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It may be that Tottenham's links with a move to sign Folarin Balogun mean they may have missed out on one of their top attacking targets. That's according to football.london's Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold.

Spurs got some excellent business done early in the summer transfer window, bringing in six new signings in defensive and midfield positions.

But the Lilywhites have not signed a player for five-and-a-half weeks, with Sandro Tonali the last player through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium entrance door on July 6. That is despite the club being in desperate need of attacking reinforcements.

READ NEXT: Tottenham transfer strategy is officially over under Roberto De Zerbi

Having got work done early in the window in strengthening the defence and the midfield, it was expected that Roberto De Zerbi would get to work on adding forward players to his squad.

Tottenham's new signings for 2026/27

But, for whatever reason, that has not happened so far and with just a week-and-a-half to go until the new Premier League season starts, and now less than three weeks of the transfer window to go, Spurs are in desperate need of at least one new signing up front.

Dominic Solanke spent a lot of the 2025/26 season injured and has barely played in pre-season. Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski are working their way back to fitness following long spells out, while Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert will not be seen for the first few months of the campaign due to ACL injuries.

When will Tottenham announce their 'bomba' signing?

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi knows he is light in forward areas and has been working, behind the scenes, with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director John Lange to get more deals over the line. The Italian said on the club's pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia that a new signing was close, but confirmation of a done deal has not been announced.

De Zerbi said: "The transfer market, it's not finished for sure. We have completed 60% of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba."

When asked if the "bomba" was close to being completed, De Zerbi said:

"I hope, but it's not finished, for sure."

Tottenham have been linked with a number of players in forward areas, with Savinho looking the most likely to sign. Spurs have been in talks with Manchester City for a number of weeks now over signing the Brazilian, but it has yet to be completed. They came close to tying up a deal last summer, only for the rug to be pulled on the deal at the last moment.

De Zerbi did admit that the "bomba" signing was in addition to Savinho though, suggesting there was someone else close to joining the club.

Forwards linked with Spurs this summer:

Savinho

Victor Osimhen

Cody Gakpo

Folarin Balogun

Dusan Vlahovic

Antonio Nusa

Andreas Schjelderup

Nicolo Tresoldi

Malick Fofana

Said El Mala

It is those links with Balogun that have led respected Spurs journalist Gold to think that another deal might have fallen through. According to l'Equipe, Spurs are accelerating with plans to make a £52million move for the former Arsenal striker, despite not being interested in him earlier in the window.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "Folarin Balogun, he's an interesting one because there were a lot of links with him in the World Cup to Spurs and I was told at that point that there was zero interest in him then, which leads me to believe that if there is anything in these current links to to Balogun that that might mean that Spurs have discovered that one or another of their first choice attacking targets is unattainable.

"If it is the case that they are actually going for him now, because like I said, I was told during the World Cup there was zero interest. During the World Cup there was no interest which means that if they were to change things and go after him now, that would suggest that something hasn't happened elsewhere, that he was not their first choice."

Tottenham Hotspur have accelerated a big-money move to sign Monaco striker Folarin Balogun in the 'last few hours', as Spurs step up their pursuit of a new striker.

Tottenham may have signed half-a-dozen new players for Roberto De Zerbi already this summer, but now it appears as though there could be up to three more arrivals incoming for their attack as they look to soar up the Premier League standings this season.

Spurs are already working on deals to land Manchester City winger Savinho and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, according to GMS sources, but as well as the wing they are said to be working on a deal to bring a new centre-forward to north London too.

Tottenham Working on £51m Folarin Balogun Deal

Tottenham broke their transfer record twice to sign Mateus Fernandes and then Sandro Tonali last month, and they are ready to do it again in a bid to give De Zerbi the frontline he wants ahead of the new season.

According to L'Equipe, Tottenham have laid the foundations of a €60m (£51m) deal for the USA international, with the north Londoners taking action over a transfer in recent hours.

With less than three weeks until the September 1 transfer deadline, time is beginning to run out for Spurs to get their attacking signings over the line.

Tottenham are beginning to be linked with many strikers, including the following:

Victor Osimhen

Harry Kane

Georges Mikautadze

Meanwhile, Newcastle United and Spanish clubs have shown an interest in Balogun, but it is now Tottenham who have made the first decisive move to bring him back to the Premier League.

Balogun has leapt onto the radar of clubs like Tottenham following an outstanding 2025-26 season for Monaco, before further enhancing his reputation with three goals in four appearances for his country at their home World Cup this summer.

His international teammate Christian Pulisic labelled him 'insane' following the 4-1 win against Paraguay, as US fans began to dream that their nation could advance far into the tournament, led by the impressive duo.

Balogun Would be a Richarlison Upgrade

As with many of the transfer windows during his time as a Tottenham player, Richarlison is being linked with a move away from the club.

De Zerbi is said to be a big admirer of Dominic Solanke, which would point to his Brazilian teammate being the more likely player to exit in the next weeks.

Reliable insider Paul O'Keefe has claimed that Spurs want £40m to consider selling the former Everton man, who will turn 30 years of age in 2027.

Richarlison has scored 32 goals in 133 appearances for Tottenham, but while there can be no questioning of his commitment when he is on the pitch, the overriding feeling is that he has been a disappointment overall following his £60m switch from the Toffees in 2022.

It is looking more and more like it is the right time for the two parties to go their separate ways, and Balogun has to be seen as an upgrade right now.

The 25-year-old is younger but is on an upward trajectory right now, and De Zerbi will know all about his strengths following his time managing Marseille in Ligue 1.

Balogun has displayed his level of finishing over the past 12 months for club and country, and he is ready to make an immediate impact for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a new stunning move to re-sign Harry Kane from Bayern Munich, in a deal that would have huge ramifications for their 2025-26 season aspirations.

Tottenham may have finished in 17th position and only avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day last season, but there is renewed hope and optimism under Roberto De Zerbi, with a successful summer transfer window behind them.

Spurs have been poor defensively across the three previous seasons, but De Zerbi and Spurs chiefs have moved to resolve that by adding three new faces to the backline during the close season.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke will add much-needed quality and Premier League experience for the Italian, while the north London outfit have also been boosted by the news that World Cup winner Pedro Porro and highly-rated centre-back Micky van de Ven have also both signed new long-term contracts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Their midfield options have been significantly boosted with the £185m double addition of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, who will compete with the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher and Archie Gray for the two starting spots in De Zerbi's preferred formation.

The Italian has now turned his attentions to bolstering his forward line, with Savinho and Cody Gakpo his two preferred targets, according to GMS sources, but a striker could arrive too.

Harry Kane Makes Decision on Re-Joining Tottenham

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have made a fresh enquiry over bringing Kane back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, as they keep the door open to bringing the 33-year-old back to the club.

The talk all summer has been that the England captain will extend his contract with Bayern Munich, but until it is confirmed there is no doubt that clubs will be looking at whether they can persuade him to join them before the September 1 deadline.

The report says that both Spurs and Barcelona have done exactly that, although Bayern are accelerating talks behind the scenes to keep him at the Allianz Arena beyond 2027, when his current contract expires.

While the chance to return to Spurs at some point will always appeal to Kane, and it is something Tottenham want to explore now they have De Zerbi at the helm, he isn't ready to do it right now.

Kane Would Launch Tottenham Into Title Contention

Tottenham's summer business so far has been impressive, and will have generated admiring glances from some of their Premier League rivals.

With no European football to contend with in the upcoming season, Spurs have their 38 top flight fixtures, alongside potential progression in the Carabao and FA Cup to deal with, and nothing else.

It is something that benefitted Manchester United last term as they ended the campaign in third, and De Zerbi will be looking at the Red Devils as an example of what they can achieve in 2026-27.

Tottenham are determined to land Gakpo and Savinho in the next three weeks, and if they made it a trio of attacking signings with Kane, they would throw themselves into Premier League title contention just a few months after almost being relegated.

Arsenal will be the favourites again, while Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea will look to improve, but a Spurs side spearheaded by Kane would be a force to be reckoned with, given he has been described as 'the best striker in the world' by former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

The striker is a Tottenham hero and a goal machine, as shown by 61 club goals last season, and you can't underestimate the impact his return to north London would have on further reinvigorating the whole club.

Spurs have clearly tried to make it happen, and now they must wait to see if contract negotiations fall through so they can act and make the ultimate game-changing addition.

Tottenham could be getting closer to sealing the major sale of Cristian Romero as they look to balance their squad and spending over the coming weeks. Spurs have spent big this summer, amassing a record spend largely made up of the signings of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Spurs want to go from back-to-back bottom-half finishes to qualifying for Europe, and it was always clear that significant spending would be required to turn things around. Roberto De Zerbi has been the beneficiary of that, but he also knows that he will have to sell some players to ensure there is sufficient space, and indeed to make sure Spurs don't have to do major cost-cutting in the next couple of years amid the presence of Profit and Sustainability rules. PSR is not a concern for Spurs currently, thanks to their financially stable approach over recent years, but such a high-spending window will mean they will be closer to the line in the next couple of summers.

Atletico Madrid stepping up Romero efforts

Romero is expected to leave Tottenham this summer, with the relationship having run its course. The centre-back always wore his heart on his sleeve for the club, and he will leave a good relationship with fans, but he often called out the club's approach and has long admitted his desire to play in Spain.

"He leads from his behaviour on the pitch, driving the team forward in every way, and outside the pitch he’s always pushing the team.” - Thomas Frank on Cristian Romero

A departure is almost certain, with Van Hecke effectively signed to replace Romero, and transfer guru Fabriizo Romano has issued an update on the situation. He said on his YouTube show: "Atletico are now preparing a new official bid to send to Tottenham to try to close the deal. The first bid was €30million plus €5million, rejected. Atletico are returning to the table with a new bid, then they hope to close the deal for Cuti.

"They sent a contract proposal to Cuti Romero, who gave the green light to the move. Now it's time for a financial agreement, length of the contract, salary and all the rest. But the deal is completely on track for Cuti Romero. As of today, Barcelona are not going for Cuti Romero. This is a club decision."

Romero's 2024/25 Premier League defending stats

Appearances: 23

Tackles: 2.5 per game

Interceptions: 1.3 per game

Clearances: 4.1 per game

Blocks: 0.6 per game

Spurs set to lose leading figure in Romero

Romero has been a fine leader for Spurs, and it's something former boss Thomas Frank acknowledged in 2025, when he said: “I think he has all the right qualities. He leads from his behaviour on the pitch, driving the team forward in every way, and outside the pitch he’s always pushing the team.”

That will be missed by Spurs, who will be hoping Mick van de Ven can offer that leadership, and that Van Hecke can be a commanding presence even early in his time at the club.

Tottenham could be closing in on a major sale in the form of Djed Spence as they look to balance their spending a little amid a giant spend this summer. Spurs have spent more than £235million to revamp their defence and midfield, while they are now turning their attention to the top end of the pitch, needing to add a winger and potentially a striker.

Roberto De Zerbi is being given big money to spend this summer, but it comes amid the expectation of exits, with the likes of Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave, while Lucas Bergvall could depart, and Luka Vuskovic has left already.

Spence is another who could leave to get more regular starts, and a deal could be close.

Inter ramp up efforts to land Spence

Spence is said to prefer a move this summer to become a starter elsewhere, with De Zerbi likely to play Pedro Porro on one side and Destiny Udogie on the other. Spence can play both sides, and he is likely to feature plenty, but he is not likely to be the main starter.

That's despite Spence having a very good World Cup with England, but that World Cup does give the full-back an opportunity to cash in and land a top job elsewhere.

Offering an update on the situation transfer guru Fabrizio Romano posted on X: "Inter are prepared to send official bid for Djed Spence if exit conditions change compared to €45m request post World Cup. Inter believe price can be under €40m now and talks will follow — back on track as exclusively revealed. Spence, keen on the move."

Spence makes 'outstanding' impact

During the World Cup, England superstar Harry Kane described Spence as 'outstanding', and Ange Postecoglou agreed during his time at Spurs, saying: “He's been outstanding since he's come into the team. He had to bide his time. It's fair to say we needed Djed to really be patient, and also just mature a little bit, and I think he has.”

England boss Thomas Tuchel added when he called up the full-back last year: “He had a very good end to the season with Tottenham and a very good start of the season. He was impressive against Paris in the European Super Cup final.”

Spence had a tricky start to life at Tottenham and ended up going out on loan with Leeds United, where he also struggled, and a loan spell with Genoa followed, but the full-back matured significantly after that and returned to play a significant role.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to send one of Roberto De Zerbi's youngsters out on loan, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.

The North London outfit are building a squad ready to compete for European qualification next season. High-profile arrivals such as Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes means the pathway to senior football for academy talent could prove difficult.

That's why Spurs accepted an £8 million offer from Manchester United for English teenage attacker Tynan Thompson. Another youth star is headed for the exit door and gaining much-needed first-team opportunities.

Tottenham's Yang Min-hyeok Headed For Fourth Loan

GIVEMESPORT understand that Tottenham are sending Yang Min-hyeok on loan to Belgian outfit Westerlo whom they have built a special relationship with over the years. The South Korean will become the third Spurs player to join the Jupiler Pro League club on loan after Alfie Devine and Luka Vuskovic previously spent time with the Belgians.

Yang has found game time hard to come by since joining Spurs back in the summer of 2024 for £3 million and hasn't made a single appearance for the club. He spent the first half of last season on loan at Portsmouth in the EFL Championship and then joined eventual title winners Coventry City for the second half.

Before that, the 20-year-old joined Queens Park Rangers on loan in January 2025. He's now set to join a fourth club even before making his senior debut for the Lilywhites.

Stats courtesy of SofaScore - correct as of 10/08/2026

Yang had shone in the K League before moving to North London, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the club's history. He also earned a place in the 2024 K League 1 Team of the Year and his performances for Gangwon didn't go unnoticed.

Tottenham transfer targets

Savinho - Man City star wants to join

Cody Gakpo - Direct talks held for Liverpool man

Endrick - Among several clubs discussing loan

Georges Mikautadze - Villarreal striker under consideration

Yang Needs to Shine at Westerlo

Tottenham and Yang will be hoping for a far more successful loan spell than the one that saw him play 29 minutes for Coventry. He missed the Sky Blues' final 15 games of the Championship campaign as Frank Lampard's side won the title.

Yang made just three appearances during that loan spell and it proved to be a clumsy decision from all parties involved. Westerlo could be an ideal destination for him to continue his development and look to rediscover his form shown in the K League.

That said, he fared reasonably well while at Portsmouth and impressed manager Jose Mousinho, who told BBC:

"He’s improved in every single one of those games. Thankfully, we’ve stuck with him, and I thought he was very, very impressive again today."

For Spurs, they will have a decision to make once he returns as he'll be at an age where senior football should be on offer. He will be eager for regular game time at this stage of his career.

Tottenham Hotspur are still looking to add a new forward to Roberto De Zerbi's squad ahead of the Italian coach's first full season in charge.

This has been arguably the busiest summer in the club's history and six signings have been made thus far for a staggering £237 million. De Zerbi's midfield has been sorted out following the arrivals of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for £100 million and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for £85 million.

Spurs were interested in Bournemouth striker Junior Kroupi, but the French youngster's pre-season injury means they are reportedly shelving a pursuit until next year. That hasn't ruled out the possibility of a new centre-forward arriving in North London, with question marks over Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

Mateta Is The Answer For Tottenham

Tottenham could and should turn to Crystal Palace frontman Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has just a year remaining on his contract. The Frenchman has shown throughout his time with the Eagles that he can be relied upon to lead the line effectively.

Mateta has become a hero at Selhurst Park after scoring the winner in the Eagles' UEFA Conference League final win over Rayo Vallecano. He made amends with fans after pushing to leave the club in January before failing a medical with AC Milan ahead of a proposed £35 million switch.

While the 29-year-old is back on good terms with the South Londoners' supporters, there's no indication that he'll be extending his contract. This could pave the way for Spurs to make a move for the experienced forward and potentially allow them to plot a move for Kroupi further down the line.

Stats courtesy of StatMuse - correct as of 10/08/2026

Mateta joined Palace from Bundesliga outfit Mainz in January 2022 and, after a slow start, has become a talisman for the Eagles. He is a popular figure at Selhurst Park due to his bubbly personality, which could be a good fit for this Spurs side.

A Short-Term Fix Well Worth Making

While the prospect of signing a young, exciting talent like Kroupi had been appealing, Spurs need a reliable goalscorer who can come straight into De Zerbi's team and make an impact. Mateta is the ideal solution given his Premier League experience and consistency in front of goal.

Mateta has become one of the most highly-regarded strikers in English football and earned huge praise from Wayne Rooney a year ago. The Manchester United legend was surprised at the lack of interest when speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"He's a handful. He's big, he's strong, he's quick, he's a bit awkward. I'm sure if you ask any defender, he doesn't give them an easy game. He occupies defenders and makes it really difficult for them. He's been one of the best forwards in the Premier League over the last couple of years."

Manchester United were linked with Mateta earlier this summer but haven't made a concrete move for the Palace star. There were suggestions that Steve Parish and his board could sanction a transfer for just £25 million.

If Mateta is available for that price, it would make sense for Spurs to be circling for his signature, as it would not only allow them to strengthen their frontline before planning for Kroupi next year. They can also continue to pursue deals for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Manchester City's Savinho.

Tottenham transfer targets

Savinho - Man City star wants to join

Cody Gakpo - Direct talks held for Liverpool man

Endrick - Among several clubs discussing loan

Georges Mikautadze - Villarreal striker under consideration

Spurs kick their season off against Brentford on August 22nd, and while De Zerbi has undoubtedly improved his squad, a new number nine feels the missing piece of the puzzle. Mateta might be a short-term fix, but one that can fire the Lilywhites back to Europe.

Aston Villa are stepping up their interest in a move to sign Bayern Munich outcast Joao Palhinha ahead of Newcastle, who are focusing on a deal for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.

The Villans have had a busy summer window after losing Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Morgan Rogers, bringing in Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi, and Alejandro Garnacho, while Unai Emery is still keen to make further additions before the transfer deadline after Amadou Onana was ruled out for the majority of the campaign due to an ACL injury.

That has seen the midfield become a priority in the final weeks of the window, and the club are now pushing to get a deal over the line for a familiar face.

Aston Villa Pushing for Palhinha Deal

Palhinha, who has been described as 'world-class', spent last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur and scored the crucial goals that kept them in the Premier League. But the north London club opted against making his move permanent after signing Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, meaning he returned to parent club Bayern.

But the German side have made it clear that the 37-cap Portugal international has no future at the Allianz Arena, and they are desperate to offload him this month.

Clubs in Portugal have found a deal too difficult to do financially, while Newcastle United have also shown an interest in taking him to St James' Park. However, GMS understands that Villa are the frontrunners for his signature, and they are now pushing to find an agreement with the Bundesliga champions, with talks progressing.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are now prioritising a move to sign Denmark international Hojbjerg from Marseille, having held talks with the Ligue 1 side, GMS understands.

The Magpies are looking to replace Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, who left for Tottenham and Arsenal respectively in deals worth a combined £175m in this window, and new manager Matthias Jaissle has identified Hojbjerg as someone he wants in his squad, with the 31-year-old now seen as a leading target.

However, GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Hojbjerg has turned down a move to St James' Park at this stage, and talks on a move have stalled.

Cairney: Palhinha 'One of the Best'

During his time at Fulham in his first stint in the Premier League, Palhinha established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the division.

A move to Bayern ultimately hasn't worked out, which has seen his reputation take a hit. However, it's clear that he still has the quality to make an impact at the highest level, with Tom Cairney singing his praises.

"If you lose the ball, he smells blood," Cairney said.

"He’s probably one of the best I've ever seen off the ball, in terms of getting back, recovering and trying to win back the ball."

"He doesn't just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle.

"It's amazing to watch sometimes. I think the fans have taken to him. I think he's been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League."

Tottenham are now being linked with a move for Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze as Roberto De Zerbi turns his attention to his attacking line. Spurs have already amassed a record spend this summer, racking up a bill of more than £230million, and particular attention has been paid to the defence and midfield.

The likes of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have been snapped up, and Spurs will now concentrate on adding competition out wide, and potentially up top. De Zerbi looks to be prioritising a winger signing, while a striker signing could depend on one of Richarlison or Dominic Solanke moving on. Mikautadze has emerged as an option, and here we get you up to speed on the LaLiga frontman.

Georges Mikautadze's career so far

Mikautadze is a Georgian international, but he was born to Georgian parents in France, and he started his career with FC Gerland, but he was quickly snatched up by Olympique Lyon. We will see Lyon again in this story, but Mikautadze actually went on to make his breakthrough to first-team football with Metz, initially graduating to Metz B and going to become a first-teamer in 2019. He scored 25 goals in 42 league games for Metz, quickly gaining a reputation as a goalscorer as a youngster, but a frustrating move to Ajax followed. Mikautadze joined for €19million and only made five league appearances, but he hadn't lost his scoring touch, scoring 13 in 20 league games during a loan spell back at Metz, and after Metz took up an option to buy, Lyon signed him almost immediately, paying around €23million plus agreeing a 15% sell-on fee.

Mikautadze had a superb Euro 2024 campaign, finishing as joint-top scorer of the tournament, and he went on to score 12 times in 36 league appearances for Lyon.

That's when Villarreal came forward, agreeing a deal worth up to €36million, and in his first season with the Yellow Submarine, he had an almost identical scoring record, netting 13 times in 32 league games.

The inside view on Mikautadze

For context, I'm a Villarreal fan, based just down the road in Valencia, and I've followed the club for over 15 years. I've been fortunate enough to have seen plenty of Mikautadze. The striker has incredible technical talent, and he is able to produce some of the most satisfying finishes you are likely to see. With both feet, too.

He loves to chip the goalkeeper whenever it's on, and he produces superbly-placed precision finishes from inside or outside of the box. Mikautadze is one of those players who just has that something special, that something unique in the way he controls and plays the ball. It makes him hard to defend and a nightmare for goalkeepers. The Georgian international has pace aplenty, and he will win most races in behind, while he also has the tricky with the ball at his feet to face up a man and beat him.

“Intelligent, mobile, instinctive and has excellent finishing with both feet.” - Former Villarreal boss Marcelino

Those are the positives. As for the drawbacks, as a smaller forward, there are times when he has gone missing in games, particularly games with a more direct style, and now former Villarreal boss Marcelino worked with him last season to make sure he can find ways to get into games. But there was progress on that front, with Marcelino saying in February: “He’s much more involved. He has better coordination with his teammates and now he’s fluid, he’s agile of mind, he’s happy."

There is more to come from Mikautadze, who is still only 25 and adjusting to LaLiga, and if he stays, it will be interesting to see how he adapts to playing under new boss Iñigo Pérez, who has a very different style of play to that of Marcelino's. Equally, if Tottenham do sign him, it will be interesting to see if Mikautadze can maintain his goalscorer reputation in the Premier League.

At this stage, it remains unclear what Mikautadze's release clause it, but you can expect Villarreal to demand around £50million or move. The Yellow Submarine have said they will sell a player this summer, as is usually the way, but they do not want to sell their star striker, especially with Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno not getting any younger.

Over the years, English football has produced some truly wonderful midfielders. Across his career, Chris Waddle did more than enough to establish his place among the very best of them.

Waddle played 62 times for the Three Lions between 1985 and 1991, scoring six times. He made a name for himself with the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, before winning three successive Ligue 1 titles in France with Marseille. He later returned to England, signing for Sheffield Wednesday, and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year for his stellar performances in the 1992/93 season.

Although he doesn't have the biggest media presence these days, it's clear that he still watches football closely. With that in mind, it's interesting to learn who he has backed to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Waddle Baffled by 'Bizarre' Ballon d'Or Expectations

As quoted by Goal, the iconic English midfielder discussed who might win the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Before naming his favourite, Waddle questioned why team trophies are viewed so highly when it comes to voting, when the prize is an individual award.

He explained: “There's a lot of players I'd say that deserve it. But it's just bizarre for me how you've got to win trophies to win the Ballon d'Or. Football's a team game. It's not about an individual - that’s completely different from a team. So Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League, so all of a sudden people from PSG are thrown forward.

“With Harry [Kane], you look at the individual and think, ‘He's played for a good side and he's in the Champions League, got to the semis and lost out to Paris’. England didn’t win the World Cup, so that'll harm his chances.

“You're judged on what you do as a player individually. You don't have to be in a winning team - that’s 11 players. Eleven players are not going to get the Ballon d'Or, one player gets it. I don't get this rule where if they didn't win a cup and they didn't win the World Cup, they didn't win the Champions League, so that's him out of the reckoning. I just don't get that."

Waddle Backs English Ballon d'Or Winner

Adding to his point, he then insisted that Harry Kane deserves the prize over someone like Lamine Yamal, despite the latter's World Cup triumph with Spain. He explained:

“I'm sorry, but you judge players on a season and Harry Kane's had a phenomenal season for Bayern Munich and England. Why is he not being awarded it? Because he didn't win a trophy, which is a team game, not an individual as the Ballon d'Or is. I don't get that.

“Will some Spaniard now come forward and Yamal get it? Who's had a decent season with Barcelona, won the league and they've won the World Cup, but he didn't really play well in the World Cup, let's be honest, he's been injured a lot.

“But all of a sudden people like that come forward because Spain won the World Cup. It's not about that. The Ballon d'Or should always be the best player of the season. And Harry Kane, from my eyes, should lift it.”