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Unai Emery could soon sanction a major defensive transfer in a blow to Tottenham.

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Aston Villa are reportedly keeping close tabs on Juventus defender Federico Gatti this summer but face competition from several Premier League rivals.

Unai Emery is eager to sign a new centre-half to bolster quality and depth in defence and Gatti, who is considering leaving Juventus, has emerged as a potential target. Gatti started 26 of Juve’s 38 Serie A matches last season and is weighing up whether it’s worth transferring away to a club who would make him one of the first names on the team sheet.

That’s what a recent report from Caught Offside suggests, anyway, with Gatti attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs. Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are said to hold the strongest interest but Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Villa are all keeping a close eye on the situation.

Gatti has three years left on his contract and so Juve are under very little pressure to sell, but it’s claimed the Italian giants would be willing to let him go for around €35 million (£29.5m). Villa are said to have asked Juve to be kept informed on Gatti’s situation as they weigh up making a bid.

How would Gatti fit in at Aston Villa?

Signed from Frosinone in 2022 for around £8 million, Gatti has racked up 105 appearances for Juventus to date. The 26-year-old was more of a rotational option in his first season at Allianz Stadium but was a regular starter in his second and most recent third.

Right-footed and standing at 6ft 3in, Gatti would most likely be utilised as a right-sided centre-half at Villa Park. Emery tends to prefer having a more physical player on the right and a better technical individual on the left, though that’s not necessarily always the case with Tyrone Mings occasionally coming in to cause a bit of an offset.

If Gatti were to play on the right, he could be paired with Pau Torres, Mings or Ezri Konsa. Pau and Mings are the more natural on the left but Konsa’s weaker left foot is still fairly strong and he’s adaptable, so he can play there too. It would be tough for Gatti to break into the starting XI given how much quality Villa already have at centre-back, but he likely wouldn’t join without assurances of a regular spot.

If Villa were to land Gatti, they could well and truly reach the next level. The six-time Italy international may not be a huge-name marquee signing but Villa were crying out for depth at the back last season and could really benefit from acquiring a player of his calibre in that area.

Meanwhile, Birmingham World understands the Villans are also eager to sign a new versatile winger, a central midfielder, a right-back and a goalkeeper. Emery could sanction another striker signing, too, though the upcoming acquisition of Feyenoord youngster Zepiqueno Redmond makes that less of a priority.

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Ryan Mason might not have to look far for a genius West Bromwich Albion signing.

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West Bromwich Albion are expected to carry out a thorough squad rebuild this summer transfer window as they say farewell to several first-team players and seek to shift closer to the Premier League.

The Baggies recently ended a disappointing season, missing out on Championship play-off qualification due to a dismal run of results. Tony Mowbray lost his job after just four months in charge and it took Albion a good six weeks to source a replacement, but Ryan Mason has now been hired from Tottenham Hotspur and there’s optimism for the future.

It’s important that the recruitment team get their business spot on this summer, and, as pointed out by Mowbray during his final press conference, it could be beneficial to change the approach. As it stands, the higher-ups don’t speak to the head coach before making transfers. That surely cannot be a sustainable process going forward, so it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any change there.

The transfer budget certainly won’t be endless but West Brom’s pockets could be filled somewhat by the likely sale of winger Tom Fellows to the Premier League – perhaps raking in upwards of £15 million. There’s no guarantee of that, though, and regardless, the business carried out must be shrewd and well thought-out.

West Brom swoop for Tottenham Hotspur youngster makes perfect sense

To keep costs down while still strengthening the squad, Albion could turn to free agents and loan signings. Long-term fixes may be tricky in those markets but loans especially could plug gaps well and allow some budget to be stretched to other areas. Birmingham World reckons West Brom won’t have to look far to find a perfect loan signing, too, as Mason can utilise his contacts at Spurs to help out.

A popular figure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before his departure for The Hawthorns, Mason built up some superb relationships and worked well with younger players in particular. West Brom are understood to have been looking at signing Jamie Donley on loan before Mason had even been appointed, so he’s a potential addition, but another Spurs prospect could be even better.

Mikey Moore, just 17 years of age, racked up over 1,000 minutes at senior level for Spurs last season, including 361 in the Premier League. The left winger, a nine-time England Under-19 international, started the two final league fixtures of the season against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa before watching on from the sidelines as his side clinched the Europa League title against Manchester United in Bilbao.

Such an exciting prospect is expected to be of great use to Spurs in the future but Ange Postecoglou may decide it’s best to loan him out for guaranteed starts. The Championship could be the perfect level for Moore to develop and get used to the physicality of the English game.

Hordes of clubs are bound to jump at the opportunity if Moore does get listed for loan but West Brom could arguably be the favourites due to Mason’s presence. The pair already know each other well and the relationship between the Albion and Spurs hierarchies is strong.

The Baggies need a new left winger following Grady Diangana’s departure. Mikey Johnston impressed at times last season - and the campaign before that on loan - but wasn’t anywhere near consistent enough. Having another option in Moore would be very useful and the teenager could even shift over to the opposite flank if required as he’s capable of playing there.

Before joining up with the senior squad, Moore contributed a remarkable 19 goals and 13 assists in 24 matches for Spurs Under-18, adding a further two goals and two assists in five games for the Under-21 team. Quick, agile, creative, skilful and more than capable of finding the back of the net, Moore could be a shrewd season-long addition to West Brom’s attack.

Do you agree with us? Would you like to see Moore secure an Albion move? Let us know in the comments section.

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Ryan Mason is preparing for a huge first transfer window as West Brom’s new head coach.

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West Bromwich Albion can get down to business in the transfer market now Ryan Mason has been confirmed as the club’s new permanent head coach.

The Baggies took nearly two months to replace Tony Mowbray but finally have their man as Mason put pen to paper on a three-year contract earlier this week. Leaving his Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach gig just after winning the UEFA Europa League, Mason is excited to take on his first-ever full-time managerial role and believes The Hawthorns will be a great home to kickstart that chapter of his career.

An absolutely pivotal few months lie ahead as West Brom must replace outgoing first-team players Grady Diangana, John Swift and Semi Ajayi while plugging other areas of the squad. Significant sales are expected with Tom Fellows linked with a mega Premier League transfer and others heading into the final years of their contracts, so quite a squad overhaul could take place.

It’s a bit of a baptism of fire for Mason but much of the transfer business is conducted by the recruitment team, so not all the pressure is on his shoulders. West Brom won’t have a huge budget to work with but the potential sale of Fellows could help in that regard.

Some targets have already emerged but there aren’t too many named candidates for the host of positions Albion are looking to strengthen. Birmingham World understands that Spurs duo Jamie Donley and Mikey Moore are on the Baggies’ radar for potential loan moves and Gora Diouf has been lined up as a potential defensive swoop.

Mega first Ryan Mason West Brom summer transfer window predicted by AI

Who else could West Brom sign, then? It’s hard to say at this stage, so we’ve enlisted the help of artificial intelligence to suggest who Albion should target. Using Grok, the AI tool resident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), we’ve come up with six signings who could help propel the Baggies back into play-off contention.

First up is soon-to-be free agent striker Danny Ings, who is leaving West Ham United at the end of his contract on June 30. Grok believes the former England international would be the perfect man to help end West Brom’s goalscoring woes. Ings, who once cost Aston Villa £25 million to sign from Southampton, has netted 72 goals in 240 career English top-tier appearances. Ings’ wages could perhaps be an issue but he may be convinced to lower his expectations if guaranteed a starting spot.

The next suggested signing is Crewe Alexandra’s Zac Williams. Albeit a rather rogue shout, the Wales under-21 international would provide handy cover at both centre-back and left-back. He’d also be a free addition as his Crewe deal is up at the end of the month. Stepping up from League Two to the Championship could be tricky but Williams wouldn’t be expected to start games immediately.

Yet another possible free agent addition Grok has suggested is FC Sion’s Gora Diouf, a 21-year-old Senegalese. The central defender played 24 times for Sion in the Swiss Super League throughout 2024/25. Albeit most likely not quite ready for this level, Diouf has some great potential that Albion could tap into and he could rotate in to begin with.

Moving onto Mason’s old team, and there could be a brilliant addition from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Promising young winger Mikey Moore recently enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Spurs first team as he played 939 minutes across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing two assists. Moore, a quick and skilful left winger, is being lined up for his first-ever loan and Grok things Mason should be reunited with the 17-year-old at The Hawthorns.

Now, at this stage we have a slight hunch that Grok may have been reading Birmingham World to offer these suggestions, as it has picked out Donley. Completing a double Spurs swoop, the Northern Irishman is another target we have revealed on this website. Nonetheless, it’s a decent shout as Donley, predominantly an attacking midfielder but also capable of playing a little deeper or out wide, could offer plenty in a host of roles.

Last but not least, Grok has predicted Albion to swoop for AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers. The 26-year-old has been linked with Birmingham City this summer but Blues have pursued a loan deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s James Beadle instead. Travers, who won the Championship Golden Glove two years ago, could be available for a bargain £4 million fee.

Do you agree with the AI suggestions? Let us know in the comments section.

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The latest transfer news as Wolves prepare a bid for a Spurs and West Ham target.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly made OGC Nice striker Evann Guessand their number one attacking transfer target this summer.

Vitor Pereira is eager to add depth and quality to his forward line as Wolves relied on Jorgen Strand Larsen as the sole number nine throughout much of last season. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Yuri Alberto have been linked but Guessand could be the one Wanderers decide to bid for.

Sky Sports News reports Wolves have made Guessand their top target and are considering making a first offer in the region of £25 million. It is mentioned that there is huge interest from across the Premier League and Europe but Wanderers are determined to win the race.

Guessand, who is a Nice academy product, finally became a regular starter last season after several campaigns as an impact substitute and one out on loan at FC Nantes. The 23-year-old showed why he should have been starting all this time as he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances throughout 2024/25.

Wolves may have to act quickly if they are to land Guessand as French publication Fraternite Matins, via Team Talk, reports Tottenham Hotspur have made an enquiry to Nice about signing the striker. Meanwhile, L’Equipe reported in the winter that West Ham United were in advanced talks to sign Guessand but did not manage to complete a deal.

It awaits to be seen if £25 million would be enough to land Guessand but the eight-time Ivory Coast international would probably be worth the investment. A dozen goals during a Ligue 1 season may not sound that impressive but when you add in the nine assists, it becomes a far more respectable return. Guessand could also help feed Strand Larsen and the wingers at Molineux, too, given his height and physicality.

Big summer ahead for Wolves

Now the season is over and Wolves survived relegation by a comfortable 17-point margin, the club can look ahead to next campaign without guilt. Vitor Pereira had the winter window to sign the likes of Emmanuel Agbadou, Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga, but he’s yet to have a full summer to properly make his mark on the squad.

The 56-year-old head coach is expected to hold talks over extending his Wolves contract and he’s bound to be backed by the board in the transfer market as a result. He will have money to spend, too, as Matheus Cunha has left for a record £62.5 million fee and Rayan Ait-Nouri is in advanced talks to join Manchester City for £33.6 million.

Some of that cash could be spent on Guessand if he’s willing to join, but the priority will be signing a direct replacement for Cunha. Pereira is also understood to want to bolster the depth in defence.

Quite a squad overhaul could take place despite Wolves’ recent resurgence. It’s the first summer for Pereira to get fully involved in transfer business, after all, with the Portuguese manager eager to guide the Old Gold to bigger and better things after a strong start.

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Aston Villa could surprise Tottenham Hotspur with a hijack bid for an attacking transfer target.

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Aston Villa are on the hunt for a new left-sided attacker as Marcus Rashford will return to Manchester United at the end of his loan and won’t sign permanently.

The Villans had the option to buy Rashford for £40 million this summer but have decided against the move as the England international wants to play in the Champions League and his wage demands are too excessive. Other options are being considered as a result, with a shortlist drawn up and being added to.

Unai Emery would prefer Villa to sign a versatile forward who plays predominantly on the left but can also be utilised in other positions if required. The likes of Noni Madueke, Alejandro Garnacho, Arda Guler and Alex Baena all somewhat fit that bill and have been linked with a move to Villa Park, but no negotiations are underway for any targets for this position just yet.

Aston Villa could attempt stunning Tottenham Hotspur transfer hijack

One player Villa were interested in signing back in the winter and could turn their attention to once again is Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel. Tottenham Hotspur loaned the Frenchman for the second half of last season and have the option to sign him permanently for £45 million, but the north London club are reportedly reluctant to pay such a fee.

Although no reports have surfaced just yet to suggest Villa will reignite their interest in Tel, we at Birmingham World believe there’s an opportunity for a hijack. Spurs have the upper hand with Champions League football on the table but Villa are a far more stable club and the project could prove more alluring long term.

Tel, quick off the mark and an effective ball carrier, started 11 times for Spurs in the Premier League, scoring two goals and providing one assist. The 20-year-old, regarded as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe, also played 209 minutes of Tottenham’s Europa League-winning campaign, while he scored Spurs’ only goal in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat away at Villa Park.

Sky Germany reports Ange Postecoglou’s side want to keep Tel but don’t want to activate their £45 million purchase clause. Instead, Spurs are eager to loan Tel for another season with an obligation to buy him in the summer of 2026. Bayern aren’t too keen on that route, however, with the Bundesliga champions preferring a permanent sale this summer.

It’s stated that negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs with everything “still open”. Bayern director Max Eberl has been in intense talks with both Spurs and Tel for several weeks and all parties are attempting to find the best possible solution.

Although Tel looks likely to re-sign for Tottenham, there’s still time for Villa to make a shock swoop. Man Utd had effectively wrapped up a deal to sign Tel themselves back in February before Spurs performed a stunning hijack. Villa could now try and do the same if they wish.

It’s awkward timing with Villa in need of making a significant sale or two to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), but a move for Tel could work if the Spurs talks run beyond the June 30 deadline. The France under-21 international is exactly the kind of player Villa are looking for, after all, so he could be worth the hefty investment.

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Ryan Mason’s first words as West Brom manager after leaving Tottenham Hotspur.

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West Bromwich Albion have confirmed the appointment of Ryan Mason as their new head coach on a three-year contract. The 33-year-old has left his role as Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager to team up with the Baggies, succeeding Tony Mowbray and ending West Brom’s managerial search of nearly two months.

After much deliberation, Mason has taken the plunge and accepted his first proper manager’s job following two brief spells as Spurs’ interim head coach – when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2021 and when Antonio Conte left in 2023. West Brom’s new man won six of his 13 matches in charge of Tottenham, losing six and drawing one.

Among those supporting Mason as part of his backroom staff will be James Morrison, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill, while Nigel Gibbs has left Reading to become one of the new assistant coach and Sam Pooley has joined as head of performance.

Albion spoke to several candidates and were patient in their approach, knowing the next appointment will be pivotal as the club seeks to move back into Championship play-off contention. Mason isn’t expected to be heavily involved in the recruitment as there’s quite the disconnect between the head coach and the boardroom - as explosively revealed by Mowbray - but he’s likely to have a slight influence.

Ryan Mason’s first words as West Brom manager

It wasn’t an easy decision for Mason to leave Spurs after they just ended their 17-year trophy drought, winning the Europa League and qualifying for next season’s Champions League by beating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao last month. Mason believes the time has come to take a leading role in the dugout, though, and he’s excited to be joining.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed head coach of West Bromwich Albion,” Mason said. This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fan base and I am excited about what we can achieve together.

“Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be and I can’t wait to get started. I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club.”

Meanwhile, chairman Shilen Patel has explained the decision to appoint Mason. “We are delighted to welcome Ryan to The Hawthorns as our new head coach, along with Nigel and Sam,” Patel said. “We have undertaken a thoughtful and expansive search and Ryan always stood out to us among an incredibly strong group of candidates.

“We are excited to have someone whose skillset means he has the aptitude to help us further establish elite standards in both preparation and player development for the first team and across all our team programmes.

“His experiences as both a first team player and coach under some of the game’s most respected minds, along with his time leading academy sides, will be instrumental as we shape a clear philosophy and unified identity at all levels at the Albion.”

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The latest transfer news as Man Utd and Spurs are given the hurry-up to sign a £25m winger.

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Aston Villa have reportedly received an offer for Leon Bailey from Saudi Pro League newcomers Neom SC.

The Villans are expected to sacrifice Bailey this summer as they seek to ease concerns related to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). English top-tier clubs are allowed to lose £105 million over a three-year period and Villa currently aren’t meeting that requirement, so at least one significant sale is required.

Bailey, who scored just two goals in 38 appearances across all competitions last campaign, is on the chopping block. The 27-year-old had an outstanding 2023/24 season as he scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in 52 games, however he failed to carry such momentum into the term just gone.

The 34-time Jamaica international has always been a good example of a confidence player. One month, Bailey will have a spring in his step and will be so difficult for defenders to stop, but another will often see him fail to even take on his man.

It’s a great shame it’s worked out this way but selling Bailey is ultimately one of the best ways Villa can rectify their PSR issues. Unai Emery needs players who he can rely on week in and week out and Bailey unfortunately hasn’t been anywhere near consistent enough.

The Sun reports Bailey could be on his way sooner rather than later as Villa have received a £25 million bid from Neom. It’s claimed the Saudi outfit have already spoken to Bailey’s representatives, offering a life-changing £10 million per year tax-free.

It’s been clear to see for many months now that Bailey has been growing increasingly frustrated at Villa Park, falling down the pecking order following the arrivals of Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford. Although the latter two were only signed on loan, Bailey suffered as his minutes plummeted.

The outpouring of emotions from Bailey after Villa’s final home game of the season was telling, too. The winger was tearful as he entered the field as a late substitute and he then went on to crouch down and brush the Villa Park turf once the final whistle had been blown. Bailey appeared to be recognising his Villa days were over.

Man Utd and Spurs could react to Leon Bailey development

It’s looking increasingly likely that Bailey will be moving to Saudi Arabia but Premier League sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur may have something to say about that. Both teams were heavily linked with Bailey during the winter transfer window and could yet reignite their interest.

From a footballing perspective, remaining in the Premier League would probably be the best option for Bailey, but starts might not be guaranteed at United or Spurs either. It’s tricky to say where the player’s mind is at but there are definitely benefits of moving to Saudi, not least in a financial sense. Time will tell.

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The biggest update yet as West Brom close in on their new head coach.

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West Bromwich Albion are finally closing in on the appointment of their next manager following a search of nearly six weeks.

It’s been the best part of a month and a half since Tony Mowbray was relieved of his duties as Albion head coach. The Baggies, knowing their next hire could have huge implications on their quest to return to the Premier League, have been very patient in their approach.

Rather ironically, however, it appears the man who was first thrust in as the bookies’ favourite all those weeks ago will be the one West Brom appoint. That’s right, Albion are now closing in on Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Ryan Mason.

BBC Sport reports talks are now ongoing with Mason, with discussions well underway. It’s stated that all parties are growing in confidence that an agreement can be struck, Mason now looking likely to accept his first managerial role.

There’s a hitch, however, as Mason’s Spurs contract runs until June 30 and West Brom will have to pay compensation if they want to hire him before that date. The report states Albion will need to make a formal approach to Spurs to release Mason from his contract early if an immediate start is their intention.

Barring any dramatic changes, significant progress is expected over the weekend and West Brom should be able to confirm Mason’s appointment on Monday or before. There’s also the possibility that more of Spurs’ first-team coaching staff make the move along with Mason, so the formalities of those contracts must be considered, too.

If West Brom do hire Mason, they will be effectively be following in the footsteps of local rivals Birmingham City. Blues conducted a lengthy managerial search of their own last summer and concluded that the then-Spurs assistant Chris Davies was the man for the job. Just like Mason, Davies hadn’t taken on a managerial role before then.

Albion will be hoping Mason can mirror Davies’ success as Birmingham had an incredible first season under their head coach. West Brom of course won’t be able to match the world record-breaking 111-point tally that Blues achieved in League One last term, but a play-off finish is yearned for and would be seen as a major box ticked.

Who is Ryan Mason?

Currently in talks with West Brom over the vacant head coach’s job, Mason is one of four assistant managers at Spurs alongside Matt Wells, Mile Jedinak and Nick Montgomery. The 33-year-old is the youngest of Ange Postecoglou’s understudies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and was recently involved in Spurs’ Europa League triumph that ended a 17-year trophy drought.

Before taking on the assistant manager role at Spurs, Mason was a technical coach and, before that, the head of academy coaching. He’s been with Tottenham ever since he was forced to retire from professional football in 2018, aged just 26, when he was advised to hang up his boots a year on from suffering a fractured skull.

Although he briefly took interim charge following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in 2021, Mason has never entered permanent solo management. The former midfielder could soon change that, however, with West Brom pushing for his imminent appointment.

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There are now reportedly two contenders to be West Brom’s next manager.

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West Bromwich Albion appear to be finally whittling down the candidates to fill their vacant head coach role.

The Baggies have been managerless for five weeks following the sacking of Tony Mowbray on Easter Monday, taking their time knowing their next appointment is absolutely pivotal. Albion recently missed out on the play-offs for the second time in three years due to a terrible end to the campaign, enough to see Mowbray relieved of his duties just three months into a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Mowbray’s second spell at The Hawthorns wasn’t anywhere near as successful as his initial stint 16 years ago, which included the 2007/08 Championship title. The 61-year-old, who had only just recovered from bowel cancer when he took the reins, lost eight of his 17 matches in charge, winning just five and drawing the remaining four.

Mowbray clearly retained his passion and adoration for the Baggies but football is a results business and the ownership opted to move in a different direction. It awaits to be seen exactly what that direction will be, though, as owners Bilkul have been very patient with their approach.

Ryan Mason talks progressing

Albion could be moving closer to a resolution as talks are reportedly progressing with Tottenham Hotspur first-team coach Ryan Mason. As Spurs’ season has now ended, Mason can now focus fully on West Brom’s recent approach.

TalkSPORT reported on the weekend that Mason has the option to leave Spurs for the Baggies but is yet to make a decision. It’s claimed the 33-year-old is currently weighing up whether to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on his first-ever permanent head coach role.

Being offered a proper manager’s job for the first time must be a real tempter, but it won’t be easy to leave Spurs as they have just won the Europa League and have qualified for next season’s Champions League. Despite recording a catastrophic 17th-placed finish in the Premier League with a record 22 defeats, Spurs could be on the up again after ending a 17-year wait for a trophy.

Eric Ramsay still in contention

If Mason isn’t the man, then Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay shouldn’t be ruled out. The former Manchester United and Chelsea coach has become immensely popular at the Major League Soccer club, winning 25 of his 53 matches in charge to date, drawing 11 and losing the remaining 17.

Ramsay, who recently made the headlines for guiding Minnesota to a huge 4-1 victory over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, began his coaching career with Swansea City under-18s before moving on to an academy role at Shrewsbury Town. He then moved to Chelsea, where he was the assistant manager for the under-23 side for two years. Ramsay then left the Blues for a senior coaching role at Manchester United and a part-time gig as the Wales assistant manager.

Birmingham World understands the idea of becoming West Brom’s new boss has been floated to Ramsay directly. It awaits to be seen how keen he would be on the role as it would be a big risk leaving the United States, but he could be a genuine alternative to Mason.

As it stands, the bookies have Mason as the favourite at 1/2 but Ramsay, at 6/4, isn’t far behind at all. James Morrison, the current interim head coach at The Hawthorns is third at 10/1, then Marti Cifuentes, Russell Martin and John Mousinho all sit at 16/1.

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Tottenham Hotspur could benefit from Aston Villa’s PSR struggles with a swoop for a talented midfielder.

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Aston Villa are reportedly considering sacrificing an important player this summer to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), with Tottenham Hotspur waiting to pounce.

It’s been known for several weeks now that the Villans are in a precarious position when it comes to PSR and one big sale - or several smaller exits - may be required to avoid a points deduction. Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey have been linked with moves to the Saudi Pro League to help Villa balance the books but a different first-team player has now been tipped to depart instead.

The Telegraph reports qualification for the Champions League could transform Villa’s summer for the better but a failure to finish in the Premier League top five could be catastrophic. The difference in income between the elite continental competition and the Europa League is vast, so it would be a huge aid for Villa if they can land a spot in the big time once more.

The report details that Jacob Ramsey could be a player to be sacrificed as he’s an academy product and his sale would represent pure profit for Villa. It’s mentioned that Spurs, who have a long-standing interest, could be a potential destination for the 23-year-old.

In and out of Unai Emery’s starting lineup throughout 2024/25, Ramsey has finally said farewell to his injury woes and has been gathering some momentum. The versatile midfielder, who can play on the left flank or through the centre as a number 10, has notched four goals and seven assists in 45 appearances throughout all competitions this campaign.

It’s not just been the direct goal contributions that have made an impact as Ramsey has been a real threat down the left wing, gaining confidence with every appearance. The Birmingham-born midfielder has been playing with a refreshing swagger and has formed a nice partnership with Morgan Rogers.

Who could Aston Villa sell instead of Jacob Ramsey?

Unai Emery is very reluctant to lose Ramsey as he believes he is yet to reach his high potential and can be a pivotal player for Villa moving forwards. As such, the Villans hierarchy would either seek a huge transfer fee - previously speculated at around £50 million - or try to sell alternative players, perhaps Martinez and Bailey.

There’s not an unlimited window for Villa to get their business done, however, with the PSR deadline coming up on June 30. If Villa have lost more than £105 million over the three-year period to that point, punishments will be drawn up. It’s pivotal the situation is approached appropriately.

It may not seem fair that the club are in this situation in the first place as several high-value sales have been made in the past 12 months and Villa have enjoyed deep runs in the Champions League and FA Cup. It’s the reality, however, with the high wage bill certainly not helping matters.

That’s one reason why Marcus Rashford might not sign permanently from Manchester United. Villa hold the option to sign the England international for £40 million but his £350,000-a-week demands would need to be slashed to make the deal a reality.