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Could Eberechi Eze be on the move to north London? Crystal Palace winger is 5/6 to sign with Tottenham Hotspur this summer

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Following strong Premier League and Euro 2024 campaigns - a number of clubs are expressing their interest in acquiring Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze this summer.

Eze was particularly impressive for Palace in 2023-24, registering 11 goals and four assists to help the south London club finish tenth in the English top-flight.

At the time of writing - Tottenham Hotspur are 5/6 favourites with Sky Bet to sign the 26-year-old prior to September 3, 2024.

Tottenham - who sat atop the league table after ten games last season - fell off the pace in the second half of their campaign to finish fifth and 26 points adrift of eventual champions Manchester City.

Could Eze provide Spurs with the attacking spark and poise on the ball to help the north London club achieve top four this season? He is certainly more than capable of doing so.

Despite his short odds - it is being reported that there is no sign yet of an imminent bid for the winger.

With three years remaining on his contract - it is likely that Eze will command a high fee.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester City round out the three favourites in the market - with the pair of clubs priced at 7/2 and 7/1 respectively.

Sky Bet favourites to sign Eberechi Eze this summer:

Tottenham Hotspur 5/6

Arsenal 7/2

Manchester City 7/1

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Yves Bissouma CAN finish, James Maddison faces competition for the creator-in-chief role and Ange Postecoglou has NOT changed: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Tottenham's 2-0 win at QPR

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Tottenham won 2-0 at Queens Park Rangers in an all-London pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Yves Bissouma - who has never scored a competitive goal for Spurs - broke the deadlock with a fine run and finish late in the first half.

Sixteen-year-old Mikey Moore then set up Dane Scarlett to wrap up a solid victory after wholesale substitutions at half-time.

Spurs were good value for their win after bossing possession, with 66 per cent, against the side that finished 18th in the Championship last season.

Mail Sport's ROBERT SUMMERSCALES was watching the game and noted down five things we learned from Saturday's action at Loftus Road.

Yves Bissouma CAN finish

Defensive midfielder Bissouma has never scored in 56 proper games for Spurs but he took his goal on Saturday like a seasoned No 10.

The former Brighton ace - who netted six times in 124 appearances for the Seagulls - dribbled past one opponent before playing a slick one-two with Dejan Kulusevski.

Bissouma ghosted into the penalty area like he had done it 1,000 times previously, before three more tidy touches saw him hold off a defender, dribble around the keeper and finish from a tight angle.

Surely he will get off the mark for real in Tottenham's 2024-25 campaign?

Spurs could have a new No 2

Goalkeeper Brandon Austin impressed for the second time in four days.

He kept a first-half clean sheet - just as he had in Wednesday's 5-1 win at Hearts - and pulled off a superb fingertip save to thwart Rayan Kolli.

Austin also looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet, which will not have gone unnoticed by manager Ange Postecoglou.

Twenty-five-year-old Austin has still not yet made a senior appearance for Spurs, despite being at the club since 2015.

But do not be surprised if he makes his debut in the 2024-25 season - possibly in the Europa League - while he could even move ahead of Fraser Forster, 36, as Tottenham's No 2 keeper.

James Maddison faces competition for creator-in-chief role

James Maddison got another 45 minutes under his belt on Saturday but the former Leicester playmaker was not Tottenham's most creative player.

That title belonged to Kulusevski, who set up Bissouma's goal and could have had another two assists were it not for Timo Werner and Mikey Moore spurning one-on-one chances.

Brennan Johnson - fresh from registering 10 Premier League assists last season - was also let down by his team-mate's finishing.

Johnson, who stretched the game in the first half by sticking to the right touchline, fed Son Heung-min with two wicked crosses but the South Korean was unable to accept his gifts.

Djed Spence can shine as an inverted right back

Pedro Porro was a strong contender for Tottenham's Player of the Year award last season after dazzling as an attacking force from an inverted wing back position.

When the Spaniard did not play, Brazilian Emerson Royal was a sub-par replacement.

However, it looks like Djed Spence has the attributes and the confidence to be a very able back-up for Porro, providing the former Middlesbrough man stays at Spurs.

Spence - after scoring and assisting against Hearts on Wednesday - frequently looked to turn defence into attack at Loftus Road.

The 23-year-old - who has been loaned out to Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa since signing for Spurs in 2022 - did well defensively too.

Ange Postecoglou has NOT changed

Ange Postecoglou's uncompromising brand of attacking football was a breath of fresh air at the start of last season.

But after Tottenham's form dipped, it was widely suggested that the affable Aussie might be best served to work on a plan B.

The prospect of that happening looks as unlikely as ever though based on Saturday's evidence.

Postecoglou stayed loyal to his 4-3-3 system with inverted wing backs, despite missing his three first-choice central defenders.

Young forward Jamie Donley started at left back in a bold initial line-up and Spurs pressed high upfield throughout, as well as taking plenty of positive risks in possession.

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Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison puts his £2.5million Nottinghamshire home complete with its own football pitch on the market

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Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison is flogging his Nottinghamshire house that comes with its own football pitch for £2.5million.

The attacking midfielder's home comes with an outdoor swimming pool and bar which is lined with framed football shirts from fellow Premier League stars he's played against.

They include current footballing superstars Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as former top flight players Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero.

The 27-year-old's staggering collection of trainers are also visible stacked up on shelves.

Maddison, who missed out on England's Euro 2024 squad, lived in the house while at Leicester City and moved closer to Spurs after his £40million switch last summer.

The home is equipped with electric gates, CCTV system, video intercom entry system and security fencing, but the highlight of the property is a 5G mini football pitch in the back garden.

FHP Living, who are marketing the home, described the property as: 'A magnificent 'Grand Design' style home occupying a generous mature plot in the region of 0.8 acres that backs onto woodland.

'The Eco/Passive design offers high levels of thermal comfort & air quality and was completed in 2012 being built on a 'no expense spared' program.

'The property offers luxurious leisure facilities to include an outdoor heated pool with motorised safety cover, pool room, entertainment studio, gymnasium and artificial grass football pitch.

'The property is protected by a state of the art security system to include CCTV, automated gates, video intercom entry system & security fencing. Showroom style car garage with separate visitor car park.'

Maddison made 30 appearances for Tottenham last season, scoring four goals and assisting nine.

He was named in Gareth Southgate's original Euro 2024 squad, but was one of seven players cut out from the final 26-man group for the tournament.

Posting on X after news on his axeing broke, Tottenham star Maddison said: 'Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.

'I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26 man squad as I feel I bring something different & had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that.

'I’ll be back, I have no doubt. Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends.

'I genuinely hope football comes home.'

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Forget the Euros... club football is back! Harry Kane is set for a Tottenham homecoming and there is an El Clasico in the US - The top 10 pre-season friendlies to whet your appetite for the new season

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This summer's festivals of international football both ended on Sunday night with the finals of Euro 2024 and the Copa America.

However, football never really ends. With the start of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign just a month away, all 20 clubs have begun their pre-season programmes.

Some teams have already played a friendly or two, but there are plenty of major pre-season matches still to come.

Mail Sport have rounded up 10 of the biggest and best to look forward to.

The kick-off times of the fixtures listed below are all based on British Summer Time (BST).

Manchester City vs Celtic (July 24, 00.30 at Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

Many fans would like to see the champions of England take on the champions of Scotland each season in a proper game.

However, those fans will have to settle for a friendly match over 3,000 miles away from the UK.

City and Celtic have not played each other in a competitive game since 2016 when they met in the group stage of the Champions League, drawing 3-3 in Glasgow and then 1-1 in Manchester.

Chelsea vs Wrexham (July 25, 03.30 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California)

Chelsea are under new management, again.

Enzo Maresca's first game in charge of the Blues will be a battle of two American-owned clubs on US soil.

Wrexham, fresh from winning promotion to League One last season, will be hoping to raise their game and put on a show in front of what is sure to be a celebrity-filled crowd.

Liverpool vs Arsenal (August 1, 00.30 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

These two Premier League rivals have served up some stunning matches over the years.

Who can forget the 4-4 at Anfield in 2009? There's even been a 5-5 since then.

This might only be a friendly, but it should be good to watch.

Real Madrid vs AC Milan (August 1, 01.30 at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois)

Real Madrid fans will be desperate to catch a glimpse of Kylian Mbappe following his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

While it is not yet clear when he will make his debut, Madrid's first opportunity to field the France captain will come in their opening friendly of the summer against Italian giants Milan.

Mbappe scored against Milan last season during a 3-0 win for PSG in the Champions League.

Chelsea vs Manchester City (August 3, 22.30 at Ohio Stadium, Columbus)

This friendly is scheduled to take place just 15 days before the two sides face each other at Stamford Bridge in their first game of the new Premier League campaign.

The personnel will likely differ greatly between the two matches, with City boss Pep Guardiola expected to not take any of his players who went deep at Euro 2024 to the USA this summer.

However, this should still be a fascinating test for these two teams.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid (August 4, 00.00 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey)

A Clasico is always a huge game, even when only a 'friendly'.

Do not be shocked to see tackles flying in and the referee dishing out plenty of cards in this one.

These two great rivals met three times last season, with those games delivering 13 goals and 13 cards, including a red.

Manchester United vs Liverpool (August 4, 00.30 at Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina)

The biggest fixture in English football is going Stateside this summer.

Just like with the Clasico, United and Liverpool do not really do 'friendlies'.

United fared pretty well against Liverpool last season, drawing both Premier League games and winning 4-3 in the FA Cup. Those results followed a humiliating 7-0 thrashing at Anfield in the previous campaign.

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen (August 7, 18.00 at the Emirates Stadium)

This should be a very tough test for Arsenal.

Leverkusen stunned the football world last season by going unbeaten throughout their domestic campaign to win the Bundesliga and German Cup double.

This game should also see Granit Xhaka return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since he left Arsenal in July 2023.

Borussia Dortmund vs Aston Villa (August 10, 16.00 at Westfalenstadion)

Aston Villa will enter the UEFA Champions League next season and will therefore take on some of Europe's best teams.

A match against a side that reached last year's final should be the perfect warm-up for Unai Emery's men.

It will also give Villa an incredible experience of playing in one of Europe's most iconic stadiums in front of the famous 'Yellow Wall'.

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich (August 10, 17.30 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)

Bizarrely, Spurs and Bayern are playing each other twice this summer.

Their first game is in South Korea on August 3 but it is their second meeting that should be the bigger spectacle.

That is because it should see Harry Kane make his return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Furthermore, Kane could actually win the first trophy of his Bayern career against Spurs.

The 'Visit Malta Cup' will be on the line in north London.

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Is Son Heung-min backing former Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane to help England beat Spain on Sunday? As Spurs stars give their predictions on who wins Euro 2024 final

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Tottenham players have had their say on which team will emerge victorious in the Euro 2024 final.

The only team at the tournament to enjoy a perfect run through the group stages in Germany, Spain enter the clash having already dumped out pre-tournament favourites France.

Meanwhile England join Luis de la Fuente's side in the showpiece after overcoming the Netherlands courtesy of a dramatic winner from substitute Ollie Watkins on Wednesday.

With the showdown fast approaching, pre-season is already well underway at clubs up and down the country in preparation for the return of the club football season.

As Spurs readied themselves for training players were asked to give their prediction on who will lift the trophy on Sunday night.

Captain Son Heung-min said that he hopes England can secure the win, and added a touching message to his friend and former team-mate Harry Kane.

'It's difficult,' Son said. 'Spain I think have had an amazing tournament. But I wish England to win, Harry [Kane] to win it. The best England player in history.'

James Maddison was the next player to be put on the spot for his opinion on the final.

The midfielder would have hoped to have been part of Gareth Southgate's team for the tournament but was ultimately axed as Southgate whittled his squad down to 26 last month.

Still Maddison insisted he was sure the Three Lions will claim the trophy for the first time: 'England of course. It's coming home!'

Timo Werner also backed England to win, and the German forward was joined in his prediction by the club's new arrivals Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Not everyone was so confident, however.

Brennan Johnson represented the Three Lions at youth level before switching his international allegiance to Wales and sat firmly on the fence when asked who will win on Sunday, insisting only that the game will finish 2-1.

Meanwhile Spanish midfielder Bryan Gil unsurprisingly picked his country to prevail, and he was joined in his assessment by Emerson Royal.

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Tanguy Ndombele joins a new club in France as he looks to resurrect his career - after Tottenham tore up £65m club record signing's contract a year early

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Tanguy Ndombele joins a new club in France as he looks to resurrect his career - after Tottenham tore up £65m - Daily Mail
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Former Tottenham Hotspur player, Tanguy Ndombele, has signed for a new club after ending his contract with Spurs last month.

The talented midfielder has agreed to end his time with his parent club, despite having a year left on his contract.

It marks the end to a disappointing career with Spurs, and potentially an opportunity to revive his stuttering career.

Ndombele has signed for French side Nice after spending last season on loan with Turkish champions Galatasaray.

At Nice, he will be looking to recapture the form he exhibited for former club Lyon, which originally put him on the radar of Europe's elite in 2017.

Last season he featured 19 times for Galatasary, but still failed to make a serious impact at the Super Lig club, often facing criticism around his fitness and weight.

He has since posted an emotional message to the club's fans on his Instagram, saying: 'Thank you to the managers, staff, teammates for this adventure which led us to the title of champion.

The 27-year-old will reunite with former sporting director Florian Maurice, who he knows from their time together at Lyon.

He last played for Tottenham in third-round FA Cup tie with Morecambe on 9 January 2022 and was booed off the pitch.

Ndombele was a league winner in Italy for Napoli in the 2022-23 campaign before making a move to Galatasaray.

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Newcastle hire former Tottenham chief Paul Mitchell as new sporting director to replace Dan Ashworth following his move to Man United

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Newcastle United have appointed Paul Mitchell as the club's new sporting director.

Mitchell has previously worked with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig on player recruitment.

He replaces Dan Ashworth, who recently left Newcastle to join Manchester United following drawn-out negotiations over compensation.

Mitchell - who has also held roles with MK Dons and AS Monaco in the past - said in a club statement on Thursday: 'It's with immense pride that I accept the responsibility of being Newcastle United's new sporting director.

'I've seen the recent growth and ambition of the club. This, plus the amazing fan base, made the decision to join an easy one. I can't wait to get started and help continue the organisation's growth and long-term competitiveness in all areas of elite football performance.'

Newcastle CEO Darren Eales added: 'We are delighted to welcome Paul to Newcastle United. He brings a successful track record and wealth of experience to the club.

'His extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate.

'We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him in our pursuit of long-term, sustainable success.'

Mitchell's appointment came less than a week after Ashworth's move to Old Trafford had been agreed by all parties.

Ashworth had been on gardening leave for four months and was about to take Newcastle to arbitration after they rejected United's offer of £2million and demanded £20m.

However, the two clubs reached a compromise and issued a joint-statement last weekend.

The statement read: 'Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United.

'The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.'

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Newcastle hire former Tottenham chief Paul Mitchell as new sporting director to replace Dan Ashworth following his move to Man United

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Newcastle United have appointed Paul Mitchell as the club's new sporting director.

Mitchell has previously worked with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig on player recruitment.

He replaces Dan Ashworth, who recently left Newcastle to join Manchester United following drawn-out negotiations over compensation.

Mitchell - who has also held roles with MK Dons and AS Monaco in the past - said in a club statement on Thursday: 'It's with immense pride that I accept the responsibility of being Newcastle United's new sporting director.

'I've seen the recent growth and ambition of the club. This, plus the amazing fan base, made the decision to join an easy one. I can't wait to get started and help continue the organisation's growth and long-term competitiveness in all areas of elite football performance.'

Newcastle CEO Darren Eales added: 'We are delighted to welcome Paul to Newcastle United. He brings a successful track record and wealth of experience to the club.

'His extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate.

'We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him in our pursuit of long-term, sustainable success.'

Mitchell's appointment came less than a week after Ashworth's move to Old Trafford had been agreed by all parties.

Ashworth had been on gardening leave for four months and was about to take Newcastle to arbitration after they rejected United's offer of £2million and demanded £20m.

However, the two clubs reached a compromise and issued a joint-statement last weekend.

The statement read: 'Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United.

'The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.'

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£107m worth of former Man United talent, Tottenham's most expensive signing and a £72m Premier League flop - the top names available for FREE now their contracts have expired

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Hundreds of players across Europe saw their contracts expire last week on June 30.

As a result, those players are now free agents and therefore available to be signed without the need for a transfer fee.

But who are the best freebies this summer? Mail Sport takes a look at some of the top footballers who are now officially without a club, starting with a five-time Champions League winner...

Raphael Varane

Raphael Varane has spent the majority of his career playing at giant clubs. After a decade at Real Madrid, he joined Man United for £34 million in 2021.

But the 31-year-old - who has won 21 trophies, including the 2018 World Cup with France - appears to be heading to Serie A to join new boys Como following his release by United.

Como, who are part-owned by Cesc Fabregas, played in front of an average home crowd of just over 6,000 fans last season.

Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial, 28, became an instant hit at Old Trafford when he scored a fine goal against Liverpool just minutes into his Manchester United debut following his £56m arrival in 2015.

He went on to net 71 goals across his first five seasons with United, but only added a further 19 in his final four campaigns in England.

United signed Martial from Monaco and a return to Ligue 1 could be on the cards, with Lyon and Marseille said to be interested. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the USA's Major League Soccer are other possible destinations.

Adrien Rabiot

From one Frenchmen who has left Old Trafford to one who could potentially join Man United this summer - midfielder Adrien Rabiot, whose five-year spell with Juventus ended last week.

The 29-year-old - who has featured in all four of France's Euro 2024 games so far - is being linked with the Red Devils for a third successive summer. It is understood that Rabiot was United's top back-up option in case their attempts to land Mason Mount failed 12 months ago.

United are still said to be interested in Rabiot, but AC Milan and Liverpool are also reportedly keen.

Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele is still Tottenham Hotspur's most expensive signing ever following his £65 million arrival from Lyon in July 2019.

Ndombele's contract had been due to expire at the end of June next year but Spurs agreed with the midfielder to terminate his deal 12 months early.

The 27-year-old Frenchman made 91 first-team appearances for Spurs but none since January 2022. He was loaned out to Lyon, Napoli and Galatasaray over the past three seasons.

Dele Alli

Dele Alli recently left Everton after making just 13 Premier League appearances for the club. Had he reached 20 games then the Toffees would have owed former club Tottenham £10m.

The 28-year-old was once one of the highest-rated attacking midfielders in world football, peaking in the 2016-17 season when he netted 22 goals in 50 appearances for Spurs.

He has been capped 37 times by England, although his most recent international outing was back in 2019. However, Dele has publicly stated the he believes he can be a part of England's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Alli is set to train with Everton for the forseeable future despite the expiry of his contract.

Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay left Atletico Madrid this summer after scoring 13 goals in 40 games for the Spanish outfit. Depay previously netted 14 times in 42 matches for Barcelona, after hitting 76 in 178 for Lyon.

Premier League fans may remember Depay from an underwhelming 53-game stint with Man United between 2015 and 2016 when he scored just seven goals after arriving in a £25m move from PSV Eindhoven.

The 30-year-old - who has scored 46 goals in 95 senior international appearances for the Netherlands - will decide his future after Euro 2024.

Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara, 33, won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and Bayern Munich in 2011 and 2020 respectively. He almost won it again in 2022 but his Liverpool side lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in the final.

That loss to Madrid was Thiago's 69th appearance for the Reds. The injury-hit midfielder only played another 29 matches for the Anfield outfit before leaving this summer.

Former manager Jurgen Klopp said when Thiago's departure was announced: 'Before he even came to Liverpool I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play.'

Joel Matip

Joel Matip also left Liverpool this summer.

The 32-year-old centre back's last appearance for the club came in December when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

However, Matip's Premier League career may not be over as Bournemouth and Southampton are both said to have him on their transfer short-lists.

Nicolas Pepe

Winger Nicolas Pepe was Arsenal's most expensive signing of all time when he arrived from Lille for a whopping fee of £72m in August 2019, although that record has since been broken by Declan Rice.

Pepe, 33, delivered 16 goals and nine assists in 80 Premier League games for the Gunners. But he last played for Arsenal in the 2021-22 season.

He spent the most recent season on loan at Trabzonspor, having been sent to Nice in the 2022-23 campaign.

Ryan Sessegnon

Ryan Sessegnon could well have been playing left back for England this summer had his promising career not been blighted by multiple injuries.

Like Ndombele, big things were expected of Sessegnon when he arrived at Tottenham in 2019. He cost Spurs a £25m transfer fee from Fulham, who had been reluctant sellers. However, in hindsight, the Cottagers probably got a pretty good deal. Sessegnon played just 57 games for Spurs, scoring three goals.

Sessegnon, still only 24, could be set to stay in London as West Ham are said to be considering making him an offer.

Other players whose contracts ended on June 30 include Wissam Ben Yedder, Mario Hermoso, Guido Rodriguez, Leandro Barreiro, Alex Berenguer, Kelechi Iheanacho and Andre Gomes.

The Premier League's summer transfer window is now open and will not close until August 30. However, free agents can be signed beyond that deadline.

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'Heartbroken' Leeds United blame 'release clause' for £30m deal which sees 'one of our own' Archie Gray, 18, go to Tottenham in remarkable statement - as fans rage over transfer

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Leeds United have released a remarkable statement after selling Archie Gray to Tottenham for £30m, blaming the teenager's release clause for his departure.

Gray's move to Spurs was confirmed on Tuesday morning, with the 18-year-old leaving his boyhood club after making 52 appearances and starring in their run to the Championship play-off final last season.

However, Leeds suffered heartbreak at Wembley as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton. Following their failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League, Leeds were left in the position of having to raise funds this summer, and have revealed they reluctantly allowed Gray to leave after Spurs triggered a release clause in his contract.

A club statement on Tuesday morning read: 'Leeds United can confirm Archie Gray has completed a permanent transfer to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee, after the North London outfit met a release clause that was triggered by the club’s failure to get promoted at the first attempt.

'Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened the board’s resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars.

'Whilst we understand that supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a home-grown talent, and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club’s chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations.

'Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism. He leaves with the very best wishes for his future career and in the knowledge that Leeds will always be his home.'

Leeds' statement blaming Gray's release clause received little sympathy from fans as they raged online at the club's decision to let Gray go.

'"Heartbroken"? Just be matter of fact about it, you gambled on promotion last yr by putting the clause in, and bluff has been called so hands tied. Or you're blaming Archie. Either way this whole thing has been fudged,' one fan wrote on X.

'Them pesky clauses you keep putting in contracts. Get in the sea with your “heartbroken” nonsense,' another added.

'You need a heart to get it broken,' one supporter posted alongside multiple money bag emojis, suggesting Leeds had chosen the cash over trying to keep one of their own.

The mood is different at Spurs, though, after they beat off competition for Gray's signature.

They posted on X: 'We are delighted to announce the signing of Archie Gray from Leeds United. Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Archie!' alongside a picture of the teenager holding up his Spurs shirt.

Gray, 18, is Spurs' third signing of the summer after they opted to extend Timo Werner's loan spell from RB Leipzig for another year, and brought in exciting youngster Lucas Bergvall from Swedish club Djurgarden.

Tottenham had looked set to miss out on Gray on Saturday when Brentford held talks with Leeds over a £35m fee for the midfielder.

This sparked a furious reaction from Leeds fans, as they expressed their dismay at potentially losing one of their homegrown talents, who is also the nephew of club legend, Eddie.

Talks subsequently broke down between Brentford and Leeds, but Tottenham swooped in to get their man, and it has not gone down well with Leeds's fanbase.

But Tottenham have continued their busy start to the transfer window as they look to build on a promising first season under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs narrowly missed out on Champions League football last term after losing form in the final weeks of the season, and Postecoglou admitted he needed to strengthen his squad this summer to take his team to the next level.

Gray will bring versatility to the north London club, having operated in central midfield and at right back for Leeds.

He has already got Tottenham fans excited about what he could bring to the team after footage re-emerged of him putting in a stunning display against Chelsea in the FA Cup last season.

Gray's arrival at Spurs also marks the end of another Tottenham career, with Rodon moving to Elland Road permanently in a separate £10m deal.

The 26-year-old defender moved to Tottenham in 2020 from Swansea, but was limited to 24 appearances in his first two seasons at the club.

He was loaned to out to Ligue 1 outfit Rennes for the 2022-23 season, and then spent last year on loan at Leeds.

Rodon was a regular fixture in Daniel Farke's side, and has now joined Leeds for good as they aim to bounce back from their play-off misery next season.

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