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Tottenham Hotspur could be about to break a club record this summer, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla has claimed that the Premier League side will attempt to try and lure Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez to north London by launching a ‘mega offer.’

It’s thought that it would take a fee in excess of €90m (£77m) to secure his signature and that’s before agreeing on terms with the player, who seems more than happy to remain at the San Siro heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

Inter are close to signing Paulo Dybala on a free and also Romelu Lukaku could return to the club from Chelsea, whilst it’s believed Spurs will ‘do the impossible’ to sign him this summer.

Conte’s favourite

If the Lilywhites can indeed do the unthinkable with Martinez, then you’d imagine that manager Antonio Conte would be a very happy man indeed, given his past work with the Argentina striker.

The pair secured the Nerazzurri’s first Serie A title in 11 years in 2020/21, when the 24-year-old frontman provided a whopping 17 goals and ten assists across 30 starts, via Transfermarkt.

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He has since continued that electric form, bagging 21 goals in 35 league appearances last term for Simeone Inzaghi, so it’s no wonder the Spurs boss has kept an invested interest in his career since.

The need for a new striker at Hotspur Way is certainly one of the priorities, whether that’s to provide cover for Harry Kane or to partner him, it doesn’t matter. Conte has often deployed two up-top systems and with the club in the Champions League next season, strength in depth will be paramount to their chances of contending on all fronts.

Martinez certainly fits the bill.

Described as a “machine” by reporter Roberto Rojas and a “special talent” by verified journalist Joshua Jones, the £67.5m-rated Inter star has been likened to both Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich as well as Liverpool’s Diogo Jota (FBRef).

Two very different types of player and that only goes to show why Martinez is a great fit, one capable of playing any role required up front.

He would surely be one of Conte’s dream signings this summer, though the Spurs hierarchy – namely sporting director Fabio Paratici and chairman Daniel Levy – will need to smash the £55m spent on Tanguy Ndombele.

A risk worth taking, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano shares Giovani Lo Celso update…

A worrying Rangers claim has been made about Alfredo Morelos’ future at Ibrox in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Rangers will be open to bids for the centre-forward if he does not put pen to paper on extended terms.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It would make sense for Rangers to try and offload Morelos this summer if he isn’t going to sign a new contract.

“Obviously, Morelos has been a huge player for Rangers over the last few number of years, but his form has brought him to the attention of a number of clubs in the Premier League and also in Europe as well.

“So, if they’re not able to agree a new deal with Morelos, I think Rangers will reluctantly have to listen to offers for the Colombian in the summer.”

Supporters will be gutted

Supporters will be gutted by this news as the prospect of losing the striker is a worrying one that they will not want to think about.

From a financial point of view, selling Morelos when he has one year left on his contract would make sense as they would otherwise risk losing him on a free transfer.

However, they took their chances with Connor Goldson this year and eventually convinced him to sign a new deal at Ibrox. This means that they could do the same with the Colombian and him not signing a fresh contract now does not mean that he will leave for nothing in 2023.

Therefore, there not be any rush to listen to bids for his services in the current window as there will still be a hope of keeping him heading into next year.

The striker would be a difficult player to replace as he is a proven performer domestically and in Europe. In the Premiership, he managed 11 goals and seven assists as he averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.32, showcasing his quality and consistency.

Meanwhile, he produced four goals in eight Europa League outings with an average score of 7.13. He played a key role in the European run last term with his goals and these statistics illustrate why selling him would be a huge blow to the club’s chances next season.

Therefore, fans will be gutted with O’Rourke’s claim and will now be hoping the forward is still in Glasgow come to the end of the window.

AND in other news, “Rangers will…”: Jordan Campbell drops big transfer update, supporters will be livid…

Rangers sensation Rory Wilson ‘will sign’ for Aston Villa on 1 July, transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reports. 

The lowdown

Wilson seemingly has the potential to become a superstar, having bagged a whopping 49 goals at youth level last season.

The 16-year-old centre-forward has been capped 11 times by Scotland at Under-18 level and already scored eight goals.

The clubs have been in talks over a suitable package ‘for months’, but Rangers rejected Villa’s latest offer of around £300,000 (via The Athletic).

Unless one of the two sides agrees to compromise, the matter could be settled by a FIFA resolution committee.

The latest

Romano shared the news about Wilson in a tweet on Monday morning.

Villa are ‘set to sign’ the ‘talented Scottish striker from Rangers’ with ‘personal terms now agreed’.

He’ll officially become their player at the beginning of next month.

He adds that former Gers boss Steven Gerrard has been ‘the main factor’ in Wilson’s decision to move to the Midlands.

The verdict

This will be a blow for Rangers, who went to great lengths to try to persuade the starlet to commit long-term.

Football Insider claimed that Wilson was offered the most lucrative first-year professional deal in the club’s history. Giovanni van Bronckhorst and director of football Ross Wilson met with the player and his family to try to win him over.

The Gers could yet lose a senior player to Gerrard and Villa this summer too, with transfer insider Dean Jones telling GiveMeSport last week that the Premier League ‘seem to be in a good position to negotiate’ for Calvin Bassey.

They’re said to want £25million for the 22-year-old, which would represent a record sale.

In other news, Rangers have a potential Alfredo Morelos replacement in mind.

Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham has backed the club to make a move that ‘hasn’t been spoken about’ in Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.

The Lowdown: Previous Zaha links

Antonio Conte will be looking to strengthen his squad with multiple new additions ahead of the start of the new Premier League season as the Lilywhites prepare for a highly-anticipated return to the Champions League.

The Eagles forward meanwhile was an integral part of Patrick Vieira’s starting XI this campaign with 37 appearances across all competitions, but only has 12 months remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park.

With Spurs having previously tried to secure the 29-year-old’s signature, there’s always a chance that a club might go back in for one of their former transfer targets, and Football Insider’s Spurs source believes the Lilywhites could do just that.

The Latest: Wenham backs Spurs interest

Football Insider’s Wenham predicts that Zaha will leave Palace in the coming weeks and believes that Tottenham could be keen to make a move.

“I was going through a list of players with one year left on their contracts.

“Tottenham are looking for a wide forward, someone they have tried to sign on numerous occasions before is Wilfried Zaha.

“He has one year left at Palace. He scored 14 or 15 goals every season. He might want to push to get out and play Champions League football.

“I think he would be more likely of a signing than someone like Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle.

“It hasn’t been spoken about yet, this is just me looking at a list of players who have one year left on their current contracts.

“I think Zaha will leave Palace this summer. He has done his time there. I think he has promised them he will stay one more year for the past few seasons.

“With a year left on his contract, I just wonder if that will interest Tottenham.”

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The Verdict: Time for a new challenge?

Zaha has been with the Eagles for seven years now and so might feel like it’s time for a new challenge, and if he does, Spurs could prove to be an ideal destination in the next stage of his career.

The Ivory Coast international, who was once dubbed an “incredible” player by Palace chairman Steve Parish, not only bagged himself 14 top-flight goals this term, but generally was a major threat in the final third even when not hitting the back of the net, having averaged 2.3 dribbles, 2.1 shots and 1.4 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

With Conte crying out for a new attacking addition to provide competition and backup for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Zaha is a player who Tottenham should definitely keep an eye on as his contract ticks down.

In other news… Alasdair Gold has now shared a ‘positive update’ for Spurs supporters.

Journalist Alfie House of The Daily Echo has shared a Tottenham Hotspur transfer update involving Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move for Edwards…

The exciting teenager has been on Spurs’ radar for quite some time, as revealed by Peterborough club director Barry Fry.

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Speaking in a recent interview, the Posh chief stated that Edwards is a player who has been watched by Tottenham for ‘a long time’ along with other clubs,including a ‘big’ German side (via football.london).

As per The Daily Echo reporter, that interest hasn’t waned as Spurs allegedly hold talks over a move for the 19-year-old.

The Latest: House makes Edwards claim…

Taking to Twitter, House explained that Tottenham are one of the Premier League clubs who have ‘talked’ over Edwards, although there is nothing yet ‘concrete’ in terms of a formal bid.

Sharing a corresponding report from The Daily Echo, he outlined: “On Ronnie Edwards, understand #SaintsFC interest is at a very early stage. The 19yo is expected to leave Peterborough this summer. Spurs, Villa, United and Palace all have talked but nothing concrete yet. One we will follow through the weeks.”

The Verdict: Don’t hesitate…

Edwards stands out as one of the most promising talents in England, with his former manager Darren Ferguson even calling him ‘incredible’.

His addition would also solve a glaring problem at Spurs in terms of their homegrown quota, in addition to ensuring that they have secured another real talent for the future.

According to WhoScored, despite his tender age, Edwards was one of Peterborough’s most reliable players in the Championship over the 2021/22 season as he averaged a colossal 3.7 clearances per 90, the second-highest of anyone in their squad.

He certainly seems like a brilliant talent and Spurs should be aiming to get at the front of the queue for him.

In other news: Journalist says Tottenham could sign £100m ‘big name’ this summer, find out more here

Celtic not only secured the Premiership title this season and brought their arch-rivals’ reign as Scottish champions to an end, they also did it in style.

With 92 goals scored and only 22 conceded, Ange Postecoglou’s team boast the best attacking and defensive record in the division for 2021/22.

One man who has contributed a lot for the team from an attacking point of view is Kyogo Furuhashi.

Signed from Japanese club Vissel Kobe alongside a raft of other players during Celtic’s very busy 2021 summer transfer window, the attacker took to Scottish football like a duck to water.

With 33 appearances across all competitions this season, the 27-year-old found the net 20 times and delivered five assists in the process.

In the league, despite only making 20 appearances as a hamstring injury kept him out of action for a large chunk of the campaign, the Japan international still managed to score 12 goals.

To further highlight the summer recruit’s deadliness in front of goal, no other Celtic player who had more than one shot at goal racked up a higher percentage for shots on target than Furuhashi’s 52.2%.

Last June, shortly before he made his move to Parkhead, Transfermarkt had Furuhashi’s market value listed as £1.8m, whereas it now stands at £4.95m.

This highlight a significant increase of 175%, presumably as a result of his impressive goalscoring efforts for Celtic which have helped them to secure the league title.

Labelled “a hell of a player” by Postecoglou, who also said that the 27-year-old has “that little bit of magic about him”, it’s safe to say that the Hoops struck gold when they secured the attacker’s signature last summer.

It’s also safe to suggest that, had the Japan forward not been struck down with his hamstring issue, he could have scored even more goals than he did.

If the £18k-per-week star can replicate the same sort of goalscoring form from this season next time out and manages to stay fit, he could give Celtic a great chance of not only retaining the league title but also potentially getting their hands on even more silverware.

In other news – “From what I’m told..”: Journalist drops big Lennoxtown claim that Celtic supporters will love

Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has made an ‘incredible’ claim regarding Rangers defender Calvin Bassey, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Villa closing in?

Steven Gerrard and NSWE have been hard at work in the transfer market over the last seven days, putting a number of deals in place ahead of the summer window.

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Villa have secured permanent deals for Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara and have also reached an agreement for centre-back Diego Carlos.

Another defender could be on the way, with The Times suggesting that Villa are also closing in on a move for Rangers star Bassey.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Hutton, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI about Bassey and Villa. He labelled a Villa swoop is a ‘no-brainer’ and waxed lyrical regarding the defender, describing him as ‘outstanding’ in the Europa League final and backed him to be an ‘incredible player’.

“He was outstanding in the Europa League final, and he carried that on in the Scottish Cup too.

“He’s growing in stature game-on-game. It doesn’t matter where he plays, centre-back or left-back – he gives you an unbelievable presence.

“He’s got such versatility – and that’s an attribute Villa will value so highly. For him to be putting in these kinds of performances at his age, and showing his capability at the highest level – it’s a no-brainer for someone like Villa to come in.

“If he can maintain that level and that consistency week-in, week-out – then wow, he could be an incredible player.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Bassey enjoyed a phenomenal season at Ibrox, making 49 appearances in all competitions. He turned out at centre-back and left-back, picking up the club’s Young Player of the Season award.

The Nigerian impressed many when it mattered most in cup finals against Frankfurt and Hearts, so a move to Villa Park could be a shrewd one.

The 22-year-old would provide Gerrard with another option at centre-back and cover for Lucas Digne at left-back, and you’d like to think he’ll only get better over the coming years.

In other news: Blow for NSWE: Villa will now miss out on key target after talks; Gerrard was desperate for him

Liverpool are set for some changes this summer when it comes to their squad with some players out of contract and a reliable source has given an update on one transfer that will divide the opinion of supporters.

What’s the latest?

According to Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce, Divock Origi has now agreed on terms with AC Milan ahead of his contract expiry at Anfield this summer.

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Pearce wrote in an article for The Athletic that although a contract has not been signed as of yet, the Liverpool striker has come to an agreement on personal terms in a deal that will see him join the Italian club.

It comes after Origi failed to make enough appearances to trigger an extension clause on Merseyside, which means he will be free to leave this summer and now AC Milan are looking like the most likely club to secure a move for the player.

Supporters will be gutted

There is no doubt that Origi has become a cult hero at Liverpool despite being a fringe player. He has provided some of the biggest and most iconic moments during his time at the club and supporters will surely be gutted to see him leave this summer after eight years.

For the Reds, the 27-year-old has scored 41 goals and contributed 18 assists in 175 appearances, but it’s not his tally of goal contributions that has put him in the hearts of the supporters with his influence in big moments stealing the spotlight.

Origi scored one of the most iconic goals in the club’s recent history when Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a fast corner to land on the end of the striker’s foot against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield, scoring the fourth and final goal to send Liverpool through to the final where they went onto win the entire competition.

Another reason he is so adored by the red side of Merseyside is that in the Premier League, the Belgian goal machine has scored 27.27% of his league goals against their fierce local rivals Everton, with his most recent winning goal coincidentally coming from the Merseyside Derby last month.

With that being said, it is no wonder that supporters would be gutted to see him leave the club this summer with the striker offering important goals and important moments in one of Liverpool’s most victorious periods over the last few years.

AND in other news: Klopp eyeing £150m “wonderkid” who “suits Liverpool’s style”, it may be bye-bye Salah

Transfer insider Dean Jones has given an update regarding the future of Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles. 

The lowdown: Stellar servant for Newcastle

Signed from Nottingham Forest in 2014, the defender was an instant hit at Newcastle and was appointed Magpies captain two years later by then-manager Rafa Benitez.

Overall, the 28-year-old Derby-born centre-back has amassed 212 appearances for the Tyneside club across spells in the Championship and the Premier League.

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However, as a new era dawns at St James’ Park following the takeover in 2021, Lascelles is in danger of being moved on under Eddie Howe, with reports that the club would listen to offers for him.

The latest: Lascelles ‘isn’t going to fit in’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones suggested that the former England under-21 ace may well be on the way out of Newcastle.

The journalist explained how the club could deal with their long-standing central defender, saying: “He’ll be available for transfer in the summer. The circumstances just aren’t going to suit him at this stage and Newcastle are looking to transition beyond him.

“It’s just the vision that Newcastle have right now and, from what I understand, Lascelles probably isn’t going to fit in with it.”

The verdict: Bold call

While it is apparent that Howe will look to strengthen in all departments during the upcoming transfer window, selling a mainstay such as Lascelles is a huge statement of intent from the club and the manager about the direction in which they want Newcastle to go.

The skipper was hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by Howe for his performance against Chelsea earlier in the campaign, one of 24 appearances he has made in the league in 2021/22. According to Sofascore data, he has won 72% of his aerial duels and 63% of his overall duels in the current top-flight campaign, marking him out as an uncompromising defender.

Under contract until 2024 and holding a market value of £9.9m (Transfermarkt), Lascelles would likely fetch a reasonable fee should a move indeed be on the cards this summer.

In other news, journalist reacts to NUFC starlet’s weekend heroics

Mike McGrath has dropped an update on the future of Leeds United winger Raphinha.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, The Telegraph journalist revealed that, despite reports claiming that Barcelona were planning to hold off their negotiations for the 25-year-old until it became clear which league Leeds will be participating in next season, this is in fact not the case, with Xavi’s side now believed to have stepped up their interest in the Brazil international – with the LaLiga side planning on initiating transfer talks with the Whites imminently.

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In his tweet, McGrath said: “Barca have stepped up [their] bid to land Raphinha in the summer, planning on imminent talks over the deal for the LUFC [player] in the event of his club staying in Premier League or not.”

Supporters will be devastated

While the vast majority of Leeds supporters are more than likely resigned to the fact that Raphinha will be moving onto pastures new this summer – something that is evident from a recent poll ran on Football FanCast – the news that Barca are now hoping to secure a deal for the winger in the near future will nevertheless have left the Elland Road faithful devastated.

Indeed, the 25-year-old has arguably proven himself to be one of the club’s best signings over the past 20 years, with the £17m 2020 arrival having scored 16 goals and registered 12 assists over his 63 appearances for the Whites.

And, despite Leeds’ struggles this season, it has been over the winger’s 31 Premier League appearances in 2021/22 in which Raphinha has truly proven his ability at the highest level, with the £40.5m-rated forward bagging ten goals, providing three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.5 shots, making two key passes and completing two dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week winger average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s second-best outfielder in the top flight of English football.

As such, while Raphinha’s potential £60m exit from Elland Road would undoubtedly represent fantastic transfer business by Victor Orta, the prospect of losing a player of the Brazilian’s ability in the coming weeks will nevertheless be a devastating thought for supporters of the Whites.

AND in other news: Victor Orta could “pick up a real gem” with Leeds bid for “complete” 17 G/A sensation