Tottenham are plotting a double summer transfer swoop for West Ham forwards Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, provided the North London club avoids Premier League relegation.

Manager Igor Tudor is actively preparing contingency plans for the upcoming window as his side battles to remain in the top flight.

The Lilywhites currently sit just a single point above the drop zone with nine crucial matches remaining in their campaign.

However, top-flight survival could open the door for a lucrative raid on their struggling London rivals.

Hammers face battle to retain key attackers

West Ham are also embroiled in a bitter survival fight under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

There are growing fears at the London Stadium that their prized attacking assets will seek an immediate exit if the club drops into the Championship.

The highly sought-after pairing have delivered impressive individual performances despite the collective struggles of their current employers.

Several other top-flight clubs are reportedly monitoring the situation, meaning Tudor’s recruitment team will face stiff competition for the coveted signatures.

Continental ambitions could hinder North London switch

Convincing the dynamic wingers to make the cross-capital switch may prove difficult even if Premier League status is secured.

Both the England international and the Dutch speedster are believed to be targeting European football for the next step in their respective careers.

Current standings suggest achieving continental qualification is highly improbable for the underperforming Tottenham outfit.

Should the prospective deals materialise, the wide men would inject vital pace and direct goal threat into a misfiring attacking line.

Tactical fit for the prospective arrivals

The two forwards would offer distinct tactical advantages and essential width for the North Londoners.

Atletico Madrid have informed Premier League suitors Arsenal and Chelsea that signing Argentine forward Julian Alvarez will require a fee in the region of £129m.

The Gunners have held a long-standing interest in the 24-year-old as manager Mikel Arteta looks to continually bolster his attacking options.

However, the North London club now face fierce competition from their city rivals for the former Manchester City striker’s signature.

Alvarez only moved to the Spanish capital in August 2024 for an initial fee of £82m, signing a long-term contract at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Spanish giants set firm valuation

Reports in Spain suggest Diego Simeone’s side are reluctant to sell but would entertain offers far exceeding their original financial outlay.

A strict £129m asking price has been set to deter mid-season approaches and ward off serious interest from domestic rivals Barcelona.

Atletico are understood to be completely opposed to doing business with their La Liga counterparts.

When questioned about his future recently, the World Cup winner offered no concrete guarantees about a prolonged stay in Madrid.

“I don’t know, but maybe yes, maybe no. You never know,” Alvarez told reporters.
“I’m thinking about the day-to-day, I’m working to improve, to give my best here. I’m very happy.”

Simeone and agent dismiss exit talk

Atletico currently sit third in the Spanish top flight, trailing runaway league leaders Barcelona by 13 points.

Manager Diego Simeone recently praised his forward’s attitude while refusing to be drawn into ongoing transfer speculation.

“He’s giving us a lot. I tell our people that we’re doing well,” Simeone stated.

Meanwhile, the player’s representative, Fernando Hidalgo, has firmly denied holding any backdoor discussions with Barcelona sporting director Deco.

“Any club interested in Julian should contact Atletico Madrid’s management, as the player is under contract and committed to the club,” Hidalgo confirmed.

The South American attacker will return to domestic action this weekend when his side hosts Getafe.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face growing scrutiny over whether they will become the ugliest Premier League champions in history due to their heavy reliance on set-piece goals.

The North London club currently sit seven points clear at the top of the table.

They are actively challenging on four fronts, reaching the League Cup final and advancing into the latter stages of both the FA Cup and Champions League.

However, their pragmatic style of play has drawn sharp criticism from several former professionals.

Pundits question aesthetic appeal

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton recently questioned if the current league leaders would be the most unattractive title-winning team ever.

Sutton’s comments followed a pivotal victory where the title hopefuls secured three points via two corner routines against the Blues.

Eleven-time champion Paul Scholes echoed this sentiment, suggesting the Emirates outfit might be the most boring side to lift the trophy.

How the league leaders compare historically

Opta statistics reveal that the Londoners have scored 59 goals in 30 league matches, averaging 1.97 per game.

While this puts them on track to be the lowest-scoring championship campaign since Leicester City a decade ago, it still outpaces the famous ‘Invincibles’ squad.

The core of the criticism stems from exactly how these vital goals are being manufactured.

A staggering 41% of their goals have originated from dead-ball situations, a higher proportion than any previous Premier League winner.

Historical context and strategic defence

The current record holders for set-piece reliance are the Blackburn Rovers side of 1994-95 and Manchester United in 2007-08.

Ironically, Sutton and Scholes were key players in those respective squads, which both scored 35% of their goals from dead balls.

Meanwhile, Arteta’s men have only managed 1.17 goals per game from open play this term.

You have to look back to the inaugural 1992-93 season to find a title-winning side that scored as infrequently from open play.

Despite the detraction, former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has robustly defended the title favourites.

“I’ve heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and how they’re playing. I think Arsenal have been brilliant,” Rooney said.
“I actually enjoy watching them play. Set-pieces are part of football – why would you not use it?”

Barcelona are considering a move for Chelsea winger Pedro Neto as an alternative to signing Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal this summer.

The Catalan club hold a €30m option to purchase the England forward following his successful season-long loan spell in Spain.

He has contributed 10 goals and 13 assists across all competitions for the current La Liga leaders.

Despite this impressive form, the Spanish giants are keeping their options open ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Chelsea winger emerges as alternative target

Reports in Spain indicate that Neto has been placed on a shortlist as the Camp Nou hierarchy look to bolster their attacking ranks.

The Portuguese international moved to Stamford Bridge from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024 for a fee of £54m.

He remains contracted to the West London outfit until the summer of 2031, having scored 19 goals in 93 appearances.

Controversy surrounds potential signing

Any pursuit of the 24-year-old comes during a turbulent period for the former Wolves attacker.

He is currently serving a one-match Football Association ban following a red card against Arsenal and faces further disciplinary action after shoving a ball boy during a midweek defeat to Paris St-Germain.

Blues manager Liam Rosenior addressed the incident, confirming the player had shown immediate remorse.

“I’ve watched it back and it doesn’t look good. I understand Pedro’s perspective and his want to win, but there are ways you go about it.”
“I was so impressed that he wanted to apologise straight away. We all make mistakes, it’s about learning from them and making sure they don’t happen again.”

Title charge continues for loanee

While his long-term future remains uncertain, the Manchester United academy graduate could still secure the first league title of his career this season.

Hansi Flick’s side currently sit four points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish top flight.

Speaking ahead of their weekend fixture against Sevilla, the German head coach confirmed his loanee is available for selection.

“Marcus was away for a few days and has come back strong. I haven’t decided yet, but he’s a good option to start.”

Meanwhile, Rosenior’s men sit fifth in the Premier League table, trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by three points in the race for Champions League qualification.

Under-fire Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach Igor Tudor has urged his squad to abandon their “victim” mentality as he attempts to salvage confidence ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Liverpool.

Pressure is mounting on the Croatian tactician after Spurs suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

That European humiliation was defined by a catastrophic opening spell in which reserve goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made two disastrous errors before being substituted after just 17 minutes.

The midweek loss condemned the North London club to four consecutive defeats at the start of Tudor’s tenure, marking an unwanted first in their history.

Fighting the ‘black magic’ narrative

Overall, the Premier League side have now endured a historic six consecutive losses across all competitions this calendar year.

Facing a monumental challenge to arrest this dramatic slide, the former Juventus defender insists his players must make a conscious choice to fight rather than wallow in self-pity.

He revealed that he has challenged the dressing room to ignore external noise and take personal responsibility for turning their turbulent season around.

You can be the victim or you can say I can change something. This is the message I want to start and what I told to the players.

Psychological rebuild on Merseyside

Spurs face a formidable test this weekend when they travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side currently battling at the upper end of the table.

Tudor admitted that much of his daily work at the training ground now revolves around psychology and rebuilding the shattered courage of his squad.

The interim boss heavily criticised the persistent negative narrative surrounding the club, aggressively dismissing talk of deep-rooted institutional decay or curses.

All the other things are b******* and sorry to use this word, but it’s on us. Don’t think it’s not about me. You know that can be the problem more than all these things about Tottenham and the club, like magic on the club, like bad black magic.

While acknowledging the sheer scale of his task, the 46-year-old remains hopeful that small, incremental changes in attitude can spark a rapid revival.

He stated firmly that difficult moments do not last forever, urging his squad to view the current crisis as a crucial opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Arsenal have commenced negotiations with Declan Rice over a lucrative new long-term contract to secure the midfielder’s prime years in north London.

The England international currently has two years remaining on his existing deal, which includes an option to extend for a further 12 months.

However, the Premier League leaders are eager to reward the 27-year-old with a significant pay increase to solidify his position among the club’s highest earners.

Rice reportedly takes home £240,000 per week under his current terms.

Securing a midfield cornerstone

Discussions are described as being at a preliminary stage with no set timeline established for their completion.

The process of ensuring the former West Ham captain remains a central figure for the foreseeable future is now actively under way.

Since arriving in a club-record £105m transfer in 2023, the combative holding player has forged a reputation as one of Europe’s elite.

He has amassed 102 league appearances for the Gunners while establishing himself as an indispensable asset for his country with 72 senior caps.

Building a title-winning core

The Emirates hierarchy have deliberately moved to lock down the futures of their most crucial personnel over the past 12 months.

Attacking talisman Bukayo Saka recently committed to a fresh four-and-a-half-year agreement worth a minimum of £300,000 per week.

Defensive duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, along with highly-rated academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, have also signed extensions.

Furthermore, the title challengers have initiated dialogue with Dutch defender Jurrien Timber regarding an improved deal.

Pushing for domestic glory

These contract developments arrive as Arsenal set the pace at the summit of the English top flight.

The north Londoners currently boast a seven-point advantage over reigning champions Manchester City, who retain a crucial game in hand.

They host Everton this Saturday, seeking to inch closer to a first championship triumph since Arsene Wenger’s legendary 2004 campaign.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will make late fitness decisions on Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard before Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Everton.

The Premier League leaders are hoping to have an almost fully-fit squad available as they look to extend their advantage at the top of the table.

However, the potential absence of their club captain remains a significant concern for the north London side.

Odegaard faces prolonged absence

The Norwegian playmaker has been sidelined with a persistent knee problem since providing an assist during last month’s resounding derby victory over Tottenham.

Fears over a longer spell in the treatment room were recently amplified by Norway head coach Stale Solbakken.

The international manager suggested the midfielder might not return to competitive action until the end of March.

Trossard recovering from cup knock

Meanwhile, the Belgian forward is also a doubt after sustaining a knock during a recent FA Cup fifth-round victory at Mansfield.

That minor injury kept him out of the squad for Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first-leg draw against Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite missing the European tie, the versatile attacker had returned to the training pitch on the eve of that fixture.

Arteta awaits medical clearance

Speaking ahead of the weekend clash at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners boss offered a cautious update on his injured duo.

“Let’s see. We will have to wait and see, speak to the doctors on whether they are involved or not.”

Chelsea will host Newcastle United in a vital Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Friday, with Anthony Gordon shaking off an illness to feature.

The England winger has fully recovered in time for the highly anticipated fixture in west London.

His timely return provides a significant boost for the visiting side as they look to secure crucial points on the road.

Gittens bolsters attacking options

In addition to Gordon’s recovery, Jamie Gittens is also set to make his long-awaited return to the matchday squad.

The dynamic forward’s availability adds further firepower ahead of the Friday afternoon encounter.

Stamford Bridge will set the stage as both clubs aim to solidify their league standings moving into the business end of the season.

Crucial points at stake

The hosts know that a victory on home soil is essential to maintain momentum in their domestic campaign.

However, the Magpies have proven to be stern opposition and will arrive in the capital eager to disrupt the local rhythm.

Supporters can expect a tense and tactical affair as two of the division’s most ambitious sides go head-to-head.