Football transfer rumours: Son Heung-min and Wilfried Zaha to Saudi Arabia?

After Tuesday’s bolt from the blue in golf, perhaps football will also bypass the rumour stage and Harry Kane will be announced as Al-Hilal’s new No 9 via a tweet from Spurs. If that sounds daft, so are the stories that Kane could be persuaded to stay if Tottenham bring Manchester United’s out-of-favour Harry Maguire to north London. The two Harrys are big mates you see. Yeah, that should do it.

Kane continues to be heavily linked with both United and Real Madrid, although the two giants are supposedly lining up alternatives ifDaniel Levy holds out for £100m or more. Rather than plump for Kane as Saudi-bound Karim Benzema’s replacement, Madrid could move for Chelsea’s Kai Havertz. So, that would mean signing a forward with 19 goals in the last three Premier League seasons instead of one who bagged 70. Sounds fair.

Related: Men’s transfer window summer 2023 – all deals from Europe’s top five leagues

United, meanwhile, are pondering a bid for Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt, although Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain may also be snooping around the 24-year-old French striker. Benfica’s Gonçalo Ramos, he of the World Cup hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland, is also in Manchester United’s crosshairs as they seek the striker who could improve on Wout Weghorst’s output of zero goals in 17 top-flight appearances.

While the Kane rumours swirl round and round, Spurs fans may also have to brace themselves for the loss of his Ernie Wise. Son Heung-min, who could only manage 10 goals in a difficult 2022-23 campaign, is being mentioned as another likely candidate for a move to Saudi Arabia in 2024. Son still has two years left on his Tottenham contract, hence any move being delayed until after next season.

A replacement for Kane/Son could be the Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi. This one makes sense given that Furuhashi scored 54 goals in 83 appearances for the new Spurs manager, Ange Postecoglou, at Celtic. A figure of £20m has been thrown out there.

Another potential target for Postecoglu as Spurs try to sort out a defence that shipped 63 Premier League goals last season – six more than Everton – is Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guéhi. Arsenal are also interested in the 22-year-old stopper, who has been capped three times by England. Eric Dier is about to enter the final year of his Tottenham contract so could be one to make way.

A transfer window wouldn’t be complete without a heap of speculation about Wilfried Zaha’s future so let’s explore it. Apparently, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club, Al-Nassr, are dangling the 30-year-old a three-year contract worth £45m. Atlético Madrid and “three other Champions League clubs” are also interested, though we prefer to think of the mouthwatering prospect of Ronaldo repeatedly throwing his arms in the air as Zaha tries to beat the same man three times rather than pass.

Staying in Saudi and N’Golo Kanté is closing in on a move to Al-Ittihad. The 32-year-old French midfielder, who won the Premier League with both Leicester and current club Chelsea, is expected so sign a deal until 2025. His Chelsea contract expires in June.

Let’s end with a bang. Chelsea are leading Manchester United in the imaginary race to sign Neymar and have apparently opened talks, while Lionel Messi is said to have “two undisclosed offers” from Premier League clubs. Watch this space Bournemouth and Luton fans.