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Tottenham Hotspur ended 17 years without silverware in May, defeating Manchester United to lift the Europa League. The cabinet has not only received a new ornament, but the road to next season’s Champions League has also been unlocked for the Lilywhites.

This wasn’t enough to save Ange Postecoglou, though. The Australian manager was dismissed weeks after his incredible triumph due to the wretched domestic campaign, finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Now, with Thomas Frank at the helm, Tottenham can begin anew, working from the foundations set by the craggy-faced Aussie and building a sustained period of success.

However, there’s no question that the pace has dropped in the market down N17. With pre-season underway, this is the perfect time for Daniel Levy to reel in a few impactful additions across the park.

And it seems to be the engine room that Tottenham desire an extra bit of quality.

Spurs in contact for new midfielder

Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White was Tottenham’s dream signing to strengthen the midfield this summer, although after accusations regarding an illegal approach by the Lilywhites, the Englishman has since quashed any speculation by penning a new deal at the City Ground.

With both Rodrigo Bentancur and the routinely under-fire Yves Bissouma potentially on the move this summer, however, a more defensive midfield addition could be the more necessary addition anyway.

Well, as Fabrizio Romano has confirmed, Tottenham have made an approach to Joao Palhinha’s camp, though Bayern Munich have not received official contacts at this stage. Bayern would be looking to bank at least £30m for the 30-year-old.

Though Spurs would rather an initial loan for the Portugal international, these recent advancements suggest there could be some leeway on Levy’s part.

Why Spurs want Joao Palhinha

It hasn’t worked out for Palhinha at Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich, who he joined from Fulham in a move worth an initial £42m.

Bayern, in any case, were getting their mitts on one of the Premier League’s most underrated stars, he who had played under the wing of Marco Silva for a number of years at Craven Cottage, making 79 appearances and scoring eight goals.

Widely regarded as one of the division’s most unrelenting ball winners, Palhinha had been described as a “defensive monster” by data analyst Marcus Bring and a “tackling machine” by Sky Sports’ Adam Bate.

This is evidenced through his data from the 2023/24 season, winning a shedload of tackles, far more than anyone else in the division.

This level of tackling intensity is something that Tottenham will need to add to their ranks if Frank is to achieve a level of unity and coherence that wasn’t quite there last year.

Someone like Bissouma has been supposed to perform that role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but his rash temperament and inconsistencies on the field limited him to a minor role in Postecoglou’s plans.

The Telegraph claimed earlier this month that the 28-year-old is expected to leave London this summer, one year away from the expiration of his contract. Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce have engaged in talks as they weigh up an official bid.

Tottenham signed Bissouma from divisional rivals Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m in June 2022, and he’s since completed 100 games, scoring two goals, failing to register a single assist and picking up two red cards.

In Palhinha, Tottenham would sign themselves a far more composed and reliable man, whose impact in the Premier League at a lower level with Fulham speaks for itself.

And the Iberian star, even having lost his way somewhat in a Bavarian shirt, still ranked among the top 3% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last year for pass completion and the top 3% for tackles won per 90, as per FBref.

Bissouma is strong in the challenge, to be sure, but there’s little question that the Malian is error-riddled and unconvincing as a whole, having made six errors in the Premier League last season, as per Sofascore, in spite of only starting 16 times.

By contrast, Palhinha didn’t make a single error over the 2023/24 English league season, and just one last term in the Bundesliga.

There’s something to be said about Palhinha’s ball-playing skills. Though he’s crisp and calm, his progressive passing leaves something to be desired.

However, this is a foible that Frank could surely abide. After all, the Danish manager has used no player more across his managerial career than Christian Norgaard at Brentford, playing him 262 times. The Danish defensive midfielder has recently signed for Arsenal in a £15m package.

Norgaard is not a forward-thinking distributor, but his rooted defensive principles in the middle of the park worked a treat for Frank over so many years.

Palhinha could emulate this, maybe even taking a more complete and wider-ranging approach at Tottenham. With the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski already residing within the Lilywhites ranks, it makes sense that such a profile should be signed.

Bissouma has played his part at Tottenham, and indeed leaves having won a trophy, but to keep him on the books after such unconvincing and irrational performances in recent years would be negligible.

Luckily, Spurs are forging ahead with plans for a new midfielder, and Palhinha could be the man for the job.

Perfect alongside Palhinha: "Phenomenal" star has agreed terms with Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their pursuit of one talent this summer.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 26, 2025

Manchester United’s business during the ongoing summer transfer window could prove to be crucial in Ruben Amorim’s stint as manager at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have demonstrated with their Premier League finish in 2024/25 that they’re miles behind where they should be, especially given the money spent in recent seasons.

Former boss Erik ten Hag spent in the region of £600m on players in his three summers in the role, with many of his additions failing to impress in England’s top-flight.

The likes of Anthony, Tyrell Malacia and Rasmus Hojlund all arrived during the Dutchman’s tenure at the club, but all look set to depart this summer after falling down Amorim’s pecking order.

Any funds from such departures will likely be reinvested by the hierarchy to help the current boss in his quest for success, with numerous names already on their list this summer.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Bryan Mbeumo looked almost certain to be a United player next season, after he agreed personal terms with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford this window.

However, despite placing two separate bids for the 25-year-old this summer, no agreement has yet been reached with Brentford, with staff behind the scenes in Manchester said to be growing frustrated.

As a result, attention has been turned to other potential attacking reinforcements, with Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling a key target, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He claims that Amorim’s side have made an approach for the 19-year-old’s signature this summer, but could face tough competition from fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur.

Plettenberg’s update also claims that the forward could be available for a fee in the region of £55m this summer, despite suffering relegation back to the Championship at the end of last season.

Why United’s £55m target is a bigger talent than Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo has been one of the Premier League’s most deadly talents in recent seasons, as seen with his tally of 20 goals during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Cameroonian is more than deserving of a big-money move this window, with United the side pushing the most for his signature despite their recent unsuccessful offers.

The player himself has stated his desire to join Amorim’s side during the off-season, but ultimately, no deal can be completed until a fee has been agreed between the two clubs.

Many supporters will still see Mbeumo as the number one option in attacking areas, but they could land themselves a bigger talent in the form of Dibling, should they choose to pursue a move for the teenager’s signature.

Last campaign was his first at senior level, but he wasted no time in impressing, leading to one Liverpool analyst comparing the forward to Gareth Bale after his display at Anfield.

Such a comparison is no mean feat, given the Welshman was arguably one of the division’s best players a handful of years ago, managing to score 71 goals for Tottenham Hotspur across two separate spells.

Despite also being six years younger than Mbeumo, he’s also managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, further highlighting why he’d be a more exciting talent.

Dibling, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Ivan Juric, managed to register a higher tally of progressive passes per 90, along with a higher pass completion rate – having the ability to aid others within the final third.

He also managed to complete more take-ons per 90, along with an increased tally of carries into the final third, showcasing the direct nature he possesses with the ball at his feet.

Games played

33

38

Goals & assists

2

27

Progressive passes

3.8

3.4

Pass accuracy

81%

66%

Take-ons completed

2.2

1.3

Carries into final third

2.4

1.8

Key passes made

1.9

1.8

Fouls won

2.4

1.1

The youngster was a constant nuisance to various backlines last season, including the Red Devils’ winning a penalty against them at St Mary’s, contributing to his tally of 2.4 fouls won per 90.

£55m may be seen as a huge investment for such an inexperienced talent, but it’s a risk worth taking given the levels he’s produced at a below-average Premier League outfit.

He’s already proven that he can outperform Mbeumo in numerous key areas, undoubtedly only going to get better too, playing alongside top-level talents for many years to come should he move to Old Trafford this window.

Perfect for Bruno & Mbeumo: Man Utd to make bid for £20m star this week

Manchester United’s summer spending spree shows no signs of slowing down ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 9, 2025

كشف الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم عن الحكم الذي سيتولى إدارة مباراة فريقي ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، والتي ستُقام غدًا السبت.

ويستضيف ملعب “ريالي أرينا” مباراة ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد، في الجولة الرابعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2025/26.

ويتصدر ريال مدريد جدول الدوري الإسباني برصيد 9 نقاط، العلامة الكاملة، بعدما حقق الفوز في الجولات الثلاثة الماضية، في حين أن ريال سوسيداد لديه نقطتين فقط في المركز السادس عشر.

اقرأ أيضًا | كلاسيكو و3 صدامات قوية.. ريال مدريد يفتقد روديجر في 18 مباراة بعد إصابته

وحسبما أعلن الاتحاد الإسباني، فإن الحكم خيسوس خيل مانزانو سيتولى إدارة مباراة ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد المرتقبة يوم السبت، 13 سبتمبر 2025.

في حين أن الحكم خورخي فيجيروا فاسكيز سيكون مسؤولًا عن تقنية الفيديو في تلك المباراة، حسب إعلان الاتحاد الإسباني في بيانه.

An “interesting” Everton player is now said to be very close to leaving the club in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Everton eyeing Premier League attacker and others

Blues supporters will be desperately hoping to see new signings arrive on Merseyside this summer, as David Moyes looks to take the team forward and make them a top-half Premier League side again.

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has been linked with a move to Everton, with the veteran a proven top-flight attacker who could add much-needed firepower in the final third. A tally of 88 goals in 239 Premier League appearances highlights the Englishman’s pedigree.

The Blues are also believed to have entered the race to sign Timothy Weah, with the USA international currently plying his trade at Juventus. He scored five goals in Serie A last season, only starting 18 out of 38 league matches, so a fresh challenge may appeal to him.

Elsewhere, Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto appears to be a leading start to add to Moyes’ attack, with one report claiming that they are battling Wolves for his signature, with the latter tabling an offer for his services. Now, an Everton exit rumour has emerged, with one player not expected to be at the club at the start of next season.

"Interesting" Everton ace close to leaving

According to Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Youssef Chermiti is now “very close” to leaving Everton this summer, heading to Championship side Stoke City.

The 21-year-old is reportedly likely to move there on a season-long loan deal, hopefully picking up some important experience before the Blues make a decision over his future at the end of next term.

This feels like a shrewd decision for all parties, with the report saying ‘sources believe Chermiti is not in Moyes’ plans for Everton next season’, so he needs to enjoy regular football elsewhere. He is under contract until the summer of 2027, so there is no rush to sell him permanently yet.

The Portuguese has struggled to make an impression in a Blues shirt, failing to register a single goal or assist in 24 appearances, but he was lauded as a “very interesting” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

Hopefully, Chermiti will flourish out on loan at Stoke, with the Championship a massive test of any players’ credentials, then giving Moyes a headache when he returns to Everton next summer.

Same agent as McNeil: Everton eyeing swoop to sign "incredible" PL rival

He’s got plenty of experience.

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 21, 2025

He will have to do a lot in 2025/26 to show the Scot that he is worth persevering with long into the future, though, and it will be interesting to see how he fares over the next 12 months or so.

Part and parcel of promotion to the Premier League is the reality that some players are not going to be a part of Leeds United’s future beyond this summer.

Players who did not play regularly in the Championship may not be suited to playing in the top-flight, given that they were not deemed good enough at a lower level, and that is why Patrick Bamford could be in trouble.

The English forward only played 17 times in the league in the 2024/25 season, coming off the bench in all of those outings, and failed to provide a single goal or assist to the team.

No final decision on his future has been communicated by the club or player, but his lack of minutes last season does not suggest that he is likely to be a key player in the top-flight next term.

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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Meanwhile, another member of Daniel Farke’s first-team squad has already revealed that the club have made a decision on his future at Elland Road.

Max Wober's statement on his Leeds future

Whilst on international duty with Austria, central defender Max Wober has confirmed that the Premier League side have told him to leave during the summer transfer window, as they want to cash in on him.

He told Krone: “Leeds have already told me clearly that they want to sell me.”

Wober’s contract at Elland Road does not expire until the summer of 2027, though, so a team will have to come in with an offer to sign him if they want to move on from the Austrian flop on a permanent basis.

Leeds paid a reported fee of £11m to sign the left-footed dud from RB Salzburg in January 2023, under Jesse Marsch, but it remains to be seen how much of that fee the club would want back for him.

Why Wober must go before Bamford

The West Yorkshire outfit must push the Austria international out of the door at Elland Road this summer before Bamford because he does not, on paper, look to be a player who will provide much value to the squad.

Wober, who was described as “half-hearted” and “slow” against Hull by pundit Tony Dorigo, only played eight times in the Championship this season, playing half as many matches as the striker, and endured a rough time in the Premier League last time out.

22/23 Premier League

Max Wober

Appearances

16

Starts

14

Clean sheets

2

Dribbled past

8x

Duel success rate

53%

Penalties committed

1

Error led to shot

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Austrian flop played for Leeds in the second half of their relegation season and failed to step up, with two clean sheets in 16 games.

These statistics, coupled with his lack of minutes this term, suggest that he is unlikely to make the step up to the Premier League, which is why it is a good decision by the club to tell him to move on.

Bamford, meanwhile, may not be a frontline option for Leeds, given his struggles this season, but he is an experienced player who could provide value off the bench and around the squad.

The 31-year-old striker has scored 24 goals and provided 14 assists in 104 Premier League games in his career, including 17 goals in the 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa.

Bamford has been there and done it in the top-flight in the past and could impart his experience and wisdom to the younger and less experienced members of the squad as a back-up option next season.

That is not to say that Leeds must keep the striker at Elland Road, as a move for him to go and play regular football could still suit all parties, but he has more to offer the team than Wober, who does not have any past success in the Premier League.

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Therefore, Leeds should make selling Wober a big priority this summer, whilst they can afford to be relaxed about Bamford and his situation.

Given Celtic’s place in the global football pecking order, they are well-versed when it comes to selling a star player and being able to replace him.

Of course, a lot of the time, the Hoops’ excellent record in the transfer market means they’re able to replace their high-quality departures with signings.

However, Brendan Rodgers is also looking for his current players to step up and perform, with one player in particular having done exactly that this season.

Matt O'Riley impact at Celtic

Matt O’Riley arrived at Celtic from Milton Keynes for a reported fee of £1.5m in January 2022, and the fact he was then sold to Brighton two-and-a-half years later for a club-record £25m gives you a bit of an indication as to how well he performed in Glasgow.

The midfielder made 124 appearances in hoops, scoring 27 goals and registering 35 assists, winning seven major trophies as well as being named the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year before departing.

Ankan Bhowmick of Sports Illustrated labels the Danish international one of Celtic’s ‘best-performing’ players of their successful modern history, while Clive Lindsay of BBC Sport believes he has the quality to go to the very top, saying that his ‘languid running style’ can be ‘deceiving’ given that he’s a ‘quality…all-rounder’.

Given all of this, O’Riley was always going to leave a rather large void at Parkhead, but Celtic haven’t really missed him, thanks to a key player stepping up, but it’s not the player you might be thinking of.

Celtic's current creative focal point

Arne Engels was signed for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg on deadline day, to be O’Riley direct replacement.

However, as outlined by Andrew Newport of the Daily Record, the midfielder has, at times, not quite lived up to expectations so far, with the Belgian himself stating “I don’t care about the price tag… I think I have good numbers and good performances”.

Engels has accumulated ten goals and 12 assists in a Celtic jersey so far, but it is actually Alistair Johnston who has shouldered the creative burden following O’Riley’s exit.

The Canadian international was rewarded with a new contract back in November, with manager Rodgers describing the right-back as “phenomenal”, praising his “desire to improve in everything he does”, adding that “these are the qualities which make a great player”.

Joe Callaghan of the Guardian notes that Johnston has become a “cornerstone” for both club and country, with his performances seeing him included on the long-list for Best FIFA Men’s XI of 2024.

So, let’s analyse how he and O’Riley are similar, despite operating in different positions.

Appearances

29

37

Minutes

2,421

3249

Goals

4

18

Assists

8

13

Chances created

38

91

Big chances created

14

14

Passed attempted

2,023

1986

Through-balls

7

16

Take-on success %

50%

52.11%

Ball recoveries

100

208

Touches per 90

98

78

Of course, due to the obvious aforementioned positional differences, Johnston and O’Riley’s statistics are often somewhat different, although the fact that both created 14 big chances certainly jumps off the page, with the Canadian registering more of those than any other Celtic player this season.

During the most recent international window in March, Canada’s manager Jesse Marsch stated “there are some weeks I watch Alistair and I think… the games are too easy for him… players do need to be challenged.”

So, while Johnston is playing like O’Riley on the park, could he follow the Dane’s path off the pitch by becoming the latest Celtic fan favourite to be sold for an enormous profit?

Now worth 3x less than Johnston: Celtic struck gold selling "immense" star

Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston has been exceptional this season, ensuring one man remains rather forgotten in the past

Apr 18, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on a four-match winning run in the Premier League, and they will hope to continue this when they face Manchester United this afternoon.

The Old Gold defeated the Old Trafford side 2-0 at the end of December to maintain their perfect start under Vitor Pereira, and hopes will be high that they can complete the double over the Red Devils.

Man United were taken to extra time by Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday evening and there will be a few tired legs among the squad.

This could give Wolves the advantage, while Pereira may make a few changes of his own ahead of the clash.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde played against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but it remains to be seen whether he will return to the starting XI after suffering a minor injury.

Why Pereira must axe Bellegarde for Man Utd trip

Bellegarde played 42 minutes last week against Spurs before being subbed off due to injury.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

While on the field, the attacking midfielder completed just six passes, failed with his only dribble attempt, lost possession six times and was dribbled past once.

He has been a solid signing for the Old Gold, that much is certain. Given the nature of the game, however, plus the fact that Matheus Cunha is ready to make his first start following his four-match suspension, it makes sense to bring the Brazilian back into the starting XI.

This would see Bellegarde drop to the bench. That is if he is fit enough to make the matchday squad in the first place.

How Pereira can replace Bellegarde vs Man Utd

Cunha has a decent record against Man United since joining Wolves, scoring once and grabbing two assists across four games.

His goal came in the famous 2-0 win last December, and it proved that Cunha was capable of scoring in the biggest games.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

12

14

Assists

7

4

Key passes per game

0.9

1.7

Big chances created

7

12

Successful dribbles per game

2

1.9

The £90k-per-week forward has been in sublime form for Wolves this season. A total of 16 goals and four assists have been registered by the former Atletico Madrid star, and he has arguably single-handedly kept the club floating above the relegation zone.

When compared to his positional peers in the top flight, Cunha ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals (0.58) per 90, while also ranking in the top 17% for successful take-ons (2.16) per 90 for the Old Gold this term.

Hailed as “unbelievable” by current teammate Mario Lemina earlier this season, Cunha might well be heading into his final few weeks as a Wolves player.

Cunha has sparked plenty of controversy in recent weeks, notably when hitting out at Wolves’ fans on social media who have criticised his attitude and commitment to the club.

Should a big offer arrive in the summer, it is likely he will be sold, giving Pereira plenty of cash to spend. The club might not have a player of his quality for quite some time, and he could shine against the Red Devils this afternoon.

Pereira's "sensational" Wolves star is now slowly becoming the new O’Hara

Wolves “sensational” star in danger of becoming new Jamie O’Hara

ByConnor Holden Apr 18, 2025