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Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga is in talks over a potential move to newly-promoted Premier League side Bournemouth, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Multiple roadblocks

Antonio Conte has recently completed the loan signing of Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet and is still believed to be interested in a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres, which creates a huge problem when it comes to the future of the 23-year-old Spurs academy graduate.

After sustaining a serious knee injury in February, the centre-back’s season was ended prematurely, compounding the considerable lack of game-time that he experienced beforehand. He only made 11 league appearances for the Lilywhites last term and 19 in total, which may suggest that a move away from N17 could be on the cards.

The Latest: Tanganga in talks with Bournemouth

The Athletic claimed on Friday that Tottenham are ‘in talks’ with Bournemouth to discuss a deal for Tanganga.

The report stated that sources have confirmed that ‘both a loan move and permanent transfer’ are being considered by the two clubs, but it’s understood that there is also ‘interest’ in the £10.8m-rated gem from Italy, with AC Milan and Napoli ‘monitoring’ the situation.

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The Verdict: Time to move on

It’s unfortunate that Tanganga has been on the sidelines for such a long period of time, with Conte creating and typically sticking with a back three of Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Ben Davies in his absence, and it seems like an impossible task for the 23-year-old to force his way back into the manager’s thoughts.

The 6 foot powerhouse, who was once dubbed ‘solid as a rock’ at the back by sports journalist Josh Bunting, only made six outings in the top flight under the current Spurs boss prior to his injury. If he stays, the likelihood is that he would only be pushed further down the pecking order as a result of Lenglet’s arrival in north London.

The best option for Tanganga would be to complete a move away to get some regular football under his belt, whilst Spurs would be able to cash in and financially reap the benefits which could be used to generate future transfer funds.

Rangers centre-back Calvin Bassey is set to leave the club for a record-breaking fee this summer, with Brighton and Ajax tussling for his signature.

The Lowdown: Bassey on the move

The Nigerian has been a dominant figure for the Gers since joining from Leicester City back in 2020, proving his mettle on the big stage by making 14 appearances in last season’s Europa League and performing heroically in the final defeat to Frankfurt.

Bassey’s influential showings in Europe have caught the eye of a number of clubs though, and a summer departure from Ibrox now looks almost guaranteed to be on the cards.

A new update suggests that the 22-year-old’s exit could be record-breaking, in what could be a big boost for the Gers.

The Latest: Key update emerges

According to a late-night update from the reliable Sam Wallace of The Telegraph, Rangers will earn a club-record amount for Bassey’s services once he moves on.

Nathan Patterson currently holds that title after joining Everton for £12.6million earlier this year, but that figure looks set to be easily eclipsed and even potentially doubled.

It is claimed that Brighton and Ajax are locking horns over a move for the central defender, who has been hailed as ‘astonishing’ by Owen Hargreaves in the recent past.

The Verdict: Spend it wisely…

Losing Bassey is clearly a big blow for anyone of a Rangers persuasion but there is an element of inevitability about it, given his potential as a player, and adding £20m or more to the coffers would be some silver lining.

The key now is that Giovanni van Bronckhorst spends the big sum of money wisely on new signings, bringing in a similarly formidable centre-back and also improving in other areas.

Sometimes, losing a star man and replacing them with three or four excellent signings can end up being more beneficial – Rangers must make sure that is the case, as they look to wrestle back their Scottish Premiership title from Celtic.

Crystal Palace are happy to keep hold of club captain Luka Milivojevic this summer despite interest being shown from other clubs, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

What’s the latest?

Nixon’s update (via Inside Futbol) claims that the Eagles are happy to keep hold of the Serbian midfielder despite interest from elsewhere.

A previous report from Inside Futbol claimed that the player was prepared to leave the club after falling out of favour at Selhurst Park and seeing his game time limited.

A number of clubs have shown interest in the Serbian including recently promoted Fulham, but the Eagles are happy for him to stay and be part of the squad next season.

The club may want to avoid selling him to a potential rival, but if he’s not guaranteed enough game time he could eventually force a move.

Supporters will be fuming

It’s clear that Palace supporters’ relationship with Milivojevic has soured recently due to frustrations over some of his performances which have been below standards expected.

As a result a lot of fans probably would have been hoping that he would be offloaded this summer, but it’s looking increasingly likely that he’ll be around for longer.

When you look at his statistics for last season you can see why they’re not happy. He ranked in the bottom 10% for interceptions when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League and the bottom 6% for players dribbled past.

This proves that he doesn’t carry the ball far and struggles when it comes to reading opposition passes. It may seem simple to move him on, but it’s a bold statement to sell your captain and that might be contributing to Patrick Vieira’s reasoning.

The 31-year-old also scored a crucial own goal in a game against Burnley at home back in February, which earnt the Clarets a point at Selhurst Park and further added to Milivojevic’s woes.

Supporters’ discontent towards him was made even more obvious at the end-of-season awards where he was remarkably booed. He may deserve more respect than that, but it seems like it’s best for all if he departs the club as soon as possible.

If Palace make any more signings in the middle of the park then they may be more willing to let Milivojevic leave, and with his contract running out next summer they might as well cash in now.

IN other news: “I’m hearing..”: Sky Sports journo drops exciting CPFC claim that supporters will love…

Paul O’Keefe has dropped an update on a new Tottenham Hotspur summer transfer target.

What’s the word?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Spurs insider revealed that, following the confirmed arrivals of goalkeeper Fraser Forster, centre-back Clement Lenglet, left wing-back Ivan Perisic, central midfielder Yves Bissouma, centre-forward Richarlison and the imminent signing of right wing-back Djed Spence, Fabio Paratici is now targeting the addition of a new attacking midfielder.

Regarding the Italian sporting director’s next target in the transfer market, O’Keefe said: “Definitely want an AM but I think they have a few irons in fires tbh.”

Conte will be buzzing

Considering just how many impressive additions both Paratici and Daniel Levy have managed to bring into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium already this summer, O’Keefe’s claim that the Spurs transfer team are not done with their transfer business just yet is sure to have left both Antonio Conte and supporters of the club buzzing.

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And, while it is true that the 52-year-old manager already has the options of Bissouma, Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle of the park – as well as the transfer listed Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso – it is clear that the Italian coach is lacking in a more forward-thinking option in the heart of his Spurs side.

As such, it is no surprise to see that Tottenham have recently been linked with a move for Leicester City’s James Maddison, the 25-year-old England international who scored an extremely impressive 18 goals and registered 12 assists over 52 appearances in the Premier League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season.

However, with O’Keefe going on to suggest that Paratici has a “few irons in fires” for the position, it would certainly not be surprising if the Italian were to end up bringing someone other than Maddison to north London this summer.

Indeed, the sporting director has something of a habit of pursuing several targets for the same position simultaneously, but, whomever Tottenham’s potential seventh signing of the summer window turns out to be, they are sure to be a very welcome addition to Conte’s squad ahead of a packed 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news: “Now likely…”: Kilpatrick reveals Spurs transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Liverpool are preparing to face their Premier League title rivals a little earlier than usual, as the Reds lock horns with Manchester City in the Community Shield this weekend, and a team news update has emerged which has put a dampener on the occasion from a Kopite perspective.

What’s the latest?

As per Sky Sports News, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker will not be available for selection on Saturday.

In a clip shared via Twitter, their presenter confirmed: “Breaking news from Liverpool, and it’s bad news ahead of the Community Shield which is this weekend because Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the goalkeeper Alisson will miss the game, but he will be available for the Premier League opener.”

“Diogo Jota, by the way, he is still missing as well.”

 Supporters will be gutted

Despite the Community Shield being treated more like a friendly than a competitive game, there is no doubt that Liverpool supporters will be gutted that they won’t see some of their stars in action and getting a good runout before the Premier League returns the following weekend.

With Alisson out of the squad, the usual next in line to play in goals is Caohimin Kelleher. However, the Irishman is injured, and according to the club’s official website, Kostas Tsmikas, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calvin Ramsay also remain on the injury table with no confirmation on their returns as of yet.

With the two first-choice ‘keepers out of the team, it will now mean that third-choice Adrian will be entrusted with protecting Liverpool’s goal this weekend, something the Spaniard should be more than capable of doing, with 25 appearances for Klopp’s side in total.

There is no doubt that Jota, who scored 21 goals last season, will be a big miss in the team against Man City, but it would present the perfect opportunity for Darwin Nunez to get a feel of playing against his new club’s biggest competitors for domestic success during the upcoming campaign.

Liverpool have a number of new signings on board and the Community Shield will be a great opportunity to give Klopp a good look at where his squad is at when they come up against the current Premier League champions, to whom the Reds lost out on the title by just one point at the end of last season.

Of course it will be disappointing that there are so many injuries already accumulated ahead of the new season, but it gives those players a further rest to get back to fitness as soon as possible and hopefully in time for the Premier League’s return next weekend.

Nonetheless, Kopites may be gutted to hear of the body blows to Alisson and Jota in particular.

AND in other news: Klopp can land his ideal Firmino replacement with £34m bid for “high-level” star

Aston Villa have already wrapped up five major signings so far this summer, although the indication is that sporting director Johan Lange is not done just yet, with the addition of a striker and a midfielder still on the agenda.

In the case of the latter position, the Midlands club have already brought in Boubacar Kamara from Marseille on a free transfer, although a further midfield recruit is still in the offing. They notably missed out on both Kalvin Phillips and Yves Bissouma, who have joined Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

All is not lost, though, with another target having been identified who can potentially fill the void – recent reports suggest that PSV Eindhoven star Ibrahim Sangare is of interest to the powerbrokers at Villa Park.

The 24-year-old – who has been dubbed “very complete” by former Toulouse boss Alain Casanova – has sparkled for the Eredivisie outfit in recent times, notably catching the eye in his team’s Europa Conference League clash against Leicester City last season.

That encounter – which manager Steven Gerrard is believed to have attended on a scouting mission – saw former Ajax and PSV manager Aad de Mos claim that the 17-cap titan is “better on one leg” than the entire Foxes midfield.

Rumoured to cost in the region of ‘just’ €35m (£30m), the 6 foot 3 ace could well prove an astute capture for the Villans this summer, with the Premier League side arguably in need of an imposing presence in the middle of the park.

Sangare would certainly offer that, as he notably averaged 3.3 tackles, 2.6 interceptions and one clearance per game from his 29 league appearances last term, winning a remarkable 74% of his aerial duels and a solid 63% of his total duels.

Clearly a commanding midfield figure, there is a clear likeness to that of compatriot Yaya Toure, with African journalist Alpha Balde previously comparing the PSV man to the now-retired colossus.

That assessment will have piqued the interest of those back at Villa Park, with Gerrard likely set to be enthralled at the idea of having a Toure-like figure in his midfield this season, having seen first-hand the damage that the 39-year-old could inflict in his pomp.

At 6 foot 2, the former Manchester City man was also something of a midfield powerhouse, combining brute strength and power with an innate elegance which earmarked him as one of the most imperious players in his position in English football for a time.

Having first gained wider attention as a defensive-minded asset at Barcelona, the 97-cap machine blossomed into a more creative, dangerous threat during his eight-year stint at the Etihad Stadium. He developed club legend status after chipping in with 63 goals and 32 assists in 230 league games for City, including a remarkable haul of 20 top-flight goals and nine assists during the title-winning 2013/14 campaign.

Unlike the three-time Premier League title winner, Sangare may not have made such an impact in the final third in his career thus far, with just seven club goals to date. However, if he is unleashed under Gerrard, he could well develop into an impressive attacking force.

Even if that element of his game may not quite be at its strongest, the £27k-per-week gem still offers that Toure-esque dominance in midfield, with few opposition players likely to relish coming up against such an elite, physical specimen.

Toure had looked to be something of a unique player when at his best, hence the undoubted excitement that Villa could land his potential heir.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez…

Newcastle United got their season underway with victory over newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on Saturday, although despite that positive start there appears work still to be done in the transfer market, with attacking additions a particular priority.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has recently suggested that the Magpies will make two further signings this summer – having already wrapped up three major deals – with a centre-forward and a winger said to be on the cards.

One man who could well fill one of those roles is Atalanta striker, Luis Muriel, with reports in Italy suggesting that talks have been planned regarding a move for the 31-year-old, albeit with the northeast side set to face competition from Serie A giants, Juventus.

Having previously been linked with a move for the Colombian’s current teammate Duvan Zapata back in January, the Tynesiders now appear to have set their sights on another of Bergamo’s finest, with the former Sevilla man potentially set to cost in the region of just €15m (£12.6m), with just a year remaining on his current deal.

That would represent something of a bargain for a player who has been in sparkling form in Italy in recent times, with the “prolific” gem, as dubbed by Nico Cantor, having netted 55 goals and provided 22 assists in 128 games for his current side.

That haul includes a tally of nine goals and eight assists in 27 league games from the 2021/22 campaign for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, with the £55k-per-week marksman also further showcasing his creative flair by averaging 2.2 key passes per game – a record far better than that of Newcastle’s current forward options, Callum Wilson (0.6) and Chris Wood (0.6).

A dangerous attacking threat as both a provider and a goal-getter, the 5 foot 10 sensation would clearly offer a real quality addition to Eddie Howe’s squad, while supporters may well be hoping he can emulate the impact of compatriot and former St James’ Park hero, Faustino Asprilla, who also traded life in Italy for the Premier League back in 1996.

Dubbed ‘the octopus’ by his teammates due to his unpredictability with the ball at his feet, the now-retired gem made an instant impact in English football, registering a fine assist off the bench on debut against Middlesbrough, despite having only landed in the country that same day.

That would set the tone for what would be a brief, yet explosive stint on Tyneside for the larger-than-life figure, with the dynamic forward quickly cementing his status as something of a cult hero among the club’s support.

The 58-cap gem’s finest moment undoubtedly came in the Champions League back in September 1997, with the electric hotshot netting a blistering hat-trick to condemn the great Barcelona to a 3-2 defeat and further rubberstamp his legendary status in the process.

While he would only net nine goals in 48 Premier League games for the club before returning to Italy after just under two years with the Magpies, Asprilla remains a figure etched into club folklore, with few having endeared themselves quite so quickly to the Newcastle support.

The hope will be that Muriel can hit the ground running just as quickly as his fellow Colombian did over 25 years ago, with Howe and co no doubt in need of an added spark in their forward line.

Newcastle United have made three signings so far this summer, and a reliable source has made a big transfer claim on the club’s plans for the final few weeks of the transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies will move in on “two or three” more targets this summer.

The Italian told GIVEMESPORT: “I can see Newcastle moving on two or three targets. It depends also in this case on the outgoings, but they will be in for a striker and a creative midfielder.”

Big boost for Howe

This claim from Romano is a big boost for Eddie Howe and the St James’ Park faithful as they set out in their efforts to climb the Premier League table for a top ten finish this season, as adding players to continue strengthening the squad should only the Newcastle manager in an even greater position to achieve that target.

Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Matt Targett have already signed permanently this summer, but as the transfer insider stated, Howe is still keen to add another attacking player and a centre-forward before the window slams shut on September 1st, and Newcastle are not short of speculated targets.

The Magpies have been linked with a number of attacking players including James Maddison, Timo Werner and Anthony Gordon to name a few, but so far the club haven’t been able advance upon their interest on those named, with two bids rejected for the Leicester playmaker already.

Howe has spoken out on the club’s current transfer plans for incomings in his pre-match press conference ahead of their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest (via Chronicle Live), saying: “Nothing has progressed any further, the situation has remained the same since we signed our last signing.

“We’re working hard to try and add to the group, we’re active in the market and we’ll wait and see if we can add players before the window shuts.”

In the second half of last season, Newcastle were a formidable force, putting in impressive performances as they gained 38 points from 23 matches between November, when the manager joined the club, and April.

With that being said, Howe will be hoping that by the time the transfer window shuts, the club will have done enough to ensure that he can continue to churn out three-point performances going into the new season to secure a respectable finishing position in the Premier League.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Yeremy Pino throughout the transfer window so far, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to popular Spanish news outlet Marca (via Paisley Gates), Liverpool are competing with Arsenal to secure the signature of the Villarreal winger this summer.

As per the report, both Liverpool and Arsenal remain interested in the young player who has a transfer valuation of €50m (£42m) and would be a club-record transfer for the La Liga side should a deal materialise over the coming weeks remaining before the transfer window shuts.

Divock Origi repeat

This summer Liverpool have been ruthless with outgoings in their forward line as Sadio Mane, Taki Minamino and Divock Origi have all made an exit from Anfield over the last few months, as a result, there may be an opportunity to strengthen the depth in the attacking prowess of the team.

If Villarreal’s rising star who predominantly plays on the right wing did make a move to Merseyside it would be unlikely that he would get a starting role in the team as his position already boasts one of the biggest attacking talents in the world, with Mohamed Salah occupying the right flank in the Liverpool team.

The 158-goal Egyptian winger recently signed a new contract to extend his stay at the club until 2025, so Pino could take up a more of an Origi-style role in the forward line as the player has experience across the forward line, not just out on the right.

Origi was just 19 years old when he joined the Merseysiders and ultimately became a cult hero for the supporters after delivering fantastic performances coming off the bench with his most infamous appearances coming in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2019.

The Belgian goal machine converted one of the most iconic Liverpool set-pieces in the club’s history from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner to send them into the Champions League final where they beat Tottenham Hotspur to collect their sixth trophy in the prestigious competition.

Indeed, Pino is no stranger to iconic performances himself in European tournaments with the talent, who like Origi could also be 19-year-old when he joins the Reds, becoming the youngest ever player to win the Europa League when Villarreal took the trophy in 2021.

He has also been the recipient of high praise from his manager following his development at the club.

Unai Emery hailed the playmaker “competitive” after his performance against Espanyol last season when Pino scored four goals in just 53 minutes to become the youngest ever individual to score a first-half hat-trick in La Liga history, highlighting his already iconic status in Spain.

“Yeremy is a 19-year-old boy who has a lot of maturity for certain things. He is competitive, brave and always wants more.”

Also hailed as “special” by Fabrizio Romano, it’s clear this talented prodigy boasts all the tools to go far in the modern game.

With that being said, the signing of Pino could be a great piece of business for Liverpool, especially when looking at the future of the team beyond the current squad. For now, he could step into the shoes of Origi by delivering the super sub performances the team has thrived from.

Glasgow Rangers suffered an early-season blow in their quest for league title number 56, shipping a late equaliser which saw them drop two points this afternoon.

The 2-2 draw at Easter Road against Hibernian was the first time this season that the Ibrox side dropped points in the Premiership, and it’s a slip-up which could have been avoided.

A first half which lacked intensity, which in Rangers’ case could be fully understood given their midweek Champions League play-off exertions, witnessed just one shot on target, which was James Tavernier’s penalty to open the scoring.

The second half saw the match burst into life, with Martin Boyle netting Hibs’ equaliser before Tom Lawrence scored his third goal in three matches, prior to two incidents which changed the course of the match.

Firstly, John Lundstram was sent off following a lunge on Boyle as he attempted to launch a counterattack. Less than ten minutes later, Alfredo Morelos was dismissed as he swung an arm wildly into Marijan Cabraja.

While both decisions may have appeared slightly contentious, it swung the match in Hibs’ favour as they scored a late goal to snatch a point through Josh Campbell’s half-volley.

Matondo was poor against Hibs

There were a few lacklustre performers for the Ibrox side, with Matondo a shadow of his true self out on the right wing.

The 21-year-old was expected to use his pace to cause problems out wide, as he did wonderfully against St Johnstone last week, but he clearly wasn’t at the races today. Indeed, The Athletic’s Rangers correspondent Jordan Campbell said that the Wales international was “off it” during his 68-minute spell on the pitch at Easter Road.

Matondo received a rating of 6.5 from SofaScore while only having 21 touches during the match, 20 fewer than Gers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.

The Welshman only delivered one successful cross, completed zero dribbles, lost possession nine times, and made just eight passes, a poor return for a winger who was brought to the club to use his creativity in matches like this to give the Light Blues an added spark.

He is still young and will have poor performances now and again, but at a club like Rangers, players are held to very high standards.

The Gers face PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League play-off second leg next Wednesday, and if Matondo is selected for that game, he will need to deliver a better performance than what he showed this afternoon.