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Frontrunners: Spurs moving for £60m star who's like Maddison

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Frontrunners: Spurs moving for £60m star who's like Maddison - FootballFanCast.com
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It's set to be a massive campaign for Tottenham Hotspur next season as Ange Postecoglou looks to lead his squad up the Premier League table and back into the Champions League.

The Australian enjoyed a relatively successful debut year with the club, but he'll need his team's stars, such as James Maddison, to step it up a level in 2024/25.

Fortunately, Daniel Levy and Co appear to be doing their job to help the manager, as based on recent reports, the club are focussing their efforts on signing an incredibly exciting talent who's won comparisons to Maddison and could make a real difference in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to journalist Alex Crook on talkSPORT's latest episode of the Premier League All-Access Podcast, Tottenham's interest in Eberechi Eze remains high and is "more advanced" than that of their competition.

Alongside the Lilywhites, Crook claims that Manchester City are fans of the Englishman.

However, their interest depends on what happens with Kevin De Bruyne in the coming weeks, and while the North Londoners want to "shift some players first," their desire to sign the midfielder is "genuine."

It's widely reported that the Palace ace would cost Spurs about £60m due to a release clause in his contract. While that is a lot of money, it would be money well spent - especially given his comparisons to Maddison.

Why Eze would be a great signing and his comparison to Maddison

Before getting into why Eze would be an excellent signing for Spurs, let's address the comparisons to Maddison, which stem mainly from FBref.

They compared every player in the 2022/23 Premier League season, created a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in turn, concluded that the Spurs ace was the most similar midfielder to the Palace man across that whole campaign.

However, this wasn't done purely on the eye test or through the number of goal contributions they produced. Instead, they looked at how closely the pair measured up to one another for a multitude of underlying metrics, including non-penalty expected goals, actual non-penalty goals, shots on target, live passes, goal-creating actions, tackles won and interceptions, all per 90.

Now, while the comparisons to Maddison are certainly a nice bonus when it comes to the Eagles ace, they shouldn't be the main reason behind his potential signing, as he proved last season that he was among the most dangerous players in the league.

For example, in just 31 appearances last season, the 26-year-old "entertainer," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, scored 11 goals and provided six assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.8 games, which is even more impressive considering he did that for a team that finished in midtable.

Ultimately, while signing Eze will take a lot of money and hard work from Levy and Co, it would be well worth it, as he could reach another level entirely playing under a manager like Postecoglou and alongside a teammate like Maddison.

Al-Ahli now considering bid for £190,000-per-week Tottenham superstar

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Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli are now considering signing a Tottenham superstar in what would be a pretty ambitious summer swoop, coming after a key departure from the Middle East.

Players who could still leave Tottenham before deadline day

Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic were the first players to depart Spurs this summer, with their contracts expiring late last month. They were soon followed by former club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele after the club agreed to terminate his deal a year early.

Ndombele has since joined OGC Nice in Ligue 1, making a return to his homeland on a free deal. Sessegnon is yet to find a new club since leaving Tottenham, while Perisic and Dier remain at Hadjuk Split and Bayern Munich respectively after they both agreed to join their sides on loan in January.

Tanganga also returned to Millwall on a permanent deal after spending last season on a temporary stint at The Den. Wales international Joe Rodon's exit is the only departure which has made Daniel Levy any immediate money back, having re-joined Leeds United in a £10 million move with Archie Gray going in the other direction.

Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille on an initial loan deal, but while it'll start as being a temporary move, the Ligue 1 side are obligated to buy him for around £17 million at the end of next season - with Spurs therefore in line for a windfall next year.

So, plenty of senior players have quit N17, and there could be even more. As first reported by reliable club insider Paul O'Keefe, Girona are in talks with Spurs over signing Bryan Gil, coming after the Spaniard's lack of chances under Ange Postecoglou last season.

Tottenham have also been keen to use Giovani Lo Celso in a swap deal for Jacob Ramsey, putting the Argentine's future into doubt, while AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are chasing a deal for Emerson Royal.

According to recent reports, Spurs are also willing to entertain bids for Richarlison amid interest from Saudi Arabia, so there could be a few more outgoings on the horizon before deadline day on August 30.

Al-Ahli considering bid for Tottenham superstar Son Heung-min

Few would put superstar player Son Heung-min up for sale, despite his age (32) and contract expiring in under 12 months. The South Korea legend finished last season as Postecoglou's top scorer in all competitions, with 17 goals and 10 assists.

The £190,000-per-week forward is far too crucial to sell this summer, and efforts must be made to tie Son down with a new contract. While it is unlikely that Levy and co will entertain offers, that hasn't stopped Saudi side Al-Ahli from eyeing an ambitious move.

Indeed, according to journalist Rudy Galetti, Al-Ahli are considering a bid to sign Son from Tottenham this summer, as they look to replace Allan Saint-Maximin - who left for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce on a season-long loan.

It is unclear just how much the north Londoners would even consider selling for, but it could need to be a serious marquee figure.

Exit expected: Spurs target £25m Porro rival who could be Ange's own White

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Pre-season is well and truly here, and after dispatching Hearts and Queens Park Rangers over the last week, Tottenham Hotspur have flown out to Japan to kickstart their brief international tour.

It's hard to take too much from these games, but it will be reassuring for fans to see the team look refreshed and ready for the new campaign.

One of the stars who started the last two games was Spanish right-back Pedro Porro.

While he looked good, recent reports suggest he could have some extra competition next season as the club have been linked with an exciting full-back, a full-back who has won comparisons to a certain Ben White.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing Bayern Munich full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

Alongside the Lilywhites, Bailey claims that Manchester United and West Ham United are also keen on the right-back, whom Bayern have supposedly offered to the teams.

The German Behemoths are happy to sell the Moroccan as they view him as surplus to requirements, although they still want an offer in the region of £25m.

It could prove challenging to get ahead of the chasing pack, but bringing in Mazraoui as competition for Porro would be an excellent idea, and the fact he's been compared to White is undoubtedly a bonus - from a playing perspective, anyway.

How Mazraoui compares to Porro and White

Okay, so before we look at how Mazraoui stacks up against Porro, let's examine this comparison to White and where it comes from.

It stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in last season's Champions League, created a list of the ten most comparable for each one, and concluded that the Englishman was the most similar full-back to the Moroccan in the entire competition.

The way they came to this conclusion was by looking at how closely the pair rank for several underlying metrics, including expected assists, actual assists, shots on target, passing accuracy, live passes, goal-creating actions, interceptions and clearances, all per 90.

However, it's not just their underlying numbers that make the two right-backs comparable.

Like the Arsenal man, the Bayern ace has shown himself to be positionally versatile, starting 44 games in central midfield, 13 in defensive midfield, and ten at left-back, among several starts all over the pitch.

So, while it's clear how the former Ajax star could be compared to the Englishman, how does he stack up to the man he may well be battling for a place in Ange Postecoglou's starting lineup next season?

Well, when you compare their underlying numbers from their respective league campaigns last season, it becomes clear that their battle could be an excellent one, with both full-backs coming out on top in ten key underlying metrics each.

For example, the former Sporting CP ace emerges victorious in metrics such as tackles won, blocks, ball recoveries and key passes, whereas his potential rival does better in ones like aerial duels won, progressive passes and carries, assists, and interceptions, all per 90.

Ultimately, if Spurs have a genuine chance to sign Mazraoui this summer, they should absolutely take it. He would be the perfect player to challenge Porro for the right-back position, and while the fans might not be the biggest fans of White, comparisons to him at the moment are certainly not a bad thing.

Exit expected: Spurs target £25m Porro rival who could be Ange's own White

Submitted by daniel on
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Pre-season is well and truly here, and after dispatching Hearts and Queens Park Rangers over the last week, Tottenham Hotspur have flown out to Japan to kickstart their brief international tour.

It's hard to take too much from these games, but it will be reassuring for fans to see the team look refreshed and ready for the new campaign.

One of the stars who started the last two games was Spanish right-back Pedro Porro.

While he looked good, recent reports suggest he could have some extra competition next season as the club have been linked with an exciting full-back, a full-back who has won comparisons to a certain Ben White.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing Bayern Munich full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

Alongside the Lilywhites, Bailey claims that Manchester United and West Ham United are also keen on the right-back, whom Bayern have supposedly offered to the teams.

The German Behemoths are happy to sell the Moroccan as they view him as surplus to requirements, although they still want an offer in the region of £25m.

It could prove challenging to get ahead of the chasing pack, but bringing in Mazraoui as competition for Porro would be an excellent idea, and the fact he's been compared to White is undoubtedly a bonus - from a playing perspective, anyway.

How Mazraoui compares to Porro and White

Okay, so before we look at how Mazraoui stacks up against Porro, let's examine this comparison to White and where it comes from.

It stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in last season's Champions League, created a list of the ten most comparable for each one, and concluded that the Englishman was the most similar full-back to the Moroccan in the entire competition.

The way they came to this conclusion was by looking at how closely the pair rank for several underlying metrics, including expected assists, actual assists, shots on target, passing accuracy, live passes, goal-creating actions, interceptions and clearances, all per 90.

However, it's not just their underlying numbers that make the two right-backs comparable.

Like the Arsenal man, the Bayern ace has shown himself to be positionally versatile, starting 44 games in central midfield, 13 in defensive midfield, and ten at left-back, among several starts all over the pitch.

So, while it's clear how the former Ajax star could be compared to the Englishman, how does he stack up to the man he may well be battling for a place in Ange Postecoglou's starting lineup next season?

Well, when you compare their underlying numbers from their respective league campaigns last season, it becomes clear that their battle could be an excellent one, with both full-backs coming out on top in ten key underlying metrics each.

For example, the former Sporting CP ace emerges victorious in metrics such as tackles won, blocks, ball recoveries and key passes, whereas his potential rival does better in ones like aerial duels won, progressive passes and carries, assists, and interceptions, all per 90.

Ultimately, if Spurs have a genuine chance to sign Mazraoui this summer, they should absolutely take it. He would be the perfect player to challenge Porro for the right-back position, and while the fans might not be the biggest fans of White, comparisons to him at the moment are certainly not a bad thing.

Already scouted: Spurs in frame to sign a "monster" Richarlison replacement

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We might be just over three weeks away from the return of the Premier League, but with the transfer window set to remain open for another five weeks, there is plenty of time for teams to complete their business.

This is great news for Tottenham Hotspur as, aside from signing Archie Gray, they have yet to make any serious additions to the first team.

In fact, Daniel Levy and Co seem to have prioritised sales recently, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg joining Marseille this week, Tanguy Ndombele joining OGC Nice earlier this month and even recent reports that Richarlison could be on his way to the Saudi Pro League this summer.

While the Brazilian striker has been far from great for the Lilywhites, they can't afford to sell him without bringing in a replacement, although, based on recent reports, that could be a problem the club are already addressing.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several sides in the picture for Besiktas wonderkid Semih Kilicsoy.

The report has claimed that the Lilywhites and West Ham United have already sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old in action, while Aston Villa and Fulham have had offers rejected as neither club were anywhere close to the Turkish side's valuation of around €30m, which is about £25m.

It might seem like a lot of money to spend on a teenager because, well, it is.

However, given his recent performances and supposed potential, Levy and Co would be wise to match his price tag and bring him to N17, as he could already be the ideal replacement for Richarlison.

How Kilicsoy compares to Richarlison

Now, an argument could be made that at 18 years old, Kilicsoy would be too young to make a serious impact at Spurs, but as the old saying goes, if you're good enough, you're old enough.

Moreover, if Richarlison is to leave and an older replacement isn't brought in, then Ange Postecoglou's hand will be somewhat forced into playing the exciting forward, but with that said, how does he compare to the former Everton man?

Well, when it comes to the most critical metric for a striker, output, it is a worryingly close-fought competition - worrying for the Brazilian, that is.

For example, in 31 appearances across all competitions, the 27-year-old scored 12 goals and provided four assists, equating to a goal involvement every 1.93 games.

In comparison, the 18-year-old also scored 12 goals but provided three assists in 35 appearances, meaning he maintained a still impressive, but slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 2.33 games.

However, when you look at their contributions in the league alone, the teenager comes out ahead with 14 goals and assists in 23 games to the 15 in 28 from the Lilywhites' striker.

Ultimately, while the Turkish "monster," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, is just behind the Nova Venécia-born international at the moment, it's quite evident that he's on track to become a serious proposition.

Therefore, if he's given the time to do that in N17, Tottenham could have a real match-winner on their hands and the perfect long-term replacement for Richarlison.

Already scouted: Spurs in frame to sign a "monster" Richarlison replacement

Submitted by daniel on
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We might be just over three weeks away from the return of the Premier League, but with the transfer window set to remain open for another five weeks, there is plenty of time for teams to complete their business.

This is great news for Tottenham Hotspur as, aside from signing Archie Gray, they have yet to make any serious additions to the first team.

In fact, Daniel Levy and Co seem to have prioritised sales recently, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg joining Marseille this week, Tanguy Ndombele joining OGC Nice earlier this month and even recent reports that Richarlison could be on his way to the Saudi Pro League this summer.

While the Brazilian striker has been far from great for the Lilywhites, they can't afford to sell him without bringing in a replacement, although, based on recent reports, that could be a problem the club are already addressing.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several sides in the picture for Besiktas wonderkid Semih Kilicsoy.

The report has claimed that the Lilywhites and West Ham United have already sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old in action, while Aston Villa and Fulham have had offers rejected as neither club were anywhere close to the Turkish side's valuation of around €30m, which is about £25m.

It might seem like a lot of money to spend on a teenager because, well, it is.

However, given his recent performances and supposed potential, Levy and Co would be wise to match his price tag and bring him to N17, as he could already be the ideal replacement for Richarlison.

How Kilicsoy compares to Richarlison

Now, an argument could be made that at 18 years old, Kilicsoy would be too young to make a serious impact at Spurs, but as the old saying goes, if you're good enough, you're old enough.

Moreover, if Richarlison is to leave and an older replacement isn't brought in, then Ange Postecoglou's hand will be somewhat forced into playing the exciting forward, but with that said, how does he compare to the former Everton man?

Well, when it comes to the most critical metric for a striker, output, it is a worryingly close-fought competition - worrying for the Brazilian, that is.

For example, in 31 appearances across all competitions, the 27-year-old scored 12 goals and provided four assists, equating to a goal involvement every 1.93 games.

In comparison, the 18-year-old also scored 12 goals but provided three assists in 35 appearances, meaning he maintained a still impressive, but slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 2.33 games.

However, when you look at their contributions in the league alone, the teenager comes out ahead with 14 goals and assists in 23 games to the 15 in 28 from the Lilywhites' striker.

Ultimately, while the Turkish "monster," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, is just behind the Nova Venécia-born international at the moment, it's quite evident that he's on track to become a serious proposition.

Therefore, if he's given the time to do that in N17, Tottenham could have a real match-winner on their hands and the perfect long-term replacement for Richarlison.

Spurs favourites to sign £50m "monster" who'd make Kulusevski unplayable

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Tottenham Hotspur had plenty of positives to take from last season, from the emergence of a talent like Destiny Udogie to the scintillating football Ange Postecoglou had the team playing at times.

However, as should be expected in a new manager's debut campaign, there were a few issues ranging from a collapse in form from players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski towards the end of the campaign, to a lack of goals throughout, as evidenced by the fact that six teams scored more than them in the league.

So, with this clearly an area of the team that needs improvement, it's unsurprising that the latest player touted for a move to N17 is a Premier League-proven goalscorer who could potentially help Kulusevski reach an entirely new level.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer and are now among the frontrunners to sign him.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that West Ham United are also near the front of the queue for the Englishman's signature, but it is Spurs who have the edge, as the Hammers are currently looking for alternative options.

The story has also revealed that due to the striker's contract expiring next summer and the lack of interest in him from other clubs, the North Londoners are preparing to make a 'lowball offer' to the Bees, which could be below their new £50m valuation, per the Sun.

If Daniel Levy and Co can get their hands on Toney for £50m or less this summer, they should, as his goalscoring record would surely see the club ascend the table, and he could even help Kulusevski become unplayable.

How Toney could help improve Kulusevski

There may well be several reasons why Toney would be a great teammate for Kulusevski, from the personal to the professional, but when it comes to what he can do on the pitch, it boils down to just one: his output.

Now, last season was certainly disappointing for the Englishman in this regard, but considering he was banned from all footballing activities until the new year due to his betting-related ban, it would be entirely unfair to use this as a stick to beat him with, especially as the two campaigns prior were incredibly impressive.

For example, in his first season following promotion with the West Londoners, he scored 14 goals and provided six assists in 37 games.

The following year, the Northampton-born "monster", as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, did even better, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists in 35 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

It's this ability to put the ball into the back of the net and chip in with the odd assist here and there that would help Spurs' Swedish wideman to become so much more effective next season, as under Postecoglou last year, only Son Heung-min and Richarlison produced over 16 goal involvements.

Moreover, according to Understat, the former Juventus star's tally of three league assists in 23/24 was a massive underperformance from his expected assists figure of 8.62, and while he undoubtedly had a small part to play in that, the failure of his teammates to put away his chances was a more significant reason for the disappointing discrepancy between expectation and reality.

Ultimately, based on how well Toney performed in his first two full seasons of top-flight football, there is no doubt that were he the one getting on the end of Kulusevski's chances, the Swede would have an awful lot more assists to his name, and Spurs could be gearing up for a return to Champions League football in 2024/25.

Therefore, even if Levy and Co can't negotiate his fee to below £50m, they should do what they can to ensure the Brentford poacher makes his way to N17 this summer.

Spurs favourites to sign £50m "monster" who'd make Kulusevski unplayable

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Tottenham Hotspur had plenty of positives to take from last season, from the emergence of a talent like Destiny Udogie to the scintillating football Ange Postecoglou had the team playing at times.

However, as should be expected in a new manager's debut campaign, there were a few issues ranging from a collapse in form from players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski towards the end of the campaign, to a lack of goals throughout, as evidenced by the fact that six teams scored more than them in the league.

So, with this clearly an area of the team that needs improvement, it's unsurprising that the latest player touted for a move to N17 is a Premier League-proven goalscorer who could potentially help Kulusevski reach an entirely new level.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer and are now among the frontrunners to sign him.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that West Ham United are also near the front of the queue for the Englishman's signature, but it is Spurs who have the edge, as the Hammers are currently looking for alternative options.

The story has also revealed that due to the striker's contract expiring next summer and the lack of interest in him from other clubs, the North Londoners are preparing to make a 'lowball offer' to the Bees, which could be below their new £50m valuation, per the Sun.

If Daniel Levy and Co can get their hands on Toney for £50m or less this summer, they should, as his goalscoring record would surely see the club ascend the table, and he could even help Kulusevski become unplayable.

How Toney could help improve Kulusevski

There may well be several reasons why Toney would be a great teammate for Kulusevski, from the personal to the professional, but when it comes to what he can do on the pitch, it boils down to just one: his output.

Now, last season was certainly disappointing for the Englishman in this regard, but considering he was banned from all footballing activities until the new year due to his betting-related ban, it would be entirely unfair to use this as a stick to beat him with, especially as the two campaigns prior were incredibly impressive.

For example, in his first season following promotion with the West Londoners, he scored 14 goals and provided six assists in 37 games.

The following year, the Northampton-born "monster", as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, did even better, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists in 35 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

It's this ability to put the ball into the back of the net and chip in with the odd assist here and there that would help Spurs' Swedish wideman to become so much more effective next season, as under Postecoglou last year, only Son Heung-min and Richarlison produced over 16 goal involvements.

Moreover, according to Understat, the former Juventus star's tally of three league assists in 23/24 was a massive underperformance from his expected assists figure of 8.62, and while he undoubtedly had a small part to play in that, the failure of his teammates to put away his chances was a more significant reason for the disappointing discrepancy between expectation and reality.

Ultimately, based on how well Toney performed in his first two full seasons of top-flight football, there is no doubt that were he the one getting on the end of Kulusevski's chances, the Swede would have an awful lot more assists to his name, and Spurs could be gearing up for a return to Champions League football in 2024/25.

Therefore, even if Levy and Co can't negotiate his fee to below £50m, they should do what they can to ensure the Brentford poacher makes his way to N17 this summer.

Tottenham officials set for talks with £24m forward who troubled van Dijk

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Tottenham officials are now set for transfer talks with a £24 million forward via his agent, coming after he seriously troubled Liverpool stalwart Virgil van Dijk.

Spurs expected to sign another attacker this summer

Spurs have already sealed a deal to extend Timo Werner's loan by an additional season, which includes a new buy option set at around £8.5 million.

The German's two goals and three assists helped manager Ange Postecoglou seal qualification for the Europa League in his first full season in charge of Spurs, with Werner's blistering pace and positional awareness now set to assist the Australian again.

There are, however, concerns over his finishing ability - with the likes of Richarlison and Bryan Gil also linked to high-profile exits before deadline day. Girona are in talks to sign Gil from Tottenham, according to club insider Paul O'Keefe, while Richarlison is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia.

Postecoglou may need another body in the forward area, whether that be a star new winger or striker, to replace Harry Kane and potentially Richarlison.

There are a fair few attackers under consideration at N17. Lille striker Jonathan David has reportedly been contacted by Tottenham, while Wolves winger Pedro Neto is thought to be a serious transfer target for Postecoglou, as is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

"There is appreciation from Spurs for Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace - and also with all of the other options we always mention here like Pedro Neto, this is absolutely confirmed," said reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on Playback earlier this month.

"So Tottenham like Eze and like Pedro Neto, and they have decided how much they want to spend in that position. So there is internal conversation, but they will bring in one more player in that position for sure - one more offensive player."

Other interesting names are likely to be mentioned in the coming weeks, if the wait goes on for Spurs to bring in a new forward. There is a player who could tick multiple boxes for Postecoglou, though, in Galatasaray star Baris Yilmaz.

Tottenham officials set for talks with Yilmaz via his representative

According to Sabah, Tottenham officials are set for talks with Yilmaz via his representative, with the 24-year-old fresh off the back of a great season at club level and impressive campaign at Euro 2024.

The Turkey international racked up 19 goal contributions in all competitions last season, and most recently gave van Dijk a very tough time at the Euros during his country's quarter-final tie with the Netherlands.

“Baris Alper made the Dutch defence and Van Dijk vomit blood throughout the match," said Turkish pundit Ali Ece, in a glowing endorsement of Yilmaz.

“Look, in some teams, the stars and the players we describe as great characters can have a say in the transfer process but cannot make decisions. I think Van Dijk has suggested Baris Alper to Liverpool because I have not seen another player that has pushed and worn him out this much for a long time.”

Bale 2.0: Spurs make approach to sign "explosive" £25m Udogie rival

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With just over three weeks until the Premier League returns, clubs across the continent are busy with pre-season and planning their next course of action in the transfer market, and Tottenham Hotspur are no different.

It's been a promising summer for Ange Postecoglou's side thus far. The signing of Archie Gray is a clear sign that his project is a long-term one, and the wins over Hearts and Queens Park Rangers are encouraging indicators of the squad's current fitness.

However, with the market staying open for another five weeks, there is still plenty of work to be done, and it looks like the club are going to make the most of that time.

Recent reports have linked them with an exciting young player who could be Destiny Udogie's ideal rival and has shades of Gareth Bale about him.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Italian publication Calcio Lecce, Tottenham are one of several sides interested in signing Danish left-back Patrick Dorgu.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Arsenal and Napoli have been in contact with Lecce to discover the youngster's price tag, while Chelsea could soon do the same.

This level of competition is obviously far from ideal for Spurs, but the good news is that if they get ahead of the chasing pack, they'll only have to pay around €30m, which is about £25m, to secure the 19-year-old's services.

This may still sound excessive for a player so young, but given his performances last season, the way he is spoken about by those in the know and the similarities to Bale, it could be a bargain.

How Dorgu compares to Bale and Udogie

Now, before looking at how Dorgu stacks up against Udogie, let's first look at how he could be compared to a younger Bale.

The primary reason is that, like the Welshman in his younger days, the Dane is an incredibly progressive left-back who could easily be transformed into a winger in the right system, akin to the former Spurs ace.

For example, U23 scout Antonio Mango described him as possessing a great deal of "pace and power," giving him "almost equal presence at both ends of the pitch." This is incredibly beneficial for the team as "his reading of offensive situations is mighty impressive."

Moreover, according to Mango, he is also "adept at taking defenders on" thanks to his impressive "close control" and "absurd acceleration."

This all sounds an awful lot like the kind of player Bale was during his pomp, the sort of player who'd spot the space, drive into it at breakneck speeds, and then either rifle the ball into the back of the net or lay off a teammate.

So, with the similarities with the iconic full-back turned winger, how would the 19-year-old "diamond", as dubbed by Mango, fare as a rival for the Lilywhites' current first-choice left-back?

Well, when it comes to comparing the relevant underlying numbers, the results are surprisingly even, with the "explosive" Dane, as Mango described him, coming out ahead in nine metrics and his potential teammate doing so in eight.

Interestingly, the Lecce gem emerges victorious in more attacking metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals, shot-creating actions, shots and shots on target, and key passes, all per 90.

In contrast, the former Udinese star looks better in more defensive areas, such as tackles won, ball recoveries, blocks, and interceptions per 90.

Ultimately, while it is still too early to say whether Dorgu could surpass Udogie as Spurs' starting left-back, it is clear to see that he would offer a real challenge for a place in the starting lineup and that, alongside his comparisons to Bale, make signing him a no-brainer.