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Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are set to provide Arsenal with competition for the signature of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to a report.

The Swedish international enjoyed an impressive two-and-a-half-year stint at Championship side Coventry City before securing a move to Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth around £20m.

Gyokeres has been on the radar of several big clubs across Europe this summer after a sensational first season in the Primeira Liga.

In 50 matches across all competitions last season, the 26-year-old found the back of the net 43 times while providing 12 assists.

The Gunners, who have been actively looking for a new centre-forward, have been rumoured to be the frontrunners for the Sporting striker, but a report this weekend suggests that they may face stiff competition to secure the Swede's signature.

Spurs and Liverpool planning Gyokeres hijack?

According to Football Insider, Ange Postecoglou's side have entered the race for the 26-year-old as Spurs look to bolster their attack ahead of the new season.

Following Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich last summer, the Lilywhites have not yet found a direct replacement for him as a dedicated number nine, with Heung-min Son and Richarlison primarily filling that role throughout most of last season.

The report also states that Liverpool and Chelsea are both interested in the striker, who is expected to cost around £86m.

Despite the new developments, Gyokeres is still very much on the Gunners' radar and it is understood that Mikel Arteta's side are planning to test the water with a bid of around £55m for the attacker in the coming days.

Arsenal's current attacking duo of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah only managed a combined total of nine goals last season, and the latter has been linked with an exit from the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Quiet summer expected at the Emirates?

The Gunners have had a fairly quiet transfer window so far, with their only confirmed piece of business being the permanent signing of David Raya from Brentford.

Reports suggest that Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori is likely to be the next done deal with the Italian believed to be completing his medical in London this weekend.

While Arsenal fans will be hoping for more arrivals before the transfer window slams shut, Arteta emphasized that his primary focus is on developing his current squad of players.

In an interview before their pre-season match against Manchester United in the United States, the Arsenal boss said: "The full focus is on trying to improve these guys and get the best out of them consistently so they can perform every three days at the level that we want. We know that we have certain parts in the squad that we would like to improve, but that is dictated by the market.

"At the moment we already have a great squad, and and we are giving the opportunity for our young players from the academy to be with us and it's a joy to have them on tour with us."

The Gunners will face the Red Devils in the early hours of Sunday morning and Liverpool on Thursday before returning to England.

Ryan Sessegnon has re-joined Fulham following his Tottenham Hotspur exit earlier this summer.

Sessegnon rose through the youth ranks at Fulham before going on to make 120 appearances for the first team, contributing 25 goals and 18 assists.

The 24-year-old left the Cottagers in the summer of 2019 to move across London to Tottenham in a reported £25m deal.

Unfortunately for Sessegnon, he saw his time with Spurs disrupted by a series of injuries, restricting him to just 57 appearances in all competitions.

Sessegnon was released by Tottenham earlier this summer after playing just seven minutes of first-team football last season.

Fulham announce first summer signing

Despite Sessegnon's recent injury struggles, Fulham have decided to sign their academy graduate on a free transfer, making him the club's first signing of the summer transfer window.

The left-sided player has put pen to paper on a two-year contract, with the option to extend by a further 12 months.

"It's amazing to be back," Sessegnon told FFCtv. "Emotional, as well. It's where it started for me, where everything began, and it's amazing to be back.

"It will always be home for me. I think it had the feeling that it was meant to be, coming back here, so I'm delighted to get it done."

Fulham "thrilled" to re-sign Sessegnon

Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan has admitted he his delighted to bring Sessegnon back to the club for a second spell.

"I'm thrilled to announce that Ryan Sessegnon has returned to Fulham Football Club!" Khan said. "Ryan grew up in our academy, he spent 11 years at the club, as he developed here into a wonderful young man and a phenomenal talent.

"I remember travelling to Leeds for the first league start of his career on 16/8/16 as if it was yesterday. We're all so pleased that Ryan has come back, he is beloved here at the club by our staff and supporters, and we know that he'll be right at home, working with old friends and new, under Marco Silva's great leadership. Welcome home, Sess!"

The former England Under-21 international could be a shrewd addition if he can prove his fitness for an extended period.

Sessegnon can play anywhere on the left flank, providing Silva with the option to play him as a full-back or in more advanced areas. body check tags ::

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has insisted that there has been no change to the club's transfer plans for the summer window.

Ahead of his second season in charge, Postecoglou is looking to make further alterations to his squad in a bid to move into the top four of the Premier League standings.

Spurs must also contend with the return of European football to their schedule, and the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have been added to the group, as well as Timo Werner returning on loan.

However, Spurs have made no new senior additions since July 2, the lack of developments inevitably causing some unrest among the fanbase.

With Spurs currently on a pre-season tour of Asia, which lasts until August 3, there is little chance of any fresh faces being integrated into the squad before the final friendly of the summer against Bayern Munich on August 10.

Postecoglou stays calm over transfers

Ahead of a showdown with Japanese club Vissel Kobe on Saturday, Postecoglou held a press conference with the media with the subject of transfers on the agenda.

Giving a detailled account of the situation to football.london, the 58-year-old revealed: "At this time of year, it's pretty hard for supporters because they don't have all the information and it's fair to say there's plenty of misinformation out there.

"We're working hard to bring players in and it's a process that you sometimes have to be patient with.

"But in terms of what we set out to do, that's still the plan and you have to stay disciplined with that. Sometimes the timings don't work out and it doesn't happen as quickly as you want and you don't get them (players) in at the right time but I think it's really important you stay disciplined and not run off and chase other things.

"So, what we started with at the start of summer are still there, and I wouldn't want to put timelines on it. A lot of that is out of our control and we just need to be patient. From where I sit at the moment we're still in that phase where what we identified is still what we're after."

Latest on South Korean prospect

Widespread reports have indicated that Yang Min-hyuk will soon become a Spurs player, the 18-year-old having made an impression at Gangwon.

On that transfer, Postecoglou added: "Yeah, again I'm well aware of the quality of the K League. When I was at Celtic we were looking to bring over at least a couple of Korean players at the time and I think they've brought a couple over.

"So yes, we'll be looking far and wide for players and as you rightly said, it is difficult for me to discuss."

Min, who is expected to remain with Gangwon until at least the start of 2025, has contributed seven goals and three assists from his 24 senior appearances. body check tags ::

Vissel Kobe are set to play Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly at Japan National Stadium on Saturday.

The home side are currently fourth in the J1 League with 42 points from 24 games, while Tottenham finished fifth with 66 points in the Premier League last term.

Match preview

© Imago

Vissel Kobe's 2024 campaign is still ongoing, with the J1 League champions currently fourth in their division and seven points behind leaders Machida Zelvia.

With 14 games remaining, the home side are averaging 1.75 points per game in the league, and this is a sizeable drop from the 2.09 points per game they averaged in the 2023 season.

Ushi have scored 37 goals and conceded 21 times so far, and this makes them the top flight's joint fourth best offensive and third best defensive team respectively.

Manager Takayuki Yoshida has been in charge since June 2022 and previously played for Vissel Kobe between 2008 and 2013.

Considering Yoshida's side finished 13th in 2022, his title winning campaign in 2023 was an impressive feat.

© Imago

Spurs have already played two pre-season games but their tour of Asia will begin on Saturday before they play the K-League Allstars on July 31.

Tottenham started life under manager Ange Postecoglou well, with the team winning eight of their first 10 Premier League fixtures and drawing the other two.

This strong early-season form saw some predict that Spurs could challenge for the title, but injuries to key players such as James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, as well as poor performances from several members of the squad, meant that this form dissipated quickly.

Postecoglou's team ended the season with five losses from their last seven matches, but regardless of that poor form, fans are rather optimistic for the season ahead.

Indeed, with an entertaining and at times breathtaking style of play, Spurs have always been exciting to watch under the Australian.

With Spurs' ambitious moves for the likes of Archie Gray, who is highly regarded and touted to have immense potential, there is every chance that Tottenham can improve on last season's showing.

Vissel Kobe friendly form:

Vissel Kobe form (all competitions):

Tottenham Hotspur friendly form:

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Vissel Kobe will be without defensive midfielder Mitsuki Saito, who has not played since August 2023 due to a torn lateral knee ligament, although he is expected back in late August this year.

Right-back Gotoku Sakai has not played since June 30 as a result of a broken foot and is not scheduled to return until September.

As for Tottenham, defender Radu Dragusin has joined the squad after returning from Euro 2024.

Richarlison has been named in Spurs' travelling squad despite not playing since May 5 due to injury, as well as links with a move away to the Saudi Pro League.

Summer signing Lucas Bergvall was forced off with an injury last time out against Queens Park Rangers, but Postecoglou has said that he does not believe the injury is particularly serious.

Bergvall was in fact pictured training in Japan, as was defender Ben Davies, who has not featured for Spurs since their 3-2 loss to Arsenal on May 28.

Left-back Destiny Udogie was also named in Tottenham's squad for their tour of Asia, but given he underwent surgery to his left quadriceps in April, the potential for his return on Saturday is not certain.

Vissel Kobe possible starting lineup:

Maekawa; Hirose, Yamakawa, Thuler, Hatsuse; Ideguchi, Ogihara, Sasaki; Muto, Osako, Patric

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Austin; Porro, Skipp, Dragusin, Donley; Kulusevski, Gray, Bissouma; Maddison, Son, Werner

We say: Vissel Kobe 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Postecoglou has named relatively strong XIs in his side's pre-season friendlies so far, and should he do so again on Saturday then Tottenham should have enough quality to win.

Additionally, Dragusin's return to the team could bolster both defence and midfield if Gray is moved into the middle of the pitch as a result.

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Vissel Kobe are set to play Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly at Japan National Stadium on Saturday.

The home side are currently fourth in the J1 League with 42 points from 24 games, while Tottenham finished fifth with 66 points in the Premier League last term.

Match preview

Vissel Kobe's 2024 campaign is still ongoing, with the J1 League champions currently fourth in their division and seven points behind leaders Machida Zelvia.

With 14 games remaining, the home side are averaging 1.75 points per game in the league, and this is a sizeable drop from the 2.09 points per game they averaged in the 2023 season.

Ushi have scored 37 goals and conceded 21 times so far, and this makes them the top flight's joint fourth best offensive and third best defensive team respectively.

Manager Takayuki Yoshida has been in charge since June 2022 and previously played for Vissel Kobe between 2008 and 2013.

Considering Yoshida's side finished 13th in 2022, his title winning campaign in 2023 was an impressive feat.

Spurs have already played two pre-season games but their tour of Asia will begin on Saturday before they play the K-League Allstars on July 31.

Tottenham started life under manager Ange Postecoglou well, with the team winning eight of their first 10 Premier League fixtures and drawing the other two.

This strong early-season form saw some predict that Spurs could challenge for the title, but injuries to key players such as James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, as well as poor performances from several members of the squad, meant that this form dissipated quickly.

Postecoglou's team ended the season with five losses from their last seven matches, but regardless of that poor form, fans are rather optimistic for the season ahead.

Indeed, with an entertaining and at times breathtaking style of play, Spurs have always been exciting to watch under the Australian.

With Spurs' ambitious moves for the likes of Archie Gray, who is highly regarded and touted to have immense potential, there is every chance that Tottenham can improve on last season's showing.

Vissel Kobe friendly form:

Vissel Kobe form (all competitions):

Tottenham Hotspur friendly form:

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

Team News

Vissel Kobe will be without defensive midfielder Mitsuki Saito, who has not played since August 2023 due to a torn lateral knee ligament, although he is expected back in late August this year.

Right-back Gotoku Sakai has not played since June 30 as a result of a broken foot and is not scheduled to return until September.

As for Tottenham, defender Radu Dragusin has joined the squad after returning from Euro 2024.

Richarlison has been named in Spurs' travelling squad despite not playing since May 5 due to injury, as well as links with a move away to the Saudi Pro League.

Summer signing Lucas Bergvall was forced off with an injury last time out against Queens Park Rangers, but Postecoglou has said that he does not believe the injury is particularly serious.

Bergvall was in fact pictured training in Japan, as was defender Ben Davies, who has not featured for Spurs since their 3-2 loss to Arsenal on May 28.

Left-back Destiny Udogie was also named in Tottenham's squad for their tour of Asia, but given he underwent surgery to his left quadriceps in April, the potential for his return on Saturday is not certain.

Vissel Kobe possible starting lineup:

Maekawa; Hirose, Yamakawa, Thuler, Hatsuse; Ideguchi, Ogihara, Sasaki; Muto, Osako, Patric

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Austin; Porro, Skipp, Dragusin, Donley; Kulusevski, Gray, Bissouma; Maddison, Son, Werner

We say: Vissel Kobe 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Postecoglou has named relatively strong XIs in his side's pre-season friendlies so far, and should he do so again on Saturday then Tottenham should have enough quality to win.

Additionally, Dragusin's return to the team could bolster both defence and midfield if Gray is moved into the middle of the pitch as a result.

body check tags ::

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Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!

AC Milan are reportedly closing in on an agreement to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Emerson Royal this summer after seeing their first bid rejected by the London club.

Throughout the 2023-24 Premier League season, the 25-year-old full-back struggled to secure a regular starting place under Ange Postecoglou.

The Brazilian international made just 22 league appearances for the Lilywhites last term, starting only 11 times and mainly serving as a backup in defence.

Pedro Porro was preferred as Postecoglou's first-choice right-back last season and there is widespread expectation that he will remain the top pick next term as well.

Royal is currently in Japan with the rest of the Tottenham first-team squad, preparing for Saturday's pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo.

© Imago

Milan preparing improved bid for Emerson Royal

Milan are actively looking to bring in a right-back this summer, and have shown interest in the Brazilian, but negotiations reportedly stalled earlier this month when Spurs rejected their opening offer.

Premier League Brasil suggested that Paulo Fonseca's side initially tested the water with a bid in the region of £8.5m for the Spurs right-back earlier this month.

However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a new round of talks between Tottenham and the Rossoneri have now commenced with the sides closing in on an agreement.

The report adds that there is now just a £2.5m difference in the valuation of the player by the two clubs and discussions are ongoing in the hope that a deal can be reached in the coming days.

It is understood that the Serie A giants have already made contact with the defender and agreed personal terms regarding his potential move to Italy.

Royal's current contract with the North Londoners runs until the summer of 2026 and Milan are believed to be prepared to offer the 25-year-old a five-year deal if he makes to move to the San Siro.

© Reuters

Busy summer at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs are considering selling several players this summer with midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg recently transferred to Marseille and Royal might be the next to depart from the North London club.

Postecoglou's side have already confirmed Timo Werner on another loan and spent nearly £40m on Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Bergvall officially joined the club this summer after finalising his move back in January.

The Brazilian is believed to be eager to move to the San Siro, and reports suggest he may have rejected other offers, including those from Saudi Arabia.

If the deal with Milan for the set price gets over the line this summer, Spurs will be able to recoup almost the entire £21.1m they spent on the 25-year-old when they signed him from Barcelona in 2021.

Royal has made a total of 101 appearances for Lilywhites over the past three seasons, notching up four goals and two assists during his time in the Premier League.

Arsenal are reportedly preparing to battle London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of versatile Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu this summer.

The 19-year-old began his career playing for Husum Boldklub before joining Nordsjaelland youth academy. He has also played for Denmark at the Under-18s to Under-21s levels.

Dorgu signed for Lecce at the Under-19s level back in 2022 and made his Serie A debut for the senior side in August 2023.

In just his first full season in the top flight, the 19-year-old has become a key player for the Italian club, and his performances have also attracted the attention of several big clubs across Europe.

The highly-rated teenager made 34 appearances across all competitions for Salentini last term and also notched up two goals in the league.

© Reuters

Lecce open to offers for Patrick Dorgu this summer

According to Calcio Lecce, the Italian outfit have no intention of selling Dorgu this summer but are wiling to listen to offers close to their asking price of £25.5m.

The report adds that Arsenal have made an approach for the 19-year-old, while Spurs and Chelsea are also believed to be in the race to sign the highly-rated defender.

It is understood that Napoli have submitted a formal offer to try and sign the player but their valuation fell short of what Lecce are asking.

Mikel Arteta's are already close to bolstering their defence with Riccardo Calafiori on the verge of sealing a move to the Emirates Stadium from Bologna.

Chelsea and Spurs have also been made aware of Lecce's asking price for Dorgu and are believed to be working on opening bids for the talented teenager.

© Imago

Dorgu's agent confirms Premier League interest

In an interview last November, Dorgu's agent Kingsley Ogbodo confirmed that his client was being pursued by several potential suitors, including the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

"He is in the midst of his growth and learning process, so today it is too early to say. What I know is that he has a lot to offer and give."

"Not only the clubs you mentioned [Liverpool and Manchester City], but also others. I don't want to name names and I don't want to create noise around him, there's no need."

"There is a lot of interest in Patrick and that doesn't surprise me. Everyone can see his talent. When he has even more confidence in his abilities and has completed his growth, then we will see the results he can achieve."

Tottenham Hotspur are supposedly growing optimistic about their chances of tying 16-year-old attacking sensation Mikey Moore down to a new contract.

The winger is still under scholarship terms in North London, as he cannot sign a professional deal until his 17th birthday, although that is now just a couple of weeks away.

Moore, who turns 17 on August 11, broke into Ange Postecoglou's first team last season and came off the bench in their final two fixtures of the Premier League campaign against Manchester City and Sheffield United.

The England Under-17 international - who boasts a brilliant 10 goals and four assists in 12 age-group matches for his country - has already made his mark in pre-season too, scoring against Hearts and setting up Dane Scarlett's goal against Queens Park Rangers.

Moore's scholarship deal does not expire until the summer of 2026, but a number of sides have reportedly shown an interest in prising the attacker away from North London in the current window.

Tottenham 'close' to agreeing new Moore deal

Manchester United and Manchester City were both said to have made offers to the Englishman, while German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund had also expressed an interest.

Moore does not have to wait until his 17th birthday to sign professional terms with Bundesliga clubs, but according to Football Insider, Spurs are now close to agreeing a new deal with the winger.

Tottenham are supposedly confident that Moore will snub interest from both Manchester clubs and foreign teams to extend his Spurs terms, and they have incredibly high hopes for the youngster.

After Moore became the youngest Premier League player in Spurs' history last year, Postecoglou has supposedly made it his mission to expose his 'immense' protege to more first-team football.

Moore is expected to be heavily involved in Spurs' pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, where the Lilywhites will meet Vissel Kobe, Team K-League and Bayern Munich.

Spurs will then clash with the German side once again on August 10, before commencing Premier League duties away to newly-promoted Leicester City nine days later.

Moore to replace Bryan Gil in first-team setup?

A space will seemingly open up for Moore to become a first-team regular next season, as the Lilywhites are looking to offload the out-of-favour Bryan Gil at the earliest opportunity.

The Spaniard was one of two players - alongside Sergio Reguilon - left out of Tottenham's tour squad to explore possible transfers elsewhere, the Lilywhites confirmed when revealing their selection.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Bryan Gil is reportedly in talks to join a Champions League club after being omitted from Spurs' pre-season tour squad.

Ange Postecoglou included over 30 players for the Lilywhites' trip to Japan and South Korea, where the Lilywhites will face off against Vissel Kobe, Team K League and Bayern Munich over the next two weeks.

While a number of first-team players were left out due to recent Euro 2024 or Copa America commitments, Tottenham confirmed that Gil and left-back Sergio Reguilon had been omitted in order to explore transfer opportunities.

Spanish winger Gil has failed to live up to his potential in North London since arriving in a £21m deal from Sevilla in 2021, and following a couple of loans back in his homeland, a permanent return to La Liga should soon materialise.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Girona have now started discussions to sign the 23-year-old, although the discussions are only at an 'initial' stage right now.

Tottenham happy to let Gil leave

However, there should not be many roadblocks preventing Girona from getting a deal done, although it is unclear whether Tottenham will try to recoup all of the £21m that they paid for Gil's services three years ago.

The Spaniard had established a reputation as one of the most promising attackers in La Liga during his first spell with Sevilla, and his signing was seen as a major coup for Tottenham at the time.

Three years later, however, Gil has only made 43 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, failing to score a single goal and only registering two assists in the process.

The attacker has turned out just 24 times in the Premier League, and only four of those top-flight appearances have come from the first whistle, with another 20 coming off the bench.

Gil's first return to Spain saw him spend the second half of the 2021-22 season with Valencia, before heading back to Sevilla between January and June 2023, winning a Europa League title with Los Palanganas.

© Reuters

The 23-year-old spent the entirety of the 2023-24 season in North London, but he played just 11 times in the Premier League and once in the FA Cup under Postecoglou, totalling 233 minutes overall.

Could Gil's move to Girona help Arsenal?

Gil would reinforce Girona's attacking ranks after the Spanish upstarts captured Donny van de Beek from Manchester United, and Tottenham's loss could potentially be Arsenal's gain in this scenario.

The Gunners are believed to have taken a liking to current Girona and Ukraine winger Viktor Tsygankov, whom they have identified as an ideal backup option and competitor to Bukayo Saka on the right flank.

Girona signing Gil could very well make them more receptive to suitable offers for Tsygankov, who could apparently cost just €30m (£25.2m) to prise away from La Liga this summer, but Arsenal are also facing competition from Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is supposedly pushing for the Lilywhites to sign Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke before the summer transfer window shuts.

The former Liverpool youngster unexpectedly blossomed into one of the deadliest centre-forwards in the Premier League last season, registering 19 goals in 38 top-flight contests.

Solanke's feats helped the Cherries achieve their best-ever finish in the Premier League, where only Erling Haaland (27), Cole Palmer (22) and Alexander Isak (21) scored more goals in 2023-24.

The 26-year-old had already proven his worth as a prolific Championship striker before thriving under Andoni Iraola last season, and his form has unsurprisingly led to significant transfer interest.

Arsenal are thought to have taken a liking to the former Chelsea academy product, but the Blues are also pushing to bring him back to Stamford Bridge, where he was on the books from 2004 to 2017.

Tottenham in four-club battle for Solanke?

West Ham United have apparently shown an interest in the 26-year-old as well, but the Hammers cannot offer him any form of European competition next season, unlike other interested parties.

Following reports that Tottenham have also entered the race for Solanke, Football Insider claims that Postecoglou is now 'pushing' for his side to win the race for his signature this summer.

Solanke still has just under three years left to run on his contract at the Vitality Stadium, having signed an extension in September, but Iraola recently conceded that he was not sure if the England international would be staying put.

"Dom is happy. He has come back in very good shape, is training very well and the relationship he has with his team-mates is very good," Iraola told BBC Sport after Bournemouth touched down in the USA for their pre-season tour.

"But the market is open. You cannot say he is going to stay or that he is going to leave because we don't know. In the end, it is something you cannot control."

How much will Tottenham have to pay for Solanke?

During contract negotiations last year, Solanke and Bournemouth apparently agreed to insert a £65m release clause into his contract, which can only be triggered by certain clubs.

It is unclear which teams are able to activate that option, but Tottenham's status as a 'Big Six' club competing in the Europa League would likely put them in a good position to trigger it.

Should Tottenham fork out the full £65m to sign Solanke, who cost Bournemouth just £19m to sign from Liverpool in January 2019, the 26-year-old would become Spurs' most expensive signing of all time.

That honour is currently held by Tanguy Ndombele, who was a £54m purchase from Lyon in the summer of 2019 but had his contract terminated earlier this summer after a failed five years.