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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing a young centre-back as a potential long-term replacement for Cristian Romero, according to a report.

Tottenham's defensive criticism

Since Ange Postecoglou's arrival at Tottenham in June 2023, an entertaining brand of football has been on offer, and the Australian has received praise from members of the media for introducing a style of play that is so easy on the eye:

However, a heavy focus on the attacking side of the game can come at a cost, and Paul Robinson has been critical of his former club's defensive structure under the helm of Postecoglou, saying:

“He changed the style of play and changed the way the fans view this team. However, people are getting frustrated because everybody watching the game can see it, they’re so wide open and the defensive frailties are there.There are silly mistakes as well which aren’t necessarily down to the manager, but the tactics and style of play are absolutely down to the manager.

"It’s the regularity with which Tottenham are conceding goals, that’s the issue. They leave the defence so exposed and they’re being found out, week-in-week-out. At some point, he’s going to have to change things."

Although Postecoglou has a range of quality options at his disposal, including the likes of Romero and Micky van de Ven, transfer insider Graeme Bailey believes that signing a new centre-back will be the priority in the January transfer window.

Now, The Boot Room are reporting that Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande is emerging as a potential option for Spurs, with Tottenham viewing him as a long-term replacement for Romero, who has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, north London rivals Arsenal are also interested in the 20-year-old and have recently made an approach, so Spurs could have a fight on their hands to get a deal over the line this January. Furthermore, he may not come cheap, with a £68m release clause said to be included in his contract.

Diomande impressing for Sporting

It is clear to see why some of the Premier League clubs are queuing up to sign the youngster, as he is showing signs he could be a top-quality modern-day centre-back, ranking in the 99th percentile for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year.

The Ivorian has also received high praise from members of the media:

Tottenham Hotspur host Ipswich Town this afternoon looking to return to winning ways after their defeat in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side lost 3-2 to Turkish side Galatasaray, despite goals from academy graduate Will Lankshear and record-signing Dominic Solanke.

However, Spurs will come into the Premier League clash with some form of confidence, after thrashing fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium last Sunday afternoon.

As a result, they will be looking to make it two league wins in a row, hopefully closing the gap to the top four places if they are to secure a return to Champions League football next season.

The supporters will be hoping one player can continue his good form in front of goal, potentially leading them to another impressive league victory.

Dominic Solanke’s stats for Spurs

Many expectations were placed onto the shoulders of Solanke upon his move to Spurs this summer given his record last season that saw him bag 19 Premier League goals, costing Ange’s side a huge fee in the process.

However, the 27-year-old has hit the ground running in North London, scoring six times in all competitions - which includes a tally of four goals in eight Premier League matches.

His last outing for the club in the league was arguably his best to date, scoring twice in the win over Unai Emery’s side - demonstrating his clinical nature within the final third.

Solanke may have started on the bench in the recent outing against Galatasaray, but he still managed to get himself on the scoresheet with a neat flicked finish inside the six-yard box.

He will be looking to make it three games in a row which he has scored in against the Tractor Boys this afternoon, but if he is to do so, Postecoglou will need to also recall one player who was a substitute in midweek.

The Spurs player who must start against Ipswich

The Europa League meeting in Turkey a couple of days ago saw numerous players rested, allowing for a needed squad rotation.

It saw midfielder Dejan Kulusevski miss out, dropping to the substitutes bench with youngster Lucas Bergvall starting in Europe as he has done in every meeting this campaign.

However, his form in the Premier League this season has been nothing short of sensational, often featuring in a more unnatural central role alongside James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur.

The “world-class” Swede, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has created 27 chances in his ten league appearances whilst registering four combined goals and assists - aiding Solanke in the final third this afternoon.

Kulusevski has been a crucial part of the Spurs side so far this campaign, with the midfielder having another opportunity to showcase his talents against Kieran McKenna's side.

His link-up play with Solanke could provide the difference to what is likely to be a game dominated by Postecoglou’s side.

The Tractor Boys are likely to sit and defend in a low block, looking to counter when possible, with Kulusevski’s intricate passing ability potentially holding the key to unlocking their backline.

Tottenham Hotspur is the home to numerous top-level attacking talents, with boss Ange Postecoglou having all the tools to secure a return to a Champions League spot next season.

Welsh winger Brennan Johnson has been in the form of his life so far this campaign, scoring seven times for the club in all competitions - which included a run of six successive games in which he had found the back of the net.

Striker Dominic Solanke arrived in a club-record £65m transfer from Bournemouth over the summer window, looking to fill the void left by Harry Kane 12 months prior.

The 27-year-old has settled seamlessly into life in North London, scoring six times and registering two assists in his opening 14 matches for the Lilywhites - earning him his first England call-up in seven years.

Heung-min Son has only been able to notch three goals in what has been an injury-affected start to the season, but he’s still contributed to their success - helping the Aussie edge closer to fulfilling their ambitions.

However, the 59-year-old must surely wish that he had the option of utilising one former first-team ace during his prime within the current playing squad.

Gareth Bale’s time at Tottenham Hotspur

After arriving from Southampton as a 17-year-old, Gareth Bale originally moved to Spurs as a left-back, but that quickly changed during his time in North London.

He first properly broke onto the scene for his attacking qualities after scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at the San Siro back in 2010.

It allowed the Welsh international to settle into a more consistent attacking role, with his 2011/12 season seeing him bag a combined 26 goals and assists - catching the eye of various sides across Europe but he stayed put at White Hart Lane.

However, the following campaign would be his final season at Spurs in that first spell, also his best year for tangible contributions in the final third - scoring 26 times - becoming known for his trademark cut-in off the right-hand side before finding the top corner.

Bale’s sensational form would prompt huge interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, moving to the LaLiga side for £85m in the summer of 2013 - a then world-record fee.

It was a huge loss for Spurs at the time, losing one of their best players, whilst investing their money incorrectly and signing the likes of Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado with the funds generated.

Fast-forward 11 years from the Welshman’s permanent departure from North London, Postecoglou has been presented with another opportunity to unearth a young superstar at the club.

Spurs could have a £200m sensation in the making

Academy star Mikey Moore has emerged out of the club's youth system and staked his claim for a regular starting role under the Aussie in recent weeks.

The 17-year-old made his first competitive start in the Europa League against Ferencvaros, featuring for the entire 90 minutes - as Spurs claimed a 2-1 victory in Hungary.

His subsequent performance earned him another start in the following European outing against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar - with his display catching the eye of the supporters along with his teammates.

Moore managed three shots during the win, attempting four dribbles and completing 81% of the passes that he attempted during the Europa League triumph.

The attacker’s subsequent display led to teammate James Maddison comparing him to one of the biggest talents in Europe over the last few years, saying:

“From minute 45 to 65, I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! (Moore) was brilliant."

That man Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona back in the summer of 2017 for a world-record fee of £200m - a fee that still holds the record seven years after his move to the Ligue 1 outfit.

It’s still very early on in Moore’s professional career, but if he can continue on his current trajectory, he could certainly be up there with some of the best talents in European football.

No Spurs fan would want to lose another winger as they did with Bale, but if he continues his excellent performances at such a young age, he could certainly get to a level which could see him worth a similar price tag.

A member of Ange Postecoglou's squad could now look to completely terminate his contract at Tottenham, with the player searching for a route out of N17 early doors.

Players who look set to leave Spurs in 2025

As Postecoglou and co look to build on their momentum from the last seven days with a win against Galatasaray this evening - fresh off the back of impressive victories against Man City and Aston Villa - uncertainty surrounds the futures of a good few players heading into the turn of the year.

Quartet Sergio Reguilon, Ben Davies, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman are all out of contract next summer, meaning they're set to depart N17 on free transfers unless Spurs opt to sit at the negotiating table and discuss extensions.

Reguilon is attracting interest from La Liga, as Spanish top-flight sides like Getafe sense a potential opportunity to snap him up at zero cost. The 27-year-old, formerly of Real Madrid, is not in Postecoglou's plans - failing to make a single Premier League or Europa League matchday squad this season, despite still training with the first team.

Davies will be in his eleventh year at Tottenham by the time his contract runs out, with the Wales international likely to end his long stint at the club in 2025 following many seasons of faithful service.

Son Heung-min's deal expires next year as well, but Spurs have the option to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, which they're apparently set to do as Postecoglou definitely cannot afford to lose the South Korea star.

A decision is yet to be made on whether Timo Werner will stay beyond his season-long loan spell, but as things stand, the 28-year-old is more likely than not to make a return to RB Leipzig at the end of this season.

Tottenham are leaning towards letting Werner go, rather than activating the £8.5 million buy-out clause in his deal, amid criticism surrounding his wasteful finishing in front of goal.

Spurs will also make a decision over loaning out Archie Gray in January. The English sensation, who arrived from Leeds for around £40 million in the summer, has struggled to establish himself as a Premier League starter and is mainly utilised as a bit-part cup player by Postecoglou.

Sergio Reguilon could look to terminate Tottenham contract

Now, according to Spanish news outlet Ficherio, Reguilon could look to terminate his Tottenham contract and leave before next summer.

His former side Sevilla are considering Reguilon as a replacement for Valentin Barco at left-back, who could be sent back to Brighton, with Spurs' want-away defender potentially coming in to take his spot under Garcia Pimienta.

On a reported £120,000-per-week in north London, according to the MEN, Reguilon could be seen as a serious drain on the wage bill right now considering his outcast status in the squad.

Terminating his deal early and allowing the Spaniard to leave for Sevilla could benefit all parties, so it will be interesting to see if this drastic action is taken up in the next few weeks leading to January.

It hasn't been entirely plain sailing, but it would be fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying a relatively successful season so far.

Ange Postecoglou's side have seemingly rediscovered their form in the Premier League following their 4-1 thumping of Aston Villa, and are currently undefeated in the League Cup and Europa League.

Moreover, the North Londoners are still playing the same attractive attacking football that won them so many plaudits last year.

With that said, there is always room for improvement, and based on recent reports, they could be set to land an incredibly talented winger who could be an ideal Timo Werner upgrade in a move reminiscent of their one for Brennan Johnson last summer.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from former scout Mick Brown via Football Insider, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Brown claims that, alongside the Lilywhites, several top sides are keeping an eye on the former Chelsea ace, and while a move in January seems unlikely, one in the summer is not.

The good news for the North Londoners is that it might not cost them an arm and a leg to land the Englishman's services, as reports from the summer revealed that the Tricky Trees value the 23-year-old at around £30m.

It might not be the big name signing fans will be after, but given the potential fee, his raw ability and the similarities to the Johnson deal last year, signing Hudson-Odoi in 2025 feels like a brilliant idea, especially as he'd be an ideal upgrade over Werner.

How Hudson-Odoi compares to Werner

So, if Spurs do opt to go in for Hudson-Odoi next year, he'll either be in direct competition with Werner for a place in the starting lineup or be tasked with replacing him should the club not activate their option to buy the German, so how do their pair stack up against one another?

From a pure output perspective, it's the former Chelsea ace who comes out on top, as since the start of last season, he has scored ten goals and provided two assists in 45 appearances for the Tricky Trees, equating to a goal involvement every 3.75 games.

In contrast, the Stuttgart-born winger has scored five goals and provided five assists in 40 appearances across the same period - including his 14 games with RB Leipzig - equating to a worse average of a goal involvement every four games.

Moreover, the 57-capped international also comes out on the losing side when we compare their underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, Forest's "sensational" left-winger, as dubbed by scout Antonio Mango, comes out on top in several relevant metrics, including goals per shot and shot on target, passing accuracy, key passes, passes into the final third, shot and goal-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Moreover, while he comes out second best in a few attacking statistics, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive passes and shots, he comes out ahead for a couple of defensive ones, like tackles and ball recoveries per 90, which would make him a particularly useful winger for the ultra-attack-minded Postecoglou.

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

Ultimately, Werner hasn't really asserted himself in the Spurs squad, and whether he's moved on or signed in the summer, Hudson-Odoi would be the perfect upgrade. Therefore, Daniel Levy and Co should look to repeat the deal that saw them land Johnson last year and sign the talented Englishman in 2025.

Tottenham transfer chiefs are now considering a January deal for one "class" Real Madrid player in January, who also dazzled at Euro 2024 for his country.

Spurs prepare for Galatasaray trip after 4-1 win over Aston Villa

A good last seven days for Spurs was complemented by Ange Postecoglou's side securing a statement 4-1 win at home to Premier League top four rivals Aston Villa on Sunday, with Dominic Solanke's brace, a late goal by James Maddison and Brennan Johnson's equaliser putting Unai Emery to the sword.

The Lilywhites also knocked English champions Man City out of the Carabao Cup a few days prior, so Postecoglou will be hoping for a similar week, as the Australian looks to beat Victor Osimhen's Galatasaray in the Europa League and newly-promoted Ipswich Town this weekend.

However, as we've recently seen, things are rarely straightforward where Spurs are concerned.

Their 3-2 slump at Brighton, where they squandered a two-goal lead at half-time, and defeat to lowly Crystal Palace highlights that they are still pretty vulnerable on their worst days - and that is something Postecoglou needs to rectify if they're going to make good on his promise of silverware this season.

Off the field, Tottenham's wider recruitment team could assist in the transition from European qualification contenders to genuine title challengers. The north Londoners reportedly have plans for January, with Espanyol winger Javi Puado among the transfer targets at Spurs as Postecoglou seeks new attackers.

Amid uncertainty surrounding Timo Werner, who has been criticised for his wasteful finishing in front of goal, there are suggestions that Tottenham are pushing their recruitment team to look at new forwards ahead of 2025.

The German scored his first goal since March in their win over City last week, which tells the entire story, with Werner consistently finding himself in good positions to score but failing more often than not.

Another attacking option or two, who could alternate with Werner, may be an option seriously worth considering in the winter.

Tottenham considering January deal for Arda Guler

According to reports out of Spain this week, Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler, who's struggled for game time under Carlo Ancelotti, is on their agenda for January.

The Turkey international starred for his country at the Euros, helping them to an unlikely quarter-final run, and his quality hasn't gone unnoticed at N17. It is believed Tottenham are considering a January deal for Guler, and he could join them on loan, as the Galacticos consider whether to let him go on a temporary deal to further his development.

It could be a doable transfer for Spurs, and it isn't lost on pundits just how Guler can shine on his day. Called "exceptional" by Jose Mourinho, TNT Sports Commentator Ian Darke also weighed in recently - saying he would be a "fantastic" signing for Postecoglou.

“Guler would be a fantastic pickup for Tottenham – he’s a very good young player. He just can’t get in the Real Madrid side because they’ve got Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Mbappe,” Darke explained.

“He shone at the Euros and he’ll be frustrated that he doesn’t get on the pitch very much at all. I see Real Madrid a lot. But whether they’d let him go in January, I’m not sure. Once they clinched the title last season they gave him a run of games, and he interestingly came up with a flurry of goals. If you’re talking about signing some class, he’s definitely that.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with some extraordinarily talented stars over the years, the sort of players who can change games all on their own.

Unfortunately, these players haven't necessarily translated into trophies for the North Londoners, but have often resulted in significant transfer fees.

For example, the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić put in countless sensational performances for the Lilywhites before moving to Real Madrid for huge sums of money in the 2010s, while Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick moved to Manchester United in the 2000s.

However, the most recent seismic sale Spurs have made was, of course, Harry Kane.

Kane's Spurs career

Spurs picked up a young Kane all the way back in 2004, just three years after he was released by fierce rivals Arsenal, and over the next seven years, the youngster would work his way through the club's junior sides before going out on his first loan to Leyton Orient in January 2011.

The next couple of years would see the Englishman go out on several more loans, and, following a few first-team appearances in the 13/14 season, he was finally given a proper run of games to prove himself the following year, and prove himself he did.

In his 51 appearances across all competitions, the Walthamstow-born phenom racked up an incredible haul of 31 goals and five assists, securing his place leading the line from that point onwards.

In all, the world-class centre-forward made 435 first-team appearances for the Lilywhites, in which he scored a ridiculous 280 goals and provided 61 assists for good measure, equating to a goal involvement once every 1.27 games.

This unreal level of output understandably made Kane one of the most-sought-after strikers on the planet, and after years of will he won't he, the Spurs icon finally left the club, moving to Bayern Munich in a transfer that net Daniel Levy and Co a fee in the region of €100m, which was £86.4m at the time.

The mammoth fee was the one thing that made the blow of losing such an incredible player that bit more bearable. While it's unlikely that Postecoglou has anyone as talented as the Englishman in his squad today, one of his players could eventually fetch a fee similar to his.

Spurs' next big sale

So, the player in question is Spurs' inform sensation, Brennan Johnson. The Welsh international joined the club last summer from Nottingham Forest for around £47.5m, and while he had a slow start to life in the capital, he ended the campaign with a reasonably impressive haul of five goals and ten assists in 34 games.

He's been even more impactful so far this season, and in just 15 games, has already scored seven goals, which is only made more impressive considering how he once again started the year in middling fashion.

This red-hot form has seen him compared to several talented wingers in England and beyond, including Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, and while that might not be a comparison the Spurs faithful love, it makes sense.

For example, both players are particularly fond of running at opposition defenders with the ball at their feet and looking for ways to get a shot off or to get into the box.

However, it's the winger from N17 who seems to be better at that this year, considering the Gunners ace has just two goals and three assists in as many games.

With that said, the comparison itself stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues before creating a ten-man list of the most comparable players, and in this case, it considers the Brazilian to be the second most similar winger to the Welshman.

You can get a better idea of how they come to this conclusion by looking at the underlying statistics where they most closely align, which in this case includes metrics such as shots on target, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot on target, passes into the penalty area, passing accuracy, live passes, successful take-on percentage, aerial duels won, carries and carries into the penalty area, all per 90.

The Spurs faithful might not be overjoyed by this comparison, but they could be in the future, as according to the CIES Football Observatory, Martinelli is worth a staggering €127m, which converts to about £107m, and if the pair are that similar on the pitch, there is no reason to think Johnson couldn't also be worth as much in the future, especially as he's outperforming the Brazilian this season.

Therefore, it's the former Forest ace who could one day be the Lilywhites' next Kane-esque sale.

Despite a few hiccups, Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a relatively successful start to the season.

Ange Postecoglou's men are playing some of the most exciting football in the country, are undefeated in the cup competitions and are just two points off of Arsenal in the Premier League.

Moreover, the Australian's star players are really starting to step up, with Brennan Johnson continuing his fine form, Dominic Solanke bagging a brace on the weekend, and Dejan Kulusevski pulling the strings in midfield.

In fact, due to his incredible performances in his new position, the Swedish international has a claim to be the club's most important player, so it's encouraging to know that one of the Lilywhites' up-and-coming stars is outscoring him out on loan.

Kulusevski's form this season

It's been an interesting season for Kulusevski so far, as his form has mirrored that of the club's in the sense that early on, he was struggling to really assert himself in games.

For example, in his first five league appearances, he was only able to produce a single assist, but in the five since, he's scored twice and provided another assist, producing three more in the cups to take his total to five.

Moreover, as the team have found their footing, the former Juventus ace has become increasingly important in his new central role, as demonstrated by his utterly sensational performance against Manchester United in September.

In his 96 minutes of action that game, the "world-class" dynamo, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored and became the first visiting player since the 03/04 season to create nine chances at Old Trafford, per OptaJoe.

In all, it's been a fantastic start to the campaign for Kulusevski this year, and should he maintain his form until May, he could be an outside shout for the Player of the Year. So, the fact he's being outscored by one of the club's promising loanees can only be an encouraging sign for the future of Postecoglou's attack.

Spurs' loan star

Now, while there are a number of Tottenham's youngsters out on loan this season, the one we are talking about is centre-forward Dane Scarlett.

The 20-year-old poacher joined newly promoted Championship outfit Oxford United for the season back in August, and while he had a slow start to life at the Kassam Stadium that led some to fear his move would mirror his failed loan to Ipswich Town last season, he has since found some form.

In fact, in his last four appearances for the Yellows, the Hillingdon-born marksman, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig described as being "born to score goals", has found the back of the net on three occasions, beating Kulusevski's tally and jumping up to joint-second on the Championship side's top scorers list.

Moreover, the "outrageous" talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has been in fine form for England's U20 team, scoring nine goals and providing one assist in just 20 appearances, which is almost as impressive as his form for the U19s, where he scored 12 goals and provided one assist in 14 games.

This unreal form probably hasn't come as much of a surprise to the youth coaches at Spurs, as in 38 appearances for the Lilywhites' various junior sides, the 5 foot 11 gem scored 27 goals and provided five assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.18 games.

Ultimately, scoring goals in the Championship is obviously easier than scoring in the Premier League. However, the fact that Scarlett has found the back of the net more than Kulusevski is still impressive, and when combined with his record at the youth level, it looks like Spurs could have a seriously talented forward on their hands.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has been dealt another fitness worry alongside both Son Heung-min and Richarlison, with the Australian preparing for important games against Turkish champions Galatasaray in Europe and newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

Tottenham 4-1 Aston Villa as Spurs seal impressive win

The Lilywhites' disappointing 1-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace recently appears to have been put firmly behind them.

Spurs followed up that defeat at Selhurst Park by knocking English champions Man City out of the Carabao Cup last 16 last Wednesday, with Postecoglou's side then thumping top four rivals Aston Villa 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The statement victory announced to supporters that they're still very much in contention for a place in the Champions League next season, and maybe even potential silverware, as it was a convincing display by the home side.

Morgan Rogers originally handed Villa a 1-0 lead, which they maintained until the second period. Thereafter, the floodgates opened for Tottenham, who were revitalized after what must have been a stern half-time team talk by Postecoglou.

In-form winger Brennan Johnson notched their equaliser a few minutes after the restart, with summer signing Dominic Solanke's quick-fire brace then handing Spurs a 3-1 lead and a two-goal cushion with just 10 minutes left to play.

James Maddison was superb on the day and sealed all three points for the home side deep into added time, rounding off a brilliant win and relieving a lot of the pressure off Postecoglou's shoulders.

"You're playing a top team and you know with Villa that they're always going to have a real strong performance because they're very, very consistent. They rarely have off days and you've got to be ready for that," said Postecoglou after Spurs' 4-1 win over Villa.

"I thought we had to match it with them in the first half. We had to sort of draw on their energy and make them work really hard. Obviously we conceded a goal, but I still felt like we made them work really hard in that first half.

"And, you know, the thing with us is we've got another gear in us, two or three gears and we keep going and we felt like we could really break them open in the second half if we just really stayed focused on making sure the football was up tempo and there was intensity in the game and credit to the players after a massive effort on Wednesday night, at least they know that physically they did it again."

One dampener of the afternoon was Richarlison picking up an injury, with the Brazilian picking up a hamstring problem.

Postecoglou dealt Werner concern alongside Son and Richarlison

A few key players are out for Spurs at the moment, including star centre-back Micky van de Ven, who is more long-term, so adding Richarlison to that list would be a blow considering the £90,000-per-week ex-Everton star has already missed a portion of this campaign through injury.

According to GiveMeSport, Timo Werner is also carrying a bit of an issue. The German, who scored his first goal since March with the opener against Man City last week, is apparently nursing a problem of his own alongside Son.

The last five years have seen a monumental amount of change at Tottenham Hotspur.

The North Londoners have seen five permanent managers take up the job, an unsuccessful League Cup final against Manchester City and arguably their greatest-ever player leave, Harry Kane.

On top of that, each manager has been able to sign a number of their own players to varying levels of success, and it would be fair to say José Mourinho was responsible for some poor additions, including one who earned significantly more than the man of the moment, Dominic Solanke.

Spurs' 2020 summer signings

So, before we get to the player in question, let's look at a couple of other flops Mourinho signed that summer, including Irish full-back Matt Doherty.

The Dublin-born international joined the club that August from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of around £14.7m and did so off the back of an impressive season with the Old Gold in which he made 50 appearances, scored seven goals and provided four assists.

However, that form did not follow him to North London, and in two and a half years in the capital, he made just 71 appearances, in which he scored three goals and provided eight assists before his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, Doherty wasn't the only full-back Mourinho signed that summer, as he also oversaw the £27m capture of the Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon, who was coming off of a successful loan campaign with Sevilla, during which he scored three goals and provided five assists in 38 games.

Just like with his former teammate, the Spaniard could not show the same form he had the season prior in N17, and after two disappointing years, began a series of loan spells that has seen him play for Atlético, Manchester United and, most recently, Brentford.

However, while both full-backs have to be considered flop signings, neither one was handed a wage as large as another of the special ones' disappointing signings from that summer.

Mourinho's costly signing

The player is Danish international Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who was arguably Mourinho's most successful permanent addition from the summer of 2020, but given the competition, that's not much to shout about.

The combative midfielder joined Spurs from fellow Premier League side Southampton for a fee of around £15m, which was fairly reasonable, but what wasn't was the massive salary of £100k-per-week the club agreed to pay him.

That is £10k-per-week more than record signing Solanke is currently earning, and while he's had a slow start to life in N17, he now has a reasonable tally of five goals and two assists in 13 appearances to his name.

Now, as many fans will attest, the København-born ace wasn't a terrible player, and at times, it seemed like he was the only one who cared, but in a sport where caring counts for very little compared to ability and results, it's hard not to look at his time at the club as underwhelming.

In all, he made 184 appearances for the first team, scoring ten goals, providing 16 assists and picking up 27 yellow cards, but following a season of trying to adapt to Ange Postecoglou's style of play last year, he moved to Marseille on a season-long loan with an option to buy this summer.

In all, the 29-year-old earned around £20.8m in wages during his time at the club, which brings his total cost to around £35.8m, which can be broken down to £194k-per-appearance, £3.5m-per-goal, £2.2m-per-assist or £1.3m-per-goal-involvement.

Ultimately, Højbjerg wasn't an utter flop like some of the other players the special one signed during his tenure, but he wasn't a roaring success either, and the financial cost is just another reminder of that.