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Tottenham could be on the brink of making a substantial profit on a player who has yet to make his first-team debut. Reports suggest that Championship club Sheffield United are eyeing up highly-regarded defender Ashley Phillips.

Spurs acquired the 20-year-old from Blackburn for £2million in 2023. He has spent the previous two seasons on loan at Plymouth and Stoke, respectively.

However, the England youth international might be set for another move ahead of the upcoming season. Sheffield United are reportedly considering a potential deal that could see Spurs pocket around £6million for a player who has never featured for them.

According to The Sun, the Blades are prepared to meet the asking price, but the transfer depends on new Spurs head coach Thomas Frank changing his stance. Currently, the ex-Brentford head coach is keen to take a look at Phillips during pre-season, the report states.

Spurs outmanoeuvred stiff competition from a number of Premier League sides to secure Phillips' signature two years ago. He was named Plymouth's Young Player of the Year in the 2023-24 season as the club earned promotion from League One to the Championship, reports the Express.

The young defender, who is also eligible to represent Wales, had an impressive stint at Stoke last season, helping them narrowly avoid relegation from the second tier by just two points. A move to Sheffield United would present a different challenge, as they aim to secure promotion to the Premier League following their unsuccessful play-off campaign in May.

Spurs have yet to bring in any new talent since Frank's appointment was announced. As anticipated, loans for Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich and Kevin Danso from Lens were made permanent at the end of the previous season.

The Telegraph reports that Spurs are keen on signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, which would mark the first business transaction between the clubs since 2011. Chelsea also reportedly had their eye on Kudus, but the Blues are currently finalising deals for fellow forwards Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro.

When Thomas Frank starts working with his Tottenham players later this week there will be one missing face that the new head coach might just wish he had at his disposal.

The Dane will have a large Spurs squad to make plenty of decisions about with 14 players alone returning from loan and Frank will need to make the calls on who stays, who goes and who needs to come into the club. However, one decision has already been made for him and such is the way in football it's a player he might well have wanted to keep.

Football is littered with transfers that had already been agreed before a new manager took charge and in Frank's case one of the club's loan players did not return from their time in France. That was Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who has now ended his time at Tottenham as his loan move to Marseille become permanent thanks to an obligation that will net the north London club around £17million (€20million).

The 29-year-old, now captain of Denmark, would have reached the end of his contract at Spurs this summer anyway so it's not like Frank would have been able to change what happened even without the obligation.

However, there may be a certain sense of 'what if' because the two men worked together years ago in the Danish international set-up, with Hojbjerg one of Frank's most trusted players in the centre of the pitch, particularly as Denmark reached the semi-finals of the European under-17 Championships.

"I coached Hojbjerg for three years in the Danish youth teams. I said to him, when he was in the under-17 national team, that he could be a world-class holding midfielder,” Frank said of his compatriot in 2021.

"On the ball his technical ability is extremely strong. He has a great first touch and a wide passing range. He is a very good passer, and he protects the ball well. He also has physicality and pace. He has the potential to be one of the best sitting midfielders in the Premier League."

The irony is that Frank is expected to require exactly that type of midfielder this summer in the transfer market when Tottenham already had a strong, experienced candidate for his system within their ranks.

Hojbjerg played 184 times for Spurs after joining in 2020 from Southampton, scoring 10 times and recording 17 assists. While he went from guaranteed starter under previous managers, he became more of a fringe player under Ange Postecoglou. The Dane still proved to be an important factor, often from the bench, in helping the north London outfit reach fifth place in the Premier League in the Australian's first season.

The midfielder then went to Marseille on loan last and played 32 times with three goals and four assists as Roberto De Zerbi's side finished second in Ligue 1 to secure Champions League football next season.

Frank and Tottenham will also have that on the menu but they will have to so without Hojbjerg's leadership in front of the defence.

We are now at the beginning of July and that should mean transfer activity at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium starts to ramp up. It has been a fairly quiet transfer window for the club so far this summer but Spurs have been active in the market.

Mathys Tel has joined Kevin Danso in making his loan move to the club permanent after the Lilywhites struck an agreement with Bayern Munich for the France Under-21 international. Tottenham are also on the verge of adding to their backline with the arrival of Japanese youngster Kota Takai from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale in a £5million deal.

Tottenham have plenty to do in the transfer market as they look to bounce back from finishing 17th last season under Ange Postecoglou and fans want the squad to be upgraded with some big-name additions. Eberechi Eze is the player on the lips of everyone after another stellar season for Crystal Palace as they won the FA Cup.

Then there is Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford who has been linked with a move to Tottenham following Thomas Frank's move across the capital to become Spurs boss. However, it may be Manchester United where the Cameroon international ends up ahead of the new season.

At a time when Tottenham are rather quiet on the transfer front and there are barely any whispers of incoming players, clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have already splashed the cash. The Reds have spent upwards of £200million on deals for Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili as they look to keep their place at the summit of the Premier League table.

Manchester City have spent more than £100million on deals for Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, with Chelsea completing a deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town and they now look to add Joao Pedro to their numbers after agreeing on a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for the Brazilian. Then there is Manchester United, who finished two places ahead of Spurs in the 2024/25 season, who have signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5million and they may add to their attack with Mbeumo moving from Brentford for a similar fee.

There is no doubt a feeling amongst Tottenham fans that the club are standing still when those around them are making moves in the transfer market. That in turns means Spurs are already playing catch-up when it comes to improving their squad ahead of the Premier League opener against Burnley.

What needs to be remembered, though, is Tottenham have spent the first part of the summer making a decision over Postecoglou's future before finally dismissing him and replacing him at the helm with Frank. Had the Australian remained in place, Johan Lange and Spurs could have got straight down to transfer business but they ultimately felt they needed a change in the hotseat after finishing 17th last season despite going all the way and winning the Europa League.

Frank has not even had the opportunity to meet his Tottenham players yet as they are still away on their summer break. The Dane will be able to take a closer look at his squad over the coming days as the start of pre-season draws ever closer and that may lead to transfer decisions once he has had a thorough inspection of the players at his disposal.

Tottenham's managerial decision has certainly had an impact on transfer movement and the hope will be that they start to add to their squad very soon as they don't want to fall even further behind their rivals. However, on the subject of transfers for a new head coach, it does need to be pointed out that Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison joined Tottenham in June 2023 before Postecoglou got the chance to work with his players on the training pitch for the very first time.

Frank did have a say in Tel's permanent Tottenham move, though, after giving the green light to the transfer. football.london reported last month that Frank was excited by the prospect of working with Tel, who he believes he can improve and the Dane studied the Frenchman himself and felt the move was a good one

Tottenham have already made a couple of moves in the transfer market but certainly not to the extent of some of their fellow Premier League teams. As we are now at the start of July, the north London club have to get moving in the transfer market to give Frank the best possible tools to get his new side challenging at the top of the table once again.

Mohammed Kudus has emerged as a potential target for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The 24-year-old winger currently faces an uncertain future at the London Stadium as West Ham look to raise funds during the summer transfer window.

Kudus, whose contract expires in June 2028, featured 32 times in the Premier League last season, scoring five goals and providing three assists. Despite his best efforts, the Hammers only managed to finish 14th, which – if it's any consolation – was still above Manchester United and Spurs.

The Ghana international's impressive performances across the frontline didn't go unnoticed. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up everything you need to know about Kudus and his future at West Ham.

Chelsea consider West Ham swoop

football.london understands that Kudus is an option for the Blues this summer. Last month, the Hammers offered Chelsea the opportunity to sign the Ghanaian as they looked to raise some funds.

The two Premier League clubs held talks about a potential transfer, but no official offer was submitted. It's understood that Kudus has an £85 million release clause in his contract at the London Stadium, but West Ham would be willing to do business for a bit cheaper.

Chelsea refuse to rule out Tottenham hijacking

According to the Mail Online, Chelsea have not ruled out a potential move for Kudus this summer. The report claims that the Blues would likely need to sell a few players before swooping in for the winger, with Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens set to follow Liam Delap to Stamford Bridge.

It's said that Chelsea have considered the possibility of sending players to West Ham in return, but the east Londoners are not interested in the potential trades that have been proposed thus far. Mail Online have confirmed that Kudus has an £85m release clause in his contract – £125m for clubs in Saudi Arabia – but the Hammers are not demanding those fees in full.

West Ham would reportedly be willing to listen to 'more reasonable offers' for their winger. Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham have also shown an interest in Kudus.

Tottenham want to break 'unofficial embargo'

According to The Telegraph, Tottenham want to break their 'unofficial transfer embargo' with West Ham and make Kudus the first player to make the switch in over 10 years. The report claims that the Ghanaian has been identified as a primary target by the north Londoners, who believe they can sign him for less than his release clause.

It's said that Spurs were keen on Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo and Eberechi Eze, but it's Kudus who now looks 'most likely' to bolster Thomas Frank's side. The Telegraph add that Tottenham are yet to make an offer, and the club will need to fund signings by selling players this summer.

Carragher addresses Kudus situation

Towards the end of last season, Jamie Carragher tipped Kudus to leave West Ham in the summer transfer window. Speaking on Sky Sports during the Hammers' clash against Nottingham Forest, the former Liverpool defender said: "There's no doubt he's a quality player who should be playing for a team, I would say, that is closer to the top of the table than near the bottom right now.

"Last season, he looked fantastic. He just hasn't looked the same player this season. So, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a change there in some way because West Ham need the money.

"Other clubs might think this is just an off season for him and last season was the real Kudus. And if they can get that player then maybe it's a good signing. So, it might be the type of situation where it maybe works for."

Thomas Frank is set to meet his Tottenham squad at the end of this week and the new head coach will be needing further new faces as pre-season gets up and running.

The Spurs players are expected to start returning to training at Hotspur Way from the end of this week, with many returning on Saturday, but with certain squad members returning on different days depending on when they began their holidays following international duty last month.

Frank has already met a couple of the injured players who were doing rehabilitation work when he stopped by the training ground a few weeks ago, including vice-captain James Maddison and defender Radu Dragusin.

The last players to return to the Enfield training complex are likely to be those who took part in the U21 and U19 European Championships this summer, namely Archie Gray who grabbed a winner's medal with England in the former, as well as Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert who reached the semi-finals with France. In the U19s competition, Mikey Moore and development squad player Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny went out in the group stages.

The loan players will return to Hotspur Way for the first time in a while, including players such as Bryan Gil as he looks to return from his knee surgery late last season, Manor Solomon, Yang Min-hyeok, Ashley Phillips and Alejo Veliz as well as academy players like Jamie Donley, Will Lankshear, Josh Keeley, Alfie Dorrington, George Abbott, Alfie Devine, Matthew Craig and Luca Gunter.

Luka Vuskovic, who was on loan with Devine at Westerlo, will finally arrive at Tottenham after signing two years ago from Hajduk Split as the big centre-back had to wait until his 18th birthday to make the move according to EU regulations.

Frank will want to look at many of his squad before deciding what comes next for them and therefore what further areas of the squad need trimming and strengthening.

But who will be the next new face to walk through the doors at Hotspur Way? All eyes will be on a new signing with Spurs interested in potential targets across the game such as West Ham's Mohammed Kudus and Southampton's Tyler Dibling as they seek a new attacking player able to play on the right and up front and a midfielder as a priority for the squad.

The likelihood is that the next Tottenham transfer could be a centre-back though in the shape of £5million arrival Kota Takai after his club Kawasaki Frontale confirmed that the 20-year-old Japan international will travel this weekend to finalise a move.

In a statement to their supporters, the J.League club said: "We would like to inform you that Kota Takai will be leaving the team at the end of the activity on Saturday, July 5 in order to complete the necessary procedures and preparations for a transfer to an overseas club. We will notify you further regarding future plans as soon as they are officially decided.

"After the match against Kashima Antlers in the 23rd round of the J1 League on Saturday, July 5, Kota Takai will be giving a speech to the supporters. In addition, Takai will not be participating in the Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, July 6."

That would suggest that the young centre-back will be joining up with Frank's pre-season next week and in plenty of time for the club's tour to Hong Kong and South Korea next month so he can continue to bond with his new team-mates.

Once again July 1 has rolled around at Tottenham Hotspur and with it comes the official confirmation of various transfers in and out of the north London club.

The first day of July is now significant for two reasons in football. The first is that players' contracts, both loan ones and those with their clubs, are almost always dated until June 30 so for those reaching the expiry of their deals they will become free agents when July rolls around.

The second reason in today's version of the game is that July 1 marks the start of the new financial year when it comes to the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). All clubs must have their finances in order by the close of play on June 30, which means you will see some sides rushing to get deals done before that deadline to ensure they escape penalties while other clubs will wait until the next year's accounts to get sales or signings registered to give them more leeway in the 12 months to come.

At Tottenham we know that four transfers will go through on Tuesday to mark the start of the new football financial year and the start of the Thomas Frank era.

Mathys Tel's permanent move from Bayern Munich will become official, costing Spurs a sum of £29.8million (€35million), plus a potential further £4.2million (€5million) in add-ons. Another loan move made permanent, albeit through the original obligation inserted into it, is Kevin Danso's £21million switch to Tottenham from Lens as his loan deal from the French club concluded at the end of Monday.

Luka Vuskovic will finally arrive at Tottenham after what must have felt like a lifetime for the teenager. The Croatian was signed from Hajduk Split all the way back in 2023 but has had to wait two years before turning 18 so he could officially make the move to north London following loans in Poland and Belgium. Reports at the time put the overall package for the young centre-back at around the £12million mark.

To balance up somewhat that £63million outlay is the departure of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Dane will officially join Marseille in a move that overall will have netted Spurs around £17million (€20million) following his season on loan in France.

July 1 also means that Sergio Reguilon, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman are no longer employees of Tottenham as their contracts have now been completed as has the loan deal for Timo Werner as the German returns to RB Leipzig amid links with a new move to MLS.

Tottenham supporters will now be hoping for new arrivals to bolster Frank's squad with some quality for the Premier League and Champions League-packed season ahead.

Tottenham have plenty to do on the transfer front as they look to hit the next level under Thomas Frank. The 2024/25 season did not go to plan in the Premier League for Ange Postecoglou and that ultimately resulted in his dismissal despite leading Tottenham to Europa League glory.

Last season proved that Spurs have a list of transfer musts to complete this summer if they are to get back to competing towards the top of the Premier League. The club certainly need to address their options in the final third, especially as Son Heung-min could potentially bring the curtain down on ten years in N17.

Amid links with Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, Mohammed Kudus of West Ham has now found himself in the headlines regarding a move to Tottenham. He is one of many players of interest to Spurs when it comes to their summer transfer dealings.

Kudus did make an instant impact in the Premier League following his move to West Ham from Ajax in the summer of 2023. However, last season proved to be a bit more difficult for him due to the Hammers' struggles.

West Ham and Tottenham don't usually do deals together but that could all change if the 24-year-old is to swap east London for north London over the coming weeks. So what exactly would Kudus bring to Frank's Tottenham team? football.london takes a look at what those who know him best have said during his time at West Ham:

Jarrod Bowen on Kudus

“He’s really good, you see his quality and the impact he’s had straight away," outlined Bowen. "I’d say I’m experienced in the Premier League, so I’m trying to help the players who come in. Especially with Mo in my position.

"These players are top players you know. Mo has played in the World Cup and the Champions League, these players don’t need much in terms of learning.

"We have a great connection, he’s left-footed off the right, the same as me. I just try to help him as much as I can. The way he’s started for us, the impact he’s had, the goals he’s scored, he’s a very special player."

Bowen on Kudus' work rate

“I’d never actually scored at Old Trafford before," said Bowen back in May after their win over Manchester United. "There have been a few stadiums this season that I’ve wanted to score and you know me, I love scoring goals, and scoring goals and winning games is even better.

“But it wasn’t just me. It was Mo pressuring, winning the ball back, which he does so well. He works so hard to win the ball back, and then ‘Az’ [Aaron Wan-Bissaka] putting it on a plate for me and then it was down to me to finish and to have that moment in front of the away fans."

Michail Antonio on Kudus

"I just feel it’s his humbleness; his grounding. His low centre of gravity, his trickery with the ball and his eye for a goal," Antonio told TNT Sports.

"A lot of people will come to the Premier League and realise how fast-paced and strong you need to be and the pace of the football. Normally when you play in other leagues, you just need one of the three but in the Premier League you need to have all three.

"And Kudus has it and has it in abundance. That’s why I feel like he’s managed to come in and do it so easy."

He added: "When he first came, he was quite quiet. He kept himself to himself and kept everything quite basic in training. As he's built his confidence in games, in training he’s just come alive.

"The certain things he’s been doing in training… it’s like the ball is glued to his feet, it’s actually unbelievable."

Aaron Cresswell on Kudus

"I've just trained with him and you don't want to go anywhere near him," Cresswell told West Ham's official Iron Cast podcast (via BBC). "I'm up against him all the time and I'm like: 'Mo, go on over to the left!'

"He's a top, top talent and I think we haven't seen the best of him yet. I won't go near him in training because I know if I'm going to try to knock him off the ball I had better make sure he's not looking and doesn't see me coming.

"You just can't get near him. He's so strong, so quick, so sharp."

Crysencio Summerville on Kudus

"He is a good player – but also a good person," he told Voetbal International. "I don't think I need to explain his football skills. Everyone can see that. Wow.

"Sometimes I see things for training that make me think this is too insane. He is a top talent."

Emerson Palmieri on Kudus

"Ahhh, he’s so strong," revealed the left-back. "Sometimes I train against him and go to tackle him, and I feel my leg, he’s so strong. He protects the ball so good, and he’s so explosive inside the first 10 metres. When he goes one vs one against me I just think: 'Someone help me.’"

David Moyes on Kudus

"Mohammed Kudus is not just important for this tie tomorrow, but he's been important for us all season," said Moyes in April 2024. "He will be important for us going forward in the future as well. He's a young boy who has only just come into the Premier League and he's settled in incredibly well.

"It's not easy to start well in the Premier League, and a lot of the players who come from overseas find it quite difficult, but I think Mo, though, because of the experience he's had - in Denmark, the Netherlands and now the Premier League - it has given him a better coverage of different leagues."

Graham Potter on Kudus

“I think Mo has had probably a season that, from his perspective, would be a little bit disappointing, not because of his lack of effort or anything like that, but sometimes these things happen,” said Potter.

“Speaking personally, he’s been great with us in terms of how he’s worked every day, fantastic. He has built his fitness up, built his condition up to the point where he can sustain things a lot better now."

All eyes are on Tottenham's next move in the transfer market as they look to hand Thomas Frank a squad that can compete on four fronts this season. Having signed Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel permanently, Spurs are on the verge of securing a deal for Kawasaki Frontale defender Kota Takai as they build a team for the future.

Fans are desperate for a big-name addition, with Bryan Mbeumo and Eberechi Eze two players mentioned in regards to a switch to N17. Tottenham may miss out on the duo, though, as Mbeumo could be heading to Manchester United and Arsenal are believed to have made contact with Eze's camp.

When it comes to improving on their options in the final third, West Ham ace Mohammed Kudus has been linked with a Tottenham transfer. He is one of many players of interest to Tottenham when it comes to their summer transfer dealings.

The Ghana international may have only joined the Hammers from Ajax two years ago but he could be set for a swift exit. Kudus has an £85million release clause in his contract that is said to run for the first 10 days of July, although Tottenham may be able to complete a deal for well below the aforementioned figure.

The 24-year-old made a real impact in his first season in London after registering 14 goals and nine assists under David Moyes. Kudus did in fact make his mark against Frank's Brentford side with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 defeat in November 2023, before registering an assist in a 4-2 win three months later.

Things didn't quite go Kudus' way last term as he contributed five goals and four assists in a struggling West Ham team. Tottenham fans may well remember his red card in the London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October after clashing with Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr.

The duo may become teammates of Kudus if he is to head across the capital before the end of the summer transfer window. While he may not have hit the heights for West Ham last season, there is no denying that he is someone Frank could take to the next level.

A player who is quick, a good dribbler and someone who can create a piece of magic, the Dane could help Kudus with his inconsistent performances at times and get him performing at a higher level week in, week out. Speaking to Iron Cast, West Ham's official podcast, Aaron Cresswell gave an insight into just what it is like trying to deal with Kudus on the pitch.

"I've just trained with him and you don't want to go anywhere near him," said the left-back (via BBC). "I'm up against him all the time and I'm like: 'Mo, go on over to the left!' He's a top, top talent and I think we haven't seen the best of him yet.

"I won't go near him in training because I know if I'm going to try to knock him off the ball I had better make sure he's not looking and doesn't see me coming. You just can't get near him. He's so strong, so quick, so sharp."

One of the benefits to signing Kudus would be his versatility. The ex-Ajax man can play across the front three and he would give Frank so many options.

Last season he lined up on the right wing, left wing, as an attacking midfielder, behind the striker and even as a centre forward. The left-footed player mainly operated from the right-wing in his first season at West Ham under Moyes and he flourished there with 10 goals and four assists coming from that position.

Not only could Kudus compete with players such as Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Son Heung-min, Richarlison, Manor Solomon, Mikey Moore and Tel for a place on the wing, he could also be a good alternative to Dominic Solanke up front. Frank already knows what the Accra-born player can produce and whether he gets the opportunity to work with him will become clear in the weeks ahead.

Whether it is to be Kudus or another attacking option, Tottenham need to add to their front three if they are to really kick on in the Premier League next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are considering bringing to a close a 14-year gap since they last bought a player from West Ham as they mull over a move for Mohammed Kudus.

Spurs are attempting to strengthen Thomas Frank's side and have been looking for a versatile attacker who can play on the right wing or up front and the 24-year-old Ghana international does meet those requirements. Tottenham and West Ham historically do not do much transfer business and the last time the north London side bought someone from the Hammers was all the way back in 2011 with the purchase of Scott Parker.

However, West Ham need to sell players in order to finance a rebuild under Graham Potter and are believed to be willing to allow Kudus to leave this summer. That desperation could see them end the transfer impasse with Spurs for a player who is among those the Lilywhites have identified for the position.

Kudus reportedly has an £85million release clause for Premier League sides for the first 10 days of July but Tottenham would be looking to sign him for far less than that, with the versatile midfielder having endured a difficult second season in the Premier League following his move from Ajax.

Our Tottenham correspondents Alasdair Gold and Rob Guest discussed the potential move as well as other transfer targets and the future of Cristian Romero in the latest episode of their podcast Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham. You can listen to the show by heading right here or watch the episode on YouTube by going here.

Jimmy Greaves, the legendary footballer, spoke candidly about the difficulties he encountered after hanging up his boots. His remarkable tally of 402 goals in 617 matches, including spells with Chelsea and Tottenham, made him a household name.

He played a role in the triumphant 1966 World Cup squad for England, although he was absent from the final after getting injured against Argentina in the quarterfinal and subsequently losing his place to Geoff Hurst, who went on to score a memorable hat-trick in the final. Sadly, Greaves passed away at the age of 81 in September 2021.

While his playing career was illustrious, the financial rewards in his era were nothing like today’s lucrative football world, leading him to make a living by selling clothes from his modest accommodation post-retirement.

In an interview with The Guardian back in 2003, Greaves lamented: "Let's make no bones about it. I wish I was playing today. Some of the players get half a dozen goals a year and earn a fortune. I look back at my Chelsea days when you had to fight to get £8 a week in the winter and £7 a week in the summer, and now there are players who haven't even played in the first team on 40 grand a week."

Greaves’ latter years as a player were marred by alcoholism, which had adverse effects on his time at West Ham, Brentwood, and Chelmsford City and continued to trouble him upon descending the tiers of English football.

He candidly shared about his struggles with alcoholism in the 1970s, revealing how it affected his life. "I lost the 70s completely. They passed me by. I was drunk from 1972 to 1977. I woke up one morning and realised that it was a different world. I'd been living in it, but I hadn't been aware of it."

As the decade drew to a close, Greaves' life hit rock bottom, facing bankruptcy and a divorce from his wife, Irene. He was forced to move into a modest one-bedroom flat and resorted to selling women's jumpers to make ends meet.

The harsh realities of his situation eventually prompted Greaves to acknowledge his drinking problem, stating: "I realised that I had to stop drinking long before I stopped. It wasn't an overnight thing."

Greaves' battle with addiction even saw him spend five months at Warley mental home in 1977.

However, he ultimately found the strength to quit drinking, saying: "One day I said, 'That's it' and I just walked away from it, and fortunately, to this day, I've stayed clear of it.

"Are there times when I really want to have a drink? Of course there are, same as everybody else; it doesn't dehumanise you. You get down the same as everybody else and you'd like to go out and have a few jars, but you know that you can't do that."

Although there were times when Greaves felt the urge to drink again, he persevered. Following his recovery, Greaves briefly explored a career in football media, working as both a columnist and a television presenter. He struck up a superb rapport with former Liverpool striker Ian St John, with the Saint and Greavesie show proving to be hugely popular.

However, he concluded that the financial rewards weren't substantial. Greaves acknowledged: "Playing football gave me a good living and television also gave me a good living, but if you say, 'Have I got any money?', the answer's no. I've just never earned enough to pack it away."