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Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte could be looking to repeat his success at Inter Milan amid links to Victor Osimhen…

What’s the word?

According to Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini to Radio Kiss Kiss, Spurs are among the teams interested in signing the Napoli striker during the summer transfer window (via Sport Witness).

He said: “Victor Osimhen’s situation is very clear, if great offers arrive Napoli would listen to them without thinking twice. But it will take a very high amount to snatch him from Neapolitan society, it will not be easy.

“There are clubs from England like Newcastle and Tottenham that could go on the assault in the summer.”

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It remains to be seen how much the 23-year-old would command this off-season, though he is currently valued at €70m (£60m) by CIES Football Observatory, who assess the transfer value of professional footballers on a scientific basis.

Imagine him and Harry Kane

It’s also believed that this move wouldn’t be down to any Harry Kane departure, so the pair could well emerge as a potential partnership under the Italian head coach heading into the 2022/23 season.

Conte ended Inter’s 11-year wait for a Scudetto by winning the Serie A title last season and he did so by deploying a two-man attack, in which Romelu Lukaku – now at Chelsea – partnered Lautaro Martinez.

In this case, Kane can fill the Belgian’s role, albeit at a far greater level, given his ability to drop deeper as a playmaking option, whilst Osimhen could be the pacier and trickier player to nip in behind the defence.

The prolific Nigeria international has averaged a goal contribution once every 95 minutes across all competitions this term, having registered a total of 17 goals and six assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Compared to his positional peers in Europe across the last 365 days, the Napoli marksman is in the top 4% for shots (3.85 per 90) and the top 6% for non-penalty goals (0.65 per game), proving that he isn’t relying on a gifted spot-kick and can generally form chances himself, via FBRef.

“Osimhen is a thoroughbred bomber. He can become a super striker over time. He has to understand a few things, and then he can become a world-class centre forward,” once claimed his manager Luciano Spalletti.

Meanwhile, former Manchester United loanee Odion Ighalo has previously waxed lyrical about Osimhen’s work rate for the team to Elegbete TV (via Goal.com), claiming the 6 foot 1 marksman has a “lion’s heart” as he “has the mentality of a winner.”

He is also blessed with searing pace – during his time in Ligue 1, only Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe could match his speed numbers.

Just imagine him playing in off Kane in the Premier League, his skillset could be an ideal fit, not just for the English top-flight but also in Conte’s proven and successful system.

Osimhen and Kane could strike fear into many a defence for the next few years and as such, chairman Daniel Levy must approve any move for the free-scoring £60m-rated animal.

AND in other news, Forget Kane: Spurs’ £72m-rated “dream” who won 83% of his duels gave Arteta nightmares…

A major Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged on their interest in signing Philippe Coutinho this summer.

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies will make an offer to the Brazilian in the upcoming window if given the opportunity to do so.

He is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Barcelona and they will need to fight the Villans to land his signature ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Steven Gerrard still wants Villa to sign Coutinho, but Newcastle are watching this with interest.

“At the end of the month Villa have to tell Barcelona whether they intend to take up the option to buy him – and if they hesitate I’m told Newcastle will look to make a proposal to the player.”

PIF’s best deal yet

Bringing Coutinho in on a permanent deal in the summer would be PIF’s best piece of business so far since taking over the club in 2021.

They brought in a host of players in the January window to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad, including Dan Burn, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier.

This deal, however, would be their biggest statement to date as they would be signing a top-class player in what should be the peak years of his career at the age of 29. He was previously valued at a whopping £135m by Transfermarkt and this shows how much potential he has.

The Brazilian would also come in with a wealth of Premier League experience. Coutinho has played 167 matches in the English top-flight throughout his career, scoring 45 goals and providing 40 assists as he has proven that he can regularly contribute in the final third.

In his last campaign for Liverpool, he averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 8.01 across 14 matches in the division as he scored seven goals and provided six assists – creating 2.9 chances per game. If Newcastle can get him playing anywhere near this level then they will have an extremely special player on their hands.

He has proven his quality in England and still has plenty left to give at his age. This means that he would be a sublime signing for Eddie Howe’s team and one that would represent a major coup for PIF because of his pedigree.

It would send out a statement to other teams as it would show them that Newcastle mean business in the market and will be able to attract mercurial talents, like Coutinho.

AND in other news, Forget Dubravka: £23k-p/w NUFC lightweight who lost 75% duels let Howe down badly…

Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘made contact’ over the possibility of signing Paulo Dybala on a free transfer in the summer.

The Lowdown: Set to leave

Dybala is now set to leave Juventus as a free agent this summer, after failing to agree on a new deal with the Old Lady.

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Currently rated at £36m by Transfermarkt, the club who end up signing him would be getting a real bargain on their hands, signing a player who has racked up 14 goals and six assists this season.

The Latest: Contact made

Taking to Twitter, reliable ESPN journalist James Olley has revealed that the St. James’ Park faithful are one of a number of clubs to have ‘made contact’ with the representatives of Dybala over a potential move in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal have also done the same, although nothing is at an ‘advanced stage’ yet, and Dybala is ‘assessing’ his options.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Signing a player of Dybala’s quality on a free is surely a no-brainer for the North East club.

The Argentina international has recorded over 200 goal contributions for both club and country over the course of his career so far, and is in his prime at 28 years of age.

Described as ‘world-class’ and ‘phenomenal’ by former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson, brining in Dybala would pave the way for other stars to arrive on Tyneside, which would really help elevate Eddie Howe’s squad.

In other news, find out what big NUFC injury update has now emerged here!

BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton has tipped Tottenham Hotspur to prioritise signing a new creative midfielder this summer after a recruitment source revealed links to Christian Eriksen.

The Lowdown: Eriksen links

Antonio Conte looks set for an overhaul during the upcoming transfer window, with the Italian boss reportedly wanting two new midfielders as part of a mass signing spree.

One of the players that the Lilywhites are said to be keeping tabs on is former Spurs star Eriksen, who despite currently being on a short-term loan at Brentford, is understood to be keen on a return to north London, according to a transfer source at Football Insider.

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Now, former Spurs defender Hutton has been reacting to those links, insisting that he thinks a new playmaker like the Dane is a ‘huge’ requirement so that captain Harry Kane can focus on his role as a striker.

The Latest: New addition required

When asked what position he thinks the Premier League giants need to strengthen the most, Hutton, who now works for BBC, told Football Insider: “I think a creative midfielder. They’ve really struggled in that department for a while, if I’m totally honest.

“I would like to see them with someone within that midfield that’s exciting. Someone that can get on the ball, make things happen and leave Kane up the pitch.

“It gives the centre-halves something to think about. He’s not dropping deep. If I’m playing centre-half and Harry Kane drops to the halfway line, brilliant. Let him go down there, away from the goal.

“You know they want to get the width from the wing-backs too. Are they the answer? They’ve still got to prove themselves.

“Doherty’s come on, Sessegnon, we know is capable, Reguilon’s still got question marks above him. These are the areas when you play that system who are your biggest outlets.

“If they’re not firing on all cylinders, you’re looking for your front two, and Kulusevski, to go and make things happen.

“There are question marks above a few heads. Creative midfield and wing-back positions are huge.”

The Verdict: Reunion on the cards?

Following a magnificent recovery after suffering from a cardiac arrest in the Euro 2020 tournament last summer, Eriksen has made a sensational return to the pitch and has reignited his career with the Bees, delivering an impressive run of displays since joining in January.

The Danish international could be classed as nothing short of a Spurs legend, where he made an outstanding 159 goal contributions in just 305 appearances during his seven years at the club, as per Transfermarkt.

The 30-year-old will become a free agent when his contract at Brentford expires at the end of the season, and so a reunion with his former manager Conte could well be on the cards.

In other news… one big name at Tottenham is now facing an uncertain future! 

Liverpool have now received the green light to make their move for a defensive reinforcement in the January transfer window, according to reports.

Slot: Teams "think they can get a result" against Liverpool

It wasn’t a disaster at Anfield as Liverpool came from behind to rescue a draw against Sunderland, but it was hardly an inspiring performance from the Premier League champions yet again.

Despite breaking their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak in the summer, the Swede was back to his subdued ways just days after netting his first Premier League goal for the club against West Ham United. And whilst Florian Wirtz at least played a part in the equaliser and looked bright throughout, Liverpool’s attack was a far cry from their scintillating best of past campaigns.

What should concern Arne Slot the most is his own admission that teams now believe they can “get a result” against his Liverpool side. That should never be the case at the home of the champions, but the Dutchman also denied that Anfield’s fear factor has evaporated this season.

He told reporters: “No, not Anfield. For sure. But it’s clear that teams that play us now think they can get a result. Not only think, because that has been shown this season.

“And even in the games we’ve won, they also fuelled the confidence for other teams like, ‘Hmm, something is possible’ because the wins we had at the beginning of the season weren’t easy ones as well.”

The only positive for Slot to take from the Sunderland game is that his side, whilst found wanting in attack, were harder to break down defensively. With fixtures coming thick and fast, that defensive foundation will be important but so will any depth that Liverpool add in that area in January, especially if they sign Joel Ordonez.

Liverpool receive green light to make Ordonez move

As reported by TeamTalk, Liverpool have received a green light to make their move for Ordonez after maintaining contact with the defender’s camp. Racing alongside Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of the Club Brugge defender, the Reds could land an ideal alternative for Marc Guehi.

Fewer touches than Alisson & only 2 passes: Liverpool flop must be dropped

Arne Slot has a huge call to make about one player after his showing for Liverpool last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 4, 2025

Despite reportedly reopening talks to sign the Crystal Palace man, Liverpool may be forced to wait until next summer when his contract expires to secure his signature. If that does prove to be the case, then those at Anfield should turn to Ordonez.

Although Como scout Ben Mattinson aired caution around Ordonez’s “aggressive” nature last year, it’s the exact trait that Liverpool have been lacking this season. The Reds have been physically outmatched and the arrival of the 21-year-old would go a long way towards solving that problem.

Jamie Carragher slams £280k-p/w Liverpool star who had no "excuses" vs Sunderland

Celtic have endured a fairly disappointing start to the 2025/26 campaign across all competitions so far, in the Scottish Premiership and in Europe.

The Hoops sit second in the league table, behind Hearts, with five wins and two draws, whilst they are still looking for their first win on the European stage.

Brendan Rodgers has overseen one point from two Europa League matches after his team were beaten by Kairat in their Champions League play-off clash.

There have been several players in the squad who have not performed to the best of their ability this season, including central midfielder Reo Hatate.

Why Reo Hatate's form is a concern

The Japan international has gone eight matches without a goal or an assist to show for his contributions on the pitch, which is concerning for a player who typically provides creativity and quality on the ball in midfield.

Hatate delivered ten goals and created 14 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 37 appearances in the Premiership last season, per Sofascore, but he has failed to provide the same kind of quality at the top end of the pitch in the current campaign.

Appearances

37

5

Goals

10

1

Minutes per goal

241

373

Key passes per game

1.2

0.6

Big chances created

14

0

Assists

4

0

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese star’s output as both a scorer and as a creator of goals has decreased for the Hoops in the Premiership.

This is concerning because it shows that Hatate is not as influential or effective as he once was for the Scottish giants, but it has also provided other players with a chance to step up and shine.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

One star who has stepped up and is now looking like a Reo Hatate-type player is summer signing Benjamin Nygren in the middle of the park for Celtic.

Why Benjamin Nygren looks like Celtic's new Reo Hatate

The left-footed star was signed from Nordsjaelland for £1.3m in the summer and may have been expected by some to play on the right wing, as that was where he played the majority of his football last season and Nicolas Kuhn left to sign for Como.

Despite that, Rodgers has played Nygren as part of his midfield three more often than not, essentially taking Arne Engels’ spot in the starting line-up from the 2024/25 campaign.

The Sweden international, who was described as “fearless” by Alexander Isak, has started five of the club’s seven matches in the Premiership, which shows that the manager already trusts him to start consistently.

Nygren has also shown that he can be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position with four goals in five league starts, whilst no other Celtic player has scored more than two league goals for the club.

As well as being an impressive goalscorer, the summer signing ranks second in the squad for ‘big chances’ created (two) and first for key passes per game (2.6) in the Premiership.

These statistics show that Nygren has hit the ground running at Parkhead as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position, taking on the role that Hatate played last season with his ten goals and 14 ‘big chances’ created.

The Japan international has not been at his best in the current campaign, as evidenced by his aforementioned form, but the Swedish star has stepped up to carry the team on his back at times.

Cost £0, now worth more than Tounekti: Celtic hit gold on "phenomenal" star

Sebastian Tounekti has made an impressive start to life at Celtic, but a “prolific” attacker who arrived for free has a higher estimated market value.

ByBen Gray Oct 10, 2025

There is still plenty of football left to be played this season, but the left-footed star’s form for Celtic suggests that he can be the new midfield star in the final third moving forward.

In a chaotic and eventual showdown at St. James’ Park, Newcastle United looked like they’d done just enough to get the better of Arsenal.

That was until Mikel Arteta’s battling Gunners mounted an extremely late comeback to turn around a contest that was 1-0 in the Magpies’ favour on the 84th minute mark to an incredible 2-1 win courtesy of Mikel Merino being the goalscoring hero once more, before Gabriel then sealed all three points at the death.

Truthfully, Eddie Howe’s hosts were dancing dangerously when it came to holding onto that one-goal upper hand, with lady luck arguably on their side even before Nick Woltemade’s opener when VAR overturned a penalty kick for the away side.

Still, their luck had very much run out come the full-time whistle, with several underperformers letting Howe down on the big occasion to leave the Magpies stuck on a meagre one win in the early Premier League standings.

Newcastle's biggest underperformers vs Arsenal

On another day, the hosts might well have held onto a share of the points, but Nick Pope’s rash kick in a bid to start a counterattack with very few minutes remaining on the clock aided Arsenal’s late comeback, as an eventual corner beat the ex-Burnley keeper.

Of course, without Pope in between the sticks, full stop, Newcastle would have succumbed to a far heavier loss, with the 33-year-old making five saves in total, but he won’t want to watch back his costly goal kick anytime soon.

Away from Pope, Anthony Gordon also struggled after being reinstated into the starting lineup, with the number 10 only managing an unmemorable 30 touches of the ball before being hauled off by Howe.

Joelinton also wasn’t at his dependable best, arguably, with the forceful Brazilian going on to win just three of his 15 duels in the frenetic affair.

But, there was one underperformer – in particular – who stood out like a sore thumb throughout, who will now surely be ditched by Howe for his side’s upcoming Champions League trip to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Howe got it wrong starting 6/10 Newcastle star

While Arsenal didn’t have it all their own way during the tight clash, they did routinely gain a lot of joy down the left-hand side through Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.

Indeed, the pair managed to successfully register six dribbles between them, with the Dutchman and the Englishman growing in confidence knowing they didn’t have the most formidable foe in front of them in Dan Burn, who was drafted out to the left for this clash, a decision which Howe must now rue.

Before touching on his troubling display up against Saka and Timber, Burn was also uncharacteristically beaten in the air for Gabriel’s 97th-minute winner, with his 6-foot-7 frame not giving him an advantage on this occasion.

Away from the last-gasp winner exposing one of the colossus’ lesser-known weaknesses, Burn also never looked at ease with the ball at his feet, when shoved out to the left flank, with his wayward passing throughout just one element of his out-of-sorts game that must have made Howe regret selecting him in that role.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

56

Accurate passes

15/32 (47%)

Possession lost

26x

Dribbled past

3x

Total duels won

8/20

It was very much an evening all round to forget for the Blyth-born battler, with only 47% of his passes on the St James’ turf reaching their intended target, which led to Burn lackadaisically surrendering possession a whopping 26 times.

To make matters worse, it wasn’t just his aerial clash with the Gunners six that saw him be surprisingly outmuscled, with only eight of his 20 duels being won.

Saka also gained a lot of joy out of Burn when bombing forward, with the former Brighton and Hove Albion defender falling victim to being dribbled past three times in total to really ramp up his horrendous afternoon.

Newcastle World’s Jordan Cronin might well have been feeling generous when gifting Burn a 6/10 rating after the match, but even he would state that the long-standing servant looked “largely out of place” as a left-back option.

Howe will have been given plenty to chew over after his side collapsed to a late defeat, with Burn just one player in isolation who will now be fearful of the chop for the trip to Belgium on Wednesday night.

Newcastle now want to sign £35m Brazilian striker to rival Woltemade and Wissa

The Magpies could make a swoop after struggling to score in the early part of the season.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 28, 2025

When the transfer window opened at the beginning of the month, there was a sense of expectation that this would finally be the window in which Arsenal sign a new striker.

It’s the clear and obvious need but so far, they’re yet to get any attacking additions over the line.

Instead, they’re on the verge of strengthening both the midfield and defensive positions, with Kepa Arrizabalaga due to arrive from Chelsea as David Raya’s back-up, while talks are reportedly ongoing to sign Valencia’s young centre-back, Cristhian Mosquera.

In midfield. Martin Zubimendi is due to arrive any day now from Real Sociedad in a deal worth just over £50m. Brentford captain Christian Norgaard is a surprise addition too, reportedly set to sign for around £10m.

Once those deals are complete, Andrea Berta and Co must hurry up the process to sign a batch of new forwards.

The latest on Arsenal's transfer plans

While deals for the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko remain in the pipeline, the Gunners are also looking to strengthen out wide.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is one player they’re in talks to sign but the main candidate for much of the window so far has been Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

He’s played just 88 minutes at the Club World Cup in the USA and it’s widely expected that he could leave this summer. If he does, then Arsenal will likely be at the front of the queue, but as many have revealed, it’s going to be a tough deal to conclude due to the fee involved and his wage demands.

Football Transfers report this weekend that the Gunners have actually cooled their interest in Rodrygo a tad and instead have turned their attention to Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It’s stated that the north Londoners are now considering placing a bid for the 27-year-old, which due to Eze’s release clause, would need to meet a valuation of £68m.

The report notes that one determining factor in any deal could be the player’s close friendship with Bukayo Saka. Their sources suggest that Saka has actually privately encouraged the Eagles star to make the move to the Emirates.

How Eze compares to Rodrygo

Arsenal’s biggest priority this summer must be signing a new striker but the second biggest priority should be boosting their options on the left flank.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are not bad options but they did only score ten goals apiece last season, hardly the numbers required to sustain a Premier League and Champions League challenge.

As a result, the idea of signing Rodrygo, a player who netted as many as 19 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, is a good one on paper.

That said, the Brazilian perhaps didn’t enjoy his finest of years in 2024/25. Although he scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions, only 12 of those involvements came in 30 LaLiga outings.

The fact of the matter is, he’s rather inconsistent. Couple that with the fact that he’s not played in the Premier League before and there would rightfully be a few concerns surrounding a deal.

Eze, on the other hand, would be a safe signing but one that undoubtedly improves the quality of Mikel Arteta’s squad. The Spaniard has often shopped for new goods in the English top-flight and more often than not, those signings have been a big success.

Take Declan Rice, for example, who has only gone from strength to strength since that mega £105m move. Take David Raya too, who won the Golden Glove award in 2024/25.

Eze could be a signing out of the same playbook. He knows the division and, unlike Rodrygo, would not need much time to bed in.

He’s not a bad player, either. Not only does the England international play on the left flank, but a lot of his best work actually comes as an attacking midfielder, scoring 14 goals and posting 11 assists in 2024/25.

Coincidentally, that’s the same number as Rodrygo managed last season, albeit from just 43 games, ten fewer than the Madrid star. Beyond that, where are the key similarities and differences?

Goals

0.28

0.28

Assists

0.28

0.23

Shots

3.47

2.52

Key passes

2.01

2.29

Progressive passes

3.37

5.05

Shot-creating actions

4.69

4.95

Successful take-ons

2.33

2.29

Progressive carries

2.40

5.28

Tackles

1.35

0.98

Ball recoveries

5.07

3.32

Now, as far as producing progressive actions are concerned, Rodrygo is a better player. But, if we combine the overall threat of Eze, a high number of take-ons, shots and key passes, and combine that with his already large experience of English football, there’s a clear winner in this situation.

We should also keep in mind that Palace are not a hugely ball-dominant team. Indeed, last term, the Eagles sat 17th in the league for average possession, enjoying 42.4% of the ball. In contrast, Arsenal sat third with 57.1% of possession.

As a result, those numbers above could become even bigger if he plays in a team that enjoys more custody of the ball.

Rodrygo looks like a tricky deal to do, but Eze’s straight-up release clause should make this an easier negotiation. It’s over to you, Berta.

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ByMatt Dawson Jun 29, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the appointment of Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s immediate successor, just five days after the club announced chairman Daniel Levy’s decision to part company with the Australian.

Tottenham set to hire Thomas Frank as new manager after talks

The 51-year-old appears set to end his impressive tenure at Brentford in imminent fashion, after Levy earmarked Frank as the top candidate to replace Postecoglou.

Jack Wilshere played against Messi but named Tottenham icon as toughest ever opponent

The former Arsenal star said he’s impossible to take the ball from…

ByBen Goodwin Jun 8, 2025

Unlike their infamously drawn-out hunt for a new manager in 2021, their search has ended pretty quickly, and Frank is now on the cusp of a switch to N17. Tottenham were in talks with Frank and Brentford over the last few days, with negotiations coming to a conclusion in a very swift fashion.

According to trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano, Frank will become Tottenham’s new manager, with the Lilywhites paying his £10 million release clause and already finding an agreement on contract terms/backroom staff.

The tactician is perhaps a perfect fit, considering he’s proven to be efficient at operating on a limited budget, not to mention working with a data-driven recruitment model at Brentford, which is quite similar to Tottenham.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

However, there are some reservations over Frank’s lack of experience when it comes to managing high-profile clubs, competing in the Champions League or winning silverware – with some comparisons already made to Spurs’ failed appointment of Nuno Espírito Santo.

Time will tell whether the Dane’s appointment will prove the correct one, but attention is now turning to how Tottenham will tackle the transfer market under his watch.

Thomas Frank urging Daniel Levy to consider Eberechi Eze deal at Tottenham

According to GiveMeSport, he’s already starting to have his say on Spurs’ summer recruitment drive, with Frank said to be a fan of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

It is believed Frank has already urged Levy to consider a Tottenham deal for Eze, if they cannot hijack Man United’s deal for Bryan Mbeumo, with the new head coach giving his green-light for them to move for the £100,000-per-week England international.

The former QPR star fired Palace to their first ever major trophy, scoring the winner against Man City in their 1-0 FA Cup final win at Wembley, adding to his 2024/2025 tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Eze’s contract is rumoured to contain a £68 million release clause, so Spurs know the price it would take to back Frank with the attacker’s signing, which would undoubtedly be a statement signing.

“This guy is an immense talent, there’s no doubt about that,” said ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown about Eze.

“He was released by Arsenal as a kid. I wonder if that will come back to haunt Arsenal here today? He said he cried for a week. He realised when it hits you really hard as a young man, you think, ‘Ok, I’m coming back from this.’ It proves that he’s made of really strong stuff.”

Aston Villa faces an important summer ahead. Throughout the transfer window, Unai Emery will be keen on attracting yet more high-profile players to the Midlands.

While it will be the Europa League, rather than the Champions League, that the club will partake in next season, Villa’s stature as one of the Premier League’s elite sides will help massively when the window opens.

Despite a promising season, the club failed to end its 29-year wait for a major trophy, and this is clearly the next step in the Spaniard’s project.

A solid core has been built, no doubt about that, but there are several positions which need to be strengthened before the start of 2025/26.

As such, what could the club’s dream starting XI look like when the league season begins in August? Well, we’ve taken a deeper look.

1 GK – Lucas Chevalier

It appears as though Emiliano Martinez is set to leave the Midlands after five years as the club’s number one.

Throughout that time, he has kept 70 clean sheets across 212 matches, helping Villa qualify for the Champions League in the process. Manchester United have shown previous interest in the goalkeeper, and he will have no shortage of offers this summer.

His replacement could be Frenchman Lucas Chevalier. Emery has targeted the £40m Lille shot stopper as the ideal man to replace the enigmatic Argentinian from next season onwards.

Given his excellent form in Ligue 1, it could be a shrewd move by the manager.

2 RB – Matty Cash

Cash may not be the flashiest player, and in time, he will be replaced as the starting right-back. This summer, however, Emery may well focus on other positions.

He made 38 appearances last season, registering three goal contributions. The English-born full-back will turn 28 in August and still has a few years left at the very top.

3 CB – Diego Coppola

Jacob Tanswell of the Athletic claims that the club could prioritise signing a right-sided centre-back this summer. According to reports, Emery has earmarked Italian defender Diego Coppola as a player who could fit his system well.

His superb displays for Hellas Verona – winning 60% of his total duels and making 5.7 clearances per game in Serie A – have led to Villa showing plenty of interest in him.

The best part? He would only cost £8.5m.

4 CB – Pau Torres

Pau Torres will likely continue to be one of the starting centre-backs for Villa next season.

The 28-year-old is at the peak of his career and could continue to go from strength to strength under Emery in 2025/26.

5 LB – Ian Maatsen

The Dutchman made 45 appearances for Villa last term, playing in ten of their Champions League fixtures.

Emery must ensure he is the starting left-back from next season, as Maatsen will only continue to get better.

6 CM – Youri Tielemans

Throughout the whole squad, Tielemans was arguably Villa’s most improved player last season.

Indeed, he was named Supporters’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season at Aston Villa’s End of Season Awards.

15 goal contributions were registered across 53 matches. If he carries that type of form into next term, he will be unstoppable.

7 CM – Amadou Onana

The Belgian midfielder showed glimpses of his quality after moving from Everton, but he will be keen to avoid injury issues next term.

He managed just 34 games for the club, but he still managed to score five times in all competitions.

8 RW – Tyler Dibling

Villa have shown interest in Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, who could cost around £55m this summer.

Despite the Saints suffering relegation from the Premier League, the 19-year-old was one of their brightest sparks. Across 38 games, he scored four goals and registered three assists.

He succeeded with 1.4 dribbles per game in the top flight while also creating three big chances. Despite the price demanded by the Championship side, the teenager could turn out to be an impressive long-term star for Emery as he bids to improve his options out wide.

9 AM – Morgan Rogers

Rogers’ 2024/25 season was arguably one that turned him from a talented attacking midfielder into a player in high demand.

Not only did he score 14 goals in all competitions for the club, but the Englishman also recorded 15 assists for Villa.

Four goals were netted in the Champions League, proving that he has what it takes to perform at the very highest level. Chelsea are reportedly keen on signing the player, but Emery will be doing all he can to keep hold of Rogers for as long as possible.

10 LW – Jadon Sancho

Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa, but it doesn’t look as though he will return permanently, amid his desire for a switch to Barcelona.

They are looking to target a move for Jadon Sancho instead according to reports, with the winger returning from his temporary stint at Chelsea.

With his future at United all but over, Sancho could gain plenty of game time should he choose a move to the Midlands this summer. Interest is also high from the likes of Napoli and AC Milan.

No price has been mentioned as yet, but if Emery can work out a deal that benefits all parties, signing Sancho – who is valued at £31m by Football Transfers – may be a wise piece of business.