Paper Talk: Real Madrid ready to deliver hammer blow to Conte and Tottenham; Chelsea in shock Brighton defender raid
Tottenham are facing a hammer blow as a key defender looks more and more likely to make a summer exit, while Sunday’s transfer gossip also claims that Chelsea are ready to make a surprise raid on Premier League rivals Brighton.
REAL READY TO EXERCISE REGUILON OPTION
Real Madrid are ready to deliver a hammer blow to Tottenham by exercising the buy-back clause they put into the deal when Spurs signed wing-back Sergio Reguilon in 2020.
The north London outfit spent £27million on the 25-year-old. However, part of the deal included a buy-back clause worth £33.6 million.
And the Sunday Mirror states that Real are set to activate the clause, which is only in place until the end of May.
Spurs looked to have got a real coup when they landed the Spain international. However, Reguilon has not quite hit the heights many had hoped for – with inconsistency a major issue.
The report adds that should the player leave, it would then allow Antonio Conte to bring in his own man.
However, an exit is not likely to go down particularly well with the Tottenham faithful, the majority of which are big fans of the Spaniard.
Indeed, this summer could see Conte sign two new wing-backs, with a new right-sided player also on his radar.
Middlesbrough’s Djed Spence is high on Spurs’ wish-list, along with Brighton star Tariq Lamptey and Norwich’s Max Aarons.
Mark Hughes, Gianfranco Zola and other former Premier League managers rotting away on the shelf
CHELSEA HUNTING DOWN BRIGHTON STAR
Chelsea are mulling over a summer move for in-form Brighton star Adam Webster as they prepare themselves for a defensive shake-up.
Central defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen still haven’t agreed new Stanford Bridge deals, while club skipper looks almost certain to Barcelona on a free transfer.
That leaves Thomas Tuchel weighing up a number of potential replacements. And according to the Sunday Mirror, impressive Seagulls star Webster is one of them.
The 27-year-old, who is also wanted by Newcastle, has been outstanding for Brighton this term. He is also on the brink of a senior England call-up.
His composure and ability on the ball are said to be key factors in Tuchel’s interest. To that end, the report adds that a summer bid is now highly likely.
CITY CLOSE TO STRIKING HAALAND DEAL
Manchester City are in pole position to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland – thanks to his father and former City player Alf Inge Haaland – when the Norway striker becomes available for £68m in the summer.
Pep Guardiola is known to be a huge admirer of the prolific 21-year-old. And now Football Insider states that City will be supported by their Abu Dhabi owners in their Haaland pursuit.
The report adds that Alf Inge Haaland is telling his son that City are the best option for him.
If Haaland does sign, he’ll arrive for more than £30m less than the club’s record signing Jack Grealish.
That would represent incredible business for a player who has scored 149 career goals in just 190 games.
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NEW DEAL BOOST FOR DE GEA
Manchester United are set to offer Spain goalkeeper David de Gea a new contract, six months after his Old Trafford career looked to over.
The 31-year-old has been outstanding for a struggling Red Devils side this season. Indeed, he was recently named Premier League Player of the Month for January.
Now, The Sun claims the club plans to trigger a 12-month option extending De Gea’s contract to June 2023. That will also buy them time to thrash out fresh terms.
The decision will mean Old Trafford bosses bending their standard policy of offering players shorter deals on lower wages when they hit their 30s.
Any new contract would see the stopper pick up something close to his current £375,000-a-week deal and have the security of a longer-term contract.
READ MORE: Old Trafford legend claims ill-disciplined Man Utd star has become a ‘problem’ for Ralf Rangnick
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