Football365

Spurs get a kicking for – checks notes – drawing 2-2 with the Champions League winners. Plus, one man’s Premier League table revealed.

Mail us at theeditor@football365.com; you might want to read our pre-season predictions first.

Spursy? Not this time

I am sure the emails and articles are already being written, calling us ‘Spursy’ for not winning. I’m writing to rebuff them.

Firstly, we didn’t lose. Not in the game, not in real time. We drew.

Secondly, we were the better team until Dembele changed position.

But most of all, this isn’t us throwing away a lead at Fulham or dropping four points in two weeks from winning positions against Sunderland and Man U away. This was Paris Saint-Germain, European champions. This is against a team bankrolled by limitless wealth, featuring many of the best players in the world.

We did well tonight. Call us Spursy when we throw away leads at home to Sunderland, not today.

Sam

F365 says: Frank outclasses Enrique and PSG but Levy is already letting him down at Tottenham

Tiresome Spursy chat ahoy

Luis Enrique (presumably): Lads, it’s Tottenham.

Sanjit (Donnarumma > Chevalier) Randhawa, Kuala Lumpur

…Go 2-0 up and throw away the lead with lazy defending against a team that’s only been in training for 1 week . Sh*t the bed after going up in the resulting penalty shootout. One word.

Spursy.

Some things just never change.

James Jones, STFC

…Les Gars – C’est Le Tottenham!!!!

Mark Johnson

…Same old Spurs. Wonderful.

Mike, WHU

…2-0 up in the match until the 85th minute, 2-0 up in the shootout and still lost. Never change Spurs, never change.

Andrew Worby

Transfer values make no sense at all

Transfer valuations don’t make sense, in fact very little valuations do, essentially something or someone is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it or them.

But this summer seems really strange and some clubs do much better than others. For me Spurs have always been one of the best but lately Chelsea have really upped their game, Arsenal seem poor and Man U are terrible.

Man U buy Hojlund who is a young international striker for £64m from Atalanta where he scored 9 goals in 32 games. He then goes on to be not great for Man U scoring 14 goals in 62 games, while his international record is 8 goals in 26 games. Apparently, he’s now available for around £30m.

Liverpool buy Nunez who is a young international striker for £64m and had scored 32 goals in 57 games for Benfica before joining. He then goes on to be not great for Liverpool scoring 25 goals in 95 games while his international record is 13 goals in 35 games. He gets sold for £46m.

Chelesa buy Jackson who is a young international striker for £32m and had scored 12 goals in 35 games for Villarreal before joining. He then goes on to be not great for Chelesa scoring 24 goals in 65 games while his international record is 1 goal in 20 games. Apparently, he is now available for £80m.

You can argue Hojlund has been “more” of a failure than Jackson, but not to the point where his value has more than halved while Jackson’s has more than doubled especially when you consider before their Premier League moves their form was similar and actually Hojlund’s international record is much better. Then tag on what happens to Man U players when they leave, think McTominay and Elanga then I think there is a fair case to say that ignoring the valuation Hojlund who is younger could turn out to be a better player.

Spurs meanwhile somehow get £20m for a 33 year old Son who had 1 year left of his contract and seemed to have been suffering from injuries for the last couple of years vs Arsenal who let 33 year old Jorginho leave for free even though he also had a year left of his contract. Additionally compare the fact that although Son has been amazing for Spurs his game was built on pace vs Jorginho who never had pace and is the sort of player you can imagine influencing games well into his late 30’s similar to Modric or Scholes, he also won a lot more than Son and even came 3rd in the Ballon d’Or a whopping 4 years ago.

The ultimate p!ss take from Chelsea is managing to sell young and good-ish international winger Madueke for £50m while trying to buy young and good-ish international winger Garnacho for £30-40m.

Obviously, lots of this is speculation as I’m sure my friends in the comments sections will point out, still strange world.

Paul K, London

CHECK OUT: Every Premier League transfer and release confirmed in the summer of 2025

How can transfers be woke?

It was only a matter of time before one of the meaningless phrases ‘woke’ or ‘wokeness’ were applied to transfers.

For those who have been living under a rock for the majority of the last decade, these phrases are used by right wing politicians, their minions and supporters to decry something they don’t like but know that fully verbalising their reasons would require racism, sexism, homophobia or some other form of bigotry which they are trying to avoid.

What Chris fails to explain is how aligning footballer’s contracts closer to other business sectors is anything other that ‘woke’.

A, LFC, Montreal

Liverpool fan does not want to be defined by minority

I am a little surprised that Crystal Palace’s fans are getting away with their disgraceful failure to keep a minute’s silence for Diogo Jota on Sunday. Obviously, they should all be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and perhaps the FA should consider banning them from the next half dozen away games. What’s that you say? It was only a tiny minority? It’s not fair to tar them all with the same brush, just because some of their fans behaved badly?

Well, that’s just not how it works, is it?

You don’t have to believe me, but what about the intellectual behemoth that is Dave Tickner? He explains in his latest article, about Liverpool fans, saying that they:

paint Trent Alexander-Arnold as a legacy-ruining disgrace for wanting to join the biggest club in the world having fulfilled the terms of his contract

…because, of course, this is exactly what happened. It wasn’t that a small (but vocal – have you noticed that the most mentally challenged often have the loudest voices) minority gave him a hard time on Twitter, some booed him at a game, only for there to be a big backlash both within the club and outside it, and for this to not be repeated, with Alexander-Arnold leaving on clearly positive terms, despite the disappointment of losing him.

No, none of that happened, what Dave conveyed is the unimpeachable truth, Liverpool fans now all hate TAA because he left the club on a “free” (they actually got more for him than they did Michael Owen) transfer, and he can never show his face in Liverpool again. And what’s more, because of this, the very idea that they might encourage Alexander Isak to leave Newcastle (for in the region of £150m) is of course, the rankest hypocrisy imaginable, and it’s only fair that literally every Liverpool fan should hang their head in shame. Forever, obviously. This shit sticks, and really, the shame should be passed on for generations.

This is how it works, yes? I’m off to walk down the street naked whilst my neighbours shout shame and throw rotten vegetables at me, and I deserve it, because it turns out that some people who support the same team as me are dickheads. If only I had chosen another team to support.

Mat (my god the Isak saga is unbelievably boring)

Isak more hassle than he’s worth?

I enjoyed Dave Tickner’s article poring over the stink that Alexander Isak and his entourage have created in the past few weeks. I wrote in earlier in the window, when Liverpool were on the verge of signing Wirtz, saying that I’d have been more nervous if they were using that money to buy Isak. But now that that scenario has materialised, I find myself wondering if their pursuit is worth the huffluff?

I’m well aware that that question will provoke a whole gallery of Pool fans screaming about getting a world-class striker coming into his prime etc. And Isak himself would no doubt suggest that getting his way would suit him just fine. But given the grubby mess that this has become, surely there’s been some pause for thought on the Liverpool side of the equation?

We’re not talking about prime Messi or Ronaldo here. Isak is an eye-catching finisher who tracks around the 20-goal mark in a full Premier League season, and you could probably expect him to up that output in a stronger team. But his fitness record in England has been patchy and he’s shown himself to be prepared to throw a petulant hissy fit this pre-season. He remains the best option in a position they’d like to add depth to, but the furore feels overblown.

Add in the crazy sums being touted, whereby he’ll probably cost north of £130m, and it all just makes for a cocktail that would have me twitching if it were United pissing the Geordies off. The fact that he won’t just put in a formal transfer request, and his team is using the media to squeeze Newcastle, adds another layer of oddness to the whole scenario. I get that Liverpool probably do need another striker, and that he clearly wants to go there, so the whole sorry fiasco will continue to tiresomely rumble on until deadline day approaches and someone has to make a final decision.

On a related note, fair play to Newcastle for taking a hard stance. Player power in football is at a level that often makes contracts and adult behaviour (I know) seem like forlorn concepts. But in the cold light of day, Isak signed a 5 year contract and he has 3 years left. If he has any maturity or a smidgeon of pride in how he’s perceived, he has to accept it if they choose not to sell him when they’re in a position of strength.

Realistically, his hand becomes impossible to counter in a maximum of 18 months’ time, and he has a World Cup to focus his mind in the meantime. Sitting on a bench getting splinters in his arse really won’t stand to him when that rolls around. But I guess forward thinking and perspective went out the window some time ago.

Keith Reilly

One man’s predicted Premier League table

Okay, traditions are traditions and here we are with the predictions for what is about to come.

AC in Milan

Eberechi Eze may well be on his way to north London. What’s not so clear at this volatile time with the season about to begin and the transfer window reaching the climax of its summer-long dance is whether he lands on the red or white side. If indeed he does make the move at all.

Which, it’s well worth remembering, he still very much might not.

But if he does have to decide whether to join Arsenal, who are looking to go one better and win the Premier League after three straight second-place finishes, or Spurs – who are Spurs – then surely the answer is obvious?

But what if, and hear us out here, it isn’t obvious? What possible reasons are there that someone might in fact choose Spurs over Arsenal at this time. After giving it a lot of thought, and we do mean a lot, this is what we’ve managed to come up with.

The Managers

We accept that not everyone shares our view of Mikel Arteta and his unspeakable antics, but when you’ve got a manager who is equally disliked by the F365 wokerati as he is by Richard Keys, then you must accept you’ve got a manager who is very annoying to a lot of people.

Some players might love his zany psychological experiments or his inability to recognise the limits of his technical area or the suspicious perfection of his hair. But it could definitely put a lot of others off.

Spurs, meanwhile, are managed by Thomas Frank, who just seems like a very decent egg. In fact he seems such a solid citizen that one can even look past the crime of having a name made up of two first names, which is normally a solid indicator of a wrong ‘un. Imagine if Mikel Arteta had two first names. Exactly. You’d cross the road to avoid him.

Fair warning, there’s a lot of absolute sh*te to come in this feature, yeah? But we can say with utter no-fooling earnestness that ‘Frank or Arteta?’ definitely feels like a very different question to answer than ‘Spurs or Arsenal?’ at this time.

Competition for places

We’re generally pretty sceptical about ‘World Cup year’ chat. Specifically because it seems to be an idea that places the self-doubt and imposter syndrome felt by ordinary people into the world of professional footballers, where we suspect it is vastly less common.

If two clubs are both trying to chuck £60m around to try and buy you, you’re not that likely to be consumed by doubts about whether you’d even get in the team for those clubs. And thanks to the guaranteed fixtures provided by the expanded Champions League, both teams will have a lot of games and opportunities anyway.

But Eze is in an unusual position, on the fringes still of England selection and competing in positions where England are conspicuously stacked.

With Thomas Tuchel having already made it clear that he doesn’t even really care if you’re playing in a semi-retirement league as long as you’re playing, it stands to reason that he would also be willing to pick players even if they do happen to play for Spurs.

And Eze would surely play much more football for Spurs than he would for Arsenal, because Arsenal have a squad of good players and Spurs – as they showed to an almost sarcastic degree in the Super Cup – have a small handful of good players and very, very little else.

The scope to make a noticeable positive difference of the sort that catches the international coach’s eye is surely greater at Spurs, even if the scope for success might be lower.

But even if we take away all that, Eze would almost certainly play more football at Spurs than he would at Arsenal, and playing more football is what – most – footballers would quite like to do please.

Echoes of glory

If it’s silverware you’re after, then look no further than Europa League holders Spurs. Unlike serial trophy-dodgers Arsenal, Spurs are trophy winners. It is what they do. So accustomed are they to winning trophies that sometimes even winning a trophy isn’t enough to save a manager, while at Arsenal the acceptance of mediocrity means Arteta is once again rumbling on unquestioned into yet another season of his project – we’ve honestly lost count of what phase he’s in now – despite it delivering absolutely no tangible heft to the ol’ trophy cabinet for over five years.

If you doubt this point, consider that Spurs are currently absolutely distraught after losing the Super Cup despite in that failure matching Arsenal’s greatest achievement of the last half-decade of beating PSG on xG.

Spurs have set their sights so high that even in failure there is an echo of glory. There are levels to this game.

No actual choice

In the unlikely event you’ve not been swayed by all the very serious and compelling arguments thus far, then this one is impossible to argue with. Eze might choose Tottenham over Arsenal if in fact he is not actually able to choose Arsenal at all because they don’t stump up the cash to either meet the soon-expiring release clause or to satisfy Crystal Palace further down the road.

If the choice becomes that between a real and concrete Tottenham offer that actually exists and a hypothetical one from Arsenal that doesn’t any perhaps never will, then that might just shift the needle a touch to the white side of the bitter north London divide.

Thomas Frank got the better of the best team and manager in the world for 80 minutes but he’s already hamstrung by Daniel Levy at Tottenham. Please give him a chance.

One thing was very clear when the lineups were announced for this season curtain-raiser: Luis Enrique has zero respect for Thomas Frank’s Tottenham.

Desire Doue played ‘in midfield’ in order to also get Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele into the side ahead of him, with one member of the outstanding midfield trio which dominated the Champions League last season on the bench, another suspended having been sent off in the Club World Cup final and just Vitinha left to deal with whatever Spurs (they call themselves Spurs, don’t they, this team in white?) could throw at them.

Enrique will now have respect for Thomas Frank’s Tottenham, who like Chelsea a month ago to the day, and Aston Villa in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, didn’t just show the fallibility of this outstandingly talented PSG side, but thoroughly embarrassed them for the majority of this game.

To suggest ‘they don’t like it up’em’ would be the gravest of understatements. They’re the football team equivalent of a toddler packing their new train set away when it’s not being played with ‘in the right way’. Spurs didn’t try to beat PSG at their own game, and rather than adapting to the new rules, PSG stopped playing.

We’re reticent to advise Enrique on football tactics, for obvious reasons. But how on earth he hasn’t spent what we accept will have been limited time on the training pitch at the end of last season entirely on how to mark footballers from set pieces is beyond us. They are truly terrible at it.

Frank definitely deserves some credit for putting a plan into action, which for both goals featured a fairly simple Cristian Romero peel to the back post with a bit of blocking from teammates before a looping header for Micky van de Ven’s opener and then a downwards header sort of near the corner for the new captain to get his own name on the scoresheet. But he doesn’t deserve any credit for recognising that as a PSG weakness. It’s glaring and has been glaring for a while.

Lucas Chevalier did Enrique no favours either. The “new profile” goalkeeper he urged the club to sign was at fault for the second goal – palming into his own net – and, predictably, looked comparatively uneasy under crosses and amid general aerial pressure while the ousted world class giant sitting at home no doubt revelled in it all as his agent fields dozens of calls for his services from teams who weirdly like goalkeepers who can win Champions League titles for you.

Tottenham’s goals came from set pieces, but the unease felt by PSG in this game was at least as much to do with the pressure Spurs put on them in open play. Pape Matar Sarr was the standout in that regard, but they were all at it when – and this is crucial – they were well set to do so.

MORE ON SPURS ON F365

👉 Romano: Tottenham ‘back in talks’ to sign Arsenal target after Gunners ‘agree’ fee for Prem star

👉 Ornstein reveals Tottenham ‘talks’ with Man City over Savinho as player is ‘open’ amid Guardiola stance

👉 Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd stars among 10 possible James Maddison replacements for Spurs

Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs were one thing or the other: all-out attack, as was the case in 99 per cent of their games under him; or backs-to-the-wall defending, as was the case in the Europa League final. On the basis of this game, Frank’s Tottenham will at the very least be balanced.

They didn’t have the ball much, but looked largely comfortable in defence, even seeming to enjoy it rather than seeing it as a necessary (or indeed unnecessary) nuisance as they did under Ange. But they also carried a threat throughout, with Mohammed Kudus offering enough to suggest he could be a very useful signing, with some nice link-up in tandem with Richarlison, while the rest of the team looked to push up and box PSG in, again, when it was the right time to do so.

It will be criminal for Daniel Levy to look at this game, how they more than matched the champions of Europe before two of PSG’s subs came on to score while three of Tottenham’s four conceded were on the pitch to give up the lead while the other missed the crucial penalty from the spot in the shootout, and not provide Frank with more quality options in what remains of the transfer window.

This game will have endeared Frank to the Spurs fans. He’s an excellent manager who was seconds away from masterminding victory over the best team in Europe. If anything, they, as we do, will feel sorry for him as he walks into a season with a very limited squad.

He’s going to need far more quality in attack and in midfield if they’re to beat your Burnleys and West Hams, and if Levy gives Frank that, as we now know what his Spurs can do against the very best, he could be the man to bring genuine, long-term success to Tottenham.

We won’t hold our breath.

Tottenham have made a €40m [£34m] ‘offer’ for Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo as Manchester City tell them what they need to pay to sign Savinho this summer.

Spurs have made loan deals for Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel into permanent transfers this summer, while Mohammed Kudus, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai and Joao Palhinha have also joined.

A deal for Man City winger Savinho is also on the cards with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing that the Brazilian ‘open to the move’.

Romano wrote on X: ‘EXCL: Tottenham open club to club talks to sign Savinho from Man City! Negotiations ongoing between Spurs and City, also understand Savinho’s open to the move if the clubs can agree on fee. #THFC boss Thomas Frank indicated Savinho as ideal player.’

The Athletic’s David Ornstein later revealed that ‘a package worth in the region of £43.3m is under discussion’ despite Man City ‘not actively looking to sell Savinho’ this summer, but that opening offer has been rejected according to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola.

He told his YouTube channel that Savinho’s agent, Frederico Moraes, revealed to him the opening bid was snubbed by City, who have now informed Spurs that they want £67m for the 21-year-old.

Former City defender Nedum Onuoha is baffled by the club’s willingness to part with Savinho, who could make space for Pep Guardiola’s side to move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

“Personally, no I wouldn’t,” Onuoha said on ESPN FC when asked if he would swap Savinho for Rodrygo. “It’s not because Rodrygo is not a great talent. It’s because I’ve seen Savinho do quite well for City last season, in his first season, which was City’s worst season in over five years.

“I think the fact that he was able to be a shining light to the people who watched him on a week-to-week basis, that’s a positive. I think there’s a player in there who can be moulded into being someone quite significant within the league.

MORE ON SPURS ON F365

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👉 Ornstein reveals Tottenham ‘talks’ with Man City over Savinho as player is ‘open’ amid Guardiola stance

👉 Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd stars among 10 possible James Maddison replacements for Spurs

“So to let him go to a Spurs side, who you know will potentially be trying to challenge City further up that table, doesn’t really make sense in my mind.

“He’s only 21 years of age. You know the goals are there, as Jules has said; they weren’t great, but no one’s goals were great last season for City, apart from Haaland. So I totally understand, you know, why you’d want to keep him, and I’d like to see him stay.”

“As I say, 21 years of age, and he’s going to be wanting to put his foot down and to make a difference this year for City.”

Spanish outlet Fichajes claim Spurs have also made a €40m [£34m] offer for Kubo, who’s got 23 goals and 18 assists in 137 appearances for Real Soceidad, predominantly from the right wing, but also from a more central role behind the striker.

The 24-year-old has ‘asked to leave’ the La Liga club as he ‘considers the management of Jokin Aperribay is not up to the club’s sporting aspirations’ and believes ‘the team is not competitive enough’.

He has a release clause of €60m [£52m], but the feeling among Spurs and AC Milan, who have also ‘entered the race for his signing’, is that they can land the Japan international in a cut-price deal.

Former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said finishing 17th was “disgraceful” and that Ange Postecoglou does not “compare” to Mauricio Pochettino’s time at the club.

The Europa League was the highlight of what was otherwise a dreadful season for the North London club and one that saw them finish just one spot above the relegation zone.

Postecoglou was given his marching orders, despite winning Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years, with Thomas Frank coming in to replace him and Redknapp suggested it had to be done.

“Finishing fourth from bottom is disgraceful really, wasn’t it?” Redknapp told BetVictor Casino. “I lost my job after finishing fourth. So, he had every chance of going. We got to the end of the season and suddenly I was gone, okay he won the cup and I won’t disrespect it, but the two English teams in the final were two of the worst teams in the Premier League.

“It’s a cup competition that an English team should win every year when you look at the quality that’s in it.”

MORE ON SPURS ON F365

👉 Romano: Tottenham ‘back in talks’ to sign Arsenal target after Gunners ‘agree’ fee for Prem star

👉 Ornstein reveals Tottenham ‘talks’ with Man City over Savinho as player is ‘open’ amid Guardiola stance

👉 Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd stars among 10 possible James Maddison replacements for Spurs

Redknapp also compared Postecoglou’s tenure to Pochettino’s with the Argentine helping to transform Spurs into a side that regularly featured in the top four. Although the current US men’s team boss never won a trophy, he did make the final of the Champions League in 2019, something Redknapp considers more impressive than a Europa League triumph.

“I wouldn’t compare that to Pochettino’s achievements in getting to the Champions League final. Okay he didn’t win it and last year they won a trophy.

“But Pochettino taking the team to a final in the Champions League for me as a manager would still be a greater achievement. It was harder to get to the Champions League final for sure than it is to win that trophy. I’m pleased to have the trophy but it isn’t the Champions League that’s for sure.”

During Redknapp’s tenure from October 2008 to June 2012, he guided the club to their first Champions League qualification since the tournament was rebranded.

His side’s best run in the tournament came in the 2010-11 season when they topped a group that included Inter Milan before beating Milan in the round of 16. They were then knocked out by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Martin Odegaard has been warned that he could be replaced by Eberechi Eze if Arsenal sign the Crystal Palace attacker before the end of the summer.

The Gunners have been very active in the transfer window so far this summer with new sporting director Andrea Berta bringing in six new signings.

But Arsenal may not stop there as they have been heavily linked with a move for Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eze, who is also the subject of interest from Tottenham.

Eze is said to be ‘keen’ on a move to Spurs after already making it clear that a transfer to Arsenal appeals and Bent reckons the Gunners will win the race to sign the Crystal Palace star.

Bent said on talkSPORT: “I’m shocked he’s still at Crystal Palace if I’m honest. He is such a talented footballer and he’s great to watch.

“You would think there would be more clubs interested in him given his release clause. I’m hoping this gives Arsenal the kick they need to go and get him.

READ: Arsenal summer sales predicted: Measly Trossard fee as Berta tipped to panic like Edu

“If you’re looking at Arsenal and Tottenham, yes Spurs won a trophy last season and are in the Champions League, but they finished fourth from bottom last year.

“In my opinion Arsenal are in a better place to move forward.”

Odegaard was not quite as effective for Arsenal last season in the Premier League and Bent reckons Eze could post a real threat to his game time this season, if he signs.

Bent added: “With Odegaard, he’s got to look himself in the mirror. I’m a big fan of his and I’ve sat on this show before and argued the case that he’s as good as Bruno Fernandes.

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“Last season there was no argument, Bruno was head and shoulders above him. I don’t know what’s happened since the ankle injury but he just hasn’t looked the same.

“Even in pre-season he hasn’t looked anywhere near the Odegaard we saw a couple of years ago. Six goals in all comps last season and 11 assists, it wasn’t good enough for him, not good enough at all.

“Ethan Nwaneri could be the natural successor. Otherwise you’re scratching around and wondering who could play in that position.

“I think if Arsenal were to go and sign Eze from Crystal Palace, then you’ve got an option there because he can play No. 10 or he can play off the left.

“That will put Odegaard under more pressure because at the minute he’s the captain but he’s not really being challenged or pushed, he’s almost coasting through games at the minute.

“He has to start the season well. Something’s happened with him, I don’t know if it’s still the injury or something else, but he’s got to get back to the Odegaard we know.”

Liverpool have decided to ‘speed up’ their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur target Giovanni Leoni to ‘avoid a bidding war’, according to reports.

The Reds have been very busy this summer, spending more than any other club in the world.

Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are among seven summer additions, with the former joining for a club-record £100million fee.

Arne Slot’s side are also interested in £150m-rated Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who has reportedly ruled out playing for the Geordies again.

Signing a new centre-back has been a priority all summer for Liverpool, and they are now closing in on the signing of two.

MORE: Isak would only be ‘fraud’, ‘mercenary’ and ‘unprofessional’ if he went on strike to leave Liverpool

According to Italian journalist Orazio Accomando, Liverpool’s ‘first survey’ on Parma teenager Leoni was in ‘early July’, and the Premier League champions are hoping to steal a march on their transfer rivals after ‘speeding up in the last few hours’.

They have done so to ‘avoid a bidding war that could allow Parma to raise the price further’.

Accomando claims that Tottenham, AC Milan and Inter have also been monitoring the 18-year-old Italian.

Milan are ‘not willing’ to meet Parma’s asking price. The figure is not revealed in the X post, but Leoni’s Transfermarkt value is £15.5million.

Leoni joined Parma from Sampdoria last August and extended his contract to 2029 in February.

He is one of the highest-rated Italian youngsters and can also play right-back.

News of Liverpool’s interest emerged amid reports of the Reds stepping up their interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Guehi has ‘agreed personal terms’ with Guehi, while Leoni is ‘keen on the move’.

It’s emphasised that Guehi and Leoni are not alternatives for one another as the Reds target both signings before the transfer deadline on September 1.

Guehi’s contract expires at the end of the season and Palace are resigned to losing him.

Eagles chairman Steve Parish has admitted he does not want to lose the England international for nothing, hinting towards an exit in the final weeks of the window.

“We’d have to do that [cash in], of course. For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it’s a problem for us, unfortunately.

“Joachim [Andersen] went [to Fulham last summer] and we couldn’t afford to lose both.

“We then had another bid [for Guehi] in January but that was a different situation.

“We’ll just have to see what happens. But, you know, it needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.

“As far as people being here or not being here, if it’s the right decision for the club and for them – nobody can make anyone go – then there will be some changes, but we have to make smart ones.”

Arsenal transfer target Eberechi Eze is ‘keen’ a potential summer move to Tottenham in a blow to the Gunners hopes of landing the attacker, according to reports.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the Crystal Palace attacking midfielder for most of the summer with Mikel Arteta’s side believed to be at the front of the queue for the England international.

But the longer the transfer window has gone on without Arsenal making a bid, the less sure people have become that a deal will get over the line.

And now they could be set to lose out on the Crystal Palace star, who won the FA Cup with the Eagles last term and helped beat Liverpool in the Community Shield final on Sunday, with Tottenham now seriously interested.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed on Tuesday morning that Tottenham were ‘back in talks’ for Eze, as well as pursuing a deal to sign Savinho from Manchester City.

Romano said: ‘Understand Tottenham are also back in talks for Eberechi Eze in separate deal from Savinho. Spurs trying again for Eze while they work on Savinho, following Maddison injury and Son exit. Eze keen but deal depends on Palace as release clause expired.’

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Before the Italian transfer journalist was back later in the day for a further update, he added on X: ‘Eberechi Eze, keen on Tottenham move as Palace are informed of his desire to play Champions League football. Deal now depends on club to club talks but Spurs are seriously working on it, as reported earlier.’

Another transfer journalist, Ben Jacobs, also gave an update on Tottenham’s pursuit of Eze, he claimed: ‘More on Eberechi Eze and Spurs. Fresh talks started in light of James Maddison injury and failure to land Morgan Gibbs-White. Eze a longstanding target, but earlier in the window Spurs had decided not to move.

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‘Spurs aware Arsenal have player buy in, but believe Eze has not discounted their project. Spurs also prepared to move quickly. Both Spurs and Arsenal view Eze as a No.10. Understand Spurs’ starting valuation similar to the £55m paid for Mohammed Kudus. Palace want £68m release clause triggered or matched, even after it expires.’

Before Jacobs then later added on X: ‘Eberechi Eze open to Tottenham, and would also welcome an Arsenal bid having spoken to Mikel Arteta already. Spurs are the ones moving. #AFC waiting as it stands with outgoings the focus. Ethan Nwaneri also viewed as No.10 option.’

Tottenham have been ‘in talks’ with Man City over a potential deal to sign Savinho this summer with the winger ‘open’ to the move, according to reports.

Spurs have made loan deals for Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel into permanent transfers this summer, while Mohammed Kudus, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai and Joao Palhinha have also joined.

New head coach Thomas Frank is keen to add more faces to his squad after Ange Postecoglou’s side finished 17th in the Premier League last term.

And now a deal for Man City winger Savinho is on the cards with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing that the Brazilian ‘open to the move’.

Romano wrote on X: ‘EXCL: Tottenham open club to club talks to sign Savinho from Man City! Negotiations ongoing between Spurs and City, also understand Savinho’s open to the move if the clubs can agree on fee. #THFC boss Thomas Frank indicated Savinho as ideal player.’

The Athletic journalist David Ornstein confirmed on Monday morning that Tottenham have ‘held talks’ with Man City over a potential ‘unexpected deal’ for Savinho.

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Ornstein insists that ‘a package worth in the region of £43.3m is under discussion’ despite Man City ‘not actively looking to sell Savinho’ this summer.

It is understood that Savinho is ‘open to the possibility and Pep Guardiola tends not to stand in the way of player who want to leave’.

Ornstein continues: ‘An agreement has not been reached but work continues as Spurs try to land the 21-year-old in a shock move.’

Tottenham head coach Frank recently told the Daily Mail what he wants from the rest of the summer transfer window as he wants to “build something that can last”.

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Frank told the Daily Mail last week: “I think there’s no doubt that I want, how can I say this, a big enough, small enough squad. It needs to be big enough and robust enough to compete in all four tournaments, because that’s extremely important, but I can’t have too many players. It’s just so difficult to keep everyone happy, it’s almost impossible.

“Then, we also want to see if we can add enough quality. But we don’t want to sign players we don’t think can really improve the squad. I would rather wait to have the right talented players.

“I’m not here for the short-term fix. I want to build something that can last, so we need to think longer term. Of course we need to compete now, but that’s my thought process.”

Frank added on the challenge ahead: “I’m super excited. I’m ready for the challenge. I loved Brentford. It was a top job in every aspect. It was only an opportunity like this I wanted. Because I think this, this can be fantastic. It can maybe also be not so good, who knows…

“But the opportunity to make a difference here is massive. Who knows how it goes. I’ll go in, I’ll be brave, I’ll be myself.”

With Spurs confirming the worst about James Maddison’s ACL injury and Thomas Frank offering a gloomy update on the fitness of Dejan Kulusevski after a 4-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Bayern Munich, it looks certain they will have to go back into the transfer market to do something about their moribund attacking options.

Even the seemingly perfect – if emotional – end to Son Heung-min’s Tottenham career looks slightly different in the light of Maddison’s serious injury. The mischievous among you might well ask whether Spurs would even still have sanctioned his exit had the cat not been so entirely out of the bag before that game against Newcastle in Seoul.

That’s a hypothetical, though, and what Spurs need is something real. Worth remembering they were pretty keen on signing Morgan Gibbs-White even before this Maddison setback. That ended… badly for Spurs. They could really do with at least one of these ending rather better over the next week or so.

Nico Paz (Como)

There are conflicting reports about the seriousness and even existence of Spurs’ interest in the Como playmaker, but there would be something amiss if the 20-year-old wasn’t at least on their radar even before the last week’s unpleasantness.

He would appear to have all the necessary tools for Spurs’ needs, but it’s a deeply difficult deal to do at a price Spurs are going to like with his former club Real Madrid entitled to 50 per cent of any fee and in keen and observant possession of a buy-back clause.

Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)

Perhaps not the most exciting of the options within the Premier League but in some ways the most interesting. After the way Elliott starred for England U21s this summer we really are incredibly keen to see what he can do given a full season of proper first-choice, first-team responsibility and there’s a compelling case that Spurs would now be the most fascinating place for that to happen.

There really isn’t another club right now that can offer the same mix of opportunity and big stage for Elliott to prove he can take his age-group dominance into senior football.

There’s nothing wrong with being happy as a vital and useful squad member at this excellent Liverpool side, but it does feel like he could be so much more somewhere else.

Jack Grealish (Man City)

It seems like he’s going to be a key figure in the final weeks of the transfer window. It’s felt like everyone’s been playing a waiting game with Grealish this summer. We all know he’s going to leave City; the question is when and where to.

We get the sense that he’s not yet ready to commit to the kind of teams that might have him at the top of their shopping list, and the teams he might be ready to commit to haven’t yet worked down their list of targets far enough to reach him.

But the time where this game of chicken ends feels closer than ever after that Maddison injury. Even if it doesn’t kick Spurs into desperate action to find out whether the Aston Villa playmaker version of Grealish is still there lurking within the Guardiola automaton, it will surely make other interested parties get a wriggle on.

We’re really not sure we want to see this one, purely because it would mean finding a new player to take second place on our list of the most Spurs player never to actually play for Spurs. Top spot is and always will be, of course, Stewart Downing’s.

Ebere Eze (Crystal Palace)

Tottenham’s interest here is long-standing but Arsenal appear to have stolen a march on their local rivals this summer. But that deal remains undone and the chance for Spurs to make another move of their own is still there.

Can they offer what Arsenal can? They cannot, but that cuts both ways. They can certainly offer him an easier route to unquestioned first-choice selection for 50-odd games in a World Cup year, for instance.

As ever when talking about potential departures from Palace this summer, though, it is worth noting that they themselves are neither desperate nor particularly keen to sell any of their FA Cup-winning stars at this time. This will not be a cheap option.

Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)

Another high-class option where the interest is long-standing but the attentions of a London rival may render it moot. Chelsea have appeared Simons’ likeliest destination for most of the summer, and again the only real card Spurs have to play is in offering fewer existing players standing in his way.

And that feels like it’s got more chance of counting for something with Eze than it does Simons. And we’re not sure it’s got that much chance with Eze.

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Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Rogers’ name popped up briefly in connection with Spurs earlier in the summer and there’s a good chance the boat has been missed here, with any deal far more likely before the PSR deadline than after it.

He also limped out of Villa’s 4-0 friendly win over Roma on Wednesday night, raising doubts about his participation in the early weeks of the season. Something that might, counter-intuitively, not be the worst news for Villa in the long-term.

They remain keen to tie him down to a new contract but are surely primed to expect at least a phone call from London. One that very likely also mentions the words ‘Jacob’ and ‘Ramsey’.

Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Reality bit for Mainoo in a difficult 24/25 season and there remain doubts about where he best fits into Ruben Amorim’s system at Manchester United. Is he physical enough for a role in the midfield double-pivot? Is he creative enough to be one of the two number 10s?

After a summer full of talk suggesting he could be on the move, the tone has shifted. It now appears more likely he’ll remain at Old Trafford for now, but with United continuing to chuck all sorts of money at all sorts of players it does still feel like some will need recouping somewhere along the way; Mainoo could yet emerge as something of a spare part.

Whether he’s exactly the sort of player Spurs need to take on such a significant creative burden in what currently looks like a team of honest plodders is less certain, but he does possess that Maddison-like ability to unlock a defence with a clever pass others might spot.

Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)

Look, at some point in this kind of list it is an absolute and irrefutable law that you must pose the question “Who has done this job for the manager elsewhere?”

Damsgaard might not have got the same attention as your Bryan Mbeumos or Yoane Wissas at Brentford last season, but he was a key figure in their attacking efforts and reached double figures for assists.

Frank obviously knows all about a player who started 34 Premier League games for the Bees last season – and came off the bench in all the other four – and he wouldn’t command the price tag of many others on this list. At 25, he’s also a potential long-term rather than stop-gap solution.

But he has five years left on his contract and Brentford’s interest in losing another key figure this summer – and this late on – would, we suggest, be fairly low.

Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)

The very idea of Spurs signing anyone from West Ham was a ludicrous one until as recently as this very summer, and we’ll cheerfully concede that when the first talk of Mohammed Kudus joining Tottenham emerged in June we immediately dismissed the idea and assumed the Hammers and/or Kudus’ camp were simply trying to smoke out interest from elsewhere.

But no. With West Ham no longer quite sure about Kudus after a Difficult Second Season, Spurs came up with a sum of money sufficient to overcome the Hammers’ intrinsic unwillingness to do business with the north London mob.

With Paqueta now free to resume his career after being cleared of spot-fixing charges that looked set to land him a lifetime ban, talk has instantly resumed about whether that career will indeed continue at West Ham.

He had been poised to join Man City before it all kicked off, and they have been mentioned again. In a move that could take out two of the 10 options here in one swoop, there has been talk of City using Grealish as a makeweight in that deal. And you have to concede that Grealish at West Ham feels, if anything, even more correct than Grealish at Tottenham. Although that could just be the colour scheme.

Mason Mount (Manchester United)

Has been one of Manchester United’s best players in pre-season, which is admittedly a little bit like saying the bread has been one of the most appealing elements of a dogsh*t sandwich, but still.

It may be that he’s done enough to convince Amorim he can turn around his MAN UNITED NIGHTMARE rather than needing the seemingly inevitable ESCAPE ROUTE from it, but we do still find ourselves wondering where exactly a player whose career has shambled down a cul-de-sac fits in at United.

Whether anyone looking to resurrect a career gone backwards would be wise or keen to attempt that challenge at this iteration of Tottenham is another valid consideration.