Football transfer news

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has rejected suggestions his side’s bid to save their season by winning the Europa League is similar to Erik ten Hag’s FA Cup triumph with Manchester United last season.

Ten Hag was widely expected to be sacked by United last summer but a surprise triumph in the FA Cup final ultimately contributed to the Red Devils’ decision to hand him a new contract – only to sack him after 14 games of the current season anyway.

This season, it is Postecoglou fighting for his future by looking to win a trophy. Spurs are languishing down in 16th in the Premier League standings but could still book their spot in next season’s Champions League if they can win the Europa League, starting with Thursday’s semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt.

Postecoglou insisted the two situations could not be compared, however, as he took aim at those he accused of attempting to “diminish” the accomplishment that would be lifting the Europa League trophy.

“I’ve seen people trying to diminish it in some respects,” Postecoglou told the assembled media. “I’ve heard people say, ‘well it’s the equivalent of Man Utd winning the FA Cup’. No it ain’t. I’m sorry. Not on any world is it the equivalent.

“Others are suggesting we are not worthy of the Champions League. Again, things that are designed to diminish what’s ahead of us, which is an unbelievable opportunity. Irrespective of how this season has gone we have generations of fans who want this more than anything else, a special moment watching this football club.

“Look, this season could have gone very differently and we could be flying in the league but it wouldn’t make this opportunity any different. The opportunity is the same and I’ve made that clear to the players. What we have before us is a semi-final in a European competition and the opportunity to win a trophy and get Champions League football.”

Midfielder James Maddison pledged his support for Postecoglou in the build-up to the game, insisting the Spurs squad are “100%” behind the boss.

“He’s the first person to tell you and I’ll tell you myself we’ve had a poor season in the league,” Maddison said.

“We’ve been very good in Europe but the league season has probably been unacceptable and we can all take a collective responsibility for that, but he’s my manager, he’s my gaffer, and I respect him an awful amount.”

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Real Madrid have already taken the first steps towards recruiting a new left-back and have identified Benfica’s Alvaro Carreras as a potential target, according to a report.

The Spanish full-back was never afforded a single senior minute of football for Manchester United after leaving Real Madrid’s academy to joining the English giants’ youth system in 2020. After four years and three loans, Benfica permanently signed Carreras for a modest €6m (£5.1m) last summer.

The Portuguese outfit stand to make a considerable profit on their left-back this summer – if they allow him to leave at all. United are said to have included a buy-back clause in Carreras’ sale worth €20m (£17m), yet every other suitor would have to cough up €50m (£42.6m) for the 22-year-old’s services.

Liverpool and Barcelona have both been floated as potential suitors. Real Madrid’s interest in the defender has now been reaffirmed by The Athletic.

Following season-ending injuries to Ferland Mendy and David Alaba, Real Madrid could be forced to begin this summer’s Club World Cup with Fran Garcia as the only natural left-back. This daunting scenario has supposedly prompted the club to begin the search for a new left-sided defender.

Carreras is thought to be keenly admired by Madrid, although his steep price tag is less endearing. Bournemouth’s £45m-rated Milos Kerkez is expected to cost even more and is already being chased by Liverpool and Manchester City.

Former Madrid academy graduate, Miguel Gutierrez, is another player regularly tipped to return to the capital and is thought to be available for just €9m (£7.7m) this summer.

The figure who decides which left-back to field each weekend at Real Madrid next season is also up in the air. Carlo Ancelotti is widely expected to leave the Spanish capital before this summer’s Club World Cup – even if a move to the Brazil national team no longer appears to be on the cards – and though Xabi Alonso is universally billed as Madrid’s first-choice candidate, Bayer Leverkusen have not been told that their current manager is leaving just yet.

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Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt were both fit enough to get back on the training pitch before Manchester United take on Athletic Club in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final.

The two players have been among the club’s top performers in a campaign which may be best forgotten. Amad scored six goals and created another five during his first 14 appearances under Ruben Amorim, flourishing whether he lined up as a wing-back or part of the attacking triumvirate before sustaining a serious ankle injury in February.

It was initially thought that Amad would miss the remainder of the campaign before he embarked upon a staggering recovery to fight his way back into contention for the club’s crucial European climax.

De Ligt’s return has not been quite so widely lauded, but the Dutch defender will be warmly welcomed back after missing the club’s last six matches. In his absence, United won just once and conceded 12 times.

United will need their strongest available XI to overcome Athletic in front of their raucous home crowd on Thursday evening. San Mames, a stadium known as ‘the Cathedral of Football’, has not seen many home defeats this season. Athletic are unbeaten in European competition on home soil this term and have lost just once in front of their own fans since August.

The Red Devils have been beaten on their previous two trips to Bilbao. Marcelo Bielsa’s full-throttle outfit smothered Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in 2012 en route to the Europa League final, while the first iteration of the Busby Babes were beaten 5-3 in the Basque Country 68 years ago.

It remains to be seen if either Amad or De Ligt will be thrown straight into the searing heat of San Mames. United are dealing with a potentially season-ending injury for Diogo Dalot, opening up a void at wing-back which could be directly filled by Amad. Alternatively, De Ligt’s insertion into the back-three could free Noussair Mazraoui to shuffle onto the right flank.

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90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world…

Real Madrid are ready to launch a bid worth €90m (£76.5m) to sign Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who they see as the long-term successor to Luka Modric. (Empire of the Kop)

Liverpool will demand €100m (£85m) to part ways with Mac Allister this summer. (Defensa Central – Spain)

Also linked with an exit from Liverpool is midfielder Harvey Elliott, who has been mentioned by former employers Fulham in conversations about a move to Anfield for left-back Antonee Robinson. (TBR Football)

Chelsea are looking at Aston Villa‘s Morgan Rogers who, despite not being made available for transfer, may be sold because of the chance to record a significant profit on a player who was signed for just £8m last year. (The Independent)

Aston Villa will do their best to keep hold of Rogers. Instead, it is Jacob Ramsey who is more likely to leave the club amid interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. (TBR Football)

Man City are ready to spend over €100m (£85m) to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, who has already reached a verbal agreement with Bayern Munich. (Foot Mercato – France)

Real Madrid want to sign Wirtz as their replacement for winger Rodrygo. (Fichajes – Spain)

Rodrygo‘s price tag has been set at €100m (£85m), with both Arsenal and Man City expressing interest in the Real Madrid forward. (TodoFichajes – Spain)

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are leading Bayern Munich in the race to sign Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki, who is available for around €35m (£29.8m). (CaughtOffside)

Available for a move away from Man Utd is winger Alejandro Garnacho, whose price tag of €50m (£42.5m) is of interest to Napoli. (Cristiano Abbruzzese)

Marcus Rashford does not want to complete a permanent move to Aston Villa when his loan from Man Utd expires and is prepared to take a pay cut in order to seal a dream move to Barcelona. (The Mirror)

Raphinha has warned Barcelona president Joan Laporta he will leave the club this summer if a new player is signed to provide competition for his position, such as Athletic Club’s Nico Williams. (El Nacional – Spain)

Borussia Dortmund are keen to keep Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka permanently and could entertain a swap deal involving winger Jamie Gittens. Chelsea could offer Jadon Sancho to his former employers instead. (TEAMtalk)

Christopher Nkunku has asked to leave Chelsea at the end of the season and hopes to seal a move away from the Blues before the Club World Cup. (CF Bayern Insider)

There could be further movement away from Chelsea as goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is emerging as a possible target for Bayer Leverkusen. (talkSPORT)

Liverpool are interested in signing Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso, also a target for Man City, as their replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. (Calciomercato – Italy)

Bayern Munich defender Eric Dier is close to sealing a free transfer to Monaco when his contract expires this summer. (L’Equipe – France)

Tottenham could enquire about midfielder Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher if the La Liga side chase deals for Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur. (GIVEMESPORT)

Everton have identified Tottenham striker Richarlison as their top attacking target for the summer. (GIVEMESPORT)

Wrexham will look to sign Man Utd centre-back Jonny Evans when his contract expires as they seek to prepare themselves for life in the Championship. (The Sun)

Aston Villa will compete with Newcastle United to sign Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who is valued at €35m (£29.8m). (InterLive – Italy)

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Barcelona are hoping to finally return home to Camp Nou from the early weeks of next season, a report has revealed.

The world famous stadium hasn’t seen a ball kicked since the 2022/23 campaign, with Barca instead playing ‘home’ games at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in the Montjuic neighbourhood.

It was intended to be a temporary measure for just last season, but delays in the Camp Nou redevelopment project have extended that stay to double its originally anticipated length.

But the final steps are being taken to ensure that the facility will be ready to begin hosting games again in the next few months. Mundo Deportivo writes that the pitch has now been laid, fully installed ahead of time to allow it to be ready to be played on in September.

Barcelona had previously confirmed the pitch-laying process would take around ten weeks and the time-frame should also eliminate further setbacks and delays.

The Camp Nou project won’t be fully completed next season. The stadium, while re-open, will have to operate at a reduced capacity. But, still in excess of 60,000, it will be a step up from the Lluis Companys (55,000) in terms of size and therefore invaluable matchday revenue.

Final completion of all renovation work is expected ahead of the 2026/27 season, thereby restoring the capacity to over 100,000 once more.

In an official statement in February, Barcelona addressed the delays so far.

“The development of the works has undergone several unforgivables, a common situation in projects of this magnitude,” the club reasoned.

“These have been due to factors such as the availability of materials, the lack of qualified labor and work not initially planned, aspects that have generated changes in the execution schedules, which were very tight from the beginning.”

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