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Chelsea have opened discussions with Ajax for attacking midfielder Mohamed Kudus, according to David Ornstein.

The Blues are close to an agreement on personal terms with the player.

Who is Mohamed Kudus joining this summer?

The Ghanaian international is a player in demand this summer.

Chelsea are the most recent club to try and make a move for the 22-year-old, with reports stating that the club have made contact with not only Ajax but also the player's representatives. Whilst no official offer has been submitted yet, dialogue between all parties has taken place and the club are considering the player among a host of other targets. It is also reported that personal terms will not be an issue, with an agreement close regarding that matter already.

Arsenal are also interested in the midfielder, with a report from FootballTransfers stating that the Ghanaian prefers a move to Mikel Arteta's side this summer over a switch to Stamford Bridge due to the Gunners' participation in this season's Champions League. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can afford to do this deal however, having already spent over £200m this summer, reports state that the sales of players such as Folarin Balogun and Kieran Tierney could be required first before any move for Kudus can be attempted.

Earlier on in the window Brighton and Hove Albion were interested in the player's signature, with manager Roberto de Zerbi reportedly assessing his midfield options ahead of the clubs first Europa League campaign, however that move seemed to stall as Brighton were unwilling to meet the £40m asking price for the player.

Speaking on the FIVEUK YouTube channel, Ornstein revealed that Kudus is one of a number of options being surveyed by Chelsea, with the club having held discussions with all parties:

"Chelsea came to the fore, but Brighton had initially been the leading contenders, but that one seems to have gone quiet. Obviously Chelsea are looking to strengthen in their attacking midfield department and as I understand there has been some dialogue with Ajax as well as the player side that has made an agreement close on personal terms. Whether that has moved forwards since then I don’t know, and let’s see because Chelsea will be surveying a number of options."

Would Kudus be a good signing?

Kudus could be a bargain signing if he's able to realise his potential.

The versatile player who can feature all across the attack as well as in attacking midfield enjoyed the finest season of his career last season, registering 25 goals and assists in just 42 outings across all competitions last term as Ajax just missed out on the Eredivisie title.

Kudus is also one of the most exciting young players in the world with the ball, ranking in the top one percent for successful take-ons per 90 and the top four percent for attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area, showcasing that even if he is struggling to find the back of the net, the quality he has and the threat he carries makes him a handful for defenders

Former Ballon D'Or winner Marco Van Basten was full of praise for the attacking midfielder, stating:

"I find Mohammed Kudus a much better football player than Antony. Kudus has much better technique and he knows what he is doing. Antony may be faster, but Kudus is smarter and more technical. He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team. In fact, I like him much better than Antony. He's more fun to watch play.”

Should the Blues complete the deal, they will have a very exciting player on their hands, who could form incredible partnerships with the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Enzo Fernandez

It is "crucial" for Manchester United to find buyers for Donny van de Beek and Fred this summer, as their transfer strategy relies on it, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Are Donny van de Beek and Fred leaving Manchester United this summer?

It has been a strong transfer window for Erik ten Hag's Red Devils so far this summer, at least in a buying sense.

The arrivals of Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund should all instantly improve the first team and be around long enough to help the Dutchman build his perfect side.

The former Ajax boss would probably like to add more players to the team this summer, with Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat one of the names heavily linked to the club.

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

Unfortunately for the player, and manager, United now have to sell some of their current players to make space for the Moroccan, per The Telegraph.

Two of the names who could potentially leave are former Ajax midfielder van de Beek and Brazilian international Fred.

The latter has been linked with a move to Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray. However, despite personal terms not being an issue, there is currently a gap in the player's valuation from both sides, per Sky Sports.

In van de Beek's case, it looks as if his miserable time in the northwest might finally be coming to an end, as a report from Spanish publication Noticias de Gipuzkoa (via the Daily Mail) has claimed that La Liga side Real Sociedad are working on a deal to take him on loan next season, with an option to buy for £8m.

Transfers expert Fabrizio Romano explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"For Man United, it's crucial to find a solution for Donny van de Beek. Real Sociedad are interested, but also, for Fred, we know the interest of Galatasaray, but I'm told that there is still no agreement with Galatasaray at the moment.

"They tried a few days ago to attack the situation, but some other club could enter the race, so it's not guaranteed yet [for] Galatasaray. There are also other clubs in the race. Let's see what happens with Fred.

"For Man United, it is crucial to sell him to make room for Sofyan Amrabat, [who is] waiting for an official bid, not arrived yet."

Who else at Manchester United is linked with an exit?

While the attention seems to be on van de Beek and Fred at the moment, who else could be heading for the door at Old Trafford?

The player that has undoubtedly received the most coverage regarding a potential departure this summer has been former captain Harry Maguire.

The England international has had a rather bleak couple of seasons at the Theatre of Dreams, compounded by the removal of the captaincy earlier this month, and he has since been linked to several clubs in England and abroad.

The Premier League side that have appeared the most interested thus far have been West Ham United, who, after seeing their initial £20m offer rejected by United, are now considering whether or not they will go back in, per Football Insider.

The same publication revealed earlier this month that the three-time European champions would be willing to sell the former Foxes star at a massive loss, around £35m, but that has been complicated somewhat by Maguire wanting his £10m-a-year contract paid out before he agrees to leave.

It looks like the Red Devils are going to be busy for the rest of the summer as they try their best to shift the players that Ten Hag has deemed unnecessary to his new project.

West Ham United are finally beginning to make some headway in the transfer market.

The Irons have made a combined £60m bid for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, whilst they have also agreed a £32m deal to sign Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez.

One of the other names at the top of the Hammers’ agenda is Ian Maatsen.

What’s the latest on Ian Maatsen to West Ham?

According to Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the Irons are 'considered frontrunners' to sign the Chelsea youngster, should he leave Stamford Bridge.

It's thought that the young full-back is keen to stay at the west London outfit but wants assurances over his development plan and long-term prospects at the club before agreeing to a new deal.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The Netherlands U21 international has just one year left on his current contract, leaving a host of clubs keeping a watchful eye over developments, including West Ham.

Eredivisie giants Ajax and Ligue 1 side RC Lens are also thought to be in the race to land Maatsen, whilst another loan stint away from the Blues hasn't been ruled out yet.

He is currently valued at around £20m.

Would Ian Maatsen be a good signing for West Ham?

In Mauricio Pochettino’s short reign at the Chelsea helm, the 21-year-old gem has been described as “exceptional” by Kinsella due to his performances in pre-season. Across five games, he notched two games and an assist, whilst being forced to play out of position due to the more senior figures of Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella.

If he opts to stay at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine coach is set to play him as a winger or an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system.

This creates an interesting conundrum for Maatsen, as West Ham’s interest would likely see him deployed in his more conventional left-back role. Moreover, long-serving servant Aaron Cresswell has been linked with a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which would seemingly create space for the youngster at the London Stadium.

Whilst on loan at Burnley last term, Clarets boss Vincent Kompany described Maatsen as a “very versatile full-back with lots of energy and great potential."

This versatility has stemmed from his adaptability to differing positional demands.

At Turf Moor, he recorded the joint-second most assists (6) and the third-most interceptions per game (1.4). This blend of defensive solidity and attacking verve means he is capable of across the left-hand side, a trait noted by Pochettino and Kompany.

Therefore, Hammers boss David Moyes would likely view Maatsen as competition for Emerson, who endured an inconsistent debut season in east London.

Over the past 365 days, the Dutch outranks the Italian for a number of metrics including shot-creating actions per 90 (2.38 vs 1.98), progressive passes per 90 (6.21 vs 3.07), progressive carries per 90 (3.36 vs 2.59), tackles per 90 (2.18 vs 1.77), and interceptions per 90 (1.51 vs 1.02), via FBref.

Perhaps Emerson is a victim of Moyes’ rigidly unattractive style of play, but ultimately the 29-year-old dud only managed 16 Premier League starts without any injuries, so he looks easily replaceable.

After Maatsen’s glittering showings in the Championship and in the early stages for Chelsea this summer, it could well be a commendable coup for the 2023 Europa Conference League winners and one that spells trouble for the West Ham full-back.

Everton are interested in signing Brazilian winger Tete this summer after he impressed in spells on loan with Leicester City in the Premier League last season.

What's the latest on Tete to Everton?

That's according to transfer insider Rudy Galetti – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who has stated that the 23-year-old is considering a move to Goodison Park following the club's interest, though he is attracting attention elsewhere too.

Galetti said:

“Tete from Shakhtar Donetsk is another name under discussion. His entourage is offering him around Europe and Everton are evaluating the moves to make. Youssef Chermiti from Sporting is a leading into finalisation and is a shot for the future. Over the weekend, he should do his medical visits at the club.”

Tete is believed to have terminated his contract with Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk and, as such, could represent an excellent and shrewd piece of business for Sean Dyche's side.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Only Wolverhampton Wanderers finished with fewer goals in the 22/23 Premier League season, and while Tete suffered relegation with the Foxes this year, he could make a marked impact on Everton's future fortunes.

How good is Tete?

Leicester completed the signing of Tete on a six-month loan deal in January and while the player started well, scoring a goal on his Premier League debut as the Foxes dismantled Aston Villa 4-2, he failed to add to the tally.

He did complete 77% of his passes, averaging 1.2 shots per game and completing 67% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, which illustrates the impact he could have on an Everton outfit yearning for a progressive, forward-thinking force.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 26% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 25% for progressive carries, the top 23% for tackles and the top 27% for interceptions per 90.

While said metrics aren't the most striking, they highlight his all-encompassing skill set that could be nurtured and used as a framework at Goodison Park, with the opportunity to cement a regular starting berth as one of the Toffees' centrepieces surely an arresting element.

The "hurricane" – as he has been described by Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin – is a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm, with a fleet-footed stride to faze the opposition in their defensive objective.

FBref lists Wilfried Zaha as a comparable player to the 5 foot 9 dynamo, and given the Crystal Palace legend's talismanic career at Selhurst Park, Tete could emulate his positional peer with Everton and provide Dyche with his own version.

Zaha has recently signed for Turkish giants Galatasaray on a free transfer after making 458 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 90 goals and supplying 76 assists, and departing as a revered figure, he has been dubbed "electric" and a "complete player" by Neil Warnock.

The 30-year-old ranks among the top 30% of attacking midfielders and wingers for goals, the top 22% for successful take-ons and the top 29% for interceptions per 90, and again, while these are not the most impressive rankings around, he remains a first-class ball-carrier and makes an impact that falls outside the conventions of direct goal contributions.

Everton need to rekindle their offensive fluidity and after selling Richarlison and Anthony Gordon over the past year, it is now imperative that a new star arrives at the club, and Tete, who is currently a free agent and was hailed as "immaculate" by Brendan Rodgers, must be snapped up in a heartbeat.

Leeds United have allowed a host of first-team players to move on from Elland Road this summer but are trying to keep hold of Wilfried Gnonto.

Who has left Leeds this summer?

Robin Koch, Brenden Aaronson, Max Wober, Marc Roca, and Rasmus Kristensen have all left the club on loan deals until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts, Joel Robles, and Adam Forshaw have also departed the Yorkshire-based outfit either on permanent or free transfers.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

However, they are not prepared to let Gnonto leave without a fight. The Italy international was absent for the League Cup win over Shrewsbury after he asked to be left out of the squad.

He is now back in training and is expected to be with the team for the Championship clash with Birmingham City, with The Athletic's Phil Hay reporting that the club are resisting the temptation to cash in on him.

If Leeds are able to keep hold of the talented youngster, Daniel Farke could land Gnonto a dream partner in attack by signing reported transfer target Joel Pohjanpalo, who reportedly has a release clause of €4m (£3.4m).

How good is Joel Pohjanpalo?

The Venezia centre-forward is coming off the back of an impressive campaign in Serie B and could be the ideal player to play alongside the Italian dynamo this season.

Pohjanpalo is a physically imposing striker who "creates problems" – as per journalist Josh Bunting – for defenders with his strength, which could allow him to complement Gnonto as the 19-year-old ace is not a towering attacker who can bully the opposition.

Last season, the teenage wizard won 0.3 aerial battles per game across the Premier League campaign and lost a whopping 69% of his duels in the air.

Whereas, the Finland international won 2.9 aerial contests per match for Venezia and came out on top in 51% of that type of physical duel, which shows that the 28-year-old brute is strong in the air and capable of holding off opposition defenders to win flick-ons and hold the ball up.

This means that Pohjanpalo could be the focal point of Farke's attack and this would allow Gnonto to use his sharpness and pace to make things happen around the ex-Bayer Leverkusen forward.

The current Leeds attacker ranked within the top 13% of his positional peers for progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League last season. This suggests that the talented hotshot excels at picking up the ball in deep positions to drive the team up the pitch.

He would, therefore, be suited to a deeper role – possibly as a number ten – behind Pohjanpalo to utilise their respective strengths in the best possible way as an exciting pairing at the top end of the pitch.

Pohjanpalo could also be a fantastic addition to the squad as he is a proven goalscorer. The Finnish marksman racked up 19 goals in 37 Serie B matches for Venezia last term, which is six more than any Whites player managed throughout the 2022/23 top-flight campaign.

Therefore, the reported Leeds target could improve Farke's options in attack and provide him with the perfect foil for Gnonto, if the club can keep hold of the ex-Inter prodigy.

Newcastle United have enjoyed a fairly strong start to the Premier League season, humiliating Aston Villa on the opening day, 5-1 before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Eddie Howe's side could get even better yet, too, with the transfer window coming to a close, and reports suggesting that the Magpies could make a last-gasp attempt to welcome another attacking reinforcement.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

So far this summer, Newcastle have welcomed a total of five fresh faces, with Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali, and, most-recently, Lewis Hall being the pick of the bunch.

Whilst Hall is still awaiting his debut after securing his move from Chelsea so recently, Barnes and Tonali have already impressed for their new club, scoring on their respective debuts against Aston Villa.

It comes as little surprise that Newcastle have added plenty of depth this summer, too, given that they've got Champions League football to contend with this season, as well as an attempt to make it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League.

Howe will know just how important it is to welcome as much quality as possible if he wants to compete on all fronts, and with that, could reportedly add one more reinforcement.

According to Spazio Napoli, as per Sport Witness, Newcastle could make a "last-minute" attempt to sign Napoli winger Hirving Lozano before the summer transfer window comes to an end.

The Mexican has found himself at somewhat of a crossroads in Italy with his contract coming to an end next summer, and Napoli keen to cash in, perhaps ending in a farewell in the coming days.

It remains to be seen just how much the Serie A champions would demand for Lonzano, but, given that his contract comes to an end next summer, it will not be an inflated price.

Should Newcastle United sign Hirving Lozano?

After losing Allan Saint-Maximin to Saudi Arabia this summer, Newcastle could certainly do with depth on the flanks, even after welcoming Barnes.

Lozano, like Saint-Maximin, is more of a direct option than others, with his take-on success sitting at 48.7% last season, and significantly better than Barnes' 29.7%. Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, had a take-on success rate of 57.6%.

At his best, Lozano is a player capable of causing havoc in one-on-one situations, and has earned plenty of praise when on top form in the past, including from former Napoli manager Luciano Spalleti.

Spalleti said, via American Post: "He is a splendid boy, above all, of a unique quality. But here everyone has that ability. He is very good, he has delayed his condition a bit in this championship due to the injury he suffered. Now I see him very motivated and smiling. I see him a bit like Osimhen, I see him in the right environment for him."

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

With that said, everything points towards a player that Newcastle would do well in welcoming before the end of the transfer window. As things stand, however, their interest is that, and only that, as we wait and see whether they push on with a deal for Lozano.

Arsenal have now been provided with another update on their pursuit of Galatasaray centre-back Victor Nelsson by journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

With Jurrien Timber forecast to miss the majority of the season due to the serious knee injury he sustained in the 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest, Mikel Arteta is scouring the market for a replacement, and he has settled on a four-man shortlist.

Although he remains firmly in Galasaray's plans for now, Nelsson is one of the players on the manager's list of targets, with a deal seemingly doable, considering he has a release clause of just €25m (£21m) included in his contract with the Turkish club.

A move for the 24-year-old may end up being the most viable option available to the Gunners, as deals for the other centre-backs they are known to have an interest in could prove to be very tricky, with Crystal Palace set to hold out for more than £60m if they are to sell Marc Guehi.

Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba would also be very expensive, with the Bundesliga club demanding £50m if they are to sanction the Burkina Faso international's departure, while Barcelona have no interest in letting Eric Garcia leave on loan at this stage of the window.

With their shortlist thinning, Arsenal could end up making Nelsson one of their priority targets, and Galetti has recently told GiveMeSport that the defender is of growing interest to the north Londoners.

The journalist said: "Talking about the possible incoming moves after the injury of Jurrien Timber, Arsenal are looking for a new centre-back. On their list is four different options. One of them is Victor Nelsson. The Galatasaray defender has a release clause of €25m (£21m) and he's climbing position on Arsenal's shortlist, which has four different names."

Read The Latest Arsenal Transfer News HERE

Is Victor Nelsson signing for Arsenal?

It would be a surprise if Galatasaray are happy to let the Denmark international leave this summer, with board member Resit Omer Kukner clearly a big fan, considering how highly he spoke about him on X in March 2022, saying:

"Dear Victor Nelsson, You are Galatasaray's first Danish player. Beside being a great athlete devoted to his Club, your attitude on and off the pitch is winning hearts of millions. Your jersey gesture after the match is beyond description. You are our Danish lion!"

However, as the Galatasaray star has a £21m release clause in his contract, the club's hands are tied, and the player himself reportedly wants to move to the Premier League, with journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu claiming England would be his first choice, ahead of La Liga.

As such, Arsenal would seemingly stand a very good chance of signing the Danish defender, should they be willing to fork out £21m, and there are indications he could be a solid addition to Arteta's squad.

At 24, Nelsson is likely to be entering his prime over the next few years, but he has already done enough to establish himself as a vital player for Galatasaray over the past two seasons, making 86 appearances in all competitions.

A new report claims that Everton's decision to terminate the contract of Jean-Philippe Gbamin could now set them back millions.

What's happening at Everton at the moment?

The Blues picked up their first Premier League point of the season on Saturday lunchtime, drawing 2-2 away to Sheffield United in an entertaining contest. While far from a perfect result, especially having taken the lead at Bramall Lane in the first half, there were still positives to take from the game, suggesting that further improvements will be made after the international break.

It has been a fairly good summer in the transfer market in terms of finally adding some attacking prowess, signing Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal and bringing in Beto permanently from Udinese, but there have also been concerns about allowing players to leave without proper replacements lined up.

Some current players also don't feel like they will cut the mustard under Sean Dyche, such as Demarai Gray, who has recently hinted at his displeasure at not playing enough currently, and another individual's time at Goodison Park has come to an end, following a new update.

What's the news on Jean-Philippe Gbamin?

According to Football Insider, Everton's decision to pay Gbamin off is going to be a huge hit to Farhad Moshiri's pocket:

"Everton have paid a high seven-figure sum to terminate the contract of Jean-Phillipe Gbamin, sources have told Football Insider. It was announced on deadline day last Friday by the Merseysiders that the club had agreed with the midfielder to terminate his contract with immediate effect.

"Everton eventually decided to cut their losses by paying off a big chunk of Gbamin’s contract, which was worth more than £100,000-a-week. It is believed that the final cost was, as one source said, a 'high seven-figure sum'."

Gbamin really has become something of a forgotten man for Everton, having joined from Mainz back in 2019, making just eight appearances in that time. He has been loaned out to both CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor, showing that other Blues manager haven't rated him, and it makes complete sense to get rid of him.

It is pointless keeping unwanted players at Goodison, especially as it can potentially hamper the team spirit within the squad, so it is good to see the club acting fast and disposing of the 27-year-old. Of course, it is a financial hit, which isn't ideal for Moshiri, but sometimes it feels necessary.

Former Everton manager Rafa Benitez did once hail Gbamin for "training well" during their time together at the club, but that is about the highest praise he has received, which speaks volumes about his lack of impact in a Blues shirt.

The 17-time capped Ivory Coast international will certainly go down as a hugely disappointing signing by Everton, considering there were relatively high expectations of him when he arrived and he cost £25m, and it is important that similar errors are avoided when it comes to incomings moving forward.

In the summer of 2023, Tottenham Hotspur finally said goodbye to record goalscorer Harry Kane, who left for Bayern Munich after months of speculation. The bid, worth an initial €100m (£86.4m) according to the BBC, is one of the biggest sales in Premier League history.

But where does it rank for Tottenham themselves? We have taken a look at who Spurs have received the big bucks for over the years.

10

Michael Carrick to Manchester United – £18.6m

This was quite a bit of money back in 2006, but Spurs will almost certainly look back on this with regret. Michael Carrick would go on to be a fixture with United, playing 11 full seasons there and winning absolutely everything.

But perhaps this was the start of an unfortunate trend for Spurs. Here they were with a world-class talent, only to sell him on to another club where he’d be much more successful.

There was little suggestion that Carrick would stay at Tottenham, but it’s a trend they’ve yet to really pull out of.

The £18.6m fee they received just wasn’t worth losing Carrick in the end – and it wouldn’t be for the last time we say that.

9

Robbie Keane to Liverpool – £19m

Here’s a bizarre one. Robbie Keane was Spurs’ star player in 2008, and Liverpool signing him for £19m was a real statement of intent from the Reds – and a serious blow to Tottenham.

He was their captain, after all, and Daniel Levy publicly spoke of their disappointment that Keane wanted a move. But not to worry! He was back within six months.

Liverpool signed Keane on the idea that he’d form a tandem with Fernando Torres, allowing Steven Gerrard to shift back into midfield.

Only, it quickly became apparent that Torres and Keane were nowhere near as good a partnership as Torres and Gerrard were, with the Irishman finding himself on the bench.

The Reds wanted to sell, and Spurs were all too happy to get him back, initially on loan, in the next transfer window.

8

Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid – £20m

Kieran Trippier was a very well-regarded right-back at Spurs, but never actually played more than 27 Premier League games in a season. It wasn’t an enormous shock that he moved on to Atletico, then – but again, in hindsight, he’s a player Tottenham would rather have kept.

Trippier enjoyed a fantastic two and a half years in Madrid, even winning La Liga in 2021. He’d bring it to an end in 2022, though, as one of the headline signings of Newcastle United’s new era.

He’s since become one of the best right-backs in the Premier League, winning the Magpies’ Player of the Year award in 2023 as they finished 4th. So again, the £20m that Spurs received doesn’t quite look worth it.

7

Oliver Skipp to Leicester – £25m

After failing to muscle his way into Ange Postecoglou’s first-team plans, Oliver Skipp called time on his stay at Spurs to join newly promoted Leicester City in the summer of 2024.

Skipp also struggled for game time in his first campaign at the King Power, so Tottenham collecting £25m for his services certainly looks a great deal from their point of view.

6

Steven Bergwijn to Ajax – £26m

Tottenham signed Steven Bergwijn in January 2020 and were hoping he’d further boost a very exciting attacking lineup at the club. Here was a player who could back up Son Heung-min, essentially.

It just never really worked out. Bergwijn rarely started and just wasn’t the attacking threat Spurs had hoped for. Scoring just eight goals in 83 appearances wasn’t exactly worth what they paid for him.

Fortunately, Ajax were happy to take him back to the Eredivisie and paid £26.4m for the privilege – essentially what Spurs paid PSV Eindhoven in the first place.

5

Luka Modric to Real Madrid – £30m

This one possibly hurts the most – until Kane’s departure, perhaps. Luka Modric was an outstanding player for Tottenham, running their midfield and becoming one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League.

His move to Real Madrid, costing around £30m, didn’t go well at first – he was named the worst transfer in La Liga during his first season.

But to say things turned around is an understatement. Modric has since gone on to become one of the greatest and most successful midfielders of all time. That’s really not overselling it.

Spurs sold him for £30m plus ‘an agreement’ with Real that had president Florentino Perez “[looking] forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years”. We’ll get to that one soon enough…

But as for Modric, Spurs didn’t have too much choice as he did want to leave the club. Still, to have such a talent on your books and come away with little to show for it – that hurts.

4

Dimitar Berbatov to Man Utd – £30.75m

Dimitar Berbatov – a great player who was the absolute antithesis of the modern-day footballer. He wasn’t quick, he didn’t run about or press, there wasn’t much hard work involved, and he rarely showed any emotion on the pitch. Like the anti-Wayne Rooney.

United, though, saw him as the right player to add to Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo – and would be proven right. Berbatov not only scored goals for Spurs, after all, but was a perfect link-up player and one of the most technically sound players on the planet.

Tottenham really didn’t want to lose him, but after Manchester City also bid at the summer 2008 deadline, they gave in and he joined United for £30.75m – despite having no time to replace him.

Berbatov would, like many others on this list, go on to win the title at his new club and enjoy plenty of success. Same old story, then.

3

Kyle Walker to Man City – £50m

A massive leap in fees here (but get ready for another one) as Spurs made sure City paid exactly what they wanted for Kyle Walker. Honestly, there’s a solid argument that this sale is the best on the list.

Walker has gone on to much success at City, as you’d expect. But with Kieran Trippier already at the club, Spurs got an enormous fee for a player they didn’t even need to properly replace.

It’s just a shame the money wasn’t spent better. Serge Aurier arrived to provide competition for Trippier, while Fernando Llorente was the major signing up top. Juan Foyth arrived, too, with the three of them all coming in for under Walker’s price – but none of them really worked out.

Still, there’s no denying that Spurs got value for Walker, who remains one of the most expensive full-backs of all time at £50m.

2

Gareth Bale to Real Madrid – £85.3m

Remember when Florentino Perez said that he was looking forward to more business with Spurs after the Luka Modric deal? Yeah, that mainly meant he was looking forward to signing Gareth Bale the next year.

This was, at the time, the most expensive move in history as Real paid even more for Bale than they had for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. His €100m (£85.3m) transfer was quite shocking to see in 2013.

For those who didn’t witness it, it’s hard to explain just how incredible Bale was at Spurs. He could seemingly do anything, winning the PFA Player of the Year awards in 2011 and 2013.

Some of his goals were just ridiculous – he’d will the ball in from 25 yards while surrounded by players. Many felt he was going to follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps.

Of course, it didn’t quite work out that way at Real. Bale won absolutely everything there and provided some unreal moments with Los Blancos, but never quite reached that best-in-the-world level before petering out in his final years.

Spurs fans, however, will always believe he could have been everything he promised if he’d stayed. Remarkably few – possibly zero – will look back on this sale, even with a world-record fee, without regret.

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Harry Kane to Bayern Munich – £86.4m

A summer of rumours surrounding Harry Kane’s future became par for the course during his latter seasons at Tottenham, such was the striker’s quality and the club’s perennial inability to match his talent with the silverware it deserved.

Having staved off major interest from Manchester City two years prior, Kane finally departed Hotspur Way after an eighth-place finish left the club trophyless for a 15th straight campaign and out of Europe for the first time since the 2009/10 season.

Bundesliga juggernauts Bayern Munich would be the fortunate recipient of the England captain, who, after rather typically surrendering the Bundesliga title in 2023/24, did go on to win the German top-flight in 2024/25. That was Kane’s first-ever major trophy. Better late than never, eh?

The fee to sell was by no means a paltry one. Spurs got a fair whack for his services, receiving £86.4m, with only the exchange rate placing this one above Bale’s departure to Real Madrid – though add-ons could increase this sale even further.

It will take some doing for any player to hit the heights of Kane and Bale if they are to threaten their places in this list over the coming years.

Glasgow Rangers got back to winning ways following the international break, as a 2-0 win over St Johnstone marginally eased the pressure on Michael Beale.

The 43-year-old isn’t out of the woods just yet, especially with a tricky tie ahead this week against Real Betis. That said, home advantage should give the Gers a major boost, considering how boisterous Ibrox gets during European ties.

Beale will have to negotiate that tie without Danilo, who suffered a fractured cheekbone in the win against the Saints with the manager providing an update after the match.

What's the latest on Danilo's injury?

Beale said: "It was desperately disappointing to lose Danilo because he has been looking sharp in training over the last two weeks and before that he had had one or two issues.

"It looks like it is a fractured cheekbone and we are going to miss him for a while after he scored an excellent goal.”

It isn’t just the Brazilian who will be absent against the Spanish side, as Todd Cantwell is also unavailable.

How long is Todd Cantwell out injured for?

The former Norwich City starlet was seen in a knee brace following the 1-0 defeat to Celtic before the international break and although it initially looked like it was just a precaution, the prognosis isn’t ideal.

Indeed, the manager gave the press an update on his situation prior to the weekends match, saying:

"Unfortunately, Todd Cantwell will miss the next 3 or 4 games, and Dowell will also miss out.

"Todd (Cantwell) was an issue with his knee in a challenge towards the end of the game. He should be returning in 3/4 weeks.”

Who could replace Todd Cantwell?

The Englishman has operated in a few different roles this term depending on what system Beale has deployed, and his presence will be missed.

The Light Blues have an ideal replacement in the form of Sam Lammers however, as the 6 foot 3 gem is also extremely flexible.

This season, the “perfectly two-footed” Dutchman – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has featured as a centre-forward, attacking midfielder and even on the right wing, suggesting he could slot into a variety of positions and take over the mantle from Cantwell.

Across ten games so far this term, Lammers has scored once and registered an assist while averaging three shots per game and succeeding with 50% of his attempted dribbles per match in the Premiership.

Across the whole Rangers squad in the league, he ranks first for total shots per game, suggesting that he is incredibly positive in the final third.

It was his Champions League performances which were most impressive however, as he ranked fourth in the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.05) along with ranking first for big chances created (one) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (0.5), proving he could shine at the highest level in Europe.

Losing Cantwell is a significant blow to Beale, yet in Lammers, he has a player who is as tactically versatile as the 25-year-old and if deployed in the correct position, could star against Betis on Thursday evening.