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According to a report by FCInternews.it, alleged Tottenham managerial target Antonio Conte could be forced to quit Inter Milan amid financial uncertainty.

The Lowdown: Conte targeted by Tottenham

Various reports from Italy have detailed Tottenham’s recent interest in Conte, with Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) emphatically claiming that the Lilywhites and Conte held ‘fruitful’ and ‘interesting’ talks.

Calciomercato24.it also stated that Tottenham were willing to offer him a big money contract to secure his appointment, but these claims haven’t yet been backed by sources closer to home.

Indeed, correspondent Alasdair Gold believes he isn’t on the radar, with media reports concerning Conte and Spurs consistently differing from each other.

The Latest: Conte could leave Inter…

Whether or not Tottenham truly are targeting Conte remains to be seen, but Spurs may be boosted in a possible pursuit of Conte judging by this update from FCInternews.

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The Italian news outlet says Conte may be reluctantly forced to quit the Serie A giants amid growing financial uncertainty – with club chairman Steven Zhang even requesting pay cuts for the playing squad, managerial staff and general club employees.

These deductions in pay are also thought to be permanent rather than temporary, and Conte’s future has been thrown into  disrepute as a result.

The Verdict: Boost for Tottenham?

Theoretically, Spurs could be boosted in any pursuit of Conte judging by this update, but reliable sources like football.london correspondent Gold indicate the 51-year-old just isn’t on the Lilywhites radar.

Contradicting reports from Italy suggest otherwise, but we believe a swoop for the Italian could be just that little bit too difficult to pull off financially regardless of his San Siro situation or the credibility of his links to Tottenham.

On a reported €20m per year (£17.1m) salary, it’s little wonder Zhang is allegedly considering a pay cut despite their recent Serie A triumph.

In other news: Tottenham source shares behind the scenes managerial development, find out more here.

Mark Warburton’s Queens Park Rangers side have been handed a huge boost ahead of next season’s Championship campaign after the club announced they have landed their first summer signing.

What’s the latest?

According to a statement posted on the QPR website, the club have completed the signing of Hull City centre-back Jordy de Wijs on a permanent deal after the defender impressed during a loan spell at the club last term.

Following the confirmation, Warburton said: “I’m delighted that Jordy has joined us permanently. Every time he plays, he’s Ronseal because he does exactly what it says on the tin – he heads it, he kicks it and he can play.

“He’s a physical presence who enjoys defending. But he’s also a very good, technical player as well. He drives into midfield, is comfortable on the ball and there is pace and purpose to what he does. His quality in both boxes is evident.

“I’m delighted that the work’s been done by everyone at the club to secure Jordy. I’m really looking forward to working with him again moving forward.”

Warburton has his man

Warburton’s delight at landing the 26-year-old on a permanent basis is easily understandable, as, since arriving at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on a temporary deal back in January, the £1.08m-rated defender has been in remarkable form for the Rs.

Over his nine Championship appearances for the Hoops, the former Netherlands U21 international made an average of 1.3 interceptions, one tackle and a whopping 5.1 clearances per game, as well as scoring one goal and helping his side keep one clean sheet, culminating in a highly impressive average SofaScore match rating of 7.19 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the second tier.

Indeed, since his arrival in west London, Warburton’s side have seen a marked improvement in form, with the Rs picking up a whopping 47 points since the turn of the year – just six points fewer than league champions Norwich City.

As such, the news that Amit Bhatia has secured the signing of the £7.1k-per-week star on a three-year deal would appear to be a rather significant boost to QPR’s chances of mounting a promotion push next season, something which has Warburton feeling over the moon with glee – as it appears things are very much on the up for the Hoops at present.

In other news: Get him gone: Warburton must ruthlessly axe “massive” £4k-p/w QPR dud this summer – opinion

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Leicester City striker Brian Deane has hailed the East Midlands club’s recruitment.

In the last summer transfer window, Leicester signed defenders Wesley Fofana and Timothy Castagne from Saint-Etienne and Atalanta respectively, with both players going on to help the Foxes win their first FA Cup.

Fofana arrived to strengthen the team’s central defence, while the versatile Castagne joined as a replacement for left-back Ben Chilwell, who departed the King Power for Chelsea in a £50m deal.

The duo have undoubtedly been successes for the club this season, featuring regularly for their side, and Deane has since praised Brendan Rodgers and his recruitment team for signing the two defenders and their overall work in recent transfer windows.

The ex-Leicester player, who feels his old side are setting the right example in the transfer market, told FFC:

“It [Leicester’s success] comes down to good recruitment. If Leicester can do it, then you think to yourself, ‘Why do clubs always look at paying the premium for players? Are they waiting to see how they do at a club and then go in for them?’

“That costs more money. You know, why not be more proactive? But you have to say, Leicester have got their recruitment spot on again.”

As well as Fofana and Castagne, Rodgers has also brought in the likes of James Justin, Ayoze Perez and Youri Tielemans permanently – the latter winning the FA Cup for his side and arguably epitomising Leicester’s recruitment success.

As soon as Eddie Howe proudly walks through the doors of Parkhead, Celtic could reduce him to frustration and anguish.

That’s just the way things have gone for the Bhoys this year and not even a new manager will have things his own way immediately. That’s because Howe will be faced with the prospect of arguably Celtic’s best player departing before he’s even had a chance to watch him.

Odsonne Edouard has attracted the interest of top clubs in England and it feels inevitable that he has played his final game for the Hoops.

The incoming manager will have plenty to address when he arrives at Paradise but finding a new striker will surely be at the top of his agenda. Many a forward will be linked but Howe could go a long way to becoming an instant hit by signing Genk striker Paul Onuachu.

Speaking on A Celtic State of Mind earlier this season, pundit Colin Watt suggested that the 27-year-old is a player who the recruitment team should be considering.

He said: “One that I think people should go and take a look at [is] Paul Onuachu.

“He’s a Nigerian striker that plays for Genk; he was formerly of FC Midtjylland, and he’s scored almost 100 goals in five seasons, 6ft 7in tall. Roughly, the going price for him is about £7-10m.”

That kind of record in front of goal is enough to make you drool. If Edouard does indeed move on, this suggest that there’d be fewer better players to replace him.

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Onuachu finished as the top scorer in the Belgian top flight this term, racking up 35 goals in just 41 outings across all competitions. A predator in the box, his tally for Genk is a hugely impressive 45 goals from 69 appearances.

Very few attacking players offer what the Nigerian does, either. Not only can he beat the goalkeeper with unrelenting confidence, he’s also an absolute bully for defenders.

Standing at 6 foot 7, he can shrug players off in devastating fashion, winning four aerial duels per match this term.

Speaking about the 26-year-old’s qualities, his former FC Midtjylland teammate Alexander Scholz said: “Years ago, when he was with us, he was already the best striker in our championship. It’s impossible to beat him because he’s so tall. He is a worker, he has always worked a lot. He had to wait for his chance but I’m happy for him.”

What’s scary is that Onuachu also has plenty of pace, using his long levers to gallop beyond the defensive line and find the net. Edouard has proven to be a physical presence up front for Celtic in the last few years but the Genk striker would literally take that to new heights.

If Howe is seeking a replacement for the Frenchman, he should look no further than Onuachu; he’d surely be a success in Glasgow.

AND in other news, McKay can discover Celtic’s ideal Elyounoussi heir by signing “very fast” 42-cap demon…

Leicester City have been linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach winger Jonas Hofmann ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to German outlet Bild, the Foxes are keen to prize the 28-year-old away from the Bundesliga outfit as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his squad over the summer.

The report also claims that fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are vying for Hofmann’s signature.

Rodgers needs him

Leicester enjoyed an impressive 2020/21 campaign, sealing their maiden FA Cup crown before narrowly missing out on a Champions League qualification spot.

Injuries to several key stars badly affected Rodgers’ charges throughout the season, with a lack of strength in depth noticeable upon their absence.

Harvey Barnes was flying before a serious knee injury ruled the 23-year-old out for the remainder of the campaign, and the drop-off in quality among his direct replacements led to a slight change of system for the Midlands outfit.

AS Roma forward Cengiz Under arrived on a season-long loan last summer and was expected to add an exciting and intriguing option to the Leicester attack.

However, the Turkey international failed to settle in England, with Rodgers seemingly remaining unconvinced over his tactical discipline.

Although Under would have been the most natural alternative to the injured Barnes, Rodgers often opted for either Ricardo Pereira, a full-back, or Ayoze Perez, an attacking midfielder, to fill the void out wide.

Under made just one Premier League start during his time at the King Power Stadium, failing to find the back on the net while on league duty throughout a bitterly disappointing loan spell.

His return to Rome leaves the door open for a replacement which Rodgers desperately needs, and director of football Jon Rudkin may have found the perfect one in Hofmann.

The Germany international has impressed at Monchengladbach for many years now and was particularly impressive in 2020/21, bagging eight goals and providing 13 assists in all competitions.

If Leicester want to finally break into the top four next season, then the addition of Hofmann could prove to be pivotal.

And, in other news…Rudkin masterclass: LCFC must seal “dazzling” £22.5m-rated gem, Rodgers needs him 

West Ham United insider Claret & Hugh, sharing the latest on Manchester United midfielder and 2020/2021 loanee sensation Jesse Lingard, have now made an enticing claim.

The Lowdown: Lingard and West Ham, the saga…

After enjoying an unbelievable second half of last season on loan at West Ham, with the Englishman bagging nine goals and four assists in just 16 Premier League starts (WhoScored), the Hammers have been heavily linked to making his move a permanent one.

Indeed, owners GSB are apparently willing to ‘move heaven and earth’ to seal a deal for the attacking midfielder this summer.

It is also believed by reliable insider ExWHUemployee that Lingard himself is keen on swapping Old Trafford for the London Stadium indefinitely.

The Latest: C&H drop enticing claim

Now, fellow insider C&H have shared the latest in an enticing claim on Lingard’s future.

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They believe that talks can now start over West Ham signing the 28-year-old permanently and claim the Irons will be talking to his representatives about personal terms required.

It is also ‘possible’ that an agreement could be made quicker given England boss Gareth Southgate opted to omit Lingard from his 26-man European Championships squad.

West Ham have allegedly let Lingard know they very much want him to join.

“It’s very much in Jesse’s hands with only a year left on his deal,” a source explained to C&H.

“He loved his time at the club and it’s been made clear to him the club want him at the London Stadium – now the talking will have to start!”

The Verdict: Get it done West Ham!

Sealing a permanent move for Lingard should undoubtedly be one of the club’s top priorities this summer alongside a new forward to support star striker Michail Antonio.

Only Harry Kane has scored more Premier League goals this calendar year than Lingard and his threat in the final third is undeniable.

According to WhoScored, he also averaged the most shots on goal per 90 domestically for West Ham – perhaps cementing his position as their most dangerous player overall last season.

Valued at around £20 million according to the Sun, we believe Lingard could be worth every penny of that investment.

In other news: West Ham fans rave as Sky Sports share ‘absolutely huge news’, find out more here.

French journalist Joris Crolbois has claimed that Aston Villa are the first club to enter negotiations with highly sought-after FC Metz midfielder Pape Metar Sarr.

The Lowdown: Villa’s summer spending spree

As the Villains continue to embark on their summer spending spree, they now seem to have turned their attention towards the Senegal international as they look to strengthen ahead of 2021/22 [One Football].

The Villa Park outfit have already agreed a deal for Emi Buendia and are linked with James Ward-Prowse as well.

Enjoying a fantastic start to life in Ligue 1, Sarr played 22 times in the top flight this term, notching three goals from midfield [Transfermarkt].

The Latest: Villa the only club to have ‘started talks’ with Sarr

Replying to Villa supporters on Twitter, sports journalist Crolbois (RMC Sport) remarked: “Milan has been following him since February but Villa is the only club to have started talks.”

This indicates that the Midlands side could be in pole position for his signature which will offer major excitement to the Villa Park faithful.

Crolbois continued to say that although ‘Villa is the first club’ to enter talks, ‘other clubs will certainly come’, but also offered some words of encouragement to Villa fans: “He is a player with enormous potential comparable to Camavinga of Rennes. He showed this season, especially against PSG, that he has the level of the biggest clubs in Ligue 1. Let’s see what happens in the Premier League.”

The verdict: Tackling machine

The 18-year-old may add some further bite to the Villa midfield on arrival. Comparatively to the current midfield options, the wonderkid has a higher tackling rate per 90 minutes that John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Marvelous Nakamba and Morgan Sanson [WhoScored].

All in all, the midfielder would be an outstanding coup for Aston Villa if they were to successfully thrash out a deal. With Crolbois’ original report quoting a price tag as high as €30m (£25.8m), he wouldn’t come cheap, but Sarr is a beast in the middle of the park already, and at just 18, will surely only become better and even more valuable.

With the right coaching Sarr could be a Premier League star, potentially netting the Villains some serious sell-on value further down the line too, should his development continue at its current rate.

In other news, Villa fans react to an Emiliano Martinez update.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is interested in signing his fellow Argentine Pedro de La Vega this summer.

What’s the story?

According to Depo, the Whites are keen on landing the versatile 20-year-old winger, with the likes of Aston Villa, Fiorentina and Atalanta also said to be in the running to land him.

The report adds that the starlet is expected to leave Lanus this summer due to the amount of transfer interest in him.

Bye-bye Helder Costa

With Football Insider having recently claimed that Leeds are open to offers for the £70,000-a-week Helder Costa this summer, the Whites would surely be better off cashing in on him and bringing through De La Vega.

Costa endured a nightmare campaign in the Premier League last season for Bielsa’s side, scoring just three times and providing only three assists in 22 games in the division. That has prompted former Leeds players like Noel Whelan to brandish him a “massive flop”, and it’s hard to argue against that assessment.

In De La Vega, they would be getting an exciting young talent who can play on the right like Costa, as well as the opposite flank and through the middle.

A profile from Goal read: “Playing out wide does seem to favour him, however, with his footwork and ability to both play a killer pass and provide the finishing touches to moves having led to him being compared to Angel Di Maria in some quarters, albeit a right-footed version of the Paris Saint-Germain star with slightly more skill than agility.”

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Dubbed as a “real talent” by South American football writer and podcaster Tom Robinson, the £9m-rated gem actually averaged more dribbles than Leeds star Raphinha last season – 2.8 per game compared to the Brazilian’s 1.9.

At just 20, De La Vega could turn into a real superstar under his fellow Argentine in Bielsa.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a major Leeds update…

Leeds United’s Andrea Radrizzani could deliver a major statement this summer by landing Real Madrid’s Marcelo.

What’s the story?

According to The Daily Mirror, Marcelo Bielsa’s side and fellow Premier League outfit Everton are said to be interested in landing the veteran defender this summer, after Madrid decided to sell him.

The report claims that the player’s agents are searching for a new club, especially with his contract expiring in the summer of 2022. It’s also said that it could take a fee of just £5m to prise him away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Would wow the fans

In a glittering career that has seen him make over 500 appearances for Madrid, and 58 caps for his country, Marcelo has truly established himself as a genuine icon at the Santiago Bernabeu and in world football – when you think of some of the best modern-day left-backs, the Brazilian’s name is right up there near the top of the list.

He’s won a mammoth 23 trophies in his time as a footballer, including four Champions Leagues (three in a row between 2015 and 2018), and five La Liga titles.

And, speaking after a special performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, former Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane raved: “Everyone has seen what (he can do with the ball. He’s contributed to the history of this great club and has already been here ten years. It’s also important that one contributes enough to the group and it’s really good to have him here with us as a person and a player.”

It would be a major statement of intent from Radrizzani to lure someone of Marcelo’s iconic status to Elland Road, and would surely send shock-waves around Europe that the club can convince some of the game’s biggest and most high-profile players to join.

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Leeds fans would surely be wowed at the prospect of seeing someone of the Brazilian’s calibre and title-winning credentials rock up. Marquee signings, even those who are near the end of their careers like Marcelo is at 33, can help elevate the profile of a club and have players, agents and fans across the world sit up and take notice.

It would be the kind of signing that gets people talking, and could even act as the catalyst for other big-name signings in the future.

Meanwhile, Bielsa must make a ruthless call on this Leeds United star…

Liverpool are prepared to let Kostas Tsimikas leave the club this summer after he struggled to make an impact last season.

What’s the story?

According to well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (as reported by the Liverpool Echo), the 25-year-old is deemed surplus to requirements on Merseyside and could depart after a single campaign with the English giants.

Tsimikas joined Jurgen Klopp’s charges in an £11.75 million deal from Greek outfit Olympiakos 12 months ago but found opportunities extremely limited thanks to the performances of Andrew Robertson.

Fans will be buzzing

After struggling with multiple injuries in the first half of the campaign, Tsimikas then found himself firmly behind Robertson upon his return to fitness.

This combination limited the Greece international to just three starts in all competitions throughout 2020/21 and just five minutes of Premier League action.

Although his handful of cameo appearances may not be enough to judge the full-back’s talent, a large section of the Liverpool supporters will be buzzing to hear Tsimikas’ nightmare spell may already be coming to an end.

Romano stated: “Let’s see what happens with Tsimikas. He can leave the club,” on a recent edition of his Here We Go podcast, and the revelation may lead to a boost in the club’s transfer budget for the current window.

With the ongoing pandemic continuing to limit the spending power of teams at every level, selling some fringe players appears to be the logical solution to supplement the coffers.

The likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi and Harry Wilson have been linked with a Liverpool exit as a result, and it seems as though Tsimikas is the latest flop to be put up for sale.

It remains to be seen if any side comes in for the unwanted full-back but the departure of the £7.2 million-rated Tsimikas could allow Klopp more room to manoeuvre in the transfer market over the coming months.

With the versatile and experienced James Milner in his ranks, the German tactician may be comfortable not directly replacing the defender, allowing Director of Football Michael Edwards to focus funds on reinforcements in central midfield and up-front instead.

And, in other news…Edwards could find LFC’s new Salah with swoop for 17-goal gem who has lit up the EUROs