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

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

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

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

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

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

Spurs make ‘approach’ for £26m man

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

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

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

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

Newcastle to ‘accept’ bids for £38m man

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tottenham Hotspur target AFC Bournemouth defender Illya Zabarnyi

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

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

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

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

Tottenham Hotspur should offer AFC Bournemouth swap deal involving Ashley Phillips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Palhinha already has Harry Kane seal of approval

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

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

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

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

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

Newcastle United are interested in signing a 19-goal striker

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

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

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

Why Newcastle are interested in Yoane Wissa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The bold Newcastle swap deal they could offer Brentford

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

England star set for Serie A switch?

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

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

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

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

Everton make contact over £30m Aston Villa man

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Real Madrid plot ‘impossible’ Chelsea move

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

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

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

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

Wolves could beat AC Milan to key signing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tottenham’s potential goalkeeper and defence for 2025/26

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

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

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

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

Could Douglas Luiz add grit to Tottenham’s midfield?

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

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

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

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

Spurs want one more new forward for the front line

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

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

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

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

Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid could blow open the transfer market with a major deal

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Thomas Frank has already begun making some major moves since taking over at Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur, but more work is to be done ahead of the new Premier League season.

After a 17th-placed finish last season and Champions League football to balance this term, it is difficult to say just what Spurs’ target is for next term. Recent transfer dealings have certainly helped their cause, adding to the feeling that Spurs could return to challenging for European spots through the Premier League in 2025/26.

Mohammed Kudus has been signed from West Ham, while reports arose that a £60m deal had been agreed with Nottingham Forest for Morgan Gibbs-White - though a major complication has emerged after it was alleged Spurs made illegal contact with the playmaker.

Elsewhere, Spurs have had to contend with European interest in one of their major defensive stars. They may still be able to use the situation to their advantage, though, with a cunning swap deal which could benefit all.

Atletico Madrid linked with Cristian Romero

Rumours linking Atletico Madrid with Cristian Romero have been doing the rounds for several weeks and it is believed the player wants to move to the Spanish giants to link up with fellow countryman Diego Simeone. The 27-year-old Romero is a World Cup winner with Argentina and has now enjoyed trophy-winning glory with Spurs at club level.

Recent reports state Spurs have rejected a £55m bid, but the deal could still back come to life if Atleti decide to include a big-name player as part of the transfer. The north Londoners were interested in Conor Gallagher last summer before his £34m move to Atletico from Chelsea, and recent rumours suggest that the 25-year-old may already be set to return to the Premier League. Newcastle United have been touted as holding a firm interest in Gallagher and Spurs could yet enter the ring to secure a stunning swap deal involving Romero.

Cristian Romero and Conor Gallagher swap deal could work for both clubs

For a Chelsea academy product and boyhood fan to join bitter rivals Spurs is always major news, for him to do it just a year after departing for Madrid would hit the headlines and outrage Blues fans, many of whom never wanted to sell Gallagher in the first place.

Atletico reportedly want €42m (£36.3m) for Gallagher, a slight profit on the price they paid for him last summer, while Spurs are reportedly holding out for around £60m for Romero. A bid by Atletico of Gallagher plus £20m - £25m could convince Spurs to sell, though replacing Romero will not be easy.

With Yves Bissouma nearing the end of his contract and reportedly up for sale, England international Gallagher could fit straight into the Spurs midfield and offer them increased energy and bite. If a replacement can be found for wantaway Romero, then this deal could be a smart one for all parties, allowing Atletico to land one of their top targets while giving Spurs a target of their own ahead of a Premier League rival. We will see how this one plays out.

The biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - featuring news from Spurs, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and more.

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The transfer window seems to be moving at a blinding pace this year, and to help you keep up with everything that’s going on 3 Added Minutes are back with our latest round-up of the juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we start with a story from Tottenham Hotspur.

No sooner have they agreed a £55m deal with West Ham for winger Mohammed Kudus and got Morgan Gibbs-White in for a medical within 24 hours than than they’ve turned their attentions to another exciting addition - in this case, highly-rated Genoa defender Koni de Winter, who is set to be at the centre of a titanic transfer tussle, if you’ll excuse the frivolous alliteration.

According to TeamTalk, Spurs have “burst into the race” for the 23-year-old Belgian centre-back and are showing “concrete interest” in getting a deal done after a superb season in Serie A. Several teams are rumoured to be interested in launching a bid, including Inter Milan, but despite the long line of suitors it seems as though a deal could actually cost less than anticipated.

Earlier reporting suggested that Genoa would only sell for around £30m, but TeamTalk claim that he could be available for as little as €25m (£21.5m). Spurs are said to be “hesitant” to go above that price point, with other defenders on their shortlist. Some bad news from the same outlet, by the way - they also claim that Real Madrid could join their local rivals Atlético in bidding for Cristian Romero.

The 3AM Verdict: Spurs are moving at a pace we’ve never seen before in the transfer window, but they’ll do well to get a deal for De Winter done quickly - quite a few teams in England and Italy are keen on the ball-playing defender, who can also operate at full-back. He’s certainly on their shortlist, however. As for the Romero to Real thing, we don’t believe it given that the original source seems to be Fichajes. We don’t set much stock by their word, frankly.

Two in, one out for Nottingham Forest this summer?

Let’s head over to the City Ground now, because while they may be fretting about Gibbs-White’s future, they’re looking to bring some fresh faces in as well – and Sport Witness reckon that Forest will make a move for Verona’s Jackson Tchatchoua imminently.

The 23-year-old full-back is on holiday in Miami, apparently, but Forest could submit a bid “within hours”, which infers that it may well have happened by the time you read this. Wolves, Everton, Marseille and Galatasaray are said to be interested, too, but it sounds as though Forest could make the first move.

Sport Witness also suggest that Nuno Espirito Santo may have less luck with a potential attempt to sign Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito, however. The 20-year-old Italian is wanted by a host of teams, including the Tricky Trees who have shown a “firm desire” to buy him, but Inter are rejecting offers and intend to keep him around.

The 3AM Verdict: The odds on signing Esposito seem exceedingly slim as he’s regarded as a very bright prospect for the future in Serie A, but Tchatchoua seems like a feasible buy – we just don’t know how much for. Probably not exciting enough to make up for losing Gibbs-White, but we’ll see.

West Ham ‘pushing’ for £13m full-back transfer

Finally, a story from West Ham United, whose pursuit of a full-back has seen them linked with a host of players – but according to Caught Offside, the Hammers are “pushing” to end the hunt and complete a deal for Girona’s Arnau Martínez.

The 22-year-old, who can play on the right or as a centre-half, has a release clause set at €15m (£13m) and West Ham are “seriously evaluating” the possibility of triggering it in order to take negotiations off the table entirely.

Talks “have already been held” between the club and the player’s representatives, and personal terms will not be a problem, according to an unnamed source – not that either West Ham or the player are in a hurry, with both parties said to be evaluating all of their options before pulling the trigger. Other European clubs are said to be following Martínez too, not that we know who.

The 3AM Verdict: An entirely sensible transfer rumour which has been swirling around Spain for a couple of days now without any of the most reliable outlets mentioning it. Caught Offside seem to suggest that a deal is in its relatively early stages, which may explain why we haven’t heard more about it. Plausible, but too early to describe as probable.

Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford both have work to do in the transfer window.

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With the transfer window open and teams fighting to get key deals over the line, it can make compelling viewing as rival clubs come together in an attempt to strike up an understanding over a player.

Two clubs with a major job on their hands this summer for different reasons are Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford. Spurs have got Champions League football under new manager Thomas Frank and must prepare their squad for the pressures of elite European competition, while the Bees are aiming to avoid a fire-sale of their best players which could drag the west Londoners down the wrong end of the table next season.

Spurs have, of course, arguably taken Brentford’s biggest asset in club legend manager Frank, who has now taken over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the task of succeeding Ange Postecoglou and could yet return to take players from his former club. Frank could use his influence at the Gtech Community Stadium to negotiate a huge swap deal between the two clubs, one which could be beneficial to all.

Spurs and Brentford should engineer massive swap deal

Transfer rumours have swirled around Bryan Mbeumo this summer, but surprisingly little has been said about his strike partner Yoane Wissa until recent days. Wissa was almost just as impressive last season and may also look to move on at some point soon, amidst Tottenham links.

DR Congo international Wissa turns 29 in September and will surely hope to experience European football while he is in his prime, meaning a chance to reunite with former manager Frank at Spurs could be the answer. Brentford would be reluctant to sell, but a deal with their former manager involving a Spurs big-name star going the other way could sweeten the deal.

Spurs’ £60m man Richarlison could be on his way out this summer, after an inconsistent time in north London and an understanding building that he may not be a key man under Frank. The 28-year-old could be an attractive prospect to Brentford, though, and could fill in across the front line for the Bees.

Swap deal involving Yoane Wissa and Richarlison could be the answer

A swap deal involving Wissa plus cash for Richarlison could work out for all involved. Spurs need increased firepower and may look to Frank’s former front-man after losing out on teammate Mbeumo to Manchester United.

Wissa would surely jump at the chance to play under Frank once again, having scored 49 goals for Brentford in four years under the Dane. Wissa may feel it is time for him to take the leap and become a key man for a bigger club, while Brentford would prefer to sell him now if it does become apparent that the former Lorient forward wants to leave with just a year left on his contract.

Wissa would certainly be hard to replace and there is no guarantee Richarlison would recreate the Congolese’s goal-scoring form, but the former Everton and Watford man has 64 Premier League goals across his career and still certainly has a lot to offer at this level. Brentford reportedly value Wissa at £50m, so an offer of Richarlison plus £20m - £25m could be enough to seal the deal. The rumours are heating up on this one, so there is a chance we see it happen.