FootballFanCast.com

They might not have won anything, but Mauricio Pochettino's peak Tottenham Hotspur team was packed with talent.

The North Londoners were blessed with some truly sensational players from front to back during that period.

Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli were scoring for fun, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld created one of the best defensive pairings in Europe, and Hugo Lloris was, more often than not, a rock at the back.

However, perhaps the most underrated player - among non-Spurs fans - of them all from that period was the incredible Mousa Dembélé, and it looks as if Ange Postecoglou may have just uncovered his own version of the Belgian.

Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career

In the summer of 2012, after spending just over two seasons with West London side Fulham, Dembélé completed a £15m move to Spurs.

The former AZ Alkmaar star made an instant impact in North London, scoring on his debut - against Norwich City - and ending his first campaign at the club with 42 appearances across all competitions.

Already an established part of the first team, the Belgian "monster," as dubbed by Eric Dier, took yet another step forward when Pochettino joined the club in May 2014.

Under the Argentine's leadership, the Antwerp-born dynamo turned into one of the very best central midfielders in the Premier League, someone capable of winning the ball in his own half and carrying it all the way up the pitch for someone else to finish.

His immense abilities weren't lost on his teammates or manager either, with Kyle Walker describing him as "the best player I've ever seen play football" and Pochettino claiming that he was a footballing "genius."

In all, the 37-year-old made 249 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists, before moving to the Chinese Super League in January 2019 and retiring four years later.

Dembélé was an utterly sublime footballer, and while the club haven't been able to replace him, Postecoglou may have just stumbled upon the club's next version of the Belgian.

Spurs' next Dembélé

Now, we are aware that such a label can be both a blessing and a curse for players, but we reckon Lucas Bergvall has more than enough talent to make good on it.

The young midfielder was signed from Swedish outfit Djurgårdens for around £8.5m last winter but didn't officially join the squad until last summer, and while it took him some time to get up to speed in the first team, he has recently been one of the club's most impressive players.

Like Dembélé, the young Swede is seemingly a natural in a few positions in midfield, making 34 appearances in central midfield, 16 in attacking midfield and 13 in defensive midfield.

Moreover, while each role requires something a little different from the 19-year-old, be that a dangerous final ball from the ten position or a brilliant interception at the base of midfield, he's shown one quality that the Belgian star was known for: ball-carrying.

According to FBref, the "generational" talent, as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, sits in the top 3% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for total carrying distance, the top 5% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for progressive carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the "uber-complete" teenage phenom, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly has what it takes to play in the number ten position in the future, it does seem like Postecoglu and Co will be able to get more out of his incredible skillset by playing him in the middle of the park, where Dembélé used to boss games.

Ultimately, while he's still incredibly young, and a lot could happen over the coming years, it looks like Spurs might just have their next genuinely great central midfielder in Bergvall.

As Tottenham Hotspur line up their second raid on Elland Road in as many summers, Leeds United chiefs have been forced to ponder their stance over the future of one young gem.

Leeds looking to avoid second Spurs blow

After missing out on promotion last season, Leeds were picked apart. Crysencio Summerville swapped Yorkshire for West Ham United, Georginio Rutter then followed him to the Premier League courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion before Spurs dealt Leeds the ultimate blow by signing Archie Gray.

Now, almost a year later, the Whites are desperately hoping to avoid a repeat. Now sat top of the Championship on goal difference alone and just two points ahead of Burnley in third, Leeds have just eight games to hold their nerve and secure promotion.

Failure to secure a place in the Premier League would undoubtedly prove costly in the transfer window once again. Already, names such as Pascal Struijk have been linked to the top flight, and he could yet be joined by another young gem.

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham have now set their sights on signing Harry Gray this summer in what would be a repeat of their deal for older brother Archie last year.

Unlike last summer, however, Leeds chiefs are reportedly confident that they'll manage to keep hold of Gray and fend off any interest from Spurs in their young striker.

That will certainly be music to Daniel Farke's ears too, given that he was recently full of praise for the teenager. The former Norwich City boss told reporters: "With Harry Gray, before a player really makes his first step into the spotlight I'm always careful about praising him too much. He's with us and trains well and develops well.

"He's been back in team training for several weeks [since the injury] and is progressing. We will look carefully and we won't rush it too much. We're happy we have him. He's in the category of Sam Chambers who can play an important part in our future."

Leeds must secure promotion to keep Gray

Whilst those at Elland Road are reportedly confident that they'll keep hold of Gray this summer, promotion to the Premier League will end any doubts over his future once and for all. It's then that the 16-year-old could eventually come up against his older brother should he continue to develop into the player that many believe he'll become in Yorkshire.

Still just 16 years old, Farke is right to be cautious when it comes to the forward's first-team opportunities, whether in the Premier League or the Championship. The German will be well aware of the talent that he has on his hands, but know just how important patience is with young players.

As for Gray himself, staying put at Leeds looks set to be his best option. The chaos at Spurs has helped his brother gain key game time, but those minutes have often come out of position in a struggling side.

Tottenham Hotspur have now shortlisted an "outstanding" manager as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou, alongside Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva, according to a report.

Postecoglou on thin ice

Postecoglou would have been hoping his side's progression to the Europa League quarter-final would give them confidence heading into the trip to Fulham at the weekend, but Tottenham once again looked very poor in the Premier League.

The 2-0 loss at Craven Cottage surely leaves the Australian manager on very thin ice, given that Spurs are now on course to record their highest number of defeats across a 38-game season.

Jamie O'Hara believes his former side's Europa League quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt could be crucial in determining whether Ange keeps his job.

"I think if we go out then, it's probably 'see you later' to Ange Postecoglou at Spurs. I don't see a way back. Is he getting the best out of these players now? We're getting players back fit."

While Daniel Levy is yet to pull the trigger, the Tottenham chairman has now started to identify potential replacements for Postecoglou, including AFC Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva.

Another Premier League boss has also entered the frame, with a report from GiveMeSport revealing Brentford's Thomas Frank has now been shortlisted.

While Iraola is the leading candidate, Frank is also being considered by the Spurs hierarchy, and there is a release clause in the 51-year-old's contract with the Bees, meaning a deal could be relatively straightforward if he is keen on a move to north London.

"Outstanding" Frank has earned move to top club

The Dane is the second-longest-serving manager in the Premier League behind Pep Guardiola, having been in charge of Brentford since their Championship days, and the Manchester City boss believes his counterpart has earned a move to a top club.

"It is just a question of time.

"I'm good in a few things, one of which is reading when the manager is good. It is going to happen."

The Brentford boss, who utilises an attacking 4-3-3 formation, has kept the Bees competitive ever since leading them to the top flight, and they are on course to push for a top-half finish this season, after most recently picking up a 2-1 win at AFC Bournemouth.

They say the best defence is a good offence, and in Tottenham Hotspur's case, that may well be true.

Ange Postecoglou's side have had to deal with injury after injury to their backline this year, which has seen them concede the seventh most goals in the Premier League this season.

Fortunately, the North Londoners have also scored the joint second-most goals in the competition, which has kept them from falling below 14th place and into a genuine relegation scrap - it's the small things.

It now appears as if Daniel Levy and Co are keen to further improve the attack this summer, as recent reports have touted one of the best strikers in Europe with a move to N17, a forward who'd be an upgrade on club-record signing Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur's striker search

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several clubs weighing up a summer move for LOSC Lille star Jonathan David.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, West Ham United, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are keen on the Canadian, while European giants Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus are all 'considering moves'.

While the level of competition for the prolific number nine is far from ideal, the good news is that this would not be an expensive deal to get over the line due to his contract expiring in the summer.

In all, it could be an incredibly complicated transfer to get done for Spurs, but given David's immense ability, one well worth fighting for, especially as he could be an upgrade on the already talented Solanke.

How David compares to Solanke

The first thing to say is that, so far this season, Solanke has shown himself to be more than capable of leading the line for this Tottenham side, but just because he's impressed thus far does not mean he cannot be improved upon, which is where David comes into the picture.

The first thing to compare is their raw output, as when it really comes down to it, that is what matters more than anything else for a number nine, and in this metric, it's an easy win for the Lille star.

For example, in his 41 appearances this term, totalling 3284 minutes, the 25-year-old star, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed "one of the best strikers in the world," has scored 23 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.24 games, or every 99.51 minutes.

For his part, the Lilywhites forward has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2536 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 133.47 minutes.

Unfortunately for the former Bournemouth man, he also comes out on the losing side, albeit to a lesser degree, when we take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.

For example, in most relevant metrics, the New York-born dynamo comes out ahead, including but not limited to expected and actual goals plus assists, progressive and key passes, shot-creating actions, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the Basingstoke-born marksman is yet to score a senior goal for England, the former Gent star has won 59 caps for Canada, in which he's racked up a phenomenal haul of 31 goals and 18 assists.

That means he averages a goal involvement every 1.20 games and can handle the pressure of being a talisman for club and country.

Ultimately, Solanke is a great player and someone who could go on to have a brilliant career with Spurs, but when it comes down to what matters most, goals, it's clear that David is in another league entirely.

Therefore, if Levy and Co want the first team to pack even more of a punch next season, they should be doing all they can to convince the Canadian star to move to the white side of North London when his contract ends.

Tottenham Hotspur have another leading contender to replace Ange Postecoglou alongside Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, according to The Telegraph.

Pressure on Ange Postecoglou after another Tottenham defeat

It hasn’t been a memorable second year in charge of Spurs for Postecoglou so far, with the club’s only chance of winning silverware coming in the Europa League. In the Premier League, Tottenham sit in the bottom half of the table and have done for large parts of the campaign.

The latest top-flight setback came at Craven Cottage against Fulham, with Rodrigo Muniz and former Spurs ace Ryan Sessegnon scoring in a 2-0 win for Marco Silva’s side.

Talking after the game, Postecoglou said: "I said to the players, I'm not going to let anyone just think about Europa and nothing else. We can't let this league season go the way it has. We've lost way too many games, unacceptable.

"I understand the supporters' frustrations with that. It was another day where we let a game get away from us when we shouldn't. We had chances to go 1-0 up which would have put pressure on them, then they scored a really soft goal.

"Today the opposition haven't blown us off the park. For 75 minutes we were where we wanted to be, the fact we came out of that game with nothing is disappointing."

Pressure does seem to be building on the Australian, especially if his side fail to win the Europa League in the final months of the season.

Contact has already been made with Iraloa’s agents over a potential move to north London, with the 42-year-old impressing on the south coast with the Cherries. However, Iraola isn’t the only serious candidate for Spurs.

Marco Silva a leading contender to replace Postecoglou at Tottenham

According to The Telegraph, Fulham boss Silva is another leading candidate for Tottenham, should they decide to make a change in the dugout.

Silva, who got the better of Spurs on Sunday to seal his third win over Tottenham, reportedly has a £6m release clause in his Fulham contract.

The Telegraph say that ‘there are doubts emerging over Silva’s future at Fulham’ and that ‘sources have cast doubt on Silva’s future at Fulham past this season’.

Spurs could potentially make their move if Postecoglou departs, although it remains to be seen if Fulham would ‘demand the full clause to let Silva leave, or whether Tottenham, or another club, would be prepared to pay it’.

The walls are closing in on Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Australian started his tenure in North London with a sensational run of ten games last season, but things have gone from bad to worse since then.

As things stand, the North Londoners are 14th in the Premier League, with more defeats than wins to their name, and while injuries have played their part, the team that lost against Fulham at the weekend was at almost full strength.

Such a poor return this season has understandably seen a number of top managers touted to replace the Australian in the summer, such as Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, but a recent report has now thrown another name into the ring.

Spurs' manager search

According to a recent report from the Telegraph, Daniel Levy and Co have identified Iraloa and Fulham boss Marco Silva as 'leading candidates' to replace Postecoglou should they sack him in the summer.

The report reiterates that following the North Londoners' latest defeat - their 15th in the Premier League this season - the pressure is starting to mount on the Australian significantly.

Interestingly, while Bournemouth are expected to fight tooth and nail to keep hold of their manager for at least another season, there are 'doubts emerging over Silva's future at Fulham', which could give the Lilywhites a real opportunity to land their man.

Moreover, while he has a contract with the Cottagers until the end of next season, it reportedly has a £6m release clause, making a scenario in which he joins Spurs entirely plausible.

Why Spurs should hire Silva

So, the argument for sacking Postecoglou is pretty straightforward: he's lost 19 of 46 games this season and is averaging just 1.50 points per game across all competitions.

However, if it comes down to choosing between Silva and Iraola in the summer to replace him, why should Levy and Co go with the former?

Well, the first reason is the simple fact that, as mentioned above, he seems eminently more gettable than the Spaniard, which in turn could lead to a smoother transition from Ange and a better start to next season.

The second reason is that, despite all the deserved attention the Bournemouth boss has received this season, the Lisboa-born gaffer is actually having a better campaign.

For example, across all competitions this term, the former Rayo Vallecano boss has won 15 games, drawn eight, lost ten and averaged 1.61 points per game, while the former Everton manager has won 16, drawn nine, lost nine and averaged 1.68 points per game.

Finally, while both managers are incredibly exciting and doing exceptionally well with their respective sides at the moment, the "special" Silva, as dubbed by journalist Jack Kelly, has far more experience working in English football, managing Hull City, Watford and Everton before taking the job in West London.

So, there is inherently less risk in hiring him, which, after a season like this one, is something that'll surely appeal to the powers that be in N17.

Ultimately, it looks like Postecoglou's time in the Tottenham hot seat is probably coming to an end in the summer, and if Levy and Co want to give the team the best chance of moving forward next season, they should look to bring in the man who has made Fulham a scary proposition.

Tottenham Hotspur could now sign an "amazing" striker for a fee of just £25m this summer, with his club's asking price dropping by 50% in recent weeks, according to a report.

Spurs keen to bolster attacking options

Tottenham brought in Mathys Tel during the January transfer window, with the forward joining on loan from Bayern Munich for the remainder of the campaign ahead of a potential permanent move, but Ange Postecoglou remains keen on additional options.

Spurs are now set for talks over a deal for Bayern's Kingsley Coman, who could end up following Tel to north London, while they are also ready to fight for Lille striker Jonathan David, who is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The Lilywhites are running the rule over some big-name targets from across Europe, but there is also interest in forwards from within the Premier League, with a £34m bid for AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo being lined up.

Semenyo is being targeted as a potential replacement for Richarlison, who has struggled with injuries this season, and with Dominic Solanke also spending time on the sidelines, Postecoglou has been left a little light on options at striker at times.

As such, it could make sense to pursue a summer deal for a new forward, and a report from Football Insider has now revealed Tottenham could sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic for the bargain fee of £25m.

Earlier this month, Vlahovic was thought to be valued at £50m, meaning his price is set to drop by 50%, which could make the Serbian an attractive option for Spurs.

Juventus are looking to cash-in on the 25-year-old this summer, given that they have been unable to agree a new contract, and there may be fierce competition for his signature, with a number of top European clubs thought to be keen, including Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Vlahovic could be a bargain at £25m

While the current campaign has not been the Serbian's most prolific, he has still managed to find the back of the net 14 times in all competitions, and his track record in Italy suggests he could be a bargain at just £25m.

The Belgrade-born striker has amassed 104 goals and 19 assists across spells with Fiorentina and Juventus, displaying a keen eye for goal, with his most recent contribution coming in his side's 1-0 victory against Cagliari.

Lauded as "more complete than [Erling] Haaland" by Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic, the £25m-rated striker could be an excellent signing for Tottenham this summer, particularly if he is able to rekindle his form from his time with Fiorentina, netting 21 league goals in the 2020-21 season.

However, it could prove to be very difficult to win the race for Vlahovic this summer if European football is not on offer at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season, given that some of Europe's top clubs are set to compete for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur are no closer to climbing back up the Premier League table after they were beaten 2-0 by London rivals Fulham on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou's side remain stuck in 13th place in the division, five points behind Crystal Palace in 12th, after goals from Rodrigo Muniz and former Spurs man Ryan Sessegnon secured all three points for the hosts.

The Lilywhites, as you can see in the clips above, did have chances to take the lead before the second-half strikes from the Fulham pair, as Dominic Solanke missed two big opportunities to find the back of the net.

Tottenham's £55m signing from Bournemouth last summer failed to step up and put his team in front, which provided the Cottagers with the chance to go on and win the match - and they did.

Solanke was far from the only Spurs player who underperformed on the day against Fulham, however, as Yves Bissouma was hauled off the pitch at half-time after his struggles in the opening 45 minutes.

Spurs' poorest performers against Fulham

Postecoglou decided to go with the Mali international as part of his starting midfield three alongside Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur at Craven Cottage.

Unfortunately, however, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man did not justify his manager's faith in him with a positive performance on the pitch against the Cottagers.

Instead, Bissouma struggled badly with his play in and out of possession in the opening 45 minutes before he was withdrawn from the action, to be replaced by Lucas Bergvall for the second half.

The central midfielder only completed 82% of his attempted passes in the first half, despite not attempting a single long pass or cross, and did not create a single chance for his teammates. This suggests that he was sloppy in possession without offering any threat to the Fulham goal.

As you can see in the table above, Bissouma also struggled out of possession throughout his time on the pitch for the Lilywhites, losing five of his seven physical duels.

He made more fouls than tackles and interceptions made combined, which speaks to how much of a liability the midfielder was off the ball, and his play at both ends of the pitch may have contributed to Postecoglou's decision to take him off the pitch.

The 28-year-old dud was not, however, the worst player on the pitch for Tottenham during that first-half display. Winger Brennan Johnson was also taken off after the first 45 minutes, after he put in an even worse performance than Bissouma at Craven Cottage.

Brennan Johnson's performance against Fulham

The Wales international was selected to start on the right side of the front three for Spurs, with Solanke down the middle and Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel on the left flank.

It was Johnson's lack of fluidity in possession that ultimately cost him in the first half, though, as he failed to be effective with the ball at his feet for Tottenham on the wing.

The former Nottingham Forest man was substituted off at the break, with club captain Heung-min Son coming on in his place, after he was unable to cause many, if any, problems for Antonee Robinson.

Johnson ended the first half with zero shots attempted, zero crosses completed, zero long passes completed, and zero chances created for his teammates in his 45 minutes on the pitch. On that evidence, it's hardly a surprise that he was handed a dismal 3/10 player rating by Football.London at full-time.

As you can see in the table above, the Welsh forward was completely ineffective at the top end of the pitch and incredibly loose with his passes, which gave Robinson a fairly easy afternoon.

Johnson also struggled to deal with the physicality of the Fulham players, losing four of his six duels, as he put in an even worse performance than Bissouma, who at least completed 82% of his passes and was not expected to make a difference in the final third.

Why Spurs should drop Brennan Johnson

Postecoglou must, now, ruthlessly bin the Welsh attacker from his starting line-up when Spurs are back in action against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after the international break, by bringing Son or Wilson Odobert back into the side.

Johnson has been in disappointing form of late for the North London outfit, with just two goals and zero assists in his last ten appearances against Premier League level or Europa League opposition.

Both of those goals came in a 4-1 win over relegation-threatened Ipswich Town, who were in League One two seasons ago, which means that the ex-Nottingham Forest man has failed to register a goal or an assist in any of the other nine outings.

The 23-year-old is not a dynamic winger who is likely to progress play with passes or dribbles to make things happen, but he does have excellent positioning and a good feel for when a chance will come his way.

As you can see in the table above, Johnson is exceptional at finding himself in high-quality goalscoring positions, yet leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to his use of the ball outside of his shooting opportunities.

He ranks incredibly lowly among his positional peers in the Premier League at progressing play and creating chances for his teammates, which was part of the issue with his performance against Fulham.

This is backed up by his return of just two assists, from 1.43 xA, in 26 appearances in the top-flight this season, which shows that he rarely provides his fellow attackers with chances to score.

When Johnson does not get the big chances to score in matches, the former Forest man does not offer much to the side on the right flank and that is why - amid this current dry spell in front of goal - Postecoglou should drop him from the starting line-up.

Tottenham Hotspur are now expected to make a £30m bid for an "incredible" Premier League defender, with Ange Postecoglou keen to bring in competition for places at the back, according to a report.

Tottenham keen on a defender

Postecoglou bolstered his defensive options during the January transfer window, signing Kevin Danso amid Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven's injury struggles, and the manager is keen to bring in additional reinforcements this summer.

Genoa's Koni de Winter is the latest centre-back to be linked with a move to north London, with Tottenham asking for information about the 22-year-old, who is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League after an impressive campaign.

A bid is also being prepared for AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen, with the north Londoners expected to make a move imminently, but there is likely to be competition for the Spaniard's signature, amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.

It is clear signing a new centre-back is on the agenda this summer, and there are now indications Postecoglou could also be keen to strengthen his options at full-back.

According to a report from The Boy Hotspur, Tottenham are now expected to make a €35m (£30m) bid for Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, having recently stepped up their pursuit.

Ait-Nouri is one of Spurs' primary targets, with Postecoglou keen to bring in competition for places at left-back ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, at which point Sergio Reguilon will have departed.

However, there is a feeling Wolves could hold out for as much as €60m (£51m), so the two clubs may be some way apart in their valuation of the defender.

There may also be competition for the left-back's signature from elsewhere, with the whole of the Premier League's 'big six' placing him on their list of targets.

"Incredible" Ait-Nouri emerging as star player for Wolves

Wolves have struggled for large parts of the ongoing campaign, but they have now moved nine points clear of the bottom three, in large part due to Matheus Cunha's form in front of goal, but Ait-Nouri has also played a crucial role.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 6.85, the Algerian is ranked as the second-best performing player in the squad, while also impressing on a number of key attacking and defensive metrics over the past year.

While primarily a left-back, the 23-year-old is also capable of playing further forward, and he has received praise for his versatility from former manager Gary O'Neil.

"I’m enjoying working with Rayan, I think he’s an incredible talent, a great guy and he brings a real enthusiasm and life to the place. We can use him anywhere so, unfortunately, at the moment we have to because we don’t have many others."

The report makes it clear Postecoglou is happy with Destiny Udogie's performances, but Ait-Nouri has proven he could provide fantastic competition at left-back, so it is promising news that Spurs are pursuing a deal.

Tottenham Hotspur will hope to end the campaign on a high note, which may breed optimism for what Ange Postecoglou hopes is a strong transfer window in N17.

Tottenham Hotspur's potential summer transfer activity

Despite mixed feelings from supporters towards Daniel Levy, there hasn't been a total lack of spending under Ange Postecoglou. Yet, the durability of his fragmented squad has been repeatedly called into question amid a lengthy injury crisis.

After spending much of the campaign without key stars, the Premier League outfit's season now essentially relies on winning the Europa League. Domestically, Spurs have been knocked out of both cup competitions and appear destined to record a bottom-half finish in the top flight for the first time since 2008.

Understandably, the focus in North London has veered towards potential new arrivals. Koni de Winter is said to be on Tottenham's radar after a stellar season at Genoa, potentially providing versatility in defence or holding midfield.

Further up, Leroy Sane's availability on a free transfer has been floated to Postecoglou. Rather than biting at the first inkling that he could be on the move, his situation is being monitored ahead of the summer window.

Much of the frustration at Spurs hasn't come at the level of expenditure distributed on incomings. More than anything, it is at how those resources have been utilised. Buying into potential is a long process, and you may have to be patient to reap the rewards. Nevertheless, supporters will be intrigued by Tottenham's latest target, as Postecoglou looks set to play a key role in convincing the talent to join his project.

Ange wants to convince Angel Gomes to join Tottenham

Per Football Insider, Tottenham boss Postecoglou is 'very interested' in Lille midfielder Angel Gomes amid his availability on a free transfer this summer.

The England international is set to court attention from several clubs, leaving Spurs with work to do in convincing the Manchester United youth product to move to North London. West Ham United are mooted to be circling alongside their divisional rivals.

Labelled "sublime" by Matthew Upson, Gomes has scored twice and laid on a solitary assist in 20 appearances this campaign. Stepping up their hunt for midfield reinforcements, Tottenham also retain an interest in Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton with the window drawing closer.

In spite of his slight frame, the 24-year-old Gomes has won 31 duels on league duty for Lille and created 14 chances, illustrating his capacity to thrive no matter the capacity in the engine room.

Behind the scenes, Postecoglou and company will need to devise a plan to make sure they don't miss out on a bargain. Can they pull off that feat? It remains to be seen once the summer rolls around.