TEAMtalk

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to step up their efforts to sign a top LaLiga attacker either in January or next summer, with TEAMtalk analysing whether the signing is the right one for Thomas Frank.

The north London club enjoyed a strong end to the summer window after landing Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig and Randal Koli Muani on loan from PSG, but they are already fixing their gaze on who they can bring in come January.

Despite a strong window overall, Tottenham were probably light on two more signings they needed to make, with another central defender and a naturally left-sided winger now on the agenda for the new year.

In terms of the attacking part of that equation, Manchester City’s Savinho remains a top target for January – but he isn’t the only target.

In recent days, there has been growing traction over a move for Sevilla star Ruben Vargas, with Spanish outlet Fichajes claiming that Spurs are primed to swoop for the highly-rated Swiss forward.

The report states that Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are in the mix to sign Vargas, who is capable of playing on either flank but has played the majority of his career on the left.

Vargas has three assists in three outings for Sevilla so far this season and it’s expected that the LaLiga outfit will listen to offers for his services in the new year.

It’s also claimed that the project at Spurs is more appealing to Vargas than the one at Palace and Villa, giving the north London side a stronger chance of sealing the transfer.

There is no mention of what sort of fee Sevilla are looking for, although with four years left on his contract, Vargas will not come cheap.

DON’T MISS ➡️ Six summer signings who can have huge Champions League impacts – Liverpool, Arsenal stars lead the way

Vargas a good Tottenham fit but Savinho is better

While Vargas would be a decent signing for Tottenham, he has largely operated either on the right flank or centrally in Sevilla games so far this season.

At 27 years of age, he is more experienced in terms of fully knowing his game inside out, while he put in the hard yards in German football before his switch to LaLiga.

In 161 games for Augsburg, he notched 32 goals and 13 assists and has appeared on the left flank in 120 career games.

Vargas has tremendous dribbling ability and has been likened to former Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri due to his pace and low centre of gravity.

After Switzerland’s famous win over Italy at Euro 2024, Vargas was dubbed a ‘special’ talent by former BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin. However, his signing would represent a bit of a gamble compared to moving for the more expensive Savinho.

The City man at least has experience of Premier League football and Tottenham are expected to monitor his game time in the build-up to the January window as they explore another move.

Latest Tottenham news

🔵 Thomas Frank hopes SOAR as Tottenham learn BRUTAL punishment for €50m rebel

🔵 Stunning Barcelona sale ON as ‘doors open’ for Tottenham to sign 145 G/A playmaker

A forward that Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank wants to sign in the January transfer window has been brutally snubbed by his manager for their Champions League game this week, according to a report, as TEAMtalk analyses why it is good news for the north London club.

Tottenham have made a strong start to the new season, with manager Frank leading the north London club to three wins in four Premier League matches. Spurs, who won the Europa League last season and will play in the Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign, are just three points behind leaders and defending Premier League champions Liverpool in third place.

While Spurs made the major signings of Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani in the summer transfer window, they remain keen on adding more quality players in January in their quest to have a successful campaign.

Ademola Lookman is a player that Tottenham were keen on signing on deadline day, with TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Dean Jones, reporting on September 1 that they had asked for details about the Atalanta forward.

Atalanta were willing to sell Lookman for £43.3million (€50m, $59m), but Tottenham never made a formal offer.

Tottenham, though, are still interested in the former Everton forward, with a report last week claiming that Spurs manager Thomas Frank is ‘a big admirer’ of Lookman and is ‘quietly confident’ that the north London club will be able to get a deal done for £20m (€23m, $27m) in the January transfer window.

Lookman wanted to leave Atalanta in the summer of 2025 and abandoned training for two weeks.

The forward is still at the Serie A club after no club paid the asking price of €50m (£43.3m, $59m).

Atalanta manager Ivan Juric left Lookman out of the squad against the Serie A match against Lecce last weekend, and he has said that the 27-year-old Nigeria international will not feature against Paris Saint-Germain in Paris in the Champions League on Wednesday.

TMW quotes Juric as saying: “Lookman in Paris? I don’t think so.

“The situation is unpleasant and not a good one. He gave so much to Atalanta, and Atalanta gave so much to him.

“We need players who are ready, who want to grow and stick with it. We’ll see in the future.”

DON’T MISS ➡️ Tottenham loan watch: ‘Absolute enigma’ Mikey Moore hammered, Vuskovic schooled by Kane

Tottenham get Ademola Lookman boost

In the build-up to the game against Lecce, Juric opened up on the situation involving Lookman and sent a warning to him.

Juric said: “A truly unpleasant and difficult situation. As a coach, I felt that we needed other things: Spirit, humility, passion for the shirt.

“We need to do better and also take responsibility. You need a sense of belonging.

“I have a very good relationship with Lookman. But, I shouldn’t have to beg him to play. It works the other way around.

“We are Atalanta and he represents the city. We need what Atalanta represents: Hard work, humility, these are different values.

“I shouldn’t have to plead to anyone. We’re all convinced that Atalanta needs strong values on a personal level.”

Lookman has been one of Atalanta’s best players over the years, with his 52 goals and 25 assists in 118 appearances demonstrating his own personal growth as a footballer as well as the impact that he has made on the Italian club.

While it remains to be seen if Atalanta will eventually re-integrate Lookman into their squad in the coming weeks, Tottenham have received a huge boost in their quest to sign him in January.

If Lookman continues to be ignored or not used from the start, if and when Juric eventually brings him back into the fold, then a bid from Spurs could sway both the forward and Atalanta.

Lookman would become a depreciating asset for Atalanta the more he does not play, and the 2023/24 Europa League winners would not want that from a business point of view.

Latest Tottenham news: Star injured, Barcelona door opens

Tottenham will be without a key player for their Champions League game against Villarreal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday.

Barcelona are willing to sell a playmaker that Tottenham wanted to sign in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham are keen on signing a Brighton and Hove Albion star in the January transfer window, but two other major clubs are also interested in him.

If you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data to

Develop and improve new services

Deliver and measure the effectiveness of ads

Show personalized content, depending on your settings

Show personalized ads, depending on your settings

If you choose to “Reject all,” we will not use cookies for these additional purposes.

Non-personalized content is influenced by things like the content you’re currently viewing, activity in your active Search session, and your location. Non-personalized ads are influenced by the content you’re currently viewing and your general location. Personalized content and ads can also include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity from this browser, like previous Google searches. We also use cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant.

Thomas Frank faces a major Tottenham Hotspur selection headache ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League opener against Villarreal, while one top first-team star will definitely be sidelined for that match.

Spurs warmed up for their return to European football’s elite knockout competition with an impressive 3-0 win at London rivals West Ham on Saturday, a game in which big-money summer signing Xavi Simons made his debut for the club.

However, the Netherlands international was outshone by another Tottenham attacking star as Lucas Bergvall took centre stage at the London Stadium.

The Swede scored his first Premier League goal with a fine header and also assisted the third for Micky van de Ven as he excelled in a central attacking midfield role.

Simons started the match on the left wing, a position Spurs failed to strengthen over the summer after Son Heung-min’s exit, despite being signed as a replacement for the injured James Maddison in the No.10 role.

Frank now has a big decision to make over whether one game is enough for Simons on the left to move him inside or keep things as they were at West Ham.

It’s fair to say that Bergvall has made a big impression n his boss though, with Frank admitting after the Hammers win: “I really like his energy, his enthusiasm.

“He’s part of driving the team. There’s so much more to come from him because he also sometimes needs to… he’s young, so, okay, when do I play a little bit slower? When do I play a little bit quicker? When do I get to these positions?

“But now with the energy, the pressing and running in behind, a fantastic goal, very impressed with him.”

Whether or not Frank is impressed enough to stick Simons out of the left again remains to be seen, especially when the former RB Leipzig man is much more experienced at Champions League level.

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

Solanke fails to recover for Villarreal clash

Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke has lost his race to be fit for the clash against the LaLiga side and faces a further wait for a return to action.

The England frontman took no part in training on Monday as he still recovers from an ankle problem he suffered against Manchester City.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of the game, Frank said: “Dom is taking steps in the right direction.

“So that is positive. As you saw out there, he is not ready to be involved tomorrow.”

There had been hopes that Solanke would be fit for the start of the club’s return to Champions League action after Frank confirmed that the striker should avoid surgery on the problem.

In Solanke’s absence, Richarlison is likely to get the nod at No.9, with Randal Kolo Munai poised to make his debut off the bench after failing to feature at West Ham.

Latest Tottenham news

🔵 Stunning Barcelona sale ON as ‘doors open’ for Tottenham to sign 145 G/A playmaker

🔵 Frank revelation leaves Tottenham at breaking point over Bentancur contract – why new deal could be a mistake

Barcelona have warmed to the surprise departure of Dani Olmo just 13 months after he joined the club, with two reports providing the latest on his situation as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City plan talks.

Olmo’s superb performances at RB Leipzig earned him a €60million (then £50m) move to Barcelona in August last year. It was a full circle moment for the attacking midfielder, who spent time in the Barcelona academy before leaving for Dinamo Zagreb at 16 years old.

Olmo had a frustrating start to life back in Catalonia, as Barca’s financial problems meant they failed to register him in time for their first two league matches of last season.

Barca ultimately rectified the issue though, and Olmo went on to notch 12 goals and seven assists in 39 games during his debut campaign.

Olmo has managed one goal contribution in four appearances so far this term, though he is yet to score. The Spain ace hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes in LaLiga due to competition for places in both the No 10 role and left wing.

Central attacking midfielder Fermin Lopez is emerging as a key player for manager Hansi Flick, which is a problem for Olmo. Raphinha and Marcus Rashford can both play on the left flank, too.

And with Lopez underlining his obvious qualities with a double in Sunday night’s 6-0 hammering of Valencia, Spanish outlet Fichajes claim Barca have ‘opened the door’ to Olmo’s shock sale in summer 2026.

The Blaugrana are sounding out potential suitors for the playmaker, who has 145 goal contributions throughout his career, due to concerns over Olmo’s injury record and the fact they need to sell top players to raise funds.

A separate report from the same source names England as the 27-year-old’s most likely destination, due to the huge wealth of Premier League clubs.

Barca will ‘seriously consider’ parting ways with Olmo at the end of the season if a suitable offer arrives from England.

Olmo’s exact price tag is unclear at this stage, but they likely want to make most of their original £50m investment back.

Tottenham and Man City are the two main clubs who could pounce on Olmo.

It was revealed in August that Spurs are keen to sign Olmo even after the arrival of another central attacking midfielder.

Spurs had to settle for Xavi Simons after missing out on Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, and Olmo could be the next creative addition to Thomas Frank’s squad.

DIVE DEEPER 👉 Man City to raid Barcelona for breathtaking star as Pep prepares to let legend leave – report

Tottenham, Man City both eyeing Dani Olmo

Reports suggest Spurs have already drawn up a £60m offer for Olmo, which would delight Barca.

City are also keeping tabs on the player’s situation, with Pep Guardiola a huge admirer of him.

City previously identified Olmo as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne, which shows just how highly they rate him.

Of course, Olmo’s injury record last season will be a slight concern to Spurs and City supporters.

But if Olmo can stay fit at his next club and start on a weekly basis, he could end up being an elite Champions League performer.

Barca lead Arsenal in defender chase; Spurs loan watch

Meanwhile, Barca have prepared an opening offer as they look to beat Arsenal to a Brazilian gem.

Elsewhere, TEAMtalk has analysed how Spurs’ out-on-loan players are performing.

The list includes exciting winger Mikey Moore, who is on loan at Rangers, and Hamburg’s Luka Vuskovic.

Highly-rated Tottenham Hotspur youngsters Mikey Moore and Luka Vuskovic both had Saturdays to forget after being heavily criticised by the media and fans for their displays at Rangers and Hamburg respectively.

First up, Moore started the 2-0 home defeat to Hearts that piled more pressure on Ibrox chief Russell Martin but ended up being hauled off at half-time.

The Scottish giants have already dropped out of the Champions League and into the Europa League, and now find themselves 10th in the Scottish Premiership.

Moore, 18, started on the left-wing but was replaced by Oliver Antman, having lost possession more than any other player on the pitch. He also failed to complete a single dribble or cross in what was an afternoon to forget for the England Under-19 international.

And Rangers fans were quick to call for the Tottenham youngster to head back to north London as they took to X after the game.

One fan said: “One of the annoying things going under the radar is playing a Spurs kid ahead of our own youngsters. Mikey Moore is offering nothing. Needs sending back to Spurs and stick with Curtis.”

“Mikey Moore is an absolute enigma. Send him back to Spurs asap. Can’t hack Scottish football. Terrible,” claimed another.

Finally, another fan claimed: “We can’t be paying Mikey Moore that much, surely we can just put him into the B team until January when Spurs take him back.”

DON’T MISS ➡️ Three top targets Tottenham MUST sign in January; three who need to LEAVE

Vuskovic struggles on disastrous Hamburg debut

Meanwhile, Vuskovic faced the daunting task of making his Bundesliga debut away at the Allianz Arena against the German champions Bayern Munich.

Former Tottenham striker Harry Kane scored twice in the game as Vuskovic started in the middle of a back three.

The Spurs loanee had ‘communication issues’ with teammates, with Bild giving the 18-year-old 5/10 for his display and writing: “Was unlucky with Luis Diaz’s shot, which he deflected into his own net. He also had some communication issues with teammates. He won 63 percent of his duels, the best of all HSV players who started.”

Hamburg manager, Merlin Polzin, did admit Vuskovic is lacking preparation with his teammates, but backs him to be a success in Germany.

Polzin told Hamburger Abendblatt: “He lacks preparation with us and coordination with his teammates. We’ll continue to work on that.

“Luka has the quality. We fully support him and believe he can really help us.”

Latest Tottenham news

🔵 Frank revelation leaves Tottenham at breaking point over Bentancur contract – why new deal could be a mistake

🔵 Tottenham in three-way January battle to sign £44m monster – why he’s perfect for Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank has spoken publicly for the first time over Rodrigo Bentancur’s future at the club as new contract talks continue to be discussed, while TEAMtalk analyses why the Uruguay star should be concerned if he does commit to stay in north London.

Spurs had a productive summer window as they splashed out more than £170m on fresh additions for Thomas Frank’s squad, although they also said goodbye to legendary forward Son Heung-min with just one year left on his contract.

And now another player who has just a year remaining on his current deal is the focus of attention, in the shape of Bentancur.

Tottenham are said to have opened preliminary talks with the 28-year-old back in February, but those discussions appeared to stall for some time.

However, fresh reports now claim that Tottenham are accelerating contract talks again, as they grow concerned over the former Juventus man potentially walking away for nothing in 2026.

Indeed, new boss Frank addressed such speculation by making clear his stance on the midfielder after a bright start to his tenure in north London.

Speaking prior to Saturday’s fine win at London rivals West Ham, Frank said of Bentancur: “I think first and foremost, I am very happy with Rodri. He has been a very good player for us, a top professional in every aspect.

“I am happy with him, he is happy with being here. I know that for a fact. Let us see what is going to happen in the future.”

Bentancur was dropped down to the bench for the victory at The London Stadium, although that was more to do with him being away on international duty during the week and Frank wanting fresh legs in his starting XI.

He will, however, be back in contention for the Champions League home opener against Villarreal on Tuesday evening.

DON’T MISS ➡️ Ranking Daniel Levy’s top 10 BEST and WORST Tottenham signings

Why Tottenham should think of moving on from Bentancur

At his peak, before his ACL injury, Bentancur was Tottenham’s best central midfield player. A box-to-box menace capable of controlling games and not afraid to put in the hard yards.

However, it’s been a real struggle for Bentancur to get back to anywhere near those levels – only showing flashes of the player of old.

At 28, Spurs would likely be looking to commit to a new three or even four-year deal for a player who has not been a consistent performer since February 2023, when he suffered that serious knee injury against Leicester.

The loan signing of Joao Palhinha, which will almost certainly be made permanent, and the sheer potential of Archie Gray means the defensive midfield position that Bentancur has occupied at times is probably no longer an option.

Further forward, Frank wants pace, energy and high pressing, all of which are not particular traits that Bentancur possesses.

Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall had that in abundance at The London Stadium and are just 23 and 19 years of age respectively.

Come the middle of the season, Bentancur could easily find himself on the bench more often than not, unless he can take his game back to the levels of before the ACL issue.

With that in mind, it must be considered a gamble for Tottenham to tie Bentancur down to a new deal and likely make him one of the top earners at the club.

A good player – yes. But the future of Tottenham’s midfield is very bright and Bentancur might not end up being a part of it.

Latest Tottenham news

🔵 Tottenham in three-way January battle to sign £44m monster – why he’s perfect for Thomas Frank

🔵 Tottenham plans for gut-wrenching out-of-window Leeds raid revealed as player’s father assesses move

🔵 Tottenham insiders reveal which player Thomas Frank has transformed as big summer pays dividends – sources

Thomas Frank has reportedly instructed Tottenham Hotspur to ramp up their pursuit of an impressive Premier League defensive talent in January, with TEAMtalk analysing why the player would be a perfect fit in north London.

Having spent over £170million during what turned out to be Daniel Levy’s final window in charge of the club, Spurs are expected to spend again in the new year as they look to fill a couple of glaring holes that were not properly taken care of over the summer window.

While Tottenham enjoyed an impressive end to their summer business, they still failed to sign an out-and-out Son Heung-min replacement and add more centre-back depth – issues they are expected to resolve come January.

New signing Xavi Simons actually started his first game for the club in Son’s old role in the 3-0 rout of West Ham on Saturday, while Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were imperious at the London Stadium, with the latter also getting on the scoresheet.

However, if either of the starting centre-backs miss any game time, Kevin Danso remains the only recognised cover and that has led to Tottenham stepping up their interest in trying to sign highly-rated Brighton star Jan Paul van Hecke – a player TEAMtalk has previously revealed is on their radar.

And now CaughtOffside reports that Frank wants the 25-year-old Netherlands international, who Van de Ven knows well, as part of his defensive rotation in the new year.

Van Hecke has established himself as a key figure in the Seagulls’ first team, breaking into the Netherlands international set-up as a result, with his impressive performances catching the eye of a number of clubs.

As TEAMtalk have previously reported, Liverpool and Newcastle are also fans of the player and are monitoring his progress, but Spurs are looking to convince him to join them instead.

The former Breda defender only has two years remaining on his contract, meaning Brighton will need to sell in January or next summer to recoup any sort of significant fee for his services. He is currently valued at €32m (£27.6m / $37.5m) on Transfermarkt, although it’s reported that the Seagulls have set an asking price of around €51m (£44m / £59m).

DON’T MISS ➡️ Three top targets Tottenham MUST sign in January; three who need to LEAVE

Why Van Hecke is a strong fit for Tottenham

The Dutchman has all the qualities required to be a big hit in north London, although he would clearly face a massive battle to oust Romero or Van de Ven in Frank’s starting XI.

However, as has been proved in the past, both of Tottenham’s starting centre-backs are prone to picking up injuries, and having adequate back-up has proved a major issue for Spurs in the past.

Indeed, teenager Archie Gray, whose best position is as a defensive midfielder, was asked to play 20 games at the heart of the Tottenham back line due to Romero and Van de Ven missing game time, in what was his first season at the club.

Danso is a decent enough back-up option, while there is talk that young talent Luka Vuskovic could be recalled early from his loan at Hamburg in January – if the 18-year-old continues at his current rapid rate of progress.

However, getting Van Hecke on board would be a huge bonus for Tottenham and Frank in terms of defensive depth and being able to rotate Romero and Van de Ven and try and keep them injury-free.

The Brighton man has the attributes of both Spurs starting central defenders, showcasing great aerial ability, strong physicality and decent pace, while he is also comfortable in possession and a fine passer of the ball.

From the Seagulls’ standpoint, they have so far failed in their attempts to convince Van Hecke to sign a lucrative new deal on the south coast. Indeed, it’s been reported they are willing to make him one of the highest-paid players in their history.

The fact that he does not, at this stage, appear to be willing to put pen to paper suggests that Van Hecke believes he is ready to take the next step in his career and move to a club that can provide top-level European football.

Depending on how Tottenham go in the Champions League group stage, that could well mean a move to the capital may be on the cards for the talented Dutch defender come the new year.

Latest Tottenham news

🔵 Thomas Frank reacts to Xavi Simons debut for Tottenham as Enzo Maresca learns what Chelsea missed out on

🔵 Tottenham plans for gut-wrenching out-of-window Leeds raid revealed as player’s father assesses move

🔵 Fabrizio Romano confirms Chelsea talks for explosive Tottenham ace and reveals why move collapsed

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has given his verdict on Xavi Simons’ debut against West Ham United at London Stadium, as Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is made aware of what he missed out on.

Simons joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window. The north London outfit, who won the Europa League last season and will play in the Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign, paid Leipzig €60million (£52m, $70.4m) for Simons, who is able to play as an attacking midfielder or as a winger.

The former Paris Saint-Germain winger was a star during his time at Leipzig, scoring 22 goals and giving 24 assists in 78 matches in all competitions.

Chelsea were also keen on a summer deal for Simons, with TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reporting on July 24 that the winger had given his approval to a deal and was ready to join Maresca’s side, who won the Conference League last season and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the summer.

However, in the end, it was Tottenham who pressed ahead for Simons and got a deal done with Leipzig.

Spurs manager Frank included Simons in the starting line-up for the Premier League game against West Ham at London Stadium on Saturday.

Tottenham won the London derby 3-0, with the Hammers being reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute following the dismissal of Tomas Soucek.

Simons started on the left of a front-three in a 4-3-3 formation and provided the assist for Pape Matar’s goal in the 47th minute with a wonderfully-taken corner.

Although the 22-year-old did not always get involved in the game and looked rusty at times, some of his touches and movements were very encouraging.

Frank took Simons off for Richarlison in the 71st minute, as Tottenham went on to win 3-0.

During his time on the pitch, Simons took one shot which was not on target, made an assist (for the goal), had a pass accuracy of 84.4%, won one header, took 50 touches, attempted one dribble, made one tackle, and put in seven crosses.

Frank told BBC Sport about Simons after the match: “I thought he was really good, really promising. There’s more to come.

“Excellent ball for the goal. He created something when he was on the ball.”

Football.London quotes Frank as saying about Simons: “I think he was promising. I liked what I saw from him.

“I liked that he took initiative on the ball. Every single time he had the ball he tried to create something.

“And I think he had a wonderful assist for the first goal from a corner. Worked hard as well. I think it was a good first game.”

DON’T MISS ➡️ Ranking Daniel Levy’s top 10 BEST and WORST Tottenham signings

Latest Tottenham news: Leeds raid, Chelsea talks

Tottenham Hotspur are planning to raid Leeds United for one of their youth products, as his father reveals his feelings on a potential exit.

Trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea wanted to sign another star who joined Tottenham in the summer transfer window.

Sources have told TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Dean Jones, the name of the player that manager Thomas Frank has already transformed at Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to be strongly linked with a raid on Leeds United to sign Harry Gray ahead of the player’s 17th birthday next month – though the feelings of the player’s father have given an indication over what will happen next.

The north London side spent £40m to prise Harry’s older brother, Archie Gray, away form Leeds United just over a year ago. And while eyebrows were raised at the fee the then 18-year-old commanded, the player has adapted well to his new surroundings and enjoyed an excellent debut season under the management of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

At the time of the swoop, Spurs were also credited with an interest in his younger brother, Harry, who at the time, was yet to make his breakthrough for Leeds.

And while that move was warded off, Tottenham have continued to track the teenager’s progress and reports have now resurfaced that they could look to prise him away from Elland Road and with his 17th birthday fast approaching.

In theory, Spurs could persuade him to move south and sign professional forms with them, dishing out a cruel blow to Leeds United, who plan to do the same when he turns 17 on October 8.

However, journalist Graeme Bailey believes that the young forward’s father – former Leeds player Andy Gray – wants his son to remain at Elland Road.

“It’s a big month ahead for Leeds and Harry Gray. He’s a huge young talent,” Bailey told LeedsUnitedNews.” I’m not expecting him to go anywhere else anytime soon.

“His dad, Andy, is very happy where he is now, in terms of club and in terms of his development and the handling of it.

“I’d be very surprised if Leeds lost Gray in the next month or so in time for that senior contract.

“It’s my understanding that he will stay for that first contract and sign terms when he’s 17. And then see how that plays out, really.

“Leeds is a good place to progress. He knows it and so does his dad.”

DON’T MISS ➡️ Truth emerges over why Manor Solomon REALLY snubbed Leeds United; Farke was left helpless

Gray exit would hit Leeds hard – fans would be seething

Leeds have a proud reputation for developing young stars, with well-respected academy rearing several household names down the years.

Sadly, that production line appears to have slowed in recent times and the sales of both Archie Gray and Charlie Cresswell – the latter joining Toulouse in a €4.5m (£3.8m) deal – last summer marked the end of first-team ready stars who had graduated from their academy

Since then, Harry Gray has debuted for the club, coming off the bench during last season’s title run-in as they hammered Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road.

And while he is yet to play in the Premier League for the Whites, he is very much in Daniel Farke’s thinking for the future, and with the club’s coaching staff all rating Gray junior extremely highly.

Indeed, the belief at their Thorp Arch training complex is that Harry is the better talent of the two, while he is also a much more confident and extroverted personality than his older brother.

The exit of Archie pained supporters badly, who were unhappy with owners, 49ers Enterprises, for selling one of their biggest talents. Having a strong affinity with those they have developed, the loss of a second Gray sibling to Spurs would not go down well with fans.

Per the report, both Arsenal and Newcastle are also keeping tabs on Harry Gray’s situation too.

However, news that Leeds are confident that he will commit to that pro deal at Elland Road at least gives the club strong belief they will retain the player for the immediate at least.

Gnonto tipping Leeds star to explode; Chelsea talks for Spurs star confirmed

Meanwhile, Leeds star Willy Gnonto has snapped back at claims the Whites suffered a frustrating transfer window, having named one player ready to take the Premier League by storm and having also shared why Jack Harrison is ready to make an impact back at Elland Road.

Elsewhere, Farke’s side have learned that Fulham are ready to negotiate the sale of Harry Wilson in January if one stipulation is met – and the update is sure to cause confusion and frustration at Elland Road after their deadline day frustration.

Down at Tottenham, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Chelsea talks to sign an explosive Tottenham ace this summer, having revealed why the move collapsed.

The Gray family dynasty at Leeds

➡️ The Gray connection with Leeds first begun 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.