Newcastle and Spurs 'open talks' with £25m defender as Man City make January loan move

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made the first moves to sign one of Ligue 1’s most highly-rated young defenders.

The Magpies are believed to be keen to add to their defensive ranks over the next two transfer window as the likes of Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles are now over 30 and a long-term partner for Sven Botman is said to be high on their list of priorities. Injuries have ravaged Spurs’ defensive options during the first half of what has been a difficult season for head coach Ange Postecoglou - and both Premier League rivals are now said to be ready to progress with a move for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

Despite being only 20-years-old, the 18-times capped Uzbekistan international has quickly become a key figure with the Ligue 1 outfit and has already made 16 appearances in all competitions so far this season. TBR Football have claimed Spurs and Newcastle have ‘commenced talks’ with Lens and Khusanov, who is said to be rated at around £25m once add-ons are included. Leeds are also named as a possible suitor but the young defender is said to be ‘unconvinced a move to a second-tier club would be the right move’.

The 3AM Verdict: “Khusanov is still learning his trade after joining Lens during the summer of 2023 and it feels like an outlay of £25m would be a risk. That said, his impressive performances this season may well have persuaded both Premier League clubs that risk is one that is worth taking.”

City make decision over young midfielder’s immediate future

Manchester City have made a bold decision over the future of young midfielder Claudio Echeverri.

The 18-year-old joined the reigning Premier League champions last January but was allowed to remain with River Plate on a year-long loan to continue his development with his boyhood club. Their decision appears to have paid off after Echeverri scored four goals and provided six assists in 41 appearances in all competitions - but the Manchester Evening News has now claimed the youngsters development at City will get underway when he moves to the Etihad Stadium next month.

However, Echeverri will be allowed to represent Argentina at the upcoming South American Under-20 Championship in a move similar to the one they utilised with Maximo Perrone when he joined City from Velez Sarsfield in January 2023.

The 3AM Verdict: “City’s development of young players has really come to the fore in recent years and they will be hoping Echeverri is the next prospect to really hit their stride under Pep Guardiola.”

Hammers summer signing ‘struggling’

Crysencio Summerville has been told he must ‘knock on the door a bit more emphatically’ if he is to move on from an underwhelming opening six months at West Ham United.

The former Netherlands Under-21 international joined the Hammers from Leeds United in a deal believed to be worth around £25m in August after scoring 25 goals and providing 12 assists in 89 appearances in all competitions during a four-year stay at Elland Road. However, life with Julen Lopetegui’s side has been far from easy for Summerville and he has just two goal contributions in 20 appearances so far this season. Former Swansea City winger Cedric Van der Gun has assessed Summerville’s impact at West Ham so far this season and believes the Hammers winger has to do more to justify his price tag.

As per Voetbal Premier, he said: “He was brought in for a considerable amount, but that applies to several players there. Füllkrug, for example. He actually disappoints me more than Summerville. The only thing I think of Summerville is that I have the idea that he is also struggling physically. In the Premier League, a lot is really asked of you physically. So maybe he will slowly grow into that role. But in a match like this (against Liverpool), where West Ham are missing a few players, you would have hoped he would be in. But then Lopetegui chooses others. Summerville is more of a substitute this season, but you still hope he can knock on the door a bit more emphatically.”

The 3AM Verdict: “Summerville is far from the only Hammers player that has struggled so far this season and there is unquestionably an improvement required across the board during the second half of the campaign.”