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Aston Villa tipped to battle Tottenham with surprise bid for £60m-rated striker in deadline day transfer race

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Aston Villa have been linked with a last-gasp deadline day bid for an international striker worth a reported £60m.

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Aston Villa may already have signed Evann Guessand to bolster their attacking options this summer but according to the French media, the Villans could return to Ligue 1 to sign another striker – this time in a deal likely to cost at least £60m.

L’Equipe reported on Monday morning that Villa have “shown interest” in Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Randal Kolo Muani, who has spent much of the summer struggling to get a move to Serie A side Juventus over the line.

With negotiations over a permanent move to Turin stalling ahead of Monday evening’s transfer deadline, it’s been suggested that Villa could spring a surprise late move for the 26-year-old as Unai Emery looks to improve an attack which has failed to score a single goal across the club’s first three league fixtures of the season.

Aston Villa linked with late Randal Kolo Muani bid

L’Equipe has reported that negotiations between PSG and Juventus, where Kolo Muani spent the second half of last season on loan, have been “unsuccessful” – and on Sunday evening, Juventus reached a deal to sign RB Leipzig’s Loïs Openda instead, effectively ending Kolo Muani’s chances of securing a move back to Italy.

The French newspaper further claims that PSG still have interest from multiple clubs in the Premier League, with Villa the first to be listed alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, who are rushing to find a replacement for the Liverpool-bound Alexander Isak.

It is not suggested that any of the three English sides linked with Kolo Muani, who has scored nine goals in 31 caps for France, have yet made a formal offer – although Fabrizio Romano reported earlier on Monday that Spurs have made an enquiry.

Previous reports from France suggest that negotiations with Juventus collapsed due to PSG’s asking price, which is said to be set at a minimum of €70m (£60m), and it remains to be seen whether Aston Villa would be prepared to meet that, or whether PSG are willing to negotiate.

Kolo Muani could be biggest deal of a busy deadline day

Regardless of whether Aston Villa make an approach for Kolo Muani before the transfer window closes, Villa could be set for a busy deadline day as they work to find reinforcements for a team which has earned just one point from its first three Premier League games of the 2025/26 season.

Villa have been linked with a late bid for Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho as well as former United defender Victor Lindelöf, and also face the prospect of losing goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez after the Argentine reportedly agreed personal terms ahead of a possible move to Old Trafford.

Sunday evening’s disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace will increase pressure on president of football operations Monchi to make some moves on deadline day at the end of a quiet transfer window.

Guessand, veteran goalkeeper Marco Bizot and young centre-back Yasin Özcan are the only signings that Villa have made so far this summer, while they have seen Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey and Leander Dendoncker leave the club.

Aston Villa late drama as Tottenham look to negotiate down £100m price

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Aston Villa set for late window drama as Tottenham look to negotiate '£100m asking price' down to seal deal - BirminghamWorld
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Aston Villa may have more work to do to hold onto star names as the window draws to a close

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Aston Villa have endured a difficult start to the new Premier League season and will know that the final week of the transfer window could prove crucial if Unai Emery’s side are going to continue their strong recent history under the Spaniard.

A goalless draw at home to a Newcastle United side without a recognised striker was hardly the perfect start, before relegation-predicted Brentford won their first match under new manager Keith Andrews at the hands of the Villans. Emery’s side are yet to score a goal this season and managed just five shots on target between the two games, rarely threatening to score in either one.

While a slow start to the new season is nothing to phone home about, Villa have some winnable fixtures coming up and will hope to turn things around quickly. In order to do this, they must do all they can to avoid losing any key players this late in the window.

Tottenham in ‘discussions’ over Morgan Rogers deal

Reported by Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are in ‘preliminary discussions’ over a deal for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers and are prepared to go to great lengths to get a deal done.

The north London side are in need of a playmaker after James Maddison recently joined Dejan Kulusevski on the sidelines. After Spurs missed out on Eberechi Eze in sensational circumstances to arch-rivals Arsenal, they may look to seal a pricier deal for Rogers in the hope that Villa feel pressured to sell in order to reinvest in the squad.

Villa reportedly value Rogers at £100 million amidst interest from a host of top clubs this summer, but Spurs will hope to negotiate down this figure to seal a deal for the 23-year-old former Middlesbrough man. Thomas Frank’s side are unlikely to view Villa’s asking price as within their means but are said to have begun discussions as they attempt to reach an agreement.

‘The last player’ - Rogers not for sale

Villa have stated all summer that Rogers is not for sale and recent reports have underlined this fact. Graeme Bailey told TBR Football: “They’ve denied any approaches, any knowledge of the situation. I’ve been told by people who know the Villa situation that even if there was a fire sale tomorrow, the last player out the door at Villa would be Morgan Rogers.”

It remains to be seen whether Football Insider’s latest reports reflect the beginning of a change in the situation. But, this late in the window and with dreams of trophy success in the Europa League or domestically under Emery, Aston Villa would do severe damage to their prospects this season if they were to sell Rogers.

Particularly if that sale was to be to a direct Premier League rival - Spurs have begun the new season strongly and have Champions League football to offer, but it must not be forgotten that they finished 17th last season. Villa would be naive to help strengthen the Lilywhites to challenge for Europe.

It is unlikely that a firm £100m offer is to arrive and even if it did, Villa have already freed up funds through the sale of Jacob Ramsey and loan exit of Leon Bailey. The club are no longer in as worrying a state in terms of PSR and it would be counter-productive to sell their prized asset in this window.

West Brom could £12m sign 'unbelievable' Spurs talent as genius Heggem replacement

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West Brom could £12m sign 'unbelievable' Spurs talent as genius Heggem replacement - BirminghamWorld
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There’s an ideal Torbjorn Heggem replacement West Brom should be eyeing – and he plays for Ryan Mason’s former club Tottenham.

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West Bromwich Albion are looking likelier and likelier to bid farewell to star central defender Torbjorn Heggem, who is closing in on a mega-money move to Bologna.

The Baggies have been in advanced talks with the Italian Serie A club over an exit deal worth around £10 million. Our sister publication, the Express & Star, revealed over the weekend that Albion have decided to cash in on Heggem as his sale would significantly reduce any concerns over breaching the Championship’s profit and sustainability rules.

Heggem, who signed just 13 months ago from Norwegian club Brommapojkarna, cost merely £500,000. If he is to leave for £10 million, that represents £9.5 million of pure, bookable profit. To make matters better, Albion can spend much of that income on new players, as, in the eyes of PSR, transfer fees are spread over the course of a signing’s contract.

Heggem will be dearly missed by Albion

It’s a no-brainer to sell Heggem for such a substantial fee but the seven-time Norway international’s exit will certainly be felt. And hard. West Brom were such a better team defensively last season when Heggem was in it and his ability to play at both centre-back and left-back got Carlos Corberan and Tony Mowbray out of trouble on many occasions.

Most who have watched Heggem know he’s a huge talent. The 26-year-old is not only a towering figure in the box but also superb at reading situations and brilliant at timing his challenges. The Norwegian’s passing out from the back was a joy to behold at times, too, as he did well to beat the press and find teammates in midfield.

Although he’s 26 and that’s when defenders often peak, there’s a feeling Heggem is by no means the finished article. The centre-back has shown great potential over the past 12 months, though, and is bound to improve further the more he’s exposed to higher-level football.

West Brom could land Tottenham star as Heggem replacement

Who should West Brom target to replace Heggem, then? Well, it’d be difficult to land him, but Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Vuskovic could be perfect. Available for a loan move this summer, the 18-year-old recently joined Spurs in a £12 million deal from Hajduk Split after performing brilliantly out on loan in Belgium.

In 28 Jupiler Pro League appearances for KVC Westerlo, Vuskovic proved himself as an insane goal threat from centre-back. Compared to other central defenders, the 18-year-old topped the Belgium top-flight charts for goals (7), expected goals (3.56), shots (45) and shots on target (17).

Vuskovic also showcased his top defensive capabilities. Every 90 minutes on average, the centre-half won 5.8 duels, made 5.59 recoveries and came out on top in 3.86 aerial duels. The 6ft 3in defender, described by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge as ‘unbelievable’ when Spurs signed him, could replace Heggem’s height in both boxes – and more.

West Brom must act quickly if they are to sign Vuskovic as Genoa, HSV, Besiktas and several other top European clubs have made enquiries to Spurs. Albion are yet to be linked themselves, though new manager Ryan Mason has a direct line to his former club and Vuskovic could gain star status at The Hawthorns.

Aston Villa and Tottenham on red alert as £40m target shown exit door

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'Will leave' - Aston Villa and Tottenham on red alert as £40m-rated transfer target shown exit door - BirminghamWorld
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An Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur transfer target has been told to leave his current club.

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Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have been encouraged to pursue Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho following an update on the winger’s future.

Villa and Spurs have both been heavily linked with Garnacho throughout this summer as both clubs seek to sign a new versatile attacker. It’s become rather common knowledge at this stage that the Argentina international does not get on well with Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim, with a summer exit on the cards for a long while now.

Garnacho was benched for United’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in May and he only made brief cameos during the final two Premier League games of the campaign, against West Ham United and Chelsea. The 2024 Puskas Award winner will want to be a guaranteed starter wherever he heads next.

Garnacho ‘will leave’ Man Utd amid Villa and Spurs interest

TBR Football reports Garnacho ‘will leave’ Old Trafford this month with all parties determined to clinch a transfer exit. Chelsea are said to be the club trying hardest to secure the winger’s services but Villa and Tottenham Hotspur still hold a strong interest.

United’s unrelenting desire to get rid of Garnacho, paired with the player’s desperation to move on to pastures new, will likely act as encouragement for all interested clubs. The Telegraph reported last month that Man Utd have lowered their Garnacho asking price from £60 million, with the Red Devils now open to offers starting at £40 million.

There’s undoubtedly a top player in there as Garnacho, still only 20, is still a very raw talent. Even during a woeful Man Utd season, Garnacho still managed to score six times in the Premier League and he added a further five goals and eight assists across the Europa League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield. There are just concerns over his attitude.

One of Emery’s specialities is helping troubled players put an end to poor conduct. Although wild former striker Jhon Duran was never to be fully tamed, Emery did a good job to push the Colombian in the right direction before his stunning £67 million transfer to Al-Nassr.

Does Guessand deal end chances of Garnacho signing?

Despite this update on Garnacho, Villa are now highly unlikely to go ahead with a bid for the Man Utd man. This is thanks to another big-money deal going ahead, with OGC Nice attacker Evann Guessand expected to join the Villans imminently.

Transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano has provided a conclusive update on Guessand, posting to X: “Evann Guessand to Aston Villa, here we go! Verbal agreement in place after €30m plus €5m add-ons bid accepted. OGC Nice authorised Guessand to travel for medical and contract signing for next steps. New striker for Unai Emery.”

Although described at first glance by many as a centre-forward, Guessand is not your traditional number nine. Instead, the 10-time Ivory Coast international operates as more of a second striker or as an inside forward. Strong and direct in possession, Guessand loves to power into the box with the ball, much like Morgan Rogers already does.

It’s come as a surprise that Villa have been able to spend so much on one player already given their troubles with PSR and SCR, so a move for Garnacho is now surely off the cards unless a significant sale is made first.

West Brom and Birmingham City miss out as wonderkid loan transfer target seals switch

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Rangers have dealt a transfer blow to both West Brom and Birmingham City.

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West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City will have to look at alternative winger targets as Tottenham Hotspur’s Mikey Moore is heading elsewhere.

Moore, who turns 18 later this month, recently enjoyed a breakthrough season at Tottenham and thrived, impressing in the Premier League and Europa League. The teenager made history as he became the youngest Spurs player to ever feature in the top flight when he made his debut against Manchester City, aged just 16 years and 277 days.

Despite being seen as a huge future figure for Spurs, Moore was always unlikely to get as many minutes as his talent warrants. New head coach Thomas Frank has expressed his appreciation for Moore, but the wealth of attacking options at the club - including new signing Mohammed Kudus - makes it challenging for the youngster to start.

Rangers announce Moore loan deal

Beating a host of clubs to his signature, including West Brom and Birmingham, Rangers have snapped up Moore for the 2025/26 season. The Ibrox club are eager to compete better with Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title and hope Moore can help them achieve that goal.

It’s a move that really suits the winger, too, as he and his family have always been fond of the club. It’s also a decent level for him to progress. The Scottish Premiership certainly isn’t Premier League standard but it’s probably at least level with the Championship. The thrill and pressure of fighting for league a title could also be good for the youngster.

Reacting to putting pen to paper, Moore commented: “I’m excited to get going. As soon as I heard Rangers were interested and wanted me to come, it was a massive opportunity for me. I’m excited to be here and hopefully I can show the fans and everyone what I can do.

“I’ve always loved Rangers as a club. My family have always loved them. I think with the new boss and the way that we play, it’s a great place to be at the minute. It was a pretty easy decision for me to come here.”

Russell Martin delighted with Rangers recruit

There’s plenty of pressure on new Rangers head coach Russell Martin’s shoulders as he takes the reins from interim boss Barry Ferguson and previous permanent manager Philippe Clement. Finishing 17 points behind bitter rivals Celtic last season hurt everyone at the club, so a strong reaction this campaign is a necessity.

“We are thrilled to bring Mikey on loan for this season,” Martin said. “His profile as a brave, aggressive attacking player is one that we were keen to add to the squad, and he is certainly a player who, despite his age, can make an impact on the team from day one.

“He is a player with huge potential, and it is testament to his quality that he has been entrusted by Spurs in both the Premier League and UEFA Europa League with such regularity over the last 18 months.”

Birmingham and West Brom miss out on wonderkid

Birmingham World understands that both Albion and Blues registered an interest in signing Moore on loan earlier this transfer window. The competition was fierce, however, and Rangers of course went on to secure his services.

West Brom boss Ryan Mason was eager to cash in a favour at old club Spurs and he was confident of doing so as he had built up some decent rapport with Moore, both in the academy and the first team. Blues, meanwhile, thought Moore could be a superb direct option on the left wing who could help contribute to the goalscoring output.

Birmingham City and West Brom target Tottenham wonderkid

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Birmingham City and West Brom are interested in an England Under-19 international

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Championship heavyweights Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion have both entered the race to sign a highly-rated Premier League prospect ahead of the new Championship season.

The Blues are aiming to assemble a squad that can achieve back-to-back promotions after a record-breaking campaign in League One last term. Meanwhile, West Brom after falling short of the play-offs are hoping that Ryan Mason can end their five-season wait for Premier League football.

Both clubs are thought to be in the market for wide attacking options this summer and have been alerted to the availability of Tottenham Hotspur prospect Mikey Moore.

Football Insider claims that Tottenham have reluctantly agreed to let Moore go out on loan to aid his development for a year before returning back to North London.

Thomas Frank had initially seen Moore as a useful squad member but in a sudden change of heart has now concluded that regular football is best for the footballer’s development rather than a peripheral role with Spurs.

Why West Brom and Birmingham want Mikey Moore

Mikey Moore is a 17-year-old prospect with a rapidly growing reputation within the Tottenham setup. He helped Tottenham win the U17 and U18 Premier League cups in 2022/23 and was named by Guardian Sport as one of the best talents to watch out for.

Moore has regularly played for England at various age groups ranging from Under-15 to Under-19. He boasts an overall record of 21 goals in 39 appearances.

The teenager became the youngest player to ever play for Tottenham when he was brought on during a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City in May 2024. He also hold the record for being England’s youngest ever goalscorer in a European competition after finding the net for the Lillywhites in a 3-0 win over IF Elfsborg.

Overall, he has a record of one goal and two assists in 21 senior first team appearances for Tottenham, although only eight of those have actually been starts, with 10 of his appearances coming in the Premier League.

Moore is a player blessed with speed, pace, flair, agility and the ability to create lots of chances for his teammates. His relationship with West Brom boss Ryan Mason is reportedly very good due to the pair's time together at Tottenham. But similarly Blues boss Chris Davies, also formerly of Tottenham, knows the winger well having worked as senior assistant head coach under Ange Postecoglou in 2023/24 in the same coaching team as Mason.

Their knowledge of Moore’s qualities make them the most likely candidates from the Championship although several other second tier teams along with sides in the Netherlands are also believed to be keeping tabs on the situation.

Mikey Moore was once compared to Neymar

Mikey Moore made an impression last season despite often being limited to cameos from the subs bench.

His performance in a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar during a Europa League group stage match in particular earned him plaudits.

Teammate James Maddison said after the game: “I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! He is fearless, [he has] that young, fearless mentality. He’s a brilliant lad, he has bags of ability. I will hopefully help him with wise words but he has all the ability and well done to him."

Forget Rashford: Aston Villa now ‘weighing up’ swoop for £40m Spurs & Chelsea target

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Forget Rashford: Aston Villa now ‘weighing up’ swoop for £40m Spurs & Chelsea target - BirminghamWorld
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The latest transfer news as Aston Villa, Tottenham and Chelsea go shopping at Manchester United.

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Aston Villa are reportedly stepping up their interest in Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho as Unai Emery seeks to sign an alternative to Marcus Rashford.

One of the Villans’ main priorities this summer - other than sanctioning outgoing business to comply with financial rules - is to sign a new left winger as Rashford won’t be joining permanently. Villa had the option to buy Rashford for £40 million at the end of his loan but the collective decision was made to not activate the clause; Rashford’s wage demands were too significant and the forward hammered home a desire to play in the Champions League.

Several players have been linked with a move to Villa Park to fill the void left by Rashford. Jacob Ramsey is a superb talent in his own right but Emery wants someone who can play a little further forward and drift inside with pace and directness; Ramsey is more of a playmaker-type.

Jesus Rodriguez was a player of great interest but the Spaniard left Real Betis to join Serie A side Como instead. The likes of Ferran Torres and Jason Sancho have been mentioned as alternatives, too, but there’s been no movement as of yet.

Aston Villa linked with shock move for Man United star

Villa could soon ramp up their efforts to land a new winger, as the Daily Mail reports Villa are one of three Premier League clubs weighing up a swoop for wantaway Man Utd star Garnacho. The Villans’ interest has been widely reported but this is a step further as the club are now being tipped to potentially proceed with an official approach.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are named as the other two English top-tier clubs hovering and both are also considering making an enquiry to Man Utd. Garnacho has been made to train away from the United first team upon the return to Carrington, along with Rashford, who has long fallen out with manager Ruben Amorim. In terms of a potential fee, a recent report from TNT Sports suggests £40 million could be enough.

How would Garnacho fit in at Villa?

Garnacho, who famously took home the 2024 FIFA Puskas Award for his outrageous bicycle kick against Everton, could be a genius signing for Villa — as long as he doesn’t get greedy with his wage demands.

The Argentina international, who only turned 21 earlier this month, is quick, agile, skilful and direct. He may have a little work to do on his decision-making in the final third as he can sometimes get caught in two minds, but he’s proven his capability as a clinical finisher when presented with opportunities.

One of Emery’s biggest strengths is helping nurture players who have big potential but have yet to reach it. The Spaniard has done wonders with the likes of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, while Jhon Duran was a huge success story in a short space of time before his big-money move to Al-Nassr.

Despite enduring a very disappointing campaign with United, Garnacho still managed to score six goals in 36 Premier League appearances, assisting a further two. The Argentine also did well on the way to the Europa League final, playing 15 times, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

Villa could not only provide a step up in quality but also a more comfortable environment for Garnacho. There may be some concerns over player attitude but Emery rarely minds that, with a player’s attributes the main factor considered due to his capability to change attitudes. Would you like to see Garnacho join Villa? Let us know in the comments section.

West Brom complete Tottenham raid and sign Nottingham Forest gem in dream 2025/26 lineup - if rumours are true

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How Ryan Mason’s new-look team could line up in the Championship

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After more than seven years of learning his trade as a coach, former Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason will step into the world of management for the first time with West Bromwich Albion.The 33-year-old will be the youngest manager in the Championship next season and is nearly half the age of the club’s last permanent head coach Tony Mowbray, who was dismissed in April after his side’s play-off dreams were dashed after a poor string of results.

Mason in his first venture into management will be immediately tasked with trying to get the Baggies back into the Premier League for the first time since 2020/21 when the club were relegated with Sam Allardyce taking the reins for the final months of that season. The one-time England international has had the chance to learn from some of the greatest minds in the game, including Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and most recently Ange Postecoglou where he helped the Aussie finally end Spurs’ long-trophy drought.

Now he will hope to put his teaching into practise at the Hawthrons, and in order to achieve his dream of promotion at the first time of asking, he’ll be more than aware of the need for signings. But how are West Brom likely to line-up next season under the guidance of the former Doncaster Rovers loanee, and what signings are the club likely to make? Here based on the latest rumours we take a look at what the line-up could look like at the Hawthorns next term.

Goalkeeper and defence

West Brom sold Alex Palmer to Ipswich Town in the dying moments of the January transfer window, leading to a late scramble which saw Josh Griffiths get recalled from his loan at Bristol Rovers.The 23-year-old played six times as he shared duties with Joe Wildsmith but it’s suspected the Baggies could get a more experienced name.

As of yet, there’s not been any concrete links of a goalkeeper signing at the Hawthorns but a feasible target could well be Preston’s Freddie Woodman, who is set to become a free agent. The Newcastle academy graduate, 28, has six seasons of Championship experience, won the Under-17 World Cup with England, and won the Championship Golden Glove in 2020/21.

At right-back, West Brom are likely to stick with defensive stalwart Darnell Furlong, who in October signed a contract extension until 2027. He racked up 42 league appearances last term and has experienced promotion with West Brom in the past. In central defence, Kyle Bartley remains an experienced and trustworthy option at 34 as he heads into his eighth season at the heart of defence. He’ll likely play alongside Torbjørn Heggem, who was a constant figure for most of the campaign.

At left-back, Nottingham Forest ace Harry Toffolo is out of contract and has been mooted by EFL analysis as a solid target to provide experience to the back four. He made scored six and assisted seven for Huddersfield in 2021/22 before making the move to Nottingham Forest.

A new-look midfield and attack

Former Leeds United ace Alex Mowatt is likely to once again be utilised at the heart of midfield. The tough-tackling midfielder scored seven and chipped in with two assists and was an ever-present for most of the campaign last term. He’ll likely play alongside Jayson Molumbu in a familiar midfield pairing.

Ahead of the duo, Ryan Mason could look to use his Tottenham connections to his advantage to strike a loan move for talented youngster Jamie Donley. He enjoyed an excellent loan spell with Leyton Orient where he scored 10 and registered eight assists in League One and looks more than ready to make the jump up to Championship level.

Meanwhile, on the left hand side, Mason could also look to acquire another Spurs youngster in Mikey Moore. The 17-year-old was compared to Neymar by James Maddison after a dazzling display in the Europa League and could benefit hugely from a loan spell at Championship level, with Tom Fellows likely to depart to a Premier League side.

On the right wing, West Brom could look to try and sign in-demand Peterborough ace Kwame Poku ahead of rivals Birmingham City and Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers. He scored 12 and assisted eight in League One during a hugely impressive campaign for the Posh. Leading the line once he returns to fitness is likely to be top scorer Josh Maja. The ex-Sunderland man has proven himself to be one of the best in the division when fit and firing.

Full West Brom line-up: Woodman, Furlong, Bartley, Haggem, Toffolo, Mowatt, Mulumbu, Donley, Moore, Poku, Maja.

Talented Birmingham City loan target was once compared to Neymar

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Birmingham City have their eyes on a highly-rated teenage prospect with Europa League experience

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Birmingham City have expressed an interest in signing a 17-year-old Premier League forward that has recently been compared to Neymar by one of his teammates.

Mikey Moore, who signed a three year contract extension in August last year, has so far racked up 21 first team appearances for Tottenham, scoring once and providing two assists, while forming part of the squad which ended the club’s long 17-year trophy drought with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.

The teenage sensation featured regularly in the group stage for the Lillywhites in Europe but was unable to make it onto the pitch for any of the knockout stage matches. He was, however, used sporadically by Ange Postecoglou in the Premier League in the month leading up to the Australian’s departure. Now, Moore is thought to be seeking regular first team football and a loan move to the Championship could be the perfect step in his development.

Birmingham City and West Brom battle for Mikey Moore’s signature

According to Football Insider, West Midlands rivals Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion have both registered an interest in taking Mikey Moore on a season-long loan next season. The two sides are both expected to compete in the upper echelons of the Championship table next term as they look to win promotion to the Premier League.

Moore is a familiar face to Chris Davies, who worked as senior assistant coach to Ange Postecoglou during his debut season at Tottenham Hotspur. He made two substitute appearances against Sheffield United and Man City in the final two matches of the season while Davies was still a part of the coaching team in North London.

Meanwhile, new West Brom boss Ryan Mason, also knows Moore well from his time as assistant coach at Tottenham Hotspur. Mason was a part of the coaching staff at Spurs for seven years and worked with the youth team before stepping up to a more senior coaching position under Antonio Conte in 2021. Moore is a regular for England’s Under-19 squad and is likely to break into the Under-21 team in the next 12 months as he continues his upwards trajectory.

Why Birmingham City and West Brom are keen to sign Mikey Moore

Mikey Moore is a rising star that is tipped to have a big future at Tottenham Hotspur. He scored 19 and assisted 13 in 24 matches at Under-18 level and boasted a record of two goals and two assists in five matches at Under-21 level before being fast-tracked into the senior team.

Moore is predominantly viewed as a left-winger but has proven he can also play on the right side on occasion. He’s been mainly limited to substitute outings at Tottenham but has already shown glimpses of him immense potential which have earned plaudits from fans and players alike.

“I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! He is fearless, [he has] that young, fearless mentality,” said James Maddison after a 1-0 home win over AZ Alkmaar. “He’s a brilliant lad, he has bags of ability. I will hopefully help him with wise words but he has all the ability and well done to him."

Aston Villa close in on first summer signing in blow to Tottenham

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'Medical passed' - Aston Villa close in on first summer signing in blow to Tottenham - BirminghamWorld
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The latest transfer news as a Tottenham target completes his Aston Villa medical.

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Aston Villa are expected to announce their first signing of the summer after Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond completed his medical on Tuesday.

Unai Emery was eager to bring in a new young centre-forward following the success of nurturing Jhon Duran and selling him on for a big profit. Redmond, whose Feyenoord contract expires on June 30, won’t cost a penny in transfer fees and is expected to join up with the Villa youth ranks before breaking through into the first team.

Birmingham World understands personal terms were agreed with Redmond several weeks ago and the Netherlands under-19 international travelled to the West Midlands on Tuesday to complete the formalities of his transfer. Having already passed his medical tests, Redmond will have put pen to paper on a long-term contract, officially joining on July 1.

Albeit one for the future rather than the here and now, Redmond is an exciting addition. Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth are understood to have been tracking the striker, so Villa have inflicted a blow to two of their rivals, all while securing a hot prospect for themselves.

The deal encapsulates the wider philosophy being built at the football club, with Villa keen to foster young talent and gradually introduce them to first-team action. Emery is very good at supporting youngsters in their development and will no doubt have had a say in whether Redmond met his requirements.

Although it’s unlikely he’ll be fielded for many first-team minutes next season, there’s a possibility he could break through sooner than expected. Even if he doesn’t, Redmond will still be in superb hands as Villa are renowned for their excellent youth coaching and facilities – as showcased by last campaign’s FA Youth Cup triumph.

Who is Zepiqueno Redmond?

Amongst Feyenoord’s ranks since 2019, Redmond is an 18-year-old attacker thought to have big potential. He’s primarily a centre forward but has proven throughout his career that he’s also capable of thriving on the left wing when called upon. Redmond has represented the Netherlands at the under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels and has 26 caps in total across all those age groups, with a return of three goals.

He’s also scored 11 in 22 games at under-17 level for Feyenoord and a further 16 goals in 43 matches for the under-18s. He’s made just nine first-team appearances for Feyenoord, scoring two times in a cup game against MVV Maastricht, in a career which has so far seen him only start four professional games. He did, however, make an impression against AC Milan during a 1-1 draw when starting a last-16 play-off fixture in the Champions League.

Overall, Redmond has made nine appearances at first-team level and has caught the eye with his exceptional sprint speed, dribbling ability, and desire to run in behind and stretch opposing defences. He’s a talent who will only add to Villa’s existing up-and-coming forward options, including - but not limited to - Louie Barry and Rory Wilson.