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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.

Tottenham and Crystal Palace could be at the centre of a major transfer story this January

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The January transfer window is rapidly approaching, with clubs across the Premier League preparing their chequebooks for what could be a huge mid-season window.

Everything remains up for grabs in the top flight, with more clubs than usual feeling that they will have a shot at Europe and the relegation battle far more open than in recent seasons.

Clubs across the land have more money than ever before and are becoming smarter with how they utilise loopholes so not to break spending rules. This means that the limits for this January are boundless, and we could see some major transfer action take place at either end of the table.

Two sides who will hope to have a role to play in the winter window are Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, with the two London clubs both looking to secure the additions they need to mount a serious push for Europe come the end of the season.

Spurs ‘open to selling’ Crystal Palace target Brennan Johnson

Crystal Palace have been given a boost in their pursuit of Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson, amidst reports by BBC Sport that Spurs are ‘strongly considering selling’ the 24-year-old amidst interest from the Eagles.

The Wales international scored in both of Spurs’ first games of the season but has struggled to retain a regular role within the side ever since, and did not even come off the bench on multiple occasions in the Premier League in recent weeks.

With the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke yet to come back for Thomas Frank’s side, it is believed that Johnson is not a key part of the Dane’s long-term plan in north London and they are, therefore, prepared to listen to offers.

Spurs could leverage Palace’s interest in Johnson to secure a January deal for one of their own top targets, in the shape of Eagles star striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta, whose long-term future at his current employers also remains in doubt.

Johnson and Mateta could switch places in stunning swap deal

Spurs have been linked with France striker Mateta in recent weeks, with the 28-year-old remaining one of the Premier League’s top marksmen this campaign and approaching 50 goals in his four seasons with Palace.

Reports by Football Insider earlier this month stated that the Lilywhites are ‘monitoring’ the striker’s unresolved contract situation at Selhurst Park, with Mateta’s current deal running until 2027 and renewal talks seeing little progress.

Amidst the continued injury lay-off of Solanke and slow start to life for loan signing Randal Kolo Muani, Spurs are reportedly planning a new striker signing and may feel that the Premier League-proven Mateta would be the ideal candidate.

He would not come cheaply as Palace will be reluctant to part with another of their most important players, alongside continued rumours linking Marc Guehi with a mid-season exit. The inclusion of Johnson in a swap deal could, therefore, help soften negotiations and provide Palace with a forward-thinking signing capable of replacing some of the goals scored by Mateta.

Reports by TEAMtalk state that Spurs value Johnson at around £50million but could be willing to sell him for ‘slightly lower’ than that amount if the right conditions were in place. While previous reports from the autumn suggested that Palace will demand ‘more than £40m’ for Mateta. The two clubs could, therefore, secure a straight swap deal between the forward stars to steal all the transfer headlines this January.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are among the teams linked with a sensational young winger from Germany - but who will get there first?

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Manchester United may has splashed a considerable sum on new attacking players this summer, but few transfer reports seem to think that they have finished the process of upgrading their attack – and now a new story suggests that a sensational young talent from Germany is right at the top of their shopping list for 2026.

At the end of last season, Saïd El Mala was a virtual unknown playing in the third tier of the German league with Viktoria Köln. Now, just a few months after completing a move to Viktoria’s wealthier and more famous neighbours 1.FC Köln, the 19-year-old is attracting scouts from a host of elite sides, Manchester United among them. But just how good is El Mala, and is he worth a potential transfer fee of £35m, as suggested by Bild?

Why Manchester United could be chasing Saïd El Mala in 2026

El Mala has enjoyed an explosive start to his top-flight career, scoring six goals in 14 league games for Köln – only six of which have been starts – and earning his first call-ups to the German Under-21 side. It’s not just the number of goals he’s been scoring that has stood out, however, but the nature of them.

Take his goal just two weeks ago against St. Pauli, when he took control of a clearance and surged past a defender from within his own half, held him off all the way into the opposing area and slotted coolly past the goalkeeper. Or his brilliant strike against Augsburg in October, when he slalomed inside the full-back and blasted a brilliant strike into the far corner.

El Mala isn’t simply scoring goals, but brilliant ones, and isn’t simply beating defenders but taking them to pieces. Blessed with both raw pace and a more powerful physique than most wingers – at 6’2” he is much larger than many inside forwards – and matching that with instinctive touch and a lethal eye for a finish, he has all the natural attributes of a first-rate forward and then some change left over.

He doesn’t have a complete all-round game – his passing leaves something to be desired, perhaps, and he rarely looks for a team-mate when a chance to shoot or beat his man presents himself, a trait which might frustrate some coaches, but his movement and skill on the ball seems to make up for that in spades.

Given the right coaching and time to hone his decision-making skills, El Mala seems to have the right skillset to become a world-class player, and he’s certainly made a remarkable impression very quickly in the Bundesliga. It’s scarcely a surprise that top teams are taking a look at him. But just how likely is it that United win the race to sign El Mala – with Spurs also said to be in the mix?

Will United sign El Mala – or will Spurs get there first?

Bild’s report on the interest in El Mala, published earlier this week, put Manchester United’s name in the frame alongside three other elite teams: Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and PSG. It’s a familiar list of suitors.

The expected price range for El Mala is said to be €30-40m (£26-35m), a broad range but not one that seems at all excessive given what we’ve seen from El Mala so far. Both United and Spurs are said to have made initial enquiries, although there is no discussion as to whether any offers are likely to come in January or next summer.

The latter may be more likely, if only because Köln are unlikely to wish to sell a player like El Mala in mid-season. Given that they have him under contract until 2030, they certainly hold all the cards. They will only sell over the winter if the offer is excessive.

United are not likely to be in a position to make an offer over asking price this January. They have some limited transfer funds remaining but are believed to only be prepared to make a significant investment in a player if they are able to secure an appropriate fee for an unwanted player like Joshua Zirkzee. There are hurdles that they would have to jump through.

Spurs, on the other hand, have an enormous amount of headroom under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and could make such a move – and may well do so given that they know that waiting until summer to secure a better price would leave them behind bigger teams in the race for El Mala’s signature. In the short term, at least, they could be the biggest threat to United simply due to their position in the transfer market.

Beyond the immediate future, it’s too early to say where El Mala will end up – but it’s easy to see why he’s attracting United’s attention. He’s direct, dangerous, and blessed with plenty of talent. A big move awaits at some stage.

Latest Premier League news and rumours regarding Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.

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Tottenham Hotspur are ‘tracking’ £40 million-rated AS Monaco ace Maghnes Akliouche as an alternative to AFC Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo, Team Talk claim. The France international has been on the books at the Stade Louis II since 2017 following spells as a youngster in the academies at Villemomble and Torcy. He has since risen up through the academy and was a regular at various different youth levels before breaking into the first-team picture back in 2021.

He has since played 117 games and has fired 19 goals. His contract expires in 2028 meaning the Ligue 1 outfit are under no immediate pressure to sell him next month and can wait for the right offer to come in for his signature. Frank could do with some more quality in his squad, especially at the top end of the pitch, and his results have been a bit streaky over recent times so consistency is needed.

The 3AM Verdict: Spurs face stiff competition in pursuit of Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth so it’s perhaps sensible that they’re looking at other targets. Maghnes Akliouche is someone who has performed well in France recently and could do a job in England. At the age of 23, he has potential to get better in the future and he would be a shrewd long-term acquisition if they lured him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Chelsea want AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams

Chelsea are 'monitoring' Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams along with Spurs and Manchester United, according to Caught Offside. He was snapped up by the Cherries for around £20m back in 2023. The USA international, who has 52 caps under his belt so far in his career, has since become a key player for the Dorset side in the middle of the park.

Adams, 26, has made 50 appearances for his current club in all competitions, 14 of which have come this season. Prior to his transfer, he spent a year at Leeds United and played 26 games for the Whites during his time at Elland Road. He has also had spells in the past at New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig.

The 3AM Verdict: Chelsea could see Tyler Adams as someone to boost their options in midfield. If he joined the Blues, he would battle it out with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos and Reece James for a place in their starting XI. Enzo Maresca's side need to see off competition from elsewhere for his signature though with rivals like Spurs and Manchester United mentioned as suitors.

Nottingham Forest striker Arnaud Kalimuendo wanted by Paris FC

Nottingham Forest striker Arnaud Kalimuendo has emerged on the radar of Paris FC, as per a report by French news outlet L'Equipe. The attacker has struggled to make an impact at The City Ground since his summer transfer and he is being linked with an exit already. He joined the Reds in August from Rennes and put pen-to-paper on a long-term contract until 2030.

The Frenchman hasn't been able to nail down a regular starting position though and hasn't scored in seven league matches. As a result, Ligue 1 new boys Paris FC may try and lure him back to his native country. They are said to be weighing up possible attacking targets this winter as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

They are sat in 14th place in the table and have ambitious plans to challenge for trophies over the coming years. Stephane Gilli guided them to promotion from Ligue 2 last term and they are still adapting to life in the league above. They made some ambitious signings earlier this year like Kevin Trapp, Willem Geubbals and Jonathan Ikone.

The 3AM Verdict: It wouldn't be a surprise to see Nottingham Forest cut ties with Arnaud Kalimuendo. He hasn't been able to find his feet and has struggled for form since joining the Reds. Letting him leave would help balance the books as Sean Dyche aims to bring in his own players. Paris FC seem to be an ambitious club and would be an exciting project for the player to be a part of.

Spurs and Bournemouth could both look to tweak their squads when the January transfer window opens up for business next month

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Tottenham may look to bring in some new faces in the January transfer window to bolster their squad. The London outfit have struggled for consistency so far this season under the guidance of Thomas Frank. The Dane was appointed as their head coach in the summer after catching the eye at Brentford.

Spurs were beaten 3-0 away by Nottingham Forest in their last outing. They will be looking to bounce back this weekend with a win against Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank's men are sat in 11th place in the table after 16 fixtures.

Tottenham Hotspur linked with AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams

Spurs are being linked with a move for AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams this winter. According to CaughtOffside, they are admirers of the player along with Chelsea and Manchester United. His contract with the Cherries expires in June 2028 meaning they aren't under pressure to sell him immediately and can wait for the right money to come in for his signature.

Adams, who is a USA international with 52 caps to his name, joined his current club back in 2023 and has since become an important player. He has made 50 appearances for them in all competitions, 14 of which have come in this campaign, and he has chipped in with two goals. The New York-born player has also had spells in the past at New York Red Bulls, RB Leipzig and Leeds United and is the subject of some keen attention right now ahead of next month.

Spurs could see him as someone to bolster their midfield department. If he joined them, he would give them more competition and depth in the middle of the park. They could do with injecting some more energy into their options in the heart of the pitch and he would fit the bill for Frank's side.

Tottenham Hotspur should propose swap deal to AFC Bournemouth

Spurs may face fierce competition from Manchester United in pursuit of Bournemouth star Adams. Therefore, they may need to think outside the box for ways to try and lure him to north London. With that in mind, a player swap deal plus some cash is something they must consider.

Winger Wilson Odobert has struggled to make an impact this term and could do with getting some experience. They should offer the Cherries to land him in some capacity in exchange for Adams, either on loan or permanently if required. At the age of 21, he is still raw but has potential to improve down the line.

Odobert is someone who Bournemouth would be able to offer regular game time and provide with a platform to show what he can do. The attacker is quick and would give Andoni Iraola another asset to choose from at the top end of the pitch. In addition, he can play on either flank which is handy.

Spurs snapped up the forward back in 2024 for £25million after he caught their eye playing for Burnley. He has since played 41 matches and has scored four goals, three of which came in his first year. The ex-Troyes man hasn't been able to find his shooting boots under Frank and a change of scene would do him the world of good.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this weekend with a clash against Liverpool as Thomas Frank's side look to hit form

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Tottenham Hotspur take on Liverpool at home on Saturday night in their latest Premier League outing. Thomas Frank's side were beaten 3-0 away at Nottingham Forest last time out. Therefore, they will be eager to bounce back with a win in their final match before Christmas.

Frank was appointed as their manager in the summer to replace Ange Postecoglou after catching the eye at Brentford. However, he is starting to feel the heat at the moment after an inconsistent run of form and could do with some additions in January. Here is a look at the latest injury news and return dates ahead of the weekend:

When will Dominic Solanke be back available for Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs have been without striker Dominic Solanke over recent times and have missed his presence up top. They aren't rushing him back in and are being patient with early January seeming his most likely return date. Frank has recently said: "He is back on the grass and training individually. I guess it's good news when he posts on social media. The injury he picked up in July, it has dragged on for a while. When he is fully training, I will have news."

Attacking midfielder James Maddison is a long-term absentee for the London outfit which isn't ideal. He ruptured his ACL and will be out of action for a good while still yet. The former Leicester City playmaker probably won't be seen until the 2026/27 campaign and faces a hefty road to recovery.

Frank won't be able to call on Pape Matar Sarr over the festive period following his call-up to AFCON. The 23-year-old is part of the Senegal squad and will be looking to add to his 35 caps for his country. He has made 22 appearances this term in all competitions and will be back next month which will be a boost.

What is the latest update regarding Tottenham Hotspur left-back Destiny Udogie?

Spurs left-back Destiny Udogie has emerged as a new injury worry. He has sustained a hamstring injury and won't be seen until the start of 2026 now which is a setback for both him and his club. Speaking earlier this month, Frank shared this update: "Destiny, as I said after the (Brentford) game, picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the Newcastle game, so he's out until January, unfortunately."

Winger Dejan Kulusevski isn't too far away from getting back out on the pitch, although no risks will be taken with him and he will only feature when he is fully available. There is no exact return date from his knee issue at this moment in time and his situation is fluid. His boss has said: "I will confirm when he's available for the squad. It's part of the recovery. There's a plan for everything."

Elsewhere, Yves Bissouma is unavailable amid an internal matter. Centre-back Radu Dragusin isn't too far away and has made good progress from his knee problem. The Romania international has featured for the U21s alongside Koki Takai but it remains to be seen when Frank will throw them back into the first-team fold.

Takai, 21, was acquired by Spurs in July and put pen-to-paper on an deal until 2029. He hasn’t been seen yet though and hasn’t made his debut yet. He arrived from Kawasaki Frontale in the Japanese top flight and he has played four times for his country to date.

Spurs have been linked with a January move for a striker allegedly worth £70m - but would it make sense for them?

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The good news for Tottenham Hotspur fans is that few Premier League teams have so much money to spend of PSR headroom to play with. The bad news is that they clearly need to use it. As the January transfer window looms, few teams may be as busy as an ailing Spurs side which has struggled desperately for consistency.

Much of the gossip doing the rounds has focussed on Thomas Frank’s apparent desire for new attacking players, which isn’t especially surprising given how disjointed Spurs’ work in the final third has been since the summer. Dominic Solanke is struggling with injury, Randal Kolo Muani has shown little more than the occasional flash of quality since signing from PSG and Richarlison seems likely to leave before long anyway. Change is required in some capacity.

Which makes one of the more recent rumours concerning Spurs unsurprising – that they’re interested in Brentford’s Igor Thiago after a superb start to the season in which he has already scored 11 goals. But is he really a realistic transfer target, do the rumours have any weight behind them, and is he really the kind of striker Spurs need?

Is Igor Thiago the kind of striker Tottenham Hotspur should sign this January?

Regardless of whether Thiago is available or affordable, it’s fair to question whether he’s precisely what Spurs need – although the fact that he clearly knows his way to the back of the net suggests that he is in possession of at least one of the major attributes that Tottenham are lacking at the moment.

Not that it’s necessarily clear that he can maintain his recent prolific form. His scoring rate is being bolstered by a flurry of penalties (five of his 11 league goals have come from the spot with one miss) and he’s scoring at a rate which comfortably exceeds his expected goals – a good thing over time, of course, but also a potential sign of a player who will revert to the mean when the sample size is so small.

From open play, Thiago has scored six goals from exactly 4.0xG, which is a much better conversion rate than we saw in Belgium. He scored plenty for Club Brugge, too, but wasn’t necessarily the most lethal finisher, and there have been some moments of fortune for Brentford – his opening goal against West Ham, for instance, which span viciously and improbably into the goal after an initial save, or his deflected strike into the roof of the net against Burnley.

That isn’t to say that Thiago scores goals because he is lucky, but to observe that his strength has generally been in the quality of the positions he gets himself into, not because of his technique. It’s also to suggest that he isn’t yet proven to be the kind of striker who will score 20 goals every season. That may well be the case, but it’s hard to know for certain after he missed almost the entirety of his debut season through injury.

What we can say for certain is that right now, the 24-year-old has clear weaknesses which would make him an awkward fit for some teams – especially in his passing and link-up play, which is sub-par for the Premier League and which explains why he has yet to register an assist, and his dribbling and technique. Only two players with at least 10 top-flight appearances this year have completed fewer carries with the ball. Admittedly, one of them is Erling Haaland, so clearly that isn’t a requisite to be an effective striker.

Indeed, Haaland is in many ways a rather useful comparison. Like Haaland, he won’t be effective dropping deep into the midfield and nor will he ply the channels and find space in wide areas. Thiago will stay central and score goals when given good service, but he needs to be served to succeed.

Can Spurs succeed with such a traditional centre-forward? That’s not yet clear. Frank has yet to settle into a tactical groove in North London – when Kolo Muani has played up front, he has generally lead the line in an appropriately central position, near the shoulder of the last man. When it’s Richarlison in that role, he tends to drop deeper in behind the wingers. The former system might suit Thiago, the latter likely wouldn’t. Thiago isn’t a number nine who would flourish in every system, and it’s not entirely clear whether Spurs would be an ideal home for him or not. Either way, would he even be available in 2026?

Will Spurs be able to sign Igor Thiago from Brentford?

The story connecting Tottenham Hotspur with Thiago has gone around the rumour mill a few times now, with a wide variety of print and online sources picking it up – but it originates with a social media post from ESPN Brasil journalist Felipe Silva, and that appears to be the only primary source for the story so far.

Silva claimed that Spurs and Aston Villa were both interested and had “made enquiries” while Brentford (who are said not to want to sell but to be expecting offers) would expect £70m for a player who has quickly become central to their gameplan. Later reporting from Caught Offside added Newcastle to the list of alleged suitors.

It’s mentioned that Brentford expected bids in January despite the fact that it’s highly improbable that Villa, who narrowly escaped a PSR sanction this summer, would be able to afford him. West Ham would be stretching their budget, as well. Spurs, however, could afford £70m as they have significant PSR headroom this season.

That makes it plausible from a financial point of view, even if it’s hard to credit Brentford as being willing to sell their leading goalscorer mid-season – and it would certainly be nice to have some corroboration from other sources who don’t also include Aston Villa, whose interest (in the short term) is considerably less plausible.

Realistically, this is a deal that would be more likely to take place next summer, but which time we have more evidence that Thiago is as good as his recent form suggests he is – or evidence to the contrary, of course. £70m is a lot to gamble on a forward who can’t be guaranteed to be a hit.

In any case, as it stands, there simply isn’t enough evidence from the media to suggest that a bid for Thiago is imminent. It’s possible, but there are far more reasons for such a deal to fall through than there are for it to take place, and there isn’t enough corroboration from reliable sources as yet be confident that it’s even a transfer that Spurs are likely to attempt to make. But they are, surely, going to bolster their attack in some way and if Thiago can indeed keep scoring goals, then the temptation to make an offer would be very understandable.

The latest transfer headlines from the Premier League - including updates from Crystal Palace, Man Utd, Sunderland and more

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The transfer window is just around the corner, and the gossip is flying thick and fast from both the top and bottom of the Premier League as each team prepares for the mad scramble of the January sales.

We start our roundup with a story from The Telegraph which claims that Crystal Palace have placed Tottenham Hotspur star Brennan Johnson near the top of their January priorities. The Eagles currently sit fourth in the table after one of their best ever stars to a league season and after winning the FA Cup last season are targeting a first ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League.

The Selhurst Park outfit are understood to be in the market for a winger to replace Eberechi Eze after his blockbuster £67.5m move to London rivals Arsenal. They currently have Jeremy Pino and Ismaila Sarr as their main options on the wing but lack squad depth and are keen to add another top calibre operator to their team to boost their hopes of succeeding both domestically and on the continent.

Should Crystal Palace make the move for Brennan Johnson?

Johnson signed for Spurs during the 2023 summer window in a £47.5 million transfer. He made the move from Nottingham Forest, where he established himself as a star for the future.

Thanks to his impressive performances for the Trick Trees , the 24-year-old secured his move to North London. However, since his switch to Tottenham, he hasn’t been always been able to fully secure a permanent starting role.

He did a fairly steady job in his first season, scoring five goals and contributing 11 assists as Ange Postecoglou’s side finished in fifth position. He stepped up with a solid tally of 18 goals and seven assists across all competitions last term, including the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United as well. However, he’s not had much game time since Thomas Frank’s appointment, and has started just two of the team’s last 12 league matches.

The 3AM verdict: Still only 24-years-old, Johnson is a player with plenty of potential, who should still have his best years ahead of him. For the right price he’d be a fantastic addition to Crystal Palace’s team if Tottenham decided to sell, but it’s hard to see him going for any less than the £47.5m they paid after last season’s heroics despite his recent dip in form.

Man Utd ‘hold talks’ to sign Sunderland gem amid Chelsea interest

Champions League hopefuls Manchester United are reported to be holding talks over a deal to sign highly-rated Sunderland prospect Noah Sadiki, Sky Sport Switzerland.

The outlet explains that Chelsea have already made a formal approach to sign the youngster after the defensive midfielder impressed in Sunderland’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on October 25. United, however, are also said to have approached Sadiki’s representatives at the start of the season and view the DR Congo international as a cheaper alternative to Carlos Baleba.

The 20-year-old signed a five-year contract when he joined the club in the summer and has featured 15 times in the Premier League so far in an impressive start for the newly-promoted side.

The 3AM verdict: Manchester United undoubetedly need a defensive midfielder to compete with Casemiro in the near future. For some reason, the club don’t seem to want to give Kobbie Mainoo that responsibility while Manuel Ugarte has also struggled to make the position his own. Signing Sadiki could make a lot of sense, but he won’t come cheap given his contract status and his importance within the Sunderland team.

Ultimately, he’d suit United and should in theory get minutes if he was to move. Chelsea, however, have such a high number of players in that position it’d be slightly harder to see him getting the opportunities.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to reports

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Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as strong contenders to sign highly-rated Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta in 2026.

Football Insider understands that Thomas Frank is in the market for a new centre forward that can fire his team to silverware, and Mateta is understood to be the man that fits the bill.

The French forward is enjoying another strong season with Crystal Palace. He’s scored nine goals in 24 matches across all competitions, has helped the club win the Community Shield against English champions Liverpool and he notably scored the goal that secured Palace’s status as a Conference League outfit after a narrow victory over Fredrikstad in qualifying.

Mateta boasts an overall record of 55 goals in almost six years with the Eagles and has been a man reborn since Oliver Glasner’s appointment, scoring 45 of his goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign. He’s right at the peak of his powers aged 28 and remains a crucial player for the football club.

However, discussions over a new contract have stalled in recent months and it’s reported by talkSPORT that the talented striker faces an uncertain future at Selhurst Park. Mateta’s current deal expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, possibly offering an opening for the Lilywhites to take advantage of the Eagles’ perilous position. Although they are not alone in their pursuit with Italian giants AC Milan also being linked with the former Mainz frontman.

Would Jean-Philippe Mateta be a good fit at Tottenham Hotspur?

Tottenham have a variety of strong options in attack already. Richarilson is their most used central striking option under Thomas Frank while loan signing Randal Kolo Muani is starting to feature more regularly following his loan move from Paris-Saint-Germain after an injury-hit start.

There’s also a young forward in Mathys Tel in and around the team, although he’s often been used out wide due to competition from elsewhere. Also on the books is club-record £65m signing Dominic Solanke. He scored 19 times in 37 matches for Bournemouth in 2023/24, but failed to make quite the same impact in his debut campaign at Tottenham.

He did, however, still manage 16 goals in 45 appearances for the Lillywhites, including nine in the Premier League and notably five in Europe as the club ended their 17-year-wait for silverware. The England international has only appeared twice this season due to a long-term ankle injury and it’s not yet clear when he’ll be back in contention.

Mateta at present has a better goalscoring rate than all of Tottenham’s current options and it’s clear he’d bring something different to their attack in terms of technical skill. However, it’s hard to see them signing him unless one of their forwards departs.

What can Tottenham do to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta?

Football Insider understands Tottenham made an undisclosed bid for Mateta during the summer which was quickly batted away by Crystal Palace, who were keen to avoid losing anymore players after Eberechi Eze’s exit to Arsenal. If there’s substance to these claims than it appears likely that Tottenham could try once again to bring Mateta to North London.

Palace would be reluctant to lose their talisman, but will also be weary of the risks involved with keeping a player that’s planning to depart. For example, they allowed Wilfried Zaha to leave for free, despite at one time having a reported £70m plus James McCarthy and Cenk Tosun bid on the table from Everton.

Meanwhile, they also look likely to lose Marc Guehi on a free transfer after denying Liverpool the chance to sign him for £35m on deadline day, while also rejecting even bigger offers from Newcastle and Tottenham earlier in his contract.

Perhaps the best course of action if Mateta does decide to leave would be to take a transfer fee and potentially a Tottenham player as part of the deal to fill their centre forward void. Solanke could be one options to consider in the summer once he’s regained his fitness. He’s a similar age to Mateta and has been speculated as a player they may look to sell in the near future.

Thomas Frank must let Aston Villa or Newcastle make the mistake

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As the problems mount for Tottenham Hotspur, Dominic Solanke’s failure to fire up front means Thomas Frank is facing down the barrel of needing to throw more money at a problem that should’ve been solved a year ago.

Bought for a club-record potential £65 million after scoring 19 Premier League goals in 2023/24 for Bournemouth and pushing for a place in England’s squad for the European Championship, almost 18 months later Solanke is still yet to match that tally in all competitions. An ankle injury has forced him to miss extended time this season and Frank’s three deputy options - Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel combine for barely more than three expected goals (xG) in the top flight according to Opta via FBref.

Aged 28, Solanke has the runway to return to his best form when he finally recovers, but further questions linger as to whether he can replicate his sensational final season on the south coast consistently.

Since he established himself at Liverpool in 2017/18, when he made 28 senior appearances after being sold by Chelsea, 50% of Solanke’s Premier League goals came in that magic campaign for Bournemouth as he’s returned tallies of one, three, six and nine in four of his five seasons (though he was also prolific in the Championship for The Cherries).

It’s a major issue for the club who desperately need a more creative deep-lying playmaker in the mould of Ruben Neves or Martin Zubimendi, alongside more defensive depth and superstar left winger like Rodrygo. Among Tottenham’s rumoured striker targets sits Igor Thiago, who is expected to cost at least £50m and is their most Premier-League proven option, but could well end up as fools gold for a club who need to strike the real thing in January.

Spurs, Aston Villa and Newcastle all chasing Thiago

You know a striker’s not too bad when he’s being backed to lead the line for Brazil at the World Cup. Though he never represented his country at any age-group, The Selecao’s dearth of options at centre-forward (all their 2025 Copa America goals came from the wing or midfield) means a shock call-up could be on the cards for Thiago.

And it’s not hard to see why. Only Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals than the 24-year-old this season and he’s closer to the Norwegian than he is to third place, operating at a strike rate of one every 100 minutes.

It’s no fluke either as Thiago is one of the best in the division for both shot volume (ninth in total, fourth for shots on target) and finishing at +2.5 per goals minus xG which is why not only Tottenham but Aston Villa and Newcastle United have reportedly enquired with Brentford about his availability as several Premier League teams hunt for a star striker.

Thiago isn’t the solution to Tottenham’s problem

Though Thiago has single-handedly scored over half as many top-flight goals as Spurs have this season, he’s actually only netted one more than Richarlison excluding penalties.

Strikers who score lots of penalties are sometimes overly maligned. Plenty of people ridicule Harry Kane for his 2018 World Cup golden boot given half of his tally came from 12 yards but they’re much slower to remember that only one those spot-kicks weren’t won by Kane himself, usually for fouls in goal-scoring positions as the ‘love train’ terrorised the planet’s defenders on that dreamy run to the semi-finals.

And there’s still skill in scoring penalties - as Kane painfully found out during the subsequent World Cup. However, Thiago has already missed one this season and none of those five spot-kicks were won by the Brazilian (four of them, incidentally, were from fouls on Dango Outtara).

And while there’s no denying that Thiago’s underlying shooting numbers are fantastic Frank already has players who match that profile. However, Tottenham need more creativity in all parts of the pitch and that includes at striker - think the mould of Kane or Hugo Ekitike. They’re obviously not going to get players of that calibre for £50m, but someone like Ivan Toney or Georges Mikautadze would fit both the bill and the budget.

Tottenham’s problem is finishing off chances - Richarlison is the Premier League’s best finisher by goals minus xG and Tel is in the top 20 - it’s creating them in the first place as they have the same xG tally as basement dwellers Wolves. And all this is without considering the injury concerns around Thiago or the fact that apart from a magical few months in the Premier League, all his production has come in Bulgaria, Belgium and the Conference League.

Even if he can sustain this level of output, Thiago is the answer to a question Thiago aren’t asked and that’s why Spurs can’t fall into the trap of splashing out for him in January.