Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in talks to secure a permanent deal for Joao Palhinha, with the North London club believed to have a strong chance of retaining the midfielder beyond this season.

Palhinha emerged as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult season for Tottenham, with the Portuguese midfielder scoring the decisive goal against Everton that spared the club from the unthinkable prospect of relegation.

The Portugal international joined from Bayern Munich on loan last summer and, while Tottenham possess an option to make the move permanent, they are now attempting to negotiate more favourable terms.

Joao Palhinha future: Tug of war between Spurs and Sporting?

© Imago / STEINSIEK.CH

Under the existing agreement, Spurs would need to pay around €30m (£25.9m) to sign Palhinha permanently, but the club are eager to reduce that figure.

Sporting CP are also firmly in the race and would welcome the opportunity to bring their former midfielder back to Lisbon, with reports suggesting personal considerations could tempt Palhinha into returning home.

Roberto De Zerbi openly admitted his wish to keep Palhinha at Spurs, and conflicting reports have emerged that the former Fulham midfielder has made Tottenham his priority as next move.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Palhinha is expected to make a decision on his future soon, with Spurs currently engaged in talks aimed at securing a revised agreement.

The Sky Deutschland journalist wrote: "Joao Palhinha wants to make a decision on his future soon. The two concrete options are currently Tottenham and Sporting CP.

"Talks are ongoing. Tottenham currently have good chances. However and as revealed, Spurs want to renegotiate with FC Bayern. The option to buy was set at €25m guaranteed, with potential add-ons that could raise the fee to up to €30m. Tottenham want to pay less."

Joao Palhinha: No future at Bayern Munich

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One thing appears increasingly clear: Palhinha does not feature prominently in Vincent Kompany's plans moving forward.

Bayern invested heavily to sign the 30-year-old midfielder from Fulham, but his qualities have never fully aligned with the demands of Kompany's system.

Even following Leon Goretzka's departure, there is little indication that Bayern intend to offer Palhinha a fresh opportunity, with the German champions instead looking towards younger options such as Tom Bischof to refresh their midfield department.

That stance could ultimately work in Tottenham's favour, as Bayern's willingness to move the player on may encourage them to lower their demands and strike a deal that satisfies all parties involved.

Thomas Frank has announced that he has no intention of accepting a new managerial role this summer.

The Dane has been out of work since being sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach in February after just 38 matches in charge.

In sharp contrast to his successful stint with Brentford, Frank won just 13 matches in all competitions and left Spurs scrapping for Premier League survival.

Nevertheless, with his stock still relatively high, the 52-year-old has been linked with the likes of Fulham and Crystal Palace, who both require new managers.

However, on Friday afternoon, Frank released an official statement to reveal that he is no rush to return to the dugout.

© Imago / Pro Sports Images

Frank releases statement on immediate future

In a statement published on BBC Sport, Frank said: "I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out over the past few months. Your support and encouragement have been greatly appreciated.

"Leaving Tottenham has given me the chance to step back and reflect on my journey so far. Football management is a profession that demands complete commitment every single day, and periods like this are a rare opportunity to assess, learn and gain a fresh perspective.

"From the outside, it may have looked like a time of many challenges at Tottenham when results were not what we wanted. From within, however, it becomes clear why the club is so special - full of talented people who work tirelessly every day. I have no doubt Tottenham has a bright future.

"Football remains a huge part of who I am, and I have chosen to use this time productively. Over the coming months, besides spending time with family and friends, I will continue studying, observing and learning from other leaders both within sport and beyond it.

"I am also looking forward to covering the World Cup for Danish television and the BBC, as well as experiencing the Tour de France. Time away from the touchline is allowing me to broaden my perspective and gather insights that I look forward to bringing into my next challenge.

"There have been conversations and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role. For me, this summer is not the right time to go back into management.

"When the time is right, I will look forward to my return as a manager, ready to embrace the job with great energy and dedication."

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What next for Fulham, Crystal Palace?

Crystal Palace have known for some time that Oliver Glasner was departing his role in the Selhurst Park.

Lens boss Pierre Sage is seemingly in line to succeed the Austrian with developments expected over the coming days.

The race to become Fulham boss is far more open, with Frank among those who has been tipped to replace Marco Silva.

However, he was only one of a number of candidates, with Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna the bookmakers' favourite.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of Andrew Robertson on a free transfer ahead of the Scotsman's exit from Liverpool.

The left-back will officially become a free agent when his Anfield contract expires on June 30, after which he will become a fully-fledged Tottenham player on July 1.

The Lilywhites tried and failed to sign Robertson for a cut-price fee during the winter transfer window, and a future deal was contingent on Spurs staying in the Premier League for the 2026-27 season.

After Roberto De Zerbi's side secured survival on the last day of the campaign, Tottenham agreed a deal to sign Robertson, who has become the club's first arrival of the summer window.

Due to the 32-year-old's World Cup commitments with Scotland, he did not appear in any of Spurs' promotional shots, but he sent a message to Tottenham fans from his national team camp.

Andy Robertson sends message to Tottenham fans as signing confirmed

"Hi Tottenham fans, it's me, Andy Robertson here," Robertson said. "As you can see I'm not in Glasgow, I'm in America just now preparing for the World Cup.

"But I just wanted to send you a quick message to say I can't wait to play for you guys, I can't wait to meet you guys, I cannot wait to play in the stadium for the first time in front of you, and I'm already looking forward to next season. All the best and I'll see you soon."

Robertson will battle the likes of Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Souza for starts at left-back for Tottenham, whose head coach De Zerbi added: "Andy is someone I've admired for a number of years and he will bring outstanding technical qualities, experience, leadership and mentality to our team.

"He is a proven winner at the highest level over a long period and is someone who can be a big player for us, both on and off the pitch. I can't wait to start working with him and seeing the positive impact he will have on everyone around him."

Robertson will leave Liverpool with a record of 14 goals and 69 assists in 378 appearances for the Reds across all competitions, winning nine major trophies including the Premier League and the Champions League.

When could Andy Robertson make his Tottenham debut?

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For the next few weeks, Robertson's sole focus will be on the World Cup, as Scotland prepare to face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the group stage.

Steve Clarke's men will not be expected to finish in one of the top two spots in World Cup 2026 Group C above 2022 semi-finalists Morocco or five-time winners Brazil, but they could still qualify for the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams.

Robertson would therefore remain in North America until at least early July, and an unprecedented run to the World Cup final for Scotland would see them conclude their Mundial campaign on July 19, but a last-32 or last-16 exit is more realistic.

The defender would therefore have at least a couple of weeks to recuperate, before potentially joining Spurs for their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, where they will play Auckland, Sydney FC and Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their pursuit of Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke as manager Roberto De Zerbi looks to reshape his squad ahead of the new season.

The Dutch international has emerged as one of Spurs' priority defensive targets, with the Italian coach eager to reunite with a player he knows well from their time together on the south coast.

However, prising him away from the Seagulls is proving easier said than done.

Spurs have first Jan Paul van Hecke bid rejected by Brighton

© Imago / Pro Sports Images

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Tottenham have seen an opening offer for Van Hecke rejected by Brighton, with the Seagulls holding firm on their valuation of the Netherlands international.

Despite the setback, negotiations remain ongoing, and Spurs are expected to return with an improved proposal as they look to secure one of De Zerbi's top defensive targets.

Van Hecke is entering the final two years of his contract at Brighton and has so far shown little interest in signing an extension, increasing speculation surrounding his future.

It's thought that the South Coast outfit value the centre-back in the region of £70 million, with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool also interested.

The 25-year-old enjoyed another excellent campaign under Fabian Hurzeler, starting 36 top-flight matches and cementing his reputation as one of the division's most consistent defenders.

Tottenham's interest comes amid plans for a major defensive reshuffle, with captain Cristian Romero's future uncertain and additional reinforcements wanted despite Marcos Senesi's impending arrival.

What would Jan Paul van Hecke bring to Tottenham?

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Van Hecke would bring something Tottenham desperately need defensively - some reliability.

The Dutch defender is already proven in the Premier League, having amassed more than 100 top-flight appearances for Brighton, and would arrive without the adaptation period often required for overseas signings.

Just as importantly, he already understands De Zerbi's tactical demands as the pair worked closely together at Brighton, with the Italian previously describing Van Hecke as "incredible," playing a major role in his development into an international-level defender.

Strong in possession, aggressive in duels and comfortable defending high up the pitch, Van Hecke looks tailor-made for the style of football De Zerbi wants to implement.

If Spurs can eventually strike an agreement with Brighton, they would be signing a player capable of becoming a cornerstone of their defence for years to come.

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Tottenham Hotspur attacker Xavi Simons appears to have dropped a major transfer hint as Spurs continue to be linked with a move for Manchester City winger Savinho.

The 22-year-old joined Man City from Troyes for £30.8m in June 2024, but injuries and fierce competition for places have restricted his influence at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs were keen to sign the Brazilian last summer, only for Pep Guardiola to block a potential move as he viewed the winger as an important part of his squad.

However, reports now suggest that Savinho has grown frustrated by a lack of regular opportunities and could be open to exploring a new challenge in the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham retain interest in Savinho?

© Imago / Every Second Media

Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this month that Spurs are in negotiations over a deal for Savinho, with discussions between the clubs progressing positively.

The Italian journalist has also claimed that Newcastle United are monitoring the situation, although Tottenham are currently viewed as the frontrunners in the race.

Any move is unlikely to come cheaply, however, as Savinho remains under contract until 2030 and is valued at around £60m.

Xavi Simons doing the agent work?

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Simons, who is currently recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, recently posted a photograph of himself celebrating with Savinho on social media.

Ordinarily, such a post might have passed unnoticed, but the timing has inevitably raised eyebrows given the growing speculation surrounding the Brazilian's future.

The pair know each other well from their time together at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022-23 campaign, where they formed part of an exciting young side.

Adding further fuel to the conversation, Savinho later responded to another Instagram post from Simons, commenting "Papi" after the Tottenham attacker shared the message: "Privately winning."

Whether the exchange means anything beyond a close friendship remains to be seen, but it has certainly caught the attention of supporters following the transfer saga.

Major rebuilding work at Tottenham

© Iconsport / SPI

After narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the season, Spurs are preparing for a significant squad overhaul under Roberto De Zerbi.

Strengthening the wide areas is one of the club's priorities, and Savinho could emerge as a realistic option, particularly after slipping down the pecking order following Antoine Semenyo's arrival in January.

Real Madrid have reportedly placed Pedro Porro on a three-man shortlist of potential replacements for Dani Carvajal.

Los Blancos are set to bring Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu in the hope that he can reinvigorate a club that finished the 2025-26 season without a trophy.

Real Madrid are expected to back Mourinho in the summer transfer window, with the right-back position earmarked as an area in need of strengthening following Carvajal's departure.

The long-serving defender will officially become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June, leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold as the club's only senior right-back.

© Iconsport / PA Images / Icon Sport

Real Madrid earmark Porro as summer transfer target

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential targets who could compete with Alexander-Arnold for a starting spot.

Tottenham's Porro is said to be one of the names that is under consideration in Real Madrid's search for a new right-back.

Porro, who has two years left to run on his contract, is currently regarded as a key member of the Tottenham squad, having made 152 competitive appearances since joining on an initial loan deal from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2023.

The Spain international has not played his club football in his homeland since spending the 2019-2020 season on loan at Real Valladolid.

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Who else is on Real Madrid's radar?

Real Madrid are also considering Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries, who is four years Porro's senior at the age of 30.

Like Porro, Dumfries is set to enter the final two years of his contract, but is said to have a €25m (£21.6m) release clause that will become active in July.

In addition to Porro and Dumfries, Romano also claims that Real Madrid have recently scouted Sporting Lisbon full-back Ivan Fresneda.

The Spain Under-21 international was a regular fixture for Sporting during the 2025-26 campaign, starting 34 of his 39 competitive appearances.

Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly not be signing Joao Palhinha on a permanent basis.

On the final day of the season, the Portugal international scored the goal that secured Spurs' Premier League status with a 1-0 victory over Everton.

With the 30-year-old having emerged as a key player under Roberto De Zerbi, the expectation was that Spurs would take up an option that they possessed in their agreement with Bayern Munich.

Spurs were in a position where they could activate a €30m (£25.93m) buy clause for Palhinha by a certain date.

However, as per A BOLA, that option has not expired and Spurs will now not signing the player.

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Who are favourites to sign Joao Palhinha?

The report emphasises that Sporting Lisbon are now the favourites to secure a deal for Palhinha.

Furthermore, it is emphasised that Palhinha is eager to return to his former club, who he represented between 2016 and 2022, for personal reasons.

This may have played its part in Spurs failing to act when they had the opportunity to do so, subsequently leaving Sporting to bargain with Palhinha's parent club Bayern.

Palhinha will leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having contributed seven goals and three assists from 45 appearances in all competitions.

With two years left on his contract, Bayern will realistically look to generate the fee that they were anticipating that Spurs would pay.

Sporting will allegedly have to undertake "a lot of negotiation" to get a deal over the line.

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Palhinha exit a major blow for Spurs

While Palhinha did not start the early fixtures under De Zerbi, he completed 90 minutes on each occasion as Spurs earned seven points from games against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Everton.

Palhinha also scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers in De Zerbi's third fixture.

Prior to the latest development, the Italian would have surely viewed Palhinha as one of his two central midfielders, and the North Londoners now face a battle to find a suitable alternative.

Liverpool struggled throughout 2025-26 after winning the Premier League just months prior, and the club finally made the decision to sack manager Arne Slot on Saturday.

The Reds boss managed to secure qualification to the Champions League, but it still seemed inevitable that he would depart after a slew of dire results towards the back end of the campaign.

Fans at Anfield - known for supporting their team and manager against the odds - booed the former Feyenoord coach on more than one occasion, and the atmosphere around the club had become increasingly toxic as the months wore on.

Here, after Slot was sacked, Sports Mole takes a look at five games that led to the Liverpool manager's departure.

Liverpool 1-4 PSV - November 26, 2025 (Champions League's league phase)

© Imago / Goal Sports Images

Liverpool kicked off 2024-25 with a remarkable run of seven consecutive victories, the majority of which were earned by last-gasp heroics from the likes of Federico Chiesa, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

However, when the Reds welcomed PSV Eindhoven to Anfield in November 2025 for a Champions League showdown, they headed into the game in shocking form.

A win was not a necessity that day, but being thrashed 4-1 by an Eredivisie side at Anfield - which is renowned as fortress the world over - was a humiliating and demoralising result.

Questions were already being asked about Slot's future when he recorded a run of six defeats in seven games a few weeks prior, but convincing wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid in early November had quelled the noise.

Suffering a ninth loss in 12 games, though, and in such embarrassing fashion, only served to confirm the doubts that fans had about the boss.

Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur - March 15, 2026 (Premier League)

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Unfortunately for Slot, he could not find the consistency needed to do so, and after a shocking 2-1 defeat against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers on March 3, as well as a 1-0 loss in the first leg of the Champions League's round of 16 tie against Galatasaray, the Reds needed to find their feet against Tottenham Hotspur.

Igor Tudor was the man in the away dugout for Spurs that day, and after Liverpool conceded a 90th-minute equaliser from former Everton star Richarlison, the Anfield faithful were furious.

When the full-time whistle was blown, the crowd rang out with boos for the manager, the first prominent example of the animosity that had been brewing towards Slot spilling over into the Merseysiders' home ground.

As it turned out, Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Spurs in mid-March saw Tudor pick up the only point of his short-lived tenure with Tottenham, a damning indictment of the Reds' sullied standards.

Man City 4-0 Liverpool - April 4, 2026 (FA Cup quarter-final)

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The Merseysiders were able to overturn their deficit in the Champions League's round of 16 with an impressive 4-0 victory over Galatasaray on March 18, and the Salah-led performance seemed to indicate that the team had turned a corner.

However, that hope was snuffed out almost immediately as Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion three days later, before heading to the Etihad Stadium for their FA Cup quarter-final against rivals Manchester City.

The Reds were the underdogs against Pep Guardiola's side, and morale was low, but few could have anticipated the manner in which Slot's side capitulated.

Liverpool's midfield was repeatedly torn apart, leaving the backline exposed to wave after wave of City attacks, while the frontline proved ineffectual once again.

The then-champions had suffered heavy defeats against the Sky Blues in the past under Jurgen Klopp, but it felt as though the XI on the pitch surrendered the contest, and it was admitted after the fact by captain Van Dijk that the players indeed 'gave up'.

Fans exited the stadium early after witnessing the torrid display, chanting for Xabi Alonso on their way out of the ground, and when Dominik Szoboszlai made a disrespectful gesture towards the away end at full-time, it was clear that the spirit of the club had been broken.

PSG 2-0 Liverpool - April 8, 2026 (Champions League quarter-final first leg)

© Iconsport / Jessica Hornby, Sportimage, Sportimage Ltd, Alamy Live News

Mere days after the disaster at the Etihad, Liverpool were set to face the champions of Europe at the Parc des Princes, but rather than a fired-up performance to show some semblance of fight, supporters were treated to a cowardly showing.

Slot opted to utilise a three-man backline for the first time in his Reds career away to Paris Saint-Germain, and it felt as though the manager was aiming to avoid a thrashing that would do further damage to his reputation, rather than attempting to win the game.

To make space for the additional centre-back, Salah was dropped from the lineup, a move that would seem bizarre when his substitute appearance in the second leg saw the Egyptian play more balls into the box (12) and produce more expected assists (0.52) than any other player for either side across the entire 180 minute tie.

In the end, Liverpool's were still beaten 2-0 by PSG in the first leg, during which their overly defensive setup led to a putrid performance that generated zero shots on target.

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - May 9, 2026 (Premier League)

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Booed multiple times. First time that Chelsea outran an opponent in the Premier League this season. Slot out-coached by an unqualified interim manager.

Perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back, Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea on May 9 spurred the Anfield crowd to boo Slot multiple times, a reaction that led to shock and outrage from pundits such as Jamie Carragher.

The Reds were out of all cup competitions at this stage, and needed to guarantee Champions League football in order to fuel their summer transfer plans.

However, Slot was unable to get the better of a managerless Chelsea side, and appeared to be tactically outmatched by Calum McFarlane, the Blues' interim boss that had not even completed his UEFA coaching badges.

After an uninspiring first 67 minutes, the manager decided to take 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha off for Alexander Isak, and given that the teenager had been Liverpool's best player - and only spark - to that point, fans booed Slot.

To make their point known even more clearly, sections of the Anfield crowd chanted Ngumoha's name, highlighting that the object of their ire was Slot himself.

Fans were heard once again booing the manager at the full-time whistle, and after finishing the season with a four-game winless run - and taking the race for Champions League football to the final day - Slot did not join the goodbye lap around the pitch against Brentford, knowing that his relationship with the crowd was likely beyond repair.

Tottenham Hotspur and Roma are reportedly interested in signing West Ham United attacker Crysencio Summerville this summer.

Spurs are supposedly in the hunt for significant attacking reinforcements over the course of the off-season, with AC Milan and Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez said to be a potential North London arrival.

On the other side of the English capital, West Ham are gearing up for a spell in the Championship for the first time in over a decade, with the future of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo currently unclear.

Despite smashing Leeds United 3-0 on the final day of the Premier League season, the Hammers were sentenced to a 18th-placed finish, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley in the second tier next term.

Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs momentarily dropped into the bottom three, but victories over Wolves, Aston Villa and Everton helped to seal the club's Premier League status for another season at least.

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Tottenham, Roma want West Ham star Summerville?

According to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Summerville could be handed a Premier League lifeline this summer, just days after suffering relegation to the Championship at the London Stadium.

The report claims that fellow strugglers Tottenham are keen on securing the services of the 24-year-old during the off-season, after attempting to bring the attacker to North London during the winter trading point.

As well as De Zerbi's side, it is understood that Italian giants Roma are interested in Summerville, who netted five goals and provided two assists across 31 Premier League appearances this campaign.

Whilst believing in their ability to attract the forward to Stadio Olimpico, Roma are also keenly aware of the Premier League pull that Spurs can provide following their avoidance of relegation on the final day of the term.

Starting 29 top-flight games this season, Summerville is undoubtedly a key player for West Ham, who are preparing to lose a host of star men this summer ahead of their Championship return.

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Who else could leave West Ham this summer?

Arguably unfortunate to miss out on England's World Cup squad, Jarrod Bowen is the jewel in the crown at West Ham, often carrying the team on his back during recent Premier League struggles.

Turning 30 in late December, the right winger is at the peak of his transfer value and the Hammers need to raise funds amid declining revenue streams due to their loss of top-flight status.

Impressing during the second half of the season, attackers Valentin Castellanos and Pablo are likely to have suitors further up the footballing food chain during the upcoming summer transfer window.