Football FanCast

A very highly-rated forward is tempted by a move to Tottenham Hotspur behind-the-scenes following "fresh" transfer discussions, according to reports, with chairman Daniel Levy rumoured to be in pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer.

Tottenham set for vital Europa League final next week

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou could end the club's 17-year wait for silverware and qualify for the 2025/2026 Champions League in one fell swoop, as the Lilywhites prepare for a vital Europa League final against Man United next week.

Both sides have endured torrid Premier League campaigns, which fell miles below expectations, but the Europa League represents a chance to quite literally rescue Spurs' season from the depths of mediocrity.

Postecoglou's squad has been hit with wave after wave of injuries to key players, especially midway through 2024/2025, and this cannot be discounted, amid reports that the Australian is likely facing his final few games in charge.

As Tottenham prepare for their most important match of the season by some distance against United, the club's recruitment team are already working on reinforcing the squad for next season, regardless of who is in the dugout by that time.

Levy and technical director Johan Lange are rumoured to be targeting a new attacker or two in particular, with Tottenham intending to keep Mathys Tel beyond his loan from Bayern Munich alongside bringing in other names.

Spurs will reportedly need to err on the side of caution when it comes to expenditure, though, with reports claiming they may even need to adopt a sell to buy policy.

Luckily for Levy, a quality, in-form attacker, who looks set to be available for a very doable price, comes in the form of Lyon sensation Rayan Cherki.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed the campaign of his life with 12 goals and 19 assists. Interested clubs are able to sign Cherki for just £19 million as well, due to a bargain release clause in his contract.

Le Parisien reported earlier this week that Tottenham have made contact over signing Cherki, with GiveMeSport now following up that report with his stance on a switch to the Premier League.

Rayan Cherki tempted by Tottenham after "fresh" discussions

As per GMS, Spurs have held "fresh" discussions over signing Cherki, with the outlet backing up previous claims of an approach.

However, they add that the Frenchman has privately refused to rule out joining Tottenham behind-closed-doors, even if English champions Liverpool are his personal preference as things stand.

Despite Arne Slot's side being his ideal destination, Spurs are touted as prime contenders for Cherki and north London is seen as a very credible destination for the player, so this could be one to watch.

The attacking midfielder is gaining a reputation as one of Europe's most exciting final third prodigies, and his very astute price tag makes this potential move all the more enticing from Levy's perspective.

"He is the best natural talent I've ever seen," said ex-Arsenal defender and Lyon teammate, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, to BBC Sport.

"An absolute master, a wizard with the ball."

The representatives of a "massive" striker have reached out to Tottenham Hotspur as they attempt to find their client a new landing spot, with his club now ready to sell.

Daniel Levy targeting new forward for Tottenham this summer

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly on the look-out for new attacking players this summer, even if the club may be forced to adopt a 'sell-to-buy' policy over the next transfer window.

While uncertainty surrounds the long-term future of manager Ange Postecoglou, regardless of what happens in the Europa League final next week, the Australian could be joined out of the exit door by a string of surplus Spurs forwards.

Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil don't appear to have a long-term future in north London, having spent the 2024/2025 campaign out on loan at Leeds United and Girona respectively, while it is also believed Richarlison could be put up for sale by Tottenham as well.

As such, Postecoglou or any new manager would need attacking reinforcements in the event all three depart Hotspur Way.

Tottenham have expressed an interest in Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap, who will be available for just £30 million thanks to their relegation to the Championship, with Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst also on Spurs' radar after his impressive season in the Bundesliga.

Levy is also keen to make Mathys Tel's stay at Tottenham permanent, as per Sport Bild this week, so recruitment plans are in full flow ahead of the first summer window's opening on June 1.

According to GiveMeSport, Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic could emerge as a target for Spurs as well, with the Serbia international out of contract in 2026 and could be available for an affordable fee this year.

Dusan Vlahovic's agents hold talks with Tottenham

Now, journalist Graeme Bailey has weighed in with an update of his own on the 25-year-old's future.

Writing for The Boot Room, Bailey reports that Vlahovic's agents have contacted Tottenham over a potential move to the Premier League, alongside other interested sides, and Juventus are prepared to sell him for around £25 million.

The ex-Fiorentina star hasn't enjoyed the best second half of 2024/25, scoring just two Serie A goals this calendar year, but Vlahovic does boast 14 in all competitions with four of them coming in big Champions League games.

He can be a truly devastating centre-forward when at his very best and consistently reaches double figures in a season. However, Levy will be very keen to negotiate a salary far beneath his rumoured £320,000-per-week take-home at Juve, which would make him Tottenham's highest-earner by miles.

"I’ve been saying it for a long time. He’s strong, massive, he fills up front, he’s a reference, he’s a ‘left-footer’ full of courage," said ex-Juve striker Roberto Boninsegna about Vlahovic.

"A good centre-forward. I also like Retegui from Atalanta, he scores easily."

The fans and players might have a Europa League final to look forward to next week, but the powers that be at Tottenham Hotspur will be looking past that and at the upcoming transfer window.

Daniel Levy and Co have to ensure it's a massive window this year; otherwise, Ange Postecoglou - or whoever replaces him - could just find themselves in the same place this time next season.

Fortunately, there has been an increasing number of reports linking the North Londoners to a host of incredibly exciting players in recent weeks.

However, while the talented attackers touted for moves to N17 should excite the fans, they could also spell trouble for some of the club's current stars, such as Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it's worth examining some of the other exciting attackers linked with Spurs in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Liam Delap.

The former could reportedly cost the North Londoners a cool £68m, but given his ability to play in a number of positions and the fact he's racked up 12 goals and 11 assists in 40 games this season, it would be hard to argue with that valuation.

Likewise, while Delap is still young and relatively inexperienced, his £30m release clause seems more than fair for a striker who has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 35 Premier League games this season.

However, if a player is going to come in and send Tel packing back to Bayern, they're going to have to be someone seriously special, someone like Rayan Cherki.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are one of several sides incredibly interested in the Lyon gem.

The report has revealed that the player's agent has approached a number of 'top Premier League clubs' over a potential transfer, and according to reports from earlier this week, the North Londoners have already inquired about the player, who could be available for just £19m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Cherki's immense ability, it's one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Tel.

How Cherki compares to Tel

So, the first thing to say is that Cherki is capable of playing off the right of a front three and in attacking midfield, but with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski locking down the former and Brennan Johnson scoring bags of goals from the latter, we reckon the Frenchman would play off the left at Spurs.

Therefore, his arrival in the summer could see the club thank Tel for his service and send him back to Bayern in the summer, as when we compare the two players, it's abundantly clear that the Lyon ace is the far more dangerous and effective attacker.

For example, in terms of pure output, the "insane" 21-year-old, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists in 43 games, totalling 3009 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.38 games, or every 97.06 minutes.

In contrast, since moving to North London, the Sarcelles-born gem has scored three goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances, totalling 1083 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 4.5 games, or every 270.75 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Bayern loanee, the incredibly one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, in practically every relevant metric, Lyon's "future ballon d'Or winner," as dubbed by The Athletic's Alex Barker, comes out on top.

These metrics include things like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, it's clear that Cherki is a far superior player to Tel, and while it would be handy for Spurs to have both next season, we wouldn't be surprised that signing the former will force the latter to move on.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has made a popular new manager their top target to replace Ange Postecoglou after advice from ex-managing director Fabio Paratici, according to reports this week.

Tottenham dealt injury blows ahead of Europa League final

Spurs take on Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, but with nothing to play for domestically, all eyes are fixed on their looming Europa League final against Man United in Bilbao on May 21.

Their clash against the Villans serves as a warm-up game for Postecoglou's side, but the under-fire Australian will be praying his squad suffer no more serious injuries, with Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison all set to miss their trip to Spain next week with long-term problems.

Kulusevski became the latest star player to be ruled out of their crunch clash with United after news emerged of his knee surgery earlier this week, and it is a hammer blow for Postecoglou, who's looking to both end Tottenham's 17-year wait for a major trophy and qualify for the Champions League at the end of an all-important 90 minutes next Wednesday.

"Look, I guess because it’s been a constant with us during the year, we’ve kind of become almost accustomed to it," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's recent injury blows.

"It would probably be a bigger issue if we had a smooth run all year and got hit with injuries now and deal with missing key players, but we’ve pretty much been without key players all season. There hasn’t been a time where we had a three or four-week spell with our strongest line-up, so the boys are getting on with it.

"They’re disappointed for the people involved and Deki being the latest one because he had a fantastic first part of the year for us and was just working his way back into it. At the same time as I keep saying to the group all along, you can’t pick and choose when these opportunities come along."

Even if Postecoglou defies the odds and beats United with a weakened midfield, reports suggest the 59-year-old could still part company with Tottenham at the end of the season (David Ornstein).

Ajax boss Francesco Farioli now "top" Tottenham manager target

Levy has been linked with a host of coaches to replace him.

Presenter Richard Keys recently claimed Tottenham held talks with ex-Barcelona boss Xavi last week, with the Spaniard joining Spurs' long list of rumoured managerial candidates, which reportedly includes the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund) and Edin Terzić (free agent).

Now, TEAMtalk and journalist Rudy Galetti have information that Ajax boss Francesco Farioli is now firmly on their radar as well, and Spurs are serious about potentially hiring him.

Galetti reports that Farioli has shot to the "top" of Tottenham's managerial target list, after Paratici privately recommended the tactician to Levy, which comes as an intriguing update considering Ajax have just blown a nine-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie table in four games.

The Dutch giants are in real danger of letting the title slip through their fingers in capitulating fashion, so is he really the right man to bring success to N17?

Well, TEAMtalk go on to claim that Farioli is very highly talked about within Premier League circles, so English sides appear to rate the popular young 36-year-old behind-the-scenes. His contract also includes an "affordable" £4.2 million release clause.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs have been informed that they could sign a high-earning star for below £30 million this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy expected to seek out good-value deals amid the looming threat of a 'sell to buy' summer.

Ange Postecoglou preparing for crunch Europa League final

While Spurs face off against Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, all eyes are instead on their looming Europa League final against Man United next week.

The less said about Spurs' dismal domestic campaign, the better - following a season of record-breaking lows where Ange Postecoglou's side surpassed the club's record for most Premier League losses in a single season (20).

Instead, the Europa League represents a major potential saving grace at the end of what could be Postecoglou's final term in charge.

David Ornstein is among the media sources to report that Postecoglou is highly likely to leave Tottenham, even if they win the European final in Bilbao on May 21, but sealing the Lilywhites' first piece of major silverware in 17 years would be a more-than-ideal send-off.

Victory against Man United would also work wonders in terms of attracting Spurs' top transfer targets, as a place in the Champions League group draw for next season would undoubtedly come as a major pull, even after their struggles domestically.

One of the key items of their agenda, in terms of recruitment, is signing a new striker. Richarlison is expected to be up for sale at Tottenham this summer, and in the event Brazil's number nine departs N17, Spurs or any new manager would need a replacement for him.

Tottenham are believed to be among the contenders for Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who could leave for just £30 million, thanks to a release clause tied in with their relegation from the Premier League.

Levy is also keen on re-negotiating cheaper terms for Mathys Tel's permanent deal, according to reports in Germany this week, but it is unclear what the 20-year-old's long-term role would be in the squad right now.

Tottenham informed they could sign Dusan Vlahovic for under £30 million

Now, as per GiveMeSport, Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic is another centre-forward who could be made available for an affordable transfer fee.

The Serbia international, rumoured to be on around £320,000-per-week in Turin, hasn't exactly lived up to his "superstar" reputation during the second half of 2024/2025 - scoring just two Serie A goals this calendar year.

With his contract expiring next summer, and no extension in sight, GMS now report Tottenham have been made aware that Vlahovic could be sold this summer.

It is also claimed that, while Juve ideally want around £35 million, the Old Lady may even green-light his sale for just £20 million - largely due to his sub-par form lately and the fact he's about to enter the final 12 months of his deal.

This could be a major opportunity for Levy, who's been linked with a move for Vlahovic in past seasons.

The 25-year-old scored 21 Serie A goals during his best season at Fiorentina, and 16 top-flight goals for Juve just last season, so Vlahovic can be a devastating player when at his very best. The trick for Spurs' potential new manager next season is getting it out of him.

It feels like everything that could have gone wrong for Tottenham Hotspur this season has gone wrong.

Granted, there have been more than a handful of games in which either Ange Postecoglou has got something terribly wrong or his players have massively underperformed, but one thing has ravaged their campaign this year: injuries.

For example, there have been plenty of occasions in which the club have had just a single centre-back fit or no striker to play up top, and it has undoubtedly wreaked havoc on a side who have it in them to beat anyone on their day.

This terrible misfortune with injuries struck again recently, as Dejan Kulusevski is now set to miss the rest of the campaign, meaning that with no James Maddison either, Posetcoglou is going to have to make a bold decision on the midfield ahead of this weekend's game and next week's Europa League final.

Spurs' injury crisis

While there have been points in which Spurs have had even more players out with injury, the current situation can fairly be described as a crisis due to the number of players who play in the same position who are out and the simple fact that the biggest game in the club's recent history is right around the corner.

The two biggest misses are undoubtedly Maddison, who injured his knee in the first-leg win over Bodo/Glimt and will be out until pre-season at the earliest, and Kulusevski, who came off against Crystal Palace on the weekend with what first looked like just a knock to his knee, but then turned out to require surgery, meaning he too will be out for a few months.

Worse still, the North Londoners will be without the incredibly impressive Lucas Bergavll, with the manager confirming yesterday afternoon that he has only just "taken his first tentative steps on the grass."

Other than those three key players for the Lilywhites, Radu Dragusin is also out of contention due to the ACL injury he picked up in February, and now Timo Werner is confirmed to have suffered a hamstring injury in the same month, which is why he hasn't featured since then.

In all, Spurs are not in great shape for the next two games, with their lack of natural attacking midfield options a serious concern.

However, with tonight's game not mattering all that much in the grand scheme of things, Postecoglou has the chance to try something a little unorthodox to solve this problem ahead of the final next week.

Spurs' Kulusevski & Maddison solution

So, the truth of the matter is that Spurs do not have an ideal solution for the lack of a natural attacking midfielder at the moment, but there are at least a few unusual solutions that Postecoglou could try ahead of next week.

Perhaps the most realistic is bringing Son Heung-min back into the starting lineup and playing him in the most attacking midfield role.

Now, it is true that the South Korean international hasn't got the speed or agility he once did, but he still has excellent technique and an evidently high football IQ.

We can see this in some of his underlying numbers, as according to FBref, the "incredible" ace, as dubbed by Postecoglou, sits in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers for expected assisted goals, goal-creating actions from his live passes, the top 6% for shot-creating actions from his live passes, the top 7% for goals plus assists and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

So, with his ability to play dangerous passes still undeniable, playing him in the middle with rapid runners on either side of him, like Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson, could be the key to unlocking Aston Villa's defence tonight and Manchester United's on Wednesday.

Finally, on top of his technical brilliance, the former Bayer Leverkusen star remains the club captain, and with how important and pressurised this next week will be, his presence in the team may be needed more than ever.

Ultimately, it's not an ideal situation that Spurs find themselves in, but with what is practically a dress rehearsal for next week tonight, Postecoglou can try and solve the team's injury crisis by playing Son in attacking midfield.

This season has felt like one long nightmare for Tottenham Hotspur.

On top of losing a staggering 20 games in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou will now be without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the club's Europa League final next week.

Moreover, on top of losing player after player through injury during the campaign this year, they now look like they're going to lose one of their most important in the transfer window: Cristian Romero.

However, it is not all doom and gloom, as recent reports have linked them with a Premier League star who could be the ideal replacement.

Tottenham transfer news

Unfortunately, in the last few months, a number of reports have emerged touting Romero for a move to La Liga this summer, with Atlético Madrid being his supposed destination last month.

It was even said that the Argentine defender had personally spoken to Diego Simeone about the purported move.

However, in the last few days, the World Cup winner's supposed destination has changed to Real Madrid, with reports claiming that Xabi Alonso is a big fan of the player, who could be sold for around £60m.

While this situation is far from ideal, the good news is that the North Londoners have been linked with someone who could be an ideal replacement: Marc Guéhi.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Spurs have maintained their strong interest in the full England international following their failed £70m bid for him in early February.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Newcastle United are keen to sign the Crystal Palace star, who could be available for a pretty reasonable fee of around €55m, which is about £46m.

It might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Guéhi's ability and the potential departure of Romero, Spurs should do all they can to get it done.

Why Guéhi would be a great replacemnet

So, if Spurs cannot keep hold of Romero this summer and are forced to shop for a replacement, why would Guéhi be such a great option?

Well, first of all, not only is he vastly experienced for someone who is still just 24 years old, but he's also thoroughly Premier League-proven at this point and someone clearly quite sought-after.

For example, across his career to date, the "exceptional" centre-back, as dubbed by The Athletic's Stuart James, has made 132 top-flight appearances, 52 in the Championship, 15 in the FA Cup and a handful more in several other competitions.

On top of that, the 6 foot "tank," as dubbed by former England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, is now a full member of the national team, making 23 appearances since his debut in March 2022, and most crucially, was an ever-present in the country's backline when they made it all the way to the final of the European Championships last year.

Furthermore, while the Lilywhites' Argentine warrior has missed a staggering 75 games for club and country across his career, the former Chelsea prospect has missed just 16, and you know what they say: availability is the best ability.

Finally, if that's still not enough to convince you, then perhaps his rather impressive underlying numbers will.

According to FBref, the Palace ace sits in the top 3% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for through ball, the top 4% for passes blocked, the top 5% for goal-creating actions through a defensive action, the top 9% for goals plus assists, key passes and shot-creating actions, the top 11% for expected assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, replacing a player as talented Romero is always going to be difficult, but Guéhi looks like he could get pretty close, and therefore, Spurs must do what they can to sign him this summer.

A "world-class" player has now announced he's set to leave his club this summer, which follows reports that he's held talks over a move to Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou makes trophy claim ahead of Europa League final

Next week, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has a golden chance to make good on his early-season suggestion that he "always" wins silverware during his second season in charge.

This quote, while arguably taken out of context, was quickly picked up by the media and used to take aim at Postecoglou on more than one occasion. Following a season of record-breaking lows in the Premier League, where they've tasted defeat on 20 separate occasions, the Australian could now make that statement a reality.

The Lilywhites play Man United in a crunch Europa League final which could rescue their season. Spurs have an opportunity to both end their trophy drought and qualify for the Champions League in just 90 minutes of football, so the pressure is well and truly on Postecoglou's squad.

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall are all set to miss their clash in Bilbao through injury, with Tottenham facing an uphill battle akin to the majority of their 2024/2025 campaign.

Postecoglou, though, appears determined to end Spurs' long wait for a winners' medal and isn't lost on the significance of May 21.

"For me personally, well you know great, it’s another trophy I can reminisce in my old age about, but more importantly what it means for the club," said Postecoglou on the Europa League final.

"I’ve always said it’s the significance of what it does to people that really impacts you. A lot of the success I’ve had has been stuff that’s pretty significant. It’s been at clubs where Yokohama hadn’t won a Championship for 14 years, Australia had never won a continental championship, Brisbane had never won one, South Melbourne - my first job – hadn’t won in seven years, Celtic had been one year but trust me that’s a long time in Scotland.

"When you look at the historical backdrop of this club and what it’s been through in the last 20-odd years, I feel like it could be a turning point in terms of the way the club is perceived, but also more how it perceives itself, which I think is the biggest thing."

Jonathan David confirms Lille exit after rumoured talks with Tottenham

Off the field, chairman Daniel Levy appears set for a 'sell to buy' summer as things stand, meaning the free agent market could be very useful to him as Spurs look to reinforce the squad for next term.

One of 2025's most coveted Bosman deals comes in the form of free-scoring Lille star Jonathan David.

The Canada international has bagged over a century of goals for Lille since joining them five years ago, with Tottenham among the clubs to have spoken to David's representatives about a potential free transfer.

David, branded a "world-class" player by ex-Canada boss Iain Hume, is set to be a man in demand, and he's now confirmed an imminent Ligue 1 departure.

Making a statement on social media, David announced that he'll be leaving Lille when his contract expires on June 30.

“I wanted to tell you myself that after so many years at the club, it’s time to say goodbye," said the striker, via LW.

"I’ve had five wonderful seasons here. I know that it hasn’t always been easy but I hope that with my goals and celebrations, that I’ve managed to bring you some joy. Notably the Ligue 1 title and the Trophee des Champions and I think that with these two trophies together, we have brought a lot of pleasure and joy."

The 25-year-old is a big-game player as well as a prolific marksman in France. This season, David boasts Champions League strikes against the likes of Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus, showcasing how he can cut it against Europe's most elite opposition.

In truth, it is curious why he hasn't sealed a move until now, and there's no doubt he'd be a stellar capture for Spurs on a free.

Tottenham Hotspur could strike a summer reunion with one of their former players, and one who Mauricio Pochettino rated "very highly", according to an update this week.

Spurs await season-defining Europa League final in Bilbao

Ange Postecoglou will soon face a blockbuster 90 minutes in Bilbao, which has the power to define his potential final season in charge of the Lilywhites.

Spurs play fellow Premier League strugglers Man United in the Europa League final on May 21, with the club's first piece of major silverware in 17 years and qualification for next season's Champions League all on the line.

After Tottenham broke their record for most Premier League losses in a single season last weekend, Postecoglou could save face by clinching a precious trophy for Spurs, amid reports that the 59-year-old is likely to leave once the campaign has concluded (David Ornstein).

Unfortunately, following news of Dejan Kulusevski's knee surgery, Postecoglou will be without a trio of his star midfielders, with the Swede joining both James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall on the injury list.

Injury absences have been a thorn in Tottenham's side throughout 2024/2025, and they've seriously exposed the lack of depth in Postecoglou's squad whilst emphasising the need for chairman Daniel Levy to acquire fresh faces.

Spurs will need to be clever when the summer window reopens, though, as they're apparently likely to adopt a 'sell to buy' policy amid their lack of funds (The Telegraph).

The free-agent market could be a fruitful pool of talent for the club, with ex-Spurs defender Kyle Walker-Peters currently set to leave Southampton on a Bosman once his contract expires on June 30.

A host of English sides are showing interest in Walker-Peters, who has arguably been one of the better performers in an otherwise dismal Saints side this term. According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Leeds United News, Postecoglou's side are among them.

Bailey states that Tottenham have held talks with Walker-Peters' camp, but the competition for his signature will be rife.

“I’m told no decision just yet," said Bailey on the Englishman's future.

"Leeds have had contact, but as we know they’re one of many clubs to be in touch with him. West Ham, Spurs, Everton, there’s loads. And some foreign clubs are lurking too. Can Leeds get him? Of course. But from what I can make out it’s going to be tough.”

While Spurs eventually let the right-back, described as a "beautiful" footballer by ex-Saints boss Russell Martin, depart in 2020 for around £12 million, Pochettino did shower Walker-Peters with praise during his time in the English capital.

"For me, he's one of the best options," said the Argentine about Walker-Peters in 2018.

"Like always, who deserves it more is going to play -- you know me. I'm so happy with his performance. I'm so happy and so proud of how he managed the pressure. I'm very pleased and I talk very highly of him."

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy personally wants a striker who's been tipped for great things in north London next season, with the Lilywhites board chief contemplating how best to reinforce Spurs' squad this summer.

Tottenham set for 'sell to buy' transfer window

According to a recent report from The Telegraph, Spurs won't exactly be flush with cash to spend on their top transfer targets.

According to their information, courtesy of journalist Matt Law, Tottenham are facing a 'sell to buy' summer and could have to green-light the sales of top players in order to facilitate their own recruitment plans.

Atlético Madrid are seriously keen on Cristian Romero as one nominee to raise funds, and the Argentine is believed to be seriously pursuing a potential move to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano (Marca).

However, Spanish media are also reporting that there is a large gap in valuation between the clubs as things stand. Meanwhile, another key first-teamer who could depart is right-back Pedro Porro.

Some reports suggest Tottenham are prepared to sell Porro this summer and value the ex-Man City defender at £50 million. Everton are also expected to open talks for Richarlison, who could potentially leave Spurs in the event of a reasonable bid, following a 2024/2025 campaign blighted by injuries.

It will be intriguing to see which notable players could make their way out of the N17 exit door, as Levy and co look to reinvest funds into the squad whilst erring on the cautionary side of PSR.

One player who they already have an agreement to sign permanently for 2024/2025 and beyond is striker Mathys Tel.

The Frenchman is on loan from Bayern Munich, with Spurs possessing an option to make his stay indefinite for around £51 million.

Levy personally wants Mathys Tel at Tottenham next season

That is according to Sport Bild, who also report that Ange Postecoglou's side are keen to whittle that price tag down after Tel's mixed start to life at the club.

However, Levy is personally keen on signing Tel permanently and re-negotiating a deal with Bayern. Vincent Kompany's Bavarians, for their part, are also willing to restart talks and settle on his final price at a cheaper value, which is good news for the Europa League finalists.

While the 20-year-old boasts just three goals and a single assist from 18 Spurs appearances to date, Tel has displayed flashes of brilliance since his arrival in the Premier League, with ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann once backing him to eventually score "40 goals a season" and sharing an expectation that he could become of the world's best.

"He could become one of the best strikers one day," said Nagelsmann. "I have the vision that he can score 40 goals one day. But I would be happy with 10 goals in his first season.

"He's a young, talented player. He can play in multiple positions: as a centre-forward and on the wings. He's very quick and strong with his body. He can hold up the ball well with his back to the goal."