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Thomas Frank is under extreme pressure at Spurs after a challenging start to life in North London - and a familiar face could replace him.

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Thomas Frank’s future as Tottenham Hotspur boss has been the subject of immense media debate in recent months, with his side still searching for their first league win of 2026.

Frank arrived in North London over the summer with tremendous pedigree after seven impressive years in charge at Brentford after being promoted to the managerial hotseat after 18 months working as Dean Smith’s assistant before that.

During his time at Brentford, he achieved things nobody would have imagined. He spearheaded the club to promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 1953, never looked in danger of relegation once reaching the top-flight and consistently improved the team despite having to deal with a series of high-profile departures year on year. His Bees team recruited well, played exciting attacking football, while consistently turning over a profit. His CV and most notably his adaptability made him on paper the perfect replacement for the stubborn yet popular Ange Postecoglou after the way things unravelled last season in the league despite the club’s Europa League triumphs.

However, things haven’t gone to plan for Tottenham, with the club languishing in 14th position and around 12 points off the top four heading into their showdown at Old Trafford with Manchester United - and change could be on the way.

Will Tottenham Hotspur sack Thomas Frank?

Frank has, for a while now, been among the favourites to be the Premier League’s next managerial departure. It’s hardly surprising given the team has lost more games than they’ve won in the Premier League despite progressing to the knockout stages in Europe.

Injuries have been a problem again as has the team’s defensive frailties. However, one thing in particular that’s haunted Frank is the fact that his team hasn’t been the most entertaining, and similarly his marquee signings such as Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons haven’t really hit the ground running.

After a 2-1 loss to West Ham earlier in the month fans were calling for him to be sacked, and there’s only so long that sort of toxicity can continue. Frank has proven he’s a good manager and it’s very feasible that he could still turn things around. However, TEAMtalk, along with a number of outlets report that his sacking continues to loom if things don’t change quickly in terms of results.

Mauricio Pochettino rumours surface as Spurs sack edges closer

According to TEAMtalk, Mauricio Pochettino is high on the club’s radar as they weigh up potential managerial options for next season.

It’s worth noting that the Argentine is currently the manager of the USA national team and will therefore be unavailable until the hosts are eliminated from the competition on home soil. Pochettino, who managed Southampton before enjoying five excellent years at Tottenham, is also thought to be on Manchester United’s radar amid their search for a long-term Ruben Amorim successor, but it's reported his affection for Spurs is unshakeable.

The 53-year-old is arguably Tottenham’s most popular manager of the Premier League era and by some distance the longest-serving since the competition's inaugural season of 1992/93. He may not have won a trophy like George Graham, Juande Ramos and Postecoglou, but it must be said that he did just about everything else - leading the club to their highest ever points tally (86) in 2016/17 overseeing the club’s best league finish in a campaign since 1963 and becoming the first manager in 52 years to go an entire campaign without losing a home game.

Pochettino also reached a League Cup final in 2015 and is the only Tottenham boss on record to ever reach the final of the Champions League - toppling the likes of Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax to achieve the feat before falling short against Liverpool.

The decision to sack Pochettino despite the team’s poor start to 2019/20 remains questionable, and it’s fair to say the Argentine since then has proven he’s still got what it takes after leading PSG to three major trophies in his single season in the capital whilst also playing a role in restoring Chelsea back into the upper echelons of English football by guiding them to a sixth place finish after the club plummeted to 12th the year before his arrival.

Pochettino plays high intensity attacking football, is adored by the Spurs supporters, and is believed to have unfinished business with the club. Fans would have to be patient for his arrival due to his international allegiances at this time, but if they were to sack Frank he’d undeniably be one of the best available candidates.

Team news before Tottenham travel to Manchester United in one of the weekend’s standout fixtures.

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Under-pressure Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is in desperate need of a win as he leads his side into a battle with a rejuvenated Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Frank’s men are winless in the league in 2026 after a run of four draws and two defeats, leaving them languishing in 14th position and 12 points behind this weekend’s opponent. Spurs desperately need to improve if they are to return to Europe next season, and Frank now needs to get a tune out of the tools at his disposal after an underwhelming window which was publicly slated by captain Cristian Romero.

However, last weekend’s 2-2 draw, particularly in the second half suggested there could still be some light at the end of the tunnel as club record signing Dominic Solanke returned to the goals for the first time since his five-month lay off earlier in the season. They’ll hope Solanke stays matchfit after a minor knock at the end of that contest, and could also look to welcome back Micky van de Ven in an attempt to contain a United side that have scored a staggering eight goals in three matches since Michael Carrick’s arrival as interim boss.

We’ve already attempted a predicted Red Devils XI based on the latest team news, now it’s the turn of Tottenham ahead of a highly-anticipated showdown.

Tottenham Hotspur predicted XI vs Man Utd: goalkeeper and defence

GK - Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian hasn’t quite hit the heights of previous seasons but remains the undisputed first choice between the posts. He’s likely to make his 25th league appearance of the campaign.

RB - Archie Gray: Djed Spence is a doubt heading into the game with a calf issue while Pedro Porro is also absent. This means Gray could be used at right-back where he often played for Leeds United before his move 18 months ago.

CB - Micky Van de Ven: The Netherlands international is expected to return from injury to start in the heart of Tottenham’s defence.

CB - Cristian Romero: Argentine defender Romero keeps his place in the backline as Tottenham aim to record their first league win of 2026.

LB - Destiny Udogie: The 23-year-old is likely to keep his place in defence as Tottenham return to a back four after starting with five at the back against Man City.

Tottenham Hotspur predicted XI vs Man Utd: midfield and attack

CM - Pape Matar Sarr: The Senegalese international comes in to replace Yves Bissouma in the starting lineup.

CM - Conor Gallagher: The January signing, who was at times linked with a move to Manchester United, is likely to keep his place in central midfield.

CM - João Palhinha: The tough-tackling Portuguese midfielder is likely to start in central midfield after playing as a makeshift centre back last time out.

LW - Xavi Simons: Netherlands international Simons claimed an assist against Manchester City and is currently seen as one of the team’s more creative players despite a subdued start.

RW - Randal Kolo Muani: The 2022 World Cup finalist hasn’t hit the ground running at all since his summer move but remains a player that Frank values. He’ll likely feature ahead of Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert.

ST - Dominic Solanke: Tottenham boss Frank is sweating over the fitness of Solanke, but if he’s anywhere near matchfit he’ll likely lead the line after a sensational second half display against Manchester City.

The latest team news Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford in one of this weekend’s standout fixtures.

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Manchester United are aiming to maintain their flawless start to life under Michael Carrick in this weekend’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Red Devils started Carrick’s interim stint with a superb 2-0 home win over rivals Manchester City before coming from behind to stun leaders Arsenal with a 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium. United then stormed into a two goal lead against Fulham at Craven Cottage but needed a last-minute winner by Benjamin Sesko to secure a 3-2 victory.

This improved form has catapulted Carrick and his team into fourth position and puts them very much in the Champions League discussion. Meanwhile, their opponents Tottenham Hotspur are 14 points behind the Red Devils in the bottom half of the table. They are winless in all six league matches in 2026, with manager Thomas Frank coming under extreme scrutiny.

United will be the favourites to continue their good run but will be wary of the threat posed by a team that were able to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second half to pick up a point against Manchester City. Ahead of kick-off, we take a look at the latest Manchester United team news and our predicted line-up.

Manchester United predicted line-up vs. Spurs: goalkeeper and defence

GK - Senne Lammens: The young Belgian goalkeeper is likely to make his 19th league appearance of the season. He’s shown signs of promise in his first campaign and looks a safer pair of hands than Andre Onana based on the season so far.

RB - Diogo Dalot: The Portuguese international keeps his place at right-back. He’s featured regularly under Carrick and has shown signs of improvement in a more natural position.

CB - Harry Maguire: The experienced England international is likely to keep his place in central defence as he resumes his partnership with Lisandro Martinez which worked well in 2022/23. He’ll have a challenging test containing Dominic Solanke after last weekend’s heroics.

CB - Lisandro Martinez: The Argentine is still getting up to speed after missing nearly all of 2025 with an ACL injury. However, his return has coincided with an upturn in fortunes and it’s clear he’s still one of the best defenders on the books at Old Trafford.

LB - Luke Shaw: The England international looks more comfortable on the left-side of defence after being used as a central defender by Amorim towards the end. He’s in pole position to start after Patrick Dorgu’s injury.

Manchester United predicted line-up vs. Spurs: midfield and attack

CM - Casemiro: The Brazilian has been sensational for Carrick in recent weeks, leading to Jamie Carragher in the Sky Sports punditry making a U Turn on the verdict that the ‘football had left him’. He’ll hope to continue that form against the Lillywhites.

CM - Kobbie Mainoo: The Euro 2024 finalist has looked like a man reborn under Carrick and is starting to enjoy his football once again after struggling for gametime. He’ll likely start ahead of Manuel Ugarte. His form has even seen him return to our Wonderkid Power Rankings - a big moment in anyone's career, surely...

RM - Bryan Mbeumo: Big summer signing Mbeumo has impressed as a centre forward in recent weeks but could be shifted over to the right-wing to replace Amad Diallo.

CAM - Bruno Fernandes: The Portuguese international has returned to a more advanced position under Carrick and is starting to look like a greater threat in the final third of the pitch.

LM - Matheus Cunha: The Brazilian keeps his place on the left wing where he’ll hope to cause problems for a Spurs defence with a weak defensive record.

ST - Benjamin Sesko: Former RB Leipzig frontman Sesko comes in to lead the line in the only change we expect from last weekend. The €85m (£74m) striker netted the winner against Fulham in fine fashion and will hope that can be the start of things to come after a subdued start to life in English football.

Tottenham Hotspur have plenty of work to do in the summer transfer market - and there’s an impending free agent who could be just what they need.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s lack of transfer activity over the winter was rather baffling, given their struggles this season and the litany of injuries which have bedevilled Thomas Frank’s squad. There were any number of holes that could have been filled effectively. Instead, Spurs stood pat. Cristian Romero certainly wasn’t happy with their inaction.

That’s unlikely to be the case come the summer, of course, when they will need to address several glaring issues with the side if they want to contend for the European places once more – and one of those problems, their wayward attacking unit, could be fixed in part by a free transfer.

The free transfer Spurs could – and should – sign this summer

Spurs invested heavily in their attacking unit over the summer, but much of the work that was done hasn’t panned out. Mohammed Kudus is injured. Xavi Simons has drifted in and out of the side and failed to find his best form. Mathys Tel has unbridled potential but seems unable to realise it.

Any of those players could end up being key components in a successful side in the future, while James Maddison will be back after the summer and, with any luck, will be able to get back to his creative best quickly enough. If there is a valid defence to Spurs’ lack of signings up front this winter, it’s that it isn’t necessarily easy to know exactly which players need replacing just yet.

Further data will be provided over the second half of the season, but while Spurs scout potential purchases they are also in a position to start tapping into the free transfer market – they can approach players out of contract with a view to agreeing a pre-contract now, and get their business done in advance. And there’s one high-quality player who is not only a fine attacking asset but has the versatility to be the answer to almost any question that could be asked over the coming months.

Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt is currently inside the last six months of his contract and doesn’t seem to be any closer to putting pen to paper on a new deal, negotiations over which began in November but have yet to reach any kind of conclusion. Spurs can already enter talks with the 29-year-old, and have every reason to do so.

Brandt has played on both wingers and as a number 10 over the course of his career, is comfortable with both feet and exceptionally versatile. It’s hard to imagine that any manager could come up with a tactical system into which he couldn’t fit quite easily. Whether Frank remains Spurs manager in six months’ time or not, there’s little chance that bringing Brandt in would turn out to be a mistake from a strategic standpoint. This is a player who offers much of what Spurs need.

Why Julian Brandt would be the perfect player for Tottenham Hotspur

Brandt hasn’t always been considered the most consistent player in Europe, but the consistency of his production has been impressive – his position has changed and his role adjusted, but he has passed 15 combined goals and assists in the Bundesliga for each of the last four seasons.

He’s a fine technician who has both an eye for a killer pass and the ball-carrying skills to beat defenders one-on-one. Whether he operates high up, out wide, in the channels or in deeper pockets outside the penalty area, his broad skill set has made him relentless effective.

Now in his prime and not long removed from a run of five goals in six games between December and January, the only real drawback to Brandt’s game is that he has never been especially capable off the ball, lacking the pressing instincts and defensive awareness to break up counter-attacks or win the ball back high up.

Should Spurs end up with a high-pressing game plan next season – whether that’s under Frank or any number of potential replacements – then signing Brandt could just about end up being a mistake of sorts. But that’s the only scenario in which a deal would be a bad idea on paper.

Spurs are also in an enviable financial position and would likely be able to fork out for the kind of salary demands that Dortmund don’t seem to be able to meet. With no transfer fee to pay, a deal for Brandt would leave Spurs with plenty of budget to spare to patch up all of the other issues which need addressing, too.

The North London club have been loosely linked with Brandt on a number of occasions in the recent past, and even if their alleged interest hasn’t developed into a formal offer as yet, there is some evidence to suggest that they recognise the Germany international as a potential solution to at least some of their problems. They probably shouldn’t wait too long to have a conversation with his representatives. They will find few players with such quality at such a low cost come the summer.

The Spurs captain seems less than happy about the way his club handled the January transfer window - and he’s right to be angry.

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When the January transfer window opened, Tottenham Hotspur were expected to be among the busiest teams in the Premier League. They had a laundry list of needs, a host of injuries to work through, and plenty of PSR headroom to play with. In the end, North London’s fax machines fell silent long before deadline day.

Conor Gallagher was signed and Brennan Johnson sold, both for around £35m. Young wing-back Souza was added to the list of depth options at a cost of around £13m, and may well prove to be a fine addition somewhere down the line. But that was it. Thomas Frank’s squad was not rebuilt or even substantially renovated – and Cristian Romero clearly felt rather strongly about it.

The Spurs centre-back posted on Instagram that it was “disgraceful” that the club went into the game against Manchester City on Sunday with “only 11 players” – and while that may be a slight exaggeration, Romero may well also have a point.

What Cristian Romero said about Spurs’ transfer business – and why he may be right

Romero’s full post praised the efforts of his team-mates after they came back from 2-0 down to draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but also appeared to call out the club’s transfer business as the end of the January window loomed.

“Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were all incredible,” Romero posted. “I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially as we had only 11 players available – unbelievable but true and disgraceful.”

In reality, Spurs had 15 first-team players available for the match, including Romero himself – who was perhaps not counting himself due to his recent illness - but excluding 19-year-old Souza, whose status in a full-strength squad is uncertain. But while the specifics of Romero’s post may have included some mild exaggeration, the thrust of his argument rings true.

Spurs had the financial position and time to make some signings and to freshen up the squad in several areas, with the midfield ultimately the only problem position which was addressed – and while Gallagher has a proven track record in the Premier League, it’s fair to wonder whether he presence alone will be sufficient to turn things around.

Some changes would probably have been needed even if injuries hadn’t become a serious problem, but they have – Spurs currently have at least a dozen players who are either out or doubts for next weekend’s game against Manchester United, many of them critical first-teamers and most of them out for weeks or months on end. In that context, refusing to add to the squad seems unconscionable.

Thomas Frank may not be especially happy to see Romero speaking his mind once more – he has already gently criticised the Argentine for airing his frustrations in public after the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in January – but whether or not Spurs’ captain should be keeping his thoughts to himself or not, that doesn’t change the fact that he is justified in feeling frustrated.

Spurs have a squad that is being stretched to breaking point by injuries, and which is struggling for form and in need of fresh ideas. Most pundits expected the club to be champing at the bit to make some moves in the transfer window. That they didn’t suggests a hierarchy that have failed to commit to a path when it was becoming a necessity.

Why Spurs didn’t make moves in the window – and why it was probably a mistake

While many clubs avoid spending money in the January transfer window either because the value of deals is inflated or because their primary targets are less easily obtained in the middle of a potential selling club’s season, Spurs had both a desperate need for reinforcements and an enviable financial platform to work with.

The decision makers at boardroom level could, perhaps, justify their inaction as refusing to overspend on panic purchases, but between their form and extraordinary injury list, there was just cause for at least a little bit of panic. The Lewis family also injected £100m into the club in October, only for their winter net spend to fall at £13m.

The impending departure of sporting director Fabio Paratici may also have been disruptive, but he was only ever leaving the club after the window closed and the scouting work should already have been done. This is a club that had the means and motive to make a splash.

Their failure to do so can’t be ascribed to satisfaction with the squad – there are plenty of players who are struggling to pull their weight when they aren’t on the treatment table – and so can perhaps only be logically justified by a lack of certainty over the future of the current manager.

There’s a certain degree of sense in suggesting that it would be a bad move to spend significant sums on players who might align with Frank’s methods and needs but who could easily prove to be bad fits for the next man in should the club sack their head coach, which remains a realistic prospect – but if that is indeed the way that Spurs have approached the window, then they have willingly put themselves between a rock and a hard place through sheer indecision.

With inaction in the transfer market so evidently the wrong decision, the club had to make their choice – either to back Frank to turn things around after a distinctly rocky start to life in North London, and to sign the players he needed, or to fire him and build the squad to another coach’s specification.

Instead, they have chosen the worst of both worlds, and asked a struggling coach to limp on with a squad which is hamstring - quite literally, in some cases – by injuries. Even if Frank is capable of righting the ship, he will need a minor miracle to do so with a squad which doesn’t have enough healthy players to fill out the bench. And if he is the wrong man for the job, then why is he still there?

So it is that Spurs head into the second half of the season with few realistic ambitions. A club that had to act decisively in order to achieve anything in the short term chose instead to sleepwalk their way through the rest of the campaign.

Perhaps it won’t prove too disastrous. Even with their injuries and recent form, Spurs probably aren’t in serious danger of relegation. Perhaps the money saved will be invested more shrewdly next summer. But right now, as a hobbled squad looks ahead to a few months which promise to be rather bleak, it’s hard to disagree with Romero – the way the transfer window has been handled does indeed look rather “disgraceful.”

Spurs’ latest injury updates ahead of Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

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Tottenham Hotspur are faced with as many injury issues as any club in the Premier League at present and will hope to have members of Thomas Frank’s first-team squad back at full fitness ahead of a trip to an in-form Manchester United side on Saturday lunchtime.

Spurs had a quiet transfer deadline day, save for the signing of 18-year-old forward James Wilson from Hearts ahead of rivals Arsenal. While getting one over on their rivals will come as a boost, the one-cap Scotland international is initially set to play for Spurs’ Under-21 side and so is unlikely to aid their current injury crisis at all.

Frank’s side earnt an unlikely 2-2 draw after being two goals down at home to Manchester City on Sunday, as Dominic Solanke struck twice - including a goal of the season contender for his second. The 28-year-old limped off with a knock towards the end, however, and Spurs will hope that he is passed fit for the weekend.

Will Dominic Solanke be fit to face Man United?

Striker Dominic Solanke will aim to be back to face United after both player and manager confirmed at full-time that the injury issue he picked up late on against City was only minor and that his withdrawal was due to long-standing fitness concerns after spending almost five months on the side-lines.

Solanke insisted “I’ll be fine” after “just rolling my ankle”, while Frank told reporters: “Clearly he was struggling to run. We knew before the game again it would be a big push to play 90 [minutes]. He's not there, fitness-wise, where he should be, because he's been out for so long. And we've been, in a way, a little bit forced to play him.”

Spurs’ record signing has scored four goals in four games since his long-awaited return and will hope to be passed fit to start against United on Saturday, despite remaining a doubt for the match at present alongside both of their first-choice centre-backs.

Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero face late fitness tests for Spurs

Spurs were without Micky van de Ven over the weekend, with the Dutchman sitting out both matches in an important week domestically and in Europe with a “minor” injury. Frank is said to be ‘confident’ the 24-year-old will return to face United, as per the Standard.

“Micky is a minor [injury], I fully expect him to be back to face Manchester United,” Frank said. “He just couldn’t make it for this one [against Man City].”

Centre-back partner and captain Cristian Romero will also face a battle to be ready for this weekend, after he was withdrawn at half-time against City with an illness. Frank also hopes the Argentine will be ready to face Michael Carrick’s resurgent Red Devils.

Telling reporters Romero is “okay”, Frank added: "He struggled through the Frankfurt game as well [with an illness]. [He] pushed through that with a fantastic captain's performance, and struggled a little bit, but we hope it's nothing. We are assessing him. Hopefully he's fine."

Frank will also hope to have Djed Spence back for the weekend after the England full-back sat out against City with a “minor calf injury” according to his head coach.

Spurs plagued by extended list of injury absentees

While Frank will be sweating on the fitness of key quartet Solanke, Van de Ven, Romero and Spence to face United, Spurs have also had to contend with several long-term absentees which have left the Dane’s squad very thin at present – with as many as 13 players possibly out of action.

Centre-back Kevin Danso suffered a toe injury against Eintracht Frankfurt and his manager confirmed the Austrian was “unlucky” as a “ligament snapped” while hyperextending. A return date for Danso is currently not known.

Richarlison was ruled out for seven weeks with a hamstring injury and will hope to be back in time for the North London Derby on February 22, while right-back Pedro Porro has been out for two matches with his own hamstring issue and will also hope to be back to face Arsenal.

Spurs then have three players set to be out until at least April. Lucas Bergvall has a reported sprained ankle, while Rodrigo Bentancur has a longer-term hamstring problem and Mohammed Kudus has a thigh injury. The trio will all hope to be back in time for the run-in towards the end of the season.

Veteran defender Ben Davies broke his ankle in the defeat to West Ham two weeks ago and will also be out for an extended period, potentially the season, while Dejan Kulusevski is still not thought to be close to returning to fitness and James Maddison is set to be out for the season with an ACL injury. Neither of the latter two players have featured under Frank all campaign.

Spurs and Leeds have been linked with a surprising late transfer bid for a proven Premier League striker on deadline day.

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been offered the chance to hijack one of the transfer window’s most surprising deals at the last minute – as have Leeds United, with both Premier League sides linked with a surprising deal involving former Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán.

The Colombian forward is expected to have his time at Fenerbahçe, were he is currently on loan from Saudi side Al-Nassr, cut short and sources in the Turkish media reported that the 22-year-old was set to complete a controversial move to Russian outfit Zenit St. Petersburg – but now Spurs and Leeds could muscle in on the deal, according to several reports including one from TeamTalk’s Graeme Bailey. But will such a deal really happen, and is signing Durán a risk worth taking?

Why Spurs & Leeds could have the chance to sign Jhon Durán

It’s only a year since Durán’s impressive goalscoring form at Villa Park led to his move to wealthy Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in a deal worth an initial £64m plus add-ons – but his time in the Middle East did not go according to plan.

Although there were no problems with his goalscoring form (Durán scored 12 goals in just 18 appearances for Al-Nassr), the Colombian forward was loaned out to Fenerbahçe just six months after he joined amid reports of behind-the-scenes chaos at the club and personal issues which prevented him from settling.

Now his current side are happy to terminate his loan agreement early as they undergo a significant mid-season squad rebuild, and while Zenit have offered the striker a chance to move to Russia, he appears to be keen to move to the Premier League instead – understandably – and it seems that his representatives have offered him to potential suitors in order to get a deal over the line.

Spurs have the resources and PSR headroom to be busy on transfer deadline day and have worries about the fitness of Dominic Solanke and the future of Randal Kolo Muani, who has been linked with a return to former side Juventus. Leeds, meanwhile, had been in the bidding for Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen but seem set to lose out to Crystal Palace based on current reporting.

Any deal for Durán would likely be on an initial loan, although it’s not clear exactly what terms Al-Nassr would accept – or whether they would expect a purchase option (or obligation) to be included in the deal.

If either Spurs or Leeds want to strike a bargain, however, it would likely be relatively straightforward for them to do so – the question is whether they want to gamble on a striker who has proven to be lethal in front of goal but whose career has become something of a rollercoaster early on.

Why Jhon Durán could still be a good signing for a Premier League side

Durán may have had a turbulent 12 months since leaving Aston Villa, but also represents a very rare commodity – a proven Premier League goalscorer who is readily available.

Despite being stuck behind Ollie Watkins for much of his time at Villa Park, Durán scored 12 goals in 29 appearances in his third and final season in England even though he started many of those games on the bench, and his combination of lethal finishing and dangerous off-ball movement – as well as his penchant for the spectacular, as Everton will know all too much about – made him appear likely to be worth every penny of his £64m transfer fee.

Things may not have gone quite according to plan since then but the goals came quickly in Saudi Arabia and while his work in Istabul was less prolific (he scored just five goals in 21 games in Turkey) there is little doubt that he could increase the firepower of many Premier League sides, and both Spurs and Leeds are among the teams in need of a little bit of extra threat up front.

Spurs may end up losing Kolo Muani on deadline day (although it appears more likely that he stays put at the time of writing) and are also waiting anxiously on news of Solanke’s health after the forward appeared to hurt his ankle against Manchester City on Sunday. Given how much time the former Bournemouth striker has already missed this season, few would blame for Spurs for adding another striker to the rotation.

Leeds, meanwhile, have been left slightly short-handed up front following Daniel Farke’s switch to a 3-5-2 formation and still need to score more goals to ensure that they steer clear of the relegation battle. With West Ham and Nottingham Forest below them both finding some form of late, Leeds may well be spooked into taking a chance on Durán.

It remains unclear whether such a deal can be struck or whether Spurs or Leeds have any interest – with reports so far only claiming that Durán’s team have spoken to potential suitors in the Premier League. But the opportunity is there for either side to take an intriguing deadline day gamble on a player with plenty of potential and plenty of goals under his belt already.

The deals Spurs could still get over the line before transfer deadline day - with Liverpool and West Ham stars among the targets.

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Coming in to the January transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur were widely expected to be among the busier teams. They’re struggling for form, ravaged by injury issues and have more money available to spend than most of their rivals. Thus far, however, they have only added two new faces – but Conor Gallagher and youngster Souza may not be the last additions to Thomas Frank’s squad.

A new full-back and depth across the front three are both priorities and Spurs could easily add to the rotation in those areas before Monday’s deadline passes, so we’ve taken a look at the players who could be wearing white by the time the transfer window closes.

Andrew Robertson remains among defensive options for Spurs

Towards the end of last week, news broke that Spurs had entered into discussions with Liverpool over a surprising move for Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson – but the odds of a deal seemed to drift after Arne Slot insisted that he still needed the Scotsman in his squad amidst a run of defensive injuries at Anfield.

Part of the reason for the apparent breakdown in negotiations was that recalling Kostas Tsimikas from his loan spell at AS Roma proved to be more complicated than expected, with the Italian outfit happy to move on but preferring to find a replacement before they did.

That could change before deadline day. There is every chance that Tsimikas stays at Roma or is sent on loan elsewhere, in which case Robertson will stay put, but the player seems keen to explore a move to North London – this is a deal that is presently improbable but not impossible, and it wouldn’t be a major surprise if it were resurrected late on.

Should a deal fail to materialise, then alternatives appear to include Wolves’ Hugo Bueno and Napoli’s Alessandro Buongiorno. It would certainly not be a shock if Spurs signed a new full-back from somewhere before the window closed.

£25m winger among options as injuries hit front line

With Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski among the many players injured for Spurs, it’s also likely that the club looks to add a forward of some stripe – likely a winger.

The most likely signing as it stands appears to be West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville, who could follow Kudus across the capital with Spurs viewing the Dutchman as a solid rotational option whose pace and ball-carrying skills would improve their attack.

The Daily Mail are among the outlets to report Spurs’ interest and while it’s unclear what stage negotiations might be at, West Ham are said to value the winger at £25m, which is what they paid to sign him from Elland Road in the first place.

A dizzying array of alternative names have cropped up in the gossip columns, many of which seem fanciful in the short term – including Yan Diomande, Víctor Muñoz and Maghnes Akliouche. Spurs will have a back-up plan, but it’s not clear who it might include. Diomande and Muñoz, in particular, are exceptionally unlikely to move until the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have until the transfer deadline on Monday at 7pm to complete any final deals - and one big surprise could be in store.

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Tottenham Hotspur have delved into the January transfer market to sign midfielder Conor Gallagher and left-back Souza from Atletico Madrid and Santos respectively, but there may be more work to be done. They are positioned in 14th place in the Premier League table after 23 fixtures, and it has been an inconsistent season for them so far under Thomas Frank. Changes may be required.

Frank was picked as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou last summer but has struggled to get going in North London. Now, with just a few days to go before the transfer window closes, reports suggest that he could get a surprising new addition - with Arsenal connections - to help him turn things around.

Tottenham Hotspur eye move for Serge Gnabry

According to reporter Christian Falk, Spurs have “made contact” with ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry at Bayern Munich. He is out of contract at the end of this campaign and is yet to pen an extension. Therefore, he is due to become a free agent in June as things stand.

Gnabry, 30, is a Germany international with 57 caps under his belt. He has made 25 appearances in all competitions this term and has chipped in with seven goals and eight assists. However, his long-term future in the Bundesliga is up in the air now.

The attacker has been on the books of Bayern since joining them back in 2017 and he has since been a great servant. He has played 308 matches for them altogether to date and has found the net on exactly 100 occasions. The Stuttgart-born man has also been loaned out to Hoffenheim in the past to boost his development.

Gnabry moved over to England as a youngster back in 2011 when Arsenal came calling. He went on to feature on 18 occasions for the first-team of the Gunners but struggled to make an impact. They loaned him out to West Brom before he was sold on to Werder Bremen on a permanent basis.

Would Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry suit Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace earlier this month so have a vacancy to fill on the wing. Regardless of his Arsenal past, Gnabry would be a shrewd pick-up by Frank’s side. He is vastly experienced and would inject more firepower into their ranks.

He could offer the North London outfit more competition and depth at the top end of the pitch. In addition, he is quick and his pace can cause real problems to opposition defenders. He has been playing in Germany too long now and should test himself in a different country before it is too late.

The fact his deal expires later this year means he can be snapped up for nothing when this season ends. Alternatively, Spurs may be able to get him for a cut price fee if they were to make a cash bid for him before the January transfer window ends on Monday. Bayern won’t want to lose him for free and if he doesn’t commit his future there, they may have to sell him over the coming days to ensure that they pick up some money for his services.

Frank’s men won 2-0 away at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last time out. That result should give them confidence as they aim to improve their league form. They are back in action this weekend against Manchester City at home so will be in for a tough test.

A round-up of some of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and more.

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Another day of scurrilous gossip and scarcely plausible stories has been and gone, and that means it’s once again time for us to round up some of the biggest and strangest Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – starting with a startling story involving Tottenham Hotspur.

According to TeamTalk, Spurs are “strongly considering” an unexpected bid for recently-released Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, with head coach Thomas Frank said to be “on board” with the idea.

Spurs have a host of injuries up front (and everywhere else, for the matter) and supposedly see Sterling as an ideal player to sign on a short-term basis, with the England international’s much-publicised preference to remain in London offer Spurs a “distinct advantage” compared to other potential bidders.

West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Napoli are all mentioned as being interested too, but the report doesn’t suggest that any of those sides have made a concrete offer to Sterling as yet. As a free agent, he doesn’t need to be signed by the end of the transfer deadline either, meaning that there’s less of a rush.

The 3AM Verdict: While perhaps surprising, this does make a certain amount of sense for a Spurs side thoroughly bedevilled by injuries – if it’s a short-term deal, then the risk is low and if Sterling can somehow recapture a fraction of his previous form, it could prove to be a shrewd move. Still, we should note that this article is inherently speculative and we have seen no clear signals as to where Sterling might end up as yet.

Chelsea ‘preparing’ breathtaking £130m move for Real Madrid star

Let’s check out a story from Spanish gossipmongers Fichajes now, who allege that Chelsea are themselves “preparing” a staggering €150m (£130m) bid for Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Apparently Bellingham’s recent inconsistent form means that the “stage is set” for Real to accept such an overwhelming bid, while it’s also claimed that the prospect of a return to England would be “extremely appealing” to the 22-year-old, although there’s no mention of his thoughts about moving to Chelsea specifically.

Real would be “willing to let him leave” if the right fee was offered, and while it’s not clear that £130m would be enough as yet, Chelsea will supposedly “spare no expense” to get this one over the line if they can.

The 3AM Verdict: Let’s just start by saying that Fichajes is not, in our opinion, a reliable source for such stories and they have a penchant for reporting colossal potential transfer deals which mysteriously never happen. We believe that this one will fall into the same category. Not happening in the foreseeable future.

Bournemouth ‘step ahead’ of Aston Villa and Everton in winger race

Let’s finish things up with a slightly more believable story from Sport Witness, who reckon that Bournemouth have “stepped ahead” of rivals Everton and Aston Villa in the race to sign Inter Milan winger Luis Henrique.

The 24-year-old Brazilian only signed from Marseille in the summer but has failed to score in 24 appearances and would be “free to leave” should Inter complete a likely deal for former Villa forward Moussa Diaby. Apparently the player would have to be “convinced” to leave for the Premier League, but a healthy salary usually helps to twist the necessary arms in such cases.

Bournemouth have supposedly tabled an offer which is somewhere between €20m and €30m (£17.5-26m), with different sources in Italy stating different sums, and the Cherries are apparently “ahead” of both Everton and Aston Villa, who are also alleged to be interested.

The 3AM Verdict: The Semenyo deal means that Bournemouth have both the money and the need, and this could be a fine signing based on his performances for Marseille. It’s very hard at this stage to gauge how likely a deal is to take place, however, with a lot of incomplete information going around. We doubt that Everton make a bid as they’re trying to keep things cheap this winter, but Villa could conceivably move with Evann Guessand leaving for Crystal Palace.