TEAMtalk

Barcelona have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Porto star Samu Aghehowa, with TEAMtalk able to confirm speculation from a new report, while Deco has been quizzed on what could happen with Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona made a statement in summer 2022 when they captured Lewandowski from Bayern Munich in a €50million (£43m) deal. The striker has continued his remarkable scoring feats in Spain, having hit 105 goals in 156 appearances for Barca so far.

Lewandowski netted 42 times last season as Barca won a stunning domestic treble and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

But there is increasing talk of Lewandowski leaving Catalonia at the end of the current campaign. He is now 37 years old and Barca are well aware they will need to move on from him at some stage in the near future.

Plus, the Pole’s contract expires at the end of the season and Barca have yet to decide firmly whether they want him to renew or leave on a free transfer.

According to Spanish source Fichajes, Barca ‘want to sign’ Samu as Lewandowski’s replacement and are ‘preparing an ambitious move’ for him ready for summer 2026.

Barca scouts have identified Samu as ‘the ideal heir’ to Lewandowski, having been amazed by his performances in Portugal.

Samu has already managed five goals in seven outings this term, while he finished last season with 27 goals across all competitions.

Plus, at just 21 years of age the Spaniard has plenty of time to develop into a truly elite centre-forward.

Samu has a €100m (£87m) release clause in his contract, which runs for another four years. Barca, though, ‘hope Porto will agree to negotiate’ and are therefore drawing up an initial bid worth €60m (£52m).

While TEAMtalk cannot confirm that Barca are preparing a bid for Samu, sources have revealed to our transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher that they are interested in signing him.

Such a move could kickstart a bidding war with Tottenham. TEAMtalk’s Dean Jones confirmed on September 30 that Tottenham are scouting Samu ahead of a future swoop to improve their forward line.

Thomas Frank is known to be keen on signing a new No 9. Richarlison is not viewed as an elite goalscorer while Dominic Solanke has been affected by injury issues.

Tottenham remain open to the idea of reuniting with Harry Kane, should he opt to return to the Premier League, though they also like Samu a lot.

Samu is viewed by Spurs as a player who could emerge into one of the very best strikers in Europe once he reaches his full potential.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Barca sporting director Deco was asked about Lewandowski’s situation and the potential arrival of a new striker.

He replied: “We’re not going to talk about renewals in October. We’re going step by step. He’s one of the best forwards of recent years, a top-level player. He’s helped us a lot.

“He’s scored more than 40 goals, but we’ll analyse that later. It’s time to talk about recovering injured players.

“You don’t have to obsess over a No 9, you might be wrong. Perhaps you can do it without a 9. This isn’t the time to talk about signings. Ferran [Torres] can play as a 9.

“PSG won the Champions League without a penalty area player. Talking about a 9 is a bit of a mistake, although there are good players.”

READ NEXT 👇

Barcelona warned electric Dortmund star’s price could skyrocket after Arsenal, Chelsea interest – transfer expert

Man Utd misery as Barcelona devise two plans to re-sign Marcus Rashford – neither will please Amorim

Where do Alvarez and Haaland fit in?

Barca’s dream signing for the striker position is understood to be either Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez or Manchester City ace Erling Haaland.

Barca believe Alvarez wants to emulate Argentine compatriot Lionel Messi by leading them to the biggest prizes.

However, both of those players will likely cost €200m (£173m) or more.

Plus, Pep Guardiola insists Haaland wants to see out the majority of his mega nine-and-a-half-year contract with City.

Samu may not be on the same level of Alvarez or Haaland, but he will be easier to sign from a financial perspective.

Barcelona news: Another City star linked; Real Madrid tussle

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk has analysed where a top City player could end up amid interest from five clubs including Barca and Juventus.

Real Madrid and Barca are both thought to be keeping tabs on Karl Etta Eyong, one of the best young players in LaLiga.

Madrid supposedly believe Eyong will choose them over Barca – you can find out all the details here.

The future of Mikey Moore could hinge on Rangers’ next managerial appointment, as TEAMtalk sources assess the murmurs of a potential Tottenham recall from his loan at Ibrox.

The 18-year-old exploded onto the scene for Spurs last season under Ange Postecoglou, making 19 senior appearances across all competitions, notching his first goal and two assists.

Moore remains very highly rated by Tottenham, and the loan switch to Rangers was seen as a good way for him to play consistently and hone his potential.

However, with zero goal contributions in 10 appearances for the Gers and the sacking of Russell Martin, whether Moore continues his journey in Scotland could depend on which manager they bring in next.

TEAMtalk insider Dean Jones has shared Tottenham’s true feelings about Moore’s situation, following his difficult start at Ibrox.

“There was a good feeling about Moore making the move to Rangers but it has been difficult for him to shine on the pitch during a period of crisis and revolt,” Jones exclusively told TEAMtalk.

“It’s still a huge learning experience for him and I know there remains hope that he experiences more positive times but they have to make sure this next phase under a new manager is helpful to him.

“There has been a fair few people questioning up there whether he is the right fit for them, but that probably comes with the fact that he is still so young and Rangers fans feel they are developing another clubs player – and in times of crisis you want to have your own players digging in and getting the side out of trouble.

“He will be learning a lot about the pressures of top level football and Spurs are in touch with him throughout to see how he is coping with the situation.

“There have been some murmurs about whether they should look into bringing him back. The club are trying their best to make sure he has a future pathway into the team at Spurs so we will have to see what happens with the the next Rangers manager before understanding what can happen to keep this stage of his career moving forwards.”

FULL BREAKDOWN ⚪ The key contract details of every Tottenham first-team player: Expiry dates, weekly wages, agents…

Rangers looking to appoint new manager imminently

Amid the uncertainty over Moore’s future, TEAMtalk correspondent Fraser Fletcher has revealed the latest on Rangers’ manager hunt.

The Scottish giants want a new manager in post as soon as possible so they can get to know the squad over the international break, which could be crucial in turning their form around quickly.

We understand that former Gers boss Steven Gerrard, who led the club to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21, is under serious consideration.

Gerrard is open to returning to the Ibrox hot seat if he is given assurances that he will be given backing and freedom to pursue his own transfer targets in January.

Of course, should Rangers look to bring in a new winger in January, that could see Moore’s minutes diminish and force Tottenham to seriously consider recalling him.

For now, the youngster’s future hangs in the balance, but Spurs will prioritise his development and assess the situation closely over the coming weeks.

DON’T MISS 🔥 Premier League signings of the season power ranking: New top two as Liverpool, Chelsea stars fall

Latest Tottenham news: Valverde links assessed / Loanee targeted

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk has explained why Real Madrid star Federico Valverde would likely snub a move to Tottenham amid speculation that they could submit an offer for the Uruguayan.

Defensa Central, a Real Madrid-centric website, has gone as far as to claim that Tottenham ‘would be willing’ to pay €100million (£87m, $117m) for Valverde in the summer of 2026.

Valverde wants to compete for trophies and that makes a switch to Spurs unlikely at this stage. There is also the matter of Tottenham being willing to pay Valverde’s salary, which is €320,577 per week (£278,322), according to Capology.

In other news, TEAMtalk insider Jones has revealed that Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are keeping close tabs on Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic, who is on loan with Hamburg.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs interested in Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, according to reports in Spain, but there is no way that the Uruguay international would swap the Santiago Bernabeu for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Valverde has been at Madrid since 2016 and has been a huge success at the Spanish and European giants. The Uruguay international midfielder has won LaLiga thrice and the Champions League twice with Los Blancos, while scoring 32 goals and giving 34 assists in 332 appearances.

The 27-year-old midfielder is under contract at Real Madrid until 2029 and, to all intents and purposes, is happy at the club.

Both Valverde and Madrid manager Xabi Alonso recently put to bed the controversy that he had complained about playing at right-back, with the Santiago Bernabeu faithful also chanting his name against Villarreal in LaLiga last weekend.

There are reports, though, that Tottenham and Manchester United are interested in Valverde.

Fichajes, admittedly not one of the most reliable news outlets, have reported that Tottenham are keen on Valverde.

Defensa Central, a Real Madrid-centric website, has gone as far as to claim that Tottenham ‘would be willing’ to pay €100million (£87m, $117m) for Valverde in the summer of 2026.

While one should be wary of taking these reports as gospel truth, one must remember that Tottenham bid €70m (£61m, $82m) for Como star Nico Paz in the summer, as reported by the reliable Fabrizio Romano, suggesting that the north London club are not shying away from splashing the cash.

However, it is hard to envisage a situation where Valverde leaves a club used to winning LaLiga and the Champions League to a side that has won just one major trophy in the past 17 years.

Tottenham do not challenge for the Premier League title, with the north London club not in with a chance of winning the Champions League either.

For Valverde, leaving Madrid for Tottenham would be a step down, especially as he is 27 and is at the top of his career.

There is also the small matter of Tottenham being willing to pay Valverde’s salary, which is €320,577 per week (£278,322), according to Capology.

At the moment, Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons are Tottenham’s highest-paid players at £195,000 per week.

Furthermore, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez does not want to sell Valverde for anything less than his release clause, which is €1billion (£871.5m, $1.07bn).

READ NEXT 🌐 The most ridiculous €65m Real Madrid transfer rumour you will read this season

Federico Valverde will NOT join Man Utd either

It is not just Tottenham that Valverde will not fancy a move to, with Manchester United also out of the picture for a player former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti described as “irreplaceable”.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, has played down suggestions that, like the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane in recent years, Valverde will not leave Madrid for Man Utd.

Jones said: “There feels pretty much no chance United will sign Valverde – even as the noise grows that they want to.

“That’s the message I’m getting from people close to the Spanish end of this story and it’s not really surprising.

“He’s been around the club for almost 10 years now and has become a brilliant, crucial and adaptable player for them.

“There is no need for him to drop down a level to join Man United, and that’s truly what it would be.

“His profile would be great for United, but it just seems too ambitious to me.

“The clubs may be on a similar level in terms of global status, but Madrid’s current team is in a much better place than United’s and he is a key part of it.”

Latest Real Madrid news: Rodrygo ‘dream’ revelation, Chelsea star’s desire

Valverde is not the only Madrid star who has been linked with clubs in the Premier League, with Rodrygo also the subject of Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City in the summer of 2025.

However, Rodrygo has revealed that he did not want to leave Real Madrid and has disclosed his ultimate dream – and it involves Barcelona.

Meanwhile, one of Chelsea’s best players wants to join Real Madrid, with a report in the Spanish media claiming that it is ‘dream’ to play for Los Blancos.

And finally, Real Madrid are planning to deploy old tricks THIS WEEK to convince Ibrahima Konate to snub a new contract offer from Liverpool.

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are to keep a close eye on Luka Vuskovic over the coming weeks as the Tottenham Hotspur loanee makes his mark in Germany, TEAMtalk can reveal.

Centre-back Vuskovic, 18, is spending the season on loan at Hamburg and has completed the full 90 minutes in each of his four appearances so far. His impressive form has helped Hamburg tighten up defensively, with back-to-back clean sheets against Union Berlin and Mainz.

The youngster is highly regarded at Tottenham, who are believed to see this campaign as a key part of his development.

Spurs secured Vuskovic on a long-term deal before officially bringing him to north London earlier this year, and the plan has been to give him time to grow through experience at a very good level.

His upcoming fixtures could provide an interesting period as, after the international break, Hamburg face RB Leipzig before taking on Borussia Dortmund a few weeks later – two clubs that have tracked Vuskovic’s progress through his early years.

Both Bundesliga sides are known for identifying and nurturing young talent, and Vuskovic’s rise has not gone unnoticed.

While Spurs view him as a long-term project, interest in his development – and any potential future opportunities – is only likely to increase if he continues to shine in Germany.

Vuskovic opened his account for Hamburg against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on September 20, smashing home from close range after a penalty-box scramble. That goal sent Hamburg on their way to a first top-flight win in seven years following a disappointing period in Germany’s second tier.

As per WhoScored, Vuskovic has been Hamburg’s best player in the early stages of the season, picking up an average rating of 7.72.

The teenager was born in Split, Croatia and went on to make 11 first-team appearances for Hajduk Split after graduating from their academy.

Spurs announced in September 2023 that they had agreed a deal to sign Vuskovic in 2025, reportedly worth £12million.

He had loan spells in Poland and Belgium before arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this year.

Vuskovic’s Spurs contract runs until June 2030, showing that the club trusts him as a long-term asset.

Tottenham news: Brazilian targeted; ‘Rolls-Royce’ eyed too

Meanwhile, Spurs have reportedly barged their rivals aside in the chase for a Brazilian forward.

Thomas Frank’s side are also thought to be keen on signing a Crystal Palace star.

He has been described as a ‘Rolls Royce’, in praise which will excite Spurs fans.

Tottenham Hotspur are said to have barged rivals aside in their efforts to sign an elite Brazilian talent, with the north London club given the nod over how much the player will cost and their hopes of securing a January deal.

The club are actively looking for at least one new winger in the January window, with both Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert failing to match anything like the level of performance that Mohammed Kudus and been showing.

And, while the left side is the main focus of attention, Tottenham will not turn down the chance to snap up quality young talent when it becomes available, even if one such talent, 19-year-old Brazilian Rayan, does most of his best work off the right flank.

It’s been reported that Spurs scouts made a trip to South America last week to watch Vasco Da Gama winger Rayan, who has been setting the Brazilian top-flight alight this season.

The teenager is thought to have a release clause of €40m (£34.3m) in his contract, although it has emerged over recent days that Spurs could face competition from the likes of Chelsea, Brighton and Nottingham Forest for Rayan’s signature.

While Calciomercato reports that there could be an auction for the teenager in January, Tottenham are said to have jumped to the front of the queue for his signature.

While Spurs are not expected to have to match that release clause, it’s thought they will have to bid between €20m-€30m (£17.4m-£26.1m) to convince Vasco to sell their starlet.

DON’T MISS ➡️ Premier League signings of the season power ranking: Leeds man gains first entry; Sunderland trio in top five

Rayan talks with Tottenham already taken place

The report adds that representatives of Tottenham have already spoken to the teenager’s agents over a January switch to N17, in their efforts to get a jump over their rivals.

Indeed, recent reports from Brazil also claim Spurs have done groundwork on securing a work permit ahead of a new year move.

The fact that Rayan is on the brink of winning a call-up to the senior Brazil set-up will also make a permit easier to attain.

If Tottenham do win the race for Rayan, he’s expected to go straight into Frank’s first-team squad and compete for a bench role.

In terms of his playing style, Rayan is a left-footed attacker who is pacy, powerful and technically gifted.

He has played the majority of games in his young career so far on either the right of a front three or as a more traditional right-sided midfielder.

However, there is hope that he could eventually transition to the left and give Frank another option there after Son Heung-min’s exit over the summer.

Latest Tottenham news: Centre-back swoop; Semenyo price tag

Tottenham are being tipped to make a spectacular January raid on a London rival for a high-quality central defender, who might just force the normally flexible Thomas Frank into making a permanent formation change.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s big-money summer signing Mohammed Kudus delivered a performance of the highest quality as Leeds were beaten 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, proving Thomas Frank wise to sign him.

And finally, Tottenham have been told it will take a club record fee to sign a rival Premier League attacker, and TEAMtalk looks into how he could usurp a summer signing in the Spurs side.

Tottenham Hotspur are being tipped to make a spectacular January raid on a London rival for a high-quality central defender, who might just force the normally flexible Thomas Frank into making a permanent formation change.

Spurs have made a strong start to the new season under their new manager as they currently sit third in the Premier League table, at the time of writing, and also have four points from their opening two Champions League outings.

While that start does indeed look good on paper, Tottenham have yet to fully hit their stride, particularly in terms of their attacking play, with the likes of Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison all sidelined.

One thing that has been a marked improvement, though, is the defensive side of their game under the more pragmatic Dane.

Having Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven available every week has made a massive difference in that regard, while loan signing Joao Palhinha is also having a huge impact as the midfield shield in front of that back four.

One thing that Frank has shown throughout his managerial career, however, is his tactical flexibility when it comes to changing his formation to suit opponents.

And while he has not tinkered much so far, Frank did play with a three-man defence in the Super Cup defeat to PSG, as Spurs largely outplayed the French giants before eventually losing on penalties.

That performance from the north London outfit, using Romero in the middle of a back three and having Pedro Porro and Djed Spence as wing-backs, has led to questions from many Tottenham fans as to why Frank has not gone back to playing more of a 3-5-2.

And now confirmed January links to Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix will only raise that question even more.

DON’T MISS ➡️ Frank strikes gold as ‘electric’ Tottenham star destroys Leeds and shows Liverpool their dream Salah heir

Speedster Lacroix on Tottenham’s radar

The 25-year-old central defender has made a big impression since joining Palace from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2024 for a fee in the region of £18million.

And, according to a report from the Hard Tackle, Tottenham are looking to add more quality and depth to the defensive unit, with the Frenchman very much on their radar for the new year.

Lacroix is renowned for his pace and would give Van de Ven a run for his money in that regard, which is saying something. Indeed, he has been labelled a “Rolls-Royce” defender for his classy playing style in the past.

And while it’s likely to be incredibly hard to lure Palace into letting him leave, especially when they could lose Marc Guehi in January too, the signing of Lacroix would arguably give Frank a very nice headache going forward.

Arguably too good a player to use as a backup to Romero and Van de Ven, Frank could revert to that back three that outclassed PSG for so long in Italy.

Lacroix could easily slot into the centre or right of that back three and would give Tottenham and Frank arguably the quickest backline in European football as a result.

Spurs are not the only interested club, though, with Premier League rivals Liverpool also keen on potentially striking a deal of their own if they miss out on his Palace teammate Guehi again.

The report does finish off by stating that any move for Lacroix in the new year is likely to be met by a firm Palace response, as the Selhurst Park outfit continue to build on the solid foundation under Oliver Glasner that saw them lift their first piece of major silverware last season when they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Latest Tottenham news: Real signing hopes soar; Brazilian starlet eyed

Tottenham are reportedly among the clubs who want to ‘fight’ in order to land a top Real Madrid star after reports he refused to play in the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Tottenham have been told it will take a club record fee to sign a rival Premier League attacker, and TEAMtalk looks into how he could usurp a summer signing in the Spurs side.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Tottenham are among four Premier League clubs keen on signing Rayan, according to a report – and he could be the next big thing out of Brazil.

Tottenham’s big-money summer signing Mohammed Kudus delivered a performance of the highest quality as Leeds were beaten 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, proving Thomas Frank wise to sign him and potentially giving Liverpool food for thought as they look to find an heir to Mo Salah.

The Ghanaian moved across London from West Ham over the summer in a move that, while costing £55m (€65m, $74.5m), did not create that much fanfare given the lavish sums that were spent elsewhere across the Premier League this summer. But in losing a player who was capable of providing a much-needed spark for the Hammers, questions were being raised as to what sort of player Tottenham would be gaining and whether they were signing a star capable of making the step up.

Over the opening couple of months, though, the 44-times capped Ghana forward has not looked out of place and has been steadily getting better under Frank’s guidance. Four assists in his first six Premier League games certainly pointed to positive signs.

However, his outing at Elland Road on Saturday, as Spurs recorded a hard-fought and entertaining 2-1 win during a game that delivered not just great entertainment but four seasons in one day, showed why Spurs have really struck gold in Kudus.

The 25-year-old was everywhere, proving a menace to Leeds’ defence all afternoon and giving their usually very dependable left-back signing, Gabriel Gudmunsson, his most difficult afternoon yet since his arrival.

One assist for Mathys Tel for the opener and a brilliant goal – his first in a Spurs shirt – underlined his growing confidence.

That goal, robbing Gudmundsson of a bouncing ball, before running across the area and driving a low shot into the corner from 20 yards, was a fine strike.

In co-commentary for TNT Sports, Lucy Ward proclaimed: “You know what you are going to get from Kudus, he has been electric at times since he arrived at Spurs. He is just so front-footed, finds the little bit of space he needs and sticks it into the back of the net. Terrific finish. Brilliant individual play.”

Not only did it give Spurs a morale-boosting victory and Frank his first-ever career win over opposite number Daniel Farke, it also will have been a goal that will have raised some eyebrows on Merseyside and given Liverpool some serious food for thought as they ponder a long-term heir for club icon Mo Salah….

DON’T MISS 📈 Premier League signings of the season power ranking: Kudus on the rise; Sunderland trio in top five

Of course, it’s not the first time Liverpool have been touted as having an interest in Kudus.

Their interest in him dates back to his time while with Ajax, where a strong interest from then-boss Jurgen Klopp suggested on more than one occasion he was a player on their radar.

Those flashes of brilliance while at the London Stadium also saw the Reds touted for a move once again on more than one occasion.

Now, in the wake of his Man of the Match performance for Spurs, transfer chiefs at Anfield will have duly noted that display. Five goal contributions in seven Premier League games is also Salah-like levels…

And the difference this time around – or as it will be from 2026 onwards – the question Liverpool have over how to replace the brilliant Salah will quickly become a very pertinent one.

In recent weeks, most of the talk has been all about Bayern Munich’s brilliant France international star, Michael Olise.

Taking his game on to the next level with Bayern, he undoubtedly has the sort of quality Liverpool would be looking for.

But it’s a strong assumption to claim a move to Anfield could come off. Olise already plays with a European juggernaut and his chances of Champions League glory are as strong at the Allianz Arena as they would be at Anfield. Everything there is geared up for glory.

And that’s before you start diving into the £150m (€172m, $202m) asking price seemingly on the former Crystal Palace man’s head.

With that in mind, would Kudus be a more obtainable target?

Granted, it would be no forgone conclusion that Spurs would simply bow down and allow the player to make the move.

However, as the Reds have shown with Alexander Isak this summer, when they set their sights on a player, they do usually land them.

Whether Kudus will prove their choice to succeed the legendary Salah remains to be seen. But more performances like today can certainly set him on the right path…

Tottenham latest: Record fee needed for Prem attacker; Spanish issues for target

The win at Elland Road will reinforce the belief that Spurs are on track to secure another season of Champions League football under Frank next season – this time through a top-four finish.

Were they to qualify once again, the Spurs boss will clearly look to add to his squad rather than weaken in.

And one player they were persistently linked with last summer, in Antoine Semenyo, very much remains on their radar, according to a source.

However, Spurs have now learned the eye-watering fee they would need to fork out to persuade the Bees to cash in.

Elsewhere, a Spurs insider has suggested Conor Gallagher might be open to moving back to London, speculating he could be “fed up with learning Spanish.”

Tottenham have been told it will take a club record fee to sign a rival Premier League attacker, and TEAMtalk looks into how he could usurp a summer signing in the Spurs side.

Spurs spent not far shy of £200million on new signings in the summer window. The main signings were Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons.

Both of those men have added to an attack which now has 11 goals in six Premier League games – a tally bettered by only three sides.

But there might have been even more goals had Antoine Semenyo signed from Bournemouth. Tottenham wanted him, though nothing concrete came of that.

Of late, though, they have again been linked with the forward, and according to Football Insider, he could cost £80million.

Insider Pete O’Rourke said: “It’ll be a difficult deal to do for a number of reasons. It’ll be difficult to do due to Bournemouth not looking to lose Semenyo.

“The price tag that will be on his head, it’ll be probably around £70-80 million plus, I think, for somebody like him.

“Also, it’ll be difficult to do because of the huge rival interest in Semenyo…it won’t just be Tottenham who are interested in him.”

DON’T MISS: ⚪️ Ranking SIX Tottenham left-wing options, including TWO spectacular January targets, after Xavi Simons debut

Could Semenyo usurp summer signing?

Semenyo’s recent form certainly suggests he could go for a big sum. In six Premier League games this term, he has four goals and two assists.

Only Erling Haaland has a better combined goals and assists tally in the league.

Semenyo’s time on the pitch has been almost equally split between the left and right flanks, with his heatmap from Sofascore showing he spends a lot of tie hugging the left touchline.

The site also suggests Semenyo is very good in a high press, something which would suit him well at Tottenham.

But his proficiency out wide left could see him usurp Tottenham summer signing Simons. The Dutchman has played the majority of his career as a No.10, but has mostly played on the left flank at Spurs, and has only one assist to show for it.

Fans feel he’d be better suited shifting back to the centre, and with a talent like Semenyo coming into the side to take the left wing position, that could beef up the creative options in all areas of the final third.

It could both see Semenyo continue to impress while unleashing Simons in his most comfortable role.

Tottenham round-up: Gallagher move on?

A Spurs insider has suggested Conor Gallagher might be open to moving back to London, speculating he could be “fed up with learning Spanish.”

Meanwhile, Spurs could do battle with Chelsea for Brazilian attacker Rayan, who’s been likened to Adriano.

TEAMtalk have learned that Thomas Frank has played a big role in Rodrigo Bentancur extending his stay with Tottenham.

And after Bentancur, Micky van de Ven will reportedly be the next star in north London to be given a new deal.

A Tottenham insider has suggested Spurs could have a good chance of bringing an English star back from LaLiga, as he may be “fed up with trying to learn Spanish.”

Tottenham have a wealth of top midfield options. Among them are: Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Bentancur, Palhinha and Sarr are the options who have been used most this season, and to good effect, with Spurs fourth in the Premier League and having not lost in either of their first two Champions League games, while also cruising through their first League Cup tie.

But Thomas Frank wants to add another star to his midfield: Conor Gallagher. Reports have suggested he’s a top target for Tottenham and a move back to the Premier League is most likely if Atletico Madrid let him go.

Former Spurs scout Bryan King has gone a step further, suggesting Gallagher might actively want to return specifically to London for an interesting reason.

He told Tottenham News: “I’d certainly pay £52m for Gallagher. Tottenham think they’ll need another central midfield player, especially one of his quality.

“Why would Atletico want to sell him if he’s been doing quite well? At that price, he must have been doing quite well.

“Is it because he’s fed up with trying to learn Spanish? Maybe he wants to come back to London, that could be the reason.

“I think maybe the novelty of living in Madrid may have worn off. They like foreign players to learn the language, maybe he’s finding that a difficult part of settling in.”

Gallagher’s struggles with Spanish

It has been clear in interviews since he joined Atletico that Gallagher did not pick up Spanish quickly. A Google search will tell you as much.

At his unveiling, he spoke a few words, very slowly, but has never been confident in interviews.

In April 2025, he was asked by a reporter if he could tell them he scored a good goal in the language, and had to get them to say it in Spanish first, before saying “the boss wants me to learn quicker.”

That could have made the pair’s relationship difficult, as in a video during training, Diego Simeone was heard telling Gallagher, in Spanish, that English, for him, was “imposible.”

Reports have also suggested that to make things easier for Gallagher, his role was slightly altered to allow him to play closer to English speaker Cesar Azpilicueta.

But if Atleti feel they can be more effective without Gallagher playing there, then surely they will do so, and if that means he’s to be sold, Spurs could well benefit.

Tottenham round-up: Frank key to Bentancur contract

There is a deal in place for Tottenham midfielder Bentancur to renew his contract at the club, and TEAMtalk is aware that manager Frank played a key role in that.

Subsequently, it’s believed Micky van de Ven will be the next to be handed a new contract.

Meanwhile, Gabby Agbonlahor has revealed he’s unsure about Tottenham’s decision to sign Xavi Simons.

He stated the forward isn’t as quick as expected, and suggested he spends a good amount of time “on the floor.”

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among four Premier League clubs keen on signing Rayan, according to a report – and he could be the next big thing out of Brazil.

Rayan is a winger who can operate on either flank but mainly likes to play off the right so he can cut inside on his stronger left foot. The versatile forward can also be used as a central striker if needed.

Rayan was developed in the Vasco da Gama academy and made headlines early on. He had scored 280 goals by the age of eleven, causing many to predict that he could be a future star both in Europe and in the Brazil national team.

Rayan is still only 19 years old but is already a key member of the Vasco first team, having registered 12 goals and one assist in 43 appearances so far this season.

Rayan has been described as an ‘elegant’ yet ‘powerful’ winger who uses his speed and trickery to glide past opposition defenders. He is a deadly finisher and is also a threat in the air, standing 6ft 1in tall.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has compared the starlet to former Brazil ace Adriano as he is a ‘complete forward’ with a ‘killer instinct’ and devastating shot power.

As per Italian source Calciomercato, there is a busy race forming to bring Rayan to Europe.

AC Milan and Roma are both ‘monitoring’ his progress ahead of potential moves in 2026, though there will be plenty of competition.

Chelsea and Tottenham have scouted Rayan on several occasions over the past 12 months and are planning talks of their own.

Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion both like the Brazil U20 international, too.

Rayan has already been offered the chance to move to Saudi Arabia, while Dynamo Moscow have held talks for him as well.

However, Rayan would rather join a club in one of Europe’s big five leagues, which will benefit the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, Milan and Roma.

Rayan has a €40million (£35m) release clause, though Vasco are in discussions with his agent as they want to increase it via a new contract.

YOUR NEXT READ 🔮 £89m duo IN – Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Liverpool as Enzo Maresca plots four changes

Chelsea could repeat Andrey Santos signing

Chelsea and Spurs should be able to fend off Milan and Roma for Rayan’s signing in 2026 due to the superior spending power of English clubs.

The Blues are well aware of the vast array of talent in South America, particularly in Brazil. They signed Andrey Santos from Vasco in January 2023, while also striking a £29m deal to bring Estevao Willian in from Palmeiras.

The fact Brighton are interested in Rayan shows Chelsea and Spurs are on the right track. Brighton have a brilliant scouting network and are known for unearthing gems from all over the world.

Forest’s interest comes as little surprise as they have been tapping into the Brazilian market lately. Indeed, Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha both signed from Botafogo in the summer.

Spurs’ interest in Rayan was first revealed back in April. Now, however, they will have to fend off Chelsea and other clubs to complete a deal.

Chelsea ace sent advice; new Spurs arrival criticised

Meanwhile, Cole Palmer has been told why he must consider a stunning move away from Chelsea.

Xavi Simons held talks with Chelsea in the summer but ended up joining Spurs instead.