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Tottenham Hotspur reportedly hold a genuine interest in a winger who registered 11 goal contributions last season, and they would not have any trouble meeting his release clause.

Over the last couple of days, an increasing number of sources have reported that Tottenham may end up missing out on Man City winger Savinho.

This is because Pep Guardiola has allegedly decided he does not want to lose Savinho, which may force Spurs to consider approaches for other alternatives.

It has since been reported in Spain that Tottenham are considering making a move for Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo, and a new update has now backed up the Lilywhites’ interest in the Japan international.

Tottenham would not have any issues meeting Takefusa Kubo’s release clause

Wednesday’s print edition of AS (as relayed by Sport Witness) has now confirmed that Spurs hold a serious interest in Kubo.

The outlet claims that this is not the first time Tottenham Hotspur have tried to sign the 24-year-old, having also explored a move for the winger 12 months ago.

The Premier League side’s interest in Kubo never went away, and Thomas Frank’s men are now said to be ‘keen’ on adding him to their squad.

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It is revealed that the former Real Madrid man only signed a new contract back in December, which runs until 2029, but it includes a release clause of €60m (£52m), which is not expected to be an issue for the North London club.

Kubo may not be entirely happy at Real Sociedad

AS reveal that Kubo has made some noises of discontent this summer, having recently complained about the lack of quality in Sociedad’s squad.

The Japanese star is unhappy with the lack of ambition that La Real have shown in the transfer market, and he has also recently changed his agent.

This transfer window has proved a forgettable one for Tottenham so far, and it could now get worse as reports indicate that one of the club’s top targets could now decide to stay put at his current club.

After missing out on Eberechi Eze in an embarrassing fashion, it has been reported over the last two days that Tottenham have explored moves for a number of attackers across Europe.

One of the options on the North London club’s radar is a young French attacker who hit the limelight at Monaco last season, scoring eight goals and providing 12 assists.

It was first reported nearly a week ago that Tottenham are considering a move for Maghnes Akliouche, who is seen by many as the potential next big thing in French football. However, Spurs’ chance of landing him have been downplayed by a reputable French outlet.

Akliouche is likely to stay at Monaco despite Spurs interest

It has now been reported by L’Equipe that Maghnes Akliouche now looks increasingly likely to remain where he is this summer.

The outlet explains that this is because none of the attacking midfielder’s suitors have shown a willingness to meet Monaco’s €70m (£60m) asking price so far.

Interestingly, the outlet does not name Tottenham Hotspur as one of the interested parties, instead revealing that Paris Saint-Germain and Man City are continuing to watch him.

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It is claimed that City already have too many attacking options and are unlikely to make a move for the Frenchman, while Inter Milan have not made an offer for Akliouche despite registering an interest in him.

Will Tottenham make an offer for Maghnes Akliouche?

One thing Spurs fans may have to keep in mind is that L’Equipe’s information may be old, and Tottenham’s stance may have changed since they missed out on Eze.

This is what was suggested on Thursday by The Independent, who claimed that Spurs had made advances towards Akliouche after being snubbed by Eze.

Tottenham Hotspur head to Manchester City for their second league outing of the season in Saturday’s early kick-off at the Etihad.

Following their 3-0 victory over Burnley on the opening weekend, courtesy of a stunning brace from Richarlison and a goal from Brennan Johnson, Tottenham now face a sterner test in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

It was an impressive start for Thomas Frank in his first Premier League match as Spurs boss, and the visitors will be eager to carry that momentum into this heavyweight clash.

However, standing in their way are the four-time champions of the last five seasons, who too come into this clash on the back of a comfortable opening-day win. City beat Wolves 4-0 at Molineux, with new arrivals Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki both finding the net alongside an Erling Haaland double.

This will be Guardiola’s first home game of the season, and he will be expecting a similar statement performance against a Spurs side that has caused his team plenty of problems in recent years.

What time does Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

Location: Manchester, England

Stadium: Etihad Stadium

Date: 23rd August 2025

Kick-off Time: 12:30 pm BST

Referee: Peter Bankes

VAR: Andy Madley

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

Manchester City may have dominated English football in recent years, but Spurs have consistently been one of their trickiest opponents. Guardiola’s side have won just four of their last twelve league meetings with Tottenham, losing six.

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Spurs have also enjoyed success at the Etihad, winning twice in their last four visits. Last season the two clubs met three times across competitions, with Tottenham claiming a 2-1 win in the Carabao Cup and then a stunning 4-0 triumph at the Etihad in the league.

City, however, had the final say in February, edging Spurs 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to an Erling Haaland strike.

Tottenham team news

Spurs supporters were dealt a blow off the pitch, with Eberechi Eze’s long-anticipated move hijacked at the last moment by north London rivals Arsenal. Despite the frustration, Tottenham have already turned their attention to alternatives, though the absence of a natural attacking midfielder remains a concern.

On the injury front, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Destiny Udogie, Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin are all unavailable.

However, updates on any potential injury returns are expected from Thomas Frank’s press conference tomorrow.

Manchester City team news

City are managing a few injury concerns ahead of Saturday. Guardiola is expected to provide clarity on Phil Foden and Rodri, who both didn’t feature against Wolves.

Josko Gvardiol also missed that game, while Savinho remains sidelined after picking up an injury in pre-season. Interestingly, the Brazilian winger has been heavily linked with Spurs, who are reportedly preparing a record bid after missing out on Eze.

Mateo Kovacic is the only long-term absentee, while James Trafford is likely to keep his spot over Ederson.

The Brazilian goalkeeper remains absent through injury and is now the subject of reported interest from Galatasaray.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario, Porro, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr, Kudus, Richarlison.

Thomas Frank may well mirror the approach he used against PSG in the Super Cup, reverting to a five-man defence to frustrate City’s attack, given how alike those two are in terms of pressing and their attacking quality up front.

Should he opt for a back four instead, expect a left winger, most likely Wilson Odobert, to replace Kevin Danso.

Dominic Solanke is expected to replace Richarlison around the hour mark if the Brazilian does not find the net. Lucas Bergvall could be introduced for Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield later.

Our prediction

This is no easy task for Spurs, but Thomas Frank has had success against Guardiola in the past, winning twice and drawing once in six fixtures during his time at Brentford.

The absence of Dejan Kulusevski will be felt by Spurs, given how often he has delivered against City, especially at the Etihad, where his heroics even earned it the nickname ‘Dekihad’.

Richarlison, fresh from his opening-day heroics, will be the player to watch for Spurs. If he continues this form, few defences will be able to contain him. Mohammed Kudus, who provided two assists against Burnley, will also be one to watch as he has a habit of turning up against City.

As for City, if Spurs go with a five-man backline, Ryan Cherki will be a real threat. He is excellent at creating chances inside the box, finds clever pockets of space and can even finish from the tightest of angles.

This fixture has often been high scoring at the Etihad, with the two clubs producing 21 goals across their last four league meetings there.

Spurs have scored at least twice on each of those occasions, which is why we expect them to get the 3 points.

Tottenham Hotspur face a tough task away to Man City and Harry Redknapp has revealed where he thinks the game could be won or lost.

The Premier League got up and running last weekend, and both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City easily saw off their opponents. The two sides managed to score seven goals between them against Burnley and Wolves respectively.

Spurs found the net twice against PSG in the week building up to their opening league game, so finding the back of the net does not appear to be a problem. However, Tottenham only have so many available players up front, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski out with long-term injuries.

Despite this, there have been no recent additions to the Tottenham first-team squad. This is not for a lack of trying. Arsenal swooped in for Eberechi Eze at the last minute, a player who looked almost certain to be on his way to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Now, Spurs must rely on their current front three, who all bagged at least one goal contribution against Burnley.

Harry Redknapp is concerned by Tottenham’s lack of attacking options

Harry Redknapp has made his BetVictor Premier League predictions and he is worried for Tottenham. Their attack may have been firing against a newly promoted team, but the former Spurs boss is not convinced it will be strong enough to bring down a club looking to reclaim their Premier League crown.

He said: “What a game this could be, two sides that really started in style. I thought City were outstanding away to Wolves, I was very impressed. They were full of energy, and they were so slick, it could have been more.

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“Thomas Frank has started well as Tottenham boss, they looked good against Burnley last week. They definitely seem organised, but I worry about them going forward, they look light in the attacking areas.

“I think they’ll definitely be goals in this one, but I’m going for City. 3-1.”

Redknapp is right to be concerned about Spurs

Last week, Brennan Johnson was played out of position and questions were raised about the Tottenham midfield in the first half due to a lack of creativity.

In fairness, Pape Matar Sarr looks to be improving as a more attacking-minded player in the middle of the pitch, but strengthening with a new attacking midfielder before the transfer window closes is essential.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently working on offloading three senior players before the transfer window slams shut on September 1.

With a little over a week left until the transfer window closes, Tottenham Hotspur have plenty of work to do and not much time to do it in.

According to reports, Thomas Frank wants to add a number ten, a winger and a centre-back to his Spurs squad, which looks a near-impossible task at the moment for the Lilywhites.

Additionally, the North Londoners have also been unsuccessful in moving on the players who have been deemed surplus to requirements, and that is now reportedly their focus.

Spurs expect three players to leave in the next 10 days

This update comes from TBR Football, who say that Tottenham are working hard to find new clubs for Yves Bissouma, Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil.

The report alleges that the expectations at Hotspur Way are that all three players will be out of the exit door before the September 1 deadline.

It is alleged that Solomon could still end up back at Leeds after enjoying a fabulous campaign on loan at Elland Road last term in the Championship.

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The outlet claims that while Spurs were demanding £20m for the Israel international at the start of the summer, they may now be forced to drop their asking price in an effort to offload him.

Tottenham may face a Yves Bissouma complication

TBR football say that while Fenerbahce had been showing an interest in Bissouma previously, they have now signed Edson Alvarez from West Ham instead. That is expected to end the interest of Jose Mourinho’s side in the Mali international.

According to reports over recent days, Bissouma wants to stay in the Premier League if he is pushed out of Tottenham this summer.

The midfielder will be eligible for UK citizenship if he stays in the country for one more year, which is why he is not keen to leave England this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham are actually able to find permanent exits for Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, and Yves Bissouma, or whether we will see some classic last-minute loans from Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur have butchered yet another transfer, and it ought to come as no surprise considering the number of times this has happened.

Some might say it is the history of Tottenham. Anticipation and hope begin to build, an ever-growing belief that the club is ready to move to the next level. Then, in a sudden moment, they are back to square one.

There is a reason a fan-led movement called Change for Spurs now exists. The purpose of this group is not to demand the resignation of Daniel Levy or for ENIC to sell the club, but for a change in direction and strategy. For too long, profit has been a greater priority than getting results on the pitch.

Ange Postecoglou became a victim of this, as when the Tottenham first-team squad was ravaged with injuries, he was not backed in January. Spurs only made two outfield first-team signings, both as initial loan deals. It is worth remembering that the Mathys Tel deal looked to have fallen through and only occurred as a result of Posecoglou’s persuasion.

The Australian is now gone, despite winning the Europa League, and Thomas Frank is here. However, the man who initially failed to land a deal for Tel remains in his position as chairman, where he has had the opportunity to mess up another transfer which appeared to be as good as a done deal.

Tottenham should have got the Eberechi Eze deal done quicker

Tottenham’s negotiations for Eberechi Eze were bordering on comical. Each day went by and the message continued to be the same. A deal is close to being agreed, but Tottenham have not quite met Crystal Palace’s terms. As frustrating as this for Spurs supporters, there was still plenty of belief that the deal would eventually happen.

However, Arsenal swooped in and the reason is clear. Despite their failure to win any major trophies over the past five years, the Gunners actually have some ambition to improve. There is an understanding over at the Emirates that a willingness to spend transfers to more victories on the pitch.

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Tottenham, on the other hand, attempted to play the long game to save a few million pounds. Spurs offered £55m plus £5m in add-ons, but a £68m payment earlier in the summer would have activated his release clause, meaning negotiating with Palace would not even be necessary.

Even if Spurs were unwilling to pay the release clause, there has clearly been a lot of time wasted attempting to get a better deal. However, when that results in no deal at all, it is better to just spare a bit of extra money and move forward.

The increased deficit could even be funded by actually making some player sales. After all, why are the likes of Bryan Gil and Manor Solomon still at the club when they are in with little to no chance of even making one of Thomas Frank’s matchday squads?

Spurs should have adopted a better transfer strategy

Firstly, Tottenham could have shown more intelligence in deciding which player to prioritise signing. Eze is just as good as Morgan Gibbs-White and while they were the frontrunners to sign the Nottingham Forest playmaker, there has always been the knowledge that Arsenal were prowling around Eze.

Spurs could have begun negotiations to sign Eze much sooner and before making a final decision, weighed up whether to go for Gibbs-White. Instead, the club put all their eggs in one basket and went all out to sign Gibbs-White. That failed, and immediately Tottenham put themselves at a disadvantage.

However, there was still time to secure Eze and this should have been accelerated after the Savinho blow. Manchester City blocked a move for Savinho to join Tottenham. As soon as this happened, Levy should have considered how that was now two failed transfers this summer. To avoid another, he should just pay the money Palace want to avoid a third.

We now know this is not the approach he took and it is Thomas Frank who will pay the price for this failure. With under two weeks until the transfer window slams shut, it is essential that whatever player Spurs decide to target, they get a fee agreed early, even if that means paying a little more than they would like.

Ben Foster has praised one Tottenham Hotspur star after his strong start to the season, but he has also aimed a dig which will not impress the Spurs player.

The new season is only just getting started, but if a Tottenham Hotspur surprise package were to be selected, it would be Richarlison. It was unknown whether he would still be a Spurs player by this point in the transfer window and he is not only still at the club, but thriving in the centre forward role.

Many have already expressed their adoration of the Brazilian goal machine after an impressive start to the new Premier League campaign. Harry Redknapp selected Richarlison in his team of the week, branding the star ‘underrated’.

Troy Deeney also chose Richarlison in his team of the week, while Gary Lineker revealed Richarlison intrigued him. The former Tottenham forward even said Spurs had a ‘real player’ on their hands if the 28-year-old was able to remain free from injuries.

Ben Foster offers mixed assessment of Richarlison at Tottenham

Ben Foster has had his say, and he has been most complimentary, describing Richarlison as ‘world class’. However, the retired goalkeeper did not stop there, as he also accused the £60m man of being lazy.

Foster told The Cycling Goalie podcast: “Yeah, he [Richarlison] seems to me to get bored. He smashes it for a little bit and then thinks, ‘I’ve done enough now’.

“But he’s a very, very good player. He’s a Brazilian international. He’s a world-class player, right? But I just think sometimes he goes, ‘Right, I’ve probably done enough for a little while now. Now I’ll settle down’.

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“He’ll come in and out of the team, and I think that’s probably the frustration for Spurs fans in general. My brother’s a Spurs fan, and he’s constantly moaning about it, to be honest with you.

“But when he’s fit, and when he’s motivated, and when he wants it, you get this sort of performance [Against Burnley].”

Foster’s criticism of Richarlison is unfair on the Spurs forward

Of all the players at Tottenham, Richarlison is one of the ones who always seems to try his hardest, whether he is good enough or not. He is passionate and usually shows good energy when he is on the pitch.

The reason he is constantly in and out of the team is due to injuries, an issue which is largely out of his hands. Richarlison missed a staggering 37 matches last season due to four separate injuries, including problems with his hamstring, groin and calf.

Pundits ought to be mindful of this, but another thing to be wary of is not to overreact to Richarlison’s form. He may have put Burnley to the sword, but do his career achievements make him world-class?

Considering he has been linked with moves to Turkey and Saudi Arabia over the past year, as a result of his Tottenham struggles, probably not. But perhaps that gives the Brazilian something to prove this season. It would be interesting to see a fit and determined Richarlison get a real run in the side.

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered yet another setback in the transfer market, but there remains a small window of time to identify and sign a quality number 10.

Thomas Frank must have known what he was getting himself into by agreeing to become the Tottenham Hotspur manager. However, he could be forgiven for failing to anticipate their inability to complete three major transfers in his first summer at the club, despite lengthy negotiations.

Eberechi Eze is the latest player Spurs look to have missed out on. A deal for Tottenham to sign Eze was said to be nearing completion, but shortly afterwards, it was reported that Spurs had lost out to Arsenal on Eze.

With the 27-year-old heading to the other side of North London, here are five players Tottenham could sign instead.

Morgan Rogers would be as good a signing for Tottenham as Eberechi Eze

It has already been reported this summer that Tottenham were keen on Morgan Rogers. However, the rumours soon went quiet, with Spurs turning their attention to Eze.

Aston Villa’s asking price likely played a role in this, a fee believed to be around £100m. It is hard to see an offer anywhere near that figure being placed, but Rogers would definitely improve the Tottenham first-team squad.

He has succeeded in every competition, with eight goals and 11 assists in the Premier League last season. In the Champions League, the 23-year-old registered four goals and three assists and he managed two goals and two assists in the FA Cup. Rogers would be just as good a signing as Eze or Morgan Gibbs-White.

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Bilal El Khannouss is a strong younger option for Spurs

If Tottenham are looking to spend less money, but still want a player who could one day reach Eze’s level, Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City is a good choice. He already has two assists in the Championship this season and would only cost in the region of £30m. This would leave Spurs with the finances to invest in a quality left winger too.

The Morocco international achieved a modest two goals and three assists in the top flight last season, but his performances were good enough to attract interest from Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

Tottenham would have to act quickly, as Crystal Palace see El Khannouss as a potential replacement for Eze. However, Spurs have been linked with El Khannouss on more than one occasion, so the foundations are there for Daniel Levy to initiate contact.

Spurs and Leicester have exchanged James Maddison, Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks in recent years, so the clubs ought to have a good relationship when it comes to negotiating.

Tottenham could attempt to hijack Chelsea’s move for Xavi Simons

Xavi Simons could be an even better signing for Tottenham than Eze. Arsenal supporters could see this as a statement of bitterness, but they can read all about how in June, we said Tottenham should prioritise a move for Simons over Eze.

The RB Leipzig midfielder is both a creator and a goal threat and he has age on his side, being just 22 years old.

The issue with Simons is that he has been strongly linked with Chelsea and is believed to be in favour of the move. Tottenham have made contact with Simons, but it will take some convincing to persuade him to join Spurs instead of the Club World Cup winners.

Harvey Elliott would count as a homegrown midfielder for Spurs

It has already been detailed that Tottenham need to address their massive homegrown problem in the summer transfer window. Both Gibbs-White and Eze are from England, which indicates that Spurs would prefer their next attacking midfielder to be a homegrown player.

Harvey Elliott fits the bill and he was highly impressive for Liverpool during the 2023/24 season. While he saw less game time during their most recent campaign, Elliott showed what he is capable of at the UEFA Euro U21s tournament. He helped England win the competition with five goals, including one each in the quarter-final and final, as well as a semi-final brace.

Again, Spurs will have to act quickly if they want Elliott because RB Leipzig could wrap up a deal if Simons departs for Chelsea.

Maghnes Akliouche has already been linked with Tottenham

Tottenham were plotting a move for Maghnes Akliouche after missing out on Savinho. The expectation was that he would play on the left wing, but the Monaco man traditionally plays as an attacking midfielder. This makes him a viable alternative to Eze and like the other players listed, he is younger too.

Akilouche lacks experience outside of Ligue 1, but his stats are still impressive. His 10 assists last season showed he knows how to help his team score more goals. He has the potential to form a good relationship with Richarlison and even help Dominic Solanke find his form in front of goal.

The Frenchman would not be as cheap as Elliott or El Khannouss, but Spurs would not have to splash as much cash as they would have done on Eze or Gibbs-White.

Our top picks for who Tottenham should sign

Rogers would be an incredible signing for Spurs and while he would cost a sum which could be considered too high, he would take their attack to the next level. Simons is the next best option, but it is difficult to see what Tottenham would be able to do to stop him from joining Chelsea.

Should Spurs miss out on both those players, Elliott should be the one they turn to. He helps out on the homegrown front, is only 22 and has already shown he is good enough for the Premier League.

Chris Sutton has made his score prediction for this weekend, but he highlighted a problem in the Tottenham first-team squad which could have an effect when they take on Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for their first Premier League away trip this season against a team in fine form. Manchester City may have suffered a shock exit to Al Hilal at the Club World Cup, but Pep Guardiola’s team destroyed Wolves 4-0 in their opening league fixture.

Spurs come into this match at the end of a week full of frustrations. Last week’s 3-0 victory over Burnley might feel like ancient history, due to everything that has since happened off the pitch.

Manchester City are trying to prevent Tottenham from signing Savinho in a blow which leaves the team lacking quality on the left wing.

Worse still, Spurs lost out to Arsenal on Eberechi Eze, despite days of negotiations between Daniel Levy and Steve Parish. This means it has now been 19 days since Tottenham have signed a player. Their most recent addition is Joao Paulinha, who joined on loan from Bayern Munich.

Chris Sutton submits Manchester City vs Tottenham score prediction

Chris Sutton has made his prediction on BBC Sport for the weekend’s clashes and he has highlighted a problem Tottenham have not been able to overcome. The player-turned-pundit cannot see Thomas Frank and his players competing with the league’s elite teams, because they lack quality players.

He said: “Manchester City really impressed me last week and everyone is rightly talking about Tijjani Reijnders. Statman Dave told me to get him into my Fantasy team, I didn’t take that advice and I should’ve done. He was brilliant against Wolves.

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“I do think Tottenham will be a level above under Thomas Frank. It’ll be interesting how they set up. They played a back three in the Super Cup final against Paris St-Germain.

“Cristian Romero has signed a new contract for Tottenham, that’s a big deal. But how did they not get a deal for Eberechi Eze over the line? It had been going on for weeks and now Arsenal have come in and embarrassed them!

“Tottenham are still a few players short from properly challenging the really big teams and in this game I think City at home will be too strong for them.”

Chris Sutton’s prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs must rely on a Thomas Frank masterclass

Our prediction for Tottenham against Burnley was correct and like Sutton, we have also predicted Spurs to suffer a 2-1 defeat this weekend. Man City are off to a flying start and are the stronger team on paper.

However, Thomas Frank will do his best to give Tottenham a chance in this fixture. He almost masterminded a victory against PSG and had that been a league game, Spurs would have still picked up a draw.

The emphasis is likely to be on a strong defensive foundation, which then allows moments to get the ball forward to Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison.

Amidst reports linking Tottenham Hotspur with an audacious move for Morgan Rogers, Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has revealed whether there is any truth to the transfer rumours.

After missing out on Eberechi Eze in embarrassing fashion, there is no doubt that Daniel Levy and the Spurs hierarchy need to make some statement signings before the window closes to appease the Tottenham fan base.

Some reports indicate that they are now attempting to do just that by trying to poach Aston Villa’s best player.

A number of outlets have now reported that Tottenham view Morgan Rogers as their ‘dream signing’ and have made contact over a deal for the 23-year-old.

It has been claimed by several sources that Spurs would have to shatter their transfer record to bring Rogers through the door.

However, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, there is no chance of that happening before the window slams shut on September 1.

In fact, the journalist took to social media to claim that there is no truth to suggestions that Spurs have initiated contact over a move for Rogers.

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Bridge has solid sources at Tottenham and is usually reliable when it comes to news related to the North London club.

However, The Independent’s Miguel Delaney is convinced that Spurs have made a move through intermediaries to explore a move for Rogers.

When it was pointed out to Delaney that Bridge had contradictory information on the matter, he insisted that he was confident in his own sources.