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After securing Champions League football on the final day, Newcastle United have now reportedly made signing one Real Madrid star one of their main targets in a £150m+ spending spree this summer.

Newcastle secure Champions League qualification

They didn’t do it the easy way, but after Aston Villa suffered defeat against Manchester United, Newcastle had their Champions League qualification secured despite failing to beat Everton. Ending the campaign with a Carabao Cup to their name alongside a place among Europe’s elite, it’s fair to say that Eddie Howe enjoyed his best season yet at St James’ Park.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Howe shared his delight at his side’s Champions League qualification, saying: “It feels great, the achievement is huge.

“Naturally, when you lose the game there’s a feeling of disappointment, but I think we have to override that with [the fact that] over the 38 games, we deserved to qualify for the competition. It’s a huge moment for the club.

“I think the experience we had there the first time will help us no end, I think. We felt we grew through the competition, so I think we are stronger. I think we are better prepared both physically and mentally for the competition ahead. We suffered a bad injury crisis [last] season as well, so lessons need to be learned from that and hopefully, if they can be, we can be successful.”

Newcastle can find the next Ben Arfa by signing "astonishing" £14m magician

As Newcastle United look to strengthen their squad this summer, could they sign an “astonishing” magician reminiscent of Hatem Ben Arfa?

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By
Ben Gray

May 25, 2025

With their place in Europe’s top competition crucially comes the opportunity to unleash the riches of their ownership, and Newcastle look set to take full advantage this summer. Reports have already mentioned the likes of Jamie Gittens and now fresh rumours have emerged regarding a Real Madrid star in what would be some statement by the Magpies and PIF.

Newcastle shortlist Rodrygo among main targets

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle and PIF have now shortlisted Rodrygo as one of their main summer targets. The Real Madrid winger will reportedly be allowed to leave the Spanish club for around €80m (£75m) and those at St James’ Park want to make him a big part of a €200m (£167m) summer spending spree.

The rumours have been circling about the Brazilian’s Madrid future for some time following a frustrating season at the Bernabeu. Whether he finds his best form again under new manager Xabi Alonso and whether he’s even given the chance to do so are the big questions, but the former Bayer Leverkusen boss has already had his say.

Speaking at his unveiling, Alonso told reporters when asked about Rodrygo: “Rodrygo is a Real Madrid player, and I will speak with everyone who is part of Real Madrid. Rodrygo is a spectacular player—and we will need him. He deserves it, and so do we.”

Newcastle’s spending power could see them push on despite Alonso’s words, however, in a major summer statement. As impressive as Jacob Murphy has been for Howe’s side on the right-hand side in the last year, Rodrygo would instantly add that extra star power.

Despite Leeds United having enjoyed a superb 2024/25 campaign in the Championship, this summer is a vital one for their future, desperately needing to get their business spot on.

Promotion to the Premier League brings in huge money for the football club, but there is a huge gap between the two divisions, with additions needed to bridge the gap this window.

Daniel Farke will need signings in key areas of the pitch to allow him to have the best possible chance of securing survival from the Premier League for the first time in his career.

The German has attempted to achieve such a feat with Norwich City in the past, but has so far been unable to do so, with this season crucial for his tenure at Elland Road.

With the new season already less than two months away, work has already begun behind the scenes in Yorkshire to help the manager in his quest throughout 2025/26.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over recent days, a new striker has been on the agenda for Farke, as he looks to add another dimension to his already potent attack, which helped claim promotion to the Premier League.

The likes of Jamie Vardy, Rodrigo Muniz and Callum Wilson have all been touted with a switch to Elland Road, but no deals have yet been completed this summer.

However, a new name has entered the mix in recent days, with Wolves striker Fabio Silva the latest player on their shortlist, according to ABC Sevilla via Birmingham World.

It’s reported that the Whites have entered talks with fellow Premier League outfit Wolves over a deal for the 22-year-old talisman, who only has one year left on his contract.

His current situation at Molineux remains unclear, but he’s demonstrated his quality over recent times, scoring 10 times in LaLiga this season whilst spending the year on loan at Las Palmas.

Why Leeds’ latest target could be their own Sesko

Beto is another striker who’s been hugely linked with a summer move to join Leeds, with the Everton talisman yet to reach his full potential at his current side, Everton.

The 27-year-old joined the Toffees in a £30m deal back in the summer of 2023, but has been unable to take the starting role on a consistent basis, often having to settle for time on the bench.

He’s managed to score eight times in the Premier League this season, subsequently being outscored by fellow target Silva, with the Whites needing to shift their focus to the Portuguese star.

The 22-year-old has been ranked as a similar player to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko by FBref, with the Slovenian international linked with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United this summer.

He’s also valued at around £60m this summer, highlighting the impressive nature of Silva’s play if he’s been compared to such an impressive big-money talent.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the 2024/25 campaign, Silva has managed to match or better Sesko in various key areas, highlighting how much of a crucial addition he would be to Farke’s side.

Silva, who’s been labelled “generational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have scored fewer goals, but has achieved a better goal per shot on target rate – highlighting the clinical threat he poses in front of goal.

The Wolves loanee has also registered more shot-creating actions and won more aerial battles, offering Farke’s side an all-round option within attacking areas.

His dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more passes and carries into the opposition box, handing other players around him the opportunity to impress in Yorkshire.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Portuguese sensation would set the club back this summer, his talents are there for all to see – potentially being a bargain if he can reach Sesko’s levels.

Given the fact he’s outscored Beto, the hierarchy must look to prioritise a move for the Wolves star, with the youngster having the opportunity to improve further given his tender age.

Better than Beto: Leeds set to make bid for "one of the best CFs in the PL"

Leeds United could finally be about to land a talisman to catapult them to Premier League survival.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 11, 2025

Celtic are preparing for another exciting campaign under Brendan Rodgers, but they may have to lose one of their key stars while preparations are ongoing ahead of pre-season.

Celtic's early window priorities start to emerge

Next campaign, Celtic don’t have the luxury of automatic qualification in the Champions League, which may bring their transfer planning forward regarding targets in a few key positions.

Kieran Tierney will return to Parkhead on a free transfer from Arsenal to address their left-back berth, leaving an element of mystique regarding who will compete with the Scotland international in his position.

Further up the field, Brendan Rodgers is also keen on a new striker after opting not to replace Kyogo Furuhashi following his move to Rennes in January.

In a rapid turn of events, Telstar forward Youssef El Kachati has rejected a move to Hannover amid interest from the Bhoys. Available under freedom of contract, the 25-year-old has confirmed he will make his next destination known soon.

He stated before playing a starring role in his current side reaching the Dutch top-flight: “I think it is 100 per cent certain that I will make a fantastic step this summer.

After Bain: Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Celtic flop who's a "bit soft"

Celtic must ruthlessly move on from this flop after they already let go of Scott Bain.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 4, 2025

“But first, I want to leave something behind at Telstar that will make them never forget me. I think it is very important that I end my time here well.”

Speculation over incomings will dominate the landscape for supporters as the Bhoys look forward to another campaign they hope will be littered with success.

However, they may now have to proceed forth without one of their established stars if recent reports are anything to go by.

Celtic star Greg Taylor presented with exit proposal

According to Greek outlet Sportal, Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has been presented with a two-year contract offer by PAOK and they are now ‘anxiously awaiting’ a response from the Scotland international, who could leave Parkhead for nothing this month.

Out of contract in Glasgow’s east end, he has been offered a greater salary than his current terms at the Hoops and is said to be the main defensive target for Razvan Lucescu’s men this summer.

Labelled “instrumental” by Rodgers, the 27-year-old has registered nine goals and 33 assists in 216 appearances across all competitions at Celtic, contributing to the delivery of 11 trophies during his extremely successful spell.

Seeking replacements, the Bhoys have reportedly made an approach for Peterborough United youngster Harley Mills. The 19-year-old is also attracting interest from Fulham regarding a move during the off-season.

Either way, the wheels certainly appear to be in motion as Celtic plan for the coming months, though they may need to part ways with Taylor officially before making advances for his successor.

Tottenham Hotspur find themselves under a new manager in Thomas Frank and he could now pounce to bring one of his favourites to N17, according to a report.

Frank's aim to build on Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League success

Winning the Europa League was a watershed moment for Tottenham after 17 years of waiting, but the mission for all connected with the club now is to build on the foundations that Ange Postecoglou laid come next term.

Daniel Levy took exception to a poor Premier League points tally from the Australian. However, Thomas Frank now has a magnificent platform to build on, courtesy of Spurs qualifying for the Champions League off the back of their success in Bilbao.

Opting not to sugarcoat things, Chris Sutton proposed the theory that Frank will be under pressure to deliver immediately at Spurs, claiming the different expectation levels Brentford and Tottenham leave the Dane with little leeway to work with in N17.

He stated: “Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish. Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off.”

Later, he added: “The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy.”

Tottenham star very close to Spurs exit after receiving £195k-p/w proposal

Spurs could be set to let an iconic figure depart…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 15, 2025

Brentford duo Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa could join Tottenham, if Frank opts to go down the route of raiding his former club for talent, though it is hard to imagine the Bees letting either of their star men leave on the cheap.

Nevertheless, it appears that the 51-year-old could instead look to another of his favourites at the Gtech Community Stadium if reports are to be believed.

Tottenham preparing bid to sign Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham are preparing a bid for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard and the Denmark international is viewed as a priority addition by Frank to strengthen his engine room.

Spurs are set to submit an offer between the £17-20 million mark, though the Bees are reluctant to see the 31-year-old depart this summer and could inflate his price to ward off interest.

Winning an extraordinary 163 duels on Premier League duty last term, the Brentford captain is someone who has an ‘exceptional’ understanding of Frank’s system, making him indispensable in West London regardless of who is in charge.

Stockpiling in key areas would be a wise idea for Spurs amid their injury crisis last season, which rarely saw Postecoglou having a full-strength side to pick from in a tumultuous campaign.

Norgaard is a symbol of reliability for Brentford, and it makes sense to recruit experience if circumstances allow for it, though the Bees may prove to be too tricky to deal with in the end.

A “superb” Celtic player is now in talks over a move away during the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Hoops continue to push hard for new signings this summer, with Aston Villa youngster Louie Barry seen as an option to come in and bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

The 22-year-old excelled on loan at Championship side Hull City last season, scoring 15 goals in just 22 starts in the league, and could be sold in a hurry as Villa look to beat the PSR deadline in England.

Girona striker Bojan Miovski has also been mentioned as an option for Celtic ahead of next season, with the 26-year-old proving himself at Aberdeen in the past, scoring an impressive 44 goals in 98 appearances for the club, and 30 in 68 Scottish Premiership matches.

Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji is another name in the mix, being tipped to potentially have as big an impact as Victor Wanyama did during his time at Parkhead.

"Superb" Celtic player in talks over exit

According to Joseph on X, Celtic bosses are “in talks” with Braga over a deal for centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke, with Championship clubs also said to be “interested” in him.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that Braga have “sent” a bid of £1.7m the Hoops’ way, with the defender “keen” on the move. If he did leave for that amount, Celtc would make a £1.3m loss, having signed him for £3m.

This does arguably feel like the right time for Lagerbielke’s Parkhead career to come to an end, even though Rodgers did hail him back in 2023 after a rare goal, praising his “superb” mentality.

“It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him. But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him.”

Last season, Lagebielke was loaned out to Dutch side FC Twente, with Celtic finding it hard to justify a place for him in the squad, and it doesn’t look as though the 25-year-old’s situation is going to change next term.

The Sweden international is at a point in his career where he needs to be featuring regularly at a permanent club, rather than warming the substitutes’ bench or being loaned out.

Dream Kuhn replacement: Celtic weighing up bid to sign "electric" £12m star

With Nicolas Kühn seemingly set to leave Celtic this summer, could Brendan Rodgers sign an “absolutely electric” replacement?

By
Ben Gray

Jun 27, 2025

He still has three years remaining on his current Celtic deal, so there is no reason why the Scottish champions can’t still receive a decent fee for him – more than £1.7m would be preferable – and he would surely jump at the opportunity to enjoy a fresh challenge.

With Thierno Barry signed and delivered, Everton have reportedly made their first approach to sign a fresh midfield star in a deal that could be worth £30m this summer.

Thierno Barry: "It's a dream to play in the Premier League"

Kicking off their summer business in style, Everton finally unveiled the arrival of Barry earlier this week. The talented striker has arrived in a deal worth around £27m and should put any concerns over Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure to rest. Alongside Beto, the former Villarreal star should provide David Moyes with more than enough firepower.

The new striker expressed his delight after putting pen to paper, telling Evertontv: “I’m very happy. It’s very exciting to be here. I just can’t wait to start and I hope to start very quickly.

“Everton is a big club in the Premier League. They have a good history and good players have played here, like Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku. When I was young I liked to watch these players, now I want to do like these players who have gone before.

“I had good conversations with the manager. He told me I have the quality to play in the Premier League. He wants to do good work with me. He wants to help me on my road and I felt the sincerity with him so that’s why I chose to come here as well.

The dream squad Everton can build: £88m quintet & "beast" sign after Barry

A look at how Everton’s dream squad could shape up next season

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By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 10, 2025

“For me, it is a dream to play in the Premier League. I think I proved in my career so far that I can adapt. For example, last season I went to LaLiga, which is a top league, and I think I had a good season for my first season. I’m not scared to play here and do the same.”

The Toffees aren’t waiting around to admire their new signing, however. Instead, it’s full steam ahead in pursuit of further arrivals and perhaps even a Premier League rival.

Everton make first £30m John McGinn enquiry

As reported by Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Everton have now made their first enquiry to sign John McGinn, telling Aston Villa that they’d be willing to pay £30m to welcome the midfielder this summer. Despite reports that the Scotland international is unhappy about his current role under Unai Emery, though, the Villans have swiftly rejected that approach.

Alas, this saga may be far from over. Everton are reportedly still optimistic that they can strike a deal to sign McGinn in the latter stages of the transfer window, especially if Aston Villa welcome a midfield reinforcement of their own.

If their optimism turns into a summer move, then McGinn will be bringing an end to an excellent seven-year spell in the Midlands, in which he has earned plenty of praise.

Emery, among those with plenty of positives to say about his captain, told reporters in 2023: “He is a very good example, of how he is consistent and trying to help and to be an example, a very good example for players. I really, really appreciate a lot as a person how he is, but as a professional, he is fantastic.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was spotted cheering Carlos Alcaraz to victory over Jannick Sinner in the US Open final.

• Guardiola attends the US Open final
• Alcaraz lifts the title in four sets
• Man City boss takes break before derby

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Manchester City boss supported his compatriot as Alcaraz beat Sinner in four sets to claim the final grand slam title of the year and world number one ranking. The 22-year-old Spaniard won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to beat his close rival in a superb performance that will no doubt have impressed Guardiola. The City boss was not the only big name to visit Flushing Meadows for the tennis showpiece on Sunday, with U.S. President Donald Trump, basketball star Steph Curry, and Friends actor Courteney Cox also in attendance.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola is probably in need of a good break away from football, having most recently overseen his side's 2-1 defeat away to Brighton. City have not got off to the best of starts this campaign, picking up only three points from a possible nine in the Premier League. This has led to suggestions that the calamitous drop-off City experienced last season may not be so much of a dip, but rather a new normal. Perhaps their boss will learn a thing or two from tennis champion Alcaraz.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alcaraz may not be so excited by the appearance of Guardiola, the man who masterminded one of the greatest ever Barcelona teams to countless titles, as the tennis star is a Real Madrid fan. Alcaraz has been to many Madrid games and often expresses his love for Los Blancos on social media. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GUARDIOLA?

  Guardiola will now have to turn his attentions back to football and to the Manchester derby. City host United next Sunday with both sides desperate for a positive performance.

As The Friedkin Group look to kick on with their £150m spending spree, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive winger who scored 33 goals last season.

Friedkin planning £150m spending spree

After already signing Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Carlos Alcaraz, Friedkin are reportedly looking to make further statements this summer by completing a £150m spending spree. As part of that spree, David Moyes wants to sign a new right-back, a new No.6 to replace Abdoulaye Doucoure, a No.8 and a right-winger ahead of next season.

To that end, there are already several targets who could fulfill that quota. James McAtee reportedly remains Everton’s top target this summer and he could solve their No.8 problem. Meanwhile, an offer has reportedly been made to sign Juventus’ defensive midfielder, Douglas Luiz in what would be an excellent addition.

That would instantly be two tasks ticked off the list for the Toffees and two ideal additions. McAtee, in particular, would be one to watch after he showed glimpses of his talent at Manchester City even as he was denied consistent opportunities last season.

Earning the praise of Pep Guardiola when he did feature, the City boss told reporters after the young midfielder scored a hat-trick against Salford City: “I am so happy for him, he is a special player. A hat trick is not easy. He has an incredible sense in front of goal, he has the right tempo, he changed the rhythm to score and I am very happy for him.”

After potentially ending their midfield search, meanwhile, Friedkin could yet welcome their most impressive signing yet in the form of a clinical winger.

Everton enter race to sign Daizen Maeda

According to TeamTalk, Everton have now entered the race to sign Daizen Maeda from Celtic alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and West Ham United this summer. Whilst the Japan international won’t come cheap at £25m, his numbers suggest that such a fee could quickly prove to be an impressive bargain.

With 33 goals to his name in all competitions as Celtic strolled towards another Scottish Premiership, it’s no surprise that Maeda found himself at the centre of praise.

Brendan Rodgers told reporters when asked about the winger: “If you are a young player coming through and want to give your honesty to the game, work, intensity and everything. No cheating, no nothing – even away at St Mirren, the penalty we got last week he tried to stay on his feet – he’s so honest to the game. Natural isn’t it? He’s been absolutely brilliant.”

Everton bang in the race to sign "terrific" star who Moyes personally wants

He’s on the move this summer.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 18, 2025

Maeda has the quality for the Premier League, there’s no doubting that, and Everton should do everything to land his signature this summer.

Time was when segments of the Liverpool fanbase routinely criticised FSG for their frugal nature in the transfer market. But those times are gone.

Who can argue against FSG’s diligence in the window, with Liverpool having won the Premier League last season after spending very little? Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp, and the rest is history.

But Slot doesn’t want his legacy to be recalled as a flash in the pan. Instead, the Dutch coach is hoping to sustain a period of trophy-filled success at Anfield.

And so in spite of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to sever his Liverpool connection and join Real Madrid, Liverpool are stronger yet, having added Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong to their wide ranks.

But what about the right-back’s creativity and ingenuity? Well, Florian Wirtz will see to that, the German playmaker, who arrived with Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, signing for a British-record £116m fee and bringing all his world-class technical qualities to the English game.

And there’s more still to come.

The latest Liverpool transfer news

The headline: Liverpool are set to announce the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, who has chosen the Reds despite pressing interest from Manchester United and Newcastle United.

However, sporting director Richard Hughes is also contending with an outgoing or two, with Darwin Nunez, having failed to kick on, expected to leave and Luis Diaz the subject of a rejected £58.5m bid from Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions are primed to return.

The likes of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Magpie winger Anthony Gordon have been touted as potential replacements. Diaz, aged 28, is entering the final two years of his contract, and he may be better off sold if a new deal is not in the pipeline.

Replacing Diaz with either of those names would be exciting, but Liverpool might be looking forward to an even more interesting deal, with Slot hoping to add to his central defence before the summer’s out.

Liverpool leading race for Premier League star

Liverpool need a centre-back this summer. It’s a well-known fact. And according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law, the Anfield side are leading the race to sign one of the Premier League’s finest in Marc Guehi.

The caveat to that is Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to rival Liverpool for the Crystal Palace star, acting on their long-standing appreciation.

Valued at £45m given that he has entered the final year of his contract, the 25-year-old Guehi could prove an invaluable part of Slot’s side for many years to come, and it’s hard to argue that signing him now wouldn’t be money well spent.

What Marc Guehi would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool tried and failed to sign Dean Huijsen at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but the prodigious defender, 20, instead left Bournemouth for Real Madrid.

Los Blancos’ pull is strong, and they are used to having it their way. Rodrygo will only depart this summer because it is their bidding, and after signing Trent, Xabi Alonso’s side are looking to raid Liverpool once again to sign Ibrahima Konate, who is out of contract in one year.

For Konate to leave in the prime of his career would be a bitter blow, but one that Liverpool could rebound from swiftly were Guehi already to have been signed. Indeed, the England international would be a terrific addition to Slot’s squad regardless of the 26-year-old’s future.

Guehi, actually, is the real deal, hardened by the failure to make it work at Chelsea and sharpened to a keen point across a number of years at Selhurst Park, the last of which have allowed his passing game to graduate to a higher level, inching him toward a completeness befitting Slot’s ambitious Liverpool project.

Guehi’s combative and composed nature resides next to an aptitude on the ball. It all comes together in a cohesive way, a way which indeed would be perfect for Liverpool. He’s a “monster in defence”, as says reporter Bobby Manzi, after all.

But consistency is the art of a successful defender in the Premier League, and Guehi has proved himself across four years with Palace, joining from Chelsea for £18m in 2021, since making and winning the FA Cup in May.

All this, proven in the Premier League and so complete in his style, suggests that the Three Lions star could be an even better signing than someone like Rodrygo, should the Madrid man replace Diaz in the coming weeks.

Having maintained an imperious level across the past few seasons, there’s every reason that Guehi could prove a fantastic signing for Liverpool; more, a necessary signing.

Rodrygo would be nice, but for all the Brazilian’s sequined frills, he left plenty to be desired last season, going 13 La Liga matches without a goal or an assist before the close of the campaign.

That’s not to say the versatile winger wouldn’t mark an incredible piece of business from Liverpool and another statement of intent, but for the reported price of £87m, it would exhaust a significant amount of the club’s remaining resources this summer.

Given that Guehi, conversely, would be arriving for a cut-price figure and given the need for a centre-back to complement Virgil van Dijk and the rest, he might be the one to prioritise at this stage.

Tottenham lodged a £70m bid in January, and it was rejected. This shows how highly Guehi is viewed by the Eagles, who now face a tough decision given he might walk on a free in just one year.

Described as an “absolute gem” by Michael Beale, who coached Guehi during his Chelsea days, Liverpool have got to get this one wrapped quickly. If they don’t, one of their rivals will.

Slot's own Sadio Mane: Liverpool in talks to sign "world-class" £87m star

Liverpool are in talks to sign a replacement for Luis Diaz this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 22, 2025

Tottenham are now targeting a Premier League star who’s rejected several attempts from his club to agree a contract extension, according to a fresh report, with the player also very keen to play in the Champions League.

Tottenham moving for £78m "crown jewel" signing after arrival of new investor

Spurs have fresh financial backing.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 30, 2025

Spurs have a few key areas of Thomas Frank’s squad they still wish to strengthen before deadline day on September 1.

After missing out on Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White in bizarre fashion, the north Londoners remain in pursuit of fresh attacking options to instill some much-needed creativity.

According to some reports, Tottenham have held talks with intermediaries over an audacious move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, which would potentially require chairman Daniel Levy to shatter the club’s transfer record (AS).

A new number six is also possible, if Spurs make room in their squad by selling a midfielder (Alasdair Gold), with reliable media sources confirming that Bayern Munich and former Fulham star, Joao Palhinha, is on their list of targets.

Another area to look out for is at centre-half, despite Frank’s current abundance of defenders.

Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin and Luka Vuskovic are on Tottenham’s books right now, but the latter two may not be solid options to call upon ahead of the new season.

Vuskovic is still raw and could go out on loan again, as is the case with Ashley Phillips after he sealed a return to Stoke City, while Dragusin is still in recovery from a crushing ACL injury.

Tottenham were forced to utilise teenager Archie Gray as a makeshift centre-half amid their injury nightmare under Ange Postecoglou last season, and Frank will be very keen not to suffer the same fate as his predecessor.

Spurs are believed to remain contenders for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi as a result, coming after they had a mammoth £70m offer rejected for the Englishman in January, but he isn’t the only Premier League stalwart on Levy’s agenda.

Tottenham eye Brighton contract rebel Jan Paul van Hecke

According to Voetbal International and reporter Joost Blaauwhof, Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke is attracting interest from N17 too.

The Dutchman’s form last season prompted a call to the Netherlands international team, whilst also winning Brighton’s Player of the Season award following a stellar 2024/2025.

Brighton, for their part, are desperate to agree an extension and have made ‘several’ new deal offers. Fabian Hurzeler’s side were even prepared to table a record-breaking new contract by making van Hecke the highest-paid player in their history.

However, the 25-year-old has no interest in committing his future, and he’s firmly set his sights on a move away.

According to Voetbal, Tottenham are eyeing a move for van Hecke alongside Newcastle, with the former NAC Breda sensation dreaming of moving to a Champions League side.

Tony Bloom and co have priced van Hecke at around £43m, which could be seen as amazing value considering both his age and proven top-level experience. Just two years remain on the player’s current contract, though, so there is scope for Levy to even whittle down this price tag.