Gossip: Spurs ‘to battle bitter rivals’ Arsenal for £60m-rated PL star

Editor F365
Arsenal target James Maddison smiles

Tottenham will take on arch-rivals Arsenal in the battle for a midfielder, while Manchester City have been dealt a blow in the race for Erling Haaland…

 

MAD FOR HIM
North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal will fight it out over Leicester City midfielder James Maddison this summer, according to reports.

The 25-year-old has been in and out the team at the King Power Stadium this season but has managed 21 Premier League starts, scoring an impressive eight goals and contributing four assists for his team-mates. Arsenal have been the main club interested in Maddison over the last year or two with many reports linking the former Norwich City star to the Emirates Stadium.

A report last Sunday said that Leicester were ‘considering’ the sale of Maddison this summer in order to raise funds to strengthen their squad. The Foxes have failed to build on back-to-back fifth place finishes in the Premier League with Brendan Rodgers’ side currently sitting in tenth position. And a sale of Maddison would help them bring in reinforcements.

The Sun now claim that Tottenham ‘are ready to battle bitter rivals’ Arsenal for Maddison in the summer transfer window with Leicester looking for a fee in the region of £60m. Spurs have ‘genuine interest’ after allowing Dele Alli to leave for Everton in January, while Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele also left on temporary deals.

It is understood Antonio Conte ‘is a fan of Maddison and keen to increase his attacking options’ but a move could be dependent on Spurs being able to sell Lo Celso or Ndombele.

Dortmund striker Erling Haaland celebrates scoring a goal

MBAPPE BLOW SEES REAL SWITCH TARGET
Real Madrid are ready to renew their efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, according to reports.

Haaland is extremely likely to be on the move this summer when his £68m release clause becomes active in the summer transfer window. There have been many months of speculation surrounding where the Dortmund striker will end up with Man City recently emerging as the favourites to land him.

His record of 80 goals in 84 appearances since moving to the Bundesliga side means most clubs in world football would be happy to have him and now the Daily Mirror claims that Real Madrid ‘have launched a new charm offensive’ to beat Man City to the signing of Haaland. It is believed that Real’s number one transfer target Kylian Mbappe is now more likely to stay at Paris Saint-Germain than pursue a move elsewhere.

And the Daily Mirror adds that ‘losing out on Mbappe has prompted them to crank up their efforts to beat City to the Borussia Dortmund forward’s signature’ and Real Madrid know that Haaland ‘would favour a move to La Liga ahead of the Premier League’.

 

AND THE REST…
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte wants to sign a number 10 in the summer transfer window to allow Harry Kane to focus more on playing as a striker…Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is planning a big summer transfer window with as many as eight players for sale…Inter Milan are interested in re-signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea this summer – but only on a loan deal…Liverpool are in the race to sign Torino centre-back Gleison Bremer but face competition from Inter Milan…Manchester United’s hopes of signing Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans have received a boost, with potential rivals Liverpool and West Ham no longer interested in the 24-year-old.