If part of Tottenham’s problem is that they are tired, then help is on the way. Though the signing of Tyler Dibling looks familiar. The young Saint has been outstanding for Southampton, even amid doom. But now, like Lucas Bergvall, like Archie Gray, he is seen as the solution when he probably ought to be the future. Angel Gomes, of Lille, an England international, will add quality to the midfield and has all the skills to look proper Spurs.
A more ambitious target is Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, one of the stars of Euro 2024, also wanted by Arsenal, and available as a buyout – that’s how Athletic do their business – at €58m, which seems cheap. Though does Daniel Levy see it like that?
Feels like it was yesterday when Rosenborg’s Norway Under-21 international midfielder Sverre Nypan, one of those hot Scandi properties who come around now and then, was headed for Manchester City via Girona. Not now, he’s off to Arsenal. Talks have begun over the player compared – well, here – to Martin Ødegaard.
What of City? It seems James McAtee will follow Cole Palmer and Liam Delap out as a pure profit sale, and will now get to work with Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. There he may find himself alongside Emi Buendía, unwanted by Aston Villa. Though perhaps that is an either/or situation. Jérémy Doku may never get the chance to be reduced to a boring player by Pep Guardiola as Barcelona fancy a loan. Though perhaps that one’s a flyer, as McAtee can only join Leverkusen as a permanent signing as loan rules prevent him from going abroad this month. Juma Bah, signed and loaned to Lens makes it six – the limit – with Kyle Walker, Yan Couto, Maximo Perrone, Issa Kaboré and Kayky abroad. The key question, of course, is whether McAtee wants to stay, and/or Pep Guardiola is happy with that.
Villa need reinforcements in defence and attack and, to certain Chelsea fans’ relief, the two players they are linked with are Axel Disasi and the enigma that is João Félix. Juan Foyth, once of Spurs, is another defensive candidate, and this may all be paid for by the sale of Jhon Durán, a favourite of this page, whose move to Saudi Arabia cannot be ruled out.
Let’s close it out with some silliness. Paul Pogba, clubless since November, fancies going to Manchester United for a third time. What could possibly go wrong?
