Man Utd line up latest blockbuster summer transfer while Spurs swoop for £30m rising star

Spurs are kicking their transfer window into gear and they seem to be treating it like they’re shopping at ASOS, adding half of the centre-backs in Europe to their basket as they frantically check the returns policy.

HITC report that they’ve “made their move” with a bid in the region of £30m for Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven, impressed by his ball-playing skills and keen to provide the Premier League with its first Micky of the 21^st century. Somewhere in Liverpool, Micky Queen is smiling beneath his bristling moustache.

Sky Sports, however, have also identified no fewer than three other defenders on the shopping list, with Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo, Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and a permanent deal for former loanee Clement Lenglet all options. Those three do seem the most likely to be crudely packed back into a cardboard box with a returns label slapped on top as it stands.

The 3AM Verdict: Van de Ven is an interesting player, extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet and with a decent passing range – a distinctly modern centre-half, in other words. He’s also only 22, which partly explains the relatively steep asking price. He usually plays on the left side of a back two but can play left-back too, should he need to, so adds a little bit of versatility into the mixer. Could well be a very handy signing…

United go gaga for Onana

Up in Manchester, Sky Sports report that United have made a move for Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana, who was managed by Erik Ten Hag back at Ajax. The bid is apparently set at £38.5m, which won’t be enough – but the good news is that Onana seems keener on trying his luck in the Premier League than he is on a big fat pay cheque in Saudi Arabia, which has also been mooted.

Apparently United have also made their long-suggested move for Atalanta’s Danish striker Rasmus Højlund, whose stock rose significantly when he smashed five goals in two games for Denmark in European Championship qualifying. No word on the price point beyond the claim that the Red Devils have come in a bit too low to start, but that’s just the art of haggling for you. Can’t do that with ASOS.

The 3AM Verdict: Together with the reports that United withdrew a contract offer at the eleventh hour, it looks like this spells the end for David De Gea’s career in Salford. Onana has been linked with a host of clubs but nobody else has made a move just yet, so United could be in the clear. Højlund, meanwhile, is a very talented number nine who hasn’t yet proven that he can be a regular goalscorer at the top level – but would be a very able deputy for Marcus Rashford as he learns his trade. One for the future, for sure.

The Arda they come, the Arda they fall

Another transfer saga looks set to be concluded, this time over in Spain, where supposed Newcastle United target and all-round hypertalent Arda Güler seems to have made up his mind. He’s off to Real Madrid, with a bid of around €20m plus a 20% sell-on clause all ready to go – that’s according to 90min, anyway.

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A few days ago it had been suggested that Ajax were the favourites for the promising Turk but Real have persuaded him to make the move to Spain, while Barcelona’s last-minute bid appears to have been blown out of the water. If Newcastle ever made a bid themselves then a) it wasn’t made public and b) they have lost their collective minds.

The 3AM Verdict: It’s hard to understate how good Arda could be. He’s already a brilliant player and alongside Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga manages to make Real’s young midfield even more terrifying than it already was. Likely to absolutely light up the biggest stages before too long – but sadly not the Premier League, at least for now.