Tottenham 'want' Crystal Palace star with release clause as Erik ten Hag issues fresh response to sack claims

Another big weekend of Premier League is about to get going, and it is the last before the October international break takes hold. There are plenty of interesting games on the docket this weekend, and Crystal Palace and Fulham have perhaps the toughest of the lot, facing Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.

West Ham can ill-afford to slip up against Ipswich Town, while Brentford will be favourites against Wolves, as will Arsenal be against Southampton and Chelsea against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham take on injury-hit Brighton. Here we round up the latest news surrounding the Premier League.

Eze latest

Tottenham are said to remain interested in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. The England star was expected to attract more action than he did during the summer, but he wound up staying put, proving too expensive for most.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham remain interested despite opting not to go ahead with a deal in the summer. It’s reported Eze is a keen move next summer, and to make matters more interesting, it’s reported a £68million release clause will come into play after this season.

Ten Hag responds

Erik ten Hag says he still needs time to integrate new players and coaches at Manchester United as calls for his head grow louder in the wake of poor form so far this season. “I’m not thinking about such issues because that is not a topic,” he said in his latest press conference. “We are in there together: theownership, the leadership, the team, the staff.

“I appointed new staff. We bought again new young players and we have to integrate them. There is a range, a spectrum of topics and you have to address it right. So this team has the belief that they don’t give up. So they have that range of mentality and they have a strong mentality. But in some other parts, they have to step up. And if you want to win trophies, definitely. In some areas, you have to improve.”

Maresca on Chelsea title credentials

Elsewhere, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says his side are not ready to compete for the title despite their fast start this season. He told reporters: “I really don’t think we can compete with City or Arsenal,” Maresca said. “I really don’t think that because we are not ready. The reason is City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal, five years. If you want to compete for big things, you need that time.

“After Arsenal beat PSG, they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same: that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and us, a year-and-a-half. Now imagine us, three months. It’s a huge difference so I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs. The target is to improve and slowly – slowly – get closer to those clubs. At the moment, we are not ready.”