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Tottenham Ready To Bring In "Brilliant" £55m Star

Tottenham Hotspur are now ready to bring in Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella as a replacement for Ivan Perisic, according to a recent report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Fabrizio Romano reports that no decision has been made regarding Perisic's future at N17, however, there are question marks over whether the Croatia international will remain a Spurs player next season.

Destiny Udogie is set to be part of new manager Ange Postecoglou's plans, having spent last season on loan at Udinese, with the Australian recently making the decision to take the 20-year-old left-back on their pre-season tour of Thailand.

Udogie being handed a more prominent role in the squad could reduce Perisic's game time, and there have been reports that Daniel Levy could even end up terminating the 34-year-old's contract, amid interest from Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce.

Bringing in at least one new centre-back appears to be the priority for Postecoglou, with Romano recently reporting that Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba remains Spurs' "top target", while they are also interested in signing Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven.

The new manager is also keen on strengthening the left side of his defence, with Football Transfers now reporting Tottenham are closely following the situation of Cucurella at Chelsea.

The Lilywhites are ready to bring the left-back in as a replacement for Perisic, and it could be a fairly easy transfer to orchestrate, as the Blues are desperate to get rid of him, although the type of fee they are set to demand is currently unclear.

Last summer, Chelsea paid £55m for the Spain international, and he is keen to remain at the club, but a move to Spurs could be an attractive proposition, given their status and location.

If Tottenham are able to sign the former Brighton & Hove Albion man, Postecoglou plans to play him alongside Yves Bissouma, as an inverted full-back, allowing his old teammate to push further up the pitch.

What positions can Marc Cucurella play?

The 24-year-old has predominantly featured in a left wing-back role throughout his career so far, however, he has also featured slightly further forward at left-wing, as well as at centre-back on occasions.

Hailed as "brilliant" by Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, the defender was one of Brighton's top performers in the 2021/22 campaign, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.11, the third-highest figure in the squad.

While the Spaniard has not gotten off to the best of starts at Chelsea, coming under plenty of criticism from fans and the media alike last season, there were some promising signs, with UEFA's Technical Observer Panel praising him after the Blues' victory against Borussia Dortmund, saying:

“Cucurella was fantastic, claiming numerous turnovers in the first half and reading the game intelligently as well as showing aerial strength and an accuracy of distribution which underpinned the victory for Chelsea.”

Cucurella ranks highly for some key metrics over the past year, including tackling, placing him in the 97th percentile for tackles per 90, when compared to his positional peers, and if he is able to reignite his form from his time with Brighton, he could be a solid signing for Spurs.

Newcastle In Talks Over Deal For 36-Year-Old Italy Star

Newcastle United haver allegedly discussed a shock deal for Leonardo Bonucci this summer, according to a report from Calciomercato, via The Daily Mail.

What is the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

The Toon have already got to work this summer in terms of strengthening their squad, with the Premier League outfit preparing for a campaign back in the Champions League. Having climbed into the top four in the 2022/23 season, they now want to challenge on all fronts, and that will involve ensuring they have the required strength in depth throughout their first-team – and maybe a little bit of Champions League know-how too.

They already have their eyes set on a number of other targets this transfer window. One name is Goncalo Inacio, with the Magpies keen to add him to their backline during the close season. In addition, it seems as though Newcastle may not need to stump up as much money as initially thought, eager to pay less than his £51m release clause.

Another player they want to add in a bid to bolster their defence is Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace. The Englishman would cost the club £60m, with the Eagles feeling his recent efforts on the international stage meaning his value has increased, and he will now be worth more to any interested party.

Leonardo Bonucci

Are Newcastle United signing Leonardo Bonucci?

Now, there is a fresh name that has emerged as a potential target for them at centre-back. According to a report from Calciomercato, via The Daily Mail, Leonardo Bonucci has held 'shock' talks with the Premier League side over a potential switch to England this summer.

There is no offer on the table yet for the Italian but he has indeed spoken to the Toon over a move, with the player set to potentially leave Juventus this summer. He doesn't have long left to run on his current deal and plans to quit the game entirely next summer, but for now, he wants to have one more good season – and that looks like it could be away from Turin.

He had to spend the majority of his time out of the Juventus first-team in 2022/23, having played on just 16 occasions in Serie A for the Old Lady. Only nine of those were starts too, and he has gradually fallen more and more out of favour at the club, with his starts dwindling each year for the last three seasons.

The 36-year-old could now have a go at a new challenge elsewhere, having spent twelve seasons with the club. His latest stint with the Italian club began in 2018 but he had a further seven campaigns with them before that, with only a year at AC Milan splitting the two up. He's also played in over 500 games, has featured in the Champions League and has been a regular for his national team of Italy.

Bonucci has also never played outside of Italy so perhaps there could be concerns over both his age profile and pace in the Premier League, but one has to imagine his experience at the highest level would only serve to help the likes of Sven Botman when those European nights come calling.

Journalist Worried After Leeds Manager Update

Leeds United journalist Conor McGilligan says he is "exceptionally worried" about the club's future should manager Regis Le Bris be appointed ahead of Daniel Farke.

What's the latest on Leeds' manager hunt?

As Leeds await the green light on their change of ownership, with 49ers Enterprises being made to wait for their takeover to be finalised by the English Football League, there is still an empty manager's seat at Elland Road.

It has been over a month since Leeds parted ways with Sam Allardyce after the coach failed to save the club from Premier League relegation, with the Whites still uncertain on who their next manager will be come the beginning of the Championship season.

Daniel Farke is the favourite to take over in Yorkshire and is an obvious candidate given his two successful promotion campaigns with Norwich City, while another shortlisted name in Patrick Vieira is out of the running having agreed to take charge of Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

However, there have also been links with another French top-flight manager in recent days, with Lorient's Regis Le Bris being touted with a move to the Whites.

Le Bris guided Lorient to a tenth-placed Ligue 1 finish last season, winning 15, drawing ten and losing 13 of his 38 league games. Les Murles won eight of their opening ten matches but fell away in the second part of the campaign.

What did McGilligan say?

Journalist Conor McGilligan, speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, believes that opting for the inexperienced Le Bris over the proven Farke would be a poor decision for the club, expressing his concern over the managerial situation.

"Regis Le Bris was someone who we spoke about on the channel a while ago, and he was being reported about a month ago, so whether or not it's just agent talk, it's speculative and all this sort of stuff, you'd hope that," said McGilligan.

He added: "You have literally got a proven manager in the Championship, who was in the Bundesliga, finished mid-table in the Bundesliga last season, has an excellent points-per-game ratio and has won the Championship twice at a canter.

"[If] we are going for an unknown Regis Le Bris, who has done okay in Lorient for one season, and that's kind of up for debate as well, I would be exceptionally worried, exceptionally worried. And then the direction of the club completely changes because Regis Le Bris will have completely different targets to Daniel Farke."

McGilligan also suggests that the recent arrival of recruitment chief Nick Hammond, who he claims mainly focuses on players in the United Kingdom, points toward Farke's appointment looking more likely.

With Leeds' opening fixture against Cardiff City just over a month away and pre-season on the horizon, the club need to act quickly to bring in a new coach that can guide them back to the Premier League.


Newcastle Eyeing Long-Term Addition With 21 /o Gem

Newcastle United have identified West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths as a potential signing, with the club targeting several names for the future, according to Dean Jones.

Having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in two decades, the Magpies have a crucial summer ahead, with plenty of talent on their radar as they look to bolster their squad.

Eddie Howe's side has done an incredible job in the transfer market since the club was taken over by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021, and don't expect that to change this summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

With Champions League football on the horizon, the Magpies have been linked to several high-profile names as they strengthen the squad ahead of their return to Europe's elite competition.

In a sensational move, the club are currently agreeing terms with AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, ahead of a move to St James' Park, according to the Daily Mail.

The club have also been linked to Leicester City's James Maddison with the English midfielder looking for a way out of the Foxes after they were recently relegated from the Premier League, but according to Sky Sports, any deal for the star might be hurt by the signing of Tonali.

Newcastle aren't only targeting superstars for right now, though, with the club also having a firm eye on the future as they navigate the transfer market.

West Brom's young goalkeeper Griffiths has been identified as a potential signing by The Sun, with Jones believing the club will look at numerous names for the future.

What has Dean Jones said about Newcastle United's transfer business?

Having been linked to the likes of Tonali and Maddison, many will have been surprised to see the latest reports suggesting Newcastle were interested in a prospect like Griffiths, but Jones believes the club will be targeting more names of the future going forward.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "I think you should always remember that, every now and then, Newcastle aren't going to be linked with big names. They're going to be linked with names for the future. It's kind of a two-tiered approach here."

Furthermore, he compared the reports to the Magpies' previous interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike as proof that the club continue to have an eye on the future, saying:

"Goes all the way really back to when we first read about Ekitike, who we spoke about for months never actually arrived, but he was always seen as a striker for the future. And so they'll be continuing to look down that path actually unveiled a signing last week along the same lines. So yeah, definitely more signings like that coming too."

How did Josh Griffiths perform last season?

Having spent half of the season on loan at Portsmouth, the 21-year-old caught the attention of many in football after an impressive spell at the south coast side, that saw him keep seven clean sheets in 22 games.

His performances for Portsmouth caused West Brom to recall the goalkeeper, and he made his Championship debut shortly afterwards against Blackburn Rovers, and in his 10 league games for the Baggies, he kept another four clean sheets, bringing his seasonal tally to an impressive 11.

The 21-year-old also showed his fine ability as a shot-stopper, pulling off an average of 2.2 saves a game throughout all competitions, a similar number to Nick Pope's 2.3.

Phil Hay: Leeds Set To Interview ‘World-Class’ Manager

Leeds United seem to be honing in on the man to finally fill their dugout vacancy, with only a few key names left to choose from…

What's the latest on Daniel Farke to Leeds United?

That's according to journalist Phil Hay, who penned an article regarding the 49ers' search for a new manager.

As their first major move as the new owners of his huge establishment, there is understandable hesitation to potentially make an error. That could explain why it has been nearly three weeks since Sam Allardyce left his post and kickstarted this search which is yet to bear fruit.

Writing for The Athletic, he claimed that Daniel Farke is one of the names set to be interviewed, with his experience in the Championship vital alongside his status as a free agent.

Is Daniel Farke similar to Marcelo Bielsa?

Although three other candidates are also being sounded out, it could be argued that the German poses their best opportunity to gain an instant return to the Premier League, in a style that is closest to their last promotion legend, Marcelo Bielsa.

Having already masterminded two title victories in the Championship with Norwich City, only Scott Parker upon that aforementioned list can compare with the pedigree of the 46-year-old promotion specialist.

marcelo-bielsa-leeds-united

His 4-2-3-1 system is a huge part of that success, which prioritises a heavy metal football synonymous with many German coaches. He likes to push his players forward, risking leaving space in behind their defence with the confidence that, should they regain possession high up the pitch, they will then stand a better chance of scoring.

Such a philosophy, whilst likely not quite as drastic as his, does draw similarities with their old Argentine boss who helped mastermind their 2020 Championship title. It was one which caught the eye, but had its downsides. After all, they did ship 79 goals in the campaign where he was dismissed.

Farke's work, however, has caught the attention of his compatriot Jurgen Klopp, who went as far as to brand him a "world-class" manager.

When delving deeper into the German's time in a Championship setting, it is clear that he is the leading candidate for the role who will not only bring back consistent success but also that feel-good factor that accompanies such an exciting and all-action brand of football.

Across his 138 games whilst managing in the division, he boasts 71 wins and a points-per-match average of 1.82. This has even culminated in the scoring of 217 goals (via Transfermarkt), further emphasising the potency of such a style.

The hope will be that he can make Leeds' stay at this level a short one, and once again have fans excited to watch their team thrive rather than the struggles they endured in the top flight.

Crystal Palace Could Replace Guehi With £29k-p/w ‘Mountain’

In the past two seasons, Crystal Palace have built a solid foundation largely based upon the ever-present and reliable central defensive partnership of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi.

The Eagles kept nine clean sheets last year, as their solidity has been one of the principal reasons for the consolidation of their mid-table Premier League status.

However, the latter could be set for a departure after impressing since his £18m move to Selhurst Park, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool all circling around the Englishman.

The 22-year-old has built a formidable reputation as one of the league's most consistent assets, who since playing for Palace, has also made his England debut.

Guehi’s possible exit would open the door for a defender in South London and Perr Schurrs has been tipped to be his replacement.

What’s the latest on Perr Schurrs to Crystal Palace?

According to the Daily Mail, the Eagles have stepped up their interest in the Torino centre-back, who is also being keenly tracked by Napoli and Newcastle United.

Even if Guehi chooses to stay, Schuurs may still move to the Premier League to reinforce the club's backline.

Can Perr Schurrs replace Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace?

Across 30 Serie A outings this term, the Dutchman has been a commanding pillar of reliability and has averaged 3.2 clearances, 1.7 tackles and was only dribbled past 0.4 times per game, without committing any errors leading to shots or goals.

The former Ajax man has, therefore, performed tremendously within his club, managing the most tackles and clearances within the Torino squad, as per WhoScored.

Described as a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, the titan possesses all the attributes to replace Guehi, should he leave in the summer.

When comparing these two mercurial talents, the £29k-per-week titan has averaged more tackles per 90 (1.97 vs 1.41), clearances per 90 (3.95 vs 3.62) and aerials won per 90 (2.32 vs 1.46), to show that he has the physicality to fill Guehi’s shoes.

Marc Guehi

As well as this tenacity, Schuurs is also confident with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for pass completion, whilst Guehi only ranks in the highest 53%.

It is difficult to find a weakness in his game, and he looks perfectly suited to English football.

Having played in 73 of the Eagles’ 76 Premier League games since he arrived, the Cobham graduate would undeniably be a monumental loss for the club, but Schuurs’ profile, attributes and relatively spritely age means he is more than capable of filling his void should Steve Parish make a move.

Wolves Could Form "Monster" Duo In Colossal £22k-p/w Swoop

Wolverhampton Wanderers ended the 2022/23 campaign with a relatively comfortable 13th-placed finish in the Premier League table.

Julen Lopetegui's side were never in any serious danger of being relegated down to the Championship as they finished seven points clear of the bottom three, with Leicester, Southampton, and Leeds United all dropping out of the division.

The Spanish head coach now has a full summer transfer window to improve his squad with a view to competing further up the table, and potentially challenging for Europe again in 23/24.

One player who could come in is Stuttgart ace Konstantinos Mavropanos, who is a reported transfer target for the Old Gold as they look to improve their defensive options.

Who is Konstantinos Mavropanos?

The 25-year-old Greek centre-back enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Bundesliga in 22/23 and could come in to form a terrific partnership with current Wolves star Max Kilman.

The English defender played 37 of the club's 38 Premier League matches in the season just gone and averaged a solid Sofascore rating of 6.85. He proved himself to be a solid option at the heart of the defence and dominated opposition attackers as he won 63% of his duels.

This means that Kilman is capable of bullying opponents and keeping them quiet for the majority of games when it comes to battling for the ball, which is particularly useful in physical games where there may be a barrage of set pieces and balls into the box.

Wolves centre-back Max Kilman.

Mavropanos could form a "monster" pairing with the Wolves ace as Borussia Monchengladbach chief Pellegrino Matarazzo previously described the Greek gem, whilst also hailing him as a "gladiator".

The colossal Stuttgart enforcer averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.26 across 28 appearances in the Bundesliga, which would place him top of the Wolves squad for outfield players, and won an impressive 66% of his battles, including 70% of his aerial contests.

This suggests that the former Arsenal prospect, who also made four tackles and interceptions per match, is also a dominant defender who does not give much away when competing with opposition strikers.

Therefore, the £22k-per-week brute could be an exceptional addition to Lopetegui's side as his form in the German top-flight suggests that the potential is there for him to be an outstanding performer for the club, whilst his dominance at the back could make him and Kilman a formidable pairing for strikers to come up against next season.

Man Utd Could Land Lukaku 2.0 In £69m "Superstar"

Manchester United are believed to have made contact regarding a summer move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker, Randal Kolo Muani, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Kolo Muani to Man United?

As per journalist Laurie Whitwell – in his piece for the Athletic – the Red Devils are said to have held 'discussions' regarding a move for the former Nantes man, despite having also shown an interest in Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund.

The respected insider revealed that United's director of football, John Murtough has 'held talks' with the Bundesliga outfit regarding a potential move for the 24-year-old, with a new centre-forward seemingly a real priority for Erik ten Hag this summer.

Whitwell also goes on to note that the seven-cap international would command a fee of around €80m (£69m) if he was to be sold ahead of next season, having only made the move to Germany a year ago.

Should Man United sign Kolo Muani?

Hailed as a "future superstar" by German icon, Lothar Matthaus, the Frankfurt speedster has unsurprisingly caught the attention of the Old Trafford hierarchy after contributing 40 goals and assists in just 46 games in all competitions during his debut season at Waldstadion.

That breakout campaign – which also saw the Bondy native score in Les Bleus' World Cup semi-final triumph over Morocco – would suggest that Kolo Muani would be an astute capture, helping to provide an ideal replacement for Anthony Martial, for instance, with the latter man having been linked with a departure.

That being said, however, United supporters may be concerned to learn that the one-time Boulogne loanee is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Romelu Lukaku, according to FBref.

Romelu Lukaku for Man United

That likeness between the pair is best illustrated by their ability to offer a creative outlet when leading the line, with Lukaku ranking in the top 2% in Europe among those in his position for assists, while Kolo Muani ranks in the top 3% for that same metric.

Equally, the latter man also ranks in the top 15% for progressive passes received to further showcase his creative prowess, with the current Inter Milan ranking just ahead in the top 7% in that regard.

While a comparison to the latter man – who is the all-time leading scorer for Belgium and boasts 280 club career goals – is not solely negative, the 30-year-old did not exactly enjoy a happy stint at the Theatre of Dreams, having been shipped off to Italy in 2019 after just two years in Manchester.

The one-time Chelsea man did score 42 goals in 96 games for the Red Devils, although was criticised by journalist Samuel Luckhurst for his "woeful and costly finishing" during the start of his second season at the club, having seemingly failed to win over the Old Trafford faithful.

To think then that Murtough may sanction a move for a similar player to that of Lukaku in the form of Kolo Muani may have alarm bells ringing, with United no doubt wanting to avoid a repeat of that transfer mistake.

Leeds United Eyeing 46-Year-Old As Next Manager

Leeds United are interested in making Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson their next manager this summer, according to a new update.

Who is in the running for Leeds job?

The Whites are experiencing a busy time of things at the moment, with so much happening both on and off the pitch, including 49 Enterprises' potential takeover of the club.

The search is also on to find a new manager before the start of next season, with Sam Allardyce departing earlier this week after a short stint in charge, in which he failed to keep them n the Premier League.

A number of individuals are believed to be in with a chance of landing the job, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Corberan all thought to be in the running. A new name has now been thrown into the hat, though, as Leeds look to ensure that they nail their next appointment and seal a quickfire return to the Premier League.

Is Tomasson a target for the Whites?

According to Football Insider, the Whites "have shortlisted Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson in the search for their next manager", with the Dane "on their shortlist of targets". The report goes on to add that "Blackburn are braced for an approach from the recently-relegated giants and are already drawing up a list of potential replacements for the 46-year-old", with those inside Elland Road viewing Tomasson as "the next Bielsa".

Tomasson, who plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been in charge of Blackburn since last year, arriving in June, having previously been in charge of Swedish side Malmo, and he guided the former to a seventh-place finish in the Championship and within touching distance of finishing in the playoff positions.

He could be an interesting appointment by Leeds, not necessarily being as big a name as Gerrard and Rodgers, for example, but showing in a short space of time that he knows how to get positive results in the Championship, averaging 1.6 points per game in the competition. Tomasson also has experience at international level, albeit in an assistant manager role with Denmark between 2016 and 2019, meaning he knows how to work around big personalities and help get the best out of them.

It could be argued that a more proven manager could be needed at Leeds, such is the importance of this appointment, but the former striker did win two Swedish league titles in charge of Malmo, further highlighting his pedigree and why he is a contender to head to Elland Road.

Tottenham Hotspur Pushing Hard To Sign "Incredible" £40m Star

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign Leicester City's Harvey Barnes, with the winger set to leave this summer, according to a report from The Sun.

Who will Tottenham sign this summer?

Tottenham are keen to bolster their attacking options in the upcoming window, and it has recently been reported they are ready to snap up James Maddison, with the Leicester midfielder set to be sold following the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League.

Despite not yet having a new manager in place, Spurs are still active in the transfer market, and they are set to complete a permanent deal for loanee Dejan Kulusevksi, having been impressed with the Juventus winger's performances.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that Barnes was "on the list" of targets for the Lilywhites way back in February, having looked at him for a long time, and The Sun have now provided an update on their pursuit of the Leicester star.

According to the report, Tottenham and Newcastle United are the clubs pushing hardest to sign the 25-year-old, as well as Maddison, with both players set to leave Leicester after the relegation to the Championship.

Both players could command fees of around £40m in the upcoming window, but Leicester are hoping that a bidding war will break out, which will drive their prices up even further.

Having qualified for the Champions League, Newcastle are tipped to have an advantage in the race for Barnes' signature, while Spurs have no European football on offer, and they are currently without a permanent manager or director football.

Should Tottenham sign Harvey Barnes?

After being hailed as "incredible" by Micah Richards back in 2021, the 25-year-old has since developed even further, performing very well for Leicester this season, despite the club's relegation.

On a personal level, it was a fantastic campaign for the Englishman, registering three assists and 13 goals, with the latter proving to be the highest figure of any player in the Leicester squad.

Leicester City's Harvey Barnes

The Burnley-born winger has most commonly featured on the left throughout his career, but he is also capable of playing through the middle, an area that Tottenham will need to strengthen, given that Rodrigo Bentancur is out until at least November.

Barnes could be a solid signing for Spurs, but the lack of European football and a permanent manager is likely to make it very difficult to win the race for his signature.

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