Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly missed out on the signing of Sporting Lisbon attacker Francisco Trincao this summer.

The 26-year-old has spent the majority of the break from club football on international duty with Portugal, who were dumped out of the World Cup at the last-16 stage by Spain on July 6 in the United States.

Roberto De Zerbi's side have made a number of high-profile signings this summer, with Liverpool legend Andrew Robertson arriving to bolster the the North Londoners' options at left-back.

However, there has been a significant sale at N17, with rising defender Luka Vuskovic departing the club, signing a bumper five-year contract at the South Coast base of Brighton & Hove Albion.

It is understood that Spurs are also aiming to improve their attacking ranks ahead of the 2026-27 season, with the former Europa League champions keen on a star of Norway's World Cup campaign.

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Tottenham miss out on Trincao signing?

According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha via Sports Witness, Tottenham have missed out on the signing of winger Trincao, who is edging towards a high-profile switch to the riches of the Saudi Pro League.

The report claims that the 26-year-old has agreed a four-year contract at the base of Saudi Arabia side Al-Ahli, with the player set to pocket around £10m per year from his basic salary in the Middle East.

It is understood that Sporting Lisbon will receive an initial £33m for Trincao, as well as potentially an extra £6m in add-ons, given that certain appearance and performance criteria are met.

The attacking midfielder has been extensively linked to the Premier League, namely Tottenham and Manchester City, with the latter supposedly eyeing up a replacement for Savinho if he had left the Etihad.

Trincao was expected back from Sporting Lisbon's pre-season training on July 17, however, he will now finalise his switch to Al-Ahli, who will be gunning for the Saudi Pro League title next season.

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Trincao's PL experience

A move to Tottenham and Manchester City would have seen Trincao return to the Premier League football a less-than-inspiring stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2021-22 season.

The Portuguese attacker provided just three goal contributions across 28 top-flight appearances for the Black Country club before signing for Sporting Lisbon from Barcelona in the summer of 2022.

Trincao's best times has been enjoyed at Estadio Jose Alvalade, with the former Old Gold man becoming a two-time Primeira Liga champion at one of Portugal's biggest football clubs.

Brighton & Hove Albion have announced the signing of teenage defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 19-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Amex Stadium, with an option for a further year.

Vuskovic is understood to have joined the Seagulls in a deal worth up to £50m, broken up into a guaranteed £46m payment plus £4m in achievable add-ons.

This therefore represents a club-record deal for Brighton, surpassing the £40m spent on forward Georginio Rutter from Leeds United in 2024.

Sky Sports News claims that Spurs have included a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights as part of the deal, giving the North London club the opportunity to potentially re-sign the defender in the future.

Hurzeler insists Vuskovic “needs time to adjust” at Brighton

“Luka has enjoyed a fantastic start to his career - it’s one we’ve followed closely,” head coach Fabian Hurzeler told Brighton’s official website.

“Last season he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment.

“There’s been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League. We are confident that he will take this in his stride though.”

Vuskovic leaves Tottenham without making a single senior appearance for the club since his £12m arrival from Hajduk Split in 2025.

Instead, Vuskovic enhanced his reputation and developed his game out on loan at Bundesliga club Hamburger SV, scoring six goals in 28 league appearances last season.

Vuskovic “ready” to shine for Brighton after club-record arrival

“It was always Brighton,” Vuskovic told the club’s official media channels. Like Hamburg, Brighton is a unique city, a place that I am excited to call home.

“After speaking to Fabian, I could tell this club was special. I can’t wait to be part of this journey.”

“Everyone across the world knows what Brighton stands for. The way the team plays. The vision. The ambition. I’m ready. See you soon.”

The 6ft 4in centre-back was identified as a primary target by Brighton following the £52m sale of Jan Paul van Hecke to Spurs and departure of Adam Webster on a free transfer.

Spurs were not able to guarantee Vuskovic regular first-team football, having signed both Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi the summer, adding to their current defensive options of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso.

Vuskovic will hope to cement his place in Hurzeler’s starting lineup and could make his Premier League debut for Brighton when they begin the 2026-27 season at home to Aston Villa on August 23.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly turned down three approaches for young forward Will Lankshear.

The striker spent time in the youth system at Arsenal and Sheffield United before he joined Tottenham in 2022.

Lankshear, who has made three appearances for Tottenham's first team, spent time out on loan at West Bromwich Albion in the second half of the 2024-25 season and at Oxford for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign.

The 21-year-old netted 12 goals in 47 competitive appearances for the U's, including 11 goals and four assists in 44 Championship matches.

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Tottenham turn down three Lankshear approaches

While he could not keep Oxford in the second tier, Lankshear's impressive performances saw him named the club's Young Player of the Season.

According to football.london, Tottenham have already received plenty of interest in Lankshear this summer.

The report claims that the north London club have turned down approaches from the Championship duo of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton, as well as Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.

The offers were said to be worth eight figures either as a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy.

Tottenham are yet to make a decision over Lankshear's future, but it would take a significant fee to sanction his exit.

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De Zerbi to make Lankshear decision

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is expected to have a major say in whether Lankshear remains with the club beyond the end of the summer transfer window.

Lanskhear has returned to Spurs for pre-season training, giving De Zerbi the chance to assess him before making a final decision, which could happen before the squad heads to New Zealand and Australia for their pre-season tour next week.

As it stands, Lankshear may struggle for minutes on the pitch if he stays put, with Spurs looking to add a centre-forward to their current options of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signing of highly-rated defender Elijah Upson from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, The Mirror reports.

The 18-year-old prodigy is the son of former Premier League and England centre-back Matthew Upson, who also represented the Gunners during his playing career.

The versatile starlet reportedly attracted concrete interest from Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco before choosing a move to the Emirates.

Upson made 31 appearances for Spurs in the Under-18 Premier League last term, catching the eye with his front-footed approach and maturity in possession.

The teenager primarily operates as a central defender but possesses the tactical flexibility to comfortably slot in at right-back or wing-back when required.

Forest face 'intense competition' for Brazilian full-back

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Nottingham Forest have officially entered the race from the Premier League after making initial enquiries for a wide defender of Dodo's specific profile.

New head coach Oliver Glasner is determined to build a highly competitive squad and can uniquely offer the Brazilian lucrative top-flight football in England.

However, Firenzeviola reports that Serie A outfit Como currently look the closest to launching a concrete opening offer to test Fiorentina's resolve.

Reigning Italian champions Inter Milan and domestic rivals Roma also carried out initial surveys earlier this month, though their interest has since faded.

Ultimately, the intense multi-club scramble ensures that the former Shakhtar Donetsk man will almost certainly secure his anticipated summer departure.

Hull City 'close' to sealing permanent Zambrano return

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According to Hull Live, the Tigers have struck a permanent agreement with Slovenian outfit Maribor to sign defensive midfielder Oscar Zambrano.

The 22-year-old Ecuadorian is expected to put pen to paper on a three-year contract that includes an optional 12-month extension in East Yorkshire.

Zambrano originally moved to the Humberside club on loan from LDU Quito in the summer of 2024, but his stint was severely disrupted by a high-profile drug suspension.

The South American Football Confederation initially issued a 16-month ban for using anti-allergy medication, which was subsequently reduced to a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Having served the suspension, the midfield enforcer joined Maribor last November and managed seven appearances in the Prva Liga while netting two goals during the second half of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly showing strong interest in signing Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush during the summer transfer window.

Marmoush represented Egypt at the 2026 World Cup but was unable to make a major impact as the Pharaohs suffered a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the last 16.

The 27-year-old joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 in a deal worth close to £60m and made an immediate impression under Pep Guardiola.

However, Marmoush started just eight Premier League matches last season, dropping down the pecking order and fuelling speculation over his future.

Tottenham and Newcastle eye move for Omar Marmoush?

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Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for Manchester City winger Savinho, who is valued at around £60m.

However, the North London club now appear to have cooled their interest in Savinho and have instead turned their attention to his teammate, Marmoush.

According to TeamTalk, both Spurs and Newcastle United have made enquiries about the versatile forward, while several Bundesliga clubs are also monitoring his situation.

The report adds that Marmoush is not rushing to leave Manchester City and instead wants clarity from Enzo Maresca before making a decision on his future.

Omar Marmoush would be a terrific signing for Tottenham

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Under Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham are assembling an exciting squad as they look to avoid a repeat of last season, when they narrowly escaped relegation.

Having already signed Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for a combined £185m, Spurs are now targeting another high-quality attacker.

Marmoush has scored 16 goals in 61 appearances for Manchester City and netted 37 times in 67 matches for Eintracht Frankfurt, highlighting the goalscoring threat he could bring to Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs chasing Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, who is available for a bargain £30m this summer, though they face a race against time to beat PSG, who have already agreed personal terms with the Spain international.

Torres has been one of Spain's key figures at the 2026 World Cup. He assisted Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the round of 16 and helped La Roja reach the semi-finals, where they will face France on Tuesday.

Last season for Barcelona, he contributed 21 goals and three assists from 49 appearances, earning praise from former boss Xavi Hernandez: 'Perhaps Ferran has surprised me the most. He's a player on another level. How he understands the space, links play, doesn't lose the ball, his defensive work, he's world-class.'

Spurs eye Torres as part of a wider attacking rebuild

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Tottenham have firm admirers of Torres and have explored a move for him in previous windows. They will likely be in the mix again as they look to add to their attacking department this summer.

Tottenham's interest makes sense under Roberto De Zerbi, whose positional system requires forwards capable of interchanging roles and combining quickly in central areas.

Spurs are expected to target Torres alongside Kroupi rather than instead of him, given both players are versatile enough to operate out wide or through the middle.

Torres also arrives with Premier League pedigree, having spent two seasons at Manchester City earlier in his career, meaning the adjustment to English football would be far smoother than for most continental imports.

He has picked up 18 goals and six assists in 50 Champions League appearances, providing the kind of European experience Tottenham will require as they prepare for a return to continental competition.

PSG lead the race despite Premier League interest

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The competition for Torres is considerable. Atletico Madrid are currently showing the strongest interest according to CaughtOffside's sources, with Napoli and Juventus also monitoring the situation.

However, it is PSG who appear to hold the decisive advantage. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Torres has already agreed personal terms with the Parisian club, and Italian journalist Nicolo Schira has gone further, stating the Spain international has 'chosen' Paris despite the interest from two Premier League clubs.

With Torres' contract expiring in June 2027 and Karim Adeyemi arriving from Borussia Dortmund, the writing appears to be on the wall for the Spain international at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona are looking for around €35m, approximately £30m, to sanction a departure this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next year.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly learned that Liverpool are not opening the door to a Cody Gakpo sale just yet.

Spurs are believed to have a strong interest in Gakpo, whose Liverpool future is being called into question after a portion of fans turned on him during the 2025-26 season.

The Dutchman's season was far from terrible, as he managed nine goals and six assists from 52 matches in all tournaments, and he is soon to return from a standout World Cup with the Netherlands.

Gakpo scored three goals and set up one more as Oranje lost to Morocco in the last 32, and he remains under contract at Liverpool until the summer of 2030.

However, with Rio Ngumoha bursting onto the scene and Liverpool also in pursuit of Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande, some supporters would only be too happy to see Gakpo depart.

Liverpool 'yet to open door' to Cody Gakpo sale amid Tottenham interest

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Fabrizio Romano has now poured cold water on those suggestions, though, stating that Liverpool are not minded to lose Gakpo and Tottenham are aware of their stance.

The former PSV Eindhoven man is understood to be a 'desire' of Spurs', but as Liverpool are holding firm on their stance, Tottenham are prioritising other targets.

Gakpo was a favourite of Arne Slot in the 2025-26 season, starting 32 of Liverpool's 38 Premier League matches, although he only made five Champions League appearances from the first whistle.

However, the 27-year-old is now under pressure to prove himself to new manager Andoni Iraola in pre-season, which for Liverpool begins with a friendly match against Sunderland in Nashville on July 25.

Gakpo has registered a total of 50 goals and 23 assists in 180 appearances for Liverpool since his £35.8m arrival from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.

Who could Tottenham sign instead of Cody Gakpo?

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With the Gakpo door closed for the time being, Tottenham's other prime wide target is understood to be Manchester City and Brazil starlet Savinho.

The 22-year-old fell behind Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku in the Etihad pecking order last season, and Romano adds that he is target "one, two and three" for Tottenham due to their long-standing interest.

Reports last month claimed that Tottenham were ready to make a £60m move for Savinho, who is open to leaving Man City due to frustrations over a lack of opportunities.

However, as Spurs have focused on reinforcing their midfield and defence so far this summer, the Savinho trail went cold, but the Lilywhites could soon reignite their pursuit.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on Francisco Trincao, who could leave Sporting Lisbon during the summer transfer window.

Spurs have been busy this summer and, after strengthening their defence and midfield, are now looking to reinforce their attack.

Roberto De Zerbi is keen to add more quality in the final third, particularly given the injury problems suffered by Dejan Kulusevski and Xavi Simons.

Trincao spent a season on loan in the Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers from Barcelona, but he has rediscovered his best form since joining Sporting.

The 26-year-old has scored 47 goals in 208 appearances for Sporting, while contributing 11 goals and 15 assists in 50 matches across all competitions last season.

Tottenham eye move for Francisco Trincao?

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According to Record, Spurs are considering a move for the Sporting attacker, who could be on the move this summer.

The Portugal international has a €60m (£51m) release clause in his contract, although Sporting could reportedly be willing to sell him for less.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Trincao after identifying him as a potential replacement for Riyad Mahrez.

Al-Ahli are said to be preparing an offer worth around €50m (£42.6m), meaning Spurs may need to act quickly if they are serious about signing the attacker.

Francisco Trincao: Spurs face challenge from Liverpool?

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The report adds that Tottenham could face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are also looking to strengthen their attack following Mohamed Salah's departure.

The Reds have already signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but they are reportedly keen to add further reinforcements in the wide attacking areas.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly open to welcoming Randal Kolo Muani back to North London this summer.

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker was loaned to the Lilywhites for the 2025-26 campaign but failed to win over the fanbase owing to a string of underwhelming performances.

Kolo Muani managed just one Premier League goal in 30 appearances, as well as one assist, although his output was better in the Champions League.

The 27-year-old came up with six goal involvements from nine European games - four of his own and two assists - including two strikes and one helper in a 5-3 loss to parent club PSG.

However, Kolo Muani's terms did not include an option or obligation to buy, and he is due to return to Paris for the 2026-27 season, but the most likely outcome is a departure from the Parc des Princes.

Roberto De Zerbi 'open' to Randal Kolo Muani Tottenham reunion

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Kolo Muani's meagre return of nine goal involvements from 41 Spurs games would seemingly rule out any chance of a permanent move to North London, but that is not the case, according to Tuttosport.

The Italian outlet claims that Roberto De Zerbi was not "displeased" with Kolo Muani's efforts last year, and he is interested in re-signing the France international on a permanent basis.

Kolo Muani started six straight Premier League games for Spurs following De Zerbi's arrival, but he failed to score or set up a teammate in that time and was benched for the final-day win over Everton.

PSG are reportedly open to letting Kolo Muani leave on another loan deal with an obligation to buy, but Juventus are currently leading the race, having already agreed personal terms with the player.

However, the Bianconeri are currently not willing to go above €37m (£31.5m) for a transfer fee, so Spurs could assume control of the race if they come forward with a bigger offer.

Why Tottenham should not go back in for Randal Kolo Muani

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Kolo Muani quickly won the trust of De Zerbi in North London, but the Frenchman failed to repay the faith the manager showed in him with any Premier League goal contributions.

Kolo Muani never found his best role in the team either, operating both on the right-hand side and as a central striker with limited success, and his chances of starting in the former position will take a hit when Mohammed Kudus returns to full fitness.

Tottenham have already spent north of £200m on Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Jan Paul van Hecke, but the Lilywhites still have money to spend and can afford to go big on at least one attacker this summer.

Manchester United have reportedly fended off interest from four Premier League clubs, including rivals Manchester City, to win the race for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.

The Red Devils have prioritised midfield reinforcements this summer following the departure of Casemiro upon the expiration of his contract last month.

A deal for Casemiro’s Brazil teammate Ederson from Atlanta BC appears to have fallen through, but a move for compatriot Santos has gathered pace over the last week.

Man United have allegedly reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign the 22-year-old for an initial £48m plus £2m in add-ons, while the Blues are set to retain a 10% sell-on clause.

Santos, who has completed his Red Devils medical, is soon set to finalise his move to Old Trafford despite interest from a number of other English clubs.

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Man City, Villa, Newcastle, Spurs all expressed interest in Man Utd-bound Santos

According to TEAMtalk, Man City, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all made recent enquiries for Santos before Man United reached an agreement with Chelsea.

Man City are said to have explored a proposed deal for Santos during compensation negotiations with Chelsea before manager Enzo Maresca completed his move to the Etihad Stadium.

The Citizens ultimately decided against progressing their interest beyond initial enquiries and have since spent a club-record £116m on Man United target Elliot Anderson.

As for Aston Villa, they identified Santos as a potential target following the news that Amadou Onana is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ACL injury picked up with Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.

Newcastle also assessed a move for Santos following the £100m sale of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham, with the Brazilian viewed as a player capable of fitting seamlessly into Eddie Howe’s system.

Spurs are another club who enquired about Santos before switching their full attention towards Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, while Saudi Pro League sides also expressed a strong interest before Man United stepped up their pursuit.

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Santos set to become Carrick’s first Man Utd signing

Santos is expected to become Man United’s first signing of the summer transfer window and the club’s first new arrival under new permanent head coach Michael Carrick.

The former Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg loanee has played 47 times for Chelsea in all competitions since moving to Stamford Bridge from Vasco da Gama in 2023.

Santos, who won the FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea in 2025 under Maresca, played regularly for the Blues last season, featuring in 27 Premier League games and six matches in the Champions League, chipping in with three goals and four assists.