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A former Spurs wonderkid who was compared with Thibault Courtois as a teenager is now without a club - so just what happened to him?

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Shortly afterwards, that 14-year-old goalkeeper was on a plan to north London for a trial. Two years later, he signed his first contract with the club and was compared by his coach to Thibault Courtois. Everything seemed set fair for a glittering career to follow.

Now, at the age of 27 and in his theoretical prime, Thomas Glover is without a club after being released by Middlesbrough. He’s gone from a future star to a player in search for a new home via two continents and a full-blown riot. So what happened?

Why Thomas Glover was meant to be ‘the next Thibault Courtois’

Glover was a junior playing for Australian side Sutherland Sharks when their goalkeeping coach, former Arsenal player and England youth international Ron Tilsed, decided he was simply too good to be kept as a secret in New South Wales.

Tilsed got in touch with Jennings – and Glover impressed to the extent that Spurs moved quickly to make sure that they tied the towering young goalkeeper down to the club for the foreseeable future. He was earmarked for greatness, with Spurs’ goalkeeping coach at the time, Perry Suckling, apparently comparing him to Thibault Courtois due to his huge frame and commanding presence.

Already 6’4” as a teenager, Glover went through his youth career ticking all the relevant boxes – a run to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, a goalkeeper of the tournament award at an Under-19 level event in Europe. He was even called up to Spurs’ first-team squad on occasion as a back-up to Hugo Lloris and Michael Vorm.

As well as Tilsed, Suckling and the legendary Jennings, Mark Schwarzer, one of Australia’s greatest goalkeepers, was a fan and sought him out to offer coaching, and Glover played at both Under-20 and Under-23 level for his country.

For five years, Glover stayed at Spurs and waited for his chance. There were loan moves, a year at Australian side Central Coast Mariners and a brief stint with Swedish outfit Helsingborg, but they yielded just four senior appearances between them as Glover – an advert for the power of nominative determinism if ever there was one – found himself stuck behind more experienced stoppers time and again.

He never got his chance at Spurs. At the age of 21, he was released, without ever making his debut for the club that saw him as such a sparkling prospect. Glover’s career wasn’t done though, and neither has it been entirely uneventful.

A riot in Melbourne and struggles at Middlesbrough

Having left Spurs, Glover returned to Australia where he signed with Melbourne City, a member of Manchester City’s multi-club stable, making 109 appearances over the course of four seasons with the club as their first choice.

He even earned his first call-up to the senior national team in 2023, ahead of a friendly match against Mexico – but he didn’t get on the pitch, and still awaits his first cap. Still, everything was mostly going well, apart from the riot.

In December 2022, fans of local rivals Melbourne Victory entered the field of play during a derby game as part of a planned protest against a decision to sell the A-League Grand Final hosting rights to the government of New South Wales. What hadn’t been planned, at least officially, was the rapid descent into violence.

Objects were hurled at Glover, who responded by throwing a flare back towards the offending supporters. He stood still, staring them down as they attacked him, a couple attempting to grab him despite the best efforts of security before a large bin sailed through the air and smashed into his face.

Glover, who was not punished for throwing the flare, was left with a concussion while the referee, who also stood between Glover and the onrushing Victory fans, was also hurt. It was a chaotic scene to punctuate an otherwise steady career back in Australia.

Eight months later, Glover left Melbourne and found himself back in England – this time with Middlesbrough. Signed as a back-up, he ended up starting 17 league games over two seasons due to injuries – and perhaps demonstrated why he had never quite made the breakthrough that had been expected at Spurs.

Although a commanding presence in the box and excellent at dealing with high balls, his handling skills came under scrutiny and errors and misjudgements meant that by the end of the 2024/25 campaign, he was credited with having conceded three goals more than he ‘should’ have done according to expected goals in the space of those 17 matches.

Few Middlesbrough fans were kind about Glover when it was announced in early September that his contract had been terminated by mutual consent, with local reporting suggesting that the goalkeeper had been keen to move on for some time.

As it stands, Glover is without a club and waiting to work out what comes next in a career that has never quite taken off despite his physical attributes and the many experienced stoppers who believed he could become something special in his youth. At just 27, at least, he still has the time to find a way to prove them right.

The biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United, Leeds and many more.

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It may be a while before we clubs can sign players again, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from turning – and we’re back with our latest round-up and review of the latest Premier League transfer rumours to help keep you in the loop, starting with a story which might worry some Tottenham Hotspur fans.

According to Spurs-specific outlet The Boy Hotspur, the club are “moving quickly to secure the future” of £35m centre-back Micky van de Ven as he finds his way onto the shortlist of several big teams, including Liverpool and cross-capital rivals Chelsea.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are supposedly “circling” as well, but Chelsea seem to be “pushing” harder as Enzo Maresca demands a player who can replace long-term injury absentee Levi Colwill – suggesting that Van de Ven could even be a target for the Blues in January.

Spurs, as one might imagine, aren’t all that keen to sell the Dutchman and are said to be “keen to act before the situation escalates”. As such, they are preparing a contract offer which would double his wages to £100,000 per week. There’s no word on what clubs like Chelsea might be prepared to pay, or what Spurs could demand if Van de Ven won’t sign.

The 3AM Verdict: All rather speculative, perhaps, but it’s inevitable that Spurs would either have to pay Van de Ven a salary in line with his performances or risk losing him sooner rather than later. We doubt a move would take place in January anyway, given the financial and footballing implications. At least two of the teams mentioned – Liverpool and Real Madrid – definitely have other players higher on their lists, incidentally, although that could change.

Manchester United in race for big-name free transfer

One of the most players we’re most surprised didn’t leave their current club over the course of the summer was Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season – and Manchester United are said to be one of the teams that want to sign him for free in a year’s time.

Football Italia claim that Vlahović “is expected to leave” the Old Lady at the end of next June, and United are one of three European clubs “monitoring his situation” along with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

The Serbian will supposedly demand €10m (£8.7m) up front plus the same as an annual salary to join a team, but Atléti are already said to have “sounded him out” while United are among the teams keeping a keen eye on developments. There’s no word on the player’s preference or any suggestion that he could leave Juventus in January.

The 3AM Verdict: All signs do indeed point to Vlahović being a very high profile free agent in a year’s time, and United have been linked with him persistently – with issues up front still visible despite the signing of Benjamin Šeško, we wouldn’t be at all shocked if they were indeed in the running come 2026. We doubt only three teams will be in the conversation, however.

Leeds have ‘reasons to believe’ in second chance at Fulham swoop

Let’s wrap today’s digest up with a story for fans of Leeds United and Fulham which comes courtesy of TeamTalk – who claim that the Elland Road outfit have “reasons to believe” that they can still get their hands on Harry Wilson despite the collapse of a proposed deal at the end of the transfer window.

A January bid “remains on the cards,” it’s claimed, because Fulham still “very much intend to cash in” on the Welshman before his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

It is observed in the article that Leeds managing director Robbie Evans has claimed that winter signings are rather unlikely with their transfer budget spent, but there does still seem to be a pressing need for a winger. Apparently a story from SportsBoom, whoever they are, claims that Everton are also interested in Wilson and could launch a bid.

The 3AM Verdict: We genuinely haven’t previously heard of SportsBoom so we’ll reserve judgement on the accuracy of their reporting, but we suspect that a January move for Wilson is less likely than signing him on a free transfer next summer due to the need to managed Leeds’ finances. We also wonder if Fulham really are keen to ‘cash in’ given that they nixed a summer move at the last minute.

The latest Spurs injury updates and team news ahead of their Champions League opener against Villarreal.

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Tottenham Hotspur make their Champions League return on Tuesday night when they welcome Villarreal to north London for the first of eight league stage matches – but Thomas Frank will be without several key players as they look to get their European campaign off to the best possible start.

Not only will have to continue to navigate long-term injuries to the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, but there are doubts over the availability of striker Dominic Solanke as well. In total, as many as six Spurs players could be absent this evening.

We’ve got all the latest team news and our predicted starting XI for the showdown with Villarreal below ahead of the 20:00 BST kick-off.

Will Dominic Solanke be fit to face Villarreal?

There has been some confusion over the severity of a recent ankle injury which sidelined striker Solanke for the last two league matches – but while a journalist’s report which suggested that he could be set for surgery seems to have been wide of the mark, he is still expected to be unavailable for the game against Villarreal.

Solanke was absent from Monday’s open training session and Frank has now confirmed that he is “not ready to be involved” in the Champions League opener – but the Dane did state that the 28-year-old is “taking steps in the right direction.”

Solanke aggravated an ankle injury that he sustained in pre-season ahead of the recent defeat to his former club Bournemouth and hasn’t returned to training since, but the injury is not expected to be long term.

Richarlison is likely to start as Spurs’ centre-forward having been rested for the start of the recent 3-0 win over West Ham United. Randal Kolo Muani could make his debut for the club but is likely to start on the bench as he builds up to full match fitness having not played since the Club World Cup in July.

Will Xavi Simons start for Spurs in the Champions League?

New signing Xavi Simons made his first Spurs appearance in the West Ham match, setting up Pape Matar Sarr’s opening goal before being replaced by Richarlison late on, and could be in line to start out wide again with Mohammed Kudus taking the right-sided role.

Simons’ introduction to the squad led many pundits to suspect that Frank would switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation but instead the head coach stuck to the 4-3-3 that has worked well for the early phase of the campaign and played Simons as a winger. The Dutchman’s performance was strong enough that he may well get the nod again ahead of Brennan Johnson.

Rodrigo Bentancur, who was rested for the game against West Ham, was expected to return to the line-up to face Villarreal but an impressive outing for youngster Lucas Bergvall means that competition for a place in midfield may be fierce than expected.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevseki (both knee) remain out, with Kulusevseki not expected back until the winter, defender Radu Dragusin (knee) is also out until late 2025 and Yves Bissouma is still sidelined with an unknown injury. He is likely to be available for selection around the end of the month. Summer signing Kota Takai is expected to return from a foot injury in the near future, but Tuesday’s match is likely to come too soon.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Spurs and Crystal Palace.

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Once again, 3 Added Minutes have pored over the global gossip columns to bring you our regular morning round-up of all the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we start off with a story from Manchester United.

Football Transfers combine stories from a couple of different outlets to suggest that United are “preparing” a January bid for Nottingham Forest standout Elliot Anderson as the Red Devils work to rebuild their midfield.

Apparently they are getting ready to launch “an opening offer of €58m” – that’s roughly £50m – and United see Anderson as a “cheaper and more viable” alternative to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, who could cost twice as much if they make a bid next year.

The bad news for United fans is that Forest are said to be “unlikely to grant a sale mid-season” – but the club are still prepared to “test [Forest’s] resolve” once the winter transfer window opens in a few short months.

The 3AM Verdict: The key source for this story is Spanish outlet Fichajes, who provide the financial details, and their track record doesn’t inspire much confidence in us – nor do we think that Forest are remotely likely to permit a move in January unless the fee is absolutely outrageous. Finally, we doubt that United have enough PSR room left to make a £50m bid for anyone unless there’s an unexpected sale. In short, we doubt the entire story.

Spurs make England star their ‘priority’

Having just slated Fichajes, we’ll give them a second chance after they printed a story which could interest Tottenham Hotspur supporters – they claim that Spurs have “shown the most interest” in arranging a deal for former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, and have made him a “priority”.

Apparently, Spurs are “planning a move in the next transfer window” after a summer in which a number of rumours connected Gallagher with a move back to England, with several sides alleged to be interested in securing his services a year after he left to join Atlético Madrid.

Manchester United were said to have been “very close” to signing the England international, too, but Atléti are still unsure how to proceed and are “carefully analysing” their next move as they decide whether to negotiate with other teams or keep hold of Gallagher. The player is said to be “comfortable” in Spain but won’t rule a move back home out.

The 3AM Verdict: We suspect that a few teams did indeed enquire about Gallagher over the summer but with nothing happening we doubt that he’s a “priority” for any clubs right now – not to say that Spurs aren’t interested to some degree. The next few months will determine whether Atléti decide to keep or sell, we suspect.

‘Talks ongoing’ over Crystal Palace deal

Let’s round off today’s digest with an update on a potential transfer deal involving Crystal Palace – Sport Witness state that Turkish side Besiktas are “planning a late move” for Jefferson Lerma, which can take place immediately as their transfer window remains open.

The Istanbul side have “started talks” with Lerma’s representatives, although the outcome is “still open” according to one of the journalists quoted in the article. Palace’s stance on the potential deal is unknown and there is no suggestion that formal bid has been lodged.

The Colombian winger, who is entering the final year of his Palace contract, is said to be one of several names on Besiktas’ shortlist, but they have “intensified” talks as they work to get a deal done.

The 3AM Verdict: A plausible enough story, and one that seems to be corroborated by several sources in and outside of Turkey, which usually hints that it’s more than just paper talk. Whether or not the deal actually takes place, it seems as though the interest is very genuine.

Chelsea & Spurs are among the sides to have been linked with a talented teenager who has already scored a famous goal.

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With the summer transfer window freshly closed behind us, stories are starting to trickle through that tell us about the deals that didn’t quite get done, the failed bids made around the Premier League which could get revisited in the near future – and one audacious enquiry from Tottenham Hotspur, in particular, sets up an interesting story line.

According to TeamTalk’s sources, Spurs made a late enquiry concerning the availability of 19-year-old midfielder Senny Mayulu, best known for scoring PSG’s fifth and final goal against Inter Milan in May’s Champions League final – and while their advances were rebuffed, it sounds as if they will continue to monitor a sensationally talented player’s future.

They won’t be alone. Both Chelsea and Manchester City are said to be tracking Mayulu, who has just two years left on his contract at PSG. But just how good is the young Frenchman, and how likely is it that he moves to the Premier League in the near future?

Why Spurs & Chelsea are both chasing Senny Mayulu

Mayulu made a name for himself when he slashed the ball inside Yann Sommer’s near post with the confidence and poise of a player who plainly felt perfectly comfortable on the biggest stage in club football – but French football fans were familiar with him long before he put the cherry on top of PSG’s record-breaking 5-0 win in Munich.

Although the teenager has only made 16 senior starts, he already has seven goals to his name (including that fine finish against Inter) and four assists, and since making his debut as a 17-year-old last January has dazzled with his quick feet, vision, precise passing and poise under pressure.

His movement is remarkably fluid for such an inexperienced player and he is capable of finding sudden pockets of space that defenders simply can’t cover. His only apparent weakness is that he isn’t especially effective out of possession – a slight figure, he hasn’t shown that he can force turnovers and wouldn’t suit a team looking to produce consistent pressure off the ball.

As an attacking midfielder, though, his combination of creativity, technique and ability to play through and around far more experienced defenders makes him increasingly lethal. There’s little question that he is a special talent, and it’s no surprise that PSG knocked Spurs back.

Still, even though PSG have the funds to ensure that they keep him for the foreseeable future there is also a reason that three Premier League teams could be monitoring him – and there must be a good reason that they believe that the youngster can be lured away from the Parc des Princes. But are Mayulu’s suitors right to be so optimistic?

Will PSG sell Senny Mayulu?

Assuming TeamTalk’s story has its fact straight, PSG have made their present position on Mayulu’s future pretty plain – that he won’t be leaving. Get French Football News also reported back in June that they planned to offer the youngster a new contract off the back of his success in the Champions League final.

That contract remains unsigned, however, and his current deal – which expires at the end of June 2027, has little enough time left on it that clubs will have every reason to suspect that he might become available if he doesn’t agree an extension sooner rather than later.

The reasons that Mayulu has yet to agree a new deal remain obscure, and it’s unclear whether it is simply a matter of haggling over fine details or whether the French Under-20 international is demanding more money than PSG are willing to pay – or even whether he is actively looking to engineer a move in the near future.

It’s also unclear whether Mayulu will get any more game time this season. An adductor injury has prevented him from playing since the Club World Cup, but he in order to become a regular starter he will have to force his way past the likes of Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz. He may well reach a point, like many young talents before him, at which he sees a transfer as a sensible investment in his development.

All of that is speculation, of course, but Spurs are perhaps unlikely to have made an enquiry if they didn’t have some reason to believe that there was a realistic prospect that a deal could be struck. They were wrong in this instance, but the longer the midfielder goes without a contract extension, the more that the pressure will mount on PSG to sell him.

Mayulu is a special talent and it may well be that the clubs watching him are simply doing their due diligence in case the circumstances ever arise in which they can sign him – but with several sides supposedly circling, there may be slightly more to it. If the teenager remains on his current contract come January, this could be a transfer story to keep an eye on.

The latest Spurs team news and predicted line-up - with updates on Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani & Xavi Simons.

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Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this Saturday when they make the short trip across the capital to face rivals West Ham United – but will be forced to travel without several key first-team players due to fitness problems.

Up to six players could be absent through injury, with striker Dominic Solanke among the doubts for the match at the London Stadium – and there are question marks over the fitness of deadline day signings Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani.

We’ve got all the latest team news, injury updates and a predicted starting line-up for Frank’s side below as Spurs look to build upon a solid start to the new campaign.

Is Dominic Solanke fit for Spurs – or will Randal Kolo Muani play instead?

It’s not yet clear whether summer signing Kolo Muani is considered to be fit enough to start for Spurs. The versatile forward had only limited involvement in pre-season while a transfer away from PSG was being negotiated, and hasn’t played a match since his loan side Juventus were knocked out of the Club World Cup in July. It’s probable that he starts from the bench against West Ham with Richarlison in fine form.

Elsewhere, there are conflicting reports concerning the fitness of striker Solanke, who picked up an ankle injury that manager Frank initially described as “minor” when the forward missed the 1-0 defeat to his former side Bournemouth.

Since then, journalist Jake Sanders has claimed that Solanke’s injury is more serious than first anticipated and that surgery could be required, in which case he could be set for a long spell on the sidelines. That report has yet to be confirmed by the club, making the situation extremely unclear heading into this weekend.

Another doubt for the game is Japanese defender Kota Takai, who has yet to make his debut for the club due to planar fasciitis. He has returned to training over the international break, but it isn’t clear that he will be available this weekend. Fellow defender Radu Dragusin has returned to light training this week following an ACL injury, but is still some months away from full fitness.

Will Xavi Simons start for Spurs?

Dutch playmaker Simons became Tottenham Hotspur’s record signing when he moved from RB Leipzig shortly before the end of the summer transfer window, and could be ready to start against West Ham having enjoyed more game time and a more complete pre-season than fellow new arrival Kolo Muani.

Simons played two competitive matches for Leipzig before his move and started for the Netherlands against Poland during the recent international break. He should be close to full fitness and Frank will have to decide whether to put him straight into the first team or whether to integrate him gradually from the bench. If he doesn’t start, then Spurs will likely continue in a 4-3-3 system and revert to 4-2-3-1 when Simons is available.

Simons is set to act as the long-term replacement for James Maddison, who will miss most of the season with an ACL injury, while another key playmaker – Dejan Kulusevski – is not expected to return from his own knee injury before December. Yves Bissouma is another doubt in midfield as he works his way back from a muscular issue which scuppered his proposed move to Galatasaray.

Ange Postecoglou has been announced has Nottingham Forest’s new manager

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The drama at Nottingham Forest surrounding Nuno Espirito Santo and owner Evangelos Marinakis was confusing at worst, downright irrational at best.

One of the greatest success stories in the Premier League last season as Forest qualified for Europe for the first time in 30 years, Nuno had earned every right to continue building a dynasty at the City Ground. Or, at the very least, to guide them into the Europa League this season.

Tensions with famously hands-on owner Marinakis escalated over the summer, to the point where Nuno was speaking publicly about his issues with the ownership by the start of the Premier League season. From there, it was only going to end one way.

On Monday, Forest announced that Nuno had been sacked just over 18 months after his appointment. Mere hours later, former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou was, perhaps predictably announced as his successor. It will be fascinating to see how Postecoglou does in his new job in the coming months, as he looks to impose his distinctive playing style on Nottingham Forest.

Ange Postecoglu arrives - and could raid Spurs in January

On face value, this appointment does make some sense, though controversy may inevitably arise at some stage between the two outspoken figures of Postecoglou and Marinakis.

Postecoglou, Australian by nationality but Greek by birth, name and heritage, could be seen as a potential ally by Marinakis as he attempts to take Forest to the next level. Postecoglou plays a famously-exciting brand of football, too, and recently won the Europa League as his final act at Spurs, so he certainly has the pedigree to succeed Nuno.

It is a distinct possibility that Postecoglou returns to his former club to secure new signings for the City Ground in January. Many Spurs players expressed sadness at Ange departing the club and may be tempted by their former boss to reunite with him in the red of the Tricky Trees. There are several stars Postecoglou could attempt to lure away from north London, but Richarlison could be a huge signing if the Australian aims to secure a former player who would elevate his new side at Forest.

Postecoglou could reunite with Richarlison at the City Ground

This move may seem ambitious given that Richarlison has started for Spurs in their opening three Premier League fixtures and scored an opening-day double against Burnley. But that comes in the context where Dominic Solanke is only just returning from an injury, while deadline-day signing Randal Kolo Muani may well limit the Brazilian’s minutes if he makes a fast start to football in England.

In a World Cup year, former £60 million signing Richarlison will be determined to play enough football to earn a spot on the plane to represent his nation next summer. His performances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were arguably the pinnacle of the 28-year-old’s career so far and he will be keen to get the chance once again.

Another key factor could be Richarlison’s close relationship with Postecoglou. He said in a recent interview with Mail Sport: “Ange is a spectacular guy. He was very important to me and is very loved by everyone at the club. He’s tough, he said he always wins championships in his second year, and he kept that promise.

“Ange always talked a lot with me during his time at the club. In my worst moments, he always tried to help, and I’m very grateful for that. He knew about my desire to help the team but also understood the tough moment I was going through. Honestly, I have nothing to complain about. When I had a run of games after my pubis surgery, I was performing well and scoring goals. It’s a shame I couldn’t do more for him on the pitch because of the injuries I had while he was manager.”

With Forest aiming to go deep into multiple competitions this season, some help to take the load off 33-year-old Chris Wood could be just what they need in January. While strikers Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo have arrived this summer, neither have any Premier League experience and may take their time to adapt to the league. A loan move for Richarlison, with a view to making it permanent if things go well, could be the perfect remedy as Postecoglou looks to make an impact at the City Ground.

He’s starred as a cameo for Liverpool under Arne Slot

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Thomas Frank’s Tottenham were brought back to earth with a bump by Bournemouth after a very promising honeymoon, with Spurs’ remaining limitations plain for all to see despite a solid transfer window.

And while Brennan Johnson has enjoyed a positive overall start to the season, picking up where he left off following that Europa League-winning strike with two Premier League goals in three games, he had a hellish afternoon against the Cherries.

The Spurs faithful let him know too, vociferously cheering his substitution for Wilson Odobert and when Tottenham posted on Instagram that Baltimore Ravens star Kyle Hamilton had visited the team’s training facility, the top comment was ‘can he play left wing’?

Hamilton is one of the more versatile players in the NFL but specialises on the defensive side of the ball so Frank and Daniel Levy will need to keep searching, and the solution for Spurs could be a player who’s at least proved he can vanquish Bournemouth this season - Federico Chiesa.

Sidelined Chiesa retains the ability to shape Premier League

Liverpool signing Chiesa was one of the more bizarre deals of last summer but it’s turned out that was only the first chapter in the enigma of the Italian’s career at Anfield.

The impact of his decisive 88th-minute goal in the season opener against Bournemouth may have been seismic in terms of shaping the narrative around the start of Liverpool’s season, but it barely seems to have resonated with Arne Slot as Chiesa has played just 21 minutes since.

Worse still, he’s been left out of Liverpool’s squad for the start of the Champions League for 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who became the Reds’ youngest-ever scorer when he confidently hit the winner against Newcastle to keep Liverpool’s perfect start to 2025/26 going despite the hosts being the better side at St. James’ Park.

However, there’s a reason Liverpool jumped at the chance to make Chiesa their only signing of the 2024 summer transfer window. The 2023/24 season was only Chiesa’s third best in Serie A, yet he lit up Italy as one of the most dynamic players in the top flight and he’s shown in that player remains in flashes at Liverpool. According to Opta via FBRef.com, Chiesa averaged five shot-creating actions per game that campaign, placing in the top 2% of Serie A wingers with a tally similar to Martin Odegaard, James Maddison or Eberechi in the Premier League last season.

His progressive passes received and progressive carries production also ranked among the best in the league - both facets of the game that Tottenham struggled with against Bournemouth - and the data suggests he should’ve tripled his actual assist tally if Juventus’ other attackers had only packed their shooting boots more often. Chiesa’s own finishing was strong as he outperformed his expected goals tally by three, while all of his key passing metrics were off the charts too, measuring up against the very best creatives in England.

There are obviously reasons why his reputation took such a hit following Euro 2020 despite Chiesa continuing to put up such impressive numbers, including the dramatic drop off in his form for Italy. Having scored twice as the Azzurri were crowned kings of Europe, that semi-final strike against Spain remains his last goal at a major tournament and Chiesa’s failure to fire in World Cup qualifying contributed to Italy missing out on Qatar 2022.

But Chiesa remains a player who can contribute at the highest level and he’d certainly provide an antidote to Tottenham’s lack of proven creative options up front and Frank’s over-reliance on outstanding dribblers versus elite technicians. So can they tempt him from Liverpool?

Uphill battle for Chiesa’s signature not in vain

Liverpool were reportedly fielding offers for Chiesa this summer but the player steadfastly refused to leave Anfield, determined to fight for his place under Slot. Less than a week after the transfer window closed, it’s not idle speculation to wonder whether he’s already regretting that decision.

Slot’s comments on Chiesa following his intervention against Bournemouth were decidedly low-key especially given the overwhelming emotion surrounding the evening, with the Dutchman simply saying: “As long as he’s here, it’s definitely Liverpool and I have no reason to believe something is going to change. He had a hard time last season getting his fitness ready. Unfortunately for him he missed out on our Asian tour as well so he missed quite a lot. When we needed Federico at 2-2, we brought him in and he delivered and that’s always positive for your future at the club."

And if actions do speak louder than words, Slot’s subsequent decisions in Chiesa don’t exactly have to break any decibelometers to drown out those quotes, and it’s clear that he’s now at least third-choice on the left flank without even considering the possibility that Hugo Ekitike or Florian Wirtz could be deployed there out of position.

Given Chiesa’s injury history, a loan move in January may be better than Spurs going all-in on then 28-year-old who will still have over two years left on his contract. It would be an economical way to potentially ignite their attack and potentially save Chiesa’s career in a World Cup year and benefit Liverpool too, truly a win for all parties.

The Premier League transfer window has now closed but there’s still time for clubs in the Middle East and Turkey to strike late deals

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Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has emerged as the subject of an epic transfer battle in Saudi Arabia, with giants Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr both expressing an interest in the England international.

Maguire joined the Red Devils from Leicester City six years ago in a deal worth £80m - a world record fee for a defender at the time. His performances since making that move have often divided opinion but it’s worth noting that the Sheffield-born defender has racked up 249 appearances for the Old Trafford club, scoring 16 times while also contributing eight assists. He was handed the captain’s arm band just six months after joining the club and held the position until 2023 when Erik ten Hag decided to swap the leadership position over to Bruno Fernandes.

Maguire, who has helped England reach a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and a European Championship final in 2021, has just one season remaining on his contract with United and it remains to be seen whether the club will offer him an extension beyond the summer of 2026. The former Leicester City ace has played three matches across all competitions this season. He appeared as a substitute in league games against Arsenal and Fulham, and played the full 90 minutes in a shock defeat to Grimsby Town in the League Cup - in a game which only was decided on penalties due to Maguire’s late headed equaliser.

What does the future hold for Harry Maguire?

According to Caught Offside, both Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli are weighing up 15 million euro offers for Harry Maguire, which equates to around £13m. That figure, while modest by Premier League standards, could be enough to persuade United to offload a player that’s amongst the highest earners, and one that’s struggled to produce in Ruben Amorim’s system.

Maguire hasn’t represented England yet in 2025 and currently faces an uphill battle to get back into the Three Lions setup despite his exceptional performances in past tournaments at international level. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who worked under Gareth Southgate, criticised United for failing to play to Maguire’s strengths at times and claimed for England that the Yorkshireman is a ‘proper leader’.

In an appearance on The Overlap earlier this week, the former Chelsea man said: “We missed Harry Maguire [at Euro 2024]. He’s a top lad, always positive, will always put himself forefront even when he makes mistakes. He’s there, he doesn’t hide has a voice everybody respects him.

“The thing at Man United is that we all know what what what Harry Maguire is. At Man United, if you’re going to play open, yeah, he’s going to get in trouble. But if you protect him at the right ways, he’s going to be a proper proper leader. He’s going to be there. And whatever you say, he’s done brilliant for England.”

The 3AM verdict: While it’s fair to say that Harry Maguire has never truly lived up to his hefty price tag at Old Trafford, it has to be said that there’s a lot of truth to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s comments that his weaknesses have been exposed due to the team’s playing style. However, Maguire remains one of the best remaining leaders in the club’s dressing room and a player that’s capable of helping the team climb the table. He’s an experienced head, one that knows the club well, and still has a habit of chipping in with important goals on occasion.

At this stage, Maguire should be kept by United, and it’s also worth noting that staying in Manchester is best for the player’s short-term future as it gives him a better chance of breaking back into the England setup ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Yves Bissouma could still leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer. Football Insider understands the Mali international is no longer a part of Thomas Frank’s plans and claims a sale is ‘expected’ soon amid reports of interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Bissouma joined the Lillywhites in a £35m transfer from Brighton in 2022 but struggled with injuries in his first campaign as the team finished in eighth position. He produced a much stronger second season when Ange Postecoglou first arrived and helped the club to finish fifth. Last term was Bissouma’s worst in a Spurs shirt as the club finished in 17th position but he did play the full 90 minutes in the team’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United as the club finally ended their 17-year-wait for silverware.

Bissouma is yet to make an appearance following Frank’s arrival, with the Dane explaining that he left the midfielder out of the club’s UEFA Super Cup final squad due to persistent lateness. The midfielder has not appeared in the matchday squad since that incident and also been left out entirely of the club’s Champions League squad.

The 3AM verdict: Tottenham are blessed with options in the middle of the park, including new-signing Joao Palhinha as well as other names such as Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur. All are younger and more likely to feature under Thomas Frank while they also have the added bonus of not having clashed with the new boss. The writing seems to be on the wall for Yves Bissouma after his Champions League omission, and a move to the Middle East or Turkish Super Liga could well prove to be the best solution for both parties at this stage.

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

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The transfer window may have closed but there are still plenty of teams who are planning ahead for future deals – and as such, we’re still here with our regular morning round-up and review of all the latest Premier League transfer rumours to keep you in the loop.

Today, we start with a story for Liverpool supporters who want to know if the club is going to be get their hands on Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guéhi when his contract expires at the end of the season – and they’re facing a bigger battle than they’d like, at least if TeamTalk have their facts straight.

Following the late collapse of Guéhi’s £35m move to Anfield, it seems clear that the centre-back will “reject any and all offers” that his current club make to extend his deal, but that doesn’t mean Liverpool will get him on a free transfer, with several major European clubs also keen.

Bayern Munich are said to have “joined the race” alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid, who are “circling” Guéhi ahead of next summer. Liverpool are still the favourites, apparently, but Guéhi will have plenty of offers to choose from when the time comes.

The 3AM Verdict: An inevitable situation, really, and much will depend on whether Guéhi himself fancies a move abroad or not – and this article doesn’t make any claims as to his preferences. Liverpool have the advantage given that they’ve already sold the project to the player, but don’t expect it to be easy for them to make this deal happen.

Spurs to ‘try again’ in January for £44m winger

Tottenham Hotspur could be gearing up for a second crack at a young winger that they failed to buy over the summer, according to Caught Offside – and are “expected to try again” come January.

Spurs are allegedly “continuing to show a strong interest” in Lyon winger Malick Fofana, and apparently saw a late bid rejected because the French side didn’t have time to find a replacement. Apparently Lyon value the 21-year-old Fofana at €50m (£44m).

While Spurs are showing “strong interest” in the Belgian, they may not be alone in making a move over the winter – Liverpool, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and a number of continental clubs are also mentioned as having been linked with Fofana at some stage of the summer.

The 3AM Verdict: We were surprised Fofana didn’t leave over the summer and unless hid form dips quite dramatically, we’d expect a bidding war to break out sooner or later, and Spurs may very well be at the front. Whether Spurs’ opinion on a bid changes now that Daniel Levy has been sacked remains to be seen.

Newcastle set for second striker bid in next transfer window

Another of the many deals that fell through on deadline day was William Osula’s proposed move from Newcastle United to Eintracht Frankfurt – but Bild (via Sport Witness) report that the German side “haven’t given up” on signing the striker just yet.

Frankfurt are “planning a January transfer window attempt” to get the deal over the line at the second time of asking – apparently, the deal collapsed because Newcastle demanded too much money, both for the up-front loan fee and for the purchase clause, which would have totalled up to €25m (£22m), less than reported by the British media.

The gap in valuation has “not ended their interest”, however, and it is “likely” that they line up a second bid over the winter. It’s suggested that Osula himself is happy enough to make the move, and it’s just a matter of negotiating the fee.

The 3AM Verdict: Given that January transfer fees tend to be inflated, we’re not sure what will change to make it easier to arrange a deal, but perhaps the initial loan fee being lower (given that they’d be borrowing him for less time) would make it all more palatable? We’ll likely find out in January.