The Hard Tackle

Tottenham have slight advantage in Pedro Neto chase

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on signing 24-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto this summer.

According to a report by Give Me Sport, Tottenham Hotspur have an advantage over Newcastle United in the race to sign Portuguese international Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from the West Midlands club, and he would prefer a move to Tottenham, who can offer him UEFA Europa League football. Newcastle missed out on European qualification. So, the Portuguese international is not keen on joining them this summer. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can get the deal done.

The Portuguese international has established himself as a key player for Wolves in the Premier League, and he has the quality to succeed at total him as well. A move to the North London club will be a major step up in his career, and he will get to compete for trophies with them. Spurs have put together an exciting squad and they have brought in a quality manager.

Tottenham nearly secured UEFA Champions League qualification last season, and they will be hoping to push for domestic trophies and finish in the top four in the upcoming season. Signing a quality attacker should be a top priority for them, and the 24-year-old will add goals and creativity to the side.

Apart from that, the Portuguese international is an exceptional dribbler who can help Tottenham break down deep defences. His ability to operate on either flank will be an added bonus. The winger is reportedly valued at £60 million, and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham are willing to spend that kind of money on him.

They will have to be diligent with their business this summer. Tottenham Hotspur must improve multiple areas of their squad, and spending £60 million on Pedro Neto might not be a wise decision.

Newcastle United keen as well

Chelsea, Tottenham prioritising Desire Doue move

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Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified 19-year-old French sensation Desire Doue as a priority target for the summer transfer window.

According to a report by The Sun, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Desire Doue. The two Premier League heavyweights are prioritising signing the 19-year-old attacking sensation in the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the Stade Rennais wonderkid is also a target for Manchester United, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also vying for his signature.

The rapid rise of Desire Doue

Desire Doue has emerged as the latest highly-rated French wonderkid to rise in prominence in his homeland. A native of Angers, he has been with Stade Rennais throughout his formative years, rapidly progressing through the ranks at the Ligue 1 club before making his first-team bow in August 2022.

Since then, the 19-year-old has come leaps and bounds, establishing himself as a regular for Stade Rennais despite being in and out of the starting lineup. Doue managed nearly 2,500 minutes of game time for Rennes across 43 appearances in all competitions in the 2023/24 season, chipping in with four goals and six assists. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting high-profile clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham.

A man in demand

The Frenchman has been on Chelsea’s radar for several weeks. The West London club’s interest makes sense, considering the Stade Rennais attacking sensation can be a one-stop solution for the midfield and offensive departments. The latest update has revealed that he is a priority target for Chelsea this summer.

Desire Doue has also become the priority target for Tottenham Hotspur. The North London giants are focusing on youth recruitment to build a bright long-term future, with Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray being two of the latest young additions. The Rennes wonderkid has now emerged as an option worth considering for Tottenham.

As for Manchester United, the Red Devils want a long-sought solution to their right-wing woes, with Jadon Sancho and Antony failing to make their mark in the last few seasons. So, Doue has emerged as a viable target for Manchester United.

Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United must move quickly to secure Desire Doue’s services, with other European bigwigs like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also interested in him. It will be interesting to see if the 19-year-old Frenchman embark on a new adventure this summer.

Tottenham set to miss out on Conor Gallagher

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Tottenham could miss out on Conor Gallagher. The midfielder is set to re-evaluate his future, with a stay at Chelsea likely this summer.

According to Football Insider, Conor Gallagher will not join Tottenham or any other club as he is set to stay put at Chelsea. Spurs are keen on landing the midfielder, but his stance could change their direction of targets, as the England international will evaluate his future and stay put at Stamford Bridge for the coming season.

Tottenham will not sign Conor Gallagher

The Conor Gallagher saga could be diffused right at the start, as the midfielder is unlikely to join Tottenham or any other team this summer. The 24-year-old is firm on his stance that he will not be forced out of the club and will take time to evaluate his next steps.

A contract with Chelsea is not on the cards as things stand, although the Blues are not keen on allowing players to run down their deals with Gallagher into the final year of his deal. Hence, there is a possibility of the 24-year-old staying at the club beyond next season, as the West London club might ponder opening talks about a new deal.

Tottenham have been considered front-runners since the closure of the 2023 summer transfer window, and it has led to heavy speculation surrounding the England international. Ange Postecoglou wants to strengthen his central midfield options and could have benefited from a versatile midfielder like Gallagher.

Tottenham could lose Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer and would need a player with good enough experience to replace the Dane. The signing of Archie Gray is seen as a big step forward, but he is not the answer to bringing solidity and experience into this Tottenham midfield, something Gallagher would bring.

Gallagher’s future at Chelsea

While Tottenham and other clubs are now unlikely to land Gallagher, they will still keep close tabs on the midfielder, who could be available on a free transfer next summer. With Chelsea’s policy, they will want to add some years into Gallagher’s deal, meaning a new contract could be on the cards.

Moreover, Chelsea have passed the chance to sell some of their key stars amid PSR concerns, as they have found different ways to deal with that particular problem. However, they have also signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which may be seen as a direct indication that they are willing to move on from Gallagher this summer.

Morgan Gibbs-White set for Nottingham Forest stay

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Morgan Gibbs-White could potentially stay at Nottingham Forest beyond the summer window, dealing a blow to Tottenham’s hopes.

According to Football Insider, Morgan Gibbs-White is apparently happy at Nottingham Forest and leaning towards staying at the club. Should the 24-year-old Premier League midfielder stay put at the City ground, it would be seen as a bitter blow to Tottenham’s hopes, who were among a host of sides tracking him.

Morgan Gibbs-White set to stay at Nottingham Forest?

Morgan Gibbs-White had another influential season at Nottingham Forest and was heading into the summer window with a chance of leaving his current surroundings. Signed from Wolves in a £45 million deal, including add-ons, the 24-year-old Premier League midfielder has been a big part of helping the club remain in the Premier League.

Strong reports had suggested Gibbs-White was ready to sign for a bigger club in the summer, as Forest were bracing for big offers. Moreover, the club was embroiled in PSR-related problems, which had tipped them to sell some of their notable stars, with the 24-year-old certainly one of their prized assets.

A host of clubs have shown interest in Gibbs-White, with many teams lacking a player of his profile and quality. Due to Forest’s PSR problems, some reports also insisted the club could sell him for £40 million, which is far less than his actual valuation.

However, Gibbs-White is leaning towards staying put at Nottingham Forest beyond the summer window. The club also intend to fight on and keep him on board. Otherwise, they will lose a key player and might have to spend rather heavily in the market to replace him.

Gibbs-White decision a bitter blow for Tottenham

Among all the teams interested in Gibbs-White, Tottenham were considered the favourites to land him and offer him the chance to play at a top level. Spurs have many options in the vein of the 24-year-old’s style to contemplate upon, but they might have wanted the Forest star on priority.

The decision from Gibbs-White and the fact that Forest might have manoeuvred through their PSR-related troubles is a bitter blow for Tottenham and their hopes of signing the attacking midfielder. As things stand, the English star may not move out of Forest, but things could rapidly change in the different stages of the summer transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur turn down offer for Emerson Royal

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Tottenham Hotspur have rejected an offer of around €14 million from AC Milan for their Brazilian full-back Emerson Royal.

According to a report from CaughtOffside, Tottenham have turned down AC Milan’s initial bid for the services of Emerson Royal. The Brazilian international has fallen down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou and his departure looks certain but it seems the North London club will only let him leave on their terms.

On the back of a failed Barcelona move, Emerson arrived at Tottenham in the summer of 2021. He did manage to get things back on track with a move to the Premier League but things haven’t been that great for him under Postecoglou.

He was only involved in 24 matches last season and the majority of those appearances came because of injuries at the back. While his performances have been decent, Pedro Porro is the preferred choice under the former Celtic manager.

Tottenham turn down AC Milan’s initial offer

The player is keen on making a move away from the club in search of regular first-team action and it will be in the club’s best interest to part ways with Emerson as he is no longer a priority under Postecoglou. With just two years left on his deal, a move away with help them cash in and reinvest it on other targets.

While the player clearly doesn’t have a future at the cub, it hasn’t stopped Tottenham from rejecting AC Milan’s initial offer for the services of the Brazilian full-back. The offer was in the region of €14 million and it has been turned down by the Spurs without any hesitation.

Milan could return with a better offer

The Italian giants are keen on signing a new right-sided full-back this summer and they have been working towards a potential deal for some time. Their initial bid might have been rejected but they are expected to return with a slightly higher bid of €17/€18 million.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham vying for Harley Emsden-James

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A host of Premier League sides are keen on Harley Emsden-James as Southampton prepare to lose another highly-rated academy talent.

According to the Daily Mail, a host of Premier League clubs are showing interest in Southampton academy talent Harley Emsden-James. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham are among those keeping close tabs on the 14-year-old English defensive sensation, with the Saints set to lose another prodigious talent.

Southampton to lose Harley Emsden-James

There has been a silent yet drastic change in the backdrop of English football, with PSR, academy structure, and homegrown quota all playing big roles in this revamp. Top Premier League sides are increasingly conscious of these things, especially improving their academy ranks, as top young talents can become a massive commodity in the near future.

Many clubs are in the process of revamping their academy structure, with budgets, modern coaches, and advanced scouting mechanisms all being introduced to the mix. Many top teams are now allowing separate budgets to boost their academy ranks, which could see some of the famous academies lose the bulk of their talents.

For instance, Southampton are on the brink of losing another one of their prodigious talents, Harley Emsden-James. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham are keen on the 14-year-old English defensive sensation, and the Saints will still try to keep hold of the player for a few years at the very least.

Emsden-James has reportedly told the club of his desire to leave this summer, which has further boosted the hopes of many of his top suitors. With the trio of London sides vying for his signature, there could be an intense battle brewing in the background for the 14-year-old’s signature.

Emsden-James is not the only loss for Southampton

Emsden-James’s clear stance of continuing his development elsewhere would have come as a big blow to Southampton’s academy chiefs. The Saints have been one of the best schools in English football, producing notable talents over the years and have continued to develop players at a high rate.

Manchester United rival Barcelona, Crystal Palace, Tottenham in Jaden Philogene chase

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Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing 22-year-old Hull City winger Jaden Philogene, a target for Barcelona, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Manchester United are interested in Jaden Philogene. However, the Red Devils will face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, and Barcelona.

The 23-year-old winger had an impressive campaign in the EFL Championship with the Tigers, and he contributed towards 18 goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 season. His performances have attracted the attention of the top clubs like Barcelona, and Manchester United are hoping to get the deal done.

The Red Devils need to bring in more quality on the flanks, and Jaden Philogene would be a quality long-term acquisition. Players like Antony and Jadon Sancho have been quite underwhelming this past season, and the latter is expected to be sold in the coming weeks. Signing a quality winger will be a top priority for the Red Devils.

The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be quite attractive for Jaden Philogene, and Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world. The player will certainly be tempted to join them if the opportunity presents itself.

Barcelona, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace also keen

Tottenham need more depth in the wide areas as well, and they are keeping tabs on the 22-year-old. They have an exciting project and a quality manager like Ange Postecoglou. The opportunity to join the North London club could be tempting for Jaden Philogene.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are looking to bring in a replacement for Michael Olise, who is heading to the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. It is no surprise that the Eagles are keeping tabs on the English winger given his performances this past season.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have been linked with a number of attackers in recent weeks, and it seems that the Hull City attacker is on their radar as well. It will be interesting to see if they can compete with the English clubs and get the deal done.

The Blaugrana are going through financial difficulties right now, and they might not be able to pay over the odds. However, the opportunity to join one of the biggest clubs in the world will be quite attractive for the player. Barcelona could provide him with the platform to compete at a high level and push for major trophies every season.

The 22-year-old has proven himself in the EFL Championship, and he will look to take the next step in his career. The opportunity to play for clubs like Manchester United, Tottenham, or Barcelona could prove to be very enticing.

Aston Villa unwilling to sell Jacob Ramsey

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Tottenham suffer a blow in their pursuit of the services of Jacob Ramsey as Aston Villa are not ready to sanction his departure.

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are looking for ways to reinforce their squad and they were keen on adding Jacob Ramsey to their squad. But, the North London club have suffered a blow as Aston Villa are no longer looking to sanction his sale with their finances now in check.

Unai Emery’s team where not in the best of financial situations and they were in desperate need of offloading a few of their players to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Ramsey was expected to be one of their biggest sales of the summer.

Since the 23-year-old is an academy graduate his departure would have resulted in a 100% profit for their books. Despite him having three years left on his deal, Villa were ready to offload him but they have now taken a U-turn following the departure of midfield trio Douglas Luiz, Morgan Sanson and Tim Iroegbunam.

All three of them departed before the 30 June deadline for submitting the club’s 2023-24 accounts. Luiz was their biggest sale and the report suggests these transfers have helped them take care of the PSR. Villa no longer want to offload Ramsey which is a huge blow for Spurs.

Tottenham suffer blow in Ramsey pursuit

The North London club were keen on adding more quality to their midfield. While the Villa academy graduate struggled with injuries last season and could only feature in 21 matches, his potential and his versatility are what attracted their attention.

Ramsey’s arrival would have given them an ideal cover for James Maddison. With him capable enough to feature on the left flank as well as a striker, Ange Postecoglou would have had more tactical options.

Tottenham rekindle interest in Rico Browne

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London giants Tottenham Hotspur have reignited their move for Rico Browne, registering their interest in the Birmingham City FC defensive sensation.

According to a report by Football Insider, Rico Browne is the subject of a potential move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window. The North London giants hold a long-standing interest in the 20-year-old Birmingham City FC wonderkid and have revived their charge for the Manchester-born defensive sensation.

Who is Rico Browne?

Rico Browne is one of the brightest young defensive prospects in the country. A native of Manchester, the Englishman spent a few years outside the country by passing through the academy at Elche CF. He joined Birmingham City FC in 2016 and has come leaps and bounds in the last few years.

The 20-year-old has progressed through the ranks at Birmingham City FC but has not made his first-team bow for the Blues yet. Meanwhile, Rico Browne’s long-term future at the Midlands club has been uncertain heading into the summer transfer window as his contract has expired.

The Blues have offered the Manchester-born defender, who has chosen St. Kitts and Nevis as his national side, a new contract. However, Browne has turned it down and will likely leave the West Midlands outfit as a free agent. The situation has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of Tottenham Hotspur.

London calling?

The North London giants hold a long-standing interest in Rico Browne. Tottenham mulled over signing the 20-year-old English defender last summer before a move failed to see the light of day. However, they have continued to monitor the youngster’s progress closely at Birmingham City FC.

Tottenham recently signed Ashley Phillips last summer as a long-term solution at the heart of the defence. While Browne might have a bright future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he will likely begin his spell with the North London club by turning out for the reserve team.

The North London giants have already registered their interest in Browne, Brighton & Hove Albion also keen on signing him in the summer transfer window. So, it will be interesting to see where the 20-year-old plies his trade in the 2024/25 season.

AC Milan unwilling to pay €25 million to sign Emerson Royal, set price limit

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AC Milan are not prepared to pay €25 million to sign Tottenham defender Emerson Royal, and have instead set their own price tag.

According to Calcio Mercato, AC Milan are unwilling to pay Tottenham’s €25 million asking price for Emerson Royal. The Rosoneri may have an internal agreement with the player that would allow them power in negotiations with Spurs, as the Italians have set a €17 million asking price for the defender.

AC Milan willing to fork out Emerson Royal’s asking price

AC Milan are deep into negotiations for Emerson Royal, as the club have narrowed down their search for a new right back as they see the Brazilian fit their purpose. They may have wanted Matty Cash as an early option, but Aston Villa may have found some ground in not selling some of their players amid PSR concerns.

Hence, the idea of Emerson Royal appealed to Milan, as the player is readily available in the window. Tottenham are eager to offload the Brazilian, who does not fit into Ange Postecoglou’s plans. There were reports that Spurs had reduced their asking price for the defender and would accept bids in the region of €20-25 million.

It does appear that Tottenham have set their asking price for the €25 million-rated, although AC Milan are not willing to fork out that sum. They have set their own price point of €17 million, although there’s a belief a deal could be struck for around €20 million, which could suit all parties concerned.

AC Milan are set for fresh talks with Tottenham to find this agreement, as there’s a possibility of intense negotiations between the two sides. For now, Emerson seems destined to join the Rosoneri, as it does feel like a matter of time before this happens.

Milan have power in negotiations

The fact that Emerson may have had offers from other clubs, with the report naming Villarreal as a possible suitor, means he has chosen San Siro as his next destination. The defender might have reached a broad agreement on personal terms, which does allow Milan to think the player wants to join them.

This could give Milan a strong hand in negotiations with Tottenham, as they now feel the idea of reducing the asking price might work out. Spurs will not want to lose out on too much money in the deal, and as the report suggests, a deal could be struck at around €20 million.