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Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham has lifted the lid on a collapsed stadium deal which saw chairman Daniel Levy squander ‘millions’.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing financial boosters…

Following the easing of coronavirus restrictions and life slowly getting back to normality, Tottenham have seen numerous prestigious events being hosted at their brand new state of the art ground.

The NFL, for example, as well as the recent heavyweight boxing bout between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, will have grossed the club millions of pounds worth of off-field revenue.

However, in a revelation, insider Wenham has claimed that Spurs could have been earning more over lockdown as he lifts the lid on collapsed stadium sponsorship discussions just before COVID.

The Latest: Wenham makes stadium deal claim…

As per the club insider and Spurs source, speaking to FI, the Lilywhites and Levy were actually in talks with HSBC over the stadium’s naming rights but a deal ‘fell through’.

“I know Tottenham were previously in discussions with HSBC, that fell through for whatever reason,” he explained.

“That was right before the pandemic. In hindsight, would Tottenham have taken that deal? Who wouldn’t?

“We could have been earning millions for two years even while the stadium was shut.”

The Verdict: Big blow…

Given Tottenham and Levy announced a £63.9 million loss during the pandemic last year, it’s safe to say a naming rights deal would have assisted the club in a major way financially.

Spurs ended up having to borrow £175 million through the bank of England in what was a turbulent time off-field for the club.

After the HSBC blunder, Tottenham will be hoping to secure the right naming rights deal as soon as possible.

In other news: Spurs already have offered pencilled in to sign ‘world class’ player who Hoddle called outstanding, find out more here.

Everton have made one of the first signings of the January transfer window, and this development could be the culmination of the rumoured Lucas Digne and Rafael Benitez feud, as it is looking increasingly likely that the left back will now leave the club.

What’s the word?

The Toffees completed the signing of Vitaliy Mykolenko this morning, with the Ukrainian penning a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The youngster spoke out after securing his move to the Premier League from Dynamo Kyiv, saying: “Moving to Everton is a big and important step in my life. I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League. English football is where the game was born and I think that it will suit my game very well.”

The signing of the 22-year-old seemingly confirms that the speculated differences between Digne and his current manager are irreparable, with the pair reportedly falling out over a conflict in opinion on tactics during a training session.

The £110k-p/w gem, dubbed a “monster” by former France full-back Eric De Meco, has not been seen in the starting line-up since the Merseyside derby a month ago, and he has not even been in the squad for the subsequent games, although has been seen in training over the last few days.

Digne has been heavily linked with a move away from the club, with a loan switch to Chelsea to cover the injured Ben Chilwell among the rumours which had been building in momentum for the out-of-favour Frenchman.

Great signing, but at what cost?

Benitez is already struggling to win over the fans after a poor first half of the season, and this situation with Digne, who has become a fan favourite at the club, will surely only add fuel to the fire regarding the scrutiny the Spaniard has faced in his time managing the Toffees.

The 28-year-old has made 127 appearances for Everton, with six goals and an impressive 20 assists from his left back position over the last three years.

According to SofaScore, when you reflect on his defensive attributes from last season, he helped in keeping nine clean sheets out of 30 matches played, with an average of 2.4 clearances per game and no errors leading to shots or goals for the entire campaign.

Benitez could be heading for a colossal mistake by axing the defender, losing out on his experience in a vulnerable phase for the Merseyside club right now, and the Spaniard will need to justify the signing of Mykolenko rapidly if he intends to win over the fans and prove that his decision is the right one.

In other news: Benitez could sign this Premier League ace in January

Leeds United could be facing a nightmare over another one of their homegrown stars, as transfer reports emerge over interest in Archie Gray.

What’s the story?

The 16-year-old is of course the great nephew of Leeds icon Eddie Gray, and the son of Andy Gray who has also featured for the Whites, and made the headlines earlier this season when he made the bench for the first-team’s clash against Arsenal back in December.

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Now, The Daily Record claim that “Gray is a name that is already attracting interest south of the border with the teenage sensation’s exploits at Elland Road earning him a reputation as hot property.”

The future of Leeds United

The teenager’s performances have already caught the eye of Marsch himself, who after watching him in a 3-0 win over Manchester United for the U23s, said: “I thought it was a really good performance. I know there’s massive anticipation for Archie to be a big, talented player. I think that he’s intelligent – he can read the game really well, he can run all day, he’s good on the ball.

“He’s got a lot of really good qualities to be a strong player in the middle of the field. Archie has an incredible bloodline, he’s a big talent here, a homegrown talent.

“From getting to know him as a personality I think he’s excited to be on the pitch every day. He loves football, he loves training. He has a lot of really strong qualities as a person that will help him develop rather quickly.”

At just 16, Gray is unlikely to make much of an impact on this Leeds team in the next year or so, but is certainly making the kind of impression behind-the-scenes that suggests he will have a big part to play in the future.

Leeds fans are already watching with bated breath about Kalvin Phillips’ long-term future heading into the summer, with reports that arch-rivals Manchester United are interested in signing him.

Both Phillips and Gray and represent the heart and soul of this Leeds team for both the here and now, and for what’s to come.

Losing either of them would be a bitter pill to swallow, and it’s exactly why Victor Orta and co must do everything in their power to stop the two leaving anytime soon.

AND in other news – Leeds could strike gold with £42m teenage sensation, he follows Raphinha on Instagram

Many Wolves fans have been left flocking to some transfer news that has emerged on Willy Boly.

As per The Daily Mail, the Midlands club are now willing to listen to offers for the central defender in the January transfer window, as he has reportedly falling down the pecking order under Bruno Lage.

He has been left on the bench on injuries, and with the likes of Conor Coady and Romain Saiss to call upon, it may be time for him to leave.

However, he has been a great servant at Molineux, being a mainstay in the Championship-winning campaign and then in the Premier League, and so some WWFC supporters are understandably reluctant to let him go.

Wolves fans on Boly transfer news

These Wanderers flocked to the transfer news as it was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it would be ‘extremely sad’:

“Seen it all now”

Credit: @xReecexx

“NOOOOOOOOO”

Credit: @BekiWolves1877

“Don’t”

Credit: @Millennewell

“Made a massive difference for us when he arrived, I’d be sad to see him go”

Credit: @Wolfy1223754986

“Pain”

Credit: @wwfc_adam

“Would be an extremely sad way for an important player for Wolves over the last few years to leave.”

Credit: @David_gill14

In other news, find out what potential swap deal has Wanderers buzzing here!

Manchester United have seemingly leapfrogged Aston Villa in the race to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.

That’s according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, and, as to be expected, a number of United fans have been reacting to the update on social media.

Kamara appears to be a player in demand, with the holding midfielder’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old is on Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa wishlist, with United, Villa and Leeds all talking to the player’s agent ahead of a possible £10m transfer.

And now, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, United have overtaken all competitors when it comes to Kamara and are leading the race to secure his services.

United fans react

@utdreport relayed the update regarding Kamara on Twitter via GIFN (Get Italian Football News). This is what these United supporters had to say in reply, with many hoping to see a move materialise in the final days of the January window.

“We’re alive”

Credit: @BigTeezo

“Never heard of GIFN but let’s go”

Credit: @utd_victor_

“PLEASEEEE”

Credit: @hhhhmmmm_

“I hope this is true”

Credit: @I_am_lakes

“Definitely a better option defensively when compared to Zakaria.”

Credit: @TheUnitedLink

“SIGN HIM PLS IMMEDIATELY PLS”

Credit: @kurtbuckerfield

In other news: ‘Finished’ – Many MUFC fans react as Spurs make move for ‘amazing’ ace. 

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Manchester United cruised into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as they beat Chelsea 2-0 in the fifth round at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, but despite the impressive win one player is still visibly struggling to find his role in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.

The Norwegian may have only led the Red Devils in 13 matches in all competitions following Jose Mourinho’s departure in December, but in that time he has chosen to utilise a number of different formations including 4-3-3, 4-4-2 diamond and 4-3-1-2 systems.

The 45-year-old opted for the latter for the trip to west London on Monday, with Romelu Lukaku partnering Marcus Rashford in attack.

The majority of the Belgium international’s starts and time on the pitch in general have come in the FA Cup, with his spot in the XI from the beginning in the 3-0 win against Fulham in United’s previous Premier League fixture just his second since Solskjaer arrived at Old Trafford.

That clash at Craven Cottage and the one just a few miles away at Stamford Bridge were ideal opportunities for Lukaku to prove to the former Red Devils hitman that he can thrive alongside Rashford, but he hasn’t really done that.

A 90-minute blank in terms of goals and assists against Claudio Ranieri’s men was followed up by another below-par showing against Chelsea, where he once again struggled to make a real impact in the final third for his side before being replaced in the 73rd minute.

In total the 25-year-old had 28 touches and made 10 passes, but he only had one effort at goal – and it wasn’t on target.

Perhaps even more worrying was his overall centre-forward play – something that he has often been questioned on in the past – as he failed to win a single aerial duel despite his strength, while he was dispossessed on three occasions and suffered from bad control five times.

It wasn’t a great showing from the Belgian, and if he wants to prove that he has in a place in a Solskjaer team for the remainder of the campaign and prove that he can be a key Man United player beyond the end of the season, then he needs to step up and excel in a role soon.

Leeds United may still have the chance to sign Sampdoria centre-back Omary Colley, but only if a ‘great offer’ is made for the Gambian.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Colley move

Leeds ended up not bringing in a new central defender in the summer transfer window, but one player they did target was Colley.

The 29-year-old has been an impressive performer for Sampdoria in recent years, making 94 appearances for the Serie A club, not to mention winning 25 caps for Gambia.

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The Latest: New update emerges

Leeds’ interest in Colley eventually fizzled out to nothing, but it appears as though he could still leave his current club, should the right offer come along.

That’s according to his agent, who told TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness] that an exit as a distinct possibility if everything clicks into place, in terms of salary:

“The reasoning is always the same: he can leave Sampdoria only if a great offer arrives; let’s say the offer of a lifetime. He is fine at Sampdoria and Genoa.

“He will never leave this team for clubs and salaries of the same level or slightly higher. In fact, we have always rejected similar offers in recent years.”

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The Verdict: Is he needed?

While Colley has proven himself to be a strong defender in a top league, there isn’t a great need for him at Elland Road, considering the options at Marcelo Bielsa’s disposal.

He already has Diego Llorente, Liam Cooper, Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk to choose from, and while some of those have had injury problems, it still represents plenty of depth.

Not only that, but Colley is also 29 now and wouldn’t likely be a long-term signing – something that is needed, in order to build towards the future.

In other news, one player has again been tipped to leave Leeds. Find out who it is here.

The board at West Ham United are waiting on David Moyes to clarify his January transfer targets as talks continue with agents, according to reports by Claret and Hugh.

The Lowdown: An additional centre-back is needed

West Ham will be looking to bring in a centre-back in the January transfer window following the injuries sustained by defensive duo Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna.

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The Hammers have been missing Zouma in the backline, as the Frenchman was integral in making crucial clearances for the team, leading the squad in this respect with 5.2 per game. However, it is expected that the 27-year-old will make a return from his hamstring injury in the middle of January, alleviating the pressure on current partnership Issa Diop and Craig Dawson.

An addition was made essential following the season-ending injury sustained by Ogbonna, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. This comes as a blow to the Italian, whose contract is set to expire in the summer – just when he is expected back from injury.

This illustrates just how vital it is that Moyes brings in additional cover at the back, as a few injuries have severely altered the team’s defensive dynamics.

The Latest: Hammers board wait on Moyes amidst talks

According to reports by West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh, the Hammers’ new board is waiting to hold its first meeting in light of the resurgence of the pandemic. This meeting is expected to cover transfer targets for the January window, but it is reported that Moyes is yet to make his final decision regarding who he wants the club to prioritise when pursuing a new centre-back.

West Ham have shortlisted Liverpool’s Nathaniel Phillips and Burnley’s James Tarkowski as potential options ahead of the transfer window. It is understood that talks are ongoing with the players’ agents, but the board meeting will need to be held first before a decision can be made on finer details such as payment.

The Verdict: Big decision for Moyes

Moyes will have a tough time considering which out of the two aforementioned options he wishes to prioritise in the club’s pursuit of a new centre-back. Stronger links have been made with the Liverpool defender, who could well be a perfect addition to the side.

Phillips has received huge praise whenever he has been thrown into action for the Reds. The £15m-valued colossus has made more clearances per game (three) than any of his team-mates in the Carabao Cup this term, while Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has described some of his performances as ‘unbelievable’.

If the Hammers decide to pursue Phillips, the board will need to meet quickly as a variety of clubs could be interested in the player in January based on those figures and endorsements.

In other news: West Ham insider lifts lid on exciting behind-the-scenes Rush Green development

Manchester United are thought to be closing in on the appointment of Erik ten Hag as their new manager.

The hierarchy at Old Trafford had hired Ralf Rangnick but his interim tenure will come to a conclusion at the end of the season.

What’s the word?

The vacancy at Man United appeared to be a straight shootout between ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino with the former now winning the race according to reports.

An announcement could be made within the next week according to various sources, and now Fabrizio Romano has dropped an exciting update on the Dutchman’s plans for the Premier League side if and when he takes over.

Revealing on Twitter on Friday morning, the journalist said: “Erik ten Hag has asked Man United to be 100% involved on present and future transfers strategy: new signings, outgoings, new contracts. MUFC Ten Hag considers this as “key point” to rebuild Man United – new signings have to be totally perfect for his idea and club project.”

Great news

Considering the rather bizarre transfer strategy United have had in recent years, this can only be considered a good thing for the club.

The Red Devils had an eye-catching window last summer, bringing in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane but sadly, the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t exactly suit the way they play.

It slowed down build-up play and under Rangnick, a man famed for the gegenpress, the great Portuguese’s ageing body has not been able to complement the attacking force to the best of his abilities.

As a result, if ten Hag does walk through the door and is able to bring in players to specifically suit his system, it will make the entire rebuilding process a much smoother one.

It’s felt like the power has been laid with the higher-ups at United for some time now but if the Ajax boss is given the right assurances, it will stand the club in good stead moving forward.

Three potential signings could be Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Kalvin Phillips, with reports in recent days linking them all with a move to Manchester.

Kane would be a sublime acquisition considering his goal record while Rice and Phillips proved to be invaluable for England at last summer’s European Championships, establishing a partnership together that took them to the final.

With Paul Pogba’s contract winding down, finding a player like the West Ham stalwart or the Leeds star will be of utmost importance.

It remains to be seen who ten Hag wants to bring with him but you can bet any new face that does pen terms will have been meticulously considered, something which cannot be said of some deals done at Man United in recent memory.

AND in other news, Man Utd now plot bid to sign £60m “special talent”, he’s miles better than Rashford…

Selling Matty Cash to Atletico Madrid could allow Aston Villa to sign Philippe Coutinho permanently, transfer insider Dean Jones says. 

The lowdown

Fabrizio Romano revealed in February that Atletico are ‘seriously interested’ in signing Villa right-back Cash, who’s scored three goals and provided four assists this season.

‘Direct contacts’ took place between the two clubs during the January transfer window, he said, and Cash remains on the reigning Spanish champions’ list.

Coutinho, meanwhile, is currently on loan at Villa Park from Atletico’s La Liga rivals Barcelona.

Villa will have the option to buy the Brazilian in the summer, but it will cost them £33million.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones said it would be a ‘shame’ for Villa to see Cash go but thinks it could prove to be a ‘win-win’ for all parties if Villa put the funds to good use.

“It’d be a shame to lose Matty Cash, but you can understand why he might also be interested in that move,” he said.

“And if it allowed Villa to bring in Coutinho on a permanent basis, then it’s a win-win for everyone.”

The verdict

It’s somewhat surprising to hear that Villa may need to sell to buy.

After all, they have one of the highest net spends in Europe over the last decade, eclipsing the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich – perhaps that’s finally beginning to catch up with them.

In addition to Coutinho, Villa are also said to be intent on signing Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United in a deal that could cost them a whopping £60million.

The sale of Cash, an ‘outstanding’ player in the words of former Villa boss Tim Sherwood, could cover around a third of that sum if his £19.8million Transfermarkt valuation proves to be accurate.

In other news, Gregg Evans celebrated this Villa development.