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Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of signing Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet this summer, according to reports out of Spain.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs, lead by new manager Ange Postecoglou, are now beginning their preparations for the 2023/2024 season with the Lilywhites' boss holding one of his first press conferences the other day.

The charismatic Australian has discussed many topics, including his desire to implement a more attacking-style of football and his delight at Tottenham's transfer business so far.

The north Londoners have sealed deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, England international James Maddison for £45 million, winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer and Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus.

Maddison, who was a shining light in Leicester City's relegated side last term, is a player Postecoglou is particularly enthralled by.

“Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is having multiple attacking threats and having a midfielder who can score and create goals – they’re not easy to come by,” Postecoglou said.

“James has proven himself as somebody who can do that. When you look at Tottenham over the last few years, they’ve been really reliant on the front three to get their goals. I thought it was a really good fit for us to look for a player like James.

“He’s in a stage of his career where it feels like he can be a leader, which is great because we need players who want to embrace that responsibility.”

The focus for Tottenham is now shoring up their leaky defence with star centre-back signings, coming after a campaign which saw them leak 63 league goals.

Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Galatasary star Victor Nelsson and Lenglet have all been linked with Spurs in the last fortnight.

Reliable media sources claim Tottenham are close to sealing an agreement for van de Ven, but other sections of the press believe Spurs could make more than one signing at centre-back.

Lenglet, who spent the 22/23 season on loan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, could well join van de Ven shortly going by an update from Mundo Deportivo.

According to the Spanish outlet, and their news editor Javier Gascon, the Frenchman is "about to close" his move to Spurs, but if the transfer can't be sorted in this next week, he will travel on Barca's US tour and wait to resolve his future.

Lenglet was given permission not to train until July 18 as the La Liga champions attempt to offload their £204,000-per-week defender.

How good is Clement Lenglet?

Making 28 league appearances for Spurs last season, the former Sevilla star was a regular under Antonio Conte, with very few Spurs players managing a higher passing accuracy (87.5%) than Lenglet (WhoScored).

The 28-year-old has also been praised by his compatriot, Hugo Lloris, who called the centre-back a "high level" and "modern" defender last year.

"He's a modern defender," said Lloris.

"Comfortable to be able to play from the back. He has a great left foot and can be very strong in one v one and he's strong in the air.

"Even if it's never easy when you arrive in the Premier League and he will have to adapt to the intensity of the games but he is a high level player, with experience."

Liverpool are set to open contract discussions with Trent Alexander-Arnold once they are finished with their transfer business according to Fabrizio Romano.

How long is Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract?

The England international's contract runs until the summer of 2025, which is the same summer that Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and Kostas Tsimikas all see their contracts expire, meaning Liverpool have a lot of new deals to make decisions on soon.

In the case of the 24-year-old, the club will be desperate to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future, especially after seeing his performances in the inverted role he found himself in during the run-in last season.

Alexander-Arnold has been one of the most integral parts in Liverpool's recent successes, making 273 appearances for the club and winning almost every single trophy available whilst recording 16 goals and 72 assists.

Liverpool's number 66 is currently on £180k per week after signing a four-year deal in the summer of 2021, and it is assumed that should the club and player agree on a new deal, he would end up on a weekly wage similar to what Van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara receive at around £210k per week.

According to Romano, who was speaking on the Born And Red YouTube channel, any discussions about the new deal between the club and player might have to wait until the Reds have completed all their business in the market.

“I am sure Liverpool will have conversations with him, it is something they have already discussed internally but now they are busy in the market. But for sure this is one of the things that Liverpool want to do, they will have conversations about that. Also the player is doing his best for Liverpool's future.”

What position will Trent Alexander-Arnold play next season?

Jurgen Klopp has an interesting dilemma on his hands regarding the position that the 24-year-old plays in next season.

Liverpool ended the season in fine form, unbeaten in their final 10 matches with seven wins and three draws. The real star of the show was Alexander-Arnold who managed eight goal contributions in the final 10 games of the season in his new inverted role.

His form continued for England, with a goal, an assist and a Man of the Match award in the team's two most recent qualifiers, leading Dean Saunders to proclaim the Liverpool player as the best English midfielder in England right now: “I think that Trent is the best English midfield player in England. I think he’s better than all of them. If you play him in midfield he can do everything that Declan Rice does, but also he can hit passes that Thiago [Alcantara] hits and sees it."

Liverpool have made two signings this window and the profiles of both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai suggest that Klopp is leaning towards making the switch to the 3-2-2-3 system a more permanent one. That will only be good news for Alexander-Arnold who will be hoping to showcase his skillset in the more advanced role next season, especially with the new-look midfield that could potentially surround him should the Reds complete a deal for target Romeo Lavia.

One thing is for sure though, Liverpool will want to tie down their home-grown star to a new deal so the new-look midfield can play together for years to come.

Liverpool are 'in the background' as they prepare to step up their pursuit to land Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news involving Romeo Lavia?

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool are readying an initial offer to try and sign Lavia from Southampton this window and have surpassed Chelsea in the race to sign the £50 million-rated youngster.

Manchester City, Arsenal and the aforementioned Chelsea have also been linked with a swoop for the Belgium international, who impressed last term in the Premier League despite Southampton being relegated to the Sky Bet Championship.

Fabrizio Romano reported back in March that Manchester City have a buyback clause for Lavia that is believed to be set at around £40 million; nevertheless, this option isn't due to activate until the summer of 2024, enabling other suitors to steal a march on the Premier League title holders.

Football Insider revealed last month that even though Liverpool are keen to land Lavia, they do not want to be dragged into a protracted bidding war for his services as Jurgen Klopp steps up his midfield revolution.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have joined the Reds from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig, respectively. At the same time, more additions to the engine room may arise ahead of this season commencing.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Liverpool's pursuit of Lavia could come to the forefront of the Reds' transfer dealings in the near future.

Jones said: "Liverpool are in the background, too, so it's going to be an interesting one. It's one that hasn't really taken centre stage yet, but it's going to soon. I think once that Declan Rice one is out the way, the race for Lavia will really heat up."

Would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Liverpool?

Lavia is a talented young player who could help refresh Klopp's engine room by adding further depth and potential alongside a protective element in front of the back four for Liverpool.

Last season, the 19-year-old made 35 appearances in all competitions for Southampton, registering one goal and one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

In the Premier League, Lavia also showed commendable maturity for his age and retained a pass success rate of 86.7% for a side that finished bottom of the pile, as per WhoScored.

As per FBRef, the Belgian also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of blocks, making 1.90 per 90 minutes encompassing the last 365 days.

Learning from experienced figures such as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson may also be an enticing factor for Lavia to consider as he looks to fulfil his significant potential.

Liverpool may be the ideal destination for the 19-year-old to take the next step in his career following an encouraging campaign at Southampton.

La Liga champions Barcelona are expecting to collect €10 million (£8.5m) from Tottenham Hotspur to sign defender Clement Lenglet, according to reports out of Spain.

Who will Spurs sign this summer?

Links to centre-backs are going to be prevalent at Spurs for most of this summer transfer window as the Lilywhites chase star defensive options for incoming new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham conceded more top flight goals than any other side above 15th in the Premier League table last season, highlighting their dire need for reinforcements in that area of the squad.

Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, as per recent media sources, is being targeted by Spurs as talks progress – with the Burkina Faso international also very open to joining.

Meanwhile, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer is also on their transfer shortlist with Man United captain Harry Maguire, so the north Londoners appear determined to add quality to their backline.

Lenglet, who spent the 2022/2023 season on loan at Spurs, has been linked with a return to the club permanently with Barca looking to balance their wage bill.

According to Spanish news outlet Sport on Monday, via Sport Witness, the Catalans are expecting Tottenham to fork out an £8.5 million bid for the Frenchman this summer.

The cheap price is down to Barca's selling desperation, which has given Spurs a strong negotiating arm to play with as they consider bringing Lenglet back to north London.

What's been said about Clement Lenglet?

The 28-year-old made 26 league appearances for Tottenham last season, amassing a solid 87.5% pass accuracy out from the back, so he could be ideal for Postecoglou's fluid, attacking system.

Lenglet did have his critics over 22/23 but long-serving Spurs number one Hugo Lloris thinks he can be strong in both one-v-one situations and aerially.

"He's a modern defender," said Lloris.

"Comfortable to be able to play from the back. He has a great left foot and can be very strong in one v one and he's strong in the air."

Meanwhile, Spurs pundit John Wenham said Lenglet appears "very reliable" when at his best, having given a glowing review to Football Insider after the centre-back's north London derby performance.

"“The fact he has instantly come in for Ben Davies and we don’t look any weaker, that is a huge credit to him really," said Wenham.

“He’s a new signing to the Premier League, I know he has a lot of experience from Barcelona and with France but he already seems very reliable, like we could drop him in for any fixture.“

An update has emerged on Arsenal and their efforts to improve their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

What's the latest on Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

David Ornstein, of The Athletic, has claimed that the Gunners are now in pursuit of a deal for Ajax central defender Jurrien Timber this summer.

Mike Arteta and Edu are plotting defensive reinforcements and have seemingly identified the Netherlands international as someone who can add to their current group.

The reporter Tweeted: "EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal working on deal to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. AFC have made an opening offer worth ~£30m. Ajax want ~£50m but optimism a compromise will be reached. Personal terms with Netherlands int’l thought to be in place."

It appears as though their bid will not be enough to tempt the Dutch side into parting ways with the versatile ace – it's a huge 40 per cent shy – but Ornstein has stated that there could be a middle ground and they've even gone ahead and discussed terms with Timber directly.

The journalist has also claimed that the club are working on deals to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice and Chelsea centre-forward Kai Havertz after they finished second in the Premier League last term.

Who is Jurrien Timber?

The 22-year-old is a promising defender who has already racked up a wealth of experience despite his young age and is capable of playing in a multitude of roles.

He is a centre-back by trade but can also be deployed at right-back, left-back, and as a defensive midfielder, which means that Arteta could utilise him in a number of positions.

Timber has amassed 121 competitive matches for Ajax and been capped 15 times by the Netherlands at senior level, despite only turning 22 earlier this month, and has made 15 appearances in the Champions League.

This means that Arsenal would be bringing in a player who already knows what it takes to perform on the European and international stage, whilst also having plenty of years left ahead of himself to develop and improve as a player under Arteta's coaching.

The Netherlands international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "press-resistant" and "tenacious", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 across 34 Eredivisie outings in 22/23, which came after the right-footed enforcer averaged a rating of 7.39 in the previous campaign.

Meanwhile, Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba, and Jakub Kiwior all averaged Sofascore ratings of 7.01 or lower in the Premier League for Arsenal, which suggests that Timber has the potential to be an excellent addition to the squad if he can translate his form over to English football.

A big update has emerged on Aston Villa and their attempts to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Pau Torres to Aston Villa?

According to Football Insider, the Villans are in contact with Villarreal over a deal to sign central defender Pau Torres in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Unai Emery has made the Spain international his number one target and that the club are now closing in on a swoop for the 26-year-old titan.

It states that they are making progress over a transfer and that it is set to take a fee of at least £40m, which would be a club record, to get it over the line.

Would Pau Torres be a good signing for Aston Villa?

The Premier League side appointed Monchi as their new president of football operations recently and securing a deal for Torres would represent his first blinder as the LaLiga ace would be a terrific addition to the squad.

It would be a masterclass from the former Sevilla supremo as he would be providing Emery with a top-quality left-footed defender who excels at keeping the ball away from his own box and using his ability in possession to progress his team up the pitch.

Over the last 365 days, the Villarreal star, who talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed "wonderful" on the ball, ranks in the top 4% or higher amongst his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Whereas, Tyrone Mings does not rank higher than the top 47% of players in the same category for either statistic over the last 365 days of action.

This suggests that Monchi could improve Villa's ability to play out from the back by landing an upgrade on the left-footed England international on the ball, given that Torres is one of the best players in the major leagues when it comes to breaking lines and driving up the pitch to make things happen for his team.

The Spaniard has also produced consistently impressive and dominant performances for his club in LaLiga in recent seasons.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.04 across 34 league outings in 22/23 and won 61% of his individual duels, which came after the colossal ace won 66% of his battles and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 in 21/22.

Mings, on the other hand, has averaged a rating of 6.91 in the Premier League across the last two campaigns, indicating that Torres would also be an upgrade on the current Villa defender in terms of his average performance level at the back.

Therefore, Monchi could land his first masterclass by getting this deal over the line for the defender as his statistics suggest that he would be a sensational addition to Emery's options in defence.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is said to have been left impressed by Ryan Mason after their meeting on Friday at Hotspur Way.

Does Ryan Mason have managerial offers?

The 32-year-old former Spurs midfielder once again took the reins in north London following the departure of Antonio Conte and then Cristian Stellini.

Results were certainly mixed and Mason was unable to help the Lilywhites secure a spot inside the European places despite their emphatic victory on the final day of the season.

But now there is the prospect of Mason coaching under another manager in north London having already worked under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Conte.

With two stints now under his belt as the caretaker manager at Tottenham, perhaps he may view this as the perfect opportunity to take a managerial role for himself.

There have been reports suggesting the Englishman has interested suitors from the Championship including Swansea City.

However, after a meeting with Postecoglou last week in north London, it now seems as if the 32-year-old will be remaining at Spurs for the foreseeable future.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed the Australian manager was left seriously impressed with the Spurs coach:

"And from what I understand, Postecoglou was impressed with Mason, Mason was impressed with what Postecoglou had to say. And despite the fact that there's a few clubs interested in Mason, two or three in the Championship, a couple across Europe, Postecoglou convinced him; 'No, stick around with me'."

Who will be Postecoglou's coaching staff?

The Australian's arrival in north London has not come without some hiccups with Celtic holding firm over keeping their coaching staff who worked under the 57-year-old.

Indeed, it has been reported the Bhoys have a clause in the coaches' contracts which means they are unable to follow Postecoglou should he leave the club.

This does leave Spurs in a bit of a tricky spot with most managers usually bringing their own staff with them when they move clubs.

But it seems as if these concerns are not disrupting Tottenham's efforts to improve their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Reports now suggest the Lilywhites are moving in on a potential deal to bring in their next goalkeeper for the future with talks ongoing over a move for David Raya.

After a disappointing campaign, change is seemingly on the menu in north London for this summer and perhaps keeping a familiar face around in Mason will be a positive move.

It has been suggested in the past that the players at Hotspur Way have a lot of respect for the £58k-per-week Mason and he will provide Postecoglou with a clear understanding of the club's values.

The race for coveted Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella is heating up, with a wealth of top Premier League outfits contesting for the Italy international's signature this summer.

What's the latest on Liverpool's pursuit of Nicolo Barella?

Liverpool are at the forefront of the race, joined in their intrigue by Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United, all said to be 'crazy' about the prospect of signing Barella, according to FCInterNews.

Touted at as much as €100m (£87m) by his team's hierarchy, the vested interest in his services by English football's most prominent teams could create an exorbitant transfer battle.

Barella could be headed for the Nerazzurri exit door when considering reports that he is personally pushing for a departure in search of new horizons, but contracted with until 2026, it could be a taxing pursuit indeed.

Should Liverpool sign Nicolo Barella?

The obvious stumbling block for Klopp and co is, of course, Barella's price tag, which is not too far away from the €103m (£88m) initial fee that Real Madrid have paid to prise Jude Bellingham away from Borussia Dortmund.

However, should Liverpool's technical director Jorg Schmadtke manage to whittle the Inter ace's jaw-dropping valuation down over the next few weeks, the Reds would glean one of Europe's superlative maestros.

Indeed, having made 51 appearances this season, the 26-year-old has posted nine goals and ten assists and been hailed as a "genius" for his exploits by reporter Mike Piellucci, with the chance for glory awaiting in the Champions League final against Manchester City this weekend.

With Anfield waving goodbye to a host of departees this summer, space has been opened for someone of Barella's ilk to forge a career as the Merseyside club's new general, reinstating the cohesion and verve that blinked out of existence as Liverpool slipped into obscurity this season, failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Alexis Mac Allister has already been signed by Anfield's powers that be, penning a long-term contract after his £35m release clause at Brighton & Hove Albion was met, a shrewd move heralded as a "bargain" by Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool acted with the ruthless incisiveness that has become a staple point of Klopp's tenure at the club, and the energy and dynamism that the 24-year-old brings will undoubtedly provide a shimmering new sheen to a central midfield requiring comprehensive reconstruction.

Barella would ice the cake, blending his maestro-like skill set with Mac Allister's box-surging, progressive presence and digging up the dynamism and intensity required for success in a Klopp system.

As per FBref, the 43-cap Italy gem ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals, the top 21% for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes and the top 11% for progressive carries per 90.

Mac Allister, comparatively, ranks among the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90, which illustrates an interconnection of skill sets, pushing the ball upfield and suffocating opposition with first-rate creativity and crisp passing play.

Whether Liverpool decide to bite the bullet and acquiesce to Inter's monetary demands remains to be seen, but unquestionably, Barella is a midfielder of every bit the calibre to take Anfield back to the peak of the mountain of aspiring European outfits.

Chelsea have rejected a £30m bid for highly-rated young centre-back Levi Colwill, according to fresh update from journalist Jacob Steinberg.

Has Colwill had a good season?

The 20-year-old was sent out on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, in order to gain some valuable experience, rather than struggle for playing time at Stamford Bridge and potentially grow stagnant.

Colwill enjoyed an impressive season with the Seagulls, admittedly not always managing to play ahead of Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster, but still starting a total of 13 matches in the Premier League, and making 20 appearances, in all competitions. He played his part in the south coast club being one of the most aesthetically-pleasing teams in the division, with his ball-playing ability highlighted by an eye-catching 88.6% pass completion rate.

The young Englishman will be back at Chelsea this summer, however, and there is set to be interest in his signature, with his current Blues deal expiring in the summer of 2025. In fact, it already looks as though that is the case, following a new claim that has emerged.

Is Colwill set to stay at Chelsea?

Taking to Twitter, The Guardian's Steinberg confirmed that a big-money bid for Colwill has been turned down by Chelsea:

"Chelsea reject £30m Brighton bid for Levi Colwill and have no plans to sell him."

It is vital that the Blues do all they can to retain Colwill's services beyond this summer, considering what a massive prospect he is for many years to come, having been hailed as "fantastic" by former Huddersfield Town teammate Lewis O'Brien. He has been compared to John Terry in the past, too, and been tipped to be a future England international, showing the ability he possesses.

With the likes of Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly both ageing at the back, Mauricio Pochettino could view Colwill as the future of his defence and the fact that he was never afraid to give youth a chance during his Tottenham days – he brought through the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli – means that the player could have a perfect manager to work alongside.

There is still the threat that the five-cap England Under-21 international wants to leave Chelsea, however, should he not be promised a regular squad role next season, so the likes of Pochettino and Todd Boehly have a big job on their hands persuading him to stay put.

Arsenal would be pulling off a surprising signing if they managed to land Chelsea ace Mason Mount this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

As per The Athletic, Arsenal are eyeing a move for Mount as one of three midfield targets this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his midfield in the off-season.

The report states that Manchester United and Liverpool are also keen on Mount, who is not the only midfielder being courted by Arsenal, with Manchester City ace Ilkay Gundogan and West Ham captain Declan Rice also being linked with a switch to the Emirates.

Incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino would prefer for Mount to sign an extension at Stamford Bridge, as per The Daily Mail, as his current terms worth £80,000 per week are set to run out in 2024.

Nevertheless, Mount's future remains uncertain at Chelsea and it is believed that the west London outfit have placed an £85 million price tag on his head to ward off interest in his services.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones would be surprised if Mount was to make the journey across London in the summer to join Arsenal.

Jones said: "I still would be amazed if this transfer actually came off and Mason Mount made that move across London to join a side that are rivals.

"I mean, it's obviously been a path that's been well worn in recent years, but usually they are players that Chelsea no longer believe are capable of playing at a certain level and Mason Mount is not that."

Would Mason Mount be a good signing for Arsenal?

Mount has endured a frustrating season all things considered, as Chelsea have fallen so far below expectations in the Premier League; however, the 24-year-old is a player with real ability and has even been labelled as "unbelievable" by Blues icon Joe Cole in the past.

In 2022/23, the England international has made 35 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club, registering three goals and six assists, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef also notes that Mount has manufactured plenty of chances for his teammates this term, successfully performing 83 shot-creating actions in total.

The Portsmouth-born midfielder has also competed around 1.3 key passes per match in the Premier League, according to WhoScored, demonstrating his vision and capacity to avoid playing it safe in offensive passages of play.

Moving forward, Arteta could add another dimension to his midfield by sanctioning a deal to bring Mount to north London in the off-season.