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With Guglielmo Vicario’s form at Tottenham Hotspur causing increasing concern after yet another error-strewn display at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Thomas Frank and Co. would do well to consider these four options as potential replacements, including two from the Premier League, along with an elite LaLiga talent.

The Italy international stopper was at fault for both Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goals in the damaging loss, with Vicario’s poor pass to Archie Gray allowing Ibrahim Sangare to pinch the ball on the edge of the area and tee up Hudson-Odoi in the 28th minute.

Then, five minutes into the second half, Hudson-Odoi’s cross from the left sailed over the 29-year-old in what was another poor performance from Vicario, who was booed by Tottenham fans after his mistake against Fulham in November.

His recent blunders, having made a strong start to the campaign under Thomas Frank, have not only put pressure on his starting job but also on the Dane’s tenure in north London.

Vicario has been heavily linked with a return to Italy, but our sources can reveal how a mooted switch to Inter Milan is complicated and why the media in his homeland are also warning the San Siro outfit against making that move.

In the short term, Vicario faces the very real threat of being dropped for Antonin Kinsky for this coming Saturday’s visit of Liverpool which, ironically, is the club the Czech stopper made his debut against back in January.

Although our sources are hearing mixed reports on the possibility of a new keeper arriving at Spurs in January to either compete or replace Vicario, we’ve identified four who could do just that…

James Trafford

As we reported back in early December, City’s No.2 is very much on Tottenham’s radar after he was somewhat surprisingly usurped when the Etihad outfit secured a €30million (£26m) deal for PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, just a matter of weeks after sealing Trafford’s return as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice keeper.

Trafford is renowned for his lightning reflexes and ball-playing ability, something Vicario clearly struggles with, as has been evidenced by the number of errors he has made with the ball at his feet during his time in north London so far.

It would be surprising if City decide to move on from Trafford again, given the investment they made over the summer. However, he was brought in as No.1 and has seen his England World Cup chances diminish after being dropped to the bench.

Indeed, he was only called up to the squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers in November after an injury to Nick Pope, who, ironically, he has also been tipped to replace at Newcastle.

Trafford would certainly give Frank a better ball-playing option, even if that side of his game is still a work in progress, while, despite standing at 6ft 5in, he is not the most physical of keepers or as commanding in the air as he should be.

However, a note of caution: our transfer correspondent Dean Jones has revealed prising Trafford away from the Etihad won’t be as easy as it seems.

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Andriy Lunin

Now this would potentially be a massive coup for Tottenham, with our sources informing us that the Ukraine stopper is very much liked by the club’s hierarchy.

The 26-year-old really excelled during Thibaut Courtois’s lengthy injury absence, enhancing his reputation as one of the best penalty-savers in the world during that time and also being dubbed ‘world-class’ by media outlet Tribuna.

Lunin‘s performances for the Spanish giants led to Real handing him a contract until 2030, but he has since struggled to usurp Courtois from the No.1 role at the Santiago Bernabeu.

To that end, our sources have revealed that Lunin could look to move on if he feels he cannot get past the 33-year-old Belgian, who still has just 18 months remaining on his contract.

In terms of Lunin’s value, that is currently listed at just €15million (£13m / $17.6m) on Transfermarkt, although any attempts to sign him are likely to be well north of that figure.

Bart Verbruggen

The Brighton stopper is a name we’ve mentioned before in terms of Tottenham’s interest.

Verbruggen has emerged as one of the Premier League’s top shot-stoppers since moving to the Seagulls from Anderlecht in 2023, and at 23, now looks primed to be one of the world’s best.

The Netherlands international was looked at very closely by Manchester City over the summer, whilst Chelsea also have a long-standing interest in him.

However, our sources indicate that Spurs are now making regular checks on Verbruggen, and he is seen as one of their better options, should they move on from Vicario.

In terms of his strengths and weaknesses, Verbruggen is outstanding when it comes to his ball-playing ability, although his overconfidence can occasionally catch him out.

Zion Suzuki

A slightly more left-field option, but by no means less talented, is the superb Parma stopper.

Fabio Paratici’s return to the club as sporting director has coincided with a focus on Serie A again, and while that may not have gone spectacularly when it comes to Vicario, Suzuki is a player Tottenham have been watching since he arrived in Italy.

However, they need to be aware that they are not alone when it comes to monitoring the Japan international, with sources confirming to us that a large number of clubs rate the 23-year-old talent very highly, including London rivals Chelsea.

The USA-born keeper, who has conceded 14 times in 11 games this season, is currently contracted at Parma until 2029, so will not come cheap.

He is a modern-day sweeper-keeper who has brilliant reflexes, strong distribution skills and commands his area well.

Sources have revealed Inter Milan’s stance on signing Guglielmo Vicario in the summer of 2026, as the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper is hammered in the Italian media for his performance against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.

Tottenham suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Forest in the Premier League at the weekend, with Vicario having yet another disappointing game. The Italy international goalkeeper was at fault for both Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goals.

Vicario’s poor pass to Archie Gray allowed Ibrahim Sangare to pinch the ball on the edge of the area and tee up Hudson-Odoi in the 28th minute.

Then five minutes into the second half, Hudson-Odoi’s cross from the left sailed over the 29-year-old goalkeeper.

It was yet another poor performance from Vicario, who was booed by Spurs fans after his mistake against Fulham in November, and with serious question marks now growing over his Spurs future.

We understand that Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford is on Tottenham’s radar, while Vicario is a player that Inter Milan are looking at signing next summer to replace Yann Sommer, who is 36 now and is out of contract at the Italian giants at the end of the season.

When asked about Inter’s desire to sign Vicario from Tottenham and Spurs’ interest in Trafford, transfer correspondent Dean Jones told TEAMtalk: “There are a lot of assumptions being made around the Trafford situation at the moment, and it’s important to remember that he is Man City’s back-up keeper, and that is a genuine role of importance in the squad.

“They want someone of his level available to step up when needed, and they face a congested second half of the season if things continue to develop positively.

“Trafford was always warned he would not be guaranteed as number one, but obviously, he did not realise that Donnarumma was going to be signed.

“I do not think City automatically just let him leave because he would like more game time. They haven’t made that decision yet to let him go, as far as I have been told.

“I also don’t think it’s as nailed on that he is Tottenham’s next goalkeeper, as is being reported by some.

“Spurs initially began their search for a goalkeeper in October when I reported how they were beginning the process of identifying potential options. At that moment, it was for someone to challenge Vicario, not replace him.

“They are now two months down the line from that moment, and Trafford is not the only goalkeeper they are looking at – he is just the most obvious one from within the Premier League that could be attainable.

“As for Inter’s interest in Vicario, that is also complicated.

“So far, Tottenham have not had any contact from Inter, so there has been no decision for them to make in terms of any price guideline for them to set.

“What we do know is that Inter are not looking to spend big money on a keeper – so if they make an offer for him, I don’t even know if it would be that tempting to cash in.

“You are probably looking at an offer of around £15-20million (up to €23m, $27m). It’s going to be a similar number to the figure they signed him for.”

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Inter Milan warned against signing Guglielmo Vicario

Vicario’s performance against Forest has been criticised in the Italian media as well, with TuttoMercatoWeb noting ‘the negative spiral’ of the goalkeeper and underlining the ‘serious mistakes’ he made.

The report noted: ‘The Tottenham goalkeeper, already under fire after the 2-1 defeat against Fulham for some significant mistakes, once again found himself in the whirlwind of less than pleasant judgments shortly before Christmas’.

The headline in the report was damning, too.

It read: ‘Vicario, Christmas is a bitter one: another blunder against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham sinks’.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, too, laid into Vicario for his mistake against Forest and for blaming Gray for Hudson-Odoi’s first goal.

The former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports Extra Time: “It’s not just a keeper playing out. It’s a keeper on his weak foot. Typical Vicario, he is always blaming someone else.

“Every time I see a goal go in, he throws his arms at someone else. He seems to do it a lot, and he did it again today.

“We can talk about young Archie Gray in midfield, but I’m putting this on the goalkeeper.

“Archie Gray could do a lot better, of course, he could, but what the lad does initially is he is trying to help someone who doesn’t actually need help.

“The goalkeeper doesn’t actually need any help because the ball should go out wide to his player. I don’t know what the problem is. There is no real pressure on it.”

Carragher continued: “But what Vicario does instead of passing with his right foot to Van de Ven on his left foot, he then takes the ball on his left foot and tries to play a little dinky pass here.

“The point I am trying to make about being on your weak foot as a goalkeeper is, there is a reason you’re in goal for one – you are probably not going to be amazing with your feet – but on your weak foot you are trying to be intricate and trying to pass it to a certain player’s foot.

“Archie Gray can play with both feet, but he is predominantly right-footed – (and) he plays it to his left foot.

“Could his (Gray’s) control be slightly better? Of course it could, but for me that is on the goalkeeper. It’s a horrible ball to deal with.

“Credit for the pressing, you think of Sean Dyche, you think of Nottingham Forest getting after the opposition players, and they do really well.

“But talking about the left foot pass. It’s not a great pass, it’s bobbled in because it’s on his weak foot, so that bobbling bouncing pass into Gray, on his weak foot as well – yes, control should be a little bit tighter – but even if his control was right, Sangare would still be on top of him.

“I’m laying all the blame on the goalkeeper, I am.”

Even before Vicario’s mistake against Forest on Sunday, Inter were warned not to move for the goalkeeper because he is not top-class.

Former Inter goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca told L’Interista on December 13: “He’s a very good goalkeeper, the second-choice player for our national team, he has experience in Italy and the Premier League. Not a little, but…”

Pagliuca added: “I don’t see him as a top-class player yet. I repeat, he’s already experienced because he’s been between the posts for a while and he’s 29, but he doesn’t strike me as a top player.”

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Forward sale, Man City raid

Meanwhile, a former Manchester City star has been tipped to end up at Tottenham Hotspur.

Sources have told TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, that Tottenham are considering selling an expensive forward and have set an asking price.

Real Madrid’s win against Alaves in LaLiga has given manager Xabi Alonso more breathing space in terms of keeping his job at Estadio Bernabeu, according to the Spanish media, as his top potential replacement, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, has been urged to go to Tottenham Hotspur and take Thomas Frank’s place in the dugout.

AS, a respectable Real Madrid-leaning Spanish publication, reported on December 11 that ‘the real decision window’ on the future of Alonso will be made after Los Blancos’ matches against Alaves away from home in LaLiga on Sunday, Talavera in the Copa del Rey last-32 this Wednesday and the league game against Sevilla at the Bernabeu next weekend.

In the first of those games, Alonso has bought himself some time after Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 away from home at Estadio de Mendizorroza in LaLiga on Sunday.

The win saw Los Blancos bounce back from back-to-back defeats to Celta de Vigo and Manchester City, and the Spanish media has claimed that it has stopped Madrid president Florentino Perez from pulling the trigger on Alonso.

Marca, the number one source for Real Madrid scoop with close ties to the club’s hierarchy, has noted that Rodrygo’s winner in the 76th minute was key to Alonso ‘surviving another day’ and ‘staying in the lead, gaining some breathing room, postponing the verdict’.

However, according to the publication, Alonso does not look like he is enjoying the role of Madrid manager because of the pressure, noting that he is ‘trapped by the pressure’.

Marca noted: ‘The job is taking its toll on him. There’s no sign of the calm, collected, analytical Xabi.

‘Right now, he’s a coach trapped by the pressure, aware that time is running out. Real Madrid’s football has ceased to be about tactics and has become about survival.’

AS, though, has observed how the Madrid players are fully behind Alonso and are backing him, although there is no guarantee that the former Los Blancos midfielder will not be sacked in the coming weeks.

Madrid played well against Man City in the Champions League last week, with Rodrygo hugging the former Liverpool midfielder after his goal against the Premier League club.

AS noted: ‘Perhaps Xabi Alonso will finish the season; perhaps he’ll be sacked in a matter of days.

‘That question remains unanswered. But one thing is certain: the players are with the coach, Xabi is not alone.

‘This attitude was symbolised by a gesture… which is much more than that: Vinicius’s embrace during the celebration.’

The report added: ‘Whatever happens with Xabi Alonso, it could be said that he’s winning his first major battle at Real Madrid: winning back the dressing room.

‘A dressing room he had practically lost not so long ago, even though – understandably -he wants to deny and hide it from the outside.

‘The reality is that the atmosphere became quite tense. But now it’s very different.’

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Tottenham urged to hire Real Madrid managerial target Jurgen Klopp

Alonso is not out of the woods yet, and rumours linking former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with the role at Madrid persist.

Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reported on X on December 11 that “Jurgen Klopp is among the candidates” to replace Alonso “in the event of a dismissal”.

Klopp, who won the Premier League and the Champions League during his time as Liverpool manager, has been working as the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH since January 2025.

Oliver Mintzlaff, who is the CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments of Red Bull GmbH, said last week regarding Klopp and Madrid rumours: “Jurgen has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be a coach at the moment. Whether that changes at some point in his life, of course, is possible.

“But I can see how passionate he is about this job, how many ideas he has, and how much he wants to develop further. Therefore, I’m completely relaxed.”

Should Real move for Klopp, they may now have to do so with more urgency, though, after former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Lord Sugar told the north London club to sack Thomas Frank as their manager and turn to former Liverpool boss Klopp.

Lord Sugar believes that ENIC International Limited could be able to tempt Klopp with the promise of a lot of funds.

The 78-year-old wrote on X on December 14 after Tottenham lost 3-0 to Nottingham Forest away from home at the City Ground on Sunday: “With the massive fortune of the Lewis family it would be a win win situation if they hired Jurgen Klopp in January. Loads of money for players and a great manager. Who agrees #coys @SpursOfficial.”

When pointed out by a follower on X that Klopp “won’t touch it with a barge pole”, Lord Sugar replied: “It is the way he is approached.

“If it’s put as a kind of challenge and no pressure just prove you can do it mate.

“The money is there if you want it for players. As well as we are in London new experience. Name your price.”

Latest Real Madrid transfer news: Man Utd raid, Chelsea lead race

Meanwhile, Chelsea are leading the race for a Premier League star also on Real Madrid’s radar.

A Real Madrid midfielder is said to be the ‘dream signing’ for Manchester United, but Los Blancos have no plans whatsoever of selling him anytime soon.

A Manchester City star who has swiftly been forgotten could “end up” at Tottenham, or one of a few other clubs “very quickly” if things go the right way, according to an insider.

Spurs might well be in the market for a new goalkeeper soon. Guglielmo Vicario has become increasingly shaky at the back, recently being at least partly to blame for two goals Tottenham have conceded.

The latest saw him pass to Archie Gray under pressure against Nottingham Forest, who was stripped of the ball, before it found its way to Morgan Gibbs-White and then into the net.

Vicario is reportedly a target for Inter Milan, who could see starting goalkeeper Yann Sommer leave at the end of his contract in the summer.

The potential availability of James Trafford, discarded by Manchester City when Gianluigi Donnarumma walked through the door, despite being a summer signing itself, could therefore be perfect.

On his potential January move, insider Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider: “I’m thinking more Villa, if [Emiliano] Martinez goes, and possibly Spurs. I think there’s going to be a demand for [Trafford].

“He’s a quality keeper and I think there are a few clubs that are still unhappy in that position. But certainly those are the sort of the three clubs I think, yeah, Newcastle, Villa, Spurs are where I think Trafford may end up.

“Obviously it’s very hard to think your number two to Donnarumma because you you’re not going to get much chance unless he gets injured. So I think he will make a move.

“I think that’s fair to him because he’s a quality young keeper. But I think those are the sort of target clubs I’d be thinking about, not just Newcastle. And we’ll see how that develops. But that could be something that could happen very quickly in January as well.”

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Trafford a confirmed Tottenham target

TEAMtalk is aware that Tottenham are indeed plotting a move for Trafford.

They greenlit exploratory talks earlier in December and could therefore be one of the clubs with the best chance of landing the keeper.

A source told us that Tottenham is seen as one of the best destinations for Trafford’s next step.

They said: “James is a top talent ready to step up. He’s itching for minutes, and Spurs’ project aligns perfectly with his ambitions.”

Tottenham round-up: Vicario price revealed

Amid Inter’s interest in Spurs keeper Vicario, it’s revealed that he would love to return to Italy and specifically play for Inter.

What’s more, the Serie A giants are said to believe they can land the Italian stopper for £17.5million.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk is aware Tottenham are increasingly tempted to cash in on attacker Brennan Johnson, with a couple of replacements in the sights.

Wide men Antoine Semenyo and Yan Diomande are both on the Spurs radar at the moment.

Inter Milan are circling over a Tottenham starter who reports claim would jump at the chance to move, and the eyebrow-raising fee they’re ready to pay has also been revealed.

Inter have always prided themselves on fielding top class goalkeepers and that’s exactly what they had for over a decade with Samir Handanovic.

When the iconic Slovenian neared the end of his career, Inter got the best out of Andre Onana before cashing in when Man Utd came calling.

Yann Sommer took the gloves, but now aged 36 and with his contract expiring in the summer, Inter are again in the market for a new stopper.

That’s where Tottenham come in, with Gazzetta dello Sport stating Guglielmo Vicario features prominently on Inter’s shortlist.

The 29-year-old – whose racked up five caps for Italy since making his senior debut last year – is hugely admired by Inter CEO Beppe Marotta and sporting director Piero Ausilio.

Accordingly, Inter are planning to bid for Vicario next summer and it’s remarkably stated on several occasions that the keeper would love nothing more than to change clubs.

Vicario was reportedly ‘inspired’ by Handanovic during his formative years and joining the club Handanovic captained would ‘fulfil a long-standing professional dream.’

It was then claimed ‘Vicario’s desire to return to Italy and finally join Inter is well known.’

Of course, it was stressed Tottenham wouldn’t part ways with Vicario without first lining up a worthy replacement, and without receiving a substantial bid.

On the subject of cost, Inter are said to believe they can strike a deal without having to go beyond €20m.

That roughly equates to just £17.5m which on the face of it, appears exceedingly low for a player who is a regular starter at Spurs and who would walk straight into Inter’s starting eleven too.

Latest Tottenham news – Porro / Johnson/ Semenyo

In other news, we can reveal that Tottenham are making moves to secure the future of Pedro Porro in north London.

That comes on the back of Manchester City showing significant interest in a potential swoop in 2026.

Elsewhere, Spurs sources believe the club are increasingly tempted to cash in on Brennan Johnson in the January transfer window. Crystal Palace are fast emerging as the Welshman’s next destination.

Finally, Johnson’s exit would likely only be sanctioned if Tottenham are able to land an upgrade on the wings.

Tottenham Hotspur sources believe the club are increasingly tempted to cash in on Brennan Johnson in the January transfer window amid strong interest from three sides in the 24-year-old winger and with Thomas Frank targeting two ambitious replacements.

Johnson joined Spurs in September 2023 for a fee worth up to £47.5m (€54.3m, $63.7m) from boyhood team Nottingham Forest. While amassing 27 goals and 18 assists in 104 appearances for the club, including the winner in the Europa League final win over Manchester United that ended a 17-year trophy wait, the winger has never really been a regular and his inconsistent displays continue to be a source of frustration for fans and manager Thomas Frank, alike.

Off the back of that, we revealed last week how some doubts have started to arise about the Wales international’s future and Tottenham have a big decision at the end of the season over whether to extend his deal or let him leave.

His contract runs to 2028, but Spurs had anticipated having to make a decision on him next summer, with a temptation to sell.

He is a valued member of the squad, but there is uncertainty over whether he is going to be of a high enough level as Spurs look to lift their ambitions and buy new players in key positions.

As a result, we understand it is now starting to look like Spurs will have their stance on Johnson tested in the January window, with Crystal Palace understood to be mooted as a potential landing spot.

Sources have hinted there are two other Premier League clubs that have made informal contact too over a potential deal.

At this stage, it is believed Tottenham value him at around £50million (€57m, $67m), although sources admit they would probably sell him slightly lower than that amount if the correct fee conditions were in place and in a move that could potentially give Spurs their initial outlay back.

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Spurs target two high-octane replacements

With the club open to the sale of Johnson, the north London club are casting their eyes and dreaming of two high-calibre replacements.

And we can confirm the club are firmly in the mix to snap up electric Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, despite concrete interest from Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool in the Ghana international.

Indeed, TEAMtalk insider Fraser Fletcher revealed on Friday that Tottenham intend to smash their wage structure for Semenyo in a huge statement of intent by the club’s owners and with his £65m exit clause not seen as a problem by those in power.

Elsewhere, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg lists Tottenham Hotspur as one of multiple clubs to have taken a shine on RB Leipzig’s talented star Yan Diomande in recent weeks, though the fee for the Ivory Coast winger would be considerably higher.

Posting on X, the reliable Plettenberg posted: ‘Top clubs from England all have Yan Diomande in their sights: Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and many more. Contrary to other reports, there are no concrete or advanced talks with any club.

‘Contract until 2030 with no release clause

‘A move after the World Cup is possible. Leipzig are considering a fee of over €100 million. Incredible talent.’

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Elsewhere on the transfer front, Spurs have rebuffed enquiries from some high-profile clubs, including Bayern Munich, for their outstanding central defensive prospect Luka Vuskovic, with sources revealing the plan that has been formed to curtail that interest completely.

Spurs are also making moves to secure the future of a top star in north London, especially given that Premier League rivals Manchester City are showing significant interest in a potential swoop in 2026.

On the incoming front, we can also reveal that Tottenham are among the suitors for a brilliant Dutch wonderkid, though they do face strong competition from some London rivals, who are also on his trail.

TEAMtalk can reveal that Tottenham Hotspur are making moves to secure the future of a top star in north London, especially given that Premier League rivals Manchester City are showing significant interest in a potential swoop in 2026.

Despite having his ups and downs, Porro has mostly been outstanding for Spurs since arriving from Sporting back in January 2023.

He has emerged as one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe and our sources can confirm that his camp have had preliminary talks with Tottenham about a new deal.

The club’s hierarchy have informed Porro that they should accelerate next year, with his current deal due to expire in 2028. The 26-year-old is currently earning less than £100,000-a-week and he is due for a significant pay rise.

Porro has again proven a big player under Thomas Frank, although with Djed Spence’s arrival there has been more sense of a rotation, but Spurs want the Spaniard to extend.

However, sources can reveal that Porro’s former club City are keeping tabs on the situation, as they would be open to bringing him back to The Etihad.

Porro was part of City Group with Girona, who he joined as an 18-year-old, having rejected the chance to join Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

He made his debut for Girona before then moving to Manchester City in 2019. He was immediately loaned to Real Vallodolid and on his return in 2020, he was snapped up by Sporting on a two-year loan with an option.

They took up that option in 2022 and then just six months later sold him for double the €20million they paid to Tottenham.

Interestingly, the man who took him to Sporting and recognised his ability was indeed Hugo Viana – now in charge at City and we understand that the Portuguese remains a huge fan of Porro.

City are very much in the market for a new right-back and we have reported the likes of Newcastle’s Tino Livramento rank high on their wanted list, but we can confirm that Viana sees Porro as an option for them heading into 2026.

Spurs are aware of the need to tie down Porro and now with City circling, that will likely accelerate things.

Porro himself has previously spoken about his brief spell with City, but he acknowledges that it was as situation that did not work out for him – given they had Kyle Walker, who was one of the world’s best at his time with the club.

“I have total respect for City. It happens in football, I just probably wasn’t in their plans at that time. When you are a footballer, you have to look for ways out of that situation, whether it’s a move or a loan,” he said when asked about City in Daily Mail interview in 2023.

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Latest Tottenham news: Frank green lights exit; Vuskovic plan

Tottenham are being tipped to offload a 27-goal forward in order to part-fund a record-breaking swoop for Antoine Semenyo.

Elsewhere, Spurs have rebuffed enquiries from some high-profile clubs, including Bayern Munich, for Luka Vuskovic and are forming a plan to curtail that interest completely.

Tottenham Hotspur are being tipped to offload a 27-goal forward in order to part-fund a record-breaking swoop for much sought-after Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, in a move that makes sense on so many levels for Thomas Frank.

The north London club are firmly in the mix to snap up Semenyo in the January transfer window, despite concrete interest from Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool in the supremely talented Ghana international.

Indeed, TEAMtalk insider Fraser Fletcher revealed on Friday that Tottenham intend to smash their wage structure for Semenyo in a huge statement of intent.

The 25-year-old has a £65million release clause in his contract that runs until 2030, although that clause is only active early in the January window and drops again in the summer.

Despite a £100m cash injection from majority owners ENIC ahead of the winter window, Spurs are still looking at adding other talent to Frank’s squad alongside Semenyo, with a willingness to sell first-team talent also on the cards.

And that’s where the immediate future of Brennan Johnson comes into play, with the Wales international struggling for regular game time, despite being the club’s top scorer last season.

Our transfer insider, Dean Jones, recently revealed why Johnson could be shown the door in 2026, and now a fresh report has revealed a potential escape route for the winger that should also secure Spurs significant funds to put towards their Semenyo swoop.

According to Sky Sports News, Crystal Palace have taken an interest in signing Johnson as they scope out replacements for the Africa Cup of Nations-bound Ismaila Sarr.

Johnson has made just six starts in the Premier League this season, scoring four goals in 19 appearances in all competitions. However, he remains firmly behind Mohammed Kudus when it comes to his favoured right-wing position and is nowhere near as effective on the left flank.

To that end, if Palace’s interest is genuine, parting company with Johnson in the winter window ticks a number of boxes.

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Johnson not good enough to be a regular Tottenham starter

The former Nottingham Forest attacker excelled in what was largely a disastrous 2024/25 campaign for Tottenham, bar their Europa League triumph under Ange Postecoglou.

Frank, however, is looking to build a dynamic attack that includes his wide players chalking up impressive stats, while also delivering consistent performances week in, week out – something Johnson has largely struggled to do.

Kudus remains a work in progress in the stats department but has shown so much more than Johnson when it comes to his ability to create for others, while having Semenyo on the opposite flank would give Frank an explosive frontline – assuming, of course, that the Dane can find a No.9 who can consistently deliver goals as well.

While moving on from Johnson, who has scored 27 goals and has 18 assists in 104 appearances for Tottenham across all competitions, might seem harsh to some, it’s the right call for the club’s progression under Frank.

Semenyo chalked up six goals and three assists in his first seven games of the Premier League season, although he has failed to directly contribute to a goal in any of his last seven top-flight matches.

Some of that will likely be down to the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, but that talent is clearly there as Tottenham look to secure what will likely be one of the signings of the January window.

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Latest Tottenham news: Vuskovic plans revealed; wonderkid hunt

Tottenham have rebuffed enquiries from some high-profile clubs, including Bayern Munich, for their outstanding central defensive prospect Luka Vuskovic and TEAMtalk can reveal a plan is forming to curtail that interest completely.

Elsewhere, Chelsea have taken a shine to Jadiel Pereira da Gama and are determined to sign him from PEC Zwolle, sources have told TEAMtalk, but there is interest in the teenager from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, too.

Tottenham Hotspur have rebuffed enquiries from some high-profile clubs, including Bayern Munich, for their outstanding central defensive prospect Luka Vuskovic and TEAMtalk can reveal a plan is forming to curtail that interest completely.

The 18-year-old trained with Tottenham for the first time this summer and despite impressing in the summer, he was loaned to Hamburg – where he would help cover for the continued absence of his suspended brother Mario.

This is the third loan spell for Vuskovic in his young career after he initially signed for Tottenham back in 2023.

That means that despite his tender years he already has over 70 first-team games under his belt and this season at Hamburg he has been outstanding.

To such as an extent that sources can reveal that Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have made enquiries with Tottenham about him.

However, we understand that Spurs made it clear that his future is very much in north London, as we my colleague Dean Jones also recently stated.

Indeed, sources have now told us that some within Spurs’ hierarchy believe that Vuskovic should be recalled from his Hamburg spell in Germany, in order to try and bring an end to talk of a permanent switch elsewhere.

Spurs are in the market for another central defender in January, but the belief is that few players they could bring in would be better than Vuskovic – who has proven this season that he already at a very high level.

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Tottenham looking to end noise over Vuskovic future

Spurs are able to recall Vuskovic during a certain time frame in January and conversations about this possibility are ongoing.

Hamburg for their part are desperate to keep Vuskovic, who has been a brilliant replacement for his brother Mario – who is banned until November 2026 due to a drugs ban.

The teenager is a deadly set-piece threat and has scored twice in 13 games this season, including a stunning back-heeled volleyed effort against rivals Werder Bremen over the weekend.

That reputation was garnered while on loan at Westerlo last season, where he scored seven times, while he netted a stunning goal and also notched an assist for Tottenham in a pre-season win at Reading.

His performance in that game led to many Spurs fans lauding him as the perfect back-up to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven ahead of the new campaign, so it came as a big surprise when a loan move to Hamburg was agreed.

However, the fact that Vuskovic has been playing regularly in one of the top leagues in Europe, rather than sitting on the bench at Tottenham, is only a good thing for the player and the club in the long-term. However, it could be that the teenage talent is back sooner than was expected, in order to silence all that noise around his future.

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More Tottenham news: ‘Dream’ winger targets named; potential Toney signing blow

Tottenham are being kept in the loop on Ademola Lookman’s situation ahead of the January transfer window, but TEAMtalk can reveal that the club’s shortlist for a new winger now includes two ‘dream names’ who are considered a step up on the Atalanta attacker.

Elsewhere, Ivan Toney did not impress Thomas Tuchel during his previous England training camp, and that could play a huge role in a potential Premier League return, amid interest from Tottenham and other English sides.

Manchester City and Liverpool are both mobilising for Antoine Semenyo, but we can reveal Tottenham are prepared to smash their wage structure for the Bournemouth winger in a huge statement of intent.

The January transfer window promises fireworks, with Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo firmly at its heart.

The 25-year-old Ghanaian forward – who WON’T be away at AFCON after his country failed to qualify – has ignited a frenzy among England’s elite.

Sources now position Manchester City as frontrunners, edging ahead of a determined Liverpool, while Tottenham Hotspur are ready to swing a financial sledgehammer to disrupt the race.

City’s interest crystallised early, with informal enquiries evolving into advanced talks. Pep Guardiola views Semenyo’s lethal finishing with either foot and counter-attacking edge as the ideal foil for his fluid system.

Sources confirm personal terms will be easily agreed at the Etihad, with the £65 million release clause – active only in January’s initial phase – poised for activation.

This clause, embedded in Semenyo’s 2030 contract extension, drops further in summer, but City’s urgency stems from a title push amid a resurgent campaign.

Liverpool, undeterred, are ready to match City’s every step.

Arne Slot envisions Semenyo as Mohamed Salah’s long-term heir. The Egyptian icon might be on the way out of Anfield sooner than anyone had anticipated just a few weeks ago.

Despite whispers of Semenyo favouring Merseyside, sources believe City’s tactical fit gives them the edge.

The player’s camp holds the aces, with a decision imminent to allow Bournemouth scouting time for a successor.

Tottenham preparing blockbuster Semenyo offer

Enter Tottenham, armed with unprecedented ambition. Under Thomas Frank’s guidance, Spurs are ready to shatter wage structures, offering Semenyo one of the club’s top salaries – potentially eclipsing top earners – to lure him to north London.

This audacious bid is fuelled by the Lewis family’s recent £100 million equity injection into ENIC, their investment vehicle controlling 87.62% of Spurs.

The family rejected £4.5 billion takeover bids in November, signalling generational commitment and a pivot toward on-pitch glory after last season’s Europa League triumph.

Funding the clause poses no barrier; instead, it’s a statement of intent on the wages front to challenge the more successful sides in the ‘Big Six’.

Spurs do have recent history of striking club-to-club agreements for major stars and still ending up empty-handed.

That scenario unfolded with both Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze over the summer, and Tottenham’s intention to offer a salary too good to ignore is an effort to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Bournemouth dread the dosruption Semenyo’s mid-season exit will cause, though their model does factor in the eventual sales of their best players for huge profits.

With Manchester United also monitoring, though trailing, the Cherries are eyeing replacements like Sporting’s Geovany Quenda, who will join Chelsea in the summer but could be loaned straight out.

Semenyo, content yet craving silverware, hasn’t forced a move. However, all expectations are he will join a new club next month.