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Tottenham Hotspur are set to ramp up their pursuit of Antonio Rudiger in the coming days, according to an inside source…

What’s the word?

As revealed by Football Insider this week, the north London outfit are in the race to sign the £100k-per-week Germany international after he rejected a new Chelsea contract, meaning he is currently free to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, it is thought that Spurs have planned discussions behind-the-scenes in an effort to persuade the 28-year-old to swap the Blues for their capital city rivals in 2022.

Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici is said to be pushing hard to get an early agreement in place but they will face a battle to secure him as foreign teams can seal him on a pre-contract agreement as early as January, something that Spurs do not have the luxury of.

Statement signing

This would be quite an outlandish move from Spurs, considering their west London rivals won the Champions League last summer and are quite some way ahead of them on and off the pitch.

However, the fact that Antonio Conte is in charge boosts their chances of landing the 6 foot 3 colossus as the pair worked together when the Italian was at the helm.

45 of his 172 appearances for the Blues came under Conte as they won the 2017/18 FA Cup together, leading to the German describing the 52-year-old as a “very good coach” to reporters.

Rudiger has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers under Thomas Tuchel over the past 12 months, with BT Sport pundit and Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand a big fan.

“Look at Rudiger, he’s arguably, since Tuchel has been there [at Chelsea], been the best defender in the Premier League,” he told his podcast (via the Metro). “Him or [Ruben] Dias in that time. He’s been unbelievable, he’s like an animal.”

Indeed, the German is just one of two players to have played every minute of every Premier League outing for the Blues this term, where he has averaged a second-most 2.2 aerial duels won, 1.1 tackles and an 86.9% passing accuracy when managing over 70 attempts per game, as per WhoScored.

Evidently, Rudiger is an efficient ball-playing defender and one that would instantly improve Spurs’ backline, not just because of his trophy record at Stamford Bridge.

The vastly-experienced defender would be quite the signing to make next year and it would certainly reveal the ambitions of the club under Conte. As such, many around N17 must be absolutely excited by this latest development.

Spurs fans would surely love Rudiger at the club, so this update should provide some huge encouragement heading into January.

AND in other news, Paratici eyes Spurs bargain after “courting” £18m-rated maestro, Conte would love him…

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to make a move for a new centre-back in the summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, who delivered a rather exciting claim to GIVEMESPORT this week. When asked about the central defensive department, he replied:

“I think that is definitely an area they will look to strengthen in the summer.”

Colossal signing

Spurs are certainly going to need to make further additions to Antonio Conte’s playing squad when the transfer window reopens at the end of the season and finding a new centre-back would be a good place to start.

The Italian has often turned to full-back Ben Davies as the third man in his backline as he is the only natural left-footer capable of playing as centre-back. He alongside Cristian Romero, who is only on loan from Atalanta, and Eric Dier is likely to be the first-choice trio for the rest of the season.

There appears to be little faith in his three other options – Davinson Sanchez, Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga – with the latter two being linked with exits throughout the winter.

Perhaps aside from Rodon, it’s easy to see why the 52-year-old isn’t keen on the other two as they have often been calamitous and rather error-prone. That much is summed up by their mistakes in the three games against Chelsea last month.

Whilst it remains to be seen what sort of defensive signing the club will target, they have been linked to some rather exciting names in the past, including Conte’s former title-winning colossus at Inter Milan, Stefan de Vrij, and Juventus’ big-money signing Matthijs de Ligt.

Both of whom would offer huge upgrades on his current options.

A lot of Conte’s recent success in stints at the San Siro giants and Chelsea have been built from the back and having solid options will certainly help bring success back to the Lilywhites.

He will surely be buzzing to hear that a new centre-back is “definitely” on the agenda.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Hojbjerg: Conte has formidable Spurs unit with £15.9m “extraordinary talent”…

Writing on Twitter, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has dropped a behind the scenes claim on the manager hunt in north London – saying that ‘a number’ of Spurs players ‘would be happy’ if the club pursued Brighton boss Graham Potter.

The Lowdown: Potter linked to Spurs job

The 45-year-old has been heavily linked to the Tottenham Hotspur job ever since former manager Jose Mourinho was sacked last month, with reports claiming that he is a target.

This includes technical performance director Steve Hitchen, who apparently has Potter on his shortlist of recommendations for chairman Daniel Levy (The Daily Mail).

The Seagulls gaffer is said to have other admirers within the club, but Hitchen’s list is the one that ‘goes upstairs’ for consideration by Levy as Spurs search for the next manager (The Daily Mail).

The Latest: Gold drops claim involving Potter

Now, writing on Twitter, Lilywhites inside source Gold has dropped a rather interesting claim involving the Premier League boss and ‘a number’ of players.

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Indeed, he says that there are certain members of the squad who would be happy if Tottenham pursued Potter as an heir to Mourinho after being taken aback by his footballing philosophy.

“Told a number of the Spurs players had a lasting impression left on them by the style of Brighton’s play and would be happy if Graham Potter was pursued to become the club’s next manager.” said Gold on social media.

The Verdict: Potter too risky…

It’s clear he fits the profile of an attack-minded boss reportedly wanted at Tottenham after the arguably regrettable Mourinho era (The Guardian).

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is also a huge admirer of Potter, recently calling him the ‘best English manager’ (Brighton and Hove Independent).

However, while he has also been lauded as a ‘genius’ by an unnamed former Swansea City player (The Athletic), Potter could come as a risky appointment given his lack of experience managing big players.

He would have many to watch over at Spurs, including the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, and it’s debatable whether he has the experience for such a big job at Tottenham.

In other news: Spurs now keen to sell this 66-cap ace, find out more here.

Leeds United are surely in line for a summer of change as manager Jesse Marsch looks to stamp down his mark at Elland Road following four largely joyous years under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Yorkshire giants moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a hard-fought point down at Crystal Palace on Monday night, keeping safety in the Premier League firmly in their own grasp.

Despite it being so early in his tenure, the American head coach hasn’t been afraid to trust youth at times, as evident this week as he turned to Sam Greenwood once again – the 20-year-old academy gem came on after just an hour with the Whites in need of an attacking spark.

Perhaps Marsch could find another interesting solution from the U23s set up in the form of Sean McGurk, 19.

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Heading into the off-season, Leeds have been linked with renewed interest in RB Salzburg dynamo Brenden Aaronson, who was seemingly a target prior to the 48-year-old’s arrival in the dugout but given he has managed the USMNT international before, those rumours will only increase further.

But he could well already have a player capable of filling such a role in the Liverpool-born teenager.

Primarily a left-winger, McGurk is more than adept at playing on the right and through the middle as a no.10, just like Aaronson under Marsch – 17 of his 25 appearances came on the left, with the other eight being spread across the middle and right, as per Transfermarkt.

Whilst the Leeds gem is yet to taste action in the first-team squad, he has been a regular for the U23s in the Premier League 2 this campaign, where he has delivered three direct goal contributions from 17 appearances.

McGurk’s ability to press from the front with relentless energy will surely catch Marsch’s eye sooner or later and that’s exactly what you’d expect from his former Salzburg star, who ranks amongst the top 1% of his positional peers for pressures (27.23 per 90).

His performances at youth level for Wigan Athletic is what caught Leeds’ interest, whilst his U18s coach Peter Murphy has waxed lyrical about his potential, too. He told the club’s official website:

“Sean was brilliant, he’s been amazing. He had a slow start to his scholarship with an injury in the summer, but since he’s been fit, he’s got himself into the team and stayed there. He’s so effective in games, he sets things up, he scores goals and he’ll always do that because of his ability.”

Meanwhile, McGurk’s efforts in west Yorkshire haven’t gone completely unnoticed either – The Athletic’s Phil Hay deemed him “a cracking wee player”, whilst the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Lee Sobot dubbed the teen “a bag of tricks.”

On the above evidence, Marsch could well already have an Aaronson-like starlet within his ranks. The former Latics sensation ought to get a look in heading into next season.

AND in other news, Forget Meslier: Leeds titan who won 81% duels was Marsch’s one shining light at Palace…

Carlo Ancelotti should urge Everton to pull off a swoop to sign Barnsley striker Daryl Dike from parent club Orlando City this summer.

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport, the Toffees have begun to track Dike’s progress at Oakwell and could move to snap up the 20-year-old at the end of the season.

Dike joined the Tykes on loan in January and has made an instant impact on their bid for promotion out of the Championship, netting five goals in 11 games and he was voted as the club’s Player of the Month for March.

His strikes include winning efforts at home to Birmingham City and on the road to Wycombe Wanderers, and he is yet to miss a fixture under Reds boss Valerien Ismael.

Barnsley hold an option to purchase Dike at the end of the season, said to be worth £17m, but it is considered likely that his performances may spark Premier League interest.

Everton’s scouts are understood to have been captivated by how Dike has adapted to the English game with a string of great displays prior to the international break.

Orlando City are quoted by Eurosport as valuing Dike at $20m (£14.5m), while TEAMtalk report that up to half of the top-flight have eyes on the forward’s situation.

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The Toffees are claimed to have shown the most interest, but Leeds, West Ham, Wolves and Newcastle are also keeping close tabs. Manchester United and Chelsea have been impressed by his talents, as well.

Should Everton sign Orlando City’s Dike?

Everton may face a challenge to bring Dike to Goodison Park in the off-season as Barnsley will no doubt look to turn his temporary spell at Oakwell into a permanent move, should Ismael manage to lead the Tykes into the top-flight.

Taking hold of an option to buy was a key reason why Barnsley signed Dike in the winter market, in a deal the Reds’ Chief Executive Dane Murphy claims to be worth less than the reported fee.

“It’s not realistic that Barnsley would agree to that,” he told the Barnsley Chronicle. “You just laugh at some of the numbers being thrown around. It’s silly season. The buy option is quite similar to prices we have paid for players before.

“It was key to the deal that we got a buy option in. We have made it pretty clear over the last few years that just pure loans don’t really appeal to us unless they are special circumstances.”

Murphy also waxed lyrical over the striker while speaking with The Athletic, claiming: “Daryl has a wealth of talent and he hasn’t reached his heights yet.

“But to expect what we’ve seen, the impact we’ve seen, the run of the team from where it was prior to him coming in, it would be a bit of a false narrative to say we expected it.”

Barnsley have taken nine wins in Dike’s 11 games, drawing once and losing once, to now sit inside the Play-Off positions, having been 12th and six points outside the top-six prior to the two-cap USMNT striker’s arrival.

Ancelotti may need another striker with Dike’s talent – and ability to score what Ismael describes as “unbelievable” goals – at Everton next season amid doubt in the futures of Moise Kean and Joshua King.

And with Dike having a seemingly high ceiling to his potential, the American could prove to be an interesting option that Ancelotti can mould into his own liking.

AND in other news, a Carlo Ancelotti target once valued at £89m “would be interested” in joining Everton this summer…

Much of the Everton squad reported back to the Finch Farm training ground on Monday to begin preparations for the new season.

Those with international commitments, like Jordan Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, will return at a later date.

Rafael Benitez, newly appointed as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti, has the opportunity to begin implementing his methods with most of the players though, and the former Liverpool boss was pictured arriving for Day One of pre-season with Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

How did Sigurdsson perform last season?

Sigurdsson started 24 Premier League matches last season, with a further 12 substitute appearances.

He finished third in the Blues’ scoring charts with eight goals, and also led the squad for assists with 10 (via BBC Sport).

The 31-year-old also captained Everton in 12 league matches and four domestic cup ties.

But despite a ‘tangible improvement’ in his form last season, Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe, Everton correspondents for The Athletic, noted that Sigurdsson split opinion ‘in some quarters’.

Fan feed The Toffee Blues shared the image, and here’s how fans reacted.

Everton fans react to snap of Benitez and Sigurdsson

“The fume over this photo, best mates already, captain next”

Credit: @steefcGT4

“All Rafa has to do to get our support is getting rid of Gomes and Gylfi”

Credit: @evertondads

“Teacher’s pet already straight in there with an apple.”

Credit: @DanMcNulty21

“The club is just deliberately trolling the fan base now”

Credit: @AdamRoper14

“Oh no”

Credit: @Owens_EFC

“Can see it now, 5 year contract and made captain”

Credit: @scouseboy27

In other news, fans were buzzing over this update on a midfielder.

It isn’t often that news from Leicester City and the King Power Stadium catches supporters off-guard.

Indeed, rumours of a new signing or indeed of an extended deal usually begin developing days or even weeks before anything is usually confirmed by the club.

That is not quite exactly what happened on Thursday, however, with Danny Ward having penned a new contract at the club – and quite a lengthy one at that, with the former Liverpool stopper now tied down until the summer of 2025.

Whilst there was a real lack of any fanfare for Ward’s new deal, it was a shrewd move from Brendan Rodgers, and one which could allude to the Welshman being the natural successor to the now 34-year-old Kasper Schmeichel.

Despite having only appeared on 14 appearances for the Foxes since his 2018 arrival under Claude Puel, Ward has performed very well. In those limited appearances, he has racked up eight clean sheets, whilst only conceding eight goals in total throughout those matches.

His best performance arguably came in his first season at the club as he saved three penalties in a shootout victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

Even current Leicester teammate Marc Albrighton is fully aware of Ward’s abilities despite his limited game time, labelling him as “incredible” following the aforementioned win against Wolves.

Considering that ability, it certainly made sense to keep Ward at the club as a hugely competent backup to regular number one Schmeichel.

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Whilst the Dane has expressed no intention of stepping away at any point yet, Ward – who is seven years his junior – could definitely be his replacement should the inevitable moment come that the long-serving Schmeichel retires.

The 27-year-old’s new deal could be the first steps in preparation for the long-term future and is an extremely shrewd move from Leicester despite catching most off-guard.

AND in more news,  Leicester have been handed a considerable injury boost ahead of the FA Cup semi-final…

Kalvin Phillips has been included in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man provisional squad ahead of the Euros and former Leeds United midfielder, David Norris, believes that the 25-year old’s future could be away from Elland Road.

Phillips is an academy graduate at Leeds, something which makes playing for the club just that little bit more special given his already close ties with them, and if reports are to be believed influential figure Marcelo Bielsa is set to stay at Elland Road next season.

The midfielder has been in every England squad this season and despite a shoulder injury which was initially feared to be serious, Phillips looks set for a spot on the plane and his importance and influence has been more evident when not on the pitch as Leeds have failed to win seven out of the nine games that he has missed.

Since Bielsa was appointed as manager at Elland Road in 2018, Phillips has made 117 appearances for Leeds such is Bielsa’s trust in the midfielder, and the manager’s future could have an impact on what Phillips decides to do this summer according to Norris, who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“He loves Kalvin and talks well of him. Phillips is obviously a big part of his thought process in terms of team selection. So, if Bielsa goes, then Kalvin, might think that now is the time to move on.

“So, that could change it if Bielsa goes, but ultimately, I think both of them will end up staying.”

Despite a lot of silence from both Bielsa and Leeds, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel as the Argentine is set to sign a new contract which will keep him at the club heading into next season.

Leeds finished in the top half of the Premier League and will be looking to kick on next season and attempt to disrupt the top six spots and try to bring back European nights at Elland Road.

Graham Roberts insists there is next to no chance of Harry Kane leaving the club purely because of the sheer enormity of the funds involved.

According to Sky Sports, Kane has asked to leave the club this summer.

That has reportedly led to interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea.

But Roberts is doubtful that any club can truly afford to do a deal to sign the England captain, who is preparing to lead his country into Euro 2020 this summer.

Roberts insists that any deal would cost £150m in terms of a transfer fee, and he believes that there would have to be a further £150m, minimum, spent on his wages.

That equates to at least £300m, and Roberts does not believe that either City or United will be able to afford such a package.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “I don’t think he can go anywhere. He’s got three years on his contract. If you can name a club that’s going to pay £150m, because that’s the minimum the club will accept. Plus whatever Harry Kane’s wages are going to be.

“If they’ve bought you for the highest money, then Harry Kane’s going to want the largest wage. So you’re talking another £150m or £200m.

“So somebody’s got to have £350m in their kitty just for one player. I can’t see it happening, I just cannot see that happening, whether it be Man City, Man United, whoever.”

Kane enjoyed a phenomenal season, winning the Golden Boot and the league’s Playmaker Award, having scored 23 goals and laid on 14 assists in the top-flight.

Some West Brom supporters have slaughtered Karlan Grant’s performance in the Baggies’ disappointing goalless draw with Derby County.

Valerien Ismael’s side could only draw 1-1 at home to Millwall last weekend, although the point still took them to the top of the Championship.

On Tuesday night, West Brom faced another home league game, with Derby widely expected to be swatted aside at the Hawthorns.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, however, with the Baggies unable to break down their opponents, eventually having to settle for a 0-0 draw.

One player who struggled was Grant, with the striker offering very little in the first half and eventually being substituted at the interval.

It was another performance that suggested the 23-year-old isn’t good enough to lead the line for Ismael’s side.

West Brom fans unhappy with Grant performance

These West Brom fans took to Twitter to criticise Grant’s display.

“Poor half #WBA too much long ball. Best passages of play have been quick sharp passing on the floor. Grant has been anonymous I was surprised he started. Would have Phillips on for him”

Credit: @beechyboy90

“I honestly hadn’t realised Grant was playing”

Credit: @HappyB79

“Grady Hugill Robbo on Saturday and it should have been those three starting last night. Grant offers absolutely nothing”

Credit: @Jackk_Ross

“Because Grant was absolutely shocking in the first half. Couldn’t tell he was even playing. Not so sure on Robbo though”

Credit: @ItsSamson2

“Unfortunately Grant is looking like a really poor signing for the money we have committed to pay, which despite what some think is actually £15m plus wages”

Credit: @Baggeridgebaggy

“We have to play Hugill, Grady and Robinson. Grant and Philips poor again”

Credit: @WBA78part2

In other news, some West Brom fans have been showing their love for one player. Find out who it is here.