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Tottenham Hotspur are showing interest in Nikola Milenkovic and are set to carry out the groundwork over a potential deal in the coming days…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Italian newspaper Corriere Fiorentino (via Sport Witness), who claim that Spurs are among several teams eyeing the Serbian centre-back.

The likes of Serie A rivals Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as Atletico Madrid, are said to be keen.

It’s thought that the north Londoners will do ‘in-depth studies’ over a move and that La Viola’s asking price is in the region of €15m (£12m).

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Bargain signing for Spurs?

Spurs boss Antonio Conte has witnessed a busy summer in the transfer market so far, with sporting director Fabio Paratici sealing a total of six new players.

And he could seal a bargain seventh in the form of Milenkovic, who would add a lot to the Italian’s backline.

They have already brought in Clement Lenglet from Barcelona on an initial loan deal but further strength in depth wouldn’t hurt with the Lilywhites competing in the Champions League this term.

Conte will have to rotate his starting XI regularly to remain competitive across all competitions and two matches a week will soon become the norm, particularly this side of Christmas.

At just £12m, it would be a low-risk and wise investment from Paratici and co as the Fiorentina colossus has excelled in recent seasons. Last term, he finished the campaign as La Viola’s fifth-best performer, proving just how crucial he was to their form.

Whilst in the past, Milenkovic has been lauded as a “beast” by his former Partizan head coach Ivan Tomic and dubbed “the most talented centre-back Serbia have had since [Nemanja] Vidic” by Mozzart journalist Dejan Stankovic.

Interestingly, it’s another Manchester United defender that he is similar to, according to FBref, who liken his statistical profile to that of Harry Maguire. That may send alarm bells ringing but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, given he is experienced in the Premier League and was good enough for Leicester City for the Red Devils to splash £80m on him.

Also via the same statistical website, the Serbia international ranked inside the top 6% for aerial duels won (76.7%) in the Serie A last season, which is hardly a surprise given he stands at a whopping 6 foot 5 and goes to show that he is an absolute monster in the air and one that can give Spurs a threat in either box.

Elsewhere, Milenkovic also ranked inside the top 10% for passes attempted (64.50 per 90) and the top 11% for passes completed (57.92 per 90), proving to be equally adept with the ball at his feet, just like a certain Maguire.

This sort of skillset is right up Conte’s street, so Paratici must push ahead and submit a formal offer for the centre-back, who appears to be available for an absolute bargain this summer.

AND in other news, Spurs in “new discussions” to sign £42m “genius” this week, he’s Conte’s missing piece…

A big claim has emerged on Leeds United and their thoughts on potential outgoings in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that he is expecting Jack Harrison to remain at the club beyond the end of August.

Newcastle United are reportedly ready to bid for the attacker but Romano has revealed that the Whites plan on retaining their current squad.

When asked about a potential transfer for the Englishman, he told GIVEMESPORT: “I think it’s not easy. I think Leeds are happy with the team they have right now and they have already sold Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

“I don’t see them selling one more player this summer, but never say never. It depends on the proposal but, as of now, Leeds want to keep the same team.”

Supporters will be delighted

Supporters of the Whites will be delighted by Romano’s update as keeping hold of Harrison would come as a major boost to Jesse Marsch heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

The club have, as Romano stated, lost Raphinha to Barcelona and he was the club’s top goalscorer in the Premier League last term. He racked up 11 goals from the wing as the team struggled to find the back of the net consistently enough – hitting the back of the net just 42 times over 38 league fixtures.

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His exit means that Harrison is the current Leeds player with the most league goals (eight) for the club last term and one of only two players – alongside Rodrigo – with more than four league goals in 2021/22. This suggests that Marsch will be keen to keep him as he is one of the few goal threats in the team.

The former Manchester City man is a proven performer in the top-flight who has the quality to be a difference-maker in the final third, as he has shown that he can score and assist goals at that level.

Since Leeds won promotion to the Premier League, Harrison has racked up 16 goals and nine assists from a wide position. These statistics suggest that he will, once again, be a big player for the club next season as he is a known quantity, whereas the new signings are untested and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to adapt to Premier League football.

Therefore, the fans will be buzzing to learn that Victor Orta does not want to cash in on any more first-team players after selling Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.

AND in other news: Orta could land Marsch his very own Scamacca in Leeds swoop for 56 G/A “wonderkid”

A claim has emerged regarding Glasgow Rangers’ chances of landing one of their targets in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has warned Light Blues supporters against expecting Borussia Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna to join the Premiership club ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The USA international has been linked with a move to Ibrox, but the reporter does not believe that a deal to bring in the 19-year-old is likely.

O’Rourke told Football FanCast: “It depends. If he’s not getting first-team football at Dortmund then maybe the player might push for a move ahead of the World Cup in November with the USA. Never say never in football but I’ll say it’s highly unlikely.”

Supporters will be gutted

This claim will surely leave Rangers fans feeling gutted, as Reyna has the potential to be a superb signing for the club this summer.

He is the son of former Gers player Claudio Reyna and it would be a heartwarming story if the teenager came to Glasgow and was also a success for the Scottish giants.

He is a promising young talent who has already shown glimpses of his quality in a major European league in the Bundesliga. He has scored six goals and provided nine assists in 57 Bundesliga outings for Dortmund to date, which shows that he has the ability to make things happen in the final third.

In the German top flight last term, he averaged 1.5 key passes per game across 10 appearances as he consistently created chances for his team-mates.

These statistics suggest that he could be a difference-maker for Rangers by scoring and setting up goals on a regular basis for Gio van Bronckhorst, potentially turning losses into draws and draws into wins.

Therefore, Gers supporters must be gutted that a deal for the 19-year-old is unlikely, as they will surely want to see a player with his quality coming to the club. It seems as though they will not be able to enjoy his talents next term and may watch on in envy if he produces a great season for Dortmund – or elsewhere.

It is worth noting that O’Rourke did not completely close the door on a possible move and that things could change between now and the end of the transfer window. For now, though, fans will be gutted over the slim chances of this transfer happening.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Rangers “agreement” claim that’ll delight Gio van Bronckhorst…

Celtic used 36 players in total during their most recent title-winning Premiership season, leaving only two other top-flight teams using more.

Despite that, one man in Ange Postecoglou’s squad who didn’t end up playing a single minute of league action for the Hoops last season was Christopher Jullien.

While spending the majority of the campaign out through injury, the defender – who was once described as a “monster” by Auxerre academy director Bernard David – only made the substitutes’ bench on three occasions in the league since he recovered in January.

To highlight his defensive capabilities, in his 28 Premiership appearances he made throughout the 2019/20 season, the 29-year-old made 27 interceptions and won 26 tackles.

Having already seen a potential summer move to Schalke 04 collapse, things don’t look good for the £4.05m-rated Frenchman’s future at Parkhead.

With that in mind, should the centre-back eventually find himself leaving Parkhead this summer, one player who has been mentioned with a move to the club and who could be an ideal replacement for Jullien is Joseph Okumu.

After making 41 appearances for Swedish club Elfsborg, the centre-back joined his current employers Gent last summer. Prior to his move to Belgium, the defender was linked with a move to Celtic for a reported fee of £3.4m.

Having made 47 appearances for the Belgian side so far, the Kenyan has chipped in with three goals along the way.

In terms of his defensive talent, in his 27 league games last season, the 25-year-old made 49 interceptions and won 41 tackles, the third highest for each metric in the Gent squad.

This highlights his defensive credentials and illustrates why he’d be a suitable addition to Celtic’s squad should Jullien find himself leaving.

In fact, Okumu was hailed as having the potential to become “something special” in the future according to Dan Egner, who also described the centre-back as a “perfect” player.

With Postecoglou now having the perfect opportunity to get rid of Jullien, the 56-year-old’s next step should be to do what the club couldn’t last year and get Okumu to Glasgow as the Frenchman’s potential long-term replacement.

AND in other news – “Made contact with…”: Anthony Joseph drops Celtic transfer update, supporters will be gutted

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison could be the subject of an offer from Newcastle United, according to The Daily Mail. 

The lowdown

There has already been one high-profile exit from Elland Road this summer, and another looks set to follow.

Kalvin Phillips has sealed a £45m move to reigning champions Manchester City, the biggest sale in Leeds’ history. However, that record probably won’t last for long, with Barcelona closing in on a deal for Raphinha which is expected to be worth close to £60m (via The Athletic).

The Whites have been able to recruit one new winger, with £22.5m man Luis Sinisterra arriving from Feyenoord, but it now seems that they might lose a second.

The latest

The Daily Mail journalist Simon Jones wrote that Newcastle are ‘weighing up a bid’ for Harrison, with their manager Eddie Howe said to admire the player’s attitude and work ethic.

Leeds have apparently been ‘braced for offers’ this summer after they were approached by Tottenham Hotspur in January.

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The verdict

Harrison is a very important player for Leeds. Since they were promoted in 2020, only two players – Patrick Bamford (32) and Raphinha (31) – have recorded more goal involvements for the Yorkshire outfit than his 27.

Overall, he has been involved in 26% of the goals that Leeds have scored in that period.

Journalist Joe Donnohue has described the £60,000-per-week man as an ‘unsung hero’, while Jesse Marsch has raved about the 25-year-old’s ‘quality’.

Maybe Sinisterra was brought in as a pre-emptive replacement for the Englishman, with another winger to be targeted after Raphinha moves on.

Aston Villa have been handed a boost in their pursuit of one mooted transfer target this week…

What’s the word?

Earlier in the month, the Midlands outfit were linked with a move for Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake, with 90min (via Caught Offside) claiming that Villa were among several top-flight teams interested in a move.

It now appears as if they have been given the green light to secure his signature.

According to Football Insider, the Premier League champions have told him that he’s free to leave for the right price, two years after his £40m arrival from AFC Bournemouth.

Newcastle United and Chelsea are also keen on the Dutchman.

Another centre-back needed?

One of Steven Gerrard’s biggest issues at Villa Park last season was in his backline, having inherited the squad from Dean Smith back in November. He managed to steer them away from the relegation zone to finish in 14th place but he’ll be wanting more this season.

The former Rangers boss has already taken steps to improve defensively, signing quite the coup in Diego Carlos from Sevilla. However, just the one addition may not be enough when you consider the fact that both Ezri Konsa and Kourtney Hause are currently injured.

Villa have been linked to several centre-backs in recent weeks, including Liverpool star Joe Gomez but reports suggest that he is set to sign a new contract at Anfield, leaving him an unlikely option for the club.

Ake, though, is evidently available and could be an interesting solution.

“Nathan is a quality defender,” claimed Citizens director of football Txiki Begiristain upon signing him.

“He was a leader during his time at Bournemouth, and I am so pleased we’ve managed to bring him here. He’s strong and quick, and we feel he has the technical and intellectual attributes needed to excel in Pep’s setup.”

Indeed, over the course of his career, the Netherlands international has proven to be a very reliable colossus at the back – as per WhoScored, he’s won an average of 2.1 aerial duels, 1.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, whilst also excelling with the ball at his feet, managing an 84.8% passing accuracy.

Meanwhile, statistical website FBref liken him most to some proven Premier League options, such as Joel Matip, Harry Maguire, Ruben Dias and John Stones.

Also lauded for being an “amazing player” by former Cherries teammate Steve Cook, it’s clear that Ake would add a lot to Gerrard’s defence heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

Now that sporting director Johan Lange has been given the green light to make his move, it would be silly not to. His current market valuation of £25m by CIES Football Observatory surely makes him an affordable option indeed.

AND in other news, Villa could find their next Coutinho as NSWE plot offer for £175k-p/w “maverick”…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has now given the green-light for his side to try and seal yet another signing this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs not stopping…

The Lilywhites are currently enjoying their busiest transfer window of the last decade as a plethora of deals are already signed, sealed and delivered.

Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici are seemingly working in tandem to make some big moves ahead of his first full Premier League season in charge of the north Londoners.

Spurs, having qualified for the Champions League next season, were subsequently handed a £150 million equity increase to tackle what has been an unprecedented transfer market thus far.

The Latest: Conte green-lights another move…

Now, according to reports out of Turkey, it appears Conte has his sights on yet another signing.

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Indeed, Fanatik claim the Italian has given his personal green-light for Tottenham to move for Besiktas wing-back Ridvan Yilmaz.

This comes after a Spurs official was sent to run the rule over Yilmaz earlier this year with Conte now apparently approving a swoop for Besiktas’ defensive ace.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Amid Conte’s apparent desire to sign a wing-back on both flanks, right and left, could Yilmaz be an astute option for the left?

The 21-year-old has already managed call-ups to the Turkey national team at such a young age and his contract situation, which expires in 2023, could put Paratici in a very strong negotiating position.

Besiktas can hardly afford to demand extortionate fees for their left-back and perhaps Tottenham could be about to take full advantage, securing a cheap squad option who can grow and develop into a first XI player over time.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their chances of landing Nathan Ake in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to 90min, Manchester City have decided that they will cash in on the Netherlands international if an acceptable offer comes in for him in the coming weeks.

The report claims that Tottenham, the Magpies, Chelsea, Aston Villa and West Ham are among the teams now keen on a deal for the gem.

It is stated that the Cityzens will not allow him to leave on loan and will only green light a permanent exit for the £41m defender, giving Dan Ashworth the chance to snap him up.

Imagine him & Sven Botman

The former Brighton chief can land a solid defensive duo for Eddie Howe by signing Ake to partner him with Botman, who recently joined from Ligue 1 side Lille.

Newcastle confirmed the arrival of the Dutchman on Tuesday and they can find an excellent partner for him in a deal to sign his fellow countryman.

The versatile Manchester City machine is a proven performer in England and would be a superb addition to the squad next season. His international teammate Virgil van Dijk dubbed him “underrated” and his statistics in the Premier League certainly suggest that he deserves to be recognised for his performances.

In the top-flight last term, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.08 in 14 outings. He won 66% of his individual duels and completed 91% of his attempted passes as he showcased both his defensive strength and his reliability in possession.

Ake has played in nine Premier League seasons throughout his career and – in the seven years the data is available for – a SofaScore rating of 6.82 is the lowest his performances have ever dipped. This shows that he has delivered quality displays on a remarkably consistent basis over the years, which is why he would be a star for the Toon.

Meanwhile, Botman averaged a score of 7.10 in Ligue 1 for Lille. He completed 88% of his passes and won 66% of his individual duels, after averaging a scoring of 7.08 and winning 68% of his battles in the 2020/21 title-winning campaign for the French outfit.

Now, imagine both of them dominating opposition attackers and then building play up from the back to develop a progressive, attacking, style of play at St. James’ Park next season.

It is an exciting prospect and Ashworth has the chance to make it a reality after being given the green light by Manchester City to make a move for Ake happen.

AND in other news, Ashworth eyeing NUFC swoop for “dangerous” £30m dynamo, just imagine him & Wilson…

Manchester City have been linked with a summer move for Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

What’s the news?

After the news originally broke from Sky Sports journalist Dirk Schlarmann on Twitter, Fabrizio Romano shed further light on the matter.

He tweeted: “Manchester City are really interested in signing Stefan Ortega, as called by @Sky_Dirk today. Been told there’s a verbal agreement in place with City to sign as [a] free agent #MCFC

“Deal depends on Zack Steffen to find a good solution on the market, but Ortega’s waiting for City.”

Back in 2007, Ortega joined Bielefeld’s under-17 squad from fellow German club KSV Hessen Kassel. The shot-stopper also had a three-year spell with 1860 Munich before returning to Bielefeld in 2017.

Overall, the 29-year-old has made 220 appearances for his current side, keeping 65 clean sheets in the process. However, with his contract at the club set to expire next week, it seems as though he has played his last game for them.

Guardiola will be delighted

Ortega’s latest season with Bielefeld was a rather disappointing one, as the club were relegated from the Bundesliga with just 28 points on the board.

However, he showed throughout the campaign just how capable a goalkeeper he is. Over 33 league games, the German racked up more saves (124) than any other shot-stopper in the league and could also boast the second-highest save percentage (73.3%) in the division.

Taking this into account, it’s safe to say that Pep Guardiola would be delighted to have such an experienced and capable goalkeeper in his squad as a backup option for Ederson.

As for Zack Steffen, the fact that he only managed two clean sheets in his nine appearances for the Citizens last season across all competitions could be why the club have been looking to bring Ortega in this summer.

With that in mind, if the German is seen as City’s number two goalkeeper for the future, it could be worth the American making a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer and join a club where he would be guaranteed regular game-time.

In other news – Terms agreed: City now closing in on “refreshing” £30m signing, Pep will be buzzing

Aston Villa are likely to be watching Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher closely this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider suggested that the Midlands outfit will be “keeping tabs” on the Englishman in the current window, should it become clear that he won’t feature under Thomas Tuchel next term.

After a positive loan stint at Crystal Palace last term, the 22-year-old is set to return to Stamford Bridge for pre-season, although O’Rourke admitted that Villa will be in the mix in case his situation changes: “I think Villa and a number of Premier League clubs will be potentially looking at Conor Gallagher this summer.

“He was a massive success at Crystal Palace last year, he’s broken into the England squad, but if he’s not going to play for Chelsea, I’m sure most of the Premier League would probably sign Conor Gallagher if he became available.

“So, I’m sure Aston Villa will be no different. I’m sure they’ll be keeping tabs on his situation at Stamford Bridge just like most of the Premier League will be.”

A return to Selhurst Park has been teased by Eagles chairman Steve Parish, while Everton boss Frank Lampard is also said to be keen on the youngster, although any interested party is likely to have to fork out around £50m to secure a permanent swoop.

Villa’s own Bellingham

With the Villans seemingly on the hunt for further midfield additions – despite having already signed Boubacar Kamara – Gallagher would no doubt be an ideal fit, having proven his worth following an eye-catching season with Palace.

The one-time Swansea loanee bagged eight goals and provided a further three assists from his 34 Premier League outings, with such form even attracting the interest of England boss Gareth Southgate, who has since welcomed him into the international fold.

His displays have also drawn comparisons to compatriot Jude Bellingham, with the pair sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, according to FBref.

The fact that the teenager is a former Birmingham City man may not go down too well with the Villa support, although it is hard to deny just what a special talent he is, having belied his years with a string of impressive and mature displays for both club and country in recent times.

Already a “leader” at Borussia Dortmund – according to veteran teammate Mats Hummels – the 18-year-old has been instrumental over the past few seasons since his £25m move from St Andrews in 2020, notably scoring six goals and registering 14 assists in all competitions last term for the Bundesliga side.

The £49k-per-week starlet also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 3% for dribbles completed, progressive passes received and touches in the attacking penalty area, showcasing his undoubted knack for surging forward from his midfield berth.

Gallagher clearly has similar attributes as he ranks highly in the same metrics, ranking in the top 8% for dribbles completed, the top 11% for progressive passes received and the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area, with the all-action gem proving a relentless presence in the centre of the park.

He too has also been dubbed a “leader” by Ashley Cole, despite his youth, with the former West Brom appearing unfazed by the transition to life at the top level – much like the Dortmund ace.

With Bellingham clearly out of reach for even the most elite clubs, Gerrard can capture an ideal alternative in the form of Gallagher.

IN other news, Deal Imminent: AVFC now “set to sign” fifth summer addition, Gerrard will be buzzing