Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur could still have a chance to sign Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku if they decide to make an offer this week, according to a report.Â

Spurs are desperate to bolster their attacking areas following the ACL injury to James Maddison, but they have failed to land some of their major targets. Â

The north London club were in talks to sign Eberechi Eze, but the England international moved to Arsenal instead.Â

Spurs switched their attention to Nico Paz, but Thomas Frank has been left disappointed again after Como rejected a massive bid for the player.Â

Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie has been considered an option, but Spurs could face north London rivals Arsenal again in the race to sign him.Â

Chelsea could relax their transfer stanceÂ

The Blues are looking to offload some of their unwanted players to make room for new additions, and Nkunku is one of them.Â

The French attacker has been left out of Chelsea's matchday squad for the opening two games, and he is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with Bayern Munich reportedly keen for his services.Â

Spurs reportedly enquired about potentially bringing Nkunku to North London, but Chelsea refused to do business with their London rivals.Â

According to a report from the Daily Mail, while the Blues would rather not sell the 27-year-old to a direct rival, they will 'take a call' if Tottenham make a formal offer this week.Â

Nkunku prepared to take a pay cut?Â

Bayern are only willing to sign him on loan, while Chelsea want to offload the former RB Leipzig winger permanently, which leaves Spurs with a hope to land the attacker if they are really interested.Â

According to a report from the Telegraph, the Frenchman is prepared to take a pay cut to secure the right move away, the club valuing him at about £42m.

Nkunku scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 48 competitive appearances last term, and he could be a smart addition for Tottenham.

Pep Guardiola’s new-look Manchester City squad will need time to develop cohesion and supporters must remain calm during the early stages of the new season, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.

After kick-starting the 2025-26 campaign with an eye-catching 4-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Man City were brought back down to earth when they suffered a disappointing mistake-strewn 2-0 home defeat to a tremendous Tottenham Hotspur outfit last weekend.

Many Citizens supporters have been left scratching their head wondering where Guardiola’s team are at this moment in time following two contrasting performances and results, but the Catalan coach has stressed that it is too early to judge his side and he has no doubts that they will improve going forward.

“We missed the simple things. I never asked them to play exceptional things,” Guardiola told reporters after the match. “The first was about effort to run and that was extraordinary like it has been for many years.

“I don’t have doubts. Last season, we didn’t achieve but in the training we were really good. In the pressure, we missed simple things and then we create enough chances but it’s happened, it’s football.

“It’s just the second game. Last game against Wolves, everyone said everything it’s fine and I said it’s just one game and a lot is going to happen.

“I know how we are working and what the players are doing. There are many good things but we have to improve. Step by step we will improve and make more connections.”

Calls for calm follow City’s loss to Spurs as new-look team needs time to gel

McInerney is inclined to agree with Guardiola and believes that the “biggest story” of Man City’s loss to Spurs is the fact that a squad comprised of a number of new signings and young players will need time to “find their rhythm and structure”.

James Trafford - who was at fault for the second goal conceded - Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki were all handed their home debuts after arriving earlier this summer, while January additions Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush were also named in the starting lineup.

“I actually agree with Guardiola's assessment that the game wasn't as bad as it maybe appeared on the surface of things,” McInerney told Sports Mole. “There was lots to like and there is just lots to work on at the same time.

“Essentially, it boiled down to City not taking their chances while also making a couple of mistakes, and Spurs taking theirs. That's a very simple way of putting it, that's most of football, but it doesn't mean you necessarily played terribly, or it doesn't necessarily mean you aren't moving in the right direction if you have a performance like that, given how early on it is in the season still.

“It’s just the second game, barely any pre-season for Manchester City. A lot of the issues were avoidable that led to City conceding soft goals, incredibly soft goals, and I suspect they'll be fixed. It's just going to be a matter of rhythm and time.

“Whether we can get there, we don't know, but I don't think it's definitely a case of throwing the baby out of the bath wall yet. I think we can be quite calm and just see how this new side develops.

“It was a very new side. There's so many changes to the City side. All the fan favourites were playing. James Trafford, Ait-Nouri - him going off injured definitely did not help City in terms of their rhythm - Cherki, Reijnders, Oscar Bobb, Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, it was a vastly changed Manchester City side from a year ago.

“That ultimately is going to take its toll on the side. City are going to need a little bit of time to find their rhythm and structure - and to me, that's the biggest story of this game.

“There were mistakes that maybe came as a result of a lack of repetition, lack of time on the training ground. With more practice and more work on the structure, the shape, where people need to be, and hopefully a little bit more sharpness in front of goal, maybe this is a different story.”

“Managers prefer an evolution as opposed to revolution”

Discussing the importance of Guardiola’s side needing to gel in training sessions in the coming weeks, McInerney added: “Absolutely. It's all about that cohesion within the team. If you look at the team from a year ago, it's chalk and cheese. It's so different to where City are right now. They're trying new things with new players and new ideas and so on.

“I think there's a reason why managers prefer an evolution as opposed to revolution, a gentle change, because when you [integrate] this many new players into a side, unless you get very, very lucky, it's going to be very hard to hit the ground running to the extent that Man City are used to, because there's just too many players who are still trying to find themselves in a City shirt.

“It’s all about cohesion” - Man City fans “have to be patient”

“Nico Gonzalez, for example, he started a little bit when he first joined, but then didn't play much. Now he's been entrusted with the number six shirt in Rodri’s absence and he's doing quite well. But he maybe doesn't have the chemistry with Reijnders, who yet doesn't have the chemistry with the full-backs who are going forward either side of him, or with Cherki or [Erling] Haaland, because they're trying to learn each other's rhythms and patterns.

“That is a natural part of how a team develops. Previously, if you had introduced a new signing, you had the structure and the security of Ederson, Dias, De Bruyne, Rodri and Haaland as the spine, with multiple players either side. Kyle Walker was there for years, or [Josko] Gvardiol playing left-back, who you could trust to do the job, because they knew what they were doing and they essentially held the hands of the new players.

“There's none of that now. Everyone's trying to hold each other's hands, but some people don't know where to go yet. That's absolutely fine, it's just makes it difficult to really gauge where the team is at.

“It also makes it difficult to gauge the quality of these players. I think they're good enough, but we just don't know yet. We just don't know yet how they're going to adapt to the Premier League, and it's very hard to judge their individual performances in isolation, knowing there's so many parts around them that aren't moving in sync yet.

“It's all about that cohesion. Until we know that these players have had that chance to play alongside each other, we don't really know where City are at, and I think that's fine. It's early on in the season and we just have to be patient.”

McInerney has also shared his thoughts on the injury picked up by summer signing Ait-Nouri and how his absence might impact Guardiola’s side should he fail to recover in time for Man City’s next Premier League game away against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

> Click this link to view and listen to the full discussion

No Data Analysis info

Arsenal are supposedly working to hijack Tottenham Hotspur's deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, but there is a catch.

The Gunners have already broken Lilywhites hearts once in the summer transfer window, stealing Eberechi Eze from under the noses of their most bitter adversaries.

Eze was presented to the Emirates crowd on Saturday prior to Arsenal's 5-0 Premier League thumping of Leeds United, and he was widely expected to be the Gunners' final signing of the summer window.

However, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are still searching for ways to reinforce the squad further, and according to The Athletic, a deal for Ecuadorian defender Hincapie is in the works.

It was reported earlier on Monday that Hincapie had expressed a wish to leave Leverkusen in the final knockings of the transfer window, and Tottenham were readying an offer of a loan deal with a £52m purchase obligation.

Hincapie 'prefers' Arsenal move amid Tottenham transfer links

Now, Hincapie would allegedly prefer a move to Arsenal if a deal can be agreed between the two clubs, and 'efforts' are being made to reduce his £52m release clause to an amount seen more in line with his realistic market value.

The 23-year-old has supposedly been a prominent name on Arsenal's recruitment list for some time, although his prospective arrival in North London will depend on at least one defensive exit between now and next week's deadline.

Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko could both be sold if the right offer comes in; Porto are working on a move for the former and are said to be increasingly optimistic about their chances of a loan deal with an obligation for a permanent transfer in 2026.

Meanwhile, Zinchenko is out of contract at the end of the season but is yet to receive any firm offers, so the Ukrainian could stay for the final year of his agreement before departing on a free transfer in 2026.

Elsewhere on the field, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Albert Sambi Lokonga are also on the chopping block, but the former's potential move to Bundesliga side Stuttgart has broken down.

How Hincapie could fit in at Arsenal ahead of possible hijack

Is it happening again?

Seeing Eze don the red and white of their most hated rivals was one thing, but a penny for the thoughts of all Spurs fans if Hincapie also snubs the Lilywhites in favour of their noisy neighbours.

On the other hand, some Tottenham fans may wish to see their side prioritise another creative midfielder as opposed to a new defender, so not every member of the Spurs faithful should be losing sleep over this possible hijack.

Hincapie has nevertheless established a reputation as one of the Bundesliga's finest defenders, excelling as the left-sided centre-back for Leverkusen during their Bundesliga Invincibles campaign and also functioning as a left-back and left wing-back.

The 23-year-old could therefore provide greater cover and competition for Gabriel Magalhaes - the most likely scenario - as well as battling Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly for left-back minutes.

However, this one will almost certainly not get off the ground unless Arsenal can trim their defensive ranks; while squad depth is key, a bloated squad could be detrimental.

Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly been handed encouragement in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, who wants to leave the German giants this summer.

The Lilywhites boast an impeccable defensive record from two Premier League matches under Thomas Frank, keeping back-to-back clean sheets against Burnley and Manchester City so far.

Spurs set a new Premier League record in Saturday's tremendous 2-0 triumph over Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad, where the effective pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven nullified Erling Haaland and co.

Captain Romero has also just signed a new long-term contract with the Europa League winners, snubbing interest from Atletico Madrid to commit his future to the North London club, while Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai have arrived this summer.

Nevertheless, the Lilywhites are still understood to be monitoring developments surrounding Hincapie's future, and according to Fabrizio Romano, the Ecuador international is indeed keen to leave Erik ten Hag's team in the coming days.

Hincapie 'wants Leverkusen exit' after Tottenham enquiry

Romano adds that Spurs submitted an enquiry for Hincapie a week and a half ago, and numerous Premier League clubs are attentive to the situation after learning of the versatile defender's stance.

Hincapie's Leverkusen contract does not expire until the summer of 2029 - he signed an extension as recently as December - but his terms are understood to include a €60m (£52m) release clause.

The onus is now on Tottenham or another interested party to stump up the full value of that option, but agreeing personal terms with Hincapie should not prove problematic given his desire to explore a new career path.

The 23-year-old was a critical component of Leverkusen's Invincibles squad in the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign, and he has come up with seven goals and five assists in 166 appearances for Die Werkself in total.

Leverkusen paid just £5.5m to bring Hincapie to the club from Talleres in 2021, and the German powerhouses are now set to bank a significant profit on the adaptable defender.

Why are Spurs pursuing Hincapie transfer?

Hincapie has made a name for himself as the left-sided centre-half in Leverkusen's back three, but the South American is also comfortable as an out-and-out left-back and has even functioned as a wing-back on occasion.

While there is little chance of Van de Ven losing his place in the Tottenham backline, Hincapie would provide genuine competition and cover for the speedy Dutchman while Radu Dragusin is recovering from his devastating ACL injury.

Furthermore, Vuskovic is said to be close to joining Hamburg on loan, while the young Takai is struggling with a foot injury, and the veteran Ben Davies will most likely depart when his contract expires at the end of the season.

At left-back, Destiny Udogie has struggled to stay fit over the past 12 months, and while Djed Spence has held the fort effectively, he is without genuine cover while his Italian counterpart is on the sidelines.

Spurs' pursuit of Hincapie therefore makes complete sense from a depth point of view, although Tottenham supporters may wish to see their side splurge on a new playmaker rather than forking out £50m for a new defender.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a bid worth over £60m rejected for Como attacker Nico Paz, the latest report has claimed.

Spurs have enjoyed an exceptional start to the Premier League season, winning their opening two games of the campaign.

Their most recent victory was a 2-0 triumph against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, and forward players like Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus were key to the club's strong performance.

Despite his positive start to life as Tottenham boss, Thomas Frank is still thought to be keen on making more additions to his forward line this summer.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Spurs have had a bid of just over £60.5m turned down for attacker Paz, with the player keen to stay at Como before completing a move back to Real Madrid in the future.

Why Tottenham wanted Nico Paz this summer transfer window

Paz played 35 games in Serie A for Como in 2024-25, and the forward scored six goals while also providing eight assists.

His return is more impressive when considering he was 19 at the start of that season, and he had only played four league matches in his career prior to his move to Italy in the summer of 2024.

The Argentinian has predominantly played in a number 10 role, and the attacker made the most passes into the penalty area (38) of any Como player last term.

If Tottenham are to secure Paz, they may have to significantly increase their offer due to the fact Real Madrid will take 50% off the fee paid for the player, though that clause in his contract expires in 2027.

Why Thomas Frank needs an attacker

While it would be unfair to rely on the 20-year-old as a starter in every game, Spurs would be wise to strengthen in attacking midfield considering they have suffered a number of injuries in that position.

James Maddison has been ruled out for the season as a result of an ACL injury, while Dejan Kulusevski is expected to be out for months due to a knee issue.

Tottenham did make an approach to Nottingham Forest for Morgan Gibbs-White and Crystal Palace for Eberechi Eze, but the former signed a new deal while the latter moved to Arsenal.

Joao Palhinha, Pape Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur started in midfield against Manchester City, and though the trio are all defensively strong, they are not specialists against low blocks.

In order for Frank's side to break down more stubborn opposition, then the addition of someone with Paz's skillset would be benefiicial.

Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly identified Leicester City's Bilal El Khannouss as a potential alternative to Arsenal new boy Eberechi Eze.

The Lilywhites faithful were left crestfallen in midweek when their bitter adversaries hijacked their proposed deal for Eze, whom they had already agreed a financial package with Palace for.

However, Arsenal swiftly shook hands on a fee with Palace after losing Kai Havertz to a knee injury, and Eze - a former Hale End graduate - sided with Mikel Arteta's side as a result of his emotional ties to the club.

Thomas Frank's side did not need Eze, Dejan Kulusevski or ACL victim James Maddison to stun Manchester City on Saturday, though, sinking Pep Guardiola's men 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha's goals.

The latter formed an effective midfield trio with Pape Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur, while £55m signing Mohammed Kudus has quickly made his mark since joining from West Ham United in the summer too.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy 'directly relaunches' El Khannouss pursuit

Nevertheless, Tottenham fans have expressed their discontent at their side's inability to get deals for Eze or Morgan Gibbs-White over the line, voicing their frustrations at club chairman Daniel Levy during Saturday's win in Manchester.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has confirmed on multiple occasions that his side remain in the market for more additions, and according to Africafoot, the Lilywhites are now in for Leicester City playmaker El Khannouss.

The 21-year-old could not prevent the Foxes from suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, but he caught the eye nonetheless, registering three goals and five assists in 36 matches for Leicester across all competitions.

El Khannouss - a £19.5m arrival from Genk last summer - has already set up two goals in two Championship appearances in the 2025-26 season, and the report claims that Spurs chairman Levy has 'directly initiated' a relaunch of Tottenham's pursuit of the 2004-born playmaker.

El Khannouss still has three years left to run on his contract at the King Power Stadium, and Leicester would be well-placed to demand a profit on the £19.5m they paid for the Morocco international last year.

Spurs could gain transfer revenge over Palace with El Khannouss transfer

Levy has been and will always be the subject of fierce criticism from Tottenham fans, many of whom understandably needed a scapegoat to vent their anger towards after news of the Eze hijack reached social media.

Ultimately, there is little more that the chairman could do when Eze had such an unbreakable bond with another club; he reportedly even called Mikel Arteta on Wednesday to see if there was any chance of a deal happening with Arsenal before committing to Spurs.

Nevertheless, there is sure to be some chagrin from Tottenham fans towards Palace themselves, but after having Eze stolen from under their noses, the Europa League winners could now pull off their own hijack as a measure of revenge.

The Eagles are also thought to have earmarked El Khannouss as the perfect Eze successor, and discussions over a €35m (£30.3m) deal are underway after the two parties reached an agreement on personal terms.

Arsenal have apparently held internal discussions over a move for another Crystal Palace star, but a deal is unlikely to happen in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners unveiled Eberechi Eze as their seventh summer signing ahead of Saturday's 5-0 Premier League victory over Leeds United, having hijacked Tottenham Hotspur's proposed move for the England international.

Palace and Spurs had shaken hands on a fee for Eze, but the 27-year-old's priority was always to return to boyhood club Arsenal, who rapidly secured his signing in the wake of Kai Havertz's knee injury.

Eze was in the stands as Arsenal's defenders stole the show on Saturday, as Jurrien Timber bagged two goals and an assist, while Riccardo Calafiori set up two of his side's five strikes against the Whites.

In between the two full-backs, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes kept their second clean sheet in two Premier League matches this season, while new signing Cristhian Mosquera came on for the dying embers of the clash.

Arsenal hold 'internal discussions' over Marc Guehi transfer

With Mosquera in the ranks, Jakub Kiwior has slipped down the pecking order, and the Poland international is being tipped to leave the Emirates Stadium before the transfer deadline on September 1.

According to HandofArsenal, the Gunners recently discussed a deal for Marc Guehi behind closed doors ahead of Kiwior's potential departure, but a shock swoop for the former Chelsea man is not expected to materialise in the coming days.

Guehi is reportedly prioritising regular minutes at this stage of his career, and he recognises that his chances of displacing either Saliba or Gabriel in Mikel Arteta's backline are incredibly slim.

Meanwhile, Kiwior is said to be prioritising a move to another Premier League club if he is to call time on his career with Arsenal, who are already said to have rebuffed one offer from Portuguese giants Porto for the former Spezia centre-back.

Kiwior was an unused substitute in Saturday's pummelling of Leeds and has played 68 times for the Gunners since joining midway through the 2022-23 season, coming up with three goals and five assists.

Is Guehi to Liverpool realistic amid Arsenal transfer links?

Having already pipped Spurs to the Eze post, Arsenal could pull off a sensational second hijack by bringing Guehi to the club, as Liverpool have long been regarded as the favourites for the Palace centre-back.

Guehi's contract at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the current season, and chairman Steve Parish has hinted that the Eagles may have to consider selling their skipper this summer to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing in 2026.

Liverpool's interest - while firm and serious - is yet to translate into a successful offer, but the Reds are still believed to be attentive to the situation while they also monitor the latest Alexander Isak developments at Newcastle United.

However, Guehi may also find it tough to displace Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, so he could alternatively wait until next year and join the Reds for nothing if Konate departs for Real Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur became the first side to ever score the first goal in five consecutive Premier League away outings at the Etihad when they beat Manchester City 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs travelled to the Etihad on the weekend and once again beat Pep Guardiola's City side, with goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha enough to secure all three points.

The victory left the club in second place prior to Sunday's fixtures with six points, and the team only totalled four points after four matchweeks in 2024-25.

Boss Thomas Frank has enjoyed a positive start to life as Tottenham head coach, with the Danish manager continuing Spurs' impressive form against City, helping the side win for the fourth time in five matches against the Citizens.

Frank's short but impressive time in the dugout has fuelled optimism that he can guide the Londoners to the Champions League via league placement despite fierce competition from the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

What has Thomas Frank improved so far at Tottenham?

Tottenham's win against City saw them keep their second clean sheet in two league games, whereas it took them nine matches to keep their opponents at bay twice in the top flight last season.

Spurs faced 13.66 shots and 4.66 shots on target per 90 in the Premier League in 2024-25, but they have so far faced 12 shots and four shots on target per 90 this league campaign.

Under previous boss Ange Postecoglou, the Londoners often struggled to prevent counter-attacks leading to dangerous chances, but midfielder Pape Sarr has excelled so far under Frank, and he has helped limit the damage opponents have been able to cause when possession has been lost.

The current Tottenham manager has also helped platform attacker Richarlison, who struggled to impact games last season but has so far scored two goals and registered one Premier League assist in two matches.

Can Tottenham qualify for the Champions League?

Tottenham will be participating in the 2025-26 edition of the Champions League thanks to their Europa League triumph in 2024-25, but their only pathway to the competition next term will almost certainly be through the Premier League.

The club finished 17th last campaign, but the team's performances have been strong so far this season, with Frank's side posing European champions Paris Saint-Germain a number of challenges before losing on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup final on August 13.

Spurs will face more difficult domestic tests in the coming months, and Frank's pedigree as a manager will be tested further, but the signs are positive.

Newcastle finished fifth and claimed the division's final Champions League spot last season, but they will likely be without talisman Alexander Isak for some time, while Aston Villa have struggled in the opening two games of the 2025-26 campaign.

If Spurs can carry their positive momentum forward into the next weeks and months, then they will have a strong chance of qualifying for Europe.

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly reignite their interest in signing Como attacker Nico Paz in the summer transfer window.Â

Spurs have been looking to sign a new attacking midfielder this summer following the ACL injury to James Maddison, but they have failed to lure some of their top targets.Â

The north London club were in talks to sign Eberechi Eze, but the England midfielder chose to join Arsenal instead.Â

Likewise, Thomas Frank's side have been linked with a move for Southampton attacker Tyler Dibling, but he is now on his way to join Everton.Â

Spurs reignite interest in Paz?Â

At the start of this month, Tottenham made an offer in the region of €40m (£34.6m) for Paz, but it was rejected immediately.Â

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Spurs are keen to return to the table with an improved offer for the former Real Madrid starlet, who is valued at around £61m.Â

The north London club could reportedly face a strong challenge from Premier League rivals Manchester United, who are preparing an offer to sign the midfielder.Â

The Red Devils have bolstered their forward areas by signing Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, but Ruben Amorim is still looking to add more quality players.Â

Will Paz be a good signing for Spurs?Â

The 20-year-old came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid and made eight senior appearances for Los Blancos during the 2023-24 campaign.

Paz joined Como in August 2024 for a reported €6m (£5.2m), with Real Madrid having a 50% sell-on clause. The La Liga giants also have the first option to match any offers for the youngster over the next two years.Â

The highly-rated youngster scored six times and registered nine assists in 35 appearances for Como last season and has already made three appearances for the Argentina national team.Â

Spurs can provide him a strong platform to show his quality in the Champions League, and a strong 2025-26 season would place him in a good position to get picked for the 2026 World Cup squad for his country.Â

Liverpool are reportedly 'finalising talks' with RB Leipzig to sell Harvey Elliott before the end of the summer transfer window.Â

Elliott scored seven goals in 2024-25, but most of his appearances came from the bench under Arne Slot.Â

The left-footed winger scored 15 goals in 148 games for Liverpool since joining from Fulham, but he understands that he may need to move away to get regular game time.Â

The Reds are reportedly willing to keep him, but would reluctantly sanction the player's exit at the right price.Â

Elliott close to Leipzig move?Â

The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Leipzig, and according to Football Insider, the German club are finalising talks with the Reds to sign him.Â

Leipzig are likely to sell Xavi Simons to Chelsea, and the Bundesliga club see Elliott as a perfect replacement for the Dutch attacker.Â

The report claims that Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race to sign the former Fulham winger, who is valued at around £40m.Â

Spurs are in the market to sign a new attacking midfielder after missing out on Eberechi Eze, and the north London club could look to hijack Leipzig's deal.Â

Liverpool would prefer to sell Elliott to LeipzigÂ

The Reds are short of options in their attacking areas after selling Ben Doak, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez and the tragic demise of Diogo Jota, and it comes as a big surprise that they are willing to let Elliott leave.

The exciting winger managed only six minutes of action in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, and was an unused substitute against AFC Bournemouth in the previous match, which shows where his position lies in Slot's pecking order.Â

Spurs can lure Elliott with the offer of Champions League football, and the chance to stay in the Premier League, but whether they would be willing to match Liverpool's asking price is a big question.Â

The Reds would rather sell him to a German club than to one of their rivals. Liverpool have already sold Jarell Quansah and Diaz to Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich this summer, and Elliott could become the next Reds player to move to the Bundesliga.Â