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Spurs have been linked with a surprising potential swap deal with a Serie A side

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While Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer window has been more notable for heavy spending than for sales so far, their attempts to get rid of unwanted players over the coming weeks will be a key part of the equation as they attempt to build a squad which can compete for the top four instead of battling against relegation. One such unwanted player is Guglielmo Vicario.

The former first-choice goalkeeper has lost his place in the pecking order to Antonín Kinský and seems to have his heart set on a move back home to Italy, which several Serie A sides seemingly happy to oblige. Reports of discussions involving Juventus and Inter Milan have been widespread – but now an intriguing new report suggests that an unexpected swap deal with Napoli could be on the cards.

Napoli & Spurs could work out a swap deal for Guglielmo Vicario - reports

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, whose reporting is covered in English by Sport Witness, Napoli have emerged as a contender for Vicario’s signature and could attempt to seal a deal by sending their own goalkeeper the other way. It’s a deal which has the potential to upend Spurs’ plans for the goalkeeping role next season.

Napoli’s current number one is 29-year-old Serbia international Vanja Milinković-Savić, but his performances across his debut season with the club haven’t convinced them and they are considering including him in a part-exchange deal for Vicario as they work to win the battle for the Italian’s signature.

Milinković-Savić, who was on the books at Manchester United during the 2014/15 season but didn’t make an appearance for them, started 27 Serie A games for Napoli last season but was dropped towards the end of the campaign after a nightmare performance in a 3-2 defeat to Bologna. That horror show aside, the statistics suggest a solid season, but Napoli would appear to prefer Vicario if they can get their hands on him.

There are plenty of complicating factors. Firstly, Juventus may be better-positioned to sign Vicario and seem to have the 29-year-old in mind as their second choice should they fail to sign Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez, their number one target. Secondly, Milinković-Savić is not technically Napoli’s player to sell just yet.

The 20-cap international is currently on loan from Torino, for whom he was first choice for four seasons, but the deal with Napoli includes a compulsory purchase clause worth €21m (£17.8m). That has not technically been triggered as it stands, which could slow proceedings down somewhat if Spurs did decide to negotiate a swap deal.

The exact details of the detail, and whether it would be a straight swap or a part-exchange, are not discussed in Correre dello Sport’s reporting. Such deals are notoriously hard to agree upon and seldom happen in practice – but could this be an exception? And would it make sense for Spurs?

Will Spurs sign Milinković-Savić – and would it be the right move?

The odds are firmly against a swap deal between the two clubs as it stands, not least because of the interest of other sides in the players involved – Juventus present stiff competition for Vicario’s signing, while both Hull City and Leeds United, two Premier League sides chasing a new number one, have made enquiries as well.

Hull are more likely to present a problem as Leeds’ first choice is Parma and Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. The Tigers have reportedly already made a bid for Milinković-Savić, but had their initial approaches rejected. They may well be back with a better offer soon.

Even if Juventus, Leeds and Hull all end up standing aside, though, it’s difficult to imagine such a deal taking place. The natural complexity of negotiations is one reason, but another is that Spurs have decided to put their faith in Kinský for the upcoming campaign and the arrival of Milinković-Savić might muddy the waters in an unhelpful manner.

What the fearsomely-bearded Milinković-Savić would offer is a more experienced alternative if Kinský, who has signed a new five-year contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, should struggle, as he did when he was substituted just 17 minutes into a disastrous Champions League match against Atlético Madrid in March.

While Milinković-Savić was not as consistent as might have been hoped for during his first year with Napoli, he still posted a 70% save rate in league games (Kinský’s equivalent rate was just 59%) and is more comfortable coming out of his area to handle balls over the top than the Czech.

If Milinković-Savić, the brother of Al-Hilal midfielder Sergej, was happy to act as a back-up for the time being, he would represent a strong insurance policy and perhaps an upgrade on Martin Dúbravka, the veteran goalkeeper currently earmarked as number two. But signing him would also represent a certain lack of faith in Kinský, and could be seen as a questionable use of financial resources when there are so many areas of the squad in need of an overhaul.

The likelihood remains that a swap deal doesn’t take place, and there is no guarantee that Vicario leaves or that Milinković-Savić doesn’t end up somewhere else entirely – but if Spurs do go down this road, it would represent an intriguing gamble in a very high-risk transfer window.

A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and more.

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Welcome to 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up and review of some of the biggest (and often wildest) new Premier League transfer rumours you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we’re starting off with an intriguing story involving both Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

According to GiveMeSport, Spurs have “entered the race” to sign PSG and Senegal wonderkid Ibrahim Mbaye this summer, and are said to be one of the clubs showing the “strongest interest” in the 18-year-old forward.

They cite French journalist Santi Aoula, who also alleges that Manchester City have shortlisted Mbaye while Aston Villa are said to be “closely following” the situation, along with Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

PSG are said to be “open” to a sale for the right price (although said price is not reported) and Mbaye himself apparently “wants to leave” in search of regular first-team football. It’s not suggested that any of his suitors have made a formal offer just yet.

The 3AM Verdict: GiveMeSport’s assertion that Spurs are somewhere near the front of the queue isn’t backed up, and it’s not clear why they believe that their interest is any ‘stronger’ than Aston Villa’s or Manchester City’s. It does sound increasingly likely that the supremely gifted Mbaye will move, however, so this is certainly a battle worth keeping an eye on – just one without a foreseeable resolution as yet.

Liverpool ‘make contact’ in £130m-rated winger chase

Over to a story from TEAMtalk now, who provide an update on Liverpool’s long-rumoured pursuit of Bournemouth and Brazil winger Rayan – and they claim that the Reds have now “made enquiries” and “contact” as they prepare to launch what could be a staggeringly expensive bid.

Rayan has a £130m release clause in his contract, it’s reported, but that doesn’t kick in until 2027, meaning that the Cherries can name their price – and they have “no desire” to lose the teenage winger, who has enjoyed a startlingly impressive start to life in the Premier League.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG are all said to be “monitoring” Rayan’s situation but it’s Liverpool who are allegedly attempting to make the first moves. They’d still prefer to land Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, but the Ivorian looks far more likely to wind up at PSG, and Rayan is now “firmly” on Liverpool’s radar as an alternative.

The 3AM Verdict: They may have made contact of some description, but we don’t see anything which makes us think that a move is actually coming any closer. It would take an astronomical offer for Bournemouth to consider a sale and while the Reds have the financial firepower to pull it off, we’re sceptical that this is a deal that gets done this year.

Aston Villa eye Emi Martínez replacement

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez may be headed to another World Cup final, but he could also be heading out of Villa Park this summer – and as such, Unai Emery’s side have added his compatriot Facundo Cambeses “to their shortlist.”

That’s according to Sport Witness, who state that the 29-year-old’s current side Racing Club would only sell him if his relatively budget-friendly release clause of £8.8m was met. That’s affordable for Aston Villa, but they may face competition with both River Plate and Bologna said to be keen on the Argentine international as well.

It’s suggested that Cambeses, who has been capped at senior level but failed to make the World Cup squad, will only be a target if Martínez leaves – and that’s something that the club are apparently trying to avoid, even if speculation continues.

The 3AM Verdict: We’re not sure how solid the original Argentine sources for this story are, in all honesty, and suspect that Martínez is likely to remain at Villa Park as it stands – but much could change in that regard. We suspect that if Cambeses is a target, he’s one of several rather than a clear frontrunner.

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

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Welcome to 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up and review of some of the biggest (and often strangest) Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and we kick today’s column off with a story involving both Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.

TEAMtalk allege that Newcastle hold “serious interest” in Sevilla full-back Oso, better known to his family as Joaquín Martínez Gauna – but that the Magpies are “in [a] race against time” to get a deal done amid interest from both Spurs and Fiorentina.

Newcastle have “made contact” with Sevilla about the 23-year-old’s availability, while Spurs are “monitoring” him but don’t yet seem to have opened negotiations. That could make Fiorentina the biggest threat, with the Serie A side said to have “made the most progress” so far.

Oso apparently has a release clause worth €20m (£17.5m) in his contract, but could be available for slightly less given that his contract expires at the end of the coming season. Nottingham Forest and Fulham are also mentioned as clubs who hold some amount of interest in the left-back.

The 3AM Verdict: Newcastle tend to lose their transfer battles even when they start in pole position, so it’s not too hard to imagine them missing out on Oso as well. In truth, we suspect he isn’t a priority target anyway, and it may be that Fiorentina simply move quickly enough to get a deal done before their potential Premier League rivals even decide that he’s the right player to target.

Chelsea plot move for Norwegian World Cup hero

Over to a story from Caught Offside, now – they reckon that Chelsea are looking for ways to improve their attack and are “monitoring” Norway star Andreas Schjelderup, scorer of his country’s opening goal against England in the quarter-finals.

Other, unnamed “top clubs” are also keeping tabs on the Benfica winger, who has a €100m (£85m) release clause in his contract – not that his current employers are expected to demand quite so much as that to let him leave. Apparently they want a fee of around €40m (£34m) for the 22-year-old.

The Portuguese outfit are “unwilling” to let him leave for anything less, but it doesn’t sound like anyone has met the asking price just yet, and nor is there any suggestion that negotiations have taken place between Benfica and Chelsea, or indeed anyone else.

The 3AM Verdict: This is a very speculative article with precious little detail, and we’ve seen no corroboration of the story from more reliable sources. As it stands, we’re distinctly sceptical of this one.

Bournemouth make ‘decisive’ move for Portugal star

The final rumour of today’s round-up also involved Benfica, coincidentally, but this time it’s a story concerning Portugal international centre-half António Silva – with Bournemouth said to be “moving decisively” to sign the 22-year-old.

According to Sport Witness, who cite Portuguese newspapers A Bola and O Jogo, the Cherries are “firmly in the picture” to sign the 20-cap international, who looks likely to leave Lisbon as he enters the final year of his contract. Given the circumstances, it sounds like he could be available for a reduced fee – Benfica are supposedly asking for just €20m (£17.5m) including add-ons.

Negotiations are said to be “underway” with Bournemouth apparently well positioned to get a deal over the line. If any other sides are interested – and many clubs have been linked with a bid over the last couple of years – then there’s no mention of it in this report.

The 3AM Verdict: We have a hard time imagining that there won’t be competition given that £17.5m is a steal for a player of Silva’s quality. AC Milan have been linked elsewhere, although we don’t know how genuine their interest might be. If Bournemouth are indeed in pole position, they could end up with a coup on their hands.

Spurs have embarked on a spending spree which has blown their rivals away - but can they buy a ticket back to the top four in one transfer window?

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When the summer transfer window opened, it was widely assumed that Tottenham Hotspur would perform major surgery on their squad – but few expected that they would spend like the procedure was taking place in the United States and nobody had paid their insurance premiums.

July has scarcely started and Spurs have already splashed out an estimated £230m – as much as they spent across the whole of last season - to sign Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, completely overhauling their recruitment policy shattering the club transfer record twice in the process. But why are Spurs spending so freely, and will it do them any good?

Why Spurs are spending so much money this summer

For years, Spurs had a reputation as being a team that ran a tight financial ship, nickel and diming the teams they were dealing with in order to get the best possible price and often preferring to save their cash and sign their second choice if a primary target proved to be too expensive. They spent far more than most teams, but by the standards of a supposed ‘big six’ side in the Premier League, they pulled their purse strings tight.

That was a policy driven by former chairman Daniel Levy, who ran the club for 24 years before he was ousted by the current ownership last September. With Levy gone, it’s quite clear that Spurs are now happy to splash the cash more freely.

Because Levy kept such a close eye on the club’s bank balance for so long, Spurs have plenty of breathing room with regards to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and the squad cost ratio regulations which will supplant them this summer. It could be argued that Levy’s transfer policy was responsible for the degradation of the squad, but it also gives Spurs the spending power to fix it.

That’s the fundamental aim, of course. A team which is expected to compete for the European placings has now spent two consecutive seasons flirting with the relegation zone, and those now in charge of transfers – primarily sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, apparently with considerable input from head coach Roberto De Zerbi – are reversing course at breakneck speed in the hopes of building a squad that can compete at the right end of the table in the 2026/27 season.

This is not a reflection of a long-term plan, but of a decision to burn as much as possible to the ground and then to replant with mature trees rather than young saplings. Fernandes is only 21, of course, but both Tonali and Van Hecke are 26 and the free transfers that they’ve added on top (Marcos Senesi, Andrew Robertson and Martin Dúbravka) all have less football ahead of them than they do behind.

No move makes the short-termism of the current strategy clearer than the sale of the talented Luka Vušković, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion for £46m, a deal which smoothed the path to the signing of Van Hecke – Spurs have effectively traded a young player who could be worth much more one day for a favourite of the manager from his time at the Amex Stadium. If Spurs’ plan doesn’t come to fruition in the next couple of seasons, those deals could come to look exceptionally foolhardy.

De Zerbi is a key driving force and his fingerprints are all over the decisions being made – both on the Van Hecke trade and the decision to sign two new midfielders at immense cost, a reflection of the fact that the current crop of players lacks the box-to-box quality and particularly the defensive impact to be successful in the Italian’s demanding system. Only Rodrigo Bentancur really fit the bill.

The difference between what Spurs are doing and what other free-spending teams at the top of the Premier League’s rich list do every year, however, is that Spurs are consciously overpaying for players in order to wrap deals up quickly and blow potential competition out of the water.

Manchester United wanted Fernandes and might have bid for Tonali as well, and as they were able to offer Champions League football they would have had a distinct advantage in any negotiations – so Spurs simply came steaming over the top, offering £85m straight-up for Fernandes even though most clubs valued him at closer to £75m including add-ons, and spending £92.5m on Tonali, again several million more than clubs like United and Arsenal believed him to be worth.

They’ve done the same thing with salaries. Fernandes and Tonali were both offered significant sums to persuade them to sign rather than encouraging them to stall in the hopes that a side like Manchester United could up their bid, while the 32-year-old Robertson is reportedly now on £180,000 per week, £20,000 than he was getting at Liverpool.

It’s a high-risk strategy but reflects the likely reality that they wouldn’t be able to sign these players any other way – Spurs seem to have learned from a side like Newcastle, who have repeatedly missed out on key transfer targets to sides like Liverpool who have more financial firepower and are perceived to be a better bet for European football and winning titles going forward.

The last two years have robbed Spurs of much of the lustre they previously had as one of the Premier League’s richest sides, and now they are forced to overcompensate in order to build a team which can get them back in the big time. The question, of course, is whether it will work.

Will Spurs’ summer sending help them qualify for the Champions League again?

The £230m question is whether any of this will actually work. Even if they continue spending at their present rate – and recent reports suggest that Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, another player who will probably cost over £80m, is also on their radar – they won’t be able to overhaul the entire squad. They will need to start getting stronger performances out of existing players as well.

De Zerbi’s reign started sufficiently well that Spurs were able to dodge relegation on the final day of the 2025/26 season, but they still have a lot of players who have struggled for form and only a few of the worst offenders are among the players most likely to leave this summer.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to leave after a disappointing year, Richarlison is likely to follow despite being Spurs’ leading goalscorer last season, and Cristian Romero is still presumed to be headed towards the exit door as well. None of those sales are problematic on paper given the circumstances, but neither can they really be described as the worst of the deadwood.

More concerning is the possibility that teams might come in for Micky van de Ven. The Dutchman is on the radar of several elite sides who have more urgent priorities than signing a centre-back, but could become the subject of interest as the window wears on. There is also continued doubt over the future of the gifted Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. The squad will change considerably but not all of it will be for the better.

The good news is that the statistics strongly suggest that both Fernandes and Tonali should represent considerable upgrades in midfield compared to the lacklustre options currently on the books, while Van Hecke’s ball-playing skills and ability to venture forward decisively make him a much better fit for the centre-back role than a more traditional defender like Romero. De Zerbi’s tactics may be somewhat idiosyncratic, but he has a clear vision and is signing players who should – on paper – be able to fulfil it.

The early moves being made are high risk given the scale of the expenditure, but make logical sense. There is a long way to go, however, and there is still a glaring need for a reliable goalscorer, and worries over the fitness of a number of players who could play a key role – Xavi Simons is expected to be unavailable until the turn of the year, Mohammed Kudus and Dominic Solanke have endured serious injury issues, and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether Dejan Kulusevski will be able to get back to form after a desperately long spell on the sidelines.

Spurs are doing everything within their power to achieve a swift turnaround, but there are still an awful lot of hurdles to overcome, not all of which can possibly be solved in a single summer or by a large pile of money. How far does £230m (and probably quite a lot more) get you in just a couple of months? We’re about to find out, but there are some high hurdles for De Zerbi and his new signings to clear before Spurs can trouble the top four once more.

A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Spurs, Brentford and Coventry City.

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Welcome back to our regular morning round-up and review of the biggest (and wildest) Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and we kick off today’s column with a story which concerns Manchester United and potentially some of their top-flight rivals.

According to TEAMtalk, the Red Devils are focussing their attentions on AS Roma and France midfielder Manu Koné after their interest in Aurelién Tchouaméni was thwarted when he signed a new contract with Real Madrid – and are already “plotting” an opening offer for the 25-year-old.

Having already missed out on Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, United’s hopes of signing a marquee midfielder now rest on Koné, with Roma apparently “open to doing business” as they work to balance their books – according to the report, he’ll be available for a transfer fee “in the region” of £50m.

It’s not clear whether Manchester United will face any competition, but apparently intermediaries have already sounded out Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea. There’s no suggestion that any of the four have yet made a bid, however, so United could have a clear run at Koné if they decide to formalise their interest.

The 3AM Verdict: This is the same rather gossipy source which was convinced that Tchouaméni was the priority a few days ago – not that we thought it was an unreasonable guess, admittedly – so keep your pinch of salt handy. United clearly want a third midfield signing after Andrey Santos and Éderson, but there are conflicting stories as to who that might be. We’re keeping an open mind for now.

Tottenham Hotspur target third midfield signing – but Brentford are in the battle

Over to a story from GiveMeSport now, which suggests that Tottenham Hotspur are “working on” a deal to sign yet another midfielder – with rising star Ousmane Diabaté in line to join Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali in North London.

Spurs are already said to be “in talks” with the 18-year-old’s club, Turkish side Gençlerbirligi over a deal for the youngster, who has already been capped at senior level by Guinea, which could be quite cheap – apparently they’re looking at spending £3m up front plus bonuses. The problem is that they aren’t the only team in the bidding.

Brentford are also said to be in discussions with Diabaté, and it’s even suggested that Keith Andrews’ side hold “the upper hand” – although it’s not explained why that might be the case.

The 3AM Verdict: With no evidence given for the assertion that Brentford are leading the bidding, it’s hard to tell where defensive midfielder Diabaté might end up – but it does look increasingly likely that it will be England. We haven’t seen any credible sources suggesting interest from teams in other countries as yet.

Coventry ‘set’ to snap up £17m Bundesliga star

Let’s wrap up with a story from German tabloid Bild – reported via Sport Witness – who claim that Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Aurèle Amenda is “set to join” Premier League newcomers Coventry City, subject to a medical being completed successfully.

The 22-year-old’s medical checks have been “delayed” due to his continued involvement in the World Cup with Switzerland, but a deal has apparently been agreed which could see the Sky Blues pay up to €20m (£17m) to secure Amenda’s services. That will make him Coventry’s record signing, although perhaps not for very long.

Amenda has been riding the bench at the World Cup so far but won’t be completing his move until his country’s campaign is over. There’s no suggestion that another team are likely to steal in with a last minute bid, and no mention of any other potential suitors, but Coventry wouldn’t be the first club to get gazumped this summer…

The 3AM Verdict: Reports that a deal had been struck first emerged a couple of weeks ago but never came to fruition – now we perhaps know why. It doesn’t sound as if there’s anything holding up the deal bar formalities, although it’s arguably a little odd that Amenda isn’t undertaking a mid-tournament medical as several other players have. We wouldn’t be too worried, however, were we Sky Blues fans.

Everton have been linked with an unexpected bid for a Spurs star - but are they going about their transfer business the right way?

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In the build-up to the summer transfer window, every indication suggested that Everton intended to be more ambitious and aggressive than they had been in years. With the worst of the financial losses from the Farhad Moshiri years behind them, the new owners are in a position to make use of their fiscal firepower – but that’s only good news if they spend the money well.

Plenty of top-flight sides have thrown money around only to be disappointed by the results and there’s a fairly long history of sides whose recruitment skills didn’t match their budgets. Just ask Chelsea how well loose purse strings and an erratic approach to scouting combine.

Everton’s first moves - which include a deal for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney and the permanent signing of Chelsea loanee Tyrique George - seem sensible enough, but new rumours which suggest that they’ve added Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence to their shortlist as they search for a new right-back might be more concerning, although the reason has little to do with Spence himself…

Why Everton fans should be worried about links to Djed Spence

On Tuesday, both Sky Sports and The Athletic reported that Everton were considering a bid for Spence, who is currently on international duty with England and who played a key role in the Three Lions’ heroic rearguard action at the Estadio Azteca in the small hours of Monday morning.

As it stands, there are no indications that any negotiations have taken place, nor that they are imminent. There is no word on whether Spurs would be prepared to sell the 25-year-old, nor what the asking price might be if they are. A deal is a possibility, and still a relatively distant one.

Spence’s selection for the England squad has made him something of a lightning rod for criticism in past weeks. He was unconvincing, for instance, when he was installed as a right-back against Panama, even if he was excellent after coming on for the closing stages of the win over Mexico.

The fact that he has yet to be convincing on the right of England’s defence is perhaps one reason that Everton should be wary of signing Spence. The Athletic specifically report that it’s the right side of the defence that they’re looking to shore up, unsurprising given that it was a problem position throughout the last year.

Spence is naturally right-footed but more used to playing an inverted role on the left. Of his 44 appearances for Spurs last season, just six involved him playing on the right for any length of time – including, as it happens, during the 1-0 win over Everton that sealed Spurs’ survival on the final day of the season.

Spence has many of the qualities required to be a fine right-back, not least his technical quality and his raw pace, but his relative discomfort in the role can show up in his positioning. If Everton are looking for a long-term right-back, a player in his prime years who is more of a natural on the opposite flank would be a curious choice.

The greater concern, however, may not be the link with Spence but the shape of their alleged shortlist as a whole. If The Athletic’s reporting is accurate, then Everton’s scouting department may not have as clear of a picture of the kind of full-back they need as might be hoped.

Everton’s strange right-back shortlist may be cause for concern

The Athletic suggest that Spence is one of several names under consideration, with two more players mentioned as potential targets: Arsenal’s Ben White and RC Strasbourg’s Guela Doué. None are unreasonable targets in their own right, but all have very different playing profiles and are at different stages of their career.

White, for instance, is 28 and thanks to the laundry list of injuries he’s endured in recent seasons may have limited mileage left on the clock. He’s a fine one-on-one defender and a strong passer of the ball who improves a team’s ability to retain possession but adds relatively limited creativity or threat in the final third.

Compare White to the 23-year-old Doué, elder brother of PSG’s Desiré, a converted centre-back who is a superb technician with a wonderfully accurate cross in his right foot, but who isn’t as precise of a passer and who is a far more aggressive tackler than either White or Spence.

They’re three players who suit different systems, and teams who expect different volumes of attacking output from their full-backs. Scouting all three for the same role raises red flags – the way that David Moyes would use Spence to get the best out of him would be very different to the way that he might need to use Doué or White.

If all three are indeed firmly on Everton’s radar – and it must be stressed that all remain rumoured targets, none of whom are involved in active discussions with the club – then it suggests that there is no clear, overarching recruitment strategy, no tactical blueprint used as a starting point. The similarities end at the point at which all three are right-backs, and even that’s debatable in Spence’s case.

Everton may well end up finding precisely the right player for the job, and it may well be a player who hasn’t been picked up on by the press just yet, but it’s not a good sign when a shortlist seems to be so discombobulated. The club hasn’t really had the opportunity to prove itself in the transfer market since the Friedkin Group took over – we’ll find out if they know what they’re doing soon enough.

The latest Premier League transfer news including updates on Everton, Man United, Spurs, Aston Villa and more

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The summer transfer window is up and running, and things are starting to liven up as Premier League clubs look to dip into the market ahead of next season. The likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham have all been busy so far, with the latter signing no fewer than six new players since the window opened last month.

Meanwhile, the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to deliver on its promise of drama, with England progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition after a famous 3-2 win over Mexico on Monday. The result will see Thomas Tuchel’s side take on Norway in the next round, in what will be a tricky tie against a side who knocked out both Brazil and the Ivory Coast to reach the last eight.

Today’s rumours round-up gets underway at Old Trafford, where Manchester United are looking to bounce back after missing out on Manuel Fernandes, who ended up leaving West Ham to join Spurs for £85m instead. There are suggestions that a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte - a player United were thought to be ready to sell to generate funds - means their budget for a midfielder might now not be as high as they’d initially planned.

Team Talk follow up previous reports suggesting that United are after Chelsea’s Andrey Santos with a fresh story, claiming that the Brazilian is “open” to make the move as he looks to play more regular first team football next season. Past reports have suggested that the Blues want £50m for Santos - more than double the £18m they paid Vasco de Gama for him back in 2023.

The story goes on to suggest that United have “genuine interest” in signing the 22-year-old, who could join Ederson as the second signing in the club’s big summer midfield rebuild. Chelsea are said to be actively looking to sell players on the periphery of the squad over the next few weeks, as they look to build funds to execute an overhaul of their own under new boss Xabi Alonso.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s something very enticing about the prospect of United’s midfield engine room being all-Brazilian. Santos and Ederson could get plenty of minutes for Brazil in the future, as the country look to start from scratch again after a World Cup campaign that saw them eliminated in the Last 16 stage. £50m is an awful lot to pay for a player who’s done very little in the Premier League thus far, however.

Aston Villa and Spurs to scrap for Croatian gem

Meanwhile, reports from the Italian written press, via Sport Witness, claim that both Aston Villa and Spurs are in the race to sign Como star Martin Baturina. The midfield gem had an impressive World Cup with Croatia before their exit to Portugal, scoring in his side’s group stage opener - a 4-2 loss to England.

The story says that a bid in the region of £64m would get the deal done, and it’s also suggested that a lower offer of around £47m from a Premier League club who has not been named has been rejected. Baturina only joined Como last summer, moving from Dinamo Zagreb and enjoying a highly impressive debut season in which his side qualified for the Champions League.

The 3AM Verdict: Well, considering that Spurs have just spent close to £200m on rebuilding their midfield, we can’t see him going there. He’d be a great signing for Aston Villa, however, with the technical abilities necessary to thrive under Unai Emery. Interest in the 23-year-old is clearly rising, and the Villans would do well to get the deal wrapped up quickly.

Everton poised to make Delap bid

Last up, it’s another potential outgoing at Stamford Bridge: striker Liam Delap. Football Insider have provided on update on what is threatening to become a transfer saga, as clubs continue to keep their powder dry despite being linked with the ex-Ipswich Town star. Everton are now said to be “ready to make a move” for Delap, if the Blues are prepared to sell.

It’s suggested that Alonso will look to assess Delap along with other fringe players in pre-season training, before a final decision is made on who will be deemed surplus to requirements. The 23-year-old is believed to be ready to fight for his place in the side, but Everton look to be waiting in the wings to snatch the £30m striker if he finds himself on the transfer list.

The 3AM Verdict: This source are known for plating up some pretty thin broth, and this is particularly lifeless bowl of lukewarm water. There’s nothing new in this report that hasn’t been reported elsewhere, really, with Everton’s apparent interest in Delap having been cited for a number of weeks. That’s not to say the move won’t happen, of course, but things don’t seem to be any further along from the last time we checked.

The latest Premier League transfer news as Liverpool, Spurs and Nottingham Forest chase down their top targets

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Football fever is sweeping through the nation following England’s enthralling 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico, with hardy supporters staying up all night to watch Thomas Tuchel’s troops dig deep and bulldoze their way into the quarter-finals. Awaiting them in the next round is Norway, and the formidable Premier League goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland.

Meanwhile, transfer activity in England’s top tier is continuing to rattle on, with Tottenham Hotspur in particular keeping busy - they’ve signed six new players already this summer, spending over £230m on the likes of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke in a stunning spree that has seen them buy exclusively Premier League-proven talent.

We’ll kick off today’s round-up in the East Midlands, where Nottingham Forest have confirmed their new permanent manager. Ex-Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been given the job, after an excellent two-and-a-half-season spell with the Eagles that saw the club win both the FA Cup and the Europa Conference League.

Forest parted ways with his predecessor, Vitor Pereira, suddenly last week. Glasner becomes Forest’s fifth head coach in less than 12 months, after the club fired their way through the likes of Sean Dyche and Ange Postecoglu in a typically tumultuous spell under owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The 3AM Verdict: Forest’s impressive stature in the game isn’t up for debate, but it’s a bizarre move for a manager very much on the up. The club spent large sums of money poorly last season, and represent a risk for any coach taking the helm. It could work out nicely for all involved, but we just can’t shake the feeling this will end in tears.

Tottenham could spend big again

Next up, it’s over to north London, where Spurs look like they could be at it again. We’ve already touched on the club’s exceptional summer so far, but they don’t look to be locking up their chequebook just yet. Team Talk claim they’re ready to follow up their £100m move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali with yet another deal for a Premier League star.

The report contends that Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi is the object of their affections, after a dazzling debut season with the Cherries in the 2025/26 campaign. It’s claimed that Spurs are looking to “win the race” to sign the French wonderkid, and could beat Paris Saint-Germain to his signature because they can offer him an immediate starting spot.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also thought to be in the running to sign the ex-Lorient prospect, who scored 13 Premier League goals last season. Bournemouth are believed to be determined not to sell the youngster, but it’s said that an offer in the region of £75m could be enough to tempt them into a sale.

The 3AM Verdict: Hats off to Tottenham - they are absolutely going for it this summer. They did some pretty shoddy business last season, but their new Premier League focused recruitment model could transform the side. Signing Kroupi would be the jewel in their summer crown - whether they can afford to spend over £300m on new players in one window remains to be seen.

Liverpool learn target’s asking price

Last up, it’s over to Anfield, where Liverpool are gearing up for a busy summer under new boss Andoni Iraola. Caught Offside report that the Reds have taken a keen interest in West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville, who impressed for the Netherlands during their four appearances in the World Cup, before they were eliminated by Morocco.

While Liverpool’s interest in Summerville has been apparent for some time, it’s now claimed that a bid of around £50m could be enough to seal the deal. The story also mentions that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are in the mix, but contends that the Reds have an ideal chance to get the deal done while their rivals are currently busy looking to seal other deals.

The 3AM Verdict: All of a sudden, Liverpool’s left wing is starting to look a little crowded. Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Ryo Ngumoha are all existing options, so to bring in Summerville does feel like overkill. That said, it’s likely that Gakpo could be moved on and both Munoz and Ngumoha can player on the right, so maybe it’s not such a crazy idea after all.

The latest Premier League transfer news as Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle and more chase summer deals

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The summer of 2026 is shaping up to be a real cracker, with England’s progress in the FIFA World Cup captivating fans in North America and back at home. Thomas Tuchel’s side booked their place in the quarter-finals with a gutsy 3-2 win over Mexico, defeating the joint-host nation in their own back yard in a nervy, classic encounter.

Premier League clubs may have to wait a little longer to have their English contingent of players returned to them, while a host of other stars from the competition such as France’s William Saliba and Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez also look set to go deep into the tournament, with the final taking place on 19th July.

Alongside all the World Cup excitement, the transfer window is bubbling away in the background, with a number of clubs from England’s top tier already dipping into the market. We’ll start today’s transfer rumour round-up at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are said to be looking for a new goalkeeper to replace current number one Robert Sanchez.

Portuguese outlet Record, via Sport Witness, claim that Chelsea scouts were present to watch Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in action against Croatia in their World Cup Round of 32 clash, and that the stopper could finally seal a move away from Porto this summer after being linked with a Premier League move for a number of seasons.

The report goes on to say that both the Blues and PSG are “following the goalkeeper closely”, but no official offer has been made by either party yet. The 26-year-old is said to have a £51m release clause in his contract, and Porto are believed to have already drawn up a list of replacements should their skipper opt to move on this summer.

The 3AM Verdict: Chelsea have made all manner of galling recruitment decisions under their current owners, and signing Sanchez is right up there with the worst. Costa would be an instant upgrade for the Blues, but we’re not sure they’ll be willing to blow such a high fee on a goalkeeper when they’re looking to strengthen in other areas first.

Tottenham eye £59m sensation

Next up, it’s over to north London, where Spurs have had a quite stunning transfer window so far. They’ve gone all-in on tried-and-tested Premier League talent, spending a whopping £137m on two signings in Mateus Fernandez from West Ham and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, and they’re now closing in on a £100m move for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.

On top of that, Caught Offside now claim they’re after Manchester City gem Omar Marmoush, with club said to be willing to sell their £69m signing for just £51m. The report says that they could face competition for his signature, however, with Galatasaray looking to push forward a move to sign him on loan.

Aston Villa, Juventus and Barcelona are also listed as potential destinations for a permanent transfer, as the Egyptian ace looks to move on after struggling for regular game-time in City’s star-studded side. It remains to be seen what importance to the team he will have under new manager Enzo Maresca, following Pep Guardiola’s exit at the end of last season.

The 3AM Verdict: With most football fans glued to the World Cup, Spurs’ stunning start to the window has really gone under the radar. They’ve blown all their Premier League rivals out the water by action early and decisively this summer, and signing Marmoush really would be the cherry on top of their best transfer window in years.

Arsenal and Newcastle chase Bundesliga ace

We’ll finish up at St. James’ Park, where Newcastle United have been raking in the money this summer, with Anthony Gordon’s £70m move to Barcelona and the aforementioned, soon-to-be-confirmed Tonali switch to Spurs. They’re set to reinvest their newly accrued funds, and a report from German outlet BILD claims Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane is on their watch list.

It’s said that both the Magpies and Arsenal hold an interest in the 19-year-old gem, who has been capped six times at senior level for Cameroon. The story says that Newcastle are ready to rival the Gunners for his signature, and describe the teenager as a “€100m player”. However, Eddie Howe’s side’s lack of European football is believed to be something that could see them struggle to attract the forward’s interest.

The 3AM Verdict: Newcastle had a dire time in last summer’s transfer window with some baffling buys derailing their season. They can’t afford to mess up again, and spending big money on a largely untested teenager doesn’t seem like a good idea. He could well turn out to be a future superstar, but the Magpies just shouldn’t be gambling on expensive, unproven talent just now.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly agreed to spend £85m on West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes - but is he worth such a huge gamble?

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If there’s one thing that Tottenham Hotspur’s work in the transfer window have made clear, it’s that Daniel Levy really is gone and his approach to the market swept into the dustbin. It’s certainly hard to imagine that the club’s departed and infamously cautious chairman would have unhesitatingly signed off on spending a guaranteed £85m on West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.

The sum that Spurs are set to pay for Fernandes will blow the existing club transfer record – an estimated £55m for Xavi Simons – out of the water, but may not even end up as the biggest signing they make this summer given that they are working on a deal for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali as well. That could easily cost them around £100m.

This is Spurs’ grand gamble. They can’t offer potential signings European football or the sense of an upward trajectory, so instead they offer them and their current clubs the one thing that they most certainly do have: Cold, hard cash. All those years under Levy have left them with plenty of room within the Premier League’s spending rules, and they’re finally bringing it to bear. This is a very big and very expensive roll of the dice – so will it be worth it?

Why Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to bet big on Mateus Fernandes

Fernandes’ CV is an intriguing one. He has just been relegated from the Premier League in back-to-back seasons with Southampton and West Ham, not that many would blame him for that - he was the Saints’ Player of the Season in 2024/25 and runner-up for West Ham’s award for the season just gone. He also did enough to persuade Manchester United to bid for him, while Real Madrid and PSG were among the sides who gave him some thought. Despite which, he didn’t earn a place in Portugal’s World Cup squad.

In short, opinion on Fernandes seems to be somewhat divided. Real Madrid and PSG though he was worth a look but declined to make an offer. Manchester United thought he was worth roughly £10m less than Spurs did. Roberto Martínez didn’t even think he was worth the price of a plane ticket to North America, and only gave him five minutes of football when he was called up to the Portuguese squad for the first time in March.

In that context, Spurs’ decision to break the bank on him – the £85m is reportedly a straight-up transfer fee which doesn’t include any add-ons, as it standard in such substantial deals – seems rather risky. But there is a lot to love in his playing style.

Spurs are taking a gamble on a player whose rarest attribute is perhaps the sheer breadth of his skillset. A true box-to-box midfielder, he has immense energy and the ability to influence play in all three phases of the game. That versatility could be immensely useful in Roberto De Zerbi’s system, which places a lot of stress on the midfield’s ability to get back and forth from defence and attack at pace.

They’re also betting on his capacity to grow further still. At 21 he has plenty of time to develop into the kind of player sides like Real Madrid and PSG might spend £85m on themselves. There may be a touch of Chelsea’s transfer strategy at play here – the idea that spending heavily is justified more easily when there is a reasonable chance that the player will retain or even increase their value over the coming seasons. They don’t seem set to follow Chelsea into the world of ultra-long contracts, however, with reports suggesting that Fernandes will sign an initial five-year deal.

Another important data point is Fernandes’ physical fitness. He has yet to suffer a significant injury in his career and has missed very few matches for any reason, playing in 36 Premier League games for West Ham last season and starting 35. If the old cliché about availability being the best ability holds any water, then signing Fernandes makes a fairly large degree of sense for a side like Spurs who have had a torrid time with injury issues.

For £85m, however, Spurs will expect to get more than just a player who stays off the treatment table – they’ll expect a game changer. So is he sufficiently better than the midfielders currently on the club’s books to be worth the price?

Is Fernandes a major upgrade for Spurs?

Helpfully, a side-by-side comparison between Fernandes and his soon-to-be colleagues stands up quite well – he was playing in the same division and with a team who were struggling almost exactly as badly as Spurs were for most of the Premier League season.

Ordinarily, it’s difficult to factor in the gap between the teams or even the leagues that a player is operating in, but here there is equivalence. There is no inherent reason that the numbers behind his work for West Ham shouldn’t replicated at Spurs, and we can infer how big of an upgrade he might represent by comparing him with the midfielders Spurs had over the past year.

For £85m, Spurs will hope that they’ve signed a player who puts up much better underlying numbers than the players already on the books. Fortunately, they have. Picking out points of comparison always involves a degree of cherry-picking but choose almost any data point by which a box-to-box midfielder can sensibly be judged, and Fernandes comes out ahead of players currently in the Spurs squad. He’s a more accurate passer, creates more chances, makes more tackles and interceptions and forces more turnovers.

The table below - which compares some of the most relevant statistical markers from Fernandes’ work over the 2025/26 Premier League season with the numbers put up by Spurs’ current midfielders – demonstrates the gap quite neatly. The only department in which any Spurs players can edge Fernandes out is in their ball-carrying skills, and even there Fernandes is above the league average. Spurs just happen to have several midfielders who are very strong dribblers.

The only player who comes particularly close to Fernandes in a purely statistical comparison is Rodrigo Bentancur, who is in the same league as the 21-year-old from a defensive standpoint but still falls a little way short in most areas. Bentancur is undeniably a good player, but the data suggests that Fernandes is better.

No comparison is perfect, of course, and there are any number of reasons why Fernandes might fail to hit the levels of performance he did at West Ham next season – but given his age, there is also every chance that he might improve further still. On paper, Spurs have signed a midfielder who is a better defender, better creator and a better all-round player than those they have already.

£85m is an awful lot of money and nothing will stop this from being a gamble, while there’s no guarantee that there wouldn’t have been even better players available at the same price point – but if Spurs are going to try and spend their way back towards the top four, then signing Fernandes isn’t a bad starting point. At both Southampton and West Ham he was immensely influential and a thoroughly consistent performer. Perhaps this time, the end result will be a little bit different.