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According to a report in the paper edition of Record (via Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy have been told the exact fee needed to sign Sporting Lisbon ace Joao Palhinha this summer.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites join Palhinha race…

Tottenham have apparently joined the long list of clubs eyeing Palhinha after his impressive Euro 2020 campaign with Portugal.

A previous report from A Bola (via Sport Witness) cited Spurs among a plethora of interested sides, which included Atalanta, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and Napoli.

The 26-year-old midfield maestro is reportedly a wanted man, with another update now surfacing from the continent.

The Latest: Spurs told fee needed…

As per Portuguese newspaper Record, shared by Sport Witness, Levy has been told the Spurs fee needed to snap up Palhinha for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

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However, it won’t be cheap, with Sporting apparently setting a firm stance.

It is believed that the Liga NOS giants won’t sell for any less than his €60 million (£51.1m) release clause with only that amount being enough to secure any agreement.

Record also say that Spurs and Wolves ‘best have’ Palhinha as a target this summer among other interested parties and the player previously revealed his dream of playing in England.

The Verdict: Avoid…

The 6 foot 2 tough-tackler has also impressed at club level, averaging a mighty 3.3 successful challenges per 90 over 2020/2021 – more than any Tottenham ace managed in the Premier League (WhoScored).

He has also been described as a ‘special player’ by Sporting boss Ruben Amorim (MaisFutebol via Manchester News Today), but we believe £51.1m is too steep – especially considering Spurs already have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp for defensive midfield roles.

Tottenham have glaring weaknesses in other parts of the squad like centre-half, and amid this difficult financial climate, Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici must use any transfer funds accordingly.

In other news: Tottenham chiefs perform Harry Kane U-turn as report shares behind-scenes developments, find out more here.

West Ham United have reportedly made an offer to try and sign Junior Firpo in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Cresswell cover needed

Given that Arthur Masuaku missed a large chunk of the 2020/21 season through injury, the London Stadium faithful will need some more reliable cover for Aaron Cresswell come the start of the new term.

Cresswell can also play as central defender on the left of a back three, meaning that they would need other options in the left-back area if he plays there.

The Latest: Firpo offer

As per Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the East London club have made an offer to sign Firpo, which FC Barcelona are open to.

However, they face competition from both Southampton and AC Milan for his signature in what looks like a transfer saga that will drag on throughout the window.

The Verdict: Avoid

While Firpo is clearly a good player, having played in the UEFA Champions League a total of 10 times while with Barca over the course of the last two campaigns (Transfermarkt), David Moyes’ team should not be targeting another left-back whose game time has been limited.

Masuaku will want to prove his fitness in pre-season, and there are other positions that the Hammers should be prioritising, like finding cover up top for Michail Antonio.

Firpo is also on a whopping £105,000-per-week, which is simply too much for the Irons to dish out to a man who started just three league games last season, even if they can negotiate that number down a little.

In other news, find out which ‘extraordinary’ ace WHU have bid for here!

William Saliba would be open to joining Newcastle United on loan for the 2021/22 season, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder.

The lowdown

Arsenal paid £27m to sign the Frenchman in 2019 but loaned him straight back to Ligue 1 outfit Saint-Etienne. The 20-year-old then spent the first half of the 2020/21 campaign with the Gunners’ youth teams before a temporary switch to Nice in January.

He played 20 Ligue 1 games for the club, averaging 1.9 successful aerial duels, 1.3 interceptions and four clearances per match (via WhoScored).

Saliba has been tipped to enjoy a successful career in England by one-time Saint-Etienne team-mate and former Newcastle ace Yohan Cabaye, who said that the young defender was ‘like a big man’ and that the ‘future looks bright’ for him.

The latest

Ryder reported for Chronicle Live that Newcastle have been monitoring Saliba, now valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, for 18 months.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would not stand in his way if a loan bid arrives from St James’ Park, while the player himself would be keen on a chance to leave the Emirates Stadium and prove his worth in the Premier League.

As a result, this may be a ‘quick and easy deal’ for the Magpies to do, as Ryder tweeted.

The verdict

Saliba’s performance levels in France have actually merited a chance at Arsenal, but Newcastle would be more than happy to reap the rewards of the Gunners’ hesitancy, and this could be a very clever piece of business.

The club’s resources are said to be limited this summer but, with a shrewd approach, they can still enhance their squad significantly.

In other news, Newcastle have also been linked with an Arsenal forward.

Speaking in a Q&A for football.london, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has made a promising claim involving Fabio Paratici and how his appointment can benefit for the club.

The Lowdown: Paratici arrives…

The Italian transfer guru has now been officially appointed as managing director of Tottenham and has a major say in overseeing all sporting operations at the club in terms – including facilities and football infrastructure (tottenhamhotspur.com).

Of course, the aspect of his role drawing most excitement is his reputation for facilitating big transfers in the market.

At former club Juventus, Paratici garnered a reputation for being an astute operator and played a key role in signing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for the Turin club (The Daily Mail).

The Latest: Gold makes promising Paratici claim…

Speaking in a Q&A, when asked exactly what Paratici will bring to the table at Tottenham in terms of landing youngsters or immediate impact signings, Gold dropped a promising claim.

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“His history at Juventus suggests both,” the reporter explained.

“He was very good at getting free transfers over his 11 years, although there has been the odd recent one that hasn’t hit the spot like Ramsey and Rabiot, while he has also spent the money when required on immediate impact players.

“One thing is clear and that is that he has a huge network of contacts and good relationships with clubs across the game and he’ll be able to help deliver what Tottenham require within the parameters the club’s finances dictate.”

The Verdict: Promising…

Gold’s behind the scenes claim on just how well connected Paratici is will come as music to the ears of some supporters.

Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy also recently heralded the 48-year-old as a ‘tough negotiator’ and that is something Spurs will definitely need in this odd transfer landscape struck by the financial implications of Covid-19.

Spurs will need to operate astutely given their sell-to-buy transfer policy and Paratici may just be the man for a tough summer task ahead.

In other news: Spurs now want to sign this 6 foot 2 powerhouse with Levy told to pay eight figure fee, find out more here.

Queens Park Rangers are interested in a deal to bring Josh Windass to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claimed that Mark Warburton is keen on a reunion with his former Glasgow Rangers midfielder ahead of next season, with the 58-year-old thought to be lining up a bid for the Sheffield Wednesday ace in the summer transfer window.

Last month, The Sun journalist Alan Nixon revealed that Darren Moore’s side will be demanding a fee of £5m in order to part with the attacking midfielder this summer, a price which appears to have ruled both Birmingham City and Millwall out of a move.

Warburton would love him

Windass was impressive last season despite playing for a Wednesday team who finished rock bottom of the Championship table, while the midfielder has also played under Warburton previously. Should QPR go on to get a deal over the line for the 27-year-old this summer, he would be an addition the Rs boss would surely love.

While it is true that the £1.8m-rated man did not feature all that much under Warburton at Rangers, Windass nevertheless made an impression during his 18 appearances under the 58-year-old, scoring one goal and providing four assists for his teammates.

However, it is fair to say that the midfielder has developed as a player since his time in Scotland, something which is evident in his returns for Wednesday last season.

Indeed, over his 41 Championship appearances for Darren Moore’s side in 2020/21, the £10,000-per-week man scored nine goals, registered six assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 1.9 shots and making 0.7 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the man dubbed an “explosive” player by his footballer father Dean earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.80, ranking him as Wednesday’s seventh-best performer in the second tier last season.

As such, with Warburton undoubtedly hoping to build a squad in the summer transfer window which is capable of going on to mount a promotion push next season, the potential signing of Windass would appear to provide the 58-year-old and his team with a significant boost to their chances of going on to achieve this feat, leading us to believe that the midfielder would be a fantastic addition in west London.

In other news: QPR transfer update emerges on “unbelievable” £8k-p/w dynamo, fans will be gutted

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been showing the love for CEO Christian Purslow following his interview with the club’s official media channel, with one supporter hailing the 57 year-old as a ‘massive coup for our club’.

Villa ended their 2020/21 campaign with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Villa Park, in what was the first time fans were present since February 2020.

Dean Smith’s side ended the season in 11th place on 55 points, 20 points more than their 2019/20 tally.

The club had more success just 24 hours on, after winning the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2002 with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool, also at Villa Park in front of supporters.

Purslow sat down to give his thoughts on the club’s season, the return of fans and Villa’s youth system, with the clip available to view here.

Villa fans react

The club shared the three-minute clip with Purslow on their official Twitter page on Wednesday afternoon. These fans were full of praise for the Villa Park chief, with one describing the interview as ‘positive’.

“I am so happy this bloke runs our club”Credit: @joegodwin_”Purslow was a massive coup for our club”Credit: @MerseMagic”A fascinating interview, very positive, it seems that Villa have now switched their focus to quality over quantity in this transfer window, if that is the case I think Villa are aiming much higher than the players already linked. UTV.”Credit: @1966wall”Highly promising words spoken from are amazing CEO , Its gonna be a summer of a small number of signings but not necessarily a reduction in spends 2-3 top quality additions to strengthen the first 11 and build depth quality over quantity highly optimistic for the new season UTV”Credit: @TheKyzer007″what a guy”Credit: @catrinedwards18″He’s a fantastic CEO, a key part of the overall recent success at Villa.”Credit: @lbaddhan

In other news: Many AVFC fans buzz at Emiliano Buendia latest, find out more here. 

Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard appears to be closing in on a move to Leicester City this summer.

The Lowdown: Edouard’s made his Hoops intentions clear

The 23-year-old has been linked with a number of clubs during the current campaign.

The likes of AC Milan, Juventus, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham have all reportedly shown an interest in the Frenchman, however, it seems as if all those clubs may miss out on his signature.

Edouard made his Hoops intentions clear last month, with the striker having his heart set on quitting Parkhead this summer, regardless of who comes in as Neil Lennon’s successor.

The Latest: Source provides Edouard update

TEAMtalk now claim to have been informed by sources with knowledge of the situation that Brendan Rodgers’ side are confident of landing Edouard over the coming months.

The report claims that the forward is almost certainly heading to the King Power, so it appears as if he will provide competition to the likes of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho in a central role.

No financial details were revealed in the recent report, but it seems as if the Frenchman has chosen his next destination.

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The Verdict: Celtic must bring in a proven replacement

With the number of teams showing an interest, and the player’s stance on a move away clear to see, we’re not surprised to see Edouard’s likely departure come to light.

What’s important now, though, is that the Hoops receive the best deal possible and bring in a proven replacement.

Edouard, who Lennon described as ‘magnificent’, will have just 12 months remaining on his Celtic deal in the summer and the Hoops reportedly owe Paris Saint-Germain a whopping 50% of a deal due to a sell-on clause.

On that basis, every penny may matter, which could then be put towards a new signing.

The Hoops have recently been linked with a move for Young Boys striker Jean-Pierre Nsame, and the Cameroon international appears to fit the bill required to fill the void set to be left by Edouard.

He’s scored 97 goals for his current employers and has Champions League and Europa League experience, so that could be an option for Celtic.

In other news: ‘We hear’ – 62 y/o drops unconfirmed ‘done deal’ claim at Celtic, find out more here. 

Liverpool jumped to fourth place in the Premier League table with an impressive 3-0 victory over Burnley on Wednesday night, significantly boosting their Champions League qualification hopes.

Although the scoreline was eventually convincing, Jurgen Klopp’s men struggled to get a foothold in the game after a fast start from their hosts, who were evidently keen to impress the 3000 home fans.

It could have been a much different outcome had New Zealand international striker Chris Wood finished a golden opportunity when he got in behind the Liverpool defence, but the Reds dug deep and eventually overcame their much-improved opponents.

A cool and composed Roberto Firmino finish just before half-time swung the game in the visitor’s favour, however, a far less celebrated member of the Liverpool side was the real hero in midweek.

Nat Phillips has been thrust into the limelight this season due to the season-ending injuries picked up by Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, and after a tough start to life in the top-flight, the 24-year-old has put in a string of improved performances in recent weeks.

None, though, were as impressive as his display last night. As per SofaScore, the centre-back recorded a rating of 8.9/10, the highest mark out of anyone on the Turf Moor pitch.

Phillips also won 13 of his 19 duels, made nine clearances, one of which was a goal-saving clearance off the line, and also had a passing accuracy of 79%. It was a solid, all-around performance from the Englishman who appears to be growing in stature week in week out.

To top off his fine evening’s work, Phillips popped up with his first senior Liverpool goal, crashing in a fine header to secure the three points and put the Anfield outfit one game away from securing their place in next season’s Champions League.

The result made it four consecutive league wins for Klopp’s charges, and after the 4-2 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United last week, the German manager was full of praise for Phillips and his defensive partner Rhys Williams.

“The concentration level (Phillips and Williams) showed (on Thursday) night again is immense, absolutely insane what they did there. Against this front four of United, it’s not easy,” Klopp said (via Liverpoolfc.com).

Liverpool are now sitting in fourth position in the Premier League standings, level on points with Leicester City but with a superior goal difference. Victory over Crystal Palace on the final day of the season should secure their return to Europe’s elite cup competition despite the odds being stacked against them for most of the season.

And, in other news…Asking price set: Edwards must act to sign Reds target with a pass accuracy of 87.1%

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa must make a ruthless call and sell Tyler Roberts this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the 22-year-old has snubbed a contract offer from Leeds, with the forward’s current deal at Elland Road expiring next summer.

The Wales international has now delivered an update on his long-term future at Elland Road, saying: “I think my agent has had a talk with them about what’s going to happen.

“I think it’s one of those where the season is so close to ending, you stay focused on the last few games and you sort that then. I think it’s all positive and, as I’ve said, I do love it at Leeds. The city, the fans, the experiences I’m getting are great so I’m happy.”

Not good enough for Bielsa

Whilst Roberts has delivered a positive update on his chances of signing a new deal at Elland Road, Bielsa must be ruthless with the under-performing Welshman this summer.

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan insisted that the £9m-rated forward hasn’t shown enough in the Premier League to “convince” Bielsa – he managed just one goal in 27 top-flight appearances all season, and even that came in the penultimate game against Southampton.

The 46-year-old said: “With Leeds this season, he’s been given a long spell of games to convince Bielsa he’s worth keeping. In my opinion, I’m still undecided. I don’t think he affected the game during his time on the field.

“The only thing tempting me to keep him at Leeds is the fact that he’s young. He may still have a bit of growth to come.  If there’s interest from Newcastle and the contract isn’t signed, he might feel he needs a new start in his career. It’s massive to leave a club like Leeds. But once he comes back to Leeds I doubt he’ll start considering how Rodrigo finished the season.”

Whelan added: “Is he good enough? In my opinion he isn’t. I would love him to go out there and prove me wrong because I want everyone to succeed. I need him to show me more. He needs to show more fight and desire. I just do not see that.”

Given that Leeds will hope to see the best of Rodrigo next season after a year of adaptation at Elland Road, and that Bielsa will likely be looking to strengthen his squad in the summer, it’s difficult to see how Roberts’ current form and ability is anywhere near the kind of level that Leeds require if they are to kick on.

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Roberts was handed plenty of opportunities to shine and lay down a claim this season, but he didn’t grab those. This summer must be the time for Bielsa to just be ruthless and get rid of him if the right offer comes in.

Meanwhile, Leeds must finally unleash this talented starlet next season…

Previously rumoured to be considering a move for a centre-back in the summer transfer window, Manchester United have now been linked with a move for a current Premier League defender.

According to Danish outlet BT, the Red Devils are interested in Joachim Andersen, who is on-loan at Fulham from Ligue 1 giants Lyon. Despite the Cottagers having struggled back in the top flight throughout the 2020/21 campaign, the Danish centre-back has impressed hugely, so he could be an excellent candidate for the Red Devils in their search for a defender.

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Rated at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, Andersen has already made 26 appearances for Scott Parker’s men in the Premier League, helping them to keep nine clean sheets in the process. Meanwhile, the four-cap international has captained the London club on 14 separate occasions so far.

When compared to current United centre-back Victor Lindelof, Andersen certainly appears to be a far better option.

According to WhoScored, the Fulham defender has averaged one tackle and 1.3 interceptions per match in the Premier League this season whilst the Swede has only managed to accumulate 0.8 and 0.9 of the same numbers so far.

Meanwhile, Andersen has also racked up a huge five clearances per game this season, with only four players in the entire league having contributed more. Lindelof, playing in a team subjected to far less defensive pressure, can only offer 3.3 per game.

Andersen’s excellent form continues to be hugely impressive in the air with his 3.2 successful aerial duels per game compared to Lindelof’s 2.3.

Based off of his performances, the on-loan Fulham man would certainly be an extremely useful partner for Harry Maguire at the heart of the Manchester United defence.

The Red Devils should absolutely follow up their reported interest in Andersen and make him one of their summer signings.

AND in more news, find out which current Manchester United defender was key in the Red Devils reaching the Europa League semi-finals…