It would be a strange year if Tottenham Hotspur made their way through an uneventful campaign. Though, while a lot has been going on down N17 this year, few of the Spurs faithful would say it's been enjoyable.
After that last-gasp defeat at Bournemouth last time out, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has tumbled into deeper waters after replacing title-winning manager Ange Postecoglou last summer. That's been exacerbated by the unfortunate Arsenal-branded cup incident at the Vitality Stadium.
There's plenty of time to bounce back, but Spurs need to use the January transfer window effectively if they wish to stop the rot and turn things around.
Already, ENIC family have moved to add an upcoming talent to the ranks following the £35m sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.
Spurs set up January signings
Confirmed: Tottenham have an agreement sealed with Brazilian club Santos for the transfer of 19-year-old left-back Souza. Formalities stand between the Londoners and their new prospect, who will provide cover for the injury-prone Destiny Udogie.
That's one chunk of the left side sorted, then, but after the sale of club legend Heung-min Son last year (and now the departure of Johnson), landing a left winger is also a priority.
And, in keeping with the Lilywhites' push to sign up-and-comers, Said Suleiman has been added to the shortlist, according to transfer insider Rudy Galetti.
Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are thought to have the lead, both also locked in talks with Suleiman's Slovak employers, AS Trenčín.
The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest Nigerian talents in the world.
Why Spurs are pushing to sign Suleiman
Suleiman, a three-cap Nigeria U20 international, is an electric left winger with mighty strength and a natural sharpness in front of goal. Across all competitions this season, he has scored three goals and supplied four assists.
Said to have produced "one of the best ball-carrying/dribbling numbers in world football last year" by analyst Marcus Bring, you can see why Tottenham - and top German clubs - are invested.
His prolific potential suggests he could replace Johnson down that left flank, and strong underlying aspects further strengthen his chances.
Also described as "one of the best wingers playing outside Europe's top five leagues" by journalist Bence Bocsak, there's no question that Suleiman has what it takes to be a star in the Premier League, and Spurs' record of promoting and developing talented youngsters may well swing the odds in their favour, albeit with Leverkusen and Leipzig both skilled in that department themselves.
He's raw, but there's a lot of potential there. Were Suleiman to sign this winter, it's possible he wouldn't become an instant hit, but rather, spend some time learning the craft, perhaps popping out on loan for the latter half of the campaign, or across the 2026/27 season.
While the gap between the Slovakian top flight and the English Premier League is a gaping chasm, Suleiman's start to life on the outer rim of Europe's football scene can only be viewed through a positive lens, and his ability to be combative and win many duels each game would help build a strong partnership with Souza behind him.
The Brazilian, also 19, is "very versatile", and he "defends well and attacks well", as per South American football expert Tim Vickery. Moreover, he has enjoyed a taste of elite quality ahead of him in the shape of Neymar Jr., his teammate throughout 2025.
Suleiman is hardly on a level with one of the great wingers of this generation, but his fleet footwork and blistering speed would be traits well-worn by the Brazilian record scorer, and in this, Souza might feel he has something to work with over the coming years down N17.
This could be a duo for the ages down the line, both athletic and powerful and creative on the ball. Though fans rightly demand progress in the short-term, aligning with planning for the future, these can only be seen as promising moves for a club determined to build a project of lasting success.