Football Insider

Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign West Ham academy forward Elisha Sowunmi, sources have told Football Insider.

Spurs have been tracking the 18-year-old for over a year and have now beaten off rival interest from Club Brugge and Celtic to agree his signing.

Sowunmi, who can play anywhere across the front line, finished as the Under-18s top goalscorer last season with 16 goals and five assists in all competitions.

The winger signed his first professional deal with West Ham last summer, but his rapid development saw Spurs make a quick move to poach him from their rivals.

Tottenham win race to sign West Ham’s Elisha Sowunmi

Football Insider exclusively revealed on 29 January that Celtic were interested in Sowunmi and were racing an unnamed top-six Premier League side for his signature.

Sources can now reveal that Tottenham were the side rivaling Celtic in their chase, and they have now reached an agreement to bring him to North London.

The 18-year-old has caught the eye of a number of clubs after impressing in West Ham’s academy sides in recent seasons, and Spurs have now acted quickly.

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Before he signed a professional contract at West Ham, Football Insider revealed that Club Brugge tried to sign Sowunmi, but he later put pen to paper at the London Stadium.

The Belgian side had not cooled their interest, but have now been beaten to the deal once again.

Randal Kolo Muani could leave Tottenham

Sowunmi may not be the only late deal in what has been a quiet transfer window for Tottenham, with both incoming and outgoing moves on their radar.

Football Insider revealed on 30 January that Randal Kolo Muani could leave Tottenham to pursue a return to Juventus over the coming days.

The 27-year-old is currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, but has interest from Juventus and would be interested in returning to Turin this January.

However, they will only sanction his departure if they can land a replacement amid interest in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The France international has been a long-term target for Spurs, but they could now be set to miss out as AC Milan accelerate their advances for him.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has emerged as a top managerial target for Tottenham, sources have told Football Insider.

Spurs’ hierarchy have been impressed by how the 32-year-old has handled the Brighton post and the pressures of Premier League management during his 18-month reign.

Tottenham are edging closer to sacking Thomas Frank following Saturday’s defeat to West Ham and the incendiary response from the club’s supporters to another limp display that leaves the team teetering in 14th position in the league.

Hurzeler‘s extensive top-level experience despite his young age is seen as a major asset for Spurs as they look to put in place ambitious plans for the future.

The German manager has a contract at Brighton until 2027 but could be tempted to take on a new challenge at Tottenham if offered the opportunity.

Tottenham plot move for Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler

Since his arrival at Brighton in 2024, Hurzeler has lost just 18 of his 70 games in charge, and has helped the club continue their positive trajectory.

The Texas-born manager has impressed Spurs thanks to the positive work he has done, while he is also a very popular figure among his Brighton players.

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This comes as former Spurs scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Tottenham’s players are not performing for Frank and have not bought into his tactics.

Frank’s more pragmatic plan has also not gone down well with the fans in North London, who are demanding a more forward-thinking and easy-on-the-eye style.

Thomas Frank closes in on Tottenham sack

Football Insider revealed on 10 January that Frank needs results against Villa and West Ham, who they play next in the league, to ease pressure on his position.

He has since fallen to 2-1 defeats in both games, both of which were at home, leading to a growing expectation that he will be sacked imminently.

Frank is now odds-on to be sacked by Tottenham, with work having started to identify his successor, as Hurzeler is not their only target.

Football Insider revealed on 18 January that Tottenham are targeting Mauricio Pochettino for a return to North London and are keeping a close eye on his situation.

Any move for the 53-year-old would have to wait until after the World Cup, where he will lead the U.S.A on home turf and hopes for a successful tournament.

‘This is how many games Thomas Frank has to avoid Tottenham sack’

Thomas Frank has struggled to make a positive impact during his sixth-month spell at Tottenham.

Frank was appointed as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement after Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League table last season, but they did win the Europa League.

Tottenham were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup on 11 January, ensuring they have now won just one of their past seven games in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League table heading into the London derby against West Ham on Saturday (17 January).

Nuno Espirito Santo is also fighting to save his job, with the Hammers seven points from safety in the relegation zone.

Tottenham are facing ‘big’ Thomas Frank issue as sack decision looms

Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Frank could be sacked as the Tottenham manager if the next two or three games don’t go their way.

The north London giants face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Burnley in the Premier League after this weekend’s clash against West Ham.

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Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “I think the injury situation is a big issue and I think the manager is a big issue as well because clearly he’s not really started well.

“I think you’ve got to start relatively well in this situation. I don’t think you can have as bad a start as he’s had and easily survive.

“He’s probably got two or three games. If two or three games now go against him, he’s probably going to get changed.

“That’s a big problem for the development of a new Tottenham, regardless of whether Daniel Levy is there or not.”

Frank joined Tottenham from Brentford, where he was hugely successful during his seven years in charge.

Who could replace Frank as Tottenham manager?

Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (13 January) Tottenham could appoint an interim manager until the end of the season if they decide to sack Frank.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has emerged as an early contender to replace the Danish manager.

However, Spurs could have to wait until the end of the season to appoint Glasner, whose contract at Selhurst Park expires on 30 June.

The Austrian manager has also been linked with Man United, but Palace’s poor run of form has raised questions around whether he is the right man to take over at Old Trafford.

Thomas Frank has confirmed the seriousness of the injury that Richarlison suffered during the FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa.

Dominic Solanke had just returned from injury before the Brazilian was substituted at Villa Park, lasting 31 minutes during the 2-1 defeat, with Randal Kolo Muani coming on in his place.

It was yet another blow for the Lilywhites, and with Football Insider understanding that Frank is under serious pressure in North London, things have gone from bad to worse for the former Brentford man.

Mohammed Kudus is sidelined for three months, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski yet to return to training, and the pressure is only continuing to build this season.

While the transfer window remains open for another couple of weeks, and Conor Gallagher has already signed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is unclear how much more money will be spent on deals.

Richarlison could be sidelined for seven weeks

Spurs already have several injury issues, which appears to be a recurring theme in North London this season, as it already was during Ange Postecoglou‘s difficult spell at the club.

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Despite a lot of fans not being so favourable towards him, Richarlison was having a good season in the final third, having notched seven goals and three assists in 21 Premier League games.

Add another Champions League goal to those numbers, and the 28-year-old was one of the Lilywhites’ most in-form players, but Frank is now going to be without him for up to seven weeks.

With Frank’s side still battling in the Premier League and Champions League, this is really the last thing that the squad needed. The striker could miss several important games.

Tottenham striker injured for Premier League and Champions League clashes

January

February

March

Thomas Frank is facing growing calls for his dismissal as Tottenham manager, and the players are doing little to help ease the pressure.

That is according to former Tottenham and Man United senior scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Spurs‘ star players don’t appear to be performing for the manager.

Tottenham lost 2-1 to Aston Villa last time out and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round, while their dismal league form has compounded the frustrations.

Football Insider revealed on 10 January that Frank needs results against Villa and West Ham, who they play next in the league, to ease pressure on his position.

However, there are doubts about whether the players will step up in what is becoming an increasingly toxic situation both on and off the pitch.

Thomas Frank is being thrown under the bus at Tottenham

Brown warned Football Insider on 7 January that Tottenham are concerned about dressing room unrest, with frustrations growing behind the scenes.

The former scout, who has a wealth of experience working closely alongside elite-level managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson for over a decade at Man United, insisted that Frank needs the players’ backing if he is to turn this form around.

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“I saw the game against Aston Villa, who were top-class in the first half,” he told Football Insider.

“In the second half, Tottenham worked their way back into the game and got a goal back, but Villa ultimately were able to see it through.

“But it did highlight a few issues Tottenham are having, and particularly with Thomas Frank.

“They got rid of Postecoglou because defensively they weren’t good enough and the tactics were borderline suicide, so they went and got Frank, who is the opposite.

“He likes his teams to be organised, methodical and pragmatic, but for that to work, you need all the players to buy into the manager and his style. I don’t think that’s happened.

“There are some big players in that side who aren’t giving consistent performances and aren’t stepping up when called upon in the tough periods. They’re not playing for Frank.

“If you want to blame somebody, it’s easy, point the finger at the manager. It’s the players who aren’t performing to the level that’s expected of them.

“Some of them have directly contributed to Tottenham’s issues, and if they’re not performing for the manager, things are never going to click.

“If the players don’t step up, for whatever reason, that may be if they’re not happy playing this way or whatever it is, that’s what will get him sacked.”

Tottenham facing growing concerns behind the scenes

Frank confessed he is not happy at Tottenham given the pressure on his position and what has been a disastrous start to his tenure. [via Sky Sports]

Meanwhile, reports claimed Tottenham players were unhappy that Brennan Johnson was sold to Crystal Palace as he was a popular figure in the dressing room.

These issues, alongside their disappointing form and growing frustration among Tottenham fans who are calling for Frank’s sacking, have led to a toxic atmosphere.

Brown told Football Insider on 22 December that Tottenham are reluctant to sack Frank and hope he will lead a long-term project despite a slow start.

However, there is a growing feeling amongst the Spurs hierarchy that they may have made a mistake in appointing the former Brentford boss given their recent results.

Fabio Paratici could be set to leave Tottenham just months after returning to the club.

It was confirmed in October Paratici has been appointed by Tottenham as sporting director, with Johan Lange also promoted from technical director to sporting director.

Those updates came just weeks after Spurs confirmed Daniel Levy had stepped down as executive chairman.

However, it has now been revealed Paratici could be set to join Fiorentina as their new head of football.

Why Fabio Paratici could be leaving Tottenham

Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider he finds it “surprising” Paratici continues to get jobs in football after serving a suspension for financial misconduct during his time at Juventus.

Before his Tottenham return was confirmed, the Italian had been operating in a consultancy role since resigning as the club’s director of football in 2023 following his 30-month ban from the game.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “I thought that Paratici’s situation was always a bit strange anyway. He’s been found guilty of pretty serious things. Spurs kept faith with him almost, so I think he was treated very well by Spurs.

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“Perhaps he had a great relationship with Levy and, now Levy’s gone, then presumably that’s the link that’s broken and it means that now is the right time for him to leave. I guess it feels probably related to the Levy situation.

“Going back to Italy is sensible, but as I say, I think the whole thing is surprising with Paratici given what he was found guilty of that he’s got jobs in football. But I suppose we should never be surprised by the weirdness of football.”

Who is in charge at Tottenham after Daniel Levy’s exit?

There has been plenty of change in north London over the past few months.

Although Paratici could be set to leave Spurs, there is still several experienced operators behind the scenes.

Tottenham appointed Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman following Levy’s departure, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham leading the day-to-day operations.

Meanwhile, Carlos Raphael Moersen has joined Spurs as their new director of football operations.

Moersen has spent the past 10 years working as director of football transactions for Man City’s owners, the City Football Group.

Tottenham could be one of the clubs to make a move for Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo this month.

Mainoo has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season, with multiple midfielders playing ahead of him.

Mainoo has received interest from several Premier League clubs, but Man United are expected to demand a significant fee for their academy product.

Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim’s sacking could have an impact on the 20-year-old’s immediate future.

How much could Man United accept for Kobbie Mainoo?

Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Tottenham are one of the clubs who could afford to sign Mainoo in the January window.

Thomas Frank is looking to strengthen his side following their disappointing recent run of form.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “I think there’s a good chance that somebody would pay £40m for him. I think the big issue there anyway is, of the clubs that could pay £40m, would he want to go?

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“I think you can rule out any of the other big six, aside from potentially Spurs. I don’t think Spurs particularly need him, but they’re one that could afford it. Would he want to go to Spurs? I don’t know, maybe. I guess they’re the one on the edge.

“Villa are not in a position to do a deal. Newcastle might be, but it doesn’t look an obvious fit for them footballing-wise. Then you’ve got the teams like West Ham and Everton maybe, but it’s a lot of money for Everton right now, so I think it’s unlikely.”

Why Mainoo could be forced to stay at Man United

Borson insisted a move abroad could be the most realistic option for Mainoo if a switch to another Premier League side doesn’t present itself.

“You sort of get into the practicality of where can he go, and it points to a loan abroad initially,” said Borson.

“But again, there are very few clubs that could actually afford the fee that United would want for him.

“You’re talking Atletico Madrid or maybe Napoli at a stretch, but they’ve already got quite a lot of commitment on some of the other players that they’ve brought in like Hojlund. I would assume they are going to complete that deal, so it’s not straightforward.

“I would expect Mainoo to be another one probably to stay, not to leave in January, and for it all to be looked at again in the summer window.”

Mainoo, who has been sidelined with a calf injury in recent weeks, has started just once in his 12 appearances for Man United this season.

Thomas Frank is at increasing risk of being sacked by Tottenham as large sections of the fanbase have now completely turned on him.

That is according to former Tottenham and Man United senior scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected at his previous clubs, as he exclusively told Football Insider that there could be “major changes” in North London soon.

This follows the events of an extraordinary Monday in which Man United and Celtic sacked their managers, just days after Enzo Maresca left Chelsea.

Brown told Football Insider on 22 December that Tottenham are reluctant to sack Frank and hope he will lead a long-term project despite a slow start.

However, there is a growing feeling amongst the Spurs hierarchy that they may have made a mistake in appointing the former Brentford boss given their recent results.

Tottenham drew 1-1 with Sunderland last time out, and have won just seven league games all season, while the style of play has been heavily criticised by fans.

Thomas Frank could be sacked by Tottenham

Football Insider revealed on 3 December that Frank’s position at Tottenham is safe at least until the new year, but he is expected to turn their fortunes around.

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Brown, who has a wealth of experience working closely alongside top-level managers including Sir Alex Ferguson for over a decade at Man United, insisted that recent results have put the manager’s position at risk amid ongoing fan frusrtations.

“There’s barely anybody in the Premier League who isn’t under pressure,” he told Football Insider.

“You look around at all of the clubs, how many fanbases are happy? How many managers are content with their situation? How many clubs are pleased with where they are?

“It’s been a strange season in that regard, it feels like nobody is really safe and there could be some major changes not just at Tottenham. But having said that, Thomas Frank is definitely one of the ones where there are big questions being asked by the club and the fans.

“Tottenham historically have always had attack-minded managers who play in a certain way, with varying degrees of success. Postecoglou was labelled too expansive, over exposed and not defensive enough, so they decided to get rid of him and change their style with Frank.

“They knew what he was as a manager, very methodical, pragmatic and safe, and they decided he was the man they wanted to take over. So they can’t be surprised about the way they’ve been playing, even if results don’t quite match up to what they expected or hoped for.

“The problem comes when the fans aren’t happy, they’re booing and making their feelings clear and that puts pressure on the club.

“I think at some stage, something has got to give because it’s all feeling a bit toxic at Tottenham at the moment, and that’s not what anybody wants.

“Unfortunately for them, although you can see why they did it, I think they made the wrong decision and they might now have to back track on that decision.”

Tottenham plan Micky van de Ven contract talks

Despite uncertainty about the manager’s position, Tottenham are keen to ensure a number of their star players remain at the club for the foreseeable future.

Brown told Football Insider on 4 January that Tottenham plan to hold talks with Micky van de Ven over a new contract amid interest from Real Madrid.

Van de Ven has impressed for Tottenham despite what has been an impressive season, and although his current deal runs until 2029, they want to reward his recent form.

Football Insider first revealed in September that Real Madrid are eyeing Van de Ven as a top target as they aim to improve their defensive unit in 2026.

While a January deal is extremely unlikely, Tottenham are expected to take action to prevent a summer exit and plan to tie the Netherlands international down long-term.

‘Real star boy is officially a Tottenham player’ – Spurs fans go wild for new arrival

Tottenham confirmed the signing of Mason Melia on Thursday as Thomas Frank looks to make further improvements to his team this January.

Spurs look set for a busy winter transfer window, with Brennan Johnson on track for a departure to Crystal Palace.

However, one incoming that has perhaps already gone under the radar is the fact that Melia has now officially joined Tottenham.

The transfer of the 18-year-old forward was organised in February 2025, with St Patrick’s Athletic receiving a record £1.66million.

Now, Tottenham fans have been quick to react to his official arrival as Frank looks to turn him into the next big star at the North London club.

Tottenham fans excited to see Mason Melia in action

With Tottenham in dire need of attacking reinforcements, the arrival of Melia has certainly excited some fans.

The young Republic of Ireland attacker was seen as one of the best upcoming players in his home country, and he netted 14 goals in all competitions last season despite his age.

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Therefore, Spurs fans were quick to take to X and welcome the youngster to the North London club as they expressed their hope that he would develop into a star over the next few years.

Many Tottenham supporters also feared that his career could soon be ruined by Spurs, something that they have done to youngsters in the past through facilitating multiple loan moves.

What has Thomas Frank said about Melia’s arrival?

Given how young Melia is, Frank will have to carefully consider what the next steps are with the striker.

While Tottenham’s attacking issues have hurt them this season, it is unlikely that the youngster is going to be able to solve this.

Melia is yet to have playing experience in England let alone the Premier League, with the 18-year-old still a raw talent.

Therefore, a loan move to a lower division side could be a solution as Melia looks to adapt and develop his style of play.

When speaking to the Irish Mirror on 31 December, Frank confirmed that he had not made a decision yet on the immediate future of the youngster.

He said: “We meet him in the club first here on 1 January. There are a lot of moving parts and then when we know all of the moving parts, then we will take the final decision on what we are doing.”

Tottenham look set to depart with Brennan Johnson in the coming weeks, with Crystal Palace agreeing a deal for the Welsh international.

Johnson had joined Spurs in 2023 and soon became a reliable player in front of goal.

Last season, the attacker netted 18 goals in all competitions, including the winner in Tottenham’s Europa League final victory, as he went on to finish as the North London club’s top scorer.

Yet, under Thomas Frank, he has failed to hit the same run of form, with the Welsh international mainly starting on the bench under the Dane.

Now, with a departure imminent, former England international Ellen White simply cannot understand why Spurs are letting the attacker depart.

Ellen White: There must have been friction between Thomas Frank and Brennan Johnson

This season, Tottenham are crying out for a goalscorer, with Richarlison the only player this campaign who has netted over three times.

Therefore, the decision to get rid of Johnson appears baffling on paper, especially given the fact that he has proven he can score at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Speaking on his impending transfer to Selhurst Park, White told BBC Radio 5 Live on 1 January that the exit may be down to friction with the manager.

She said: “It’s just baffling to me why you would sell a goalscorer. He was their top goalscorer last year, who have you got in that Spurs squad at the moment who will score that amount of goals and at that consistency?

“He obviously doesn’t feel loved. There looks to be some friction with the manager, doesn’t want to fit him in the system. I don’t blame him for wanting to go and play football. Go there, enjoy it and potentially score a lot of goals.”

Johnson’s Tottenham career in numbers

Johnson has no doubt had a Tottenham career to be proud of. To date, he has netted 27 goals for the North London club in 107 appearances.

He has also helped Spurs win one trophy as they lifted the Europa League last season.

Johnson also netted in the semi-finals of the Europa League, scoring past Bodo/Glimt in the first leg.

Therefore, while the current campaign has not worked out for the Welsh international, there is every chance that he bounces back at Crystal Palace, who are currently enjoying a more successful season.

Hopefully, Oliver Glasner will be able to return the attacker to form ahead of the upcoming World Cup playoff matches for Wales as the nation look to reach the summer tournament.