FootballFanCast.com

All things considered, it's been a good summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far.

Ange Postecoglou's side have won four out of six preseason friendlies, signed two exciting prospects in Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, and, most importantly, secured the services of Dominic Solanke in a £65m deal that could bring a mountain of goals to the North Londoners' attacking style this season.

However, Daniel Levy and Co appear to be still hard at work.

Recent reports have touted another talented star for a move to N17 in the coming weeks, and his arrival could be the much-needed upgrade on a player who never made the grade at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Dean Jones via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham's interest in Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters should be back in focus in the coming weeks.

Jones claims that with Emerson Royal's exit to AC Milan, the North Londoners could refocus their attention on signing the young Englishman, who used to play for the club.

How much the 27-year-old would cost the Lilywhites is still up in the air, though, as Jones cites a report valuing him at around £20m, while reports from late last week price him closer to £30m.

Whatever the final price ends up being, bringing in Walker-Peters to replace and upgrade upon Emerson would be a great idea, as he's impressed at Southampton in the Premier League and Championship.

How Walker-Peters compares to Emerson

So, if Walker-Peters is signed to be Emerson's long-term replacement at right back, how does he compare to the Brazilian?

Well, when we look at their output, as in the modern game, the full-back has to contribute going forward; it's a win for the Saints ace.

In his 47 appearances for the South Coast side last season, he scored four goals and provided four assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 5.87 games.

In contrast, the former Barcelona full-back could only muster a single goal in his 24 appearances for the North Londoners last season, which is far from ideal.

Unfortunately for the Milan-bound man, the comparison is just as one-sided when we look at their underlying numbers, and even though the Englishman was playing in a weaker league, the difference is starker than it should be.

For example, in practically every single metric, the "beautiful footballer", as dubbed by manager Russell Martin, comes out on top, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.

Moreover, while he comes out second best in a couple of the defensive metrics, he makes substantially fewer errors that lead to an opponent's shot, suggesting he wouldn't be a "liability", as Jamie O'Hara branded Emerson.

Ultimately, Walker-Peters looks to be an upgrade on the Brazilian from both output and underlying numbers perspectives, so if the opportunity presents itself to bring the Englishman back to North London this summer, Levy and Co should take it.

Tottenham Hotspur have less than a month to complete any remaining business that they would like to do before the end of the summer transfer window.

Ange Postecoglou can cross a new number nine off his wishlist now that Dominic Solanke is in the building, though, after the club confirmed his arrival from Bournemouth on Saturday. The Australian head coach was also presented with a fresh midfield option earlier in the summer, with Archie Gray snapped up from Leeds United in a permanent deal by Daniel Levy.

Gray may not be the only midfielder to come through the door at the London giants, however, as Spurs are reportedly pursuing a move for another player in that area of the pitch.

Spurs set to launch bid for Serie A ace

According to JuveLive, Levy is set to launch a bid to sign Juventus central midfielder Manuel Locatelli before the end of the summer transfer window. The report claims that Tottenham are ready to make an offer of €25m (£20.5m) plus bonuses to secure the Italy international's signature this month.

It states that the Lilywhites are prepared to get 'serious' about a deal in the coming days and that an exit from the Old Lady is likely if a £20m+ bid does fall on their desk.

Locatelli could be viewed as a replacement for Giovani Lo Celso, who looks set to leave the club this summer. Football Insider recently claimed that he has been deemed surplus to requirements by Postecoglou, amid interest from Aston Villa and Real Betis.

The outlet added that Spurs are willing to cash in on the Argentina international for a fee of £10m, having previously demanded a £15m package for him, but it remains to be seen whether either of the two interested parties are ready to meet their demands.

Why Spurs should sign Manuel Locatelli

Locatelli could come in as a fantastic replacement for Lo Celso as he is an experienced player at the top level in Europe, whilst still having his best years ahead of him. At the age of 26, he has plenty of years left ahead of him and would arrive at the perfect time in his career, as he is not a young player with much to learn or in the final throes of his playing days.

The Italian maestro has been capped 28 times by his country and has racked up 243 appearances in the Serie A, along with 132 outings for Juventus, which shows that he is experienced at international and domestic level.

Locatelli provided a greater creative threat than Lo Celso at league level last term, whilst also offering more balance defensively. He has the physical attributes to dominate opponents in duels on the deck and in the air, whereas the Spurs man let himself down in aerial challenges, whilst the Italian battler also made more defensive interventions per game to cut out opposition attacks.

Tottenham Hotspur have backed Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market by splashing the cash on two big-money recruits so far this summer, and are now eyeing a third.

The Lilywhites confirmed the arrival of England international Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £65m on Saturday, with £55m guaranteed and £10m in add-ons. That came after the Premier League side splashed out a fee of £30m for Leeds starlet Archie Gray earlier this summer to bolster the manager's options in the middle of the park.

Spurs do not appear to be done there, however, as Daniel Levy is now said to be eyeing up a swoop to add a new defender to the group this month.

Tottenham eyeing up Premier League full-back

According to Give Me Sport, Tottenham's interest in Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters is back in focus amid Emerson Royal's expected move to AC Milan. The Brazilian defender's move to the Italian giants would leave Postecoglou light on options in the right-back position and that is why a move for the Saints star could make sense.

Give Me Sport claims that there is a 'strong' feeling that the English gem, who shares the same agency (CAA Base) as current Tottenham star James Maddison, will move on from St. Mary's before the end of the transfer window.

He is an attractive target for Levy and Postecoglou due to his positional versatility, as he can play in both full-back positions and in midfield, and the fact he fits the homegrown quota having come up through the Spurs academy before his move down south.

Why Spurs should sign Kyle Walker-Peters

Along with the two reasons stated in the report above, there are other factors involved that could make Walker-Peters a fantastic replacement for Emerson this month. Firstly, the 27-year-old ace knows the club inside and out, having spent seven years there at youth and first-team level, and that, along with his 115 Premier League appearances, could help him to hit the ground running.

Secondly, his performances on the pitch in the Championship to help Southampton earn promotion back to the top-flight suggest that he has the potential to be a quality option for Postecoglou.

Walker-Peters caught the eye with his contributions at both ends, whilst his teammates let him down by only scoring four times from the 12 'big chances' he created. The Saints defender, who was described as a "beautiful" footballer by Russell Martin, would likely have to settle for a back-up role at his boyhood club, however.

Tottenham Hotspur made their second big-money addition of the summer transfer window on Saturday when they announced the signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.

The Lilywhites have splashed out a huge fee of £65m to sign the one-time England international on a permanent deal from the Cherries, after his return of 19 goals in 38 Premier League matches last term.

That may not be the end of the club's business during the summer transfer window, though, as they have been offered the chance to land a former Premier League star.

Spurs offered chance to sign Super Lig star

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs who have been told that Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha would like to return to the Premier League, a division he has appeared 305 times in.

After just one year in Turkey, following on from his exit from Crystal Palace last summer, the Ivory Coast international wants to move back to England.

The report claims that Spurs, Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Palace have all been made aware of his availability, providing them with a chance to sign the attacker.

However, the outlet does not reveal how much Galatasaray would demand for the 31-year-old whiz, who is reportedly on £120k-per-week in Istanbul.

If the financials behind the deal work for Spurs, Postecoglou must push to land the experienced forward as he could come in as a big upgrade on Manor Solomon.

Why Wilfried Zaha would be an upgrade on Manor Solomon

Firstly, the Israel international missed a whopping 33 games through injury in his debut season for Spurs and was absent for 17 matches for Fulham during the 2022/23 campaign.

This shows that he is not a reliable option for the manager due to his consistent injury issues over the last two seasons, which is why signing a player to replace him could make sense.

Zaha, meanwhile, has only missed 29 games through injury in the last four campaigns combined and this suggests that he could be far more reliable for Postecoglou.

The Galatasaray ace, who scored nine goals and provided three assists in 13 Super Lig starts, also proved himself to be a fine option in the Premier League in his final few seasons with Palace.

As you can see in the table above, the former Eagles star showcased his quality as an excellent goalscorer from a left wing position, whilst he also averaged at least one key pass per game across all three years.

Zaha, who was once hailed as a "joy to watch" by pundit James Collins, could offer far more of a threat at the top end of the pitch than Solomon, who has produced four goals and two assists in 24 Premier League games in his career.

These statistics indicate that the 31-year-old gem would come in and provide more quality as a scorer of goals, as Solomon is yet to prove himself on a consistent basis.

Instead of persisting with an injury-prone winger with a subpar attacking output, Spurs could swoop to sign the Ivorian wizard from Galatasaray to improve their options in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up their pre-season with a 3-2 defeat to Harry Kane and Bayern Munich in their last match before the Premier League campaign on Saturday.

Dejan Kulusevski found the back of the net twice, including a goal in the first minute of the match, but strikes from Thomas Muller, Dayot Upamecano, and Serge Gnabry secured the friendly win for the Bavarian outfit.

Ange Postecoglou will now have his full focus on the opening game against Leicester City, newly promoted out of the Championship, at the King Power stadium.

The Lilywhites missed out on Champions League football for this season, finishing below Aston Villa in the table, and a top-four finish may be in the Australian boss' sights this term.

Spurs have dipped into the market in an attempt to bolster their squad, with Lucas Bergvall, in a deal that was agreed earlier this year, Archie Gray, and Dominic Solanke all joining this summer.

The club's latest signing was Solanke on a permanent deal from Bournemouth, which has been reported to be worth £65m, to improve the team's attack.

Spurs eyeing new centre-forward

Despite that addition to the squad, Tottenham are reportedly in the market to add another centre-forward to the group to compete with Solanke.

According to Football Insider, Spurs have their eye on a possible swoop to sign Jonathan David from Ligue 1 side Lille before the end of the window.

The report claims that Postecoglou is lining up a potential move for the Canada international as there is continued uncertainty over Richarlison's future at the club.

It adds that that Brazil international 'could' leave before the deadline passes but does not mention if there are any teams currently pursuing his services, though it does say that there are Saudi Pro League clubs monitoring his situation.

Football Insider also reveals that a number of Premier League teams are eyeing up David this summer, which means that the Lilywhites could face significant competition for his signature.

The report states that the Canadian marksman is now into the final 12 months of his contract with the French side and that has forced them to lower their value of him to £25m, which is why he has emerged as an attractive target for Spurs and other sides in the English top-flight.

If Tottenham do win the race to secure his services before the end of the summer then Postecoglou could have two excellent striker options, with him and Solanke.

What Dominic Solanke could bring to Tottenham

A £65m transfer fee will bring a degree of expectation with it for the English attacker, who has already proven himself to be a capable scorer at Premier League level.

Solanke has played in England for the majority of his career, bar a loan spell with Vitesse in his younger days, and does not have to adjust to the league or the country, as a signing - like David - coming in from abroad would have to do.

This means that Postecoglou and supporters may feel like he should have to hit the ground running this season, due to his experience in the league and his hefty price tag.

The one-time England international is coming off the back of his best season in the Premier League for the Cherries, having never managed more than six top-flight goals prior to the 2023/24 campaign.

Solanke plundered 19 goals in 38 appearances in the division last term and no Spurs player managed more than Heung-min Son's tally of 17 in the league.

This suggests that the £65m signing from Bournemouth could come in to provide a much-needed boost in the final third for Postecoglou, if he can continue his impressive form in a Tottenham shirt.

As you can see in the table above, Solanke consistently got himself into fantastic goalscoring positions, as evidenced by his 19.63 Expected Goals tally.

He did slightly underperform based on the quality of chances that came his way but that should not be a massive issue, given how slight the underperformance is, if he can continue to get into positions for those opportunities to fall his way.

Solanke could, therefore, be a fantastic attacking option for Spurs and the club could land another excellent striker to compete with him by signing David.

Why Spurs should sign Jonathan David

The 24-year-old star, who was hailed as "mind-blowing" for his country by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been a prolific forward in France in recent years and could come in as an outstanding replacement for Richarlison.

If the Brazilian does move on, to the Pro League or elsewhere, then Spurs could improve their team by swooping to sign David in reaction to that.

The Lille sensation, who has scored 28 goals in 54 caps for Canada, has racked up 121 goals in 267 appearances in his club career to date, which speaks to his knack for scoring goals on a regular basis.

As you can see in the table above, David outperformed Richarlison as both a scorer and a creator of goals during the 2023/24 campaign, with eight more goals and twice as many 'big chances' created in their respective leagues.

The £25m-rated marksman had also fired in an outstanding 24 goals in 37 outings in Ligue 1 in the previous season, which means that he has scored 43 goals in the last two league campaigns combined.

These statistics show that David has the ability to find the back of the net at an impressive rate at the top level, albeit he is unproven in the Premier League.

This means that Spurs could end up with two strikers in their squad - Solanke and David - who both scored 19 goals in a major European league last term, which could provide Postecoglou with all the firepower he needs to fight for a top four finish, and possibly even more.

It had been a relatively quiet transfer window for incomings at Tottenham Hotspur, with Archie Gray the only senior addition, costing Ange Postecoglou’s side roughly £30m from Leeds United.

However, in the last 24 hours, it’s all changed, with the club striker Dominic Solanke on a £65m club-record deal from Bournemouth after his impressive goalscoring campaign in 2023/24.

The Englishman scored 19 goals in his 38 Premier League appearances for Andoni Iraola’s side, helping them secure a 12th-placed finish, an excellent achievement for a club like Bournemouth.

Whilst it may seem like a hefty fee for the 26-year-old, he will provide that cutting edge at the top end of the pitch that the Lilywhites have been lacking since the departure of Harry Kane last summer.

However, despite the big-money transfer, Postecoglou’s side might not be done there, with his side potentially still in the market to sign one young talent.

Tottenham could sign £47m ace this summer

During the off-season, Spurs have been linked with a plethora of attacking talents to try and provide more firepower in their attempts to secure Champions League football in the 2024/25 campaign.

One player touted with a move to North London is French midfielder Desire Doue, with the youngster expected to leave Ligue 1 side Rennes this summer.

However, they are not alone in the hunt for the 19-year-old, with Bayern Munich and PSG also battling to secure the services of a talent who has featured for his nation at the Olympic Games.

Like Solanke, he’s expected to cost a huge sum, especially considering his talent and potential, with Rennes holding out for a fee in the region of £47m to part ways with Doue.

Whilst it would be a risk to spend such a huge fee on another young talent, he’s already showcased the talent possesses, potentially having a greater impact than one current Spurs ace.

Why Doue would a bigger talent than Maddison

After joining from Leicester City last summer, midfielder James Maddison produced a solid first campaign in North London, registering 13 goals contributions in the Premier League.

However, it’s not too far-fetched to say that more was expected of the one-time England international in his first season at the club, with the hope that he can build on his opening season going into 2024/25.

He could potentially see himself lose his starting role should Spurs complete a deal for Doue, with the French youngster producing a whole host of better stats than the Englishman in Ligue 1 despite his tender age.

Whilst he registered slightly fewer combined goals and assists in 2023/24, Doue’s quality is evident with the midfielder excelling with the ball at his feet.

He managed nearly double the amount of progressive carries per 90 last season, whilst completing over two times the number of take-ons than Maddison.

The “elite” Doue, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, also managed a better goal per shot-on-target ratio than the current Spurs man despite scoring fewer goals, proving that he’s more accurate with his attempts than the Englishman.

Whilst it may be another huge fee to throw at a player after the marquee deal for Solanke, it would undoubtedly be a worthwhile investment, with Doue having the ability to improve further at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He would be able to form a deadly partnership with the incoming striker, whilst also providing an upgrade on the options available to Postecoglou - further increasing the chances of securing Champions League football.

Tottenham and technical director Johan Lange by extension are considering the signing of a £30 million ex-player to replace an exit-bound Spurs star.

Spurs seal £65 million deal for Dominic Solanke

The big news out of Spurs this week is their completed £65 million deal for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, with manager Ange Postecoglou landing his top target for the role.

The Australian, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein, wanted the 26-year-old more than any other striker in the club's price range - coming after he scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Cherries last season.

Spurs moved quickly to negotiate a big-money deal this week, after receiving encouragement that Solanke was very keen on a move to Tottenham this summer.

The Englishman is now all set for a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Lilywhites paying £57 million up front and £8 million worth of add-ons to reach the total sum of Solanke's £65 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

After Solanke, some outlets have reported that Tottenham are in talks to bring in a new winger and full-back, so this could be a busy final few weeks of the window for Postecoglou, Lange and chairman Daniel Levy.

There is also the matter of Emerson Royal and his move to AC Milan. The Brazilian, after months of talk, will at long last seal a move to the San Siro. According to Romano, he rejected four to five different offers to join Milan, with Spurs now reaching an agreement to sell him for a package worth in excess of £13 million.

"Emerson Royal to AC Milan, here we go! Deal in place for total package in excess of €15m from Spurs," said Romano on X yesterday.

"Agreement with Emerson reached in May as he only wanted Milan despite 4/5 proposals. Travel being planned as Emerson leaves #THFC and joins Milan project."

Tottenham considering Walker-Peters to replace Emerson

Of course, with the 25-year-old now making a move to Serie A, Postecoglou is in need of a different alternative to star right-back Pedro Porro. Emerson also featured at left-back at points last season, so Spurs need to bring in a full-back option who can cover for both Porro and Destiny Udogie.

According to The Boot Room, Southampton star and former player Kyle Walker-Peters remains on their radar. It is believed Tottenham are still considering a move for Walker-Peters, with other reports suggesting the club have a £30 million buy-back clause.

Tottenham transfer chiefs have held internal talks over bringing in a £21 million starlet, as attention turns to who Ange Postecoglou could look to sign next after completing a £65 million deal for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

Spurs agree Solanke signing as Postecoglou gets his new forward

It's been a busy few days at Spurs, with the search for a new number nine to replace Harry Kane now drawing to a conclusion with Solanke's pending arrival.

The former Liverpool ace bagged 21 goals in all competitions under Andoni Iraola last season in what was a career-best campaign for him personally, only just missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.

On Friday, following week-long transfer talks, Spurs reached a complete agreement to sign Solanke, who will come in to provide Postecoglou with a star signing in a position the Australian personally wanted to reinforce.

Postecoglou will be ecstatic to get his top transfer target over the line before deadline day on August 30, with the 58-year-old previously confirming that Spurs were on the look out for a talismanic new forward.

"At Celtic, I had Kyogo, who was a sort of out and out number nine and in Japan, I've always had a striker," said Postecoglou on Spurs signing a new striker.

"It just depends, like last year we had to be a bit creative, it's fair to say. You know but if Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him! So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould."

After signing Solanke, it is believed Tottenham are also after a new winger and full-back, with Emerson Royal also on the verge of joining AC Milan.

Tottenham hold internal talks over signing Michael Kayode

According to The Boot Room, a player on Spurs' radar to potentially succeed Emerson is Fiorentina starlet Michael Kayode.

The 20-year-old, who impressed over his 26 Serie A appearances for La Viola last season, is rumoured to command a £21 million price tag. TBR claim that Spurs chiefs have internally discussed signing Kayode before the deadline, but he is just one a few full-back targets on their radar.

“This one is really strong,” said Pino Vitale to Radio Firenze Viola (via HITC), after Kayode's brilliant one-v-one performance against Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia last season.

“Incredible. He forced Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to chase him. It was the best match ever since (Vincenzo) Italiano took over Fiorentina. They didn’t let Napoli play and ate them up. (Full-backs Fabiano) Parisi and Kayode are strong and played an excellent game.

“Kvaratskhelia had to change wings due to the way Kayode controlled him! There is no need to worry about him. He is only 19 years old, but he is a ‘player’.”

Tottenham have reportedly opened talks over two more signings amid their sealed agreement for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, as Spurs seemingly look to end the window on a high for manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs agree deal with Bournemouth to sign Solanke

After completing deals for Timo Werner and Archie Gray, it appears Solanke is next in line to join Postecoglou's side this summer.

Spurs have reached a complete agreement to sign Solanke, coming after the Englishman bagged an impressive 21 goals in all competitions over some vital performances for the Cherries last season.

The 26-year-old was and is a key player for Andoni Iraola, who will be saddened to lose him when his move to Tottenham becomes official. It is believed that Solanke is "desperate" to play for Spurs next season, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein, which may have helped to speed the move along.

Solanke has agreed a six-year contract at Spurs, as per Ornstein again, and the club will pay Bournemouth the entirety of his £65 million release clause. This comes after Postecoglou admitted to the press that bringing in a new number nine was a major priority for Tottenham this summer.

"At Celtic, I had Kyogo, who was a sort of out and out number nine and in Japan, I've always had a striker," said Postecoglou on Spurs signing a new striker.

"It just depends, like last year we had to be a bit creative, it's fair to say. You know but if Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him! So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould."

With Solanke compeleting a move to north London, focus now turns to who could follow the Englishman, with just weeks of the window remaining.

Tottenham open talks for two more signings after Dominic Solanke

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared a further update on Spurs' plans beyond bringing in a new number nine.

Writing for Football Insider, the reporter claims Tottenham have opened talks for two more signings before the deadline, as chairman Daniel Levy and co also look to reinforce their options for the wing and their left-back area.

While targets haven't been named in the report, Fabrizio Romano has backed that Spurs could look to bring in a new winger, depending on opportunities, while Postecoglou may need left-back cover after the departure of Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer.

Following a first season in which he led Tottenham Hotspur back into the Europa League, Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to go one better next season and take the North Londoners back into the Champions League.

Fortunately, the recent developments around Dominic Solanke's likely move to the club should make that objective far more attainable, as the Englishman will be the first quality out-and-out striker the club have had since Harry Kane left.

The former Lilywhites captain was a force of nature, and nobody is expecting the Bournemouth ace to match his performances, but there is optimism that under Postecoglou, the former Chelsea ace can keep finding the back of the net.

That might be more likely to happen if Daniel Levy and Co can secure a deal for another player the club have been linked with, a player who has been compared with Kane's old partner, Dele Alli.

Kane and Dele's sensational partnership

He might be one way back from the wilderness today with the publically stated aim of making it back into the England squad for the 2026 World Cup, but when Dele first broke through as a teenager, he looked set to reach the very top of the game.

Alongside Kane, the incredibly talented attacking midfielder was a crucial part of Mauricio Pochettino's exciting and dynamic Spurs side of the mid to late 2010s.

Not only did the Milton Keynes-born gem have a showreel of stunning strikes by the time he was in his early 20s, but he also had the raw output to back them up, with a mountain of goals and assists to his name that some players can't amass across an entire career.

For example, in 269 appearances for the Lilywhites, he racked up 67 goals and 58 assists, which equates to a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.15 games.

Of course, his assists would always be slightly juiced by playing alongside a striker as deadly as Kane, but for long periods, the partnership was very much two-sided.

For example, according to an article from the club's website, the 6 foot 2 talent had already provided the England captain with seven assists by the end of March 2016, his first campaign in the top flight.

Moreover, prior to the start of the 20/21 season, Dele had provided the Walthamstow-born poacher with 16 Premier League assists, which was three more than Son Heung-min at the time.

Overall, the North Londoners were blessed with a striker who scored with every touch and an attacking midfielder who could supply him endless opportunities to do so, and there is a chance that they could sign someone to be the Dele to Solanke's Kane this summer.

Ramsey could be Solanke's Dele

Yes, the player in question is Aston Villa gem Jacob Ramsey, who Spurs are supposedly preparing an offer of £19m plus Giovani Lo Celso to try and sign this summer.

Now, we are not trying to say that Ramsey will reach the same levels as a young Dele, as with the comparisons between Solanke and Kane, that would be wholly unfair, but the pair could form a partnership akin to the one the former Spurs stars had.

The actual comparison to the Milton Keynes-born star stems from The Athletic's Gregg Evans, who, on an old episode of The Next Big Thing podcast, suggested that the Villa ace "is quite similar, really, to how Dele Alli was."

Evans argued that how the Great Barr-born dynamo made his "runs into the box" and the fact he's "very, very comfortable" on the ball were apparent similarities to the former Lilywhites ace.

Whether the "sensational" Villa star, as dubbed by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, can quite reach the levels of Dele is still to be seen, but based on some of his underlying numbers, there certainly looks to be a quality player there and someone who could help Solanke reach new heights.

For example, across all competitions last season, he produced 3.02 shot-creating actions, succeeded in 0.82 take-ons, played 1.12 key passes, took 1.95 shots, and produced a non-penalty expected goals and assists figure of 0.34, all per 90, per FBref.

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.

Ultimately, the only way to know for sure if Evans was correct in his assessment that Ramsey will develop into a Dele-type player is to wait and see, but one thing that would certainly help is playing alongside a powerful and clinical striker such as Solanke.