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Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Graham Roberts insists that there will be money for a summer spending spree at the club.

Spurs are yet to appoint a new manager with the latest reports suggesting that talks with former Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte have broken down.

Conte has history of spending big to bolster his squads, spending over £30m no fewer than nine times in his career, per Transfermarkt.

It remains to be seen if Spurs will back him to the hilt, especially given the impact of the pandemic and the fact that they needed to take out a loan from the Bank of England in the past year.

Roberts, though, is confident that there will be a “pot” of cash for the new manager to spend, as the club look to again challenge for the top four.

Indeed, Spurs ultimately finished seventh following a damaging season under Mourinho, and are now facing up to the prospect of playing in the Europa Conference League next season.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Roberts said: “The club will have money.

“They will do things right and there’ll be a pot there for transfers, it’s whether we can get a little bit more in there to help them bring in a few.”

Leeds United will target a new centre-back this summer, according to fresh claims…

What’s the word?

The Yorkshire giants appear to have narrowly avoided the drop this campaign after they replaced the iconic Marcelo Bielsa with Jesse Marsch back in February but their defensive problems still remain as one of the Premier League’s leakiest backlines.

However, come the off-season, it appears that a new central option will sit high on the agenda, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke, who told GIVEMESPORT:

“It’s definitely a position Leeds will be looking to strengthen this summer. We all know how many goals they’ve conceded this season, it’s been way too many.

“That’s not just down to injuries, they’ve been way too open as well, so they’ll be looking to bolster their defensive options in the summer transfer window.”

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Good news for Marsch

Indeed, the Whites’ struggles defensively this campaign have been no secret.

With four games left to play, Leeds sit five points clear of the relegation zone and prior to the weekend’s games, no team had conceded more goals (68) than Marsch’s side.

Even rock-bottom Norwich City had kept out more goals before their defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Things have started to improve recently, coinciding with the return of club captain Liam Cooper, who had missed the bulk of their matches from November through to March.

Diego Llorente’s form has also somewhat transformed in recent outings, whilst the American’s only other options in the role are Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch – the latter has been something of a sicknote ever since his arrival.

At times, their injury list has been so severe that vice-skipper Luke Ayling has gone into the middle to help out the team.

Therefore, it is certainly great news to see the Yorkshire side mooted with a move for a new option as Marsch is certainly going to need further quality in the area heading into next season, where they absolutely cannot flirt with the drop once again.

Leeds have already been linked with some interesting names, including the manager’s former Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol and fellow Bundesliga colossus Timo Hubers.

It’s a sign of encouragement heading into what should be a busy summer of business for Victor Orta and co.

AND in other news, Orta must launch Leeds bid for “complete” £72k-p/w gem, he could be their Luis Suarez…

Former Glasgow Rangers striker Kris Boyd believes Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi may have all played in their last Old Firm.

Boyd makes Old Firm claim

All four of the aforementioned [did Hagi come on as a sub?] were in action for the Gers against Celtic on Sunday as …… .

Writing in The Scottish Sun prior to the match, Boyd suggested that the Ibrox quartet may not play against the Gers’ fierce rivals again. He wrote:

“Alfredo Morelos could be about to play in his last ever Old Firm game.

“For different reasons the same goes for Glen Kamara, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi.

“Scott Arfield could have been another making his bow – but he will have to settle for watching on from the sidelines after picking up a season-ending injury.

“But if you ask me, there’s a real chance all these players will be on their way out of Rangers at the end of the season.”

Hopefully not

This summer promises to be a big one. The Gers have been in fantastic form this season, especially in the league as they have finally ended a 10-year wait for a major trophy by clinching the Premiership title. All four of the aforementioned players have played their part in that success, and as such, there is likely to be plenty of interest in their services.

Value at a combined £25.65m by Transfermarkt), the four could bring in plenty of money for the Gers if sold, but Steven Gerrard will not want to see them leave. The Gers will embark on a Champions League campaign next time out, and the 40-year-old will be desperate to retain all of his best players. While one or two could depart, surely Gerrard and Ross Wilson will resist the temptation of a mass Ibrox exodus.

In other news, Ally McCoist slams this man’s comments.

West Bromwich Albion are battling to secure a move to bring Adam Reach to the Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Albion are fighting Blackburn Rovers for the signature of the former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, who is a free agent after leaving the Owls at the end of last season.

In response to a fan asking whether Rovers were close to signing anyone this summer, Nixon said: “[Blackburn are] still in Reach race despite the West Brom interest.”

Reach could solve problem

With Valerien Ismael often setting Barnsley up in a 3-4-2-1 formation last season, it would appear logical to assume that the Frenchman may well look to once again call upon this formation following his appointment at West Brom.

And, although Reach was playing his football for a Sheffield Wednesday side who ultimately finished bottom of the Championship last term, the 28-year-old nevertheless demonstrated he possesses a significant amount of ability, while the left midfielder’s positional versatility could also solve something of a problem for the 45-year-old Albion manager.

Indeed, over his 44 Championship appearances for the Owls last season, the £2.52m-rated man scored five goals, registered three assists and created five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.3 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

The man Tony Pulis dubbed a “top player” also impressed in a defensive capacity, making an average of 0.9 interceptions, one tackle, one clearance and winning 2.8 duels per match.

These returns saw the £23k-per-week midfielder earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.82, ranking him as Darren Moore’s sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, it would very much appear as if Reach would be capable of doing a job for West Brom, but, the exact job he may be asked to perform is what could make the former England U20 international an extremely astute piece of business by Ismael.

Indeed, with the Frenchman stating shortly after his arrival at the club that he doesn’t “need the most expensive player or the best player” but rather the “right player for the position,” Reach looks as if he could be something of a perfect candidate for the role as the 45-year-old’s left wing-back.

And, with only Conor Townsend in the Albion squad who is a natural left-back, it would very much seem as if Ismael will require far greater depth in the position over the course of an arduous Championship campaign.

So, all of the above would lead us to believe that the signing of Reach could solve one of the manager’s big issues at The Hawthorns ahead of next season, and, with the 28-year-old being available on a free transfer, he would also represent something of a bargain.

In other news: Hatfield drops West Brom transfer claim on “complete” £12k-p/w ace, Ismael must act

Sunderland could be set to offer Elliot Embleton a new deal at the Stadium of Light in the near future.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Kristjaan Speakman, with the Sunderland sporting director revealing in an interview with the Sunderland Echo that he and his side are delighted with the progress that the midfielder made while on loan at Blackpool last season, and that he is expecting the 22-year-old to play a key role for Lee Johnson’s side in the upcoming League One campaign.

The 42-year-old continued by suggesting that, as long as the academy product continues his upward trajectory this season, the club will open talks with Embleton regarding a new deal in the not too distant future.

The director said: “We’ve been really pleased with Elliot. Elliot and I spent all of the transfer deadline in January making sure we got the right place for him [to go on loan] and we worked really, really hard on that.

“He’s come back and done extremely well in pre-season and is someone who we think can be a huge player for us this season and in the future.

“We took the option up on his deal when he went out in January so he has a year left, and that’s something that we’ll have a discussion on with him and his agent.

“I’ve spoken to Elliot a few times and he’s a Sunderland boy, desperate to play for the club, and like any young player he wants minutes on the pitch, he wants to play.

“Any club at our level, you need to see the performances as well. So at the minute, it’s just a conversation that we’ll get started in terms of wanting to retain him. I think Elliot understands how much we appreciate and admire him at the club.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering the sheer amount of potential Embleton appears to possess, Speakman’s comments regarding the youngster’s regular involvement in the Black Cats first team next season, as well as the potential of the 22-year-old being offered a new deal by the club is sure to have left fans buzzing.

Indeed, over his 30 League One appearances while on loan at Blackpool last term, the £4.3k-per-week man bagged two goals, provided four assists and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.7 shots and making 1.2 key passes per game.

The midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his central midfield role, making an average of 1.1 tackles, in addition to winning possession 0.5 times and 2.3 duels per match.

These returns saw the man Max Power dubbed a “nightmare” for defenders to play against earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.90, ranking him as Neil Critchley’s 12th-best player in the third tier of English football.

As such, it would very much seem as if Embleton can indeed play a huge role in Sunderland’s promotion push next season, as well as going on to star for the club for a great many years in the future – as Speakman suggests.

In other news: KLD dealt Sunderland blow over “fantastic” £180k-rated “beast”, Johnson will be fuming

Crystal Palace must make a considerable effort to extend Christian Benteke’s contract after the striker’s impressive recent form, pleasing the club’s supporters in the process.

The Belgium international has enjoyed his most productive season since 2016/17, bagging nine Premier League goals in 29 appearances alongside his solitary assist.

Benteke burst onto the scene when he arrived on English soil with Aston Villa back in 2012, notching up an incredible 19 goals in his maiden campaign with the Villans.

His incredible displays combined power and technique to devastating effect and earned some flattering praise from his then manager, Paul Lambert.

“Benteke has been colossal for us, he’s been unplayable in certain games,” claimed the Scotsman. But it’s been several years since the 30-year-old has reached those dizzy heights.

Three fruitful years at Villa earned Benteke a big-money move to Premier League giants Liverpool, although his inability to adapt to Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing style meant he lasted just 12 months at Anfield.

A move to Palace then materialised, and 15 goals in his first campaign at Selhurst Park appeared to suggest it was a match made in heaven, but things quickly turned sour for the 6 ft 2 target man.

Just six league goals followed between 2017/18 and 2019/20 as the Genk academy graduate become a pillar of ridicule in the English top-flight.

However, in one of the most surreal Premier League campaigns, Benteke has only added to the intrigue. A return to form has seen the Belgian start Palace’s last 11 league games, scoring in his last three outings for the south London side.

The capital club are approaching a crossroads with several first-team players out of contract over the summer, including Benteke, and many tough decisions need to be made by the hierarchy over the coming weeks and months.

Match of the Day 2 used a graphic over the weekend to show all of the stars who are currently set to become free agents, and it’s clear from these fans responses that Benteke is amongst the group that they wanted to be given a new deal.

“Clyne, Ward, Benteke, Cahill and maybe McCarthy and that’s it”

@cpfc_sean

“Benteke, Clyne, Townsend, Cahill McCarthy…”@RICHPM14″Clyney, Ward, Andros, Benteke and Cahill. That’s all for me”@FPTW_Benteke is Palace’s second-top goalscorer this season, so tying the forward down to a new deal would represent a smart bit of business by the club’s board.And, in other news…Forget Eze & Zaha: £9m-rated Palace beast who won 100% duels was Hodgson’s unsung hero – opinion

Writing on Twitter, Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari has made a West Ham United transfer claim involving Sweden international and AS Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye new goalkeepers?

Despite current number one Lukasz Fabianski recently signing a contract extension at the club, West Ham have still been tipped to target new goalkeepers this summer.

The Hammers have mainly been linked to West Bromwich Albion shot stopper Sam Johnstone as they scour the market for Fabianski’s long term replacement.

The Poland international, 36, has entered the twilight phase of his career and West Ham will need to start thinking about who may be his rightful heir.

The Latest: West Ham now want Olsen…

Longari, writing on his social media, has now claimed that West Ham are one of the clubs eyeing Sweden international Olsen – with the ace impressing at times over Euro 2020.

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Indeed, the journalist says the Irons, Real Sociedad and Lille are among the clubs contemplating a move this summer.

“Confirmation of strong interest in Robin Olsen of the Roma,” explained Longari (via Twitter).

“More polls concerning West Ham and Lille which, however, could focus on Leo Jardim as a starter next season.”

The Verdict: Good option?

Despite finding game time severely limited whilst on loan at Everton over 2020/2021, with the 31-year-old starting just seven Premier League matches, Olsen has perhaps emerged as a good depth option depending on the price.

He enjoyed a fine Euro 2020 in parts, earning high praise for his individual heroics, while Olsen has also drawn acclaim from Italian goalkeeping great Walter Zenga.

The Inter Milan legend is a huge admirer, branding him ‘amazing’ in an interview with the Athletic last year.

Much will depend on his valuation, though, with West Ham apparently prioritising other positions in the shape of a permanent deal for Jesse Lingard, new centre-back and star striker (Claret & Hugh).

In other news: ‘Exciting’, ‘Thank you’, ‘Here we go’…West Ham fans flock to official club announcement, find out more here.

Reported Everton target Luis Diaz pulled off an ‘outrageous’ piece of skill during Colombia’s World Cup qualifying clash with Brazil on Sunday.

Diaz was under challenge from Marquinhos and Fred and shuffled the ball from his right foot onto his left, which he used to dink it between the two players.

The game would end up finishing 0-0, with FC Porto’s Diaz playing the full 90 minutes.

He was otherwise marshalled pretty effectively, winning only two of his nine ground duels (via SofaScore).

Diaz could have been a Blue

Everton tried to sign Diaz in the final knockings of the transfer window as part of a deal that would have seen James Rodriguez go the other way. Ultimately, James’ salary was an insurmountable hurdle (via Carlos Aleman).

It remains to be seen whether the Blues revisit their interest in subsequent windows. Manager Rafael Benitez ‘clearly wanted more options out wide’.

Portuguese football feed Proxima Jornada posted the footage, and here’s what Everton supporters had to say.

Everton fans flock to Diaz clip

“If only James hadn’t got greedy, Diaz would be at Everton now!”

Credit: @MaxyMj3669

“I’m on my knees Brands”

Credit: @Adam_1878

“Get him in, he’d have Trent all over the gaff in the derby.”

Credit: @Joel_1878

“Get him signed up @Everton ASAP”

Credit: @gflan02

“Get to r’s x”

Credit: @MainManMina

“Feel sick”

Credit: @lucas1878_

In other news, Everton fans will be encouraged by what Greg O’Keeffe said about January.

Fabio Paratici and Tottenham are definitely interested in signing Fiorentina superstar Dusan Vlahovic, according to reports in Italy.

The Lowdown: Vlahovic lights up Serie A

The 21-year-old Serb is arguably one of Europe’s most exciting young attacking players currently, scoring 35 goals in 93 appearances for Fiorentina.

Vlahovic also has a hugely impressive record at international level, netting six times in his first 12 caps for Serbia.

He has been extensively linked with a move to north London for quite some time, and now another update has emerged from the country he plies his trade.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

The Latest: Spurs interested in move

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Spurs are indeed showing interest in the 6 foot 3 Vlahovic, but there’s a catch, with competition for his signature now fierce.

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are also mentioned as potential suitors, while other big clubs are believed to be eyeing up a move for him, too, even though the €70million (£59m) asking price could put some off.

‘It is certain’ that the Lilywhites and ‘half of Europe’ are interested, says the report, but the ‘scary’ price tag is a major stumbling block.

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The Verdict: Potential Kane replacement?

With Harry Kane’s Spurs future likely to become a talking point again in January or next summer, a long-term replacement could be needed for Nuno Espirito Santo.

At 21, Vlahovic certainly represents the future but he is already performing at an extremely high level in Serie A, proving that he could be an immediate success story in north London.

He has been described as ‘incredible’ by Serie A journalist Conor Clancy and could bring some fresh blood to a Spurs squad in need of it.

In other news, Nuno has confirmed an injury setback for one Spurs player. Find out who it is here.

Writing on Twitter, Italian journalist and TUTTOmercatoWEB chief editor Marco Conterio has dropped a Tottenham Hotspur claim involving Serie A star Milan Skriniar.

The Lowdown: Spurs and Skriniar…again

Tottenham’s links to the Inter colossus can be found as far back as the summer of 2020.

Writing an extensive behind the scenes piece on Spurs’ last summer transfer window, Alasdair Gold detailed a Lilywhites attempt to sign Skriniar.

Club chief Steve Hitchen even flew to Italy in an attempt to negotiate a deal, but both Inter and Spurs could not find a compromise on his valuation.

Now, links have re-emerged to the giant defender, with Conterio bringing the latest.

The Latest: Conterio drops exciting Spurs claim involving Skriniar…

Writing on Twitter, journalist and TMW chief editor Conterio has shared what he’s heard on Spurs and a swoop for Skriniar.

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He claims that Spurs are ‘on the attack’ for his signature as teams from the Premier League eye swoops for a plethora of Inter’s stars.

As well as both Liverpool and Manchester United entering the chase for Nicolo Barella, Conterio explains that Spurs are well and truly on the hunt for Skriniar.

In an exciting claim, he also says that an offer for the centre-back has ‘already’ been tabled.

The Verdict: Great option?

The Slovakia international would undoubtedly be a capable centre-back signing who could shore up Spurs’ backline to great effect.

He is a composed and assured figure in Serie A, averaging a 92.2% pass accuracy out from the back in 31 Serie A starts under former boss Antonio Conte last season (WhoScored).

Skriniar was an ever-present figure as the Nerazzurri went on to clinch their first Scudetto title in 10 years, with former teammate Adam Zilak also calling him an ‘incredible defender’ (La Gazzetta dello Sport).

However, if Spurs are to land him, managing director Fabio Paratici and chairman Daniel Levy may have to invest heavily as reports suggest he could cost up to €60 million (£51.5m).

The amount Tottenham have tabled for Skriniar as per this report is unclear, but Lilywhites supporters will be hoping it is enough to get Inter talking.

In other news: Spurs chiefs perform Harry Kane U-turn as report shares behind-scenes developments, find out more here.