TEAMtalk

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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Malick Fofana would love Liverpool move

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.

Latest Tottenham news: Fabio Paratici update, Rodrygo price set

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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An impressive midfield capture that was previously signed off by Daniel Levy is reportedly expected to be resurrected in the January transfer window, and TEAMtalk can explain why it might be just what Thomas Frank needs.

After a couple of high-profile near misses during the summer, Spurs actually chalked up one of the best transfer windows of Levy’s tenure with their capture of six new signings for the Dane, while the loans of Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso were also turned into permanent switches.

The additions of Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani give Tottenham creativity and dynamism in the final third, while Joao Palhinha is now the rock that can sit and protect the previously brittle back four.

However, there was still talk of bolstering the midfield further going into the final days of the summer window, with Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher still reported as a target – as he also was for much of the 2024 summer window.

Indeed, TEAMtalk were one of the first to report on Tottenham’s interest in the England star as long ago as March 2024.

And now a fresh report from the not always reliable Spanish outlet Fichajes claims that the north London outfit are ready to fight off rivals to sign Gallagher in the new year

They report that Gallagher’s sub-par first season in Spain, in which he failed to convince Diego Simeone that he was worthy of a regular starting spot, has opened the door for a move in January after an exit failed to come to fruition over the summer.

That was not for the want of trying, with Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said to have been seething that the Red Devils were unable to secure his capture.

However, it now appears that Tottenham are ready to go head-to-head with United in the January window for a player who is a proven Premier League commodity.

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Why Tottenham need Conor Gallagher

Having won their first two games of the season under new boss Frank, including a dominant victory at Manchester City, everything looked rosy before Spurs came crashing back down to earth with a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth – a game in which they were completely outplayed and Frank was also schooled by Andoni Iraola from the sidelines.

One area of the pitch where Tottenham were completely outmatched in the game was in midfield, with Bournemouth’s energy and hunger too much for the trio of Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr.

The Cherries’ midfield three of Tyler Adams, Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier were quicker to the second ball and more dynamic throughout the contest, showing up the glaring need for more energy and pace in Spurs’ engine room.

Despite his critics, one of the big things that Gallagher brings to the table is his ability to play at a high tempo and bring dynamism to the game as a true box-to-box No.8.

The 25-year-old will also have improved the technical aspect of his game while playing in Spain, despite his struggles to earn regular game time, and would be a strong addition in Frank’s midfield if Tottenham can win the race for his signature.

While there is no mention in the report of what sort of fee it will take to try and conclude a deal, it will likely have to be in excess of the £34m that Atletico paid for him last summer – especially with Gallagher still under contract until 2029.

Despite only starting 19 games in LaLiga and four Champions League outings last term, Gallagher still managed to notch up four goals and six assists in his maiden campaign in Spain, showcasing that he still remains a quality performer who will be a major target for Premier League clubs in January if he continues to struggle for starts under Simeone.

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The winners of the battle to sign Rodrygo in 2026 has already been named, with Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez already deciding when a 2026 transfer can be done – and with the move set to hugely boost Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur.

The Brazilian has fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, where he no longer finds himself first choice. And with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe the previous summer effectively pushing him out of the first-team picture, it was no surprise to see the 24-year-old heavily linked with a move away.

Indeed, strong interest was reported in Rodrygo from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester City also joined by north London pair Arsenal and Tottenham in tracking his signature.

And while PSG were also credited with an interest, the 24-year-old ultimately ended up staying put at the Bernabeu, where he will continue to fight for his first-team place and try and persuade Alonso to alter his opinion on him.

However, regardless of how many minutes he racks up this season, it’s reported that Perez has already decided that the writing is on the wall for the 87-goal forward and renewed efforts to cash in on him will be made ahead of the 2026 transfer windows.

Indeed, according to Fichajes, the favourites to seal his signing have already been named, with Manchester City said to be already working on a deal to bring the player to the Premier League – and as soon as in the January window.

And they report that Pep Guardiola is ready to follow up his interest in the star, seeing him as the ‘perfect fit’ for his squad and ‘essential’ towards their push for Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory this season.

To that end, the report claims Real Madrid have already named their price for the 33-times capped Brazil winger to move to the Etihad, with a reduced fee of €80m (£69.7m, $94m) likely to be enough to convince Los Blancos to sell.

Man City move for Rodrygo will be music to Tottenham’s ears

While the winter window is often something of a damp squib, City showed earlier this year that they are not immune to splashing the cash to fuel their quest for success in this period.

Indeed, they spent heavily on the likes of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in a combined £190m splurge to bolster Guardiola’s options at the time.

As a result, the report claims City will happily look to bring in Rodrygo in January, as opposed to waiting until next summer and amid fears they could miss out on the dazzling star.

As a consequence of that raid, Tottenham Hotspur are also likely to benefit, with City offsetting the cost of signing Rodrygo by offloading another Brazilian, Savinho, to Frank’s side.

The north London side held extensive talks over a summer deal for the winger, only to ultimately miss out.

However, a report on Friday insisted that a move to bring Savinho to north London is far from dead and that Frank was ready to push through a double £90m raid on City once the winter window opens for business.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims: “I think there is a real chance Spurs revisit this one, but much will depend on the coming months and how much he features for City.”

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Selling Rodrygo to City could also aid Los Blancos’ quest to land a top Cityzens star in return, per reports, amid fresh claims that Erling Haaland wants to move to the Bernabeu – though Perez will reportedly sell another huge name to fund such a deal.

Meanwhile, one of Real Madrid’s brightest young players has been described as an “enormous talent” by an icon, as Liverpool learn why he was never going to move to Anfield this summer, with his decision to join Xabi Alonso’s side made as soon as Los Blancos came into the frame.

Elsewhere, Real have taken a huge step in their quest to sign Marc Guehi ahead of Liverpool, with the central defender out of contract at Crystal Palace at the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur are determined to bring a €50million Belgium international winger to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the January transfer window, according to a report, but his agent has already gone public with the star’s desire to succeed Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.

After winning the Europa League last season and subsequently appointing Thomas Frank as the manager, Tottenham were very active in the summer transfer window.

The north London club made the major signings of Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani, among others, as they aim to finish in the Premier League top four and also make an impact in the Champions League this season.

Tottenham were also trying to sign another attacking player before the summer transfer window closed on September 1.

Malick Fofana was one of the players that Tottenham tried to sign late in the window, and, according to CaughtOffSide, the north London club remain keen on him following Daniel Levy’s decision to step down as the chairman.

Lyon turned down an approach from Tottenham for Fofana on transfer deadline day because they did not have enough time to sign a replacement for the left-winger.

However, Tottenham still consider Fofana ‘a key target’ and are planning an approach once the window opens again in January, with Lyon willing to sell the 20-year-old for €50m (£43.4m, $58.6m).

Inter Milan are also keen on a deal for Fofana, who has scored 16 goals and given eight assists in 65 appearances for Lyon since joining the French club from KAA Gent in January 2024.

Fofana has made a positive start to the new season, scoring one goal and registering one assist in three Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon.

Lyon have won all three of their league games and are level on points with leaders and defending French champions Paris Saint-Germain in second place in the table.

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Malick Fofana dreams of Liverpool transfer

Tottenham might be keen on a January deal for Fofana, but last season’s Europa League winners need to be wary of the threat posed by Liverpool.

TEAMtalk understands that Liverpool are among the clubs that showed interest in Fofana in the summer transfer window.

Sources told TEAMtalk’s Everton correspondent, Harry Watkinson, that along with Everton, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, too, made enquiries about the 20-year-old Belgium international winger.

In the end, Federico Chiesa’s decision to stay at Liverpool saw the defending Premier League champions end their pursuit of the Lyon winger, but his agent has previously gone public with the youngster’s desire to play for the Merseyside club.

Bobo Fofana told Africa Foot in May: “The choice of heart would be Liverpool.

“He has the potential to enter the rotation, and above all, we would like to see him succeed African legends such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and El Hadji Diouf.

“Now, the choice of reason would be Newcastle, a well-structured club that could be a first step to gain experience before, perhaps, joining a club in the European top five.

“He has the profile to succeed in the Premier League. He possesses qualities similar to those of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, namely speed, impact, and the ability to create opportunities. There’s no doubt he can make a splash.

“For him, this would be an opportunity to continue his development and, above all, to showcase his talent in a league that favors transitional play.

“However, he’ll have to choose the right club, as competition is fierce across the Channel.”

A potential problem for Fofana in fulfilling his desire to play for Liverpool is the emergence of Rio Ngumoha.

Liverpool have high hopes of Ngumoha and plan to give the 17-year-old valuable playing time at left wing.

Latest Tottenham news: £100m star on radar, Daniel Levy exit theory

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, has reported that Tottenham Hotspur are ready to pay £100million for an Aston Villa star that they made contact with in the summer transfer window.

Simon Jordan has given his take on Daniel Levy’s exit from Tottenham, with the former Crystal Palace chairman and talkSPORT pundit sharing his theory on the bombshell decision.

Tottenham will return to the table for two Manchester City stars they tried to sign this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur could re-emerge as more serious contenders for Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, sources have told TEAMtalk, as the Premier League club embark on a new era without long-serving chairman Daniel Levy.

Spurs parted ways with Levy on Thursday, a huge development that insiders believe could pave the way for a fresh vision at the top of the north London club. With that comes the possibility of more ambitious and progressive investment in the transfer market.

Rogers is a player admired greatly within Tottenham’s ranks, with last season’s Europa League winners giving serious thought to signing him in August.

As TEAMtalk reported at the time, Villa made it clear that Rogers was not for sale, underlining how highly he is valued at Villa Park.

Indeed, Tottenham made tentative contact through intermediaries late in the summer window, with former Spurs striker Gary Lineker telling The Rest Is Football podcast that Rogers would ‘be an incredible signing’ for Thomas Frank’s side.

Spurs ultimately withdrew from talks with Villa as they turned their focus towards Randal Kolo Muani, who joined on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

However, sources have told TEAMtalk that Villa are expected to slap a valuation of around £100million (€115m, $135m) on Rogers from the New Year onwards, reflecting his growing importance under manager Unai Emery.

While that figure was considered out of reach during Levy’s reign, there is a growing belief that Tottenham could now stretch themselves financially to land a marquee target, with Rogers right at the top of the list should such a deal become feasible.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that Chelsea are also interested in Rogers and are monitoring the situation.

Rogers, a versatile player who played in attacking midfield, as a right-winger and as a left-winger last season, has scored 17 goals and given 17 assists in 73 matches in all competitions for Villa so far in his career.

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Latest Tottenham news: Daniel Levy exit theory, Warning about major signing

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has given his theory as to why Levy has left his role as the chairman of Tottenham.

Tottenham have been warned about a major signing that they made in the summer transfer window.

Spurs will return for a winger they had bids turned down for this summer, as the Premier League club have not given up on bringing him to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Following Daniel Levy’s decision to walk away from his role as Tottenham chairman, TEAMtalk has ranked what we think are the 10 best and worst signings of his long tenure in north London.

Levy was appointed in March 2001 and leaves nearly 25 years on, although he does so with his head held slightly higher after the Europa League success last season.

The 63-year-old was the Premier League’s longest-serving chairman and earned an estimated £50m-plus during his time in charge, but he was also the target of regular protests from Tottenham fans, especially last season when an ill-equipped squad ended up finishing 17th in the Premier League.

A new dawn could now be on the horizon in north London, but for now, let’s take a look back at Levy’s business over the years…

Top 10 best signings

Transfer fee: £5m

From: MK Dons

Appearances and goals: 269/67

It’s a massive shame the way things have turned out for Dele, but what a player he was during that three-year stint between 2015-2018 when Tottenham were genuinely pushing for the Premier League title.

Considering the peanuts they paid for him, the payoff was a big one – before things sadly started to go downhill.

Transfer fee: £10.9m

From: Bayer Leverkusen

Appearances and goals: 102/46

The silky technician was an incredible player to watch, even if he only had two seasons in north London before Man Utd eventually came calling in 2008.

Levy negotiated a near £20m profit on the sale, with legendary Old Trafford boss famously writing in his autobiography that dealing with the Spurs supremo at the time “was more painful than my hip replacement”.

A Levy special for sure!

Transfer fee: £11.8m

From: Lyon

Appearances and goals: 447/0

Incredible value for money for the France World Cup winner, who spent over a decade in north London and spent eight as captain of the club.

Unfortunately for Lloris, he failed to lead the club to any silverware in that time and his form dropped off badly towards the end. However, he will still go down as one of the best goalkeepers the club ever had.

Transfer fee: £7m and then £16m

From: Leeds, Liverpool

Appearances and goals: 306/122

One of the most popular players ever to pull on a Spurs shirt and Keane has admitted previously that the best spell of his long career came in that first stint in north London.

The former Republic of Ireland international remains a regular at Tottenham legends games and is still a quality performer, even at the age of 45.

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Transfer fee: £7m and then £15.75m

From: West Ham, Portsmouth

Appearances and goals: 362/143

Another legendary striker, so good they signed him twice.

Defoe was a lethal finisher who linked up so well with the likes of Keane and Peter Crouch during his time at the club. He remains a hugely popular figure with the fanbase even now.

Transfer fee: £8m

From: Real Madrid

Appearances and goals: 77/28

Van der Vaart only spent just over two seasons at Tottenham but made a massive impact while he was at the club, having been an absolute bargain signing from Real Madrid.

Considering some of the quality performers he had at his disposal, Harry Redknapp was adamant about the best player he signed during his time as Tottenham boss.

He previously said: “Someone like Rafa van der Vaart was a fantastic signing for me at Tottenham in a last-minute deal. A great player, came in and set the place alight, he was amazing.”

Transfer fee: £11m

From: Ajax

Appearances and goals: 305/69

One of the bargains of the Premier League era for sure, and it’s criminal that Tottenham were unable to win a trophy during his seven seasons at the club.

Eriksen was at his very best when Spurs were flying under Pochettino, supplying the bullets for the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

It’s a shame it all came to a slightly bitter end when he openly admitted that he would run down his contract and leave on a free in the summer of 2020. He ultimately joined Inter with six months left on his deal in that January.

Transfer fee: £16.5m

From: Dinamo Zagreb

Appearances/Goals: 160/17

Many Tottenham fans would agree – especially those who saw him in the flesh – that Modric was an absolute technical marvel and one of the most gifted players to ever pull on the shirt.

When he signed in the summer of 2008, Spurs equalled their club record in a deal that raised plenty of eyebrows, but he goes down as one of the most astute pieces of business that Levy ever did.

Given his smaller frame, his longevity in the game is quite remarkable, with the 39-year-old still turning out at the top level for AC Milan.

Transfer fee: £10m and then a loan

From: Southampton, Real Madrid

Appearances/Goals: 237/71

In terms of the sheer bought and sold aspect, Bale would be the clear No.1, but it’s not all about that when assessing these inclusions – even if that would have been right up Levy’s street!

The ‘Bale curse’ early in his Tottenham career ended up becoming a thing of myth after he transitioned from being a struggling full-back into one of the most explosive wingers in the game.

Brazilian full-back Maicon likely still wakes up in hot sweats over the way Bale demolished him in Champions League clashes with Inter.

And while he is No.1 on many lists that have been done in the wake of Levy’s exit, Bale just misses out on ours.

Transfer fee: £22m

From: Bayer Leverkusen

Appearances/Goals: 454/173

One of the best Premier League forward players of the last decade without a shadow of doubt and a true Tottenham legend.

It was so fitting that Son was the player to lift the club’s first major trophy in 17 years in Bilbao after all the blood, sweat and tears during his time in north London.

His link-up with Harry Kane during their time together saw them become one of the best tandems in Premier League history, while he then took on the captaincy after Lloris and Kane moved on.

A great player, a great guy and an incredible Levy signing.

*Honourable mentions

As always with these types of lists, there are always players that miss out that could easily have been in. To that end, the defensive tandem of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld certainly deserve a bit shout out, as do Mousa Dembele and Kyle Walker amongst others.

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Transfer fee: £3m

From: Derby County

Appearances/Goals: 9/0

The Poland international was signed in 2005 but offered next to nothing during his short period in north London.

Indeed, Rasiak ended up being loaned out to Southampton and joined them in a permanent deal in the summer of 2006, with Levy suffering a £1m loss on that deal.

Transfer fee: £30m

From: Brighton

Appearances and goals: 100/2

This might be a slightly controversial one for some Tottenham fans, especially given the fact that he is still currently employed by the club, but Bissouma has been a massive disappointment – if truth be told.

He was an incredible talent at Brighton and Spurs looked like they had snapped up an absolute bargain in 2022. However, besides a couple of spells where he came close to that level he had with the Seagulls, the Mali international has been a major letdown.

Yes, he performed well in the Europa League semi-finals and final, but Thomas Frank identified as soon as he walked through the door that he needed to upgrade the No.6 role, hence the arrival of Joao Palhinha.

Transfer fee: £25m

From: Fulham

Appearances and goals: 57/3

A talented player who was so unlucky with injuries, but Sessegnon ultimately ended up being a bust signing.

Transfer fee: £8.3m

From: Marseille

Appearances and goals: 14/0

N’Jie came in from Marseille back in 2015, having earned a reputation as a real emerging talent in French football.

He ended up spending two seasons in north London, the second of which was a loan back to Marseille, before he rejoined them permanently.

Transfer fee: £42m

From: Ajax

Appearances and goals: 207/5

Arriving in 2017, Sanchez was lauded as a huge talent and his signing was viewed as a bit of a coup for Levy at the time.

In truth, he looked like he would be a great addition in his early days, although he was playing in the middle of a back three with Vertonghen and Alderweireld either side of him.

As soon as he was utilised in a back four there were mistakes galore, and he often looked really uncomfortable in possession too.

What looked like good business at that time ended up being a near £35m loss after Sanchez had played under multiple Tottenham coaches.

Transfer fee: £17m

From: AZ Alkmaar

Appearances and goals: 42/6

In their search for a reliable backup for Kane’s ankle troubles at the time, Spurs plucked Janssen from Alkmaar after an impressive scoring stint in Holland.

However, he really struggled to adapt to English and ended up in Mexico with Monterrey just two years later.

Transfer fee: £17m

From: Corinthians

Appearances and goals: 67/10

A Brazilian who came to the club with a big reputation, as Spurs started spending the money they recouped from Gareth Bale’s mega sale to Real Madrid.

However, he lasted just two years before being shipped off to the Chinese Super League.

Transfer fee: £27-55m

From: Reeal Betis

Appearances and goals: 108/11

It’s never actually emerged how much Levy paid to get Lo Celso on board back in 2020 after an initial loan stint, with reports varying from as little as £27m up to over £55m!

Either way, the highly-rated Argentine was a massive disappointment, failing to convince the likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou that he was worthy of keeping around.

Transfer fee: £26m

From: Valencia

Appearances and goals: 76/16

The club’s record signing at the time of his arrival in the summer of 2013, off the back of the Bale sale, Soldado was a major flop in north London.

Prior to the breakthrough of Kane, Soldado was tasked with leading the line for Spurs but was not particularly good at it. He lasted just two seasons before heading back to Spain.

Transfer fee: £60m

From: Lyon

Appearances and goals: 91/10

Abundance of talent – check. Bad attitude – double check.

Tottenham spent a new record fee to sign the French playmaker in 2019, off the back of their Champions League final failure months earlier.

Pochettino played a bit part in convincing Ndombele that he could improve his game in north London, but ended up being sacked not long after, and the attacking midfielder never really got his Spurs career going after that.

There was a spell under Mourinho where he started to flourish, but rumours of attitude problems were rife and the club ended up terminating his contract in 2024 – not getting a penny back for his services as a result.