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Tottenham have held talks over signing another Paris Saint-Germain player alongside Randal Kolo Muani, with Ange Postecoglou's side potentially eyeing a double-raid on the Ligue 1 champions before deadline day on February 3.

Tottenham in negotiations with PSG over January deal for Kolo Muani

Various reports in the last few days have claimed that Spurs are actively attempting to seal a loan deal for Kolo Muani as their second January signing after young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

GiveMeSport reported on Thursday night that chairman Daniel Levy, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team are optimistic over striking a full agreement with the French heavyweights in a matter of days, with Tottenham hopeful of finalising a temporary deal for Kolo Muani by Sunday.

Postecoglou's side are seriously advancing in their pursuit of the France international as they seek to beat Juventus and Man United to his signature, holding talks with both PSG and Kolo Muani's representatives this week (GMS).

There are still issues to resolve, as PSG prefer that the potential deal includes an obligation-to-buy the 26-year-old outright at the end of the Premier League season, while Spurs would apparently prefer an option (GMS).

On the player's side, talks over personal terms are believed to be moving forward in a positive way, and Kolo Muani has been assured that he's guaranteed consistent game time in a well-defined role under Postecoglou (GMS).

The former Eintracht Frankfurt star bagged an incredible 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions during his best club season to date in 2022/2023, highlighting exactly why Spurs are so keen to take advantage of his situation at the Parc des Princes.

That being said, Paris is beginning to become a serious hunting ground for Levy and Lange, as it is now believed that they've held negotiations with PSG over signing £264,000-per-week defender Milan Skriniar as well.

Tottenham hold talks over January deal for Milan Skriniar from PSG

The Slovakia international joined Luis Enrique's side on a free transfer from Inter Milan in 2023, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal, but his time at the club could be coming to an abrupt end.

Journalist Duncan Castles, speaking on The Transfers Podcast (via TBR), claims that Tottenham have held talks over signing Skriniar in January, and PSG will let the centre-back leave, as he's been deemed surplus by Enrique.

“They’re also been in talks with Paris Saint-Germain about taking Milan Skriniar, who’s another notable player available in this window,” Castles said.

“PSG will let him go. They’ve allowed him to talk to other clubs. Again, not a favourite of Enrique’s. They have interest in him from Serie A clubs, and they are basically going to wait and see who gives them the best offer by the end of the window.

"So that is an option for Tottenham to get someone into their defence, who’s actually a centre back in the centre of their defence.”

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are attempting to get another January signing over the line imminently, making a promise to one player which could help to seal an agreement in the next few days.

Tottenham explore further January reinforcements in multiple positions

It is no secret that Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has been forced to deal with major player selection issues over the last two months, with Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Richarlison, James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr and Wilson Odobert all unavailable for their last game against Liverpool on Wednesday.

While a portion of the aforementioned players are set to make a return soon, this wave of absences has exposed Postecoglou's serious lack of depth in key areas, with technical director Johan Lange and Levy looking to back their under-fire boss in the winter transfer market as a result.

Forster's underwhelming goalkeeping performances in place of Vicario motivated the Lilywhites to strike a £12.5 million deal to sign young shot-stopper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague, and it is a move which paid real dividends against Liverpool in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

The Czech put in an outstanding display on his full debut, as Postecoglou's side shut out the Premier League frontrunners to clinch a 1-0 win over them at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Legendary English striker Clive Allen even dubbed Kinsky's performance as one of the best debuts he's ever seen at Tottenham, and it highlights the serious impact new arrivals can have if recruitment chiefs get their homework on players spot-on.

The 21-year-old could be joined by more transfer targets as we navigate our way through this window, and Fabrizio Romano says that Spurs could make up to three major signings by deadline day on February 3.

Credible media sources suggest that Postecoglou's next acquisition could well be PSG outcast Randal Kolo Muani.

The north Londoners are reliably believed to be exploring a loan deal for Kolo Muani, who is out of favour under Luis Enrique and currently expelled from their Ligue 1 matchday squads.

Some outlets report that Spurs are close to agreeing terms with Kolo Muani, which is somewhat backed up by an overnight update from GiveMeSport.

Tottenham hope to finalise Randal Kolo Muani deal by the end of the week

GMS write that Tottenham are hopeful of finalising a deal for Kolo Muani by "the end of the week", and they've made a key promise to the France international which could prove crucial in tempting him with a move to the English capital over Juve and Man United.

The club have apparently assured him of significant game time in a mapped-out role under Postecoglou's tutelage, with talks between the 26-year-old and Spurs progressing over a contract.

Tottenham are in negotiations with PSG over Kolo Muani as well, holding club-to-club talks this week as they attempt to beat Ruben Amorim and Thiago Motta to a temporary deal.

Both the Ligue 1 champions and Spurs were locked in discussions as recently as Thursday, and it is believed that the potential loan deal will also include an option/obligation to buy clause. Unsurprisingly, Tottenham are in favour of an option, while PSG are keen for the clause to be obligatory.

Much of Tottenham Hotspur's campaign this year has been defined by injury and a total collapse in Premier League form, but Wednesday's win over Liverpool in the League Cup could potentially be the start of a turnaround.

The North Londoners were brilliant to a man, and while the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Dominic Solanke and new goalkeeper Antonín Kinský have received most of the attention since, understandably so, there is another starter who should be getting plenty of plaudits: Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international has made his fair share of mistakes this season, but he was solid against the Reds and more than deserving of the 8/10 match rating given to him by Alasdair Gold at full-time.

However, it might be a case of too little too late for the 28-year-old, as recent reports have now linked the club to someone who could be an upgrade on him, a player who could become Spurs' own Declan Rice.

Tottenham Hotspur chase Rice-esque star

According to a recent report from Italian publication TuttoJuve, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in Juventus ace Douglas Luiz.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United are also keen on the former Aston Villa star.

The report does not mention how much a transfer might cost, but given his struggles and severe lack of game time this season, we would be surprised to see the Old Lady ask for more than the £42m they paid for him in the summer.

If that is the price they want, then that would still represent a significant investment for Spurs, but given how well he played in England and the fact he's won comparisons to Rice before, it could be worth it, even if he'd be bad news for Bissouma.

Luiz's comparisons to Rice and Bissouma

Okay, before we look at how Luiz stacks up against the man he may replace in Spurs' midfield, it's worth examining his comparisons to Rice and where they have come from.

Well, it primarily stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Premier League last season, then created a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, concluded that the Englishman was the seventh most similar midfielder to the Brazilian.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, key passes, duels won, tackles, blocks and more, all per 90.

On top of the statistical similarities between the pair, they are both more than capable of changing between a six and an eight depending on what their team need and some, such as former professional Jermaine Pennant, believe the former Villa ace "can do everything that Rice can do and better."

With all of that said, how does the Juve ace stack up against the player he could potentially replace in N17?

Well, when comparing his underlying numbers from last season, when he was playing in the country, to the former Brighton & Hove Albion stars from this season, he comes out on top, and by some margin.

For example, the "amazing" midfielder, as dubbed by Unai Emery, comes out ahead in the majority of metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, key passes, crosses and passes into the penalty area, goal and shot-creating actions, blocks, ball recoveries, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Bissouma put in a stellar shift against Liverpool on Wednesday, he has not been reliable enough for Spurs over the last couple of years.

Tottenham Hotspur gave themselves a real chance of making it to the League Cup final with their 1-0 win over Liverpool last night, but aside from that, this season has been a tough one for the club.

Ange Postecoglou's side have been riddled with injuries, which have contributed massively to their slide down the Premier League table over the last few months.

However, on top of their injury woes, the team have been wildly inconsistent on the pitch, and a number of stars have looked way off the pace for much of the campaign, including Son Heung-min.

The South Korean superstar has still been able to find the back of the net seven times but has been limited to 69% of available minutes in the league, so recent reports linking the club to a potential upgrade are not that surprising.

Tottenham Hotspur target exciting forward

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in signing Borussia Dortmund star Donyell Malen.

Alongside the North Londoners, the report claims that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are incredibly keen on the Dutchman and that while they have supposedly agreed personal terms with him, they remain some way from the German side's valuation, thus leaving room for Daniel Levy and Co to pounce.

A potential price tag is not mentioned in the report, but a story from earlier this week revealed that the Bundesliga behemoths value their exciting attacker at around £21m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get done ahead of the Villans, but given the reasonable price and Malen's ability, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he could come in as an upgrade on Son.

How Malen compares to Son

Okay, so the first thing that has to be said is that, given the incredible talent and natural ability that Son possesses, fans should not expect Malen to come in and reach the same heady heights he did a few years ago - that would simply be unfair on the Dortmund man as few players are capable of that.

However, while Son is still able to chip in with goals and assists here and there, age catches up with us all, and as most fans would likely attest, he has struggled to have the same overall impact on games that he used to.

This is where the former Arsenal academy gem could come in and, as his underlying numbers since the start of last season show, be an instant upgrade for Postecoglou's side.

According to FBref, the "extremely fast and very dangerous" Dutchman, as dubbed by former Dortmund midfielder Mario Götze, comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics.

For example, he scores more non-penalty goals, takes more shots and shots on target, completes more crosses and carries into the penalty area, and completes more successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

On top of being more of an all-round threat, the 26-year-old also comes out on top when it comes to their defensive statistics, as he makes more blocks and clearances, makes fewer errors which lead to a shot, completes more ball recoveries and wins more aerial duels, also all per 90.

A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.

Ultimately, Son is unquestionably a Spurs and Premier League legend, but he is set to turn 33 this year, and while he can still be a useful player to have in the squad, he simply cannot be a regular starter in Postecoglou's system.

Therefore, Levy and Co must act fast to secure Malen's services before Villa do.

Tottenham Hotspur officials are ready to pursue a potential £29 million January deal, as club chairman Daniel Levy looks to back Ange Postecoglou with another fresh face before deadline day.

Tottenham could make three January signings for Ange Postecoglou

The first arrival of this window, 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, enjoyed what was likely to be one of the best nights of his life on Wednesday evening.

The £12.5 million Czech shot-stopper made his full debut for Spurs and kept a clean sheet as Postecoglou's side beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, with Kinsky earning real plaudits for his display.

It also highlighted a brilliant bit of talent-spotting by technical director Johan Lange, who is now reportedly looking to add a few more key signings before February 3.

Spurs are actively exploring a possible move for Randal Kolo Muani, with the France international deemed surplus to requirements by manager Luis Enrique as the Lilywhites, Man United and Juventus look to poach the forward.

As well as Kolo Muani, there are rumours that Postecoglou's side are in the market for a new midfielder and centre-back, with Levy and Lange potentially adding up to three major signings this month.

“They have already told the manager that they will do something. So I expect January to be busy for Spurs," said reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano to GiveMeSport just before the window opened.

“I think it could be two signings, maybe three, I'm not sure, but it will depend on opportunities. But Tottenham are exploring options, Tottenham are actively working on scouting and following players. So I think for Tottenham it will be a busy month.”

In terms of the engine room, Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi continues to be linked.

Tottenham ready to do business with Inter over signing Davide Frattesi

The Italy international is valued at around £29 million, according to TUTTOmercatoWEB (via Sport Witness), who also share an update on Tottenham's interest.

Other reports have claimed that Frattesi has been offered out to Spurs by intermediaries, who are actively seeking a new club for the 25-year-old, and TMW state that the north Londoners are prepared to take them up on it.

Indeed, it is believed that Tottenham are ready "to get down to business" over signing Frattesi, potentially meaning they're preparing to head to the negotiating table or make some sort of approach for his services.

Roma and Napoli are fellow contenders, but Spurs' interest is described as concrete. Frattesi and his camp are also set for a key meeting with Inter in the next few days to discuss his future, where all parties will decide whether a January deal is indeed feasible.

It has been a brutal campaign for Tottenham Hotspur so far this season.

Ange Postecoglou's side are slipping down the Premier League table and seem to have an ever-expanding injury list, but there have been some positives as well.

For example, they took a 1-0 lead in the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool last night, and there are a number of attacking players, such as Brennan Johnson, who have been particularly effective.

The Welshman is currently the Lilywhites' joint-top goalscorer across all competitions, but based on recent reports, the club could be about to sign another forward who could eventually take his place in the team.

Tottenham close in on international forward

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are intensely interested in Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani.

In fact, in news that should delight the Lilywhites faithful, Bailey has claimed that the club are "now close to agreeing personal terms" with the player and "are pushing for a deal this week", having given the player assurances over his potential game time.

According to reports earlier this month, the Parisians are potentially willing to agree to a loan, ideally with an obligation to buy, but would much prefer to sell the Frenchman, whom they value at around £50m.

It could be a complicated and potentially costly transfer to get over the line, but given Kolo Muani's ability, it's one worth pursuing, even if he could be bad news for Johnson.

How Kolo Muani compares to Johnson

So, the first thing to say is that, yes, for most of his career thus far, Kolo Muani has played as a central striker, but he has also made a decent number of appearances on the wings, so he should be more than comfortable starting out wide.

Moreover, with Dominic Solanke in brilliant form at the moment, it would be an odd decision to bring in the Frenchman and potentially put that at risk.

Therefore, the PSG ace could become the perfect rival for Johnson, whose place in the team is a little less guaranteed than the former Bournemouth man, but with that said, how does the Welshman stack up against his potential usurper?

Well, if we were to look at their pure output from this season, it would be an easy win for the former Nottingham Forest ace as he's racked up a brilliant haul of 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances, while his potential rival has just two goals and one assist in 14 appearances.

However, when we take a look at their output from last season, and the season prior compared with how many games and minutes they played in those campaigns, it becomes crystal clear that it's the former Eintracht Frankfurt star who is the more dangerous attacker.

For example, in those two seasons, he scored 35 goals and provided 23 assists in 90 appearances, totalling 5869 minutes, meaning he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.55 games or every 101.18 minutes.

In contrast, the Nottingham-born star scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists in 82 appearances, totalling 5809 minutes, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 2.92 games, or every 207.46 minutes.

However, it's not just the output that gives the "ice-cold" talent, as dubbed by German legend Lothar Matthaus, an edge over the 23-year-old, it's also his experience.

Not only has he played in the top flight in Germany and France, but he also has plenty of Champions League experience and has won 27 caps for the French national team, which, given the talent in that side, is seriously impressive.

Ultimately, Spurs could do with some more attacking options this season, and while he could take away minutes from Johnson, Kolo Muani would be an excellent addition to the squad this month, whether on loan or a permanent transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are talking about swooping in to hijack Aston Villa transfer talks for a forward in January, and he could be a sound alternative to widely-reported target Randal Kolo Muani if they can't get a PSG deal done.

Spurs exploring Kolo Muani deal as Postecoglou chases forward

Ange Postecoglou has already got his first winter signing over the line with a deal for goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague, and the Czech ace performed excellently on his debut against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

Kinsky became only the second shot-stopper to keep a clean sheet against Liverpool across all competitions this season, after Nottingham Forest's Matz Sels, with the 21-year-old making six saves on the night and shutting out Arne Slot's side in a 1-0 win.

Spurs now have the advantage heading into their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg at Anfield, with technical director Johan Lange's work to sign Kinsky seriously paying off already.

However, the Dane is by no means done there, as Tottenham are in the market for a new winger and have set their sights on PSG's Kolo Muani as an ideal January signing - considering his quality, versatility and availability.

This is confirmed by reliable transfer journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, who wrote on X that the Lilywhites are viewed as top contenders for his signature before deadline day.

The France international is a mainstay of Didier Deschamps Les Bleus squad, and has been since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Kolo Muani also boasts three goals from his last five matches for France, but his fortunes are seriously contrasting at club level for PSG.

The 26-year-old is out of Luis Enrique's plans at the Parc des Princes, and has been completely left out of their last two Ligue 1 matchday squads. His exit appears to be inevitable, but Spurs must also compete with Man United and Juventus for Kolo Muani's services.

If Postecoglou's side potentially lose out on the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt star, then it appears they're considering Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen.

Tottenham internally discuss hijacking Aston Villa move for Donyell Malen

The Dutchman, who has 41 caps for the Netherlands, finished last season as Dortmund's top goalscorer with 15 goals in all competitions - and he's out of contract in 2026.

Aston Villa have this week increased their bid to £21m, making him a seemingly affordable option for Spurs, though it is believed Villa have been locked in talks for a while and have got the green light from the player.

That being said, there is apparently still a gap in valuations between the clubs, and a report by CaughtOffside states that Tottenham are internally discussing the possibility of hijacking Villa's talks for Malen.

Postecoglou's side are believed to be real fans of the 25-year-old, who can play on both flanks and further forward as an outright striker. Malen also bagged a goal and assist against Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this season, indicating he can perform at the highest possible level.

Tottenham Hotspur have been approached and offered the chance to sign a player who's unsettled at his current club, with agents reaching out to Spurs as they work to find their client a new home.

Tottenham missing 10 first-team players for Liverpool clash

The Lilywhites take on Liverpool in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg tonight, and manager Ange Postecoglou is yet again forced to contend with very limited options.

The 59-year-old is minus around 10 first-team players for their face-off against Arne Slot's side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening, with Guglielmo Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr all unavailable through either injury or suspension.

Tottenham's injury crisis has exposed Postecoglou's lack of depth in recent months, seriously threatening their chances of a strong 2024/2025 Premier League campaign, and it has prompted the club to enter the January transfer market in search of reinforcements.

Spurs have already sealed a £12.5 million deal for goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who's now took part in full first-team training, but the Czech won't be their only new addition this month.

Tottenham are believed to be pursuing PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani, after the France international was deemed surplus by Luis Enrique and allowed to find a new club before deadline day on February 3.

There are also suggestions that Spurs could sign a new centre-back, given van de Ven, Romero and Davies' absences have left Postecoglou with just Rady Dragusin as his only natural senior central defensive option right now.

"Look, we are still trying to help the squad and help the players," said Postecoglou on January transfers at Spurs.

"We are still down significant numbers. We will have roughly 10 first team players missing tomorrow. That’s not easy so we are still looking to try to help the playing group. The club is working hard in a number of areas."

According to some media sources, Tottenham could even bolster their midfield options before the clock runs out, and they've now been handed an opening to potentially negotiate a deal for one Serie A star.

Tottenham offered chance to sign Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi is "frustrated" at the San Siro, and he could leave the Italian champions as early as January - despite only just joining on a permanent deal from Sassuolo in the summer.

The Italy international has made 22 appearances in all competitions, but the majority of his cameos have come from the bench. Frattesi appears dissatisfied with this, and his camp are scouring the market for a new club to join.

One of them could be Postecoglou's side, as TBR report that Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Frattesi by intermediaries after they made contact with the north Londoners.

His rumoured price tag stands at around £33 million, so this could be a doable deal for Spurs, and he is a player of real quality - even if the 25-year-old hasn't exactly enjoyed the best time at Inter this season.

"He reminds me of Barella," said renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano to Empire of the Kop.

“Liverpool had long-term interest in Nicolo Barella but he just extended his contract with Inter so it’s going to be more than complicated to sign him. Frattesi seems to be the next Barella. He’s this kind of player, super talented, very interesting, and Sassuolo are prepared to sell their players if top clubs pay.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now exploring an early January deal for one transfer target who was thought to be far more likely in the summer, as Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou contends with a player selection crisis.

Tottenham eye multiple January signings amid squad shortage

Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky sealed a £12.5 million move to north London from Slavia Prague recently, with technical director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy wasting no time in getting their first signing through the Hotspur Way door.

However, their winter business is very unlikely to cease there, as it is believed Tottenham could make up to three new signings before the January transfer window shuts its doors on February 3.

They're looking at making new additions across the board, including in defence and attack, with Spurs actively pursuing a new centre-back and a potential deal for PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani.

When asked about Kolo Muani, Postecoglou, speaking to the press, didn't address the circulating rumour directly, but does suggest that his club are still in the market for reinforcements as injuries ravage their squad.

"We're still trying to help the squad and players," said Postecoglou on Spurs transfers. "We will have roughly 10 first-team players missing. That's not easy so we need to still try to help the playing group."

Expanding on his current player availability, Postecoglou confirmed that none of his injured crop of players are back or eligible for their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool on Wednesday.

"Net wise we're still down," said Postecoglou on Tottenham team news. "We get Bentancur back and lose Sarr and Maddison to suspension. In terms of injuries, no one is back but Mikey Moore could be on the bench. Everyone from the weekend, like Radu and Archie are better, they're good. Richarlison is training but we want him to have two solid weeks of training so if he gets through next week he will be fine. Fraser is back in training."

The abject state of Tottenham's squad is undoubtedly an emergency-level situation, leading to them considering an intriguing measure.

Tottenham explore early January deal for Real Betis midfielder Cardoso

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Tottenham chiefs are exploring the possibility of signing Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso in January - months earlier than they were expected to.

Spurs possess an option to sign the "extraordinary" USA international in the summer for around £21 million, which came as part of the deal for Giovani Lo Celso to join Betis midway through 2024.

Postecoglou's side activating the clause later this year was seen as a real possibility, though it appears they could now bring his transfer forward in light of their player selection issues.

Tottenham Hotspur may now be languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, yet there is no sense that this struggling side have given up on their manager just yet, having put in a battling performance at home to Newcastle United last time out.

With Ange Postecoglou forced to put out a particularly depleted backline amid a raft of injuries - with Djed Spence and Archie Gray lining up at centre-back for the second half - the Lilywhites arguably deserved more on Saturday afternoon, having come close to grabbing an equaliser in the second-half as Brennan Johnson's driven effort flashed agonisingly across the box.

Alas, it is not quite happening for the north London side at the minute, with rumours rife regarding potential replacements for the Aussie in the dugout, yet now could be the time to back Postecoglou, rather than show him the axe.

Indeed, the former Celtic boss has not been aided by the lack of squad depth at his disposal at present, with reinforcements certainly needed this month if this calendar year is to prove far more fruitful than the last.

Latest on Spurs' midfield search

As reported by Italian outlet AreaNapoli, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is said to have lodged an official offer for Palmeiras midfielder, Richard Rios, with the Colombian international emerging as a 'concrete target' for those at N17.

No mention was made of the nature of the bid, with the Brazilian outfit having reportedly rejected the proposal in order to keep the 24-year-old on board ahead of their involvement in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.

Whether Spurs can produce a fresh approach to secure a more immediate arrival remains to be seen, with the in-demand talent - who reportedly has a €100m (£83m) release clause in his existing deal - seemingly a figure who could re-energise the club's midfield ranks.

Spurs' perfect Bissouma upgrade

One area that has been a problem for Postecoglou of late is that number six berth at the base of the midfield, with the previously injury-hit Rodrigo Bentancur having endured a spell on the sidelines due to suspension, while Yves Bissouma has endured his own disciplinary woes to date.

Indeed, neither man has been able to truly nail down that starting role in 2024/25, with Bissouma having made ten Premier League starts thus far, while Bentancur has started nine times in the top-flight.

An upgrade is needed, hence where Rios - who has chalked up 13 goals and assists in 102 games for his current side - can come into the equation.

According to data analyst Ben Mattinson, Rios is a "ball-carrying machine" who represents "Colombia’s very own Yves Bissouma", ensuring he could slot in perfectly as an upgrade on the Mali international.

As indicated in the table below, Rios comes out on top in a string of both attacking and defensive metrics amid his most recent league run (2024), with the one-time Flamengo man notably a more creative outlet, as shown by his superior record with regard to shot-creating actions.

That ability to create from deep - while also contributing in a defensive sense - could make the 6 foot 2 powerhouse perfect for the Postecoglou system, helping to freshen up a part of the pitch that has been something of an issue of late.

With the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski ahead of him, Rios could present a dream foil for those creative figures, with Mattinson particularly impressed by his ability to "eat up a lot of ground in a short space of time", ensuring he can take Spurs from defence to attack in an instant.

That front-foot approach would be just what Postecoglou is craving, with the hope being that Levy can get a deal over the line over the coming weeks, rather than waiting until the summer.