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Manchester United are in a battle with Tottenham Hotspur over a possible swoop for the transfer of Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite next summer, according to Caughtoffside.

Since making the switch from National League side Carlisle United in January 2020, Branthwaite’s progression in the Premier League has been remarkable, rapidly establishing himself as one of England’s standout young centre-backs.

His loan experiences at PSV Eindhoven and Blackburn Rovers proved crucial in sharpening his abilities, and he now plays an influential role for the club, having played 75 games so far, although he’s currently battling injury concerns.

The 23-year-old further reaffirmed his commitment to the Merseyside club by penning a new five-year deal in July, keeping him tied to Everton for the foreseeable future.

Despite his commitment to the club, Caughtoffside reports that several Premier League clubs, including Man Utd and Tottenham, remain keen on signing the England international.

Having held a longstanding interest in Branthwaite, the report adds that the Red Devils remain admirers of the 6ft 4in centre-back and view him as a key figure in their defensive overhaul.

Spurs, on the other hand, are looking to add a new left-footed centre-back to their ranks and view the England international as a viable option for Thomas Frank’s setup, according to the report.

However, amid interest from the Premier League duo, the report adds that Everton are adamant he’s not for sale and have placed a £70m valuation on the Englishman, a figure United were unwilling to meet during the last summer transfer window.

Battle

After a disappointing start to the Premier League campaign, Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim found himself under growing scrutiny to reverse the team’s struggles.

Yet, optimism has returned to Old Trafford, with the Red Devils collecting ten points from their last four fixtures — three victories and a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest — sparking renewed belief among supporters.

Attention has now shifted toward the upcoming transfer window, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims to strengthen the squad further and sustain the steady progress initiated by Amorim.

Spurs, on the other hand, have had a mixed season, with their latest 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea highlighting inconsistencies this season. They’ll be eyeing reinforcements, particularly in defence, where they’ve kept only two clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games.

While Branthwaite would be a solid addition to either backline, his price tag seems too steep, so it’ll be interesting if either club will splash the cash to sign him or move on to other affordable targets.

Tottenham Hotspur were beaten by Chelsea on matchday 10 of the Premier League this weekend, with Joao Pedro’s goal the difference between the London rivals as the Lilywhites lost for the third time this season in the English top flight.

In his post-match interview, Thomas Frank admitted that he was concerned by the team’s lack of creativity in the final third and owing to a relative shortage of options in midfield, the Dane could look into acquiring a player or two in 2026.

Football Insider has reported that Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay has emerged as a potential signing for Tottenham following his impressive couple of seasons in Serie A, which saw him get named the MVP of the Italian top division last year.

He has picked up where he left off this time around with four goals and an assist in all competitions for Antonio Conte’s side, and with a contract in Naples until June 2028, the £44 million-rated Scottish international will not come for cheap.

McTominay signing a tough proposition

Scott McTominay was one of Manchester United’s top performers under Erik ten Hag, and has been head and shoulders above most Serie A midfielders since checking in at Napoli, so Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in him is far from a surprise.

Given that Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have not been available to Thomas Frank for all of this season so far, and Yves Bissouma is also expected to be on his way out at the end of the campaign, McTominay is the perfect all-round profile for Spurs.

McTominay’s tackling, intercepting and ability to drive the ball forward coupled with brilliant finishing from range and aerially make him a solid option, but Tottenham will have a herculean task in front of them if they are to get him out of Napoli.

Antonio Conte has the player firmly in his plans, plus with Kevin De Bruyne injured for the next few months, it is impossible to see a January move to the Premier League materialising for the former Man United star.

It remains to be seen if there is any chance of him joining the Londoners in the summer, however, especially if new Tottenham chairman Peter Charrington is prepared to pay big money for him in order to stamp his identity on the club’s squad.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning to make a double swoop to sign West Ham United ace Jarrod Bowen and FC Porto star Samu Aghehowa, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Having displayed woeful performances in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou last term, the Lilywhites have enjoyed a stellar start under new manager Thomas Frank this campaign.

They are currently third in the table with 17 points from nine games. However, it needs to be taken into consideration that they have played most of their games against bottom-half teams thus far.

Frank’s side have played only three games against the teams that are in the top half, losing two of those fixtures. Now, a tough run of fixtures awaits the Lilywhites, with their next three league matches coming against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal.

In the meantime, Fichajes state that Spurs have started exploring the market to reinforce the squad, with Frank wanting to upgrade the attacking department next year.

The North London club have earmarked Bowen and Aghehowa as serious options and are ready to splash big money to secure the duo’s services.

Tottenham are preparing to spend around £53m for Bowen, with his existing deal set to run until 2030, while they want to buy Aghehowa for around £62m. So, in combined, Frank’s side are ready to invest around £115m.

Bowen & Aghehowa to Tottenham

Tottenham currently have Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Mohammed Kudus as options for the flanks. On the other hand, Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani, and Mathys Tel are striker options, but apart from Solanke, the other three are capable of providing cover on the wide areas.

Moreover, Xavi Simons is a creative midfielder by trait but is also efficient on the wing. So, on paper, Tottenham are well-resourced in the attacking department.

However, Kulusevski and Solanke have been out injured since the start of this season, while Johnson and Odobert have been displaying below-average performances in recent times.

Moreover, Richarlison has had fitness problems over the last few years; thankfully, he has been healthy thus far this season. However, he has been displaying inconsistent performances.

So, reinforcing the frontline would be the right decision for Spurs, and Bowen and Aghehowa might be shrewd acquisitions should they eventually manage to secure their services next year.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has provided an injury update on key forward Cole Palmer ahead of the Blues’ 180th London derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Palmer’s injury blow came during Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in September, as he was forced off after just 21 minutes.

The England international, who was recently honoured with a plaque marking his 100th appearance for the Blues, has since missed eight matches, with no clear recovery timeline yet established due to the persistent nature of his groin issue.

The 23-year-old has endured a frustrating campaign, featuring only four times so far and completing the full 90 minutes in just two of those games. Despite limited action, the versatile forward has found the net twice — once in the Premier League and once in the UEFA Champions League.

He has since been sidelined for eight matches for the Blues, and Maresca has now offered an update on Palmer’s condition during his pre-match press conference, outlining the progress of his rehabilitation and when Chelsea supporters might expect to see their key man back in action.

‘I just met him in the canteen for breakfast, and I told him, ‘I will say that in one week you are back,’ Maresca said ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

‘He was laughing. Now with Cole, exactly the same plan. Wait, and hopefully he can be back soon.’

Positive

On a positive note, Chelsea have been handed a triple injury boost ahead of their trip to Tottenham after Maresca confirmed Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are available to start against Spurs, despite nursing injuries and coming off the bench at Molineux.

He also confirmed that Joao Pedro, who has been managing a groin problem, is fit to return for Saturday’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after being rested in the game against Wolves.

‘The reason why Joao didn’t play against Wolves is because we tried to protect him. The same thing was with Enzo and Moi, just to give them some minutes, but the idea is to protect these players.’ Maresca said when asked about the fitness update of his squad

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning to make a move to sign Juventus forward Jonathan David, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a stellar time at LOSC Lille over the last few years, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess in Ligue 1. He even guided Les Dogues to become French champions in the 2020/21 season, beating PSG in the race.

In 49 appearances across all competitions, the Canadian international scored 25 goals and registered 12 assists last term. So, after being impressed by him, the Bianconeri decided to sign him for free this summer.

Although he scored on his debut for the record Italian champions, he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net over the last two months. In 11 matches in all tournaments, the North American has made only two goal contributions thus far.

Now, Fichajes state that despite David’s struggles in Serie A, Tottenham still believe in his potential and are interested in signing him to reinforce the attacking department.

However, the Lilywhites aren’t the only club looking at David, as Bayern Munich are keen on purchasing him to support Harry Kane.

Having recently moved to Allianz Stadium, David, valued at around £39m by Transfermarkt, still has five years left in his current contract. So, Juventus are likely to demand a big fee to let him leave.

David to Tottenham

Tottenham decided to reinforce the centre-forward position by signing Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. However, he has joined on a loan deal and might return to his parent club at the end of this season.

Apart from the Frenchman, Spurs currently have Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, and Mathys Tel as striker options. However, Solanke remains sidelined due to an injury problem, while Richarlison has displayed inconsistent performances thus far this season and has had fitness problems over the last few years.

Tel, on the other hand, hasn’t been able to prove that he is capable of playing regularly at the highest level. So, Spurs could do with purchasing a new striker next year.

However, David has been displaying below-average performances in Serie A, and it would be a risky move to lure him away from Allianz Stadium by investing big money.

Liverpool’s defence has been extremely poor this season and just like their offensive department was massively revamped earlier this year, the backline might see several new faces join in 2026 with the club in a transitional phase.

Ibrahima Konate’s and Virgil van Dijk’s futures remain up in the air with the former linked with Real Madrid and the latter not living up to expectations, which means the Reds might need to sign at least two new central defenders in 2026.

Fichajes has reported that one of the names on their radar is Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven, who has developed impressively in the last two or three seasons to become one of the Premier League’s best players in his role.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also interested in the player, as per the source, and Tottenham might not stand in his way if they receive an offer near the £87 million next year and the Dutchman also wishes to leave.

Van de Ven perfect replacement for Van Dijk

Micky van de Ven is the ideal replacement for Virgil van Dijk in the heart of Liverpool’s back four. His exceptional speed, technical qualities and intelligent reading of the game, coupled with a brilliant game on the ball make him an all-round package.

His aerial attributes, heading and stamina are also outstanding attributes and at the age of only 24, there is every reason to think he will only get better. Therefore, Tottenham Hotspur’s £87 million asking price might turn out to be a reasonable investment.

And while Liverpool would like to acquire him next year, Tottenham are likely to want to sell him to an overseas club in order to avoid strengthening a domestic rival, hence giving Bayern Munich and Real Madrid the edge over Arne Slot’s side.

With the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Marc Guehi also on Liverpool’s radar, it will be interesting to see where Micky van de Ven is in their shortlist of centre backs considering he will not come for cheap.

Tottenham Hotspur are actively expected to pursue a striker’s transfer next year with Dominic Solanke’s form a major cause for concern, and a new addition to the squad as early as in January has not been ruled out.

Italian source La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that Tottenham are looking to sign Juventus forward Jonathan David, who could be sold by the Serie A giants just months after a free transfer from Lille after a barren start to life in Turin.

With only one goal and an assist in all competitions so far for Juventus, David’s form has seen him fall behind Dusan Vlahovic as well as Loic Openda in the pecking order, therefore forcing the Bianconeri to potentially cash-in on him.

David produced exceptional numbers in Ligue 1 and the Champions League last year, but the Serie A’s low blocks and generally defensive structure has not worked favourably for him, so a move to the Premier League might help him regain his feet.

Spurs cannot afford to take a risk once more

Jonathan David has shown massive potential earlier in his career and remains Canada’s number one striker as well, but off the back of a slow start at Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur cannot afford to risk another striker’s signing going against them.

Harry Kane has not been properly replaced by the Lilywhites yet, and with the likes of Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel and Richarlison all failing to fill into the Englishman’s boots, the squad needs a long-term and reliable option once and for all.

Spurs are unlikely to be able to sign Jonathan David for cheap either, as he is valued at £40 million on Transfermarkt and uventus will also look to recoup as much of the signing-on fee and salary that they have paid to the player so far.

It remains to be seen whether the possibility of a loan is on the cards for January, which might be a safer option for Tottenham as they would have six months to see how the player does in the Premier League before deciding over his permanent signing.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ‘preparing’ to launch a formal proposal to sign West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Since moving to the London Stadium from Hull City, the 28-year-old has established himself as a talismanic figure, helping his side win the Conference League.

He made more than 20 goal contributions in the last two consecutive seasons in the Premier League, and although the East London club have endured a dire start this term, the Englishman has showcased his qualities.

In 10 appearances across all competitions, the West Ham star has scored three goals and registered two assists thus far this campaign.

Now, Fichajes state that after purchasing Mohammed Kudus from the Hammers this summer, Tottenham are planning to raid the East London club once again, with Bowen on their radar.

Bowen has a contract until 2030 with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, so they aren’t in any rush to sell him, and Spurs are ‘preparing’ to launch a formal proposal worth around £52m to seal the deal.

West Ham are currently languishing in the relegation zone, sitting four points behind safety. So, if they eventually fail to keep hold of their top-flight status, they might be forced to sell him next summer.

Bowen to Tottenham

The 28-year-old is a right-winger by trait but is also capable of providing cover in the centre-forward position if needed. He is quick, strong, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, is efficient in creating opportunities for fellow attackers, can finish off his chances, and also works hard without possession.

Tottenham currently have Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Xavi Simons, and Dejan Kulusevski as options to deploy on the flanks. However, Kulusevski has been out injured since the start of the season.

Simons, on the other hand, is more comfortable in the creative midfield position. Johnson and Odobert have failed to showcase their best consistently, while Tel is still young and needs time to develop.

Therefore, Spurs could do with adding a new wide forward, and Bowen would be a shrewd acquisition should they eventually manage to secure his service next year.

Manchester United are on a three-match winning run in the Premier League and among a number of standout players, Casemiro has been among those delivering although there does remain a need for more depth in midfield.

Ruben Amorim is expected to be backed with the funds to make a few more signings in 2026 and as per Football Insider, Manchester United are among the leading candidates to sign Sporting Lisbon star Morten Hjulmand.

Tottenham Hotspur are also believed to be keen on the Danish international with Rodrigo Bentancur past the age of 30 and Yves Bissouma expected to depart at the end of his contract next year, with Manchester City the third suitor for Hjulmand.

Sporting are prepared to get rid of the 28-year-old for £50 million next year, according to the source, with Amorim’s association with the Portuguese giants and the midfielder likely to keep Man United in pole position for his signing.

Hjulmand ideal for Man United

Morten Hjulmand would be the ideal signing for Manchester United with his brilliant pressing, tackling and recovery rate making him the perfect fit in Ruben Amorim’s double pivot, with his ball retention and passing through the lines also proving solid.

Casemiro is already a defensive midfielder, so while Hjulmand would not be an kind of offensive minded player alongside the Brazilian, the strong foundation in the engine room would give the wing backs the leeway to attack more freely in the final third.

Having said that, Tottenham Hotspur will also look to sign him given their need for midfielders and could use Thomas Frank to convince his compatriot into joining them, whereas Manchester City will always remain a strong contender for his transfer too.

It will be interesting to see whether the player himself is keen on prioritising a reunion with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, or would prefer a winning project like City’s, but all things point towards him being a good purchase for the Red Devils.

Tottenham Hotspur will travel to St James’ Park to face off against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup fourth round fixture tonight.

The Lilywhites have struggled away from home against the Magpies in recent years, losing the last three consecutive matches, including the 6-1 thrashing a couple of years ago. The last time Spurs defeated Newcastle at St James’ Park was back in 2021.

However, Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a bright start to this season under new manager Thomas Frank, and they would be hoping to change their recent poor record against Eddie Howe’s side tonight.

Team news

Tottenham have been plagued with injury problems during the first few months of this season, with Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Koto Takai remaining sidelined due to their respective problems.

On the other hand, Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie have stepped up recovery to return to full fitness, but this game will come too early for them to be involved.

Predicted line-up

Frank is unlikely to make many changes to his starting line-up that defeated Everton in the Premier League last weekend. However, Antonin Kinsky might get the nod to start in goal ahead of Guglielmo Vicario.

Micky Van de Ven should be at the heart of Spurs’ defence alongside Kevin Danso amid Romero’s absence, with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence likely to be the two fullbacks.

João Palhinha has enjoyed a promising start this season since joining from Bayern Munich on loan and is expected to keep hold of his place in the defensive midfield position.

Rodrigo Bentancur could be alongside the Portuguese, with Lucas Bergvall likely to complete the midfield trio for the North London club. So, Archie Gray is expected to be among the substitutes.

Wilson Odobert should be on the left-wing role, and Brennan Johnson could be on the opposite side. So, Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus would feature as substitutes if needed.

Mathys Tel, valued at around £31m by Transfermarkt, may get the responsibility of leading the line for the North London club, and Richarlison would have to make do with a place on the bench.

Expected Tottenham line-up against Newcastle

Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur, Bergvall; Odobert, Tel, Johnson