Exclusive: Tottenham and Aston Villa now on red alert as £16.7m Real Madrid player grows concerned
Today at 12:15 PM
- EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey
Aston Villa and Newcastle find themselves fighting alongside Tottenham nowadays.
Not long ago, both the Villans and the Magpies were in the Championship as Spurs battled for UEFA Champions League football, but all three are now competing to finish in the top four of the Premier League.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 1 | LiverpoolLiverpool | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 21 |
| 2 | Man CityManchester City | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 20 |
| 3 | ArsenalArsenal | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 17 |
| 4 | Aston VillaAston Villa | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 17 |
| 5 | BrightonBrighton | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | ChelseaChelsea | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 14 |
| 7 | TottenhamTottenham | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 13 |
| 8 | Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| 9 | NewcastleNewcastle | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
Not only are Unai Emery and Eddie Howe jostling against Ange Postecoglou for European qualification, but TBR Football understand there is now mutual interest in Real Madrid No.15 Arda Guler.
Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham monitoring Arda Guler
Sources have informed TBR Football that Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle are all actively keeping tabs on the Turkey international – as he grows concerned by a lack of playing time under Carlo Ancelotti.
The 19-year-old helped Turkey reach the last eight of UEFA EURO 2024 during the summer, becoming just the third teenager in history to both score and assist at the competition, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Despite that, Guler has only made three starts in La Liga so far this season, and is frustrated by his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu having rejected several offers to leave during the summer transfer window in favour of staying in Madrid.
TBR Football understand Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are also aware of the teenager’s ability – having looked to sign him before his €20m (£16.7m) move from Fenerbahce to Real Madrid in July 2023.
Newcastle were even said to have bid over £67m to sign Guler back in July.
Furthermore, it is understood that Real Madrid see Guler as a top talent, and therefore have no intention of letting the Turkish wonderkid depart on a permanent basis.
Should his situation under Ancelotti remain the same – however – a loan exit would be considered by Los Blancos in the January transfer window.
Eddie Howe needs Real Madrid No.15 more than Ange Postecoglou or Unai Emery
While Tottenham and Aston Villa would surely benefit from having a player of Guler’s talent on loan, Newcastle need him more.
Howe seemed particularly keen to recruit an attacker of this profile during the summer transfer window – a left footer who cuts inside from the right – as Newcastle tried to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
Furthermore, the Magpies also wanted Jarrod Bowen from West Ham.
Both the England international and Olise play like Guler, as Howe aimed to replicate what Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes can offer from the left flank, so a move for the Real Madrid star in January would make plenty of sense.
