The Boy Hotspur

Another season of dancing around the rather depressing fact that Spurs still don’t have a decent striker, as they still haven’t managed to replace Harry Kane. However, one name mentioned in dispatches is that of Samu Aghehowa, formerly of Granada and now at Porto. The Boy Hotspur’s Substack understands that this attacking force is being monitored internally.

What’s his style of play?

Known for his explosive pace, physicality, and clinical finishing—often compared to Diego Costa—Aghehowa has been on Spurs’ radar since last season, with interest intensifying ahead of the January or summer 2026 transfer window. Aghehowa has been prolific since arriving at Porto, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards.

What’s Samu’s backstory?

Rose through Granada’s academy, scored 9 goals for them in La Liga (2023-24), then joined Atlético Madrid before a €15m permanent move to Porto in August 2024 after a failed Chelsea transfer due to medical and image rights issues.

Is this a target that would meet with the Lewis Family’s approval?

Spurs, under manager Thomas Frank, are seeking depth and competition for Dominic Solanke (currently injured) and Richarlison. Aghehowa’s profile fits their high-pressing, fluid attack—he could provide long-term cover and potentially upgrade on Solanke – which is unlikely to be difficult. Reports suggest he’s viewed as a “priority target” amid talks of fresh investment in 2026. Monitoring has been ongoing, but Porto are “reluctant to lose him in January” and would demand close to his €100m (£84m) release clause. A summer move is more likely, with Tottenham prepared to negotiate below the full amount.

Conclusion

Tottenham’s need for a reliable goal threat is clear, especially with Randal Kolo Muani on loan and Solanke’s fitness issues. Aghehowa’s Premier League-ready attributes (pace, power, finishing) make him a strong tactical fit for Frank’s system. However, the €100m tag could be a stumbling block—Spurs might push for €60-80m. Tottenham needs to do something about its attacking line and lose the mend and make do attitude.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

The 33-year-old German International goalkeeper has fallen down the pecking order at the Spanish club, and he needs to move on to play regularly. Joan Garcia is the first-choice keeper at the club right now. He has a contract with the Spanish club until 2028, and it remains to be seen whether they are prepared to sanction his departure in January.

According to Spanish publication SPORT (h/t SportWitness), multiple clubs are keeping tabs on him. Tottenham are looking to sign him on loan with an option to buy. The opportunity to move to England could be exciting for him. The German international was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world recently, and he has been described as a “perfectionist” by Xavi Hernandez.

Spurs could use Ter Stegen

Tottenham would do well to secure his signature. Guglielmo Vicario has been inconsistent in joining the club, and more competition for places would be ideal. The Barcelona star could push him for the starting spot. It would help Spurs improve as a team.

In addition to that, the German international has extensive experience in competing at the highest level. He has won several major trophies with Barcelona, and he could prove to be an excellent addition to the Tottenham dressing room. They are looking to win trophies regularly, and they could use his winning experience and leadership.

Can Tottenham convince Marc-Andre Ter Stegen?

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can get the deal done. Signing the player on loan with an option to buy would be a masterstroke. It would be an inexpensive acquisition, and it would help the team improve.

If they can promise in regular time, moving to the Premier League could be an attractive opportunity for the player. Tottenham have an exciting project and a talented squad.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa.

The 21-year-old is highly rated across Europe, and he has been prolific since the move to Porto. He scored 27 goals last season, and he’s regarded as one of the finest young talents in European football.

According to Fichajes, Tottenham have now emerged as serious candidates to sign. They have placed him on the priority list. It will be interesting to see if they come forward with an official proposal to get the deal done.

Can Spurs sign Aghehowa?

Porto will not want to lose a player like him midway through the campaign, and the move might have to wait until the summer transfer window. Tottenham need another reliable striker. Dominic Solanke has not been able to score goals consistently, and Randal Kolo Muani is a temporary addition.

The Spanish striker could be the ideal long-term investment for them. He has shown his quality in the Portuguese league, and he helped Spain win a gold medal in the Olympics recently. He has the physical and technical attributes to do well in the Premier League, and he could develop into a future star for the north London club.

Samu Aghehowa could cost a premium

Signing the player will not be a cheap acquisition. He has a €100 million release clause in his contract. In addition to that, Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham are also interested in the player. Porto will be hoping for a bidding war for their star striker.

They will be looking to recoup as much as possible for the young attacker. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can negotiate a reasonable deal for him. The player could be attracted to the idea of joining them. It would be a major step up in his career, and regular football in England could accelerate his development.

The talk earlier in the season revolved around the Lewis family contributing in the form of a cash injection to Tottenham’s winter transfer window. Looking at today’s breaking news from The Boy Hotspurs’ Substack, it appears that the favourite is Bournemouth’s eye-catcher, Antoine Semenyo, the 25-year-old Ghanaian international.

Profile Fit:

Antoine Semenyo is a versatile, explosive winger/forward who excels on either the left or right side, with strong dribbling, ambidextrous finishing, and the ability to create opportunities from nothing. Analysts see him as an ideal replacement for Son Heung-min, adding directness and unpredictability to Tottenham’s attack.

Club Context:

Under manager Thomas Frank, Spurs are rebuilding their front line following injuries (e.g., James Maddison is out long-term) and recent Europa League success, which has qualified them for Champions League football. Semenyo has previously expressed excitement about playing in Europe, giving Tottenham an edge over rivals like Manchester United.

Bournemouth, fresh off a new five-year contract for Semenyo (signed July 2024, running to 2029), are demanding £70-80m.

This is steeper than their £55m+ sale of Matheus Cunha earlier, and Tottenham may need to exceed £65m to even start talks.

Number one target for January

Reports from October 4-5 indicate Spurs have now made Semenyo their “number one target,” with confidence building for a winter push. This follows Bournemouth’s ninth-place finish last season and Semenyo’s breakout form.

Semenyo has been Bournemouth’s talisman, contributing to 10 of their last 18 goals since April 2025. He’s the second-highest scorer in the league (behind Erling Haaland) over that span.

Current form indicators:

A marquee signing in the making:

Antoine Semenyo joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for £10m in January 2023; 22 goals in 89 appearances overall. Teammates call him a player with “all the ability in the world.”

If Tottenham act decisively in January, this could be a marquee signing to boost their title challenge. Bournemouth won’t sell cheaply, but Semenyo’s form (and desire for trophies) might force their hand.

For now, it’s speculation, but Semenyo’s trajectory screams “big move incoming.” Would he thrive at Spurs? Under Thomas Frank, it looks and feels plausible.

Tottenham are among clubs keen on Mario Gila from Lazio, and they will face competition from Crystal Palace, Brighton and Everton, as per TBR Football.

The 25-year-old Spanish defender has done well for the Italian club and he could prove to be a useful acquisition for Spurs. They have struggled in the absence of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero last season and they will need more depth in the side.

Mario Gila would be a handy option

They are competing in the UEFA Champions League this season and they will need to deal with a congested fixture list. Having another reliable defender would be ideal. Gila has the quality to help them improve and the move to England would be an exciting opportunity for the Spaniard as well.

The former Real Madrid ace is at the peak of his career and Spurs could be the ideal challenge for him at this stage of his career. He would get to compete at a higher level with them. Spurs could provide him with the platform to fight for trophies. They have won the UEFA Europa League recently.

It will be interesting to see if they can negotiate a deal for him in January. His contract with Lazio expires in 2027 and the Italians are under no pressure to sell him just yet. Spurs might need to pay a substantial amount of money to get the deal done.

Spurs could use more quality

Spurs are currently third in the league table, and they have started the season well under Thomas Frank. He will want to win a trophy with them this season. Adding more quality and depth to the side in January would be ideal.

Gila would help them tighten up at the back. His arrival would allow Frank to rotate Romero and Van de Ven as well. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Guglielmo Vicario rarely receives praise; that much is true.

Let’s start with a great quote. Harry Redknapp once said that people want perfect goalkeepers, but “…they don’t exist!” There must be some truth to this, as even universally acclaimed goalkeepers have off days and experience the odd clanger.

There have certainly been times when Vicario has struggled, flapped, whatever language one might seek to use, but the question is, does Italy’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2023, with 15+ caps, really deserve the criticism he gets?

Let’s begin by comparing him this season with his immediate rivals. The Vicar has started all Premier League matches, so far, and as we compare his stats to elite peers (e.g., Alisson of Liverpool, Ederson of Man City, David Raya of Arsenal—top PL goalkeepers by save percentage:

The Italian’s distribution is often criticised, particularly with his feet, and his mean passing accuracy is 82%. He does come out with the lowest percentage Alisson (88%), Ederson (82%) and Raya (leads with 95%).

Guglielmo is an excellent shot-stopper (top-10 in PL for saves per 90), commands his box well on crosses, and has improved distribution. His 72.5% save rate is solid for Tottenham’s mid-table defence (conceding ~1.1 goals/game), but the question is often asked why he can’t always hold the ball more frequently?

Observers show him respect. The Athletic praised his reflexes and penalty saves (3/4 in 2024-25). Sky Sports analysts rank him in the PL’s top-8 goalkeepers.

Guglielmo Vicario is an above-average Premier League goalkeeper and a key asset for Tottenham and Italy, but he doesn’t fully qualify as “elite” in 2025. Elite keepers (e.g., Alisson, Courtois, Neuer) dominate stats, win major trophies, and command €60m+ fees—Vicario’s trajectory points there (he’s only 29), but Tottenham’s lack of silverware and his stats lag slightly behind the absolute best.

Fan voices are less forgiving, and in this video, we get a flavour of the dismay.

For a player in the Spurs leadership group, he frequently lacks class and is given to demonstrating with players, although he has not yet gone face-to-face with Cuti Romero.

Here are some quotes from just this video – less charitable views can also be found on social media platforms.

“He doesn’t catch enough times, he likes to either punch the ball out or he will parry the Ball out, that was the reason for the first goal against Wolves.”

“Been saying this for so long, dives the wrong way for 5/5 pens in the super cup too”

“If it wasn’t for Levy refusing to pay Brentford, what they wanted for him and hoping to get him on the cheap, and then Arsenal paying what Brentford what they asked for, he would probably be playing for us ?”

“He infuriates me when he makes goal conceding blunders“

And here, I think we find the answer. People’s expectations of a Deloitte Money League side are that we have an elite goalkeeper.

Under Daniel Levy, it was all about doing things in the cheap, and did not hesitated, and just bought Raya, none of the conversation would exist.

Vicario is about the level one might hope for, given the money we paid.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.

The 25-year-old central defender has done quite well since the move to the Premier League and he has been a key player for Palace. Other European clubs are keeping tabs on his situation as well, and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham can get the deal done.

Tottenham have been keeping tabs on Lacroix for years.

Tottenham keen on Maxence Lacroix

According to a report via Hard Tackle, Tottenham are looking to add more quality and depth to the defensive unit, and the Frenchman is on their radar. He has been described as a “Rolls-Royce” defender.

Palace will not want to lose a key player like him anytime soon, and it will be difficult to convince the Eagles to sell him. There is no doubt that Lacroix has the quality to play for Tottenham. It would be a step up in his career, and the French defender could be attracted to the idea of joining Spurs.

They have an ambitious project and an exciting team. They have recently won a European trophy, and they are likely to be an attractive destination for players.

Palace will not sell Lacroix

However, Palace are likely to lose Marc Guehi in the coming months and they will not want to lose two key defenders. It is highly unlikely that they will let the Frenchman leave the club anytime soon. Any move for Lacroix might have to wait for the foreseeable future.

The defender is at the top of his game right now and he is enjoying his football with Palace. They have managed to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield recently. They have been outstanding in the Premier League. He has no reason to force an exit from the club. Palace are in a strong position to keep him, and Tottenham are likely to fail with their pursuit.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs interested in signing the Netherlands sensation Kees Smit.

The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the finest young midfielders in the game right now, and he has attracted the attention of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United as well.

Spurs eyeing Kees Smit

According to a report via Hard Tackle, Tottenham are hoping to secure his signature in the future. It will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an official proposal to get the deal done. The 19-year-old has the technical attributes to thrive in England and he could establish himself as a player for Tottenham in the long run.

Then North London has shown a willingness to invest in talented young players. They have brought in players like Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to improve their midfield unit. It is clear that they are looking to build a formidable team for the future. Adding Smit would be a wise decision.

Smit would be an asset

If they can sign him for a reasonable amount of money in the coming months, the deal could prove to be a solid investment for the future. The 19-year-old is quite young, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. He has all the attributes to develop into a top class performer in the Premier League. Smit has been described as a player who is a “joy to watch”.

Regular football in England could help him improve further and fulfil his potential as well. Tottenham have the resources to tempt AZ Alkmaar into selling the player. However, it remains to be seen whether they can beat the other Premier League clubs in the race.

Spurs feel as if they are bouncing back after the confusion of Ange Postecoglou’s reign, and Thomas Frank is getting to grips with the strengths and weaknesses in his squad. What is pleasing to see is that another Spurs player on the making is coming on nicely, over at Portsmouth.

Yang Min-Hyeok‘s 23rd-minute strike was another deft example of precision and class, moving one fan to write on YouTube:

“That Korean player from Tottenham is going to be one heck of a player, what a loan we have got. he is definitely our best player at present”

Yang joined EFL Championship side Portsmouth FC on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur, lasting until May 31, 2026. This move marks the end of Tottenham’s era with Korean players following Son Heung-min’s departure.

Portsmouth, newly promoted to the Championship after winning League One in 2024/25, sees Yang as a key addition to their attacking options under manager John Mousinho. With two goals on the bounce, Yang is looking the business.

Undoubtedly a tough pre-season at Tottenham affected his early form, and physical demands in the Championship (e.g., against teams like Preston North End) led to early substitutions. However, as of mid-September 2025, Portsmouth staff believe he is “ready to take off,” with plans to integrate him more as he builds fitness and competes for a starting spot.

Yang’s loan is viewed as a crucial step for his footballing maturation in English football’s second tier, potentially paving the way for a Premier League breakthrough upon his return to Tottenham in 2026.

Fans and analysts have lauded his technical skills, dribbling, and goal threat as assets that could help Portsmouth push for playoffs or promotion.

We brought you his debut goal for Portsmouth in a 2-2 draw against Watford here.

The two key takeaways are that today was Leeds United’s first home defeat since September of last year, and that Spurs also broke their streak of failing to win (seven consecutive matches) before an international break.

VICARIO 5: A mix of very good and appalling. The fact that he’s in the leadership group stinks of yet another political appointment.

PORRO 4: Desperately inconsistent. Lost possession 26 times, and his passing accuracy was nothing shy of woeful, down at 62%. What is his role?

ROMERO 6: A daft yellow card, but this was an otherwise authoritative performance.

MICKY 7: Mr Reliable handled Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin well enough and had an acceptable 89% passing accuracy.

UDOGIE 7: Much more like it against a tough opponent.

PAULINHA 5: An off day, with not great passing, wild shooting, and just lacked that creative spark.

BENTANCUR: 5 Lucky not to cost a goal after a poor giveaway. His performance in midfield was questioned for lacking creativity.

XAVI 7: A class act with imaginative passing and a sense of purpose.

KUDUS 9: Exceptional, with strength and intelligence in equal measure. What a bargain.

TEL 8: Fringe player scores a great goal.

This was a solid win, but far too may holes in Thomas Frank’s boat.