Tottenham Linked With Move For "Magical" £10k-p/w Premier League Star

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is an admirer of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, according to a recent report from The Daily Mail.

Are Tottenham signing a winger this summer?

Tottenham have now struck a deal to sign former Fulham loanee Manor Solomon on a five-year contract, having agreed personal terms with the Israel international, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Shakhtar Donetsk this summer.

Spurs have also completed the signing of Juventus' Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal, with the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract, meaning Postecoglou has already strengthened considerably in wide areas in the current window.

As such, it remains to be seen whether the Lilywhites are keen to bring in any additional wingers, however they have now been linked with a move for Mitoma, who made a name for himself with his fantastic performances for Brighton in the 2022-23 campaign.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, the Japan international has caught the eye of a number of unnamed clubs, and Postecoglou is said to be an admirer, in light of the three years he spent managing in the J-League.

At the moment, there is no indication that Tottenham are set to make a move for the 26-year-old anytime soon, however he is liked by Postecoglou, which hints a move is not out of the question given the boss' success with Japanes signings at Celtic, where the likes of Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi were key to his high-intensity style.

Where would Kaoru Mitoma play for Spurs?

The Brighton star has most commonly been utilised as a left-winger throughout his career so far, however he has also demonstrated an aptitude for playing on the right on occasion, scoring four goals in the six games he's played in that area.

Last season, the Kawasaki-born ace managed to make an instant impact in the Premier League, recording seven goals and six assists in 33 top-flight appearances, while he also impressed during Brighton's run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma

After his match-winning performance against Liverpool, getting on the scoresheet with a 92nd-minute goal to seal a 2-1 victory, the £10k-per-week winger was lauded as "magical" by GiveMeSport's Terry Flewers.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has also spoken highly of the former Kawasaki Frontale man, claiming that he has "big potential".

With Solomon and Kulusevski set to be at Postecoglou's disposal next season, the manager probably does not need to bring in any more signings in wide areas, but Mitoma should definitely be placed on the shortlist for a potential deal in the future.

Arsenal: Gunners Ready To Sell "Amazing" Star

Arsenal are “ready to let” forward Folarin Balogun leave the club this summer and they believe it will help them sign top targets, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Who will leave Arsenal this summer?

Supporters can expect serious transfer activity at the Emirates Stadium this summer as Gunners transfer chief Edu works on signing numerous players.

West Ham United star Declan Rice has been subject to bids from Arsenal as they battle treble-winners Man City for his signature, and the saga could well be one of their talking points of this transfer window.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that they’re actively pursuing a deal for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, with positive talks ongoing behind-the-scenes as the player himself eyes a move to north London (Sky).

Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is being targeted as well, with Germany international Kai Havertz already joining Arsenal as their first signing of the summer.

Mikel Arteta’s side could spend around £200 million on fresh faces this summer, according to some media sources, so they’ll need to offload efficiently.

Of the players tipped to leave, there are a fair few, with Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Nuno Tavares, Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka all linked with an exit (Goal).

Balogun, who dazzled on loan at Reims last season, could make way as well with a report by O’Rourke and Football Insider sharing news.

Stade Reims striker Folarin Balogun.

They claim that Arsenal are “ready to let” the forward leave this summer, hoping to collect around £35 million, and the club believe this transfer could help them sign top targets financially.

This comes after Balogun ruled out another loan move, with a well-placed source telling the site that he is ready to lay down roots at a permanent new club.

Who is Folarin Balogun?

The 21-year-old scored 21 goals and in 27 Ligue 1 appearances over 2022/2023 (WhoScored), all while notching a further two assists, potentially prompting Arsenal to demand that £35m fee.

French football expert Julien Laurens, writing on Twitter, heaped praise on Balogun for an outstanding performance against PSG at the Parc des Princes in January – calling him an “amazing talent”.

Based off these accolades, there should be no shortage of suitors.

Newcastle: £30m Transfer Spells Bad News for Gordon

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich phenom Sadio Mane of late to underscore the meteoric rise of the club over the past season or so, now formidable Champions League contenders after previously languishing as relegation candidates.

This month, German newspaper BILD (via Caught Offside) have linked Mane with a move back to the Premier League after signing for the Bavaria giants for £35m last summer, leaving Liverpool after years of illustrious success under Jurgen Klopp.

Newcastle and Manchester United have been credited with an interest for the distinguished and Premier League-proven star, who could cost just £30m after a somewhat inauspicious spell in the German Bundesliga, and given the Toon have secured a top-four finish this year, the allure factor has returned to St. James' Park and Mane may well be enticed.

And recently, in cryptic fashion, the 31-year-old left a tantalising message to play on the Magpies' minds when questioned on his future while on international duty, saying "never say never" when asked about a possible move to Newcastle.

Should Newcastle sign Sadio Mane?

Considering the current state of play on Tyneside, there is every possibility that world-class stars such as Mane would be attracted to the possibility of moving to the club to take on a central role in Eddie Howe's project.

Candidly, Newcastle look destined for the very top after the lucrative takeover in 2021, and with the manner in which the outfit have worked across the park, diligent decisions and tactical brilliance from a footballing standpoint allude to a prosperous future at the forefront of the game.

Mane would bring instantaneous success and striking potency of a calibre that perhaps no other United ace could quite match; Callum Wilson is a prolific striker; Alexander Isak is dynamic, but Mane offers the whole gamut and has left a trail of devastation in his wake across the duration of his career.

The £363k-per-week gem scored 111 goals for Liverpool from 263 outings, also assisting 48 times, and captivated fans with his displays, leaving former boss Jurgen Klopp hailing him as "world-class" and as a "machine".

Typically found on the offensive left flank, the 95-cap AFCON champion's arrival at St. James' Park would surely spell danger for Anthony Gordon, who has not quite found his feet since completing a £45m transfer from Everton this January.

The 22-year-old scored against Chelsea on the final day of the Premier League season to finally break his duck after 16 appearances and has indeed offered glimpses of high-class promise for Howe's outfit, but given his positional preference aligns with Mane's, it could prove detrimental to his development.

European competition will at least provide greater opportunity for players to impress at Newcastle, but with such a superlative acquisition, Gordon will surely have to play with impeccable style to ensure that his manager keeps the faith.

If he doesn't, then a player of Mane's calibre would no doubt easily displace him.

Arsenal: Gunners Make Offer To Sign Zidane-Esque Star

Arsenal have made a “proposal” to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz this summer, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic.

Who could join Arsenal this summer?

After missing out on their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, with Man City’s treble-winners beating them to the league, it’s time to prepare for the 2023/2024 season.

To go again and mount another challenge, Arsenal will need to strengthen in key areas of the pitch, with sporting director Edu confirming long ago that plans have already been well underway.

“Our planning has already been done.” said Edu to ESPN in April (via 90min).

“It has already reached the owners. Now, we’re taking things step by step. We’re focused on how we will finish the season, but we’ve put in the planning and I’m very excited.”

West Ham star Declan Rice, who is on the way out of his current club this window, is a firm transfer target for the Gunners with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan also being eyed up for the midfield areas.

Meanwhile, reports have suggested that Arsenal could set their sights on additions at full-back, leading to interest in City defender Joao Cancelo, Galatasary star Sacha Boey and Real Valladolid ace Ivan Fresneda.

Following William Saliba’s season-ending back injury, there have also been suggestions that the north Londoners could target a centre back signing too.

However, according to reliable journalist Ornstein, it appears a brand new target in Havertz has come right to the forefront these past 24 hours.

kai-havertz-chelsea-arsenal-transfer-gossip-robin-van-persie-arteta-edu

Arsenal’s pursuit of the Germany international has apparently ramped up “in recent days” and a “proposal” has been made by Arteta’s side after contact with both the player and Chelsea.

Who is Kai Havertz?

Called “exceptional” by members of the media, Havertz has been likened to both former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, for his brilliant left foot, and even Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane.

Lothar Matthaus, speaking to Kicker (via The Mirror), claims the forward has shades of France’s footballing icon.

“I compare him to Zinedine Zidane in terms of skills, technique and overview, and anticipating a situation,” said Matthaus.

“Zidane didn’t seem quick, but he was when he hit the ball. Havertz can do that too.”

Liverpool Keeping Tabs On "Class" £1m Kelleher Replacement

Liverpool are keeping close tabs on Hannover 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Ron-Robert Zieler?

Zieler first arrived at the Heinz von Heiden-Arena from Stuttgart back in 2019 but most of the early years of his career were spent in England, having carried out spells at Manchester United, Northampton and Leicester City, as per Transfermarkt, so he’s no stranger to the style of football in the UK.

The German will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window will present Stefan Leitl with his final opportunity to cash in should he not want to risk losing him for free in 12 months time, and Jurgen Klopp has already registered his interest.

Football Insider reported in May that the Reds have contacted the 34-year-old’s representatives to discover what it would take to complete a deal, with journalist David Lynch claiming that his homegrown status is “part of the appeal”, and they must have liked the information that they gathered on him because it seems they are considering a swoop in the coming weeks.

Are Liverpool signing Zieler?

According to German outlet BILD (via TEAMtalk), Liverpool are "chasing" Zieler, with the goalkeeper "high" on FSG's summer wishlist. Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke was the person who signed him at Hannover and it's stated that the chief has "told" the Merseyside outfit that he can "secure the deal" to bring him to Anfield. The Reds haven't yet "officially bid", but a seven-figure offer being tabled could be "too good to ignore", with £1m the price tag being mentioned by the outlet.

Hannover 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Should FSG pay the £1m for Zieler?

Liverpool will be aware that Kelleher could be set to leave over the summer in a bid to find regular game time elsewhere so a replacement will be needed should he depart, and considering the calibre of goalkeeper Zieler is, £1m would be an absolute bargain.

The Sports360 client, who’s previously been lauded a “class” shot-stopper by Germany’s former international manager Joachim Low, kept eight clean sheets in 34 Bundesliga appearances last season and was recognised for his individual efforts by picking up three man-of-the-match awards.

The 2014 World Cup winner, who stands at 6 foot 2, could also bring excellent leadership qualities to the squad because he is the captain of his side so would be commanding and be able to organise his team from between the sticks, so whilst he’d only be a back-up rather than a number one, it would absolutely be worth splashing the cash to get him in the building.

Spurs Could Land Eriksen Heir In £40m Gem

There has been an update regarding Tottenham Hotspur's apparent interest in Southampton talisman, James Ward-Prowse…

What's the latest on Ward-Prowse to Tottenham?

According to Football Insider, the Lilywhites – as well as rivals West Ham United – are believed to be the frontrunners in the battle to land the England international, with the Premier League pair said to be 'pushing hardest' to get a deal over the line.

The piece adds that Spurs, in particular, have been keeping tabs on the 28-year-old over an extended period of time, with the north Londoners now having the perfect chance to pounce following the Saints' recent relegation.

If Ange Postecoglou and co are to make a move for the 11-cap playmaker, previous reports earlier this month suggested that it could require a fee of around £40m, with three years still left to run on the player's existing deal.

Should Tottenham sign Ward-Prowse?

A deal for Ward-Prowse could potentially allow Tottenham to finally fill the creative, midfield void that was left behind by Christian Eriksen following his departure for Inter Milan back in 2020, with journalist Dean Jones having stated last summer that the club "haven't replaced Eriksen's profile and creativity".

Club legend Glenn Hoddle has also spoken of the need to replace the experienced Dane after stating his desire to see Daniel Levy recruit 'a player who can pick passes', before going on to name Ward-Prowse – who he described as a 'major asset' – as a possible candidate for that vacancy.

Christian Eriksen for Spurs

While filling the shoes of a player who racked up 90 goals and 69 assists for Spurs in 305 games would not be easy, the Saints star also possesses the quality to make a telling impact in the final third, having registered 53 assists and 55 goals in 409 games across all fronts for the south coast side.

Lauded by teammate Jan Bednarek for having the "best delivery in the league", Ward-Prowse also mirrors Eriksen due to his set-piece quality as he has scored 17 Premier League free-kicks to date, with the current Manchester United man – who has scored eight top-flight free-kicks – also having "very, very good set-piece delivery, both from corners and direct free kicks", according to Brentford boss, Thomas Frank.

The introduction of an Eriksen-like figure could also potentially benefit Tottenham's free-scoring talisman, Harry Kane, with talkSPORT pundit Darren Ambrose claiming earlier this year that Ward-Prowse could help his compatriot to score "an extra ten goals a season", due to his devastating delivery.

While there have been claims that Kane could be on his way out of the club this summer – amid links to both Manchester United and Real Madrid – Ambrose even went as far as to suggest that if "you sign James Ward-Prowse, Harry Kane stays."

Whether that proves true or not, it would certainly be a benefit for both Kane – and for new boss Postecoglou – if Spurs could find an heir to Eriksen this summer…

Rangers Eye Move For 6ft Gem Who’s "Awkward To Play Against"

Glasgow Rangers will be looking to put their poor 2022/2023 campaign in the rearview mirror as the summer transfer window looms into view.

Michael Beale has already started his business, signing Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling on pre-contract deals from Norwich City and Chelsea respectively, however his aim now will be to bolster his attacking options, especially considering Alfredo Morelos and Ryan have departed the Ibrox side.

If the Gers want to give Celtic a proper Premiership title challenge next term, they will need to sign forwards who can hit the ground running and score a few goals in their opening matches to build some confidence and then perhaps can Beale push for glory.

With regard to this, the Light Blues have shown interest in striker Cyriel Dessers according to the Daily Mail (via Daily Record) and he could very well be Beale’s very own version of a Serie A attacker who is attracting interest from Manchester United and Arsenal – Dusan Vlahovic.

Could Cyriel Dessers be a good signing for Rangers?

The 28-year-old currently plays for Italian side Cremonese, and has scored six goals in Serie A during 2022/23 whilst also laying on two assists, leading to journalist Josh Bunting to describe him as being “awkward to play against” due to his strength and this could come in handy due to the physical nature of Scottish football.

His adaptability could mean moving to Scotland wouldn’t faze him as he spent the 2021/2022 season on loan at Feyenoord, scoring 20 goals across all competitions for the Dutch side, while he is also statistically similar to Vlahovic.

According to FBref, the Serbian striker is the third-most similar player to Dessers and considering his goal-scoring abilities in the Italian top flight, netting 61 goals in 140 appearances, it is certainly not a bad comparison to have.

Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers.

Indeed, the two players have registered similar statistics this season with regard to goals (ten to nine), shots on target per 90 (1.14 to 0.94), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.49 to 2.1) and touches in the attacking penalty area (115 to 102), indicating that they both offer a decent attacking threat for their respective club sides.

Beale desperately needs a bustling striker to cause chaos in the opposition box while being able to chip in with goals, and the £8m-rated machine certainly fits the bill.

Being likened to Vlahovic is a sign he could be a hit in the Premiership next season and with Morelos departing Ibrox, he could well fill the void left by the Colombian striker.

Rangers: Dean Jones drops worrying claim

A worrying Rangers transfer claim has emerged ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has suggested that several Gers players could be looking for a way out of Glasgow at the end of the season.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think for younger players in that Rangers squad, this is going to be extremely exciting.

“For the more experienced ones, a lot of them are at a key point in their career when they are still going to have to consider a transfer this summer.”

Van Bronckhorst will be deflated

Light Blues head coach Gio van Bronckhorst will surely be deflated by the prospect of a number of his first-team stalwarts wanting to leave in the summer.

In spite of Celtic securing the Premiership title earlier this week, Rangers are on a high and have the chance to end the campaign with two trophies to show for their efforts. They play Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final next week before facing Hearts in the Scottish Cup final later in the month.

It is an exciting time to play for, support or manage the Gers with these huge matches to come in the next few weeks, but that excitement and joy (if they win) will soon fade if several key players start to head for the exit door.

Jones believes that some of the more experienced heads may want to move on at this point in their careers, and leaving after a major European final would be the ideal send-off from their perspective. However, Van Bronckhorst will still be frustrated at the thought of losing the likes of Connor Goldson and Ryan Kent.

The former is out of contract in the summer and it remains to be seen whether or not he will want to extend his terms, whilst the latter has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs.

Both players have averaged SofaScore ratings of 7.06 or higher in the Premiership this season and have been putting in consistently brilliant displays throughout the campaign. This illustrates how important they have been for the Light Blues, as they have been mainstays in the team.

Therefore, Van Bronckhorst will be feeling deflated at the thought of both of them leaving the club in the summer, as they would leave huge holes for Ross Wilson to fill if they depart.

AND in other news, Wilson heading for big Rangers disaster on “ridiculous” £6.4k-p/w tank, GvB needs him…

WBA must complete Darragh Lenihan transfer

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce mentioned in recent weeks that he will be looking to conduct a rather significant overhaul at The Hawthorns during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Having ended the season in 10th place with 67 points on the board after winning 18, drawing 13 and losing 15 of their 46 games, it’s easy to see why it could be a busy summer for the Baggies as they aim to win promotion back to the Premier League.

One area of the squad where the Midlands club could look to strengthen is in defence.

Despite conceding just 45 goals, fewer than all but three teams in the Championship (each of whom finished in the top four), the Baggies have already been linked with one defender who could come in and make them stronger at the back.

Having been linked with a swoop for Blackburn’s Darragh Lenihan, who is out of contract in the summer, this could give Bruce the chance to create a formidable pairing at the back with the Rovers ace and current Baggies centre-half Kyle Bartley.

With two more appearances in the league this season to his name than the West Brom defender, Lenihan has also made more interceptions and tackles along the way, highlighting his talents at the back.

Furthermore, the Irishman has made considerably more crosses (54) throughout this campaign than the West Brom defender (two), showing that he can be an attacking threat as well as a tough opponent at the back.

The Blackburn tank, dubbed a “man mountain” by his manager Tony Mowbray, has also averaged 4.1 clearances per game, which is just above Bartley’s average of four per match.

Taking all this into account, having a £14k-per-week titan like Lenihan in the team next to Bartley could be exactly what Bruce and West Brom need in order to ensure they have a better chance of securing promotion next season by being harder to beat.

Additionally, with the possibility of a free transfer on the cards, this could be a great bit of business from the Midlands club from a financial point of view, and it may then allow them to spend money on strengthening other areas of the squad.

In other news: John Percy drops behind-the-scenes WBA transfer claim, supporters will be buzzing

Rangers: John Lundstram stole the show

Rangers delayed their rivals’ title party as they held their opponents to a 1-1 draw away from home in the Premiership on Sunday.

The Gers came from behind to secure a draw to prevent the Hoops from celebrating their league triumph on derby day.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s side found themselves 1-0 down at half-time after a strike from Jota put the hosts in front and they were lucky to only be one goal behind as Celtic missed a number of chances to make it 2-0 and potentially 3-0.

They rode their luck and eventually found the equaliser through Fashion Sakala as the Zambia international brilliantly fired the ball past Joe Hart after good build-up play from Scott Wright and Ryan Kent. The striker also came close to a winner as he struck the post late on after a quick break through the middle of the pitch.

Whilst the 2021 signing scored the goal to rescue a point for the Gers, the real Old Firm hero for Rangers was central midfielder John Lundstram.

The former Sheffield United man was absolutely phenomenal in the middle of the park as he bossed the majority of the game for van Bronckhorst. He was excellent on and off the ball as he put in a fine display that will have supporters excited to see him in derby action again next season.

In possession, he was a reliable outlet for the team. As per SofaScore, he completed 89% of his attempted passes and only gave possession away nine times from a whopping 74 touches of the ball. He was also successful with all eight of his long pass attempts and created one chance, as he showed his quality and range of passing with the ball at his feet.

Defensively, he was a monster for Rangers. As per SofaScore, he won 77% (7/9) of his individual duels as he dominated the opposition throughout the match. He also made four tackles, three interceptions and two clearances to continually cut out Celtic attacks in midfield to put the Gers on the front foot.

With these statistics in mind, Lundstram was the real hero for Rangers – not Sakala – as he made an impact at both ends of the pitch and was sublime.

Hopefully, he can carry his form into next Thursday’s Europa League clash with RB Leipzig in what is poised to be an electric night under the lights at Ibrox.

AND in other news, Wilson must reignite Rangers swoop for “impressive” 28 G/A flier, GvB needs him…

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