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Tottenham Hotspur could still make a summer move for long-term target Alessandro Bastoni…

What’s the word?

That’s according to ever-reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, who has provided a recent update on the Lilywhites’ ongoing interest in the Inter Milan centre-back.

When asked about a potential deal ahead of next season, the reporter said:

“Much depends on these new contract talks and whether Bastoni signs on at Inter again. Spurs have retained their interest in the Italy international and he is still among their top summer targets. Of course, with just a year left on his contract at that point, his price tag also drops a fair bit.”

During last summer’s window, Spurs were quoted around £54m for the Italy international and with his contract up in 2024, it is yet to be seen how much the Serie A giants would now command.

It would keep Conte happy

Much remains uncertain with first-team boss Antonio Conte and his future in north London heading into the end of the current campaign, where his time at the club is set to end.

That’s because his contract is expiring and there has been no fresh reports over an extension, only some doubts from Italy over whether he’d want to stay at the club.

It’s perhaps been his toughest test yet as a manager, having brought pretty instant success to the likes of Inter Milan and Chelsea over his coaching career yet here at Spurs, the ceiling seems to be the top four.

However, bringing in a signing of Bastoni’s calibre could be exactly what chairman Daniel Levy needs to convince the Italian into sticking at it – not only is he hugely familiar with the 23-year-old, having won a Serie A title together at the San Siro, but also because he’d be a major and perfect piece for his back-three.

Once described as a “phenomenon” by Italian football expert Conor Clancy, Bastoni is currently Inter’s second highest-rated centre-back in 2022/23 and ranks second for tackles and third for aerials won per game, via WhoScored.

The 6 foot 3 titan is a very effective ball-playing option as when compared to fellow centre-backs across Europe’s elite divisions, he ranks inside the top 1% for assists and shot-creating actions, as well as the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, meaning he’s always looking to get himself or the ball forward to attack.

FBref also liken his statistical profile to two current Spurs stars in Ben Davies and Clement Lenglet, whilst he also has similarities to another transfer target in Piero Hincapie, so you can see why both Conte and the club would be so keen to sign him in the summer as he seems like an ideal fit.

Bastoni has also been compared to one of the Serie A’s best-ever defenders. “He controls the opponent, space and with a refinement that has rarely been seen, reminds me of a young Bonucci,” journalist Mario Sconcerti once claimed.

Also hailed as a “special talent” by writer Muhammed Butt, the Italian is a left-footer, so he’d fill the void in Conte’s back three next to Eric Dier and Cristian Romero and given the above evidence, you’d imagine there are few better options for the role too.

As such, if Levy were to pull the trigger to sign Bastoni ahead of the summer, then you’d imagine his chances of keeping Conte at the club quickly increase.

It may not being going well now but if the 53-year-old is backed just a little bit more, he could bring Tottenham the silverware they are ever so desperate for.

AND in other news, Mourinho was right: Levy surely red-faced as Spurs could’ve had £45m “monster” for £6m…

ExWHUemployee has given a worrying injury update on West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta.

What happened to Lucas Paqueta?

The Brazilian midfielder was withdrawn early on in the first half of his side’s draw with Chelsea, with what appeared to be an injury to his collarbone.

This will be of some concern to David Moyes, despite his side fighting back to rescue a point in the game, as his summer signing now faces a potential spell on the sidelines.

Speaking on The West Ham Way Podcast, ExWHUemployee revealed that it may be tough to determine how long the Brazil International will be absent for, as West Ham face a tough relegation battle.

“Paqueta was taken off after 14 minutes after what looked like an injury to his collarbone and that is what the club fear,” he stated.

“Paqueta has already missed matches with a similar injury when he first joined and a reoccurrence of the same unique injury would not be good and would have a difficult-to-determine analysis of how long he could be out.”

Big blow for Moyes

The former Lyon star had a difficult start to life in East London as his team has had endured a tough season, but is starting to thrive under Moyes, and has scored twice in his last five appearances.

Given that West Ham are just two points ahead of the relegation zone, another injury to a key player is the last thing they need, as they are already missing Gianluca Scamacca, Kurt Zouma and Maxwel Cornet.

They will be hoping that his injury is minimal and the midfielder can return soon, but if he is to miss an extended period, their survival hopes could be somewhat dented by such a blow.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘should be at the front of the queue’ to sign Jan Oblak this summer, according to pundit Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Oblak

Tottenham are interested in signing Oblak to replace Hugo Lloris this summer, as the club’s existing relationship with Atletico Madrid is potentially giving them an advantage in the race for his signature.

Lloris has been sidelined for the next six – eight weeks with a knee injury, and journalist Dean Jones has claimed it could prove to be ‘the beginning of the end’, in terms of the Frenchman’s future with Spurs.

The Latest: Robinson reacts

Speaking to Football Insider,  Robinson raved about the Atletico shot-stopper, as well as his teammate Yannick Carrasco, saying:

“Oblak would be an incredible signing.

“I’ve been an admirer of his for a long time. He is the next level of goalkeeper that Spurs need.

“Oblak has been a big part of Atletico Madrid’s success over the past few years. I’m surprised that his name does not get linked with more Premier League clubs.

“If they could get Oblak and Carrasco that would be even better. There is clearly a strong relationship between the two clubs. If Oblak and Carrasco are available and are keen to come to the Premier League, Spurs should be at the front of the queue.”

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The Verdict: Get it done?

There is no doubt that it is time for Lloris to move on, given that he has made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the Premier League this season, and the Slovenian would be a very good replacement.

Koke hailed the 30-year-old as ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’ a little under a year ago, and he is enjoying another solid season in La Liga, with the joint-second highest amount of clean sheets in the division.

Given that Oblak’s contract does not expire until 2028, it may be difficult to tempt Atletico into a sale, but he would be a real upgrade on Spurs’ current goalkeeper, and they should continue to monitor his availability between now and the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur insiders have been left very excited by young defender Destiny Udogie amid his current loan spell at Udinese.

The Lowdown: Spurs seal starlet deal…

He became Spurs’ seventh summer recruit in 2022 after the Lilywhites sealed his signing from the Italian club. The Italy Under-21 international has stood out as one of Serie A’s most exciting talents over the last two years, prompting Fabio Paratici to seal a deal for him.

Udogie was promptly loaned back to Udinese for the entire 2022/23 campaign to further his development, with Bianconeri goalkeeper Marco Silvestri suggesting that Spurs had signed a ‘devastating’ youngster.

The Latest: Spurs insiders excited…

Writing for football.london, reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has shared news on Udogie after his brief visit to north London.

The defender travelled to watch Spurs in action as they overcame West Ham 2-0 on Sunday, with Gold claiming that there is ‘plenty of excitement within’ the club about the 20-year-old’s return in the summer.

Tottenham insiders apparently believe that Udogie will have an ‘impact’ on the pitch when he gets an opportunity next season, clearly being impressed by his ability.

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The Verdict: Exciting…

Those within Hotspur Way have plenty of reason to be buzzing over Udogie and his potential to become a Spurs mainstay. As per WhoScored, the 20-year-old has progressed leaps and bounds yet again on loan at Udinese this season, ranking as their third-best performing player by average match rating in Serie A.

Antonio Conte’s side could be about to see a very exciting left-wing-back option enter their ranks, given how Udogie impresses both defensively and further forward.

Hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by Udinese boss Andrea Sottil, the defender has averaged their second-highest rate of tackles per 90 and third highest number of interceptions this season. Going forward, Udogie sits among their top five players for key passes made and completed take-ons per match (WhoScored).

At such a young age, the player’s ceiling seems vast, making it little surprise that there is an air of anticipation around N17 for when he eventually makes his competitive Tottenham debut.

Liverpool are in ‘pole position’ to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount in the summer transfer window, according to journalist John Cross.

The Lowdown: Mount linked with Liverpool move

The 24-year-old is going through a frustrating time of things at Stamford Bridge currently, struggling to find a way into the starting XI regularly.

Mount has only completed a full 90 minutes once since the turn of the year, and he also hasn’t registered a goal or an assist in his last ten appearances.

The Englishman has been linked with a move to Liverpool recently and it is a rumour that seemingly isn’t going away.

The Latest: Reds in ‘pole position’

According to The Mirror‘s Cross, the Reds remain ‘very keen’ on signing Mount this summer and are currently in ‘pole position’ to get their man.

Jurgen Klopp and FSG are planning a ‘major’ redevelopment of the squad at the end of the season and the Chelsea man is seen as someone who could spearhead the Anfield rebuild.

The Verdict: Great could a great signing

With each passing week, the more it feels as though Liverpool really could end up signing Mount, despite his lifelong affiliation with Chelsea and love for the club.

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The £80,000-a-week midfielder will be annoyed by the current situation – his requests to be put amongst the Blues’ top earners have fallen on deaf ears – and the thought of joining the Klopp rebuild could appeal to him if he wants a fresh challenge.

Mount could be perfect for what the Reds are looking for, bringing with him intelligence, quality – Joe Cole has lauded him as ‘unbelievable’ – and both a strong work and team ethic.

The 36-time capped England international has 33 goals and 37 assists in a Chelsea shirt and this end product could add an extra dimension to Liverpool’s midfield, hopefully allowing him to dovetail with Jude Bellingham, should he also head to Anfield.

With Wolves holding Liverpool to a goalless draw last night, Liam Keen believes the away side should’ve had a numerical advantage.

The Lowdown: Damning blow for Wolves

Wolves wouldn’t have naturally expected to pick up anything from Anfield last night as it is one of the most difficult places to win over the years and Liverpool have only lost twice at home all season.

The Midlands outfit, however, did indeed have their chances to win the game as Joao Moutinho forced a top save from Allison and if they had been playing against 10 men, things could’ve been so different.

While a lot of the Liverpool players were seemingly appealing for a red card, they wanted it to be shown to Mario Lemina – who did go flying into the tackle – although it was the Brazilian midfielder who seemingly stamped on Lemina’s leg.

The Latest: Fabinho lucky to avoid a red card

Lemina may well have been expecting a yellow card to come his way as he did lunge into a tackle he was unlikely to win, however, once Fabinho stamped on the Gabonese international’s leg, a different outcome may have been possible.

Keen, who was at Anfield last night, believes that Fabinho was very lucky to escape a three-game ban for his stamp on Lemina, never mind that the Liverpool players were wanting Wolves to be reduced to 10 men.

He said: ‘Collision between Fabinho and Lemina. The Wolves man is down injured. Liverpool calling for a red card… But I’ve seen a replay and Fabinho stamps on Lemina’s knee. That’s a red card all day, but a yellow is given…’

The Verdict: Wolves can count themselves lucky

Given Wolves’ predicament in the Premier League relegation battle they need all the decisions to be fair or even some perhaps swing in their favour and that certainly didn’t happen at Anfield last night.

Had Liverpool been reduced to 10 men and lost a key experienced midfielder in Fabinho then the outlook may have been very different and Wolves would’ve likely backed themselves to at least pick up a point.

This is mainly because prior to last night, Wolves had performed very well against Liverpool forcing them into a replay after drawing at Anfield and then they thrashed them 3-0 at Molineux just a few weeks ago, so them taking something off of a 10 man Liverpool side would have been very likely.

Manchester United are likely still licking their wounds following Sunday’s car-crash second-half display away to bitter rivals Liverpool, with that 7-0 thumping having brought Erik ten Hag’s side crashing back down to earth just a week on from tasting Carabao Cup glory.

Thankfully, as far as the Dutchman and his players are concerned, the Red Devils will be quickly able to put that result right with a Europa League, last-16 clash at home to Real Betis to come this evening, with that first-leg encounter offering the chance for United to prove that the weekend shambles was nothing more than a mere blip.

Although the former Ajax boss has been typically reluctant to shuffle his pack in cup competitions this season, the dour nature of the Anfield ordeal should spark notable alterations for the visit of the La Liga side, with tweaks needing to be made to the backline, in particular, following that shocking Merseyside collapse.

Tonight’s fixture should well give the opportunity for resurgent full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka to return to the starting XI, with the Englishman having been surprisingly restricted to a watching brief against Jurgen Klopp’s rampant side.

In his place, Ten Hag had opted to make the “baffling” decision – as described by The Sun’s Luke Gardener – to deploy Diogo Dalot at right-back, despite the Portugal international having looked “off it” since returning from the World Cup, in the words of The Mirror’s Colin Millar.

That move ultimately backfired as the 23-year-old was “really poor” on the day, according to journalist Rob Blanchette, with the former Porto starlet seemingly in need of a break from the action against Manuel Pellegrini’s men, with Wan-Bissaka deserving of a recall.

Should Wan-Bissaka start against Betis?

Since looking surplus to requirements heading into the January window – after previously being tipped for an exit during the summer – the former Crystal Palace man has been reborn in recent months, notably starting seven successive league games following the World Cup break.

Although the 25-year-old has since failed to start any of the last four top-flight games, the £90k-per-week man did feature in both legs of the playoff round triumph over Barcelona, having been a ‘force to be reckoned with’ in the second-leg victory at the Theatre of Dreams, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

The £50m man followed that up with another impressive impact off the bench at Wembley after the aforementioned Dalot was hooked at half-time, going on to win eight duels in that 45-minute outing, while his 7.6 match rating, as per Sofascore, was only bettered by Casemiro among the United squad.

Having since been forced to sit out the narrow FA Cup win over West Ham United and the subsequent loss to Liverpool, Wan-Bissaka – who has been branded a “monster” by CBS reporter Aaron West in the past – will likely be chomping at the bit to prove his worth again against the Seville-based outfit this evening.

On the evidence of Dalot’s recent errant performances, the right-back starting berth seemingly now appears firmly up for grabs.

Chelsea travel to the King Power Stadium to face off against Leicester City in the Premier League this afternoon, and manager Graham Potter will be hoping for a third successive victory for the first time at the helm of the west London outfit.

With two victories from two matches, against Leeds United in the league and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, there is optimism anew among the Blues after a candidly dreadful campaign has left the proud outfit slumped in tenth and out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the early stages of the respective competitions.

And while Chelsea remain 11 points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth – though with a game in hand – the ostensible calibre of the extravagant and expansive squad could well forge a momentous surging run toward prominence once again, with owner Todd Boehly having pumped over £550m into the team since the summer.

The Foxes have been battling their own turmoil this term, just two points and three places above the division’s relegation zone having played 25 matches, and could find their current run in the top-flight – an illustrious spell that has left the club league champions, FA Cup winners and Champions League contenders – draws to a resentful close.

Will Benoit Badiashile start vs Leicester?

The 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to overturn a one-goal deficit against the Yellow Wall was the first truly resounding result under Potter’s wing, an indication that his team can indeed compete at the highest level.

The win was carried out in the absence of £35m winter signing Benoit Badiashile, who was omitted from the Champions League squad due to player congestion, though the ace has indeed been fantastic thus far in the Premier League, and will hope to find a place back among the starting fold against the Foxes.

As per Sofascore, the 21-year-old titan boasts the Blues’ highest average rating in the top-flight this term at 7.32, keeping four clean sheets from six matches, completing 91% of his passes and making 0.5 key passes per match, while also illustrating his defensive aptitude with 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, also winning 65% of his gourd duels.

And with FBref ranking the titan among the top 12% of centre-backs for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for progressive passes per 90, illustrating the impact the imposing ace could have in crafting transitional play from the back, pumping life into an outfit that has scored just 24 goals from 25 league games this year.

His dynamic capabilities will indeed be important against Brendan Rodgers’ outfit, who have recently put four past both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, dangerous as any team in the country when clicking together.

Once lauded as “tenacious” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the French colossus is swiftly becoming imperative to his outfit’s domestic success, and while the attention will be on the effectiveness of the frontline, Badiashile’s passing prowess and steely resolve will be invaluable in crafting a robust base for Potter’s team.

While Tottenham Hotspur still remain firmly in the fight for a top-four finish, last week's Champions League exit has ensured that it is set to be yet another trophy-less season for the Lilywhites this term, with the appointment of serial winner Antonio Conte having been unable to have the desired effect.

A notable issue for the north London outfit this season has been the lack of impact from the club's summer signings, with Yves Bissouma having been hampered by injury, while Djed Spence is currently out on loan at Stade Rennais.

There has also been further frustration regarding the mixed fortunes of veteran wing-back, Ivan Perisic, with the Croatian international having been dubbed a "complete liability" in recent times by writer Andrew Gaffney.

While the 34-year-old does have five assists to his name in the Premier League this season, the defender's attacking quality has been called into question at times, with Gaffney stating following the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month that the experienced asset had "contributed nothing" going forward.

Those woes have also led The Athletic editor James Maw to suggest that the former Inter Milan man could eventually prove to be a "massive waste of money" despite having arrived on a free transfer, with that telling of his struggles at N17 to date.

The 123-cap machine has continued to feature on the left flank, however, due to the lack of suitable alternatives, with former Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon currently ruled out through injury, while Ben Davies has typically slotted in on the left of a back three.

Despite the shortage of depth, Conte should take the ruthless decision to remove Persic from his starting berth moving forward, with teenage gem Romaine Mundle one potential candidate among the academy ranks who could take his place.

Who is Romaine Mundle?

The 19-year-old has recently come to wider attention among Spurs supporters after earning a place on the bench for Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest, with that inclusion having been a richly deserved "reward for his recent good form for the U21s", as per football.london's Alasdair Gold.

The London-born dynamo has enjoyed a real standout campaign thus far after racking up four goals and four assists in 28 games in all competitions to date, scoring three times and providing three assists from his 19 Premier League 2 outings.

As journalist George Sessions stated, Mundle has "impressed" so far this season and scored some "great goals" from his wide berth, having typically featured in a left-wing role in the academy set-up – notably producing a "brilliant display" against Marseille in the UEFA Youth League back in September, as per journalist Rob Guest.

While not typically deployed as a wing-back, the teen ace was utilised in that position in the mid-season friendly clash against Motherwell back in December, while he has also featured at right-back on occasion this term.

Unlike Perisic – whose final ball has come under the microscope – young Mundle has showcased that he can offer a far greater attacking threat, having averaged two key passes per game from his three EFL Trophy appearances earlier in the campaign, a superior record to what the Split-born dud has achieved in the top-flight (1.3).

That should ensure that handing a chance to the exciting talent – who is in line for a new contract at the club – could prove fruitful for Conte and co.

Fabrizio Romano has insisted that Manchester United transfer target Victor Osimhen is still dreaming of a move to the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Man United to target a new striker

Man United looked to fill a void left by Cristiano Ronaldo in January when they recruited the experienced Wout Weghorst, and while he’s done a sufficient job, he almost certainly won’t be the long-term striker for Man United.

This is mainly because of his age and lack of goals since moving to Old Trafford, with the Netherlands international managing to score just two times across all competitions – with neither of his strikes coming in the Premier League.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see them linked with big-name strikers in the form of Harry Kane, Goncalo Ramos and Osimhen – but it’s the latter who’s spoken most openly about his desire to make a switch to the Premier League.

The Latest: Osimhen keen on Premier League move

Romano has confirmed Osimhen wishes to test himself in the English top flight having already played in other top leagues – and that Man United are indeed still tracking the Nigerian international.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “Many of you asking me about his future, mentioning Bayern and some other possibilities. Guys, for sure, many clubs appreciate this player, but Victor Osimhen’s dream is to play in the Premier League. This is guaranteed. It’s what he’s stated in public, but it’s the same also in private; the player dreams of Premier League move one day.

“Also, because he’s already played in the Bundesliga, he already played in Ligue 1, he already played in Serie A, he wants to try – one day – an experience in the Premier League.

“Let’s see if it’s going to be this summer or not. He mentioned ‘we will find a good solution at the end of the season’ when he spoke about that.

“What we can say is that, for sure, English clubs are tracking him, including – of course – Manchester United, Chelsea; all these clubs are always in attendance to follow the player, but at the moment, it’s not time to negotiate with Napoli.”

The Verdict: Ten Hag must sign a striker

If Man United are serious about becoming title contenders next season and competing with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, a clinical and proven goalscorer appears rather necessary, as both of the sides above them have one in the form of Gabriel Jesus and Erling Haaland respectively.

Man United are likely to be forced to go big in the summer, as the likes of Kane, Osimhen and Ramos all reportedly have major price tags looming over their heads, and even with the former, it may be impossible to get him.

Osimhen could well be the most plausible target this summer given how openly he’s spoken about a desire to play in England, and there appears no reason why the Red Devils shouldn’t move for him after the season he’s had in front of goal, with 28 goal involvements across all competitions for the Nigerian.