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Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has been left thrilled with Tottenham Hotspur as they seal the signing of James Maddison from Leicester City.

Have Spurs signed James Maddison?

On Wednesday evening, it was formally announced that Spurs have completed their third signing of the summer after Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal and Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli.

Indeed, Tottenham confirmed that they have put pen to paper on a deal for Maddison, who joins for £40 million from Leicester.

In the process, Spurs have finally acquired a central creative playmaker, coming over three years after former Christian Eriksen left for Inter Milan.

Maddison’s contract at Spurs will run until 2028 with midfielder Harry Winks moving in the opposite direction in a separate £10 million move to the King Power Stadium.

Tottenham have since been lavished with praise for their capture of the 26-year-old, with sections of the press calling it a “bargain” move given he outscored Kevin De Bruyne last season and created more chances than Martin Odegaard (The Mail).

The Lilywhites had been in talks for the last fortnight, according to reports, and were in a battle with Newcastle United for his signing – but Spurs eventually won the race as Maddison makes a move to north London.

Writing on Twitter, journalist Michael Bridge has also claimed supporters “should be excited” by Maddison’s arrival, claiming he will be an “excellent signing” and one which brings creativity back to N17.

Why have Tottenham signed James Maddison?

The Englishman was Leicester’s standout star last season, racking up 19 goal contributions whilst attempting more shots at goal and completing more key passes per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

Spurs have also been called the “perfect” destination for Maddison, with pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor saying as much back in February.

““I think Spurs would be the perfect club for him,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider.

“Tottenham need a number ten like him. They keep playing this 3-4-3 formation, but they can totally change that if they get Maddison.

“It transforms into a 4-3-3 – and that means more attacking football for the fans.

“Bentancur, Hojbjerg, and Maddison as a midfield three is a really exciting prospect for Tottenham.”

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has numerous issues to deal with as his first day on the job approaches this weekend, the future of striker Romelu Lukaku being one of them.

While that decision may well be above his paygrade, with Todd Boehly very much taking a hands-on approach since becoming chairman last year, Pochettino will no doubt have a say in whether Lukaku has a part to play following his return from a loan spell with Inter Milan.

What is the latest with Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea future?

The Telegraph reports that further talks between Lukaku and Chelsea are planned for this week, and that it is in everyone's interest to find a solution sooner rather than later.

It is suggested that it is unlikely Lukaku will play any part in Chelsea's tour of the United States next month, but finding a club willing to sign him permanently – the Belgian is said to have ruled out the option of joining a Saudi club – is proving difficult.

However, a solution may soon be found as Juventus have supposedly shown an interest in signing Lukaku to replace Dusan Vlahovic, who could in turn head in the opposite direction to Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian's second stint in the capital has been nothing short of a nightmare, with an angry public interview in 2021 seeing him subsequently loaned out ever since.

Could Chelsea swap Romelu Lukaku for Dusan Vlahovic?

The intricacies of any deal are unclear at this stage, such as one club handing over a fee in part exchange, but the transfer could well make sense for both clubs.

Given his value of £52m by Football Observatory, it is likely to be Chelsea reaching for their chequebook rather than Juve.

On the face of it, there is very little between the two players when it comes to how they performed in Serie A last season. Vlahovic scored ten goals in 27 games for Juve, while Lukaku netted the same number across 25 outings for Inter.

Vlahovic's goals came from fewer shots, scoring at a rate of 0.16 goals per shot, as per FBref, compared to 0.12 for Lukaku. Those similarities continue in terms of passes completed (71.6% and 68.6% respectively) and also aerial duels won (36 v 39).

What Vlahovic provides that Lukaku does not, however, is some added balance in the final third. For example, the Serbia international won 0.28 tackles per 90 minutes last season, which is an increase on Lukaku's 0.05. That is the same case in terms of blocks: 0.47 compared to 0.16.

Once described as a "monster" by Italian football expert Carlo Garganese, there is no denying that Vlahovic's goalscoring figures have steadily declined, from 0.82 per game at Fiorentina in the first half of the 2021-22 season, to 0.59 after joining Juve later that campaign and finally to 0.47 last term.

But in a team stacked full of attacking gems, such as Mykhailo Mudryk and new signing Christopher Nkunku to name just a couple of players, it may well be that a move to Stamford Bridge unlocks the potential Vlahovic has only been able to show glimmers of in Turin.

Manchester United are closing in on a Premier League star, as Erik ten Hag sets his sights on bolstering his squad this summer.

A certain ace from one of the Red Devil’s rivals has been rumoured to make the switch to Old Trafford this window, with the deal moving closer.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount to Manchester United?

As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester United are ‘getting closer’ to agreeing a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.

The report revealed that United had their ‘improve’ bid of £45m + £5m add ons rejected by Chelsea, who are ‘countered’ with £60m + £5m add ons, with Ornstein adding that United ‘have a limit’.

It’s reported that the Blues are ‘trying to comply’ with the Englishman's wishes, while holding out for a compromise on the deal.

What could Mason Mount offer to Manchester United?

Last campaign was a sore topic for Chelsea, finishing 12th in the table having recorded just 11 wins in 38 games, having noted their worst Premier League finish since the 1993/94 term.

Mount has suffered alongside his boyhood club, contributing just five goals and assists in 24 league appearances.

Lauded as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Englishman registered his best season in the final third throughout 2021/22 in the Premier League, registering an impressive 21 G/A in 32 games, scoring 11 and assisting ten, via Sofascore.

The numbers from that campaign show exactly the calibre of player Ten Hag could integrate into his squad at United, with the Portsmouth-born ace showing traits that he could emulate the success of a current Old Trafford star.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Mount was compared statistically to Bruno Fernandes, who has been Ten Hag’s shining light as highlighted by his 16 G/A recorded in the Premier League this season, scoring and assisting eight goals in 37 appearances, via FBref.

The Dutchman could equip his side with a player capable of living up to the heights delivered by the Portuguese ace, as told when comparing the two via FBref based on Mount's previous highs.

As per FBref in 2021/22, the duo shone when it came to progressive play, with Fernandes averaging 2.26 progressive carries and 6.86 progressive passes per 90, with Mount just trailing with 6.25 progressive passes and excelling with 3.50 progressive carries per 90.

The Englishman also topped the United gem when it came to scoring, averaging 0.38 non-penalty goals to the 28-year-old’s 0.29 per 90, highlighting that they both show a strong competency in front of goal, via FBref.

While putting the ball in the net is the aim of the game, the duo excelled when it came to being the creators in their respective sides at the time, with Fernandes averaging a monstrous 2.5 key passes per game with Mount following with 1.8.

Based on their numbers, the two operate at similar levels when playing at their best, providing an encouraging indication of what could potentially be in store for Ten Hag’s midfield at Old Trafford next season.

Liverpool, in the last week, have held talks with the camp of Gabri Veiga over the possibility of a move to Anfield this summer.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

It was an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign for the Reds who failed to get their hands on any form of silverware and were forced to settle for a fifth-placed finish.

And in the weeks since the campaign drew to a close, there has already been multiple changes made at Anfield.

Indeed, the likes of Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Nabby Keita have all left the club following the conclusion of their contracts.

However, they have already made a major move in this summer's transfer window through the addition of Alexis Mac Allister.

But it does not seem as if Klopp will be settling for just one midfield addition this summer with the Reds linked to a host of names already in the early stages of this window.

One of them being the 21-year-old midfield talent, Veiga, who is currently playing his football in La Lisa with Celta Vigo.

The Spaniard enters the summer window off the back of an impressive campaign with the La Liga side where he was able to wrack up 11 goals and four assists in the league alone (via Transfermarkt).

And speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Merseyside's have already held talks over a potential move:

"So these remain two names [Khephren Thuram & Manu Kone] into the list, but I would keep it open because sometimes you can find some opportunities some new name, for example, during last and this week, Liverpool had some conversations with people close to Gabri Veiga.

"He's more kind of quality player, but he's very electric player. I really like him honestly, I think he's one of the best talents in the world."

How much is Gabri Veiga worth?

It appears it is not just Liverpool who could be in the market to sign the talented youngster this summer with a number of other clubs also credited with an interest.

Indeed, it has been suggested Newcastle United are one of the clubs who could make a move for the Spaniard over the coming weeks.

Any club who is looking to land the 21-year-old this summer will have to pay in the region of £34m as the midfielder's contract holds a €40m release clause.

After all, this is a player who has been described as a "wonderful talent" by some in the media and it is clear to see why when he is returning double figure goal returns from midfield.

Over the last year, Veiga has ranked inside the top 12th percentile for successful take-ones and progressive carries (via FBref).

Across all competitions in 2022/23, Liverpool's highest scoring midfielder was Harvey Elliott with a mere five goals across all competitions; something Veiga could potentially provide a lot more of.

Manchester United could well be eyeing a summer move for Inter Milan star Andre Onana, albeit with the Red Devils set to face competition for the goalkeeper's signature.

What's the latest on Onana to Man United?

According to the Evening Standard, the Old Trafford outfit could potentially rival Chelsea in the battle to land the 27-year-old ahead of next season, with Erik ten Hag and co able to offer the benefit of providing Champions League football.

The report suggests that the Serie A outfit are set to demand a fee in the region of £50m if they are to part ways with the former Cameroon international over the coming weeks, with the Italian giants potentially set to be forced to cash in due to their ongoing financial woes.

The former Ajax man only made the move to San Siro on a free transfer last summer and still has four years left to run on his existing deal with Simone Inzaghi's side.

Should Man United sign Onana?

There is currently much uncertainty surrounding United's goalkeeping department, with an agreement yet to have been reached with long-serving asset David De Gea over a contract extension, with the Spaniard's current deal set to expire in just a matter of weeks.

Even if the 32-year-old is to sign a new contract in the near future, there have been reports that the £375k-per-week man won't necessarily be the starting option for Ten Hag next season.

The former Atletico Madrid man has arguably become a "big problem" for the Red Devils – according to pundit Jamie Carragher – with his woes in possession having been exposed of late, with club legend Paul Scholes stating following the defeat to Sevilla that De Gea "makes the whole team nervous" when trying to play out from the back.

The signing of Onana, therefore, would be a potential upgrade as far as Ten Hag is concerned, with the 6 foot 3 titan – who played 145 times under the Dutchman in Amsterdam – having been described as "exceptional" on the ball by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, ahead of last weekend's Champions League final.

Despite ending up on the losing side in that showpiece meeting, the 34-cap ace still "caught the eye" with his distribution, according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Tyrone Marshall.

The Inter man's greater composure on the ball was also shown in Serie A in 2022/23 as he enjoyed an average pass accuracy rate of 79% from his 24 league outings, while De Gea, by contrast, averaged just 68% for that same metric from 38 appearances, having been far more erratic when attempting to play out.

Equally, while the latter man ranks in just the bottom 30% among his European peers for touches per 90, Onana ranks in the top 11% in that regard, again showcasing that he will willingly get involved in the build-up.

As such, with De Gea having become something of a 'problem' of late, the signing of the Cameroonian machine could be just the upgrade that Ten Hag requires.

Arsenal enjoyed a remarkable season in the Premier League this year, which saw them hold onto top spot for a record 248 days before a late-season collapse allowed the imperious Manchester City to claim their third straight title.

The Gunners started last season with a string of pre-season victories in the United States against Chelsea and Everton, and fans will be hoping another American tour this summer can inspire the team to another title challenge come August.

What are Arsenal's 2023 pre-season fixtures?

The club have confirmed three pre-season fixtures so far, but if last season is anything to go by, we should expect them to start pre-season with a behind-closed-doors friendly and end it with the Emirates Cup.

The confirmed fixtures from the Arsenal official site.

Arsenal v MLS All-Stars, July 14th, kick-off: 04:30 BST Arsenal v Manchester United, July 22nd, kick-off: 22:00 BST Arsenal v Barcelona, July 26th, kick-off: TBC Where are Arsenal playing their pre-season fixtures?

For a second year running, the Gunners will be heading to the United States of America for the bulk of their pre-season, playing their three games in three different cities.

Arteta's men will kick off their tour against the MLS All-Stars at Washington DC's Audi Field. The game won't be easy for the boys in red and white, and there should be some added excitement due to ex-Manchster United legend Wayne Rooney managing the American side.

After the announcement, Rooney expressed his excitement to ESPN: "The opportunity to lead the best our league has to offer against a top Premier League club like Arsenal will be a highlight for me personally and an unforgettable experience for our passionate fanbase here in DC."

Arsenal's next game, against Manchester United, will occur in the city that never sleeps, New York. The venue for this all-English affair will be the massive Met Life stadium, home to the New York Jets NFL team.

The final game of the tour against La Liga champions Barcelona takes the north Londoners to the West Coast. Los Angeles's SoFi stadium will play host to the two teams.

SoFi stadium is owned by Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and is the home of his Super Bowl winning NFL team, the LA Rams.

Can I buy tickets for the games?

Tickets for the first game of the tour against Rooney's MLS All-Stars are still available on Ticketmaster, but with the cheapest tickets priced at £202, it certainly isn't for the faint of heart.

Ticketmaster is also selling tickets to the game against Manchester United, with these ones being somewhat cheaper at around £136.

Those who fancy a trip to Los Angeles to see the Gunners take on the Blaugrana can expect to pay the least with Ticketmaster pricing tickets from £86.

Can I watch the games on TV in the UK?

Arsenal are yet to announce details on how fans can watch the club's matches whilst on tour, but if the last few years are anything to go by, the club will likely charge fans on a per-game basis through their own in-house media.

Fans have also been able to watch extensive highlights through Arsenal's YouTube channel during recent tours.

When does Arsenal's Premier League season start?

The Premier League season is scheduled to start on August 12th 2023, just 17 days after Arsenal's final pre-season game against Barcelona.

Arteta and co will undoubtedly have one eye on the season proper whilst in the USA.

Who is likely to go on the USA tour?

Arteta will likely bring the whole first-team squad to undergo as much preparation as possible before mounting another challenge for the Premier League title. Some of the youngsters that can expect a place on the plane would be Reuell Walters, Catalin Cirjan, Amario Cozier-Duberry and the forgotten Marquinhos. Additionally, if Edu conducts the club's transfer business similarly to last year, we could see some summer signings make their debuts in the US, looking at you, Declan Rice.

Arsenal have scheduled talks to sign Galatasary right-back Sacha Boey this week and are "expected to shake hands" on his price tag, according to reports.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners and manager Mikel Arteta are to begin preparations for what will be an all-important 2023/2024 Premier League campaign.

Arsenal, after narrowly missing out on their first league title in nearly 20 years to Man City, must now shore up key areas of the squad and strengthen sufficiently.

Sporting director Edu, commenting on the club's transfer plans in April, confirmed there has already beem movement in this regard.

"Our planning has already been done," said Edu to ESPN (via 90min).It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

Arsenal are eager to reinforce in central midfield especially with reports suggesting they could make as many as two major signings in that position. As well as there, the Gunners are believed to be chasing a new full-back, leading to links with Man City's Joao Cancelo.

Boey, who has been impressing in Turkey for Galatasary, is also regularly mentioned as a target for Edu.

Newspaper Takvim on Tuesday, via Sport Witness, has some very interesting news on Arsenal and their links to the Frenchman. According to their information, the north Londoners "will hold a meeting" with Galatasary this week, and "negotiations" will take place over Boey's signing.

Despite some differences over price, with Galatasary previously asking for £22m, there is now belief that the two clubs are "expected to shake hands at €20m (£17m)".

Who is Sacha Boey?

As per WhoScored, Boey stood out as one of Galatasary's crucial players over 2022/2023, with only Mauro Icardo managing a higher match rating per 90 than the 22-year-old.

The starlet's defensive stats were solid – averaging their joint-highest rate of tackles per 90 and second-highest rate of interceptions in the Turkish Super Lig last season (WhoScored).

He could be an exceptional acquisition for Arsenal at just £17m, with former defender Bacary Sagna believing Boey is perfect for Arteta.

“Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey is a player I really like," said Sagna.“I think he will fit perfectly into Arsenal. As a right-back too, I have to say I think he’s great. I’m sure many clubs have Sacha Boey in mind.“There is a contract to sign.”

Leeds United are considering making former Fulham and Bournemouth manager Scott Parker their next boss, according to a new update.

Has Allardyce left Leeds?

On Friday, it was confirmed that Sam Allardyce has left his role in the Elland Road hot seat, with his appointment always feeling like a short-term one. He was tasked with masterminding an escape act in the final weeks of the season, but he was unable to prevent the Whites from being relegated from the Premier League.

From enjoying such a stable spell under Marcelo Bielsa at one point, this has been a rocky period for Leeds when it comes to managers, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Allardyce all leaving within the space of four months.

For that reason, it is absolutely vital that the club nails their next appointment, ensuring the right man comes in to take them out of the Championship and back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

Some potential candidates have already come to the fore, from Brendan Rodgers to Carlos Corberan, and now another individual is being linked with the vacant Leeds job.

Could Parker be the next Whites boss?

According to The Telegraph, Parker is being eyed up as a potential candidate, with his expertise in getting teams promoted something that the Whites admire:

"Parker was sacked by Bournemouth at the start of the campaign after publicly revealing his fears that the squad was not strong enough to survive in the Premier League. Since then Gary O’Neil has steered them to safety but there was also a takeover and significant money spent in the January transfer window.

"A huge plus for Parker is that in his two seasons in the Championship he has been promoted on both occasions – with Fulham in 2020 and last year with Bournemouth. Like Gerrard he is also readily available."

Parker, who uses an attacking 4-3-3 formation, actually signed Leif Davis for Bournemouth back in 2021, and could be an astute appointment by Leeds this summer, arguably not being as high-profile as someone like Rodgers or Steven Gerrard, but proving himself at both Fulham and Bournemouth, guiding the pair into the Premier League.

At 42, he is a young manager with fresh ideas, rather than an ageing figure in the mould of Allardyce, and while his spell at Club Brugge didn't go to plan recently, he could be desperate to get another opportunity in the Championship.

West Ham boss David Moyes felt Parker did a "brilliant job" in charge of Bournemouth, showing that his peers think highly of him, and Leeds should certainly consider a move for the former England international.

Leeds United were unable to recover from a disastrous start as they were beaten by Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, putting their place in the Premier League next season in serious jeopardy.

Whites boss Jesse Marsch witnessed a cataclysm of errors in the opening 24 minutes.

Former loanee Eddie Nketiah pounced on a loose touch from goalkeeper Illan Meslier to open proceedings in the fifth minute before he doubled his and the Gunners’ advantage five minutes later, firing home after good work from Bukayo Saka.

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And then catastrophe struck as captain for the day Luke Ayling saw red for a rash and needless challenge on Gabriel Martinelli, leaving the Yorkshiremen with ten men for the remainder of the game.

The visitors scrambled a goal back through Diego Llorente but the damage had already been done.

Leeds applied plenty of late pressure but their end product faltered in the final third, as it has done for the majority of the season. One fine example of that was Jack Harrison, who dropped yet another stinker of a display.

After hitting some form, the 25-year-old’s woes returned as it’s now three straight league games without a goal or assist to his name.

The £13.5m-rated dynamo went missing against his former club Manchester City, where he failed to land a shot or create a single key chance, nor could he provide an accurate cross.

It was a similar story down at the Emirates Stadium. Besides the sent-off right-back, Harrison was SofaScore’s lowest-rated player in the match (5.8). From 48 touches across the 90 minutes, he lost possession a whopping match-high 24 times – once every other touch.

Again, he struggled to deliver an accurate cross from three attempts, didn’t fire a single shot at goal and made only 57% of his 23 passing attempts, which is pretty abysmal, so it’s no wonder the Whites couldn’t salvage something late on even with the one-man disadvantage.

The winger also won only eight of his 18 duels (44%).

Lacking end product, Harrison was one of many Leeds stars to drop a nightmare-like display in the capital on Sunday afternoon. He’ll need to vastly improve if he’s to turn their attacking fortunes around ahead of another tricky encounter, hosting Chelsea in midweek.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Meslier: “Disgraceful” Leeds “idiot” badly betrayed Marsch at Arsenal…

Everton reporter Tony Scott has been left in ‘disbelief’ by a video of the club’s travelling supporters at the weekend. 

The lowdown

Everton beat Leicester City 2-1 on Sunday to further boost their Premier League survival hopes.

Since a 3-2 defeat to relegation rivals Burnley on 6 April, The Toffees have picked up 10 points from a possible 15. The run includes unlikely victories against two top-six sides in Manchester United and Chelsea.

Frank Lampard’s side have now lifted themselves out of the relegation zone and up to 16th, a point ahead of Leeds United and Burnley. They travel to Watford on Wednesday night with the opportunity to extend that gap to four by winning what is a game in hand.

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The latest

The Liverpool Echo’s Scott reacted to footage of the Blues faithful celebrating their win at The King Power Stadium. The fans can be heard chanting in unison in an otherwise empty ground after the final whistle.

“I’ve watched this video on repeat and shook my head in disbelief at the support we get,” he tweeted. “It’s staggering!

“The fans have dragged this team up off the floor. Seeing parents with their kids in the away end belting out ‘Spirit of the Blues’ is absolutely priceless.”

The verdict

The atmosphere at Everton could be very different right now. They shouldn’t be battling to stay in the division, having finished in 10th place last season.

In these circumstances, the fanbase could easily have turned against the players and the manager, but instead, they’ve rallied behind them and proven to be the driving force behind this potentially season-saving run of form.

Take the win against Chelsea: Lampard called their contribution ‘massive’, The Echo’s Joe Thomas marvelled at the ‘incredible show of unity and passion’ as thousands lined the streets to welcome the team coach and BBC Sport commentator Guy Mowbray said the atmosphere inside the stadium was unparalleled.

There’s no doubt that this has made a difference.

In other news, a Spanish source names a potential defensive target.