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There is another name that Tottenham Hotspur are “looking at” if they cannot seal a sensational return for Christian Eriksen, according to football.london’s Alasdair Gold…

What’s the word?

In a recent Q&A with supporters, the ever-reliable reporter claimed that Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta was someone Spurs had been monitoring ahead of the summer transfer window.

“If he [Eriksen] decides against Spurs then, among others, the club have also been looking at Lyon’s Brazil international Lucas Paqueta, a player Newcastle tried to sign earlier this year,” he revealed.

“The versatile 24-year-old can play in an attacking midfield role, centrally or on the right and can also play up front when required.”

Eriksen is thought to be weighing up “multiple offers” following his impressive comeback at Brentford during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, with the Bees, Spurs and Manchester United all keen on sealing his signature on a free transfer.

Perfect Eriksen alternative

The Dane enjoyed a remarkable return to professional football this year and played a big part in Brentford remaining a top-flight outfit heading into next season.

Across ten appearances, he provided one goal and four assists, also averaging an xG+A of 0.48 and 6.25 progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, Eriksen ranked inside the top 2% for assists and key passes per 90, the top 6% for shots on target, and the top 1% for dead-ball goal-creating actions (set-pieces).

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It’s no wonder Conte is keen to bring him back to Hotspur Way this off-season. However, if he re-signs with Brentford or goes to Manchester United, then Spurs will need a solid alternative, and there won’t be many better than the Lyon maestro.

Paqueta delivered nine goals and six assists across 35 appearances in Ligue 1 last term. He also averaged more xG+A than the Denmark international, registering 0.56 per 90.

When comparing his exploits to the rest of Europe’s elite divisions and his general midfield peers, the 24-year-old dynamo ranks inside the top 1% for shots on target (1.07 per 90), the top 2% for expected assists (0.25 per 90) and the top 2% for shot-creating actions (3.99 per 90), also via FBRef.

Lyon team-mate Jerome Boateng waxed lyrical about the Brazil international, claiming: “He brings so much to our team. He’s running a lot, his skills of course, his technique, his creating chances, his passing, his fighting for the ball, he helps us a lot. And I think he has a big potential to be really a world star in football.”

Also lauded as “amazing” and “extraordinary” by his manager Peter Bosz, the £31.5m-rated star could be the ideal alternative, if not a much better option considering his age and long-term potential, to Eriksen – the only problem would be the fact that a transfer fee would need to be paid.

On the above evidence, though, he would surely be worth every penny, thus making him the perfect signing this summer.

AND in other news, Paratici eyeing Spurs deal for “unstoppable” £17m wizard, could be Conte’s own Dybala…

Liverpool have been boosted in their efforts to sign Marco Asensio this summer, with a new report claiming he is fully expected to leave Real Madrid.

The Lowdown: Ward is ready

The Reds continue to be linked with a number of players in the summer transfer window, as Jurgen Klopp potentially looks to add to the arrivals of Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay.

One individual who has been tipped to move to Anfield is Asensio, who struggled to be a regular for Madrid last season, often having to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench.

Reports during the week suggested Julian Ward is ready to press ahead with a move, and it now looks as though the 26-year-old is indeed set to join a new club in the coming months.

The Latest: Asensio will leave Madrid

According to Marca, both Asensio and Dani Ceballos are expected to move on before the start of next season.

Madrid haven’t offered the Spaniard a new deal yet and are waiting to see what his next decision is, with his current contract expiring this time next year.

This comes after a separate update from the Spanish capital claimed the chances of a Premier League move are getting ‘stronger and stronger’.

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The Verdict: Happy with a squad role?

Asensio is a top-class footballer who has already enjoyed a hugely successful career, winning three Champions League and La Liga crowns apiece, being described as a ‘great player’ by AC Milan manager Stefano Piolo.

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Liverpool are already so well-stocked in attacking areas, however, and it really is difficult to see how the winger would enjoy regular starts under Jurgen Klopp and remain happy.

Both Mohamed Salah and Luiz Diaz are guaranteed key men out wide, so unless Asensio is again happy to play a squad role, it is hard to see a move materialising.

West Ham United are reportedly closing in on a permanent deal for Alphonse Areola this summer after the Frenchman’s impressive loan spell at the London Stadium last season.

What’s the word?

The Hammers have been heavily linked with the shot-stopper in recent weeks, and it seems as if the transfer could soon be confirmed, going by what Fabrizio Romano has posted on Twitter.

On Thursday afternoon, the Italian journalist stated: “West Ham are finally progressing in talks to sign Alphonse Areola on a permanent deal, agreement now getting closer – positive feelings on player side too. West Ham are increasingly confident as Areola deal will cost around €12m.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Given that first-choice ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski will turn 38 next season, signing a younger, long-term replacement for the Poland international was always likely to be a priority for David Moyes this summer.

He can already trust Areola after his excellent performances last season, with the 29-year-old making 11 appearances in West Ham’s fairytale Europa League run, while he also excelled in his three Carabao Cup outings, obtaining two Man of the Match billings from WhoScored.

If Romano’s reports are true and Areola is brought in for as little as €12m (£10.3m), it could prove to be a bargain deal for the Hammers, as signing an established Premier League goalkeeper (37 appearances) who is still only 29 represents excellent business for GSB.

While it is unknown whether Areola will become the Irons’ number one next season – Fabianski’s was still the club’s seventh-best player of 2021/22 according to WhoScored – West Ham fans would surely be delighted to see the Frenchman return on a permanent basis.

Club legend Mark Noble was full of praise for the 29-year-old last term, saying: “Alphonse knows Lukasz is number one at the minute but he’s great around the boys, he doesn’t sulk, he comes in and he’s been fantastic in the Europa League games that he’s played and fantastic in the Carabao Cup games.”

Considering West Ham’s propensity to leave deals until the last moment, supporters will no doubt be happy that Areola is seemingly on the brink of joining so early in the transfer window.

In other news… Roshane Thomas drops West Ham transfer update which will have supporters fuming

Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham has suggested that Emerson Royal could be sold this summer as a result of not being a homegrown player.

The Lowdown: Spurs reject Atletico offer

The Brazilian first made the move to the Premier League when he joined the Lilywhites from Barcelona last summer, making 44 appearances across all competitions in his debut season in N17.

Despite the 23-year-old still having a solid four years remaining on his contract though, the right-back has recently been linked with a move away from the English top-flight, with Atletico Madrid interested in signing him this window.

Football Insider reported earlier this week that the Spanish giants had tabled an offer for the defender after hearing that Antonio Conte would be willing to let him leave, but the opening proposal was rejected by Spurs, as per Sky Sports.

The Latest: Wenham’s exit claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham claimed that Emerson would be let go by Tottenham this window due to his non-homegrown status complicating squad registration next season. He said: “I feel a bit sorry for Emerson.

“Towards the end of the season, he actually did really, really well. He contributed to us finishing in the top four.

“The issue for him is that he is Brazilian and doesn’t count as homegrown or anything like that. The issue with that is, if it is between him and Matt Doherty who needs to be sold, it will be him.

“It’s unlucky, it really is unlucky. I hate to say it but that’s just how it is. There are reports saying Atletico are interested.

“That is one to watch in the coming days.”

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The Verdict: Not in the long-term vision

With Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence closing in on a move to Spurs, it’s likely that he would be Conte’s first-choice right-back over Emerson, so an exit could be the best option for both parties.

The Sao Paulo-born talent, who was once hailed an ‘incredible’ player by club correspondent Alasdair Gold, doesn’t have the attacking ability down the flank that the Italian boss looks for in his wing-backs, having only provided one assist all last campaign, compared to Spence’s five.

Tottenham definitely won’t want to let Emerson go for a significant loss, but the interest in Spence proves he isn’t part of Conte’s long-term plan, and therefore, a departure is very much likely to be on the cards.

Ajax have agreed a fee with Tottenham over winger Steven Bergwijn, with the player snubbing a move to Everton in the process, according to 90min journalist Sean Walsh.

The Lowdown: Everton linked with Bergwijn

The Toffees have been mentioned in Spurs’ transfer news a lot recently, with the north London club having secured a £60m agreement for Richarlison and further links suggesting that Antonio Conte is keening on taking Anthony Gordon to Hotspur Way this summer.

However, Frank Lampard’s side have been credited with an interest in signing Lilywhites forward Bergwijn, after it appeared that the Dutchman was heading for the exit door in N17.

90min reported that Everton had offered the 24-year-old a more lucrative offer than strong favourites Ajax, throwing the player’s future into the air ahead of next season.

The Latest: Walsh’s news

Walsh has now shared the latest news surrounding Bergwijn’s imminent future.

Taking to Twitter on Monday in sharing a report for 90min, the reliable journalist claimed: “As has been reported in the Netherlands this morning, understand Ajax have agreed to pay Spurs £30m (including add-ons) for Steven Bergwijn. He snubbed a move to Everton in the process.”

This follows news from Dutch journalist Mike Verweij, who claimed that both Everton and Manchester United were willing to pay £35m for the winger, but the player only wanted a move to Ajax.

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The Verdict: Blow for Everton

Labelled a ‘talented’ and ‘unique’ player by former Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Bergwijn could well have been an ideal replacement for Richarlison at Everton.

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the Netherlands international ranks in the 98th percentile for non-penalty expected goals and in the 97th percentile for progressive passes received (via FBRef).

On the other hand, Richarlison surprisingly ranks in the 32nd percentile for non-penalty expected goals and in the 4th percentile for progressive passes received (via FBRef), so the Dutchman may well have been an improvement on the former Toffees winger in some respects.

Therefore, with Ajax pipping Everton to the 24-year-old’s signature, this will come as a major blow to Lampard’s side.

Sunderland have had a relatively quiet start to the summer transfer window since earning promotion back to the Championship.

They have signed Jack Clarke and Leon Dajaku on permanent deals following their loan spells at the Stadium of Light last term and the only fresh face to come through the door so far has been Daniel Ballard from Arsenal.

Kristjaan Speakman still has around six weeks left to complete business and the club have been linked with a number of players throughout the summer.

Last month, Football Insider claimed that the Black Cats are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign attacking midfielder Ravel Morrison ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He is currently a free agent after leaving Derby County and the club may now snap him up to bolster their midfield options, if they can beat off competition from the other sides eyeing him up.

Alex Neil’s own Paul Gascoigne

The head coach can now land his own version of Gascoigne by signing the £4.7k-per-week gem in the coming weeks.

Lee Clark compared him to the English icon back in 2014, saying: “He is the best footballer since Paul Gascoigne. If Paul Gascoigne had not done his knee he would have become the best player in the world.

“I played with Paul. I grew up with Paul. The only thing is that Ravel doesn’t know who Paul Gascoigne is! He has the pace of a wide-man. He has the balance but plays in the middle of the pitch because he can manoeuvre the ball.”

Whilst the attacking midfielder’s career has not quite reached the heights that Clark expected it to, Morrison did showcase his quality in the Championship last season.

The gem produced four goals and four assists – creating six ‘big chances’ in total – in 25 starts as Derby were relegated from the second tier.

He has also had his playstyle praised as Rio Ferdinand previously quoted Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder as saying: “Rav – unpredictable, maverick, humble, a natural, and frustrating.”

Morrison is an exciting midfielder who is capable of coming up with magic moments, like Gascoigne, as proven by these comments and his statistics last season.

Therefore, Neil can land his own version of the former Tottenham man by signing the 29-year-old and must push Speakman to secure a deal before the start of the campaign.

AND in other news, Big blow: Sunderland dealt pre-season injury setback that’ll leave Alex Neil gutted…

Celtic are now ‘unlikely’ to sign striker Jordan Larsson in the summer transfer window, with reliable journalist Anthony Joseph downplaying the rumour.

The Lowdown: Larsson linked with move

The 24-year-old is the son of Hoops legend Henrik Larsson and is currently without a club after his deal at Spartak Moscow expired.

Larsson, dubbed a ‘dangerous’ player by journalist Josh Bunting, has been linked with a move to Celtic in recent weeks, in what would certainly be an evocative move for the fans, given the incredible impact his father made at Parkhead.

It looks as though that transfer may now be off the table, however, following a new update from the reliable Joseph.

The Latest: Joseph plays down rumour

Speaking to Give Me Sport, the Sky Sports correspondent said he can’t see the move happening this summer:

“Everyone’s seen the pictures of him as a little boy running around the pitch with his Dad.

“So, the emotional pull for that would be huge, but Celtic aren’t going down that path and certainly not yet and from what I’ve been told it’s unlikely Celtic will offer a contract to Jordan Larsson and make anything formal.”

The Verdict: Onto the next target

One thing that is important is not to let emotions overtake business decisions, which is something that could have happened with the Larsson situation.

Granted, he is a promising talent who has one goal in seven caps for Sweden – Marcus Allback claimed he’s a ‘great player’ and perfect fit for the Hoops – but he has also not been retained by Spartak for a reason and he doesn’t exactly have top clubs lining up to secure his services.

The idea of Larsson in a Celtic shirt was clearly enticing but Ange Postecoglou is savvier than simply signing a player for emotional reasons, so it is likely that he is looking for a different striker to come in instead.

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has thanked Raphinha for his role in helping the Whites to retain their Premier League status for the upcoming season. 

The lowdown: Pastures new

Signed in October 2020 from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, the talented Brazilian recently completed a £55m switch to Barcelona (BBC), the most lucrative player sale in Elland Road history.

The 25-year-old directly contributed to 29 goals in 67 outings during his time at Leeds and was a key figure as Jesse Marsch’s side avoided relegation on the final day, scoring in the 2-1 victory over Brentford to ensure top-flight safety.

Despite moving on so soon after having played an integral role in the Whites’ cause, one heavily invested figure has lauded Raphinha for his time at Elland Road…

The latest: Whelan praises Raphinha

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan – who works as a club ambassador/employee for Leeds – heralded the impact of the nine-cap Brazil star, who he believes will forever remain a fan favourite at Elland Road.

The 47-year-old said of Raphinha: “He gave everything to keep Leeds United in the Premier League. Even if he knew that if we went down, the fee would have been a lot more acceptable and affordable for Barcelona.

“I think he proved to everyone his commitment to Leeds United. He was a massive, pivotal part of us staying up. For that, I think he’ll always be welcomed by the fans and by the football club for that honesty and leaving everything out there on the field.

“It was a great pleasure to watch him, even if it was for such a small amount of time. He can leave now with his head held high.”

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The verdict: Raphinha has been ‘phenomenal’

While it’s never nice to lose such a key part of the squad (Raphinha was Leeds’ highest-rated first-team regular last season by WhoScored), fending off the advances of Barcelona with all the lure and lustre of the Catalan giants was always going to prove difficult for Leeds and the Brazilian.

Ultimately, despite the debt-ridden La Liga club struggling to make their finances work, Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizanni managed to recoup a healthy sum up front for the balletic 25-year-old, who was recently dubbed ‘phenomenal’ by Tim Sherwood.

Last season, Raphinha scored 11 times and provided three assists in 35 Premier League outings, earning a superb 6.97 Sofascore rating. He won 5.2 duels, made 1.9 key passes and completed 1.8 successful dribbles per game to showcase a penchant for the spectacular which was apparent throughout his time in Yorkshire.

There is no doubt that the skillset and output of the versatile attacker will be sorely missed, but Marsch has already proven to be an astute operator in the transfer market, and there remains optimism that the 2022/23 season can be a positive one at Elland Road.

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker could potentially join Everton in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Dendoncker a Wolves stalwart

The Belgian may not always steal the limelight as much as some players but he has proven to be an important squad player for Wanderers since joining from Anderlecht back in 2019.

Dendoncker has made 154 appearances for Wolves overall, including 120 in the Premier League, and he has been hailed as ‘brilliant’ by teammate Max Kilman.

The 27-year-old’s current Wanderers deal expires next summer with the option of an additional year, however, and a worrying update has emerged regarding his future.

The Latest: Everton keen on move

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed Everton’s interest in Dendoncker, with Frank Lampard having him on a ‘list’ of potential midfield signings:

“Everton want to sign an extra quality midfielder. Frank Lampard has also Leander Dendoncker in the list, he’s appreciated by board and manager. Everton, ready to explore this move in the next weeks.

“Contract with Wolves expires in 2023, with option for further season.”

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The Verdict: Another potential midfield blow

As mentioned, Dendoncker may not be considered a star man for Wolves by many, but he is a player who knows his job and often does it in an effective fashion.

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With Ruben Neves still likely to leave Molineux this summer, and with Joao Moutinho turning 36 later this year, losing Dendoncker would be a big blow for Bruno Lage.

Should it happen, it only further strengthens the need for additions in the middle of the park, with rumoured target Matheus Nunes an ideal signing, if Wolves can get it over the line.

He would provide both defensive quality and attacking thrust, having averaged 1.3 tackles and 2.5 dribbles per game in the Primeira Liga last season.

A big claim has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies remain keen on a deal to sign the England international, who has a reported price tag of £60m, ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

“Calvert-Lewin is still the guy that they would love to lead their attack. Obviously, we haven’t seen an aggressive push to sign him at this point.

“I think they’re trying to get the kind of figures into place that might convince Everton to do business. They know they don’t want to sell the player.

“So you’re going to have to put forward a good offer from day one, if it’s going to happen.”

Imagine him & Allan Saint-Maximin

The gem, who was once hailed as being “cold” in front of goal by Carlo Ancelotti, could form an exciting partnership with Newcastle’s French magician if they are able to bring him in this summer.

Saint-Maximin’s creativity out wide could provide the striker with the chances he needs to make a big impact in the Premier League next season.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the former Nice man produced five goals and five assists from out wide, whilst creating seven ‘big chances’ and providing 1.4 key passes per game. The winger has shown that he has the quality to put opportunities on a plate for his teammates in the top-flight, with his statistics suggesting that he deserved more than five assists.

Calvert-Lewin’s form in the last few years suggests that he could be the goalscoring predator the club need to make the most of Saint-Maximin’s chance creation.

During an injury-hit 2021/22 campaign, the Everton talisman scored five goals in 15 starts. This came after he racked up 16 goals in 32 starts the season before that – averaging a superb SofaScore rating of 7.10.

He also produced 13 goals in 30 starts in 2019/20 for the Toffees and has broken into the England national team – playing twice in the European Championships last year.

These statistics show that he is capable of making a big impact at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League and that is why he could form an exciting partnership with Saint-Maximin. Just imagine the Englishman diving low to head in the Frenchman’s crosses at St. James’ Park next term…

AND in other news, Imagine him & ASM: NUFC can form dream duo in swoop to sign “wonderful” £50m dynamo…