Express

Jose Mourinho is reportedly planning a raid on his former club Tottenham after approving a move for Fenerbahce to sign Giovani Lo Celso this summer.

The Portuguese boss is keen to bring in reinforcements this summer as he aims to win the league title. Lo Celso, who is out of favour at Spurs, has emerged as a possible target.

Lo Celso was signed by Mauricio Pochettino but played under Mourinho in his time at the club between 2019 and 2021. And now he could reunite with him in Turkey after Mourinho 'approved' the potential deal, according to reports.

Turkish outlet Sporx claim that Fenerbahce are working 'feverishly' to add a new midfielder to Mourinho's squad, with sales of Miguel Crespo, Rade Krunic and Miha Zajc likely to free up some funds.

Lo Celso's representatives offered Fenerbahce the chance to sign their client and the report says Mourinho gave the go-ahead, with talks now expected between the two clubs for the 28-year-old. The Argentina international is also 'open' to working with Mourinho again.

His contract is set to expire in 10 months' time and the clock is ticking for Spurs to retrieve any amount from the £55million fee they paid to sign the attacking midfielder from Real Betis five years ago.

Ange Postecoglou opted to leave the playmaker out of Tottenham's friendly defeat to Bayern Munich on Sunday, which they lost 3-2. He had been playing at the Copa America with Argentina before, but Postecoglou made it clear he wasn't part of his plans.

Lo Celso only made four starts for Spurs in 22 Premier League appearances last season, scoring two goals and registering two assists. He had previously spent 18 months on loan at Villarreal but the La Liga club opted against pursuing a permanent deal.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was reportedly keen on signing Lo Celso earlier this summer in a cut-price deal, but the Spaniard signed Ross Barkley instead.

When asked about Lo Celso's lack of minutes last season, Postecoglou made the brutal admission that suggested he wasn't good enough to play ahead of his regular starters.

"It is not just him. There have been a few in that boat where they just haven't had a real good run in terms of there has been injury disruptions and other times when he has been fit, other players have played in his position, but I still think Gio's been good for us this year," the Australian said.

"Through that middle patch when we had a lot of injuries, he really stood up for us and then got his own injury of course. He made a real impact against Luton at the weekend and it really helped us get over the line.

"Look, he's a fantastic player, but with all these things you've got to keep the perspective that we're at a big club, we're going to have a big squad and if it is not Gio, it will be someone else that will play that role next year. No one will play every game. It doesn't happen. It doesn't happen at all the big clubs, so I am never really worried about the game time players are playing."

Xabi Alonso has reportedly pleaded with Piero Hincapie to stay at Bayer Leverkusen this summer amid interest from Liverpool and Tottenham. The Reds have been linked with the 22-year-old for several years and were said to have seen an approach turned down in January.

Tottenham have also been credited with a desire to land Hincapie with Ange Postecoglou eager to strengthen his defensive ranks. Both clubs are 'very interested' in snapping him up, according to Studio Futbol, with Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich also said to be in the race.

It is said that Alonso has spoken directly with Hincapie to ask him to stay at Leverkusen for at least one more season. The Spaniard reportedly believes it would improve their chances of retaining their Bundesliga title and competing strongly in the Champions League.

Hincapie is usually deployed as a centre-back but is more than capable of filling in on the left side of the pitch when required. He made 43 appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions last season and played a significant role in helping them to become German champions.

The versatile defender remains tied down until the summer of 2027, meaning Leverkusen are under no pressure to sell him before the transfer window slams shut.

Hincapie was previously singled out for high praise by Alonso, who said last March: "I think he’s a very modern defender, he can play in different positions. He’s served us as a full-back in recent games but has also been the left centre-back when we’ve played with a back three.

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"He’s aggressive, is making better decisions when he has the ball, backs himself more to play diagonal passes and get in behind. It motivates me to have a player with his potential and desire because he helps you and you help him. He's a great player."

Liverpool are yet to make any summer signings with the Reds biding their time in the transfer market ahead of the new campaign. Arne Slot has regularly insisted that he is not worried about the club's lack of business, instead preferring to focus on the players already in the building.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have spent over £123million on several new players including the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Dominic Solanke. They confirmed their latest signing on Friday morning, with the north Londoners splashing around £25m to land Wilson Odobert from Burnley.

Tottenham Hotspur’s second season with Ange Postecoglou at the helm will get underway at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City on Monday night.

Having narrowly missed out on the top four last season, Spurs are eyeing up a return to the Champions League, with the Tottenham hierarchy having spent big during the off-season.

Dominic Solanke arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of a club-record £65million deal, while Archie Gray put pen to paper on a £30m move from Leeds United.

And ahead of Spurs’ season opener in the East Midlands, Express Sport have predicted what their starting XI might look like against the Foxes.

Goalkeeper: Vicario

Also gearing up for his second season at the club, Guglielmo Vicario enjoyed a stellar breakout campaign last time around, with some even dubbing him the ‘signing of the season’.

Spurs fans will be hoping for more of the same this time around, with Vicario set to retain his spot as the No.1 goalkeeper.

Defender: Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie

When fit, Tottenham fans could argue the case that their backline is one of the best in the Premier League. The issue is, that all four are very rarely fit at the same time.

That doesn’t appear to be a problem ahead of this weekend’s fixture though, with all four having reported back to training fit and firing.

It’s perhaps harsh on Radu Dragusin, who enjoyed a wonderful Euros campaign with Romania, but the centre-back will have to settle for the bench this time around.

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Midfield: Bentancur, Matar Sarr, Maddison

The recent suspension of Yves Bissouma could’ve hardly come at a worse time for Postecoglou, as he looks to start the season off strong.

Bissouma would’ve almost certainly started the Leicester clash alongside Pape Matar Sarr, with Rodrigo Bentancur looking like the most likely replacement.

It will require a bit of reshuffling in midfield, but James Maddison should still fancy his chances of making an impression, as he gears up for a first return to his old stomping ground ever since leaving Leicester last season.

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Attack: Johnson, Kulusevski, Son

There is no spot for Solanke in this predicted starting XI just yet, with the striker having barely featured for Bournemouth in pre-season.

It’s probable the England international will start on the bench, but the man most likely to lead the line, Dejan Kulusevski, enters the clash on the back of two goals against Bayern Munich last weekend.

Operating either side of the Swede will most likely be Brennan Johnson and club captain Son Heung-min. There’s no room for Richarlison either, with the Brazil international’s future still hanging in the balance.

Spurs XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Matar Sarr, Maddison; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son

It’s that time of year again, Fantasy Premier League is back, with managers scrambling to get their teams sorted out in time ahead of this evening’s deadline.

One of the biggest questions heading into the new FPL season is whether to pick Erling Haaland. Priced at £15million, the Manchester City star is the most expensive FPL player of all time.

Instead, points could be found in the Haaland differentials, one of which is new Tottenham Hotspur star Dominic Solanke.

On the back of 19 goals last season, Solanke earned himself a big-money move to north London, but will the striker be fit enough to start the Premier League season?

Ahead of the opening weekend of Premier League action, Express Sport have compiled an FPL injury update.

Dominic Solanke a doubt for Spurs opener

Joining as part of a £65m deal from Bournemouth, Solanke is being tipped as the perfect Ange Postecoglou striker.

But, having managed less than 90 minutes in pre-season for Bournemouth, Solanke might have to bide his time before he’s named on the Spurs teamsheet.

Over 25 per cent of players have selected the £7.5m man (FPL price that is) ahead of Tottenham’s season opener vs Leicester City, but a spot on the bench - at least to start - feels the most likely outcome for Solanke this week.

City duo unlikely to be involved

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The season hasn’t even started and Pep Guardiola’s team selections are already giving managers headaches.

But in defence of the City boss, there is nothing he could’ve done to stop Oscar Bobb from picking up a reported leg fracture during training this week.

Bobb, who definitely won’t be involved for City’s opening game against Chelsea, could be joined in the treatment room by Jack Grealish, who missed last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester United.

Vardy back, but not available?

Jamie Vardy is back in the big time with Leicester City, having dropped out of the Premier League last season following the Foxes’ relegation.

While he might be a much-loved FPL pick from years gone by, managers will be best off looking elsewhere this season, with Vardy unlikely to play a key role for Steve Cooper’s side.

In fact, Vardy notched up a grand total of zero minutes across Leicester’s three pre-season friendlies, with the veteran a doubt to even make the bench on Monday.

High-scoring defensive duo likely to miss out

Finding a point-scoring defender could be the difference between a good FPL team and a great one.

Fabian Schar was certainly one of those last season, but the centre-back limped off in Newcastle United’s final pre-season fixture last weekend, making him a doubt to start against Southampton.

Similarly, Everton ace Jarrad Branthwaite isn’t expected to be fit for the Toffees opening clash against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester United's pursuit of Ferdi Kadioglu could open up a vacancy for Sergio Reguilon to fill in Turkey. Reguilon spent the first part of last season on loan at Old Trafford and he is once again on the lookout for a new club after landing back at Tottenham.

United unceremoniously cut Reguilon's loan spell short in January, sending him back to the drawing board before he saw out the campaign with Brentford. The Red Devils could yet make it up to the Spaniard by signing Fenerbahce full-back Kadioglu and paving the way for Reguilon to take his place.

Fotomac claim that the Turkish giants, managed by Jose Mourinho, have made the 27-year-old their first-choice replacement for Kadioglu, who appears bound for a summer exit.

Reguilon has not played a competitive game for Spurs since the 2021/22 season and would surely welcome the chance to reunite with Mourinho, who brought him to north London back in 2020.

Current Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has no room for Reguilon in his first-team plans, with Destiny Udogie nailing down the left-back spot and Ben Davies providing support.

Whether United are the team to snap up Kadioglu and make Reguilon's life easier remains to be seen. Brighton are also in the hunt for the Fenerbahce man and their pursuit is currently more advanced than that of the Red Devils.

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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Kadioglu has already accepted the details of a long-term deal with the Seagulls. All that remains for the move to be finalised is for Brighton and Fenerbahce to agree on a transfer fee.

Reports in Turkey indicate that United have offered more money up front for the Turkish international, while Brighton's proposal is worth more when add-ons are taken into account.

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Kadioglu was born in the Netherlands and came through the academy system of Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen. He also represented the Oranje throughout the various international youth levels before switching allegiance to Turkey two years ago.

Able to play in a variety of positions including at full-back, in midfield or on the wing, Kadioglu has made more than 200 first-team appearances since signing for Fenerbahce in 2018.

He is also one of the first names on Turkey's international team sheet, starting every single one of their matches at Euro 2024 as the Crescent-Stars made it to the quarter-finals before being knockout out by the Netherlands.

Yves Bissouma will miss the opening game of the new Premier League campaign after being suspended by Tottenham. The 27-year-old landed himself in hot water over the weekend by posting a video on social media which appeared to show him inhaling nitrous oxide.

Bissouma later issued a public apology for his behaviour in a statement, saying: "This was a severe lack of judgment. I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was quizzed on the situation in Thursday's press conference and confirmed that Bissouma would not be considered for selection against Leicester City on Monday night.

"I've been in the game for a long time and when a situation like this arises I've tried to look at them in a couple of ways," said Postecoglou. "First there's a person and it's Biss and he has made a really poor decision. You want to help him through that.

"There are sanctions involved, some of those including education. You always want to give people to learn from their mistakes. He won’t be available for Monday, we have suspended him from Monday’s game.

"He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group."

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Asked to explain how Bissouma would be able to earn back his trust, Postecoglou replied: "Behaviour, mate, it's that simple. It's about making better decisions. He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that's just part of it. We all make mistakes. It is how we make our way back from those mistakes."

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, was made illegal last year with possession and sale for recreational purposes considered a criminal offence. Those caught with nitrous oxide for unlawful reasons could face a caution or an unlimited fine, while repeat offenders could serve up to two years in prison.

Bissouma made 26 league starts for Tottenham last season and will be hoping to play a key role for the north Londoners throughout the upcoming campaign. He has been at the club since 2022, when he joined from Brighton in a deal worth around £25million plus add-ons.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou and his fellow coaches have reportedly been left impressed by what they have seen from Lucas Bergvall in pre-season. The north Londoners agreed a deal to sign Bergvall in February but the 18-year-old only arrived at the club this summer.

Bergvall is rated as one of Europe's brightest young talents and was linked with several top clubs before agreeing to join Tottenham. He made a name for himself at Swedish outfit Djurgarden and averaged one goal contribution in every three league games last season.

The teenager remained in Sweden for several months after signing with Tottenham before officially joining their squad at the start of July. He went on to register an assist on his debut, setting up Mikey Moore in a thumping 5-1 win over Hearts in a pre-season friendly last month.

Everybody at Tottenham has been 'impressed' with Bergvall so far and there is optimism that he will emerge as a key player in the future, according to The Telegraph. It is said that Postecoglou and his fellow coaches expect Bergvall to achieve great things once his fitness is up to scratch.

It seems likely that Bergvall will feature for Tottenham's youth teams for the foreseeable future as he gets used to the trials and tribulations of English football. However, it would not be a surprise to see him given opportunities at senior level if he continues to impress.

Former Sweden international Martin Aslund has already issued a glowing review of Bergvall, suggesting he can develop into one of the world's best midfielders. However, he suggested the 18-year-old might have made a mistake by choosing to join Tottenham so early in his career.

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"I think he will be a very good national team player," said Aslund in a recent interview with Nyheter 24. "I think he ends up in a top team in the Benelux. Will he replace James Maddison at Tottenham? I hope I’m wrong and that he does, but I don’t think so.

"People take what I say the wrong way. Lucas is an incredible footballer. If you see how Bergvall plays football, he is an opportunist, he often does the difficult things. If you’re going to play in the Premier League and have that role, you have to check which other players have it.

"How many Swedish players have that role? There are extremely few, so then Lucas Bergvall must become one of the best players in Swedish history. Am I sure he will be? No, I don’t think so."

Tottenham were reportedly quoted a higher price for Conor Gallagher than Atletico Madrid have agreed to pay for the Chelsea midfielder. In an ideal transfer window, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou wanted Gallagher to operate in midfield behind new signing Dominic Solanke.

With Archie Gray arriving in a £30million deal from Leeds United and Solanke netting Bournemouth £65m, Tottenham will have to watch their spending over the final two-and-a-half weeks of the summer transfer window.

Gallagher has long been admired by senior figures in north London, and The Telegraph claim that Postecoglou wanted to pair the 24-year-old with Solanke in his new-look starting XI.

However, the same report states that Chelsea, in an attempt to warn off one of their direct Premier League rivals, quoted Spurs a one-off £45m asking price for their midfield academy graduate.

Frustration will therefore have been brewing inside Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange when Atletico agreed a deal worth £33.7m for Gallagher - more than £10m cheaper than the price quoted to the north Londoners.

The door is not completely closed for Gallagher to join Spurs, with his Atletico switch hanging by a thread as the La Liga side scramble to make a sale before being able to afford his transfer fee.

Gallagher was recently holed up in a Madrid hotel for five days while waiting for Chelsea and Atletico to put the finishing touches on a deal which is yet to fully materialise. The England international was then flown back to London on Tuesday, despite having completed his medical with the Rojiblancos.

Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Atletico over a deal for Joao Felix which would grease the wheels of Gallagher's move in the opposite direction. Tottenham, meanwhile, are prioritising outgoings during the final section of the window.

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Youngsters Alfie Devine, Ashley Phillips and Jamie Donley will reportedly be allowed to leave on loan. Club chiefs also intend to consider offers for out-of-favour midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and Israeli forward Manor Solomon.

Emerson Royal is the latest senior star to have fled the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Brazilian joining AC Milan in a £15m deal.

Along with Leicester City, Spurs are the last team to get their new Premier League season underway, with the two sides set to do battle at the King Power Stadium on Monday evening.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is reportedly set to let three more youngsters leave on loan this summer. However, in a major vote of confidence, much-hyped academy graduate Mikey Moore will be kept in and around the first team.

Prospects Alejo Veliz and Dane Scarlett have already joined Espanyol and Oxford United on loan since the summer window opened, with 23-year-old Bryan Gil also heading to La Liga for a temporary spell at Girona.

According to the Evening Standard, Spurs are prepared to let Alfie Devine, Ashley Phillips and Jamie Donley gain experience elsewhere before reporting back at the end of 2024/25.

Devine, 20, has already benefitted from senior experience during stints at Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle. The attacking midfielder has played twice for Tottenham's first team, including a goal-scoring appearance against Marine in the FA Cup when he was only 16.

Phillips is comparatively newer to the Spurs set-up, signing from Blackburn Rovers in a £3million deal last summer. The 19-year-old defender impressed on loan at Plymouth last term and looks set to be given another chance to show Postecoglou what he can do from afar.

Donley has played three games for the senior side, with the 19-year-old forward bagging 24 goals in the Under-18 Premier League last season.

While Devine, Phillips and Donley are three of the highest-rated prospects on Tottenham's books, Postecoglou has promoted 17-year-old Moore to his first-team squad already, sending a clear message about how highly the club rate him.

The 2007-born winger is seen as a potentially generational talent, having scored goals galore at youth level for England and made two appearances for Tottenham's senior team. Earlier this week, Moore signed a three-year professional contract - the longest permitted by FIFA regulations for a player under the age of 18.

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"This is the moment you wait for," he told Spurs' official website. "It's been unreal, really. You never really think that it's going to become your job one day. Playing in the men's game is a lot different, coming on in front of massive crowds, it's a different feeling but I like the pressure of playing in front of all those people.

"I just hope that it keeps going. It's a big step but all the boys have welcomed me in, and it's just about me trying to prove myself. I've done nothing yet and I've still got a long, long way to go to establish myself as a first-team player."

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou could be in for a financial windfall due to a sell-on clause in Marcus Edwards' contract. Back in 2019, Edwards was transferred from London to Portuguese team Vitoria Guimaraes for just over £1million, with a clever 50 per cent sell-on clause included in the agreement.

After impressing at his new club, he was sold on to Sporting CP in 2022 for £6.6m - Spurs pocketed half of this sum thanks to their shrewd clause. As Football London reported earlier this year, the club then reduced their sell-on clause to 35 per cent to enable a transfer for Pedro Porro in January 2023.

This means that Spurs are entitled to 35 per cent of the profit of any future sale of Edwards by Sporting. With the summer transfer window now open, Juventus have started to show interest in Edwards.

The Italian side had initially targeted Manchester United's Jadon Sancho but according to Football Italia, no agreement has been reached despite initial interest on the player's side. However, even if he did push for a move to Italy, he now faces competition from other players being targeted by Juventus.

Furthermore, reports from The Independent suggest that the United winger is now nearing a move to PSG, putting any potential transfer to Juventus in serious doubt.

In light of the situation with Sancho, Serie A heavyweights Juve have intensified their bid to identify alternative targets including 25-year-old Edwards. Fabrizio Romano reports that the English winger is on Juventus' radar and could be bought for around €25m (£21.4m).

This could entitle Spurs to 35 per cent of any profits made from selling Edwards to Sporting - meaning if Juventus meet his club's valuation, Spurs could potentially gain up to £4m from the sale of a player they let go in 2019.

Interest from Italy in Edwards does exist but according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, there have been no official offers yet. If the winger is moved on this summer, the proceeds from his sell-on clause may be funnelled back into strengthening the Spurs squad.

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Spurs boss Postecoglou remains confident that his team will be better equipped for the 2024/25 season. In an interview with Men in Blazers the 58-year-old, who recently added striker Dominic Solanke to the ranks, said: "I think we'll have grown a lot from last year of understanding about ourselves. When we were good, we were exciting. I think we had everyone talking about us.

"When we had to grind we found a way to get there but it was obviously a space in there where we didn't cope too well with disruptions, which I think is only natural because when things are going well it's a lot easier to stay on board something.

"We had some disruptions in terms of injuries and in terms of suspensions, and some lack of discipline there for sure which happens with young players, and we didn't cope well with that but we learnt a lot through that. I think without saying we're going to be a more mature squad, we're a better prepared squad this year than we were last year."