Tottenham: Spurs Near Fourth Signing, Medical Booked

Fabrizio Romano has shared an exciting Tottenham Hotspur transfer update involving winger Manor Solomon, with the player for a Spurs medical and to sign his contracts in the next 24 hours.

Who are Spurs signing this summer?

New Lilywhites manager Ange Postecoglou has watched on as chairman Daniel Levy moves quickly to seal three major signings before Solomon.

Indeed, the north Londoners have signed Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus following his 18-month loan spell, with both goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison joining after him.

The latter duo sign on long-term contracts from Empoli and Leicester City respectively, with both players costing £17.4 million and £40 million.

Postecoglou is in no mind over their mentality and attitude, detailing that aspect of their personalities as a big draw for Tottenham.

"It’s not just about the talent they bring as footballers," said the Australian.

"It’s what they bring as people as well because we are going to play football that requires a certain type of personality and character.

“Both those guys have got it in abundance. I could hear it in their voices when I spoke to them. I had a couple of chats with both of them before we signed them and I knew that they were the right types to bring into the dressing room."

Spurs are also believed to be chasing a new centre-back, with Postecoglou keen to reinforce a fragile defence. In terms of named transfer targets, Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham have been most heavily linked recently.

Fulham's Manor Solomon

Going back to Solomon, with Spurs widely expected to sign the Fulham loanee, renowed transfer reporter Romano has shared an exciting update on Twitter.

The journalist claims Spurs supporters can expect plenty of action tomorrow, as a medical is scheduled for Solomon, and the 23-year-old is set to sign his contracts as a new Tottenham player.

The Israel international forward looks set to join Kulusevski, Vicario and Maddison as a permanent Spurs star, with FIFA rulings allowing Solomon to freely terminate his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk, due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine..

"More on Manor Solomon deal. Medical tests at Tottenham planned later today will take place on Thursday morning — no issues, just re-scheduled in the last few hours," Romano said on Twitter.

"Solomon will sign the contract this week as documents have been checked. Deal done."

What's been said about Manor Solomon?

Called an "exceptional athlete" by members of the Israeli press, Fulham boss Marco Silva hailed Solomon during his 22/23 loan spell at Craven Cottage.

The Portuguese drew particular attention to Solomon's directness and strength in one-v-one situations, an aspect of his attacking style which should excite Spurs supporters.

"He has scored some important goals for us," explained Silva.

"More importantly for him because it has boosted his confidence and he is different from the other players in what he has.

"His one-v-one situation is really strong and coming from the left he is important."

Arsenal Want "Immense" £11m-rated Gem Stronger Than Saliba

Arsenal could be set to secure a deal with West Ham United for one of their English talents, in a move separate from their pursuit of Declan Rice…

What's the latest on Ben Johnson to Arsenal?

That's according to insider ExWHUemployee, who issued a transfer update on the Hammers' young defender, Ben Johnson.

Within the report, he noted how the 23-year-old is continuing to evade contract talks with his boyhood club, who in turn are refusing to pay him the wages he desires. Likely searching for more first-team assurances, he could look elsewhere. It is likely that he would be more comfortable as a backup for a team like Mikel Arteta's, or as a starter for Everton, than sticking with his current position.

As the Gunners seem set to battle with the Toffees for his signature, it is worth noting that The Guardian had expected the £11m-rated stalwart to leave back in June. This new interest could reaffirm those claims.

How good is Ben Johnson?

Although Johnson could only muster 17 league appearances last season under David Moyes – nine of which were starts – he has shown glimpses of the titanic defender he could be one day across his short career.

Arteta likely sees these superior physical assets and believes that investing early in this versatile ace could allow him to instil the core values of his philosophy within this project player.

The 2021/22 campaign arguably outlines the apex of his Premier League tenure thus far, as he managed 20 appearances whilst maintaining a 6.89 average rating. This was a figure largely buoyed by his defensive excellence, to which he mustered 1.1 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and 2.5 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

However, this was underpinned by a miserable 71% pass accuracy that the Spanish coach would strive to improve.

To emphasise just how physically superior Johnson is to most of his peers, when compared to Arsenal's hulking centre-back William Saliba, the youngster shines.

When placing their defensive statistics side by side, which consists of tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances and aerials won per 90, West Ham's defensive prodigy outperforms the towering Frenchman in every single metric except for the latter. It is this mastery that suggests the Englishman is far more physical than even Arsenal's second-best-performing defender from last term.

Arsenal'sWilliamSalibacelebrates after the match

It is no surprise to see former professional footballer Anton Ferdinand brand him "immense" in the past, lauding the club's depth.

However, it could now be Arteta that adds to his wealth of talent, by engaging in a passion project of his own to mould these various physical assets into a technically proficient star for his system.

Leeds Want Rodrigo Replacement In £1.6m Sensation

Leeds United could be set to swoop for a relatively unknown forward to replace their star man…

What's the latest on Djordje Jovanovic to Leeds United?

The latest comes from Sports Walla, who suggest that the 49ers could kickstart their reign by signing Djordje Jovanovic from Maccabi Tel Aviv FC.

Having reportedly watched the Serbia international last month, who has been in prolific form for the Tel Aviv club, the Whites are interested in his services and likely view the star as a cut-price option able to offer an instant injection of goals for just €1.9m (£1.6m).

Given Rodrigo's desire to leave following their relegation has been well-documented, this option could sanction the Spaniard's exit with minimal fuss due to the quality they would be bringing in.

Who is Djordje Jovanovic?

Although a relative unknown, the 24-year-old has been in deadly form out in Israel, even leading to the accumulation of three caps for his native Serbia.

Standing at 6 foot 1, immediately it is easy to assume that this well-travelled marksman would boast the necessary physicality to compete in the Championship.

Not to mention that since moving to his current club, Jovanovic has been a truly free-scoring asset.

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Last term saw him notch 22 goals and five assists across all competitions, funnily enough matching the exact tally he earned from the season prior even to that. Consistency is clearly key for this hulking striker.

Ron Dor, a football scout, sought to outline some of his outstanding characteristics just last year. He wrote: "He shows a very good off-the-ball movement, using his killer instinct." This would then be supplemented with another inspiring claim, noting: "Within a month, he turned to be Maccabi’s savior. A True Poacher!"

This kind of lethal attitude will be a welcome addition, especially if they are to lose Rodrigo this summer too.

Despite dropping out of the Premier League, the 32-year-old still managed to score 15 times across all competitions, making him quite comfortably the club's top goalscorer.

Given that he is only set to depart for a nominal fee too, his exit will sting all the more.

However, if they are to replace him with this experienced young forward who has his whole career in front of him, it could ease the burden and hand them an unknown commodity to potentially take the Championship by storm.

For a fraction of the price the Yorkshire outfit are set to gain, they could end up still making a profit on the former Valencia man, whilst adapting their style to the new challenge that this division will pose. It marks a relatively risk-free deal with the potentially lucrative reward of instant promotion.

Rangers: Beale Now Prepared To Let Star Leave

Rangers manager Michael Beale is personally prepared to let striker Antonio Colak leave this summer if a suitable offer comes in, according to journalist Derek McGregor.

Who is leaving Rangers this summer?

The Gers are currently overseeing a major summer overhaul with four confirmed signings already coming through the door in Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Sam Lammers from Atalanta (Transfermarkt).

Rangers have been very busy so far this summer, despite the absence of a sporting director following the departure of Ross Wilson to Nottingham Forest earlier in the year.

Their flurry of incomings comes after many former squad members left Ibrox at the end of May, with Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander and Allan McGregor departing Glasgow (Transfermarkt).

Attacking midfielder Marik Tillman, who was on loan from Bayern Munich last season, also returned to his parent club after Rangers opted not to pursue a permanent deal.

Beale is ever so slowly reshaping the squad in his own image with reports suggesting that other Rangers players could follow the aforementioned in leaving.

Glasgow Rangers boss Michael Beale.

According to reporter McGregor, writing for The Sun, the departures of both Morelos and Kent have handed Beale a chance to freshen up his attack and inject new quality.

This has lead to talks for both Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers and Brighton's Abdallah Sima, though Rangers could make even more of an overhaul in the attacking areas.

Indeed, McGregor writes that Beale, despite Colak's goal haul last season, will personally green-light the Croatian's sale too, if a suitable offer arrives.

The journalist wrote:

"Croat Antonio Colak – who netted 18 goals in his Gers debut season – continues to interest a number of German clubs with Beale prepared to sanction a sale if the right offer comes in.

"The exits of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent have given the manager a big chance to freshen up his attack with Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala still available."

What's been said about Colak?

It will be interesting to see if Beale really is open to sanctioning Colak's sale, especially after his record in front of goal last season.

The Rangers boss even heaped praise on his attacker's enthusiasm, particularly raving over his "infectious" energy and involvement as a team player.

"He’s just got natural enthusiasm. He goes and presses and works for his teammates. He is part of the team," explained Beale.

"He has not been able to show me what he has because he got injured before I came in, and he has been playing bit parts here and there.

"He’s infectious in terms of his energy. The last few weeks, he has started to look really fit, and his personality has come out in the group. I am delighted for him.”

Liverpool Advancing In Talks For £25m-Rated Youngster

Liverpool have taken one step further in their pursuit of Ryan Gravenberch this week, with The Mirror reporting that FSG will back Jurgen Klopp in his pursuit of the player.

Are Liverpool signing Ryan Gravenberch?

The midfielder has only just joined current club Bayern Munich, having made the switch to the German giants at the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign, racking up 72 appearances for Ajax prior to that. He was viewed as hot property when the Bundesliga outfit decided to snap him up, but the youngster has been unable to break into the first-team fold on a regular basis.

He's played 24 times for Bayern in the league over the course of the season and did help the side to claim another division title. However, only three of those fixtures saw Gravenberch start and he bagged no goals or assists either – his worst career totals to date.

The player though has previously proven he can produce the goods, managing seven and eight goal contributions during his last two seasons in the Netherlands. Both of those returns came as the player featured in over 30 league games – showing that if he gets minutes on a frequent basis, he can produce the goods.

ryan-gravenberch-premier-league-newcastle-transfers

With the midfielder out of favour in Germany, it means he could be available on a deal this summer and it is Liverpool who seem to be leading the race to sign Gravenberch, and it seems as if the man himself fancies a switch to Anfield over other suitors according to a recent report.

Now, The Mirror are reporting the latest update in this transfer saga – with Klopp eager get a deal done, the Reds are set to support his call to bring in the 21-year-old and support him in the transfer. It also adds that they are more "advanced" in terms of a potential transfer when compared to other interested Premier League parties and are "pushing" to get it done.

What is the value of Ryan Gravenberch?

No fee or official bid is mentioned yet but CIES Football Observatory suggest that the player's value would be around the 30 million Euro mark (or £25m). It's unclear if this is how much Bayern value him at but if it is, then it would be a bargain deal for Liverpool.

He's also highly regarded thanks to his time at Ajax, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig admitting that Gravenberch has a "huge future" in the game. He has yet to realise that since his switch to Bayern but it has only been one season and he barely ever got a chance. Given that chance at Liverpool, Gravenberch could thrive and live up to that potential with the Reds.

West Ham Mulling Over Move For £4.2m-Rated New Striker

West Ham have a potential replacement for Gianluca Scamacca lined up it seems, with Firenze Viola via Sport Witness reporting that the club are mulling over a move for Joel Pohjanpalo.

Are West Ham signing Joel Pohjanpalo?

The Finland international, who currently plays for Venezia, had an electric season for the Italian side despite the fact they finished in eighth. The Serie B side turned to the 28-year-old on 37 occasions in the league and he rewarded them for their trust by bagging 19 goals and seven assists along the way. His overall goal contribution rate stood at 26 – which is the highest total he has managed over the course of his career to date.

It was a career year for the player then, having finally found a new permanent home in Venezia. Despite being with former club Bayer Leverkusen for six years, he managed only 23 games for the side with seven goals. Only one of those outings in the Bundesliga was a start too, meaning that the forward really struggled to break into their first-team reckoning. Instead, he had to rely on loans with the likes of Rizespor in Turkey and Union Berlin in Germany.

Now, having been a first-team regular in Serie B, he truly thrived and he is now being lined up for a potential move to West Ham. According to a report from Firenze Viola, via Sport Witness, the Hammers are considering a potential bid to take the player to the Premier League, with the club seeing him as a replacement for Scamacca. No official bid has yet been made but it seems as though he is now firmly on their radar.

No fee has been mentioned either, but CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be around 5 million Euros (or £4.2m). It's a miniscule fee for a player who could potentially bag plenty of goals with the club.

When does Joel Pohjanpalo's contract expire?

The forward, having only just agreed to join Venezia, has a relatively short contract that runs until 2025. However, if West Ham make a move, then it could be a very short-lived stay in Italy for the player.

He's certainly a talented player according to numerous sources too, with football journalist Josh Bunting for example stating that the attacker is "perfect" for his national side, Finland, in terms of being clinical in the box and his ability to hold the ball up too.

Considering what the potential fee may be and his goals record when given regular minutes, it could be a real bargain for the Hammers if they do opt to make a bid for Pohjanpalo.

£7k-p/w Sensation Could Be Crystal Palace’s Own Estupinan

An 11th-place finish marked a better-than-expected conclusion to the 2022/23 Premier League season for Crystal Palace, but seeing fierce rivals Brighton and Hove Albion finish in a European spot would have been particularly tough to take.

With a rebuilding job of sorts ahead at Selhurst Park, whoever the manager may be, supporters could do with a signing or two to distract themselves from their foes' impending adventures across the continent.

In rumoured target Lewis Hall, who has made the breakthrough at Chelsea, Palace could land themselves a player not just for the future but very much for the present day.

Who is Lewis Hall?

After impressing for Chelsea at U18 and U21 level, Hall made his senior debut in January last year when becoming the youngest player to start an FA Cup tie for the Blues.

Hall marked that milestone against Chesterfield in the third round with an assist and earned praise from team-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi for his "amazing" ability and confidence on the ball.

The England U19 international – on a mere £7k-per-week at Stamford Bridge, as per Capology – made his Premier League bow in November in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United and went on to make a further eight top-flight appearances.

Hall truly broke into the team under Graham Potter and stayed there under Frank Lampard, but Mauricio Pochettino's appointment – and possibly yet more new defensive arrivals – could see the youngster moved on, albeit likely on an initial loan basis.

The Daily Mail reports that Palace are keeping an eye on Hall's situation with a view to making a loan move for the 18-year-old, who was last month named Chelsea's Academy Player of the Season.

What can Lewis Hall provide Crystal Palace?

The comparison may not go down well with the Palace faithful, but there are plenty of similarities between Hall and Brighton favourite Pervis Estupinan.

Ecuador international Estupinan more than played his part in Brighton's sixth-place finish, chipping in with five assists from the back – only Kieran Trippier (seven), Andy Robertson (eight) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (nine) set up more among those used predominantly in defence.

Hall may not have played as often as Seagulls defender last season, but there were still similarities between the two in terms of their playing style. Both completed around the same number of passes per game (47 compared to 53 respectively, with a success rate of 80% and 82%), while they averaged 73 and 74 touches of the ball per 90 minutes.

Those similarities translate to the defensive aspect of the game, with Hall averaging 1.51 clearances per game to Estupinan's 1.25, while there was very little between them in terms of aerial duels won (58% and 56%).

It is surely their attacking nature, however, that draws the most parallels with the Chelsea youngster registering five assists at youth level last term, a marker of his dangerous offensive qualities.

It may well be that Hall has shown enough promise to at the very least earn a squad place under Pochettino next season, but should he indeed be made available for loan, Palace should ensure they are waiting at the front of the queue.

West Ham: Hammers Make Contact To Sign Club’s Star

West Ham United have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen over signing their mainstay defender Jonathan Tah, according to Sky Sports.

Who could West Ham sign this summer?

The Hammers managed to avoid Premier League relegation fairly comfortably at the end of last campaign, despite undergoing a real scare midway through the season, with reports even suggesting David Moyes was hanging on by a thread.

However, West Ham's 2022/2023 finish was a solid one, and now the Irons board is tasked with backing Moyes in the transfer market as major clubs circle for star player Declan Rice.

The England international's future will be a major talking point after their Europa Conference League final this evening, and if West Ham opt to sell, Rice's price tag could gift them with a financial windfall to source his replacement.

Moyes is set to stay at West Ham, according to reports, and he apparently has his eyes on a number of potential successors for Rice – including Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, Chelsea's Conor Gallagher and Manchester United's Scott McTominay.

West Ham could also strengthen in defence with Leverkusen defender Tah, who has caps for the German national team, being repeatedly linked with a move to east London.

jonathan-tah-tottenham-transfer-premier-league

Sky Sports, sharing news on their live blog (June 5, 17:40), claimed they've made an approach to sign him in the form of an inquiry.

"According to Sky information, several inquiries about Tah have already come in from the island , including from West Ham United," claim the broadcast giant. "Bayer Leverkusen and coach Xabi Alonso definitely want to keep the 27-year-old, but since Tah has a release clause of 18 million euros (£15m), which is relatively low for the level of performance, the competition is very interested."

Who is Jonathan Tah?

The centre-back has been a pivotal figure under Xavi Alonso and was recently voted into the Europa League's Team of the Season.

Tah has also been a mainstay at Bundesliga level – making 33 league appearances last campaign whilst featuring over Leverkusen's fifth-highest number of league minutes (WhoScored).

The 6 foot 4 powerhouse boasts solid defensive stats from 22/23, averaging more clearances per 90 than any other Leverkusen player.

Tah also ranks third in Alonso's squad for interceptions per match, and according to WhoScored, he stands out as a very good ball-playing central defender.

Indeed, he has managed a higher pass accuracy (89.1%) than any of his Leverkusen teammates, perhaps emphasizing why West Ham are keen on his signing this summer.

Lynden Gooch coy on Sunderland future

Sunderland winger Lynden Gooch has been discussing his future at the club following the Black Cat’s play-off final success over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. 

The lowdown: Mr Versatile

Having started out as predominantly a right-winger with capabilities of playing on the opposite flank, Gooch has been transformed over time into the ultimate utility man.

This season, the 26-year-old USA international has featured on both wings in each of a wing forward, wide midfield and full-back capacity.

After playing 90 minutes as a right-sided full-back in the 2-0 play-off final victory at Wembley, Gooch has addressed his next move as his contract at the Stadium of Light nears its conclusion…

The latest: Gooch unsure of Sunderland future

Speaking after the match, as quoted by The Northern Echo, the four-cap American admitted to being unsure as to where his future may lie.

Gooch said: “I don’t know where I’m going to be next season so we’re going to have to wait and see. If this is my last game for Sunderland then there is not a better way to go out.

“I’ve got a meeting with him (Alex Neil) on Tuesday and we’ll see what happens. It is what it is. I’ve give everything for the club in my ten years as a pro. We’ll see what happens. If it’s my last game then happy days, I can go out on a high. If not, then I’ll continue to represent the club as best I can.

“This is my fourth time here with Sunderland playing here and it is a difficult occasion. I was trying to help the young lads as best I can. It’s not easy, it’s Wembley. It’s amazing being on the winning side. I know what it’s like being on the losing side. It’s an amazing feeling for sure.”

The verdict: Sunderland should keep him

Signed in 2012 from Santa Cruz Breakers, Gooch broke into the first team at Sunderland in 2016/17 and has since represented the club in the Premier League, Championship and League One.

A superb servant at the Stadium of Light, the American was recently praised by ex-Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott for a ‘terrific’ display against Cambridge United, during which the 26-year-old provided one assist and made seven key passes in an 8.1-rated performance from Sofascore.

Overall this season, Gooch provided six assists in 45 appearances, and he is likely to remain an integral part of Alex Neil’s plans should the club and player come to an agreement regarding a new deal. Given how much he has contributed on Wearside, hopefully the Black Cats can persuade him to stay for another while yet.

In other news, James Copley was left stunned by this development ahead of the play-off final

Rangers contract news on Lowry

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now looking to secure a bumper new deal for Alex Lowry as early as next week.

The Lowdown: Offer rejected

Lowry actually rejected an initial contract offer from the Ibrox faithful back in February, as his current deal expires in 2023.

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It has been reported that Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Manchester City are interested in signing Lowry in the summer, should contract talks continue to stall, but recent news has been more positive, with Alan Hutton delighted to hear Lowry could now stay put.

The Latest: Breakthrough

As per The Scottish Sun, there seems to have been a breakthrough in talks, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team are now hoping to tie Lowry down to a new deal next week.

More discussions have been pencilled in with his representatives, as the club are desperate to keep him and fend off interest from the English top flight.

However, Lowry and his camp would prefer to wait until later in the month before making their final decision.

The Verdict: More good news

After reaching the UEFA Europa League final with a 3-1 win at home to RB Leipzig on Thursday night, it seems as if more good news has emerged with regards to Lowry’s contract.

A player who has made four senior appearances for the Teddy Bears this season at just 18 years of age, Lowry is highly thought of at the club, as former boss Graeme Murty even went as far as to call him ‘remarkable‘.

Nonetheless, it is important that the Light Blues keep their young talents as they look to build for the future, hopefully adding a Europa League trophy to their legacy.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute legend’ Andrew Dickson hailed against Leipzig here!

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