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Tottenham Hotspur could seal their best signing since Heung-min Son following an exciting claim from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

The north London outfit are in desperate need of fresh additions this month, certainly if Antonio Conte is to stand a chance at reviving this sinking ship.

Given his tactical system – primarily deploying three-at-the-back – he needs further reinforcements to his backline, where left-back Ben Davies has been plugging a gap and the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga have had to be trusted.

One player that Spurs appear keen on is Villarreal defender Pau Torres, who rejected a move to the club during the summer window but back then, it was the underwhelming Nuno Santo in charge – rather than the trophy-laden Italian.

And Romano believes their interest is something to keep an eye on heading into deadline day in a little under two weeks time.

“Let’s see what happens with a centre-back. Tottenham want to sign a new centre-back in January. Pau Torres has always been on their list since last summer, but Villarreal have no intention to let him leave in January,” he told the ‘Here We Go’ podcast last week.

Torres’ desire may well hinge on any sort of Champions League involvement but Spurs are firmly in the race for a top-four finish and that could well be achieved with the Spaniard’s arrival.

He played an integral role for former Arsenal boss Unai Emery at the Yellow Submarines as they defeated Manchester United to clinch the Europa League title last season.

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Meanwhile, domestically, the 25-year-old colossus ranked as their fourth-best player (6.76) in La Liga last season. Across 33 starts, he proved to be an excellent ball-playing option by averaging an 87.8% passing accuracy and 0.8 dribbles per game, as per WhoScored.

“When he was small you could see he had an extraordinary talent to construct the play, I even played him for a few games in midfield, but he told me he was more comfortable at the back. Bit by bit he picked up more intensity, more strength, becoming more physical and he kept developing,” once claimed his former youth coach, ex-Villarreal midfielder Javi Calleja.

His profile is exactly the sort of one that Conte would love in his backline – an aggressive but astute on-the-ball beast to pair alongside summer signing Cristian Romero and Eric Dier.

As such, any move for Torres would surely excite the manager and fanbase alike. He’d be such a necessary addition that it could well equal the arrival of Son, who has quickly become one of Tottenham’s most reliable players over the years.

Fabio Paratici and co must seal a move for the £45m-rated Villarreal star at all costs this month.

AND in other news, “I understand..”: Sky Sports reporter drops transfer claim that’ll anger Spurs fans…

Wolves supporters have been expressing their delight at the news that centre-back Max Kilman has signed a new deal at the club.

Bruno Lage’s side have recovered from a forgettable start to the season, sitting seventh in the Premier League currently off the back of a great run of form.

Wolves have won four of their last five league games, drawing the other, with confidence growing that a European push could be on the cards.

A number of Wolves players have performed well in recent weeks but Kilman has arguably been a standout figure, playing every minute of league action.

On Friday, ahead of the meeting with Crystal Palace this weekend, his brilliance was rewarded with a new contract, with the defender extending his stay at Molineux until 2026 [via the club’s official Twitter account].

Wolves fans delighted with Kilman news

It is a hugely positive piece of news for Wolves and these fans took to Twitter to react to it, showing their appreciation for the centre-back who they believe should be in the England squad.

“This will go under the radar slightly but I’m calling this the best piece of business we will do this season. Class player”

Credit: @WV1Wolf

“Come on”

Credit: @adenwwfc_

“Oh you love to see it”

Credit: @fatchav

“Don’t underestimate how massive this is”

Credit: @RefJosh04

“Oh stop it”

Credit: @hannahosmoxf

“Tremendous news & thoroughly deserved, what a season he’s having. Well in”

Credit: @MrRyanLeister

In other news, Wolves’ interest in one player is set to be revived. Find out who it is here.

With just ten goals scored in their opening 11 Premier League games of the season, Southampton have not been particularly prolific in front of goal in this campaign compared to some of the other teams around them in the league table.

Taking this into account, it seems as though the south coast club have their eye on securing a new young talent that could well improve their attacking power for the foreseeable future.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by the Daily Mail that Southampton are one of the clubs interested in signing West Brom youngster Reyes Cleary, who has been described as a “powerful forward player with an eye for goal” by Baggies U18 manager Peter Gilbert.

As a product of West Brom’s youth academy, the 17-year-old striker has scored an impressive 16 goals in 21 appearances for their U18 side as well as netting three goals in eight appearances for the U23s, which is presumably why clubs such as Southampton and others like Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Bayern Munich are all reportedly keeping tabs on the teenager.

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Given how Cleary has yet to make a senior appearance for West Brom in the Championship, Southampton may not see him as a player ready to play in the Premier League against top opposition, despite how impressive he has been from a goalscoring point of view in Albion’s youth ranks.

With that in mind, Southampton should do all they can to make sure they are the ones that are securing Cleary’s signature as one of England’s potential top youth talents so they can develop him in their youth ranks. If he arrives, he could follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jack Stephens, Nathan Tella and James Ward-Prowse to become a regular first-team player for the Saints.

Also, with current Southampton striker Shane Long see to see his contract expire in the summer and the fact that the 34-year-old has only played 16 minutes of Premier League action this season, there’s every chance that Cleary could well be the Irishman’s long-term replacement at St. Mary’s.

It would be a strange coincidence if he could emulate the striker, as he has ties to West Brom himself from earlier in his career.

In other news: Ralph dealt potential injury blow on “excellent” Saints beast, fans will be gutted – opinion

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Burnley centre-backs Ben Mee and James Tarkowski…

What’s the talk?

According to The Mirror, the Magpies are willing to offer the dynamic duo £100k-per-week each, doubling their current wages at Turf Moor.

The report claims that both players are out of contract in the summer and could leave on frees, with Eddie Howe desperate to land both of them to strengthen his defence at St. James’ Park.

Fans would be buzzing

Newcastle fans would be buzzing as the pair have proven themselves to be an excellent partnership at Premier League level for Burnley. Howe could bring in a ready-made defensive unit to come in and improve the back line heading into next season by signing them both.

They have played 12349 minutes alongside each other across 151 matches, with Burnley averaging 1.34 points per game in that time. This averages out at roughly 50 points per 38-game season, whilst 29 points would have been enough to retain a place in the top-flight last season.

Mee is valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt, whilst Tarkowski is said to be worth £22.5m. This means that they are £27.9m-rated as a pair and the Magpies could be landing a gigantic bargain in terms of the initial fee by signing both on free transfers next summer. However, they would be splashing out £200k-per-week in wage, a startling amount of money.

This season, Tarkowski has averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.11 in the Premier League, with Mee averaging a solid score of 6.81 as both players continue to show that they are reliable performers in the top-flight for Burnley. Therefore, they could be excellent additions to the Toon squad, as they have a proven track record of playing well at this level.

They also, as aforementioned, have a pre-existing relationship on the pitch that could translate over to St. James’ Park instantly. With over 150 matches played alongside each other and an impressive points return, they know how to work well as a pair and could come in and be effective for Newcastle in the Premier League, which is why fans would love this deal.

It is now down to PIF and Howe to do as much as they can to tempt both of them into making the switch, providing the offer of £100k-per-week each is not enough on its own.

AND in other news, “Among leading NUFC targets”: David Ornstein drops transfer update that’ll excite fans…

Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Billy Sharp score 20 goals in the Championship for Sheffield United next season.

The Blades suffered their 22nd Premier League defeat of the campaign against Southampton on Saturday, leaving them 12 points from safety with just 10 games remaining, meaning the Bramall Lane outfit require a minor miracle in order to avoid relegation.

Chris Wilder’s team, who are the lowest scorers in England, have struggled for goals throughout the campaign, although they do have a number of proven Championship goalscorers in their ranks.

One of which is their captain, Sharp. Only Teemu Pukki, Tammy Abraham and Neal Maupay scored more than the Blades legend when United were last in the second-tier – with Sharp’s tally of 23 his best ever return at Championship level.

And despite Sharp scoring just three Premier League goals this term, Windass has backed the striker to find his best form next season, providing Wilder’s side do get relegated.

He told Football FanCast:

“He [Chris Wilder] will have a list of players that are going to leave the football club. You wouldn’t bet against Billy Sharp getting 20 goals in the Championship next season, even though he’s 35.”

Despite his lack of goals since Sheffield United were promoted two seasons back, Sharp has been an outstanding servant over the previous six years, and you really wouldn’t be shocked to see him find his goalscoring touch once more.

Steve Bruce should urge Newcastle United to launch a summer swoop to sign Celtic-owned defender Jack Hendry and add a no-nonsense titan to his ranks at St. James’ Park.

What’s the word?

According to the Mirror, the Magpies feature in a small clutch of Premier League sides monitoring Hendry’s situation ahead of the next transfer market.

Celtic are expected to recall the 25-year-old to Parkhead at the close of the current season, following a tremendous campaign on loan with Belgian Pro League side KV Oostende.

Hendry joined the Diaz Arena natives for the 2020/21 term after being shunned by previous Hoops boss Neil Lennon, who resigned last month, but he is expected to chase a second chance in Glasgow as he eyes a return to the Scotland national side.

The centre-half played just 11 minutes across all competitions during Lennon’s second tenure at Celtic, but has proven a key fixture of the Oostende line-up with starting roles in 21 of his 22 Pro League outings to date.

De Kustboys boss Alexander Blessin has been full of praise for the Glasgow-born defender, whose side have a £2m option to buy him, noting in November: “He’s a great talker in defence. He makes the people he’s playing with better. You can see them listening to him.

“He’s been a tower of experience for us. Jack’s the most important member of the team this season and he’s one of the best defenders in the league. When you get signed by a club the size of Celtic at such a young age, then you obviously must have a lot of qualities.”

Oostende could easily look to sign Hendry and flip him for profit in the summer market, with Newcastle, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers said to be tracking his situation as he nears the final 12-months of his Celtic contract.

Should Newcastle sign Hendry?

With funds expected to be tight at St. James’ Park in the off-season, Bruce may have to shop around for cheaper options to plug gaps in his defence and Hendry could emerge as a worthwhile solution if his future is not with Celtic.

Newcastle are at risk of losing Fabian Schar this summer, with the Swiss international said to be considering his options, while Federico Fernandez – who is also due to be a free agent at the end of the season – is yet to be offered a new contract despite ongoing negotiations.

It would obviously remain to be seen how much Oostende or Celtic may ask for, depending on the Belgian side taking up their option to purchase Hendry, but the 25-year-old is proving to be a no-nonsense type player who is hard for Pro League attackers to beat.

The three-cap Scotland international, who has not represented his national side since 2018, is only dribbled past 0.1 times per game in the Belgian top-flight this term, per SofaScore. He also offers 4.5 clearances to keep the danger away from Guillaume Hubert’s goal.

Hendry records 1.2 successful tackles a game, too, and plays the ball out from the back with 31.1 accurate passes – 23.8 in his own half – while providing a goal threat with 1.2 shots, as Oostende mount a surprise push for Champions League qualification.

Newcastle defenders Schar (0.8/1.5) and Jamaal Lascelles (0.8/0.9) have each offered fewer successful tackles per game in the Premier League this season, while Fernandez (0.3), Ciaran Clark (0.3), Isaac Hayden (0.5) and Schar (0.7) are each dribbled past more often when fielded at centre-half, per WhoScored.

Only summer free-agent Fernandez (5.6) and captain Lascelles (4.6) offer more clearances and more shots (1.3, 1.4 respectively) per game than Hendry, while no current natural Toon centre-back plays a higher number of accurate passes, per SofaScore.

Much is still to be decided with Hendry’s future, much like with Fernandez and Schar at Newcastle, however, the 6 ft 3 Hoops-owned enforcer should be a target for Bruce if United do look to add another member to his backline this summer.

AND in other news, some Newcastle players want a “very good organiser” lauded by those he’s worked with to replace Steve Bruce…

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting an ‘ambitious’ bid to sign Serge Gnabry, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Daily Star claim Spurs are keen on landing the Bayern Munich contract rebel as he enters the final year of his current contract at the Allianz Arena, where he is thought to be holding out for a salary of around £13m-per-year.

The Bundesliga champions won’t be held ransom by his demands, so that has alerted many teams around Europe, including the Lilywhites and Real Madrid, though it remains to be seen how much the German side would sell him for – if at all, given their track-record in letting players leave for nothing.

CIES Football Observatory currently value him in the region of £60m.

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Major coup

Whilst an ex-Arsenal player, Gnabry would be something of a coup for Spurs, should they manage to secure his signature in the coming months.

The German international struggled to make much of an impact during his time in England, eventually being sold to Werder Bremen for just £5m in 2016 but he has since emerged as one of the best wingers in Europe.

Across 168 appearances for the Bavarian giants, Gnabry has provided 63 goals and 40 assists, averaging a direct contribution once every 104 minutes, via Transfermarkt.

Spurs know too well of his ability after he absolutely tore Mauricio Pochettino’s side apart with four goals in Bayern’s 7-2 win in the Champions League back in October 2019.

His form has led to quite the praise indeed, including a particularly glowing endorsement from BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, who claimed last season:

“His stats are phenomenal. He’s sitting in the top-level, world-class. He’s come to Germany and set the place on fire, he was absolutely stunning tonight. His decision making has been extraordinary.

“I’ll go as far as to say he’s one of the most improved players in football at the moment. I don’t think anyone’s upwards trajectory is as sharp as his.”

Also lauded as a “real weapon” by his former manager Niko Kovac to Bundesliga.com, Gnabry would certainly add a new dimension to Conte’s attack and given his links to the Gunners and exploits for Bayern, he’d be quite the stunning signing for the north Londoners.

If sporting director Fabio Paratici can pull this off, it would certainly be another one of his masterclass-like swoops.

AND in other news, Contact made: Spurs in talks for “phenomenal” £33m signing, he’s better than Bremer…

Speaking exclusively to Transfer Tavern, former Premier League referee Mark Halsey discussed Harry Kane’s penalty claim in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

In the fixture, Tottenham took the lead early in the first half through Tanguy Ndombele’s first-minute strike, only for Wolves defender Romain Saiss to score a late equaliser for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, with the game finishing 1-1.

However, in the dying moments of the clash, Harry Kane latched onto a Harry Winks through ball, and subsequently hit the deck in the Wolves penalty area after a challenge from Saiss, although there appeared to be very little, if any, contact made by the defender, leading to claims that the forward was lucky to escape a booking for simulation.

“I think Harry is getting a reputation now, isn’t he?” Halsey told Transfer Tavern. “I think he’s initiated that contact going down and I don’t think anybody would’ve complained had he been cautioned for simulation in that situation.”

Kane has come under fire in recent months for the manner in which the forward won a penalty against Brighton & Hove Albion, when it appeared the 27-year-old knowingly backed into Adam Lallana mid-jump, with the midfielder landing incredibly awkwardly, and, somehow, the referee awarding Kane a penalty.

The England captain also drew a similar challenge from Aaron Cresswell in a fixture against West Ham United back in October, and it would appear that Halsey is of the belief that the forward is now getting a bit of a reputation for being a cheat.

Indeed, as previously stated, there did not appear to be foul-worthy contact made by Saiss in the incident with Kane on Sunday, and, as a goalscorer with the ability of the England man, it is questionable as to whether he needs to be acting in such a manner.

Queens Park Rangers’ loanee midfielder Stefan Johansen has opened up on his future ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

Speaking in a recent interview with the QPR website, the Fulham midfielder revealed just how much he has enjoyed his loan spell at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, before claiming that he is unsure what his future holds at present with just one year left remaining on his contract with Scott Parker’s side.

He said: “It’s been brilliant, from day one I have felt so welcome. It’s been such an easy group to come into, they are a great bunch of lads and I have really enjoyed my time here.

“Personally, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have one more year on my contract at Fulham, but, without doubt, I can say how much I enjoyed my time here.”

Warburton must seal deal

Having only linked up with Mark Warburton’s side in the January transfer window, the impact Johansen has had on the Hoops has been quite sensational.

Over the 30-year-old’s 21 Championship appearances for QPR, the £1.8 million-rated man scored four goals, provided two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 1.6 key passes per game, culminating in a highly impressive average SofaScore match rating of 7.00 – ranking him as the Rs’ sixth-best performer in the second tier this season.

The arrival of the £8,000-per-week Norway international also coincided with a remarkable upturn in form at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with Warburton’s side winning 12, drawing two and losing seven of the 21 games in which Johansen featured for the club – results which left QPR sitting in fourth place in the league standings over this specific time frame.

As such, a deal to bring the midfielder – whom Ronny Deila dubbed an “outstanding” player – back to the club this summer should very much be a priority for Warburton, as it would seem as if Johansen could well play a major role in QPR’s potential push to secure a play-off place next season.

Indeed, many of the R’s faithful appear to be desperate for their side to make a permanent move for the 30-year-old this summer, with one claiming that Johansen should be the club’s “number one target” in the upcoming transfer window, while another seemed to speak on behalf of the fanbase by stating: “We want you to stay!”

QPR should listen to these fans and do all they can to keep Johansen at the club for next season.

In other news: Bhatia must not cash in on £7.1k-p/w QPR gem this summer, he’s crucial to Warburton – opinion

Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that he would welcome the signing of Ivan Toney at Everton.

With the likes of Josh King and Cenk Tosun expected to leave, Carlo Ancelotti would be left with just one senior recognised striker in Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison has previously played down the middle, but is predominantly a winger, meaning the Italian could need another centre-forward this summer, especially with the prospect of European football next term.

Reports in January suggested that Everton were keeping a close eye on the Brentford frontman, who’s caught the eye of several Premier League clubs this season, with the 25-year-old being looked at as a potential addition to the Toffees squad.

Toney has enjoyed a phenomenal first season at Championship level, scoring 30 goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances to help Brentford secure a top-six place.

And Bent told Football FanCast that he would back the decision to sign Toney:

“That’s quite a big one – he’s been quality in the Championship and showed that he’s got the talent.

“You don’t need to start in the Premier League to progress your career, so I think that’s a good one for Everton. Will he start? He’ll have to earn his place.

“But I think he could go up there, but him going to Everton he’s going to be away from his family again, but that’s football and I’m sure he can cope with that. “