CaughtOffside

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for a major midfield rebuild next summer, with reports suggesting the North London club plan to spend big on two of the Premier League’s most promising young talents, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs view the pair as central to a long-term revamp of their midfield as they look to inject youth, energy, and creativity into a squad that has faltered under Thomas Frank.

Tottenham’s recent struggles in the Premier League, five games without a win, have exposed glaring weaknesses in the middle of the park.

Injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of dynamism have hampered their build-up play, leaving Frank searching for new solutions.

Thomas Frank has struggled with his midfield

Frank’s appointment from Brentford was meant to bring tactical organisation and control, but the lack of balance and attacking drive in midfield has quickly become a major concern.

Spurs’ hierarchy, led by sporting director Johan Lange, are reportedly determined to address those deficiencies through the transfer market.

Baleba, 21, has been one of Brighton’s best performers since his move from Lille in 2023.

He is known for his strong ball-carrying ability and impressive composure under pressure.

Given Brighton’s well-documented success in maximising player value, as seen with Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, Tottenham know securing his signature won’t come cheap.

Meanwhile, Wharton is also someone who is being chased by all the top clubs in England including Manchester United and Liverpool.

Wharton’s value has soared in recent months and increasing competition in his services will only make it difficult for the north London club to sign them.

Tottenham plan ambitiou double midfield move

If Tottenham are serious about both signings, the club could be looking at a club record move to bring them to the club.

The club’s midfield, once defined by experience and discipline, now needs youth and technical dynamism to match Frank’s evolving philosophy.

With pressure mounting on Frank to turn the team’s form around, and fans demanding more creativity and control, a move for them could be made next year. Whether they will join Spurs or wait for other clubs is a different matter.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid, and they will face competition from Newcastle and Everton.

The 25-year-old has been linked with a return to the Premier League, and the Spanish club will sell for a fee of around €60 million. According to Fichajes, Tottenham would be prepared to pay the asking price for the midfielder. It will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an official proposal to sign the player.

They need to improve the squad in January if they want to finish the season strongly. They have lost their way after an impressive start to the season. Signing the right players will help them get their season back on track.

They need more control and physicality in the middle of the park, and Gallagher could be the ideal fit. He knows the league well, and he will be able to make an immediate impact.

Newcastle and Everton need more quality on the side as well. Signing the 25-year-old England international would be a statement transfer from them. They are looking to build a formidable team and compete at a high level. Gallagher would be an exceptional acquisition. There is no doubt that he would improve all three teams.

Tottenham could be a more attractive destination for the player. He will want to join a competitive team where he will be able to compete in the UEFA Champions League and fight for trophies. Spurs will be able to provide him with that platform.

It will be interesting to see if they can wrap up the move in the coming weeks. Gallagher is a quality player who has shown his ability in the Premier League in the past, and he will look to hit the ground running.

With poor results piling up and pressure mounting, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a managerial shake-up and at the heart of the chatter is Crystal Palace’s current boss, Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian, who has earned a reputation as a serial over-achiever, might be lined up to replace Thomas Frank if performances don’t improve soon.

Frank, appointed only this summer to succeed the departed boss Ange Postecoglou, has struggled to deliver consistent performances.

In recent weeks, Spurs have managed just one win in seven matches across all competitions.

Their slip in form has placed added strain on Frank’s position, especially as the club also navigates a disappointing group phase in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank is struggling at Tottenham

Off the pitch, concerns are growing about a lack of identity and cohesion. Reports indicate a growing undercurrent of frustration among some players and fans, with calls for strategic clarity intensifying as hope of reclaiming a top-four or European spot fades.

Spurs’ leadership appears to be preparing contingency plans with Glasner emerging as the frontrunner among potential successors, according to TEAMtalk.

Glasner, 51, has built a solid reputation as a manager capable of exceeding expectations. After spells in Austria and the Bundesliga with clubs like VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, he took over at Crystal Palace in February 2024.

Under his guidance, Palace achieved historic feats. He led them to their first-ever major trophy, the FA Cup in 2025, and followed it up with a 2025 FA Community Shield win.

At Palace this season, despite challenges, the side sits in a respectable league position and displays attacking intent. The Eagles are currently 10th in the league, just four points away from the top four position.

Oliver Glasner has impressed at Crystal Palace

Tottenham’s interest in Glasner is understandable. The manager has displayed his quality and worked under limited resources. The Palace boss has recently expressed his disappointment at the club for not strengthening the squad in the summer.

Spurs could lure him away from Selhurst Park but that could be harsh on Frank. The former Brentford boss should be given more time at the club to prove himself.

Despite their Europa League success, Spurs struggled last season and when Frank took over the job, it was clear that his job would not be as easy as it looked.

Glasner, on the other hand, will continue to attract interest from top clubs. Sooner or later, Palace might have to face replacing him.

Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are interested in signing Tyler Morton from Lyon.

The 23-year-old has done quite well for the French outfit since joining the club from Liverpool. He is now being linked with a return to the Premier League. Six clubs are interested in securing his signature, including Tottenham and Everton, as per TEAMtalk.

It will be interesting to see if Spurs can win the race for his signature.

Spurs could use Tyler Morton

They need more control and composure in the middle of the park, and the 23-year-old could be ideal for them. He has shown his technical ability in France, and he has the quality to do well in England as well. He was highly rated during his time at Liverpool, but the Premier League champions were not able to accommodate him in the starting lineup.

Similarly, Everton need greater control in the midfield as well. It will be interesting to see if they can convince the former Liverpool player to join them.

Multiple clubs keen on Morton

Other clubs like Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Brighton and Nottingham Forest are also interested in the player. The opportunity to return to England will be exciting for Morton. He will probably want to be a part of an ambitious project. The move to Tottenham could be ideal for him. It will be interesting to see if the London club can agree on a deal with Lyon.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to improve their midfield unit in the coming months.

They have identified Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton as targets, but both players are likely to cost a lot of money.

Spurs eyeing Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton

According to a report from Team Talk, they are planning to spend big across the next two windows in order to improve the midfield. However, a move in January for either of the two players is unlikely because of the asking price.

Tottenham will have to be more accepting of the financial situation and wait until the end of the season. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Meanwhile, they could look to sell Yves Bissouma in order to raise funds for their own signing. Initially, the player was expected to be sold at the end of the season, but it seems that Spurs could now sanction his departure in January.

They need more quality in the middle of the park, and they should only sell the African if they can find a quality replacement. Selling him in January without a quality alternative would be a huge mistake.

Wharton would be ideal for Spurs

Someone like Wharton would be the ideal acquisition for them. The 21-year-old is a phenomenal talent with a bright future, and he could develop into one of the best players in the league. If Spurs managed to secure his signature, it could sort out their midfield unit for the foreseeable future.

Crystal Palace will not want to sell easily, and they will demand a substantial amount of money for the young midfielder.

He is enjoying his football at Selhurst Park, and he is unlikely to force an exit. Tottenham will have to pay a lot of money in order to get the deal done.

Tottenham are intensifying their pursuit of Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo remains a highly sought-after player going into the transfer window with Premier League’s top clubs vying for his signature including Tottenham.

The North London club’s interest dates back to the summer. As per a previous report, Spurs even made an offer in the summer for the player but it was turned down.

Tottenham intensify pursuit of Antoine Semenyo

According to the latest report from Sky Sports, Spurs have reignited their interest and are now intensifying their pursuit.

Spurs pursued Semenyo in the first part of the 2025 summer window but were put off by Bournemouth’s £70m+ valuation.

With the release clause now revealed, Spurs know they will have to pay £60m plus £5m in bonuses to trigger the clause.

As per the report, Spurs appear more ready to pay what is required to land Semenyo this time around, but they face competition from City and Liverpool.

Liverpool now face stiff competition

Previous reports suggested that Liverpool are favourites to sign Semenyo, with Richard Hughes already in contact with Bournemouth.

It has also been reported that the player himself prefers a move to Liverpool, even over his boyhood club Arsenal, who are also linked with a move for the versatile attacker.

Position Appearances Goals Assists G/A per Game Centre-Forward 73 12 13 0.34 Right Winger 56 14 6 0.36 Left Winger 55 10 8 0.33 Right Midfield 11 5 0 0.45 Left Midfield 9 3 4 0.78 Attacking Midfield 3 1 0 0.33

Besides the two London clubs, there is strong interest from Manchester as well. Manchester United were reportedly rejected by Semenyo in the summer.

Meanwhile, it was reported by The Times that Manchester City are now also considering activating the release clause for Semenyo in January.

With other clubs now also willing to trigger his release clause, the final decision may come down to the player himself.

Football Paparazzi previously explained reasons why the player is keen on Liverpool move over Arsenal.

It listed the following reasons: ‘guaranteed game time; a starring role during Salah’s AFCON absence; a long-term succession plan; and Hughes’ direct involvement’.

But with Spurs and Man City also showing strong interest, it remains to be seen which club Semenyo ends up choosing.

Regardless, one thing looks certain, the Cherries star could be on his way out this January.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is facing perhaps the most serious internal crisis of his career after reports surfaced that several players are losing faith in his methods.

According to The Sun, frustration is growing in the Spurs locker room over Frank’s frequent late tactical adjustments, which many insiders claim leave players uncertain about their roles and responsibilities at kick-off and during matches.

Frank was appointed Tottenham boss in June 2025, following the departure of Ange Postecoglou.

The club entrusted him with a long-term project, signing him to a contract through 2028.

The hope was that his track record of overachieving with limited resources, most notably at Brentford, would bring renewed stability and progress to Spurs.

Tottenham have struggled for consistency

Early optimism saw flashes of progress, but Spurs’ 2025-26 season has so far been rocky.

Their home form, long considered a pillar of strength, has deteriorated dramatically, with only one win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the current league campaign.

The crux of the unrest lies in Frank’s penchant for making late or even last-minute tactical changes, sometimes just minutes before kickoff.

Such sudden shifts reportedly leave players confused about their positioning and responsibilities.

After a promising attacking blueprint, Spurs have reverted to more conservative, defensive setups, a move seen by some as a retreat rather than progress. This abrupt shift has reportedly unsettled players used to clarity and direction.

Spurs are going through a poor run of form

Performance on the pitch hasn’t helped. Poor league results, a damaging 4-1 defeat in the derby against Arsenal, and a disjointed 5-3 loss to Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League have raised serious questions about cohesion, morale, and tactical clarity under Frank’s leadership.

Their latest defeat came against Fulham in the Premier League, dropping Spurs to 12th position in the league.

If Spurs don’t turn things around quickly, the risk is not just poor performances but a fractured dressing room.

Tottenham’s next few weeks, starting with a tough fixture against a resurgent Newcastle United, could very well define Frank’s career at Spurs.

Tottenham saw their miserable week compounded on Saturday with a very disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Fulham. Thomas Frank’s side, who had already lost to Arsenal (4-1) and PSG (5-3) over the last seven days, now find themselves 10th in the Premier League, when they had been inside the top four not too long ago.

It was a dreadful start to proceedings for Tottenham, who conceded twice inside the opening six minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Understandably, there was a lot of criticism for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario following his error that led to Harry Wilson’s long-range goal, but one ex-player had more of a problem with Xavi Simons.

Jamie O’Hara critical of Xavi Simons showboating vs Fulham

Taking to X (via FootballFanCast), former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara took aim at Simons, who came on in the 60th minute for Richarlison. The forward, signed in the summer from RB Leipzig, was accused of unnecessary showboating during his time on the pitch.

“If Xavi (Simons) tries one more flick my head’s gonna absolutely go.”

Xavi Simons has had a difficult start to life at Tottenham

Simons did not have the desired impact during his 30-minute cameo against Fulham, with zero shots on target and only one successful dribble. It epitomised his time at Tottenham thus far, which has been very underwhelming – especially considering the hype that was generated when it became clear that he would be joining in the summer.

Up next for Tottenham is a trip to Newcastle. Frank’s side have been much better away from home this season, but they have already been defeated at St James’ Park this season (2-0 in the Carabao Cup), so expectations will not be high for a positive result for the forthcoming Premier League clash on Tyneside.

Aston Villa are preparing an ambitious January move for Anderlecht’s 17-year-old midfield prodigy Nathan De Cat, as they look to reinforce their long-term midfield core under Unai Emery.

Sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside that Villa have identified the Belgian teenager as a potential partner for Boubacar Kamara in the years ahead and are keen to accelerate talks despite mounting competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton, and Bayern Munich.

De Cat, widely regarded as one of Belgium’s brightest young talents, has impressed scouts across Europe.

Aston Villa target Anderlecht star Nathan De Cat

He has already established himself as a regular in Anderlecht’s first team and has featured prominently for Belgium’s U19 side, earning comparisons to Manchester City’s Rodri for his deep-lying playmaking style.

The youngster has made 15 league appearances for Anderlecht in the Jupiler Pro League this season.

While Anderlecht’s official stance remains firm, that De Cat will stay at the club until at least the summer of 2027, insiders suggest the Belgian giants are willing to negotiate if the right offer arrives.

Sources close to the club indicate that a £30 million (€35m) package, including performance-related add-ons, would meet their record sale ambitions

Villa are reportedly readying an offer worth €22–25 million upfront, with additional bonuses and a 10–15% sell-on clause, designed to tempt Anderlecht into early discussions.

Tottenham are also actively pursuing De Cat, with sporting director Johan Lange pushing hard to bring him to north London, while Brighton have made inquiries through intermediaries.

Premier League clubs face Bayern Munich competition

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich have maintained regular contact with the player’s representatives but are not expected to formalize an offer until the summer unless forced by Premier League movement.

Two deal structures are currently under consideration, a permanent transfer with an immediate loan back to Anderlecht for the remainder of the season, or a loan deal with a mandatory purchase clause in the summer.

Aston Villa are believed to favor the first option, ensuring the youngster’s development continues uninterrupted in Belgium before joining Emery’s side next season.

Tottenham are understood to sense a potential opportunity to rival Manchester United for the transfer of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.

The talented young Cameroon international is going through a bit of a dip in form since Man Utd tried signing him in the summer, and this has led to Spurs joining the race, as first reported here in the Daily Briefing.

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Speaking to sources, it seems Brighton will still insist on their €100m valuation for Baleba, so that could make things complicated for Tottenham.

It’s also still not ruled out that United could move for Baleba as a priority, even if other big names like Elliot Anderson and Joao Gomes are now also being strongly considered as well.

Carlos Baleba to Manchester United or Tottenham?

United and Spurs look like the main two teams to watch in the race for Baleba, with sources describing the 21-year-old as someone who’s still highly regarded within the game.

There’s no doubt this season has been a bit trickier for Baleba so far, but it might just be a brief blip for the youngster.

“Brighton don’t see Baleba’s recent performances as a huge concern, they feel they still have a €100m asset there, so any clubs thinking about a cut-price deal can forget about it,” one source said.

“Tottenham are monitoring Baleba’s situation,” another source explained. “They sense there could be an opportunity there if United decide to focus on other targets.”

Who are the best midfielders on the market right now?

Baleba is someone we’re hearing a lot about at the moment, as are other names like Anderson, Gomes, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

If he gets back to his best, though, there’s a strong case for saying that Baleba is the best of the bunch there, so he could still end up being well worth the €100m investment.

Brighton might make things tough, as they don’t want to sell in January, but in the past they’ve tended to cash in on star names like Moises Caicedo if the money and timing is right for them.