West Ham United host Manchester City this afternoon as the Hammers look to climb into the top six whilst City can extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points.
The Irons have all but secured a place in the Europa Conference League but can still overtake Manchester United to record a second consecutive top six finish.
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However, today’s match will be all about one person for the East London club…Mark Noble.
Having made 548 appearances for West Ham, the Hammers’ skipper will wave goodbye to the home supporters one last time before the 35-year-old retires at the end of the season.
Therefore, the midfielder deserves to start in the Premier League one last time for his boyhood club.
On the chalkboard
Granted, it’s not been the most eventful season for Noble despite West Ham’s impressive run to the semi-final of the Europa League whilst battling for a top-six finish once again.
The Englishman has made just nine appearances in the top-flight, starting three with the deep-lying partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek difficult to break apart.
However, the latter was rested for last weekend’s 4-0 victory against Norwich City with Manuel Lanzini taking his place and therefore the Argentine could be set to drop out to allow Noble to start one final time for the Clarets.
On the other hand, Rice could be rested. Either way, the West Ham captain deserves to start.
In an interview with the BBC ahead of this afternoon’s match, Hammers manager David Moyes was full of praise for the £49k-per-week veteran midfielder.
“I’m sure it’ll be hugely emotional for Mark and his family,” he said. “Your career is never that long as a footballer, but to do it at one club is a huge achievement.
“It’s not done by many people, so great credit to Mark and the way he’s conducted himself throughout the career.
“He’s played continuously, at the highest level. He’ll be renowned.”
Set to make his 549th and possibly final West Ham appearance, the Irons captain has been a remarkable servant, staying on with his boyhood club throughout his career with brief loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town as a youngster the only exceptions.
Since making his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2004, the 35-year-old has gone on to score 62 goals and provide 61 assists for the Hammers and will certainly be a massive miss for the east London outfit.
AND in other news: 11 games, 0 goals: Bilic made “huge mistake” on WHU dud who cost £2.5m per yellow card
Manchester City are expected to announce the signing of Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland by Friday, according to The Athletic’s ever-reliable transfer guru David Ornstein.
The Lowdown: City win the race
The 21-year-old first joined the Bundesliga outfit in a £17m move from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2020, where he has since gone on to make 88 appearances for the club during that time.
The forward still has two years remaining on his current contract with the German side, but in recent months, has been attracting plenty of interest from several clubs across Europe, with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United being linked with a potential move for Haaland in the summer.
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Despite this though, it appears that the Sky Blues are the team to have won the race for the Norwegian’s signature, after reports have claimed that City are prepared to active his £63m release clause, with the striker agreeing a deal to make the switch to the Etihad ahead of the start of next season.
The Latest: Haaland move ‘a done deal’
The reliable Ornstein has basically confirmed this development by taking to Twitter on Monday to share the huge news:
“Erling Haaland to Man City a done deal + confirmation expected this week, according to sources in Germany. Personal terms complete & Dortmund anticipate City informing them in coming days of intention to activate release clause.”
The Verdict: Perfect Aguero replacement
If the Premier League giants do manage to pull off the Haaland signing, it would be absolutely huge for Pep Guardiola, especially considering that the highly sought-after attacker already has previous connections to the club, with his dad Alf-Inge having a two-year spell with City many moons ago.
The £135m-rated talisman has been in prolific form in the final third this term, having scored 28 goals and registered eight assists in just 29 outings across all competitions for Dortmund, as per Transfermarkt.
After missing out on Tottenham captain Harry Kane last summer, it’s about time that the hierarchy invested in a new centre-forward having not yet signed a replacement since the departure of Sergio Aguero, and it looks like Haaland could be about to follow in his father’s footsteps by making the move to the top-flight.
In other news… Guardiola has delivered a huge injury update on a first-team trio.
Celtic are currently flying high with their title triumph now seemingly a matter of when and not if, following a remarkable debut campaign for new boss Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian visionary has delighted the Parkhead faithful with his brave, attacking approach, while he’s proven something of a transfer market maestro such has been the number of success stories among the club’s new signings this season.
As this jubilant campaign draws to a close, however, the 56-year-old will surely be turning his attentions towards further recruitment in the upcoming window, amid reports that he may have a £20m transfer kitty at his disposal, following the club’s qualification for the Champions League.
One potential transfer target that has emerged is SM Caen striker Alexandre Mendy, with reports late last week suggesting that the Scottish Premiership outfit were eyeing a deal and had even made a €3m (£2.5m) offer for his services.
The player’s agent – Yacine Ayad – has since come out in an attempt to debunk those claims, however, suggesting that any reports of contact with his client are “obviously not true”, although he did admit that the 28-year-old forward “is followed by European clubs”.
Whether or not an offer has actually been made, it would certainly be a wise move for Postecoglou and co to pursue a deal for the Guinea-Bissau international, such has been his sparkling form this season.
Dubbed “very strong” by Jocelyn Gourvennec, the 6-foot gem would provide a real focal point to the Hoops’ attack, something that was sorely lacking in the recent Old Firm, Scottish Cup semi-final defeat following the absence of Georgios Giakoumakis, according to pundit Alan Hutton.
Even the Greek striker hasn’t enjoyed a perfect first season in Glasgow, however, with injury restricting him to just nine goals in 16 top-flight appearances.
Mendy, by contrast, has been in a rich vein of form in France, plundering 16 goals in 31 appearances for the Ligue 2 outfit, albeit with this campaign perhaps something of an anomaly as he has only once previously netted more than five league goals in a season.
Nevertheless, on current form it is no surprise that club’s across the continent have begun to take notice of his talent, while his physical attributes ensure he has more than just a goalscorer, having won a solid 57% of his total aerial duels, as well as provided 0.8 defensive clearances.
Although not a household name, Mendy could prove to be yet another relative unknown who emerges as a diamond under Postecoglou, just like Giakoumakis.
IN other news, £2.5m fee agreed, then snatched away: Celtic had Old Firm blinder on “unplayable” ace
What a win for Newcastle United on Saturday evening. They beat Manchester City 2-1 at St James’ Park to pick up a huge three points, propelling them up the Premier League table.
Remarkably, it is the first time they have beaten the Citizens in the top flight since 2018/19, a game which they also won 2-1.
There were chances for both sides in the first half, with Harvey Barnes having a couple of opportunities which he squandered. The Citizens also came close through England international Phil Foden, but his shot fizzed wide.
It was Barnes who ended up giving the Magpies the lead in the second half. It was a smart finish from the winger, playing a one-two with Bruno Guimaraes before firing first time past Gianluigi Donnarumma to put his side a goal ahead.
City equalised moments after, thanks to a deflected strike by Ruben Dias. However, a 70th-minute goal from Barnes gave Newcastle the lead from close range. St James’ Park waited with bated breath as VAR checked an offside, but it was given and Eddie Howe’s men held on for all three points.
There were standout performances across the pitch for the Magpies, but Guimaraes and midfield partner Sandro Tonali were two standouts once again.
How Guimaraes and Tonali performed vs. Man City
It was another commanding performance from the Newcastle midfield pairing of Guimaraes and Tonali. The Brazilian grabbed an assist for the first goal, linking up with match-winner Barnes in a slick move, to help give his side the lead.
Indeed, the former Lyon midfielder stood out to Lee Ryder, the chief Newcastle writer for the Chronicle. He gave Guimaraes an 8/10 for his efforts in the middle of the park, describing his second-half display as “superb.”
However, it was not just the Magpies’ number 39 who shone in midfield. Tonali, described as “one of the best midfielders in world football right now” by Ryder, was completely dominant, especially out of possession.
It was a wonderful performance without the ball from Newcastle’s midfield general Tonali. The Italian worked hard all night long, winning 100% of his tackles, making seven recoveries and winning six duels, as per Sofascore. He also managed 47 touches of the ball and created one chance.
It was a typically dominant midfield showing by the pair, but they were arguably not the best Newcastle duo on the pitch against City.
Newcastle's best duo vs. Man City
As well as Guimaraes and Tonali performed, Newcastle fans might have been left more impressed with Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.
The Magpies’ first-choice full-back pairing were back in the starting lineup together, and were “the best players on the pitch” according to journalist Andy Sixsmith.
It was certainly not an easy day for either of them. Livramento was up against the tricky Jeremy Doku, but kept him quiet, winning two tackles and making eight recoveries.
As for his compatriot Hall, he ensured Rayan Cherki had his work cut out, winning six from seven duels and making three recoveries.
Touches
45
40
Pass accuracy
85%
79%
Ball recoveries
3
8
Duels won
6/7
3/4
Clearances
3
3
Their performances stood out to Ryder. He gave the pair of them 9/10s for their efforts, explaining the right-back gave the Magpies “a different dimension” and the left-back “made a monumental difference” to the side.
It is easy to see how this pair could be the new version of Guimaraes and Tonali for the Magpies. The England internationals, who are both likely to stake a claim as part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad in the summer, are already fan favourites at St James’ Park.
Their quality speaks for itself, as they showed against City. The manner in which they coped with the Citizens’ tricky wide men was impressive, and their on-ball quality was obvious against Pep Guardiola’s side, too.
Livramento is just 23 years of age, and Hall is 21. They’ve already demonstrated high levels of ability, and could certainly become even more important than Guimaraes and Tonali, the longer they build up this full-back partnership.
It has certainly been a positive start to the 2025/26 campaign for Leeds United. Daniel Farke’s side were tipped by many to go straight back down to the Championship, with more than half of ESPN’s pundits predicting they’d finish in the bottom three.
Of course, there is still plenty of time left this season, but the Whites have made an excellent start to their return to the top flight. They currently sit in 12th in the Premier League, having won two and drawn one from their five games. They already have a four-point cushion on the relegation zone, too.
A large part of why Leeds have started so well is their summer business. One of the most impressive additions so far has been Anton Stach.
Stach’s start to his Leeds career
German international Stach made the move to Elland Road from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim over the summer. He cost the Whites £17m, which seems to have been a bargain given his performances already.
The versatile midfielder, who can also operate at centre-back, has played five times in the Premier League.
He’s already chipped in with two goal involvements, including that sublime free-kick at Molineux against Wolves last time out.
The 26-year-old has certainly caught the eye during his short time at Elland Road so far. Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has been full of praise for the German, explaining that he has “been impressive”, describing him as “a very physical, very demanding player.”
Some of the numbers Stach has put up so far show just how well he has performed. For example, he’s averaged 2.6 combined tackles and interceptions and 1.8 accurate long balls per 90 minutes, as per Sofascore.
Indeed, Leeds’ new midfield gem has already become a key component of their midfield. However, there is another player in Farke’s side who is arguably even more important under Farke.
The Leeds star who's more valuable than Stach
If Stach could already be considered a pivotal cog in the works at Elland Road, then it shows the sort of quality he has brought to Farke’s side, both in and out of possession.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
He has slotted seamlessly into the starting lineup.
He is arguably on the right trajectory to match the importance of club captain Ethan Ampadu. The Welshman has long been viewed as an “indispensable” member of the Leeds side, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
So far, this season has been no different. Although he missed two games during the 2025/26 campaign, the former Chelsea star has started both of Leeds’ wins and the narrow 1-0 loss away to Fulham.
He’s operated in the heart of their midfield alongside Stach.
The quality Ampadu has brought to the centre of the park has been clear to see, and he’s played a huge part in both of their victories. Against Everton on the opening day of the season, he won six duels and completed 81% of his passes.
In their recent win at Molineux, the Welsh international won seven duels and four from four tackles.
Touches
72
74
Pass accuracy
81%
95%
Ground duels won
4/5
5/7
Aerial duels won
2/3
2/4
Tackles won
3/3
4/4
With that in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that the Leeds skipper is one of the highest-valued players in their squad. According to Transfermarkt, he’s worth £17.4m, bettered only by attacker Wilfried Gnonto.
That is also a higher value than what Stach is deemed to be worth. The German midfielder, who cost the club a fraction less than Ampadu’s value over the summer, is only said to be £12.2m by Transfermarkt.
That certainly shows the importance Ampadu has in the Leeds side. Their skipper, who can play as a centre-back or in midfield as he has done this season, is an integral member of Farke’s side. The fact that he is worth more than Stach highlights his quality.
Leeds are brewing the next Kalvin Phillips in exciting 17-year-old starlet
Leeds United is now brewing their next Kalvin Phillips in this 17-year-old starlet.
Tottenham Hotspur waved goodbye to controversial chairman Daniel Levy after 24 years last week, in a move which sent shockwaves throughout the world of football.
Levy and ENIC’s running of the club during his tenure attracted large protests from supporters, mainly due to a lack of success on the field, with the Lilywhites winning just two major trophies over the ex-chair’s two-and-a half-decade-long spell.
However, away from the pitch, there is little denying that Levy transformed Spurs into a financial powerhouse.
Tottenham are now one of the world’s highest revenue-generating clubs, according to the Deloitte Money League, with Levy overseeing the move to their state of the art new stadium and training facilities.
Real Madrid
£1.2 billion
Man City
£727 million
PSG
£700 million
Man United
£668 million
Bayern Munich
£664 million
FC Barcelona
£659.5 million
Arsenal
£621.5 million
Liverpool
£620 million
Tottenham Hotspur
£533 million
Chelsea
£474 million
via Deloitte Money League
Speaking after the “big news” of Levy’s departure, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham moved to quash rumours of a potential takeover whilst explaining what this means to the club’s overall running.
Credible reports suggest that influential footballing figures were left “stunned” by Levy’s resignation (Miguel Delaney), which was ultimately taken out of the 63-year-old’s hands.
In fact, The Times have stated that Levy was told to resign just hours before Tottenham made it official.
Saudi backers major plan for Tottenham as Levy exit kickstarts restructure
According to TEAMtalk, Levy’s departure is the first domino kickstarting what is a broad restructure of Spurs.
It is also claimed that global investors, including backers from Saudi Arabia, harbor an ambitious plan for Spurs to build a “Premier League powerhouse”, and see the club as a “prime opportunity” to do so.
While making it crystal clear that Spurs is not for sale, the Lewis family are open to minority investments that could help to inject significant capital into the club, with Saudi parties also joined by potential investors from Qatar and the USA.
A new era for Thomas Frank’s side appears to be ushering in, with insiders saying that an “air of change” is brewing within the club and Levy’s exit may not be the big off-field announcement poised to come in the near future.
Celtic have plenty of new arrivals in their sights and are said to be plotting a move for a Premier League midfielder to bolster their engine room, according to reports.
Celtic look to bring in new recruits after Hayato Inamura
Hayato Inamura has flown to the UK to join Celtic and will sign on the dotted line for £250,000 after Albirex Niigata confirmed his exit, making him the Bhoys’ fifth signing of the summer after Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Ross Doohan.
Despite the Bhoys’ hunt for a central defender, pundit Roger Hannah believes Inamura could head out on loan to gain experience rather than sticking around to cut his teeth at Parkhead.
He stated: “I don’t think Inamura will see the first team next season. I think the plan might be to either loan him straight back to his club in Japan or loan him to a European league.”
“It would be a huge leap for the lad to go from the level he has been playing at and straight into the Celtic first team. I think it’s too big a leap.”
Either way, Celtic have set their sights on further signings after the 23-year-old, and the Hoops could bring in Cathal O’Sullivan from Cork City despite interest from Brentford and Preston North End in his services.
It'd be Ryan Christie 2.0: Euro club open talks to sign £2m Celtic ace
A European team are interested in a deal to sign a star from Celtic this summer.
ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025
Keita Kosugi has also been mooted as a potential Celtic signing amid interest from the Scottish Premiership champions in the Djurgardens full-back, though it remains to be seen if they can push a deal over the line.
Now, a new name has come to the fore in their search for talent, and he may pique the attention of supporters due to his recent accomplishments.
Celtic prepare bid for Tyler Morton
According to reports, Celtic are preparing an offer for Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton, who is said to be valued at around £15 million by the reigning Premier League champions.
Rodgers is an admirer of the 22-year-old and has extensive knowledge of his talents due to his connections with the Anfield club, where Morton was a youngster in the academy when the Hoops boss was in charge.
It is said that he could leave Merseyside in search of regular first-team football following the arrival of Florian Wirtz.
Tyler Morton’s senior appearances at Liverpool
Appearances
14
Goals
0
Assists
1
West Ham United, Braga, Ajax and Club Brugge are also interested in the holding midfielder, and suitors are only likely to grow due to his role in England Under-21’s claiming European Championship glory under Lee Carsley.
Labelled a “quality” player by Reds boss Arne Slot, AXA Training Centre graduate Morton maintained an 87.6% pass success rate at the tournament and could provide an adequate alternative to Callum McGregor in the six position.
Celtic’s club captain isn’t getting any younger, so it makes sense for Rodgers to put a succession plan in place to provide strength in depth for the long-term.
Celtic missed out on the domestic treble earlier this month when they were beaten by Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park.
The Hoops had already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup, but they were unable to claim the third trophy in the collection against the Dons.
Brendan Rodgers may want to go all the way next season, after failing to win the treble in both of his first two years back at the club, and could do that by improving his squad in the summer transfer window.
With that in mind, here is the dream starting line-up that Rodgers could build to attack the 2025/26 campaign head-on when they return to action later this year…
1 Kasper Schmeichel
Starting off between the sticks, Kasper Schmeichel should still be the number one for Celtic next season, at least to begin with, after an impressive debut campaign, despite his own goal in the SFA Cup final.
The former Leicester City stopper racked up an impressive 24 clean sheets in 49 appearances after joining from Anderlecht on a free transfer last year.
2 Alistair Johnston
At right-back, Celtic should be aiming to keep hold of Alistair Johnston amid reported interest from English sides Ipswich Town and Fulham this summer, after he scored four goals and provided ten assists in the Premiership this season.
3 Cameron Carter-Vickers
At the heart of the defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers should be a mainstay in the team again next season, after he was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year yet again. The colossal central defender has the right-sided centre-back position locked down, and it should stay that way.
4 Liam Scales
Liam Scales in action for Celtic.
The left-sided centre-back position is up for debate, unlike the right side, with Auston Trusty, Maik Nawrocki, and Liam Scales all in contention to play that role.
Scales, however, ended the season as the first-choice for Rodgers, despite Trusty and Nawrocki being fit and available, which suggests that he will head into pre-season as the obvious partner to Carter-Vickers.
5 Kieran Tierney
Left-back is another position that should be fairly obvious. Kieran Tierney is joining on a free transfer from Arsenal and should be the go-to option in that area of the park when fit and available.
The Scotland international produced 37 assists in 170 matches for Celtic during his first spell at the club, which suggests that he could provide a huge creative outlet down the left flank for the Scottish giants next season.
It remains to be seen whether or not Greg Taylor, who is out of contract this summer, will be at Parkhead next term, so Tierney is currently the only senior left-back who is guaranteed to be in the squad.
6 Callum McGregor
Callum McGregor
At the base of the midfield three, captain Callum McGregor is another obvious pick for Rodgers. The skipper started 34 of his 35 appearances in the Premiership this season, which does not suggest that he is close to being on his way out of the XI.
7 Arne Engels
Celtic broke the bank to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg last summer in a club-record £11m move, and he repaid them with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances for the club in his debut season.
8 Lennon Miller
Another new addition to the squad, alongside Tierney, could be Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller, who could arrive to complete the midfield trio with McGregor and Engels.
Serie A side Udinese have been linked with a summer move for Reo Hatate, and Celtic could sign the Scottish starlet, who is a reported transfer target, to replace the Japanese ace.
Appearances
37
32
Goals
10
2
Big chances created
14
12
Key passes per game
1.2
1.6
Assists
2
8
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.1
3.1
Ball recoveries per game
3.2
6.3
Duel success rate
44%
53%
As you can see in the table above, Miller would be an exciting replacement for Hatate because he offers a similar threat as a creator whilst being better out of possession, albeit he does not provide as much of a goalscoring presence.
At 18, the Scotland U21 international is also nine years younger than the Celtic star and could be the long-term option for Rodgers in that position, which is why it could make sense to cash in on the Japanese star to sign the Motherwell maestro.
9 Nicolas Kuhn
Nicolas Kuhn ended the 2024/25 campaign with an eye-catching haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions from a right wing position for the Hoops.
The left-footed star provided a constant threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants, which is why he should remain the starting option on that flank.
10 Mathias Kvistgaarden
The third signing that could be added to this dream starting XI, alongside Tierney and Miller, is Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden.
Celtic are reportedly weighing up a club-record swoop for the Danish marksman, who is valued at in excess of £12m, and it could be a fantastic piece of business for the club to upgrade on Adam Idah.
Appearances
29
35
FotMob rating
7.29
6.86
xG
13.99
13.57
Goals
17
13
Chances created
19
19
Assists
5
0
As you can see in the table above, their respective performances at league level this season suggest that Kvistgaarden would offer far more than the Irishman as a superior finisher.
Therefore, Celtic should attempt to conclude a deal for the 23-year-old centre-forward, dubbed “sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, in the weeks to come as he could add an even greater goal threat to Rodgers’ side than Idah currently does.
With Steven Gerrard potentially on his way back to the club, Rangers could now reportedly bring an experienced star to Ibrox this summer in a surprising new role at the club.
Rangers' manager update
With the season now over, the Gers have instantly turned their attention towards finding their next permanent manager. It’s a decision that those at Ibrox must get right as the 49ers look to make an instant statement in Scotland. Just who will take to the hot seat next is the unanswered question. So far, a range of names have been linked with the role with Davide Ancelotti and Gerrard particularly standing out.
According to recent reports, Gerrard could return to Ibrox for the first time since leaving them for the chance to take charge of Aston Villa in 2021 in what may receive a mixed reaction. The Liverpool legend would certainly need to get off to a strong start back in Scotland in an attempt to get any frustrated fans back onside four years on from his departure.
StevenGerrard
Meanwhile, Ancelotti is also an interesting candidate. The assistant manager to his father, the legendary Carlo Ancelotti, for much of his career, he could now choose to break away and commence his own managerial spell.
Igniting reports, his father has chosen not to take Ancelotti to the Brazil national team with him, claiming that his son is in talks with a European club. The former Real Madrid manager told reporters: “Davide is currently in negotiations with a European team. I don’t think it’s right for him to come with me. If he goes to a club, I wish him the best. And if not, he can come back to us at any time.”
Whether that European club is Rangers remains to be seen, but Ancelotti is certainly one to watch alongside Gerrard.
Gerrard could bring Henderson with him to Rangers
If it is to be Gerrard, then he could bring a Premier League-winning captain with him to Ibrox. According to reports from the Netherlands, as relayed by The Daily Record, Rangers and Gerrard are now interested in signing Jordan Henderson from Ajax this summer in an unexpected coaching role, with the former Liverpool midfielder reportedly open to a new adventure.
It’s been a tough few years for Henderson on the pitch. His decision to leave Liverpool to join Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq side in 2023 was ultimately one that he came to regret. Meanwhile, his time at Ajax has since been mixed and he could be on his way out of the Dutch giants just 18 months after arriving. From being a Premier League-winning captain at Anfield, Henderson is at a major career crossroads.
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If anyone knows about the midfielder’s quality too, it is Gerrard. The Anfield hero played together with Henderson, currently on a base salary of £75,000-a-week, at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield for a number of years and shared high praise for his former teammate back in 2019 – telling reporters: “Some people don’t see the stuff behind the scenes, the gym work, the way he eats, but he is an incredible role model.
“He is selfless. He puts himself at the back of the queue because he looks after everyone else first. He puts Jordan Henderson last.”
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted their opening bid for a highly rated centre-back, as star defender Cristian Romero continues to attract Atlético Madrid’s admiring glances ahead of the summer window.
Atlético Madrid express interest in signing Cristian Romero
Atlético’s links to the Argentinian are nothing new, as Romero’s potential move to La Liga has been reported on regularly over the last few months.
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What is more concerning, though, is more recent claims that Romero is just as keen to leave north London as Atlético are on signing the £165,000-per-week centre-back, who starred throughout Spurs’ Europa League campaign and was crowned Player of the Tournament.
Player
Rating
Guglielmo Vicario
7.7
Yves Bissouma
7.6
Cristian Romero
7.4
Bruno Fernandes
7.4
Destiny Udogie
7.2
His defensive heroics helped Ange Postecoglou make good on his famous promise of always winning trophies in his second season, which will now go down in Lilywhites folklore, and Romero was pictured enjoying the celebrations as Spurs ended their 17-year wait for silverware.
However, hoisting the Europa League trophy aloft may well be one of his final acts in a Tottenham jersey.
TottenhamHotspur's CristianRomeroreacts
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo is one of the latest outlets to report that Romero has given the green light to join Atlético and is personally keen on a switch to Diego Simeone’s side, with the main obstacle being his £50 million price tag.
La Liga reports as far back as March also claimed that Romero is determined to leave Tottenham this summer, and according to media sources closer to home, the 27-year-old is still expected to go regardless of their Europa League triumph (Pete O’Rourke).
Therefore, it is little surprise that Spurs are believed to be targeting a centre-back when the window reopens.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
Tottenham remain in contention for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, as per GiveMeSport, and were thought to be seriously in the mix for Dean Huijsen before he decided to join Real Madrid from Bournemouth at the end of the season (Fabrizio Romano).
Guehi’s price tag is expected to be around £50 million, given he’s entering the final 12 months of his contract, but chairman Daniel Levy now also has his eyes on a cheaper alternative successor to Romero.
Tottenham submit opening bid for Genoa defender Koni de Winter
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, that man is “gifted” Genoa defender Koni de Winter.
The Belgium international has been targeted by the likes of West Ham, but it is actually Spurs who are making the most serious move for him out of any Premier League side.
La Repubblica states that Tottenham have submitted a £20 million bid for De Winter ahead of 1st June, and while the outlet doesn’t reveal Genoa’s stance on this offer, it is a signal of Spurs’ serious interest.
The likes of Inter and Juve have also been linked with the 22-year-old, perhaps highlighting his quality, with de Winter revealing that those close to him compare the defender to Man City legend Vincent Kompany.
“All my life I have been told I play like Vincent Kompany,” said De Winter to the i Paper.
“I have this ability to make runs with the ball like he did, I have the same technical side. It’s a really big name, so I one day hope to be able to live up to him. You look at the other big names (former Belgian Premier League defenders) and it is only right that they ended up playing in the best competitions.”