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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.

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

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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.

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.