Hotspur HQ

As it stands, Tottenham Hotspur have landed just two new players in the summer 2025 transfer window. They snagged bargain bin center back Kota Takai from Japan, and then they spent 55 million pounds to bring in high-upside West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus.

With the collapse of the Morgan GIbbs-White transfer and now the injury to James Maddison at the No. 10 position, Tottenham still have a huge need for another attacking difference-maker after finishing just 17th in the 2024/25 Premier League season.

But funny enough, Tottenham may also be plotting another move to bolster their defense. While they have already been linked with a move for a new left back, there's a chance Tottenham are eyeing another move entirely.

Center back looked like a hot-button issue for Tottenham Hotspur early in the summer transfer window when rumors were swirling around star man Cristian Romero, but with the sale of Son Heung-min to the United States imminent, Romero is going to be the captain. He and Tottenham turned down interest in Atletico Madrid, with Romero showing just as much of an affinity for the new man in charge, Thomas Frank, as he did for the deposed Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham are letting a top talent spread his wings

Still, it looks like Tottenham haven't given up the chase for another center back, because they've surprisingly decided to dangle their most talented young players, center back Luka Vuskovic, up for loan, according to a new report from top beat writer Alasdair Gold of Football.London.

Just 18 years old, Vuskovic looks like the real deal in defense, and no single player has dazzled Spurs supporters more this offseason - not even exciting new attacking addition Kudus - than Vuskovic. He's ready for the first team, but like Rangers-bound winger Mikey Moore, his opportunities could be more fruitful out on loan, which is likely the logic here.

Tottenham technically already have four center backs in the squad with Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso backing up Romero and Micky van de Ven, but Dragusin hasn't been an important part of the team. Spurs are still linked to dream target Marc Guehi, as Crystal Palace's asking price for the star central defender continues to tumble.

Guehi isn't the only proven Premier League starter on the Tottenham transfer radar, as Jan Paul van Hecke over at Brighton has also been linked with a move to North London. Tottenham could give Vuskovic the chance to shine in another top five league as a starter before welcoming him back as a star, all the while snagging another top player to create the best defense in Europe- and maybe even throw in some flexible looks with a back three as Frank did with Brentford.

Tottenham have their new midfield enforcer in Joao Palhinha, and Thomas Frank is thrilled to have the Portuguese international on board.

Holding midfield (No. 6) was regarded as a priority position of need entering the summer, and many supporters have clamoured for the addition of a passer/destroyer profile. You know, because they're so easily attainable.

Much has been made of Palhinha's limitations as a passer, but his talents as a defender cannot be denied. His two-year spell at Fulham manifested the 30-year-old's outstanding tackling ability, and very few would've scoffed at his arrival last summer.

A down year at Bayern Munich has undoubtedly seen his stock take a hit, with Vincent Kompany seemingly giving up on the Portuguese midfielder. However, if Spurs are able to get the Palhinha which manifested so effectively in west London, then Frank has, without doubt, stumbled upon a lynchpin in his engine room.

Thomas Frank explains why Tottenham signed Joao Palhinha

Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur primarily functioned as Ange Postecoglou's deepest-lying midfielder during his two-year reign, but both players particularly struggled for consistency last season.

Bissouma, while majestic on his day, is far too up-and-down, while Bentancur has always been better suited to playing in a midfield two, going back to his Juventus days.

There is a clear need for a player of Palhinha's profile, especially given the youth with our midfield ranks. After his loan arrival was confirmed on Sunday, Frank echoed that sentiment.

"It was always his abilities, and if you look at the squad, I don’t think we have his ability or package as a clear number six with his profile," the Dane said, explaining to Football London why he wanted to bring the 30-year-old in.

Frank then waxed lyrical about Palhinha's capacity to "break up play", and also made note of his "distribution" and positional discipline. "Especially if you are playing away from home or against good counter-attacking teams, it’s very important to have one that, you know, is not running away or gets attracted to something," the boss added, which probably isn't a dig at Bentancur or Bissouma, but would be an apt one.

This isn't a signing which evokes glamour, but one that could prove to be extremely effective. Frank's excitement over Palhinha's addition—and surprise he was available for transfer—just goes to show how desperate we are for an enforcer of his ilk, and I expect the 30-year-old to make an immediate impact.

Who emerges as his partner in crime is set to be a hotly contested competition, with Lucas Bergvall making his case during the second half of last season, and Pape Matar Sarr the star of the summer so far. Both will benefit from the stability Palhinha supplies.

At the start of last season, I would have expected Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray to be on this list for 2025/26. No chance after the season they had. Due to injuries and on occasion form, both played far more than expected last season. Bergvall has a legitimate case for a starter each week. And after Gray’s versatility last season, Thomas Frank played him further forward against Arsenal recently.

This leaves striker and goalkeeper as a couple of the few remaining options to get him more minutes in a new position. I also would have put Mikey Moore in this group, but having already completed a loan move to Rangers, I am expecting him to get some good experience there, both domestically and in Europe.

Instead, here are three very promising players who will benefit greatly from more minutes next season. I would have liked all three to get those minutes as part of the first team squad, but football.london reports that all three are available for loans already. This can also be fine, if they play at the loan clubs, of course.

Luka Vuskovic

Vuskovic has already had two necessary loan spells and recently made an appearance for the Croatia national team in a world cup qualifier. Given his experience already at such a young age, clear ability, number of games we hope to have this season, and the recent injury history of our central defenders I would be reluctant to loan Vuskovic out.

If he is not going to be in Thomas Frank’s plans this season, though, then a loan is sensible. Vuskovic has been playing consistently and if he is to be loaned out, then a championship team to gain experience in English football would be ideal.

Will Lankshear

In recent years, Tottenham seemed to actively try not to have two “out-and-out strikers” in the squad. For years, it looked like Harry Kane was our only one. Fernando Llorente being an honorable exception, we have recently favored players who can also play in a deeper role or out wide. I had hoped this was changing when Lankshear made a few appearances last season and scored in a particularly tricky game against Galatasaray (I know, a red card followed).

This goal did not provide a springboard for any run in the squad, though, and a loan to West Brom was to follow. This was not a particularly successful loan, either in terms of goals (zero) or appearances (often as a substitute).

Lankshear is a traditional center forward, and that gives us something different. He needs minutes, and while I think the better development here would be as a squad player backing up Dominic Solanke, if this isn’t to happen, then getting the right loan is critical. Championship preferred, and a loan to Oxford United is looking likely.

Jamie Donley

I have made the case for Donley to be part of the squad this season. As per the other two players on this list, a loan looks far more likely, and his season at Leyton Orient was too good for him not to build on it again. Last season, we sometimes seemed to struggle for creativity in the middle of the field.

Part of this may have been Ange’s tactics to play wide so often, but even in pre-season, we have looked a little too easy to defend against. James Maddison’s injury is a huge blow to this as well. Donley offers us a chance to experiment in this position.

Loans do look more likely for all three players and there is a huge value in that as well. There are senior players that would be considered ahead and so minutes might be hard to come by. There is a concern, however, that other clubs are becoming more successful at integrating youth team players, and it is true that we don’t really know how they will perform until given the chance on a consistent basis (instead of 2-minute substitute appearances or as part of a wholesale weakened League cup team). If loans are the way forward for a number of younger players this season, let’s hope we prioritize opportunities in the first team squad for the longer term.

In a shocking move, Stuttgart attacking midfielder Enzo Millot has spurned interest from European clubs and agreed to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Florian Plettenberg has reported that the Bundesliga side will receive a €28 million transfer fee after the Frenchman's €18 million release clause expired earlier this summer.

Tottenham were believed to be among a handful of clubs vying for the 23-year-old, including Atlético Madrid and Galatasaray. The news comes at an inopportune time, considering that Millot would have been an excellent replacement for the oft-injured James Maddison.

The French youth international contributed to 20 goals in all competitions last season and was instrumental in Stuttgart’s recent resurgence, helping the Swabian side secure a second-place finish in the Bundesliga during the 2023-24 campaign.

Given his age, Millot's decision to join Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessié, and Ivan Toney in Jeddah rather than compete in the Champions League represents something of an anomaly. However, it can also be seen as a statement of intent from Al-Ahli, who finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League last season and are keen to lift their first trophy since 2016.

Tottenham can now focus their search for a Maddison replacement on creative attacking midfield options like Eberechi Eze or Maghnes Akliouche, whose skill sets are more aligned with Spurs' needs.

Mere hours before João Palhinha was set to be unveiled as Tottenham's new defensive midfielder, James Maddison was stretchered off the pitch in tears during the final minutes of a meaningless friendly against Newcastle in South Korea.

What began as a beautiful celebration for club legend Son Heung-min quickly morphed into Thomas Frank's worst nightmare. The Dane will presumably be without both of his preferred attacking midfielders for a significant part of the season, leaving recent signing Mohammed Kudus and academy graduate Jamie Donley as the only natural number tens in the squad.

Spurs' failure to sign Morgan Gibbs-White suddenly hurts a lot more. The onus is now on Daniel Levy to sign a creative midfielder to replace Maddison, and he needs to act quickly if Spurs are to have any chance against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13.

In the meantime, Thomas Frank will have to go back to the drawing board and think about how to line up his now-injury depleted squad against the Champions League winners.

Guglielmo Vicario will start in goal. The talk of Antonín Kinský overtaking the Italian international is premature. Vicario is a world-class goalkeeper, and his preseason performances have given fans reason to believe that his deficiencies on set pieces and playing the ball out from the back will improve under Fabian Otte’s mentorship.

Assuming Destiny Udogie's injury is minor, Tottenham's back four is set in stone. Pedro Porro is among the best right-backs in the Premier League. Udogie is also a world-class left-back. And the center-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven would be the envy of most teams in England and abroad.

The midfield is where things get tricky. João Palhinha will walk into the team as Spurs' new number six, but whether Frank prefers Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, or Pape Matar Sarr as his number eight is anyone's guess. Bentancur provides stability and experience. Bergvall adds flair and creativity. Sarr brings energy and tenacity. Frank will probably opt for Bentancur to begin the season, electing to go with his most stalwart midfield unit.

Until Spurs sign a new attacking midfielder, the number ten role belongs to Mohammed Kudus. But moving the former West Ham star to the center of the pitch deprives Frank of his most dangerous winger.

With Son Heung-min gone and Kudus forced to play as an attacking midfielder, Frank will urge Daniel Levy to bring in two more attacking options. As it stands now, Brennan Johnson will start on the right wing, Mathys Tel will play opposite him, and Dominic Solanke will lead the line.

It’s not the team Thomas Frank envisioned lining up to start his Spurs managerial career. But chances are he will have a couple more attacking options to choose from in the coming weeks.

Less than four weeks remain until the draw for the 2025-26 Champions League is announced at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 28. Despite Daniel Levy's penchant for last-minute deals, there are several reasons to believe the Tottenham chairman will be busy in the transfer window long before Spurs find out who they will face in the Champions League league phase.

Mitigating another injury crisis should be at the top of Levy's to-do list. The addition of João Palhinha helps solidify the central midfield, but manager Thomas Frank still needs a reliable attacking threat in the middle of the pitch, given James Maddison's injury history and Dejan Kulusevski's long road to recovery from patella surgery. Spurs were already thin at fullback before Destiny Udogie "felt something in the warmup" against Luton Town and did not make the trip to Asia. Dominic Solanke tweaked his ankle in preseason for a second year in a row, and there is no evidence to suggest Richarlison will stay fit for more than half the season.

Health concerns aside, UEFA's "locally-trained player" rules leave Frank with no conceivable way to register a full 25-man squad for the Champions League. While Spurs have more than enough "association-trained players," only Brandon Austin can be registered among the four spots reserved for "club-trained players." They simply don't have the luxury of signing new players without first releasing others. Logic would suggest that Daniel Levy and Johan Lange will focus on outgoings while prioritizing versatile signings to ensure Frank has depth at all positions.

The only position where Spurs have no apparent need is goalkeeper, with Guglielmo Vicario, Antonín Kinský, and Brandon Austin all expected to be registered for the Champions League squad.

Levy may, however, look to add another central defender. Ben Davies is Spurs' only dedicated left-sided center-back other than Micky van de Ven, but it's not a foregone conclusion the Welshman will be at the club when the season begins. There are also concerns Radu Drăgușin will not have recovered from ACL surgery until the Champions League knockout phase.

Likewise, Spurs' situation at fullback is worryingly precarious. If Destiny Udogie's injury is serious, Djed Spence will be expected to play left-back in three competitions. Frank could deputize Archie Gray, but he would be ruthlessly targeted as Spurs' weak link by Champions League managers. The smart money would be on Tottenham signing a left-sided defensive player who can also play centrally.

With the addition of João Palhinha, Frank has no shortage of midfielders to choose from. Even if Yves Bissouma departs the club this summer, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, and Lucas Bergvall can all play in the double pivot. However, the failed pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White raises questions about whether Frank feels he needs a more dynamic option than James Maddison, particularly if he intends to play Mohammed Kudus on the right wing.

Despite signing Mathys Tel to a permanent deal, Son Heung-min's tearful departure from the club leaves Frank to choose between two young, inexperienced left wingers and either Brennan Johnson or Mohammed Kudus on the right. In an ideal world, Spurs would add a versatile forward who could play across the front line and fill in for strikers Dominic Solanke or Richarlison, should the Brazilian stay for another season.

Despite the talent Frank has at his disposal, Spurs' current 22-man squad is nowhere near deep enough to compete in the Champions League. To upgrade the current roster, Tottenham need to move a few players on and add a versatile left-sided defender and a multifaceted attacking player.

Current Squad Breakdown

Goalkeepers (3): Guglielmo Vicario, Antonín Kinský, Brandon Austin (CT)

Central Defenders (4): Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies (AT)

Fullbacks (4): Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Djed Spence (AT), Archie Gray (AT)

Midfielders (5): João Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison (AT)

Wingers (4): Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson (AT)

Strikers (2): Dominic Solanke (AT), Richarlison

Non-Registered: Radu Drăgușin (injured), Dejan Kulusevski (injured), Yves Bissouma, Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil

CT = Club Trained, AT = Association Trained

Tottenham Hotspur are still pursuing multiple attacking options before the summer 2025 transfer window closes, as the collapse of the Morgan Gibbs-White deal with Nottingham Forest gives Spurs cash and squad space to go after another attacking game-changer. And even if Tottenham signed Gibbs-White, they could have still used a left winger or striker signing, too.

The thing is, the transfer market is pretty barren in terms of top goal-scoring options at striker. Tottenham aren't going to be competitive for the best options like Benjamin Sesko - let alone Alexander Isak - especially since Thomas Frank and the club want to give 65 million pound investment Dominic Solanke the first crack to start in his second season in North London.

Tottenham, though, should be after alternatives to offer depth, and while Yoane Wissa may be the preferred option for Frank as his 19-goal striker at Brentford last season, that ship may have sailed as well with Newcastle currently showing significantly more interest in the 28-year-old No. 9.

One option Tottenham could circle back to is Ligue 1 star Arnaud Kalimuendo, whom Tottenham were linked to earlier in the transfer window. Other Premier League clubs like Nottingham Forest have also been mentioned in the past as suitors for the French No. 9.

Brentford are now interested

Now, according to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Brentford have also joined the transfer battle and "made contact" with Kalimuendo over a transfer, facing the prospect of losing Wissa alongside Bryan Mbeumo this summer transfer window. And Villarreal, who may be the favorites to land the 23-year-old striker, have also reached out for information on a transfer.

Fab says that Kalimuendo has "concrete chances" of a transfer this August and declares the Rennes star as "one to watch". Kalimuendo has been one of the better forwards in Ligue 1 over the past few seasons, scoring 12 goals for Lens a few years ago as a top prospect and then 10 in the 2023/24 season for Rennes.

But he really broke out in the 2024/25 season for Rennes, scoring 17 goals with 3 assists as one of the top strikers in Ligue 1. At just 23 years old, Kalimuendo has star potential, and even with the caveat that goals are easier to come by in the French top flight, he did have a significantly better scoring season than Solanke or Richarlison at Tottenham, though he was still beaten by Wissa's 19 in the Premier League.

Tottenham are probably going to stick with Richarlison, who is to difficult to sell at this juncture, and Kalimuendo is more of a Brentford or Nottingham Forest level signing than a Tottenham one. But he is younger and has a better recent track record than Richarlison, so if Tottenham can arrange a deal with a Turkish or Saudi Arabian club for the Brazilian international, then maybe Kalimuendo could work as an affordable alternative to split minutes with Solanke. More likely, though, Spurs will pass.

Tottenham Hotspur are no longer desperate for center back help in the summer transfer window this year, as it's quite obvious to everyone that Cristian Romero is going to be staying in North London for the foreseeable future despite some drama earlier in the window, particularly after Daniel Levy unceremoniously dumped Europa League-winning manager Ange Postecoglou.

Romero appears to have gotten off to a great start with new coach Thomas Frank, and with Son Heung-min's future at Tottenham still unsettled, the Argentinian World Cup and Copa America winner could yet wear the Tottenham armband after leading the team to the Europa League title with a Player of the Tournament performance.

Even Atletico Madrid have long since backed away from Romero, knowing that Tottenham are not interested in selling the 27-year-old center back. But even though Tottenham have two world-class center backs in Micky van de Ven and Romero with hopes that Kevin Danso will emerge as a third in 2025/26, they are still monitoring some of the best players availble in the Premier League.

Tottenham and Newcastle are watching top EPL defenders

In addition to long-time transfer target Marc Guehi over at Crystal Palace, Tottenham are also tracking Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton fame alongside clubs like Newcastle United. Per a report from Dutch outlet Voetbal International's Joost Blaauwhof, Van Hecke has his eyes on Champions League clubs - of which Tottenham are one of them after winning the 2024/25 Europa League title - and Brighton will be open to selling him for a price of 50 million euros.

That's a hefty price, but Van Hecke is only just entering the prime of his career as a center back at the age of 25, and the Dutch international is coming off a career year in the Premier League as one of the English top flight's biggest breakout stars at the center back position.

Van Hecke now has two successful seasons of Premier League football under his belt as a regular starter for the Seagulls. He is a solid defender and one of the best in the league on the ball, completing 92.5 and 88.5 percent of his passes in the past two league seasons with 82.7 and 66.6 passes per game, respectively.

Tottenham clearly don't need another center back, and Van Hecke is overqualified to be a fourth-choice player. But like Guehi, he could make a lot of sense as a third option. Due to his experience and superior defensive skills, in addition to what should be a cheaper cost with one year on his contract, Guehi would be preferred if Tottenham do try to sign a top Premier League center back this summer, but Van Hecke is worth monitoring at least.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters thought their beloved club had made an uncharacteristically ambitious double swoop for not only West Ham star Mohammed Kudus on the wings, but also Nottingham Forest standout Morgan Gibbs-White through the middle as a combination option with established star James Maddison.

However, the deal for Gibbs-White, who allegedly had a hidden 60 million euro release clause, immediately reached a friction point with Forest even threatening legal action over the transfer. In the end, the 25-year-old England international elected to re-sign with Nottingham Forest instead of pursuing and pushing for a move to Tottenham, so, in that sense, it's been a feeling of "good riddance anyway" from Spurs supporters despite the initial frustration.

The falling apart of the 60 million pound Gibbs-White transfer means that Tottenham still have money to burn and still have a need for another attacking game-changer. Kudus as the only new addition from a 2024/25 squad that finished 17th in the Premier League is simply insufficient.

Tottenham need to challenge Inter Milan

One name Tottenham have been loosely linked to and could circle back to is Ademola Lookman, who remains available on the transfer market despite intense pursuit from Serie A title contenders Inter Milan. In his latest transfer news update on the Lookman situation, Fabrizio Romano reported that La Dea are still holding out for their 50 million euro asking price for the Nigerian superstar. Per Romano, Atalanta have rejected Inter's latest proposal of 42 million euros plus an additional three million in add-ons.

That actually represents a slight increase from the 40 million euros that the Nerazzurri were holding onto. Lookman is a little older than Gibbs-White at 27, and he isn't proven in the Premier League like MGW after flopping at Everton. But that was a different version of Lookman, who was arguably the best forward in the Italian top flight last season alongside Inter's own star striker Lautaro Martinez.

With Maddison as the No. 10, Tottenham have more of a need for a goal-scorer who can play on the left wing or up top, which is exactly the profile Lookman, who scored 15 goals with 5 assists in Serie A last season, brings to the table. Since Tottenham are shopping Son Heung-min to MLS clubs, Lookman could be a tailor-made replacement who will cost at least 10 million euros less than Gibbs-White would have.

Tottenham have mostly been looking at options in the Premier League this summer like Bryan Mbeumo, Eberechi Eze, Yoane Wissa, Kudus, and Gibbs-White, but all you have to do is look at players like Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mathys Tel, and Dejan Kulusevski to remember that, often times, the best deals are outside England.

After months of speculation and on-and-off-again transfer rumors, Tottenham Hotspur have learned the fate of superstar Son Heung-min. As Fabrizio Romano first broke the news, Son has made his decision, and with the tour in South Korea wrapping up, the Tottenham legend has informed new manager Thomas Frank and the rest of the club's officials of his intention to depart this summer.

That means that 2024/25 season will have been Sonny's last in Tottenham colors, and he'll have ended his Spurs career on a high note, helping the club secure its first Europa League title in 41 years while ranking first on the team in Premier League goal contributions.

Per Fab, MLS is the most likely landing spot for Son, who is in ongoing transfer negotiations with LAFC, one of the biggest clubs in the United States. He's been approached by Saudi Pro League sides this summer, just as he was last summer, but it looks like the next journey in his career will be in America.

There was, at one point this summer, a sense that Son would stay for the last year of his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as something of a bridge for the next generation of Tottenham attackers and a steady veteran hand for Frank. But Frank didn't seem to have big plans for Son based on his remarks in press conferences, and, well, now we know why.

Tottenham knew it all along

Given the timing of the announcement, it appears Son and Levy may have had something mutual cooked up, given that he's waited until almost literally August 1st to announce his departure, again, at a time when Tottenham wouldn't be on the hook for a penalty from South Korea for selling the international superstar before the conclusion of the tour in Seoul.

What's next for Tottenham after Son announced his departure is obvious. Tottenham are going to have to sign a new left winger. While they brought in Mathys Tel permanently from Bayern Munich this summer and have 2024 signing Wilson Odobert literally waiting in the wings, neither are ready to be the only primary options across from new right winger Mohammed Kudus.

Tottenham have big shoes to fill when they officially lose Son, and even though Son declined in 2024/25 to the point where he wasn't really any better than Tel by the end of the campaign, it would still make sense for Spurs to sign a left winger. Even with Son, left wing wasn't a real position of strength for Tottenham in comparison to other big European clubs, and now without Son, they have to make a move.

Spurs were already in the market for an attacking difference-maker, and that need only doubled with the implosion of the Morgan Gibbs-White transfer. There aren't many valid left wing options remaining on the transfer market, but underrated stars like Atalanta's Ademola Lookman and maybe even Manchester United playmaker Alejandro Garnacho will likely start getting closer second looks from Spurs now.