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An encouraging update has emerged on the future of long-term Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Milan Skrinar.

Inter Milan are thought to be keen to offload the 27-year-old centre-back before next week’s deadline as the club’s hierarchy has been left unimpressed by his recent actions amid links to Paris Saint-Germain, as per Corriere dello Sport (via FC Inter News).

The Nerazzurri are willing to let him go for €20m (£18m) but there is a worry that teams could wait until the summer when his contract will end at the San Siro, making him free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign party.

Earlier this month, Spurs were mooted with interest in the Slovakian international once again, with manager Antonio Conte keen on a reunion in N17.

Fabio Paratici’s attempts to lure Skriniar to north London have dated back to the summer of 2021, so now he could finally land his man, given the seemingly green light from the Serie A giants this week.

Come the summer, the Lilywhites will be on the lookout for a centre-back once again as Clement Lenglet’s season-long loan from FC Barcelona is up, leaving a void in Conte’s back three heading into next season.

The Frenchman has hardly been convincing, though, so the issue is sort of bubbling beneath the surface right now, escalating the need for defensive reinforcements before Tuesday night.

For just £18m, the Italian head coach would be reuniting with his title-winning colossus after he played 32 of 38 matches to help Inter end a decade-long wait for success in the Serie A.

Skriniar remains an absolute “monster” – in the words of journalist Siavoush Fallahi – as he is capable of being a major threat in both boxes. He’s managing more tackles per 90 (1.64) than that aforementioned campaign and has managed a 91.2% passing accuracy in each of his last five seasons, via FBref.

Another key asset of the Slovak is his powerful and dominating presence, having been described as a “leader” by his former youth coach Tibor Goljan. It could be argued that this sort of player is lacking in Conte’s current armoury.

Given the need for stronger voices and better performances – combined with the success the two have enjoyed together before – Skriniar is surely something of a dream signing for the Spurs boss.

AND in other news, Paratici could finally replace Eriksen at Spurs with swoop for £35m “creative force”…

YouTube presenter and Leeds United supporter Joe Wainman has been reacting to the club’s links to AS Roma attacker Nicolo Zaniolo.

The Lowdown: Bid in

The Whites have been busy so far this month and announced Weston McKennie, their third first-team signing of the January transfer window, on Monday.

There could still be more to come, though, with speculation emerging on Zaniolo, who is primarily an attacking midfielder but can play as a second striker or as a right winger. Journalist Daniele Longo has claimed that Leeds have now made a loan offer with an obligation to buy which includes ‘very easy-to-achieve terms’.

The Latest: Wainman reacts

Wainman, host of the JustJoe Football Show, took to Twitter on Monday evening to react to the rumours regarding Zaniolo.

He simply said ‘surely not’ when it was suggested that Leeds have a 10% chance of securing the Italy international’s services.

The Verdict: Harrison replacement?

It looks as if Jack Harrison could be on the way out of Elland Road on deadline day, with Leeds ready to listen to offers for the winger.

Therefore, Zaniolo could be viewed as a possible replacement, although it appears to be a risky move when you look at his injury history. The 23-year-old has already missed a whopping 91 games through injury for Roma, so there is no guarantee that he would remain fully fit in Yorkshire.

The Italian has also contributed to just one Serie A goal in 13 appearances during the current campaign, so it could be best for Leeds to stick with Harrison or look elsewhere for a potential replacement.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford won’t be leaving the club during the summer transfer window, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Rashford United’s star man

The 25-year-old wasn’t at his best last season, only scoring four times in the Premier League, but he has more than made up for his in 2022/23 to date.

Rashford has been one of United’s standout players, if not their best, scoring ten goals in 19 league starts, as well as netting three times for England at the 2022 World Cup.

The attacker’s current Red Devils deal expires at the end of next season, however, leading to concerns over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

The Latest: Not going anywhere

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones eased those fears, saying Rashford will be going nowhere in the summer:

“Rashford, there’s just absolutely no way United are going to let Rashford leave at this moment in time.

“To be honest, I don’t think he’ll want to leave, the way things are going at the moment, the way he’s got himself back into form under Ten Hag, I think he appreciates where he’s at and the club are actually giving him licence to thrill, or if you like, he’s getting to play the role that he wants.

“He’s being given new responsibilities, he’s loving it and I just don’t think that this is the time to be looking at a transfer.”

The Verdict: New deal essential

The idea of Rashford leaving United in the near future doesn’t bear thinking about, considering the electric run of form he has found, being hailed as ‘world-class’ by Luke Shaw.

Now 25, he is at a perfect point in his career, with his prime still hopefully ahead of him but also with enough experience to now be a polished, top-quality all-round footballer.

It would be a huge shock, and blow, if the £200,000-a-week Rashford didn’t end up signing a new deal at United, but his lifelong affiliation with the club and rise under Erik ten Hag suggests that that is highly unlikely.

He can go on to become a genuine legend at Old Trafford, adding to his 112 goals and 65 assists, and helping inspire the Red Devils to a new period of post-Sir Alex Ferguson success.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘expert’ John Wenham has fumed over the ‘criminal’ decision to loan Djed Spence out to Rennes, rather than to a Premier League club.

The Lowdown: Spence loaned out

Spence completed a loan move to Rennes on deadline day, after failing to break into Antonio Conte’s side so far this season, appearing for a total of just three minutes in the Premier League.

There were several teams in the English top flight said to be interested in the right-back, including the likes of Brentford and Southampton, and Wenham has now queried why one of these moves was not orchestrated.

The Latest: Wenham reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham criticised the Spurs chiefs for their decision to send the 22-year-old to France, saying: “I appreciate that the club are briefing that Spence turned down other clubs because he wants game time.

“But, for me, not good enough. It had to be a Premier League loan, It absolutely had to be a Premier League loan.

“Whatever you do in the French league is irrelevant. Spence should be out improving in the top flight of English football.”

The club expert later added: “I just think it’s criminal that we couldn’t find him a Premier League loan.”

The Verdict: Right call?

Given Spence’s lack of game time for Tottenham, it was undoubtedly the right decision to loan him out, especially considering the arrival of Pedro Porro could mean that the former Middlesbrough man’s minutes are even more limited.

Wenham is right to have some concern about the move mind, considering the defender will not adapt to the Premier League by playing abroad, but if he was only being offered a more limited role by the interested parties in England, it is better for him to get more minutes under his belt.

It is an important move for the Englishman, as proving himself in the second half of the season will give him the best chance of returning to Spurs and challenging for a starting spot, and he has started very well.

On his debut, Spence put in a solid performance, making three tackles and winning six ground duels, the joint-highest amount of any Rennes player, giving off early indications he could return to Tottenham an improved player.

Chelsea ‘came close’ to bringing Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez to the Premier League last summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: £43m offer tabled

Graham Potter was reportedly targeting new central reinforcements as potential replacements for N’Golo Kante, who is out of contract at the end of the season, alongside Jorginho before he completed his move to Arsenal in January.

The Mexican was the subject of a £43m offer from the Blues in 2022 but a deal failed to materialise as a result of his side not having a successor lined up, which resulted in the SW6 outfit signing Enzo Fernandez for a staggering £106.8m.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

According to Jacobs (via CaughtOffside), Chelsea promised Alvarez that they would make a second attempt to sign him in the next available window, which was last month, but that didn’t happen.

“Edson Alvarez is another name who could be on the move this summer.

“Chelsea came close to signing the Ajax midfielder last summer, but the club refused a move despite Alvarez pushing for it. Todd Boehly did tell Alvarez at the time he’d be back, but never returned.

“This is understandable given a new recruitment team came in and the club became obsessed with Enzo Fernandez. Plus, Denis Zakaria impressed before his injury and will return to full fitness soon.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

Alvarez has been dubbed a ‘monster’ by journalist Felipe Cardenas, but Chelsea’s decision not to submit another bid was completely the right one.

Fernandez’s transfer required the devotion of so much money and attention, and considering the fact that the Argentine can play in defensive, central and attacking midfield, the 25-year-old Alvarez probably wouldn’t have got a look in anyway.

Fernandez arrives at Stamford Bridge as a World Cup winner and as a player who was recognised for his own individual performances, making him a name that the boss would have to include on his team sheet week in, week out.

Alvarez meanwhile ranks highly on a number of key defensive metrics, but coming from an inferior league would likely have needed more time to settle into English football.

Southampton ‘have had interest’ from former Premier League manager Frank Lampard in the vacant role on the south coast, according to recent reports.

The Lowdown: Marsch talks break down…

It was widely believed just two days ago that former Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch was set to take charge at St Mary’s after positive talks.

However, after a managerial twist, negotiations with the American broke down, with reliable sources suggesting that the main reason was down to contract length.

After sacking the under-fire Nathan Jones last weekend, Southampton are now back to square one in their search for his successor, and Sport Republic’s next move could be crucial.

The Latest: Southampton attracting Lampard’s interest?

According to The Guardian, in terms of alternatives to Marsch, there could be a handful of contenders for the vacancy at St Mary’s, with some big names displaying an interest in the role.

One of those is former Chelsea and Everton boss Lampard, with the report stating that apparently the Southampton board ‘have had interest’ from the 44-year-old among other candidates.

The Verdict: Good option?

The Premier League playing legend’s last two high-profile jobs at Stamford Bridge and Goodison Park ended in his prompt dismissal, but Lampard did guide Derby County to the Championship play-off final in 2019, and he has managerial experience in both of the top two divisions in England.

He has also survived relegation battles before, having steered Everton away from the drop zone towards the end of last season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also once heralded the ‘exceptional job’ that he feels Lampard performed at Chelsea back in 2020 before his eventual sacking, so the 44-year-old does come with some credentials.

However, given that the majority of his roles have ended in disappointment, Southampton must be wary of hiring the former Everton boss and perhaps ascertain why – if they do indeed regard Lampard as a viable candidate.

Tottenham Hotspur are now confident about Harry Kane signing a new contract, regardless of whether Antonio Conte leaves, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Kane’s future in doubt?

Kane has expressed his desire to leave Tottenham before, and he may get his opportunity to do so this summer, should he choose not to extend his contract beyond the summer of 2024.

A recent report indicated that the Englishman is ‘extremely full of doubts’ about his future and that followed an opposite claim that a new deal was entirely possible, so this is a saga that seems to be chopping and changing with the wind.

However, there is now growing confidence from within the club that he will pen a new deal.

The Latest: Boost for Spurs

According to a report from Football Insider, Spurs are now confident that the 29-year-old is willing to sign a new contract, and it’s been revealed his future is not tied to Conte’s.

It was previously thought that the Italian signing a new deal would be key in the striker doing the same, so this news comes as a real boost for Tottenham.

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The Verdict: Kane must stay

It is no secret just how important the England captain has been for the Lilywhites for many years now, recently being hailed by Gary Lineker for the ‘incredible achievement’ of becoming the club’s all-time top scorer.

The forward is enjoying yet another prolific season in front of goal, recording 17 goals in the Premier League, the second-highest total in the top flight, keeping Spurs in contention for a top-four finish.

Achieving Champions League football could be vital in keeping Kane, given that he has expressed his desire to compete for team trophies, rather than individual awards, and the focus should now be on finishing the season as strong as possible, in order to tempt him into extending his stay.

Man City are now ‘main favourites’ to sign Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Guardiola linked…

Pep Guardiola and his Premier League champions are still very much on for a treble after beating Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate last night.

Goals from Phil Foden (2) and a sumptuous long-ranger from Kevin De Bruyne confirmed City’s place in the quarter-final draw as the Blues also fight for a league title and in Europe.

Despite their business on the pitch, Guardiola’s side also have one eye past the current campaign and on potential summer transfer targets.

One name linked with a move to Eastlands is Mac Allister with a new report sharing an update.

The Latest: Man City ‘favourites’ to sign Mac Allister…

According to Spanish sources, City are now the ‘main favourites’ to sign Argentina’s World Cup star, who has enjoyed a phenomenal 2022/2023 overall.

It’s claimed that they are set to battle the likes of Liverpool and Atletico Madrid for his signature later this year and wish to ‘incorporate’ Mac Allister into Guardiola’s ranks.

The Verdict: Great player…

The 24-year-old has been one of Brighton’s star players this season alongside his exploits in Qatar.

Mac Allister currently sits among their top two for best performances by average match rating, all the while attempting their third-highest rate of tackles per 90 and completed dribbles (WhoScored).

The attacking midfielder has been praised by manager Roberto De Zerbi as a ‘stunning’ player with City legend and all time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero calling Mac Allister ‘very intelligent’.

It appears City have set their sights on a particularly promising target and this rumour they’re currently favourites comes as a promising one.

Some members of the media praised the performance of Bruno Guimaraes in spite of Newcastle United losing the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Heartbreak for Newcastle

It was heartbreak for Eddie Howe’s men as they went down 2-0 to Erik ten Hag’s side thanks to a Casemiro header and an own goal from Sven Botman in the first half.

The Magpies did not perform too badly, having much more possession than their opponents and recording 15 shots on goal (Sofascore), but ultimately it was not enough as the Red Devils emerged victorious.

The Latest: Bruno was ‘brilliant’ for Newcastle

Despite Newcastle’s defeat, some members of the media were full of praise for Guimaraes’ performance in particular, with The Independent journalist Miguel Delaney hailing him as a ‘brilliant’ midfielder, tweeting: “Bruno Guimaraes is even better live, must be said. A brilliant midfielder.”

Pundit Jamie Carragher said on co-commentary for Sky Sports (17:53) that the Brazilian was ‘really good’ and labelled him as ‘so important’ to Howe’s team.

The former Liverpool defender gushed: “Guimaraes has been really good today. You can see why he is so important to this Newcastle team.”

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The Verdict: Newcastle’s shining light

Guimaraes was the one shining light in what was an otherwise uninspiring performance from Newcastle at Wembley.

The 25-year-old won a player-high nine of his duels and also recorded three successful dribbles, three tackles and a 92% pass accuracy (Sofascore).

Put simply, Newcastle are a better team with him in it. The numbers prove as such – they have not won any of the six games that he has missed this season.

Nonetheless, the Toon must now put this defeat to one side and concentrate on the battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League, ultimately bringing with it a place in the Champions League for next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The Lowdown: North London connections

Martinez has been on the books at Villa Pak since 2020 but has previous connections to north London with Arsenal. The Argentine spent 10 years on the books with Spurs’ rivals, making just 38 senior appearances.

He’s gone from strength to strength in the Midlands and recently helped Argentina win the World Cup, with a return to London potentially on the cards.

The Latest: Spurs interest

90min shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Spurs and Martinez. They claimed that Tottenham are likely to bring in a new ‘keeper in the summer and have Martinez on their shortlist.

A move for Martinez is being considered, with the player possibly tempted on a move to Spurs.

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The Verdict: One to watch…

Hugo Lloris has been out through injury in recent weeks and turned 36 on Boxing Day. His contract doesn’t expire until 2024, but thinking about his long-term replacement is a shrewd move.

Martinez has gained plenty of Premier League experience as a number one with Villa and was hailed for the vital role he played in winning the World Cup, described as ‘world class’ by members of the media.

Therefore, he may prove to be a smart addition in the summer, especially as there appears to have been friction with current manager Unai Emery, so it looks as if this could be one to watch over the coming months.