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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.

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.