Sky Sports

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...

DAILY MAIL

Free agent Jamie Vardy has emerged as a surprise target for Napoli after the Italian champions added the 38-year-old to their list of options after Romelu Lukaku was ruled out for three months with injury. Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson is another target, but could prove too expensive.

Transfer Centre LIVE! Deals, rumours, news on your phone

Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from this season

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺

Download the Sky Sports app

THE SUN

Jamie Vardy has his “heart set” on a move to Celtic and an emotional reunion with Brendan Rodgers as he targets playing on until he is 40.

Eberechi Eze’s transfer from Crystal Palace is not expected to happen before the Eagles’ Conference League tie on Thursday.

Crystal Palace have already identified a potential replacement in Wolves’ Hee-Chan Hwang for Eberechi Eze amid Tottenham's intense interest.

Newcastle will launch an improved £35m bid for Brentford star Yoane Wissa after already having a £30m bid rejected.

Chelsea failed with a £30m player-plus-cash bid to West Ham for Mohammed Kudus before he signed for Tottenham.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho has been stalled by the West London club’s steep valuation of Christopher Nkunku.

Inter Milan are monitoring Andre Onana’s situation at Manchester United, as speculation grows over the goalkeeper’s future.

Arsenal have been told to lower their demands for Fabio Vieira as they attempt to offload several players before the end of the transfer window.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Chelsea are prepared to consider loan proposals for Raheem Sterling as they attempt to secure the exits of eight more players before the transfer window shuts in two weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur have delivered an early-season statement of intent by making Cristian Romero the club’s highest-paid player with a new contract until 2029.

Crystal Palace are close to appointing former Wolverhampton Wanderers sporting director Matt Hobbs in a restructure of their football operations department.

NFL teams have defended the use of male cheerleaders following a backlash after 12 franchises signed up performers for the 2025 season.

THE TIMES

Bayern Munich have failed with an approach to sign Christopher Nkunku on loan as Chelsea insist on a permanent sale.

Crystal Palace have made an approach for Bilal El Khannouss, whose arrival could lead to the sale of Eberechi Eze to Tottenham Hotspur.

Bournemouth plan to bring in support through the Professional Footballers’ Association for Antoine Semenyo this week after the winger accused a spectator of racial abuse at Anfield on Friday night.

THE INDEPENDENT

Tottenham Hotspur have edged closer to a deal to sign Eberechi Eze after encountering difficulties over the weekend in negotiations with Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace are considering Rennes talent Jeremy Jacquet should Marc Guehi join Liverpool, although that move remains very much in the balance.

Fulham sounded out Manchester United over a potential move for Rasmus Hojlund due to the possibility of Rodrigo Muniz leaving the Whites this summer.

THE GUARDIAN

Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of Eberechi Eze by holding further talks regarding signing the England forward, but Crystal Palace want to line up a replacement before sanctioning his sale.

DAILY MIRROR

Tottenham are pushing hard to complete a £60m deal for Eberechi Eze - but may have to wait until the weekend. And Crystal Palace are also playing hardball over England defender Marc Guehi and talks with Liverpool have stalled over a potential move to Anfield.

SCOTTISH SUN

Celtic are set to bank a seven-figure sum from Ben Doak’s £25m move from Liverpool to Bournemouth.

DAILY RECORD

Dundee have held talks with Celtic over Colby Donovan.

Celtic are set to hand young goalkeeper Marcus Gill a new deal.

Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from this season

From this season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be on Sky Sports.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has signed a new long-term contract with the club to end the uncertainty over his future.

Sky Sports News understands the 27-year-old has penned a four-year deal to keep him at the club until the summer of 2029.

The Argentina international's fresh terms are a huge boost to Spurs, with Romero having just two years left on his previous deal, and he was of interest to Atletico Madrid this summer.

Transfer Centre LIVE! | Tottenham news & transfers⚪

Spurs fixtures & scores | FREE highlights▶️

Got Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺

The defender's deal comes just five days after he was named as the club's new captain by boss Thomas Frank following the departure of Heung-Min Son to LAFC.

Frank wanted Romero future guarantees before taking Spurs job

Sky Sports News understands Romero's new contract was drawn up once he was made captain.

Spurs acted quickly to tie Romero down to an extension, as he was into the final two years of his previous deal, while the new contract ensures the north London club protect his value.

It is also understood Spurs never considered Atletico's interest in Romero, and keeping the centre-back was a priority this summer.

The future of Romero is understood to have been key to discussions with Frank when he was appointed Spurs boss in June.

Frank chose to make Romero captain when it was decided that Son was leaving, and Romero is believed to be extremely happy with the way things have gone in the first few months under the Dane.

Romero scored in his first game as Tottenham skipper last week in the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, before helping Spurs to victory in their Premier League season opener on Saturday in a 3-0 home win over Burnley.

The World Cup winner has been a key player since arriving from Atalanta in the summer of 2021, having initially joined on a season-long loan before making the move permanent the following year for a fee in the region of £42m.

Romero was a crucial part of last season's Europa League glory, which ended the Spurs' 17-year trophy drought, as he was named player of the tournament.

He was also given the player of the match in the 1-0 final win over Manchester United in Bilbao.

But there were doubts around Romero's future despite the Europa League success as he sent out a cryptic message on social media in the wake of Ange Postecoglou's dismissal in June. In the message, he praised his achievements with the line, "despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist."

However, Romero has now begun life under Frank strongly and is targeting more silverware under the ex-Brentford boss.

Why Frank chose 'respected' Romero as captain

Speaking last Friday, Frank praised Romero and explained why he had chosen him as his skipper.

"I see a very big and very good player. What I like about him and why I have chosen him as captain is his leadership qualities on the pitch," the 51-year-old said.

"There is a big respect for him from the players. Off the pitch as well he also sets the standards.

"The staff have said to me they've never seen him train that well. He's in a very good place. I see a player that will want to lead the team and push the team."

Spence signs new deal

Full-back Djed Spence has also signed a new deal at Spurs.

Versatile full-back Spence only signed fresh terms last October until 2028, but has been rewarded for a fine breakthrough campaign at Tottenham.

Spence made 35 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, after eventually being handed his full debut in December – two-and-a-half years after he first joined the club.

After Spence was deemed a “club signing” by former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte in 2022, he had mixed loans at Rennes, Leeds and Genoa, but forced his way into Postecoglou’s plans and has quickly gained the trust of Frank.

Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate uses a blend of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week:

Vicario highlights flexibility under Frank

Forest show signs of evolving their style

Man Utd's possession and the xG debate

Tottenham showing flexibility early

Having been in Udine to see Tottenham come close to doing a number on Paris Saint-Germain, the question was whether or not they would be able to adjust their style of play three days later against Burnley. Thomas Frank answered that emphatically.

The passing of Guglielmo Vicario illustrated that most clearly in their 3-0 win on Saturday. Having directed the ball long against PSG, the Spurs goalkeeper switched the focus to ball retention against Burnley, attempting only two kicks over the halfway line.

In fact, Spurs as a side attempted the most passes inside their own half of any team on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Frank pointed out afterwards that the move for Richarlison's second goal featured 17 passes - and included Vicario.

Richarlison impressed again and with 13 goals in his last 16 starts, is emerging once more as a robust alternative to Dominic Solanke. The Brazilian registered three shots on target inside the penalty box - equalling his record for any game in his Premier League career.

In midfield, Frank trusted two teenagers, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha dropping to the bench. At the back, Kevin Danso, the new long-throw specialist, made way to accommodate Brennan Johnson - who duly scored.

It has been a promising start for Frank, particularly given that he had to manage those midweek exertions in Italy. His flexibility was a factor in his appointment, having been a persistent source of criticism for his predecessor and he got the balance right against Burnley.

Spurs not only created, scoring three against a side that did not even concede two in a single league game last season, but did so while keeping a clean sheet - their first in this competition since February and as many as in their previous 18 home games.

It is Manchester City away next, which will be as difficult as it gets. But Frank has already shown supporters that he is capable of setting this team up in whatever way that the match situation demands. Keep a close eye on Vicario's pass choices in that one.

Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from this season

Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱

No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺

Forest's change of approach?

A build-up attack is defined as a sequence in open play that contains 10 or more passes and ends either in a shot on goal or at least a touch inside the box. The team that did that the most times on the opening Premier League weekend was Nottingham Forest.

Nuno Espirito Santo's team did it seven times in their 3-1 win over Brentford, which is unusual because the most they managed in any game last season was just five. They ranked bottom but one in the Premier League for build-up attacks during that campaign.

Of course, it was a hugely successful season for Forest in which they came so close to securing Champions League football. But their style was built on containment without the ball and counter-attacking with it - they ranked top for the direct speed of their attacks.

There was still evidence of that in beating Brentford. Chris Wood's second goal came from a transition and it is clear that Forest will keep setting the traps that did for so many last year. But against Brentford there were also examples of clever pressing, of a possession game.

Forest completed 126 passes in the final third - the most of any Premier League team. After a pre-season in which Nuno complained about the lack of additions and one that featured no fewer than five goalless draws, maybe they have added some new aspects, after all.

That could prove important. Had Forest beaten Leicester at home - or indeed Brentford at the City Ground - towards the back end of last season, it could have been enough for a top-five finish. The manner of this performance suggests Nuno is out to address that.

Man Utd's promising possession stats

Roy Keane may have bemoaned the erosion of standards that have led to Manchester United's home defeat to Arsenal being viewed as a positive step but the reality is that Ruben Amorim's side exceeded most expectations with their performance on Sunday.

It was not just that they caused one of the title favourites such problems but it was the way that they dominated the ball that surprised. Regardless of the game state, United have not done that against one of the top teams for a long time - and the stats back that up.

In Premier League matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City - last season's top four and the favourites to contend this time around - you have to go back almost a decade to find an example of United having 60 per cent of the possession.

All three examples since Sir Alex Ferguson left came under Louis van Gaal in 2015. If Amorim can begin to fuse the possession game of the Dutchman with the potent running power of new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha then there is hope.

Both Mbeumo and Cunha had chances to mark their Premier League debuts for the club with a goal. That they did not owes something to David Raya in the Arsenal goal and that dreaded phrase 'regression to the mean' that has been muttered about both men.

Mbeumo scored 20 goals for Brentford last season from an expected-goals tally of just 12.26. In every single game in which he had better chances than this last season, he scored. Remarkably, the same statistic was also true of Cunha. Rotten luck for United.

And yet, despite that disappointment, the overriding feeling is that if Amorim can keep getting the ball to his talented ball carriers in good areas then, whether it is Benjamin Sesko or Mason Mount up front with them, United will be a very different proposition this season.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Crystal Palace want to line up a replacement for Eberechi Eze before they consider selling him to Tottenham.

Among Palace's targets for a new No 10 is Club Brugge forward Christos Tzolis and Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss.

Transfer Centre LIVE! | Tottenham news & transfers⚪Palace news & transfers🦅

Spurs fixtures & scores | FREE highlights▶️

Got Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺

Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔

Negotiations are continuing between Spurs and Palace over a potential deal for Eze, who started in Sunday's goalless draw at Chelsea.

Oliver Glasner confirmed Eze's release clause has expired, putting Palace in a strong position. The 27-year-old has two years left on his contract at Selhurst Park.

The Palace boss said he also expects him to play in the next game - their UEFA Conference League first leg with Fredrikstad - on Thursday.

"Eb should have scored a goal today, he had one and it was disallowed," said Glasner.

"He will come tomorrow [Monday] to the training ground, Tuesday off, we take Wednesday and I expect him to be back playing for us against Fredrikstad."

Following the draw at Chelsea, Eze took a long time to leave the pitch at Stamford Bridge as his name was sung by Palace fans.

Spurs could provide deserved stage for Eze X-Factor

Analysis by Sky Sports' William Bitibiri:

"It feels like the perfect time for Eberechi Eze to make the move to Tottenham Hotspur. At 27 years old and the opportunity to play in the Champions League, the England forward will get the opportunity to bring his X-factor to a greater stage.

"Now entrenched into Crystal Palace folklore for his efforts to win the club's first major in the form of last May's FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City, Eze now has the chance to become the marquee face of Thomas Frank's new era at Tottenham.

"With Spurs having recently broken their trophy duck with a Europa League win and Eze following up his FA Cup heroics by lifting the Community Shield this month, the ambition from both parties for more makes the transfer sensible.

"Able to play in a variety of attacking areas, in Eze, Frank finds not only a perfect short-term interim for James Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season, but someone who could lessen his creative burden if the pair play together.

"The left area of the pitch is where Eze thrives, drifting inside to cause opposition problems. Whether that be as an advanced attacking midfielder or on the left flank, under Oliver Glasner he thrived with that freedom and responsibility.

"Eze has dreams to represent England at the World Cup next summer and has Premier League title visions set in his mind too. His arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be the platform for him to realise those ambitions."

Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from this season

From this season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be on Sky Sports.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hit back at rumours Eberechi Eze would not face Chelsea on Sunday amid transfer interest - and revealed the forward's release clause has expired.

Tottenham are in discussions with Palace over a deal for Eze as they look to add a new No 10 before the transfer deadline on September 1, and there had initially been doubts over whether he would feature at Stamford Bridge.

But Eze was named in Palace's starting line-up against Chelsea on the opening weekend of the Premier League and had a goal ruled out by an unusual law following a VAR check in the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Transfer Centre LIVE! | Crystal Palace news & transfers🦅

Got Sky? Watch Palace games LIVE on your phone📱

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺

Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔

"Don't always believe what you read, especially on the internet," said Glasner afterwards over the reports Eze wouldn't be involved. "And here it's the same, who tells you? Who knows that this is the truth, what is written? There are rumours and so many rumours, and everybody tells somebody something for their own advantage, maybe.

"I watch the players every single day in the training sessions. If most of the things that are written about them is true, they couldn't perform like this, the team couldn't be together like this, the team couldn't be committed to each other like they are. It's just not possible.

"He was picked because he's a Crystal Palace player and he's a very good Crystal Palace player. He trained the whole week, so there was no reason not to pick him."

Glasner then revealed Eze's £68m release clause has now expired. He said: "I'm quite calm, but I also know, we have two weeks to go, and I know Ebs' clause is gone, so it's the club's decision, and we will see what happens."

Eze has been one of Spurs' top targets this summer. A bid has not yet been made and Palace value him at £70m, with two years left on his contract.

Palace host Fredrikstad on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifying play-off and Glasner expects Eze to be involved again.

He said: "He will come in tomorrow [Monday] to Crystal Palace's training ground, and have recovery. We will ensure a Tuesday off and we will meet Wednesday, and I expect him being back and playing for us against Frederikstad."

Sky Sports' Chris Sutton, speaking at Stamford Bridge, contrasted Eze's situation with that of Alexander Isak at Newcastle - where he has not featured for the club, or trained alongside his team-mates, since he announced his desire to leave earlier this summer.

"He seems like a good type," he said. "If the situation with Tottenham happens, it'll happen. We've seen the situation at Newcastle with how Alexander Isak has downed tools and isn't the most popular person among the Newcastle faithful.

"If you're Oliver Glasner, you want your best players starting. Eze's one of those and Palace's season last season was phenomenal, the best in their history.

"They'll want to come to Stamford Bridge and get a result, and they stand a better chance of doing that with Eze starting."

Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from this season

From this season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be on Sky Sports.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hit back at rumours Eberechi Eze would not face Chelsea on Sunday amid transfer interest - and revealed the forward's release clause has expired.

Tottenham are in discussions with Palace over a deal for Eze as they look to add a new No 10 before the transfer deadline on September 1, and there had initially been doubts over whether he would feature at Stamford Bridge.

But Eze was named in Palace's starting line-up against Chelsea on the opening weekend of the Premier League and had a goal ruled out by an unusual law following a VAR check in the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Transfer Centre LIVE! | Crystal Palace news & transfers🦅

Got Sky? Watch Palace games LIVE on your phone📱

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺

Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔

"Don't always believe what you read, especially on the internet," said Glasner afterwards over the reports Eze wouldn't be involved. "And here it's the same, who tells you? Who knows that this is the truth, what is written? There are rumours and so many rumours, and everybody tells somebody something for their own advantage, maybe.

"I watch the players every single day in the training sessions. If most of the things that are written about them is true, they couldn't perform like this, the team couldn't be together like this, the team couldn't be committed to each other like they are. It's just not possible.

"He was picked because he's a Crystal Palace player and he's a very good Crystal Palace player. He trained the whole week, so there was no reason not to pick him."

Glasner then revealed Eze's £68m release clause has now expired. He said: "I'm quite calm, but I also know, we have two weeks to go, and I know Ebs' clause is gone, so it's the club's decision, and we will see what happens."

Eze has been one of Spurs' top targets this summer. A bid has not yet been made and Palace value him at £70m, with two years left on his contract.

Palace host Fredrikstad on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifying play-off and Glasner expects Eze to be involved again.

He said: "He will come in tomorrow [Monday] to Crystal Palace's training ground, and have recovery. We will ensure a Tuesday off and we will meet Wednesday, and I expect him being back and playing for us against Frederikstad."

Sky Sports' Chris Sutton, speaking at Stamford Bridge, contrasted Eze's situation with that of Alexander Isak at Newcastle - where he has not featured for the club, or trained alongside his team-mates, since he announced his desire to leave earlier this summer.

"He seems like a good type," he said. "If the situation with Tottenham happens, it'll happen. We've seen the situation at Newcastle with how Alexander Isak has downed tools and isn't the most popular person among the Newcastle faithful.

"If you're Oliver Glasner, you want your best players starting. Eze's one of those and Palace's season last season was phenomenal, the best in their history.

"They'll want to come to Stamford Bridge and get a result, and they stand a better chance of doing that with Eze starting."

Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from this season

From this season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be on Sky Sports.