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Tuesday Kickoff: Tottenham nearing Willian signing; World Cup tickets on sale; and more

WillianAnzhi1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Even though they’ve spent a reported £59 million ($92.4 million) on four transfers this summer, Tottenham seem far from done strengthening their squad.

With continued rumors of star midfielder Gareth Bale’s departure, the London club seem set to cash in on the likely cash set to come into the club, with reports that Tottenham have had a bid of £30 million ($47 million) agreed by Anzhi Makhachkala for Brazilian midfielder Willian, and he’s reportedly in London to complete the move.

Willian looked set to move to Liverpool late last week, but it seems now that Tottenham outbid the Merseyside club, leaving Liverpool without a marquee signing this summer. Tottenham are also reportedly working on the transfer of Erik Lamela of AS Roma, where Spurs sporting director Franco Baldini used to work.

Here are some more stories to get your Tuesday started:

WORLD CUP TICKETS ON SALE TODAY

The big day you’ve all been waiting for has arrived.

All those dollars saved and pennies pinched will come in handy as FIFA World Cup tickets for next year’s tournament in Brazil are now on sale, with tickets ranging from $90 in the group stage to nearly $1000 in the World Cup final.

FIFA expects 3.3 million tickets to be available, though because there are still stadiums in Brazil that haven’t finished, the world soccer governing body isn’t exactly sure how many tickets can be sold in the first place.

This opening phase of World Cup ticket applications is open through October 10, with a second phase opening for any leftover tickets on November 5.

REAL MADRID CLOSE TO SIGNING NEW LEFT BACK

With Portuguese international Fabio Coentrao seemingly out the door at Real Madrid, the club are closing in on a new left back.

Guilherme Siqueira, a 27-year-old Brazilian who plays with Granada is the player in question, with Real Madrid and Granada currently negotiating a transfer fee. Reports in Spain state that when the two sides meet in La Liga next Monday, high ranking officials on both sides will seal the deal. If Real Madrid signs the Brazilian, they’ll have beaten out both Liverpool and Everton for the transfer.

Siqueira has been a regular for Granada each of the last three seasons, guiding them back to La Liga in his first season, and scoring six goals in each of the last two. Prior to his move to Spain, Siqueira played his soccer in Italy, moving from Inter as an 18-year-old to Lazio, to finally Udinese.

QUICK KICKS

Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could miss anywhere from four to six months with a major knee injury suffered on Saturday. (REPORT)

Marco Verratti has signed a new contract that will keep him at Paris Saint-Germain through 2018. (REPORT)

AS Monaco has made a €15 million bid for Sevilla defensive midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, despite his release clause being at €20 million. (REPORT)

Bayern Munich have given former player Breno, currently in prison for an arson sentence, a job as a youth coach for five hours a day. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Willian succeeding at White Hart Lane? Do you believe Tottenham can sign Lamela as well? Do you plan on buying World Cup tickets?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. If Spurs end up with Coentrao, Willian, and Lamela or Bale, they’re stacked. They’ve got quality and depth everywhere (though they could use a 4th CB).

    Reply
  2. So I heard that I should wait to buy my World Cup tickets and buy then from USSF later this year/beginning of next year. Anyone know if this is right?

    Reply
  3. Liverpool needs a LB to challenge Enrique. If Coentrao is not offered to Spurs to sweeten the deal for Bale, I would like to see them make a bid for him. He would help the attack, and may be an upgrade over Jose Enrique.

    Reply
  4. If Spurs actually get WIllian and Lamela, I don’t see any way that Arsenal can hold them off and retain a CL spot for next year.

    UGH.

    Reply
    • Yeah, and if they can convince Bale to stick around, they should definitely be 4th. Poor Arsenal fans, Kroenke does the same thing to his Americans teams, keeping them good, but not title quality.

      Reply
      • I think you meant “…they should definitely be AT LEAST 4th.” With their additions, plus maybe Lamela and Willian, and if Bale stays, they may be able to climb even higher.

    • The price listed for Willian seems way too high to me. And why would Roma sell Lamela after they just sold Osvaldo? Roma would need to pick up someone else real soon and I haven’t seen anything about that. These sound like rumors, all right. AVB seems to have a thing about midfielders if the rumor about Willian is true since they really need a striker and a defender much more.

      Reply
      • Tottenham (and I think others) have also expressed interest in Miralem Pjanic (another midfielder), so I think the sale of Osvaldo (and possibly Lamela) are part of an effort on the part of Roma to hang on to Pjanic.

        I think Spurs’ top priority right now should be a defender or two (one to replace the departed Caulker and one to replace BAE), then a strike partner for Soldado in the event that Bale is sold…the midfield is already stacked as it is.

  5. It’s unbelievable that kid Geoffrey Kondogbia is such a good player at such a young age. 6’4″ defensive midfielder with vision, passing ability, and steel in the midfield? He’s going to be a star for club and country.

    Reply

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