Tottenham target Ryan Fraser has rejected an offer from Bournemouth and is set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the month. 

According to Sky Sports, while his teammates Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels have all signed short-term deals, Fraser has turned down an extension.

Earlier this year, Football Insider revealed that Spurs are prepared to offer him a lucrative contract, as Jose Mourinho has made it clear he is at the top of his shortlist.

Last month, the Daily Star claimed that the Lilywhites are leading the race to sign the Cherries winger, and this could be good news for Mourinho.

Although Fraser has failed to hit the same heights he enjoyed in the 2018/19 campaign, it is worth remembering that he scored seven goals and created 14 assists in the Premier League last season, a figure which was bettered only by former Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard for the latter metric.

Moreover, he could be a very reliable player, as he last picked up an injury all the way back in 2015.

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Meanwhile, Son Heung-min is the club’s second-highest goalscorer this season, only one goal behind Harry Kane, while he has provided more assists than the striker at the time of writing.

In comparison, Steven Bergwijn gave fans a brief glimpse of what he has to offer before he was forced to miss the Lilywhites’ last game against RB Leizpig after sustaining an ankle injury. The 22-year-old has scored two goals in five league games, including netting in front of the home crowd against reigning champions Manchester City (Transfermarkt).

Mourinho has been plagued by constant setbacks this season. Son and Bergwijn have finally returned from spells on the sidelines, which will no doubt give the team a huge boost as Spurs had slumped to several poor results in their absence. However, to add further insult to injury, youngsters Japhet Tanganga and Troy Parrott have been ruled out for the foreseeable future.

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While Fraser has struggled to replicate his sensational form, he could provide solid cover for the wide options, and signing the speedster makes perfect sense, as he will soon be available for free. Son has been an integral part of the squad for many years, and the Scotsman could share the workload with Bergwijn to reduce the risk of injury.

Moreover, it doesn’t matter if he fails to live up to expectations, as Daniel Levy will have gained a valuable asset for no extra cost if the transfer goes through.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Ryan Fraser in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Brighton manager Graham Potter has indicated that he plans to give game-time to two young prospects at the club over the coming weeks.

Brighton & Hove Independent reported that the Seagulls boss signalled his intentions to utilise Alexis Mac Allister and Tariq Lamptey throughout the remaining nine games in their Premier League season.

Speaking initially about Mac Allister, Potter said: “He’s been brilliant, his attitude has been great and he is fighting to play. I’m sure we will be using him over the next nine that matches.

“The same with Tariq, again a young player adapting to us and the league but he’s got attributes that I’m pretty sure that we can use over those nine matches.”

Mac Allister was signed by Brighton in January 2019 but, having had loan spells back in his native Argentina last year, he was recalled by his parent club at the beginning of 2020, with the Seagulls paying Boca Juniors a reported £500,000 to prematurely end his loan with the Buenos Aires outfit.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder made his senior Albion debut in the 0-0 draw at Wolves in March, getting 10 minutes as a late substitute. He made a good impression in that brief cameo, though, registering one shot and delivering three crosses, and his potential is reflected in him winning two senior caps for Argentina last year.

Right-back Lamptey, signed from Chelsea in January, has yet to make his debut for Brighton, although he did feature for his previous club in their Premier League win at Arsenal in late December. In his 30-minute appearance at the Emirates Stadium, he won two tackles and supplied one key pass, along with delivering two crosses (as per WhoScored).

It remains to be seen whether he can displace first-choice right-back Martin Montoya or experienced backup Ezequiel Schelotto, although Potter has indicated that he intends to use the full depth of his squad during a hectic schedule in which Brighton play nine league games in 37 days.

With the Seagulls embroiled in a relegation dogfight which sees them currently just two points clear of the drop zone, Potter may be reluctant to depend heavily on inexperienced youngsters like Mac Allister and Lamptey given how high the stakes will be with their Premier League future on the line.

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However, as the manager has outlined, Brighton have a frenetic run of matches ahead of them and he may need to utilise the full depth of his squad. Indeed, the youthful exuberance of the aforementioned young duo could be used to good effect if their carefree enthusiasm transmits positive energy to the team that inspires them to get the results they need to retain their top-flight status.

Brighton fans, do you think Potter should trust in youngsters like Mac Allister and Lamptey over the next few weeks? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

Tottenham Hotspur have launched a bid for Southampton star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. 

According to Duncan Castles, as relayed by @TranSPURS, Tottenham have already made an offer for the Saints ace, who was recently stripped of the captaincy by Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Spurs have been linked to Hojbjerg for a number of months after Jose Mourinho identified the Dane at the top of his list of transfer targets, via Sky Sports.

According to The Times, Southampton will demand £35m for their former captain, despite the fact the Lilywhites had privately hoped he would be available for roughly £20m. Daniel Levy signed Tanguy Ndombele for a club record fee of £53.8m last year.

Hojbjerg has impressed at St Mary’s over the past few years, which has brought him to Mourinho’s attention. The midfielder, who played for Bayern Munich in the past, has played 29 games for Hasenhuttl’s side this season, registering one assist, making 2.4 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions and successfully completing 1.7 clearances per game on average (via WhoScored).

Castles revealed that the Saints have received three offers so far for the Danish international, although “none of them are satisfactory”. Tottenham have offered cash plus players in exchange but Southampton are refusing to budge, amid interest from Everton.

Mourinho is acutely aware that he will be severely restricted by a tight budget in the summer as Spurs bear the full brunt from the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.

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While their asking price is surely more than affordable for a team that is reportedly the richest in London, clubs are working under unprecedented circumstances. As it stands, fans will have to wait and see what new signings are made in the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us down below!

For months and months, all signs pointed to Timo Werner heading to Liverpool this summer in a big-money deal.

But in the end, the Germany international penned a deal with the Reds’ Premier League rivals, Chelsea, and Jurgen Klopp’s side have missed out on a target they have been linked with for a very long time.

If the Merseyside club are still intent on bringing in a new centre-forward to Anfield, then reports touting them with a move for Lille star Victor Osimhen is a step in the right direction.

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According to Rai Sport journalist Ciro Venerato (via Sport Witness), there have been “live meetings with the Liverpool chief scout”, and that the striker’s “agent is very close to the Liverpool CEO, who is pushing a lot for Osimhen”.

Whilst he may not be the same kind of high-profile player like Werner is, Osimhen’s achievements in Ligue 1 have shown that this is a talent who can also get to the very top of the game.

Even back when he had just signed for Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, he had made an immediate impression on his coaches, with then manager Andries Jonker saying: “He has great potential in him. He is ambitious, quick and highly unpredictable, he will be a star in the future if he maintains his focus.”

And at Lille, he has absolutely backed up those claims. Before the Ligue 1 season was cancelled, he had racked up an impressive 18 goals in 38 games across all competitions, whilst also providing six assists.

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Just like Werner, he can operate off the left-flank too, and that kind of attacking flexibility will surely be something Klopp will relish having at Anfield what with his exciting and fluid front three.

Averaging 3.2 shots and 0.8 key passes per game, Osimhen has led the line superbly for Lille, with his 7.14 average match rating in the league ranking him joint-14th amongst all players in the division.

So whilst Liverpool may feel a tinge of regret at missing out on Werner, they can sign a truly exciting alternative to the German in Osimhen.

Rangers appear to be closing in on a £3.5m move for Amiens midfielder Bongani Zungu but with a player that Steven Gerrard is all too familiar with becoming available for transfer, should Ross Wilson aim his sights elsewhere?

What’s the word?

According to Goal.com correspondent Neil Jones, long-term Rs target Ben Woodburn will be free to leave Liverpool this summer – either permanently or on loan.

The 20-year-old midfielder has struggled to break into the first-team under Jurgen Klopp with Curtis Jones seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, and after loan spells with Sheffield United and Oxford United, it certainly seems like it’s time to move on.

Gerrard has long admired the Reds youngster, wanting him before his move to the Blades whilst last summer The Sun claimed Woodburn was once again ‘on the radar’ of the Anfield legend.

Maybe it can be third-time lucky?

Forget Zungu

We’ve already detailed why a move for the South African midfielder would be a disaster waiting to happen at Ibrox, which can be read here – but in short, Zungu has displayed nothing that screams ‘sign me up!’

Instead, a swoop for the transfer-listed Woodburn makes a ton of sense and with him in need of a revival, Gerrard can be the man to bring the best back out of him.

The legendary Liverpool star named the Welshman as his captain whilst in charge of the Reds’ youth team and lauded his abilities by saying:

“I think Ben needs to play so if Jurgen doesn’t need him it’s an excellent opportunity to come and play with his friends who he came through the system with, be the captain and leader in this team, and set the example. The challenge is when he comes down to this level can he approach it like a first-team game and so far he has been excellent.”

Gerrard has regularly called upon his old outfit for players, namely Ryan Kent and Sheyi Ojo, and now would be an ideal time for Woodburn to follow suit.

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At Oxford, he’s shown glimpses, averaging 1.9 shots and 1 key pass per game, via WhoScored.

He’d certainly be less of a risk than Zungu, so it’s time for Wilson to switch tactics and pursue the player that his boss has seemingly chased every window since taking the helm in Glasgow – Woodburn is valued at just £4m by Transfermarkt.

AND in other news, Rangers could make a shrewd move with Lyndon Dykes signing…

Celtic’s summer is bound to be quite busy once again. But then again, the Bhoys are always looking to further bolster their squad and maintain that dominance over the Scottish Premier League and the domestic scene as a whole. And now, according to Sky Sports, they are looking to offload Boli Bolingoli and immediately replace him with a new player.

The same source claims that Leeds United’s Barry Douglas is apparently high on their wishlist and we could see them make a move for the new Premier League left-back in the ongoing window.

Of course, Marcelo Bielsa’s men have been promoted to the English top-flight, which may or may not have an effect on Celtic’s potential bid, but new arrivals are surely on the cards.

Interestingly, Sky Sports also say Bolingoli is attracting interest from the Ligue 2 side Amiens and they are offering a loan deal that includes an option to buy at the end of the campaign, for a fee around £2.3m.

It is also worth mentioning that the player himself broke the Coronavirus rules with a trip to Spain without telling anything to the club or to Neil Lennon, leaving them furious with that decision. The papers don’t directly say anything about that potentially being one of the reasons he’s being sold but it’s safe to say he’s not exactly on the manager’s good side anymore.

Verdict

Douglas is a highly experienced player already in his 30s and seeing how he’s had limited opportunities for the Whites in 2019/20, he could indeed be an attainable target for Celtic.

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Of course, first, they have to offload Bolingoli but the interest from France seems to be strong enough for them to successfully do that sooner rather than later. On the face of it, it seems like a good deal for all parties involved.

We’re bound to keep hearing about Manchester United’s chase of Jadon Sancho long into the ongoing summer transfer window. Of course, Borussia Dortmund won’t exactly budge and are still demanding extraordinary sums of money for their young talent.

On one hand, it is understandable considering the sheer quality and the talent of the young Englishman. He is undoubtedly one of the players of both the present and the future. But on the other hand, the outside circumstances also mean no one can afford him for that price.

With that in mind, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to look for alternatives and many names have already popped up in the last weeks or so. The latest one, however, according to Sky Sports, is Juventus’ Douglas Costa.

The 29-year-old has been offered to Man United by Juventus and the Red Devils are still mulling over whether he’d be a good investment. The issue is, the same source claims, his injury record. Here’s what Gianluca Di Marzio said on the subject for Sky Sports:

“Juventus want him to leave. His agents are moving to find a solution, they have talked to Manchester United, to understand if the would be interested. They will think about it, but the problem is that Douglas Costa is often injured, so this is a problem for a club that wants to buy him. The agents have talked to Manchester United, for sure, and have proposed his transfer.”

Now, the ball is in Man United’s backyard.

Verdict

Of all the players to be mentioned as Sancho alternatives, Costa definitely looks like the least attractive one. He may still have quality but he’s 29 and with a bad injury record.

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It’s pretty safe to say that this would indeed represent a downgrade if Ole went for him instead of the young Englishman. However, Sancho remains their n0.1 priority and his transfer to the Premier League is still on the cards.

Ben Chilwell has already made a huge impact on many Chelsea fans following his latest post on Instagram. 

The 23-year-old has shown off his latest Chelsea experience by posing with Stamford Bridge legend Ashley Cole. He has captioned the post with a heartwarming message, saying: “Great afternoon spent chatting to this legend! Hopefully I can have a career like yours at this amazing club.”

/CEo-en_FJSi/

The former Leicester man became one of the club’s latest signings after Chelsea met the Foxes’ £50m asking price (via Sky Sports). Adding Chilwell to the roster could mean he will usurp veteran Marcos Alonso, who has been linked with an exit.

Frank Lampard hasn’t held back on the transfer market in this window and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon either. A move for Kai Havertz is all but wrapped up and the Blues are also still eyeing West Ham’s Declan Rice. A goalkeeper is another priority of Lampard’s as the manager has lost faith in the ability of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chilwell and the rest of the Chelsea team are preparing to take on Brighton in their first match of the 2020/21 Premier League season on Monday week as the Blues will be looking to build on their fourth-placed finish from last term.

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Are you glad that Chelsea signed Ben Chilwell? Join the conversation in the comments below!

Former Portsmouth player Gary Roberts has praised the club for what he calls a ‘great signing’ after Michael Jacobs arrived at Fratton Park on Monday.

The 28-year-old was released by Wigan Athletic earlier this summer after featuring 32 times in the Championship last season.

Having previously worked with Pompey manager Kenny Jackett at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a deal has now been completed, seeing the midfielder sign a two-year contract. Jacobs becomes Jackett’s fourth signing this summer, following Sean Raggett, Cameron Pring and Callum Johnson in making a move to the League One club.

Following his arrival on Monday, Portsmouth boss Jackett is quoted as saying by BBC Sport: “Michael’s an exciting player with good Championship experience.”

Those comments have now been followed up by an endorsement from former Pompey player Roberts who took to Twitter to give his view on the transfer deal. In a simple tweet, Roberts said: ‘Some player crackers – great signing’.

In total, Jacobs made 188 appearances for Wigan, appearing 79 times in League One for the Latics during his five-year spell (via Transfermarkt).

Finally, Jackett makes another signing for Portsmouth.

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With the new season underway, it was becoming a slight concern that little transfer activity had developed over the last few weeks at Fratton Park, but Jacobs’ arrival could be the start of a couple more between now and the end of the transfer window.

Do you think Jacobs can go on and become a key player for Portsmouth this term? Let us know your views in the comments section below…

Everton must secure a positive outcome from crunch talks with rumoured Real Valladolid target Sandro Ramirez as the Toffees seek to mutually terminate the Spaniard’s contract.

What’s the word?

According to Fourth Official, Toffees chiefs are hoping the Merseyside outfit are able to reach an amicable solution with Sandro to terminate his £65,000-per-week contract having thus far failed to offload the 25-year-old this summer.

Sandro has spent most of the past three seasons away from Goodison Park on various loan deals after a string of managers decided the former Under 21 international was not up to the standards required to compete for minutes in Royal Blue.

The forward spent the 2019/20 campaign back in his native Spain with Real Valladolid, for whom he struck home four goals in 26 outings across all competitions. Nevertheless, the Jose Zorilla Stadium natives are understood to be keen on re-signing Sandro providing he arrives as a free agent.

Elche CF, SD Huesca and “especially” SD Eibar are also thought to be interested in the £2.88m-rated forward’s availability, although their hopes are likewise dependent on Everton agreeing to terminate Sandro’s contract.

A move now seems entirely dependent on Sandro accepting Everton’s offer of becoming a free agent, likely alongside a lucrative pay-off to end what has been a horror move for a deal once considered “ideal”.

Sandro’s “ideal” English adventure

Sandro lauded his move to Everton as the “ideal” destination in 2017 after the Blues agreed to trigger the £5.25m release clause in his Malaga contract, but the move has been nothing but a horror show since.

“I’m very happy, this is a big step in my career,” Sandro said, via quotes by AS. “I know I’m signing for a massive club in England.

“Everton is the ideal place for me, I’ve got the ideal manager who is going to keep giving me the confidence to improve my game.”

In three years, Sandro has managed to record just 16 appearances for the Toffees, with the last of which coming during an EFL Cup tie in August 2018 after returning from the first of what became many loan spells.

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Everton fans have also only bore witness to a single goal from the Spaniard’s boots when he struck a consolation effort during a 5-1 defeat at home to Atalanta in the 2017/18 Europa League Group Stage.

Failing to score elsewhere – with his four goals for Real Valladolid his only achieved whilst out on loan in two-and-a-half-years – has ensured no suitors are willing to pay Everton for Sandro’s services, and the Blues must now strike an agreement to end the striker’s association with Goodison Park this summer.

AND in other news, Everton are warming to the idea of sending a rarely-seen man away from Goodison Park.