The Hard Tackle

Tottenham and West Ham are in the mix for wantaway French midfielder Youssouf Fofana, with Monaco demanding at least €20-30 million.

According to Corriere Torino via Sport Witness, Youssouf Fofana has come in high demand among Premier League sides, as Tottenham and West Ham join the race. The London duo are in the market for a powerful midfielder and may look closely at the Monaco star during the ongoing Euros.

Tottenham West Ham battle for Youssouf Fofana

Youssouf Fofana could be one of the window’s bargain signings this summer as the midfield powerhouse enters the final year of his deal at Monaco. The 25-year-old Frenchman is currently at the Euros to help his team win the tournament, as some of the interested parties could take a closer look at his game.

While he remains on the fringes of Didier Deschamps’ side, the midfielder is among the first substitutes the manager called during their narrow win over Serbia. Should France win their next game, he could be in for a shout to start the last group encounter, where clubs like Tottenham and West Ham can take a closer look.

Spurs could lose Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, with a host of clubs showing an interest in the Dane. To replace him, Ange Postecoglou would want a player of a similar profile, with a defensive mentality and expertise on the ball. Fofana certainly fits those criteria, as Spurs could enter the mix for the 25-year-old Frenchman after the Euros conclude.

West Ham are also eager to recruit in the position despite Edson Alvarez’ decent first season, as Fofana could be seen as an integral signing to Julen Lopetegui’s plans. The London sides could battle it out for the midfielder, who also has the interest of several other Premier League sides as well as a growing number of Italian teams.

Which other teams are keen on Fofana?

Apart from the reported interest from Spurs and the Hammers, AC Milan and Juventus are among those looking closely at Fofana. Monaco wants €20-30 million to sell the midfielder with a year left on his deal, while Manchester United may have held talks to sign him.

Tottenham Hotspur are not ready to sanction the departure of their defensive mainstay Cristian Romero amidst interest from Real Madrid.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have no intentions of parting ways with Cristian Romero. The Argentine World Cup winner’s future has been the talk of the town in recent weeks following Real Madrid’s interest in his services. But, Spurs are not interested in negotiating his departure.

Romero has only gone from strength to strength since joining the North London club back in 2021. He has been a consistent performer for both club and country over the last few years, and it has resulted in interest from across Europe.

The 26-year-old is all set to feature in the Copa America where he will look to help Argentina retain the title. Multiple top clubs are expected to keep a close eye on Cristian Romero during the continental tournament and Real Madrid are expected to be one of them.

Real Madrid keen on Romero, Spurs won’t sell

Los Blancos have a strong interest in the Tottenham centre-back. The team in white are desperately looking to reinforce their backline ahead of next season. David Alaba and Eder Militao were out for the majority of the 2023/24 season because of their knee injuries, which exposed the lack of depth at the back. Aurelien Tchouameni had to slot in as a centre-back to help them out.

In order to ensure they avoid such circumstances in the future, Carlo Ancelotti wants to add a world-class defender to the mix. With Nacho Fernandez’s future at the club uncertain, it is quite clear why the Italian manager is pushing for a new centre-back.

Leny Yoro was their top target before the start of the window. But that deal has taken a back seat and Real Madrid seem to have made Cristian Romero their priority. Los Blancos will be closely monitoring him during the Copa America as they look to ensure he is the ideal fit for them going forward.

While Real Madrid are willing to make a move for the 26-year-old, Spurs have no intention to sell their defensive mainstay. He is an integral part of their plans moving ahead, and they will not entertain any discussion about their star. Romano has made it quite clear that Romero will continue at the North London club. As a result, Real Madrid will have to look elsewhere to bolster their defence.

A host of Premier League clubs are set to scout young Turkish talent Semih Kilicoy at the Euros, as he is a part of the national squad.

According to Sabah via Sport Witness, Semih Kilicoy’s suitors from the Premier League are eager to watch the player closely in action at the eEuros. Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City are among the teams keen on the Besiktas teenager, with a move likely to be on the cards this summer.

Premier League scouts set to watch Semih Kilicoy

Semih Kilicoy has put himself on the list of some big Premier League sides looking for a young striker in the summer after his 12-goal season with Besiktas. He has been one of the best-emerging talents coming out of Turkey in the past campaign, as a host of English sides are keen to take a closer look at him.

To their luck, Kilicoy was selected as part of the Turkish squad for Euro 2024 and might get some important minutes as the tournament progresses. He did not feature in their opening game against Georgia, given how tight it was right until the end, although he could get his chances going forward.

Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal are keen, while Tottenham are also in the race, as these are the teams eager to recruit a young striker in the summer. The teenager will be flattered by the interest, and these clubs are now keen to watch him closely at the Euros, hoping that Vincenzo Montella hands him some valuable minutes.

His agent recently confirmed the interest of at least Manchester City and Arsenal, among others, but insisted nothing has been advancing in terms of talks or discussions about a transfer.

“I know that clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart are watching Semih. We received information about this. But it has not reached the offer stage. At least, there is no offer that has reached us,” said Kılıçsoy’s agent.

Premier League interest explained

Arsenal missed out on Benjamin Sesko as it became clearer that Mikel Arteta is now looking to develop a young striker rather than buy a readymade product in the market. Manchester City are always on the lookout for breakthrough talents and will have Kilicoy Hogh on their list.

Tottenham had enquired briefly about Kilicoy alongside other clubs and could show interest. However, Spurs have some key young attackers in their group, and while investing in another such star may seem appealing, they are in need of a more readymade and experienced striker in this market.

Tottenham and West Ham United are not willing to meet the demands of Brentford for the services of Ivan Toney.

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are both keen on signing Ivan Toney ahead of next season. But, they are not willing to meet Brentford’s demands who want between £50-60 million for the English international.

Tottenham and West Ham are both looking for a new number nine. The North London club did a decent job without signing a Harry Kane replacement last summer. But, they are now looking to bring in a top-level striker who can help them take the next step under Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham, West Ham keen on Toney

The Australian manager wants to add an out-and-out striker to his ranks. Someone who can hold up the play, bring others into the thick of things and score goals consistently. While they have been linked with quite a few forwards, Ivan Toney’s name is at the top of their wishlist. They see him as a perfect fit for their system.

As far as the Hammers are concerned, Julen Lopetegui wants to reinforce his attack. He wants a new leader for his attack with Michail Antonio’s future at the club uncertain and Danny Ings on the wrong side of 30. The Spanish manager wants to add multiple forwards to his team and Toney is one of the names on their radar.

Manchester United are also in the mix

Manchester United also hold a strong interest in the 28-year-old as they look for someone who can support young Rasmus Hojlund up top. Signing an experienced campaign like the English international will surely be a huge boost for the Red Devils.

While all three English clubs are keen on having him in their squad, they are not ready to offer Brentford the fee they want. The Bees want between £50-60 million for Toney. But, with only 12 months left on his deal, none of the interested clubs are ready to accept their demands.

The Bees do have a tough situation at their hand as they are not in the best of positions to negotiate because of his contract situation and the forward’s poor form in the recent past. If they do not lower their asking price, they could risk losing their ace for free in 12 months.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in acquiring the services of Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic.

According to a report from TBR, Tottenham are looking to further bolster their defence in the summer and are interested in signing Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic. They have been closely monitoring the Serbian defender and could make a move in the near future.

Milenkovic came up the ranks at Partizan before making the move to the Italian club in the summer of 2017. He has been an integral part of their team over the years and his consistent performances have resulted in a lot of interest as well.

Tottenham are one of the clubs that have been keeping an eye on the 26-year-old and they were impressed with his performance in Serbia’s Euro opener against England. Milenkovic managed to keep former Spurs ace Harry Kane quiet and his performance did go unnoticed.

The England skipper hardly touched the ball as the Fiorentina centre-back followed him as a shadow. With the defender all set to enter his peak years, Spurs are considering prising him away from the Italian club.

Spurs keen on Milenkovic, negotiations will be difficult

Milenkovic has already proved himself in the Italian top flight and his excellent performance in England pretty much assures Spurs that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. More importantly, he can fit into Ange Postecoglou’s system.

The North London club will not find it easy to sign him as he still has three years left on his deal at Fiorentina. The Italian outfit will have the upper hand during negotiations and they won’t let him leave on the cheap. On top of that, there is no shortage of interest in him.

Since arriving at the English club, the former Celtic boss has already signed two top-level centre-backs. Micky van de Ven arrived at the club last summer while Radu Dragusin was added to their squad at the start of the year.

They have enough depth in the heart of the defence but are still looking to sign Milenkovic because of Cristian Romero’s uncertain future. The Argentine defender has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

If the Spanish giants do end up signing him, Spurs will have to bring in a world-class replacement and the Serbian international could surely help cope with Romero’s absence.

The three promoted Premier League clubs, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton, are keen on signing Tottenham defender Joe Rodon this summer.

According to a report by Alasdair Gold on Football.London, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton are interested in Joe Rodon. The three newly-promoted Premier League clubs are planning for the summer transfer window as they look to build squads to remain in the top flight. In addition, the 26-year-old Tottenham outcast is a target for Leeds United.

The Joe Rodon journey

Joe Rodon has been on a topsy-turvy ride since joining Tottenham Hotspur from Swansea City in October 2020. The Welshman never made his mark for the North London outfit and quickly became a bit-part player at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. So, he has had to suffice with regular game time during his spells away from the club.

The 26-year-old’s first loan spell came with Stade Rennais in the 2022/23 season. However, Rodon enjoyed himself during his season-long stint at Leeds United in the 2023/24 campaign. The player was a mainstay at the back for the Whites, turning out 50 times while amassing nearly 4,500 minutes of game time.

However, Rodon could not help Leeds United return to the Premier League, with the Whites falling at the last hurdle, as Southampton beat them in the promotion playoffs final. But Rodon has done enough to capture the attention of several clubs, with Leeds United pushing for his signature. In addition, the Tottenham outcast is a target for the newly-promoted trio of Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton.

What next?

Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton will be aware of the fortunes of last season’s promoted trio. Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United could last beyond one season in the Premier League, with only the Hatters making a mark and showing the potential to remain in the top flight.

So, the newly-promoted trio will be eager to build resolute squads that can compete with 17 other Premier League clubs. Rodon has thus emerged as a viable target, considering his experience with Tottenham in the top flight.

Tottenham and West Ham could have received a boost after Sevilla’s stance on Youssef En-Nesyri could allow the striker to leave.

According to Diario De Sevilla via Sport Witness, Sevilla could sell Youssef En-Nesyri on priority, which in turn will boost the chances of his suitors ahead of the summer window. Tottenham and West Ham are among his strong suitors in this market, as both the London teams are now likely to make appearances.

Sevilla to sell Youssef En-Nesyri?

Sevilla’s financial situation is no secret as they clearly need funds to balance their acts, and that could result in a few player sales. One of their prized assets is their Morrocan striker Youssef En-Nesyri, with the 20-goal attacker one of the first players they would be open to selling in this window.

Should that be the case, then En-Nesyri will have plenty of suitors from the Premier League, and that is where the Spanish club hopes the striker will leave. The La Liga side have not placed a specific price tag although Transfermarkt’s valuation of the Moroccan points to a €20 million figure, something Sevilla might consider as an acceptable figure.

The news of Sevilla’s willingness to sell En-Nesyri will come as a boost to Tottenham and West Ham, with the London pair chasing the Moroccan striker this summer. The Hammers are ready to step up their pursuit of the striker, as former Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui leads the charge to reunite with the frontman.

Tottenham could look at En-Nesyri as a more physical option that they lack in their squad, as the Moroccan could prove a box presence for them in the attacking third. With more teams going in the direction of having a traditional No.9 in their ranks, Tottenham lacks that, and Richarlison is not the answer to their problems.

Sevilla open to En-Nesyri bids

Sevilla are hoping to sell some of their players, including the Moroccan, and use the funds to carry out the rebuild of their squad. With a year left on his current deal, the Spanish side might come under pressure when dealing with their Premier League counterparts, as the London sides might squeeze them to get the striker on the cheap.

However, the Spanish side are hoping for a fair market value bid to come in for En-Nesyri and their other sellable stars. Whether Tottenham and West Ham take up this invitation of sorts and make a proposal remains to be seen, but the Morrocan is surely a striker they like for their respective squads.

Aston Villa are likely to win the race for the services of AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham despite interest from Tottenham.

According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport via SportWitness, AS Roma could sanction the departure of Tammy Abraham in the upcoming transfer window to raise funds and Aston Villa who had practically signed him last summer could end up winning the race for his services.

Jose Mourinho took Abraham to Roma from Chelsea back in the summer of 2021. He has a sensational debut season where he found the back of the net on 27 occasions. But, things haven’t been that great for him in the recent seasons.

In the 2023/24 season, the 26-year-old suffered an ACL injury which kept him out from the majority of the campaign. While he still has two years left on his deal at the Italian club, they are ready to cash in on him.

Roma are not in the best of financial situations and they need to raise funds if they want to reinforce their squad. The club are ready to part ways with Tammy Abraham and there is interest in his services from clubs in the Premier League.

Tottenham are one of the clubs linked with the former Chelsea star. The North London club are looking to bolster their attack in the summer. They want to bring in a top striker who can lead their line. While the English international has struggled with injury and form in the recent past, he surely has the quality and they could look for a bargain deal.

Tammy Abraham to Aston Villa?

While Spurs have been linked with him, Aston Villa is considered to be the most likely destination for Abraham. Unai Emery’s team had almost signed him last summer, they had agreed on a deal worth €40 million but the ACL injury resulted in the move collapsing.

They have once again been linked with the 26-year-old. The report suggests they could return for his signature in the summer. While it does look far-fetched as he hasn’t played a full match since his return from the long-term injury, Emery is looking for more firepower in attack after taking Villa to the Champions League.

While they could consider signing, Villa won’t be paying anything close to what they had agreed to last season. As a result, Roma might not get what they want from his potential departure.

Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla have reportedly advanced talks over a deal worth €25 million for Youssef En-Nesyri.

Tottenham Hotspur are very keen on having Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri in their squad ahead of next season.