Tottenham Hotspur have received a potential blow in their bid to sign one of their top transfer targets, after Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Barcelona have opened talks for him.

After two demoralising Premier League campaigns that ended in successive 17th-placed finishes, expectations and excitement are building ahead of the 2026-27 season for Tottenham.

New manager Roberto De Zerbi steered the club to safety last term, and he is now working with club chiefs to ensure they have a squad that will be nowhere near the bottom three again in the upcoming campaign.

Spurs have already added half-a-dozen new faces to their squad before pre-season started, although the Italian has confirmed that he still wants to add more attacking players to his squad ahead of the summer window closing on September 1.

Romano: Barcelona Open Talks to Sign Junior Kroupi

via Reuters

In a brand-new update posted on his official YouTube channel on Monday afternoon, Romano issued an update on Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi, who is attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Tottenham are said to be targeting a move for the young French forward even if they land top winger target Savinho from Manchester City, but now they have been joined in the race by Barcelona.

According to the Italian journalist, the Catalan giants have held discussions with both the player’s camp and the Cherries over a move.

He said: “One name to watch in the next weeks of transfer window is Junior Kroupi, the striker from Bournemouth.

“According to my information, Barcelona opened talks with people close to Kroupi and spoke also to Bournemouth about Kroupi as a possibility upfront. So Barcelona took some information and made some calls to understand the situation.

“He’s a player they appreciate. So for sure, the name of Kroupi is a name to keep under consideration for Barcelona. The problem is that this deal is also very complicated because Bournemouth don’t want to sell the player this summer. Bournemouth insist on keeping Kroupi at the club this summer, and so it’s not easy for Barcelona.”

Tottenham Move Into Pole Position to Sign £70m Star

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Reports on Sunday claimed that Tottenham have now moved to the front of the queue to sign Savinho from City, with negotiations over a deal ‘well advanced’.

Serie A giants AC Milan are also in the race for the Brazil international after failing with an ambitious approach to sign his City teammate Phil Foden, who has since signed a new long-term contract to stay at the Etihad.

City are said to be open to letting Savinho leave the club this summer after rejecting Spurs’ advances 12 months ago, but they want to land their own targets first.

One recent report suggested that the north Londoners have made a £70m offer for the 22-year-old, as they look to land De Zerbi’s number one left-winger target.

It remains to be seen where Jadon Sancho will end up following his release from Manchester United this summer.

The 26-year-old is on the lookout for a new club, with his £73million “dream” move to United turning into something of a nightmare and his contract running down this summer.

Sancho had four impressive seasons in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund from 2017 to 2021, leading United to splash out big money on his signature.

Things did not go to plan for the player who has been described as a “generational talent” in the past. He made 83 appearances for United across five seasons, and was sent out on loan to three different clubs – back to Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Sancho was a sensational talent as a teenager

No one could get a tune out of the forward. His former England U15 and U16 coach Dan Micciche said: “When he came to us as a 15-year-old, Jadon was sensational. And I don’t say that lightly.”

He played alongside Erling Haaland at Dortmund, with the Norwegian striker saying: “Me and Jacon understood each other very well, he’s a top player.”

He had a big falling out with former United boss Erik ten Hag and when he made the move to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea actually ended up paying United not to sign him, having reneged on a £25million obligation to sign him permanently.

Just five years ago the forward had the world at his feet and had his pick of clubs to move to. Now he is a free agent and it looks like he is scrabbling around for interest.

Sancho left to look elsewhere as transfer falls through

According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Qatari side Al Rayyan made an initial inquiry over signing the frontman three weeks ago. However, no talks have taken place since and Al Rayyan are not expected to follow up with any further talks.

Sancho is understood to be exploring all options, including other possibilities in both the Middle East and Europe.

Given his performances for Chelsea and Villa, it would appear unlikely that anyone in the Premier League would take a punt on the 26-year-old this summer, particularly given his wage demands are likely to be sky high too.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now over, and what a tournament it was. In a competition full of brilliance on the pitch, as well as drama both on and off it, it was Spain who emerged victorious as they beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Attention now turns to the next World Cup, which will be held in 2030. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, while Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will all also host a match in honour of the 100th anniversary of the first edition in 1930.

Despite the tournament being four years away, we have asked ChatGPT to predict the 48 teams that will qualify for the 24th edition of the World Cup and exactly how it will play out.

Group Stage

REUTERS/Mike Segar

2026 World Cup winners Spain will be one of the favourites to retain their title in 2030, and they are predicted to cruise through their group as winners. AI also thinks England, France, Argentina and Portugal will win their group.

Italy didn’t qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but, not only are they expected to qualify for the 2030 edition, they are expected to cruise through the group stage.

The United States, Mexico, the Netherlands and Morocco are among the teams predicted to qualify for the knockout rounds by virtue of finishing second in their group, while Croatia, Egypt and Australia all scrape through after finishing third.

Among the teams that are predicted to be eliminated from the group stage include China, New Zealand, Ghana, Canada and Iran.

Last 32

REUTERS/Lee Smith

2026 World Cup co-hosts Mexico and USA both impressed before being knocked out in the last 16. They aren’t expected to go as far in 2030 as they bow out in the first knockout round, losing to Norway and Argentina respectively.

Switzerland made it to the quarter-finals in 2026 before losing to Argentina in the quarter-final. AI thinks they will be beaten by Nigeria in the last 32 in four years’ time. Co-hosts Morocco suffers the same fate after losing 2-1 to Turkey.

Among the teams that cruise through to the last 16 include Spain, England, Portugal and France, who beat Australia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Algeria respectively.

Last 16

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Without doubt the biggest tie of the round sees Argentina face France in a repeat of the 2022 final. Argentina, who will most likely be without Lionel Messi in 2030, are beaten 3-1 by Les Bleus.

Like Argentina, Portugal will almost certainly be without their greatest ever player in 2030: Cristiano Ronaldo. They crashed out of the 2026 World Cup at the last 16 stage, and they are predicted to do the same in four years’ time, with a 2-1 defeat to Norway.

Italy and Belgium are also among the sides that exit the competition at the last 16 stage, while Nigeria and Turkey’s dream runs continue with victories over Colombia and the Netherlands respectively.

Quarter-Finals

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England, should they not emerge triumphant on home soil at Euro 2028, will be on a 64-year major trophy drought when the 2030 World Cup comes around. Their long wait for a trophy is expected to go on as reigning champions Spain beat them 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

Brazil are the most successful nation in World Cup history with five titles. They are predicted to avenge their defeat to Norway in 2026 and progress to the semi-finals.

Germany recently appointed Jurgen Klopp and, should he remain in his role, could still be in charge in 2030. The four-time world champions are predicted to lose to France after extra-time in their quarter-final clash.

Incredibly, AI is predicting Nigeria and Turkey to play each other in the quarter-finals of the competition. The African side are expected to win the match 1-0 thanks to a goal from Victor Boniface.

Semi-Finals

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Sam Navarro

In AI’s simulation, co-hosts Spain will face Brazil in the first semi-final, while France and Nigeria will face off in the second semi-final.

Brazil will be looking to become world champions for the first time since 2002 in 2030, but their hopes are dashed when they lose 2-1 to Spain after extra-time. AI is predicting Lamine Yamal to score a 113th minute winner for the remaining champions.

While ChatGPT thinks that Nigeria’s remarkable run will come to an end after pushing France all the way. They take the lead through Boniface but goals from Warren Zaïre-Emery and Desire Doue ensure Les Bleus recover from an early setback and qualify for another World Cup final.

Third-Place Match and Final

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

In 2022, Morocco became the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. They were beaten by Croatia in the third-place playoff. ChatGPT thinks Nigeria will suffer the same fate in 2030 as it predicts them to lose 3-1 to Brazil.

AI has backed Spain to play France in a repeat of the 2026 World Cup semi-final. Spain got the better of France in 2026 as they won 2-0, and they are predicted to get the better of Les Bleus again.

According to AI, Nico Williams will give Spain an early lead, only for Kylian Mbappe to equalise shortly after half-time. Yamal scores what turns out to be the winner in the 81st minute as he ‘produces another decisive performance on the biggest stage.’