Tottenham are believed to be working on a deal to hijack Nottingham Forest and make a late-window January signing, right after Spurs secured their place in the Champions League last 16.
Spurs sealed their passage into the knockout stages with a commanding 2-0 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday evening, finishing fourth in the league phase to bypass the playoff rounds.
The victory provides Thomas Frank's embattled side with rare European respite amid their troubling Premier League form, which currently sees Spurs languishing in 14th, just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Their continental dominance—winning all four home fixtures in the competition—stands in stark contrast to domestic struggles that have yielded just two victories from 12 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this term.
Randal Kolo Muani delivered the crucial breakthrough against his former employers, converting just 66 seconds after the interval following Cristian Romero's clever flick from a Xavi Simons delivery.
Dominic Solanke extinguished any Frankfurt hopes with 13 minutes remaining, capitalising on defensive hesitation to slot cleanly past goalkeeper Kauã Santos.
The result grants Tottenham favourable second-leg home advantage throughout the knockout rounds, facing either Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray next.
However, Kolo Muani's decisive contribution has reportedly complicated Juventus' intensifying pursuit of the striker.
Thursday apparently represents a pivotal juncture in negotiations between the Italian giants and Tottenham, with the Bianconeri desperately seeking attacking reinforcements before Monday's transfer deadline.
Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini confirmed their interest, stating the Frenchman performed admirably during his previous loan spell in Turin.
Reports suggest Juve are proposing a straightforward loan to snatch him away from N17, though Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio says Wednesday's heroics could make Spurs reluctant to sanction his departure.
Other media sources, like Marca's Matteo Moretto, report that Kolo Muani is keen on a return to Juve and informed Tottenham of that stance before their win over Frankfurt.
Tottenham 'working to close' Jean-Philippe Mateta
Now, despite Nottingham Forest's well-documented talks for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, it is believed by some that Spurs could hijack their talks for the Frenchman to replace Kolo Muani.
Italian reporter Orazio Accomando, via X, reports that Tottenham are 'working to close' a deal for Mateta while Juve are expected to have fresh talks over Kolo Muani today.
Mateta presents Tottenham with compelling arguments both for and against his acquisition.
The 28-year-old offers immediate Premier League experience and a proven record. As of November 2025, he was also outscoring everyone in the league except Erling Haaland and Mohammed Salah since Oliver Glasner's first game in charge. (Squawka).
The New York Times' Rory Smith even likened him to the original Ronaldo in 2024, calling Mateta an 'extraordinary' forward.
His aerial prowess and physical presence would provide Frank with a different option to that of Solanke and Richarlison, with the latter poised to leave in the near future.
However, significant concerns exist too.