The Mirror

The transfer window is seeing competition between Premier League clubs Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham as they attempt to get signings over the line in their quest for success

The trouble with good players can often be how sought-after they are. If there's a clear path to their signature, perhaps they aren't as spectacular as expected or maybe, if you're lucky, you know something others don't.

Tottenham's transfer ambitions this summer are certainly not for unknown, uncut gems and have instead taken the shape of prized Premier League possessions. Laudable, and good moves if they can be pulled off, but the Lilywhites may just find out how problematic such deals can be if you can't get them over the line.

With the arrival of Thomas Frank came a desire to land Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo but Spurs weren't first on the scene. The Cameroon international's interest in a move to Manchester United had already developed but Daniel Levy was not immediately dismayed.

Spurs jumped into the race with a bid worth £10million more than United's own offer when they launched a £70m approach. From the outside it sounds like the bold move required to sign a player who scored 20 Premier League goals last term.

But despite holding all the cards: a bigger bid, a familiar face in Frank, and being able to offer Champions League football, it seems the club will have to turn elsewhere. Ruben Amorim's side look set to agree a deal worth £65m, with Mbeumo anticipated to complete a deal next week.

Football doesn't always make sense, although Manchester United did finish two places above their rivals in the league despite falling to them in the Europa League final. Perhaps money talks or perhaps the Red Devils' stature remains worth more than more tangible qualities.

What may be more frustrating is that Tottenham could once again find themselves as the odd one out, unable to capture the attention of the figure commanding everyone's eyes on the dancefloor that is the transfer window.

With the competition of an even fiercer rival, Spurs may be forced to jink and jive to standout. Arsenal could be the team to scupper Tottenham's back-up plan after 'holding talks' with Eberechi Eze's representatives.

Spurs have long-tracked the Crystal Palace and England star but may struggle to hold a candle to Arsenal's Premier League ambitions after a difficult time in 2024/25. Eze made it on to Spurs' shortlist but it appears the Gunners could jump the queue with Andrea Berta already on the case and in conversations.

The Europa League champions cannot even repeat their ploy to land Mbeumo as Eze has a release clause in his contract. The former QPR starlet can be taken from Selhurst Park for £68m, ensuring the 26-year-old has almost the only say in his future.

But a scenario where Spurs are left chasing another target is not out of the realms of possibility. The will once again attempt to please, persuade and impress that they are a more suitable option to settle down with over their north London neighbours.

It is the Gunners who can offer a stable environment and will strive for the greatest gold in 2025/26 however. Spurs meanwhile are onto the seventh new face in their dugout since Eze became a Premier League player in 2020 - they will have their work cut out once again.

Someone will be left unhappy come the end of the summer. For the moment, Spurs are most at risk.

Bryan Mbeumo breaks silence with four-word message as Man Utd make improved transfer offer

Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo is enjoying his time off after a standout season in the Premier League, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both looking to sign him this summer

Manchester United's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo has been ramped up with a new offer for the Brentford forward. United have submitted an improved bid worth over £60million for the Cameroon star.

Mbeumo scored 20 times in the Premier League last term for the Bees, an outstanding return. But he is ready to leave Brentford for a new challenge.

Tottenham Hotspur are offering the opportunity of a reunion with Thomas Frank, after he left Brentford for the Europa League winners, replacing Ange Postecoglou. They have already made an offer totalling a potential £70m.

But Mbeumo is understood to prefer a move to Old Trafford, where he can expect to earn in the region of £200k-a-week. United have already seen an opening bid of £55m rejected by Brentford, who want at least the £62.5m United paid Wolves for Matheus Cunha.

Negotiations between the clubs are ongoing, and while they do, Mbeumo has taken to social media to share his holiday activities. He uploaded a series of photos and videos on Instagram, declaring: "Time off so far".

Mbeumo experienced Roland Garros as well as a scenic trip to Canada, where he was interviewed during a trip to the F1's Canadian Grand Prix. One person to notably like Mbeumo's post was United's young defender Leny Yoro.

Certainly Ruben Amorim would like to have Mbeumo in situ by the time the Premier League kicks off in August. United host Arsenal at Old Trafford in their opening fixture.

And the Portuguese is desperate to overhaul his misfiring attack after their dismal showing in 2024-25. Brazil international Cunha is a start, while Mbeumo has been earmarked as his 'twin No.10' counterpart in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation. A move for a new central striker has also been earmarked.

Pre-season is looming for Amorim, who is aiming to bring about significant change after the club's worst Premier League season, since the competition's inception in 1992. Their domestic disaster was compounded by defeat in the Europa League final to Spurs - which ensured there will be no European football at the club next term.

United's players are due to return to pre-season on July 7 before heading on tour to the USA. Whether Mbeumo is among their number remains to be seen.

Tottenham are aiming to add to their squad ahead of next season's Champions League return and have put Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze right at the top of their shortlist

Tottenham believe they can finally land Eberechi Eze this summer. Mirror Sport revealed on Sunday that Spurs are looking towards the Crystal Palace star as they try and strengthen their forward line.

And they believe Eze would be keen on the switch with other clubs also interested in the player who has a £68m buy-out clause. Tottenham ’s new boss Thomas Frank has prioritised a wide player in the transfer market and they have already made a £65m-plus for Bryan Mbeumo and have made enquiries for Bournemouth ’s Antoine Semenyo.

But England international Eze is also a long-term target and they have been getting encouraging noises about whether he would move to Spurs this summer.

Newcastle and Aston Villa have also been linked with Eze while Palace are desperate to keep him after he helped them win the FA Cup and clinch a placce in Europe.

Frank is desperate to strengthen his wide options with Son Heung-min potentially leaving amid strong interest from the Saudi Pro League.

Tottenham remain keen on Mbeumo but face major competition from Manchester United who have made a £55m bid for the Brentford forward.

Frank has a strong link with Mbeumo from Brentford and will be keen to bring him in but the forward has been keen on going to United. That deal is still a possibility for Spurs but they remain determined to strengthen.

Tottenham have made enquiries on Semenyo but Bournemouth do not want to sell after losing Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid while Liverpool are closing in on left back Milos Kerkez.

Would Eberechi Eze be a good signing for Spurs? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Bournemouth will demand around £70m for Semenyo and Spurs are now exploring options as they look to bolster their squad for the new manager and also ahead of a season back in the Champions League.

But Tottenham know they could get Eze if they trigger the buy-out clause which has been widely reported - just as long as the player agrees to the switch.

Tottenham plot Eberechi Eze transfer as Man Utd and Liverpool impact three-man shortlist

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is ready to turn to Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze as Manchester United battle for Bryan Mbeumo's signature while Liverpool could thwart a move for Antoine Semenyo

Tottenham could explore a move for Eberechi Eze as they look to strengthen their forward line.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has prioritised a wide player in the transfer market and the club have made a £65m-plus bid for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and made enquiries on Bournemouth ’s Antoine Semenyo. They have also got Crystal Palace star Eze on their list of potential targets and are long-time admirers of the England international.

It has been widely reported that Eze has a £68m buy-out clause in his contract which would be seen as great value in the current market. Palace will be desperate to keep 26-year-old Eze who has just enjoyed the best season of his career by helping them win the FA Cup and potentially get a place in Europe.

Tottenham weighed up a move last summer but ultimately Palace chairman Steve Parish said he was surprised they did not receive any firm bids. But after enjoying such an impressive season, Eze is likely to attract firm interest again this summer and Spurs are in the market for a wide player.

Tottenham remain keen on Mbeumo but face major competition from Manchester United who have made a £55m bid for the Brentford forward. Frank has a strong link with Mbeumo from Brentford and will be keen to bring him in but the forward has been keen on going to United. That deal is still a possibility for Spurs but they remain determined to strengthen.

Tottenham have made enquiries on Semenyo but Bournemouth do not want to sell after losing Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid while Liverpool are closing in on left-back Milos Kerkez. Bournemouth will demand around £70m for Semenyo and Spurs are now exploring options as they look to bolster their squad for the new manager and also ahead of a season back in the Champions League.

They have made Mathys Tel’s move permanent but could sell captain Son Heung-min before the end of the window with strong interest from the Saudi Pro League in the Tottenham captain.

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Former Denmark international defender Martin Albrechtsen played under Thomas Frank at Brondby and has now shed light on his compatriot's first ever managerial role at club level following his appointment at Tottenham

Tottenham's players are going to have a ball in pre-season - once they've navigated Thomas Frank's 1km time trial. The aim of the maximal aerobic speed test previously implemented by Frank's coaches at Brentford is to run 10 lengths of the pitch in around three minutes and 15 seconds.

However, that should prove a breeze in comparison to Antonio Conte's energy-sapping 'death runs' three years ago in Seoul when the Italian ordered his Spurs stars to complete 42 pitch-long sprints at the end of a gruelling two-hour training session in 30-degree heat.

Jet-lagged Harry Kane paused to vomit while Son Heung-min was among those to collapse to his knees in exhaustion. Providing he stays put, the Europa League-lifting captain can breathe a sigh of relief this summer because preparations for the 2025-26 season will not be so regimented.

Ex-West Bromwich Albion defender Martin Albrechtsen, who played for Frank at Brondby, insists pre-season training under his compatriot was a far cry from what he experienced during his time in the Premier League.

He explained: "I've had a taste of both worlds, the totally crazy pre-season regimes and also managers that think differently.

"With Thomas, his coaches and physios organise the sessions but he's mindful of the bigger picture, it's not just about running 20km, there was a clear plan and he knew how to schedule things.

"He thought about recovery and that if we're training tomorrow, we don't want injuries. His mindset was not about short-term gain and smashing people to their absolute limit, it was more about improving our conditioning and sharpness."

Former Denmark international Albrechtsen, who retired last summer, spent four years at The Hawthorns between 2004 and 2008 and his recollections of pre-season still haunt him to this very day.

The 45-year-old continued: "Life under Gary Megson was a bit special. We had this coach that would make us run in this park in Sutton Coldfield, it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my career. I lost around 5kg, I wasn't very big back then anyway so it was a real culture shock.

"I don't know any player that would enjoy running in a forest for two hours non-stop, they thought we were in good shape but we were not ready to play football because our bodies were so fatigued. Thomas likes to involve the ball a lot, there were still interval runs but you were getting a feel for the ball which goes a long way."

Daniel Levy recently declared Frank's ability to develop young talent speaks for itself. But now, he'll also be dealing with big-name characters at Spurs and Albrechtsen recalls he was notably "soft" throughout his time at Brondby.

He continued: "I think he was maybe just a bit too soft. We were a group of older players that were used to a harder, tougher mentality so we were missing that direct, rougher managerial approach at times. That said, it was around 10 years ago now and I'd expect he's changed given his success."

Ange Postecoglou was unable to appease Levy despite ending Spurs' 17-year wait for silverware and if you thought the circumstances surrounding the Aussie's exit were bizarre, Frank can go one better.

He resigned as Brondby boss in 2016 after it emerged the club's chairman, Jan Bech Andersen, had been scrutinising Frank via an anonymous profile on a fans' forum site.

Albrechtsen revealed: "Yes, it's true. It was a tough few years with financial struggles and we were nearly relegated so we were used to noise and stories, in a way, it just felt like another day at the office!

"Still, it was really strange but perhaps it was a good thing because we weren't performing well and if we carried on, Thomas may have been sacked."

Manchester United and Tottenham are both admirers of Antoine Semenyo but it seems as though neither club will be making a move for the Bournemouth star after discovering his price tag

Tottenham and Manchester United are both said to have cooled their interest in Antoine Semenyo after learning that the sought-after Bournemouth forward would command a transfer fee in excess of £70million.

There has been talk of Semenyo, 25, joining one of the Premier League's top clubs after a stellar season for the Cherries which saw him chalk up 20 goal contributions in all competitions. And it has now emerged that Spurs have followed United in making an enquiry for the Ghana star.

Tottenham want to bolster their frontline ahead of the new campaign and are also interested in Bryan Mbeumo, though the Brentford talisman is understood to favour a move to Old Trafford.

But neither Spurs or United are planning to press ahead with a move for Semenyo as it stands after discovering the forward's price tag.

That's according to The Athletic, who believe that Bournemouth's £70m valuation has 'deterred interest' from Semenyo's suitors after Spurs enquired about the player.

Semenyo would be keen on exploring a move to north London, the report adds, with the club able to offer Champions League football after their triumph in the Europa League final.

While it remains to be seen if Manchester United or Tottenham rekindle talks over a deal for Semenyo in the coming weeks, Bournemouth are in a strong bargaining position when it comes to the forward, who signed a new five-year deal last summer.

They are also under no pressure to raise funds after selling Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50m with Milos Kerkez also poised to join Liverpool for £40m.

Join the debate! Should Man Utd or Spurs try and sign Semenyo this summer? Let us know here

With United and Spurs set to consider other attacking targets as a result of Bournemouth's valuation of Semenyo, both clubs are waiting to see if an agreement can be struck with Brentford for Mbeumo.

The Cameroon star is understood to have his heart set on a move to Old Trafford but a move to Tottenham would present him with an opportunity to continue working with Thomas Frank, who was appointed as Ange Postecoglou's successor last week.

Brentford want at least £60m for their star forward, who broke the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League for the first time last season.

Bryan Mbeumo told next move is a no-brainer as Man Utd and Spurs fight to sign him

Bryan Mbeumo is wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham, with former Old Trafford winger Lee Sharpe telling the forward there is only one club he must join this summer

Bryan Mbeumo has been told it is a no-brainer choosing a move to Manchester United over Tottenham.

United have already failed with a £55million bid for Mbeumo, with Spurs hopeful the appointment of Thomas Frank as boss can help convince the striker to make the same switch from Brentford.

The two Premier League clubs are fighting it out for Mbeumo, but former United winger Lee Sharpe said he must choose the Red Devils over Spurs – despite the lack of European football.

United lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Spurs last month, meaning Old Trafford will not play host to European football for only the second time in 35 years.

Despite that, Sharpe has told 26-year-old Mbeumo he must choose United, despite the fact he will be turning his back on the Champions League and the chance to link up with his former boss.

“It will be a really tough decision for Mbeumo,” Sharpe told Aceodds.com. “To go to Tottenham, playing in the Champions League with the manager you have been playing under and trusts you, knows your game and personality which makes the transition a lot easier.

“But there's only one Manchester United and the opportunity to play for United doesn’t come along many times in your career - maybe even not at all.

“I understand that Tottenham are playing in Europe, and might seem like a better option to him, with a manager he knows. But I think that if he can be a part of this rebuild and do well, he will never look back.”

Sharpe, who spent eight years at United, making 263 appearances and scoring 36 goals, also questioned whether Jadon Sancho is good enough to play in the Premier League.

United winger Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea and is facing an uncertain future, with the London club having paid the Red Devils a £5m fee not to make the move permanent.

Against that backdrop, Sharpe questioned whether Sancho is cut out for the Premier League and suggested a move back to Germany – where he played for Borussia Dortmund – may better suit him.

“It’s been a shame with Sancho, because he’s one of the players I would pay an entrance fee to go and watch,” said Sharpe. “His footwork and ability to take people on is great.

“As a kid, I would have wanted his name in the back of my shirt. I want to watch him dribble and beat players. On his day he’s awesome.

“He just doesn't seem to be able to do in the Premier League and the pace the league is at. I think he's quick enough, but I don’t know if likes dealing with the physicality. He can go past people like they're not even there and at times he just seems to take the easy option and pass it square.

“With his ability, he should be taking players on at every opportunity and I don’t think he does it enough. He’s unbelievably talented but doesn’t do it enough. Maybe Germany suits him more, where teams don’t sit in as much and he has more time and space to beat players.”

Lee Sharpe was speaking to Aceodds. The full interview can be found here Aceodds.com

Harry Kane has made his mark since joining Bayern Munich, but he had plenty of options for his next transfer after leaving Tottenham Hotspur before he decided on the move to Germany

In the end, the allure of trophies is what swayed Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. Throughout his time at Tottenham, Kane was renowned as one the continent's top strikers and was on the radar of every top European club.

In 2021, Kane did everything he could to try and force a move to Manchester City, including publicly stating his desire to leave Spurs during a round of golf with Gary Neville. However, he waited two more years before Bayern forked out £100m to bring him to Bavaria from North London.

While Bayern won the race, Manchester United had been working on a move for the England captain for some time. When Erik ten Hag first took up the reins at United, it was exclusively revealed by the Mirror that he wanted Kane to be one of his first transfer signings. However, it was not the right time for Kane, as he was determined to become Spurs' record goalscorer.

Moreover, if the England skipper was to leave, it would have been for a club that was immediately ready to challenge for the big trophies and not one that was building or in transition.

After overtaking Sir Jimmy Greaves' Spurs tally the following February, United thought they had the perfect opportunity to sign Kane. Spurs finished outside the top four, during a campaign which saw Antonio Conte be sacked by the club, while United had just won the League Cup, reached the FA Cup final and finished third.

Kane had also publicly said that he wanted to overtake Alan Shearer's record of scoring 260 Premier League goals, seemingly ruling out a move abroad. With City enjoying Erling Haaland's services and Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo at the time, a move to United appeared to be the only realistic Premier League move.

It was a more promising situation than 12 months before when Kane was reluctant to move to Old Trafford after United's struggles under Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. The Red Devils finished sixth with their worst points tally for 32 years and had also endured their fifth consecutive campaign without a trophy.

Kane's motivation to leave Tottenham was driven by his desire to win a major trophy. At the time, the North Londoners were seemingly in a better position to win a title than United.

The England frontman had decided that he would only leave Tottenham for a side that's ready to compete for big trophies immediately and not one that was in transition. Kane was impressive in his final campaign at Spurs, but their 8th placed finish meant the writing was on the wall in regard to his future.

Initially, it was reported that Kane's representatives had a "secret meeting" with Paris Saint-Germain, who were interested in a move. PSG transfer chief Luis Campos held an "informal conversation" over Kane's future, according to Foot Mercato.

At the time, PSG were embarking on a fresh approach to transfers and were in the process of moving Lionel Messi and Neymar on, so they could build a younger and fresher team. A move to the French capital did not suffice and with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy being reluctant to sell to a Premier League rival, Bayern Munich were in the right place at the right time.

When the rumours about a move to Germany were ongoing, ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy urged Kane to move to Bayern and plunder as many goals and trophies as possible. In his column for Daily Mail, Murphy said: "If Bayern Munich come calling this summer, he should go. It would be hugely sad if a player of his quality finished [his career] without winning a trophy. It's something he himself would regret after retirement."

He added: "Going abroad might cost him Alan Shearer's Premier League goals record but, in the grand scheme of things, that shouldn't put him off. In five years, we could be talking about Harry Kane, Champions League winner with multiple Bundesliga titles and cup medals.

"I'm sure Kane will get other offers. Manchester United have been mentioned, but he hasn't got time to be part of a team that is building. If he was going to leave, it would be primarily to win trophies from the get-go, which would make Bayern his best option."

Kane would go on to snub any other interest from United to secure his £100m move to Bayern. After a disappointing first season saw Bayern fail to win a trophy for the first time in a decade, Kane won the Bundesliga under Vincent Kompany, helping himself to 38 goals and 13 assists in 47 matches along the way.

Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach Thomas Frank is promising a team that will take risks in words that echo the sentiments shared by his predecessor Ange Postecoglou

Thomas Frank will urge Tottenham to gamble in attack because that is what the club demands.

New boss Frank last week replaced gung-ho Ange Postecoglou after he paid the price for a 17th-place league finish. But Postecoglou also won the club’s first piece of silverware for 17 years by winning the Europa League – meaning Frank will not just inherit a squad full of players that excite him but have an immediate chance to impress in the Champions League.

And in his first interview since leaving Brentford, who received £10m in compensation, Frank made similar noises to his predecessor when it comes to describing his desired style.

“The intention is to play aggressive, front-footed football. I know the ethos and the history of the club is it’s massive on attacking football,” he said.

“There’s so much attacking talent in the squad. I’m very excited by that. They’ve clearly shown over the last two seasons that the ability to score goals is fantastic.

“I’m very, very in on that. I love a team that scores goals. We just want to build on that attacking football we already have.

“I’m a big believer in if you don’t take risks, you also take a risk. It’s important we take risks. If we play man-to-man in some situations, the risk is you need to play forward. If you don’t risk, you can’t create anything.

“The players need to be brave and trust themselves. I’ll do my best to instil that trust. If they lose the ball by trying, that’s never a problem. Of course I can react, that’s natural, but they need to do that.

“If they don’t work hard, I struggle more with that. That’s my non-negotiable. If you don’t take risks, it’s impossible to achieve something big.”

Frank added that if the club is to realise his vision there needs to be joined-up thinking with the hierarchy - beginning with chairman Daniel Levy.

The Dane is Levy’s 13th permanent managerial hire in 24 years as chairman and he added: “I think alignment is key from top to bottom. It starts from Daniel, Vinai (Venkatesham, chief executive) and Johan (Lange, technical director).

“The more the four of us can be aligned, like an unbreakable unit, the stronger we’ll be. There will be ups and downs but right now it’s a fairytale. It’s fantastic.”

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has spoken publicly for the first time since deciding to let Ange Postecoglou go after delivering club's first trophy in 17 years before appointing Thomas Frank as his replacement

Daniel Levy has said it was the correct call but “emotionally difficult” to sack Ange Postecoglou two weeks after he led Tottenham to a first trophy in 17 years. Spurs chairman Levy has moved quickly to appoint Thomas Frank, last week paying Brentford £10m to release the Dane from his contract.

And he says the club's "collective decision" to bid farewell to Postecoglou was made because the club needs to compete on all fronts. Last month’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United came at the tail end of a campaign in which Spurs finished 17th in the league.

And Levy, speaking publicly for the first time since hiring Frank, said: “I’m very grateful to Ange, I don’t regret appointing Ange. In his first season we finished fifth and in our second season we were over the moon to win a trophy. But we need to compete in all competitions and we felt that we needed a change.

“I’ve got an excellent relationship with him, I’ve told him that he’s always going to be part of our history. Himself and his family are always welcome back.

“It was a collective decision, it wasn’t my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally it was difficult, but we believe we’ve made the right decision for the club.”

Levy added that he sees a number of standout qualities in Frank – the 13th permanent hire of his 24 years in charge of the club.

“Whenever you have a new coach, it’s always a fresh start,” Levy said. “You always have different ideas. But we want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season.

“Of the things that stood out to me with Thomas – clearly highly intelligent, great communicator, super human being, plus all the other technical aspects that are obviously important. But they really stood out to me, those three parts.”

Tottenham's new CEO Vinai Venkatesham also opened up on the process behind hiring Frank, explaining he saw off 30 candidates to be named the club's new manager. He added: “We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important to be a successful manager at Tottenham Hotspur

"We analysed in real detail through our technical staff led by [technical director] Johan (Lange), more than 30 candidates. We had a shortlist, we spent a lot of time with the shortlist, and Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate. I could not be more excited to have him join the club.

“I agree with everything that Daniel said around his characteristics. Personally, one of the things I’m really excited about is he’s an outstanding developer of young players. I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad that we have here.”

Spurs are currently being linked with a transfer for Frank's former player at Brentford Bryan Mbeumo - though Manchester United are also keen on a player whom the Bees value at £65m.