Transfer notebook: Tottenham Hotspur eye Brennan Johnson replacement from rival club, Nathan Ake’s West Ham alternatives

Tottenham Hotspur are readying a fresh swoop for Manchester City winger Savinho.

Spurs were rebuffed by City when they tried to sign the Brazilian last summer even though he was keen to move to north London.

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The Europa League holders are hoping that the pending arrival of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo will change City’s stance.

However, talkSPORT has been told it is unlikely the Premier League title hopefuls will sanction departures for both the sought-after Oscar Bobb and Savinho in January.

That being the case, Spurs would seek alternative targets to improve their wide options, which head coach Thomas Frank sees as a priority position to strengthen.

Brennan Johnson looks set to complete a £35million move to Crystal Palace, although Bournemouth and Everton are also interested.

Cherries check for keeper

Free-falling Bournemouth are in the market for a new goalkeeper.

The Cherries splashed out £25m to bring in Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea in July.

But after a strong start to the season, the Serbian’s form has dipped along with that of his team, who have plummeted down the Premier League table.

Petrovic has kept only one clean sheet throughout their nine-game winless run, which came in the 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea.

Head of football operations and transfer overlord Tiago Pinto wants to bring in competition for the 26-year-old.

Will Dennis, Petrovic’s deputy, is another option but is yet to make his Premier League debut.

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Return from Rome

Evan Ferguson’s loan spell at Roma could be cut short after being criticised by manager Gian Piero Gasperini.

Ferguson has struggled to adapt to life in Italy, scoring just one Serie A goal since his summer move from Brighton.

Gasperini claimed the Republic of Ireland international ‘has to improve on that hunger, desire and understanding where he plays’.

talkSPORT understands Brighton do not have a recall option in the deal but, a return to the south coast is possible if Roma do want to terminate the loan.

Ferguson, still only 21 year old, could then either be reintegrated into the Seagulls’ squad or loaned out again.

That would be another fall from grace from a player once touted as a £100m prospect.

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Hammers hindrance

Nathan Ake has rejected a move to West Ham in a blow to under-pressure Nuno Espirito Santo.

As reported in last week’s notebook, Ake, who turns 31 years old in February, is keen to leave Man City having started just one Premier League game this season.

The struggling Hammers wanted to take Ake on loan, but the Dutch international is reluctant to join a club battling against relegation.

Bournemouth, Newcastle and Palace are among the clubs monitoring Ake’s situation, and he must also convince City boss Pep Guardiola to allow him to leave in the midst of a Premier League title battle.

AFP