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Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is prioritising a move for Lautaro Martinez ahead of Paulo Dybala in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), who claim that the Spurs manager has decided the Inter Milan centre-forward is his preferred target at the end of the current campaign, with the 52-year-old said to have shelved his interest in a move for the soon to be out of contract Juventus forward as a result.

Conte can forget Dybala with Martinez

While it is true that a move for Dybala would more than likely be the cheaper option of the two signings, it is not difficult to understand why Conte would prefer to land Martinez ahead of the Juventus playmaker.

Firstly, the £63m-rated striker and the Tottenham boss already have a relationship, with the 24-year-old having scored an extremely impressive 40 goals and registered 19 assists over his 97 appearances under Conte at Inter Milan.

Secondly, 17 of these goals and ten of these assists came in the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto-winning campaign last time out, with the €125k-per-week (£105k-per-week) forward proving to be a key player in the Italian’s first-team squad.

Indeed, over the Argentina international’s 38 league outings in 2020/21, the player who Roberto Rojas dubbed an “absolute goal machine” averaged an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.17, ranking him as the Inter’s third-best player.

Furthermore, Tottenham’s need for a new centre-forward is much greater than their need for another attacking midfielder or winger, as, should the £220k-per-week Dybala indeed go on to join Spurs, he would be fighting with the likes of Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn for a starting spot in Conte’s side.

Lastly, considering the fact that Martinez is four years Dybala’s junior, the former is certain to have a much greater resale value further down the line.

As such, it would indeed appear wise for Tottenham to prioritise a move for the £70m Inter sensation ahead of the Juventus man who Antonio Cassano claimed is “not a champion” and “does not make the difference” this summer, as Martinez very much looks to be a much better fit for Conte’s side in almost every department.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Alasdair Gold reveals fresh Spurs development, Antonio Conte will be fuming

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has reacted to Manchester United’s interest in Kalvin Phillips, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Manchester United ‘working on a deal’

Phillips has been linked with a number of clubs in recent months, with Aston Villa, Newcastle United and West Ham all showing an interest.

Manchester United have become the latest side to be name-checked when it comes to Phillips, with the Red Devils now ‘working on a deal’ for the England international.

The 26-year-old is in the process of changing agents and is keen to stay at Elland Road, however, Kenny feels a move to Old Trafford shouldn’t be ruled out at this stage.

The Latest: Kenny’s comments

Kenny was talking to FI about the update on Manchester United’s move for Phillips. He claimed that Leeds fans ‘will be devastated’ if a move materialised, labelling it as ‘a difficult one to turn down’.

“He’s Leeds through and through but we saw that with Jack Grealish didn’t we?

“He’s Villa through and through but he decided to sign for Manchester City last summer.

“If an offer like that comes in, it might never come again. Can you afford to say no?

“It’s like Lampard at Chelsea. He didn’t know if it was going to work out but that offer might not come again, you have to take it.

“It will be interesting to see if this move happens. The fans will be devastated if he does go.

“As a player, you have to look to the future and Leeds are a big club but Man United are one of the biggest in the world.

“It’s a difficult one to turn down, that’s for sure.”

The Verdict: Surely not…

Phillips is a boyhood Leeds fan, so he’ll know all about the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

The Red Devils may not even be in a position to offer him Champions League football either next season, so a move across the Pennines doesn’t look too appealing as it once did.

The Red Devils could do with midfield additions over the summer, though, so it could be a real coup if they managed to persuade Phillips to move to Old Trafford over the coming months.

In other news: ‘Ten Hag has’ – Fabrizio Romano now drops Man Utd twist after what he’s heard from Old Trafford. 

Newcastle United failed to win in the Premier League for the 19th time this season as a late Joao Pedro goal for Watford denied the Magpies a vital three points in the hunt for survival on Saturday afternoon.

Eddie Howe’s side had taken the lead early in the second half as Allan Saint-Maximin scored his fifth goal of the campaign, but they couldn’t hold on for what would have been just their second league victory of the season.

It was Kieran Trippier’s first Premier League game for the Tyneside club after making his debut in the 1-0 FA Cup loss to Cambridge United last weekend, while it was Chris Wood’s debut for the club after his £25m move from relegation rivals Burnley during the week. Unfortunately for the New Zealand international, it was one to forget.

According to SofaScore, the 30-year-old lost possession 14 times whilst making just 35 touches as he struggled to get into the game, losing the ball once for every 2.5 touches. The £5.4m-rated striker also committed three fouls and didn’t manage to get a shot on target as Newcastle were once again frustrated.

Wood had netted three goals in 17 Premier League games for the Clarets this season prior to his move to Tyneside with a further 50 goals in 148 games after making the move to Turf Moor from Leeds United in August 2017.

Newcastle have the top flight’s fourth-worst goal return, having scored just 20 times in as many games. It’s certainly an area where they need to improve if they are to retain their Premier League status.

Moreover, losing points from winning positions in the manner that they did against the Hornets, particularly given that Claudio Ranieri’s side are also in the battle to avoid relegation, is a terrible habit which will need to be broken in order to ensure top-flight survival.

Wood will be heavily relied upon to start scoring, particularly with the absence of Callum Wilson who has scored six league goals this term but will miss eight weeks of action through injury. If that is to happen, though, the 30-year-old will need to improve on today’s tepid debut performance, which was the type of one which could cost Howe and Newcastle their Premier League status by the season’s end.

AND in other news, Newcastle are also eyeing a move for this player who’s been dubbed the “new Vidic”

There is currently no sign of Wolves doing any more business in the January transfer window, according to reliable journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Quiet January at Wolves

While other clubs have made plenty of signings this month, things have been relatively serene at Molineux up until this point.

Granted, Adama Traore has joined Barcelona and Jeong Sang-bin has come in and gone straight out on loan to Grasshopper Club Zurich for 18 months, but it hasn’t been a busy window.

There is still time for Bruno Lage to sort a potential new signing though, and some reports have even suggested the manager will bring in a replacement for Traore, but Spiers seemingly thinks otherwise.

The Latest: Spiers delivers key update

Taking to Twitter on Friday to respond to a question about the January window, Spiers admitted things are ‘pretty quiet at the moment’.

That suggests Wolves fans should expect little to happen prior to Monday’s transfer deadline, as Lage and his players enjoy some downtime during the international break.

The Verdict: No great issue

While it would have been nice to see a big name come in this month, particularly a centre-back or a replacement for Traore, the current situation is certainly no disaster.

Both Jonny and Pedro Neto could be set to return from long-term injury absences in the near future, acting as a huge boost, and no European football means matches won’t come too thick and fast.

Wolves should, therefore, have enough depth in their squad to maintain their current European push, with 13 points picked up from a possible 15 in their last five matches.

In other news, a journalist has backed Wolves to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

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According to Sky Sports, Newcastle have finally agreed a deal with Atlanta United for midfielder Miguel Almiron, with the player potentially breaking the Magpies’ transfer record. However, the big-money signing may force Rafa Benitez to change his new-found, winning formula.

On the chalkboard

Sky Sports report that Almiron will command a £20m fee if the switch is completed before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday – an outlay exceeding the record £17m, as per BBC, shelled out to by the St James’ Park outfit for Michael Owen’s services in 2005 – as Mike Ashley finally loosens the white-knuckle grip on his wallet.

The Paraguayan has been sensational in the MLS, scoring 12 goals and teeing up a further 13 in just 32 league games in 2018, and his pace will be a huge asset to the Magpies, who are currently lacking counter-attacking threat.

However, if Benitez wants to get the best out of the 24-year-old – and you would assume he does – he may be forced to change what is beginning to look like a winning formula and thus risk sliding back down the table.

Rafa’s dilemma

What is the Spaniard’s big headache should Almiron cross the Atlantic, then? Well, the Tyneside club recorded an emphatic win over champions Manchester City on Tuesday night – surely to the delight of Liverpool fans all over – and they were outstanding from back to front, swamping Pep Guardiola’s men with a 5-4-1 formation.

However, the lack of room for a number 10 means that Almiron would have to be deployed as a winger – while the speedster has played there for Atlanta, he is far more dangerous playing centrally, behind the striker, as per Transfermarkt, where he would be able to feed off of Salomon Rondon’s hold-up play.

Taking three points from City is no easy feat and Rafa would be mad to retire the winning formula, and one that he has become accustomed to using in recent times anyway, although if he wants to avoid shoe-horning the new boy in, then he may have no choice.

Kalvin Phillips won’t be joining one of Leeds United’s biggest rivals this summer – for now…

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who delivered a 12-word update on his future at Elland Road amid reports linking him with a move away in the off-season.

The England international has been linked to several Premier League teams in recent weeks and months, ranging from Liverpool and Manchester United, to Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News claimed earlier this week that the Red Devils were working on a deal to sign the xx-year-old as a new defensive midfielder would be a priority under likely incoming boss Erik ten Hag.

However, Nixon has thrown cold water on those reports, suggesting that isn’t the case, at the moment.

“Manchester United DON’T have Kalvin Phillips on their wish list for now,” he told followers of his Patreon site.

Good news

Ultimately, this is a huge source of encouragement for anyone associated with Leeds, and not just because it’s the Old Trafford outfit being ruled out of a move.

Phillips is undoubtedly one of the Whites’ most integral players, even post-Marcelo Bielsa, and whilst he is yet to start for manager Jesse Marsch since returning from injury, he will surely play a key role going forward.

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“I said it after the match that both [Phillips and Liam Cooper] will have a big effect on our group both on the pitch and off,” the American told reporters (via the Yorkshire Evening Post) after his comeback cameo against Southampton. He then added:

“And then to have Kalvin on the pitch, I think everybody saw that it brought poise to our group, that he helped settle the game down. I heard him say after the game that he didn’t do much but, just by being on the pitch for us, I think that that presence meant a lot.”

Also dubbed a “wonderful talent” by ex-Leeds man Michael Brown, there isn’t a player in the current squad that possesses the same skillset as Phillips – defensively a rock, averaging 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game and he often starts many an attack, averaging 3.1 long balls and an 82.6% passing accuracy, via WhoScored.

Losing a player of that calibre, not just to any top-flight team, but an arch-rival rival like the Red Devils would be a bitter blow, following in the footsteps of Eric Cantona and Rio Ferdinand, whose reputation in west Yorkshire plummeted.

Nixon’s update will delight many around Elland Road, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Signed for £5m, now worth 740% more: Leeds struck gold with £42m-rated “rare talent”…

Tottenham Hotspur will make the trip from north to west London this evening to take on Brentford as Antonio Conte’s men look to strengthen their hold on a place in the Premier League’s top four.

Spurs are currently fourth but their place in the Champions League spots is feeble, with goal difference the only factor separating them and fifth-placed Arsenal.

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Having been dealt a setback last weekend when losing 1-0 to Brighton, Conte’s men can’t afford to slip up again against the Bees.

It is a must-win for the Lilywhites and so here is how Football FanCast believe Spurs will set up.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Emerson, Sessegnon, Betancur, Hojbjerg, Kulusevski, Son, Kane (3-4-3)

In terms of formation, we expect Conte to stick with his preferred 3-4-3 set-up at the Brentford Community Stadium, with Sergio Reguilon dropping out of the XI in favour of the £58k-per-week Ryan Sessegnon.

The Spaniard returned to the starting lineup against the Seagulls having come on as a substitute the week before against Aston Villa, with Matt Doherty sustaining an injury that has since ruled the wing-back out for the remainder of the season.

However, it was a poor display from the 25-year-old who completed just 63% of his passes whilst failing to provide a single interception, clearance or block whilst making only one tackle.

Labelled as “pathetic” by journalist Tom Young, the £43m left-wing-back has featured in six of Spurs’ last seven matches having regained his place after Ryan Sessegnon sustained a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old has since returned from his setback, making the bench for the north London outfit’s last two games and could be in contention for a return to the starting lineup.

Prior to his injury, the Englishman had arguably his best run of games in a Spurs shirt, featuring in seven out of eight matches from late January to early March.

Tottenham insider John Wenham was full of praise for Sessegnon after a 3-0 win over Norwich City, calling the wing-back “amazing.”

Conte will have to get his team selection spot on against Brentford with there being no more room for slip-ups with just six games to go.

AND in other news: Conte must finally unleash “absolutely fantastic” Spurs sensation, he’s a “big talent”

A big update has emerged on Rangers and Gio van Bronckhorst’s transfer plans at Ibrox for the remainder of the January window…

What’s the talk?

A transfer has claimed that the Gers are working hard to source a new signing in attack before the end of the month.

Pete O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “They’re actively looking for options on the right flank, and it just seems they’ve been linked with a lot of players right now. So, it’ll all depend on who Van Bronckhorst sees as the best fit for his side going forward.”

Excitement

This news will surely leave Rangers fans feeling excited for several reasons.

Firstly, it shows that the club are still putting the work in behind the scenes and actively looking to add to their squad despite already making two signings in the form of James Sands and John Souttar.

Ross Wilson is seemingly keen to give van Bronckhorst as many tools as possible to ensure that they are able to secure a second Premiership title in a row. The Gers are also still in the Europa League and could be eyeing further progression in that competition as they prepare to face Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund next month in the first knockout round.

Therefore, supporters will be buzzing to read that they are not resting on their laurels and willing to go with what they have for the rest of the campaign. Continual improvement appears to be the way they want to go about it and it will be interesting to see if they have any more targets beyond a right winger for the current window.

The position in which Rangers want to make a signing will also get fans excited as it means that they can look forward to an attacking player coming in.

Bringing in a right-winger suggests that they want someone who can come in to score and create goals from out wide, which would surely get fans off their seats in excitement as they watch a new wing wizard causing havoc down the flanks.

Of course, there is no guarantee that they will be able to sign an effective forward who is able to deliver in the final third but, for now, fans can be buzzing with the prospect of a new attacker coming in to bolster the squad before the deadline next week.

AND in other news, Rangers could finally axe “really poor” lightweight by landing £2.8m-rated playmaker…

Having brought in the likes of Hayao Kawabe and Chiquinho during the January transfer window, Wolves have been more focused on signing new players rather than letting their current ones leave.

However, it seems as though Bruno Lage could have a challenge on his hands to keep one of the key figures at Wolves this month.

What’s the news?

According to La Repubblica (via Sport Witness) Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho has been identified as a potential January transfer target for Italian club AS Roma.

Moutinho joined Wolves from AS Monaco back in the 2018 summer transfer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £5m.

Since then, the midfielder has racked up a total of 160 appearances for the Midlands club across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing 22 assists in the process, highlighting how much of an important player Moutinho has been for them and how much of a bargain signing he has been as well.

Lage would be furious

So far this season, Max Kilman and Conor Coady are the only outfield players with more minutes on the pitch in the Premier League than Moutinho, suggesting that Lage would not be happy to see such a critical figure in his team leave this month.

In terms of a potential move to Jose Mourinho’s side away from Wolves, it would be nothing short of a disaster for Jeff Shi and Lage to have one of the key figures at Molineux such as the £100k-per-week Moutinho depart halfway through a season when they’re aiming to secure European football once again.

This term for instance, no other midfielder has averaged more key passes per game (1.2) than the Portuguese dynamo which suggests they’d be losing one of the pillars of their side. Furthermore, no one in his position at Molineux has made more successful tackles per outing than his 2.1.

His current contract at Wolves is set to expire in the summer but considering the minimal fee they signed him for, letting him leave on a free transfer in the summer when they have more time to find a replacement would surely be a better idea. After all, losing him midway through the campaign with little time in the window remaining is not covering their backs well.

Furthermore, it could even be worth the Old Gold making an approach to Moutinho to see if he’d be willing to sign a new deal at Molineux, convincing him to stay for a bit longer.

In other news: Forget Trincao: Wolves plotting swoop for “the new Iniesta,” he’d be a big upgrade…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is an admirer of Paris Saint-Germain’s Leandro Paredes, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Paredes, who’s predominantly operated as a defensive midfielder this season but can also play more advanced roles, is approaching the final year of his contract at the Parc des Princes.

He’s made 22 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in a season disrupted by injury. Earlier this month, PSG confirmed that he’d undergone surgery on a groin issue, bringing an end to his campaign.

Spurs did strengthen their midfield ranks in January with the signing of Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus, but the futures of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso could be in doubt after they were loaned out.

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The latest

As it stands, Paredes is more likely to leave PSG than he is to sign a new contract, alerting several clubs, says the report.

Tottenham are one of those sides aware of the situation, and Conte ‘would gladly welcome’ the opportunity to work with him. The manager’s former club, Inter Milan, are also interested as they seek support for Marcelo Brozovic in midfield.

PSG are set to demand around €25million (about £20.8million) to let him go.

The verdict

Paredes is a useful player in possession. He ranks in the 99th percentile among positional peers for pass completion, as well as progressive carries and progressive passes (via FBRef). The Argentine is also capable of disrupting the opposition, averaging 2.61 tackles per 90 minutes (70th percentile).

Paredes has helped PSG regain the Ligue 1 title, but he could only watch on from the bench as PSG collapsed against Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, as Pochettino subbed him off with 20 minutes to go, a decision journalist Rahman Osman called ‘scandalous’.

The pair do seem to enjoy a good relationship, though, with Pochettino joking after the first leg in February that he thought Paredes had broken his nose in the celebrations that followed Kylian Mbappe’s winner.

His experience on the biggest stages could make him a smart pick-up for Spurs, particularly with price tag looking reasonable.

In other news, read this insider’s Patrick Bamford/THFC claim.