The72

Lincoln City’s deal to sign Mason Melia on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur is finalised.

Lincoln City’s promotion to the Championship was always going to require some new additions, and it seems the latest will be Mason Melia on a season-long loan. Trusted Spurs reporter Alasdair Gold states that the move is “signed and sealed” after talks progressed this week.

Melia’s move to the Championship side does not include an option to buy. It means the young striker is likely to return to Tottenham at the end of the campaign.

Melia moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2026 for a record fee for a League of Ireland player. He had previously been with St Patrick’s Athletic, where he bagged 25 goals and laid on eight assists in 98 games across all competitions.

He has been linked with several clubs this summer, but Lincoln City have won the race for his signature. Melia will join Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw’s side, potentially making his debut against Derby County in the Carabao Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Why Mason Melia is a smart signing for Lincoln City

Lincoln City dominated League One last season, but their top goalscorers were Jack Moylan and Reeco Hackett on 11 apiece.

While this could be seen as a good sign, given the goals were spread out, it also shows that the Imps lacked a recognised goalscorer at the top of the pitch. To be successful in the Championship, they need one.

Melia is rather inexperienced, but if he delivers on the potential Spurs believe he has, he could be a top Championship player next season. The Irishman has already played for the Tottenham senior side in a pre-season friendly against Sydney FC.

The Melia news comes after Freddie Draper, Reeco Hackett and Dom Jefferies have all signed contract extensions to remain at the club. After the contracts were agreed, sporting director Jez George said: “We know that we need to add to the squad and we are working 24/7 to do that.”

It seems the hard work is set to bear fruit once again as Melia’s move nears.

The Verdict: Melia needs time but could impress at Lincoln City

As with any new signing, Melia will need time to transition to life at a new club. For him, though, the change will be even greater.

The Tottenham Hotspur loanee has not yet played professional English football, so adapting to the Championship could be tough. He will need time, perhaps on the bench at first, to settle in at Lincoln City before beginning to reach his potential.

Melia has already proven he can score goals at senior level; he just needs to keep his confidence up and play regularly to continue to do so.

Lincoln City set to win the race to sign striker Mason Melia on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Lincoln City are looking to add new firepower to their ranks for the 2026/27 Championship campaign, and they’re turning to the loan market for one target. Pete O’Rourke has stated that the Imps are set to win the race to sign Spurs striker Mason Melia, and a season-long deal could be done in the next 48 hours.

The Premier League side are looking to send Melia to a Championship club and it appears Sincil Bank is a likely destination. Reputable Spurs academy source Lilywhite Rose stated advanced talks were underway over a loan on Sunday.

Melia, 18, is among Spurs’ top young talents. He officially joined from Irish side St. Pat’s in the winter and has already been capped by the Republic of Ireland twice.

What will Mason Melia bring to Lincoln City?

At only 18, Melia is still very much in the formative years of his career. He has a lot of developing to do, but his senior selection at international level and strong amount of experience under his belt at St. Pat’s shows he’s already viewed as a player ready to star in first-team football.

Melia was a prolific forward in the Irish Premier Division, prompting Spurs to swoop in. He has already shown he has the technical ability and goalscoring instincts to be a success as a striker,

Mason Melia’s St. Pat’s record

Physical aspects of his game are still to develop, but that will come with time, and more regular exposure to a higher level of centre-back. For now, Melia is certainly more of a poacher and technical player in possession, rather than one who can wrestle defenders and take control of a game.

Melia is a top talent and Lincoln City are securing an impressive coup in bringing him in. Spurs will hope this can be a valuable year for the striker as he looks to cement himself as one to watch in English football.

The Verdict: Lincoln City’s loan striker success secures impressive Melia coup

Lincoln City have a great track record with loan strikers in years gone by. This success was likely key in their pursuit of Melia, which looks to be drawing to a positive conclusion.

Last term, the Imps saw Ryan One impress on loan over the second half of the campaign and in the year prior, Bailey Cadamarteri impressed and Jovon Makama emerged from the academy. Going back to 2023/24, it was Joe Taylor who starred with 10 goals in 19 matches.

Both Spurs and Lincoln City will hope Melia can emulate the success of the loan stars before him.

Not only could a strong stint prove key in his development, but it could push the Imps towards their goal of Championship survival.

Sheffield Wednesday are eyeing a move for Tottenham Hotspur forward Dane Scarlett, according to reporter Joe Crann.

Sheffield Wednesday are looking into some deals for new forwards ahead of their first season under Arise Group. SWFC have already been linked with Mason Burstow this week and now another striker is on their radar.

Reporter Joe Crann has said that Sheffield Wednesday are eyeing a move for Tottenham Hotspur forward Dane Scarlett. The 22-year-old has been a highly-rated youngster at Spurs for many years but is yet to break into the first-team after several loans.

Scarlett spent the second-half of last season out on loan in Scotland with Hibernian. He scored just once in 13 outings for the Edinburgh-based side.

SWFC would likely be making a loan move for Scarlett but after several spells away, the Spurs man may be looking for a permanent move. A deal for the 22-year-old would likely not affect a move for Hull City’s Burstow.

An intriguing option for Sheffield Wednesday

Scarlett has long been regarded as one of Tottenham Hotspur’s brightest academy prospects. Joining the club at around six years old in 2010, the striker rose through the youth ranks with an outstanding goalscoring record.

He made his senior debut against Ludogorets in the UEFA Europa League in November 2020, aged just 16 years and 247 days, becoming Tottenham’s youngest-ever first-team player at the time. Scarlett signed a new long-term contract in 2022, keeping him at Spurs until 2027, but first-team opportunities have been limited by strong competition for places.

He has made around 11 senior appearances, mostly from the bench. To aid his development, Scarlett has enjoyed loan spells with Portsmouth, Ipswich Town, Oxford United and Hibernian.

His most productive stint came at Portsmouth, where he scored four goals in 34 League One appearances, while further spells at Oxford and Hibernian added valuable senior experience.

Scarlett has also excelled for England’s youth sides, producing impressive goalscoring records at both Under-19 and Under-20 level, highlighting why he remains one of Tottenham’s most promising young forwards.

Dane Scarlett’s 2025/26 stats

The Verdict: Scarlett represents a huge risk for SWFC, but he’d come with a massive reward if it pays off

Scarlett clearly has a lot of talent and potential. However, he has not really shown it in first-team football yet.

If he is going to do so, it will likely be in the next year or so. SWFC could be main beneficiaries of that, and given that his best first-team season came in League One, this could be a match made in heaven.

It could be a massive risk for Scarlett, especially if this becomes a permanent deal. Bringing in Scarlett, along with another striker would be the ideal move for SWFC this summer.

Leicester City are eyeing Tottenham Hotspur talent Malachi Hardy as a potential loan target.

Leicester City are in dire need of new signings having brought in just two players to date. Now, a fresh report from the Daily Mail states that LCFC have eyes on Spurs starlet Malachi Hardy.

The 18-year-old is yet to make his competitive debut in senior football but has been a mainstay at U18 and U21 level for Spurs. Hardy could now be primed for a maiden first-team loan after being involved in Roberto De Zerbi‘s squad over pre-season.

The Foxes are exploring a potential temporary deal for Hardy. He would bolster their options at centre-back and has also been deployed as a full-back on occasion.

Hardy is among the Spurs starlets to have impressed De Zerbi over pre-season. Although he is only in the formative years of his career, he has caught the eye with his composure in defence, boasting the importance balance of ability in possession and out of it.

Standing at 191cm tall, he is certainly of the frame to deal with senior football. Now the time has come for him to be exposed to the physicality of the first-team game to prime him for a breakthrough.

Malachi Hardy’s Spurs academy stats

He primarily plays in a back four but his physical attributes could make him well suited to a role in the middle of a back three too. Hardy’s action at youth level with Spurs and England has given him a strong footballing education.

A Leicester City loan marks a step up. However, after his pre-season involvement with Spurs, that appears to be exactly what he needs.

The Verdict: Leicester City loan could be perfect for Hardy’s Spurs trajectory

Sending Hardy on loan to Leicester City might feel like he’s being thrown in at the deep end a bit. The pressure is on at the King Power as they look to return to their previous heights as early as possible.

However, being thrust into a challenging loan off the bat might make for the perfect audition for a role at De Zerbi’s Spurs. The Italian is highly demanding, and most importantly, he needs his centre-backs to be comfortable on the ball.

Hardy will certainly grow this aspect of his game at LCFC. Martin’s possession-based style of play means short goal kicks and plenty of the ball for the centre-backs, so the Spurs youngster would come under pressure from attackers and be asked to try and split the press when possible.

Mansfield Town are the current favourites to secure a move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder George Abbott, according to Alasdair Gold.

Mansfield Town are looking to cap off a strong transfer window with another deadline day addition. MTFC added four players to their squad in January and are keen to continue their business in a bid to climb League One.

Nigel Clough‘s side currently sit 11th in the third tier, having picked up 38 points, leaving them only 10 points adrift of the play-off places, with a number of games in hand in their favour.

Several areas of the Stags’ squad have been strengthened so far in the transfer window, including the additions of a goalkeeper, central midfielder, winger and striker. Shot-stopper Harry Lewis arrived permanently from Carlisle United, midfielder Jon Russell is in on loan from Barnsley, whilst Victor Adeboyejo joined from Bolton Wanderers

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Oliver Irow also arrived at Mansfield Town on loan, and may be joined by a fellow Spurs loanee. According to Alasdair Gold, 20-year-old midfielder George Abbott is set to head back out on loan to League One and MTFC are the frontrunners.

Mansfield Town favourites for second Spurs loan deal

Mansfield Town are believed to be at the front of the queue to secure the signing of Abbott, continuing their connection with the North London outfit whilst strengthening their side.

Abbott spent the first half of the campaign on loan in the third tier with Wycombe Wanderers, though is more widely recognised for his impressive loan spell with Notts County in League Two.

A highly regarded prospect with Spurs, his parent club will be keen to see his development get back on track, having only managed six league starts so far this campaign due to injury.

Typically more defensive minded, Abbott was an ever-present for Notts County last term, starting 37 games in the fourth tier, chipping in with goal contributions too despite an often deeper role.

George Abbott’s EFL loans so far

Mansfield Town to bolster midfield options

Clough’s Stags will aspire to climb the League One table across the second half of the campaign, with a play-off place in their sights. Bolstering their options across all areas of the pitch will be crucial to ensure their squad depth is good enough to maintain a run.

At current, MTFC have six natural midfielders, occupying three starting spots in a 3-5-2 formation. Regan Hendry, Aaron Lewis and new signing Russell all started last time out.

Off the bench was Nathan Moriah-Welsh, whilst Louis Reed and George Maris are also options who didn’t feature most recently.

Ipswich Town will view the January transfer window as a big chance to make up ground in the promotion race. ITFC are targeting an immediate Premier League return, but the first half of the campaign hasn’t been quite as strong as they would’ve hoped.

That said, improved form from the Tractor Boys has seen them rise to 3rd, five points off the top two. Nonetheless, some notable winter deals could be on the radar.

Now, the East Anglian outfit have been linked with a highly ambitious January move for Spurs forward Brennan Johnson. Football Insider claims Ipswich Town have registered their interest in the Welshman ahead of next month.

Reports have said Spurs are open to selling Johnson, with Crystal Palace linked. This new report states Brentford are admirers as well, also eyeing a loan deal.

Brennan Johnson deal would stretch even Ipswich Town’s big ambitions

Ipswich Town have big goals for the future, there is no secret about that. They have tasted Premier League football, and not only do they want to get back there, but they want to become mainstays.

However, signing someone of Johnson’s ilk in the Championship feels a step too far, even for ITFC.

Spurs signed the 24-year-old in the summer of 2023 for £47.5m. He had emerged as a star at Nottingham Forest and has proven himself as a Premier League standard player, managing 26 goals and 19 assists in the competition across 121 appearances for his two clubs.

Considering he has top flight interest, it would be a huge shock if he dropped to the Championship. Even then, Ipswich are eyeing a loan, and Spurs may well take the chance to cash in permanently with Palace eyeing a full-time deal.

As eye-catching as it would be, this is likely one to file into the category of rumours that have little chance of coming to fruition.

Brennan Johnson’s Spurs record

Do Ipswich Town need another right winger?

Not only is Johnson a highly ambitious target, but it would be a big surprise to see them sign another right winger.

Only in the summer transfer window, Ipswich Town signed Sindre Walle Egeli and Kasey McAteer as natural right wingers. In addition to this, Wes Burns is now closing in on his long-awaited return to first-team football.

There are other areas of the ITFC squad that need strengthening first. And, if they want upgrades, then many would argue the goalkeeping, midfield and striker departments would be ones to improve before signing another winger.

A January move feels likely for Johnson, but not to Portman Road.

Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga is attracting a lot of interest ahead of January and Tottenham Hotspur are making a push to get ahead of the field, reports teamTalk.

Leicester City find themselves among the play-off contenders after 21 games of the Championship season. Following relegation the aim for LCFC was an immediate return via automatic promotion, but a play-off push is the more realistic target for now.

Marti Cifuentes was appointed to lead that challenge, though he has already come under pressure. That scrutiny comes despite the fact that he inherited a difficult task after the club lost several key players over the summer.

With the January window approaching, he faces another fight to keep his stars. A fresh report from teamTalk has claimed that Jeremy Monga is attracting considerable interest.

Tottenham Hotspur have made the first move in the hunt and are pushing to get the deal done. Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been credited with interest.

Monga rejected a move to Manchester City in the summer in favour of signing a professional deal with LCFC.

Monga should see out the season with Leicester City

A move to one of Europe’s elite clubs at this stage could risk stalling Monga’s development. At just 16, he is far more likely to gain regular first-team minutes at Leicester City than at any of the sides circling.

A switch to a club like Tottenham Hotspur would likely see him return to youth-team football, which would represent a step backwards. Already featuring consistently in the Championship, there is little incentive for him to halt that progress.

Surrounded by quality attacking players at Leicester, Monga has an ideal environment to continue developing. Another season with the Foxes could see him emerge as a genuine first-team-ready option for a top club, while also generating a significant fee for LCFC.

Jeremy Monga’s Leicester City stats

Tottenham Hotspur’s current wide options

Tottenham Hotspur are blessed with young attacking talent. Monga would have a lot of competition if he made the move to North London.

Spurs have as many as nine first-team players who can play out wide and would be challenging Monga. Under the age of 24, they have five that operate in that arena, meaning they are not shy of longer-term options.

Mohammed Kudus, Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons are the preferred starters behind th striker. Brennan Johnson is also a useful option for Spurs, however he reportedly could move on in January as a make-way for Monga.

Stoke City had a busy summer transfer window, with Mark Robins making the most of his first real chance to dig his claws into the squad.

Stoke City have seen new signings like Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas play key roles early on, but Mark Robins has been lauded for the levels he has got out of those who were already on the books too.

It has been a fine campaign to date for SCFC, who sit up in 3rd. After years of struggle since their Premier League drop, the Potters look to finally have a side that can duke it out towards the top of the division.

Solid recruitment has been key in this, as said before, but not all summer signings have flourished as hoped.

One man who has found chances hard to come by with Stoke City is Jamie Donley. And, with January now on the horizon, it is hard to see a world in which parent club Tottenham Hotspur don’t take action.

Jamie Donley’s Stoke City loan so far

Northern Ireland international Donley joined Stoke City following a fantastic loan spell with last season’s League One play-off final runners-up Leyton Orient. He was crucial in their surge up the division, producing remarkable moments of individual brilliance and all-around impressive play.

It meant the jump up to the Champioship was one many expected him to thrive in. A debut assist in a 3-1 opening day win over Derby County went about setting the right tone early on too.

However, since then, Donley has played just 61 minutes of Championship football. The Spurs loanee has not made a single league start, making three substitute appearances and being left out of the matchday squad by Robins completely for the last three games.

His only starts have come in the EFL Cup. It means that winter action from Spurs feels inevitable as they look to help their top attacking prospect salvage something from this season.

Jamie Donley’s Stoke City stats

January action inevitable over Jamie Donley’s Stoke City loan

Spurs know they have a big talent on their hands in versatile attacker Donley. He starred in their academy and tasted some first-team football in London before a stunning stint with Leyton Orient.

Given Ashley Phillips’ success at Stoke City, you can see why they trusted the Potters with Donley too. Phillips starred at SCFC last season and has reclaimed his starting spot this time around, fending off some strong competition for a place in Robins’ side.

It took time for Donley to get going at Orient, but three straight matchday squad omissions means it feels the writing is on the wall for the 20-year-old.

Charlton Athletic’s recently departed academy manager Tom Pell is set to take up a role in Tottenham Hotspur’s youth academy, as per BBC Sport.

Charlton Athletic have enjoyed a strong return to the Championship following promotion from League One last season.

CAFC will hold the aim of consolidating a place in the second tier and building for a brighter future under Nathan Jones. The boss was backed well in the transfer window as a result, but survival rivals the main goal for the Addicks.

While some eye-catching signings were made, the development of academy players remains key to success at The Valley. The South London outfit boast one of the Football League’s most productive youth setups, and they will be out to preserve that.

Change awaits in the Charlton Athletic ranks though, with academy manager Tom Pell’s exit confirmed last week.

Now, as per a report from BBC Sport, the departing Pell is set for a notable move.

They state that 40-year-old Pell is set to join the youth setup at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. He will make the move across London in the coming months to take up a role as head of academy operations and administration, it is said.

Charlton Athletic goal remains the same after Tom Pell exit

Charlton Athletic will have to navigate this change of the academy setup carefully in a bid to maintain their successful production and development of young players.

Pell’s impending exit is not the first notable change the Addicks have had to deal with in recent years. In 2024, the long-serving Steve Avory stepped down as academy director, though he has remained onboard in an advisory role.

Avory remains in post and will aid the appointment of Pell’s replacement. When Pell’s departure becomes final, it will be intriguing to see whether CAFC make an internal appointment or if they recruit from outside the club, as they did in landing Pell.

Whoever comes in will be tasked with adding to the glut of academy reared players in the first-team squad at CAFC.

Charlton Athletic academy graduates in the first-team squad

Pell’s impending move from Charlton Athletic to Tottenham Hotspur shows that the progression path is there to be followed by coaches as well as players.

He started out at Cambridge United, working in their setup from 2006 all the way through to 2022. He served as a coach initially before stepping into the academy manager role.

The move to CAFC to hold the same role marked a step up, and his impressive work has earned another.

At Spurs, Pell will get the chance to work with some of the country’s best youth prospects. He’ll also be functioning in elite facilities with some other top footballing minds and coaches as colleagues.

Preston North End were amongst a clutch of sides battling against relegation last season. A summer rebuild was needed, and a part of that has seen Spurs youngster Alfie Devine snapped up by the Lilywhites as their 1oth signing.

Preston North End escaped the mires of last season’s relegation battle by just a single point. Devine has been given the No. 21 shirt and he debuted for PNE on Saturday, coming on off the bench against QPR for the final 15 minutes.

On signing, Devine told the club’s official website that he is looking forward to hitting the ground running. On this, he said:

“I like to make people excited. I like to get on the ball.”

The season-long contract bringing him to Deepdale includes an option for the Preston North End to purchase included in the deal.

After initially being on the books at Liverpool as a youth player, Devine moved on to Wigan Athletic and their youth set-up. Financial pressures saw the Latics cash in on him, Spurs snapping up the then 15-year-old to North London in late July 2020.

Devine has EFL experience from two separate half-season loan deals in 2023/24. The first, to League One side Port Vale saw him feature 26 times, scoring three goals and registering three assists. Next up was a half-season loan to Championship side Plymouth Argyle, for whom he featured 15 times, adding two assists.

Last season sat the now 20-year-old was on loan at Belgian side KVC Westerlo and playing in the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium’s top-tier competition. In 32 games on the continent, he scored six goals and added one assist.

Devine’s Westerlo returns give PNE fans insight

Alfie Devine stats 2024/25 for Westerlo via FotMob

Stat Total %age rank Goals 6 77.6 Expected goals (xG) 5.22 77.6 Shots 51 80.3 Shot on target 18 78.9 Accurate passes 691 84.2 Accurate long balls 53 88.2 Chances created 29 68.4 Touches 1,165 73.7 Touches – opposition box 86 80.3 Ball recoveries 110 81.6 Possession won – final 3rd 16 82.9

The above table gives an insight into Devine’s performance across his Jupiler Pro League campaign for Westerlo. It will be encouraging for PNE fans that he can manage the above in a top-tier, continental competition.

His six goals saw the on-loan youngster slightly outperform his xG (5.22) total. More encouraging is his ability to work into shooting positions (52), which translates to 2.17 shots per 90.

He is also a busy player, making 1,165 touches across the season, a number that relates to 49.55 touches per 90. Encouragingly, for PNE fans, 86 (3.66 per 90) were in the opposition box.

These numbers only indicate the potential that Devine has when it comes to what he is capable of producing over a typical season. Yes, the Spurs youngster has achieved this in a top-tier, continental league. However, the week-in, week-out cut and thrust of the Championship is a different thing altogether.

Devine performance vs QPR

As was likely expected of Devine, he played a substitute role in his first appearance for Preston North End. The Spurs youngster came off the bench on 75 minutes to play out the final throes in the 1-1 draw against QPR.

Whilst on the pitch, he didn’t make a huge impact as the game drifted towards a share of the points for both sides. Still, it is a tentative first step into Championship football for a young player.

As per WhoScored, Devine was tidy with his passing, completing six of seven passes, including one that was a key pass that created a chance for Preston North End. Four of these six completed passes were aimed at the final 3rd of the pitch.

This shows the youngster’s front-foot-forward mindset, inasmuch as he looks to play progressive football. PNE fans didn’t get to see much of him in Saturday’s game, there is enough there to suggest they will.

Dividends to be reaped with Devine intervention

Alfie Devine caught the eye as a 15-year-old at Wigan Athletic. Financial issues at the DW Stadium, now formally the Brick Community Stadium, meant that many of the club’s assets needed to be sold.

The upside for Preston North End fans is that there is evidence from last season’s stint with Westerlo that Devine can do a job for the Lilywhites. Starting carefully, as they have done with this substitute stint against QPR, is the best way forward for all involved.

Whilst the Belgian Jupiler Pro League is a top-tier competition in Europe, it isn’t one of the continent’s big Top five. Still, it is a very good league in preparation for the slog and effort of the Championship.

Alfie Devine has goals in him, is accurate with his passing and creates chances for others. Paul Heckingbottom will have done his homework, of that you can be assured.

There are huge upsides to the loan deal that has seen Spurs youngster Devine land at Deepdale for the season. PNE fans will see this move pay dividends as the youngster’s exposure to Championship football develops over the coming weeks.