Tottenham will reportedly take advantage of Premier League rivals who need to sell players before June 30 this summer. The likes of Chelsea and Newcastle are among the teams who may offload stars prior to that date to avoid profit and sustainability regulation breaches.
June 30 is the official final day of the Premier League season and therefore the last date that clubs can file outgoing deals for the 2023-24 season. Any team at risk of breaching PSR for the last three years will be keen to receive income before that date and not let negotiations tick into next season.
The Times claim that Spurs, whose financial situation is extremely healthy, will take advantage of the situation. Ange Postecoglou is said to want a centre-back, midfielder and striker during the summer. Here are five players from Chelsea and Newcastle who Spurs could target.
Conor Gallagher
Spurs have been widely linked with Chelsea vice-captain Conor Gallagher in recent years. The 24-year-old midfielder could be set for a shock exit from Stamford Bridge despite his impressive performances this season.
As Gallagher is an academy graduate, any potential fee received for him would be recorded as ‘pure profit’ on Chelsea’s books. Given that the Blues are unlikely to sell Gallagher for anything less than £40m, that would go a long way in easing the club’s financial issues.
Wide-ranging reports suggest that the former Crystal Palace loanee is keen to remain in London. That would likely put Spurs at the front of the queue if he leaves.
Bruno Guimaraes
It would be the coup of the summer and potentially a deal that Spurs cannot afford, but taking Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle would show that Postecoglou’s side mean business ahead of the Australian’s second season.
The Brazilian is widely reported to have a release clause in the region of £100m that expires in the final week of June, the perfect window for Spurs to take advantage of the PSR deadline. They may even be able to persuade the Magpies to negotiate down that fee.
Alexander Isak
Spurs have been crying out for a prolific No 9 since Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich last summer. Richarlison, who has scored 12 Premier League goals this term but is reportedly one of eight stars who could make way for new signings, has struggled for consistency.
Postecoglou could get one of the Premier League’s best forwards in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The Swede has bagged 20 strikes in just 27 top-flight appearances this term. He is a more rounded out-and-out striker than Richarlison and would be an excellent replacement for Kane.
The 24-year-old’s impressive partnership with Anthony Gordon provides a glimpse of how well he might work with Son Heung-min.
Fabian Schar
Sven Botman being out for another seven months with an ACL injury rules the Dutchman out of a summer move. He may have been of interest to Spurs, who could have partnered the 24-year-old with his countryman Micky van de Ven.
But the North Londoners could do a lot worse than target Botman’s current defensive partner. Fabian Schar’s impressive improvement under Eddie Howe has made him one of the best centre-backs outside the Premier League’s Big Six.
At 32, Schar would provide experience to a young Spurs squad, and much-needed versatility as a back-up option.
Trevoh Chalobah
Like Chelsea team-mate Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah is a Blues academy graduate and any fee received would constitute pure profit. The Englishman has the added benefit of excellent versatility, having played as a centre-back, a right-back and as a central midfielder during his career.
That attribute could be key for Postecoglou and his attempts to build a talented and robust squad. Chalobah has a lengthy Chelsea contract that expires in 2028, with the Blues harbouring an option for a further year, so will not be signed on the cheap.
