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Rumours suggest that Spurs could sell Dominic Solanke - so why would Brighton make sense as a destination if they do?

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Tottenham Hotspur’s season is, by and large, going according to plan. Thomas Frank has been a breath of fresh air, the team are largely playing well, and they’re safely ensconced in the Premier League’s top four. The only real concern, as it stands, is up front.

New signing Randal Kolo Muani is struggling for fitness, Richarlison has faded after a bright start to the season and Dominic Solanke is recovering from ankle surgery – and regardless of his injury status, new reports suggest that Frank has been left unimpressed by a striker who cost the club £60m just last summer.

Football Insider claim that the Spurs head coach “doesn’t fancy” Solanke and may try to sell him in January – but would he be right to move Solanke on, and are there any other Premier League teams who would make sense as potential purchasers?

Why Dominic Solanke may not be a perfect fit for Spurs any more

While Solanke may not have been able to reproduce his exceptional goal-scoring form from the 2023/24 season after completing his move to Spurs, the drop from 19 league goals in a year to nine wasn’t quite as severe of a downturn as it might appear on the surface.

Injury issues meant that Solanke made 12 fewer starts last season than he did last down in Dorset the year before, and while his output did fall from 0.51 goals per 90 minutes to 0.37, he was also given far worse service to work with as Spurs stumbled through the second half of the domestic calendar under Ange Postecoglou – on average, 0.09xG less per game.

In short, while Solanke had been better at Bournemouth, performances only fell off so far and a stop-start season combined with his club’s poor form outside of the Europa League provided some pretty reasonable excuses. There is no clear reason for Frank to want to move on purely based on sporting merit.

Perhaps Solanke’s persistent fitness problems are the cause of the alleged frustration, but it’s also possible that Frank has recognised that Solanke is simply a striker who doesn’t necessarily suit his system.

Solanke isn’t a great technician or better than an average finisher in front of goal, but his positional game both on and off the ball and his high work rate make him ideally suited to teams that press high up the pitch – as Bournemouth did in 23/24 and as Spurs did under Postecoglou.

Last season, Spurs and Bournemouth made up two of the top three teams by PPDA (passes per defensive action) which is essentially a measure of how many times a defence is allowed to pass the ball before someone on the other side tries to stop them – a good measure of how intense different teams’ press can be. Solanke, with his high rate of ball recoveries, tackles and turnovers, suited teams like that down to the ground.

But Spurs under Frank are a different beast and do not press so hard or so high up, which takes away a large part of what made Solanke so effective. In a system which will likely emphasise his technique and link-up play, he’s unlikely to flourish, especially if he’s on and off the treatment table every five minutes.

The one Premier League team that makes sense for Solanke

With that in mind, it makes sense for Spurs to see if any other teams might be interested in the striker – they’re unlikely to recoup £60m for him now, especially in January when teams tends to spend rather less, but this is a team that are being repeatedly linked with bids for new strikers and if they are looking for fresh blood up front then it’s reasonable to try and find a way to make some money back or at least free up squad space and take Solanke’s wages off the books.

What Spurs likely need to find is a team who aren’t operating under especially tight financial constraints and who press hard up the pitch and may be in need of a new striker – a pretty solid description, as it happens, of Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Danny Welbeck on such impressive form of late, their need for a striker is perhaps not desperate, but Welbeck turns 35 in December and has had plenty of fitness issues of his own, and the only other dedicated centre-forwards on the books at the Amex Stadium are youngsters like Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas, who have been entrusted with 88 minutes of Premier League football between them thus far.

Brighton have players at the extremes of experience and youth and nothing in between and Welbeck can scarcely be expected to play 90 minutes of every match across an entire campaign. A player like Solanke could be a fine stopgap as they wait for their youngsters to catch up while giving Welbeck meaningful competition.

Their aggressive pressing style under Fabian Hürzeler – they were also in the top five for PPDA in the Premier League last season – means that the system should suit Solanke well, at least assuming he makes a full recovery from his recent surgery.

There’s a world in which Spurs sign a new striker in January or next summer and Brighton come to the conclusion that they need another striker. It’s still more likely that Solanke’s high wages and long contract make it too hard to get a deal done at a price point with which all parties are content. At 28 and under contract until 2030, Solanke will not come cheap and will not be easy to sell if Frank does move on.

Ultimately, it’s more than likely that stories suggesting Frank wants Solanke gone are at least somewhat sensationalised and that the striker is given the chance to prove himself in the new year before any long-term decisions are made – but there are not many teams that make perfect sense for the forward from a tactical standpoint who also need a central striker right now. Brighton might just be the only team who fit the bill, in England at least.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United

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Tottenham Hotspur have the opportunity to bolster their ranks in the January transfer window. Thomas Frank was appointed as their head coach over the summer. Prior to his move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he caught the eye with fellow Premier League side Brentford.

According to CaughtOffside, the London outfit are ‘tracking’ FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa this winter. The report adds that he has an £87 million release clause in his contract and he is also on the radar of the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. He has scored 35 goals in 55 games for his current club in all competitions, 27 of which came last season, and he has made three caps for Spain so far.

The 3AM Verdict: Samu Aghehowa has proved that he can score goals in Portugal for FC Porto and he would give Tottenham another option to pick from at the top end of the pitch. He would provide competition for the likes of Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani. At the age of just 21, he has bags of potential to grow and develop down the line.

Manchester City target Ezri Konsa

Manchester City are keen on Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, claim TBR Football. Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool are said to have watched him over the last 12 months, as well as Inter Milan, Napoli and RB Leipzig. He made the switch to Villa Park back in 2019 following spells at Charlton Athletic and Brentford and has since become a key player.

Konsa, 28, has had an impressive campaign to date both for his club and for England. He has played 14 times for the Three Lions and has been enjoying plenty of game time under Thomas Tuchel over recent times. The London-born man could be seen by City as someone to boost their defensive department.

The 3AM Verdict: Ezri Konsa would be a shrewd signing by Manchester City if they were able to get him. He can play at right-back as well as centre-back which would come in very handy for Pep Guardiola. In addition, he knows the league well and has proven himself at Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side won’t want to lose him though and are likely to demand a hefty fee for his signature.

Manchester United eye Jobe Bellingham

Manchester United are considering a loan swoop for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham, the Express say. The 20-year-old rose up through the academy at Birmingham City and broke into the Blues’ first-team as a teenager. Sunderland then lured him away from the Midlands and he went on to make 90 outings for the Black Cats, finding the net on 11 occasions.

Dortmund swooped in for him back in June and he penned a long-term contract with the Bundesliga giants. However, he has struggled to get minutes in Germany and his situation is up in the air right now. They have a big decision to make on what to do with him next.

The 3AM Verdict: It would be a surprise to see Jobe Bellingham join Manchester United, especially on loan. He has struggled to make the impact he would have wanted to at Borrusia Dortmund and things haven’t gone to plan for him there just yet. Nevertheless, it takes time for players to adapt to new teams, even more so when they go abroad, so patience is required with him.

Tottenham Hotspur face their third Champions League fixture of the season when they travel to Monaco on Wednesday night.

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Tottenham Hotspur will look to bounce back from disappointment at the weekend as Thomas Frank’s side return to Champions League action with a tricky trip to Monaco (20:00 BST).

Spurs were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa on Sunday having led early in the match, but Thomas Frank’s side remain unbeaten in Europe this season and will aim for a positive result against a side who drew with Manchester City last month.

Eric Dier scored a last-minute penalty for the French giants that night, however the former Spurs legend will be out on Wednesday with a hamstring injury and will miss out on the chance to reunite with his former employers.

Frank looks set to make several changes as he aims to continue Spurs’ solid Champions League start, with victory over Villarreal and a comeback draw at Bodo/Glimt leaving the Lilywhites 12th in the league phase, while Monaco have one point and sit 28th.

Spurs unchanged at the back as injury issues persist

GK - Guglielmo Vigario: An ever-present, the Italian has kept four clean sheets this season in all competitions and is closing in on 100 appearances for the club.

RB - Pedro Porro: The Spain international will also continue to start at full-back. Grabbed an assist in the draw in Norway and has been one of Frank’s most reliable players.

CB - Micky van de Ven: Scored his first Champions League goal from Porro’s assist and will be as important as ever in the absence of his usual central defensive partner Cristian Romero on Wednesday.

CB - Kevin Danso: Filled in for Romero when the Spurs captain pulled up in the warm-up ahead of the Aston Villa game. Romero’s adductor issue is expected to keep him out for this one, so the Austrian will continue to deputise.

LB - Djed Spence: Will also have a free run to the XI after his competitor Destiny Udogie picked up a knee injury over the international break.

Changes in attacking areas for Monaco clash

CM - Rodrigo Bentancur: Scored at the weekend and will look to keep his place in midfield for the trip to Monaco.

CM - Pape Matar Sarr: The 23-year-old has dropped to the bench for the last three league fixtures but has started both in the Champions League, and may be reinstated to the XI by Frank.

CM - Lucas Bergvall: Same goes for the Swede, who was on the bench at the weekend but will be pushing for a return to the side. Set up the winning own goal when Spurs faced Villarreal in September.

RW - Brennan Johnson: Will look to return to the side in the place of Mohammed Kudus, who has shone in the league and largely nailed down the position. Johnson might get the chance to start and show what he can do.

ST - Richarlison: The Brazilian was benched against Villa but looks set to return to the side, with Mathys Tel unavailable as he has not been named in Frank’s Champions League squad. Will look to build on his three goals so far this season. Randal Kolo Muani will hope to make a difference off the bench.

LW - Xavi Simons: Might get the nod over Wilson Odobert, shifting from his usual central position out to the left. Yet to score following his big-money summer move and will hope to make a telling contribution.

Reviewing the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs, Leeds and more.

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It’s once again time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we start today’s column off with a story which should interest Manchester United fans (and perhaps worry some of the West Ham persuasion).

Caught Offside claim that United are now “eyeing up” a loan deal for Real Madrid starlet Endrick, who is widely believed to be available from January due to a lack of playing time at the Bernabeu.

United are said to be one of eight teams looking at the 19-year-old striker – who is widely regarded as one of the most talented young forwards of his generation – and while this report declines to name them, West Ham have been extensively linked with a loan deal along with a handful of sides from Spain.

Endrick is “expected” to leave Madrid on a temporary basis in the new year (there is no mention here of a permanent bid) but there’s no word on whether the player himself would consider a move to Old Trafford, or whether he might prefer to go somewhere he can be more or less guaranteed starting minutes.

The 3AM Verdict: Endrick has gotten stuck behind Kylian Mbappé at Real but has immense talent and has already scored three goals for the Brazilian national team – so one can perhaps understand why United might be keen if Benjamin Šeško doesn’t pick up some steam. Still, this is the first time we’re seeing United’s name come up and there’s an argument that United may want someone more established.

Chelsea & Spurs racing to sign £35m wonderkid

Meanwhile, down in London, both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be in hot pursuit of another brilliant Brazilian talent – Vasco da Gama’s Rayan, with both sides already said to have “been in talks” with the 19-year-old’s agent, according to TeamTalk.

They aren’t the only teams interested in the forward, who has scored 12 goals for his club this season – Fiorentina and Porto have made “enquiries” as well, while Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG and Barcelona are also said to have “tracked” the youngster in recent months.

A fierce transfer battle could be brewing, then, but Chelsea and Spurs are positioning themselves to be among the frontrunners in a “January scramble.” Rayan has a €40m (£35m) release clause in his contract, but it’s claimed in this report that he could be available for as little as €30m (£26m).

The 3AM Verdict: Chelsea love splashing out on young attacking players, so we have no difficulty believing their side of this rumour, and Spurs have the money to make a deal work if they want another winger to develop alongside Mathys Tel – Rayan usually plays on the right of a front three. It sounds as though plenty of big teams are debating a bid, though, so there’s a long way to go before a clear favourite emerges.

Leeds ‘reignite’ interest in Championship star

Let’s wrap things up with a story for Leeds United supporters. Football Insider allege that the Whites are “considering reigniting their interest” in Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who is said to have been a “long-term target” for Daniel Farke’s side.

Leeds are “keeping tabs” on Hamer, who may well want to push for a move given the Blades’ dismal start to the new season in the second tier. Everton are also mentioned as a team who could make a move if he becomes available – but there’s no word on how much the 28-year-old might cost.

Sport Witness, meanwhile, have also picked up on a story in the French media which suggests that Leeds have “interest” in rising Lille star Lisandru Olmeta. Apparently the 20-year-old goalkeeper’s representatives have already “received calls” from Leeds.

The 3AM Verdict: Midfield is an area that could do with strengthening while Lucas Perri hasn’t exactly staked his claim to be Leeds’ number one after a summer move Lyon – in fact, he quickly lost his place to perennial back-up Karl Darlow, suggesting that a new goalkeeper could well be on the radar at Elland Road. Both stories could easily have legs.

Liverpool are reportedly among the teams interested in a box-to-box midfielder whose playing style seems like a perfect fit for Arne Slot’s side.

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One of Arne Slot’s greatest successes over the course of Liverpool’s title-winning 2024/25 campaign was figuring out how to make a midfield which didn’t have a natural defensive midfielder work – but after a sluggish start to the new season, it’s not entirely surprising to see stories suggesting that the club are looking for ways to add some strength and depth to the middle of the park.

Between Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch, who came of age in deeply impressive fashion over the past year, Liverpool have moulded their midfield into a progressive, box-to-box unit which feels, when it’s ticking over at maximum efficiency, as though it’s effectively made up of two players working the Steven Gerrard role at the same time.

It’s a system that the former Anfield great would likely have thrived in – and now the Reds are supposedly one of the teams in the market for a midfield who’s doing plenty of his own thriving in Italy, and who has been compared favourably to Gerrard for his hard-running, well-rounded and penetrative playing style. But will Liverpool be able to get a deal for Khéphren Thuram over the line amidst fierce competition?

Why Liverpool are among the teams chasing Khéphren Thuram

TBR Football report that Liverpool are one of a few teams who have enquired about the Juventus midfielder over the summer, only to have their advances rebuffed – and the club’s name has come up in connection with the France international several times in the past. It looks increasingly like he’s become a long-term fixture on their shortlist.

The Gerrard comparison has cropped up with increasing frequency since he moved to Turin from OGC Nice last summer. He’s been outstanding in Serie A, contributing up and down the pitch, carrying the ball from one phase to the next with power and grace, and breaking opposing midfields open on and off the ball.

He doesn’t have Gerrard’s goalscoring knack, granted – he scored four and provided another five league goals last season - but the lung-busting running, the seemingly endless energy to track back and break up attacks and the accurate, penetrative passing game are all present enough. If the comparison is an exaggeration, it’s a small one.

In Gravenberch, Liverpool already have a midfielder who can play this role, of course, and Mac Allister’s conversion from a number ten to a box-to-box man has been remarkably effective, but Jones isn’t as strong on the defensive side for all his technical poise and there isn’t really another player in the team who can do the same job, with all due respect to the redoubtable Wataru Endo.

As such, Thuram would offer a combination of quality and depth that’s hard to pass up on and would reduce Liverpool’s reliance on Gravenberch and Mac Allister across a long season. There are just two problems – plenty of other teams seem to want to buy Thuram, and Juventus don’t want to sell.

Why it will be challenging for Liverpool to sign Thuram amid Chelsea & Spurs interest

While stories which suggest that most of the top half of the Premier League table are watching the same player can be hard to credit, that same TBR Football story alleges that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are all keen and all approached Juventus to enquire as to whether Thuram was available.

Arsenal have signed Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard now, which should sat their appetite for midfielders for now, but Spurs are desperate to find a new central midfielder and Chelsea reportedly want to add some depth too, to reduce their own reliance on the same two high-end central midfielders. Should there be a sniff of a chance to sign Thuram, it would be no shock to see both in the bidding alongside Liverpool.

The bigger problem is simply that Juventus don’t seem to want to sell. Liverpool and their rivals may have made enquiries, but it sounds as if they were shut down at speed. Thuram has been so impressive since signing that the Old Lady supposedly want to rebuild their team around him and Kenan Yildiz, the young Turkish winger who has become a gossip column staple in recent months.

Juventus haven’t won the league – or even come particularly close – for five years, but see in the pair the building blocks of their next great team. Furthermore, both Thuram and Yildiz are under contract until 2029, meaning that they hold most of the leverage.

But Premier League spending power speaks at volume, and Juventus aren’t in the best financial position. They lost a reported €50m (£43.5m) last year and are not in a position to ignore too many chances to sell talented young assets. Eventually, they could be compelled to let Thuram go, or at least to choose between their two great hopes for the future.

If that happens, it’s fair to expect Liverpool to be in the bidding for Thuram. His playing style seems likely to fit Slot’s system remarkably well, his performances have been exceptionally, and he has plenty of years ahead of him. Perhaps he will be Liverpool’s second Steven Gerrard one day after all.

Reviewing the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Spurs, Crystal Palace, Brighton and more.

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It’s once again time for 3 Added Minutes’ regular morning round-up and review of some of the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we kick off with a story about a deal which would be pretty remarkable if Manchester United could pull it off.

According to Spanish gossipmongers Fichajes, Italian international striker Mateo Retegui is now a “firm target” for United as they search for some fresh firepower up front following the disappointment of Benjamin Šeško’s first few months at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old Retegui only moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadisah this summer for a fee of over £55m and has scored three goals in his first four games, so it comes as some surprise that there could be any prospect of his moving on – but United are nevertheless said to be “keeping a close eye” on his progress in the Middle East.

Despite Al Qadisah having “the intention of keeping him,” Fichajes claim that a deal could still be done in the €50-60m range – less than he cost in the first place. Quite why the Saudi side would agree to such a deal is unclear, but apparently it could be pulled off if United “negotiate well.”

The 3AM Verdict: This doesn’t make a shred of sense, quite frankly. Everyone has a price, but it’s generally more than a club paid for a player just a few months ago. We should probably note that we have a fairly low opinion of Fichajes’ reliability, an opinion which isn’t being improved by a story we think has precisely zero legs to stand on. Sorry, United fans.

Spurs, Crystal Palace and others ‘considering’ €50m January bid

Over to a slightly more realistic story from Caught Offside now, who allege that Tottenham Hotspur are among the sides “considering a January move” for Lazio centre-half Mario Gila, who is apparently a “serious candidate” as Spurs look to strengthen their defence.

Spurs aren’t the only team keeping track of the 25-year-old, with Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion all said to have “kept close tabs” on the Spaniard – with Bournemouth and Brighton even said to have made contact with his representatives already as they search for defensive reinforcements.

Spurs have apparently learned that a deal for Gila would set them back €45-50m (up to £43.5m), but it’s said that such a valuation “won’t scare Tottenham,” who are set to “test the water” in January.

The 3AM Verdict: The focus on Spurs in this report may not reflect the truth by the sounds of it, with several teams apparently considering a deal. The price isn’t too off-putting, so this is a perfectly plausible January deal for a few different sides.

Brighton pursuit reaches ‘crucial stage’

Let’s wrap up with another transfer story involving Brighton – Sport Witness bring word from Brazilian media sources on their apparent pursuit of Internacional midfielder Gustavo Prado, with negotiations said to be reaching “a crucial stage.”

The Brazilian side are “ready to negotiate” over the 20-year-old but are demanding a fee between €10m and €20m, a pretty broad price range which runs from about £8.5-17m. Complicating a deal further is the fact that the player’s economic rights are divided between three parties, including Prado himself.

Porto and City Group side Bahia have both “made enquiries” and sent scouts to watch the youngster as well, with Internacional under financial pressure to sell. With the Brazilian season ending fairly soon, this is a deal which could well happen in January.

The 3AM Verdict: We’ll confess that this one flew under our radar before now, but the level of financial detail here is enough to convince us that there’s some very real journalism behind the story, and that this isn’t just another slice of idle gossip. As for how good Prado is, Brighton don’t miss very often.

The latest Tottenham Hotspur injury news - with updates on Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani, Yves Bissouma and more.

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Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this weekend when they welcome Aston Villa to North London on Sunday afternoon – but Thomas Frank may have to get by without a number of first-team regulars due to injury.

Yves Bissouma picked up yet another injury while playing for Mali, while there are question marks over the involvement of summer signings Randal Kolo Muani and Kota Takai – in total, seven Spurs players are out or doubts for the match against Villa.

We’ve got all the latest Spurs injury news and updates below for you, as well as the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.

Will Randal Kolo Muani & Kota Takai be fit to face Aston Villa?

Two of Spurs’ fresher faces have yet to make much of an impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to fitness concerns – forward Kolo Muani has managed just 14 minutes for his new team thanks to a lingering thigh injury, while defender Takai has yet to make his debut due to a plantar fascia problem.

Both have, however, been back in training since early October and after being rested during the international break they are expected to be fit enough to play at least some part against Aston Villa this weekend – although neither is necessarily likely to start the game as they build back towards full match fitness.

Kolo Muani is more likely to be involved in the initial line-up with Dominic Solanke still out after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that will sideline him until at least early November – the home game against Chelsea is the most optimistic return date for the England international.

Yves Bissouma injured again as Radu Dragusin nears return

There was further bad news this week for midfielder Yves Bissouma. The Malian midfielder had yet to play a minute this season due to an injury that also scuppered a proposed move to Galatasaray, and now he has sustained a fresh injury while on international duty.

Bissouma came on as a substitute against Madagascar and was hurt badly by a challenge just nine seconds after coming on – the 29-year-old had to be stretchered off as a result. The precise nature and extent of the injury have not yet been announced, but he looks likely to be set for another lay-off.

There’s a more positive update on the fitness of centre-half Radu Dragusin, who is making strides as he works to return from an ACL injury. The Romanian has been back in light training since September and could be ready for action by the end of October, although Frank has been coy about a precise date with Spurs not prepared to take any risks.

Tottenham’s two other ACL victims, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, are further away from making their return. The best-case scenario for Kulusevski is that he comes back in late November after the next international break, while it is not yet known whether Maddison will be able to play at all this season.

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It’s time once again for our regular morning round-up and review of the very biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we’re kicking off with a story that should be of interest to Arsenal and Manchester City supporters.

Football Insider allege that those two teams are “emerging as contenders” to sign Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown, who was one of the stars of the German Under-21 side that lost to England in the final of the European Championship earlier this summer - and just made his debut for the senior team this international break.

Now 22, Brown is having another impressive season and this report names him as “one of the most sought-after full-backs on the planet,” although only Arsenal and City are mentioned by name.

The article backs up its claims with some help from Florian Plettenberg, who took to social media on Monday to claim that Frankfurt “expect top offers” for Brown and “are demanding up to €60m (£52m)” from any club that wants to sign him next summer.

The 3AM Verdict: Manchester City have been linked with Brown on a few occasions but after they signed Rayan Aït-Nouri it’s hard to imagine that they’d have too much need for another left-back – and Arsenal are pretty replete in that department, too. Brown is unlikely to move until next summer anyway, so perhaps things will change between now and then, but we’re unconvinced that either of these teams will be at the front of the queue.

Tottenham Hotspur enter race for Rangers star

Over to TeamTalk now, who claims that Spurs are set to “burst into the race” that’s supposedly brewing over the signature of Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin, whose future at Ibrox is “uncertain” as more teams show interest.

Wolves, Crystal Palace, Burnley and West Ham United are all noted as having been linked elsewhere, but now the 24-year-old Belgian has “emerged as a target” for Thomas Frank’s Spurs, who are keen on adding a new central midfielder either in January or in the summer.

Rangers apparently “face losing him” if a good enough bid comes in over the winter, but “could demand” a relatively hefty £20-25m for the international. That would make him the most expensive sale in the history of the Scottish club.

The 3AM Verdict: Links with Raskin are cropping up absolutely everywhere now, especially after he fell out with former manager Russell Martin – this is the first time we’ve seen Spurs mentioned, however. It will be interesting to see whether Rangers fight to keep hold of him until next summer once they find a new manager.

Chelsea & Liverpool still keen on £50m winger

Finally, a story from Caught Offside which claims that Chelsea and Liverpool are still “keeping tabs” on Lyon winger Malick Fofana, who was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League over the summer.

The “£50m-rated” wideman remained at Lyon after the two clubs most persistently rumoured to be keen decided against a bid because Fofana was not “a top priority” – but the 20-year-old “remains firmly on both clubs’ radars” heading into 2026.

Manchester United, Spurs and Inter Milan are all mentioned as teams that are monitoring the youngster as well, although Liverpool are the only one of the five suggested suitors said to have made any “concrete contact” with Fofana’s representatives, which they did during the summer.

The 3AM Verdict: Honestly, there’s nothing new here – just a filler article reiterating that teams who were interested in Fofana a few months ago still are. The question is whether he plays well enough this season to become a ‘top priority’ next summer. It’s unlikely that either Chelsea or Liverpool make a January move as it stands.

The latest Aston Villa injury news, including updates on Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans and more.

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Aston Villa will return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to London to take on Thomas Frank’s high-flying Tottenham Hotspur side – but Villa may have to make do without several key players thanks to injuries.

A major concern is the fitness of striker Ollie Watkins, who was sent home from England duty after picking up an injury during last week’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales, while there has also been bad news about the health of midfielder Youri Tielemans.

We’ve got all of the latest Aston Villa injury news below ahead of the game against Spurs, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.

Is Ollie Watkins out this weekend?

Watkins was substituted at half-time against Wales after the forward – who scored England’s second from close range – collided with a goalpost and appeared to hurt his left leg. Watkins was subsequently sent home from the national squad after being ruled out of Tuesday evening’s World Cup qualifying game against Latvia.

"It was very painful for him still,” England head coach Thomas Tuchel told the press after the decision was made, “And it's just not possible for him to train and also not to play. So, we sent him home."

Tuchel added that he thought Watkins would “try to make it for the weekend,” however, suggesting that the injury is not serious and that the 29-year-old could be available to take on Spurs. The club are expected to make a full assessment of Watkins’ availability on Tuesday, however, before a determination can be reached. It is unlikely to be a long-term problem but he is currently a doubt for Sunday.

Youri Tielemans injury update brings bad news for Aston Villa

While Watkins should be back soon, Villa will have to get by without the services of Belgian midfielder Tielemans for a while longer. The 28-year-old, who has already been out for a month with a calf injury, will now miss a further five weeks after a setback.

The club had hoped that he would be available again shortly after the current international break, but a recurrence of the injury means that he has now been ruled out until after the final round of World Cup qualifiers in November. Tielemans will now be targeting the 23 November match against Leeds United for his return.

There is better news, however, for Jadon Sancho, who has only managed eight minutes of first-team football since joining the club from Manchester United – but who has now returned to full training following a period of illness. Sancho is expected to be available for the game against Spurs if called upon.

Tyrone Mings is a major doubt for Sunday’s match due to a foot injury, as are Emiliano Buendía (head) and Andrés Garcia (match fitness). None of that trio are expected to be out for the long term but all could be absent against Spurs pending updates from Unai Emery. It is unclear whether any of them are also at risk of being unavailable for the midweek Europa League fixture against Dutch outfit Go Ahead Eagles.

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

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Yet again, 3 Added Minutes have delved through the gossip columns to bring your our regular morning round-up of the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’ll start things off today with a story for Manchester United fans.

Football Insider claim that United are “tracking” Bayern Munich midfielder Alexander Pavlović, who is now on their shortlist alongside Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Morten Hjulmand.

They have “set their sights” on the 21-year-old after scouts were impressed by the Germany international, and the club’s recruitment team is now “keeping a close eye” on his performances.

There’s no word on how much Bayern might want for their talented young midfielder, who is under contract until 2029, and no suggestion that Pavlović himself is looking to force a move, but he’s still a name that’s on the radar while the Red Devils work out what to next summer to get back up to speed.

Elsewhere, TeamTalk also report that United are keeping tabs on Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who at 18 would represent an investment in the future more than a player who would be seen as an immediate first-teamer.

The 3AM Verdict: Pavlović certainly fits the profile of the technically impressive ball-winning midfielder that they’re looking for in scouting players like Wharton and Baleba, but he won’t come much cheaper than either of those two will. Certainly a very plausible target, but it will be a while before we get any indication as to whether a formal bid will be made – there’s no chance a deal like this gets done in January.

Spurs ‘ignite’ move for Porto wonderkid

Let’s head to North London now – TeamTalk claim that Tottenham Hotspur are getting ready to “ignite” their interest in young Danish midfielder Victor Froholdt, having “joined the growing list of admirers” watching that Porto player.

Apparently, Thomas Frank is keen to sign a new central midfielder and the 19-year-old, who already has six caps for his country, could fit the bill. Bidding could be in the region of €50-60m (£43.5-52m) and apparently Froholdt “will be tempted” by the prospect of making a move to the Premier League.

That might explain why Brighton & Hove Albion are said to be interested too, with Atlético Madrid also named as a potential suitor. It’s implied that Spurs could make a move in January, though, with a £100m cash injection apparently set to give them more spending power over the winter.

The 3AM Verdict: Froholdt is a name you’re going to see in gossip columns a lot over the course of the next year or two, but a January deal is wildly unlikely – Porto only signed the youngster in July. If he continues his progress, however, expect his name to crop up again next summer.

Chelsea ‘intensifying’ centre-back pursuit

Pretty much every media outlet that’s in the rumourmongering game thinks that Chelsea are in the market for a new centre-back in 2026, but Caught Offside reckon they know which one – allegedly, the Blues are “intensifying their pursuit” of Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo and are “closely monitoring” his situation.

Enzo Maresca is apparently “eager” to add some reinforcements to an injury-addled back line and Chelsea supposedly believe that Barcelona’s financial struggles mean that they could sign Araújo for a competitive price.

The 26-year-old is supposedly viewed as an “ideal addition,” but apparently his current club view him as a “vital part” of their long-term plans and will try to sell other players before they sanction the sale of the Uruguayan.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s no mention of a price tag or interest from other teams, but Liverpool have been mentioned an awful lot as well. We don’t yet have a clear picture of which defender is Chelsea’s real priority at the moment, and we’re distrustful of any article that claims to know at this point. Things will become clearer nearer the time.