3 Added Minutes

Tottenham get prime opportunity to sign £43m top striker as Newcastle United chase Chelsea defender

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Spurs get second chance to sign €50m striker as Newcastle lead chase for Chelsea star - 3 Added Minutes
Description

Rounding up the latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Spurs, Chelsea, 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...

With the transfer window continuing to move at lightning pace, we at 3 Added Minutes are back to keep you in the loop with our latest round-up and review of some of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with some news for Tottenham Hotspur fans.

TBR Football reports that Spurs “could have a chance” to sign PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani, despite the fact that the Frenchman turned down a move to North London in January in favour of a loan switch to Juventus.

Talks between Juve and the player over a permanent deal “have not been going well”, it’s claimed, while PSG are keen to get a sale over the line. With the Old Lady “not willing” to pay the asking price and instead targeting Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund, Spurs could get a second chance to pounce.

PSG want €50m (£43m) for Kolo Muani but would settle for a season-long loan for €5m with the rest to be paid as an obligation to buy next summer – which may make the finances easier for Spurs. The striker is apparently “open” to moving to the Premier League, but there’s no suggestion that Spurs have made a formal bid as yet. Newcastle United and Manchester United are suggested as rival suitors, but that sounds like pure supposition at this stage.

The 3AM Verdict: This is a rumour born from inference rather than tangible, credible information, not that it’s especially unlikely that Spurs make a second bid. It could pan out as TBR Football suggest, but there’s no firm evidence to suggest that it will, and as such we view this story with scepticism.

Chelsea star could leave after just one season – with Newcastle among suitors

Over to Caught Offside now, who suggest that Chelsea “could be open” to the sale of centre-half Tosin Adarabioyo just a year after he joined the club on a free transfer – if they’re offered enough money, anyway.

There are “plenty of clubs” interest in the 27-year-old former Fulham man, with Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace “among his suitors” as doubt grows over his future at Stamford Brigde.

It’s even suggested that Adarabioyo could be used as a makeweight in a swap deal for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, a player that Chelsea greatly admire. The Blues apparently value the defender at £30m, which would represent a healthy profit given that he was bought for nothing.

The 3AM Verdict: Chelsea are very business-forward in the transfer market these days and they would certainly sell Adarbioyo if there was a healthy offer, but we haven’t seen enough to convince us that any of these specific moves are all that likely. Newcastle were keen when he was on the free market last summer, so that could be the best bet, but we haven’t seen much movement as yet.

Leeds ‘step up pursuit’ of former Aston Villa star

Finally, a story from fans of Leeds United from Sport Witness, who provide an update on their own search for a new centre-half – one which has supposedly seen them “step up their pursuit” of ex-Aston Villa man Diego Carlos.

The Brazilian is currently in Turkey with Fenerbahçe but they are “looking to offload” him, apparently due to persistent injury concerns. Those don’t seem to be affecting Leeds’ desire to sign him, however, with Elland Road now a “possible destination”.

They’re said to be “very serious” about the 32-year-old and are expected to make a bid soon, although Sunderland and Burnley could also make a move – and it’s suggested that Carlos himself would prefer a move to Turf Moor.

The 3AM Verdict: We can’t claim to be in the know about the reliability of Turkish outlet Fotospor, whose reporting forms the backbone of this story, but Carlos is on the market and newly-promoted sides could easily be tempted by his experience in the Premier League, even if he is a fitness risk. One to keep half an eye on.

Palhinha swap

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Genius Spurs and Bayern Munich swap deal could ignite both clubs' European dreams - 3 Added Minutes
Description

The midfielder starred for two seasons in the Premier League

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 quest to transform Tottenham into a Premier League power once again has started strongly but he still requires an elite holding midfielder and Joao Palhinha could be the perfect fit to continue that spending spree after an underwhelming debut season at Bayern Munich.

Having made a net spend of just £50m under Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham are €257m (£223m) in the red across just the last two summer transfer windows thanks to marquee arrivals like Dominic Solanke and Mohamed Kudus, and don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon with Palhinha the next target in Daniel Levy’s sights.

The 34-cap Portuguese international turned 30 earlier this month and after two seasons starring for Fulham, Palhinha has found it difficult to make the same impact at Bayern Munich having played just 25 games in his debut season at the Allianz Arena.

And Vincent Kompany may have already seen enough, as Palhinha is reportedly on the market already with the Bundesliga champions looking to recoup as much of the £47m they paid to Fulham as possible and apparently preferring a sale to a loan.

Reports suggest Bayern would be happy to sell for €25-30million (£22-26million) with the player keenest on a return to London despite interest from Inter Milan - if Spurs can meet that price and match the £200,000-a-week wages that Palhinha is said to demand.

However, they could cut out the fee altogether by sending a player to Munich in return in a swap-plus-cash deal, and Son Heung-min would be a brilliant candidate, filling a hole on the wing and able to rekindle his devastating partnership with Harry Kane.

Palhinha could be foundation of new-look Spurs

Once part of one of the best midfield partnerships in international football alongside Federico Valverde for Uruguay, Rodrigo Bentancur didn’t exactly have a vintage 2024/25 season as despite only missing three weeks through injury, he was suspended for 14 games including for allegedly racially abusing Son and was far from his domineering best when on the field.

Bentancur’s indiscipline was particularly damaging given the extent of Tottenham’s injury crisis last season while most Lilywhite fans will believe they could upgrade on Yves Bissouma too this summer, with both veterans linked to moves away from White Hart Lane this summer.

Palhinha would be the perfect addition to anchor Tottenham’s midfield and help kickstart that new-look attack of Mohamed Kudus and (hopefully) Morgan Gibbs-White, given he was the the best tackler in the Premier League in both of his top-flight seasons at Craven Cottage.

He’d also be a fantastic mentor for Archie Gray, who had a nightmare debut season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium played mostly out of position at centre-back and full-back by Ange Postecoglou, and Lucas Bergvall, both players aged only 19.

Palhinha’s advancing age will be less of a limitation in holding midfield - he was described as an ‘animal’ by Harry Kane when he completed his move to Bayern Munich - and he’d allow Frank to effectively restart the development of his teenage pairing plus 22-year-old Pape Matar Sarr, easing them into the first team to help rebuild their confidence.

Meanwhile Palhinha has a extra incentive to force a move this summer, with the 2026 World Cup now firmly on the horizon.

Having started only 10 games last season, it’s unsurprising that Palhinha has slipped down the pecking order under national team boss Roberto Martinez and he played just a solitary minute in the Nations League Finals.

But a move to Tottenham would allow him the opportunity to showcase his best form once again in the Premier League and Champions League, and show why he deserves a much bigger role in North America in 12 months’ time.

Son-Kane partnership could terrorise Bundesliga

Son certainly wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for some of the younger superstar wingers Bayern Munich have missed out on this summer - most notably Nico Williams - but he’d help fill the void left by Leroy Sane and be able to replace some of the leadership lost from Thomas Muller’s exit.

Son’s well acquainted with the Bundesliga as a Hamburg youth product who spent three seasons as a key first-team player for Die Rothosen and Bayer Leverkusen, notching over a century of appearances in the division and scoring 41 goals.

It’s his acquaintance with Kane that should be of most interest to the Bavarians though, with the pair having played almost 300 matches and over 20,000 minutes together for Tottenham Hotspur and notching 58 joint goal participations according to Transfermarkt.

Reports on Son’s price tag vary but €30m (£26m) seems a more reasonable valuation than the £50m that’s also been floated given his age with a year remaining on his contract.

And while it would be heartbreaking for Spurs fans to watch their captain leave, seeing him depart with that elusive Europa League winner’s medal around his neck while helping bring a potentially transformative player into Frank’s midfield would surely soften the blow.

Spurs to rival Liverpool for £50m England man as Chelsea target thrilling rising star

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Spurs to rival Liverpool for £50m England man as Chelsea target thrilling rising star - 3 Added Minutes
Description

The latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle 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 to round up and review another bunch of the biggest and boldest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re going to kick things off with a pretty big story for Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool fans.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Spurs are set to “weigh up” whether to take on champions Liverpool in the battle for Marc Guéhi’s signature – and have “not yet ruled out making another offer” for the Crystal Palace and England centre-half after having a bid rejected towards the end of the January transfer window.

The story also backs up previous reports which suggest that Bournemouth’s Ilia Zabarnyi is also an option, not that the Ukrainian represents any less ambitious of a target given that PSG are in the bidding for his services. Liverpool are said to “remain the favourites” to land Guéhi, too.

The delay with their bid is simply that they don’t wish to pay Crystal Palace’s asking price, reported elsewhere to be around £50m. It isn’t made clear whether Spurs might be prepared to pay full whack in this report, nor whether their interest in either Guéhi or Zabarnyi is contingent on the future of Cristian Romero.

The 3AM Verdict: Spurs will find it tricky to beat a free-spending Liverpool to the punch, and the only way that happens is if they’re ready to spend £50m and the Reds decide against. That could happen, but there are quite a few ifs and maybes between where we are now and Guéhi wearing a white shirt. We suspect that it’s improbable that they land either Guéhi or Zabarnyi as it stands, but would be interested to know how much hinges on whether Romero leaves.

Chelsea making eyes at brilliant Bundesliga midfielder

We’ll head across London to Chelsea, now, courtesy of a story from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, who has taken to social media to suggest that Enzo Maresca’s side are interested in adding RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old attacking midfielder Xavi Simons to their ranks.

The link has been made many times before, but now Plettenberg claims that Chelsea have “serious interest” in the Dutch playmaker, who allegedly wants to leave the German side this summer – and that talks between Chelsea and Simons’ representatives are already underway.

There haven’t been any club-to-club talks yet, it’s stated, but Chelsea may have competition should they decide to make a bid – Arsenal are “monitoring the situation”, as are Bayern Munich, although it’s the Blues that are said to be “the most concrete option”.

The 3AM Verdict: It may feel as though Chelsea are pretty well-stocked for attacking playmakers but with so many set to leave Stamford Bridge (or suspended) we do expect them to make another splash in the transfer market, and Simons fits the youthful profile they prefer. Signing Simons would mean Cole Palmer going to the right wing, but with Noni Madueke gone that’s a natural move anyway. A deal that may very well get done. We certainly think it’s more likely that Chelsea make a move than Arsenal, given the players the Gunners have at their disposal in his position.

Newcastle to battle Spurs and Wolves for striker

Let’s wrap today’s early column up with a story which may interest Newcastle United supporters – if Africa Foot have their facts straight, then the Magpies have put OGC Nice forward Evann Guessand onto their “agenda” for the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old Ivorian international has been in talks with Fenerbahçe and Villarreal but is taking his time amid Premier League interest, with Newcastle purportedly joining both Spurs and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the battle.

Spurs, for their part, are said to be “slowing down” any interest they had but haven’t “said their last word” just yet, and there’s no details at all about Wolves’ interest, just a claim that it exists. There’s no word on a price here, either, although reports elsewhere have thrown around figures starting at £25m. If Newcastle, Spurs or Wolves do want to make a move, they may have to hurry up, however: It’s implied that Guessand may make his decision “in the next few days”.

The 3AM Verdict: Guessand, who scored 12 goals in Ligue 1 last season playing mostly as a right winger, is one of those names which has been popping up every once in a while without any truly tangible links to Premier League sides, and there isn’t enough detail here to make us think that he’s all that close to moving to England. Turkey or Spain simply seems much more probable from here, but we do know that plenty of teams have been monitoring him. With Newcastle missing out on Hugo Ekitike, a late bid is certainly possible, as Guessand can play up front.

Liverpool enter discussions with Chelsea transfer target as Spurs eye up £26m defender

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Liverpool enter discussions with Chelsea transfer target as Spurs eye up £26m defender - 3 Added Minutes
Description

The biggest new Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, Spurs 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...

Plenty of us take a little bit of time to get up to speed on a Monday – but the rumour mill never stops working, and to help you keep abreast of all the biggest stories in a non-stop news cycle, we’re here with our regular round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours, starting with a story for Liverpool fans.

Not content with spending the GDP of a small country on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and (very soon) Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool have started “discussions” over a deal for Lyon winger Malick Fofana – which would also see them muscle in on a deal Chelsea are keen to make.

According to Caught Offside, Arne Slot’s side have not yet lodged a formal offer but are said to be in talks with his representatives, with the wideman seen as a possible replacement for Luis Díaz should the Colombian join Bayern Munich.

As well as Chelsea, this report also claims that Arsenal, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and PSG are all “monitoring” the 20-year-old’s situation, with Lyon likely to sell to help deal with their enormous debts. Apparently they want €50-60m (£43-52m) for the youngster.

The 3AM Verdict: Chelsea’s interest is well-established and this is the first time we’ve seen Liverpool brought up, but they may well need another winger, so why not enquire about one of Europe’s most sought-after youngsters? There isn’t enough detail for us to feel confident in the story based on one report, but it’s certainly plausible enough.

Spurs make ‘approach’ for £26m man

Down to the capital now, where Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a new centre-back may have taken a fresh turn – according to TBR Football (via French outlet Foot Mercato’s original reporting) Spurs are “interested” in 25-year-old French centre-back Loïc Badé.

The report mentions an “approach” without offering any specifics or discussing whether that means Badé’s agents or his current employers, Sevilla, but does suggest that the Spanish side want €30m (£26m) for the player. Badé was linked with Spurs last year, too, and apparently described them as a “great club” at the time.

Not that Spurs are alone in their interest – “several club are fighting” over the player, apparently, including Aston Villa, Sunderland and Bournemouth. And Spurs have alternatives, with this article suggesting that they may also be keeping tabs on Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, who had a very decent debut season at Selhurst Park.

The 3AM Verdict: We can’t imagine that Palace are keen to let Lacroix go when they’re already likely to lose Marc Guéhi, so we suspect the link with Badé is more plausible. Spurs and Villa have both been connected with him in the past, which either suggests serious long-term interest or a media outlet reheating an old story to fill some column inches. Take your pick. It doesn’t sound like there has been any significant movement by any of the alleged suitors as yet.

Newcastle to ‘accept’ bids for £38m man

It’s only been a couple of years since Newcastle United spent £38m to sign Harvey Barnes from Leicester City – and now he looks closer to an exit then ever before, at least if Football Insider have their facts straight.

They claim that the Magpies are “prepared to listen to offers” for the winger having signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest and “plan to accept” bids from potential interest parties – which are said to include Aston Villa, who need replacements for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio after failing to sign either player permanently this summer.

It's also suggested that Barnes himself “could be interested in leaving” Newcastle in order to get some more first-team football, and a number of Premier League clubs – unspecified aside from Villa – will be “put on alert” by Barnes’ likely availability.

The 3AM Verdict: Not that we don’t think they’re right, but the basis for this story doesn’t seem to be inside information but the opinion of a former scout with no direct connection to the situation. That said, we suspect that Barnes is on the trade block with Anthony Gordon firmly ahead of him in the pecking order. Newcastle also need to raise funds to carry out their transfer plans this summer, and Barnes seems like a very plausible sacrificial lamb.

The dream Tottenham and Bournemouth swap deal involving £60m ace that would suit both

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
The dream Tottenham and Bournemouth swap deal involving £60m ace that would suit both clubs - 3 Added Minutes
Description

Tottenham Hotspur have the chance to bring in some new faces over the coming weeks

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 turned to Thomas Frank as their new manager this summer. The former Brentford man will be eager to show what he can do at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He was picked as the London club’s replacement for Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked at the end of last season.

Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League table in the last campaign. However, they managed to win the Europa League after beating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. They have the chance to sign some more players over the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur target AFC Bournemouth defender Illya Zabarnyi

Spurs have opened ‘talks’ to sign AFC Bournemouth defender Illya Zabarnyi this summer, according to CaughtOffside. The report suggests they are willing to pay his £60million asking price in this window. League rivals Chelsea, Newcastle United and Liverpool have been mentioned as potential suitors, along with Champions League winners PSG.

Zabarnyi, 22, could be seen by Frank as someone to boost his defensive department. If he joined, he would give them more competition and depth at the back. In addition, he is still young and has potential to get better down the line.

The Ukraine international, who has 49 caps under his belt so far in his career, joined Bournemouth in 2023 and has since become one of their key players. He is a key asset for the Cherries but they could face a battle to keep hold of him amid attention from elsewhere. The centre-back has made 86 appearances in all competitions for the Dorset outfit to date, 39 of which came last term, and he has chipped in with one goal from the back.

Prior to his move to England, he rose up through the academy ranks at Dynamo Kyiv. He was a regular at various different youth levels before breaking into their first-team. The Kyiv-born man played 85 games for his boyhood club before his current team came calling and he hasn’t looked back since.

Tottenham Hotspur should offer AFC Bournemouth swap deal involving Ashley Phillips

In an attempt to persuade Bournemouth into selling Zabarnyi, Spurs should offer them Ashley Phillips on loan. The 20-year-old is unlikely to get into Frank’s starting XI immediately and would benefit from another spell away. Getting him in return would help fill the gap left by Zabarnyi’s exit for the Cherries.

Phillips is a bright young talent and is being tipped for a bright future in the game. Letting him join another top flight side on a temporary deal would be the next natural progression for him. It would help him test himself on a regular basis at the top level to boost his development.

The Mancunian, 20, played for Curzon Ashton in non-league before linking up with Blackburn Rovers. He played 14 times for Rovers’ senior team as a teenager before Spurs swooped in for his signature. However, he is yet to play for the first-team in North London.

Instead, he has been shipped out on loan to Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City in the Championship to get some valuable experience under his belt. He was given the green light to link up with the latter last season and played 39 matches altogether. The Potters managed to stay up in the second tier on the final day under Mark Robins after drawing 0-0 away at Derby County.

Time will tell whether Spurs will be able to seal an agreement for Zabarnyi. He is a wanted man so giving Bournemouth the chance to loan Phillips would bolster their chances. It would also mean the Cherries wouldn’t be left too short changed from any potential deal.

The £30m ‘animal’ Spurs should add to their midfield this summer

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
The £30m ‘animal’ Spurs should add to their midfield this summer - 3 Added Minutes
Description

Tottenham have been linked with a move for a former Fulham fan favourite

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 boss Thomas Frank is keen to sign plenty of reinforcements as he gets his team ready for the demands of competing in the UEFA Champions League.

Spurs’ Europa League final triumph over Manchester United papered over the cracks of what was a calamitous league season but still wasn’t enough to keep Ange Postecoglou in the dugout for a third term. Former Brentford boss Thomas Frank knows that he cannot afford to make the same catalogue of errors next season if he is to be a success in this managerial opportunity to shine in North London.

The Lillywhites are a team blessed with attacking qualities. Despite finishing in 17th position they scored 64 goals last term, more than any team in the bottom half by a considerable distance and even outsourcing the likes of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, who only marginally missed out on a top five finish. However, their tally of conceding 65 goals was the fourth worst in the entire division, with only Wolves and the relegated trio of Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton shipping more goals.

Injuries were a huge factor in the team’s defensive frailties but an equally concerning patter that came far too apparent over the course of the season where Tottenham were simply way too easy to play through at various points throughout the campaign, highlighting the need for defensive midfield reinforcements if the club are to improve their fortunes.

The £30m midfield ‘animal’ Spurs should look to target

Thomas Frank will want to add a starting-calibre holding midfielder this summer as he looks to get his squad Champions League-ready.

They’ve splashed £60m already on West Ham maverick Mohamed Kudus on the right-wing and are expected to bolster the No.10 position with Morgan Gibbs-White once they get over the complications delaying the transfer from Nottingham Forest. However, there is still a desperate need for a defensive midfielder amid reports that Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur might leave the club.

In truth, neither player had what could be described as a strong season last time out. Bissouma played 44 matches, scored twice and was booked 12 times, making four errors leading to shots at goal and making a combined 67 tackles and interceptions in the league, which is nearly half of the 117 he managed the previous season.

Meanwhile, Bentacur season was disrupted through a seven-game suspension for allegedly making a racist comment toward his teammate Son Heung-min. He played 44 matches, scored twice and was booked on 14 occasions.

Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were all used throughout the season and showed promise in patches. However, it’s clear if Bissouma or Bentancur were to leave they’d need to sign an experienced option in that area. One player that could perfectly fit the bill, who has been linked with the club, according to London World, is former Fulham ace Joao Palhinha.

Palhinha spent two seasons at the heart of the Fulham midfield between 2022 and 2024, establishing himself as one of the very best in his position in the Premier League. He made a £60m move to Bayern Munich in the summer window but has struggled to hit the same heights, making just 17 league appearances in a season blighted by injury woes.

The Portuguese international is understood to be available for around half the figure Bayern Munich paid this summer and is likely to be a huge upgrade on what they currently have in their squad.

Palhinha already has Harry Kane seal of approval

One man that knows Joao Palhinha better than many others is former Tottenham captain Harry Kane, who has played both against and alongside Palhinha at various points throughout his career.

When Palhinha completed his transfer to the Allianz Arena Kane notably said: "Pal is an animal in that defensive midfield role. I’ve had many battles against him. He tackles, he intercepts, he reads the game really well - so he’s a great addition."

To back up Kane’s comments, it’s worth noting that Palhinha completed the most tackles in both of his Premier League seasons. He made 148 in the 2022/23 season which was 48 more than Moises Caicedo, who completed a £110m move to Chelsea that summer. Meanwhile, in 2023/24 he bettered that tally with 152 with Joao Gomes getting the second most with 128, via Fbref.

Thomas Frank throughout his time at Brentford was known for playing attacking football and is likely to try and incorporate many of the aspects which were successful under Ange Postecoglou’s stewardship while also trying to add a sense of pragmatism in certain situations and protection for his defensive unit.

Palhinha could be the perfect signing to help them do that while also adding leadership for the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr all to learn from in years to come.

The bold Newcastle United and Brentford swap which could solve issue

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
The bold Newcastle United and Brentford swap which could solve issue - 3 Added Minutes
Description

Newcastle United are interested in signing a 19-goal striker

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...

After backing out of the race to sign long-term striker target Hugo Ekitike, Newcastle are widely reported to be accelerating their efforts to sign Brentford striker Yoane Wissa this summer.

The Magpies are keen to add competition to their frontline after the departure of Callum Wilson are thought to be keen on signing a prolific finisher that can either play either as an alternative or even as a strike partner to Alexander Isak depending on their opponent.

The St James’ Park club are no longer on thin ice when it comes to PSR as suggested by their ultimately unsuccessful club-record offer of around £70m for Ekitike and it’s suspected that the Magpies are more than willing to compete with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest for the striker’s signature.

Why Newcastle are interested in Yoane Wissa

Yoane Wissa enjoyed a career best season for Brentford last year. He scored 19 goals from 35 league appearances while also contributing an impressive four assists as his team finished the season in 10th place, marking Brentford’s second best top-flight campaign since the end of World War Two.

The 28-year-old finished as the sixth highest scorer in the division behind only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, Chris Wood and teammate Bryan Mbeumo but unlike those mentioned was not his side’s penalty taker with 100% of his goals last term coming from open play.

This highlights Wissa’s exceptional movement in the final third and his clinical nature in front of goal. In fact, if goals from open play were only counted, Wissa would be the joint second top scorer behind only Salah.

It’s reported by talkSPORT that Brentford are seeking a figure of around £50m for Wissa after turning down an offer for around half that price by Nottingham Forest in January.

The outlet claims Wissa is ready to push for a move this summer, but adds that negotiations could be complicated by Mbeumo’s proposed move to Manchester United, with the Red Devils having an offer of around £65m accepted for the Cameroonian.

The Bees have already lost their manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, have sold their club captain Christian Norgaard to Arsenal, and are now on the verge of losing their top scorer in Mbeumo to a team that finished five places below them.

It leaves Keith Andrews with a difficult season ahead in his first managerial gig - and he’ll be desperate to keep a hold of his talisman Wissa to avoid being dragged into a potential relegation scrap.

Wissa has just one-year remaining on his deal, with the option of an extension. However, it’s suspected Mbeumo’s sale could inflate his price. Newcastle are likely to push to sign Wissa but talkSPORT understands Tottenham are the favourites both due to their geographical location of being close to home in London - and the fact they are managed by Frank, who has an excellent working relationship with the forward.

The bold Newcastle swap deal they could offer Brentford

Newcastle will need to do something pretty big if they are to get Yoane Wissa this summer. They are determined to build depth in their frontline and have that on both flanks in the form of Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon on the left - and Jacob Murphy along with £55m signing Anthony Elanga on the right.

The Toon have one of the best striker in the world football in Alexander Isak after firmly warning Liverpool he isn’t for sale and they also have a young up and coming talent in William Osula in their ranks.

The Magpies will be keen to not unsettle any of that six due to the importance of all of them moving forward but they could offer the Bees an intriguing swap deal by potentially using Joe Willock as a makeweight in negotiations.

Willock can play both as a central box-to-box playmaker and as a forward in the left-wing area. He’s a terrific athlete blessed with great speed, stamina, technical qualities and the ability to get into the box and score goals.

He signed for Newcastle for just over £20m in 2021 following a successful loan spell from Arsenal which saw him score eight times in 14 matches, including seven in a row in a run which saw him level Alan Shearer’s run of goals in 1996.

Willock had a mixed first full season at Newcastle amid the chaos of Steve Bruce’s exit, Eddie Howe’s arrival and the Saudi takeover - but perhaps played his best football in the 2022/23 season when he helped the Magpies achieve Champions League qualification. He managed three goals and six assists across the season but looked excellent in patches and really seemed to suit Newcastle’s attacking brand of football.

Injuries have since derailed his progress and he’s struggled to get back into the team which has a settled trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.

While Champions League qualification may offer a fresh chance to get minutes at Newcastle, it is possible that the club could use this as an opportunity to sell the 25-year-old and potentially allow him to get his career back on track with regular opportunities. Therefore, it could be worth Newcastle making an offer of around £30m with Willock included as part of the deal to try and test the waters with Brentford.

Spurs ‘hold talks’ with £47m midfield star as Man City & Villa brace for big bids

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Spurs ‘hold talks’ with £47m midfield star as Man City & Villa brace for big bids - 3 Added Minutes
Description

The biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Man City, Aston Villa, Everton 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...

As you might have noticed after the Hugo Ekitike story developed at quite incredible speed over the last 48 hours, keeping track of everything happening in the transfer window isn’t easy – which is why we’re back with our latest round-up of brand new Premier League transfer rumours to help you stay in the loop.

Let’s start with a story for Tottenham Hotspur fans – if TBR Football have their facts straight, then Spurs have held “a new round of talks” with German giants Bayern Munich over a potential deal which would bring João Palhinha back to the Premier League.

The former Fulham midfielder is “an active option” for Thomas Frank’s team after a disappointing debut season in Bavaria, but the 30-year-old isn’t the only familiar face in Spurs’ sights and Douglas Luiz of Juventus, who has found it tough going in Turin, could be an alternative.

It isn’t clear how much Palhinha, who joined Bayern for £47m last summer, would cost Spurs. Inter Milan are also said to be interested, but the player’s preference is apparently to move back to London.

The 3AM Verdict: Bayern are expected to accept a hefty loss on the sale of Palhinha so he shouldn’t come at a prohibitive price. We’ve seen Palhinha and Luiz’s names come up before, but still haven’t seen anything to suggest that Spurs have decided which midfielder they want nor anything which implies that they’ve opened any negotiations. Then again, they kept the Morgan Gibbs-White thing very quiet…

England star set for Serie A switch?

Some news for Manchester City fans, now – Sport Witness report on a story from the Italian media which suggests that the future of England winger Jack Grealish could lie not in the Premier League, but in Serie A.

Scudetto champions Napoli have “expressed an interest” in signing the £100m man, whose time at the Etihad seems to be coming to an end with City said to be “edging [Grealish] towards the exit”.

Grealish himself would apparently prefer to remain in England, but Napoli are said to be prepared to play a “waiting game” in the hope that they could make a move should a suitable Premier League club fail to come forward. No word on how much Manchester City might need in order to complete a sale.

The 3AM Verdict: Although Grealish may well want to stay in the Premier League, tentative links with clubs such as Newcastle have come to nothing so far. We still suspect that a deal will be struck, but with Napoli’s move for Darwin Núñez in trouble due to a significant gap in valuations, we wonder if they might just have the cash to get involved later in the window. We wouldn’t call it likely, however.

Everton make contact over £30m Aston Villa man

Just a few days ago, we reported on claims that Nottingham Forest had targeted Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey for a summer transfer – and now, according to GiveMeSport, they could have some competition for his signature.

Everton have “sounded out” the Villans ahead of a possible bid, with Forest’s interest also mentioned once again. There’s no suggestion that a formal offer has yet been made by either side, with Ramsey commanding a reported price tag of £30m.

Ramsey himself is apparently “happy to bide his time” in order to survey his options but is said to be “ambitious to make a step up”, which one could argue makes a move to Everton a tough sell – but on the other hand, he may get some of the minutes he was sometimes short of at Villa.

The 3AM Verdict: We suspect that Forest’s interest is slightly stronger but at this stage it’s anyone’s game. Villa aren’t desperate to get rid of Ramsey but do want to raise some funds to ward of PSR concerns and make sure they have the money available to make some fresh signings of their own. One to keep an eye on, but it’s too early to predict how it will all pan out.

Spurs reignite ‘interest’ in £100m Crystal Palace star as Chelsea brace for ‘impossible’ transfer bid

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Spurs want £100m Crystal Palace star as Chelsea brace for ‘impossible’ transfer bid - 3 Added Minutes
Description

A round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Spurs, Chelsea, Wolves 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...

Another day dawns, and another colossal pile of Premier League transfer rumours has done the rounds and landed on our desks – and we’ve corralled some of the biggest and best into our latest morning round-up of the biggest summer stories, starting with a tale for Tottenham Hotspur fans.

Not for the first time in the past few weeks, we’re seeing Spurs linked with a bid for a Crystal Palace and England star – but this time, it’s not Eberechi Eze, but Adam Wharton who Thomas Frank’s side have “shown an interest in”, per TBR Football.

Spurs are keen to add a fresh face or two in midfield and Wharton seems to be their dream signing, but getting a deal done won’t be easy. Partly, that’s because the former Blackburn Rovers man is said to be “in no rush” to leave Selhurst Park, and partly that’s because Palace will charge a small fortune for him.

It would take an “astronomical” sum to prise him away, apparently, likely “over £100m” and as a result Spurs are likely to look elsewhere, especially with £115m of their transfer budget going towards Mohammed Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White. Apparently Manchester City also scouted Wharton before deciding against a bid, perhaps for the same financial reasons.

The 3AM Verdict: No doubt Spurs admire Wharton just as much as everyone else, but there’s next to no chance that the young midfielder will leave Palace this summer. He doesn’t seem to want to force a move, the price tag is colossal, and this is one that will wait until next summer.

Real Madrid plot ‘impossible’ Chelsea move

Over to a different part of London now for some news with might provoke a little concern amongst Chelsea fans. According to TeamTalk, who base their story on sources in the Spanish media, Real Madrid have set themselves an “impossible mission” – to sign Cole Palmer.

New Real head coach Xabi Alonso is said to be among Palmer’s “biggest admirers” and “sees him as a talent that would perfectly fit” his project. They were even said to be scouting him during the Club World Cup recently.

Unfortunately for Alonso, some of the Spanish sources who report Real’s interest in Palmer also claim that he is viewed as “untransferable” by Chelsea, and TeamTalk’s sources agree that the Blues “do not plan to sell Palmer any time soon” and it has been made “absolutely clear” to Real and any other suitors that he isn’t for sale. There’s also mention of PSG putting a massive bid together, but the source for that is Fichajes, so we’re ignoring that one.

The 3AM Verdict: Look, you never say never with Chelsea. They’ve made some interesting decisions in the transfer market in the name of turning a profit on young players, after all. But this one would be beyond the pale – without Cole Palmer, their project would be in pieces and one assumes that they are aware of that. Not happening in a million years.

Wolves could beat AC Milan to key signing

From two transfers that we don’t believe will happen to one that might: Sport Witness have a fresh update on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pursuit of Almería defender Marc Pubill, and it’s good news for the Old Gold.

Wolves are said to have “pushed hard” to get hold of the 22-year-old right-back, and have “overtaken” their rivals for Pubill’s signature – AC Milan – in the bidding, to the extent that the Rossoneri could even be giving up altogether.

Atalanta reportedly saw a €20m deal for the player collapse a year ago, but now Wolves will only need to spend €15m (£13m) to secure Pubill’s signature, a potential bargain ahead of the new season. Apparently the “path is becoming clear” for the transfer to take place, but it doesn’t sound as though a formal offer has yet been lodged.

The 3AM Verdict: The primary source for this story is Marca, who are a little hit and miss when reporting on teams outside of Madrid, but it looks like the broad outline of the rumour is corroborated by local media as well, usually a promising sign. This doesn’t look likely to happen immediately but it starting to sound as though Wolves are in the box seat.

£40m star forward signs and midfielder returns to PL: Spurs' dream line-up for next season - opinion

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Spurs splash out on £40m forward for dream line-up - if rumours prove true - 3 Added Minutes
Description

A look at Spurs’ possible starting line-up for the 2025/26 season - featuring several new signings.

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...

A summer of change awaits Tottenham Hotspur fans – a new manager will be sat in the dugout and, judging by the gossip columns, a host of new faces will line up on the pitch as well. But what will Spurs’ starting eleven look like come August?

The club have been unusually busy in the early stages of the summer transfer window. They’ve spent £55m on Mohammed Kudus and are likely to spend more again on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, who was undergoing a medical before the weekend. Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso have signed permanently and a couple of exciting youngsters have been added to the squad - but there’s yet more work to be done.

To help to piece together what Thomas Frank’s starting line-up might look like when they kick the 2025/26 Premier League season off against Burnley, we’ve combed through the latest rumours and assessed which are likely to prove true and which moves will fall through to piece together a plausible eleven for a little over a month’s time.

Tottenham’s potential goalkeeper and defence for 2025/26

GK: Guglielmo Vicario (£17m); LB: Destiny Udogie (£20m), CB: Micky van de Ven (£43m), CB: Koni de Winter (£25m), RB: Pedro Porro (£39m)

While there have been mutterings about the futures of Guglielmo Vicario and Pedro Porro, it seems overwhelmingly likely that the only regular starter who might leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer is Cristian Romero, who is the subject of interest from Atlético Madrid.

Romero’s future remains up in the air, with conflicting reports surrounding discussions. Spurs won’t sell on the cheap and the Argentine seems unlikely to force the issue, but it remains eminently possible that the experienced centre-half leaves and requires replacement.

Numerous sources claim that Spurs are in for Burnley’s Maxime Estève, who could cost up to £30m, but negotiations are not as advanced as some outlets suggest and he is merely one of several options. Genoa’s Koni de Winter, who would cost a little less, is another, and may be easier to sign in spite of interest from other teams. Tall, powerful and confident with the ball at his feet, he’s a fine all-round defender who should complement Micky van de Ven nicely. The Belgian could easily be above Estève on the shopping list. A full-back is also likely to be on the way, with a free transfer for Kyle Walker-Peters looking likely. Rumours connecting Spurs with a bid for Antonee Robinson appear to be well wide of the mark.

Could Douglas Luiz add grit to Tottenham’s midfield?

DM: Pape Matar Sarr (£15m), Douglas Luiz (£27m); AM: James Maddison (£40m)

One move that we will almost certainly see take place is the arrival of a new central midfielder. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is gone, Yves Bissouma will likely follow, and a fresh pair of legs is a necessity – unfortunately, Spurs don’t seem to be finding it all that easy to pick out a transfer target, as Ange Postecoglou found out when Spurs failed to sign a new player for the centre of midfield last summer.

We’re putting Douglas Luiz, who has been linked to Spurs as Juventus attempt to move him on after a bad debut season in Serie A, in as a placeholder more than anything. Spurs had seemingly wanted Christian Nørgaard but were beaten to the punch by Arsenal, while another rumoured target, Benfica’s Orkun Kökçü, seems more likely to move to Besiktas as it stands. Spurs have also been linked with Palmeiras’ Richard Ríos, but it’s almost easier to find a team that haven’t been.

Luiz, in short, is as likely as anyone, but don’t be surprised if Spurs head in a different direction entirely - it’s just that Luiz could well return to the Premier League and Spurs are as plausible a destination as any. Spurs also seem interested in adding teenage AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit to their ranks, and while he could well end up being instantly impactful in the manner of Lucas Bergvall last season, it’s more likely that Smit is seen as a back-up to start with.

Spurs want one more new forward for the front line

LW: Mohammed Kudus (£55m); RW: Morgan Gibbs-White (£60m); CF: Yoane Wissa (£40m)

Spurs have already splashed the cash on left winger Kudus and versatile attacker Gibbs-White, who could just as easily take James Maddison’s more central role as Dejan Kulusevski’s job on the right - but while Spurs now look extremely well-stocked across the front three even if Son Heung-Min bids a tearful farewell, they may not be finished just yet.

Injuries meant that Dominic Solanke wasn’t able to play as full a role in his debut season as he might have liked and it’s possible that a new striker will be brought in to provide competition - and BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel’s story which suggests that Thomas Frank is seeking a reunion with former forward Yoane Wissa makes a lot of sense. Not only is he a fine finisher, but his versatility means that he can provide cover out wide as well.

It isn’t quite clear how much Wissa might cost but with one year left on his current contract, it’s unlikely that he would set Spurs back any more than £40m, which seems like a very fair price for a player who has proven that he can hit double figures in the Premier League. All in all, our admittedly speculative Spurs starting XI weighs in at £380m of talent before we even get to the bench – enough, perhaps, to challenge for the top four once more after a dreadful league campaign in 2024/25. it’s clear, however, that Spurs are taking their transfer business slowly and it may be some time before we have a clearer picture of precisely which players they might sign this summer.