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Tottenham Hotspur have received a boost in their pursuit of Rubin Kazan winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, after AC Milan refused to meet the asking price for his services [Calciomercato].

The Lowdown: Tottenham eye signings ahead of 2021/22

Progressing towards the 2021/22 campaign, newly appointed Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to bring in some high quality acquisitions, in order to signal his intent to challenge for European qualification this campaign.

Wasting no time in getting to work on signing preferred targets, the Lilywhites have completed deals for Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini on loan alongside ex-Sevilla starlet Bryan Gil [Transfermarkt].

Now, the north Londoners look to have received a shot in the arm following recent reports, eyeing a talented winger to come in following the departure of Erik Lamela.

The Latest: Spurs receive boost in Kvaratskhelia chase

AC Milan believe that the valuation of the Georgian gem Kvaratskhelia from Rubin Kazan is too high, claim Calciomercato, whilst they also have reservations about the signing due to the difficulties surrounding non-EU legislation.

The Serie A outfit have only one more space for a non-EU player and have reportedly turned their attention towards Santos forward Kaio Jorge.

Tottenham, Bayer Leverkusen or Borussia Monchengladbach are now all said to be the most feasible destinations for the exciting young forward.

The Verdict: Kvaratskhelia would be an astute signing for Spurs

In need of reinforcement in the wide areas, Kvaratskhelia would represent an astute piece of business at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In 2020/21, the Tbilisi-born attacker registered 12 goals in 23 outings across all competitions; four goals and eight assists [Transfermarkt].

Furthermore, his ability to carry the ball forward is there for all to see. Combined for club and country across last season, he made an average of 4.7 dribbles per appearance [WhoScored], marking him as a possible replacement for silky dribbler Lamela.

As the start of the new campaign draws ever nearer for Spurs, they should move to close out a deal for Kvaratskhelia before it is too late.

In other news, Spurs are confident of signing an Argentinian international.

The Athletic’s Crystal Palace reporter Matt Woosnam believes it’s a great decision that Joel Ward has signed a new contract with the club.

Ward has signed a two-year contract extension which will take him up to the summer of 2023 at Selhurst Park and told Palace TV: “I’m delighted. I think it’s great to have committed the future to the club.”

Palace are under new leadership with Patrick Vieira appointed as the club’s new manager this summer, and he has looked to assemble his side already. This is because along with the new contract for Ward, Palace have made four summer signings with Michael Olise, Jacob Montes, Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen all joining Crystal Palace.

On the new contract for Ward, Woosnam told Football FanCast: “Joel Ward has obviously signed and that’s been announced by Palace and I think that’s a great decision in the end.”

Ward has been a terrific servant for Crystal Palace as he has been with the club nine years and played 273 times for the club, scoring five goals and creating eleven more.

Whilst operating as a right-back mostly, Ward has also played on the side of defence at left-back, as well as appearing as a centre-back on a couple of occasions in the past.

Under new management and with new faces arriving at the football club, Crystal Palace will be hoping that they can improve on last season’s 14th place this upcoming campaign.

Many Sunderland fans were absolutely delighted with the performance of Callum Doyle during their 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic last Saturday.

The Black Cats got their campaign off to the best possible start as they picked up three points against the Latics. Gwion Edwards gave Wigan the lead, but Aiden McGeady levelled from the spot soon afterwards before Ross Stewart netted to give the home side the victory.

The weekend’s clash was Doyle’s first game for the Wearsiders since making the move on loan from Manchester City (Transfermarkt). The 17-year-old played beyond his years at the heart of the back four, winning four duels and making four interceptions (Sofascore) and Lee Johnson will be hoping that the  teenager can have a big impact on his team’s fortunes as they target promotion to the Championship.

It was a video from Twitter user @VickyKDB_MCFC which prompted numerous Sunderland fans to praise the teenager. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on his “ridiculous” Black Cats debut.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Doyle’s performance

“Absolute quality.”

Credit: @PhilipCh42

“This kid is going to be something special”

Credit: @swinneymr

“I said mate he’s ridiculous for his age and I think he’ll go far in the game. Wish we could have got him for 2 seasons which was what was originally reported”

Credit: @Baldy_95

“Callum Doyle was like a Rolls Royce yesterday. He oozes class and has a big future ahead of him”

Credit: @DaveyPalmer1

“Some fans already calling him the Manchester Maldini. Playing beyond his years already. City have got a gem, just hope he develops like his potential is showing”

Credit: @podmundo

“Unreal lads, fan favourite already. Very strong in the air and when he gets by any stretch ‘beaten’ his blistering pace pays up, great. Bullied the most physical striker in the league last season. Cracking ball playing centre back.”

Credit: @LewisBa98875240

In other news, many Sunderland fans love this man’s appointment.

Burnley are struggling to close out a deal for reported Crystal Palace transfer target Ademola Lookman as the start of the Premier League season draws ever closer, according to The Sun.

In a productive 2020/21 campaign, the 23-year-old registered eight goal contributions in 34 Premier League fixtures, with four goals and four assists during his loan spell at Fulham [Transfermarkt].

However, his future now seems to be up in the air following recent developments. Amid loan interest from Burnley, Lookman is said to be unsure about penning a deal at Turf Moor going into the new campaign [The Sun].

Crystal Palace have also been linked with a loan move for the former England under-21 international, who is currently on the books of RB Leipzig, wile Burnley have reportedly turned their attention to Lyon’s Maxwell Cornet.

Taking plenty of encouragement from recent events, loads of Crystal Palace fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the current state of play regarding Lookman.

Crystal Palace fans react:

Replying to popular Crystal Palace fan outlet PALACE XTRA on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about the situation:

“Another one who prefers a move to SE25”

Credit: @Jamseyandrew”Would be a good addition”Credit: @Daveanglia07921″PLEASE”Credit: @JoelGray_”please I begggg”Credit: @CPFCWiII”he’s unsure cos he knows going to Burnley will destroy his career lol, Burnley literally offer him nothing for his future, if we are not interested in him we should be going for him because he is one of the best options we can go for with 6 days left for the new season to begin”Credit: @turkishcpfc”You just know he’s praying that Palace come in”Credit: @cpfcamesIn other news, many Crystal Palace fans lap up this backroom update.

Serie A expert Conor Clancy believes that Robin Gosens should make a move to Manchester City this summer.

Gosens enjoyed an excellent Euro 2020, as he emerged as a key player for Germany prior to their elimination by England at Wembley.

He made four appearances in total and scored once, while also laying on two assists.

He has since returned to Atalanta, for whom he has made a total of 149 appearances, having enjoyed an excellent campaign last season.

In 2020/21, he scored 11 goals and laid on eight assists in 32 games, playing as both a left midfielder and a left winger, and Clancy, who is the editor-in-chief of Forza Italian Football, believes he would be a perfect fit for the way that Pep Guardiola plays at City.

Gosens is valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt.

Of course, it remains to be seen if the club would be willing to bid for him, as they have already signed Jack Grealish for £100m from Aston Villa and are pursuing a deal that would eclipse that price for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

The Forza Italian Football editor said: “At City, he’d be a lovely fit and him playing under Pep would be delightful as well.”

For most teams in England, reaching the Premier League is something to strive for. Even players starting out in their professional football career will tell you that being involved in the Premier League is something that they want to happen throughout their sporting career. However, as much as you might assume talent and determination is enough to get you there, it isn’t always enough.

Ask any football team what their spend was in order to reach the Premier League, or indeed throughout their attempt to get there and they’ll more than likely tell you that they spent a pretty penny – but is it worth it?

How Much Is The Premier League Actual Worth?

If you speak to people involved in the football industry you’ll get different estimates as to how much joining the Premier League is actually worth. It is worth different things to each team and of course, the longer a team can stay in the Premier League without being relegated makes a huge difference too. However, as an informed estimate, Deloitte recently suggested that winning the play-off final and bagging a place in the Premier League would increase the revenue for a team by between £135million and £265million. There are also other ways to make money – sharing the broadcast revenue and even international TV revenue and ticket sales help to bolster the pay packet slightly too.

The Spend Needed To Get There

Although it may be worth it when a team does get a place in the Premier League, the cost of getting there is something that teams should most definitely take into account. After all, just because you are putting time, effort and money into getting a team to the Premier League, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be successful – and there is going to be no refund offered on the money you have spent trying to get there.

When a player has had great success in the past it is tempting for a team to want to spend big money to get this player on their team. All well and good if that player continues their success story but that isn’t always the case – for example, they could get injured which is going to halt how successful they may be in any future games. For any team to make an investment in a player is a big decision and as such, one that should be given much consideration.

There is no exact amount of money needed in order for a team to be promoted to the Premier League because there are many factors that can affect the journey a team takes to get there. The number of games they need to play, what players they invest in and even whether they have failed in previous years will have an effect on how much it costs in order to be promoted.

However, with so much at stake and such prize money on offer by being in the Premier League, it is still something that pretty much every English team strives for.

What Teams Have Done It Well?

You can look at any number of football teams and see that they have probably spent frivolously on players that perhaps weren’t the right decision or just didn’t work out for the team for one reason or another. After all, you can’t assume that one player that works well with 10 other players in a team is going to be just as successful with a brand new team in different playing conditions.

They will no doubt be wanting to follow in the footsteps of teams like Leeds, who were promoted to the Premier League and have well and truly cemented their place there.

What Can A Team Do To Give Themselves The Best Possible Chance?

Although spending out on big-name players might seem tempting it definitely isn’t something that every team has the budget for. Not only that, there are plenty of teams that want a place in the Premier League and only a limited number of players to join them.

One of the things that teams like Leeds are likely to tell you is that taking a risk often pays off. You’ll get riskier players at a much lower cost and after all, even big-name players had to start someone. Look at the gameplay of footballers that may not be hitting the headlines but are playing well consistently. Maybe they just need the right leadership to turn them into championship players – and therefore well worth the risk.

One team that is testament to making more frugal player purchases and investments in a club and maximising profit is Norwich. According to odds found on this list of best-betting sites in the UK, the Canaries are still likely to be relegated, but their more restricted spending has seen them stay out of financial trouble and able to bounce back to the Premier League when they have been relegated.

When they have spent, Norwich have done it well, bringing back players such as Ben Gibson and bringing on board other names such as Christos Tzolis. Both are solid players that most definitely have a lot to bring to the table  – great news for Norwich fans who will be looking for big things from the team this season.

No one can really predict the Premier League, although plenty of bookmakers will have their odds on favourites and predictions. There are generally teams that do well every year; however, there are also underdogs that look to surprise everyone and do well even though they weren’t predicted to do so. With lots of football matches cancelled in 2020 fans will look at it that players have had an extra 12 months to improve their football skills and therefore will be looking for big things. Let’s see whether the teams that have spent the most money are the ones that come out on top!

Watford fell to a 2-0 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, with Xisco Munoz’s side extremely disappointing in comparison to their excellent 3-2 win against Aston Villa last weekend.

Shane Duffy gave Graham Potter’s side the lead with just 10 minutes on the clock, heading in superbly off the crossbar from Pascal Gross’ corner.

A mistake at the back gifted the Seagulls a second shortly before half-time, as Yves Bissouma intercepted a pass and fed Neal Maupay, who was left with the simple task of finishing past Daniel Bachmann to make it 2-0.

The scoring would finish there, with the Hornets failing to truly trouble Robert Sanchez in the Brighton goal during the game. Both the performance and result will perhaps bring Watford back down to earth after what was a superb start to the campaign at Vicarage Road last time out, and Xisco will be under no illusions that this could be a long hard season for his side.

One man who disappointed at the Amex Stadium was Ken Sema, with the £4.05m-rated Swedish midfielder struggling to influence the game at all on the left-hand side.

As per SofaScore, the 27-year-old would earn a shocking 6.0/10 rating for his performance, which was the worst of any player to feature in the game from both sides.

Sema would have just 30 touches during his time on the pitch, which was just one more than goalkeeper Bachmann, which emphasises just how little he was involved against Brighton.

Unfortunately, when he did have the ball, he did very little with it, completing just 12/18 passes on Saturday afternoon, whilst he failed to complete a single cross, dribble, shot or long ball.

He was regularly guilty of losing the ball by trying too much and of the five duels he was involved in during the game, he lost every single one, which surely won’t impress Xisco.

The Sweden international will have to be much better in future games if he wants to keep his place in the starting XI.

And, in other news… Huge Vicarage Road transfer news emerges, fans will be buzzing

Sheffield United have been handed a major boost in their bid to bring Matty Longstaff to Bramall Lane.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who relayed recent comments made by Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce regarding the future of the 21-year-old, amid reports of interest from both Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town.

The 60-year-old admitted that he needs to move a few players out on loan in order for him to make moves for his own targets in the remainder of the summer transfer window, and suggested that Longstaff will be one of the players to leave St. James’ Park.

In his comments, Bruce said: “It’s something that we have decided might be best for Matty. I have had that conversation with him. We have had one or two enquiries and hope something happens in the next couple of days.”

Jokanovic will be buzzing

Considering the fact that Slavisa Jokanovic’s Sheffield United side is lacking a considerable amount of depth in the middle of the pitch, as well as the sheer amount of potential Longstaff appears to possess, the news that Bruce is willing to sanction the temporary departure of the midfielder is sure to have left the Serbian boss buzzing.

Indeed, following the departures of both John Lundstram and Jack Rodwell earlier this summer, the 53-year-old currently only has two natural central midfielders in his first-team squad, in the shape of John Fleck and Oliver Norwood.

As such, while both Sander Berge and Regan Slater can operate in the position, it would nevertheless appear wise for United to bring in at least one more option, with an extremely long and arduous Championship campaign ahead of the Blades.

Furthermore, after bursting onto the Premier League scene by scoring the winner against Manchester United on his top-flight debut, pundits and teammates alike were quick to heap praise on the 21-year-old – with Sean Longstaff dubbing his brother an “outstanding” talent, Graeme Souness complimenting the midfielder’s ability to pick out players with “30 or 40 yard passes” and Jamie Redknapp claiming that the “game stands still” when the youngster is on the ball.

So, should Longstaff indeed go on to complete a switch to Bramall Lane in the coming days, it would very much appear to provide Jokanovic’s midfield with a very welcome boost – at a time when the Serbian desperately needs one.

In other news: Jokanovic drops Sheffield United transfer claim that’ll be music to the ears of fans

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton has dropped an update on the Rs’ pursuit of Andre Gray.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by West London Sport, the QPR boss revealed that he is still in the market for a centre-forward in what remains of the summer transfer window, as he believes his side is lacking an attacking outlet who boasts significant pace and power.

The 58-year-old said: “Teams know we want to play football and they’re going to try to stop us playing. We need to have that outlet of pace and power in behind, so if that opportunity arises then we’ll move if we can – obviously within the confines of the budget.

“We’ve had a really good transfer window and done a lot of good business early, but if another opportunity arises then hopefully we can make that move.”

However, when asked directly whether or not QPR were plotting a move for the Watford centre-forward, Warburton said: “I’m never going to talk about another club’s player. He’s a Watford player. We’ve got to look at what options are available. Let’s see what becomes available.”

It then emerged on Monday via The Athletic that Gray was actually on the verge of heading to west London on loan.

Fans will be buzzing

As Warburton states, QPR have enjoyed what looks to be a very successful transfer window thus far, having already landed the impressive additions of Andre Dozzell, Stefan Johansen, Charlie Austin, Jordy de Wijs and Jimmy Dunne amongst others on permeant deals, as well as the loan signing of Norwich City left-back Sam McCallum.

And, while the manager refused to directly discuss his reported interest in Gray, the 58-year-old’s hint that he will be moving for another striker – with the Watford forward very much appearing to be his primary target – prior to the closure of the summer transfer window on Tuesday is sure to have left fans buzzing.

Indeed, despite struggling for form in the Premier League, the man Xisco Munoz dubbed a “brilliant” player has demonstrated on a number of occasions that he is a prolific marksman in the Championship – with the £70k-per-week forward scoring 46 goals and registering 19 assists over his 118 second-tier appearances, averaging a goal involvement a little under every two fixtures.

As such, considering how impressive QPR have been over their opening five league fixtures of the season, with the Rs currently sitting in third place in the Championship, the addition of the £3.6m-rated Gray would only seem to boost Warburton’s chances of securing a top-six finish come the end of the season – an outcome that would delight everyone involved with the club, including the supporters.

In other news: Warburton drops hint on “unbelievable” £2.25m-rated machine, QPR fans will be buzzing

Wolves endured a torrid time in the summer transfer window as the Old Gold struggled to bring in the players they wanted.

Bruno Lage’s first few months at the club were also marred by a lack of finances after spending £76.32m 12 months ago.

That being said, they did make some eye-catching additions. Wolves brought Trincao and Hwang-hee Chan to the club on loan; two players who will undoubtedly improve their forward ranks.

Yet, there were also near misses. Lage tried to sign Sven Botman from Lille and the player reportedly wanted the move but they ended up being priced out.

They also made a last-ditch attempt to land Renato Sanches from the same club. However, with the Portuguese injured for a period of time and the Molineux outfit unable to agree on a future fee to buy him, the deal collapsed.

Another player they tried to lure to English football was Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Athletic (via GIVEMESPORT) revealed the rather surprising news last week in a review surrounding the club’s transfer business.

What was least surprising, though, was that a move wasn’t agreed.

However, if they are serious about spending money going forward and lifting themselves towards European football again, then signing players like Milinkovic-Savic could take them to the next level.

After all, he’d be an immense upgrade on some of the options they already have in the middle of the park.

Previous reviews about the £104k-per-week dynamo tell you all you need to know. He’s been compared to Zinedine Zidane and Paul Pogba and has been hailed greatly by ex-Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman.

He once said: “He has remarkable attributes and you’ll not find another player in the world with that power, muscular structure and height combined with technique and tactical awareness.”

It’s evident to see just how many attributes the Serbian has at his disposal. Last season, Milinkovic-Savic scored eight goals and registered nine assists for Lazio in Serie A. Both of those numbers were better than anyone at Molineux.

Furthermore, he won 1.8 tackles and managed 1.3 key passes per game. In terms of the first statistic, only Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho had better numbers at Wolves from a midfielder’s perspective.

Only Moutinho, Pedro Neto and Adama Traore, meanwhile, registered better stats for creativity.

However, if you combine those numbers with the Serbia international’s goal involvements, it’s clear to see just how big a presence he could be.

Signing him would be a major coup but they must revisit their interest in a few months time.

AND in other news, Wolves set for big boost after key weekend development, Lage surely buzzing…