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Ange could finally get Son firing again by unleashing Kane-like Spurs star

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Tottenham Hotspur have a huge game next up in the Premier League. Ange Postecoglou's side will travel to Stamford Bridge to face London rivals Chelsea on Thursday. The Lilywhites have now gone three games without a win in the top flight but will be looking to turn things around in midweek.

Indeed, Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for the North Londoners. In the entire Premier League era, they have won just one game away to Chelsea, drawing 11 and losing 20.

One of the men imperative to turn that run around will be captain Son Heung-min.

What Son has said about his Spurs performances

It has been a mixed bag of a season for Lilywhites captain Son. The experienced 32-year-old has not necessarily been the first choice option on the left wing for Postecoglou, playing 40 games and 2834 minutes, the equivalent of 31 full 90-minute games.

In that time, his numbers are certainly not unimpressive. He’s scored 11 times and grabbed 12 assists, mainly from the left wing. With that being said, he hasn’t hit the heights of previous seasons, perhaps due to fewer minutes across the campaign.

One of Son’s biggest contributions in a single game this term came against the bottom of the Premier League side, Southampton. In a 5-0 thrashing of the Saints away from home, the Spurs number seven scored one and assisted two.

In the last few weeks, the South Korea international has perhaps shown an issue with the amount of game time he is getting under Postecoglou. In a recent interview, the Spurs skipper said, “I'm in excellent physical condition” and explained, “my club manager made those decisions to create better situations”, seemingly referring to his lack of game time.

Son was not selected from the start for Spurs’ last game against Fulham, a 2-0 defeat. However, he has three goals in the past against Chelsea and could hurt the Blues by running in behind their high line.

In fact, there is one player in particular who could help get him firing at Stamford Bridge.

The Spurs player who can get the best out of Son

Postecoglou is not short of creative options in midfield. Dejan Kulusevski has become a deadly player from central areas, and young Lucas Bergvall has also impressed. However, one man who could have a real impact playing just behind Son is James Maddison.

It has been a largely profitable season for Spurs' number ten. He’s played 38 times across competitions, scoring 11 goals and grabbing seven assists, with 14 of those goal involvements coming in the Premier League.

Son and Maddison have a strong history of linking up well with each other. In 59 games together, they have combined for nine goals, with Maddison only linking up with three players more.

That included one goal combination against Hoffenheim in the Europa League group stage, where Maddison grabbed a goal and assist, and Son scored twice.

Not only that, but the England internationals’ creative numbers via FBref from the Premier League this season compared to other midfielders are exemplary.

For example, he averages 8.27 progressive passes and 0.94 shot-creating actions per game, ranking him in the top 5% and 2%, respectively.

The England international could be considered in the “same category” as former Spurs star Harry Kane. At least, that’s what Son himself once said, and he knows a thing or two about playing with the England captain. They combined for 54 goals in a Spurs shirt.

Maddison can certainly replicate what Kane did at Spurs with Son; picking the ball up in deeper zones and playing him in behind the opposition defence. This could certainly work well against Chelsea on Thursday.

There is certainly lots of evidence to suggest that the former Leicester City star would be ideal to start in midfield against Chelsea.

If Postecoglou is looking to help get Son firing, the starting Maddison, a progressive and creative player who has linked up well with the Spurs skipper in the past.

Their own Rice: Spurs leading the race for "unbelievably gifted" £0 star

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After what has been a disappointing campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this season, there will surely be plenty of transfer business done in the summer.

As things stand, the Lilywhites will not be playing in Europe next season, given they are languishing in 14th in the Premier League, with just 34 points to their name.

In fact, Ange Postecoglou’s side must win the Europa League in order to qualify for European competitions in 2025/26. Winning that particular competition will see them play Champions League football next campaign.

So, there could well be a squad overhaul for Spurs in the summer. Already, they have been linked with one addition in midfield.

Latest on Spurs' midfield search

One of the biggest bargains of the summer could be Angel Gomes. It seems like the England international will not renew his deal at French outfit Lille, and will depart the Ligue 1 club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

Well, according to a report from Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider, the Lilywhites ‘are leading the race’ to sign Gomes on a free this summer. This move comes as part of a ‘planning a potential midfield overhaul’ from Postecoglou over the summer.

One of the teams thought to be interested in signing Gomes at one stage was Manchester United, from which Gomes is an academy graduate.

However, the Red Devils are not thought to be in the running, as per the report. Instead, the North Londoners could face competition from clubs across Europe, from the likes of France, Spain and Germany, should they wish to sign Gomes.

Why Gomes could be Spurs' own Rice

Despite being just 24 years of age, Gomes has been in and around professional football since 2017. As a 16-year-old, he made his debut for Man United, the youngest player in 64 years to achieve the feat, beating the record held by the great Duncan Edwards.

After leaving Old Trafford on a free transfer in 2020, the Englishman joined Lille. He became an established member of their first team the year after joining, following a loan at Portuguese side Boavista.

In total, the versatile midfielder has played 134 times for the club, scoring ten goals and grabbing 19 assists. That included eight Ligue 1 assists last term, where he excelled in a number-eight role.

He is also capable of playing as a number ten and a number six, offering great versatility for Spurs’ midfield should he make the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 24-year-old has already made a great impact for England. Despite not being included by Thomas Tuchel in his first squad during the recent international break, he thrived under interim boss Lee Carsley.

Gomes grabbed a brilliant assist for Jack Grealish against Finland, showing composure under pressure and sliding the Manchester City winger in behind with a lovely reverse pass.

If Spurs sign Gomes, he could become their very own verison of Declan Rice. The Arsenal star was described as “a wonderful midfield player” by Jamie Carragher in February and has certainly made a big impact in his 91 Gunners appearances so far.

Indeed, there are some differences between Rice and Gomes, notably in their physicality. Standing at just 5 foot 6 the Lille star is more lightweight than the 6 foot 2 Arsenal number 41.

However, Gomes makes up for it with his ability on the ball. He is extremely press-resistant and able to evade tackles with relative ease.

Indeed, he can certainly be compared to Rice statistically on FBref, with the pair noted as similar players in Europe's top five leagues, among their fellow midfielders.

Per 90 minutes, the former Man United star averages 5.98 progressive passes, compared to 6.21 for Rice. He also averages 0.61 successful take-ons, with Rice averaging just 0.42 per game.

As football statistician Statman Dave explained, Gomes is an “unbelievably gifted” player. He has an abundance of technical quality, and whilst he is smaller than some midfielders, he still possesses the ability to break up play, as the stats show.

For a free transfer, this could revolutionise the Spurs midfield and help them climb the Premier League table to compete for European spots again.

Tottenham eyeing Iraola alternative who Guardiola called "one of the best"

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Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are continuing to conduct their due-diligence on potential replacements for Ange Postecoglou with the tactician's future in serious doubt, and chairman Daniel Levy has more interesting names on his shortlist beyond rumoured top target Andoni Iraola.

According to credible reports recently, Postecoglou's long-term future is now in "serious doubt", following a dismal 2024/2025 campaign for Spurs.

The Lilywhites sit 14th in the Premier League table and have lost a disastrous 15 matches in the top flight, grim numbers for a 'big six' side, and while their plethora of injuries have played a major role in this, criticism has still surrounded Postecoglou.

"When you’ve had your best team available to you and you’ve lost at home to Ipswich, your best team’s been available to you," said talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.

"When you had your best team available, you've been 2-0 up against Brighton, you've lost. When you've had your best team available to you away at Selhurst Park to Crystal Palace, who at the time were stinking the place out, you lose.

"You don’t get those passes. I think you get some of them. So I think that Ange has to be accountable for some of the poor performances."

Postecoglou made the best-ever start to a Premier League season by any new manager in the competition's history last season, but the 59-year-old has suffered a serious crash back down to earth after what was a promising debut campaign in the Spurs dugout.

So much so, that Tottenham are reportedly considering a new manager to replace Postecoglou.

It is widely reported that Bournemouth's Iraola is Tottenham's leading managerial candidate, with Rayo Vallecano's former boss having guided the Cherries to a very impressive campaign.

The south coast side are undergoing a damp patch of form right now, losing three out of their last four league games, but they remain surprise contenders to seal European qualification despite suffering their fair share of injury problems.

This has impressed Spurs enough for them to make the 42-year-old their top target to succeed Postecoglou, as per The Athletic and other sources. However, the same outlet reports that Levy has alternative options.

Tottenham eyeing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Andoni Iraola alternative

Indeed, it is believed that fellow top-flight boss Thomas Frank is among the other names in their thinking.

The Dane is out of contract in 2027 and previous reports have suggested that Frank is expected to pursue a new challenge at the end of the season, following seven successful years as Brentford's head coach.

In that time, the 51-year-old has transformed Brentford from a Championship side to solid Premier League mainstays, and there is still an outside chance they qualify for Europe themselves this term.

The Athletic claims Tottenham are considering a move for Frank alongside Iraola, so this could be one to watch this summer. Man City boss Pep Guardiola, commenting on Frank last year, also called him "one of the best" coaches around.

"They are an extraordinary team," said the City manager.

"What they do always makes sense. Every corner is a headache. They are compact. This season, they have a high press. Thomas is one of the best."

Tottenham now leading race to seal "special" free signing following talks

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Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be in pole position to secure a "special" free signing this summer, according to a new update.

Tottenham pushing for Europa League glory but could still sack Ange

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou appears to be walking the managerial tightrope in north London, with his side struggling during his second season in charge.

The Australian has won trophies in his second year at various clubs during his career, however, that is in the balance with Tottenham. The Europa League is the only silverware Spurs can win between now and the end of the campaign and are set to take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals next month.

However, there have been claims that Tottenham could still sack Postecoglou even if they win the Europa League, with a plethora of managers linked with moves to Spurs.

Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth and Fulham’s Marco Silva have both been mooted as potential targets for Tottenham, however, those behind the scenes look on course to make their first player signing ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Tottenham in pole position to sign Angel Gomes for free

According to Football Insider, Tottenham are leading the race to sign Angel Gomes on a free transfer when his Lille contract expires.

Spurs appear to be closing in on a deal and are in pole position for the 24-year-old midfielder, who won his first cap for England towards the end of 2024.

Gomes, who has turned down an offer to join West Ham, also has interest from clubs in France, Spain and Germany, however, a move to Tottenham appears to be on the cards.

This comes after Football Insider expert and ex-scout Mick Brown claimed that Spurs have already held talks to secure Gomes’ services.

“I think Gomes would be a good fit for them on a free transfer. From what I hear as well, the manager likes what he’s seen from him, so it’s one that makes a lot of sense.

“He’ll know how he sees him fitting into the side, what he wants him to do and how he wants him to play. They’ll already be speaking to his agent and representatives about a deal because they’re not the only club interested – we’ve spoken about West Ham already.

“So they’ll want to convince him that Tottenham is the right move for his career.”

Capable of playing as a holding, central or attacking midfielder, Gomes, who has been called "special", has made 20 appearances for Lille in all competitions in 2024/25.

Now, five years on after leaving Man Utd, a move back to England with Spurs looks likely for Gomes following this update.

Tottenham willing to make £33m bid to sign int'l forward as Levy advances

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Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy are advancing to sign a new international forward at the peak of his powers.

Tottenham transfer rumours as Ange prepares for Chelsea

Spurs and Ange Postecoglou have had a season to forget in the Premier League this year, sitting in the bottom half of the table for large parts of the campaign.

As a result, Postecoglou is being repeatedly linked with the Tottenham sack, with the likes of Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Mauricio Pochettino being linked as potential replacements for the Australian.

However, behind the scenes, early groundwork work is also being laid in north London regarding summer signings while Postecoglou prepares his side to take on Chelsea.

Talks have been held over a move to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, whereas offers have reportedly been submitted for Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri and Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg.

In attack, Spurs have been linked with Chelsea attacker Noni Madueke and Southampton gem Tyler Dibling.

Now, it looks as if a move for an international winger is on the cards.

Tottenham advancing to sign Gustav Isaksen with Spurs readying £33m bid

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Spurs are advancing in a deal to sign Lazio attacker Gustav Isaksen.

The Denmark international, who was linked with a move to Celtic earlier this year, has come on to the radar in north London and Tottenham are now willing to bid €40m (£33.3m) to sign Isaksen.

Lazio have been on the search for a winger of their own for next season in Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, and by the looks of things, a move to England for Isaksen is a possibility.

The 23-year-old began his career with FC Midtjylland before moving to Lazio in 2023 in a deal worth more than €13m. He’s gone from strength to strength in Italy, seeing his Transfermarkt valuation increase from €5m to a career-high €20m in just over two years.

Isaksen, who can play anywhere across the front three but is primarily a right-winger, has made 39 appearances in all competitions this season and has contributed to 10 goals. He was also once called a “flamboyant winger” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who compared Isaksen to Leroy Sane.

Now, by the looks of things, a move to Spurs for Isaksen is one to keep an eye on ahead of the 2025/26 season, with Tottenham willing to splash the cash on a winger who is yet to ply his trade in England.

Spurs have a dream Werner replacement in "underrated" teen & it's not Moore

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For everything he has got wrong at Tottenham Hotspur, Ange Postecoglou has made plenty of brilliant signings.

For example, the likes of Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison all improve the starting lineup when fit, while Kevin Danso and Antonín Kinský look like more than adequate deputies.

Moreover, the Australian has also signed some sensationally talented youngsters like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, who will surely be key members of the team for years to come.

However, not every signing has been perfect, and it would be fair to say that during his time at the club, Timo Werner has not been good enough, but in good news, another of the team's youngsters will be the perfect replacement next season, and no, we aren't talking about Mikey Moore.

Timo Werner's Spurs nightmare

Okay, calling Werner's time in N17 a nightmare is likely overdoing it, but we don't think we are all that far off if you look at his performance and impact since last January and consider the fact he's making £165k-per-week.

At the end of last season, the former Chelsea flop had racked up a reasonable enough tally of five goal involvements in 14 games, and while that's really not too bad, it certainly wasn't good enough to warrant the club re-signing him for another season.

Unfortunately, Postecoglou's gamble has not worked out in the slightest this year, as, despite being given more of a role, the Stuttgart-born forward has fared even worse.

For example, in 27 appearances across all competitions, the 29-year-old has scored just a single goal and provided three assists, which means he's averaged a goal involvement every 6.75 games - talk about ineffective.

On top of lacking to contribute to the attack, the RB Leipzig loanee has also missed 11 games through injury, and while that is not his fault, it is a downside when he's only at the club for a short spell, and based on reports from earlier in the season, it's a spell that won't be extended again.

Now, the good news is that when he leaves, the club will already have an up-and-coming talent who could step into his role as a squad player, and it's not Moore.

Spurs' perfect Werner replacement

So, when we are talking about the perfect replacement for Werner next season, we are talking about a winger who will play the odd game here and there but ultimately act very much as the third or fourth choice, which is why we don't consider this to be Moore.

The Hotspur Way gem has already shown in flashes this season that he's going to be good enough to genuinely challenge the likes of Wilson Odobert and Son Heunng-min for more regular football next season.

So, where does that leave us? Even if they are not going to be playing loads and loads of football next year, Postecoglou and Co are still going to want their Werner replacement to be good enough to make an impact when called upon, and for our money, the perfect candidate for that is Yang Min-hyeok.

The South Korean winger joined the club from Gangwon FC last summer but remained with the K League side until the new year, as their seasons run from February to November.

Moreover, despite being so young, he was a seriously important player for them.

He managed to rack up an impressive tally of 12 goals and six assists in just 38 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.11 games.

When he arrived in England, the North Londoners made the wise decision to send the "underrated" teenager, per analyst Joel Kim, out on a short-term loan to Queens Park Rangers, where he has since provided one assist in eight appearances, four of which have been starts.

On top of being capable of scoring and assisting goals, the Gwangju-born phenom is blessed with "power and pace", according to Kim, which makes him sound like the perfect player to bring off the bench toward the end of games.

Finally, while some might consider loaning him out again next season, there is a strong argument that with him still being quite young, a campaign in which he's in the first team and making substitute appearances in the Premier League might be just as beneficial for his development.

Ultimately, Spurs will need someone to fill in for the departing Werner next season, and while he's unproven in the top-flight, Yang Min-hyeok seems like the perfect candidate.

Levy playing "leading role" to sign "world-class" player for Tottenham at half-price

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is spearheading the club's pursuit of a "world-class" player, and one who Spurs could end up signing for half of his marquee summer asking price.

Daniel Levy tipped to make changes at Tottenham

The Lilywhites chairman won't just be playing a role in facilitating the club's transfer activity, with growing uncertainty surrounding manager Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future at N17.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham manager Marco Silva are seen as two key targets for Levy (The Athletic), if he does decide to pull the plug on Postecoglou's reign at Spurs, with both tacticians currently above Spurs in the Premier League table off the back of much more impressive campaigns.

The north Londoners have suffered 15 league defeats already, which is a long way off where Spurs want to be as a 'big six' club, and even when you make a case for their plethora of injuries throughout 2024/2025, results on the field simply haven't been good enough.

Meanwhile, changes nearer the boardroom haven't been ruled out either. According to Italian news outlet Radio Rossenera, former managing director Fabio Paratici has held a meeting with Levy over re-joining Tottenham, with his worldwide ban from football nearly over and set to end on June 30th.

With dissatisfaction surrounding the club's running and pressure growing on Levy, this summer window could be imperative.

Both Tottenham's team and backroom may look very different once we reach the beginning of 2025/2026, with Southampton starlet Tyler Dibling is rumoured to be one of the main candidates to link up with the squad.

Spurs are registering a serious interest in Dibling as we slowly approach the summer, but reliable news outlets suggest the Saints won't be letting him go cheaply, despite being a near-certainty for the drop.

Indeed, The Times claim Southampton have slapped an enormous £100 million on Dibling's head to fend off suitors like Tottenham. However, as per GiveMeSport, Spurs could actually secure his services for around half-price.

Tottenham could sign Dibling for £50m-plus as Levy personally works on deal

The 19-year-old has starred throughout a breakthrough campaign which has seen him impress in a variety of attacking roles in the first-team, and Postecoglou's side could snap him up for around £50 million-plus, despite his mooted £100m asking price.

GMS also write that Levy is taking a "leading role" in Tottenham's pursuit of Dibling, and the high-ranking official has personally been working on a deal "for weeks". It is apparently Levy's "personal mission" to strike a deal for the Englishman, who has been called a "world-class" talent.

“Players in those positions tend to pass – and too often sideways," said Southampton’s academy manager, Andy Goldie.

"He catches the eye because he gets the ball and his first thought is: ‘How quickly can I get to the goal?’ He has scored a few – that part of his game will continue to develop – and once that bit has really clicked, you’re talking about a world-class talent."

Spurs' award-winning CF was ahead of Kane, then Poch sold him for £208k

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When it comes to the modern icons of Tottenham Hotspur, they don't come much grander than Harry Kane.

The England captain might not have won any trophies during his time in North London, but he made an enormous impact on the club.

For example, in 435 first-team appearances, the club legend amassed a staggering tally of 280 goals and 61 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games.

It's impossible to imagine Spurs' modern history without Kane, yet before his breakthrough, there was another promising striker in the academy who was ahead of him, a striker who Mauricio Pochettino eventually sold for a pittance.

Kane's early Spurs career

As everyone knows, Kane's football journey started in North London, but on the red side, with Spurs' bitter rivals Arsenal.

However, the Gunners released the future superstar when he was just 12 years old, with then-academy manager Roy Massey later revealing that the club didn't believe the youngster had what was needed to make it in the game.

After a few years without a professional club, the teenager joined the Lilywhites and, after spending some time in the youth system, went on several loan moves all over the country.

In between his loan moves, the Walthamstow-born ace still made 13 appearances for the U21s between the 12/13 and 13/14 seasons, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists.

Finally, after going out on numerous loan spells, playing in the academy and making the odd first-team appearance here and there, the Englishman was given his first proper chance to establish himself as the club's starting number nine in the 14/15 season, under new boss Pochettino.

This was an opportunity he grabbed with both hands.

In 51 appearances, he scored 31 goals and provided five assists, and the rest, as they say, is history.

However, a few years before Kane finally made his mark on the team, there was another up-and-coming striker ahead of him in the pecking order, a striker who thrived in the academy and looked promising, but eventually moved on for next to nothing.

The Spurs striker who was ahead of Kane

So, if we were to travel back to the distant year of 2009, we might be talking about a certain Spurs youngster turning heads in the club's academy by the name of Jonathan Obika.

It was at the end of the 2008/09 season that the fans awarded the teenager the club's Breakthrough Award, as even though he was just 18 at the time, he made his debut for the club in November 2008, in a UEFA Cup game against NEC Nijmegen.

The next six years or so would see the youngster spend time on loan with various clubs, including Yeovil Town, Peterborough, Millwall, Swindon Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.

However, there were also spells in which he returned to play for the Lilywhites U21s, and he looked excellent doing so.

For example, in just 17 appearances in the 12/13 season - when Kane was struggling on loan with Norwich and Leicester City - the Enfield-born poacher racked up a tally of 18 goals and four assists, which comes out to an average of 1.29 goal involvements per game.

Unfortunately, Pochettino did not see a future for the striker, who at one point looked destined to reach the top when he took charge in 2014, and just two years on from his barnstorming performances for the U21s, Obika was sold to Swindon for just £208k.

He might not have reached the heights that people thought he would've when he was making his way through Tottenham's academy, but in the 11 years since his sale, the 34-year-old has carved out an impressive career for himself.

Following his time with Swindon, he played for Oxford United, St Mirren, Morecambe and Motherwell before retiring in July of last year, with a career that might not match up to the likes of Kane but is still something most could only dream of.

Tottenham open initial talks to sign £100m ace after claim he wants to join

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Tottenham Hotspur have entered into preliminary negotiations to sign a marquee player, after claims that he's actually very keen on joining Spurs this summer.

Tottenham set for intriguing summer after disastrous campaign

Ange Postecoglou's job is hanging by a thread, amid credible reports that his long-term future is now in "serious doubt" (The Athletic), with Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Fulham boss Marco Silva under consideration to replace him.

Spurs sit 14th in the Premier League table after losing 15 top flight matches already, and Postecoglou has been dealt a plethora of injuries to key players throughout 2024/2025, which has undoubtedly crippled their form.

Postecoglou has been tipped for the Tottenham sack for months, but now his potential dismissal is beginning to gain traction among big-name media outlets, so the prospect of yet another new manager coming to north London is getting more and more real.

However, the 59-year-old may not be Spurs' only casualty, as protests currently surround ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy's running of the club following their 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware.

Technical director Johan Lange has also come under some scrutiny since taking the reins as Tottenham's transfer chief, with some reports even suggesting that Spurs have held talks over re-hiring former managing director Fabio Paratici.

The Italian's 30-month worldwide ban from footballing activity is due to end on June 30th, and if Paratici does make a return to N17 in an official capacity, perhaps one of his first orders of business could be striking a deal for highly-rated Southampton starlet Tyler Dibling.

He is attracting interest from Spurs amid an impressive breakout campaign at St. Mary's, and with the Saints a certainty for relegation, clubs could look to poach the 19-year-old ahead of next season.

As per GiveMeSport, the Lilywhites believe that Dibling is "sold" on the idea of joining Tottenham, and a new update has now come to light from Football Insider.

Tottenham hold preliminary talks to sign Tyler Dibling

According to the outlet, Tottenham have held initial talks to sign Dibling from Southampton, and as things stand, Postecoglou's side are in pole position to secure his services after making a head start.

However, while Southampton will struggle to keep hold of the teenager, they don't plan on letting him go on the cheap. It is even believed that Southampton could demand as much as £100 million for Dibling, as they look to ward off the growing list of suitors.

A figure like this is of course extortionate, but a more realistic price tag could get Spurs thinking, as he is currently one of the Premier League's most exciting young players.

Imagine him & Gray: Spurs are brewing "Dembele-esque" star in teen gem

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It might not feel like it at the moment, but the future might be quite bright for Tottenham Hotspur.

Now, it's true that, at least domestically, this season has been nothing short of a disaster. The club sit 14th in the Premier League, and Ange Postecoglou's future looks increasingly uncertain with every passing week.

However, while several senior players could and should be moved on in the summer, the club have also seen a crop of up-and-coming youngsters step up.

Lucas Bergvall already looks like one of the team's best midfielders, Mikey Moore has been tremendously exciting whenever he's made a cameo, and Archie Gray has played like someone ten years older.

In fact, it already feels like a sure bet that the latter will be a superstar for the North Londoners, and in even more exciting developments, Hotspur Way might be developing him a future teammate who's won comparisons to Mousa Dembélé of all people.

Gray's Spurs future

Tottenham decided to spend around £30m to sign Gray from Leeds United last summer, and while it was an enormous amount of money to spend on someone who was just 18 at the time, it's a fee that's now starting to look like a steal.

The Durham-born gem was already an important first-teamer for the Peacocks last year, and while there was an expectation that he'd play more of a bit-part role for the North Londoners this season as he settled into life in the capital, injuries forced the manager to hand him more and more game time.

While most teenagers would have understandably crumbled under the pressure of playing for one of the country's biggest clubs during such a turbulent campaign, the 19-year-old has looked entirely at home and has arguably been more composed than some of his senior teammates.

Moreover, as he did at Elland Road, the "future England player," as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has had to primarily play in the backline for the Lilywhites, making 19 appearances at centre-back, seven at right-back and five left-back, and while he had done brilliantly, he isn't a defender.

The 6 foot 2 gem is first and foremost, a midfielder, with him spending the vast majority of his time in youth football playing in the middle of the park. So, while he can do a job at the back, his ability on the ball and passing range can be utilised far more in the middle of the park, and as Mattinson said last season he's a "future £100m" star.

Furthermore, the academy might just be producing his perfect midfield partner in a gem previously compared to the incredible Dembélé.

Spurs' next great central midfielder

This season has seen Bergvall, Moore, and Gray break into the Spurs' first team, and next year, they could see the same thing happen to Tyrese Hall.

The former Chelsea prospect joined the Lilywhites at the under-8s level and has progressed all the way through to the U21s, where he is thriving this season.

However, before we look at his stats and how he could form a partnership with Gray, it's worth looking at this comparison to Dembélé and where it has come from.

Well, in this case, it stems from respected Spurs writer Alasdair Gold, who, on his own YouTube channel last summer, described the teenage talent as "Mousa Dembele-esque."

Now, that is undoubtedly high praise indeed, but Gold gives further explanation for this comparison, saying that he's "very composed and calm" on the ball and that, like the Belgian icon, he's "very good at using his body to turn and twist" and "aware of what's around him and how to use his body to twist and turn and get into pockets of space."

On top of the stylistic similarities, the Hotspur Way gem also primarily plays in central midfield, which is where he could form an exciting dynamic with the former Leeds gem, with him being the more adventurous of the pair.

For example, in just 20 appearances this season, totalling 1610 minutes, the 19-year-old prospect has scored six goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 161 minutes.

Just imagine him moving up and down the pitch while Gray plays ever so slightly deeper to help mop up attacks and bring the ball out of the defence to pass to him.

Ultimately, Spurs may be a bit of a mess at the moment, but due to the number of incredible youngsters they have coming through, such as Hall, the future looks bright.