Tottenham have wasted little time in making a move in the transfer market, although a key defender could be on the way out.
Elsewhere, a European giant refused to rule out a move for Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood as Chelsea look set to splash even more money.
Catch up on all of the biggest whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
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ANGE MAKES EARLY TRANSFER SPLASH AS $49M STAR LINKED WITH EXIT
Tottenham’s off-season has barely begun but it hasn’t stopped Ange Postecoglou from making his first signing for next season as Timo Werner will return to the club on loan from RB Leipzig.
Once again, Tottenham will have the option to make the deal permanent if the German international impresses.
However, the fee to sign Werner has dropped from $AUD28 million to $16 million.
Werner joined Tottenham in the January window until the end of the 2023/24 season, scoring twice and providing three assists in 14 appearances before thigh issues ruled him out of the final five games.
With Werner now retained for the season, Postecoglou may have to turn his attention to adding a defender amid reports Emerson Royal could be on the way out.
According to Sky in Italy, AC Milan have made Royal one of their main targets for the window as they look to bring in a right-sided defender.
The 25-year-old, who is a right back by trade, was forced to deputise at left back and even centre back amid an injury crisis that exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth in defence.
Royal moved to Tottenham from Barcelona for $49.9 million in September 2021, so the club will no doubt look to recoup as much of that figure as possible should Milan decide to swoop for the Brazilian.
GERMAN GIANTS REFUSE TO RULE OUT SHOCK SWOOP FOR CONTROVERSIAL RED DEVIL
Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl refused to rule out a shock move for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
Per the Daily Mail, German reports claim Dortmund could sign Greenwood on loan for next season.
And Kehl, speaking to media prior to Dortmund’s Champions League final against Real Madrid, did little to quash any speculation.
“I don’t want to talk about any rumours at the moment because it doesn’t make sense,” Kehl said.
“Let’s play the final on Saturday first.
“Of course, we have plans for next season and we have discussed many scenarios but let’s focus on Saturday and then we’ll see how we move on.”
When asked if Greenwood is a player Dortmund may be keen on, Kehl responded: “I don’t want to talk about that now.”
Greenwood has not pulled on a shirt for the Red Devils since January 2022 after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
All charges against Greenwood were dropped in February 2023 but was immediately suspended from training and matches by the Red Devils until further notice.
There were plans to bring Greenwood back into the fold at United but severe public backlash forced the club to change their approach as the 20-year-old was loaned out to La Liga side Getafe for the season, scoring eight goals from 33 league appearances.
LEEDS BRACE FOR $57M EXIT AS PL VULTURES PREPARE TO SWOOP
The vultures are preparing to pick apart Leeds after the club failed to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, with star forward Crysencio Summerville the likeliest to move on.
Summerville was pivotal to Leeds’ promotion tilt with 19 league goals but could not make the desired impact in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the playoff final.
Having missed out on the riches of the Premier League, Leeds will have little choice but to sell some of their star players.
The Telegraph reports Summerville, valued at $57 million, is attracting plenty interest from Chelsea.
Summerville was previously linked with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, but a switch to Chelsea would be somewhat surprising given their plethora of young forwards.
NEW UTD BOSS EYES TOFFEES GUN IN BOLD STATEMENT OF INTENT
Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to be wasting little time in improving Manchester United’s squad and is eyeing up an Everton defender to kickstart the club’s business.
According to The Sun, Ratcliffe is hoping to bring Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite to Old Trafford in a $76 million deal.
Branthwaite quickly cemented himself as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League, playing a key role in Everton conceding 51 goals, the fourth-fewest in the entire competition.
Unfortunately for the Toffees, uncertainty regarding 777 Partners’ takeover of the club could force cut-price exits of some of their key players, including Branthwaite.
The arrival of Branthwaite would be a major statement of intent from Ratcliffe after his INEOS group took control of the Red Devils’ football operations via his acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club.
SERIE A STAR CATCHES LIVERPOOL’S EYE
Liverpool scouts attended an Atalanta match with the intention of watching Teun Koopmeiners.
However, a report from Tuttosport claims Koopmeiners’ teammate Ederson wowed the Reds so much that they’re prepared to make a play for him.
Ederson, a midfielder, scored six goals and assisted one in 35 Serie A games for Atalanta and even earned a call-up to the Brazil team for the upcoming Copa America.
Should Ederson end up moving to Liverpool, he would be new manager Arne Slot’s first signing since replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.