TEAMtalk

Plenty of Tottenham Hotspur fans have seemingly given up hope that Xavi Simons can be an effective player for Thomas Frank’s side after his latest dismal display against Chelsea, but TEAMtalk has looked at two factors that could alter everything for the talented playmaker.

Simons was initially dropped for the weekend defeat against Spurs’ bitter north London rivals, only for Thomas Frank to turn to him after just seven minutes when Lucas Bergvall suffered a head injury and was forced off.

However, the Dutchman, much like many of his Tottenham teammates, failed to have any positive impact on the contest. Indeed, Simons’ most telling contribution was a poor pass to Micky van de Ven that ended up leading to Chelsea’s winner.

The sub was then subbed as Frank took Simons off with 17 minutes to go to add further insult to his day.

And, while some Spurs fans are still playing the patience game, many have already seen enough and do not think Simons can be a success in English football.

Commenting on Reddit, PinZealousideal1914 added: “I am afraid he is, a Bryan Gil. Too light weight for the Prem, I sure he has bags of skill but if he can’t put it down in a game players like him just get lost. I literally haven’t seen anything about him to get excited about, both in games I have attended and the TV games.”

WeeJonnieR also wrote: “My biggest concern about Simons is that I do not see any physical trait that he has that is not below average. I knew he would struggle with the physicality, but he just seems extremely slow.”

Mooncake45 added: “Sell him in January. Send a message to the squad, invest the money better.”

ski2310 also stated: “I keep saying, hes really good just watch to people….. and 13 games and im starting to go crazy.”

MelodicAd7752, meanwhile, stated: “I think the importance of physicality is severely underestimated in the prem, physical players are trending in the league and a small light player like Xavi will struggle against teams that have large players who can bully him.”

There was a bit of positivity, though, with Harvey_loves_Hoddle adding: “I won’t pass judgement on the kid until the end of the season. Modric was voted worst ever signing by Madrid fans after his first season there. Sonny wanted to leave during his first season with us. Yes, he has disappointed so far but I won’t lose faith in him so easily.”

Fantastic-Macaroon-3 aldo added: “He’s not confident at all, but he absolutely cannot play lw with Spence lb because neither wants to go outside. If he’s forced to play lw udogie has to play because he can actually hold width.”

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Two factors that can spark Simons at Tottenham

That last comment is a real salient point when it comes to Simons playing on the left-wing and not having any width outside of him.

The Dutchman is getting crowded out when he plays centrally but often plays on the left side of the attack when Djed Spence is the starting left-back.

The right-footed Spence will not go on the overlap and create space for Simons to move inside onto his stronger foot, so the return to fitness of Destiny Udogie should help the former Leipzig man massively.

Another problem Simons has faced is not having a central striker he can connect with in and around the box.

Richarlison and the clearly rusty Randal Kolo Muani have offered next to nothing in the forward line of late, but Dominic Solanke’s return could be just what Simons needs.

The England forward’s hold-up play is better than both his rivals for the N0.9 spot and he has linked up well with the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski in the past.

Solanke is expected to return to action towards the end of November after suffering an ankle injury in August that ended up requiring surgery.

While the 28-year-old is not the most prolific of goalscorers, his all-round play is better than Richarlison’s, while the jury remains out on Kolo Muani for now.

But getting Udogie raiding down the left and creating space for Simons to cut inside, along with Solanke’s ability to link with the Dutchman in and around the box could be just the ticket to get Tottenham’s £51.8m signing finally firing.

Latest Tottenham news: Vlahovic chase update; Kane secret weapon

First up, Juventus are starting to hope there might yet be a chance of Dusan Vlahovic staying at the club, as four Premier League clubs wait on standby for a decision, with Tottenham among them, TEAMtalk understands.

Elsewhere, Harry Kane is ready to trigger his Bayern Munich escape hatch, and Tottenham have a secret weapon as they prepare to rival Barcelona in the race to sign their former striker, TEAMtalk understands.

And finally, Spurs remain in the hunt to sign an explosive left-sided winger from a Premier League rival, although their hopes of securing a much-needed January transfer appear to be disappearing fast.

Juventus are starting to hope there might yet be a chance of Dusan Vlahovic staying at the club, as four Premier League clubs wait on standby for a decision, with Tottenham among them, TEAMtalk understands.

Vlahovic, 25, was in good form for Luciano Spalletti’s first game in charge as Juventus manager, as he played 85 minutes of the 2-1 win over Cremonese at the weekend.

There remains uncertainty about his future after the two parties failed to agree on a new deal, with the Serbian striker needing to take a pay cut if he is to stay.

Vlahovic’s current deal expires at the end of the season, which means, as things stand, he’ll leave on a free transfer next summer.

The signs had not been good despite Vlahovic showing very good commitment and professionalism across the campaign.

TEAMtalk sources are indicating that Juventus would still be keen on him to stay if they could find an agreement and there is some fresh hope since the new coach arrived.

Still, the finances remain an issue to overcome – and English clubs have been made aware of the terms that would be needed to sign him in 2026.

Vlahovic available for bargain fee; Four Prem clubs keen

TEAMtalk can confirm that Vlahovic has a €20million (£17.5m / $23m) valuation for the January window if no new contract is agreed in Turin.

The Italian club do not want to face a moment where they lose him for free at the end of the season, meaning a mid-season sale is likely as things stand.

We understand that Premier League sides, including Tottenham, Chelsea, Everton and West Ham – are expected to be updated on his situation later this month, sources say.

Thomas Frank is looking to add a new forward at Spurs, while Chelsea could also move for Vlahovic should the opportunity for a cut-price deal arise.

Everton, meanwhile, are crying out for a new centre-forward amid the poor form of Beto, and summer signing Thierno Barry, who is still developing.

West Ham’s lack of potency up front is glaringly obvious, too, so the Premier League quartet could battle for Vlahovic’s signature in January, if no new deal is agreed with Juventus.

Vlahovic signed for Juve in 2022 and has notched 63 goals and 15 assists in 158 games for the Italian giants so far.

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Latest Tottenham news: Another striker targeted / Thomas Frank reunion?

Meanwhile, shock reports suggest that Porto are preparing to sell confirmed Tottenham target Samu Aghehowa in the January transfer window.

The Spanish international has notched 36 goals in 57 appearances for Porto, and Spurs’ scouts have been watching him for some time, but he will command a much higher fee than Vlahovic.

In other news, Spurs are reportedly plotting a move for Brentford winger Kevin Schade, with Fabio Paratici working on making a sensational reunion with Thomas Frank happen.

Harry Kane is ready to trigger his Bayern Munich escape hatch, and Tottenham Hotspur have a secret weapon as they prepare to rival Barcelona in the race to sign their former striker, TEAMtalk understands.

The England captain must notify Bayern by January 31 if he wants to activate the €65m (£57m / $75m) release clause that will free him next summer – and sources in Barcelona say he is seriously tempted by the LaLiga side’s vision of a post-Robert Lewandowski attack.

At 32 years old, Kane has already plundered 107 goals in 111 Bayern games, yet the lure of Camp Nou under Hansi Flick has turned heads.

Barcelona see him as the perfect bridge before they attempt to sign Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, and are poised to offer Kane Champions League nights and a salary north of €500,000 (£440,000 / $575,000) per week, as they anticipate Lewandowski’s departure next summer.

Exploratory talks began last month; Kane’s camp has signalled openness to a new league, even if it means parking his pursuit of Alan Shearer’s 260-goal record (he sits on 213) in the Premier League.

However, Tottenham hold matching rights from the 2023 sale, so if Bayern accepts a bid for Kane or his release clause is met, then the club have the option to match it. This could be the secret weapon that helps them in negotiations.

Thomas Frank’s positive start and system would suit Kane, and the emotional pull of unfinished business – plus 47 goals to immortality – remains potent. North London whispers suggest Bayern would demand the full clause plus add-ons from Spurs, testing even ENIC’s appetite…

Harry Kane has 89 days to decide his future

TEAMtalk state that many inside Tottenham are expecting their former captain, Kane, to return to the club.

They do believe he will be wearing their white shirt again and go on to become the best ever goalscorer in Premier League history.

We understand that Manchester United, who are long-term admirers, are watching Kane’s situation but trailing in the race.

Ruben Amorim wants a proven No.9, but Old Trafford’s inconsistent reality and a rebuild still in diapers make Kane’s trophy obsession a hard sell. Only a top-four surge would keep their hopes alive.

Bayern, meanwhile, are relaxed. Sporting director Max Eberl insists Kane is “happy in body and soul” in Munich, family settled, goals flowing.

Contract talks for 2027 and beyond are pencilled in—unless January brings the bombshell letter.

One clause, three suitors, 89 days to decide. When Kane finally speaks, Europe’s strikeforce map could redraw itself.

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Latest Tottenham news: Striker hunt boost / Thomas Frank reunion?

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Porto are preparing to sell confirmed Tottenham target Samu Aghehowa in the January transfer window.

The Spanish international has notched 36 goals in 57 appearances for Porto, and Spurs’ scouts have been watching him for some time.

In other news, Spurs are reportedly plotting a move for Brentford winger Kevin Schade, with Fabio Paratici working on making a sensational reunion with Thomas Frank happen.

A third source has confirmed Tottenham’s interest in signing a Spanish striker and the new update states a January transfer can be made if Spurs bid €80m.

Tottenham’s mark of 17 goals in 10 Premier League games is not to be sniffed at, though those actually watching their matches can see there are issues in attack.

While it’s fair comment to say Thomas Frank is currently without two of his most effective attackers due to injury (James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski), it’s also fair to say those that are playing right now aren’t performing.

The striker position is proving particularly troublesome for Frank. Loanee Randal Kolo Muani is yet to bag a single goal or assist in England.

Richarlison’s early-season form has subsided and the Brazilian has largely been used off the bench of late. Dominic Solanke continues to spend a frustrating amount of time on the treatment table.

As such, Tottenham are understood to be on the lookout for a potent new striker in 2026. They retain interest in bringing Harry Kane back from Bayern Munich, but whether the veteran frontman wants to return is another matter entirely.

READ NEXT: Tottenham ‘desperate’ to sign Harry Kane as shock transfer battle with Barcelona dramatically ignites – report

Instead, various outlets and sources including CaughtOffside and our own Dean Jones have confirmed Spurs are circling over FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

The Spain international, 21, has bagged nine goals in 12 appearances this term to bring his overall tally for the club to 36 goals in 57 matches.

And according to the latest from Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha (as cited by Goal), Porto are ready to sell Aghehowa in January.

Tottenham won’t have to pay release clause

Aghehowa’s existing deal with Porto contains a release clause worth €100m / £87.8m. But while prior reports have stated Porto would demand that clause be triggered, the latest update claims they’re willing to sell for €20m less.

It’s stated Andre Villas-Boas – who serves as Porto’s president – considers €80m not only a fair price, but an ‘irresistible deal.’

The model at Portugal’s big three clubs relies on generating huge profits from the sales of their best players and Aghehowa’s exit is inevitable, the only question is when.

A January exit is more than possible, with Villas-Boas believing the club will be able to sign a worthy replacement with the money from Aghehowa’s sale in the same window.

As such, all eyes are on whether Tottenham firm up their interest and table a bid. At €80m, Aghehowa would become Spurs’ record signing, surpassing Solanke.

Latest Tottenham news – Xavi Simons / New winger…

In other news, the early verdict is in on summer signing Xavi Simons and it’s a brutal one.

Elsewhere, reports state Tottenham are hopeful of pulling off a serious coup by signing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo in 2026.

Failure to sign Semenyo could see Spurs push for back-up target, Kevin Schade (Brentford). The full details in Spurs’ winger plans can be found here.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle Barcelona for the signing of former striker Harry Kane, who is reportedly ‘considering’ a shock Bayern Munich exit in a dramatic twist.

The 32-year-old has been nothing short of sensational since his move to Bayern in the summer of 2023, and looks set to fire his side to another Bundesliga title.

Kane helped Bayern win the league last term with 26 Bundesliga goals and could easily surpass that tally this season, as he’s notched 12 in just nine games so far.

But according to Spanish outlet Sport, Kane is ‘considering his options’ and hasn’t ruled out leaving Bayern next summer. It is understood that he can activate a €65m (£57m / $76m) release clause in his contract should he voice a desire to leave.

Barcelona are said to be in the mix to sign Kane, as they look to bring in a replacement for 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski. Kane is on Hansi Flick’s shortlist, alongside Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez.

However, should Kane push for an exit, Barca won’t be alone in the race. The report claims that Tottenham are ‘desperate’ to bring the striker home.

Kane’s wage demands are lofty and his €65m release clause could pose a problem financially for Barcelona, which would put Spurs in a good position should he make the decision to leave Bayern.

Harry Kane ‘open minded’ about Tottenham return

Publicly, Kane has said that he is happy with Bayern and has no plans to leave. It would come as a shock for him to move, especially in a summer when he’ll be playing for England in the World Cup.

However, the forward has not fully ruled out a Premier League return in the future, which could be good news for Thomas Frank.

“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,” Kane said in an interview last month.

“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. “I am fully all in with Bayern.”

Transfer insider Dean Jones exclusively told TEAMtalk on September 23 that Tottenham would jump at the chance to re-sign Kane, but Barcelona will also be keen to bring him in.

“Harry Kane’s price tag [if his release clause is triggered] for next summer is completely in range for Tottenham – especially in a moment when they start to push the bar in terms of ambition and intent,” Jones stated.

“It was already expected they look for another top level forward, so the timing would be good.

“Kane will be open minded about going back to Spurs one day, that has always been the impression, but they would need to be in the Champions League as he will not be interested in moving for sentimental reasons.

“Yes, he still holds them close to his heart and of course he would like the chance to tie up the goals record in the league (Kane trails Alan Shearer by 47 goals) – but if other clubs like Barcelona are truly in the picture then that is something serious to consider.

“Because of the clause that exists in his contract, it is not going to be out of reach for Barcelona to sign him.

“It could make sense that Barca go for Kane next summer while they wait for Haaland to join them from Man City when he is ready.”

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Latest Tottenham news: Crazy double signing / Thomas Frank reunion?

Meanwhile, Tottenham are reportedly ready to spend a huge sum on Porto striker Samu Aghehowa in the January transfer window.

The forward is being targeted alongside West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen, it’s claimed, who will also command a huge fee this winter.

In other news, Spurs are reportedly plotting a move for Brentford winger Kevin Schade, with Fabio Paratici working on making a sensational reunion with Thomas Frank happen.

Tottenham Hotspur remain in the hunt to sign an explosive left-sided winger from a Premier League rival, although their hopes of securing a much-needed January transfer appear to be disappearing fast.

Spurs’ struggles at home continued on Saturday as they made it 10 losses in their last 12 games against Chelsea, with Mohammed Kudus once again the only player in their forward line to offer any sort of threat.

Randal Kolo Muani was non-existent as the central striker, while there was once again nothing being offered from the left side of Frank’s attack – an issue that continues to persist heading into the January window.

However, TEAMtalk sources have informed us that Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici is looking to upgrade the left-wing position, while the club are also aiming to sign a new No.9 due to the lack of productivity from their current options.

In terms of that left-sided role, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo remains a major target, while links to West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen also refuse to go away – despite the fact he largely plays on the right.

One player who is well known to Frank, though, is Brentford flyer Kevin Schade, who has had a strong start to the season with the west London outfit.

The 23-year-old attacker has scored two goals and registered one assist for Keith Andrews’ side and, although those stats are hardly anything to write home about, his general play has been impressive.

It’s been reported that Tottenham and Aston Villa are both monitoring his progress, although it’s the former who holds the upper hand due to Frank’s previous ties to the Germany international.

Schade flourished under the guidance of the Dane, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 74 appearances for Brentford.

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Brentford playing hardball over Schade exit

However, it appears that The Bees are not willing to play ball when it comes to a potential January transfer.

Schade initially arrived at Brentford on loan from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg in 2023. He later made a permanent £22million switch and has not looked back since.

The Premier League outfit suffered two devastating blows in the summer, though, losing both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Manchester United and Newcastle respectively.

And TBR Football‘s Graeme Bailey has delivered the latest on Schade’s availability in the new year.

He said: “Schade is really looking the part now, and Brentford are aware of potential suitors taking an interest.

“However, I am told from Brentford sources that they will not entertain his exit come January, indeed the same goes for others in the squad too, including Igor Thiago and Nathan Collins.”

That appears to be bad news for Frank’s hopes of fixing a problem position at Tottenham, although money talks, and a significant bid for Schade in January could still potentially tempt Brentford into a sale.

Latest Tottenham news: Dream target revealed; McTominay update

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🔵 Big Dominic Solanke setback for Tottenham as Frank makes firm decision on striker’s future – reports

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to splash out in excess of £100million on two new forward players in the January transfer window to try and fix their woeful home form, although TEAMtalk is slightly baffled by the continued links to one top Premier League star.

Spurs’ awful home form in 2025 continued as they made it just three wins from 14 in north London in the Premier League when Chelsea recorded their 10th victory in their last 12 outings against their north London rivals on Saturday.

Tottenham registered an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.05 – their lowest on record in a Premier League game as they failed to lay a glove on Enzo Maresca’s men in another listless home display.

They have won one of their five league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, scoring just five goals. That is in stark contrast to their away form, with four wins in five and 12 goals chalked up.

While Thomas Frank has clearly worked out a method for picking up points on the road, at home it’s a completely different story, with the attack looking disjointed and lacking any sort of penetration.

Yes, Tottenham are missing the likes of Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusveski and James Maddison to help in that regard, but not signing a left-winger to replace club legend Son Heung-min over the summer was also a huge error from club bosses.

TEAMtalk has previously revealed that the left-wing issue will be remedied in January, while the club are also in the hunt for another No.9 due to a severe lack of productivity from the likes of Richarlison and loan signing Randal Kolo Muani through the middle.

And now a fresh report from Spain claims they are ready to splash out €130m (£114m / $150m) to bring in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa and West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen in the new year.

Frank is desperate to get more from his frontline and adding two players of the quality of Aghehowa and Bowen, as reported by Fichajes, would certainly bring more goal threat.

Spain international Aghehowa has notched an impressive nine goals in 11 games already this season, that’s more than double what Tottenham’s strikers have managed between them this term.

Bowen, meanwhile, continues to shine in a West Ham side currently sitting in the bottom three, scoring three and also providing two assists in 10 games in all competitions.

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Why signing Aghehowa makes sense, but Bowen doesn’t

Aghehowa has chalked up 35 goals in 55 games since moving to Porto from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2024, and is regarded as one of the most promising No.9s in European football at just 21 years of age.

He offers raw pace and power and, standing at 6ft 4in, is also an impressive aerial threat with strong hold-up play and clinical finishing ability.

In short, he ticks a number of boxes when it comes to what Tottenham are currently missing from the central striking position, especially while Solanke continues to sit on the sidelines with his injury issues.

The continued pursuit of Bowen makes slightly less sense, however, given that Tottenham’s right-winger for the future is already in place in the shape of Mohammed Kudus.

England star Bowen is at his most effective from the right and rarely plays on the left flank, which is where plenty of Tottenham’s attacking issues currently lie.

Unless Frank believes he can convert the 28-year-old to a genuine left-sided threat, splashing out over £50m on another right-winger doesn’t make an awful lot of sense. That’s despite TEAMtalk sources informing us that Bowen remains a genuine target, although West Ham’s reluctance to sell another player to their bitter rivals is very real.

Regardless of that, Tottenham are expected to make a significant splash when it comes to improving that forward line in January, although Frank will be hoping that their woeful home form can show some signs of life by then.

Latest Tottenham news: Early Simons exit; McTominay blow

First up, Xavi Simons suffered the embarrassment of being taken off after coming on as a substitute for Tottenham against Chelsea, with his worrying spell of form leaving some fans wanting to cut their losses already.

Elsewhere, Spurs have been dealt a reality check in their pursuit of Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay and it’s one that should have been painfully obvious – but will it stop them?

And finally, former Manchester United winger Nani has named a current Tottenham Hotspur loan star who fits into his old club’s ‘DNA’, amid talk of a potential hijack of the north London club’s permanent move for the player.

Xavi Simons suffered the embarrassment of being taken off after coming on as a substitute for Tottenham against Chelsea, with his worrying spell of form leaving some fans wanting to cut their losses already.

Simons could have been lining up for the other side tonight after Chelsea tried signing him from RB Leipzig in the summer. Ultimately, Tottenham won the race for the attacking midfielder after being beaten to Eberechi Eze by Arsenal.

But it has been a brutally difficult start to life in the Premier League for Simons. He is yet to score for Spurs and had nowhere to hide after his showing against Chelsea.

As expected, Simons was dropped from the starting lineup for the game, but had to come on after seven minutes due to an injury to Lucas Bergvall.

But Simons was taken off 17 minutes before the end of the game after failing to make an impression and frustrating some with his lack of effort.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher compared Simons’ struggles to keep up with the pace of the Premier League to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

Carragher said: “I thought one of them would be Simons coming off. It won’t be nice for him.

“It doesn’t feel the same as when that situation normally happens as he came on so early.

“But his final touch was a perfect example. He has a lovely turn, gets away from someone, before you know it, someone’s back at him.

“That’s just the nature of the Premier League. It’s really interesting with him and Florian Wirtz just finding it tough to get up to the speed of the Premier League.”

And patience is wearing thin among some Spurs fans, with social media painting a picture of their thoughts.

Spurs urged to cut losses on Simons

On Reddit, one posted: “This has to be his worst performance so far…what’s going wrong?”

Among the replies, another user advised: “Sell him in January. Send a message to the squad, invest the money better.”

Similarly on X, one account suggested: “Xavi Simons is definitely a bust, we should cut our losses.”

Another stated: “My agenda against Simons is growing by the minute. Worst performance from a ‘star signing’ I may have ever seen today.”

A third summarised: “Xavi Simons has been absolutely dreadful, he was a panic buy because we fumbled the Gibbs White, Paz and Eze transfer and now Johan Lange’s mistakes led us to this guy.”

Latest Tottenham news: McTominay stance/striker signing chances

In other news, Spurs have learned Napoli’s stance on doing a deal for midfield target Scott McTominay.

We have also revealed what their chances are of signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after a change in coach in Turin.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a reality check in their pursuit of Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay and it’s one that should have been painfully obvious – but will it stop them?

Talk of a Premier League return for McTominay has been widespread over the past week. His move from Manchester United to Napoli last summer was a roaring success and culminated in not only a Serie A winner’s medal, but the award for being the best player in the league last season.

TEAMtalk’s Fraser Fletcher revealed that Tottenham have put McTominay on their radar – a link that’s since been backed up by other outlets too.

However, signing McTominay from Napoli won’t be straightforward, with the latest insight coming from Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke.

“I can’t imagine Napoli will be open to letting Scott McTominay leave,” the journalist warned.

“He’s such a key man for them. He’s their talisman right now in that Napoli side, especially now with Kevin De Bruyne out injured.

“They’ll need to keep hold of their best players and McTominay is definitely that. Four goals in 11 appearances this season and Napoli are top of Serie A again.

“Napoli won’t want to weaken their squad by losing such an important player like Scott McTominay. He’s under contract until 2028, so, to even consider selling him would be a huge fee as well.”

Napoli stance no surprise – but what next for Spurs?

Realistically, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to Spurs. Despite some odd claims last week that McTominay was struggling with the off-field attention he gets in Naples – something sources have denied – his current situation is a match made in heaven.

McTominay is thriving and that’s good for both his career and Napoli’s prospects as they aim to do something they’ve never done before: win back-to-back Serie A titles.

Of course Napoli wouldn’t be keen on letting one of their best players leave. Our original report last week shed light on their plans to offer him a contract renewal until 2030.

Those talks could take place in January, a month in which the transfer window being open would have almost no bearing on McTominay’s immediate status.

If he was to leave Napoli, it would be far more likely to occur next summer than midway through this season, but even then it would be a tall order.

Thus, Spurs will have to decide how highly they value McTominay, how important he would be to their plans and how much money it’s worth putting on the table to try and tempt Napoli.

If they have their wits about them, though, it would be prudent to draw up some alternative targets as well, perhaps with similar skillsets to the Scotland international.

Tottenham transfer news: Man Utd warning

If it was easier to get their hands on McTominay, Tottenham could succeed where Man Utd failed by getting the best out of him in English football.

However, one pundit has warned that United could be looking to hijack a Spurs deal for a different midfielder.

In other news, David Ornstein has named an Everton player as Tottenham’s dream signing.

Tottenham Hotspur are not expecting Dominic Solanke to see any action for the club until late November at the earliest amid a big Thomas Frank admission over his injury struggles and with two sources revealing whether his issues could lead to a January departure.

The striker was a £55m signing in summer 2024, with his move from Bournemouth set to net the Cherries a further £10m in add-ons and bonuses if Solanke proved a success. And after a promising first season in Tottenham colours, that resulted in 16 goals from 45 appearances and success in the Europa League, Spurs were hopeful that the striker could push on in his second season in north London.

However, with the striker suffering an ankle injury back in August, the 28-year-old has been forced to watch from the sidelines this season under the guidance of new manager Thomas Frank.

But with his time on the treatment table now spanning 70 days, Frank has revealed the three-times capped England striker will not be considered for first-team duty until after the November international break.

Confirming another setback for the striker, Frank stated: “We are very aware that we want Dom back. We want him back and no setbacks. We are very aware of doing it in the right way. It is going in the right way but he will not be back before the international break.”

With just two appearances and no goals to his name this season, Solanke has been given little opportunity to show Frank what he is about.

And while Spurs have not struggled to score goals, the fact that defender Micky van den Ven is their top scorer with five goals tells you everything about where Frank’s side have fallen short in their quest to push even higher up the table.

Off the back of that, reports of late have suggested Frank could look to sign another striker option in January, with England striker Ivan Toney, currently with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, among those being linked.

However, two sources insist that will not spell the end for Solanke at Tottenham with a January sale ruled out and with another Spurs frontman looking far more likely to leave….

READ NEXT ⚪🔵 ‘Significant’ Tottenham striker move hits roadblock but Paratici can still secure stunning deal

Sale of Solanke ruled out – but second Spurs striker could leave

Despite his poor injury record this season, our transfer insider Dean Jones insisted earlier this week that Solanke is still seen by Frank and his coaches as the club’s best No.9.

‘Inside the club, Solanke is still regarded as a player who can add a new dimension to the attack and increase their goal threat,’ Jones revealed.

‘Reports have recently suggested that manager Thomas Frank is willing to sell him in the January transfer market.

‘However, our sources believe that this is wide of the mark for now and that he is still viewed as the strongest number nine among their current options.

‘There remains confidence that he will score goals regularly once integrated into the side, with Frank’s track record of maximising the quality of his strikers strengthening that belief.

‘When Solanke is match fit, the Tottenham manager intends to give him his chance to thrive as the team’s main focal point.’

That view is also echoed by journalist Pete O’Rourke, who told the Inside Track podcast: “I think it’s very unlikely [he will be sold in January], I think it’s a very difficult deal to pull off midway through the season for several reasons.

“Look, he [Solanke] hasn’t really had a chance to showcase his worth to Thomas Frank just yet, he’s been injured most of the season.

“He’s only played 49 minutes in all competitions. His last action was in that win at Manchester City in August [23 August].

“So I think obviously Solanke’s injury problems have held him back this year. And obviously, he had a good debut season for Tottenham last year, got 16 goals in all competitions and went on to win the Europa League.

“I don’t think Tottenham will be making any massive decisions on him until he is fully fit. And as I said, once he’s fit, I still think he has a role to play in that Tottenham team under Thomas Frank.

“We know Tottenham are continually being linked with new strikers as they look to add to it, but it’s going to be very hard to land your top targets in January.”

Despite that, changes in the Tottenham Hotspur forward line are possible in the January window, and, as previously reported by TEAMtalk, it is Richarlison whose position is under greater threat.

Latest Tottenham news: Xavi Simons to be axed? Man Utd hijack worry

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has delivered the inside track on Tottenham Hotspur’s current thoughts when it comes to struggling summer signing Xavi Simons, who faces the prospect of being dropped against a club that also chased his signature this weekend.

With Romano’s information in hand, we’ve taken a look at the Spurs side that could take to the field in their clash with Chelsea on Saturday evening.

Elsewhere, David Ornstein has named the Everton star whom Frank would see as a ‘dream addition’ to his attack.

And finally, former Manchester United winger Nani has named a current Tottenham Hotspur star who perfectly fits into his old club’s ‘DNA’, amid talk of a potential hijack.