknamed by some, was far from the only hardman on the pitch.
In a 2012 interview with the Daily Mail, Jones revealed the five players even he admitted to fearing, despite his fearless reputation. Surprisingly, Duncan Ferguson did not make the cut.
Vinnie Jones Named 5 Hardest Players He Played Against
89/90 Vinnie Jones – Leeds United Mandatory Credit:Acton Images
Bryan Robson – Manchester United
In the world of football hardmen, Roy Keane’s voice carries real weight – so the fact he described his former captain, Bryan Robson, as “tough as nails, brave, and a proper leader” tells you everything you need to know about Manchester United’s ‘Captain Marvel.’
Robson was a no-nonsense midfielder who played the entire 1982 World Cup with a dislocated shoulder, and teammates often remarked that when he went in for a 50/50 challenge, it was really more like 80/20 in his favour.
Steve McMahon – Liverpool
Named by Vinnie Jones as his ‘Only Real Rival’ for the title of ‘Hardest Man in Football’, Steve McMahon brought a certain steel to the Liverpool team of the late-80s that claimed three league titles and two FA Cups with their free-flowing system. “I’d kick my own brother if necessary – it’s what being a professional footballer is all about,” McMahon once said.
Even when he was being taken out by Jones at Wembley, he managed to give some back – elbowing the Wimbledon man in his cheek on the way down, leaving a scar that Jones still wears today. During a clash at Anfield later on, he would get full revenge, too, when his studs-up challenge left Jones’ foot requiring eight stitches.
Terry Hurlock – Millwall
Terry Hurlock in action for Millwall
Terry Hurlock was sent off 13 times in his career and booked more than 100 times – astonishing even for that era. Players often joked that he looked more like a nightclub bouncer than a footballer, and that his glare alone could put you off your game.
He was called up to the England B team in 1989, which shocked some pundits who said his style was “too brutal” for international football. But it also showed how respected he was for his sheer presence. Dubbed ‘Terry Warlock’, Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock revealed that Hurlock once ripped a pub door out of a wall when asked what he was going to do to Vinnie Jones when Millwall played Wimbledon, leaving his teammates in shock.
Roy Keane – Manchester United
This list could surely not have been complete unless Keane featured. There’s no doubt he was a special footballer, but it was his extra bite into tackles which earned him the respect but also – at times – the disrespect of his teammates and opponents. Just ask Alf-Inge Haaland, who was on the receiving end of a challenge widely regarded as one of the worst in Premier League history.
Famous for his memorable battles with Patrick Vieira, his surprisingly lovable personality has trickled over into his punditry career. ‘Keano’ can be spotted next to the likes of Gary Neville and Micah Richards, bemoaning about how ‘football has changed’, although he may have mellowed slightly in recent years.
Carlton Palmer – Sheffield Wednesday
Carlton Palmer
Carlton Palmer’s reputation is a bit different from someone like Hurlock or Keane. He wasn’t really considered a “hardman” in the same sense – his name is more often remembered for his stamina, awkward-but-effective style, and the fact he was as tall and strong as he was fast.
“There were so many good lads playing in my day you were always guaranteed a battle,” Jones said. “If I had to pick the hardest out I’d go for Bryan Robson, Steve McMahon, Terry Hurlock, Roy Keane and Carlton Palmer. Why Carlton? He was so big, he’d run away from you and you’d never catch him!”
Brighton CEO Paul Barber has confirmed that Tottenham have made a second bid to sign Jan Paul van Hecke ahead of the summer transfer window.
Tottenham have been showing an interest in signing Van Hecke ahead of the summer transfer window, with manager Roberto De Zerbi clearly keen to work with one of his former players.
Spurs may need defensive reinforcements in the summer transfer window, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both linked with departures.
De Zerbi could be looking to bring in players that he knows he can trust as he aims to guide Spurs into the top half of the Premier League table.
Reports emerged this week that Tottenham had made a bid to sign Van Hecke, but it appears they’ve made another one as the Brighton CEO speaks out.
“There’s always going to be a lot of interest in our best players, and certainly in the case of Jan Paul. We’ve been very clear that that interest has been ongoing for a while, it’s coming from multiple sources. Yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so, in fact, two bids. “So from that point of view, it has to be right for us as well as the player, we have to be in a position to make the best trades to suit our model. And also to make sure that we’re supporting Fabian (Hurzeler, head coach) because he’s got another big season ahead of him. “He’s had two seasons in the Premier League, he’s finished eighth on both occasions, this time we’ve been fortunate enough to qualify for a European competition. “We want to go as deep in that competition as we can, while also doing well in the Premier League. “To do that, we need to make sure Fabian’s got the best possible squad and we’ve got the right balance between the young players that typically we like to bring in and develop, “And the more experienced players like Pascal Gross and others, who can actually help us progress in all of the competitions that we’re in. “As always, it’s a balancing act, and hopefully this summer we can work hard to pull it off again.”
Brighton appear to be standing firm with the Dutch defender as they understandably don’t want to lose him this summer.
Tottenham’s second bid was rejected by the Seagulls. It will be interesting to see whether Spurs return to the negotiating table once again.
That would suggest that Spurs’ second offer was even more, which clearly shows that Brighton aren’t going to let him go on the cheap.
Van Hecke would undoubtedly improve Tottenham, especially if they lose van de Ven and Romero, but there are certainly question marks as to whether he’s worth over £70 million.
At this stage, Tottenham should be walking away rather than continuing to negotiate, as there is undoubtedly better value elsewhere in the centre-back market.
