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Micah Richards has hailed Tottenham’s capture of Dominic Solanke but the pundit suggested that the striker has to prove he is capable of dealing with the pressure that comes with playing for a bigger club.

Tottenham sign Dominic Solanke

Solanke’s move to Spurs has seemingly split opinion in the footballing world, with some feeling that the Lilywhites have considerably overpaid for a striker who has had just one really good season while others see the signing as a real coup for the North London side.

Ange Postecoglou has left it in no doubt that the 26-year-old was his top striker target, insisting that he should fit in well into his system at Tottenham (Football.London).

While the Australian also dismissed suggestions that Solanke is a replacement for Harry Kane, comparisons with the England captain will be inevitable and the former Cherries man will be expected to hit the ground running at N17.

Solanke will have to adapt at Tottenham

Richards believes that the England international is a good fit for Spurs but questioned if he will be able to cope with being a small fish in a big pond, with the team no longer built around him.

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The former Manchester City star told The Rest Is Football podcast about Solanke: “He has got good movement, hasn’t he? The only thing I will say, not to be negative, but the Bournemouth team was built around him.

“Whereas he will definitely give them a better option, and going to a bigger club there is sometimes a bit more pressure. I think it’s a very good signing. I think £65 million is a lot of money but he adds something different to what they have.”

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The one thing that might help Solanke cope with the pressure is the fact that he is used to the environment and expectations of a big club, having come through the ranks and Chelsea and having played for Liverpool.

While he was not the main man at those sides, he is now a lot older and understands his game much better. He should enjoy leading the line for Tottenham, given the number of chances we create.

An unnamed West Ham United spokesperson has revealed that the Hammers were keen on signing Dominic Solanke this summer before Tottenham came along and offered a much bigger fee.

Dominic Solanke was a wanted man

Solanke was one of the best strikers on show across the Premier League last season, finishing with 19 league goals, which is a formidable tally considering that Bournemouth finished in the bottom half of the table.

The centre-forward was thus always going to be sought after this summer and it was Tottenham who eventually won the race for him, paying a club-record £65m to bring him through the door.

Spurs fans will be hoping he can hit the ground running and hit 20-plus goals during the upcoming season. The former Liverpool man certainly seems confident he can do that, telling the club’s official channel that the Lilywhites’ style of play will suit him.

West Ham wanted Dominic Solanke too

It has now emerged that Solanke was also of interest to West Ham, with Hammers News revealing that the East London club were even willing to offer the player a deal worth £115k per week in order to attract him to the London Stadium.

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An unnamed spokesperson from the club told the website about the newest Tottenham addition: “We were interested. David Sullivan would have loved Solanke.

“We just don’t have £65m to spend on a single player.”

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In the current PSR era, transfer fees over £60m are proving to be quite rare, which is why this is a real statement of intent from Spurs.

Say what you want about Daniel Levy and co, but they have seemingly backed Ange’s vision and brought his top choice through the door.

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham Hotspur could make a move to re-sign Kyle Walker-Peters, who is still being tipped to leave Southampton before the transfer window closes.

Kyle Walker-Peters came through the Spurs academy

Walker-Peters is now into the final year of his deal at St Mary’s and even though there has not been much movement over his future, the outlet suggests that it should not be read as a sign that he is set to stay.

In fact, it is alleged that there is a ‘strong feeling’ among many around the situation that an exit from Southampton is on the cards for the full-back.

The report claims that following Emerson Royal’s switch to AC Milan, Spurs could decide to put the 27-year-old back in focus.

Tottenham could move for Kyle Walker-Peters

The England international is said to be valued at £20m by Southampton.

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Walker-Peters is not only an option that could boost Tottenham’s homegrown number but is also seen as a ‘perfect’ fit for Ange Postecoglou’s system.

However, the publication points out that a return to Spurs for Walker-Peters may depend on how favourably the player views a potential backup role at N17.

Spurs Web Opinion

With Djed Spence looking set to stay and with Archie Gray showing against Bayern that he is more than ready for the inverted right-back role, I cannot see Tottenham signing another right-back over the next few weeks.

Kyle Walker-Peters would be a great fit for Spurs, but I don’t think Spurs are a great fit for him at the moment.

GiveMeSport have revealed that Tottenham Hotspur did consider a move for Ivan Toney before pushing ahead with the signing of Dominic Solanke, explaining that the North London club were not particularly concerned about the Brentford star’s rumoured attitude problems.

Tottenham break club record to sign Solanke

Tottenham have secured the services of Dominic Solanke for a club-record £65m fee from Bournemouth and Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that the Englishman will compete with Richarlison for the number nine role next season (Football.London).

GiveMeSport confirms that the 26-year-old’s arrival puts an end to Spurs’ pursuit of Toney but they reveal that the North London club did seriously consider a move for the Bees star this summer.

They point out that the 28-year-old would have been the ‘cheaper option’ for Tottenham since he is available for a fee of just around £40m, owing to his current contract situation.

Spurs were not worried about Toney’s attitude

The publication adds that while other clubs around the Premier League were concerned about Toney’s attitude, that is not something that Spurs shared.

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Toney recently impressed off the bench for England during the 2024 European Championships, but is yet to seal a big move so far this summer.

We are now just one week away from the start of the 2024/25 season, and it remains to be seen whether Toney will have to stay put with Brentford for now.

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Even though Toney would have been the cheaper option, Tottenham have decided to back Ange and pay a club-record fee for the Australian’s top target.

I will never understand how some of Levy’s critics have managed to spin the Solanke deal as Tottenham somehow penny-pinching and letting the manager down.

We’ve already seen the new home and away kits for Tottenham through the summer, and there’s lots of speculation about the third kit. But, what will it look like and when is it out?

Spurs are, of course, sticking with the traditional white home shirt, albeit with a navy twist this year. For the away strip, a light blue kit with a vintage feel has made a number of appearances throughout pre-season.

There’s been plenty of talk and leaked images regarding Nike‘s third kit offering for this upcoming season, too, so let’s dive into what we know.

When will it be released?

The exact release date for the new third kit is unknown at this time, but based on last year, we can expect it to drop at the start of September.

The 2023/24 third kit was made available on September 1, after being worn for the first time on August 29, 2023.

Tottenham went a lot earlier for the 2022/23 third kit, though, with that one being on sale from August 11, 2022. Meanwhile, the alternative strip for the 2021/22 season was released much later, on September 16.

Either way, it seems we can expect it at some point in the next month.

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What do we know about the kit?

According to rumours and leaks, the third kit will be dark green with lighter green detailing on the body. It will also feature a retro Spurs crest, and a modified Nike swoosh at a different angle to the standard badge.

Footy Headlines have shared plenty of information and images of the prospective third kit, and that has all been very consistent with what has been shared online by other sources.

It might not rank among the best Spurs third kits we’ve ever seen, but it’s not a bad effort. We’re particularly keen on the old-school Tottenham badge.

How much will it cost?

Assuming the third kit will cost the same as the new home and away strips, you’re looking at £85 for the standard retail shirt, or £125 for the elite player version.

As always, printing names and numbers on the back will come with an extra cost.

Infant kits are currently retailing at £50, while older kids are £55.

Where can I buy the kit?

The Tottenham Hotspur official store/website and the Nike website will be the first places to get the new kit as part of an exclusivity period.

After that, it will be released to general sports outlets for wider retail.

According to Sunderland Echo, the £6m buy-back clause that Tottenham had for Dennis Cirkin has now expired.

Dennis Cirkin is a Tottenham academy graduate

Cirkin, who came through the Tottenham academy, moved to Sunderland in the summer of 2021 in search of regular game time.

The youngster proved an instant hit at the Stadium of Light, playing a key role in helping the club win promotion to the Championship in 2021-22.

Since then, the versatile defender, who can operate as a left-back and a centre-back, has continued developing impressively, although injury issues meant that he was restricted to just eight appearances last season.

Tottenham’s Cirkin buy-back clause has expired

Sunderland Echo points out that Tottenham attached a £6m buy-back clause to the deal when they sold Cirkin to Sunderland and that the North London club have since explored the idea of re-signing the player.

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However, the clause has now expired, which means that Spurs will now have to negotiate with the Black Cats if they ever want to bring the 22-year-old back to Hotspur Way.

It remains to be seen whether Spurs will move for a back-up left-back now that Ryan Sessegnon has left the club and Sergio Reguilon looks to be on the way out.

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Had Cirkin not suffered so many injuries over the last couple of years, there is a good chance he might be back in the Premier League by now.

In fact, Tottenham themselves would have been seriously tempted to activate the buy-back clause.

The list of players leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer may yet extend, as one player could be set for a move to a Premier League rival before the transfer window closes.

Aston Villa may come calling

With first-team squad members like Emerson Royal, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Bryan Gil already moving on this summer, there are very few fringe players left to depart Spurs now.

But, the future of Giovani Lo Celso remains in doubt. The Argentine featured sporadically under Ange Postecoglou last season, with injuries and form holding him back.

Now, the latest from the Daily Mail suggests Lo Celso could still leave Spurs this summer, with a switch to Aston Villa potentially still on the cards.

Villa have long been linked with the 28-year-old, particularly due to his previous connection with Unai Emery during their time at Villarreal.

Whether a move comes to fruition over the next couple of weeks or not remains to be seen.

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Lo Celso left out of the Tottenham squad

Spurs played Bayern Munich at the weekend but Lo Celso was not included in Postecoglou’s matchday squad for the game. According to Fabrizio Romano, that is because the midfielder is likely to leave, with Villa and Real Betis mentioned as suitors.

Mike McGrath told The Last Word on Spurs that other Premier League clubs had also been looking at Lo Celso this summer.

It has been suggested previously that Spurs and Villa could be looking to strike a player-plus-cash deal involving Lo Celso and Jacob Ramsey (DSport).

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I thought we might keep hold of Lo Celso again this year, but the fact he was left out of the squad for the Bayern game does appear to suggest a move is being explored.

I would imagine the player himself would rather head back to Spain, though, where he seems to flourish.

Tottenham Hotspur have let one of their most promising young players leave the club for the upcoming campaign, albeit temporarily, with Dane Scarlett heading to the Championship on loan.

Oxford United move quickly to bag Scarlett

The club has announced that Scarlett will join Oxford United on a season-long loan for the 2024/25 campaign, with a view to gaining valuable and regular first-team experience.

A statement from the official Spurs site reads: “Dane Scarlett has joined Championship side Oxford United on loan for the 2024/25 season.

“The 20-year-old striker, a product of our Academy, spent the first half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town before returning to us and making six appearances during the latter months of the campaign, taking his overall number of first team appearances in our colours to 17.

“An England Under-21 international, Dane has also previously spent time on loan at Portsmouth.”

It is thought there will be no obligation or purchase clauses of any kind as part of this deal.

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Word of Oxford’s interest in Scarlett first emerged via The Telegraph on Monday night, stating the Championship new boys were looking to replace their injured forward, Will Goodwin.

That report cited Tottenham’s desire to see Scarlett join a team that plays progressive football and that can offer the youngster regular minutes in his natural centre forward role.

Just hours after that first report, it was revealed by The Athletic that Scarlett was undergoing a medical with Oxford ahead of the proposed move.

A second chance for Scarlett

Scarlett had attracted the interest of a number of Championship clubs this summer, with Sunderland mentioned by Sports Illustrated as a potential suitor for the 20-year-old.

The young striker will be looking to put the disappointment of last season’s failed loan move to Ipswich Town behind him.

Scarlett joined the newly-promoted Tractor Boys hoping to get regular game time, but ended up making just 12 appearances in the Championship amounting to 146 minutes, before heading back to Spurs in January.

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On paper this is a perfect move for Scarlett. He’s joining a club who need him, and who will use him correctly.

Given Oxford have just joined the Championship, there’s every chance Scarlett will be one of their star players and he could really shine in that environment. Not to put too much pressure on him, but this loan spell really does need to work.

Mikey Moore has now signed his first professional contract with Tottenham Hotspur, and to mark the occasion, the young star has been talking about his past, present, and future in the game.

Mikey Moore is looking to the future

Hype levels surrounding Mikey Moore are high, and understandably so. The teenager broke into the Tottenham first team at the end of last season after being invited to train with Ange Postecoglou‘s senior squad, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Now 17-years-old, Moore has put pen to paper on his first pro contract and has committed his long-term future to the Lilywhites, with the maximum three-year deal allowed for a player under the age of 18.

Speaking to the Spurs social channels upon signing the new deal, Moore was full of excitement at penning the contract, saying: “It’s a moment I’ve waited for, for a long time in my career. I’m one of the younger ones, but it’s been unreal. I’ve worked towards this.

“You never really think that one day it’ll become your job. Playing in the men’s game is a lot different, playing in front of massive crowds. That’s what you work towards. I like the pressure of playing in front of all those people and hopefully it keeps going.”

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Working his way up at Spurs

On his incredible rise through the ranks at Tottenham, Moore added: “It’s a big step, but all the boys have welcomed me. It’s just about me trying to prove myself now really. I’ve done nothing yet, I’ve still got a long way to go to establish myself as a first-team player.

“You don’t expect it at all. Being a young academy boy… I’ve had a few decent performances but you don’t expect to come in and have the fans singing your name… that’s the best feeling.

“It’s crazy really. But no matter what I do in football I always want to stay humble and keep working. That’s the main thing, as a person… you play football and people don’t get to see the human side of you… but you always want to stay grounded.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I really hope we give Mikey Moore ample opportunities in the first team this season.

He’s clearly good enough, so keep him close to the senior players, get him playing plenty of minutes across the league and the cups so he has lots more experience, and let him flourish.

Tottenham Hotspur youngster, Dane Scarlett, is on the verge of completing a loan move to a Championship side, with a medical underway.

Scarlett gets second crack at the Championship

After a disastrous spell with Ipswich Town last season, Scarlett will be hoping for a much better showing this time around as he looks set to join Championship new boys, Oxford United, on loan.

News of the proposed switch first came from The Telegraph, with a report claiming Oxford were looking to the Spurs starlet to replace their injured striker, Will Goodwin.

That report stated talks were underway between the Lilywhites and the newly-promoted Championship outfit, with the latter looking to seal a season-long loan for Scarlett.

Spurs have been thought to be keen to send Scarlett away for the season so he can gain experience. The move would be seen as something of a “coup” for Oxford, with plenty of other Championship clubs looking at the 20-year-old forward.

It is said Spurs are looking for Scarlett to slot into a side that “plays progressive football” and where he can operate in his preferred centre-forward role.

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Medical tests ongoing

The latest on the quickly-evolving situation comes from The Athletic, who claim Scarlett is now carrying out a medical with Oxford as we speak.

All being well, the proposed loan move would last for the duration of the 2024/25 campaign.

Earlier on Monday, Scarlett had been linked with a move to Sunderland (Sports Illustrated), but it seems Oxford have moved swiftly to arrange a deal.

Spurs Web Opinion

This should be a sound move for Scarlett, who would surely be the starting striker for Oxford in light of Goodwin’s injury.

We just hope it’s not another repeat of last year where he joins a newly-promoted side only to find them flying and not needing his services.