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Crystal Palace are in loan talks to bring Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou to the Premier League, according to reliable reports.

Who is Odilon Kossounou?

Kossounou is naturally a centre-back who has plied his trade at the BayArena since 2021 having moved there from Club Brugge, and during his two years at the club, he’s so far made a total of 68 appearances to date.

However, the 22-year-old was slightly out of favour under Xabi Alonso last season having been handed just 17 Bundesliga starts out of 34 matches, so he will know that he’ll likely have to make a move elsewhere should he want to receive more regular game time moving forward.

The Ivory Coast international still has another three years remaining on his contract over in Germany, but he appears to have been highlighted as an ideal target by Roy Hodgson who may need to enter the market to find reinforcements in the heart of his defence.

Chelsea are reportedly targeting a summer swoop for Marc Guehi and Newcastle United are believed to be interested in Joachim Andersen so there is a chance that one or both of the duo could depart before the end of the transfer window, and should that be the case, the boss has already set his sights on a potential new recruit.

Are Crystal Palace signing Odilon Kossounou?

According to The Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are “in talks” to sign Kossounou on loan this summer. The Eagles “want” to take on a new centre-back to make sure that they aren’t left with a lack of options and are therefore “trying to negotiate” a temporary switch with an obligation to buy for a fee in the region of £24m.

Bayer Leverkusen’s star is “highly rated” overseas and “would be a welcome addition” for Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman in SE25.

How good is Odilon Kossounou?

Crystal Palace will know that Kossounou wasn’t given a fair chance to prove himself last season, but Hodgson would likely be able to give him the minutes he requires should he put pen to paper, and with a “crazy amount of talent” on offer, as lauded by football scout Jacek Kulig, the centre-back could be a fantastic acquisition.

The Abidjan native averaged 2.3 clearances and 1.3 aerial wins per league game during the previous campaign, via WhoScored, so was a real rock in the middle of the backline, but he is also capable of contributing to efforts in the final third.

Bayer’s 6 foot 3 colossus ranks in the 93rd percentile for progressive carries so loves to push his team up the pitch which, over the course of his career, has resulted in him providing five assists and even scoring one goal himself, as relayed by Transfermarkt.

The Selhurst Park outfit are reportedly in discussions regarding a loan deal for Chelsea left-back Lewis Hall, but Kossounou could be set to follow in his footsteps and walk through the doors alongside him if the above update is to be believed.

There is likely to be a great deal of trepidation in the air for Leeds United supporters, who will be desperate to keep hold of midfielder Tyler Adams despite falling into the Championship this year.

Leeds endured a torrid campaign that saw two managerial dismissals before Sam Allardyce was handed the reins in the closing weeks of the season in a final scramble for salvation.

It didn't work, and Daniel Farke – formerly of Norwich City and, more recently, Borussia Mönchengladbach – now prepares to lead the club back into the Premier League instantaneously.

He has already completed deals for goalkeeper Karl Darlow and defender/holding midfielder Ethan Ampadu, and now could look to improve the Whites' centre further by signing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.

Are Leeds trying to sign Glen Kamara?

According to a report from the Yorkshire Evening Post earlier this month, Leeds have looked at completing a deal for Kamara this summer, with the 27-year-old midfielder believed to hold a £5m release clause in his contract.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Leeds could do with another centre-midfielder following the departures of Brenden Aaronson and Marc Roca on loan this summer, and if Adams were to leave too, it would only intensify the need for another fresh face.

How good is Glen Kamara?

Having played 193 fixtures for the Gers since arriving from Dundee for a paltry £50k, scoring nine goals and supplying 11 assists, Kamara has been an integral part of the club's recent resurgence and has gleaned the Premiership and Scottish Cup.

The 52-cap Finland international was once called a "terrific footballer in possession" by former boss Steven Gerrard, and this can certainly play to his favour as Farke will likely target such a midfielder given his possession-based style – according to WhoScored, Kamara boasts a career average pass success rate of 89.3%.

While not a like-for-like replacement, the former Arsenal youngster could be the perfect remedy for Leeds if Adams does indeed secure a reported move away from west Yorkshire over the coming weeks.

Ampadu, arriving from Chelsea for £7m, played the defensive midfield role on loan at Spezia last term, while Kamara is efficient himself, if not boasting the same output as Adams.

The USMNT star has been praised as a "tackling machine" by pundit Kevin Campbell and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 3% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Adams does not, however, boast the same level of ball-playing composure, and only completed 82% of his passes in the Premier League last season, whereas Kamara completed 89% in the Scottish first division.

And while Kamara did not enjoy the most successful of seasons last term, recording an average Sofascore rating of 6.7, his 7.01 score the previous campaign illustrates how effective he can be at his zenith.

Across the 21/22 term, he scored three goals and assists apiece, averaged 1.3 key passes per game, completed 91% of his passes and made one tackle per outing, praised as a "monster" by Gerrard.

That 'monster' tag indicates that he boasts the physicality and industriousness to thrive in Farke's system, and if Adams does indeed go, he would be an apt replacement given Ampadu has already been signed.

Everton appear to have missed out on a move for Almeria's El Bilal Toure, leaving supporters even more anxious ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign.

However, Italian outlet il BiancoNero reports that Everton have shown a concrete interest in Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior in what could be a rare smart piece of business from the Merseyside outfit.

Who are Everton trying to sign?

After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League on the final day of last season, Everton's squad was in need of some serious rebuilding this summer.

However, with two-and-a-half weeks to go until the new season kicks off, the Toffees have so far brought in only 38-year-old Ashley Young on a free transfer, plus Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal.

That is not to mention the fact that the likes of Yerry Mina, Tom Davies and Ellis Simms have all moved on and need to be replaced in the squad.

Bilal Toure has been strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park, but L'Equipe reports that the Almeria forward has instead opted to join Serie A side Atalanta.

Sean Dyche's men may now turn their focus to Iling-Junior, whom Gazzetta dello Sport previously reported could be available for as little as £10m due to Juventus needing to raise money.

How good is Samuel Iling-Junior?

Iling-Junior spent nine years in Chelsea's academy before making the switch to Juventus in 2020, and he was part of the Italian giants' first team within two years.

The England U20 international made his debut against Empoli last October and assisted goals in his next two appearances, against Benfica in the Champions League and Lecce in Serie A.

Iling-Junior, who does not turn 20 until October, scored his first – and so far only – senior goal in Juve's 2-0 win over Atalanta in May, but he has largely had to play a back-up role and the Bianconeri are reportedly open to offloading him.

Given his small valuation, Everton must ensure they see off rumoured competition from top-flight rivals Fulham and West Ham United – not least because the Englishman would provide an upgrade on Neal Maupay in attack.

Maupay struggled in his first season at Goodison Park after arriving in a £15m deal from Brighton & Hove Albion, scoring just one goal and assisting none in 27 Premier League outings last time out.

Used mainly as a centre-forward in a campaign in which Everton's star performer Dominic Calvert-Lewin spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch, Maupay's inability to either score or create was a huge factor in why the Toffees were involved in a relegation scrap.

Indeed, Maupay was described as "absolutely woeful" by football reporter Paul Brown towards the end of last season. A failure to bring in an upgrade could well lead to another dismal campaign on the blue half of Merseyside.

Looking at their figures from last season, there is no reason why the younger Iling-Junior – labelled "simply superb" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig for his performance in that aforementioned game against Benfica – cannot provide a better outlet than Maupay.

Taking all competitions into account, Iling-Junior was involved in 0.43 goals or assists per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, compared to 0.14 for Maupay. The 19-year-old also won more of his aerial duels (50% v 23.8%) and had a better take-on success percentage (42.9 v 36.8).

Iling-Junior was also stronger in defensive metrics such as tackles won per 90 (0.94 v 0.35) and recoveries (5.64 v 2.10), which will no doubt please Dyche.

Juve's decision to listen to offers for Iling-Junior seems bizarre on the face of it, but there will be no complaints from Everton supporters should their side land the hugely talented player.

Tottenham Hotspur have come alive this summer window, with Ange Postecoglou desperate to purge the club of what he sees as detrimental to its progress. However, it could now be another signing that helps push him towards the new level he seeks to attain.

Is Conor Gallagher leaving Chelsea?

The latest on the Lilywhites' transfer progress comes via the Daily Mail, who detail their interest in prying Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.

Having identified him as a midfield target to replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who continues to be linked with a switch to Atletico Madrid, the combative maestro could provide an all-action upgrade to help propel the club into a brighter, more exciting future.

It is noted further down the report that Spurs' Australian coach is a big admirer of the 23-year-old and his energetic approach, viewing him as a perfect fit for his plans.

Given the West London club commanded a £50m fee earlier this month, and have already offloaded Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City and Kai Havertz to Arsenal, perhaps they will finally refrain from allowing another of their stars to improve a rival unless they are sufficiently remunerated.

How good is Conor Gallagher?

Despite having endured a tough recent campaign, it is worth outlining how distracting the recent unsettled nature of Stamford Bridge must have been for all involved.

The true standout season for the young maestro came during his loan spell at Crystal Palace, where Patrick Vieira helped mould him into a key offensive threat from the engine room.

That 2021/22 term would see him score eight and assist a further five across all competitions, with his return to Chelsea expected to see his career progress. However, three managers throughout one year stunted that significantly.

In what has been something of a fire sale this summer for the Blues, Gallagher could mark a shrewd steal for Postecoglou, seeking to bolster his midfield with the perfect number eight to press from the front.

In fact, when compared against other midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 23% for tackles per 90, the top 4% for blocks per 90, and the top 3% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90, via FBref.

His dynamic and intelligent assets help him lead a press with success, and under the system that Postecoglou will employ, he could be key, especially when the words of journalist Tom Dutton are echoed:

"Conor Gallagher is bordering on irreplaceable. A monster in our midfield."

What further outlines his promise are the similarities he shares with another star youngster from within his national setup, Jude Bellingham.

Having moved to Real Madrid just this summer in a ground-breaking €103m (£88.5m) move, the 20-year-old is set to light up Spanish football with his similarly all-action style and creative threat.

FBref even seeks to emphasise the comparison by including the former Borussia Dortmund star on Gallagher's 'similar players' list.

His final year in Germany supports such a notion too, as alongside his 7.40 average rating in the Bundesliga, he would record 12 goal contributions, 1.1 key passes and 2.5 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

He too has that tough-tackling nature to pair with pure quality, for which he has been lauded by Phil Foden:

"He's one of the most gifted players I've ever seen. I don't see a weakness in his game, I think he's got everything. I'm sure he's going to be the best midfielder in the world."

Whilst his pedigree is far above that of Spurs' potential new signing, there is no reason to believe that Gallagher could not have an equally transformative effect on Postecoglou's team with all the similarities that make the Birmingham-born starlet so revered.

Celtic and Brendan Rodgers are thought to be interested in signing defender Jonny Evans on a free transfer.

Are Celtic signing Jonny Evans?

The Hoops have been busy so far this summer, bringing in midfielder Odin Thiago Holm from Valerenga and winger Marco Tilio from Melbourne City, with Rodgers reportedly being given a £30m transfer kitty following his return to Glasgow.

Jota has moved on to sign for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m, however, Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun is on course to come in, with a fee of just over £2m now agreed between the two clubs.

Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu, who has been on Celtic’s radar for some time now, could also be on the way to Parkhead, but it looks as if Rodgers would like to sign a player he knows well in Evans.

The Liverpool Echo shared a story regarding Evans' future in the last 48 hours, claiming that Everton are not in for the player despite reports. However, Celtic are thought to be keen.

"It is understood that Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring Evans to Celtic this summer. Rodgers, who worked with the 35-year-old at the King Power, returned to the Scottish giants last month, replacing Ange Postecoglou, who joined Tottenham Hotspur after delivering a treble last season."

Is Jonny Evans a free agent?

Evans, who actually doesn’t have a weak foot, as per Transfermarkt, is currently training with former side Manchester United. That’s because the 35-year-old’s deal with Leicester City expired at the end of June, making him a free agent.

A Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup winner, Evans is primarily a centre-back but can also turn out as a left-back if needed. Evans has made close to 500 senior appearances in England, 129 of which came under Rodgers at Leicester. The pair enjoyed a good relationship at the King Power, with the defender praising the Celtic boss following an incident with the Foxes back in 2021.

"The way the manager dealt with it was fantastic. He’s very decisive and he let all the other players know where he stood, he was very open with his dialogue, his communication. As players, you can only have respect for that."

Meanwhile, Rodgers has also hailed Evans in the past, describing him as a “top player” who is “super intelligent.

"I had always admired Jonny from afar, watching him at United. To play the games he did there at a young age tells you everything about him. I would not say anything has surprised me from working with him. I knew he was a top player.

"I see someone of great maturity. He knows the game at the highest level. He is a deep thinker about the game, a super intelligent guy. You can see that he watches football."

By the looks of things, a move to Glasgow for the Northern Irishman could well be one to keep an eye on over the coming days and weeks, and should he arrive, Evans would bring plenty of knowledge and versatility to the club’s backline.

After winning the World Cup with Argentina, and impressing at Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool fans will be eagerly anticipating Alexis Mac Allister’s first game in a Liverpool shirt next season.The £35m arrival could be one of the signings of the summer, especially given the price tag, as Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild his midfield.Alongside the Argentine will, of course, be fellow new arrival Dominik Szoboszlai. The former RB Leipzig midfielder has already impressed Liverpool fans in the infamous pre-season lactate test, winning his group with ease.More recently, however, it has been the turn of Mac Allister to impress, earning a reaction from Klopp after finding the back of the net in a recent training session.If the Liverpool boss couldn’t hold back his reaction in training, then who knows what he’ll do if Mac Allister scores a debut Premier League goal for the Reds against Chelsea in August.

What did Klopp say about Mac Allister?

As you can see in footage shared by the club’s Twitter page, the former Brighton man initially got a reaction from his new boss after fizzing an inch-perfect effort into the bottom right corner during a training match, leading the German to shout: “Wow, Macca!”

What really ignited Klopp, however, was the midfielder’s interception at the other end, with the manager passionately yelling: “I love it Mac Allister!”

It seems as though the Liverpool manager is already falling in love with his new player, who may well transform his side into title contenders, once more.

Mac Allister could make his unofficial Liverpool debut on Wednesday, as the Reds begin their pre-season fixtures against Karlsruher SC in Germany.

How old is Alexis Mac Allister?

Still only 24 years old, Mac Allister is entering his prime as we speak, making his £35m price tag even more of an outstanding bargain for Liverpool.

The Premier League giants are getting themselves a player capable of scoring goals, too. Last season, he was involved in 15 goals in all competitions last season, scoring 12, and assisting a further three.

For context of just how much he’ll add to the middle of the park at Anfield, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Curtis Jones, and Thiago Alcantara scored a combined three goals in the Premier League last season – all three of which were scored by Jones.

So, it’s clear that Mac Allister should be a huge upgrade on the current options at Anfield, and that should show on the pitch, as the Reds look to get back into the Premier League’s top four, and perhaps even mount an unexpected title charge.

Klopp may yet welcome more midfielders this summer, too, given that both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have been linked with moves away.

Fabinho, of course, has not travelled to Germany with the rest of the squad, as he looks to complete a move to Al-Ittihad, per Paul Joyce.

Henderson, meanwhile, has agreed personal terms with Al-Ettifaq, and is waiting for Liverpool to reach an agreement over the proposed fee, according to Fabrizio Romano.

If both players leave, then Klopp and co could turn to Romeo Lavia, who is on their shortlist, as per Romano. The Southampton teenager would complete Liverpool’s summer rebuild in midfield.

One way or another, the club’s squad is going to look a whole lot different by the time the current transfer window slams shut on 1 September.

Chelsea are believed to be interested in signing Montpellier attacker Elye Wahi this summer, rivalling Wolves for his signature in the process.

Who is Elye Wahi?

The 20-year-old is an exciting young footballer currently making a name for himself in his homeland of France, catching the eye with his performances for Montpellier over the past 12 months or so, in particular.

Wahi proved to be one of the standout attacking players in the whole of Ligue 1 last season, scoring a hugely impressive 19 goals in just 29 starts. He also chipped in with five assists for good measure, showcasing his potential and no doubt making various clubs take notice.

The youngster is also a three-cap and one-goal France Under-21s international, and he has represented his country at Under-20, Under-19, Under-18, Under-17 and Under-16 level, too, showing that he has been considered a prospect for a number of years now.

Wahi is contracted with Montpellier until the summer of 2025, and while that is still two years away, the French club may start to become wary that they are slowly running out of time when it comes to receiving the biggest amount of money for his signature.

With Chelsea eyeing up attacking signings ahead of the new Premier League season, it looks as though the French ace could be seen as a potential acquisition in the summer transfer window.

Could Chelsea sign Elye Wahi this summer?

According to a new report from French outlet L'Equipe, the Blues are interested in signing Wahi this summer, and have been negotiating with him over a move for a number of days. Wolves have been in the conversation for the Montepellier man, but it looks as though the English team mooted recently is Chelsea.

A bid of around €30m (£25.6m) could be enough for the west Londoners to get their man, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to turn his side's fortunes around after a dire 2022/23 campaign, with new signings vital for that to happen.

Wahi could be a brilliant signing by Chelsea before the new season starts, having been described as "a powerful, athletic and fast player with a range of dribbling skills where only he knows what he is going to do next" by former Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo in the past.

At just 20, he has already shown that he can excel in one of Europe's big five leagues, and while the step up to the Premier League is still great, he has all the time in the world to mature as a player and adjust to life in the division.

Chelsea are absolutely crying out for a young centre-forward who can spearhead the attack for many years to come, with the departed Kai Havertz and the ageing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also not the long-term solution moving forward.

Granted, there is still a rawness to Wahi's game that means another more experienced striker could also do with coming in, but he looks to have maturity beyond his years already, as highlighted by the relentless goal scoring form he produced in a Montpellier shirt last term.

Arsenal are reportedly one of the clubs interested in Israeli sensation Oscar Gloukh, as the Gunners eye reinforcements ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Mikel Arteta will hope to close the gap on Manchester City in making sufficient signings this summer, something that the Spaniard is seemingly mastering with Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber Emirates bound.

The Gunners will face competition for Gloukh, who has been linked with a potential move to north London from Austria.

Are Arsenal signing Oscar Gloukh?

As reported by The Guardian on Tuesday, Arsenal are one of the Premier League representatives eyeing RB Salzburg midfielder Oscar Gloukh.

The report names the Gunners, along with City and Tottenham as the side’s wanting to secure the teenager’s signature, stating that the player would ‘prefer’ to join an English or Spanish side next.

It's thought that all three of those clubs have made enquiries to sign the player too.

It was only in the winter window that the youngster was picked up by Salzburg from Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv for a fee of €7m (£6m), however, a sharp start to his budding career has suggested that another move could be on the cards.

How good is Oscar Gloukh?

Labelled a "wonderkid" by journalist Tom Maston, the teen lit up the recent U21 European Championships, where he actually played against Emile Smith Rowe's England on Wednesday night.

The Arsenal star bagged an assist as Gloukh's side exited the tournament following a 3-0 defeat. He did, however, bow out having created four big chances in the tournament, the most of any player, while also registering three assists.

Deployed primarily as an attacking midfielder for Salzburg, the 19-year-old clearly has talents in the final third, as further highlighted by his two goals and one assist since arriving in the Austrian Bundesliga.

In the Bundesliga, Gloukh created five big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 key passes, despite only averaging 52 minutes per game for his new club.

For Arsenal, the teenager’s talent is an exciting prospect when taking into consideration Arteta’s confidence in young players at the Emirates, with the Gunners averaging the joint-youngest team last season.

The north Londoners are expected to bid farewell to Granit Xhaka this summer, who could depart for a German Bundesliga return after an eventful seven years at the club.

The Swiss midfielder’s exit could allow for a new face to flourish in his place alongside Rice, with Gloukh signalling to be a perfect heir to the 30-year-old.

Hailed as being a “jewel” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager has been tipped by Kulig to become a “future legend of Israeli football” and could emulate the creative spark that Xhaka introduced to his game in the latter stages of his Arsenal career.

Typically used as a deep midfielder, the Swiss ace was identifiable as a hot-headed cog in the engine room, before displaying a more offensive role under Arteta, scoring nine times last term.

The 30-year-old averaged 1.3 key passes per game for the Gunners, as well as creating six big chances, just one more than Gloukh in his half-a-season at Salzburg, implying that the youngster could one day fill the void left by Xhaka’s departure.

One thing that is certain is that the club that secures the signing of the starlet will have an audacious talent on their hands, in a player that has a glass ceiling to his abilities in central midfield.

Aston Villa have started to make early moves in an attempt to bring Juventus star Federico Chiesa to the Premier League, according to reports.

What happened to Federico Chiesa?

Chiesa is a left-sided winger who currently plays his football at the Allianz Stadium, having permanently moved there last summer following a successful loan from Fiorentina.

Across both spells, he’s been a regular feature of Massimiliano Allegri’s squad when fit, making 94 appearances to date but missing large parts of the last 18 months due to a nasty ACL injury suffered mid-way through last season.

The Italy international’s contract with the Serie A outfit isn’t set to expire for another two years, but the level of his performances have attracted the attention of a couple of clubs in England, one of those being Unai Emery's side in the Midlands.

Speaking to Steve Wraith, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs name-checked the Villans as the “ones to watch” in the race for the 25-year-old despite also crediting Newcastle United with an interest, and NSWE already appear to be trying to convince him to join.

Are Aston Villa signing Chiesa?

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have made "concrete steps" for Chiesa and are, at present, the most interested suitor in the forward even though he's being targeted by Liverpool and the Magpies.

However, Juventus' star has assessed the project and has decided that it "does not convince" him, nor is he "enthusiastic" to complete the switch, so it doesn't sound like he will be putting pen to paper unless Monchi can do some serious convincing.

Aston Villa and indeed new President of Football Operations Monchi are showing plenty of ambition by targeting a player whose calibre is as high as Chiesa's, having been hailed as "one of the most exciting players around” by journalist Josh Bunting.

And despite the fact he’s not open to the move at this stage, he could be a fantastic recruit should he have a change of heart.

The Italy star, who pockets £153k-per-week, racked up seven goal contributions (five assists and two goals) in 21 Serie A outings last season and was averaging 4.34 shot-creating actions per 90, which was the third-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef.

The 2022/23 Champions League participant is also an extremely versatile operator having been deployed in seven various positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so all in all, he would be a great option for Emery to have at his disposal.

Tottenham Hotspur could unveil their new goalkeeper shortly after agreeing personal terms with Empoli titan Guglielmo Vicario, ending speculation over the club's pursuit of a new shot-stopper.

What's the latest on Guglielmo Vicario to Tottenham?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who has taken to Twitter to provide a series of updates on the situation, the latest of which claims that a €19m (£17m) official proposal is incoming after personal terms were agreed yesterday.

Signing on a five-year deal, Vicario would likely assume the No 1. role at the club after impressing in Serie A this year; Spurs 'keeper Hugo Lloris is expected to depart this summer and he is clearly viewed as the replacement.

The 26-year-old Italian has been favoured by the Lilywhites hierarchy despite also agreeing terms with Brentford's David Raya, deterred by the £40m asking price.

Should Tottenham sign Guglielmo Vicario?

The 35-year-old Lloris has been a stalwart for Tottenham since signing from Lyon for £12m in 2012, but having made four errors leading to goal this year – the most in the division – and with Tottenham shipping 63 strikes, change is understandably afoot.

And while Raya would have been an impressive appointment after starring with the high-flying Bees in the Premier League over the past several seasons, the shrewder route has been taken and could still bear fruit, with Vicario offering all the promise of a first-rate goalkeeper for years to come.

Hailed as an "extraordinary" talent by revered compatriot Gianluigi Buffon, Vicario recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.05 as Empoli finished 14th in Serie A, playing 31 matches, keeping seven clean sheets and making 97 saves at a rate of 69%.

As per FBref, the £18k-per-week star also ranks among the top 9% of positional peers throughout Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for touches per 90, which underscores his prowess as a ball-playing goalkeeper, something that could fit the philosophy of new Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou to a tee, having been lauded for bringing "a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play" by club chairman Daniel Levy.

It could replicate Spurs' recent success in bringing Cristian Romero over from Italian football, with the no-nonsense centre-back signing from Atalanta for £42m in 2021.

Despite the north London outfit's defensive woes, the Argentine World Cup champion has been hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" by Martin Keown and has earned his stripes through his tenacious grit, ranking among the top 5% of centre-halfs for tackles, the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 20% for interceptions per 90.

On top of the assurance that a burgeoning goalkeeper would bring, Spurs could continue their trend of fortifying the ranks from Serie A with the signing of Vicario, and it is a transfer that must be concluded swiftly ahead of a campaign of paramount importance.