CaughtOffside

It would appear that Heung-min Son’s Tottenham Hotspur career could soon be coming to a close, and to that end the club have already identified his successor, however, the Lilywhites face Premier League competition for his services.

The South Korean remains one of the North London club’s most important and influential players, however, at 32 years of age and with his contract expiring next summer per transfermarkt, the end of the season could be a logical time for him to part ways.

Successor to Heung-min Son targeted

With Amanda Staveley apparently seeking to invest in Tottenham, things could be about to change in a big way at the club in any event, and bringing in new blood would be a clear modus operandi from a new set of owners.

As club captain, Son deserves the respect of everyone, but perhaps now more than ever, there’s no sentiment in football.

Indeed, despite Ange Postecoglou seeming to be a perfect fit as manager of the club, it’s rumoured that Staveley would want to bring in Eddie Howe to replace him. That’s another decision which would almost certainly affect Son’s position in the short term.

Regardless, Football Transfers are reporting that the North Londoners have already dispatched scouts to run the rule over Lille’s exceptional young talent, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson.

Crystal Palace are also apparently monitoring the 21-year-old as a potential replacement for Eberechi Eze.

A notable 19 international appearances already evidences a young player who clearly isn’t fazed by the pressure, and a move to the Premier League would arguably be a step up, particularly if it’s to replace the current talisman at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For now, both clubs are maintaining a watching brief, and with Haraldsson valued at a measly €14m by Football Transfers, his is a signing that surely can’t be overlooked if he’s made available.

Tottenham Hotspur won’t let go of Guglielmo Vicario without a tremendous offer, according to a report from Calcio Mercato.

The fact that Spurs just paid slightly over £17million to sign Guglielmo Vicario may surprise a lot of people. This is due to the fact that his contributions have exceeded his cost since joining in the summer of 2023.

Hugo Lloris was a club legend, so replacing him would always require a lot of work. Vicario, though, was quickly acknowledged by Tottenham supporters as one of their most vital players.

The Italy international has been linked to a return to Serie A in recent weeks, with reports indicating that teams like Inter Milan are keen in his services.

Although Vicario is reportedly considering staying at Spurs, rumors have emerged that offers over £50 million could persuade the team to sell.

Even if a huge offer were to come his way, the board would be foolish to sanction Vicario’s exit given how fast he has shown his abilities at the club.

Though Vicario has been criticized for being among the weakest goalkeeper when it comes to set-pieces, there is no doubting his ability to save shots.

Tottenham could soon face the departure of their standout right-back Pedro Porro, with reports suggesting he may leave as early as January or during the summer transfer window.

According to Inter Live, Real Madrid are eyeing Porro as a potential replacement for Dani Carvajal, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

Pedro Porro likely to leave the club for Real Madrid very soon

The report claims that Tottenham are ‘very likely’ to lose Porro in the January transfer window or at the latest, the summer window.

Pedro Porro is likely to be tempted by a move, with him already expressing his readiness to wear the Madrid shirt and refusing to rule out a future move.

Since joining Tottenham from Sporting CP in January of last year, Porro has quickly established himself as a vital component of Ange Postecoglou’s side. Known for his dual capabilities in both defensive duties and offensive contributions, Porro has garnered recognition as one of the Premier League’s top full-backs. Last season, he showcased his talent by scoring three goals and providing seven assists in 35 league appearances.

Porro’s prior experience in La Liga, where he played for Girona and Real Valladolid, adds to his appeal for Madrid, as they look for a reliable and proven option to fill in for the injured Carvajal. The Spanish giants consider him an ideal fit and a strong alternative to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

His potential departure could leave a gap in Tottenham’s defence. However, Spurs appear to be proactively addressing this concern by scouting potential replacements. Among the candidates are Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan and Raoul Bellanova of Atalanta.

The club’s technical director Johan Lange, with guidance from former managing director Fabio Paratici, is reportedly spearheading efforts to bring one of these players to North London.

As Spurs brace for a potential transfer tussle with Madrid, the Liliywhites are taking proactive steps to ensure their right-back position remains a key strength in the squad.

Despite stepping down from his official role as Tottenham Hotspur’s managing director, Fabio Paratici is reportedly still playing a pivotal role behind the scenes in the club’s transfer operations.

According to Inter Live, Paratici remains involved in helping Spurs pursue key targets, most notably Jonathan David, the highly sought-after Canadian striker from Lille. His expertise and extensive network in European football are proving valuable, even without an official title.

Paratici, who joined the Lilywhites in 2021 as managing director of football, has continued to maintain strong ties with the club even after stepping down from his official duties.

Fabio Paratici to lead operations to sign Jonathan David

David, who currently plays for Lille, is one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe and is expected to attract significant interest in the upcoming transfer window. The 24-year-old striker’s contract is set to expire next summer, making him available on a free transfer, which has caught the attention of several top European clubs.

In Italy, Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan are closely monitoring David’s situation, while clubs abroad, such as Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle, are also said to be interested in securing his signature.

In fact, Romano recently revealed that David’s entourage is already having conversations with several clubs across England, Italy and Spain.

However, Tottenham, with Paratici’s continued influence, are seen as a strong contender to land Jonathan David.

As per the report, the former director is going to lead the operations himself to land the versatile striker. His deep connections and experience in managing high-profile transfers will prove vital as Spurs look to add the prolific striker to their ranks.

David’s outstanding record last season, where he netted 26 goals and provided nine assists in 47 appearances, highlights his talent. He has continued to impress this season, scoring eight goals and contributing two assists in just 13 matches.

Fabio Paratici is responsible for several top signings at Tottenham

Fabio Paratici played a pivotal role in shaping Tottenham’s squad by securing several top signings during his tenure as the club’s Managing Director of Football.

Known for his extensive network and sharp eye for talent, Paratici was instrumental in bringing key players to Spurs, including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, and Rodrigo Bentancur.

It has also been reported that he played a key role in helping Spurs beat Bayern Munich to the signing of Romanian defender Radu Dragusin from Genoa in January.

Arsenal will compete with Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign the Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Georgiy Sudakov.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is on the radar of multiple Premier League clubs and the two North London outfits are keeping tabs on his situation as per Football Insider. It will be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for him in the coming months.

Sudakov has started the season well for Shakhtar Donetsk with seven goals and two assists in 10 games. His performances have attracted the attention of the two English clubs. The likes of Manchester City and Liverpool are interested in the player as well.

However, Sudakov has a contract with the Ukrainian outfit until 2028, and they are under no pressure to sell him anytime soon. They will demand a substantial amount of money in order to sanction his departure and it remains to be seen whether Tottenham or Arsenal are prepared to pay up.

Tottenham and Arsenal need Georgiy Sudakov

Tottenham could certainly use more cutting edge in the final third and the 22-year-old will add goals and creativity to the side. He could compete with James Maddison for the starting spot at the North London tub. The 22-year-old is expected to develop into a top-class player with the right guidance and he could be a star for Tottenham in the near future.

Similarly, Arsenal need more cutting edge in the attack. In the absence of Martin Odegaard, the North London outfit have struggled to carve out opportunities in the attack.

They are currently pushing for league titles consistently and they are competing in the UEFA Champions League as well. The opportunity to join Arsenal will be quite attractive for the young attacking midfielder, and it remains to be seen where he ends up eventually.

Top Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Real Madrid are big admirers of Micky van de Ven and have hopes of one day signing the Spurs centre-back.

Enjoying a fantastic breakthrough in London, the 23-year-old’s opening campaign not only saw him emerge as a top centre-back but he also became the Premier League’s fastest-ever player after making a lung-busting recovery run against Brentford which was clocked at an eye-watering 37.38km/h.

Consequently, now one of England’s most popular defenders, Van de Ven, who joined the Lilywhites from Wolfsburg for a modest £43 million fee last summer, is drawing the attention of some huge clubs.

Real Madrid eyeing future deal for Micky van de Ven

According to a recent report from Fichajes, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are considering making a future offer for the 23-year-old Dutchman as they prepare to bolster their backline.

As things stand, Ancelotti has a wealth of defensive talent at his disposal but their ages will be a cause for concern. Antonio Rudiger will be 32 and David Alaba 33 by the start of next season, therefore a long-term partner for Eder Militao must be found — and Van de Ven seems an attractive option.

Whether or not Spurs will ever sanction a sale remains to be seen but the two club’s relationship remains strong following Gareth Bale’s famous £85 million transfer in 2013.

During his first year in London, van de Ven, who has four-and-a-half years left on his contract, has directly contributed to five goals in 36 games in all competitions.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has stated that Spurs are plotting a move to sign Torino and Italy star Samuele Ricci next summer as the Premier League club will find it hard to get a deal done in January.

The North London club have had a mixed start to the 2024/25 campaign as results have overall been good but Ange Postecoglou’s men have not been at their best as they currently sit eighth in the Premier League with three wins from their opening six games.

The Australian coach added some key weapons to his squad during the latest transfer window with the arrival of Dominic Solanke being the biggest of the bunch.

Ahead of the January transfer window, it is being reported that Spurs have an interest in Torino’s Samuele Ricci but a deal for the Italian star will likely have to wait until the summer as midfield is not a concern for Postecoglou at present.

Speaking to Football Insider, former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who remains very well-connected at the club, explained that the English side could explore a deal for the midfielder next summer.

“I think it’ll be a tough one to do in the winter,” the pundit said. “If you look at the way the team’s played in recent weeks in more of a 4-3-3 formation, I’m not sure whether the midfield will be a pressing position.

“But he’s a young player, he’s only 23 years old and he’s already got four caps for Italy.

“Tottenham are certainly interested in signing him. I think it’ll be tough to do in the winter but that is potentially one they’ll explore in the summer.”

Who is Tottenham target Samuele Ricci?

Ricci has been with Torino since 2022 having joined from Empoli and has become a key player for the Turin-based outfit. The 23-year-old has started in every game for the Italian outfit this season, contributing one assist from a deep midfield role.

The midfielder is a talent catching the eye of big clubs around Europe having made two appearances for Italy during the September internationals.

Tottenham are clearly one of the clubs, however, given his importance to Torino it will be hard for the Premier League club to secure a deal for Ricci before the 2025 summer transfer window.

Ange Postecoglou is a big fan of Eberechi Eze and hopes Spurs will agree to trigger his release clause next summer.

The 26-year-old midfielder is one of the Premier League’s most highly-rated playmakers. Strong, quick and technically gifted, the England international has continually been linked with a high-profile transfer.

Despite being on Manchester City’s radar, a move away from Selhurst Park has yet to materialise for the London-born creator. Spurs could be the club to change that though.

Eberechi Eze on Spurs’ radar

Postecoglou hopes to add another attacker to his options and, according to TEAMtalk, believes Palace’s number 10 is the ideal player to link up with Son Heung-min, James Maddison and the in-form Brennan Johnson.

Oliver Glasner has already lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and won’t want to lose Eze too but the Austrian won’t have much control over the forward’s future.

Eze’s most recent contract agreement includes a £68 million release clause that activates at the end of the season, and should Spurs trigger it, would see the 26-year-old surpass Dominic Solanke (£65 million from Bournemouth) as the club’s record-signing.

It isn’t just on the pitch where Arsenal want to get the better of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur it seems.

When the world’s best youngsters become available, both Premier League giants will hope to be in the conversation to land them, with the strength of their projects hopefully enough of a persuasive argument to get players to sign on the dotted line.

Arguably, the Gunners are a little further forward than the Lilywhites at this stage, due in no small part to how much longer Mikel Arteta has been in place when compared to opposite number, Ange Postecoglou.

Arsenal and Tottenham want Tomas Araujo

As Spurs showed at the weekend with a convincing 3-0 win at Old Trafford – a victory that Jamie Redknapp called embarrassing for Man United – they’re getting better and better under the Australian and might soon be challenging for the top honours.

CaughtOffside sources note that they certainly want to be in the mix for the signing of 21-year-old Portuguese player Tomas Araujo.

After some impressive performances with Benfica, he has come to the attention of some of European football’s major clubs, including the North London giants.

CaughtOffside journalist, Fabrizio Romano, noted in his exclusive Daily Briefing that Chelsea are also impressed with the youngster, though the Blues are also thought to be looking at Castello Lukeba.

Sources have advanced that all three London clubs have had scouts at Benfica’s recent matches against Boavista and Gil Vicente.

Reports were, apparently, hugely positive, highlighting Araujo’s defensive skills, composure, and potential to excel in the Premier League.

Given that sources understand that the player will be available for offers over €20m, Araujo also represents a value for money option for the English top-flight outfits.

What isn’t clear at this point is whether Benfica would be willing to allow Araujo to leave in the January transfer window.

If a summer 2025 switch is more likely, all interested parties could expect to pay a premium on the transfer fee if Araujo’s star continues to ascend.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sign Patrick Dorgu from Italian club Lecce.

Tottenham wanted to sign the player during the summer transfer window, but they failed to get a deal done. Liverpool have now joined them in the race according to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb.

The 19-year-old is highly rated in Italian football and he has a bright future ahead of himself. He could develop into a quality player with the right guidance and Liverpool could certainly use someone with his skill set.

Andrew Robertson is in the twilight stages of his career and Kostas Tsimikas is simply not good enough to start for a club hoping to win the titles. Liverpool will need to find a quality long-term alternative to Robertson soon and Dorgu seems like the ideal fit. The 19-year-old will be tempted to join a big club like Liverpool if the opportunity presents itself. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool decide to make a move for him in the coming months.

They have the finances to get the deal done and they have the pull to convince the player to join them as well.

Tottenham do not need Patrick Dorgu

Meanwhile, Spurs already have players like Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies at their disposal. It would be quite surprising if they decided to invest in another left-back. Spurs should invest in another central defender instead.

The 19-year-old needs to join a club where he will get ample first-team action and Liverpool might be able to provide him with that opportunity. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Liverpool and Tottenham are not the only clubs keen on signing the young defender and they will face competition from Italian clubs AC Milan and Napoli as well. It will be interesting to see where Dorgu ends up.