The Mirror

Amanda Staveley said she could “move on to other projects” following her departure from Newcastle United.

Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghoudouss played critical roles in the Saudi Arabia-led £305million takeover of Newcastle in 2021 but have stepped away from the club earlier this month.

The pair’s influence on the club’s turn in fortunes is significant, with Staveley playing a particularly large role in helping the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two decades and reaching the Carabao Cup final. The 51-year-old businesswoman was also paramount in making the women’s set-up a fully professional operation.

Reflecting on her exit, Staveley said she was “devastated” to leave the Premier League side.

“It’s such a wonderful club, so it feels very bittersweet,” Staveley told The Athletic. “It has become part of my DNA, something you love so much and don't want to let go. It's very painful.

“And I would wish to be there every day, but it's also not fair. The club's management team need to have the chance to deliver their business plan. We did a great job and it's been a privilege to be part of it, but they need to be left to do their jobs, too.

“Maybe we were right for Newcastle for those few years. Maybe that's what they needed. But I'd be useless just standing there doing nothing and it wouldn't be fair on Darren [Eales] if we're always there telling them what we think. There's processes and accountability and they'll figure it out.”

Staveley and Ghodoussi left St James’ Park after selling their remaining shares to PIF, increasing their stake in the club from 80% to 85%.

But Staveley and Ghodoussi’s football investment days might not yet be behind them. Recent reports have linked the pair with Tottenham, with Staveley reportedly to have held talks about the possibility of investment after raising £500m through her investment fund PCP Capital Partners.

Asked as to whether there was truth to these reports, Staveley said: “My preference would have been to stay with Newcastle, but life doesn't always work out exactly how you want it to. Nothing is going to replicate that.

“I fell in love with Newcastle, the club and the people and that can't change, but I didn't want to get in Newcastle's way. It's got to be about what's best for Newcastle.

“Mehrdad and I are keen to be hands-on. We're hard-working people, I love to be very busy and to engage and I love football.

“Very sadly, we have to move on to other projects and that might involve us taking a stake in another club or buying another club and that's difficult. But it's possible.”

Tottenham haven't made a signing over the age of 18 this window – but they could finally be lining up a proper replacement for Harry Kane.

Ange Postecoglou's side has been building for the future this summer, spending nearly £50million on three starlets. Archie Gray was the priciest of the bunch, costing Spurs roughly £30m from Leeds.

The north London side missed out on Champions League football last season, ranking seventh for goals scored as they relied heavily on an ageing Son Heung-min in front of the net.

Brentford's Ivan Toney has emerged as a player who could give Postecoglou something different as an out-and-out No. 9, and the outgoing Emerson Royal and rumoured sale of Richarlison could indicate that Spurs are gearing up to make a move for the Englishman.

Selling their Brazilian forward would likely signal Spurs' intent to replace him, and Toney would be most likely.

Toney targeted

Tottenham have been on the lookout for someone to replace Kane since his departure last summer, and England team-mate Toney seems like a smart choice.

The forward's price has been slashed from the nearly £100m figure the Bees demanded just a year ago, due to his suspension for breaches of betting regulations and a lack of suitors willing to pay his price tag.

With just a year left on his deal, Brentford will be motivated not to let their star 28-year-old depart for free so that any approaching clubs will enter negotiations with a slight advantage.

Estimated to now cost around £50m, Toney has been linked with a move to Tottenham. Having already spent a reasonable amount, it seems as though the deal may rest on Richarlison's shoulders, as if his rumoured £60m move to Saudi Arabia is completed, it would fund an approach for Toney.

A Royal coup

Italian giants AC Milan are on the verge of signing Tottenham's Brazilian Royal in a reported £20m deal, as Postecoglou looks to shrink down his squad ahead of the upcoming season.

The signing of Pedro Porro signalled the end of Emerson as Tottenham's preferred right-back, and Djed Spence has returned from his loan with Genoa to stake a claim for the back-up role, having impressed in pre-season.

The Brazilian full-back was linked with a move away from Spurs in January, but bids for him were rejected as a replacement hadn't been secured.

Now it seems the player will finally depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three years after he first arrived, and he'll be leaving for just £6m less than Spurs paid Barcelona for his services.

Chiesa a no-go

Amid reports that Juventus' Italian star Federico Chiesa may look to leave the club, Tottenham, who have done plenty of business with the Old Lady in the past, have been linked.

However, it is believed the winger is not one of Tottenham and Daniel Levy's targets this summer, and they won't be lining up a move for the 26-year-old.

Chiesa's exit is down to him not agreeing on a new deal with his current club and his contract expiring in 2025. Juventus are understandably eager not to let their star go for free, much like Brentford amid Toney's transfer saga, and will have to look elsewhere for potential suitors.

The Italian may still end up on English soil, however, as Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Liverpool have all been rumoured to be interested.

Summer clear-out

Aside from Emerson, Tanguy Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have both left Spurs as the club looks to root out the deadwood from their Europa League-competing squad.

Eight first-team players have left Spurs this window, including Eric Dier, who joined Bayern on a free transfer, Ryan Sessegnon, who Fulham recently recruited, and Joe Rodon, who went to Leeds as part of the Gray deal.

Tottenham have signed two of their five transfer targets this summer, but Ange Postecoglou’s side are yet to purchase any senior talent.

Despite a promising start to last season, the Australian manager's time in north London has garnered mixed opinions. Whilst a Europa League campaign can be looked forward to this time around after a fifth-place finish, a trophy is what fans crave.

Youth has been the focus of Spurs' transfer window so far, with nearly £45million spent on two young midfielders, but it remains to be seen whether direct improvements to the squad's starting XI will arrive.

Brentford's Ivan Toney is reportedly on Tottenham's list, and the club could also bring in another midfielder who may bring something a little different to Postecoglou’s squad.

Lucas Bergvall

Young Swedish prodigy Lucas Bergvall became Tottenham's first signing this summer, though the deal was agreed upon on February 1st of this year.

Costing the club £8.5m and joining from Djurgarden in his native Sweden, the 18-year-old has already shown glimpses that he could become something special in a Tottenham shirt.

Coming on at half-time in the club's 5-1 friendly success against Hearts, the silky midfielder assisted another one of the club's starlets, Mikey Moore, and impressed onlooking fans.

He went down with a knock during the next friendly against QPR but was granted a start in that match, proving that he may have a part to play in the upcoming season.

Archie Gray

Another young midfielder who seemingly has the world at their feet, Gray garnered a slightly larger fee than Bergvall, having impressed in the Championship for Leeds.

A near-£40m signing with add-ons and the swapping of defender Joe Rodon included, Gray looked set to sign for another London club, Brentford before Spurs stole the player from under their noses.

Signing a four-year deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the composed midfielder played 52 times in all competitions for Leeds last campaign, playing all 90 minutes as his side lost in the play-off final to Southampton.

"When Spurs came and I had the opportunity to play in the Champions League eventually and Europa League this year I couldn't really say no," said Gray. "I know so many players that are here, not so much the first team but the young lads, and another thing is that it's a massive project under Ange, and it's something that I want to be a part of."

Yang Min-hyuk

Continuing the current trend of making signings for the future, Korean wonderkid Yang Min-hyuk is reportedly set to join Postecoglou's men. A rumoured £3.5m will be the fee paid to his current club, Gangwon FC, as the 18-year-old seals a move and links up with compatriot and fan favourite Son Heung-min.

Having played 24 senior matches for Gangwon, he has netted seven times since March, setting the K-League ablaze. An expert on the league, Sungmo Lee, told football.london: "Yang Min-hyuk is the best young player in the K League right now, and most significantly, he's still a high school student.

"His talent was so exceptional that his club, Gangwon, proposed a professional contract to a high school student, which was the first such case in the K League's history.

"He showed great performances in K League this season, winning the 'Young Player of the Month' award three times in a row from April to June. He is a great dribbler but also possesses great finishing skills, making Korean fans hope he can become the next Son Heung-min."

Conor Gallagher

If Tottenham decide to turn their transfer attention to senior signings, then Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher could be someone they look to recruit.

Since the window opened, Gallagher has been linked with a move away from the club he joined at the age of eight. Aston Villa were looking to rival Spurs for Gallagher's signature, but their £50m signing of Amadou Onana has all but eliminated that possibility.

It now seems as though Postecoglou would face no challengers should he wish to approach the £50m-rated Gallagher, whose contract at Stamford Bridge runs out next season.

While England team-mate Kieran Trippier has encouraged the midfielder to move to Atletico Madrid in La Liga, as he did in January 2022, Gallagher has had positive words to say about new boss Maresca, and a contract renewal is not entirely off the cards.

"I’ve heard really good things, and I’ve seen really good things," said Gallagher on Maresca. "Myself and everyone at Chelsea are really happy and excited to work with him.”

Ivan Toney

Brentford's Ivan Toney has had a summer to remember. Cooly converting a penalty against Switzerland and making headlines with his composure at Euro 2024, the marksman has now entered the final year of his contract and the Bees will be eager to at least garner some fee for their star man.

The west Londoners initially demanded an £80m fee, according to reports, but with a lack of potential suitors, they may lower their asking price into a range that Spurs can afford.

Other clubs that have shown an interest in this striker are seemingly dropping like flies. Arsenal have chosen to prioritise the likes of Riccardo Calafiori over a new frontman, Manchester United have secured their new forward in the form of the £36m Joshua Zirkzee, and Chelsea are reportedly keen on a younger striker such as Atletico's Samu Omorodion.

If Spurs are looking to fill Harry Kane's shoes, then Toney is one of the best signings they could make. However, any potential deal may rely on Richarlison leaving the club.

Approached by various Saudi Pro League clubs, the Brazilian has been the subject of £60m interest - a fee that could be directly spent on Toney. The striker would add goals to Postecoglou’s team, and a deal is not yet off the table.

In Paris, there are some potential diamonds Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could snap up this summer.

Many may not have noticed because it kicked off before the Olympic Games opening ceremony, but the football has already started in the French capital. Unlike the European Championship or Copa America, the football event is capped at Under-23 players, with only three 'over-age' exemptions being allowed for each nation.

While many big names may not be involved, it provides a platform for talented youngsters or players who are not able to get into their national team. And there are plenty competing in the Games who could add immediate value to Ten Hag's squad.

Mirror Football has a look at five Olympic stars the Red Devils could potentially target in the summer.

Desire Doue

If United are interested in the Rennes forward, they may have to fight off competition from Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Doue earned his place in the French squad by contributing four goals and six assists in 43 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants.

Bayern Munich are understood to have already seen a £29m offer be turned down. Ten Hag's options on the wing are limited, particularly with Jadon Sancho's future still uncertain and Antony continuing to struggle.

Tottenham reportedly hold a huge interest in the promising 19-year-old, who has two international caps for Les Bleus U23s side. If United do become interested, they may need to act quickly.

Samuel Omorodion

He is young, 6ft 4in and looks hungry to cause havoc - Samuel Omorodion could lead Ten Hag's line or be the ultimate Plan B. Ten Hag leant on Wout Weghorst over the course of his first season and the gangly Dutchman helped bring out the best in United's other forward options.

Omorodion could play a similar role to Weghorst while also offering so much more. While on loan at Alaves from Atletico Madrid last season, the 20-year-old scored eight goals and contributed one assist in La Liga – an impressive return for a young forward.

He has a big future ahead. And the Olympics could be his opportunity to make his name on a big stage.

Alex Baena

He is considered to be one of Villarreal's most promising academy prospects in years, Alex Baena is an exciting player to look out for. The Spaniard is a talented playmaker who contributed 14 assists for the La Liga giants last season - only Alejandro Grimaldo and Nico Williams contributed more in the top five leagues in Europe.

If United are to lose Bruno Fernandes, as some reports have claimed is possible, Baena could be the perfect replacement for the Portuguese international. However, if they did hang on to their captain, Baena could potentially play in midfield with Fernandes.

He can dictate play from deep positions or play across the forward line where he can also make late runs into the penalty area. But he will not come cheap as Villarreal reportedly value him at around £50m.

Fermin Lopez

United reportedly lodged a bid of around £25m for Fermin Lopez, who scored eight goals in 31 appearances for Barcelona last season. Lopez was also part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024, but he only made one appearance from the bench in Luis de la Fuente's side 1-0 victory over Albania.

However, the Olympics could be the perfect springboard for his career. Lopez is a versatile attacker who can play on the left, behind the striker or even within the midfield three. The 21-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2016, where he moved from the Real Betis youth development system into Barcelona's famed La Masia.

But his future is uncertain amid Barcelona's pursuit of Nico Williams and their other links to Dani Olmo. With the club still struggling with their finances, they may be convinced to part with the young Spaniard as a means for raising funds. If Ten Hag rates Lopez, Barcelona's situation could play into United's hands.

Achraf Hakimi

Of course, Achraf Hakimi cannot be considered as a young prospect, but he is exactly what United need. As the captain of Morocco's Olympic squad, Hakimi is one of the highest profile players at the Games.

United struggled in the full-back areas last season as injuries and inconsistent performances from Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka meant they were missing sharpness at both ends of the pitch. With Wan-Bissaka's future currently uncertain as a result of interest from the likes of West Ham United and Inter Milan, Hakimi would be a perfect replacement.

He brings experience, leadership qualities and pace at both ends of the pitch. Moreover, now could be the time for United to launch a bid, as he only has two years left on his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. As they have already watched Mbappe depart the club on a free transfer, the Parisians would not want the same to happen again. United are, however, interesred in other right-back options such as Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui and Inter's Denzel Dumfries.

Tottenham Hotspur legends Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles are teammates again as owners of a winning racehorses.

The duo, linchpins of the Spurs midfield during the 1980s, have been joined by another former player Alan Brazil to head a racehorse syndicate.

They became winning owners together for the first time when the two-year-old filly Miss Fascinator captured the first race at Ascot on Friday.

On her third start for trainer Roger Varian, the 77,000gns juvenile pulled clear of newcomer Musical Angel to score under Silvestre De Sousa by two and three quarter lengths.

Back in fourth was Pearl Of Windsor, who is owned by Ify Madueke, whose son is the Chelsea star Noni Madueke.

Hoddle, Ardiles and Brazil were all absent for the victory but were informed of the success by racing manager Gary Coffey.

“This is a fun racing syndicate made up of mainly Spurs supporters,” said Coffey. “Our boss Graham Smith-Bernal, who owns Newsells Park Stud, is a Spurs enthusiast.

“So Glenn, Ossie and Alan are unfortunately not here but they are on the phone and are thrilled we’ve scored our first goal, if you like. It’s onwards and upwards from here.

“She is a lovely filly which we bought at the Breeze-ups with Jamie Piggott, She got stuck in the mud the last day at Newmarket but today the quicker ground suited her perfectly.”

Argentina World Cup winner Ardiles has visited the Tattersalls sales with Smith-Bernal while TalkSport presenter Brazil has owned a number of horses since hanging up his boots.

“Ossie has freely admitted this is a new world for him and he is enjoying every minute of the ride,” said Coffey. “It’s only since Graham set up the syndicate that he’s got involved.

“Alan has always followed racing and Glenn is very involved as well. He was in touch this morning about today’s race.”

Tottenham Hotspur legends Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles are teammates again as owners of a winning racehorses.

The duo, linchpins of the Spurs midfield during the 1980s, have been joined by another former player Alan Brazil to head a racehorse syndicate.

They became winning owners together for the first time when the two-year-old filly Miss Fascinator captured the first race at Ascot on Friday.

On her third start for trainer Roger Varian, the 77,000gns juvenile pulled clear of newcomer Musical Angel to score under Silvestre De Sousa by two and three quarter lengths.

Back in fourth was Pearl Of Windsor, who is owned by Ify Madueke, whose son is the Chelsea star Noni Madueke.

Hoddle, Ardiles and Brazil were all absent for the victory but were informed of the success by racing manager Gary Coffey.

“This is a fun racing syndicate made up of mainly Spurs supporters,” said Coffey. “Our boss Graham Smith-Bernal, who owns Newsells Park Stud, is a Spurs enthusiast.

“So Glenn, Ossie and Alan are unfortunately not here but they are on the phone and are thrilled we’ve scored our first goal, if you like. It’s onwards and upwards from here.

“She is a lovely filly which we bought at the Breeze-ups with Jamie Piggott, She got stuck in the mud the last day at Newmarket but today the quicker ground suited her perfectly.”

Argentina World Cup winner Ardiles has visited the Tattersalls sales with Smith-Bernal while TalkSport presenter Brazil has owned a number of horses since hanging up his boots.

“Ossie has freely admitted this is a new world for him and he is enjoying every minute of the ride,” said Coffey. “It’s only since Graham set up the syndicate that he’s got involved.

“Alan has always followed racing and Glenn is very involved as well. He was in touch this morning about today’s race.”

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka has warned Tottenham defenders about the prowess of Spurs transfer target Eberechi Eze.

Eze, who only made his international debut a year ago, impressed for England at Euro 2024 despite largely being used as an impact sub, having been given the nod by Gareth Southgate to travel to Germany following a superb season that saw him score 11 goals and notch four assists for Crystal Palace.

The creative forward's season has made him a hot commodity, and a range of top Premier League clubs, namely Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham, have been interested in his £68million-rated signature.

The latter have reportedly taken a slight lead in the race, but their players have been warned by their rival Saka about what can be expected from the trickster in training.

If Eze is to make the move, Ange Postecoglou's defenders will know exactly what they'll be in for, thanks to their rival Saka. When quizzed on the England squad's training sessions and which players caught his eye, Saka stated: "In training, I would say probably Ebs [Ebere Eze]. He has been class in training. He has impressed me the most, I would say."

Saka isn't the first to state how imposing Eze is in training, as his former teammate at QPR, defender Joel Lynch, told BBC Sport: "I just wouldn't go near him [Eze]. He'd just do some madness and try and nutmeg me.

"Before the start of games, where everyone is giving each other high fives, I'd go up to him and say, 'Mate, score a couple now so we can all go home. Just win us the game, please'.

"He was that good. I actually thought at the time he could literally just win us the game. The only time I watch the Premier League now is to watch him play."

TalkSPORT claim that Spurs are frontrunners for Eze with negotiations at a 'more advanced' stage than City's despite Pep Guardiola holding a concrete interest in the player, with Kevin de Bruyne primed for a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad.

If Spurs do sign Eze for a reported £68million, the club’s backline will have been warned about what to expect come that first training session.

Lynch also cited a loan move to League Two side Wycombe Wanderers as a catalyst for the young Eze's development, stating: "He was a brilliant player before he went but when he came back he was just a different animal. It was just mad. I don't know what happened to him but when he came back he was unbelievable, just a completely different player.

"Every bit of his game was better. He literally came back our best player. He was miles above the rest really. The way he carries himself is perfect. If any young lad coming through the game wants to look at a player it would be him, he's the prime example of how to be a professional. He's a class act."

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka has warned Tottenham defenders about the prowess of Spurs transfer target Eberechi Eze.

Eze, who only made his international debut a year ago, impressed for England at Euro 2024 despite largely being used as an impact sub, having been given the nod by Gareth Southgate to travel to Germany following a superb season that saw him score 11 goals and notch four assists for Crystal Palace.

The creative forward's season has made him a hot commodity, and a range of top Premier League clubs, namely Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham, have been interested in his £68million-rated signature.

The latter have reportedly taken a slight lead in the race, but their players have been warned by their rival Saka about what can be expected from the trickster in training.

If Eze is to make the move, Ange Postecoglou's defenders will know exactly what they'll be in for, thanks to their rival Saka. When quizzed on the England squad's training sessions and which players caught his eye, Saka stated: "In training, I would say probably Ebs [Ebere Eze]. He has been class in training. He has impressed me the most, I would say."

Saka isn't the first to state how imposing Eze is in training, as his former teammate at QPR, defender Joel Lynch, told BBC Sport: "I just wouldn't go near him [Eze]. He'd just do some madness and try and nutmeg me.

"Before the start of games, where everyone is giving each other high fives, I'd go up to him and say, 'Mate, score a couple now so we can all go home. Just win us the game, please'.

"He was that good. I actually thought at the time he could literally just win us the game. The only time I watch the Premier League now is to watch him play."

TalkSPORT claim that Spurs are frontrunners for Eze with negotiations at a 'more advanced' stage than City's despite Pep Guardiola holding a concrete interest in the player, with Kevin de Bruyne primed for a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad.

If Spurs do sign Eze for a reported £68million, the club’s backline will have been warned about what to expect come that first training session.

Lynch also cited a loan move to League Two side Wycombe Wanderers as a catalyst for the young Eze's development, stating: "He was a brilliant player before he went but when he came back he was just a different animal. It was just mad. I don't know what happened to him but when he came back he was unbelievable, just a completely different player.

"Every bit of his game was better. He literally came back our best player. He was miles above the rest really. The way he carries himself is perfect. If any young lad coming through the game wants to look at a player it would be him, he's the prime example of how to be a professional. He's a class act."

Harry Kane will miss an emotional reunion with former club Tottenham following his Euro 2024 heartbreak.

The striker spent the entire summer with England as they reached the final earlier this month. The Three Lions eventually lost out to Spain in Berlin.

Kane scored three goals throughout the tournament but his performances were questioned by supporters and pundits. His inconsistent displays came after missing the final few weeks of last season for Bayern Munich with a back injury.

And his summer exploits have now seen Kane granted an extended holiday. That means he will not return in time to play in Bayern’s pre-season friendly with Spurs in South Korea on August 3.

Bayern boss Vincent Kompany confirmed: "Harry Kane, Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, and Kingsley Coman won't be there, but hopefully for the first cup game.”

He added: "I've already spoken to the players, but I also want to leave them in peace while they're on holiday."

Fortunately, Kane has a second chance to do battle with his former side this summer. Bayern take on Spurs just a week later in what will likely be an even more emotional affair.

The German side travel to North London on August 10 for another pre-season clash in the Visit Malta Cup. Kane will certainly be aiming to be fit enough to play having fielded questions about his fitness throughout this summer’s tournament.

What went wrong for Harrry Kane this summer? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Asked if he was carrying an injury after the final, he replied: “No, it’s not time to talk about personal things.The tournament plays out in different situations. You deal with a lot as a player throughout these tournaments.

“Everyone is dealing with issues and you’re at your maximum physical capabilities. It was just the way the game panned out today and the way the tournament’s gone.

“Of course, from a personal point of view, I would have loved to have played better tonight and it would’ve been a different outcome, but unfortunately it wasn’t.”

Kane, 30, is a product of the Tottenham academy. He scored 280 goals during his time with the club, becoming their record goalscorer in the process.

The striker followed that up with 44 goals in 45 outings across his debut season with Bayern. He is not going to be the only one reunited with Spurs this summer.

Eric Dier will also return to his former club. He spent ten years with the club before joining the German giants on loan - a deal that has since been made permanent.

Aston Villa could get their hands on a Lionel Messi-approved asset as Tottenham's Giovani Lo Celso looks set to join their cause.

Unai Emery's side have already been incredibly busy this summer, and a £33.5million swap involving Lo Celso could add another new name to the squad. That's after Argentinian broadcaster Directv Sports reported Spurs will send the midfielder plus £20m in cash to Villa Park in order to sign Jacob Ramsey.

It appears a savvy move on Villa's part considering the club is in a race to balance its books ahead of its debut campaign in the Champions League. The Birmingham outfit is in a race to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) and has already sold around £75m worth of players this summer, including Douglas Luiz's £43m move to Juventus.

The move for Lo Celso also looks a handy one, however, in that Villa will be signing a talent who comes highly rated by Messi himself. The playmaker was recently part of the Argentina squad alongside Messi that lifted the Copa America for a second time, and the nine-time Ballon d'Or-winner has even dubbed Lo Celso the team's best midfielder.

That's according to a 2023 report from AS, which suggested Messi had even recommended Lo Celso to former employers Barcelona as recently as last year. The 28-year-old spent 18 months on loan at Villarreal across 2022 and 2023 but was given a fresh lifeline at Tottenham by manager Ange Postecoglou and has since reintegrated into the team.

Lo Celso would have been part of the Argentina squad that lifted the 2022 World Cup were it not for a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined. However, the 57-cap international has since proved his worth once again after assisting Lautaro Martinez to beat Colombia 1-0 in extra time and win another Copa America.

It would appear Villa have been paying close attention to that development and see worth in Lo Celso, who is valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt. And the club are seemingly keen on the idea of a swap deal that nets them a considerable amount of cash at a time when finances are of utmost importance.

There was a time when Lo Celso was being tipped as Messi's heir in his own right and a potential successor to the superstar in Catalonia. However, injuries and inconsistency with certain managers at Spurs has seen his career stall at times in recent years.

He'll hope to correct that under Emery, who took him to the Champions League semi-finals when he first joined Villarreal on loan in 2022. The manager and Messi appear to have an appreciation for Lo Celso's talents in common, which could see Villa snag yet another smart signing this summer.