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Sunderland are considering an offer from Ipswich for winger Jack Clarke, talkSPORT understands.

The bid for the right-footed left winger is worth £15million plus adds on, taking it to around £20m.

The 23-year-old has already scored a goal and registered an assist in just two Championship games for the Black Cats this season.

Clarke was arguably the Championship's most impressive star last term, scoring 16 goals and offering five assists.

After an incredible 25 goal involvements in the second tier a year earlier, Clarke is starting to fulfill the potential that saw him tipped for stardom as a teenager.

At present, Clarke is a talisman figure in a supremely young and talented Sunderland side featuring Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg, Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham.

With two years left on his contract, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has urged the player to stick around at the Stadium Of Light.

He said: “I think his position with us is perfect.

"Let's not change anything! Stay with us, keep growing because we need this kind of player.

“The rest, I don't know. He's an important player for us, for sure."

Coming through the youth setup with Leeds, Clarke earned a £10million move to Tottenham in the summer of 2019, which meant being loaned back to the Yorkshire side for the 2019/20 season, however this was cut short as the 18-year-old moved to QPR.

Signed by Mauricio Pochettino, the winger was faced with a daunting prospect when he moved to London a year later when Jose Mourinho confronted him over his disappointing time with QPR before a friendly, saying: "Either you’re s***, or QPR are s***. And we’ll find out today."

Limited to just four appearances for Spurs, Clarke completed a move to Sunderland in January 2022 on an initial loan deal that was made permanent following their promotion from League One to the Championship.

Since then, Clarke has scored 28 goals in 114 appearances for the Black Cats.

Ipswich have already been busy this summer making no less than 10 signings, including deals for Armando Broja, Omari Hutchinson, Liam Delap, Sammie Szmodics and a loan deal for Man City's Kalvin Phillips.

The Tractor boys will be desperate to get quality to through the door as they aim to avoid an immediate return back to the Championship.

Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a nasty concussion in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Leicester and rules will see him miss the Everton game this weekend.

Midway in the second half, from a Tottenham corner, the Uruguayan clashed heads with Foxes winger Abdul Fatawu.

Fatawu was fine, but Bentancur sickeningly hit the floor and was out cold for several minutes.

He was immediately treated by medical staff and was awake when he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher.

The former Juventus man was not taken to hospital and was assessed by the Spurs medical staff in the dressing room.

And ahead of the Everton match this weekend, we have a look at why he won't be playing.

Is Rodrigo Bentancur fit to play against Everton?

Based on the Premier League's concussion guidelines, Bentancur won't be allowed to play in this weekend's game against Everton.

This is because any player who suffers concussion in a match cannot return to competitive action for at least six days.

Tottenham's game against Leicester was on Monday, and they next play on Saturday, meaning the Uruguayan will miss Spurs' first home match of the season.

He will undergo a formal post-match assessment, and if that reveals no sign of concussion, Bentancur can return to first-team training.

Tottenham also used a concussion substitute, known as an additional permanent concussion substitute [APCS], and there are rules attached to using one of these.

Spurs must now submit medical information and a report on Bentancur's condition within seven days after using an APCS against Leicester.

The Premier League's relevant sub-section will check over this information and make sure it is all correct.

If everything is fine and Bentancur shows no delayed signs of concussion, the midfielder will be able to return to action against Newcastle United on Sunday, September 1.

Although Spurs fans will be disappointed he can't play against Everton, they will be pleased to know he's fine and the proper procedure was followed.

Speaking after the game about Bentancur, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said: "He is up and communicating.

"It is a head injury, and we will leave it in the hands of the medical team, but he is conscious and communicating.

"Nowadays we are always cautious in the moment."

If Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa all wanted to sign you, who would you choose?

That was the question asked of Charlie Adam in 2011, but there was never any doubt about where he wanted to go.

The former midfielder starred for Blackpool and was nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in the 2010/11 campaign.

And following the Seasiders' relegation from the Premier League that season, Adam became a target for some of the country's top clubs.

Liverpool were one of those clubs and in July 2011, he arrived at Anfield to play under fellow Scotsman Kenny Dalglish, who also signed captain-in-waiting Jordan Henderson.

The chance to join the Reds was one that Adam couldn't turn down and he has now revealed that he rejected both Aston Villa and Tottenham to make the move.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, the now 38-year-old said: “I did have a couple of options to speak to clubs.

“I once met [the late Villa manager] Gerard Houllier who for me was a very, very top manager. He spoke really well.

“I also had the opportunity to go to Tottenham on the last day of one of the windows as well.

“They were the two clubs that were coming in for me then.

“But when I knew Liverpool were interested, it was the club I wanted to go to. A huge club with a great fanbase, unbelievable supporters.

“And a squad that was full of top international players that played at a very, very high level.

“I was very fortunate enough to have the honour of playing for Liverpool.”

He continued: “You look at the history of the players and everything at the football club was synonymous with the great players and what they’ve won over the years.

“It was such a special club to be part of just for the one season and I love going back to Anfield.

"I think it’s one of the top stadiums and a great place to go and watch a game.”

Adam would go on to spend a year at Liverpool playing alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, making 37 appearances.

A move to Stoke then materialised and he managed to settle there, becoming a key man for the Potters in the Premier League.

He spent seven years at the club and totted up more than 150 appearances before leaving in 2019 at the age of 33.

And it was after that exit that when Adam was offered another transfer twist that unfortunately he couldn't pursue.

“I didn’t have any offers from abroad after Liverpool but when I was leaving Stoke I had an opportunity to go to Australia to play," he said.

“But it was just before the pandemic and the kids and family couldn’t come for six months.

“So it was going to be very difficult for me to do that. It was something I looked at but I ended up going to Reading.

“And it was a great option and I loved my time there with great people.”

Now, after retiring from football, he is in his first managerial role as Fleetwood Town boss in League Two.

Adam joined the Cod Army last campaign but experienced relegation down to the fourth tier.

The club kept faith in the former Liverpool man though, and now he is aiming to lead them back up the Football League.

Read more transfer stories on talkSPORT.com...

Scoring, taunting rival fans, and telling an opponent to f*** off... welcome back to the Premier League Jamie Vardy.

The 37-year-old headed home the Leicester's equaliser against Tottenham in the 57th minute, just moments after being seen downing a can of Red Bull in the tunnel.

Vardy made a remarkable recovery from injury to even start that match and he was at the centre of everything.

He took his fair share of abuse from the Tottenham fans throughout the match and in true Jamie Vardy style he gave just as good back.

As he was coming off in the second half he point to the Premier League badge on his shirt, then made a 1-0 gesture at the travelling Spurs support.

Of course, Vardy is a Premier League winner with the Foxes while Tottenham have never won one.

Leaving the pitch as a substitute in the 79th minute for Stephy Mavididi, Cristian Romero took exception to Vardy slowly getting off the pitch.

It led the former England international to clearly tell the Argentina defender to 'f*** off'.

Asked about his banter with the Spurs travelling fans, Vardy told Sky Sports: “You take a bit of stick during the game. As long as they can take it when I give it back then it's all good.”

The veteran striker continues to show he is the man from the big moment, despite Leicester's struggles early on.

Spurs dominated the first half at the King Power Stadium in their Premier League opener.

Pedro Porro deservedly put the visitors ahead after guiding his header into the bottom right corner after being picked out by James Maddison.

But they were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal, which saw newly-promoted Leicester score with their first shot on target.

The goal means that Vardy has now scored eight goals on the opening weekend of a Premier League campaign.

Only Liverpool hero Mohamed Salah has more, with the Egyptian forward scoring a record ninth during the Reds' 2-0 win over Ipswich.

Vardy now has extended his record of boasting the most Premier League goals while in his thirties, having banged in 104.

Speaking after the draw, Vardy said: "We had a chat at half time. Tottenham are really good, but we gave them too much respect.

"Started off on the front foot and that changed the momentum. It was very calm.

"We said don't concede anymore and you give yourself a good chance. We take the point and move on."

As for his own future in football, he added: "I see it as just a number [age]. As long as my legs still feel great, then I'll carry on."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has called on his players to be more 'ruthless' if they wish to close the gap on the Premier League's top teams.

Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw against Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Monday night in a game they had 71 per cent possession in.

The north Londoners had ten shots in the first half - more than any other side managed across the opening weekend of the top-flight campaign.

While Pedro Porro broke the deadlock, Spurs should have went into the break at least two or three goals to the good.

But the visitors failed to make their dominance count, resulting in Jamie Vardy equalising in the 57th minute with the Foxes' first shot on target.

And Tottenham failed to get themselves back ahead, with Spurs now failing to beat a newly-promoted side for the first time under Postecoglou.

The Australian, who was spotted looking despondent on the team bus, conceded that his side will fail to reach the next level unless they improve on their decision making.

Speaking to talkSPORT's Sam Matterface, Postecoglou said: "I thought we started the second half well, I think for 15 minutes we were on top.

"We were just really wasteful in front of goal, we just didn't take the opportunities.

"We weren't clinical enough, we made some poor decisions, we lacked composure in and around the box.

"And in a game of football, it's always a danger that the opposition will go up once and score and that's exactly what happened.

"They get a bit of momentum from that and we lost a bit of composure and finished strong.

"But like I said, you can't keep giving up chances like we did tonight and hope to get a better outcome."

And Postecoglou then insisted that Spurs' attractive style of play counts for nothing unless they claim all three points.

He stated: "You play that football for an outcome, you don't just play it to look nice.

"If we're going to go to the next level as a club, then as a team we need to have that [cutting edge].

"There were times last year where we were very similar, we kept oppositions in the game because they just weren't ruthless enough with our decision making in the front third.

"We need to be better, our football will take us so far, but if we want to bridge a gap with the top teams, then we need to be more decisive."

He concluded: "I can't fault the performance of the players.

"But at the same time, as a team, when you don't get the result you want, you've got to take that as a collective disappointment."

Postecoglou will be hoping for a better result on Saturday when Spurs welcome bottom of the table Everton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Darwin's theory of striking evolution

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has detailed his plan to the best out of Darwin Nunez ahead of a season-defining third year at the club.

Slot explained: "Bring him as much as we can into scoring positions. Again, I think every individual benefits from team performance.

"If we, as a team, can bring our attackers – not only him but also the other ones – as much as we can in dangerous positions, these players will score goals.

"That’s what we’ve seen in pre-season, where we even scored goals out of smaller chances. It’s up to us to bring him or Diogo [Jota] or other attackers as much as we can into promising positions for them and then he, like all the others, will score their goals."

Od-e to joy

Tottenham have announced the surprise signing of Wilson Odobert from Burnley.

The 19-year-old has signed a contract until 2029 with the club, who have even registered him in time to feature in their first game.

Premier League teams who want to give debuts to any new players this weekend must register them by 12pm on the last working day before a game.

It wasn't expected that that would be an issue for Tottenham, who had no reported transfer in the works overnight.

However, within minutes of talkSPORT breaking the news that Odobert was joining Spurs, the club confirmed it.

Find out the latest in our own transfer blog below...

Missing Magpie

Callum Wilson will miss the start of the season for Newcastle.

Manager Eddie Howe has confirmed the news in his pre-match press conference this morning, ahead of the Toon's opening game of the new season.

Newcastle take on Southampton at St James' Park at 3pm tomorrow, but they will do it without No.9 Wilson who is sidelined with a back injury.

The 32-year-old missed the club's entire pre-season campaign with the problem, which required injections to treat it.

Howe said about the striker: "Callum will miss the first few games of the season. He’s making really good progress. He really feels good and wants to push a bit faster, but we’re just trying to manage him."

Slot luck

Arne Slot is hosting his first pre-match Premier League press conference this morning ahead of Liverpool's game against Ipswich.

The Dutchman fielded questions about the Reds' failed pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and the current state of his squad.

He said: "I said many times already our squad is really strong so it is not easy to find players to strengthen Zubimendi was one but he chose not to come here so we go forward with the one we have.

"We're in a good place and [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] is trying to improve the squad in the background. Zubimendi didn't want to come and Richard tried everything. We kept the same team but lost Thiago, Joel [Matip] and Adrian and you always talk about transfers but we have a positive team already."

On Trent Alexander-Arnold's position, Slot added: "A position is always related to the team. Trent is known as a right full-back all his life and as a midfielder as a youngster.

"You see him going into midfield at times and in midfield at the Euros so he is capable of playing both positions really good so it is up to me to decide."

Tangled Webb we weave…

The PGMOL have performed a rapid u-turn on their own chief refereeing officer Howard Webb's claim that match officials’ club allegiances are to be made public.

PGMOL are now blaming miscommunication and say only policy will be made public - not their refs’ allegiances.

Webb had said: “When referees put in allegiance forms they’re asked to declare any specific interests in advance of the season, and as the season goes on should any of those things change.

“That’s going to be made public so you can see what that looks like, what those declarations of interests are.

“We review each of those, and then make a judgment if we feel there is a conflict. If you’ve got any personal connections to people who work for clubs as well, we’ll make an evaluation of all of those.

“If there is a conflict of interest that will be recorded and taken into account on the appointments.”

'We want to go for trophies'

Erik ten Hag has also discussed Man United's goals for the season and whether his team are at their best after adding new players.

"We know our targets, we know that we are in the right direction," he said. "We know we have won two trophies, we know our game model.

"So now we have to integrate the new players and if they can improve the game model and improve the team levels. And take it from there. I have always very high expectations but we want to go for trophies."

He continued: "We are complete and we are now working together for 10 days and always it will take a while.

"There will be more teams who have this problem. At the start of the season don’t drop points, work hard, make sure you are organised in and out of possession.

"We are not 100% form but we have to go from game to game to improve and to get higher performance levels in the team and in individual players.

"We will see how quick we can go with this process."

Shaw-t term injury

Man United boss Erik ten Hag has given an update on Luke Shaw and confirmed he will return in the 'short term'.

Addressing the media at his press conference before the Red Devils' Premier League opener against Fulham tomorrow he assessed the fitness of his squad.

Ten Hag said: "He will return in the short term, it doesn’t take long. We are looking forward, of course, for Luke Shaw.

"A very important player for our team so we want to get him back as soon as possible but we can’t force this process."

On whether his new signings Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee will be involved, he continued: "They will be in the squad and Harry Maguire will be in the squad as well."

No more conflict of interest

The PGMOL have decided that they will be making the clubs that each Premier League referee supports public.

They will allow fans to see the declared allegiances of their officials to avoid conflict of interest claims.

This decision comes after a major controversy last season with Luton Town supporter Stuart Atwell taking charge of VAR for Nottingham Forest's crucial clash against Everton.

Forest had three penalty decisions go against them in a game they lost 2-0 at Goodison Park and afterwards, the club posted on social media to complain about Atwell's appointment.

So now, Howard Webb, the PGMOL's chief refereeing officer, has come out to explain the change they will be making.

Webb said: "When referees put in allegiance forms they're asked to declare any specific interests in advance of the season, and as the season goes on should any of those things change.

"That's going to be made public so you can see what that looks like, what those declarations of interests are.

"We review each of those, and then make a judgment if we feel there is a conflict. If you've got any personal connections to people who work for clubs as well, we'll make an evaluation of all of those.

"If there is a conflict of interest that will be recorded and taken into account on the appointments."

'We won't change our principles'

Southampton manager Russell Martin is not afraid to keep playing football in his style in the Premier League.

The Saints were possession masters in the Championship and regularly dominated games.

But they also made a fee mistakes playing out from the back and that can definitely be punished in the top flight.

However, Martin seems focused on still playing his way as ahead of their season opener, he said: "There’s a concern with any style for any team in the Premier League.

"We are going to be defined by being good enough. Me, the players, we’ll be called naive.

"We’ve done something here we really believe in. The players believe, the fans feel connected to it.

"We'll have to adapt and change a little bit in terms of having less possession. We won't change our principles."

Everton takeover update

American businessman John Textor has entered a period of exclusivity to buy a majority stake in Everton.

According to The Athletic, Textor has an agreement in place with current Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri.

However, any potential deal relies on the 58-year-old selling his stake in Crystal Palace as the Premier League forbids ownership of two clubs in the same division.

He owns 45 per cent of Palace through Eagle Football Group who also have a stake in Lyon, Botafogo, RWD Molenbeek and FC Florida.

Textor is looking at moving on from the Eagles though, as he has been exploring taking over another club in England.

And it looks like Everton could be his next venture, with the Toffees still seeking new ownership after multiple failed bids.

The Friedkin's Group, 777 Partners and TFG have all been close to buying the club off Moshiri this year, but talks have fallen through with each.

Textor is now next in line and after being granted exclusivity, he will be closing in on the purchase of Everton.

Sticky Toffees

Everton boss Sean Dyche has confirmed that he will be missing three key players for his side's Premier League opener against Brighton.

The Toffees are preparing to kick off the new season but they will be without Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner and Seamus Coleman.

The trio were hoping to be back to full fitness in time, however, Dyche has reluctantly ruled them out.

"We were hoping a few would be back but they are not," he said at his first pre-match press conference of the season.

"That is unfortunate but the levels of performance and fitness through the rest of the squad have been good.

"Michael Keane has trained this week and trained fine today, so as long as there is no reaction then we think he will be fit."

Cherry picked

On a more positive note, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou did get the chance to share his excitement at new signing Dominic Solanke.

The England striker is in line to make his Spurs debut against Leicester despite only joining the club in a club record £65million deal, including add-ons, from Bournemouth late last week.

The 26-year-old unveiled to his new fans before the club took on Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Postecoglou has now revealed Solanke has hit the ground running behind-the-scenes having only joined in with training on Monday.

On seeing him in the flesh, the Australian said: "Thankfully, it's what we expected. He's a top pro and he's settled into the dressing room really well.

"Football wise, you can see how he's going to fit in. So far he's fitted in really well with the group in training."

Not laughing now

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Yves Bissouma won't be available for the club's game against Leicester on Monday.

The Spurs boss revealed the midfielder has been internally disciplined after filming himself inhaling nitrous oxide on social media.

Mali international Bissouma has since apologised for his 'severe lack of judgement' after uploading clips of himself using the Class C drug - known as 'hippy crack' - onto Snapchat last weekend.

Reacting publicly to the scandal for the first time, Postecoglou said: "Been in the game for a long time, when a situation like this arises, I've tried to look at them in a couple of ways. First, there's a person and it's Biss and he's made a poor decision.

"There are still sanctions involved, and some of those are educational. He is a footballer with responsibilities.

"He won't be available on Monday. We've suspended him from Monday's game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group."

On how Bissouma can earn back trust, Tottenham boss Postecoglou added: "Behaviour mate. It's that simple.

"It's about making better decisions. He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that's just part of it."

Dyer Straights

Julen Lopetegui has discussed appointing Jarrod Bowen West Ham's new captain - a decision approved by his father-in-law Danny Dyer!

England international Bowen will wear the armband for the 2024/25 season, with long-serving defender Aaron Cresswell as his vice-captain.

The 27-year-old will follow club legends Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Mark Noble and even Three Lions teammate Declan Rice in skippering the Hammers.

And it's not just a proud day for Bowen, but for his family as well.

The forward has twin daughters with actor and West Ham superfan Danny Dyer’s daughter, former Love Island star Dani.

The pair have been together since 2021 and welcomed children Summer and Star, who were born last year.

On Bowen assuming more responsibility on the pitch now as well, Lopetegui said: "He has the commitment at the Club to become the next captain.

"We will all help him, and he is excited about the responsibility.

"I spoke to his father-in-law! He is one of our fans and he's going to support us for sure."

Welcoming Wan-Bissaka

New West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's Premier League opener.

And he has been asked about whether eighth signing of the summer Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be thrown straight in against Aston Villa.

Lopetegui said: "He has played in pre-season with Manchester United, so we will see.

"It's true that he's only been here a short while, so we will see tomorrow, as we will with all of the new players.

"We are happy with Aaron, and all of the new signings are going to help improve our team. To have more competition in positions is important, and Aaron will add a lot of things to our team.

"He's very happy to be here. He is a good age, with good experience, and he is happy."

'It's a massive season for him'

Marcus Rashford has a lot of pressure on his shoulders this season after having a season to forget last campaign.

The Manchester United forward only scored seven Premier League goals in 2023/24, which was a major drop from his 17 the year before.

He also had multiple off-field problems that appeared to impact his on-field performances at Old Trafford.

The poor form led to him missing out on the England squad for Euro 2024 and now he is eyeing some redemption, with Man United's opener taking place tomorrow night.

talkSPORT's Ally McCoist knows how big of a season this is for Rashford and he's interested to see how he copes.

McCoist said: "I think it’s a massive season for Marcus Rashford.

“I’ve said how disappointed I was in him, his team and the supporters last season, but I think he’s at a crossroads.

“It looks like he is staying at Manchester United – you need a bit of certainty in your future and he’s now got that.

“He’s clearly disappointed in his own level of performance last year and deservedly, in my opinion, missed out on the England Euros squad.

“There’s a big question mark about his future and how he’s going to react to it, so it’s a massive season for him.”

Reds need recruits

Liverpool do not have what it takes to win the Premier League title from Man City - unless they sign players in two key positions.

That is according to former Reds midfielder and talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, who has weighed in on his former club's prospects for the upcoming season.

Although there's still time to go before deadline day, Murphy has warned that the club do not look capable of winning the league with their existing side.

"Well the window's not closed," he told talkSPORT. "And the reality is Liverpool's transfer business over the last five-six years has been excellent. I expect them to be top four, but I don't think they'll overcome City.

"They can't win it with this squad can they? I don't think so.

"They'll be better, of course they would. Significant new signings - yeah, I think a centre-half and a holding midfielder.

"When you look at the two best teams in the country last year with Rodri and [Declan] Rice, Liverpool don't have that.

"And although [Wataru] Endo and [Alexis] MacAllister did well in certain games and certain periods, that consistent person in the middle of the pitch who's physically dominant and able to control games like those two do, Liverpool don't really have."

Time for Tonali

Newcastle have confirmed the date that Sandro Tonali will be able to return to action.

Tonali is set to make a comeback after serving a ten-month ban from playing football due to breaching betting rules.

A statement released by the club reads: "Newcastle United can announce that Sandro Tonali will return to selection on Wednesday 28th August 2024 following the conclusion of his ten-month ban from competitive football.

"The club has received formal confirmation from the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) that the player’s sporting sanction will run up to and including Tuesday 27th August.

"The Magpies will travel to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup second round during the week commencing Monday 26th August (fixture date and time TBC), before hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Sunday 1st September (kick-off 1:30pm BST)."

West Ham's new skipper

Jarrod Bowen has been appointed as West Ham's new captain.

Bowen has taken the armband from Kurt Zouma who looks set to depart the club for Saudi Arabia.

The 27-year-old will be leading the Hammers out throughout the campaign, with Aaron Cresswell his vice-captain.

Speaking about being named skipper, the England international said: “I am incredibly proud and happy to be West Ham United captain.

“We’ve had many great moments here as a Club. I’ve been here four-and-a-half years now, so to be named Club captain is a really proud moment and one that I’ll wear with great honour.

“It’s four and a half years since I joined, but it’s felt so much longer and that’s the enjoyment of playing for this Club and the relationships I’ve had with all the sets of players we’ve had, the managers we’ve had and the fans.

"It’s been one heck of a journey and from when I first signed to be sat here four-and-a-half years later and be named Club captain makes me so proud.

“Since I’ve been here it’s just been an upward trajectory in what we’ve done on the pitch, what I’ve done off the pitch.

"To get to this moment is another statement of love I have for this Club, along with when I signed my new deal last year. I said then that I want to stay here for the rest of my life and I haven’t come off that page.

"If I can go down as a legend here in years to come, that would be great.”

Transfers being hijacked is a story Tottenham bosses know all too well.

They thought they had landed Emmanuel Petit then Arsenal pulled their pants down, while they helped Willian essentially complete his Chelsea medical.

But they've also managed to sting their rivals before like in 1988 when they gazumped Man United to land Young Player of the Year Paul Gascoigne.

The Newcastle star thought he was heading a few hours down the road to Manchester. Gazza even told manager Alex Ferguson he would be joining him at Old Trafford.

So confident was the boss that he went on holiday believing United had secured the services one of football's most exciting midfielders.

However, Spurs, under chairman Irving Scholar, swooped in and offered to buy the player's family a house which changed his mind and signed him for £2m.

“Off I go, and I’m lying by the pool when there is a Tannoy for me to take a call,” Fergie explained in an interview with the late journalist David Frost. “It was [chairman Martin Edwards] telling me Tottenham had [signed him instead] by buying Paul’s mum and dad a house in the north east.”

The promise of a new home wasn't good enough, though, as his dad also asked for a car, given the new house had a garage.

Not only that, Spurs also bought his sister a sunbed!

“She should have got a spray tan and I would have a few more medals,” Gazza later joked as he recalled his regret on not joining United who dominated the Premier League in the 1990s.

Needless to say Fergie was not impressed when he returned.

The manager had wanted to sign him almost as soon as he took over at United in 1986.

A year into his reign, he was playing relegation-threatened Newcastle in the First Division.

In midfield for Man United were Norman Whiteside, Bryan Robson and Remi Moses - “all great footballers” - Fergie told Frost.

“And he just tore them apart,” he said, referring to 20-year-old rising star Gazza.

He is the one player Fergie regrets not signing, reflecting that maybe he could have helped him avoid the trappings of living in the capital as a young lad, alluding to the fact alcoholism affected his professional and personal life - something he has been very open about.

Gazza found superstardom two year after joining Spurs when he played for England at the 1990 World Cup.

In the nation's most successful tournament since they won in 1966, they reached the semi-final with one of the iconic images being of Gazza wiping away his tears with his no.19 shirt.

At club level, meanwhile, won the FA Cup in 1991, scoring a memorable free-kick against Arsenal in the semi-final, but he injured himself in the final.

It was bad luck after that, with his move to Lazio in 1992 not working out, though he had success at Rangers in 1995 and was part of England's Euro 96 semi-finalists.

For all his superstardom he isn't a Premier League legend. But it could have been different.

“We could have taken London out the road of him. We had Bobby Charlton, a Geordie. We had Bryan Robson, a Geordie," Fergie added.

“We had a structure of players who could have helped him – given him some discipline.”

Man United were at the start of something big, with the Premier League forming in 1992 and the club winning six of the first eight before the turn of the century.

Gazza did eventually play in England's top flight when he joined Middlesbrough in 1998 and then Everton in 2000.

MORE TRANSFER TALES

The 2024 Premier League summer transfer window is in full flow, and clubs have been splashing the cash ready for the new season.

July 1 marked the start of a new PSR [profit and sustainability rules] period, which meant that teams up and down the land started to spend a bit more freely.

June saw many clubs scrambling to sell players before the PSR deadline of June 30, leading to some strange deals between rivals to ensure no one got a points deduction.

But now those worries are over for another year, top-flight clubs are strengthening their squads ahead of the upcoming campaign.

A lot of money has been spent throughout the league and here are the biggest deals so far...

Julen Lopetegui's top target since becoming West Ham's manager was Kilman.

The Spaniard worked with the Englishman at Wolves and was a big fan of the centre-back.

Kilman has great technique and adds some much-needed youth and pace to the ageing West Ham defence.

The Hammers have splashed out a lot of money, but it should prove to be worth it.

Aston Villa broke their transfer record to sign Onana from Everton.

The Belgian midfielder returned from Euro 2024 and completed his £50million move to Villa Park soon after.

Villa fought off interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich to get the deal done.

Onana will replace Douglas Luiz in Unai Emery's midfield as they compete in the Premier League and Europe this campaign.

Chelsea announced the signing of Neto during pre-season as they continued to bring in new players.

Neto has joined the Blues from Wolves for £51.4million to bolster Enzo Maresca's already jam-packed squad.

The winger was said to be in tears as he left Wolves' training ground and said goodbye to his teammates.

It was an emotional decision for him, but all focus will now be on finding a place in the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge this season.

His £52million switch to Manchester United saw him follow Joshua Zirkzee through the door.

The French centre-back featured in pre-season and was expected to play a big part in defence for Ten Hag's side.

However, he has suffered an injury that will keep him out for the first months of the season, delaying his competitive debut for now.

Tottenham broke their transfer record this summer by signing Bournemouth striker Solanke.

Ange Postecoglou got his man for a whopping price of £55million up front, with the fee rising to £65million with add-ons.

Solanke has signed a six-year deal at the club, having been rewarded with a move following a brilliant last campaign.

He netted 19 goals in the Premier League, which was his best-ever season in the top flight, and now he'll be looking to replicate that form for Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur narrowly missed out on the top four last time out. Can they return to the Champions League this season?

⚡My quick betting tip

Tottenham Hotspur to finish in the top four at 9/4 with BetVictor

⚽ Tottenham Hotspur last season overview

Tottenham Hotspur were the early pace-setters in the Premier League last term, as Ange Postecoglou very quickly got to grips with his new squad. Spurs sat at the summit of the standings after 10 games, but a 4-1 loss to Chelsea precipitated a dip in form. Within just three weeks, Tottenham had dropped down to fifth.

That is where they finished the campaign, missing out on the top four by two points. Postecoglou’s side had a terrible end to 2024/25, losing five of their last seven games to miss out on the final Champions League qualification spot to Aston Villa. Spurs, in short, shot themselves in the foot, but they did at least secure a place in the Europa League.

⚽ Tottenham Hotspur manager

It did not take long for Postecoglou to win over the Tottenham Hotspur faithful last time out. That was in part due to positive early results - what set of fans would not be happy with a table-topping team at the end of October? But Postecoglou’s attack-minded style of play was just as important to winning over a group of supporters that had grown tired of the dreary, defence-first football served up by Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

“I've tried to stay true to that my whole career, and what I'm really passionate about in the game is the joy and excitement it brings to supporters and people who love it,” he said last year. “That is the way I want my teams to play and that is the way I want players to play. From that perspective, it is sometimes not easy because you usually just get judged on one thing and that is winning games of football. But I've tried to sort of stay true to that core of why I love the game.”

⚽ Tottenham Hotspur transfers

Tottenham Hotspur splashed out £40m on Archie Gray, a talented teenage midfielder from Leeds United, while Lucas Bergvall has also arrived in north London. The headline signing so far, though, is Dominic Solanke, who will spearhead Postecoglou’s team this season. Kyle Walker-Peters has been linked with a return to his former club, while Spurs are also thought to be eyeing Ebere Eze of Crystal Palace.

Joe Rodon, Troy Parrott, Nile John and Yago Santiago have left the club, but none of those absentees will be keenly felt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Postecoglou’s squad is stronger than it was last year.

⚽ Tottenham Hotspur objective for the season

Tottenham Hotspur grew accustomed to Champions League football during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure, even reaching the final in 2019. But they have been in and out of the competition since then and will be targeting a return next season. To guarantee that, Spurs must finish in the top four, although fifth may prove to be enough depending on how well English clubs perform in continental competition.

Of course, the north Londoners are even more desperate for a first trophy since 2008. Spurs could do with a run deep into at least one of the FA Cup, EFL Cup or Europa League along with their Premier League objective. For those backing Tottenham to achieve success this season, placing bets on their matches through the best football betting sites could be a rewarding option.

⚽ Tottenham Hotspur strengths

Tottenham Hotspur can play some lovely football when they are in full flow. The club’s motto is “to dare is to do” and, with Postecoglou calling the shots, this Spurs side lives up to it. Tottenham take risks with and without the ball, but when everything clicks they are a joy to watch.

Spurs also had a strong record in the second half last season. Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal performed better after the break than Postecoglou’s side. Tottenham kept playing until the final whistle, helped by the confidence gleaned from having a clear identity and defined style of play.

With a demanding set of fixtures ahead, maintaining this resilience will be crucial as they navigate the challenges of the upcoming season.

⚽ Tottenham Hotspur weaknesses

Tottenham Hotspur had an unwelcome habit of going behind in games last term, particularly at home. Indeed, the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium scored the first goal in nine out of 19 matches. That led to some thrilling comebacks, but Spurs need to avoid giving their opponents a head-start so often.

They could also do with tightening up at the back. Spurs gave up 61 goals last time out - too many for a club that is aiming to be among the division’s leading quartet. Postecoglou’s side must become more defensively resolute.

💰 What do I bet on?

Tottenham Hotspur to finish in the top four at 9/4 with BetVictor. In their second season under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs can secure a place in the Champions League.

Other Premier League club overviews

Arsenal

Brentford

Bournemouth

Brighton & Hove Albion

Chelsea

Aston Villa

Read more about the 2024/25 football season

Premier League winner odds

Premier League top 4 finish odds

Championship promotion odds

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Yves Bissouma will miss the start of the season after being suspended by Tottenham.

The midfielder apologised after posting a video of himself inhaling nitrous oxide on social media.

The Mali international uploaded clips of himself using the Class C drug - known as 'hippy crack' - onto Snapchat last weekend.

Bissouma could be seen laughing between taking hits of the balloon in footage he shared to his fans.

The incident came just hours after Spurs' final pre-season clash, where they lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich in the Visit Malta Cup.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou revealed that he has been suspended by the club for their Premier League opener against Leicester on Monday.

Postecoglou said: "Been in the game for a long time, when a situation like this arises, I've tried to look at them in a couple of ways. First there's a person and it's Biss and he's made a poor decision.

"There are still sanctions involved, and some of those are educational. He is a footballer with responsibilities.

"He won't be available on Monday. We've suspended him from Monday's game.

"He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group."

Bissouma himself issued a statement apologising shortly after the video was picked up.

He said: "I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgement

"I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved.

"And I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

As part of the Government's anti-social behaviour action plan last November, nitrous oxide was made a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs act.

This means that possession of the so-called 'laughing gas' with the intent to get high illegal.

Repeat offenders could face a two-year jail sentence, along with an unlimited fine.

Dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide can lead to nerve damage, depression, brain disorders and hallucinations as well as memory loss.

The incident is a major blow to Spurs ahead of their Premier League season opener away at Leicester.

Bissouma has starred in pre-season for the north Londoners, where he scored a superb solo effort in the 2-0 win over QPR at Loftus Road.

The ex-Brighton man rediscovered his form under Ange Postecoglou last season, where he proved to be a key player - making 28 top-flight appearances.