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Spurs won’t be signing Morgan Gibbs-White - but they may have the perfect Plan B in place already.

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A little under two weeks ago, Tottenham Hotspur thought they were getting hold of Morgan Gibbs-White, and the player himself thought he was leaving Nottingham Forest for £60m. A little legal wrangling later, and neither has proven to be the case.

On Sunday, Forest announced that Gibbs-White has signed a new three-year contract to keep him at the City Ground having succeeded in putting his move to Spurs on ice by complaining to the Premier League about the nature of Spurs’ approach. With Forest making it plain that they would do everything to block his move to North London and no other suitors in sight, however, he is going nowhere.

Quite whether Gibbs-White is entirely happy about the situation is unclear, and a video of him thanking Evangelos Marinakis for ‘believing in him’ while the Forest owner stood glowering over him had the subtle air of a hostage situation about it, but it’s certain that Spurs aren’t going to be thrilled. They’re heading back to the drawing board – but they may have a pretty Spurs Hotspur may already have the ideal Morgan Gibbs-White alternative in mind

Harvey Elliott could be perfect Morgan Gibbs-White alternative for Spurs

On Sunday, a story originating with Spurs reporter Paul O’Keefe suggested that Spurs have made enquiries regarding Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, with the hero of England’s charge to the European Under-21 Championship title in Slovakia facing an uncertain future at Anfield.

Never really able to force his way into Arne Slot’s starting side, Elliott appears to have accepted the likelihood of a move away and is reportedly available for a fee in the range of £40-50m, with several teams alleged to be monitoring his situation.

Elliott would not, of course, be a like for like replacement for Gibbs-White, who is perhaps most at home playing as a number ten or operating on the left wing, but Elliott’s performances for the Young Lions in June provided a timely reminder that he’s far more than just the economical midfielder which Jürgen Klopp used him as.

Elliott first made his name as a winger, especially during an explosive loan spell at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, and is equally capable of driving at defenders down the right flank as he is playing in a dynamic central role.

If Thomas Frank is looking for someone to supplement (or supplant) James Maddison in the central attacking midfield role, then Elliott may well do a fine job but would certainly free Dejan Kulusevski up to play that role by providing competition down the right – and he would be another option for the deeper midfielder pairing, a position that Spurs have put off an overhaul of for a little too long.

While naturally left-footed, few would bet against Elliott offering another option down the left flank as well should Son Heung-Min depart, either, but the real reason to sign Elliott is not simply that he’s a highly flexible player who can fill multiple roles for Spurs as they compete on four fronts next season, but that he’s an excellent technician, a genuine threat in the final third and – crucially – has plenty of room to improve even further.

Why Harvey Elliott would improve Spurs immediately

Over the course of the past season, Elliott was directly involved in creating 4.63 shooting chances every 90 minutes he played in all competitions – and the season before, that was 4.72. Of the current Spurs squad, only Son and Kulusevski have created more opportunities.

Elliott would immediately become one of Spurs’ greatest creative threats, and he may well exceed the wingers ahead of him were he played in a more advanced role. Even from deeper areas, he helped to generated more than twice as many scoring chances per game than any of Spurs’ central midfielders.

His accurate long-range passing would add a string to Spurs’ attacking bow that’s presently somewhat lacking. The driving force behind the volume of chances that Elliott creates is the volume of precise balls either into the box or down the channels that he produces – only James Maddison comes close on that score in the current Spurs squad.

And Elliott offers that without lacking qualities in other areas. Although the small sample size may skew the stats, his combined goals and assist per game would have the equal of Maddison and more than anyone else in Spurs’ side this past season. He would have been right up there the season before, too, when he played rather more, racking up 0.6 goal contributions per 90 minutes, again despite playing in midfield.

He’s effective in the press and tracking back, his movement off the ball is impeccable, and there are few weaknesses to his game save, perhaps, for relatively unreliable judgement over when to take a defender on one-on-one or to look for an alternative. That’s a straw being clutched at – Elliott passes both the eye test and the statistics deep dive with flying colours.

In short, whyever Slot decided to pass Elliott over, there is plenty of evidence that he would instantly be one of Spurs’ most dynamic and creative players, as his Player of the Tournament performance for the Under-21s, which included his scoring five goals in six games, neatly demonstrated.

That would have been true for Gibbs-White too, of course, and he carries the ball far better than Elliott does – but Elliott is cheaper and younger, with plenty of room to smooth off the few rough edges given that he’s only 22. As runners-up prizes go, Elliott would be a good one. Spurs should just make sure that they call the right person first this time.

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

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It’s time for our latest round-up and review of the juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re kicking things off today up at Old Trafford, with a story which suggests that Manchester United are about to stick their oar into the race for one of the most sought-after midfielders of the summer.

According to Sport Witness, Manchester United are “back into the picture” for former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, who looks increasingly likely to return to the Premier League following a torrid season with Juventus in Serie A.

Everton, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest have all been linked with him on a number of occasions and are still in the conversation, but now United are “also pursuing him” after he failed to report for pre-season training in Turin. Juve want €40m (£35m) for Luiz, about 80% of what they paid Villa.

Elsewhere, ESPN claim that United have started an “exploration” of a deal for PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani, who is on the transfer list and could be available for €50m (£43.5m). Ollie Watkins and another Juventus player, Dušan Vlahović, are said to be alternative options.

The 3AM Verdict: In the last week or two, we’ve seen United linked strongly with so many different midfielders and strikers that it’s impossible to know who to trust, and we’re not seeing enough corroboration of either story to be convinced as yet. The Spanish press are under the impression that they’re trying to sign Javi Guerra instead, and the English media seem to believe they’re waiting for sales before pressing on with new signings. We suspect that’s the most likely scenario.

Spurs to compete with Liverpool for Italian wonderkid

Over to Caught Offside now – they claim that Tottenham Hotspur “are keen on signing” 18-year-old Parma centre-half Giovanni Leoni, who was just recently linked with Liverpool and Newcastle United.

Indeed, Spurs and Newcastle are now said to be “leading the race” for the precocious young defender, and are both said to be “close” to launching a formal bid, according to unnamed sources. Parma are expected to demand a fee of up to €40m (£35m).

If either do, they’ll have competition. Not only have Liverpool been mentioned but also (deep breath) Inter Milan, AC Milan, Bologna, Juventus, Napoli and Marseille – and that’s just the teams that Caught Offside know about. They’re expecting a big transfer battle to break out imminently.

The 3AM Verdict: We don’t believe that either Spurs, Newcastle or Liverpool are in any way further ahead than other interested parties in this particular race – there are a lot of teams watching and waiting, and it isn’t clear who will start the bidding or who has an edge.

Manchester United star targeted by Wrexham in surprise move

We’ll wrap up with a story from The Daily Mail which alleges that nouveau-riche Wrexham are planning to flex their new Championship status by making a “shock move” for Christian Eriksen, who is a free agent after leaving Manchester United at the end of June. Alright, not technically a Premier League rumour this one, but just you give Ryan Reynolds a year or two.

Wrexham are “keen to make a significant impression” and Eriksen is said to have been “impressed by the proposal” from the Welsh side, with his representatives sharing some glowing words about the club’s infrastructure. Sadly, that may not be enough to land the 33-year-old.

Eriksen “still wants to play in first-tier competition” and purportedly has offers from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Brazil. It’s not outright stated that Eriksen has no interest in the second tier, but the implication seems fairly clear.

The 3AM Verdict: Well, why not? Wrexham have an enormous amount of cash by Championship standards and can probably meet Eriksen’s wage demands, but it sounds as though he wants something a little different. Wrexham, it would seem, haven’t glowed up quite enough just yet.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Spurs, Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea.

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It’s already been a pretty big 24 hours in the transfer window as news of Alexander Isak’s desire to leave Newcastle United comes flying off the rumour mill – but there are plenty of stories going around that you might have missed, so we’re here to keep you up-to-date with all the latest Premier League transfer rumours with our latest round-up and review.

We’ll start with a story from TBR Football which suggests that Tottenham Hotspur could be setting up to spring a big shock in the summer market by taking advantage of the uncertain contract situation of Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.

Apparently Spurs are “now interested” in signing the 20-year-old midfielder with talks over a new deal at Old Trafford “at a stalemate”. While Mainoo is still tied to United for up to three more years, it sounds as though we aren’t any closer to an agreement and as such Spurs are “monitoring Mainoo’s situation closely.”

There’s no suggestion that Mainoo is actively agitating for a move but is apparently demanding to be paid according to his status as a first-teamer at Old Trafford, which he feels that he isn’t. It doesn’t sound like a bid is imminent, but it’s suggested that this is one to watch.

The 3AM Verdict: Under normal circumstances we’d suggest that there was no chance that United would sell Mainoo, but he’s coming off a tough year, doesn’t fit Ruben Amorim’s system very well and the club need to sell some players in order to fund their transfer plans. Whether the Spurs link is legitimate or not, Mainoo’s future could be an issue that crops up again before the end of the window.

Liverpool make contact with Serie A side over star defender

Liverpool’s chances of signing Alexander Isak will be the main topic of conversation for the next few days, but the Swede isn’t the only player on their shortlist – not according to Sport Witness, anyway, who cite Italian media reports to suggest that the Reds are “trying to sign” Parma centre-half Giovanni Leoni.

The 18-year-old is said to be “prioritising” a move to Inter Milan, who are one of several big Italian teams in the market along with AC Miland and Juventus, but with Inter apparently focusing other signings such as that of Ademola Lookman, the door may be left ajar.

Liverpool “haven’t gone further” than making an initial enquiry as yet, much the same as the Serie A sides trying to poach Leoni from their rivals, but they have a “lingering” interest in a very talented young player. No word on how much they may have to spend.

The 3AM Verdict: We suspect that if Liverpool are interested in making a bid, it will be after the future of Ibrahima Konaté is resolved – and, incidentally, Caught Offside claim that Barcelona and Bayern Munich have joined Real Madrid in the race for that particular transfer. Leoni may well be a target, but he won’t be a priority. One they might pick up if the budget allows further down the line.

German giants to give Sterling loan chance

Finally, some news from Caught Offside which builds on this week’s reports which suggest that Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen are getting ready to make a bid for Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling.

It’s claimed that Leverkusen – managed by former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag – “have an interest” in taking Sterling on loan, with Chelsea paying an unspecified portion of his wages. That, it’s implied, is the only way that a deal of any kind can be done.

Chelsea had hoped to sell Sterling, who has two years left on a massive £325,000 per week contract, on a permanent basis, but their reported €25m asking price is apparently too high, and Leverkusen are trying to find a “compromise.” Juventus are also said to be keeping tabs on the former England man.

The 3AM Verdict: It’s hard to envision anyone buying Sterling on a permanent basis after a bad season at Arsenal, especially given how much he’s paid, so a loan deal sounds far more likely. Chelsea may wait to see if anyone comes in with a better deal, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised if a loan deal was the best that they could get.

Tottenham Hotspur have the chance to freshen up their ranks with some reinforcements this summer

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Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up for a new era under the guidance of Thomas Frank. The ex-Brentford man was picked as their head coach earlier this summer. He was appointed as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked at the end of last season.

Spurs finished down in 17th place in the Premier League table in the last campaign. Nevertheless, they were able to win the Europa League after beating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. They have the chance to freshen up their ranks with some signings this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur eye Marc Guehi transfer

Spurs are interested in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, according to The Telegraph. The London outfit are said to be admirers of the centre-back. However, they face competition from league rivals Liverpool in pursuit of his signature. Guehi, 25, would be an ideal addition for Frank over the coming weeks. He would boost his defensive department and tighten things up at the back. In addition, he knows the league already and is a proven performer at the top level.

The England international, who has 23 caps under his belt, has been a key player since joining Crystal Palace in 2021. He has made 155 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles to date and has scored eight goals from the back. He also helped them win the FA Cup this year under the guidance of Oliver Glasner after they beat Manchester City in the final at Wembley.

Guehi rose up through the academy ranks at Chelsea and was a regular for the Blues at various different youth levels. He went on to play twice for their first-team in his early career. The Ivory Coast-born man was also loaned out away from Stamford Bridge at Swansea City on two different occasions to get some experience under his belt and bolster his development.

Tottenham Hotspur should offer Archie Gray in transfer swap deal

In attempt to persuade Crystal Palace into selling Guehi, Spurs should offer the Eagles Archie Gray on loan in return plus some cash. The ex-Leeds United man is a promising talent and is highly-rated by his current club. However, he would now benefit from getting guaranteed regular action at Selhurst Park.

Gray, 19, is a versatile operator and can play in a variety of different positions. He can play full-back, centre-back or in midfield if needed. He completed his transfer to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium around 12 months ago and penned a long-term contract.

The teenager has already played a lot of games for someone so young. He broke into Leeds’ senior team in 2023 and went on to play 52 matches for the Whites altogether. They reached the play-off final last year but were beaten at Wembley by Southampton. Daniel Farke’s men bounced back this past season in style by winning the Championship title.

Gray proved to be a useful person for Spurs to call upon during his first year. He ended up playing 46 games, 28 of which came in the division. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to nail down a regular place in their starting XI under Frank though, especially if they make some new signings.

Therefore, loaning him out to a team like Crystal Palace in return for Guehi would be a sensible decision. He would return next year a better player and more rounded. In addition, he will be able to show what he can do with the Eagles when playing every single week under Glasner.

As Spurs struggle to get a key transfer over the line, could Chelsea offer their target an alternative?

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The strange circumstances surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White’s pending transfer to Tottenham Hotspur makes it hard to know which of the teams involved is in more of a bind – Spurs or Nottingham Forest.

Spurs identified Gibbs-White as precisely the kind of versatile and direct attacking playmaker they needed to liven up an attack that went rather stale last season, but are now in limbo with the transfer on ice as Nottingham Forest register complaints about the nature of their bid, which triggered a £60m release clause that Forest believe Spurs should only have known about had they gone through the club.

That makes it hard for Spurs to move forward – will they get their man or do they need to find someone else? – but it puts Forest in an awkward spot, too. According to The Daily Mail, they would not prefer to sell to another team, seemingly to spite Spurs, but the only other obvious candidate for a deal, Manchester City, don’t plan any further attacking signings. Forest may have to either sell to Spurs or force a potential malcontent player to stay.

There is, of course, a third way for Forest. Find another buyer. And among the teams who might afford £60m and have an apparent need for a player like Gibbs-White, there’s only one team that jumps out: Chelsea.

Could Chelsea make a move for Morgan Gibbs-White?

Back in June, a few media sources suggested that Gibbs-White was on Chelsea’s radar, including transfer journalist Ben Jacobs who suggested that Enzo Maresca and his hyperactive transfer team “appreciated him” – but no bid ever materialised and that interest never crystallised into anything more tangible.

Chelsea certainly want to add more attacking reinforcements despite the acquisitions of João Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and the imminent arrivals of South American prodigies Kendry Páez and Estevão Willian. That may be a lot of fresh faces, but there are just as many heading towards the exit door.

With Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, João Félix and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all either up for sale or members of the infamous ‘bomb squad’, Mykhaylo Mudryk suspended due to an alleged doping violation and Noni Madueke already sold to Arsenal, the five new players coming in are effectively filling six vacancies. One more player is almost certain to be added.

At the moment, Gibbs-White is not the leading candidate, however much admiration Chelsea might have for him. Reports suggest that talks have taken place over a move for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, who would cost around the same as Gibbs-White, and should those discussions lead nowhere it appears that Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers would be their second choice.

But deals fall through all the time, and should Simons prove unobtainable for any reason the Rogers would not be easy to sign – Villa may be in a relatively tight spot in relation to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules but they are not in so deep that they would be compelled to sell a player they view as a key part of their future plans. In short, Gibbs-White could re-enter the picture.

Whether that happens quickly enough for Nottingham Forest’s purposes, of course, is an open question. Forest’s complaints have blocked the transfer to Tottenham for now, but the barrier may not hold forever if those complaints are dismissed by the relevant authorities.

But Chelsea need a player like Gibbs-White who not only fits Maresca’s methods and tactical ideology but has the positional versatility to cover multiple positions behind the central striker. It’s not a great leap of the imagination to see a deal taking place, even if a few dominoes need to fall first.

Why Nottingham Forest will likely still sell Gibbs-White to Spurs

None of that makes Chelsea a likely destination for Gibbs-White, of course – they just come in as the only other club in the Premier League who have the right combination of tactical needs and transfer funds to plausibly make an offer.

Manchester City were heavily linked with Gibbs-White through the spring and early summer, but instead signed Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and now consider their transfer business to be completed, save for possible outgoings, including the likely departure of James McAtee, who could easily end up at Forest.

The Manchester Evening News’ latest reports on their interest in Gibbs-White plainly suggest that they will not be weighing in with a bid despite their long-standing admiration of the player, and with Chelsea only a hypothetical option for now and more likely to sign Simons, Spurs are probably the only buyer.

Some reports have suggested that Forest will drop their complaints should Daniel Levy throw another £5m into the bargain, although it’s hard to imagine that Spurs would do that unless they have no alternative. Those reports do hint at a certain understanding of the reality that Gibbs-White will be leaving one way or the other, however.

And however angry Forest may be with Spurs, they may be ultimately be compelled to sell Gibbs-White to them simply because there is no alternative, save to attempt to force a wantaway player to stay at the City Ground – the kind of move that seldom has a positive outcome.

One way or the other, Forest likely know that there is only one way that this transfer saga ends, and that’s with Gibbs-White in a white shirt. Their delaying tactics might just buy them time to find another buyer or force Spurs to cough up a little more cash, but the smart bet is on Gibbs-White playing football in North London by September. But if Evangelos Marinakis happens to have Behdad Eghbali’s phone number, it might just be worth a call.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leeds ‘step up pursuit’ of former Aston Villa star

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

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

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

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

The midfielder starred for two seasons in the Premier League

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

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

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

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

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

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

Palhinha could be foundation of new-look Spurs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Son-Kane partnership could terrorise Bundesliga

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

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

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

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

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

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It’s once again time to round up and review another bunch of the biggest and boldest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re going to kick things off with a pretty big story for Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool fans.

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

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

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

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

Chelsea making eyes at brilliant Bundesliga midfielder

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

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

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

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

Newcastle to battle Spurs and Wolves for striker

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

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

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

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

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.