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A round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham and more.

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Every morning, we at 3 Added Minutes comb through the gossip columns to bring you some of the biggest (and strangest) new Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we kick our digest off with a story involving both Arsenal and Liverpool.

TeamTalk claim that the Reds have launched a transfer bid for rising FC Midtjylland star Darío Osorio – but that having had a first offer rejected, Arsenal could “scupper their plans” with a move of their own.

Apparently Liverpool offered around £8.6m for the 22-year-old winger, but his current club are demanding “at least” £12m to sell. That has created an opening for Arsenal, who are reported to have sent scouts to watch Osorio in action, not that the Gunners are necessarily favourites to land the up-and-coming Chilean.

A host of sides are watching him, with Bayern Munich, West Ham, Bournemouth and Fulham all mentioned – and it’s suggested that the player may prioritise getting regular first-team football at a ‘smaller’ side this summer should he leave Denmark, supposedly making it “more likely” that he moves to West Ham than either Liverpool or Arsenal.

The 3AM Verdict: We’re not too clear on the validity of the claim that he’s more likely to end up West Ham, which feels quite speculative to us. Various rumours floating around suggest that quite a few sides are monitoring the winger, and it’s entirely unclear where he’ll end up as it stands. Expect plenty of sides to be in the bidding, with no evident favourite at this stage.

Spurs & Nottingham Forest among sides ‘handed chance’ to sign Serie A striker

Over to a story from Sport Witness, now, who combine stories from the Italian media which suggest that Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and West Ham are among the sides who could be “handed the chance” to snap up Canadian striker Jonathan David this summer.

David, who signed for Juventus on a free transfer last summer, has hit a rough run of form and there are now “doubts around his future” in Turin, with “every chance” that he moves on in the next transfer window. The three Premier League sides mentioned are among several said to be “on alert” as a result.

Apparently Aston Villa and Marseille could be in the mix, too, but despite the widespread interest it’s suggested that any deal is “unlikely to be expensive,” not that a specific figure is given – and nor is there any word on the player’s own preferences.

The 3AM Verdict: Again, this is all very early stage and inherently speculative. Juventus’ financial situation means that David will be for sale if the price is right, but will his form put off some of the suitors he had last summer, a list which includes the Premier League sides mentioned in this list? Or push his price down enough to make a deal viable? There’s a long way to go before we have enough information to form a clear picture.

Liverpool ‘eyeing up’ Real Madrid move

Let’s wrap up today’s digest with a story from Football Insider, which suggests that Liverpool are “eyeing up” a deal to sign Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer, with the Spanish side supposedly “willing to listen to offers.”

It will still take at least €50m (£43m) to sign Camavinga, but Liverpool are apparently “long-term admirers” of the versatile Frenchman, who can also play at left-back. With opportunities for starts becoming increasingly limited at the Bernabeu, Real could let him leave – but won’t force him out or accept lowball offers, according to this report.

Liverpool now have Camavinga in mind as a “likely target” as he will still be rather cheaper than Adam Wharton, who would apparently cost £70m to sign from Crystal Palace. Other teams are expected to express interest in Camavinga, too, but Liverpool will be “firmly in the mix” for the 23-year-old’s signature.

The 3AM Verdict: Eminently possible. A few reports from Spain have suggested that Camavinga is for sale this summer, while Liverpool are among teams to have been linked with a bid in the past – but then again, those links went nowhere, and there will surely be other teams who are keen. We’ll see.

The latest Tottenham Hotspur injury news and return dates ahead of their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid

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Tottenham Hotspur managed to secure a 1-1 draw away at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Richarlison scored a late equaliser for the London outfit at Anfield to boost their survival hopes. They are sat in 16th place in the Premier League table.

Igor Tudor’s side are only a point above the relegation zone as they battle it out with the likes of West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. They are back in action on Wednesday night against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. In the meantime, here is a look at their latest injury news and return dates...

When is Conor Gallagher back for Tottenham Hotspur?

Conor Gallagher missed out for Spurs against Liverpool due to illness. He will need to be assessed ahead of their upcoming clash against Atletico Madrid. It remains to be seen at this stage whether he will be involved and more developments are expected over the next 24 hours.

Destiny Udogie has been out of action since early February due to a hamstring injury. He could return this weekend in their next league match against Nottingham Forest which would be a boost. The full-back likes to get up and down the flank and get himself involved in attacks. Elsewhere, Yves Bissouma is in the treatment room and his return date is yet to be known at this stage.

Spurs need to make checks on defender Cristian Romero and midfielder Joao Palhinha after they sat out at Anfield. The pair both suffered concussions but may well return against Atletico Madrid. Tudor has said: “No, they (Romero and Palhinha) are out (against Liverpool). I don't know how much - I think they will be back for sure for Forest, maybe even for the UCL, I don't know exactly.”

What is the latest news on Lucas Bergvall and Mohamed Kudus?

Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall is sidelined with an ankle issue he sustained in January. He is aiming to play again by April. It would be a positive to have him back for the remaining matches of this campaign.

Mohamed Kudus is poised to be fit again after the next international break. Like Bergvall, the former West Ham man hasn’t featured since the start of this year. Ex-head coach Thomas Frank said at the time: “Mohammed, unfortunately, is a bigger one to the tendon in the quad. That is one where we expect him back after the March international break.”

Elsewhere, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Wilson Odobert remain more long-term absentees. It seems unlikely that any will play before next term which isn’t ideal. Odobert, who sustained a blow to his knee, isn’t poised to play again until November time. The club released this update last month: “We can confirm that Wilson Odobert has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee... Wilson will see a specialist next week before undergoing surgery, and will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff.”

Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur are also still in the treatment room. The latter could be back again by May but faces a race against time. Micky van de Ven will be back from suspension against Nottingham Forest.

Could Tottenham Hotspur soon part ways with head coach Igor Tudor?

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Tottenham Hotspur made the decision to part ways with head coach Thomas Frank last month with the club hurtling towards the relegation zone, but their decision to bring in Igor Tudor as his replacement has not worked wonders thus far.

The Lilywhites have lost three matches from three under Tudor and as per multiple emerging reports, the Croatian is already beginning to come under pressure from the board – who are sticking by him for now.

The Telegraph report that Tudor has four matches to turn things around and save his job in north London – including Spurs’ two-legged Champions League last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid, a trip to Anfield this weekend and the monumental subsequent clash with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

Should Spurs fail to pick up a victory in particularly the two league games, they might find themselves in the relegation zone by the time Tudor is dismissed from his post. Could a club legend be the man to save them?

Robbie Keane would be Tottenham’s ideal Tudor replacement

Multiple candidates to replace Tudor should he leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have emerged, with one name standing out as the ideal man to turn to – in the shape of Robbie Keane.

In dire times like these, calling on a club legend is often the way forward and Keane will feel that he has a point to prove. The Irishman scored 122 goals in 306 appearances for Spurs and there are few around who understand the club better, particularly as he was part of the Spurs generation which rose from mid-table battlers to European challengers and also won the League Cup in 2007/08, one of only two major trophies won by Spurs this century.

Keane is currently head coach of Hungarian club Ferencváros, who are sat top of the league with a Europa League last 16 tie against Braga to look forward to. Keane has been a success in his short managerial career so far but has previously expressed a desire to lead a team in the Premier League. Could this be his perfect opportunity to make a name for himself?

Keane would be taking a career-defining risk - but it could pay off

Truthfully speaking, for whomever replaces Tudor or even for the Croatian himself if he stays, the Spurs job this season will prove a defining moment in any head coach’s career. Nobody wants to be the person who took Tottenham down for the first time in 49 years – but it could do a young coach like Keane a whole lot of good to be known as the man who kept them up, too.

Other named candidates such as Roberto De Zerbi would likely only join with assurances of a long-term contract, while the Italian might decide to avoid this fire-fighting situation entirely in fear of his own reputation. For Keane, this might be the best chance he will get to manage at a top club, or it could just be a stepping stone to even bigger and better things.

One thing which is for sure is that if former star striker Keane keeps Spurs in the Premier League, he will never be forgotten by the fans. For a man who has taken an unusual route earning his managerial stripes in Israel and Hungary, you would not put it past him to take a career-defining risk in north London. But one which could certainly pay off.

While he would be unlikely to arrive with long-term assurances and might ultimately be replaced by dream candidate Mauricio Pochettino in July no matter what happens in his weeks in charge, keep Spurs up and Keane would no doubt be in the conversation for lower Premier League jobs or high-end jobs in the Championship. There is certainly room to see how this might benefit the 45-year-old in the long run.

For Spurs, to bring in Keane would mean bringing in a capable young coach who knows what it feels like to lead a winning side – unlike sacked West Brom boss and former Spurs interim Ryan Mason – and has not spent an extended period outside the game, as have candidates mentioned in the media such as Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood.

Should the worst come to the worst and Spurs find themselves in an even worse situation come the international break, bringing in Keane to be their saving grace might just be the best decision the club can make.

The latest Spurs injury news ahead of their Champions League showdown against Atlético Madrid.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s hope of arresting a worrying slide towards the Premier League relegation zone may well rest on whether they can get some of their many injured stars back in the coming weeks – but ahead of their Champions League last 16 tie with Atlético Madrid, they still have as many as 10 first-team players out or doubts.

Among those at risk of missing Tuesday’s match in the Spanish capital are defenders Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Radu Dragusin, who was an unexpected absentee for the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace due to a fresh fitness issue.

With kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs injury news below along with the absent players’ likely return dates when available.

Will Djed Spence or Radu Dragusin be fit to face Atlético Madrid?

Spurs have several defensive doubts for the midweek match in Madrid, with left-back a potential headache once again: Igor Tudor is expected to be without Destiny Udogie, who is close to a return from a hamstring injury but is unlikely to be ready for another week at least, and is also sweating on the fitness of Djed Spence.

Spence hasn’t featured since February’s North London Derby defeat to Arsenal due to a calf issue, but prior to the game against Crystal Palace the interim head coach said that there was “hope” that the full-back would be available to play against Atlético. It has not yet been confirmed, but it seems likely that he is involved in some capacity.

Spurs could also be without centre-half Radu Dragusin after the Romanian missed the Palace match due to an undisclosed knock sustained in training last week. Tudor told the media that the injury was minor, but it is not yet clear whether he will be ready to play on Tuesday. Helpfully, both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will be available – Van de Ven’s red card suspension doesn’t apply in Europe, while Romero’s own three-game ban from domestic football has now expired.

Kudus & Kulusevski among Tottenham’s long-term injuries

Aside from Udogie, Spence and Dragusin, Spurs are expected to be without seven long-term absentees this week – with winger Mohammed Kudus (thigh), midfielder Lucas Bergvall and veteran defender Ben Davies (both ankle) those believed to be closest to a comeback.

The trio are expected to be in contention to return after the March international break, which runs over the final weekend of the month. That means that all three could be involved against Sunderland on 12 April, although none of them are likely to play prior to that date.

There is still doubt over when Dejan Kulusevski could return from a serious and persistent knee injury, with Tudor thus far only telling the press that he had “hope” that the Swede could play again this season, with the club’s medical team said to be “positive” about his chances of being involved before the summer. No return date has been set, however.

Both Rodrigo Bentancur (hamstring) and playmaker James Maddison (ACL) have an outside chance of returning in May, but the pair are more likely to sit out the rest of the season as they rehabilitate. Winger Wilson Odobert (ACL) won’t play again until the winter.

Tottenham Hotspur could look to another Premier League star to replace Micky van de Ven

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Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to avoid a catastrophic relegation this season ahead of the opportunity to rebuild over the summer for a new era.

The north London club reportedly dream of the return of former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently the USA national team manager and might consider a return to his former club even if they are relegated, as per GiveMeSport. But to remain a Premier League club next summer is critical on many levels, not least to aid Spurs’ transfer business. Major exits might be in the offing either way but the level of squad clear-out that the club could be forced into if things do not go to plan could reach unprecedented heights.

Star defender Micky van de Ven has been linked with a summer transfer exit for some time and Spurs might be forced to search for a replacement for the 24-year-old, which will prove a difficult task.

Spurs should sign Van de Ven’s Netherlands team-mate as perfect successor

If Van de Ven were to depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, Spurs should look to his Netherlands international team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke and attempt to lure the centre-back away from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 25-year-old is approaching the final year of his deal and the Seagulls might be forced into a sale this summer as a result, amidst reports that he has already rejected contract extension approaches from the south coast outfit. A club with Brighton’s sustainable business plan on the transfer market is unlikely to allow one of their prize assets run down his deal and could make a huge profit on a player they signed for just £3m in 2020.

Reports by TEAMtalk in December stated that Tottenham were ‘primed’ to secure a move for Van Hecke, while Brighton retain hope that their defensive ‘leader’ will sign a new deal at the club. It might cost Spurs or other interested parties as much as £40m to prise Van Hecke away from the Amex, as per the report, with the north Londoners linked for the last couple of transfer windows.

Van Hecke would be ideal for Spurs amid Van de Ven to Barcelona links

Former NAC Breda defender Van Hecke has become a reliable performer in the Premier League and would adequately replace many of the qualities Spurs would be missing without Van de Ven. Amongst these is his ability to contribute with goals at the other end, registering three goals and two assists this term, while he boasts the highest average rating in the Albion squad this season with 6.96 according to WhoScored.

He would certainly be missed at his current employers, but the Seagulls are experienced at replacing their star men and would hope to so again if he can be convinced of a move to north London this summer – which could be a difficult task as things stand, but the arrival of Pochettino could change that.

As for Van de Ven, the Spurs defender might already have his heart set on departing this summer. Latest reports by Sport in Spain state that Barcelona are considering a move for the 24-year-old, who is said to be ‘desperate to move’ as per the report. He could be available for a cut-price fee of less than £55m, Barca club chiefs feel, with Liverpool and Real Madrid also holding a long-standing interest.

Tottenham Hotspur could face competition for a key transfer target this summer.

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Tottenham Hotspur have ten matches to save their Premier League status and avoid one of the most catastrophic relegations from any division in the modern era.

The north London side are yet to win a Premier League match in 2026 and are slipping ever closer to the bottom three, with a run of four consecutive defeats which has not been halted by new interim head coach Igor Tudor, who has seen London derby defeats to Arsenal and Fulham since he took over from former boss Thomas Frank.

Regardless of which division Spurs find themselves next season, a major rebuild is needed to revitalise an injury-ravaged squad. Whole-sale change is needed both on and off the pitch to stop the rot and prevent the club from turning a two-year domestic blip into a new reality.

An early transfer target has emerged as Spurs continue to scout players from a range of positions ahead of the summer.

Serie A star to complete massive Spurs switch this summer?

As per reports by Sport Witness, Tottenham have ‘initiated transfer contact’ over a move for midfielder Nicolo Fagioli of Fiorentina, who has emerged as a key player for the Serie A side and attracted Premier League interest in the process, with a big move ‘overdue’.

The 25-year-old joined on an initial loan deal in February 2025 which was made permanent over the summer, departing Juventus after a decade on the books at the Old Lady. The deep-lying midfielder has since made 52 appearances for Fiorentina, scoring four goals, and is a seven-cap Italy international.

Tuttomercatoweb in Italy report that the player is attracting interest in England, but Spurs could have competition – as Newcastle United are also thought to be considering a move for the midfielder. The two clubs have made ‘exploratory contact’ for Fagioli, and his future is ‘up in the air’ as reports of a summer move intensify.

Would Spurs or Newcastle be the right move for Fagioli?

Tottenham have seen intense injury issues in midfield in recent months, with key players such as Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski all out injured and limiting the options available to Tudor.

Fagioli is viewed as a versatile profile capable of both providing defensive cover in holding midfield or playing further forward in the No.8 and helping his team from an attacking standpoint. Spurs have few such profiles in their squad at present and might view Fagioli as a valuable addition, particularly if some of their current players look to move on for a fresh start in the summer.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have a strong midfield unit under Eddie Howe but have seen issues arise after a recent injury to captain and star man Bruno Guimaraes, without whom they still have yet to win in the Premier League, four years on from his arrival at St. James’ Park. Sandro Tonali has been heavily linked with a summer move away and so a new midfielder might be high up on the list of priorities for the Magpies at the end of the season.

It will make for interesting viewing where Fagioli ends up next, as two of the Premier League’s current six participants in the Champions League last 16 go head-to-head for the signature of a star whose stocks are set to rise even further over the coming months.

A round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours from the past 24 hours.

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Another day of gossip has been and gone, and that means that it’s time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up of the biggest Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – starting with a story involving Arsenal and Liverpool.

Caught Offside claim that the two top-flight clubs are “involved in [an] intense competition” over Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, whose name is “circulating among Europe’s elite” off the back of another strong season at the San Siro.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both “explored his situation,” apparently, and they will have learned that Inter would “only entertain offers between €90-100m” – that’s up to £87m. That could easily make the 26-year-old the most expensive defender of all time.

Apparently both Manchester City and Chelsea are also taking a look at Bastoni but “appear more cautious,” perhaps because of the colossal price tag, while Barcelona also “admire” him – not that there seems to be much chance that they can afford €100m given their financial issues.

The 3AM Verdict: This story has really done the rounds over the past day or two, but we think that it’s all very speculative for now – we struggle to see Arsenal, in particular, spending that much on a centre-back this summer. We don’t doubt that sides of this calibre are casting an eye over Bastoni, but we’re a long way from the point at which a deal is actually likely.

Fulham offer Spurs striker ‘escape route’

Let’s head over to Football Insider now, for a cross-capital story which suggests that Fulham could offer Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison an “escape route” this summer, with Marco Silva apparently interested in reuniting with a player he managed at both Everton and Watford.

The report suggests that a very friendly chat and hug between Silva and Richarlison following the final whistle of the recent game between Fulham and Spurs was a “hint” of a future bid, with the Brazilian “a likely candidate to be sold” heading into the summer. Apparently Silva will “surely” want his side to launch a bid if he extends his stay at Craven Cottage past the end of the season.

There is no indication that any talks have taken place, nor any word on the kind of transfer fee which Spurs might demand for their leading goalscorer. It’s also mentioned that Crystal Palace have demonstrated interest as well, but that thought isn’t expanded upon.

The 3AM Verdict: This is an entirely specious report spun out from a quick hug and a chat between two former colleagues at the end of a game. There is no evidence that a deal is likely or even under discussion at any level. Ignore this rumour – it’s not necessarily implausible, but there is absolutely nothing to substantiate it whatsoever.

Chelsea boss ‘fighting’ to keep striker amid Everton & Bournemouth interest

Let’s round things off with a story from Sports Boom which states that Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is “fighting” to persuade his club’s transfer team not to sell striker Liam Delap this summer – with Everton and Bournemouth both said to be keen to sign the 23-year-old forward.

Delap’s future at Stamford Bridge is “shrouded in doubt” following a disappointing debut campaign, but Rosenior will apparently “plead” with his bosses to keep him, having presumably been impressed by the former Ipswich man since taking over from Enzo Maresca.

Financial pressures caused by their record-breaking losses could encourage a sale, it’s suggested, with Bournemouth “monitoring” Delap and Everton briefly mentioned as potential suitors as well. There’s no word on how much money it might take for either side to get hold of him.

The 3AM Verdict: To be honest, this is another story which is rather light on detail, especially when it comes to Everton and Bournemouth’s alleged interest. Delap has shown a few sparks of life since Rosenior’s arrival, however, so perhaps the new manager is keen to see what his striker can do before he’s sold – but Chelsea’s business model means that they’re seldom afraid to get rid of a player quickly if he’s deemed to be below par.

Spurs have a number of issues that they need to resolve in the summer transfer market - and signing a new goalkeeper could be one of them.

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One would need to have plenty of time on their hands to list all of the issues which Tottenham Hotspur need to deal with this summer – they have an uneven playing squad full of potential holes, for starters, and need to find a permanent manager to take over from Igor Tudor. Assuming they survive relegation, Spurs are likely to be rather busy once the season is over.

Some of their concerns have already attracted plenty of attention. They have a midfield in dire need of a rebuild, for instance, and likely need to find some reinforcements in defence with the futures of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero up in the air – but one problem which hasn’t been discussed as often as it might have been is the one they have between the goalposts.

Why Spurs may need to find a new goalkeeper in the transfer window

When Guglielmo Vicario first arrived in North London, he looked likely to be a player who would offer a long-term fix between the sticks – but the Italian’s form has declined in the last two seasons, and rumours in Italy are increasingly linking him with a move back to his home country.

Both Inter Milan and Juventus are supposedly interested in signing the 29-year-old, and Vicario himself is allegedly open to a move. That’s both a problem and a potential solution for Spurs, creating an area of need while opening up the opportunity to upgrade in a key position.

Based on the xG model, Vicario has allowed two goals more than he ‘should’ have this season, a record which makes him just the 18th most effective shot stopper in the Premier League by that particular standard – while his save percentage of just 64% is undeniably sub-par. For every fine save he makes, and there are many of them on the highlight reel, he lets one through that he perhaps should not have done.

Throw in a concerning propensity towards mistakes, especially in crowded penalty boxes, and there is a strong case to made in favour of letting Vicario head back to Serie A and finding a replacement. Fortunately for Spurs, this may not be the worst summer in which to go shopping for a new stopper.

The £50m goalkeeper who could offer Spurs a solution

A few names have already cropped up in dispatches as potential targets for Spurs, even if we’re at the stage of the season when most transfer rumours are often gossip rather than solid, carefully-sourced stories.

James Trafford, exiled to the bench at Manchester City by the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, is the gambler’s option, a player of unquestioned potential who remains largely unproven at the highest level. Sunderland’s impressive Robin Roefs is another, although there is likely to be a bidding war if he does become available this summer.

A player who could be both obtainable and proven, however, is Brighton & Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen. The Dutchman has been a consistently impressive player since arriving in the Premier League and now, with just two years left on his deal at the Amex Stadium, is reaching a point at which his club must either extend his contract or sell to extract maximum value in the transfer market.

A few reports – again, little more than gossip at this stage – suggest that £50m might be enough to sign him, a steep price for a goalkeeper but not beyond Spurs’ means if they sell Vicario for half of that or more.

His production this season has also been considerably more impressive than Vicario’s. He boasts a respectable 69% save rate so far, bolstered by a fine performance in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Brentford, and is credited with preventing 1.64 goals compared to the xG he has faced, putting him inside the league’s Top 10 – and few of those above him are plausible transfer targets, save perhaps for Robert Sánchez, another goalkeeper whose errors have drawn unwanted attention.

Verbruggen is also comfortable with the ball at his feet and provides a strong base for possession, although his long-range distribution isn’t elite by Premier League standards, so he may not suit a coach who prefers a direct, counter-attacking style, but that aside he represents a player who is likely to be available at fair value for money, who is a proven, reliable performer at the top level, and who was many years left in the tank. There may be other overseas options who catch the eye when the time comes, but Verbruggen should, at least, be somewhere on the shortlist.

A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Chelsea, Brighton, Spurs, Newcastle and more.

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Another day of transfer stories is in the books, and that means that it’s time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up of the biggest and strangest Premier League transfer rumours that you might have missed over the past 24 hours – starting with a story involving Chelsea and several other top-flight teams.

According to TeamTalk, the Blues are among several sides “showing interest” in Ecuadorian “sensation” Patrik Mercado, a 22-year-old midfielder currently at Moisés Caicedo’s former club Independiente del Valle.

The youngster’s form means plenty of clubs are taking notice, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Fulham all said to have “registered their interest” alongside several clubs from Europe and Brazil. Mercado is “set to be on the move this summer” after the World Cup, it’s said, with the three-cap international likely to be a part of Ecuador’s side.

There’s no word yet on how much Independiente del Valle might want for Mercado’s services, but it’s suggested that many of the clubs in the running could make formal offers “in the coming weeks.” Apparently Chelsea would likely send him to sister club RC Strasbourg at first, should they be the winning bidders.

The 3AM Verdict: Mercado is a tremendously talented player whose stock is rising rather rapidly and a good World Cup could easily see his price tag become rather hefty – and we wouldn’t be shocked to see any of these sides mentioned in the bidding when the times comes. Chelsea are always keen to find their next big thing, after all, and this is the kind of deal which matches their business model.

Spurs building shortlist to replace Vicario this summer

Over to struggling Tottenham Hotspur now, who seem set to move on from first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario this summer if another report from TeamTalk can be believed – and they’ve already put together a list of potential replacements.

Apparently Juventus are “prepared to meet the asking price” for Vicario, with Spurs set to demand up to €30m (£26m), while Inter Milan could make a move too. Supposedly Vicario has a “desire” to return to his home country, and isn’t expected to stand in the way of such a move.

All that means that Spurs are looking for alternatives, and have identified three possible new signings: Manchester City’s James Trafford, Sunderland’s Robin Roefs, and Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen. Apparently there is “no clear favourite” as yet, with all three potential targets.

The 3AM Verdict: None of those seem unfeasible, assuming that Spurs manage to stay in the Premier League at least. We’re certainly seeing more and more noise about Vicario leaving this summer, and this report brings in multiple Italian sources as corroboration. We think the alleged shortlist of replacements is speculative, but Vicario leaving looks quite likely.

Newcastle and Fulham ‘in mix’ to sign Liverpool target

Let’s finish up with a story from Sport Witness (via Corriere dello Sport) which claims that both Newcastle and Fulham are “in [the] mix” to sign AS Roman full-back Zeki Çelik – not long after reports suggested that Liverpool were also interested in getting their hands on the 29-year-old.

Although the Turk remains a key player for Roma, negotiations over a new contract have hit a dead end with Çelik apparently looking for wages which the Italian outfit aren’t prepared to meet, but which could be within a Premier League side’s wheelhouse. He’s available on a free transfer come July, hence the widespread interest.

Little evidence is provided for Newcastle or Fulham’s alleged interest, and nor is there any suggestion that either side has offered him a contract, as they are able to do now that he is in the last few months of his current deal.

The 3AM Verdict: We’re seeing growing speculation surrounding Çelik and while we do believe that he’ll be on the move this summer, we suspect that a lot of the links really are more speculation than anything solid – and we haven’t seen any firm evidence to suggest that either Newcastle or Fulham will be in the mix, not that it’s especially improbable. One to wait and see with, as it stands.

Tottenham Hotspur may have a disappointing summer transfer window ahead - according to an intriguing prediction.

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Between Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult season and their strong financial position, few would expect the club to be quiet during the summer transfer window. This is a team in need of a rebuild and with the funds to make it happen.

That said, most pundits expected them to be busy in January, too, and in the end they really didn’t make much of a splash – much to the chagrin of Cristian Romero, who publicly criticised the lack of movement, and perhaps of Thomas Frank, too, given that he wasn’t given the reinforcements required to help him save his job.

Will Spurs actually spend freely in the summer, then, or will they once again prioritise young talent, a policy which Ange Postecoglou took umbrage with in a recent interview? Well, we don’t have a crystal ball but we do have the next best thing – Football Manager 2026. We decided to send the game a few months into the future to find out whether the world’s most accurate football simulation reckons that Spurs will go big in the summer or not…

Spurs sign Juventus and Napoli stars this summer – according to Football Manager

If Spurs fans are hoping for their side to make a bold statement in the coming transfer window, then they’d better hope that Football Manager has it all wrong – Spurs went shopping for bargains and youngsters in our save.

Not that a couple of the four deals done – yes, just four – don’t look relatively astute. Our virtual Spurs snapped up Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova from Juventus, for instance, on a loan-to-buy deal worth just £9.5m. Quick and tricksy, it’s hard to argue that the Kosovan wouldn’t represent good value for money.

More was spent on Napoli defender Sam Beukema, with the 27-year-old centre-back setting Spurs back £26m. Not a flashy signing, perhaps, but a very respectable rotational player if the stats accurately represent his ability.

Elsewhere, FC København right-back Rodrigo Huescas was signed for £16m to back up Pedro Porro, although it doesn’t look like the Portuguese’s starting place is in too much danger, while they also spent £2.9m to sign St. Patrick’s Athletic youngster Mason Melia. The young striker is a developmental prospect but has a dash of pace which makes him look like a good budget buy for the future.

In reality, though, it’s fair to say that most fans would see this as a pretty disappointing window, with the Spurs side largely looking much the same as it did before. We’d expect the knives to be out for the owners if this ended up being the sum total of their business in real life, however.

£77m made in sales as Spurs turn transfer window profit

Say what you like about this simulated transfer window, there’s no doubt that Spurs are being run as a pretty efficient business in our save – despite all the players the club need in real life, they actually turn a comfortable in this virtual summer.

Kevin Danso heads off to Atlético Madrid for £26.5m, making the deal to sign Beukema a break-even proposition, but the real money-spinner turns out to be the sale of young winger Mathys Tel – in our game, Manchester United take a chance on his potential to the tune of £45m. A year ago, that might have felt quite realistic.

Elsewhere, youngster George Abbott joined Fulham for £5.5m and veteran defender Ben Davies heads to relegated Burnley on loan alongside young centre-back Ashley Phillips – a move which would cause fans of Phillips’ former club Blackburn Rovers to seethe. Phillips might ask to be head to a different side, but otherwise the less headline-worthy deals of this virtual window do seem like the most realistic.

Ultimately, this isn’t the kind of prediction Spurs fans will appreciate, and we’d expect Football Manager to have underestimated the kind of work that the team needs to do over the coming summer. But then again, we thought that the club would sign more players this winter, too…