Football League World

Hull City have a fight on their hands to keep hold of Jaden Philogene this summer, with Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur the latest club to join the race for his signature.

Despite only moving to the MKM Stadium on last summer’s transfer deadline day in a £5m switch from Aston Villa, the Tigers are primed to lose their star winger in the coming months after a stunning individual campaign.

Philogene was among the most exciting and impressive players in the Championship last term, scoring twelve goals and laying on a further six assists as Hull missed out on a play-off spot on the final day.

Hull’s failure to reach the Premier League under Liam Rosenior, which was fueled by significant investment into the playing squad under then-boss Liam Rosenior, could prove costly as Philogene has rightly earned significant domestic and continental interest.

Spurs’ entrance into the Philogene transfer race will only generate further doubt over the 22-year-old’s immediate future in Yorkshire.

Tottenham Hotspur eyeing transfer for Hull City’s Jaden Philogene

This revelation comes from Pete O’Rourke’s report for Football Insider, which claims that Ange Postecogolou’s side have a concrete interest in Philogene.

The Lilywhites do, however, reportedly face competition from West Ham United and top-flight newcomers Ipswich Town, while Spanish giants Barcelona have also expressed their own interest in what would surely represent an intriguing potential move for Philogene.

The report adds that, rather unsurprisingly, Philogene is eager to test himself at a higher level after previously turning out in the Championship for the likes of Stoke and Cardiff City, and Spurs’ fifth-placed finish in the 2023/24 campaign means that they can offer Europa League football.

Interestingly, London-born Philogene’s younger brother Blake just happens to be on the books of Spurs’ academy too, factors which could also potentially turn his head.

Hull City need to plan for life without Jaden Philogene amid Spurs, Barcelona transfer interest

Philogene has earned the right to try his hand in the Premier League, and Hull may find it difficult to stand in his way.

They may also find it difficult to rebuff the figures that are likely to be proposed by Philogene’s suitors, providing a healthy opportunity to reinvest in the squad and construct a more well-rounded side.

That’s not to say they’re better off without Philogene - if the winger was to perform a U-turn and decide to stay put, then it would likely be the highlight of the summer for Tigers fans - but they simply must start planning for life without him, as the reality suggests he won’t be a second-tier player for too much longer.

His numbers, particularly for dribbling and shot-creation, are truly outstanding, indicative of a player destined for a glittering career in football’s upper echelons.

Glimpses of that were seen during a highly-successful loan spell with Cardiff the season prior, helping to keep the Bluebirds in the division by the skin of their teeth.

Indeed, there may be an argument to be had that he’s simply too good for the Championship already and although acclimating to top-flight football is a different entity, the evidence suggests that he’s capable of making the transition.

Therefore, Hull will benefit from a succession plan, getting to work on direct replacements and formulating a strategy on how the imminent outlay they receive for his services will be sustainably reinvested into the squad.

Crystal Palace prospect Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who lit up League One with Charlton Athletic in 2022/23, is said to have been on the radar for some time and would represent an ideal stylistic replacement for Philogene, with the ex-Chelsea youth team player encapsulating the same ingenious flair and trickery as Hull’s in-demand star.

It’s believed that Rak-Sakyi has also earned interest from Hull’s Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and newly-relegated Luton Town.

Although you feel that Palace would likely want a loan move for a player of his rich potential, Hull could even attempt to strike a permanent deal given the transfer kitty that they should soon at their disposal.

Highlights

Oxford United are interested in Tottenham's Jamie Donley.

The U's have already made several signings, as they aim for long-term Championship success.

Donley's versatility and potential could benefit Oxford's attacking options.

Oxford United are among the clubs to have taken an interest in Tottenham Hotspur attacker Jamie Donley, according to Give Me Sport.

The U's have already made a decent number of signings during the early stages of the summer, as they look to remain afloat in the Championship for more than one season.

Addressing several areas, with last season's loanee Jamie Cumming the latest player to secure a move to the Kassam Stadium, they will be hoping to make some more signings before the season starts to be as strong as possible for their clash against Norwich City on the opening day.

There's certainly work to be done in the final third, with play-off final hero Josh Murphy leaving the club on the expiration of his contract and the likes of Billy Bodin and Marcus Browne also departing.

The likes of Mark Harris and Owen Dale may be at their disposal, but the former endured a fairly mixed season at the Kassam Stadium and he will need some support to fire Oxford to safety next term.

Thankfully for the U's, set-piece specialist Cameron Brannagan and the likes of Tyler Goodrham and Ruben Rodrigues can also contribute, although it will be a big ask for the latter to make the step up to the second tier, having played non-league football not too long ago.

Des Buckingham's side have already been linked with Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi, but more than one signing will need to be made in the attacking department if they want to retain their second-tier status for the long term.

Thankfully for them, they can still spend fees despite being sanctioned and there's plenty of time left before the season starts, which should allow them to bring in plenty of attackers before the opening day.

Oxford United eyeing Jamie Donley move

Donley has been a prolific attacker in Tottenham's academy in recent years, and has also appeared for the first team.

However, his contributions for the U21 team have been most notable, registering eight goals and 17 assists in 23 appearances last term.

Able to operate as a striker and an attacking midfielder, the versatile 19-year-old has become an attractive player for Oxford, according to Give Me Sport.

Spurs are potentially prepared to let him go out on loan this summer, but they are keen for the player to join a side that is likely to give him plenty of game time.

Highly rated by officials at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham will be keen to closely monitor his development if he does make a temporary exit from the North London club.

Oxford United could benefit from having Jamie Donley at their disposal

It will be interesting to see how Buckingham sets up his team next term.

The 4-1-4-1 system paid dividends during the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign, but it's unclear whether the U's are prepared to be that brave next term.

Oxford will probably need to play Donley regularly if they are to win the race for his signature, so they may need to switch system and play a 4-2-3-1 to give him the protection of two defensive midfielders.

Brannagan and Will Vaulks could start behind Donley, which could give the latter more of a license to push up and support Harris, who will need adequate service to be effective next term.

Donley can also play as a striker, but it would be hard to see Buckingham opting to start two strikers unless the U's switch to a back five, something they may be tempted to do following Murphy's departure.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Chris Waddle has tipped Archie Gray to follow in the footsteps of some of European football's biggest names after a stellar first season of regular football.

Leeds United may have missed out on their goal of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but last season's squad at Elland Road was full of shining lights that grabbed the headlines and the attention of clubs higher up the footballing pyramid than the Championship.

Gray is no exception to that rule either, with interest in the versatile youngster gathering pace for a lengthy period of time now, and it only looks set to intensify over the course of the summer window.

Chris Waddle issues Archie Gray verdict as Tottenham circle on Leeds United sensation

Spurs are one of several English top flight and European outfits monitoring the 18-year-old's situation in West Yorkshire, and have made their intentions clear on a deal for some period of time, with interest going back to early March.

The North London side have a knack for developing some of the best homegrown talent before making a mass amount of profit later on in their career, and Waddle believes Gray could follow that mould if he was to be signed by Ange Postecoglou.

"I’ve seen enough of Archie Gray to say that he is a very good player. He’s a versatile player that can perform in a number of roles: midfield, full-back. That tells you two things about him: his manager trusts him to perform in numerous roles and he has the intelligence to do it. That’s rare for a player of eighteen-years-old. He was ever-present in that Leeds United team last season, so again, that’s a good sign," Waddle said.

"His best role is in central midfield, and I think that's where he prefers to play," he added.

"He's an ideal Tottenham project. Tottenham have a history of buying young players and giving them an opportunity. We’ve seen Tottenham make some very canny moves in the transfer market over the years with younger players. They can obviously see the potential that’s there, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Gray followed the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric by joining Real Madrid for a massive fee if he lives up to his potential," the 63-year-old claimed.

"Tottenham can obviously see his potential. He was probably the pick of The Championship players in terms of his age and ability. I think he could easily step up to the level of the Premier League," Waddle continued.

"Whether he gets straight into the Tottenham team is a different question. I’m sure they will have a precise development plan for him which could see him join another Premier League club on loan."

He concluded: "He'd be a good signing for Tottenham Hotspur because he's only going to get better."

Modric, Bale comparison showcases Archie Gray's potential

Everybody connected with Leeds and the Championship in general is aware of Gray's potential to make it to the very top level.

However, to be compared with the likes of Modric and Bale - despite holding different attributes to the former Spurs and Real Madrid duo - so early on in his career is extremely high praise, and will no doubt fuel even more motivation to succeed with his boyhood club next season as Daniel Farke looks to pick up his squad after the disappointment of losing to Southampton at Wembley last month.

Previous reports have stated that Postecoglou is looking for a long-term replacement for current full-back Pedro Porro, with Gray namedropped among those, given his string of performances at right-back, which led to the departure of natural full-back and club stalwart Luke Ayling.

However, many are in agreement that Gray's best and most natural position is in the centre of midfield, despite only making 18 appearances across all competitions in the middle of the park last season, as per Transfermarkt.

However, as much as interest from the likes of Spurs, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund as well as being watched by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich scouts will give Gray an even greater lease of confidence, a recent update from TEAMtalk will no doubt please Whites supporters more than anyone.

The publication claim that those close to him, including his agent, see no reason to rush his exit from West Yorkshire, given Gray's blossoming in the first team over the last ten months.

His family are under no illusions that Dortmund have a great reputation for developing the likes of Jude Bellingham, but have been impressed with Leeds' own management of their academy graduate.

Pundit Alan Hutton believes Southampton could beat Leeds United to the signing of Tottenham Hotspur defender Joe Rodon this summer.

Rodon spent last season on loan at Elland Road, and he played a crucial role in his side's promotion push, but his time at the club ended in disappointment as the Whites were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley last month.

Leeds are keen to bring Rodon back to the club this summer, but they reportedly face competition for his signature from Southampton, and another of the promoted sides, Ipswich Town, are said to be interested in the Welsh international.

Rodon is believed to be surplus to requirements at Spurs, so Ange Postecoglou could allow him to depart permanently this summer, and the Whites received a boost earlier this month when the Yorkshire Evening Post claimed that he is reluctant to start again with a new club next season.

However, with Premier League interest in Rodon emerging, that could change the situation, and Leeds reportedly have to sell players this summer after their failure to gain promotion, so it remains to be seen whether they can afford to re-sign the defender.

Hutton: Southampton could be the perfect move for Joe Rodon

Hutton said that Rodon would likely have stayed at Leeds if they achieved promotion, but he believes that a move to a Premier League club like Southampton would be the next logical step for the 26-year-old.

"I think it's about time that he went somewhere, get settled, find a home and play regular football week in, week out, it's only going to help him internationally," Hutton said.

"I thought he was excellent last season for Leeds, it was really unfortunate they didn't go up because I think he would have stayed if that had been the case.

"Looking at his options, Southampton have gone up and that's the next evolution for him moving forward, go and test yourself week in, week out at a higher level.

"That could be the case for him moving forward, but I like him as a player, I just feel that like Oliver Skipp, he's not going to get that game time at Spurs next season, so it's something that he will probably look at."

Leeds United must be cautious over potential Joe Rodon deal

It is understandable that Leeds are keen to bring Rodon back to the club this summer, and it would be a big coup for the club if they can secure his return.

Rodon was outstanding during his loan spell at Elland Road this season, and his partnership with Ethan Ampadu in the second half of the campaign was crucial to the Whites' promotion push.

However, Rodon has proven himself in the Championship, and it is difficult to disagree with Hutton that the next step for the defender is to play regular Premier League football, which could make a move to Southampton or Ipswich more appealing.

There are also big question marks over whether Leeds can afford a deal for Rodon, and as the Whites may need to replace the likes of Archie Gray, Ilia Gruev, Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto this summer, they must be careful not to spend too much of their budget on the defender.

Highlights

Joe Rodon, currently on loan at Leeds, is likely to join a Premier League club next season after successful Championship campaign.

Leeds has financial constraints preventing them from meeting Rodon's valuation, making it unlikely he will stay with the team.

Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town are interested in the 26-year-old defender, who is expected to move to the Premier League.

Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur's Joe Rodon as a deal with Leeds United has reportedly collapsed.

That's according to Football Insider, with Pete O'Rourke reporting that Rodon is likely to join a Premier League club after spending last season on loan with Leeds at Elland Road.

The 26-year-old has just enjoyed one of the most successful loans in the entirety of the Championship with the Whites - establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in the division, as well as a firm fan favourite in West Yorkshire, despite defeat in the play-off final.

Rodon was almost ever-present and made 50 appearances for the club in all competitions last season, with the team competing for promotion back to the top-flight at the first time of asking throughout his tenure. Rodon was part of a formidable centre-back partnership with Pascal Struijk at the heart of Leeds' defence during the first half of the campaign, and a similarly excellent one with Ethan Ampadu in 2024.

The latest on Joe Rodon's future

The Welshman is in the last year of his deal with Spurs in June, meaning he could perhaps be available for a cut-price fee in the summer. Leeds did not include an option to buy in the deal, and it's likely that he will have approaches from Premier League outfits. That's despite Graeme Bailey revealing to Leeds United News that Leeds aren't willing to admit defeat in this race just yet.

Leeds lost to Southampton in the play-off final and Russell Martin's team are one side to have been linked recently with a move for the Wales international. On top of Southampton, it has been reported that the Spurs defender is also attracting interest from the likes of Leicester City and Ipswich Town.

Recent reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post outlined positive news that the defender is reluctant to start afresh with a new club next season amid speculation over his future. It was thought that Rodon could probably be sold below market value, but that is still likely to be around the £10 million mark.

Now, the latest comes from Football Insider, who report that it is likely that Rodon will be heading to the Premier League, and O'Rourke reports that Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton all hold an interest in the 26-year-old after beating Leeds to promotion last season.

He also reports that "Daniel Farke’s side have maintained contact with Tottenham over a permanent deal for Rodon and made it clear to the player they want to sign him full-time."

However, the report states that Leeds are now unlikely to be able to meet Rodon’s valuation this summer due to the club’s financial situation.

Leeds set for Joe Rodon disappointment

Most Leeds fans will have been preparing themselves for transfer disappointment regarding Rodon this summer, so the news of a deal potentially collapsing is no great surprise.

He was arguably the best central defender in the league last season, and has totally warranted another shot at Premier League football in 2024/25, albeit Leeds could offer him an opportunity to find a home and settle in somewhere he was loved, with plenty of Welsh international teammates around him as well.

Some continuity will be needed from the Whites next season, and is especially important in the spine of the team, where relationships have been built throughout the season, both on and off the pitch. Rodon, Struijk, and Ampadu arguably gives Leeds the best defensive axis in the Championship when played together, and that is priceless.

However, Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton will know all about what he has to offer, and it would not be surprising if any of the newly-promoted trio picks him up at Leeds' expense.

Highlights

Skipp could benefit from reuniting with Farke at Leeds, likely to get more regular playtime than at Spurs.

Hutton believes a move to Leeds would suit Skipp, considering the competition in Tottenham's midfield.

While Leeds currently have strong midfield options, Skipp's potential addition could help strengthen the team for promotion.

Pundit Alan Hutton believes Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Oliver Skipp would be a good signing for Leeds United.

Skipp came through the Spurs academy, and after spending the 2020-21 season out on loan with Norwich City, he has established himself in the first team.

The 23-year-old made 24 appearances in all competitions for Ange Postecoglou's side this season as they finished fifth in the Premier League, but only seven of those came as starts, and his game time became increasingly limited in the second half of the campaign.

It remains to be seen whether Postecoglou will allow Skipp to depart on loan this summer, but according to The Athletic, he is attracting interest from Leeds, and a move to Elland Road would see him reunite with Whites boss Daniel Farke.

Skipp scored one goal and provided two assists in 47 appearances under Farke during his time at Norwich to help the Canaries win the Championship title, and Farke was full of praise for the midfielder, revealing that it was one of his "biggest wishes" to bring him to Carrow Road and describing the deal as "perfect business".

Alan Hutton on Leeds United's interest in Oliver Skipp

Hutton believes that working with a manager he knows in Farke next season could be beneficial for Skipp, and he admitted that it is unlikely he will receive regular minutes at Spurs.

Asked whether Leeds could be a good move for Skipp, Hutton said: "I think so.

"It always helps when you know the manager, and you can go to a club where you can settle in quite quickly and get to know the players in pre-season.

"We're talking about a big team in Leeds who just missed out on going up, and that will be their remit next season.

"If I'm totally honest, I can't see him being regular for Tottenham moving forward, I think they've got too many options in that number eight.

"He does do a good job, to be fair, when he comes in, but a move somewhere where he feels at home and is playing regular football is where we'll see the best of him.

"Leeds will need reinforcements if they're going to go up next year, so I think that could be a good move."

Oliver Skipp deal would make perfect sense for Leeds United

It is difficult to disagree with Hutton that Skipp's potential loan move to Leeds could be good for all parties.

The Whites do have strong midfield options currently, but they could be vulnerable to losing Archie Gray this summer, while Ilia Gruev is said to be attracting interest from the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund, so it may be an area they need to bolster.

Skipp struggled for game time this season at Spurs, but he has shown previously that he is a more than capable performer in the Premier League, and he would be a quality addition for Leeds in the Championship.

There may be some concerns about Skipp's lack of goals and assists, but he is clearly a player trusted by Farke, and crucially, he has won promotion from the second tier with Norwich, so he would help to bring a winning mentality to the dressing room.

Highlights

Spurs set £10 million asking price for Leeds target Joe Rodon as potential Premier League suitors circle after impressive Championship season.

Financial constraints may prevent Leeds from competing for defender Rodon as newly-promoted trio show interest in strengthening defensive options.

Rodon's future uncertain as Spurs aim to capitalize on Championship success, potentially leaving Leeds empty-handed in pursuit of £10 million transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set a £10 million asking price for Leeds United transfer target Joe Rodon as newly-promoted trio Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton circle.

According to Football Insider, the Premier League side are open to the sale of the centre-back following his return from loan.

The defender spent the year with the Whites as they fought for promotion to the top flight.

Daniel Farke’s side narrowly missed out, losing the play-off final to Southampton 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

Rodon featured 43 times in the regular Championship season during his time at Leeds, as well as playing in all three of their play-off ties (all stats from Fbref).

Joe Rodon transfer latest

Leeds face competition in the race to sign Rodon on a permanent basis from Tottenham this summer.

The Spurs defender is also attracting interest from the likes of Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town.

The newly-promoted trio are all looking to strengthen their defensive options for life in the Premier League next season.

This will come as a blow to the Yorkshire outfit, who are likely to miss out on a move for the defender if concrete top flight interest arises.

The 26-year-old is not part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans at Spurs, so a permanent exit is on the cards this summer.

The Wales international’s contract runs until the summer of 2025 after the London club recently triggered a one-year extension option in his deal.

This will be their last summer window to try and cash in on the player, otherwise they risk losing him for nothing in 12 months’ time.

It is understood that an offer in the region of £10 million will be enough to convince Spurs to cash in.

It is believed that Rodon is keen to move on from Tottenham, where he has struggled for game time since moving there from Swansea City in 2020.

Joe Rodon’s importance to Leeds

Rodon played an important role for Leeds last season, immediately cementing his place as a consistent starter in Farke’s team.

He earned a lot of plaudits for his role in the club’s push for promotion, even though the club narrowly missed out on a top flight return.

That failure to gain promotion could now cost Leeds the chance to fight for Rodon’s signature, with at least three Premier League sides circling.

The Yorkshire outfit’s financial situation also calls into question whether they could afford to compete for the signing of a player worth £10 million.

Spurs’ £10 million asking price is expected

An eight-figure sum for Rodon is not a surprising asking price given Tottenham will want to squeeze everything they can from his potential sale.

Rodon is coming off the back of an impressive campaign in the Championship, and has interest from a number of suitors.

This was always going to raise his profile, and make it difficult for Leeds to sign him if they didn’t get promotion.

Losing him to one of the three newly-promoted Premier League sides would also particularly sting, given how close Leeds came to earning their place back in the top flight at the first attempt.

Highlights

Jack Clarke's move to Sunderland sparked his turnaround, leading to impressive stats and key contributions in play-off wins.

After struggling on loan spells, Clarke flourished at Sunderland, scoring 26 goals in 92 appearances and becoming a vital player.

With reports suggesting a bargain £750,000 deal, Sunderland stand to gain a hefty profit from Clarke's potential sale to interested clubs.

Jack Clarke would have wanted to make a name for himself at Tottenham Hotspur after making the brave move from Leeds United.

Unfortunately for him, he made just four senior appearances for the club and endured a series of fairly unsuccessful loan spells away from the English capital.

He even dropped down to League One during the early stages of 2022 to join Sunderland, but this proved to be a turning point for the 23-year-old, who was given a sufficient opportunity by Alex Neil to thrive.

Clarke didn't always shine throughout his loan spell at the Stadium of Light, but he did manage to provide the assist for Patrick Roberts' crucial late goal in the play-off semi-final second leg away at Sheffield Wednesday.

And with the Black Cats going on to win the final, they were finally able to get themselves back to the Championship following a long, frustrating spell in the third tier of English football.

It was an excellent time for the club, but Clarke was in limbo following the end of his loan spell.

Jack Clarke's permanent spell at Sunderland

The Wearside outfit brought in some talented players during the summer of 2022, with Kyril Louis-Dreyfus sanctioning permanent deals for the likes of Dan Ballard and Aji Alese, whilst Ellis Simms and Amad Diallo came in on loan.

All four of those (have) made an impact for the Black Cats, with the former two still at the club.

Clarke also joined during that summer and it didn't take long for the fans to realise that this was a signing that was going to pay dividends.

Having previously struggled out on loan in the second tier, it was clear that Clarke richly benefitted from being able to settle down at a club permanently.

He was particularly important during the 2022/23 campaign, with Ross Stewart spending much of that season injured and Simms being recalled by Everton midway through the season.

Joe Gelhardt may have arrived on loan, but he struggled at times and this meant the likes of Clarke and Diallo had to step up to the plate to try and fire the club into the play-offs.

They succeeded in that quest, but weren't quite able to guide the Black Cats to back-to-back promotions.

Winger Clarke was even more prolific in front of goal last term, scoring 15 times in 42 appearances.

That is an impressive record - and the Wearside club will be thanking Spurs for the fact they were willing to negotiate a cheap permanent deal for the 23-year-old two years ago.

Jack Clarke could generate a healthy profit for Sunderland this summer

It has been reported that the second-tier club may have only forked out £750,000 for the winger, with no add-ons included in the deal.

If that's the case, that is a brilliant deal for the Black Cats, who have benefitted from having Clarke at their disposal.

It's also believed that Spurs inserted a 25% sell-on clause in the deal back in 2022, but the Wearside outfit still look set to make a huge profit on the player, who is already attracting interest during the early stages of this summer. Brentford and Southampton are both thought to be keen on him.

With the player having two years left on his contract, and with interest in his signature already, this summer is probably the ideal time for the club to sell him, even though he's such an important first-teamer at the Stadium of Light.

Not only have the Black Cats benefitted from Clarke's contributions off the pitch, but they also look set to benefit financially from the 23-year-old.

Highlights

Norwich City may need to sell Josh Sargent to strengthen their squad and improve their chances of promotion.

Selling Sargent could provide funds for multiple areas of the team, following a similar strategy to Bale's transfer.

The decision to sell Sargent will be a tough one but could lead to a more balanced team with better prospects of promotion.

Danny Mills has claimed that Norwich City may need to sell Josh Sargent this summer in order to strengthen their overall squad.

Sargent was a standout figure in David Wagner’s side last season, contributing 16 goals and two assists from 26 appearances in the Championship (all stats from Fbref).

The US international missed a large chunk of the start of the campaign due to injury, but performed excellently when available.

But the Canaries’ failure to gain promotion has led to some speculation over the striker’s future at Carrow Road.

It has been reported that Leeds United are eyeing a potential move for the 24-year-old this summer.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Whites will pursue a move following their own failure to go back up to the Premier League.

Danny Mills makes Josh Sargent transfer claim

Mills has compared the potential sale of Sargent this summer to when Tottenham Hotspur cashed in on Gareth Bale in 2013.

He believes that selling the forward for a high fee could allow the club to invest in improving the squad in multiple areas to help their promotion bid.

“I think we all know that finances are incredibly tight at most football clubs,” said Mills.

“We even see it in the Premier League with some incredibly wealthy owners.

“It's the nature of football.

“Sometimes you have to sell to rebuild, and sometimes you have to sell your stars to refinance the rest of the team.

“You can sell one player and bring four in, and sometimes that's just a good business model.

“It's what you have to do.

“Obviously, he was one of their better players last season, one of their standouts, and if you can command a big fee sometimes, you have to sacrifice that.

“Spurs did it with Gareth Bale back in the day.

“They spent the money really badly and brought in 11 players that didn't work.

“But that's the sort of way sometimes you have to go.

“You have to sell a player for big money, and if you can bring in three or four off the back of that, you end up with a better balanced team and more chance of going for it and getting promotion.

“I think all clubs will be looking at their recruitment.

“Who can they bring in and at what price? Because we all know that the championship and the EFL is certainly not awash with cash.”

Josh Sargent’s importance to Norwich City

Sargent initially struggled following his move from Werder Bremen to Norwich in the summer of 2021, scoring just twice in his debut league season at Carrow Road.

However, he has gone from strength to strength during his two campaigns in the Championship.

The American has cemented himself as a key part of the Norwich squad, and was crucial to their top six finish in the last term.

It will likely take an eight-figure sum, potentially as high as £15 to 20 million to convince the Canaries to part ways with their star striker this summer.

Any decision over his future could also come down to new manager Johaness Hoff Thorup, who has replaced David Wagner in the dugout since the end of the campaign.

Sargent sale is a big dilemma for Norwich

Right now Norwich can sit quietly and wait and see if concrete interest even arises in Sargent this summer.

But if a big offer does come in, then they will have a very difficult decision to make.

Sargent staying would be key to a potential promotion push next season, but if they can use that money to make three or four signings then it could be worth it.

This is a difficult trade-off to consider, but it could prove to be a net positive if they can pull off the right moves with the money they receive for his possible departure.

Highlights

Leeds United confident of keeping Archie Gray despite interest from top clubs like Spurs, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.

Chairman Paraag Marathe admits sales needed to comply with PSR rules after play-off final disappointment.

Gray's connection with club and potential arrival of Skipp show Leeds building for future success in the top-flight.

Leeds United remain confident of keeping Archie Gray at the club for next season, with talk that Spurs could sign the youngster in a deal that involves Oliver Skipp being played down.

Daniel Farke’s side have just come off the back of a remarkable campaign, where the 90 points they picked up were only good enough for third.

Ultimately, the season ended in disappointment, as Leeds were beaten at Wembley by Southampton in the play-off final, condemning them to another year outside the top-flight.

Failure to go up was always going to have ramifications, and chairman Paraag Marathe has already conceded that sales are necessary to ensure the club comply with PSR rules moving forward.

Archie Gray transfer latest

Naturally, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding several of the Whites squad, with Gray falling into that category.

The 18-year-old is arguably the most prized asset at Elland Road, having enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough year despite his age. Gray shone at right-back for Farke, impressing with his energy, intensity and quality on the ball.

Therefore, it’s no surprise he has plenty of suitors, with clubs such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich thought to be monitoring the teenager.

But, it’s Spurs who have been linked the most with Gray, and after suggestions that Leeds could try to sign Skipp from the Londoners, talk of a potential cash plus player deal grew.

However, in a fresh development, TEAMtalk has revealed that Leeds are not looking to sell Gray, and, crucially, he wants to stay.

The update adds that the interest in Skipp is genuine, providing he is allowed to leave Spurs, they wouldn’t want Gray to go, with others ahead of him in terms of who Leeds want to cash in on. Of course, the situation could change if a huge bid arrives.

Leeds United summer transfer plans

It’s clear that there’s going to be a lot of activity at Leeds over the next few weeks, and that was always on the cards once that final whistle blew at Wembley.

The likes of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto look certain to depart, and more funds may need to be raised if the Yorkshire club are to comply with the rules and be able to make additions to the squad.

But, the club knows this, and there will be faith in the hierarchy that they can get this right, as they look for Farke to build a team that can finish in the top two next season.

It’s encouraging for the fans that the club are determined to keep Gray, as his connection with the club, and his ability, means he is the type they should be building around for the years to come.

As well as that, the talk of Skipp arriving should also please fans, as he would be outstanding at this level - as he proved with Farke and Norwich during a loan spell a few years ago when they won the league.