Tottenham have reached an agreement with West Ham to sign midfielder Mateus Fernandes ahead of Manchester United.
Spurs set their sights on Portugal international Fernandes as a key figure in the club’s much-needed rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi, who masterminded Premier League safety at the expense of West Ham last month.
Fernandes had attracted admirers from across Europe with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United all interested in the 21-year-old.
However, after it emerged as a two-horse race between the English clubs, Tottenham won the race after they agreed to part with a guaranteed £85m (€98.6m) for the midfielder, it’s understood.
Former Southampton playmaker Fernandes will become Spurs’ fifth signing of a busy summer and represent the latest change in strategy for the north London outfit under majority owners the Lewis family.
The Lewis family, who run Tottenham’s majority shareholder ENIC, promised to be “all in” to fund the required rebuild to move De Zerbi’s side back up the Premier League table after back-to-back 17th-place finishes.
After Spurs’ previous rigid wage structure under former chairman Daniel Levy was cast aside this year by the Lewis family and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham to secure the additions of Conor Gallagher, Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, Fernandes’ anticipated move would break the club’s previous record transfer of Dominic Solanke for £65m (€75.4m) two years ago.
Frank Lampard has signed a new deal with Coventry until 2029.
The 48-year-old helped the Sky Blues earn promotion to the Premier League last season by winning the Sky Bet Championship.
Lampard took over at the Coventry Building Society Arena in November 2024 and helped the club to a play-off finish in his first season in charge before losing out to Sunderland in the semi-finals.
However, he helped the club return to the top flight after 25 years by finishing at the top of the Championship a year later.
The former Chelsea, Everton and Derby boss has won 45 out of his 82 matches in charge at the west midlands club.
He said: “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract, it’s a real honour to represent this club.
“After the incredible work of everybody to get promoted and win the Championship, it was important to enjoy the moment, and we certainly did as a city.
“Our job then as staff, and for the players of course, is to firstly recharge but also focus on what we want to do and what we need to for next season. There’s a lot of work to do on and off the pitch as a football club, so those things have been ongoing.
“I’m looking forward to getting back with the players, to see them all and get ready for the new season.”
Lampard will take charge of Coventry’s first Premier League game since 2001 when they come up against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Friday 21 August.
Brighton have announced the signing of Leeds central defender Pascal Struijk for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old ends an eight-year stay at Elland Road, after helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League twice. He made 196 appearances and scored 14 times.
The Dutchman’s contract was due to expire at the end of next season and he has decided to join the Seagulls – who will also compete in the Conference League – despite Leeds offering him a “significantly improved” contract.
Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos (above) has joined AC Milan from Paris Saint-Germain on a deal running until June 2031.
Milan paid more than €70m for the striker, making him the club’s most expensive player, Italian media said.
Ramos is the first major signing under new coach Ruben Amorim as Milan look to rebuild after a disappointing season in which they failed to qualify for the Champions League.