TEAMtalk

A top midfielder would love to join Manchester United despite Liverpool believing that he is perfect for manager Arne Slot, according to a report, which has revealed Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the star, as the Red Devils are unfazed by his disappointing start to the new season.

Man Utd and Liverpool are two of the biggest clubs on the planet and are global brands, but the two English clubs have had contrasting fortunes in recent years. Man Utd have become a shadow of themselves since Sir Alex Ferguson left back in 2013 and do not even finish in the Premier League top four nowadays, while Liverpool won the Premier League and the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp and became the champions of England again last season under Arne Slot.

However, it seems that one of the Premier League’s best young midfielders still wants to join Man Utd over Liverpool, according to a report.

Man Utd wanted to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer transfer window, but the Seagulls refused to sell him.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, has reported that Man Utd remain keen on Baleba, who is valued at over £100million (€115m, $134m) by his club Brighton.

Sources have told us that a January move is unlikely, with Liverpool also joining the race for the 21-year-old.

Jones has said that there is ‘admiration’ from Liverpool for Baleba, with the defending Premier League champions’ viewing the Cameroon international as ‘an ideal fit to play as the No.6 in Slot’s midfield’.

Sports Boom has now reported that Tottenham Hotspur have joined Man Utd and Liverpool in the race for Baleba.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is said to be a ‘big fan’ of Baleba, with last season’s Europa League winners having already ‘reached out about the possibility of striking a deal’.

According to the report, Man Utd is Baleba’s ‘preferred destination’ when the transfer window reopens in January.

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Man Utd stance on Carlos Baleba after disappointing performances

Baleba has not been in great form for Brighton this season, with the midfielder failing to reach the heights he did in the 2024/25 campaign.

The Cameroon international has made four starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Brighton this season, with the Seagulls picking up just five points from those games.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said on September 21 when asked if Man Utd’s interest in Balaba has affected, as quoted in The Manchester Evening News: “It’s all a lot of theory. We can only guess.

“For sure, when a young boy reads that there’s interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep.

“Even if he’s not saying; ‘It affects me’, maybe deep inside of him, there is something that affects him.

“It’s also part of the development, to understand when you play well and a big club comes, to keep pushing, and to stay humble, to stay at Brighton and make the next step as a team.

“And that’s something we have to keep on working with him and so, therefore, I can’t give you a clear answer if it’s really affected him or not.”

Man Utd, though, remain keen on Baleba despite his recent struggles.

Journalist Graeme Bailey told United In Focus: “United are already well advanced with their planning for 2026 and midfield is the priority.

“We can’t rule out more than one incoming given Casemiro’s likely exit and also the fact that the futures of Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes are far from certain.

“United have done work on this area and Baleba is the man who they really think is ideal.

“They are fans of the likes of Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Morten Hjulmand – let’s not rule out them bringing in two.

“Baleba has endured a tough start, but with an injury and links to United – there is little concern that he remains the best option in the long-term.”

Latest Man Utd news: Nottingham Forest raid, Barcelona move

Baleba is not the only midfielder that Liverpool and Man Utd are competing over.

A Nottingham Forest star has also emerged as a transfer target for Liverpool and Man Utd, with his club’s stance clear.

While Baleba would be a player for the here and now, Man Utd are set to sign a goalkeeper from Derby County for the long term.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are planning to raid Man Utd for a midfielder who wanted to leave in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur are very keen on re-signing Harry Kane from Bayern Munich and could seal a deal if the striker forces an exit, Manchester United have chosen their ‘top choice’ to replace under-pressure manager Ruben Amorim, and Newcastle United want to sign a striker from one of Europe’s biggest clubs – all in this week’s exclusive TEAMtalk Transfer Debrief.

HARRY KANE OPEN TO TOTTENHAM RETURN

Kane’s future at Bayern Munich has been one of the hottest topics this week, after it emerged that the forward can leave the Bundesliga champions for €65m (£56.7m / $76.7m) next summer.

The one caveat is that Kane must announce his intention to leave before the end of the January transfer window.

The England captain is yet to voice any desire to leave Bayern, but the situation has put Tottenham and two other clubs on alert.

TEAMtalk transfer insider Dean Jones exclusively revealed on September 22 that Spurs would ‘love’ to bring Kane back to North London. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been interested in the forward for many years. The main competition for Kane could come from Barcelona, however, who view him as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who could leave the Camp Nou next summer.

In a bombshell update on September 23, Jones revealed that Kane would be open to rejoining Tottenham – but only if they have Champions League football on offer.

And what’s more, Kane’s release clause, if triggered by the player, is understood to be ‘completely in range’ for Spurs, and matching that fee wouldn’t hinge upon any takeover going through first.

The big question, however, is timing. Kane is in superb form for Bayern, who are fighting for trophies on domestic and European fronts. Whether he’d want to leave next summer – when his full focus will be on the World Cup with England – still remains to be seen.

TEAMtalk understands that Kane is keen to return to Tottenham in the future, and the 32-year-old would like the chance to tie up the Premier League goals record, too. Kane trails Alan Shearer by 47 goals.

MAN UTD CHOOSE IDEAL RUBEN AMORIM SUCCESSOR

Man Utd find themselves in a worryingly similar situation this summer, with pressure mounting on Ruben Amorim after some poor performances and results.

The Red Devils currently sit 11th in the Premier League table after picking up seven points from seven games so far. Within those matches was losses to Arsenal and rivals Manchester City, and they also suffered an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Grimsby Town.

TEAMtalk insider Fraser Fletcher exclusively revealed on September 24 that while Amorim retains the backing of the board for now, they are already looking at potential replacements.

We understand that Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been identified as the ‘top choice’ to replace Amorim should his position become untenable.

The Spanish coach led the Cherries to a mid-table finish in the Premier League last term and despite losing some very important players over the summer, the south coast club currently sit fourth in the table after a fantastic start to the campaign.

However, Man Utd are not alone in their admiration. Sources state that Manchester City and Chelsea are also big fans of Iraola, though they have no plans currently to part ways with Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca respectively.

Of the Premier League trio, Man Utd seem the most likely to change managers this season.

NEWCASTLE EYE 114-GOAL STRIKER

Newcastle United signed two new strikers over the summer after losing Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson – bringing in Yoane Wissa from Brentford and Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart.

Wissa is yet to make his Magpies debut after picking up a knee injury, but Woltemade got off to a flying start by scoring on his debut against Wolves two weeks ago.

However, TEAMtalk insider Jones reported on September 22 that Newcastle are one of several clubs ‘in the picture’ to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The Serbia international, who moved to Juventus in a €70m switch from Fiorentina in January 2022, is now in the final year of his contract at the Allianz Stadium. And with Vlahovic prepared to weigh up his options in January, serious talks over his future are expected before the end of the year.

Newcastle have asked to be kept informed of the situation and could emerge as a potential destination for the striker, who has 114 career goals to his name from 285 appearances.

Man Utd continue to be linked with a move for Vlahovic, but, according to sources, there has been no meaningful progress from Old Trafford.

Chelsea and Tottenham have both made enquiries, while West Ham are also understood to have explored the possibility of a deal too, with club chiefs concerned by their lack of threat in attack.

ARSENAL’S ARTETA PROMISE / GRAVENBERCH UPDATE AND MORE…

Arsenal’s board have promised Mikel Arteta that he will be given £100m to spend in January as they aim to lift the Premier League title this season.

Liverpool are open to offering a new contract to midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as they anticipate future interest in his signature, with Real Madrid among his suitors.

Sean Dyche is ‘itching’ to return to management and is open to replacing West Ham boss Graham Potter, whose future may hinge on the Hammers’ clash with Everton on Monday.

Nuno Espirito Santo is reluctant to agree to a short-term contract with West Ham, whereas former manager Slaven Bilic is open to penning a contract until the end of this season.

Tottenham are keen to bring in a new centre-back in January, with Man City star Manuel Akanji and Brentford’s Nathan Collins among those being looked at.

Everton star Dwight McNeil is facing an uncertain future at the club and a potential January exit after falling down the pecking order under David Moyes.

Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher is open to a Premier League return, with Man Utd and Tottenham among the clubs linked.

Man Utd are keen to bring in a new midfielder and wing-back in January.

Chelsea remain interested in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with Maresca not fully convinced by Robert Sanchez as his No 1.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery retains the backing of the board following the exit of sporting director Monchi.

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to commit to the signing of a new centre-back signing in January, TEAMtalk understands, with Manchester City and Brentford defenders on their radar.

Sources told us that early planning towards the next transfer window has led towards budget being put aside to bring in a new body in the back line.

However, Tottenham are now the subject of a takeover bid from a US consortium. That could affect their budget in January if the £4.5bn deal goes through, but not the areas that Thomas Frank wishes to address.

Spurs were hoping to sign another central defender in the summer and it did not materialise, but early season assessments led to an underlying belief that further strengthening is likely needed in that area of the field.

Such a decision seems sensible as such frailties were underlined when Joao Palhinha was forced to play at the heart of defence against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. The club do not want to be caught short as they attempt to win another trophy this season.

Frank has to be cautious around his management of Micky Van De Ven and Cristian Romero in terms of workload as two key components of his early season success at the club.

Ben Davies is unavailable at the moment, while Radu Dragusin is on the road to recovery after a long lay-off. Kevin Danso is a back-up option along with Kota Takai, who has also been injured, and Spurs are plotting how to now push on with their next phase of recruitment…

Tottenham want at least two new additions in January

In line with Daniel Levy’s departure from the club and the potential takeover, there is hope among the Tottenham supporter base that the club become even more aggressive in the market.

Early signs from insiders suggests this could indeed be the case with at least two signings expected to arrive in the winter, as it stands.

The defensive area will get attention, while it is also expected that an attacking reinforcement is signed for the wide areas.

Man City were a club that Spurs focused on for both positions in the summer – with both Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji looked at by the London side.

It’s also worth noting that Man City forward Savinho is also the subject of active interest from Spurs, as TEAMtalk revealed in an exclusive update on September 22. However, the Brazilian could pen a new contract with the Cityzens and put an end Tottenham’s hopes of a transfer in 2026.

Akanji has moved to Inter Milan on loan while Ake remains at City and is yet to start a Premier League game, with appearances so far coming from the substitutes bench.

It is worth noting that Spurs have also kept a close eye on Nathan Collins at Brentford as a potential signing, and could look into that situation more actively in 2026 in a bid to reunite him with his old Bees boss.

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Latest Tottenham news: Takeover bombshell / Huge Savinho blow

Meanwhile, as mentioned, Spurs are the subject of a jaw-dropping takeover bid from a US consortium, which could transform the club’s fortunes on and off the pitch.

Tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick is heading a 12-man group that has lodged a stunning £4.5bn offer to acquire the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club.

Earick is said to be offering £3.3bn to buy out the current Spurs owners, while a stunning £1.2bn has been set aside for transfer business.

In other news, Tottenham could miss out on Man City ace Savinho again despite retaining interest in the winger. That is because he is very close to signing a new contract that will tie him down at the Etihad until 2031.

Savinho is now open to penning a new contract with Manchester City despite his attempts to leave for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, with journalists revealing how long his prospective new deal will last for.

Savinho joined Man City from sister club Troyes in July last year for €40million (then £31m). The winger earned the move after impressing on loan at Girona – another member club of the City Football Group – where he notched 11 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances.

Savinho managed three goals and 13 assists in 48 games during his debut campaign at City. He emerged as a prime target for Tottenham on August 10, with Thomas Frank’s side opening club-to-club talks to see if they could get a deal over the line.

Spurs opened the bidding at €50m (£44m), which was snubbed by City. An improved offer worth close to €70m (£61m) was also rejected.

Savinho was eager to make the move as he was aware of Frank’s strong interest in his services and also felt he would get more game time at Spurs.

But City blocked the transfer as they view the left-footed ace as an important player for the future.

As per Fabrizio Romano, Savinho has now performed a major U-turn over his future at the Etihad, with City director of football Hugo Viana ‘closing in’ on a contract agreement.

Talks between the two parties are at an ‘advanced’ and ‘final stage’, with Savinho set to stay at the club for the ‘long term’.

Fellow reporters Guillermo Rai and Jordan Campbell, of The Athletic, add that Savinho’s new contract is expected to run until June 2031.

The fresh terms will likely end all rumours of Savinho leaving City for Spurs or any other club in 2026, unless a release clause is included.

Savinho contract to silence all exit talk

Spurs missed out on both Savinho and Eberechi Eze in the summer, with the latter joining rivals Arsenal, but they did still manage to add extra firepower to their attack.

Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani all arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Mathys Tel’s loan move became permanent for £30m.

TEAMtalk revealed on August 30 that there was growing concern Savinho’s move to Spurs would collapse, and that is ultimately what happened.

Pep Guardiola had told reporters that the Brazilian was injured and would not be fit to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in City’s opening Premier League fixture, but Savinho subsequently posted a story on Instagram of him in the gym, risking his manager’s wrath.

Guardiola and Savinho have clearly made up as the player is now ready to pledge his long-term future to City.

The forward has made four appearances in all competitions so far this season and scored his first goal against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup third round.

Man City news: Winger battle; January exit

City have also been credited with interest in a world-class Bundesliga winger.

But Real Madrid could beat both City and Liverpool to his capture, it has been claimed.

TEAMtalk understands a City player could ‘push’ for a January exit amid interest from Leicester and Southampton.

A US consortium has launched an astonishing £4.5billion (€5.1bn / $60bn) takeover bid for Tottenham Hotspur, with a huge amount set aside for transfers in what could be a transcendent moment for the club.

Tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick is heading a 12-man group that has lodged the offer to acquire the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club.

The report in The Sun states that Earick is offering £3.3bn to buy out the current Spurs owners – ENIC and the Lewis family.

The proposed new Tottenham owners are also ready to set aside an incredible £1.2bn for transfers, as they look to turn the club into genuine challengers in all competitions.

Earick has also lined up a £250m stadium naming rights deal for Spurs, with the club currently without a sponsor for their ground since opening it in 2019.

The Sun goes onto report that the 41-year-old Earick has assembled a consortium that includes NFL and NBA investors to back his vision for Tottenham.

Andrew Ashcroft recently purchased 8,023,942 shares in the North London club, which represents a 3.4% stake in Tottenham.

The price has not been disclosed but the shares are likely to have cost around £100 million based on recent valuations of the north London outfit.

Earick will be meeting that valuation with his offer. However, whether the majority owners of Tottenham will be open to selling remains to be seen at this stage.

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Levy exit has opened door to Tottenham bidders

ENIC owns 86.58% of Spurs, with former chairman Daniel Levy, who recently walked away after 24 years at the helm of the club, and his family owning 29.88% of those shares.

Spurs minority shareholders own the remaining 13.42% of the club between them, but Earick is only keen on the majority shares.

The former DJ, who also once worked for NASA, started initial discussions with the Spurs hierarchy – including Levy – some months ago.

Talks have accelerated since Levy exited, with ex-Arsenal executive Vinai Venkatesham now the main man, and it’s believed the former chairman was the hindrance to a sale because of his desire to remain in charge even in the event of a takeover.

The report goes on to state that Earick wants a takeover completed by December to allow him to splash the cash during the January transfer window and hit the ground running – news that will no doubt delight current boss Thomas Frank.

However, that may be wishful thinking as it could take months before everything is finalised, if the club’s current majority owners agree to sell.

And sources close to the Lewis family, who run Tavistock, the company behind ENIC, are said to have told football.london that their stance has not changed and that Tottenham is still not for sale.

Spurs have made a strong start to the new season under Frank, winning three of their five Premier League outings to sit third in the table, while they also won their Champions League opener against Villarreal.

Latest Tottenham news: Kane return hopes / Bergvall to Real Madrid

Bayern Munich have detailed the only way that Tottenham Hotspur can re-sign Harry Kane in 2026, following Thomas Frank’s insistence that the club would welcome him back, while TEAMtalk have reasoned why that could end up being a bad decision.

Elsewhere, a former Premier League midfielder has told Tottenham “clubs like Real Madrid” will be looking at signing Lucas Bergvall in the future and they’ll “do well to keep hold of him.”

And finally, Leeds United are increasingly confident of tying their uber-talented teenage striker Harry Gray down to his first pro deal and averting the catastrophic loss of the player to join his brother, Archie, at Tottenham Hotspur.

Former Premier League midfielder Martin Allen has told Tottenham “clubs like Real Madrid” will be looking at one of their teenage stars and they’ll “do well to keep hold of him.”

Spurs have begun the 2025/26 season flying. They’ve lost just one of their five Premier League games, winning three others as they find themselves third in the league.

They also made winning starts in the Europa League and League Cup, respectively seeing off Villarreal in a 1-0 victory and Doncaster Rovers in a more straight forward 3-0 win.

A constant in the side has been Lucas Bergvall, who has started four of seven games since the UEFA Super Cup, but has played a role in every Tottenham fixture.

Within them, he has one goal and three assists to his name – with a goal and an assist coming in the 3-0 Premier League victory over West Ham.

According to former Prem man Allen, Tottenham face an uphill battle to keep the Swedish teenager.

“He’s got his best years ahead of him,” Allen told Tottenham News.

“Tottenham must have tied him down to a long-term contract because clubs like Real Madrid are going to be looking at him; they are going to be taking an interest.

“So they’re going to do well to keep hold of him, I think.”

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Bergvall the next Bellingham?

Signing for Real Madrid would see Bergvall join up with Jude Bellingham – one of the finest midfielders in the world.

Former Tottenham man David Bentley recently suggested the pair have similar styles of play.

He said: “But he’s a great player, so positive on the ball. And if you’ve got a player like that in your team, making them forward runs. He’s like, you know, that Bellingham type, sort of running forward, that strong with the ball.”

In terms of running and beating players, the two are indeed very similar.

Compared to midfielders in top-five European leagues in the last year, Bergvall ranks in the 90th percentile for progressive carries and in the 98th for successful take-ons.

Bellingham, meanwhile, is in the 89th percentile for progressive carries and the 99th for successful take-ons.

Bellingham’s scoring stats far exceed Bergvall’s, but the Swede has better defensive stats, particularly in terms of interceptions, where he ranks in the 80th percentile, where Bellingham is in the 47th.

Tottenham round-up: Only way Kane signs revealed

Bayern Munich director Max Eberl has suggested the only way Tottenham will re-sign Harry Kane is if he tells Bayern he wants to leave.

TEAMtalk feels Spurs should avoid Kane, anyway, as he’d be a year older when he returned and might struggle with the high pressing required in the system.

Meanwhile, Manor Solomon, who is on loan at Villarreal from Tottenham, has been described as “spectacular” in his short time at the Spanish club.

Leeds United are increasingly confident of tying their uber-talented teenage striker Harry Gray down to his first pro deal and averting the catastrophic loss of the player to join his brother, Archie, at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Whites have a long association with the Gray family, with 16-year-old striker, Harry the most recent family member to play for the West Yorkshire side. Making his debut last season in a 6-0 thumping of Stoke, he joined his brother, father, grandfather and, most famously of all, great Uncle, Eddie Gray, in representing Leeds United.

However, the Whites have opted for a kid-glove approach to Gray junior’s development and, while he has featured in Premier League matchday squads, he is yet to make his debut in the competition.

With the player due to turn 17 on October 8, Leeds plan to tie him down to his first professional contract. But that day cannot come soon enough, with Tottenham just one of several leading sides looking to prise the player away from Elland Road.

Still only classed as an apprentice, the likes of Spurs, Man City, Aston Villa and Newcastle – just four of his admirers – are all within the laws of recruiting the player outside of the regular transfer windows.

However, sources understand Leeds remain confident that Gray will stay at Leeds, with the player’s father, former Whites striker, Andy, adamant Elland Road is the best place for the striker’s development.

That is a view shared by transfer insider Graeme Bailey, who has revealed Leeds’ belief that Gray will soon commit to Leeds.

“Until that contract is signed and done, there will be worry from all Leeds fans. No doubt about it, until that’s over the line,” Bailey told LeedsUnitedNews.

“They’re very close with people like the Cresswells and Grays who run him. It’s a very good relationship Leeds have got with them. They think, at the moment, Leeds is the best place for him. He’s very happy there.

“He’s been more involved with the first-team. Leeds love him. You know, there’s always been this thing of, ‘is he going to be better than his brother’ and that sort of thing etc. So, they are desperate to keep him.

“From what I’m told, Leeds believe he will sign.”

DON’T MISS ⚪🟡🔵 Harry Gray’s father knows it; Leeds is the best place for his development

Daniel Farke has made a pledge to Harry Gray

Bailey continued: “There is interest elsewhere, though. You know, if Harry Gray suddenly came on Instagram saying, ‘I’m leaving Leeds’, he would literally have his pick of a number of clubs, but he’s not going to do that.

“Leeds are very happy with him. From what I’m told, he’s very happy at Leeds. He will be signing that contract next month.

“But Tottenham know all about him. Man City, Newcastle, Villa — basically every major Premier League club has looked at him, but they’re the ones I’ve heard. They’re the ones I’ve heard in particular.”

With Leeds hopeful he will stay, Whites manager Daniel Farke was recently asked if he was at all tempted to turn to the teenager to help solve the club’s recent three-game goalless streak.

However, the German insists he will not rush the player into the first-team fold regularly, having also stated he is the best person to aid his development.

“When I came to Leeds, I had Archie Gray and we replaced a big leader, club legend Luke Ayling with a 17-year-old and it was not easy in the dressing room. Last season, I played Mateo Joseph instead of Joel Piroe.

“I gave Harry his debut at 16 last season in the crunch time period. If I would back a manager to be brave enough to play a young player and know what a young player needs, I would pick me.”

Despite the wishes for Gray to be more involved, Farke insists the teenage prospect still needs time to develop and he will be forced into blooding him properly before he is ready, knowing it could have a detrimental effect.

“He needs training sessions with the first team to get used to proper physicality of men’s football,” Farke added. “He needs game time with the 21s to not lose his rhythm and confidence and striker instinct.

“What he needs most is time and peace in order to grow. You will see him once he’s prepared for Premier League games and then we can speak about him more.”

Latest Leeds news: Meslier has nine clubs chasing him; Wilson plan collapses

With Gray looking likely to stay, the Whites, however, are planning for the exit of goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

His contract at Leeds expires next summer and sources have revealed the Whites will make a fresh push to sell him in the January window and having named no less than nine sides who are exploring a potential move for the Frenchman.

Elsewhere, Leeds United’s hopes of luring Harry Wilson to Elland Road in the January window are fading fast, with a U-turn from Marco Silva implying the Whites would be wasting their time pursuing a move.

In case you were sleeping, it was also the Ballon d’Or awards this week with former Whites hero Raphinha one of the contenders to win. However, Leeds fans have all been saying the same thing about their former star could only finish a disappointing fifth.

The Gray family dynasty at Leeds

➡️ The Gray connection with Leeds first began way back in 1964 when Eddie Gray, a then unknown teenager from Glasgow, signed for the Whites. He made his debut for the club on New Year’s Day in 1966, while just 18. Eddie went on to make 577 appearances for Leeds, where he was a one-club man, and ending his playing career in the 1983/84 season, some 18 years later.

➡️ Eddie Gray’s brother, Frank, also played for Leeds United, though to lesser success than Eddie. Frank, or Francis to give him his birth name, played for Leeds across two spells (from 1972 to 1979 and then from 1981 to 1985).

➡️ Frank Gray’s son, Andy – the father of Archie and Harry Gray – also played for Leeds. Debuting at Leeds in 1995 and playing in the 1996 League Cup final, Gray would later go on to play for Scotland, as well as representing Nottingham Forest and Sunderland in the Premier League.

➡️ Archie Gray debuted for Leeds in August 2023 while just 17, though he had been named on the bench as a 15-year-old back in December 2021. He made 52 appearances for the Whites before leaving in a £40m deal for Spurs on 2 July, 2024.

➡️ Harry Gray made his debut for Leeds as an 86th-minute substitute for Brendan Aaronson in a 6–0 Championship league win over Stoke City on 21 April 2025. He was also included in the England squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

Bayern Munich have detailed the only way that Tottenham Hotspur can re-sign Harry Kane in 2026, following Thomas Frank’s insistence that the club would welcome him back, while TEAMtalk have reasoned why that could be a bad decision.

The reigning Bundesliga champions signed Kane from Spurs for an initial €100million (£86.4m) two years ago, and his current contract still runs through until 2027.

However, Bild reported on Monday that Kane has a €65m (£56.7m) release clause in his deal which can be activated next summer – although the England skipper would need to announce his intention to leave before the end of the January transfer window to set the wheels in motion.

Tottenham also have a buy-back option on the 32-year-old, who will have actually turned 33 by the time the 2026/27 campaign gets underway. And it appears that Frank is willing to bring the club’s all-time record goalscorer back to north London.

“He is an unbelievable player who did fantastic for Spurs and is doing fantastic for Bayern. Top player. I think there’s a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself, who would like to see Kane back,” Frank said prior to Spurs’ Carabao Cup win over Doncaster.

“Personally, I don’t think he will do it right now if I’m honest. He’ll probably stay in Bayern and continue performing well. He was top scorer last year, won the championship and he’s doing fantastic now.”

When asked about Frank’s comments on Kane and a potential return to Spurs, Bayern head coach, Vincent Kompany, said on Thursday: “He’s in an excellent phase and the last thing I want to do is to open the door to a different discussion.

“The only thing I always see with Harry is that he wants to win titles and he can do that at Bayern. That’s the only focus.”

Meanwhile, Bayern’s board member for sport, Max Eberl, said that the decision over Kane’s future will be purely left up to the player himself.

“I think that at his age he is still making huge progress as a personality on the pitch.” Eberl said.

“At Tottenham, of course, we all knew him from scoring goals but I think the way he’s playing football in this team right now, not just scoring goals, but as a player, as a leader on the pitch and sacrificing himself for the team shows what I’ve been saying.

“He wants to win titles, that’s what hunger is. He can do that with us, we what to do that with him.

“He’s old enough to make his own decisions, whether he has a clause or not. If he says, ‘I want to make a decision’, as he showed at Tottenham, then he will make that decision.

“But of course, our wish is to have a very, very successful season with him and in the future.”

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Why Tottenham should NOT pull Harry Kane return trigger

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed to us that Kane is open to the idea of a return to the club where he made his name, especially with Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record in his sights.

However, there are counter-arguments to bringing back a club legend, one of which was his burning desire to walk away in the first place.

Kane was pushing for a move to Manchester City back in 2021, but he eventually got his exit two years later when he headed to Germany in the hunt for silverware.

While his service to Tottenham cannot be questioned, along with his 280 goals, there is an element of ‘never go back’ that has to be factored in. There was certainly an element of that when Gareth Bale re-joined on loan for the 2020/21 season.

The Welshman did score 16 goals and provide three assists in 34 games, but he was a completely different player to the one who left.

There’s no arguing that Kane still knows his way to goal, 16 strikes in just 12 games this season is testament to that, but he will be another year older if he does pull on the famous white jersey again in August 2026.

In some ways, Frank’s comments were to appease fans, after all he was never going to say ‘no thanks, we are happy with what we’ve got’. That may be his thinking behind closed doors though and, to be Frank (apologies), it should be.

At 33 years of age, there is no way that Kane is closing down central defenders in Frank’s high press. It’s a very important part of the Tottenham manager’s make-up, as he looks to create pressure in the final third and make chances from opposition mistakes.

Frank also likes his No.9 to run in behind when mixing up short and long-ball play, something that was never really a Kane strength even in his younger days.

But, more importantly, spending nearly £60m on a player well into his 30s does not make an awful lot of sense for the club’s plan going forward.

They are building a young, energetic squad to play in their new manager’s mould – and £60m would be better spent on a striker who could be around for five or six years, rather than a couple, as Kane gets that goals record and then probably heads to America for a swansong.

In short, Kane is the past and Tottenham have to now be looking to the future.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon has played just 29 minutes of action for Villarreal so far but has already made a ‘spectacular’ impact at his new club, as Thomas Frank continues to struggle with his left-wing options in north London.

Solomon arrived at Spurs as a free agent in 2023 but has made just six appearances for the club in that time, assisting twice and was subsequently packed off to Leeds United in the Championship last season.

The 26-year-old made a huge impression as he helped the Elland Road outfit secure a return to the Premier League, notching up 23-goal involvements, and it was thought that he would get the opportunity to prove to Frank that he was worthy of consideration as a replacement for departing legend Son Heung-min.

However, Solomon left for another stint, this time in LaLiga, on September 1 and was on bench for his new club back on familiar ground as Villarreal lost 1-0 at Tottenham in their Champions League opener.

His impact since then has been pretty incredible, though, with Solomon grabbing an assist off the bench on his debut at the weekend before then netting the winner as a late substitute in Wednesday night’s win over Sevilla – all in just 29 minutes of action in total.

The Sevilla crowd had made clear they’d be hostile to Israel international Solomon in advance, but his six-minute cameo proved decisive and led to the Spanish media heaping praise on the pacy forward after.

Indeed, Diario de Noticias stated: “Manor Solomon’s emergence at Villarreal can only be described as spectacular from a footballing perspective.”

And, while some Villarreal supporters questioned the signing when it happened, that noise has now gone away.

The Spanish outlet added: “He stole the limelight. On and off the pitch. In the 86th minute, he scored the goal that sealed the match in his team’s favour.”

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Solomon stuns as Tottenham left-wing problem persists

Many Tottenham fans are of the opinion that Solomon has never really been given the opportunity to showcase his talents in north London, although injuries did play a part in those chances not really materialising after he first signed.

Indeed, there is a strong feeling that the club’s best option to replace Son is not even available to Frank when it comes Solomon, especially when you look at the alternatives used so far this season.

Brennan Johnson was given the first crack, given that his normal right-wing berth is now the property of the outstanding Mohammed Kudus.

As many Spurs fans will testify, Johnson is always capable of grabbing a goal, but offers next to nothing else on a regular basis. That was all on display again on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster, where he failed to make much of an impression at all but managed to gloss over the mediocrity with a well-taken goal at the death.

Johnson was then jettisoned as soon as Xavi Simons was on board, with the Dutchman starting out wide against West Ham and Villarreal. However, Simons has been signed as a No.10 and his quality of playing centrally was clearly evidenced as he changed the gamec oming off the bench in the weekend draw at Brighton.

The 22-year-old has started the win over Doncaster in an attacking midfield role, with Wilson Odobert this time on the left – as he was against the Seaguuls four days earlier. However, the former Burnley man failed to really lay down a marker that he should be a regular in that position either.

And, when he was taken off in the cup win, Mathys Tel moved for the No.9 position to out wide and was just as ineffective out there as he was through the middle.

All that adds to the argument that Totteham and Frank might just have been better off seeing what Solomon has to offer, and it’s hard not to imagine that it could have been more than what had already been seen so far.

Latest Tottenham news: Frank open to Kane return / Semenyo chase

Thomas Frank has openly stated that he would ‘love’ Harry Kane to return to Tottenham after it emerged that the striker has the power to force a Bayern Munich exit in 2026.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth will prepare for another battle to keep hold of Antoine Semenyo in 2026, and TEAMtalk understands that Spurs are expected to be among the Premier League club who reignite their interest in the winger.

And finally, Tottenham want to wrap up a £26m signing of Jaoa Palhinha in the January window, and it’s very clear to see why.

Thomas Frank has openly stated that he would ‘love’ Harry Kane to return to Tottenham after it emerged that the striker has the power to force a Bayern Munich exit in 2026.

The 32-year-old striker has been nothing short of sensational since his £100m (including add-ons) move from Spurs to German giants Bayern in the summer of 2023.

Kane lifted the first major trophy of his career last term when lifting the Bundesliga title with Bayern. His form in front of goal has been sensational, too, with the forward notching a jaw-dropping 98 goals in just 103 appearances for the European giants

However, his future in Bavaria has been thrown into the spotlight, after recent reports revealed that he can leave Bayern for €65m (£56.7m / $76.7m) next summer as long as he announces his intention to leave before the end of the January transfer window.

And amid the growing speculation, Tottenham boss Frank has said that Kane is ‘more than welcome’ to make an incredible return to the London club.

“I didn’t know there was a clause. He is an unbelievable player who did fantastic for Spurs and is doing fantastic for Bayern,” Frank said. “Top player. I think there’s a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself, who would like to see Kane back.

“Personally, I don’t think he will do it right now if I’m honest. He’ll probably stay in Bayern and continue performing well. He was top scorer last year, won the championship and he’s doing fantastic now.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking. Myself, I’m a traveller, I like to travel, I like to explore things as well. He’s been here for many years so why not enjoy the time at Bayern a little bit more? But he’s welcome. If he wants to join us, he’s more than welcome!”

Harry Kane price tag ‘in range’ for Tottenham – sources

TEAMtalk transfer insider Dean Jones exclusively revealed yesterday (September 23) that Kane’s release clause – should he choose to trigger it – is ‘completely in range for Tottenham’.

Spurs are also planning to bring in another ‘top-level’ forward next summer – so the timing would suit Frank and his team perfectly.

And what’s more, Kane is understood to be open to returning to Tottenham. The only question is timing, and if he’d want to change clubs in a summer when he’ll be focused on the World Cup with England.

“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,” Jones reported.

“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: Antoine Semenyo / Savinho

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk understands that Tottenham are one of the clubs keeping tabs on the progress of Antoine Semenyo’s progress at Bournemouth.

The Cherries are not willing to entertain an exit in January but are well aware that there will be serious interest next summer should his current form continue.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Arsenal were linked with Semenyo in the summer, like Spurs.

In other news, sources suggest that Tottenham could make another attempt to sign Manchester City winger Savinho in January.

Tottenham are understood to be buoyed by the fact that the Brazilian was keen to join over the summer.

However, Man City value the Brazilian in excess of £65m, so the London side must put their money where their mouth is to get a deal over the line.