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Mason Greenwood’s impressive scoring record continues at Marseille but a move back to the Premier League is still considered to be off limits, sources state.

His form at Marseille has been consistent and this week he scored twice in a 3-2 win over Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. It means he now has 13 goals for the season, and as the top scorer in Ligue 1 his potential to step up to a bigger stage with a transfer begins to have hope.

However, sources say there continues to be very little chance of him returning to England on the back of his controversial history from his time at Manchester United and any backlash to his signing.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have both been mentioned previously as clubs who could be tempted to sign him – but sources indicate that neither are likely to do so at this stage.

It is felt Greenwood will put himself in the shop window though, and that a move to La Liga is more likely if he is to get a big transfer. Both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have been looking at him.

West Ham will sign a striker in the new year as they look to move on Niclas Fullkrug. We revealed on November 16 that Fullkrug is poised to reject interest from the Premier League as he would rather join Wolfsburg or Hamburg in Germany.

The Irons are trying to be smart about finding an edge in the transfer market, and they have checked out Strasbourg’s Joaquin Panichelli as well as Rio Ave’s Brazilian forward Clayton, who is the top scorer in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

The Hammers have also been linked with Promise David of Union Saint-Gilloise, but sources indicate a handful of other new options are also being looked at right now to decide whether they make the January shortlist.

Tottenham transfer news: Shock exit possible; talks derailed

Meanwhile, sources indicate Brennan Johnson could be set for an early departure from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Johnson has failed to fully convince Spurs chiefs over his suitability long term, and the winger could be replaced by further attacking signings over the next two transfer windows.

Brennan Johnson could be set for a departure from Tottenham Hotspur in 2026, with sources telling TEAMtalk that the forward has failed to fully convince the staff at the north London club.

Johnson joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 for £47.5million (€54.3m, $63.7m). The Wales international forward has made 104 appearances for the north London club since, scoring 27 goals and giving 18 assists in the process.

Sources acknowledge that Johnson has yet to fully convince the current Tottenham staff that he can cement a regular starting role – particularly once the squad is further strengthened across the next two transfer windows.

Tottenham will face a significant decision over Johnson’s long-term future by the end of the season.

With the 24-year-old contract running until 2028, the summer of 2026 is viewed internally as a pivotal moment when Tottenham begin to consider his next deal or cashing in.

The Welshman opened the 2025/25 campaign brightly with two goals in his first two matches, but he has since gone quiet in the Premier League, registering no further goals or assists in the division.

Tottenham expect no difficulty attracting interest should Johnson become available, but the winger will be eager to make his case to stay.

Spurs are actively assessing the market ahead of January and could yet bring in fresh competition for his position.

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What’s the latest on Tottenham’s striker search?

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s wait for Dominic Solanke to return is sparking fresh intrigue over their push for a new forward in January.

Solanke has been sidelined for most of the season and was pulled from their Champions League squad ahead of Tuesday’s game against Slavia Prague, with Mathys Tel replacing him.

The 28-year-old’s ankle problem continues to raise eyebrows, with the extent of his situation still not fully revealed – and there are concerns about how many more games he will miss this season.

As the wait goes on, Tottenham’s considerations around a striker will ramp up.

We understand that hopes of signing Harry Kane in the summer of 2026 are fading, as the England international prepares to sign an extension with Bayern Munich instead, a stance that my TEAMtalk colleague, Graeme Bailey, has also reported.

Tottenham have been linked with Ivan Toney, but sources insist they had already decided against a move for him before he hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The 29-year-old England international striker was arrested after an alleged headbutt at a bar in London on Saturday and subsequently released on bail, as reported by The Sun.

The flashpoint comes at a time when he has been linked with a return to English football from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.

We have previously reported that a move back was starting to look unlikely in January, but Spurs are one of the clubs that have been interested.

Sources say there was a consideration about whether Toney, who previously played under Frank at Brentford, could boost their season.

Graeme Bailey has reported that Frank is open to working with Toney at Tottenham, but Spurs insiders insist that the potential of a link-up this season was fleeting.

Tottenham’s recruitment team have spent the past few weeks drawing up their transfer plans for the New Year, and it is believed that striker options are included – even though the expectation is that a more versatile player will be targeted who can play across wide positions.

There has been hope that Solanke will get back to match fitness by February.

In the meantime, Richarlison has been leading the line while Spurs also have Randal Kolo Muani and Tel as options to use through the middle.

Spurs are still open to the idea of trying to sign Kolo Muani permanently at the end of the season.

Outside of that, they currently have the creativity of Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson to consider, too.

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Real Madrid roadblock, Arsenal preference

Meanwhile, sources have told TEAMtalk the problem that Real Madrid face in their quest to sign Micky Van de Ven from Tottenham Hotspur.

A report has revealed that a top winger would prefer to join Arsenal to a move to Tottenham in the January transfer window.

Ivan Toney did not impress Thomas Tuchel during his previous England training camp, and that could play a huge role in a potential Premier League return, amid interest from Tottenham and other English sides.

Several clubs have been alerted to Toney’s ‘possible’ availability in January with Spurs, West Ham and Everton all having informal talks, but any move would need the player to commit and to even sacrifice money to make a deal.

In theory, the former Brentford talisman could return to the Premier League on loan and avoid tax implications if he were to play virtually for nothing, but that appears unlikely at this stage.

TEAMtalk are told by a source close to Toney’s camp that his only real ambition to move back to the Premier League would lean heavily on his England chances ahead of next year’s World Cup, and they are hanging by a thread.

The 29-year-old was recalled by Tuchel in the summer when he featured against Senegal, but he has not been named in any squad since, and we are told that the German manager was far from impressed with what he saw from him.

Due to this, Toney and his camp are not anticipating him being involved again under Tuchel.

This makes it unlikely he would be willing to lose out on his mammoth wages with Saudi club Al-Ahli, of a reported £400,000 per week (after tax), to move to the Premier League in January, despite genuine interest.

Tottenham must look elsewhere despite Toney talks

Thomas Frank is keen to strengthen is forward options in January and Tottenham are willing to back their manager in the transfer window.

Frank is understood to be open to a reunion with Toney, who notched 20 goals in 33 Premier League appearances playing under him in the 2022/23 campaign.

The addition of a new forward could see Richarlison leave Spurs this winter, but it now seems the club will have to look elsewhere.

West Ham desire to bring in a new striker to bolster their survival campaign is well documented, with Nuno Espirito Santo willing to sanction the exit of the injury-prone Niclas Fullkrug next month.

Everton, meanwhile, are considering adding a new striker in January after their two striker options, Thierno Barry and Beto, have notched only two league goals between them so far this term.

The Toffees are confident that summer signing Barry will develop into an effective talisman, having scored his first goal against Nottingham Forest last weekend, but David Moyes could still look to add another forward.

We understand that a move for Evan Ferguson could potentially be reignited should his season-long loan from Brighton to Roma be terminated next month.

Toney is currently back in Saudi Arabia training with Al-Ahli following an altercation in a London bar at the weekend which saw him arrested in suspicion of assault and affray.

All the signs currently point towards him remaining with Al-Ahli until the end of this season, despite the informal talks with the Prem trio taking place.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have been dealt a massive blow to their hopes of bringing Harry Kane back to north London in the January transfer window following the latest developments, while TEAMtalk reflects on why that was always a pipe dream in the first place.

The 32-year-old club legend, who Bayern in July 2023 for £86.4million (€100m), has recently been linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Tottenham having first refusal if he does come back to England.

Kane, whose contract at the Allianz Arena expires in June 2027, is in the form of his life, having notched 28 goals and three assists in 23 games in all competitions for Bayern so far this season. Playing a key role in Vincent Kompany’s side, he’s helped the reigning Bundesliga champions establish an eight-point lead at the top of the table, with the Bavarian outfit also sitting second in the expanded Champions League table.

However, with the 32-year-old, entering the final 18 months of his deal, there has been doubt cast over whether he could be looking for another new challenge come 2027 – or even sooner.

As has been heavily reported, Kane has a release clause worth €65m (£56.8m) in his contract, which must be triggered by January 31 in order to complete a transfer in the summer.

Sources have previously told us that Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United are all interested in signing the England skipper, with a return to north London the most likely outcome.

However, German outlet Sport Bild, as confirmed by our insider Graeme Bailey, reports that Kane has decided not to activate his release clause and is instead willing to sign a one-year extension at the Allianz Arena.

While other clubs remain interested, Bailey told us: “Bayern Munich want Harry Kane’s new deal signed before he jets off to the World Cup finals with England.

“The England captain and his family are ‘very happy’ and settled in Bavaria, but his camp are doing due diligence on potential options.

“Barcelona are one of those to speak to his camp and confirm their interest in a possible deal, whilst there a number of options back in England including Manchester United and former club Tottenham Hotspur.

“Kane also has the option of seeing out his deal with Bayern until 2027 – when he would be a free agent, if he decides not to sign an extension. However, sources tell us Bayern are ‘confident’ that Kane will agree to an extension.”

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January return for Kane always a pipe dream

Speaking back in October while on international duty, Kane sent mixed messages over a potential return to the Premier League.

Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer said: “In terms of the Premier League, I don’t know.

“If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. Now I have been there a couple of years I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, but I wouldn’t say I would never go back.

“What I have learnt in my career is that different opportunities and different timings happen and things fall in place. Going back to my first point with Bayern right now I am fully all in with Bayern.”

That last comment comes as no great surprise, especially when you see where Bayern and Tottenham are as clubs at the minute.

Kane is strolling towards another Bundesliga winners’ medal and Bayern probably have the best chance they’ve had of winning the Champions League in years, given the quality of their squad and the way they have been playing this season.

As for Spurs, it’s all very much a work in progress for Thomas Frank at the moment, so why on earth would Kane want to come back to that in January when he has so much to gain in Germany.

The summer might be a little different if he feels like it’s the right time to come home, although all fingers are pointing towards him extending his stay in Bavaria and not shortening it.

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Latest Tottenham news: Van de Ven sale stance; worries over Eze repeat

Real Madrid are facing a problem in their pursuit of Micky van de Ven, with sources revealing to TEAMtalk Tottenham Hotspur’s firm stance on the defender, who has been backed to star for Liverpool and become a regular under Arne Slot if he made the move to Anfield.

Elsewhere, Arsenal can pile more misery on rivals Tottenham by beating them to the capture of Antoine Semenyo, with a report and our own sources providing important updates on the Bournemouth star.

Real Madrid are facing a problem in their pursuit of Micky van de Ven, with sources revealing to TEAMtalk Tottenham Hotspur’s firm stance on the defender, who has been backed to star for Liverpool and become a regular under Arne Slot if he made the move to Anfield.

With David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger out of contract at the end of the season and also having injury issues, Real Madrid are on the hunt for at least one new centre-back in 2026. Los Blancos have already decided not to sign Ibrahima Konate, despite the defender set to become a free agent when his current deal with Liverpool expires next summer, and are now focusing on Dayot Upamecano, who is out of contract at Bayern Munich at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Van de Ven is also on Real Madrid’s radar, with TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reporting on November 5 that Los Blancos have “a genuine interest” in the Netherlands international defender.

However, Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with Van de Ven over a new contract that will see him extend his stay at last season’s Europa League winners beyond his current term of 2029.

Our transfer insider, Dean Jones, though, has warned that Madrid will have to pay a lot of money to convince Spurs to sell the 24-year-old, who has been at the north London club since 2023 and has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Jones told TEAMtalk: “Van de Ven has been mentioned in the same way that Madrid have looked at Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano and Marc Guehi, but it is different because those three players are becoming free agents and that is a market Madrid are very keen to exploit when they can.

“Van de Ven would be a much different situation as he has more than three years remaining on his current deal and the club are hoping to tie him up to a new one, on better terms over an extended period.

“Obviously, Madrid have the power to turn any player’s head, but they would have to pay big money for him as Spurs really do not want to lose him.

“They consider his experience and leadership to be absolutely vital, on top of the fact he’s a great defender and can also be a threat in terms of scoring goals.”

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Micky van de Ven good enough for Liverpool

Tottenham’s strong stance on keeping Van de Ven is further vindicated by the plethora of praise that the defender has received.

In November, former Chelsea and Netherlands international defender Khalid Boulahrouz said that Van de Ven would be the perfect successor to Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.

Boulahrouz told ESPN Netherlands about Van de Ven: “He’s really outperforming them. He’s physically strong and incredibly quick.

“Opponents know that, so they don’t even try to get past him anymore. He could still do better on the ball; he makes the occasional blunder. But overall, I think he’s fantastic.

“I think he’s the ideal successor to Virgil van Dijk, both in the Dutch national team and at Liverpool.

“The question, of course, is what Virgil will do after the World Cup. Playing in the Premier League for years has taken its toll. You might long for a bit of a break.

“And Liverpool isn’t crazy: if you’re looking for a world-class left defender and you have the money, you’ll quickly end up with Van de Ven.

“The same goes for the Dutch national team. I think Koeman has long since realised that Van Dijk’s successor is already out there.”

Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson believes that Van de Ven will become the Spurs captain.

Dawson said last month: “For me, Micky van de Ven is one of the best centre-backs in the world, not just the Premier League.

“I honestly believe that. I’m a huge, huge fan, and I think he’s got everything. There aren’t many centre-backs around that have the pace he does, but also are able to read the game in the way he does.

“I know people will probably say his pace gets him out of trouble at times but I don’t really buy that, and I think at times last season he was left to cover an awful lot of ground because of the way the team was set up.

“That goal he scored in the Champions League was mind-blowing. For a centre-back to do that was special, and I don’t really see any weaknesses; he’s got all the attributes to go right to the top.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, he’s a future Tottenham captain. I look at Virgil van Dijk, and he’s the benchmark for me in terms of how long he’s been at the top for, but I don’t think Micky is far off that, I really don’t.

“He’s got all the attributes to be a leader, and I’m sure the reason Spurs want to tie him down to a long-term contract is with that in mind.”

However, Spurs legend Glenn Hoddle revealed this week that he does not think that Van de Ven will sign a new deal, and believes that he is good enough to start for Liverpool or Man City if he went to Anfield or the Etihad Stadium.

Hoddle said: “Van de Ven is under still a long contract. They are looking to sign him now on a long contract.

“I don’t think he will sign. But he’s still got three years on his contract.

“I think they will wanna try and keep him because he is a world-class performer and probably the only one that we have who is world-class.

“When I say world-class I mean he’d get into any team, he could go into Man City, Liverpool…you name it Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain… everyone would want him because he’s that good.

“But they need to improve this season there’s no doubt about it… otherwise we will be mid-table. “

Latest Real Madrid news: Alonso to Liverpool links, Leeds blow

Meanwhile, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed Xabi Alonso’s stance on leaving Real Madrid for Liverpool.

A report has outlined the three glaring issues that Xabi Alonso has failed to fix at Real Madrid, who are set to sack him if Los Blancos fail to win against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Samson Baidoo is starting to catch the eye of English suitors, including West Ham United and Crystal Palace, TEAMtalk can reveal.

The 21-year-old centre-back has been a revelation since joining Lens from Red Bull Salzburg over the summer. His new club now sit top of Ligue 1, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, and have the best defensive record in the division.

Baidoo has been a very impressive performer at the back and his €8million (£7m, $9m) fee is proving to be a real bargain.

He was signed as a replacement for Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin Danso, who both moved to the Premier League. Khusanov joined Manchester City for €40m (£34m / $47m), while Tottenham Hotspur paid £21m (€24m / $28m) for Danso following an initial loan.

At this rate, Austrian Baidoo may be following them sooner than expected.

The defender has always been well regarded within his age group but his development is now being noticed, and both West Ham and Palace are understood to have him on their radar.

Baidoo had only ever played in Austria before joining Lens but has adapted brilliantly to the French top flight. He has played in all but one of Lens’ 15 league matches so far this season, chipping in with two goals and one assist.

As per WhoScored, the one-cap Austria international tops the Lens charts for blocks per 90 (1.4) and passing accuracy (93.4 per cent), while he is also second in aerial duels won per 90 (1.9).

Why West Ham, Crystal Palace are eyeing Samson Baidoo

West Ham have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League, having conceded 29 goals in 15 games amid their battle against relegation. They are on the lookout for reinforcements at the back, and Baidoo could be a shrewd addition.

Palace’s season looks set to be far more successful, as they have leapfrogged Chelsea into the top four. But the Eagles will need to find at least one new centre-half to replace Marc Guehi, as the England star has run down his contract.

Guehi will either leave for a cut-price fee in January or on a free transfer at the end of the season. Baidoo is an option to replace Guehi, while sources state that Palace are also keen on Sporting CP star Ousmane Diomande and Atalanta’s Odilon Kossounou.

Fraser Fletcher reported for TEAMtalk on November 20 that Palace could break their transfer record to sign Diomande, though they will face serious competition from Chelsea.

Fellow transfer insider Graeme Bailey revealed on Friday that Oliver Glasner’s side have watched Kossounou extensively this campaign.

Irons discussing personal terms; latest on big Palace exit

Meanwhile, we can confirm West Ham are in talks as they look to agree a contract with Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto.

But David Moyes could haunt his former club, as Everton are understood to be leading the transfer chase.

Tottenham Hotspur are adamant that teenager Luka Vuskovic will become part of their long-term plans despite interest from German clubs, sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk.

His profile continues to rise while on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg, as he scored one of the goals of the season at the weekend. A sensational heel-kick volley helped his side to a 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen at a time when he was already attracting attention for his top defensive displays.

Croatian centre-back Vuskovic has had the likes of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig looking at him with keen eyes since the 18-year-old took to Bundesliga life so naturally.

He has only just joined Tottenham, though, and the reason for his loan move was not due to doubts about his ability.

Spurs felt a move and first-team football at a high level could get him in the frame for Premier League action more quickly – and it is proving to be the case.

Spurs are not interested in selling the player and will speak to him about his future at the end of the season.

We revealed on October 7 that Dortmund and Leipzig are watching Vuskovic closely, having been impressed by his performances.

And sources confirmed to us on November 24 that Spurs want to hand the starlet a new contract to keep interested clubs at bay.

Vuskovic came through the Hajduk Split academy and went on to play 11 times in their first team, while also having loan spells in Poland and Belgium.

He arrived in north London in July after Spurs agreed a £12million deal with Hajduk.

Vuskovic has since admitted he needed a loan spell away from Spurs as it would have been incredibly difficult for him to get into the starting eleven ahead of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

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Tottenham transfer news: Truth on striker links; star faxing axe

Meanwhile, Thomas Frank’s side have been linked with Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta amid their hunt for attacking reinforcements.

But our sources have explained why it will not be an easy deal for Spurs to complete.

Tottenham are being linked with a 2026 raid on Crystal Palace for their star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, though we can reveal why they have already learned how complicated his situation is and why a move will be difficult to pull off.

The three-times capped France striker is now into his fourth season at Selhurst Park and is considered one of the first names on Oliver Glasner’s teamsheet, having scored 47 times in 139 appearances for the Eagles. Under contract until summer 2027, Mateta‘s future at Crystal Palace has been called into question in recent months amid interest from some high-profile clubs.

As we revealed over the weekend, Mateta has not committed to a new contract with Crystal Palace as he looks to push the boundaries of his career to another level.

So far, Glasner has played a role in trying to convince Mateta to stay, assuring him that regularly starting for the Eagles would improve his chances of earning a spot in France’s World Cup squad.

However, Mateta’s uncertain future has drawn the attention of Spurs, who are exploring potential forward options for 2026 and are particularly keen on players with Premier League experience. With 113 senior goals to his name through his career, Mateta would certainly fit the bill for Thomas Frank as he looks to add more experience and guile to the Spurs frontline.

Despite their interest, sources suggest Tottenham are not yet optimistic about a potential deal for Mateta at this stage.

Several factors are contributing to this cautious approach.

Firstly, Crystal Palace have made it clear they are not willing to let Mateta leave easily. Additionally, it is understood that the player is receiving significant interest from clubs abroad, which could be more appealing to him than a Premier League move.

At present, a transfer outside of England appears more likely than a switch to another English club, sources indicate.

Although Manchester United have been linked with Mateta, there have been no substantial developments on that front.

Similarly, Tottenham’s interest remains speculative, with no signs suggesting a deal is imminent.

Palace, currently sitting fourth in the Premier League following a dramatic 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday, are determined to keep their squad intact as they aim to challenge for the top positions in the league.

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Palace face battle to keep three other major names

Riding high under the management of the best coach in their history, Glasner, Palace have won the FA Cup, the Community Shield, are performing well in the UEFA Conference League and also now have dreams of finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

However, while a very tough schedule of games in December will test their squad to the max, it seems something of a dark cloud is brewing behind the scenes over a number of their prized assets.

We can reveal, though, that with Glasner himself out of contract at the season’s end, convincing him to sign a new deal remains the club’s top and most urgent priority.

Off the back of that, Palace do not want to commit to any player exit plans until they have a better understanding of the Austrian’s situation, and with talks about to hit a critical junction.

Should Glasner walk away from Selhurst Park, he will have no shortage of admirers.

From within the Premier League, both United and Liverpool have been heavily linked with the Austrian.

And while Arne Slot remains under heavy pressure at Anfield and with the 51-year-old Eagles boss touted as an ideal replacement, sources have revealed all on the possibility of Glasner making the move to Merseyside.

On the transfer front, Palace are preparing for life after Guehi, with a title-winning centre-back who only just changed clubs for €20m now in their sights, sources can reveal.

Reports in Spain claim that Tottenham are ‘determined’ to hijack a proposed Barcelona deal for a left-sided attacker, with TEAMtalk assessing why the player would be a perfect fit in Thomas Frank’s forward line.

The left side of the Spurs forward line has been an issue for Frank throughout the first half of the campaign, with no one player being able to make the position their own, despite numerous options being tried there.

Indeed, Frank himself admitted just that prior to Saturday’s much-needed home win over Brentford, saying: “There is competition for that left-side role. We are playing games every third or fourth day so we need rotation but also someone has not put their foot down on the left position.”

Randal Kolo Muani put in a decent shift on the left against the Bees before limping off, but it’s clear that Tottenham do not have the answer for that position currently at the club and need to dip into the transfer market to fix it.

While that was expected to happen in January, latest reports suggest they want to hijack Barcelona‘s bid to sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal next summer instead.

That’s according to Spanish outlet AS, who state that Spurs are ‘determined’ to snap up the England attacker, who was heavily linked with a switch to north London, back when Harry Kane was wanted at Old Trafford, as part of a swap deal.

Rashford is currently at a career crossroads following his impressive revival at the Camp Nou, and it’s emerged that Barcelona remain indecisive about the £30million purchase option in his loan deal from Manchester United, creating uncertainty that several English clubs are eager to exploit.

His Camp Nou renaissance has persuaded the Calatans’ hierarchy to at least contemplate activating the permanent deal clause, but their precarious financial situation complicates matters.

To that end, Tottenham have identified Rashford as the ‘ideal’ profile to rejuvenate their attack, particularly when it comes to that left-wing spot.

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Why Rashford could thrive at Tottenham

The 27-year-old showed during his loan stint at Aston Villa last season that a fresh start can make all the difference, and now he’s also done that further afield in Spain.

AS adds that Tottenham boss Frank is ready to offer Rashford an ‘immediate leading role’ in the team, although there could still be some serious issues when it comes to wage demands.

Rashford’s current salary is around £325,000 per week, which is significantly more than the £195k-a-week that top earners Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons currently earn in north London.

With all that being said, if some form of compromise can be reached, Rashford could thrive under Frank at Tottenham.

The Dane loves pace and directness from his wide players, and Rashford certainly ticks both of those boxes. And, while his end product has often been questioned, the attacker has made a big step up in that regard in Catalonia.

Rashford has scored six goals and laid on 10 more in 20 appearances in all competitions for a Barcelona side who currently lead LaLiga but sit down in 18th in the expanded Champions League group stage.

In terms of his long-term future, much will depend on Barca’s desire to make the deal happen, especially if Ruben Amorim is still in the Old Trafford hot seat, which would mean no way back at United for the forward.

To that end, Tottenham will be keeping a close eye on Rashford’s situation through the second half of the campaign, if indeed the report from AS is an accurate one.

Latest Tottenham news: Samu Aghehowa chase blow; Bissouma exit

Tottenham and other suitors of Samu Aghehowa are facing January disappointment having been informed that the Spanish striker is not pushing to leave Porto in January, TEAMtalk understands.

Elsewhere, Yves Bissouma faces the prospect of being axed by Tottenham after being filmed reportedly inhaling laughing gas, a year after being suspended for the same thing, while Thomas Frank is also facing up to two more stars missing game time through injury.

Finally, a number of English sides, including Spurs, have been alerted to the progress of Anderlecht winger Nilson Angulo, TEAMtalk can reveal.

Yves Bissouma faces the prospect of being axed by Tottenham Hotspur after being filmed reportedly inhaling laughing gas, a year after being suspended for the same thing, while Thomas Frank is also facing up to two more stars missing game time through injury.

Bissouma has not made a single appearance under Frank so far this season after being left out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain in August due to ‘persistent lateness’, while an ankle injury suffered since has also kept him out of contention.

Now, as a result of his latest disciplinary issue, Bissouma is facing the prospect of being shown the door by Tottenham even before the possibility of a January move away from the club.

Tottenham confirmed on Friday evening that they had launched a probe after footage emerged of Bissouma inhaling a nitrous oxide balloon at a party. Nitrous oxide can lead to brain disorders, depression, memory loss, incontinence, hallucinations and nerve damage.

The latest footage, revealed by The Sun, appears to have been filmed in the early hours of November 3, with Bissouma since removing any mention of Tottenham from his Instagram account.

It comes after the player posted a clip on his Snapchat account last August of him inhaling “hippy crack”, for which Bissouma was suspended by the club and later issued an apology for his “severe lack of judgement.”

A Spurs spokesman said of the new video: “We are looking into the events and it will be dealt with as an internal matter.”

This latest off-field incident will surely spell the end for Bissouma’s career in north London, having joined in a £25million from Brighton in the summer of 2022. He has made 100 appearances for the club, scoring twice.

The 29-year-old’s current contract is due to run out next summer, although the club do have the option to extend for a further 12 months, for a player who currently earns £68,750 per week.

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Tottenham rocked by two more injuries

Meanwhile, as Tottenham finally got back to winning ways at home in the Premier League on Saturday thanks to a 2-0 win over Frank’s former club Brentford, there was more bad news on the injury front.

Spurs remain without Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison as they head into the busy festive period of fixtures and Frank confirmed after the Brentford win that Destny Udogie has suffered yet another injury issue.

Speaking to reporters, the Dane revealed that Udogie could not play against Brentford due to an injury he picked up in midweek: “He got a soft tissue injury, unfortunately, against Newcastle.”

On the bright side, Frank stated that Udogie will not be out for “too long”. However, ‘not long’ at Tottenham could mean anything from a matter of weeks to five months, as has been the case with Solanke’s ongoing absence.

And it’s another injury for a striker that could cause Frank further issues going forward, with Randal Kolo Muani appearing to pick up another issue against the Bees.

The Daily Mirror‘s Ryan Taylor reported that the France international was observed in the mixed zone with a visible limp. Per Taylor, he was also “moving gingerly” prior to being substituted from the game.

If Kolo Muani does face more time on the sidelines, it will mean Richarlison leading the line in the foreseeable future, with youngster Dane Scarlett likely to step up to bench duty again.

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