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Many members of the national media have been left blown away by some ‘massive’ transfer news out of Tottenham Hotspur as sporting director Fabio Paratici continues to make moves.

The Lowdown: Paratici busy…

After meeting with Spurs manager Antonio Conte in Italy to discuss recruitment strategy late last month, Lilywhites chief Paratici has started this summer at 100 miles per hour.

Seemingly determined to appease the former Chelsea coach, Tottenham have jetted out the blocks with a flurry of major signings just over a fortnight into the transfer window.

Club chairman Daniel Levy and ENIC, granting a £150m equity increase after the north Londoners sealed a top-four Premier League finish last season, seem to be watching a quick reinvestment of that cash injection.

The Latest: Media blown away by ‘massive’ Spurs transfer news…

After an official development in the last few days, it appears Lilywhites supporters have all the more reason to be excited for next campaign.

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Indeed, the Bosman signings of Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster have now been followed by Tottenham confirming Yves Bissouma’s £25m arrival from Brighton.

The Mali international put pen to paper on a five-year contract, becoming Conte’s third major incoming of the summer, and many members of the media have been quick to voice their approval of Spurs’ transfer business:

“Perisic & Bissouma are unreal buys for Conte’s system. You’re getting one guy who will provide you with reliable end-product from the left flank with the intangible of stepping up at big moments. Then a technical AND physical upgrade for the midfield. Paratici smashing it so far.”– Raj Chohan, BBC Sport Writer (Twitter).

“Massive. Been on about Bissouma for a long while on here…” – Leon Mann MBE, former BBC and ITV presenter (Twitter)

“Yves Bissouma has been announced by Spurs. Can’t wait to cover him closely next season. Some player ! A few years ago he was playing in the Malian League.” – Rahman Osman, London World journalist (Twitter).

“You won’t know how good he is until he steps foot on the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Bissouma is an unreal footballer. Treat him well, Spurs.” – Charlie Haffenden, Brighton journalist (Twitter).

The Verdict: Phenomenal signing…

The national media are certainly right to praise Spurs for their signing of Bissouma.

For just £25m, Paratici has sealed a shrewd deal for Brighton’s most pivotal star of 2021/22, as evident by the fact he was Graham Potter’s best-performing regular by average match rating according to WhoScored.

Bissouma also averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any of his Seagulls team-mates (and indeed anyone at Tottenham), another sign that the tough-tackling ace could become a real defensive asset for Conte.

In other news: The Guardian: Tottenham eyeing ‘big’ 183-goal player move, Harry Redknapp called him ‘priceless’…find out more here

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with signing PSG striker Mauro Icardi this summer and the Argentinian could be Bruno Lage’s very own Jamie Vardy should he make the move to Molineux.

According to Corriere dello Sport the French champions are ‘desperate’ to offload the Argentina international this summer and Wolves are a potential destination for the 29-year-old.

Les Parisiens have reportedly asked super-agent Jorge Mendes for help in finding Icardi a new club, and given his connections with Wolves, a move to the West Midlands could be on the cards.

While the striker has not enjoyed the most fruitful spell in France, his previous form at Inter suggests that he could be a superb addition to Lage’s squad this summer.

Icardi hit 124 goals and 29 assists in 213 appearances for I Nerazzurri and captained the side before moving to Paris in 2020, where he has made 92 appearances, contributing a respectable 38 goals and 10 assists.

While the striker’s game time has been limited at times, he has been forced to compete with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria in PSG’s attack, so would presumably be much more of a regular in Wolves’ side next season.

If he were to join, he could be Lage’s version of Vardy, who has enjoyed a superb career with Leicester City in the Premier League, scoring 133 goals in the top flight and memorably helping the Foxes to the title in 2016.

According to FBref, the former England international is the most similar player to Icardi in terms of play style, with both players registering similar scores in terms of shots per 90, shot-creating actions per 90 and expected goals per shot last season.

WhoScored also suggests that both Vardy and Icardi excel at finishing, and considering Wolves’ lack of goals in the top flight last season, with only the relegated sides scoring fewer, a clinical finisher could be exactly what Lage needs next season in order to progress.

Therefore, if a deal can be done to bring the £19.8m-rated “animal” to Molineux this summer, then Wolves should definitely consider it.

And, in other news… “I’m sure..“: Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Wolves transfer update that’ll elate Lage

The summer transfer window is well underway and Tottenham have been active, with deals for Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic already sealed. 

Fabio Paratici is not wasting any time as he looks to improve the squad in the coming weeks, and another player he may be attempting to bring in is young attacker Joao Felix.

According to The Express, Spurs have recently been alerted to the possibility of signing the Portugal international ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that the news of Atletico Madrid being open to doing a deal for the talented youngster has left them with a chance to snap him up.

It is stated that a swap deal could be on the cards, as the La Liga side have been linked with an interest in Tottenham outcast Giovani Lo Celso.

Antonio Conte’s own Paulo Dybala

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not Fabio Paracti will move forward with a bid for the attacker, Spurs would land Conte’s own version of Dybala by securing a deal for him.

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Spurs are reportedly interested in signing the Argentine gem on a free transfer from Juventus but can now find a suitable alternative by bringing in Felix from Atletico.

FBRef list them as similar players based on their statistics over the last 365 days and they are certainly similar in the roles that they can be deployed in on the pitch. Both of them are diminutive forwards who can play anywhere across the frontline; on either flank, in the number 10 position, and as a false nine or centre-forward.

Diego Simeone once dubbed Felix “complete” after an impressive performance for Atletico, and his statistics suggest that that is exactly what he often is on the football pitch. As per FBRef, he ranks in the 91st and 95th percentiles for progressive passes and carries respectively, whilst also ranking in the 92nd percentile for interceptions per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues in his position over the last 365 days, with Dybala ranking in the 93rd percentile or higher in all three categories.

Furthermore, the £113m Atletico phenomenon scored eight goals in 13 La Liga starts last term, after managing seven in 14 starts in the previous campaign. This shows that he can carry and pass the ball to create for his team-mates, whilst also winning possession back for the team and being able to finish off opportunities which come his way.

Therefore, Conte can land his own version of Dybala – a dynamic, versatile, threat who can score and assist – by landing a deal to sign Felix in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Paratici plotting Spurs bid for “clinical” £50m gem, he can be Conte’s new “talisman”…

Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore has issued a transfer teaser, as a move to Barcelona still remains on the cards.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from BirminghamLive who claim that the Spain international has teased supporters over a potential transfer, with Wolves said to be in a bid to resolve his future this summer.

As of yet, Barcelona have not given any indication as to whether they will be taking up their £25m option to buy, with the option believed to be expiring imminently, as per the report.

Although Wolves are expecting Traore to return to Compton Park for pre-season as things stand, his latest Instagram post has left supporters wondering whether his future could indeed be with Barcelona.

As per the same report, Traore re-posted a video of his Barcelona highlights on his Instagram story with the message: “I am coming.”

Supporters will be gutted

Wolves have missed the spark that the Spaniard of Malian descent offers on the wing and as a result, supporters will surely be gutted if he does end up back at Barca.

As loanee Francisco Trincao will have found out this season when looking at his numbers in comparison to the rest of the squad, no one can match Adama’s average of 7.0 dribbles per 90, with Trincao being Wolves’ closest player to that Premier League-leading tally, having managed an average of 3.0 dribbles per 90.

It’s clear that Adama wants to be a part of Xavi’s Barcelona squad, with his latest action suggesting that a move back to the Blaugrana is entirely possible.

And quite frankly, the 26-year-old functions better in a possession-based system.

Supporters will be gutted if Traore is to secure a permanent move away from the club but, a move to a side that commits more bodies forward in the attacking phase of the game suits the La Masia youth graduate well.

It will enable him with more opportunities to progress the ball and create chances – perhaps the strongest components of his game.

AND in other news: Wolves may “take a punt” on signing “decisive” £23.4m-rated ace, Lage would be buzzing

Tottenham ‘have asked’ Barcelona about the possibility of signing Memphis Depay, according to Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

The two clubs have recently been negotiating over a season-long loan deal for centre-back Clement Lenglet.

It was only last summer that the Catalan giants signed Depay on a free transfer after he reached the end of his Lyon contract, but it’s worth noting that they are in dire straits financially, operating under €1.3bn (£1.12bn) of debt.

Depay has previously had a stint in English football, of course, making a £25m move to Manchester United back in 2015.

However, it didn’t go to plan for the forward at Old Trafford, who left to join Lyon for an initial £16m two years later after scoring just seven goals in 53 appearances.

The latest

The report from Sport (via Sport Witness) states that the possibility of a move for Depay has arisen in the course of the talks over Lenglet.

Tottenham’s enquiry was met with a valuation of €20m (£17.1m) from Barcelona, where the 28-year-old would ideally like to stay, but his representatives have been told that they can find him a new club.

If the Dutchman were to leave Camp Nou, he’d want a move a Champions League outfit such as Spurs.

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The verdict

It seems that Barcelona may be selling Depay out of necessity, rather than dissatisfaction with his performances. Indeed, he bagged 12 La Liga goals last season, having only started 20 games – on average, he was netting one every 152 minutes.

No Barcelona player scored more goals in 2021/22, with Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finishing level at the top of the club’s standings.

Depay offers Conte versatility, able to operate as both a centre-forward and a winger. As a number nine, he is stylistically similar to Karim Benzema and Alexander Isak; while out wide, he’s closely matched in style with Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz.

Compatriot and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has previously raved about the ‘conviction’ and ‘desire’ which make Depay ‘beautiful to watch’.

The 28-year-old could be a shrewd pick-up by Spurs for what looks like a reasonable price.

Tottenham insider John Wenham has made a claim regarding Leeds United transfer target Sonny Perkins, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Perkins leaves West Ham

The 18-year-old, who Leeds reporter James Marshment has said could be a ‘£20m’ player in ‘three or four years’, officially left West Ham earlier this month.

The Whites were thought to be lining up a deal for Perkins in June, but Tottenham have reportedly made a late move for the ‘stand out’ forward.

Phil Hay has recently stated that it wouldn’t be a surprise if the player ends up at Elland Road after his exit from the London Stadium and that the matter would need to go to tribunal.

The Latest: Wenham’s comments

Talking to Football Insider, Wenham stated that he knows Leeds want to sign Perkins, but he believes that Spurs may hold an advantage due to the player being a lifelong fan and season ticket holder of the north London club.

The Tottenham insider said of the teenager:

“I wasn’t totally sure Tottenham are going to sign him, I know Leeds want him.

“Leeds can offer a better pathway, just look at how much Joe Gelhardt has played.

“But, I don’t know how widely known this is, Sonny is a season ticket holder at Tottenham, as is his Dad.

“They are lifelong Spurs fans. I appreciate he is the jewel in West Ham’s crown but before he signed for them, his parents were pushing him to sign for Tottenham.

“Personally, I would make that move all day long. Hopefully next season we will loan out Troy Parrott, Kion Etete and Dane Scarlett.

“Our youth teams have a lot of football to play next season, we are playing in the youth Champions League and we will need a youth striker if all of those players leave.

“I would be more than happy for Tottenham to make a move for Sonny, he is a really good prospect.”

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Leeds are also in pursuit of a senior striker to complete their first-team transfer business, but Victor Orta and co managing to pip Spurs to Perkins’ services could be another great move in the long run.

It looks as if they have a real challenge on their hands, though, with Spurs keen on the 18-year-old, but Perkins may well be tempted by the realistic chance of breaking into Jesse Marsch’s first-team plans.

He only has to look at Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and most recently 16-year-old Archie Gray to see that there is a clear pathway through to first-team football at Elland Road.

More than a week on from his West Ham departure, there could well be a decision made on his next club soon.

Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha has long been tipped for a move away from Selhurst Park, with AS Roma most recently linked to the Ivory Coast international.

However, with the winger now being 29 years old, it can be assumed that eventually, a decline will begin.

This could welcome the introduction of Burnley winger Dwight McNeil, who could make an ideal replacement for the Ivory Coast international, as well as offering a different dynamic. It could revolutionise how Patrick Vieira wants to play, and offer more balance as he continues to add pure entertainers to his squad.

Back at the start of July, Pete O’Rourke spoke of how the pulling power of the French manager could be the deciding factor in tempting the winger to Selhurst Park.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: “Patrick Vieira, we know what a player he was in the Premier League, he’s a Premier League legend, so I’m sure he does have a lot of pulling power for players, and it does look like he is building an exciting young team at Crystal Palace right now.

“He had a good first season in charge and made some good signings as well, so I’m sure if Dwight McNeil was to make the move to Crystal Palace, Patrick Vieira would play a huge role in that, and his pulling power might help him to make that move to London.”

Crystal Palace were reportedly willing to pay £10m for the star.

Although he went all of last season without a goal, he still managed an impressive 7.03 average SofaScore rating. His contribution to his teams is clearly more than goals and assists, and this is outlined by his underlying stats.

He sits in the 99th percentile for blocks, the 98th percentile for interceptions and the 88th percentile for tackles. He could act as a facilitator for the likes of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.

However, he was recently likened to a player who was once one of the best in the world, with Joe Cole claiming McNeil is “like Di Maria”.

High praise indeed, and although his actual stats may not set the world alight, his other contributions could perhaps far outweigh what Zaha has brought to Palace. He could allow the youngsters to truly explode for the London outfit.

AND in other news: “It’s been a given…”: Journo drops big transfer update, CPFC supporters will be gutted

Everton have been heavily linked with signing Lille midfielder Amadou Onana in recent weeks and the Belgian could prove to be the next Idrissa Gueye at Goodison Park should he join Frank Lampard’s side this summer.

It was reported earlier this week that Everton had moved ahead of West Ham in the race to sign the 20-year-old, who could cost around £5om to sign this summer, as he still has four years left on his contract with Les Dogues.

The young midfielder enjoyed a strong campaign with Lille last season, making 41 appearances in all competitions after joining from Hamburg SV last summer.

His performances saw him called up to Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad, and his one cap is unlikely to be his last, especially if he earns a move to the Premier League this summer.

The 6 foot 6 midfielder, who football talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a “huge talent”, excels at the defensive side of the game and could add some real quality to Lampard’s side next season.

WhoScored suggests that he excels at tackling, through balls and, unsurprisingly, aerial duels – all of which suggest he could fit in well at the base of Everton’s midfield in the future.

Onana regularly uses his size to win the ball back from opponents, as is emphasised by his stats from FbRef, which suggest that he scored in the 94th percentile of midfielders for tackles last season.

Everton have arguably lacked a midfielder with that quality since Gueye left the club to join PSG in 2019, after a successful spell with the Toffees.

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The former Aston Villa man made 107 appearances during his time on Merseyside, contributing four goals and five assists, and it was a big blow when he departed for Les Parisiens.

Having also established himself at Lille, the comparisons between Onana and Gueye are clear to see, so if Kevin Thelwell can find a way to bring in the 20-year-old this summer, there is no reason why he couldn’t emulate the Senegalese midfielder at Goodison Park.

AND, in other news: Moshiri plotting Everton bid for “extraordinary” £152k-p/w target, it’d be a huge coup

Aston Villa are unlikely to sign a new striker this summer but they could have a solution right under their nose.

The Midlands outfit have been linked to several forwards throughout the off-season, ranging from the likes of Lille talisman Jonathan David to manager Steven Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez.

It now appears as if neither of those, or anyone in the role for that matter, will arrive at Villa Park.

That is potentially a worrying sign as the Villans struggled for goals in the Premier League last season – only Ollie Watkins (11 goals) hit double figures for the season, with Danny Ings – a £25m addition last summer – finding the net on only seven occasions.

Instead, Gerrard could look to Cameron Archer, who has returned from a successful loan spell last campaign. Back in January, the England U21 international joined Championship outfit Preston North End, where he bagged seven goals, including a strike on debut against West Brom.

He has already caught the eye during pre-season.

“Everybody has seen how talented he is in front of goal,” claimed Ings this week. “He’s come back from a fantastic loan and looks super sharp; great finisher, great lad. He always wants to learn which, for me, is probably the best thing for a young striker.”

It could, therefore, be wise to make him a part of the first team, instead of sending him out on loan again.

Villa are expected to lose promising young gem Carney Chukwuemeka in the coming 12 months after the teenager rejected a new contract, so someone like Archer could easily step up to take his place amongst the senior squad in a bid to help forget about his fellow countryman.

The Walsall-born frontman has earned plenty of praise throughout his short career to date – Villa View host Ty Bracey once dubbed him a “goal machine”, whilst his Lilywhites boss Ryan Lowe claims he has “got an abundance of talent.”

By unleashing Archer, Gerrard will no longer need to look in the transfer market, which appears to be Villa’s stance right now, and that would help save owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens millions of pounds, too.

AND in other news, Ashley Preece shares exciting Aston Villa transfer claim…

Celtic youngster Matt O’Riley is not wanted by Leicester City in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report which has emerged.

The Lowdown: O’Riley an exciting talent

The attacking midfielder only played a small role in the Hoops’ Premiership title win last season, making 12 appearances in the top flight, half of those as a substitute.

O’Riley has been linked with a move to Leicester recently, with Brendan Rodgers potentially looking to raid his former club.

However, a new report has contradicted those rumours linking the youngster with a move to the King Power Stadium.

The Latest: Leicester not interested in O’Riley

According to 67HailHail, the Foxes will not look to bring O’Riley to the Premier League this summer, despite not yet signing a single player in the current transfer window.

The 21-year-old’s current contract expires in the summer of 2026.

The Verdict: One for the future

This is good news for Celtic, with O’Riley someone who should be regarded as a hot young prospect after joining from MK Dons in January.

Stilliyan Petrov has said that he has been ‘really impressed’ with the midfielder so far at Parkhead, and there is no reason why the Denmark under-21 international can’t continue to prosper with Ange Postecoglou at the helm.

O’Riley may need to accept that some patience is required, with more experienced players ahead of him in the Celtic pecking order, but he should be afforded more opportunities in 2022/23, having registered three goals and three assists in the Premiership last season despite not featuring regularly.