The Mirror

Rafael van der Vaart has labelled England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice as 'useless' following the Three Lions' Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Former West Ham star Rice endured a difficult evening in Berlin as England came up short and struggled to claim much in the way of possession against their opponents. Spain controlled the match and were able to earn victory through Mikel Oyarzabal's 86th-minute goal, after Nico Williams saw his effort cancelled out by Cole Palmer.

Ex-Tottenham ace Van der Vaart took aim at Rice's performance at the Olympiastadion and brought up his disbelief in the transfer fee he commanded. The 25-year-old signed for Arsenal 12 months ago for £105million after also drawing interest from the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

Van der Vaart is aghast that Rice is not more progressive with his passing however. The Dutchman was forthright in his criticism.

"€100m for Declan Rice. What does he do?," Van der Vaart exclaimed on NOS. "He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless. If you are truly worth €100m, then you should be able to play a ball forward."

Rice has earned 58 England caps, albeit after featuring three times for the Republic of Ireland. The central midfielder has now played in the final of the European Championships twice but finished runner-up on both occasions, and also fell agonisingly short in the Premier League title race to Manchester City in 2023-24.

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Speaking ahead of the match, Rice was keen to see England boss Gareth Southgate remain in charge of the side for the World Cup. “I woke up to the news this morning that the FA wanted him to stay until ’26," he said.

"This journey and this road that he has been on has been so special,” Rice said. Hopefully we can do something special for him for sure and I know for a fact the lads would love him to stay on until ’26, there’s no doubt about that.

"The way he looks after us, how calm he is, how he is as a man-manager, how he is on the training pitch with us, he’s top.

“But none of us have spoken to him. That’s none of our business. Whatever he wants to do, whatever makes him happy, I’m sure he’ll make the right decision. But I’m sure he’s got the backing of everyone to stay on.”

Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement which will see the London club surrender a previously agreed bonus for Dele Alli, it has been claimed.

Dele moved to the Merseyside club in January 2022 after seeing his Spurs opportunities limited. The midfielder joined on a free transfer, though there were a number of potential bonuses in the deal - including if the former England international signed a new deal at Goodison Park.

After being used sparingly by Frank Lampard, he was loaned to Besiktas for the 2022-23 season. Sean Dyche had replaced Frank Lampard in the Everton dugout by the time he returned, though injuries have meant the current boss hasn't been able to give Dele a single minute of football.

The 28-year-old's contract with Everton expired in June, but he has been receiving treatment for an injury with the club. According to The Mail, Everton have come to an agreement with Spurs which means they'll be able to offer him a fresh deal without triggering a 'significant' payment to the London side.

Dele's last football of any kind came in February 2023, when he played 45 minutes for Besiktas in a Super Lig match against Antalyaspor. A muscle injury kept him out of action for the remainder of that season, and he suffered a fresh setback when he was nearing a potential Everton first-team return.

The last of his Everton outings came in August 2022, shortly before his move to Turkey. He has made just 13 Premier League appearances during his injury-hit time on Merseyside, and has spoken openly about the mental health struggles he has encountered during his career.

However, there remains a sense from some that Dele has time to rebuild his career. He is still in his twenties, and the 37 England caps he won at Spurs point to a player with undoubted talent.

Should Everton sign Dele to a new contract? Have your say in the comments section

Despite not making it onto the pitch last season, Dele played an important role behind the scenes. Everton secured Premier League survival with games to spare, despite behind handed two points deductions over the course of the campaign.

"I don't think he would mind me sharing that there probably was a period when it was drifting for him," Dyche said in November. "He had a lot going on. Once that [his mental health battle] came out, it has allowed him the chance to focus on his football and he has been very involved in terms of absorbing.

"He can't get out on the grass with us yet but he is looking at it and he is absorbing what the input from myself and the staff has been. He is clear minded now. It was very difficult what he was going through, of course. We know that. But he is very willing to share, give an opinion.

"By the way, I am not on about the fact that I am calling him in for an hour, every day, and we are having these big in-depth chats. It's a case of us having a coffee in the canteen. You'll say: 'Hey, Dele, how is it going? What are your thoughts?' He'll point out little things: 'I thought that, I thought this.' It's just a natural combination where we like players to share a view."

Everton are in discussions with Tottenham Hotspur regarding Dele Alli's future as they continue to aid his recovery from injury.

The 28-year-old is currently training at Finch Farm, having been offered Everton's support in overcoming the groin issue that sidelined him last season. Despite being out of contract, the conditions of his transfer from Tottenham to Merseyside could complicate any attempts by Everton to offer him a new deal.

The Liverpool Echo understands that Everton are negotiating with Spurs to revise the original terms of the agreement. If successful, Dele may have the chance to prove himself during pre-season. These talks are the latest in an ongoing dialogue between the two clubs about the player.

Last season, when he seemed on the verge of returning after surgery, there were discussions about the terms of his January 2022 transfer - which made efforts to assist Dele's recovery difficult due to the payments that would have been required if he had reached performance milestones.

Although no breakthrough was achieved, these became irrelevant when the England international suffered an unfortunate setback in training to his groin injury, which ultimately prevented him from playing last season.

Dele has been putting in the graft during the off-season, hitting training camps in Portugal and London before arriving at Finch Farm right at the start of Everton's pre-season on Monday. The Toffees have been backing him all the way in his recovery journey.

The future of Dele's stint with the Blues hangs in the balance, hinging on ongoing discussions between Everton and Tottenham. If talks pan out, Dele might just snag the opportunity to argue for a fresh contract this summer.

Despite not yet gracing the pitch under Sean Dyche's management, Dele has already established a solid rapport with the Everton gaffer. Last season saw Dyche praising Dele's savvy football brain, highlighting how it helps in relaying tactical concepts to the squad.

Dyche shared his insights last November, saying: "You forget that he has experienced some really big things in football. He's played in a Champions League final, he's played in a World Cup semi-final. These are amazing things he's experienced.

"People, sometimes, lose sight of that. I'm not accusing anyone of anything, that's just the way it is. He's worked with some really big managers, very good managers with interesting ways of playing. Why wouldn't I go: 'Dele what's your thoughts? ' I trust these players."

Liverpool icon Javier Mascherano has backed up Lionel Messi’s claim that Cristian Romero is the “world’s best” defender.

Argentina international Romero has quietly impressed since his £42million move to Tottenham in 2021. But his performances for his country have earned the most praise, having played a key role in Argentina’s Copa America victory in 2021 and their World Cup success the following year.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi made his thoughts towards the 26-year-old very clear last year, telling journalists after a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador: "For me, he is the best defender in the world right now. Amazing performance tonight, man of the match."

With the centre-back now impressing again at the current edition of the Copa America, he has earned the praise of another one of his legendary compatriots - Liverpool and Barcelona’s former tough-tackling midfielder Mascherano.

Echoing Messi’s sentiment, Argentina U23s boss Mascherano said: "Cuti Romero is among the best centre-backs in the world, if he's not the best already. We don't know what his ceiling is.

"He has demonstrated it throughout the entire season at Tottenham. He has been a cornerstone player for the team, incredibly important, and the Tottenham coach has repeatedly praised him in big matches.

"I believe he is at an incredible level, a player with impressive abilities who continues to grow and improve. The level he is reaching is impressive."

Romero has been with Tottenham for three seasons after being named Serie A's Best Defender in 2020/21. He is an essential player for Spurs under Ange Postecoglou thanks to his robust tackling, aggression and slick passing, having only missed five league games last season.

With 18 Premier League clean sheets under his belt at Tottenham, Romero is keen to add another Copa America winners' medal to his collection by the time he returns to England this summer.

Liverpool icon Javier Mascherano has backed up Lionel Messi’s claim that Cristian Romero is the “world’s best” defender.

Argentina international Romero has quietly impressed since his £42million move to Tottenham in 2021. But his performances for his country have earned the most praise, having played a key role in Argentina’s Copa America victory in 2021 and their World Cup success the following year.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi made his thoughts towards the 26-year-old very clear last year, telling journalists after a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador: "For me, he is the best defender in the world right now. Amazing performance tonight, man of the match."

With the centre-back now impressing again at the current edition of the Copa America, he has earned the praise of another one of his legendary compatriots - Liverpool and Barcelona’s former tough-tackling midfielder Mascherano.

Echoing Messi’s sentiment, Argentina U23s boss Mascherano said: "Cuti Romero is among the best centre-backs in the world, if he's not the best already. We don't know what his ceiling is.

"He has demonstrated it throughout the entire season at Tottenham. He has been a cornerstone player for the team, incredibly important, and the Tottenham coach has repeatedly praised him in big matches.

"I believe he is at an incredible level, a player with impressive abilities who continues to grow and improve. The level he is reaching is impressive."

Romero has been with Tottenham for three seasons after being named Serie A's Best Defender in 2020/21. He is an essential player for Spurs under Ange Postecoglou thanks to his robust tackling, aggression and slick passing, having only missed five league games last season.

With 18 Premier League clean sheets under his belt at Tottenham, Romero is keen to add another Copa America winners' medal to his collection by the time he returns to England this summer.

Sergio Reguilon is expected to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, and it appears Manchester United are a candidate to bring the defender back to Old Trafford.

Spurs full back Reguilon spent the first half of last season on loan at Old Trafford, having initially expected to have a place under new boss Ange Postecoglou. The Spaniard had an inconsistent time working under Erik ten Hag, as he came in and out of the team before United ended his time with the club prematurely in the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old made 12 appearances for the Red Devils during his short spell, but reports in Spain suggest the club could yet be a surprise destination for the former Sevilla star. Reguilon, who arrived at Tottenham in a £28million deal in 2020, had more joy on loan at Brentford last term where he made 16 appearances and provided four assists.

West Ham and Juventus are listed among the other candidates for Reguilon's signature. Julen Lopetegui is set to enter his first season in charge of the Irons and presided over Reguilon's most successful season in 2019/20 with Sevilla.

Despite a truncated time at Old Trafford, Reguilon appears to bear no ill will towards Man United. The Real Madrid youth product delivered a positive parting message when he departed at the beginning of 2024.

"It has been great to play for Manchester United and I just want to say thank you to the club, the fans and my teammates," he said. "It was a privilege to play for this huge club. I wish all the best for the Red Devils."

After joining the club to start 2023/24, Reguilon was enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Ten Hag. In a club interview Reguilon said of the Dutchman: "He wanted me to come and I wanted to come here too. It was all very easy.

"Now I am here and we have been speaking in training about what he wants from his left-back. I think we share the same philosophy. He likes hard workers and I love working hard, I think we're on exactly the same page."

While United have been linked with a move to Reguilon, their priorities remain in other positions. The club are planning to land a centre-back, midfielder and striker in the coming weeks despite their budget starting at £50m before player sales.

Sergio Reguilon is expected to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, and it appears Manchester United are a candidate to bring the defender back to Old Trafford.

Spurs full back Reguilon spent the first half of last season on loan at Old Trafford, having initially expected to have a place under new boss Ange Postecoglou. The Spaniard had an inconsistent time working under Erik ten Hag, as he came in and out of the team before United ended his time with the club prematurely in the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old made 12 appearances for the Red Devils during his short spell, but reports in Spain suggest the club could yet be a surprise destination for the former Sevilla star. Reguilon, who arrived at Tottenham in a £28million deal in 2020, had more joy on loan at Brentford last term where he made 16 appearances and provided four assists.

West Ham and Juventus are listed among the other candidates for Reguilon's signature. Julen Lopetegui is set to enter his first season in charge of the Irons and presided over Reguilon's most successful season in 2019/20 with Sevilla.

Despite a truncated time at Old Trafford, Reguilon appears to bear no ill will towards Man United. The Real Madrid youth product delivered a positive parting message when he departed at the beginning of 2024.

"It has been great to play for Manchester United and I just want to say thank you to the club, the fans and my teammates," he said. "It was a privilege to play for this huge club. I wish all the best for the Red Devils."

After joining the club to start 2023/24, Reguilon was enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Ten Hag. In a club interview Reguilon said of the Dutchman: "He wanted me to come and I wanted to come here too. It was all very easy.

"Now I am here and we have been speaking in training about what he wants from his left-back. I think we share the same philosophy. He likes hard workers and I love working hard, I think we're on exactly the same page."

While United have been linked with a move to Reguilon, their priorities remain in other positions. The club are planning to land a centre-back, midfielder and striker in the coming weeks despite their budget starting at £50m before player sales.

Newcastle wasted no time bringing in a replacement for sporting director Dan Ashworth after his move to Manchester United, with ex- Tottenham transfer chief Paul Mitchell coming in at St James’ Park.

The Magpies have been preparing for the exit of Ashworth for some time after United made an approach at the start of the year, with the 53-year-old placed on gardening leave by Newcastle in February after he asked to move to Old Trafford.

United have since been attempting to negotiate a compensation fee – with Newcastle demanding around £20m – but a compromise in the region of £12million was reached, Ashworth went and Mitchell has now arrived.

He is seen as a coup for Newcastle after orchestrating a handful of impressive deals at previous clubs – having spotted a number of starlets who went on to become big name stars. So, which of Mitchell’s signings have been the most successful ahead of a big summer at Newcastle? Mirror Football takes a look at his top 10...

Davis might not be a household name around the world, but he’ll go down as a Saints favourite after making 226 appearances across seven seasons at St Mary's.

Mitchell signed the experienced midfielder from Rangers in 2012 after their promotion to the Premier League, and he became an instrumental player. He scored a total of 14 goals for Southampton, but it was his influential displays in the middle of the park that caught the eye.

Davis, who later retired aged 39, was Northern Ireland’s most capped player and was compared by ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino to Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

Another smart piece of business for Southampton as Mitchell brought in the Serbian from FC Twente for around £10m in 2014. The winger was a great addition for Southampton as they made a raft of signings for Ronald Koeman’s first season, scoring five times in his debut campaign. He’d go on to make 164 appearances, netting 24 goals in that time.

It was at Ajax, however, where Tadic’s career really came alive. He won six trophies with the Dutch outfit after joining them for around £9m in 2018, reaching the Champions League semi-finals in his first season. T

Tadic now plays for Fenerbache and has just enjoyed a season that saw him net 16 times in 56 outings.

The Spaniard started his career with Barcelona but was forced to move to Dinamo Zagreb to get playing time. After impressing in the country’s top division, Mitchell brought him to RB Leipzig in January 2020, one of his final signings with the German club.

Olmo went from being relatively unknown to being one of Europe’s most talented midfielders. He’s since played 148 times, scoring 29 and often linked with moves to Europe’s elite.

Barcelona have been credited with long-term interest in Olmo and are rumoured to be keen on bringing him their boyhood talent back to the Nou Camp this summer.

A great find by Mitchell as he brought in young French defender Mukiele from Montpellier in one of his first signings in Germany in 2018, with the Bundesliga side paying around £13.5m. At the time, the right-back was just 20 years old and didn’t boast a huge reputation, but at Leipzig he turned the heads of major European sides with a series of solid displays across four seasons in Germany.

Mukiele went on to play 146 times for Leipzig and became one of the brightest talents in Europe, with PSG later bringing him back to France in 2022.

Kieran Trippier's arrival at Tottenham in 2015 might have flown under the radar at the time, after joining from Burnley for just £3.5m, but now it will go down as a sign of Mitchell’s unique eye for talent – with the right-back now flourishing for both Newcastle and England.

At first, he found game time hard to come by at Spurs as he competed for the right-back spot with Kyle Walker, but after his rival left for Manchester City in 2017-18, he became first choice.

After falling out of favour with Mauricio Pochettino in 2019-20, however, he was sold to Atletico Madrid, where he enjoyed three superb seasons in LaLiga before earning a £12m move to Newcastle, where he has gone from strength to strength under Eddie Howe.

A favourite of Mitchell’s, having signed him twice – at both Southampton and Tottenham.

The Belgian centre-back was brought to St Mary’s on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2014 and enjoyed a stand-out season under Ronald Koeman. Midway through that campaign, Mitchell joined Spurs and the following summer he was instrumental in bringing him with him to north London - noticing that Alderweireld had some of the top defensive stats of any player in the 2014-15 Premier League season.

The Ajax academy star went on to become one of the most highly-rated defenders in the division and ended up playing 236 games for Spurs, including a Champions League final appearance.

Nkunku was a highly-rated prospect at PSG after coming out of their youth system, but was never going to be a regular first team option, having battled for a starting berth with quality forwards like Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar.

So Mitchell brought him to Leipzig in 2019 to offer him more minutes. While he took a while before he began firing on all cylinders, Nkunku played 44 times in his first season, and another 40 the following campaign. The 2021-22 season was where he really took off, netting 35 times in 52 games, before scoring 23 the following year.

That impressive form earned him a £52m switch to Chelsea, though he was frustrated by niggling injuries in his debut season. He managed three goals in 11 appearances in 2023-24 but will be seen as one of the team’s main goalscoring threats next season.

A player of remarkable talent who was tipped for super-stardom – and lit up the Premier League for a number of years in his early career – but one who has sadly deteriorated.

Alli was brought in by Spurs from MK Dons for just £5m, a deal which is seen as one of the best pieces of business given the incredible performances he went on to deliver. He scored 46 goals in his first three seasons as he became one of Pochettino’s go-to players, dazzling supporters with some sensational strikes and passages of play. It’s a testament to Alli’s early talent that Man United’s legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Jose Mourinho to buy him for Manchester United as his only piece of advice to the Special One.

Alli played 269 times, including in the 2018-19 Champions League final, before a loss of form saw him sold to Everton in 2021-22.

Not many people had heard of Mane when he arrived at Southampton from Red Bull Salzburg in 2014 for just £11m, despite scoring 45 times in 87 games for the Austrian outfit.

He made a great first impression in the Premier League, though, scoring 25 times in his first two seasons on the south coast to turn heads across the country. It wasn’t long before Liverpool came calling, with Jurgen Klopp bringing him to Anfield for £34m in 2016.

The Senegalese forward would become a club favourite and a key player as he helped the Reds win the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020, netting 120 goals from 269 appearances. He also won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Mane now plays in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Son has become a household name – at Tottenham and across the world.

Paul Mitchell probably had no idea the South Korean would be as big a hit as he has been after spending the last nine season at Spurs. Mitchell signed Son for a relative bargain of £22m from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and he’s since entered the club’s top five all-time goalscorers – with 162 goals in total - and become club captain after the exit of Harry Kane, who he enjoyed a sensational partnership with.

A sea of South Korean fans are often spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium each week and the club have done incredibly well to profit from his popularity in Asia, with Son seen as a major commercial success too.

Premier League sides are already very busy when it comes to the summer transfer window.

Every single side in the top flight have announced a deal one way or another. Title contenders Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have all confirmed some outgoings.

Elsewhere, the Premier League’s new boys Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester have all been busy ahead of the new campaign. This summer’s business has got off to a swift start after last week’s PSR deadline.

Clubs still have until Friday, August 30 to get any deals they want to do over the line so expect a lot more over the coming weeks. With that being said, take a look at all of this summer’s confirmed deals from the Premier League so far:

Arsenal

In: N/A

Out: Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham, free), Cedric Soares (released), Mohamed Elneny (released)

Aston Villa

In: Ian Maatsen (Chelsea, £37.5m), Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus, £11.8m), Enzo Barrenechea (Juventus, £18.6m), Lewis Dobbin ( Everton, £10m), Ross Barkley (Luton, undisclosed)

Out: Douglas Luiz (Juventus, £42.4m), Tim Iroegbunam (Everton, £9m), Morgan Sanson (Nice, £3.3m), Omari Kellyman (Chelsea, £19m)

Bournemouth

In: Luis Sinisterra (Leeds, £20m), Enes Unal (Getafe, £13m), Alex Paulsen (Wellington Phoenix, £850k)

Out: Lloyd Kelly ( Newcastle, free), Jamal Lowe (Sheffield Weds, free), Emiliano Marcondes (released), Darren Randolph (released), Ryan Fredericks (released)

Who is the best signing of the summer so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Brentford

In: Igor Thiago (Club Brugge, £30m)

Out: Ellery Balcombe (St Mirren, loan), Shandon Baptiste (released), Saman Ghoddos (released), Charlie Goode (released)

Brighton

In: Yankuba Minteh (Newcastle, £30m), Ibrahim Osman (Nordsjaelland, £16m)

Out: Adam Lallana (Southampton, free), Steven Alzate (released)

Chelsea

In: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester, £30m), Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa, £19m), Marc Guiu (Barcelona, £5m), Tosin Adarabioyo ( Fulham, free)

Out: Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa, £37.5m), Lewis Hall (£28m, Newcastle), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich, £22m), Thiago Silva (Fluminense, free), Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray, free)

Crystal Palace

In: Chadi Riad (Real Betis, £12m), Daichi Kamada (Lazio, free)

Out: Nathan Ferguson (released), James Tomkins (free), Jairo Riedewald (free)

Everton

In: Tim Iroegbunam (Aston Villa, £9m)

Out: Lewis Dobbin (Aston Villa, £10m), Ben Godfrey (Atalanta, £11m), Andy Lonergan (Wigan, free), Dele Alli (released), Andre Gomes (released)

Fulham

In: N/A

Out: Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea, free), Marek Rodak (released), Tyrese Francois (released), Terence Kongolo (released)

Ipswich

In: Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea, £22m), Ben Johnson (West Ham, free)

Out: Kayden Jackson (Derby, free), Nick Hayes (Barnet, free), Dominic Ball (released), Panutche Camara (released), Vaclav Hladky (released), Sone Aluko (released)

Leicester

In: N/A

Out: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea, £30m), Lewis Brunt (Wrexham, undisclosed), Kelechi Iheanacho (released), Marc Albrighton (released), Dennis Praet (released)

Liverpool

In: N/A

Out: Calvin Ramsay (Wigan, loan), Joel Matip (released), Adrian (released), Thiago Alcantara (released)

Manchester City

In: N/A

Out: Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton, £20m), Tommy Doyle (Wolves, £5m)

Manchester United

In: N/A

Out: Alvaro Fernandez (Benfica, £5m), Omari Forson (Monza, free), Anthony Martial (released), Brandon Williams (released), Raphael Varane (released), Shola Shoretire (released)

Newcastle United

In: Lewis Hall (Chelsea, £28m), Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth, free), John Ruddy (Birmingham, free), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Nottm Forest, undisclosed)

Out: Elliot Anderson (Nottm Forest, £35m), Yankuba Minteh (Brighton, £30m), Kell Watts (Cambridge, free), Paul Dummett (released), Loris Karius (released), Matt Ritchie (released), Jeff Hendrick (released)

Nottingham Forest

In: Elliot Anderson (Newcastle, £35m), Marko Stamenic (Red Star, £5.5m), Eric da Silva Moreira (St Pauli, £1.25m)

Out: Orel Mangala (Lyon, £15m), Remo Freuler (Bologna, undisclosed), Brandon Aguilera (Rio Ave, undisclosed), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Newcastle, undisclosed), Marko Stamenic (Olympiakos, loan), Harry Arter (released), Felipe (released), Loic Mbe Soh (released), Scott McKenna (released), Chiekhou Kouyate (released), Wayne Hennessey (released)

Southampton

In: Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Man City, £20m), Charlie Taylor (Burnley, free), Adam Lallana (Brighton, free)

Out: Romain Perraud (Real Betis, £3m), Stuart Armstrong (released)

Tottenham

In: Archie Gray (Leeds, £30m), Lucas Bergvall (Djurgarden, £8.5m)

Out: Joe Rodon (Leeds, £10m), Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split, free), Eric Dier (Bayern Munich, free), Tanguy Ndombele (released), Ryan Sessegnon (released), Japhet Tangana (released)

West Ham

In: Luis Guilherme (Palmeiras, £25.5m), Wes Foderingham (Sheff Utd, free)

Out: Said Benrahma (Lyon, £12m), Thilo Kehrer (Monaco, £9.5m), Nathan Trott (Copenhagen, undisclosed), Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s, free), Ben Johnson (Ipswich, free), Angelo Ogbonna (released), Divin Mubamba (released)

Wolves

In: Rodrigo Gomes (Braga, £12.7m), Pedro Lima (Sport Recife, £8.5m), Tommy Doyle (Man City, £5m), Jørgen Strand Larsen (Celta Vigo, loan)

Out: Bendeguz Bolla (Rapid Vienna, free)

Cody Gakpo played like a man possessed to help book the Netherlands' place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 via an emphatic 3-0 victory over Romania in Munich.

The red-hot Liverpool attacker was a persistent threat all afternoon at the Allianz Arena as he tormented his blue-haired marker and Brighton target Andrei Ratiu from the left flank, scoring and assisting for Ronald Koeman's rejuvenated side.

Gakpo broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when he cut inside Romania right-back Ratiu and slammed home inside the near post in venomous fashion. It was his third goal of the tournament meaning he is now the joint top-goalscorer at Euro 2024 alongside Georgia hotshot Georges Mikautadze.

If Gakpo maintains this level of potency, he will undoubtedly feel like a new signing for Liverpool this summer - and an upgrade on Luis Diaz - following the arrival of fellow Dutchman Arne Slot.

While he still put credible numbers, 16 goals and six assists, on the board for the Reds in all competitions last season, he struggled to maintain consistency due to frequent positional rotation. But on this evidence, there can be no doubt that his best position is when he's flying inside from the left and unleashing shots at will.

Stefan de Vrij had Romania goalkeeper Florin Nita scrambling when he headed against the side netting before Tottenham centre-back Radu Dragusin came to his nation's rescue, blocking Denzel Dumfries' pass across goal to Memphis Depay.

Holland were undeniably wasteful and could have been out of sight had they been more clinical in the final third. Romanian substitute Bogdan Racovitan dallies trying to shepherd the ball out of play, Dumfries robbed him blind and found Xavi Simons, who couldn't adjust his feet in time to finish.

Dumfries' athleticism was a persistent thorn in Romania's backline and the marauding Inter Milan wing-back appeared to be tugged back at the far post by Ianis Hagi, however, German referee Felix Zwayer wasn't interested.

Gakpo led Holland's relentless pursuit of a killer second after the interval when he let fly from 25-yards, stinging Nita's palms, before seeing a goal chalked off by VAR for offside. Yet the setback only appeared to spur him on as he combined admirably with midfield sub Joey Veerman, who curled narrowly wide as he chased a moment of redemption following his embarrassing 35th-minute withdrawal in the 3-2 defeat to Austria in Berlin.

Sub Donyell Malen then finally doubled Holland's advantage when Gakpo refused to give up on what seemed a lost cause, Romanian defensive stalwart Dragusin assumed the ball was heading out of the play but the Liverpool man swooped in, squaring to his grateful team-mate to turn in.

Malen then added gloss to the scoreline when he collected the ball from the left, danced inside and smashed home with aplomb before questionably celebrating in front of Romania's dejected supporters. This was an impressive response from Oranje, even if they did not need to get out of second gear, following a wretched showing against Austria in Berlin. Now there should be internal confidence that they possess the tools, momentum and ambition to at least reach the semi-finals.