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A centre-forward, who has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, could soon be on the market, according to a transfer expert.

Over the past few weeks, a number of experienced strikers have been linked with a move to N17. One of those is a player that the Lilywhites tried to sign during the January window.

Tottenham reportedly pushed hard for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on summer deadline day, and it has emerged over recent weeks that Spurs could try again to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta in January.

The 28-year-old, who has seven goals in 15 Premier League outings this term, has forced his way into the France squad, and Spurs have now received a positive update in their pursuit of the centre-forward.

Journalists says door could open for Tottenham to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta

Two weeks ago, it emerged that Palace are worried about losing Mateta after failing to tie him down to a new contract.

Now, journalist Pete O’Rourke has suggested that the Lilywhites will be keeping a close eye on the 28-year-old’s situation and may be primed to pounce on him next summer.

O’Rourke told Football Insider about Mateta: “I’m sure Tottenham Hotspur will be keeping tabs on the situation with Mateta. They made a cheeky offer for him right at the end of the last summer transfer window, which Palace batted away.

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“He’s under contract until 2027, but if he’s not going to sign a new deal by next summer, you would imagine Palace would be more increasingly open to selling Mateta to get a fee for him, rather than potentially letting him run down his contract.

“So, that could open the door for Spurs to make a move for the Frenchman. He’s a proven striker in the Premier League now over the last couple of seasons so be a really good fit for Spurs. There’s also reported interest from Italy, from AC Milan as well, in Mateta.”

Is a January deal for Mateta on the cards for Spurs?

It continues to be reported by some sources that signing a centre-forward is a priority for Thomas Frank’s men in January.

While Tottenham may be encouraged by the developments over Mateta’s contract talks, he is not expected to leave Selhurst Park in January.

Carlo Ancelotti has explained why he wants Tottenham Hotspur to succeed this season while answering a question about Arsenal.

Much to the consternation of Tottenham fans, Arsenal are currently sitting at the summit of the Premier League.

Spurs fans will be hoping that their fierce North London rivals slip up this term too, as they have done in previous seasons.

There is no doubt that Emi Buendia’s winner at Villa Park on Saturday would have been as passionately celebrated in the white half of North London as it was in parts of Birmingham.

Carlo Ancelotti reveals why he supports Tottenham for now

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti was in conversation with Ally McCoist on TNT Sports’ TikTok channel, and he was glowing in his praise for Arsenal.

He said: “I think Arsenal started really well, they built a fantastic team, a really solid team.”

When the former Everton boss was pushed on whether he is a fan of the Gunners, he made it clear that he supports any team where his Brazilian players play, including Spurs.

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Ancelotti said: “Of course, I am a supporter of Arsenal because I have Gabriel, but I am a supporter of Tottenham too because we have Richarlison. I support the Brazilian players.”

Ancelotti will be delighted with Richarlison’s turnaround in form

After a strong start to the season, Richarlison went quiet for a couple of months, but he has rediscovered his mojo in front of goal again over recent weeks.

In fact, Richarlison is the second-best across the Premier League in outperforming his xG so far this term.

The 29-year-old has now scored seven times and provided two assists across all competitions, and the striker will be hoping that he can have a strong second half of the season, so that he can lead the line for Selecao in next summer’s World Cup.

Thomas Frank has hinted that one Tottenham player may not be fully satisfied with his situation at the club right now.

Having a massive squad is necessary in modern football, given the volume of fixtures clubs face across a campaign.

It is beneficial as teams have options to call on when rotation is needed, especially during runs of poor form or when injuries pile up.

Tottenham Hotspur have certainly benefitted from their depth this season, with Thomas Frank unafraid to alter his midfield, defence and attack when required.

Thomas Frank on limited minutes for Antonin Kinsky

However, Frank barely rotates between the sticks, with Guglielmo Vicario playing in both the Premier League and the Champions League, while Antonin Kinsky has featured twice, both appearances coming in the Carabao Cup.

Spurs are out of the competition, which limits the goalkeeper’s opportunities for minutes, and Frank is aware that the player may not be fully happy with the situation.

Speaking to Football.London, he said about Kinsky: “First and foremost Tony is a very good goalkeeper and has a great future ahead of him.

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“It is not easy for any player if you are not playing you are not 100% happy. It is to just keep your head down and train hard.”

Tottenham may need Kinsky amid Vicario transfer rumbles

Vicario has had moments of madness with a few costly errors already this season, but his place has never truly felt under threat.

Kinsky is a young goalkeeper with high potential; however, consistent minutes are required for him to develop quickly, and that has not been possible in recent weeks.

Tottenham are not in a position to rotate heavily in Europe as they are still chasing a top-eight finish, so the Czech international may need to wait for the FA Cup to open a window for more minutes.

James Maddison has now spoken openly about whether Tottenham was always his chosen destination before he left Leicester City.

Tottenham Hotspur have been undergoing a period of transition in recent years, with several established stars moving on for various reasons.

The most successful era for the club in recent times was during the Mauricio Pochettino years, when Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele, and Heung-min Son led Spurs to compete at the highest level both domestically and in Europe.

However, as it is in football, eras come and go, and Tottenham’s golden spell has passed with the club now rebuilding.

James Maddison opens up on choosing Tottenham after Leicester City

To replace some of their most influential figures, Spurs looked within the Premier League and secured one of the standout creative profiles at the time in James Maddison.

The former Leicester City midfielder was one of the division’s top creators before relegation forced the Foxes into a sale, and Spurs moved in for him.

Maddison was asked if it was always Tottenham for him when he left Leicester, and speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted that, despite interest elsewhere, he had always felt drawn to North London.

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He said: “Yeah. It was, yeah. There was talk, and there was a few conversations with other clubs and stuff.

“I always just felt and I am not just saying this, I always felt like I was going to be a Tottenham player, and there is genuine meaning beyond that.

“I am not just saying that because I am at Tottenham now and I am trying to get the fans to love me or whatever. I used to play against Spurs, and I felt like when Eriksen left, there was kind of a little gap for a player like myself.

“Especially when Harry Kane was there and Sonny. I saw myself and envisioned that kind of thing. When I got the call, it was one that I did not want to turn down. I could not really entertain anything else, really, because I could picture myself in the white shirt at the stadium.”

James Maddison impact at Spurs since joining

Maddison cost Tottenham £40m to bring him to North London, and the 29-year-old has lived up to expectations, helping Spurs secure Europa League success last season, adding to his FA Cup win during his time at Leicester City.

The playmaker never had the chance to play alongside Kane in a Tottenham shirt as the England captain left in the same window, yet Maddison’s output has remained strong regardless.

The midfielder has returned 16 goals and 21 assists in 75 appearances, proving his importance to the rebuild.

Thomas Frank and Tottenham turn their attention to the Champions League following their first Premier League win in a month at the weekend, as they host Slavia Prague and look to move into the top eight in the standings.

The mood around Tottenham has lifted after the 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, their first Premier League victory since the end of October. Xavi Simons assisted the opener and then turned goalscorer, helping Spurs to only their second home win of the season.

Sitting 10th in the league table, a win over his former club will not suddenly mean Thomas Frank has won back all the trust of the Tottenham supporters, as he still has some way to go.

In the Champions League, Tottenham fell to their first defeat of the campaign last time out in a chaotic 5-3 loss to holders Paris Saint-Germain, which dropped them to 16th in the table. Even so, despite all the domestic home issues, Spurs have not lost a European home game in more than 5 years, and fans will hope Frank can keep that run intact.

Currently top of the Czech Liga, Slavia Prague arrive with a strong domestic record and are unbeaten in their league campaign so far. They have won 4 of their previous 5 in all competitions, including a goalless draw with Athletic Club the last time out in Europe.

The challenge for them has been carrying that form onto Europe, sitting 31st in the Champions League table with three draws and two defeats from five matches, including a 3-0 loss to Arsenal earlier last month.

What time does Tottenham Hotspur vs Slavia Prague kick off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Kick-off time: 8pm BST

Referee: Benoît Bastien

VAR: Ivan Bebek

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Tottenham team news

Thomas Frank had Destiny Udogie unavailable against Brentford due to what he described as a minor tissue problem and said it would not be too long until he is back, but he was not spotted training with the rest of the squad ahead of this fixture.

One other absentee from training was, surprisingly, Brennan Johnson, who missed the PSG clash due to a red card in his previous Champions League match.

On the brighter side, Kota Takai, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Mathys Tel and Kolo Muani were all training normally, given the latter was seen limping off against Brentford.

However, Tel, Takai and Dragusin cannot feature as they are not included in Spurs’ European squad, while there are still no signs of Dominic Solanke returning.

Slavia Prague team news

U21 Slovakian defender Dominik Javorcek is close to a return, along with Petr Sevcik, Oscar Dorley and Lukas Vorlicky, who are all doubts for this one.

Head coach Jindrich Trpisovsky has only one confirmed absentee: Filip Horsky.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bergvall, Gray, Simons, Kudus, Kolo Muani, Odobert

Our prediction

Watch out for the midfield pairing of Archie Gray and Xavi Simons going up against a stubborn Slavia Prague defence, who have only had their troubles on the attacking end.

Both Gray and Simons were very sharp in Spurs’ build-up at the weekend, and they will hopefully be able to carry some of that rhythm into this match.

A win here would give Tottenham a real chance to climb the table, and they should be taking this opportunity if they want to secure automatic qualification, especially with two tougher group fixtures still to come.

Tottenham Hotspur are making advances to sign an experienced England forward next summer as his future continues to be mired in doubt.

It has been suggested over the last few months that strengthening their attack will be one of Tottenham’s top priorities over the next couple of transfer windows.

It appears that the Spurs are not only planning for January but are also eyeing a sensational big-name signing for next summer.

It was reported by El Nacional last month that Tottenham had held a discreet meeting with Rashford’s representatives regarding a move to North London at the end of this season.

Tottenham are willing to offer Marcus Rashford a leading role

Fichajes have now also backed up Tottenham’s interest in Rashford, revealing that the Lilywhites are already making moves to sign the 28-year-old, who is shining on loan at Barcelona this season.

The outlet claims that Thomas Frank’s men are willing to offer the England international ‘an immediate leading role’ to convince him to sign for them.

Spurs want to revamp their attack, and they see Rashford as the ‘ideal candidate’ for their forward line, given his ability to create chances, score goals and provide mobility in attack.

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However, the outlet states that Tottenham will not be the only Premier League club trying to take the forward back to England at the end of the season, with other clubs also expected to enter the race.

Barcelona have not decided on Rashford’s future

Barca have a €30m (£26m) option to buy Rashford at the end of the season, but the Catalan giants have not made a final decision on the player.

While they are happy with the impact he has made at Camp Nou, the club’s complex financial situation has put a permanent deal in doubt, with the forward now facing an ‘uncertain’ future.

It is explained that Rashford also has doubts regarding a permanent move as he wants to be a guaranteed starter for Hansi Flick’s side and a leadership role.

With Barca prioritising additions in other positions for the moment, a return to England appears ‘increasingly likely’ for the Tottenham target.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed some bad news on their rumoured pursuit of Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.

The speculation linking Aghehowa with a move to N17 has intensified over the last month as the Spanish striker’s prolific streak in Portugal continues.

It has been claimed by some sources that Fabio Paratici will spearhead Tottenham’s pursuit of the Porto man in the upcoming transfer window.

It was previously reported that Spurs would have to pay around £70m to land the Spain international in January, but a deal may have just got more complicated.

Tottenham facing Samu Aghehowa disappointment

It has now been revealed by TEAMtalk that the 21-year-old striker is not pushing to leave Porto in January.

The outlet confirms that Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘strong interest’ in Aghehowa and have done plenty of background work on him, while Newcastle and Aston Villa are also admirers of the centre-forward.

However, those clubs could be in for a ‘January disappointment’ after being informed that the former Atletico Madrid man is not expected to force a mid-season transfer.

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The report says that Aghehowa has held talks with the Porto hierarchy, including the club’s president and former Spurs head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, and it has been decided that he will remain at the club at least until next summer.

Porto’s head could be turned with a big Spurs offer

TEAMtalk go on to explain that the striker is happy at the Portuguese club and is fully focused on making the Spain squad for the 2026 World Cup.

While Porto see Aghehowa as being vital for their title charge, the publication does not rule out a January transfer completely.

It is explained that, given Porto’s financial position, they are believed to be open to any ‘major offers’ for the striker in the upcoming transfer window.

One Tottenham forward, who Thomas Frank has praised recently, is emerging as the top January target for a Serie A giant.

As we get closer to the transfer window, most of the focus has been on who Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to bring in, but the Lilywhites are also expected to offload some players.

Richarlison has been the most heavily linked with a Spurs exit, while it has also been claimed by a few sources that Yves Bissouma could be on his way out.

Another surprising name being linked with a departure from Tottenham is Mathys Tel, who is thought to be on AS Roma’s radar ahead of January.

AS Roma see Tottenham forward Mathys Tel as their ideal signing

RomaForever has now claimed that if the Frenchman’s game time at Spurs does not increase over the coming weeks, the Giallorossi will try to sign him on loan in January.

The 20-year-old is seen as a ‘perfect fit’ for the Italian side, who want a player who can play upfront as well as in the wide areas.

Gian Piero Gasperini is said to be a fan of Tel, and it is suggested that a loan move to the Italian capital would be ideal, as it would ensure that the youngster gets minutes under his belt.

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Spurs have already made a decision on Tel

Some reports from Italy have claimed over recent weeks that Tel is keen to leave Tottenham in January as he is frustrated with a lack of opportunities in North London.

However, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Spurs have no intention of selling the former Bayern Munich man permanently, with a temporary move being the only option on the cards.

Tottenham are prepared to go big for a new striker this year, and a former academy forward is now firmly back on their radar.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a fair few forwards in recent weeks, with Igor Thiago and Dusan Vlahovic both mentioned across the rumour mill.

Spurs could benefit from an additional goalscorer given the inconsistencies of some of their current attacking options, and reports have continued to suggest that they remain open to strengthening.

Troy Parrott, who was sold a few seasons ago, has been in sensational form this season, and he has now been linked with a return to Spurs.

Tottenham ready to pay to bring Troy Parrott back to N17

Fichajes are reporting that Tottenham are interested in signing Troy Parrott in the coming months, after he departed from north London for just £6.7m in the summer of 2024.

It is believed that Spurs are prepared to pay €35m (£30m approx) to sign the 23-year-old striker, who has impressed in the Netherlands and has scored 14 goals already this season.

During the international break, the Irishman saw his stock rise even further after scoring five goals against Portugal and Hungary, which helped his country secure a World Cup qualifying play-off place.

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It is understood that Parrott could be open to a fresh challenge, and a return to the Premier League may appeal to him.

Spurs sell-on clause could influence Parrott situation

Spurs have a sell-on clause on Parrott, which could allow them to move ahead of the competition if they decide to act.

Leeds United are also believed to hold an interest in the former Spurs forward, while Fenerbahce are monitoring his situation as well.

In recent years, Tottenham have not been afraid to bring back players who were previously sold. Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Teddy Sheringham all returned at different points, which may hint that another comeback is possible.

Tottenham Hotspur’s FA Cup third round draw has seen some supporters take to social media to share their reaction to who they will face in the cup competition.

The draw was made earlier this evening, with Tottenham having been allocated ball number 39 which was pulled out and will now face a home tie against Aston Villa.

Thomas Frank will be hoping for better luck than he experienced in the Carabao Cup, where Tottenham were knocked out in the fourth round stage following a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park in October.

Frank came close to lifting a trophy with Tottenham in his first game in charge when they led PSG in the UEFA Super Cup, only to eventually lose on penalties to the French giants.

What Tottenham fans think of the cup draw

Here is a selection of what some of the North London faithful have had to say about the upcoming challenge of their first opponents in the 2025/26 FA Cup.

Tottenham fans were certainly left under no impression that they face a tough ask of progressing to the fourth round considering they are coming up against an in-form Villa side.

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One thing is for sure, Tottenham need to give the FA Cup plenty of attention this campaign, considering it represents their best chance of winning another trophy on the back of last season’s Europa League success.