Transfermarkt

After just one season, Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha could be on the verge of returning to London. Bayern Munich signed the Portuguese midfielder in a deal worth €51 million from Fulham last summer. To this day, it is one of the biggest signings in Bayern's history. But the 30-year-old defensive midfielder struggled for playing time under head coach Vincent Kompany and is now looking for a new club. According to a report by The Athletic, which Transfermarkt can confirm, Tottenham are now seriously interested in signing Palhinha this summer.

The main complication remains the structure of the deal. Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl would like to sell Palhinha to make room for additional transfers. “It's not an easy transfer window, especially given the injury situation with Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Itō,” Eberl said when asked about transfers during the introductory press conference of new signing Luis Díaz on Thursday. Eberl then added: “We're very happy with the squad.” That’s perhaps not the entire truth. Bayern need to add, but can’t do so before more players have been moved on.

On the list of potential departures are the likes of Serge Gnabry, Min-Jae Kim, Leon Goretzka, and Palhinha. While there have been rumors about Kim and Saudi Arabia, Goretzka and Gnabry seem to be unmovable at this stage. At least for Palhinha, there is now concrete interest in the form of Tottenham. But while Bayern would like to sell the player in a deal worth €25-30m, the London club is looking for a loan with an option to buy. While a loan isn’t entirely out of question for Bayern, the Rekordmeister would like that option to be an obligation. Palhinha, in the meantime, has spoken about his desire to carve out a place in the Bayern squad, but Tottenham’s Champions League qualification could now open the door for a move back to England.

Palhinha to Tottenham – Where did it go wrong at Bayern Munich?

Where did it go wrong for Palhinha at Bayern Munich? In the summer of 2023, Palhinha was the number one target of former Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel wanted a holding six for his squad and identified Palhinha as the perfect player for his system. Indeed, a deal with Fulham seemed to be all but done on deadline day on Sep.1, 2023. Palhinha was already at Bayern’s training ground at the Säbener Straße with his new jersey in hand to be announced when a deal fell through. Ultimately, Fulham couldn’t sign a replacement in time for the transfer window to shut in Germany.

The midfielder then signed a new contract at Fulham, a deal that was likely to appease Palhinha short-term, as he lost out on a significant increase in wages. Reading between the lines, it appears that Bayern and Fulham had a deal in place for the following summer. Because 12 months after the failed deal, Palhinha did arrive in Munich after all. Times had changed; however, Tuchel was gone, replaced by Kompany. Struggling with injuries and not being a good fit for Kompany’s tactics, Palhinha managed just six Bundesliga starts and 17 games overall. Indeed, the 30-year-old played just 986 minutes across 25 games for Bayern last season in all competitions, mostly coming off the bench. With that in mind, Bayern would be more than happy to offload the Portuguese midfielder to be more flexible on the transfer market for the rest of the summer. This could now benefit Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur certainly aren't wasting any time in their bid to rebuild their squad for new manager Thomas Frank. So far this summer the North London club have spent no less than €140 million signing five players in Kota Takai, Luka Vuskovic, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and most notably Mohammed Kudus. And it certainly seems as though the club are intent on adding a top-class central midfielder to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window.

In what has certainly been one of the most bizarre transfer sagas of the window, Tottenham reportedly bid around €70m to trigger the release clause of Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White. What seemed like a foregone conclusion quickly descended into chaos, as Forest quickly stated that Spurs had made an illegal approach for the English star. Since then, very little has happened and it now seems as though Tottenham may have to look elsewhere for a midfield recruit. So who could the North London club sign to bolster Frank’s team that would fit the billing as well as Gibbs-White? Let’s take a look at some of the other candidates.

Kobbie Mainoo

The first player on today’s list is unquestionably an audacious one for a club like Tottenham, but perhaps not as unobtainable as some may think. Kobbie Mainoo is considered by many Manchester United fans to be an excellent, young prospect. However, reports in England have long suggested that the Old Trafford club would be willing to sell the academy graduate for the right price. As such, that has inevitably led to Tottenham being linked with the 20-year-old talent. Whether Mainoo would actually favour a move to Spurs remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt that Man Utd would certainly lick their lips at the prospect of earning €70m from the talent.

Curtis Jones

Another young player that Tottenham could pluck from the ranks of their rivals is Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. Now 24 years of age, Jones has been heralded as an Anfield star in the making for a number of years now but remains a peripheral figure in Arne Slot’s team. Last season the England international featured in just 50 percent of his team’s Premier League action and that figure may fall this season, following the arrival of Florian Wirtz. As such, Jones may be on the hunt for a starting role in another top-flight club and that’s something that Tottenham may be able to provide for the right price.

Hugo Larsson

If Tottenham would rather avoid the complications of negotiating with another Premier League side, then they may want to consider a move for Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson. Despite being just 21 years of age, Larsson has already made over 60 league appearances for the Eagles and is quickly developing into an excellent box-to-box midfielder. Although Larsson isn’t perhaps as attack-minded as Gibbs-White, he would certainly be an exciting addition to Frank’s midfield and a player that Spurs could mould into a more attacking player in the years to come.

Lewis Ferguson

Another midfield talent that Tottenham may be tempted to take a look at this summer is Bologna star Lewis Ferguson. Signed for just €2m in 2022, the Scotland international has gone from strength to strength in SerieA, and was even named the best midfielder in the Italian top-flight in his second season at the club. With 19 goals and assists in just 79 league games for Bologna, Ferguson clearly has the talent to be an attacking threat in Tottenham’s midfield this season, as well as a natural affinity with the more physical aspect of football in Scotland and England.

João Palhinha

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LAFC are in talks to sign Tottenham Hotspur legend Heung-Min Son. According to a report by The Athletic, the Major League Soccer side is pushing hard to sign Son this summer. The Korean will enter the final year of his contract this season, and it is understood that he doesn’t feature as a starter in the plans of new manager Thomas Frank.

With Son’s contract set to expire in 2026, LAFC are optimistic to get the Korean winger to move to the United States. Indeed, this summer will be the final time Tottenham can receive a transfer fee for the 33-year-old. Son, in turn, would be guaranteed a starting role in what will be a crucial year ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America next summer.

Signing Son, however, will be difficult. With a market value of €20m, the Korean would be the most valuable player in MLS, together with LA Galaxy star playmaker Riqui Puig. That is at least for now. After all, Inter Miami CF are set to complete the transfer of Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid. The Argentine midfielder has a market value of €25m. The arrival of both star players in the same window, however, could mark the start of a major transfer offensive by MLS clubs.

Heung-Min Son to LAFC – A new dimension for MLS?

The forward would also be instantly one of the biggest signings in league history with a significant following in Korea and across South-East Asia. Indeed, the transfer could also catapult LAFC into a new dimension within its own market. The Athletic notes in its reporting that Los Angeles is home to approximately 320,000 ethnic Koreans. Son is also a recognizable Premier League star. The Tottenham captain has scored 127 goals and provided 77 assists in 333 Premier League games. The winger also won the Europa League this spring, his first trophy with Tottenham, which could further motivate him to start a new chapter in his career.

What would he add to LAFC on the pitch? Despite being 33, Son would add significant pace to LAFC. Indeed, club sources have told Transfermarkt when asking about the potential addition of German playmaker Thomas Müller that the priority is to add speed to the team. The pursuit of Son, in fact, would explain the pushback Transfermarkt received from sources when asked about a potential Müller transfer to LAFC. The club, according to sources, wants to become faster and more dynamic and isn't entirely sure whether Müller can fulfill those needs. Those same reservations don't exist when it comes to Son, however.

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After a quiet start to the transfer window, a little unrest was beginning to set in among some Tottenham fans. After the high of winning the Europa League, the club's first trophy in 17 years, manager Ange Postecoglou was sacked and replaced by Thomas Frank - a decision that didn't go down well with all of the Spurs faithful. However, this week, suddenly Tottenham's transfer window has come alive and the north London side have sent out a big statement. On Thursday they confirmed the signing of forward Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for €63.8 million, and now this Friday, they have met the release clause of Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White.

The attacking midfielder is set to become Tottenham's club-record signing for a fee expected to be around €70m. That will eclipse the €64.5m Spurs paid for striker Dominic Solanke last summer. It's been a rollercoaster end to the working week for Tottenham fans, and in signing Gibbs-White, they are bringing in a player with real quality. But with many of Spurs' other top stars also at their best in central areas, where will the England international fit in? And what will he add to Frank's team?

Where will Morgan Gibbs-White fit in at Tottenham?

Gibbs-White was one of the outstanding performers not only for Forest last season, but in the entire Premier League. He not only scored seven goals and provided 10 assists from midfielder, but his energy and quality on the ball drove Forest on to achieve their best Premier League season since 1995. He epitomised everything that was good about Nuno Espírito Santo's team. Tottenham will be hoping for similar performances next season from their midfield, but his introduction is likely to shake up their starting XI.

Player Comparison

Morgan Gibbs-White

Dejan Kulusevski

Nottingham Forest

Tottenham Hotspur

€50.00m

Market Value

€50.00m

Age

Attacking Midfield

Position

Attacking Midfield

Jun 30, 2027

Contract until

Jun 30, 2028

Full Player Comparison

Last term, when fit, Dejan Kulusevski was probably Spurs' best player, and his best work came centrally from the no.10 position. Where Gibbs-White himself may want to play. Tottenham also have James Maddison, who although underwhelmed last season, is at his creative best pulling the strings from attacking midfield. New signing Kudus certainly has the capability to play out wide off the wing, but also flourishes when driving through the middle. So how do Tottenham fit all of those players in?

Transfermarkt's Matthew Hayes, who is also a Tottenham supporter, and reveals how he thinks Spurs may line up next season with Gibbs-White: "The versatility that Gibbs-White offers is typical of Tottenham's recent recruitment. He's capable as a box-to-box midfielder and as a no.10, and I think he'll be utilised as both under Frank. Kulusevski will probably be asking some questions right now. We have made two big signings in a matter of days, two of the biggest in our club's history in fact, and they both play in Kulusevski's two positions."

Tottenham are set to spend over €130m in just two days on Kudus and Gibbs-White. So it's realistic to think that there may be some outgoings too this summer, and either Kulusevski or Maddison could potentially be the ones to make way should an acceptable offer come in. Regardless, this transfer window looks set to be one of Spurs' most exciting in recent history and in Gibbs-White, they are signing a Premier League-proven talent who could reinvigorate their midfield.

©IMAGO

After a quiet start to the transfer window, a little unrest was beginning to set in among some Tottenham fans. After the high of winning the Europa League, the club's first trophy in 17 years, manager Ange Postecoglou was sacked and replaced by Thomas Frank - a decision that didn't go down well with all of the Spurs faithful. However, this week, suddenly Tottenham's transfer window has come alive and the north London side have sent out a big statement. On Thursday they confirmed the signing of forward Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for €63.8 million, and now this Friday, they have met the release clause of Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White.

The attacking midfielder is set to become Tottenham's club-record signing for a fee expected to be around €70m. That will eclipse the €64.5m Spurs paid for striker Dominic Solanke last summer. It's been a rollercoaster end to the working week for Tottenham fans, and in signing Gibbs-White, they are bringing in a player with real quality. But with many of Spurs' other top stars also at their best in central areas, where will the England international fit in? And what will he add to Frank's team?

Where will Morgan Gibbs-White fit in at Tottenham?

Gibbs-White was one of the outstanding performers not only for Forest last season, but in the entire Premier League. He not only scored seven goals and provided 10 assists from midfielder, but his energy and quality on the ball drove Forest on to achieve their best Premier League season since 1995. He epitomised everything that was good about Nuno Espírito Santo's team. Tottenham will be hoping for similar performances next season from their midfield, but his introduction is likely to shake up their starting XI.

Player Comparison

Morgan Gibbs-White

Dejan Kulusevski

Nottingham Forest

Tottenham Hotspur

€50.00m

Market Value

€50.00m

Age

Attacking Midfield

Position

Attacking Midfield

Jun 30, 2027

Contract until

Jun 30, 2028

Full Player Comparison

Last term, when fit, Dejan Kulusevski was probably Spurs' best player, and his best work came centrally from the no.10 position. Where Gibbs-White himself may want to play. Tottenham also have James Maddison, who although underwhelmed last season, is at his creative best pulling the strings from attacking midfield. New signing Kudus certainly has the capability to play out wide off the wing, but also flourishes when driving through the middle. So how do Tottenham fit all of those players in?

Transfermarkt's Matthew Hayes, who is also a Tottenham supporter, and reveals how he thinks Spurs may line up next season with Gibbs-White: "The versatility that Gibbs-White offers is typical of Tottenham's recent recruitment. He's capable as a box-to-box midfielder and as a no.10, and I think he'll be utilised as both under Frank. Kulusevski will probably be asking some questions right now. We have made two big signings in a matter of days, two of the biggest in our club's history in fact, and they both play in Kulusevski's two positions."

Tottenham are set to spend over €130m in just two days on Kudus and Gibbs-White. So it's realistic to think that there may be some outgoings too this summer, and either Kulusevski or Maddison could potentially be the ones to make way should an acceptable offer come in. Regardless, this transfer window looks set to be one of Spurs' most exciting in recent history and in Gibbs-White, they are signing a Premier League-proven talent who could reinvigorate their midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur have finalized one of the most exciting signings of the summer. On Thursday, the club confirmed the signing of West Ham United star Mohamed Kudus. According to The Athletic, Spurs have signed Kudus from the Hammers for a fee in the region of €63.8m. Kudus has signed a six-year contract with Tottenham.

The Ghanaian international has shown glimpses of unplayable quality at times since arriving in the Premier League, dazzling with his flair, dribbling, and eye for goal, but struggled for consistency last term, and had his attitude questioned at times. However, still just 24 years old, Kudus has all the tools to become a central figure in new manager Thomas Frank's system. As Spurs continue to reshape their squad for a return to the Champions League, Kudus could be the creative spark that unlocks defences and gets fans off of their seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Transfermarkt takes a closer look at what Kudus could bring to the North London side.

What could Mohamed Kudus bring to Tottenham?

Kudus signed for West Ham for €43m in 2023, having spent the previous three years at Dutch giants Ajax. In the Netherlands, he scored 27 goals and provided 12 assists in 87 matches for the Amsterdam-based outfit. But it was his dribbling skills that really caught the eye, and that's something that has continued during his time in England. Last season, Kudus managed just five goals and three assists in 32 Premier League matches - it was an underwhelming season for the individual and the club as West Ham finished 14th in the table. But it's Kudus' ability to beat players that really makes him stand out.

During his first campaign in the Premier League (the 2023/24 season) no player in the division bettered his 117 dribbles - the next closest was Manchester City's Jérémy Doku with 87 according to Statmuse. And even last season, when he underwhelmed overall, he was joint-top of the dribbles statistics with Doku again - both with 90. It's that ability that Spurs are willing to gamble on. After all, taking into account the mooted fee of €63.8m, he would become Tottenham's second most expensive player in their history - only behind the €64.3m the club paid for Dominic Solanke last summer. No pressure.

Tottenham Hotspur have finalized one of the most exciting signings of the summer. On Thursday, the club confirmed the signing of West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus. According to The Athletic, Spurs have signed Kudus from the Hammers for a fee in the region of €63.8m. Kudus has signed a six-year contract with Tottenham.

The Ghanaian international has shown glimpses of unplayable quality at times since arriving in the Premier League, dazzling with his flair, dribbling, and eye for goal, but struggled for consistency last term, and had his attitude questioned at times. However, still just 24 years old, Kudus has all the tools to become a central figure in new manager Thomas Frank's system. As Spurs continue to reshape their squad for a return to the Champions League, Kudus could be the creative spark that unlocks defences and gets fans off of their seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Transfermarkt takes a closer look at what Kudus could bring to the North London side.

What could Mohamed Kudus bring to Tottenham?

Kudus signed for West Ham for €43m in 2023, having spent the previous three years at Dutch giants Ajax. In the Netherlands, he scored 27 goals and provided 12 assists in 87 matches for the Amsterdam-based outfit. But it was his dribbling skills that really caught the eye, and that's something that has continued during his time in England. Last season, Kudus managed just five goals and three assists in 32 Premier League matches - it was an underwhelming season for the individual and the club as West Ham finished 14th in the table. But it's Kudus' ability to beat players that really makes him stand out.

During his first campaign in the Premier League (the 2023/24 season) no player in the division bettered his 117 dribbles - the next closest was Manchester City's Jérémy Doku with 87 according to Statmuse. And even last season, when he underwhelmed overall, he was joint-top of the dribbles statistics with Doku again - both with 90. It's that ability that Spurs are willing to gamble on. After all, taking into account the mooted fee of €63.8m, he would become Tottenham's second most expensive player in their history - only behind the €64.3m the club paid for Dominic Solanke last summer. No pressure.

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make one of the most exciting signings of the summer, with a deal now reportedly agreed to bring West Ham United star Mohamed Kudus across the capital. According to The Athletic, Spurs have reached total agreement with the Hammers to sign Kudus for a fee in the region of €63.8m. His medical is supposedly scheduled for this Thursday, ahead of the player joining on a six-year contract.

The Ghanaian international has shown glimpses of unplayable quality at times since arriving in the Premier League, dazzling with his flair, dribbling and eye for goal, but struggled for consistency last term, and had his attitude questioned at times. However, still just 24 years old, Kudus has all the tools to become a central figure in new manager Thomas Frank's system. As Spurs continue to reshape their squad for a return to the Champions League, Kudus could be the creative spark that unlocks defences and gets fans off of their seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Transfermarkt takes a closer look at what Kudus could bring to the North London side.

What could Mohamed Kudus bring to Tottenham?

Kudus signed for West Ham for €43m in 2023, having spent the previous three years at Dutch giants Ajax. In the Netherlands, he scored 27 goals and provided 12 assists in 87 matches for the Amsterdam-based outfit. But it was his dribbling skills that really caught the eye, and that's something that has continued during his time in England. Last season, Kudus managed just five goals and three assists in 32 Premier League matches - it was an underwhelming season for the individual and the club as West Ham finished 14th in the table. But it's Kudus' ability to beat players that really makes him stand out.

During his first campaign in the Premier League (the 2023/24 season) no player in the division bettered his 124 dribbles - the next closest was Manchester City's Jérémy Doku with 87 according to the league's official website. And even last season, when he underwhelmed overall, according to Statmuse, he was joint top of the dribbles statistics with Doku again - both with 90. It's that ability that Spurs are willing to gamble on. After all, taking into account the mooted fee of €63.8m, he would become Tottenham's second most expensive player in their history - only behind the €64.3m the club paid for Dominic Solanke last summer. No pressure.

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make one of the most exciting signings of the summer, with a deal now reportedly agreed to bring West Ham United star Mohamed Kudus across the capital. According to The Athletic, Spurs have reached total agreement with the Hammers to sign Kudus for a fee in the region of €63.8m. His medical is supposedly scheduled for this Thursday, ahead of the player joining on a six-year contract.

The Ghanaian international has shown glimpses of unplayable quality at times since arriving in the Premier League, dazzling with his flair, dribbling and eye for goal, but struggled for consistency last term, and had his attitude questioned at times. However, still just 24 years old, Kudus has all the tools to become a central figure in new manager Thomas Frank's system. As Spurs continue to reshape their squad for a return to the Champions League, Kudus could be the creative spark that unlocks defences and gets fans off of their seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Transfermarkt takes a closer look at what Kudus could bring to the North London side.

What could Mohamed Kudus bring to Tottenham?

Kudus signed for West Ham for €43m in 2023, having spent the previous three years at Dutch giants Ajax. In the Netherlands, he scored 27 goals and provided 12 assists in 87 matches for the Amsterdam-based outfit. But it was his dribbling skills that really caught the eye, and that's something that has continued during his time in England. Last season, Kudus managed just five goals and three assists in 32 Premier League matches - it was an underwhelming season for the individual and the club as West Ham finished 14th in the table. But it's Kudus' ability to beat players that really makes him stand out.

During his first campaign in the Premier League (the 2023/24 season) no player in the division bettered his 124 dribbles - the next closest was Manchester City's Jérémy Doku with 87 according to the league's official website. And even last season, when he underwhelmed overall, according to Statmuse, he was joint top of the dribbles statistics with Doku again - both with 90. It's that ability that Spurs are willing to gamble on. After all, taking into account the mooted fee of €63.8m, he would become Tottenham's second most expensive player in their history - only behind the €64.3m the club paid for Dominic Solanke last summer. No pressure.

©TM/IMAGO

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed their latest summer transfer on Tuesday, when the North London club announced that they had completed the signing of Kawasaki Frontale defender Kota Takai. In a deal worth a reported €5.8 million, the 20-year-old talent makes the move to Spurs after signing a five-year deal with the club. Such a transfer fee make Takai he sixht most expensive sale in the history of the J.League. So who is the young defender and how good could Tottenham’s new signing be?

How good is Kota Takai?

After coming through Kawasaki Frontale’s youth academy as an exciting talent, Takai made his senior debut for the club in an AFC Champions League clash with Guangzhou on April 18, 2022, aged just 17 years and seven months old. That made the central defender the club’s youngest ever debutant. However, he would have to wait almost exactly one year before he made his J-League debut at the age of 18 and seven months old, which made him the club’s sixth youngest league debutant of all time. And since then he’s really gone from strength to strength for the “Azzurro Nero”.

"Despite being only in his second year of high school at the time, he signed a professional contract with Kawasaki Frontale, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to do so," noted Transfermarkt's data scout for Japan, Yuta Izawa, when asked about Takai's journey as a young player. "Expectations for him were high from the start, especially considering that Kawasaki Frontale has produced talents like Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Ao Tanaka (Leeds), Ko Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach), and Reo Hatate (Celtic). In the summer of 2022, while still part of the U18 team, he played in a preseason match against PSG."

After making a total of 28 appearances for the club in all competitions last season, Takai had established himself as a first-choice central defender for his club and, following impressive performances at the Olympic Games for the Japanese Olympic Team, he then made his debut for the Japan national team in a 7-0 win over China in the Asian World Cup qualifying rounds last September. "His name became widely known across Japan after his performances in international matches," noted Izawa. "At club level, he became a regular last season and was named the J.League’s Best Young Player."

Most recently, Takai was a crucial part of his team's push to the final of the AFC Champions League Elite, where he played every minute of the club's knock-out rounds. Rather notably, Takai was crucial in his side overcoming Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, with notable strikers Jhon Durán and Cristiano Ronaldo failing to score a single goal over the course of the game as Takai & Co. did just enough to get through to the final with a 3-2 win. Although the J-League side lost the final to Al-Ahli in a 2-0 defeat, it was a competition that clearly elevated the young defender's standing in the global game and showcased what he's capable of against top opposition.

So what is Takai's main attributes? According to Izawa, he has all the right skills to succeed in a league that makes huge physical demands like the Premier League. "He’s tall and dominant in the air, with excellent heading ability," noted the J.League expert. "He is physically strong and is fast, so he doesn’t get outmuscled easily. He’s also very good at building up play from the back. But his biggest strength is his composure in big games — he always stays calm under pressure."

Why are Tottenham signing Kota Takai?

Standing tall at 6ft 4ins and with an excellent tendency to dribble and pass with the ball with relative ease, Tottenham clearly feel as though Takai is ready to make the significant step up from J.League to Premier League. However, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be slotting straight into Thomas Frank’s first-team plans or may find himself loaned out in the coming season. And a quick glance at Tottenham’s squad for next season only underlines the serious competition Takai will face for a starting spot in the team in the years ahead.

Player Comparison

Kota Takai

Luka Vuskovic

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

€2.50m

Market Value

€12.00m

Age

Centre-Back

Position

Centre-Back

Jun 30, 2030

Contract until

Jun 30, 2030

Full Player Comparison

For example, alongside first-choice pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Frank will also have Radu Drăgușin and Ben Davies in back-up. Alongside that, the club will also welcome back Ashley Phillips, who was on loan at Stoke City this season and have recently signed Kevin Danso on a permanent deal. And as if that wasn’t enough competition for Takai to contend with, he’ll also need to find a way to outshine new signing Luka Vuskovic, who has joined the club from Hajduk Split for €11m, after making waves in Belgian football at Westerlo last season. Even if Tottenham were to sell one or two of the aforementioned names this summer, it still means Takai has four or five senior players to compete with.

However, when asked about his prospects in England, Izawa believes Takai is ready to make the step up at Tottenham. "Yes, I think he’s ready," said the Japanese football expert. "His biggest strength is that he stays composed even on the international stage. In the Champions League semi-final, he played a key role in the win against Al-Nassr by keeping Ronaldo and Durán quiet. To be honest, it’s hard to say exactly how well he’ll do in the Premier League, but he definitely has the potential to compete at that level."