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Following Sunday's defeat away at Sunderland, new Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi might well be asking the same question as his predecessors - why, oh why, did Daniel Levy sell Harry Kane?

Losing the England skipper was perhaps an inevitability considering he had just a year left on his contract at the time, with arguably the bigger concern having been the club's plan to replace him.

Indeed, it took 12 months before a direct centre-forward successor was signed, albeit with that club-record deal for Dominic Solanke having since backfired, with the injury-hit Englishman scoring just six times across 2025/26.

As was evident again at the Stadium of Light, the 28-year-old simply can't be relied upon as Spurs' starting striker. Something needs to change.

Solanke is starting to look like another James Maddison at Spurs

For the most part, there's been no doubting Solanke's quality, with the ex-Bournemouth man arriving after netting 19 Premier League goals in his final season on the south coast.

A total record in north London of 22 goals in 62 games, almost one in three, isn't a disaster either, with the bigger concern having typically been keeping him fit and available for much of the last two years.

He certainly fits in the James Maddison category in that regard, the type of talent who could well have kicked on even further, had it not been for repeated injury setbacks.

Like Solanke, when Maddison does feature, he is a centre-piece of this side at his best, having totalled 37 goals and assists in his 75 games since signing from Leicester City.

And yet, the playmaker hasn't been seen since the days of Ange Postecoglou, while notably missing the Europa League final, proving sadly unreliable for a team in such a predicament right now.

Solanke is in that camp too, while even his return to action of late hasn't inspired a dramatic turnaround, notably registering just 18 touches of the ball at the Stadium of Light.

Considering Spurs fashioned just a solitary 'big chance' at the weekend, De Zerbi's attacking configuration was certainly not effective, ensuring a new solution could now be needed.

De Zerbi could now replace Solanke with £73m-rated Spurs star

If there was to be any positive from the loss on Wearside, it might well have been the performance of the two men on the flanks, with Randal Kolo Muani looking bright down the right.

The Frenchman came close to earning a penalty for his side in the first half, while on the opposite flank, Richarlison was his usual chaotic self, getting himself into promising openings, yet only managing to fire straight at Robin Roefs.

Having those two recognised strikers making driving runs inside from a wider role did look to be a sensible option, albeit with Solanke failing to knit things together in the centre.

With that in mind, one alteration that could please all parties would be the introduction of Xavi Simons in something of a new role as a false nine, with the Dutchman having been a surprising absence again from the starting lineup.

Also overlooked in Igor Tudor's final game in charge, the 22-year-old just hasn't found any consistency in a Spurs shirt to date, even while enjoying the highs of his brilliant brace at home to Atletico Madrid not too long ago.

Operating as a number ten that night, Simons showcased what an effective link man he can be, registering three 'key passes' in what was arguably his finest outing in north London to date.

The shift to Premier League life has been far more difficult, while finding a consistent place in the side has also been a continued problem, with the ex-RB Leipzig star flitting between a left-wing role or a number ten berth.

He may not have the physicality to operate as a lone striker, but as a false nine who drops deep to link play, Simons could well flourish, having operated in that role a handful of times during his time at PSV Eindhoven, as well as in the Paris Saint-Germain youth ranks.

Almost in a similar vein to Kane in his pomp, having Simons drawing out the centre-backs could then vacate space for the advancing Richarlison and Kolo Muani in behind, with the Netherlands star boasting the creative quality to thread the ball in behind for the pair.

Solanke, by contrast, completed only four passes last time out and lost the ball seven times from his 18 touches, hardly the mobile, progressive centre-forward that De Zerbi is likely to be in need of.

Alasdair Gold criticised Roberto De Zerbi's decision to play Richarlison on the left in Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 defeat against Sunderland on Sunday.

Spurs' defeat at Sunderland compounded by Romero injury blow

Tim Sherwood was very critical of Cristian Romero in the wake of the loss at the Stadium of Light, and it has now been confirmed the centre-back will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, in a fresh blow for the new manager.

Kevin Danso is the logical replacement for the Argentinian, at the heart of a defence that has often struggled this season, shipping 51 Premier League goals, and that is not the only problem position, with their midfield and forward line also being criticised.

Carragher suggests Spurs' midfield could get them relegated

Indeed, Jamie Carragher called Lucas Bergvall, Conor Gallagher and Archie Gray into question after the defeat at the Stadium of Light, and suggested Spurs could be destined for relegation if De Zerbi doesn't sort his midfield out very soon.

Lucas Bergvall's stats against Sunderland

The logical choice to replace Bergvall would be Xavi Simons, but the 22-year-old has now been dropped by Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, and was only brought on with five minutes remaining against Sunderland, suggesting he hasn't impressed De Zerbi in training.

De Zerbi's Richarlison decision baffles Alasdair Gold

With Dominic Solanke out injured earlier in the campaign, Richarlison was leading the line for Spurs, and the Brazilian is having a decent season on a personal level, having scored nine Premier League goals.

However, the former Everton man was unable to make an impact against Everton, after being given the nod at left-wing, and Gold has criticised De Zerbi's decision to play him out wide, saying: "I get why he would've wanted to get Richarlison into the line-up, because he's a battler and I get that. But I just can't have Richarlison on the left.

"I think occasionally it works, but my goodness it was so shown up at the Stadium of Light. He can't really beat a man, and if he can, he then hasn't got the pace to keep getting away from him. I felt sorry for him in a way, but more so for the team, because every time they went on a decent move or attack, it kind of died at Richarlison's feet.

"Either he made a poor decision with his pass or he hit, he kind of kept getting in his mind 'I'm gonna hit this really early', and he kept hitting these really tame awful shots."

Tottenham Hotspur may have to brace for the departure of an "incredible" player this summer, with a number of clubs lining up for his signature amid tensions in the dressing room.

Tottenham's summer transfer plans

The type of summer transfer window Tottenham will have is largely dependent on how they finish the campaign, with a Europa League triumph likely to put them in a good position to attract some top players, given that it means Champions League football will on offer next season.

Spurs are particularly keen on strengthening in attacking areas, with a deal to sign Lazio forward Gustaf Isaksen now advancing, while they are also looking to sign a new striker, and moves are now being made to sign Lille's Jonathan David.

Ange Postecoglou has also had issues at the opposite end of the pitch this season, with Archie Gray being handed a lot of game time due to the scale of the injury crisis in defence, which suggests a new centre-back may be needed this summer.

The need to sign a new centre-back may also be exacerbated by a potential departure, with a report stating Real Madrid are now expected to make a huge bid for Cristian Romero, whose future in north London is uncertain.

There has now been a new update on Romero's future Tottenham future, with a report from Spain revealing he is being targeted by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and his departure is now becoming increasingly likely.

The centre-back is said to have criticised the Spurs medical staff, which has caused tensions in the dressing room, while he is also disappointed by the lack of additions to the squad, and their poor performance in the Premier League.

As such, Postecoglou may be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi being deemed the most suitable option.

"Incredible" Romero could be huge loss

Since arriving at Tottenham for a fee of £42m, the defender has been a key player, and he has continued to perform well across a number of key metrics over the past year, despite his side's struggles in the Premier League.

Not only that, but the Argentina international has received high praise from the media throughout his time in north London, with Alasdair Gold once lauding him as "incredible."

That said, the 26-year-old will have just two years left on his contract by the summer, and if he has no desire to commit to new terms, Tottenham should cash-in, rather than letting him run his deal down.

Tottenham Hotspur have started identifying potential replacements for Son Heung-min, and the idea of moving for an "unbelievable" forward is now gaining traction among the club's hierarchy, according to a report.

Question marks over Son's future at Tottenham

Tottenham chose to renew Son's contract until the summer of 2026 back in January, exercising an option for a one-year extension, but there are still question marks over the South Korean's long-term future in north London.

Spurs have started to identify potential replacements for the winger, who is set to turn 33 in the summer, amid a slight drop-off in performance levels this season, having only scored seven goals in the Premier League.

Mathys Tel, who can be bought permanently for £45m this summer, is seen as an option, however, the Bayern Munich loanee has hardly set the world alight since arriving in the January transfer window, having failed to score a Premier League goal.

As such, according to a report from Spain, Tottenham have now chosen a different player as Son's successor, with AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo believed to be of interest, having impressed in the Premier League this season.

It is becoming increasingly likely Spurs will choose Semenyo as the heir to Son, who could decide to move on in the near future, with the Bournemouth star's name often finding itself on the list of potential targets.

The idea of signing the Ghanaian is now gaining traction among the hierarchy, with his versatility making him an ideal option for Ange Postecoglou, and there is a feeling he could be available for an affordable fee, when compared to other forwards on the market.

Reports from elsewhere have revealed Bournemouth could hold out for a fee of around £34m - £42m this summer, amid interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.

"Unbelievable" Semenyo could be a fantastic signing

First and foremost, Tottenham need to make sure they secure Son's long-term future, considering the 32-year-old has still been their best-performing player in the Premier League this season, having managed to pick up 10 assists.

That said, it is clear that Spurs could do with some additional depth, given that injuries have left Postecoglou with limited options at times this season, and Semenyo could still be a fantastic addition to the squad.

In light of his impressive performances for Bournemouth this season, the 25-year-old has been lauded as "unbelievable" by members of the media, picking up seven goals and five assists in the Premier League.

It could be savvy business to sign a forward who is proven in the Premier League for as little as £34m, but extending Son's contract should be viewed as a priority, given that his performances this season indicate he still has a lot left to give.

While White Hart Lane wasn’t exactly the scene of many trophy lifts, some of the most decorated footballers of our generation have taken to the field in Tottenham Hotspur colours on that ground.

Harry Kane left as the club’s all-time top scorer, but he is still yet to lift any silverware.

The same certainly cannot be said for Gareth Bale who went to Real Madrid and lifted the whole gamut, winning LaLiga three times and taking home the Champions League on five occasions.

He did so standing alongside Luka Modric, another Spurs icon who has since gone on to achieve some remarkable things in the sport.

Luka Modric's Spurs career in numbers

Now aged 39, Modric is certainly like a fine wine. As the goal below shows, scored just a matter of weeks ago, he’s not getting any worse.

He’s a Ballon d’Or winner, a World Cup finalist, a four-time LaLiga winner, a six-time Champions League winner and a five-time Club World Cup victor.

But, after being prised away from Dinamo Zagreb for £15m, the midfielder’s rise to stardom truly began at Spurs.

During his time at the Lilywhites, the Croat was nothing short of a marvel in the centre of the pitch with praise ultimately coming from all corners, notably Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson.

“He's a fantastic footballer. Alex Ferguson said to me last year that he could play in any team. I agree with him, he's so good. "Anyone would love to have him. When I was at Portsmouth I spoke to (Croatia boss) Slaven Bilic. Niko Kranjcar was a good player but they all said Modric was the best player. Slaven said he was world class." - Redknapp on Modric.

Spurs ended up banking a fair amount of profit from the Croatia international, selling him to Madrid in 2012 for a £30m fee.

The north Londoners have had some pretty fine midfielders since then, notably Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen, but the crispness of Modric has arguably never been replaced.

Well, fast forward over ten years and Ange Postecoglou may be brewing the next Modric.

Spurs' brand new Luka Modric in 2025

The immediate future for Spurs looks rather bleak considering the club occupies 15th spot in the Premier League.

However, the long-term future certainly looks bright providing they can continue to nurture their best young talent.

Postecoglou isn’t short of young options at Spurs with the likes of Archie Gray, Mikey Moore and Lucas Bergvall all staking their claims throughout an arduous 2024/25 campaign.

So, who evokes the biggest memories of Modric? It has to be teenaged midfielder Bergvall.

Said to have “a first touch like Modric” by the Athletic’s JJ Bull, the 19-year-old is turning into a fine player. He’s supremely confident in possession of the ball and while he’s yet to add too many goals or assists to his game, they will soon come.

Bergvall has only found the net once in his 38 appearances this term but has assisted four goals. Those numbers will obviously need to improve but some of his other core statistics are eye-catching.

According to FBref, it’s clear to see how much of a multi-faceted player the 19-year-old is. He ranks inside the top 15% of positionally similar players in Europe for pass completion, rubber-stamping his similarities to Modric, who is often renowned as one of the best tempo setters we’ve seen in the last 15 or so years.

The Croatian sensation wasn’t just someone to spray passes about but his ability to beat a player and carry the ball is perhaps an underrated facet of his game, ranking in the top 7% of midfielders on the continent for progressive carries per 90 with 2.49.

A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.

Where does Bergvall rank? In the 17% with 1.98 but he is in the very top 1% of positionally similar players for successful take-ons per 90 minutes. Also sitting within the best 13% for tackles, this is a player who pretty much has it all.

Let us tell you this. For as good as Modric has been throughout his career, he has never been a prolific goalscorer, netting an average of 4.7 goals a season during his days as a professional.

So often described as a generational talent by his peers, that tag has already been handed out to Bergvall too, with GOAL reporter Mitch Fretton suggesting after one performance last month that he could well be "generational."

There are also the leadership skills. Modric has been the Croatia captain for years now and in the words of data analyst Ben Mattinson, the young Spurs midfielder "could even be Sweden’s captain" in the future.

It looks like Levy and Co have signed a real gem here.

"I always win something in my second season". Those were the words, well there or thereabouts, of Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou earlier this term.

With Spurs sat in 14th place in the Premier League and staring down the barrel of another trophyless campaign, the craggy-faced Australian is clearly walking on thin ice.

While it's been a horrific season on a domestic level, the Lilywhites are at least enjoying a strong run in Europe. The Europa League remains the sole chance Ange has of winning a major honour this term and it could be decisive in whether he keeps his job.

Daniel Levy has overseen the sacking and hiring of many a manager during his time in north London and will pray that Postecoglou can engineer a turnaround. Stability is what they need heading into next season.

It's not just been a tricky season for the manager and his coaching staff, but a number of Spurs players have not been up to the task, notably in defence.

Pedro Porro has been the most suspect member of the backline.

Pedro Porro's season in numbers

Considering the front-footed nature of Postecoglou's style of play, Spurs are always going to concede goals. While they thrilled supporters with their attacking football last season and at the beginning of this term, it has ultimately come at the expense of results.

They have had to deal with a number of injuries, notably at full-back, missing Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie at one stage this season.

Truth be told, any side would miss three quarters of their backline but Porro, as the senior statesmen alongside the likes of Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin, did not cover himself in glory.

There have been some notable mistakes this season, and they largely focus on the Spaniard's positioning, an area of the game that he hasn't improved upon since an awful debut game against Leicester.

Tim Sherwood was quick to critique him after that game, simply suggesting that "Porro is so bad it’s unbelievable. His positioning is disgusting."

Since that moment he did improve, noticeably in the final third. In 2023/24, the Spain international scored four times and posted seven assists. He's contributed seven assists this term too.

However, while he's capable of magical moments in attacking phases of play, the 25-year-old is consistently caught out at the back.

Take Spurs' defeat to Ipswich at home earlier in the season. Porro was caught out positionally for both goals in that 2-1 loss.

There was that agonising moment against Arsenal, too, where Leandro Trossard's smart turn on the left flank left the right-back in the dust.

Then there was his concession of the ball in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Caught up the field, Porro gave away possession, which allowed Milos Kerkez to break down the left and cross for Marcus Tavernier to find the net.

It was the latest in a long line of mistakes. So, where can Postecoglou turn to?

How Spurs can solve their Porro conundrum

The most natural solution for Tottenham Hotspur here is to unleash Djed Spence, a player tipped to be included in one of Thomas Tuchel's England squads after a remarkable revival this season.

Spence didn't feature at all for Spurs last year, loaned out to both Leeds United and Genoa in Italy but he has returned with a vengeance and now looks like a major part of the club's future, appearing in 24 games, scoring twice and registering two assists.

With Porro reportedly attracting interest from elsewhere ahead of the summer, Spence must be able to look forward to a more regular role in the side.

However, that role should be handed to Archie Gray instead, a "future £100m" talent in the eyes of data analyst Ben Mattinson.

Gray signed from Leeds last summer for around £30m and has endured a bit of a baptism of fire in Spurs colours. A midfielder by trade, the vast majority of his outings under Postecoglou have come at centre-back, largely because of their defensive injury crisis.

He did catch the eye, though, with the manager notably hailing his performances out of position: "He doesn't shy away from it, he doesn't hide. He just keeps going. We'll get enormous growth out of him during this period, but right now he's contributing to us, he's helping us."

Despite impressing in the centre of defence, his future certainly looks as though it'll be slightly further forward in midfield or even in Porro's right-back position.

Indeed, it was on the right side of defence that the teenager captured the imagination for Leeds last season, missing just two Championship games and appearing at right-back on 30 occasions.

Not only will he give you a more polished defensive performance than Porro at right-back but he can also contribute effectively in the final third. He only picked up two assists last campaign but at the age of just 19, he has plenty of time to develop that side of his game.

One of those assists came in 4-0 win over Swansea in February 2024, with BBC pundit Jon Newsome waxing lyrical over his display at the time: "I think sometimes it is quite easy to forget he is only 17. You look at him now and he’s like this experienced, quality footballer. He’s a kid! But he’s not a kid, he’s a kid in a man’s body with a man’s mentality. He is way wise beyond his years, absolutely superb young man."

So, while Porro's future in the north of London doesn't look too bright, it certainly looks rosy for Mr Gray who looks set to dazzle Premier League audiences for a while yet, regardless of the position he plays in.

Tottenham Hotspur are now genuinely interested in a move for an "unbelievable" forward in the summer transfer window, having emerged as one of the clubs most interested in his signature, according to a report.

Spurs stepping up forward pursuit

Tottenham have struggled considerably this season, with a Europa League triumph their only possible salvation as we enter the business end of the campaign, and it seems like Ange Postecoglou's job could be very much on the line.

A lack of depth has been an issue for Spurs, especially considering the amount of injuries Postecoglou has been forced to deal with, and the manager is keen to bolster his options in attack this summer, should he remain in the job.

Lazio attacker Gustav Isaksen is one of the names on the shortlist, with Daniel Levy now readying a £33.3m bid for the winger, while the chairman is also actively involved in the pursuit of Southampton's Tyler Dibling, who may now be available for around £50m.

Tottenham have opened talks over a deal for Dibling, following claims he would be keen on a move to north London this summer, but the youngster is not the only Premier League winger on the shortlist.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Spurs now have a genuine interest in signing Manchester City's Jack Grealish, with Pep Guardiola's £100m signing potentially in line to leave this summer, having fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.

Postecoglou's side are one of the most interested parties in the race for Grealish's signature, should Man City be willing to let him leave for a reasonable amount, with their asking price previously being considered too high.

The Englishman would have to be willing to take a wage cut, if he were to complete a surprise move to north London, with the structure not accommodating of his £300,000-per-week earnings.

"Unbelievable" Grealish needs to move this summer

The 29-year-old's decision to move to City was fully justified by the incredible treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, during which he received high praise from Guardiola, who described him as "unbelievable".

However, the winger's career has stalled somewhat recently, failing to score and picking up just one assist in the Premier League this season, having often been limited to cameo appearances from the bench.

As such, a move to Tottenham could make perfect sense for all parties, should City be willing to take a significant loss on the former Aston Villa man, and it is promising news that Postecoglou's side hold a genuine interest.

That said, a move for Dibling could make more sense, given that the Southampton ace is still in the very early stages of his career, while Grealish will turn 30 early next season.

The last six years have been nothing short of a whirlwind for Tottenham Hotspur.

The fans have seen their club go from a Champions League final to the bottom half of the Premier League and their all-time top goalscorer sold to Bayern Munich.

On top of that, Daniel Levy has been through a plethora of managers, with José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, and Antonio Conte all failing to live up to expectations.

To his credit, Ange Postecoglou was at least able to bring the entertainment factor back for a while, but it's now starting to feel like time is running out for him as well.

In fact, if recent murmurings are to be believed, there is a slim chance that the Australian might be replaced by the last manager who was able to steer the club in the right direction for a sustained period: Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino's potential return

On November 19th, 2019, just five months after he led the club to their first Champions League final, it was announced that Pochettino had been sacked by Spurs, who were 14th in the Premier League at the time - sound familiar?

While the North Londoners made their way through the aforementioned list of managers in the following years, the Argentine took some time out before taking a job with Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021, where he won the League, French Cup and French Super Cup, but was sacked in the summer of 2022.

Out of work once again, the former Lilywhites boss took another year out of the spotlight before making the shock decision to manage Chelsea heading into last season, where, unfortunately, things did not work out, as after finishing in sixth place, he left by 'mutual consent.'

It was a much quicker turnaround in terms of finding a new job this time, though, as in September, it was announced that he'd be taking charge of the United States Men's National Team through the next World Cup, which is to be hosted in the States, Mexico and Canada.

However, things have not entirely gone according to plan for Pochettino, as while he won five of his first eight games in charge, his side lost their CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Panama and then the third-place play-off against Canada.

So, with things not going great in his current role and things going even worse for Postecoglou in London, it's not massively surprising to see reports jumping on him saying, "Yes, I would like one day to come back" last week.

However, while anything can happen in football, it seems like a distant possibility, as it would reportedly require a compensation package in the region of £21m, which seems unlikely to be something Levy and Co would be willing to pay.

That said, if the former Spurs boss were to return and be handed the reigns, we are sure there are some things he'd like to do quite differently and mistakes he'd like to avoid, mistakes like the signing of Tanguy Ndombele.

Pochettino's worst Spurs' signing

So, during Pochettino's time at Spurs, he was responsible for some brilliant signings, but also his fair share of dire ones, such as Serge Aurier, Clinton N'Jie and Vincent Janssen, but the worst, by far, has to be Ndombele.

The French midfielder joined the club for a then-club-record fee of around £63m and with a mountain of hype, so much so that some journalists were referring to him as the club's new Mousa Dembélé.

Unfortunately, those comparisons could not have been any further away from reality, as while the former Lyon star was able to show his quality here and there, he was often underwhelming, if not an actual drag on the rest of the side.

In all, the 28-year-old midfielder, who journalist Paul Brown dubbed "one of the worst signings Spurs have ever made," made 91 first-team appearances for the club, scoring just ten goals and providing nine assists.

Worse yet, the Longjumeau-born dud was handed a £200k-per-week contract when he initially put pen to paper, so for the first two and a half years at the club, he earned £26m in wages, before moving back to Lyon on loan for the latter half of the 21/22 campaign.

The following season saw him spend the year in Italy with Napoli, but the Lilywhites still had to pay around £7.4m of his wages, and then, last year, they had to pay £7.8m of it to convince Galatasaray to take him on loan.

Fortunately, the club terminated his deal last summer, so as not to pay any more money for someone who was never going to make it into the first team, but when you add up the money he did make in wages and his initial fee, the Frenchman cost Tottenham an eye-watering £104.2m.

When broken down, that comes out to around £1.1m-per-appearance, £10.4m-per-goal, £11.5m-per-assist or £5.4m-per-goal involvement, which is the sort of money you'd pay for a truly game-changing signing.

Ultimately, if Pochettino is to make a return to Spurs this year, he could help take the club back to where it belongs, although he might want to avoid expensive midfielders from the South of France this time.

Tottenham Hotspur have now held talks with the agents of a "sensational" £40m striker, who is attracting widespread interest from Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Spurs widening striker search

Tottenham are one of many big Premier League clubs looking at bringing in a striker this summer, with both Dominic Solanke and Richarlison struggling with injuries at times this season, which has left Ange Postecoglou lacking options in attack.

Moise Kean is the latest player to be shortlisted, with Spurs now monitoring the former Everton man, who has enjoyed a very impressive campaign with Fiorentina in the Serie A, while a 'super' bid could be made for Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres.

The Lilywhites have also started to make moves for Lille striker Jonathan David, who will be available for free in the summer, but with a number of Europe's top clubs vying to sign the Canadian, it could prove to be very difficult to get a deal done.

Another striker who is attracting widespread interest is Ipswich Town's Liam Delap, in light of a solid debut campaign in the Premier League, and a report from The Boot Room has revealed Tottenham have now held talks with the forward's agents.

Barring Manchester City, the rest of the Premier League's 'big six' hold an interest in Delap, with Newcastle United also in the race for his signature, which means a deal will not be easy to complete.

Man City own a 20% sell-on clause on their former forward, which means they will pocket a tidy sum from any sale, with the Tractor Boys looking to hold out for around £40m.

"Sensational" Delap impressing in a poor side

Ipswich are now nine points from safety, following a four-game losing streak in the Premier League, but their one shining light this season has been Delap, who has regularly been amongst the goals.

The Englishman has 10 goals and two assists to his name in 28 Premier League outings, which has led to high praise from some members of the media, having been dubbed "sensational" by GOAL writer Jacob Schneider.

Roy Keane and Daniel Sturridge have also been very impressed by the 22-year-old, with the former describing him as an "aggressive" striker.

Given his age, Delap could be a steal at just £40m, so it is exciting news that Tottenham have made initial contact, but with so many other clubs in the race for his signature, it may be difficult to win the race if they don't seal Champions League qualification via a Europa League triumph.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola their top target to replace Ange Postecoglou, according to reports, and now speculation is already beginning to surround who the tactician could potentially bring in if he's appointed.

Postecoglou is under mounting pressure ahead of the conclusion of this Premier League campaign, with the Australian attracting fierce criticism after a dismal 2024/25 season.

Spurs are 14th in the league and have lost 15 games in the top flight alone. Only the division's bottom four sides have tasted defeat on more occasions than the Lilywhites, which makes for very grim reading in the eyes of Postecoglou, who's sweating over his future in N17.

"They play a high press game, which is probably detrimental to injuries anyway," said pundit Martin Keown, questioning Postecoglou's lack of tactical versatility.

"And the two central defenders, they don't come up and stand sideways on ready to drop - they're square on and it's demanding. Van de Ven, the amount of times he's pulled a hamstring doing that.

"When a manager is just hard-fast, seems stubborn, doesn't want to adjust to any tactics... there's got to be more than that to management. I've not done it myself so it's easy sitting here saying it.

"But we do question it because we can't believe that you don't adjust."

His long-term stay at Tottenham is said to be in "serious doubt", according to The Athletic, who also state that Iraola is the leading candidate to potentially replace Postecoglou.

The 42-year-old has guided Bournemouth through an impressive campaign, despite being hamstrung by their own injury problems, and there is still every chance that they can qualify for Europe.

Some reports have suggested that Tottenham have made contact with Iraola ahead of the summer, so his potential hire is gaining real traction amid doubts surrounding Postecoglou's position.

Andoni Iraola could sign Justin Kluivert for Tottenham

Now, some pundits are starting to wonder who the Spaniard could bring with him to north London if he does end up stepping into the Tottenham dugout.

Speaking to Tottenham News, the club's former scout, Bryan King, has claimed that Cherries winger Justin Kluivert could follow Andoni Iraola to N17.

The Netherlands international, rumoured to command a price tag of around £46 million, has bagged 12 goals and six assists in the Premier League - marking himself out as a star player - and King believes that Iraola may look to sign Kluivert for Tottenham if he's appointed.

"If Iraola goes to Spurs, he could bring Kluivert with him," King said.

"I think that is just common sense. However, if the manager is going, how many players are Bournemouth going to allow him to take? It is all hearsay at the moment. Until we know exactly what is happening with Postecoglou, we can talk all day. However, until a decision is made on Postecoglou, watch this space."