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Tottenham have thrusted themselves back into the market for a new playmaker, aiming to put their Eberechi Eze disaster behind them.

Spurs’ transfer plans were dealt a brutal blow after losing out on Eze in midweek, with Arsenal swooping in to hijack their deal on Wednesday night.

Daniel Levy earmarked the Crystal Palace star as their next marquee summer signing, a creative spark to soften the loss of Son Heung-min and cover for James Maddison’s devastating ACL injury. But just when it seemed they were in pole position, Arsenal made their move.

The Gunners opened talks with Palace and quickly accelerated negotiations. Eze, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, agreed to the switch despite also shaking hands on personal terms with Thomas Frank’s side.

For Tottenham, it’s a gut punch. The club had identified Eze as the player to carry the creative burden, particularly after Maddison’s long-term setback left a gaping hole in the number 10 role.

Losing out on him to their north London rivals only rubs more salt in the wound, especially after weeks of groundwork laid behind the scenes.

Spurs are now left scrambling for alternatives, but there’s no hiding the frustration. Eze ticked every box: proven Premier League quality, versatility across the front line, and the confidence to deliver in big moments. His numbers at Palace speak volumes, but it’s his ability to glide past defenders and unlock stubborn backlines that Frank will miss most.

Whoever comes in Eze’s stead will be crucial, and there is someone who the Tottenham recruitment team seriously want to sign.

Tottenham think Morgan Rogers is the "perfect" Eberechi Eze alternative

Speaking on his YouTube channel after Eze’s move to Arsenal broke, Fabrizio Romano shared that their dream number 10 alternative is Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

The England winger, valued at around £80 million, bagged a sensational 14 goals and 16 assists in all competitions last term as Unai Emery’s key attacking star, and he has real admirers inside Spurs.

Romano says Tottenham view Rogers as the “perfect” candidate for their attacking midfield role, but as things stand, it’s an almost impossible deal to pull off.

He mentions other candidates in his video, like Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, but the prospect of an ambitious late move for Rogers is very tantalising, albeit unlikely.

Rafael Leao has revealed how idols like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka inspired him to choose AC Milan over rivals Inter. The Portuguese winger admitted Lille once tried to push him towards the Nerazzurri, but he refused the move, staying true to his dream of wearing the Rossoneri shirt. Although currently sidelined by injury, the winger remains central to their hopes this season.

Leao reveals childhood icons behind Milan choice

The Portugal international admitted his childhood admiration for stars such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and Clarence Seedorf meant there was only one club he wanted to join. Milan’s European pedigree, including seven Champions League titles, made his decision clear when it came to choosing between the Rossoneri and Inter.

AdvertisementAFPPortuguese star reveals Inter rejection

Speaking on the podcast Leao revealed how close he came to signing for Inter while at Lille. He said: "I was about to go to Inter, crazy. The sporting director [of Lille] told me: 'Rafa, we are about to sell you to Inter', I said: 'no, I did very well this season, I want to stay another season to improve further and increase my confidence for the next challenge'. But he told me: 'No, no, I have to sell you, it's an excellent opportunity for you, for us, it's a lot of money'. But I said no to Inter."

He added: "Since I was a child, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka, Seedorf, those players you saw or heard about, were history. Then you know, seven Champions Leagues, only Real Madrid has more. Between Milan and Inter, Milan a hundred times."

Injury absence leaves Milan waiting

The 25-year-old has been unavailable since suffering a calf injury against Bari in the Coppa Italia on August 17, a game where he scored. Last season he managed 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances, underlining his importance to Milan’s attack. His absence has left Allegri’s side relying on Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez in their recent Serie A run.

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Getty ImagesNapoli clash looms as fitness test

The Rossoneri will first aim to progress in the Coppa Italia against Leece before preparing for the big clash against reigning champions Napoli. Allegri confirmed Leao is not yet ready, but his fitness will be assessed this week as Milan hope their star winger can return in time for the high-profile Serie A showdown.

Liverpool’s summer transfer window continues to be a spectacle, with the Premier League champions looking to close several deals before the end of the month after welcoming a series of high-class players to Arne Slot’s squad already.

The likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike combined gorgeously against Crystal Palace at Wembley, and despite Liverpool losing the Community Shield, the attacking potential crackled between the two up-and-coming superstars.

Even so, FSG are determined to add another striker to Liverpool’s ranks, with a bid ongoing for Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak, whose relationship with the St. James’ Park side appears well and truly broken.

However, Liverpool are also looking to sign a centre-back, and that might even be a more pressing area of concern for the Merseysiders. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi appears to be the first-choice target, but he’s not the only one on the radar.

The latest on Liverpool's transfer plans

Whether Liverpool manage to pull off the signing of Isak remains to be seen, but the Magpies are stricken by the striker’s stance and a deal, while more and more probable, won’t be easy to seal.

But Liverpool are focused on strengthening in defence, too, where the likes of Guehi and Parma’s Giovanni Leoni are the most noteworthy targets.

Yet, their shortlist doesn’t stop there.

According to Spanish reports, Liverpool have quietly entered the race for Ronald Araujo, who might be free to leave Barcelona this summer in the case of a compelling offer.

La Blaugrana’s ongoing financial worries could see an offer accepted for the Uruguayan centre-back, with the whispers in Spain suggesting Liverpool are preparing a bid in the region of €60m (about £51m).

Why Liverpool should sign Ronald Araujo

Though Guehi has been Liverpool’s top target to bolster Slot’s central defence this summer, Araujo is just now emerging as an option, and he might be the better pick.

Hailed as “one of the best defenders in the world” by Barcelona legend Carlos Puyol, Araujo has played a crucial role for the La Liga giants across his career so far, twice winning the top-flight title and bagging two Copa del Rey trophies too.

FSG may be putting their vested efforts into signing Isak, and will hopefully get that one over the line, but it wasn’t bluntness in attack that raised concerns during the season’s curtain-raiser at Wembley.

Instead, their defence is now undoubtedly the biggest issue for Slot and Co. Virgil van Dijk flattered to deceive in the capital, and though he’s one of the finest centre-backs of his generation, the error-strewn display raised the unwonted question as to the Dutchman’s smoothness and control in the rearguard.

That’s not to mention Joe Gomez’s injury, Jarell Quansah’s exit and Ibou Konate’s uncertain future. Putting it bluntly, the Reds need a defender more than they need a striker.

For this reason, signing a player of Araujo’s standing is a job of paramount importance for Hughes and co, especially when considering he might be an even better player than Crystal Palace’s Guehi.

Marc Guehi vs Ronald Araujo (past 365 days)
Stats (per 90)	Guehi	Araujo
Goals scored	0.09	0.12
Assists	0.06	0.12
Shot-creating actions	1.29	1.43
Touches	62.70	95.25
Pass completion	83.5%	91.9%
Progressive passes	3.94	5.85
Progressive carries	0.65	0.72
Successful take-ons	0.35	0.00
Tackles + interceptions	2.62	2.51
Clearances	4.80	2.98
Aerials won	2.00	3.94
Stats via FBref

It’s worth noting the vast difference in aerial ability between Guehi and Araujo, the latter of whom is considered to be a “monster” by analyst Raj Chohan and “one of the best in the world” by Barca boss Hansi Flick too. In this way, he could replace Liverpool’s ageing skipper both physically and from a leadership perspective.

That’s not to say that Guehi, who has captained Palace to two titles, isn’t a standout leader in his own right, but merely showcases a similar strength to Araujo’s game, alongside his remarkable technical skills and ferocious athleticism.

Van Dijk’s performance at Wembley left plenty to be desired, and with that in mind, it’s clear that a title-winning defender of Araujo’s ability could prove the perfect signing to close out the summer transfer window, maybe even proving to be even more important than getting Isak’s signature over the line.

While the Sweden striker, who scored 27 times last season, is regarded as one of the best forwards in world football, Liverpool feel they have hit the jackpot on Ekitike, who bagged on his debut.

Signing a central defender presents a more pressing concern, and if Liverpool are in with a shout of signing Araujo this month, he might just turn out to be the club’s most significant piece of business.

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Manchester City are now weighing up whether to hijack their Premier League rivals’ move for a “game-changer”, according to a report.

Man City looking to sign new attackers before deadline

Despite already bringing in Rayan Cherki this summer, Man City may be tempted to bring in more attacking options before the transfer deadline, given that Jack Grealish joined Everton on a season-long loan deal, and there is speculation surrounding Savinho’s future.

Indeed, Tottenham Hotspur have been named as potential suitors for the winger, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed Pep Guardiola would like to bring in another Brazilian forward as a replacement.

However, there is widespread interest in Rodrygo, with Liverpool also considering a move, alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta’s side very serious about signing the forward.

As such, it could be difficult for Man City to win the race for the Real Madrid star, but he is not the only attacker on their shortlist, with a report from talkSPORT revealing they are now considering a stunning hijack of Chelsea’s deal for Xavi Simons.

Simons has struck an agreement on personal terms over a move to Stamford Bridge, but given that a club-to-club deal has not been finalised, there is still time for City to make a late move for the RB Leipzig star, who is valued at £60m.

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The west Londoners are hoping to pay just over £50m, meaning the deal has now stalled, potentially opening the door for the Dutchman to move to the Etihad Stadium.

"Game-changer" Simons could be exciting addition for City

Since making the move to Germany, the former Paris Saint-Germain man has been a reliable source of goals and assists for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, showcasing that he could now be ready to test himself in the Premier League.

Season

Goals

Assists

2023-24

8

13

2024-25

10

7

The Amsterdam-born attacker is also a versatile player, capable of playing on both wings and through the middle, indicating that he could be a like-for-like replacement for Jack Grealish.

Once lauded as a “game-changer” by ESPN’s Tom Hamilton, Simons could be an exciting addition for City, but they have a difficult decision on their hands when it comes to deciding whether to pursue the Netherlands international or Rodrygo.

The Brazil international is thought to be Guardiola’s “dream target”, and he is more experienced at the top level, having scored 25 Champions League goals.

However, given that a deal for Rodrygo could amount to £86m, it would be more financially prudent to sign Simons, and there is every indication the RB Leipzig man could be just as successful at the Etihad Stadium.

كشف أحمد حسام ميدو مهاجم الزمالك الأسبق، عن إتمام الأهلي للاتفاق مع المدير الفني الجديد لتولى مهمة فريق الكرة خلال الفترة المقبلة.

ويأتي ذلك في ظل سعي الأهلي للتعاقد مع مدرب صاحب خبرة بعد رحيل الإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو، ومواصلة البحث عن قيادة قادرة على إعادة الفريق إلى منصات التتويج القارية والمحلية.

وقال أحمد حسام ميدو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة النهار: “المدرب الجديد للأهلي سيتولى المسؤولية بعد مباراة الأهلي والزمالك”.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي والزمالك مساء الإثنين 29 سبتمبر الجاري، في إطار لقاءات الجولة التاسعة من بطولة الدوري المصري.

وأكمل: “برونو لاجي المدير الفني السابق لبنفيكا وولفرهامبتون تلقى عرضا رسميا عن طريق خالد مرتجي ليكون المدير الفني القادم للأهلي، وهو مدرب يلعب كرة هجومية”.

طالع | قائمة الأهلي لمباراة حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري.. موقف أحمد عبد القادر

وأردف: “تحدثت مع أكثر من شخص من البرتغال وأكدوا لي أن هناك عرض رسمي لبرونو لاجي، وسيتولى المسؤولية بعد مباراة الزمالك، وسيتم الإعلان عنه قبل لقاء القمة”.

وأتم: “أي مدرب سيتولى القيادة الفنية للأهلي مهمته لن تكون سهلة، يوجد لاعبين كبار في الفريق يحتاجون إلى مدرب يمتلك الشخصية”.

Real Madrid’s superiority was challenged in the early 2000s as Valencia disrupted La Liga’s natural order, and Galácticos legend Zinedine Zidane has revealed he requested the signing of an England legend to put Madrid back on their perch.

Zidane and Real’s path to the 2001/02 Champions League final was one of the great knockout runs in club football history, beating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and arch-rivals Barcelona in the last four, before besting an elite Bayer Leverkusen team led by Michael Ballack in the final.

The French football legend scored perhaps his most famous goal in that final, volleying home Roberto Carlos’ looped cross from the edge of the box to win the match 2-1.

However, that triumph was the start of somewhat of a trophy drought by Madrid’s own lofty standards. They won the La Liga title the following year, but did not win another top flight title until 2007 and had to wait until 2011 before their next cup win, which was the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona accompanied English and Italian sides in dominating Europe’s elite competition, as Real president Florentino Perez adopted a policy of superstar signings to regain their status as Kings of the continent.

Luis Figo

2000

€60m

Barcelona

Zinedine Zidane

2001

€73.5m

Juventus

Ronaldo Nazario

2002

€45m

Inter

David Beckham

2003

€37.5m

Man Utd

Michael Owen

2004

€9m

Liverpool

Robinho

2005

€24m

Santos

Sergio Ramos

2005

€27m

Sevilla

Fabio Cannavaro

2006

€10m

Juventus

Ruud van Nistelrooy

2006

€14m

Man Utd

Kaka

2009

€67m

Milan

Karim Benzema

2009

€30m

Lyon

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009

€94m

Man Utd

Xabi Alonso

2009

€35.5m

Liverpool

Perez made a habit of luring the Premier League’s top talents to the Spanish capital, with Xabi Alonso revealing how Real tempted him: “I was really happy with the team (Liverpool) and my team-mates and felt that we could do great things.

“I was happy on that side but within a club you have to see the big picture and another season would have been too much for me. It was very difficult to take that decision (to leave) but it was probably for the best for me because if I had stayed another season it would have been uncomfortable for me.”

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However, not everyone caved to the temptation, with Zidane revealing he specifically asked Perez to sign Steven Gerrard, only for the Liverpool captain to refuse the move.

Zidane named Gerrard the 'best player in the world'

Indeed, Real Madrid tried to sign Gerrard once in 2005 and again in 2009, potentially making him one of their biggest signings of the Galácticos era, and Zidane claims it was him who pushed Perez to make the move, as he believed the Reds star was the number one player in world football.

Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Premier League history despite never winning a league title with Liverpool, while his best finish on the Ballon d’Or podium was third in 2005, placing behind Ronaldinho and Frank Lampard.

There’s no doubt the Liverpool superstar was let down by his teammates in the quest to add team trophies to his individual accolades, and one has to wonder how his status in the game would be viewed if he had joined Madrid at Zidane’s request.

Newcastle United haven’t quite got going in the summer transfer window, but Eddie Howe has a plan and is beginning to put it into action.

Despite missing out on a host of top targets, the Tynesiders will be confident that they can make something meaningful out of a transfer window that is preceded by the Magpies’ success in winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.

They will need to recover from the slew of setbacks which has seen them miss out on Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Joao Pedro.

And things are gathering pace on that front.

Newcastle looking to kickstart transfer window

Newcastle have reportedly launched a fresh attempt worth £50m + to sign Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga and their pursuit of new talent isn’t going to stop there.

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is also anticipated to be on the verge of joining the St. James’ Park ranks, having been hailed for his “world-class” level by manager Scott Parker earlier in 2025.

With a goalkeeper and a new winger potentially ticked off, it’s over to the midfield. While it isn’t regarded as the highest priority by Howe and Co, the opportunity to sign Matteo Guendouzi might be too good to resist.

As per reports in Italy, translated by Sport Witness, Newcastle have joined Aston Villa and rivals Sunderland in preparing a bid for the Lazio midfielder, who is valued at €50m (£43m).

Guendouzi, 26, is a valued member of Maurizio Sarri’s squad, but financial concerns may force them to cash in.

Why Newcastle want Matteo Guendouzi

France international and former Arsenal star Guendouzi never hit his finest form when cutting his teeth as a Gunner, however, he was always regarded as a “monster in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

He completed 66 fixtures under Unai Emery’s wing before moving back to his homeland. A stint with Marseille led to rehousing in the Serie A with Lazio, where he has now performed for the past two campaigns, featuring prominently.

His combative and progressive mix of qualities, hardened by his time in Italy, suggests he could be Howe’s next version of Sandro Tonali, who served as an inimitable maestro for Newcastle last season.

Guendouzi, indeed, ranked among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Press-resistant and confident in their roles, Guendouzi would add competition for the Italian, who was so instrumental for Newcastle’s incredible resurgence last term.

Indeed, with Sean Longstaff potentially being sold, the need for such a signing is underscored.

Matches (starts)

36 (28)

37 (37)

Goals

4

1

Assists

2

3

Touches*

53.4

68.3

Pass completion

86%

91%

Big chances created

4

3

Key passes*

0.8

1.2

Dribbles (success)*

0.6 (59%)

0.4 (60%)

Ball recoveries*

4.9

4.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

1.9

Duels won*

3.7 (54%)

2.8 (50%)

Both players operate so fluidly in the middle of the park, and Guendouzi could add the perfect bit of depth to ensure Newcastle pull their weight across domestic and continental competitions in 2025/26.

Newcastle have already hit the jackpot with one midfield signing brought over from the Italian scene; might they strike gold once again?

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Chelsea are planning to overhaul a key area of Enzo Maresca’s squad this summer, with BlueCo looking to sell two players and potentially open new talks for an elite-level star.

Chelsea continue transfer planning after botched CWC deals

In high-profile fashion, Chelsea missed out on a couple of anticipated deals before the pre-Club World Cup transfer deadline at 7pm on Tuesday.

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While Chelsea do have the arrival of Liam Delap to celebrate, with the English sensation set to bolster Maresca’s forward options for the CWC, the Blues couldn’t quite get Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens or AC Milan’s Mike Maignan over the line.

The former was a top target for Maresca in the wide area, and Chelsea did their utmost to make it happen – lodging three different offers in the build up to Tuesday’s deadline, only for Dortmund to reject them all and demand more money (Florian Plettenberg).

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea went as high as £47 million in their bid to sign Gittens, but it was no use, with the west Londoners deciding to walk away from talks once it was clear a deal could not be done in time.

Their attempts to sign Maignan were equally frustrating.

Milan wanted around £25 million to sell the France international, who’s about to enter the final year of his contract and won’t sign a new one, but Chelsea were only willing to pay up to £13 million, meaning no agreement could be found (The Athletic).

Given the 29-year-old’s pedigree as, arguably, one of the world’s finest keepers and France’s undisputed number one, there is frustration among Chelsea supporters that they didn’t stump up the cash for a player who would’ve undoubtedly been an upgrade on their current crop.

Maignan was also known to be very keen on a move to Chelsea, and for just £25m, the shot-stopper could’ve been a serious bargain.

However, their transfer plans are continuing into the summer, with reliable journalist Simon Phillips suggesting that a move for Maignan certainly isn’t off the cards.

Chelsea could hold new Mike Maignan talks next week

The Blues want to sell both Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic, with Chelsea reportedly valuing the latter at around £21 million. Sanchez joined the club for around £25 million from Brighton, and you’d Chelsea would want to recuperate a large portion of that fee.

With the £46 million duo up for sale, one source has told Phillips that Chelsea could even reopen talks for Maignan as early as next week.

“They held talks with Milan, Maignan wants the move, and Chelsea actually believed they were about to sign him with a fee agreement close,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“AC Milan moved the goalposts on the fee in the final stages and that was enough for Chelsea to back out, for now.

“However, they are likely to go back for Maignan. I know initially we heard yesterday that they wouldn’t be going back for him at all. But after further digging by our sources last night, we’ve heard that Chelsea are now likely to revisit this deal later in the summer window. One source even suggests they could go back in for talks as soon as next week.

“Chelsea don’t want to be pushed over in negotiations so some of this is about sending messages as well as not appearing desperate to land a new goalkeeper.

“And that is because they want to sell both Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez this summer. Obviously this needs suitors and those suitors to pay the valuations to make this happen, but this is their intentions.”

Called “one of the best” keepers in world football by Alisson, the Liverpool star also heralded Maignan’s “quick” burst of pace off the line, and a truly quality number one could be one of the final missing pieces of Maresca’s jigsaw.

The season may be over, and the fans may still be basking in the glory of Europa League success, but there is still plenty of work for the Tottenham Hotspur board to do in the coming months.

The summer transfer window is set to open in a matter of days, and with Champions League football now secure, Daniel Levy and Co must do everything they can to bring in the best players to support Ange Postecoglou and his squad.

However, it’s not all about incomings, as the club now have a golden opportunity to offload a number of players who simply aren’t good enough.

Specifically, Levy and Co should look to sell someone who’s in real danger of becoming the club’s new Tanguy Ndombele.

Ndombele's Spurs career

Back in the summer of 2019, Spurs were crying out for some midfield reinforcements, and so the club did something quite out of character and smashed their transfer record to bring in Ndombele for around £63m.

There was plenty of excitement around the move at the time, as the Frenchman was coming off a stellar campaign with Lyon, and several prominent journalists were even comparing him to the simply sensational Mousa Dembélé – yes, seriously.

Unfortunately, aside from the good performance here and there, the Longjumeau-born ace never got anywhere near the level that was expected of him, so much so that after just two and a half years, he was sent back to Lyon on a short-term loan.

Ndombele’s Spurs career

Appearances

91

Goals

10

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.20

All Stats via Transfermarkt

After that, he spent a season with Napoli and then another with Galatasary, finally leaving N17 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, with 91 Tottenham appearances to his name, in which he scored ten goals and provided nine assists.

With his fee, lack of game time and poor performances all taken into account, it’s not hard to see why journalist Paul Brown described Ndombele as “one of the worst signings Spurs have ever made.”

Unfortunately, the club now have another midfielder who could be in a similar conversation, unless they sell him this summer, that is.

The Spurs player who must be sold

Now, while a number of squad members should be sold this summer, the player we are talking about is Yves Bissouma.

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Like Ndombele before him, there was quite a bit of excitement around the Mali international’s transfer to Spurs back in 2022, with content creator George Benson describing the deal as “an absolutely brilliant signing.”

However, instead of getting the unreal midfield destroyer who was sensational for Brighton & Hove Albion, the North Londoners ended up with a player who has had more questionable performances than good ones.

For example, while he was undeniably excellent in the Europa League final, he was terrible against his old club on Sunday, earning himself a 4/10 match rating from Alasdair Gold, who rather charitably described him as ‘clumsy.’

It was a similar story away to Fulham earlier in the season when Gold gave him 3/10 and wrote that ‘his use of the ball was dreadful.’

Go back another few months to December, and he put in such a poor display at home to Chelsea – in which he gave away a penalty – that Jamie Carragher slammed him for being “absolutely ridiculous.”

Finally, on top of being unable to string together a number of good performances, the 28-year-old has a sketchy fitness record at best, which has seen him miss 25 games for club and country since moving to N17.

Ultimately, it’s in Spurs’ best interest to say thanks for the performance in the final and sell Bissouma this summer before another season of dismal displays turns him into the modern Ndombele.

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Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are extremely keen on signing a £50 million player, following other reliable reports that talks have already been held with his representatives ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal set for summer rebuild under Andrea Berta

The season is by no means over for Mikel Arteta and co, who have a golden opportunity to make history and win the club’s first ever Champions League title after sensationally knocking out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

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Ligue 1 champions PSG await the Gunners in a mouthwatering semi-final clash, and it is truly a tie which will make or break Arsenal’s campaign.

However, another hot topic at the Emirates Stadium right now is new sporting director Andrea Berta’s looming summer rebuild ahead of next season. There are suggestions that Arsenal are looking to strengthen all areas of the squad, including between the sticks, in defence, midfield and further forward.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games	Date
Crystal Palace (home)	Tonight
Bournemouth (home)	May 3rd
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th
Southampton (away)	May 25th

£300 million could even be spent doing so, according to GiveMeSport, amid Berta’s “insatiable” desire to build winning teams.

“Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure,” said co-chairman Josh Kroenke after Berta’s appointment.

“He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams. Andrea will be a great addition to our club. He understands our values and what we stand for, and we have no doubt he will help us push on and take the next steps in our bid to win major trophies.

“We undertook a thorough recruitment process, and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea’s experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out.”

Defensively, it is believed Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen is emerging as a top target for Berta.

The reliable David Ornstein recently reported that Arsenal have held talks with Huijsen’s representatives, alongside the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham, with elite clubs taking note of the Spaniard’s £50 million release clause.

Arsenal "really" interested in signing Dean Huijsen

Following this development, another credible and trusted media source in Romano has shared another update on Berta’s pursuit of the former Juventus defender.

He reports to GiveMeSport that Arsenal are “really” interested in signing Huijsen this summer after his excellent debut campaign in the Premier League, but the competition remains fierce.

“From what I’m hearing, Arsenal are also interested. Newcastle dream of him, but I think for Newcastle, it is going to be very difficult to get the deal done now with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal. These three clubs are really interested, so I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League.”

Huijsen recently expressed his excitement over being linked with a move to Real Madrid, but right now, it is unclear whether Los Blancos view the “sensational” centre-back as a priority target.