Life of Bryan
talkSPORT understands that Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Bryan Mbeumo following Thomas Frank’s appointment.
Speaking on the Sunday Session, Perry Groves admitted that Spurs would be best suited for Mbeumo's progression as a footballer.
He said: "Football-wise, he should go to - and it pains me to say it - he should go to Spurs because of Champions League football and you want to play at the highest level.
"But financially, that's why Spurs are going to struggle to go at that [potential transfer]."
Before adding: "Because all the top teams pay their top players £200,000-a-week plus.
"Spurs are never going to do that."
Wirtz replacement?
Bayern Leverkusen have called Bournemouth to enquire about the availability of Justin Kluivert, talkSPORT understands.
The German side are shortlisting replacements for Florian Wirtz, who is set to join Liverpool for a total package of £116.5million.
New Leverkusen manager, and former Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag is understood to be driving the potential move, viewing Kluivert as the perfect profile to fill the void left by Wirtz.
Bournemouth have made it clear to Leverkusen that Kluivert is not for sale, however, owner Bill Foley has said in the past he won't unduly stand in the way of player exits at the right price.
The Cherries have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid this summer, and Milos Kerkez is expected to be Liverpool's next addition.
They could also be open to offers for Illia Zabarnyi, who is drawing interest from Paris Saint-Germain, while Antoine Semenyo has considerable Premier League interest.
Unlike Huijsen though, none of these players, Kluivert included, have release clauses.
Bournemouth have not set an asking price, but if they did choose to sell, it’s believed Kluivert would likely cost at least four times the £9.6m fee the club paid to Roma in June 2023.
Ten Hag is playing is key role in recruitment at Leverkusen this summer having replaced Xavi Alonso and it’s understood he views Kluivert as well-suited to his system and capable of adding much-needed goals and assists due to Wirtz’s absence.
It remains to be seen whether a deal is possible, or whether Leverkusen return with a bid, but Bournemouth made it clear their firm preference is to keep hold of the versatile Dutch attacker.
Goodbye message
Thomas Frank has penned an emotional message to Brentford supporters after leaving to join Tottenham.
Frank spent seven years with the Bees and took charge of 317 games, leading their rise into the Premier League.
In a statement released by the club, he said: "The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters.
"I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.
"For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community - it's an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.
"Whatever we have achieved, we have achieved together, and our success is built on unity, spirit, courage and ambition at every level of the club and amongst the fans.
"Everybody has contributed, and every contribution has been invaluable. I am not just leaving a football club, I am saying goodbye to friends whose support through good and bad times I will carry with me always.
"I would like to say a special word of thanks to Matthew Benham. His trust and friendship have meant so much and the fact he gave me a chance in English football means I will always owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Matt.
"So, while this is a goodbye, I hope the relationships I have built with everybody will be lasting ones and, of course, we will meet again in the wonderful world of football.
"Thank you, Thomas."
'I loved it'
Gabby Agbonlahor has hit back at Liverpool fans for their criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold following his fluent Spanish unveiling.
The right-back spoke Spanish as he was introduced as a Real Madrid player, leading to social media backlash over whether he was learning the language while playing for Liverpool before his move.
Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT Breakfast: "When I saw it, I had to look twice and watch it a few times thinking, is this real? Unbelievable.
"But there was a meltdown on social media from Liverpool fans, and they were calling him names and saying 'that makes sense, he's been planning this move for two, three years'.
"How do you know he hasn't already known Spanish?
"How does anyone know he's been learning Spanish for this move?
"We don't know, do we. He might have done it at school; he might have been fluent at it anyway."
He added: "I loved it and what an impression to make to the Real president and fans, that you're taking the time to learn the language.
"I'm sure there have been players that have gone to the club before and struggled to get a sentence together.
"Fair play to Trent and I think he'll do very well there."
Coincidence?
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero released a message for Ange Postecoglou only minutes after Thomas Frank was appointed.
Following Frank's reveal as the new Spurs manager last night, Romero posted some emotional words for his former boss.
He posted on X: "Ange, thank you for these two incredible seasons.
"You're a fantastic coach, but above all, a great person who deserves the best.
"From day one, you paved the way despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist.
"Beyond everything, we won a trophy and went down in the history of this beautiful club, which is the only thing that matters.
"I wish you the best because you deserve the best, and thank you for everything."
It led to some fans questioning the timing of the post and whether it was done purposely, with no mention of Frank in the message...
In the Vik of time
Viktor Gyökeres has threatened to escalate his transfer tug-of-war with his club, Sporting Lisbon, after releasing a short statement.
Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in signing the Sweden international, who has scored 97 goals in 102 games since joining from Coventry in 2023.
Reports in Portugal claimed Gyokeres is threatening to go on strike amid claims Sporting have upped their asking price.
The 27-year-old has a release clause of £85m, but it has been claimed that the Portuguese club would accept around £60m.
That is because Gyokeres has a verbal pact in place with Sporting, allowing him to leave for less after committing to staying for the 2024/25 campaign, in which he scored 54 goals in just 52 games and won the Primeira Liga title.
Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has since insisted that the club will not be blackmailed into accepting a low fee for Gyokeres.
Now the player himself has posted on Instagram: “There is a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false.
“I will speak when the time is right.”
Alejandro Garnach-go
talkSPORT's Gabby Agbonlahor has endorsed an Alejandro Garnacho transfer to Aston Villa from Manchester United this summer.
"I like him, I think he's a very good player," Agbonlahor said on Breakfast.
"Yes, he's spat his dummy out at times, and I don't blame him. If he's played well, then been left out in a poor Manchester United side, fan favourite as well…
"He's just got to learn, he's still a kid, 20 years of age, I think he's got all the attributes.
"Can he work on his crossing? Can he work on his last pass? Sometimes he'll shoot when you can cross, he'll cross when he can shoot.
"But that's a young player, that's what they do. I'll have him, get him down now!"
Ed strong
Rob Edwards is on the final shortlist for both Middlesbrough and Bristol City, talkSPORT understands.
Former Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber is also among City's candidates.
Edwards has been out of work since leaving Luton Town by mutual consent in January, as the club veered towards successive relegations.
The former Watford boss took over Luton in November 2022, where he guided them to an unlikely promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
It was the first time that the Hatters were back playing first-division football since 1992.
Having failed to avoid relegation, Luton then managed just seven wins from their first 26 games back in the Championship.
At the time of Edwards' departure, the club were two points above the drop zone - and they ultimately dropped into League One.
T-Rent is due
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been forced to change from his iconic No.66 following his move to Real Madrid.
It has become an iconic Liverpool strip over the years, with Alexander-Arnold starring while winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League wearing the digits.
He has worn multiple different numbers on the back of his kit for England, including 2, 7, 8 and 10.
But it's still going to be tough for him to switch from 66 - and he has no choice when he begins to play in LaLiga.
LaLiga rules state that all players must wear a number between 1-25.
And so Trent selected the No.12 strip at Madrid.
Robertson bombshell
Liverpool great Andy Robertson has admitted he's unsure about his future at the club.
The left-back has won everything on offer at Anfield but is coming off a poor season despite the Premier League title.
talkSPORT understands that the Reds are closing in on a £40million deal for Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, and Robertson isn't sure what will happen next.
"We have discussed it, of course we have," the Scotland captain said of his contract.
"We've had good discussions with me and the club but what the future holds I am not sure.
"I need a rest after a long season and then I look forward to pre-season, that's all my focus is, I can't look too far ahead. I never have done that so I am not going to start doing that now.
"I know the position I am in and I have only got a year left and a lot is getting spoken about and getting said but my full focus is on being a dad for the next couple of weeks and enjoying that time with the kids.
"Then I will try to come back in the best possible shape for pre-season and then we'll see what the future holds when these decisions come."
Diaz confronted
Liverpool's Luis Diaz has explained his shock confrontation with Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.
The Reds' Premier League winner was in stunning form against the world champions, netting a wonder goal for Colombia, dribbling through the opposition defence.
However, after Thiago Almada equalised he was fuming with the referee as a teammate was on the deck.
Scaloni called him over to the touchline, and then grabbed him by the arm for what looked like a heated debate.
However, Diaz has said: "Scaloni saw I was very angry about the play that led to the goal, where a teammate was lying on the ground and the referee didn't blow his whistle. I told him it wasn't fair.
"He told me that our player was also partly to blame because he couldn't dive at those moments of the game, and I told him no, that the referee had to do a little more in that regard. It was all very respectful.”
Bellingham backed
Jude Bellingham has the support of Simon Jordan and Rio Ferdinand after Thomas Tuchel said his mother finds some of the player's behaviour 'repulsive'.
The England manager made the comments in an hour long interview when speaking about channelling Bellingham's passion in the right way.
Speaking in his second language, Tuchel's 'repulsive' comment was picked up by the world media without the necessary context.
But Ferdinand thinks his attitude is important either way.
"You want characters like that, if England went into a game without characters that are willing to pull people up and demand off others we won't win anything," the Manchester United legend said.
"Jude Bellingham has shown he can go to different teams, countries and environments and be successful, he's someone you want. Yeah you can curb it here and there, but you don't take it out of him."
Jordan can't understand why there's a focus on the negatives, adding: "In a competitive midfield player there's going to be situations where red cards are going to come.
"I don't understand why we've got this elite footballer and there's a focus on aspects of what he doesn't do or what people don't like.
"I'm more interested on Jude Bellingham being effective on the field, I'm not interested in Jude Bellingham maybe having a flashpoint every now and again.
"It's wonderful that he's English and rather than zeroing in on what's wrong, he's playing for the biggest club in world football and there don't seem to be any complaints coming out of Madrid."
Gabby Agbonlahor added his thoughts, saying: "He's not meaning repulsive in that way, any of our mothers would say the same, he's just being honest and I love it.
"Bellingham and him are probably laughing about it."
No way home
It looks like Jadon Sancho won't be heading back to where he made his name - Borussia Dortmund.
The Manchester United-owned England winger spent the season on loan at Chelsea with an obligation to buy for £25million.
However, it looks like the Blues will pay £5m to release the player, leaving his future in huge doubt.
Sancho became one of the world's best young players at Dortmund from 2017 to 2021 and even headed back their on loan in 2024, but it appears a repeat is unlikely.
"Contact with Jadon is of course always there, in some form, because we share a long history," said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
"But at the moment, Jadon is not a topic for us.
"We currently have other priorities, and so the matter of Jadon Sancho is perhaps being played up more in the media than it has been discussed internally."
New Red Devil
Manchester United have announced the signing of Matheus Cunha.
Although the fee has not been disclosed by the club, talkSPORT understands the Red Devils have paid £62.5million to land the Brazilian ace from Wolves.
The 26-year-old forward has penned a five-year contract at Old Trafford, which runs until June 2030, with the option for an additional year.
Upon his official unveiling as a Manchester United player, Cunha said it's a dream come true to join a club he watched on TV as a boy in Brazil.
“It is hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player," he said.
"Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother’s house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt. I want to thank my family and everyone who has helped me make that dream a reality.
“I can’t wait for the start of pre-season to get to know my team-mates and prepare for the season ahead. All my focus is now on working hard to become a valuable part of the team, and helping get this club back to the top.”
There has been no official word yet on what his new squad number will be, following claims he will be given the No.10 jersey most recently worn by Marcus Rashford.
Announced
Former Bristol City and Sunderland boss Lee Johnson has been appointed as the new manager of Belgian club Lommel SK.
His appointment follows a successful interim spell having kept the team in the Challenger Pro League.
Lommel are part of the City Football Group and Johnson is highly thought of.
Johnson: “From day one the supporters and the club have embraced me, and their positive energy is infectious – you feel that backing in every training session and every match.
"At the same time, the daily working environment here is both professional and family-orientated; it’s simply a pleasure to be out on the pitch with these players and staff.”