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The Athletic journalist Adam Crafton has now made an exciting Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving star winger Raphinha.

The Lowdown: Conte set for busy summer…

Both Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster have arrived at Spurs on Bosman deals with the Premier League giants already confirming two new signings.

The summer window has been open for just one week and the north Londoners are certainly making their intent known, potentially appeasing manager Antonio Conte who holds no shortage of ambition.

The Italian is said to be plotting a major N17 overhaul as more new additions become heavily linked, a list which now includes Leeds’ big name Brazilian.

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The Latest: Spurs set for Raphinha ‘tussle’…

According to Crafton and The Athletic, Spurs could be set for ‘one of the big tussles this summer’ as they eye a move for Brazil’s ace alongside north London rivals Arsenal.

The 25-year-old dazzled at Elland Road over 2021/2022, attracting interest from Conte and the Lilywhites.

Crafton explained:

“Arsenal & Tottenham both hold genuine interest in Leeds’ Raphinha in what may be one of the big tussles this summer.”

The Verdict: Exciting…

As a north London battle to sign the South American star becomes possible, it’s safe to say Tottenham winning the race would come as another boost for Conte before his first full season in charge.

Raphinha stood out as Leeds’ star man last season, averaging the most shots at goal, key passes made and successful take-ons per 90 out of anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

The international also finished as their top goal scorer and best-performing regular by average match-rating (WhoScored) with members of the media calling him a ‘stand-out player’ (Noel Whelan, Football Insider).

Depending on the price tag, Raphinha could be a potentially shrewd addition.

In other news: Significant talks…Tottenham emerge as ‘likelier destination’ for ‘superstar’…find out more here.

Manchester City have made further headway in their bid to secure the signing of Leeds United talisman, Kalvin Phillips.

What’s the word?

That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, via GIVEMESPORT, who claims that the Cityzens have completed their “background checks” which have lead to “positive” signs around the possibility of the capture.

As per The Athletic, it is said that Manchester City appear as though they are in pole position to secure the signing of Phillips, with a £50m proposal more than likely enough to tempt Leeds to cut ties with the midfielder.

Insider Jones revealed further clarity on City’s chances, telling GIVEMESPORT: “All the background checks on this deal are now done and talks are continuing.

“This sounds like a really promising time for Manchester City in their move to sign Kalvin Phillips. The signs are positive so far.”

Pep surely delighted

The latest update surrounding the future of Phillips bodes entirely well from a Manchester City perspective with a move for Phillips set to leave their manager delighted, especially considering the impending departure of Fernandinho, whose contract is set to expire within the next eight or so days.

As of right now, Guardiola may be left with a conflicting decision in the holding midfielder role.

Rodri has proven himself as somewhat of a maestro in possession. And whilst he’s drummed up an astonishing return of seven goals and two assists from defensive midfield, his defensive numbers have taken a slight hit, with one-on-one defending scenarios an ongoing concern from a City perspective.

His creative efforts may have given the 51-year-old something to think about in terms of which position the 26-year-old will occupy next season.

And if the City boss is thinking of pushing Rodri up to the role of a number 8 box-to-box midfielder, then Phillips would slot straight into the holding role for the Premier League Champions.

Having registered an average of 3.67 tackles and 1.92 interceptions per game. Phillips is an asset who is willing to stay back and dictate play from deep, representing a perfect option for Manchester City having once been described as a “destroyer” by Steve McClaren.

For comparison, Rodri, especially this season, has not been as prominent out of possession, with an average of just 2.20 tackles and 1.57 interceptions achieved per game.

This will certainly give Guardiola and co something to think about.

In other news: Man City can land their own Alexander-Arnold as Pep eyes move for £18m-rated “engine”

This summer could have looked mightily different for Leeds United if it wasn’t for Raphinha and Jack Harrison on a sunny afternoon in west London.

The dynamic flankers popped up with two vital goals on the final day of the Premier League season as Jesse Marsch’s side rescued themselves from relegation.

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What has followed is prompt business in the window with Marc Roca penning terms this week, adding to Brenden Aaronson’s and Rasmus Kristensen’s signings.

However, Victor Orta is still pursuing a striker, knowing full well what happened last term. Raphinha could leave and with Patrick Bamford now in the ‘injury-prone’ bracket, they need additional bodies offensively.

One man they could sign is PSG striker Arnaud Kalimuendo with one reporter stating they’ve made an “official offer” to land the young starlet this summer. It’s thought a fee of €22m (£18.8m) will be enough to tempt the Ligue 1 giants into selling.

Described as “absolutely deadly” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it’s clear to see that with 32 goals to his name at the age of just 20, he would be an effective presence up front for Leeds.

However, there are some worrying vibes when it comes to this deal, as it could well evoke memories of a certain Jean-Kevin Augustin.

A legal trial is has played out over the Frenchman’s deal as Leeds acquired the player on loan in January 2020 and upon promotion were obligated to sign him permanently. They didn’t cough up what was meant to be an £18m fee which funnily enough, is a similar amount to what Orta will have to pay to land Kalimuendo.

We’re not suggesting for one moment that another trial will be demanded here but combine his fee with his nationality, his playing position and the way they’ve both come through the PSG academy, and there are some scary parallels.

That said, the youngster who was on loan at Lens last season does look far more cut out for life in the Premier League than Augustin.

He bagged 13 times in 2021/22 and if you believe FB Ref’s ‘similar players’ model, he is comparable to the likes of Luis Suarez and Canadian superstar Jonathan David.

Kalimuendo is clearly an exciting talent and one Leeds should definitely attempt to invest in this summer.

AND in other news, Marsch could secure the next £33m monster as Leeds eye “wonderful” 49-goal starlet…

Manchester United are set to sign Tottenham defender Jayden Meghoma after a deal was agreed in principle, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Meghoma profiled

Meghoma is just 15 years of age and is primarily a left-back, who can also turn out as a centre-back.

Regarded as ‘one of the most promising young talents in the country’, Meghoma is an England U16 international and will turn 16 on Tuesday.

It appears as if he may be celebrating a move to Manchester ahead of his 16th birthday, with the Red Devils taking advantage of the fact Spurs are yet to secure Meghoma to a professional deal.

The Latest: Transfer update

Football Insider shared a story on Spurs defender Meghoma on Friday morning after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that a deal has been agreed in principle for Meghoma to pen youth terms at Old Trafford which will then turn into a professional contract when he turns 17. The report adds that Meghoma has told his friends he will be making the move to Manchester United.

The Verdict: Now for senior signings

It is good to see that United have been able to persuade Meghoma to leave Tottenham and sign for them, and only time will tell if a swoop turns out to be a shrewd piece of business. However, the club are yet to land a marquee signing for Erik ten Hag, with time ticking ahead of the new season and rivals moving fast in the market.

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Ten Hag and some United players are set to report for pre-season on Monday, so United chiefs really need to get a move on with some additions that will strengthen the first-team squad and not just the academy.

Leeds United have made a request to sign Sassuolo’s Hamed Traore, according to the Italian club’s CEO.

The lowdown

Leeds have already been busy in this summer’s transfer window, bringing in three new faces.

Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson and right-back Rasmus Kristensen have joined from RB Salzburg, while central midfielder Marc Roca has arrived from Bayern Munich.

The trio have cost a collective £52million, but Leeds could be due to bank up to £105million from the sales of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

Traore is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder who can also play in a deeper role or on the left wing.

Valued at £19.8million by Transfermarkt, he’s under contract for another two years.

The latest

Speaking to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Sassuolo chief Giovanni Carnevali confirmed that Leeds had been in touch. But he was keen to stress that the club will not being sell all of its coveted assets this summer.

“We have received a request [from Leeds], but I repeat, we will not sell all of them,” he said.

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The verdict

Another Sassuolo player attracting interest is Gianluca Scamacca, who’s said to be admired by Arsenal, Newcastle United and West Ham United.

You can see why the club might be reluctant to lose the 16-goal striker and Traore, who scored seven times and provided four assists last season, in the same window.

It might take a special offer for Leeds to lure away the midfielder, who’s similar in profile to Philippe Coutinho and Raphinha with quick feet and elite close control – he actually completed more dribbles per game in Serie A last term than Raphinha did in the Premier League.

For Leeds, it would be a long-term investment in a player who was ‘fantastic’ last term, in the words of sports journalist Josh Bunting.

Leeds United managed to avoid getting relegated back to the Championship at the end of their rocky previous Premier League season.

One figure at the Yorkshire club that helped them keep their place in the top division is Jack Harrison.

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After spending a considerable amount of time at the club on loan from Manchester City, the winger eventually became a permanent Leeds player last summer.

His previous season with the Whites saw the 25-year-old score eight goals in 35 league appearances.

With the summer transfer window still open, the Elland Road outfit still have the chance to strengthen their squad even further, despite already adding a significant number of players to their ranks.

One player that Leeds have been linked with that could act as a big upgrade on Harrison is PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.

Having made a total of 195 appearances for the Dutch club across their senior and youth sides, the 23-year-old has found the net 69 times and delivered 44 assists along the way.

This highlights how much of a talented attacker he is and why he’d be an exciting addition to Jesse March’s squad.

To compare his previous league campaign in the Dutch league with Harrison’s latest top-flight season with Leeds, Gakpo racked up more goals, assists, shots and crosses than the Englishman, despite appearing in eight fewer games than him.

In addition to this, no other player at PSV managed to equal the number of shots at goal (30) or number of crosses delivered (139) that the £27m-rated attacker racked up last season.

His overall performances in the Eredivisie earned him a very impressive season rating of 7.79/10, making him the highest-rated player at the club according to WhoScored.

This backs up why the player was hailed as a “beautiful talent” by journalist Josh Bunting on Twitter, who also labelled Gakpo’s previous league season as “superb.”

With a reported price tag of £34m, the PSV star could not only be a significant upgrade on Harrison, but he could be the cherry on the cake for Leeds in terms of their summer transfer business.

Moving forward, if the Yorkshire club see an opportunity to bring the winger to England in the coming weeks, Victor Orta should do all he can to make this potential deal a reality.

AND in other news: Marsch drops big behind-the-scenes transfer claim, Leeds supporters will be gutted

Nottingham Forest have been linked with moves for both Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo this summer, and a new update has now emerged regarding the club’s progress in getting a deal done for the duo.

What’s the latest?

Pete O’Rourke has revealed an update on Forest’s pursuit of the two Huddersfield Town players this summer.

The journalist tweeted: “Nottingham Forest are working on a double deal to sign Huddersfield duo Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo with talks ongoing between both clubs.”

Cooper will be buzzing

With six fresh faces already joining the squad at the City Ground this summer, Cooper will surely be buzzing to add his seventh and eighth signings into the mix if Forest can finalise a deal for the Huddersfield pair this summer.

O’Brien would be a great addition in midfield for the newly-promoted side, and he proved that he is ready for the step-up to the Premier League with his standout performances which led the Terriers to the Championship play-off final at Wembley last season, only narrowly missing out on promotion to Forest.

Over 43 league appearances, the 23-year-old scored three goals, delivered three assists and created four big chances, making one key pass and 2.2 tackles per game. He also won the majority of his duels (56%) and was successful with the majority of his dribbles (70%).

Huddersfield’s number eight was the recipient of high praise last season, with his former manager Carlos Corberan hailing the player “very special” in an interview (via Yorkshire Post).

The 39-year-old said of O’Brien: “He is one player who is very special in the team and is one player who deserves everything he has achieved in football as he makes everything to achieve everything (in football).”

In terms of Toffolo, Cooper is currently looking for the ideal player to complete a wing-back partnership with new signing Neco Williams, who will be deployed at right-back position, and the Huddersfield gem could be the key to unlocking that attacking threat from defence.

The 26-year old scored six goals, delivered seven assists and created five big chances, making one tackle and two clearances per game, along with winning the majority of his ground and aerial duels combined over 42 Championship appearances last season.

Former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley previously lavished praise on Toffolo, claiming that the player was “hard-working” in a post-match press conference back in 2020.

Signing the Terriers duo would be a huge coup for Cooper, who will want to bolster his squad as much as possible to give Forest the best chance of retaining their top-flight status when they make their long-awaited Premier League return next month.

AND in other news: Cooper eyeing Forest swoop for “tireless” £10m gem, he’d be a “sensational” signing

Crystal Palace are closing in on signing midfielder Cheick Doucoure from RC Lens and supporters should be “very excited” about his arrival according to Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.

What’s the story?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Bridge said: “They’re replacing Cheickhou Kouyate and Conor Gallagher with one player. And that’s not to say they’re only going to just bring him in, they’ll probably want to bring in another midfielder.

“But I’m hearing this guy is a bit of everything, and he’s good at everything, and he’s a nightmare to play against. So, Palace fans should be very excited.”

That may seem like a lot but he also said that the club will want to bring in another midfielder as well which will ensure they have enough depth in the position.

Supporters will be excited

The importance of Conor Gallagher for Palace last season can’t be overstated, so not having him for the next campaign is a big miss and will have left many supporters feeling down.

However, the imminent arrival of Doucoure should life the mood massively, and although he’s got big shoes to fill his form backs up the hype.

The 22-year-old made 34 appearances in Ligue 1 last season and was vital in helping Lens secure a seventh placed finish.

His defensive abilities are extremely impressive and when compared to positional peers in Europe’s top five league’s over the last year he ranks in the top 13% for tackles won.

He’s also great at pressing with 36% of his presses per 90 minutes being successful. He will only get better as he becomes more experienced and a move to the Premier League seems to be the logical next step.

When you compare him to Kouyate his statistics also prove that he is very much capable of replacing him. Doucoure made 55 more tackles and interceptions than him last season.

He seems to be a perfect fit for the Premier League, not being shy to get stuck in and show the aggression needed to win battles in the middle of the park.

If Palace and manager Patrick Vieira want to improve on their 12th place finish last season then Doucoure can help them do that, but he probably won’t be enough on his own, so they’ll need to look at further additions as well.

IN other news: Palace can land “perfect” Gallagher replacement in deal for “sensational” £25m maestro…

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Lens right-back Jonathan Clauss this summer, and he could be an excellent addition to Erik ten Hag’s side at Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

According to the Evening Standard, the Red Devils and Chelsea are interested in signing the France international after another superb season in Ligue 1 with Lens.

The report suggested that the 29-year-old would be available for as little as £8m this summer, as his contract is set to expire at the end of next season, so he could represent a bargain option for United’s new manager,and see him potentially upgrade on current options Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Supporters will be buzzing

Considering the lack of attacking threat offered by United’s full-backs last season, the prospect of signing Clauss will surely excite fans at Old Trafford.

Neither Wan-Bissaka nor Dalot contributed a single goal or assist in the Premier League last term, and if Ten Hag wants to implement the same free-flowing attacking football for which his Ajax side were well-known, then he will need an upgrade on the right-hand side of his defence.

Clauss could be the ideal candidate after he contributed a hugely impressive five goals and 11 assists in 37 Ligue 1 appearances last season, averaging a superb 7.22 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

The Frenchman has exploded onto the scene in recent years and has drawn comparisons with legendary Brazilian right-back Cafu due to his ability to fly forward in attack but still do his job as a defender.

Former team-mate Anthony Beuve was full of praise for Clauss earlier this year, saying: “When you know him, you know he’s a guy who gives his all, always going forward. He’s like that in life off the pitch too, a guy who’s a little crazy and who doesn’t worry too much about things.”

Therefore, considering that he is available for just £8m, United should definitely look at bringing Clauss to Old Trafford this summer.

AND in other news – After Martinez: MUFC could sign their own Jota as Ten Hag eyes “absolute phenomenon”

Nottingham Forest have already signed 11 new players this summer as they prepare to make their long-awaited return to the Premier League, and a reliable source has revealed a new potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Reds have made William Carvalho a priority midfield target and are in talks to sign the player this summer.

The transfer insider tweeted: “Nottingham Forest top priority for the midfield is William Carvalho. Talks on – been told there’s strong interest in the Portuguese midfielder.

“Huge opportunity for William in the Premier League with ambitious club like NFFC, pushing to sign him as priority target.”

Supporters will be buzzing

There is no doubt that Forest supporters will be buzzing with all the new signings that have been made so far, with the club intent on adding quality talent to ensure that they retain their top-flight status into next season.

It has been reported that Steve Cooper still wants to add another midfielder into his team this summer, and Carvalho would be the perfect fit to replace the James Garner-shaped hole which has been left in the team following the midfielder’s return to Manchester United after his loan expired with Forest.

Over 33 La Liga appearances for Real Betis in 2021/22, Carvalho scored two goals, delivered three assists and created three big chances. He also made 1.5 tackles per game, recorded a 90% pass accuracy in his own half and completed the majority of his duels (55%) and his dribbles (69%).

Forest have already signed a couple of midfielders this summer, with Jesse Lingard and Lewis O’Brien joining the ranks at the City Ground, but it wouldn’t harm them to acquire the services of an experienced defensive-minded midfielder like Carvalho who can dominate the centre of the pitch.

The signing of the 30-year-old would be a great piece of business for Forest and would certainly add depth to Cooper’s midfield options ahead of their Premier League challenge, which starts in nine days’ time away to Newcastle United.

AND in other news: John Percy reveals offer now “accepted”, Nottingham Forest supporters will be gutted