BROOKS EYED
At 21, and with six goals and four assists to his name in his first season in the Premier League, David Brooks does feel like a rather natural fit for Tottenham. So much so that ‘there have been questions asked within’ their ‘scouting unit’ as to why they didn’t sign him earlier.

They will look to rectify that supposed mistake this summer. A Daily Mirror exclusive reports that Spurs ‘are preparing’ to make a £50m bid to ward off Manchester United and prise Brooks from Bournemouth.

Brooks cost Bournemouth around £11.5m when he joined from Sheffield United last summer, and he has developed into quite the player ever since. Eddie Howe obviously wants to keep him and ‘will try and fend off all offers’, but both manager and club ‘are aware of the player’s ambitions’.

 

CHELSEA DAGGER
Yet even if Spurs do get their man, it might not be Mauricio Pochettino who signs him. In a sensational example of adding two and two and coming up with 427, the Daily Express say Chelsea could steal him from north London.

Chelsea reportedly first held talks with the Argentine in May 2016, then identified him as Antonio Conte’s replacement two years later.

Those previous approaches make up the entirety of rugby editor Neil Fissler’s claim, as he says Maurizio Sarri could be sacked if Chelsea’s ‘alarming dip in form’ continues, and ‘that will mean they start the search for another manager and they were interested in Mauricio Pochettino last summer’.

Of course, Chelsea’s ‘alarming dip in form’ now amounts to seven wins in 11 games – a run which has included them reaching the final of the League Cup and fifth round of the FA Cup.

Oh, and Tottenham aren’t just going to let their best manager in modern history leave so easily to a direct rival. Fissler adds that Chelsea would be looking at ‘upwards of £50m in compensation’ for Pochettino, which is more guesswork but underlines just how difficult it would be to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

We think he’d rather not be able to sign anyone ever again than have little to no long-term job security.

 

POGBACK AGAIN
Our final claim is that Juventus want to team Aaron Ramsey up with Paul Pogba. Sexy.

An exclusive from iBiancoNero (yep, us neither) says re-signing Pogba from Manchester United remains The Old Lady’s ‘number one goal’. The Frenchman will only stay at Old Trafford if they qualify for the Champions League which, despite their recent upturn in form, is still far from certain.

If Juventus do not get Pogba for whatever reason, their Tanguy Ndombele is next on their list of targets. And he’s pretty bloody good too. And far more likely to join.

 

AND THE REST
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wants to sign Leicester and England defender Ben Chilwell, 22, and Crystal Palace’s England Under-21 right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 21, in the summer… Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, 28, to follow France forward Anthony Martial, 23, by signing a new contract… Bayern Munich are already plotting a new £45m bid for Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi, 18… Arsenal believe they could be favourites to sign Paris St-Germain’s French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 23, who is available on a free transfer in the summer.