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Tottenham Hotspur may have competition to contend with from one of their fiercest rivals for a highly rated Premier League midfielder.

Some sources have claimed that discussions are ongoing at Spurs about adding another central midfielder to their squad in January.

It has been suggested over recent weeks that Tottenham may pounce on an opportunity to sign an England international, who is currently struggling for game time at his club.

Tottenham are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Kobbie Mainoo after failing to get a deal over the line for him in the summer.

The Lilywhites have been boosted by the news that Mainoo is keen to leave Old Trafford in search of regular game time, but a new update has made the pursuit of the midfielder more challenging for Thomas Frank’s side.

Tottenham face competition from Chelsea for Kobbie Mainoo

Spurs may have competition to deal with from Chelsea, who are also big fans of the Man United man.

This is according to Flashscore, who say that the Blues are keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old’s situation as they look to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

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Chelsea have monitored Mainoo for a long time and believe that they would have a chance of signing the youngster in January.

While Enzo Marseca’s men also hold an interest in Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, the United academy graduate is seen as a ‘more attainable option’ by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

Man United’s stance on Spurs target Mainoo revealed

Flashscore say that despite Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to play the midfielder, the Red Devils are not actively looking to sell him.

Mainoo has requested to leave the club in January, but as things stand, the Manchester club are not agreeing to the player’s request.

However, the outlet adds that United would be willing to revisit the situation in January if they manage to bring another midfielder through the door.

Tottenham Hotspur are turning their sights towards a highly-rated Italian international, but a deal for him will not be easy to complete.

It has been reported that Spurs are keen on signing a left-sided centre-back in January to serve as a backup for Micky van de Ven.

This is despite the fact that Thomas Frank has Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies as backups for his two starting centre-backs.

It has now emerged that the Lilywhites may be willing to demonstrate their financial muscle by landing one of the best defenders in Italy.

Tottenham batting three other clubs for Inter Milan star

According to Fichajes, Spurs have expressed an interest in signing Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni in January.

The outlet says that Tottenham have closely monitored the player, who has been recommended to the club by their sporting director Fabio Paratici. He is said to be a great admirer of the 26-year-old’s quality and temperament.

However, Spurs face competition from Chelsea and Barcelona, who both have Bastoni high on their wishlist.

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Additionally, Al Hilal are plotting a move for the Italy international and are not giving up even though the player turned down a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

Would Inter be open to selling Bastoni?

Fichajes say that the feeling at Inter is that losing the centre-back would be ‘a critical blow to their aspirations’ this season.

Additionally, the player is thought to be very happy at the San Siro. However, the financial pressures at the club are ‘reaching unprecedented levels’, which may force the Serie A side to cash in.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of several Premier League clubs eyeing a move for a 26-year-old USA midfielder in January.

Spurs are currently without Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma, who were both away at the African Cup of Nations, with Senegal and Mali, respectively.

According to reports, Bissouma could find himself heading out of the exit door in January, which potentially means that the Lilywhites may look to strengthen in the middle of the park.

A Premier League number six has now caught Tottenham’s attention, but the Lilywhites are not the only club watching the player.

Tottenham want to sign Bournemouth star Tyler Adams

According to a report in CaughOffside, Tyler Adams is now emerging as a notable name for Spurs and other clubs ahead of the January window.

The Bournemouth star has grown steadily as a player since moving to the South Coast in 2023, and his displays this season have been closely watched by analysts and scouts.

Tottenham are ‘keeping a close watch’ on Adams, with Thomas Frank’s side seeing him as a ball-winning midfielder well suited to quick transitions and high-intensity pressing systems.

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The Cherries are aware of the growing interest in Adams and could be willing to sell him for a fee in the region of €30m-€40m (£26.2m-£35m).

Spurs face plenty of competition for Adams

CaughtOffside say that the USA international is also on the radar of Man United, who want to strengthen their midfield, while Chelsea are also keeping an eye on him.

Newcastle United and West Ham are also gathering detailed reports on Adams, while Inter Milan and AC Milan view him as a cost-effective option.

However, the outlet adds that unless there is a big offer in January, the 26-year-old appears more likely to depart the Vitality Stadium next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur fan favourite Dele Alli has sent a big hint on social media regarding his next move in football.

The attacking midfielder continues to be adored by Spurs fans, with the Dele Alli chant still being heard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on occasions.

The Tottenham Hotspur faithful have been rooting for the 29-year-old to rediscover his mojo, but he has had several failed attempts to kickstart his career over the last few years.

The England international is now a free agent after being released by Como in the summer, but he could now be about to sign for a new club.

Tottenham hero Dele Alli hints at move to Serie A club

The midfielder has now taken to Instagram stories to post a cryptic hint about his next destination.

In Dele’s latest post, he is seen wearing purple shorts, and the post contains three purple hearts. Some fans believe they have cracked the code on where he is headed.

Fiorentina, who play in purple, are currently struggling in Serie A and are in desperate need of a creative injection. It looks like the former Spurs man could be the player La Viola turn to as they aim to move themselves off the bottom of the table.

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Dele has got just reward for his effort and patience

It was reported in the summer that three Championship clubs had expressed an interest in signing Dele as a free agent, but he decided to remain patient.

Dele has posted regular updates about how hard he has been training on his own over the last few months in preparation for his next move.

If the midfielder does get another opportunity in Serie A, Tottenham fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that he can make the most of it this time.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to invest more into the first-team squad under the next generation of the Lewis Family, but some things matter more than wage offerings and transfer fees.

Tottenham Hotspur have a reputation for being tough negotiators in the transfer market. This has often worked in the club’s favour, as Daniel Levy worked to collect additional funds on outgoing players

However, the ex-chairman’s desire for a good cash flow sometimes did Spurs more harm than good, as it meant missing out on potential signings. Spending weeks negotiating a cut-price deal for Eberechi Eze is an incident which comes to mind.

With Levy now gone, the Lewis Family indicated they would end his transfer policy and spend more on player wages. Unfortunately, this does not mean Tottenham will have success bringing top-class players to North London.

Antoine Semenyo rejected Tottenham despite a good offer

Spurs have once again been linked with Antoine Semenyo in recent weeks. It was even said that Tottenham were willing to shatter their wage structure to sign the Bournemouth winger.

Despite this, Semenyo has rejected a move to Spurs because there are more attractive options on the table. It is all well and good being willing to spend now, but other teams already were.

The Lewis Family might be attempting to bring changes to the way Tottenham operate, but it is too little too late, at least for now.

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Spurs must focus on getting back to the top

Tottenham’s past negligence towards their squad has ultimately seen the team regress on the pitch. The club finished 17th in the Premier League table last season and are not doing much better this time around.

Being willing to spend more on wages is good, but a reality check is needed to understand that time is required for Spurs to become an attractive destination again.

No top player will want to join a team sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League, and this issue must be resolved before Tottenham can think about any big-name signings.

If the Spurs owners are willing to spend big in the long-term, they could eventually make strong statement signings. However, the club are not currently in a position to convince such players to make the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium their home.

Tottenham Hotspur have dropped down the pecking order in the race for a La Liga wide forward, with another Premier League rival emerging as frontrunners for the Sevilla star.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on strengthening their forward line in the winter window, and there is a particular focus on the wide areas as the club looks to provide further depth.

Several names have appeared on the Lilywhites’ radar, including Antoine Semenyo and Iliman Ndiaye, who are both players that Spurs fans rate highly.

However, Sevilla forward Ruben Vargas has also emerged as a viable option for Tottenham, with interest stretching back to September, shortly after the summer window slammed shut.

Leeds United move ahead of Tottenham for Ruben Vargas

The Sevilla man has managed three goals and four assists in 12 La Liga outings this season, and his form has caught the attention of a couple of Premier League sides, including Spurs.

A report from Orgullo Biri now claims that Leeds United are in pole position to land Ruben Vargas ahead of both Aston Villa and Tottenham.

The newly promoted side is said to be working on a proposal worth £16.7m (€20m) for the Swiss international, and this move places them ahead of both Spurs and Aston Villa, who are currently only closely monitoring the situation.

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Why Spurs can still hijack Leeds United move for Ruben Vargas

Ruben Vargas is a wide forward with good dribbling skills, and those attributes appear to be what have caught the attention of the interested Premier League sides.

However, while Leeds United have put together a proposal, it is also explained that they have not submitted any formal offers to the Spanish club as yet.

This leaves the door open for Tottenham to still sweep in for the winger, who is said to be valued at £10m (€12m) by Sevilla, as it is claimed a sale will provide a much-needed financial boost for the La Liga outfit to strengthen their squad.

Tottenham Hotspur have been informed of the strict financial conditions required to complete a January deal for a Serie A midfielder, with the selling club setting a clear valuation.

Guglielmo Vicario has been attracting interest from Italian giants Inter Milan following reports that Tottenham Hotspur are on the lookout for a world-class goalkeeper.

Spurs have also been linked with a move for Inter midfielder Davide Frattesi as they look to bolster their engine room.

The 26-year-old has managed just 198 minutes in all competitions this season, and earlier reports have suggested that Inter may be open to discussing a swap deal involving Frattesi and Vicario with Tottenham.

Tottenham named as a possible destination for Davide Frattesi in January

It had not previously been made clear if Spurs were genuinely interested in the Inter midfielder, but a fresh report from L’Interista has now identified the clubs keen on Frattesi, given his struggle for game time.

Amongst those listed are Tottenham, who are said to have been keeping tabs on his situation, with north London named as a possible destination for the midfielder.

However, Spurs will not have a free run at the 26-year-old as Napoli and AS Roma have also been named as possible destinations for the Italy international.

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Inter Milan set Davide Frattesi asking price amid interest from Spurs

The report also goes on to state exactly how much Tottenham will need to pay to land Frattesi. Spurs have a host of options in the middle of the park that are of a similar mould to the Inter man.

Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma, Joao Palhinha, and Rodrigo Bentancur are all options for Frank and can be deployed in a double pivot and as number eights.

Regardless, it is explained that Spurs can bring Frattesi to north London in January if they meet Inter Milan’s financial demands.

The Nerazzurri want over £25m (€30m) and are unlikely to budge, although it is not mentioned if this figure would need to be paid in addition to a player exchange involving Vicario.

Tottenham Hotspur have learned Nico Paz’s current stance on a transfer after Chelsea and Arsenal made approaches for the £60m star.

Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a creative playmaker saw them shortlist a host of options last summer as they looked to source cover for the injured James Maddison.

Nico Paz made it onto that shortlist, with Spurs even going as far as lodging a bid for the Como star, an offer that was ultimately rejected by the Serie A side.

The club quickly turned their attention to Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig, eventually getting a £51m deal over the line to secure his services instead.

Tottenham summer target Nico Paz rejects Premier League interest

Paz has continued to impress in Serie A, proving exactly why he is viewed as one of the most in-demand creative talents of his generation.

TeamTalk has now provided an update on the future of the midfielder, revealing that Nico Paz has once again turned his nose up at interest from England ahead of the January transfer window.

Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal are reported to have enquired about the attacking midfielder, but just like with Tottenham last summer, the player is said to be fully committed to securing a return to Real Madrid in 2026.

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Balance required in Spurs midfield

This update serves as a retrospective blow for Spurs, even though they have technically moved on from the youngster, given they are not listed amongst those to have made fresh enquiries.

Xavi Simons has yet to fully settle in at Tottenham, and there remains a clear need for a player capable of progressing the ball from midfield, given the creative issues currently plaguing the side.

Former Arsenal defender, Thomas Vermaelen, has commented on how competing against a Tottenham star did not affect their friendship, and he has made a big claim about the bitterness of the North London derby.

The rivalry between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal is hardly the biggest in the world. That prize is more likely to be awarded to the hostile derbies in places such as Glasgow and Buenos Aires.

However, there is no love lost when Spurs take on their arch enemies, with the disdain the two teams hold for each other often evident on the pitch, as well as in the stands.

Despite this, Thomas Vermaelen has said something about the North London derby which could come as a surprise.

Thomas Vermaelen remained friends with Jan Vertonghen when the Belgian joined Tottenham

Vermalen signed for Arsenal in 2009, and Jan Vertonghen joined Spurs three years later. This was an interesting occurrence for the two defenders because they both played together for Ajax’s youth team.

According to Ajax Showtime, as relayed by Sport Witness, Vermaelen did not let the rivalry of the North London clubs get in the way of his friendship with Vertonghen.

He said: “We didn’t see each other as rivals and awarded each other the best.

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“It’s obviously a very big derby in England, but Jan and I still saw each other off the field. It’s not that I thought, oh, you’re playing at Tottenham now, I don’t like you as much. It lives mainly with the supporters.”

Vermaelen’s claim about the North London derby is surprising. It is not really a shock to hear Vermaelen say that he remained friends with someone just because they joined a rival club. The pair played together for Belgium as well as Ajax, so the endurance of their relationship was always to be expected.

However, Vermaelen has said the hatred and bitterness of the derby mainly lives with the supporters. Some players might argue it is just as strong in the dressing room, and if it is not, they do not understand what it truly means to play for their club.

A former Tottenham Hotspur star has made a bold claim regarding the history of Man United, suggesting that a former Lilywhites boss was one of the few managers capable of fixing the problems at Old Trafford following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Tottenham Hotspur has often struggled to maintain balance in their overall play on the pitch under Thomas Frank.

The Lilywhites under the Dane have often been criticised for their lack of cutting edge on the pitch, with creativity often lacking on the field of play.

Thomas Frank continues to look for solutions to get Spurs to play front-foot attacking football, but former Tottenham midfielder Sandro has now opened up on how one former manager was able to keep the side ticking, even stating that he could have managed Manchester United.

Harry Redknapp could have fixed Manchester United, according to Sandro

Speaking to Boyle Sports about the leadership required at a top club, Sandro explained that Harry Redknapp possessed the perfect blend of tactical knowledge and dressing room presence to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson.

He suggested that the former Spurs Tottenham had a similar management style to the legendary Scotsman, combining a big impact with the ability to make players listen.

Discussing the specific qualities that made the manager a success, Sandro told Boyle Sports: “Could Harry Redknapp have fixed Manchester United’s problem after Sir Alex? Yes, 100%.

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“They managed in the same kind of way. A big image, a big impact in the dressing room, and you need to have that. When you speak, players listen.

“Everybody respected Harry, but you could also have a joke with him, and he would make everybody laugh too.

“Harry could talk well to the media, but also his tactics were good and he could change things during a match on the pitch too. He was a manager that could do everything.”

The Brazilian went on to detail how Harry Redknapp was never afraid to make ruthless tactical changes at half-time to secure a result for Tottenham, regardless of a player’s ego.

He added: “I remember, when I arrived in England, I was on the bench and at half time Harry took a player off. In Brazil, this is deeply disrespectful to a player, to take them off at the break, but Harry was not afraid.

“He told the guys we are not having a good game, sorry but I am changing the team and I need to change it. I am doing this for the team. He was a coach who will make the big decisions.

“And we won that game. I liked it. He will come and talk to you as a player. You have to have that. I remember he will say to me: ‘sorry Sandro, you are going to play the next game. I will play you.’

“That is how you manage players. If you give a player something like that, the player will let you do something else. I completely agree that Harry Redknapp could have done a good job at Manchester United because he had the right style of management.

“Their fans want to play and attack. Harry will play that way with good tactics in a back four. We were always balanced at Tottenham. Teams need to have that balance. Attack and defend. We were a team. Not two teams.”

Thomas Frank must learn from Harry Redknapp’s time at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur currently lack the balance that was once in the side under Harry Redknapp, and if they can find such a rhythm, then their on-pitch woes will be greatly reduced.

Thomas Frank is currently struggling to find such a balance, and that has led to much external pressure on the Dane, who has only been in charge at Spurs for about six months.