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The latest injury news and potential return dates of several Newcastle United stars.

Newcastle United have made a solid start to the new Premier League season and will head into Sunday’s St James Park clash with Tottenham Hotspur looking to preserve an unbeaten record.

Of course, that only consists of two games, and the Magpies have been far from convincing in both fixtures as they battled to a 1-0 home win against Southampton before labouring to a somewhat fortunate 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last weekend. But putting a positive spin on things, Eddie Howe’s side are still picking up points when they have been far from their best during the opening weeks of the campaign.

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In Howe’s defence, he is still going into battle without several key players as the likes of England striker Callum Wilson, highly-rated midfielder Lewis Miley and defensive duo Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles continue their comeback from injuries that disrupted the end of last season. But when could the Magpies welcome back their injured players? We take a look ahead of Sunday’s home game with Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Sven Botman

The Dutch defender saw his involvement in last season brought to a premature end by a serious knee injury after aggravating a previous injury in an FA Cup defeat against Manchester City. The former Lille centre-back underwent surgery in March and was initially ruled out for a period between six and nine months, meaning Magpies supporters may have to wait until the new year to see Botman back in action once again Potential return date: January 2025

Jamaal Lascelles

In what felt like a cruel twist of fate for the Magpies, Botman’s replacement, club captain Jamaal Lascelles, suffered a similar injury to the Dutchman just weeks after speaking into the side in his place. The former Nottingham Forest defender endured a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury and also underwent surgery in March. A similar return date can be placed upon the long-serving defender Potential return date: January 2025

Lewis Miley

The Magpies academy product was one of the breakout stories of last season as he took full advantage of a seemingly never-ending injury crisis to force his way into Eddie Howe’s side. After producing impressive displays against the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Fulham, Miley followed a number of his senior team-mates into the treatment room after suffering a back injury that ended his first full season in the first-team setup. However, there was a further blow for the England youth international when he suffered an ankle injury during the summer and that is set to keep him on the sidelines for another couple of months Potential return date: October 2024

Callum Wilson

Injuries hampered Wilson’s attempts to help Newcastle build on what was an overwhelmingly successful season last time out. After becoming the Magpies top goalscorer during the previous season as they secured a top four finish, Wilson’s impact last season was limited by a series of injuries. There were high hopes the England striker could return ahead of the current campaign and provide competition for Alexander Isak - but he is now expected to remain on the sidelines for at least another fortnight as he works his way back from a lower back injury Potential return date: Mid-September 2024

Martin Dubravka

The Slovakia international was ruled out of last Sunday’s long trip to Bournemouth after suffering a concussion in training and that meant veteran stopper John Ruddy stepped up to bench duty on the south coast. Concussion protocols mean Dubravka will remain on the sidelines for another week and could return to the squad for the trip to Wolves after the international break - although speculation linking the long-serving keeper with a move away from St James Park means he could be plying his trade elsewhere by then Potential return date: Mid-September 2024

Fabian Schar

This one is not an injury but Schar will remain on the sidelines for Sunday’s home clash with Spurs as he continues to serve a suspension for the controversial red card he was shown during the opening day win over Southampton. Schar will be back in action when the Magpies visit Wolves next month Return date: Mid-September 2024

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The injury and latest return dates ahead of Spurs’ upcoming Premier League clash with Newcastle United

Tottenham found the winning formula against Everton last weekend, thrashing a beleaguered Everton side 4-0, which will give them a lot of confidence heading into the tricky game against Newcastle United this weekend. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou knows that his team can't afford to slip up like they did against Leicester if they are to challenge for the league title or at least fight for a spot in the top four.

Last season, Spurs started the campaign on fire before injuries and poor form among key players caused them to finish fifth, missing out on prestigious Champions League football. Newcastle are also expected to be in the mix, so this will be a clash between two teams vying for a top spot as the season progresses.

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With that in mind, here are the injured Spurs players and those likely to miss the game at St James' Park this weekend:

Dominic Solanke - Arsenal at home

Solanke suffered an ankle injury on his debut, and although his manager has said the injury isn't serious, he is still likely to miss this game. Spurs have Son Heung-min and Richarlison, who can play centrally, so don't expect Postecoglou to risk him. Postecoglou said last week: "Not everyone's story is a fairytale—he has an injury, nothing serious, but he will miss the game against Everton."

Destiny Udogie - Newcastle away

Udogie was replaced in the second half against Everton, and although the injury hasn't been specified, he was seen limping and is now a doubt for the game. However, there is a good chance he could be ready by this weekend.

Rodrigo Bentancur - Arsenal at home

Bentancur suffered a nasty head injury at Leicester that appeared to be a concussion. He won't be ready for this weekend’s trip, as Spurs are taking precautions to ensure his full recovery. He should be back after the international break.

Mickey Van de Ven - Newcastle away

Van de Ven appeared to have picked up a knee injury, but according to the manager, he’s fine. Postecoglou said, "It's all fine—we've checked him, and he should be good to go."

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Spurs are still looking for a central midfielder by the end of the transfer window - has the perfect player just become available?

Tottenham Hotspur may have cracked one of the biggest problems they had heading into the summer transfer window – the lack of a first-rate striker – but with a little over a fortnight of the transfer window left to go there is still work to be done, and in particular Ange Postecoglou has made absolutely no secret of his desire to sign a new central midfielder by the end of August. Fortunately, one player who might just fit the bill has now started agitating for a move.

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Manu Koné has been steadily growing his reputation in the Bundesliga since signing from Toulouse in 2021 and has now, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, asked his club for a move. The club, meanwhile, seem happy to allow him to take his next step providing someone gives them a deal worth around €25m (£21.4m).

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Which sounds like a very reasonable price for a 23-year-old with a lot going for him and who was one of the standout performers in France’s run to the final of the men’s Olympic tournament, and should be well within the financial reach of a club like Spurs, who according to HITC are one of at least four Premier League clubs to which Koné has been offered in recent days as a result of his desire to leave.

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He also looks like he fits Postecoglou’s requirements down to a tee. He’s a pressing machine with the stamina, strength and reading of the game to put fires out across the midfield and a capable technician who is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet. If Spurs want to push for a midfield that can press high and hard and get the ball upfield quickly once it’s been won back, Koné seems to fill the bill.

The 6’1” midfielder, who has yet to feature for the senior French national side but has represented his country right through the age groups, doesn’t have the kind of express pace that would be useful given his hard-running game both on and off the ball, but aside from that he has the physical profile and skills to be a hugely effective ball-winning midfielder, and the stats back up what he’s capable of.

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In the Bundesliga last year he forced 8.1 turnovers per match, a very high watermark, and managed to fix one of his biggest issues as well – in previous seasons, his judgement in the tackle was a little questionable and he committed far too many fouls, racking up an enormous 22 yellow cards in his first two seasons in the Bundesliga. Last year, that was down to just four, and he seems to have developed the kind of discipline and understanding of when to lunge in and when to hold off required to be a first-rate defensive midfielder.

But he’s got plenty in his legs on the ball, too, and he generates a lot of yards dribbling through the midfield and surging at the opposing defence. That running creates a healthy number of chances, too, and while his passing range and accuracy is respectable rather than exceptional, he still creates plenty of shooting opportunities for his team-mates.

The table above shows how Koné compares with his potential future team-mates as both creator and destroyer, using data from last season’s domestic league games. Yves Bissouma is the only current regular starter at Spurs who can outwork him on the defensive side of the ball, but Koné has the edge over all of his prospective peers when it comes to creativity and ball-carrying skills.

None of which actually brings Spurs closer to Koné’s signature. Liverpool and Manchester United have been tentatively linked in the past, and while United seem focussed on a deal for Manuel Ugarte, Liverpool missing out on Martín Zubimendi could see them come into the picture as well, and AC Milan have been linked with a bid as well – although as it stands, the sourcing for specific teams and their levels of interest is poor and there is little clarity as to his preferences or whether any teams have made an offer.

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What we do know is that Florian Plettenberg’s report suggested that he wants to join a “very ambitioned club” (sic) and ideally in the Champions League, and that latter clause could easily give other sides an edge in the race – but Spurs are in the room and could easily be the team making the best pitch.

Koné is a high-class player who is good at the very things Postecoglou wants his midfielders to be able to do, and in the areas he’s a little weaker, such as his passing, he remains perfectly capable – and at 23, he has room to develop further still. If Spurs, or indeed any other Premier League side, have the chance to sign him for a little over £21m, then that looks pretty close to a no-brainer given how much he could be worth in the future.

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Our verdict on the latest Premier League transfer rumours - featuring news from Manchester United, Spurs and Ipswich.

Welcome to Thursday’s round-up of the biggest and boldest Premier League transfer rumours – and today, we get to start by issuing our verdict on what would prove to be a pretty huge story concerning Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

According to Caught Offside, Rashford is now on the radar of the free-spending Saudi Pro League, which unnamed clubs contemplating a startling €100m (£86m) move for the forward, who struggled last season and lost his place in the England side as a result.

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Apparently, Rashford is a “top target” and the article speculates that the Saudis may “break the bank” and offer the 26-year-old a record contract. It’s worth noting the sources, here – they cite Spanish outlet Fichajes as the place the rumour originated while also bringing in a claim from The Sun that United are “willing to listen to all offers” for Rashford.

The 3AM Verdict: Let’s start with the sources. Fichajes have an exceptionally bad track record with accuracy, and we’d take anything they print with an entire sack of salt. The Sun, bluntly put, aren’t all that much better, although we don’t necessarily dismiss the idea that United would listen to an offer if it arrived. Given his form last season, they’d probably be quite right to take the £86m but to us, this feels like a story which is only worth ignoring unless it gets rather more substantiation than it has now.

Spurs turn to Mourinho as they make next moves

Over to Tottenham Hotspur now – TeamTalk claim that Ange Postecoglou’s side are eyeing up a bid for AS Monaco right-back Vanderson, apparently the culmination of some “long-standing interest” in the 23-year-old Brazilian, who has two caps for his country. Monaco, it seems, want a fee of around €40m (£34.3m) and apparently talks have already begun between Spurs and the player.

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In order to help generate the funds and squad space required to sign Vanderson, the report also claims that Spurs have gone back into business with former manager José Mourinho, who is now angrily berating referees at Fenerbahçe – he wants to sign Sergio Reguilón, it seems, and the Turkish club are “preparing an offer.”

The 3AM Verdict: The article’s insinuation that the two deals are linked seems a little far-fetched, but that’s no reason to dismiss either report out of hand – neither seems especially unlikely, not that we’ve heard too much about the “long-standing interest” in Vanderson before. He’s an excellent all-round right-back but with Pedro Porro and Archie Gray on the books it’s maybe a slight eyebrow-raiser. The Reguilón part of the report is entirely plausible on all levels, and wouldn’t surprise us one bit.

Ipswich hijack Brentford bid

Finally, news from over in Suffolk, where it looks like Ipswich Town are making some rather spicy moves in the transfer market – if Sport Witness have lined their facts up right, anyway. Primarily citing Italian journalist Gianlucia Di Marzio, they claim that the Tractor Boys are set to snap up Napoli midfielder Jens Cajuste, just two days after he was in Brentford having a medical.

The Sweden international had been set to sign for Brentford but the deal fell through at the eleventh hour, with Di Marzio apparently claiming that he failed that medical – but that hasn’t deterred Ipswich, who are making a surprise push to sign him on loan. Unlike Brentford’s deal, there would be no obligation to buy clause, which would at least protect them from any fitness problems.

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The 3AM Verdict: On Monday, we concluded that Brentford’s successes in the transfer market should earn them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the signing of Cajuste, because while he had a rough time in Naples the underlying stats suggested he wasn’t quite as bad as he’d looked – but now that we know there are fitness issues too, it definitely adds an extra layer of concern. Nevertheless, as a simple loan, this would be a pretty low risk, high reward move by Ipswich, and the sourcing for this one looks good. We’re expecting this to have legs, and hopefully ones that work.

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One of the summer transfer window's biggest sagas continues to rumble on, and Spurs could get in on the action

I remember once being at a Chelsea under-21 game when Conor Gallagher was coming up. One of the parents of the players—I think it was Marc Guehi’s dad—said, "Gallagher is the player you always want on your team."

He had tenacity and a hunger about him that made it clear he was destined for the very top. There were doubts about his technical ability even back then, but he was loved by all his teammates, and he certainly deserved the admiration he received.

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There were a few times when people even compared him to James Milner, the multiple-trophy winner who was a key member of both Manchester City and Liverpool. Milner wasn’t the most talented, but he was certainly a player every team valued, with a relentless grit and determination that took him to the top of the game.

No one reminds me of Milner as much as Gallagher does, and this is why I think Tottenham would be a great club for him. He has all the ingredients to be a massive hit in Ange Postecoglou’s team. His dynamism and everything that has happened to him in the last year show that he could thrive by playing for a direct rival in Spurs.

Gallagher was born and made at Chelsea, but if you speak to people around him, they will tell you he feels frustrated by everything that has happened. The club say he turned down two contract extensions—and who if everyone around you was getting seven-year deals while you were only being offered two?

What that suggests is that the club doesn’t see Gallagher as a long-term asset and they are only trying to protect their side of the business by ensuring he spends the next two years being linked with moves away rather than becoming a legend at the club.

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Tottenham were linked last summer, but they have surprisingly cooled all interest, even when it’s apparent Chelsea would be willing to do business for a fee of just around £30 million. That is really nothing when you compare it to Gallagher’s age—just 24—and all the Premier League experience and expertise he brings to the table. Tottenham have some top notch midfielders in Pape Sarr, Yves Bissouma, and Rodrigo Bentancur, but Conor has a bit of all the traits they possess, which could be a valuable tool for a team like Tottenham.

Then there’s the issue of pride. Chelsea and Tottenham barely trade players— only a select few have plied their trade for both clubs - William Gallas famously played for both Chelsea and Tottenham, and not content with crossing one division, he even had a crack at Arsenal. Eidur Gudjohnsen also represented both clubs, as did Gus Poyet before him. But none of them had to feel they were being forced out like Gallagher does now, which is why he would surely have an extra incentive to do well there, and show the Blues exactly what they had given away.

Come on, Daniel Levy—take the gamble, and you’ll be reaping the rewards come the end of the season.

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Our verdict on the latest Premier League transfer rumours - featuring updates from Spurs, Arsenal and Leicester.

Welcome to Tuesday’s round-up of and reaction to the biggest and boldest Premier League transfer rumours – and we’ll begin today at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where there’s word that Spurs may have found a new target in their long search for midfield reinforcements.

Ange Postecoglou has made little secret of his desire to add some quality to the middle of the park and it seems as though he’s considering a move for Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli, at least according to Sport Witness who cite news reports from Italy, with a bid of €24m (£20m) on the cards.

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Apparently it would be a “dream deal” for Juve – the former AC Milan and Sassuolo player has struggled for his best form of late, didn’t make Italy’s Euro 2024 squad and was even booed by his own fans during pre-season. The Old Lady have also added to their own midfield this summer and are happy to move Locatelli on after three years in Turin.

The 3AM Verdict: This seems like a plausible enough rumour but the initial word seems to have come from a fan site, which isn’t necessarily a reliable starting point for a story. Should it turn out to be true, however, Spurs will have to hope they’re signing the Sassuolo version, because Locatelli seemed to lose some of his drive and dynamism in recent months. He’s still only 26, however, hasn’t had too many injury issues and has proven himself to be a very potent central midfielder, so this may come down to the coach’s judgement call.

Gunners coming for Coman

Just last week, we suggested that reports that Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman was up for sale should prick the ears of Arsenal, who could do with adding quality and depth to their front three – and now Caught Offside have some sources which claim they’re considering exactly that move.

Bayern are happy to let Coman leave on loan or for a fee in the €30-40m region (£25-35m) – but apparently the Gunners are only thinking about a loan move. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona could be interested in the Frenchman, too, according to the report, but apparently he would “prefer a move to the Premier League or La Liga”, which might push the Parisiens out of the frame.

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The 3AM Verdict: As we discussed in our article, we think this would be a good move for Arsenal, who don’t have much depth up front. Coman’s playing style should line up well with what Mikel Arteta wants from his attacking players and he can cover multiple positions – and while they’d surely have to pay a loan fee, taking a chance on him for one year at a cut price doesn’t sound like a bad move at all.

Foxes close in on cunning capture

There have been a flurry of reports recently which link Leicester City with a move for Greek striker Fotis Ioannidis, but HITC think that he might not be the only forward on their radar – apparently, the Foxes are “looking to get a deal over the line” for Bayer Leverkusen’s 22-year-old Czech attacker Adam Hložek.

Hložek scored seven goals during Leverkusen’s remarkable and almost-unbeaten 2023/24 season but fell behind others in the pecking order as the season wore on – and they could decide to let Leicester take him on loan, with an obligation to buy him for €15m (£13m) down the line.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s a lot of room to be a second-string player for Xabi Alonso’s side while being more than good enough for the Premier League, and Hložek should be a fantastic acquisition for that kind of price. He’s fast, technically solid and has an incredibly powerful shot on him, and at 22 has plenty of room to develop even further. If this report is right, then this could be some very sharp work by Leicester as they prepare for a possible relegation battle.

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AC Milan are looking for a striker while Tottenham are in the market for football’s next superstar.

As clubs across Europe continue to be mindful of financial regulations that now require them to spend more comfortably, the swap transfer is becoming an intriguing, growing trend in football - be it a player plus cash deal, or a simple exchange of two players with no fee going either way.

The prospect of a swap deal between Rafael Leao and Richarlison is intriguing, offering potential benefits and pitfalls for both AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur. On the surface, this could be seen as a win-win situation: Leao, a dynamic winger eager to make his mark in the Premier League, and Richarlison, a striker in need of a fresh start to rediscover his form. However, upon closer examination, the complexities of this scenario become apparent.

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Rafael Leao’s desire to test himself in the Premier League is understandable. The English top flight is the most watched and arguably the most competitive football league in the world. For a player of Leao’s calibre, it represents the ultimate stage to showcase his talent.

At Milan, Leao has proven himself as one of the most exciting wingers in Europe, capable of turning games on their head with his speed, dribbling, and finishing. A move to Tottenham could elevate his profile even further, especially under Ange Postecoglou, whose attacking philosophy would suit Leao’s style perfectly.

For Tottenham, acquiring Leao would be a significant coup. His presence on the left wing would provide Spurs with the width and directness needed to revitalise their attack, particularly as the club looks to rebound from a tumultuous period.

Pairing Leao with Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min, who could shift into a more central role, could create one of the most potent forward lines in the Premier League. However, the financial implications of such a deal cannot be ignored. Leao’s €150 million release clause is a major obstacle. While Spurs might negotiate this down by including Richarlison in the deal, Milan would likely still demand a substantial cash component, which could strain Tottenham’s budget.

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On the other side of the equation is Richarlison, a player who arrived at Tottenham with high expectations but has struggled to find his footing. The Brazilian’s challenges on and off the pitch have been well-documented, and his admission of dealing with depression highlights the human side of football that often gets overlooked. Richarlison’s talent is undeniable, but his form at Spurs has been inconsistent at best. A move to AC Milan could provide the fresh start he needs. Serie A, with its different style of play and less intense media scrutiny, might be the ideal environment for him to regain his confidence and realise his true potential.

For Milan, Richarlison represents both a risk and an opportunity. If he can rediscover his best form, he could be an excellent fit for the Rossoneri, providing the goals and physical presence they need upfront. Both players need a fresh start to be able to fulfil their potential and a move like that leaves everyone with a chance to shake hands and view this as a perfect start.

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Tottenham are looking to bring in a striker this summer to strengthen their squad.

It’s funny how things work out in the football world. Son Heung Min, now Tottenham’s captain, would not have been at the club if they had secured their first-choice target in the summer of 2015, a certain Saido Berahino.

The Lilywhites desperately wanted the former England youth star, and when they failed to land him, they got Son from Bayer Leverkusen, at the time most felt that he was an underwhelming signing. However, greatness has a way of surprising many, and Son has since gone on to establish himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League.

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A member of the Club 100 and perhaps second only to Harry Kane when it comes to the finest Tottenham players of recent history, Son has fought his way from being bought as an outsider to truly becoming a Spurs legend in every sense.

There is no doubt that Tottenham’s ideal first-choice striker this summer would be former Liverpool man Dominic Solanke. However, the Bournemouth forward will cost an arm and a leg, with reports claiming they’ll have to pay around £65million to get him - that is the reported fee in his release clause, and it’s hard to see the Cherries letting their talismanic forward leave for a penny less.

But if Spurs are looking to think smart and look outside the box, Serhou Guirassy, the second top scorer in the German Bundesliga last season, is a great option. He has all the qualities to be an absolute top performer in the Premier League and will relish the opportunity to test his craft against some of the very best in the game.

There has been so much hype around a number of strikers in Europe of late, but Guirassy has quietly gone about his business, consistently scoring for Stuttgart. Guirassy's technical skills, combined with his physical attributes, make him a good fit for the fast-paced and physically demanding nature of the Premier League. His ability to link up play, make intelligent runs, and finish chances aligns well with Tottenham's style of play, which emphasises quick transitions and effective use of attacking opportunities.

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He also has the unknown factor that most great strikers need to succeed when they come to the Premier League. The Guinean striker has the versatility to play in a number of attacking positions, which will help manager Ange Postecoglou make changes in the game without having to introduce new personnel.

Spurs need a hungry striker who is desperate for a big chance. While having someone with Premier League experience would be ideal, Guirassy's success in the French and German leagues shows that he can adapt and excel. His 28 goals from last season are evidence that he’s one of Europe’s red-hot strikers who can finally replace Kane in north London, the same man he generated competition within the Bundesliga last season playing for Stuttgart.

Tottenham have the cash and pedigree to get this deal across the line, and it will be refreshing for everyone associated with the club. A striker who has a point to prove and a consistent goal scorer.

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Football Manager 2024 predicts how the remainder of the summer transfer window could play out for Brighton.

It’s another new start for Brighton and Hove Albion as they put the finishing touches to their preparations for their first season under new head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

The former St Pauli boss was named as successor to Roberto Di Zerbi earlier this summer and has wasted little time in making changes to the squad he inherited from the Italian. New signings have arrived in the form of Newcastle United winger Yankuba Minteh, Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer and Nordsjaelland youngster Ibrahim Osman. There have been departures with midfield duo Pascal Gross and Adam Lallana heading for pastures new.

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With just over three weeks remaining in the transfer window, Hurzeler’s squad is highly likely to be added to as the German looks to enjoy a productive first season in charge of the Seagulls. To get a prediction of how the remainder of the window could play out, we fired up Football Manager 2024 to see what incomings and outgoings the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes will come to pass at the Amex Stadium.

Goalkeepers

It was a case of one-in, one out in the Seagulls goalkeeping department. irstly, the outgoing came in the final week of the window as Bart Verbruggen was tempted away by a £12m offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Etiffaq - although the main temptation may have come from an eye-watering £150,000-a-week wage offer. The Seagulls moved quickly to find a replacement as Lyon’s Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri arrived in a £4m deal.

Hurzeler’s goalkeeping options: Steele, Rushworth, Perri

Defenders

There was one departure from the Seagulls defensive ranks as Joel Veltman joined Lille in a £2m and there was a highly significant arrival as Hurzeler won the race to land Sporting CP’s highly-rated centre-back Ousmane Diomande in a £46m deal. The likes of Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid were all keen on the talented defender but he will start the new season at the Amex Stadium - in the virtual world anyway! Full-back Javi Galan also joined from Atletico Madrid.

Hurzeler’s defensive options: Webster, Van Hecke, Igor, Dunk, Estupinan, Barco, Lamptey, Diomande, Galan.

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Midfielders

There were no new arrivals in the Seagulls midfield ranks but there were departures as Mahmoud Dahoud joined Union Berlin on loan and Jakub Moder was allowed to move to Lens in a £6m deal. That added to the real-life exits of Pascal Gross and Adam Lallana as they joined Borussia Dortmund and Southampton respectively.

Hurzeler’s midfield options: Wieffer, Baleba, Gilmour, Hinshelwood, Yalcouye, Milner.

Forwards

Now there were serious changes at the top end of the pitch and a number of major sales. The biggest sale came with the departure of Evan Ferguson to Chelsea as the Republic of Ireland star cost the Blues an initial £65m - although the deal could go above £80m with add-ons.

Elsewhere, Deniz Undav completed a £13m move to Ajax, Jeremy Sarmiento joined Everton in a £6m deal and a £29m offer from Spurs was enough to tempt to the Seagulls into the sale of Julio Enciso. Facundo Buonanotte also departed as he joined Sporting in a £6m move. There were new arrivals as Richarlison was brought in from Spurs in a £21m and Arsenal academy product Reiss Nelson was captured for a fee of £7m.

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Hurzeler’s forward options: Mitoma, Adingra, March, Minteh, Pedro, Welbeck, Nelson, Richarlison.

Ins

Minteh (£30m from Newcastle), Wieffer (£25m from Feyenoord), Osman (£14m from Nordsjaelland), Richarlison (£21m from Tottenham Hotspur), Galan (£15m from Atletico Madrid), Nelson (£7m from Arsenal), Diomande (£46m from Sporting CP), Perri (£4m from Lyon)

Outs

Gross (£4m to Borussia Dortmund), Lallana (free to Southampton), Moder (£6m to Lens), Buonanotte (£6m to Sporting CP), Dahoud (loan to Union Berlin), Undav (£13m to Ajax), Veltman (£2m to Lille), Sarmiento (£6m to Everton), Enciso (£29m to Tottenham Hotspur), Verbruggen (£12m to Al-Etiffaq), Ferguson (£65m to Chelsea)

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Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a transfer bid for a striker who could get them the goals they need - but the deal could become more complicated.

Tottenham Hotspur need a striker – more than two months after the disappointing end of the 2023/24 season, that remains as true as ever, and 15 goals in five pre-season friendlies hasn’t changed the fact that Ange Postecoglou wants to live in a world where Son Heung-Min is a left winger and Spurs have someone worthy of taking on the number nine shirt. Spurs have a lot going for them right now, but they simply need to score more goals. That could be where Dominic Solanke comes in.

Last season, Spurs scored the fewest of any of the teams that finished in the top seven, and only two of their players made it into double figures in the league – the aforementioned Son, of course, who did a fine job as a makeshift striker but only generated another vacancy elsewhere, and Richarlison, whose inconsistency seems to have worn Postecoglou’s patience down. Solanke, meanwhile, cracked in 19 goals despite playing for a team that had far less creative muscle in their squad.

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Several media outlets, including the Metro, have reported that Spurs have approached Bournemouth about signing the former Chelsea and Liverpool striker in the hopes of agreeing a deal that would come in a little way under his conditional £65m release clause. TeamTalk, meanwhile, have even suggested that Spurs will try to drive the price down even further by including one of their extraneous squad members.

Whatever the eventual financial specifics look like, Spurs are the first and thus far only team to have made a move for Solanke despite reports linking him with other teams. Perhaps those sides are put off by the substantial price tag or by the fact that he only has one strong Premier League season in his locker, or even by his relatively limited (or focussed, if you prefer) skill set. But that skill set could well be just what Spurs need.

They don’t lack for creativity, innovation, technique and pace in midfielder, after all. Between Son, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Dejan Kulusevski and company you can put together a supporting cast which has elegance guile or raw pace or anything else in between, but they need someone who knows how to put the pieces of the puzzle together – a forward with the knack of finding and exploiting half-yards of space and sticking the ball in the back of the net.

Solanke has the guile to find those little pockets of space and the physicality to get the better of defenders. He isn’t a great technician and his first touch can be imperfect, and he isn’t necessarily a first-rate finisher (he actually slightly undershot his xG last season) but he now has the nous to get himself into scoring positions time and again, and that begets goals. It’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t keep scoring at any team which could keep the supply coming – and Spurs should be able to do that. Finishing touch is one of the few big things they lacked last season, and it cost them a place in the top four.

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So on almost every level, a bid for Solanke makes quite a lot of sense. One could argue in favour of other options and one could question the cost, but perhaps that could, as has been suggested, be eased by sending one of the Spurs’ many unwanted back-ups down to Dorset in part-exchange.

The TeamTalk article cites un-named sources in naming a list of potential makeweights – Sergio Reguilón and Djed Spence, full-backs who have spent the last year farmed out on loan; Oliver Skipp and Giovani Lo Celso, midfielders who are firmly behind others in the pecking order; and Alejo Véliz, the young Argentine striker who struggled to make a strong first impression after signing last summer. Bournemouth, it is implied, could pretty much take their pick.

The Cherries don’t desperately need a full-back given the performances of Milos Kerkez and Adam Smith last season, but the latter is 33 now and Max Aarons hasn’t had the impact that was hoped for. Spence is a decade younger and while he may have lost his way a little through an injury-riddled period of his career, he did decently well at Genoa over the second half of last season and has apparently impressed Postecoglou in pre-season.

Véliz would be a replacement of sorts for Solanke but endured a frustrating year after signing for £13m from Rosario Central a year ago, managing just one goal between eight games at Tottenham and a loan spell at Sevilla. His best years are, no doubt, ahead of him, but there is scant evidence that he has the chops to fill a Solanke-shaped hole on the south coast just yet.

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Which leaves the midfielders – Skipp is a fine passer with excellent range who can time a tackle, but between Lewis Cook, Philip Billing and Alex Scott, there is a possibility that central midfield isn’t seen as a major priority right now, although manager Andoni Iraola has been experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 formation in pre-season which would put more emphasis on a combative midfield pairing in which Skipp could well flourish.

That same system could easily create space for Lo Celso, whose raw statistics as a creative number ten or left winger are very impressive but who has nevertheless been restricted to intermittent starts at the occasional late cameos. Postecoglou simply doesn’t rate him as highly as other players at his disposal, but he is still a deft little player with an eye for goal and a good first touch. If Bournemouth need a number ten – and they probably will if the tweaked system sticks – then Lo Celso could be a very enticing and economical option.

Of course, there’s always the other option, which is to take the cash and make their own signings rather than picking through Tottenham’s leavings. But Spurs may well have more spare players than space in the profit and sustainability ledger, and Bournemouth could easily upgrade their squad from the squad men that Postecoglou is happy to cut adrift. In the age of amortised purchases and instant cash on the balance sheet after a sale, it’s highly unlikely that the two clubs would agree an ‘actual’ part-exchange, preferring separate transactions instead, but don’t be entirely surprised if Solanke moving to Spurs sees someone moving the other way, as well.