Tottenham Hotspur have added Newcastle United transfer target Amar Dedic to their shortlist of Djed Spence replacements, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

Tottenham have already signed six new players for Roberto De Zerbi this summer, and they are working on two more deals for Savinho and Cody Gakpo of Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.

With so many players coming to Spurs, it is inevitable that some first-team players will be on their way too, with Spence and Cristian Romero set to join Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the coming hours and days.

While Tottenham are well-stocked at left-back, it is a different story on the opposite flank where World Cup winner Pedro Porro is the undoubted first-choice right-back after signing a new long-term deal this summer, but he has little specialist competition for his spot.

Archie Gray can play there but his main position is in midfield, meaning it is no surprise that the north London outfit are likely to bring in a replacement for Spence before the September 1 deadline.

Fabrizio Romano has reported in recent days that Newcastle are closing in on an agreement with Benfica to sign Dedic, who has agreed personal terms on a move to St James’ Park.

He is a player of interest to Spurs too as they consider their right-back options too, according to Jacobs, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs live stream late on Wednesday night.

He said: “Another hotly sought-after fullback that I believe is capable of playing both sides is Amar Dedic, who is at Benfica, a player that Matthias Jaissle knows very well, and it’s Newcastle moving at the moment, and they’ve got confidence.

“I feel they’ll be better prepared because they will have known for quite some time that there was a concrete possibility that Spence could go.”

Tottenham Need to Make Fast Move to Land Dedic

via Reuters

As mentioned, Newcastle appear to be close to wrapping up a deal for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international, meaning it would need a last-gasp Tottenham transfer hijack to land the 23-year-old from under their noses.

The Magpies will be more than wary of that happening though, given they have already lost out on deals for Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi this summer.

Dedic is only one of the names on Spurs’ shortlist, with further links to Neco Williams of Nottingham Forest and Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace.

De Zerbi’s preference for players with Premier League experience is no secret given all six confirmed arrivals this summer have it, along with Savinho and Gakpo.

That could mean that while there is clearly an appreciation for Dedic, other targets could be prioritised given the player appears to be moving closer to joining Newcastle.

Celtic have reignited their interest in versatile Canadian defensive midfielder Niko Sigur following Arne Engels move to West Ham United.

Engels is headed to the Hammers in a £22 million deal, leaving the Bhoys after two years with the Scottish Premiership champions. The Belgian was an important player under Martin O’Neill but the money on offer was too much to turn down.

Celtic already swooped for a central midfielder earlier this summer, bringing German Mika Baur to Scotland. They could now swoop for a holding midfielder and a move for Sigur is back on after failing to sign him back in January.

Celtic Set To Make Sigur Offer

Celtic were handed a setback when Alistair Johnston suffered an injury and he is a doubt to face LASK in the Champions League play-offs next week. His absence follows Engels’ departure and the Scots are set to address the situation.

According to Croatian outlet tportal, the Hoops are showing serious interest in Sigur and could make a concrete move for the Hadjuk Split midfielder in the coming days. They have been tracking the 22-year-old for a long time and could swoop in before the transfer window closes on September 3rd.

A £2.5 million offer is under consideration and may hand the Canadian a transfer that looked likely last January. The Scottish club pulled the plug on a deal at the time but they have remained interested.

Reuters/Maria Lysaker

Sigur caught the eye with Canada at the World Cup and he has plenty of qualities that O’Neill will like. While he is a defensive midfielder by trade, he can also play at full-back and in central midfield.

Sigur Tipped To Become Top Talent

Canada coach Jesse Marsch via Reuters/Troy Taormina

Sigur could be an ideal addition to O’Neill’s squad and he’s still young with time to develop into one of the Scottish Premiership’s top talents. His national team manager Jesse Marsch is certainly tipping him for a bright future, having spoken glowingly before the World Cup:

Celtic have made four signings so far this summer as they look to build on a memorable title victory last season. Kasper Hogh is the biggest name to arrive, joining from Bodo/Glimt in a £11m deal plus add-ons.

O’Neill’s midfield has been an area of focus, especially with Engels linked with a move away throughout the window. West Ham finally met the club’s valuation of the Belgian, and now all eyes will be on how the team fares without him.

The Championship has rapidly caught up with a number of leagues across Europe in terms of quality and financial power in recent years, as English football as a whole continues its ascent towards becoming the powerhouse of the club game.

With the likes of West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers dropping into the second tier for the 2026/27 season, clubs with recent history in European competition will now compete for promotion, highlighting just how competitive the division has become.

Wage bills for the top teams now compare with mid-table sides in La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, while attendances and overall revenue generated by clubs in the Championship also match those in these top five leagues.

With that said, here’s a look at the top 25 highest-paid players in England’s second division, heading into the 2026/27 campaign.

25-11

Unsurprisingly, West Ham and Wolves dominate the rankings when it comes to the highest-paid players in the second tier, and many would argue this gives them little excuse not to win promotion at the first attempt.

In fact, one of the four players in the entire top 25 who doesn’t play for either of these clubs comes in at joint 23rd on £55,000 per week. Burnley’s midfield maestro Josh Cullen earns this healthy wage, alongside Wolves star Boubacar Traore and Hammers full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.

James Ward-Prowse, who looks likely to remain at the London Stadium and ply his trade for a full season outside of the top flight for the first time in his career, currently takes home £57,000 every seven days. Jose Sa earns slightly more than the free-kick specialist, on £60,000 per week, while the Portuguese’s trio of teammates, Jackson Tchatchoua, Adam Armstrong and Andre Trindade, can all celebrate £65,000-a-week contracts.

West Ham’s forgotten man, Maxwel Cornet, who has seemingly returned to play for the Hammers in the Championship, also takes home £65,000 every week, while Wolves duo Hee-chan Hwang and Marshall Munetsi earn £70,000.

Manchester City legend and former England international Kyle Walker is surprisingly not among the top ten most highly-paid players in the Championship this season. Had he opted to play for Wolves or West Ham, he might’ve been, but the more economically prudent Burnley only have the veteran on a £75,000-a-week deal, a sum Haitian World Cup star Jean-Ricner Bellegarde also earns.

The Irons’ new striker, Valentin Castellanos, also earns £75,000-a-week, while one of Wolves’ few remaining Portuguese stars, Toti Gomes, hits the £80,000-a-week mark.

10

Jean-Clair Todibo

When West Ham secured the signing of Jean-Clair Todibo, it was viewed as a bit of a pull. The Frenchman had been mooted as a target for Manchester United for some time, but ultimately ended up joining the Hammers in a £33 million deal. Two years on, and he hasn’t exactly justified the hype with his performances, despite his hefty £80,000-a-week wage.

9

Niclas Fullkrug

Niclas Fullkrug’s switch to West Ham has been a catastrophic disaster. Scoring just three goals in his 29 appearances for the Hammers, his £90,000 weekly wage now sees the east London club stuck with him. Prospective suitors aren’t willing to pay the German what he wants, and thus, it looks somewhat likely that he’ll be a second-division player next season.

8

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

West Ham’s wage bill might be a concern given how much their revenues are likely to be damaged by dropping down into the Championship. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on £90,000-a-week, although the full-back has certainly justified this salary more than his German counterpart. He may not end the summer a West Ham player, however, with Aston Villa linked with a move for the DR Congo international.

7

Tomas Soucek

Long-term West Ham servant, Tomas Soucek, looks set to remain a West Ham player for the foreseeable future, despite the club’s relegation. Nuno Espirito Santo will hope the Czech’s experience and ability to pop up with a goal will prove useful in the Championship. The 31-year-old is currently earning £90,000 per week.

6

Edson Alvarez

Edson Alvarez returns to West Ham after the excitement of playing in Istanbul and at the World Cup to play away at Lincoln City this season. The Mexican has arguably underwhelmed since his highly anticipated switch from Ajax, and he certainly hasn’t justified the astronomical contract the Hammers have handed him; he takes home £100,000-a-week, becoming the first player on this list to break the six-figure mark.

5

Max Kilman

Joining Alvarez in the £100k club is Max Kilman. West Ham’s domination of the highest-paid players in the Championship ranking continues with their English centre-back, who is another who has certainly failed to live up to what was expected from him when he made the move from Wolves. He likely thought this switch from the West Midlands to East London would elevate his profile, but he’ll now be competing with his former club for promotion back to the top flight.

4

Aaron Ramsdale

One of the four non-West Ham or Wolves players in the top 25, Aaron Ramsdale returns to Southampton after his loan at Newcastle as by far the most affluent employee at St. Mary’s. His £120,00-a-week contract is a legacy from his Arsenal days, putting him in this wage bracket when he established himself as the number one at the Emirates.

3

Alphonse Areola

Surprisingly, another goalkeeper makes the top five. Unsurprisingly, the player in question previously played for a top European club, which explains how he’s been able to earn £120,000 a week for a side that now operates in the Championship. Alphonse Areola, who had a lengthy stint at Paris Saint-Germain earlier in his career, is still at West Ham, although he could leave before the end of the window.

2

Kalvin Phillips

via Reuters

Like Ramsdale and Areola, Kalvin Phillips is extremely well paid due to the wealth of a club he has played for. Unlike the two shot-stoppers, the Sheffield United loanee is still technically on the books of said club, with his contract at Manchester City remarkably still two years away from expiring. While no longer at the peak of his powers, he still has plenty to offer at Championship level, but has found it difficult to find a new permanent home due to his astronomical £7.8 million per year (£150,000-a-week) salary.

1

Jarrod Bowen

via Reuters

Unlike many of the top Championship earners, Jarrod Bowen’s wages are fully justified. The West Ham captain earns £150,000 every seven days, and has shown immense loyalty in his decision to remain with the Hammers when he could’ve chosen to ply his trade at a Premier League club, possibly even for more money than this.

Wage information via Capology and PlanetFootball – correct as of 14/08/2026.