Euro Paper Talk: Tottenham ramp up bid to sign elite striker and centre-back in explosive £81m double deal; Man Utd battle Arsenal for wantaway Barcelona star

Tottenham are chasing a potentially huge double deal for an elite Ligue 1 striker and a top Bundesliga centre-back, while Manchester United are ready to go head-to-head with Arsenal and Spurs for a wantaway Barcelona sensation – all in Thursday’s European transfer gossip.

POSTECOGLOU EYES STUNNING DOUBLE SPURS DEAL

Tottenham are well known to be on the lookout for a new striker to replace the departed Harry Kane and it appears that there are ready to make a move for Fabio Paratici’s preferred option before the Italian’s exit.

The Spurs attack disappointed in the season opener at Brentford, with defenders Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal scoring in the 2-2 draw.

Richarlison was handed his chance through the middle and was barely involved, while new skipper Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski were also quiet in what was an otherwise positive display from Ange Postecoglou’s side.

It appears, though, that a new spark is needed in their attack and according to transfer insider Ben Jacobs and a move for Lille frontman Jonathan David cannot be ruled out.

Former sporting director Paratici remains a big fan of the Canada international and was monitoring his progress closely before having to step down from his role back in March.

But Jacobs claims that David was the ‘most likely target’ for Paratici to replace Kane at Tottenham and that a move still cannot be ruled out.

He told the Daily Briefing: “Spurs must now find a replacement. Talk of that being Romelu Lukaku has been dismissed.

“Before Fabio Paratici left Spurs, the most likely target, if Kane left, was Lille’s Jonathan David. An approach still can’t be ruled out.”

The Canadian, who is considered among the ‘elite’ strikers in European football, scored 26 goals in all competitions for Lille last season. However, he will not come cheap, with the French side wanting a fee as high as £51million for David – as reported by Rudy Galetti.

Tottenham also chasing another centre-back

Meanwhile, Postecoglou continues to be on the hunt for another centre-back and it appears an old target could be back on his radar.

Reports on Thursday suggest that Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie is once again being tipped to join Tottenham before the window shuts.

The Ecuador international is currently valued at £30million, which is significantly cheaper than his centre-back partner Edmond Tapsoba who has also been heavily linked with Spurs.

That would mean a potential outlay of around £81m for two key positions, although Daniel Levy did pocket an initial £86m for Kane – so both deals are firm possibilities.

READ MORE: Mbappe, Neymar, Messi and the end of PSG’s bling-bling era

MAN UTD TO BATTLE ARSENAL FOR BARCA ACE

Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are sure to be on high alert as Ansu Fati edges towards a Barcelona exit. (AS)

Milan have sounded out Moise Kean’s availability with Juventus although Chelsea’s Armando Broja remains the primary target for the Rossoneri. (Sky Sport Italia)

Barcelona will make an approach for Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda if they do not make progress with a loan move for Man City’s Joao Cancelo. (Marca)

Juventus remain keen on signing Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi this summer. (Calciomercato)

Roma are in talks with Atalanta for Duvan Zapata although Braga forward Abel Ruiz has also emerged as a potential target for the Giallorossi. (Sky Sport Italia)

Inter‘s deal to sign Lazar Samardzic from Udinese is off and the Nerazzurri are now planning to sign a new centre-back instead, with Manchester United target Benjamin Pavard and Giorgio Scalvini on their agenda. (Sky Sport Italia)

HOJBJERG ON BRINK ON ATLETICO SWITCH

Atletico Madrid are closing in on the signing of Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for a fee of around €25m. (Ekstra Bladet)

Sevilla have rejected the latest offer from Aston Villa for Marcos Acuña, with the Spanish side still not keen on the sale. (El Chiringuito)

Stefan Ortega’s potential move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich is ‘close to being off now’ as Pep Guardiola is refusing to let the goalkeeper depart. (Florian Plettenberg)

Barcelona are hoping to make further sales during the final weeks of the transfer window and are ready to let Marcos Alonso move on. (Football Espana)

Talks are progressing well between Union Berlin and Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci over a switch to Germany for the veteran Italy defender. (Relevo)

Las Palmas are chasing a deal to sign Maximo Perrone on loan from Manchester City. (Fabrizio Romano)