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Despite having secured six signings this summer, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is still on the lookout for more additions to add to his squad, according to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: Spurs’ window

Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici has been hard at work this summer having secured six additions to Conte’s Lilywhites squad.

Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster arrived on free transfers earlier in the window, paving the way for two big money moves.

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma joined the North London club in a deal worth £35m, whilst the arrival of Richarlison from Everton broke Tottenham’s transfer record with his £60m fee.

More recently, Spurs have announced the season-long loan signing of Clement Lenglet from Barcelona, further adding full-back Djed Spence to their ranks after lengthy negotiations with Championship side Middlesbrough.

The Latest: Selling to buy?

In football.london’s latest Tottenham QnA, Gold was regularly asked about Paratici’s current position in the transfer market.

In response to whether the club are still looking to bring more players in this summer, the reliable journalist claimed:

“Players need to head out of the door in the weeks ahead and Conte told me out in Korea that the club will continue to look for further opportunities to improve the squad.”

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The Verdict: Big overhaul

With lots of new faces arriving through the door at Hotspur Way, the Lilywhites have also seen a number of departures this summer.

Winger Steven Bergwijn was finally granted his N17 exit, with the player opting to join Dutch giants Ajax for a £26.4m fee.

Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to former loan club Celtic on a permanent deal, with Jack Clarke also returning to his former loan side Sunderland for a £10m fee.

With a handful of departures still expected to be completed before the transfer window closes in September, Tottenham fans could expect to see a variety of new players lining up in a Lilywhites shirt next season, making this one of the biggest overhauls of Spurs’ squad in recent times.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly not set to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, despite their recent links with the player.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Matt Davies in a Q&A for Nottinghamshire Post, a deal to sign the 22-year-old now appears unlikely, with the Englishman’s reported £30m asking price seemingly set to prove too high for the Reds.

Asked whether the playmaker will make the move to the City Ground this summer, the Forest correspondent stated: “I’m not sure he will now. Ask me a week ago and I was very confident but the injury to Raul Jimenez is a real problem. Speaking to people over the summer, MGW would be happy to come to Forest, but Wolves want a huge price to fund other moves.

“They really need a striker now, but Bruno Lage is a big fan of MGW. Will Wolves sell another attacking option when their main striker is out early on. Not sure? Jimenez says he’ll only miss a couple of games, but it’s also been reported he’ll miss 8.

“Forest might have to wait till late in the window and then test Wolves with a bid. Every player has a price, but also a price limit and £30m is a lot! Not sure you can go that high.”

Previous reports have suggested that Steve Cooper and co were interested in Gibbs-White, although other reports have claimed that the Stafford-born gem is keen to remain at Molinuex this season.

Cooper will be gutted

That news will serve as a notable blow to those of a Forest persuasion, with the club’s promotion-winning coach in particular likely to be gutted at not being able to add such a promising talent to his ranks before the September 1st deadline.

The Welshman has already overseen 12 new arrivals in the transfer window thus far, albeit with further acquisitions needed having seen a host of last season’s loanees return to their parent clubs.

In Gibbs-White, the 42-year-old would have been able to secure the addition of not only a familiar face – having coached the youngster at England under-17 level and at Swansea City – but also a versatile asset, with the £9.9m-rated ace comfortable all across the midfield and the forward line.

Although the explosive menace is yet to truly nail down a regular role for the Old Gold, having made just ten starts from his 46 Premier League outings so far for the club, his form on loan at Sheffield United last term showcased just what a huge talent he is.

In 35 Championship appearances for the Blades during the 2021/22 season, the 5 foot 10 speedster recorded a haul of 11 goals and nine assists, while also creating 16 big chances in total and averaging 1.6 key passes per game, showcasing his creativity and his potent threat in the final third.

That sparkling form saw him prove “instrumental” for the Bramall Lane outfit, in the words of former team-mate Billy Sharp, while he has also previously been dubbed a “sensation” by journalist Mike McGrath.

A fresh start now appears to be on the cards for Gibbs-White at his parent club following that string of eye-catching displays in the Championship, with Cooper likely to be frustrated at having to come up against him in 2022/23 rather than having the player as a part of his squad.

Nottingham Forest’s attempts to sign Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet appear to be off after the player failed to agree personal terms at the City Ground, as per talkSPORT.

The Lowdown: Cornet interest

The Reds have been extremely busy in the transfer market ahead of their long-awaited Premier League return, with signings into double figures. Forest’s summer spending is approaching £100m, but more new arrivals could be on the way, with Cornet another player linked with a move to Nottingham.

Described as ‘terrific’ by Owen Hargreaves, the 25-year-old was believed to be of interest to Steve Cooper, but it looks as if a transfer is unlikely.

The Latest: talkSPORT update

talkSPORT shared a story on Saturday morning regarding Cornet, who has been a man in demand following Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.

They claimed that the 25-year-old failed to agree on personal terms over a potential transfer in what has been described as a boost to Newcastle.

The Verdict: Not ideal

Cornet has scored an impressive 67 goals for club and country throughout his career and made a good impression in the Premier League with Burnley.

He would have added plenty of versatility to Cooper’s squad as he is capable of playing as a full-back, midfielder, winger or centre-forward.

Forest haven’t been dealt too many setbacks this summer with players continuing to arrive, but unfortunately it looks as if Cornet won’t be playing at the City Ground this season.

Aston Villa have received a timely boost ahead of this weekend’s Premier League opener against AFC Bournemouth…

What’s the word?

As revealed by reliable Birmingham Mail reporter Ashley Preece, the Midlands outfit will be able to call upon winger Anwar El Ghazi and striker Keinan Davis on Saturday as both have made their return to training in recent days.

“Anwar El Ghazi back amongst the first-team at Bodymoor Heath this week after missing Australia & France trips due to partner’s pregnancy. Keinan Davis also back in training after his latest hamstring setback,” he tweeted.

Timely boost for Gerrard

Whilst neither are expected to start on Saturday afternoon down at Dean Court, having them available is certainly a boost as it bolsters Steven Gerrard’s bench options.

El Ghazi has been absent for much of pre-season but is perhaps one of the few players who can play on the left flank – 12 of his 14 appearances for both Villa and loan club Everton came on that side last term.

On his day, he is a solid enough candidate, too.

Only a season before, he bagged ten goals across 28 top-flight appearances under Dean Smith, including a pair of strikes against Chelsea, as per Transfermarkt.

“I’ve played with him and played against him. In training, he can be unstoppable,” once claimed former teammate Alan Hutton to Football Insider. “In games, I’m watching him thinking, do that, take them on, go forward. You’re urging him to do it because you know he can do it.”

If Gerrard can get the Dutchman back to that kind of form, then he’ll have a very astute alternative on his hands, so his availability this weekend is certainly a plus, particularly with top-flight teams now able to call upon five substitutes within a match.Meanwhile, Davis adds a new dimension to the attack and whilst he’s unlikely to usurp either of Danny Ings or Ollie Watkins anytime soon, he’s a presence that’s there in case of injury or late on if chasing a game.Still only 24, the striker bagged five goals in 15 league appearances for Nottingham Forest on their way to promotion last season.Once lauded as “absolutely unplayable” by former teammate Jack Grealish, the Bodymoor Heath graduate is another bonus to have in the squad heading into the weekend.It’s great news for Gerrard as he will be looking to kickstart the new campaign with three points against the Premier League newcomers.

AND in other news, Gerrard could unearth Villa’s next “absolute goal machine”, he can dethrone Danny Ings…

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Marseille striker Bamba Dieng and Benfica ace Goncalo Ramos, according to the Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Dieng’s rise

Dieng has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence since arriving in France from Senegal, directly contributing to 12 goals in 43 outings for the French Ligue 1 club.

As a result of performances domestically and during the successful Africa Cup of Nations campaign, the 22-year-old senior international has attracted interest from a plethora of clubs including Newcastle, West Ham and Leeds.

Now, it appears as though Forest are the latest suitors to show their admiration for Dieng, although the versatile attacker isn’t the only one on the City Ground radar…

The latest: Two named

As per the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest ‘want to sign’ both Ramos and the 11-cap Senegal sensation.

Following a January bid from the Reds, it’s claimed that Dieng ‘remains on their radar’ as Steve Cooper looks to add further firepower to the ranks.

The report states that Forest are ‘targeting’ the man who was hailed on BT Sport’s official Twitter account for a ‘stunning acrobatic finish’ against Strasbourg in December, whilst an offer for Ramos has ‘fallen short’ of the expectations in Portugal.

The verdict: Get it done

Capable of playing across the frontline, a versatility that Ramos doesn’t possess, signing Dieng would be an impressive coup for Forest given the magnitude of the interest.

Linked elsewhere to Watford hitman Emmanuel Dennis, it seems as though the Forest hierarchy and Dane Murphy are desperate to add further attacking options after a humbling opening day defeat.

Last season, the Senegalese attacker – who shares similar stylistic traits to the likes of Sadio Mane, Martin Terrier and Ferran Torres (FBref) – scored eight times and provided three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.

Potentially partnered alongside other formidable options such as Taiwo Awoniyi and Brennan Johnson in one of Cooper’s favoured 3-4-3 formations, Dieng could be the difference maker for the Reds in the quest for survival.

At the end of the 2021/22 Premier League season, it appeared extremely unlikely that Wolves would start the new campaign with Ruben Neves in their midfield.

The Portugal international spoke openly about his future after the final day defeat against Liverpool, saying: “Our careers are really short, we need to take the opportunities we have.

“Of course, all of us have dreams and we need to live those dreams in a short space of time. Let’s see what happens. I cannot say too much about it.”

What’s the latest?

The 25-year-old was heavily linked with Barcelona and Manchester United earlier in the summer but they were deterred by Bruno Lage slapping a £100m price tag on the former Porto man.

However, he has remained at the club and has captained the side in the opening two fixtures following Conor Coady’s departure, which emphasizes that Lage is confident he will remain at Molineux this summer.

Unfortunately, it seems as if Wolves have very little chance of extending the midfielder’s contract beyond 2024, as Ryan Taylor revealed in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT this week.

He said: “I think Jorge Mendes has other plans for him, to be honest. I’d be very surprised if they tied him down to a longer deal.”

Lage should be gutted

Given that Neves’ current deal is set to expire at the end of next season, Wolves may find themselves in a position where they are forced to sell in 2023 in order to avoid losing the talented midfielder on a free transfer.

Since joining Wolves from Porto in 2017, Neves has gone on to make 214 appearances for the Old Gold, contributing 24 goals and 12 assists during a vibrant time in the Midlands.

The cultured midfielder was ranked by WhoScored as Wolves’ fifth-best performer in the 2021/22 campaign, demonstrating his importance to Lage’s team.

Furthermore, he has also been their top outfield performer in their opening two fixtures so far this season, thanks to a performance rating of 7.12, a number that far eclipses anyone else with Leander Dendoncker sitting in second with 6.97.

Therefore, it would undeniably be a big blow if the club were to lose him, whether it be this summer or next. After all, with Joao Moutinho now nearly the wrong side of 35, the club could do with some younger options in the middle of the park and they may end up having to replace the pair of them in a year’s time.

Thus, should Mendes indeed have other plans for the 25-year-old, Lage would surely be gutted at losing one of his main men.

Capable of magic moments, particularly with his long-range shooting ability and set-piece delivery, Neves is a midfielder that adds a great deal to the centre of the pitch. Molineux would certainly be a worse place without him.

West Ham United are reportedly eyeing a move for Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur also believed to be keen on his signature.

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Tutto Atalanta, the Hammers have emerged as a potential suitor for the 29-year-old, with the London Stadium outfit said to be ‘thinking about’ a possible approach for the Ukraine international.

The report does suggest, however, that it could take a fee of around €35m (£29.5m) for the Bergamo-based side to contemplate a sale, with that figure said to have proven somewhat prohibitive for Spurs.

As such, the report goes on to add that the chances of the 49-cap gem staying put are only increasing, particularly with the end to the window fast approaching.

Unreal signing

West Ham boss David Moyes has overseen seven major deals already so far this summer, although the indication is that there could be further incomings before the September deadline, with the club’s dismal start to the new season potentially set to force their hand in the market.

While the backline has been something of a concern amid mounting injury woes, the forward line has also come up short in the league thus far, having failed to score a single goal in the opening three games.

In Malinovskyi, however, the former Everton boss could well have found a solution to those attacking deficiencies, with the former Genk man offering a real potent threat in the final third.

Dubbed “decisive” by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, the £25.2m-rated playmaker – who largely operates in an attacking midfield role – has scored 30 goals and provided 27 assists in 130 games for his current side to date, having previously also recorded 62 goal contributions in 135 games during his time in Belgium.

Lauded for his “unreal” long-range shooting ability by journalist Carlo Garganese, the £21k-per-week sensation netted five of his six Serie A goals last season from outside the box, proving himself a real menace from distance.

Equally, his tally of 17 goal contributions in all competitions last term was only bettered by Michail Antonio (24) and Jarrod Bowen (31) in the Hammers squad – and level with Said Benrahma – with Moyes and co likely to be delighted to have another figure in tow who can produce a moment of magic.

The 5 foot 11 machine offers a real creative and forward-thinking presence in attack as he also notably ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, with that figure notably better than the likes of Pablo Fornals (top 14%) and Manuel Lanzini (top 22%) – two men who currently operate in a playmaking role for the club.

With Champions League experience also under his belt, Malinovskyi could well be the quality attacking addition that Moyes and co are craving, with all the evidence pointing to a player who would simply be ‘unreal’ for the club were he to join before the window is out

It may only be three games into the new Premier League season for Aston Villa, although pressure is seemingly already mounting on manager Steven Gerrard, with little improvement having been made from last term despite a strong summer of recruitment.

Two defeats and a win thus far have ensured that the former Rangers boss has a dismal record of 14 defeats from his opening 30 league games in charge at Villa Park since his appointment back in November, having failed as yet to have the desired impact.

The 42-year-old has not been helped, however, by the loss of summer signing Diego Carlos, with the Brazilian defender set to be out for an extended period of time after suffering an Achilles’ injury in the victory over Everton last week.

The absence of the former Sevilla man could well see the Midlands outfit forced back into the market for another centre-back before the September deadline, with Chelsea starlet Trevoh Chalobah one name that has emerged on the rumour mill of late.

The suggestion is that the Villans are eyeing a loan swoop for the 23-year-old before the end of the window, with the Sierra Leone-born menace – who is also attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur – believed to be wary of losing his place at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues academy graduate is yet to feature this season under manager Thomas Tuchel, with the potential addition of Leicester City gem Wesley Fofana only set further harm his first-team chances.

That inability to earn a regular role – particularly following the exodus of centre-backs in the capital over the summer – has somewhat come as a surprise, following what was a real breakthrough campaign last time out for the £18m-rated “colossus”, as described by journalist Joe Krishnan.

After having spent the previous three seasons out on loan, the former Three Lions youth international was thrust into the first-team set-up by Tuchel at the start of last season, going on to feature 31 times in all competitions for his current side.

That bright impact had seen the £20k-per-week brute even likened to a young Virgil van Dijk by pundit Ian Wright, with those at Villa Park no doubt hoping that they could have their own version of the Liverpool leader on their hands if they are to sign the Chelsea gem.

Speaking about the youngster, Wright said: “You know what he reminded me of, not the same player, not the same stature, but the way Virgil Van Dijk when he played for Celtic, people said he’s just taking liberties just because he’s good and not in the same standard [as others].”

A “composed” figure – as described by Krishnan – much like the Dutchman, Chalobah seemingly has a similar statistical record to that of the 31-year-old with regards to their quality in possession, as the younger man has a 91.2% pass completion rate per 90, while the Reds hero averages 90.7% for the same metric – albeit with the latter man having played more minutes.

Both also possessing impressive size and stature – with Van Dijk standing at 6 foot 4 and Chalobah at 6 foot 3 – they also provide a real threat in an attacking sense, having each scored three league goals last term.

Although the one-time Lorient loanee has some way to go to match the standing of a player whom Michael Owen dubbed the “best centre-half of all time”, it is intriguing the comparisons that can be made between the pair.

Amid their current woes, Gerrard would no doubt love to have a Van Dijk-esque figure in his Villa side this season.

Newcastle United could yet to return with an offer for Watford striker Joao Pedro, despite the recent capture of Alexander Isak.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth – via Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre – who revealed that another move for the Brazilian starlet has “not been ruled out”, having previously seen a second bid of around £25m rejected earlier this month.

The transfer insider stated: “The Isak deal came out of the blue a little bit, and up to that point Newcastle were in discussions with Watford about Joao Pedro.

“Since Isak has signed, the big question has been whether anyone else will come in. Eddie Howe certainly hopes so. I’m told it’s gone quiet with Joao Pedro, but also that it’s not been ruled out. Newcastle’s bid was worth £30m, with £25m guaranteed. It was the structure of the add-ons which was still under discussion.

“Now Isak is in, I wonder if Newcastle go back and try to sort out those add-ons? Yes, they do want to bring in players – let’s see if one will be Joao Pedro.”

Pedro would be “incredible” under Howe

While it remains to be seen whether Newcastle will return with an improved bid for the 20-year-old before the transfer window closes, supporters will no doubt be excited at the suggestion that PIF could well still be eyeing another high-profile addition following the club-record addition of Isak.

In what looks set to be a “frantic” next few days for the Magpies before the Thursday night deadline, in the words of Sheth’s Sky colleague Keith Downie, Toon manager Eddie Howe could see his squad bolstered even further, having already wrapped up four major deals so far this summer.

Adding the “incredible” talent that is Pedro – as described by Watford manager Rob Edwards – into the mix would further improve the Magpies’ firepower, with the youngster having proven a hugely menacing attacking threat during his time at Vicarage Road.

The £12.6m-rated marksman – who was signed from Fluminese in 2019 – has recorded a respectable tally of 15 goals and six assists in 79 appearances for his current club, scoring three goals in the Premier League last season.

Although not prolific, the highly-rated prospect can provide that killer touch when required, while his ability to feature all across the front line could be hugely beneficial amid the dearth of quality wide options in Howe’s ranks.

The £12.5k-per-week gem has also started the new season in fine fashion, having nine goals in his last Championship campaign in 2020/21.

A player that Howe can well nurture and develop over the coming years, the “intelligent” gem – as dubbed by his former boss Claudio Ranieri – could well be an asset who can go on to light up St James’ Park in the years to come, with his obvious talent indicating that he could well be ‘incredible’ for the Tynesiders if they can sign him over the coming week.

Southampton could be forced into spending big money to recruit a replacement for set-piece coach Alex Clapham, according to training ground expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Clapham’s departure from Southampton

On 1 July, Training Ground Guru reported that Ralph Hasenhuttl had appointed Clapham as the Saints’ new specialist set-piece coach. The 33-year-old had joined the Premier League side from Notts County, where he was first-team coach last season.

However, less than three months later, the same outlet revealed that Clapham had left his role at Southampton due to personal reasons.

The Latest: Dinnery’s claim

Dinnery – who sporadically features on Sky Sports – believes that it will be difficult for Southampton to find a suitable replacement for the vacant role at this stage in the season.

Speaking with Football Insider, he revealed: “It’s frustrating because big decisions on recruitment and due diligence aren’t made on the spur of the moment.

“A lot of work goes into identifying the perfect person. They need to have the right skill set but they also need to align with the manager’s thoughts.

“When someone leaves in such a short period of time, that leaves a hole. We are at the stage of the season now where you cannot just go out there and pick up a replacement to slot right in there.

“That is a problem because it’s a big expense and also because these guys are in high demand. There are cost and logistical implications.

“It’s a big job in terms of recruitment, just as it is when identifying player targets. It can go on for several months before they find the right person. So, it’s going to be a blow.”

The Verdict: Big blow

Southampton are renowned for their set-piece effectiveness – club captain James Ward-Prowse has been hailed as the best free-kick taker Pep Guardiola has ever seen, while they had the joint-fifth best record for set-piece goals in last season’s Premier League.

Therefore, Clapham’s departure could be viewed as a big blow for the Saints.

With the expenditure that’s needed to lure another top-class specialist away from another club, it could be more likely that Hasenhuttl goes without a specific coach for that role for the remainder of the season.

Therefore, Saints fans will be hoping that the 33-year-old’s exit will not come to affect Ward-Prowse’s free-kick routine, which saw him finish as Southampton’s top scorer in the Premier League last season with ten goals in 36 appearances (eight of which came from set plays).