TEAMtalk

Tottenham Hotspur are being tipped to make up for their failure to secure the signing of Morgan Gibbs-White by making a spectacular £80million swoop for a player who could completely transform Thomas Frank’s attack, with a deal set to be signed off by Daniel Levy.

It looked as if Nottingham Forest skipper Gibbs-White would become a new Spurs player after his £60million release clause was triggered and with the player reported to be keen on the move and a medical booked in.

But after Forest shut down communications and threatened Tottenham and the player’s agent with legal action, the transfer saga ended on Saturday with Gibbs-White doing a U-turn and signing a new, lucrative deal contract at the City Ground.

Frank wanted Gibbs-White to spearhead his midfield three as a creative attacking force, having been a big fan of the player while he was also in charge at Brentford.

However, the £60m set aside to snap up the 25-year-old will not be allocated elsewhere and, if the latest reports are confirmed, then that money could be on its way to Real Madrid.

Tottenham are pushing to beat out Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal to a deal for talented Brazilian forward Rodrygo, who is capable of playing all three spots across Frank’s frontline.

And while Real are demanding around £80m (€92m / $107m) for services, Football.London reports that Spurs have the funds in place to secure a deal that would shatter their previous record of £65m paid for Dominic Solanke last summer.

Rodrygo is not exactly a like-for-like replacement when it comes to filling the Gibbs-White void, but the impact he could have on the Tottenham forward line could be immense – wherever he lines up.

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Rodrygo, Kudus could create carnage for Tottenham

While Rodrygo played the majority of his games for Real on the right wing last season, he is also capable of featuring on the left – which is his more likely position at Spurs.

New £55m arrival Mohammed Kudus has so far figured on the right wing in pre-season, by far his best position and one he struggled to command at West Ham due to Jarrod Bowen’s form and importance to the Hammers.

News of interest in the Brazil international is not good news for club legend Son Heung-min, who has struggled in the two outings he has featured in for Tottenham in pre-season and continues to be linked with a move to LAFC.

Frank also has James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and even Kudus who can fill the No.10 role that was being allocated for Gibbs-White, so all is not lost on that front.

Having Rodrygo and Kudus flanking Solanke, or even a new No.9, would certainly give the north London outfit a more potent attack than they had under Ange Postecoglou last season.

Indeed, it’s been reported that Frank wants another striker on board to provide strong competition for Solanke, who has struggled with a number of niggling injury issues since he joined the club.

Brentford star Yoane Wissa, Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo and Al-Hilal attacker Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been linked with a switch to north London, while rather tenuous report in Sunday even had Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus as a target.

Latest Tottenham news: ‘Contact made’ with Man Utd star / Mikey Moore exit

🔵 Tottenham ramp up pursuit of classy Man Utd star as ‘contact made’

🔵 Rangers to make statement DOUBLE signing with Tottenham ace and 21 G/A winger to arrive

🔵 Chelsea ‘advancing in talks’ to sign ‘exceptional’ £60m ace before Arsenal, Tottenham

Rangers are on the verge of signing two statement signings, with an exciting winger set to arrive alongside Tottenham’s teenage prodigy Mikey Moore, TEAMtalk understands.

Russell Martin’s side has already made an impressive start to the window, with six permanent signings and two loans so far, but the Scottish club’s business is far from done.

Rangers are looking to bolster their attacking options further and sporting director Kevin Thelwell is working hard behind the scenes on multiple targets

TEAMtalk can confirm that Rangers are in advanced talks to sign 23-year-old Finnish international Oliver Antman, for a fee close to £5million.

The Go Ahead Eagles star, who contributed six goals and 15 assists in the Eredivisie last season, is eager to join the Glasgow giants. Negotiations have progressed, with personal terms unlikely to pose any hurdles.

We understand that the deal could be completed in the next 48 hours, though Antman will not be available for Rangers’ upcoming Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos.

His versatility and proven attacking output make him a valuable addition to Russell Martin’s squad as they aim to compete on multiple fronts, and now he could be joined by Tottenham ace Moore in an eye-catching double swoop…

Rangers to sign TWO new attackers in eye-catching swoop

TEAMtalk also understands that Rangers have emerged as favourites to secure a season-long loan for Tottenham’s 17-year-old winger Moore.

The youngster is very highly rated at Spurs and he impressed last season, notching one goal and two assists across all competitions. Thomas Frank wants Moore to be playing consistently, however, hence why he is willing to let him leave on loan.

Moore, a Tottenham academy graduate, is capable of playing across the frontline, and has drawn interest from Championship clubs and Borussia Dortmund.

However, Spurs are impressed by Rangers’ vision under Martin and believe Ibrox offers the perfect platform for Moore to gain regular senior minutes.

The loan deal aligns with Tottenham’s strategy to nurture their young talent in a competitive environment. These signings come as Rangers look to fill the void left by Vaclav Cerny’s departure and an injury to Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, another target.

With Martin keen to make an immediate impact, Antman’s flair and Moore’s potential could prove pivotal in Rangers’ pursuit of domestic and European glory.

Fans are buzzing with anticipation as the club gears up for a transformative season under the new 49ers ownership.

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Who is Oliver Antman?

Born in Finland, Antman began his career with TiPS in his native country before moving to Helsinki-based side Gnistan, all before adulthood.

Antman later moved into Danish football with Nordsjaelland and had a loan spell in the Eredivisie with Groningen before returning to his parent club and making his first European appearances in the Conference League.

With 110 appearances and 16 goals behind him, Antman left Nordsjaelland to return to Dutch football in 2024 with a permanent move to Go Ahead Eagles.

Winning the Dutch Cup by the end of his debut season, Antman made more assists than any other player in the 2024-25 Eredivisie, with 15.

He recorded the 10th most progressive carries in the competition and the third most take-ons that led to a shot.

Most of Antman’s appearances were as a right-winger, which corresponds with the foot he prefers using, but he did also get gametime on the left wing, from where he could cut inside.

Tottenham Hotspur are stepping up their efforts to sign Kobbie Mainoo, with a report suggesting Manchester United could ‘cash in’ amid uncertainty over how much money to offer the midfielder.

Mainoo has played 72 times for Man Utd so far, having made his first-team debut in January 2023. He enjoyed a breakout season under Erik ten Hag in the 2023-24 campaign, forcing his way into United’s starting eleven and making 32 appearances after recovering from an ankle injury.

Mainoo is still only 20 years old but has shown remarkable composure on the ball, while he is also capable of popping up with crucial goals for his team.

Mainoo was rotated more last season as muscle injuries stopped him from establishing himself as a key player under Ten Hag’s replacement, Ruben Amorim.

United have been in contract talks with the starlet for over a year as his current deal expires in June 2027 and is worth £25,000 a week, far less than most of his team-mates.

Mainoo wants a big pay rise, with some outlets claiming he is demanding up to £150k per week, but United are unsure whether to sanction such a deal as they aim to trim down their wage bill.

It emerged on Thursday that contract discussions are at a ‘stalemate’, with Tottenham ‘closely monitoring’ the situation.

According to an update from GiveMeSport, Tottenham are intensifying their interest in Mainoo and have ‘made contact’ to see if a transfer can be done this summer.

Tottenham are ‘moving on’ from Morgan Gibbs-White after he signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest and are now focusing on Mainoo’s potential capture.

Spurs have signed a number of top young players in recent transfer windows and Mainoo is their latest target. Thomas Frank’s side believe he has the potential to become one of the best midfielders around.

Spurs have made ‘enquiries’ as they hope Ruben Amorim and co. will be tempted to ‘cash in’ on Mainoo this summer. His sale would go down as pure profit on United’s books and this would help Amorim land a new striker.

It is unclear exactly how much United would want to sell their academy graduate. They have previously been tipped to hold out for £70-80million (up to €92m / $108m), but his contract situation could see that price drop.

United would rather sell Mainoo to a team abroad than to a Premier League rival such as Spurs, though.

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Man Utd facing Kobbie Mainoo ‘dilemma’

Last week, talkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders discussed the dilemma United are facing around Mainoo and how much money they should offer him.

“I know his agent, and he’s not asking for too much money in comparison to what the players are earning at Man United,” Saunders said.

“But it’s a dilemma for the football club, what do you do with Mainoo? How much money do you pay him?

“Because he’s actually not done much in the game but gets in the England squad and now he’s in Man United’s team and there’s players earning three times more than him, four times more than him.

“So to protect their asset, how much money have you got to give him to get him to sign a new contract?

“Or, if he’s not going to sign it, they’re going to have to sell him, otherwise he walks out on a free. But I think he’d get in Spurs’ team.”

This contract uncertainty could aid Spurs’ chase to add Mainoo to their ranks.

Signing Mainoo would be a real signal of intent from Spurs as he looks set for a very bright future in the Premier League.

The move would also frustrate United fans as they would be losing a coveted talent who is regarded as ‘one of their own’.

Mainoo’s transfer is not advanced yet, but this is certainly one to watch as Spurs ramp up their efforts to take him to north London.

Latest news on Man Utd, Spurs

Meanwhile, United fans have urged Amorim to sell a ‘terrible’ star, as it is ‘shambolic’ that he is still at Old Trafford.

Sources have informed TEAMtalk that a United flop could link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

We understand the outgoing United player has greenlit the transfer, too.

Elsewhere, Spurs are among several clubs ‘keeping tabs’ on an Arsenal forward, a report has boldly claimed.

Plus, Daniel Levy could smash Spurs’ wage structure to land a world-class ace from LaLiga.

Tottenham Hotspur are being tipped to obliterate their wage structure in order secure the signing of a ‘world-class’ LaLiga attacker ahead of Premier League rivals Liverpool this summer, as they look to put the Morgan Gibbs-White transfer debacle behind them.

Spurs’ only real note of note so far this summer – not including turning loans for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso into permanent deals – has been the capture of Mohammed Kudus in a £55million deal from London rivals West Ham.

Gibbs-White would have eclipsed that deal after Tottenham triggered his £60m release clause, only for Nottingham Forest to cry foul over an alleged illegal approach for the England man.

Delays followed, and while it was reported that the 25-year-old still wanted the transfer, he ended up putting pen-to-paper on a record-setting new Forest contract on Saturday evening – ending all talk of a switch to north London in the process.

However, Tottenham still have a number of transfer targets, as they aim to bolster Thomas Frank’s squad ahead of a return to the Champions League this term.

One of those targets is exciting Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, with reports that Daniel Levy has actively been trying to get the Brazilian’s asking price down, which TEAMtalk have been told is at least €90m (£79m).

One potential issue rising from Spurs’ interest in the explosive talent surrounds his salary, with Rodrygo currently earning more than £200,000-a-week and wanting more if he moves to the Premier League – as Liverpool continue to circle for the player.

And, while former Paul Robinson highlights that as a problem, the former Spurs keeper thinks it’s about time to get in line with the bigger teams in order to attract the best players to come to north London.

Speaking to Tottenham News, Robinson said: “He’s [Rodrygo] a world-class talent. There’s been a lot made about him moving from Real Madrid.

“Maybe hasn’t quite hit the heights of what people expect of him. But that’s difficult when you set that type of bar for yourself.

“If he is to come to the Premier League, I’d love to think that Tottenham are in the mix to get him. But I don’t think that their wage structure would allow it. I think you look at other clubs in the way that they’re quite flexible.

“You look at what Liverpool have spent, and you look at their wage budget; he would have to come in and smash Tottenham’s wage budget.

“There’ll be a whole host of suitors sitting around the table trying to entice him. Champions League football obviously helps massively. And you’d like to think that Tottenham could put themselves in a conversation.”

Latest Tottenham news: Liverpool star on radar / Shock exit

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🔵 Tottenham gunning for 17-goal striker as Thomas Frank eyes explosive Solanke alternative

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to switch their transfer focus to a Premier League-winning midfield talent after suffering a devastating blow in their chase to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

Spurs looked to be a transfer charge when they announced the signing of Mohammed Kudus and also triggered the £60million release clause of Gibbs-White on the same day, only to be immediately knocked back by Forest, who claimed they had made an ‘illegal approach for their skipper’.

At the time, the England international was believed to be keen on the move and a medical had even been lined up ahead of a switch to north London.

Continued delays then prompted Gibbs-White to return to training and even head out on tour to Portugal, as the proposed transfer looked to be drifting further away.

And on Saturday evening, Forest announced that their talismanic attacking midfielder had signed a “record-breaking” new contract at the City Ground, in what will have no doubt come as a real gut punch for Tottenham.

Gibbs-White’s major U-turn must also come with a tinge of embarrassment for Spurs, given that the player has turned down the chance to join a club in the Champions League this coming season – even when his escape clause has been met, regardless of Forest’s stance on the move.

However, it appears that Daniel Levy and co. are not wasting any time in moving on from Gibbs-White, with journalist Paul O’Keefe revealing that Liverpool star Harvey Elliott “on the list of potential alternatives to Gibbs-White”.

TEAMtalk has previously revealed Aston Villa’s interest in the 22-year-old, while West Ham are also known admirers of the attacking midfield talent.

Liverpool, however, are currently pricing suitors out of the market for Elliott, sticking a £50m price tag on the player. While Levy will almost certainly look to get that figure down a bit, the Gibbs-White money is clearly there to pull the trigger on Elliott – if Tottenham’s interest is indeed concrete.

Elliott missed the start of last season with a broken foot but ended up making 28 appearances for the Reds, scoring five goals and adding three assists.

The talented midfielder then rounded off his season by being named Player of the Tournament as England’s Under-21s defended their Euros crown under Lee Carsley to further enhance his reputation.

The player himself has since admitted that he may have to reluctantly leave Anfield in the search for regular first-team football, telling The Anfield Wrap: “If I had it my way I would be here for the rest of my career, it’s as simple as that.

“I love everything about the club, but at the same time I kind of need to be selfish and see what’s best for me. I have big ambitions. I want to get in the World Cup squad.

“I want to keep being successful as a player. It’s something I still need to review. I need to have a talk with everyone and review the situation. we have many new players who have come in so whether it blocks the path for me I’m not sure.

“It’s something I need to have a look at and decide.”

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Gibbs-White explains Forest exit U-turn

Meanwhile, there was, unsurprisingly, no mention of Tottenham from Gibbs-White as he explained his reasoning for penning a new contract at Forest.

The 25-year-old had two years left on his previous deal after joining Forest from Wolves in a move worth up to £42.5m in August 2022, and had turned down all previous attempts from his current club to extend his stay.

He has scored 18 goals and provided 28 assists in 118 games for the Reds, helping the club finish seventh last season and qualify for Europe.

And speaking about his decision to stay put, when it looked for all money that he would be leaving, Gibbs-White said: “I’ve felt at home at Forest from the moment I arrived. The support from the fans, my team-mates, and everyone around the club has been unbelievable.

“I believe in what we’re building here – and with the backing of [owner] Mr Marinakis and the enormous ambition he has, I want to be part of making something special. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who was left raging at Tottenham’s move for the player in the first place, added: “There was significant interest from various clubs, but we were determined to build our future with Morgan at the heart of it.

“I promised our fans we would not only compete, but grow stronger and stronger every season. Today is another big step in that journey.”

The end of the Gibbs-White saga will almost certainly have come as a blow to Tottenham, but if they can land a player of Elliott’s quality then that could soften the blow, while a move for Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo also continues to be mooted.

Latest Tottenham news: Double exit on / Striker targeted

🔵 Tottenham agree shock exit of generational talent; Son Heung-min first official bid lodged

🔵 Tottenham gunning for 17-goal striker as Thomas Frank eyes explosive Solanke alternative

🔵 Startling Kobbie Mainoo ‘money’ revelation made as Man Utd in ‘dilemma’

Tottenham are reported to have reluctantly agreed to let a generational talent leave on loan ahead of the upcoming season in somewhat of a surprising development, while the first official offer for Son Heung-min has been lodged as talk of an exit for the club legend ramps up.

Spurs have not really kicked on with their transfer business as fans would have hoped, after announcing on the same day that they had sealed the signing of Mohammed Kudus and also triggered the release clause of Morgan Gibbs-White – a matter that still remains unresolved after Nottingham Forest’s very public complaint over an alleged illegal approach.

However, there is also a major focus on potential Tottenham exits, with Son’s future very much up in the air given that he only has a year remaining on his contract.

But it’s at the other end of the age spectrum where the latest transfer news is focused, with highly-rated young winger Mikey Moore set for a loan exit.

Football Insider reports that the 17-year-old wants a temporary move to aid his development for a year, as he aims to compete for a starting role in the Premier League upon his return.

The report adds that Spurs had initially not wanted Moore to go out on loan and viewed him as a part of Thomas Frank’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, FI sources say there has now been a change of heart and they are prepared to grant Moore, who was labelled a ‘generational talent’ during the Under-17 Euros last year, his wish.

The winger has attracted strong interest from a number of top Championship clubs, with Birmingham City and West Brom both keen to bring him in.

Leading Dutch teams have also expressed an interest in signing the young attacker, with the Eredivisie known for being a developing ground for young players from England.

Moore enjoyed a breakthrough season under Ange Postecoglou last time out, making 19 appearances in all competitions.

But with Kudus arriving and competition for the wide spots in Frank’s side fierce, Tottenham are hoping that more regular first-team football will aid Moore’s development further.

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Official offer for Son Heung-min lodged

Meanwhile, it’s being reported that Tottenham have now received an official offer for their captain, Son Heung-min, as reports continue to indicate that his exit is growing increasingly likely.

In his maiden press conference last week, Frank refused to confirm that Son is staying, instead suggesting that the club face a ‘tricky’ decision on the South Korean’s future.

Indeed, there is a strong feeling growing that the 33-year-could depart after Tottenham’s upcoming pre-season tour of his South Korean homeland, in what is being viewed as an ideal farewell.

On Wednesday, The Athletic reported that Los Angeles FC were determined to attract Son to MLS this summer, and those rumours have now intensified.

The Telegraph states that LAFC have now submitted an official offer to Spurs. While the report does not provide any information on how much the bid is worth, it is made clear that Son’s future will not be resolved immediately.

The report also adds that Tottenham are contractually obligated to include the veteran forward in their pre-season tour of South Korea, while it likely be Son himself who has the final say on his future – such is his stature at the club.

Indeed, there have been suggestions that Tottenham are happy for Son to stay at least until January and then revisit his options from there.

Latest Tottenham news: Frank eyes new striker / Shock Man Utd raid

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🔵 One Real Madrid exit door CLOSES for Rodrygo as Tottenham truth emerges

Tottenham are exploring a deal for one of Ligue 1’s most prolific strikers, according to reports, as Thomas Frank looks to bring in competition for Dominic Solanke.

Spurs have tied up permanent deals for Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuskovic, and Kota Takai so far this summer, taking their spending to around the £120million mark.

However, Tottenham’s business is far from done. They remain keen to finalise a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White despite an ugly legal dispute with Nottingham Forest, but now they’ve turned their attention to the striker market.

That’s according to French outlet RMC Sport, who claim Tottenham hold concrete interest in talented Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo.

The 23-year-old notched an impressive 17 goals and four assists in Ligue 1 last season, capturing the attention of several Premier League sides.

Indeed, the report claims that along with Tottenham, Nottingham Forest are also keen, while Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and LaLiga side Villarreal also have Kalimuendo on their radar. Leipzig could sign Kalimuendo as a replacement for Benjamin Sesko, who has emerged as a serious target for Newcastle United as Alexander Isak eyes a move to Liverpool.

RMC claim that Rennes will demand a minimum of €30million (£26m / $35m) for Kalimuendo, and the French club are ‘already looking’ for a replacement.

Tottenham exploring move for new striker

Solanke, 27, has generally performed well since his £55million move from Bournemouth to Tottenham last summer.

The England international has notched 16 goals and eight assists in 45 games for Spurs, and looks set to lead the line in the coming campaign.

However, reports suggest that Frank wants more competition for Solanke, with new permanent signing Tel inexperienced at age 20, and other striker option Richarlison heavily linked with moves away from north London.

Kalimuendo could be a solid option for Tottenham so it will be interesting to see whether they, or indeed Nott’m Forest, come forward with a formal bid in the coming days.

In other news, Spurs have been linked with a sensational move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, but reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg has insisted that they are NOT in the race.

The Brazilian is far more likely to head to Liverpool if they sell Luis Diaz.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo on their radar, with Chelsea also keen on the England youngster.

Who is Arnaud Kalimuendo?

Born less than 10 miles from the centre of Paris, Kalimuendo spent eight years learning his trade in the PSG academy until he gained his senior debut in September 2020.

The PSG attack that season contained Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Moise Kean and Mauro Icardi, while Lionel Messi would join in the summer of 2021. Naturally, it was hard for a teenage Kalimuendo to break through.

Thus, PSG sent him on loan to Lens in October 2020 and then again in August 2021 to further his development. It was over these two loan spells that the attacker began to fulfil his potential, scoring 21 goals from 65 games.

Despite PSG extending his contract prior to that first loan spell, he never played competitively for the club again. Instead, after his second return from Lens, he moved to Rennes for a fee believed to be €25m.

Kalimuendo’s goal tally for Rennes has improved season upon season. He only scored seven times in 2022-23, but set a new career best with 15 in 2023-24 and – after winning silver at the Paris Olympics with France’s U23s – exceeded it with 18 in 2024-25, despite Rennes not being involved in Europe in his third season there.

The caveat is that five of those 18 goals were penalties, and a sixth was scored off a rebound after a penalty.

Standing at 5 ft 9 in, Kalimuendo has found a home for himself as a centre-forward, although he has covered on the wing very occasionally before.

He’s the type of finisher who likes to get shots off quickly, but can also bring others into play.

At 23 years of age, Kalimuendo isn’t the finished article yet and has areas of his game to refine, but he seems to be on an upwards trajectory.

A talkSPORT pundit has revealed what he has been told about Kobbie Mainoo’s demands to sign a new contract with Manchester United, as Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea’s interest in the midfielder comes to light with Michael Carrick also sharing his thoughts.

Mainoo is one of the best young players in the Premier League and has established himself in the Man Utd first-team squad after coming through the club’s youth system. Despite being just 20, Mainoo has already made 10 appearances for England and has featured in 72 matches in all competitions for Man Utd, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in the process.

The young midfielder, who has made 28 appearances for Man Utd under manager Ruben Amorim, is under contract at the Red Devils until the summer of 2027, with the Premier League club having the option for another year.

A report on Thursday claimed that Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are interested in Mainoo and are monitoring his situation of the midfielder, who struggled with injuries last season and was able to make 37 appearances.

Spurs have already asked about the midfielder, who has been in talks with Man Utd over a new contract, but nothing has come to fruition yet on that front.

While the midfielder is keen on staying at Man Utd, there is a chance that he could be sold this summer, especially with the Red Devils looking at signing players in central midfield.

According to TBR, Chelsea are long-term admirers of Mainoo, while Spurs are keen on bringing the midfielder to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

TalkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders has revealed that he has spoken to Mainoo’s agent, claiming that he is not asking for a lot of money, with the former Liverpool striker also noting the dilemma that Man Utd are in with the midfielder.

Saunders said on talkSPORT: “I know his agent, and he’s not asking for too much money in comparison to what the players are earning at Man United.

“But it’s a dilemma for the football club, what do you do with Mainoo? How much money do you pay him?

“Because he’s actually not done much in the game but gets in the England squad and now he’s in Man United’s team and there’s players earning three times more than him, four times more than him.

“So to protect their asset, how much money have you got to give him to get him to sign a new contract?

“Or, if he’s not going to sign it, they’re going to have to sell him, otherwise he walks out on a free. But I think he’d get in Spurs’ team.”

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Michael Carrick’s advice to Ruben Amorim about Kobbie Mainoo

Former Man Utd and Tottenham defensive midfielder Carrick is a huge fan of Mainoo.

The former England international believes that Man Utd manager Amorim needs to make the midfielder a key player in his team.

Carrick said about Mainoo on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel: “I think for a club to have a player that has come through the academy, knows the club and feels it — that’s massive.

“To have a talent like that, as he’s already shown, you’ve got to say: ‘Right, he gets it, he knows it — let’s help him, build on him, and stick with him.’ I think there’s definitely a place for him.”

With Man Utd signing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha from Brentford and Wolves, respectively, in the summer transfer window, chances are likely to be limited for Mainoo next season.

Amorim has deployed the midfielder both in a defensive role and in an advanced role since he was appointed the Man Utd manager.

Mainoo has done well when he has played as a number 10 for Man Utd, but he is only 20 now and Amorim is likely to prefer Cunha in that role for the time being at least.

Latest Man Utd news: Benjamin Sesko alternative, Javi Guerra truth

Man Utd have held talks over signing a Premier League striker, as an alternative to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

A Spanish report has revealed what Javi Guerra wants to do amid claims that Man Utd have a verbal agreement in place with the Valencia midfielder.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, has reported that Man Utd are looking to do a swap with Chelsea for a £100million-rated player.

The truth about Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has been revealed by a top source, while a German journalist has claimed how Bayern Munich feel about the Brazil international forward as they aim to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

Rodrygo has been at Madrid since 2019 when he joined from Brazilian club Santos and is under contract at the Spanish and European giants until the summer of 2028. The 24-year-old Brazil international forward has been a huge success at Madrid, scoring 68 goals and giving 51 assists in 270 appearances, and has won LaLiga thrice and the Champions League twice.

However, Rodrygo could be on his way out of Madrid, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the clubs keen on the Brazilian.

Rodrygo wants to play as a left-winger and not on the right-hand side of Madrid’s attack.

The Brazilian is also not guaranteed a place in the Madrid starting line-up, with new Los Blancos manager Xabi Alonso playing him just once in his XI at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Rudy Galetti, has reported that Liverpool are keen on signing Rodrygo from Madrid if they lose Diaz to Bayern.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that Madrid want over €90million (£78m, $105m) for the Brazilian and are demanding add-ons on top of that.

Arsenal have also been looking at Rodrygo, but the signing of Noni Madueke from Chelsea could complicate a chase for the Brazilian even though the England international is expected to play as a right-winger.

Tottenham have also been mentioned as possible suitors for Rodrygo, with AS reporting on July 22 that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and manager Thomas Frank are ‘dreaming’ about bringing the Brazilian superstar to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Madrid and Tottenham have a good relationship with each other, and Levy will try to use that to his advantage and lower Los Blancos’ demands, according to the Spanish publication.

However, Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has poured cold water on those rumours, claiming that Tottenham are not involved in the race for Rodrygo.

Plettenberg, who is a very reliable journalist, wrote on X at 1:45pm on July 23: “Rumours linking #Rodrygo with Tottenham Hotspur are wide of the mark. He is not a target for Spurs.”

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Bayern Munich stance on signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid

Not only has the door to Tottenham closed for Rodrygo, but a move to Bayern is also unlikely to happen for the Brazilian ace.

According to Bild journalist Christian Falk, Bayern’s main target to strengthen their wide positions is Liverpool and Colombia international Diaz.

Falk told CaughtOffSide: “Max Eberl is under pressure to perform in the transfer window.

“Afterwards, the bosses are set to come together to debate whether the window was a good one or not for FC Bayern.

“So, Bayern are really, really sure they’ll sign Luis Diaz, but they were also really, really sure they’d get Florian Wirtz.

“So, another disappointment of this scale for a top target would be seismic and really ramp up the pressure for Eberl.

“If they fail to sign Diaz, they’d need a really big name to get the media and supporters back on side and praising their efforts in the window.

“At that point, a name like Rodrygo would help. But, at the moment, he’s still not a target on the list for Bayern Munich. It’s just the wish of the fans.”

Latest Real Madrid news: Manchester City raid, Ibrahima Konate update

A former Madrid prospect could be on his way to Everton, with TEAMtalk’s Everton correspondent, Harry Watkinson, reporting that the Premier League club are considering making a formal offer.

Madrid are ready to include Rodrygo and another player in a deal to sign Rodri in the summer transfer window, according to a Spanish report, with Manchester City’s stance on selling their star midfielder also emerging.

Meanwhile, Madrid have learnt where Ibrahima Konate’s priority lies, with the France international central defender out of contract at Liverpool at the end of next season.

Tottenham are reportedly plotting a blockbuster move for Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, who remains a key target for Paris Saint-Germain.

Spurs have completed the big signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, remain confident of a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White despite Nottingham Forest’s legal challenge, and now Thomas Frank wants to bring in defensive reinforcements.

After signing Kevin Danso on a permanent deal following his loan last term, Frank is reportedly keen to sign another new centre-back.

According to talkSPORT, Tottenham have ‘registered an interest’ in Bournemouth defender Zabarnyi, and are attempting to ‘hijack’ PSG’s move for the 22-year-old.

However, Bournemouth are under no pressure to sell Zabarnyi and are reluctant to do so after selling centre-back Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid earlier in the window.

The report claims that it would take a ‘substantial fee’ for the Cherries to consider selling Zabarnyi.

TEAMtalk transfer insider Rudy Galetti exclusively revealed on June 22 that PSG had a €60million (£51.4m, $69m) bid rejected by Bournemouth.

Tottenham would therefore have to pay north of that amount to prise Zabarnyi away from the South coast club.

Tottenham plot move for PSG target

Tottenham are keen to back Frank in the market and are pushing to finalise a deal for Gibbs-White in the coming days.

If a transfer for Zabarnyi follows, he would give the former Brentford coach another strong option in defence, who has potential to improve further.

The interest in Zabarnyi comes amid speculation surrounding key Spurs centre-back Cuti Romero.

Atletico Madrid have been heavily linked with the Argentine international, though reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has insisted that no formal offer has been launched by the LaLiga side.

But even if Romero doesn’t leave this summer, his contract expires in 2027 and if he doesn’t pen an extension this season, Spurs may be forced into selling him in a year’s time.

Zabarnyi, like Romero, is a right-footed centre-back and he could potentially replace Romero in the long-term, if the 27-year-old pursues a move elsewhere.

Tottenham are yet to submit a bid for Zabarnyi but he is on their radar and a player for supporters to watch out for in the coming weeks.

Speaking about Zabarnyi in February, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said: “During the time I have been working at the club, we have never once made the decision to substitute him for even a minute.

“This speaks to our trust in him, how reliable and strong he is, and also that he is one of those players who is very easy to train.

“He is always attentive, comes to training every day in great spirits, and I also enjoy watching his development because when I arrived, he was a fantastic player but quite shy.

“He didn’t speak much, and now you can see how he organizes everyone in defense. This shows how he is developing and becoming more and more important for us. I love him as a person and as a player.”

FULL BREAKDOWN 👉 All the done deals by Premier League clubs in the summer 2025 transfer window