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The month of August brings excitement for every Premier League fan. Football is back. New signings, a clean slate. Rack up some points early in the season, and anything looks possible for the season ahead.

Some of Tottenham Hotspur's most memorable goals over the years have come in the league's curtain-raising month. In 2018, Harry Kane broke an unfamiliar curse and scored his first Premier League goal in August. Eric Dier's last-minute winning debut, Heung Min Son's opening-day solo stunner against Manchester City, and Richarlison's bicycle kick in last season's opening day are just a few more.

There have been, however, some strikes that may have slipped the memory of some fans. 25-yarders, debut winners, career kickstarters. Here are five Premier League goals the streets of the Tottenham High Road will never forget.

Jamie Redknapp vs Aston Villa (2002)

In his home debut for the club, former club captain-turned-analyst Redknapp announced himself to White Hart Lane with aplomb when Spurs welcomed Villa on August 24 2002.

Midway through the first half, Milenko Acimovic whipped a free kick in from the left, which was cleared by the Villa defense only as far as Redknapp, who chipped the ball up to himself and took a touch before rifling a volley from 20 yards into Peter Enckelman's net to give the home side the 1-0 win.

Timothee Atouba vs Newcastle (2004)

In another 1-0 Tottenham victory two Augusts later, Timothee Atouba was the match-winner as Jacques Santini's Tottenham defeated Newcastle at St James' Park.

The Cameroon international left-back drove at former Spurs defender Stephen Carr, before cutting in on his right foot and unleashing a curling effort past Shay Given in the Newcastle net.

Benoît Assou-Ekotto and Sebastian Bassong vs Liverpool (2009)

There was a strong Cameroonian influence again on August 16, 2009, when Spurs welcomed Liverpool to White Hart Lane on the opening day of the 2009/10 season.

Spurs opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime when Tom Huddlestone's 25-yard free-kick struck the wall, only to fall back to Benoît Assou-Ekotto, who produced a thunderbolt and rifled the ball into the top-left corner.

After Steven Gerrard had equalised for Liverpool from the penalty spot, Assou-Ekotto's international teammate Sebastian Bassong headed home a Luka Modric freekick to give the Lilywhites the three points on his club debut.

Dele Alli vs Leicester (2015)

Spurs' 1-1 draw away to Leicester on August 22, 2015, will be remembered for kick-starting the career of one club legend.

Little was known about the immediate impact 19-year-old Dele Alli could have when he was signed from and loaned back to MK Dons the previous January, but an impressive preseason showing forced Dele into Mauricio Pochettino's plans.

He featured on the bench from the start of the season and was introduced with 25 minutes to go at Leicester. Dele showed bravery to get on the end of a Nacer Chadli cross in the 81st minute, and ended up in the net with the ball to give Spurs the lead before Riyad Mahrez equalised for Leicester.

Dele would eventually break into the starting lineup and go on to play a pivotal role in Pochettino's side, which would go on to turn around the club's fortunes and bring Tottenham back to the league's top table.

As Roberto De Zerbi hopes for a similar club transformation, the Italian will be hoping for more August storylines to kick-start the 2026/27 campaign. De Zerbi has brought in a number of new signings to bolster a squad with a point to prove. This season, beginning away to Brentford on Saturday, promises to be a fascinating one.

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There are three forward targets Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi have underlined as their biggest catches of the summer 2026 transfer window. The Italian manager really wants to pluck Cody Gakpo from Liverpool after a disappointing 2025/26 Premier League campaign, while the Lilywhites are in fierce negotiations to snag both Omar Marmoush and Savinho from Manchester City - two players they have had on their radar for more than six months now - for what could be a combined 150 million pound transfer.

Chelsea have two alternatives for Tottenham on the wing and in the middle of the attack, though. Fabrizio Romano and other transfer analysts have stated that Spurs are also looking at Portuguese right winger Pedro Neto and Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson as potential transfers should their current targets fall off the map.

It's clear looking at Jackson and Neto that Tottenham need to forge ahead with this Marmoush and Savinho deal and secure both players, because Jackson and Neto are massive downgrades who, knowing how Chelsea would treat Tottenham at the transfer negotiating table, are not going to be any cheaper either.

Tottenham's alternatives are not promising

While Jackson isn't as terrible as people think and would be a better striker than Dominic Solanke or even Richarlison, there is no way he is a better footballer than Marmoush. He may be faster, but Marmoush is stronger, more explosive, and so much better both technically and creatively. We have seen Marmoush single handedly cook Bayern Munich, which Jackson has never come close to in his career.

Meanwhile, Savinho vs. Pedro Neto is an even easier debate for Tottenham Hotspur to settle. Neto is both older and markedly worse. He has never been good in the Premier League outside of padding stats for a terrible Wolves team where he got to hog the ball. At Chelsea, he frustrates fans and is someone they actively want out, because he cannot play in a team context. Immediately, Estevao Willian was a better right winger.

Tottenham, of course, don't need a right winger. They would be signing Savinho or Neto to play on the left, as Spurs already have Mohammed Kudus (and Dejan Kulusevski) on the right side. Neto is horrendous on the left, as any Portuguese or Chelsea fan can attest.

Meanwhile, Savinho is the rare modern left footed winger who is better on the left than on the right, and he is a former La Liga Player of the Season candidate at lowly Girona. Neto and Jackson as options are making it even more clear to Tottenham that they need to get this deal done with Manchester City, because the alternatives are not great at all.

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As Tottenham Hotspur hope for James Maddison to be fully fit soon following an ACL tear at the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season, it is honestly troubling that well over a year later, Madders still has not started a game and ahead of the first Matchday of the 2026/27 campaign, is still in question to even start vs. Brentford.

Tottenham will need Maddison now more than ever following the main starting No. 10, Xavi Simons, tearing his own ACL at the end of the last Premier League season. The only alternative in that playmaker role right now is Conor Gallagher, because Wilson Odobert, too, tore his ACL just before Simons did last season.

As much as Tottenham fans love Maddison, even his biggest supporters have to acknowledge that expectations for the former Leicester City star need to be tempered. Maddison is now 29 years old and has been playing grueling Premier League fixtures for years, drawing a lot of fouls over time in and around the penalty area, especially when he was a younger and more dynamic attacking midfielder for the Foxes back in the day.

It is hard for Tottenham to count on James Maddison now

Those knocks are catching up to James Maddison, and he's had a pretty prolonged course of recovery from this ACL tear. On the ball, he looks brilliant technically, no doubt, and he is still going to be an asset to Tottenham Hotspur from a creative and leadership perspective.

But in terms of his quickness or his knees having the same juice, that is going to be a different story, unless if Madders can prove otherwise. And Tottenham fans have every reason to be concerned about just what Maddison can provide in the 2026/27 Premier League season, because we haven't seen him on the field for very long or doing a whole lot beating opponents.

Players are recovering faster and better from ACL tears, and Tottenham have done a great job of handling Maddison's injury from a coaching perspective, with Roberto De Zerbi easing him along as much as possible.

The thing is, Tottenham fans have to be realistic, and of any fan base in the Premier League, they are the most likely to acknowledge a sobering reality. And they have to know they cannot expect much out of Maddison going forward. At this stage of his career after an injuruy as great as this one, all they can expect is for him to be a positive role player, and anything more than that is going to be a bonus.

Tottenham Hotspur center midfielder Conor Gallagher joined the club in the January transfer window on a transfer fee worth 40 million euros with wages comparatively even higher to his peers, and while fans were not at all impressed with his first half season at N17, he proved to be a capable option by the end of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign once Roberto De Zerbi arrived.

Telling the story of Spurs survival in the English top flight would be incomplete without praising Gallagher, whose veteran guile and work rate were crucial, and as Tottenham fans reflect on the last season, it appears a more fair readjustment of Gallagher is warranted.

There were so many players who were terrible under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor last season, including players who are normally exceptional. Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro are two of the best in the Premier League, but they looked like they had lost the will to play the sport under Frank and Tudor. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha went from being tremendous liabilities to arguably the two best players of the relegation fight once a more competent manager came in.

Thomas Frank made Conor Gallagher suffer, too

So the biggest reason for Tottenham Hotspur fans to believe in Conor Gallagher is the same reason why many of Spurs most key players rebounded, and it is telling that Gallagher was also among those to improve markedly with Roberto De Zerbi's arrival.

The upgrade from Thomas Frank to De Zerbi is a big deal for Gallagher, too, and it is also no secret that RDZ is a huge fan of the former Chelsea and Crystal Palace center midfielder. Gallagher, a favorite of Mauricio Pochettino's at Stamford Bridge, has been quite productive in the Premier League in the past, and while he probably isn't worth the wages or the fee and should not be starting every week for Spurs, he can still prove to be a useful role player for Tottenham.

Spurs fans also should not let his issues at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid cloud their judgment of him. It's not like these two clubs are exactly tearing it up in world football over the past couple of years, and their own evaluation and development of players has been pretty atrocious. With De Zerbi, there is a new leaf turned, and not enough people are talking about how Gallagher is in a similar bucket to Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven in terms of suffering badly under Frank.

Omar Marmoush is keen on joining Tottenham Hotspur, with TEAMtalk understanding that the Egyptian forward is open to leaving Manchester City in search of regular first-team football.

Spurs opened talks with City over Marmoush earlier this week and have quickly established themselves as a serious option for the 27-year-old striker.

Marmoush joined Man City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for around £60million and made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals and providing two assists. However, much of his football came from the wing rather than the central role he had occupied in Germany.

Last season was Marmoush’s first full campaign in England, but he managed only three Premier League goals and three assists, with competition for places becoming increasingly strong.

When Marmoush arrived at The Etihad, he knew opportunities in the central striker role would be limited because of Erling Haaland. Since then, City’s attacking options have increased further, with Antoine Semenyo arriving while Jeremy Doku enjoyed his strongest season since moving to England.

TEAMtalk understands new City head coach Enzo Maresca is happy with Marmoush and would have no issue keeping him, but the forward has been made aware that he would not be first choice in the central role he wants.

That has led Marmoush to consider his options, with Tottenham now providing a route towards the regular football he is seeking.

City are prepared to consider his departure, but sources indicate they want to recover at least the £60million they paid Frankfurt.

DON’T MISS: Every completed Tottenham transfer in summer 2026: Signings, sales, loans

Tottenham nearing spectacular double raid on Man City

The Marmoush discussions are developing alongside Tottenham’s talks with City over Savinho, with Spurs prepared to spend around £140million on the two players combined if they can reach agreement.

Personal terms have already been discussed with Marmoush’s representatives and we understand his camp are happy with what they have heard from Tottenham.

Other clubs, including Barcelona, have made enquiries about Marmoush this summer, but remaining in the Premier League and securing regular first-team football is a major attraction to the Egypt international.

Marmoush would also be expected to become an important part of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans in north London, potentially alongside Savinho as Spurs continue to reshape their attack.

Tottenham also retain an interest in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, who is similarly understood to be open to moving to north London.

However, Liverpool are proving much more difficult to negotiate with, particularly while their own pursuit of Bradley Barcola remains unresolved.

For Marmoush, the next step is now with the clubs, with Tottenham keen to continue talks and City prepared to consider a deal should their valuation be met.

Tottenham Hotspur made six signings this summer transfer window including three of the blockbuster variety in Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes. With those three additions that were specifically pushed hard by manager Roberto De Zerbi, the Lilywhites have a much stronger spine to their team and will be able to play at a high level in possession to the liking of manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The problem is that while Spurs now have a spine in the midfield and have fortified their defense to the point where Cristian Romero and Djed Spence won't be missed with Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi effectively replacing him two for one, they still don't have enough quality in terms of converting the chances.

Over the last few years, Tottenham have lost two of their best ever players in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. These are two of the greatest Premier League players of all time, particularly from the perspective of scoring goals. Last season, only Richarlison scored double digit goals in the Premier League, and nobody else came even close to the former Brazil national team starter.

Tottenham have made zero progress

Tottenham spent 65 million pounds on striker Dominic Solanke in 2024. He has been a bust. On the left wing, they literally have only one player in that position in Mathys Tel, and while he is highly promising, especially in a squad coached by Roberto De Zerbi, he isn't ready to be a starter for a team with top five Premier League aspirations yet.

Spurs came into the 2025/26 Premier League season needing a new striker and a left winger after Son's departure compounded the Kane loss they never replaced. And all they had to show for their efforts was bringing in an all time transfer flop in Randal Kolo Muani on loan while literally failing to sign a single left winger to pair with the young Tel.

With Tottenham facing less than week until their 2026/27 Premier League season opener against local rivals Brentford and less than two weeks until the official close of the summer 2026 transfer window, the Lilywhites still have not signed a single forward. They are pushing hard to sign both Cody Gakpo and Savinho from other Big Six clubs but have been met with significant resistance. And when it comes to the striker position, there is not a single player Spurs have been in active talks for this summer despite links to the likes of Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea and Monaco star Folarin Balogun from the United States. Spurs are still in dire need of stars in the attack, just as they were last year and the year before.

Tottenham Hotspur signed former Liverpool star Andy Robertson in free agency, inking the legendary Premier League left back to a big contract. And now that Djed Spence has joined reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan, Robertson is the new No. 2 at the left back position.

He could get major minutes in the 2026/27 Premier League season for Spurs, because the starting left back, Destiny Udogie, suffered a lot of injuries last season and still isn't fully 100 percent. While it took Robertson time to get up to speed, by the end of the preseason, he looked a lot better than he did last season or even the season before for Liverpool when they won the English top flight.

At 32 years of age, Robertson is out to prove that he is not finished despite his grim end to things at Liverpool, and while Tottenham Hotpsur fans have been skeptical about what Robbo can provide them, he showed against Hoffenheim that there is more than just leadership he can bring to the table.

Andy Robertson has amazing football IQ

Talking about his assist for Richarlison, Robbo's insight on why he made that pass and the decision that went into it reveals a thought process that can really benefit Roberto De Zerbi's team next season.

Andy Robertson told reporters, via Chris Cowlin, “I think it's just what you see in that moment. When the ball is on its way to you, you kind of look up, You kind of see what situation is going on there. So, I felt as the defenders were dropping a little bit, it was better to not flash it. I think the one before that, I tried to flash across the face of goal. Richy’s smart, as well, so when he sees the defenders drop, he then checks back a little bit. Sometimes, when everyone's dropping back, it's best to go against the movement. It's just really what you see and you can change it all the time. Sometimes you put it in the ‘corridor’, and sometimes you have to cut it back a little bit. In the split second, there's so many thoughts that go through your head. It's up to you to make the right decision. Luckily, I made it this time and, hopefully, I make the right decisions more often than not! It was great for Richy to score this time.”

Richarlison is likely to stick around as the top striker for Tottenham with no incoming transfers, as Richy greatly improved in the 2025/26 Premier League season with 11 goals on a terrible team. Robertson can provide Richy with more pinpoint crosses at the right time, and not only will his veteran know how help Spurs score more goals, but he can also teach and groom Souza into the next big thing by teaching him how to think through plays like that.

The 2026/27 Premier League season gets underway on Friday as defending champions Arsenal host promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.

With that, we’ve taken a look at a key player for every top-flight club. Having already run through Arsenal to Fulham in part one, part two takes us from Hull through to Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League 2026/27: Key Player for Every Club - Part One, Arsenal to Fulham

Hull - Jens Hjertø-Dahl

Hull signed Jens Hjertø-Dahl earlier this month, but the expectation is he’ll quickly establish himself as a key man for the Tigers. The rangy 6ft4in Norwegian should adjust to the rigours of Premier League football. Hull will need the youngster to hit the ground running to boost their survival hopes. He heavily influences play at both ends of the pitch, utilising his frame to win the ball back and power forward through the midfield. How Hjertø-Dahl fares this season may well determine whether Hull beat the drop or not.

Ipswich - Issa Diop

Ipswich splashed the cash to lure Issa Diop from Fulham to Portman Road. The Morocco international brings the relevant Premier League experience that’ll boost the Tractor Boys’ chances of consolidating a top-flight spot. The 29-year-old struggled for regular minutes at Craven Cottage, yet showcased his quality at the 2026 World Cup as the Atlas Lions made it to the quarter-finals in North America. The centre-back could prove a shrewd addition to the Ipswich backline.

Leeds - Jaka Bijol

Jaka Bijol signed for Leeds last summer following an impressive Euro 2024 campaign with Slovenia. It took some time for the 27-year-old to work his way into Daniel Farke’s starting XI, but he became a mainstay in the side once the Leeds boss moved to a three-man defence. The Yorkshire side boasted a better win ratio with Bijol starting (33.3% to 23.5%) while goals conceded per game dropped from 1.59 to 1.38. Expect Bijol to play another key role for the Whites in the coming campaign.

Liverpool - Virgil van Dijk

Another centre-back to feature, however Virgil van Dijk has a huge task on his hands in the coming campaign. As Liverpool captain, he’ll be Andoni Iraola’s lieutenant on the pitch. Not only will he be marshalling a side under new management, he’ll be commanding an inexperienced backline. Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate left for Tottenham and Real Madrid, respectively. Milos Kerkez endured a so-so debut campaign on Merseyside, while young Jeremy Jacquet is expected to partner Van Dijk at the heart of the defence. Iraola will call on the Dutchman’s leadership qualities to ensure a smooth transition between managerial regimes.

Manchester City - Phil Foden

Phil Foden struggled for consistency in the Premier League last season. So much so that it cost him a World Cup spot. Conversely, a summer off means Foden has had the chance to recharge his batteries ahead of what will be a crucial campaign for Manchester City. It’s been all-change for the Cityzens in the off-season. Pep Guardiola’s 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium came to an end. John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri all left. New head coach Enzo Maresca will look to Foden among others to boost City’s chances of a successful debut season under the Italian.

Manchester United - Kobbie Mainoo

Bruno Fernandes was Manchester United’s star player last season, but it was no coincidence that their form improved once Kobbie Mainoo returned to the first-team setup. Ostracised by former boss Ruben Amorim, Michael Carrick relied heavily on the England star to provide the link between the defence and attack. Now that Casemiro has left and Manuel Ugarte is sidelined for the foreseeable future, there is plenty riding on Mainoo to shoulder the midfield burden in Carrick’s favoured 4-2-3-1 setup.

Newcastle - Nick Woltemade

Newcastle have endured a difficult summer having sold Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. Eddie Howe also departed, with Matthias Jaissle appointed his replacement. The German’s arrival should benefit a number of squad players, none more so than striker and compatriot Nick Woltemade. The German enjoyed a solid start to life at St. James’ Park but went off the boil as Howe struggled to get the best out of the club’s record signing. With Jaissle now in charge, we may yet see Woltemade play to the best of his ability.

Nottingham Forest - Ousmane Diomande

Nottingham Forest pulled a bit of a rabbit out of the hat with the appointment of Oliver Glasner. The Austrian is expected to implement a three-man backline at the City Ground, with Ousmane Diomande a crucial final piece of the defensive puzzle. The Ivorian will line up alongside Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo at the back in what should be a hugely effective back three. Diomande’s distribution is key, while his recovery pace should mask Milenkovic’s physical shortcomings across the ground.

Sunderland - Trai Hume

A full-back by trade, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris used Trai Hume as a winger on occasion last season. The addition of the experienced Thomas Meunier suggests that Hume will feature further forward more frequently in the coming campaign. The Northern Ireland international may have managed just three goal involvements in the Premier League last season. However, he’s shone in pre-season and could prove a handy attacking outlet for the Black Cats in 2026/27.

Tottenham - Pedro Porro

Mikey Moore’s proposed loan move to Cologne has reportedly been delayed, with Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi said to be blocking the deal from being finalised until the club add attacking reinforcements.

According to BILD Rhineland via Sport Witness, the young winger is close to another temporary move after spending last season on loan at Rangers. Cologne are understood to be waiting for Tottenham’s approval before the transfer can proceed.

Tottenham’s attacking plans are holding up the move

The reported obstacle is Tottenham’s desire to strengthen their attacking options before allowing Moore to leave. De Zerbi is said to want another attacking signing in place before sanctioning the loan.

That leaves Moore’s prospective move dependent on Tottenham’s transfer business rather than an issue with Cologne’s interest. The report indicates that the Bundesliga club remain calm about the situation.

Cologne still expect Moore to arrive

Cologne are still said to expect the season-long loan to go through at a later date. The proposed deal has therefore not been presented as abandoned, but as delayed while Tottenham assess their attacking depth.

For now, Moore remains at Tottenham as the club consider potential additions. Any approval for his move to Cologne is expected to follow progress on those attacking reinforcements.

Tottenham Hotspur are struggling to sign a truly great attacking player this summer transfer window. They have zeroed in on Cody Gakpo and Savinho from Liverpool and Manchester City, respectively, targeting quality players at Big Six clubs who can be even better with more responsibility and a more fitting role under Roberto De Zerbi. But despite months of negotiations, Spurs continue to strike out empty on their preferred targets.

Meanwhile, Tottenham were able to successfully bring in three blockbuster Premier League players in other positions. Jan Paul van Hecke joined at center back for over 50 million pounds, while defensive midfield stars Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes will be the new franchise pieces of the foundation of the team for a combined 185 million pounds.

Spurs and De Zerbi were able to put their money where their mouth is and bag their top targets in the middle of the park, but when it comes to chasing the upper crust of forwards already playing at elite clubs, Spurs are finding it difficult to make some noise. And Gakpo and Savinho still are not world class players.

Tottenham need to win first

What Tottenham Hotspur are realizing is that top forwards are a different breed. The ones at elite clubs are hard to sign since elite clubs tend to not to want to sell top young forwards to other big clubs, especially if they, like Manchester City and Liverpool, happen to play in the same league.

Meanwhile, the ones coming up from clubs that are not elite are also difficult for Tottenham to sign, because they are being courted by elite clubs, like Eli Junior Kroupi and Yan Diomande, and likely prefer winning Champions Leagues with PSG and Real Madrid to not even being in the competition right now - let alone coming close to winning one.

What Tottenham are realizing is that signing the best and most coveted players in the game who can score goals and change games on their own in the attack is about more than having the desire to sign the player or having the money. The most important thing to these players - and, really, to anyone in sport - is winning, and Tottenham have yet to prove that they can win major trophies.

Sure, the Europa League is nice and important in its own right, but the best players in the world don't even want to compete in the Europa League at all. They want to win the Premier League and the Champions League, and it will come close to winning one of those in order for Spurs to sign the Vinicius Juniors, Eli Junior Kroupis, and Ferran Torreses of the world.

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