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Harry Redknapp Named Adel Taarabt as ‘Worst Professional Ever’

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Harry Redknapp once named a ‘streets won’t forget’ Premier League star as the ‘worst professional’ he ever encountered during his 34-year managerial career. The former Bournemouth, West Ham and Tottenham boss saw it all during his decades in the dugout, and remains one of the English game’s most experienced voices.

The 79-year-old’s latest appearance on British TV screens came with his second stint on ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’, the show he won as ‘King of the Jungle’ back in 2018. This time around, in the South African bush, he once again made it to the latter stages, but missed out on achieving the show’s ‘legend’ status after losing to Adam Thomas in the final.

Before that, Redknapp had been linked with a shock return to Tottenham amid the fallout from Igor Tudor’s early dismissal. But having not managed since his short-lived spell at Birmingham City in 2017, it seems increasingly unlikely he will return to the dugout – even if his conversations still so often drift back to his years in some of football’s most stressful jobs.


Mario Balotelli (Man City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) - with Premier League logo


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Redknapp Named Former Tottenham Man as ‘Worst Professional Ever’

Harry Redknapp managing at Tottenham

Having managed him at both QPR and Tottenham, Redknapp often found himself in a war of words with the highly skilful Adel Taarabt, and it was in 2014 that he lifted the lid on the sheer weight of his player’s unprofessionalism at Loftus Road. He criticised the winger, saying his weight loss at the time was only due to a bout of tonsillitis, and added he could not “protect people who are about three stone overweight” following a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.

Taarabt – who had played just 30 minutes of Premier League football that season – rejected the claims and suggested Redknapp had no “gameplan”, while the manager maintained his stance over the Morocco international. As per ESPN, he blasted:

“The only reason he has lost weight is because he has had tonsillitis,” he said. “That’s the only way we could get any weight off of him. He is not fit to play a game, that’s the truth. He is the worst professional I have ever come across and I have been his only ally at QPR for the past three years. He doesn’t try and I have protected him for too long.”

He continued: “When we were last in the Premier League we played Manchester United at home on a Saturday lunchtime. I had a phone call telling me Adel had been in a casino until 5am that morning. I pulled him into my office and asked whether it was true. He told me that he hadn’t been in a casino until 5 a.m. on Friday morning but that he might have been there on Thursday morning.

adel taarabt

“After we had been relegated last year we went to Exeter to prepare for a season in the Championship. I had to leave to go and have an operation on my knee. Steve McClaren was working with me at the time. As soon as I left he sent Adel home because he wasn’t up to it. The fitness coaches at QPR, everybody tells me he doesn’t try.

“He doesn’t want to run around. I have tried to protect him until now but the fans have to know what’s going on. Even I could suck my stomach in for a picture and look OK.”

Adel Taarabt’s Life after Premier League Exit

qpr adel taarabt

Footballers like Taarabt – who, for good reason, is one of the most frustrating players in Premier League history – are a dying breed. They don’t follow patterns of rules and that’s evidenced by his career path following a short stint with Spurs. He joined QPR in the summer of 2010 after back-to-back loan stints.

Loftus Road was often flat – but Taarabt ensured to keep spirits high with glimpses of brilliance, chipping in with an impressive return of 34 goals and 41 assists. His subsequent 16-game loan spell at Fulham may be less memorable, but he still caught the eye of AC Milan, who signed the Fez-born star on loan in January 2014.


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Spells at Benfica, Genoa, Al-Nasr followed and now, at the age of 36, he’s still playing for Sharjah FC in the UAE Pro League. A player able to enchant and frustrate in equal measure, he scored nine goals and six assists in 41 outings last term. Many witnessed what the real Adel Taarabt was about; but it’s a career shrouded in regret as he nearly ended up signing for Arsenal.

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Man City Make Enquiry for Manu Kone After Arsenal Agreement

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Manchester City have now made contact to sign a player who’s already agreed to join Arsenal this summer.

While their Premier League rivals have sprung into action, it has been a quieter start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal and City.

City are still yet to confirm Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor at the Etihad, but they have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to complete a mega agreement to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, Arsenal probably only need to make some tweaks to their squad after such a successful season, but Mikel Arteta will be looking to add players to his squad that can take them to yet another level next term as they look to defend their Premier League title and go one better in the Champions League.

The Gunners look set to add numbers to their attack this summer, with the north Londoners being linked with moves for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez in recent weeks.

Arsenal are also working to find an agreement with Leicester City to sign 16-year-old sensation Jeremy Monga, but it is unclear whether he would be competing in the first-team yet or not if a deal went through.

The Gunners have also been looking at midfield additions for Arteta.

Man City Make Manu Kone Enquiry

Manu Kone Roma via Reuters

According to journalist Damiano Er Faina, posting on X on Thursday evening, Manchester City have now made over signing French midfielder Manu Kone from AS Roma.

Even though are now closing in on an agreement to sign England star Anderson, it is being widely reported that they want another central midfielder too, with Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United another name mentioned.

Arsenal themselves are looking to reinforce that position with a lack of quality in depth shown last season when they lost players to injury, with Kone emerging as a target.

Reports from Italy earlier this month suggested that the Gunners were closing in on a deal to sign the 25-year-old with personal terms already agreed for him to move to the Emirates.

England World Cup Quiz

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Which Other Midfielders Are Arsenal Targeting?

England's Alex Scott smiles in a press conference
World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – England Press Conference – Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre, London, Britain – November 11, 2025 England’s Alex Scott during the press conference Pool via REUTERS/Bradley Collyer
via Reuters

Kone isn’t the only name reportedly on Arsenal’s central midfield radar this summer, with Alex Scott of Bournemouth someone they like a lot.

GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed the Gunners’ interest in the £80m-rated England international, who the Cherries are desperate to tie down to a new contract with his current deal set to expire in 2028.

Reports in Portugal claim that they are also considering making a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, whose boyhood dream was to play for Arsenal.

Whether the Gunners firm up their reported interest in Kone or not, Arteta and Andrea Berta certainly seem to have other names on their shortlist should Man City swoop in and bring him to the Premier League themselves.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold Could Have Played For the USMNT Instead of England

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Trent Alexander-Arnold has long been one of England’s most talented full-backs, but his international career hasn’t always run smoothly under successive Three Lions managers, resulting in his lack of presence at the 2026 World Cup

That awkward relationship with his national side has led some fans down an unusual rabbit hole: could he have actually represented a different country altogether?

The question resurfaced after the Real Madrid man opened up about his family background in an interview, revealing a transatlantic connection that surprised plenty of supporters.

How Trent Alexander-Arnold Was Eligible for Another Nation

Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrate for England
Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrate for England

The discussion stems from comments back when he was a Liverpool player in 2023. Speaking to Men in Blazers about his mother, who was born in the United States. He explained his fondness for the country, saying:

“The connection is just that my Mum’s American really! I love America, I absolutely love America.”

That maternal link meant Alexander-Arnold was technically eligible to play for the US under FIFA’s nationality rules, which allow players to represent a country through a parent or grandparent’s birthplace, provided they haven’t already been capped elsewhere in a competitive fixture.

Had he picked the USMNT, Trent could be playing a pivotal role in Mauricio Pochettino’s side, rather than watching the competition from home. He’d certainly be a popular figure and the talisman in the American squad.

Why Trent Can’t Switch Allegiance Now

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane for England

Despite that eligibility, the door is firmly shut. Alexander-Arnold has appeared for England in numerous competitive fixtures, which permanently ties him to the Three Lions under FIFA’s switching regulations. Had his only appearances come in friendlies, a U-turn would theoretically have remained possible, but that ship sailed long ago.


24 Players Born in England But Represent Other 2026 World Cup TeamsMixCollage-03-Jun-2026-11-31-AM-132


The 24 Players Born in England But Represent Other 2026 World Cup National Teams

England would have an unstoppable starting line-up if these players had chosen to represent the Three Lions

There’s an intriguing family thread running through all this, too. Alexander-Arnold’s mother, Dianne, was born in the United States to his grandmother, Doreen Carling, who was once in a relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson before relocating to New York and marrying there.

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Tottenham Eye Move To Sign ‘Incredible’ West Ham Star, Not Fernandes

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Tottenham are one of the clubs considering a summer move for West Ham ace Crysencio Summerville, according to The Guardian.

The north London club have already completed four transfer deals for the 2026/27 season, and they show no sign of slowing down for head coach Roberto De Zerbi.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka have all signed on the dotted line, with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes potential further additions as Spurs look to give De Zerbi all the tools he needs after surviving an almighty relegation scare last season.

Tottenham certainly require attacking reinforcements after a real lack of goals from their attacking players during the 2025/26 campaign saw them plunged into relegation trouble.

In the end, it was Summerville and West Ham who were relegated to the Championship on the final day, but the Dutchman looks on course to secure a move away from the Hammers ahead of the new term with clubs interested in his services.

Summerville will not want to play in the Championship after the World Cup

Crysencio Summerville West Ham

West Ham are certainly not going to be short on suitors for Summerville as they prepare for life in the Championship with many top stars expected to depart.

As well as interest from Tottenham, The Guardian report that Chelsea and Manchester United are also tracking the winger as they get their squads in place for the new season.

Interest in Summerville may only increase over the next couple of months after so far catching the eye for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.

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The 24-year-old has netted in both of his country’s opening two games against Japan and Sweden, with the player looking to continue his hot streak in the early hours of Friday morning in their final Group F clash against Tunisia.

In what was a disastrous season for West Ham, the left-winger netted seven goals in all competitions for the east London club, including the opening goal in their 2-1 win over Tottenham in January.

Will it be Summerville or Savinho for Spurs?

Savinho in action for Manchester City via Reuters

Another attacking player who has been mentioned in regards to a move to Tottenham this summer is Manchester City ace Savinho.

Unable to strike a deal for the Brazilian 12 months ago, a move could possibly materialise this summer with a fee of £60million mentioned.

Talk of Savinho swapping City for Spurs appears to have died down of late, with all the attention firmly focused on Tonali and Fernandes at present.

Just like Summerville, Savinho operates from the left-flank but the former Girona man is also comfortable playing from the right.

Summerville did fare better in terms of numbers during the 2025/26 campaign after contributing seven goals and five assists in 34 games compared to Savinho’s four goals and three assists in 36 outings.


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