Inside Futbol

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine is wanted on a permanent basis by Preston North End, however the Championship side need to agree a payment plan, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

Devine has spent the season on loan at Deepdale and made an impression while featuring on a regular basis under Paul Heckingbottom.

Heckingbottom admitted as quickly as October that he was loving what Devine was bringing to the table at Preston.

The feelings went both ways, with the Spurs talent revealing in December that he was loving life at the Championship side.

Preston have seen more than enough to want to keep the Tottenham midfielder and did agree a price of £4.5m with Spurs last summer that they could trigger.

While Preston agreed the price though, they have not agreed the payment plan and need to do that with the north London side before the transfer can proceed.

It is suggested that Preston feel they could afford the £4.5m transfer fee ‘if it is spread over three or four years’.

Whether that will prove to be acceptable to Tottenham is unclear, though spreading payment plans over instalments is typical in transfer deals.

Loan club Country Port Vale England Plymouth Argyle England Westerlo Belgium Preston North End England Alfie Devine’s loan spells

North End finished in 14th in the Championship this season after a promising start faded away as the campaign wore on.

Devine was regularly handed games by Heckingbottom and despite being just 21 years old, missed just one Championship outing over the course of the campaign.

The Tottenham talent also scored eight times and provided seven assists for his team-mates, proving to be an effective weapon from his attacking midfield role.

Born in Warrington, joining Preston permanently would represent a return to the north west for Devine.

He has had a number of loan spells away from Tottenham to further his development.

Time at Plymouth Argyle saw Devine hailed for his tactical brain by Argyle’s then boss Ian Foster.

And in Belgium, at Westerlo, Devine explained that he felt well supported by Tottenham amid talks with Ange Postecoglou.

If Tottenham reach an agreement with Preston though, Devine’s time at Tottenham will come to a permanent end.

It remains to be seen if Tottenham might want to include a sell-on clause in the deal with Preston, or potentially even a buy-back clause or right of first refusal clause in the event the midfielder kicks on hugely over the coming seasons.

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Tottenham Hotspur have asked about defender Tarik Muharemovic and that has pushed Inter Milan to accelerate their interest in Oumar Solet.

Spurs are expected to undergo significant changes in the summer transfer window if they survive in the Premier League, with arrivals and departures.

Defence could see departures, with Radu Dragusin tipped to leave amid interest from three clubs, while there remain question marks over Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Tottenham have been looking at potential reinforcements and are showing interest in Sassuolo’s Muharemovic.

Inter have accelerated their move for another defender in the shape of Udinese’s Solet ‘partly because Tottenham have made enquiries’ about the Sassuolo player, according to Italian outlet FcInternews.it.

Inter want to sign at least one centre-back this summer and may even need two, but appear to be wary of Tottenham moving for Muharemovic, leading to a renewed focus on Solet.

Solet is also of interest to Newcastle United, who have been monitoring him.

Sassuolo are suggested to want €25m for Muharemovic, while Udinese want between €25m and €30m for Solet.

Club Years Wolfsberger 2020-2021 Juventus 2021-2025 Sassuolo (loan) 2024-2025 Sassuolo 2025- Tarik Muharemovic’s career history

Muharemovic, 23, is a Bosnia international and spent time at Juventus before moving to Sassuolo, initially on loan.

The defender helped Sassuolo to win promotion from Serie B last season and then secure their status in Serie A this term.

He has been included in the Bosnia squad for this summer’s World Cup and good performances in North America could see more clubs show interest in him.

Tottenham could do much of their shopping in Italian football this summer.

They are showing interest in Fiorentina midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, but La Viola are reluctant to let him go.

De Zerbi is also suggested to want to bring in two players from Roma in the shape of goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Muharemovic’s Bosnai have been put in Group B at the World Cup, alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

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Tottenham Hotspur would need to offer €40m or more to tempt Fiorentina into doing business for midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, or the Serie A side will say ‘no thanks’.

Despite still being in the thick of a relegation battle in the Premier League, Tottenham are actively making plans for the summer transfer window.

Beefing up their midfield options looks to be on the agenda, with Roberto De Zerbi wanting to make sure there is no repeat of this season.

Tottenham are showing initial interest in Fiorentina’s Fagioli and it has been suggested La Viola could sell him if the price is right.

Fiorentina legend Claudio Merlo, responding to Tottenham’s interest, stressed his view that Fagioli is currently the club’s most valuable asset and the player they could get the most for.

Now it has emerged that Tottenham face needing to fork out a substantial sum to tempt Fiorentina to sell or they will find a wall around the player.

According to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport (via Firenzeviola), Fiorentina will say ‘no thanks’ to approaches for Fagioli unless they reach €40m or more.

Midfielder Age Rodrigo Bentancur 28 Joao Palhinha (loan) 30 Yves Bissouma 29 Lucas Bergvall 20 Archie Gray 20 Conor Gallagher 26 Pape Matar Sarr 23 Tottenham’s central midfield options

At such a level, La Viola would look at doing business, though even a sale then is by no means guaranteed.

If Tottenham do make a serious approach then they would have to strike a deal with a familiar face in the shape of Fabio Paratici.

The former Tottenham deal-maker is now the sporting director at Fiorentina and though that might smooth lines of communication, he is likely to drive a hard bargain.

There is also interest in Fagioli from AC Milan, though whether the Rossoneri could compete financially with Tottenham for the midfielder is open to question.

Fagioli helped Fiorentina to reach the quarter-final of the Conference League this season and featured in both legs of the tie against Crystal Palace.

The encounter will have allowed Tottenham to take an up close look at Fagioli against Premier League opposition.

Fiorentina have the midfielder under contract until the summer of 2028.

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A €40m offer is ‘on the table’ for Tottenham Hotspur target Aleksandar Stankovic and it comes from a Premier League club.

Stankovic currently turns out for Belgian side Club Brugge, but Inter Milan hold a buy-back option for him they can trigger this summer.

Tottenham, who now have an Italian boss in the shape of Roberto De Zerbi at the helm, are credited with an interest in landing the Croatian.

Spurs appear to increasingly be looking towards Italy for reinforcements this summer, a market De Zerbi knows well and which they regularly explored under the guidance of Fabio Paratici.

Initial interest is being shown in Fiorentina midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, while De Zerbi is also suggested to want to bring in two players from Roma.

Clubs keen on Stankovic are going straight to Inter Milan, who can make a quick profit by triggering their buy-back clause and then selling him.

There is now a €40m offer ‘on the table’ for Stankovic at Inter Milan and it comes from a Premier League club, according to Italian journalist Daniele Mari.

Club Years Inter Milan 2022-2025 Luzern (loan) 2024-2025 Club Brugge 2025- Aleksandar Stankovic’s career history

Stankovic could make for an attractive addition at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a scout from Italian side Como hailing him for his ‘line breaking passes’.

De Zerbi will want to make sure there is enough creativity in the Spurs side next season, as he hopes to be plotting their resurgence in the Premier League.

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy claimed recently there is a real lack of creativity in the current Spurs side.

“They just lack a real creativity and energy high up the pitch and confidence”, Murphy said.

Stankovic, the son of former Serbia international Dejan Stankovic, came through the youth ranks at Inter Milan.

He was loaned out to spend a season in Switzerland at Luzern, before then being sold to Club Brugge last summer.

Inter Milan can pay €22m to bring him back this summer, or €25m in the summer of 2027.

Given the eyes currently on the 20-year-old, making a quick-fire profit on Stankovic is likely to be attractive for Inter Milan this summer.

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Tottenham Hotspur star Mathys Tel is back on Serie A club Roma’s wishlist as Giallorossi boss Gian Piero Gasperini ‘has a list’ of attacking targets which he is on.

He joined Spurs on a permanent deal at the beginning of the current campaign, following his half-season loan last year from Bayern Munich.

Even though the France Under-21 international is considered a top talent, he is yet to translate that into numbers at the north London club.

Tel has scored four goals and created one in 29 Premier League games, while clocking 1,179 minutes with two games to go in the current campaign.

The 21-year-old versatile forward even wanted to leave the club in the winter transfer window, as former Spurs boss Thomas Frank mostly played him as a substitute.

Roma’s sporting director, Frederic Massara, pushed hard in the January window for Tel, who Spurs did not allow to leave.

The Serie A giants, though, are still keen on the 21-year-old Frenchman, according to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport (via La Roma 24).

Club played for Country Rennes France Bayern Munich Germany Tottenham Hotspur England Clubs Mathys Tel has played for

It has been suggested that the Giallorossi manager Gasperini has made a list of attacking additions the club could sign and Tel is on it.

Roma have now activated Aston Villa loanee Donyell Malen’s option to buy and are keen on adding more quality to their frontline.

West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville is also a target for the Serie A giants, who have made initial contact with the Dutch winger regarding a potential swoop.

Roma could end up losing ‘highly sought after’ Matias Soule to the Villans and that has made them look for a new attacker.

Spurs are still not out of the woods as the north London club are still not safe from relegation with two games to go in the current campaign.

They have accumulated seven points in their last three league games, and Tel has scored a key goal and provided an assist, which have played a major role in Spurs having an advantage over the Hammers in the relegation race.

Tel’s contract runs for five more years at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but how much game time Roberto De Zerbi intends to hand him could be key to how he thinks about his future.

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Tottenham Hotspur have emerged with initial interest in Nicolo Fagioli, and should a compelling offer arrive for the midfielder, Fiorentina would be hard-pressed to turn it away.

The Lilywhites’ winter acquisition of Conor Gallagher has already proven to be a shrewd piece of business, with the midfielder beginning to hit his stride in the season’s final stretch, as two matches remain.

Elsewhere in midfield, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur are both entering the final phase of their current deals, which run until the end of the season, with discussions already under way regarding a renewal for the Uruguayan.

Roberto De Zerbi has two matches left to steer Spurs towards Premier League safety, but is already turning his attention to strengthening the engine room for next term, with Fiorentina midfielder Fagioli emerging as a target.

According to Italian daily Corriere dello Sport (via firenzeviola.it), there is initial interest from Tottenham and should a substantial offer arrive from north London, La Viola would find it difficult to reject a deal for the 25-year-old.

The former Juventus man has enjoyed a significant rise in minutes this season, establishing himself as a key figure in the Fiorentina set-up with 44 appearances across all competitions and six goal contributions.

His progress has not gone unnoticed by De Zerbi, who showed interest in the Italian midfielder last season while managing Marseille, at a time when opportunities were limited for Fagioli at Juventus.

Club Years Juventus 2018-2025 Cremonense (loan) 2021-2022 Fiorentina (loan) 2025 Fiorentina 2025- Nicolo Fagioli’s career history

The 25-year-old rose through Juventus’ youth ranks and has already earned seven caps for Italy, making him an appealing option for Tottenham should they secure Premier League survival and persuade Fiorentina into a deal.

He is valued at around €16m to €18m, though it is not ruled out that the Serie A club could demand a higher fee, given his importance and influence within the squad.

La Viola are already doing business with the London club, with Spurs’ Manor Solomon currently on loan until the end of the campaign, although the feeling in Tuscany is that the winger has not done enough to warrant a permanent move.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur star Danny Murphy believes that Roberto De Zerbi’s Spurs team lack creativity and energy high up the pitch, but have been working hard on different aspects of the game.

A 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night against Leeds United failed to give De Zerbi’s team that much-needed breathing space, keeping the gap between themselves and West Ham to just two points.

Over the course of the match, Tottenham had an xG of 1.32 and managed just three shots on target.

As a performance, it was different to what Leeds United assistant manager Edmund Riemer said about Tottenham’s style of football under De Zerbi.

Murphy feels that the London side still lack creativity and energy high up the pitch, while they are also lacking in confidence.

The effort is there, though, according to the 49-year-old, with better shape and better stability being on display on the pitch.

“They just lack a real creativity and energy high up the pitch and confidence”, Murphy said on talkSPORT (11th May, 22:14).

“They are working hard, they are trying.

“They look like they have got a better shape, better stability to a degree.”

Defence has been a key weakness area for Spurs this season, proof of which is the 55 goals they have conceded in the Premier League.

Murphy feels that, from that aspect, they have made adjustments and did not give up silly chances to Leeds.

“They weren’t giving up silly chances all the time, but it is going to be tight.”

Spurs’ next game is against Chelsea next Tuesday, prior to which they could yet again fall back to the drop zone given West Ham’s match on Sunday against Newcastle United.

Murphy is still of the view that Tottenham will need a slice of luck.

“They are going to need a bit of luck to go their way at some point.

“That could be at Chelsea but first they are going to have to sit back and watch West Ham play Newcastle and that is a tough one.”

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