TEAMtalk

Ian Wright believes Arsenal have missed a trick by not moving to beat Tottenham to the signing of Dominic Solanke after explaining why he believes the former Bournemouth striker could end up proving one of the best signings of the entire summer transfer window.

Spurs have made giant strides under Ange Postecoglou since the affable Aussie took charge in N17, having steered Tottenham to a fifth-placed finish during his first season at the helm. That was arguably better than many supporters may have expected following the high-profile departure of talismanic striker and their all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich in a deal ultimately worth a club-record £100m.

However, Spurs defied that loss by moving Son Heung-min to a more central role, though it soon became apparent that the South Korean’s best position remains on the left-side of the attack.

And while the divisive Richarlison also contributed a little more than he had the previous season, it was always felt his was a position that Tottenham would look to upgrade on this summer, with the Brazilian striker only managing 15 goals in 66 appearances for the club.

Having been linked with a number of options, including the likes of Jonathan David, Santiago Gimenez and Ivan Toney, Postecoglou ultimately settled on Solanke, triggering the £65m clause in his deal to bring the former Chelsea and Liverpool striker to north London.

That said, there are still reports suggesting Postecoglou could look to bring in another front man and create a dazzling new-look front four.

Ian Wright on why Arsenal should have signed Tottenham new boy Solanke

Solanke will be under pressure to hit the ground running, but having scored 21 times in 42 appearances last season, Cole Palmer of Chelsea was the only Englishman to outscore him last season in the top flight of English football, and there will be confidence within both the Tottenham ranks and from the player himself that the move will prove a success.

Former Arsenal hero Wright is also backing Solanke to prove a big hit and feels Arsenal – themselves in the market for a new striker this summer after putting Eddie Nketiah up for sale – have missed a trick by not trying to hijack the once-capped England striker’s move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Solanke has signed a deal with Spurs to 2030 and, in reviewing Arsenal’s summer transfer window, popular pundit Wright told The Overlap:

“I’m really happy with how pre-season has gone and getting in [Riccardo] Calafiori,” Wright began.

“I know there’s something else in the works for Arsenal, they’re going to try and do something and they have to. They need to get 90 plus points.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville then asked Wright if he was shocked by Arsenal’s failure to try and snap up Solanke for themselves.

He added: “You know, I wouldn’t have been too… that wouldn’t have bothered me if they went for Solanke.

“With [Gabriel] Jesus and [Gabriel] Martinelli, they lost their place last season but we can probably get the goals from them if they get back to where we know they can be.

“They’re better than they showed last season.”

Arsenal to give £65m man central role?

Wright, though, is backing Solanke to thrive at Tottenham and feels he may prove one of the ‘signings of the season’.

“Dominic Solanke could be the signing of the season at £65m,” Wright predicted. “I like that move and I like the way he plays. I think, if he doesn’t get injured, then he will score lots of goals for them.”

Solanke, who made his one England appearance in 2017, is Tottenham’s fourth summer signing following Yang Min-hyuk, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.

“‘It’s a magnificent club, a huge club with ambitions that match mine, so I’m delighted to start and meet all the boys and get started,” he said.

“What excites me most about the club is how ambitious it is. A great manager, great players and I feel like [Spurs] will definitely suit my style of play as well so I can’t wait to get started and do my stuff on the pitch.”

Doubts, meanwhile, have been cast over whether Arsenal will sign a striker for themselves, with one observer claiming the form of Kai Havertz – a £65m signing from Chelsea last summer – could convince Mikel Arteta to hand in a more central role this season.

“I’m pretty sure you will see a couple more signings before the end of the window, but Arsenal changed their mind,” journalist Steve Kay said on KS1 TV.

“They had a plan around about January for the summer, the way they wanted to go and the targets they wanted, but all of that changed because of the form of Kai Havertz, what he was doing, the way he was scoring goals and he was doing thinks Mikel Arteta didn’t expect him to do.”

Havertz did indeed enjoy a fine debut season at Emirates Stadium, scoring 14 goals and adding seven assists from 51 appearances in all competitions.

Tottenham are reported to have made contact with the agent of Monaco defender Vanderson, while they could help clear the path for the Brazilian’s signature by allowing another unwanted defender to leave and reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho.

Money remains available for Ange Postecoglou to add more quality and depth to his Tottenham squad over the remainder of the window despite having already spent over £100m on the likes of Archie Gray and Dominic Solanke. And while the forward line remains an area of focus – we understand that Eberechi Eze is still a player Postecoglou would love to get hold of – the Aussie is also open to further additions in defence.

Indeed, having allowed the likes of Eric Dier, Japhet Tanganga, Joe Rodon, Ryan Sessegnon and Emerson Royal to depart this summer, Spurs are somewhat light on options to play in the backline and would look slightly vulnerable were another injury and suspension crisis to engulf them in the same way as happened last season.

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As a result, Postecoglou is open to adding more options to his defence if the right players become available.

To that end, reports in Brazil claim Spurs have made contact with the agents of Monaco full-back Vanderson, who is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in Ligue 1.

Postecoglou has Pedro Porro as his first-choice option there this season, while Gray can also provide cover there, having excelled in the role for Leeds United last season.

However, with Royal this week finalising a £12.8m move to AC Milan, Spurs do have space in their squad to add another quality option.

Tottenham transfers: One in, one out as Mourinho targets reunion

And it seems as though Spurs are now ready to follow up on their long-standing interest in Vanderson, having scouted the £49,000 a week star for the best part of a year.

According to the claims, Monaco are seeking a fee of around €40m (£34.3m) for the 23-year-old, who appeared 20 times in Ligue 1 last season, scoring three times and adding one assist.

The player is said to be aware of Tottenham’s interest and with talks reportedly opening with his camp over a possible deal, the player is waiting to see if a fee can be struck between the two clubs before deciding on whether the move is in his best interests and knowing he would not be a guaranteed starter in north London.

Manchester United also had a long-standing interest in signing the Brazilian, though that has now been shelved following their capture on Tuesday of Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.

However, the next piece of business Tottenham strike could actually be another departure and reports in Spain claim former manager Mourinho is looking to raid N17 for Sergio Reguilon.

The Spanish full-back was brought to north London by Mourinho in a £25m deal from Real Madrid in September 2020.

But despite a promising start, Reguilon never quite lived up to the hype for Tottenham and has been allowed to make several loan moves away – the most high-profile being a move to Manchester United last summer.

Now with Reguilon slipping even further out the picture, Postecoglou has made it clear he is open to the player’s exit and that all offers for his services will be considered.

To that end, AS now reports that Mouirnho wants to reunite with Reguilon for Fenerbahce and is preparing an offer to reunite with the six-times capped Spain international.

With just a year left on his deal, this summer represents their final chance to sell the player, though it is unlikely they will get even close to half their initial investment.

Liverpool are in a strong position to sign an exciting new forward after an offer from another club was pushed back, Tottenham Hotspur are pursuing a 23-year-old Brazilian star, while Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk includes an update on Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.

LIVERPOOL GET WINGER BOOST

Liverpool are the best-placed club to sign attacker Johan Bakayoko from PSV this summer, according to reports.

Bakayoko is a 21-year-old winger who plays on the right flank and has come through the PSV academy, following spells at Anderlecht and Club Brugge.

Bakayoko has established himself as one of the most exciting wide players in Europe as he possesses blistering pace and excels at dribbling past players before either shooting or getting a cross into the box.

Bakayoko is left-footed and uses this to his advantage by cutting inside to get away from the left-back and charge towards opposition centre-backs. Last term, the Belgian ace registered 14 goals and 14 assists for PSV before representing his country at Euro 2024.

Bakayoko has already notched a goal and assist in two appearances for PSV this season, though he might not be in the Eredivisie by the time the summer transfer window closes.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with the tricky forward, while Nottingham Forest are big admirers of his talent.

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Forest recently stepped up their hunt for Bakayoko by launching an opening bid.

However, the offer was knocked back as it did not meet PSV’s demands, which have yet to be publicly revealed.

Liverpool transfer news: Bakayoko pursues title challenge

Even if Forest had struck an agreement for Bakayoko’s services, the 14-cap international would have refused to make the switch.

Tavolieri adds that if he is to leave the Dutch giants, Bakayoko wants to join a truly elite club where he can help challenge for the title.

Forest would not be able to offer Bakayoko this, but Liverpool can. Liverpool may have lost iconic manager Jurgen Klopp, but his replacement Arne Slot still has a fantastic squad which should be able to keep up with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.

The Echo report that Liverpool are preparing to ramp up their interest in Bakayoko – having tracked him for almost a year – by initiating contact with PSV.

Liverpool chiefs feel they are in a strong position to land Bakayoko due to their huge pull power and the fact Forest have failed with their opening gambit.

Should Liverpool succeed with their bid to sign Bakayoko, then this will prepare them for when current right winger Mo Salah departs.

Salah remains a top target for Saudi Pro League chiefs as he still has not penned a new Liverpool deal, with his current contract due to expire in June 2025.

MAN UTD STAR WANTED IN ITALY

Napoli officials will soon travel to England to hold talks with Man Utd over a surprise move for Scott McTominay. (Corriere dello Sport)

Napoli could make it an impressive double midfield capture as they are also making progress on a deal for Brighton’s Billy Gilmour. (Sky Sport Italia)

Man Utd are hoping to sign both Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha from Barcelona and want to fund the moves by selling Antony and Jadon Sancho. (Sport)

Alphonso Davies will try to ‘do a Kylian Mbappe’ and run down his Bayern Munich contract before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer. (Marca)

Arsenal have been given a deadline of Thursday to agree a deal for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia at the €25m (£21.4m) mark, as after that his release clause will rise to €30m (£25.7m). (Mundo Deportivo)

TOTTENHAM EYE LIGUE 1 ACE

Tottenham are in discussions with Monaco for Brazilian right-back Vanderson. Sources close to the player suggest a ‘breakthrough’ in talks between the two sides is imminent. (UOL)

Bayern ace Kingsley Coman is aiming to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer, despite Arsenal expressing an interest in him. (Sky Germany)

Chelsea have never lost sight of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, even though they were close to landing alternative centre-forward Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool will make one last attempt to try and convince Martin Zubimendi to leave Real Sociedad. But the last-ditch talks look set to fail as Zubimendi is poised to sign a new Sociedad contract. (El Diario Vasco)

Inter Milan have registered their interest in rising Barcelona star Mikayil Faye, who could bolster the Italian club’s centre-back options. (Sport)

RIVALS TO BATTLE FOR TOTTENHAM PLAYER

Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon is eager to find a new club this summer and has picked up interest from Turkish rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. (AS)

Roma are waiting for West Ham United to bid for ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Juventus have agreed to sign Teun Koopmeiners from Serie A rivals Atalanta for €55m (£47.2m). However, Juve must wait for Atalanta to find a replacement before the deal can go through. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Sancho has been given the chance to earn almost £300k a week by swapping Man Utd for PSG during the current transfer window. (Foot Mercato)

Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka will be staying put this summer, despite having been linked with a Premier League switch and Man Utd in particular. (MiaSanMia)

Ben Davies has decided to run down his Tottenham Hotspur contract and leave the club on a free transfer next summer, while Leicester City are in pole position to sign one of his team-mates, according to reports.

Davies has been a loyal servant to Tottenham, having originally joined the club from Swansea City back in July 2014. Since then, the versatile defender – who can play either as a left-back or centre-half – has made 330 appearances in all competitions and chipped in with nine goals and 23 assists.

However, Davies’ game time has started to decrease in recent seasons, as Tottenham continue to revamp and improve their backline.

Last season, the 31-year-old played in 19 games, with 17 of those coming in the Premier League. At left-back, Davies is behind Destiny Udogie in the pecking order, while Ange Postecoglou would also rather play Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in central defence.

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Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now provided an update on Davies’ situation. He states that the experienced star will stay at Spurs this summer, despite being linked with an exit.

Davies will continue to provide the likes of Udogie and Van De Ven with backup before leaving North London when his contract expires in June 2025.

While the Welshman is not an integral player for Spurs, Postecoglou is happy to have him in the squad due to his versatility and the fact he can give advice to the younger players.

Spurs chiefs had been expected to offload Davies to save on his wages and bring in some extra money, but it seems that will no longer be happening.

Tottenham transfer news: Davies, Skipp both eye exits

Meanwhile, Football Insider report that Leicester ‘lead the race’ for Davies’ team-mate Oliver Skipp, who will be allowed to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if a suitable offer comes in.

Skipp has been linked with promoted clubs Leicester, Ipswich Town and Southampton in recent weeks. Ipswich remain determined to add the defensive midfielder to their squad, but they are at serious risk of missing out on him to Leicester.

The Foxes have the money to offer Skipp a bigger contract than Ipswich, while it could also be argued that Steve Cooper’s side have a better chance of staying in the top flight, thanks to their superior experience in the division.

Signing the former England U21 international would help Leicester move on from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who joined Chelsea earlier this summer.

Skipp would not be the first Spurs midfielder to join Leicester in recent times, as Harry Winks made that exact move last summer.

Skipp, 23, has previously been valued at around £18million, though it remains to be seen how much Spurs want before selling him to either Leicester or Ipswich.

Tottenham have officially confirmed two transfers have been completed, while another move involving Barcelona has been given the thumbs up, according to a report.

Spurs have splashed the cash this summer, with Archie Gray costing £40m to sign from Leeds United and Dominic Solanke requiring a package worth £65m to prise out of Bournemouth. Solanke’s deal is a new club record for Tottenham, surpassing the £60m (£50m plus £10m in add-ons) is cost to sign Richarlison in 2022.

Swedish sensation Lucas Bergvall officially joined the club on July 1 after his deal was agreed in the winter window prior.

A similar type of move has been agreed for South Korean winger Yang Min-hyuk who’ll link up with his new Spurs teammates in the 2025 January window. Timo Werner was also re-signed via the loan route.

However, today’s update regards two confirmed exits and a third may well be in the works.

Emerson Royal completes AC Milan switch

Firstly, Tottenham officially confirmed right-back Emerson Royal has completed a permanent transfer to AC Milan.

The Serie A giant have paid €15m to sign the Brazil international and the deal reportedly contains a further €2m in add-ons.

Emerson has signed a four-year contract with an option for a fifth season at the San Siro.

Milan had initially hoped to pay little more than €10m for Emerson, though upped the ante to a more suitable sum after Alessandro Florenzi suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season.

Pedro Porro is the undisputed first choice for Ange Postecoglou at right-back. New signing Gray can cover the position, while Djed Spence is still on the books.

However, Fabrizio Romano has reported Tottenham will explore the signing of a replacement for Emerson and a Manchester City star is on their radar.

Spurs striker joins Championship side

Elsewhere, Spurs have confirmed striker Dane Scarlett has joined Championship side Oxford United on a season-long loan.

The deal is not believed to contain an option/obligation to buy, meaning Scarlett will return to north London at season’s end.

Responding to the move, the 20-year-old told Oxford’s club media: “I’m over the moon to be here and I’m ready to get started.

“The team did really well last season (promoted to the Championship via League One play-offs), and I see an opportunity here for myself.

“Oxford for me was the best option to come and prove myself and show what I can do. I’m a team player that will look to bring goals and hopefully we can deliver this season.”

Barcelona transfer greenlit by Hansi Flick

Another Spurs star who could be on the move is left-back Sergio Reguilon.

The 27-year-old Spaniard is surplus to requirements following loan spells at Manchester United and Brentford last season.

Reguilon is in the final year of his Spurs deal and with no new contract expected, Tottenham hope to cash in while they still can.

Sky Sports recently confirmed Barcelona had identified Reguilon as a viable option to bolster their left-back ranks.

A fresh update from Spanish outlet Sport has revealed Barcelona boss, Hansi Flick, has given the green light to the move.

It’s stated a permanent deal for a ‘nominal fee’ is being sought. The idea of recouping a tiny fee for a player signed for a reported £32m (including add-ons) won’t warm hearts in north London.

But given Reguilon’s contract situation and the fact he’s unfancied by Postecoglou, any fee is better than losing Reguilon to free agency at season’s end.

Furthermore, a sale now would allow Tottenham to shift the player’s salary off the books one year ahead of time.

Tottenham Hotspur have prepared an offer as they look to strike a ‘dream deal’ for Italy star Manuel Locatelli, according to reports, while a second player’s new contract has also been confirmed by the North London side.

Tottenham have been busy in the summer transfer window, signing three new players and offloading a lot of dead wood from the squad. Ange Postecoglou’s side quickly opted to extend Timo Werner’s loan from RB Leipzig and then brought in English starlet Archie Gray from Leeds United.

They have followed up on those captures by landing striker Dominic Solanke in a £65million deal, while Lucas Bergvall’s move to Tottenham has also gone through after it was initially agreed in February.

Eric Dier, Japhet Tanganga, Tanguy Ndombele and Joe Rodon are just some of the unwanted players who have been axed by Tottenham.

DON’T MISS – Euro Paper Talk: Tottenham to form dazzling new frontline with £85m pair to follow Solanke

Postecoglou is also on the hunt for a new central midfielder, with Giovani Lo Celso likely to follow Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg out of the club.

Postecoglou was eager for Tottenham to sign Conor Gallagher, but they have been beaten to his services by Atletico Madrid.

According to the latest reports in Italy, Spurs could move on from the disappointment surrounding Gallagher by moving for Juventus’ Locatelli instead.

The 26-year-old has previously been linked with Arsenal, but now it is their North London rivals Spurs who are aiming to bring him to England.

Tottenham transfers: Manuel Locatelli a new target

The prospective transfer is described as a ‘dream’ one for both Spurs and Juve. Not only would it bolster Spurs’ squad with a top midfield addition, but it would also give Juve crucial extra transfer funds.

The reports claim that Spurs are ‘ready to offer’ €24m (£20.5m) plus add-ons for Locatelli. It remains to be seen whether Juve will accept this though as the star’s contract runs until June 2028 and he has previously been valued at more than £40m.

Locatelli would be a good signing for Spurs as he can operate as either a No 6 or No 8 and would bring a winning attitude to Postecoglou’s squad. The former Milan player helped Italy win Euro 2020 and has also lifted the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup since making his senior debut in April 2016.

Meanwhile, Spurs have announced that academy starlet Mikey Moore has penned his first professional contract with the club, ending speculation about a move away.

The 17-year-old attacker is regarded as one of the best talents in the country and has picked up interest from a host of rival clubs, but he has now pledged his future to Spurs.

In a statement, Spurs announced that they are ‘delighted’ to have agreed terms with Moore, who will aim to force his way into Postecoglou’s plans over the next few years.

Tottenham are ready to sign two more attackers for a combined £85m despite spending big on Dominic Solanke, Barcelona are planning a ‘super contract’ to lure away a Liverpool star, while Man Utd’s next two signings after Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs De Ligt have been named.

POSTECOGLOU TARGETS NEW FRONTLINE WITH €30M STRIKER NEXT

Tottenham are ready to launch a firm offer to bring in another new centre forward in Jonathan David with Ange Postecoglou still looking for further attacking reinforcements to go alongside Dominic Solanke.

Spurs splashed out a club-record fee of £65m to sign England cap Solanke from Bournemouth over the weekend after triggering the exit clause in the 26-year-old striker’s Cherries contract. Seen as the natural replacement for Harry Kane, Solanke was presented to his new supporters over the weekend ahead of Kane’s first match back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Bayern Munich.

However, it seems Postecoglou and Tottenham are not yet finished in strengthening their forward options with a double deal to go alongside Solanke also reportedly in the works.

And according to widespread reports, the next man in their sights is Lille striker David, who now has just under 11 months remaining on his deal with the Ligue 1 side.

David has proved one of French football’s best strikers since moving to Lille, where he has scored 84 goals in 184 appearances. And with an impressive tally of 28 in 54 games for his country, Canada, there is no doubting Lille would be losing one of their top stars of recent years if the 24-year-old departs.

Per reports, Lille are now open to his sale for a mere €30m (£25.7m), which has put Postecoglou on red alert.

And it’s claimed the Spurs boss is emploring his side to make their approach for the player as soon as possible to ensure they can get a deal over the line and potentially pair him up with Solanke in what would be a new-look attack.

Tottenham are not the only Premier League side keen, with Chelsea also among his suitors. However, with the door opening for the Blues to bring Victor Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, Spurs could be gifted a free hit at signing the 121 goal star, whio started his career in Belgium with Gent.

Tottenham transfers: Commentator tips move for Eberechi Eze

Postecoglou is also back on the trail of Eberechi Eze, per reports, with the Tottenham boss looking to create a bold and fluid new front four with Solanke and David flanked by Son Heung-min and Crystal Palace star.

With the likes of James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Dejan Kulusevski in reserve, Postecoglou wants to create a deep squad full of attacking intent which will not only excite their supporters, but also ensure they have the squad depth needed to push for a place in the Premier League’s top four and make serious inroads in the Europa League.

Any deal for Eze will not come cheap with Palace likely to hold out for a fee of around £60m for the seven-times capped England star.

Spurs were linked with a move for Eze prior to this summer’s European Championships, but now ESPN commentator, Ian Darke, believes the move is finally set to come to fruition.

Labelling the player one of the best ball carriers in the Premier League, Darke stated: “I have noticed Spurs are favourites to sign Eberechi Eze, the Crystal Palace and England flair player and creator.

“So those (Solanke and Eze) would be interesting signings.”

Eze racked up 11 goals and four assists in just 27 Premier League games last season and former Spurs winger Chris Waddle also reckons he would be an ideal fit in Postecoglou’s system.

“He’s a great talent,” said Waddle. “I think he’d mainly be used in a wide role. He’s got pace, grace and balance. The Spurs fans would love to watch him. He’s definitely a Tottenham player. He would be a great addition,” he stated.

Deals for both Eze and David would set Spurs back a combined £85m and mark them as one of the Premier League’s biggest spenders this summer.

Solanke (£65m) and Archie Gray (£40m) have already signed on the dotted line, with those next two deals set to take their spending soaring towards the £200m mark.

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LIVERPOOL CONTINUE TALKS OVER MAMARDASHVILI

Liverpool are to continue talks with Valencia over a deal for Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili amid a claim that he will be sold for some price lower than his €45m valuation. (various)

Chelsea are in talks over a deal to bring Joao Felix back to Stamford Bridge as part of Atletico Madrid’s talks to bring England midfielder Conor Gallagher to Stamford Bridge. (Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool are in talks with Red Bull Salzburg over the sale of midfielder Bobby Clark, who is also wanted by Leeds, Norwich, Sheffield United and Coventry. The Austrian side have already seen an offer worth €9.6m (£8.2m) rejected and are favourites for his signature. (The Athletic)

Arsenal right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy is set to join Genoa with the two clubs in final discussions over a fee for the 20-year-old. (La Repubblica)

Manchester United have spurned the chance to sign former Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso, who is available on a free transfer this summer. (AS)

Tottenham defender Emerson Royal will undergo a medical at La Madonnina Clinic on Monday ahead of long-awaited move to AC Milan, with the Italian giants striking a deal worth an initial €15m plus €2m in add-ons. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Real Madrid have rejected what has been described as a ‘significant offer’ from an unnamed club in Saudi Arabia for Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior, whom they wanted to make the face of their game ahead of 2034 World Cup. (The Athletic)

Juventus have met with Atalanta to resolve their differences over the fee for Teun Koopmeiners with a move in the region of €60m now expected to go through. That signing will free up Atalanta to bring in Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley as his replacement in a deal worth around €28m. (Sky Italia)

Napoli are closing on the signings of both David Neres and Billy Gilmour after reaching agreements with both players. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Chelsea are gaining hopeful that a deal can be done for Victor Osimhen with Napoli open to the signing of Romelu Lukaku AND unwanted Blues goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as part of a three-way swap deal. (Rudy Galetti, TEAMtalk exclusive)

BARCELONA RIVAL REAL MADRID FOR ALEXANDER-ARNOLD DEAL

Barcelona are ready to rival Real Madrid to the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold next summer if the defender continues to wind down his contract at Anfield. Agents for the Blaugrana have already signalled their intentions to offer the 25-year-old a ‘super contract’ to depart Anfield in 2025. (various)

Brentford striker Ivan Toney could find himself on the move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ahli looking at a deal to sign the England international, who now has less than 11 months remaining on his contract. (Fabrizio Romano)

Barcelona have told agent Jorge Mendes to find winger Ansu Fati a new club with the player now free to leave following the capture of Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig. (Sport)

Barca are also back on the trail of Nico Williams and are planning a fresh offer to Athletic Bilbao after being told the Spain winger has made it clear he wants to make the move to Catalonia this summer. (Sport)

AC Milan are looking into a possible deal for Nottingham Forest’s Brazilian midfielder Danilo, with negotiations for AS Monaco man Youssouf Fofana and Borussia Monchengladbach player Manu Kone dragging on. (Sky Italia)

Fiorentina are emerging as a concrete option to sign free agent former Barcelona man Sergi Roberto. Following his departure, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been named as the new captain at the Camp Nou. (Fabrizio Romano)

Arsenal are emerging as surprise contenders to sign Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, with the France winger likely to face limited game-time this season following the capture of Michael Olise. Barcelona are also keen on the 28-year-old. (various)

NEXT TWO MAN UTD SIGNINGS AFTER DE LIGT AND MAZRAOUI NAMED

Manchester United likely to make Sofyan Amrabat and Sander Berge signings No 5 and 6 of the summer after Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs De Ligt, with PSG’s refusal to budge on their €60m valuation of Manuel Ugarte seen as too high by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez expects to finalise a transfer to Atletico Madrid in the next 72 hours with the total package likely to be worth up to €95m (£81.3m) to the Premier League champions. (AS)

VfB Stuttgart are in talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign unwanted striker Armando Broja on an initial season-long loan deal. (Sky Germany)

AC Milan are in talks with Roma over a loan-to-buy deal for England striker Tammy Abraham, who has been cleared to leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer. (Calciomercato)

Borussia Dortmund are poised to seal the signing of Maximilian Beier from Hoffenheim in a deal worth €30m (£25.7m). The likes of Manchester United and Liverpool have previously been linked with the Germany forward. (Sky Germany)

Nottingham Forest have rejected an approach from Atalanta for Wales defender Neco Williams, with their offer of €20m (£17.1m) not considered high enough. (Fabrizio Romano)

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to have dropped their asking price for midfielder Giovani Lo Celso as they aim to sell him before the end of the month.

Lo Celso was left out of Tottenham’s squad for their pre-season fixture against Bayern Munich on Saturday, in an obvious sign that his future lies away from north London. With only a year remaining on his contract, Spurs are trying to sell Lo Celso while they still can.

Interest from Aston Villa – whose manager Unai Emery coached him during a loan spell at Villarreal – and his former club Real Betis has been confirmed over the weekend.

And now, more clues have emerged about the extent Tottenham will go to in order to offload the Argentina international in the next couple of weeks, before the transfer window closes on August 30.

TEAMtalk sources stated in June that Tottenham were willing to accept bids of £12m from any suitor for Lo Celso.

However, with no one matching their demands yet, it seems Spurs have been forced to reduce their asking price.

According to a new update from Football Insider, Tottenham are now just asking for £10m for Lo Celso. Furthermore, anyone trying to take him on loan will likely be turned away.

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Having decided he is now out of their plans under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham are in a race against time to sell Lo Celso. If they fail to sell him this month, they risk losing him for free at the end of the season, since he could sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club from January onwards.

The midfielder previously cost them around £42m after joining from Real Betis five years ago. Spurs will be making a major loss on Lo Celso, to a magnitude possibly even greater than they planned for.

Tottenham trying to land Lo Celso upgrade

But if they can cut Lo Celso from their squad in time, they might have room for someone more suitable to Postecoglou’s tactics.

The dream target is Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa, which could lead to a part-exchange deal given the interest at the other end in Lo Celso. As the younger player with more to offer in the long term, Ramsey would be the more valuable component of that operation, although it is not necessarily an easy one for them to agree.

After all, Lo Celso may want to return to La Liga, a competition he has made 70 appearances in across two-and-a-half years. In contrast, he has played 77 times in the Premier League for Tottenham, during three-and-a-half possible years of action.

His output has also historically been far better in Spanish than English football, with 12 La Liga goals to his name but only three Premier League strikes.

Tottenham could be about to offload another fringe member of Ange Postecoglou’s squad after the player was left out of the squad for the pre-season friendly defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Two goals from Dejan Kulusevski were not enough for Spurs as the German giants lifted the Visit Malta Cup in north London courtesy of some familiar errors at the back from Ange Postecoglou’s men.

Two set-piece goals and another defensive mistake in possession gifted Bayern a 3-2 triumph as second-half substitute Harry Kane was given a standing ovation on his return to the club.

Summer signings Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall both featured in the second half for Tottenham, while new record addition Dominic Solanke was also in attendance.

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Postecoglou has already hinted that he expects more players through the door, although it’s expected that exits will be the focus of attention over the next few days.

Emerson Royal is close to his move to AC Milan but talk of Giovani Lo Celso‘s future at the club has ramped up after the Argentine was left out of the squad for the Bayern clash.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Aston Villa remain interested in signing the midfielder, while his former club Real Betis are also in the mix.

It’s reported that Tottenham are actively working on the 28-year-old’s exit given that he only has a year remaining on his current contract.

Lo Celso joined Spurs permanently from Betis back in 2020 and a move back to Spain could benefit his career, while the midfielder played some of his best football at Villarreal under Unai Emery, who is now in charge at Villa.

Tottenham still keen on Lo Celso, Ramsey swap

Emery is known to be keen on reuniting with Lo Celso, with Tottenham trying to lure Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey to north London as part of the transfer.

Spurs would be expected to pay Villa £20m plus Lo Celso if they can strike a deal, with Ramsey currently valued at around the £45m mark.

The 23-year-old Villa star is the type of box-to-box midfielder Postecoglou wants to get on board this summer to provide more competition for Rodrigo Bentancur.

As for Lo Celso, the Argentina international has never really been able to cement a place in the Tottenham starting XI under successive managers and has been loaned out twice.

Postecoglou did give the midfielder plenty of opportunities to show his worth last season, with Lo Celso featuring 24 times in all competitions, but he failed to take them.

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At this stage, it now appears that a move is best for all parties as the Spurs boss looks to build a younger, more vibrant squad capable of playing the brand of football Postecoglou wants in north London.

Lo Celso has made a total of 108 appearances for Tottenham, scoring 11 goals in that time.

Ange Postecoglou has hinted that there will be more Tottenham signings to come before the transfer window shuts as a former star is once again being tipped for a return to north London.

Spurs completed a club-record deal for Bournemouth frontman Dominic Solanke on Saturday, with the England star arriving in a £65million deal to bolster Postecoglou’s frontline.

According to respected journalist David Ornstein, the 26-year-old, the Tottenham boss wanted Solanke more than any other striker in the club’s price range after he scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Cherries last season.

Spurs moved quickly to negotiate a big-money deal this week, after receiving encouragement that Solanke was very keen on a move to the club this summer.

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And, speaking after Saturday’s 3-2 friendly defeat to Bayern Munich, Postecoglou is confident the club’s new No.9 will be ready to face Leicester a week on Monday.

Asked whether Solanke will face the Foxes, having picked up a toe injury before his move, he said: “I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be in a position to [play against Leicester]. He’s done most of pre-season.

“Slight knock in the last game Bournemouth played, but, of course, we’ll have a look at him during, during the week. But I think that considering he’s done most of the pre-season, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be available.”

Postecoglou also spoke about Solanke’s path to becoming Tottenham’s new record buy, adding: “He’s had to work his way up and I always think that’s a good thing.

“If it’s all positive in their career, you wonder how they’ll deal with setbacks and he’s had his quite early in his career and pushed on.”

Postecoglou expects prime Solanke

The Spurs chief was also asked how long Solanke has actually been on his radar, adding: “Yeah, a fair while, but again, you kind of look at players who’ve had, like I said, interesting journeys and with some players, things happen really early in their careers and they go really well, but then there’s inevitable stumbles along the way and you want to see how they react.

“But Dom had a very bright start to his career and he was at big clubs, which every player aspires to, but for one reason or another, it didn’t work out for him, but the fact that he’s got himself back to this position where he’s again one of the premier strikers in the Premier League, it’s a testament to his character and he’s only 26, about to turn 27. So I think probably because of those early challenges he had, I think he’s going try to push and have a really strong and impactful, meaningful years from now on.”

With Solanke now on board, the focus is now on who could follow him through the door in north London and Postecoglou is expecting more business between now and the end of the window.

The Australian said: “Look, we’ll see, there’s still time in the window and I think there’ll still be some activity.

“We are trying to identify players who fit into our style of football. There will be a bit of adjustment but hopefully they will already have those qualities to come into the group and contribute straight away. That is my expectation when we sign someone – they will be ready to contribute from the moment they arrive.”

Tottenham old boy still tipped for return

One player who continues to be linked with a return to the club is Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters and those rumours have once again ramped up as the clock ticks down to August 30.

Reports over the weekend suggest that Tottenham are ready to activate their £30m buy-back clause for the 27-year-old, who excelled in Southampton’s run to promotion from the Championship last season.

He scored three goals and added three assists in 47 games in all competitions and, given his ability, to play at right-back and left-back, would give Postecoglou quality cover in both positions.

Links to Walker-Peters again are no great surprise given that Emerson Royal is closing in on his switch to AC Milan.

The Brazilian, after months of talk, will at long last seal a move to the San Siro, with Fabrizio Romao revealing that the defender has rejected four to five different offers to join Milan before finally giving the nod.

Spurs have reached an agreement to sell the player for a package worth in excess of £13m.

“Emerson Royal to AC Milan, here we go! Deal in place for total package in excess of €15m from Spurs,” said Romano on X.

“Agreement with Emerson reached in May as he only wanted Milan despite 4/5 proposals. Travel being planned as Emerson leaves #THFC and joins Milan project.”

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However, if a deal for Walker-Peters does not go through then Tottenham can fall back on summer signing Archie Gray as cover for Pedro Porro at right-back for the upcoming campaign.

The former Leeds man performed well in that position as a half-time substitute in the clash with Bayern, his first taste action at the home of his new club.