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Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has now backed some big transfer news out of Tottenham Hotspur involving playmaker and former hero Christian Eriksen.

The Lowdown: Conte in the mix…

In recent weeks, a major Spurs update has come to light as the Lilywhites and manager Antonio Conte eye a ‘stunning’ return for Eriksen nearly two and a half years after his exit to Inter Milan.

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The Dane is currently enjoying a fairy-tale Premier League stint at Brentford after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch at Euro 2020 – with his brilliant form prompting interest from all over England.

90min claim that a host of clubs, including Tottenham, are interested in snapping up the 30-year-old on a Bosman when his Bees contract expires this summer.

The Times also say that transfer chief Fabio Paratici and the club are indeed weighing a move for Eriksen with Sky journalist Bridge now joining in.

The Latest: Bridge backs big Eriksen news…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the reporter now backs that Tottenham will indeed be in the mix, adding that Brentford boss Thomas Frank will find it very hard to keep the midfielder.

He explained: “Spurs will be keeping tabs on him, that’s for sure. I think Brentford will find it very hard to keep him. I know people might say, ‘Well, doesn’t he owe Brentford another year?’ But it doesn’t really work like that.”

The Verdict: Make a move?

Following his phenomenal return to action, an inspirational story in it’s own right, there is little denying Eriksen would inject real creativity into Conte’s midfield – especially on a free deal.

According to WhoScored, only sensational January signing Dejan Kulusevski (1.9) and star forward Son Heung-min (1.7) have averaged the same or more key passes per 90 than the ex-Spurs man (1.7) in the Premier League this season.

Paratici is reportedly eyeing up quality players on dwindling contracts to bolster Conte’s options this summer (The Daily Mail) and we believe Eriksen stands out as one of their most proven options in this bracket.

Conte, as per The Telegraph, also wants two new midfielders with his former Nerazzurri man coming as an extremely shrewd option.

In other news: Big name source: Tottenham in pole position to sign ‘unreal’ 6 ft 3 powerhouse for Conte! Find out more here.

Southampton picked up a valuable point as they drew 1-1 with Leicester City on Friday night despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men.

Jannik Vestergaard was sent off after just 10 minutes after catching Jamie Vardy following a loose touch, which may have left Southampton fans fearing a repeat of the 9-0 home defeat against the Foxes in 2019, when Ryan Bertrand also received an early red card.

However, Southampton rallied and still looked to go forward, taking the lead in the second half thanks to James Ward-Prowse’s penalty, although Jonny Evans levelled the match with a header. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side battled hard and were able to hold on for a valuable point, which will surely delight the Austrian manager.

Unfortunately, not all of his players contributed as much as he would’ve hoped, with Takumi Minamino particularly disappointing with his performance.

As per SofaScore, the on-loan Liverpool man earned a poor 6.4/10 rating for his display, which was the joint-worst of any player who started the game bar Vestergaard. The Japan international, who joined Liverpool for £7.25m, was on the pitch for 76 minutes but had just 26 touches of the ball and only completed seven of his 12 passes, resulting in a poor 58% accuracy rate.

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Not only was this the fewest passes from any player to feature for more than 30 minutes, it was also significantly fewer than the 23.7 passes per game he has averaged with Southampton in the Premier League this season, and much poorer than the 71.7% pass accuracy he has registered with the Saints.

Despite being involved so little, the 26-year-old – who reportedly earns £75,000 per week at Liverpool – still managed to lose possession eight times, whilst he was successful in just three of his 11 duels (SofaScore). Minamino was also unsuccessful with every single cross, long ball and dribble he attempted during the game, which emphasises just how poor he was at St Mary’s last night.

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Therefore, you could say that Hasenhuttl was justified in his decision to leave him out of the side so often in recent weeks, and after another poor display, it would perhaps be a surprise to see him feature again before the end of the season.

In other news… Hasenhuttl handed golden chance to axe “outstanding” dud, Gao will be delighted

Former Aston Villa midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that he would not swap Jack Grealish for Paul Pogba.

Speaking on the day of Manchester United’s postponed Premier League clash against Liverpool, Roy Keane claimed that he would swap Pogba for Grealish “tomorrow” if he had the opportunity to.

From a Villa perspective, though, Hendrie has made it clear that the above is not an idea that he would ever entertain.

Grealish had been in stunning form before his injury, picking up six goals and 10 assists in 22 Premier League appearances.

Responding to Keane’s comments on Grealish and £290,000-a-week man Pogba, Hendrie told FFC:

“Even if he was on £50,000-a-week, I wouldn’t choose to have Paul Pogba at Villa.

“He can be unplayable; there’s no doubt about that. [But] I think I’d rather have Grealish over Pogba at Villa, all day long. The two in comparison… Jack, certainly for me.”

If Grealish does decide he wants to try something new, then Manchester United’s rivals Manchester City look like a more likely destination right now.

Multiple reports, including from Football Insider, claim that this year’s Champions League finalists could look to make a serious push for the England international once the transfer window opens in the summer.

Everton may team Wayne Rooney up with an interim manager, according to The Mirror’s David Maddock. 

The lowdown

The 36-year-old is currently in charge at Derby County, who have been hit a combined 21-point deduction after entering administration and admitting breaches of accounting rules (via BBC Sport).

The Englishman began his playing career at Goodison Park, scoring 15 Premier League goals as a teenager before joining Manchester United in a £27m deal in 2004. He then returned to the Toffees for a single season in 2017 after his Old Trafford career came to an end.

The latest

According to The Mirror, Rooney is on Everton’s list of managerial options, but his limited experience is a concern given the Toffees’ predicament in terms of sitting just four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

They’ve been looking at potential interim candidates, ‘pursuing a similar idea to Manchester United’, who have given Ralf Rangnick the reins until the end of the season. There is a possibility that Rooney could work ‘alongside an interim with an appropriate CV’.

The verdict

Rooney has done a commendable job in hugely difficult circumstances at Derby, hauling them off the foot of the Championship table earlier this month. Without those points deductions, they’d actually be knocking on the door of the top half.

Everton’s hesitation is understandable – he has never managed in the Premier League before and they’re uncomfortably close to the relegation zone – but he has had to cope with mighty adversity at Pride Park.

With a more experienced hand to offer guidance at first, giving him the job might not be the worst idea, even if it would be a unique arrangement in the English top flight.

In other news, many Everton fans fumed over links to this manager

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce could sign a new Allan Saint-Maximin in Independiente starlet Alan Velasco.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider, the Mapgies are credited with interest in the 18-year-old, but it’s fellow Premier League side Brighton who are looking to steal a march in the race to sign him this summer.

The report claims that Graham Potter’s side are preparing a new offer for the versatile winger after having their £6m bid rejected.

Newcastle’s new Saint-Maximin

After watching Saint-Maximin turn into a real fans’ favourite at St James’ Park thanks to his incredible skills and flashiness, the Magpies could find a younger version of the Frenchman in Velasco.

As per The Monaco Tribune, in the 2019/20 season, “his 5.90 dribbles per game, 3.71 fouls suffered pg, 3.2 touches inside the box pg, 2.7 progressive runs pg, 1.77 accurate crosses pg and 1.52 shot assists pg highlight his class”.

Those stats are very much reminiscent of Saint-Maximin, especially the dribbles and fouls drawn per game – the Frenchman has made a mockery of many a Premier League defender, and gets scythed down for his troubles when they get beaten or let their frustrations get the better of them (as per WhoScored, he averaged 3.8 dribbles and was fouled 1.8 times per match in the Premier League last season).

Former manager Fernando Beron’s praise of Velasco shows just how alike the two are on the pitch. He said: “He is bold. In one on one he dribbles without problems and that marks his personality. If he grows, I have no doubt that the club has a diamond in the rough. He is a humble, educated kid. I see him with his head screwed on. He doesn’t show arrogance at all and always wants to learn.”

Argentinian journalist, Seba Ongarelli, who follows Independiente, said: “He is highly-rated in Argentina. He is nicknamed ‘La Joya’, which is the jewel because of his potential. Independiente is one of the biggest clubs in Argentina and he is wearing the number 10 shirt. He is so fast and skilled with the ball. He has already proved that he is a good player.”

Velasco himself has said: “In recent times, I have been learning to pass the ball more and to assist. Now, I want to work to improve my dead-ball execution. I can play in all three attacking positions: left, right or off a central striker. I am a fast player, and I always look to win my battles.”

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The £10.8m-rated gem seems like he has the world at his feet, just like Saint-Maximin appears to have the inner confidence to take people on at will and always looking to make things happen.

At just 18, he has all the time in the world to develop into a real superstar at St James’ Park if he comes to Tyneside.

Meanwhile, Steve Bruce could land Joe Willock’s dream midfield partner in this Premier League starlet…

Tottenham Hotspur could be closing in on their first signing of the summer, if emerging reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to Sky Italia’s live transfer centre (as relayed by Sport Witness), the Premier League outfit have ‘tightened their grip’ on Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.

It’s claimed that Spurs have submitted a bid of €15m (£12.8m) plus €3m (£2.5m) in add-ons and that has seen them leapfrog Serie A rivals Atalanta in the bid to secure his signature.

They also suggest that the North Londoners plan to finalise the move ‘in the next few days’ with both clubs only a few million apart in their valuations of the Japan international.

Defensive fix

Tomiyasu excelled for Bologna last season, earning a 6.77 average rating by WhoScored, which saw him rank as their third-best player. Interestingly, he did so by playing a multitude of positions and that’s what makes him a hugely attractive prospect for Spurs.

The 22-year-old gem is capable of operating in the heart of defence as well as at right-back and across both positions, he averaged 2.9 aerial battles won, 1.7 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and an 82.1% passing accuracy, as per WhoScored.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the £18m-rated dynamo could draw some similarities to Jan Vertonghen during his early career at Spurs as he was able to play on the left and through the middle.

The Bologna star is evidently an intelligent player who also has decent passing ability on top of impressive physical qualities.

It’s no wonder his current teammate at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Mitchell Dijks, dubbed him “very strong” and a “true Japanese warrior” at a press conference, via Tuttosport.

Spurs desperately need to find a fix at the back as it was their main downfall throughout the 2020/21 campaign. A combination of defensive mistakes and a serious lack of cohesion led to them having one of the worst defences in the top eight.

Their pairing of Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier was deemed “one of the worst partnerships in the Premier League” by former midfielder Jamie O’Hara, whilst right-back Serge Aurier has been dubbed “one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.

Evidently, it’s not just in the middle where Spurs have suffered.

Aurier has regularly been blasted as a calamity throughout his career in N17, whilst Matt Doherty’s form since joining from Wolves has been way below par – even to the extent of him being potentially sold if Jose Mourinho was still in charge.

Given that Tomiyasu can play anywhere along the defence, he could be the solution to two of Tottenham’s biggest defensive problems right now.

If Fabio Paratici wants to help Nuno Santo’s cause, then a move for the Japanese sensation could be a very smart decision this summer. For around £15m all in, that seems like an absolute bargain, considering his qualities.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Winks: Levy could land Spurs’ next Dembele in “extraordinary” £36m-rated beast…

Aston Villa have delighted many of their fans on Twitter after posting an image of club captain Jack Grealish and Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko engaging in a warm embrace following their respective countries’ encounter at Euro 2020 over the weekend.

Enjoying a fantastic 2020/21 campaign, the 25-year-old playmaker chipped in with a sensational 19 goal contributions from 26 fixtures, with seven goals and 12 assists for Villa [Transfermarkt].

Now embroiled in international tournament football with England, Grealish has made a marked impact, registering two vital assists in the Three Lions run to the semi-finals [uefa.com].

In spite of being an unused substitute in the 4-0 defeat of Ukraine on Saturday night [BBC], this didn’t stop Grealish from being thrust into the limelight following the circulation of the iconic picture with former Ballon D’Or winner Shevchenko.

In light of this image, which was accompanied by the caption “Real recognise real”, it’s little wonder that loads of Aston Villa fans took to Twitter to express their delight at the club’s post..

AVFC fans react:

Replying to the Villans’ official Twitter account, here is how some fans summarised their opinions on the embrace between Grealish and Shevchenko, which one supporter described as “class”:

“our captain”

Credit: @catrinedwards18″Whatever happens in this tournament Jack has more than proved he is world class, such a shame it doesn’t seem to be recognised as much by others. This guy is more than a super sub, he’s a game changer.”Credit: @bradfadbad69″A legend of the game and Shevchenko”Credit: @av_reece”This is such an incredible image, not just the picture, but the embrace. A sign of true respect from one of the true legends of the game. A great character, well done.”Credit: @Bhangra_Machine”Love this”Credit: @jasonstafforddj”Class is permanent.”Credit: @byr79438501In other news, Aston Villa are planning a £30m+ bid for this transfer target

Journalist Stuart Hodge has dropped a major claim on Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, regarding his future at Ibrox.

What’s the talk?

The Scottish reporter has claimed that the 2021/22 campaign could be the head coach’s last season in Glasgow as he attracts admirers from elsewhere unless the Gers fail to win the Scottish Premiership title.

Newcastle were recently touted with interest in Gerrard, but appear to have moved their attention towards Portuguese manager Paulo Fonseca.

Hodge told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think this will be his last season at Rangers.

“The only way I think it might not be is if they didn’t win the title. If that were the case, it could be a case of where he wants to win it back.”

Worries

These comments will surely frustrate Rangers fans as there appears to be a growing belief that this could be his final campaign at the club.

The speculation surrounding the Newcastle job and now this claim from Hodge plays into the narrative that Gerrard could take the next step in his managerial career within the next 12 months and that could be a horrible thought if you are of a Gers persuasion.

Gerrard is a key figure for the club and has achieved great success since his move to Ibrox in 2018. He ended Celtic’s domination of Scottish football by leading Rangers to the title last season and that, on its own, is surely enough to be deserving of immense admiration from the fanbase.

After years of the Hoops being the most successful side in the country, the Gers have been able to seize back control of Glasgow and the Liverpudlian has played a major role in that.

In 114 Premiership matches in charge of Rangers, the ex-Liverpool man has led his side to 82 wins and 267 points – averaging 2.33 points per game. They won the title last term and are currently sat top of the table on 23 points after winning seven of their opening ten matches.

This illustrates just how important Gerrard is to Rangers, with the retired England international re-installing a winning mentality at Ibrox and piecing together a side capable of winning trophies. His impressive management is exactly why supporters will be worried by the speculation over his future.

AND in other news, Possession lost 20x: Rangers lightweight with 75% duels lost let Gerrard down badly…

The appointment of Patrick Vieira as manager could be a game-changer for Crystal Palace when it comes to signings, says former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer.

After missing out on the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Lucien Favre, Steve Parish and the rest of the Palace board turned to Vieira and decided to make the Frenchman Roy Hodgson’s successor.

Since then, the south London club have gone on to sign the likes of Conor Gallagher, who snubbed Palmer’s old side Leeds United in the process, and Joachim Andersen. And Palmer believes more players will be lured to Selhurst Park by Vieira’s presence.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about the Arsenal legend’s recent appointment, he said:

“It’s a game changer in terms of attraction. Who wouldn’t want to play for a legend of the game, Patrick Vieira?

“He was a phenomenal football player, phenomenal football player, so he will have huge pulling power for his name.

“I think it’s a good signing for Crystal Palace and it could be a good fit for Patrick Vieira.”

On top of Gallagher and Andersen, Palace have also brought in Marc Guehi from Chelsea, who is arguably one of the most promising centre-backs in the country right now, so this is turning out to be a really good transfer window for the Eagles.

Japhet Tanganga’s strong start to the season was seemingly influential in the decision by Tottenham Hotspur to not sign Takehiro Tomiyasu. 

The Lowdown: Tanganga impresses as Royal signs

Spurs were linked with Tomiyasu during the transfer window as Nuno Espirito Santo sought to add quality to the right-back position.  

However, the Japan international – who was dubbed “amazing” by football commentator Ben Mabley, joined north London rivals Arsenal for £16m on the final day of the window as Emerson Royal was brought in instead for £25.73m from Barcelona. 

Tanganga started the opening three games of the season and was impressive in an unfamiliar right-back role as Spurs earned three straight 1-0 victories over Manchester City, Wolves and Watford to go top of the Premier League table, earning a solid 6.96 WhoScored average rating for his performances.

The Latest: Ability to excel 

In an article published by The Athletic (via The Spurs Web), Tanganga’s strong start to the season was a telling factor in the decision not to bring in Tomiyasu. 

Royal’s attacking qualities and prowess, alongside the Englishman’s ‘ability to excel in the defensive right-back role’, means that Spurs now have three solid choices at right-back with Matt Doherty still at the club. The report added that Nuno didn’t think the Ireland defender was effective enough at moving the ball’ when at Wolves. 

The signing of Royal may mean the end of Tanganga’s stint at right-back, but with his natural position being in the centre of defence, he could be considered to partner Davinson Sanchez in the coming months. 

The Verdict: Good call by Daniel Levy 

Once praised by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for his ‘very impressive’ Premier League debut, Tanganga has been one of Spurs’ best players in the first month of the season and it may have seemed unfair if he were suddenly dropped. However, the arrival of attacking wing-back Royal could mean that the 22-year-old gets to play more often in the centre of defence. 

At the moment, Spurs only have Sanchez, new signing Cristian Romero, Joe Rodon and Eric Dier as centre-back options to sit in front of Lloris.  

With his impressive performances in recent weeks, Tanganga will have impressed Nuno in the early days of his reign and has warranted the chance to continue playing. It seems that Spurs chief Daniel Levy was right to opt out of signing Tomiyasu given how well the English youngster has performed.

In other news, Spurs given potential boost over one summer target – find out more here.