Hotspur HQ

Tottenham Hotspur risk entering the 2025/25 Premier League and Champions League seasons with just one major new signing in their ranks, and although they won a historic Europa League title last season, they also finished the domestic campaign in a shocking 17th place to set a different kind of historic record.

Now that the Morgan Gibbs-White transfer has fallen apart at the seams, Tottenham have really only brought in Mohammed Kudus as a new signing this summer. And while Kudus should have massive potential under Thomas Frank, only signing him is simply insufficient.

Tottenham need to focus on bolstering their midfield, but after the Gibbs-White deal's collapse, Spurs also have a need for another game-changer in the attacking half. The thing is, they've shown no urgency, and clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal are absolutely lapping Daniel Levy on the transfer market.

Tottenham can't have less pull than Everton

And now, even Everton is getting the best of Tottenham this summer. According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Everton are in "advanced talks" to sign Lyon star Malick Fofana, who has been closely linked to Merseyside rivals Liverpool, as well as Tottenham and their London rivals Chelsea.

Fofana is one of the most talented young players in Ligue 1 and was a highly intriguing left wing breakout player in the 2024/25 season. The 20-year-old Belgian international contributed to nine goals last season despite not being a regular starter, and with the level of clubs interested in him, there's a sense around Europe that Fofana could be the next big thing.

Whereas Tottenham have sat on the sidelines watching, Everton are in "direct talks", per Romano, for the Ligue 1 standout and are pushing to agree to "personal terms" with the U21 talent. Now, Tottenham did add Wilson Odobert last summer and signed Mathys Tel permanently this year, but with Son Heung-min potentially leaving this window, Spurs have an opening for another left wing option.

But it looks like Tottenham are, once again, outside the picture. That's their own doing, too. They have not pushed hard enough for players like Fofana who are young, ascending, and valued highly by other top clubs in the Premier League. Kudus has proven to be more of an exception than the rule, and it seems like Spurs can only make signings for obvious fits who don't have too much competition. Fofana to Everton would be another sign that Tottenham are not punching at their weight on a consistent basis in the transfer market.

Tottenham Hotspur have struck out on Nottingham Forest superstar Morgan Gibbs-White, meaning they have only made one true transfer in the summer 2025 market, Mohammed Kudus. Mathys Tel was already a foregone conclusion and a part of the 2024/25 Tottenham side that won the Europa League - and finished 17th in the Premier League - as he came over from Bayern Munich in the winter transfer window as a loan acquisition.

Spurs dropped the ball on Gibbs-White and have shown only tepid interest in other mainstay targets and bargain gets alike, including Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze and Palmeiras standout Richard Rios, who is now bound for Benfica.

Tottenham still need another game-changer to join the attack after striking out on Gibbs-White, but they, more pressingly, need midfield reenforcements behind the No. 10 position after struggling mightily to gain a foothold on games against top competition.

A formal transfer offer could be coming

It looks like Joao Palhinha is the last concrete link remaining for Tottenham, who have been frustratingly slow on the transfer market, particularly at the defensive midfield position. They barely showed interest in Rios and were beaten to the punch embarrassingly quickly by Arsenal to Christian Norgaard, who was something of Thomas Frank's coach on the field at Brentford.

Now, the Bayern Munich outcast is the one man left. According to a new report from Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have "genuine interest" in Palhinha this summer and "more will follow" when it comes to their interest in the 30-year-old former Fulham destroyer. Tottenham, per Romano, have made an "initial approach" but not a "formal proposal" to the midfielder.

At this point, Tottenham are running out of options and time. With August fast approaching, Tottenham are only a couple of weeks from the official start of the 2025/26 Premier League season and, even before that, the UEFA Super Cup final against defending Champions League winners and Club World Cup finalists PSG.

Tottenham can't go into the 2025/26 season with their current midfield situation. They need two players, ideally, to fill the playmaker and destroyer roles, including one young player and one older player. Palhinha can be a relatively affordable veteran destroyer with Premier League expereince, and, well, if Tottenham can't get his signing over the line and end up empty-handed in the middle of the park this summer, then the Gibbs-White transfer saga won't be the only major low on embattled chairman Daniel Levy's part this offseason.

Tottenham Hotspur currently have two strikers in their squad in Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, and whlie both players are very talented and have been above-average starters in the Premier League for other clubs in the past, the jury is still out on how good they are for Tottenham and if they can meet up to the expectations of sky-high 60 million pound price tags.

Solanke, at least, stayed healthy, ran his socks off, and scored some important goals and assists as Tottenham marched to a historic Europa League title in 2024/25. Under Thomas Frank, Solanke is expected to make further strides for Spurs in year two, and there's optimism that he can seal himself as "the guy" at the heart of the Tottenham attack in this post-Harry Kane era.

Behind him, Richarlison had an even better track record for Everton and was actually a Brazil national team starter, but Tottenham have been openly shopping the Premier League veteran. It's just that the right offer hasn't come across, and Spurs seem increasingly resigned to keeping the 28-year-old in North London.

Now, Tottenham have yet another reason to think that they will have to stick with both Solanke and Richarlison at striker next season and hope that the two can provide more goals and assists throughout the duration of the 2025/26 Premier League and Champions League seasons.

Thomas Frank misses out on another one

That's because, according to a report from Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport fame, Brentford have "closed the door'" on the sale of Yoane Wissa this summer despite the veteran striker's protests and push for a transfer out of the club this summer.

Per Jacobs, Brentford just rejected a fresh 30 million pound transfer bid from Newcastle United, who are worried about losing their own star striker, Alexander Isak, amidst heavy interest from a highy ambitious Liverpool. Wissa reportedly wants to leave for a Champions League club, such as Tottenham, and he feels that he and Brentford had a pact on a 26 million pound deal.

At 26 million pounds, Wissa, who is already approaching 30 years old, could have made sense for Tottenham. At more than 30 million pounds, which is the bid Brentford rejected from Newcastle, that may be a little too much for a notoriously stingy and youth-focused Tottenham.

Wissa's 19 goals last season were well beyond what Solanke, Richarlison, and even Son Heung-min produced in leading the Tottenham attack. Tottenham could use those goals, and after not even going hard after Manchester United signing Bryan Mbeumo, Wissa could be the one star Thomas Frank gets to bring with him from Brentford to Tottenham. But at this stage, it looks like Wissa is off the table for Spurs, if Levy were even entertaining him seriously in the first place.

The Morgan Gibbs-White saga has finally dragged to its worst possible conclusion with the player re-signing with Nottingham Forest out of nowhere, and Tottenham now have to start to consider alternatives.

Among the potential pivot options is Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, who, while talented, hasn't exactly endeared himself to the Lilywhite fanbase due to previous misdemeanours.

The Nottingham Forest 25-year-old would have been a tremendous signing, but there was a point during the entire process where it had become painfully obvious, even to the most unabashedly inexperienced and thus optimistic of Tottenham Hotspur fans, that the inevitable conclusion of the Gibbs-White transfer saga would be sheer and utter disappointment.

Now, Spurs have to pivot, and with Mohammed Kudus as the only new addition, there's one thought reverberating in the minds of Tottenham fans. Our entire summer window has seemingly stalled. And now, Spurs have to scramble to change that narrative in the days before the season resumes play.

Tottenham considering Harvey Elliott as Morgan Gibbs-White alternative

As I said, the priority was previously getting this Gibbs-White deal over the line, but it looks like the club have alternatives to turn to.

According to insider Paul O'Keefe, Liverpool's Elliott "is on the list of potentials".

The hero from England U21s successful European Championship campaign is expected to leave Anfield this summer in search of more first-team opportunities, having appeared over 100 times in the Premier League for the Reds. He was set back significantly at the start of Arne Slot's reign by a broken foot after a strong pre-season, eventually notching just 371 minutes of league action.

In the two seasons before that, Elliott recorded 29 league starts and developed into a clutch performer towards the end of Jurgen Klopp's reign.

I cannot deny Elliott's talent. I think he's a crafty, intelligent footballer who boasts a wand of a left foot. He's always trying to make something happen, in and around the opponent's box, and he showed at the U21 Euros this summer that he can take responsibility as a team's talismanic figure and grab contests by the scruff of their neck.

However, us Spurs fans don't forget. Back in 2019, the then-teenager was handed a 14-day suspension for mocking Harry Kane in a video that surfaced online. Elliott later apologised, but the damage had already been done. He's never been held in a particularly bright light by supporters since.

Ideally, this one doesn't progress any further.

The Morgan Gibbs-White saga has seemingly frozen Johan Lange. Since Nottingham Forest's tantrum was reported, Spurs have been thrust into a state of inactivity.

The absence of arrivals is largely down to our inability to offload players. A few have been released and a couple have departed on loan, including centre-back Ashley Phillips, but this remains a fairly bloated squad.

And despite the departure of Phillips, Frank currently looks well-stocked of options at the heart of his defence. An improvement out of possession has to be one of the Dane's key aims at the start of his tenure, with most great projects leaning on sturdy foundations at the base.

In Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Spurs boast one of Europe's premier centre-back partnerships when they're both fit, which, admittedly, hasn't been all that common over the past couple of years. Behind them, Kevin Danso is an able deputy and we know Ben Davies is a reliable number four option. 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic is already worryingly good, and Kota Takai has offered promise for the Japanese national team. Oh, and Radu Dragusin should be back from a long-term injury before the end of the year.

We look pretty well set, right? Wrong. According to various reports, Spurs remain in the market for another centre-half this summer, and we're not talking about another depth option here. There have been links to premier talent, the kind that garner hefty fees.

Why Tottenham are interested in high-profile CB

Among our reported targets are Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and Bournemouth's Illia Zabarnyi, although Fabrizio Romano has poured cold water over our apparent pursuit of the latter. Nevertheless, these are two defenders who wouldn't be willing to play second fiddle. Both are valued in excess of £60m.

I wouldn't be against either defender signing, but why would the club be willing to dedicate a considerable proportion of their summer kitty to a position that currently appears well set?

The additions of Takai and Vuskovic (as well as Danso in January) have alleviated the issue of utilising Archie Gray alongside Dragusin or Davies in defence. Depth is not a problem, even if Takai is an unknown commodity.

For me, the pursuit of a high-value centre-back points towards the expected departure of Romero either later this summer or next year (with the assumption that he won't sign a new contract). The club may well be getting their succession plan through the door early.

However, the optimist inside believes Romero falls in love with Frank, and he pens an extension before the end of the year. Let me dream, okay!

Tactically, Frank's willingess to shift to a back five could perhaps make another addition necessary, but I still think we have the personnel to cope. Danso is a great fit for one of the wide centre-back roles in a three, while Davies has plenty of back-three experience for the Welsh national team.

I'd understand the pursuit of a versatile defender capable of performing multiple roles in Frank's backline, but Guehi nor Zabarnyi are that profile. Jorrel Hato could've been a good option, but, of course, he's going to Chelsea. Like every other footballer on the planet.

An under-the-radar acquisition of a Swiss Army knife-type wouldn't go amiss, but the big bucks should be dedicated towards the passer/destroyer midfield utopia, and a potential Richarlison replacement. After, of course, we get the Gibbs-White deal over the line.

Tottenham Hotspur superstar Son Heung-min is on his last legs at the club with one year left on his contract, and even though he showed serious signs of decline by the end of the 2024/25 season, he also wasn't at his 100 percent best due to a nagging foot injury.

Even with all of that, Son still led his team in goal contributions during the Premier League season and, most importantly, hoisted the club's first Europa League title in 41 years to entrench his status as arguably the greatest club legend ever.

For the most part, it seemed like Son, the club's expected captain next season, would remain the team's leader and stick around for a full season before riding off into the sunset as a free agent. He'd wrap things up with Tottenham predictably and help bridge the new era for Thomas Frank with Tottenham's return to the Champions League.

Instead, it seems as though Tottenham have been waiting to sell Son until after the trip to Seoul so as to not accrue any penalties for the best Asian footballer of his generation not appearing on the tour. Because with the tour date coming closer, the transfer rumors surrounding the 33-year-old Premier League legend have only heaten up.

Tottenham could sell Son for less than half of what they should

MLS, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, it seems like everything is on the table for Sonny. But what should frustrate the Tottenham faithful is how little Spurs are considering selling their souls - if Daniel Levy ever had one anyway - in exchange for axing their biggest club icon prematurely.

According to a new report from The Mirror's Samuel Meade, Tottenham Hotspur are considering selling Son Heung-min for a measly 15-20 million pounds this summer. It's a price point that is less than half of what Saudi Arabian clubs were rumored to be offering Son last summer - and it's significantly less than the figures thrown around for Son this summer, too.

Yes, Tottenham could sell Son for significantly more than, say, 15 million pounds even if that is their internal price for him, but the fact that they would even consider selling him for that little is outrageous. Son, for one season in the Champions League and for all the sentimentality a farewell brings, is easily worth more than that amount.

But even in a vacuum, he's worth more than that. Even a "bad" version of Son is still a slam dunk for 15 goal contributions and the best left winger on the team, because as promising as Mathys Tel is, he probably isn't ready to take the reigns yet. If Tottenham are at all considering selling Son for this little, then Levy is truly a sick and twisted chairman.

Tottenham Hotspur absolutely have to sign at least one star-caliber center midfielder before the summer 2025 transfer window comes to a conclusion, and with Xavi Simons set to join Chelsea and dream defensive midfield target Adam Wharton wholly unavailable on the market this year, Spurs are going to have to pluck someone from the veteran pile instead.

Spurs have waited too long to make their move in the middle of the park, and even though they may want to sell to buy first, the reality is that heading into the 2025/26 Premier League and Champions League seasons with the same midfield as last year is akin to throwing in the towel.

As optimistic as Tottenham may be about the coming season with Thomas Frank in charge, the only real upgrade from last season's 17th-placed Premier League squad is winger Mohammed Kudus, who is a potential difference-maker but, like so many Spurs players, is totally raw. And any squad with raw attackers need a strong base to build on in midfield, which Tottenham don't have.

A better candidate than Joao Palhinha

With options flying off the proverbial shelf, Tottenham now have an intriguing option at one of Europe's elite clubs opening up to them - and he's a more attractive option to Spurs than another former Premier Leaguer in Joao Palhinha.

According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Juventus defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz is unsurprisingly upset with his situation in Turin and is pushing for a transfer out of Italy. Luiz now has a "broken" relationship with the Bianconeri and will "surely leave" this summer transfer window. His desire is to move back to the Premier League.

The Brazilian international has been an unmitigated disaster for Juventus, failing to fit the league or team with his profile, which is more athletic than technical. Luiz, however, was fantastic in the Premier League and legitimately one of the best all-around No. 6's for Aston Villa, thriving in a role where he could function as a box-to-box destroyer and even an auxillary goal-scorer.

Tottenham don't have many options left, but Luiz is one of the few legitimate ones. A former Arsenal transfer target, resurrecting Luiz's best days in the Premier League would thus feel extra sweet for the Lilywhites. The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career, and, like Manuel Locatelli and Teun Koopmeiners, is too talented to be wasting his best years toiling away on a dysfunctional Juventus side.

Tottenham Hotspur are fresh off a Europa League title triumph and should be running on a high right now, but the reality is that Spurs have made a few missteps this summer already, even if they should be in a better place overall with Thomas Frank at the helm and Mohammed Kudus joining the attack.

The story of Tottenham's transfer window is one with some positives but many more missed opportunities. Whereas the other elite clubs in England like Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City have been spending big and signing blockbuster players, Spurs only real addition thus far is Kudus, who is very talented but is more of a gamble at 55 million pounds than players like Rayan Cherki and Alexander Isak.

Tottenham have also failed to upgrade their midfield, while Chelsea and Arsenal are welcoming some of the finest talents in European football to their sides this summer. And Chelsea are on the cusp of adding another one of those players - someone who can dominate the next decade of the Champions League - at Tottenham's expense.

Chelsea are extremely close

Fabrizio Romano and other insiders have been increasingly reporting that Chelsea are circling closer to a deal with RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, who was a dream transfer target for many Tottenham fans. Instead of showing urgency to beat Chelsea - and Arsenal - to the punch for the 22-year-old Dutch intenrational, Spurs have proceeded to do precisely nothing to convince Simons of their sporting project.

Now, according to a fresh update from Fab, Simons has given the "green light" to Chelsea and are now the "clear favorites" to land the Bundesliga superstar. Simons is "very keen" on joining the Blues, as the Premier League powerhouses continue to negotiate with Leipzig on a deal, leaving the likes of Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and, of course, Tottenham in the dust.

While Tottenham were the Europa League winners, Chelsea finished in the top five of the Premier League - compared to 17th for Spurs - and also won both the Conference League and the Club World Cup with a 3-0 demolition job of Champions League winners PSG.

There are levels between Tottenham and Chelsea still, and this Simons transfer saga is a reminder that Spurs are frustratingly far behind. And so much of that isn't down to the size of the club or the fanbase or any of that. It's down to ambition. Daniel Levy talks a big game and hypes things up that he will support Frank, but anyone who thinks Levy is out to win the Champions League or even the Premier League is seriously kidding themselves. He's not even out to be better than Chelsea.

The dog days of the transfer window are a liberating time marked by sun-stroked speculation and the promise of dreams come true. No idea is too far-fetched. No rumor too ridiculous.Â

We can fantasize about Spurs signing Rodrygo, Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons. We can hallucinate about Daniel Levy raiding Crystal Palace for Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi. We can delude ourselves into believing that Harry Kane will toss aside his lederhosen and announce a triumphant return to Hotspur Way to shatter Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal-scoring record in custom-made, lily-white Birkenstock cleats.

But there will come an hour when we wake up and are reminded that Morgan Gibbs-White is currently in Portugal with Nottingham Forest, Arsenal just signed Viktor Gyökeres, Xavi Simons looks likely to move to Chelsea, and Liverpool could spend nearly £500 million this summer with the addition of Alexander Isak.

Yet another agonizing reality we must come to terms with is the hastening conclusion of Son Heung-min’s Spurs career. Like Vito Corleone keeling over in a bucolic lemon grove surrounded by his grandchildren, we want it to be the perfect ending to the perfect career. That may be too much to ask, but the dream isn't necessarily a delusion.

It's all lining up for Son Heung-min

Despite rampant speculation about Sonny’s impending departure, it is unlikely he joins Hugo Lloris at LAFC this summer. First of all, Son evidently has a clause in his contract that obligates him to travel on Spurs’ preseason tour to Hong Kong and Korea, where he will be fêted by millions of adoring fans. Secondly, the league phase of Champions League ends on January 28, 2026. Delaying his departure from Spurs would give him eight more matches to play on Europe’s biggest stage and add to his Asian goal-scoring record. Moreover, the MLS season ends in mid-October and doesn’t start again until late February. Son would presumably welcome a few weeks' rest to acclimate to life in La La Land before he would need to start training with his new teammates in the US.Â

Professional and contractual factors aren't the only stars that align for Son's winter departure. There are emotional reasons, as well. The MLS Primary Transfer Window opens on January 31, 2026, which coincides with the final day of the winter transfer window in England. It is plausible that Son Heung-min could finalize a deal with LAFC “Equipment Manager” Will Ferrell before breakfast and lace up his boots one last time later that morning at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.Â

He could walk out onto the pitch wearing the captain’s armband with the entire footballing world watching, dreaming, craving for him to beat Rico Lewis on the left, cut inside, and curl a signature worldie into the top right corner from 25 yards out. He could run toward the south stands with his teammates and take one last iconic photograph of enraptured Tottenham Hotspur fans.Â

North London would explode. The mist would descend on the eyes of millions. Song would echo from Albion to Asia: “Nice one, Sonny! Nice one, Son! Nice one, Sonny! Let’s have another one!” And perhaps somewhere in the crowd, someone overcome with pride and love and sorrow would initiate an unprecedented tribute to a foreign player that would reverberate around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: "He's one of our own... He's one of our own... Son Heung-Min... He's one of our own!"

This is how he paints his masterpiece. The perfect ending to the perfect career of the perfect player. A Spurs legend goes out on his own terms. Thankfully, this dream might actually come true.

Tottenham Hotspur have been getting beaten too easily by Chelsea on the summer transfer market. Not only are the Blues in a better position to sign Rodrygo Goes, if the Real Madrid star were to move this summer, but they are also closing in on the signing of RB Leipzig star center midfielder Xavi Simons - another dream target for many Tottenham supporters.

Although Tottenham won the Europa League last season, they were 17th in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Chelsea finished in the top five, won the Conference League, and then destroyed Champions League winners PSG in the Club World Cup Final 3-0 behind an inspired display from new signing Joao Pedro.

Chelsea are on the rise again and reloading with another massive summer transfer window, whereas all Tottenham did is secure Mohammed Kudus. Now, that was a big coup from fellow London rivals West Ham, especially since Chelsea were also in hot pursuit of the Ghanian international.

A star capable of so much more

But Tottenham still have work to do in order to bridge the gap between themselves and their other major local rivals in England's biggest city. Perhaps Tottenham could do some of that work by getting direct revenge on Chelsea, signing one of their stars and turning a transfer flop into something more.

According to the latest information from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Christopher Nkunku is "almost guaranteed" to leave Chelsea this summer. The Blues have been open to selling the former RB Leipzig forward for months, and top clubs are interested in him, with the likes of rivals Arsenal and Tottenham among them. And as the Noni Madueke transfer this summer shows, the Blues are not opposed to selling to their biggest rivals.

Nkunku barely features for Chelsea, but that goes beyond the injury woes he's suffered since landing in London in 2023. New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shown little interest in playing the Frenchman, as the former Bundesliga Player of the Season has become a bit player.

Capable of so much more, Nkunku is in the theoretical prime of his career and is a world-class playmaker who also has a proven track record of bagging 15 goals in a season. Tottenham could sign him at a discounted price due to his lack of value to Chelsea, and they could slot him in as a No. 10, wide forward, or even a center forward in a false nine-like role, which he played to perfection in one memorable season in Leipzig. Spurs could have space for any of those roles in their lineup.