Tottenham lose out in transfer window

Tottenham Hotspur supporters are concerned at the lack of movement in bringing in fresh players to enable new coach Thomas Frank to improve on the club’s 17th-place finish last season.

Tottenham spent £55million on Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United and £5million on Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale. Takai was injured in training and has missed pre-season games.         

Tottenham had hoped to announce the arrival of Morgan Gibbs-White for £60million, and they thought they had triggered his release clause. However, Nottingham Forest shut down communications and threatened legal action over what they considered an illegal approach. 25-year-old Gibbs-White has now signed a new contract with Forest. Frank saw the England international as the perfect No.10 in his system. 

Spurs are falling behind in strengthening their team with only two weeks to go before the start of the season. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all made considerable strides in improving their squads in the summer transfer window.                                   

Liverpool have signed four new players at £269million, while Chelsea have brought in six new faces for around £212million. Arsenal have made an impressive six signings after eventually capturing Viktor Gyokeres, which takes their spending to around £200million.

Manchester United have written cheques for £133million on three new signings — Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha. Man City have brought in five new faces for about £127million — Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Sverre Nypan.

Odegaard and Gyokeres swap messages

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard sent new signing Viktor Gyokeres a friendly message as he flew out to join his new teammates in Singapore. He said: “If there’s anything you need or any way I can help, just give me a shout.”

“Some assists, please, would be nice,” responded Gyokeres instantly.

Odegaard continued: “Looking forward to working together and sharing success in the season ahead. All the best, Martin.”

Gyokeres replied: “Very nice. The only thing I need are some assists!”

What will Gyokeres bring to Arsenal?

Viktor Gyokeres joins Arsenal with a big reputation…similar to when Erling Haaland arrived at Manchester City – a prolific goalscorer who can more than hold his own against defenders in the Liam Delap or Luis Diaz style.

I have spent time this week talking to Gyokeres’ previous club, Sporting of Portugal and my contacts who are on tour with the Gunners in Singapore. What will Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta gain from having the Swede upfront?

 He is an intelligent player who plots his moves carefully, running in from behind defenders, using the channels and always on his mind is shooting at goal and he can strike from anywhere along the front line. He likes to move out into wide spaces, win the ball and has the confidence in his own ability to move forward, taking midfielders and forwards with him. He is not a Haaland-type of goal poacher and doesn’t sit around waiting for crosses into the penalty box, which he could attack…receiving crosses from the wing is not his strength. However, he doesn’t drop too deep either and, more often than not, will be in the right space to receive a pass from Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

 Despite his record of 97 goals across the last two seasons, he will not find it easy to penetrate Premier League defences.

 I keep mentally comparing him with Delap and Haaland and that is after talking to his teammates, coaches and staff. He is powerful, his build is strong, he shoots with power, is fast and can spin off defenders. There is no doubt in my mind that Arteta has brought in a player who can improve the Gunners and, given that their first three games include Manchester United and Liverpool, we should get a chance to see how he responds to his new challenge.

 With Odegaard, Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gyokeres all in the team, Arsenal fans have much to look forward to and feel positive about.

 Xhaka heading to the Stadium of Light

In a major embarrassment to former Manchester United coach Erik Ten Hag, Granit Xhaka is likely heading back to the Premier League. Ten Hag insisted that the midfielder would not leave Bayer Leverkusen.

However, reports reaching me indicate that Sunderland have agreed a £17million fee with the German club and Xhaka has agreed terms on a three-year contract to take him to the Stadium of Light. Initially, Leverkusen turned down the Black Cat’s offer but coach Regis Le Bris is so convinced that the ex-Arsenal star can make a big difference to his squad that they upped their original offer and the deal was agreed.

 Raya and Arrizabalaga – who is No. 1 at Arsenal?

After the arrival of Kepa Arrizabalaga at the Emirates Stadium, David Raya sought assurances from coach Mikel Arteta that he would remain as the Gunners' No. 1 goalkeeper.

 Raya has been a constant between the posts for two seasons since arriving from Brentford in a £27million deal. However, Arteta refused to confirm his No 1 status with Arrizabalaga arriving for £5million from Chelsea. He intends to select his goalkeeper on a week-to-week basis, depending on who impresses in training.

Raya missed only three games of Arsenal’s 58 matches last season but played only the first 45 minutes of last week’s 1-0 win against AC Milan in Singapore. Kepa came on for the second half and saved three penalties in a pre-arranged shoot-out.

 Raya said of Kepa: “We are friends. We have a healthy relationship. We have welcomed him with open arms. He is a top guy. His arrival will raise all our standards, including his. That will benefit the team.”

 United have to balance the books, but still want fresh talent

 Manchester United have been told they must sell two players to avoid breaking the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the 2025/26 season.

 Fans have pushed for new talent to aid coach Ruben Amorim in his quest to give United a dramatic improvement after last season’s disappointing performance.

 Despite owner Sir James Ratcliffe cutting through the club with a chainsaw approach, as he tries to save money, even he recognised that fresh talent is the only way forward.

 It has been difficult attracting top players because United failed to secure Champions League football for this coming season. However, they have signed Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha and Amorim says they will make a considerable difference to the team.

 Marcus Rashford has completed his loan move to Barcelona, which leaves Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho to be sold. All have told United they want to move out. Their wages add up to a staggering £29million per year. Amorim said if they are not sold before the start of the season, he is willing to work with them and bring them back into the squad, but, ideally, Ratcliffe wants to ship them out.

 Mainoo must up his game to survive at Old Trafford

Kobbie Mainoo has been spoken to by Ruben Amorim after the coach changed Manchester United’s defence to a back three and suddenly Kobbie was struggling to repeat his excellent season two years ago. The midfielder is only 20 and is still remembered for his winning goal in the FA Cup victory over derby rivals Manchester City. That earned him a place in the England Euro 2024 team, but has since endured a disappointing run.

 Amorim said: “Kobbie can play in both positions in midfield and last year he played more in front. His perfect position is to play near to the ball and always with the ball. He is a tremendous talent, but he must increase his rhythm and pace and I am always telling him that in training. The point is that this coming season we average just one game per week and the competition for places is going to be huge.”

 Brentford need to replace Mbuemo

I genuinely fear for Brentford this season after losing captain Christian Noorgard, Bryan Mbuemo and possibly Yoane Wissa. The trio scored most of Brentford’s goals last season. First team goalkeeper Mark Flekken has joined Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

 Premier League rookie coach Keith Andrews, who has replaced Thomas Frank, will find it difficult to match up to most of the strong defences at the top level. One solution is to quickly buy French club Metz forward Idrissa Gueye. However, the 18-year-old is being stalked by Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Burnley. United can only offer the Senegalese a future as a long-term project, whereas he could play immediately if he joins either Brentford or Burnley.

 Brentford are a much weaker team than last time around. Frank will be missed as he takes up the challenge at Spurs, where he is joined by assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of first-team performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton. Brentford have taken a huge step backwards.

 Unwanted Sterling still collects £325k-a-week

Was it so long ago that Raheem Sterling was one of the most cherished, admired and exciting players in the Premier League and for the England national squad? It seems like a lifetime ago.

 The attacking forward is back at Chelsea, following his failed loan to Arsenal, working with a group of players who are unwanted by coach Enzo Maresca, including Alex Disasi and Ben Chilwell. Djordje Petrovic was part of the group before he joined Bournemouth, while Joao Felix has joined the Saudi Pro League’s Al Nassr. The club’s officials are working intensely to do deals to move them all out of Stamford Bridge.

 Sterling is still on his £325k weekly salary and will be for two more years if the club doesn’t sell him. There seems to be a strange aura around Sterling, although the player is relaxed about his situation. But with all that money coming in each week, I guess he can afford to keep calm. However, footballers want to play and he has little chance of doing that at Stamford Bridge.

 Sterling does not want to move away from London. His family is settled there and enjoys life in the capital city. His son, Thiago, is in the Arsenal Under-9s academy, which Sterling is proud of.

 Rashford’s short-lived Barcelona debut

 Only seven days after training with Manchester United’s “bomb squad” (the unwanted players at Carrington who were allowed to train on their own), Marcus Rashford was introduced at half-time by Barcelona for his much-awaited debut against Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

It turned out to be rather embarrassing because, despite playing a part in Barca’s second goal and displaying some excellent touches, he was brought off after 33 minutes by coach Hansi Flick.

After contacting Barca, I was assured Rashford’s substitution was not because of his performance but Flick remarked, “Marcus hasn’t played that much and we also wanted to give Gerard Martin 15 minutes because he was injured and making his comeback.”

 Rashford has been given the iconic No. 14 shirt, the number once worn by club legend Thierry Henri during Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning team in 2009.

 Forest, Palace in court over Europa League

 Nottingham Forest have appointed a legal team to represent them next week at Crystal Palace’s Court of Arbitration appeal challenging their demotion from the Europa League.

 Palace qualified for the competition, but since owner, US businessman John Textor, also owns French club Lyon, who play in the same competition, it is viewed as a conflict of interest. Textor owned 43 per cent of Palace and UEFA said this broke the rules. Palace were demoted and given a place in the Conference League. Palace argue that either Forest or Lyon should be kicked out.

At one point, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also owned Greek club Olympiacos but he cleverly put Forest into a special so-called blind trust on April 29 to get around UEFA’s rules. Palace also argue that Textor’s shareholding was not great enough to influence the club but he has since sold this to another US businessman, Woody Johnson.