TEAMtalk

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among four Premier League clubs keen on signing Rayan, according to a report – and he could be the next big thing out of Brazil.

Rayan is a winger who can operate on either flank but mainly likes to play off the right so he can cut inside on his stronger left foot. The versatile forward can also be used as a central striker if needed.

Rayan was developed in the Vasco da Gama academy and made headlines early on. He had scored 280 goals by the age of eleven, causing many to predict that he could be a future star both in Europe and in the Brazil national team.

Rayan is still only 19 years old but is already a key member of the Vasco first team, having registered 12 goals and one assist in 43 appearances so far this season.

Rayan has been described as an ‘elegant’ yet ‘powerful’ winger who uses his speed and trickery to glide past opposition defenders. He is a deadly finisher and is also a threat in the air, standing 6ft 1in tall.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has compared the starlet to former Brazil ace Adriano as he is a ‘complete forward’ with a ‘killer instinct’ and devastating shot power.

As per Italian source Calciomercato, there is a busy race forming to bring Rayan to Europe.

AC Milan and Roma are both ‘monitoring’ his progress ahead of potential moves in 2026, though there will be plenty of competition.

Chelsea and Tottenham have scouted Rayan on several occasions over the past 12 months and are planning talks of their own.

Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion both like the Brazil U20 international, too.

Rayan has already been offered the chance to move to Saudi Arabia, while Dynamo Moscow have held talks for him as well.

However, Rayan would rather join a club in one of Europe’s big five leagues, which will benefit the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, Milan and Roma.

Rayan has a €40million (£35m) release clause, though Vasco are in discussions with his agent as they want to increase it via a new contract.

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Chelsea could repeat Andrey Santos signing

Chelsea and Spurs should be able to fend off Milan and Roma for Rayan’s signing in 2026 due to the superior spending power of English clubs.

The Blues are well aware of the vast array of talent in South America, particularly in Brazil. They signed Andrey Santos from Vasco in January 2023, while also striking a £29m deal to bring Estevao Willian in from Palmeiras.

The fact Brighton are interested in Rayan shows Chelsea and Spurs are on the right track. Brighton have a brilliant scouting network and are known for unearthing gems from all over the world.

Forest’s interest comes as little surprise as they have been tapping into the Brazilian market lately. Indeed, Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha both signed from Botafogo in the summer.

Spurs’ interest in Rayan was first revealed back in April. Now, however, they will have to fend off Chelsea and other clubs to complete a deal.

Chelsea ace sent advice; new Spurs arrival criticised

Meanwhile, Cole Palmer has been told why he must consider a stunning move away from Chelsea.

Xavi Simons held talks with Chelsea in the summer but ended up joining Spurs instead.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to switch their attentions to arguably the club’s best player when it comes to handing out the next lucrative new contract, after midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur put pen to paper on his new deal in north London.

Spurs did not specify the length of Bentancur’s new deal, referring to it instead as “long-term” for a player who has made 122 appearances for the club since joining from Juventus in 2022.

The 28-year-old started as Tottenham ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final last season.

Bentancur, who will have received a significant rise on his old £75,000-a-week deal, told the official club website: “I feel really good and I’m very happy to continue my story with this fantastic club.

“My family are happy; I have fantastic friends and team-mates who work hard every day. I love this club and feel really good here.

“Winning the Europa League was a fantastic moment and we want to build on this now, to win more trophies.

“We have a new head coach, a new captain (Cristian Romero) and I want to enjoy many more years at the club.”

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who TEAMtalk revealed on Thursday played a big role in keeping Bentancur on board, added: “I’m extremely happy that Rodrigo has committed his future to the club.

“It shows his belief in what we are building here and that we are starting a journey which we hope will be really special.”

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Van de Ven next as Tottenham look to keep suitors at bay

Another star who looks poised for a bumper new deal is outstanding centre-back Micky van de Ven, amid rumours that the likes of Real Madrid and even Liverpool are eyeing up the Netherlands star.

The 24-year-old is currently outside of the club’s top 10 list of biggest earners, earning £90k-a-week, but that looks set to change in the very near future judging by the club’s new approach following Daniel Levy’s exit.

New skipper Cristian Romero became the joint-top earner at the club when he penned his new contract back in August, while Levy was still at the helm. However, it’s reported that The Lewis Family are now broadening their horizons in order to try and attract top talent to north London going forward.

Keeping your best players certainly helps in that regard, with Van de Ven forming one of the best central defensive partnerships with Romero – when both players are fully fit and firing on all cylinders.

The duo are set to start again in Saturday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United, if Romero overcomes the slight knock that kept him out of the Champions League trip to Norway in midweek.

Latest Tottenham news: Predicted XI vs Leeds; Simons criticism

Thomas Frank looks set to bow to the will of many Tottenham fans and make two bold changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Leeds United, one of which will likely please the home support too.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised over Tottenham’s signing of Xavi Simons over the summer after a tough start to life in north London, but TEAMtalk feels much of the blame for his struggles so far is on the club and also, to a lesser extent, Thomas Frank.

Thomas Frank looks set to bow to the will of many Tottenham Hotspur fans and make two bold changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Leeds United, one of which will likely please the home support too.

Spurs have drawn three of their last four games and, apart from the first half against Wolves last weekend, have been poor in their last two outings in particular.

Indeed, they barely deserved anything from the Champions League 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday evening, only having an impact on the game once Frank sent on the likes of Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Archie Gray.

And that trio are all set to start for Tottenham at Elland Road, in what will be a real homecoming for Gray after he left Leeds to move to the capital in the summer of 2023.

To that end, let’s take a look at TEAMtalk’s predicted XI to face Daniel Farke’s side, with one positional change also what Spurs fans have been calling for…

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GK: Guglielmo Vicario

The Italian has looked a bit shaky of late, especially when it comes to some of his kicking, and needs to show more composure. But he is just as likely to pull off the odd incredible save or two, so he keeps his place. He needs to watch out, though, as Antonín Kinsky is coming.

RB: Pedro Porro

Porro had a tough time coping with reported Spurs target Jens Petter Hauge on Tuesday night but remains a massive threat with his crossing ability going forward.

CB – Cristian Romero

Missed the Bodo clash purely as a precaution but is set to return as skipper at Elland Road and has had a tremendous start to the new campaign.

CB – Micky van de Ven

Has been equally impressive alongside Romero and was made captain for the night in Norway, grabbing a goal and putting on another superb display on what was a tough evening for the Tottenham backline.

LB – Destiny Udogie

Was rested at Bodo in midweek but did come on late in the game as Tottenham searched for an equaliser. Is starting to look more like the Udogie was so impressive at the start of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge.

CM – Joao Palhinha

A no-brainer here as Palhinha returns to the starting XI after Spurs looked so open against Bodo and were dominated in the centre of the park. The Portuguese international has been nothing short of outstanding in a Tottenham shirt so far and could have his loan switch triggered into a permanent one as early as January.

CM – Archie Gray

This is where it starts to get interesting for Spurs and Leeds fans alike as Gray returns to Elland Road to face his old club.

The England Under-21 star deserves a start after playing superbly in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster and then making an immediate impression off the bench against Bodo.

Gray offers more of an engine in the middle of Frank’s midfield and also more mobility over the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr – who both struggled badly on Tuesday night.

Simons handed starting No.10 role

AM – Xavi Simons

This is the change that most Tottenham fans wanted to see in the Premier League, with Simons given the chance to operate in his best position – having had some stick so far for his performances in north London.

It’s harsh on Lucas Bergvall, but he really struggled to impact the game in midweek and it’s time for Simons to show that creative spark in the No.10 role, rather than being shoved out to the left flank.

RW – Mohammed Kudus

Another no-brainer here as Kudus returns to the right wing, having been Tottenham’s biggest attacking threat through the first part of the new season.

Yes, there needs to be more end product, but Kudus oozes quality on the ball and will cause plenty of issues for the Leeds defence.

ST – Richarlison

Little choice here with Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani still not fit to start.

Richarlison looked a little lost against Bodo but was often isolated with no support players around him.

With worries over his workload, there is a chance that Frank turns to Mathys Tel again through the middle. However, that has not worked so far, meaning Richarlison has to go again.

LW – Wilson Odobert

A coin toss between two players who have struggled in the problematic left-sided position, but it’s Odobert who gets the nod over Brennan Johnson.

It’s time for the talented French attacker to deliver, and the hope is that it starts at Elland Road.

Despite knowing that Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are at Liverpool, one of Europe’s best strikers could be tempted to join them.

A top Premier League manager is ready to jump ship and replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, and Thomas Frank has convinced his Tottenham Hotspur bosses to hand a new contract to one of his key players – all in this week’s exclusive TEAMtalk Transfer Debrief.

Julian Alvarez could have his ‘head turned’ by Liverpool

Liverpool signed Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window and are well stocked in the striker department, but Julian Alvarez could still be tempted to make the switch to Anfield.

Alvarez left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in 2024 and has done well for the Spanish club, scoring 36 goals and delivering 11 assists in 65 appearances.

However, there have been murmurs that the Argentina international striker is not entirely happy in the Spanish capital, with Atletico manager Diego Simeone not always letting him finish matches.

Liverpool have been linked with Alvarez, with Barcelona eyeing the striker as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, exclusively revealed on October 2 that although Liverpool are not actively working on a deal for Alvarez, the striker could have his ‘head turned’ should the defending Premier League champions make a bid for him.

On the prospect of Liverpool and Barcelona making moves for Alvarez, Jones said: “When he hits the sort of form from the last few games, he feels too important to Atleti to lose – and they will not lose him in January.

“But they have to show a real appreciation for him because we have seen from his time at Man City that he can have his head turned by other clubs and leave in a relatively unexpected manner.

“You can never rule out that happening again when you consider the clubs who are being linked with him.

“But it must be clear that nothing is in the works right now. At the moment there is no problem between the parties, he is settled, and he is not thinking about going anywhere for this season.”

Staying on the subject of Liverpool, TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reported on September 26 that Liverpool are planning to bid for Marc Guehi in the January transfer window.

With Giovanni Leoni suffering a long-term injury, there is a sense of urgency at Liverpool to bring in a new centre-back.

The Merseyside club were close to a deal for Guehi in the summer transfer window, with a deal having been agreed with Crystal Palace and the England international having undergone a medical, too.

However, Palace pulled the plug late on deadline day after they failed to get a replacement for Guehi.

The problem that Liverpool now face with Guehi is that, with the defender set to become a free agent next summer, the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona are also showing interest in him.

Andoni Iraola views Man Utd as ‘dream opportunity’

The major talking point in the Premier League over the past seven or so days was the future of Ruben Amorim as the Manchester United boss.

Man Utd have been dire under Amorim this season, with the Red Devils stranded in 14th place in the Premier League table at the moment.

The football that the Red Devils have played has not been pretty, with Amorim’s refusal to move away from his 3-4-2-1 formation not sitting well with the Old Trafford faithful.

Although the Red Devils are keeping faith in Amorim for now, we understand that things could change should Man Utd lose to Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend, with the two-week international break coming up.

A source at Man Utd exclusively told TEAMtalk: “He [Amorim] looks knackered, he knows it’s not working.”

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Fraser Fletcher, broke the major exclusive on October 1 about Andoni Iraola’s stance on replacing Amorim as the Man Utd boss.

Although Iraola ‘loves Bournemouth’, he is ‘ready to take the next step’ in his managerial career and views Man Utd as ‘a dream opportunity to test himself at the highest level’.

Iraola, though, is not the only manager that Man Utd chiefs are looking at should they eventually decide to sack Amorim.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is another candidate, while Dean Jones exclusively reported on October 3 that Man Utd ‘admire’ Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi, too.

Thomas Frank key in Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur agreement

Fraser Fletcher also exclusively reported on October 2 that Tottenham Hotspur have reached a deal with Rodrigo Bentancur to extend his stay at the north London club, which has now been confirmed by the Premier League club.

Bentancur was out of contract at Tottenham at the end of the season, and he has now signed a new long-term deal.

It was Thomas Frank who played a big role in the deal, with the Tottenham boss massively pushing the club to convince the Uruguay international midfielder to continue his career at last season’s Europa League winners.

However, just because Bentancur has put pen to paper on fresh terms does not mean that Spurs are not actively pursuing a new midfielder.

Dean Jones reported on October 2 that Tottenham are among three clubs chasing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

Fulham are in the race, too, but Tottenham and Man Utd are ahead of the Cottagers in the pursuit of the 23-year-old.

Tottenham, though, have suffered a blow in their quest to sign Nathan Collins, with Jones reporting on September 29 that Brentford will not sell him in the January transfer window.

Arsenal target record-breaking star, Enzo Fernandez sale and more

Arsenal are among the clubs keen on record-breaking Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora, with Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona also taking a shine to him.

Fulham have a top young midfielder in Josh King, and Liverpool are showing interest in the latest exciting academy product of the London club.

Brighton and Hove Albion are aware of increasing interest in Yankuba Minteh, with his early-season form attracting attention from Premier League rivals.

Crystal Palace are in pole position for Flamengo forward Wallace Yan, but last season’s FA Cup winners are facing stiff competition.

James Ward-Prowse’s future at West Ham United looks bleak, with new manager Nuno not considering him an important part of his plans.

Manchester City are targeting an ambitious move for Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, but the Premier League club face the threat of Spanish and European giants Real Madrid.

Despite rumours elsewhere, TEAMtalk understands that Man Utd are not considering hiring Gareth Southgate as their new manager should they sack Amorim.

Tottenham are keeping tabs on FC Porto forward Samu Aghehowa, as manager Thomas Frank looks to strengthen their options in attack in the January transfer window.

Kobbie Mainoo could make a big decision on his Man Utd future this weekend if Amorim does not use him in his starting line-up against Sunderland.

Arsenal are unlikely to do any business in the January transfer window, unless there are injuries.

Everton manager David Moyes wants to sign a right-back in the January transfer window.

Despite signing Senne Lammens in the summer of 2025, Man Utd are keen on a deal for Mike Maignan, but there is interest in the AC Milan goalkeeper from Chelsea, too.

Man Utd also plan to raid Brighton and Hove Albion for Carlos Baleba in 2026, even if they sack Amorim and bring in a new manager.

Leeds United are planning to sign Brazilian winger Gustavo Prado, but there is competition from another Premier League club.

Chelsea are willing to sell Enzo Fernandez to Real Madrid next summer, but the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners will not do so on the cheap.

Jose Mourinho wants to sign former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema for his new club Benfica, with the Frenchman’s stance on leaving Al-Ittihad also coming to light.

Dean Saunders has told TEAMtalk the risky strategy for Liverpool in finding long-term replacements for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

After learning that Savinho wants to stay at Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur have targeting AS Monaco and France international star Maghnes Akliouche.

Questions have been raised over Tottenham Hotspur’s signing of Xavi Simons over the summer after a tough start to life in north London, but TEAMtalk feels much of the blame for his struggles so far is on the club and also Thomas Frank.

Spurs splashed out £52million to bring the Netherlands international to the club towards the end of the summer transfer window, after failing in their attempts to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.

The north London club were left embarrassed after done deals for both Gibbs-White and Eze fell through at the last hurdle and ended up hijacking Chelsea’s proposed move for Simons to fill the void left by James Maddison’s season-ending injury.

However, Simons has struggled to make his mark at Tottenham thus far, failing to score and registering just the one assist in six outings.

And that has led to criticism of the player and whether or not Spurs potentially have another big-money flop on their hands.

Indeed, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor expressed his doubts about Tottenham’s signing of Simons on talkSPORT following the 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday evening.

“Simons, I’m not sure about,” Agbonlahor declared. “It’s early on, we don’t want to judge players after five, six games, but I’m really not sure about him.

“You know, sometimes you see a player and you’re like, ‘Oh okay, I like him, yeah, yeah, I like what he’s about.’ But I watch Simons and I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s on the floor.’ He doesn’t seem rapidly quick when I watch him as well.”

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Tottenham, Frank to blame for Simons’ struggles

While it’s clear to see that Simons is struggling to adapt to English football, questions have to be raised over a massive Tottenham transfer mistake over the summer and also Frank’s reluctance to play the former Leipzig man in his best position – although the two do go hand in hand.

Spurs’ failure to sign an out-and-out left-wing replacement for legendary former skipper Son Heung-min, coupled with the poor options Frank has available to him on the left has forced the new Tottenham boss into a bit of a corner.

Frank’s decision to use Simons as a left-winger to start out his Tottenham career was clearly, to some extent, a way of easing him in. After all, it was a position he did play previously before converting to a No.10 role with great success in Germany.

However, the fact that both Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert have offered next to nothing on the left has forced Frank’s hand when it comes to trying to have some productivity from that side of his attack.

But it’s time for the Dane to take the shackles off Simons and unleash him in the role where he has looked the most comfortable so far, albeit in small sample sizes, as Tottenham’s No.10 – starting at Leeds on Saturday.

Indeed, Simons’ Spurs and Netherlands teammate Micky van de Ven has backed the attacker to start making his mark at the club, after he made a big impact at Bodo/Glimt off the bench.

“He’s a really good player,” said Van de Ven, who headed Spurs’ first goal in Norway. “He can create a lot of special things. I think you saw he came on and did really well. You can see the creativity he has.”

Latest Tottenham news: New contract boost; shock Real Madrid links

Tottenham have a deal in place with Rodrigo Bentancur to extend his stay at the club, sources have told TEAMtalk, with Spurs manager Thomas Frank playing a big role in keeping the player in north London.

Elsewhere, Spurs are reportedly eyeing a shock raid on Real Madrid for one of their top midfielders in what would be a stunning coup for the club, but one that TEAMtalk has raised two major red flags over.

And finally, Frank has hinted at a potential transfer move to sign a Bodo/Glimt star who ripped his defence to shreds in the Champions League draw in Norway on Tuesday evening, but TEAMtalk has assessed why a deal could end up being a major risk.

Tottenham Hotspur have a deal in place with Rodrigo Bentancur to extend his stay at the club, sources have told TEAMtalk, with Spurs manager Thomas Frank playing a big role.

Bentancur has been on the books of Tottenham since 2022 and has established himself as an important player for the north London club over the years. The Uruguay international has made 122 appearances for Spurs so far in his career, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists in the process.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who helped Tottenham win the Europa League last season, is out of contract at the Premier League club at the end of the season.

However, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has long wanted Bentancur to sign a new deal.

Football.London quoted Frank as saying about Bentancur on August 5: “I was pretty sure he would be a key player [before I started working with him], so that’s not been a surprise. That’s a player, of course, I think, is important for the future.”

TEAMtalk can now reveal that Frank’s wish to keep Bentancur at Tottenham beyond the end of his current contract has been fulfilled.

Sources have told us that Bentancur has verbally agreed on a new contract with Tottenham and will stay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It is understood that Tottenham manager Frank massively pushed to get a new deal for Bentancur wrapped up.

A verbal agreement is now in place, with sources telling TEAMtalk that the deal is almost done.

Bentancur has made nine appearances for Tottenham so far this season, with Spurs sitting fourth in the Premier League table with 11 points from six matches.

Tottenham kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win against Villarreal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before drawing 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt in midweek.

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Latest Tottenham news: Real Madrid raid, Man Utd competition

In other news, Tottenham are planning to raid Real Madrid for one of their best midfielders.

However, Madrid’s stance on selling the star is ‘very clear’, with Manchester United also keen on him.

Meanwhile, Thomas Frank has suggested that Tottenham could try to sign a Bodo/Glimt star in the January transfer window, with the Spurs boss revealing that he tried to bring him to Brentford when he was in charge of the Bees.

And finally, sources have told TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, that Tottenham and Man Utd are ahead in the race for a midfielder despite Fulham joining the race for his signature.

Real Madrid have decided whether they will sell Federico Valverde amid interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, according to a Spanish source, as the midfielder tries to allay the controversy at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Valverde is one of the best midfielders in the world and has been a star for Real Madrid over the years. Since joining Los Blancos back in 2016, Valverde has made 331 appearances for the first team, scoring 32 goals and providing 34 assists in the process.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international has won LaLiga thrice and the Champions League twice with Real Madrid and is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2029.

Valverde is a regular in the Madrid starting line-up under manager Xabi Alonso, with the midfielder scoring two goals in six appearances at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the summer and giving three assists in six LaLiga starts so far this season.

However, there has been speculation on the future of Valverde, with both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur said to be keen.

According to Fichajes, Man Utd are ‘willing to make a significant offer, around €80million (£70m, $94m)’ for Valverde.

Man Utd’s interest in signing a midfielder is well-known, and it seems that the Premier League giants are planning an ambitious raid on Los Blancos.

The same Spanish news outlet has also reported Tottenham’s plan to sign Valverde from Madrid, but both Man Utd and Spurs will be disappointed to leave Los Blancos’ stance.

According to Defensa Central, a Real Madrid-centric news outlet, Madrid will ‘refuse to sell Valverde for €80m (£70m, $94m)’.

Madrid’s stance on Valverde is ‘clear’, according to the report – ‘the player is not for sale’.

The Spanish club’s president Florentino Perez is ‘very clear’ about keeping Valverde, with manager Alonso, too, ‘counting’ on the midfielder.

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What has Valverde said about Real Madrid and Alonso controversy?

Fichajes is not one of the most reliable media outlets, so speculation that Man Utd and Tottenham are planning to raid Madrid for Valverde has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Valverde is rated highly by Madrid, and his dynamic, all-action performance in midfield has endeared him to the Santiago Bernabeu faithful.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, has reported that Valverde himself does not fancy leaving Real Madrid for Man Utd anytime soon.

Jones said: “There feels pretty much no chance United will sign Valverde – even as the noise grows that they want to.

“That’s the message I’m getting from people close to the Spanish end of this story and it’s not really surprising.

“He’s been around the club for almost 10 years now and has become a brilliant, crucial and adaptable player for them.

“There is no need for him to drop down a level to join Man United, and that’s truly what it would be.

“His profile would be great for United, but it just seems too ambitious to me.

“The clubs may be on a similar level in terms of global status, but Madrid’s current team is in a much better place than United’s and he is a key part of it.”

The latest speculation arises from the controversy over Valverde’s remarks about his role in the Madrid team under Alonso.

A midfielder by trade, Valverde played 15 times as a right-back for Madrid last season when Carlo Ancelotti was in charge.

Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a hamstring injury against Marseille in the Champions League, and after the game, Valverde said, as quoted in The Athletic: “I’ve had many conversations with the coach, he knows what he really wants, but in the end, I think I deserve more opportunities in my position. I’m happy in midfield.”

Against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan in the Champions League in midweek, both Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal were missing, with Raul Asencio starting at right-back.

Valverde was an unused substitute, with reports suggesting that he refused to warm up with the other substitutes before the match and did not do so during the game either, as relayed by ESPN.

The midfielder, though, has responded to that speculation and has posted a statement on X.

Valverde wrote: “I’ve read several articles that have been damaging to me. I know I’ve had bad matches, I’m aware of that. I’m not hiding anything, and I’m open about it.

“I’m truly sad. You can say many things about me, but under no circumstances can you say I refuse to play. I’ve given everything and more for this club.

“I’ve played through fractures and injuries, and I’ve never complained or asked for a break.

“I have a good relationship with the coach, which makes me feel confident in being able to tell him what position I like the most on the field, but I always, always let him know that I am available to perform anywhere, on any trip and in all matches.

“I have left my soul in this club and I will continue to do so, even if sometimes it is not enough or I am not playing as I would like, I swear on my pride that I will never give up and I will fight until the end playing wherever I am.”

Latest Real Madrid news: Bremer decision, Man City competition for winger

As Los Blancos decide against selling Valverde, Real Madrid have also made a firm decision on Juventus and Brazil international central defender Gleison Bremer, who is the subject of interest from Liverpool and Manchester United as well.

Meanwhile, sources have told TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, that Real Madrid and Barcelona are keeping tabs on a Mexico international star, with Arsenal also said to be keen on the youngster.

TEAMtalk also understands that Real Madrid are competing with Manchester City for a Champions League star who was on fire this season.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a shock raid on Real Madrid for one of their top midfielders in what would be a stunning coup for the club, but one that TEAMtalk has raised two major red flags over.

Spurs men have made a reasonably strong start to life under new manager Thomas Frank, sitting fourth in the Premier League and also gaining four points from their opening two Champions League outings.

Summer signings Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha have already made an immediate impact, while Xavi Simons is starting to show signs he is adapting to his switch from the Bundesliga.

And while Tottenham are yet to see anything of loan signing Ranadal Kolo Muani so far, largely due to a dead leg, the fact they are able to attract players of the quality of Simons and PSG star Kolo Muani shows that the club’s status in Europe is growing after their Europa League triumph.

That status would grow even more if the latest reports from Spain are to be believed, though, with claims that Spurs are planning a January move on Real Madrid for midfielder Federico Valverde.

The Uruguay international, who has been described as a ‘superstar’ at The Bernabeu, has come under criticism for his performances this season under new manager Xabi Alonso, sparking speculation that he could be made available in the new year.

The report states that Tottenham have made the 27-year-old a ‘priority’ transfer target in January, as they look to make a statement signing following Daniel Levy’s recent shock exit.

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Two red flags in Tottenham chase for Valverde

While there is no question that Tottenham signing Valverde would immediately give their midfield the upgrade it urgently needs in the No.8 role, there are two red flags when it comes to the possibility of that actually happening.

The first of which is the source of the report itself, with Fichajes.net having proven to be speculative at best in the past.

Indeed, despite talk of Alonso being unhappy with Valverde, he has still started six of the club’s seven LaLiga outings so far and was rested for their Champions League win at Kairat Almaty on Tuesday evening.

Add in the fact that he also reportedly earns around £345,000-a-week in Madrid, and a Spurs move for Valverde just doesn’t add up, no matter how much fans in the white half of north London would love it.

In fact, Valverde would need to take a pay cut of near £150k-a-week to become the top earner at Tottenham, an honour currently shared by Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons at £195,000-a-week.

And while the report adds that Spurs have held preliminary talks with Valverde over a January switch, the only way that can realistically happen is if there is a genuine culture shift at the club on the brink of happening after Levy’s exit.

However, the Lewis Family have so far rejected any offers to sell in the wake of Levy’s exit and are unlikely to make such a culture change in the middle of a season. Hence why there has to be massive doubts over Tottenham luring one of Real’s best midfielders away in January – whether the Spanish giants are keen to offload him or not.

Latest Tottenham news: Left-winger signing hint; Frank defender reunion denied

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has hinted at a potential transfer move to sign a Bodo/Glimt star who ripped his defence to shreds in the Champions League draw in Norway on Tuesday evening, but TEAMtalk has assessed why a deal could end up being a major risk.

Elsewhere, Fulham are showing interest in a top Championship star, sources have told TEAMtalk, but Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are already ahead in the race for the midfielder.

And finally, Brentford will not entertain any offers for a top star in the January transfer window despite renewed interest expected to arise from Tottenham Hotspur, TEAMtalk understands.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has hinted at a potential transfer move to sign a Bodo/Glimt star who ripped his defence to shreds in the Champions League draw in Norway on Tuesday evening, but TEAMtalk has assessed why a deal could end up being a major risk.

Spurs had to fight to earn a late 2-2 draw against a Bodo side who they comfortably beat on aggregate in the Europa League semi-finals last season, with Norway winger Jens Petter Hauge stealing the show against the Premier League side.

Strikes from Micky van de Ven and an own goal from Jostein Gundersen with just one minute remaining made it four points from their opening two Champions League outings.

However, speaking after the game, Frank could not stop talking about the performance of left-winger Hauge, who he tried to sign while he was in charge at Brentford.

And, considering Tottenham‘s need to bolster their left flank in January after failing to replace Son Heung-min, it’s no great surprise that the north London club are now being tipped to move for Hauge in the new year – given the panic he created in their backline on Tuesday evening.

Not only did the Spurs boss heap praise on the 25-year-old’s efforts, but he went on to bring up a past transfer move for the midfielder. He told TV2: “He was fantastic. I actually tried to sign him for Brentford a long time ago. It was good to see him again. I knew he was good and today he was exceptional.”

And, when pressed on the possibility of signing Hauge for Spurs, he added: “You never know what the future holds.”

Lack of productivity from the left side of Frank’s front three has been a major issue so far this season, wth Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert offering next to nothing, while Xavi Simons is clearly more suited to playing centrally as a No.10.

To that end, Spurs are once again being heavily tipped to renew their interest in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo in the January window.

Semenyo will likely cost in excess of £70million, though, given the fact that he only penned a new Cherries contract until 2030 earlier in the summer. And, with that in mind, Hauge will be a much cheaper alternative after Tottenham and Frank got a first-hand taste of exactly what he can bring to the table.

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Words of caution over Tottenham deal for Hauge

When speaking about Frank himself, Hauge reflected on just how close he came to joining Brentford, admitting: “I had a Zoom meeting with him. We were close a few years ago.

“We had a good talk out on the field. He’s a fantastic coach who has done incredibly well. It was close once, but it never quite worked out.”

And, while Hauge clearly showcased what he can do in Bodo’s draw against Spurs, having also scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 27 games so far this season, the potential signing does come with some warning signs.

Players who have stood out with the Norwegian side before and moved on as a result have tended to struggle at their new clubs.

Indeed, Hauge himself signed a five-year deal AC Milan in 2020 but struggled in Italy and was loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt a year later before a permanent switch to the Bundesliga.

The winger also failed to make a big impact in Germany as well and ended up back at Bodo, via a loan stint at Gent, although he clearly remains a bigger threat in Norway. Indeed, Hauge has over 100 goal involvements in just under 200 games for his current side.

If Tottenham do indeed actively pursue the player in January, the hope is that Frank’s in-depth knowledge of Scandinavian players will play a big part in whether or not he thinks Hauge could be a success in English football.

Latest Tottenham news: Fulham chasing midfield target; Guehi signing boost

Fulham are showing interest in Hayden Hackney, sources have told TEAMtalk, but Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are already ahead in the race for the talented midfielder.

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s top centre-back target remains Marc Guehi but Tottenham could swoop in and beat them to his signature in a dramatic twist, with a report revealing why Thomas Frank is keen to bring him in.

Tottenham fans have been left awestruck by Archie Gray’s late cameo appearance for Spurs in the Champions League, demanding that he needs to replace a struggling star in the engine room for Saturday’s trip to Leeds and with manager Thomas Frank making a somewhat surprising admission about his side.

Fulham are showing interest in Hayden Hackney, sources have told TEAMtalk, but Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are already ahead in the race for the midfielder.

Hackney has been one of Middlesbrough’s standout performers over the past 12 months, and his strong start to the season has only added to his growing reputation. Rob Edwards’ side are four points clear at the top of the Championship table at the moment after eight rounds of matches, with Hackley scoring one goal and giving two assists in those games.

Fulham, who are managed by Marco Silva and finished 11th in the table last season, are the latest Premier League club to be showing interest in Hackney, but insiders suggest that their best chance of landing the midfielder may already have passed.

There had been an expectation he might leave during the summer transfer window, but a move never materialised and Boro managed to keep him.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that period was probably the best window of opportunity for a mid-table Premier League side such as Fulham to strike a deal.

With Hackney continuing to impress, there is now a growing sense that only bigger clubs will be in a position to tempt the 23-year-old away further down the line.

Tottenham and Manchester United are among those who have kept a close eye on his progress and could be tempted to firm up their interest in 2026.

For now, Middlesbrough’s plan is to keep Hackney beyond January, but it remains to be seen whether their resolve might be tested should firm offers arrive.

Hackney last signed a contract extension in June 2023, with his current deal at Middlesbrough running out in the summer of 2027.

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What Michael Carrick said about Hayden Hackney

Hackney came through the Middlesbrough academy and has established himself in the first team.

The 23-year-old midfielder has made a total of 122 appearances for the Boro first team so far in his career, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists in the process.

Michael Carrick managed Hackney during his time as the Middlesbrough manager, and the former Tottenham and Man Utd midfielder raved about the 23-year-old.

Carrick told The Northern Echo in March 2024: “You couldn’t ask for much more from Hayden.

“He’s grounded, he’s humble, he’s down to earth and loves to learn. He loves the place and he loves the club as well.

“To have that, added with the talent he has got, it’s the perfect scenario. I think it just shows his consistency really, over a long period of time. It’s not easy when you’re a younger player, but he’s certainly done that.”

Carrick added: “There is a level of talent out there in and around football and sometimes it might not be that different player to player, but levels can be jumped, or not, if your head is not in the right place and you don’t go about your business in the right way and treat your profession with respect.

“Hayden certainly does that. He’s been exemplary really since I’ve been here and I really enjoy working with him.

“He’s desperate for more, desperate to learn, and he’s a real credit to his family, to himself and to the club.”