Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have often been blessed with the likes of Harry Kane providing the goods within the final third - but the current first-team are massively lacking such a presence.

Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani have shared the responsibility at the top end of the pitch in recent weeks, but neither have scored since the middle of September.

Their joint top scorer in the Premier League this season is centre-back Micky van de Ven, which further highlights the lack of quality currently available to Thomas Frank at present.

However, with the January transfer window rapidly approaching, the Dane has the opportunity to land a new talisman to help him in his quest for success in North London.

Numerous players have emerged on their shortlist over the last couple of weeks, with returning Sporting Director Fabio Paratici likely to play a key role in any potential pursuits.

Spurs’ move for a new talisman in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been strongly linked with a move to land Porto star Samu Aghehowa this winter, but such a deal would be a huge investment.

After scoring 11 times in his first 14 outings of 2025/26, it’s safe to say the Spaniard is a man in demand - but any transfer would cost a pretty penny given his current £87m release clause.

However, he’s not alone on their shortlist at present, with Paratici making the most of his Juventus links to try and strike a deal for the signature of Dušan Vlahović.

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta, the Lilywhites are firmly in the race to land a cut-price deal for the Serbian, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2026.

It also confirms that Bayern Munich are in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, but Frank’s men could hold the edge given Paratici’s links to the Old Lady.

Such a move would finally hand the Dane the talisman he’s craved, which could allow the frontman to be his next version of a player who thrived under his guidance at Brentford.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Toney

During Frank’s seven years at the helm with Brentford, he was able to rely on striker Ivan Toney for a four-year period, with the striker constantly producing the goods in front of goal.

The Englishman registered 72 goals in his 141 appearances for the Bees, the most of any player during the Dane’s reign across the capital - often being the player to pop up in key moments.

Given the lack of options currently at Frank’s disposal in North London, there’s no denying he wishes he could rely on a player of the 29-year-old’s quality.

Such a move could have come to fruition back in the summer of 2024, but the Lilywhites opted for a move for Dominic Solanke, as the former Bees star completed his own move to Saudi Arabia.

A deal for Toney’s signature may prove unlikely, but Frank could land his next version of the Englishman in the coming months, should Paratici complete a deal for Vlahovic.

Both have demonstrated unbelievable goalscoring records over recent seasons, with the Juve star finding the net 62 times in his 152 appearances for the Italian giants.

The 25-year-old's goalscoring record is one thing, but his current contract issue in Turin could provide the Lilywhites board with a bargain option to solve their centre-forward woes.

His underlying figures from the current campaign also showcase the all-round quality he would add to the side, finally handing the manager the needed presence he’s craved since taking the reins.

Vlahovic, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers” by Luca Toni, has only started three Serie A games in 2025/26, but it hasn’t stopped him from finding the back of the net on two occasions.

His tally of 1.1 shots on target per 90 also highlight his accuracy in attacking areas, with his total of 2.5 aerials won per 90 handing Frank the focal point he’s searching for.

The Serbian currently ranks in the 88th percentile of all players in Italy for goals scored per 90, potentially making him the missing piece in the Dane’s Lilywhites attacking puzzle.

It’s currently unclear how much a deal for Vlahovic would cost this summer, but it’s evident that he would be a perfect addition to the club’s impressive frontline.

Should he match the levels produced by Toney under the Dane’s guidance at Brentford, it would be a stellar move and offer the chance for the club to reach new heights in the near future.

Tottenham Hotspur have now expressed an interest in signing a "world-class" forward, who Thomas Frank approved signing during the summer transfer window.

Spurs looking to sign new forward amid Tel and Odobert concerns

Frank strengthened his forward line during the summer transfer window, with Mohammed Kudus arriving from West Ham United, and the 25-year-old has emerged as a key player so far this season, chipping in with one goal and five assists in the Premier League.

However, there are concerns about the performances of some of the players who were already at the club, with journalist Andreas Vou particularly critical of the decision to bring in Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert, rather than making one statement signing in attack.

The duo were benched for the 3-0 victory against Everton on Sunday, having picked up just one top-flight goal between them this term, and the Lilywhites have now set out to sign another new forward.

That is according to a report from Spain, which reveals Tottenham have now expressed an interest in signing Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo, who has been put up for sale by the La Liga club ahead of the January transfer window.

Kubo is now expected to leave Real Sociedad this winter, which could open the door for a move to N17, and there is a feeling he could now be available for the relatively affordable fee of €40m (£35m).

Manchester United and Everton are also in the race for the winger, and there are indications that Frank could be keen too, having already approved a move back in the summer transfer window.

"World-class" Kubo may need fresh start

The Japanese forward is clearly very talented, having received plaudits from former Barcelona boss Xavi in the past, who said: "(Takefusa) Kubo is a world-class footballer. Not just with the ball, but also without it."

The 24-year-old has also impressed at times over the past year, particularly catching the eye with his dribbling ability, ranking in the 94th percentile for successful take-ons per 90, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

That said, there may be concerns about some of the Japan international's recent performances, given that he has provided just one goal for Real Sociedad in La Liga this term, while failing to pick up a single assist.

Kubo may simply need a fresh start in a new league, having been in La Liga since the 2019-20 campaign, so a move to Tottenham could be ideal, although his recent form means he would be a risky signing.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank will be delighted with where the team is currently at, after moving up to third in the Premier League table on Sunday.

The former Brentford boss inherited a team that finished 17th in the division under Ange Postecoglou last season, despite winning the Europa League, which makes their current form all the more impressive.

Spurs travelled to Merseyside to take on Everton at the Hill Dickinson stadium on Sunday in the Premier League, and came away from that match with a 3-0 win.

Central midfielder Micky van de Ven took his tally for the season to five goals with two strikes in the first half, before Pape Matar Sarr added a third late on by heading in from close-range after Richarlison nodded the ball back across goal.

You would often be hard-pressed to find many negatives from a 3-0 win away from home in the Premier League, but there were some for the Lilywhites on Sunday.

For example, there was another fairly underwhelming performance from summer signing Xavi Simons in the middle of the park, and he needs to step up for Spurs in the coming weeks and months.

Why Xavi Simons needs to step up for Spurs

The Europa League champions splashed out £52m to sign the Netherlands international from RB Leipzig, possibly with the intention of him replacing James Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season.

It is easy to see why they were willing to splash the cash on the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona youngster, as he produced consistent quality in the Bundesliga in the last two seasons.

As you can see in the table above, Simons racked up 18 goals and 26 'big chances' created as an attacking midfielder or winger, proving that he can make a big impact in the final third.

However, the Dutchman has no goals and one assist, which came from a corner, in ten appearances in all competitions for Tottenham since his move to the club in the summer window.

Simons, as of yet, has been unable to translate his influence in the Bundesliga over to the Premier League. Whether that will come with more time and experience in England, it remains to be seen.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder played 62 minutes against Everton on Sunday, per Sofascore, and came off the pitch without any shots on goal or any chances created to show for his efforts for the Lilywhites, which shows that it was an ineffective performances in the final third.

Along with his struggles in the Premier League, Simons also has no goals, one key pass, and no 'big chances' created in three appearances in the Championship for Tottenham this term.

This shows that he has been struggling domestically and on the continent stage, which will be a concern for supporters and Frank at this stage, as the Dutch star is clearly capable of much better than he is showing, given his output for Leipzig in his two full seasons in Germany.

With the £52m signing's struggles at the top end of the pitch, though, it could be the right time for the Danish head coach to provide a young player with an opportunity to step up.

Luca Williams-Barnett made his first-team debut for the club in the League Cup in a 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers, and he could emerge as a surprise upgrade on Simons.

Spurs travel to Tyneside to take on Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday night, which could be the perfect opportunity to offer the teenage starlet a chance to shine.

Why Luca Williams-Barnett could be a Xavi Simons upgrade

The 17-year-old star's form for the club at academy level this season suggests that he has the potential to be an exciting player for the first-team if he can make the step up.

As aforementioned, Simons has not stepped up to deliver goals and assists since his big-money move from Leipzig, with a goal contribution every ten matches on average so far.

Williams-Barnett, meanwhile, has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 12 appearances in all competitions this season, including a three-minute cameo for the first-team, per Transfermarkt.

On top of his exceptional form in front of goal in the current campaign for Tottenham's youth teams, the England U18 international also scored 20 goals in all competitions last season.

As you can see in the table above, Williams-Barnett has provided goals and assists on a consistent basis since the start of last season, averaging a goal or an assist every hour or so over the past 18 months.

U23 scout Antonio Mango went as far as to call him the "most underrated talent in English Academies", which speaks to how impressed he has been with the Spurs youngster's performances.

His talent has been recognised this season, though, as he won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for his displays at U21 level in September.

With all of this in mind, and the fact that his main position is as an attacking midfielder, it could be the right time for Frank to provide him with another chance to impress at first-team level after his debut against Doncaster last month.

He has shown unbelievable form and consistency for the academy team for more than a year, and his numbers at youth level suggest that he does have the potential to be an upgrade on the currently underperforming Xavi Simons, if he can make the step up.

Tottenham Hotspur made a fairly bold call in the summer when they decided to part ways with Ange Postecoglou after he won the Europa League trophy at the end of last season.

The Lilywhites ended a trophy drought that lasted the best part of two decades, but that was not enough to keep the Australian head coach in his post in North London.

They opted to go with Thomas Frank, who was poached from fellow Premier League side Brentford, to replace Postecoglou in the dugout, and he has had a terrific start to life at the club.

The Danish tactician led his side to a 3-0 win away at Everton in the top-flight on Sunday, which has left Spurs sitting third in the Premier League table after nine matches.

Two goals from Micky van de Ven and a late header from Pape Matar Sarr secured all three points for the Lilywhites on Merseyside, but it was not a perfect performance.

For example, the Spurs head coach may not have been entirely pleased with the performance of his starting number nine, as Randal Kolo Muani struggled.

Why Spurs need more from Randal Kolo Muani

The Lilywhites need to get more out of their summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain, because his performance against Everton was slightly alarming.

In his defence, it was his first Premier League start and only his second outing in the league for Spurs. However, he lost seven of his eight duels and took four unsuccessful touches from 15 total touches, per Sofascore, which shows that the striker struggled on and off the ball.

Kolo Muani needed to offer more of an outlet in the number nine position to take pressure off his team at times, as the hosts pressed for a goal but could not get past an impressive Guglielmo Vicario, and failed to do so, as James Tarkowski and Michael Keane found it too easy to get the better of him.

It remains to be seen whether or not Spurs will see major improvement from the France international during his time in North London, because his form across two seasons with PSG left a fair bit to be desired.

As you can see in the table above, Kolo Muani underperformed his xG and only scored eight goals in 36 Ligue 1 appearances for the French giants.

He did, though, score eight goals in 16 Serie A matches on loan at Juventus in the second half of last season, along with two goals in three games at the Club World Cup, per Sofascore.

Whilst Spurs are looking for more from their striker and hoping that he can channel the form that he displayed for Juventus, the club are reportedly eyeing a striker who would be an instant upgrade on him.

Spurs have held talks to sign new striker

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs interested in a deal to sign Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa in the January transfer window.

The report claims that Spurs, Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest are all showing an interest in the Spain international, as they look to bolster their squads.

It adds that Porto have a €100m release clause, around £87m, in the marksman's contract at the club, and they are not willing to allow him to leave for less than that figure.

CaughtOffside adds that Spurs have held internal talks over the potential of a short-term loan, for the second half of the season, with an option to make it permanent next summer, but the £87m valuation is a roadblock at this moment in time.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Tottenham will test the waters with a formal offer for Samu's services when the January transfer window opens for business.

Why Spurs should sign Samu in January

Spurs should swoop to sign the Porto centre-forward ahead of the second half of the campaign because he could come in as an instant upgrade on Kolo Muani.

As aforementioned, the France international's contrasting form for Juventus and PSG suggests that there is no guarantee that he will improve his performances and become a star for Frank in the next couple of months before the January window.

This means that the Lilywhites may get to January and realise that they need a consistent and prolific striker who can score them the goals they may need to win silverware, or to qualify for the Champions League.

Samu's form for Porto suggests that he could arrive in North London to hit the ground running as a lethal scorer for Frank, as he has scored five goals in seven league games this season, per Sofascore.

The Spanish marksman also scored 25 goals in 41 matches for Porto in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which included six goals in nine appearances in the Europa League.

As you can see in the table above, the former Atletico Madrid youngster outperformed Kolo Muani at league level last season, with nine more goals and one more assist in just four more appearances.

Samu, who was described as an "absolute powerhouse" by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored eight goals in all competitions so far this term, per Sofascore, whilst Micky van de Ven is Tottenham's top goalscorer with five goals, per Transfermarkt.

This suggests that he would come in as an instant upgrade on Kolo Muani, whilst also solving a glaring issue for Spurs, because their centre-back is their top goalscorer heading into November.

Samu's return of 33 goals for Porto since the start of last season shows that he can be a prolific and consistent performer at the top end of the pitch for Frank, whilst it remains to be seen which side of Kolo Muani will settle down in North London.

Therefore, Spurs should be looking to wrap up a deal for the Spanish centre-forward when the January transfer window opens for business, whether that is an initial loan or a straight-up permanent move.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has been left unimpressed by one of the players he inherited, and may look to replace him in the January transfer window.

Spurs move up to third after victory at the Hill Dickinson

With Tottenham finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, Frank was always going to have a tough job on his hands trying to turn the north London club back into contenders at the top end of the table, but the Dane has made a solid start.

Courtesy of the 3-0 victory against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, Spurs are now up to third in the Premier League table, with the manager taking the time to praise his side's performance after the match.

Micky van de Ven secured the first brace of his career in the 3-0 victory, meaning the centre-back is now tied with Richarlison as the Lilywhites' top goalscorer in all competitions this season, with the Brazilian also on three goals.

However, two of the Brazilian's goals came on the opening day of the campaign against Burnley, with the 28-year-old failing to find the back of the net on a regular basis, while Dominic Solanke has had a different problem since moving to the capital.

The striker has suffered consistent injury issues since arriving in north London, making just two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, and Frank is now unimpressed by the former AFC Bournemouth man.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which claims the Tottenham boss doesn't fancy Solanke, with the manager now deciding he wants to sign a new striker, and the Englishman could be replaced in the January transfer window.

Having suffered an ankle injury, the 28-year-old is set to spend a prolonged period on the sidelines, which could be an issue, given that Mathys Tel isn't exactly flourishing, having scored just one Premier League goal in seven appearances.

"Fantastic" Solanke needs to put injury problems behind him

If Frank is questioning the three-time England international due to his injury record, he may have a point, given that he has spent a lot of time on the treatment table over the course of the past two seasons.

However, should the centre-forward be able to overcome his issues, he could be a better option than the likes of Tel and Richarlison, having amassed 21 goal contributions in all competitions last term, in what was an impressive debut campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur moved up to third in the Premier League table on Sunday night when they travelled to the Hill Dickinson stadium to beat Everton 3-0.

The Lilywhites were not in total control, as they needed Guglielmo Vicario to make two incredibly impressive stops, but they did end the night with a comfortable scoreline.

Micky van de Ven's first-half performance provided Spurs with a platform to go on and win the match, as he scored two goals to take his tally for the season to five.

Why Micky van de Ven has drawn comparisons to Jan Vertonghen

It feels inevitable that a left-footed centre-back will be compared to Jan Vertonghen at Spurs, particularly when the Belgian star scored five goals from centre-back in his first Premier League season in North London in the 2012/13 campaign, per Sofascore.

Vertonghen scored 14 goals in 314 appearances for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, so it is easy to understand why some supporters have made the comparison, particularly when van de Ven once revealed that he "learned from" the Belgium international when watching him as a kid.

It was the former Spurs titan's defensive work that made him a standout star, though, as he earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year on two occasions, without scoring a single league goal in the second inclusion.

That is why Tottenham supporters should be looking to another player to compare to Vertonghen, as Kevin Danso's defensive efforts against Everton were more Vertonghen-esque than van de Ven's.

Spurs have unearthed their new Jan Vertonghen

Van de Ven may have scored two goals and impressed at the top end of the pitch, but it was Danso who was the shining light defensively for Thomas Frank against the Toffees.

The Austria international, as shown in the post above, made the most clearances in a game for the club since Vertonghen made 21 just shy of nine years ago.

It was an incredibly impressive outing from the former Southampton man against Everton, as he was consistently in the right place at the right time to make vital defensive interventions to prevent Vicario from being worked even more than he was.

As you can see in the table above, Danso offered far more to the team defensively than van de Ven did, with 11 more clearances, two more blocks, and a higher success rate in his duels on the ground and in the air.

These statistics show that the 27-year-old colossus, who was described as "quick" and "aggressive" by Jamie Redknapp, was the defensive cornerstone for the Lilywhites, and carried the Dutchman to a degree.

The £20m signing from Lens may not be a left-footed centre-back, or a huge goal threat, but he has shown that he has the impressive defensive instincts and qualities to be a Vertonghen-esque figure at the back for Frank.

If he can continue to put in performances like the one he showed against Everton, Cristian Romero may have a job on his hands to find a way of getting back into the starting line-up, as Danso currently looks undroppable.

Frank appears to have unearthed his own Vertonghen in the defensive monster, who has won 100% of his ground duels in the Premier League this season, and long may it continue as Spurs look to climb up the table.

David Moyes' blistering start back to life in the Everton dug-out feels like a very long time ago now.

Indeed, the Scotsman was just the antidote the Toffees needed after the wheels came off Sean Dyche's miserable reign, with just two defeats picked up from his opening ten games back in charge of the Premier League titans last season, steering them comfortably away from relegation.

The Merseyside outfit is still six points clear of that dreaded relegation zone in the here and now, but there are concerns in the air at the Toffees all the same, with Everton only coming out on top with a win in the league once across their last five matches.

A 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday would have only added to those worries, as former Everton hero Richarlison stood out for Thomas Frank's away side.

Richarlison's potential Everton return

Richarlison has often found his time at Tottenham Hotspur to be fraught with bumps, but he would put the game beyond all doubt on Sunday evening when heading into the path of Pape Matar Sarr to make it 3-0.

The passionate Brazilian only has 23 goals next to his name for Spurs from 104 total appearances, but recent reports - as perTEAMTalk - suggest that the North Londoners are willing to cash in on their one-time £60m buy in January, and that Everton are circling.

It would well be a masterstroke of a return as the Toffees attempt to feel comfortable about their striker options again.

While Richarlison might be remembered most fondly by those on Merseyside for his gung-ho performances down either wing, it feels unlikely that the South American - despite his previous heroics at the club - would be able to displace the likes of Jack Grealish on his favoured left channel at the moment.

Consequently, he stands his best chance at making waves on his return as an out-and-out centre-forward, when assessing Richarlison's previous goal tally as a striker at Everton, with 23 goals picked up from 77 outings, leading to one of his ex-managers at Goodison Park in Carlo Ancelotti, hailing him as a "fantastic" finisher of chances.

Despite murmurs that Spurs want to offload their hot-and-cold number nine in the coming months, he is also able to boast a healthy haul of three goals and two assists next to his name from nine clashes this season.

Bringing back such a former beloved figure could signal the end for Beto in Everton blue, with the Lisbon-born striker struggling once again to get going yesterday evening, to the dismay of his impatient fanbase.

Why Beto is on borrowed time at Everton

You would think a striker in Moyes' current set-up would be licking their lips at the prospect of how many goals they could put away, with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and the aforementioned Grealish tricky customers intent on putting chances on a plate for the chosen marksman leading the line.

Unfortunately for Moyes and Co. though, Beto often fluffs his lines when a golden opportunity comes his way, with the former Udinese striker desperately unlucky not to find the back of the net on Sunday evening, when an acrobatic effort in the second half - with the scoreline still standing at 2-0 - was somehow clawed away by an alert Guglielmo Vicario.

That's about as good as it gets for the under-fire 27-year-old, however, with his minimal 14 touches of the ball meaning he often cut an isolated figure at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, so much so that Jordan Pickford even managed to accumulate more touches himself, having tallied up 36 in total.

With just one goal next to his name in the Premier League this season, it isn't a great shock to read all the widespread backlash he is receiving for his recent dismal displays, with Everton-based podcaster Paul Brown stating at full-time that the goal-shy number nine is "hopeless".

Moreover, another Toffees podcaster in the form of Steven Kelly also stated that the ongoing striker situation is "killing" Moyes' side at the moment.

It really does look like Beto is on borrowed time on Merseyside, therefore, with his precarious position in the starting XI becoming ever more shaky if the passionate South American potentially returns to the blue half of Liverpool shortly.

Tottenham Hotspur have now joined the race to sign a "special" £70m attacker, who has made a fantastic start to the season.

Spurs return to form with victory at Everton

Tottenham became the first visiting team to defeat Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, emerging as 3-0 winners courtesy of a Micky van de Ven brace and a late Pape Matar Sarr effort, which saw them rise to third in the Premier League table.

Spurs returned to form on Merseyside, but they have struggled to create chances at times this season, and Thomas Frank is very fortunate his side managed to come away with a point from the trip to AS Monaco in the Champions League.

It would also be fair to say Xavi Simons hasn't exactly hit the ground running in north London, chipping in with just one goal contribution in six Premier League games, and the Lilywhites have since set their sights on a new attacking midfielder.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which reveals Tottenham were one of the clubs to scout Eintracht Frankfurt's Can Uzun in the German side's recent 5-1 defeat against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Uzun is attracting interest from a whole host of clubs, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealing scouts from English sides have taken a liking to the youngster, saying: "This boy is ‘special’ was the comment I received from a scout attached to one of the Premier League’s top clubs.

"Uzun might be considered under the radar to some but he is a huge talent. He has become one of the most talked about players in the Bundesliga and he really is a huge talent.

"There is not a major club who doesn’t have him on their radar."

Uzun has made flying start to the 2025-25 season

Signing the Frankfurt star could be a costly operation, with it widely being reported they value him at the €80m (£70m) mark earlier this month, but there are clear indications he could go on to be a top-level player.

The 19-year-old scored in each of his opening five Bundesliga games this season, and he has already amassed ten goal contributions in 12 matches across all competitions, catching the eye of scout Jacek Kulig in the process.

In fact, the Germany-born maestro places in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, having averaged 0.62.

Uzun has proven he has an incredibly exciting future ahead, so it is promising news that Tottenham are tracking his progress, although their interest appears to be tentative at this stage.

Tottenham Hotspur have now entered talks to sign an "elite" new striker, with sporting director Fabio Paratici a big fan, it has been revealed.

Spurs looking to sign new striker amid Tel and Solanke concerns

Dominic Solanke has struggled on the injury front ever since his arrival at N17, with the striker suffering knee, thigh and ankle issues during the 2024-25 campaign, and he has been unable to put the problems behind him at the beginning of this season.

Solanke is set to be out of action for a prolonged period, with it emerging that Thomas Frank may not be particularly fond of the English striker, who was Ange Postecoglou's first-choice option at centre-forward last season.

With the 28-year-old on the treatment table, Mathys Tel has led the line for Frank's side in recent weeks, but Jamie O'Hara has not been impressed, and the former midfielder singled the Frenchman out for criticism after the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa.

As such, Tottenham are now ramping up their pursuit of a new striker, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they have now opened talks over a deal for FC Porto star Samu Omorodion.

Paratici is a big fan of Omorodion's versatility, and Spurs have held discussions over the possibility of an initial short-term deal with an option to buy, but the Portuguese club's huge asking price has proven to be a major issue.

Indeed, the Liga Portugal side are set to hold out for a huge fee for the 21-year-old, with it being revealed they are unwilling to let him leave for below the €100m (£87m) release clause in the youngster's contract.

"Elite" Omorodion could take Tottenham's attack to next level

Scout Ben Mattinson has made it clear he believes the Porto striker is able to play at a much higher level, having already established himself as a Liga Portugal star.

The three-time Spain international has made a flying start to the campaign, scoring eight goals in ten matches in all competitions, off the back of scoring 19 league goals, in what was a very impressive 2024-25 campaign.

With Tel struggling, and Richarlison finding the back of the net 23 times in 103 games for Tottenham, it would make sense for Frank's side to bring in a new striker, and Omorodion has proven he could be a fantastic option.

Tottenham Hotspur won for the first time in three matches in all competitions when they travelled to the Hill Dickinson to beat Everton 3-0 on Sunday.

The Lilywhites found themselves 2-0 up at the break, thanks to two goals from two set-pieces from Micky van de Ven, in what was a battling performance from the away side.

After weathering a bit of a storm from the hosts in the second 45, substitute Pape Matar Sarr wrapped up the victory with a late goal of his own to make it 3-0.

Despite scoring two of Tottenham's three goals in the impressive victory on Merseyside on Sunday, it was not a perfect performance from van de Ven.

Why Micky van de Ven was not perfect against Everton

The central defender deserves plenty of plaudits for his attacking play against the Toffees, as he was in the right place at the right time to score two goals in the first 45 minutes.

However, there were several nervy moments defensively where his play in his own box left a little bit to be desired, and he was either bailed out by his teammates or an Everton player failing to get on the end of a pass or cross.

Per Sofascore, van de Ven lost four of his six physical duels throughout the game, which shows that Beto and Thierno Barry got the better of him too often, and he was dribbled past once without making a single tackle in 90 minutes.

The Netherlands international has only won 50% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, and that is an area of his game that he may look to improve on in the months to come.

Whilst the Dutchman was still a net positive for Spurs, with his two goals, it was Guglielmo Vicario who was the most important player on the pitch for Spurs, yet again, and is quickly becoming Thomas Frank's most important player.

Why Guglielmo Vicario is Tottenham's most important player

The Italy international, who earned an 8/10 player rating from SpursWeb, produced another fantastic performance to keep a clean sheet in goal for Spurs, days after his 10/10 Sofascore rating against Monaco in the Champions League.

Vicario prevented 2.68 xG through eight saves against the French outfit in the week, and followed that up with 0.96 xG prevented through two brilliant saves against Everton on Sunday.

Possibly the pick of his two saves, although both were brilliant, was his instinctive close-range stop to deny Beto from finding the back of the net with his overhead kick.

The Italian shot-stopper showed incredible reactions and strength to stop the Portuguese centre-forward from getting Everton back into the match, and it is not the first time that his goalkeeping has saved Spurs.

As you can see in the table above, Vicario is one of three goalkeepers who have prevented around three goals more than expected based on xG in the Premier League this season, alongside Robin Roefs and Dean Henderson.

These statistics show that Tottenham currently have one of the most impactful goalkeepers in the division, with the Italian star, which illustrates just how important he is to the team.

Without his incredible shot-stopping, Spurs may have conceded way more goals than they have, given that he has prevented 2.77 goals in the Premier League and 1.89 goals in the Champions League, across 12 appearances in both competitions combined.

He is currently saving some of his defenders when they slip up and give up chances to the opposition, with his phenomenal stops, and that is why he is Frank's most important player at this moment in time.

Vicario is the backbone of the team, as the last line of defence, and his imperious performances are providing Spurs with a platform to excel throughout the rest of the pitch.