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An out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur man is quickly emerging as one of the most hotly contested signings ahead of the January transfer window.

The summer window may have only shut a couple of weeks ago, but planning is already underway across Europe for the January window, which opens in a little over three months.

According to various reports, Yves Bissouma appears certain to leave Tottenham in January, with the midfielder now in the final year of his deal.

Over recent days, it has emerged that West Ham have overtaken Everton in the race for Bissouma, but the Premier League duo are set to face competition from Italy for the Tottenham man’s signature.

Four Serie A clubs circling over Tottenham outcast Yves Bissouma

According to a report in Calciomercato.it, Tottenham were unable to shift the Mali international out on loan in the final days of the transfer window and the player is not in Thomas Frank’s plans.

The report says that despite strong interest from West Ham and Everton, Spurs would prefer to sell Bissouma to a club outside the Premier League.

AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and AS Roma have all expressed their interest in a January deal for the Brighton man.

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All four of these clubs are eyeing an opportunity to land the Spurs star on a cut-price deal, given that he will have just six months left on his contract when the transfer market reopens.

One Serie A club has an advantage in Bissouma race

Some outlets have said over recent days that Milan seriously considered a move for Bissouma during the summer window before deciding to prioritise the signing of Ardon Jashari instead.

This has been backed up in the latest update by Calciomercato.it, who say that the Rossoneri had even offered the midfielder a deal, but were ultimately unable to strike an agreement with Spurs.

The publication adds that Milan are now the front-runners to land Bissouma, with Igor Tare’s men already preparing for a January deal for the midfielder.

After he was released by Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the season, Sergio Reguilon may be in line for a near instant return to the Premier League.

Tottenham had an extremely busy summer, with seven new faces arriving at Hotspur Way during the transfer window and many leaving.

While the likes of Heung-min Son, Bryan Gil and Manor Solomon left in the later stages of the transfer window, a few also headed out of the door at the start of the summer.

Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon and Alfie Whiteman were released by Spurs at the end of last season, and one of them has been backed to return to the Premier League.

Sergio Reguilon is on the radar of Premier League clubs after Tottenham exit

The transfer market may have closed, but journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that clubs are still looking at the free-agent market to reinforce their squad.

He claimed that Sergio Reguilon’s name will be on the wishlist of several top-flight sides who are looking to add an experienced full-back to their team.

O’Rourke told Football Insider about Reguilon: “Yeah, obviously, he’s had probably a disappointing couple of years, Reguilon, after he couldn’t establish himself in the Spurs team.

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“He had a couple of loan spells away at Man United and Brentford, but again didn’t really rip up any trees on those loan moves. A lot will depend on whether any Premier League clubs are in desperate need of reinforcements at the back due to injury issues.

“Reguilon might then figure on their wanted list because he is a free agent and would be an ideal option to add experience and cover at left-back. Being a free agent, it would be a low-risk investment for any Premier League clubs because there would be no fee involved for him.”

Pundit is surprised that another former Tottenham man has not found a new club

Another man who may soon find a new club is Fraser Forster, and one former Premier League goalkeeper is surprised that he has not been picked up yet.

Ben Foster has said that the former Spurs goalkeeper would be the ideal third-choice goalkeeper for many clubs, given the experience he possesses.

Tottenham Hotspur may have a potential buyer for one of their unwanted players in the January transfer window, months before it even opens.

According to various reports in Turkey, Galatasaray pulled out of an agreement to sign Yves Bissouma due to the midfielder’s fitness issues

It subsequently seemed like the Spurs man would head to Gala’s fierce rivals, but Fenerbache also decided against finalising a deal for Bissouma.

It was later confirmed by Fenerbahce that they were keen on landing the Tottenham man, but decided to pull out of a deal after he got injured.

Fenerbahce president sends Yves Bissouma transfer hint

Some sources have also indicated Fenerbahce decided against signing Bissouma due to the midfielder’s disciplinary issues, but the previously mentioned communication from the club suggests that was not the main reason.

Now, the Turkish club’s president, Ali Koc, has said that they might try again to sign a number eight in January, although he did not specify the Tottenham Hotspur man by name.

Koc said (via journalist Yagız Sabuncuoglu): “The number 8 transfer was a need, but not an absolute necessity. We will sign a number 8 in the mid-season transfer window based on our needs.”

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Premier League duo want Bissouma

Thomas Frank has hinted that Bissouma is part of his plans, but it is hard to see the midfielder forcing himself into the Dane’s starting eleven, given how well several Spurs midfielders have started the season.

Over recent days, we have heard that West Ham and Everton are already plotting a January move for Bissouma, whose deal at Tottenham runs out next summer.

It thus appears that Fenerbahce will not have a free run at the Mali international even if they decide to come back for him in the winter.

Thomas Frank has offered a fresh fitness update on one of Tottenham’s newest signings, and he could finally join in with first-team training this week.

Thomas Frank has managed to integrate several of his summer arrivals into the Tottenham squad, with Joao Palhinha, Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons all settling into life in north London and already making their mark on the pitch.

Others, however, have required a little more patience, as Randal Kolo Muani has only just been handed his first minutes in the Champions League, while another arrival, Kota Takai, is still waiting for his Tottenham debut.

The Japanese international, who joined from Kawasaki Frontale, has been sidelined with a foot injury since completing his move to Tottenham, which has delayed his introduction to English football and left fans eager to finally watch him in action.

It was confirmed yesterday that Takai had stepped back onto the training pitches at Hotspur Way, although his work was limited to individual sessions, which is still a clear sign that his recovery is moving in the right direction.

Tottenham fans are yet to see Takai feature in a competitive match, but Thomas Frank has now provided a timeline on when the centre-back could finally join full training.

Speaking to the club’s official channel, the Tottenham manager revealed: “He is very close to training with the group. I am pretty sure he will train with the group on Monday.”

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Spurs could hand Takai his first minutes against Doncaster

If Takai does return to full training on Monday, then it opens the door for him to potentially make his first appearance later in the week.

Tottenham are set to face Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday, 24 September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which looks an ideal fixture to ease him into competitive action and allow the Japan international to build up valuable minutes.

Guglielmo Vicario has explained that Tottenham Hotspur are much better in one aspect tactically under Thomas Frank than they were under Ange Postecoglou.

The difference between Tottenham last season and this season could not be more obvious, with Frank having implemented a completely different structure than that of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites are a lot harder to break down defensively, as evidenced by the fact that they have conceded just three goals in their opening six matches of the season, which is not something that many would have seen coming on the back of their defensive struggles last season.

However, this Spurs side is still a work in progress, with Frank admitting that Tottenham have not clicked as an attacking force just yet.

Guglielmo Vicario says Tottenham are doing one thing differently under Thomas Frank

Vicario has remarked that Tottenham now have a much better understanding of when to press and how to deal with different phases of play in and out of possession.

However, the Spurs number one confessed that the Lilywhites did not deal with transitions the way they wanted to in the win over Villarreal.

Vicario told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Our ability to recognise the different phases of the game has changed – understanding when to press hard and when to cover the pitch better.

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“In general, we’re more focused on defending the penalty area, also because we have a clearer understanding of the different phases without the ball.

“Against Villarreal, we allowed too many transitions, and we need to take away some of our opponents’ hope when they go on the counterattack, but overall, it was an excellent defensive performance, and we need to continue like this.”

Vicario admits Tottenham’s mentality has changed since the Europa League win

Spurs had to wait 17 years to taste silverware, and Vicario has said securing the trophy in Bilbao has lifted a huge weight off the shoulders of everyone at the club.

The 28-year-old admitted that, having tasted a trophy, there is now a hunger within the squad to win more silverware.

When asked how lifting the Europa League impacted him and his teammates, the Italian responded: “Winning definitely gives you a different dimension, probably even in the eyes of others. And a bit of healthy respect: we had this thing, even within the club, of being the ones who always got there but then didn’t win, but now we’ve done it.

“This has unblocked us a bit. We’ve lifted a weight off our shoulders, so now we can move forward, aware of our strengths. And also with goals, which we keep to ourselves and which we absolutely want to achieve.”

Alan Shearer has made a comment about the importance of a Tottenham duo, which most Spurs fans will fully agree with.

Tottenham Hotspur have won four of their six matches across all competitions this season, conceding just three goals in the process.

However, that is not to say that Tottenham are purring as a side, with Thomas Frank himself admitting that his side struggled offensively against Villarreal.

The Lilywhites’ results have been built on their defensive resoluteness, which is not a term that one would have associated with the North London club over the last two seasons.

Alan Shearer makes claim about Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at Tottenham

While Frank has rotated his options in midfield and the forward line, he has only made one change to his back four so far, and one can understand why.

Shearer puts Tottenham’s success so far this season down to the impressive qualities of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, and suggests that the duo need to stay fit for the club to have a good season.

Following Spurs’ 1-0 win over Villarreal, the Newcastle legend told The Rest Is Football podcast: “The two centre-halves had to work hard, (Micky) van de Ven and (Cristian) Romero again, and I do think if Spurs are to have a good season, then it’s key those two stay fit because they’re such an integral part to what they do. I mean, both of them at times had to put in a couple of great challenges.”

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Thomas Frank wants to add more depth to his forward line

Radu Dragusin is back in training, which is excellent news for Thomas Frank, who also has Kevin Danso, Ben Davies, and Kota Takai at his disposal.

However, all four of those options represent a significant drop off from Romero and Van de Ven, which is perhaps why we have not seen the Dane rotate at the back.

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Luca Williams-Barnett netted a brilliant first-half hat-trick as Spurs’ Under-21s thrashed Leicester City away from home.

It is not just the Spurs first-team who have made an excellent start to the season, but also the U21s, who have an identical record to Thomas Frank’s men.

They sit fourth in the table, having won three and lost one of their first four league matches, and they sent a statement with a thumping win against the Foxes at Leicester’s training ground on Friday.

Wayne Burnett’s men emerged 6-3 winners against Leicester, and it was a 16-year-old who was the hero for them on the evening.

Watch Luca Williams-Barnett’s Tottenham U21 hat-trick against Leicester City

Tottenham’s highly-rated number ten has continued from where he left off last season, having managed six goals and four assists in six matches across all competitions so far.

It took him just 39 minutes to score his hat-trick against Leicester, with the teenager netting in the 2nd, 28th, and 41st minutes.

Williams-Barnett showed his goal poaching instinct for the first two goals before scoring a solo goal to complete his hat-trick.

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Williams-Barnett has a Tottenham dream

The 16-year-old was the standout performer for the U18s last season, scoring 19 goals and registering nine assists in 20 appearances, and he has seamlessly made his step up to the U21 level

Back in April, Williams-Barnett admitted that he is dreaming of scoring goals in front of a packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank has revealed one quality that Brennan Johnson possesses that sets him apart from the other wingers in his Tottenham squad.

Johnson’s story at Tottenham Hotspur has parallels with that of Moussa Sissoko, with the winger going from a much derided one to an extremely popular figure among the fan base.

One gets the feeling that Spurs fans have now started appreciating the Wales international for the qualities he has rather than criticising him for the attributes he lacks.

The 24-year-old has written his name into Tottenham folklore by scoring the match-winner in the Europa League final, with Johnson finishing last season at Spurs’ top scorer with 18 goals.

Thomas Frank rates Brennan Johnson highly at Tottenham

The former Nottingham Forest man has already found the back of the net twice this season, having operated on the left under Thomas Frank rather than on the right, which is where he played most often last season.

The Tottenham head coach has insisted that he sees Johnson as someone who can play on either side, adding he is very happy with his contributions on the left.

Frank told Football.London: “I think Brennan is a very good player. He can play both sides. I agree he played mostly on the right [last season], but I definitely think he can play on the left.

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“He played on the left in two games and scored two goals so that is a decent output. He is a very important player for us, he came on and helped the team in the last couple of games, so very happy with him.

“I think it is also that Mo has come in and is doing very well on the right, with his left foot and coming inside, so he can produce outside and inswinging crosses as well, but I like Brennan.”

Frank reveals Johnson’s unique quality

According to reports, Frank tried to take Johnson to Brentford two years ago before Tottenham swooped in and beat the Bees to the attacker.

The Dane has now admitted that he is a big fan of the Welshman’s ability to arrive late in the box, which is what sets him apart from the other wide-players at his disposal.

Frank added: “What I like about Brennan is that both right or left, he is very good to arrive in the box, very good to run in behind and I think they are his key strengths.

Thomas Frank has made it very clear how he wants Tottenham Hotspur to play, and Spurs fans will certainly be excited by his statement.

While Tottenham have made a solid and strong start to the Frank era, their positive results so far have been founded on a strong defensive foundation.

The Lilywhites are yet to really fire on all cylinders as an attacking force this season, which, in a way, is the polar opposite of the problem they had under Ange Postecoglou.

It is a balance that Frank is looking to get right, but the new Tottenham head coach is very clear in his mind on how he wants his side to play.

Thomas Frank wants to play the Tottenham way but with defensive solidity

The 51-year-old has insisted that he wants his side to be brave in possession of the ball and score a lot of goals.

However, he explained that the offensive flair should not necessarily come at the cost of defensive solidity, pointing out that it is important to defend well to win titles.

Frank told Football.London: “I think it’s extremely important that we are brave and we are offensive and we play forward. I think that’s crucial. Over the years, all the teams I’ve been part of, we’ve scored a lot of goals, and I’m convinced we will continue that way because that’s the way Tottenham should play and will play.

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“I think playing offensively, bravely and forward is extremely important but if you want to achieve something big and consistently over the years, you also need to be pretty good at defending. I haven’t seen one team achieve something fantastic without being good at defending.

“You can just see the Europa League final, I think that Tottenham did fantastic in that game, defended very well for a long time in the game. The best teams in the world are very good in almost all phases.”

Frank is confident Tottenham’s attack will click into gear

The Dane admitted that getting the offensive phase of play correct is harder and takes more time than mastering the defensive organisation.

However, Frank insists that he has already seen promising signs that suggest that his side will click into gear in the offensive phase of the game.

He added: “I think the most difficult thing in football is to try to score a goal. It’s a low-scoring game compared to a lot of other sports or a lot of other games. To get that free-floating type of play, that relationship between people, try to put structures in [takes time].

“Unfortunately, sometimes the opponent wants to interrupt it or disrupt it. So the offensive is definitely more difficult, but absolutely not impossible.

“And I also think that I’ve seen very promising, positive signs of the offensive part of the game as well.

“I think that the second half against Burnley was extremely good, how much we created. I like the way we went about it against West Ham, took a little bit of time to get into the game to create.”

Tottenham Hotspur came back from two goals down to earn a valuable point against Brighton & Hove Albion, but Randal Kolo Muani was unavailable to play the fixture.

Randal Kolo Muani is yet to make his first Tottenham Hotspur start since arriving on a summer loan move from PSG. However, he did make his debut in the Champions League, coming off the bench to play 15 minutes during the 1-0 win over Villarreal.

With Dominic Solanke remaining out with injury, Muani was expected to be given some first-team opportunities, but he was left out of the Tottenham first-team squad to face Brighton.

Spurs got off to a poor start and found themselves two goals down just after the half-hour mark. Despite this, Richarlison began a comeback which was completed by a Jan Paul van Hecke own goal, and each team ended up taking one point from the game.

Randal Kolo Muani missed Tottenham’s match through injury

It was reported that Randal Kolo Muani had a good injury history before he joined Tottenham. However, he has already been ruled out of his first match at Spurs due to a problem with his fitness.

Football London report that Thomas Frank left Muani out of his squad due to a dead leg he picked up in training. The striker was supposed to have been named on the Spurs bench until his injury.

Muani had only missed one game through injury in his senior career before today, due to a sore adductor while he was at Eintracht Frankfurt. The 26-year-old also missed a match at PSG with a virus.

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Will Kolo Muani get his Spurs opportunity?

Richarlison has rediscovered his goalscoring form after finding the back of the net against Brighton. As well as this, it seems Frank prefers Mathys Tel as a striker, considering he started there against West Ham.

Therefore, it is difficult to see how Muani will find his way into the starting lineup, especially when Solanke returns. However, he did well in his previous loan spell at Juventus and has not had enough time to showcase his talents. Tottenham’s schedule is already beginning to get busier, so perhaps Muani will get his chance when he returns.