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An exciting claim has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans for next year…

What’s the word?

According to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the north London outfit are already planning ahead to next summer in a bid to bolster Nuno Santo’s squad with a key addition.

Speaking on a recent episode of his ‘Here We Go’ podcast, the Italian journalist said:

“They are already looking at potential strikers for summer 2022.

“This summer they had the chance to sign a striker as a backup for Harry Kane, but they were not convinced by some [of the] players, so they decided to save their money and invest next summer on the right player.

“This is [Fabio] Paratici’s style and mentality.”

Exciting times ahead

This latest update should hardly come as a surprise, though it is one that should leave many around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium absolutely buzzing.

Spurs enjoyed a fairly successful transfer window, bringing in no fewer than five new names, three of which are expected to make their presence known sooner rather than later.

Defensive colossus Cristian Romero, the playmaking Bryan Gil and an upgrade on Serge Aurier in Emerson Royal is certainly fine business indeed.

However, the one thing they lacked was the addition of an extra forward – not just to provide valuable back-up to Kane but also to potentially partner him up top.

As per the Telegraph’s Matt Law back in July, Lilywhites boss Nuno Santo wanted to change their style of play to include a two-man attack, with Danny Ings a key target.

He went on to join Aston Villa in a £30m deal instead.

Spurs also reportedly agreed on a fee for Inter Milan talisman Lautaro Martinez but that fell through after Chelsea’s move for his strike partner Romelu Lukaku, whilst Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic and Wolves attacker Adama Traore were other names mooted throughout the window.

The fact that sporting director Fabio Paratici already knows that this is a problem is a positive thing as it means he is already planning to make amends in the coming windows.

That should leave both Nuno and the Lilywhites faithful teeming with excitement heading into 2022.

AND in other news, Spurs may forever rue big summer blunder over £18m-rated “machine”, Nuno must be livid…

Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer thinks Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles could push for a move to Everton in January if he struggles to find regular game time at the Emirates.

Everton were interested in signing Maitland-Niles on loan during the summer transfer window, a move he was seemingly keen on, but were unsuccessful in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.

Since his failed move to Goodison Park, Maitland-Niles has gone on to make one start in the Premier League for Arsenal, a 1-0 win against Norwich City, so he does look to be in Mikel Arteta’s thinking.

However, should that be an exception and not the norm, Palmer believes a transfer to Everton could be revisited.

“If he’s not playing regularly for Arsenal and he can’t get in the side, I would assume in January he’d want to go on loan or he’d want to leave permanently,” the ex-Leeds United player told FFC when asked if he could see Maitland-Niles joining Everton in the future.

“Like I’ve said, Saturdays and Wednesdays are for playing football, they’re not for sitting on the bench and not for sitting in the stand.”

Maitland-Niles is obviously a very versatile footballer – something his former manager Arsene Wenger raved about after he first burst onto the scene – so it is hardly a surprise that Arteta wanted to keep him at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this weekend and it’ll be no easy task as Nuno Santo looks to build on their victory last time out.

The north Londoners head to the northeast to face Newcastle United at St James’ Park, where there is expected to be an electric atmosphere as it’ll be the first game under their new ownership.

Spurs defeated Aston Villa to put an end to their run of three successive heavy league defeats but they will need to continue that form with a result away from home today.

Nuno has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks and that leaves him with a tricky dilemma in terms of team selection – he’ll have to get it spot against the Magpies.

For all of the positives against Villa, there were still some aspects that could be improved on, particularly in the final third. It was actually the first time the side had bagged more than one goal in the top-flight this season.

Despite that, Spurs still sit second-bottom for average number of shots per game (10.4) in the Premier League – even the three teams in the relegation zone have fired off more attempts, whilst they also rank third-bottom for expected goals (7.25 xG).

The Portuguese head coach opted for Tanguy Ndombele in the no.10 role right before the international break but it’s a decision that failed to pay off as the Frenchman, who was not selected by Didier Deschamps last week, barely had an influence in the attack.

As per SofaScore, he managed only 41 touches, which was the lowest of any outfield starter for Spurs, whilst he made 18 passes – for context, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made just three fewer.

One is meant to be the team’s playmaker.

Furthermore, Ndombele won just 50% of his midfield battles, proving to be ineffective and rather weak.

That has very much been the tale of the £36m-rated dynamo’s time in N17. A player, who on his day can be a world-beater, but those occasions are far and few between.

His performances when it really counts have been inconsistent, to say the least, but according to Joe Hart, the 24-year-old club-record signing is an exceptional talent.

During Spurs’ FA Cup clash with Wycombe Wanderers last season, the backup goalkeeper waxed lyrical about his former teammate to BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand.

“I said to Joe, how good is he? And he said ‘this kid is a world-beater, he can do anything.’ He just turned around during the game and said ‘this kid is unplayable’,” he claimed (via football.london).

Right now, however, it could be argued that the ex-Lyon star is holding Nuno’s side back as they cannot afford him coasting through some matches and then delivering in others.

It could be wise for the Portuguese to be ruthless and axe him at Newcastle this afternoon.

AND in other news, Nuno Santo hints at Spurs injury blow ahead of Newcastle clash…

Liam Kennedy has dropped some worrying insight from Newcastle United takeover sources.

The Lowdown: Delays

According to The Chronicle, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) claim over the stalled takeover deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group has now been delayed until September.

This follows the delay of the separate arbitration case filed by the St. James’ Park faithful against the Premier League over their decision-making process with regards to the failed bid, which is now not due to take place until early next year.

The Latest: Takeover insight

Writing in his latest piece for Newcastle World, Kennedy has shared that the proposed takeover in the North East by the KSA consortium is now ‘hanging by a thread’, according to sources.

It is thought that the recent legal delays have potentially further strained relationships, and the parties involved in the consortium are said to be shocked at the news that the arbitration hearing has been delayed until early 2022.

The Verdict: Worrying

It is certainly worrying to hear that the proposed takeover could well be on the cusp of collapse, especially given the constant delays that the consortium have had to face.

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They have had to be very patient with the top flight up until this point, and the cases should give a much clearer picture over the direction of where the deal is heading.

Still, one can understand if their patience is slowly dying out, and so the North East club need to make sure that there are no further delays to both cases and that they can be finalised swiftly.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now ‘on the lookout’ to sign here!

Alan Hutton has shared his concern with Newcastle United and their transfer business so far.

The Lowdown: No more signings?

As per Luke Edwards, it is ‘unlikely’ that the St. James’ Park faithful will make any more signings before the summer window ends, with Joe Willock being their only permanent addition from Arsenal so far.

The Daily Telegraph journalist explains that someone from the 25-man squad would have to drop out first of all, and they have spent their entire budget on bringing the central midfield player in.

However, he did not rule out the ‘possibility’ that somebody could yet come to the North East on a loan deal.

The Latest: Hutton concern

Speaking to Football Insider, former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has voiced his concern with the Tyneside club’s transfer business so far, but thinks that they will survive relegation down to the EFL Championship:

“I still think Newcastle have a decent squad.

“But they haven’t added to it and that is a big problem.

“You can never stand still. If you look at all the clubs who are out there spending money year on year, even during the pandemic.

“The worrying thing about it is the results. Two games, two defeats and conceding a lot of goals.

“You always have to be on the front foot and looking to the future.

“I love Steve Bruce to bits; he gets a hard time up there, but it won’t get any better for him if results don’t improve.

“Fans want to see signings and progression, but it just hasn’t happened.

“I think they’ll survive easily enough but to progress, they just need more in the transfer market.”

The Verdict: Worrying

As Hutton points out, it is certainly worrying for Steve Bruce’s team that they have not brought in more players to help out the squad, especially given the start that they have made to the 2021/22 season.

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They may not be as lucky to survive in this campaign if more additions are not brought in, and so the next few days are vital for them.

Nonetheless, time is running out, and more clubs will be reluctant to let players go so late on in the window with them looking to finalise their own squads ahead of the deadline.

In other news, find out which ‘talented’ ace could now leave NUFC here!

Derby County are interested in a deal to bring Kamil Grosicki to Pride Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that the Rams are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the former West Bromwich Albion winger, whose contract expired at The Hawthorns at the end of last season.

The report goes on to mention the fact that Derby have so far struggled to get much business done in the summer transfer window, largely down to the fact the club are operating under an EFL imposed transfer embargo, although Wayne Rooney is able to sign free agents on year-long deals and bring in loan signings on six-month contracts – albeit with a capped salary.

However, it is then claimed that the 35-year-old hopes to make Grosicki his fifth summer signing, following the arrivals of Richard Stearman, Ryan Allsop, Ravel Morrison and Curtis Davies last week.

Rooney would love him

With Rooney having recently missed out on the signing of Sone Aluko – who joined Ipswich Town on Friday, despite having been in training with Derby for the majority of the summer – and with the Rams squad currently being extremely short in the wide attacking positions, it is clear that Grosicki is a player the 35-year-old would love to have.

While the Poland international struggled for game time at West Brom last term, the 33-year-old proved he is an extremely capable player in the second division of English football during the Baggies’ promotion-winning campaign in the season prior, as well as in the first half of the season for Hull City.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship appearances for both sides in 2019/20, the £900k-rated man scored seven goals, provided eight assists and created 10 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.2 shots and making 1.6 key passes per game.

These returns saw the man Grant McCann dubbed an “outstanding” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.90, ranking him as Albion’s joint seventh-best performer in the league.

As such, if the £25k-per-week winger does indeed go on to sign for Derby this summer, and subsequently manages to refind his form from 2019/20 for Rooney’s side, he could well provide a huge boost to the Rams’ survival hopes this season – something that would delight both the Derby County manager and fans alike.

In other news: Lost possession 18x: £6.2k-p/w Derby dud was miles “off the pace” against Huddersfield

Patrick Bamford looks increasingly likely to snub interest from Tottenham Hotspur and sign a new long-term deal with Leeds United, as reported by The Mirror.

The Lowdown: Tottenham search for attacking impetus as Harry Kane uncertainty refuses to die down

With long-term speculation surrounding Harry Kane’s next move amid strong links with Manchester City, Nuno Espirito Santo will no doubt look to strengthen his forward line if he wasn’t contemplating the prospect already due to a lack of depth behind the talisman

The Lilywhites have been quoted with an interest in Dusan Vlahovic and Bamford in recent weeks.

However, the former seems set for Atletico Madrid and the latter now looks very unlikely to rock up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

The Latest: Bamford set to snub Tottenham interest

Leeds United are said to be desperate to tie the 6 foot 1 Bamford down with a new contract at Elland Road in the near future [The Mirror].

The 27-year-old is believed to have signalled his happiness to stay put in Yorkshire, citing his nomadic career trajectory which has seen him play for nine different clubs so far.

This could well kill any notion of the frontman winding up at Spurs, with Leeds expectant that he will commit his future to the club, after giving him an opportunity to prove his quality in the English top-flight.

The Verdict: Expected

Despite Tottenham’s alleged attraction towards the former Chelsea star, there was always a strong likelihood that Bamford would elect to stay at Elland Road.

Multiple factors come into this, not least his strong relationship with manager Marcelo Bielsa and his status as a key player within the side – if Kane stays, one would have to assume he would arrive in north London simply as a back-up option.

In 2020/21, Bamford was in sparkling form, registering 25 goal contributions in 38 appearances for Leeds; 17 goals and eight assists [Transfermarkt].

Furthermore, his appetite to constantly be involved in attacking play shone through, amassing an average of 2.8 shots per game across the piece [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘exceptional’ by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the chase now looks all but dead in the water for the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy, signalling that they may need to move on to other targets [METRO].

In other news, Tottenham are in advanced talks to sign a Serie A ace.

Celtic are prepared to pay Sheffield United a maximum of £5m for right-back George Baldock, according to The Star.

The Lowdown: Baldock links

Baldock, who was linked with a move to Celtic Park back in 2019, has been on the Hoops’ radar once again this summer.

The 28-year-old emerged as the Hoops’ priority target towards the end of July, with Ange Postecoglou watching footage of the Blades man after taking over at Parkhead.

He gave the green light over a potential move for the full-back, but as we know, any deal is yet to materialise.

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The Latest: Baldock update

The Star shared a story regarding Celtic and Baldock on Saturday morning.

They claimed that the Hoops are prepared to pay £5m for Baldock, who was identified as one of the club’s top targets following a Parkhead meeting with Postecoglou and Celtic officials.

Celtic believed qualifying for the Champions League could have tempted Baldock to move north, however, Postecoglou’s apparent criticism of the Hoops hierarchy when it comes to transfers could make them take a more aggressive approach when it comes to signing the defender.

The Verdict: £5m too much

Even though Celtic are willing to pay £5m for Baldock, that figure seems to be too much for a player who has less than 12 months remaining on his Bramall Lane contract.

Baldock is currently valued at £4.85m by Transfermarkt but has only command total transfer fees of £666,000 during his career.

Yes, the Hoops need a right-back with Anthony Ralston and Lee O’Connor as Postecoglou’s only options, but perhaps the club would be better off looking abroad, as they have done with Liel Abada, Carl Starfelt and Kyogo Furuhashi.

In other news: ‘Worst of the lot’ – Many Celtic fans slam ‘imposter’ who ‘needs sacked’. 

Manchester United are set to hand Sunderland a welcome boost in their rumoured loan pursuit of Ethan Galbraith, according to the Sunderland Echo.

What’s the story?

Sunderland were credited with interest in signing Galbraith earlier this summer, with the youngster looking to find regular minutes in senior football at the earliest of opportunities.

It remained to be seen as to whether the Premier League side were willing to loan him out though, or whether they saw his development best-served with them at this moment in time.

The Sunderland Echo have now recently revealed that the Red Devils are set to sanction his temporary departure from Old Trafford this summer, which is likely to heighten Sunderland’s interest in landing his signature, as they prepare for the upcoming 2021/22 league campaign.

He’s got a point to prove at senior level

Lee Johnson’s side finished fourth in the League One table last term, but their season ended in disappointment, as they were beaten by Lincoln City in their play-off semi-final.

A number of players have since departed the Stadium of Light since that defeat to Michael Appleton’s side, and Sunderland’s supporters will be hoping that their side can make a timely return to the second tier of English football.

Additional strength in depth is likely to be needed within Johnson’s first-team squad, and Galbraith would provide them with an additional option in the centre of midfield.

The Northern Irishman has only made one senior appearance for Manchester United, so it’ll come as no surprise to see the Red Devils looking at loaning him out in search of first-team opportunities this season.

We’ve already seen some Manchester United youngster flourishing out on loan, with the likes of James Garner catching the eye with Nottingham Forest last term, and Sunderland will be hoping that Galbraith can have a similar impact ahead of the League One campaign, which is set to get underway in under a month’s time.

But you’re not on the books with a club the stature that Manchester United have by chance, and you have to earn the right to represent the Red Devils, so that speaks volumes about the potential that Galbraith has, and that’ll excite the Sunderland supporters if he was to sign for the club.

There will be some that are likely to question his lack of experience in senior football as a potential concern, but Galbraith will be eager to make a name for himself in senior football, and a move to Sunderland could present him with the ideal opportunity to do just that moving forwards this year.

The Stadium of Light faithful should be buzzing if they’re to secure the services of Galbraith, as he could prove to be the missing piece in their promotion jigsaw this season.

West Ham have made a surprise enquiry for Adama Traore, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Football Insider claim that the Hammers are targeting the Wolves attacker as manager David Moyes looks to bolster his attacking options going into next season. And he sees him as the perfect foil for Michail Antonio.

It’s suggested that the Scotsman believes the Spain international is capable of spearheading his frontline, as well as operating in his natural role out on the wing.

Traore is not thought to be the club’s no.1 striker target but he does feature on Moyes’ shortlist, although the Midlands outfit are said to value him at a whopping £50m.

The next Antonio?

Interestingly, the 25-year-old seems to be a player that is available for a move this summer as the very same source claimed several months ago that they would listen to offers in a bid to cut costs.

It remains to be seen whether that is still true after a change in management and coaching staff but that shouldn’t deter West Ham from mounting a bid.

Traore endured an indifferent 2020/21 campaign as he struggled to hit the same heights from a season earlier – as per Transfermarkt, the explosive winger contributed to just six goals in all competitions.

However, he did so without Diogo Jota, who joined Liverpool last summer, and leading talisman Raul Jimenez, who suffered a cruel head injury that ended his season prematurely.

Next to the pair in 2019/20, Traore provided six goals and 12 assists in what appeared to finally be his breakthrough season in the top-flight.

It’s that sort of form that earned him plenty of plaudits.

For example, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp lauded him “unplayable” after one encounter with the Wolves animal, so perhaps it’s no surprise to see the Reds also keen on signing him this summer.

Whilst BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand described Traore as a “machine” ahead of an FA Cup tie against his former club, Manchester United.

“He’s a machine. I was watching him pre-game and he could be a powerlifter or a cruiser-weight boxer – he’s huge,” Ferdinand claimed, via Birmingham Live.

In Traore, Moyes could well discover his next Antonio, especially if the aforementioned report is true. Primarily a winger, the Spaniard could be converted into a full-time centre-forward, just like the 58-year-old has done with the Irons star.

Currently, the 31-year-old is the Scotsman’s only striker at the club, so perhaps he can repeat his stroke of genius with a move for the £26m-rated Wolves sensation.

AND in other news, Moyes could land Abraham alternative in West Ham swoop for “phenomenal” 31 G/A machine…