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The transfer would be worth £80m including a former Aston Villa man

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Thomas Frank’s start to life at Tottenham Hotspur has been inauspicious at best, having suffered several key losses and only made two new first-team permanent signings, but a former Premier League star who Juventus are keen to sell for €40 million (£35m) could help turn things around.

After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White, Frank’s transformation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hit another roadblock when James Maddison was stretchered off with a serious knee injury, highlighting the shallow depth that remains in a squad that will need to fight on four fronts this season.

Meanwhile club legend Son Heung-min has departed for Los Angeles FC, following fellow stalwart Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg out of the exit door.

To replenish the side, Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel’s loan moves were made permanent for a combined £51m, Mohammed Kudus became the club’s second biggest signing of all time and teenagers Luka Vuskovic (deal agreed in 2023), Max McFadden and Mason Melia join 20-year-old Kota Takai as long-term investments.

The loan signing of Joao Palhinha is certainly a masterstroke, an upgrade on Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur who let his side and himself down badly last season missing three weeks through injury but more damagingly 14 games through suspension including for allegedly racially abusing Son.

However, Tottenham’s midfield could do with further reinforcements especially after the loss of Maddison, to prevent another over-reliance on Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr.

And with CaughtOffside reporting he’s up for grabs this summer, Juventus’ Douglas Luiz could be the perfect man to fill that void - and get revenge on Nottingham Forest for the Gibbs-White saga in the process - in a swap plus cash deal involving Richarlison.

Luiz the missing piece in Frank’s midfield

Initially a more defensive-minded player, Luiz was transformed under Unai Emery in the Spaniard’s first full season at Villa Park - notching more goal contributions than he’d managed in his three previous seasons combined - and it’s that all-round game that could be the perfect match for Tottenham.

Palhinha is a force of nature out of possession - he famously notched the most tackles in the Premier League for two seasons running - but the move to Bayern Munich exposed his shortcomings higher up the pitch

Forced to spend more of his time in the opposition half than his own under Vincent Kompany, Palhinha struggled with the increased play-making responsibility having never been a premier passer of the ball, and his advanced position made it much easier for teams to take him out of the game with the first pass of a counter attack, nullifying his fearsome defensive ability.

Meanwhile Luiz has the passing range to better kick-start moves after Palhinha’s done his thing - his heat map pre and post-Emery showed he played the majority of his football around 30 yards closer to the opposition goal - and the all-court nature of his game will suit the ultimate pragmatist in the dugout.

While part of Frank’s remit at Tottenham will be to develop his younger midfield options, there will be plenty of opportunities across a lengthy Champions League campaign, Premier League and FA and League Cups even with Luiz.

Luiz isn’t short of suitors with Nottingham Forest in the hunt and Liverpool monitoring his situation (of course they are) but he’d be lower down the pecking order at Anfield while the Tricky Trees can’t offer the Champions League opportunities that Frank can.

Serie A move Richarlison

Despite falling short in their pursuit of Frank’s former charge Bryan Mbeumo, options remain for Tottenham up front including Antoine Semenyo and Eberechi Eze, and maverick Richarlison doesn’t seem to fit the mould of forward that the new manager is looking for.

Richarlison’s physicality has been found wanting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the Brazilian at times looking drained by the pace of the Premier League, while Serie A would appear a better fit as Juventus look to overhaul their attack following a rather dismal 2024/25 season that saw them go trophyless and finish fourth in the league.

Jonathan David could prove to be the bargain of the summer on a free transfer and Richarlison has the skill-set to dovetail well with the Canadian in the final third.

It remains to be seen whether Kenan Yildiz will remain in Turin this summer but Richarlison would benefit the squad with or without the 20-year-old and for all their struggles last season, Juventus are competing in the Champions League again this season, a factor which clearly means a lot to the Brazilian.

Earlier this year, GIVEMESPORT’s Ben Jacobs revealed Tottenham are willing to make a loss on the 28-year-old valuing him at £40m-£45m, so it’s plausible that Daniel Levy could swing Luiz and around £10m as a sweetener for Richarlison in a move that would be primed to work out for all parties.

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It’s time for our regular morning round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re kicking today’s digest off with a story for fans of Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs are “hoping to advance on talks” over a new attacking addition, according to GiveMeSport, a process likely sped up by a pre-season injury to James Maddison – and have players from Manchester City, Real Madrid and AC Milan “among their targets”.

Former £100m man Jack Grealish is a “potential” addition, although his £300,000-per-week wages could complicate matters, while there is also “genuine interest” in Portuguese winger Rafael Leão – although he too could prove “too expensive” given that Milan value him highly and went to keep him.

Rodrygo is the Real player on their shortlist and it’s suggested that he could be cheaper than Leão, but Spurs have yet to “firm up their interest” in the Brazilian. A final player mentioned at the end of the report is Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, but it’s also said that Spurs have not made any kind of contact over the Argentine.

The 3AM Verdict: A shortlist full of long shots in many ways – all of these players are either wanted by other teams who are ahead of Spurs or have financial barriers standing in the way of a deal. We wouldn’t be shocked if Spurs don’t end up signing any of them, but the interest in Rodrygo and Leão is genuine, at least, if unlikely to come to much. We don’t think a bid for Garnacho is likely.

Newcastle target £26m Serie A star

Newcastle United are said to be “actively exploring” the possibility of a deal for AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, according to Caught Offside, with the 23-year-old centre-half seen as “a serious candidate” for a role in Eddie Howe’s back four.

Having “closely monitored” the German, Newcastle are said to be debating a bid in the region of €25-30m (up to about £26m) having already made “informal contact” with Thiaw’s representatives back in the January transfer window.

No formal offer has yet been made, but “initial exchanges” have been made between Newcastle and AC Milan as they work to figure out whether a deal can be done. Apparently, there is a “growing sense of mutual interest” in agreeing a fee, although Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri allegedly wants to keep Thiaw around.

The 3AM Verdict: Newcastle have been linked with a few defenders and stories connecting them with the likes of Marc Guéhi and Giorgio Scalvini are better sourced – but it’s possible that Thiaw is on the shortlist somewhere. Newcastle will certainly bid for a centre-back of some stripe before the end of the summer window.

Nottingham Forest eye former Brentford midfielder

Finally, some news for Nottingham Forest fans – not only do Sport Witness believe that they are winning the race to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, but they have also added RB Salzburg captain Mads Bistrup to their list of targets for the summer.

The claim comes in part from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who notes that they have moved the 24-year-old midfielder “to the top of their shortlist”. There’s no word on how much Bistrup might cost, but he set Salzburg back around £5m when he signed from Brentford back in 2023.

The Dane is “now set to be offered a return to the Premier League” with Forest, according to the report, but there is little details as to whether the club have made contact with Salzburg or whether any kind of bid has been made.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s far too little information in all this to judge how accurate Plettenberg’s initial report is. A deal for Luiz appears to be the clear priority at the City Ground, but having sold Danilo to Botafogo over the summer we do suspect that Forest want another midfielder. Whether that’s Bistrup remains to be seen.

Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid could join forces for an unlikely transfer deal this summer

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Tottenham Hotspur and new manager Thomas Frank will firmly hope that their transfer business is not yet done for the summer as the club look to build on Europa League success.

Frank arrived to replace Ange Postecoglou and will have no easy task on his hands. He has added the likes of Mohammed Kudus to his squad, alongside permanent returns for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso and the recent loan signing of Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich. But a move for Morgan Gibbs-White fell through at the eleventh hour, while links with Eberechi Eze have died down amidst interest from arch-rivals Arsenal.

Spurs are not the only club with a new manager eager to impress this summer, as Spanish giants Real Madrid have appointed Xabi Alonso as the successor to the legendary figure of Carlo Ancelotti. Alonso has a high reputation, both at the club and externally, but will feel the pressure to challenge for La Liga and the Champions League in his first season in the Spanish capital.

Spurs and Real Madrid swap deal could stun the transfer market

One of the issues surrounding Alonso’s early months in Madrid has been the future of Rodrygo, who may not be viewed as a first-choice for Los Blancos next season and reportedly wants a move to the Premier League. Liverpool and Arsenal have often been linked throughout the window, but Spurs have recently joined the race and may be prepared to spend a huge £78 million on the Brazil international.

With Son Heung-min having announced he will leave the club this summer, Spurs may feel that they have a gap in their starting XI and in their wage structure for a marquee signing of the class of Rodrygo. The Lilywhites may opt to include a player in negotiations to soften the deal with Real.

Rodrygo’s Brazil international team-mate Richarlison may be available for sale this summer according to reports and Spurs could decide to include the former Everton and Watford forward in a potential deal for Rodrygo as they look to get an advantage over rival suitors.

Rodrygo and Richarlison swap deal could be the answer

Richarlison has previously expressed that to play for Real Madrid someday is his dream, which could come true if this swap deal were to come to fruition. The Brazilian has struggled with form and fitness issues at Spurs but often rises to the occasion when playing for his national side, something it is more than conceivable that he could do once again for Los Blancos.

Alonso and Madrid have reportedly been looking to sign a back-up striker this summer - someone in the mould of Joselu, who scored important goals off the bench last time Real won the Champions League in 2023/24 - and Richarlison could fit that bill. While the recent emergence of Gonzalo Garcia may have thrown these plans into jeopardy, Richarlison could arrive to compete with the 21-year-old Spaniard for minutes and would be delighted just to get the chance to play for the club he loves.

Spurs have been reported as considering a cut-price deal to get Richarlison off the books this summer, as the forward may struggle for minutes under Frank. A bid by the north London side of around £50m - £60m plus Richarlison may therefore be enough to get a deal for Rodrygo over the line. This would truly stun the football world if it were to happen.

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With the transfer window continuing to move at pace, we’re back with our latest round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with a story for the Tottenham Hotspur fans among you.

Spanish outlet Sport suggests that Spurs have “approached” Barcelona over the possibility of arranging a deal for 21-year-old midfielder Marc Casadó, who impressed greatly before losing his starting spot in Hansi Flick’s side after the turn of the year.

The youngster has attracted “a lot of attention”, most notably from Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, and while the player is said to want to stay at the Camp Nou, Barcelona would apparently “open the door with an off-market offer.”

Their valuation is only said to be around €30m (£26m), however, which isn’t bank-breaking stuff by Premier League standards. Sport suggest that a deal won’t happen particularly quickly, with Barcelona likely to make a decision on which midfielders they can live without after the first couple of games of the season.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s little suggestion that Spurs have made Casadó any kind of priority and informal enquiries of this nature often lead nowhere, so we don’t necessarily think this is a deal that’s likely to take place – but Barcelona may well be forced to sell someone before September. Fermín López has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal, too, and we doubt that both moves happen.

West Ham given striker deadline

For rumour number two we’re heading across the capital to West Ham United, whose alleged pursuit of Cagliari striker Roberto Piccoli has taken another turn – according to Sport Witness.

The Serie A side are apparently trying to “build an auction” for the 10-goal forward with Como joining the Hammers in their interest – and as such, Piccoli’s current employers want “more pressure” on the Londoners to make a formal bid.

Cagliari want between €25m and €30m (£22-26m) for the 24-year-old and have supposedly set West Ham a deadline of 15 August to make a bid. Should interested parties not have concluded a deal by then, the plan is to keep Piccoli around and start the season with him in the squad.

The 3AM Verdict: Piccoli isn’t an especially prolific striker but the Italian media are convinced that he’s become West Ham’s number one target this summer – all while the English press worry more about their work to sign a midfielder. We’re still not sure how serious West Ham’s interest in Piccoli is, but it sounds like we’ll find out quickly.

Arsenal star ‘closes in’ on Fulham move

Finally, an update from Football Insider regarding rumours that Fulham are bidding for Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson – they claim that the Cottagers are “closing in” on a deal with Arsenal “keen to sell” to raise transfer funds.

Nelson remains Fulham’s “top target” despite numerous stories linking them with Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, and the conclusion of a deal for Nelson could put an end to that possible move.

It’s suggested that it’s likely that Nelson, who spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage, would return for a second loan spell with an option to purchase, although there’s no word on the financial specifics of this apparently likely deal.

The 3AM Verdict: The idea that it would be a loan move isn’t based on any inside information but the opinion of a scout with no connection to either player or club whatsoever, so if that’s correct it’s an educated guess more than anything else, but there are increasing mutterings that a deal for Nelson is close to being concluded. What impact that may have on a move for Sterling remains to be seen.

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It’s once again time for our regular round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we kick our latest digest off with news of a transfer battle brewing between Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

GiveMeSport expand upon reports from the Spanish media which suggest that Manchester United are “preparing” a bid worth €70m (£61m) for 22-year-old Barcelona midfielder Fermín López while both Arsenal and Chelsea show interest as well.

Now, apparently, the Gunners have “made an enquiry” about the Spain international’s availability while Chelsea are “believed” to have done the same – although United have, as yet, not graduated beyond “seriously contemplating” an offer, according to this story.

Barcelona would “ideally like to keep” López around but their persistent financial difficulties could, apparently, force a sale – whether that’s at the €70m mark suggested is unclear, as is whether any of the three Premier League teams involved might make a formal offer.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s a sense that we’re seeing exploratory discussions without, as yet, any imminent prospect of a bid. Arsenal seem like a curious club to be involved given how much they’ve already invested in their midfield, but United in particular need fresh legs there. One to watch, but don’t expect major movement soon.

Spurs and United snubbed by striker target

Manchester United feature in our second story, too, along with Tottenham Hotspur – Sport Witness corral some reports from the continent which suggest that both sides will be getting bad news in their reported pursuit of PSG’s Randal Kolo Muani.

The France international is set to leave the Parc des Princes this summer but has “rejected enquiries” from United and Spurs and is determined to return to Juventus, where he spent the second half of last season on loan.

A deal between PSG and Juventus is “edging closer” with the player “keen” to head back to the Old Lady. Kolo Muani is expected to head back on an initial loan with an obligation to buy, with the total package worth €40-45m (£35-40m). It’s now looking like the English sides monitoring the situation won’t be taking their interest any further, however.

The 3AM Verdict: Neither United nor Spurs made a formal offer for Kolo Muani and reports varied as to just how interested they were, with some sources suggesting that informal enquiries had been made – and, apparently, rebuffed. It was almost most likely that the Frenchman would move back to Juventus, and so it seem set to prove.

West Ham, Leeds & Crystal Palace battle for relegated star

Finally, a word from Caught Offside, who suggest that the battle for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes has heated up, with Leeds United and Crystal Palace joining West Ham in the bidding.

The Hammers are still said to be “particularly keen” on the 21-year-old midfielder, who was comfortably Southampton’s best performer in a truly diabolical season, but are among a “host of clubs showing interest” which also includes Juventus and Atlético Madrid, according to this story. Previous reports have also mentioned Inter Milan.

Southampton’s asking price is said to be £20m and West Ham “have the resources to meet” it, it’s claimed, but “nothing is advanced” with any of the sides set to make offers. There’s no further details about the depth of Leeds or Palace’s interest, they’re just mentioned as names on a seemingly lengthy list.

The 3AM Verdict: Previous reporting from Italy had suggested that Fernandes has set his sights on a move away from England, but that could just be wishful thinking. If £20m really is the asking price, then we aren’t surprised to see more teams getting involved however – the Portuguese midfielder was superb last season even while everything fell apart around him.

Tottenham Hotspur could return to the transfer market for more key signings this summer

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Tottenham Hotspur have had a busy summer transfer window after Europa League final success ended the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy. Champions League football and an exiting season are on the horizon.

Thomas Frank has arrived as the club’s new head coach from Brentford and has looked to put his stamp on his new club as the north London outfit look to build on the trophy success of Ange Postecoglou.

Mohammed Kudus has arrived in a huge £55million deal from West Ham United in the club’s biggest purchase so far, while the likes of Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso and Kota Takai have also arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But Frank will hope that their summer business is not done just yet, with scope for several further additions to elevate the Spurs squad ahead of the new Premier League season.

Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha could complete return to Premier League

Spurs have been linked with former Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, who may depart German champions Bayern Munich after just a year in the Bundesliga. After a £47m move last summer, Spurs are now targeting a Premier League return for the 30-year-old for what could be a reduced price of just £34.7m according to TeamTalk.

With Yves Bissouma linked to an exit and Spurs often lacking bite in midfield last season, Palhinha could be just what Frank requires for his new side. The Portugal international could patrol the midfield in a similar way to Christian Norgaard under Frank at Brentford, while Palhinha’s defensive prowess is well-known - he ranked first in the number of tackles across Europe’s top five leagues during both his seasons with Fulham.

An experienced international who has already shone in the Premier League, Palhinha would would be the ideal midfield candidate for Frank as he looks to mould a side which is far more difficult to beat than Postecoglou’s Spurs outfit, who finished in an unforgivable 17th place in the league.

Brentford forward could follow Frank to his new club

New Manchester United signing Bryan Mbeumo has stolen many headlines this summer, but the future of his former Brentford strike partner Yoane Wissa is equally intriguing.

The 28-year-old is reportedly keen to depart the Bees and experience playing Champions League football, amidst strong interest from Newcastle United for his signature. But the Magpies have an Alexander Isak-shaped situation which needs sorting and are also expected to make a move for Benjamin Sesko, meaning there is still time for Spurs to step back in and secure a deal for Wissa. Frank’s side have been linked with the DR Congo international, who could cost up to £50m, ever since the Dane took over at Spurs and Wissa could relish the opportunity to reunite with the manager who brought him to England.

Spurs have also been linked with signing a new centre-back, amidst continued reports that Cristian Romero may not remain at the club for too much longer. Recent reports by One Football suggest that a move for 18-year-old Parma prodigy Giovanni Leoni may be on the cards. The Serie A side are reportedly demanding €30m-€40m for the 2006-born prodigy, who has made an impact on the Italian outfit despite only making his Serie A debut in September 2024. The signing of Leoni would prove Spurs’ trust in Frank and his reputation for developing young players, with several teenagers already in the squad and hoping to take the next step in their careers in 2025/26.

Spurs and Bournemouth are both linked with the same defender - but who will win the transfer battle?

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Bournemouth’s defence is in the process of being gutted this summer, and Andoni Iraola has quite a job on his hands with Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez already gone and Ilia Zabarnyi likely to follow – but he isn’t the only Premier League manager worrying about losing defenders in the transfer market.

Tottenham Hotspur and Thomas Frank have spent much of the summer sweating about the future of Cristian Romero, who may yet end up heading to Madrid – and if he were to leave, they would lose a major physical presence in defence as well as a defender who’s excellent in one-on-one situations.

With Romero’s possible departure hanging over their heads, they have of course identified a defender they can sign should they need. It just so happens that it seems to be precisely the same player that Bournemouth want to fill their own defensive void…

Why Spurs & Bournemouth both want Koni de Winter

If Spurs do lose Romero, then they may well appreciate the ways in which De Winter’s best traits overlap with the experienced Argentine’s. Romero was superb against dribblers trying to beat him one-on-one, winning 70% of his ground duels in the Premier League last season, and De Winter is just as good, winning 68% in Serie A.

Furthermore, De Winter – who stands at 6’3” and has plenty of spring in his heels – is an impressive aerial presence who handles crosses well and who is seldom caught out of position. Were Spurs to lose Romero and sign De Winter, they may not miss the more experienced player’s ability to dominate the box too badly.

For all those same reasons, of course, Bournemouth are keen too, and Fabrizio Romano reported on Thursday that they have “joined the race” (not that they weren’t widely reported as being in it already) and saw De Winter as a replacement for Zabarnyi, who is expected to leave for PSG in the coming weeks.

Even if Zabarnyi somehow stays, they may will try to sign De Winter to cover for the absence of Huijsen, one of the very best young players of the 2025/26 season and another centre-half who was always in the right place at the right time and who was seldom beaten one-on-one either on the ground or in the air.

De Winter becomes even more appealing given that he’s comfortable with the ball at his feet and happy to bring the ball out of defence and spring counter-attacks, even if he lacks the remarkably impressive passing range exhibited both by Huijsen and by Spurs’ other centre-back, Micky van de Ven. De Winter is a young defender whose qualities mesh neatly with the way that Spurs and Bournemouth try to play football, and who could provide a very adequate replacement for excellent players who are leaving or have already left. The question is who will win the race…

Will Spurs or Bournemouth win the race to sign De Winter?

Bournemouth appear to have one major advantage in the hunt for De Winter right now – they’re the only team who appear to be ready to make a bid. Spurs seem to be taking up a holding pattern, likely waiting to find out what happens with Romero. Bournemouth, down one defender and knowing fine well they will be down two very soon, are getting ready to move.

The disadvantage that they have, however, is that they aren’t the biggest team in the race. Neither, come to that, are Spurs. Inter Milan have been monitoring De Winter for some time, and may well make a bid before long. The Nerazzurri cast a long shadow over the process, and their presence may explain why Bournemouth have yet to bid – it may well be that De Winter’s representatives have communicated that he wants to wait to see whether Inter make an offer.

Inter may not make a bid, however, as their primary target appears to be young Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni, a target for quite a few teams (he has been linked with Spurs, as it happens). Sign Leoni, and De Winter will be left for others. Miss out, and they may very well blow Bournemouth out of the water.

But it’s perhaps Spurs who should be moving most urgently. They have the clout and cash to turn De Winter’s head and even if they don’t end up losing Romero, there’s a clear need for another centre-back who can offer a similar combination of control, poise and physical presence.

With Van de Ven’s injury history and little proven depth behind Spurs’ first choice centre-backs, they’d be foolish not to make a move – and the asking price isn’t too steep, with a number of outlets reporting that Genoa want €25-30m (£21.5-26m). For a 23-year-old of De Winter’s apparent qualities it looks like a bargain, especially relative to Spurs’ spending power.

As it stands, there are no credible reports suggesting that any of the teams involved have submitted a formal bid for De Winter, but that may change soon – and Spurs should perhaps try to take advantage of Inter and Bournemouth’s hesitation. Whoever lands De Winter will sign a mature, composed and potent defender. That’s something all three teams sorely need.

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Welcome to 3 Added Minutes’ latest morning round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – let’s dive straight into it with a story that both Manchester United and Newcastle United fans might want to hear.

Reporting via TalkSport, journalist Ben Jacobs claims that Manchester United have “opened talks” with RB Leipzig over Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško and have sent a “delegation” to Germany to meet with the 22-year-old’s current employers.

This comes hot on the heels of separate reports from earlier in the week which suggest that Šeško would prefer a move to Old Trafford over a switch to St. James’ Park, and fuels speculation that Newcastle could miss out on yet another key transfer target this summer.

Šeško’s price tag may yet hold things up. Leipzig want €80m (£69m) for the striker, while both United and Newcastle are hoping to knock that down to €70m (£60m). No formal offer has yet been made by the Mancunian side, but it may be only a matter of time.

The 3AM Verdict: The signs are definitely starting to point towards Manchester United winning this particular tug of war, but there’s a lot of road ahead and Newcastle could probably force things but shelling out the full amount and being the only team whose offer is accepted – so we’re not willing to say it’s over just yet, but it doesn’t sound good for the Magpies right now.

Spurs use ‘secret weapon’ in attempts to sign Serie A star

Over to TBR Football now, who claim that Tottenham Hotspur hope to move on from their abortive transfer bid for Morgan Gibbs-White by signing AC Milan and Portugal winger Rafael Leão.

The report suggests that Spurs are using sporting director Fabio Paratici as a “secret weapon” in this endeavour, as he has apparently has a “good relationship” with Milan, while the Italian side are also said to need to raise some funds, which raises the chances that Spurs could get a deal over the line.

There is no word on how much Milan might charge for their prized asset, nor any suggestion that Spurs have made a bid, with other names reported as being on their radar by different outlets including Jack Grealish and Rodrygo.

The 3AM Verdict: We haven’t seen this corroborated anywhere yet so are suitably sceptical about the story, especially given the lack of detail. But expect Spurs to be willing to spend big on one more attacking player this summer – we don’t think Rodrygo is likely, but Leão isn’t especially implausible.

Timothy Weah turns down Spurs and Chelsea – or has he?

We’ll end with a story with two sides to it concerning Chelsea and Spurs’ alleged interest in Juventus utility player Timothy Weah, who is said to have “turned down” both sides because he would prefer to move to Marseille.

That’s the story sold by Spazio J, who cite Sky Sports Italia in their reporting in claiming that the French side are Weah’s “preferred destination” and he is just waiting for them to meet Juve’s €20m (£17.3m) asking price. The implication is that if the two London sides want their man, they can get there by upping the bidding.

But that’s flatly contradicted by Sport Witness, who state that “neither [Chelsea nor Spurs] has even made contact” for Weah. They affirm Marseille’s interest but suggest that the links to Chelsea and Spurs are likely the invention of agents trying to drum up some Premier League interest in the hope of pushing up the price.

The 3AM Verdict: We’re on Sport Witness’ side here and don’t believe that either Chelsea or Spurs are pushing to sign Weah, and indeed likely have no interest at all. It’s simply not a story we’re heard from anyone we trust in the capital, and Sport Witness’ suggestion that it’s a planted story appears pretty plausible. A few Premier League teams have been intermittently linked with Weah over recent months, but we don’t see either of these sides coming in.

Manchester United and Spurs have been linked with a transfer bid for the same midfielder - and United should make sure they win the race.

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While Manchester United have spent heavily on reinvigorating their attack this summer already, one major problem from last season remains entirely unaddressed – the midfield, which struggled with the demands of Ruben Amorim’s system last season.

Casemiro looks past his sell-by date, Manuel Ugarte has yet to live up to his billing and Kobbie Mainoo failed to maintain the form that saw him explode onto the scene in 2023/24, and all found it tough to effectively cover the kind of ground required by a two-man central pairing. If United are to get back on course, then a midfield refresh is surely a requirement.

So far, United have worried more about getting the goals that were notable by their absence under Amorim but a firm base of possession will surely become a priority before the transfer window closes – and rumours suggest that a former Premier League standout is now at the top of the shopping list. And if they do sign him, then they might just upset Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans in the process…

Will Manchester United hijack Spurs’ bid for João Palhinha?

The player in question is 30-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha, who moved from Fulham to Bavaria last summer for around £50m but has struggled to maintain his Premier League form in the Bundesliga.

United’s alleged interest in the Brazilian has been the subject of several stories in recent weeks, with The Independent the latest and perhaps most reputable outlet to mention the link. United aren’t alone in monitoring the midfielder, however.

Spurs, another side who need to inject some energy and bite into their midfield this summer, are also said to be interested in a move, while a few media sources suggest that Fulham could be interest in engineering a reunion with their standout player from the 2023/24 season as well.

Reports regarding the financial details of a potential move have been extremely varied. Some sources, such as GiveMeSport, suggest that an initial loan deal is most likely, while others claim that suitors could pay anything from £25m all the way up to £45m to arrange a permanent transfer.

Whether United want to borrow Palhinha or splash out to keep him for good remains to be seen, but the persistence of stories suggesting their interest means that he is likely to be high on their wishlist – and the same is true for Spurs. Perhaps if United could get a deal over the line, it would offer a small measure of revenge for their defeat in the Europa League final.

Still, if the fee ended up being anywhere near the £45m implied in some corners, there would be very little room for Palhinha to continue the subpar form he demonstrated at Bayern. He would have to get back to his best Fulham form very rapidly or risk looking like a serious waste of money. But the Fulham edition of Palhinha could be precisely what Manchester United need…

Why João Palhinha could be the right signing for Ruben Amorim

The difference between Palhinha’s performances at Craven Cottage and those at the Allianz Arena can largely be summed up by his tackling stats.

During the 2022/23 Premier League season, Palhinha attempted 135 tackles. In 2023/24, it went up to 152. In the Bundesliga last season, it was just 16. That’s partly because he barely started any matches and will also be influenced by the fact that he was playing for a team that dominated possession in their matches, but still – every 90 minutes, he put in around 40% of the total number of challenges that he had before.

There’s a debate as to whether that reflects the way Bayern tried to use him, further forward and more as a ball-carrier than as a ball-winner, or whether it’s a result of seemingly reduced energy and effort. Palhinha, who never seemed to stop at Fulham, seldom got going in Germany.

Therein lies the cause for concern for any potential buyer, but the upside is that when he was at his best – a best which came in the Premier League – Palhinha was not only destructive off the ball but dynamic on it and could cover huge swathes of grass effectively.

That’s precisely the sort of player that United desperately need. Casemiro’s legs were too old to cover the ground asked of him last season, and Mainoo’s technicality in tight corners makes him better suited to a more compact three-man midfield. If Amorim’s methods are to succeed, a player like Palhinha could be the answer, and if they can sign him on loan with no obligation to take him on full time if he can’t get back up to speed, then it seems like a low-risk, high-reward way to do business.

The same attributes that make him appeal to United, of course, provide the reasons for Spurs’ interest, and they too need to reinvigorate and reinforce their midfield if they’re going to make the most of their Champions League qualification or to get to form back in the league themselves.

Spurs are in such a similar situation to United in so many ways that finding a way to leapfrog them, even a minor one, may result in a satisfying and not insignificant advantage – but ultimately, however they get there, United need a midfielder that suits Amorim’s style of play. Without that, they will surely fall short of European qualification no matter how much they spend up front.

The biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Spurs, Nottingham Forest and more.

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With the transfer window moving at speed, we’re here to help you stay up-to-date with all the latest news with our regular round-up and review of the spiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with a story for Manchester United fans.

Caught Offside claim that United are preparing an audacious “overhaul” of their goalkeeping position by placing André Onana up for sale and setting their sights on the “coveted prize” of PSG stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

If that sounds ambitious, it’s apparently made a little more plausible by the player’s “dissatisfaction” with a new contract offer which would reduce his salary, and there are supposedly suggestions that he could be replaced by Lille’s Lucas Chevalier. The Italian’s priority, however, is apparently to remain in Paris.

Porto’s Diogo Costa is another option should United fail to land Donnarumma and the Portugal number one is apparently available for around £50-60m due to a release clause in his contract. That’s more than United are demanding for Onana, with £35-40m said to be the valuation for the Cameroonian, who is wanted by AS Monaco and some unspecified Saudi Arabian sides.

The 3AM Verdict: We can’t imagine the world in which United sign Donnarumma this summer, quite frankly, but if they can find a buyer for Onana then Costa is a rather more realistic target. There’s every chance the Porto man finally moves this summer, and he’d be a fine and eminently realistic target. Something big would have to change for Donnarumma to leave PSG, though.

Spurs & Nottingham Forest target deemed ‘unsellable’

Over to some bad news for fans of both Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest now – Sport Witness relay reports from Italy which suggest that the two teams will both be frustrated in their alleged pursuit of Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi.

The Italy international fell down the pecking order under former manager Simone Inzaghi but apparently that’s expected to change under new head coach Cristian Chivu and despite “talk of interest” from the two Premier League teams, Frattesi has seemingly been told that he is “unsellable” this summer.

Spurs and Forest apparently made enquiries about his availability already, alongside Marseille and Atlético Madrid, and the player was apparently interested in exploring his options – but is now content to sign a new contract with his place in the first team likely to be resorted.

The 3AM Verdict: We’re not entirely convinced that the link with Spurs or Forest was ever that tangible, but it would be no surprise if Frattesi wasn’t on quite a few shortlist. With details of a new five-year deal now on the table, however, it seems that the window of opportunity to strike a deal is passing. Both teams will have to look elsewhere but were likely doing so anyway.

French side attempt to ‘snatch’ key Leeds target

News now from Leeds United’s pursuit of Feyenoord winger Igor Paixão – and it’s not the best news, with Sport Witness again on the pulse to inform us that Marseille are attempting to “snatch” the Brazilian winger from Daniel Farke’s clutches.

Leeds are “pushing hard” to sign the 25-year-old, who has enjoyed a quite brilliant season in the Netherlands, and are even said by the Dutch press to be “very close to closing” a deal, but no formal agreement has yet been reached and there is time for Marseille to spoil the party.

The Ligue 1 side apparently already have an agreement in place with the player but still haven’t figured out a fee with Feyenoord – and it’s said that French newspaper L’Equipe claim that Marseille “will raise” their bid to get the signing done ahead of Leeds.

The 3AM Verdict: This was always the risk with the deal for Paixão, with several teams said to be keeping tabs on him, and if the French media sources cited here are right then it’s not looking likely that he’ll be playing at Elland Road next season. Leeds just don’t quite have the clout as a newly-promoted side to beat out teams like Marseille right now, and the Whites’ only hope of a transfer now is that they’re the highest bidders and can force other teams out of the market.