TEAMtalk

With Tottenham Hotspur in the midst of a significant shift to inject more funds into improving the first-team squad after Daniel Levy’s exit, TEAMtalk has identified three of their top targets that need to be signed in January, as well as a trio of players who need to be offloaded.

Major funds are expected to be at the disposal of Thomas Frank to improve his squad further, after a summer in which they missed on to top targets but still managed to bring in the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani.

While Palhinha and Kolo Muani only arrived on loan, there is every expectation that the former will seal a permanent £27million deal next summer. However, there was no option or obligation to bring in the PSG forward, which will likely leave a gap to fill come 2026.

A new striker will not be the focus for January, though, after Tottenham still left a few of holes that clearly needed filling over the summer – leading to TEAMtalk picking out the players best served to fill them.

And while Frank does need more strength in depth going forward, there are also Spurs players who will be deemed surplus to requirements come the new year – but we’ll look at that later.

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Three to sign for Tottenham

Nathan Ake

Current club: Man City

Position: Centre-back/left-back

Age: 30

Likely cost: £15-20m

Having been linked with the Netherlands international late in the window, when they were also still in the market for Etihad attacker Savinho, Ake fits the exact profile of the player Tottenham have to be looking to sign for Frank.

His ability to cover both centrally and at full-back is priceless, especially with the contract of long-serving Spurs star Ben Davies coming to an end next summer.

Ake has been a serial winner at City and Tottenham are crying out for more players with that kind of mindset, as they look to build on their Europa League win last season.

Much will obviously depend on how much game time Ake gets at City over the next few months, but if that is limited then Spurs transfer chiefs have to strike.

Conor Gallagher

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Position: Midfielder

Age: 25

Likely cost: £40-45m

While this one might not be all that popular with some Tottenham fans, just think of the improvements Gallagher would have made to his game playing under one of the top coaches in European football, Diego Simeone, since he moved to the Spanish capital.

The England midfielder is exactly the type of all-energy No.8 that Spurs are crying out for, especially all the while hugely talented teenager Lucas Bergvall continues to develop his game.

What was hugely evident in the home loss to Bournemouth before the international break was how out-worked Frank’s engine room was, with the Cherries midfield running all over Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr.

Indeed, Tottenham don’t really have a box-to-box midfielder capable of hitting double figures in terms of goals, something Gallagher came close to doing during his season on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021/22.

His game has gone up a level since then, and he would be an incredibly shrewd signing at this stage of his career. In short, he’s just a Thomas Frank-style player.

Savinho

Current club: Man City

Position: Left winger

Age: 21

Likely cost: £70-80m

Tottenham made no secret of their interest in the Brazilian attacker over the summer, having seen at least two offers rebuffed by City for his services.

Frank is a huge fan of Savinho and sees him as the perfect man to replace club legend Son Heung-min wide on the left, despite his stats last season not really aligning with the quality of his overall play.

There is a growing feeling that City will buckle when it comes to the skilful forward, especially if Pep Guardiola is unable to give him the starts he craves.

Expect Spurs to return with a huge club-record offer in the new year, which could even go as high as £80m.

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Trio of Tottenham stars who need to leave

Ben Davies

Position: Left-back

Age: 32

Transfer value: £3.8 (as per Transfermarkt)

The longest-serving player in the current Tottenham squad, having signed in 2014, Davies’ versatility has been valued for a number of years.

However, with his contract due to expire in the summer of 2026, Spurs would be wise to cash in on a player who is two years Ake’s senior and fills that same central and left-sided cover role.

Davies is more suited to playing centrally now but is better in a back three than a two, as has shown to be the case over the last few seasons when he has filled in.

It’s time to thank the Welshman for his service and move on.

Brennan Johnson

Position: Winger

Age: 24

Transfer value: £35m (as per Transfermarkt)

Johnson will end up on the bench once Savinho comes through the door, and with Wilson Odobert and the returning Dejan Kulusevski as backup options out wide, not to mention Simons’ ability to also play on the left, now could be the time to cash in on the Wales international.

There is no arguing with Johnson‘s stats since he arrived in north London in a £47.5m switch from Nottingham Forest, particularly last season when he chalked up 18 goals and seven assists.

However, as many Tottenham observers are fully aware, he offers very little else to the team and often drifts through games delivering nothing to the party.

Yes, he would be a great addition coming off the bench when a goal is needed, but Tottenham are better off trying to cash in on the 24-year-old while he is approaching the peak of his powers.

Indeed, there is every chance that Postecoglou comes calling for a City Ground return when January rolls around, although Spurs will certainly be demanding more than that Transfermarkt valuation.

Mathys Tel

Position: Forward

Age: 20

Transfer value: £30m

Let’s be clear from the off, this is not a sale but a loan, in order for Tel to continue his development for the second half of the season.

Being left out of Spurs’ Champions League squad will have come as a crushing blow to the young French forward and it makes sense for Spurs to give him guaranteed game time elsewhere.

The proposed arrival of Savinho would leave him as third-choice on the left flank, also behind Odobert, while he will not get a look in through the middle either as Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke all battle for the No.9 spot.

Tel remains a major talent, though, and one that Tottenham still need to look to try and develop, as they play the long game of his future.

It has been revealed that a Manchester City star’s “really bad” situation could see Tottenham attempt to bail him out in the January window.

An injury has kept Savinho sidelined at the start of this season. His last minutes came in the Club World Cup, where he scored one goal and assisted another in three games.

He was since courted by Tottenham, and TEAMtalk were aware that the Brazilian was keen on the move given the lure of more minutes than he might get at City, but Pep Guardiola’s side were adamant against a sale in the summer.

Savinho played 29 Premier League games last season and started 21 of those, but if numbers don’t rise back to that level once he’s fit this season, city expert Steven McInerney has suggested Tottenham might come on the attack.

“If Savinho is not playing an awful lot, at that point the same argument [from the summer] comes in that he’ll want to get into [Brazil’s] World Cup squad and Tottenham might offer him more of a chance to do that because they might play him more,” he told Sports Mole.

“I still think at that point, in mid-season, City will probably just say no. There’s a January tax and they’ll be looking at making over £80million, otherwise come back in the summer and we can talk.

“I think the likelihood of him going in January is small, because I think City would have to still find a replacement and I just don’t see City being fine with that personally.

“Stranger things have happened and it’s definitely possible. To counter myself, Hugo Viana [Man City’s director of football] was very happy to be very active last January. A whole bunch of signings: [Omar] Marmoush, [Abdukodir] Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez – so maybe we could sign a big player in January [to replace Savinho].

“I still would argue that it’s unlikely, because I think it has to be really bad for Savinho to want to move, and even then City would have to find a replacement which feels unlikely to me.”

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Is there a role for Savinho?

McInerney feels there’s an avenue which could see Savinho given few minutes once he is back fit.

“He’s not going to randomly leave in a World Cup year to join Spurs mid-season if he nails down a starting spot (at Man City) and he’s in really good form,” he said.

“The flip side of that is if Oscar Bobb nails down that starting spot [on the right] and [Savinho] doesn’t get any joy playing on the left because Marmoush or [Jeremy] Doku or whoever starts a lot, and then [Phil] Foden starts to get minutes ahead of Savinho.”

But could that happen? Bobb clearly has the faith of Guardiola at the moment, having played 255 of a possible 270 minutes so far this season. His Premier League career has been stop-start given a lengthy injury last season, and given he has just one assist, he’s surely not an absolute certainty to start.

He has more attacking minutes than any other player, which suggests the left wing may have an opening. Marmoush has played 150 minutes, Doku 120 and Foden just 15. Each are yet to score, so if Savinho has an impact when he’s back on the field, he could win a starting spot.

Tottenham round-up: Mayulu move revealed

TEAMtalk sources have revealed that Tottenham made a late move to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Senny Mayulu in the summer, but the hopeful enquiry came to nothing.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk is also aware of Spurs interest in some other talents – Cooper Mason and Anton Robinson are among them.

Both are youngsters who are seen to have a lot of potential.

And, a spectacular report has revealed Daniel Levy was willing to land the historic signing of Rodrygo from Real Madrid before his departure from role as executive chairman – but an offer never materialised.

Daniel Levy wanted to sign one of Europe’s most frightening wingers for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window before his exit, according to a report, with another source suggesting that Spurs manager Thomas Frank could get another chance to bring him to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham were very active in the summer, as the north London club aim to build on last season’s Europa League success by finishing in the Premier League top four and making an impact in the Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign.

Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani were among the players that Tottenham signed in the summer transfer window.

Rodrygo was also a player that Tottenham looked at signing in the summer transfer window, with TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reporting on August 4 that the Premier League club were targeting the Brazil international as a replacement for Son Heung-min, who left for Los Angeles FC.

Sources told TEAMtalk that Real Madrid were willing to sell Rodrygo for €100million (£86.2m, $116m).

In the end, Rodrygo stayed at Madrid, but it has now emerged in the Spanish media that Daniel Levy was willing to pay the winger’s asking price before he eventually left his role as the Tottenham chairman last week.

According to Defensa Central, a Real Madrid-centric news outlet, Levy tried to make ‘ a historic signing’ for Tottenham and was ‘willing to offer’ €100m (£86.2m, $116m) for Rodrygo.

Although Real Madrid did not receive any offer from Tottenham, Rodrygo was aware of how keen Spurs were to team him up with manager Frank.

If Tottenham had signed Rodrygo for €100m (£86.2m, $116m), then the three-time LaLiga and two-time Champions League winner would have been the Premier League club’s record signing, with Dominic Solanke currently Spurs’ most expensive player at £65m (including add-ons) (€75m, $88m).

Rodrygo has made a total of 272 appearances for Real Madrid so far in his career.

The Brazilian superstar has scored 68 goals and given 51 assists in those games.

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Could Tottenham sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid in January?

Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool were also interested in Rodrygo in the summer transfer window, and it is hard to imagine that their admiration for the Brazilian star would have waned.

According to TBR journalist Graeme Bailey, Rodrygo could leave Real Madrid in the January transfer window, with Arsenal and Man City still keen on him.

The winger wants to see how much playing time he gets in the coming months, with the 24-year-old aware that a place in the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup finals is at stake.

Bailey told TBR: “I was speaking to his camp in Madrid… I’m told that Vinicius and Mbappe, who we did a story about a few weeks ago, encouraging him to stay, played a huge part in his decision.

“His teammates really put their arms around him and said, ‘Look, you’re a massive player here. You don’t need to leave.’

“He’s decided to stay until January, but we’ll need to keep an eye on his situation.

“He’ll probably post on social media when he’s not playing and looks unhappy.

“We’ll see how he progresses because [Carlo] Ancelotti did warn him in the summer, even dropping him from the last [Brazil] squad, about limited game time.

“He’s giving it until January, and if he’s still not getting the minutes he needs, he may move in the January window.

“That said, he could also usurp Arda Güler and work his way back into the starting line-up.

“On deadline day, it was very quiet regarding Rodrygo. I think he just decided to stay, and obviously City and Arsenal were aware of that.

“Madrid were willing to do a deal if he wanted to go, so it was really all on the player — there was no point in bidding because the player had already made his intentions clear.”

The problem that Tottenham could face if they go back for Rodrygo in January is convincing the winger to join Frank’s team.

The Spanish press were adamant that Rodrygo preferred Liverpool to Tottenham.

If the likes of Arsenal and Man City go back for the forward in January, then Spurs could face a similar problem.

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TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, has reported that Tottenham Hotspur made an ambitious move for a Paris Saint-Germain gem late in the summer transfer window.

Sources have told TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, the names of the players that Tottenham will track in the coming weeks and months.

A top Tottenham midfielder is ready to leave last season’s Europa League winners, with manager Thomas Frank not having him in his plans.

It’s being reported that Tottenham Hotspur will accept a suitable offer for out-of-favor midfielder Yves Bissouma in the coming days, with TEAMtalk detailing why now is the time for the club to sever ties with the former Brighton standout.

Bissouma was the subject of interest during the summer window after it emerged that he was not in Thomas Frank’s plans, with Spurs upgrading his position with the loan addition of Joao Palhinha.

Indeed, Tottenham look almost certain to snap up the Portugal international in a permanent £27million deal in 2026, leaving the door wide open to Bissouma’s exit.

The likes of Everton and West Ham are both said to have explored moves for the 28-year-old late in the window, but now the focus switches to Turkey and the Saudi Pro League in terms of potential landing spots for Bissouma.

And now Football Insider suggests that a fallout between Bissouma and Frank has seen the former pushing harder for an exit, while he still can.

The Spurs chief left Bissouma out of the UEFA Super Cup squad last month after his repeated lateness for training, and sources have told FI that the north London outfit will now listen to offers for the midfielder.

Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, Pete O’Rourke stated that with Palhinha ahead of him in the pecking order, it’s the end of the line for Bissouma.

O’Rourke said: “[Bissouma] hasn’t made the best of impressions on Thomas Frank.

“He’ll probably find it hard to get into that Tottenham midfield now, following the signing of [Joao] Palhinha.

“If a suitable offer was to come in for Bissouma, Tottenham would be willing to listen to that, and the player himself might be keen on a move away in search of regular first-team football.”

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Why Bissouma has to go be sold – NOW

With less than a year left on his contract, the timing is now perfect for Tottenham to try and recoup a decent fee for a player who they forked out £25m to sign in the summer of 2022.

Funds are already being put in place for another spend in January as the club seeks new investment to drive them forward and compete at the top end of the Premier League and be regulars in the Champions League.

Bissouma’s signing is certainly a cautionary tale when it comes to chasing a player so hard, getting him and then watching on as he ends up being a flop.

If you did a straw poll of Tottenham fans when they were in the running to sign the Brighton man at the time, probably more than 90% would have given the move a big fat YES.

Bissouma was everything that Spurs needed from a No.6, he was more gifted on the ball and more mobile than Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and had shown during his time at The Amex Stadium that he was one of the most gifted players in the country in his position.

Fast forward three years, and the Mali man has largely been a model of inconsistency – only ever emulating what he did on the south coast on very few occasions.

There was a stint at the start of Ange Postecoglou’s reign where it looked like the old Bissouma was back, while he also impressed in the Europa League semi-finals and final.

However, Bissouma has largely been a massive letdown in terms of what the club and fans thought they were getting when he strolled through the door

Add in the disciplinary stuff, and Tottenham have to try and sell while they still can – and the price really doesn’t matter that much.

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Sources have revealed to TEAMtalk that Daniel Levy’s departure as executive chairman of Tottenham Hotspur after nearly 25 years marks a pivotal moment for the club, signalling a potential shift toward a new era of ambition.

Announced on September 4, 2025, Levy’s exit, driven by the Lewis family’s Tavistock Group, reflects a strategic move to prioritise on-pitch success over the financial and infrastructural stability Levy championed.

His tenure saw Tottenham transform into a financially robust entity, valued at $3.3 billion, with the iconic £1bn Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and elite training facilities. Yet, with only two trophies—the 2008 League Cup and 2025 Europa League—fan frustration over limited sporting achievements fueled the call for change.

Sources indicate that Levy’s departure aligns with growing interest from global investors, including parties from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the USA, who see Spurs as a prime opportunity to build a Premier League powerhouse.

Over the past 18 months, genuine inquiries have surfaced, drawn by the club’s strong financial position and world-class assets. While the Lewis family remains reluctant to sell, they are open to partnerships that could inject significant capital, enabling Spurs to compete with rivals like Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the transfer market for top talent.

The appointment of Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman and Vinai Venkatesham, ex-Arsenal CEO, as chief executive underscores this shift toward a more aggressive, football-focused strategy.

Club insiders describe an “air of change,” with optimism that Spurs could emulate the transformative investments seen at clubs like Newcastle. The belief is that Levy’s exit is the “first domino” in a broader restructuring, with the true impact of his exit to bear fruit within six months to a year.

As Tottenham enters this new chapter, the combination of its financial strength, global appeal, and openness to investment positions it as a tantalizing prospect for billionaires eager to reshape the Premier League landscape. Fans await a bold vision to finally deliver sustained success.

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Details have emerged over why Leeds United missed out on bringing Manor Solomon back to Elland Road this summer and with TEAMtalk analysing how and why Daniel Farke was squeezed out of the transfer picture for the Tottenham Hotspur star.

The Israeli winger moved to West Yorkshire on a season’s loan ahead of the 2024/25 season and, once the Whites managed to get him back up to full fitness, Solomon played a leading role in helping secure their promotion back to the Premier League as Championship title winners. And having contributed towards 23 goals across the season (10 scored, 13 assists), Leeds United were heavily tipped to turn his loan move into a permanent deal over the summer.

Leeds’ interest in re-signing the 26-year-old, though, never really got off the ground and the Whites were informed soon after achieving promotion that Solomon’s first intentions were to impress new Tottenham Hotspur coach Thomas Frank and to play his way into his plans by working hard and trying to catch his manager’s eye during pre-season.

And even when Spurs signed Mohammed Kudus, the 44-times capped Israel winger did not even contemplate a move away, feeling that the addition of Champions League football at Spurs, game-time would still fall his way over the course of the campaign.

Indeed, it was only when Spurs boss Frank failed to name Solomon as a possible option to replace the departing Son Heung-min that the penny finally dropped for the player.

But when it did eventually become clear that Solomon was ready to leave Spurs – in the days leading up to transfer deadline day – Leeds had already brought in Noah Okafor, from AC Milan, while the Israeli star, in the words of a transfer journalist, was formulating his own bigger ambitions…

Manor Solomon wanted European football to leave Spurs

Solomon, himself, has already reflected on a crazy day last day of the transfer window that saw him hold talks with Crystal Palace, before ultimately going on to sign for Villarreal on loan just before the deadline arrived.

The straight loan, which contains no option to buy, will allow the Spanish side to field the star against his parent club when they meet in the Champions League next Tuesday.

Writing on Instagram, Solomon admitted it had been a “crazy 24 hours” but that he now “could not wait to get started” at Villarreal. Another interview had seen the winger revealed he had woken up at 6am on deadline day morning not knowing which club he would be playing for come close of play…

In the meantime, transfer journalist Pete O’Rourke has explained why Solomon had made it clear to his agent that he only wanted to leave Spurs for a side who could offer him European football.

And with Palace able to offer UEFA Conference League football – they were demoted from the Europa League at the expense of Lyon, based on UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules – he held talks over a cross-city switch with them as a first priority.

However, when Villarreal entered the scene late, and given their offer of Champions League football, it soon became apparent that a move there was in his best interests.

“There’s always competition for these players’ signatures”, he told Football Insider.

“[With] Manor Solomon, Palace tried to sign him but he’s gone to Villarreal, he’s got Champions League football – Leeds can’t offer that right now,” O’Rourke told Football Insider.

“Obviously, Palace had money in their pockets to spend following the sale of Eberechi Eze, and the chance of European football as well.

“There’s no regrets from Daniel Farke – he will now move on and work with what he’s got, to try and ensure that Leeds are well-placed come the January window.”

As O’Rouke touched upon, both those sides were able to offer something Leeds United never good – European football – and leaving Farke with no room for negotiation even if they had made a late move for a winger they had gone early into the window with the intention of signing.

Manor Solomon stats at Leeds United

Leeds latest: Man City star emerges as January target; triple sale BLOCKED

Meanwhile, Leeds are reportedly prepping a move to sign a talented Manchester City youngster in the January window, with Farke finally hopeful his side can end their long search to sign a new No.10.

Elsewhere, it’s been explained why Leeds believe free-agent summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the player best equipped to fire the club to Premier League safety, with the Whites’ medical team backed to transform his fortunes.

Malick Fofana has spoken openly about Chelsea and Liverpool wanting to sign him during the summer transfer window, with Tottenham Hotspur being warned a deal might not be straightforward.

Fofana broke through at Gent in his native Belgium before joining Lyon in January 2024. The winger is only 20 years old but has already established himself as an important player for Lyon, having registered 16 goals and eight assists in 65 outings for the club so far.

Fofana was in good form last season, putting up 11 goals and six assists in 41 games. He impressed against Manchester United and Rangers in the Europa League, with his electric displays sparking interest from a host of clubs around Europe.

The Premier League appeared to be his most likely destination. English clubs have far bigger spending power than most of their European rivals.

Chelsea identified Fofana as a target to replace the likes of Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk on the left flank. Liverpool considered the 20-year-old as a replacement for Luis Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich.

However, Fofana ultimately stayed at Lyon. Chelsea signed Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho instead, while Liverpool brought in Hugo Ekitike, who can play as either a striker or left winger.

It emerged on Friday that Tottenham are determined to capture Fofana in 2026. But Spurs could face competition from other clubs including Chelsea and Liverpool.

That is because Fofana has confirmed Chelsea and Liverpool were keen on landing him over the summer. They have clearly been impressed by his performances and could return for him at a later date.

“There was interest from those two clubs, but ultimately nothing concrete,” the wide man said (via Belgian source HBVL).

“I’ve considered a transfer, but now I think it’s more important that I play a lot, and that has to happen at Lyon. Because I still have some progress to make.”

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Fofana’s contract with Lyon runs until June 2028. It is likely he will spend the season developing in France before securing a big transfer next summer.

In May, Fofana’s agent confirmed that his ‘choice of heart would be Liverpool’.

Lyon want €50-60million (£43-52m) to sell, though they could be forced to accept a lower price amid their difficult financial situation.

Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2 due to their severe debts, but they successfully appealed the decision and were reinstated to France’s top flight.

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A Real Madrid winger who turned down the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur and work under Thomas Frank is not happy at the moment, according to a report in Spain, as TEAMtalk analyses whether a move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could happen in the January transfer window.

Tottenham won the Europa League under then-manager Ange Postecoglou last season and are aiming to finish in the Premier League top four in the 2025/26 campaign under Thomas Frank. Tottenham will also play in the Champions League this season, and the north London club will be determined to make an impact in Europe’s premier club competition.

Spurs were busy in the summer transfer window, signing the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha, among others.

Tottenham also secured the services of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in the final days of the summer transfer window.

It came after Tottenham were turned down by Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz, according to the Spanish media.

Tottenham ‘contacted Brahim Diaz’s inner circle’ and offered the Morocco international winger a five-year contract with a salary more than he gets at Real Madrid.

Newcastle United were also keen on the former Manchester City winger, but he turned rejected both the Magpies and Spurs to stay at Real Madrid.

It has now emerged that ‘Díaz is unhappy with his situation at Real Madrid’, according to Fichajes.

The 26-year-old reportedly does not understand why Franco Mastantuono is getting more playing time than him at Madrid under manager Xabi Alonso.

Diaz, who was once described as “fearless” by Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, has made one start and two substitute appearances in LaLiga this season, while he played only 103 minutes for Los Blancos at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Mastantuono, who is only 18 and joined Madrid from River Plate in mid-August, has made two starts and one substitute appearance in LaLiga for the Spanish and European powerhouse this campaign.

According to the report, Diaz, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder, is ‘already considering the possibility of entertaining offers’ in the January transfer window if he fails to play regularly for Real Madrid in the coming months.

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Brahim Diaz unlikely to leave Real Madrid in January

Fichajes is not one of the most reliable media outlets, so the claim that Diaz is unhappy and could leave Real Madrid in the January transfer window has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

E-Noticies reported last month that Diaz is set to sign a new contract with Real Madrid until 2031.

That particular claim backed trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano’s revelation on August 3 that Diaz’s ‘new contract’ is ‘almost ready’.

Romano reported at the time that the Moroccan star had ‘accepted all conditions of the new contract’.

The Italian transfer guru reiterated his stance on his YouTube channel this week.

It is hard to see Diaz look for a move in the middle of the season after signing a new deal.

Real Madrid themselves are not going to sell an important player in the January transfer window, with Los Blancos aiming to win LaLiga and the Champions League this season.

Diaz has never been assured of playing week in and week out for Real Madrid, and that he turned down the chance to join Tottenham or Newcastle in the summer transfer window indicates that he is well aware of his status at the Santiago Bernabeu and is happy with it.

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The return of Fabio Paratici to Tottenham is in doubt following Daniel Levy’s exit from last season’s Europa League winners.

Tottenham have exploded in the race for a star player, who could be the missing link in Thomas Frank’s team.

Real Madrid have named their price for Rodrygo, who was the subject of interest from Tottenham in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham fans will be buoyed by the latest update on Dejan Kulusevski’s return from injury after the player’s comments while away with Sweden, although there’s a real dilemma on the way for Thomas Frank.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder has not kicked a ball since the start of May after suffering a serious knee injury that forced him to miss the Europa League final win over Manchester United.

It was reported last month that Kulusevski would only miss the first month of the season, but since then, it’s emerged that the Sweden international’s rehabilitation will take longer than first thought.

It was revealed recently by Tottenham insider Alasdair Gold that Kulusevski is not expected to return to the pitch until December, but the midfielder has now posted a promising update on his comeback.

Speaking in an interview in Sweden, he told Fotbollskanalen: “The rehab is going well. Every day I wake up with the same hunger and even more hunger with each passing day.

“The status is very good, and I will be on a football pitch in the very, very near future. If everything goes as it should, as it has so far, I am very confident that I will be on the pitch in two to three months.”

Despite not being able to train or play, Kulusevski joined up with the Swedish squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.

He is due to return to Hotspur Way for his rehab after the international action.

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Frank facing dilemma when Kulusevski returns

When the Swede does eventually return to action, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank will face a big call on where he plays – given the impressive signings the club made over the summer.

With James Maddison out for what is likely to be the whole of the season and Kulusveski also sidelined himself, Spurs eventually snapped up Xavi Simons to fill the vacant No.10 role – having previously missed out on both Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.

Kulusevski played in the No.10 role multiple times last season and was arguably more effective there, leading to more questions on what happens when he is back.

He started off at Tottenham on the right wing and made that position his own. However, that is the best spot for new boy Mohammed Kudus, and he will also be available throughout January after Ghana failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations.

The only real bright spot for Kulusevski is that Spurs failed to sign a left-winger in the summer and, with Simons capable of filling that role out wide as well, the Swede could slot back in as central attacking midfielder.

To be honest, these sorts of things are nice problems for managers to have, and it’s up to Frank to find the right mix for the team.

Kulusevski’s return will be a welcome one, though, seeing as he was well on the way to being the club’s player of the season before the knee issue struck.

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In a surprise turn of events, it’s now being reported that former sporting director Fabio Paratici is unlikely to return to Tottenham Hotspur as expected, with TEAMtalk detailing how that could affect Thomas Frank going forward.

The Italian, who has been the architect of some of the club’s best signings in recent years, was expected to return in an official capacity after his FIFA ban from his time working in Serie A came to an end.

Outgoing chairman Daniel Levy was said to be the driving force behind Paratici’s Tottenham return, but his sudden departure has now thrown massive doubt over the move.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Paratici will now consider his options after Levy’s departure, while TBR Football‘s Graeme Bailey now has more information on the potential U-turn.

Bailey has now revealed that Levy expected to be in charge of the Lilywhites for at least one more year and was keen on bringing the former Juventus director back on board.

Paratici is likely to look elsewhere for his next permanent role, as per Bailey, who said: “Fabio Paratici is unlikely to take up the role previously discussed and agreed.

“Daniel Levy knew the change was coming at some point, but it has come earlier than they thought – belief was he might have another season so obviously he wanted Paratici involved.

“Now Levy has gone, we are told it is ‘unlikely’ that Paratici will be taking up an official role at the club and will look elsewhere for his next permanent role.”

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Potential Paratici U-turn a blow for Tottenham

It’s all change at Tottenham with Vinai Venkatesham, who joined in April, set to continue as Chief Executive Officer, while he will have an increasingly important role to play after Levy’s exit.

Venkatesham oversaw the appointment of Thomas Frank and has also worked closely with technical director Johan Lange, whose position would have come under some scrutiny had Paratici returned.

Talk of a potential £4bn takeover in north London persists, but for now the structure of the club has been stabilised – albeit without Paratici returning by the looks of it.

Not being able to fully tap into the 53-year-old’s knowledge of Italian football in particular, along with his connections throughout Europe, would be a blow to Frank going forward when it comes to adding more quality to his first-team squad.

Paratici had a major role to play in the signings of Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario in particular from his homeland.

He also gave unofficial advice over important further additions during Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou’s reigns in north London.

Having him back on board again would have enabled Tottenham to attack the Italian market again in January and next summer, especially given talk that more money will be injected to improve Frank’s squad further.

However, Spurs now face an anxious wait to see where Paratici ends up next – if it’s not with them.

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