Updated

Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21

Ipswich's Abdul Fatawu Sees Red for Simulation, Only 3rd Such Second Yellow in 6 Seasons

Updated

Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21

Ipswich's Abdul Fatawu Sees Red for Simulation, Only 3rd Such Second Yellow in 6 Seasons

Q: Why might Tottenham be willing to offload their returning star playmaker to the very team that just handed them a bitter defeat?

Tottenham could be open to selling James Maddison to Aston Villa because he no longer looks untouchable in their rebuild. The key issue is squad planning. Reporting around Spurs says Roberto De Zerbi wants major midfield changes, with the club pushing for expensive additions such as Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. If those arrivals reshape the pecking order, Maddison’s role could shrink, especially with Spurs also weighing other creative options in attacking midfield. Fitness is the other major factor. Maddison only recently returned after a long ACL layoff, and Tottenham have been cautious with him because of repeated injury concerns. For a 29-year-old on high wages, that creates a classic calculation: if a strong bid arrives now, Spurs may feel this is the best moment to cash in rather than carry the risk of another disrupted season and a declining market value. There is also a financial angle. Tottenham have already spent heavily and are still expected to invest further. Selling a senior player on a sizeable salary would help fund the rebuild and free room in the wage structure. Villa’s interest makes the scenario more realistic. They want more quality in attacking areas, have been monitoring Maddison, and his brief return against them showed he can still add control and craft. So while losing him to the team that just beat Spurs would be awkward, Tottenham may judge that balancing the squad, reducing risk and funding new signings matters more than the optics.

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21

Stuart Attwell sent off Abdul Fatawu after showing the Ipswich winger a second yellow for simulation in Everton’s 1-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
James Garner had not made decisive contact when Fatawu moved toward him and went down, a moment that also preceded Everton’s anger over Thierno Barry’s disallowed header.
The dismissal made Fatawu only the third Premier League player in the past six seasons to receive a second yellow card for diving, underlining how rarely referees punish it that way.
Gary O’Neil conceded Fatawu had “moved his leg towards it a bit” but said there was no need for the referee to intervene, while online racial abuse of the 22-year-old is now being investigated by Ipswich and authorities.