Tottenham lose out on top target as Kessie agrees deal with another club. Tottenham are set to lose out on top target Franck Kessie as he closes in on a move to Saudi Arabia, sources have told Football Insider.
Ange Postecoglou had been looking at Kessie as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but will have to look for alternative options as the 26-year-old puts the finishing touches on a move to the Saudi Pro League. The midfielder’s current contract at Barcelona runs until 2026 after joining from AC Milan last summer on a free transfer.
On Friday (4 August), Football Insider revealed that Hojbjerg is closing in on a surprise move to Atletico Madrid.
The 28-year-old’s current contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, nets him a reported wage of £100,000-a-week, runs until 2025 after he put pen to paper on a five-year deal in 2020. The midfielder has been a favourite under previous managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte and has made 145 appearances for Spurs during his three-year spell in London.
The potential exit of the Denmark international will put further holes in Postecoglou’s midfield.
Rodrigo Bentancur is still out with a serious knee injury whilst 2022 summer arrival Yves Bissouma failed to live up to expectations last term, making just ten league starts and now Posteocoglou is set to lose out on his top midfield target.
In other news, Everton leapfrog West Ham and Tottenham in race to sign defender.
Everton have leapfrogged Tottenham and West Ham in the race to sign Man United defender Harry Maguire, sources have told Football Insider.
The three Premier League clubs, as well as Chelsea, have registered their interest in signing the England centre-back before the window shuts. United are willing to sell Maguire, 30, but he is on big wages of nearly £200,000-a-week and that deal runs for two more years.
Football Insider revealed on 18 July that United are willing to sell Maguire at a cut-price fee of around £35million – but the player wants his £10million-a-year contract paid up before agreeing an exit.
West Ham are considering a second offer for the defender after seeing their first bid of around £20million rejected.
But Everton have also made a move for Maguire and they represent what is seen as a strong option for the player. Sean Dyche is in the market for a new centre-back following the departures of Yerry Mina and Conor Coady and amid growing doubts over the future of Jarrad Branthwaite.
Intriguingly, West Ham are keen on Branthwaite, 21, who is keen to get more regular football following his successful season on loan at PSV Eindhoven.
It is believed that Maguire is set for second-string status if he stays at Old Trafford past the 1 September deadline. He made 31 appearances across all competitions in the 2022-23 campaign but started in just 16 of those outings.
The England international was initially indispensable after joining in 2019, but Erik ten Hag has preferred the likes of Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and even Luke Shaw at centre-back.
In other news, Everton make approach to sign £20m-plus star available for sale
