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Alasdair Gold has dropped an update on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Filip Kostic.

What’s the talk?

Speaking in a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, the football.london journalist revealed that Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici are confident they will be able to secure a deal for the Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back in the summer transfer window, with the Bundesliga side reported to be willing to listen to offers of around €15m (£12.5m) for the 29-year-old.

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Regarding Tottenham’s interest in the Serbia international, Gold said: “I know certainly that they’ve got a lot of interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 29-year-old Filip Kostic – their left wing-back.

“So that’s one they’re going to look at, they’re going to try and sign. I think there’s a lot of interest in him, but we’ll see. I think there’s a growing confidence that he might be someone that they can bring in this summer.”

Supporters will love Gold’s claim

Considering just how impressive Kostic was in Germany this season, Gold’s claim that Paratici looks set to make an offer for the 29-year-old is sure to be one that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful will love.

Indeed, over his 31 Bundesliga appearances this term, the £18m-rated wing-back was in breathtaking form for Eintracht, bagging four goals, providing nine assists and creating 16 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 2.8 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £43k-per-week talent average a quite extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.25, not only ranking him as Oliver Glasner’s best performer in the league but also as the 15th-best player in the division as a whole.

The 45-time capped international also impressed over his 12 Europa League fixtures, scoring three goals, registering six assists and creating four big chances, as well as taking an average of 2.7 shots, making 2.1 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per outing.

These metrics saw the former VfB Stuttgart starlet average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.33 – playing a starring role in Frankfurt going on to win the tournament and seeing him named the player of the competition.

As such, it is clear to see that Kostic would make a fantastic addition to Conte’s Spurs side, something which leads us to believe that Gold’s latest update concerning Tottenham’s interest in the 29-year-old is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the club.

AND in other news: Contact made: Paratici in talks for “unreal” £30m Spurs target, he’s Mousa Dembele 2.0

Leeds United youngster Cody Drameh continues to earn high praise following a successful loan spell at Cardiff City.

The 20-year-old defender spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign in the Championship, where he impressed greatly winning their ‘Player of the Season’ award.

Bluebirds boss Steve Morison wanted to keep him in Wales past the summer but that seems rather unlikely.

“I don’t think anyone else in the league would mind having him. He has been top drawer,” claimed the Cardiff manager, via Wales Online.

“He is a great kid and he deserved all the awards he’s got. He is a top example to any of our young players, if they want to know how to get to the top and be as good as him – take a leaf out of his book.”

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Indeed, reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post suggest that Drameh will be involved in Jesse Marsch’s squad heading into next season, a decision which could well save the club, and chairman Andrea Radrizzani, millions of pounds.

Vice-captain Luke Ayling not only disgraced himself against Arsenal, getting sent off for a needless and reckless challenge; subsequently missing the remainder of the season with survival on the line, but he isn’t getting any younger either.

“What an idiot. The lack of professionalism from his teammates and what this could mean going forward,” lambasted Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher (via talkSPORT).

“It’s not just going down to ten men, it’s a disgusting tackle going in with two feet and reminds me of a tackle that Vinnie Jones did a long time ago. What he thinks is going to happen on the back of that, I don’t know. It was an obvious red card.

“To put your team down to ten men, miss the last three games of the season, that might be the last game that Luke Ayling ever plays in the Premier League.”

The 30-year-old defender could well be replaced by Drameh in the near future.

Only Aden Flint registered a better WhoScored rating across the course of the season for the Bluebirds. The youngster’s three assists were only beaten by two other players but you’d imagine that would’ve been a different story had he been there for the entire campaign.

Meanwhile, Drameh also averaged a whopping 3.8 tackles per game, a feat which far usurps anyone in Leeds’ current squad, including Ayling (2.8 tackles, two assists).

Also described as “phenomenal” by Morison, the Thorp Arch gem’s emergence will surely mean that the Whites won’t have to spend big in the transfer market in the right-back role.

Marsch must take a look at Drameh heading into next season, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Kalvin Phillips transfer update…

An update has emerged on Leeds United’s pursuit of Huddersfield’s Lewis O’Brien heading into the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, Whites chief Victor Orta is plotting a fresh £10m bid to sign the midfielder ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, after missing out on a deal for him last year.

The report claimed that his current club would attempt to offer him a new contract if they won the play-off final but they went on to lose 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

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Big Mateusz Klich upgrade

Leeds can land a big upgrade on the Poland international by bringing O’Brien to Elland Road in the upcoming window.

In the Premier League, Klich averaged an unimpressive SofaScore rating of 6.67 in 33 appearances as he lost 60% of his duels. He failed to turn in good performances on a regular basis and struggled with the physicality of the games, which is why he is currently a weakling in the side.

O’Brien, meanwhile, won 56% of his individual battles in the Championship – winning 7.5 duels per game – and has earned a reputation for being a battler in the middle of the park.

Former Huddersfield goalkeeper Matt Glennon previously lauded the midfielder’s engine, saying: “He closes down until the 95th, 96th minute, still running to the corners, stopping defenders, he’s got unlimited energy.

“Lewis O’Brien wants to put the hard yards in and wants to be at the very top of where he can get to. He’s one of those lads who works ridiculously hard which, for me, is your minimum in any league, but he’s got that quality, the drop of a shoulder, that strength to keep people off him, a low centre of gravity to glide past people, arm aloft when they try to knock him off the ball.”

The gem also impressed in possession as he chipped in three goals and three assists as he created 1.0 chances per game. This is along with his 3.0 tackles and interceptions per match and an excellent average SofaScore rating of 7.00.

He has shown, albeit in the second tier, that he can excel as a box-to-box midfielder and he has plenty of room left to grow at the age of 23. Marsch can work with him over time to help him fulfill his potential but, in the short-term, his statistics suggest that he can be an immediate upgrade on Klich.

O’Brien can offer a level of physicality that the Poland international has been unable to provide, whilst also possessing the quality on the ball to function as part of the team on the ball.

AND in other news, Orta eyeing Leeds swoop for “exceptional” £20k-p/w “example”, Marsch needs him badly…

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Alessandro Bastoni.

What’s the talk?

In a recent video interview with Chris Cowlin, the Italian journalist revealed that, as of Monday, Fabio Paratici is yet to submit a formal offer to Inter Milan concerning a move for the centre-back, meaning that – despite a number of reports to the contrary – there are currently no ongoing negotiations between Tottenham and the Serie A side.

The transfer insider went on to reveal that Antonio Conte is a huge admirer of the 23-year-old, with the Italian believed to be extremely keen to bring his compatriot to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, however, the journalist then reaffirmed that Spurs have not yet made an official move for the defender.

Concerning Spurs’ interest in Bastoni, Romano said: “For sure, Tottenham are exploring this possibility, Alessandro Bastoni is a player who Conte loves. So for sure, he is a player who is on Tottenham’s list and he would be a perfect signing for Tottenham. But as of now, what I’m told, Inter are still waiting to see if there will be an official proposal.

“So the two clubs, as of today, are not in negotiations. Inter are still waiting to see what will happen, what kind of proposal will be made for Bastoni. The expectation of Inter fans is that they hope that Alessandro will not leave, but I think it depends on the proposal. I think his agent was pretty clear a few days ago. They are waiting to see how much Tottenham want to spend on him.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While Romano’s claim that Paratici has not yet submitted an offer for Bastoni may come as a surprise to the Spurs faithful, the journalist’s further suggestion that as long as Tottenham meet the centre-back’s asking price a deal for the 23-year-old will be done is sure to have left supporters buzzing.

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Considering just how impressive the £60m-rated defender was over the course of Conte’s two-year stint in the Nerazzurri dugout, the prospect of the youngster once again linking up with the 52-year-old at Spurs is certainly an incredibly exciting one.

Indeed, over his 33 Serie A appearances in 2020/21, Bastoni played a key role in Inter’s Scudetto-winning campaign, helping his side keep 14 clean sheets, registering three assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 61.5 passes, 1.2 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 2.2 clearances and winning 3.8 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

These returns saw the £85k-per-week talent earn a quite remarkable seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.11, ranking him as Conte’s fifth-best performer in the top flight of Italian football.

As such, with the 23-year-old very much looking to be a perfect fit for Conte’s backline, Romano’s update suggesting that all Paratici has to do is meet Inter’s £54m asking price in order to get a deal over the line is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the north London side – particularly the Italian head coach.

AND in other news: Conte could land Spurs’ own Rakitic as Paratici now plots bid for “unreal” £75m target

Darwin Nunez is edging closer to completing a big-money move to Liverpool this summer, according to an update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Nunez closes in on Liverpool move

The Uruguayan looks to have chosen Anfield as his next destination, having starred for Benfica over the past 12 months.

Various reports in the last week or so have hinted that Nunez is closing in on a move to Liverpool, as Jurgen Klopp brings in an ideal replacement for the potentially exit-bound Sadio Mane.

It is a transfer saga which appears to be moving all the time, with a new update now emerging.

The Latest: Romano’s update on Nunez

Taking to Twitter on Sunday morning, Romano claimed that Nunez is heading to England to complete his move to Merseyside, stating:

“Darwin Nunez will fly to Spain in the coming hours, then Uruguayan striker will be ready to fly to England in order to complete move to Liverpool once contracts are signed with Benfica.

“Final detail discussed: five or six year deal. Contract could be valid until 2028.”

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The Verdict: Such an exciting signing

Nunez looks a fantastic prospect, having scored 26 Primeira Liga goals last season, not to mention netting six times in as many starts for Benfica in the Champions League, including two goals against the Reds in the quarter-finals.

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At 22, Liverpool could be getting themselves an absolute gem and someone who could be the next darling of the Kop, scoring regularly and illuminating Anfield with his magic.

It was always vital that Klopp planned for life after Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino – by signing Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and potentially now Nunez, he has done just that.

In other news, Romano has also dropped another big Liverpool update. Read more here.

Newcastle have asked Brentford about Ivan Toney, The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards reports.

The lowdown

Toney has already one spell at Newcastle, beginning in 2015 when they signed him from Northampton.

After spells on loan with Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United and Wigan Athletic, he sealed a permanent exit to Peterborough United for just £350,000 in 2018.

He would spend two seasons with the Posh before making a move to Brentford and helping them win promotion to the Premier League.

The Englishman, who’s now earning £21,000 per week on a contract that runs until June 2025, only made four appearances for the Toon.

The latest

Newcastle launched a ‘pursuit’ of Brentford striker Toney, Edwards writes.

However, the Bees told them they would have to pay £50million, and Newcastle regard that as extortionate.

As of now, the pursuit has gone cold, but it’s clear that the Magpies are interested, and so they may return if Brentford show a willingness to compromise later in the window.

The verdict

You can see why Newcastle might be keen to bring Toney back to St James’ Park. He bagged 14 goals in 37 appearances last season, including 12 in 23 in the league.

One of those goals was an 11th-minute effort in the 3-3 draw between Newcastle and Brentford on Tyneside, Eddie Howe’s first game in charge.

Toney produced a big performance against his former club that day, clearing a shot off the line and drawing five fouls in addition to his goal (via Whoscored).

Manager Thomas Frank says he has the ‘mindset of a lion’, and that could make him a fan favourite wherever he’s playing.

This may be one to keep an eye on.

In other news, a potential goalkeeper target has emerged for Eddie Howe.

West Ham are reportedly one of several Premier League clubs to have offered a contract to Christian Eriksen this summer, and if he were to arrive at the London Stadium, he could prove to be David Moyes’ own version of Kevin De Bruyne.

According to football.london, the Hammers are one of nine clubs to approach the Denmark international with a contract offer after he impressed in his six-month spell at Brentford last season.

After suffering a cardiac arrest when playing for Denmark at Euro 2020, it was unclear whether Eriksen would ever play football again, especially as Inter were forced to release him due to Serie A rules, which dictate that players cannot feature if they have a heart monitor.

Brentford took a gamble on signing the former Tottenham playmaker in January, with manager Thomas Frank claiming that the player was “world-class” upon his arrival.

In his 11 top-flight appearances for the club, Eriksen helped to revive the Bees’ form, inspiring them to a comfortable finish in their debut season in the Premier League.

The midfield maestro contributed one goal and four assists for the west London outfit, averaging an impressive 7.37 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

In his career so far, the Dane has contributed a remarkable 162 assists, so it is no surprise that, during his time at Spurs, former team-mate Dele Alli described him as a “magician on the ball”.

Eriksen’s quality in possession was clear to see, as he averaged 2.7 key passes per game for Brentford – for comparison, Pablo Fornals’ and Michail Antonio’s 1.3 key passes per game was the best of anyone in West Ham’s squad.

Therefore, it is clear to see the quality that the 30-year-old would add to Moyes’ squad next season, and he could perform a similar role to De Bruyne, who won the Premier League Player of the Season award as Manchester City secured another top-flight title last month.

According to FBRef, the Belgian is the second-most similar player to Eriksen in terms of style of play, while WhoScored suggests that both Eriksen and De Bruyne excel at passing, long shots and taking set pieces.

Considering how dangerous the Irons were from set pieces last term, there is little doubt that Eriksen would be a success in Moyes’ squad next year, so GSB should do everything they can to try and bring him in.

In other news… Romano says West Ham are “confident” of signing “fantastic” ace, supporters will be buzzing

Lyall Thomas has dropped an update on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Djed Spence.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Sky Sports journalist revealed that Tottenham are set for further talks with Middlesbrough regarding a £15m deal for the right-back, with Daniel Levy said to be spearheading negotiations for the 21-year-old.

In his supporting report, Thomas went on to state that the Tottenham chairman is personally handling the club’s pursuit of Spence in order to allow Fabio Paratici to focus on other targets, while the England U21 international is himself said to be desperate to seal a move to north London this summer.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Daniel Levy drives forward Tottenham’s pursuit of Djed Spence as more talks are expected over £15m-rated England U21.”

Supporters will love Thomas’ claim

Considering just how impressive Spence was for Nottingham Forest last season, in addition to it being reported that the signing of a new right wing-back is one of Antonio Conte’s priorities in the summer transfer window, Thomas’ claim that Levy is set to restart talks over a deal for the Middlesbrough starlet is sure to be news the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful will love.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship outings for Forest last term, the £7.2m-rated talent scored two goals, provided five assists and created six big chances, as well as making an average of 1.0 key passes, taking 0.6 shots and completing 1.8 dribbles per fixture.

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The £4.4k-per-week right-back also impressed in metrics more typical of his defensive position, making an average of 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and winning 5.8 duels per game.

These metrics saw the England youth international average a rather astonishing WhoScored match rating of 7.05, ranking him as Steve Cooper’s sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

Furthermore, with neither Emerson Royal nor Matt Doherty particularly cementing the right wing-back spot in Conte’s back five last season, as well as Spurs having something of a homegrown player issue at present, the signing of a new Englishman in the position would appear to make a great deal of sense for the club.

As such, it is clear to see that Thomas’ update revealing that Levy is set to continue talks regarding a £15m deal for Spence is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the club – not least Conte himself.

AND in other news: Italian journo reveals Spurs are “ready to submit” £60m bid, supporters surely buzzing

Richarlison has reportedly now told his friends that he wants to leave Everton and sign for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Everton’s saviour

It is safe to say that the 25-year-old saved the Goodison Park outfit from getting relegated last season, with six goals and two assists in his last ten matches in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).

Dubbed ‘magnificent’ by former Toffees midfielder Leon Osman after his match-winning goal at home to Chelsea in early May, the Brazil international may be hard to keep hold of this summer.

The Latest: Richarlison admission

As per Football Insider, Richarlison has now ‘told friends’ that he is ‘keen’ on signing for Spurs and playing in the Champions League next season.

Talks have taken place this week between both clubs over a potential deal, but Everton are holding out for a fee of around £50m.

The Verdict: Sell?

If Richarlison is unhappy at Goodison Park, then it may be the best option to sell him, so long as the Toffees can get the right price.

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Not only did he save them towards the end of the campaign, the 25-year-old finished as their top scorer overall and highest-rated performer in the top flight (as per WhoScored), highlighting just how important he has been to Frank Lampard’s side.

Nonetheless, it would be difficult to turn down a move to Tottenham at this stage in his career, so this is a deal that Everton need to get right.

Leeds United are closing in on a deal to bring Charles De Ketelaere to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Sky Sport Italia, who claim that, following the news of AC Milan submitting a €20m (£17m) plus add-ons bid for the Club Brugge KV forward on Monday, Victor Orta is now preparing his own offer for the 21-year-old – believed to be in the region of €37m (£32m) plus add-ons.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio takes the claim one step further, suggesting that the Whites have gone as far as to submit an official bid to the Jupiler Pro League outfit – reported to be in excess of €30m (£26m) plus add-ons.

The “complete package”

It is not every day a player comes along who is billed as being Kevin De Bruyne’s heir, but that is exactly the role De Ketelaere has been assigned by those who have closely followed his progression over the past few years.

And, when taking into account the attacking midfielder’s incredibly impressive versatility, his ability to do serious damage in the final third and his exceptional vision with the ball at his feet, it is not difficult to see why comparisons have been drawn between the Brugge starlet and the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

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Indeed, De Ketelaere perfectly evidenced all three of these traits over his 39 Jupiler Pro League appearances in 2021/22, with the £27m-rated talent scoring 14 goals, providing nine assists and creating 16 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.0 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.4 dribbles per fixture.

These returns saw the £17k-per-week forward – who was deployed in no less than 7.25, not only ranking him as Alfred Schreuder’s fourth-best player in the division but also as the 13th-best in the league as a whole.

Furthermore, despite being in a group with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and RB Leipzig, the player Jacek Kulig dubbed the “complete package” also caught the eye over his six Champions League fixtures last time out, registering one assist and creating one big chance, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.0 dribble per outing.

These metrics saw the 21-year-old average an extremely admirable SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Brugge’s second-best performer in Europe’s most prestigious club competition – a quite remarkable feat considering the Belgian side finishing rock bottom of the group of death.

As such, it would indeed appear as if De Ketelaere would be an “elite signing” – in the words of James Marshment –  for Orta to get over the line this summer, leading us to believe that the latest updates on the Whites’ pursuit of the Belgian sensation is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

AND in other news: Orta could still land “phenomenal” target as Leeds remain interested in £52m signing