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Tottenham Hotspur may still have major bits of transfer business yet to come this summer

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Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur are now in the midst of a new era beginning under Thomas Frank, with transfer business a key part of his first summer at the club.

The former Brentford manager must turn around the fortunes of a squad who were accustomed to losing Premier League matches last season, in an increasingly competitive top flight which has recently welcomed the likes of Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Newcastle United as new European challengers.

Taking key players off so-called ‘smaller’ rival clubs in the Premier League is a key way for Spurs to bridge that gap, a process they already began when completing the £55m transfer of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United. Frank rapidly set his sights on another Premier League star and almost had his man the very same day, before disaster struck and the deal was feared to be off completely.

Morgan Gibbs-White deal could still be on for Spurs

The player in question is, of course, Morgan Gibbs-White, who was set to complete a medical at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the Lilywhites activated his £60m release clause. Nottingham Forest hit back, though, claiming that Spurs had made ‘illegal contact’ with the player, and so the move was supposedly off. Spurs may need to consider other options as a result.

But, according to reports by Football Insider, a move for Gibbs-White to Spurs is still expected to happen, though it may take a little longer than planned. The report claims that sources say there is “no going back” on the transfer and that the player’s “heart is set on a move to Spurs”, with an agreement between Forest and Spurs still believed to be reached eventually.

The 25-year-old England international has had to return to pre-season training with Forest in recent days, but still intends to follow former teammate Anthony Elanga out the exit door. Gibbs-White will feel he has earned a move to one of the traditional ‘big-six’ clubs with the class and consistency he has shown at Forest, while his release clause was met - though the two clubs will need to iron out a few issues before a deal can move forward.

Gibbs-White ‘keeping it professional’ - Ola Aina

Nottingham Forest teammate Ola Aina spoke to Sky Sports about Gibbs-White’s current situation following Forest’s 0-0 draw with Monaco in a pre-season friendly, where Gibbs-White started.

Nigeria international Aina said: "Morgan is a professional. I don't really know the ins and outs of that, but he was here today, he was playing, training with us, staying fit as normal. At the end of the day we're all professionals. We've got a job to do and that's what Morgan's doing right now, keeping it professional."

Should Gibbs-White arrive at Spurs, he would be in stiff competition for a starting role in the creative midfield spots alongside the likes of Kudus, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski - good problems for Frank to have as he prepares his new side to battle on all fronts. It will be no easy task to take forward the work started by Ange Postecoglou and lead Spurs on to further trophy success, but Frank is attempting to take the right steps towards building a squad capable of doing it.

Tottenham Hotspur may need to sign a new centre-back this summer

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Tottenham Hotspur have begun to make a serious impact on the transfer market in recent weeks as new manager Thomas Frank gets to grips with life in north London and prepares his squad for a big Champions League campaign ahead.

Spurs are in the awkward position of having Champions League football in the offing while lacking a squad playing at the top of their game, ready to take on the very best Europe has to offer.

Such is the juxtaposition that was Ange Postecoglou’s final season at the club, Frank has not got an easy job on his hands. The Dane held his first press conference as Spurs boss on Friday and spoke of his excitement for the role, while knowing the task that lies ahead.

Spurs have already secured Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso on permanent deals in addition to young players Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai, while their first major marquee signing of the summer arrived in the £55m purchase of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United. But they are not done there.

Spurs ready to pay asking price for Premier League defender

Spurs may be on the look-out for a new centre-back this summer, amidst continued reports linking Cristian Romero with an Atletico Madrid exit. According to Caught Offside, Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi could be the man they turn to. The report states that Spurs are “willing to pay” the Cherries’ full asking price of around €70million (£60m) for the talented Ukraine international.

Zabarnyi went somewhat under the radar last season playing alongside Dean Huijsen, who was 19 for much of the season and has now signed for Real Madrid, starting for them in the Club World Cup. But Zabarnyi is only 22 himself and has made 86 appearances for Bournemouth since arriving on the south coast in January 2023. He has reportedly submitted a transfer request which is “under internal review”.

While it may seem like a steep price to pay, Zabarnyi is a top prospect and would be more than capable of stepping into the boots of Romero. As comfortable with the ball at his feet as he is defending for his life, Zabarnyi has often been tasked at Bournemouth with playing progressive passes while often being the last line of cover when Huijsen would stride forward - something Micky van de Ven is also known to do. He could be a great fit.

Spurs will face elite competition for Zabarnyi

The main obstacle in the way of the signing of Zabarnyi could well be European champions PSG. Luis Enrique’s side have been viewed as the front-runners for the Ukrainian for the entire summer so far, though Bournemouth have so far rejected two bids reaching around €60m (£52m).

Caught Offside’s report continues that Zabarnyi remains “focused” on PSG and is not actively engaging in talks with other clubs. This could provide a stumbling block for the likes of Spurs, who may fear that the Ukraine international will wait for an improved offer to come in from Paris.

In addition to PSG, Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea have also been touted in holding an interest in Zabarnyi. Neither are close to making an official proposal at present, meaning Spurs may have the chance to get ahead of them in the running with a huge offer. Bournemouth are likely to accept an offer from the highest bidder and have no reason to sell for a reduced price, so Spurs’ readiness to meet their valuation could give Frank’s side an advantage in proceedings.

US pop rockers Imagine Dragons will perform an epic gig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set to host Imagine Dragons this week as they helm two massive shows in the capital.

The US pop rockers will perform for London fans at the north London spot this Friday (July 25) and Saturday (July 26).

Their upcoming shows at the 62,850 capacity stadium are set to be some of their biggest in the capital yet.

They last performed in London in 2018 at the O2 Arena as part of their then Evolve World tour.

For fans heading to see them in the city this week, here’s the full set times Imagine Dragons fans can expect for their shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What time do doors open for Imagine Dragons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Stadium doors for Imagine Dragons’s Friday and Saturday Loom World tour shows will open at 5pm.

What time will Imagine Dragons’s London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium start?

Based on the timings of Imagine Dragons’s recent concerts, they will likely hit the stage for their London shows around 8.50pm.

The group will be supported by two openers Declan McKenna and Fletchr Fletchr. The support acts’ sets are expected to start around 7.30pm.

What time will Imagine Dragons’s London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finish?

Imagine Dragons’s Loom World Tour shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are expected to wrap up by 11pm.

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When Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s fans can expect their 2025 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium shows to start and finish.

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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set to host Kendrick Lamar and SZA this week as they helm two massive shows in the capital.

The duo who have teamed up for their co-headline Grand National tour will perform for London fans at the north London spot this Tuesday (July 22) and Wednesday (July 23).

While Kendrick Lamar and SZA have both performed at some of London’s most iconic music venues their upcoming shows at the 62,850 capacity venue are set to be some of their biggest in the capital yet.

For fans heading to see them this week, here’s the full set times Kendrick Lamar and SZA fans can expect for their shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What time do doors open for Kendrick Lamar and SZA at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Stadium doors for Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Tuesday and Wednesday Grand National tour shows will open at 5pm.

What time does Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium show start?

Based on the timings of Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s recent concerts, it’s likely their London shows will start around 8pm.

What time will Kendrick Lamar and SZA at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finish?

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are expected to wrap up between 10.30pm and 11pm.

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Thomas Frank should send one rising Spurs midfield star on loan this season.

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Tottenham Hotspur youngster Mikey Moore turned in a confident 45 minutes of pre-season football in the 2-0 win over Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday, once again underlining his potential as a future world-beater.

The 17-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Ange Postecoglou last time out, making 21 first team appearances. Moore scored his first goal for the club in the Europa League win over Elfsborg in January and also picked up an assist against Everton in the Premier League.

James Maddison heaped praise on Moore in October when speaking to TNT Sports following a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar, a match in which the teenager played 87 minutes. Maddison said: "I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! He is fearless, [he has] that young, fearless mentality. He's a brilliant lad, he has bags of ability. I will hopefully help him with wise words but he has all the ability and well done to him."

Mikey Moore breaking through at Tottenham Hotspur

Postecoglou was keen not to put too much pressure on the rising star but was confident that the player’s feet are firmly on the ground. After that AZ Alkmaar game, the Aussie said: "I think we all understand with young players, you have to be careful but after the game, I don't get the sense that that's going to affect Mikey at all. There's no denying he was great last night. I thought he was great the whole game. It's exciting for us."

The teenager is an exciting prospect for new Spurs manager Thomas Frank and he played the first half on the left wing against Reading. It was a confident showing, with a bright start to the match as he cut in from the inside.

Moore earned Spurs their first corner of the game thanks to a nifty through ball for Brennan Johnson and, after a quieter spell, sprang back into life shortly before the break with some dangerous runs. There was a lot to love about Moore’s showing but it was also clear that he has plenty of growing to do.

Spurs must look at QPR or Millwall loan spell

A loan spell is in both the player and the club’s best interests. Moore would get cameos under Frank at Spurs but he is not yet at the same stature at his peers and will benefit from regular football.

Time in the Championship would be invaluable for the midfielder. The league’s physicality would help him master some of the sport’s dark arts while he has the attributes to take the division by storm thanks to his footwork and creativity.

Given his young age, a move to a London-based Championship outfit could be ideal. That way, the player doesn’t have to temporarily uproot his life and can stay in close contact with Spurs. QPR and Millwall are obvious options.

The R’s have seen Koki Saito leave after his loan spell at Loftus Road with Lucas Andersen also quitting the west London outfit following the departure of Marti Cifuentes. QPR youngsters Kieran Morgan, Rayan Kolli and Alfie Lloyd have thrived over the past 12 months and cultivate a trust in youth which would lend itself to a loan spell.

Meanwhile, Millwall will be pushing for a top six place having narrowly missed out on a play-off spot last term and being part of Alex Neil’s ambitions would be a big learning curve for Moore. The star also has links to Millwall with family believed to be fans of the club, which could ignite the fire for a spectacular campaign.

In other news, Tottenham just birthed £12m monster and transfer talk must end - opinion.

Thomas Frank continues to look to add to his Spurs squad in the transfer window.

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Tottenham Hotspur continue to be surrounded by transfer rumours this summer as Thomas Frank continues his rebuild following the club’s disappointing Premier League campaign last time out.

The north London outfit have already snapped up Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and more attacking reinforcements seem an inevitability. Spurs begin competitive action next season against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13 before the Premier League opener with Burnley on August 16.

LondonWorld scouts out the current Tottenham Hotspur transfer rumours to see what a dream starting XI could look like next season.

Tottenham Hotspur starting XI if transfer rumours come true

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario

Defenders: Destiny Udogie, Micky Van de Ven, Maxence Lacroix, Pedro Porro

The first choice spot between the sticks is Vicario’s to lose next season but he will face competition from January signing Antonin Kinsky. The January signing impressed with the ball at his feet in the first half against Reading on Saturday afternoon.

Djed Spence will be looking to cement a role in the starting XI at full-back but Frank looks likely to start with Udogie and Porro on either side. Cristian Romero has been linked with a move to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Last week Frank was asked if the club would sign a new centre-back should Romero leave and replied: “But it’s like a theory. Right now he’s here, that’s what I’m focusing on. As long as players are here, I’m training them, I’m playing with them. He’s definitely here and very committed. I know he’s looking forward to the season.”

If Romero, who is in contention to be named club captain next season, does leave then Micky Van de Ven could be partnered by Crystal Palace man Maxence Lacroix. CaughtOffside report Spurs interest in the player, but the London outfit will have to battle other European clubs for that transfer.

Defensive midfield: Yves Bissouma, Joao Palhinha

There’s no shortage of defensive midfield options for Tottenham Hotspur with Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Lucas Bergvall all playing the role against Reading. Bissouma was potentially the best of the lot but it’s clearly an area that needs investment. German outlet BILD claim that Bayern Munich star Joao Palhinha could return to the Premier League to add quality there for Spurs.

Spurs linked with swoop for Arsenal and Chelsea target

Attacking midfielders: Mohammed Kudus, Morgan Gibbs-White, Xavi Simons

Striker: Dominic Solanke

Mohammed Kudus has already arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for £55 million from West Ham and turned heads with his flair against Reading. Spurs’ interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is no secret either as that legal debacle continues.

CaughtOffside add that Spurs could challenge Arsenal and Chelsea over a move for RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons. The 22-year-old could cost £52 million and would be a real coup given his versatility. Dominic Solanke looks set to lead the line again in his second season.

In other news, Tottenham just birthed £12m monster and transfer talk must end - opinion.

Spurs recorded a 2-0 win over Reading but one area of the starting XI lacked bite.

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There was plenty to like about the way Thomas Frank had his Tottenham Hotspur side playing against Reading in the 2-0 friendly win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Will Lankshear and Luka Vuskovic were somewhat unlikely sources of second-half goals to help Spurs to victory but there were impressive performances from fully fledged first team names too. Dominic Solanke hounded the defence in his 45 minutes, Cristian Romero put in a solid audition for the permanent captain role with Destiny Udogie a threat and Mohammed Kudus purring on his first outing.

However, there was an area of the pitch that looked in need of improvement. That was the defensive midfield roles.

Tottenham Hotspur sloppy in midfield against Reading

Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur started the match in those roles in front of defence. While the Royals posed little threat, the former was guilty of some sloppy overhit passes and the latter looked pedestrian at times.

After the break, Yves Bissouma and Lucas Bergvall were fielded in those roles. That was an improvement but Bissouma also misplaced paces, thumping the ground in frustration, while an impressive Bergvall performance was more about dynamism driving forward than defensive stability.

All four midfielders helped Spurs to a clean sheet against the League One outfit but could have been punished for errors by a Premier League opponent. The north London club may be embroiled in the Morgan Gibbs-White transfer saga, but they’d be better off focusing on recruiting a defensive midfielder.

Spurs target former Fulham ball winner

Luckily, it appears that Frank has spotted an ideal candidate in Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha. The former Fulham man completed a switch from Craven Cottage to Germany 12 months ago but Bild claim that the Bundesliga giants are ready to let the player go.

Journalist Christian Falk said: “So there’s still the possibility of selling him this summer. The price is going down and down – €25m [£21.6m], perhaps €30m [£25.9m], but that’s it. Bayern Munich want to sell him. If he leaves, it’s also a chance for the club to go for Renato Veiga.”

Palhinha has struggled to settle at Bayern, with just nine starts last season. Speaking at the Club World Cup, he said: “Obviously, it hasn’t been an easy year for me, but I’m also very motivated to – as soon as the season starts – prove my worth once again, at a very special club like Bayern, a huge club.

“I have a contract with Bayern for another three years, so I’ll report back on the 29 [July], which is when we start pre-season. Enjoying these vacation days with family and friends is the most important thing right now.”

Prior to the Bayern move, Palhinha had been very well respected for his dominant performances at Fulham, with Bayern forking out nearly £50 million for his services. Standing at 6’ 3”, Palhinha earned a reputation for always being in the right place at the right time to stop attacking and getting his long legs in the way of forwards. Tottenham Hotspur need that.

Speaking about the player, former Fulham captain Tom Cairney said: "If you lose the ball, he smells blood. He’s probably one of the best I've ever seen off the ball, in terms of getting back, recovering and trying to win back the ball.

"He doesn't just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle. It's amazing to watch sometimes. I think the fans have taken to him. I think he's been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League."

In other news, Tottenham interested in 'huge talent' with Premier League rivals set to demand £40m.

Tottenham are pushing to sign an in-demand £50m forward this summer

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Highly-rated Brentford star Yoanne Wissa is reported to be pushing for a move away from the Gtech Community Stadium this summer and it’s reported he has once clear destination in mind amid reports of interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Spurs appointed Thomas Frank from Brentford this summer after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou. The Dane guided the Bees to a 10th place finish in his final term, marking one of the club’s greatest seasons since World War Two.

Yoanne Wissa was central to that success with 19 Premier League goals across 35 games, making him the sixth highest scorer in the league behind the likes of Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, Chris Wood and teammate Bryan Mbeumo.

However, it’s worth noting that every single one of Wissa’s goals came in open play with Mbeumo being the club’s main penalty taker. Therefore, Wissa had the joint second highest score in the division from non penalty goals.

Yoane Wissa’s ‘preferred destination’ claim made

Yoanne Wissa’s stellar performances for Brentford have naturally made him a target for a number of Premier League clubs this summer.

Nottingham Forest, who were recently upgraded to a Europa League club, after Crystal Palace’s multi-club ownership controversy, had been linked with Wissa in January and were reported to have had a £25m offer turned down by the West London club.

They are expected to emerge with a fresh offer after making £55m from the sale of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle while they are also expected to sell Morgan Gibbs-White to Spurs this summer despite the current stand-off between the two clubs regarding his £60m release clause. Forest have funds to spend and need to enhance their squad depth ahead of a challenging European campaign.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are the latest club to enter the race to sign Wissa this summer, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein. He claims after retaining the services of Alexander Isak and withdrawing their interest in Hugo Ekitike, the Magpies may move for Wissa to add further competition ahead of another Champions League campaign.

At this stage, talkSPORT claims Wissa is ‘pushing for a move’ away from Brentford, with Tottenham being his preferred destination due to his familiarity with Frank and the pair’s excellent working relationship. The move would also keep Wissa closer to home in the capital as opposed to relocating further up north to either the City Ground or St James’ Park.

How much would Tottenham need to pay to sign Yoanne Wissa?

Yoanne Wissa is entering the final season of his contract at Brentford. His existing deal runs until the summer of 2026 but there is a clause in place which can allow both parties to extend it by one further year.

Wissa has been at Brentford for four seasons, scoring 49 times across 149 games while contributing 13 assists. At the start of his Bees career, he was seen as a back-up striker to main man Ivan Toney but also featured regularly in the left-wing role due to his excellent pace and ability to drive at defences.

He’s been the first choice striker in both of the last two seasons and has scored 31 league goals across that period marking huge improvement from the 14 he managed in his first two years.

New Brentford boss Keith Andrews is keen to keep Wissa but it is thought the club will accept offers in the region of around £50m to facilitate a transfer. This would exceed the club-record sale of £40m for Ivan Toney last summer.

Speaking on Wissa last season, Frank said, via The Independent: “I’m very happy, I think he’s better as a nine and I think he’s developed fantastically. His overall game with his link up, his hold up, his work ethic and two great goals was very good.

“I think Ivan was a fantastic player for us but I know that when people leave the club others have opportunities to shine. I know the level of Wissa and Bryan (Mbeumo). I know when Ivan was out last season, Bryan and Wissa scored a lot of goals. With that knowledge I knew we wouldn’t lack goals.”

Tottenham Hotspur need to add some more quality to their ranks this summer

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank will be looking to put his own stamp on his newly inherited squad this summer. He has been picked as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou ahead of next season. The Dane has caught the eye at Brentford over the past few years.

Spurs have the chance to bring in some new signings over the next couple of months. They finished down in 17th place in the Premier League table in the last campaign. The London outfit also have the opportunity to let some players head out the exit door as well if needed to free up space and funds.

Tottenham Hotspur need to pursue Bryan Mbeumo deal

Tottenham have been heavily linked with Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White over recent times. However, a deal doesn’t look to be possible at this stage with Forest a tough side to negotiate with. Gibbs-White has a release clause of £60m but the figure was supposed to be shielded with Forest believing the figure was leaked. Therefore, they should pursue other attacking options.

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo is someone who Frank knows well from their time at Brentford together. He has been on the radar of Manchester United but the deal appears to be stalling. His valuation is said to be around the £70million mark.

With a potential switch to Old Trafford now up in the air, Spurs should use the money they had saved for Gibbs-White and put it towards Mbeumo instead. The forward has proved he can score goals at the top level over the past few years. In addition, he would add more firepower to their attacking department.

The Cameroon international is someone who likes to cut in from the right wing on his left foot. He has an eye for goal and needs to test himself at a different club now. Frank would be able to offer him Champions League football at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which may well turn his attention away from United. He also wouldn’t have to leave London.

Why Bryan Mbeumo would suit Tottenham Hotspur

Mbeumo would provide Spurs with something different going forward. He joined Brentford back in 2019 and has since become one of their key players. Prior to his transfer to England, he rose up through the ranks at Troyes in France before breaking into their first-team.

The France-born man helped the Bees win promotion from the Championship in his second campaign. He then adapted with ease to the step up from the second. Mbeumo has made 242 appearances in all competitions for them to date and has scored 70, a whopping 20 of which came last term.

Brentford’s Director of Football Phil Giles has said: "He had a fantastic season. We expected big interest in him, we have had big interest in him. He has his ideas about where he wants to take his career. He is well within his rights to do that. It is not impossible he is still a Brentford player next season if we agree he is going to stay."

He added: "Any club will tell you that. If it's not right deal, why would we do it? He is certainly one of our best players, if not our best player, and we need our best players. There's no harm in keeping your best players."

Despite Giles’ comments, it would be a surprise to see Mbeumo stay at Brentford. It seems inevitable that he will leave for a bigger challenge. Spurs would be ideal for him under a familiar face in Frank if Ruben Amorim isn’t able to get a deal over the line at United.

Tottenham should move quickly to wrap up a midfielder with Premier League experience.

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Tottenham must move quickly to get a deal done for a holding midfielder they should be seriously considering this summer. Thomas Frank faces a big summer as he looks to prepare his new side for his first season in charge.

A big job awaits Frank, with Spurs having had a disastrous Premier League campaign last term, requiring a big turnaround this season. Tottenham must get their recruitment right this summer, and they have already made a good start with a big-money deal for Mohammed Kudus, while they are attempting another statement signing in Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

Other new recruits are also likely, and Tottenham need a holding midfielder after failing to get the best out of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr last season. A few players have been linked, but perhaps the most sensible option is Bayern Munich’s holding midfielder Joao Palhinha. The former Fulham star has already proven himself in the Premier League, and he could push for a move this summer having struggled for game time since moving to Bayern Munich on a deal worth around £44million.

The 30-year-old only made 17 league appearances for Bayern last season, and given his age, he will surely want to be playing more regular football than that, even if he did win the Bundesliga title last season.

Interestingly, Bild have reported that Arsenal held serious conversations with Bayern over Palhinha before the FIFA Club World Cup as they looked to replace Thomas Partey and Jorginho, and conversations are even said to have involved figures.

Arsenal ultimately moved on, signing Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, but it shows the level of club Palhinha is attracting this summer. That should spring Tottenham into action as they look to get a deal done for a holding midfielder this summer, and on an affordable fee.

Palhinha is proven at this level and he has already lived in London previously. Fulham boss Marco Silva once said of Palhinha’s ability: “ He leads through his attitude, he's not the most vocal guy and he's improving his English as well. I want him to be more vocal and in that position it's important. His attitude, his commitment, the way he leads the others around are things that are hard to find in football.

"In moments (when) we lose the ball, his reaction is impressive and we want to take the best from him and in other moments we want him to keep improving. We won the ball in a high area and our players took the right decisions. Then, the finish from Joao was great."

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has said of the midfielder: “I can just name it easily because it’s very obvious to see his biggest quality – it’s defensively how he reads the game and the amount of balls he can recover. He’s a player who has the qualities on the ball to be a Bayern Munich player.”