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According to La Republicca, Paulo Fonseca will look to sign Lorenzo Pellegrini if he is named the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Fonseca on verge of move to Spurs

As per The Guardian, Spurs are in advanced talks with Portuguese Fonseca to replace Jose Mourinho as their new boss.

Fonseca, who used to manage AS Roma, could therefore raid his former club for new players, with this latest report claiming Gianluca Mancini and Pellegrini will both be on his radar.

The Latest: Spurs eye Pellegrini

The report has suggested Fonseca could move for Pellegrini if he secures his ‘dream’ move to Spurs.

However, the outlet also believes the Italy international would be an ‘almost’ unattainable target – but there is a small chance Spurs could capture his services.

The Verdict: Top target

Pellegrini, who is the club captain at the Rome-based outfit, has grown into an important player for both club and country.

Last term, he made 47 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists (Transfermarkt).

Francesco Totti, the Roma club legend, even called the 24-year-old “phenomenal” (dbasia.news).

Pellegrini is valued at £36m (Transfermarkt), and given Roma’s apparent desire to keep him, he could cost an awful lot more. Gonzalo Villar and Mancini are also said to be targets for Fonseca, but the capture of Pellegrini would send a real statement.

It remains to be seen, firstly, whether Fonseca does indeed join Spurs and, if he does, whether he can convince the midfielder to move to north London.

In other news, Tottenham eye this Juventus ace.

Journalist Julian Laurens has been reacting to an Aston Villa transfer ‘reveal’ involving Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.

The Lowdown: Gerrard, Lange and Purslow in attendance

Steven Gerrard appears to be making a head start when it comes to summer signings, with midfield seemingly a key area he wants to bolster.

Geoffrey Kondogbia and Ibrahim Sangare have both been recently scouted, while Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips is also on their radar.

Kamara is the latest player Villa have now watched, with Gerrard, Johan Lange and Christian Purslow in attendance to look at the Marseille star in action against Nantes on Wednesday.

The Latest: Laurens reacts

Laurens took to Twitter to react to the update involving Villa and Kamara. He labelled the 22-year-old as a ‘fantastic player’ and appeared to be excited for Villa, should they land his services on a free transfer.

“RMC reveal that Steven Gerrard was at Marseille – Nantes at the Stade Velodrome tonight to watch Boubacar Kamara. He is out of contract in the summer. What a signing he would be for Aston Villa. Fantastic player.”

The Verdict: Would’ve left impressed…

Kamara is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt and can also turn out as a centre-back, so a free transfer could be an extremely shrewd move by Villa.

Kamara’s display would have left Gerrard, Lange and Purslow impressed in the 3-2 win for Marseille. As per SofaScore, Kamara was the third-best player on the pitch with a match rating of 7.8/10. Turning out in a three-man midfield, the Frenchman completed a whopping 105 of his 112 attempted passes, won six of his nine duels and even won a penalty.

Villa may now look to step up their interest following his display, with the club able to make contact over a pre-contract agreement right now due to his contract situation in France.

In other news: Source: Villa and Lange now working on another new deal for star Gerrard says has ‘got the lot’. 

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who made 280 Premier League appearances, has claimed that David Moyes will look to spend most of this summer’s transfer budget on a new striker.

West Ham decided to sell club-record signing, Sebastien Haller, to Ajax for £20.25 million in January but Moyes did not feel it was right to replace him in the winter transfer window.

This left Moyes with just Michail Antonio, who missed several weeks with a hamstring injury, as his only striker option, although he did return to the starting line up earlier this week against Burnley, netting an important brace in a 2-1 win.

Speaking on why Moyes will look to spend most of his money on a striker this summer and how they desperately need one, Lee exclusively told FFC:

“I think he’ll spend a lot of money on a centre forward because I think he has to as they have a well-balanced team, but they just need more players.

“They desperately need a centre forward and someone who can challenge Jesse Lingard, if they sign him permanently.”

The Hammers have been linked with a move for out of favour Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham but the Blues are wanting around £40 million for him.

It was reported in January that West ham launched a bid for the Sevilla striker, Youssef En-Nesyri, but the Spanish side rejected it straight away.

Aston Villa could still lose midfielder Douglas Luiz this transfer window ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline day with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly planning a bid for the Brazilian.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail, Villa’s Premier League rivals Tottenham are preparing a £32m bid for the 23-year-old with the north London club reportedly panicking ahead of the transfer window closing on Monday.

Antonio Conte’s side are still yet to make a signing having missed out on Wolves’ Adama Traore and Porto’s Luis Diaz, but are also looking to add Juventus attacker Dejan Kulusevski to their ranks as well as Luiz.

With 18 months left on his contract, the Aston Villa midfielder will have to make a decision as to whether or not his long-term future still lies in the West Midlands soon, however, Villa boss Steven Gerrard wants to ensure that he will have the services of one of his star players until the end of the season at least.

Villa must keep Luiz

Since the arrival of Gerrard, the Villans’ season has significantly turned around for the better. The Birmingham outfit are 11th in the Premier League and have at least one game in hand on numerous teams near them.

Qualifying for European football this term looks to be a tall task, however, it’s certainly not impossible. If the Englishman and co. are serious about a push to finish the season amongst the top-flight’s elite, then keeping Luiz will certainly be vital.

The Brazilian has made 17 league appearances this term and is an essential cog for Gerrard’s setup. The 41-year-old has often deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Luiz in the heart of midfield alongside John McGinn and the likes of Marvelous Nakamba or Jacob Ramsey.

Nakamba is set to stay on the sidelines until April and therefore the Villa boss cannot afford to lose a midfielder this transfer window, particularly to a Premier League rival. It’s safe to say that doing so would be something of a disaster, especially with the club yet to bid for Rodrigo Bentancur.

They’d ultimately have very few options in midfield, something that could have dire ramifications for their campaign.

Averaging 1.2 interceptions and 1.9 tackles as well as an 84% passing accuracy per game in the top-flight, Luiz’s physicality in midfield is a significant asset, with the 23-year-old often entrusted to be Villa’s engine.

With just over a day left of the window, it would certainly deal Aston Villa a hefty blow if the 23-year-old departed for north London, particularly mid-season with there still so much to play for at Villa Park.

Graham Roberts reckons that the time has come for Harry Winks to leave Tottenham.

Winks had been a regular in the starting XI since breaking into the first-team under Mauricio Pochettino midway through the 2016-2017 season.

He formed an impressive, yet unlikely midfield partnership with Moussa Sissoko to help Spurs reach the Champions League final two years ago, with Winks featuring 10 times in the competition.

However, the arrival of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put his future in serious doubt, with the midfielder starting nine Premier League games last term having fallen down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho.

Despite seeing a potential January loan exit blocked, Winks’ frustrations continued during the second half of the campaign, playing second-fiddle to the ever-present Dane.

Winks has featured heavily under Nuno Espirito Santo in pre-season, but the likes of Everton and Aston Villa have been mentioned as potential future destinations, which would suggest a summer exit is firmly on the cards.

Roberts exclusively told Football FanCast:

“He needs to get his game back into the running again. Personally, Harry is another one, he passes sideways and backwards.

“He’s a lovely lad, Tottenham through and through, but sometimes you must leave the club to make yourself better, and I think his time has come.”

Eddie Howe wants to ‘press the button’ on three transfer deals ‘at the earliest possible opportunity’ once he takes over at Celtic.

That’s according to Andrew Smith, a journalist at The Scotsman.

The lowdown

The report said that ‘it is hardly revelatory’ that Howe is expected to be appointed in the coming days. He is set to become the long-term successor to Neil Lennon, who resigned at the end of February.

Celtic finished a full 25 points off their arch-rivals Rangers in last season’s Premiership, their run of nine consecutive titles ended in spectacular fashion.

The combination of a new managerial appointment, the need to strike back from this desperately poor campaign and the potential departures of players like Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer, as well as the exit of long-serving captain Scott Brown, means that a ‘comprehensive squad overhaul’ may be in the offing at Parkhead.

The latest

Smith reported that Howe wants the ‘jigsaw pieces to fall quickly into place’ when he takes over.

As well as transfers, that includes the appointment of his backroom team and of a sporting director to ‘synergise’ the new operation.

Howe, whom the Daily Record also expect to take up his new role this week, is tipped to greenlight a flurry of moves straight off the bat once he takes the reins at Parkhead.

The verdict

Howe may already have been identifying targets for a number of weeks. After all, it was first reported back at the start of April that he had held constructive talks with the club.

It wouldn’t be a surprise, then, if it was simply a matter of ‘pressing the button’ when he’s officially in his post.

For Celtic fans, multiple early signings would constitute an encouraging statement of intent and symbolise the beginning of a new era.

In other news, a third source has weighed in on the reported Eddie Howe timeline. 

Recent reports from Portugual have suggested that Porto are yet to make a concrete bid for Alfredo Morelos, which could be a big boost for Steven Gerrard’s hopes of keeping him at Ibrox this summer.

What’s the word?

According to reports from Record (via Sport Witness), the Liga NOS side have not made a bid for the Colombia international and aren’t even in negotiations with Morelos or Rangers, with previous reports of a €12m bid rubbished in this latest article.

If true, this is undoubtedly good news for Gerrard, who will be desperate to keep Rangers’ record European goalscorer at Ibrox this summer as he oversees the Gers’ return to the Champions League.

The 41-year-old manager was full of praise for his striker when he broke Ally McCoist’s goalscoring record, saying:

“It’s fantastic for him from a personal point of view. Alfredo’s a top-class player, a top-class goalscorer, and it’s fantastic that he’s still here.”

Will Morelos leave?

Morelos had been linked with a move to Porto in recent months as his impressive performances in Scotland continue to attract the interest of clubs abroad.

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Last season saw the 25-year-old striker contribute 17 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for the Gers, which emphasises that he is much more than just a goalscorer in Gerrard’s side and that he is key to the attacking threat that they possess.

Although Rangers can now boast a league title and the chance of playing in the Champions League next season, Porto are guaranteed a spot in the group stages of Europe’s elite competition and will also undoubtedly be challenging for the title in Portugal, so it may have been difficult for Morelos to turn them down.

However, if this latest report is true and Porto are yet to submit a bid, then perhaps their interest in the striker isn’t genuine and he will remain at Ibrox this summer, and with the Champions League qualifiers on the horizon, Rangers may well be able to convince him to stay with their own offer of a spot in the group stages should they progress.

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Gerrard will certainly be relieved with the news that Porto are yet to make an offer, as it would significantly increase Rangers’ chances of retaining the title next season if Morelos were to stay at Ibrox.

And, in other news… Huge Ibrox update emerges that’ll delight Rangers fans

A development has emerged regarding Newcastle’s pursuit of Villarreal manager Unai Emery.

What’s the talk?

According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, the Magpies are attempting to bring in the Spaniard ahead of the clash with Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, claiming that there is a feeling the 49-year-old has unfinished business in England.

He wrote: “Unai Emery is under serious consideration for the Newcastle United vacancy. There is a feeling the 49-year-old has unfinished business in the Premier League since being sacked by Arsenal in 2019. Newcastle hoping to have a new boss in place by Brighton match on Saturday #NUFC”

Fans will be delighted

Newcastle fans will surely be delighted with this news as it appears as though the club are finally closing in on a replacement for Steve Bruce. Graeme Jones has been the caretaker manager for two Premier League games and it has left the team in limbo as they await their new head coach.

Bringing in Emery will put an end to the constant speculation regarding the vacant position and will allow fans to start concentrating on what is happening on the pitch rather than worrying about who is in the dugout. It may also provide some clarity off the field, which could lead to more cohesive performances on it as the manager imparts his wisdom on the players and organises them in the way that he wants.

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Appointing him ahead of the Brighton match could also add to the supporters’ delight as it means that they will not have to endure the two-week international break before seeing a fresh head coach in the dugout. It puts the building blocks in place ahead of the January transfer window, with the club now able to identify targets with the help of Emery.

Fans will also be delighted as he is a coach with an excellent pedigree. He finished fifth and led Arsenal to the Europa League final in his first season in England, before being sacked after 13 league matches of the following campaign. Emery has won the Europa League four times in his career, three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, and Newcastle supporters could love to see a trophy-winning coach arrive at St. James’ Park, where major silverware has been conspicuous by its absence since 1969.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Wilson: PIF could form dream NUFC partnership with £100k-p/w “fighter”…

Crystal Palace have made an inquiry over Schalke defender Ozan Kabak after he impressed during a loan spell at Liverpool last season.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, Palace has asked about the 21-year-old’s availability ahead of a potential move, with an £8.5m price tag plus add ons mooted.

The report also states that Kabak has drawn inquiries from Sevilla and several Bundesliga clubs, while fellow Premier League side Leicester City have been heavily-linked with the 6 ft 1 centre-back.

Imagine him and Guehi

After an injury crisis saw all three of Liverpool’s senior central defenders pick up season-ending issues before Christmas last term, Jurgen Klopp turned to Kabak.

The youngster struggled to get to grips with the physical demands of the Premier League in his first couple of outings, but he soon adapted and played a pivotal part as the Anfield outfit recovered from a run of dreadful form to finish third in the top-flight standings.

However, Liverpool passed up on the opportunity to make his stay on Merseyside permanent for £18m, choosing to bring in Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig instead.

Now though, with Schalke suffering relegation from the Bundesliga, the German outfit are desperate to generate funds and get one of their highest earners off the wage bill, meaning Kabak is available for a discount price.

It’s a transfer that Palace chairman Steve Parish can’t afford to miss out on, and he must swoop for the defender labelled a “big prospect” by Klopp last season.

The south London outfit are currently undergoing a major rebuild of the first-team squad, with new manager Patrick Vieira already bringing in several new signings.

Following the departures of ageing trio Mamadou Sakho, Gary Cahill and Scott Dann, Vieira has secured the signature of former Chelsea ace Marc Guehi.

The 21-year-old powerhouse impressed during a loan spell at Championship outfit Swansea City throughout 2020/21, and the youthful partnership of Guehi and Kabak is one that could flourish and excite the Selhurst Park faithful for many years to come.

And, in other news…Parish must complete CPFC swoop for “special” £20m gem who can “eliminate players” 

Leeds United have been handed a blow in their chase to sign Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side were unable sign the 22-year-old in the summer, with The Athletic’s Phil Hay reporting that the Whites simply did not want to pay the money that the Terriers were demanding – reported to be a fee in the region of around £8m.

And now, according to The Yorkshire Live, O’Brien is in talks with the Terriers over extending his contract at the club, amid speculation over that move to Elland Road in the summer.

The report added: “O’Brien signed his current deal in summer 2019 just before his emergence into the first team, and that deal is set to expire next summer – albeit the club hold the option to extend it by another year.

“Both parties would now like to ensure O’Brien’s deal is reflective of his value to Carlos Corberan’s side, which in turn would help protect his valuation in the transfer market should Leeds or any other club return with a renewed bid in future.”

Bielsa will be fuming

While Leeds managed to bring in a new first-team left-back in Junior Firpo, and a winger to challenge the likes of Jack Harrison and Raphinha in Dan James, one area of real concern on which they failed to deliver was a new central midfielder.

The decision to not match Huddersfield’s demands for O’Brien shines an even bigger light on the limited options Bielsa currently has, and the Leeds manager will be hoping and praying that the likes of Kalvin Phillips can stay injury-free.

This latest news that O’Brien is in talks over a new contract, in order to protect his value, is likely to ensure that the Terriers can demand a similar sort of fee that they were looking for in the summer, or even something much higher should they give him a much longer-term deal.

Bielsa has already shown that he is someone who will only sign players who fit his principles, and is quite willing to simply avoid players who he doesn’t fancy – Hay even recently suggested that while Victor Orta recommended Noa Lang, Bielsa wanted James, while the Leeds boss has also been understood to have turned down moves for the likes of Glenn Murray and Billy Sharp back in the Championship even when they needed a striker.

The fact that they were very interested in O’Brien means Bielsa is very keen on him, and thinks he would be a good fit at Elland Road. But, given the Whites opted against paying the fee needed to sign him in the summer, this latest update of a new contract is just another body blow and even bigger setback to their chances of signing him.

Bielsa will be fuming if O’Brien doesn’t end up at Leeds now.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign an ideal Kalvin Phillips alternative in this star…