Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have been among the busier Premier League clubs during the January transfer window, signing Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and young left-back Souza from Santos in Brazil.

Thomas Frank's tenure so far would tell you that Spurs have needed to bring in reinforcements, and with the frontline struggling and weakened by Mohammed Kudus' hamstring injury picked up in January, it's understandable that technical director Johan Lange is looking to pull off a last-minute move.

Dominic Solanke has had a big impact since returning to the fold after injury last month, but an ankle scare after his goalscoring performance against Manchester City has accentuated the

As far as fitness goes, the Three Lions man is unreliable, and Tottenham could benefit from a contrasting attacking profile.

Spurs lining up last-gasp signing

Tottenham need some support up top. While Solanke gives Frank's system the focal presence it requires, he indeed left the pitch on Sunday with pain in his ankle, and the alternatives at number nine haven't proved themself prolific enough to lead the line and lead the club back to the ascendancy.

Any number of targets have been earmarked by ENIC Group this month, but there's one who remains a candidate in the final hours.

According to The Independent, Tottenham are exploring a move for Al Nassr striker Jhon Duran in the dying embers of the winter transfer market, buoyed by LOSC Lille's failed attempt to sign the Colombian.

Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have also shown interest in the 22-year-old in the lead-up to the deadline, but Spurs' position in the Champions League could hold sway in the race.

The proposed framing of the transfer remains uncertain. It was only one year ago, after all, that Al Nassr paid Aston Villa a staggering £64m sum to take Duran from the Premier League as he was establishing himself as an elite prospect.

But Tottenham's interest is genuine, and so is their need for a mercurial and deadly star to give Frank's frontline a new dimension.

Why Spurs want Jhon Duran

Described as a "true monster" for his powerful and potent attacking performances, Duran is one of the most dangerous strikers in the business, and he would bring something wholly different to Tottenham if signed today.

Duran joined Aston Villa from Chicago Fire in an £18m deal in January 2023, and fast forward to the present, he's led a storied career that has taken him not just from the United States to Birmingham, England, but to Saudi Arabia and now Turkey too.

He only played 1,214 minutes of football in the Premier League for Emery's outfit, but in that timeframe, he scored 12 goals, equating to

a goal every 101 minutes.

That's some statistic for a young forward who was making his very first foray into European football at any level, and though a move to Al-Nassr, and subsequently Fenerbahce on loan, has stunted his blistering growth, Duran remains one of the game's great mavericks of modern times.

Duran would need to quickly reestablish himself in the English game. Two shots were all Solanke needed to notch a brace against Pep Guardiola's side, vastly outperforming his xG.

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.

In this, Solanke produced a performance that mimicked the best attributes Duran possesses, but the consistency with which the powerful South American channelled such traits suggests he could leap past Solanke and indeed produce the clinical and duel-heavy performances that his counterpart is beginning to showcase under Frank's wing.

He's still so young. Solanke was 21 when he left a fringe role at Liverpool to grow into his skin on the south coast with Bournemouth, and it would be several years yet before he produced the kind of displays that caught Spurs' attention. Duran is already a budding superstar, “pure theatre” in the final third, as remarked by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell.

Duran's devastating impact, with such speed and strength at the heart of his skillset, could see him become the main man for Frank's Tottenham, for he scored seven goals from only four starts in the Premier League last season, before moving to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, and were he to pick up where he left off, he would surely warrant a place in Tottenham's first team.

Frank seems open to striking partnerships, having fielded Randal Kolo Muani alongside the 28-year-old Solanke at the weekend, so there's a potentially ruthless duo to be found there, but Duran surely has the potential to far outstrip the England international down the line, and he could hold the key to unlocking the attacking sparkle that has sadly been missing down N17 this season.

Tottenham Hotspur have now joined the race to sign a "fantastic" player in a last-gasp move, and they could hijack Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Spurs not done in the transfer market

As we approach the final few hours of the winter transfer window, Tottenham are by no means finished, and they are still keen on strengthening in a number of key areas, having been dealing with an injury crisis over the past few weeks.

Spurs are eager to improve their wide options, and they are now exploring a move for Al-Ittihad winger Moussa Diaby, while Liverpool defender Andy Robertson is also still of interest, with some late phone calls being made.

Despite Dominic Solanke putting in some impressive performances since returning from injury, bagging a brace in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, the Lilywhites also remain keen on bringing in a new striker.

Earlier today, it was revealed the north Londoners were presented with an opportunity to sign former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, who is currently on loan at Fenerbahce from Al-Nassr, but they have also set their sights on a more inexperienced centre-forward.

That is according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, who has now taken to X to reveal Tottenham have joined the race to sign Hearts striker James Wilson on loan initially, with the deal including an option to buy.

Arsenal are also keen on signing Wilson, having held talks over a deal for the centre-forward earlier today, but Spurs could hijack their north London rivals for the 18-year-old, who is being targeted for the U21 side, rather than the first-team squad.

"Fantastic" Wilson could be future star

The teenager has already been capped for Scotland, which is a very encouraging sign, and he has impressed for Hearts when given the opportunity, netting eight goals in 21 starts for the league leaders.

After scoring a late equaliser in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian last season, the starlet also received plaudits from former manager Neil Critchley, who said: "Fantastic, but that’s him, he’s a goal scorer, a goal poacher.

"That’s what goal scorers do. They just arrive in the right position at the right time, and they find a way of hitting the back of the net. I’ve been really impressed with James since I’ve come in. Good kid, always smiling, breath of fresh air."

As such, Wilson could be a future star, but given that he is yet to establish himself as a regular starter for Hearts, it may be a while before the Scot is capable of dislodging the likes of Solanke and Richarlison in the Tottenham starting XI.

Tottenham have made a late phone call over a deal to bring in a new defender this month, Sky Sports revealed live on their deadline day coverage.

Injury hit Spurs fight back against City

A rip-roaring second-half from a depleted Tottenham side saw them fight back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City and boost fierce rivals Arsenal’s title bid.

City looked set to cruise to another victory after first-half goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo put Pep Guardiola’s men in control.

Spurs had been booed off at half-time, but a controversial 53rd-minute own-goal by Marc Guehi gave Thomas Frank’s misfiring team a lifeline before Dominic Solanke’s sensational back heel levelled the scores after 73 minutes.

There was still time for either team to find a winner, but the spoils were shared and Manchester City are now six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

It was a timely comeback for under-fire Frank, who has struggled to win over the Spurs fanbase and although this made it only two wins in 15 league fixtures, it prevented another defeat at home.

The Lilywhites are scouring the market for defensive additions as their backline continues to be depleted by injuries, and Sky Sports have confirmed they've made a late attempt to sign a Premier League star on deadline day.

Tottenham make final phone call for Robertson

Speaking live on Sky's deadline day special, their reporter outside Tottenham's training ground revealed they have made one last attempt to sign Liverpool star Andy Robertson.

"Our information was that a check call has gone in just to see if Liverpool’s position has changed as to the availability of Andy Robertson, but that's a no."

The 90-cap Scotland defender is out of contract in the summer, so Spurs' repeated attempts this month suggest they will be front of the queue for his signature come the end of the season.

The Liverpool defender makes £160,000-a-week at Anfield, which would place him among Tottenham's highest earners.

Frank has been forced to use Djed Spence at left-back for much of the season, but the 25 year-old is more comfortable on the right.

Tottenham Hotspur dug deep to recover from a two-goal deficit against Manchester City, and maybe Thomas Frank has just learned that his side have got some character that has been buried for the first half of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Danish coach was delighted to watch January recruit Conor Gallagher put in a confident and industrious performance in the centre of the park, spearheading that second-half charge.

Sure, Spurs failed to win, keeping them in 14th place in the Premier League, but this could be a platform from which the club can build over the business months, competing in the knockout rounds of the Champions League while recovering form on the domestic front.

The tide may be turning, just a touch. If Frank hopes to establish tenure-saving form, however, he will be hoping to welcome another fresh face before the looming transfer deadline this evening.

Spurs lining up D-day deal

Gallagher showed against Manchester City that Spurs's transfer chiefs know how to spot a good deal, and with Xavi Simons and Joao Palhinha also starring, perhaps this post-Daniel Levy world may be an auspicious one.

If Tottenham could round off this window with a well-placed attacking move to refresh a frontline that has undeniably gone stale, Frank might just have what he needs to fashion success over the next few months, pushing his side toward more respectable ground in the Premier League.

ENIC Group are on the case. According to The Independent, a deadline-day deal for Moussa Diaby is in the pipeline down N17, with the Al Ittihad winger having emerged as a target earlier this week. It's alleged that they are now exploring what it would take to bring him to Tottenham in the dying hours of the window.

Diaby ebbed and flowed in a Villa shirt, but he showed off a lot of quality on the whole, instrumental in Unai Emery's successful journey into the Champions League.

Why Diaby could be perfect for Spurs

Aston Villa signed Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record £52m fee in July 2023, but he only lasted a season in the Premier League before being picked up by Saudi suitors.

The France international's time in the affluent Gulf division may be coming to a close, and Tottenham could hit the jackpot by bringing him back to the big time.

Given his Die Werkself roots, he might prove to be the club's new version of Heung-min Son, sharing the pace and directness that the club legend brought to the table, invariably, in his prime.

Son probably made the right decision to call time on his Lilywhites career last summer, especially after he crowned his journey with the Europa League title, but there's no question Frank has lacked someone of his presence this term.

Diaby could be that player, with a fleet-footed running style and a proven track record of scoring goals and providing assists. For Al Ittihad, he has registered 28 assists across only 54 appearances.

Comparing the two, it's clear that they share something of a tactical likeness, but while Son was a winger on the decline, Diaby remains in his physical and athletic prime and could bring a more energetic flavour to the outfit while channelling a level of potency in and around the final third that has been lacking this year.

Indeed, hailed for his "deadly" instincts in the final third by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Diaby is still only 26, and his experience in the Premier League and hunger to return to European competition could see him prove a shrewd signing for Spurs.

Given his Bundesliga roots at Bayer Leverkusen, he could even end up succeeding Son in north London, with the South Korean something of a 'deadly' forward himself.

Tottenham Hotspur picked up a hard-earned point against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday evening, but Thomas Frank's hopes of leading the Lilywhites into European competition next season continue to dwindle.

It was telling that when Antoine Semenyo converted after the break to make it 2-0, the feeling around N17 was one of resignation, the groans chorusing out in a well-known song. Few foresaw the comeback.

But Spurs did come back, and there is life yet inside this squad, who might be down but are certainly not out, straight through to the last 16 in the Champions League and only five points away from the Premier League's top eight, 14th though they are.

Dominic Solanke is providing Spurs with a focal point up front, but with it nearly two months since three Premier League points were secured on home soil, there's no question that more defensive stability is needed.

Spurs submit bid for new centre-back

There is a strange dichotomy between the calibre of Tottenham's defensive talent and the lowly position they find themselves in, with the backline porous and shaky on the regular.

Injuries have not helped, but Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have struggled even as they stand proud as Spurs' best players.

Tottenham need a new centre-back to bolster their backline. As Radu Dragusin returned from a long-term layoff against Manchester City, he left something to be desired, and given that reports have linked the 23-year-old with a move to Serie A side Roma this month, ENIC Group may want to get their wallets out.

Perhaps they already have. According to Spanish sources, Tottenham have submitted a bid for Barcelona centre-half Ronald Araujo, with La Blaugrana said to be analysing the €35m (£30m) package.

The 26-year-old is not having his best season in Spain, but he's long been regarded as one of the most talented defenders in the world, and a change of scenery could help reignite his career.

A separate report outlines late Tottenham interest in Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran, who is struggling on loan at Fenerbahce. A resolution regarding the young striker, so mercurial and dangerous, will be reached in the coming hours, but Lange and co are fast on Araujo's case too.

Why Spurs should sign Araujo

Dragusin blundered against Manchester City: it was his errant clearance that was intercepted and redirected toward Antoine Semenyo, who scored.

That's the latest in a long line of errors that are inhibiting Frank's side this season, and a freshening-up of the defensive ranks could end up paying dividends for a side who are punching well below their weight class once again in the Premier League.

Thus, it's clear why a concerted effort is being placed on landing Araujo, adding an elite centre-back to the ranks. Should Spurs pull this one off, it's hard to see Dragusin fashioning a key role in the Londoners' plans, especially when considering the rumours already surfacing this month.

Barca boss Hansi Flick has described him as a "leader" and "one of the best in the world" before, and despite being hindered by injuries and personal problems, has the potential to become the leading man in Frank's backline.

A man for the big moments, he might benefit from a move away from Camp Nou, where the toxicity levels have been rising after his struggles there.

Also regarded as an “athletic monster”, Araujo has the quality and frame to rival the likes of Van de Ven and prove a massive upgrade on Dragusin, who struggled to impress even before he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Elfsborg in the Europa League last season.

The Romanian defender returned against Manchester City and was afforded little time to scrape away the rust as City ran rampant before the break. He should have closed down Rayan Cherki for the away side's opener as well as ceding possession for City's second.

While Araujo hasn't been in the best of form this season, he is clearly unsettled in Catalonia and could return to his strongest form by moving to Tottenham and playing alongside some of the most robust and talented defenders in England.

He will bounce back, for sure, and Spurs are in the process of ensuring it happens in a Lilywhites shirt.

Dragusin did well against Pep Guardiola's title-chasing side, all things considered. He kept Erling Haaland quiet and, in that, he made amends after a shaky first half.

But Araujo is quite simply cut from finer cloth, and if Tottenham want to rise from their plight, they must sign top talents to finally return to form and sustain it.

Tottenham Hotspur have now been offered the chance to sign a "special" striker in a deadline-busting move, and he is keen on a move to the Premier League.

Spurs offered chance to sign striker despite Solanke's form

Dominic Solanke has been able to make a major impact since returning from a long injury lay-off, scoring against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, before going on to score a brace against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Solanke rescued a point for Spurs against Pep Guardiola's side, after bagging two goals in the second half, with Jamie Carragher going on to say: "It's great for Solanke. And also, it's probably great for Thomas Frank, because he's looking at that thinking and saying to his board, and maybe his own supporters, 'I've been without a lot of top players this season."

Indeed, it is fantastic that Solanke is back amongst the goals, and fortunately, the striker has made it clear he hasn't suffered another injury setback, after being withdrawn late on, saying: "I’ll be good, I just rolled my ankle a little bit, but I’ll be fine."

As such, the Lilywhites may not need to bring in another centre-forward before tonight's 7pm transfer deadline, but they have now been offered the chance to sign Al-Nassr striker Jhon Duran, who is currently on loan at Fenerbahce.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the Turkish side are open to letting Duran leave, and his agents are working to secure him a move, with Nottingham Forest and Leeds United also being approached.

The former Aston Villa striker, who cost Al-Nassr £71m, wants to return to the Premier League, and Tottenham have now been offered the chance to sign him for a second time, with contact also being made last week.

"Special" Duran is Premier League proven

The Colombian certainly impressed former manager Unai Emery during his previous stint in the Premier League, with the Spaniard saying after a 3-3 draw against Liverpool: "Jhon Duran is a special player. We have to try and help him. He is a good guy, and he needs a team behind him. He is getting our demands better. He was very clinical and today was important for him."

Despite often being utilised as a substitute, the Medellin-born marksman was a fairly reliable source of goals for Villa across one-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League.

That said, the ex-Villa star hasn't been particularly impressive in Turkey, netting five goals in 21 games for Fenerbahce, and Tottenham probably don't need to bring in another striker, given that Solanke has hit the ground running since returning from injury.

Tottenham Hotspur rallied against Manchester City on Sunday evening, showing more heart and determination than has been seen across the tough months of Thomas Frank's spell in the dugout.

It's a spell which might just extend over the coming months, and not crumble away, with Spurs overturning a two-goal deficit and continuing to benefit from Dominic Solanke's focal presence from number nine.

The 28-year-old striker has split his time in Tottenham colours between the field and the infirmary, and neither side of the coin has brought him much joy. But Solanke's physical and athletic presence is giving Frank some joy.

However, the north Londoners still leave much to be desired in attack, and long-term planning needs to see talented arrival take this frontline to a new level.

Spurs want marquee forward in 2026

As Solanke seesaws up, Randal Kolo Muani swings down, still unable to break his Premier League duck and linked with a loan move to Juventus before the imminent transfer deadline. The Frenchman has not had the anticipated impact since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long deal last summer.

With Mathys Tel unhappy and angling for a return home to France, Tottenham's need for a new forward is accentuated, especially when considering Solanke's track record on the fitness front, a fact underlined as he trudged off against City with some pain in his ankle.

According to Spanish sources, ENIC Group have identified Real Madrid prodigy Endrick as the perfect player to spearhead Spurs' frontline over the coming years, and an enquiry has already been sent off to ascertain the chances of pulling it off.

The 19-year-old Endrick moved from Brazil to the Spanish capital in 2024, but a fringe role under Xavi Alonso led to a loan move to Lyon earlier this month. Here he has demonstrated the quality that drew such excitement during his formative days in Brazil.

Leeds United and Sunderland are ready to rival Tottenham for the precocious teenager, and perhaps they feel they can offer him a talismanic role to better serve his development.

But Endrick is an immense talent, with reports last summer suggesting he would cost suitors around £60m. His price tag is bound to be higher than that, but that has proved a weak deterrent as the Lilywhites prepare to make their move at the end of the season.

Why Endrick would be a superstar at Spurs

Endrick is still finding his feet in France, but after four matches for Lyon, he has scored as many goals and provided one assist too. In his second Ligue 1 outing, the Brazil international notched a sublime hat-trick away to Metz.

Diminutive and stocky, he's a force to be reckoned with, so powerful when running and unstoppable when finding space and striking on goal.

Endrick differs from Solanke. Two attackers with contrasting styles of play. Thus, if Spurs were to sign Endrick this summer, there's every reason for the two to share the load at number nine, but Frank would quickly find that Endrick should take precedence as his side's leading striker, even with his pace and dribbling ability lending to roles out on the wing.

Solanke's strength and intelligent movement in the box differentiate him from many strikers across Europe. In 2023/24, he scored 19 goals in the Premier League for Bournemouth and earned a transfer to N17 worth a total £65m sum - a Spurs club record.

But Endrick is elite, and he's still so young. It's obvious that he boasts more natural quality than he knows what to do with, and having been afforded a platform to channel it in France, is swiftly establishing himself as a budding superstar.

Have you ever seen a game quite like that? We don't think so. Tottenham Hotspur have been troubled to say the least at home this season and the atmosphere as title challengers Manchester City rolled into town reflected that.

You could hear a pin drop inside the stadium, and that wasn't helped when City went into the break 2-0 up.

Rayan Cherki opened the scoring before January signing Antoine Semenyo, who had been linked with Spurs, found the back of the net.

The booing as the players left the field at the break was the loudest we'd heard the crowd throughout the first 45 minutes but that soon changed.

Whatever Thomas Frank said to his men at the break worked wonders. City should have been out of sight before the second half started but Spurs rallied and, courtesy of a double from Dominic Solanke, somehow rescued a point.

Yves Bissouma's performance vs Manchester City in numbers

Yves Bissouma can join his manager in saying this has been something of a nightmare campaign for him.

Left out of the Super Cup squad against PSG at the start of the season for disciplinary reasons, cited as 'persistent lateness', he's barely kicked a ball since the Dane took over from Ange Postecoglou in the summer.

In fact, this was just his second start of the campaign and only his third appearance under Frank. Although he was bound to be rusty after several months on the periphery, his display against Pep Guardiola's men was a fine example of why he's played so little football in 2025/26.

Indeed, it was the midfielder who was to blame for the opener when he was dispossessed in the middle of the park. Erling Haaland was eventually given the ball and while he did not score, he played an assist to Cherki who comfortably found the corner of the goal.

It was a moment of play that Spurs fans have been all too familiar with when it comes to Bissouma. This was another moment in which he let his team down.

It was no surprise that with Spurs chasing the same, the Malian was brought off on 68 minutes having also been booked. He did completed 94% of his passes but didn't do much with it, not even registering a shot, completing a dribble or providing a key pass for his teammates. He also only won two of his five duels.

That being said, Bissouma wasn't the only man from a Lilywhites' perspective who failed to set the world alight.

Spurs defender must be sold after Man City display

Bissouma was poor but he was not the only player to cost Frank's side on Sunday. Indeed, another player on the periphery in the form of Radu Dragusin did not cover himself in glory.

Like his midfield colleague, he's barely featured much at all this season as he recovered from an ACL injury. This was his first start of the campaign, having played just six minutes under Frank prior to this game and it was a baptism of fire.

Dragusin will no doubt have easier challengers than a match against Haaland but even so, he demonstrated exactly why he's never really established himself as a leading option in north London.

Like Bissouma, Dragusin was at fault for the opening goal. Cherki received the ball on the edge of the area, but the Romanian didn't do an awful lot to help his goalkeeper out.

The central defender laboured towards Cherki, didn't get tight enough and allowed a free shot at goal which subsequently found the net.

It was a moment that rather typified Dragusin's Spurs career. He's been error-prone and with Luka Vuskovic set to return from a dazzling loan spell at Hamburg in the summer, there surely can't be too many starts left for the Romania international on the books of Spurs.

Aged 23, the centre-back still has plenty of time left to develop but time is certainly something Frank doesn't have much of.

Of course, Spurs are hit with several injury problems right now but Dragusin must be dropped as soon as Micky van de Ven returns to fitness. That doesn't feel like an outrageous statement to make, but to quote Tottenham writer Mitch Fretton, he really was "absolutely dreadful" against City this weekend and doesn't deserve a place in the team.he really was "absolutely dreadful"

If anything, Frank is better off not just removing him from the starting lineup but asking ENIC to sell him at the earliest convenience.

It's safe to say that of all the Premier League clubs, Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the most active this winter. They needed to be too, considering how life under Thomas Frank has started.

Things began this January with a move for Brazilian full-back Souza and while they have failed to complete a deal for Andy Robertson, Spurs have added further Premier League experience by welcoming Conor Gallagher to the ranks.

While Frank's men have advanced in the Champions League too, finishing inside the top eight during the league phase, Gallagher has so far been unable to generate much of an upturn in form in the league.

Perhaps a new striker would do just that. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jhon Duran have both been linked in the last week of the transfer window.

Yet, Spurs still have a desire to bolster the backline.

Spurs make approach to sign top centre-back prospect

Even if life doesn't look too rosy under Frank, the future of the club is surely in safe hands considering some of the exciting young prospects coming through.

Souza looks like a marvellous addition at left-back and he could be joined in the forthcoming years by Luka Vuskovic, the young Croatian defender who is making waves on loan at Hamburg in Germany from Spurs.

The club's recruitment chiefs are not done there as far as signing young players are concerned, however, with reports from Spain indicating that Spurs have made an approach to sign River Plate centre-back Lautaro Rivero.

Manchester City are also in the race to sign Rivero, but at the moment, Manchester United are said to be in pole position to bring the Argentine to English football.

Boasting an enormous £87m release clause, the defender has further caught the attention of Strasbourg and Spurs, who have both enquired about Rivero's contract terms and what it could take to complete a deal.

Why Rivero could be Spurs' next Romero

Back in 2021, Spurs signed Cristian Romero for a fee of £43m from Atalanta. Since signing, he's been quite the addition, and he's never been a player very far from the headlines.

For years, Romero was criticised for being too aggressive. He was an accident waiting to happen and has picked up as many as five red cards for the club.

Yet, in recent years, the Argentine has become a real force at the back. To put it simply, there is a reason he's Frank's captain.

He's the man for the big occasion and he's come up with some vital moments, particularly in recent weeks where he scored that late equaliser against Burnley. His goal against Newcastle United in December wasn't half bad either.

While Romero will largely always be judged for his ability to defend, it's safe to say he's in the form of his life in the final third, registering three goals and an assist in his last four appearances.

While Rivero may not have the same goalscoring ability at River, scoring just two goals in his senior career, he looks like an extremely exciting defensive talent, just as Romero was and still is.

In the words of content creator Neal Gardner, he is the "next big CB prospect coming out of Argentina" and it's easy to see why. Aged 22, the young centre-back demonstrated throughout 2025 why he's so highly rated.

Compared to positionally similar player in Argentina's top-flight last term, he ranked in the top 22% of centre-backs for duels won with 6.16 per 90 minutes. To put that into context, Romero has won 7.31 per 90 in the Premier League this season.

One of the standout attributes that Rivero possesses is his composure. He has completed 86.7% of his passes during the 2026 campaign, ranking him in the top 14% of positionally similar players.

Fierce in the duel and composed at the back, there is a belief here that Spurs could land their next Romero by completing a deal.

Tottenham Hotspur still want to sign a forward.

Wanting a thing and getting it are two wholly different prospects when it comes to the January transfer window, though, especially when the market enters the final leg.

But with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Randal Kolo Muani is in Juventus' sights, the Italians hoping to see their former loanee's stint as Spurs cut short ahead of his return to Turin, there is hope that ENIC Group can pull off an exciting deal for an upgrade at number nine.

For sure, Thomas Frank and his beleaguered squad could do with an impactful addition in attack.

Spurs in talks to seal late attacking signing

Tottenham have been among the clubs angling for Jean-Philippe Mateta's signature this month, and while the French forward is likely to leave Selhurst Park, correspondent Alasdair Gold has confirmed he will not be headed for N17.

AC Milan are the frontrunners there, and Spurs already have an established Premier League goalscorer in Dominic Solanke, the 28-year-old finding form and fitness once again.

However, technical director Johan Lange has set his sights on an up-and-comer who has the potential to become a global superstar.

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are in talks with intermediaries who are trying to land Jhon Duran a move in the coming days, with the Al-Nassr striker currently out on loan in Turkey with Fenerbahce.

Duran, 22, left Aston Villa for Al-Nassr in a £64m package one year ago, having stormed into the ascendancy in the English Midlands.

Though French club Lille are believed to be in pole position to land the Colombian striker on a loan deal until the end of the season, a number of English suitors are in the mix, and if Juventus manage to get their hands on Kolo Muani, Spurs might just be in a position to pounce.

Why Jhon Duran could be perfect for Spurs

Duran has led a storied professional career, and he's still so young.

From a sporting standpoint, perhaps he made an ill-advised move to the Gulf, but his team's willingness to see him back in European competition suggests that he's got the hunger to pick up where he left off with Aston Villa.

Hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as a "true monster" for his terrifying attacking performances under Unai Emery's wing, Duran proved himself the ultimate super-sub, deadly when called into action off the bench.

His speed and killer instinct in the final third make him a force to be reckoned with, and Duran's ability to cause chaos when drawn from the substitute's bench could give Frank's side the edge they need while keeping Solanke happy as he grows back into his skin at the Spurs spearhead.

With this in mind, it's clear that Duran would prove the better signing than Mateta, who has been priced at £40m by Crystal Palace and would indeed want the top spot from Solanke.

The thing is, Mateta is actually quite similar to Spurs' number one forward, a powerful and tall striker capable of surging runs into the box. A focal point, and no mistake.

Moreover, Mateta's not exactly the most clinical goalscorer in the Premier League. He has scored eight times for Oliver Glasner's side this season, but he has also missed 16 big chances in the Premier League.

Duran only missed nine big chances in total across two-and-a-half years in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals in that period.

The left-footer's destructive shooting power is a unique thing. Perhaps it's somewhat Gareth Bale-esque.

Certainly, Duran is capable of a show-stopping finish, much like that of the iconic Welshman, who similarly used his strength and electric bursts of pace to find space in the danger area.

There is that shared knack for rifling home from range in a manner that leaves a goalkeeper looking rather helpless and foolish in equal measure, with both Bale and Duran almost unstoppable when at their best.

Tottenham have the means to fashion success over the business months of the season, and with a maverick such as Duran added to the mix, Frank might just land on the offensive formula to finally get this side back on track.