Transfer Gossip: Tottenham plot cut-price La Liga raid after surprise U-turn, with Conte star ‘under threat’

Tottenham are eyeing up a late raid on a La Liga club after an opportunity opened up, while more details have emerged about a Liverpool man’s departure – both in all the latest Transfer Gossip.

YANNICK CARRASCO EYED BY TOTTENHAM

Tottenham are plotting a late summer move for Atletico Madrid’s versatile star Yannick Carrasco, a report has claimed.

Spurs have enjoyed one of the best transfer windows of any Premier League club, making seven solid signings. They made inroads early on, with deals for the likes of Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma.

That has meant Tottenham have had more time to focus on outgoings. Harry Winks is leaving to add to the departures of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, among others.

However, Spurs‘ impressive summer strategy has also offered them the luxury of picking off late bonus signings to bolster their squad even more.

And according to The Telegraph, Belgium international Carrasco could be one of those.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte went after the 28-year-old in January, but a deal with Atletico failed to materialise. Indeed, Diego Simeone’s side were unwilling to let him leave in the winter.

But they have reportedly had a change of heart and Carrasco could now leave before the deadline. The La Liga club want to have breathing space on the league’s salary cap.

Carrasco, a 57-time Belgium international, has a £51.2million release clause but Atletico set his fee at £25million in earlier talks.

And they will once again sanction a move for ‘far less’ than his exit clause.

Conte admires Carrasco for his ability to contribute in attack and also as a wing-back. The Telegraph therefore claims that Emerson Royal’s place in the team looks like being most ‘under threat’.

Carrasco has played 222 games for Atletico, contributing 37 goals and 39 assists along the way. Should he stay fit, he can expect to perform for Belgium at the World Cup in Qatar.

Manchester United reportedly had interest in the attacker earlier this summer, before focusing on signing Ajax star Antony.

SEPP VAN DEN BERG LIVERPOOL TRUTH

Blackburn Rovers reportedly had an agreement in place for as long as two weeks before losing out on Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg.

The Dutch defender is instead closing in on a move to Bundesliga side Schalke, which will be his second loan spell away from Anfield.

However, Lancashire Live journalist Elliott Jackson says that Blackburn felt ‘confident’ of securing Van den Berg’s signature.

The Championship club in fact had a deal ready and waiting for the 20-year-old for two weeks.

In the end, though, the Reds defender sought pastures new after already playing in the English second tier for Preston North End.

Van den Berg has two years left on his Liverpool deal, so his spell in Germany will likely define his long-term Anfield future.

Blackburn have already signed Tyler Morton on loan from Liverpool this summer. In the 2020/21 season, meanwhile, they had Harvey Elliott – who is now a regular first-teamer for Jurgen Klopp.

As it stands, Van den Berg looks unlikely to follow in Elliott’s footsteps.

TRANSFER GOSSIP – LEICESTER EYE MIDFIELD SIGNING

Schalke midfielder Amine Harit could become Leicester’s first outfield signing of the summer, with the Foxes in talks.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have been the quietest Premier League club so far this summer, with goalkeeper Alex Smithies – signed on a free transfer – their only acquisition.

However, that could be about to change after the King Power Stadium club upped their interest in Morocco international Harit.

Sky Sports News now claims that Leicester – following previous reports of a desire to sign him – are now in talks with Schalke.

But the key sticking point of a move as it stands is that Leicester only want a loan transfer for the 25-year-old, who is in the final two years of his contract.

Schalke want to sell Harit instead as he has not yet made a matchday squad for them this term.

Leicester have been contrastingly busy on the departures front, with Wesley Fofana their latest first-team exit after Kasper Schmeichel and Hamza Choudhury.

Midfielders Youri Tielemans and James Maddison could also leave before Thursday’s transfer deadline.