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Leeds United are working on a deal to bring a new centre-forward to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by the Yorkshire Evening Post (via Leeds All Over), who claim that, following the recent signings of central midfielder Marc Roca, right-back Rasmus Kristensen and attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, Victor Orta has now turned his attention in the market to the addition of a new striker.

The report goes on to state that, while the director of football has a number of candidates on his transfer shortlist for a new centre-forward, there is one player in particular who the Spaniard is targeting to become the Whites’ fourth signing of the summer window.

In the report, it is stated: “Leeds’ search for a striker goes on. They have a number of other targets for the role and director of football Victor Orta is currently working on landing one of them to strengthen Jesse Marsch’s attacking options.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While the identity of Orta’s fourth target in the summer transfer window is not revealed by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the news that the club have identified and are currently working on a deal for a specific player in the position is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

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Indeed, with Patrick Bamford having spent the vast majority of the club’s 2021/22 campaign sidelined due to various injuries, it was clear for all to see just how much Jesse Marsch’s side lacked a backup option to the England international in spearheading the Whites’ attack.

It is true that both Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood – who featured in 20 and seven Premier League fixtures respectively last term, with the former bagging two goals – are exciting options for the future in the position, however, with only right-winger Raphinha reaching double figures in league goals in 21/22, it is obvious that Marsch requires greater depth up top.

As such, the fact that Orta is currently working on a deal for a new striker is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the Whites, not least the club’s American head coach.

AND in other news: Orta can land the next David Silva as Leeds now plot bid for “special” 18-goal talent

There has been an update regarding the future of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, with the Argentine having spent the last six months on loan at Villarreal.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the future of the 26-year-old appears somewhat uncertain, with it looking as if the playmaker is no closer to securing a return to the La Liga side.

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Relaying comments from Villarreal CEO Roig Negueroles, the transfer insider wrote on Twitter that: “Villarreal CEO Roig Negueroles: “Lo Celso is a player who has been happy here and has made us happy, so we would like to continue together”, tells @EsportsVila.

“He’s a Tottenham player and it is a very complicated operation as of now – we’re not even in talks”.”

The former Paris Saint-Germain man had joined the Spanish side back in January after failing to establish himself under manager Antonio Conte, with the deal reportedly including an option to buy.

Supporters annoyed

That news will no doubt come as a source of annoyance to Spurs supporters, with the player having appeared to be an asset that the club could cash in on this summer, in order to generate funds for prospective targets.

Although a £150m injection has provided the Italian with a significant transfer kitty for the current window, gaining additional cash from player sales could also prove vital, with the former Chelsea boss plotting a squad revamp ahead of next season.

Reports have suggested that as many as eight first-team players – including Lo Celso – could be set for the axe this summer, with sporting director Fabio Paratici keen to ensure his compatriot has a squad capable of challenging in the 2022/23 season.

Having been signed from Real Betis three years ago, initially on loan, the 39-cap international has struggled to ever really nail down a regular starting role in north London, making just 26 league starts across the last three seasons combined, including just two in the most campaign season prior to his loan departure.

In total, the 5 foot 10 ace has scored just eight goals and provided a further six assists in 84 games in all competitions for the Lilywhites, failing to really justify the reported £27.2m transfer fee that was paid to make his temporary switch a permanent one in January 2020.

Not only will there be a great deal of frustration that the move has thus far failed to work out, but supporters will also undoubtedly be angered by the club’s current inability to part ways with a player who simply appears surplus to requirements.

In truth, Lo Celso is a reminder of the muddled transfer mess of the last few seasons, with the club needing to move on from him this summer.

AND in other news, Spurs can unearth dream Kane heir in deal for “invaluable” £22m “Ibrahimovic-machine”…

A reliable journalist has provided an exciting transfer update despite Tottenham Hotspur suffering a blow in their pursuit of Alessandro Bastoni this week…

What’s the word?

After the defender’s straight-talking agent Tullio Tinti met with the Inter Milan hierarchy on Wednesday, a clear message was relayed that the 23-year-old would not be leaving the San Siro in the summer transfer window.

“Bastoni is definitely staying at Inter,” he said. “He’s an Inter player. He’s happy to play for Inter.” That was then endorsed by the player himself with his reaction of blue and black heart emojis soon after.

However, not all hope is lost, as The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke has revealed that the north London outfit will spend big on a centre-back this off-season.

“They are willing to spend ‘Romero money’ on a new defender and have other options,” he claimed in a recent column for the website, in which he also suggests that a move for Bastoni isn’t completely off the table, with the Serie A club needing to raise funds.

Promising news!

Those 15 words should certainly provide many around N17 with encouragement that the Lilywhites hierarchy is prepared to back manager Antonio Conte to the wall.

The 52-year-old may not get the Italy international but there are plenty of interesting alternatives indeed, including Torino’s Bremer, Bastoni’s team-mate Milan Skriniar, RB Leipzig gem Josko Gvardiol, Crystal Palace colossus Marc Guehi and Villarreal star Pau Torres.

Ideally, this player needs to be a left-footed option, as it’s been full-back Ben Davies playing alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero, who is going to cost sporting director Fabio Paratici and chairman Daniel Levy around £40m to sign permanently.

That is a sizeable investment in the Argentina international and goes to show just how willing they are to seal another central defensive animal before the start of the 2022/23 campaign, where Spurs will be back in the Champions League.

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Many supporters will be gutted to have potentially missed out on Bastoni but they should be relieved, if not excited by Pitt-Brooke’s latest update, especially as they have many viable alternatives to the Italian, who has never played outside of his home country anyway.

The transfer window has only just reopened for business and there’s a long way to go before a ball is kicked again, so those around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should have faith in the club, given this promising update.

AND in other news, Spurs eyeing £27m-rated “tank” who’s like Van Dijk, he’s way better than Bastoni…

Everton have already been linked with a number of players this summer as Frank Lampard sets out to improve the squad following a disappointing Premier League season, and now a reliable source has revealed a new potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Toffees have joined the race to sign Montpellier winger Stephy Mavididi.

The Italian journalist tweeted: “Stephy Mavididi could leave Montpellier this summer. Many clubs have approached his agents including West Ham, Brighton, Southampton, Everton and OM. Deal still at early stages but there are good chances for Mavididi to make his move in the coming weeks.”

Mavididi would be a huge coup for Everton

Everton are in desperate need of improvement after they narrowly avoided their first-ever Premier League relegation with a win in the penultimate game of the season, so supporters will be excited that the club is working to identify players who can add depth and quality to the squad.

Mavididi has been a consistent attacking threat for Montpellier in Ligue 1 this season, scoring eight goals, delivering three assists and creating four big chances for his team over his 30 league appearances.

For comparison, only Richarlison hit more than five league goals for Everton in 2021/22, so Mavididi could give Lampard’s side much greater potency judging by his goal return in the French top flight.

The former Arsenal loanee has received high praise from his idol Thierry Henry in recent months, with the Gunners legend saying of the 24-year-old on commentary for Amazon (via The Score): “What I’ve always liked about Stephy Mavididi is that he’s a hard-working player who closes (opponents) down.

“He’s always in the right place. What was missing was finishing — whether to give the ball or to score — but now he’s brought that to his game.”

With that in mind, the £20m-valued ace could be a great prospective addition to the squad at Goodison Park. As above, he is renowned as a hard-working forward who is capable of delivering plenty of goalscoring opportunities from centre-forward or out wide.

However, Farhad Moshiri will need to act fast if he does want to secure Mavididi’s signature this summer, as the 24-year-old has a number of clubs interested in making a move for him. If the Everton chief can pull it off, it has the makings of a real coup for the Toffees.

AND in other news – No-brainer: Moshiri must seal bargain Everton swoop for “very strong” £73k-p/w leader

Manchester United are once again being linked with a sensational move for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: United linked with Bastoni

A product of the youth system at Serie A club Atalanta, Bastoni is a rising star of Italian football and has already amassed 120 top-flight outings despite his tender years.

Recently, an initial report from FC Inter 1908 claimed that the Red Devils are keen on the 23-year-old Italy international, who is under contract in Milan until 2024 (Transfermarkt).

It now seems as though that interest could be growing, as a reputable Italian newspaper provides a fresh update…

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The latest: Ten Hag’s admiration for Bastoni

As per Gazzetta dello Sport, translated by Sport Witness, United are in the mix to sign Bastoni as Inter try to avoid selling Lautaro Martinez.

It is claimed that Erik ten Hag likes the 11-cap Italy defender ‘a lot’ and that the Red Devils present the ‘most credible’ interest in making the move happen.

The report added that it would take a fee of ‘at least’ €60m (£51.1m) in order to make the deal to bring the youngster a reality.

The verdict: Statement signing

As Ten Hag gets to grips with the task at hand at Old Trafford, signing a player of Bastoni’s calibre would be a remarkable start to his reign in Manchester.

Despite adding Raphael Varane to a defence containing Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, United continued to leak goals at an alarming rate, posting the worst concession rate among the top seven finishers in the Premier League.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the 6 foot 3 giant earned an outstanding 7.10 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.1 duels and making 1.8 clearances and 1.4 tackles on average per game. He has also been hailed as ‘world class’ by journalist Kaustubh Pandey.

That form, combined with the scope in which the 23-year-old has to develop even further, makes the £54m-valued Bastoni a worthy target for bolster United’s defensive ranks.

In other news: Man Utd and Ten Hag launch ‘important offer’ to sign ‘the future’ of football along with De Jong

Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili ahead of a potential move.

The Lowdown: Mamardashvili profiled

Mamardashvili stands at 6 foot 4 and only made a permanent move to Valencia back in January. He signed from Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi in a deal worth just £765,000.

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Since then, the 21-year-old has gone on to make 21 appearances for the Spanish side, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding 22 times.

The Georgia international only penned a deal through to 2024 with Valencia and reportedly has a release clause set at €20m (£17m).

The Latest: United phone call

Sports Witness relayed an update from Spanish outlet AS regarding Mamardashvili on Wednesday.

They claimed that Valencia are already working on extending the goalkeeper’s contract which would raise his release clause from €20m (£17m) to €30m (£25.5m).

The report name-checks United with an interest in Mamardashvili, who has now ‘received a call’ from the Red Devils, presumably chief executive Richard Arnold, over a possible move.

The Verdict: Henderson replacement?

It looks as if Dean Henderson could be on his way out of Old Trafford, with a move to Newcastle thought to be close.

Therefore, should the 25-year-old leave this summer, Erik ten Hag could be left with just Tom Heaton as back up to David de Gea.

On that basis, activating Mamardashvili’s £17m release clause could be an extremely smart move to provide competition to De Gea and in the long run.

The Spaniard will turn 32 in November, so United may soon have to think about his long-term replacement, and that could be Mamardashvili, providing he is willing to play second choice to begin with under Ten Hag.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals Man Utd & Ten Hag eyeing another Dutch gem along with De Jong and Timber. 

A major Newcastle United update has emerged regarding their pursuit of Dean Henderson heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Chronicle Live reporter Charlie Bennett has revealed that the shot-stopper is expecting a move to go through in the coming weeks, following a meeting with the Magpies earlier this month.

The journalist tweeted: “Understand Dean Henderson is keen on a Newcastle move and has made it known he prefers a permanent transfer to a loan deal. Also told player’s camp believe a deal is “close” after meeting club representatives in Northumberland last week. NUFC.”

Eddie Howe will be over the moon

The Toon head coach will be feeling over the moon following this claim for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it shows that the England international is committed to wanting a move to the Tyneside club. Henderson is not looking to join on loan with a view to earning himself a transfer elsewhere or a first-team spot at Old Trafford, which suggests that he is desperate to be at St James’ Park in the long-term.

Howe will surely want players who are prepared to be part of a long-term project rather than those who may only see themselves playing for the club for one or two years at most.

Secondly, the Magpies boss will be delighted to learn that a deal is ‘close’, as it means that PIF are on the verge of sealing their first signing of the summer before the end of May. The owners are being proactive and looking to make moves early, which will give the manager more time to work with new signings to integrate them into the squad ahead of 2022/23.

Finally, Howe will be buzzing because Henderson has the potential to be an excellent addition to the squad and challenge Martin Dubravka for his place in the team.

In the Englishman’s two Premier League seasons, he has played 49 games and kept 18 clean sheets for Sheffield United and Manchester United combined, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.94 or higher across both campaigns. This shows that he has the ability to deliver on a consistent basis in the top flight, as he has been able to perform to a high level whilst keeping clean sheets regularly.

He also has the scope to develop even further at the age of 25. Howe can look forward to helping him fulfill his potential on Tyneside and making Henderson his number one for many years to come.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: NUFC can form a deadly duo by signing “outstanding” £34m “rock”…

Key numbers from the first day of the opening Test between India and Australia in Nagpur

Sampath Bandarupalli09-Feb-2023177 Australia’s first-innings total in Nagpur. Only twice have Australia folded for a lower first-innings total in Asia after opting to bat – 80 all out against Pakistan in 1956 and 120 all out against Sri Lanka in 2004.2005 The last instance of Australia being bundled out for less than 200 in the first innings of a Test series – 190 all out against England at Lord’s. The last time Australia were bowled out for a total lower than the 177 in the first innings of a Test series was 118 all out in 1997 against England in Birmingham.89 Matches needed by R Ashwin to complete 450 wickets in Test cricket. He is the second-fastest bowler to the milestone, behind Muthiah Muralidaran (80). Ashwin is now only the ninth player to take 450-plus Test wickets and the second Indian after Anil Kumble (619).2 Runs scored between David Warner and Usman Khawaja in Australia’s first innings. This is the joint fewest aggregate by Australian openers in a Test innings against India. The Australia openers collectively scored two runs in their second innings of the Kolkata Test in 1956 and also at the Gabba in 1977.75.56 Control percentage of the Australian batters against Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings in Nagpur. Jadeja, by far, was the toughest bowler to face among India’s five-man attack on Thursday as the visitors had a control percentage higher than 80 against the other four bowlers – Ashwin (83.16), Mohammed Siraj (83.33), Axar Patel (86.67) and Mohammed Shami (90.74).3 Instances of Steven Smith being bowled by Jadeja in Test cricket, the most for Smith against anyone in this format. Smith has been dismissed by Jadeja on five occasions across 13 Test innings.57.54 Percentage of wickets by Ashwin and Jadeja for India in home Tests where they played together. They have collectively picked up 389 out of the 676 wickets by the Indian bowlers in the 37 Test matches. The pair has accounted for 25 five-wickets hauls when they played together at home.

Tottenham Hotspur have received a boost in their pursuit of a “fantastic” Chelsea player, with it being revealed the Blues are now willing to sell him to their rivals.

Tottenham prioritise signing of new number 10

As we enter the final week of the summer transfer window, Tottenham still have an awful lot of work to do, having missed out on a number of their main targets, and Alasdair Gold has revealed signing a new attacking midfielder is now deemed a priority.

However, Spurs were recently handed yet another setback, with it emerging that Como have rejected the north Londoners’ offer for Nico Paz, as the Italian wants to stay with the Serie A club, ahead of a potential move back to Real Madrid in the future.

Consequently, Thomas Frank’s options are thinning, although the manager has made it clear he is never too disheartened by rejections, as he only wants to sign players who are committed to playing for Tottenham.

Frank said: “I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here.”

The Lilywhites have previously held talks over a deal for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave the Blues this summer, and there has now been a promising new update, which suggests a move to N17 could be possible.

Indeed, according to a report from The Daily Mail, the west Londoners have previously been unwilling to do business with their rivals, but if Tottenham made an approach for Nkunku before the deadline, they would now be willing to take the call.

Enzo Maresca’s side would still prefer not to strengthen a direct rival, but the willingness to listen to a Spurs approach suggests a deal could be possible.

Levy's not messing: Tottenham now willing to outbid rivals for £32m maestro

Spurs are looking to move ahead of their Premier League rivals in the race for a “pure baller.”

2

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 26, 2025

"Fantastic" Nkunku could reignite career at Spurs

Once lauded as “absolutely fantastic” by members of the media, the Frenchman has struggled to force his way into Maresca’s plans, often featuring as a substitute last season, which meant he was never truly given the opportunity to prove himself.

However, there are signs the £195k-a-week forward could reignite his career if given consistent game time at Tottenham, having previously demonstrated a very keen eye for goal in the Bundesliga.

With James Maddison out injured, and Son Heung-min departing, Frank could also do with a versatile forward, and the 27-year-old fits the bill, having regularly featured in attacking midfield, on both wings, and at centre-forward throughout his career.

It would be a risk to sign Nkunku, given that his Premier League career is yet to truly take off, but Tottenham are running out of options as we approach the end of the transfer window.

It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.

During this year in Turkey, he had continued to court controversy like no other figure in football, but he failed to win a trophy, which is why Fenerbahce decided that the outspoken Portuguese was more trouble than he was worth and, thus, dismissed him on August 29 – two days after the 1-0 loss in Lisbon.

And yet less than three weeks after his sacking, Mourinho was asked to return to the Estadio da Luz, with Benfica president Rui Costa having come to the rather surprising conclusion that the best man to replace Bruno Lage was the coach he'd just outwitted to reach the Champions League proper.

Consequently, Mourinho is not only back at Benfica, he's also back where he belongs – at least as far he's concerned.

"I was lucky in my career to coach a lot of giants: Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea. Benfica is also a giant and a giant club entails giant responsibilities, giant expectations – it's all giant," Mourinho told UEFA. "But it's the kind of challenge I need."

Whether it's the kind of challenge he can still overcome remains to be seen. Indeed, as the 62-year-old prepares to lead the Eagles out in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs, Mourinho is undeniably under pressure to prove that he can still cut it at the very highest level.

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  'What was done before doesn't count'

  Mourinho has always claimed that while his enemies in the game can "steal everything" from him, nobody can take away the "story" he has created – and he's got a point.

  The Portuguese is one of the most compelling characters in football history – and also one of its most successful. He really has seen and done it all, the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions.

  For all the accusations of arrogance levelled against him, one can hardly blame him, then, for considering the room full of trophies, medals and mementos that he has in his home as a kind of "museum". After all, when it comes to retelling the story of modern football, Mourinho's name will feature frequently.

  However, he is absolutely adamant that he's not done yet, that there are still a few chapters to be written. "When you're still working," Mourinho says, "when you still have your ambitions, what was done before doesn't count."

  It's a sentiment that explains why he jumped at the opportunity to make an immediate return to club football with Benfica. 

Advertisement

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  An unquenchable fire

  Mourinho himself thought that when he finally returned to work in his native Portugal, it would be to take charge of the national team. Even from the outside, it looked like the logical step – and particularly at this stage of his life, and his club career.

  As a younger manager, Mourinho wasn't sure if he would always have the same fire burning inside him – but former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once assured him that, for men like them, it never goes out. And Mourinho has found that to be the case.

  After taking charge of his first Benfica match on September 20 – just under 25 years after his last – Mourinho realised that while the time had flown by, it had not changed his "nature", "passion", or "way of being".

  And there can be no arguments on that front.

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  A 'f*cking disgrace'

  When Mourinho returned to Italy to take charge of Roma in 2021, 11 years after his treble triumph at Inter, he claimed that he was a changed man. He'd matured, he insisted, and no longer went looking for arguments.

  However, in his very first press conference as Roma coach, he immediately opened fire on a wide range of targets, including Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte and even Luke Shaw. Then, just over a month into his first season in the Italian capital, he received the first of his seven red cards with the Giallorossi.

  During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho showed that when it comes to firing up a fan base, he has few rivals, while he also led a success-starved club to back-to-back European finals.

  He won the first, too, against Feyenoord, but after losing the second, to Sevilla, he waited around in the carpark at the Puskas Arena to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at the blameless officials.

  The only "f*cking disgrace" in Budapest that night was Mourinho and it didn't really come as much of a surprise to see the Friedkin Family fire him after a rotten run of Roma form midway through the 2023-24 season.

  Basically, once Mourinho stops winning games, it becomes difficult to justify either his tedious tactics or touchline tantrums – as Fenerbahce quickly discovered to their considerable cost.

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  A clever PR move from the president

  Fenerbahce took a major gamble on Mourinho reproducing his old magic in Istanbul but it backfired badly. According to , sacking Mourinho and his coaching just over a year after hiring them will set the Super Lig side back more than €10 million (£8.7m/$11.7m).

  So, why did Benfica feel that Mourinho was a risk worth taking?  Well, for starters, Mourinho's stock has fallen in recent years – meaning so, too, have his salary demands.

  Rui Costa revealed that Mourinho will earn €3m (£2.6m) in the first season at Benfica, and €4m (£3.5m) in the second. These are obviously not insignificant sums of money but they are quite small for a man that was once considered the best manager in world football.

  It's not just about money for Rui Costa either. Mourinho remains "a global brand", as he put it. "Jose's presence will spark interest and curiosity," the former Portugal international said. "Both Benfica and the league will benefit from his exposure."

  Certainly, from Rui Costa's perspective, you really can't put a price on this kind of publicity – and particularly just a few weeks before a presidential election…