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Tottenham Hotspur are in fresh talks to sign Nicolo Zaniolo from AS Roma…

That’s according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, who has provided an update on the situation on Twitter, where he said:

“Info: New discussions planned this week between Roma and Tottenham for Zaniolo.

“In the direction of arrivals, the Giallorossi want to sign [Andrea] Belotti. Discussions scheduled for this week.”

It appears as if Spurs are pushing ahead with their intentions to seal the Italy international as their seventh signing of the summer, though it remains to be seen if it would be a permanent deal or an initial loan as some reports have suggested.

A price tag of around £42m has also been mentioned by other outlets.

Former Torino striker Andrea Belotti, who is available on a free transfer, could well take up his place in Jose Mourinho’s squad but he isn’t a like-for-like replacement. However, Paulo Dybala’s arrival could have forced Zaniolo down the pecking order.

Conte’s missing piece

Spurs have enjoyed quite a successful summer transfer window so far but they are perhaps one player away from it being an almost perfect spending spree.

Sporting director Fabio Paratici has sealed as many as six new signings, including a £60m splash on Richarlison, as well as £25m spent on Yves Bissouma and the £15m arrival of Djed Spence. Others have either been on a free transfer or on loan.

Some big problems seem to have been fixed, at least on paper.

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Clement Lenglet, for example, becomes manager Antonio Conte’s only left-footed – and natural – central defender, whilst the aforementioned Brazilian forward can provide much-needed backup to Harry Kane.

He’s also versatile enough to play anywhere along the front three, so that makes midweek rotation a little easier with Spurs back in the Champions League.

However, there’s still a gaping issue in midfield as Conte is lacking a creative presence that can add goals and assists from the engine room, particularly with the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele reportedly on the chopping block.

Zaniolo can be the ideal solution.

Last season, the Italian dynamo proved to be one of Mourinho’s most-reliable options as he provided eight goals and nine assists across 42 appearances in all competitions, including the winner in their Europa Conference League triumph, as per Transfermarkt.

Zaniolo did so largely playing in a no.10-type role but he also featured up front, on the right and in a deeper midfield role, as a no.8.

It’s no wonder he has earned comparisons to that of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and Chelsea icon Frank Lampard.

“He will go places,” former Inter Milan coach Stefano Vecchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport (via GOAL). “He has the characteristics to become a modern mezzala. He’s a Gerrard, Lampard-type player.”

Meanwhile, Zaniolo has also been lauded as a “superb talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, with ex-England boss Fabio Capello also once describing him as a “genius.”

It’s those creative juices as well as his undoubted resilience, having bounced back from two ACL injuries, that will appeal immensely to Conte.

From Oliver Skipp, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the Italian head coach does not have a creator available, so it makes sense for Paratici to push ahead with talks to sign the Roma sensation.

Zaniolo could be the answer and the final piece of the puzzle for Conte’s quest to bring silverware to N17.

AND in other news, Paratici could seal “incredible” 7th Spurs signing with Conte keen on £58.7m “monster”…

Liverpool have officially made their move to sign Villarreal youngster Yeremy Pino this summer, according to a reporter for Radio Castellon and Esport Base.

The Lowdown: Pino on the move?

The 19-year-old is a top-quality young Spanish prospect, already making an impact for Villarreal and helping them reach last season’s Champions League semi-finals, eventually being knocked out by the Reds.

Pino, a winger who can play anywhere in a front three, has already scored 14 goals in 77 appearances for the Yellow Submarine and has also won four caps for Spain, netting once.

His current Villarreal deal doesn’t expire until 2027 but that hasn’t deterred potential suitors from showing an interest in him, perhaps no surprise given his plaudits – Fabrizio Romano called him a ‘special talent’ when revealing the player’s €80m release clause earlier this year.

The Latest: Liverpool keen on signing

Taking to Twitter on Monday, journalist Xavi Jorquera Marquez, a Spanish radio broadcaster, claimed that Liverpool and Arsenal are both eyeing up €40million (£33.7m) moves for Pino this summer.

Marquez says the offers are currently too low but the La Liga outfit ‘asks’ for less than the release clause.

“Villarreal have received two offers from two Premier League teams for Yeremy Pino. Those clubs are Arsenal and Liverpool. Both have put 40 million on the table. Villarreal asks 60 million for him.”

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The Verdict: One for the future

Pino is a huge prospect with a big future, so Liverpool looking to sign him is exciting, suggesting that Jurgen Klopp is continuing to plan long into the future after penning his new deal earlier this year.

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While the youngster’s right-sided role means he would have to accept playing second fiddle to Mohamed Salah, he could be a good squad option thanks to his versatility and eventually develop into the legendary Egyptian’s long-term replacement.

Dubbed ‘incredible’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig for a four-goal display back in February, six goals and four assists in La Liga last season are proof of Pino’s ever-improving productivity in the final third.

Reported Wolves target Andrea Belotti is on the brink of joining Roma, in a deal which presents yet another transfer blow to Bruno Lage.

What’s the word?

The Old Gold desperately need to add a new striker to their ranks before the transfer window shuts, and Belotti would have presented an experienced, reliable and cheap option, as he was available on a free transfer following his summer exit from Torino.

Reports had suggested that Wolves had offered the Italian forward a contract as they looked to sign competition for Raul Jimenez, who has struggled to reach the levels he had attained before his head injury, but the latest news from Italy suggests that he is set to join Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Another blow for Lage

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Leeds United, in a game where Wolves had more possession and shots on target than the hosts, emphasises exactly why a clinical forward is needed before the end of this month.

Jimenez would finish as the club’s top scorer last season with a measly six goals, while Fabio Silva was sent to Anderlecht on loan after failing to find the back of the net in any competition in the most recent campaign.

While Goncalo Guedes has arrived at the club, he is likely to feature on the wing as he has rarely played as a central striker in his career, so Belotti could have been an excellent option for Lage.

The 28-year-old hit 113 goals in 251 appearances for Torino before his departure, including eight in just 22 Serie A appearances last season, so he definitely could have added a goalscoring instinct to Wolves’ attack.

Former Torino manager Moreno Longo was full of praise for Belotti during his time at the Italian club, saying:

“Andrea Belotti is an extraordinary striker and can score a goal at any moment.”

Considering Wolves’ struggles in front of goal last season, which saw them score the fewest goals of any side to avoid relegation, signing someone who can score out of nothing, as Longo suggests, would have been very beneficial to Lage, and he will no doubt be gutted to miss out on a player of his quality.

This is certainly a real blow as the Old Gold aim to improve their options.

Leeds United have made contact over a move for Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Brereton Diaz links

The Whites were first linked with the Chile international last year, with speculation returning this summer.

Reports stated back in June that Leeds officials discussed the possibility of signing Brereton Diaz and even watched him in action during pre-season.

Transfer insider Dean Jones recently labelled Brereton Diaz as a back-up option in the club’s hunt or a new forward, but it looks as if Leeds have firmed up their interest.

The Latest: Leeds register interest

The Sun name-checked Leeds in an update on Brereton Diaz in their live transfer blog on Wednesday (17 August, 15:27pm).

They claimed that Fulham have joined the race for the South American but said that Leeds, along with Bournemouth and Everton, have ‘registered their interest’.

An offer in the region of £12m-£15m could reportedly tempt Blackburn officials in the final weeks of the window.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Brereton Diaz, called ‘sensational’ by journalist Josh Bunting and a player who’s ‘on fire’ by Paddy Kenny, has already netted twice in the Championship this season.

He scored a career-best 22 league goals last season and can also turn out on the wing if required, so appears to be a smart target at a reasonable price.

The 23-year-old would give Jesse Marsch a much-needed versatile attacking option to challenge both Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt at Elland Road, and with time ticking, it could be wise to look to push through a potential transfer. Victor Orta will seemingly need to pip a number of Premier League rivals to Brereton Diaz, so time is of the essence.

Leeds United have been linked with a late summer move for Juventus forward Moise Kean.

The Lowdown: Kean profiled

The 22-year-old is primarily a centre-forward who can also play on the wing.

The Italy international joined Everton in 2019 in a deal worth £27,5m, but things didn’t work out for him on Merseyside as he scored just four times in 39 appearances.

He is now back on loan with Juventus, who have an obligation to sign him permanently, but it looks as if the Bianconeri are already looking to find a new home for the striker.

The Latest: Leeds linked with Kean

According to Calciomercato, both Leeds and Newcastle are eyeing up a late summer move for Kean.

The report claims that both clubs are willing to spend around €20m (£17m) on the forward, who doesn’t appear to feature in Massimiliano Allegri’s plans in Turin.

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The Verdict: Avoid

Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises appear to be keen on spending big on Kean, but it could be a massive gamble.

The forward has struggled to settle after progressing through the academy with Juventus and didn’t exactly light up the Premier League with the Toffees.

He has been described as a player with “so many qualities” by his former manager Carlo Ancelotti but seemed to have behavioural problems in England, so there’s every chance that he might not be the right type of character for Leeds.

It could be a rumour to keep an eye on, though, following an update from a reliable Italian source, with Leeds seemingly in need of a new first-team forward given the recent injury scares to Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt.

West Ham United are interested in signing Sao Paolo defender Luizao, according to IG Esporte (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rising star

A product of the academy at his hometown club, Luizao has spent his entire fledgling career at Sao Paolo until this point.

The 20-year-old central defender has made 12 first-team outings for the Brazilian outfit, however, has been allowed to enter the final 12 months of a contract.

Now, following reported interest from Premier League rivals Fulham, West Ham are seemingly paying close attention to Luizao…

The latest: Hammers interested

As per IG Esporte, translated by SW, the east Londoners are keen on bringing the starlet to England.

It’s claimed that the Brazilian – who has’t reached an agreement over a new deal – has ‘been in the crosshairs’ of the Irons and Fulham in recent days, with Porto and Benfica also named as potential suitors.

The report states that despite being able to sign a pre-contract agreement now, Luizao does ‘not think about performing such a move’ and instead will wait for January to complete a switch if a fee cannot be agreed upon.

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The verdict: One to watch

While it’s nigh-on impossible to obtain a judgement based on such a small sample size, similar to the deal that brought Frederik Alves to the London Stadium, this is simply another case of GSB looking to get the next generation of stars in situ early.

Standing at 6 foot 1, Luizao certainly has the physical attributes to succeed at the top level as a central defender and an impressive 6.68 SofaScore rating whilst winning 2.5 duels, making 3.8 clearances and completing 94 per cent of all passes inside his own half would suggest strong defensive acumen.

In fact, the Irons’ own academy graduate, Ben Johnson, has only managed to win 2.0 duels on average per league outing so far this term.

Valued at £450,000 (Transfermarkt), snapping up the towering Brazilian for next to nothing would represent a no-risk option for West Ham that could prove to be a masterstroke in the long run.

Leeds United are willing to accept a £35m offer for Jack Harrison amid rumours of interest from Newcastle United, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Brilliant start to the season

The 25-year-old has started the campaign in fine form, with Jesse Marsch’s side sitting in the top four of the Premier League after three games. Harrison has contributed to goals against Wolves, Southampton and Chelsea, scoring once and registering three assists.

He leads the division’s assist charts alongside Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, but it looks as if Leeds would be willing to sell the player in the final days of the transfer window despite Andrea Radrizzani ruling out an exit earlier this month.

The Latest: Source shares transfer update

Football Insider provided a transfer update regarding Harrison on Tuesday morning, in what represents something of a surprise U-turn from the Elland Road hierarchy.

They claimed that Leeds have already rejected two bids from Newcastle for the 25-year-old, with the Magpies weighing up a third offer. The report says that, contrary to Radrizzani’s recent comments, the Whites would now be willing to accept an offer in the region of £35m in the final days of the transfer window.

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The Verdict: A gamble…

Harrison has been crucial to Leeds’ excellent start to the campaign, stepping up to the plate following Raphinha’s move to Barcelona.

Therefore, selling the player to Newcastle so late in the summer could be a huge gamble by Leeds officials and seems hugely surprising in the wake of the player’s magnificent form.

The winger has recently confirmed that he is happy at Elland Road and continues to go from strength to strength with the Whites, so perhaps Leeds would be better off handing Harrison a new-and-improved contract instead of cashing in on him, with his current deal set to expire in 2024.

Aston Villa could reportedly seal a deadline day deal for Southampton defender Jan Bednarek.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, journalist Toby Cudworth said on the matter: “Hearing Jan Bednarek could now be heading to Aston Villa on loan and not #WHUFC as previously thought – transfer deadline day twists and turns have started.”

As Cudworth mentioned in his tweet, the defender has also been linked with a move to West Ham United this summer.

Southampton signed the centre-back from Lech Poznan in the summer of 2017. Since then, the 26-year-old has gone on to make 153 appearances for the Saints across all competitions, chipping in with seven goals and four assists along the way.

Could be a “monster” for Gerrard

To highlight his defensive capabilities, the Poland international made more interceptions (95) than any other Southampton player in the league last season, along with the second-highest number of clearances (169) and third-highest number of blocks (64).

Described as a “monster” by journalist Sam Tighe, Bednarek could be a very useful signing for the Midlands club if they get him in, as only three other Premier League clubs have faced more shots on target than Villa (26) so far this season.

Also, with Diego Carlos out injured, adding an experienced and capable defender like the Saints colossus to their squad could be a very smart move from Villa.

Having been an unused substitute for Southampton’s three previous league matches, a move to Villa Park – where he may have a better chance of playing regularly – could be what the player is craving.

With the Villans reportedly set to welcome Leander Dendoncker to the club – having had a £13m offer accepted by Wolves – snatching Bednarek from the clutches of rival suitors West Ham on the same day would certainly show how ruthless NSWE can be in the transfer market and continue their track record of signing players from fellow English clubs.

If Villa are able to seal the Southampton defender’s signature, even on a loan deal as Cudworth said in his tweet, this will give Steven Gerrard’s side some extra strength and depth at the back, which could be most welcome having conceded nine goals in their opening five league matches of the campaign.

Former Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has been reacting to news regarding Phillipe Coutinho, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Brazil exclusion

Coutinho made his move to Villa Park permanent over the summer but is yet to hit the heights of last season under Steven Gerrard.

The 30-year-old has started just four Premier League games this term and is yet to register an assist or score a goal in eight appearances in all competitions.

Coutinho’s drop in form has resulted in him being left out of the latest Brazil squad for friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia in the coming days.

The Latest: McLeish reacts

McLeish, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding the off-field update on Coutinho. He said that the Villa playmaker will be ‘hurt’ at being left out of Tite’s squad, labelling it as a ‘huge blow’.

The Scotsman said of the 30-year-old’s Brazil omission:

“It will be a huge blow to his ego and it will be a kick up the backside for him.

“He’s a great player and we all love to see him on top of his form. What I would say in recent years, he’s not been that consistent from when you first saw him in his younger years when he exploded onto the scene.

“He’s now 30, you would think he’s at his peak but some little trigger has not taken him to that peak level in the Premier League.

“We all saw him at Barcelona in Champions League nights and games like that. When he came to Villa and in the first couple of games he looked like a world-beater again, you wouldn’t want to play against him at all.

“I was at a game last season, West Ham. He was really good in the opening stages but David Moyes changed tactics and got a grip of him a little bit. It seems that, sometimes, he doesn’t have a great influence on games that you would expect.

“It’s the peak now of his career. I’m sure he’ll be hurt by being left out of the national team. It might give him that wee bit of motivation he needs to get back in there by giving exceptional performances for Aston Villa.

“It could be a win-win for Aston Villa. The manager’s praying for a guy that could make a difference.”

The Verdict: Villa to benefit?

Coutinho will be desperate to head to Qatar in November for the World Cup, so you’d expect that he’ll need an uplift in form to get a place in Brazil’s squad for that tournament.

He put in a more promising display last time out against Southampton, being maned man of the match by Sky Sports as his cross ultimately resulted in Jacob Ramsey’s winning goal.

Steven Gerrard labelled him a ‘man possessed’ in training last week, so hopefully Villa will reap the rewards of a revitalised Coutinho following the international break, with time running out for the 30-year-old to catch Tite’s eye.

Everton’s academy has produced some fine talents over the years, with plenty having gone on to feature heavily for the first team.

Leon Osman, Ross Barkley and more recently Anthony Gordon have all earned various levels of success at Goodison Park, and they could be set to have their next gem who could make Evertonians quickly forget about James Rodriguez.

The Colombian superstar graced Merseyside for a sole year and starred throughout an injury-hit season behind closed doors. He scored six and assisted five in just 23 games in the Premier League, as well as contributing another three assists in two FA Cup matches.

Perhaps young Charlie Whitaker could soon be the man to step up and contribute these kinds of numbers throughout a season, as he seems to be showing he has all the quality to make the move with his performances in Premier League 2.

David Unsworth was his former U23s manager, and following one of his many stellar performances claimed that “the future is bright” for the “sensational” 19-year-old.

This came after his remarkable hat trick against Southampton’s youngsters, which was just three of the 11 goals he scored across both the U18s and U23 leagues.

With Frank Lampard having now accepted that a 4-3-3 is likely his best bet at success, Whitaker now has a much higher chance of forcing his way into the 44-year-old’s plans if he can continue his form. 

The former Chelsea manager boasts a proven track record for promoting youth, with Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori all owing plenty to his keen eye. 

Whitaker could be the next to succeed under his watch, and from what Unsworth went on to say, he does fit the mould as the perfect Rodriguez replacement.

He said: “I’ve watched Charlie for a number of years and we always knew he had the quality in flashes. 

“He has played out wide, he has played up-front….but we have tried to play him as a second striker, not a number 10, a second-striker because his game is naturally dropping into spaces where you want a number 10.

“We have tried to get someone up there with him and he has been sensational.”

Rodriguez too was a versatile customer who would play off either flank, further cementing their comparison on top of the goals they offer in the final third.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin hopeful for a return soon, and Neal Maupay now a permanent fixture, in no time at all Whitaker could be the next sensational young talent to take the Premier League by storm, playing off a central striker.