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Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank will be looking to freshen up his squad between now and the end of the January transfer window

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Tottenham Hotspur find themselves sat down in 14th place in the Premier League table after 21 fixtures. They are also out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup already. Aston Villa dumped them out of the latter over the weekend after their 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank was appointed as Spurs’ head coach last summer after catching the eye with fellow top flight outfit Brentford. He was picked as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked after a poor run of form. However, Frank’s side have struggled for consistency this season and pressure is starting to grow on him.

Tottenham Hotspur target Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher

Spurs are being linked with a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher. According to TEAMtalk, they could hijack Aston Villa’s swoop for the former Chelsea man between now and the end of the January transfer window. They have until the deadline on Monday 2nd February to complete any incoming or outgoing bits of business.

Gallagher, 25, was snapped up by his current club in 2024 for £34 million. He is under contract in Spain until June 2029 but his long-term future is up in the air at this moment in time amid attention from elsewhere. The England international, who has 22 caps to his name, has made 77 appearances in all competitions since his switch to La Liga, 27 of which have come this season, and he has scored seven goals.

The Surrey-born man rose up through the academy at Chelsea and was a regular at various different youth levels. He went on to play 95 matches for the first-team during his time at Stamford Bridge and found the net on 10 occasions. The Blues also loaned him out to the likes of Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Brom and Crystal Palace to help him get some experience under his belt and boost his development.

Would Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher suit Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs could see Gallagher as someone to bolster their midfield department. If he joined, he would give them more competition and depth in the middle of the park. In addition, he could inject some valuable quality into Frank’s starting XI.

The London outfit would benefit from another body in his position. They are having to juggle European football with their domestic duties right now and the games are coming thick and fast. Gallagher is someone who is proven at the top level and his energy in the heart of the pitch would come in very handy.

His transfer to Spain will benefit him in the long run and has seen him leave his comfort zone. He will have learned a lot from working under someone with the stature of Diego Simeone. Most signs point towards a return to England at some point though but his next destination remains unclear.

Spurs will have to see off competition from Aston Villa in pursuit of Gallagher’s signature. Unai Emery appears to be keen on luring him to Villa Park if possible this winter. His team are in the title race along with Arsenal and Manchester City and have been in impressive form of late, as Spurs found out last time out.

The latest transfer stories, including updates from Tottenham and Newcastle United

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With the January transfer window in full swing, the reports and rumours are coming in thick and fast - and to help you stay up-to-date with all the latest news, we’re back with our daily round-up.

Kicking things off we start with a story involving Tottenham Hotspur - a team which once again have a challenging season despite spending an estimated £180m on new recruits.

Tottenham are out of both domestic cup competitions and are languishing in 14th position in the league table after more than half the season’s matches being played. They are faring slightly better in Europe in 11th position but still face a battle in the last two matches of that competition to assure that they make the last 16.

When it comes to the league, Tottenham are six points behind Newcastle United in the Europa League spots. Meanwhile, Thomas Frank’s old club Brentford are remarkably in fifth position with a seven point cushion over the Lilywhites in what’s likely to be the final Champion League spot.

Spurs have been criticised for failing to excite fans, and a bid to change this it’s reported that the club are interested in making a move for Real Madrid playmaker Brahim Diaz.

Tottenham ‘table’ £52m offer for Diaz

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have made an offer of £52m to sign Diaz back to the Premier League. The Moroccan international, who is currently representing his country at AFCON, came through the academy at Manchester City after also having a spell at Real Malaga earlier in his youth career.

Diaz played 10 times across all competitions as a youngster during the 2017/18 campaign when the club reached the 100-point mark, but struggled to ever become a regular. He joined Real Madrid for £15m in June 2019 and has played 129 times in total, scoring 21 and assisting 23.

He’s also played a number of seasons at AC Milan on loan, making 124 appearances in total while scoring 18 and assisting 15, and notably forming a part of the club’s last title-winning team in 2021/22.

The 3AM verdict: Diaz has never quite been a regular at Real, but has consistently proven he’s a high-class footballer. He’s scored five times at AFCON and has played a pivotal role in helping the team progress to the semi-final.

He’s the type of player that could bring much greater excitement to the Tottenham side that have struggled without James Maddison for most the season. He has the potential to be a smart signing if an agreement can be reached.

Newcastle United target eight-time Italy international

TEAMtalk return with another rumour on this round-up - this time involving Newcastle United and a renewed claim of interest in Atalanta gem Giorgio Scalvini. Scalvini was heavily linked with the Magpies over the summer before they eventually opted to bring in Malick Thiaw from AC Milan.

The eight-time Italy international is considered one of the most promising defenders in Serie A. He helped Atalanta win the Europa League in 2024 and reach the Coppa Italia final in the same year. Reports of renewed interest in Scalvini come at a time when the Magpies are dealing with an avalanche of injuries, with Dan Burn, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar all being on the sidelines.

The 3AM verdict: TEAMtalk report that Scalvini is valued at around £35m which is significantly less than the fee touted over the summer.

The fact that Scalvini’s name keeps getting mentioned in transfer stories around Newcastle suggests the interest is genuine - and the Magpies will hope that if he does sign he’s another that can enhance the team after the success of previous Serie A signings like Malick Thiaw and Sandro Tonali.

Scalvini has great potential and is an excellent talent, but one Newcastle must be cautious about as well due to his recent injury-record.

Your latest dose of Premier League transfer rumours, including Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Aston Villa and more

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We are already a third of the way through the January transfer window, with the rumours coming thick and fast as clubs across the Premier League look to improve in key areas ahead of the spring run-in.

The winter window is notoriously a difficult one, which means clubs rushing around to sign players quicker than ever. Or, if you are Manchester City, you secure the window’s most coveted player in Antoine Semenyo without even breaking a sweat.

We begin our latest Sunday morning round-up of the latest transfer gossip with a story which will certainly be enjoyed by Liverpool fans…

According to reports by Caught Offside breaking on Saturday afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur star defender Micky van de Ven has reportedly given the ‘green light’ to a shock transfer to Liverpool.

The 24-year-old is said to be ‘keen’ on a move to Anfield as he considers his future at Spurs following another below-par season for the north London side. Van de Ven is a long-term Reds target and has been touted as an ideal replacement for Netherlands team-mate and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Real Madrid have also been linked with Van de Ven, who can play at left-back in addition to centre-back.

The 3AM verdict: We see no circumstance in which this deal could go through in January, but it might not entirely be out of the question for the future. Van de Ven deserves better than what Spurs can offer him at present, and Liverpool will need to sign a world-class left centre-half at some point soon. Real Madrid could provide serious competition, but we see the possibility of a big-money transfer in summer 2026 or 2027. Unless Spurs can secure a new deal, that is - it will be interesting to see which way this one goes.

Aston Villa may target surprise Tammy Abraham move

Meanwhile at Villa Park, The Telegraph report that a surprise option for a new centre-forward could be targeted by Aston Villa in the shape of Tammy Abraham.

The 28-year-old made a name for himself when he scored 25 Championship goals on loan at Villa in 2018/19 as they were promoted, before going on to shine for Chelsea in the Premier League. Now on the books at Roma, Abraham has scored 12 goals in 24 appearances on loan with Besiktas this term after falling out of favour in Serie A.

Reporting states that Unai Emery is looking for a ‘specialist striker’ this January to provide support and competition for Ollie Watkins as Villa look to ‘keep their title challenge alive’. But Besiktas’ reported £11.2m buy option could complicate a deal.

The 3AM verdict: There is no guarantee this move would pay off for Villa, as the last time Abraham played in the Premier League was back in 2020/21. The former England international has the ability to be a prolific goalscorer in the right environment, though, and Emery’s Villa outfit tends to offer just that to players who need a fresh start. It is likely they would need to secure a permanent deal, considering Abraham’s current loan situation at Besiktas. An Abraham Villa Park reunion would certainly be intriguing.

Mathys Tel ‘explores his options’ at Tottenham

Finally, we return to Tottenham once again amidst reports by BBC Sport that Mathys Tel is set to ‘explore his options’ away this January in hope of gaining a place in France’s World Cup squad.

The 20-year-old has made 19 appearances under Thomas Frank this season, but has struggled to nail down a place in the XI with just five starts, scoring three times. The former Bayern Munich forward only joined in a permanent £29.8m deal in the summer and it is unclear whether Spurs would sanction a departure, following the £35m sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.

The 3AM verdict: Tel’s time at Spurs has never quite sat right with us, or seemed like a perfect match for either player or club. But the recent sale of Johnson indicated that Frank had faith in his remaining forward options.

While we respect Tel’s self-belief in seeking the move, it seems a little ambitious to target the World Cup since he has yet to make his debut for the French senior side. He may well reach a new level elsewhere, but we deem it unlikely that Spurs sanction an exit unless they can bring in a replacement first. No prospective destinations are noted, either, though Roma were previously said to be interested.

Rounding up the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester United, Spurs, Everton, West Ham and more.

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The weekend may mean a welcome break for many of us, but the rumour mill never takes a breather, especially in the middle of a transfer window. With stories flying thick and fast, we’re hoping our regular daily round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours will help keep everything in order – and today we start with a story that concerns Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and just about every other elite club in Europe.

Caught Offside allege that managerless United have “made their move” to sign RB Leipzig wonderkid Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old wide forward who has scored seven goals in his first 16 games for the club and blown many observers away – but while Leipzig are happy to let United discuss a salary with the Ivorian, it won’t be easy to get a deal done this January.

Leipzig are demanding a “huge offer” of around €100m (£87m) to sell Diomande, more than the €60-70m that United are said to have tabled so far. The German club apparently see a summer deal as more realistic, and are only open to selling sooner if the offer is colossal.

United have offered a wage package worth around €3.5m per year for up to six years, apparently, but it’s not clear whether Diomande is keen on the move or not. In any case, they may not be alone in the bidding if a deal does start to materialise – Spurs are one of several sides “closely monitoring” the situation, alongside Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and PSG.

The 3AM Verdict: We agree with the tone of this article, which strongly suggests that Diomande – who is in currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations – isn’t likely to move this winter, but it’s interesting to see a story that United have made a formal offer. For starters, we aren’t sure that they have the money to make such a deal happen this January. Spurs, Liverpool, and City, on the other hand, all do…

Everton ‘hesitating’ over major La Liga move

Let’s head over to a story from Sport Witness now, which summarises stories from Spain which suggest that Everton have the chance to sign Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sánchez – but are “hesitating” about making a move.

Everton and Bayer Leverkusen are both said to “have him on their radars” but neither side has made a bid and it’s not clear whether he’s a priority purchase for either team despite Everton needing reinforcements at right-back. Napoli, who had a deal for Juanlu collapse over the summer, could also come back with another offer.

The 3AM Verdict: The key piece of missing information here is, of course, how much Sevilla are demanding for Juanlu – if it’s a reasonable fee, we’d be surprised if Everton weren’t sincerely interested as he’s a talented player who fills a position of need. If multiple teams are hesitating, however, there must be a valid reason. One to watch, nonetheless.

Brentford man emerges as West Ham target

Let’s wrap today’s digest up with a story which suggests that West Ham United are looking to sign an experienced defender from Premier League rivals Brentford this January – 32-year-old Ethan Pinnock.

The Daily Mail’s Mike McGrath took to social media on Friday to state that the Jamaican international was “emerging as a potential target” for the Hammers, whose defence has let them down for much of the season so far.

There’s no word on how much Pinnock, whose contract has 18 months left to run, would cost West Ham, but McGrath does claim that if Brentford decide to sell him then “competition [is] expected,” although the other clubs who could be interested are not named. There’s no suggestion that a formal offer has yet been made.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s not a ton of detail for us to go on here but McGrath is a reliable source for such stories and the deal certainly seems like one that could easily get done given that Pinnock has lost his starting spot at Brentford under Keith Andrews.

The latest Tottenham Hotspur team news and predicted XI ahead of the FA Cup third round clash with Aston Villa.

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Thomas Frank’s out-of-sorts Tottenham Hotspur side face a tough assignment in the FA Cup third round this weekend when they welcome high-flying Aston Villa to north London – and the challenge will be made all the harder by a number of injury worries.

Midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall were both taken off with injuries during the dramatic midweek defeat to Bournemouth and should they be ruled out for the game against Villa, the they could be among as many as nine absentees.

Ahead of Saturday’s match, we’ve collected all of the latest team news below, with updates on the condition of long-term injury victims such as Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski along with our prediction for Frank’s starting XI.

How bad are the injuries to Spurs’ Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall?

The biggest concern following Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday was perhaps not the result but the health of Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who had to be substituted just before the 90-minute mark in evident discomfort.

Unfortunately, Frank confirmed on Thursday that the 28-year-old had suffered a hamstring injury that he was described as a “bigger one,” with the length of time that he would be sidelined to be determined later. As it stands, it seems likely that Bentancur is set for a significant layoff.

Fellow midfielder Lucas Bergvall also had to be withdrawn in the second half through injury, but although Frank declined to disclose the nature of the issue the prognosis did not sound quite so bleak – the young Swede will be assessed ahead of the game against Aston Villa and may feature.

With Bentancur out and Bergvall a doubt, Spurs’ midfield options will be severely restricted while they also wait for Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma to return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Their respective nations go head-to-head in the quarter-finals on Friday, with the player on the losing side available to face West Ham next weekend – although Bissouma is unlikely to be considered for selection for disciplinary reasons.

Frank also provided an update on the availability of summer signing Mohammed Kudus on Thursday, after the winger suffered a quadriceps injury during the recent 1-1 draw with Sunderland. The Ghanaian will, sadly, be sidelined for up to three months, with Frank hoping to have him back following the March international break.

When will Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski be back for Spurs?

There was better news concerning the fitness of Italian full-back Destiny Udogie, who has been out for five weeks with a hamstring injury – he is said to be “getting closer” to being involved, although this weekend’s match sounds like it will come too soon.

Frank also provided fresh updates on the status of long-term absentees Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski, who have been stuck on the sidelines for an extended period after respective ankle and ACL injuries.

Solanke was said to be “positive and improving” but slightly behind Udogie in his recovery, suggesting that the striker will finally be back in the fold around the end of January. Kulusevski’s return, however, has been delayed after expectations that he would be back in action over the festive period.

According to Frank, the Swedish winger’s injury is “complicated” and he has recently had an injection to manage the pain in his knee. Frank said that Spurs will know whether his knee has settled in “three to four weeks,” suggesting that he will be back by February at the earliest.

There are no further updates on fellow ACL victim James Maddison, who may not feature this season as he goes through the rehabilitation process.

Tottenham Hotspur have a vacancy to fill in their squad this month following Brennan Johnson's sale to Crystal Palace

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Tottenham turned to Thomas Frank as their head coach last summer after he caught the eye with fellow Premier League side Brentford. He was picked as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked after they finished 17th in the table last season. It has since been an inconsistent start for Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs currently find themselves in 13th position in the league after 20 fixtures. They drew 1-1 at home with Sunderland last time out. Next up is an away trip to AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday evening as they look to return to winning ways.

Tottenham Hotspur target swoop for Ademola Lookman

Spurs have been linked with a move for Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman now the January transfer window is open for business. According to a report by TEAMtalk, the Serie A ace has emerged on their radar this winter. Football Insider claim he has a price tag of £50 million.

Lookman, 28, is under contract with his current club until June 2028 meaning he still has a couple of years left to run down still. He has been playing for the Italian side since joining them back in 2022 and is one of their key players. The attacker has scored 55 goals in 134 games in all competitions, 20 of which came in the last campaign.

The Nigeria international, who has 38 caps to his name, has played over 300 games in his career now and is an experienced player. He started out in the academy at Charlton Athletic and broke into their first-team as a youngster before Everton came calling. The London-born star has since gone on to have spells at RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City.

Would Ademola Lookman suit Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs have a vacancy in attack following Brennan Johnson’s sale to Crystal Palace. Therefore, a deal for Lookman would make sense. If he joined, he would fill the void left by Johnson’s exit and give Frank a much needed other option to pick from in his attacking department.

He has experience of playing in England and will be coming into his prime now. Lookman, who has before been branded ‘world class’, has proved himself at Atalanta and someone who likes to cut in on his right foot from the left. He should now test himself in the Premier League again and show people who he is all about.

Spurs need to add more firepower to their ranks over the coming weeks. They are lacking that cutting edge up front, hence their lowly league position, and they have to ensure that they get their recruitment right before the deadline on Monday 2nd February. If not, pressure could start to grow further on Frank and they may have another managerial hunt on their hands.

Lookman would be risk free addition based on the fact he knows the league already. He is from London as well so it wouldn’t take him too long to adapt. Furthermore, he might feel like he has a point to prove in this country still and Spurs would be able to provide him with a platform to show what he can.

Johnson’s exit also means that he would likely get plenty of game time, even if he does initially begin on the bench. Frank will want to see a reaction from his team against Bournemouth in their last outing. They failed to put their game against Sunderland to bed due to missed chances and were punished for that in the end.

Tottenham Hotspur are underperforming again this season in the Premier League and need some new faces

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Tottenham Hotspur need to add some more firepower to their ranks now the January transfer window is open for business. They have struggled to find consistency this season under Thomas Frank and pressure could start to grow on the former Brentford man if things don’t improve. The north London outfit find themselves positioned in 13th place in the Premier League table after 20 fixtures.

Spurs have the chance to bring in some signings over the coming weeks to freshen things up. Frank’s men are back in action on Wednesday with an away trip to AFC Bournemouth. They drew 1-1 at home with Sunderland last time out over the weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur linked with Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush

Spurs have been linked with a move for Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush this winter. According to TEAMtalk, they have made ‘enquiries’ about his availability. League rivals Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in the report.

Marmoush, 26, would be a shrewd addition for Frank’s side if they managed to lure him down to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the next few weeks. He would give them more competition at the top end of the pitch and offer something different. In addition, he would fill the void left by Brennan Johnson’s departure to Crystal Palace.

The Egypt international, who has made 42 caps for his country to date, joined City back in January last year to bolster their attacking department. He has since made 40 appearances under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and has scored nine goals. However, only eight have come this season and he has struggled to hit the ground running. Therefore, the ex-Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt man well leave for a fresh challenge somewhere else and a change of scene and he isn’t expected to be short of suitors if made available.

Tottenham Hotspur should propose swap deal to Manchester City

Spurs may need to see off competition from Aston Villa in pursuit of Marmoush. Therefore, they should offer City a player in return to try and jump to the front of the queue. With that in mind, Destiny Udogie is someone who may take Guardiola’s fancy.

Reporter Fabrizio Romano claimed in April last year that he was on the Sky Blues’ radar. Nothing materialised in the end though and he has since stayed put where he is. Things have moved on now though and if they could swap him for Marmoush, that is something Frank needs to consider.

Udogie, 23, is no doubt a useful player for Spurs to have and likes to get involved in attacks from wing-back. They need to prioritise attacking reinforcements at this moment in time though and Marmoush is someone that would be ideal for them. If cutting ties with Udogie means they can land the pacey forward, they may have to bite the bullet and do it.

Marmoush has the speed and the flair to get fans off their seats and he showed last term that he can perform at the top level in England. Things haven’t worked out for him recently, mainly due to injury issues and competition for places in the North West and he may feel he has a point to prove now. A change of scene to Spurs would do him good and landing him is a no-brainer, even if it does mean losing Udogie in the process.

A round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Leeds.

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The January transfer window is officially open, the first deals are already over the line, and to help you keep track of all the comings and goings, 3 Added Minutes are back with our regular round-up of the biggest and wildest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with a pretty extraordinary rumour for Chelsea and Arsenal fans.

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea have “set their sights on potential transfer deals” for two players from immediate rivals in the upper echelons of the top-flight table. One of them – Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers – is a long-term target who has been linked with the Blues many times, but the other name is rather more surprising: Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri.

Chelsea are “really keen” on the 18-year-old winger, who has struggled for minutes this season with Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke both ahead of him in the pecking order. Apparently several “figures in the industry” have confirmed to Caught Offside that Chelsea’s interest is serious, although there’s no suggestion that an approach has been as of yet, or any word on how much they might be prepared to offer the Gunners.

Arsenal’s stance is, apparently, that Nwaneri “won’t be sold,” which isn’t surprising, although it’s suggested that they could sanction a loan to another club in the Premier League.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s just about no chance that Chelsea sign Nwaneri in the immediate future, but things change quickly in football and he’s certainly the kind of hugely promising young player that the Blues are happy to spend huge amounts of money on – so don’t be too shocked if this story ends up having some legs down the line. Not in January, mind.

Spurs make ‘concrete move’ for Brazilian wonderkid

Over to a story for Tottenham Hotspur supporters now – according to Sport Witness, Spurs have “made a concrete move” for 19-year-old left-back Souza, having “tested the waters” with an initial bid for the Santos starlet.

An official bid was launched in “recent days,” the article claims (citing sources within the Brazilian press) but was rejected due to falling short of Santos’ asking price. That price is, apparently, €17m (£14.75m) for the 70% share of the players’ economic rights that the club owns – suggesting a total fee in the region of £21m.

Spurs’ initial offer was “well below” the required mark, it’s claimed, and the gap in valuation is said to make a January deal “highly unlikely.” AC Milan and Chelsea are also said to have found negotiations challenging, with Santos holding firm. There’s no word on where the player would like to end up.

The 3AM Verdict: If a formal offer has indeed been made then that suggests that Spurs do indeed want to strike a deal this winter, and they have the PSR headroom to meet a high asking price if they want – so this may not be so hard to do before the end of January as the article implies. Still, there’s clearly a long road ahead.

Leeds ‘eye bargain move’ for Bundesliga star

Let’s wrap today’s digest up with a story from TeamTalk which reckons that Leeds United will “eye [a] bargain move” for Union Berlin defender Danilho Doekhi this winter – a player whose physical qualities and threat from set pieces have supposedly made him stand out as a transfer target as Leeds continue to press on with a switch to a 3-5-2 formation.

Doehki’s contract expires in the summer, which means that Leeds could get a bargain this January, as Union would “prefer a January sale” in order to get some transfer funds in – it’s suggested that the 27-year-old Dutchman could be worth around €13m (£11.5m) at most.

No formal offer has yet been made but Leeds are “hopeful of striking a deal” while deciding whether to pay up now or to wait to snap Doehki up on a free transfer in six months’ time. Apparently, the Whites are also debating whether to make a bid for AS Roma striker Artem Dovbyk and are one of four clubs to have been offered the striker.

The 3AM Verdict: Leeds have limited transfer funds and need several players this January, so we suspect that they’re more likely to offer a pre-contract deal to the Dutchman than to buy him outright now – but that will perhaps depend on how the rest of the window goes. If they do make a bid, it’s likely to be later in the window once other options have been exhausted.

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.