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Italian giants Inter are looking to insert an eye-watering release clause of £494m into the contract of Tottenham Hotspur target Marcelo Brozovic, according to CalcioMercato.

What’s the word?

A quiet transfer window for Mauricio Pochettino coupled with the likely loss of Mousa Dembele at the end of his contract in the summer has led Tottenham to consider midfield targets ahead of January – but there is bad news for the Lilywhites.

Pochettino’s side were reportedly keen on Inter’s Marcelo Brozovic during the summer and may have been looking to revive their interest in the World Cup finalist when the January transfer window reopens but will now have to change their plans.

CalcioMercato states that Inter have opened talks regarding an extension for the 25-year-old Croatia international and a new deal will include a mammoth release clause of £494m for clubs outside of Italy, which would rule out a move to Spurs.

Should Spurs be disappointed?

Signing Brozovic as a replacement for Dembele and an addition to provide a huge boost to their midfield would have seen Pochettino’s side issue a major statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League, particularly while they balance the financial logistics of their imminent stadium move.

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The concern regarding the move is that Spurs could be restricted in the transfer market in similar circumstances to North London rivals Arsenal a decade ago, who endured a period without trophies and one that saw key players offloaded.

Spurs will be desperate to prove they will not face similar struggles when they finally return to White Hart Lane and the best way to do that is to make a marquee signing for Pochettino. While Brozovic would have been an ideal fit, the Lilywhites will now need to look elsewhere.

The majority of Celtic fans that answered our poll want attacking midfielder Tom Rogic to start in the Europa League tie with Austrian league leaders RB Salzburg on Thursday.

The Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers started Callum McGregor in the position behind striker Leigh Griffiths during the weekend’s 1-0 win over Aberdeen, but they didn’t take the lead until just after Rogic’s introduction.

The 6ft 2in Rogic joined Celtic from Australian side Melbourne Victory in the summer of 2014 and has since made 144 appearances for the current Scottish champions, scoring 32 goals and providing 23 assists during that time.

The 25-year-old is also an Australian international and has 40 caps for his country, meaning he has the experience necessary for the tricky away trips that the Europa League throws up. This was reflected in the results of our poll, with 82 per cent of Celtic fans urging Rodgers to start Rogic over former Notts County man McGregor.

Check out the full results below.

Samu Saiz has been a mainstay in Leeds United’s number ten role so far this season and his creative quality has been integral to the success of Marcelo Bielsa’s philosophy. 

He may not boast the prolific record in-front of goal which earned him a transfer to Leeds United in the 2017 summer transfer window but Saiz remains a firm favourite at Elland Road. In terms of creative instinct and incisive passing, Saiz’s quality is almost unrivalled and he has managed to maintain his place in the starting eleven throughout the season thus far as a consequence.

However, neither Bielsa or Saiz should begin to rest on their laurels at this stage in the season as there is still plenty of work for both men to do before they can be regarded as indispensable cogs in the Leeds machine. Indeed, for all of Saiz’s excellence there is no doubting that questions need to be asked about his failure to find the back of the net this season.

It’s an area of his game which requires improvement, and the arrival of a player of star quality may well provide the healthy competition he needs to fully prove himself at this level. With that being said, Bielsa should urge Victor Orta to begin making contact with Manchester City regarding a potential loan move for Phil Foden.

Bielsa’s personal relationship with Pep Guardiola may well give him an advantage in the transfer market, whilst the parallels which can be drawn between the philosophies of the aforementioned managers could play into Leeds’ hands. Guardiola has previously made it clear that he wants to keep Foden in Manchester so he can monitor his development and ensure he is receiving a footballing education of the highest standard, but under Bielsa he would be exposed to familiar ideas and possession-based concepts.

The bonus for Foden would be the increased access to first-team opportunities and, based on the flashes of brilliance he has demonstrated at both club and international level, he could offer an upgrade on Saiz – even with no prior Championship experience at 18-years-old.

Naturally, there is guarantee that Foden would become an instant success at Elland Road, but on the evidence of his career so far it’s difficult to see anything other than a glowing spell in Yorkshire if Bielsa and Orta can work their magic in January.

Man City fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to the latest takeover rumour, as reports claim a £300m bid is on its way.

Newcastle have had an awful start to the season, but the latest reports could just put some light at the end of the tunnel.

According to The Daily Mail, a “seriously wealthy” American investment group are willing to meet Mike Ashley’s £300m asking price.

Ashley has lost the fans’ trust with his total reluctance to back the manager in the transfer market, so much so that most of them don’t even believe the takeover rumours.

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The Magpies lie in the relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s round of matches, managing just two points from their first eight games.

The 3-2 defeat at Manchester United was particularly disappointing, as the Magpies seemed to crumble as soon as the second half substitutes started, a clear indicator of a lack of squad investment.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are not exactly convinced by the latest news…

Leeds United have not had lady luck on their side this season when it comes down to injuries.

The Whites have seen a number of players spend time on the treatment table as it appears that they can not get through a week without having a new concern arise.

Patrick Bamford is a long-term concern, whilst the likes of Kemar Roofe and Pablo Hernandez have only just been able to make their returns.

Gaetano Berardi and Luke Ayling appear to have been struck down recently with new problems and it now appears that Marcelo Bielsa has another one to deal with.

In the Under-23’s match against Hull City on Monday afternoon, it appears that Ryan Edmondson is the newest concern for the Whites, according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Joe Urquhart on Twitter.

The striker, who had scored in the game, was forced off the pitch in the first half having failed to shake the knock he had picked up.

The Verdict:

Leeds and Bielsa just can not appear to catch a break at the moment when it comes down to injuries.

Although Edmondson’s is unlikely to have caused the manager too many headaches, he has been used this season within the first-team and is an exceptionally bright talent that is regarded highly at Thorp Arch.

There is no timescale on his injury as of yet, however, there will be many fingers crossed that he is not out for too long, just in case they do need him to come into the first-team once again in the near future.

Leeds fans – thoughts?

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Loads of Tottenham fans have been running the rule over the latest transfer rumour, as reports claim they are still chasing Manchester United’s Eric Bailly.

Tottenham fans were surprised when recent reports suggested they were in for Bailly, and The Mirror have once again confirmed that the defender’s future at Old Trafford is in doubt.

The report claims Spurs are still one of a number of teams “monitoring” Bailly, but fans are split on moving for him.

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The 24-year-old was extremely highly-rated when he joined Manchester United, and his shown his fair share of both strengths and weaknesses during his short stint in the Premier League.

He is excellent in the air and an incredible athlete, but his injury record does not make pretty reading and his lapses of concentration have cost the Red Devils on a couple of occasions.

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Tottenham are of course facing the prospect of losing Toby Alderweireld next summer, and Bailly could form a formidable long-term pairing with Davinson Sanchez if he can fulfil his potential.

Fans aren’t so sure though, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Michail Antonio was once a well-loved figure among the West Ham United fanbase.

The Englishman’s ability to play in a variety of positions on the pitch was admired and well utilised by then-manager Slaven Bilic.

This season, though, the 28-year-old has struggled for form and earning a place in Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI.

In fact, Antonio has has to settle for cameo appearances in nine of the Hammers’ 10 Premier League matches.

For the majority of the time, he is played as a winger, but he has failed to recapture the form that rewarded him with an England call-up a few seasons ago.

In midweek, Antonio got a chance to impress as he played in West Ham’s EFL Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

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It was a disappointing evening as the team were beaten 3-1, but the utility man’s performance attracted strong criticism from the fans.

This led us to ask you whether it was time for the club to offload Antonio, and a large majority believe that it is.

Manchester United are a squad full of sublime talents, and it is a surprise to many that they are languishing so far behind rivals City in the title race.

The Red Devils will be craving another Premier League title in the coming seasons, something which has not happened since the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, and manager Jose Mourinho will no doubt be desperate to prove he can win yet another title in English football following success with Chelsea.

In a squad with so many internationals and talents, it’s often hard to pick out just who is the most important, but there are also those players who simply don’t seem to get the credit they deserve.

And one man we at the Tavern feel falls right into this category is Spanish midfielder Juan Mata.

The little technician has been a regular for United in big games, and once again proved his worth earlier in the week with a late goal at Juventus in the Champions League.

Despite not always being a starter, Mata is a superb option for United, and rarely lets his manager down whatever position he is asked to play in.

The Spaniard has bags of experience and is a serial winner, as his time with Chelsea and Spain has shown in the past.

If United are to continue improving and having success this year, then Mata will be a key figure, and there will no doubt be even more moments to come from Mata in the big games if he does indeed remain at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future.

United fans, do you agree? Let us know in the comments!

Tottenham Hotspur are a club in limbo as their move into the new stadium is ensuring that a cloud of uncertainty continues to loom over north London, but the promise of a state-of-the-art facility designed with strong acoustics in mind is providing sufficient to keep results ticking over. 

While there is no doubt that Spurs are in a predicament, results in the Premier League indicate that Mauricio Pochettino is doing a brilliant job in keeping his players focused on the more important matters taking place on the field of play.

Aside from the obvious stadium issue, Tottenham are facing an uncertain future in regard to a handful of first-team players, with the contracts of both Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld set to expire in June 2019.

With both players potentially in line to depart next summer, Daniel Levy will be scouting the market in the coming months to identify a handful of players who could potentially succeed the Belgian pairing.

And according to a recent report from the Daily Record, he is interested in signing Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, despite the fact he has struggled for form during his time at Old Trafford.

Bailly’s failure to establish himself as a first-team regular at United will undoubtedly be enhancing Levy’s interest in the Ivory Coast international due to his increased power on the negotiating table, but his inability to prove that he is worthy of a starting berth over the likes of Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof is exactly why Spurs must abandon their pursuit.

If Levy is serious about taking Spurs to the next level, he simply cannot follow up a game-changing stadium move with a sideways transfer decision of this nature, especially considering the calibre of player he is likely to replace in Tottenham’s back-four.

After watching the partnership of Alderweireld and Vertonghen blossom into one of the best in world football, Mauricio Pochettino will be acutely aware of the need to sign players of immense talent to step into their shoes, and Bailly does not fit that description.

Both Pochettino and the Spurs supporters deserve better from their owner after the farce which has unfolded in 2018, and he will fail the most important people at the club if he decides to sign the unconvincing outcast.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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Leeds United could do with another forward in the January transfer window, and the club should consider a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Benny Ashley-Seal.

What’s the word, then?

Leeds sit third in the Championship table ahead of the return of domestic action this weekend, and Marcelo Bielsa’s side are actually the second-highest scorers in the Championship this season behind West Bromwich Albion.

Kemar Roofe has seven Championship goals to his name this term, but the majority of the other strikes have been shared around.

Bielsa recently admitted that it would be difficult for his team to sign any new players during the January transfer window, but the loan market should be considered.

And Wolves teenager Ashley-Seal could turn out to be a very smart signing.

The 19-year-old has been in red-hot form for Wolves’ Under-23 outfit this term, and might well be available on a short-term basis at the start of 2019.

Ashley-Seal? Tell me more…

Ashley-Seal has struck 10 times in just six Premier League 2 appearances for Wolves’ Under-23 side this season.

The forward also made his first-team debut for Wolves earlier this season, appearing in the second round of the EFL Cup against Sheffield Wednesday before also featuring against Leicester City in round three.

Ashley-Seal is unlikely to see too much first-team action in the coming months, however, and a loan move to a Championship club certainly makes sense.

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The former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur youngster has bags of pace and power, while his goalscoring record this season has to be respected.

Ashley-Seal is destined to become a first-team star at Wolves, but he could certainly help fire Leeds to the Premier League in the second half of the 2018-19 campaign.