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Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte could axe one of his 2021/2022 mainstays this summer, according a report in the last 48 hours from The Telegraph.

The Lowdown: Spurs exits looming?

While much has been made of who could follow Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster through the door at Hotspur Way, there may well be just as many exits at Spurs this summer.

The likes of Joe Rodon and Steven Bergwijn, after struggling for game time in the Premier League under Conte, may well be on their way out of north London before next campaign.

Tottenham are also open to offers for the likes of Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty amid the club’s search for wingback upgrades, but as per a surprise Telegraph update,  a more regular starter could also be axed depending on developments.

The Latest: Conte could axe Davies…

According to their information, Spurs, and by extension their manager, could end up axing Wales international Ben Davies if the Lilywhites succeed in their mission to sign a world class left-footed central defender.

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It is believed the 29-year-old’s future ‘may come into question’ given he might not be a ‘guaranteed starter’ if a new centre-half comes through the door.

The Verdict: Right call?

Even if one of Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) or Pau Torres (Villarreal) find themselves at Spurs, letting Davies go arguably wouldn’t be wise.

A mainstay under Conte at Spurs, the Welshman started 28 top flight matches over 2021/2022 whilst playing the sixth-most minutes out of anyone in the squad (WhoScored).

Former Lilywhites defender Michael Dawson perhaps summed up his contribution last season best, calling him a ‘perfect’ defensive asset who’s been ‘fantastic’ (via football.london).

At the very least, Davies would make the ideal squad player and provide real strength in depth for Conte.

In other news: ‘Better and better’ – Tottenham could make announcement ‘in the coming days’, says insider…find out more here.

ESPN journalist Rob Dawson has now shared a promising update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Brighton star Marc Cucurella.

The Lowdown: City eye new signings…

The Premier League champions, after retaining their domestic crown on the final day of 2021/2022 with three goals in five minutes, have set their sights on strengthening for another season under Pep Guardiola.

A new left-back is reportedly on the agenda as well as a possible new defensive midfielder, coming as a plethora of long-serving players could depart Eastlands before this window’s closure.

Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko have all been linked to moves away from the club with ESPN man and City correspondent Dawson now sharing what he knows on who could come in.

The Latest: Cucurella price not ‘problematic’….

Sharing a promising update on City’s chances of signing Cucurella, a reported target, the journalist has now hinted that the Sky Blues and sporting director Txiki Begiristain could be ready to pay the Seagulls’ asking price of £35 million.

Dawson claims that this requested fee for the Spaniard is ‘not considered overly problematic’ for City – going on to explain that Cucurella is on Guardiola’s summer shopping list.

The Verdict: Make the move…

Having shone since leaving Barcelona, the 23-year-old has been a mainstay under manager Graham Potter with only goalkeeper Robert Sanchez playing more league minutes over 2021/2022 (WhoScored).

He also finished last season as Brighton’s third-best performing player by average match rating – proving effective both in the forward areas and defensively.

Cucurella averaged the second-highest rate of tackles per 90 for Brighton last season, just behind their superstar Yves Bissouma, whilst also making the third-most key passes out of their squad (WhoScored).

Members of the media have raved over the ‘sensational player’ for his performances this last year and we believe he is the ideal man to potentially come in and bolster Guardiola’s left-back options – especially for just £35m.

In other news: Man City ‘offer’ on the cards to sign ‘unplayable’ star, Pep called him ‘incredible’! Find out more here.

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard could reportedly be willing to cash in on midfielder John McGinn this summer, amid reports linking the player with a departure.

What’s the word?

As per Football Insider, the Midlands side are said to be open to listening to offers for the Scotland international, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur having been heavily linked with a move in recent months.

The report suggests that the 27-year-old is not considered an ‘untouchable’ at Villa Park despite his regular starting role over the past few years, with Gerrard said to be ‘not totally convinced’ by the 48-cap maestro.

The suggestion is that the former Hibernian man – who made the move to England on a reported £2.75m deal in 2018 during Steve Bruce’s tenure – is somewhat difficult to manage behind the scenes, as per the report, hence the potential desire to move him on.

Gerrard’s biggest mistake

It has been proven a hugely impressive transfer window for the Villans thus far, with four major signings having already been confirmed and further deals potentially in the works.

That being said, however, the Villa boss could risk overshadowing that strong early business by allowing the influential McGinn to depart prior to the start of next term, with it no doubt set to be a notable mistake were the ambitious club set to cash in on the £28.8m-rated playmaker.

Since making the switch four years ago, the £70k-per-week machine has proven an invaluable asset to the club, having scored 16 goals and provided 23 assists in 147 games across all competitions, including registering 21 goal contributions in 100 Premier League appearances over the last three seasons.

The most recent campaign saw the Glasgow-born ace chip in with three goals and four assists in the top-flight from his 35 league outings – all of which had come as starts – while also averaging an impressive three tackles and one interception per game.

That all-action approach has seen him come in for praise from pundit Joe Cole, with the former England international stating: “He’s one of them that if you speak to anyone around Aston Villa and they love him.

“He’s a character, a leader. I was chatting to him and he’s really excited about having Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister as well. Two midfielders he’s soaking up knowledge from. He’s an all round midfielder. Forget what he does off the ball, on the ball he does everything. He’s got tenacity, he wins the ball back and he brings that to the team.

“And when you couple that with the other side of his game, he’s got lovely close control. He’s as strong as an ox and he picks the right pass. He’s well drilled, he runs forward, sets up goals and to add on top of that and it’s something midfielders neglect these days, he knows where the goal is.”

Such a glowing assessment illustrates just how highly regarded the 5 foot 10 warrior is, with it something of a headscratcher that Gerrard and co would even contemplate a sale, even as they plot a new midfield addition.

The suggestion for most supporters would have been that any new arrivals – including recent signing Boubacar Kamara – would have been added to complement McGinn and to build an exciting midfield around him, yet this latest news would suggest that such deals could in fact be hastening his exit.

IN other news, AVFC face battle to land “aggressive” £60m machine, he’s one of the “best” in his role

Rangers have been given the green light to sign a midfielder from the Premier League as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks to bolster his squad at Ibrox.

What’s the word?

That is according to a recent transfer report from 90min.

The outlet claimed that Harry Winks has been offered to Rangers and also to various clubs in England’s top flight, with Tottenham Hotspur looking to move him on this summer.

With Spurs looking at a fee of around £20m, it could be well out of reach for the Ibrox club, but maybe a deal could be done in terms of a loan move. Either way, it would represent a stunning transfer for Giovanni van Bronckhorst if he can make a successful move for the midfielder.

He could be Rangers’ own Jorginho

Winks is a product of Tottenham’s academy and began to make a name for himself under Mauricio Pochettino, starting in the 2019 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool.

However, the 26-year-old has struggled to make an impression under Antonio Conte, receiving just 30 appearances in all competitions last season.

Winks could light up the Scottish top flight, though, and he is comparable with Chelsea star Jorginho according to the FBRef similar player model.

Both have excellent passing ability, with Winks completing 86.6% of his passes over the past 12 months and the Italy midfielder succeeding with 89.7% of his. Meanwhile, the Englishman also played 0.6 key passes per match, just behind the Italian’s 0.9 per game.

Both players offer a threat going forward, despite often playing in deeper positions, with both averaging over two shot-creating actions per match (Winks 2.27, Jorginho 2.38).

Defensively, the Chelsea player comprehensively leads the way for tackles won (45 to seven) and pressures (488 to 145), but he played 10 more league matches than Winks last term.

These figures show how comparable the two are and suggest that they play the game in a similar mould, protecting the defence whilst also being able to support the attack when necessary.

The Spurs midfielder was described as “perfect” by his former manager Pochettino, and despite struggling for game-time under Conte, his talents are evident from the figures above, especially when given an extended run in the team.

Winks could be a revelation in Scotland if he is given an opportunity by Van Bronckhorst and remains injury-free, although the fee might be the dealbreaker in this potential move.

AND in other news, Journalist reveals worrying Rangers news which will disappoint supporters

Former Premier League defender Alan Hutton has backed Liverpool to pursue Chelsea forward Timo Werner as a replacement for Sadio Mane. 

The lowdown: Long-standing interest

Prior to a £45million switch from RB Leipzig to Chelsea in 2020 (Sky Sports), Werner was extensively linked with a move to Anfield and it had at one stage appeared to be nailed on.

Since arriving in England the 26-year-old hitman has struggled to live up to his billing having scored 93 times in 158 appearances for Leipzig. However, the pacey German has still directly contributed to 44 goals in 89 outings for the London club despite a well-documented major drop-off in form.

As the Reds regroup following the departure of Mane to Bayern Munich, a recent report has suggested that Jurgen Klopp could rekindle his admiration for Werner and are eyeing a ‘shock’ move – with one pundit backing how he could fit in at Liverpool.

The Latest: Hutton reacts…

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton, who works as a commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live claimed that Liverpool would be able to get the best out of the 53-cap Germany star.

He said: “I think Werner can bring something with his pace and his trickery. I think he could fit into the system. I think if you look at the way Liverpool have played over the years Klopp has been there, he likes that type of winger coming in from the side of the pitch and I think that’s where he’s better.

“I don’t think Werner’s an out and out number nine to me, I think he misses too many opportunities but he’s a problem out on the wing, he’s a problem for defenders, the way Mane was and obviously with him leaving there’s possibly room.

“I’d be very surprised if Chelsea just let him go. With Lukaku leaving they won’t want to leave themselves short so I can’t see it happening.”

The verdict: At the right price

Although the double capture of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez from Portugal means Klopp is still blessed with an embarrassment of riches in the attacking department, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi have also both left this summer and therefore the squad is one down in terms of frontline options.

Clearly a one-time top target for the recruitment team at Anfield, there is certainly a level of fascination with what Werner has to offer and at the right price, a move would make an abundance of sense for all parties as the £272,000-per-week man described as being ‘Michael Owen-like’ in his style by Tony Cascarino looks to recapture his best Bundesliga form that earned the big-money switch.

Last season the versatile frontman scored 11 times and provided six assists whilst playing across the frontline, numbers that Klopp would no doubt be confident of improving should this somewhat surprising move become a reality.

Despite the exit of Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea, strong links with Raheem Sterling and Raphinha mean that a departure for Werner could remain a possibility and as such, Julian Ward and FSG should remain attentive to the situation.

Leeds United securing a move for RB Leipzig midfielder Tyler Adams can now happen ‘very quickly’, according to Bild.

The Lowdown: Phillips to leave Leeds

The Whites look set to lose star midfielder Kalvin Phillips after they agreed on a £42m fee with Manchester City for the 26-year-old on Friday.

A transfer is expected to be finalised this week, with Leeds looking to bring teenage midfielder Darko Gyabi to Elland Road from the Etihad Stadium in a separate £5m deal.

Adams has been ‘on the shortlist’ at Elland Road when it comes to senior replacements for Phillips, and it looks as if Leeds chiefs can now push through a move.

The Latest: Adams transfer update

Bild provided an update regarding Adams’ future at Leipzig on Monday morning, amid links of a move to Yorkshire.

They claimed that ‘things can go fast’ and happen ‘very quickly’ when it comes to a potential move to Elland Road due to Phillips’ pending transfer to Manchester City and Leipzig’s swoop for Xaver Schlager.

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The Verdict: Time to act

Time is of the essence when it comes to bringing in a replacement for Phillips, and it seems as if Leeds now have an ideal opportunity to do so when it comes to signing Adams.

The USA international has been described as ‘unbelievable’ by Ralf Rangnick and an ‘elite’ number six by reporter Andrew Stern, and he has previously worked under Jesse Marsch at both New York Red Bulls and Leipzig.

Marsch mainly used Adams as a holding midfielder but also played him at full-back and as a right midfielder.

However, you’d expect that the 23-year-old will need to operate as an out-and-out defensive midfielder to replace Phillips, should a move to Leeds materialise.

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper turned Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has made a claim involving Spurs and Anthony Gordon after Daniel Levy’s ‘meeting’ with his Everton counterpart Bill Kenwright.

The Lowdown: Levy spotted…

Last Tuesday, ex-BBC journalist Jon Sopel revealed that both Levy and Kenwright had dinner at Scott’s, having spotted them whilst being sat a table nearby.

As the pair held talks, potentially over the now-confirmed signing Richarlison at the time, their sit-down also came amid Tottenham’s strong links with Toffees winger Anthony Gordon.

According to reports, Spurs still hold a real interest in signing the 21-year-old, with The Mirror’s print edition (via Goodison News) having claimed very recently that Fabio Paratici is plotting a move for the player.

The Latest: Robinson makes ‘perfect’ claim…

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has made a claim involving Levy and Gordon as the Lilywhites eye a move to sign the youngster for Antonio Conte.

He explained that the England under-21 international is exactly the type of player that Levy ‘loves signing’ for the north Londoners and suspects that Gordon came up in conversation during the Spurs chief’s dinner with Kenwright.

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Robinson stated:

“There was a meeting. Daniel Levy and Bill Kenwright seemingly had dinner and I suspect Gordon was a player who came up in conversation.

“He is the type of player that Daniel loves signing for Tottenham. A young, talented English player.

“It would be similar to the way he signed me, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Kyle Walker.

“Gordon would be that type of player – exciting with lots of potential. He would be the perfect fit for Spurs.

“I suspect there would have been a conversation about Gordon and his future. I’m sure that move will be revisited in the coming years.”

The Verdict: Push ahead?

While the prospect of Tottenham signing another one of Everton’s key players is arguably an uphill battle, in an ideal universe, an exciting move for move would certainly be ‘perfect’ for Spurs, to use Robinson’s words.

Able to help balance out the club’s worrying homegrown quota, the 21-year-old also possesses huge potential and is already well versed in Premier League action, having made 49 top-flight appearances.

Gordon stands out as one to watch, with Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard even calling him ‘frightening’ after their FA Cup clash against the Toffees earlier this year.

Indeed, Tottenham landing the youngster would be a real coup, although it perhaps seems unlikely at this point given that they’ve already raided Everton for Richarlison.

A big claim has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their latest Ibrox arrival in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Official club media partner Heart & Hand have revealed that Rangers’ bitter rivals made a last-minute attempt to sign Rabbi Matondo earlier this week.

The Light Blues completed the signing of the Welshman on Tuesday and the Gers insider has claimed that they did so after batting away interest from their arch-rivals.

They Tweeted: “Celtic approached the agent (of Matondo) last night when they realised he was on way to Glasgow.”

Supporters will be buzzing

This claim will surely leave Ibrox supporters buzzing as it shows that the Wales international was not tempted by a move to Celtic Park.

The 21-year-old did not have his head swayed by Ange Postecoglou’s men, despite them having guaranteed Champions League football, and this shows how much of a pull the Light Blues have.

Even without the Premiership title last season and no guarantee of playing at the top level in Europe, they have been able to snap up a promising young player under fierce competition from their rivals.

Upon arriving in Glasgow, Matondo said: “I am absolutely buzzing to have signed for a club as big as Rangers. This is a big club with a massive history, and I just want to create more memories and more history here at the club.”

These comments suggest that he was attracted to Rangers by the size of the Scottish giants and this illustrates the advantage Ross Wilson has in negotiations to sign players. Joining the Light Blues could be a huge deal for players – as it seemingly is for Matondo – and this is a pull that other teams may not have.

Gers fans will, therefore, be buzzing with the 21-year-old’s decision to sign for the Gers in spite of Celtic’s interest and will now be hoping that his performances on the pitch vindicate their delight.

He has the potential to be a crucial player for Gio van Bronckhorst after enjoying an excellent season in Belgium with Cercle Brugge. In 23 starts in the Pro League, the ex-Manchester City man produced nine goals and two assists – creating four ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

The gem has scope for improvement, at the age of 21, and has shown that he has the quality to make an instant impact if he can adapt to Scottish football.

AND in other news, Rangers can land a masterclass by signing £500k gem who’d “hit the ground running”…

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Martin Terrier to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French publication L’Equipe (via TEAMtalk), who claim that, with recent reports suggesting the Whites’ long-term pursuit of Club Brugge KV centre-forward Charles De Ketelaere looks to have been unsuccessful, Victor Orta has now turned his attention to the 25-year-old Stade Rennais attacker.

The report goes on to state that fellow Premier League outfit West Ham United are also keen on a move for the former France U21 international this summer, while Rennes are believed to be looking for a figure in the region of €40m (£34m) in order to part with the forward ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 campaign.

Better than De Ketelaere

While it is undeniable that De Ketelaere is an incredibly exciting prospect, the argument that Terrier would be a much better fit for a team hoping to push themselves up towards the top half of the Premier League table next season is a relatively easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 37 Ligue 1 appearances in 2021/22, the £22.5m-rated forward was in breathtaking form for Bruno Genesio’s side, scoring 21 goals, registering four assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.4 shots – 1.3 of which hit the target – making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

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These returns saw the £21k-per-week talent – who can also operate from attacking midfield and on the left wing – average a quite sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.30, not only ranking him as Rennes’ second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 11th-best player in the French top flight as a whole.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the attacker ranks in the top 7% of forwards in Europe’s big five leagues and European competitions for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 7% for passes completed, top 9% for both progressive passes and progressive carries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days.

The 25-year-old who Genesio dubbed a “high-level” player also impressed in a defensive capacity, ranking in the top 1% for tackles per 90, as well as the top 7% for blocks, the top 9% for interceptions and the top 17% for pressures over the last 365 days.

As such, while De Ketelaere’s returns of 18 goals and ten assists over €37m (£31m) on the Belgium international.

AND in other news: “Told…”: Ben Jacobs reveals massive Leeds transfer twist, Victor Orta will be fuming

Manchester United ‘would listen to offers’ for Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth. 

The lowdown: Wan-Bissaka struggles

Having impressed for Crystal Palace whilst making 46 senior outings after coming through the academy ranks in London, the Red Devils shelled out an eye-watering £50m to bring the right-back to Old Trafford in 2019 (BBC).

However, the 24-year-old former England youth international has failed to recapture his peak form in Manchester despite making 125 appearances for the club.

Following the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager, and the German reportedly questioning whether the ex-Palace defender was good enough to play for United, Wan-Bissaka was usurped by Diogo Dalot in the pecking order, leading to speculation as to whether there was a future for the Londoner at Old Trafford…

The latest: United could ‘listen to offers’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sheth has claimed that, although there is no imminent right-back arrival expected, United would still be willing to part ways with Wan-Bissaka in this summer’s transfer window.

He said: “Potentially later in the window. I wasn’t told that it was a priority position.

“As we stand now, I personally haven’t heard of any formal offers that have gone in to United for Wan-Bissaka even though I have been told that they potentially would listen to offers if they did come in.

“Right-back could be a priority position later in the window, but I don’t think it is just now.”

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The verdict: Cash in

Having arrived with a burgeoning reputation as being one of the brightest defensive prospects around, Wan-Bissaka has failed to live up to those lofty expectations at United and could foreseeably benefit from attempting to resurrect his career elsewhere, amid links of a return to Crystal Palace.

The Red Devils are unlikely to simply write off the £22.5m-valued Englishman, but should offers within reason be forthcoming, then selling him this summer could well be the best outcome for all parties.

Last season, Wan-Bissaka failed to directly contribute to a single goal in 25 appearances across all competitions, an aspect of his game which many (including Paul Scholes) have criticised since arriving in Manchester as rival clubs’ full-backs flourish in providing an impact in the final third.

The 24-year-old has seemingly deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman reportedly eyeing Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries as a replacement.

If reasonable offers aren’t forthcoming for the full-back who was once hailed by Statman Dave for his ‘phenomenal’ defensive prowess, then United may be willing to accept a loan move as a compromise to give the defender a fresh start elsewhere.