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Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has revealed details of a text exchange with Liverpool striker Alexander Isak following the striker's devastating injury setback. The club's record acquisition is expected to be sidelined for several months at the very least.

The ankle injury occurred when Isak was caught by van de Ven whilst scoring the Reds' opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He has since undergone surgery to address the issue, which also included a fractured fibula. The blow represents yet another obstacle for Isak, who has found it difficult to establish himself at the club following his £125million move from Newcastle this summer.

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Van De Ven has now revealed the contents of the message he sent to Isak after the high-intensity Premier League clash.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Spurs centre-half disclosed: "Yeah, I've text him. Of course.

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"I've sent him a text because I didn't want to injure him, I didn't want to do something to hurt him. I just tried to block the shot and I think it was a bit unlucky how his foot landed between my legs.

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"So I sent him a text afterwards. I want to wish him all the best in his recovery.

"That's what I said to him. And I hope we can see him back on the pitch very soon again."

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When questioned about whether Isak replied, he added: "Yeah, he really appreciated the message. He texted back."

While van de Ven kept the specifics of Isak's reaction under wraps, it's safe to assume that the Liverpool star appreciated the gesture and accepted the apology. His focus will now be on returning to full fitness as soon as possible.

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Discussing Isak's comeback, head coach Arne Slot expressed his belief that the striker will return to action before the end of the season.

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"Yeah, [he'll play again this season]. I'm confident. It's been a really challenging and difficult period for him, I think. Maybe no-one understands, but if you haven't trained for three or four months on a serious level with the team and you're playing in this league... in this league you need to be on the top of your game to impact the games.

"That took, which we all knew, months before we could bring him there. Because there was no pre-season, there were games, games, games.

"We had hardly any time to train, so we always knew that it would take him time - and that's why he's so unlucky that he's now injured because I think we all saw with a goal against West Ham, and with this goal [vs Tottenham], that he got closer and closer to the player he was at Newcastle."

Liverpool have confirmed their first deal of the January transfer window.

They've allowed youngster James Norris to leave the club on a permanent basis, joining Irish side Shelbourne.

He spent the majority of 2025 at the club in a successful loan spell and has now signed a permanent contract.

In a statement, Liverpool said: "Everyone at Liverpool FC wishes James the best of luck for the future."

Hello and welcome to Express Sport's rolling coverage of the latest transfer news with the January window finally open for business.

Stay with us to keep up with the biggest stories from across the Premier League and beyond...

Tottenham are already active in the January transfer window, which opened only a few hours ago, as they are prepared to sell Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace. The Welshman is expected to undergo a medical shortly ahead of a £35million deal, which could be reinvested back into Thomas Frank's squad.

The Dane has struggled to win over the Spurs faithful and many have pointed out that his central midfield needs more of a cultured operator. But he will also be desperate to replace Johnson, and has a cool £35m in his pocket to spend. Here, Express Sport has taken a look at our priority first signing...

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Jack McEachen - Savinho

Savinho's situation has not changed since he came close to leaving Manchester City for Tottenham in the summer, despite signing a new contract in October.

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With Antoine Semenyo's impending £65million transfer to the Etihad, Savinho will surely be growing more concerned about his position at City.

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The Brazilian's ability to operate on both flanks would surely appeal, and he offers a dribbling threat that, outside of Mohammed Kudus and the raw Wilson Odobert, Spurs do not have at the club.

Why not resurrect this transfer?

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Charlie Malam - Yan Diomande

With Brennan Johnson looking likely to leave Spurs this month, a replacement attacker is a priority. The dream would be RB Leipzig's exciting Ivorian winger Yan Diomande.

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The 19-year-old, valued at between £50m to £60m, has all the attributes to be a consistent match-winner; explosive athleticism, elite dribbling off of both feet, versatility to play on either side and crucially, end product. He would be a cheaper and easier-to-sign Nico Williams of sorts.

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Spurs may have to go big on Diomande now if they want to meet the massive competition for him, but if they could snag the Ivory Coast attacker at a cheaper price than they were willing to pay Man City for Savinho last summer, it would be the biggest success yet of the post-Daniel Levy era.

Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande after, seemingly, falling short of securing Antoine Semenyo, but an alternative deal may have to wait until season's end. Spurs were said to have shown an interest in the Bournemouth forward over the past couple of months, alongside the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

However, it is now understood Semenyo has highlighted Manchester City as his destination of choice when the January window swings bacl open, leaving the Lilywhites to reassess their options. Meanwhile, Spurs look increasingly likely to lose Brennan Johnson next month after telling the forward he is free to leave the club, with Crystal Palace agreeing the framework for a £35million deal.

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Should a deal with Palace fall through, the Welshman is not shy of admirers; with Sunderland, Everton and Aston Villa all said to be paying attention to the 24-year-old.

All things considered, Spurs would be wise to bring in a replacement to ensure a strong finish to 2025/26. And while the club have been linked with Diomande as of late, Leipzig are not prepared to sell their talisman in the upcoming window.

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Despite the two clubs holding a strong relationship following the £51.8m transfer of Xavi Simons this summer, Die Roten Bullen are eager to retain Diomande, given he only arrived at the club in July and is currently competing at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.

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Reports in Germany suggest that RB Leipzig will only listen to offers at the end of the season and they will demand a whopping package of around £85m. The 19-year-old has taken very little time to impress at the Red Bull Arena - providing seven goals and three assists across all competitions this season - as Leipzig sit fourth in the Bundesliga standings.

The Lewis family are reportedly ready to back Thomas Frank in the transfer market after investing some £100m into the club back in October. However, Spurs will be better suited looking elsewhere if they're eager to secure a forward for the latter half of the season, given Diomande seems set to stay put.

The north London-based outfit have also been linked with AS Monaco talent, Maghnes Akliouche, as well as FC Koln's Said El Mala, and it will be interesting to see how January plays out in Tottenham.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank appears to be facing an uncertain future after overseeing a disappointing start to the campaign. The north Londoners are currently in the Premier League's bottom half after winning just seven of their opening 18 games. It has led to questions being asked of the club's struggling players as well as Frank, who only took charge in the summer.

Not everybody has flattered to deceive, though, with the likes of Micky van de Ven and Archie Gray impressing for the most part. Others, however, have failed to step up and be counted over the last few months. Meanwhile, some players are clearly not in Frank's thinking at all and may never kick a ball for Tottenham again.

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Express Sport looks at six players who might have already had their last game for Spurs...

Brennan Johnson

A move away from Tottenham could be on the cards for the Welshman, who is being courted by Crystal Palace. Reports suggest a transfer fee of around £35million has been agreed between the two clubs but Johnson is yet to give the green light.

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He is expected to make a decision over the coming days but even if that move falls through, other clubs are said to be interested in snapping him up. The likes of Bournemouth and Sunderland are reportedly keeping a close eye on the situation.

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Johnson has struggled for regular starts at Tottenham this season and may choose to go elsewhere in search of more minutes, but only time will tell.

Yves Bissouma

The midfielder is yet to make a Premier League appearance so far this season and recently faced fresh allegations of using nitrous oxide. Earlier this month, Tottenham said they would be looking into it and dealing with the situation internally.

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Bissouma is currently at the Africa Cup of Nations but may not have a future in north London, given that he is essentially no longer needed.

However, it has been reported that Spurs could hand him a one-year extension if they fail to sell him in January. This would allow them to recoup a fee in the summer, as opposed to losing him for nothing.

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Dane Scarlett

Once regarded as one of England's brightest attacking talents, the young forward is yet to deliver on the huge promise he showed as a teenager.

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A handful of underwhelming loan spells in the EFL have done little to convince his doubters that he has what it takes to make it at Tottenham.

A permanent exit could be the most likely solution for Scarlett, who has only made five Premier League matchday squads this term without coming off the bench.

Mikey Moore

Another young player with huge potential, the 18-year-old is spending the season on loan at Rangers. He has shown glimpses of brilliance during his time in Scotland but still has a lot of developing to do.

As a homegrown academy graduate, any fee gained from selling Moore would go down as pure profit, which could be an attractive proposition for Tottenham if they decide to cash in further down the line.

There is still every chance that Moore could emerge as a future star for Spurs, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him leave the club in the not-too-distant future.

Manor Solomon

The winger excelled in the Championship during his loan spell at Leeds United last season and is currently playing for Villarreal on a temporary basis.

He has been struggling for minutes, though, with just six league appearances under his belt. He has only scored one goal for his loan club, which is hardly an indicator that he is ready to make an impact for Tottenham.

Solomon is no longer a young player at 26 and doesn't seem to have a future at Spurs, which indicates a summer sale could be a real possibility.

Alfie Devine

The attacking midfielder is spending the season on loan at Preston North End and has done reasonably well in the Championship, but hasn't exactly pulled up any trees.

He has scored three goals and laid on another two assists in 21 appearances, which is a decent return but not a remarkable one.

That form in the second tier doesn't suggest that Devine will be thriving for Tottenham any time soon. As with Moore, any fee gained from selling him would be registered as pure profit, which could be an option if other EFL clubs take an interest in him.

Tottenham have reportedly agreed to sell winger Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace. But the Wales international could wreck the transfer if he decides he doesn’t want to join the Eagles.

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Johnson ended the last campaign as Spurs’ top scorer after bagging 18 goals in all competitions. But he has fallen down the pecking order under Thomas Frank this term and has only started six Premier League matches. On Sunday, he came off the bench for five minutes to replace Mohammed Kudus as Tottenham overcame Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park. And he hasn’t started a match since his side’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle at the start of December.

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According to The Athletic, Palace have agreed to pay Tottenham just shy of £35million to take Johnson to Selhurst Park.

Both clubs are keen to proceed with the deal, with Palace desperately in need of reinforcements as they have UEFA Conference League commitments on top of their usual commitments domestically.

But the player is yet to decide whether he is happy to join the reigning FA Cup champions, with other clubs also said to be interested in acquiring his services.

Johnson is said to be Palace’s main transfer target in January, with Eagles boss Oliver Glasner currently struggling for numbers on the pitch.

Palace will be aiming to return to form in the coming weeks after slipping to three successive losses in the Premier League. The side are currently contending with a fixture pile-up and are in the middle of a run of nine games in the space of just 28 days.

Frank was asked about Johnson in the aftermath of Tottenham’s victory over Palace. And the Dane explained: “I think Brennan is very important for us. Maybe he didn't get many minutes, but unfortunately, we can only play 11 players.

“We spoke about it before with Mo [Kudus], he's coming in and put his stamp on that right-winger position. Then [on] the left, we tried different solutions. [He has] still started quite a few games. I think Brennan is an important player for us.”

According to talkSPORT, Bournemouth are also interested in signing Johnson, with the Dorset club set to lose star attacker Antoine Semenyo in January.

Semenyo is said to have set his sights on a move to Manchester City after starring at the Vitality Stadium since joining the Cherries from Bristol City at the start of 2023. The 25-year-old has bagged eight goals in 16 Premier League appearances this season.

Tottenham secured a narrow victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Richarlison found the back of the net just after the quarter-hour mark from Pedro Porro's low curling ball, but VAR identified that Lucas Bergvall was offside during the build-up. Tottenham's play in the first half was largely aerial, and all the pressure came from Palace with eight shots before Archie Gray scored his first senior goal against the run of play.

A deep corner from Porro was headed back by Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison flicked it on for the thrilled teenager to head into the net just before half-time. With 15 minutes remaining, Richarlison thought he had scored again when he slid home Mohammed Kudus' low cross, but a VAR check revealed he was slightly offside. Substitute Wilson Odobert hit an attempt against the left-hand post in the last 10 minutes, and Rodrigo Bentancur had a shot saved as Spurs concluded 2025 with a hard-earned win.

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Here are your Tottenham player ratings from today's victory...

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Tottenham player ratings vs Crystal Palace

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

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Despite the pressure from Palace, the Italian goalkeeper didn't have any significant saves to make and handled set pieces well when they came his way.

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Pedro Porro - 7

He delivered a fantastic low curling ball for Richarlison's disallowed early goal. He struggled defensively in the first half but improved significantly as the match progressed, along with the rest of the team.

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Kevin Danso - 7

He tripped Devenny early on as the Scot was charging towards the Spurs box, earning a yellow card with Palace demanding a red. Despite some shaky moments in the first half, he handled everything thrown at him in the second half and had the fans chanting his name in the final stages.

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Micky van de Ven - 8

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He was solid throughout and arguably Spurs' best defender on the day, making numerous crucial touches and interceptions.

Djed Spence - 7

He attempted to push forward in the first half but played a loose pass across his own box that gave Wharton a shooting opportunity. In the second half, he was among those who greatly improved.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 7

The same message applies here. The Uruguayan seemed lost at times in the first half but fought superbly in the second half.

Archie Gray - 8

He received a yellow card for holding back Wharton in the first half. He scored his first senior goal with a close-range header towards the end of the first half.

After Bergvall's departure, he was pushed into a more attacking role, and his second driving run led to Richarlison's second disallowed goal. The fans gave him a resounding ovation when he was substituted with 10 minutes remaining.

Mohammed Kudus - 6

His performance lacked a final product until his low pass allowed Richarlison to score, only to be deemed marginally offside. He set up Richarlison again shortly after with some robust play.

Lucas Bergvall - 6

He was caught offside too easily for the early disallowed Richarlison goal. Despite working hard, some of his decision-making lacked sharpness.

He went down clutching his leg after the hour mark and immediately headed down the tunnel after being substituted.

Randal Kolo Muani - 6

Operating on the left, he demonstrated good control on the run to earn the corner from which Spurs scored. He didn't contribute much in the second half before being substituted along with Bergvall.

Richarlison - 8

He thought he had scored early in the match, only for his sliding finish to be disallowed due to Bergvall's offside. He battled up front with Spurs' long balls and assisted Gray's goal with his header.

He again believed he'd scored when he slid home Kudus' low cross but was offside by a kneecap. He took a shot at Henderson a few minutes later.

He flicked on the ball for chances for Dragusin and Odobert afterwards. Although he didn't score, he caused Palace numerous problems.

On another day, he could have ended up with two goals and several assists.

Substitutes

Joao Palhinha - 7

He made some spectacular sliding tackles and played a significant role in Spurs maintaining their lead.

Wilson Odobert - 7

He hit the base of the left-hand post with a run-on effort. A very promising late appearance against weary legs.

Radu Dragusin - n/a

His header just missed with his first touch almost 11 months after suffering that ACL injury back in January. He made some crucial contributions in the final moments.

Brennan Johnson - n/a

He immediately delivered a couple of threatening low crosses across the face of the Palace goal after coming on.

Thomas Frank isn't losing sleep over Tottenham's struggles because he's encountered similar situations throughout his managerial journey. The Dane's spell in north London has yet to ignite, with Spurs languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas and supporters growing increasingly frustrated with the team's lack of creativity and defensive frailties.

Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, where Tottenham ended with nine players following red cards for Xavi Simons and skipper Cristian Romero, marked five losses from Frank's last eight league matches. However, Frank has a track record of sluggish beginnings at both Brentford and Brondby, so he isn't tossing and turning over Spurs' current predicament, although he acknowledges spending considerable time pondering their situation.

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"The good thing is I've always been a good sleeper, so I think that's helpful!" he said. "But of course you can feel that the thoughts are just underneath you. Sometimes we've all experienced that with work.

"They've been there a long time because there's a lot of things to sort out. We want to be successful, we want to be consistent. There's all small different bits we'd like to improve. It's completely open and transparent.

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"I think it's also clear that we are searching to find a very consistent, competitive team week in, week out. When you get small setbacks and don't get the right response you try something new or you stick to it."

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The 52-year-old continued: "It's normal. It's not the first time in my career I haven't found the team instantly clicks but it's coming over time. I know it will come, probably sooner rather than later."

Frank achieved success at both his previous clubs, notably guiding Brentford to the top flight and enabling them to compete beyond expectations as an established Premier League side. These are the experiences he will lean on to navigate his current challenges in north London.

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"At Brondby I didn't win the first eight games and then we were unbeaten in nine," he added. "At Brentford, we lost eight out of 10 games and then were unbeaten in 10. So I am convinced we will see a similar pattern here. Im not in doubt about that, because I know how to make a competitive team.

"We will make a very competitive team here as well. I'm in no doubt of that. To make it even more complex here is the amount of games we are playing, with rotation and physical load and mental load that just impact a team and especially if it's not used to doing that week in, week out."

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Whilst Tottenham broke their 17-year silverware drought by claiming the Europa League in May under Ange Postecoglou, losses became a familiar theme in the league as the club slumped to 17th place with a weakened squad, whilst the Australian prioritised European glory.

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With a string of losses this season, particularly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank acknowledges that losing can become as habitual as winning.

"I definitely think there are habits that can go both ways," Frank confessed. "There are good habits and bad habits, and, of course winning is a good habit and losing is a bad habit, but underneath that is the habit of every staff member, every player.

"How you react when there are setbacks in games is something we are really working very, very hard on. That's something I also think we have dealt ok with. For example, the Brighton away game maybe the year before we would have lost, but we came back and got a 2-2 draw. That was a good example as was Bodo away.

"So there are bits that are going the right way, but we are not consistent enough to do that every third or fourth day. No matter how much I hate saying it, that's an ongoing thing we need to work on. Small bits and good habits for every player."

Tottenham have £150million available to spend during the January transfer window, according to The Sun.

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is said to be at the top of Spurs’ wish list, but they look set to miss out on him to Manchester City.

And Spurs boss Thomas Frank could therefore go back in for City winger Savinho after missing out on him in the summer.

Tottenham have also been linked with Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, who could cost at least £50m, with the club also said to be pursuing a left-sided centre-back.

Antoine Semenyo’s prospective transfer to Manchester City has taken a twist.

According to BBC Sport, the winger wants the move wrapped up by January 1, while Bournemouth may want him to play against Arsenal and Tottenham in the first seven days of next year.

Semenyo's release clause needs to be activated by January 10, but the player is said to be keen for a swift conclusion. Formal steps are expected in the next 48 hours.

Chelsea’s priorities during the January transfer window will be resolving the futures of Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, according to The Athletic.

Sterling’s family live in London, and that remains a key consideration regarding any loan offers. The former England winger turned down a loan move abroad in the summer as he would prefer the stability and security of a permanent move.

Disasi, meanwhile, has piqued the interest of a Ligue 1 club, who have enquired about his availability.

Ruben Amorim has insisted that Kobbie Mainoo is “the future” of Manchester United. The midfielder, who hasn’t started a Premier League match this season, has been tipped to leave Old Trafford in January, but may be given more opportunities to impress in the absence of Bruno Fernandes.

“Kobbie Mainoo will have the opportunity he has all the time,” Amorim explained. “He is going to be the future of Manchester United, that is my feeling. He just needs to wait for his chance and everything can change in football in two days.”

Arsenal are without Jurrien Timber for their clash with Brighton this afternoon, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealing the Dutchman “felt something” during the closing stages of their Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Crystal Palace in midweek.

Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori was forced to pull out of the starting team after feeling something in the warm-up.

Arteta, who has welcomed centre-back Gabriel back to the bench this afternoon, will be hoping Timber and Calafiori will be able to return to action as soon as possible.

Otherwise, the Spaniard may be forced to delve into the transfer market in January to bring in reinforcements.

Liverpool have been dealt a huge blow as Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is expected to see out the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park, according to BBC Sport.

Liverpool came close to landing the centre-back in the summer, but missed out on his signature after Palace boss Oliver Glasner blocked his exit.

The England international is therefore set to leave Palace on a free transfer next year and will be able to negotiate a pre-contract with overseas clubs from January 1.

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan are all said to be interested in signing the 25-year-old, with Manchester City also linked with the ace.

Liverpool are reportedly considering a January move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos as they search for a replacement for the injured Alexander Isak.

According to Caught Offside, Reds chiefs see Ramos as a potential short-term solution and could attempt to sign him on a six-month loan deal.

Liverpool are also said to admire Ivan Toney and Dusan Vlahovic, but see those players as longer-term solutions.

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a reunion with their former midfielder James Garner, who has starred for Everton this season.

The 24-year-old came through the United academy and made seven first team appearances before joining Everton in the summer of 2022.

According to the Daily Mail, Garner’s name is rising up United's wish list as they look at potentially adding a midfielder next month.

Garner has just six months remaining on his Toffees contract and is viewed by the Red Devils as an affordable addition to go alongside more significant spending next summer.

Thomas Frank has yet to truly make his mark at Tottenham since his summer appointment. The Danish head coach took over from the cup-winning Ange Postecoglou in north London, but his team currently languishes in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

Spurs are positioned 14th in the top flight after 17 matches and are a mere nine points clear of the drop zone, a situation that became all too familiar last season. Frank received backing in the summer, with Mohammed Kudus joining from West Ham and Xavi Simons also being recruited from RB Leipzig. Other players such as Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani have made their way into the first team following their transfers, but just like the previous season, losses have been all too common. Express Sport examines an ideal January transfer window that could cause a stir at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Brennan Johnson sold

It is believed Spurs will have some funds available in January and the stars may align regarding a former wing target. However, it appears Brennan Johnson is on the brink of leaving Tottenham.

While the Welsh international will always be remembered by Spurs fans for his delicate touch in Bilbao, if Crystal Palace are prepared to part with £40m for his services, as suggested by reports from TEAMTalk, then it might be time to bid him farewell.

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Kudus has firmly established himself as a regular starter, his audacious runs pushing Johnson out of the first-team picture. The 24-year-old hasn't been as potent in front of goal as he was last season, particularly from the left flank.

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Savinho bid

Should Johnson depart, securing another versatile winger would be high on the agenda and one name stands out: Manchester City's Savinho. The Brazilian was heavily linked with a move to Spurs over the summer, but a deal failed to materialise. Instead, Savinho opted to battle for his place under Pep Guardiola, signing a two-year contract extension.

However, he has only started four Premier League matches this season. Savinho is being overshadowed by other players at City and while this didn't seem to bother the 21-year-old at the start of the season, the arrival of another star could sway him to leave. City are among several clubs reportedly interested in Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.

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If Semenyo opts for City, Savinho's playing time could diminish further, potentially making the prospect of regular first-team action at Spurs more appealing. Given his recent contract extension, it's likely that Spurs would need to fork out around the £70million previously suggested if they wish to secure the Brazilian's services.

However, if the circumstances align favourably, he could be persuaded. A wing duo of Kudus on the right and Savinho on the left would induce nightmares in full-backs and could deter teams from doubling up on the former West Ham star.

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Ivan Toney joins

While adding another dynamic winger to Frank's arsenal would offer a new dimension, one of Tottenham's main problems this season has been scoring goals. With Dominic Solanke sidelined for an indefinite period, Richarlison has risen to the challenge.

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Sharing duties with Kolo Muani, the pair have performed adequately, with Richarlison leading the club's goal tally with eight in all competitions.

That's more than Viktor Gyokeres, but Micky van de Ven is just two goals shy of his total and in some matches this season he has looked miles off the pace.

Solanke was fairly prolific last year and it's expected that once fit, he'll resume his role, given we haven't really seen how he can perform under Frank.

However, if Solanke's injury worsens, action should be taken in January. Spending heavily on a new striker just over a year after signing Solanke for a potential £65m wouldn't be prudent, but a cost-effective option is clearly available to Frank.

Tottenham were previously linked with Ivan Toney before his high-profile move to Saudi Arabia and with a World Cup looming, now might be the perfect time for a reunion. Toney flourished under Frank at Brentford, so his system would naturally suit the Englishman.

At 29, he's not past his prime and despite not playing at the top level, he would undoubtedly be eager to impress in Thomas Tuchel's summer squad.

Rumours suggest he could be snapped up for £20m and although his salary might pose a challenge, taking a chance on Toney could prove fruitful.