Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign an "incredible" midfielder, and they are confident they will win the race for his signature, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing reinforcements in multiple areas

Barring an unlikely triumph in the Europa League, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a season to forget for Tottenham, with it looking increasingly likely they will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Injuries no doubt haven't helped their cause, but the fact Spurs have fallen way below expectations indicates several reinforcements may be needed in the summer, and they are eyeing players in multiple positions.

A new striker is of interest, with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison suffering their fair share of injury problems this season, and the Lilywhites are now making moves to sign Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while they are also stepping up their pursuit of Lille's Jonathan David.

With Cristian Romero potentially in line to leave Tottenham this summer, a new centre-back may also be required, and they are incredibly keen on Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer.

Tah is not the only free agent that Tottenham are eyeing, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they are determined to sign Lille midfielder Angel Gomes, whose contract is set to expire this summer.

Spurs are pushing hard to get a deal for Gomes over the line, having been leading the race for his signature for quite some time, and they are confident they will be able to strike an agreement.

London rivals West Ham United have also been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, but widespread reports state he has turned down a move to the London Stadium.

Signing "incredible" Gomes could be shrewd business

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has made it clear Tottenham will have to be clever with how they operate in the transfer market this summer, saying: "We cannot spend what we do not have, and we will not compromise the financial stability of this club,"

"Recruitment remains a key focus, and we must ensure that we make smart purchases within our financial means."

As such, it would be financially prudent to pursue free agents this summer, and signing Gomes could be a shrewd bit of business, given how impressive he has looked in a Lille shirt, notably impressing with his long-range passing last season.

The last five years or so have been a roller coaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

Since Daniel Levy and Co decided to sack Mauricio Pochettino, the club haven't been able to find another manager who's been able to truly deliver.

For example, Ange Postecoglou delivered entertaining football but has made them incredibly easy to play against, while Antonio Conte and José Mourinho turned a club famous for their attacking philosophy into one of the country's most boring teams to watch.

Yet, the least successful of the lost was Nuno Espírito Santo, who wasn't even given half a season in the dugout and still managed to bring in a couple of good signings, including one now compared to a Premier League superstar.

Nuno's Spurs signings

So, before we get to the player in question, it's worth looking at some of the other players Nuno bought in during his time in the Spurs hot seat, starting with one that did not work out: Emerson Royal.

The Brazilian full-back joined the North Londoners from Barcelona in the summer of 2021 for a fee of around £26m - a fee that reportedly stunned the Catalan board at the time, which perhaps makes how things panned out not that unsurprising.

In all, the São Paulo-born flop made 101 appearances for the club, in which he scored four goals, provided two assists and was often labelled a "liability" by those in the media like Jamie O'Hara, before being sold to AC Milan for about £13m in the summer of 2024.

An altogether more successful acquisition made under Nuno's watch was that of Cristian Romero, who joined the club on a loan with a £46.7m option to buy in early August 2021.

Since then, he has been one of the club's co-vice captains and made 117 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing one assist.

However, he's not been the only success story from that summer, as another of Nuno's limited signings is now a key member of the squad and has even been compared to one of the biggest stars in the Premier League, who is worth around £101m.

Spurs' £101m superstar in the making

Given Nuno's limited time at Spurs, only one other signing was made under him that could be described as a success: Pape Matar Sarr.

The North Londoners paid Ligue 1 side FC Metz about £15m for the midfield "monster," as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, in the summer of 2021, and it would be fair to say he has since more than proved worth that initial investment.

For example, he's already made 93 first-team appearances, scoring nine goals and providing six assists, which is seriously impressive for a 22-year-old central midfielder.

On top of this, he's also been compared to Declan Rice, and while the Spurs faithful don't like him, it's a pretty flattering and encouraging comparison, one that stems from Fbref.

They compared players in similar positions in last season's Premier League and concluded that the Englishman was the second most similar midfielder to the Senegalese ace in the entire competition.

The best way to see how this conclusion was reached is by looking at the underlying numbers in which they ranked closely, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, passes into the penalty area, goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

However, while being statistically similar to one of the division's leading midfielders is great in and of itself, it's also encouraging regarding the Lilywhites ace's future valuation.

For example, Transfermarkt currently values the Arsenal star at a whopping €110m, which, when converted, comes out to £101m, and if Sarr is so similar to him, why couldn't his price tag reach the same heights in the future?

Ultimately, while he's not quite on the level of the Englishman just yet, the talent is undeniably there, and with the right coaching, the sky's the limit.

Tottenham Hotspur are now determined to win the race for a "fantastic" Premier League forward, and they are willing to fork out £43m to get a deal over the line, according to a report.

Spurs return to winning ways against Saints

Tottenham's four-game winless run in the Premier League came to an end yesterday afternoon, securing a 3-1 victory against Southampton at home, which meant the visitors' relegation was confirmed at the earliest stage in history.

It was a game Spurs were expected to win, despite their poor form, and they got the job done in relatively comfortable fashion, with Brennan Johnson bagging a brace and Mathys Tel picking up his first Premier League goal.

Ange Postecoglou is likely to be happy with the performances of his forwards, but there are signs the Australian could look to bolster his attacking options in the summer, should he manage to retain his job.

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the most recent striker to be linked with a move to north London, while the Lilywhites are also keen to strengthen in wide areas, and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze is among the potential targets.

Eze is not the only Premier League winger they have their eye on, however, with a report from Spain revealing Tottenham are now determined to win the race for AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.

Manchester United are also interested in the Bournemouth winger, with the two clubs set to battle it out for his services this summer, and they are willing to shell out €50m (£43m) to get a deal over the line.

The Cherries aren't completely against cashing-in on the Ghanaian, should they receive a suitable offer, despite his importance to Andoni Iraola's side.

"Fantastic" Semenyo impressing for the Cherries

It would be fair to say Bournemouth have surpassed expectations this season, given that they still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe, and the 25-year-old has been one of their key players.

The London-born winger almost always plays the full 90 minutes, and he has regularly provided goals and assists in the Premier League, with 12 goal contributions to his name in 30 appearances.

Journalist Thomas Hammond has also been left impressed by the Ghana international this season, lauding him as "fantastic" after an impressive performance against Newcastle United back in January.

That said, Semenyo hasn't been in the best form in recent weeks, having now gone six games without a goal or assist in the Premier League, so Tottenham should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

An "unbelievable" forward "would be open" to signing for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Spurs' summer transfer plans taking shape

Son Heung-min has been one of the shining lights in a poor Tottenham side this season, picking up seven goals and 10 assists in the Premier League, but there are signs a long-term replacement for the 32-year-old could be brought in this summer.

Talks have been opened over a deal for Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane, with Spurs incredibly interested in signing the former Manchester City man, while they are also increasingly likely to make a move for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Semenyo is not the only Premier League player on the shortlist, however, with a report from earlier this week revealing the Lilywhites are leading the race for Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, who could be available for a fee of £60m this summer.

There has now been a promising new update on Tottenham's pursuit of Eze, with former scout Brown telling Football Insider he believes the winger would be interested in making a move across the capital this summer, despite Palace's determination to keep hold of him.

Brown said: “They want to keep him and I don’t expect he’s the type of player to force through a move unless Palace’s asking price is met.

“Tottenham have been interested for a long time and he’s their type of player.

“If Eze has the opportunity to move to a team like Tottenham, I think he would be open to that, and it’s not slight on Palace and what they’ve done.

“So that move wouldn’t surprise me, but it will only be on Palace’s terms and they want to keep him.”

"Unbelievable" Eze could be fantastic signing for Tottenham

Tottenham's summer transfer plans are likely to be heavily affected by whether Ange Postecoglou remains in his role as manager, but regardless of who is in charge, Eze could be a fantastic addition to the squad.

The Palace star has proven himself across a number of seasons in the Premier League, and he is enjoying another impressive season with the Eagles, having picked up six goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Not only that, but the England international ranks highly across some key metrics for wingers over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy could soon green-light a move for a "fantastic" manager to replace Ange Postecoglou, according to a report.

Ange on thin ice at Tottenham after Chelsea defeat

Tottenham's poor form continued against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Thursday, suffering a 1-0 defeat against their London rivals, but in truth they have had little to play for in the Premier League for quite some time.

Winning the Europa League is the last remaining avenue for Spurs to have a successful season, with a triumph ending their long trophy drought, while also granting them access to next season's Champions League.

As such, Postecoglou is on very thin ice, and Levy has now started to identify potential replacements for the Australian, with Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola one of the names on the shortlist, having enjoyed an impressive campaign with the Cherries.

Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner is also of interest, alongside Fulham manager Marco Silva, and there has now been a new update on Tottenham's pursuit of the Portuguese coach.

According to a report from Football Insider, Levy could green-light a move for Silva, with Postecoglou under serious pressure as we approach the business end of the season.

Former Everton chief Keith Wyness goes on to explain why appointing the Fulham boss could make perfect sense for Levy, saying: “Silva is probably more in the running than Iraola.

“I think he’s more of a Levy character, he’s got the London experience – performing well with Fulham.

“He’s been with Everton, Watford – he’s got the runs on the board.

“I think he would operate at Spurs quite well. He’s done well on a tight budget with Fulham, and that’s what Levy will be looking for.

“We’ve seen the numbers at Tottenham, they’re not spending much on wages or fees – it’s very low.”

"Fantastic" Silva has earned move to top club

The 47-year-old has had his fair share of setbacks, previously being sakced by Everton, but he has since done a stellar job with Fulham, having achieved promotion from the Championship before stabilising the Cottagers as a Premier League club.

In light of his accomplishments, the former Everton boss has been lauded as "fantastic" by journalist Konstantinos Lianos, and he is on course to record a top-half finish in the Premier League this season.

Should Postecoglou fail to win the Europa League, it is looking likely the 59-year-old will depart this summer, particularly with his relationship with the fans increasingly under strain.

Silva has proven he could be a solid replacement for Ange, but there also has to be questions asked of Levy, given that so many top managers have now failed to bring success to Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur are now making moves to sign a striker, who they are planning to offer a place in the starting XI next season, according to a report.

Solanke's first season at Spurs

Dominic Solanke's first season as a Tottenham player has been marred by a number of injury issues, having suffered with hamstring and ankle problems, but he hasn't exactly been prolific in front of goal when fully-fit.

The striker started the Premier League season well, netting six goals prior to Christmas, but since then the Englishman has struggled to score as regularly, with just one league goal to his name in 2025.

With Richarlison also missing the majority of the campaign due to injuries, it would make sense for Spurs to bring in a more dependable striker in the summer transfer window, and a report has now revealed they could bring in a Premier League player on a free transfer.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now making moves to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is looking increasingly likely to exit Goodison Park upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

Spurs are willing to offer Calvert-Lewin a 'prominent' place in the starting XI, having been impressed by his goalscoring ability and physicality, which indicates Solanke may be forced to drop to the bench, after a mixed debut season in north London.

The Everton forward could offer the Lilywhites a different kind of threat in attack, and they believe he can rediscover his best form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having been hampered by a number of injury issues during his time with the Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin isn't what Tottenham need

The 28-year-old has impressed in the Premier League in the past, netting 16 goals for the Toffees in the 2020-21 campaign, at which point he was lauded as a "monster" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

If the Englishman were able to replicate those numbers for Spurs, he could be an excellent addition to the squad, but there are signs his best days are behind him, having scored just three goals in the Premier League this season.

Not only that, but the Sheffield-born striker's injury issues are well-documented, having suffered a series of setbacks during his time on Merseyside, which will also be a concern for Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou has had to make do without Richarlison and Solanke for large parts of the current season, and another injury-prone striker isn't what the manager needs.

Calvert-Lewin's availability on a free transfer perhaps makes him a slightly appealing option, at least as a squad player, but he arguably should not be brought in as the first-choice striker, given his patchy goal and injury records.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing an absolutely huge week in N17 amid mounting pressure on the Australian, with an all-important Europa League quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.

Ange Postecoglou facing key Tottenham decisions

However, before their most vital game of the season to date, Spurs must get past bottom side Southampton in the Premier League - and nothing but a win will do for Postecoglou as serious doubts surround his future.

The 59-year-old must get supporters back onside and inspire unity once again - a mountainous task for Postecoglou considering his row with the Tottenham away end over Pape Matar Sarr's introduction during their 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Thursday.

Following a dismal campaign, with Spurs languishing fairly near the relegation zone after 16 league defeats, reports claim chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a new manager, and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola is Tottenham's top target.

"It’s been a ridiculously challenging season on all fronts and every fan has the right to show their frustration and again," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's disappointing 2024/2025.

"I think at times it has overstepped and when it oversteps, I will not stand for it because I am a little bit old school with that, but they have every right.

"I think I said before the game it is up to us to try and find a way to get them back on board with what we’re doing. I still can’t get away from the fact we have a real massive opportunity for ourselves between now and the end of the season.

"I think it would be different if that didn’t exist. It would be a tougher road to navigate, but I am hoping that irrespective of how the fans feel about me, what I’m doing and the project we’ve embarked on, I hope when the games come around, they just get behind the players and the team because they can make an enormous difference."

Ahead of their clash with the Saints, a report by journalist Dan Kilpatrick has shared how Postecoglou is planning to shape up.

Tottenham to recall Porro whilst dropping Maddison and Son

According to the Standard Sport reporter, Postecoglou will likely completely overhaul his starting eleven and drop key men, with their European bout against Eintracht firmly in the tactician's thinking.

It is believed the Spurs boss will recall right-back Pedro Porro to the starting lineup versus Southampton, having recently lost his place to the rejuvenated Djed Spence, while big-name duo James Maddison and Son Heung-min will be dropped and rested for Frankfurt.

Criticism has centered on Son this season, with the South Korean megastar failing to replicate his best form this term and talkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara questioning his leadership qualities.

"Son Heung-min did not show the demeanour of a captain," said O'Hara on Son after the defeat to Chelsea.

"Son Heung-min is a player who sets an example, and he did so in the past, but that is no longer enough. Son Heung-min cannot dominate opponents and his sharpness has diminished, failing to make a difference."

Maddison, meanwhile, has been in and out of the line-up recently despite bagging 11 goals and seven assists this term.

This summer feels like it will have to be another one of significant change for Tottenham Hotspur.

Following a campaign that seems to go from bad to worse on a near-weekly basis, the pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou, and it seems like he is on the precipice of losing his job.

However, it's not just the staff that could change, as Daniel Levy and Co have to look to bring in some first-team quality players and shift those deemed surplus to requirements.

In fact, there is one player who was signed by Antonio Conte, who has cost the club a significant amount of money over the years and simply has to be sold.

Spurs players who should be moved on

Before we get to the player in question, it's worth examining some of the other members of the squad who should be moved on or sold in the summer, such as Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international kicked off the season by getting banned for using laughing gas, and while he hasn't done anything like that since, he has been incredibly disappointing when he's played.

For example, when he started against Fulham before the international break, he was hooked at half-time and earned a 3/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold, who described his display as 'dreadful' and 'panicked', which is not what you want from your central midfielders.

Another player signed in the same window who has to be sold or simply let go is Richarlison, who cost £60m, earns £90k-per-week and is never fit enough to play for the team.

In the almost three years since he moved to N17, the Brazilian international has made 80 appearances, in which he's only been able to score 18 goals and provide nine assists.

Unfortunately, there is yet another Conte signing who should be sold in the summer, someone who can be a serious liability at times.

The Spurs dud who must be sold

So, when it comes down to players who could be described as expensive mistakes, there are, unfortunately, quite a few at Spurs, but in this case, we are talking about Pedro Porro.

The Spanish full-back joined the club on loan with a £40m obligation to buy in January 2023, and to start with, there was a lot to like about him.

For example, in his first season and a half at the club, the former Sporting CP star racked up a brilliant haul of seven goals and ten assists in 54 appearances and looked like he could become the club's own Trent Alexander Arnold thanks to his ability to whip a ball in.

Unfortunately, this season has seen his output drop to just two goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, and that has shone far more light on his defensive ability, or lack thereof, more accurately.

The Don Benito-born ace is a complete liability at the back, and we have seen that on multiple occasions.

For example, the time Leandro Trossard completely embarrassed him at the Emirates, his abysmal performance at home to Ipswich Town, which journalist Mitch Fretton described as a "horror show," or his "absolutely terrible" showing at home to Bournemouth, as one podcaster put it.

What makes it all that much worse is the fact that he's also making £85k-per-week, which means he's amassed around £9.6m in wages so far, which means he's cost the club about £49.6m in total.

That breaks down to about £516k-per-appearance, £5.5m-per-goal, £2.9m-per-assist or £1.9m-per-goal involvement, which is hardly value for money.

Ultimately, while Porro showed some initial promise at Spurs, he has since become a total liability in defence, and therefore, the club should look to sell him as soon as possible.

Stan Collymore has warned a title-winning manager not to join Tottenham Hotspur after hearing that the tactician has held talks with chairman Daniel Levy.

Ange Postecoglou relaxed over Tottenham future

Ange Postecoglou is walking a tightrope in N17, with reports surrounding a potential Spurs move for Bournenmouth's Andoni Iraola, among other candidates.

Tottenham registered their 16th Premier League defeat of the campaign away to Chelsea on Thursday, bringing Postecoglou's future into even more disrepute, with Fabrizio Romano claiming it is Europa League or bust for the Australian.

GiveMeSport sources have since reported that, in the aftermath of their London derby loss, Postecoglou might not even get that long. Amidst the consistent noise regarding his long-term future, the 59-year-old has adopted a relaxed mindset, suggesting there will be many outstanding candidates to replace him.

"I know what my responsibilities are. I'm sure if the club decide to go in a different direction, there are some outstanding candidates out there for it," said Postecoglou on his potential replacement.

"It doesn't rock my world, it doesn't consume me. I am here and passionate about what we are doing. I was brought in to change the way the club plays, rejuvenate the squad and bring success. I am focused on that and that's what I'll keep doing."

Postecoglou also commented on a potential return one day for ex-Spurs fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino, now manager of the USA ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where the States will play joint-hosts of their most important tournament since the 1990s.

"If he wants to come back one day then I hope it happens for him," Postecoglou said when asked about Pochettino.

This follows comments made by the Argentine that he'd one day like to make a return to Tottenham, following five impressive years in N17 where he also guided them to an unprecedented Champions League final.

Stan Collymore urges Mauricio Pochettino not to re-join Tottenham

Now, writing in his column, pundit Collymore has urged Pochettino not to re-join Tottenham, following alleged talks with chairman Levy.

"There has been rumours of Mauricio Pochettino possibly making a return to Tottenham, having seemingly held talks with Daniel Levy," wrote Collymore for CaughtOffside.

"But if I was him, I would not go anywhere near his former club, as I think very little has changed from when he left in 2019. I was at the Champions League final that year when Liverpool defeated them, and I remember very clearly how frustrated he was with the club after that. If he came back, he [wouldn't] be given the tools to do the job that he wanted, so it would make little sense for him to be willing to go back there."

Since being sacked by Levy in 2019, Pochettino has gone on to manage Chelsea and win a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain. He'd be a fantastic appointment considering his proven track record and experience at Tottenham, but supporters would most likely have to wait a while for any reunion.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has been handed a boost in his pursuit of a 52-year-old's appointment in N17, with the high-ranking board chief said to be seriously attempting to bring him to north London.

Following an alleged Ange Postecoglou row with Spurs supporters in their 1-0 London derby defeat at Chelsea, where he was seen goading the away end over Pape Matar Sarr's introduction, the Australian has received serious backlash.

Postecoglou brought on the Senegalese in place of Lucas Bergvall, which prompted boos from the Lilywhites fanbase, with Sarr then equalising with an excellently taken, albeit brief, strike from long-range.

In response, the Tottenham boss cupped his ear to those who jeered his decision to bring Sarr on. This incident hasn't gone down well with supporters and critics alike, but Postecoglou has since insisted that he was merely celebrating the goal, which was eventually ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

Postecoglou is now facing more pressure than ever before, especially following Tottenham's sixteenth defeat in the Premier League alone this season, with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola reportedly Levy's top managerial target to succeed the tactician.

Celtic's former boss was candid when asked about his long-term future this week, suggesting that Spurs need to think more long-term.

“I’ve almost lasted two years, it’s pretty good for Tottenham," said Postecoglou on his job.

"At some point, I think the club needs to stick to something. If I say it now it sounds self-serving and defeats the purpose, so maybe not now. But I think that if you want to change the course of your events, you need to change materially a lot of things in terms of the way your outlook as a club.

“Last year was a good year, I don’t care what anybody says. We lost Harry (Kane). I know everyone talks about our start (but) we lost Harry, we finished fifth, we changed the way we played.

“It seems like, you have one good year, you have one poor year and then that’s it, ‘let’s move on to the next’, but that’s what I accepted so I can’t sit here and say, ‘ah, woe is me’. That’s the challenge I accepted."

Daniel Levy handed Tottenham boost over appointing Fabio Paratici

As well as a new head coach, the north Londoners have been tipped to re-hire ex-managing director Fabio Paratici, who would play a key role in the managerial recruitment process.

Reports suggest that Levy has held talks with Paratici over re-joining Tottenham, and the chairman has apparently been "working hard" on his possible return (Graeme Bailey), but Milan are major foils in this move.

The Rossoneri are chasing their own sporting director, with Paratici's worldwide football ban set to end on 30th June this year. However, according to Calciomercato, Tottenham have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the 52-year-old.

It is believed that Milan's talks with Paratici have collapsed over various clauses they couldn't agree upon, handing Levy a clear run at bringing back a former employee who enjoyed a productive stint at the club.

The Italian played a major role in Spurs' appointment of Antonio Conte, whilst also orchestrating deals for Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr.