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According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, via Calciomercato, Tottenham Hotspur have already made their first offer to sign Sampdoria sensation Mikkel Damsgaard.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Damsgaard…

As per The Evening Standard, managing director Fabio Paratici now has his eyes firmly on strengthening the creative positions in Tottenham’s team after sealing Cristian Romero from Atalanta.

Damsgaard is one of the targets on Spurs’ agenda alongside former academy player Noni Madueke, according to that report, with La Repubblica (via Calciomercato) now bringing a further development.

The Latest: Spurs have already made Damsgaard offer…

As per the newspaper from Italy, Tottenham have actually already made their first offer to sign the 21-year-old rising star this summer.

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They claim the bid is ‘higher than €20 million (£17.04 million)’ but nowhere near Sampdoria’s €40m (£34.02m) asking price, which club president Massimo Ferrero is demanding for his services.

Spurs’ first offer looks unlikely to be accepted as a result but a ‘good starting point’ for negotiations could be a figure in and around the €30 million (£25.5m) mark.

The Verdict: Perfect for Spurs…

Signing Damsgaard, in our opinion, would be the cherry on top of an already impressive window so far for Tottenham.

Paratici has undergone an extensive Lilywhites rebuild with the departures of Toby Alderweireld, Joe Hart, Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth, Danny Rose and Paulo Gazzaniga – shifting deadwood and making space for marquee arrivals.

The Lilywhites have already secured most of their main targets but adding Damsgaard into the mix would really be a masterstroke by Tottenham’s new managing director.

He is arguably one of the most exciting youngsters in world football with there already being a ‘gigantic buzz’ around him in Denmark, according to his former youth coach Kasper Kurland (inews.co.uk).

The starlet’s sensational free-kick against England in their Euro 2020 semi-final at Wembley could only be a glimpse into his ability, especially considering he has drawn comparisons with former Spurs favourite Christian Eriksen.

In other news: ‘My understanding’…Sky Sports reporter drops on air Kane update for Spurs, find out more here.

Southampton reportedly bid for Takehiro Tomiyasu in January but were unable to agree a deal, and with the Japan international now heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, it seems that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side may have missed out on a gem.

According to the Evening Standard, the Saints made an offer for the Bologna man in January and returned the following month to enquire about a potential summer switch, but it was thought that a bigger move was on the cards for the 22-year-old.

It now seems likely that the Japanese centre-back will complete a move to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this summer, with Spurs in talks with the Serie A outfit over a potential deal for the defender.

Last season saw the youngster make 31 appearances in Serie A for the Rossoblù, contributing two goals and averaging a solid 6.77 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

The £18m-rated defender has featured regularly as a centre-back, right-back and defensive midfielder in his career thus far, and given Hasenhuttl’s preference for versatile players at Southampton, it seems clear that he could have been a stellar addition.

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It is no surprise that the Austrian was reportedly keen on the Japan international in January when you consider that he was forced to deploy James Ward-Prowse and Jan Bednarek at right-back in the absence of Kyle Walker-Peters after Yan Valery was sent out on loan to Birmingham.

Tomiyasu could have been a great player to compete with Bednarek and Jannik Vestergaard at centre-back, whilst also covering for Walker-Peters on the right, as he has plenty of experience in Serie A despite being so young.

His performances in Italy earned him the praise of teammate Mitchell Dijks, who said: “He is very strong, a real Japanese warrior.”

After their advances in January and February were rejected, it seems unlikely that Southampton will be able to negotiate a deal for Tomiyasu this summer. If he does join Spurs and become a success, then he will unfortunately be regarded as one who got away for the Saints.

In other news… Hasenhuttl dealt huge Saints transfer blow over “top player” likened to Kante

Bruno Lage has an almighty job on his hands to improve this Wolves side.

Handed the keys to Molineux this week, he faces the task of rebuilding a squad who could lose some of their best players this summer.

On the chalkboard

Wolves are set to lose Ruben Neves in the coming months, with Arsenal courting the Portuguese midfielder ahead of a potential move.

There could also be exits in defence. Max Kilman’s future in the Midlands was uncertain during Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure, while Romain Saiss’ time at Wolves is also shrouded in doubt. He has been linked with a move to France, where Rennes are interested in prising him away from the Premier League.

The Old Gold should have been searching for alternatives anyway judging by their defensive record in 2020/21, but this gives them an extra excuse to spend some money.

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They conceded 52 goals in the league last term, just one fewer than relegated Fulham and six more than 16th-placed Brighton. During a period between October and January, they kept only two clean sheets in 14 outings.

Willy Boly and Conor Coady can still be relied upon but there is a sense that a third dependable centre-back is required.

This week Wolves were linked with a move for Dael Fry, via Football League World. The Middlesbrough defender boasts a passing success rate of just 69.2% throughout his career but he would be an almighty upgrade in aerial situations.

The 23-year-old stands at a colossal height of 6 foot 4 and uses that to his advantage to bully opponents to one side. In the Championship this season, Fry won an impressive 6.3 aerial duels per match, the highest seasonal tally of his career to date.

The defender prevailed in 200 aerial battles last term, ranking him as the 12th best centre-back in the entire Championship.

That enormous tally usurps every single player at Wolves by a grand total of 115. Leander Dendoncker won the most with just 85 in comparison, while Boly’s average of 2.7 per match was the highest in that regard.

Described as a player who “has everything” by former Boro manager Aitor Karanka, Fry is a defender who appears to be improving all the time.

He needs to work on his distribution but he could offer some much-needed physicality to Lage’s backline. Boly offers that already, but a combination of the two would seem fearsome at Molineux.

A deal could also be done cheaply, with the Middlesbough centre-half rated at just £6.3m by Transfermarkt. Considering that Wolves have little to spend this summer, that would work out nicely for Jeff Shi and Fosun.

AND in other news, Forget Adama: Lage can save millions if Wolves unleash “outstanding” rarely-seen 19y/o…

Jadon Sancho could be set for a move back to Manchester, however not with his former club Man City as Man United are reportedly in a strong position to get him, but former City star Paul Stewart can only see his former club signing the winger.

Sancho has established himself as one of the best right-sided wingers across Europe with his staggering record of 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games for Borussia Dortmund, however his time in Germany could be coming to an end as the winger has a gentleman’s agreement with the club to let him leave for the right amount of money.

Last summer Dortmund were demanding over £100 million from Man United for the winger and with a deal never appearing close, the Red Devils have returned to the negotiating table once again and have reportedly already agreed personal terms with the England international.

Whoever ends up signing Sancho will be getting a world-class winger that is still only 21-years-old, but despite the United rumours Stewart believes that if City enter the race for his signature, he’d end up back at the Etihad, as he exclusively told Football FanCast:

“There’s only one winner if both clubs are going for him and that’s Manchester City, and I would like to see him back in the Premier League.

“I think he’s one of the best right-sided players out there and he’s gone away and proved it.”

Sancho was bought by Dortmund back in 2017 and since arriving in Germany he has been a main threat for the Bundesliga outfit with his chemistry with Marco Reus and Erling Haaland being incredible to watch.

It would appear that Man United need a player like Sancho more than Man City do, however, with the pandemic hitting most clubs hard it would be no surprise to see City flex their financial muscle and move their rivals out of the running for their former winger.

Mark Douglas has dropped some promising insight from those close to the potential takeover of Newcastle United, claiming it could be done in a matter of weeks if the arbitration case goes to plan.

The Lowdown: Ashley’s claims

Mike Ashley has launched two separate claims against the Premier League over the failed takeover deal between him and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

These are the separate arbitration and Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) cases, with the former set to take place this month.

The Toon will need a positive result there, but if they get it then things could kick into gear rather quickly.

The Latest: Takeover insight

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Douglas, who has of course been following the whole saga closely, has shared that those close to the potential deal believe that it could be struck within a number of weeks.

He also added that plans have been put in place and could be implemented quickly in time for the new 2021/22 season to start, assuming that the bid can be pushed through.

The Verdict: Promising

It is certainly promising to hear that plans for the potential takeover could be put in place quickly, especially if they can be implemented before the new term starts.

The timing of the arbitration hearing against the English top flight is not ideal, given that the summer transfer window has already opened, and so ideally the consortium would have wanted to strike a deal before so that they can work on some transfers.

However, this would not matter as much if a deal can be struck before the new campaign begins, as they would still have time to work on the squad and overall be better prepared for their first game.

Nonetheless, the fact that there is belief that a deal can be done within a number of weeks is a good sign ahead of the arbitration proceedings.

In other news, find out what Premier League insight Lee Ryder has dropped on the CAT case here!

Everton’s Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright would be making an unforgivable mistake by appointing Rafa Benitez as the man to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

What’s the story?

Ancelotti made the decision to return to the Santiago Bernabeu to manage Real Madrid, and that has opened the door for a new manager to come in at Goodison Park.

And, according to The Athletic, one of the surprising names that has now emerged is that of former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, with the Spaniard open to crossing the Merseyside divide to take over the Toffees.

The report revealed: “The Athletic understands that Benitez would be open to talks with Everton’s board and is keen to get back into football after leaving Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional in January.

“The issue with the experienced Spaniard has traditionally been his tenure at Liverpool and the fear that no matter how much he made sense for the Everton job, it would be a move too far for the club’s supporters who would not be able to stomach the prospect of someone associated so closely with their rivals.

“However, if Moshiri were to decide to plough ahead with the profile of a proven winner, he may decide the time has come to make a firm approach to Benitez, who is still based on Merseyside with his wife and daughters. He would be joining a club whose owner has already shown he is prepared to be single-minded in the face of supporter unease when he opted for Sam Allardyce and former Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee in 2017.”

Fans would be livid

Make no mistake about it, given the storied history Benitez enjoyed at Anfield, the Spaniard would arrive on the blue half of Merseyside already battling against the tide.

The fans would already be on edge with the 61-year-old, and that kind of atmosphere and tension isn’t exactly the most conducive to a good working environment.

The first sign of trouble or bad form would carry that much more weight and angst, more so than it would for any other manager who would be arriving with a clean slate.

And, Benitez’s Liverpool ties are just the tip of the iceberg, with his notorious defensive, counter-attacking approach earning him a lot of criticism while he was at Newcastle, with Gary Neville among those to take aim at him.

He said: “To me, I’m not knocking Rafa Benitez – I think he is a brilliant manager – but I think Newcastle, when I go up there, it should just be mad.

“It should be really loud, the games should be mad. There should be incident and excitement. To be fair, some games were always 0-0. Every time I went up there over two years, I was bored. I was bored.”

Goodison Park has a lot of parallels to St James’ Park, in that when the fans are on board, the stadium can be absolutely rocking. It needs a manager at the helm who can embrace that and Benitez simply isn’t that man.

His negative football, and his Red roots, would make him an unforgivable mistake from the Everton board to appoint him.

Toffees fans would be absolutely livid.

Meanwhile, a fresh name has emerged in Everton’s managerial hunt…

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been reacting to an article from Keith Jackson in the aftermath of the latest Old Firm clash.

On May 2nd, the Gers hammered Celtic 4-1 in the last Old Firm game of the season – it was their fourth win in five attempts against their fierce rivals in 2020/21 (Sky Sports). It means the Gers are still unbeaten in this season’s Premiership and they have just two games left (BBC).

The clash also marked Scott Brown’s last Old Firm appearance – he will join Aberdeen at the end of this season. Jackson has suggested that a highly-ranked Rangers official made a crude gesture towards Brown in the tunnel after that match, although Celtic have not chosen to lodge an official complaint since.

Unsurprisingly, this did not go down well with many Rangers supporters. The article from Jackson was shared on his official Twitter page, and it attracted plenty of attention from Gers fans, one of whom called it “embarrassing”. These supporters took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Jackson piece below

“What an embarrassment Keef, imagine putting your name to such a toadying piece. Brown deserves every verbal, he lorded it over poor Rangers sides, he was a classless moron still goading his opponents and opposition fans, even when substituted at Ibrox he was still mouthing off.”

Credit: @Stanspadowski72

“Embarrassing article. Happy for Griffiths blowing his nose on corner flags and tying scarves to posts when playing against guys like Keirnan and Goss yet nothing said. Poor Broony finally exposed as the plastic hard man that he is”

Credit: @DangerousD1969

“Hibs & Saints have just made the cup final and this is what you decide to write about ? Brown, Griffiths and even Lawwell have had digs at Rangers over the years, it’s football that’s what happens. Pathetic stuff.”

Credit: @scottkirkwood72

“Laughable stuff from Jackson here yet again! The same Rodgers who bolted at the first sniff off the EPL! The same Brown who made a career of goading other players and fans!”

Credit: @deanomac55

“Keith this screams sour grapes. Scott Brown has been the luckiest footballer in Scotland in the last 50 years. He deserves a good old slagging for his and his teams performances this season.”

Credit: @Sneddon0472

“Brown has been dishing it out for years so forgive my lack of sympathy here. You reap what you sow, as they say. “Provocatively goaded”? Give me peace.”

Credit: @mox1872

In other news, many Rangers fans were livid at this journalist’s comments.

In a recent interview, former Rangers defender Michael Ball has claimed that Steven Gerrard’s side could splash the cash in order to bring SC Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman to Ibrox this summer.

Ball spoke to The Transfer Tavern about the 22-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window, saying:

“They know the Dutch, how they are trained, and how they come through the youth system. His numbers are fantastic.

“He will probably cost more than Ryan Kent maybe, or around the same amount of money, so if Steven wants him as number one target, I feel the club will 100% back him.”

It is no surprise that Rangers are taking an interest in Veerman considering his superb performances in the Eredivisie in recent seasons.

Last season saw the young midfielder contribute four goals and five assists in 22 Dutch top-flight appearances, earning an excellent 7.27 average rating from WhoScored across the season.

He has improved on that further in the 2020/21 campaign, with seven goals and 10 assists under his belt in just 31 appearances, which has helped him average an incredible 7.40 rating from WhoScored.

Reports have suggested that Rangers would have to pay around £8.5m to Heerenveen if they were to bring him to Ibrox this summer but given that Gerrard will be looking to add some Champions League quality to his side ahead of next season, it is easy to see why Ball has backed the club to sign him.

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Another former Rangers man, Michael Mols, was full of praise for Veerman recently when asked if he would be a good fit at his old club, saying:

“He is perfect with the ball and in possession, he’s a really great player. His passing and movement with the ball is really relaxed in a good way.”

Given that Rangers have arguably struggled for goals and assists from midfield this season, with Steven Davis, Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield mustering just seven goals and seven assists between them in the league, adding someone with Veerman’s quality could help take Rangers to a new level.

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Therefore, if Ball is correct and Rangers will pay Heerenveen’s reported asking price, then Ross Wilson will be handing the 40-year-old manager a huge boost ahead of next season.

And, in other news… Gerrard must axe Rangers’ “exciting talent” after his huge setback

Southampton have been linked with a move for Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie recently, and his potential signing could be a repeat of the deal which saw Stuart Armstrong join the Saints in 2018.

According to The Scottish Sun, Southampton are targeting the attacking midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window as they look to add a goalscoring midfielder to their ranks next season. The report from Alan Nixon suggests that Christie’s contract with Celtic is set to expire at the end of 2021, so they are keen to cash in on him this summer instead of potentially losing him for nothing.

Norwich and Burnley are also said to be interested in the 26-year-old, but a move to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side may appeal to the Scotland international as he could link up with his former clubmate and current international colleague Armstrong.

Since joining the Saints three years ago, the 29-year-old has gone on to make 104 appearances for the south coast club, contributing 14 goals and 11 assists.

The Scottish midfielder was one of the standout performers for Southampton in 2020/21, with Saints legend Terry Paine full of praise for his campaign in the recent end of the season awards, saying: “I’ve been highly impressed with him, in terms of his effort and output, and the fact that he has played in multiple positions. He’s shown that bit of spark, and he’s got that burst of pace that can make a real difference.”

Given that Southampton signed him from Celtic, where he predominantly featured as an attacking midfielder, there are many similarities between Armstrong and Christie.

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The 26-year-old Scotland international has contributed an impressive 40 goals and 41 assists in 142 appearances for the Hoops, which included four goals and eight assists in the Premiership last season as he averaged a superb 7.33 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Celtic legend Chris Sutton was full of praise for the midfielder after his goals helped Scotland qualify for Euro 2020, saying: “You have to admire his attitude as well as his versatility, to be able to play so many positions at such a high level…he gives it absolutely everything. We all know he can produce moments of magic, but he combines it with a ferocious work rate. Christie is a manager’s dream.”

Therefore, it certainly seems as if Christie could be a superb addition to Hasenhuttl’s squad, and if he can have the same impact that Armstrong has made during his time on the south coast, then signing him could be another masterstroke by Southampton CEO Martin Semmens if the Saints pull it off.

In other news… Southampton can sign their ideal Ings heir in “explosive” £10m beast

According to recent reports, Glasgow Rangers winger, Ryan Kent, looks set to stay at Ibrox this summer, despite strong interest from a Premier League side.

The report by Football Insider claims that sources have revealed Kent’s desire to remain at Rangers for a further year, despite the fact that Leeds United are interested in his signing this summer.

It is then said that the £20,000-per-week winger feels a “loyalty” to Steven Gerrard and is looking forward to playing in the Champions League with Rangers next season.

Finally, it is reported that Gers are still in talks to sign the 24-year-old down to a new deal at Ibrox, although there have been “complications” in negotiations after the winger changed agents last year.

Transfer Tavern Take

So far this season, Kent has been in rather remarkable form over his 33 Scottish Premiership appearances for Rangers, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists, as well as averaging a highly impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.40 – ranking him as the club’s joint second-best performer in the Scottish top flight.

As such, the news that Kent looks set to stay at Ibrox for at least another year is likely to be brilliant to hear for both Steven Gerrard and fans of the club alike, as the former Liverpool man could prove highly influential in Rangers’ bid to retain their Premiership crown, as well as in their Champions League campaign.

If the club do opt to sell him in the future, then a successful Champions League campaign would also likely make a big difference to the type of fee they could demand.

In other news: ‘What did I just hear?’ – These Gers fans slam ‘dinosaur’ as ‘disgraceful’ Kamara claim emerges – find out more here!