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Fabrizio Romano believes Tottenham Hotspur are very much still interested in Dusan Vlahovic, despite sporting director Fabio Paratici claiming otherwise…

What’s the word?

Earlier this week, the Italian supremo poured cold water on Spurs’ mooted interest in the Fiorentina talisman, claiming to Festival dello Sport (via Romano): “Dusan Vlahovic is appreciated by many clubs, it’s normal – he’s not in our plans, for now.”

However, the transfer guru has dropped a fresh claim during a recent episode of the ‘Here We Go’ podcast that seems to refute such comments.

“Vlahovic is a bit different. The feeling I have because what he [Paratici] said is that ‘he is not in our plans for now’ and in Paratici language that means he is pursuing the player,” revealed the Italian journalist.

“We know about it because last summer, Tottenham were really interested in Vlahovic. They were looking at him as [a] potential Harry Kane backup, not [a] replacement.

“Tottenham are still following this boy, as are Atletico Madrid and other English clubs, and Italian clubs, so there will be a big fight for Vlahovic. Let’s see if it’ll be January or next summer but he is leaving Fiorentina.”

Sneaky Paratici

This latest development should leave much of the Lilywhites faithful on the edge of their seats and whilst it may come as a surprise, it is well-known Paratici operates in this manner.

Harry Kane has struggled for goals in the Premier League so far this campaign, failing to find the net in five starts, but he still does not have a viable senior backup behind him, with Nuno Santo sometimes turning to 17-year-old gem Dane Scarlett in other competitions.

Vlahovic is a firm contender to fill such a void and it would certainly give the Portuguese coach another valuable option to either start alongside the England talisman or to replace him from the bench.

The 21-year-old scored a whopping 21 goals in 37 appearances in the Serie A side last season and has continued such form into the new campaign, where he has found the net a further six times in just eight matches, as per Transfermarkt.

La Viola’s goal machine has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which is hardly a surprise given his 6 foot 3 slender frame, whilst former Italy international Christian Vieri believes he’s the strongest young forward in Europe, behind Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Dubbed a “complete number nine” by Italian football expert Conor Clancy to This is Futbol, Vlahovic could well be in Spurs’ sights despite Paratici trying to throw off the scent and that ultimately should leave many supporters thrilled.

AND in other news, Nuno may have his own Varane in “talented” 18 y/o gem who can help Spurs save millions…

Tottenham Hotspur are confident of bringing Barcelona defender Emerson Royal into the club today, whilst are ‘pushing for more’ signings, as reported by talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook on Twitter.

The Lowdown: Nuno and Paratici add final pieces to new-look squad

Set for a busy day in north London, Nuno Espirito Santo will no doubt be looking to spend his transfer kitty wisely between now and the deadline, with a focus on building a squad challenging for Champions League qualification this campaign after a strong start to the season.

Despite losing some experienced figures this summer, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss has bolstered his roster considerably, signing Bryan Gil, Cristian Romero, Pierluigi Gollini and Pape Matar Sarr, who will stay on loan at FC Metz [Transfermarkt].

With Barcelona ace Emerson expected to be next through the door, Nuno and director of football, Fabio Paratici, who has played a key role in recruitment this summer, look hungry for more additions.

The Latest: Spurs still ‘pushing for more’

Relaying information to his large audience on Twitter, talkSPORT’s Crook claimed: “THFC confident of making at least one signing today (Emerson Royal) but I’m told they are pushing for more.”

There are no clear indications as to who Paratici’s next target could be, while the likes of Ruben Neves and Adama Traore are perhaps the most recent links [The Sun].

The Verdict: Spurs fans will be pleased with transfer activity this window

In what is an exciting update for Lilywhites’ supporters, concerns about the amount of financial backing Daniel Levy may give the new manager will have been slightly allayed in what has been a positive transfer window for the club.

Solving the right-back area will have been a key priority for Nuno and Paratici in recent months, which looks to be nearing completion in the form of Brazilian talent Emerson, whilst another body in midfield would go a long way to appeasing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful.

Only time will tell with regards to whether Spurs make any further captures, however at the very least they seem to be moving in the right direction to doing so.

In other news, Spurs face a transfer blow for a reported target. Find out more here.

Writing for Eurosport, reporter Dean Jones has shared the latest on Antonio Conte and Dele Alli amid consistent unrest surrounding his future.

The Lowdown: Alli fighting for Spurs career?

The 25-year-old has been on a downward trajectory since Jose Mourinho’s first full season at the club and arguably before, with the attacker’s market value dropping severely in recent seasons.

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Alli was given the cold shoulder by Mourinho for a vast majority of last season which even saw him heavily linked with a loan move to Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain last January.

However, chairman Daniel Levy blocked a reunion with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, and Alli has seemingly been fighting to revive his Tottenham career ever since.

The England international has been criticised for his poor showings over 2021/22 as he given more chances, but his new boss Antonio Conte seems intent on turning around his fortunes.

The Latest: Jones shares Alli update…

Writing for Eurosport, transfer reporter Jones said that Tottenham expect interest in Alli to ramp up ‘in the coming weeks’.

However, the Italian personally believes that he can ‘unlock’ the midfielder and get him back to his best at N17. Meanwhile, Alli is eager to work with Conte in an attempt to rejuvenate his form.

The Verdict: Last chance saloon…

Levy’s days of wanting £45m for the player last January seem all but long gone as things stand, with a report from earlier this year later stating that Tottenham were willing to offload the 25-year-old for around £25m at a discounted price.

It appears that Spurs will have to either cut their ties for a much smaller fee touted than in previous years or hope that Conte can work his magic and somehow ‘unlock’ Alli.

After Pochettino, he’s the third manager to come in and attempt to do so, with both Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo either unable to get the best out of him or simply deciding to drop him altogether.

The 2018 World Cup star’s contract doesn’t expire until 2024, so there is still time for him to resurrect his Spurs career, but the clock is surely ticking.

In other news: Eight players now safe from Spurs axe after impressing Conte behind the scenes, find out more here.

Manchester United’s attempts to secure a replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have taken a significant blow after both Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui were ruled out of the running. 

What’s the story?

The Spanish pair were believed to be part of an extensive list of managerial targets being considered by the Old Trafford hierarchy, but it appears as though they will now have to turn their attention to alternative targets.

According to well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, neither Enrique or Lopetegui are interested in joining United, with both men focussed on their current positions.

He tweeted: “Luis Enrique won’t be involved in any talk with Manchester United. He’s only planning for the World Cup with Spain and he’s not gonna change his mind. #MUFC Sevilla manager Jules Lopetegui also denied Man Utd job chance: ‘It seems absurd to me’.”

Man Utd fans will be gutted

News that both the Spanish national team manager and Sevilla boss aren’t interested in taking charge of the Red Devils will leave large sections of the club’s fanbase feeling wounded.

Enrique and Lopetegui have cultivated enviable reputations as highly-regarded tacticians for their impressive work in their homeland, but the lure of Manchester isn’t what it once was.

The duo join Ajax boss Erik ten Hag in exiting the race to become Solsskjaer’s successor, with the whole affair threatening to turn into a rather embarrassing circus for the Glazers and co.

It was recently reported by ESPN that United have had an initial approach rebuffed by Paris Saint-Germain as they attempt to prize Mauricio Pochettino away from the French capital, meaning an interim manager is now likely to take the reins.

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Several intriguing candidates such as Ralf Rangnick, Ernesto Valverde and Rudi Garcia have emerged as favourites for that particular role, but that approach is unlikely to go down well with the supporters.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013, the 20-time English champions have been through six temporary and permanent managers. The time for stability and long-term planning has now arrived.

Therefore, Romano’s latest revelation regarding Enrique and Lopetegui will be hugely disappointing for everyone associated with United, and they’ll be hoping for a quick resolution to their managerial conundrum.

And, in other news…Big Man United manager update issued live on Sky Sports, fans will be concerned 

Celtic have opened talks with Sunderland striker Charlie Wyke ahead of a cut-price move to Parkhead.

The Lowdown: Wyke keen on Parkhead move

Wyke is out of contract at the Stadium of Light at the end of the month, and therefore, could move to Celtic Park for nothing.

He’s scored 41 goals for Sunderland in 113 appearances, 30 of which came last season.

Reports have recently suggested he is ‘very keen’ to make the move north and join Ange Postecoglou’s side, and it appears as if a potential deal has taken another step forward.

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The Latest: Talks underway

Football Insider shared a story on Wednesday, claiming the Hoops were set for talks with the Black Cats striker this week.

They then shared a piece on Thursday, where Alex McLeish was giving his thoughts on a potential move.

In that story, Football Insider, informed by a ‘recruitment source’, added that talks are now officially underway between the two parties.

Celtic are set to offer the forward, who Kevin Campbell called ‘exceptional in the air’, a long-term contract.

The Verdict: A smart signing?

With no transfer fee required and Wyke on £6,400-a-week at Sunderland, this could be a shrewd piece of business by the Hoops.

Wyke has just recorded his best season in front of goal, so you’d expect he’d be full of confidence heading into the new campaign.

Leigh Griffiths’ Celtic future is up in the air, and should Postecoglou decide against offering him a new deal, Wyke could well take his place.

All directions seemingly lead to Parkhead at this moment in time for Wyke, but as we know, nothing is done until the player signs on the dotted line, so fans will have to wait a little while longer for any confirmed news.

In other news: Hoops keen on international winger, find out more here. 

Pep Guardiola looks set to receive a huge boost at Manchester City this week, with reports suggesting that Phil Foden is set to sign a new contract.

According to the Daily Star, a new six-year deal coupled worth £150k per week has been offered to the 21-year-old after his superb performances in recent seasons.

The City academy graduate established himself as a key player in Guardiola’s side after having to make do with a bit-part role in previous seasons and emphasised the immense quality he possesses with incredible displays in the Premier League and Champions League.

The England international would contribute 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for the Citizens, with the young Englishman finishing as the joint-third top scorer in the Premier League of those in Guardiola’s side last season.

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While he is currently contracted at the Etihad until 2024 and valued at £72m by Transfermarkt, which essentially makes him untouchable in the transfer market, he is one of the lowest earners in the first-team squad and his performances more than warrant an improved deal, one which will keep the 21-year-old happy and ensure that it is near impossible for another club to tempt him away from the Etihad.

Guardiola faced some criticism for not playing Foden more when he was a teenager but his performances last season justify the Spanish manager’s decision to keep him at the club rather than loaning him out.

He explained his reasoning back in 2019, saying:

“The people say he doesn’t play too much. He is 18 years old and he has played a lot of minutes.

“The people say he should be on loan; Phil Foden will not be on loan. All the time he is here he will be close to me because he is an incredibly talented player.”

Foden has certainly proven himself in the Premier League since those comments were made and he looks set to be a key part of the City and England sides for the next 10 years, so it can only be good news that he is on the brink of signing a new and improved contract.

And, in other news… Guardiola may soon have his own Neymar at Man City with teenage wonderkid

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge believes West Ham United could make a deadline day move to sign Jesse Lingard.

The Manchester United creative midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan with the Hammers and rediscovered his best form, scoring nine goals and grabbing five assists in just 16 appearances.

Lingard returned to Old Trafford following the expiry of his temporary move to the London Stadium but has been granted just four minutes of action so far this term.

The 28-year-old has entered the final year of his £75,000-per-week contract and is set to see his first-team opportunities limited further thanks to the impending return of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports suggest United would be willing to sell England international Lingard for £25million.

Bridge believes West Ham, along with a number of other Premier League clubs, could look to seal a late deal if the Red Devils confirm Lingard is for sale.

He told The Transfer Tavern: “The understanding I have is they’ve left it in his hands.

“Lingard had such a brilliant loan and I think if Manchester United do make him available, you’d get a lot of Premier League clubs after him.

“I think he did his reputation the world of good at West Ham.”

Southampton have recently been linked with Everton midfielder Tom Davies recently but he would be a poor addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, Southampton have reignited their interest in the 22-year-old midfielder, having failed to sign him last year, and they will move for him this summer if they are given any encouragement by Everton.

The report suggests that Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is a big fan of the England U21 international, which suggests that the Toffees would not be willing to part ways with the youngster for less than his current market value of £14.4m.

Would he be a good signing?

Davies’ performances in recent seasons do little to suggest that he would be a good signing at Southampton this summer.

This season saw the Englishman make 25 appearances in the Premier League, in which he failed to contribute a single goal or assist, averaging a woeful 6.46 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This would rank him as the 17th-best performer in Everton’s side this season, whereas if he had produced the same level of performance at St Mary’s, he would’ve been ranked as the 15th-best player this season.

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Considering Hasenhuttl has suggested that Southampton will target players under £10m this summer, it is difficult to see the Austrian shelling out more than that on a player who would surely struggle to oust Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse in the Saints midfield.

Earlier in the season, Sky Sports journalist Alan Myers was full of praise for Davies, saying:

“Tom Davies has been a player who’s increased performance-wise incredibly over the last few months. He’s had a lot of stick from fans and other areas, and he’s come back really well and is playing really well, so I’m glad to see him back.”

However, it is difficult to see how he would be an improvement on the options currently available to Hasenhuttl in midfield and considering how much he would likely cost, this is a transfer that the Austrian should definitely avoid this summer.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl could evolve his Saints attack with swoop for “unbelievable” star

Aston Villa are interested in signing Rangers defender Filip Helander in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Helander’s season over

The 28-year-old is currently sidelined with a foot injury picked up earlier this month and he is not expected to play again for the Gers this season.

It has been an injury-plagued campaign for Helander, who has been limited to just six Scottish Premiership starts, failing to play much of a part in proceedings.

Now, a new report is claiming that the Swede may have played his last game for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

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The Latest: Villa keen on move

According to Football Insider, a Villa source claims that Steven Gerrard is a big admirer of Helander and wants to sign him, having worked with him at Ibrox.

The former Rangers manager is thought to be ‘closely monitoring his situation’, with the player’s current deal expiring at the end of next season.

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The Verdict: Hard to say no

Helander would be a big loss for Rangers, having averaged a colossal 4.3 aerial duel wins per game in last year’s title-winning season, not to mention three per match in 2021/22.

The lure of linking up with Gerrard again and also playing in the Premier League could be too good to turn down, however, in what are the peak years of his career, especially if the Gers miss out on Champions League football.

The hope is that Helander recovers from his injury problems and remains at Ibrox but it is easy to envisage a situation where he is in a Villa shirt next season, where Gerrard is expected to replace Tyrone Mings.

In other news, another Premier League are also eyeing up a Rangers player. Read more here.

Lee Ryder has shared an important update on Newcastle United’s Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) takeover case against the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Ashley’s claims

Mike Ashley has launched two separate claims against the top flight the CAT lawsuit over the decision-making process in the failing of the deal between him and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium, and the arbitration case, which is set to take place this month.

Liam Kennedy, journalist for The Shields Gazette who has been following the latest developments in the whole takeover saga closely, has also claimed that the division’s attempts to have the CAT case thrown out ‘seem to have failed’, while the push for a private hearing, and more delays, ‘goes on’.

The Latest: CAT update

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Ryder has shared that the St. James’ Park faithful’s CAT claim against the Premier League has been delayed once more until July 12th.

The Hon. Mr Justice Roth, in court documents (via The Chronicle) has stated: “The Defendant is granted an extension of time in which to file and serve its evidence in reply until 5pm on 12 July 2021.

“I am satisfied that the requested short extension of seven days will not prejudice the listing of the hearing of the Jurisdiction Application and is reasonable given the concurrent demands on the Defendant in preparing for the arbitration proceedings.”

The Verdict: Delay tactics

It certainly seems that the top flight are trying to delay the CAT case from happening, given that their attempts to have it thrown out ‘seem to have failed’, as per Kennedy.

This would be in line with an accusation made by Mehrdad Ghodoussi, the husband of consortium member Amanda Staveley, who claimed that the division are using ‘delay tactics’.

This could be seen as the Premier League losing confidence over whether they would be able to win the case, and so delaying it further would give them more time to prepare for it.

Nonetheless, with the arbitration hearing set to take place this month too, it is certainly set up to be quite the legal battle between them and the North East club.

In other news, find out what takeover sources have said about arbitration recently here!