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Everton have a problem at full-back with Vitalii Mykolenko injured - could a free transfer fix the issue?

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Everton’s season has started rather brightly – better, perhaps, than many had anticipated. For all the doubts surrounding their summer recruitment, they have two wins on the board already, Jack Grealish looks like a player rejuvenated, and it’s all going rather smoothly so far. Except at full-back.

The club were linked with a host of wide defenders over the summer and saw a deal for Kenny Tete collapse, but never got the signing they needed over the line. As it stands, their full-backs are either old (Séamus Coleman), young (Adam Aznou) or simply incapable of staying fit (Nathan Patterson). The result has been a centre-half crow-barred in at right-back and an over-reliance on Vitalii Mykolenko on the left – and now the Ukrainian is injured.

Given that the transfer deadline has already passed, of course, there isn’t much that Everton can do – but there is one option left open to them should they feel the need for some reinforcements along the back four, in the form of a player who’s played for Spain, Real Madrid, Manchester United and others besides...

Why Everton can still sign the full-back they may need

Mykolenko was sent home by his national side after a scan revealed a muscular injury sustained while playing for Everton. The extent of the damage isn’t fully clear but the left-back immediately becomes a doubt for the Toffees’ game against Aston Villa next weekend, and perhaps even for the Merseyside derby which follows.

That leaves Everton without a fully fit full-back save for the 36-year-old Coleman. Summer signing Aznou is working his way back from an ankle injury and Patterson’s latest problem is a hernia. Jake O’Brien’s temporary role on the right is starting to look like a very small sticking plaster placed over a rather substantial wound.

Fortunately for Everton, while we’re past the point at which Premier League clubs can make new permanent or loan signings, they can sign players on a free transfer – and there’s one full-back with plenty of quality who surprisingly remains on the market.

Sergio Reguilón may have fallen out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur prior to his release by the club this summer, but the 28-year-old is not so far removed from a point at which he was considered one of the best left-backs in the top flight following his transfer from Real Madrid.

There are a number of factors behind his relative fall from grace, with fitness problems popping up at inopportune times acting alongside the damage down by being a traditional overlapping wing-back playing for teams that wanted to move away from that style of player. In many ways, his career path has almost exactly mirrored that of Ben Chilwell, a player who has failed to find a place in the new tactical order that wants full-backs to take up narrower supporting positions instead of bombing on down to the byline.

David Moyes, however, still likes his full-backs to stick to the flanks, even if he doesn’t necessarily encourage them to push too far forward. There is every chance that his methods suit Reguilón’s style of play – and with such a thin defence increasingly beset by injuries, it may make sense to give him a chance.

Sergio Reguilón could be just what Everton need to maintain momentum

Everton were supposedly in the bidding to sign Reguilón all the way back in 2020 ahead of his eventual move from Spain to Spurs – and the club and player have remained connected on the rumour mill this summer, with some sources occasionally suggesting that the Toffees might have made a bid for him back in July.

Clearly, none of those stories have amounted to anything as yet, and nor have any of the more reliable sources available to us suggested that a deal is likely – but with Reguilón still available and no move for him imminent, this could be a rare occasion on which the speculative stories floating around made a sensible point.

It may have been a while since we’ve seen Reguilón at his very best, but the class is there and his weaknesses – his poor passing, for instance, which made him a poor choice for a team who wanted him to operate on the underlap – should be less of an issue in Moyes’ direct system than they were at Spurs or Manchester United, for instance.

Reguilón may not have ended up being a truly great player or an especially versatile one, but he is still a strong defender who has consistently contributed high volumes of tackles, interceptions and turnovers throughout his career, and a player who can make a difference going forward.

He has had his own intermittent fitness issues, too, but there aren’t quite as chronic as they are in the case of Patterson and he is still only 28. A short-term contract would be a very low-risk move with a relatively high ceiling – and at the very least, it would increase the odds that Everton actually have one fit and available full-back for any given game.

Moyes’ teams have always been sturdy defensively and Everton have been no exception since he returned – but there’s only so much that his disciplined style of management can do to keep clean sheets if he doesn’t have any players to choose from. Perhaps signing Reguilón may not be inspiring, but it would move the club closer to the day that James Garner and Jake O’Brien don’t have to operate as emergency full-backs at the same time.

An early round-up of injury news and potential return dates for Thomas Frank and Tottenham Hotspur.

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Tottenham’s perfect start to the new Premier League season came to an abrupt end last time out following a home defeat to Bournemouth. The Cherries needed just five minutes to take the lead through Evanilson but that would prove to be the only goal of the game as Andoni Iraola’s side held on for all three points.

Despite the 1-0 defeat, Spurs remain in fourth place as we head into the international break. Tottenham banked six points from their opening two fixtures and kept a clean sheet against both Burnley and Manchester City.

Thomas Frank will be looking to bounce straight back to winning ways once the Premier League returns, and West Ham will be the ones waiting. Spurs currently have a lengthy list of injury issues already and a new issue was raised ahead of the Bournemouth clash with Dominic Solanke.

We’ve gathered the latest fitness information for Tottenham so far to bring you an early injury round-up, including potential return dates:

How long will Dominic Solanke be out for?

Solanke was not included in the squad to face Bournemouth last time out after the striker felt a setback with an ankle issue he has been struggling with. However, fortunately for fans and the Lilywhites, Frank doesn’t believe Solanke will be out for a significant amount of time.

“Yeah, got a minor issue with his ankle. That’s been a little bit grumbling also in the pre-season,” the manager said. “It’s just too much for this game and now we have international break so hopefully he can be ready after that.”

James Maddison and Radu Dragusin ACL injuries

In a significant blow to Spurs, they are expected to be without James Maddison for most, if not all of the 2025/26 season. The England international suffered an ACL injury during pre-season and will need a lengthy amount of time to recover following his surgery.

Radu Dragusin is in a similar situation, having torn his ACL back in February. The defender suffered the injury in the Europa League last season and has since had surgery and been focusing on his return. Frank has confirmed that Dragusin ‘is on the way back and has been running for a while’ but the club remain cautious over his expected return date.

“When you've been out of football for nine months, you know, you need to get in. It's not enough to have a six-week pre-season. You need to take a little bit more time, but it's positive and and some surprise and come back quicker, of course,” the manager said.

While there is a big concern Maddison may not be able to play this season, Dragusin could return before the year ends if all goes to plan.

Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski injury latest

Dejan Kulusevski underwent knee surgery in May and former manager Ange Postecoglou stated he would be out for ‘at least a few months’. Frank hasn’t placed an estimated return date on Kulusevski, with reports suggesting he may not be back until 2026.

“No Kulusevski, he's out. That's a longer one, I don't want to put a timeframe on it,” the boss said prior to their win over Man City.

Yves Bissouma still hasn’t played his first game of the season either, having picked up a muscle injury ahead of Tottenham’s opening clash with Burnley. Frank has provided few in depth details regarding Bissouma’s injury, other than confirming ahead of previous games that he would not be available. As things stand, there are no expected return dates for either Kulusevski or Bissouma.

Bryan Gil and Kota Takai injury latest

Neither Bryan Gil nor Kota Takai have an expected timeframe regarding their potential returns. Gil’s loan spell with Girona last season was cut short after suffering a knee ligament injury. Following successful surgery, he is back with Tottenham to recover.

Takai missed a bulk of Spurs’ pre-season action before Frank confirmed he had picked up a plantar fascia (foot) injury with no confirmed timescale regarding his absence.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Liverpool, Spurs, Aston Villa, Manchester United and more.

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The transfer window has closed and now the fax machines have fallen silent, the agents have put down their phones, and all is quiet on the rumour mill at last – except, of course, it isn’t, because this is football and there are always deals to be done sooner or later and as such, we’re back with our latest round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours.

We start with a story for supporters of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United, the three teams said by Caught Offside to be showing continued “interest” in Brentford centre-back Nathan Collins despite the fact that they didn’t make bids before the transfer window closed on Monday.

While Collins is described as having made a “long-term commitment” to the Bees, Spurs in particular are still apparently “serious contenders” for his signature in the future, with Thomas Frank keen to secure a reunion with the 24-year-old defender in the near future.

Liverpool apparently have a “more measured” interest in Collins but still have him on their shortlist of future defensive targets, while Manchester United are apparently “expected to keep a close eye on developments”. It would allegedly take a bid of around €50m (£43.5m) to make Brentford give “serious consideration” to a sale.

The 3AM Verdict: All three sides were linked with Collins over the final weeks of the transfer window but none made a formal offer so far as we’re aware – not that that precludes one being made in the future, but we doubt that such an expensive deal is likely to get done in January. Collins will probably be a Brentford player for at least another year, and we’ll have a clearer picture of which clubs are interested next summer as much will no doubt change.

Aston Villa given crucial update on Emi Martínez’s future

While Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez may ultimately have failed to secure a last-gasp transfer to Manchester United (seemingly despite his best efforts) there is no guarantee that he won’t still leave Villa Park, as the Turkish transfer window remains open and Galatasaray remain interested.

Fortunately for any concerned Villa fans, however, it doesn’t look like the double Yashin Trophy winner will be going anywhere this summer – at least, according to Fabrizio Romano who claims that the Argentine is “not keen” on a move to the Süper Lig and is “prepared to stay” with his current club.

“No exit is expected” as Romano puts it, and it is anticipated that Martínez will retake his starting place from Dutchman Marco Bizot despite his flirtation with a transfer. The rambunctious shot-stopper is going nowhere.

The 3AM Verdict: The key question is whether there is an issue between club and player, because Martínez has an escape route to Turkey if he wants it – but assuming Romano is right, all seems to be well enough at Villa Park. Likely a relief for Unai Emery.

The failed Fulham move that could be resurrected in January

While much of the attention of Fulham fans was focused on the club’s failure to get a late deal for Chelsea’s Tyrique George over the line on Monday, they quietly missed out on a deal for Feyenoord midfielder Hwang In-Beom as well, according to Sport Witness.

Apparently, the Cottagers were “shown the door” by the Dutch club after making an enquiry for the 28-year-old South Korea international even though they were “willing to offer a substantial fee” for his services.

Hwang was supposedly considered too central to Robin van Persie’s plans to sell in the summer window and as such Feyenoord “sent Marco Silva’s side packing”, but Sport Witness speculate as to whether Fulham could come back to the table in January.

The 3AM Verdict: Speculation is all it is, and it isn’t presented as anything else, but it’s still interesting to note Fulham’s apparent interest and may be one to keep an eye on come the winter transfer window – but there’s a lot of time for things to change between now and then.

Tottenham are on the verge of adding a 31-time France international to their ranks

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Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deadline day move to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan deal until the end of the season. David Ornstein has revealed that the 2022 World Cup finalist is joining on a straight loan deal, with no obligation or option to buy permanently in the summer of 2026 at this stage.

The Athletic reporter also adds that personal terms between the 26-year-old’s representatives and Tottenham have already been agreed, with the striker now travelling from the French capital to North London to complete the deal.

Kolo Muani is expected to become the eighth signing of the window under Thomas Frank after successful deals for Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai and João Palhinha.

Randal Kolo Muani’s career so far

Randal Kolo Muani came through the academy at French side Nantes and made his professional debut in 2018. He scored 23 times and contributed 16 assists in 87 appearances for his boyhood club and helped the struggling side avoid relegation and win the Coupe de France in 2022.

He joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer and became a massive player for Oliver Glasner’s side as they climbed four places in the Bundesliga table to finish seventh and reach the round-of-16 in the Champions League. The France international shone that season with 26 goals and 17 assists in 50 matches to earn himself a blockbuster £76.4m transfer for PSG, which remains one of the top 25 most expensive deals in football history.

Kolo Muani never hit the heights expected of him in the French capital due to competition from the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Goncalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele among others. He scored 11 and contributed seven assists during his first 18 months in France and spent the second half of last season on loan at Italian side Juventus, scoring 10 and making three assists in 22 matches.

He had been heavily linked with a return to the Turin-based outfit throughout the summer and had even been considered a potential target for Newcastle United. However, he’s set to link up with Thomas Frank’s side this season in a huge statement of intent ahead of a challenging Champions League campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur strike gold with signing of World Cup finalist - opinion

Tottenham Hotspur have pulled off a shrewd signing by bringing Randal Kolo Muani to the club on a straight loan deal with no risks attached. Kolo Muani is an extremely pacey footballer, with tremendous strength, aerial ability, great dribbling skills and the ability to play all across the front three.

Over the course of the last decade, he’s proven he can score goals with 86 across his club career while he’s also a huge source of creativity with 52 career assists. At 26-years-of-age, he’s still in the prime of his career, making him an exciting proposition and one that should slot seamlessly into Thomas Frank’s set-up.

Three forwards that Newcastle United could sign on transfer deadline day as Alexander Isak prepares to leave for Liverpool.

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The biggest transfer saga of the summer window seems to be reaching a conclusion on deadline day – after weeks of rancour, Liverpool have reportedly lodged their long-awaited second bid for Alexander Isak, and the Swede finally seems set to get his wish to leave St. James’ Park.

Fabrizo Romano is among the journalists who claim that an offer of £130m had been accepted by Newcastle United, with Isak heading to Liverpool to complete a medical ahead of a British record transfer.

For Newcastle, the transfer generates both a sudden injection of cash and an urgent need to spend it. With Callum Wilson also departing for West Ham United, Eddie Howe’s side will only have one recognised striker – new signing Nick Woltemade – on the books. The arrival of another on deadline day seems like a certainty. But who will they sign? These are Newcastle’s options before the window closes at 7pm on Monday.

Yoane Wissa - Brentford

Newcastle’s efforts to sign the Brentford forward have been almost as tortuous as Liverpool’s attempts to buy Isak – Wissa has made it equally clear to his current employers that he wants to move, going as far as to make a rather brusque public statement outlining his determination to force the transfer through.

The issues are twofold: First, Brentford won’t sell Wissa unless they can find a replacement, and initial offers for Borussia Dortmund strikes Max Beier have failed to take off. Second, the simple matter of money. Newcastle have had offers in the region of £40m turned down flat, with the Bees demanding £60m despite the fact that Wissa only has one year remaining on his contract at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Wissa still appears to be Newcastle’s top target and with the Isak funds fresh in their bank account, they may decide to meet Brentford’s valuation in order to force a deal through, but dominoes need to fall for this one to take place. This is the most likely of the deals that Newcastle might make on Monday, but not one that’s by any means guaranteed.

Jørgen Strand Larsen - Wolves

Another player that Newcastle have already tried and failed to sign – three bids worth between £50m and £60m have been made and turned down by Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the deal may not be dead just yet.

Strand Larsen was left out of Wolves’ matchday squad for the 3-2 defeat to Everton this weekend, and while there were some attempts to play his absence off as injury-related, few believe that it wasn’t linked to negotiations with Newcastle.

Wolves have been adamant that they have no plans to sell the Norwegian (who only signed from Celta Vigo permanently in July) but the striker himself has equally made it plain that he would like to make the move. It appears that Strand Larsen remains, like Wissa, a priority signing for deadline day and Newcastle may well make attempts to buy both. With Wolves holding firm, however, it remains to be seen what manner of transfer fee would be sufficient to twist their arm.

Randal Kolo Muani - PSG

Should efforts to sign either Wissa or Strand Larsen prove to be fruitless, don’t be surprised if Newcastle find a deal out of left field, much as they did when they suddenly sign Woltemade just a couple of days ago – a deal that nobody knew was coming until the eleventh hour.

Newcastle have debated a move for Porto’s Samu Aghehowa but he appears to have been deemed to be overpriced, while Nicolas Jackson was already some way down the shortlist even before Chelsea decided to scupper the Senegalese striker’s loan move to Bayern Munich so that he could provide injury cover for Liam Delap.

A last-minute offer for either isn’t out of the question, but an intriguing alternative is PSG and France forward Randal Kolo Muani. For much of the summer, Juventus have been in negotiations to sign the 26-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan in Turin – but the result so far has been no deal and a transfer saga which has made Isak’s look short and sweet by comparison.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday morning that if Juventus can’t make a belated breakthrough then Kolo Muani will become an option for other clubs – and suggested that Tottenham Hotspur have already made an enquiry for the striker, who is valued at at least £60m by PSG. Don’t be shocked if Newcastle ask the question as well should it prove impossible to get deals for Wissa or Strand Larsen over the line.

Tottenham could splash £169 million on three more stars this summer transfer window

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Thomas Frank could barely have hoped for a better start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium especially given the off-field issues he’s faced already, but Spurs still have work to do in the transfer market to ensure they can capitalise on such a strong start to the season.

Last-minute high-profile snubs from Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze combined with James Maddison’s horrific knee injury threatened to derail Tottenham’s season before it had even got going but the arrival of Xavi Simons who could potentially be the best number 10 out of all four of those players has helped quell unrest from the stands.

The other key ingredient to the positivity has been Thomas Frank’s arrival as coach with the Dane managing to get Spurs looking more cohesive in four games than Ruben Amorim has had Manchester United playing in 45 - and for less money.

But with depth required at both ends of the pitch, who could Tottenham add in the final days of the transfer window?

Ademola Lookman - Atalanta

Tottenham’s reworked attack of Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison and Brennan Johnson has been a revelation so far, helping Frank’s side net multiple goals in their first three competitive games of 2025/26 against Manchester City, Burnley and PSG (though the Welshman didn’t feature in Udine) - Liverpool are the only other Premier League side to match that feat.

The addition of Simons should only add to that threat going forwards but even after the Dutchman’s arrival, Tottenham only have six primary wingers and attacking midfielders without long-term injuries, so further reinforcement is needed.

The Savinho deal looks dead in the water but don’t worry - there’ll be more than enough Premier League and even Mancunian representation in this list. Instead, bringing London-born Ademola Lookman home would be a smart piece of business from Daniel Levy and Tottenham are interested in the 27-year-old according to Fabrizio Romano.

Lookman has played for four English clubs (can you guess which?) but a late bloomer, his career only caught fire after moving to Atalanta in Serie A. There he’s recorded back-to-back-to-back seasons of over 10 goals and 20 goal contributions and last campaign he scored five in the Champions League.

He’s thrived as an attacking midfielder or second striker in Lombardy but has made 100 career appearances on the left flank and 64 on the right so possesses the versatility to thrive under Frank too if Spurs can meet the €55m (£47.6m) asking price or negotiate The Goddess down.

Morgan Rogers - Aston Villa

While Simons’ ceiling in the Premier League is higher than either Eze or Gibbs-White’s, his lack of experience in England is cause for concern with Florian Wirtz currently showing a period of adjustment can be needed even after lighting up the Bundesliga.

Signing Rogers would alleviate that worry and bring one of the most exciting attackers on the planet to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - if they can overcome Aston Villa’s £100m valuation.

Rogers lit up Villa Park last season with 30 goal contributions in claret and blue across the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League earning him an England call-up and there’s nothing to suggest he couldn’t translate that to similar or improved output under Frank’s tutelage.

Another option is Aston Villa’s proposed replacement for Rogers - Lucas Paqueta with the Brazilian perhaps a more realistic compliment to Simons. After a shaky pre-season and Premier League opener against Sunderland, Paqueta’s shown he could return to the player that Manchester City were set to pay £80 million for.

He backed up his confident long-range strike against Chelsea with a diving League Cup header against Wolves that showed his striker’s instinct is returning, and West Ham are prepared to part with Paqueta for at least £55m.

Nathan Ake or Manuel Akanji - Manchester City

Tottenham have expressed interest in both sky blue centre backs, as they look to make last-minute additions to a promising but thin defensive unit.

It’s thought that Manuel Akanji would cost at least £15m and Spurs would have to battle Galatasaray for his signature while GIVEMESPORT report Thomas Frank has been a long-time admirer of Nathan Ake who is valued at €25m (£21.6m) on Transfermarkt.

Lilywhite fans will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season’s struggles at the back when the talented Archie Gray was shoehorned in at centre-back and looked like one of the worst players in the Premier League, but the cupboard remains bare behind first-choice pairing Cristian Romeo and Micky van de Ven.

Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai remain injured and unproven while Ben Davies turns 33 this season so Kevin Danso is the only reliable backup in the team right now, and adding either Ake or Akanji would be a real coup.

Both quality operators who’ve joined forces for two Premier League titles plus Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield triumphs, each player turned 30 this year and has two years remaining on his contract.

Neither player started Manchester City’s opening two domestic fixtures so given Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol’s continued presence at the Etihad Stadium plus Pep Guardiola’s preference for running with a tight squad, there’s a strong case to be made for the Citizens cashing in on one of this pair while they still can.

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With less than 72 hours to go before the Premier League transfer window slams shut – nobody ever closes it gently – we’re back with our latest round-up and review of some of the biggest transfer rumours currently doing the rounds, starting with a big story concerning Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

Fabrizio Romano claims via social media that Spurs have made an unexpected “approach” for Swiss defender Manuel Akanji, who has been linked with a move away from the Etihad but had been expected to head abroad.

The 30-year-old had seemed likely to go to AC Milan, who were “in talks” with City and are “ready to pay” £15m – which would be enough – but are still stuck in discussions regarding personal terms. Crystal Palace had also been mentioned as a possible destination.

Spurs are supposedly using that delay to come swinging in with a bid of their own, although they do have a back-up plan should that bid fail – Romano suggests that Akanji is “one of three names on their shortlist”.

The 3AM Verdict: Transfer fee and personal terms are unlikely to be a major problem if Spurs have indeed made a bid, so the question is whether Akanji himself is more interested in staying in the Premier League or enjoying a change of scenery. Given the ruthlessness Spurs displayed in their move for Xavi Simons yesterday evening, it could well be that they’re equally efficient in signing Akanji.

Liverpool ‘submit’ record-breaking bid for Alexander Isak

We’ve generally avoided reporting every last alleged update in the ongoing Alexander Isak transfer saga, if only because it all gets a little repetitive – but now Caught Offside seem to be the first to claim that Liverpool have finally made a formal second offer for the Swede, and if proved true, that could be significant.

Apparently, the Reds have “submitted a British transfer record bid” which is “around the £130m mark” – less than Newcastle’s initial asking price of £150m but still £20m more than the offer which Liverpool had rejected earlier this summer.

Despite not meeting Newcastle’s demands in full, the bid is said to be “on course” to be accepted after the Magpies agreed a deal to sign VfB Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade. Newcastle have received the offer and while they haven’t yet made a final decision on whether to accept it, they “have not abruptly rejected” this deal as they did last time around.

The 3AM Verdict: The stars finally seem to be aligning for Isak to get the move he wants so badly, and for Newcastle to get plenty of money and a strong replacement in the shape of Woltemade – but at the time of writing we’re still waiting for corroboration of this story, and of the finances involved.

Serie A star ‘in sights’ of Newcastle

Speaking of Newcastle, they’re already making plans to put that Isak money to good use, according to Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio – he suggests that Newcastle are “once again” targeting Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi.

The Italy international has been intermittently linked with a move away over recent weeks with the Magpies’ name coming up quite a bit, and now Di Marzio claims that he is firmly “in Newcastle’s sights” and that the two teams are “in talks” over a deal.

It will be “difficult” for the clubs to broker a deal, however, as Newcastle want to take Frattesi on loan with an option to buy, while Inter want a permanent deal sorted now for a fee of around €40m (£35m). The player’s thoughts on a move are not recorded.

The 3AM Verdict: This deal is far from guaranteed but has been in the works for a while, and there’s a will at both ends to get the deal done – so we suspect it will happen, although the haggling could drag on until deadline day itself.

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Once again, it’s time for our regular morning round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we’re kicking off with a pretty stunning story which should be of interest to supporters of both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

Quite a few different journalists have reported this one, but we’ll give Fabrizio Romano the tip of the hat this time – he claims that Spurs have unexpectedly started “club to club talks” with RB Leizpig over a last ditch move for Xavi Simons, who has already arrived in London due to Chelsea’s long-standing interest.

The Blues “remain in talks” with Leipzig over the Dutch playmaker, who had already agreed personal terms with the club ahead of a transfer that had widely been expected to take place once Christopher Nkunku’s sale was confirmed.

Another reporter from the German side, Philipp Hinze, also took to social media to suggest that Spurs had even made a formal offer which was “very close” to Leipzig’s €70m (£60m) asking price. According to Hinze, Chelsea have yet to make an offer of their own, meaning that a remarkable eleventh-hour transfer hijack could be on the cards.

It looks like it could well happen, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano declaring an imminent ‘Here We Go’ was not far off, stating: “Tottenham agree €60m fee with RB Leipzig for Xavi Simons! Official bid accepted, green light after #THFC sent formal bid following player’s encouragement. Spurs want deal done today also on player side + medical in the next hours. Here we go, expected soon.”

The 3AM Verdict: Simons and Chelsea have already been in contact for weeks and it appeared overwhelmingly likely that he would move to Chelsea, who will surely make their offer once the formalities of Nkunku’s switch to AC Milan are sorted – but Spurs are throwing a sudden Hail Mary up and are giving themselves a chance to sell their project. As things stand, it looks like he’s North London bound.

Newcastle linked with star Inter Milan striker as deadline day nears

There isn’t much left to say about Newcastle United’s transfer window at this stage, but their long and painful search for strikers might be set to take another turn even after the news concerning their eleventh-hour bid for Nick Woltemade broke yesterday – because the German isn’t the only player they’ve been asking after, at least according to the Argentine media, as helpfully relayed by Sport Witness.

Apparently, there were reports in Latin America which stated that Newcastle have been “contacting Lautaro Martínez’s agent” about the possibility of bringing the Inter Milan striker to St. James’ Park, a move which would come straight out of leftfield - not that there isn’t precedent for that based on the last 24 hours.

The story apparently worried an Inter website sufficiently to contact Martínez’s representatives themselves to check the veracity of the story, only for them to “dismiss” the suggestion out of hand, stating that he is “happy at Inter” and that there are “some questions that don’t even need an answer.” Which doesn’t sound very promising.

The 3AM Verdict: As Sport Witness notes, the original story seemed to have a single source with very little to back it up, so there was probably never anything in this in the first place – but if it was, then there’s nothing in Martínez’s agent’s response to encourage any hope of a very sudden swoop. Perhaps it’s evidence of how far Newcastle are casting their net in the closing stages of the window, but we doubt it’s more than that. Sorry, Newcastle fans. Woltemade will have to do.

Sunderland deal could ruin Crystal Palace bid

We’ll finish with a story from The Guardian which sees a potential domino effect spoiling Crystal Palace’s efforts to sign AS Monaco man Mohammed Salisu – all because of Sunderland.

They claim that with Sunderland “in talks” to complete a long-rumoured deal for Bologna defender Jhon Lucumí, the Serie A side have started to cast around for a replacement, and have settled on the same player as Palace: former Southampton centre-back Salisu.

Bologna see Salisu as a “potential replacement” for Colombian defender Lucumí and that could see them competing with Palace, who have already “approached” Monaco regarding a possible loan deal for the 26-year-old Ghanaian. Talks are said to be “ongoing”, and the deal would not be tied to whether Marc Guéhi stays or goes. Olympiacos are said to be interested as well.

The 3AM Verdict: Premier League clout and cash usually trumps Serie A, but that may depend on Salisu’s likely role with Palace and whether Bologna want him on loan as well or would try to sign him permanently. Nevertheless, we suspect that if Palace do want him, they’ll more than likely get him regardless of Sunderland’s efforts.

Tottenham Hotspur may not be able to sign Savinho so Thomas Frank needs to source an alternative

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Tottenham Hotspur have made a solid start to the new 2025/26 Premier League season under the guidance of Thomas Frank. The Dane was picked as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked at the end of the last campaign. The London outfit finished down in 17th place in the table last term but managed to get their hands on the Europa League trophy after beating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.

Frank has won his first two league games in charge since his switch from fellow top flight side Brentford. They beat Burnley 3-0 on the opening day at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They then went and won 2-0 against the odds against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last time out so they will be in confident mood at the moment.

Tottenham Hotspur need to eye Savinho alternative

According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Manchester City have no intention of selling Savinho to Spurs. Therefore, they will need to find alternative targets. With that in mind, Lazio's Gustavo Isaksen would be a good wildcard option.

Isaksen, 24, is someone who Frank will know all about already as he also hails from Denmark. He is an international for his country and has made nine caps since his debut back in 2024. The winger has been playing his football in Italy since 2023 and is under contract until 2028 meaning they are under no pressure to sell him just yert and can wait for the right offer to come in for his signature.

Like Savinho, he is a left-footed wide man who likes to cut in from the right. He would be much cheaper than the Brazilian and is only three years older. As per a report by CalcioMercato back in March, his price tag is said to be in the region of £35million.

Isaksen started his career at Roslev IK and rose up through their academy ranks. He was snapped up by FC Midtjylland in 2012 and went on to represent them at various different youth levels before breaking into the first-team. The Hjerk-born man made 138 appearances altogether and scored 33 goals, 22 of which came in his explosive last year as he was awarded the Golden boot. He won the Danish Superliga title in 2020 and the Danish Cup in 2022.

Why Gustav Isaksen would suit Tottenham Hotspur

Isaksen would give Spurs more competition and depth going the wing. If he joined, he would give them something different to call upon. He is similar to Savinho and although he doesn't have any experience of English football, he has proved he can perform at the top level in Italy.

Since being snapped up by Lazio, he has enjoyed plenty of game time. He has played 86 matches for the Serie A club to date and has become one of their key players. He has scored nine goals, as well as chipping in with 10 assists for his teammate.

He seems like the sort of player Brentford would have gone for under Frank over the past few years. If Spurs were able to nurture him and get the best out of him, there is no reason why he wouldn't be able to adapt quickly to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They need to think outside the box a bit with their recruitment and if they could save a few quid by getting Isaksen instead of Savinho, that would be beneficial to everyone.

The attacker is still relatively young and isn't in his prime yet. He still has plenty of years ahead of him in the game and this would be the perfect time to strike and sign him. Isaksen has got two years with Lazio under his belt now and seems ready to sink his teeth into something new.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Spurs, Manchester United, Aston Villa and more.

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We haven’t got much time before the fax machines fall silent and the rumour mill creaks to a halt, but with a few days of the transfer window remaining, we’re still here with our regular round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with a big story for Tottenham Hotspur fans.

According to TeamTalk, Spurs are planning to “break their transfer record” in order to convince Como youngster Nico Paz to make the move to North London this summer – but they may face a problem in the form of Real Madrid.

Spurs have been interested in Paz for some time and have supposedly seen at least one bid rejected by the Argentina international’s current club, but have now decided to lodge a record-shattering €80m (£70m) move in order to sign the 20-year-old attacking midfielder.

Even that “still might not get the deal done”, however, because Spanish giants Real Madrid are apparently trying to persuade Paz to wait a season so that they can sign him next summer – they are said to have “made it clear” that they will bring him to the Bernabeu next season if he waits. At least one Spanish media source apparently claims that this has “convinced him to stay” at Como for another year.

The 3AM Verdict: The Spanish press tend to overstate their teams’ positions in these cases, but the lure of Real is clearly very strong, so it’s possible that Paz turns a lucrative move to Spurs down – and not even certain that Como accept a bid anyway, as they have been pretty bullish about keeping a star player in the squad. This one could go down to the wire, and there’s no telling which way Paz will go.

Manchester United ‘on verge’ of £17m purchase

Fresh off the back of another bleak night for both André Onana and the club as a whole, Manchester United are said to be “on the verge” of sealing a €20m (£17m) deal to replace the Cameroonian goalkeeper – according to Caught Offside, among others.

The Red Devils are “closing in on an agreement” with Royal Antwerp for the signing of goalkeeper Senne Lammens, having improved their original offer by €3m – a “full agreement” is now in place, according to Caught Offside’s sources and negotiations are now in “the final stretch”.

The 23-year-old Lammens has only one season of regular first-team football under his belt but was massively impressive in Belgium, putting up a startling 81.4% save percentage for Antwerp.

The 3AM Verdict: This deal seems to be done, and United are taking a real gamble by signing such an unproven goalkeeper to compete with Onana for the starting spot – but if Lammens carries his form from last season to Old Trafford, he could easily be an improvement.

Aston Villa ‘to allow’ player to move to Nottingham Forest

Finally, a story from Football Insider which suggests that Nottingham Forest’s lengthy search for a new right-back could be close to a conclusion – it’s alleged that Aston Villa are “prepared to allow” Matty Cash to leave the club this summer amid interest from his former team.

Forest have “expressed an interest” in bringing Cash back to the City Ground five years after he left, while Villa have “concerns” over the Poland international’s performances and “feel they can improve” upon him by signing a new right-back themselves.

Finding a replacement is said to be a pre-requisite for a deal to take place, however, and a transfer will only be green-lit if an alternative is found. Outside of Forest, it’s said that Villa have been shopping Cash around but have been “struggling to drum up interest”. There’s no word on what the transfer fee might be.

The 3AM Verdict: The problem with assessing the likelihood of this transfer is that Forest have been linked with a whole host of right-backs, and it’s next to impossible to know which are their priority purchases. It’s also not clear how close Villa are to finding a replacement. One that comes down to deadline day, perhaps.