Inside Futbol

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RB Leipzig are ready to accept a cut-price offer for Timo Werner, who is departing Tottenham Hotspur this summer, as they have no plans to use him following his return from north London.

Werner has struggled in his second successive spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with his only goal in 27 appearances coming in the EFL Cup against Manchester City last October.

Tottenham have an option to make Werner’s loan move permanent for a fee of €10m, but it has been clear for some time they would not be taking it up.

Spurs confirmed the news recently when they announced that Werner will be departing following the end of his loan.

Now the future looks uncertain for Werner as he is firmly out of the picture at RB Leipzig.

And, according to German daily Bild (via Fussball Transfers), RB Leipzig are prepared to sell Werner for just €4m this summer.

They want to move the 29-year-old on at all costs to get him off the wage bill, as he is the second highest earner at the club.

Game Result Brighton (A) 3-2 Manchester City (A) 0-4 Fulham (H) 1-1 Timo Werner’s Premier League assists this season

Werner would likely need to take a pay cut to help smooth an exit from the Bundesliga side.

A move to Saudi Arabia has been ruled out, but a transfer to the United States remains a possibility.

Eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Tottenham decided to re-sign Werner on loan last summer and include a purchase clause.

The striker struggled to succeed in the Premier League when he was on the books at Chelsea and that did not change at Tottenham.

Werner appeared in 18 Premier League games for Spurs this season, with ample opportunity to stake his claim amid massive injury issues in north London.

He did not though find the back of the net once, though he did provide three assists for his team-mates.

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Turkish champions Galatasaray will make an offer to Chelsea for Tottenham Hotspur target Christopher Nkunku this summer.

Chelsea beat off stiff competition and paid a big transfer fee to sign the 27-year-old centre forward from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023.

The 2023/24 season for Nkunku was marred with injuries and he featured only eleven times for the Blues in the league, scoring three goals.

In the recently finished season under Enzo Maresca, Nkunku struggled to get regular game time and he made 27 league appearances while starting only nine of them and netting three times.

Nkunku is not happy with his game time with Chelsea and the London outfit are now favourites to land Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, which would potentially shrink his game time even further.

Tottenham have been linked with a raid on Chelsea for Nkunku, with Spurs having let Timo Werner go after the end of his loan, while there is no decision yet on keeping Mathys Tel, despite Bayern Munich being prepared to be flexible.

However, Tottenham are not alone in their admiration of Nkunku and they look set to face competition from Turkey.

Player League goals Victor Osimhen 26 Baris Alper Yilmaz 12 Yunus Akgun 7 Alvaro Morata 6 Dries Mertens 5 Galatasaray’s top Super Lig scorers this season

Galatasaray might lose Victor Osimhen, Mario Icardi and Alvaro Morata in the same window and they are looking to strengthen their forward line with the Spurs target.

According to Turkish daily Takvim (via A Spor), Galatasaray will go to Chelsea with an offer to sign Tottenham target Nkunku in the summer.

It is unclear whether Spurs supremo Daniel Levy is planning to make a move any time soon, as he have yet to decide on Ange Postecoglou’s future.

It has been suggested that Tottenham were leaning towards sacking Postecoglou before their Europa League final win and Levy will make the final decision this week.

Any delay could mean losing vital ground in transfer chases such as the push for Nkunku, giving Galatasaray a chance to steal in.

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Tottenham Hotspur have shown interest in Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi as they consider what to do post Ange Postecoglou, according to the Sun.

Postecoglou met his remit to deliver Champions League football to Spurs for next season and did it by winning a trophy to boot in the shape of the Europa League.

However, dire Premier League form which saw the side finish just one place above the relegation zone and lose 22 games has left his position hanging by a thread.

And the rules that have given Tottenham a spot in next season’s Champions League need to be looked at in the opinion of Andy Gray.

Spurs supremo Daniel Levy has yet to decide whether or not to sack the Australian, but the club are looking at potential replacements.

The likes of Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Fulham’s Marco Silva have been mentioned, but Tottenham have shown interest in Inzaghi.

He led Inter Milan to the Champions League final this season, where they lost 5-0 to Paris Saint-Germain.

It was a second Champions League final in three years for the Nerazzurri, who were beaten by Manchester City in the 2022/23 affair.

Inzaghi has been lauded for the work he has carried out at the San Siro and landing him would be a real coup for Tottenham.

Club Trophy Lazio Coppa Italia – 2019 Inter Milan Serie A – 2024 Inter Milan Coppa Italia – 2022, 2023 Simone Inzaghi’s managerial trophies

The 49-year-old has been in charge of Inter Milan since 2021, when he joined following a stint as Lazio boss.

With Fabio Paratici expected to return to Tottenham soon, the Italian connection could be rekindled by bringing in Inzaghi.

Tottenham will have Champions League football on the agenda for next season, which is sure to give them added attraction in the transfer market and extra funds to reshape the squad.

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Tottenham Hotspur have received a blow in the chase for Johnny Cardoso as the player is preferring a stay in La Liga over a move to the Premier League at the moment.

The north London outfit managed to secure a ticket for the next Champions League by defeating Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Spurs supremo Daniel Levy is now focused on helping Ange Postecoglou strengthen areas of his squad to not repeat their dire domestic campaign in the following season.

A defensive midfielder is on the agenda of Spurs and they have a player already in their mind in the form of Real Betis star Cardoso.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are also chasing the USA international’s signature, as he is high on Diego Simeone’s list.

However, Tottenham agreed to a deal with Betis to have an option to buy Cardoso during a set window for €25m when they negotiated a transfer for Giovani Lo Celso.

Spurs could look to pay the agreed fee for the defensive midfielder to secure him, but Atletico Madrid are also ready to surpass Tottenham’s offer.

Player Loaned to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg Marseille Yan Min-hyeok QPR Manor Solomon Leeds United Ashley Phillips Stoke City Alejo Veliz Espanyol Alfie Devine Westerlo Bryan Gil Girona Tottenham Hotspur’s loaned out stars

Despite having an option on Cardoso, the Premier League outfit will need to convince the Real Betis star to move to north London in the summer.

And according to Spanish journalist Manu de Olmedo, Spurs have received a blow in their chase for Cardoso as the player wants to stay in La Liga.

It is suggested that Atletico Madrid have already agreed to terms with Cardoso, which will see him stay with them until 2030 if they manage to secure his signature.

However, in the event of another club signing Cardoso, the Premier League outfit will receive 20 per cent from the sale as agreed by Levy previously with Betis.

Now it remains to be seen whether Spurs will give up and move on to other targets or they will try to convince him of a move.

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Newcastle United and Liverpool are not in the mix to land Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku, but Tottenham Hotspur have asked about him, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Nkunku is expected to move on from Stamford Bridge in the approaching summer transfer window and was keen to join Bayern Munich in the winter transfer window.

He stayed put, but would be interested if Bayern Munich came in with a fresh bid.

Both Newcastle and Liverpool have been linked with holding an interest in the attacker, but those claims are wide of the mark and the pair are not chasing Nkunku at the moment.

Within the Premier League though, Tottenham have asked about him and are his most serious domestic suitors.

Having managed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, Tottenham will feel confident they can make an impact in the summer transfer window.

The Chelsea man only featured for 14 minutes in the Premier League against Tottenham in the recently concluded campaign.

Player Age Timo Werner 29 Mikey Moore 17 Heung-Min Son 32 Brennan Johnson 24 Dominic Solanke 27 Mathys Tel 20 Richarlison 28 Dane Scarlett 21 Tottenham’s attacking options

Spurs though have seen enough from the Frenchman to believe he could fit into their attacking department in north London.

There will be a need for reinforcements in the final third, with Timo Werner expected to head back to RB Leipzig when his loan officially comes to an end.

Spurs have an option to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich on a permanent basis, but it would be a big money move and opinion is split on whether the forward did enough to earn the switch.

Tottenham have a ticking clock on deciding whether to keep Tel.

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If Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso joins a club other than Tottenham Hotspur this summer, then the north Londoners will receive a certain percentage of that fee.

Despite experiencing a dire Premier League campaign, Tottenham ended the season superbly by winning the Europa League.

They will be in next season’s Champions League league phase, guaranteeing a minimum of eight games and which has the potential to attract quality players in the summer window.

Club supremo Daniel Levy has already started plotting their transfer business and New Jersey-born Cardoso is a player who Tottenham lined up the possibility to sign last summer.

Levy negotiated the clause to purchase Cardoso for €25m, when he sold Giovani Lo Celso for a cut-price fee to the La Liga club.

However, he has become a priority target for Atletico Madrid, who are ready to exceed whatever Spurs will pay, as Cardoso is their priority midfield target this summer.

Even if he ends up at a different club, Spurs will receive 20 per cent of what Real Betis will receive for him, according to Spanish journalist Manu de Olmedo.

Game Minute booked Legia Warsaw (A) 61st Celta Vigo (H) 35th Real Valladolid (A) 77th Alaves (H) 90th Las Palmas (H) 80th Johnny Cardoso’s bookings this season

Cardoso started his career at Brazilian club Internacional, who will also receive 20 per cent as the player’s sell-on fee.

The player’s will is a big factor regarding where he plays next season, but even if he dodges Spurs, they will receive a good amount of money for him.

The USA international played an important part in Los Verdiblancos’ campaign, racking up almost 3,400 minutes in 46 games.

Now it remains to be seen if Spurs will be able to convince Cardoso to join them or if they will have to settle for the money they get him in case he joins a different club.

Cardoso could also yet decide he wants to remain at Real Betis.

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A club are ‘willing to match and raise’ to beat off competition from Tottenham Hotspur for a key target in the summer transfer window.

Spurs have reinvigorated their chances of being able to attract top players in the summer through winning the Europa League and booking a Champions League spot.

A massive financial boost, along with an increase in attractiveness as a destination, may open up new avenues for Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou to exploit.

However, Spurs could move for a player they already hold an option to buy on.

They boast an option to by Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardodo during a set window this summer, with the terms negotiated when Giovani Lo Celso was sold last summer.

Cardoso though is a key midfield target for Atletico Madrid, who are desperate to take him to the Spanish capital and ready to open talks.

And Los Rojiblancos are ‘willing to match and raise a possible offer’ from Tottenham for the American, according to Spanish journalist Manu de Olmedo.

Club Years Internacional 2019-2024 Real Betis 2024- Johnny Cardoso’s career history

Atletico Madrid will do all they can to make sure that they land Cardoso and see off competition from Tottenham in the process.

While Tottenham do have a clause to sign the midfielder, the player’s desire and will is likely to be a significant factor when it comes to where he will play next season.

Spurs will likely still have to convince him that moving to north London would be the right switch, with Atletico Madrid also making their pitch.

He got a good look at the level he would come up against in the Premier League on Wednesday night as he clocked 85 minutes of the Conference League final defeat to Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

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La Liga giants Atletico Madrid will push to advance talks to sign Johnny Cardoso, who Tottenham Hotspur have a clause to buy, after the Conference League final.

The north London outfit rescued their awful domestic season by winning the Europa League, after beating Manchester United.

Despite finishing 17th in the Premier League, they have booked themselves a place in next year’s Champions League and are plotting their transfer business, armed with the financial boost that comes with a spot at the top table.

Last summer, Spanish side Real Betis managed to sign Giovani Lo Celso from Tottenham for a cut-price fee, but as part of the deal, Spurs positioned themselves for Cardoso.

Spurs supremo Daniel Levy agreed on a clause to sign their American midfielder Cardoso for €25m, but that clause does not activate until 20th June.

In the meantime, Atletico Madrid have made Cardoso a priority signing for the summer window as they are looking to bring in a new defensive midfielder.

Now, according to Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo, the Madrid-based club will start their talks with Los Verdiblancos regarding Cardoso after the Conference League final.

Game Minute booked Legia Warsaw (A) 61st Celta Vigo (H) 35th Real Valladolid (A) 77th Alaves (H) 90th Las Palmas (H) 80th Johnny Cardoso’s bookings this season

Real Betis are facing Premier League club Chelsea in the European competition’s final and Diego Simeone’s side will go ahead with their interest in Cardoso after that.

Atletico Madrid will have around three weeks before Tottenham’s clause kicks in for Cardoso, and the player’s will has also been deemed as a very important aspect to strike a deal.

Even if Tottenham are able to agree on a fee with Los Verdiblancos, they will still need to make a compelling case to him regarding why he should choose north London over Atletico Madrid.

Cardoso has been a very important part of Real Betis and will look to drop another top-notch performance against the Blues on Wednesday night at Stadion Miejski.

Spurs’ clause to buy the player only runs for a limited period.

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Djurgarden sporting director Bosse Andersson has revealed that the Swedish side have received all performance bonuses included in Lucas Bergvall’s contract when he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur.

Since Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the club, Spurs have focused on bringing in young players with a long-term vision to be important players in the future.

Sweden international Bergvall was one of the first ones to be signed and he joined them at the beginning of the recently concluded season, where Spurs won the Europa League trophy.

However, Tottenham had a season where they finished 17th in the Premier League, and suffered multiple injuries throughout the season, which saw Bergvall playing a lot more than he expected to.

Andresson also recognised how much the teenager played all season under Postecoglou in all competitions consistently.

The 56-year-old admitted that he thought Bergvall’s performance clauses would take a few years to come in, but he made it clear that they have received all performance-related bonuses for the 19-year-old this season.

“I can confirm that all the bonus parts that are included have clicked in”, Andersson told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen about Bergvall.

Club Years Brommapojkarna 2021-2022 Djurgarden 2022-2024 Tottenham Hotspur 2024- Lucas Bergvall’s career history

“Lucas has had such a breakthrough both in the Premier League and in Europe, and has been involved in so many games.

“We can see that what we thought would take several years has happened very quickly.”

Even though Bergvall has been injured since the beginning of this month, he made a stunning 45 appearances in all competitions for Spurs in his first season in England.

The injury kept him out of the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao.

With Spurs in the Champions League next term, Bergvall will expect to see a significant amount of game time again and further kick on with his development.

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Former Liverpool star Jason McAteer has revealed he was embarrassed for Tottenham Hotspur watching the way they folded at Anfield and believes Ange Postecoglou has big problems.

Liverpool headed into their meeting with Tottenham knowing that just one point would be enough to secure the Premier League title.

While Spurs did manage to shock Anfield by taking the lead through Dominic Solanke, they were then blown away as Liverpool scored five goals without reply.

Postecoglou is already under big pressure at Spurs and club legend Graham Roberts was quick to slam the players for giving up too easily.

McAteer believes that Liverpool did not have to play well to beat Tottenham and was embarrassed at how they just collapsed.

He stressed that Spurs did not look like a team and had the wrong attitude, when they had a chance to play party poopers.

“I can only imagine what the board are thinking at Tottenham”, McAteer said post match on LFC TV (27th April).

Trophy Won with Scottish Premiership (21/22, 22/23) Celtic Scottish Cup (22/23) Celtic Scottish League Cup (21/22, 22/23) Celtic Ange Postecoglou’s trophies in British football

“We can speak about the fans and the disappointment they will have. I think something like that on the manager, Ange Postecoglou, is not great.

“They could have spoiled the party today.

“It’s all about attitude, it’s all about commitment to the cause.

“We know it was set up today for Liverpool to win the title, but you’ve got to offer more than what they have.

“To be honest, they didn’t even look like a team. They looked so dysfunctional.

“I know it’s going to be a bit strong to say, but I was quite embarrassed for them.

“I don’t think Liverpool played that well. I just thought Tottenham were that bad.

“Oh, I think he’s got big problems.”

Postecoglou has banked everything on winning the Europa League this season, but the jury is out on whether even doing that would be enough for him to keep his Tottenham job into next term.