Football FanCast

Tottenham have been accused of 'total neglect' by ex-player Ramon Vega after making a 'wrong decision' about in-form talent Luka Vuskovic.

Spurs' defensive crisis has dominated headlines recently with Thomas Frank's side languishing in 14th position after a nightmare first half of the campaign.

The north Londoners tried addressing their backline issues in January, pursuing multiple targets, including Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano, with the latter promptly agreeing a contract extension until 2030 instead.

Spurs ended the window having landed Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid and left-back Souza for the senior team, but their defensive recruitment fell woefully short of what's needed.

Meanwhile, one of their most promising young centre-backs continues shining elsewhere on loan, raising serious questions about Tottenham's planning and development pathway.

Vuskovic has been absolutely sensational during his spell at Hamburg in the Bundesliga.

The 18-year-old joined Spurs from Hajduk Split back in September 2023 for around £13 million, but immediately got loaned straight back to the Croatian giants.

After successive loan spells at Polish side Radomiak Radom and Westerlo in Belgium, Vuskovic has now established himself as one of the Bundesliga's standout defensive performers, anchoring Hamburg regularly and showcasing maturity well beyond his years.

The towering centre-back combines excellent technical ability with physical dominance, making him perfect for modern football's demands.

Vuskovic has even attracted real praise from Bayern Munich and Germany legend Lothar Matthäus, who called him a rare talent and 'intelligent' player.

"It's not just about winning headers and tackles or scoring goals: he's somebody who can organise a defence. That's something you find very rarely," Matthäus told Sky Sports Germany.

"He's 18 years old, but he's playing with the cool head of someone who has played at three World Cups and won two Champions League titles.

“Even when I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18. This player is so intelligent.”

Bayern have also been linked with a move for Vuskovic, prompting Vega to fear the worst as he makes a worrying claim.

Ramon Vega convinced Luka Vuskovic is going to quit Tottenham

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the ex-Tottenham defender claims Spurs have made a real howler over Vuskovic by allowing him to shine elsewhere.

The Argentine believes that a Bayern move for the teenage sensation is only a matter of time, blasting Tottenham's decision-making.

Vega didn't hold back when discussing the situation on social media, posting a scathing assessment of Spurs' football department.

The ex-Swiss international declared categorically that Vuskovic will not be returning to North London, labelling him as yet another lost gem where Spurs had a genuine chance but made completely the wrong decision.

Vega described this as a prime example of the problems plaguing Tottenham's football operations, calling it "total neglect".

Vega made 68 appearances for Spurs between 1996 and 2000, winning the League Cup in 1999, so his perspective carries significant weight.

His brutal assessment highlights mounting frustration around Tottenham's transfer strategy and player development.

Cristian Romero has already been linked with a summer exit to La Liga after publicly slamming the club's January business as "disgraceful" following their Man City draw.

Frank also remains odds-on favourite to become the next Premier League manager sacked despite Sunday's spirited comeback against Pep Guardiola's side.

Derek McInnes believes James Wilson would have been better off staying at Hearts than joining Tottenham’s Under-21s.

Tottenham snap up last-gasp deadline day deal

Tottenham spent most of deadline day tussling with Arsenal over a deal for Wilson.

The 18-year-old Scotland cap became the surprise name of the final day of the window after both Arsenal and Spurs battled it out for his signature in the final hours before the 7pm cutoff.

The forward eventually signed for Spurs until the end of the season, with the terms of the loan including an option to buy for the London club.

Wilson has scored eight goals in 45 appearances since making his breakthrough last season but he has struggled for game time this term as the Jambos have surged to the top of the William Hill Premiership.

“James wanted to go, so you don’t want to keep a player who then becomes unhappy,” said manager McInnes, addressing the striker’s move for the first time. “I couldn’t guarantee him minutes, such is the way it’s been.

“I told him and his agent, they knew that our preference was to stay, fight for your place, be part of something, we’ll get you a loan in Scotland if need be, if you need to top your minutes up and we can maybe recall you, so you still get the best of both worlds.

“But his head was turned with the Tottenham thing. First of all it was Arsenal, then Arsenal went quiet and then all of a sudden Tottenham came to the table Monday afternoon.

“I don’t think it’s the right move for him. Ultimately, it’s academy football and I think he’s better than that. But it was something James wanted to do.

“So like I say, we made it clear that our preference was for him to stay and be part of something here. But he made the decision and I hope it goes well for him because he’s a great kid and we’ll see how it plays out.

“But for us, I just need to concentrate on the players who are here and who want to be here and who want to play their part.”

Hearts set to be without Halkett against Hibs

Hearts will be missing Craig Halkett for next Tuesday’s Edinburgh derby at home to Hibernian after the influential centre-back was red-carded in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at St Mirren.

It was the third time in five league games the Jambos have had a man sent off in the first half. While McInnes was heartened by the spirit his league leaders showed with 10 men for over an hour, he was frustrated by their reluctance to play the ball forward when they had a full quota in the early stages.

“There’s no criticising my players once we’ve got 10 men, we were terrific in terms of what I expect from them,” said the manager.

“But we got top of the league by being something, and teams need to know that if they want to come after us, we’re going to put it in behind you, we’re going to run, we’re going to test you and try to put stress on your back line.

“St Mirren’s back line needed to know that if you want to play a high line, then you’ve got to be prepared to run towards your own goal a few times. We didn’t do it enough.”

Tottenham director Johan Lange gave a club interview about what's been happening behind-the-scenes at Spurs in the last month, with the Dane blown away by one emerging 'leader' in the dressing room.

January proved to be another month of disappointment and frustration for Spurs supporters watching their club stumble through yet another transfer window.

The injury ward at Hotspur Way has become absolutely packed with casualties as well.

Transfer business didn't exactly inspire confidence either for most of the window.

Spurs reportedly pulled out of signing Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco despite spending months laying the groundwork, conducting scouting missions, and even explorinh personal terms with the French winger's camp.

The potential £50 million-plus deal was postponed until the summer though, after Tottenham got cold feet amid a belief they could sign Akliouche for a cheaper fee later this year.

Spurs also couldn't sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool, despite agreeing a deal in principle worth £5 million, with both the left-back and his club refusing to give their final green-light.

Frank's side ended January with Brazilian left-back Souza, Hearts youngster James Wilson on loan (an academy deal) and ex-Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.

The latter is by a mile their most statement winter signing, with Gallagher already impressing in Lilywhite after choosing to join Spurs over Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Lange reckons this move could prove transformative, sharing what he's already seen from the 25-year-old since his switch to N17.

Johan Lange says Conor Gallagher is a new 'leader' at Tottenham

Lange has now opened up about why Spurs pursued Gallagher so aggressively, revealing the club's admiration stretches back several years rather than simply being a January opportunity.

The technical director pointed towards Gallagher's exceptional track record across multiple competitions as evidence of his quality.

His Premier League pedigree, combined with La Liga experience in Madrid, has shaped him into a more complete footballer and person, according to Lange's assessment.

What's more, Lange predicts that Gallagher is about to become a new 'leader' at Tottenham, and an 'important' voice in the dressing room.

“Conor is a player that we have followed for a number of years," Lange said.

"Obviously, he comes with a fantastic pedigree, his experience both with the Premier League, his period in La Liga have definitely also helped him to grow as a human being, as a player. Of course, he has played a number of times for England as well.

"So, he's a player that, of course, can come in and help us on the first day — his energy, his quality in midfield, his work rate, the way he can drive a team forward is something that I'm sure will help us.

"We've already seen that from day one. Then, of course, as a character, he's a fantastic human being. He's a leader. He has been captain earlier in his career, and he's somebody that really will be an important voice in the dressing room this season and in many seasons to come."

The box-to-box star has started all three of his first league games for Spurs, assisting Solanke for his stunning back-heeled equaliser against City last time out.

An "absolute titan" has now emerged as a priority transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur, as they look to bring in a new defender following Cristian Romero's recent comments.

Spurs eyeing new defender after Cristian Romero outburst

Romero was very outspoken about the lack of business Tottenham did during the January transfer window, saying after the 2-2 draw against Manchester City: "Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were all incredible.

"I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially as we had only 11 players available – unbelievable but true and disgraceful."

Thomas Frank was left very light on options against Man City, with central midfielder Joao Palhinha having to slot in at centre-back, but Spurs were able to fight back to secure a 2-2 draw, with Dominic Solanlke bagging a brace in the second half.

Following Romero's recent outburst, South American journalist Gaston Edul has now suggested the captain is set to leave in the next transfer window, which would exacerbate the need to bring in a new centre-back.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham have identified Athletic Club defender Aitor Paredes as one of their priority targets, with Frank an admirer of the centre-back, given his ability to play the ball out from defence.

The Spanish club are hesitant to sanction a departure, meaning they have set an asking price of €40m (£35m), but that should be an affordable fee for the Premier League side.

The need to sign a new defender stems from the uncertainty surrounding Romero's future, while Micky van de Ven is also of interest to some of Europe's top clubs.

Paredes could be solid addition to Spurs' defence

It would be a gamble to let Romero leave this summer, despite his recent comments, given that he is ranked by FotMob as Tottenham's best-performing player in the Premier League this season.

The 27-year-old has also averaged 1.5 interceptions per 90, the highest number in the squad, so Spurs shouldn't take any drastic action, but if he does depart, the Athletic Club star could be a solid replacement.

Journalist Luis Calabor Nunez is certainly an admirer of the Spaniard, describing him as an "absolute titan", and he has been a key player for Athletic Club, starting the last seven La Liga matches, while also making seven appearances in the Champions League.

Having averaged a combined 2.7 tackles and interceptions in La Liga, the third-highest figure in the Athletic Club squad, Paredes is clearly a very solid defender, but Tottenham's number one priority should be to keep hold of Romero, given the level of his performances this season.

Unai Emery really wanted Aston Villa to sign a Tottenham star in January, with the Villans even reaching out to the player directly.

The Midlands club enjoyed a productive month overall, bringing back fan favourites Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz to bolster their squad, as well as exciting youngsters Brian Madjo and Alysson.

Abraham arrived from Besiktas for £18 million after netting 13 goals for Besiktas in the Turkish Süper Lig, while Luiz returned on loan from Juventus following his lacklustre spell at Nottingham Forest.

It wasn't all sunshine and roses though, as Villa failed to deal with the Harvey Elliott nightmare that's still set to drag on.

The frozen-out Liverpool loanee remains stuck in limbo after Emery made brutally clear he has no intention of triggering the £35 million purchase clause once Elliott hits 10 appearances.

The midfielder currently sits on seven games and faces months watching from the sidelines despite training with the first team.

But whilst Villa successfully navigated several tricky situations, they came up agonisingly short on what Emery considered a priority signing.

Unai Emery really wanted to sign Conor Gallagher in January

According to The Athletic, Villa seriously chased the signing of Conor Gallagher as a "market opportunity" in January, after learning the then-Atlético Madrid and England midfielder was available.

This wasn't Villa's first rodeo with Gallagher either.

Emery had actively pursued him back in 2024 when the 25-year-old eventually chose to move from Chelsea to Spain instead of Villa Park.

The Villa boss clearly remained convinced about the midfielder's qualities and pushed hard again last month to finally land his man.

Villa's strong relationship with Atletico proved invaluable during negotiations.

They laid crucial groundwork throughout the weeks leading into the winter window, holding productive discussions with both Gallagher himself and his representatives about a potential switch to Birmingham.

Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly until Tottenham suddenly emerged as serious competitors for his signature near the end of the process.

That's when Villa's confidence completely evaporated.

They sensed Gallagher had started deliberately delaying decisions as other clubs attempted to hijack negotiations and spoil Villa's carefully constructed plans.

Until Spurs intervened, Villa had been acting directly on Emery's personal desire to sign the former Chelsea academy graduate and genuinely felt Gallagher was willing to join them.

The Athletic also confirmed this was an Emery-led pursuit from start to finish. Villa sources revealed their offer to involved an initial loan with an obligation to make the transfer permanent for £22 million plus potential add-ons.

Here's where it gets really painful for Villa though — their proposal included a much lower salary package than what Tottenham were offering.

Spurs ultimately won the race by smashing Villa's wage structure, paying £34 million to secure Gallagher's signature and gazumping their league rivals.

Emery must've been absolutely fuming watching one of his primary targets choose Tottenham instead, especially after Villa had invested weeks building relationships and laying groundwork only to see Spurs swoop in with their chequebook.

Another frustrating near-miss for Villa in the transfer market.

It's never quiet at Tottenham Hotspur. The January transfer window was billed as one to get excited about for those of a Spurs persuasion, but fans have perhaps been left wanting.

Thomas Frank's side have been poor in attack this season, to put it simply. The Lilywhites languish in 14th place in the Premier League, and Brennan Johnson was sold to Crystal Palace last month. Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison are both injured for the foreseeable future.

Results need to improve quickly if Frank is to save his skin, putting that simply too, and there's a sense Tottenham could have done with more activity in the market, something Cristian Romero pointed toward when he seemingly criticised the board after Sunday's spirited draw with Manchester City.

It's not strictly true to say the north Londoners haven't strengthened their attack.

Why Spurs signed James Wilson

Hearts striker James Wilson, 18, was pinched from Arsenal on deadline day, the promising striker moving to Spurs on an initial loan with the option to make the move permanent come summer.

Wilson joins an array of attacking talent in the Tottenham Academy, with Irish goalscorer Mason Melia, 18, also joining the club last month.

Last week, Dane Scarlett moved to the Scottish Premiership from Hibernian on loan, and Will Lankshear is out with Oxford United for the season.

But in Wilson, who is 18 and already has eight senior goals with Hearts, the board will feel they have signed a surpassing talent, doubly so after bitter rivals Arsenal were beaten to his signature.

Wilson has the potential to be a star at Tottenham, but the young Scotland international may not be the cream of Spurs' youthful crop, with another possessing generational potential as he goes from strength to strength out on loan.

Safe to say the young ranks down at N17 are not bad at all.

Spurs have got the new Luka Modric

Luka Modric is one of the greatest players of his generation, and he built those elite blocks with Tottenham before moving to Real Madrid in 2012.

In Luka Vuskovic, Tottenham may have landed their new version, with the 18-year-old Croatian defender sharing with his countryman a natural ability that is suggestive of greatness.

The Londoners reached an agreement with Hajduk Split in 2023, but the teenager would not become a Tottenham player until 2025, thereafter moving out to the Bundesliga, on loan with Hamburg.

Hamburg are 13th and threatened by the potential of relegation, but Vuskovic has been immense this season, so young and yet so strong, an age-belying leader.

The gains he has made as a professional so far certainly defy his young age, and this suggests he stands a far greater chance of nailing down a position in Tottenham's senior set-up than Wilson, more apt for regular first-team involvement from the get-go.

Look at how he compares to Micky van de Ven. The Dutchman is rightly heralded as one of the most talented centre-backs in the Premier League; an athletic phenomenon, he has been linked with a move to Liverpool of late, and Spurs have responded by pricing him at £100m.

Like Van de Ven, Vuskovic is "turning into a goal machine", according to journalist Antonio Mango, but he's also establishing himself as one of the most robust defenders in Europe, his 8.5 clearances per Bundesliga game an absurd effort.

He is enjoying a stunning season in the German top flight, for sure, and has been hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as a "freak talent" for physical and technical skills that most defenders could only dream about.

While Vuskovic does not share with Modric an aptitude as a midfielder, he's also remarkably talented, creative on the ball and devastating when looking to recover possession.

He is one-of-a-kind and will only get better over the next few years. In this, Tottenham may have landed themselves a prodigy, one with more potential than Wilson and perhaps anyone else looking to break into the big time under Frank's management.

Conor Gallagher hailed a “top” Tottenham team-mate and backed him to get even better after he starred in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City.

Spurs agree deadline day deal for James Wilson

Tottenham spent most of deadline day tussling with Arsenal over a deal for Hearts striker James Wilson.

The 18-year-old forward became the surprise name dominating deadline day chatter after both Arsenal and Spurs battled it out for his signature in the final hours before the 7pm cutoff.

Wilson burst onto the scene last season, bagging six goals for Hearts, and Arsenal appeared to hold the early advantage after talks over the weekend, but Spurs nicked in at the death to complete the hijack.

Gallagher heaps praise on Simons after City fightback

And with one youngster arriving, Gallagher has heaped praise on another rising talent in North London.

Spurs looked down and out after a dismal first-half display in N17, but Xavi Simons' wonderful outside-of-the-boot pass set up Dominic Solanke’s controversial first goal before Gallagher crossed for Solanke to score a sensational backheel in the 70th minute.

It caused Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to erupt and even though a late curled effort by Xavi Simons was tipped over to deny the home team a winner, it was the latest strong display from the Netherlands playmaker after a mixed start to life in north London following his £51.8million signing in August.

And fellow new arrival Gallagher believes the club have a real star on their hands.

“Yeah, brilliant player. He’s one of those guys that you want in your team,” the England international reflected.

“He works so hard and he just wants to win. He has a lot of passion to give and obviously a lot of quality as well, so he’s only going to get better and yeah, he’s top.

“That’s why you want him in your team, he wants to get on the ball, he’ll run forward, he’ll create chances, score and yeah, he’s great.”

Spurs boss Frank was equally complimentary of Xavi, who had 88 touches and five shots during an all-action display.

Frank added: “I think Xavi was exceptional. He’s a very good footballer, but he’s probably an even bigger winner and fighter.

“The way he fights with the team is exceptional and how he’s part of driving the team forward I think is very impressive.”

Tottenham’s fightback prevented another home defeat and even though they are unbeaten in four, they have won only two of their last 15 Premier League matches.

Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Djed Spence have also joined the injured list during the past week but Porro could return for the visit of Arsenal in three weeks and Van de Ven will aim to be back at Manchester United on Saturday.

“Micky, we hope, is back for Man United and Djed is hopefully not too long,” Frank revealed.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer window has not exactly gone to plan in the way they may have wanted, arguably not actually strengthening in any positions they needed to.

The marquee addition for Thomas Frank’s side was former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. He joined the club from Atletico Madrid, though he is perhaps not the progressive midfielder they currently lack in the squad.

They were also strongly linked with Andy Robertson, but that deal fell through. The only other addition Spurs made was talented Brazilian left-back Souza, who is a signing for the present and future.

Why Spurs fans can get excited about Souza

There is certainly not a lack of depth in Frank’s squad at left-back. Destiny Udogie is arguably seen as the first choice, with Ben Davies, who is out for some time with injury, and Djed Spence, also options. Yet, Souza adds to the depth on that side and is a signing for the future.

We are yet to see the Santos academy graduate in that famous white shirt. He was on the bench against Manchester City this weekend in the 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but was not called upon by his manager.

He played 38 times at senior level for Santos, having a key role in 2025 before his move to North London. He made some good contributions going forward, too, with one goal and four assists in those appearances.

There is certainly a lot to like about Souza, with the 19-year-old already showing some standout attributes. Scout Ben Mattinson praised him for the fact that he “defends in wide channels well” and explained he is “technical on the ball.”

The ex-Santos star is an exciting player, but there is another youngster on the books who could be an even bigger talent.

Spurs have already signed a better talent than Souza

The central defensive stocks at Spurs are perhaps a little thinner on the ground than Frank would like. Mickey van de Ven and Cristian Romero are first choice, with Kevin Danso a more than apt understudy.

However, it has not been an easy ride at the club for Radu Dragusin, who was notably poor against Man City on Sunday. Now, Spurs might have someone who can leapfrog him in the pecking order. It will surely not be long before we see Luka Vuskovic donning a white shirt.

Described by Spurs analyst Seb Martin as a “freak of a talent,” he has shone on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga this season. The 18-year-old has played so well that he is now an established member of Croatia’s national team.

He’s been a constant figure at the heart of the defence for the German side, playing 17 times in the top flight. He’s played 90 minutes in every single game, chipping in with four goals, including a stunning effort in December.

Looking at his underlying numbers, you can see exactly why Vuskovic is so highly rated. He has won an average of 7.74 duels and made 8.53 clearances per 90 minutes this term. Those numbers place him in the top 6% and 11% of Bundesliga defenders.

It is hard to see a way back for Dragusin once Vuskovic returns from his loan. He has had limited minutes and injury issues, and given the Croatian's talent, it is impossible not to see him falling down the pecking order.

It is certainly exciting that the Lilywhites will soon have the teenager at their disposal again. In Vuskovic and Souza, they have defensive quality depth for the future, but you could certainly make the case that the centre-back is the best talent at the club.

Tottenham are set to sign a record-breaking forward who's now agreed to join Thomas Frank's side on deadline day, according to a new report.

Spurs are wrapping up a hectic deadline day after already bringing in two signings earlier this month to bolster Frank's injury-ravaged squad.

The Lilywhites splashed £34 million on midfielder Conor Gallagher after Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. They also nabbed Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos, with the teenager signing a contract until 2031.

The comeback against Man City showed glimpses of hope for Frank, who has been heavily criticised by the fanbase this season after an underwhelming domestic campaign.

Dominic Solanke bagged a stunning brace against the Sky Blues, including an outrageous scorpion kick, to rescue a point after being 2-0 down at halftime.

That being said, with so many players out injured, supporters were hoping for a bit more on deadline day.

To their dismay, Tottenham have spent most of today tussling with Arsenal over a deal for Hearts striker James Wilson on loan.

The 18-year-old forward has become the surprise name dominating deadline day chatter after both Arsenal and Spurs battled it out for his signature in the final hours before the 7pm cutoff.

Wilson burst onto the scene last season at Tynecastle, bagging six goals for Hearts including a dramatic equaliser in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian.

But this campaign has been frustrating—he's made just one Scottish Premiership start under boss Derek McInnes, falling down the pecking order behind four or five senior strikers.

The Arsenal talks centred around a potential loan move for Wilson to join their Under-21 setup, giving the youngster regular minutes after his limited opportunities in Scotland.

The Gunners were looking at academy reinforcements following Ethan Nwaneri's loan move to Marseille, but talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs has now dropped the bombshell that Wilson is set to join Tottenham instead after agreeing terms.

Tottenham "set to sign" James Wilson from Hearts

Arsenal appeared to hold the early advantage after yesterday's talks, but Spurs have nicked in at the death to complete the hijack.

Jacobs reports that Wilson has agreed to join Tottenham, with Frank's side poised to complete a deal for the teenager.

The key difference? Sky Sports confirmed Tottenham's proposal will likely include an option to buy clause, giving Hearts and Wilson much more security about his long-term future.

Arsenal were apparently only willing to offer the teenager a trial period rather than committing to a guaranteed loan with purchase rights attached.

Wilson made history last March when he became Scotland's youngest-ever male international, debuting against Greece in the Nations League aged just 18 years, 17 days old — breaking a record that stood since the 19th century.

He's represented his country at every youth level and already racked up 45 senior appearances for Hearts despite his tender age.

Former Hearts boss Neil Critchley previously described Wilson as "incredible" during their time together at Tynecastle, praising the youngster's work ethic and natural finishing ability.

The striker has shown flashes of genuine quality when given chances, but McInnes has preferred more experienced options this season.

It now remains to be seen whether the young Scot can battle his way into the Tottenham first team long-term, but the signs are pretty good.

Tottenham have been given a reply after making a late approach to sign one ex-Chelsea forward, according to a deadline day report.

Spurs' frantic deadline day scramble for attacking reinforcements is proving a nightmare as boss Thomas Frank desperately hunts for bodies before the 7pm cutoff.

The Lilywhites remain active in the market after Sunday's thrilling 2-2 comeback against Man City, where Dominic Solanke bagged a stunning brace including an outrageous scorpion kick.

Frank also confirmed after the match that Spurs will keep pushing for signings.

The problem is massive — 11 senior players are currently injured and Spurs are running out of options fast.

Solanke rolled his ankle against City on Sunday, raising fresh fitness concerns about their main striker. Mohammed Kudus won't be back until April after his injury setback, leaving the attack dangerously thin.

Spurs have already done fairly decent business this month.

They splashed £34 million on Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid to replace the injured Rodrigo Bentancur, and brought in Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos for £13 million.

Selling Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35 million kept their net spend level too, but injuries have forced Frank into panic mode.

With Dane Scarlett shipped off to Hibs on loan, only Randal Kolo Muani offers backup to Solanke, and the Frenchman hasn't scored a single Premier League goal since arriving.

Juventus have been pushing hard to take him back on loan, but it would be outrageous for Spurs to let him leave now.

Reports suggest former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has been offered to Spurs today by his agents. The Colombian desperately wants a Premier League return after flopping at Fenerbahçe on loan, managing just five goals in 21 matches. Al-Nassr paid Villa £71 million for him last January, but things haven't worked out.

His representatives have contacted the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United too, but as things stand, nobody's properly committed yet. Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg are also lurking if an English move proves off the table.

There are last-gasp opportunities for Spurs, with the north Londoners also making a last-gasp approach for ex-Chelsea forward Angelo Gabriel.

Tottenham get reply after making Angelo Gabriel approach

Here's the real kicker, though.

Journalist Eduardo Burgos has dropped a bombshell that Tottenham made last-gasp enquiries about Al-Nassr's Angelo in the dying days of the window.

The 21-year-old Brazilian winger joined the Saudi club from Chelsea for around £19 million back in September 2024 after barely getting a sniff at Stamford Bridge.

Burgos made it crystal clear though: Angelo won't be leaving today.

Al-Nassr view him as a summer option to leave rather than a January departure, completely blocking any chance of a loan switch to north London before the imminent deadline.

The Saudi club reckon he needs more time to settle and aren't entertaining offers regardless of how keen Spurs might be.

It's a proper gut punch for Frank considering Angelo's talent. He became the youngest Copa Libertadores scorer ever at 16 whilst tearing it up at Santos, with Jacek Kulig calling him a 'crazy' player with 'crazy potential'.

With hours ticking away, Spurs' deadline day is turning into a disaster.