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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Josko Gvardiol to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that Fabio Paratici is monitoring the RB Leipzig defender ahead of a potential Tottenham move in the summer transfer window.

The report goes on to state that Chelsea and Manchester United are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the 20-year-old, while it is claimed that the Bundesliga side would demand a figure in the region of £50m in order to part with the Croatia international this summer.

Better than Bastoni

With the agent of Antonio Conte’s first-choice centre-back target, Alessandro Bastoni, revealing on Wednesday that the 23-year-old will not be leaving Inter Milan this summer, it is not difficult to understand why Paratici is believed to be lining up a move for Gvardiol as an alternative to the Italy international.

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Indeed, over his 29 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £103m-rated talent was in breathtaking form in the heart of Leipzig’s defence, helping his side keep seven clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.8 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 1.9 clearances and winning 5.9 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

The £21k-per-week left-footer also impressed going forwards, scoring two goals, registering two assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, in addition to completing an average of 59.3 passes, 3.4 long balls, 1.3 dribbles and taking 0.8 shots per fixture.

Furthermore, when comparing the player who Ivica Olic dubbed “extraordinary” and Bastoni in both defensive and passing metrics, Gvardiol almost always comes out on top, with the 20-year-old besting the Inter starlet in tackles, interceptions, pressures and blocks per 90, as well as in passes completed, progressive passes, xA and dribbles per game.

As such, while it will have undoubtedly come as a gutting blow for Conte to miss out on his first-choice defensive target, should Paratici manage to get a £50m deal over the line for the Croatian in Bastoni’s place, it would very much appear as if the Spurs sporting director could well have inadvertently landed an upgrade on the Italian.

AND in other news: Paratici could unearth Salah 2.0 as Spurs now plot bid for “dangerous” £60m sensation

Tottenham Hotspur have made a move to bring Djed Spence to north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by FootballTransfers, who claim that Fabio Paratici has now tabled a €20m (£17m) bid with Middlesbrough for the 21-year-old, while Nottingham Forest are also believed to have made an offer for the right-back.

The report goes on to state that, despite reports suggesting otherwise, the England U21 international has not yet decided upon a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, although the lure of playing Champions League football for Antonio Conte’s side is thought to be a big factor in the defender’s considerations regarding his next club.

He’s got “all the tools”

Considering just how exciting a prospect Spence evidently is, in addition to the signing of a new right wing-back reported to be one of Conte’s priorities in the summer transfer window, it is not difficult to see why Paratici has now made a move for the Middlesbrough starlet.

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Indeed, over his 42 Championship fixtures on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2021/22, the £7.2m-rated defender proved himself to be one of the breakout talents of the season, scoring two goals, providing five assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.0 key passes, taking 0.6 shots and completing 1.8 dribbles per fixture.

The £4.4k-per-week youngster who Ian Wright dubbed “unbelievable” also impressed in a defensive capacity, making an average of 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and winning 5.8 duels per game.

These returns saw the England youth international earn a quite spectacular seasonal WhoScored match rating of 7.05, ranking him as Steve Cooper’s sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football – playing a huge part in Forest securing promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

As such, with Spence very much appearing to be a player who boasts “all the tools” – in the words of Colin Omogbehin – to become a top-class right wing-back in the not too distant future, should Paratici manage to get a deal over the line for the 21-year-old this summer, it would undoubtedly represent a huge coup for Spurs – especially considering the sheer volume of clubs reported to be interested in the defender.

AND in other news: Conte now leading race for “ridiculous” £85m Spurs target, it’d be “out of this world”

Newcastle United target Harry Winks’ price tag has now been reportedly lowered to £15m with the Tottenham midfielder keen to find regular game time.

What’s the story?

That’s according to the Sunday People (29/5; page 55) who claim that the Magpies, as well as Premier League rivals Southampton, are keen on the 26-year-old whose price tag had been previously set at £25m.

The midfielder has struggled for game time under Antonio Conte, with the 10-cap Englishman starting just nine league matches this term.

It’s the second consecutive season where Winks has made 30 appearances for Spurs whilst also starting just nine games in the Premier League, suggesting that his situation in north London isn’t going to improve.

Imagine him & Bruno

At £25m, Winks’ valuation seemed excessive but, lowered by almost half, the midfielder’s current price tag is fair.

With senior international experience and 203 appearances for his boyhood club, of which 128 have come in the Premier League, Winks possesses impressive experience for a player who could potentially join a club that finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table this season.

Granted, Newcastle supporters may be underwhelmed at the possibility of signing Winks given the ongoing links with blockbuster players ahead of PIF’s first summer transfer window at the helm of the North-East outfit.

However, Eddie Howe certainly needs quality depth in midfield with the likes of Sean Longstaff, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock all subject to argument that they aren’t the standard Howe would like in his side.

Bruno Guimares has proven to be a revelation since his move from Lyon in January and, although Winks isn’t of the same pedigree, the two could form an intriguing partnership in front of the back-line.

Despite averaging 48 minutes a league game this season, the 26-year-old averaged 30.3 successful passes per appearance with an accuracy of 88% whilst winning 2.1 duels with a success rate of 51%.

The defensive midfielder also chipped in with 0.8 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 0.4 clearances.

Having played under three different permanent managers over the past two seasons, Winks’ fortunes haven’t improved and therefore now appears to be the right time for the Englishman to leave Tottenham in search of regular game time.

Although Newcastle may also target higher-profile names, Howe will need quality in-depth and could certainly make the 26-year-old midfielder a regular in the North-East.

AND in other news: Newcastle can afford to miss out on “magic” £40.5m-rated gem this summer, he’s no ASM

Leeds United could revive their move for Noa Lang after securing Premier League survival. 

The lowdown

Leeds snatched 17th place and safety from Burnley on the final day of the season as they beat Brentford 2-1 and the Clarets lost 2-1 to Newcastle United.

It emerged last August that Leeds were interested in Lang, but he wound up making his loan from Ajax to Club Brugge permanent instead.

And Football Insider reported earlier this month that the Whites have held fresh talks over the potential deal.

Lang is predominantly a left winger but he’s showcased some impressive versatility in the early years of his career, featuring as a second striker, attacking midfielder, central midfielder and right winger too.

He has three years left on the contract he signed last summer with the Jupiler Pro League champions, and is valued at £19.8million by Transfermarkt.

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The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport on Saturday, journalist Pete O’Rourke said Leeds’ fate in the relegation battle would likely determine whether a move for Lang was realistic.

“A lot depends on where Leeds are next season. If they’re in the Premier League they might have a chance of signing Noa Lang, but if they get relegated to the Championship, it’s not going to happen because he will be looking to play at the highest level as possible.”

Now that they are safe, it follows that they may well ‘have a chance’ of landing the Dutchman.

The verdict

If Lang does join Leeds, it will be intriguing to see where he slots into the side.

He’ll certainly be pushing for a starting spot, having combined nine goals with 15 assists this season and making his debut for the Netherlands, a top ten international side.

Analyst Filip Joos has described him as ‘the best player in the [Belgian] league’, while retired Dutch player Pierre van Hooijdonk likened him to Robin van Persie.

Lang could compete with Jack Harrison for a place on the left-hand side, but The Athletic’s Phil Hay has also raised the possibility that he could replace Barcelona-linked Raphinha.

And there’s even a chance Jesse Marsch might seek to utilise him through the middle, as he did with Rodrigo and Dan James.

His versatility opens up a whole host of possibilities.

In other news, read this journalist’s key Laurens De Bock claim. 

Rangers ended their Premiership campaign with a convincing 3-1 win at the weekend and now Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side face the prospect of a UEFA Europa League final tonight.

The Gers have travelled from Ibrox for this gigantic European clash in Seville, with a trophy and Champions League football awaiting the winner of the match.

Rangers come into the game off the back of smashing Hearts with a much-changed team on Saturday as a host of first-team players were rested.

They will now need to be brought back into the side for this clash and one player who must be unleashed is Finland international Glen Kamara.

The central midfielder was not involved in the win over Hearts and must now come into the side in the middle of the park, with John Lundstram and Ryan Jack either side of him.

He was phenomenal in the second leg of the semi-final clash with RB Leipzig and proved that he can have a major influence in this competition. As per SofaScore, he won three of his five aerial duels, made two interceptions and one tackle and created one chance in 90 minutes.

The gem also produced a fine piece of skill after shrugging off two challenges to set Ryan Kent away before James Tavernier’s goal and scored a sensational strike himself, as he stroked the ball into the corner with his weak foot from 20-yards.

His former Dundee United boss Neil McCann previously hailed him as “lightning-quick” and also said: “He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect.”

Rangers will need his strength in what could be a tight, cagey, affair in Seville tonight. A major European trophy is on the line and this means that both teams should be putting everything on the line to come away with the win, with these comments from McCann showing that Kamara has the requisite attributes to thrive in this type of match.

Therefore, Kamara – who has been tipped to be worth up to £10m this summer – must start in the final tonight as he has the quality Rangers need to win the match.

His performance against Leipzig shows that he has the technical proficiency to make a huge impact in the final third, whilst the quotes from his former boss prove that he has the mentality and physicality to handle a competitive clash with Frankfurt.

He can be the match-winner for the Gers with these qualities and that is why van Bronckhorst must unleash him from the start.

AND in other news, Major boost: Early Rangers team news emerges before UEL final, supporters will love it…

Steve Bruce is reportedly now ready to raid Newcastle United in the summer by signing Karl Darlow for West Brom.

The Lowdown: Darlow out of favour

The goalkeeper has largely been out of favour at St James’ Park this term, having played just eight times in the Premier League and not featuring since November (Transfermarkt).

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This is in contrast to last season, when he played 26 times in the top flight, and he even kept current number one Martin Dubravka on the bench after some impressive displays.

Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson even went as far as to call the 31-year-old “exceptional”, but it seems as if the Slovakian is firmly the number one now under Eddie Howe.

The Latest: Darlow wanted by Albion

As per The Sun, Bruce is now ready to raid his former club for Darlow this summer, and West Brom could get him on loan should Newcastle bring in another goalkeeper.

However, the Magpies would prefer to sell him on a permanent deal in order to help raise funds for new arrivals.

The Verdict: Time to sell

Given that he is now 31 years of age and is clearly not first choice under Howe, it is perhaps the right time for Newcastle to sell Darlow.

The 6 foot 3 colossus was impressive when called upon last term, but the board may want to bring in a new and established goalkeeper to replace Dubravka, with Manchester United ace Dean Henderson the latest such name to be linked with a move to Tyneside.

Nonetheless, Darlow needs to be playing more regularly, and he will probably not get much game-time if he stays at St James’ Park.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now ‘confident’ of signing this summer

Manchester United are set for a huge revolution at Old Trafford this summer with the arrival of Erik ten Hag, and now transfer speculation surrounding one particular transfer target has emerged.

What’s the latest?

According to the Daily Mirror, the new Man United boss wants to sign N’Golo Kante from Chelsea this summer and reportedly believes the midfielder still has the ability and experience to help the young players at Old Trafford next season.

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Kante has one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and the report suggests that ten Hag believes the midfield at his new club needs a drastic overhaul, with the manager searching for upgrades to better the quality in the centre of the pitch.

Ten Hag needs Kante

There is no doubt that Man United’s midfield is in desperate need of a player that can look after the ball better and dominate possession which is why it makes perfect sense for the club to sign Kante because when you look at the current choices Ten Hag definitely needs him.

On average per game the Red Devils lose possession 134.9 times in the Premier League, with the side recording their lowest possession percentages (28%) since Premier League records began against Liverpool at Anfield this season.

With that being said, adding the quality and experience of the 31-year-old French World Cup winner into their midfield next season would be a no-brainer for Ten Hag as he endeavours to improve the squad and compete for trophies.

The £45m-rated gem, who was initially signed for £30m, was dubbed “faster than the train” by France manager Didier Deschamps has made 145 ball recoveries, won 145 duels, made 25 interceptions, has a tackle success rate of 53%, scoring two goals and contributing four assists in 24 Premier League appearances this season.

Kante has been the recipient of high praise for his career achievements with the star winning back to back Premier League title’s with Leicester City and Chelsea, as well as picking up a Champions League and a World Cup and Ally McCoist claimed the midfielder was “magic” following his performances in the London club’s successful campaign in the Champions League last season.

Ultimately, the Frenchman would be a fantastic signing for Man United in their pursuit to make a comeback following a disappointing campaign this season and would surely add the star quality needed in the centre of the pitch if Ten Hag could secure his signature this summer.

AND in other news – Deal close: Man Utd nearing the signing of £63m-rated “genius”, he’s better than Pogba…

There was a period of time when the mere thought of dropping Mateusz Klich from the Leeds United team was unheard of.

Axing him from the starting XI would have sent shockwaves around Elland Road and it’s clear to see why.

The Poland international was a dedicated and influential figure, one that typified Marcelo Bielsa’s brand of football.

Klich could do it all; defend fiercely but also provide a spark in the final third.

At one stage, he’d started 92 consecutive matches under Bielsa but the brutal cutthroat nature of the Premier League has gobbled him up and spat him back out for the media and supporters to tuck into their own feast of criticism.

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The 31-year-old stands proud at the moment as one of the best players to grace Leeds in recent memory. He is a promotion-winning midfielder and has played for the Whites on 176 occasions, scoring 22 times in the process.

His partnership with Pablo Hernandez was a sight to behold in the second tier and it’s remarkable he even had the chance to establish that connection, let alone become a Premier League regular.

Bought to the club in 2017 as Thomas Christensen’s first signing, he was soon exiled on a temporary basis.

Yet, enter Bielsa, a man who not only transformed Leeds but rescued the career of Klich, a battling technician who was in danger of throwing away his prime years.

The Pole was nearly out the door until a meeting between him and Leeds’ former manager changed things.

Sadly, five Premier League goals later and his career is diminishing again. Many at LS11 can be accused of underperforming this term but Klich is surely one of the chief suspects.

Dubbed “non-existent” by Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison at one point this season, it’s not hard to see why that assessment has been brought into play. Klich has recorded a SofaScore average match rating of just 6.69 which paints a sorry picture.

He has found the net just once all term – a strike against Everton on matchweek 2 – and his performances lead us to believe that he should never be considered to start again by Jesse Marsch.

His display versus Arsenal on Sunday afternoon was particularly ropy too, with the lowlight including a rash and cynical tackle on Granit Xhaka that prompted a yellow card and some minor handbags just inside the hosts’ half.

Substituted during the interval, it was a symbol that even when the going gets tough, Klich cannot be relied upon anymore.

He no longer has Bielsa to comfort and cradle him and in Marsch, perhaps he finally has a coach who can get the best out of Leeds without him.

He lost the ball eight times during his 45 minutes on the field, meaning he lost it every 4.1 touches and 5.6 minutes.

Furthermore, the experienced midfielder completed just a mediocre 79% of his passes and lost a whopping 84% of his defensive battles.

If that wasn’t bad enough, he made only the solitary tackle and played 0 key passes. His influence on the game was significantly less than young Lewis Bate who after being introduced in the second period, added a purpose to the Whites’ play. The highlight was a delightful cross-field ball into open space on the left that picked out the man perfectly. Right there we saw the future of Leeds; not Klich.

With that in mind, Marsch must take the bold decision to keep him from the starting XI between now and the season’s end. It could just keep Leeds in the division.

AND in other news, Shocking: £13.5m-rated Leeds dud who lost ball every 2 touches dropped another stinker…

Fabrizio Romano has cooled rumours linking Manchester United with a move for Antoine Griezmann.

The Lowdown: Griezmann transfer rumours

The Frenchman was reportedly on the Red Devils’ radar over the summer, but as we know, he remained in Spain on loan with Atletico Madrid.

Speculation has returned over a winter move, though, with United ‘considering pouncing on an opportunity to sign the player in January’.

The 31-year-old, who was labelled a ‘very creative’ player by his national team coach Didier Deschamps, has scored 282 minutes of action this season on loan with Atletico from Barcelona.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano said that he is aware of an enquiry from United regarding Griezmann during the summer but added that there is ‘nothing happening’ at this moment in time.

The Italian stated:

“I’m aware of speculation that Manchester United enquired about Antoine Griezmann in the summer, but my understanding is there’s not a lot to it.

“At the moment, the situation is still not clear between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for Griezmann so there’s still nothing happening with other clubs as of now. Griezmann is 100% focused on Atletico Madrid.”

The Verdict: One to watch

A clause in the loan deal has led to Atletico frequently playing Griezmann for less than 45 minutes per game, something which could well be frustrating the forward.

Therefore, should this bizarre situation continue into the New Year, United could look to take full advantage with a move of their own.

Romano hasn’t heard anything at this moment, although it could be one to keep a close eye on, especially with the transfer expert confirming United’s interest over the summer.

Newcastle United are reportedly plotting a move for Youri Tielemans in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Summer interest

The St. James’ Park outfit were repeatedly linked with a Deadline Day move for Tielemans, but a deal never materialised.

He has ended up staying at Leicester City, but with his contract up in the summer, the Foxes could well be forced to sell in January at the risk of losing him for free.

The Latest: January offer…

As per Jeunes Footeux, the North East club could put an offer of €20m (£17.4m) on the table for Tielemans in January, which would be ‘difficult to refuse’ given his contract situation.

However, it is unclear whether the Belgium international would be open to the idea of moving to Tyneside.

The Verdict: Bargain

To get a player of Tieleman’s quality for under £20m, regardless of his contract situation, would be an absolute bargain.

Hailed as ‘one of Europe’s top midfielders’ by Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, he ranks in the 97th percentile for xG assisted, and in the 92nd for shot-creating actions, while he also ranks highly among Europe’s top five leagues in terms of total shots and progressive passes (FBref).

Nonetheless, Tielemans is only 25 years of age, and with plenty of Premier League experience under his belt already, signing him up is surely a no-brainer for Eddie Howe and his team.