Transfer news and rumours: Three Tottenham exits, Fofana to Milan, Cooper future

Ange Postecoglou has seen a handful of fledgling players come good in pre-season, namely Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and 17-year-old attacking sensation Mikey Moore.

The latter has just been rewarded with his first professional Tottenham contract - a lucrative one at that - and he is expected to be a part of Postecoglou's first-team squad this season.

However, that may not be the case for three of his colleagues, as the Evening Standard reports that Tottenham are set to loan out Jamie Donley, Ashley Phillips and Alfie Devine before the window shuts.

Phillips - who shone for Plymouth Argyle last season - is supposedly on the wishlist of Spanish side Getafe, although Donley and Devine are likely to head to the lower leagues.

Senior attacker Manor Solomon could also leave temporarily, as might Will Lankshear, although Spurs' lack of options at centre-forward could see the latter stick around.

Sheffield United 'agree four-year deal' for Championship goalkeeper

Speaking of the lower divisions, Sheffield United are reportedly close to sealing a deal for Plymouth goalkeeper Michael Cooper, who will sign a four-year deal at Bramall Lane.

Following their relegation from the top flight, Chris Wilder's side lost Wes Foderingham on a free transfer to West Ham United, leaving Ivo Grbic and Adam Davies as the manager's goalkeeping options.

According to Football Insider, the Blades are now set to strengthen in that position with the arrival of 24-year-old Cooper, whom Plymouth will receive a £2m fee for.

The 6ft 1in Englishman reportedly finished his medical with Sheffield United on Wednesday and was present at Bramall Lane to watch their EFL Cup win over Wrexham on Tuesday.

Cooper will leave Plymouth 15 years on from signing up to their youth academy in 2009, since when he has kept 55 clean sheets in 161 appearances for the club in all tournaments, but he entered the last 12 months of his contract this year.

Cooper was on the bench for last weekend's opening 4-0 Championship loss to Sheffield Wednesday, though, as Wayne Rooney selected Conor Hazard in between the sticks.

AC Milan 'make new bid' for Arsenal, Manchester United-linked midfielder

From a player ending up in red and white to one who could soon don red and black, Monaco's Youssouf Fofana has reportedly been the subject of another bid from Italian giants AC Milan.

The Rossoneri have already failed with one approach worth around €12m (£10.3m) for the France international, who could also become a free agent in the summer of 2025.

Arsenal and Manchester United are also thought to have been keeping tabs on Fofana's future, but Milan have always been considered the frontrunners due to the midfielder's desire to work with Paulo Fonseca.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Milan have now upped their bid to a fixed fee of €20m (£17.2m) alongside performance-related bonuses, which are supposedly difficult to hit.

Instead, Monaco want a guaranteed €25m (£21.4m) and achievable add-ons to let Fofana depart, but there is still confidence from all sides that an agreement will be struck in the near future.

The 25-year-old has seven goals and 15 assists to show from 175 matches for Les Monegasques since joining from Strasbourg in 2020, and he made three substitute appearances for France at Euro 2024.

Leicester City 'closing in' on new contract for 22-year-old

While Fofana will not be extending his Monaco deal, 22-year-old Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer is apparently close to penning fresh terms with the newly-promoted Premier League side.

McAteer - a product of the Foxes youth system - made his senior breakthrough last season following loans at Forest Green Rovers and AFC Wimbledon, scoring seven goals in 26 appearances in all tournaments.

Six of those strikes came in Leicester's triumphant Championship campaign, although he is also in the final 12 months of his contract at the King Power Stadium.

However, a separate report from Football Insider claims that talks between the two parties over a new long-term agreement are at their final stages, and a renewal should be confirmed imminently.

The Northampton-born attacker has already made his Premier League debut for the Foxes, although it was a very brief one, coming off the bench in the last knockings of a 4-0 win over Newcastle United in December 2021.

Leicester kick off their return to the big time on Monday night, when Tottenham Hotspur visit the King Power Stadium.