Football FanCast

Tottenham now "have money available" and hold interest in £25m Brazilian

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Tottenham now "have money available" and hold interest in £25m Brazilian - Football FanCast
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Tottenham Hotspur will now "have money available" to strengthen their squad in the summer, and they hold an interest in a "world-class" Brazilian as a potential replacement for a first-team star, according to a report.

Tottenham's summer transfer plans after Europa League triumph

Having secured qualification for next season's Champions League via their Europa League triumph, Tottenham should be well-positioned to compete for the signatures of some top players this summer, and their transfer plans are now starting to take shape.

Ange Postecoglou's side have struggled defensively for much of the 2025-26 campaign, and it looks as though the manager may have to reshape his backline this summer, amid reports suggesting Cristian Romero has expressed his desire to leave at the end of the campaign.

Whether the Europa League victory tempts him to stay remains to be seen, but Pedro Porro has also been linked with a move away this summer, with Manchester City believed to be keen on their former player, and journalist Pete O'Rourke has named a Brazil international as a potential replacement.

Speaking to Football Insider about Tottenham's summer transfer plans, O'Rourke named Vanderson as a potential signing for Spurs in the upcoming window, saying: “He’s impressed at Monaco, a Brazil international, and a number of Premier League clubs have been looking at him over the years.

“He’s still got three years left on his contract at Monaco, and Monaco will be demanding a decent fee of probably £25million to let him go.

“Tottenham, now with Champions League football, will be looking to strengthen their squad and will have money available. So I’m sure he is somebody who is still on their list, but I don’t think he’s a priority right now.”

Vanderson could be "world-class" addition for Tottenham

Lauded as "world-class" by one scout, the Brazil international was a key player for Monaco throughout the 2024-25 campaign, making 41 appearances in all competitions and displaying his attacking prowess by picking up seven goal contributions.

Of course, Porro is also known for his attacking intent, but there are signs the Monaco full-back could be an upgrade from a defensive point of view, having outperformed the Spaniard on several key metrics over the course of the past year.

Not only that, but the 23-year-old is also accustomed to playing in a slightly more advanced role, having done so regularly throughout his career, which could make him a good fit for Postecoglou, given the Australian likes to play an attacking brand of football.

Only 2 passes made: Levy must ensure Spurs dud never wears the shirt again

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Tottenham Hotspur were beaten on home soil (again) to conclude their 2024/25 campaign, with Brighton & Hove Albion winning 4-1 to consign Ange Postecoglou to a 17th-place Premier League finish in his second season.

His second season will be remembered for something different, of course, for the Australian tactician made good on his brazen claim earlier in the year, ending Spurs' 17-year trophy drought after beating Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday night in Bilbao.

But the league form simply hasn't been good enough, and the manager's future is up in the air. He's failed to get a tune out of these players, domestically, at least, and while defensively the squad have been shoddy, there's been a lot to desire up top too.

That's why Spurs are gearing up to sign a new forward this summer, with Ipswich Town's Liam Delap at the top of the shopping list.

Spurs chasing new forward

Dominic Solanke scored from the spot on Sunday afternoon to seal his 16th goal of the season across all competitions, having also laid on eight assists for his teammates.

However, injuries have prevented him from quite living up to the initial £55m fee, which could rise to a club-record £65m with add-ons, and he needs more frontal support, especially with Heung-min Son entering the twilight of his Premier League career.

That's why there may be substance to rumours the Lilywhites are preparing to bid for Delap, with GIVEMESPORT reporting earlier in May that Postecoglou's side are in the race for the English goalscorer, who was relegated with Ipswich this term but impressed throughout, scoring 12 goals across 37 outings.

If Spurs are to make their move, they may need to part ways with one or two, not least because this squad needs a shake-up.

Richarlison may well be at the top of that list.

Levy must sell Richarlison this summer

If Richarlison leaves this summer, he will do so as a Europa League winner, part of the squad whose names are immortal having triumphed on a stage so many before them failed to reach.

However, the versatile star has fallen by the wayside, all in all, especially when considering he cost Daniel Levy a whopping £60m figure when joining from Everton in 2022.

Having overcome a woeful debut campaign, the 28-year-old has enjoyed more clinical results over the past two terms, but it's not enough to turn the tide.

And against Brighton this weekend, Richarlison failed to leave a positive mark when called into play, albeit he was likely nursing a hangover with the rest of the squad after the midweek merriment.

The Brazilian forward was introduced with less than an hour still on the clock but was still criticised by football.london's Alasdair Gold for failing to influence the game, branded with a 4/10 match rating.

As per Sofascore, the £90k-per-week star only completed two passes after replacing Solanke, Tottenham trailing by just one goal. He also failed with his one attempted dribble and lost five of six duels.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Richarlison is now considering his Tottenham future, with Everton and Flamengo back in his homeland both interested. The robust player wishes to enhance his prospects of playing for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup over the pond.

Tottenham need reform this summer, and Richarlison is a big part of the struggling crew who need to be shipped out, creating space for a new era which could take the success of this season and build something special. Something fit to last.

53% passing: 5/10 Spurs star is in danger of becoming the next Lucas Moura

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Tottenham Hotspur were thrashed by Brighton & Hove Albion to finish a miserable Premier League campaign that has been salvaged and then some overseas.

Indeed, Ange Postecoglou's side dared to dream in midweek, beating Manchester United in Bilbao to seal the Europa League title and end 17 interminable years of rotten luck on the trophy front.

A hangover was expected, but this bruising defeat was not an outlier for the Lilywhites, who have wrapped up the 2024/25 league campaign languishing in 17th place.

There's much for chairman Daniel Levy to chew on over the coming months, with several players doing themselves few favours down N17 this weekend.

Spurs' worst performers vs Brighton

Tottenham lost their 22nd top-flight match of the season, marking the end of their worst-ever Premier League campaign.

The defensive capitulation underlined the crux of Postecoglou's woe this season, with pitiful performances from the newly-promoted trio proving the tenuous barrier between Tottenham and a true relegation dogfight.

There were more than a few tired legs after the interval, and Dominic Solanke's early penalty was too little to give Tottenham the strength they needed to finish the term off on strong footing, with Pedro Porro and Archie Gray lacking their usual enthusiasm, substitute Wilson Odobert inefficient when welcomed after the break.

Yves Bissouma made a hash of things when brought off the bench, giving away the penalty after bringing down Diego Gomez in the box, leading to Matt O'Riley's spot-kick to make it 3-1. A fourth would follow in stoppage time.

It was a performance to forget, all told. Certainly not the fixture of the week that will be remembered in years to come.

One man in particular failed to replicate his sparkling midweek form, shining a light on his ability to emerge at the biggest moment, reminiscent of former hero Lucas Moura.

Spurs' new Lucas Moura

Lucas played an important role for Tottenham after signing from Paris Saint-Germain for £23m in 2018, posting 39 goals and 27 assists across 221 appearances in all competitions.

However, he didn't always maintain the requisite levels for a reputation in English football as a truly deadly forward, one who can maintain their output invariably.

Now, Brennan Johnson is in danger of adopting a similar reputation, proving Tottenham's hero on a big night but struggling to project his finest form with the desired degree of consistency.

Make no mistake, this has been a promising term for the former Nottingham Forest man, who joined for a £47.5m fee in July 2023 and has sharpened his goalscoring sense this year, bagging 18 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

He failed to add to his haul against the Seagulls, however, unable to influence proceedings for his struggling and, frankly, sapped side.

Football.london's Alasdair Gold saw the funny side, branding the Welshman with a 5/10 match rating but quizzing why he was permitted the full 90 after such frenzied celebrations only days earlier, bundling in the only goal against United on Wednesday.

Like Johnson, Lucas liked to make a key contribution on the continental scene for Tottenham, miraculously scoring that hat-trick to send Mauricio Pochettino's side through to the Champions League final way back when, but he lacked consistency, and that's something Ange's star needs to work on.

Underscoring this, the Wales international has only netted in three of his past 20 Premier League games, emphasising an up-and-down nature that Lucas carried through his career in English football too.

The good thing is Johnson can be afforded some leeway, of course, after his goal on Wednesday night, but he still saw a chance go begging after being played into space and struggled to impose himself, albeit working hard defensively, making two clearances as he found himself hemmed in the defensive third, as per Sofascore.

Johnson also completed only nine of his 17 attempted passes, a success rate of just 53%, failed to make a dribble, failed with all three attempted passes from range, and didn't even attempt a trademark dribble.

Still only 24, mind, he's got plenty of time to hone his talent and reach the level those around him know he is capable of.

One thing's for sure: he has already left a bigger legacy than his Brazilian positional peer and could reach higher still with a few improvements over the coming season.

Tottenham now confident about beating Man Utd to the signing of "magician"

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Tottenham Hotspur are now confident they can win the race for a midfield "magician" following their Europa League triumph against Manchester United, according to a report.

Spurs end 17-year trophy drought in Bilbao

Tottenham's long wait for a trophy came to an end earlier this week, sealing European glory with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, which sparked some wild scenes upon their return to north London.

Ending the 17-year wait for major silverware was of the utmost importance to Ange Postecoglou, who once again delivered in his second season, but his side's Europa League triumph also secures a return to the Champions League next season, despite their dismal Premier League form.

As such, moving to Spurs should be an attractive proposition for some top players in the summer transfer window, and they are now growing in confidence they can win the race for a midfielder, who is also being targeted by Man United.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, both Tottenham and United are interested in signing Lille's Angel Gomes, who is set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract this summer, and the north Londoners are now confident about winning the race.

The Red Devils' defeat in the Europa League final means they will not be playing European football of any description next season, which could make a move to north London more appealing for Gomes, who has been a long-standing target for Postecoglou's side.

"Magician" Gomes could be excellent signing for Spurs

Ange has been plagued with injuries throughout the campaign, with the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison spending time on the sidelines, while there is also a feeling the manager could look to offload fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma in the summer.

As such, it makes perfect sense for Tottenham to bring in more depth in the middle of the park this summer, and the Lille maestro could be an excellent addition to the squad, having received his first England call-up earlier this season.

Indeed, the Englishman caught the eye of former interim boss Lee Carsley, while he has also received high praise from former teammate Jonathan Panzo, who said: "He's like a magician,"

"He's a small player, but his IQ is so smart and he just knows how to get around the pitch."

Tottenham's return to the Champions League should ensure they have money to spend in the upcoming window, but signing Gomes on a free transfer would still be a smart piece of business, and a move to north London should be far more appealing than Old Trafford after the heroics in Bilbao.

£165k-a-week Tottenham star has told Levy he's quitting despite Europa win

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy, following the club's historic Europa League celebrations, now has some key decisions to make ahead of the summer transfer window, discounting the obvious debate surrounding Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham celebrate first major trophy in 17 years after Europa League triumph

Amid a dismal domestic campaign, where Spurs have recorded 21 Premier League defeats and counting, Postecoglou finally gave supporters something to smile about on Wednesday evening.

After a tense battle with Man United, the Australian and his team ended Tottenham's 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware, with Brennan Johnson's scrappy winning goal proving the decider on a historic night in Bilbao.

Postecoglou did wonders to transform the narrative surrounding the club's 'Spursy' tag, having long suffered from a reputation of being the 'nearly team', and he's given Levy something to seriously think about in terms of a potential dismissal.

While David Ornstein suggests that Tottenham are still leaning in the direction of sacking Postecoglou, the emotion of such a momentous occasion, and the promise of Champions League football next season, makes you wonder whether the 59-year-old should be given a third season.

Injury problems took their toll on a ravaged Spurs squad, and it would be interesting to see if Postecoglou could have better luck next term, especially after a summer transfer window boosted by their place in Europe's most prestigious competition for 2025/26.

"As much as you try to understand what a trophy would mean to these people, seeing them out there today, is why we do what we do," said Postecoglou in a rousing speech during their Europa League trophy parade.

"That's the priceless bit, for this feeling. I'm super pleased that these boys could deliver. All good things come through hard work, toil, perseverance and belief. This group have that in spades, and I'm so pleased that we could crack that stone and now everyone can enjoy it.

"We had to dig deep, for sure, but what the history books will say is that we're the Europa Cup winners, and it doesn't say how we did it, just that we did it."

Cristian Romero informs Daniel Levy of decision to leave Tottenham

Beyond Postecoglou's long-term future in the dugout, Levy also has some key calls to think about when it comes to £165,000-per-week defender Cristian Romero.

He was crowned the Europa League's Player of the Season and put in a match-winning performance against United earlier this week, proving integral to Spurs' trophy glory, but it is believed Atlético Madrid are seriously pursuing a summer move for the Argentinian.

There are even some suggestions that Diego Simeone is personally pushing for Atletico to sign Romero, with Spanish newspaper Marca sharing another update on his future.

The outlet reports that Romero has informed Levy of his desire to leave Tottenham and join Atlético, and this stance hasn't changed, despite their victory at the Estadio de San Mamés.

As has been the theme of this developing story, there is still a gap in valuation for the player. Spurs ideally want nearly £60 million for Romero, and will categorically refuse to go lower than £44 million. Atlético's wish is to "significantly" lower Romero's asking price, but Simeone's side still need to invest a lot in his signature.

"Underrated? Cristian Romero. Top, top centre-back,” said teammate James Maddison on TikTok when asked about Spurs' most underrated player.

"For some reason in England, I feel like he has the perception of being a hot head who gets a lot of red cards and isn’t disciplined, but it’s the opposite, he’s a World Cup winner and he’s a top player."

Ange's own Florian Wirtz: Spurs now favourites to sign £68m "superstar"

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Ange Postecoglou enjoyed the most glorious vindication as he lifted the Europa League after leading his Tottenham Hotspur side to victory against Manchester United, making good on a promise that was scoffed at by detractors when made.

However, there's no detracting from the fact that Spurs have flattered to deceive this season, 17th in the Premier League with one match left to play, having been battered by injuries and consequent struggles for any measure of fluency.

Things need to change next season, and Daniel Levy will certainly be wrestling over the manager's seat, with Postecoglou's future uncertain in spite of his success in ending the club's interminable trophy drought.

However, by doing so, the Aussie tactician has salvaged something special from this difficult year, placing Tottenham in next year's Champions League group stage. By doing so, it's opened the door for exciting signings to strengthen the squad.

Spurs favourites to seal statement signing

As per Spanish sources, Tottenham are the favourites to sign RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons this summer after unlocking the door to Europe's elite stage.

Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this term and have thus informed Simons he will be allowed to leave, though they will demand €80m (£68m) for his release.

Liverpool had been in the running for the Dutchman but have moved to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz instead, with the German side looking for a €150m (£126m) payment. However, the Lilywhites will feel that they can secure a signing every bit as impactful and for almost half the cost.

Why Spurs must sign Xavi Simons

Described as a "superstar" in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, Simons left Paris Saint-Germain to make his name at Leipzig back in the summer of 2023, playing the coming campaign as a loanee before signing permanently in a €50m (£42m) deal.

Alternating between central attacking midfield and wider berths, he's been an invariably prolific presence, posting 44 goal contributions from 76 matches in all competitions.

Described as a "game-changer" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Simons has the potency to make a stunning impression in Postecoglou's Spurs squad, but he also has the strength and solidity to thrive in the wider lens of English football.

When looking at how he compares with Liverpool's soon-to-be-signed superstar in the Bundesliga this year, you begin to see that Tottenham could bag themselves a winner here.

Honestly, there's a case to be made that Simons has enjoyed the better Bundesliga campaign, marginally outperforming last year's Player of the Season across many of the underlying metrics and proving he has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League, confident in the duel and precise with his passing.

This robust Netherlands star is exactly what Tottenham need, and though at £68m he'd prove their record signing, it would be money well spent for a team now with a unique opportunity to put the year's issues in the past and turn toward a sustained period of success.

It would make quite the statement, retorting to Liverpool's capture with their own version, one who could go punch-for-punch with the German in the Premier League.

Without question, Wirtz is one of the most exciting midfielders of his generation. Former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has even said he's "probably the best midfielder in the world." However, his loyalties obviously lie with the Werkself.

If anything, Simons' metrics simply highlight the calibre of player Postecoglou would be bringing into his ranks, ready to steer this Tottenham team toward an illustrious new era.

Tottenham submit bid for Kompany-esque defender to replace Cristian Romero

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted their opening bid for a highly rated centre-back, as star defender Cristian Romero continues to attract Atlético Madrid's admiring glances ahead of the summer window.

Atlético Madrid express interest in signing Cristian Romero

Atlético's links to the Argentinian are nothing new, as Romero's potential move to La Liga has been reported on regularly over the last few months.

What is more concerning, though, is more recent claims that Romero is just as keen to leave north London as Atlético are on signing the £165,000-per-week centre-back, who starred throughout Spurs' Europa League campaign and was crowned Player of the Tournament.

His defensive heroics helped Ange Postecoglou make good on his famous promise of always winning trophies in his second season, which will now go down in Lilywhites folklore, and Romero was pictured enjoying the celebrations as Spurs ended their 17-year wait for silverware.

However, hoisting the Europa League trophy aloft may well be one of his final acts in a Tottenham jersey.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo is one of the latest outlets to report that Romero has given the green light to join Atlético and is personally keen on a switch to Diego Simeone's side, with the main obstacle being his £50 million price tag.

La Liga reports as far back as March also claimed that Romero is determined to leave Tottenham this summer, and according to media sources closer to home, the 27-year-old is still expected to go regardless of their Europa League triumph (Pete O'Rourke).

Therefore, it is little surprise that Spurs are believed to be targeting a centre-back when the window reopens.

Tottenham remain in contention for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, as per GiveMeSport, and were thought to be seriously in the mix for Dean Huijsen before he decided to join Real Madrid from Bournemouth at the end of the season (Fabrizio Romano).

Guehi's price tag is expected to be around £50 million, given he's entering the final 12 months of his contract, but chairman Daniel Levy now also has his eyes on a cheaper alternative successor to Romero.

Tottenham submit opening bid for Genoa defender Koni de Winter

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, that man is "gifted" Genoa defender Koni de Winter.

The Belgium international has been targeted by the likes of West Ham, but it is actually Spurs who are making the most serious move for him out of any Premier League side.

La Repubblica states that Tottenham have submitted a £20 million bid for De Winter ahead of 1st June, and while the outlet doesn't reveal Genoa's stance on this offer, it is a signal of Spurs' serious interest.

The likes of Inter and Juve have also been linked with the 22-year-old, perhaps highlighting his quality, with de Winter revealing that those close to him compare the defender to Man City legend Vincent Kompany.

"All my life I have been told I play like Vincent Kompany," said De Winter to the i Paper.

"I have this ability to make runs with the ball like he did, I have the same technical side. It’s a really big name, so I one day hope to be able to live up to him. You look at the other big names (former Belgian Premier League defenders) and it is only right that they ended up playing in the best competitions."

Postecoglou sack stance after Levy holds fresh Tottenham boardroom talks

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites board have held fresh talks about Ange Postecoglou's future after their glorious night in the Europa League on Wednesday, with their current stance on keeping or sacking the tactician emerging.

Ange Postecoglou's plea to Spurs board during victory parade

The 59-year-old became a Lilywhites hero overnight, guiding the club to their first piece of major silverware in 17 years and only European trophy since 1984.

Postecoglou came under fire for a bold statement earlier in the campaign, namely that he 'always' wins trophies during his second season in charge, but that message will now go down as one of the most memorable quotes in recent football history after Tottenham's Europa League triumph.

Brennan Johnson also etched himself into Spurs folklore with his scrappy winner minutes before half-time, with the defensive heroics of Micky van de Ven - who made a match-saving clearance off the line - and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's vital saves proving decisive on an unforgettable night for the club.

Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro's robust defensive displays also helped to shut out a lacklustre Man United side who simply couldn't find any joy at all in the final third, despite their dominnace in possession.

While Postecoglou's future at Spurs remains uncertain (David Ornstein), despite their celebrations, it is pretty clear that the manager wishes to continue his mission.

The north Londoners endured a lacklustre domestic campaign, breaking their all-time record for most Premier League defeats in a single season, but Postecoglou sent a subtle message to the board during their victory parade in London on Friday.

"I told them, and they laughed," said Postecoglou after Tottenham's open-top bus celebrations.

"I told them and they didn't believe. And here we are. I'll leave you with this: all the best television series, season three is better than season two."

Postecoglou's hint suggests the ex-Celtic boss has every intention to build upon their European success, but it remains to be seen whether Levy is on the same page.

Tottenham stance on sacking Postecoglou after fresh boardroom talks

In the wake of their triumph in Bilbao, journalist Pete O'Rourke has told Football Insider that high-ranking Tottenham chiefs are discussing what to do next in the managerial dugout.

According to the reporter, Levy and the Spurs board held fresh talks regarding Postecoglou after their Europa League final win, with O'Rourke sharing what their current stance is about potentially sacking him.

It is believed that, following their midweek celebrations, the club are now '50/50' when it comes to sticking or twisting with Postecoglou - indicating that they now have much more to think about in what has suddenly become a major conundrum.

While reports in the build-up to their clash with United indicated that Postecoglou could be sacked regardless of their Europa triumph, and that apparently remains the case, the emotion of such a momentous occasion makes this call far easier said than done in practice.

Spurs hit gold on "sensational" monster who's becoming their new Dembele

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While they were less successful on the trophy front than the current Tottenham Hotspur team, it would be fair to say the side Mauricio Pochettino built was the best the club has seen in the modern era.

From front to back, the team was filled with simply sensational players who really should have won at least a couple of major honours during their time in North London.

The likes of Harry Kane and a younger Son Heung-min would give opposition defenders nightmares, while Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld did the same to opposition attackers.

However, arguably, the most talented player in that squad was Mousa Dembélé, and now it looks like Ange Postecoglou might be brewing his own version of the Belgian.

Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career

Dembélé joined Tottenham in the summer of 2012 from fellow Premier League side Fulham for a fee of just £15m, which, in retrospect, has to be looked at as one of the deals of the century.

It didn't take long at all for the former Cottagers star to settle into life with the Lilywhites, scoring his first goal for the club on his debut - a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City.

He finished his first campaign in North London with two goals and five assists to his name in 44 appearances, and while he looked the part, he only improved when Pochettino took charge ahead of the following season.

Under the Argentine, the Antwerpen-born titan became the all-action "monster," as dubbed by Eric Dier, that he's remembered as today.

It was practically impossible to get the ball off of him, and if he didn't have it, you could be sure that he'd do everything he could to win it off the opposition - usually to great success.

The 37-year-old icon was the engine of that Spurs side, and to say his teammates appreciated him would be a massive understatement, with Kyle Walker once describing him as "the best player I've ever seen play football" and Harry Kane simply calling him "incredible."

After making 249 appearances for the club, in which he scored ten goals and provided ten assists, the midfield maestro finally left in January 2019 to join the Chinese Super League.

However, some of his teammates would have liked him to stay for the rest of that season, as Kieran Trippier would later claim that Spurs could have won the Champions League with him still in the side.

He might have done what the club's new Dembélé did for them against Manchester United on Wednesday night.

The Spurs star becoming their new Dembélé

Okay, so the first thing to say here is that we aren't arguing that anyone in the current Spurs squad is as good a player as Dembélé was, as that would be absurd.

However, there is one youngster who starred on Wednesday night and has some of the characteristics that could see him develop into the team's modern version of the Belgian: Pape Matar Sarr.

The Senegalese international joined Tottenham under Nuno Espírito Santo's reign for around £14.6m, and after spending the 2021/22 season on loan with the French side, made his way to North London, where he has continued to develop since.

Much like the club's former number 19, the 22-year-old is primarily a central midfielder but has the ability and flexibility to play in defensive midfield and, even on occasion, slightly further up the pitch.

In terms of his style of play, the "sensational" dynamo, as dubbed by Spurs content creator tehTrunk, is constantly on the move, be that darting forward to help out in attacks or covering ground to help out the defence, and while he's not quite as safe on the ball, you'd have described the former Lilywhites star in a similar way.

We saw all of these characteristics in Bilbao, with Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarding him a 9/10 match rating at full-time for his 'constantly running display' and how well he did 'to break up United's play.'

Ultimately, while we would never say Sarr is on the same level as Dembélé, we do think there are parts of his game that are quite similar, and with another few years of development, he could get close.

Maddison upgrade: Spurs racing to sign "one of the best 10s in the world"

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What might have gone down as the worst season in a generation for Tottenham Hotspur will now be recognised as one of the best.

Under an immense amount of scrutiny and pressure, Ange Postecoglou and his side managed to get the better of Manchester United on Wednesday night and, in the process, win the Europa League.

Their victory in Bilbao now means they'll be playing in the Champions League next season, which should, in turn, help them attract the best talent in what has to be a massive summer of transfers.

Fortunately, Daniel Levy and Co already seem to be looking to add some genuine quality to the squad, although one of the recent stars touted for a move to N17 could spell trouble for James Maddison.

Tottenham transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it's worth reviewing some of the other players linked with Spurs over the last few weeks, such as Daizen Maeda and Eberechi Eze.

The former played under Postecoglou at Celtic and could be available for just £25m, which would make him a seriously tempting option, as in just 50 appearances for the Hoops this season, he has scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists.

A little closer to home now, and Eze will be available for around £68m thanks to the release clause in his contract.

While that is a lot of money, he's certainly worth it, as in 42 appearances this term, the Englishman has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

However, there is another younger and just as exciting international who has now been touted for a move to the white side of North London: Xavi Simons.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Spurs are 'dreaming of signing' the RB Leipzig star, and in exciting news, the Lilywhites believe 'they can convince' him to join them.

However, he would cost around €80m, which is about £67m, and there are plenty of other interested parties, with reports from earlier this week claiming Arsenal are keen on the Dutchman.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Simons' immense ability and potential, it's one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Maddison.

How Simons compares to Maddison

Now, while Simons is a versatile attacker who can play off either wing, he's also more than capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, and with Brennan Johnson scoring as many goals as he has this season and Mathys Tel potentially remaining at the club in the summer, there is a strong chance Spurs view the Leipzig ace primarily as a number ten.

Therefore, one of his main competitors for game time next season would be Maddison, but who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is ultimately the most important metric of all, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem comes out on top.

For example, since the start of last season, the Flying Dutchman, whom one analyst dubbed "one of the best 10s in the world," has scored 21 goals and provided 23 assists in just 76 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

In contrast, since joining the club ahead of last season, the Lilywhites number ten has scored 16 goals and provided 21 assists in 75 appearances, which comes out to a reasonable but comparatively less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.02 games.

Furthermore, besides being more productive than the former Leicester City star, the Amsterdam-born "superstar," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also six years his junior, meaning he's likely to get better still and has a better fitness record.

For example, he has suffered just one injury in his career to date, which saw him miss 15 games for club and country, whereas the Englishman has suffered 18 injuries, which have seen him miss 67 games for club and country.

Ultimately, while Maddison is a great player, Simons is clearly superior and, therefore, Spurs should do what they can to sign him this summer.