Football League World

Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Europa League exploits have created a stumbling block in West Bromwich Albion's pursuit of Ryan Mason.

The Baggies rounded off their Championship season on Saturday lunchtime with a resounding 5-3 victory over Luton Town at The Hawthorns - a result that consigned their opponents to back-to-back relegations - with former midfielder James Morrison rounding off a two-game spell as interim boss following Tony Mowbray's dismissal on Easter Monday.

Albion knew the fate of their season heading into its final week of regular action, with Shilen Patel's immediate attention turning towards a successor for the 61-year-old, with Mason emerging as one of the favourites before links to Marti Cifuentes - which have since been quashed - and St Pauli boss, Alexander Blessin.

However, fresh developments mean that supporters may have to wait a little longer before finding out who the next man in the hotseat will be.

Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Europa League exploits causing West Brom, Ryan Mason stumbling block

It was reported the day after Mowbray's last game in charge, a 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Derby County in B71, that Mason, who has previously overseen 13 games as interim boss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in between duties as an academy coach and assistant manager, was fronting the queue.

Such news was reported by Alan Nixon via Patreon, with the 33-year-old said to be a key reason behind the North London side's run to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, where they emerged 3-1 victors over Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt in the first leg on Thursday night, with it looking highly probable that Ange Postecoglou's side will face Manchester United in the final in Bilbao on May 21st.

Nixon initially reported that Spurs' developments on the continent could cause the Baggies issues in their pursuit despite a dismal Premier League season, and that has continued to be case, as per a fresh update from the journalist.

Unsurprisingly, the side from the capital have their sights set on winning the competition, which would give them a route into the UEFA Champions League, although the timing in relation to the conclusion of the second-tier is causing the West Midlands side issues.

The report continues to state that the Baggies' hierarchy are willing to wait when it comes to striking an agreement with any potential candidates. But, a delay in their pursuit of the highly-rated Spurs figure could see other candidates move into pole position as a pivotal off-season at The Hawthorns begins.

West Brom supporters may be willing to accept Ryan Mason wait

In the current footballing landscape, every supporter wants immediate clarity regarding club matters, especially on key decisions such as the latest man in the hotseat.

However, in this case, Albion supporters may be willing to accept a slight delay in proceedings as Mason can bring along fresh, youthful ideas that would increase optimism in B71, having endured a chaotic season and plenty of managerial turnover in recent seasons.

Those at The Hawthorns may also not be worried by the former England international's lack of experience as a 'number one', as former Spurs assistant, Chris Davies, has enjoyed plenty of success just a few miles away with Birmingham City, with the two clubs set to renew rivalries after Blues' record-breaking season in League One.

Of course, the off-season can certainly spring plenty of surprises, meaning that a more experienced figure could end up taking the reins with the door now left ajar.

David Prutton believes the Tottenham Hotspur job would "pique the interest" of Scott Parker amid Spurs' links to the Burnley head coach.

The 44-year-old has done a superb job at Turf Moor this season and secured promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday with a rousing 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. That now means that Parker has secured ascension from the second tier on three different occasions.

This seems to have caught the eye of Tottenham, and according to The Sun, he is set to be a candidate for the head coach role in North London should Ange Postecoglou depart.

Despite securing a spot in the Europa League semi-final, there is a prevailing feeling around Spurs that the Australian will depart, either by mutual consent or sacking.

This would leave the door open for Parker, who featured as a player for Tottenham between 2011-2013. It is believed that Daniel Levy, alongside other senior figures at the club, "hugely admire" the job he has done at the Clarets, who are likely to break the record for the least goals conceded in an EFL season barring a collapse.

For Burnley, his departure would be a disappointment, but it could also serve as a silver lining, given his previous struggles in the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth and Fulham.

David Prutton isn't surprised by Scott Parker, Spurs talk

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, David Prutton admitted that the news around Spurs' interest is to be expected given the stellar job Parker has done at Burnley.

"He certainly has got unfinished business in the Premier League," Prutton exclusively told FLW.

"He's done a wonderful job - three promotions to the Premier League from the Championship - not to be sniffed at. He is a remarkable coach, a great motivator, a great gauger of emotion, both in his players and himself, and the defensive set-up he has created at Burnley is staggering to see.

"I don't know what helps Spurs, what 'fixes' Spurs, because several coaches have gone in and they haven't been able to scratch. There is that link with Scott being a former player, which would endear him to the fans for that initial honeymoon period. After that, they have got to be able to perform.

"He has done a wonderful job at Burnley and deserves a chance to give it a crack with them. But, as we know, a manager's tenure is short, and lifespans can be over quite quickly.

"It is one that I think would pique the interest of Scott, given how ambitious he is."

Scott Parker's Premier League record is a concern

Parker's credentials in the Championship are nothing short of outstanding, but he is yet to find his rhythm in the top flight.

For both Burnley and Tottenham, this must be a concern when placing their trust in him, as a poor start to the season can often condemn you to a campaign of disappointment.

Currently, his record in the Premier League stands at 52 games, in which he has accumulated just 40 points - a far cry from his impressive Championship record.

While it cannot be denied that he deserves a shot in the top flight, whether with the Clarets or Spurs, his move-up will undoubtedly carry an element of risk.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly sent scouts to watch Leeds United youngster Harry Gray.

It has been revealed in a report from GIVEMESPORT that the north Londoners have been watching the teenager’s progress at Elland road, having made his first-team debut this past weekend against Stoke City.

Spurs' interest comes less than 12 months after Spurs signed Harry’s brother, Archie Gray, in a deal worth up to £30m.

Given the early success of that deal, it’s little wonder the Lilywhites are coming back for more to try and strike a deal for the younger Gray brother.

Tottenham ‘refuse to rule out’ move for Leeds United starlet Harry Gray

The report states that Spurs are currently refusing to rule out the potential of convincing the younger Gray to join his older brother at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It is not thought to be an immediately pressing issue, with plenty of other transfer business to sort in the near future, but the Premier League side are gathering intel should they go on to consider a more solid approach.

That means, for the time being, Spurs are content to watch his progress from afar, waiting to see if the time arrives to make an approach.

Given the forward is still just 16 years of age and appears to be thriving in his current environment, it seems a sensible approach.

Harry Gray is impressing at Leeds United

Gray only turned 16 towards the end of last year, but is already a semi-regular fixture in Leeds’ under-21's setup, and has made his debut for England under-17's.

To top that off, he has already had his first outing for the Whites’ senior side, coming off the bench for four minutes in their 6-0 victory over Stoke City as they sealed promotion to the Premier League.

Former Spurs man Aaron Lennon has described the starlet as “frightening” when speaking about Gray on talkSPORT, and given his current trajectory – looking remarkably similar to older brother Archie so far – Spurs are doing well to lay the groundwork early.

Archie Gray connection could prove fruitful for Tottenham landing Harry Gray

GIVEMESPORT also reported that Spurs and Leeds have maintained a strong relationship since their negotiations for Archie Gray last year.

The Whites’ loan for Manor Solomon, which the promoted side want to make permanent this summer, is likely a key element of that bond remaining strong over the past year, as the two clubs share a common interest in the Israel international.

Negotiations for Solomon, expected this summer, is a much shorter-term issue than any approach for Harry Gray, but the Solomon deal is another opportunity for Spurs to put themselves in a great position should they want to make a move on Gray.

Keeping those lines of communication open and maintaining the relationship with the Elland Road outfit could be an important distinction to hold over other interested parties, of which there will likely be many if Gray starts kicking on for Leeds.

That, and the success of Archie’s move to north London so far – with the older brother getting plenty of minutes despite his own young years – will give Spurs a strong chance of landing the deal regardless.

The fact that Tottenham are already putting scouting resources into the younger Gray, following the success of his older brother, suggests the link between the two clubs is not going away any time soon.

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Manor Solomon is reportedly likely to be Leeds United’s first signing of the summer.

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who revealed the Whites are optimistic about getting a permanent deal over the line.

The Israel international has been on loan at Elland Road all season and has impressed during his time in Yorkshire.

But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, famed for his tricky negotiating style, is unlikely to let him go for cheap.

Solomon ‘likely’ to become Leeds’ first signing

There is plenty of work for Leeds to do to try and prepare to battle for Premier League survival next term, but TEAMtalk suggest that Solomon is likely to be the first deal signed.

The transfer outlet revealed that talks have already taken place between Leeds and Spurs over a permanent deal, meaning there is plenty of hope the two parties can get the deal over the line.

Levy, the report goes on to state, is thought to value Solomon at between £15m-£20m – given there is optimism from Leeds that they can do the deal, that likely isn’t too far away from their own estimation.

Given his deal at Spurs runs until 2028, and he has had an extremely productive season for his temporary side, the Whites will surely be required to pay pretty much what the London club asks.

Solomon will be worth it based on this season’s evidence

Leeds, and Solomon, could scarcely have hoped for a better season when they signed the player’s loan agreement last summer.

He’s become a mainstay in Daniel Farke’s side, appearing 37 times in the Championship this season, notching nine goals and providing 11 assists during that time.

In terms of goal contributions, those numbers put him behind only Joel Piroe and Dan James for Leeds this season.

Between them, they’ve registered 66 goal contributions this season, so it’s easy to see why the power brokers at Elland Road want to keep the trio together for next season.

Leeds have plenty of other recruitment to think about too

While Spurs can essentially sit and wait it out for the fee they want for Solomon, Leeds must be mindful of the fact that they have a lot of other business to attend to.

TEAMtalk reveal the Whites are eyeing a minimum of six signings this summer: a goalkeeper, a left-back, a midfielder, a winger, an attacking midfielder and a striker.

Solomon may be viewed as filling one of those spots once a deal is agreed, but that’s still a substantial amount of business to do in one window.

The report goes on to suggest that Leeds refrained from spending in January precisely so they could invest in the summer with a promotion in the bag.

That plan looks to be paying off now, but it doesn’t mean they can hand Spurs a blank cheque to get Solomon.

Nevertheless, a deal for the 25-year-old appears to be in the best interests of all parties involved, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Leeds kick their summer off with a permanent move for Solomon.

West Brom are eyeing Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason for their manager vacancy.

That’s according to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, where he reveals the reported interest.

Mason has been at Spurs in various coaching roles since 2018, including two short stints as caretaker in 2021 and 2023.

However, landing the West Brom job would be his first management job outside Spurs and his first stint as a permanent manager.

West Brom eye Ryan Mason for manager role

Mason, 33, called time early on his playing career in 2018, hanging up his boots as a 26-year-old with Hull City after suffering a fractured skull in a game against Chelsea.

He almost immediately pitched up at Spurs as a coach, a club he’d started out at as an eight-year-old.

Various roles followed, first in the academy before taking over as caretaker manager in 2021 after the departure of Jose Mourinho, and then again in 2023 before the arrival of Ange Postecoglou, before he became an assistant in the Australian’s setup.

He’s managed a total of 13 games in his two interim spells, but the West Brom job would represent his first as a full-time manager in his own right.

It could be the right time for Mason to go

It has been nothing short of a disastrous season for Spurs, languishing near the foot of the Premier League table despite traditionally being one of the league’s ‘Big Six’ sides.

So bad has it been that despite Postecoglou still having his side fighting at the business end of the Europa League, the Telegraph revealed he is likely to leave his post regardless of the club’s success in that competition.

The exit would likely mean another shake-up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and, once again, there’s no guarantee where Mason would land or the prominence he’d be given.

Moreover, given that Postecoglou is set to depart at the end of the season, the decision-makers at the club would have the summer to appoint their new man, meaning there would likely be no third interim spell for Mason.

Given the uncertain picture hurtling down the road at Spurs, now could be the ideal time for Mason to jump.

Mason would represent a risk for West Brom

Appointing Mason, given he has never been a permanent head coach before, would of course be something of a risk for West Brom.

However, it feels like the Baggies tried the wise older-hand style of manager in Tony Mowbray and, given he lasted just three months and failed to get the club into the play-offs, it’s easy to see why West Brom might fancy a new direction.

At Spurs, not only has Mason led a dozen or so games himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world, including handling all the media that goes with it, he also has almost a decade’s worth of experience in various roles around the club and working under some of the game’s top coaches.

As rookie managers go, he’s probably one of the most qualified.

West Brom are still, in effect, trying to replace Carlos Corberan, who was doing well at the Hawthorns but left at the end of last year to take the Valencia vacancy.

In Mason, those attracted to the coach at West Brom will hope they’ve found their long-term replacement, should they convince him to join.

Burnley boss Scott Parker has ‘admirers’ at Tottenham Hotspur, with the club expected to sack Ange Postecoglou in the summer.

The Aussie has come in for fierce criticism from the fans at points this season, with the side currently sitting 16th in the Premier League.

However, they are still in the Europa League, with a semi-final against Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt on the horizon, so there is a chance that Postecoglou will deliver the silverware that the club crave.

Nevertheless, it has been reported that the ex-Celtic chief will be sacked regardless of whether Spurs win the competition, which would bring automatic qualification to the Champions League.

Scott Parker has attracted Spurs attention following work at Burnley

The hierarchy at the London club will be drawing up names to succeed Postecoglou, and the Daily Mail has revealed that Parker is under consideration.

They state that Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva would be ‘among the leading candidates’, whilst they also namecheck Parker, saying he is appreciated by key figures at the club.

The current Burnley boss has done a fine job at Turf Moor this season, guiding the team to promotion, which has been built on a remarkable defensive record, which has seen the side concede just 15 goals in 44 games.

Given Spurs’ struggles at the back, it would be no surprise if that solidity appealed to the club, as they have shipped goals for fun under Postecoglou.

This was Parker’s third promotion from the Championship, with the ex-Fulham chief having taken the Cottagers and Bournemouth to the Premier League.

Parker has a connection to Spurs from his playing days, as he made over 50 appearances for the club after signing in 2011.

Burnley must do all they can to keep Scott Parker

This is far from ideal for Burnley, who will still be celebrating their return to the top-flight right now.

Clearly, they won’t want to lose Parker, as he has done a brilliant job after taking over in challenging circumstances following Vincent Kompany’s departure to Bayern Munich.

In truth, it would be a surprise if Spurs did move for the 44-year-old, as he remains unproven in the Premier League, and it would be a big jump up to join a club that will have ambitions of playing in the Champions League regularly.

When George Marsh arrived at AFC Wimbledon from Tottenham Hotspur, there was an indication that, with this signing, the lynchpin of the Dons' midfield was locked down for years to come.

But two goalless years and countless underwhelming performances from a former Premier League prospect meant that his time at the club ended on disappointing terms.

And since leaving the South London club, things have not gotten much better for Marsh - even though he has embarked on a European adventure.

George Marsh was meant to be the future of the Dons' midfield - it did not turn out that way

When the now 26-year-old midfielder signed for the club, it was heralded as a fantastic coup.

Arriving in the same summer as former Chelsea youngster Luke McCormick, manager, at the time, Mark Robinson looked to be building a team filled with potential, both in terms of ability and value.

And he got a glowing reference from the man that signed him up to be a Don, with Robinson telling the club website of how chuffed he was that Marsh had signed following his release from Tottenham Hotspur.

Speaking to the club, he said: "I spoke to several people who have worked with George and they all came back with the same glowing reference.

"George has excellent ability and a mentality to improve and succeed. When George Dobson said he was not re-signing, George Marsh was the obvious replacement as he is potentially a player with the same attributes, and he’s younger.

"He had excellent other options in our league, so I am absolutely chuffed that he felt we were the right club to develop him and show what he is capable of."

But things would get off to a slower start than what many were hoping for, as Robinson found a great partnership in the form of Anthony Hartigan and Alex Woodyard, meaning Marsh's pathway to the first team was blocked, and after an injury only a few months into his debut campaign, things were not looking too good.

But Hartigan would soon pick up an injury of his own, meaning Marsh, who had recovered from his setback, got his chance, and from there, for a while, he would never look back.

Cementing himself as a busy and combative midfielder who never feared a tackle, he finally looked to be the player many had hoped he would be, but unfortunately, this did not last for long.

Thanks to a disappointing collapse that saw the Dons relegated to League Two in Marsh's first season, confidence seemed to sap from the players, and with that, despite a more solid starting spot in Johnnie Jackson's new-look team, Marsh never really looked the same, and fans soon started to get frustrated with a player that they were promised would be at the very centre of the future of the team.

Moves to Cyprus and Northern Ireland did not reignite George Marsh's career

Marsh's release from Wimbledon eventually came at the end of the 2022/23 season, having spent two seasons with the club, making 61 appearances without scoring a goal.

And while he did manage to perform his main task of keeping the team ticking in the middle of the park, the fact he never scored, or in fact assisted, a goal, means his overall time with the club was just fairly average, and not at all as exciting as many would have expected it to be.

So with no excitement at Wimbledon, Marsh decided to embark on a European adventure that kicked off with AEL Limassol.

The Cypriot side is one of the country's more successful teams, and, despite a history of playing in Europe in recent times, Marsh's first, and, as it turned out, only season in the Mediterranean sun, did not feature any European competition playing time, as Limassol struggled in the league and ended up fighting it out in the relegation play-off at the end of the regular season.

With not much else known, many would guess that with things not working out too well in the league for Marsh and his new employers, he looked to move back closer to home to maybe give something else a try.

Which is exactly what he did, but instead of heading back to England, he continued to stay on his travels, this time in Northern Ireland.

Joining the nation's most famous club in Larne, he would finally get a sniff of European football, playing one game in the Europa Conference League as the Northern Irishmen lost 3-0 to Molde of Norway.

But apart from that, he only featured in seven other games, once again, looking like he never truly settled or impressed.

And all in all, with him now a free agent since being released by Larne in February, it has to be said his hype has long since been extinguished.

Birmingham City almost signed Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2009.

The Welshman had yet to even feature in a league game for Spurs in which they had won, despite making 24 appearances in the Premier League at this stage of his career.

Bale had been utilised at left-back, and had struggled to make a strong impression in Harry Redknapp’s side, with the team coming eighth in the table in the 2008/09 campaign.

This led to speculation over his future at the London outfit, with Birmingham setting their sights on his signing after they gained promotion to the top flight with a second place finish in the Championship.

Here we look at how much this proposed deal for Bale almost cost before it failed to come to fruition.

Birmingham City’s proposed Gareth Bale deal

It was reported by the Daily Mail in the summer of 2009 that Birmingham were aiming to spend £3 million to sign Bale from Spurs ahead of their return to the Premier League.

It was understood that Alex McLeish was being given a budget of around £40 million to spend in a bid to remain in the top flight, and that around £3 million of that was being set aside to sign the left-back.

However, a deal failed to come to fruition as Bale remained at White Hart Lane beyond that summer, going on to become an icon of the club.

A move worth £3 million would have represented a major loss by Spurs if it had come to pass, with the Guardian reporting in 2007 that they had agreed a £10 million deal to sign the player from Southampton.

Of course, Bale went on to become a world record signing by Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, with the deal amounting to £85 million, per the BBC.

The Welshman was converted into a forward after remaining at Spurs, and went on to win three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues during his time in Spain.

Birmingham’s 2009 transfer window

While the deal to sign Bale didn’t come to fruition, Birmingham still invested in the side following promotion.

McLeish added the likes of Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Craig Gardner, Míchel Madera, Barry Ferguson and Jay O’Shea.

Grégory Vidal and Lee Bowyer also arrived as free agents, with loan deals for Giovanny Espinoza, Teemu Tainio, Joe Hart and Christian Bénitez also being agreed.

This proved a successful haul of summer signings, with the team enjoying a strong first campaign back in the Premier League.

The Blues won 13 of their 38 fixtures, ultimately finishing ninth in the table, with an impressive 50 points to their name.

They finished just 13 points behind Liverpool in seventh, which proved the gap to European qualification that season.

McLeish’s side earned high points that included a five-game winning run from 21 November to 15 December, going a total of 12 fixtures unbeaten around this period as well.

However, their time in the top flight came to an end just 12 months later, coming 18th in the table in 2011, just months after winning the EFL Cup against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

Notts County must surely be kicking themselves over their 2019 deal to sell youth academy product Kion Etete to Tottenham Hotspur.

The young striker had made just five senior appearances as a 16-year-old for Notts before he left the club for a big Premier League switch.

The Magpies received a fee believed to be in the region of £200,000 for his services and, while this was welcome money at the time, they could have earned themselves a significantly bigger payday if they had held onto him and allowed him to develop.

At the time of Etete’s sale, the world’s oldest football club found themselves in a relegation battle at the foot of League Two, as well as being embroiled in issues off the pitch.

It may have seemed like the correct decision at the time, but looking back, they should have held onto their homegrown talent for another couple of seasons at least.

Notts County never got to see the best of Kion Etete due to his age

When Etete first broke into the first team as a 16-year-old at Meadow Lane, the Magpies were locked in a relegation battle at the foot of League Two.

Harry Kewell’s side had notched just three wins from their opening 15 league games by the time the striker made his senior league debut, in what was a difficult environment for a young and inexperienced player to walk into.

Nevertheless, Etete received praise from Kewell following his debut, with the Australian boss describing the youngster as “excellent” after he came on for the final 20 minutes of a 2-2 draw at Port Vale.

The frontman made just three further league appearances all season, as Notts’ struggles continued.

The Nottingham outfit were ultimately relegated at the end of the season, losing their Football League status for the first time in their then-157-year history.

With relegation confirmed and the club fighting for its very existence off the pitch, Etete was sold to Tottenham in the summer of 2019.

The striker followed in the recent footsteps of Dongda He and Jack Bearne in moving to a Premier League side (Wolves and Liverpool respectively) after graduating through Notts’ academy.

With the club’s precarious position behind the scenes, it is likely that Etete was sold out of necessity. Had the Magpies had more security over their future, they surely would have held onto the youngster for another few years and had the possibility of netting a bigger fee further down the line.

Kion Etete has gone on to become a capable striker in the EFL - could Notts County have held onto him for longer?

Since Etete’s departure from Meadow Lane, he arguably hasn’t gone on to have the career that many would have expected.

While he didn’t have much opportunity to show what he could do in NG2, whenever a player breaks through to play first-team football at the age of 16, they are clearly a very promising talent.

After notching nine goals and three assists in just 21 games in the PL2 in 2020/21, Etete spent the following campaign out on loan in the Football League.

First, he spent time in League Two with Northampton Town, before stepping up to the third tier with Cheltenham, where he hit three goals and two assists in 13 games.

The 6ft 4in forward then joined Cardiff City for a fee believed to be in the region of £500,000 ahead of the 2022/23 season, bringing his spell at Tottenham to a close before he had managed to make a senior appearance.

While has never been a prolific goalscorer, Etete has become a useful option for the Bluebirds in recent years, but has made just a sole appearance in the FA Cup this season after struggling with a hamstring injury.

The frontman signed a new deal in South Wales back in January, and is currently out on loan at Bolton in League One.

While Etete’s career so far perhaps hasn’t lived up to expectations since he left Notts, they must surely regret the fact they sold him so cheaply.

That decision was arguably indicative of a period of mismanagement at the club, which ultimately saw them lose their EFL status.

German side RB Leipzig are reportedly front-runners to sign in-demand Southampton winger Tyler Dibling in the upcoming summer transfer window, with Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur both also believed to be interested in a move for his services.

Dibling has enjoyed a breakout season in the Premier League with the Saints, despite their struggles that have seen them become the earliest team ever to be relegated from England's top flight this month.

The 19-year-old signed his first professional contract at St Mary's in February 2023, and made his debut for the first-team later that year, but did not have much of an impact that season as they were promoted out of the Championship.

He has been a revelation throughout this campaign, however, with consistently standout performances that have reportedly alerted some of Europe's biggest and best clubs to his potential availability this summer.

The Bundesliga has provided a real path to success for numerous young English talents in recent years, and Dibling could become the latest of those to ply his trade in Germany if new reports are to be believed.

RB Leipzig lead the way for Tyler Dibling's services - Bayern Munich are also interested

Dibling has registered four goals and three assists in 33 appearances in all competitions for Saints this season, and his quick, direct playing style has seen him earn plaudits throughout English football, while his trademark low socks have seen him compared to fellow English winger Jack Grealish.

Tottenham Hotspur were reported to have had a £35 million bid for his services rejected in the January window, while the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United are all said to have him on their radar as the summer approaches.

Despite those links, Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now claimed that RB Leipzig are ahead in the race for the 19-year-old's signature, with German giants Bayern Munich also believed to be interested.

Plettenberg also claims that his potential price tag will be a lot lower than what has already been mooted, after Southampton were reported to be demanding a staggering £100m for his services last month.

Dibling is relaxed about his Saints future, but a Championship return seems unlikely

It is clear that a real race is on to secure the services of one of England's newest rising talents in Dibling this summer, but while interested clubs continue to plan for the transfer window, the 19-year-old will be focusing on ending the campaign on a high after such a dismal season for all connected to Southampton.

The Saints have broken all kinds of records on their way to being relegated with seven games still to play, but their main current goal will be to avoid becoming the worst team in Premier League history, with two points needed from their last six outings to eclipse Derby County's record lowest total of 11 points in 2007.

Dibling himself has been one of the few shining lights for Southampton, and he is sure to net them a healthy fee when he does move on. Despite many supporters' hopes that he could stick around for their return to the second-tier, it seems unlikely, after the aforementioned Plettenberg also reported that a move away from St Mary's is planned for him this summer.

The 19-year-old has previously played down such links, telling BBC Radio Solent back in February that he "(doesn't) really change" in the face of interest from big clubs that are playing at the highest level.

He will no doubt be relaxed with the situation at hand, as, despite going through a tough time with his teammates on the pitch, he is set to be able to take his pick from some of the world's best teams in terms of who he wants to join this summer, which is a fairly impressive decision to get to make at his age.