Hotspur HQ

It's been a slow start to the summer for Tottenham, despite making the Mathys Tel signing. Every summer I seem to go through the same thought process: lack of big moves, convince myself Levy sometimes gets it right when he leaves it late, bring up Rafael van der Vaart as an example … then remind myself that, as great as that signing was, 2010 was actually a long time ago now.

No doubt we need to strengthen more, and big money quality additions, such as Eze, would be great. Thinking about free transfers too, though, I had hoped we would sign Leroy Sane. I also hoped we would move for Roony Bardghji (not free but with his contract nearing expiry, the fee was minimal). Neither can now happen as they are off to Galatasaray (Sane) and Barcelona (Bardghji), but there are still other options for Thomas Frank when it comes to free transfers.

Jonathan David

David is not short of offers and Juventus seems one very possible destination. Whatever the complications of a deal here, if Spurs aren’t at least trying to make this happen it would be disappointing. He has been a very consistent goalscorer for Lille, particularly over the past 4 seasons and offers versatility to play as a lone striker, one of the three behind, or even in an old fashioned 4-4-2. Attack is an area of need for Spurs. This would not be easy to complete but would be well worth it.

Kyle Walker-Peters

Another area of need is full-back, so there’s three on this list. First, Kyle Walker-Peters as everyone loves to see youth players in the first team, even if this would be his second spell with Tottenham. I don’t think he had enough games when he broke into our first team before moving to the Saints. He has been consistent there and now has plenty of Premier League experience. I would not expect him to overtake Pedro Porro but with the number of games we will potentially have in this coming season, there will be plenty of opportunities.

Tyrick Mitchell

He could be staying with Crystal Palace who seem in a very good place now with Oliver Glasner and fresh off an FA Cup win, but if Mitchell was available, Spurs should be interested. Each time I see Palace, he is impressive, both going forward and defensively. Like Walker-Peters, he has been consistent at right back and has a lot of Premier League experience in the last few seasons. I would expect Mitchell to strongly challenge Pedro Porro and contribute a lot to the coming season.

Nelson Semedo

At the risk of including more right backs than a Gareth Southgate England squad, I’ll add a third here. Semedo is older than Walker-Peters or Mitchell but is still only 31. He would offer a greater attacking threat than the other two right backs I’ve mentioned, particularly taking on opponents. This perhaps makes him a little too similar to Pedro Porro but his form at Wolves and his consistency would make a valuable addition to the squad.

Marco Verratti

Verratti feels like a very un-Tottenham-like signing, but someone very experienced in playing and winning big games could boost the squad. He might not have to play every game, but his passing ability, the way he can keep play moving and help to control the tempo of a game, is different from other midfielders we have. Bergvall can be that player, and he might be aided by having someone like Verratti in the squad at the moment, too.

Thomas Frank isn't going to be handed a 'war-chest' by Daniel Levy this summer, but there's hope that a collection of shrewd additions will be complemented by a statement arrival.

Contrary to popular belief, Spurs have spent a lot of money on transfer fees over the past five years. Our next spend of £463m since 2021 ranks third-highest in the Premier League. The wage bill is an issue if Spurs want to bridge the gap, but we know that the club prefers to create rather than cultivate superstars.

Nevertheless, it seems as if a big chunk of our summer kitty will be dedicated towards bolstering our frontline. While we had few issues scoring goals despite our Premier League woes last season, few would be content entering 2025/26 with the same attacking personnel. Moreover, there's a chance Richarlison and Son Heung-min end up leaving the club.

Right now, it seems as if there are four key targets on the table for Spurs. Interestingly, the quartet differ rather drastically in profile, rendering it tough to gauge what the club want from their 'statement' signing.

Nevertheless, we had a go at ranking these four supposed targets based on four criteria: how much they'd cost, their fit in N17, whether their profile is needed, and how good they are at football.

Many would argue that a right-sided attacker should be the club's priority this summer, especially if Son stays.

Brennan Johnson was the club's leading goalscorer last season, and Wilson Odobert was often stationed down the right (although I prefer him off the left) during his debut season, but there's otherwise little depth. We must remember that Dejan Kulusevski will miss the start of 2025/26 due to a significant knee injury.

Semenyo is thus a player Spurs could do with, given his two-footedness and capacity to play down both sides. He's a physical behemoth whose ambipedal nature renders him a unique talent. Frank will appreciate his ability to break open a game in transition, as well as his defensive contribution. Last season was the most productive of his career, as he scored 11 Premier League goals, but there are a few question marks regarding the Cherries' huge £70m valuation.

For that fee, I'd like to have seen more consistency from Semenyo (in front of goal, in particular) and a greater impact against the league's best. He's very good, but I wouldn't spend that much.

Price: 3

Fit: 7

Need: 8

Talent: 7

Overall: 25/40

No player was more efficient in the Premier League last season than Bryan Mbeumo, who scored 20 goals and outperformed his xG by 7.7 (via FBRef). Some may be sceptical as to whether the Cameroonian international will ever be able to reach such heights again, but Mbeumo may be in that bracket of players, like Son, who's capable of consistently defying the underlying metrics.

Mbeumo is a numbers-over-aesthetics guy. More Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard on that ideological continuum. Frank maximised Ivan Toney's Robin and converted him into Batman off the back of the Englishman's Saudi departure.

I don't think he's the most gifted of the four names listed, but his nose for goal, ability to work superbly in tandem, and success under Frank render him a great fit for Spurs in an area of need. Unfortunately, he wants to join Manchester United.

Price: 6

Fit: 9

Need: 8

Talent: 7

Overall: 30/40—reduced to 25 due to desire to join Manchester United.

Mohammed Kudus lit up east London in year one, but his second year at West Ham was forgettable at best. He performed as if he had no interest in being there, which, to his credit, is fair enough.

Signing Kudus was a major coup for the Hammers, but many will feel let down by the Ghanaian if he was to depart this summer. However, that's not suggest any potential suitor would be signing a talent already on the decline. Far from it.

Kudus clearly backs himself, and he wants to be performing under the brightest lights. Our glorious night in Bilbao means we can offer the West Ham star Champions League football.

I'm not exactly sure what role what suit Kudus best in a Frank 4-2-3-1, but I know that he's pretty adept across the board. He's a risk-taker in possession and a magnificent ball-carrier. You want him operating centrally as much as possible, so he can devastate defensive structures via his ability to resist and weave beyond hopeful challengers. However, Kudus is also effective when cutting infield from the right and can shift past his man before hitting the byline down the left.

He's a wonderfully exciting footballer whose best is yet to come on these shores. He reportedly has a £85m release clause, but West Ham may accept closer to £65m. However, I can't see them letting us get our hands on the former Ajax playmaker.

Price: 7

Fit: 5 (might be a d***head)

Need: 8

Talent: 9

Overall: 29/40

I've said it once and I'll say it again. Eberechi Eze is so Tottenham Hotspur.

Our interest in the Crystal Palace playmaker is long-standing, and things are starting to heat up this summer. With a £60m release clause in place and Eze having two years left on his deal, Palace may be keen to cash in. Steve Parish surely won't make it easy for us, though.

Some suggest he's a wide player, but Eze, for me, is someone you must have working from a central position as much as possible. While adept down the touchline, his most ingenious work arrives from more congested but dangerous zones between the lines. That's where his innate playground-like feel for the game manifests most wonderfully.

He's scored double-digit goals in two Premier League seasons and enters this summer off the back of a scintillating run of form which catapulted Palace to their first major trophy. Eze is not a profile Spurs are crying out for with James Maddison and Kulusevski on board, but, you know, they could play together. Startling, right?

Not only is Eze an incredibly watchable footballer, but he's a great character, too. Frank would love him.

Price: 8

Fit: 9

Need: 5

Talent: 9

With around £125 million of European prize money in the coffers, an exciting new manager at the helm, and Daniel Levy demanding nothing less than glory in England and the Champions League, Spurs supporters have plenty of reasons to expect the club to target world-class players during the current transfer window. Johan Lange kicked off the summer by signing Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso to permanent deals—both of whom have Champions League experience—which left fans anticipating news about Eberechi Eze or another high-profile signing. Instead, they got Kota Takai.Â

Talented as the 20-year-old Japanese international may be, Thomas Frank now has nine central defenders to squeeze into perhaps four Champions League roster spots. While it’s unlikely Takai will be registered for that tournament, Lange has produced Spurs’ version squid game at central defense. The news is not only mystifying given the decision to re-sign Ben Davies, it must be disheartening for summer arrivals Luka Vušković, Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorrington. July training sessions could turn into a blood bath.

The summer transfer window is in full swing, meaning Spurs fans once again find themselves suspended in the bardo of silence, speculation and bewilderment.

But that’s not entirely true. A document exists—byzantine and arcane though it may be—that could provide clues to Spurs’ future transfer plans: Part IV, Article 31 of UEFA's Player Registration Rules.

Alasdair Gold outlined some of the dilemmas facing Tottenham due to UEFA rules in an in-depth article for football.london, which has tempered expectations and prompted measured conjecture about how Spurs can target summer signings that will adhere to the parameters of UEFA's bylaws.

The UEFA Registration Framework

The relevant facts are as follows: Teams competing in UEFA tournaments are allowed to register 25 players on List A, with 17 places allocated to "non-locally trained players." The remaining eight places on List A are reserved for four "locally trained players" who have been registered with the club for three years between the ages or 15 and 21, and four "association-trained players” who have been registered with a club in the same association for three years between the ages or 15 and 21. If teams are unable to fill all of those spots on List A, squad numbers will be reduced accordingly.

List B is reserved for players "born on or after 1 January 2004 and [have], since [their] 15th birthday, been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years." The latter portion of the clause disqualifies Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, Luka Vušković, Yang Min-hyeuk and Kota Takai. Meaning if Spurs want to register any of them, they will take up a coveted spot on List A.

To project Spurs' ongoing recruitment strategy, we've broken down Spurs' current squad into groups of players likely to be registered for Champions League and those who may find themselves surplus to requirements due to UEFA regulations.

Squad Breakdown

Non-locally Trained Players (17 spots)

Registered (14): Son Heung-min, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky

Notable exemptions: Richarlison, Alejo Véliz, Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, Yves Bissouma, Radu Drăgușin, Luka Vušković, Kota Takai

If Bissouma, Solomon, Gil, Véliz, and Richarlison are sold, transfer to another club, or simply not registered, Spurs would be left with three open spots to fill on their UCL squad list. The math changes if Cristian Romero were to leave for Atlético Madrid, Son Heung-min accepts a super yacht full of Saudi riyal, or players get injured during pre-season.

Association Trained Players (4 spots)

Registered (5): Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Djed Spence, Archie Gray

Notable exemptions (1): Ben Davies

Spurs can only register four "association trained players,” so one of the five players listed above would move to the "non-locally trained player" list. That would leave Spurs with only two spots to fill with new signings.

Locally Trained Players (4 spots)

Registered (1): Brandon Austin

Spurs' dearth of "locally trained players" could be seen as an indictment of the club’s vision and understanding of UEFA rules. But that's not totally fair given that FA and UEFA rules incentivize clubs to sell "homegrown" players in order to maximize profits and comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). In a season or two, Spurs will have no problem maxing out their "locally trained player" requirements with players like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mikey Moore. Until then, Brandon Austin is the only current player who satisfies all criteria.

Potential Solutions

Spurs can increase their Champions League squad numbers by bringing a "locally trained player" like Kyle Walker-Peters or Sunderland's Dennis Cirkin back to the club. But given the logjam at every position other than backup defender, there is nor rationale for Spurs to re-sign academy graduates like Romaine Mundle, Troy Parrott, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp or Japhet Tanganga. Harry Kane is the only one that makes sense, and he ain't sauntering back through the door in lederhosen this summer.

Transfer Strategy

Thomas Frank could roll the dice with a small squad and play Archie Gray as a backup defender, or opt for depth and one of Kyle Walker-Peters or Dennis Cirkin. Either way, I can’t see Spurs investing in a non-locally trained player. A more realistic projection would see Spurs sign two or three players who could compete for starting roles.

Plausible Targets

Defensive Midfielder: Adding another central midfielder depends on Thomas Frank’s opinion of Yves Bissouma. With only has one year left on his contract, it would be no surprise to see him land in Turkey. If that comes to pass, Spurs could look to bring in a potential starter like Éderson, Morten Hjulmand, Lamine Camara or Angelo Stiller.

Attacking Midfielder: If Levy were to splash the cash on a marquee signing like Eberechi Eze or Xavi Simons, Tottenham fans would erupt in spontaneous ecstasy and turn the High Road into the Ibiza Strip. Frank already has two attacking options in James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, so nothing less than a bona fide star makes sense.

Versatile Forward: With Manchester United increasing their bid for Bryan Mbeumo and Bournemouth demanding an egregious £70 million to let Antoine Semenyo leave, Spurs could replace Richarlison with Jonathan David or Evann Guessand, a tall, versatile forward who could be deployed on the right wing, partner with Solanke, or play as a lone striker.

Dream Scenario

An ideal transfer window would see Spurs sign free agent Kyle Walker-Peters along with Éderson (£52m), Eberechi Eze (£68m) and Evann Guessand (£30m) for a total outlay of £150 million. But unless someone unexpectedly departs or a starter suffers an injury during pre-season, Thomas Frank would still need to leave an important player off his 23-man Champions League squad list.Â

The harsh truth is that Spurs are unlikely to sign four more players this summer. And the smart money is on three.

There's an expectation that Tottenham will pull the trigger for one of several reported Premier League attacking targets this summer, and 'long-term' target Eberechi Eze is whom many supporters want.

Mohammed Kudus, Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo have also been linked with moves to north London, but those deals will be tough to pull off for various reasons. While West Ham and Bournemouth want mammoth fees for Kudus and Semenyo, respectively, Mbeumo has his heart set on Manchester United, and the Red Devils have made an improved second bid for his services.

A reunion between the Frenchman and Thomas Frank in N17 thus seems unlikely.

If Mbeumo to United does go through, there will be greater pressure placed on Spurs to land their ideal attacking target. The calls for Eze will only increase—even if he drastically differs in profile to the Brentford star.

Eberechi Eze on Tottenham's radar, but when will club make their move?

Eze has been linked with a move to north London for years. He's not quite evolved into Leandro Damiao, but I can't remember the last time we enjoyed a window without the papers feasting on the potential of Spurs landing the England international.

Sky Sports have noted the club's 'long-term interest' in the 26-year-old, but add that 'nothing has advanced yet' in regards to a Spurs move for Eze this summer.

The question is: when will we pull the plug?

The creative talisman is believed to have a £60m release clause in his Crystal Palace contract, and recent reports suggest the Eagles are willing to make it easier for interested clubs to finance a deal for Eze this summer by accepting three instalments of £20m. The clause doesn't have to be paid in one lump sum.

There's been no ruling out of his sale from Palace, who allowed Michael Olise to leave last summer after Bayern Munich triggered his £50.8m release clause. I might be very wrong, especially given Steve Parish's history, but it doesn't look like they'll stand in Eze's way if Spurs pay the requisite fee.

While the majority are enamoured by the instinctive Englishman, some have questioned whether a move for a right-sided attacker should be prioritised, given the lack of depth down that flank and the presence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski as central creators. I understand those cries, but I don't think that need should compromise a pursuit of Eze: the sort of talent worthy of building a team around.

We've previously needed an Eze-type more desperately than we do now, but the dazzling playmaker, off the back of a legacy-defining run of form to conclude 2024/25, makes this Tottenham team better. That's enough for me.

Although Tottenham have recently signed a player to their squad in 20-year-old center back prospect Kota Takai from the Japanese top flight, an unknown youngster for the future is hardly the big splash Spurs supporters were looking forward to after hiring Thomas Frank - and winning the Europa League title a month ago under Ange Postecoglou.

In order to compete at the Champions League level and finish substantially higher than an embarrassing 17th in the Premier League, Tottenham are going to need to sign difference-makers who can win games, especially with Son Heung-min getting older - and potentially even leaving to Turkey or Saudi Arabia this summer.

Tottenham have made no progress on a deal for Bryan Mbeumo, who was allegedly their dream target and would have been an easy solution on the right wing as a 20-goal and 7-assist forward under Thomas Frank last season for Brentford.

Mbeumo appears to be close to joining Manchester United after all, and Tottenham need options. They need to sign players who can win games on their own and contribute directly to 20 goals in a Premier League campaign, and, finally, Spurs are getting an update in the right direction with one of those targets.

A top player wants to join Tottenham

Per a report from The Sun's Tom Barclay, Crystal Palace star attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze does indeed have mutual interest in joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer. Barclay writes that while it isn't guaranteed that Eze will leave Palace after winning the FA Cup - and thus helping the Eagles qualify for the Europa League next season - he stands a good chance of leaving.

Tottenham have been closely linked to Eze this summer, and he is, for many Tottenham fans, the best Premier League player the club can realistically sign this summer if Mbeumo is indeed off the table and headed to Manchester United to join forces with Matheus Cunha.

Last season without Michael Olise by his side, Eze still had a strong campaign with 8 goals and a career-high 8 assists in the Premier League while averaging a solid 3.5 combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn per game

Tottenham already have a strong player in the No. 10 position in Premier League veteran James Maddison, who tied Son for the team lead in goal contributions in league play. But Eze is a more dynamic and versatile player who can play on both wings if needed, and it would be interesting to see how Frank envisions Eze's best position.

After Tottenham Hotspur decided to hire Thomas Frank as the replacement for Ange Postecoglou, rumors immediately swirled around Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, who was arguably the biggest breakout attacking player of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Although Mbeumo was already clearly leaning in the direction of a Manchester United transfer, there was optimism that hiring his former manager would give Tottenham a leg up in the transfer battle.

That hasn't been the case for Spurs, as Mbeumo continues to show priority towards Man United, and Tottenham have been less involved in the Mbeumo transfer race than was initially reported. Now, according to a report from talkSPORT's Alex Crook and Jackson Cole, Tottenham are expected to focus their recruitment efforts on signing Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze with Man United accelerating their talks with Mbeumo further.

Tottenham were never serious about Bryan Mbeumo

At this point, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Manchester United are signing Mbeumo. They have been in the lead for him for weeks, and it's to a point where many Tottenham fans have to wonder if Spurs were ever in on Mbeumo at all. They may have just been leaking to English media that they were going after him as a means to strum up optimism for the fans, either knowing full well Mbeumo didn't want to go to North London - or knowing full well that they weren't actually going to submit a competitive bid to Brentford or to Mbeumo to match the salary Man United would pay.

Eze appears to be the big Premier League star most realistically on the transfer radar to join Tottenham this summer, but Spurs fans are a bit divided on the England international. He's an FA Cup winner and a proven commodity in the attacking midfield in the Premier League, but for only a little bit more, Tottenham could roll the dice on Bundesliga superstar Xavi Simons, who is more of a well-rounded attacking midfielder and a couple of years younger.

Right now, Eze is the top target for Tottenham of the big names in the Premier League, and it feels like Mbeumo is almost completely discarded. It would be an upset if Mbeumo didn't join Manchester United now, and the question for Tottenham becomes, is Eze the guy? And how long will it be until Tottenham fans hear rumors of the club concretely accelerating their interest in one of the major transfer targets of the summer like an Eze or a Simons.

Tottenham Hotspur did well to sign Mathys Tel permanently from Bayern Munich this summer, but aside from that rather obvious addition to the squad, Spurs haven't made any major additions to an attack that is in dire need of difference-making talent.

Plus, with Son Heung-min getting older and inching closer towards a retirement-minded move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia now that he has one year left on his contract, the impetus for Tottenham to land attacking talent has only increased.

Spurs supporters were optimistic that Thomas Frank's appointment as manager could be the boost they needed to be competitive for Brentford breakout star Bryan Mbeumo on the right wing, as a wide player who can score 20 goals is exactly what Tottenham need attacking-wise with a facilitator like Dominic Solanke at striker.

But Tottenham no longer seem to be competitive for Mbeumo with Manchester United closing in on a player they have, admittedly, always been favored to land. Spurs, though, have been linked to alternatives on the wings, including struggling USMNT star Timothy Weah over at Juventus.

Nottingham Forest are moving ahead of Tottenham

The thing is, Tottenham don't even seem well-placed to sign Weah either. According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who replaced Spurs in the top seven as the 2024/25 season's Cinderella story, are currently in talks with Juve for both Weah and an arguably more promising gem on the wings, Samuel Mbangula. Forest could make a swoop for both players at a price of just over 20 million euros.

While Weah isn't a priority target for Tottenham and probably shouldn't be since his career never took off at Lille and he's predictably struggled to make an imprint in Turin, there's also little denying his natural talent or the fact that he still has plenty of upside at the age of 25 with traits that translate well to the Premier League.

The main thing for Tottenham fans about seeing Juventus and Nottingham Forest actively negotiating for two wingers, including Weah, is the frustration that Tottenham are so slow to go for the winger targets they want.

Mbeumo is about to be off the table, and if a guy like Weah is even about to join a top-seven team in the Premier League, what are Tottenham doing loafing around when they need to sign someone who can make a difference out wide? Weah isn't a starting-caliber target or a goal-scorer they need, but Mbeumo, for example, is, and they haven't been going after him, let alone a depth guy like Weah.

In February 2024, Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal to sign the biggest gem in Swedish football for less than 10 million pounds, bringing home a future midfield star in Lucas Bergvall for the subsequent 2024/25 season.

The move alone was a great one for Tottenham at face value, but it earned additional praise and attention globally for the simple fact that Tottenham signed Bergvall ahead of Barcelona. The Blaugrana were seriously interested in Bergvall, a special prospect, and it was a rare case of Barca - known for attracting the best young players in world football - losing out on a gem to Tottenham.

Bergvall has been as advertised, if not better, for Tottenham and is so good that even Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid are eyeing him as a future Galactic signing once Bergvall blossoms into a truly world-class player. For now, the 19-year-old Swede is "just class" and, most importantly, a Europa League champion for Tottenham.

But Barcelona have improved a lot since their rough 2023/24 season, in which missing out on Bergvall was insult added to injury, as they cleaned up every domestic title in Spain and were a wild Inter Milan comeback away from potentially winning the Champions League.

Barcelona get a phenom of their own

Now, they've also got their gem prospect from Scandinavia, too, getting a bit of revenge over Tottenham in the process. According to Fabrizio Romano, highly coveted FC Copenhagen prospect Roony Bardghji will be moving to Barcelona next week, as the Champions League-caliber clubs have agreed on a transfer that will cost Barca just two million euros plus add-ons and a sell-on clause.

Bardghji was the next big gem Tottenham were looking to sign this summer, as Spurs were closely linked to the 19-year-old Swedish youth international. Less than a week ago, they were working hard on a deal and optimistic they could sign the exciting winger prospect to compete with the current crop of talents in Tottenham like Mikey Moore and 2024 addition Wilson Odobert, but Barcelona have swooped in and stolen Bardghji away.

Barcelona have a ton of pull on the transfer market, especially with young players, and while it is disappointing for Tottenham to not land a great young talent on the wings at such a low cost, they can't realistically beat Barca to everyone available.

Also, weirdly enough, Bardghji may have less competition at Barcelona with young players on the wings. Tottenham have Moore and Odobert, as well as two players already competing for stars on opposite wings in Europa League Final scorer Brennan Johnson and recent 35 million euro signing Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

Barcelona can have their revenge, but there's no doubt that Tottenham and its fans will be ecstatic with how Bergvall is turning out already.

Andreas Christensen to Tottenham? Hear me out...

Some of you might be thankful that there haven't been any suggestions of a Spurs swoop for the Dane, but I think this may be one of those 'market opportunities' we'd be wise to exploit.

Christensen looks set to leave Barcelona this summer. The defender himself wants to stay, but Barca are keen to oversee his sale given their financial woes and the fact that his contract expires next summer.

While Christensen's current stance would make any deal tricky, Barcelona's willingness to usher him out of Catalonia means potential suitors should hold out hope. Spurs, who may be in the market for another centre-back this summer despite the impending arrival of Kota Takai from Japan, could do a lot worse than the former Chelsea man.

Andreas Christensen is ideal stop-gap if Cristian Romero leaves

There are reasons to be sceptical, of course, but we shouldn't let his connection to our London rivals cloud our judgement. We haven't had much success with ex-Blues bosses, but there have been several examples of former Chelsea players enjoying decent enough spells in N17.

Scott Parker was immense for a couple of years, while Carlo Cudicini and Eidur Gudjohnsen proved to be serviceable veterans as their respective careers wound down.

Christensen missed half of 2024–25 with an Achilles injury and took another month to recover from a muscle injury. There's reason for concern on the fitness front, but I otherwise have few issues with the Danish defender.

He's developed a lot since breaking through at Chelsea all those years ago, when teams were able to hone in on the young and gangly defender and overwhelm him physically. No longer is Christensen a defender you can bully in the air, and while he's not exactly Zeus in stature, the 29-year-old is undoubtedly more imposing than he once was.

He's underrated as a recovery defender, but also astute when tasked with defending on the front foot. The Dane showed off his fundamentals as a pure defender while Thomas Tuchel was in charge of the Blues' second Champions League success, and he's offered more than mere competence in the more aggressive defensive lines adopted by his Barcelona managers.

For me, Christensen is a very well-balanced defender who's long been lauded for his talent in possession. He could help fill the gaping void Cristian Romero would leave in the build-up should he leave the club this summer.

Spurs have a potential long-term successor to the Argentine in Luka Vuskovic, while Takai, all things considered, looks to be a talent worthy of some excitement. However, Christensen could operate as the ideal stop-gap, and Thomas Frank's arrival would allow the 29-year-old to reunite with his former Denmark U17s coach.

Back in 2022, Frank lauded compatriot Christensen as one of the world's best defenders, telling Bold: “He has always been enormously intelligent on the pitch, meaning very quick to anticipate all situations offensively and defensively.

“He is technically hugely strong for a defender in terms of bringing the ball forward, passing and making good choices.

“He is also foresighted and fast at the same time, so it’s almost the complete package," he added.

Keep Romero, and there's no need for Christensen, but I think we should expect a testing of these waters if we're unable to retain our star defender.

It's been a quiet start to the summer transfer window for Spurs, who have so far converted loanees Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel into permanent arrivals.

However, we were treated to an unexpected mini-bomba on Monday night, as news broke regarding the impending arrival of Japanese defender Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale.

Takai is a player who first entered my conciousness about two hours ago, and I'm not going to pretend that I know anything about the 20-year-old. What I do know, however, is that Spurs have taken a big step towards completing their centre-back room for 2024/25.

Tottenham agree deal to sign highly-rated centre-back Kota Takai

In Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven, Spurs are blessed with one of Europe's best defensive partnerships, and there's no need to make a major splurge at the position this summer if the Argentine commits his future to the club despite Ange Postecoglou's departure.

Kevin Danso proved himself to be an able deputy during the second half of last season, while Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies are also on the books. Luka Vuskovic is arriving after a string of successful loans, and Ashley Phillips has supposedly caught the eye of Thomas Frank. Takai joins this group of young centre-backs who might not be ready just yet, but there's reason to be excited about the new arrival.

Spurs are sending Kawasaki Frontale £5m for Takai's services—a record fee for a player in the J League moving overseas.

Given my previous ignorance, research on Takai was very much necessary after The Athletic confirmed the news of our agreement with the Japanese club. My major takeaway: Takai may well be the best centre-back none of you have ever heard of.

In all seriousness, Spurs are signing a really intriguing talent who already has four caps for Japan. He's right-footed but is comfortable performing on the left side of defence, suggesting that he could develop into a Van de Ven understudy.

The kid plays with elegance and poise, with his reading of the game allowing him to defend the channels with impressive assurance. The ease with which he performs from an array of angles in possession was encouraging, too. The montages are promising, but that's exactly what they're meant to be.

Takai is said to have attracted interest from clubs in Germany and Italy but wanted to join the European champions, while Alasdair Gold (via The Spurs Express on X) adds that technical director Johan Lange believes the 20-year-old can be the next U21 starlet signed by the club to step up and perform in the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall.

Low risk, high reward. The big-money moves you all crave will come. Don't panic.