TEAMtalk

Tottenham Hotspur are said to have barged rivals aside in their efforts to sign an elite Brazilian talent, with the north London club given the nod over how much the player will cost and their hopes of securing a January deal.

The club are actively looking for at least one new winger in the January window, with both Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert failing to match anything like the level of performance that Mohammed Kudus and been showing.

And, while the left side is the main focus of attention, Tottenham will not turn down the chance to snap up quality young talent when it becomes available, even if one such talent, 19-year-old Brazilian Rayan, does most of his best work off the right flank.

It’s been reported that Spurs scouts made a trip to South America last week to watch Vasco Da Gama winger Rayan, who has been setting the Brazilian top-flight alight this season.

The teenager is thought to have a release clause of €40m (£34.3m) in his contract, although it has emerged over recent days that Spurs could face competition from the likes of Chelsea, Brighton and Nottingham Forest for Rayan’s signature.

While Calciomercato reports that there could be an auction for the teenager in January, Tottenham are said to have jumped to the front of the queue for his signature.

While Spurs are not expected to have to match that release clause, it’s thought they will have to bid between €20m-€30m (£17.4m-£26.1m) to convince Vasco to sell their starlet.

DON’T MISS ➡️ Premier League signings of the season power ranking: Leeds man gains first entry; Sunderland trio in top five

Rayan talks with Tottenham already taken place

The report adds that representatives of Tottenham have already spoken to the teenager’s agents over a January switch to N17, in their efforts to get a jump over their rivals.

Indeed, recent reports from Brazil also claim Spurs have done groundwork on securing a work permit ahead of a new year move.

The fact that Rayan is on the brink of winning a call-up to the senior Brazil set-up will also make a permit easier to attain.

If Tottenham do win the race for Rayan, he’s expected to go straight into Frank’s first-team squad and compete for a bench role.

In terms of his playing style, Rayan is a left-footed attacker who is pacy, powerful and technically gifted.

He has played the majority of games in his young career so far on either the right of a front three or as a more traditional right-sided midfielder.

However, there is hope that he could eventually transition to the left and give Frank another option there after Son Heung-min’s exit over the summer.

Latest Tottenham news: Centre-back swoop; Semenyo price tag

Tottenham are being tipped to make a spectacular January raid on a London rival for a high-quality central defender, who might just force the normally flexible Thomas Frank into making a permanent formation change.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s big-money summer signing Mohammed Kudus delivered a performance of the highest quality as Leeds were beaten 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, proving Thomas Frank wise to sign him.

And finally, Tottenham have been told it will take a club record fee to sign a rival Premier League attacker, and TEAMtalk looks into how he could usurp a summer signing in the Spurs side.

Tottenham Hotspur are being tipped to make a spectacular January raid on a London rival for a high-quality central defender, who might just force the normally flexible Thomas Frank into making a permanent formation change.

Spurs have made a strong start to the new season under their new manager as they currently sit third in the Premier League table, at the time of writing, and also have four points from their opening two Champions League outings.

While that start does indeed look good on paper, Tottenham have yet to fully hit their stride, particularly in terms of their attacking play, with the likes of Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison all sidelined.

One thing that has been a marked improvement, though, is the defensive side of their game under the more pragmatic Dane.

Having Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven available every week has made a massive difference in that regard, while loan signing Joao Palhinha is also having a huge impact as the midfield shield in front of that back four.

One thing that Frank has shown throughout his managerial career, however, is his tactical flexibility when it comes to changing his formation to suit opponents.

And while he has not tinkered much so far, Frank did play with a three-man defence in the Super Cup defeat to PSG, as Spurs largely outplayed the French giants before eventually losing on penalties.

That performance from the north London outfit, using Romero in the middle of a back three and having Pedro Porro and Djed Spence as wing-backs, has led to questions from many Tottenham fans as to why Frank has not gone back to playing more of a 3-5-2.

And now confirmed January links to Crystal Palace star Maxence Lacroix will only raise that question even more.

DON’T MISS ➡️ Frank strikes gold as ‘electric’ Tottenham star destroys Leeds and shows Liverpool their dream Salah heir

Speedster Lacroix on Tottenham’s radar

The 25-year-old central defender has made a big impression since joining Palace from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2024 for a fee in the region of £18million.

And, according to a report from the Hard Tackle, Tottenham are looking to add more quality and depth to the defensive unit, with the Frenchman very much on their radar for the new year.

Lacroix is renowned for his pace and would give Van de Ven a run for his money in that regard, which is saying something. Indeed, he has been labelled a “Rolls-Royce” defender for his classy playing style in the past.

And while it’s likely to be incredibly hard to lure Palace into letting him leave, especially when they could lose Marc Guehi in January too, the signing of Lacroix would arguably give Frank a very nice headache going forward.

Arguably too good a player to use as a backup to Romero and Van de Ven, Frank could revert to that back three that outclassed PSG for so long in Italy.

Lacroix could easily slot into the centre or right of that back three and would give Tottenham and Frank arguably the quickest backline in European football as a result.

Spurs are not the only interested club, though, with Premier League rivals Liverpool also keen on potentially striking a deal of their own if they miss out on his Palace teammate Guehi again.

The report does finish off by stating that any move for Lacroix in the new year is likely to be met by a firm Palace response, as the Selhurst Park outfit continue to build on the solid foundation under Oliver Glasner that saw them lift their first piece of major silverware last season when they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Latest Tottenham news: Real signing hopes soar; Brazilian starlet eyed

Tottenham are reportedly among the clubs who want to ‘fight’ in order to land a top Real Madrid star after reports he refused to play in the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Tottenham have been told it will take a club record fee to sign a rival Premier League attacker, and TEAMtalk looks into how he could usurp a summer signing in the Spurs side.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Tottenham are among four Premier League clubs keen on signing Rayan, according to a report – and he could be the next big thing out of Brazil.

Tottenham’s big-money summer signing Mohammed Kudus delivered a performance of the highest quality as Leeds were beaten 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, proving Thomas Frank wise to sign him and potentially giving Liverpool food for thought as they look to find an heir to Mo Salah.

The Ghanaian moved across London from West Ham over the summer in a move that, while costing £55m (€65m, $74.5m), did not create that much fanfare given the lavish sums that were spent elsewhere across the Premier League this summer. But in losing a player who was capable of providing a much-needed spark for the Hammers, questions were being raised as to what sort of player Tottenham would be gaining and whether they were signing a star capable of making the step up.

Over the opening couple of months, though, the 44-times capped Ghana forward has not looked out of place and has been steadily getting better under Frank’s guidance. Four assists in his first six Premier League games certainly pointed to positive signs.

However, his outing at Elland Road on Saturday, as Spurs recorded a hard-fought and entertaining 2-1 win during a game that delivered not just great entertainment but four seasons in one day, showed why Spurs have really struck gold in Kudus.

The 25-year-old was everywhere, proving a menace to Leeds’ defence all afternoon and giving their usually very dependable left-back signing, Gabriel Gudmunsson, his most difficult afternoon yet since his arrival.

One assist for Mathys Tel for the opener and a brilliant goal – his first in a Spurs shirt – underlined his growing confidence.

That goal, robbing Gudmundsson of a bouncing ball, before running across the area and driving a low shot into the corner from 20 yards, was a fine strike.

In co-commentary for TNT Sports, Lucy Ward proclaimed: “You know what you are going to get from Kudus, he has been electric at times since he arrived at Spurs. He is just so front-footed, finds the little bit of space he needs and sticks it into the back of the net. Terrific finish. Brilliant individual play.”

Not only did it give Spurs a morale-boosting victory and Frank his first-ever career win over opposite number Daniel Farke, it also will have been a goal that will have raised some eyebrows on Merseyside and given Liverpool some serious food for thought as they ponder a long-term heir for club icon Mo Salah….

DON’T MISS 📈 Premier League signings of the season power ranking: Kudus on the rise; Sunderland trio in top five

Of course, it’s not the first time Liverpool have been touted as having an interest in Kudus.

Their interest in him dates back to his time while with Ajax, where a strong interest from then-boss Jurgen Klopp suggested on more than one occasion he was a player on their radar.

Those flashes of brilliance while at the London Stadium also saw the Reds touted for a move once again on more than one occasion.

Now, in the wake of his Man of the Match performance for Spurs, transfer chiefs at Anfield will have duly noted that display. Five goal contributions in seven Premier League games is also Salah-like levels…

And the difference this time around – or as it will be from 2026 onwards – the question Liverpool have over how to replace the brilliant Salah will quickly become a very pertinent one.

In recent weeks, most of the talk has been all about Bayern Munich’s brilliant France international star, Michael Olise.

Taking his game on to the next level with Bayern, he undoubtedly has the sort of quality Liverpool would be looking for.

But it’s a strong assumption to claim a move to Anfield could come off. Olise already plays with a European juggernaut and his chances of Champions League glory are as strong at the Allianz Arena as they would be at Anfield. Everything there is geared up for glory.

And that’s before you start diving into the £150m (€172m, $202m) asking price seemingly on the former Crystal Palace man’s head.

With that in mind, would Kudus be a more obtainable target?

Granted, it would be no forgone conclusion that Spurs would simply bow down and allow the player to make the move.

However, as the Reds have shown with Alexander Isak this summer, when they set their sights on a player, they do usually land them.

Whether Kudus will prove their choice to succeed the legendary Salah remains to be seen. But more performances like today can certainly set him on the right path…

Tottenham latest: Record fee needed for Prem attacker; Spanish issues for target

The win at Elland Road will reinforce the belief that Spurs are on track to secure another season of Champions League football under Frank next season – this time through a top-four finish.

Were they to qualify once again, the Spurs boss will clearly look to add to his squad rather than weaken in.

And one player they were persistently linked with last summer, in Antoine Semenyo, very much remains on their radar, according to a source.

However, Spurs have now learned the eye-watering fee they would need to fork out to persuade the Bees to cash in.

Elsewhere, a Spurs insider has suggested Conor Gallagher might be open to moving back to London, speculating he could be “fed up with learning Spanish.”

Tottenham have been told it will take a club record fee to sign a rival Premier League attacker, and TEAMtalk looks into how he could usurp a summer signing in the Spurs side.

Spurs spent not far shy of £200million on new signings in the summer window. The main signings were Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons.

Both of those men have added to an attack which now has 11 goals in six Premier League games – a tally bettered by only three sides.

But there might have been even more goals had Antoine Semenyo signed from Bournemouth. Tottenham wanted him, though nothing concrete came of that.

Of late, though, they have again been linked with the forward, and according to Football Insider, he could cost £80million.

Insider Pete O’Rourke said: “It’ll be a difficult deal to do for a number of reasons. It’ll be difficult to do due to Bournemouth not looking to lose Semenyo.

“The price tag that will be on his head, it’ll be probably around £70-80 million plus, I think, for somebody like him.

“Also, it’ll be difficult to do because of the huge rival interest in Semenyo…it won’t just be Tottenham who are interested in him.”

DON’T MISS: ⚪️ Ranking SIX Tottenham left-wing options, including TWO spectacular January targets, after Xavi Simons debut

Could Semenyo usurp summer signing?

Semenyo’s recent form certainly suggests he could go for a big sum. In six Premier League games this term, he has four goals and two assists.

Only Erling Haaland has a better combined goals and assists tally in the league.

Semenyo’s time on the pitch has been almost equally split between the left and right flanks, with his heatmap from Sofascore showing he spends a lot of tie hugging the left touchline.

The site also suggests Semenyo is very good in a high press, something which would suit him well at Tottenham.

But his proficiency out wide left could see him usurp Tottenham summer signing Simons. The Dutchman has played the majority of his career as a No.10, but has mostly played on the left flank at Spurs, and has only one assist to show for it.

Fans feel he’d be better suited shifting back to the centre, and with a talent like Semenyo coming into the side to take the left wing position, that could beef up the creative options in all areas of the final third.

It could both see Semenyo continue to impress while unleashing Simons in his most comfortable role.

Tottenham round-up: Gallagher move on?

A Spurs insider has suggested Conor Gallagher might be open to moving back to London, speculating he could be “fed up with learning Spanish.”

Meanwhile, Spurs could do battle with Chelsea for Brazilian attacker Rayan, who’s been likened to Adriano.

TEAMtalk have learned that Thomas Frank has played a big role in Rodrigo Bentancur extending his stay with Tottenham.

And after Bentancur, Micky van de Ven will reportedly be the next star in north London to be given a new deal.

A Tottenham insider has suggested Spurs could have a good chance of bringing an English star back from LaLiga, as he may be “fed up with trying to learn Spanish.”

Tottenham have a wealth of top midfield options. Among them are: Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Bentancur, Palhinha and Sarr are the options who have been used most this season, and to good effect, with Spurs fourth in the Premier League and having not lost in either of their first two Champions League games, while also cruising through their first League Cup tie.

But Thomas Frank wants to add another star to his midfield: Conor Gallagher. Reports have suggested he’s a top target for Tottenham and a move back to the Premier League is most likely if Atletico Madrid let him go.

Former Spurs scout Bryan King has gone a step further, suggesting Gallagher might actively want to return specifically to London for an interesting reason.

He told Tottenham News: “I’d certainly pay £52m for Gallagher. Tottenham think they’ll need another central midfield player, especially one of his quality.

“Why would Atletico want to sell him if he’s been doing quite well? At that price, he must have been doing quite well.

“Is it because he’s fed up with trying to learn Spanish? Maybe he wants to come back to London, that could be the reason.

“I think maybe the novelty of living in Madrid may have worn off. They like foreign players to learn the language, maybe he’s finding that a difficult part of settling in.”

Gallagher’s struggles with Spanish

It has been clear in interviews since he joined Atletico that Gallagher did not pick up Spanish quickly. A Google search will tell you as much.

At his unveiling, he spoke a few words, very slowly, but has never been confident in interviews.

In April 2025, he was asked by a reporter if he could tell them he scored a good goal in the language, and had to get them to say it in Spanish first, before saying “the boss wants me to learn quicker.”

That could have made the pair’s relationship difficult, as in a video during training, Diego Simeone was heard telling Gallagher, in Spanish, that English, for him, was “imposible.”

Reports have also suggested that to make things easier for Gallagher, his role was slightly altered to allow him to play closer to English speaker Cesar Azpilicueta.

But if Atleti feel they can be more effective without Gallagher playing there, then surely they will do so, and if that means he’s to be sold, Spurs could well benefit.

Tottenham round-up: Frank key to Bentancur contract

There is a deal in place for Tottenham midfielder Bentancur to renew his contract at the club, and TEAMtalk is aware that manager Frank played a key role in that.

Subsequently, it’s believed Micky van de Ven will be the next to be handed a new contract.

Meanwhile, Gabby Agbonlahor has revealed he’s unsure about Tottenham’s decision to sign Xavi Simons.

He stated the forward isn’t as quick as expected, and suggested he spends a good amount of time “on the floor.”

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among four Premier League clubs keen on signing Rayan, according to a report – and he could be the next big thing out of Brazil.

Rayan is a winger who can operate on either flank but mainly likes to play off the right so he can cut inside on his stronger left foot. The versatile forward can also be used as a central striker if needed.

Rayan was developed in the Vasco da Gama academy and made headlines early on. He had scored 280 goals by the age of eleven, causing many to predict that he could be a future star both in Europe and in the Brazil national team.

Rayan is still only 19 years old but is already a key member of the Vasco first team, having registered 12 goals and one assist in 43 appearances so far this season.

Rayan has been described as an ‘elegant’ yet ‘powerful’ winger who uses his speed and trickery to glide past opposition defenders. He is a deadly finisher and is also a threat in the air, standing 6ft 1in tall.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has compared the starlet to former Brazil ace Adriano as he is a ‘complete forward’ with a ‘killer instinct’ and devastating shot power.

As per Italian source Calciomercato, there is a busy race forming to bring Rayan to Europe.

AC Milan and Roma are both ‘monitoring’ his progress ahead of potential moves in 2026, though there will be plenty of competition.

Chelsea and Tottenham have scouted Rayan on several occasions over the past 12 months and are planning talks of their own.

Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion both like the Brazil U20 international, too.

Rayan has already been offered the chance to move to Saudi Arabia, while Dynamo Moscow have held talks for him as well.

However, Rayan would rather join a club in one of Europe’s big five leagues, which will benefit the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, Milan and Roma.

Rayan has a €40million (£35m) release clause, though Vasco are in discussions with his agent as they want to increase it via a new contract.

YOUR NEXT READ 🔮 £89m duo IN – Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Liverpool as Enzo Maresca plots four changes

Chelsea could repeat Andrey Santos signing

Chelsea and Spurs should be able to fend off Milan and Roma for Rayan’s signing in 2026 due to the superior spending power of English clubs.

The Blues are well aware of the vast array of talent in South America, particularly in Brazil. They signed Andrey Santos from Vasco in January 2023, while also striking a £29m deal to bring Estevao Willian in from Palmeiras.

The fact Brighton are interested in Rayan shows Chelsea and Spurs are on the right track. Brighton have a brilliant scouting network and are known for unearthing gems from all over the world.

Forest’s interest comes as little surprise as they have been tapping into the Brazilian market lately. Indeed, Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha both signed from Botafogo in the summer.

Spurs’ interest in Rayan was first revealed back in April. Now, however, they will have to fend off Chelsea and other clubs to complete a deal.

Chelsea ace sent advice; new Spurs arrival criticised

Meanwhile, Cole Palmer has been told why he must consider a stunning move away from Chelsea.

Xavi Simons held talks with Chelsea in the summer but ended up joining Spurs instead.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to switch their attentions to arguably the club’s best player when it comes to handing out the next lucrative new contract, after midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur put pen to paper on his new deal in north London.

Spurs did not specify the length of Bentancur’s new deal, referring to it instead as “long-term” for a player who has made 122 appearances for the club since joining from Juventus in 2022.

The 28-year-old started as Tottenham ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final last season.

Bentancur, who will have received a significant rise on his old £75,000-a-week deal, told the official club website: “I feel really good and I’m very happy to continue my story with this fantastic club.

“My family are happy; I have fantastic friends and team-mates who work hard every day. I love this club and feel really good here.

“Winning the Europa League was a fantastic moment and we want to build on this now, to win more trophies.

“We have a new head coach, a new captain (Cristian Romero) and I want to enjoy many more years at the club.”

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who TEAMtalk revealed on Thursday played a big role in keeping Bentancur on board, added: “I’m extremely happy that Rodrigo has committed his future to the club.

“It shows his belief in what we are building here and that we are starting a journey which we hope will be really special.”

DON’T MISS ➡️ Transfer Debrief: ‘Head-turning’ Liverpool move; manager’s Man Utd ‘dream’; Thomas Frank’s Tottenham wish granted

Van de Ven next as Tottenham look to keep suitors at bay

Another star who looks poised for a bumper new deal is outstanding centre-back Micky van de Ven, amid rumours that the likes of Real Madrid and even Liverpool are eyeing up the Netherlands star.

The 24-year-old is currently outside of the club’s top 10 list of biggest earners, earning £90k-a-week, but that looks set to change in the very near future judging by the club’s new approach following Daniel Levy’s exit.

New skipper Cristian Romero became the joint-top earner at the club when he penned his new contract back in August, while Levy was still at the helm. However, it’s reported that The Lewis Family are now broadening their horizons in order to try and attract top talent to north London going forward.

Keeping your best players certainly helps in that regard, with Van de Ven forming one of the best central defensive partnerships with Romero – when both players are fully fit and firing on all cylinders.

The duo are set to start again in Saturday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United, if Romero overcomes the slight knock that kept him out of the Champions League trip to Norway in midweek.

Latest Tottenham news: Predicted XI vs Leeds; Simons criticism

Thomas Frank looks set to bow to the will of many Tottenham fans and make two bold changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Leeds United, one of which will likely please the home support too.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised over Tottenham’s signing of Xavi Simons over the summer after a tough start to life in north London, but TEAMtalk feels much of the blame for his struggles so far is on the club and also, to a lesser extent, Thomas Frank.

Thomas Frank looks set to bow to the will of many Tottenham Hotspur fans and make two bold changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Leeds United, one of which will likely please the home support too.

Spurs have drawn three of their last four games and, apart from the first half against Wolves last weekend, have been poor in their last two outings in particular.

Indeed, they barely deserved anything from the Champions League 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday evening, only having an impact on the game once Frank sent on the likes of Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Archie Gray.

And that trio are all set to start for Tottenham at Elland Road, in what will be a real homecoming for Gray after he left Leeds to move to the capital in the summer of 2023.

To that end, let’s take a look at TEAMtalk’s predicted XI to face Daniel Farke’s side, with one positional change also what Spurs fans have been calling for…

DON’T MISS ➡️ Sensational double signing a MUST for Tottenham after Bodo draw shows heart but two big issues

GK: Guglielmo Vicario

The Italian has looked a bit shaky of late, especially when it comes to some of his kicking, and needs to show more composure. But he is just as likely to pull off the odd incredible save or two, so he keeps his place. He needs to watch out, though, as Antonín Kinsky is coming.

RB: Pedro Porro

Porro had a tough time coping with reported Spurs target Jens Petter Hauge on Tuesday night but remains a massive threat with his crossing ability going forward.

CB – Cristian Romero

Missed the Bodo clash purely as a precaution but is set to return as skipper at Elland Road and has had a tremendous start to the new campaign.

CB – Micky van de Ven

Has been equally impressive alongside Romero and was made captain for the night in Norway, grabbing a goal and putting on another superb display on what was a tough evening for the Tottenham backline.

LB – Destiny Udogie

Was rested at Bodo in midweek but did come on late in the game as Tottenham searched for an equaliser. Is starting to look more like the Udogie was so impressive at the start of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge.

CM – Joao Palhinha

A no-brainer here as Palhinha returns to the starting XI after Spurs looked so open against Bodo and were dominated in the centre of the park. The Portuguese international has been nothing short of outstanding in a Tottenham shirt so far and could have his loan switch triggered into a permanent one as early as January.

CM – Archie Gray

This is where it starts to get interesting for Spurs and Leeds fans alike as Gray returns to Elland Road to face his old club.

The England Under-21 star deserves a start after playing superbly in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster and then making an immediate impression off the bench against Bodo.

Gray offers more of an engine in the middle of Frank’s midfield and also more mobility over the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr – who both struggled badly on Tuesday night.

Simons handed starting No.10 role

AM – Xavi Simons

This is the change that most Tottenham fans wanted to see in the Premier League, with Simons given the chance to operate in his best position – having had some stick so far for his performances in north London.

It’s harsh on Lucas Bergvall, but he really struggled to impact the game in midweek and it’s time for Simons to show that creative spark in the No.10 role, rather than being shoved out to the left flank.

RW – Mohammed Kudus

Another no-brainer here as Kudus returns to the right wing, having been Tottenham’s biggest attacking threat through the first part of the new season.

Yes, there needs to be more end product, but Kudus oozes quality on the ball and will cause plenty of issues for the Leeds defence.

ST – Richarlison

Little choice here with Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani still not fit to start.

Richarlison looked a little lost against Bodo but was often isolated with no support players around him.

With worries over his workload, there is a chance that Frank turns to Mathys Tel again through the middle. However, that has not worked so far, meaning Richarlison has to go again.

LW – Wilson Odobert

A coin toss between two players who have struggled in the problematic left-sided position, but it’s Odobert who gets the nod over Brennan Johnson.

It’s time for the talented French attacker to deliver, and the hope is that it starts at Elland Road.

Despite knowing that Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are at Liverpool, one of Europe’s best strikers could be tempted to join them.

A top Premier League manager is ready to jump ship and replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, and Thomas Frank has convinced his Tottenham Hotspur bosses to hand a new contract to one of his key players – all in this week’s exclusive TEAMtalk Transfer Debrief.

Julian Alvarez could have his ‘head turned’ by Liverpool

Liverpool signed Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window and are well stocked in the striker department, but Julian Alvarez could still be tempted to make the switch to Anfield.

Alvarez left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in 2024 and has done well for the Spanish club, scoring 36 goals and delivering 11 assists in 65 appearances.

However, there have been murmurs that the Argentina international striker is not entirely happy in the Spanish capital, with Atletico manager Diego Simeone not always letting him finish matches.

Liverpool have been linked with Alvarez, with Barcelona eyeing the striker as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, exclusively revealed on October 2 that although Liverpool are not actively working on a deal for Alvarez, the striker could have his ‘head turned’ should the defending Premier League champions make a bid for him.

On the prospect of Liverpool and Barcelona making moves for Alvarez, Jones said: “When he hits the sort of form from the last few games, he feels too important to Atleti to lose – and they will not lose him in January.

“But they have to show a real appreciation for him because we have seen from his time at Man City that he can have his head turned by other clubs and leave in a relatively unexpected manner.

“You can never rule out that happening again when you consider the clubs who are being linked with him.

“But it must be clear that nothing is in the works right now. At the moment there is no problem between the parties, he is settled, and he is not thinking about going anywhere for this season.”

Staying on the subject of Liverpool, TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reported on September 26 that Liverpool are planning to bid for Marc Guehi in the January transfer window.

With Giovanni Leoni suffering a long-term injury, there is a sense of urgency at Liverpool to bring in a new centre-back.

The Merseyside club were close to a deal for Guehi in the summer transfer window, with a deal having been agreed with Crystal Palace and the England international having undergone a medical, too.

However, Palace pulled the plug late on deadline day after they failed to get a replacement for Guehi.

The problem that Liverpool now face with Guehi is that, with the defender set to become a free agent next summer, the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona are also showing interest in him.

Andoni Iraola views Man Utd as ‘dream opportunity’

The major talking point in the Premier League over the past seven or so days was the future of Ruben Amorim as the Manchester United boss.

Man Utd have been dire under Amorim this season, with the Red Devils stranded in 14th place in the Premier League table at the moment.

The football that the Red Devils have played has not been pretty, with Amorim’s refusal to move away from his 3-4-2-1 formation not sitting well with the Old Trafford faithful.

Although the Red Devils are keeping faith in Amorim for now, we understand that things could change should Man Utd lose to Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend, with the two-week international break coming up.

A source at Man Utd exclusively told TEAMtalk: “He [Amorim] looks knackered, he knows it’s not working.”

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Fraser Fletcher, broke the major exclusive on October 1 about Andoni Iraola’s stance on replacing Amorim as the Man Utd boss.

Although Iraola ‘loves Bournemouth’, he is ‘ready to take the next step’ in his managerial career and views Man Utd as ‘a dream opportunity to test himself at the highest level’.

Iraola, though, is not the only manager that Man Utd chiefs are looking at should they eventually decide to sack Amorim.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is another candidate, while Dean Jones exclusively reported on October 3 that Man Utd ‘admire’ Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi, too.

Thomas Frank key in Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur agreement

Fraser Fletcher also exclusively reported on October 2 that Tottenham Hotspur have reached a deal with Rodrigo Bentancur to extend his stay at the north London club, which has now been confirmed by the Premier League club.

Bentancur was out of contract at Tottenham at the end of the season, and he has now signed a new long-term deal.

It was Thomas Frank who played a big role in the deal, with the Tottenham boss massively pushing the club to convince the Uruguay international midfielder to continue his career at last season’s Europa League winners.

However, just because Bentancur has put pen to paper on fresh terms does not mean that Spurs are not actively pursuing a new midfielder.

Dean Jones reported on October 2 that Tottenham are among three clubs chasing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

Fulham are in the race, too, but Tottenham and Man Utd are ahead of the Cottagers in the pursuit of the 23-year-old.

Tottenham, though, have suffered a blow in their quest to sign Nathan Collins, with Jones reporting on September 29 that Brentford will not sell him in the January transfer window.

Arsenal target record-breaking star, Enzo Fernandez sale and more

Arsenal are among the clubs keen on record-breaking Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora, with Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona also taking a shine to him.

Fulham have a top young midfielder in Josh King, and Liverpool are showing interest in the latest exciting academy product of the London club.

Brighton and Hove Albion are aware of increasing interest in Yankuba Minteh, with his early-season form attracting attention from Premier League rivals.

Crystal Palace are in pole position for Flamengo forward Wallace Yan, but last season’s FA Cup winners are facing stiff competition.

James Ward-Prowse’s future at West Ham United looks bleak, with new manager Nuno not considering him an important part of his plans.

Manchester City are targeting an ambitious move for Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, but the Premier League club face the threat of Spanish and European giants Real Madrid.

Despite rumours elsewhere, TEAMtalk understands that Man Utd are not considering hiring Gareth Southgate as their new manager should they sack Amorim.

Tottenham are keeping tabs on FC Porto forward Samu Aghehowa, as manager Thomas Frank looks to strengthen their options in attack in the January transfer window.

Kobbie Mainoo could make a big decision on his Man Utd future this weekend if Amorim does not use him in his starting line-up against Sunderland.

Arsenal are unlikely to do any business in the January transfer window, unless there are injuries.

Everton manager David Moyes wants to sign a right-back in the January transfer window.

Despite signing Senne Lammens in the summer of 2025, Man Utd are keen on a deal for Mike Maignan, but there is interest in the AC Milan goalkeeper from Chelsea, too.

Man Utd also plan to raid Brighton and Hove Albion for Carlos Baleba in 2026, even if they sack Amorim and bring in a new manager.

Leeds United are planning to sign Brazilian winger Gustavo Prado, but there is competition from another Premier League club.

Chelsea are willing to sell Enzo Fernandez to Real Madrid next summer, but the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners will not do so on the cheap.

Jose Mourinho wants to sign former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema for his new club Benfica, with the Frenchman’s stance on leaving Al-Ittihad also coming to light.

Dean Saunders has told TEAMtalk the risky strategy for Liverpool in finding long-term replacements for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

After learning that Savinho wants to stay at Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur have targeting AS Monaco and France international star Maghnes Akliouche.

Questions have been raised over Tottenham Hotspur’s signing of Xavi Simons over the summer after a tough start to life in north London, but TEAMtalk feels much of the blame for his struggles so far is on the club and also Thomas Frank.

Spurs splashed out £52million to bring the Netherlands international to the club towards the end of the summer transfer window, after failing in their attempts to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.

The north London club were left embarrassed after done deals for both Gibbs-White and Eze fell through at the last hurdle and ended up hijacking Chelsea’s proposed move for Simons to fill the void left by James Maddison’s season-ending injury.

However, Simons has struggled to make his mark at Tottenham thus far, failing to score and registering just the one assist in six outings.

And that has led to criticism of the player and whether or not Spurs potentially have another big-money flop on their hands.

Indeed, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor expressed his doubts about Tottenham’s signing of Simons on talkSPORT following the 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday evening.

“Simons, I’m not sure about,” Agbonlahor declared. “It’s early on, we don’t want to judge players after five, six games, but I’m really not sure about him.

“You know, sometimes you see a player and you’re like, ‘Oh okay, I like him, yeah, yeah, I like what he’s about.’ But I watch Simons and I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s on the floor.’ He doesn’t seem rapidly quick when I watch him as well.”

DON’T MISS ➡️ Sensational double signing a MUST for Tottenham after Bodo draw shows heart but two big issues

Tottenham, Frank to blame for Simons’ struggles

While it’s clear to see that Simons is struggling to adapt to English football, questions have to be raised over a massive Tottenham transfer mistake over the summer and also Frank’s reluctance to play the former Leipzig man in his best position – although the two do go hand in hand.

Spurs’ failure to sign an out-and-out left-wing replacement for legendary former skipper Son Heung-min, coupled with the poor options Frank has available to him on the left has forced the new Tottenham boss into a bit of a corner.

Frank’s decision to use Simons as a left-winger to start out his Tottenham career was clearly, to some extent, a way of easing him in. After all, it was a position he did play previously before converting to a No.10 role with great success in Germany.

However, the fact that both Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert have offered next to nothing on the left has forced Frank’s hand when it comes to trying to have some productivity from that side of his attack.

But it’s time for the Dane to take the shackles off Simons and unleash him in the role where he has looked the most comfortable so far, albeit in small sample sizes, as Tottenham’s No.10 – starting at Leeds on Saturday.

Indeed, Simons’ Spurs and Netherlands teammate Micky van de Ven has backed the attacker to start making his mark at the club, after he made a big impact at Bodo/Glimt off the bench.

“He’s a really good player,” said Van de Ven, who headed Spurs’ first goal in Norway. “He can create a lot of special things. I think you saw he came on and did really well. You can see the creativity he has.”

Latest Tottenham news: New contract boost; shock Real Madrid links

Tottenham have a deal in place with Rodrigo Bentancur to extend his stay at the club, sources have told TEAMtalk, with Spurs manager Thomas Frank playing a big role in keeping the player in north London.

Elsewhere, Spurs are reportedly eyeing a shock raid on Real Madrid for one of their top midfielders in what would be a stunning coup for the club, but one that TEAMtalk has raised two major red flags over.

And finally, Frank has hinted at a potential transfer move to sign a Bodo/Glimt star who ripped his defence to shreds in the Champions League draw in Norway on Tuesday evening, but TEAMtalk has assessed why a deal could end up being a major risk.