Despite their success since his departure, Aston Villa have never really found a like-for-like replacement for Jack Grealish. His sale was something of a catalyst at Villa Park, helping his boyhood club spend money freely and become a side challenging for European football.

Grealish was sensational in that famous Claret and Blue shirt. In 213 appearances, he scored 32 goals and grabbed 43 assists, playing a huge role in their Premier League survival in his final two seasons.

In terms of the skillset he has, it feels like the West Midlands club never really managed to find someone in the same mould. However, this summer, that could all change with Villa’s latest transfer rumour.

Aston Villa’s latest transfer target

It is never easy to replace a player as influential as Grealish, not only in terms of his ability but also the leadership he provides. With that being said, they have been linked with one Premier League star who could be the player they’re looking for.

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According to a recent report from The Athletic, Villa are one of the many top Premier League sides in the race for Southampton attacker Tyler Dibling. The report explains that Unai Emery’s side have ‘watched’ Dibling, ahead of what will be a busy summer transfer window at Villa Park.

It is a summer in which he will seemingly leave the Saints. Football Insider confirmed at the start of the week that Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are also interested in a move for the attacker, meaning Villa will face competition for his signature.

As for a price, the same article suggests the South Coast outfit would want £55m for a transfer to happen.

Why Dibling would be a good signing

Last season for Southampton was a disaster. They finished rock bottom of the Premier League, and just about avoided being the worst Premier League side of all time. However, in such a poor campaign, one shining light was Dibling.

The 19-year-old attacker, who is an England under-21 international, left a real impression in his 33 top-flight appearances. Despite the fact that he only scored two goals and assisted one other, he showcased real skill.

In fact, take a look at one of the two assists he grabbed against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup last term. The winger showed some excellent ball-carrying skills under pressure to evade the defender, before playing a well-weighted pass to Mateus Fernandes, who fired home.

It is easy to see why Ryan Garry, who coached Dibling at England under-17 level, said he plays with an “X-Factor”. There is a certain swagger about Dibling’s game which is similar, in many ways, to Grealish, suggesting he could be Villa’s replacement for their former number 10.

In fact, former England international Stuart Pierce picked up on the similarities earlier in the season when the Saints played Man United. He described the teenager as a “devotee” of Grealish and compared “his mannerisms and how he carries himself” to the England star.

This is further personified in this video of Grealish playing for England back in 2020. Look at the way he carries the ball and is able to shield it from the oncoming defender.

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Comparing that to the earlier clip of Dibling, the similarities are, once again, clear.

Looking at Grealish’s FBref stats from the 2019/20 Premier League season, an iconic campaign for him in a Villa shirt, they are not too dissimilar to Dibling’s this term. For example, the Saints star averaged 2.16 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, compared to 2.03 each game for Grealish.

Dibling and Grealish key dribbling stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Dibling (2024/25)

Grealish (2019/20)

Successful take-ons

2.13

2.06

Take-on success rate

40.9%

62.4%

Progressive carries

3.32

5.91

Carries into final third

2.4

3.54

Carries into penalty area

1.25

2.01

Stats from FBref

Dibling seems like he could be the second coming of Grealish at Villa Park. The similarities are endless, and whilst the 19-year-old hasn’t necessarily had the goal and assist output to live up to Grealish yet, he is clearly a huge talent.

£55m is roughly half of what they made for Grealish, and being a carbon copy of one of their most iconic players seems a fair way to theoretically spend the money he brought to the club.

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A “world-class” player is “waiting” for Manchester United to sign him in the summer transfer window, according to an exciting new claim.

Man Utd still pursuing new striker

The Red Devils struggled all over the pitch last season, but they lacked a top-quality striker throughout the campaign, playing a part in them finishing 15th in the Premier League table.

With serious doubts over the long-term worth of Rasmus Hojlund, United continue to be linked with elite-level strikers, with Sporting CP superstar Viktor Gyokeres mentioned as a leading option to come in. In fact, the club have even reportedly spoken to his agents about a move to Old Trafford.

The Swede has enjoyed a stunning few years for the Portuguese giants, scoring an incredible 68 goals in the past two Primeira Liga seasons combined, as well as netting 11 times in Europe during that period.

Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike and Crystal Palace marksman Jean-Philippe Mateta have also been mentioned as alternative options to Gyokeres, as United look to nail their new striker choice ahead of next season. Now, a new transfer rumour has dropped at the other end of the pitch.

World Cup winner "waiting" for Man Utd

According to an update from TyC Sports [via Sport Witness], Emiliano Martinez is “waiting” for Manchester United to make their move and sign him this summer.

The 32-year-old World Cup winner has lots of interest, including from Galatasaray, but he likes the idea of moving to the Red Devils most, even though they can’t offer him Champions League football next season.

The £150,000-a-week Martinez could be a perfect signing for United this summer, at a time when there are genuine doubts over Andre Onana’s worth between the sticks.

The Argentine has proven to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League for Aston Villa in recent years, if not in Europe for that matter, having won the Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper award in 2024, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ederson, Andriy Lunin, Mike Maignan, David Raya and Unai Simon to the prize.

Martinez possesses huge character, as shown during his heroics performances for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, not least during the penalty shootout in the final, and he has been called “world-class” by Gary Neville, as well as being lauded by Nuno Espirito Santo for one stunning save against his Nottingham Forest side last season.

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Martinez would immediately give United more presence between the sticks, and still has plenty of years left in him at the top. His personality would also make him a popular figure at a time where the club need characters, not least his ability to get under the skin of opposition players and fans.

Ruben Amorim declared on the Old Trafford turf, following the final day victory over Aston Villa, that the “good days are coming” for Manchester United – a statement that appeared fanciful considering the club’s 15th place Premier League finish and Europa League final heartbreak.

The Portuguese coach has talked the talk during a turbulent first six months in Manchester, but can he actually walk the walk?

What is clear is that the 40-year-old is in dire need of reinforcements if he is to make a success of it at the club, with that fact having seemingly sparked a hectic and exciting start to the window for the Red Devils.

Much to the fury of rival supporters, United have already poached Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo looking set to follow – two moves that have heightened hope regarding those future ‘good days’.

If a drastic improvement is to be made next season and beyond, however, those deals must surely be the tip of the iceberg. This is the time to rip it up and start again, following a wretched decade of recruitment.

With that in mind, here’s a look at how Amorim’s starting lineup could potentially look next season, if all goes to plan on the transfer front for newly crowned director of football, Jason Wilcox…

1 GK – Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

Whether Andre Onana could have done better or not to keep out Brennan Johnson’s deflected effort in Bilbao could be debated long into the night. What is evident is that United reached the showpiece in spite of the Cameroon stopper, not because of him.

Indeed, the 29-year-old – who has been touted for a departure this summer – made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League and Europa League in total, having hardly inspired any confidence at all since his £47.2m switch from Inter in 2023.

Enter, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Once on the books at United as a teenager, before swiftly departing after failing to earn a work permit, the 6 foot 6 Serbian has been heavily linked with a return to Old Trafford. With just a year left on his deal at Torino, reports have suggested he could cost just €20m (£17m).

The 28-year-old conceded just 42 goals in 37 Serie A games last season, while ranking in the top 7% of goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues for save percentage. Sign him up.

2 RCB – Leny Yoro

After an injury-hit start to life in England, Leny Yoro truly came into his own in the final months of the season, notably scoring his first goal for the club away in Lyon.

Still only 19 and with a penchant for surging forward from deep, a player Rio Ferdinand dubbed “the best in the world” at that age could well kick on again next term as a mainstay of the backline.

3 CB – Harry Maguire

Stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in 2023, amid talk of a move to West Ham United, the subsequent redemption arc of Harry Maguire has been a joy to behold – a moment epitomised by his last-gasp winner at home to Lyon.

Described as “perfect” for a back three by Amorim, the 32-year-old – who will soon enter the last year of his contract – deserves to be a consistent figure in the backline once again.

Fitness permitting, of course.

4 LCB – Lisandro Martinez

Speaking of fitness, while Lisandro Martinez remains sidelined with an ACL injury, the World Cup winner is surely a shoo-in to start at left centre-back, having begun to come into his own in 2025, before his cruel setback.

The scorer of crucial goals away to Fulham and Liverpool, the 27-year-old is a ball-playing warrior when fit and firing.

Ayden Heaven may be the long-term solution, although Martinez surely has to start when back in contention again.

5 RWB – Amad

Is he a wing-back or a number ten? That much remains to be seen, although if the evolution of Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up is to occur, a more attack-minded presence, like Amad, is needed in at least one of those wide berths.

The diminutive livewire ranked alongside Bruno Fernandes as the shining light of 2024/25, having ended with 21 goals and assists in all competitions.

Amad’s Man Utd record by coach

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

27

8

8

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

64

14

12

Stats via Transfermarkt

Tied down to a contract until 2030, the 22-year-old could be the face of a new era in Manchester – not least with friend and teammate, Alejandro Garnacho, looking set for an exit.

6 CM – Bruno Fernandes (C)

The heart and soul of Manchester United, talismanic skipper Bruno Fernandes has shunned the Saudi riches to stay put next season, having rounded off last term by sweeping the club’s end-of-season awards. And rightly so.

While there is a curiosity over just what this team would look like without him – as well as his actual suitability for a starting berth in this system – the Portugal star simply has to remain the centrepiece of the side.

As Amorim admitted earlier this year, he is “one of the best players in the world”. You don’t find those so easily…

7 CM – Douglas Luiz

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell has noted that United are seeking an ‘athletic number eight’ this summer. Douglas Luiz – who was linked with a move last month – certainly fits the bill.

A player of proven Premier League quality – having even been hailed as “better than [Declan] Rice” in some quarters – the former Aston Villa man needs rescuing from his Juventus hell, having started just six games last term following his £42m switch last summer.

While it has not been made clear how much the Brazilian would be available for, perhaps an astute loan offer could be in order, as Wilcox and co still seek to comply with PSR restrictions.

8 LWB – Pervis Estupinan

The Red Devils did already prise Patrick Dorgu from Lecce in January, yet at just 20 years old, the Dane is far from the finished article, having notably looked ‘out of his depth’ in the 1-0 loss to Spurs – according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

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In Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan, United could then find a perfect upgrade in that wing-back role amid links to the 27-year-old, a player whom Fabian Hurzeler has hailed as “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League”.

The need for players of top-flight quality is evident, with the £38m-rated Seagulls defender another who fits the bill.

9 RAM – Bryan Mbeumo

Speaking of Premier League quality, what a signing it would be if Mbeumo does make his way to Manchester, with the Cameroon international seemingly preferring a move to Old Trafford, despite interest from Champions League sides Arsenal, Newcastle and Spurs.

Fresh off the back of scoring 20 league goals for Brentford, the 25-year-old would surely enhance Amorim’s floundering forward line, with no United player even reaching double figures for goals in the top-flight last season.

While negotiations continue over a potential fee for the versatile winger, if a deal is to be agreed, it would be yet another statement one for the INEOS regime.

10 LAM – Matheus Cunha

Speaking of statements, already in the door is the aforementioned Cunha, with the Brazilian – like the man above – seemingly unperturbed by United’s lack of European football next season.

With 15 league goals of his own in 2024/25 – having scored 12 the previous campaign – the 26-year-old is another proven, albeit maverick talent who could re-energise Amorim’s attack, with echoes of a certain Eric Cantona already emerging.

Much work would need to be done to reach those heights, of course, yet this deal should hopefully prove to be another transformational one.

Despite the addition of Florian Wirtz this summer, Liverpool have been aggressive in their efforts to improve Arne Slot’s backline.

The Reds certainly weren’t awful at the back in 2024/25, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading to Real Madrid, signing Jeremie Frimpong was a necessity.

At left-back, Milos Kerkez is set to arrive, replacing Andy Robertson whose best years look beyond him.

At centre-back, they may also require a replacement for French defender Ibrahima Konate. He’s wanted by Real Madrid and an exit grows more likely.

How Liverpool could replace Konate

Konate enjoyed a fabulous season for the Reds, partnering Virgil van Dijk in expert fashion.

While the Dutchman eventually signed a new contract at Anfield, he may not be joined by his partner in crime for too much longer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Recent reports suggest that Real Madrid are interested in prising the French defender from Liverpool but there’s further interest from clubs in Saudi and Champions League winners, PSG.

So, with that in mind, Liverpool have been seeking alternatives. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has been earmarked, as too has RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba.

That’s according to journalist Lewis Steele who revealed on his YouTube channel that “Lukeba at Leipzig could be one to watch, it’s clear Liverpool have kept an eye on him.”

Steele added: “I’ve been told Liverpool have had scouts at many RB Leipzig games this season. He could be one as well to watch in terms of Liverpool trying to get the best young defenders on the market.”

Why Lukeba could be better than Guehi for Liverpool

While Wirtz signing for Liverpool was certainly the biggest news of the week out of Merseyside, news that the Reds could also make a move for Guehi was the second hottest topic.

Towards the end of the week it was revealed that Richard Hughes and Co were set to launch a bid to sign the England international this summer, while reports since then note that Liverpool are now closing in on an agreement on personal terms. Whether or not he joins this summer remains to be seen.

Valued at £70m by Crystal Palace, he could be available for as little as £45m, considering he has one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park but Guehi is allegedly willing to wait a year and leave on a free transfer if he doesn’t get to move now.

Premier League proven and having captained the Eagles, there is very little risk attached to his deal. Yet, could Liverpool actually sign a player with bigger potential in Lukeba? Quite possibly.

Said to previously be among the “best U21 CBs in Europe’s top 5 leagues” and described as “one of the best defensive prospects in world football” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, the Frenchman, who is now still only 22, has a skillset that perfectly encapsulates a modern defender.

Like a Jorrel Hato, a Josko Gvardiol, Lukeba possesses the tools to be able to play as a hybrid centre-back and left-back. That level of versatility already trumps Guehi, who is more of a traditional centre-half.

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The skillset that the 22-year-old provides, however, is also incredibly exciting. He possesses excellent ball-playing ability, ranking inside the best 20% of defenders in Europe’s big leagues for progressive passes. He’s supremely comfortable with the ball at his feet, also sitting among the top 1% of centre-backs for progressive carries.

He’s truly elite in this department already, ranking as the fourth most progressive U21 centre half in Europe during 2023/24.

Lukeba vs Guehi in 2024/25 (league only)

Metric (per 90 mins)

Lukeba

Guehi

Pass completion %

85.1%

83.5%

Key passes

0.23

0.47

Passes into final 3rd

5.14

3.91

Progressive passes

4.57

3.94

Progressive carries

1.03

0.65

Successful take-ons

1.14

0.35

Tackles won

0.97

1.00

Interceptions

0.97

0.82

Aerials won

1.49

2.00

Stats via FBref.

When comparing the two defenders’ numbers, it’s clear to see just how much more progressive Lukeba is. Guehi is certainly comfortable on the ball, but the Leipzig star is next level when it comes to advancing forward with possession.

Crucially, that doesn’t come at the expense of his defensive duties either. Despite not ranking highly for aerials won, as far as tackles are concerned, there’s not that much of a difference. Lukeba even makes more interceptions per 90 minutes.

So, while Guehi might well be a proven England international with Premier League experience, Lukeba has a special profile and boasts all of the talent to become one of the finest centre-backs in Europe.

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Every passing day at St. Andrew’s seems to throw up another gigantic transfer rumour involving Birmingham City.

This time, Bright Osayi-Samuel is the main name being linked with an ambitious switch to the West Midlands. The Blues are allegedly closing in on a deal to land the ex-Fenerbahce man on a free transfer, as per journalist Mike McGrath.

The non-stop rumour mill is unlikely to grind to a halt here when it comes to dishing out notable figures who could soon call Chris Davies’ side home, with plenty of other EFL-ready stars tipped to relocate to the Blues very soon.

Latest on Birmingham's transfer search

Having spent £15m just on Jay Stansfield alone last season when plying their trade in League One, it’s not the greatest shock in the world to see Birmingham flexing their muscles once more in terms of incoming signings.

Indeed, the mega-rich Blues are reportedly close to adding both Tommy Doyle and Demarai Gray to their expanding camp, with reports even suggesting that the Birmingham-born winger could cost around £8m to obtain.

Joining the aforementioned trio through the door very shortly could also be Kieran Dowell, with an exclusive report from GIVEMESPORT stating that a proposal has been made on the end of the newly promoted side to bring their former loanee back to St. Andrew’s.

However, it’s stated that this proposal is up in the air at the moment as new Rangers boss Russell Martin continues to assess whether Dowell is part of his long-term Ibrox plans or not.

With Ben Davies also on their agenda, according to GIVEMESPORT, it’s clear that adding in Championship experience by the bucket load is a huge priority, as Birmingham navigate the treacherous, but thrilling step back up to the second tier.

In Dowell, the Blues might well be winning themselves another adaptable and exciting presence at the level that’s very similar to Osayi-Samuel, as both potential new signings aim to help Birmingham soar to even greater heights in their fresh surroundings.

Why Dowell can be another Osayi-Samuel

Last season was a clear example for all those watching on at St. Andrew’s that the 27-year-old attacking midfielder is an accomplished performer in the EFL, as seen in his five goals and four assists from just 19 League One runouts.

Amazingly, he should only up his performance standards if he sticks it out for Birmingham’s move up to the Championship, with fans of clubs such as Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, and Wigan Athletic knowing all too well what the former England U21 international is about at the intimidating level.

In total, playing for those myriad clubs in the Championship, Dowell has managed to tally up a mightily impressive 26 goals and 12 assists from 123 clashes, with Osayi-Samuel not lagging too far behind with his own hefty output.

Indeed, the soon-to-be Birmingham presence can boast his own healthy total of 23 goals and assists across 109 Championship games, with the correlations between the seasoned pair not just ending there, as seen in their similar abilities to line up for their team across various positions if needed.

Dowell’s career numbers by position

Position played

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

AM

120

31

12

RM

50

9

10

CM

25

2

1

RW

19

7

5

LM

17

2

1

SS

2

0

0

LW

1

0

0

DM

1

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Across the ex-Queens Park Rangers man’s varied career to date, he has staggeringly lined up in ten different spots on the field, with a makeshift striker role even being taken up by the Nigeria international on occasion.

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Dowell can show off the same levels of flexibility when looking at the table above, with the one-time Championship title winner more than capable of playing down the left or right wing, away from excelling as a number ten.

Even hailed as a “high-quality” performer by Davies last season, it does feel as if Dowell would jump at the opportunity to return to such a familiar stomping ground in the second tier, particularly after a challenging Rangers spell.

Both Dowell and Osayi-Samuel joining the Blues camp would show that the newly promoted side means business heading up a league, with another promotion not the craziest shout if everything clicks into place.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca isn’t entirely satisfied with his squad just yet, despite having sealed deals for Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro for around £140 million already, with the tactician looking to strengthen one key area.

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UEFA are watching the west Londoners like a hawk right now, amid an agreement that Chelsea need to sell players and end the summer window with a positive balance sheet (Kaveh Solhekol).

The governing body fined Chelsea nearly £27 million last week for breaching FFP rules, and this could rise to north of £50 million if they fail to comply again over the next four years (BBC).

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

BlueCo will therefore need to be very careful when it comes to green-lighting more signings before deadline day on September 1, but they have made some headway with regard to player sales.

Chelsea sold Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys and Marcus Bettinelli for a total fee of around £19 million, with Noni Madueke also about to join Arsenal in a £50 million deal and Djordje Petrovic on his way to Bournemouth for £25 million (Fabrizio Romano).

These departures, all in all, will accumulate £94 million, including their already-confirmed sales – and that’s not even counting Mathis Amougou’s permanent switch to Strasbourg.

Chelsea are also in the Club World Cup final, which has banked them £80 million worth of prize money.

It seems that Chelsea are actually doing a solid job when it comes to balancing their books, so we cannot rule out the possibility of further incomings just yet, and there are a host of other players who seem likely to be sold in the coming weeks – including Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Christopher Nkunku, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi, Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka.

Chelsea not out of Mike Maignan race with AC Milan star keen to join

If Chelsea can make room on their balance sheet, it is believed that AC Milan number one Mike Maignan is still firmly on their radar, coming after negotiations over a move for the Frenchman broke down earlier in the window.

That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who told TBR Football that Chelsea could still sign Maignan this summer, and the 29-year-old remains keen on a switch to Stamford Bridge with Maresca wanting a new number one.

“Max Allegri has talked about Mike Maignan staying on as captain, but that has little impact on the situation as he’s yet to sign a new contract yet, meaning he has one year left on his current deal. Chelsea are keeping close tabs on the Maignan situation,” said Bailey.

“We understand that he would like to go to Chelsea. Robert Sanchez was told earlier in the summer that he can go and they offered him to West Ham as part of the Mohammed Kudus deal.

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“Enzo Maresca has made it very clear that he wants a new number one. He doesn’t like any of the current options. So yeah, we haven’t heard the end of Mike Maignan to Chelsea this summer, that’s for sure.”

Maignan has been described an “elite” goalkeeper, and it’s hard to argue with that verdict. If Chelsea wish to become genuine title contenders, they need a reliable ever-present between the sticks, and Maignan could be that man.

Given his contractual situation, Milan also won’t be able to demand too high a fee for his services – giving Chelsea a golden opportunity to add both pedigree and experience to Maresca’s backline.

Tottenham are planning to sign a new centre-back this summer, with Daniel Levy and Johan Lange casting their eyes on an exciting young target who Spurs tip to become a star.

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The Lilywhites are reliably believed to be looking at bolstering the centre of their defence, as reported by The Telegraph, who also state that Thomas Frank’s side could weigh up another move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Spurs saw a club-record £70 million bid rejected for Guehi in January, but despite this and competition from Premier League champions Liverpool, they haven’t thrown in the towel when it comes to potentially signing the England international.

Palace are also now open to selling Guehi for a minimum £45 million with his contract expiring in less than 12 months (GiveMeSport), so this is certainly one to watch, but the 25-year-old isn’t Tottenham’s only defensive target.

Contrary to other reports, some media sources state that Tottenham are frontrunners to sign Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth, despite PSG’s lengthy ongoing talks to sign the Ukranian.

Zabarnyi has already agreed personal terms with PSG, but Spurs apparently remain in the race for his signature after the 22-year-old’s exceptional campaign at the heart of Andoni Iraola’s defence.

Tottenham reportedly competed to sign Zabarnyi’s former centre-back partner Dean Huijsen as well, according to Fabrizio Romano, but it was always a tall order to barge aside Real Madrid, who’ve since added the Spaniard to Xabi Alonso’s ranks.

“Tottenham Hotspur were also constantly calling as well as Bayern Munich,” said Romano to GMS about the race for Huijsen earlier this year.

“But, the German giants understood they needed to sell a centre-back like Kim Min-jae in order to proceed with a new expensive signing, and it didn’t happen. For Spurs and Newcastle, it also became impossible to compete when Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal appeared with important proposals.”

Tottenham expected to make "official move" for Giovanni Leoni

Alongside Guehi, the north Londoners could turn to Parma defender Giovanni Leoni.

Levy and Lange have been linked with the 18-year-old already, but CaughtOffside now state that Tottenham are expected to make an “official move” for Leoni shortly.

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Parma won’t entertain any offers below their asking price, though, which could be up to around £35 million, and Newcastle are fellow favourites to sign the Italian teenager who’s fresh off the back of a solid debut campaign for the Serie A side.

Leoni is highly-rated at N17, though, described as a “standout young defender” in the report, and those within Spurs view him as a ‘cornerstone of their future defensive setup’.

The former Sampdoria gem, who stands at a towering 6 foot 4, made 17 top-flight appearances for Parma across 24/25 – featuring at centre-back and playing as a right-back occasionally – and he’s tipped for a very bright career.

Aston Villa are now keen on signing a “quality” £40 million striker who former Arsenal striker Ian Wright is a big fan of, according to a new report.

Alejandro Garnacho now open to Aston Villa transfer

The Villans have been very quiet in this transfer window so far, adding just two new players to their squad having been forced to work around PSR requirements before they could pursue any deals.

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Now that issue has passed, and the Premier League edges closer to getting underway, Villa could be about to start making an impact in this transfer window. The Villans are keen to add more power to their forward line, and one player who has emerged as a target is Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.

The Argentine is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, as the Red Devils don’t consider him a part of their plans, and he’s been left behind in Manchester as the club have jetted off to Chicago for their pre-season preparations.

It was reported last week that Villa made an approach to Garnacho about a move to Villa Park, as United look to get around £70 million for the winger. Now, in a boost to their pursuit, Garnacho is said to be open to the idea of playing for Aston Villa and working under manager Unai Emery. It just remains to be seen if the club can agree a transfer fee with United.

Aston Villa and Wolves in race for Mika Biereth

As the club works on a potential deal for Garnacho, according to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are also interested in signing striker Mika Biereth from AS Monaco.

The report states that Biereth’s fine form since joining the French side has now caught the attention of not just Villa but Newcastle United, Wolves and Everton from the Premier League. Indeed, the forward joined Monaco in January and scored an impressive 13 goals in 16 Ligue 1 games.

Despite the fact that he is under contract until 2030, Caught Offside reports that Biereth can leave Monaco for a fee of £40 million, which would mean Monaco would make a huge profit after paying Sturm Graz just €13 million (roughly £11 million) six months ago.

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The 22-year-old is already known in England, as he started his career at Fulham, and while he didn’t play for the first team, he earned a move to Arsenal. Biereth didn’t play again in the first team, but he scored 11 goals in 21 Premier League 2 games in the 2021/22 season.

Mika Biereth’s 24/25 Ligue 1 stats

Apps

16

Starts

16

Goals

13

xG

11.32

Left-footed goals

1

Right-footed goals

12

Shots per game

2.6

Chance conversion

31%

Assists

2

Big chances created

8

During his time in the UK, Biereth had a spell at Motherwell, during which he was dubbed “quality” by manager Stuart Kettlewell. Meanwhile, after his spell at Arsenal, Ian Wright was left very impressed by his performances and stated he was “incredibly proud of him”.

In a major boost in pursuit of yet another addition, one Glasgow Rangers target now reportedly wants to complete a summer switch to Ibrox as the 49ers continue negotiations.

Rangers gearing up for crucial UCL second leg after Ibrox win

It’s an important week for Rangers and the most important of Russell Martin’s tenure so far. The Gers travel to Greek side Panathinaikos in hope of sealing their victory in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. With a 2-0 lead to defend, the Scottish Premiership giants already hold a key advantage, but will be wary of preventing any dramatic comebacks.

Of course, if the Greek side square up against the Rangers side that were just held to a 2-2 draw by Championship side Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly, then the Gers could certainly be in for a few twists and turns.

Left frustrated by the result, Martin told reporters: “The first half was a bit frustrating because we’re playing a good team. They’re athletic, they pressed really aggressively, but a lot of the moments that were uncomfortable for us were down to a lack of intensity on our part.

“And I said to the guys, I didn’t like the warm-up, there’s a bit of disappointment in a few people, maybe not in the team and all that stuff.

“But, if you’re disappointed and especially playing for this football club, you have to show it in being more aggressive and more intense, not being downbeat and sort of just being out there and letting the game pass you by a little bit. So they know that now. That can’t happen.”

The more that the former Southampton boss sees his side in action, the more he will learn and that has seemingly seen him turn his attention towards the likes of Abu Kamara and one other potential addition.

Rak-Sakyi now wants Rangers move

As reported by The Sun and relayed by Ibrox News, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi now wants to complete a summer switch to Rangers as the 49ers continue to negotiate a deal which could cost as much as £10m with Crystal Palace.

The talented winger spent last season on loan at Sheffield United and impressed many as he scored seven goals and assisted another two for the Blades. Even after impressing in England’s second division, however, the 22-year-old’s place in Oliver Glasner’s plans is far from guaranteed, and he has now set his sights on Ibrox as a result.

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Dubbed “fearless” by Crystal Palace fan account HLTCO, Rak-Sakyi would be following the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandes, Djeidi Gassama and Joe Rothwell on the list of players to swap English football for Martin’s Rangers side if he completes a move in the coming weeks.

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The Gers have so far enjoyed an impressive overhaul, with the 49ers looking to make an instant statement, and the arrival of the Crystal Palace gem would only add to that.

Tottenham have had a worryingly quiet summer transfer window so far, and Thomas Frank quite simply must strengthen before the start of his debut campaign in the north London dugout.

While the likes of Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea spend hundreds of millions on reinforcing their squads, ahead of what is expected to be a very competitive Premier League season, Spurs boast just three major first-team signings.

Tottenham’s first five Premier League fixtures of the season

Date

Burnley (home)

August 16

Man City (away)

August 23

Bournemouth (home)

August 30

West Ham (away)

September 13

Brighton (away)

September 20

Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55 million deal from West Ham, and chairman Daniel Levy managed to negotiate a cut-price £30 million deal for Mathys Tel with Joao Palhinha also arriving on loan – but that is the sum of their activity.

Technically, Tottenham have spent £116 million this summer, if you count Kevin Danso’s obligation to buy deal, which was agreed in January, but Levy’s spending still doesn’t even come close to their arch rivals.

We’re less than a week away from the start of the new Premier League season and a meagre few days from Spurs’ UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG, but Frank’s new-look squad is somehow weaker than Ange Postecoglou’s.

Son Heung-min’s emotional goodbye to LAFC and James Maddison’s crippling ACL rupture, adding to Dejan Kulusevski’s long-term absence with a knee injury, leaves Frank desperately short of options.

Reinforcing the squad with quality is an absolute non-negotiable if Levy is serious about transforming Spurs into genuine trophy contenders.

They’re set to be among the big boys in next season’s Champions League draw too – making new signings all the more important before the transfer deadline in under a month.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested that striker Richarlison could leave Tottenham as well, and if that were to be the case, Spurs could become genuine contenders for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson with contact made.

There was another striker on their radar earlier this summer, Brentford star Yoane Wissa – a player Frank knows well from his many years at the Gtech.

Likelihood of Tottenham signing Brentford striker Yoane Wissa

Spurs were in talks for Wissa around the time of their failed move to sign playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest, but precious little has been reported about their interest since then. Now, journalist Graeme Bailey has provided an update to TBR Football.

Bailey reports that Frank “specifically identified” Wissa as a target for Tottenham, and the club held talks with him, but the likelihood of Spurs doing a deal for the 29-year-old is now very unlikely as Newcastle United close in on the £40 million forward.

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“Spurs did open talks with Yoane Wissa when Frank first came in,” said Bailey. “That was a player Frank specifically identified. But it looks like Wissa’s nailed on for Newcastle now. Frank made it clear from day one that he told Wissa exactly how he wanted to use him, centrally.

“I think Frank also understands the reality. Do you really pay £40 million for a 29-year-old with one year left on his deal? Tottenham are never going to do that. Newcastle look like they will, but there are other reasons behind that move.”

The Congolese bagged 20 goals in all competitions last season, with 19 of them coming in the Premier League, but that £40m could be reinvested into the signing of a proven playmaker – which Frank desperately needs.

You can see why they’ve backed out, and amid reports Jackson could leave Chelsea on loan, they do have other, cheaper options to target up front.