Breaking news- Tottenham on brink of fresh £20m midfielder transfer while sensational hijack on Chelsea also kicks into gear
Tottenham Hotspur is set to significantly bolster their transfer funds by an additional £20 million within the next 24 hours following an agreement with Leicester City for the sale of Oliver Skipp. While Spurs are on the brink of finalizing this deal, manager Ange Postecoglou and his team are also weighing the possibility of hijacking Conor Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico Madrid, a move that has been stalled by disagreements between the clubs.
Tottenham will kick off their season on Monday night with a match against Leicester at the King Power Stadium, marking the beginning of what they hope will be another season of growth under Postecoglou. Last season, Spurs had a strong start, securing eight wins from their first 10 games, but their momentum faltered as injuries and suspensions took a toll. Fans are eager for a repeat of that strong start, but this time with a more consistent performance throughout the season.
A compelling subplot to Monday’s game is the imminent transfer of Oliver Skipp, a homegrown talent who has been with Tottenham since 2008, when he was just eight years old. The 23-year-old midfielder, who has made 106 appearances for Spurs since his debut in the 2018/19 season, has been a part of the club’s setup for over 15 years. However, under Postecoglou’s new regime, Skipp has been deemed surplus to requirements, leading to widespread speculation about his departure throughout the summer.
Skipp was initially linked with a move to Leeds United, but reports from TEAMtalk revealed that the midfielder was reluctant to drop out of the Premier League, which ruled out a move to the Yorkshire club. Instead, Leicester City, one of the newly promoted sides, has emerged as the frontrunner to secure his signature. The deal is expected to be completed today, although official confirmation may come only after the conclusion of the match between the two clubs. TEAMtalk also reports that Skipp has successfully passed his medical and is poised to sign a four-year contract with Leicester.
Tottenham will receive an initial £20 million for Skipp, with the total potentially rising to £23 million based on performance-related add-ons. This influx of funds will provide a timely boost to Tottenham’s transfer budget, particularly after the sale of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, which has left the team somewhat thin in central midfield. Currently, summer signing Archie Gray is the only backup option for first-choice midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr.
In response to this, Postecoglou is keen to strengthen his midfield options before the transfer window closes. One potential target is Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham. Reports suggest that the Italian international could be available for a fee in the region of €25 million (£21.3 million).
However, Tottenham is also closely monitoring the situation surrounding Conor Gallagher. The 24-year-old England midfielder, who captained Chelsea multiple times last season, has been informed that he will be a squad player under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. Consequently, Gallagher traveled to Madrid last week to negotiate a transfer to Atletico Madrid. Despite his willingness to make the move, the two clubs have struggled to agree on the structure of a £33.7 million deal.
Although Atletico Madrid remains hopeful of resolving the situation, there was a significant setback last week when Chelsea recalled Gallagher to their training base at Cobham after talks with Atletico stalled. According to Football Insider, Postecoglou is closely monitoring the developments and has expressed his desire to hijack the deal, bringing Gallagher to north London instead.
Gallagher has been a long-term target for Postecoglou, who has admired the midfielder’s qualities since taking charge of Tottenham. The club came close to pursuing a move for him in January, but Gallagher’s strong ties to Chelsea and reluctance to join one of their fierce rivals have made a deal difficult to achieve. However, with Chelsea now indicating that Gallagher is no longer a key part of their plans, there may be an opportunity for Spurs to convince him to reconsider.
As the transfer window edges closer to its deadline, with just 11 days remaining, Postecoglou is determined to add another midfielder to his squad. The next few days will be crucial as Tottenham looks to secure the signings that could define their season.