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Tottenham Hotspur have the opportunity to freshen up their squad in the January transfer window

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Tottenham Hotspur are positioned in 5th place in the Premier League table after 11 fixtures heading into the international break. They drew 2-2 at home to Manchester United in their last league game. Attacking pair Mathys Tel and Richarlison got their goals against the Red Devils at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mathijs de Ligt scored a last-gasp equaliser for their opponents though so they were forced to settle for a point. Thomas Frank was picked as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement in the summer. Prior to his move, he caught the eye with fellow top flight side Brentford.

Tottenham Hotspur eye ambitious Rodrygo deal

Spurs have been linked with a surprise move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. According to Spanish news site Fichajes, they are interested in a swoop for the £70 million-rated attacker. Frank has the chance to bring in some new faces when the January transfer window opens up for business to freshen up his ranks.

Rodrygo, 24, is under contract in Spain until 2028 but his long-term future is up in the air at this moment in time. The Brazil international, who has 35 caps to his name, isn’t guaranteed regular minutes with the La Liga giants under the guidance of Xabi Alonso. Therefore, an exit this winter may well be beneficial to his career.

Spurs would be able to provide him with a platform to show what he can do in England. He would get regular minutes with the London club which is what he needs right now. If he joined, he would give them more competition and depth at the top end of the pitch and would inject more pace and quality into their squad.

Rodrygo was snapped up by Real Madrid back in 2019. Prior to his switch over to Europe, he rose up through the academy at Santos and was a regular for them at various youth levels as a teenager before breaking into their first-team. Since his transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, he has scored 68 goals in 283 matches and has won the league title, Champions League and Copa del Rey.

Tottenham Hotspur should offer Real Madrid swap deal

Rodrygo would be an ideal acquisition for Spurs but they may have reservations about forking out a hefty £70m for his signature, especially mid-way through a campaign. Therefore, they need to think outside the box as to how they can lure him in. With that in mind, they should offer them a player to help bump down his price tag.

Midfielder Yves Bissouma has had a frustrating time of it of late and they should offer him to Real Madrid. Although he probably wouldn’t start for Alonso’s men, he could provide solid back-up. In addition, he is an experienced operator now and has played over 250 matches altogether.

Bissouma is currently nursing an injury and won’t be back until later in November or early December as things stand. He has struggled to get into manager Frank’s plans before he was sidelined though and was left out in August due to persistent lateness. Cutting ties with him would probably be the most sensible avenue to go down in a couple of months time.

The Mali international joined Spurs in 2022 after his impressive stint at fellow top flight side Brighton and Hove Albion and he has since made 100 outings, finding the net on two occasions. He enjoyed plenty of action last season under Postecoglou and helped win the Europa League. Things haven’t gone to plan for him recently though and a change of scene to Real Madrid in return for Rodrygo would make sense for all parties involved here.

The latest Spurs injury news and expected return dates - including updates on the fitness of Cristian Romero and Randal Kolo Muani.

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Tottenham Hotspur were denied their second home win of the Premier League season by a late equaliser from Manchester United on Saturday, but Matthijs de Ligt’s goal wasn’t the only headache Thomas Frank had to endure this weekend after two more players went off with injuries.

Cristian Romero and Randal Kolo Muani both had to be substituted due to fitness problems, potentially deepening an injury crisis which already meant that 10 first-team players were unavailable against United. With a North London Derby looming after the international break, Spurs fans will be hoping for good news on the health of their two newly-stricken players.

We’ve got the latest Spurs injury news and fitness updates below heading into the November break, along with players’ expected return dates when available.

How bad are Cristian Romero & Randal Kolo Muani injuries for Spurs?

Forward Kolo Muani was the first to be withdrawn against United when he was replaced by Wilson Odobert at half-time, while defender Romero followed him to the dressing room with just two minutes of normal time remaining – but head coach Frank’s comments to the media after the game suggest that neither issue is too serious.

There is rather more concern over Kolo Muani’s fitness, however, with the striker, who has been dogged by injury problems since signing on loan from PSG at the end of the summer transfer window, revealed to have suffered a fractured jaw.

Frank initially played the injury down as “nothing big” but Kolo Muani has since withdrawn from France’s squad to face Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Fractured jaws can take around six weeks to heal fully, suggesting that the Frenchman could be out for an extended period and is highly unlikely to return immediately after the break, although the extent of the damage is not clear and Spurs have not announced a target return date.

Could Dominic Solanke be back to face Arsenal?

With that fresh blow, Spurs will be hopeful that at least some of their many injured players can mount a comeback in time to face Arsenal in a fortnight’s time – and striker Dominic Solanke’s fitness could be key if Kolo Muani is indeed ruled out.

Prior to the draw against United, Frank was asked about Solanke’s availability after the break and simply said that “I do hope” that the striker will be back, adding that the former Bournemouth man’s recovery was “on track” after ankle surgery. That being the case, he has a fighting chance of being available against Arsenal.

Other players who could be back in action after the break include Lucas Bergvall (concussion), Yves Bissouma (ankle), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Archie Gray (calf), Kota Takai (thigh) and Ben Davies (hamstring).

Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, could be back in full training by the time the international players return, but is unlikely to be close enough to full fitness to play against Spurs’ local rivals. An early December comeback is more probable. James Maddison remains likely to miss the entirety of the 2025/26 season with his ACL injury.

Spurs have been linked with a transfer deal for a talented defender in the mould of Micky van de Ven - but so have Liverpool.

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Tottenham Hotspur have had an up and down time of it since Thomas Frank took charge. Their away form has been stellar and their league form considerably better than it was last season, but they are struggling to win at home and were jeered from the field following last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. There is still plenty of room for improvement.

A slew of injuries presents a good excuse for Spurs’ attacking struggles so far this season, but despite having a strong back four on paper, only five teams in the top flight have conceded a higher total of expected goals. They have been getting a little lucky at the back, and need to tighten up before they revert back to the mean, as most teams ultimately do.

The January transfer window offers some opportunities to improve, of course. While there are very few criticisms that can be levelled at Spurs’ starting centre-backs, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, their back-ups have not been convincing when called upon. That may explain why the club has been linked with a move for a young centre-back who has been impressive in the Bundesliga – and who has been compared favourably with Van de Ven himself.

Why Spurs may be targeting Konstantinos Koulierakis – and why he’s been compared to Micky van de Ven

The comparison with Van de Ven is partly because Koulierakis is playing at VfL Wolfsburg, the same side with which the Dutchman made his name before moving to Spurs, but their playing styles have certain similarities as well.

Like Van de Ven, Koulierakis is aggressive and effective in one-on-one situations, a strong passer and a willing runner with the ball – not that he’s yet managed to score a goal after dribbling from his own half, as Van de Ven did against FC København last week.

That isn’t the only area in which he has yet to quite reach Van de Ven’s standards, as one might imagine given his relative inexperience. He can be rash in the tackle, as neatly demonstrated when he needlessly gave away a penalty against Hamburg recently, and while his passing is good it lacks the precision of the very best ball-playing defenders, especially over long range.

There are some ways in which he could perhaps exceed Van de Ven, however. He’s already slightly better in the air, although there is still room for improvement in the way he leverages his size and strength, and he’s already carrying the ball more frequently and more successfully. The student could, perhaps, better the master one day.

For now, Spurs would most likely see Koulierakis as a back-up to Van de Ven and future competition – and, maybe, an upgrade on players like Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin, who have not quite lived up to expectations in North London thus far. But how reliable are the stories linking them with Koulierakis, are they likely to strike a deal in January, and will they face competition for his signature from Liverpool?

Will Spurs sign Koulierakis in January?

Although several media outlets have now covered the story linking Spurs with a bid for Koulierakis, the primary source for the story appears to be TBR Football, who first published their report into Spurs’ interest on Wednesday.

As it stands, none of the most reliable media sources in England or Germany have yet reported on any interest, so this is a story which needs further corroboration – but there certainly seems to be strong indications that Spurs are in the market for another defender.

Spurs have had their name connected with a number of centre-halves in recent weeks, such as Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck, and could very well make a move over the winter, but not only is it difficult to discern which of the rumours suggest genuine targets for the club and which are wide of the mark, but it’s hard to say with any certainty that their defence is the priority when Frank is also believed to be chasing a new striker and a central midfielder.

Even if they do decide to expend their resources on a defender this winter and do indeed target Koulierakis specifically, they could face competition, with Liverpool – down to the bare bones at the back and potentially in need of a long-term replacement for Ibrahima Konaté – also said to be interested.

Koulierakis has the quality and potential to be worthy of investment by sides like Spurs and Liverpool, but thus far none of the reports regarding his future have hinted at a formal offer being made imminently or suggested what the finances of such a deal might be. He is under contract until 2029, so Wolfsburg have no incentive to sell him cheap, and a deal could stretch relatively scarce January resources.

Spurs are likely to be busier than most Premier League teams over the winter and they may well be keeping a close eye on Koulierakis, a gifted player whose profile and playing style matches Spurs’ methods – but that doesn’t make a deal in the immediate future especially likely. This is a transfer that most certainly could take place, but we’re not close to a point at which it becomes a probability.

The latest Fantasy Premier League injury news ahead of Gameweek 11 - with updates on Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Mohammed Kudus and many more.

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Another Fantasy Premier League deadline is fast approaching, and for Gameweek 11 we need to make our transfers in time for an 11:00 GMT deadline on Saturday ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s match with Manchester United – but we have a host of injury issues to plan around, with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and Mohammed Kudus among the players who could miss out.

To help you get your team set up before the weekend, we’ve combed the media reports and listened in to the manager’s pre-match press conference to bring you all the latest FPL injury news.

Isak, Gyökeres & Kudus among big FPL names at risk for Gameweek 11

Alexander Isak: Isak has missed the last four Liverpool matches courtesy of a groin injury but could be involved this weekend after returning to training on Friday. He’s also been called up to the Sweden squad, which bodes well, but comments from both Arne Slot and Graham Potter suggest that he’s relatively unlikely to play a full 90 minutes this weekend. Probably worth waiting until after the international break before signing him, if he was in your plans.

Andrew Robertson, Alisson Becker & Jeremie Frimpong: Isak isn’t the only Liverpool player struggling for fitness – Robertson could be rested this weekend after Slot said he was “tired” following the win over Real Madrid, Alisson won’t be back until after the international break and Frimpong likely a week or two later still.

Viktor Gyökeres: The Arsenal striker hasn’t been as productive as many FPL managers expected and probably won’t be adding any goals to his tally this weekend, either – he is expected to miss the match against Sunderland with a muscular problem and unlike Isak has been omitted from the Sweden side for their final World Cup qualifiers. We don’t have a return date as yet, so if you’re hanging on it may be time to bite the bullet and sell. Mikel Merino will likely start up front again, if you’re looking for a differential.

Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli & Martín Zubimendi: Arsenal also have quite a few more Fantasy-relevant players who aren’t likely to be involved - Ødegaard could be back after the international break along with Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, while Zubimendi is a minor doubt for the weekend with a knock, for the 3.2% of players who have the Spaniard in their team, not that Mikel Arteta was willing to provide a proper update on him.

Mohammed Kudus: We’d be here all day if we had to go through all of Spurs’ injuries, but one new doubt that will worry a lot of FPL managers is Kudus, who picked up a knock against Chelsea last weekend and subsequently missed the Champions League win over FC København. Frank suggested before that game that Kudus would be fit enough to play, so it’s unlikely that it’s a major issue and while we await confirmation from the Spurs coach, we suspect that he’ll play against Manchester United.

Chris Wood: The Nottingham Forest striker has now missed three weeks with a knee injury but is “making good progress” as he works to return to face Leeds United this weekend. We’re waiting for confirmation from Dyche as it stands, but he looks likely to play at least some part.

Gordon, Neto, Ndiaye & Alderete among FPL outs and doubts

Anthony Gordon: If you haven’t given up on the out-of-form Newcastle winger just yet, then you’re out of luck this weekend by the sound of it – according to Eddie Howe, there is “every chance [Gordon] might miss our game on Sunday” as the club await the result of a scan on a minor hip injury. He should be fine going forward, at least, and it’s not believed to be a serious problem.

Pedro Neto: The Chelsea winger was in light training with the physio on Thursday and will train in full on Friday, according to Enzo Maresca, meaning that he’s a minor doubt for the weekend but sounds likely to play without any major problems.

Iliman Ndiaye: The on-song Everton winger had to be hauled off after scoring against Sunderland on Monday night and seems to have picked up a knock – but the Senegal international was pictured doing gym work earlier in the week and looks like he’s in good enough shape to play this weekend.

Omar Alderete: The Sunderland centre-back is listed as a doubt for the game against Arsenal as it stands, but even though he was spotted in training earlier this week it looks as though he is set to miss out as he remains in concussion protocol. According to journalist Christian Martin, Alderete has been ruled out of both the Arsenal match and the international break due to his head injury.

Kaoru Mitoma: It seems like Mitoma is close to a return every week – the Japanese winger has now missed the last four league games while being listed as a doubt at every turn thanks to a muscle injury. He sounds unlikely to be included in the Brighton squad this weekend, either, and will probably come back after the international break.

The latest Spurs team news and predicted line-up for their Premier League showdown with Manchester United.

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Tottenham Hotspur will go on the hunt for just their second home win of the Premier League season when they welcome an in-form Manchester United side to North London this weekend – and Thomas Frank’s task is set to be made even harder by a slew of injuries to key players.

Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall were both victims of injuries during the defeat to Chelsea last weekend and subsequently missed the midweek Champions League win over FC København and remain doubtful for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. They are among no fewer than 10 players who are either ruled out or doubts ahead of the match against United.

As the Spurs injury crisis deepens, we’ve got all of the latest team news and fitness updates below ahead of the game against Ruben Amorim’s team, along with our prediction for the likely starting line-up.

Will Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall be fit to face Manchester United?

Two of the biggest question marks heading into the weekend hang over the heads of Kudus, who picked up an unspecified knock during the Chelsea match, and midfielder Bergvall, who sustained a concussion early in the match and had to be substituted.

Kudus’ injury is not believed to be significant, although the club have not confirmed the exact nature of the injury. Ahead of the game against FC København, Frank told the media that both Kudus and Djed Spence, who also sustained a knock, “could and should be available” for Tuesday’s match – but in the end, Kudus was omitted from the matchday squad and Spence limited to a second-half substitute appearance.

Given that the initial assessment was that Kudus had every chance to play in midweek, it is probable that the Ghanaian will be available to face United, along with Spence. Bergvall, meanwhile, remains in concussion protocol and while no announcement has yet been made it is highly probable that he will be ruled out this weekend.

Eight Spurs players expected to miss out this weekend

While Kudus and Bergvall are doubts for Saturday’s match, no fewer than eight players are expected to miss out entirely due to ongoing fitness issues, leaving Frank with a major selection headache.

Six of the injured players could return to action after the upcoming international break: Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma (both ankle), Archie Gray (calf), Ben Davies and Kota Takai (both thigh) are all expected to have at least some chance of being available for the North London Derby on 23 November, while Radu Dragusin, who is back in training after recovering from a ruptured ACL, is expected to be involved in a behind-closed doors friendly next week and could be available depending on how that goes.

Dejan Kulusevski is also getting closer to full fitness but is not yet back on grass as he recovers from an ACL injury of his own which has kept him out for around five months already. He will not be ready for the Arsenal match, but it is hoped that he could return in December. James Maddison, another ACL victim, is unlikely to play this season.

A look at the latest Premier League rumours - with news from Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and more.

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Another day dawns, and another slew of fresh Premier League transfer rumours is here for us to report on and analyse – and we’re kicking today’s edition of our regular morning round-up with a story which should pique the interest of Aston Villa fans.

According to Sport Witness, who cite Brazilian media sources, Aston Villa have embarked upon a “transfer mission” which will see them attempt to sign striker Kaio Jorge from Cruzeiro – and the Midlands outfit allegedly had scouts watching him in action against Grêmio recently.

The 23-year-old, who had a spell with Juventus before returning to his home country last year, has scored 22 goals in 40 games this season and as such Cruzeiro will only come to the table if the price is right. Apparently, they will “only consider negotiations if January offers reach around £30m.”

Villa are now debating whether to make a concrete offer, but strengthening their attack is said to be a key priority in January with Ollie Watkins struggling desperately for form this season. Kaio Jorge, who is under contract until 2029, is said to be “fully committed to Cruzeiro,” which may not bode well for the chances of a deal taking place.

The 3AM Verdict: The winter is the Brazilian off-season, which makes doing deals with their sides a little easier than it can be between European teams, and we suspect Kaio Jorge won’t necessarily be too averse to a second crack at Europe if given the chance. Much will depend on Villa’s finances, not so long after they were forced to sell their women’s team to their owners’ holding company to avoid running afoul of profit and sustainability rules.

Spurs target ‘falls into Paratici’s lap’ as transfer looms

Down to the capital, now – TeamTalk claim that a major Tottenham Hotspur target is set to “fall into [sporting director] Fabio Paratici’s lap” ahead of the January transfer window just months after a summer deal fell through.

The player in question is Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who was the subject of an offer prior to the last deadline only for the proposed terms to be turned down by the Serie A side. That’s a decision they may now regret after Lookman’s public falling-out with his club intensified.

Lookman, who has made it clear that he was angry about not being allowed to leave in the last window, has now had a pitchside bust-up with his manager, Ivan Jurić, and his future in Bergamo is said to look “clouded.” It’s suggested that Atalanta will be looking for a permanent deal over the winter, rather than a loan-to-buy. Bayern Munich may still be interested, too.

The 3AM Verdict: While the odds of Lookman leaving Atalanta are clearly increasing, there is nothing in this report to suggest that Spurs are actively looking to rekindle the deal they couldn’t get through this summer – it’s pure speculation beyond the fact that Lookman clearly wants a change. None of that makes it unlikely that Spurs will make a second bid, of course, and it would be no shock if they did.

Manchester United targeting ‘new Erling Haaland’

Let’s wrap up with a story from Caught Offside which suggests that Manchester United are “eyeing up” Brazilian wonderkid Dell, a 17-year-old striker optimistically described in the headline as “the new Erling Haaland.”

Apparently United’s scouts have sent “positive feedback” about the Bahia forward, and they are now the “favourites to win the race for his signature.” There is, unfortunately, no mention of which other sides might also be in said race, but apparently the Red Devils “might need to move fast” to get a deal done.

Dell, a Brazilian Under-17 international, has a fine scoring record at youth level but has only made two senior appearances for Bahia and hasn’t made it onto the scoresheet just yet. There’s no word on how much he might cost, or whether he is ready to make the move to Europe at such a young age.

The 3AM Verdict: With so little detail here, it’s hard to say whether United really are in a good position to strike this deal, especially as we don’t know whether Dell would prefer to fight for first-team football in Brazil before making a move overseas. He’s certainly a player who’s attracting interest from scouts around the world, however.

Spurs and West Ham have both been linked with a Serie A star - but will they make a move, and would he improve either sides’ defence?

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You won’t find many fans of either Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United who would argue with the notion that their defence could do with a little work. Spurs may not have conceded too many goals but only five teams have allowed their opponents a greater volume of expected goals – and one of those are West Ham, who have conceded them in droves. Both teams could look for defensive reinforcements in the immediate future.

That’s the context which helps to make sense of a story in the Italian media which suggests that both teams are interested in striking a deal for Inter Milan centre-back Yann Bisseck. Gazzetta dello Sport claim that the 24-year-old has had his interest “piqued” by the possibility of a move to England, and he may offer the combination of quality and affordability that the two sides are looking for. But would he move the needle in North or East London, and how likely is it that a transfer takes place?

Why Spurs & West Ham may both be interested in Yann Bisseck

Bisseck, who made his first and thus far only appearance for the German national team this March, strikes an imposing figure at 6’4”, but he is far from an old-fashioned powerhouse defender – instead, he’s a technician suited to teams who want to play out swiftly from the back.

Very few defenders in Europe’s top leagues can match his passing range or precision, or his comfort with the ball at his feet. He’s capable of bringing the ball out from the back with driving runs or springing counter-attacks with accurate forward passes, and suits a team looking for defenders who join the midfield and play a role in the build-up when in possession.

That’s a more accurate description of Spurs than it is of West Ham, who are unlikely to take such a buccaneering attitude towards their defensive set-up under Nuno Espirito Santo, a coach who typically prefers to play a low block, but his ability to play long passes could still play into Santo’s counter-attacking style and his physicality and aerial presence would likely help with set pieces, an Achilles heel for the Hammers so far this season.

Defensively, Bisseck is now a centre-half who produces significant volumes of tackles, but he is strong in one-on-one situations when he needs to be (winning at least two-thirds of the time in such scenarios over the past two full seasons).

The drawback to Bisseck’s defending is his positional sense, which can be suspect, and his concentration. He may not defend aggressively in the traditional sense, but he does look for every opportunity to push upfield and deal with problems at their source, and that sometimes leaves gaps in behind, and there are moments in tighter marking situations in which he has provided room for opposing strikers that a savvier defender might have shut down.

A deep defensive line such as West Ham’s under Santo could mitigate his occasional errors of judgement and bring his strength and tackling quality to the fore. For Spurs, he might be vulnerable in positions higher upfield, but the trade-off is that his quality on the ball could benefit the attack significantly. Ultimately, signing Bisseck would be a calculated risk – that his positional errors and lapses of judgement cost less than his technical class and ball-playing skill brought to the team.

Will West Ham or Spurs make a bid for Bisseck in 2026?

Both teams were linked with Bisseck over the summer, with Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that West Ham had a bid of €25m (£22m) turned down by Inter – which, if nothing else, may give us a starting price should negotiations begin in earnest.

Ultimately, West Ham decided to look elsewhere and there are no suggestions that Spurs made a formal offer. It may be that the German was on a shortlist should Cristian Romero have left – which looked very likely for much of the summer transfer window – and that other position were prioritised when the Argentine stayed. Spurs’ defence has looked vulnerable since then, however, and their depth has not been entirely convincing.

West Ham’s change of manager would, on the surface, suggest that a bid for Bisseck is less likely – he is not the kind of defender that Santo seemed to be keen on at Wolves or at Nottingham Forest, while his quality in possession would have made him a more natural fit for Graham Potter’s methods before his dismissal.

Still, the Italian media believes that both teams are still interested, and that Bisseck himself is keen on a move to England. He has started just three of Inter’s 10 league matches so far this season and isn’t a regular starter, so the chance to battle his way into a different team’s starting eleven may well appeal, while his relatively limited usage at the San Siro may limit the price tag to an extent, even though he is contracted up until 2029 and has admirers within Inter’s hierarchy.

Gazzetta dello Sport’s reporting does not hint at whether a January bid is likely or whether this is a deal that would be more likely to take place next summer, when transfer funds are more plentiful – West Ham, in particular, are not likely to have significant amounts to spend due to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, and are likely to prioritise a central striker with any funds they do have access to.

Signing Bisseck would be a relatively high-risk, high-reward move and perhaps one that Spurs are in a better position to make if Thomas Frank is unconvinced by the likes of Kevin Danso or Kota Takai, who has been troubled by injury issues since signing for the club over the summer. On the surface, they are perhaps more likely to make this deal a reality – but the upside to Bisseck is high enough that several teams could easily be prepared to roll the dice if the price is right.

Analysing the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Chelsea, Everton and more.

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Welcome to 3 Added Minutes’ daily round-up and breakdown of some of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re starting today’s digest off with an eyebrow-raising story concerning Tottenham Hotspur.

According to TeamTalk, Spurs are “leading the race” to bring an England international striker back to the Premier League, but it’s not Harry Kane, whatever recent gossip might have you believe it’s Ivan Toney.

Toney has been impressive for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli but is apparently “unsettled” in the Middle East and “poised” to make a comeback, with an initial loan deal in January on the table – and his relationship with Thomas Frank is said to “remain strong” after they worked together at Brentford.

West Ham United and Everton have also “entered the frame” and are said to have “sounded out” the 29-year-old striker, but it’s Spurs who are said to be “favourites” to strike a deal as it stands. No agreements have yet been reached, but apparently “momentum is building” behind the scenes.

The 3AM Verdict: We’d like to see some corroboration of this story before we buy it, but it must be said that it makes a lot of sense – Frank knows Toney well, Spurs need a striker, and he would hardly be the first player to experience a sense of regret after moving to Saudi Arabia. One to watch, but the financials will be difficult to sort out.

Chelsea ‘leading candidates’ to snap up big free transfer

Over to Spanish gossipmongers Fichajes now, who claim that Chelsea have become the “leading candidates” to sign goalkeeper Mike Maignan on a free transfer next summer with talks over a new contract with AC Milan said to have “stalled.”

Milan are said to be “confident of reaching an agreement” which would keep the Frenchman at the San Siro, but it’s suggested that Maignan is considering his options with Chelsea “preparing to seize the opportunity” to snap up a free upgrade on Robert Sánchez.

They may not wait until the summer, however, and this report claims that Chelsea could weigh in with a January bid “if an opportunity arises.” There’s no word on what Milan might demand to let him go, and it’s stated that no formal contacts have taken place between the relevant parties.

The 3AM Verdict: This is, of course, not a new story – rather, it’s an old rumour which is resurfacing as negotiations over a new contract continue to go nowhere. We doubt that Chelsea will splash out to sign him in January, especially with Sánchez on much improved form, and our opinion of Fichajes’ reliability isn’t very high, but it’s interesting to see this story doing the rounds again.

Everton star lashes out at transfer ‘lie’

Let’s wrap up today’s column with a story concerning Everton – and it involves left-back Vitalii Mykolenko hitting out at claims that he could leave the Merseyside club in January with his contract close to expiring.

The Daily Mirror report that the Ukrainian has described claims that he is refusing to sign a new deal and is pushing for an early exit “a complete lie” and that his “agent will be talking to Everton representatives soon… I am a professional and will work out my contract 100%.”

Which is good news for Everton fans worried about a lack of depth at the back, although the newspaper reports that the priority isn’t tying Mykolenko down to a new deal but coming to terms with midfielder James Garner instead. Mykolenko is said to have “attracted interest” from unspecified sides in Italy and Spain as his contract enters its final months.

The 3AM Verdict: Mykolenko seems to have made it pretty plain that he wants to stay with Everton, which can only be good news for the team, especially with defensive resources looking rather stretched at the moment. We have no reason to contradict the report and can’t see him leaving in January.

Analysing the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

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Once again, it’s time for us to wade through the global gossip columns to bring you 3 Added Minutes’ daily round-up and breakdown of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we’re starting with a story for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur fans.

The North London rivals have been “alerted” to the very real chance that Rodrygo Goes could leave Real Madrid in January with the Brazilian winger frustrated by his peripheral role under new head coach Xabi Alonso, according to TBR Football.

The 24-year-old is said to be “considering his future” at the Santiago Bernabeu after being handed just two starts so far this season, and while Alonso is said to be “happy to keep Rodrygo at the club” he is not set for a bigger role moving forward – and could be displaced altogether by next summer with further signings anticipated.

Arsenal and Spurs have supposedly shown “strong interest” in getting a deal done and while it “remains to be seen” whether Real will sanction a January departure – or how much they would demand if they do – a winter transfer is now said to be “a real option.”

The 3AM Verdict: Much will depend on whether Real feel they can sign a replacement they’re happy with, and that’s the kind of thing that complicates many January deals, so we wouldn’t say that this move is at all definite – but it’s become more plausible by the week. Without knowing the finances involved, it’s hard to say how likely Arsenal or Spurs are to be the specific beneficiaries, but we’d expect other teams to be in the hunt too.

Spurs ‘circling’ £70m striker

Let’s stick with Spurs for our second story of today’s digest, which comes courtesy of TeamTalk – they claim that Thomas Frank’s side are “circling” a Porto striker Samu Aghehowa as they continue to be “on the lookout” for a striker to put an end to their attacking struggles.

While they retain an interest in bringing Harry Kane back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they’re also looking at Aghehowa while they wait for Kane to make a decision – and the Spanish striker (who nearly signed for Chelsea under his former name Omorodion before last season) is said to be available for €20m less than his release clause would otherwise mandate.

That still means he’s valued at €80m (£70m), an amount which would apparently prove “irresistible” to his Portuguese employers – and they are “ready to sell in January” and cash in on his impressive form. Spurs could also sign a new winger, with Brentford’s Kevin Schade among the targets.

The 3AM Verdict: With Dominic Solanke perennially injured, Richarlison struggling for consistent form and Randal Kolo Muani taking time to settle in, this isn’t all that unlikely of a deal – but plenty of other teams want Aghehowa and it’s not entirely clear that Spurs have the funds to do this in January and remains PSR compliant. We’ll see…

Wolves & Crystal Palace ‘track’ Brazilian wonderkid

Over to a story from Sport Witness now, who cite South America media sources in claiming that both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace are “continuing to track” young Flamengo forward Wallace Yan – but that their hopes of a January deal may just have been dashed.

Apparently, the 20-year-old had “ looked certain” to be sold in the new year for a fee as high as €20m (£17.5m) with his current club allegedly fed up with Wallace Yan after a series of off-field issues. That had alerted his Premier League suitors, but now Flamengo have decided to “give him another chance.”

That means that a “January move seems off the table” for the striker, who has impressed with his work on the pitch even if he has run into difficulties away from it. Wolves and Palace will continue to monitor his progress but he’s not likely to be playing in England imminently.

The 3AM Verdict: Wallace Yan has a lot of talent but very little senior football to his name and only seven senior goals as yet, so it’s hard to gauge how likely clubs like Palace and Wolves really are to bid for a player whose temperament has been called into question. It now sounds as though we’ll be waiting a while longer to get an answer, too.

The latest Premier League news and rumours with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Aston Villa and West Ham

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Manchester United have seen an upturn in form in the Premier League over recent weeks. According to Caught Offside, they remain ‘interested’ in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The report adds that Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the £70 million-rated centre-back ahead of the January transfer window.

Branthwaite, 23, has had some injury issues so far this season and hasn’t played as much football as he would have liked to. The England international, who has one cap to his name so far, joined the Toffees back in 2020 from Carlisle United. He has since made 86 appearances in all competitions and has scored four goals.

The 3AM Verdict: Manchester United are no strangers to being linked with Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton. He would be an ideal addition for the Red Devils if they were able to lure him to Old Trafford in January. At the age of 23, he has bags of potential and would strengthen their backline. However, they would need to see off potential competition from Tottenham Hotspur if they are to keep him in the North West.

Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson wanted

Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson is wanted on loan by Championship pair Leicester City and Southampton, journalist Alan Nixon has reported on his Patreon page. The Black Cats have a big decision to make regarding the player’s immediate future at the Stadium of Light this winter. He has fallen down the pecking order in the North East since their promotion under Regis Le Bris.

Patterson was their first choice in the last campaign as they went on to win the second tier play-off final at Wembley against Sheffield United. However, he has since lost his place between the sticks to Robin Roefs. His situation is now up in the air amid fresh attention from the league below.

The 3AM Verdict: Anthony Patterson is unlikely to get back into Sunderland’s team now ahead of Robin Roefs unless there was an injury. Therefore, a loan exit in January to a team in the Championship like Leicester City or Southampton would be sensible for him. It would allow him to get some regular minutes under his belt and put himself in the shop window ahead of next summer.

Aston Villa, Manchester United and West Ham linked with Endrick

As per the Daily Star on Sunday, Aston Villa are eyeing a surprise swoop for Real Madrid attacker Endrick. They aren’t the only name in the frame though, with United, West Ham and Juventus also mentioned as potential suitors. The 19-year-old has seen hs game time in La Liga dry up over recent times.

Endrick was snapped up by the La Liga giants as one for the future back in 2024. Prior to his switch to Spain, he rose up through the academy at Palmeiras and broke into their first-team as a youngster. He then left South America to pursue his European dream but he isn’t getting into Xabi Alonso’s team right now.

The 3AM Verdict: It would be a surprise to see Endrick move to the Premier League. He would give each of Aston Villa, Manchester United and West Ham another option to pick from at the top end of the pitch. The attacker lacks experience though and hasn’t been able to make the impact that he would have wanted to in La Liga with Real Madrid. Therefore, it would be a risk to bring him to England.