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Spurs will be on the hunt for a new striker in January

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Tottenham are expected to be in the market for attacking reinforcements in January, as they look to rejuvenate their push for Champions League qualification this season.

A number of attacking options have been touted as potential signings, including England international Ivan Toney, but as it stands the name that seems to be at the top of Thomas Frank’s list is Samu Aghehowa of FC Porto, according to TEAMtalk.

Tottenham aren’t the first English giant to be linked with the promising Spain international. Chelsea went close to signing him in the summer of 2024 before instead turning their attention to Joao Felix once discussions broke down, while the likes of Newcastle and Manchester United were also mentioned as potential suitors during their respective scrambles for strikers.

Aston Villa, after losing Jhon Duran nearly 12 months ago, could also be in the fray. They are yet to see Ollie Watkins at his best and could be in the market for further competition in that area.

Why Tottenham are interested in Samu Aghehowa

Tottenham are still in the early stages of their rebuild under Frank after finishing 17th in the division last season, as Ange Postecoglu put all his eggs in the Europa League basket - Spurs won the competition after edging the final against Manchester United, but paid the price of humiliation in the Premier League, which ultimately cost Postecoglu his job.

Almost all of Tottenham’s attacking options, with the exception of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, were lined up well before Frank entered the building and were either identified by Postecoglou before him or his predecessor, Antonio Conte.

Ideally, Frank would like to make his mark on the club with a signing so he can continue to build a Spurs team in his image. He’s hardly seen Dominic Solanke due to injury, doesn’t seem convinced by Mathys Tel as a forward and instead shifts him onto the wing - this means Richarilson and Randal Kolo Muani are often the two competing for a striking role.

Richarlison, who has scored a respectable five goals, has been linked with a January move away. Whereas, Kolo Muani only arrived on loan and for the most part has struggled for fitness. Aghehowa is 21-years-old, 6ft 4”, is great in the air, has fantastic sprint speed to run in behind defenders and is regarded as one of the best young strikers in world football.

Based on his 27 goals across all competitions in his debut campaign in Portugal, he has many of the characteristics required to potentially fill that Harry Kane hole in the squad, in terms of consistent scoring.

What will Tottenham need to do to buy Samu Aghehowa

Aghehowa is one of the most in-demand strikers on the planet, at a time where there is a deficit of top strikers in the Premier League.

FC Porto are keen to keep their talisman up top to boost their own chances of achieving silverware, but know there could be a potential window of opportunity to capitalise on Premier League interest as their rivals Benfica have in the past with sales such as Darwin Nunez to Liverpool and Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea for inflated fees.

Report suggest the Portuguese giants are looking for somewhere in the region of 80 million euros (£70m) for the Spaniard, which means Spurs would need to spend a club-record amount to prise him away from Estádio do Dragão. This figure could soar even higher if, say, a team like Man United or Aston Villa decided to join in the bidding war. This threat leaves Tottenham in a position where they may need to get creative to get what they want.

While he’s not there most valuable player at present, Yves Bissouma could act as a handy makeweight in the deal. The Mali international hasn’t yet kicked a ball for the Lilywhites under Frank and looks almost destined to run out his contract, having last played in the Europa League final.

The former Brighton man isn’t worth anywhere near the same amount as Aghehowa, but has still got qualities that would benefit Porto. He’s a 46-time international, a Europa League winner, has just under 200 matches of Premier League experience and is a robust workman of a midfielder. He’s set to leave without Spurs making a penny regardless, so it could make sense for Tottenham to offer around £60m, with Bissouma as part of the deal to try and entice Porto into a potential deal.

That way Porto would get a large portion of their valuation, a significant profit on what they paid Atletico Madrid, and another experienced name to join the midfield and compete with Gabri Veiga, Alan Varela and others. Whether sporting director Andre Villas Boas, formerly of Spurs, would do business with his old employers, however, remains to be seen.

The latest Spurs team news and predicted XI ahead of their Premier League encounter with Newcastle.

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Tottenham Hotspur will go in search of their first win in five games when they take on Newcastle United on Tuesday evening – and manager Thomas Frank badly needs a win to ease the pressure after a string of disappointing performances.

While an away game may come as a welcome relief after the recent 2-1 home defeat to Fulham generated a hostile response from Spurs’ own fans, Frank will still have to make do without at least six first-team players due to injury, although at least one key defender will be back for the game at St. James’ Park.

Ahead of a potentially pivotal match, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs team news and injury updates below, along with our prediction for Frank’s starting line-up.

Cristian Romero return as Guglielmo Vicario faces pressure from Spurs fans

While Spurs will miss several players through injury – more details on their fitness and likely return dates can be found below – they will at least be able to welcome Cristian Romero back after he served a one-match suspension for collecting five yellow cards in the Premier League.

The Argentine will likely partner Micky van de Ven once more as Spurs search for ways to protect under-pressure goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who was controversially booed by his team’s fans after his mistake led to Fulham’s second goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the weekend.

Frank backed Vicario in his pre-match press conference, telling the press: “Everyone can make mistakes but the way he carries himself impressed me very much. [Vicario] is remarkable. His character is fantastic in every aspect." There are no indications that the Italian faces being dropped for the Newcastle match.

Elsewhere in defence, the only immediate question is whether Destiny Udogie or Djed Spence starts on the left, which will likely depend on whether or not Frank chooses to persist with the 4-2-2-2 formation he deployed unsuccessfully against Fulham and PSG last week.

Six out as Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai remain sidelined against Newcastle

Frank told the media that Spurs would have the same players available for selection as they had against Fulham (with the exception of Romero) meaning that players such as striker Dominic Solanke (ankle) and defender Kota Takai (thigh) remain unavailable.

Takai has returned to training but is short of match fitness after sustaining consecutive injuries since signing for Spurs this summer, while Frank has suggested that Spurs will be cautious with Solanke’s reintroduction to avoid a recurrence of an ankle issue which required surgery earlier in the season. Both are likely to be back in mid-December.

Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, is still not back in training as he rehabilitates from an ACL injury but is expected back for the Christmas period, James Maddison is out for the season, also due to a ruptured ACL, and centre-back Radu Dragusin is still working back to full fitness after his own ACL injury. The final injured Spurs players is midfielder Yves Bissouma – Frank has still not provided the media with a possible return date after he sustained ankle ligament damage while on international duty in October.

Rounding up the latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Manchester United, Manchester City, Spurs and more.

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Yet another day’s worth of Premier League transfer rumours has been sent spinning out into the world via the globe’s gossip columns, and that means that it’s time for our regular morning round-up of the biggest and spiciest stories from the last 24 hours – starting with a story for both Manchester United and City fans alike.

According to TeamTalk – who draw heavily from The Daily Mail and Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri – United have been “rocked” by the news that Elliot Anderson has decided to join Manchester City instead of moving to Old Trafford next summer, with the midfielder said to have “informed his close confidants” that he is “prioritising a move” to the Etihad.

Anderson is said to be United’s “favourite” midfield target even ahead of Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, but City are set to provide some “stiff competition” for the Nottingham Forest man’s signature – although there are conflicting comments from the article’s sources about whether City are ready to meet Forest’s £100m asking price.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola and sporting director Hugo Viana are said to be “smitten” with the 23-year-old and to believe that the opportunity to sign Anderson is “too good to refuse.” United, for their part, were said to want to sign all three of Anderson, Baleba and Wharton over the course of a couple of seasons if they could.

The 3AM Verdict: United were never likely to get all three players and won’t have an easy time competing with Manchester City for signings unless they can get back in the Champions League – but as it stands, the story suggesting that Anderson has already made up his mind only has one core source in the shape of Tavolieri. It may well prove to be the case, but there’s a lot of road less to run with stories surrounding Anderson’s future.

Spurs prepare to make £52m ‘defensive statement’ in January

Let’s take a look at a story from Caught Offside, now, which claims that Tottenham Hotspur want to make “a major defensive statement” in January, with Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer “emerging as one of their primary targets.”

Despite a number of stories which link Spurs with attacking players, this report claims that defensive reinforcements are the club’s “number one priority” for the winter, and that Bremer has “risen to the top of the shortlist.”

It’s alleged that Juve will demand at least €60m (£52m) for his services and that they feel “no financial pressure to sell” – while it’s further claimed that both Manchester United, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich are all “monitoring” the 28-year-old, suggesting that Spurs could face plenty of competition if they do make a move.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s a lot we don’t believe in this story – starting with the idea that Spurs are prioritising a centre-back in January, moving onto the claim that Juventus aren’t under financial pressure to sell players (they absolutely are) and finishing with one or two of the other clubs named as suitors, such as Chelsea, who would have to completely change tack in the transfer market to sign an expensive 28-year-old. In short, we’re not much convinced by any of the details here, even if it does turn out that Spurs are keen.

£30m Spurs star could be set for shock exit

The final story in today’s digest also concerns Spurs, but this time it’s a tale about a player leaving north London: Football Insider reckon that Mathys Tel is “wanted” by Serie A side AS Roma and than the Italian outfit are plotting a January bid for the young forward.

Tel has struggled to make the impact that had been anticipated after his permanent £30m move from Bayern Munich this summer, and is now in Roma’s sights should they fail to secure a deal for their preferred target, who remains Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Spurs “do not want to lose” Tel next month but there are apparently concerns that Tel could push to leave after struggling for first-team minutes since the arrival of Thomas Frank. There’s no discussion of what the terms for such a deal might look like.

The 3AM Verdict: This is a very speculative article, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s wrong we’d certainly like to see more corroboration before we buy the story.

Tottenham Hotspur have expressed an interest in a highly-rated Everton star

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When it comes to giving managers time, Tottenham Hotspur have rarely been the most tolerant and patient. They've hired and fired 17 managers alone in the Premier League era, and that’s without including the various interim head coaches they’ve had in between those appointments.

Thomas Frank recently became the 18th manager to take on the Tottenham’s manager job - and though things initially started splendidly with three wins from four league matches, it’s clear already that the tide is starting to turn against the former Brentford boss, leaving him with plenty to do if he’s to get the fanbase on side again. Admittedly this is the start of a very different era for Tottenham after more than 20 years under a chairman in Daniel Levy, who divided opinion with large sections of the support.

However, the defeat to Fulham and the fact that many Tottenham players, including Vicario were booed off by their own supporters, is never a good sign - and it’s something which will only compound the need for Frank to deliver results sooner rather than later.

The January transfer window could prove a watershed moment for Tottenham, both to get the crowd back on side and to inject a bit of quality in a team which, barring the Europa League triumph, has had a torrid time domestically in terms of performance and results.

Thomas Frank has golden opportunity to strengthen in January

According to Foot Mercato, Tottenham are one of the front-runners to sign Everton playmaker Iliman Ndiaye.

The Senegal international has been in top form for Everton this term with four league goals and one assist, leaving him well on course to eclipse last season’s impressive tally of nine league goals. Tottenham have been criticised for a lack of entertainment under Frank, despite being the third highest scorers in the league with 21 goals.

This in many ways is backed up by the XG table, with Tottenham sitting sixth lowest, suggesting that the Lilywhites are taking more of their chances than expected and that they are relying on individual moments more than repeated periods of pressure, something which perhaps isn’t sustainable over the course of the campaign.

Ndiaye would bring a great deal to Tottenham that they’ve been missing in Dejan Kuluveski’s absence. He’s among the top three players for successful dribbles leading to a shot attempt (7), has a 62.5% shot on target rate which is higher than any Spurs player this term and crucially presses exceptionally well, winning the 13th most tackles of any player in the entire league and the most for any attacker in the division.

He’s been crucial to Everton under David Moyes and is integral to his style of play. However, Tottenham could offer him the allure of Champions League football and a chance to show what he can do on the big stage. It’s far from a simple deal though, with Liverpool bizarrely emerging as contenders to sign a player from their bitter rivals along with Manchester City.

Everton need a striker

Tottenham have a lot of forward thinking players already when everyone is fit and available. Dominic Solanke, the club’s record-signing at £65m, has barely kicked a ball this season.

Mathys Tel has been signed as one for the future. He was a centre forward at Bayern Munich but has at times done a job on the wing. Randal Kolo Muani also joined in the summer and is capable of playing in a number of roles. Meanwhile, Richarlison has often led the line under Frank since his arrival. The Brazilian is currently on five league goals for the season and has often been the first choice, but whether that remains the case once Solanke returns remains to be seen.

Richarlison hasn’t really hit the heights expected of him at Tottenham despite a bright start to this season, but one club where he remains a fan favourite is Everton, despite his decision to leave for £60m more than three years ago. When he left Everton, the forward posted on X: “It's very difficult to say goodbye to a place that has become my home; fans who welcomed as if I were one of them; and a club that treated me kindly and helped me develop my sense of community and empathy. Neither all the love I have is enough to thank you. Love you!”

Furthermore, Football Insider has claimed that Tottenham are willing to listen to offers for the 28-year-old, who has just 13 months remaining on his deal in north London.

Everton were linked with Richarlison over the summer, and may well still be in the market for a striker. Their current options Beto and Thierno Barry have only scored once between them in the league this season despite having one of the most creative players in the league in Jack Grealish playing behind them. They won’t want to lose Ndiaye, but if the player does want to leave, a smart compromise could be to try and get a big fee for the Senegalese international and a Richarlison return as part of the deal.

Latest Premier League news and rumours including Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace updates.

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Premier League clubs will be able to freshen up their squads in the January transfer window this winter. Arsenal lead the way at the summit and are hoping that this is the year that they can finally get their hands on the trophy under Mikel Arteta. However, the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea continue to chase them down.

At the other end of the table, Wolves, Burnley and Leeds United make up the bottom three. The trio are all at risk of dropping down to the Championship this season. Therefore, there are a fair few teams who could be active on the recruitment front soon.

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa eye Nathan De Cat deal

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are ‘keen’ on £30million-rated Anderlecht ‘prodigy’ Nathan De Cat, according to CaughtOffside. The report adds that Bayern Munich and Brighton and Hove Albion are also interested in the highly rated teenager. He is being tipped for a bright future in the game and appears to be a wanted man at the moment.

De Cat, 17, is under contract with his current club until June 2027 but they could face a battle to keep hold of him before then amid attention from elsewhere. He has been with the Brussels outfit for his whole career to date and rose up through their academy. The prospect was a regular for them at various different youth levels.

He has made 25 appearances for Anderlecht’s first-team, 18 of which hace come in this campaign to date, and has scored two goals. The Belgium youth international operates as a central midfield. Standing at 6ft 4inc, he is an imposing figure in the middle of the park, despite his tender age.

The 3AM Verdict: It seems inevitable that Anderlecht will lose Nathan De Cat at some point in the near future. He looks destined for bigger and better things and has already played a decent amount of games so far in his career. Spurs and Aston Villa will see him as one for the future along with Brighton. However, the Premier League teams may need to bat away competition from Bayern Munich which may prove tough.

Crystal Palace target Stoke City loanee Divin Mubama from Manchester City

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has done an impressive job since taking over at Selhurst Park. He will want his team to continue to evolve during his tenure and they are being linked with Manchester City striker Divin Mubama, who is currently on loan in the second tier at Stoke City. As per journalist Alan Nixon on his Patreon page, the attacker is on the Eagles’ radar.

Mubama, 21, was at West Ham before City signed him in 2024. He was given the green light to leave for the Potters on a temporary basis back in July to get some experience under his belt at the Bet365 Stadium. The England youth international has since scored five goals in 19 matches under the guidance of Mark Robins in Staffordshire.

The 3AM Verdict: Crystal Palace should start thinking about long-term replacement for Jean Philippe-Mateta and Divin Mubama could fit the bill. He is unlikely to break into Manchester City’s starting XI ahead of Erling Haaland. Therefore, leaving permanently once his loan at Stoke City is over to a team like the Eagles would be a sensible decision by him.

The Saudi Pro League star could move clubs in the January transfer window

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After Ruben Neves tore up English football with Wolverhampton Wanderers for six seasons, rumours that he could return to these shores in the January transfer window are getting top-flight clubs very exciting - but there’s a clear best fit that could allow him to star both in the Premier League and at the World Cup.

Of all the Saudi Pro League’s big-money acquisitions in the last few years, Neves is part of an infuriating and rare group who surely could’ve gone on to play at the highest pinnacle in club football (with all due respect to Wolverhampton Wanderers, and The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Cup).

Players like Neymar, Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane had already won the biggest prizes in Europe and were clearly reaching the ends of their careers while there are plenty of younger signings including Joao Felix, Moussa Diaby and Darwin Nunez who’d once been some of the hottest prospects around but hadn’t performed when they’d stepped up to the top level.

Neves is one of the few players (alongside Jhon Duran) who still had the potential to be a star for a true superclub yet went to the desert anyway, and two years after leaving Wolverhampton he proved he still has that quality by starting the semi-final and playing 74 minutes in the final as Portugal won the Nations League in the summer.

Now aged 28, and having stuffed his bank account with an estimated €50 million (£44m), Neves is reportedly open to a Premier League return in January for just €20m (£17.6m) according to Mark Brus’ the Daily Briefing, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both chasing him. But Neves’ best move would be to stay with his current paymasters and move to Newcastle United, bolstering Eddie Howe’s struggling midfield.

Neves not set for success with Man United or Spurs

There’s a reason two of the big six are interested in Neves - he’s a capable defensive midfielder that can also act as a quarterback in possession, moving his team up the field and allowing the flashier stars to shine up front. However, one capable ball-playing midfielder does not an attack make. It’s a problem Manchester United have faced for years chasing a world-class midfield capable of both dominating possession and creating plenty of meaningful chances.

They’ve had enough quality technicians in midfield - most notably Paul Pogba - but they’ve never surrounded them with the talent to create a multi-faceted threat which has made it easy for the opposition to lock onto the single creative threat and mark or press him out of the game.

Wherever he’s gone, Pep Guardiola has always had capable central midfielders coming out of his years - think of all Manchester City’s talent there in the last nine years; Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Thiago Alcantara at Bayern Munich; or of course Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta at Camp Nou.

Excluding Casemiro, who will be 34 when his contract expires this summer, who do Manchester United have to pair alongside Neves and be both industrious to run a two-man midfield, and creative enough demand the defensive resources that will give Neves the space to spark attacks?

The 31-year-old Bruno Fernandes, who’s yet to prove himself in that deeper role? Kobbie Mainoo, who Amorim has picked as his next scapegoat now Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus are all starring and scoring elsewhere? Manuel Ugarte? Toby Collyer?

Neves is in his prime right now but can’t afford to wait around too long for Manchester United to muddle through finding a midfield partner, or tear it all down and start again with a back four when Amorim is sacked. Meanwhile James Maddison would fit the bill at Spurs but he won’t be playing football for a long time and entire future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is in doubt right now. However, Newcastle can tick all the boxes for Neves.

Neves can fill chasm in Magpies’ midfield

However, Neves could slot in perfectly alongside Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes and fire another top four or five push at St. James’ Park plus a European adventure this season.

In his last season in the Premier League, Neves was in the top band of midfielders for passing distance at all ranges, set piece stats and defensive categories like shots blocked and interceptions. His exploits for Portugal and in the Club World Cup suggest that ability hasn’t waned and Neves could be the perfect replacement for Joelinton in Newcastle’s midfield stable.

Alongside this, going to a club that aren’t expected to dominate almost every game could suit the 28-year-old well - Neves never had superstars alongside him in the Wolves midfield, but the club's stature and playing style under Nuno Espirito Santo meant he could still be effective.

The depressed transfer fee would certainly be affordable for Newcastle and the negotiation for his signature shouldn't be too hard either given it would literally be Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) negotiating with itself, a bit like Chelsea haven't had much trouble doing all this business with Strasbourg all of a sudden.

Neves would need to take a pay cut but he surely wouldn’t be sounding out Premier League clubs if he wasn’t prepared for that, and a move to Newcastle would be the perfect decision for both player and club.

The 21-year-old is already starring in Portugal and is an Olympic gold medallist

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After a start to the season offered some encouragement, Tottenham Hotspur’s abject performance in the north London derby means Thomas Frank is now coaching for his job in the capital, with sympathy for the Dane in short supply after the way he set his side up to play for a draw from the first minute at the Emirates Stadium.

With that being said, it is getting slightly forgotten just how many of Tottenham’s key players are missing. Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray have both spent time in the treatment room recently while the pre-season losses of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are easy to overlook but are having a massive impact on Frank and his side.

Most damaging of all may be the ankle injury to Dominic Solanke though. Mathys Tel has been alright since his permanent move but wasn’t intended to be the main source of Spurs’ goals this season and while Richarlison boasts a decent rate of return, there’s no certainty he’ll sustain that throughout the season. Now aged 28, the Brazilian is a known commodity at this point.

That leaves 21-year-old Dane Scarlett and Randal Kolo Muani, who’s already looking like one of the most disappointing loan signings in recent Premier League history on a par with Jese, Renato Sanches and Grzegorz Krychowiak after zero goals in nine games. Compared to Chelsea, who have both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro at their disposal, or Liverpool’s lavish striking options (even if Alexander Isak is yet to fire) and Tottenham’s options don’t seem fantastic.

So given this is be Daniel Levy replacement and former Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham’s year in charge, it’s not surprising that a host of strikers are being linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And though more recognisable names have been rumoured to be Tottenham targets, including Dusan Vlahovic and Ivan Toney, Porto’s Samu Aghehowa may be the best fit.

Tottenham must swing for the fences with striker targets

Turning 26 in January, Vlahovic feels at least two years older than 25 largely by virtue of his breakthrough Serie A season beginning at the tender age of 20. Vlahovic got his big move to Juventus a year later though over four years his junior, Aghehowa has already recorded the same number of 11+ league goal since then.

And therein lies the issue - in his debut season at Porto, Aghehowa has already shown he has the potential to be as strong a poacher as Vlahovic as his baseline. Aghehowa is a menace in the penalty area - his average shot distance is just 13.3 yards and he averaged an expected goal (xG) every other league in 2024/25.

That would put him in the top five of the Premier League, better than Nick Woltemade, Viktor Gyokeres and Danny Welbeck while he boasts a goals minus xG average of 0.19 per game, the same as Erling Haaland. Of course, putting up those numbers in Portugal is no guarantee you can do it in England, but it shows that aged 21, Aghehowa can certainly have a successful career as a classic number nine like Vlahovic.

Unlike the Juventus star though, Aghehowa still has the capacity and time to develop his all-round game. He’s even already started to do it, making more progressive passes and recording more assists in the Primeira Liga this campaign.

Meanwhile Toney will be 30 by the time the season ends despite playing football in a big five league for less time than the Serbian. Toney certainly fits better with Tottenham’s dire need to improve their xG tally, capable of getting involved deeper in the attack as well as finishing them with incredible consistency.

Toney last produced at his best in the Premier League three seasons ago and though he’s willing to take a heft pay cut to reunite with Frank according to TEAMtalk, Al Ahli haven’t put a price tag on Toney and don’t want to sell him, meaning if they do part with the striker it will be for a premium especially given his age.

Aghehowa won’t come cheap

It will take a mammoth effort to bring Aghehowa to London in January, and Tottenham may well need to wait until the summer to step up their pursuit of the Olympic gold medallists. TEAMtalk believe so, in the same article that reports Porto have set Aghehowa’s asking price at a gargantuan €80m (£70.3m), boosted by having the Spaniard contracted until 2029.

That’s a huge amount to spend on someone so inexperienced especially given they made Dominic Solanke their record signing less than 18 months ago, but Aghehowa fits Frank’s dream striker profile perfectly. If the Dane is to succeed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he simply must be backed in the transfer market and allowed to build the Spurs side he surely sold the blazers on when he was handed the job in the first place.

And all the signs point to Aghehowa being an integral part of that, whatever the cost.

A closer look at some of the latest Premier League transfer rumours for this weekend.

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We are now into the final weeks of 2025, meaning the home stretch towards the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season is almost upon us. What’s sooner though, is the highly anticipated January transfer window looming on the horizon.

Plenty of clubs are expected to get business done in the new year to bolster their ranks. Liverpool are among those in dire need of some changes, and their miserable season continues to hit shocking new lows.

Manchester United are eager to add new firepower to their engine room, and multiple Premier League stars have made it onto their shortlist.

Tottenham sense chance to hijack Man United deal

One of the names heavily linked with United right now is Carlos Baleba. The Brighton star is hot property on the south coast right now and the Red Devils are eager to bring to him to Old Trafford.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit. According to CaughtOffside, Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur have ‘sensed a potential opportunity’ to snub United of Baleba’s signature.

Regardless of who make the first official move, Brighton aren’t willing to budge on the 21-year-old so easily. The report claims that the Seagulls plan to insist on their €100 million (£87m) valuation, which could be a tough ask for Spurs.

Despite United showing interest in other targets, it is ‘not ruled out’ that they won’t make Baleba a priority, even while they chase other big targets including Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest.

The 3AM Verdict: Having already sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for £115 million in previous year, Brighton know full well how much they can demand for top players, especially talentd midfielders. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Seagulls crank up the amount they are looking for once the transfer windows open for business. Whether United can spend such an amount on one player, while they are eager to sign mu;tiple midfielders, remains to be seen.

Liverpool could cash in on ace who Arne Slot ‘doesn’t trust’

Liverpool have a lot to consider in January. Their season has hit seriously concerning lows and the team are struggling to perform as a unit.

Despite spending a record-breaking amount of money over the summer, they may be forced to spend even more in the new year to salvage their season. They might also part ways with existing players.

Federico Chiesa is one name being linked with a potential exit, as Arne Slot ‘appears not to trust’ the Italian winger. That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that Liverpool ‘could be tempted’ to sell Chiesa in January, with interest growing from several clubs in Italy.

However, he will only be sold on if the Reds can sign new wide players in the new year to make up for his absence on the wing.

The 3AM Verdict: Chiesa has struggled to establish himself at Liverpool since his arrival but he has shown flashes of what he’s capable of. Sadly, that’s not enough to convince an under pressure Slot, though. Even Mohamed Salah is struggling for form this season and there’s no real back-up option to rely on when the Egyptian fails to perform at his usual standard. Chiesa has been linked with a potential exit for a while now but unless Liverpool can snap up an exciting new playmaker in the new year, they need to be careful who they sacrifice during this nightmarish period at the club.

Running the rule over the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with stories from Spurs, Manchester United, Newcastle and more.

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The weekend is upon us, but while most of us put our feet up for a couple of days the world’s gossip columnists don’t plan to take a break – so we’re here with our latest round-up of the biggest and sometimes strangest new Premier League transfer rumours.

Let’s start with a story from TeamTalk which looks at Tottenham Hotspur’s January transfer plans – and alleges that they’ve settled on two transfer targets and are “ready to splash” a hefty £145m to bring them both to North London.

The players in question are Porto striker Samu Aghehowa and Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who have release clauses worth £78m and £65m respectively (the article curiously claims that Port will accept £80m for Aghehowa but our understanding is that his release clause means that they wouldn’t have a choice).

Frank is said to want “firepower that terrifies defences” – the supposed words of an inside source – and these are alleged to be the players that Spurs have settled on to deliver it this January.

The 3AM Verdict: We’ve covered the interest in Semenyo in detail elsewhere and suspect that Spurs will have their work cut out to sign him, while Porto will force Spurs to pay off Aghehowa’s release clause (or close to it) if they want to buy him this January. There are a lot of stories like this which suggest that Spurs are going to spend very heavily this winter – we’ll find out if they’re true soon enough.

Arsenal & Manchester United join three-way race for Newcastle man

Let’s check out a story from Caught Offside now, which claims that not only do Manchester City have a “strong interest” in Newcastle’s Tino Livramento – a story that’s been circulating for a while now – but they may “face competition” from both Arsenal and Manchester United when they make their move.

Newcastle aren’t keen to sell Livramento, as you might expect, but it’s claimed that City will “test the Magpies’ resolve” either in January or over the summer and that Arsenal and United could come along for the ride. There’s no suggestion that he’s a priority signing for either side, simply that they will be “in the conversation” when the time comes.

Livramento, it’s claimed, isn’t planning to try and force a move away from St. James’ Park, which could make life easier for Eddie Howe if he wants to keep the full-back for the long term.

The 3AM Verdict: We’ve seen enough sources say that City are interested in Livramento to believe it, but we’re less certain about the other two teams here – there’s not been any real evidence of interest to date, and we certainly can’t imagine why Arsenal would need another full-back. We’re gently sceptical, and suspect that City are the only real suitors here.

Manchester United ‘preparing’ shock £87.5m bid

Let’s round today’s rumour digest off with perhaps the most improbable new story of the past 24 hours, which comes from Spanish outlet Fichajes – they reckon that Federico Valverde has “emerged as a target” for Manchester United as they search for a new midfielder, and they pay an awful lot to get their hands on him.

The article claims that United are “preparing a bid close to €100m” (£87.5m) for the Real Madrid man, whose relationship with manager Xabi Alonso is said to be deteriorating. There’s no word on whether Valverde is keen to leave the Bernabeu, but it’s implied that the Red Devils are keen to take advantage of the situation.

Bizarrely, it’s suggested that United want to sign Valverde as part of their “commitment to youth” – he’s 27 – and there’s no suggestion that any kind of formal contact has been made. Or, if we’re honest, any evidence of their alleged interest whatsoever.

The 3AM Verdict: The article doesn’t begin to back the claim of a huge transfer bid up, and that leaves us assuming that it’s pure speculation – especially given that we don’t have a high opinion of Fichajes’ historical record of accuracy. United need a midfielder, so they’re going to be linked with everyone, and if Valverde is of interest we suspect that’s a coincidence.

The latest Tottenham Hotspur team news and predicted line-up ahead of the Premier League match against Fulham.

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Tottenham Hotspur will hope to halt their recent slide when they take on Fulham at home this weekend – but Thomas Frank still has a number of selection headaches as Spurs prepare for their latest Premier League fixture.

While they have been able to welcome back several injured players since the recent international break, they could still be missing as many as seven players through injury or suspension this weekend with Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski among those unavailable.

Ahead of kick-off, we’ve collected all of the latest team news and injury updates below, along with our prediction for Thomas Frank’s starting XI against Fulham.

Cristian Romero & Dominic Solanke among those out for Spurs

Last weekend’s crushing 4-1 defeat to local rivals Arsenal didn’t just cost them local bragging rights, but also the services of key defender Romero who collected his fifth booking of the season and will be suspended for one match as a result. The Argentine will be replaced by either Kevin Danso or the fit-again Archie Gray in the starting line-up.

Another key player who isn’t available is striker Solanke, who continues his recovery from ankle surgery. Early reports had suggested that he was expected to make his comeback shortly after the November international break, but Frank has since told the media that the former Bournemouth man is “not ready yet.”

With Spurs keen to ensure that there are no further setbacks once Solanke returns to training and to match action, it now appears more likely that his return will be delayed until mid-December. Winger Kulusevski, another key player who has been absent through injury, is also due back slightly later than many had hoped – Frank has been tight-lipped on when the Swede will come back from a serious knee injury but the player’s national manager, Graham Potter, has suggested that he was expected to return over the Christmas period.

Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin among doubts for Fulham fixture

Two of Spurs’ other injured players are closer to making comebacks, however, with both Radu Dragusin (ACL) and Kota Takai (thigh) back in training and pushing to make their first appearances of the season soon.

Takai, who hasn’t played for Spurs since signing from Kawasaki Frontale due to foot and quadriceps injuries, is the more likely of the two to be involved with his continued absence mostly now a matter of regaining full match fitness, while Frank told the media in midweek that Romanian centre-back Dragusin was “not ready to start yet” despite playing 45 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly during the November break. He is expected to miss the matchday squad once more, although his return is imminent.

Spurs will also be forced to make do without the services of Yves Bissouma (ankle) and James Maddison (ACL) with no return dates yet set for either player. No new injury issues have been reported since the 5-3 Champions League defeat to PSG.