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    Tottenham on verge of completing £30.5m first summer transfer as club begin rebuild after horror end to season

    TOTTENHAM are set to make Dejan Kulusevski’s loan move permanent this summer.Reports from Italy this week had suggested the Swede, 23, would return to parent club Juventus when his 18-month loan is up at the end of this season.
    Spurs are set to sign Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent dealCredit: Getty
    Spurs are understood to be puzzled by such suggestions and fully intend to sign Kulusevski in the close season.
    The North Londoners would be obligated to buy the winger for the agreed price of £30.5million should they finish in the Champions League this term.
    With a top-four place looking unlikely, that obligation turns into an option for Spurs – but it is one they plan on taking up.
    Kulusevski was a sensation when first arriving at the club in the second half of last season, helping the team to fourth place.
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    He has struggled to hit the same heights this term and has been impacted by injury, yet Spurs still see him as a key player moving forward.
    Interim boss Ryan Mason dropped him to the bench for last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, favouring Richarlison.
    Yet speaking on Friday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa, the caretaker chief said: “I love Deki as a player.
    “I think he’s got so much room to grow and be a top, top player, even though he already is a top, top player. 
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    “At the same time when you play for a club like this I feel it’s important that you feel you have to earn the shirt in every moment.
    “Naturally when you play for a club like this there’s competition.” More

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    Tottenham lead Emi Martinez transfer race with ex-Arsenal keeper likely to leave Aston Villa

    TOTTENHAM are leading the way to sign Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez, reports in Argentina say. Martinez has become one of the star stoppers in the Premier League in recent seasons following his move from Arsenal to Villa.
    Spurs lead the way to sign Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez, reports in Argentina say.Credit: Getty
    And his stock went up last winter when helping Argentina to their first World Cup since 1986.
    Now according to  TYC Sports, Martinez is looking to leave Villa Park and has options on the table.
    Manchester United and Chelsea are among them, but it is Tottenham who are said to be most interested.
    Spurs are in the market for a new keeper with captain Hugo Lloris, 36, suffering a dip in form in recent seasons.
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    Martinez, 30, left Arsenal in 2020 to join Villa and has 109 appearances for the club.
    Chelsea are believed to be also joining Spurs in the market for a new keeper as they prepare to welcome a new manager.
    It is claimed frontrunner Mauricio Pochettino has identified signing a new goalkeeper as one of the key areas to focus on.
    The Blues have recently been linked with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, rated at £40millon.
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    It leaves Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy’s future in doubt, with BOTH in line to be sold.
    Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is another linked with Chelsea.
    Meanwhile, De Gea could be set to stay at United amid reports he is willing to take a PAY CUT to remain at Old Trafford.
    Manchester United star David de Gea has agreed a new deal with the clubCredit: Rex More

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    Tottenham star ‘offered shock Saudi Arabia transfer on TREBLE his current wages’ potentially joining Ronaldo & Messi

    HUGO LLORIS has been offered a megabucks deal to leave Tottenham for Saudi Arabia at the end of the season, according to reports.The Spurs skipper has been ruled out of the remainder of the campaign with a hip injury suffered in the 6-1 defeat at Newcastle last month.
    Hugo Lloris has been offered a lucrative move away from SpursCredit: PA
    Lloris, 36, will still has a year remaining on his Tottenham deal come the end of the season.
    But he could be offered a lucrative exit after 11 years at White Hart Lane.
    According to The Times, Lloris has been offered a deal to move to the Saudi Pro League that would treble his Spurs salary, believed to be around £100,000 a week.
    Only David de Gea, with four, has made as many errors leading to goals among Premier League keepers this term.
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    Lloris joined Tottenham from Lyon in 2012, and was appointed club captain by Mauricio Pochettino in 2015.
    He helped Spurs reach the Champions League final in 2019, a year after skippering France to World Cup glory.
    In total, Lloris has made 447 appearances for Tottenham.
    This puts him eighth in the club’s all-time appearance list.
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    Fraser Forster has deputised for Lloris at times this season.
    Spurs are huge admirers of Brentford’s Spain international stopper David Raya.
    While they also like Jordan Pickford and Robert Sanchez.
    Lloris could follow Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League.
    While Lionel Messi has also been linked with an eyewatering free transfer to the Kingdom.
    Lloris could join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP More

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    Man Utd ‘plan to pair Harry Kane with Benfica star Goncalo Ramos in sensational £200m-plus double transfer swoop’

    MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly weighing up a potential record breaking bid for Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos – and plan to partner him with Harry Kane.Spurs and England striker Kane is United’s main target this summer as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his striking options.
    Ramos has stepped into the void left by Darwin Nunez who joined Liverpool last summerCredit: Rex
    However, the Red Devils are reportedly prepared to spend big on other targets as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani battle to become the club’s next owner.
    According to The Mirror, 21-year-old striker Ramos is seen as an exciting prospect for the future and has scored 25 goals in all competitions for the Portuguese giants this season.
    The report adds that United are now set to initiate contact with the Portuguese international who scored a hat-trick at the World Cup against Switzerland.
    Ramos has stepped into the void left by Darwin Nunez who joined Liverpool last summer.
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    The report adds that it could take a fee of between £70-£100million for Benfica to part ways with one of their star players.
    Any potential deal could eclipse the club record fee of £89.3m United paid Juventus in August 2016 for Paul Pogba.
    The report states that Ten Hag is an admirer of Ramos and wants to work with him.
    The Dutchman will be aware United need more firepower with Marcus Rashford the club’s top scorer on 29 goals followed by Bruno Fernandes with 11.
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    England’s record goal scorer Kane is also on United’s radar but they face having to pay £100m upfront for the 29-year-old.
    The England skipper is under contract with the North London side until 2024 and Spurs are faced with the prospect of having to sell their star man this summer – or lose him for free a year later.
    Sun Sport revealed last month that United are confident of signing Kane should Spurs fail to qualify for the Champions League.
    The Red Devils believe that missing out on Europe’s premier club competition would see the north Londoners reduce their £100m asking price.
    The Old Trafford outfit would also be able to increase Kane’s wages by £100,000 to £300,000 per week.
    United face competition for Kane from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich who are looking for a replacement for Robert Lewandowksi. More

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    Harry Kane drops big hint over Tottenham future as Man Utd transfer target eyes chance to finally end trophy drought

    HARRY was a problem for the Palace yet again on Saturday.But after the Premier League’s now second-highest scorer netted his 11th goal against the Eagles to win this tight game, he spoke like a man not looking to cause his own club a headache by pushing for a summer move.
    Harry Kane scored the winner as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace on SaturdayCredit: Alamy
    Instead Kane was more concerned by the importance of Tottenham ensuring they qualify for Europe — whatever the competition — this season to boost their trophy prospects.
    And he even talked of the possibility of sitting down with Daniel Levy before the campaign is out over the chairman’s plans for a permanent successor to former boss Antonio Conte.
    Cynics will argue what else would you expect of England’s greatest goal-getter, a model pro who holds all the power, with 13 months to go on his contract and Manchester United circling.
    That may be the case but the feeling from within Spurs is that a summer sale is unlikely, with a free transfer a year later more palatable.
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    We will see how the close-season pans out — and if Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils, or any other super club, really do test Levy’s famous resolve.
    Yet Kane’s focus is clearly unaffected by talk of any potential move, unlike the season before last where he netted just once in the first half of the campaign after seeing a dream switch to Manchester City fall flat.
    He was the difference here in what was an even contest, showing all his skills as the perfect hybrid of No 9 and No 10 by creating and scoring the winner in first-half stoppage time.
    Kane found the excellent Pedro Porro out wide with a clever pass before racing to the far post to nod  the Portuguese’s pinpoint cross  into the Eagles’ net.
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    Kane’s header was his 26th goal of the seasonCredit: Alamy
    The goal was his 26th in the Prem this season and his 209th overall, moving him past Wayne Rooney into second on the all-time lists.
    It also saw him break Duncan Ferguson’s 25-year record of most headed goals in a Premier League season, setting the new bar at ten.
    And it kept Spurs in the hunt for Europe, even if the Europa Conference League may be the best they can hope for if Brighton capitalise on their three games in hand.
    Kane, who turns 30 in July, said: “If we can come away from this season with European football, that’s a small prize at the end of a tough season.
    “We’ll be fighting for that and fighting in the three games left to try to pick up three wins.”
    Some Spurs fans would prefer not to finish in Europe at all, seeing the third-tier competition of the Conference League as a bit of a booby prize.
    Yet Kane, who has famously never won a trophy, retorted: “You can’t disrespect any competition that you play in.
    “It’s one of those, if you end up in the Conference League and win it, it’s worth it. If you don’t, then people probably look at it as an inconvenience. But when you’ve been at a club where we haven’t won a trophy for 15 years, if we do end up in it, it could be an opportunity to try and put that to bed.”
    Spurs had shipped a whopping 12 goals in their last three games against Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool but picked up a first clean sheet since February 26 here.
    That was in large part due to the solid tactics of interim boss Ryan Mason, who reverted to a 4-4-2 out of possession and the familiar 3-4-3 with the ball.
    Kane talked ahead of last week’s 4-3 thrilling defeat to Liverpool how he felt the club had lost some of its values.
    When asked if he backed Mason for the job full-time, he pointed to how he felt the caretaker boss was bringing some of those values back.
    Kane said: “We’re all behind him. We know the club is in a situation where I spoke about getting some of the values back. I feel like Ryan brings all those attributes.
    “He’s been here through the academy, he knows what it’s like as a fan, he knows what it’s like to play here.”
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    The likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso and Feyenoord chief Arne Slot are all under consideration to replace Conte, who exited in March.
    Asked if he has been enthused by what he has read about the manager search, Kane replied: “That’s down to the club. If I end up speaking with the chairman towards the end of the season, then I’m sure he’ll fill me in on what he’s thinking.”
    Kane is behind old pal Ryan MasonCredit: Getty More

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    Micah Richards says ‘I don’t know how Harry Kane sleeps at night’ in passionate rant on Sky Sports

    MICAH RICHARDS says he “doesn’t know how Harry Kane sleeps at night” in a passionate rant on Sky Sports.The striker overtook Wayne Rooney to become the second-highest Premier League goalscorer on Saturday.
    Micah Richards says he ‘doesn’t know how Harry Kane sleeps at night’Credit: Sky Sports
    The Tottenham star is now on 209 goals in the Premier LeagueCredit: Alamy
    “To not have won anything… I don’t know how he sleeps at night” 😰Micah Richards on Harry Kane ⚪ pic.twitter.com/9SOnM1wrvE— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 6, 2023

    Tottenham’s all-time top scorer, 29, headed in to earn a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
    That was his 209th strike in the Premier League, moving him one clear of Rooney on 208.
    But Kane has done it in just 317 appearances – whereas Rooney played 491 times in England’s top flight.
    And the current Three Lions captain, who is also our country’s all-time top scorer, is now just 51 goals behind Alan Shearer’s all-time record of 260 goals.
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    Manchester United have made the star one of their top summer transfer targets as Kane’s future remains in the spotlight.
    It has been another year of disappointment for him at club level and he is still yet to win a trophy during his incredible career. 
    He only has a year left on his contract at Spurs as speculation continues to mount, but ex-Manchester City ace Richards believes it would be a tragedy if he ended his career without silverware.
    During a passionate rant on Sky Sports, he said: “Harry Kane has remained focused on what he’s needed to do and he does what he does best and is scoring goals.
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    “But there’s going to be a time, especially in the summer, when he is going to have to make a decision.
    “Who is the manager going to be and what are their plans going forward because a player with so much quality to have not won anything, I just don’t know how he sleeps at night.
    “He’s an unbelievable talent and he’s got nothing to show for it apart from just the goals.
    “Some people would just take the goals, he’s a Spurs legend already and what he has done has been absolutely incredible.
    “But, at the end of your career, you want a trophy.” More

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    Tottenham ‘make Franck Kessie enquiry’ with Barcelona expected to demand £22m fee for midfielder transfer

    TOTTENHAM have allegedly approached Barcelona to “give them a price” to sign midfielder Franck Kessie.The 26-year-old only joined Barca on a free transfer after his deal expired at AC Milan last summer.
    Tottenham have been linked with a swoop for Barcelona’s Franck KessieCredit: Getty
    He penned a four-year contract at the Nou Camp but the Ivory Coast ace has struggled to cement himself in the starting XI.
    Kessie has made 39 appearances for the LaLiga side but only five of them have been starts in the Spanish top-flight.
    Rumours first started that he could be leaving Barcelona back in October – but his agent quickly slammed them as “fake news”.
    However, Spurs are known to be long-term admirers of Kessie and allegedly had a £13m bid for him rejected ahead of the January transfer window opening.
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    Now, despite still looking for a new permanent manager to replace Antonio Conte, a new report from Spain has claimed that they are making a renewed approach to try and sign him.
    SPORT claim that the North London club have once again inquired about Kessie and that the ace “is one of the players chosen to leave Barca as of June 30”.
    Cash-strapped Barcelona are desperate to balance the books in order to firstly hold on to their key stars and to ensure they can bolster their squad with new additions.
    Kessie is also believed to have been one of a number of players that has refused to take a pay-cut to help Barcelona try and finance the return of Lionel Messi and is said to be valued at around £22m.
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    Now his potential exit could help them ease the squeeze with the publication starting: “The club’s [Barcelona’s] goal is to close a direct sale and Tottenham has asked for a price in recent days.”
    As we revealed this week, another player that could be heading out the Nou Camp exit door is Raphinha.
    Newcastle are believed to be plotting a £70m swoop for the Brazilian attack. More

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    Leicester star Harvey Barnes ‘set to switch Premier League clubs in shock transfer’ after stalling on new deal

    LEICESTER CITY could be set to lose Harvey Barnes as well as James Maddison this summer, according to a new report.We reported earlier this week that Foxes star Maddison, 26, looks certain to depart even if they survive in the Premier League.
    Leicester are bracing themselves for interest in winger Harvey BarnesCredit: Alamy
    However, a fresh new report claims that fellow winger Barnes “could follow him out of the exit door” as a host of clubs track the 25-year-old.
    The former West Brom loanee has scored ten goals in 30 top-flight appearances this term and is valued at around £60m by Leicester.
    He is likely to “attract bids” at the end of the season and the Foxes are bracing themselves for plenty of interest.
    Newcastle have previously enquired about the England international last year.
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    Now Tottenham and Aston Villa are also believed to be “watching developments closely” as they plot a swoop, says the Daily Mail.
    While Maddison is about to enter the last 12 months of his deal, Barnes is contracted to Leicester until 2025.
    However, no “meaningful discussions” have taken place over an extension.
    But this fresh update states that whether they stay up or suffer relegation, a “huge overhaul” of the squad will occur in the summer window.
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    There are eight first-team players that are out of contract and are expected to leave.
    And the Foxes know that they could get the chance to cash in and help fund a rebuild by selling Barnes and Maddison. More