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Nottingham Forest are interested in making a move for Tottenham full-back Sergio Reguilon this summer, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Reguilon out of favour

The 25-year-old has fallen out of favour under Antonio Conte at Spurs, with Ryan Sessegnon increasingly looking like their first-choice left-back option.

Reguilon only started 22 of his side’s 38 Premier League matches last season and became more of a peripheral figure as the campaign went on. While injury has prevented him from featuring so far this term, the summer signing of Ivan Perisic appears to have nudged him further down the pecking order in N17.

For that reason, the Spaniard could be allowed to leave Spurs in the summer transfer window, even though his current deal doesn’t expire until 2025.

The Latest: Forest eye up Reguilon move

According to Ornstein for The Athletic, Forest are interested in signing Reguilon on loan for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign, with talks believed to have taken place between the two clubs over the past few weeks.

With Omar Richards ruled out for the foreseeable future through injury, the Spain defender is seen as someone who can provide stiff competition for Harry Toffolo, who has started every game so far this season for the Garibaldi.

The Verdict: Great left-back option

While Reguilon may not be considered an important figure at Spurs, he could be a fantastic loan signing for Forest, enhancing their squad depth greatly.

He has been described as ‘phenomenal’ by journalist Alasdair Gold and has registered nine assists in 67 appearances for Spurs, highlighting the attacking quality to could bring to the Reds’ team.

He would also bring the allure of winning a major European trophy, having helped Sevilla to win the Europa League this time two years ago during a loan spell from Real Madrid.

Having multiple players fighting for minutes in every position can only be a good thing for Forest as they come up against top teams consistently at Premier League level, and Reguilon could be the perfect man to make up for the loss of Richards.

Aston Villa have started this season off poorly in terms of what Steven Gerrard was initially hoping for before the campaign kicked off.

With just one win from three matches in the Premier League, a drastic upturn in fortunes is required otherwise the pressure will quickly descend upon him.

The 42-year-old has added some quality during the summer transfer window, signing Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and making Philippe Coutinho’s move permanent and they all add that extra bit of class to the Villa side.

Gerrard will have to make do without Carlos for a large chunk of the season, however, with the Brazilian suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in the match against Everton, and his thoughts now turn to a replacement.

There is one defender that has been linked who could be a like-for-like alternative to the former Sevilla centre back and that is Jason Denayer.

The 27-year-old is currently a free agent following his release from Ligue 1 side Lyon, where he enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career, racking up 139 appearances in a four-year spell.

He joined the French side for €10m (£8.5m) in 2018 but a recent dispute over his contract now means he is available for nothing, something that might give Gerrard some serious food for thought.

With the club seeking a replacement for the injured Carlos, the 35-capped Belgian could fit the bill perfectly. FB Ref’s similar player model has ranked the defender as the seventh most comparable player to the injured Brazilian.

In terms of passing, both players had an excellent pass completion percentage last season as Denayer (94.2%) and Carlos (88.6%) demonstrated their ability to move the ball effectively from the defence in order to start attacks.

The 27-year-old Belgium international appears to be the more mature one out of the two, receiving only two cautions last season, with Carlos being cautioned eight times plus one sending off, although he did play 25 more games.

Both players were similarly strong in the tackle, however, with the former winning 0.54 per 90 minutes compared to the latter’s 0.50. They also apply successful pressures at a comparable rate, with Denayer amassing a success percentage of 32.1 to Carlos’ 31.3.

When joining Lyon, he was described as “powerful” by Florian Maurice, Lyon’s recruitment chief at the time, and if he showcases the ability he did in France upon potentially signing for Villa, Gerrard will certainly have an excellent Carlos replacement on his hands.

Liverpool making a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer will depend on whether Naby Keita leaves Anfield before Thursday’s transfer deadline, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Liverpool’s interest in Bellingham

Last month, The Athletic’s James Pearce stated the Reds are ‘very interested’ in signing the England midfielder, but added that it wouldn’t happen this summer as the Bundesliga outfit had already sold star striker Erling Haaland to Manchester City earlier in the year.

However, the Daily Express claimed that Liverpool could accelerate their plans to sign the 19-year-old due to Borussia Dortmund reportedly taking an interest in Keita.

According to reports in Germany, it would take £103m to secure the England international’s signature, as the player has nearly three years left on his contract. However, with an injury crisis currently afflicting Liverpool’s midfield, Jurgen Klopp has admitted that the club may need to bring in a new player in that position ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The Latest: Sheth shares Bellingham latest

With reports now suggesting that Keita is unhappy with his playing time at Anfield, Sheth believes that Liverpool’s pursuit of Bellingham will depend on whether or not the Guinea international leaves the club this summer.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Sky Sports reporter said about the possibility of Liverpool moving for Bellingham this week: “I think that would depend on what happens with Naby Keita as well – whether they’d consider selling him in this transfer window or whether they’re going to try and convince him to sign a new contract.”

The Verdict: Would be an incredible signing

Regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in world football, Bellingham’s arrival at Anfield would signal a huge sign of intent by the Merseyside club.

At just 19 years of age, the midfielder has amassed some of the best statistics across Europe over the past year.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the former Birmingham City player ranks in the top 3% for assists and dribbles completed and the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received. This indicates an ability to create goalscoring chances, take on opponents and gather possession in promising areas of the pitch.

With England teammate Jack Grealish having claimed that it is “scary ” how good Bellingham is at his age, his signing would be an incredible coup for Liverpool, so Kopites could be waiting with bated breath to see what happens with Keita over the next four days.

West Bromwich Albion have certainly been financially hamstrung in recent years, which is what has led to an expenditure of just £1.21m this summer.

Only two of the players brought in were for a fee, with the rest being free transfers.

That’s not to say that there wasn’t some good business conducted however, with John Swift, in particular, opting to make the switch from Reading to the Hawthorns.

The busy central midfielder has impressed early on in his West Brom career, with Steve Bruce heavily reliant on his creativity for his toothless side.

Last season for the Royals he recorded a sensational 11 goals and 13 assists, so to bring this kind of proven Championship talent to his side for free marks incredible business.

The level of this business is further exacerbated by his current Transfermarkt valuation, which sits at £6.3m.

He has started this season in solid fashion too, scoring twice and assisting another two in an underwhelming Baggies outfit.

Having only scored 15 goals in ten league matches, five of which came in one game, West Brom are in desperate need of a goal scorer.

If they were to have one, which the injured Daryl Dike would likely have provided, then we could see Swift surpass the levels he reached for Reading.

Journalist Josh Bunting was full of praise for this piece of business, labelling him a “brilliant signing” who is “capable of playing in the Premier League.”

He also went on to call him a “lovely technical player”, which he would have to be to play at the level he sees him at.

Even back in 2016, Tom Barclay thought he was a “talent”, and he now seems to be proving it on a big stage.

With aspirations of a return to the top flight, Swift will surely be instrumental if Bruce is to steer his side towards promotion.

However, he will need some assistance, which their early-season form has suggested he will not receive. One win in their opening ten matches draws cause for concern.

Regardless, he will remain a smart piece of business for the club. It would just make it even sweeter if he could be given some added tools to help take the club where they want to go.

Rumours linking Tottenham manager Antonio Conte with a move away from the club are undoubtedly a concern, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Exit talk…

The 53-year-old has excelled in the job since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last November, securing a top-four finish and building a formidable team.

Worryingly though, Conte has been linked with a switch to Juventus in recent days, should the Turin giants opt to sack under-pressure manager Massimiliano Allegri.

Harry Kane meanwhile has also been linked with a move to join Bayern Munich, with the striker potentially eyeing up a fresh challenge during his peak years and some reports even suggesting he is ‘considering’ the big switch to the Bundesliga giants.

The Latest: Journalist admits concern

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke admitted it is a concerning time for Spurs fans, but feels the club are ‘pretty confident’ they can keep him:

“It’ll be a concern that Conte has close ties with Juventus as a player and manager, so there’s obviously strong links there.

“But I still think Tottenham are pretty confident that they’ll be able to keep hold of Antonio Conte. The club are moving forward, they’ve had a really good start to the season and are up there at the top of the table right now with Arsenal and Manchester City.”

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The Verdict: Can’t afford to lose him

Conte is undoubtedly one of Europe’s elite managers alongside the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti, so keeping hold of him is absolutely vital for Spurs.

To see him return to Juve midway through the season would be a major blow, having a hugely negative impact on what threatens to be an excellent campaign and also potentially tipping the Kane scales in Bayern’s favour, with the talisman expecting ambition from the club in his prime years.

Conte does appear to be happy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however, and the hope is that he is loyal until at least next summer but hopefully well beyond and into a new contract after that.

Aston Villa endured another disappointing performance on Sunday against a Leeds United side who battled most of the second half with just ten men as they ultimately drew 0-0.

Steven Gerrard’s men couldn’t find a way through the Leeds backline and their quest to score more than two goals in a Premier League match this season continues.

Strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings haven’t exactly set the world alight this term with regards to goals scored, with the duo contributing just three between them all season.

Surely Gerrard must now unleash a youngster who is ready for Premier League football and he might just provide the spark that Villa needs.

On the chalkboard

20-year-old Cameron Archer has played just nine minutes of league football so far this season. He suitably impressed on loan at Preston North End during the second half of last term, scoring seven goals in 20 matches and it proves he is more than ready for the step up.

Indeed, Archer scored four goals for the senior Villa side in the EFL Cup last term and with Gerrard struggling to get goals out of his team, a change may need to be made sooner rather than later.

The 42-year-old was asked about Archer after the game yesterday by journalist Ashley Preece, but he was met with a rather perplexing response, responding by saying:

“He’s only done one full session. Is he chomping at the bit? 100 per cent. You’re a fan of Cameron, you, aren’t ya? Or are you a mate of the family? Something’s going on because you’ve asked me 25 questions this year and I reckon 19 have been on Cam Archer. You’re a fan aren’t ya?”

The reporter clearly wants the youngster to break through and take his chance and he has all the right attributes to stake his claim ahead of Ings or Watkins.

Villa have scored just six goals in eight league matches this season, the joint third lowest in the table and something needs to change, especially with fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Fulham, and Brentford all coming up over the next few weeks.

Watkins received a SofaScore rating of just 6.3 against Leeds, completing just nine passes, missing three big chances, and losing possession 11 times during the match during a torrid afternoon.

Speaking of his display, the aforementioned Preece claimed that he was “hesitant in front of goal,” but that has far from been the case with Archer in recent campaigns.

By unleashing him instead, Gerrard will have a striker who is young and ready to claim a place in the starting XI on a regular basis. The pressure is currently building on the manager, but he is paid well to make big decisions, and playing Archer against Forest could give Villa a fresh attacking output.

A worrying transfer claim has emerged on Sunderland central defender Dennis Cirkin ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a swoop to bring the youngster back to the club after selling him to the Black Cats last year.

The report claims that Spurs are set to scout him ahead of the January transfer window with a view to re-signing the gem just 18 months after allowing him to leave for an undisclosed fee.

It has previously been reported that the top-flight outfit have a £6m buyback option that is valid until 2024 and The Sun now claim that Tottenham could snap him up before instantly selling him on to a rival for profit.

Nightmare scenario

Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is on a crash course for a Sunderland nightmare as losing Cirkin would be a big blow to Tony Mowbray’s squad.

If the earlier reports of a buyback clause are accurate then there is nothing the club can do to stop the defender from moving back to the Premier League giants beyond trying to convince him to reject the transfer.

Speakman agreed the £6m option with Tottenham and may now be left with egg on his face if it comes back to bite him in the January window. Spurs could simply activate the clause and sign him from the Stadium of Light before selling him to another top-flight side, provided there is enough interest, for profit.

In that scenario, Sunderland would be missing out on the full potential of Cirkin’s value and would be losing a key player within their Championship squad.

Journalist Josh Bunting described the 20-year-old dynamo as “difficult to replace” and a “standout” for Sunderland this season, shortly after he picked up an injury in September. He has not played since the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough and recently made his return as he sat on the bench for the 2-1 loss to Swansea but has started eight of the club’s 13 league matches.

Cirkin has averaged 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game in the second tier, which is a tally only three players in the Black Cats squad with at least one start have bettered, which highlights his impressive defensive ability and why his exit would be a blow for Mowbray

At the age of 20, he also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player and this means that his value will surely only increase as he gains more experience and hones his skills.

Therefore, losing him for a pre-set fee of £6m this winter, only to watch Spurs sell him on for more than that would be a nightmare for Sunderland and a scenario that Speakman set himself on a crash course for when he agreed the buyback clause in 2021.

Celtic had waited five long years to get themselves back into the promised land that is the Champions League, although just four games into life back in Europe’s premier competition and the Hoops’ hopes of progression are already at an end, with back-to-back defeats to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig proving costly.

The most recent loss to the German outfit at Parkhead will seemingly have been most frustrating for manager Ange Postecoglou, with the Old Firm giants squandering chance after chance to put themselves ahead, having enjoyed a stunning spell of pressure in the first half.

At the highest level, that lack of a clinical nature in front of goal is more than likely to be punished, with Marco Rose’s men subsequently showing their undoubted class to brutally clinch the points late on through Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg.

For all that wastefulness in the final third – which has left the Glasgow side scrambling to even secure a Europa League knockout stage berth with just a point in the current campaign thus far – in a defensive sense the hosts could have seemingly done little more, with stand-in skipper Cameron Carter-Vickers once again showing his quality at the heart of the backline.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man – who arrived in Scotland on an initial loan deal last summer before signing permanently in the recent window – has been a colossal presence for the club over the past year or so, having been “immense” during last season’s title triumph, in the words of pundit Chris Sutton.

That form has continued into the new campaign with the 24-year-old picking up five clean sheets from the opening seven league games thus far, while his injury absence was keenly felt in the shock defeat to St Mirren and in Saxony a week ago.

Back in the side for Tuesday’s crunch encounter, the £6.3m-rated titan looked imperious for much of the evening up against a fluid forward line of Andre Silva, Christopher Nkunku and the aforementioned Werner, notably winning 100% of his aerial duels and recording nine clearances on the night.

Not just a monstrous force defensively, the United States international also showcased his composure in possession as he recorded an impressive 90% pass accuracy rate from his 66 touches, having been a real ‘leader’ for Postecoglou’s side, in the words of Glasgow Live’s Ben Banks.

While the ten-cap gem’s match rating of 6.8, as per SofaScore, was far from eye-catching, the centre-back has enjoyed notable plaudits from across the game for his display, with Northern Ireland international Ryan McLaughlin dubbing him the “best centre half I’ve seen at Celtic since Van Dijk.”

That glowing assessment is a marker of just what an impact the defender has made during his relatively brief time with the Bhoys, with that man Virgil van Dijk no doubt some figure to be compared to, having sparkled for the club prior to his £13m exit for Southampton in 2015.

The towering Dutchman had been snapped up by former boss Neil Lennon for a measly £2.6m in 2013, although would go on to become a commanding figure in Scottish football, with ex-Hoops scout David Moss once remarking that “He is like a grown man playing in a children’s playground – he stands out like a sore thumb.”

The Liverpool “machine” – as dubbed by journalist Charlotte Coates – has proven a tough ask to try and emulate, although Carter-Vickers could be well way on his way to doing just that, having recently been dubbed the “best player in Scotland last season” by BT Sport’s Sutton (05/10/2022, 19:41).

On a largely disappointing night, the Southend-born sensation – who has been “excellent” at Celtic Park since his arrival, in the words of journalist Mark Hendry – was one of those who did more than enough to try and secure victory.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has been left baffled by some West Ham United transfer news involving Club Brugge star Noa Lang.

The Lowdown: West Ham make transfer plans…

The Hammers have been very active in the transfer market recently, with the summer window proving a hectic one.

West Ham bought Brazil international Lucas Paqueta from Lyon in a club-record deal, with the former Ligue 1 star following Alphonse Areola (loan made permanent), Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet, Thilo Kehrer and Emerson Palmieri into the London Stadium.

The Premier League side seemingly mean business off the field, with reports suggesting that they are already making further transfer plans ahead of 2023.

The Latest: Robinson baffled by Lang rumours…

It is reported by club insider ExWHUemployee (via Claret & Hugh) that West Ham are now eyeing a move for Lang as they seek to bolster David Moyes’ options.

The Irons apparently hold a concrete interest in the Netherlands international, with pundit Robinson explaining his surprise to Football Insider.

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The former England goalkeeper said of Lang: “For me, they do not need him. Is he better than what David Moyes has currently got? I don’t think so.

“Look at the players West Ham have got in those positions, the likes of [Jarrod] Bowen, Pablo Fornals [Lucas] Paqueta and [Maxwel] Cornet. They have so much talent in that area.

“I cannot understand why they would go for Lang. He is not better than the players they currently have in their starting XI in my opinion.”

The Verdict: He may be right

As per WhoScored, the 23-year-old has started just three Jupiler Pro League games this season and doesn’t exactly stand out in terms of shots, key passes made or completed dribbles per 90.

This could be put down to a slow start to their campaign, but if West Ham are to remain among England’s best teams, head of recruitment Rob Newman cannot afford to make slip-ups when it comes to identifying transfer targets.

Indeed, Robinson may have a fairly solid point here.

Tottenham Hotspur insiders/sources have now shared an exciting naming rights update, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Spurs enter talks…

Spurs have entered ‘meaningful talks’ with big name technological giant Google in recent weeks as chairman Daniel Levy and chief commercial officer Todd Kline attempt to end the club’s three-year long search for a sponsorship deal.

The Lilywhites have been trying to find a buyer for their lucrative naming rights since moving to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019 – a state-of-the-art new ground estimated to cost £1 billion.

Amid these discussions with Google over sealing the naming rights, it has been reported that fellow major company Amazon are ‘still in the running’.

Such an agreement would gift the north Londoners a financial off-field windfall as Spurs seek a potential deal worth around £25 million-per-year.

The Latest: Tottenham insiders expect record-breaking deal

Now, according to a report in the last 48 hours, an exciting naming rights update has come out of Spurs.

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It is claimed two Tottenham insiders/sources have told Football Insider that the north Londoners are plotting to announce a huge naming rights deal before Christmas with a timeline now set.

As well as this, it is reiterated both Google and Amazon are still competing for a ten-year deal which could be worth around £25m-per-year.

The report mentions both Levy and Kline specifically with the Spurs chiefs attempting to agree a never-before-seen naming rights deal with an ‘English record-agreement’.

The Verdict: Great news…

Under the guidance of manager Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici, the Hotspur Way side have enjoyed a steady rise on the field, currently sitting in the Premier League’s top three.

Now, it is up to Levy and Kline to assist the Italians by securing a multi-million pound windfall for the club, and with any luck, a fair portion of it will be re-invested into the first team.