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Defoe has officially stepped down as manager of National League side Woking after just four months and six league matches in charge. The 43-year-old former England striker was appointed in March as Neal Ardley's replacement, successfully guiding the club to a 10th-place finish last season. However, the club confirmed that both parties mutually agreed to part ways abruptly, just two weeks before the opening game of the new campaign.

Despite impressing club management with his coaching on the training field, Defoe revealed that off-the-pitch circumstances made it impossible for him to remain in his post.

Writing in a post on his personal Instagram account, the former Tottenham Hotspur star delivered his farewell message: "Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position.

"I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special.

"My time at Woking FC has been an eye-opening managerial experience and one that will undoubtedly make me stronger for the next challenge in my career."

As referenced, Ngumoha set a high bar when it came to a teenager making an impact on pre-season at Liverpool, but there is hope that Josh Abe will be able to at least match the performances of the newest England international if not this summer, then in 2027 or 2028.

Abe will get his first extended taste of first-team training during Liverpool's tour of the United States having joined in with some of Arne Slot's sessions last season while only 15 years old. Those promotions came as a reward for his fine form in the Under-18s, for whom he scored eight goals and provided three assists in 10 league appearances.

Injury brought a premature end to Abe's campaign, and the Reds had to fight hard to keep him on Merseyside amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in the forward, who turned 16 earlier this month.

A left-footed winger who is most comfortable cutting inside from the right, Abe should get the opportunity to impress in the coming weeks given the departure of Mohamed Salah and late arrival of new signing Victor Munoz after Spain went all the way at the World Cup.

With Marc Cucurella having departed for Real Madrid, there is vacancy to be filled on the left-hand side for Chelsea, regardless of whether new boss Xabi Alonso opts to play three or four at the back. Jorrel Hato and Levi Colwill are options among the established squad while new arrivals Valentin Barco and Geovany Quenda could also operate at wing-back, albeit the latter is better suited to the playing off the right in such a system.

Landon Emenalo, meanwhile, will hope he can push himself into the mix as one of a number of academy starlets whom Alonso is likely to include in his squad for their tour of Australia and Asia. The son of former Chelsea director of football, Michael Emenalo, Landon has impressed at age-group level for both the Blues and England.

A midfielder who can also operate at left-back, Emenalo's comfort in possession marks him out from his peers and is likely to catch the eye of Alonso this summer.

The 18-year-old is set to be joined in the touring squad by the likes of Reggie Walsh, Shim Mheuka and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, all of whom have been tipped for big futures in west London.

If there is one player on this list around whom there is a similar buzz to that which followed Ngumoha and, in particular, Dowman last summer, then it is Man Utd forward JJ Gabriel. Ever since it came to light that he had been nicknamed 'Little Messi' during his early teenage years within the United academy there has been a sense of anticipation regarding his eventual ascension to the senior ranks.

Well, that time is likely to come over the summer as United embark on a whistle-stop tour of Europe that will take them to cities such as Dublin, Gothenburg and Wroclaw. Though Gabriel did not feature in the Red Devils' opening friendly of the summer against Wrexham, he is expected to be given chances to impress by Michael Carrick before the new Premier League season arrives.

Despite only turning 15 in October, Gabriel was the star of United's U18s last season, as he netted 23 goals in as many league games to be named the U18s Premier League's Player of the Season, while he also led the way for the Red Devils en route to them reaching the FA Youth Cup final.

Already an England U17 international, Gabriel - who can play either as a striker or a wide forward - is regarded as having one of the highest ceilings of any United academy graduate of the past couple of decades, and there is real hope that he will make an instant impact when he takes to the pitch this summer.

While Beto and Thierno Barry both showed signs of improvement as the season wore on, there is no doubt that Everton could do with more goal-scoring options as the Toffees aim to secure a return to European football for the first time since 2017-18. That's where Braiden Graham could come in.

The 18-year-old scored 25 goals in 34 games for Everton's youth sides last season, which helped earn Graham a first call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for their June friendlies. Now the former Linfield attacker is closing in on his first taste of senior football as he joins David Moyes' squad for pre-season.

Graham spent the majority of his youth career as a central striker, but his slight stature has led to him being forced out wide over the past 12 months, and it is off the left where he has found a home as he aims to continue catching Moyes' eye.

It went a little under the radar in the UK, but during the opening weeks of last season, there was a 16-year-old English striker starting games in the French top-flight. That teenager was Brian Madjo, who made five appearances for Metz in Ligue 1 before being snapped up by Aston Villa for £10 million in January.

Madjo, however, has been forced to watch from the sidelines ever since after FIFA blocked his registration. The striker, who turned 17 shortly before his move to Villa Park, earned three senior caps for Luxembourg before switching allegiance to England, the land of his birth. However, those international appearances, in FIFA's eyes, mark Madjo out as a foreign player who cannot be transferred outside of his 'home nation' until his 18th birthday.

Villa have taken FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have that decision overturned, but in the meantime, Madjo is able to play in friendlies, and showed no signs of rustiness as he scored twice against Walsall in the Europa League winners' first pre-season outing.

Physically imposing at 6'4", Madjo has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku in the past, and is regarded as one of the top striker prospects within the English ranks. It remains to be seen whether he will be available for the first half of Villa's season, but he can still use this summer to show Unai Emery exactly what he can offer, regardless of when he is able to finally make his competitive debut.

With many of their players having gone deep into the World Cup, Enzo Maresca will be forced into giving opportunities to a number of young players when Man City kick-off their tour of Asia. The most attention-grabbing teenager is likely to be Jeremy Monga, whom City beat Arsenal to sign from Leicester City this summer. However, we are most keen to see centre-back Stephen Mfuni in action.

The 18-year-old made his City debut in January before heading out on loan to Watford, where he impressed mightily while earning his first real taste of senior football at Championship level. An injury brought a premature end to Mfuni's time at Vicarage Road, but he is back fit again and set to show why Premier League clubs are keen to take him on loan this season if given the chance by Maresca.

A left-footed centre-half with excellent reading of the game and comfort in possession, Mfuni has all the attributes to become a future England international and star at the highest level. City fans should hope to see exactly why he is so highly-rated over the coming weeks.

While Dowman understandably attracts a lot of attention at Arsenal, he isn't the only promising 16-year-old to have emerged from Hale End in the past 12 months, with there high hopes that Marli Salmon will follow Dowman into becoming a regular member of Mikel Arteta's matchday squads.

Salmon made four first-team appearances for the Gunners last term, and with Wiliam Saliba unavailable while both Ben White and Jurrien Timber continue their recovery from injuries, there is a chance that the versatile defender sees plenty of minutes once the Premier League champions kick off their pre-season friendlies in early August.

Capable of playing at right-back or in his preferred position of centre-back, Salmon is extremely highly-regarded in north London thanks to his maturity and ability on the ball.

Newcastle have endured another tumultuous transfer window, but amid the sales of some of the Magpies' most important players, they have added a number of exciting youngsters to Eddie Howe's squad, of which Sean Steur is certainly one of them.

Steur arrived on Tyneside from Ajax for £23m ($31m) after breaking into the Dutch giants' first team last season and catching the eye in Eredivisie with his supreme passing ability. Only 18, Steur was linked with a host of top Premier League clubs before joining Newcastle, where he will help fill the gap left by Sandro Tonali and perhaps Bruno Guimaraes.

With other midfielders still on their post-World Cup holidays, expect Steur to see plenty of action as Newcastle spend the bulk of their pre-season in the UK.

For all their problems over the past couple of seasons, the future does look bright for Tottenham, both in terms of the team Roberto De Zerbi is building for the present, but also because of the number of talented individuals who are starting to emerge from the club's academy. One of the standout players among that homegrown contingent is undoubtedly Luca Williams-Barnett.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut for Spurs last September but has had to be patient for further opportunities ever since. That might be about to change, however, after Williams-Barnett caught the eye in Wednesday's win over MK Dons, and he will be part of De Zerbi's squad that is travelling to Australia and New Zealand for the next phase of their pre-season programme.

An attacking midfielder who can also operate out wide, Williams-Barnett is expected to compete for minutes this season, especially if fellow academy gem Mikey Moore again leaves on loan to gain experience elsewhere.

As tends to be their way, Brighton have once again added some talented teenagers to their squad this summer, albeit they have spent far more on them than in previous years. As well as adding Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic to their ranks in a deal worth £46m ($61m), they also paid Swedish side AIK a cool £21.5m ($29m) to sign winger Zadok Yohanna.

The 19-year-old arrives on the south coast having scored five goals and provided four assists in his 11 club appearances since the turn of the year, and was also on Chelsea's radar before the Seagulls swept in. Possessing a bag of tricks and pace to burn, Yohanna has everything he needs to give defenders nightmares, and he will be keen to show off his talents as Brighton head to France for the first part of their pre-season.

As referenced, Ngumoha set a high bar when it came to a teenager making an impact on pre-season at Liverpool, but there is hope that Josh Abe will be able to at least match the performances of the newest England international if not this summer, then in 2027 or 2028.

Abe will get his first extended taste of first-team training during Liverpool's tour of the United States having joined in with some of Arne Slot's sessions last season while only 15 years old. Those promotions came as a reward for his fine form in the Under-18s, for whom he scored eight goals and provided three assists in 10 league appearances.

Injury brought a premature end to Abe's campaign, and the Reds had to fight hard to keep him on Merseyside amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in the forward, who turned 16 earlier this month.

A left-footed winger who is most comfortable cutting inside from the right, Abe should get the opportunity to impress in the coming weeks given the departure of Mohamed Salah and late arrival of new signing Victor Munoz after Spain went all the way at the World Cup.

With Marc Cucurella having departed for Real Madrid, there is vacancy to be filled on the left-hand side for Chelsea, regardless of whether new boss Xabi Alonso opts to play three or four at the back. Jorrel Hato and Levi Colwill are options among the established squad while new arrivals Valentin Barco and Geovany Quenda could also operate at wing-back, albeit the latter is better suited to the playing off the right in such a system.

Landon Emenalo, meanwhile, will hope he can push himself into the mix as one of a number of academy starlets whom Alonso is likely to include in his squad for their tour of Australia and Asia. The son of former Chelsea director of football, Michael Emenalo, Landon has impressed at age-group level for both the Blues and England.

A midfielder who can also operate at left-back, Emenalo's comfort in possession marks him out from his peers and is likely to catch the eye of Alonso this summer.

The 18-year-old is set to be joined in the touring squad by the likes of Reggie Walsh, Shim Mheuka and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, all of whom have been tipped for big futures in west London.

If there is one player on this list around whom there is a similar buzz to that which followed Ngumoha and, in particular, Dowman last summer, then it is Man Utd forward JJ Gabriel. Ever since it came to light that he had been nicknamed 'Little Messi' during his early teenage years within the United academy there has been a sense of anticipation regarding his eventual ascension to the senior ranks.

Well, that time is likely to come over the summer as United embark on a whistle-stop tour of Europe that will take them to cities such as Dublin, Gothenburg and Wroclaw. Though Gabriel did not feature in the Red Devils' opening friendly of the summer against Wrexham, he is expected to be given chances to impress by Michael Carrick before the new Premier League season arrives.

Despite only turning 15 in October, Gabriel was the star of United's U18s last season, as he netted 23 goals in as many league games to be named the U18s Premier League's Player of the Season, while he also led the way for the Red Devils en route to them reaching the FA Youth Cup final.

Already an England U17 international, Gabriel - who can play either as a striker or a wide forward - is regarded as having one of the highest ceilings of any United academy graduate of the past couple of decades, and there is real hope that he will make an instant impact when he takes to the pitch this summer.

While Beto and Thierno Barry both showed signs of improvement as the season wore on, there is no doubt that Everton could do with more goal-scoring options as the Toffees aim to secure a return to European football for the first time since 2017-18. That's where Braiden Graham could come in.

The 18-year-old scored 25 goals in 34 games for Everton's youth sides last season, which helped earn Graham a first call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for their June friendlies. Now the former Linfield attacker is closing in on his first taste of senior football as he joins David Moyes' squad for pre-season.

Graham spent the majority of his youth career as a central striker, but his slight stature has led to him being forced out wide over the past 12 months, and it is off the left where he has found a home as he aims to continue catching Moyes' eye.

It went a little under the radar in the UK, but during the opening weeks of last season, there was a 16-year-old English striker starting games in the French top-flight. That teenager was Brian Madjo, who made five appearances for Metz in Ligue 1 before being snapped up by Aston Villa for £10 million in January.

Madjo, however, has been forced to watch from the sidelines ever since after FIFA blocked his registration. The striker, who turned 17 shortly before his move to Villa Park, earned three senior caps for Luxembourg before switching allegiance to England, the land of his birth. However, those international appearances, in FIFA's eyes, mark Madjo out as a foreign player who cannot be transferred outside of his 'home nation' until his 18th birthday.

Villa have taken FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have that decision overturned, but in the meantime, Madjo is able to play in friendlies, and showed no signs of rustiness as he scored twice against Walsall in the Europa League winners' first pre-season outing.

Physically imposing at 6'4", Madjo has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku in the past, and is regarded as one of the top striker prospects within the English ranks. It remains to be seen whether he will be available for the first half of Villa's season, but he can still use this summer to show Unai Emery exactly what he can offer, regardless of when he is able to finally make his competitive debut.

With many of their players having gone deep into the World Cup, Enzo Maresca will be forced into giving opportunities to a number of young players when Man City kick-off their tour of Asia. The most attention-grabbing teenager is likely to be Jeremy Monga, whom City beat Arsenal to sign from Leicester City this summer. However, we are most keen to see centre-back Stephen Mfuni in action.

The 18-year-old made his City debut in January before heading out on loan to Watford, where he impressed mightily while earning his first real taste of senior football at Championship level. An injury brought a premature end to Mfuni's time at Vicarage Road, but he is back fit again and set to show why Premier League clubs are keen to take him on loan this season if given the chance by Maresca.

A left-footed centre-half with excellent reading of the game and comfort in possession, Mfuni has all the attributes to become a future England international and star at the highest level. City fans should hope to see exactly why he is so highly-rated over the coming weeks.

While Dowman understandably attracts a lot of attention at Arsenal, he isn't the only promising 16-year-old to have emerged from Hale End in the past 12 months, with there high hopes that Marli Salmon will follow Dowman into becoming a regular member of Mikel Arteta's matchday squads.

Salmon made four first-team appearances for the Gunners last term, and with Wiliam Saliba unavailable while both Ben White and Jurrien Timber continue their recovery from injuries, there is a chance that the versatile defender sees plenty of minutes once the Premier League champions kick off their pre-season friendlies in early August.

Capable of playing at right-back or in his preferred position of centre-back, Salmon is extremely highly-regarded in north London thanks to his maturity and ability on the ball.

Newcastle have endured another tumultuous transfer window, but amid the sales of some of the Magpies' most important players, they have added a number of exciting youngsters to Eddie Howe's squad, of which Sean Steur is certainly one of them.

Steur arrived on Tyneside from Ajax for £23m ($31m) after breaking into the Dutch giants' first team last season and catching the eye in Eredivisie with his supreme passing ability. Only 18, Steur was linked with a host of top Premier League clubs before joining Newcastle, where he will help fill the gap left by Sandro Tonali and perhaps Bruno Guimaraes.

With other midfielders still on their post-World Cup holidays, expect Steur to see plenty of action as Newcastle spend the bulk of their pre-season in the UK.

For all their problems over the past couple of seasons, the future does look bright for Tottenham, both in terms of the team Roberto De Zerbi is building for the present, but also because of the number of talented individuals who are starting to emerge from the club's academy. One of the standout players among that homegrown contingent is undoubtedly Luca Williams-Barnett.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut for Spurs last September but has had to be patient for further opportunities ever since. That might be about to change, however, after Williams-Barnett caught the eye in Wednesday's win over MK Dons, and he will be part of De Zerbi's squad that is travelling to Australia and New Zealand for the next phase of their pre-season programme.

An attacking midfielder who can also operate out wide, Williams-Barnett is expected to compete for minutes this season, especially if fellow academy gem Mikey Moore again leaves on loan to gain experience elsewhere.

As tends to be their way, Brighton have once again added some talented teenagers to their squad this summer, albeit they have spent far more on them than in previous years. As well as adding Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic to their ranks in a deal worth £46m ($61m), they also paid Swedish side AIK a cool £21.5m ($29m) to sign winger Zadok Yohanna.

The 19-year-old arrives on the south coast having scored five goals and provided four assists in his 11 club appearances since the turn of the year, and was also on Chelsea's radar before the Seagulls swept in. Possessing a bag of tricks and pace to burn, Yohanna has everything he needs to give defenders nightmares, and he will be keen to show off his talents as Brighton head to France for the first part of their pre-season.

Spain's Pedro Porro spoke about his future during an emotional tribute event held in his honour in his hometown of Don Benito, and the Tottenham star also played down the controversy surrounding the World Cup final.

The Tottenham full-back was among the key players in the Spain squad that lifted the World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

Speaking to "Sport", Porro admitted that winning the World Cup had not satisfied his competitive ambition.

"There is still a lot for me to achieve," he said. "I am a player with great ambition, and I always seek to learn more. Everyone who knows me knows that I aspire to more."

The reception moved him deeply. Porro wanted to dedicate the success to everyone who has walked alongside him since his early days.

He never imagined he would receive such a tribute. Reaching the elite, he stressed, required "a lot of sacrifices", especially since he was forced to leave home to continue his football career.

On his future, Porro confirmed he will stay at Tottenham, the club he is contracted to, and said he feels "very happy" there.

He did not close the door on a return to Spain one day, but his full focus is currently on his journey in England.

There was a lighter moment too. Porro joked with those present about the great popularity of his grandfather Antonio Sauceda, saying the reception was really "for him".

Closing his remarks, Porro brushed off the criticism from Argentina and the demands to replay the World Cup final. He insisted he had not read anything about the matter, dismissing it as "just things said from the outside" that do not concern him personally.

Tottenham fans have been met with disappointing news as the club prepares for its southern hemisphere tour, with Kulusevski and Kudus both left out of the travelling party. Roberto De Zerbi’s side are set to play three fixtures across Auckland and Sydney, building on their recent 1-0 victory over MK Dons.

The situation regarding Kudus is particularly frustrating given that there had been hope that he was closing in on a comeback, having not featured for Tottenham since significantly injuring his quad against Sunderland in January. While the former West Ham man had been pictured back at the gym at the Spurs training base recently, the decision has been made to keep him in London to focus on his recovery rather than risk the intensity of a transcontinental tour.

The picture looks less positive for Kulusevski, who remains absent from Tottenham's Enfield facility altogether, fuelling growing worry over the state of his knee. The Swedish winger has now gone 14 months without playing a competitive match, following patella surgery that followed an injury sustained just before Spurs lifted the Europa League in May 2025.

The 14-month layoff is a major concern for the technical staff, as the winger was once considered a foundational piece of the Tottenham attack. Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are also remaining in London to continue their rehabilitation from respective injuries.

While injuries dominate the headlines, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the new faces who have made the cut for De Zerbi’s 35-man squad. Chief among them are the high-profile arrivals from the summer window, including the £185 million duo Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka will also experience their first trip with Spurs, though Marcos Senesi has been granted an extended break after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, while Guglielmo Vicario, who has been linked with a move to Napoli, also misses out after picking up a minor knock in training recently.

Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation last season, surviving a nail-biting fight against the drop before finishing 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive campaign, a run of results that ultimately paved the way for the ambitious rebuild now taking shape under De Zerbi. Since then, the club have been among the busiest in the Premier League transfer market, moving quickly to strengthen across the pitch as they look to close the gap on the division's top sides, having already committed £237 million to incoming signings this summer.

Despite that outlay, De Zerbi has made clear his rebuilding project is far from complete. "I feel very good because we are working well. I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we are starting the project in another part of the history of the club," the Italian said, speaking to SpursPlay. "Now we have to finish, as it is not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I am very happy, very proud and very positive."

Tottenham fans have been met with disappointing news as the club prepares for its southern hemisphere tour, with Kulusevski and Kudus both left out of the travelling party. Roberto De Zerbi’s side are set to play three fixtures across Auckland and Sydney, building on their recent 1-0 victory over MK Dons.

The situation regarding Kudus is particularly frustrating given that there had been hope that he was closing in on a comeback, having not featured for Tottenham since significantly injuring his quad against Sunderland in January. While the former West Ham man had been pictured back at the gym at the Spurs training base recently, the decision has been made to keep him in London to focus on his recovery rather than risk the intensity of a transcontinental tour.

The picture looks less positive for Kulusevski, who remains absent from Tottenham's Enfield facility altogether, fuelling growing worry over the state of his knee. The Swedish winger has now gone 14 months without playing a competitive match, following patella surgery that followed an injury sustained just before Spurs lifted the Europa League in May 2025.

The 14-month layoff is a major concern for the technical staff, as the winger was once considered a foundational piece of the Tottenham attack. Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are also remaining in London to continue their rehabilitation from respective injuries.

While injuries dominate the headlines, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the new faces who have made the cut for De Zerbi’s 35-man squad. Chief among them are the high-profile arrivals from the summer window, including the £185 million duo Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka will also experience their first trip with Spurs, though Marcos Senesi has been granted an extended break after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, while Guglielmo Vicario, who has been linked with a move to Napoli, also misses out after picking up a minor knock in training recently.

Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation last season, surviving a nail-biting fight against the drop before finishing 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive campaign, a run of results that ultimately paved the way for the ambitious rebuild now taking shape under De Zerbi. Since then, the club have been among the busiest in the Premier League transfer market, moving quickly to strengthen across the pitch as they look to close the gap on the division's top sides, having already committed £237 million to incoming signings this summer.

Despite that outlay, De Zerbi has made clear his rebuilding project is far from complete. "I feel very good because we are working well. I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we are starting the project in another part of the history of the club," the Italian said, speaking to SpursPlay. "Now we have to finish, as it is not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I am very happy, very proud and very positive."

Fernandes has wasted no time in making an impression following his high-profile move across London. Handed his first start for Tottenham in a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons at Hotspur Way, the former West Ham man produced a moment of individual brilliance that has already gone viral among the Spurs faithful. Picking up the ball outside the area, the Portuguese international unleashed a venomous volley that flew into the net off the post, leaving the goalkeeper with absolutely no chance of making a save.

The goal was the decisive moment in a 1-0 victory over the League One side, and the sheer quality of the strike saw Fernandes immediately mobbed by his new team-mates. It was a perfect way to introduce himself to life under the radar at the club's training base, justifying the significant investment made to secure his services.

Speaking to club media after the final whistle, the man of the hour could not hide his delight at the nature of his first goal for the club. Fernandes was open about how much the strike meant to him, admitting that it sits at the very top of his personal highlights reel. "It was great, no? It was my favourite goal of my career by a mile. The second one was last season. I need to do this more, to shoot outside the box. I know I can do it," the 22-year-old explained with a smile, clearly relishing his fresh start in north London.

His confidence in possession and willingness to take on shots from distance were key components of his game at West Ham, and Spurs fans will be thrilled to see those traits seamlessly translating to his new surroundings. The strike served as a sharp reminder of the Portuguese midfielder's class, leaving Manchester United to reconsider their stance after opting against meeting his £85m upfront price tag. While the Red Devils were only willing to pay £70m upfront with £15m in add-ons, Tottenham did not hesitate to pay the full lump sum - a decision that is already paying off given his impressive early performances.

Tottenham are hoping that the arrival of Fernandes, alongside an ambitious summer recruitment drive, will spearhead their resurgence. The club has been exceptionally active in the transfer market, bolstering the squad with high-profile additions including Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Martin Dúbravka, Marcos Senesi and Sandro Tonali to overhaul their core.

This aggressive rebuild follows a gruelling and treacherous campaign last season, where Spurs narrowly escaped relegation with a 17th-place finish. Following the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi in the closing weeks of the season to steer the club to safety, Tottenham are now aiming to put those struggles behind them. With these heavy reinforcements in place, the team enters the new season determined to push back toward the top end of the table and secure a return to European competition.

With his move to Tottenham, Fernandes is determined to finally break his Premier League jinx, having first arrived in English football when he joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 - where he scored four goals and provided seven assists in 46 appearances. After enduring back-to-back relegations with both the Saints and West Ham, where he added four goals and four assists in 38 games, the Portuguese midfielder is now targeting a dramatic shift in fortunes, aiming to secure a top-five finish with the Lilywhites next season.

Fernandes has wasted no time in making an impression following his high-profile move across London. Handed his first start for Tottenham in a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons at Hotspur Way, the former West Ham man produced a moment of individual brilliance that has already gone viral among the Spurs faithful. Picking up the ball outside the area, the Portuguese international unleashed a venomous volley that flew into the net off the post, leaving the goalkeeper with absolutely no chance of making a save.

The goal was the decisive moment in a 1-0 victory over the League One side, and the sheer quality of the strike saw Fernandes immediately mobbed by his new team-mates. It was a perfect way to introduce himself to life under the radar at the club's training base, justifying the significant investment made to secure his services.

Speaking to club media after the final whistle, the man of the hour could not hide his delight at the nature of his first goal for the club. Fernandes was open about how much the strike meant to him, admitting that it sits at the very top of his personal highlights reel. "It was great, no? It was my favourite goal of my career by a mile. The second one was last season. I need to do this more, to shoot outside the box. I know I can do it," the 22-year-old explained with a smile, clearly relishing his fresh start in north London.

His confidence in possession and willingness to take on shots from distance were key components of his game at West Ham, and Spurs fans will be thrilled to see those traits seamlessly translating to his new surroundings. The strike served as a sharp reminder of the Portuguese midfielder's class, leaving Manchester United to reconsider their stance after opting against meeting his £85m upfront price tag. While the Red Devils were only willing to pay £70m upfront with £15m in add-ons, Tottenham did not hesitate to pay the full lump sum - a decision that is already paying off given his impressive early performances.

Tottenham are hoping that the arrival of Fernandes, alongside an ambitious summer recruitment drive, will spearhead their resurgence. The club has been exceptionally active in the transfer market, bolstering the squad with high-profile additions including Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Martin Dúbravka, Marcos Senesi and Sandro Tonali to overhaul their core.

This aggressive rebuild follows a gruelling and treacherous campaign last season, where Spurs narrowly escaped relegation with a 17th-place finish. Following the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi in the closing weeks of the season to steer the club to safety, Tottenham are now aiming to put those struggles behind them. With these heavy reinforcements in place, the team enters the new season determined to push back toward the top end of the table and secure a return to European competition.

With his move to Tottenham, Fernandes is determined to finally break his Premier League jinx, having first arrived in English football when he joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 - where he scored four goals and provided seven assists in 46 appearances. After enduring back-to-back relegations with both the Saints and West Ham, where he added four goals and four assists in 38 games, the Portuguese midfielder is now targeting a dramatic shift in fortunes, aiming to secure a top-five finish with the Lilywhites next season.

Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future at Manchester United. The club want to offload his hefty wages after a successful loan spell at Barcelona, and the England international is still hunting for his next move.

Tottenham Hotspur are chasing the 28-year-old forward with an offer of up to £40 million. They see Rashford as the ideal man to sharpen their attack under Roberto De Zerbi.

Barcelona took him on loan last season, where he scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists. A permanent deal never followed.

United, meanwhile, are keen to sell and ease the wage bill.

One problem stands in the way. United will not sell to a Premier League rival, fearing Rashford could rediscover his best form against them.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been linked, but the same rule applies to them, according to a report by Caught Offside.

Spurs finished 17th last season and badly need reinforcements after landing Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Able to operate on the wing or as an out-and-out striker, Rashford could slot straight in.

For now, the forward favours a move abroad while Barcelona keep tabs on his situation, and interest from Turkish clubs has left him cold. United may be forced to soften their stance if suitable offers from abroad fail to arrive, the same source claims.

Having made her professional breakthrough with Les Fenottes at just 16 years old, the young footballer etched her name into history as the first player of Thai heritage to lift the Women's Champions League trophy.

Armed with valuable experience following her call-up to the France squad for Euro 2025, the gifted defender is eager to embrace her new adventure in England with Tottenham. Speaking to the club's official website about the move, Sombath said: "I had a lot of talks with my entourage and I thought it was also another step for me to change clubs and try to give myself a new challenge.

"It means a lot. It's a new team for me. After six years in my past club, it's going to be a new challenge and I can't wait to start the season. The league is very competitive. It's the difficult games I'm most looking forward to. Every game is a tough game and coming here, that's what I'm most excited about."

The capture of Sombath completes all six of Ho's primary transfer targets, following the earlier arrivals of Shekiera Martinez, Kirsty Hanson, Victoria Pelova, Caitlin Dijkstra, and Selma Panengstuen.

Assessing the pedigree of a player who boasts five domestic titles alongside European silverware, Ho stated: "She fits the profile of what we’re building. She has already shown real maturity in her performances, and we believe she has all the qualities to continue developing into a top player within our environment.

"Alice is an aggressive defender who is comfortable in possession, competitive in her duels, and has the ambition to keep improving every day. Those characteristics are really important to us, and we’re excited to help her take the next step in her career while strengthening the squad."