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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring David Raum to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Jonathan Shrager, with the journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that Fabio Paratici has now made contact with the Bundesliga side to express his interest in a move for the 24-year-old in the coming weeks.

The journalist went on to reveal that the likes of Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United have also been in contact with Hoffenheim concerning a €35m (£30m) deal for the Germany international, with the latter of the trio said to have already held initial discussions regarding the defender’s transfer.

In his tweet, Shrager said: “Spurs, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United are among the numerous clubs to express an interest in David Raum at various points. MUFC recently made an enquiry, but my impression is that it was only an initial conversation and certainly no offer has been made.”

The new David Alaba

Considering just how impressive Raum was for Hoffenheim last season, it is not difficult to understand why Paratici would be interested in a move to bring the left-back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

Indeed, over his 32 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £26m-rated full-back was in imperious form, scoring three goals, registering 13 assists and creating 19 big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 2.7 key passes, taking 0.8 shots and completing 1.0 dribble per game.

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The £6.4k-per-week defender also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping his side keep four clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.6 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 clearances and winning 4.5 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per fixture.

These returns saw the 24-year-old average a rather breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.29, not only ranking him as Andre Breitenreiter’s best performer in the league but also as the 12th-best player in the division as a whole.

Furthermore, according to FBref data, Raum also ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for assists per 90, in addition to the top 1% for xA, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for non-penalty goals, the top 14% for progressive passes and the top 16% for touches in the opposition penalty area over the last 365 days.

As such, it is easy to see why the left-footer – who can also play at centre-back, central midfield and on the left-wing – has been compared to the former Bayern Munich and current Real Madrid defender David Alaba, nor it is hard to understand why Hoffenheim sporting director, Alexander Rosen, took the time to praise the full-back’s remarkable rise earlier this season.

Speaking about Raum’s sensational campaign last time out, Rosen said: “David is a highly talented and extremely fast player with a strong left foot who has developed into one of the most sought-after full-backs in Germany thanks to his outstanding performance this season.”

As such, while competition for his signature will undoubtedly be extremely high, it would appear highly advisable for Paratici to do everything he can to get a deal over the line for the Hoffenheim star this summer, as Raum could very well go on to become Antonio Conte’s very own Alaba at Tottenham.

AND in other news: “Understand…”: Gold now reveals big Spurs transfer twist, supporters will be gutted

Newcastle United should not break their current wage structure to keep Allan Saint-Maximin at the club, according to Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Saint-Maximin’s head turned?

According to the Daily Mail, the 25-year-old’s head has been turned after the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea were alerted to his potential availability this summer.

The Frenchman is said to have learnt that he could be earning substantially more if he were to leave the Magpies, where he currently earns £93,000 per week (via Salary Sport).

With four years left on the player’s contract, Newcastle do not want to break the club’s wage structure to keep him on Tyneside.

The Latest: Robinson’s claim

Robinson, who works as a pundit for Sky Sports News, believes that the Magpies need to be careful with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations should they reward Saint-Maximin with a new deal.

Speaking with Football Insider, the former England goalkeeper claimed: “They have to be careful with Financial Fair Play. I think that is why they are wary of breaking the wage structure. The old saying, nobody is bigger than the club.

“Newcastle is a huge football club that now has a huge bank account. They still have to be ran very carefully though. You only have to look at Everton’s misspending and how they now have no wriggle room with Financial Fair Play.

“You should always reward your best players but you don’t give players ridiculous amounts of money to stay at the club.

“At the end of the day, Newcastle will shortly be right at the top of the Premier League. They will soon get most of the players that they want.

“Saint-Maximin is a top player but is he irreplaceable? No, he is not.”

The Verdict: Not enough end product

Whilst Saint-Maximin is known for his electric speed and dribbling ability, demonstrated by his ranking in the 99th percentile for dribbles completed over the past year among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef), he lacks that clinical nature in the final third.

During the 2021/22 season, the attacker scored just five goals, putting him in the 33th percentile for non-penalty goals when compared with other wingers across the continent’s major leagues (via FBRef).

Therefore, if the 25-year-old were to come to Newcastle chiefs with huge demands, it could be entirely possible that the club refuse a new contract for the Frenchman, opening up the possibility of a move away from St James’ Park.

Ryan Taylor has dropped an update on reported Leeds United transfer target Hamed Junior Traore.

What’s the talk?

In a recent article for the Express, Taylor revealed that, despite Victor Orta looking set to complete the signing of Luis Sinisterra in the very near future, the Whites could yet target another winger in the summer transfer window – with the Sassuolo forward said to be one of the Spaniard’s potential targets.

Indeed, previous reports had claimed that Orta has gone as far as to submit a request to sign the 22-year-old, with Giovanni Carnevali – the Serie A side’s CEO – believed to be willing to part with the Ivory Coast international for a figure in the region of €25m (£22m).

“Explosion”

Considering just how impressive Traore was in Italy last season, should Orta manage to get a deal for the forward over the line alongside Sinisterra this summer, it would undoubtedly represent an extraordinary coup for the Spaniard.

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Indeed, over his 31 Serie A appearances for I Neroverdi in 2021/22, the £26m-rated talent was in breathtaking form, scoring seven goals, registering four assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 2.0 dribbles per game.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the £15k-per-week forward also ranks in the top 18% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues and European competitions for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 24% for shots, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 13% for dribbles completed over the last 365 days.

As such, it is clear to see just how exciting an addition the player Fabrizio Corsi dubbed “extraordinary” and Alessandro Dal Canto labelled an “explosion” would be to Jesse Marsch’s attacking options at Elland Road next season – leading us to believe that, if there is enough room in the transfer budget, Orta must do everything he can to land the Sassuolo sensation this summer.

AND in other news: Phil Hay now drops “major” Leeds United transfer update, supporters will be gutted

Daily Star journalist Paul Brown has dropped a big claim on reported Aston Villa target Tomas Soucek.

The lowdown

Football Insider reported that there is tension between the Czech Republic midfielder and his manager David Moyes behind the scenes at West Ham after a falling-out.

Villa sporting director Johan Lange is considering midfield options, and journalist Ashley Preece has raised the possibility of a move for Soucek (Birmingham Mail, via FootballFanCast).

The £40.5m-rated midfielder has two years left to run on his £67k-per-week contract with the Irons, having joined permanently in July 2020.

The latest

Brown has said that Soucek may be on his way out of the London Stadium this summer after as-yet-unconfirmed claims of an argument with Moyes.

He told GiveMeSport regarding the West Ham midfielder’s situation: “There was talk a couple of weeks ago that he’d fallen out with the manager.

“That’s never been confirmed by anyone at West Ham, but it does seem like Soucek might leave this window.”

The verdict

Soucek could be a good addition for Villa, who will no doubt be looking to reach West Ham’s level in qualifying consistently for European competition.

The 6 foot 4 midfielder is a dominant presence, winning more aerial duels (134) than any other central midfielder in last season’s Premier League.

Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel has raved about the 27-year-old, calling him ‘incredible’ and saying that he can do ‘everything’ in the middle of the park.

Villa have already signed Boubacar Kamara for their midfield ahead of next season, so adding Soucek would furnish Gerrard with some quite enviable depth in that department.

Celtic were previously linked with Manchester City duo Ko Itakura and Taylor Harwood-Bellis earlier in the current summer transfer window.

However, the Hoops will now not be welcoming either defender to Parkhead this summer as Itakura joined Borussia Monchengladbach on a permanent deal and Harwood-Bellis linked up with former City defender turned manager, Vincent Kompany, at Burnley on a season-long loan.

Throughout the City defender’s three previous loan moves away at Blackburn Rovers, RSC Anderlecht and Stoke City, the centre-back made 57 league appearances in total.

In those appearances, the 20-year-old made 91 interceptions and won 32 tackles, highlighting his clear defensive talent.

Now that a move to Celtic has been ruled out for a year at least, the Hoops may yet have the chance to sign their own version of Harwood-Bellis before the current summer transfer window closes.

Last month, it was reported that the Bhoys were in talks with German club Schalke over a potential deal for their young centre-back Malick Thiaw.

In addition to having the City defender included on a list of similar players to him according to Football Transfers, the Schalke starlet has shown with his defensive talent just how alike the duo are.

In the 31 appearances he made for Schalke in the German second division last season, the centre-back ended the campaign with more interceptions (55) and more successful tackles (45) than any of his teammates.

The 20-year-old also racked up a higher average of clearances (3.4) and blocks per game (0.7) than any other player at the club.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why the German was described as a player that has “great potential” by Christian Gross.

Given that the pair are the same age and are clearly capable of growing into top-quality defenders, it’s easy to see why the Hoops have been linked with them.

If Celtic want to move on from missing out on Itakura and Harwood-Bellis, securing a deal for Thiaw should be their next move following deals for the likes of Benjamin Siegrist and Alexandro Bernabei as new faces added to Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

AND in other news: Ange could unearth a new £59m-rated sensation if Celtic sign “fantastic” £2m dynamo

Aston Villa are plotting a bid for Espanyol centre-forward Raul de Tomas.

What’s the word?

That’s according a report from Spain (via TheHardTackle), who claim that Villa are one of four Premier League teams vying for the Spaniard’s signature this summer.

Espanyol are willing to listen to offers for their star man in a bid to gather funds for the manager to spend. The club are hoping for a fee in the region of €35m (£30m).

Other than Steven Gerrard’s side, Everton, West Ham United and Newcastle United are all linked with a move.

 Could spell the end of Danny Ings

Aston Villa have been somewhat cursed over the past couple of years with strikers, as none have managed to set the world alight despite their performances prior to joining.

Perhaps Gerrard could finally get it right with this unflappable Spaniard with an eye for goal, entering the prime of his career.

Last season the 27-year-old notched up 17 league goals as Espanyol faltered to a 14th-place finish. His performances for a lacklustre side have allowed him to become the standout candidate for an upgrade, and he could provide the perfect marriage with Villa.

However, the forward does not bring just goals. The 5-foot-9 striker’s link-up play is also phenomenal, whilst he possesses an incredible desire to do the dirty work. Perhaps this combination is what led to James Dodd labelling the attacker “emphatic”.

De Tomas sits in the 99th percentile for pass completion rate per 90 amongst strikers in Europe’s big five leagues, while he is also in the 94th percentile for clearances over the past 12 months. His passing is close to perfect, but he obviously can provide a fluidity that could work well with Villa’s many attacking options.

It should come as no surprise therefore to see his average SofaScore rating at an impressive 7.09, outlining him as Espanyol’s best performer of those who played over three matches last season.

His introduction could spell the end for Danny Ings, who was only recruited last summer for £25m. Just seven league goals last year was wholly disappointing for a man who clearly has such an eye for goal, and it could suggest the decline of his poacher’s instinct.

He recently admitted that his debut season for the Villains had been “underwhelming” and perhaps now is the best time for Gerrard to cash in on the forward and replace him with a wildcard in De Tomas who could light up the Premier League.

AND in other news: Reliable journo now reveals huge transfer development, Villa supporters will be gutted

Crystal Palace are moving closer to the signing of Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards, according to SportBILD journalist Christian Falk. 

The lowdown: Busy summer

So far during the summer transfer window, Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman have added Sam Johnstone, Malcolm Ebiowei and Cheick Doucoure to Patrick Vieira’s ranks ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

In terms of outgoings, only Martin Kelly and lesser-seen central defender Jaroslaw Jach have left Selhurst Park – both on a free transfer following the expiration of their contracts.

After weeks of reported interest from the Eagles, now it appears as though Freedman and Vieira have landed their next incoming to South East London…

The latest: ‘On the way’

Taking to Twitter, Falk – the Head of Football at reputable German outlet SportBILD – has claimed that Richards is heading to the capital to complete the switch.

He stated: “TRUE Chris Richards (22) @FCBayern is on the way to the medical-check for a Transfer to @CPFC.”

Meanwhile, a report from BBC Sport has confirmed that Palace will pay €10million (£8.5million) plus €3million (£2.5million) in add-ons to sign the six-cap USA international.

The verdict: Happy days

Predominantly operating as a central defender, Richards – who was hailed as an ‘athletic freak’ by former USA national team scout Thomas Rongen – can also play on either side as a full-back and therefore is a smart squad addition to Vieira’s ranks.

Last season, the 22-year-old American spent time on loan at Hoffenheim, making Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.4 duels, making 2.4 clearances and 1.1 interceptions on average per Bundesliga outing.

That form combined with the £6.7million valued Richards’ fledgeling years, makes the defender another exciting capture as Palace continue to show a penchant for signing highly regarded youth prospects who can develop further during their time at Selhurst Park.

West Brom captain Jake Livermore is a doubt for the Baggies’ Championship opener against Middlesbrough this weekend, according to the reliable Joseph Masi.

The Lowdown: Baggies begin new campaign

Steve Bruce’s side begin their 2022/23 campaign with a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday evening, in what is sure to be an early test of their promotion credentials.

West Brom endured a 2021/22 season to forget, completely falling away in the automatic promotion fight and then the playoff battle, with huge improvements required this time around.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash at the Riverside Stadium, the Baggies have suffered a potential setback.

The Latest: Livermore could miss out

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Masi confirmed that Livermore could be unavailable through illness, as West Brom potentially have to make do without their skipper:

“Steve Bruce says Jake Livermore is a doubt for tomorrow’s season owner at Middlesbrough. The skipper has been ill. Bruce says they’ll give him as much time as possible to make it.”

The Verdict: Early concern for Bruce

Livermore is a player with vast experience at a high level and his influence at the Hawthorns is undeniable, with Bruce himself hailing the skipper as a ‘ferocious’ footballer in the past.

For that reason, the thought of him missing out this weekend is a concern, considering West Brom are coming up against a fellow promotion hopeful in Middlesbrough.

Livermore started 37 out of 46 league games last season, highlighting his importance, and his average of 1.9 tackles and 1.7 fouls are further proof of his off-the-ball menace and ability to break up opposition attacks – something that could be key on Saturday.

West Ham United have suffered a body blow ahead of their opening Premier League fixture of the season against Manchester City today.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Manchester Evening News, who quoted David Moyes’ response to injury updates as the Irons manager coyly claimed: “We’ve got quite a lot of concerns but I’m not going to give you them.”

He continued by ruling out the Hammers’ new signing Gianluca Scamacca due to fitness issues, saying: “Gianluca has only just joined us and he’s a little behind so I’m not expecting him to be available this weekend. He’s not played any minutes in pre-season so it makes it very difficult to put him out so soon…”.

Moyes will be gutted

Although Scamacca is yet to play for the Hammers, both Moyes and the club’s supporters will be disappointed to see their marquee summer signing ruled out for what looks the most difficult opening game that any Premier League side could be handed.

Michail Antonio has struggled with injury problems over his West Ham career, although he managed an impressive 36 league appearances last season, scoring ten goals.

In all honesty, though, the club were very lucky that the 32-year-old did not break down and leave them without a senior striker for some time.

Although that issue is now resolved with the arrival of Scamacca, his absence will be frustrating given his proficiency in front of goal last season, when he netted 16 goals in Serie A. The Irons are unlikely to get a host of chances against title holders Manchester City, so to be without the forward for today’s clash is a huge blow for West Ham.

Also, with an expected goals (xG) of 11.13, he overperformed in front of goal by 4.87. This outlines his clinical nature and his tendency to score from positions of little opportunity.

For comparison, Antonio’s xG of 12.79 represents a 2.79 underperformance. While over a league season one might prefer the striker who gets in the right positions, for games such as this a wildcard would often be prepared in order to stand a chance.

Moyes has been vocal in his admiration for the player, claiming that the Irons had “been watching him [Scamacca] for some time and even considered going for him last January. He has a presence as a player with his size and his ability to take the ball in, retain possession.

“We see him helping in maybe a different way to what we’ve had and his youthfulness means we know there is more room for improvement. It’s very rare you can have a top striker at 23 years of age – but he is.”

The absence of this kind of presence could be felt heavily by West Ham today, and Moyes will surely be gutted to be without his Italian recruit for their all-important opening league game.

Leeds United have been ‘working hard’ to sign a striker this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton.

The Lowdown: Seven in, soon to be eight

The Whites have been very busy so far this summer, making five first-team additions. Victor Orta has also bolstered the club’s academy ranks with deals for Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins, with the former earning a place on the bench for Leeds’ Premier League opener against Wolves on Saturday.

Free agent Joel Robles looks set to be next through the door to provide some goalkeeping experience around Thorp Arch, and it seems as if the Whites have no plans of stopping there.

The Latest: Thornton’s comments

According to reliable Sky Sports journalist Thornton, who was talking to GiveMeSport, Leeds have been ‘working hard’ when it comes to a new forward, with a number of targets identified.

He revealed:

“They’ve been working hard on this, this is not something they’re suddenly shining a light moment where we need to get a striker in, they’ve known about it and have identified the targets.”

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The Verdict: Kalimuendo in before Southampton trip?

One forward who has been heavily linked with Leeds is Arnaud Kalimuendo, who Jesse Marsch reportedly wants to bring in next week.

Another outlet has reported that the Whites are close to agreeing a fee with Paris Saint-Germain for the 20-year-old, so this could be one to watch closely.

It would be a big boost if the club can land a new striker before the trip to Southampton next Saturday, adding more firepower to rival the likes of Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt after a positive start to the campaign.