Sports Mole

Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has supposedly emerged as a 'name of interest' for West Ham United amid uncertainty surrounding his Gunners future.

The 25-year-old is due back in North London following a loan spell at former club Porto in the 2024-25 season, during which he partially managed to reignite his career.

Vieira managed five goals and six assists in 42 matches for the Portuguese giants and started all three of their matches at the Club World Cup, but he could not prevent Porto from a group-stage elimination.

Mikel Arteta decided to leave Vieira out of his pre-season squad for Arsenal's trip to Asia following his Club World Cup exploits, and a permanent move away from the Emirates is now expected to materialise this summer.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, West Ham have now taken a liking to Vieira, who is a 'name of interest' for the former Conference League champions this summer.

Arsenal's Vieira to replace Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta at West Ham?

Jacobs adds that the Irons want to add 'multiple' midfielders to their ranks this summer, and Vieira fits the bill in terms of what head coach Graham Potter is looking for.

West Ham have already lost Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, while they are also believed to be open to offers for Lucas Paqueta, in spite of the fact that the Brazilian is expected to be cleared of spot-fixing charges.

However, the Hammers are supposedly yet to touch base with Arsenal over a deal for Vieira, who is only under contract at the Emirates Stadium for another two years.

The Portuguese playmaker joined the Gunners for just over £30m in the summer of 2022, but he has failed to adapt to life in England, only producing three goals and 10 assists in 49 games in all tournaments.

Vieira made 33 Premier League appearances over the course of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, but he started just five of those contests, making a further 28 entries off the bench.

Could Vieira still reignite his Arsenal career?

A couple of months before touching down in North London, Vieira provided more assists than any other player in the 2021-22 Primeira Liga season, setting up his teammates on 14 occasions in Porto colours.

The playmaker's move to Arsenal was one of those rare transfers that comes out of nowhere, and a sumptuous strike against Brentford in September 2022 was the perfect way to endear himself to the Emirates faithful.

However, Vieira has arguably been a victim of his team's own success, as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were indispensable in 2022-23 and 2023-24, forcing him to accept a peripheral role.

The 25-year-old did not always impress when given opportunities in the Europa League, though, and there have been perpetual concerns about whether the slight midfielder is capable of cutting it physically in England.

MLS outfit Los Angeles FC are supposedly 'advancing' in talks to sign Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min during the summer transfer window.

The 33-year-old's contract with the Europa League winners now has a little under 12 months left to run, and there is currently no indication that the former Bayer Leverkusen man will pen another extension.

Head coach Thomas Frank has suggested that Son will remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the 2025-26 season, but at the same time, the club will supposedly not stand in his way of an exit.

A switch to MLS or Saudi Arabia have been seen as the two most viable routes for the South Korea international, who does not appear to have garnered much interest from other clubs in Europe.

Now, GIVEMESPORT claims that LAFC are making progress in their efforts to bring Son to North America, and they are 'close' to an agreement on personal terms with the Spurs skipper.

Saudi Son proposal 'revealed' amid LAFC transfer links

The Black and Gold are apparently of the view that a transfer will be possible towards the end of the summer window, but they are not in a one-horse race for the 33-year-old.

Indeed, Saudi Pro League clubs are still believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation, and they would supposedly be willing to stump up $40m (£30m) including add-ons to beat LAFC to his signature.

Such a fee would see Tottenham make a small profit on the €30m (£26m) they paid Bayer Leverkusen for Son's services 10 years ago, since when the South Korean has cemented himself in Tottenham folklore.

The 33-year-old is the Lilywhites' fifth-highest male scorer of all time with 173 goals from 454 appearances, only trailing Harry Kane (280), Jimmy Greaves (268), Bobby Smith (208) and Martin Chivers (174) in the charts.

Despite a perceived drop-off in performance last season, Son still hit double figures in goals (11) and assists (12) in all competitions as he won his first-ever trophy with Spurs in the Europa League.

Tottenham transfer news: Why Son sale could backfire financially

While Son's future hangs in the balance, the South Korea legend is currently with the Spurs squad in Hong Kong as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Frank's side take on North London rivals Arsenal on Thursday, before heading to Son's home country to meet another Premier League side in Newcastle United at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3.

The report adds that Son is 'contractually obliged' to play in the game against the Magpies, and if Tottenham sell him before then, they will forfeit a significant chunk of their commercial revenue.

However, no final decision on Son's future is expected to be made until after Tottenham's pre-season tour, as the attacker is expected to hold crunch talks with Frank when back in the UK.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has insisted that Son Heung-min will have a good role next season amid speculation regarding his future.

Spurs were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Luton Town in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, with summer signing Mohammed Kudus making another appearance.

The attacker could be one of a number of forward additions this transfer window, but it would not be surprising if stars left the club to make room for more signings.

Captain Son has been linked with an exit from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid reported interest from sides in the Saudi Pro League and MLS.

However, boss Frank has claimed that the veteran will be given an appealing role next season, telling reporters: "I think first and foremost, Son's legacy here is remarkable. He's been a fantastic player for Tottenham, he is a fantastic player for Tottenham.

"I see a player that that can play a very good role here next season. He's come in, very good mindset, trained very hard, pushed the players. So I'm excited about it."

With the forward having just a year remaining on his deal, Spurs face the prospect of him leaving for nothing in the summer of 2026 should they decide to keep him at the club.

Has Son's decline been exaggerated?

Son did at times struggle in for Tottenham in 2024-25, though his performances cannot solely be attributed to a supposed decline given the team as a whole struggled, with former boss Ange Postecoglou guiding the club to a 17th-placed finish.

The forward only scored Premier League goals in that campaign, marking his lowest ever return for the Londoners since his first season in 2015-16, when he netted just four times.

While the South Korean's goalscoring form suffered, he did manage to rack up nine assists, a figure that was just one shy of his best ever total in the English top flight.

Son has in fact produced a career high 0.38 assists per 90 in the league last term, and though he may no longer be as deadly inside the box, he has arguably developed the creative side of his game.

What role will Son play under Frank for Tottenham?

Given Son is now 33 years old, he is unlikely to be able to play as frequently as he did when he was younger, so fans can expect to see him on the bench often.

The South Korean is able to operate either out wide or in a central role, meaning he could come into the XI as a rotation option for striker Dominic Solanke or winger Brennan Johnson.

With Spurs set to compete in the Champions League, there will be opportunities for Son to come into the team in the Premier League in order to make sure first-team stars are as fresh as possible for crucial European clashes.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among the three clubs keen to bring back former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to the Premier League this summer.Â

Newcastle United are the third club looking to sign their former striker as they prepare alternative plans in case Alexander Isak leaves the club.Â

Since joining Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal from Fulham in 2023, Mitrovic has enjoyed excellent form, scoring 68 goals in 79 games over the past two seasons.Â

According to a report from Caughtoffside, Man Utd, Spurs, and Newcastle are looking to sign Mitrovic, who is valued at around €30m (£26m).Â

Mitrovic would be a solid addition for Man Utd and Spurs Â

The Red Devils are looking to rebuild their squad under Ruben Amorim, and they have already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.Â

United need more quality players in their attacking department after finishing 15th in the Premier League last season. The likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been underwhelming since joining the club, and they need an experienced striker who can guarantee regular goals. Mitrovic fits the bill.Â

Tottenham have signed Mathys Tel permanently from Bayern Munich and added Mohammed Kudus to their ranks. However, Thomas Frank probably would need another top striker if Richarlison and Son Heung-Min are allowed to leave.Â

Newcastle could lose their talisman Isak this summer, and they are already checking on several options. According to Florian Plettenberg, the Magpies are in the race for Benjamin Sesko, but they need to pay around €80m (£70m) for the RB Leipzig striker.Â

Mitrovic could be a cheaper alternative for Eddie Howe if Newcastle want to take a chance with him.Â

Spurs and Newcastle have an advantage over Man UtdÂ

The Serbian still has a lot of quality football left in him, but it is not clear whether he still has the hunger to test himself at the top level.Â

The former Anderlecht striker scored only 17 goals in 72 games for the Magpies, but his record for Fulham was impressive. The Serbian scored 111 goals in 206 games for the Cottagers, and he would be a solid addition to all three interested clubs.Â

Tottenham and Newcastle can offer him European football, which could prove to be a significant factor in Mitrovic's decision to choose his next club if he decides to leave.

The asking price is quite affordable for all three Premier League clubs, and it remains to be seen if any one of them comes up with a concrete offer.Â

Tottenham Hotspur prospect Mikey Moore is allegedly most likely to join a Champions League club on loan.

The 17-year-old is viewed as one of the most highly-regarded academy graduates at the North London outfit since the emergence of Harry Kane.

Despite his age, the playmaker has already racked up a total of 21 appearances and 815 minutes of football in the senior ranks.

However, despite already having a goal in the Europa League under his belt, too, it appears that his game time under Thomas Frank could be limited.

Mohammed Kudus's arrival from West Ham United will only push Moore further down the pecking order, yet it appears that a plan for the next stage of his development could be in place.

Which club could sign Mikey Moore?

As per journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph, Rangers have emerged as the favourites to sign the England Under-19 international.

The report claims that a number of Championship clubs have also been monitoring the situation and were seemingly prepared to hand Moore regular minutes.

Instead, it appears that Scottish giants Rangers are in line to acquire the services of Moore for the 2025-26 campaign.

Rangers are currently preparing for the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie at Panathinaikos, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first fixture at Ibrox.

New head coach Russell Martin has already brought in seven fresh faces in an effort to progress through to the League Phase and challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title.

Perfect move for Moore?

While Moore would not be someone who would start every game for Rangers, experiencing the pressure of playing for a big club can only benefit him going forward.

He has already had that at Spurs, but he could drop out of the picture in the short term if he were to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this campaign.

Having failed to sign Morgan Gibbs-White for £60m, those funds will realistically be allocated to trying to sign another playmaker of a similar profile.

Spurs may insist on Moore penning fresh terms before his likely loan exit. Just two years remain on his current contract.

Tottenham Hotspur have allegedly expressed a shock interest in Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, whose future is the subject of mounting uncertainty.

The 28-year-old's contract with the Gunners only runs until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, and sporting director Andrea Berta is allegedly weighing up the sale of the Brazilian in the current window.

Jesus has been out of action since January due to a severe ACL injury, and he is also expected to miss the first few months of the 2025-26 season, although he has been taking positive steps in his rehabilitation.

However, with Viktor Gyokeres now donning the red and white stripes, Jesus could be relegated to third-choice centre-forward in North London owing to the presence of Kai Havertz.

Clubs in both Europe and Brazil are believed to have enquired about Jesus's situation, including Flamengo, who are said to be preparing an offer of a loan deal with an option to buy in 2026.

Tottenham 'among several clubs' tracking Arsenal's Jesus

The South American giants welcomed Jesus's former Arsenal teammate Jorginho to the club on a free transfer earlier this summer, but they will supposedly face significant competition to reunite him with Jesus.

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal's bitter rivals Spurs are among the clubs monitoring the striker's situation, along with a few other revered European teams.

Barcelona - who are preparing for a post-Robert Lewandowski future - are also rumoured to be keeping a close eye on developments, as are AC Milan, Inter Milan and Newcastle United.

However, given that Jesus is expected to be sidelined until the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026, the report adds that both European and South American clubs would be more likely to make their move during the January transfer window.

Jesus has produced 26 goals and 20 assists from 96 games for Arsenal since joining from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, including six strikes in four games last winter during a brief resurgence.

Which players have played for both Arsenal and Tottenham?

While Sol Campbell may be the most noteworthy example of a player to cross the North London divide, several others have moved in the opposite direction, abandoning their red and white stripes for a lilywhite kit.

Jesus's fellow striker Emmanuel Adebayor had already become Gooners' public enemy number one by running to celebrate in front of them while playing for Man City in 2009, before burning any bridges he had left by joining Tottenham.

The Togo international then scored in both 5-2 Emirates thrillers in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, although he was also sent off in the latter for a horrendous challenge on Santi Cazorla.

Adebayor also briefly shared a dressing room with William Gallas at White Hart Lane, while David Bentley made a name for himself at Spurs after coming through the Arsenal academy system, memorably scoring a 40-yard screamer in the 4-4 draw in 2008-09.

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has signed a new contract to stay at the City Ground until 2028, news that has ended speculation he could sign for Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs supporters' faith in the team had been building this summer, with the additions of players like Mohammed Kudus boosting manager Thomas Frank's squad.

The head coach may have expected to have welcomed Forest attacker Gibbs-White into the club given they had activated his £60m release clause.

However, the deal stalled after the Garibaldi threatened to complain to the Premier League about grievances over the breach of a confidentiality agreement regarding his buyout clause.

Now any transfer to Tottenham appears to be off after Forest announced on their website that Gibbs-White had signed fresh terms.

What next for Tottenham and Frank after Gibbs-White blow?

Gibbs-White would have added considerably to Tottenham's squad given he possesses many technical and athletic qualities, but there is an arguement that he should not have been a priority.

The Forest attacker prefers to operate in a central position, but Spurs forwards James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Kudus are capable of playing behind a striker.

Kudus and Kulusevski in particular profile similarly to Gibbs-White in terms of athleticism, and perhaps the Londoners can now use the funds they would have committed to the Englishman elsewhere.

Tottenham conceded 65 times last season in the Premier League and finished 17th, and the team would almost certainly benefit from further defensive additions.

Is Gibbs-White's deal a victory for the rest of the Premier League?

Nottingham Forest have already sold Anthony Elanga this summer, but the fact they have kept hold of arguably their best player will be a welcome boost to boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Keeping the 25-year-old could also represent a boost to many of the other sides in the Premier League, providing hope that clubs can resist the pressure to sell their stars to the richest teams in the division.

Bournemouth lost Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers sold Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and a number of other players have also joined the league's elite.

The ability to retain key stars could help the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest challenge the teams in the top half of the table.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly toying with the idea of accepting an offer for Son Heung-min.

As he nears the completion of a decade in North London, Son is a bonafide club legend with 173 goals and 101 assists from 454 appearances in all competitions.

However, at the age of 33, the South Korea international is no longer at the peak of his powers, even if he still netted seven times and chipped in with 10 assists in last season's Premier League.

With just a year left on his contract, it is realistic to expect widespread interest in the versatile attacker, particularly if he is open to a fresh challenge.

According to The Sun, club officials are giving thought to accept a £15m bid that has arrived for his signature.

Which club wants to sign Son?

The report suggests that Los Angeles FC are eager to tempt Son to MLS over the coming weeks.

Spurs are seemingly prepared to accept anywhere between £15m and £20m for the player, who is yet to decide on his future.

That may take some time with Son not in a position to leave Spurs until after a friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea on August 3.

If Son does not feature in that match, Spurs would face a financial penalty due to the terms and conditions of their contract for the game.

Los Angeles currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference table, albeit with at least two matches in hand and only trailing leaders San Diego FC by seven points.

Right time for Son to leave Spurs?

Son is at the stage of his career where he may be relishing one of his final chances to play in the Champions League, and Spurs value what he brings in terms of experience and adding to squad-depth.

On the flip side, though, he faces a battle to remain as first choice in the final third when Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus have been signed on long-term contracts.

Much may depend on whether Son is content with becoming a squad option in Thomas Frank's squad, although that may be something that benefits him when it comes to trying to stay injury-free.

Spurs would ideally like to generate a fee for Son, yet his status at the club could ensure that an eventual free transfer may not be as detrimental as it could be given the riches on offer in the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering whether to join the race to sign Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo.

The Brazil international has been a key player for Los Blancos for much of his time at the Bernabeu, starting in 2019.

However, despite contributing 68 goals and 51 assists from 270 appearances, the 24-year-old is at risk of not being relied upon by Xabi Alonso.

Rodrygo featured for just 92 minutes during the recent Club World Cup, playing three games but also remaining as an unused substitute on three occasions.

Speculation persists that the forward could be allowed to depart Real Madrid for the right price, there known to be Premier League interest.

Spurs to join Rodrygo race?

According to AS, Spurs may look to make a 'statement' in the transfer market by signing Rodrygo ahead of some of their English rivals.

Mathys Tel has already joined on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich, where he was followed by West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus for £55m.

Nevertheless, it appears that chairman Daniel Levy wants to make his mark ahead of the club's return to the Champions League.

The report alleges that Levy will attempt to lower Rodrygo's asking price below €90m (£78.21m), relying on the relationship that they hold with their Real Madrid counterparts.

Liverpool and Arsenal have also been credited as admirers of Rodrygo, yet it remains to be seen whether those teams will move onto other targets.

Where does Rodrygo stand?

While Real Madrid are happy to retain Rodrygo's services, it is suggested that he will have the final decision over his future, providing that his asking price is met.

That is allegedly due to Real Madrid being happy to generate funds in order to strengthen other areas of the pitch.

The emergence of Gonzalo Garcia down the middle of the attack has been an unforeseen bonus, while a cheaper alternative to Rodrygo could be acquired if he left for £70m+.

Rodrygo still has three years remaining on his contract.

The release clause is a fee specified in some players' contracts that, when paid by another club, obliges the club holding the player's rights to allow his departure. This was Tottenham Hotspur's strategy to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest. However, the deal was blocked and could end up in court.

Earlier this month, Spurs made a move for the attacking midfielder for a fee of £60m, a sum that supposedly matched the release clause stipulated in his contract with Forest.

However, according to Sky Sports News, Nottingham Forest threatened legal action against Tottenham, claiming that the 25-year-old Englishman was tapped up and that there was a breach of confidentiality regarding the player's contract.

As a result, Gibbs-White remains available to coach Nuno Espirito Santo for pre-season. Forest are open to negotiating for their number 10 during this transfer window, but the lack of interest from other clubs may force a reconciliation with Spurs.

Legal dispute over unauthorised contact and confidentiality breach

Nottingham Forest claim they did not authorise any prior contact between Tottenham and Gibbs-White, which would constitute a direct approach without consent. This move would violate Premier League rules regarding negotiations with contracted players.

In addition, Forest argue that Spurs leaked confidential information about the English midfielder’s release clause. Nottingham Forest’s management believe this strategic detail was improperly disclosed by Tottenham during negotiations, potentially benefiting other clubs.

Since then, Forest have cut off communications with Spurs and notified their legal team that, should Gibbs-White leave under these circumstances, they will take the case to the Premier League and, if necessary, to civil court to protect their rights.

Despite the behind-the-scenes dispute, Forest’s number 10 has remained professional and continues to participate in preparations for the 2025-26 season. However, Gibbs-White has rejected all contract renewal attempts in recent months.

The attacking midfielder’s current contract runs until June 2027. Therefore, Forest know that if they want to profit from the Englishman, now is the time to negotiate, in order to avoid losing him for free at the end of his deal.

No takers for Forest’s £100m valuation

Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest, had hoped that Manchester City would renew their interest in Gibbs-White, as they did at the start of the transfer window. But the Citizens currently have no plans to sign any more midfielders.

In recent weeks, Pep Guardiola has brought in Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Sverre Nypan to help fill the gap left by Kevin De Bruyne, who moved to Napoli. Before completing those deals, Manchester City had monitored Forest’s number 10, who was valued at £100m.

That asking price was not accepted by the Citizens, who instead spent £89.8m on Cherki, Reijnders and Nypan combined. Shortly after, Tottenham tried to trigger Morgan Gibbs-White’s release clause.

So far, no other club has shown concrete interest in the English attacking midfielder. In other words, Nottingham Forest may be forced to resume talks with Spurs, who maintain they have done nothing wrong. If the impasse continues, Gibbs-White may well remain at the City Ground.