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Tottenham Hotspur will still be without two first-team players as they return to UEFA Europa Conference League action later this evening…

What’s the word?

Spurs’ form has taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks, losing three straight heavy defeats in the Premier League, whilst they only just salvaged a point against Stade Rennes in their group stage opener two weeks ago.

Nuno Santo will probably be wanting to change things up on the pitch but he’ll be limited in his options as he won’t be able to call upon either Steven Bergwijn or Ryan Sessegnon.

Bergwijn picked up an injury during that clash in France, whilst Sessegnon has been injured since the international break at the start of the month.

“Nothing has changed,” the Portuguese told the club’s official website this week. “Sess and Stevie will not join the group. The rest of the squad is available. We will also bring in some Under-23s to help us, and we go for the game.”

Big setback

This will be hugely frustrating for the 47-year-old and it may leave him a little worried heading into kickoff, even if it is against a team of much lower quality.

Spurs will remember the Dinamo Zagreb clash from last season, which saw the Croatian champions perform a stunning comeback to knock them out of the Europa League, so no team should be taken lightly.

Nuno badly needs to shake things up, so having a player with a point to prove like Sessegnon available would’ve been an interesting option, whilst Bergwijn had started their opening three league games before his injury.

It can’t be that much of a coincidence that the Lilywhites won all three of those games, too.

He is also one of their biggest threats in the final third, having averaged 1.3 key passes and 2.3 shots per game, a feat only bettered by top goalscorer Heung-min Son, as per WhoScored.

Nuno may have to call upon some of the players that have severely let him down in defeats to arch-rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.

The Spurs boss is also thought to be under increasing pressure, according to some reports in the press, so it’s crucial that he gets a result and avoids an embarrassing upset against Mura tonight.

Given their recent performances, Nuno may well be gutted to not be able to change his side completely heading into this fixture.

AND in other news, Paratici risking catastrophic Spurs transfer disaster with £40.5m-rated “lightweight”…

The summer transfer window may have only just closed, but Manchester United are already being linked with a January move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma.

What’s the story?

According to Metro Sports reporter Aden-Jay Wood, the Red Devils are one of three Premier League heavyweights lining up a move for the 25-year-old, with Liverpool and Arsenal also credited with an interest.

He tweeted: “I’m told there remains long-standing interest in Brighton’s Yves Bissouma from several clubs including Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Bissouma, who has 2yrs left on his current deal, is happy on the south coast, but one that could be revisited in January.”

He’s a big upgrade

United’s engine room has long been a problem area for the 20-time English champions, although the arrival of Bruno Fernandes and return to form of Paul Pogba has significantly strengthened it in an attacking sense.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still favours a double pivot of Fred and Scott McTominay in the big games, largely due to the absence of a natural defensive midfielder capable of providing sufficient defensive cover against the toughest of opponents.

As a result, the Old Trafford outfit have been linked with a move for a holding midfielder in recent months, although no approach has been made for any potential target.

That could be about to change this winter, though, with Bissouma reportedly catching the eye of United’s hierarchy. And it’s easy to understand why.

As per fbref.com, the Mali international won an average of two tackles per 90 last season, outperforming McTominay’s total of 1.18 and Fred’s 1.81.

The £22.5m-rated beast also won 63.3% of his aerial duels and carried the ball into the final third 62 times, bettering McTominay and Fred’s tallies of 56.6% and 34.4% and 61 and 46, respectively.

Therefore, Bissouma’s arrival would offer an upgrade to Solskjaer’s current options at the base of midfield in particular areas, potentially allowing the Norwegian to play with a single pivot and have the confidence to field a more attacking lineup.

And, in other news…Ronaldo & Sancho start, £120k-p/w beast axed: Man Utd’s predicted XI post Deadline Day 

Tottenham Hotspur star Steven Bergwijn posted a worrying hint over his latest injury problem to social media this week…

What’s the word?

The Dutch winger returned from international duty nursing a knock after being pictured with his ankle wrapped with ice during the Netherlands’ 6-1 World Cup qualifying win over Turkey.

Bergwijn made his comeback last week for Spurs’ opening group match against Rennes in the UEFA Europa Conference League, only for him to last just 30 minutes before being withdrawn for an injury to the very same ankle.

He did not feature in Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea and he has since posted an update, as relayed by fan account The Spurs Web on Twitter.

Terrible setback

Speaking after their 2-2 draw in France, Lilywhites boss Nuno Santo made his frustrations known.

“It’s been terrible. I must be honest. Let’s not hide behind nothing,” he told reporters (via the Evening Standard). After the Watford game, everything that has happened has not been very good for us. But this is football.”

The 23-year-old, valued at £34m by CIES Football Observatory, has hardly set the ground alight since moving to north London but he was slowly becoming a key cog of the Portuguese’s system, having started all three of their opening matches.

In his absence, Spurs have lost back-to-back league games 3-0 and have struggled immensely in front of goal.

Indeed, across 54 appearances, Bergwijn has only scored four goals and provided nine assists, via Transfermarkt, but he does so much more for the side.

Currently, the former PSV Eindhoven dynamo is the most creative option at Nuno’s disposal, having averaged 1.3 key passes per game. That’s ahead of Heung-min Son (1), Harry Kane (1), Tanguy Ndombele (1), Sergio Reguilon (0.8) and Dele Alli (0), per WhoScored.

His work rate to get back and help out defensively is also a massive plus – as described by The Athletic last season, he sometimes appears to be an additional full-back and after their north London derby win over Arsenal, it led to Jose Mourinho describing his efforts as “incredible.”

Therefore, seeing the Dutchman in a protective boot is certainly a major cause for concern as Nuno will want to see a reaction this week as they face his former club Wolves in the Carabao Cup before heading to the Emirates Stadium for their first battle of the 2021/22 season on Sunday.

It seems as if Bergwijn will be out for the foreseeable future and considering all the issues around Spurs right now, it’s a cruel and massive blow.

AND in other news, Watch out Winks: Nuno has a rising star in unseen 19 y/o “fantastic talent” at Spurs…

Leeds United are looking increasingly unlikely to sign Rangers winger Ryan Kent this summer, according to an update from journalist Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: Kent a key man for Rangers

The Gers have enjoyed a great period under Steven Gerrard and Kent has been one of his team’s star players, helping them win the Scottish Premiership title last season.

The 25-year-old has scored 27 goals in 132 appearances for the Scottish giants, wreaking havoc with his pace and trickery out wide.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Kent in the past, but a fresh update has now been provided on the situation.

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The Latest: Journalist provides update

In response to a follower’s query about Kent on Twitter, Nixon replied that Leeds would need to fork out around £15m to sign the attacker, adding the five-word verdict of “I doubt that just now” on the chances of the transfer happening.

It appears unlikely that the Whites will be willing to pay that amount juding by the journalist’s update, so a different wide attacking target may be sought in the final two weeks of the transfer window.

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The Verdict: Slightly overpriced

Kent is a very talented player who Gerrard has described as “sensational”, but £15m is a lot of money for someone who doesn’t have a single Premier League appearance to his name.

It’s one thing to stand out in Scotland, but the English top flight is a much higher level, and Leeds need to be sure they sign someone who is up to the challenge when investing that much money.

Kent could be capable of making the transition, but spending that much on him could be deemed a big gamble, so it’s understandable why the Whites have their doubts about committing to a deal for him.

In other news, Leeds are still reportedly trying to sign one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Legia Warsaw’s Josip Juranovic flew into Scotland on Friday to undergo a Celtic medical, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Juranovic’s Thursday farewell

The Hoops agreed to a £2.5m fee with Warsaw for the 26-year-old on Tuesday, as reported by Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas.

Juranovic featured for his current employers, likely for the final time, on Thursday in a Europa League qualifier with Slavia Prague.

The Croatia international, who has been a regular since joining last summer, made his seventh start of the campaign as a right-midfielder and scored a screamer on his farewell appearance in a 2-2 draw.

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The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Friday morning regarding Juranovic’s pending Hoops switch.

They were informed by a Celtic source and claimed that Juranovic was in Glasgow on Friday to undergo a medical and to put pen to paper on his contract.

Personal terms have already been agreed upon, with a Parkhead contract expected to run for four years.

The Verdict: Perfect

It seems as if it is now only a matter of time until Dominic McKay gets his man in Juranovic, which is great news for the CEO and Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou wanted a new right-back and a winger before the end of the month, and his new addition has experience of playing in both of those areas.

The Celtic boss has relied on Anthony Ralston at right-back so far this season, who has impressed in green and white, so perhaps the Celtic boss will look to use Juranovic as a right-midfielder to start with, keeping faith in the Scot at the back in the process.

In other news: Cheaper than Hart: Celtic set to sign the hottest property in his league ‘in the next few days’. 

Glasgow Rangers have snubbed new SPFL title sponsor Cinch, which has now led to a legal dispute with the league’s governing body.

The Lowdown: Gers kick off Premiership campaign

The Gers started the defence of their Premiership title on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Livingston – they already lead Celtic by three points after they were defeated 2-1 by Hearts.

Next up, the Gers face Malmo in the Champions League third qualifying round as they aim to reach the group stages of the competition.

The Latest: Gers in hot water

Against Livingston, the Gers did not feature Cinch on their sleeves, while they also refused to advertise the sponsor on their hoardings around the pitch.

As such, the Gers are in a battle with the SPFL as the former believe there are gaps in the contract, meaning there is no need for them to fill the obligations (The Daily Record).

The Verdict: Needless row

This, quite frankly, feels like a needless row. The Gers do have a fraught relationship with the SPFL, of course, and there is clearly no love lost between the two (The Herald).

However, this does feel like an argument for the sake of one between the two sides as the season starts.

In this case, the SPFL have managed to bring in a new sponsor that will no doubt benefit all of the clubs in the top flight. It feels a little in this case that Rangers have decided to cut their nose off to spite their face. They have a huge season ahead of them – they should be looking for as few distractions as possible.

In other news, Rangers fans were livid with this journalist’s tweet.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a rather exciting Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim that could make the supporters go wild this week…

What’s the word?

The renowned Italian transfer guru appeared on the ‘Last Word On Spurs’ YouTube channel, where he delivered a fresh update into Spurs’ transfer plans, with the window set to close in less than three weeks on August 31st.

When asked about how many more times he could say “here we go” in relation to the North London outfit, he responded:

“I would say two or three [more times].”

Paratici not done yet

This effectively means Romano is confident that sporting director Fabio Paratici and co will make another two or three signings as that’s his trademark phrase when announcing official transfers.

Spurs have already made three additions so far this summer in Atalanta duo Pierluigi Gollini (loan) and Cristian Romero (loan-to-buy), as well as promising Spanish gem Bryan Gil (£21.6m plus Erik Lamela).

It’s thought that Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is someone the club could look to complete a deal for in the coming weeks, whilst there is also the future of Harry Kane to resolve.

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Other names like Davinson Sanchez, Moussa Sissoko and Serge Aurier are reportedly on the chopping block in N17, as per The Athletic, so their departures would likely pave the way for further signings.

The Lilywhites could be in the market for a striker – to play alongside Kane in Nuno Santo’s preferred system – and they have been linked to some exciting names like Lautaro Martinez and Dusan Vlahovic.

Another defender wouldn’t go amiss, particularly if Sanchez or Aurier does leave, whilst an extra midfielder could be on the agenda given the emerging situation surrounding Tanguy Ndombele.

All in all, this latest claim from Romano is sure to leave much of the Spurs faithful absolutely buzzing as it means they should expect a couple more players through the door before the end of the month.

Spurs kickstart the season against defending champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, so they may have to wait at least another week for the next arrival.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Hojbjerg: Spurs now “in talks” to sign £27m-rated “complete package”…

Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer has dropped an update on Matija Sarkic’s potential switch to St. Andrew’s this summer.

What’s been said?

Speaking following Birmingham’s 3-0 pre-season friendly win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon, Bowyer revealed to Birmingham Live that he was highly impressed with the performance of the Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper, before suggesting that the 23-year-old has increased his chances of being taken on by the Championship club this summer.

Last week, The Athletic journalist Tim Spiers revealed that the Blues had taken the shot-stopper on trial ahead of potentially making Wolves the offer of a loan deal for the Montenegro international.

And, after keeping a clean sheet against the Robins on Saturday, Bowyer appeared positive when discussing the goalkeeper’s chances of earning a move to St. Andrew’s, stating: “He has done himself no harm, he has done well really. He has impressed me for sure.”

Fans surely buzzing

Considering just how well Sarkic played for Birmingham over the weekend, as well as the sheer amount of potential the goalkeeper appears to possess, the fact that it looks increasingly likely the 23-year-old will be linking up with the Blues this summer is sure to have left fans of the club buzzing.

Indeed, having spent the season on loan at Shrewsbury Town last term, the £4.9k-per-week shot-stopper impressed over his 26 League One appearances for the Shrews, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding an average of one goal per game, as well as making a total of 60 saves throughout the season – an average of 2.3 per match.

These metrics saw the man Kris Boyd labelled an “excellent” ‘keeper earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.80, ranking him as Steve Cotterill’s joint 11th-best performer in the third tier of English football.

And, with Neil Etheridge likely to take a while to recover from his recent hospitalisation, it would seem important for Bowyer to secure the services of another solid option between the sticks ahead of the club’s upcoming Championship campaign.

As such, considering his impressive performances for Shrewsbury last season, as well as getting off to a flyer in Birmingham colours against Cheltenham on Saturday, the signing of Sarkic would appear to make a great deal of sense for the 44-year-old manager this summer. It’s one he should look to tie up as quickly as possible.

In other news: Journalist drops transfer update on 21 y/o with “huge future”, BCFC fans surely buzzing

Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett will learn a lot from new signing Ashley Young, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Following the expiration of his contract at Inter Milan, Dean Smith decided to bring Young back to Villa Park for a second spell with the club.

The 36-year-old started his career as a winger, but in recent years he has played at both full-back and wing-back for the likes of Inter and Manchester United.

Bearing that in mind, Hatfield believes Young’s arrival could have a positive impact on Targett as he looks to continue improving in that left-back position.

“Someone like Matt Targett who’s really developed, he can learn so much from Ashley Young,” the Aston Villa journalist told FFC.

“He obviously knows the role really well and obviously started as a winger but shifted back into that left-back position. So he can teach players things and he can be someone who offers that experience inside the dressing room.”

Targett was easily one of Villa’s top performers last season. As per WhoScored, he averaged 2.2 tackles per league game, second only to Matty Cash, who averaged 2.5, on the other flank.

With Young’s help, perhaps the former Southampton man could reach that next level in the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Dean Windass reckons that David Moyes will be banging on GSB’s door to deliver him Jesse Lingard this summer.

Lingard enjoyed a scintillating loan spell with the Hammers in the second half to help them finish in the Europa League for the first time.

However, convincing the 28-year-old to sign permanently could prove a difficult task for the West Ham owners, especially with the Daily Star reporting that Manchester United have offered the attacker a lucrative deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford.

According to the Evening Standard, Lingard remains Moyes’ number one transfer target having scored nine goals and laid on six assists in just 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers.

Lingard will undoubtedly be looking for regular first-team football wherever he ends up next season, although the signing of Jadon Sancho will have damaged his chances of that being at Man United.

And with just one-year remaining on his United contract, West Ham will be hoping to bring him back to the London Stadium at a cut-price.

But Windass exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that his next move won’t be east London:

“He’s done fantastically well Lingard, and David Moyes will be banging on the chairman’s door to sign Jesse Lingard, although I don’t think it will happen.

“Jesse Lingard, if he doesn’t stay at Man United, I can’t see him going back to West Ham.”