Chelsea 'not scared' by £86m release clause as Tottenham and Man Utd eye Champions League sensation

We begin Thursday's Premier League transfer rumour round-up with news of Tottenham Hotspur and their ongoing hunt for a new centre-back. Ange Postecoglou's men are expected to bring in defensive reinforcements in January following an injury to summer signing Micky van de Ven, and the latest name linked with north London is that of Torino star Alessandro Buongiorno.

According to Roma Metropolitan Magazine, Spurs are one of several Premier League clubs, alongside the likes of West Ham and Chelsea, who are tracking the 24-year-old's progress, and they could be tempted by the prospect of a winter swoop following his wholly impressive start to the current campaign. It is understood that a bid of around £26 million could be enough to 'satisfy' Torino and tempt them into a sale.

The 3AM Verdict: It is becoming increasingly evident that Spurs have their heart set on signing a defender this January. With several names in the running, it remains to be seen whether Buongiorno is their man, or whether they will instead opt for one of several other touted options, but at the very least, if this report is to be believed, it just goes to show that they are casting their net far and wide.

Chelsea keen on Gyokeres

Elsewhere, Chelsea have once again been linked with a prospective move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede has been in electric form since moving to Portugal from Coventry City over the summer, registering 17 goals and eight assists in just 20 outings thus far.

As such, it is perhaps unsurprising to read reports suggesting that he has a release clause of around £86.6 million written into his deal in Lisbon. Portuguese outlet Report state that the 25-year-old will not be allowed to leave the club for anything less than that figure, but fellow publication Correio da Manhã claim that the exorbitant price tag ‘does not scare’ the Blues, who are expected to keep tabs on Gyokeres going forward.

The 3AM Verdict: Credit where it is due, Gyokeres has been nothing short of magnificent fort Sporting so far this season, but perhaps a touch more patience would be advisable on Chelsea's part. £86 million is an awfully large outlay for a player who has only been playing in the Portuguese top flight for half a campaign. Maybe if we get to the summer and Gyokeres has continued his hot streak then that kind of money would be realistic, but for now, we urge caution.

Bardghji for sale?

And finally, according to 90min, Danish giants FC Copenhagen are 'ready to sell' teenage prospect Roony Bardghji during the January transfer window. The attacker, who only turned 18 in November, is being scouted by the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea.

The starlet has already scored 11 goals in 30 outings this season, including a strike in the Champions League against United, and has thus established himself as one of the most hotly-tipped emerging talents in European football. Chelsea are understood to be eager to beat the chasing pack for the Swede, but will face stiff competition, not just from United and Spurs, but also from Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Newcastle United, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Marseille, Monaco, Napoli, and PSV Eindhoven.

The 3AM Verdict: That's quite the list of suitors, isn't it? In fairness, Bardghji's meteoric rise suggests that he is going to be a player who can make a real impact at the top level for years to come, and to that end, it make a lot more sense to try and sign him now than it would to wait three or four years when he could be worth tens of millions more. That being said, with so many admirers, it is all but futile to properly guess as to where he might end up, if he does leave Denmark at all this winter.