3 Added Minutes

Breaking down the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal, Leeds and more.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

It’s time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up and review of all the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we start with a story which throws Manchester United’s name into the hat for one of Brazil’s most exciting young talents.

According to Sport Witness – who cite sources in the South America media – United have “joined the race” for Vasco da Gama forward Rayan, who was linked separately with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal earlier in the week as Premier League teams fall over each other to get a deal done.

Reports have yet to reveal what Rayan’s release clause is at Vasco but apparently the Brazilian side are trying to tie the 19-year-old down to a new deal which would include a €70m (£61.5m) buy-out, which tells us how his current club value him, if nothing else. Rayan, who has scored 16 goals this season, will certainly be hard to sign in January unless a team is prepared to pay full whack.

Apparently Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion have all been linked in recent weeks as well, but they’re not the “front-runners” for the signature of an exciting prospect. There’s no word on what Rayan wants to do with his future career, as it stands.

The 3AM Verdict: We imagine there’s plenty of interest from the usual suspects on the continent, too, and it seems to be too early to know which teams are going to bid and which teams are just having their names thrown about in the gossip columns. Expect a big team to be the one to get the deal over the line when it does happen, likely next summer.

Arsenal have ‘money to spend’ in January – and three targets

Over to Caught Offside, now, who have further news for Gunners fans – Arsenal are “expected to have money to spend” in January as they look to seal a first Premier League title in over 20 years, and they have “three long-term transfer targets” in mind.

All three are rising stars rather than established names – Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi (who has been linked with Manchester United) is one, Barcelona’s Marc Casadó the second and Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl the third and final, although it’s noted that a deal for Karl “isn’t too realistic.”

Arsenal are in “no rush” to complete deals for any of their targets but the cash is there to spend over the winter if an agreement can be reached. Bouaddi sounds like the most likely, with Karl too well-regarded at Bayern to be sold and Chelsea supposedly “further ahead” in the bidding for Casadó.

The 3AM Verdict: We doubt that Arsenal push too hard for any of these players in January as they’re all developing players to some degree, and the most experienced, Casadó, plays in an area in which Mikel Arteta is already well-stocked. We suspect the talk of a big spending spree in January is a red herring, but we don’t dispute that any of these are targets for the future.

Leeds targeting two forwards for January moves

Let’s finish today’s digest up at Elland Road – according to TeamTalk, Leeds United are close to working out what they might do in January, and have two targets in mind while Daniel Farke “wants to bolster his attack.”

Coventry City’s Haji Wright, who already has nine goals this season, is one of them, while struggling Norwich City’s Josh Sargent in the other, although it’s noted that both deals “look hard to pull off” with Coventry pushing for promotion while Norwich battle relegation. Neither side will be keen to lose key players in the middle of the season.

While it might be tricky, however, “that’s not to say Leeds won’t try,” as the report notes it. One deal that’s cropped up on the rumour mill in recent probably isn’t on the menu, however, with this article suggesting that links with Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley are wide of the mark.

The 3AM Verdict: It would take some silly money to persuade either Coventry or Norwich to sell at this stage and Leeds are likely to have relatively limited resources over the winter having spent most or all of their transfer budget already. We also agree that a deal for Barkley is relatively unlikely, unless Villa want to move him on and are happy to offer a cheap loan deal or something similar.

Thomas Frank could have set his sights on a major swap deal ahead of the January transfer window

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Thomas Frank’s early months as new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur have led to renewed optimism, as the Europa League winners have returned to challenging in the upper reaches of the Premier League table whilst making a solid start in Europe.

The Lilywhites have risen to third in the league table despite having very few striking options to choose from, with Richarlison and Mathys Tel often Frank’s only options through the centre amidst injury lay-offs for Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke.

Spurs’ search for a striker may extend to the transfer market, amidst rumours that Frank “does not fancy” Solanke according to Football Insider. The former Bournemouth striker has only made three substitute appearances under the Dane thus far due to injury, but this has not prevented the head coach from forming an early opinion on the Englishman. Should his doubts persist when Solanke returns to full fitness, a January swap deal could be on the cards.

Tottenham and Everton swap deal could be huge January move

While not a direct replacement for Solanke, Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye is reportedly a Spurs target and could switch ways with the striker in a deal which would work well for both clubs.

Everton have expressed that they do not want to sell Ndiaye and will not part with him easily, but there is no denying that the striker position is one where David Moyes’ side could still do with an upgrade. If Solanke can prove by January that he is capable of staying fit, there is an argument to be made that he would do a great job for the Toffees.

The 28-year-old has scored 38 Premier League goals in spells with Liverpool, Bournemouth and Spurs, netting 16 in all competitions last season following his £65 million move from the Cherries. Solanke was first-choice under Ange Postecoglou, but this is unlikely to still be the case - and Spurs would be smart to use the striker as a bargaining chip in securing a deal for Ndiaye.

Solanke and Ndiaye transfer deal would work for all parties

If Everton are to accept they must part ways with Ndiaye at some stage as his long list of suitors grows, they would be smart to secure a Premier League-proven striker as part of a deal. Meanwhile, Spurs are looking to build a squad capable of winning trophies and competing on the European stage, and the Frank project could certainly be an appealing one to the 25-year-old Senegal international.

Ndiaye has reached new heights so far this season, earning rave reviews for his performances against the likes of Manchester City at the Etihad. “Ili’s performance in the first half was outstanding,” Moyes told Everton TV. “He was the standout player at that time in the game.”

As for Solanke, he might be disappointed to depart just over a year after securing his big move, but success for the Toffees could be enough to see his name return to the England conversation, as has been the case with Jack Grealish. If he were to score the goals to help Everton earn a much-awaited return to Europe - or even to win a trophy - he would become an icon for one of England’s sleeping giants.

Everton are reported to value Ndiaye at north of £60m, which comes as no surprise in the current market for creative wide players. Though this is a similar fee to that for which Spurs signed Solanke, it is unlikely they will be able to command a similar valuation after his injury issues. If they were to offer Everton around £15m-£20m in addition to the three-cap England man, they might be able to secure a headline-grabbing January deal.

Breaking down the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Spurs, Chelsea and more.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

It’s once again time for 3 Added Minutes’ daily round-up and breakdown of some of the biggest Premier League transfer rumours that are currently doing the media rounds – and we’re starting off with a story concerning Manchester United’s January shopping list.

Spanish gossip-mongers Fichajes allege that Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham is “on [United’s] priority list” ahead of the winter, and that they could bid “around €50m (£44m) for his services.”

It is, of course, only a few months since Bellingham left Sunderland to join Dortmund in a deal worth up to £32m but he has struggled for form in Germany and his current club “wouldn’t put up too many obstacles” to his departure, according to this report.

Still, €50m is said to “fall short of Dortmund’s demands” and Bellingham himself allegedly only wants to play for a side which can offer Champions League football. It’s implied that several other big sides – perhaps ones which are playing in Europe this year – are also monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation, but they aren’t named here.

The 3AM Verdict: It would be unusual for a club like Dortmund to abandon a project such as this quite so quickly, and we doubt that United have €50m to spend in January due to

Spurs set to make ‘ambitious’ bid for Serie A star

Let’s head over to North London, now, with a story from TeamTalk which suggests that Tottenham Hotspur “are keen” on striking a deal for Napoli and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, who was a Ballon d’Or nominee after helping his side to win the Scudetto last season.

A deal for the former United man “may not be easy,” but Spurs are still “among the club that have taken a shine to McTominay” – alongside Newcastle United and even Barcelona, although the Catalan club are also alleged to be interested in Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana.

A January move is “categorically off the table” and Napoli want to nail the Scot – who already has four league goals to his name this season - down to a new contract. Nevertheless, Spurs are among the sides hoping that they can persuade the 28-year-old not to pen a new deal and instead to push for a move.

The 3AM Verdict: McTominay seems to love life in Naples and is in the form of his life, so we strongly suspect that he’s more likely to extend his stay in Italy than he is to push for a move. He’s arguably Napoli’s most important player and they shouldn’t be under immense financial pressure to sell, so we suspect that he’s there for the long haul regardless of other teams’ interest.

Chelsea & Manchester United both chasing ‘generational talent’

Finally, a story from Caught Offside which claims that both Chelsea and Manchester United are “interested” in signing 16-year-old Leicester City starlet Jeremy Monga, who is described in the report as a “generational talent.”

The winger is said to be “on the radar of multiple clubs” and Chelsea and United are both hoping to snap him up before he’s eligible to sign professional terms with Leicester next summer. The Foxes, for their part, “hope to keep him” and are trying to persuade him to reject the overtures of bigger teams.

Manchester City, Spurs and Real Madrid are also briefly mentioned as being among the teams in the chase for Monga, and it’s not entirely clear why this article focusses its attention on Chelsea and United – if they have any kind of edge in the race or simply more interest, that isn’t evidenced. There’s also no word on what the teenager might choose to do.

The 3AM Verdict: Monga would scarcely be the first big talent ripped away from his academy team by a wealthier side, so it’s hard to say that this isn’t likely to happen. On the other hand, he’s getting first-team football at Leicester right now, so he has more reason to stay put than most players in his position. We’ll see…

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Newcastle United on Wednesday as they look to advance in the EFL Cup

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur have begun strongly in the Premier League and will hope to replicate that form in the EFL Cup when they travel to holders Newcastle United on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Spurs reached the semi-finals of the competition last season, having beaten both Manchester clubs on the way to losing 4-1 on aggregate to beaten finalists Liverpool. A similar run will be the target this season, particularly as the club have now broken their trophy duck after Europa League glory in May.

New boss Thomas Frank has had to contend with a series of first-team injuries during his early months at the club, though Spurs strengthened in the summer transfer window to combat long-term absentees. Several major stars are beginning to get closer to returning to fitness, and so Frank will look forward to having more of a full squad to choose from in the near future - though nine players could be unavailable on Wednesday.

Will Cristian Romero be fit to play for Spurs against Newcastle?

Cristian Romero has been out for Spurs ever since he was injured in the warm-up ahead of their home defeat to Aston Villa on October 19. He had been battling an adductor issue prior to the match and it was ultimately decided that he was not fit enough to feature. The Lilywhites captain has missed three games and that run may be set to continue, at least for a little longer. He will aim to be back in early November.

“Cuti just walked out on the grass running [with] some of the performance guys,” updated Frank at the weekend. “So positive, progressing, no time frame, but I don't expect it to be a longer one.”

Romero is not the only Spurs first-team star hoping to return at the start of next month, as Destiny Udogie (knee) and Dominic Solanke (ankle) have also spent the majority of their time under Frank on the sidelines. Newcastle is likely to come a little early for both, who might aim for the visit of Manchester United on November 8 to be back in action. Solanke has been tipped for an exit if he cannot force his way back into the side.

The same can be said for Yves Bissouma, who has been out all season after picking up a fresh injury on international duty with Mali earlier this month. The 29-year-old recently had surgery on his ankle and will aim to be back soon.

Wilson Odobert, meanwhile, was replaced with a knock at Monaco in the Champions League but was fit enough to be named amongst the substitutes at Everton on Sunday, meaning he is likely to be back involved for this one.

When will Dejan Kulusevsi be back for Tottenham?

Spurs have been without key playmaker Dejan Kulusevski since May, when the Sweden international underwent knee surgery which kept him out of the Europa League final. He is reportedly edging closer to recovery, and may hope to soon appear under Frank for the first time. This will come too soon, but Frank has said there is a “good chance” of Kulusevski returning in 2025, with December a realistic target for him to be back in competitive action.

James Maddison remains out with an ACL injury which is likely to keep him out for the season, while Radu Dragusin is returning from the same injury, sustained at the beginning of the year, and will aim to be back after the November international break.

Wales defender Ben Davies picked up a thigh injury on international duty and is expected to be “out for weeks”, set to miss the next set of World Cup qualifiers as a result. While young Japanese centre-back Kota Takai returned to training after a foot injury last month and might be in line to make his Spurs debut in the near future.

Rounding up the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, West Ham, Chelsea, Liverpool and more.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

It’s time once more for our regular morning round-up and review of some of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we start thing off with a story concerning a potentially controversial transfer which could involve Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United.

TeamTalk claim that the two London clubs are “among several European clubs” who are “circling” Marseille striker Mason Greenwood, who joined the French outfit from Manchester United in a £26.5m move in 2024.

His recent scoring form, which includes eight goals already this season, means that he has become “sought-after” again, with Barcelona said to “lead the chase” as it stands, although Spurs and West Ham are also considering a bid.

Greenwood left United in the wake of serious allegations, which the player denied and for which he was not prosecuted, but any bid for the 24-year-old would still constitute a PR minefield. There’s no word on what the finances involved in such a deal could look like, or whether we’re looking at a potential January deal or something that would take place next summer.

The 3AM Verdict: We suspect that few Premier League teams would consider a deal like this, which would provoke extremely strong reactions in the press and from fans – but there will always be a team somewhere who are more worried by his ability to score goals than the consequences of potential negative coverage. We would need more corroboration before we believed that either Spurs or West Ham were that club.

Chelsea, Arsenal & Manchester City target rising teen star

Let’s head over to Sport Witness now, who bring word of reports from Germany which suggest that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all have 17-year-old starlet Lennart Karl “on their radar” after he broke into Bayern Munich’s first team.

All three teams are said to have scouts watching him playing for Bayern, for whom he has now made six league appearances, all this season. The youngster, who can play as a winger or an attacking midfielder, made his debut during the Club World Cup and scored his first goal against Club Brugge in the Champions League last week and then scored again over the weekend in the Bundesliga.

With speculation mounting that he could be called up to the national side already, the three Premier League giants are said to be “sending officials” to keep tabs on the talented teenager – who happens to be represented by former Chelsea star Michael Ballack.

The 3AM Verdict: No doubt the big boys are all gathering intel on Karl but given that Bayern seldom sell their best young talent and the fact that he signed a contract extension over the summer, we doubt that he’s leaving Bavaria any time soon. This is a rather excitable story, when it all comes down to it, and whatever the future holds we’d be surprised if Karl wasn’t still at Bayern in a year or two’s time.

Spurs among sides ‘keen’ on South Korean star

Let’s wrap up with a story which keeps us in Bavaria while also bringing us right back around to Spurs – according to TeamTalk, they’re one of several teams that are “keen” on Bayern Munich’s Kim-Min Jae, along with Liverpool and Chelsea.

With Spurs said to be “on the hunt” for another centre-back, Kim has emerged as a possible candidate alongside Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu and potentially Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, although the source for that last claim is, in our opinion, rather weak.

Whoever else they may have in mind, Spurs are “watching Kim’s situation with interest,” although AC and Inter Milan are apparently the “early front-runners.” It’s suggested that a summer transfer is rather more likely than a January move, but there’s no word on how much he might cost anyway.

The 3AM Verdict: Kim crops up on the gossip columns quite often, without ever having come all that close to leaving Bayern – we wouldn’t be entirely shocked if this was all that different. As for Spurs’ apparently extensive defensive shopping list, Kalulu sounds realistic enough but we doubt that Konsa is a serious consideration. Liverpool have been linked with Kim quite a few times before, while Chelsea are likely to prefer a younger defender if they sign another one next summer.

Spurs have been a linked with a January transfer which could bring the next Luka Modrić to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

With so many of the traditional contenders for the top four and even the Premier League title struggling for form, the 2025/26 season is starting to look like a golden opportunity for Thomas Frank and Tottenham Hotspur – and it would be no surprise if they made some significant moves in January in order to take advantage.

There are several areas in which Spurs could still improve, but new transfer rumours suggests that the midfield is due for an overhaul – and if the gossip columns have it right, then they could be considering a bid to sign a young playmaker with the talent to be their next Luka Modrić.

Why Spurs are supposedly interested in wonderkid Kees Smit

That’s despite being more of a creator than a finisher of chances. Smit can play on the flanks but more usually operates as a box-to-box midfielder, and its his first touch, fluid dribbling and ball control – as well as his precise passing – which catch the eye.

Smit is blessed with a graceful style of play and fluent technique, and it helps him to glide past defenders and opposing midfielders as he surges downfield with assurance, if not necessarily immense pace. He has Modrić’s knack of finding ways to carry the ball past his man with apparent ease, even if – at 6’0” – he doesn’t have the same low centre of gravity which the Croatian used to squirm between gaps.

And while it might be generous to equate the precision and range of his passing to Modrić’s just yet, he’s on the right track. His weight of pass is exceptional and his vision unquestionable. So far this season, he has two Eredivisie assists for AZ and has been creating 4.77 shooting chances for his team-mates per game on average – a very impressive mark.

He's also growing as a defensive player, making nearly two-thirds of his tackles against opposing ball-carriers and managing nearly six ball recoveries per game on average. He’s not just a creator but a hard-working ball-winner, too. Modrić is a comparison that has been made by the continental press, but Adam Wharton may have a more similar playing style overall.

Given that Frank reportedly wants to add at least one new central midfielder to his squad soon, Smit could be precisely the player that Spurs need, effective on and off the ball and able to generate chances in volume and to break the lines with the ball at his feet – and he can play as a number ten, too, should Xavi Simons continue to struggle. It’s no surprise that numerous media outlets, including TBR Football, believe that Spurs are watching Smit with great interest.

Will Spurs be able to sign Smit in 2026?

The question, of course, is whether Spurs will be able to seal a deal for Smit when plenty of other teams have taken notice of his talents, too – Newcastle United and Chelsea have been linked with a bid, while Real Madrid supposedly have him somewhere on their shortlist too.

Stories from Spain suggest that Wharton and others are likely to be higher on their shopping list over the course of the next couple of transfer windows, but both Newcastle and Chelsea would love a midfielder with Smit’s profile and room to develop as well. It is unlikely that Spurs get a free run at his signature if they do make a move.

Some of the recent reports suggesting that Spurs are interested, including one from Football FanCast, note that AZ may have been prepared to negotiate for around €30m (£26m) this summer – as the level of interest increases, that price may well go up, but it provides a starting point for guesses as to how much suitors may need to spend.

All three of Spurs, Newcastle and Chelsea are likely to be able to afford that in January without damaging their standing with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, although it’s not clear whether AZ would be willing to sell their star player mid-season as yet. With his contract only due to expire in 2028, the Dutch club have plenty of leverage and don’t need to cash in with any urgency.

As such, it’s perhaps more likely that this deal gets done next summer, wherever he ends up – but if he continues to blossom in the Netherlands, then signing him could easily become a matter of some urgency for any number of teams, Spurs among them. It’s a deal which they seem relatively unlikely to regret should they pull it off.

Rumours suggest that Spurs could sell Dominic Solanke - so why would Brighton make sense as a destination if they do?

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur’s season is, by and large, going according to plan. Thomas Frank has been a breath of fresh air, the team are largely playing well, and they’re safely ensconced in the Premier League’s top four. The only real concern, as it stands, is up front.

New signing Randal Kolo Muani is struggling for fitness, Richarlison has faded after a bright start to the season and Dominic Solanke is recovering from ankle surgery – and regardless of his injury status, new reports suggest that Frank has been left unimpressed by a striker who cost the club £60m just last summer.

Football Insider claim that the Spurs head coach “doesn’t fancy” Solanke and may try to sell him in January – but would he be right to move Solanke on, and are there any other Premier League teams who would make sense as potential purchasers?

Why Dominic Solanke may not be a perfect fit for Spurs any more

While Solanke may not have been able to reproduce his exceptional goal-scoring form from the 2023/24 season after completing his move to Spurs, the drop from 19 league goals in a year to nine wasn’t quite as severe of a downturn as it might appear on the surface.

Injury issues meant that Solanke made 12 fewer starts last season than he did last down in Dorset the year before, and while his output did fall from 0.51 goals per 90 minutes to 0.37, he was also given far worse service to work with as Spurs stumbled through the second half of the domestic calendar under Ange Postecoglou – on average, 0.09xG less per game.

In short, while Solanke had been better at Bournemouth, performances only fell off so far and a stop-start season combined with his club’s poor form outside of the Europa League provided some pretty reasonable excuses. There is no clear reason for Frank to want to move on purely based on sporting merit.

Perhaps Solanke’s persistent fitness problems are the cause of the alleged frustration, but it’s also possible that Frank has recognised that Solanke is simply a striker who doesn’t necessarily suit his system.

Solanke isn’t a great technician or better than an average finisher in front of goal, but his positional game both on and off the ball and his high work rate make him ideally suited to teams that press high up the pitch – as Bournemouth did in 23/24 and as Spurs did under Postecoglou.

Last season, Spurs and Bournemouth made up two of the top three teams by PPDA (passes per defensive action) which is essentially a measure of how many times a defence is allowed to pass the ball before someone on the other side tries to stop them – a good measure of how intense different teams’ press can be. Solanke, with his high rate of ball recoveries, tackles and turnovers, suited teams like that down to the ground.

But Spurs under Frank are a different beast and do not press so hard or so high up, which takes away a large part of what made Solanke so effective. In a system which will likely emphasise his technique and link-up play, he’s unlikely to flourish, especially if he’s on and off the treatment table every five minutes.

The one Premier League team that makes sense for Solanke

With that in mind, it makes sense for Spurs to see if any other teams might be interested in the striker – they’re unlikely to recoup £60m for him now, especially in January when teams tends to spend rather less, but this is a team that are being repeatedly linked with bids for new strikers and if they are looking for fresh blood up front then it’s reasonable to try and find a way to make some money back or at least free up squad space and take Solanke’s wages off the books.

What Spurs likely need to find is a team who aren’t operating under especially tight financial constraints and who press hard up the pitch and may be in need of a new striker – a pretty solid description, as it happens, of Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Danny Welbeck on such impressive form of late, their need for a striker is perhaps not desperate, but Welbeck turns 35 in December and has had plenty of fitness issues of his own, and the only other dedicated centre-forwards on the books at the Amex Stadium are youngsters like Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas, who have been entrusted with 88 minutes of Premier League football between them thus far.

Brighton have players at the extremes of experience and youth and nothing in between and Welbeck can scarcely be expected to play 90 minutes of every match across an entire campaign. A player like Solanke could be a fine stopgap as they wait for their youngsters to catch up while giving Welbeck meaningful competition.

Their aggressive pressing style under Fabian Hürzeler – they were also in the top five for PPDA in the Premier League last season – means that the system should suit Solanke well, at least assuming he makes a full recovery from his recent surgery.

There’s a world in which Spurs sign a new striker in January or next summer and Brighton come to the conclusion that they need another striker. It’s still more likely that Solanke’s high wages and long contract make it too hard to get a deal done at a price point with which all parties are content. At 28 and under contract until 2030, Solanke will not come cheap and will not be easy to sell if Frank does move on.

Ultimately, it’s more than likely that stories suggesting Frank wants Solanke gone are at least somewhat sensationalised and that the striker is given the chance to prove himself in the new year before any long-term decisions are made – but there are not many teams that make perfect sense for the forward from a tactical standpoint who also need a central striker right now. Brighton might just be the only team who fit the bill, in England at least.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur have the opportunity to bolster their ranks in the January transfer window. Thomas Frank was appointed as their head coach over the summer. Prior to his move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he caught the eye with fellow Premier League side Brentford.

According to CaughtOffside, the London outfit are ‘tracking’ FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa this winter. The report adds that he has an £87 million release clause in his contract and he is also on the radar of the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. He has scored 35 goals in 55 games for his current club in all competitions, 27 of which came last season, and he has made three caps for Spain so far.

The 3AM Verdict: Samu Aghehowa has proved that he can score goals in Portugal for FC Porto and he would give Tottenham another option to pick from at the top end of the pitch. He would provide competition for the likes of Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani. At the age of just 21, he has bags of potential to grow and develop down the line.

Manchester City target Ezri Konsa

Manchester City are keen on Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, claim TBR Football. Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool are said to have watched him over the last 12 months, as well as Inter Milan, Napoli and RB Leipzig. He made the switch to Villa Park back in 2019 following spells at Charlton Athletic and Brentford and has since become a key player.

Konsa, 28, has had an impressive campaign to date both for his club and for England. He has played 14 times for the Three Lions and has been enjoying plenty of game time under Thomas Tuchel over recent times. The London-born man could be seen by City as someone to boost their defensive department.

The 3AM Verdict: Ezri Konsa would be a shrewd signing by Manchester City if they were able to get him. He can play at right-back as well as centre-back which would come in very handy for Pep Guardiola. In addition, he knows the league well and has proven himself at Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side won’t want to lose him though and are likely to demand a hefty fee for his signature.

Manchester United eye Jobe Bellingham

Manchester United are considering a loan swoop for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham, the Express say. The 20-year-old rose up through the academy at Birmingham City and broke into the Blues’ first-team as a teenager. Sunderland then lured him away from the Midlands and he went on to make 90 outings for the Black Cats, finding the net on 11 occasions.

Dortmund swooped in for him back in June and he penned a long-term contract with the Bundesliga giants. However, he has struggled to get minutes in Germany and his situation is up in the air right now. They have a big decision to make on what to do with him next.

The 3AM Verdict: It would be a surprise to see Jobe Bellingham join Manchester United, especially on loan. He has struggled to make the impact he would have wanted to at Borrusia Dortmund and things haven’t gone to plan for him there just yet. Nevertheless, it takes time for players to adapt to new teams, even more so when they go abroad, so patience is required with him.

Tottenham Hotspur face their third Champions League fixture of the season when they travel to Monaco on Wednesday night.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur will look to bounce back from disappointment at the weekend as Thomas Frank’s side return to Champions League action with a tricky trip to Monaco (20:00 BST).

Spurs were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa on Sunday having led early in the match, but Thomas Frank’s side remain unbeaten in Europe this season and will aim for a positive result against a side who drew with Manchester City last month.

Eric Dier scored a last-minute penalty for the French giants that night, however the former Spurs legend will be out on Wednesday with a hamstring injury and will miss out on the chance to reunite with his former employers.

Frank looks set to make several changes as he aims to continue Spurs’ solid Champions League start, with victory over Villarreal and a comeback draw at Bodo/Glimt leaving the Lilywhites 12th in the league phase, while Monaco have one point and sit 28th.

Spurs unchanged at the back as injury issues persist

GK - Guglielmo Vigario: An ever-present, the Italian has kept four clean sheets this season in all competitions and is closing in on 100 appearances for the club.

RB - Pedro Porro: The Spain international will also continue to start at full-back. Grabbed an assist in the draw in Norway and has been one of Frank’s most reliable players.

CB - Micky van de Ven: Scored his first Champions League goal from Porro’s assist and will be as important as ever in the absence of his usual central defensive partner Cristian Romero on Wednesday.

CB - Kevin Danso: Filled in for Romero when the Spurs captain pulled up in the warm-up ahead of the Aston Villa game. Romero’s adductor issue is expected to keep him out for this one, so the Austrian will continue to deputise.

LB - Djed Spence: Will also have a free run to the XI after his competitor Destiny Udogie picked up a knee injury over the international break.

Changes in attacking areas for Monaco clash

CM - Rodrigo Bentancur: Scored at the weekend and will look to keep his place in midfield for the trip to Monaco.

CM - Pape Matar Sarr: The 23-year-old has dropped to the bench for the last three league fixtures but has started both in the Champions League, and may be reinstated to the XI by Frank.

CM - Lucas Bergvall: Same goes for the Swede, who was on the bench at the weekend but will be pushing for a return to the side. Set up the winning own goal when Spurs faced Villarreal in September.

RW - Brennan Johnson: Will look to return to the side in the place of Mohammed Kudus, who has shone in the league and largely nailed down the position. Johnson might get the chance to start and show what he can do.

ST - Richarlison: The Brazilian was benched against Villa but looks set to return to the side, with Mathys Tel unavailable as he has not been named in Frank’s Champions League squad. Will look to build on his three goals so far this season. Randal Kolo Muani will hope to make a difference off the bench.

LW - Xavi Simons: Might get the nod over Wilson Odobert, shifting from his usual central position out to the left. Yet to score following his big-money summer move and will hope to make a telling contribution.

Reviewing the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs, Leeds and more.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

It’s once again time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we start today’s column off with a story which should interest Manchester United fans (and perhaps worry some of the West Ham persuasion).

Caught Offside claim that United are now “eyeing up” a loan deal for Real Madrid starlet Endrick, who is widely believed to be available from January due to a lack of playing time at the Bernabeu.

United are said to be one of eight teams looking at the 19-year-old striker – who is widely regarded as one of the most talented young forwards of his generation – and while this report declines to name them, West Ham have been extensively linked with a loan deal along with a handful of sides from Spain.

Endrick is “expected” to leave Madrid on a temporary basis in the new year (there is no mention here of a permanent bid) but there’s no word on whether the player himself would consider a move to Old Trafford, or whether he might prefer to go somewhere he can be more or less guaranteed starting minutes.

The 3AM Verdict: Endrick has gotten stuck behind Kylian Mbappé at Real but has immense talent and has already scored three goals for the Brazilian national team – so one can perhaps understand why United might be keen if Benjamin Šeško doesn’t pick up some steam. Still, this is the first time we’re seeing United’s name come up and there’s an argument that United may want someone more established.

Chelsea & Spurs racing to sign £35m wonderkid

Meanwhile, down in London, both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be in hot pursuit of another brilliant Brazilian talent – Vasco da Gama’s Rayan, with both sides already said to have “been in talks” with the 19-year-old’s agent, according to TeamTalk.

They aren’t the only teams interested in the forward, who has scored 12 goals for his club this season – Fiorentina and Porto have made “enquiries” as well, while Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG and Barcelona are also said to have “tracked” the youngster in recent months.

A fierce transfer battle could be brewing, then, but Chelsea and Spurs are positioning themselves to be among the frontrunners in a “January scramble.” Rayan has a €40m (£35m) release clause in his contract, but it’s claimed in this report that he could be available for as little as €30m (£26m).

The 3AM Verdict: Chelsea love splashing out on young attacking players, so we have no difficulty believing their side of this rumour, and Spurs have the money to make a deal work if they want another winger to develop alongside Mathys Tel – Rayan usually plays on the right of a front three. It sounds as though plenty of big teams are debating a bid, though, so there’s a long way to go before a clear favourite emerges.

Leeds ‘reignite’ interest in Championship star

Let’s wrap things up with a story for Leeds United supporters. Football Insider allege that the Whites are “considering reigniting their interest” in Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who is said to have been a “long-term target” for Daniel Farke’s side.

Leeds are “keeping tabs” on Hamer, who may well want to push for a move given the Blades’ dismal start to the new season in the second tier. Everton are also mentioned as a team who could make a move if he becomes available – but there’s no word on how much the 28-year-old might cost.

Sport Witness, meanwhile, have also picked up on a story in the French media which suggests that Leeds have “interest” in rising Lille star Lisandru Olmeta. Apparently the 20-year-old goalkeeper’s representatives have already “received calls” from Leeds.

The 3AM Verdict: Midfield is an area that could do with strengthening while Lucas Perri hasn’t exactly staked his claim to be Leeds’ number one after a summer move Lyon – in fact, he quickly lost his place to perennial back-up Karl Darlow, suggesting that a new goalkeeper could well be on the radar at Elland Road. Both stories could easily have legs.