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Tottenham Hotspur will hope to return to winning ways when they host Sunderland on Sunday

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Tottenham Hotspur will face another test this weekend as they host one of the Premier League’s most impressive sides this season in Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Black Cats have defied expectations following their promotion via the Championship play-offs in May and currently sit seventh in the table at the half-way point – five places and three points above Spurs, who are 12th.

Thomas Frank’s side played out a goalless draw on his return to former club Brentford on New Year’s Day, one of three matches not to see a single goal on one day of Premier League action as several sides made a slow start to the new year.

Spurs are just four points off managerless Chelsea in fifth but will know that if results do not take a consistent turn for the better, the pressure may increase on Frank. Sunderland will prove a tough test but could provide the north London outfit with the perfect chance to make up ground on those ahead of them in the table.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Sunderland: defence and midfield

Spurs continue to see several key-first team players out with injury, with six players currently side-lined and nearing a comeback to first-team action.

At the back, captain Cristian Romero returned from suspension at the Gtech and is set to start alongside Micky van de Ven. Djed Spence is likely to continue at left-back with Destiny Udogie still returning to fitness.

Lucas Bergvall was not passed fit to face Brentford following a believed groin injury during the victory at Crystal Palace, but could return here. Frank said he was “quite positive” Bergvall would be fit to face the Bees, which did not transpire in the end, but the 19-year-old could replace Joao Palhinha in the starting XI to face Sunderland.

Match-winner at Selhurst Park, Archie Gray will look to keep his place in his preferred position of central midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, with Bergvall likely to play slightly higher than the pair in Frank’s frequently-used 4-2-3-1 formation. The Lilywhites will remain without Pape Matar Sarr, who is away at AFCON.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Sunderland: midfield and attack

In attacking areas, a series of absentees have limited Frank’s options in recent weeks.

Xavi Simons will serve the final of his three-match ban following his straight-red card against Liverpool, while attacking trio James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke are likely to remain on the sidelines. The latter duo are expected to return to action this month, but whether the clash with the Black Cats will come a little too soon remains to be seen.

Frank is also unlikely to call upon Brennan Johnson, who was left out of the squad to face Brentford as he nears a move to Crystal Palace.

With the dangerous Mohammed Kudus likely to keep his place on the right, Frank could call on Randal Kolo Muani to return to the side from the opposite flank. The forward joined PSG for £79 million in 2023 and has since gone on a season-long loan to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he has featured both through the centre and from the left. He is likely to be joined in attack by Richarlison, Spurs’ top scorer with seven league strikes.

Spurs have been linked with a transfer deal for an impressive winger making waves in France

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If any Premier League team is going to be busy this January, it’s Tottenham Hotspur. Few teams in the top flight have a list of needs as long as theirs, and few have quite so much money to spend, at least based on the profit and sustainability rules – and fixing a misfiring attack is among their many priorities.

Despite the signings of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons in the summer, Spurs’ attack is still struggling, at least relative to pre-season expectations. They are firmly in the middle of the pack for goals scored but, even more damningly, have the second lowest expected goals tally in the entire division, ahead of only Sunderland. Chance creation has been a significant problem.

So while there are other areas of the team which need addressing this winter, it’s likely that a new creative forward will be close to the top of the shopping list – and according to a new report by The Daily Mail, AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche could be the man that they want for the job.

Why Maghnes Akliouche could be just what Spurs need this January

A left-footed winger who typically comes in off the right, Akliouche ticks many of the boxes for Spurs – not just a winger who can create chances, but who would offer some balance to an attack which has lacked a consistent threat down the right wing this season.

With Brennan Johnson expected to leave the club in the near future, the 23-year-old Akliouche, who has won five caps for France and recently scored his first international goal against Azerbaijan, would essentially be filling a clear vacancy along the front line, and filling it in a way that might better compliment Spurs’ attacking play.

Not a player who’s likely to burst off the shoulder of the last man but rather one who looks to collect the ball in deeper areas, Akliouche is a good dribbler but a better passer, and one who creates opportunities at a healthy rate – on average, he’s been involved in the build-up to just over four shooting chances per match for the last year with Monaco.

That resulted in an impressive total of 10 Ligue 1 assists last season, with two more added since the summer. He has proven the ability to make a dent in the final third, but is also excellent at finding space in deeper areas and linking up with the midfield – and given that progressing possession from the midfield to the attack has been another major problem under Thomas Frank, that strength of Akliouche’s also lines up neatly with Spurs’ needs.

If he has a weakness, it’s that he’s unlikely to take up the goalscoring mantle himself, at least not in the volume that would be required – Akliouche has scored eight league goals for Lyon since the start of the 2024/25 season from 12.8xG at a rate of around one goal every five matches. That’s a respectable tally but his conversion rate reflects the fact that he is not a natural finisher.

Still, his all-round game offers much that Spurs need, and simply signing a new striker won’t sort out the goalscoring problems they have given that the problem is the appallingly low volume and quality of chances that they’re creating in the first place. Akliouche could be one part of the puzzle. But will they be able to sign him this January?

Will Spurs sign Akliouche in the winter transfer window?

Akliouche’s rise through the ranks at Monaco and subsequent call-up to the French national team hasn’t, of course, gone unnoticed, and while The Daily Mail may believe that Spurs are keen on acquiring him they are unlikely to be alone.

PSG showed considerable interest over the summer and while that came to nothing, it’s perfectly possible that they’ll be back again if Akliouche becomes available – and Arsenal were rumoured to be monitoring him, too. Perhaps beating Spurs to the signing of Eberechi Eze means that they won’t have the need to repeat the trick in January.

What does appear to have changed since the summer – although it’s not abundantly clear why – is that Akliouche’s asking price has dropped. PSG allegedly backed away because the €80m (£70m) being demanded was too steep for them, but now several sources (albeit none of the more reliable) suggest that Monaco are willing to part with the winger for a fee in the region of €60-65m, up to around £52m.

There’s no obvious reason for such a change of heart (Akliouche is under contract until 2028 and there are no reports of negotiations over a new deal) but with broadsheet reports seemingly agreeing that a transfer deal for the Frenchman would now be more straightforward than it was over the summer, it seems very likely that something has happened to make Monaco reconsider their stance. That could be to Spurs’ benefit, but it would be a surprise if nobody else made a move.

As well as Arsenal and PSG, Liverpool have also been linked by Football365 and a rash of similar stories may well follow – but Spurs are one of only a handful of teams with the cash to burn this January and that should at least narrow the field.

This is a deal which Spurs should be well-positioned to strike and which, if it is indeed now possible for a reasonable price, they should probably take a chance on. It might just be a step towards a more balanced and complete side which gives its forwards something to feed on for the rest of the season.

Latest Premier League news and rumours including updates on Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

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Premier League teams will get the chance to freshen up their squads when the January transfer window opens up for business. With that in mind, Everton are interested in luring former Burnley right-back Vitinho back to England from Botafogo, according to Brazilian news outlet Globo. The defender moved back to Brazil in 2024 but is being linked with a new move now.

Vitinho, 26, was a key player during his time at Turf Moor for the Clarets. He rocked up in Lancashire back in 2022 following spells at Cruzeiro and Cercle Brugge. The full-back went on to make 80 appearances in all competitions and scored four goals before heading out the exit door.

The 3am Verdict: Everton need a new right-back this winter and Botafogo’s Vitinho could fit the bill. He knows England already, did well at Burnley and is someone who probably wouldn’t take too long to adapt if he joined them. The Toffees usually have to play Jake O’Brien out of position instead of Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson so they must sign an alternative option.

Manchester City latest regarding Elliot Anderson pursuit

Manchester City are ‘confident’ that they can beat Manchester United in pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, TEAMtalk claim. The 23-year-old is under contract at the City Ground until June 2029. However, his current club are set to face a battle to keep hold of him in the future amid attention from elsewhere.

Anderson, who has made six caps for the England national team to date, was snapped up by the Reds in 2024 and hasn’t looked back. He has become one of their most prized assets and is a key member of their starting XI under Sean Dyche. Prior to his transfer, he rose up through the academy at Newcastle United and broke into their first-team following a loan spell away at Bristol Rovers in the Football League.

The 3am Verdict: Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson would be ideal for Manchester City if they beat Manchester United to his signature. He would give Pep Guardiola more competition and depth in the middle of the park. In addition, he is still young and has bags of potential to get better in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Vuskovic attracting attention

Tottenham Hotspur defender Luke Vuskovic is ‘wanted’ by Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, as per CaughtOffside. The centre-back is currently out on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga. He was given the green light to link up with the German top flight new boys following their promotion from Bundesliga.2 to further his development.

Vuskovic has since caught the eye at the Volksparkstadion and is seemingly attracting some interest from two of Germany’s biggest clubs. Spurs landed the 18-year-old in 2023 before he officially linked up with them earlier this year. Prior to his transfer, he was an important player for Hadjuk Split.

The 3am Verdict: It would be a surprise to see Spurs sell Luka Vuskovic. They haven’t seen any of him since they signed him and he seems to be doing well at Hamburg. If he stays put at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he will be eager to force his way into their first-team picture down the line.

Our columnist looks at the transfer rumours surrounding Spurs - and wonders whether a midfielder is what they really need this January.

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The January transfer window isn’t always as busy or as exciting as it gets hyped up to be. Deals are too expensive to make and teams often too poor to splash out without breaking the various spending rules they need to adhere to. But one Premier League side are likely to be very busy indeed this winter – Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs have both a huge amount of PSR headroom to work with and a laundry list of needs. Their squad is large but uneven, and filled to the brim with players who are dealing with persistent fitness issues, and it certainly hasn’t yet been moulded to Thomas Frank’s specifications.

Cash flow could yet prevent them from going truly wild in January, but if they can resolve that issue then the capacity is there for them to spend a significant amount. The gossip columns have linked them with a host of players, especially wingers and strikers – but while there’s work to be done in the final third, Spurs should have an even bigger priority as they head into the winter.

Why Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield has been their biggest problem this season

Spurs have been nothing if not inconsistent since Frank took charge, and the manager may have to take some of the blame for that – his tenure has been marked by considerable chopping and changing of formation as he tries to find a system which suits his squad.

That perhaps doesn’t reflect well too on Frank, who was flexible with his formation at Brentford but also able to instil a fundamental underlying playing style that underpinned the system through tweaks and changes. At Spurs, that hasn’t really been the case. There is a sense of disconnect between the players regardless of whether they are winning or losing.

Perhaps the biggest single issue has been the midfield – and that rather infamous 4-1 defeat to Arsenal was one of the matches which demonstrated why Spurs’ soft centre has made finding a tactical structure that worked so difficult.

Spurs have a host of ball-winning midfielders who essentially play the same game: Chasing lost causes, hunting down opposing ball carriers, and trying to disrupt attacks. But what the likes of Pape Sarr, João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur have in common is a lack of positional discipline which is hurting team cohesion.

Against Arsenal, the two midfielders who were positioned to protect the back four were constantly drawn towards the ball when it went wide, leaving huge swathes of space open in front of the box for Eberechi Eze to exploit and score a hat-trick with. Compounding the problem was that none of the central midfielders are especially strong ball-carriers themselves or remarkably dynamic. Frank seems to want them to play box-to-box, and they aren’t up to the job.

As it stands, Spurs are rather cumbersome in possession as well as flaky out of it. They need a midfielder who not only has the positional awareness to effectively protect the defence when required, but who also has the combination of technical quality and pace to get the ball towards the attacking players quickly – someone who can do the kind of job that, say, Declan Rice does for their rivals down the road. Can they find that player in January?

The midfielders Spurs could sign this transfer window

With the gossip columns largely focusing on the more attacking additions Spurs might make – at least when they aren’t wondering about the future of Guglielmo Vicario – rumours connecting the club with midfielders have been a little less frequent. But they do exist.

Not all of them necessarily fit the template for a box-to-box midfielder. AZ Alkmaar youngster Kees Smit has been mentioned, but he is a more creative player who can’t be expected to contribute much defensively – more of a Luka Modrić figure. Between Smit and Lucas Bergvall, Spurs may well be able to build an exciting, forward-thinking midfield, but they would need a true holding midfielder to bring balance were that the direction in which they went.

Several stories from November suggested interest in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, although that does seem to have gone a little quiet of late. Bournemouth are not likely to be prepared to sell Scott this winter, but he would fit the bill in a number of ways – the 22-year-old has the dynamism, defensive quality and fitness to impact all three thirds of the pitch with regularity.

Scott may not be an especially likely January signing, but he at least offers an image of the kind of midfielder Spurs could do with – one who can plug gaps in midfield without haring out of position at the drop of a hat, while also being able to carry the ball downfield quickly to spark and join attacking moves. That was something that Palhinha did for Fulham, but has struggled to replicate since joining Spurs.

Former Wolves man Rúben Neves would offer a more experienced solution to the same problem – a superb passer who forces a high volume of turnovers in deeper areas, he isn’t necessarily fast but he can get the ball to the front line with accuracy and create chances. He may also be more obtainable.

Like Scott, most of the links between Spurs and Neves came about in November and may well have passed out of the gossip columns for a reason, but there is evidence that Al-Hilal want to move on from him to free up overseas player slot for fancier, more expensive additions, and if Neves is prepared to take a pay cut to return to the Premier League then he could well be a player who is easier to get hold of in January than Scott is likely to be.

Smit, Scott and Neves are very different players but could all be pieces of the puzzle – slightly different puzzles, perhaps, and Frank would need to pick his tactical lane when signing any of them, something he has yet to decisively do at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But whichever direction Frank takes the team in, and whichever players they target in January, it’s hard to envisage Spurs realising their potential if they don’t find a way to address a midfield that has, so far, wound up as being rather less than the sum of its parts.

Tottenham Hotspur need to add more quality to their attacking department in the January transfer window

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Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that their 1-0 win away at Crystal Palace last time out can be a turning point in their season. The London outfit have struggled for consistency so far in this campaign. They find themselves sat in 11th place in the Premier League table after 18 fixtures.

Thomas Frank was starting to feel a bit of heat before their victory at Selhurst Park. The former Brentford man has the chance to bolster his ranks in the January transfer window. He also has the opportunity to let some players head out the exit door as well if needed this winter.

Tottenham Hotspur should target Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb

Spurs were linked with Manchester City attacker Savinho in the summer but nothing materialised in the end. They should now turn their attention to his teammate Oscar Bobb, who is facing an uncertain future ahead of next month. According to talkSPORT, Crystal Palace and Fulham are interested along with Sevilla.

If City land AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bobb head out the exit door at the Etihad Stadium on loan. The Norway international, 22, is highly rated by his current club but faces strong competition for minutes in the North West. Therefore, an exit on a temporary basis to get some minutes elsewhere would be a sensible move.

Guardiola is a fan of Bobb’s and said back in October: “Oscar defensively is a machine, he helped us a lot and in the final third. His one-v-one is really good and he made good decisions. I’m really pleased he played good. I will encourage him to be more incisive and when he goes one on one, two v two, he can create really big situations.”

The winger joined City back in 2019 and has since worked his way into their first-team picture. Prior to his switch to England, he had spells at Lyn and Valerenga as a youngster. He has since made 47 appearances under Guardiola’s guidance and has scored three goals.

Oscar Bobb would suit Tottenham Hotspur as Brennan Johnson replacement

Spurs could cut ties with Brennan Johnson which means a replacement would be needed in his position. Bobb would fit the bill and has proved himself at the top level with City. He now needs to get some regular game time under his belt to show what he can do.

If he joined Frank’s side, he would give them some more competition and depth at the top end of the pitch. In addition, he could offer them something different to what they already have. The Oslo-born man likes to cut in on his left foot from the right flank.

Bobb has had injury issues over recent times and there is no point him sitting on City’s bench. Therefore, seeking a departure in the near future would be the best thing for his career at this stage. Crystal Palace and Fulham have been mentioned as potential suitors and would be able to play him consistently. However, so would Spurs right now and he surely has to be on their list of targets. Next up is a home clash against Brentford as they aim to build on their recent win.

A closer look at some of the latest Premier League transfer rumours as we approach the January window

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It seems as though the writing is now on the wall with the Antoine Semenyo transfer saga.

In what has been a juicy period of transfer rumours involving both Liverpool and Manchester City, the highly sought-after Bournemouth star appears to have made up his mind on where his next chapter lies.

Antoine Semenyo wants January move ‘wrapped up’

It’s been something of a tug of war in recent weeks between Liverpool and City, with reports claiming Semenyo had agreed personal terms with both clubs. However, according to BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, the winger wants a move to Man City ‘wrapped up’ by New Year’s Day.

It has been suggested that the Cherries want to keep Semenyo on their books until they face Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the opening week of January. The matches, which will take place on the 3rd and 7th, are both before Semenyo’s release clause deadline on the 10th.

Semenyo is keen on a ‘swift conclusion’ with his transfer and formal steps are ‘expected in the next 48 hours’.

The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool will be frustrated if a City move for Semenyo comes to fruition. The Reds have been heavily linked with the winger for a while and have identified him as a long-term suitor to replace Mohamed Salah. But if his heart is now already with City, Pep Guardiola’s side are in for a statement signing if all agreements can be reached in time.

Tottenham plan to ‘double’ star’s salary for new contract agreement

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to reach an agreement over a new contract for Micky van de Ven, and are willing to significantly boost his salary to make it happen.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are prepared to ‘roughly double the salary’ of the defender, whose current contract expires in 2029. The club are eager to ‘accelerate’ contract discussions and are willing to put him on the same wages as Cristian Romero.

The Spurs skipper reportedly earns in the region of £200,000 per week once bonuses are taken into account, while Van de Ven is on around £90,000 per week.

The 3AM Verdict: Van de Ven has established himself as a key figure at Tottenham and while other clubs are sniffing around him - including Real Madrid - a shiny new contract with double his current wages will be a huge incentive to see him stay at the club.

Joshua Zirkzee exit should be finalised by ‘mid-January’

Joshua Zirkzee is edging closer to an exit from Manchester United and new reports have claimed his loan move to AS Roma will be finalised in January.

Italian newspapers have provided new information in their Saturday editions. According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma have made their ‘first offer’ in attempt to bring Zirkzee to the Italian capital in the new year.

The deal would be an initial loan move with an obligation to buy, should Champions League qualification be secured. Gazzetta dello Sport have followed up with an update claiming Roma ‘could end up paying’ €38-40 million (£33-34m) for Zirkzee’s move full-time.

There is confidence a deal with be agreed and the striker ‘should be in Rome by mid-January’. All these updates have been relayed via Sport Witness.

The 3AM Verdict: Zirkzee is struggling for regular time on the pitch and it has been established that a loan move in January is best for all involved. A transfer will allow the Dutchman to rebuild his confidence and get his career back in positive form, while United will shift his wages off the books, as he is clearly not an immediate part of the club’s plans.

A look at some of the latest Premier League transfer stories as we approach the end of 2025

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The January transfer window is expected to be a busy one, as multiple clubs are interested in doing business to bolster their options at the season’s halfway point. Some Premier League clubs are eyeing players from the opposition, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Brennan Johnson is one man with a lot of interest building around him.

Brennan Johnson move from Tottenham mooted

With limited starting action this season, the likes of Aston Villa, Brentford and Ipswich Town have all been linked with the Spurs winger. However, it seems as though Crystal Palace are the favourable destination for Johnson.

That’s according to ex-Villa and Everton chief Keith Wyness, anyway, who has told Football Insider: “Yes, I think Brennan Johnson could be for Palace. I think he’s a talent. He’s been a little bit inconsistent at Spurs. But you know he’ll be looking as well as whether Glasner will be there or not. So that could make a decision for him as well.

“Whereas it does seem Kieran McKenna is still remaining loyal at Ipswich, and so we’ll see where that goes. But certainly I think Palace. I also heard Brentford, but I do think that Palace and Ipswich are the two front-runners. I expect him to move fairly soon.”

The 3AM Verdict: Johnson has started just six Premier League games so far this season and will be looking to secure more regular football as his career enters the peak years. It seems he isn’t short of options either and with Spurs reportedly willing to listen to offers, a move in January could benefit all parties.

Liverpool ‘identify’ £65 million alternative to Antoine Semenyo

Liverpool are considering alternative options to Antoine Semenyo and currently have Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi on their radar. According to Fichajes, the Reds have ‘identified’ the winger’s current situation as a potential opportunity for them to strike, and believe he ‘fits their profile’.

Last year, Dortmund weren’t willing to entertain offers below the €75 million (£65m) mark, which is the same price as Semenyo’s soon-to-be active release clause. Liverpool are reportedly looking to offer as low as €20 million (£17m) to test Dortmund’s resolve, as they don’t want to pay the full amount.

The 3AM Verdict: Adeyemi contributed 12 goals and 11 assists last season, making him a target to certainly consider. After reports that Semenyo reportedly prefers Man City to Liverpool, the Reds may be forced to move on. They were willing to pay £65 million to land the Bournemouth star, so they can definitely dig deep to sign Adeyemi, if they really want him.

Everton ‘cooling’ interest in signing Jack Grealish permanently

Jack Grealish has undoubtedly been one of the most effective signings of the summer transfer window. However, according to Football Insider, Everton are ‘cooling their interest’ in making his stay permanent.

The Toffees and David Moyes reportedly do not see the £50 million buy option in Grealish’s contract, plus his lofty wages, as good value for money. At 30, the winger is also not expected to generate any further value, meaning Everton will make a loss if they opt to sell him on.

Everton are now ‘unlikely’ to pursue a permanent deal for Grealish unless City significantly lower their asking price.

The 3AM Verdict: Grealish looks right at home at Everton and he has quickly built a mutual positive relationship with the fans. However, the Blues aren’t a club known for spending large sums on individual players often, and £50 million is a big amount to splash on just one 30-year-old. While they will be looking to boost other areas of the squad, forking out such an amount solely on Grealish, and then paying all of his reportedly high wages seems too far out of budget for Everton, regardless of how much they might want him to stay.

Rangers’ January transfer window deals predicted as they sign Tottenham Hotspur star and experienced defender.

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The January transfer window is fast approaching, and based on the way the first half of the Scottish Premiership season has gone, Rangers may well want to do quite a bit of business over the coming weeks – but which of the players they’re linked with will be on their way to Ibrox this winter?

It’s impossible for us to know precisely what Rangers’ decision-makers are thinking, so we decided to see what the most accurate simulation of the footballing future available reckons that they’ll do this January – and loaded up Football Manager 2026.

We leapt forward to the end of the season to find out who they’d signed, who they’d sold, and whether any of their virtual deals worked out and perhaps offered some insights into how such signings might pan out in the real world.

Spurs star signs for Rangers in January – according to Football Manager

Jordan Zemura (loan to buy for £2.5m from Udinese): The London-born Zimbabwe international was getting some hype when he signed for Udinese a couple of years ago but in real life, the left-back has fallen down the pecking order at his Serie A side and that seems to have carried over to virtual reality. Rangers get a potential bargain here, and Zemura rapidly established himself as a solid starter at Ibrox in our save.

Ben Davies (£2.1m from Tottenham Hotspur): The veteran defender isn’t really in Thomas Frank’s plans these days and while this is quite a lot to pay for a player entering his final years, perhaps it’s a fair price for all that experience. Davies ended up as a rotational player only, however, playing solidly but not spectacularly across the second half of the season.

Guillermo Maripán (£775k from Torino): Another veteran addition, the 31-year-old Chilean centre-back is a rocksteady defender in real life and a regular starter for Torino – as he was for AS Monaco beforehand – so this would be a real coup if it took place in real life. And Maripán almost immediately became one of Rangers’ best performers in the game, too.

Leonardo Sernicola (£650k from Cremonese): We must admit that we hadn’t heard of the 28-year-old full-back before, but his real-life stats look very solid for a price tag like that and he became Rangers’ first-choice on the right-hand side, playing very respectably over the course of 13 appearances. Another potential bargain here, perhaps.

Takahiro Ohgiharea (free from Vissel Kobe): Not content to let Celtic get all of the Japanese bargains on the market, Rangers snapped up another veteran, this time on a free transfer – and while he was signed as a back-up, he ended up making nine appearances, scoring once and generally playing pretty well. We wonder if he fancies a trip to Glasgow in real life?

Matondo & Cifuentes among departures in FM2026

Rabbi Matondo (loan to Swansea City): Injury has ruined the Welshman’s chances of establishing himself at Rangers this season and in the game, they decided to farm him out to Championship side Swansea to give him some playing time. He ended up playing 18 games for his temporary side, but they didn’t sign him permanently off the back of it.

José Cifuentes (£1.5m to Toronto FC): We’re not entirely sure why Toronto decided to activate their purchase option on the Ecuadorian early, but the team to which he’s been loaned in real life were clearly sufficiently impressed by the midfielder to give him a permanent deal as quickly as possible. Which means they made a small profit on an otherwise disappointing signing, at the very least.

Emmanuel Fernandez (£425k to Hibernian): Just six months after buying him from Peterborough, our virtual Rangers decided that Fernandez wasn’t up to snuff and flogged him to Hibs on a permanent deal. He didn’t play too much in Glasgow or Edinburgh, so perhaps they were right to cut bait – at least in the game.

So after all that wheeling and dealing, how did Rangers do? Well, they finished second – to Celtic, with a certain grim inevitability. The other side of the Old Firm were the team that spent big on a free-scoring striker in our save (you can see their side of our simulated January here if you like), and that made all the difference. Maybe it will be a little different in reality.

Tottenham and Crystal Palace could be at the centre of some major January transfer news

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London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are only separated by four points in the Premier League table but will feel vastly different towards their fortunes so far this season as we approach the half-way mark.

Spurs have become one of the stories of the season once again as Thomas Frank’s men have notoriously struggled at home, losing five times in front of their own supporters in the league and dropping to 14th in the table after just one win in eight matches.

Palace have spent the majority of the season in and around the top six, losing just three matches up until back-to-back three-goal defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Leeds United led to questions over whether the Eagles had become fatigued, this being due to their European exploits in the Conference League.

Spurs and Palace face off at Selhurst Park on Sunday and that could be the perfect back-drop to some important January transfer business involving both clubs.

Spurs ‘prepared’ to sell Crystal Palace target Brennan Johnson

Brennan Johnson could potentially feature for the final time for Tottenham this weekend, as the Wales winger and Crystal Palace target continues to be linked with a move away from north London.

Latest updates from Football Insider state that Spurs are ‘prepared to accept offers’ for the 24-year-old in January but will only let him leave ‘for the right price’.

The Eagles are looking for attacking reinforcements as Oliver Glasner continues to pressure the board into giving him the resources to improve the squad, particularly now that Ismaila Sarr has gone to AFCON with Senegal. Johnson could provide the perfect replacement and could star alongside the likes of Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Yeremy Pino in a fluid attacking unit.

The former Nottingham Forest forward has had an up-and-down time in north London and has seen his role diminish significantly under Frank, who has left him as an unused substitute twice in recent weeks. Johnson is not thought to have a long-term future at the club amidst doubts over how he fits into the Dane’s style of play, opening the door for a January exit as he seeks a fresh start elsewhere.

Johnson sale could open door for stunning swoop for Eagles man

Tottenham have been linked with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Phillipe Mateta in recent weeks, but might in fact be smart to target his team-mate in a swap deal to secure an exit for Johnson.

The Lilywhites have seen significant challenges in the goalkeeping department this season, with Guglielmo Vicario the recipient of significant criticism after a series of high-profile errors. Whispers of a potential exit for the Italian have begun to emerge ahead of the winter window, and the perfect replacement could exist as close by as the other side of the city, in the shape of Eagles shot-stopper Dean Henderson.

Henderson is an England international, proven in the Premier League and played an irreplaceable role in Palace’s FA Cup triumph last season, saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush in the final.

There is no doubt that Crystal Palace would be reluctant to part ways with Henderson, and would find him distinctly difficult to replace. But amidst rival competition from the likes of Brentford for Johnson, Spurs could secure a swap deal if they put a good deal on the table for Palace.

Johnson is valued at around £50m according to previous reports, with Spurs prepared to negotiate slightly below that figure in the right circumstances. This could be just that circumstance, as they could secure a straight swap with Palace, who are likely to value Henderson highly. This transfer would see both clubs secure a key new signing as we enter a highly important month in the football calendar.

All Tottenham Hotspur’s latest injury news as we approach their final fixture of 2025

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Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to turn things around once again after Liverpool left north London with all three points on Saturday, condemning Spurs to back-to-back defeats.

Liverpool were not at their best but held on after ill discipline cost Thomas Frank’s side, who saw themselves go down to nine men after Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero were both dismissed for the home side.

Frank has faced significant questions from fans and sections of the media during his short spell in charge and this will no doubt continue following recent results. Defeat by a three-goal margin at Nottingham Forest was damaging and the lack of discipline shown across his side during a home defeat to the champions will have only added to this.

Spurs had Radu Dragusin back amongst the substitutes last time out as he nears a return to action following an extended ACL injury lay-off, and the Europa League winners will hope to see further first-team stars return to contention ahead of the New Year, which will also see the opening of the January transfer window.

Will Dominic Solanke be fit to face Crystal Palace?

Spurs striker Dominic Solanke has been out since late August with an ankle issue and has barely had the opportunity to play under Frank thus far. This chance may come soon, though, as he is getting ever closer to a return to action according to the Dane.

Frank said in a latest update on Friday: "I'm looking forward to naming [Solanke] in the squad. He is progressing forward."

Earlier this month, Solanke posted a picture of himself in a Spurs shirt on Instagram, captioned with hourglass emojis, suggesting his return is near. The 28-year-old previously underwent surgery in October after suffering a setback in his rehabilitation. Whether Frank decides to name the former Bournemouth striker in his squad to face Crystal Palace will make interesting viewing, though this would likely be amongst the substitutes. Solanke will hope to return to regular action from January.

Udogie, Kulusevski & Maddison injury updates and expected returns

Meanwhile, Spurs full-back Destiny Udogie has been confirmed to be out until January with a hamstring injury which has seen him miss the last four matches. Frank said of his concern: “Destiny picked up a hamstring injury in the end of the Newcastle game, so he’s out until January, unfortunately.”

Hoping to return within a similar timeline will be Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out since May with a patella injury which saw him miss the Europa League final victory over Manchester United.

He was back on grass during the last international break and Frank previously claimed there was a “good chance” for the Swede to return in 2025, but this is likely to be extended to January with just one match remaining of this calendar year against Palace. The 25-year-old will be a major creative asset to Frank when he is back fit and available.

The same can be said for James Maddison, who is expected to spend the majority of the season on the sidelines with an ACL injury sustained in pre-season. Maddison said when recently appearing on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “I'm doing really well for the stage that I'm at, it’s obviously a long injury I have got, I had a big knee surgery.

“More than anything right now it’s just about staying in the right mindset. I’ve had to accept and get over the fact that I’m going to be out for a long time.”

Spurs are likely to also be without young Japanese defender Kota Takai, who has yet to feature since his summer arrival at the club. He has recently partaken in a behind-closed-doors friendly alongside Dragusin. The Lilywhites will also have to do without Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, both of whom are at the Africa Cup of Nations, and suspended pair Simons and Romero.