Tottenham lead frantic £50m midfielder race as West Ham hold key talks and Chelsea target agrees deal

With the final month of the transfer window very nearly upon, expect the barrage of speculation to grow ever wilder and ever more fervent by the day. Inflated price tags, last second swoops, unexpected raids; nothing is off limits.

And if Friday’s Premier League transfer rumours are anything to go by, the mad dash to the finish line might already be getting underway. Check out the best of today’s gossip below...

West Ham open McTominay talks

Some transfers just feel right. Even before they are announced you can envisage the scarf pic, you can see in your mind’s eye the player concerned striding out of various top flight tunnels across the land in the unfamiliar colours of their new club. Scott McTominay to West Ham is one such transfer.

According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Hammers have held ‘initial talks’ with Manchester United over the possibility of a deal to replace Declan Rice with the Lancaster-born midfielder this summer, as well as sounding out a potential agreement for defender Harry Maguire.

It is understood, however, that at the present moment in time, the two clubs’ valuations of both players are still some distance apart.

The 3AM Verdict: West Ham desperately need to bring in midfield reinforcements this summer having lost Rice, and they could do an awful lot worse than McTominay. The Scotland international is a physical presence with plenty of pedigree and top flight experience, and if they can bag him for a decent price, this would be a smart move.

Chelsea suffer Dybala blow

Elsewhere, Chelsea have suffered a serious blow in their reported bid to sign AS Roma forward Paulo Dybala, with the Argentine opting to pen a fresh deal in Italy this summer. The Blues have been linked with a potential swoop for the 29-year-old in recent weeks, but look as if their efforts will be thwarted.

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Dybala is set to sign a contract extension with Jose Mourinho’s side that will keep him with his current employers until 2026. The South American’s new deal will also include an increased released clause.

The 3AM Verdict: If Chelsea’s interest in Dybala was genuine, then this represents a notable blow to their hopes of signing him any time soon. In truth, however, there are probably a plethora of other, younger targets that they could look to bring in an effort to strengthen their front line this summer. For now, however, the priority surely has to be filling out their skeletal midfield.

Tottenham lead Gallagher race

And finally, Tottenham look to have leapfrogged West Ham in the race to sign Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. The Hammers are understood to have a bid of around £40 million rejected for the England international, and according to the Telegraph, could now turn their attention to Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.

That in turn could open the door for Spurs to swoop for Gallagher, although doubts still remain over Chelsea’s willingness to sell the midfielder this summer. If they do decide to sell, a fee of as much as £50 million could be required.

The 3AM Verdict: So much of this could hinge on whether or not Chelsea are able to sign a new midfielder or two in the coming weeks. If they do, there is no reason why they shouldn’t soften their stance on offloading Gallagher - for the right price, of course. If they don’t, however, then Ange Postecoglou’s men could be in for a real tough time of it.