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The Premier League is finally back, and after a long summer of international football and transfer rumours flying here, there, and everywhere, Tottenham Hotspur look ready to fight for a place in the top four.

Ange Postecoglou led his side to a respectable fifth-placed finish in his first campaign at the club, but with that experience under his belt and a plethora of new signings added to the squad, Champions League football has to be the goal.

Speaking of signings, there is certainly an argument to be made that, as things stand, the Lilywhites have had one of the best summers in the league. With Archie Gray and Yan Min-Hyeok secured for the future and Dominic Solanke signed for the here and now, there is much to be excited about in N17.

However, even though the former Bournemouth ace cost the North Londoners a whopping £65m last week, they are still making moves in the market, most notably with the capture of Burnley ace Wilson Odobert.

The young winger is an incredibly exciting addition to the team, and with the window open for another two weeks, Daniel Levy and Co could really blow the roof off by bringing in another vastly experienced attacker who'd be a dream teammate for the Frenchman.

Odobert's surprise move to Spurs

The biggest drawback of the modern football landscape is that it's increasingly rare for clubs to pull off surprising transfer deals. Still, it would be fair to say that very few people, if anyone, expected Tottenham to complete the signing of Burnley star Odobert yesterday.

Somehow, the deal had remained off everyone's radar, and yet within a few hours of the first rumours, the BBC had confirmed the Frenchman's £25m move to North London.

Now, that might seem like quite a lot of money for a 19-year-old because, well, it is, but based on his performances for the Clarets last season and the potential so many believe him to have, it may well end up looking like a bargain in the years to come.

For example, despite being so young, he scored three goals and provided three assists in 29 Premier League appearances last season, meaning that he averaged a goal involvement every 4.83 games for a relegation candidate in the toughest league in the world - talk about promising.

Moreover, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the "extraordinary" talent, as dubbed by journalist Andrés Onrubia Ramos, sat in the top 3% of forwards for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

In all, Odobert looks like a brilliant signing for Spurs, although to get even more out of him, the club could now go after a more experienced striker they've been linked with all summer.

Why Toney would be great for Odobert

Yes, the potential target in question is none other than Brentford's wantaway striker Ivan Toney, who has been touted for a move to N17 for months.

Now, some of you may be wondering why the club would want to sign another striker so soon after splashing the cash on Solanke, and frankly, that's a good question, but according to reports earlier this week, that is something they might do, even though he's valued at £60m.

Perhaps it's an admission that Richarlison isn't a clinical enough player to be the club's backup striker when they want to be seriously challenging in all competitions this year, or it may just be a thought process that you can never have too many goalscorers in a team.

Whatever the reason, signing the Bees ace would mean adding some serious quality to the squad, and given his experience in the top flight, he'd be a dream signing for Odobert.

Just imagine if the former Burnley ace was tasked with starting alongside the 28-year-old "monster", as Thomas Frank dubbed him, he would surely feel more confident that whatever chances he created would be put away.

He wouldn't be too far off the mark either, as even when you include last season, which was massively disrupted by his eight-month ban from all footballing activities, the Northampton-born star has racked up a seriously impressive haul of 47 Premier League goal involvements in 83 appearances for Brentford, equating to one every 1.76 games.

Ultimately, while it would be a surprise, adding Toney to the club's rapidly improving attack would be a seriously ambitious move, and his knowhow and experience could prove to be incredibly beneficial for Odobert's development - although they might want to hold out for a lower price for a bit longer.

Tottenham Hotspur kickstart their Premier League campaign on Monday night with a tricky away game to newly promoted Leicester City.

Ange Postecoglou's side will be looking to go one better than they did last year and qualify for the Champions League, although to do that, they'll need to make sure they're operating at near their best for the next ten months.

With that in mind, the suspension of Yves Bissouma for his misconduct off the pitch could not have come at a worse time for the club, and following an incredibly underwhelming season last year - to be diplomatic - it could be time to move on.

Fortunately, recent reports have again linked the North Londoners to a longstanding transfer target who could be the perfect long-term upgrade on the Mali international.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are still interested in Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher.

Yes, following the Englishman's move to Atlético Madrid stalling and his subsequent return to West London, Sheth has claimed that the North Londoners will be "keeping an eye" on the situation.

The Lilywhites have been consistently linked with the Epsom-born midfielder in recent years, but their chances of securing his services looked to be over earlier this month when it appeared his transfer to Atlético was all but sewn up. However, the events of the last week or so have changed the situation.

While some fans may not be delighted with the links returning, Gallagher could be the perfect solution to their Bissouma problem, especially if Levy and Co can get a deal done close to the £34m the Spanish side supposedly agreed to pay.

How Gallagher compares to Bissouma

Okay, so before the pitchforks come out, we aren't saying this move is going to happen, as at this point, who knows where Gallagher is going to end up?

However, if the reports are accurate about Spurs' lingering interest, it's worth comparing him to one of the players he could replace in Postecoglou's squad, Bissouma, as while the Englishman has played all over midfield in West London, he's started a significant number of games in defensive midfield, 59 to be exact, and could therefore be an ideal replacement.

So, how do the pair stack up with one another? Well, as you might expect given the areas they primarily operated in last season, it's the Chelsea ace who comes out miles ahead in terms of raw output, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in 50 appearances, compared to the Malian's return of zero goals or assists in 28 games.

A better way to compare the two midfielders is to look at their underlying numbers from last season, although unfortunately for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace, this is another comparison in which he comes out looking significantly weaker than the player who could replace him.

For example, the 24-year-old "pressing and transition monster", as dubbed by analyst EBL, comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes received, shots and shots on target, key passes, passes into the penalty area and shot and goal-creating actions all per 90.

Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.

Interestingly, he even comes out on top in a few defensive metrics, like shots and passes blocked, ball recoveries and aerial duels won per 90, highlighting that he can excel in both areas of the pitch.

Ultimately, this is a move that was entirely off the table just a week ago, so whether the Lilywhites can get their hands on Gallagher this summer is anyone's guess, but given Bissouma's disappointing displays last season and his antics off the pitch this year, bringing in the Chelsea man to replace him doesn't seem like the worst idea.

Tottenham insiders are believed to be very excited by a teenage prodigy behind the scenes, and one who has been backed to become a £100 million star.

Spurs prepare for Leicester City as new Premier League season begins

The new Premier League season officially kicks off tonight as Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford, and Spurs begin their campaign on Monday with a trip to newly-promoted Leicester City.

Ange Postecoglou is just days away from the commencement of his second full campaign in charge of the Lilywhites, and the Australian will be looking to build upon last season's fifth-placed finish.

Spurs also have the added pressure of Europa League football, and the influx of extra games which come with it, so there is more pressure on Postecoglou's shoulders after a promising first season in the dugout.

The signs are certainly there, though, with Postecoglou recording the best start of any new manager in Premier League history this time last year. Tottenham won eight out of their opening 10 top-flight matches under Postecoglou, drawing the other two, and it took multiple injuries to key players for that run to end when Chelsea put Spurs to the sword in north London last November.

Supporters will be hoping for a similar start this time round, without the Chelsea humiliation, especially considering some of their astute summer transfers.

Out of nowhere on Friday, Tottenham confirmed the signing of winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley in a £25 million deal, coming after Fabrizio Romano claimed they could bring in another wide player alongside their new striker in Dominic Solanke.

Before both Solanke and Odobert, Tottenham sealed a £40 million move for English sensation Archie Gray, who went on to impress in pre-season.

Tottenham insiders excited by Archie Gray

The 18-year-old is fresh off the back of an excellent campaign with former club Leeds United in the Championship, where he played a crucial role in their run to the Play-Off final at Wembley in May.

The versatile midfielder, who can also play at right-back, has been tipped to become a future £100 million star, and journalist Charlie Eccleshare says people at Tottenham are very excited by Gray from what they've seen of him behind the scenes.

"It makes the club a more attractive place to go to for young players, Archie Gray, the last year or so, everyone I have spoken to about him has just gushed about how good he is and how good he could be," said Eccleshare to the Last Word on Spurs podcast (via TBR).

"He’s definitely a really exciting one."

And just like that, the Premier League is back, and while every team has something to play for, that feels especially true for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites enjoyed a generally positive first campaign under Ange Postecoglou last year, but following a disappointing end to the campaign that saw them slip out of the Champions League places, they need to ensure they go one better in 2024/25.

Fortunately, Daniel Levy and Co have done their jobs this summer with the captures of Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok, and most importantly, Dominic Solanke.

The talented number nine could be a real game-changer for the North Londoners this summer. However, it appears he won't be the only attacking addition this summer, with reports now linking another forward who outscored the Englishman with a move to the club.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from France, Tottenham are 'very interested' in signing LOSC Lille's Canadian striker Jonathan David this summer.

Interestingly, while the report itself seems to believe the 24-year-old will remain in the North of France this year, the message from LOSC's president, Olivier Letang, is far less certain, with him saying: "I'm not going to make promises today that I can't keep."

There have been other stories in the last week or so corroborating the North Londoners' desire to bring the former Gent ace to N17, and a separate report from Football Insider towards the end of last month confirmed that talks had been held and that the player could be available for as little as £20m, likely due to his contract expiring next year.

In all, this looks like a transfer that could go either way at the moment, but at the price reported, bringing in another quality attacker who outscored Solanke last season is a no-brainer.

Why David would be an excellent signing

Fundamentally, there is one primary reason why Tottenham should be looking to sign David this summer: he scores goals, and plenty of them at that.

For example, in 47 appearances last season, the "mind-blowing" poacher, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored a whopping 26 goals and provided nine assists to boot, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

In contrast, Solanke, who enjoyed a stellar campaign last year, scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 42 appearances for the Cherries, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

Now, we aren't saying that the Canadian international would come into the team and displace the Englishman as Postecoglou's starting striker. That seems incredibly unlikely given his £65m price tag, but he would be an exceptional second choice, and with the number of games teams have to play nowadays, he'd still get plenty of game time.

If some of you are still not convinced by his performances last season, then you only need to look back at his club record between 20/21 and 23/24, as in that period, he was outrageously consistent, scoring 84 goals and providing 18 assists in 183 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.79 games.

Such a record makes it hard to disagree with journalist Tony Marinaro's description of the 54-capped international as "one of the best strikers in the world."

Lastly, according to Understat, he hasn't underperformed his expected goals figure in the league by more than 1.25 in the last four years, suggesting that when he's presented with a good chance, you can be confident that he'll usually put it away.

Ultimately, Solanke looks set to be Spurs' main number nine next season, but with David supposedly available for just £20m, not signing him feels like an own goal, as he'd bring so much quality attacking depth to Postecoglou's squad.

While things started a little slowly, there can be no denying that, as things stand, Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a brilliant summer.

The North Londoners have looked impressive on the pitch and intelligent off it.

Daniel Levy and Co have signed exciting prospects for the future in Archie Gray and Yang Mi-Hyeok, got rid of those they no longer need, like Emerson Royal, and dramatically improved the first team for the here and now with the massive £65m signing of Dominic Solanke.

The now-former Bournemouth ace was the joint-fourth top goalscorer in the Premier League last season, so there is real hope that he could be even more effective this season in a team with more quality around him.

While many teams would be happy with the business Spurs have done this summer, it appears as if they are set to do even more.

They are now heavily linked with AS Monaco right-back Vanderson, although he'll have to really impress in North London if he wants his valuation to match one of his potential new teammates.

The latest on Vanderson to Spurs

So, according to a report from earlier this week, Spurs were already in talks with Monaco over the potential transfer of Brazilian right-back Vanderson.

The report claimed that the French side expected the North Londoners to make an offer in the region of €40m for the player, which converts to around £34m.

This news was then backed up by another story a few days later, claiming that people close to the right-back believe that the Lilywhites could soon make a 'breakthrough' in the negotiations.

It all sounds rather promising from Tottenham's point of view, and while the supposed transfer fee is relatively high, it could prove value for money in the long run for a full-back who's racked up 15 goals and assists in 84 appearances in Europe.

However, while the "sensational" defender, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, looks promising, he'll have to do something special in a Spurs shirt to surpass the value of the club's most exciting full-back.

Destiny Udogie's valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is the immensely exciting Destiny Udogie, who, according to the CIES Football Observatory, is worth up to a whopping €83m, which converts to around £71m.

This means the Italian youngster is worth £37m more than Vanderson and, more impressively, £6m more than the club's new number nine, Solanke.

This massive increase from the £15m plus bonuses that he initially cost the North Londoners back in August 2022 might sound ridiculous, but given his form for the club last season and the sky-high potential so many in the know believe him to have, it probably isn't.

For example, in 31 appearances last season, the "incredible talent", as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, scored two goals and provided three assists, meaning that in his first Premier League campaign, which he started as a 20-year-old, he averaged a goal involvement once every 6.2 games from left-back.

This impressive output, combined with his overall game, saw him become Tottenham's first player to be nominated for the Premier League's Young Player of the Season Award.

Ultimately, Vanderson looks like he'll be an exciting addition to help improve the team's depth at right-back, but he'll have to blow the roof off the Tottenham Hotspur stadium if he's going to see his valuation get anywhere near Udogies in the coming seasons.

There are still a couple of weeks until the transfer window closes, but as things stand, Tottenham Hotspur have had a relatively good summer.

Daniel Levy and Co are clearly planning for the future with the signings of Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, while the £65m capture of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke is a clear signal of intent that under Ange Postecoglou, the North Londoners mean business.

However, it's not all about incomings.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the much-maligned Emerson Royal left the club to join AC Milan, and based on numerous recent reports, Giovani Lo Celso could be the next one out the door, and the club has already been linked to his dream replacement this summer.

Lo Celso's time at Spurs

It would be hard to deny that Lo Celso has been a massive disappointment at Spurs in the years following his 2019 transfer from Real Betis.

In total, he has made just 108 appearances for the club, scored ten goals, provided eight assists and spent a season and a half on loan with Villarreal due to his underwhelming displays in North London.

With such a mediocre record for the club, it's unsurprising that they want to move him on this summer. Reports earlier in the window suggested that there were plans to use him as part of a swap deal to bring in Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey.

However, while that deal looks off the table, a report from Football Insider earlier this week revealed that the Lilywhites are now willing to accept a fee as low as £10m for the Copa América winner, as he's not in Postecoglou's plans.

While selling him is best for all parties, the club will still need to sign someone in his place to ensure the squad is large enough to cover all eventualities over the next ten months, and they were linked to the perfect candidate earlier this summer, Fabian Ruiz.

How Ruiz compares to Lo Celso

The link to Ruiz emerged in mid-June, and while there haven't been many more since then to suggest Spurs are keen on the £150k-per-week Spaniard, they should be, as he's the perfect upgrade on Lo Celso.

For example, in 35 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain last season, the 28-year-old "artist", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored three goals and provided seven assists. This means he averaged a goal involvement every 3.5 games, which is quite impressive for a player who moved between defensive, central, and attacking midfield positions.

In contrast, the Argentine international could only score two goals and provide two assists in his 24 appearances last season, which equates to a goal involvement on average every six games.

The one-sided nature of the comparison extends into their national team performances over the summer as well.

While both players were part of a winning team, they played very different roles within their respective squads.

For example, the "box-crashing" Spaniard, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, started every game bar the third group match and played a total of 543 minutes of action, in which he scored two goals, provided two assists and was then named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.

In contrast, the Lilywhites ace only started one game for Argentina, played 149 minutes, failed to score or assist a goal, and did not make the Team of the Tournament.

Tottenham could up the ante in an "eleventh hour" summer move to sign a replacement for Emerson Royal, following the defender's confirmed transfer to AC Milan.

Emerson leaves Spurs, three years after joining from Barcelona

The north Londoners waved goodbye to Emerson earlier this week, after what seemed like months of talks, as both Ange Postecoglou's side and the Rossoneri shook hands on a £13 million deal over the Brazilian - including £2.5 million in add-ons.

The 25-year-old made over a century of appearances for Spurs before joining Milan, scoring four goals and assisting two others in that time, amassing 12 yellow cards and clocking up 6,554 minutes in all competitions.

Emerson also filled in well for injured players during Postecoglou's debut season, even playing in central defence at times when both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero were unavailable. However, the north Londoners couldn't guarantee the right-back much more game time next campaign, with the former Barcelona ace opting to make a San Siro move.

The player bid an emotional farewell to Spurs supporters on Instagram, ending three years of service at N17, with Postecoglou now having just Pedro Porro and Djed Spence at his disposal for the upcoming season as things stand.

With their Europa League involvement, and all the extra games that come with it, it is believed Spurs are now in the market for a new right-back who can provide an alternative option to star man Pedro Porro.

Archie Gray can also feature as a right-back alongside his natural position in central midfield, as he did the majority of times for Leeds on their run to the Championship play-off final last season.

However, Postecoglou may well be planning to use the 18-year-old centrally, meaning Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with a move to Monaco's Vanderson this week.

Tottenham could make 11th hour attempt for Vanderson

GiveMeSport have their own update on Tottenham's interest in the Brazilian this week. They claim there is doubt over Spence's ability to fill in for Porro behind the scenes, and Tottenham could up the ante in an eleventh-hour move for Vanderson after originally making contact in June.

Thought to be on around £50,000-per-week, as relayed by GMS, the outlet believes £30 million could be enough to prise the South American away from Monaco.

“Vanderson has been less consistent recently, but he is still a young player," said Rangers boss Philippe Clement in 2022.

"He had an exceptional adaptation here [last season]. We have already spoken about that. He is also a player who is and continues to interest lots of big clubs. That can possibly do something to the mindset, not that he didn’t have his feet on the ground, but Vanderson is very ambitious and a huge perfectionist.

“Every day he wants to be better than the last. That can give him a lot of pressure, lots of stress with all of the ambition that he has. We need to manage that more for him. If I left him to it, he would train for 18 hours a day. He is like that. Sometimes we need physical and mental breaks and he is a young player that needs to manage that. He will do it, because he has such a positive frame of mind.”

Tottenham Hotspur are set to kickstart their Premier League campaign on Monday night with an away trip to newly promoted Leicester City, and while that's no easy task, they should go into the match full of confidence.

Ange Postecoglou's side have enjoyed a relatively successful preseason on the pitch this summer with a handful of comfortable wins and a couple of closely fought losses to Bayern Munich, and off the pitch, they've done brilliantly.

Daniel Levy and Co have sold unwanted players like Joe Rodon and Emerson Royal, signed a couple of exciting youngsters in Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, and, most importantly, secured the services of Dominic Solanke for £65m.

The former Bournemouth star could be the perfect striker to help take Spurs to the next level this season, although, based on recent reports, the club could still be looking to bring in another quality nine to bolster the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from the Independent's chief football writer, Miguel Delaney, Tottenham remain in the picture for Brentford striker Ivan Toney despite signing Solanke earlier this month.

Delaney claims that, alongside several other teams, including Manchester United and Chelsea, the North Londoners are still considered an outside option for the Englishman.

The main barrier for the Lilywhites, and other sides for that matter, is that the Bees are sticking to their £60m valuation of the striker, although with his contract expiring next year, that price could come down as the final day of the window approaches.

It would certainly be a surprise to see Spurs sign Toney this summer, especially at that price, but if they can wait for a couple of weeks, they may be able to secure his services at a steep discount. And what's better than having one recently signed top-quality striker in the team? Having two, of course.

Why Toney would be a great signing

While this seems like an unlikely transfer, recent reports like the one mentioned above make it clear that Spurs are still in the running to secure Toney's signature this summer, and though some may think his arrival would impact Solanke's game time, that doesn't have to be the case.

There are more matches in today's game than ever before, meaning stars are often played into the ground before a season ends, preventing them from operating at their best throughout the year.

Just look at James Maddison last season. He was on fire at the start of the campaign, racking up eight goal involvements in his first nine games, but only produced five in his final 17, and while that was partly due to injury, it was clear that he was also in desperate need of a rest.

This problem will only be more acute in N17 as well, as in Postecoglou's incredibly high-energy system, it would be surprising if his attacking talent weren't exhausted by the end of a gruelling season. So, while the former Cherries star looks set to be the club's number-one striker this year, having another top-quality centre-forward in the squad who can come off the bench or start the occasional game to keep him fresh seems like a no-brainer.

Furthermore, while Toney had a mediocre campaign last year due to the impact of his eight-month football ban, the 28-year-old "monster," as manager Thomas Frank dubbed him, has proven himself to be a fantastic forward at this level, racking up 36 goals and 11 assists in 83 appearances for the Bees.

Lastly, in certain situations, starting two clinical strikers in the same team could help give the Lilywhites an advantage over other sides.

Imagine if the team needed a late winner in an incredibly tight match, bringing the Brentford star on to play with Solanke, or vice versa, would completely change the game, and we saw in England's game against Slovakia at the Euros that the former Newcastle United ace can provide opportunities for a strike partner.

Ultimately, while some would potentially see this transfer as a frivolous waste of money, you can never have too many quality goalscorers in a squad. Moreover, if the club wants to get the absolute most out of Postecogolu's all-guns-blazing style of play, then having the opportunity to start a front two of Solanke and Toney is the perfect way to do so.

Following their £65 million deal to sign striker Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, sources close to a £34 million player believe Tottenham could well go and sign him next.

Postecoglou drops transfer hint with Tottenham still active this window

After sealing a move for Solanke and ending their year-long search for a Harry Kane replacement, Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has suggested that Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange could still bring in another body or two before deadline day.

The Australian says his side may not be done after putting pen to paper on a move for Solanke, with Postecoglou hinting there could be "activity" at Tottenham towards the end of the window.

Regardless, the 58-year-old is still emphatic that Spurs managed to seal a £65m move for his top striking target, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season and impressed under Cherries boss Andoni Iraola.

“He was obviously one I was very keen to get in," said Postecoglou on signing Solanke.

"It took a while to get it over the line but I think he will be a great fit for us in terms of the player he is and the point of his career where he is at. I think he will be a good fit. As I said, we are a bit light in that front third in terms of adding quality not just to the squad but also to our team. He certainly does that. Pleased to get him on board and we have a week and a bit to work with him.”

In terms of who could come in after Solanke, Fabrizio Romano has previously claimed that Spurs could still sign a new winger, depending on the opportunities available to them in the market.

Meanwhile, following Emerson Royal's confirmed switch to AC Milan, Postecoglou's side have also been linked with a move for AS Monaco right-back Vanderson.

Sources close to Vanderson think Tottenham will sign him

Reporter Bruno Andrade claimed earlier this week that Tottenham have opened talks with Monaco over a deal for Vanderson, with UOL now following up that report with more detail.

UOL state that people close to Vanderson believe Spurs could make a breakthrough in talks to sign him. Monaco are apparently demanding around £34 million to sell their Brazilian defender, who impressed over his 20 Ligue 1 games last season.

It's been a brilliant summer for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou's side have looked pretty good in preseason, with tight defeats to Bayern Munich and several wins over sides like Hearts, Queens Park Rangers and Vissel Kobe.

However, it's not just the action on the pitch that's encouraging. Daniel Levy and Co have been hard at work in the transfer market over the last month or so, bringing in Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok and most importantly, Dominic Solanke.

The signing of the £65m marksman is a signal of intent from the North Londoners for this season, although based on recent reports, the club could be doubling down in the forward area and already be looking to bring in some competition for the Englishman.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Graeme Bailey, FC Porto's goalscoring dynamo, Evanilson, is on Tottenham's radar.

The report claims that the North Londoners have already held talks with the Brazilian's representatives this summer, suggesting that there is more than a passing interest in the player from the Lilywhites.

The report does not mention how much the Fortaleza-born poacher might cost Spurs, but earlier this week, stories claimed that his contract contained a release clause worth €100m, which converts to around £86m.

Whether the Portuguese club demands such a fee remains to be seen, but based on his form last season, bringing Evanilson to N17 in the coming weeks would be a great idea. He would seriously improve Postecoglou's squad, and who knows, he could help push Solanke to be even better or even form a fantastic striker partnership with him.

How Evanilson compares to Solanke

So, the first thing to say is it would be incredibly surprising if Spurs were looking to sign Evanilson to play him ahead of Solanke, as that would be a bizarre use of resources.

Instead, what they could be thinking about are the ways in which he could help push the ex-Bournemouth man to get better, start games for him when he needs to rest, or even start games alongside him to form a deadly striker partnership that could get the most out of Postecoglou's all-guns blazing style of football and philosophy.

So, with that said, how do the pair stack up to one another?

Well, from a pure output perspective, it's a very closely fought affair, and while the Brazilian comes out ahead, it's not quite as simple as that, as you have to factor in the league in which they play. While the Liga Portugal isn't a bad league, it's obviously of a lower standard than that of the Premier League.

Nonetheless, the fact that the "clinical" 24-year-old, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, scored 25 goals and provided seven assists in 42 games, equating to a goal involvement on average every 1.31 games is undeniably encouraging and suggests he could further develop at a club like Spurs.

For his efforts last season, the former Liverpool ace scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 42 appearances, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

This trend of the 24-year-old coming out on top in comparisons continues when we examine the pair's underlying numbers from last season as well.

For example, the "electric" centre-forward, as dubbed by Kulig, comes out ahead in a number of metrics, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries and passes, key passes, shots and shots on target, and shot and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.

Now, like his output, these figures and the fact he beats out Solanke have to be considered in the context of a weaker league, but they still show that there is some serious talent there and that there is no reason to think he couldn't replicate some of his impressive underlying numbers in England.

Ultimately, depending on the final price, bringing Evanilson to the white side of North London this summer would be a brilliant idea. With two top-quality strikers in the team, who knows how far Postecoglou could take Tottenham?